The person charging this material is re- 
sponsible for its return to the library from 
which it was withdrawn on or before the 
Latest Date stamped below. 

Theft, mutilation, and underlining of books 
are reasons for disciplinary action and may 
result in dismissal from the University. 

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 



NO 



OCT 2 



61978 



L161 — O-1096 



PAPERS AND PROCEEDINGS 



THIRTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL 
MEETING 



AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION 



ASBURY PARK, N. J. 



JUNE 26-JULY I, 1916 



AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION 
CHICAGO, ILL. 
1915 i 



THE LIBRARY OF THE 

APR iiS »^^ 
UNiVEBSlTX OF iLi-.-vO!?., 



CONTENTS 



licipal retrench- 



TlIXE 

President's address: The public library and the 

pursuit of trutli 

How the communfty educates itself 

Children's books 

Democracy in modern fiction 

The new poetry and democracy 

Modern drama as an expression of democracy 

Some of the people we work for 

Leadership through learning 

Establishing libraries under difficult- " 
The public library as affected by mu 

ment 

The larger publicity of the library 

How Ontario administers 'aer libraries . • ■ • 
Comparison of the curricula of library schools and 

public library training classes 

Vital distinctions of a library apprentice course . 
Tlje utilization of photographic methods in library 

research work 

Possible results of the European war ..... 
Library preparedness in the fields of economics and 

sociology . 

Library work with children 

Library work with children . . . . . . . : . 

The place of the school library in modern education 
How the public library can help in developing effec- 
tive high school libraries ■ ■ ■ • • ■ ,• • 
What the public library can do for grade schools . 
What the public library can do for grade and rural 

schools .■.■■■■,■ 

Report of the Committee on training courses tor 

school librarians • ■ 

Some opportunities in agricultural library work . 
Problems discovered in cataloging the library of the 

Missouri School of Mines 

Inspiration through cataloging 

The cataloging test: results and outlook .... 

Making maps available 

Book wagon delivery 

Library institutes in New York 

Library and school cooperation in Utah .... 

The immigrant, the school and the library . 
An Americanization program for libraries . . 
Americanizing books and periodicals for immigrants 
Library work for immigrants . . . ..... 

The American public as seen from the circulation 

desk 

Times past 

Library trustees' obligation to the state .... 
The school-library situation in the South . 
One hundred years ago — relatively speaking . 

The printing bill .• -.^ • . • ■ • 

Government publications as seen in libraries . 

Comments on library legislation 

Reports of officers and committees 



Mary W. Plummet 
A. E. Bostu'ick . 
J. J. Charm"" ■ 
Marv O. White . 
Jfssie B. Rittenho 
Welsh . . 



J. F. Car 



F. C. Hicks 
J. L. Wheeler 
E. A. Hardy 



Adelaide R. Hasss 
Henry E. Legler 



202 
205 
209 

210 



Orptia M. Peters 217 



Jesse Cuiiiiingl'am 
J. C. Bay . . . 
A. G. S. Josephson 
Beatrice Winser . 
Mary L. Hopkins 
Asa Wynkoop 
Mary E. Downev 
Albert Shiels 
H. H. Wheaton . 
J. Maud Campbell 
J. F. Carr . . 



Edith Tobitt, Louise Prouty 
Dyne. P. M. Paiv.e . ■ 

F. W. Faxon .... 
Elisabeth C. Earl . . ■ 
C. C. Certain .... 
Mary S. Saxe .... 

G. H. Carter 

Edith E. Clarke .... 
W. H. Brett .... 



234 
237 
242 
245 
248 
250 
254 
257 
265 
269 
273 



286 
293 
295 
299 
301 
312 
319 
324 



378 



Proceedings of general sessions . 

Executive board ^"" 

Council ^69 

Agricultural libraries section "jUi 

Catalog section 406 

Children's librarians' section 4U 

College and reference section 422 

Professional training section 429 

School libraries section 432 

Trustees' section 435 

Public documents round table 444 



Round table on lending work 447 

Theological libraries round table 44» 

Decimal classification round table . . 
League of library commissions . 
National association of state libraries . 
-American association of law librarians . 
Special libraries association .... 

Attendance summaries 

Attendance register 

Index 



451 
451 
462 
554 
555 
558 
559 
574 



Sl.^ 



-•'i-A_^v>jj 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 

TUNE 26-JULY 1, I9I6 

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS: THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THE PURSUIT OP TRUTH 
By Mary' Wright Plummeb, Principal, Lihrary School of the New York Public Library 



It would seem impossible iu a year sucli 
as the past year lias been with its over- 
turnings and uplieavals, not only of ma- 
terial things but of ideals and of what had 
seemed moral certainties, that we sliould 
spend the time of our annual meeting in 
the discussion of small or esoteric ques- 
tions. These crises in life show us the 
littleness of little things, the subserviency 
of technique; make us feel through the 
pull of events our connection with the 
rest of the world, and even with the uni- 
verse; take us out of our professional 
selves and make us conscious of more in- 
clusive selves. And they make us see, as 
perhaps even we have not seen before, 
that our profession has a not insignificant 
part to play in world matters. Hence we 
have chosen as our general theme for the 
conference, "THE PUBLIC LIBRARY 
AND DEMOCRACY." 

Whichever theory we may hold of the 
constitution of this world of men, whether 
we believe that the actions of man are the 
results of free-will or are determined for 
him by powers and causes over which he 
has no control, civilization is based practi- 
cally on the former doctrine. The game 
lias rules, we say, but within the rules man 
is free. If this were not the consensus of 
opinion, why laws and ordinances, and 
punishment or rewards? Why praise or 
blame, renown or Ignominy? Why take 
anyone to task for what he cannot help 
doing or saying? Why bestow the laurel 
or even the martyr's palm, when owing to 
the unknown forces of the past and present, 
the victor or the martyr could not have 
chosen otherwise than to do as he did? If 
the test of a doctrine's truth or value Is 
that it "works," as our great pragmatlst 



has expressed it, then we must accept the 
doctrine of free-will as our working basis 
until we find something better that also 
works. In other words, we are given as 
guide-posts, general principles arrived at 
by the accumulated experience and wisdom 
of mankind; as a goal, many of us would 
still say, the Kingdom of Heaven on earth; 
as a motive power, a certain constraint to 
go forward toward this goal, felt more 
strongly by some than by others, con- 
sciously felt perhaps by few, absolutely 
ignored by almost no one. With these indi- 
cations we are given the liberty to govern 
ourselves, be the arrival at the goal early 
or late, the journey steady or interrupted 
or marked by retrogressions. No com- 
pulsion is used, except that constant, 
mostly unrealized constraint; no punish- 
ment, except natural and inevitable conse- 
quences, follows the breaking of the rules. 

What is this but the method after which 
democracy strives? A long way after, let 
it be granted. Still it moves and it faces 
that way, toward the goal of individual 
self-government by way of collective self- 
government. Doubtless, if we gave the en- 
lightened few full sway, many things would 
be better done, better understood; but the 
things that such sway would take away are 
greater than the things it would give. 
Outer peace and harmony and efficiency do 
not mean inner conditions of the same 
kind necessarily, and if they are forced 
upon us they generally mean quite the con- 
trary. 

Doubts of democracy, its value as com- 
pared with the values of other forms of 
government, bitter criticisms of its weak- 
nesses, disbelief in the final accomplish- 
ments of its stated ends, are so commonly 



[Note: As the final proofs of these papers of the Asbury Park Conference 
editor's hands, the sad tidings are received of the death, on September twenty-first, c 
of the year, — Mary Wright Plummer. — Editor.] 



passing through the 
ur honored president 



112 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



heard all about us that only a rooted faith 
that knows Its reasons, Is sure of standing 
against the tide. 

The believer in and the promoter of 
democracy In these days has need of a 
great patience, a firm conviction, a bal- 
anced mind. He needs to remember that 
the faults of democracy are the faults of 
human nature itself, and that for what 
all have done or helped to get done or 
hindered being done, all bear the conse- 
quences; while the faults of other forms of 
control are the faults of human nature plus 
those engendered by undue power or 
monopoly, and all abide by the results of 
what the few have done. We can correct 
our own mistakes, retrace our own mis- 
steps, but when they are the mistakes and 
missteps of others who have power over 
us, where is our remedy? 

Out of democracy may evolve something 
greater and better than we have yet visioned, 
but as one watches tlie human tides all over 
the world, the rising of classes once sub- 
merged, the awakening of nations once 
slumbering or stupefied under an absolute 
sway of some kind, the call of the women of 
all civilized countries to be pressed into 
service, it is fair to believe that for years 
to come more democracy rather than less 
is the next number on the program, the 
next phase through which we must work 
to our goal. There are faults inherent in 
democracy: granted. We are beginning to 
see this, which is the first step toward cor- 
rection. We are no longer satisfied with 
theoretical democracy; it must be applied; 
and if the theory does not work, so much 
the worse for the theory, for we begin to 
see that by the fruits of a democracy we 
are to know if it is real democracy. 

The consciousness of power to improve, 
to amend what is wrong, is a great asset 
for any worker with vision. The knowl- 
edge that a great mass of uninterested, or 
unintelligent, or hazy-minded persons are 
to be waked up, stimulated, focused, means 
that those having this knowledge are in- 
cited to keep everlastingly at it. The cer- 
tainty that the world cannot go back, 
that there is no golden age to go back to 



and never was, that there is an Inner urg« 
which all obey consciously or uncon- 
sciously, which is bound to bring us all out 
into some better place If It is wisely 
guided; this certainty is an impelling force 
that cannot be resisted. One may step 
aside out of the movement and take refuge 
in a corner and call names at those who 
go forward, or turn one's back and take no 
further interest in the subsequent proceed- 
ings, and so may save one's own remain- 
ing years from disturbance, perhaps, but it 
l.s useless to stand in the road and try to 
stem the tide, that is, useless in the long 
run. There are and there will be obstruc- 
tions, but when the dam breaks the 
cumulated movement will be all the greater 
and swifter and more damage will be done. 

The great dangers of a democracy are 
ignorance and fear; the fear born of the 
ignorance. When, as children, we have 
learned that there is no such thing as the 
bogy we have been threatened with, we 
no longer fear it, and as we grow older 
and successive bogies are presented by 
those who, like the nurse or the unwise 
parent, would frighten us into doing their 
will, it is only intelligence, it Is only the 
knowing and the power to think and reason 
that can divest us of successive fears. The 
majority of us are very bold in proclaiming 
our ideals, but when in order to reach de- 
sirable things we find we must go through 
phases and periods of disorder and con- 
fusion and even danger, we back down, 
appalled by the bogies which our opponents 
assure us are permanent evils and not 
necessarily incidents of progress. To get 
to things, we must go through things, and 
the real democrat is he who is not dis- 
mayed, who even if shocked or disappointed 
realizes that he is meeting the phantasms 
that stand threatening before every strong- 
hold of reaction to be taken and before 
every goal of progress to be reached. 

What has all this to do with LI- 
BRARIES? This: that free-will to choose 
must be based upon a knowledge of good 
and evil; access to all the factors for mak- 
ing choices must be free to the people of a 
democracy which can flourish and develop 



113 



and Improve only as It continues to make 
wise choices. The FREE LIBRARY Is one 
of the few places where education and 
wisdom can be obtained for preparation In 
the making of choices. 

We speak of the pursuit of truth. The 
phrase is an unhappy one, suggesting the 
picture of truth fleeing before pursuers 
as the hare before the hounds, with the 
implication that when caught she also will 
be killed. The search for truth is better, 
though even that seems to imply that truth 
hides. It is hard, indeed, to find a phrase 
to describe the work of the seekers of 
truth. There are, however, truths that are 
hidden; there are also truths that seem 
to flee as we approach, and it is, perhaps, 
truths rather than truth concerning which 
I should speak, and truths relative rather 
than truth absolute, for to Pilate's ques- 
tion, "What is truth?" there has been no 
ausv.-er but its echo. If truth could be 
condensed into a formula, a statement, or 
an assertion, we should all be able to have 
it and pursuit might cease with damaging 
results, for it is In the search that we 
gain "mightier powers for manlier use." 
Truths, however, may advantageously be 
found, for beyond each one lies another 
temptingly obscured, that incites further 
search. May it be possible that absolute 
truth is a composite, the sum of myriads 
of smaller or larger truths which may to 
some extent be compassed to the great 
advantage of mankind? 

There have been, it Is true, discoveries 
that have had to be set aside as knowledge 
grew and proved them only semblances; a 
fact that should tend to make all students 
humble and open-minded. Yet if the law 
of gravitation is not a law and the Dar- 
winian theory is to be disproved, we are 
but set free for further study of the mean- 
ing of the phenomena on which these were 
based, and the universe does not become 
less interesting. Physical truths, the 
truths of the laboratory, are but one class 
of those that closely concern the human 
race. There are economic truths, in- 
tellectual truths, aesthetic truths, spiritual 
truths to be sought. For the finding of 



these, observation, reflection, and concen- 
tration of thought are needed, but also a 
knowledge of truths previously found, of 
the reasoning previously employed, of 
facts already ascertained, of untruths set 
aside and discarded. And at this point, the 
library becomes the resource of all seekers 
after truth. Granted, that a large per- 
centage of those who read in libraries are 
not so much seeking truth for itself as for 
their own advantage; yet, however or by 
whomever found, a truth is a truth and 
is bound to advantage the world sooner 
or later, if only as a point of departure. 
Indeed, this is the best use to which to 
put all truth, and so the seeker continues 
to seek and inspire others to seek. 

We know that important physical laws 
have been deduced and valuable powers se- 
cured to mankind, from the chance obser- 
vation of some apparently unimportant 
fact, but we do not know how many times 
a reader has been put on the trail of a 
truth by some sentence in a book, around 
which shone to him a light invisible to 
others, nor how often the written word has 
produced the tense emotion in which great 
living truths are sensed and absorbed once 
and for all. 

If the librarian could know, could not 
only know but realize, the power that is 
going forth from the books over which so 
many heads are bent, or which he gives out 
to be taken home, I know not whether he 
\^ ould be puffed up with pride, or stunned 
with his responsibility. If he knew the 
paths of discovery, the inspired response 
to inspired words, the impulse toward or 
away from truth or truths, for which his 
books are accountable, would he have the 
strength to hold his hand, saying, "With the 
search for truth I must not interfere? 
Whatever my beliefs, whatever my convic- 
tions, whatever my apprehensions, I must 
have confidence in truth's power to take 
care of itself. I must trust the truth to 
make its own way." Perhaps it is fortunate 
for truth that the librarian does not know 
the effects of his books and what is going 
on in the minds and hearts of their readers, 
for in every generation fear and distrust of 



114 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



the mental and spiritual processes of others 
are the drags on the wheels of the chariot 
that sets out In pursuit of truth. 

The parent who cannot realize that the 
time has come for his child to walk alone 
and "dree its ain weird," the teacher or 
preacher who does not recognize that his 
audience is ready for the undisguised truth 
as he can give it to them, the censor who 
suppresses facts that he considers inflam- 
matory, the ruler who stamps out in his 
dominion unwelcome truths that are 
quickly contagious, are all saying in one 
way or another, "Truth must be protected; 
I will protect her by concealing what seem 
to me dangerous paths of thought, and I 
am the judge as to what is true and what 
is safe." 

Truth is expansive and e.xplosive. Where 
it cannot make its way gradually and 
gently, it comes with the roar and the force 
of revolution. Every social class buttressed 
by distrust of tlie class above or below, 
acting with closed mind, refusing to let 
truth penetrate by the smallest chink, may 
look to see some day its fortifications flying 
upward in pieces, through the underground 
workings of the great explosive. If but one 
way is left open, the catastrophe may be 
avoided. Shall the public library be that 
way? 

To all appearances and by their own con- 
fession, the churches have failed so long 
to trust the truth and the people, that now 
when they do trust they find themselves 
mistrusted, and it is only slowly and with 
infinite pains that they are building up 
again their congregations on a basis of 
sincerity and trust. 

The schools of higher learning are now 
on trial, and the people are asking if and 
why plain truths or facts cannot be 
spoken in some of them. The press 
vacillates between suppression and over- 
emphasis, and we know beforehand which 
side a journal will take in a controversy 
and suspect the argument that has led to 
Its choice. Governments professedly based 
upon fundamental truths deny those truths 
by their actions. 

So far the American people liave trusted 



the public library because more and more 
the public library has trusted the people. 
Where truths are being debated, no mat- 
ter how strenuously, the people know that 
the library will give them both sides, that 
they may have all the material for a de- 
cision. On the shelves are the books and 
other records to disprove the misleading 
figures of one side or the other. If new 
scientific discoveries seem to connote 
changes in moral or religious belief, they 
must be met by new moral or religious dis- 
coveries, not by denials unsupported or 
refusals to consider or the suppression of 
the discovery. It is entirely possible, if 
we keep cool, that we may find the connota- 
tion to be only seeming. 

Pew librarians are entirely free In their 
movements when it comes to the choice of 
books. There may be a distrustful or 
prejudiced board member trying to exer- 
cise a biased censorship; there may be a 
timid member afraid of a one-sided com- 
munity, and books may have to be with- 
drawn as a sop to popular prejudice by 
order of the board. Whether or not there 
is really anything untrue in the book, it 
can safely be left to profit by the adver- 
tisement it gets in the contest, — it is the 
library that loses, for some people begin to 
mistrust an institution that is afraid of a 
book, for . a book cannot really and per- 
manently damage truth. Even a temporary 
and seeming damage brings out at once the 
defenders of the other side and puts the 
question again to the forum. Most li- 
brarians have at some time or other been 
requested to withdraw certain books be- 
cause of their untruth, but investigation 
of the books will almost invariably show 
that they have not attacked truth, but an 
institution. Mucli more to be dreaded than 
open assault upon the library's buying of 
books is the interpenetration of a public 
library's policy by insidious and gradual 
changes In its personnel, or in its rules, 
or in its guiding factors. Those who wish 
all argument for and against to have a 
fair field, need to be everlastingly vigilant 
to keep the umpire's mind and to have 
courage. "Nothing is lost that has not 



BOSTWICK 



115 



been yielded up," the German saying has 
it, and if tlie library will not give up its 
right, it cannot lose it; but it must also 
liave the intelligence to know what is hap- 
pening and where and how its riglit is be- 
ing endangered. 

Perhaps since the foundation of the 
world, ours is the first generation to de- 
mand facts, to be willing, in the main, to 
face facts however disconcerting, however 
disappointing, however sliocking. All over 
the world men and women are refusing to 
live longer in a fool's paradise. "Let us 
hear the whole," is the cry; "let us know 
our real situation, so that we may make 
it better, so that we may no longer build 
on a false foundation," and there is no 
doubt that some terrible things are coming 
to light through the drama, through the 
novel, through the new contact between 
class and class, even through the falling 
out of thieves. We can no longer turn 
our backs on these in the Victorian man- 
ner, covering up the glimpses we have 
had and making believe we have seen noth- 



ing, or putting a touch of legal salve upon 
a visible sore spot; too much has been 
shown of all conditions; we must learn the 
facts, whoever or whatever is thereby dis- 
credited. 

The schools give the citizen his tool, the 
ability to read, the free library and the 
press, the stage and the moving picture, 
and life itself give him his material for 
thought. Might the first four agencies 
combine to uphold the liberty of the adult 
citizen to know what concerns him and 
not what it is judged best he should know- 
by those who have interests to serve, how- 
ever worthy these interests may seem, we 
should have' the prime requisite for an en- 
lightened democracy capable of infinite 
development. 

The spirit of truth itself seems to be 
abroad in tlie world, speaking through 
manifold and different voices, and through 
the printed word. Is it not a wonderful 
grace that is offered to the public library, 
the opportunity to be and to continue 
truth's liandmaid? 



HOW THE COMMUNITY EDUCATES ITSELF 



By Arthur E. Bostwick. Librarian, St. Louis Public Library 



In endeavoring to distinguish between 
self-education and education by others, one 
meets with considerable difficulty. If a 
boy reads Mill's "Political economy" he is 
surely educating himself, but if after read- 
ing each chapter he visits a class and 
answers certain questions propounded for 
the purpose of ascertaining whether he has 
read it at all, or has read it understand- 
ingly, then we are accustomed to transfer 
the credit for the educative process to the 
questioner, and say that the boy has been 
educated at school or college. As a mat- 
ter of fact I think most of us are self-edu- 
cated. Not only is most of what an adult 
knows and can do, acquired outside of 
school, but in most of what he learned even 
there he was self-taught. His so-called 
teachers assigned tasks to him and saw 



that he performed them. If he did not, 
they subjected him to discipline. Once or 
twice in a lifetime most of us have run 
up against a real teacher — a man or a 
woman that really played a major part in 
shaping our minds as they now are — our 
stock of knowledge, our ways of thought, 
our methods of doing things. These men 
have stood, and are still standing, thougli 
they may have joined the great majority 
long ago, athwart the stream of sensation 
as it passes through us, and are deter- 
mining what part shall be stored up, and 
where; what kind of action shall ulti- 
mately result from it. The influence of a 
good teacher spreads farther and lasts 
longer than that of any other man. If his 
words have been recorded in books It may 
reach across the seas and down the ageg. 



116 



ASBURV PARK CONFERENCE 



This is anotlier reason why the distinc- 
tion bftween school education and self- 
education breaks down. If the boy with 
whom we began had any teacher at all, It 
was John Stuart Mill; and this man was 
his teacher whether or not his reading of 
the book was prescribed and tested in a 
class-room. I would not have you think 
that I would abolish schools and colleges. 
I wish we had more of the right kind, but 
the chief factor in educative acquirement 
will still be the pupil. 

So when the community educates itself, 
as it doubtless does and as it must do, it 
simply continues a process with which it 
has always been familiar, but without con- 
trol, or under its own control. Of all the 
things that we learn, control is the most 
vital. What we are is the sum of those 
things that we do not repress. We begin 
without self-repression and have to be con- 
trolled by others. When we learn to ex- 
ercise control ourselves, it is right that 
even our education should revert wholly 
to what it has long been in greater part — 
a voluntary process. 

This does not mean that at this point the 
pupil abandons guidance. It means that 
he is free to choose his own guides and the 
place and method of using them. Some 
rely wholly on experience; others are wise 
enough to see that life is too short and too 
narrow to acquire all that we need, and they 
set about to make use also of that acquired 
by others. Some of these wiser ones use 
only their companions and acquaintances; 
others read books. The wisest are oppor- 
tunists; they make use of all these methods 
as they have occasion. Their reading does 
not make them avoid the exchange of ideas 
by conversation, nor does the acquirement 
of ideas in either way preclude learning 
daily by experience, or make reflection use- 
less or unnecessary. He who lives a full 
life acquires Ideas as he may, causes them 
to combine, change and generate in his 
own mind, and then translates them into 
action of some kind. He who omits any of 
these things can not be said to have really 
lived. He can not, it is true, fall to acquire 
Ideas, unless he Is an idiot; but he may 



fail to acquire them broadly, and may even 
make the mistake of thinking that he can 
create them in his own mind. 

He may, however, acquire fully and then 
merely store without change or combina- 
tion; that is, he may turn his brain into 
a warehouse instead of using it as a 
factory. 

And the man who has acquired broadly 
and worked over his raw material into a 
product of his own, may still stop there, 
and never do anything. Our whole organ- 
ism is subsidiary to action and he who 
stops short of it has surely failed to live. 

Our educative processes so far, have 
dwelt heavily on acquirement, somewhat 
liglitly on mental assimilation and diges- 
tion, and have left action almost un- 
touched. In these two latter respects, es- 
pecially, Is the community self-educated. 

The fact that I am saying this here, and 
to you, is a sufficient guaranty that I am 
to lay some emphasis on the part played by 
books in these self-educative processes. A 
book is at once a carrier and a tool; it 
transports the idea and plants it. It is a 
carrier both in time and in space — the idea 
that it implants may be a foreign idea, 
or an ancient idea, or both. Either of its 
functions may for the moment be para- 
mount; a book may bring to you ideas 
whose implantation your brain resists, or 
it may be used to implant ideas that are 
already present, as v/hen an instructor uses 
his own text book. Neither of these two 
cases represents education in the fullest 
sense. 

You will notice that I have not yet de- 
fined education. I do not intend to try, 
for my time is limited. But In the course 
of my own educative processes, which I 
trust are still proceeding, the tendency 
grows stronger and stronger to insist on 
an intimate connection with reality in all 
education — to making it a realization that 
we are to do something and a yearning 
to be able to do It. The man who has never 
run up against things as they are, who has 
lived in a world of moonshine, who sees 
crooked and attempts what Is Impossible 
and what is useless — is he educated? I 



BOSTWICK 



117 



used to wonder what a realist was. Now 
tliat I am becoming one myself I begin 
dimly to understand. He certainly Is not 
a man devoid of Ideals, but they are real 
Ideals, if you will pardon the bull. 

I believe that I am In goodly company. 
The library as I see It has also set its 
face toward the real. What else is meant 
by our business branches, our technology 
rooms, our legislative and municipal refer- 
ence departments? They mean that slow 
as we may be to respond to community 
thouslit and to do our p.art in carrying on 
community education, we are vastly more 
sensitive than the school, which still turns 
up its nose at efforts like the Gary system, 
than the stage, which still teaches its 
actors to be stagy instead of natural, even 
than the producers of tlie very literature 
tliat we help to circulate, who rarely know 
l>ow even to represent the conversation of 
two human beings as it really is. And 
when a great new vehicle of popular artis- 
tic expression arises, like the moving pic- 
ture, those who purvey it spend their mil- 
lions to build mock cities instead of to re- 
produce the reality that it is their special 
privilege to be able to show. And they hire 
stage actors to show off their staginess on 
the screen — stagiuess that is a thousand 
times more stagy because its background Is 
of waving foliage and glimmering water, 
instead of the painted canvas in front of 
which it belongs. The heart of the com- 
munity is right. Its heroine is Mary Pick- 
ford. It rises to realism as one man. The 
little dog who can not pose, and who pants 
and wags his tail on the screen as he would 
Enywhere else, elicits tliunderous applause. 
The baby who puckers up its face and cries, 
cblivious of its environment, is always a 
favorite. But t!ie trend of all this, these 
institutions can not sie. We librarians 
are seeing it a little more clearly. We may 
see It — we shall see it, more clearly still. 

The self-education of a community often 
depends very closely on bonds of connec- 
tion already established between the minds 
of that community's individual members. 
Sometimes it depends on a sudden connec- 
tion made through the agency of a single 



event of overwhelming importance and In- 
terest. 

Let me illustrate what I mean by con- 
nection of this kind. For many years it 
v.'as my duty to cross the Hudson River 
twice daily on a crowded ferry-boat, and it 
used to interest me to watch the behavior 
of the crowds under the influence of simple 
impulses affecting them all alike. I am 
happy to say that I never had an oppor- 
tunity of observing the effect of complex 
impulses such as those of panic terror. I 
used particularly to watch, from the van- 
tage point of a stairway whence I could 
look over their heads, the behavior of the 
crowd standing in the cabin just before the 
boat made its landing. Each person in the 
crowd stood still quietly, and the tendency 
was toward a loose formation to ensure 
comfort and some freedom of movement. 
At the same time each was ready and 
anxious to move forward as soon as the 
landing should be made. Only those in 
front could see the bow of the ferry-boat; 
the others could see nothing but the per- 
sons directly in front of them. Wlien 
those in the front rank saw that the land- 
ing was very near they began to move for- 
ward: those just behind followed suit and 
so on to the rear. The result was that I 
saw a wave of compression, of the same 
sort as a sound-wave in air, move through 
the throng. The individual motions were 
torv.ard hut the wave moved backward. 
No better example of a wave of this kind 
could be devised. Now the actions and 
reactions between the air-particles in a 
sound wave are purely mechanical. Not 
so here. There was neither pushing nor 
pulling of the ordinary kind. Each pei-- 
son moved forward because his mind was 
fixed on moving forward at the earliest op- 
portunity, and because the forward move- 
ment of those just in front showed him 
that now was the time and the opportunity. 
The physical link, if there was one, prop- 
erly speaking, between one movement and 
another was something like this: A wave 
of light, reflected from the body of the 
man in front, entered the eye of the mcin 
just behind, where it was transformed Into 



118 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



a nerve impulse that reached the braiu 
through the optic nerve. Here it under- 
went complicated transformations and re- 
actions whose nature we can but surmise, 
until It left the brain as a motor impulse 
and caused the leg muscles to contract, 
moving their owner forward. All this may 
or may not have taken place within the 
sphere of consciousness; in most cases it 
had happened so often that it had been rele- 
gated to that of unconscious cerebration. 

I have entered into so much detail be- 
cause I want to make it clear that a con- 
nection may be established between mem- 
bers of a group, even so casual a group 
as that of persons who happen to cross on 
the same ferry-boat, that is so real and 
compelling, that its results simulate those 
of physical forces. In this case the results 
were dependent on the existence in the 
crowd of one common bond of interest. 
They all wanted to leave the ferry-boat as 
soon as possible, and by its bow. If some 
of them had wanted to stay on the boat 
and go back with it, or if it had been a 
river steamboat where landings were made 
from several gangways in different parts 
of the boat, the simple wave of com- 
pression that I saw would not have been 
set up. In like manner, the ordinary in- 
fluences that act on men's minds tend in 
all sorts of directions and their results are 
not easily traced. Occasionally, however, 
there occurs some event so great that it 
turns us all in the same direction and 
establishes a common network of psychical 
connections. Such an event fosters com- 
munity education. 

We have lately v/itnessed such a phe- 
nomenon in the sudden outbreak of the 
great European War. Probably no person in 
the community as we librarians know it re- 
mained unaffected by this event. In most 
it aroused some kind of a desire to know 
what was going on. It was necessary that 
most of us should know a little more than 
we did of the differences In racial tempera- 
ment and aim among the inhabitants of 
the warring nations, of such movements as 
Pan-Slavism and Pan-Germanism, of the 
recent political history of Europe, of mod- 



ern military tactics and strategy, of inter- 
national law, of geography, of the pro- 
nunciation of foreign place-names, of the 
chemistry of explosives— of a thousand 
things regarding which we had hitherto 
lacked the impulse to inform ourselves. 
This sort of thing is going on in a com- 
munity every day, but here was a catas- 
trophe setting in motion a mighty brain- 
wave that had twisted us all in one direc- 
tion. Notice now what a conspicuous role 
our public libraries play in phenomena of 
this kind. In the first place, the newspaper 
and periodical press reflects at once the in- 
terest that has been aroused. Where man's 
unaided curiosity would suggest one ques- 
tion it adds a hundred others. Problems 
that would otherwise seem simple enough 
now appear complex — the whole mental in- 
terest is broadened and intensified. At 
tl-.e same time there is an attempt to sat- 
isfy the questions thus raised. The man 
who did not know about the Belgian treaty 
or the possible use of submarines as com- 
merce-destroyers, has all the issues put be- 
fore him with at least an attempt to settle 
them. This service of the press to com- 
munity education would be attempted, but 
it would not be successfully rendered, with- 
out the aid of the public library. For it 
has come to pass that the library is now 
almost the only non-partisan institution 
that we possess; and community education, 
to be elTective, must be non-partisan. The 
press is almost necessarily biased. The 
man who is prejudiced prefers the paper or 
the magazine that will cater to his preju- 
dices, inflame them, cause him to think 
that they are reasoned results Instead of 
prejudices. If he keeps away from the 
public library he may succeed In blinding 
himself; if he uses it he can hardly do so. 
He will find there not only his own side 
but all the others; if he has the ordinary 
curiosity that is our mortal heritage he can- 
not help glancing at the opinions of others 
occasionally. No man is really educated 
who does not at least know that another 
side exists to the question on which he has 
already made up his mind — or had it made 
up for him. 



BOSTWICK 



119 



Further; no one is content to stop with 
the ordinary periodical literature. The 
flood of books inspired by this war is one 
of the most astonishing things about it. 
Most libraries are struggling to keep up 
with it in some degree. Very few of these 
books would be within the reach of most of 
us were it not for the library. 

I beg you to notice the difference in the 
reaction of the library to this war and that 
of the public school as indicative of the 
difference between formal educative proc- 
esses, as we carry them on, and the self- 
education of the community. I have em- 
phasized the freedom of the library from 
bias. The school is necessarily biased — 
perhaps properly so. You remember the 
story of the candidate for a district school 
who when asked by an examining commit- 
tee man whether the earth was round or 
flat replied, "Well, some says one and some 
t'other. I teach either round or flat, as the 
parents wish." Now there are books that 
maintain the flatness of the earth, and they 
properly find a place on the shelves of large 
public libraries. Those who wish to com- 
pare the arguments pro and con are at lib- 
erty to do so. Even in such a res adjudicata 
as this the library takes no sides. But in 
spite of the obliging school candidate, the 
school can not proceed in this way. The 
teaching of the child must be definite. And 
there are other subjects, historical ones for 
Instance, in which the school's attitude 
may be determined by its location, its en- 
vironment, its management. When it is a 
public school and its controlling authority 
Is really trying to give impartial instruc- 
tion, there are some subjects that must 
simply be skipped, leaving them to be cov- 
ered by post-scholastic community educa- 
tion. This is the school's limitation. Only 
the policy of caution, thus engendered, is 
very apt to be carried too far. Thus we 
find that in the school the immense educa- 
tional drive of tlie European war has not 
been utilized as it has in the community at 
large. In some places the school authori- 
ties have erected a barrier against it. So 
far as they are concerned the war has been 
non-existent. This difference between the 



library and the school appears in such re- 
ports as the following from a branch 
librarian: 

"Throughout the autumn ana most of 
the winter we found it absolutely impossi- 
ble to supply the demand for books about 
the war. Everything we had on the sub- 
ject or akin to it — books, magazines, pam- 
phlets — were in constant use. Books of 
travel and history about the warring coun- 
tries became popular — things that for years 
had been used but rarely became suddenly 
vitally interesting. 

"I have been greatly interested by the 
fact that the high school boys and girls 
never ask for anything about the war. Not 
once during the winter have I seen in one 
of them a spark of interest in the subject. 
It seems so strange that it should be neces- 
sary to keep them officially ignorant of 
this great war because the grandfather of 
one spoke French and of another German." 

Another librarian says: 

"The war again has naturally stimulated 
an interest in maps. With every turn in 
military affairs, new ones are issued and 
added to our collection. These maps, as 
received, have been exhibited for short 
periods upon screens and they have nevei 
lacked an appreciative line of spectators 
representing all nationalities." 

One noticeable effect of the war has been 
to stimulate the marking of books, periodi- 
cals and newspapers by readers, especially 
in periodical rooms. Readers with strong 
feelings cannot resist annotating articles or 
chapters that express opinions in which 
they cannot concur. Pictures of generals or 
royalties are especially liable to deface- 
ment with opprobrious epithets. This feel- 
ing extends even to bulletins. Libraries 
received strenuous protests against the dis- 
play of portraits and other material relat- 
ing to one of the contesting parties without 
similar material on the other side to 
offset it. 

Efforts to be strictly neutral have not 
always met with success, some readers ap- 
parently regarding neutrality as synony- 
mous with the suppression of everything 
favorable to the opposite side. One library 
reports that the display of an English mili- 
tary portrait called forth an energetic pro- 
test because it was not balanced by a Ger- 
man one. 



120 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Such manifestations as these are merely 
symptoms. The Impulse of the war toward 
community education is a tremendous one 
and It is not strange that it should find an 
outlet in all sorts of odd ways. The Ger- 
man sympathizer who would not ordinarily 
think of objecting to the display of an Eng- 
lish portrait, and in fact would probably 
not think of examining it closely enough to 
know whether it was English or Austrian, 
has now become alert. His alertness makes 
him open to educative influences, but it 
may also show itself in such ways as that 
just noted. 

Keeping the war out of the schools is 
of course a purely local phenomenon, to 
be deprecated where it occurs. The library 
can do its part here also. 

G. Stanley Hall believes that the prob- 
lem of teaching the war Is how to utilize 
in the very best way the wonderful oppor- 
tunity to open, see and feel the innumer- 
able and vital lessons involved. 

Commenting on this a children's libra- 
rian says: 

"The unparalleled opportunity offered to 
our country, and the new complex problems 
presented by these new conditions should 
make the children's librarian pause and 
take heed. 

"Can we do our part toward using the 
boy's loyalty to his gang or his nine, his 
love of our country, his respect for our 
flag, his devotion to our heroes, in develop- 
ing a sense of human brotherhood which 
alone can prevent or delay in the next 
generation another such catastrophe as the 
one we face today?" 

Exclusion of the war from the schools 
is partly the outcome of the general atti- 
tude of most of our schoolmen, who object 
to the teaching of a subject as an in- 
cidental. Arithmetic must be studied for 
itself alone. To absorb it as a by-product 
of shop-work, as is done in Gary, is in- 
admissible. But it is also a result of the 
fear that teaching the war at all would 
necessarily mean a partisan teaching of it 
— a conclusion which perhaps we can not 
condemn when we remember the partisan 
instruction in various other subjects for 
7,'hich our schools are responsible. 

Again, this exclusion is doubtless aided 



by the efforts of some pacifists, who believe 
that, ostrich-like we should hide our heads 
in the sand, to rvoid acknowledging the 
existence of something we do not like. 
"Why war?" asks a recent pamphlet. 
Why, indeed? But we may ask in turn 
"Why fire?" "Why flood?" I cannot an- 
swer these questions, but it "would be 
foolish to act as if the scourges did not 
exist. Nay, I hasten to insure myseU' 
against them, though the possibility that 
they will injure me is remote. This ultra- 
pacificist attitude has gone further than 
.<;chool education and is trying to "put the 
lid" on community education also. Objec- 
tion, for instance has been made to an ex- 
hibit of books, prints and posters about the 
war, which was displayed in the St. Louis 
Public Library for nearly two months. We 
intended to let it stand for about a week, 
but the public woiild not allow this. The 
community insists on self-education even 
against the will of its natural allies. The 
contention that we are cultivating, the 
innate bloodthirstiness of our public I re- 
gard as absurd. 

What can we do tov.'ard generating or 
taking advantage of other great driving 
impulses toward community education? 
Must we wait for the horrors of a great 
war to teach us geography, industrial 
chemistry and international law? Is it 
necessary to burn down a house every time 
we want to roast a pig? 

Certainly not. But just as one would 
not think of bringing on any kind of a 
catastrophe in order to utilize its shock for 
educational purposes, so also I doubt very 
much whether we need concern ourselves 
about the initiation of any impulse toward 
popular education. These impulses exist 
everywhere in great number and variety, 
and we need only to select the right one 
and reinforce it. Attempts to generate 
others are rarely effective. When we hear 
the rich, mellow tone of a great organ pipe, 
it is difflcult to realize that all the pipe 
does is to reinforce a selected tone among 
thousands of indistinguishable noises made 
by the air rushing through a slit and strlk- 



BOSTWICK 



121 



Ing against an edge. Yet this is the fact. 
These incipient impulses permeate the 
community all about us; all we have to do 
iB to select one, feed It and give it play 
and we shall have an "educational move- 
ment." This fact is borne in very strongly 
upon anyone who works with clubs. If it 
is desired to foster some movement by 
means of an organization, it Is rarely neces- 
sary to form one for the purpose. Every 
community teems with clubs, associations 
and circles. All that is needed is to cap- 
ture the right one and back it up. Poli- 
ticians well understand this art of capture 
and use it often for evil purposes. In the 
librarian's hands it becomes an instrument 
for good. Better than to offer a course of 
twenty lectures under the auspices of the 
Library is it to capture a club, give it 
house-room, and help it with its program. 
I am proud of the fact that in 15 public 
rooms in our library, about 4,000 meetings 
are held in the course of the year; but I 
am inclined to be still prouder of the fact 
that not one of these is held formally 
under the auspices of the library or is vis- 
ibly patronized by it. To go back to our 
thesis, all education is self-education; we 
can only select, guide and strengthen, but 
when we have done these things ade- 
quately, we have done a very great work 
Indeed. 

What is true of assemblies and clubs is 
also true of the selection and use of books. 
A book purchased in response to a demand 
Is worth a dozen bought because the libra- 
rian thinks the library ought to have them. 
The possibilities of free suggestion by the 
community are, it seems to me, far from 
realized, yet even as it is, I believe that 
librarians have an unexampled opportunity 
of feeling out promising tendencies in this 
great flutter of educational impulses all 
about us, and so of selecting the right ones 
and helping them on. 

Almost while I have been writing this I 
have been visited by a delegate from the 
Foundrymen's club — an organization that 
wants more books on foundry practice and 
wants them placed together in a conveni- 
ent spot. Such a visit is of course a 



heaven-sent opportunity and I suppose I 
betrayed something of my pleasure in my 
manner. My visitor said, "I am so glad 
you feel this way about it; we have been 
Intending for some time to call on you, but 
we were in doubt about how we should be 
received." Such moments are humiliating 
to the librarian. Great Heaven! Have we 
advertised, discussed, talked and plastered 
our towns with publicity, only to learn at 
last that the spokesman of a body of re- 
spectable men, asking legitimate service, 
rather expects to be kicked downstairs 
than otherwise when he approaches us? 
Is our publicity failing in quantity or in 
quality? Whatever may be the matter. It 
Is in response to demands like this that the 
library must play its part in community 
education. Here as elsewhere it is the 
foundrymen who are the important factors 
— their attitude, their desires, their capa- 
bilities. Our function is that of the organ 
pipe — to pick out the impulse, respond to 
it and give it volume and carrying power. 
The community will educate itself whether 
we help or not. It is permeated by lines 
of intelligence as the magnetic field is by 
lines of force. Thrust in a bit of soft iron 
and the force-lines wUl change their direc- 
tion in order to pass through the iron. 
Thrust a book into the community field, 
and its lines of intelligence will change di- 
rection in order to take in the contents of 
the book. If we could map out the field we 
should see great masses of lines sweeping 
through our public libraries. 

All about us we see men who tell us that 
they despair of democracy; that at any rate, 
whatever its advantages, democracy, can 
never be "efficient." Efficient for what? Effi- 
ciency is a relative quality, not absolute. A 
big German howitzer would be about as in- 
efficient a tool as could be imagined for 
serving an apple-pie. Besides, democracy is 
a goal; we have not reached it yet; we shall 
never reach it if we decide that it is un- 
desirable. The path toward it is the path 
of Nature, which leads through confiicts, 
survivals, and modifications. Part of it is 
the path of community education, wlilch 
I believe to be efficient in that it is leading 



122 



ASBQRY PARK CONFERENCE 



on toward a definite goal. Part of Nature 
is man, witli liis desires, liopes and abili- 
ties. Some men, and many women, are 
librarians, in whom tliese desires and hopes 



spending abilities are more or less de- 
veloped. We are all thus cogs in Nature's 
great scheme for community education; 
let us be intelligent cogs, and help the 



have definite aims and in whom the corre- movement on Instead of hindering it. 



CHILDREN'S BOOKS 



By Johx Jay Chap^ian, New York City 



It is strange how seldom tlie chief end 
of education is mentioned. That end is 
happiness. Our theorists talk of fitting 
men for life — whereas it is life itself that is 
at stake. It would be a sad gift to fit men 
for sucli monotonous lives as most men 
have to live, except by giving them every- 
thing that their lives will not supply. Edu- 
cation is the antidote to environment, it is 
the spiritual life of the world, whicli men 
cannot find for themselves, — no not though 
they be great geniuses, — unless its lan- 
guage has been furnished to them in tlieir 
early years. Very little is needed of tlie 
right sort of early learning to awaken the 
spirit and connect it with the wliole of 
man's inheritance. It is amazing how re- 
stricted are the springs and sources of in- 
spiration, how well tliumbed are the few 
great books of the world. Lincoln found 
his language and liis ideas in the Bible 
and in Shakespeare. If you subtract those 
two books from his boyhood you cannot 
have Lincoln. The roots of his thoughts, 
of his language, of his character and of 
his power are imbedded in this old litera- 
ture, and the significance of his life is due 
to this, — its connection with past history. 
He is the outcome of world-thorougli think- 
ing and of world-cultivation. He trans- 
plants Europe to America, and continues 
on our soil the traditions of old philosophy. 
The task of the educator is to bring the 
young and the great together. Now, curi- 
ously enough, the greatest works are just 
the ones which the young understand. It 
is only the great things that are both spon- 
taneous and profound, and whose meaning 
leaps out fiercely enough to attract the 



child. All the rest of literature implies edu- 
cation, thought and study. But these 
things explain themselves. They deal with 
the major passions, love, hate, fear, re- 
morse, religious feeling, superstition; they 
expound our deepest instincts, truth, jus- 
tice, retribution, the fatality of character, — 
all of which things are in a livelier state 
of activity in the child's mind than they 
are in the adult mind. And tlie great 
works of art are those which have ex- 
hibited tliese passions and these problems 
with such accuracy and power that they 
have become the very alphabet of the whole 
subject to our race, so that an acquaintance 
with them is, as it were, an acquaintance 
witii the race Itself. 

Every European nation has always re- 
garded its classics in this light. Small 
children in Ancient Greece learned the 
verses of Homer by heart. The mythology 
of Greece was adopted by Rome and comes 
down to us through the Middle Ages as a 
direct inheritance, never lost, seldom 
slighted, and always used in tlie teaching 
of children. When tlie Christian era came 
in, the Bible stories were the first thing 
given to the child and drove out the 
classics during a few centuries. On the 
other hand we have the mass of northern 
myth and fairy tale from Teutonic and 
Celtic sources, — all of which grew out of 
national sagas and stories composed orig- 
inally for grown-up persons. It is to be 
noticed in this historic perspective that 
children's books' have always been real 
books, and old books, — books which had 
passed through the mind of the world tor 
centuries before they received the sanctifl- 



123 



cation of being used for childhood. The 
notion of special boolsB for children is a 
very recent Invention. We still follow the 
older practice; for almost all our books 
for children are mere adaptations out of 
ancient literatures, and settings of race 
legends. I doubt whether there is any 
great child's book which is not founded on 
the past, and digged out of earlier litera- 
ture. The stories of Hans Anderson, the 
French fairy tales of Perrault, and Grimm's 
nursery tales are masterpieces of tradi- 
tional literature and show tlie traces of in- 
fluence as old as early Persia. 

It is the same with our own Nursery 
Tales and Mother Goose Jingles. These 
odd little things have a secret charm and 
power that is due to their antiquity. They 
have each survived through some big liter- 
ary quality. The modern substitutes and 
imitations of them which we see marketed 
by our new child theorists have no magic 
in them. They have a melancholy flatness, 
which must give the babies a sad view of 
humanity. 

The good old children's books exhibit the 
whole craft of writing and the history of 
letters. They are little digests of powerful 
traditional art. On them the genius of 
human expression has been lavished during 
many centuries. I have recently been 
reading a burlesque about tales of adven- 
ture and desert islands. All the strong 
points and happy features of Robinson 
Crusoe are touched on, and many of De- 
foe's literary practices and the incidents 
used by him are described. The pamphlet 
was written by Lucian in Greek in the 
second century A. D. It goes to show the 
nature of human genius. Genius is very 
largely the power to summarize old devices 
and make use of inherited art. 

I say then, avoid novelties in dealing 
with children. The gold you seek is before 
you. Here is the very web of literature and 
history; give a tassel or end of it to the 
child. If you don't, he'll have to go to 
college twenty years hence and listen to 
lectures about little Red Riding Hood. You 
may laugh; but this is the kind of thing 



they give lectures on in most Americau 
universities today. 

Before a child can speak, its mind 
should be full of the jargon of letters; and 
every good mother or nurse knows this, 
and sings and talks to the creature in an 
idiom which has been created, molded and 
formed to fit the child's intelligence by 
the wisdom of many generations. Before 
a child is able to read to itself, it should 
have heard many of the great myths and 
fables of the world, and should possess a 
strong hold on religious sentiment. Most 
mothers know this, and teach their chil- 
dren prayers and tell them stories accord- 
ing to the resources of their own education. 
The period before a child can read to itself 
is the critical period of its life. Now is the 
mind open and the heart capable. Now is 
the imagination receptive. The mythology 
and fiction of the world goes to the right 
spot, and modern books too, and some of 
the best of tliem, or anything that the 
parent himself is fond of, given in suitable 
quantities and with more or less explana- 
tion will be readily digested and retained, 
forming a sort of inward house and in- 
habited universe in which the child begins 
to find himself at home. In the decay of 
our general education which has followed 
in the wake of commercial expansion, this 
early parental period has been neglected. 
The men have not had the time for it; the 
women have forgotten it. 

People can as a rule only give their chil- 
dren what they have themselves, — the 
musician, music, the scientist, science, the 
naturalist, a taste for nature. If the par- 
ents neglect their children it takes but 
one or two generations for the past to be 
lost. This has been happening in America; 
but we are now becoming aware of the 
danger. The land is full of farm hands 
and business men who would like to have 
their boys grow up into old-fashioned edu- 
cated men and women. This can occasion- 
ally be done if the parent discovers his 
ambition during the child's early years and 
is willing to take the trouble. The farmer 
gets down his annual and the business man 
his old Pilgrim's Progress and makes a 



124 



ASBURV PARK CONFERENCE 



personal beginning with the Infant. From 
this point on the parent educates himself 
as well as the child. In all this I have In 
mind average conditions, normal children, 
sensible parents. The exceptional child 
shoots ahead of its parents, and soon reads 
and thinks for itself. It is with this excep- 
tional child that you librarians have to 
do, and I am coming to you in a few 
moments. 

The conversations and family discussions 
that children hear and take part in before 
they can read control their tastes and their 
future. This is their first entry into so- 
ciety, — the family dinner, — this Is life. This 
experience makes an ineffaceable impres- 
sion, lasting as it does for several years, 
and at a time when the child has no other 
criterion. It becomes the basis of the 
child's world-criticism. This long course 
in tlje domestic seminary fits the creature 
with prejudices, caste feelings, intoler- 
ances, strong views, habits, tastes and in- 
tellectual leanings that are not likely to 
change throughout his lite. The Jesuits 
have always known this. Their doctrine 
is that if they can have a child during his 
first ten years, you may take him for t)ie 
rest of his life, — he's a Jesuit. 

It is during these opening years in the 
life of the individual that the character of 
any civilization is determined. No public- 
school system can replace this natural sys- 
tem whicli is part of animated nature; the 
birds and the foxes practise it. Religion 
and education depend upon family tradi- 
tion and are transmitted at the hearth- 
stone. 

Let us turn to the brightest side of the 
same subject. A child during its early 
years, especially before it can read, accepts 
with avidity every interest in which the 
parent is interested. I am speaking in the 
great and large, and of the average case. 
A child will listen to political talk, to 
political economy, to astronomy, to Plato's 
Dialogues or Shakespeare's Plays, to 
natural science or to theology, — to anything 
that his parents are engaged on, — if they 
take the pains to regard him as an in- 
telligent being and treat him aa a com- 



panion. The force which does the work la 
the spiritual authority of the parent. Noth- 
ing can replace this. The era before les- 
sons become severe and when all things 
are play is the seedbed of interests. Train- 
ing is another matter, and a matter I know 
very little about; except that I know it 
ought to be serious, to begin early, and that 
it Is best done by professionals. The art 
of training the young has been lost in 
America with the rest of the fine arts; but 
it is undoubtedly going to be rediscovered 
soon. In Europe you cannot find a child ot 
ten, nay, of eight or six whose parents are 
educated, who does not write a good liand. 
He has been trained into It, as a matter of 
course, as a habit, as an inherited custom, 
as a necessity. 

With us the public libraries extend their 
arms to the children who come to the 
libraries as they come to the scliools, — 
from homes where they have been neg- 
lected; and the libraries, like the schools, 
make shift to do the work of parents. I 
have seen those touching little -benches, 
bookshelves and reading-rooms which our 
public libraries provide, and I have often 
reflected, as anyone must who sees the lov- 
ing treatment which the youngest classes 
receive in our good public schools, that the 
state Is providing parents for your children. 
You who work in the libraries know the mat- 
ter from its practical side and you will 
take my suggestions as from an amateur, 
at least from one wlio has only private 
experience. The whole matter must be 
dealt with by you as a private and per- 
sonal one. Let it never become profes- 
sional. The children should be interested 
in the books that Interest each of you per- 
sonally, and in the best of them. More 
than that you cannot do for a child. I 
confess to a prejudice against new books 
written especially for children, because 
most ot them are so bad, and because so 
many good children's books are in exist- 
ence. No book is good enough tor a child 
unless It is a good book, and one from 
which a grown person can profit. If you 
enjoy animal stories, give the child the 
story that pleases you. In this way some- 



125 



thing win pass to the child besides what 
the book gives him. This is the invisible 
part, the Important part of the whole mat- 
ter. 

I should think that you might even set 
hours when you read aloud to groups ot 
children. Indeed I feel sure that you do 
this. To read aloud is a powerful and a 
natural way of leading their interest. It 
gives the opportunity for that sort of com- 
ment which lends life to a subject and 
steers without seeming to instruct. Old- 
fashioned language in a book is a stumbling- 
block which vanishes before an appeal to 
the ear. Miss Edgeworth's Parent's Assist- 
ant with its excellent old English, its 
sturdy good sense and its understanding of 
childhood may be too hard for a child to 
read to himself at the start, yet, being read 
aloud, the language is unconsciously mas- 
tered. I have read a great many ballads 
from Percy's Reliques and the Golden 
Treasury to village school children (who 
are behind city children in natural quick- 
ness), and have found that after a few 
readings the children enjoyed them as 
much as anyone, and called for their 
favorites. I have read long bits out of 
the Venerable Bede, White's Selborne, 
Walton's Compleat Angler, and Dr. John 
Brown's Essays, and I have found that 
the children often followed the readings 
like a pack of hounds. Professor Nor- 
ton's Heart of Oak Series is an excellent 
series of readers, because these can be 
put into the child's hands; but every 
friend to children should make his own 
collection and have his own classics. I 
made a curious discovery in reading aloud 
to bad boys in New York, namely, that 
Seton Thompson and Doctor John Brown's 



dog stories held their attention better 
than the Jungle Book. This to my 
mind scores heavily against Kipling, 
though I am not sure that I can give the 
reason. Perhaps there is in Kipling a 
sophistication, or an exaggeration, or 
coarseness, or chauvinism which will pre- 
vent his works from taking a permanent 
place in literature. 

If you are fond of poetry or mythology 
read that, and read your favorite passages, 
not parts scheduled by someone else. When 
you find a child with a special bent, sub- 
serve the bent and find out something 
about the subject yourself. All this is not 
instruction: it is companionship. You are 
blessedly relieved from the dead hand of 
state regulation which kills the school- 
master's life. You are not obliged to teach 
them anything in particular; but can give 
them whatever you happen to know. 

And bear this in mind, — that all learn- 
ing is a tree, and that the branches go back 
to the trunk and the trunk to the roots, and 
that you are never far away from the 
deepest and the best that has been done 
in literature; but are really related to it 
and are engaged upon thoughts that have 
occupied the greatest thinkers and the 
wisest men of history. In giving a child a 
taste for Shakespeare or the Bible or Mil- 
ton or Longfellow or Emerson you may be 
lifting the intellectual horizon of some 
community and doing as much for truth 
and happiness as many a college. Y'our 
task is both the humblest and the highest, 
a task that sharpens the intelligence and 
deepens the character and keeps ever under 
your hand the best test of all great litera- 
ture, — its effect upon the child. 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE! 



DEMOCRACY IN MODERN FICTION 



By Maky Ooden White, Summit, N. J. 



When Miss Plummer spoke to me last 
winter, quite a long time ago, it seems 
now, on a plan that she had to Introduce 
democracy as a sort of keynote of this 
Association assembled here, I saw then she 
had in her mind a phrase that had been 
ringing in my mind, "the research magnifi- 
cent." I don't mean that she thought we 
would discuss Wells' book, "The research 
magnificent," but I think she saw that the 
whole quest of the thing that perhaps I 
shall call the dynamic social righteousness 
is a research magnificent. I was Impressed 
by the fact last night that Miss Plummer 
had, in such a remarkably finished and 
complete manner, presented her part of it. 
What I have to present has nothing at 
all that is finished or complete, because 
I am speaking about a thing which is not 
cataloged and well arranged. I am speak- 
ing about a subjective groping, a ragged, 
turgid thing in the public soul which is 
aitecting democracy. 

We think of democracy today as an effort 
after a dynamic social righteousness. Most 
of the battles we see in political and eco- 
nomic life are fought around some form 
or other of special privilege which has not 
yet given way before this onrushing social 
trend. The battle surges forward and 
back; it seems lost sometimes; it is some- 
times noisy, but more often quite un- 
noticed. Often the fighters do not recog- 
nize those of their own ranks. As an 
auxiliary this movement has the forces 
of evolution; as enemies it has the solid 
mass and weight of custom and the resist- 
ance which disturbed privilege always sets 
up. 

It would be strange if so definite an in- 
centive in political and economic life were 
not paralleled in art and letters. It would 
be unbelievable if the creative genius of 
the novelist did not seize upon this most 
vital thing, if for no other reason than be- 



cause he has developed a sharp commercial 
instinct in these latter days in fiction writ- 
ing. If this were not so, the Sunday Times 
supplement would not show a picture of 
the Williamsons standing before their villa 
on the Riviera — a villa that might answer 
for royalty. 

Incomes of writers like Meredith Nichol- 
son, Mary Johnston and Frances Hodgson 
Burnett may be even named in the same 
breath as those of Mary Pickford, Charlie 
Chaplin and Caruso. 

Writing novels has become a well-paid 
business in which prizes go to the makers 
of best sellers, and best selling is one 
standard of the extent of democratic de- 
mand in fiction. 

It is plain that only the externals of 
democracy are now being considered. A 
demand for a democratic fiction has 
created a democratic supply. This external 
democracy has no conscious connection 
with ideals of social freedom. It Is con- 
cerned with getting a form of fiction of 
its own, instead of one that belongs to a 
privileged aristocracy of letters. Still to a 
rather crude mass of men this form may 
become a vehicle for social ideals. 

Prof. H. A. Overstreet, of the New York 
City College, writing in the New Republic 
for March 4, 1916, advocates as a remedy 
for our present governmental "cult of in- 
competence," as Faguet terms it, what he 
calls the "philosophy of the common 
denominator." "As a democratic nation 
we have no great hope until we become 
more firmly grounded in the philosophy of 
common denominators," says Mr. Over- 
street. Take, by way of demonstration, the 
numbers 36 and 24. You have a common 
denominator of 12. Take these same two 
numbers and add 42 and you have de- 
creased your common denominator to 6; 
add 21 and it is 3; add a final 13 and 
it is 1. Now take any group of men, say 



WHITE 



127 



librarians, and you will have a large com- 
mon denominator representing the Inter- 
ests which they all enjoy. Add a merchant 
and you have cut down your common 
denominator of interests. "Add a barber, 
a peanut vender, a saloonkeeper, a garbage 
collector." In politics we reduce our com- 
mon denominator to the sectional interests 
of a city. That is, v>'e are now trying to 
group by means of geographical blocks into 
a common political ideal. "We shall never 
get political visions carried out on such a 
plan," thinks Mr. Overstreet. "The true 
social brain center is the group that has 
functions in common, that has interests in 
common and knowledge in common. Until 
we tap such centers as these we shall re- 
main as we are now, socially and politi- 
cally brainless." 

It is by the common denominator sys- 
tem that a certain standardization of maga- 
zines and the reign of the "best seller" 
have been achieved. These things have 
felt for and found the common denominator 
of multitudes. Love, hate, adventure, 
achievement are interest-holding motifs. 
That is, almost any 136 men and women 
can be interested in any one of these 
themes. They may be clergymen, politi- 
cians, tired business men, erotic adoles- 
cents, boys clamoring for the adventurous, 
school teachers, dressmakers or shop girls. 
They are held by an interest common to 
all. If the story carries something more 
than this common denominator, the some- 
thing more may be recognized by the 
clergymen and the school teacher; it may 
be guessed at by the politicians. But from 
the point of view of the commercial pub- 
lisher, the common denominator of 1 was 
the essential thing. It is in part because 
of this problem put up to the writers of 
fiction that the present widely divergent 
theories about what constitutes a good 
novel are due. 

The first thing that may be said for 
democracy in fiction is a word of praise 
and one that belongs alike to France, Eng- 
land and America. Hampered by this 
necessity to write for a liuge mass of un- 
stable readers, a rising level of good work- 



manship is nevertheless apparent. Thus, it 
might seem as if the vehicle for a demo- 
cratic fiction Is In fairly good shape. 

This rise in level of workmanship owes 
more to the newspaper than to the mag- 
azine. The modern newspaper is a motion- 
picture play of current events. A fierce 
competition has made it necessary for 
editors to select brilliant writers and pay 
them fairly large salaries, urging them hard 
during their newspaper life. In Mr. Scott- 
James' "Influence of the press," he states 
that there is very little security of tenure 
of office for a reporter in either the United 
States or England. Young men, employed 
at high salaries, have their "brains sucked" 
for a year or two and are then discharged 
at a moment's notice, often worn out. 
Those blazing signs that ask from the 
tops of buildings in New York City: "Do 
you know that so-and-so is with the Tri- 
bune?" "The Herald?" "The Times?" cer- 
tainly signify a strenuous competition in 
the newspaper world to capture and hold 
a name that is well known to the public 
and will make the paper's circulation race 
like a fever patient's. 

In "Routledge rides alone," Will Com- 
fort has shown something of the ardent 
pains the war correspondent puts into his 
work, the real literary pains, too. That 
reporter who "could make his first lines 
stand out like a desert sunset" achieved 
an artistic triumph. 

Pitted then against the thrill of cur- 
rent dynamic reporting of actual events, 
the novel must seek and hold its public. 
This is not an easy task. Last Thursday, 
June 22, a group of women of the City 
Club in New- York stood on the corner of 
Fifth avenue and 28th street at breakfast 
time and gave out milk and sandwiches 
to the striking cloakmakers. Among the 
writers and artists who had volunteered, 
was Mary Austin, the novelist, and she 
never wrote a more poignant Incident than 
the one she told a city reporter that day. 
It was the story of a man who had walked 
down from the Bronx to get his sandwich 
and his paper-cup of milk. And he walked 
all the way back to carry them to his wife. 



128 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



One of the most dramatic incidents I ever 
knew was in real life, not in a story book. 
When I was in Patei-on, New Jersey, writ- 
ing a newspaper story of the silk mill 
strike, I followed the most affecting funeral 
I ever saw. It was the homely Baptist 
funeral of a mill foreman, who had died 
from the exhaustion of his ceaseless efforts 
to help his fellow-strikers. Streams of peo- 
ple swept along the streets in an unbroken 
line following his coffin through dust and 
fierce summer heat, every one carrying a 
red rose of brotherhood in his hands. These 
they all dropped one by one, silently and 
awkwardly into the open grave. 

It is the task of the modern writer of 
novels to compete with the gripping reality 
of such vivid facts as the daily paper offers 
at every breakfast table. One of the evi- 
dences of the inter-relation of the two 
forms of writing is found in the number 
of novelists who have been journalists. 
Richard Harding Davis, Henry Sydnor Har- 
rison, O. Henry, James M. Barrie are 
easily recognized examples. 

Over against this drive towards crisp, 
live writing fostered by journalism, is a 
rather leveling tendency in magazines. 
This is also a form of democracy, but a 
soulless form. On the whole the magazine 
seems to have affected current fiction par- 
ticularly in two ways: the necessity to pro- 
duce novels in serial blocks, and send them 
forth to a public which reads in haste. 
The magazine has certainly increased the 
hasty habits of a kind of reading which 
requires little cerebration. 

The first of these tendencies has dis- 
turbed some of the unities of good art con- 
struction in novels. The second has made 
it necessary to write for the idlest moments 
of hurried readers. The result is a staccato 
style and a shrill voice. Men and women 
read in trains nowadays and not in "shady 
nooks." What one reads to the hum of 
wheels and the purr of electricity can 
scarcely be the same as that which one 
reads to the sound of a crackling fire or the 
wind in the willows. 

So one might say that while the vehicle 
for democracy is in fairly good shape, there 



is danger that its content may become a 
cheap thing. 

Yet right here let me say before I forget 
it that there is one wing of poetically 
romantic fiction at this moment which sur- 
passes anything in the realm of pure 
Imagination since the days of Hawthorne 
and Poe. This mood, like the present 
dominant mood for poetry arose as unan- 
nounced as a riot of flowers between trolley 
tracks. Perhaps it is a variant of the 
heights of genius which have invented 
aeroplanes, dreamed radio-activity and 
dared to investigate psychical adventures. 

This romance of machinery has also in- 
tensified the democratization of fiction. "In 
spite of the evils of its misuse," says Dr. 
Sellars in his "Next step in democracy," 
"machinery is more stimulating to the 
mind than hoe and handloom. It arouses 
curiosity as something new ; it breaks down 
the old reverence for the past; it induces 
a new attitude tovt'ards nature and human 
affairs. Thus the machine is becoming the 
symbol of the new phase of society. 
Everywhere the horizon is being pushed 
back and a larger range of interests is 
being opened up to the mind's eye. I 
imagine very few people are able to appre- 
ciate the tremendous psychological effect 
this world contact is having. The phono- 
graph, it is said, has already become a 
religious issue in the Mohammedan world." 

For notable uses of mechanical themes 
in modern novels. Wells' earlier books offer 
constant examples. Last year Ian Hay 
wrote a novel about making and selling 
automobiles. Another fairly good one, 
"The jam pot," dealt with the manufacture 
of jam from a famous recipe. 

The question of a common denominator 
lor the reading public is affected also by a 
lack of homogeneous literary backgrounds 
among readers. I was impressed with this 
lack of common backgrounds of interest a 
few days ago when I read a magazine 
article which explained parenthetically 
something as familiar as Daniel in the 
lions' den. I think the parentheses took 
pains to assure the reader that there were 
no casualties during Daniel's visit. A 



129 



clever woman from the New York World 
told me of sending in a story which con- 
tained a humorous reference to Fanny 
Squeers' "off eye." As the proof reader 
didn't know Fanny and was taking no 
chances the phrase came out as a vague 
reference to Miss Squeers' "rather imper- 
fect orb of vision." Safety first was this 
proof reader's slogan. Nothing in the way 
of a libel suit from the Squeers' family 
was to be precipitated by him. Imagine 
always writing for a public that is more 
familiar with F. P. A. in the morning 
Tribune or with Briggs' cartoons than with 
All Baba and the Forty Thieves. Or for 
one which has assumed the latest Bernard 
Shaw-Chesterton-Bostonese which repudi- 
ates Shakspere as too "high brow" by 
half and the Old Testament as dull. This 
sort of super-cultural restriction limits pos- 
sible common denominators just as truly 
as a taste tor an exclusive diet of George 
Ade and Goldburg limits them. 

Last winter when there was a question 
of cutting down the supply of fiction in 
public libraries, an editorial in "Current 
opinion" reminded the public of George 
Tlcknor's letter on a similar subject to Ed- 
ward Everett Hale. George Tickuor's ideal 
for the Boston Public Library was to have 
"not only the best books of all sorts," but 
tlie "pleasant literature of the day." He 
desired also that this pleasant literature 
should be made accessible to the whole peo- 
ple "at the only time they care for it, when 
it is fresh and new^." Observe the naivete 
of "pleasant literature" as opposed to "best 
books." 

Of course this brings up the whole ques- 
tion of censorship — one of the great fac- 
tors in any democratic fiction. In Mr. 
Vachel Lindsay's "Art of the photo-play," 
some rather stimulating suggestions for the 
further democratization of the motion-pic- 
ture play are made. He testifies in this 
book that the "movies" have furnished the 
slums with an equivalent for the saloon. 
They have in some instances even run the 
saloon out of business. They have given 
the common man with the soul-stifling job, 
who drank to forget his every day life, 



something else by which to accomplish the 
fame end. In other words his soul got 
drunk on motion-picture plays. How would 
all the ethical censors in the world know 
how to serve up an intoxicant strong 
enough for this digger of ditches? When 
the world speaks with a commou language, 
we may be able to interpret each other's 
needs enough to determine the spiritual 
and mental common denominators of the 
college and the slum. 

As an instance of the increasing in- 
fluence of the photo-play upon the novel, 
it is only necessary to relate the sales for 
the last week in the news room of this 
hotel — the New Monterey — at Asbury Park. 
Thomas Dixon's "The fall of a nation," 
now running as a motion-picture play, 
seems to have led all other book sales. 

Mr. Herman Moderwell wrote an article 
in the "New republic" last fall maintaining 
tlie thesis that "ragtime music is the one 
indigenous and original type of music of 
the American people that has persisted and 
undergone evolution." It is original, he 
insists; it is our American folk-music. 
"You can't tell an American mediocre art- 
song from any other mediocre art-song. 
But you can tell American rag-time from 
all other rag-time, from popular music of 
any time and any age." Some years ago I 
had a personal experience which proved the 
persistence and effectiveness of American 
rag-time music, and makes me think that 
perhaps it is, indeed, our real contribution 
to the music of the twentieth century. 
When I was at the Hague Peace Confer- 
ence of 1907, I found every band on the 
continent playing "Hiawatha." A little 
Styrian countess in Holland told me that 
she was fond or American music. When I 
asked her which music, expecting her to 
have an intimate acquaintance with Mc- 
Dowell, Chadwick and Horatio Parker, she 
said cordially and with a pleasing gravity 
that she thought she liked "Whistling 
Kufus" best of all. 

Thus it seems as if we must accept a 
certain readiness for the uncanonical to be 
a part of the growth of democracy of fic- 
tion, as it Is a part of the growth of art 



I 



130 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



and music. Everyone knows that the Im- 
pressionists of France who are far and 
away from being an advanced school of 
the present moment, were relegated to the 
Salon des Refuses at Paris but a few 
decades ago. What is vital to democratic 
evolution has a way of persisting. What 
is of the moment only falls away of itself. 
Two young men of genius have been 
snatched out of the world by the European 
war — Rupert Brooke and Henry Gaudier- 
Brzeska. Both might have been what 
Brooke called "half men" singing "their 
dirty songs and dreary" about "all the 
emptiness of love," if they had never gone 
to war. Both showed by their last mes- 
sages and letters that swift reaction to 
realities which is a truly democratic con- 
tribution. Within a few months their 
genius has stiffened and grown clear-vi- 
sioned in what Gaudier-Brzeska called a 
"blood bath of idealism." This swept aside 
almost at once the non-essentials of art-ex- 
pression, which evolution usually purges 
only by time-processes. "Vortlcism" looked 
less real to Gaudier-Brzeska from the French 
war-trenches than it did when he and Ezra 
Pound were editing "Blast" in London. 
One of his last letters says: "We have the 
finest Futurist music Marinetti can dream 
of, big guns, small guns. . . .different kinds 
whistling from the shells.... but it is all 
stupid vulgarity and I prefer the fresh 
winds in the leaves with a few songs trom 
the birds. . . .1 am getting convinced slowly 
that it is not much use going further in 
planes. . . .forms, etc. If I ever come back, 
I shall do more Miles. G. . . .in marble (his 
most conventional work)." In such ways 
does the everlasting, sweet commonness of 
things seem to take care of itself without 
too much meddling of men. 

Thus strenuous action for a common end 
is democratic in its tendency, as we shall 
try to show later. The war is already be- 
ginning to show new reactions in ideals of 
fiction. Coningsby Dawson, one of the 
most modern of novelists whose talents 
have hitherto been devoted to plots show- 
ing the struggle between human passions 
and social conventions, has now joined the 



ranks of stern prophets. He predicts a 
moral democracy after the war. There will 
be no more a special privilege for love 
and beauty, but a renewal of "real heroism" 
in fiction. "The women," says Mr. Dawson, 
"are going to make us practice chivalry. 
In the old days, I think chivalry usually 
was something that men talked about but 
did not practice. Now women, who are the 
great readers, are going to demand chivalry 
in literature. After the war they will de- 
mand heroism In the imaginative world 
which they enter by means of books. In 
the time just passed the whole tendency of 
modern fiction has been fear." In "The re- 
search magnificent" it is the fear of fear; 
in May Sinclair's "Belfry," the fear of be- 
ing a bounder; in "Lord Jim," in "The red 
badge of courage," in Gorky's "Spy," in 
Artzibashev's "Breaking point," the motif 
of fear is repeated. "After the war to be 
taken seriously every book must express 
a strong moral conviction." In other words 
the social moral sense is to be a prevailing 
note in all fiction. "In Gothic literature," 
continued Mr. Dawson, "there is courage, 
but it is always the courage of physical 
strength. The French people have taught us 
that the courage of the physical is inferior 
to the courage of moral purpose. This war 
is teaching us that it is not the petty 
affairs of the individual that matter, but 
the great religious welfare of the race." 

Democracy is most often an affair of 
slow and unkempt growth. Growth itself 
is a "sort of disorder." 

There is nothing more orderly than a 
cemetery where life has ceased to disturb. 
New York City is a constant example of 
the confusion which expansion and prog- 
ress often create. 

In "The new Machiavelli," Mr. Wells is 
constantly likening the Victorian Era to 
one of experiments, one of new starts, "full 
of restricted and undisciplined people, over- 
taken by powers!!! unable to make any 
civilized use of them." In that book a 
vivid picture is given of young Remington 
studying a "submerged and isolated cur- 
riculum in a gloomy London school from 
which the boys would burst out at night 



131 



through their grey old gate into the 
evening light and get the spectacle of 
London hurrying like a cataract, London 
in black and brown and blue and gleaming 
silver roaring like the very loom of Time." 
This brilliant paragraph might be used as a 
symbol of the entire subject we are dealing 
with — it paints so well the sudden contact 
of dead systems with live, existing, rushing 
life. 

But there is another side to the study of 
democracy in fiction. So far one has 
thought only of the demands made upon the 
novelist to write for a widening, changing 
circle of readers. But is fiction not also 
guiding democracy and interpreting it to 
the world? This is to reverse the picture 
and see the novel as an active principle — 
itself furnishing stimulus and not as a 
mere reaction to the stimuli furnished by 
a democratic public. We ought to know 
whether the evolution of democratic 
thought in fiction has been haphazard or 
scientific. We want to see, also, if mod- 
ern fiction is making any contribution 
towards the obliteration of water-tight com- 
partments between men's minds, whether 
it is offering a rational program of social 
freedom. And in the first place, we should 
like to clear up our minds as to v.hat 
democracy is. This word has been so 
hoarsely shouted in Chicago and St. Louis 
of late that we are in the usual four-years' 
fog over what it actually means. A dozen 
nations think they are fighting for it in 
Europe, Asia, Africa and Mexico. It has 
changed its symbols in the course of some 
thousands of years and now makes its 
appeals for franchise and community cen- 
ters instead of magna chartas and constitu- 
tions. We have come to know democracy 
is not a fixed quantity of something divided 
by the number of the population. A late 
view of democracy is that which advocates 
not so much a mental single tax as a 
spiritual socialism. The democratic soul, 
it is said, is a community soul. We know 
it to be something incomplete, something 
in the making, something varied by such 
facts as the entrance of isolated backward 
peoples into the life of advanced and highly 



developed peoples. Something modified by 
railroads, by electricity, by such economic 
changes as the close contact of many 
diverse types, by immigration, by inter- 
nationalism. 

Furetidre, writing in 1666, said, "I shall 
tell you sincerely and faithfully several 
stories or adventures which happened to 
persons, who are neither heroes nor 
heroines, who will raise no armies and 
overthrow no kingdoms, but who will be 
honest folk of mediocre condition and who 
will fjuietly make their way. Some of them 
will be good looking and others ugly. Some 
of them will be wise and others foolish, 
and these last, in fact, seem likely to 
prove the larger number." That descrip- 
tion must once have stood for democratic 
tendencies in fiction. 

These "Simple life" tales treated the 
common man as something good, unin- 
teresting, misunderstood. He was good be- 
cause he was poor. They presented a 
composite picture of humanity, unlike any 
individual, a "torso," incapable of great 
emotions or tremendous actions. Then life 
made fewer demands. Cutting off at top 
and bottom, eliminating the prosperous and 
reducing humanity to mediocrity, men 
thouglit they had gained a democratic pic- 
ture. This was congenial to early Ameri- 
can ideals. It belonged to tiie time when 
we thought all men could be free and equal 
by political definition and not by long 
processes of education, eugenics, and 
social regeneration. We know now that 
democracy is a more ragged and less 
definable, a more vivid and more dynamic 
thing than this. It doesn't let any man 
or woman off with being less than a "hero 
or heroine." 

On the whole it seems as if uie growth 
of democracy in fiction has followed that 
of democracy in philosophy and in eco- 
nomics. This cheerful ideal of a lifeless 
mediocrity was considered a highly "gen- 
teel" picture of democracy until about the 
middle of the last century. It falls in very 
well with what Dr. Sellars calls the 
Utopian period, ending with the Communist 
Manifesto. Fourier was then teaching love 



L 



132 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



of freedom, faith in humanity, dislike of 
caste. Saint Simonian freedom reached an 
impaBsioned pitch in Charles Klngsley. 
But after Marx the proletariat plunged 
rather lieadlong into fiction. Such a raw 
blending of folk arose as Is shown in 
Maxim Gorky's "Spy." Here is the pro- 
letariat only with the rest of the world left 
out — supormen and angels forgotten. A 
certain modern fiction spells People and 
Proletariat with a big "P" until they have 
become Interchangeable. Revolt from lite 
as it is by Gorky runs into a third "P" — 
Pessimism. Given a world of proletarians 
only, what is left but pessimism? Or Big 
Business? And Big Business is the way 
the first part of Ernest Poole's "Harbor" 
undertakes to rescue the proletarian from 
himself. There Mr. Poole indicates a large 
capitalistic method of doing away with 
proletarians, the way of the efficiency 
engineer who has usurped the province 
once claimed by priests only, that of in- 
fallibility. Plan a city, says this new 
priesthood, in the way it should grow. Plan 
the movies in the way they must take. Iron 
out poverty's wrinkles with tiie steam 
roller of political remedies, all in the name 
of Democracy. 

But in the background loomed the oncom- 
ing of another steam roller, as shown in 
the last part of "The harbor," Joe Kramer 
standing for another priesthood, one that 
trusts the people. The name of this steam 
roller was Syndicalism in Joe's vocabulary. 
Joe, too, saw the proletariat as the only 
part of the people spelled with a big "P." 
Not the engineers and capitalists but the 
people themselves were to step forward, 
according to him, and right the world. But 
Joe's democracy left out Wall Street. It 
left out art and music and letters. It left 
out the finer essences of life toward which 
it still continued to point the People as to 
a goal. If the goal when won is to be worth 
something to Joe's oncoming tide of people, 
it is an achievement to those who have 
already won it. Both Joe and the capital- 
ists saw only one side of life and sepa- 
rate sides. 

But I want to get to a deeper 



democracy of which there is an inkling In 
the Incident in Gorky's "Spy," when 
Yevsey, the beaten little refugee of life, 
watched the villagers at night as they went 
to stamp out a fire which had already at- 
tacked several buildings. In their common 
danger they ceased to be the brutish, sod- 
den folk he saw every day. He saw the 
fire like "a many-winged, supple, body of a 
horrible smoke-begrimed bird with a fiery 
ja .V." He saw "the people approach nearer 
and nearer to the great bird, surrounding 
its red head with a black living ring, as if 
tightening a noose about its body. . . .it 
was pleasant and friendly to see all that 
good, kindly life in conflict with the fire. 
The people emboldened one another. They 
spoke words of praise in kindly jest. The 
shouts were free from malice. In the pres- 
ence of the fire everyone seemed to see his 
neighbor as good. Yevsey heard not a 
single malicious shout." But when the 
next day he said to his old uncle "How 
nice it v.'as last night, I mean about the 
people. How they joined together in a 
friendly v.ay. If they v.ould live like that 
all the time. If there were a fire all the 
time," the good old uncle looked at him 
suspiciously and said, "You want to look 
out how you say such things." 

So inarticulate are the democratic 
many, that an effort to express what lay 
hidden in their souls was like a dangerous 
doctrine, as if one had spoken of ghosts 
or too freely of divinities. This was one 
of Yevsey's few attempts to be articulate, 
to put into words his sense that some other 
way of life is possible for men than malice, 
distrust and suspicion. From that day he 
slid further and further into a desire not 
to be noticed at all. No one but Yevsey, 
who was almost an Idiot, realized that 
somewhere in the sordid mass of folk lay 
brotherliness. The thing that he saw was 
greater than any individual; it was greater 
than the sum of all those individuals. This 
In one of the tenets the world is always 
groping after, the truth that lies behind 
the saying, "We need a war to unify us." 
Only One ever said — ever said loud enough 



13S 



to carry far, at least, "We need Love to 
Unite us." 

In the common danger that beset Yev- 
sey's villagers, desire to help each other 
was their common denominator. 

Gorky seems to be past master of this 
Icnowledge that a lack of unity of pur- 
pose holds men at a lower level than the 
collective moral consciousness of tae 
group. Later on in "The spy," when he 
is describing the conditions before the con- 
stitution was granted to the Russian peo- 
ple, he says: "All seemed to know that 
they ought to live quietly witliout malice 
but for some reason no one wanted to tell 
the others his secret of a different life. 
No one trusted his neighbor. Every- 
body hid and made others lie. The 
irritation caused by this system of life 
was clearly apparent. All complained aloud 
of its burdensomeness, each looked upon the 
other as upon a dangerous enemy, and dis- 
satisfaction with life waged war with dis- 
trust, cutting the soul in two." There on? 
has it all in a phrase, "cutting the soul 
in two." The thing which was the real ex- 
pression of themselves, their divided hearts 
were kept from doing. Who does not know 
the experience of feeling that the ideal 
visions in our hearts are too good to be 
spoken, because they will probably meet 
with no response. It is poets wlio dare 
express these visions, and find themselves 
in doing so spokesmen for every one's 
real self. Yevsey, a very worm of a human 
being, driven by fear into less than human 
inarticulateness by distrust, still knew that 
somewhere there was a warm beautiful lite 
if one could only come upon it. His was 
only a fragment of individuality; but the 
consciousness of life's collective strength 
was his. 

So then one comes to the more ordered 
self-expression of the truth of this in H. G. 
Wells' attempt to Interpret this common 
longing of men. In "The new Machlavelli" 
Wells sees this guiding power as the "mod- 
ern equivalent of a Prince." "The old sort 
of Prince, the old little principality has 
vanished from this world. The common- 
weal Is one man's absolute estate and re- 



sponsibility no more. We are in a condi- 
tion of affairs infinitely more complex in 
which every prince and statesman is some- 
thing of a servant and every intelligent be- 
ing something of a prince. 

"In a sense it is wonderful how power 
has vanished, how it has increased. . . . 
Powers of ruthless suppression have van- 
ished. But that is not because power has 
diminished, but because it has increased 
and become multitudinous, because it has 
dispersed itself and specialized. . . It is no 
longer negative, but positive. It is power 
now available for human service. . . It is 
a thing a little, straggling, incidental, un- 
disciplined and uncoordinated minority has 
achieved in spite of the passionate resis- 
tance of the aimless dull. The old appeal 
. . . was for unification of human effort, 
for ending of confusions. . . It was a cry to 
an unseen fellowship ... to no single 
man, but to the socially constructive pas- 
sion in any man. . ." Getting so far. 
Wells could see no way out but that the 
small minority should take control for the 
sake of the aimless dull. In another place 
tlie Man from Putney makes clear who are 
these aimless dull. 

"They (the little clerks) weren't up to the 
game of fighting Martians. They haven't 
«ny spirit in them. No proud dreams and 
no proud lusts; and a man who hasn't one 
or other — Lord! What is he but funk and 
precautions and a bit invested for fear of 
accidents. And on Sunday fear of the here- 
after. As if Hell v/as built for rabbits. 
There's a lot will take things as they are 
— fat and stupid; and lots will be worried 
by a sort of feeling that it's all wrong and 
that they ought to be doing something. The 
weak and those who go weak witli a lot of 
complicated thinking, always make for a 
sort of do-nothing religion, very pious and 
superior and submit to persecution and the 
fear of the Lord." Mr. Wells here contrasts 
two types of mind. The type that says 
"Things have been and so we are here." 
"We are here because things have yet to 
be" says the constructive type, Mr. Wells' 
aristo-democracy. 

For such social ends Mr. Wells sees the 



134 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



novel as "a powerful instrument of moral 
suggestion" and it is thus tliat he uses it. 
So does Mr. Galswortliy, who has been an 
apostle of democracy of anotlier sort than 
Mr. Wells. On paper he is all for trusting 
the People — with a large P — -like Joe 
Kramer. But one doesn't for all that see 
Mr. Galsworthy's people doing it, living 
like Joe over a saloon in an undusted room, 
forgetting to care about their finger nails 
and their health. One imagines them all, 
like Hilary in "Fraternity," dissuaded even 
from immorality by the unpleasant odor of 
cheap scent. In "The Preelands," Mr. Gals- 
worthy shows the injustice of the owner- 
ship of vast estates by a few men. With 
Nedda he scorns the shallow talk of Eng- 
land's economic big-wigs as if "he were a 
part of something heavy sitting on some- 
thing else, and all the time prattling about 
making it lighter for the thing it's sitting 
on." It's all true. But Felix Freeland re- 
flecting on the three products of rural Eng- 
land, "gardeners, gooseberries and the 
Great," knows the Great will do nothing 
about this hard business. "They believe in 
reform but are not up to abolishing the 
game laws. There it is! One won't give 
up his shooting, another won't give up his 
power, a third won't give up his week-ends, 
a fourth won't give up his freedom." One 
feels that except for literary values this is 
about the way Mr. Galsworthy takes it all. 
The cause of democracy grows slowly un- 
der his hands and under those of May Sin- 
clair. She will care too much for class dis- 
tinctions to the end. A bounder who 
dropped his "aitches" had to be taken 
down with a huge gulp even under the 
walls of falling Antwerp. In "The belfry," 
Jimmie's cracking his knuckles oddly was 
a bigger factor in the mind of Jimmie's 
wife's family than all his successes. He 
seemed to them to crack his knuckles like 
the son of a Registrar and not like a Duke. 
If they could only have remembered that 
old Karenin in "Anna Karenina" cracked 
hlB so that Anna could not bear it either, 
even though his knuckles were descended, 
like the rest of him, from nobility. One 
leela convinced that it was not Tasker Je- 



vons' ugly gesture, but its being the ges- 
ture of a man not well born, that mattered 
to May Sinclair. Neither Galsworthy, nor 
Joseph Conrad, any more than May Sin- 
clair, for all their choice of subjects, is a 
true leader of democracy. They are all 
artists first; but after that, they are snobs. 

They are not democratic as to class and 
they are not as to sex. One feels that Gals- 
worthy writes of sex like a poet, Joseph 
Conrad like a Bourbon, who never forgot 
any of his inherited prejudices, and May 
Sinclair like an analytical psychologist. As 
to Samuel Merwin, he naively glorifies 
women as a Fourth of July orator does the 
Stars and Stripes. With Mary Watts sex 
is a calculated element in the salableness 
of her novels and with Theodore Dreiser it 
is an obsession. 

One comes back to Wells for something 
like an adequate democracy here too. Here 
also he has used a characteristic method, 
that of laying bare the processes of his 
mind during its incubation of ideas. His 
sociological books are all like this. His 
scientific books spring more exuberantly 
full-formed from his brain. Says Wells: 
"We are discovering women. It is as if they 
had come across a vast interval since 
Machiavelli's time, into the very cham- 
ber of the statesman. In Machiavelli's 
outlook the interest of womanliood 
was in a region of life almost in- 
finitely remote from his statescraft. They 
were the vehicle of children, but only im- 
perial Rome and the new world of today 
have ever had an inkling of the signifi- 
cance that might give them in the State. 
They did their work, he thought, as the 
ploughed earth bears its crops. Apart from 
their function of fertility they gave a hu- 
morous twist to life, stimulated worthy men 
to toil and wasted the hours of princes." 
And this was the view of women seen in 
the novel of the last century. As with 
Machiavelli, "the world of women was left 
outside." When man went into his study 
to write, "he dismissed them from his 
mind." "But our modern world is bur- 
thened with Its sense of the immense, now 
half articulate, significance of women. 



135 



They stand now, as it were, close beside 
the ellver candlesticks, speaking as Ma- 
chlavelU writes, until he stays his pen, and 
turns to discuss his writings with them." 
It is this gradual discovery of sex as a 
thing collectively portentous" that one 
finds in Wells. Among the other great 
democracies of fiction, this one of sex is 
among the greatest. 

"Woman Is no longer an aesthetic bye- 
play," says Mr. Wells, "a sentimental back- 
ground; she is a moral and intellectual 
necessity in a man's life. She comes to 
the politician and demands. Is she a child 
or a citizen? Is she a thing or a soul? If 
she is a mate, one must at once trust more 
and exact more, exacting toil, cour- 
age and the hardest most necessary thing 
of all, the clearest, most shameless, ex- 
plicit understanding. . ." This is tlie voice 
of democracy. It is the voice of what Mr. 
Wells elsewhere calls "Mental hinterlands 
behind our frontages of prejudice and cus- 
tom." 

Here one seems to have a vast problem 
of mankind, an effort to iind a speech which 
shall represent humanity in Its slow ascent, 
:iot males only, nor classes, only; not even 
bulks of human beings, proletariat, adven- 
turers, lovers. In a certain sense all our 
past efforts have broken down, because the 
collective voice is more than the sum of 
all voices and there has been no real way 
of getting at the collective voice. Democ- 
racy as a demonstrable, mathematical 
problem seems to be something of a failure 
still. Fiction, which is among written 
words most nearly the speech of the popu- 
lace, has no conclusive program to offer, 
but it has an inspiration to give. It has 
wrought out its genius racially with a kind 
of expected exactness. In Russia, its last 
spokesman. Artzibashev, has found that 
the Russian lack of real democracy Is push- 
ing everything to negation. In "The break- 
ing point," a common misery impels all of a 
group of people to a common desire to end 
life. Life has meant to them indulgence 
of the sensual, vodka, dullness and oppres- 
sion, with no freedom of thought. He is 
the noblest who cuts the knot and stops the 



BeQuence. But old Arnoldi shakes his head, 
saying "I don't know"; for he has sat by 
the dying and given his life to save others 
and by the grave of his dead love he still 
feels as if Immortality may be possible 
after all. So does the old professor whose 
mind, not abused with bestiality, turns 
finally to prayer. 

In Prance the novel has been brought 
back to the Puritanic reaction, prefigured 
by the Huguenots. Piety, chastity, nobility 
are words emphasized of late by such novel 
writers as Henri Bordeaux, RenS Bazln, 
Paul Bourget and Romain Rolland. 

The United States has, as yet, made no 
genuine contribution to democracy. Dem- 
ocracy of a constructive type is scarcely 
awake here. Its approximations offer such 
remedial programs as those in "The har- 
bor," and "The turmoil." It has produced 
a leveling realism in Mary Watts, a mean 
view of life in Theodore Dreiser, thin and 
sentimental dabs at social relief in "V. V.'s 
eyes" and "People like that." In fiction 
as in politics, one is more than ever re- 
minded of Carlyle's prophecy in the 
"Latter-day pamphlets" concerning Amer- 
ica: "To men in their sleep there is noth- 
ing granted In this world; nothing or next 
to nothing to men that sit idly caucusing 
and ballot-boxing on the graves of their 
heroic ancestors. . . No, America too will 
have to strain Its energies in quite another 
fashion than this; to crack its sinews and 
all but break its heart, as the rest of us 
have to do, in thousandfold wrestle with 
the Pythons and mud-demons before it can 
become a habitation for the gods." 

Well, America has come far short of 
cracking its sinews and breaking its heart 
to make a great democratic fiction. Italy is 
cracking its sinews in such giant struggles 
to be free as are seen in Fogazzaro's novels. 
Russia is breaking its heart. Its fiction 
has become "an inn of grief, vessel without 
pilot in loud storm." 

Splendid analysis is part of the American 
contribution to the field of novel writing. 
Such laying bare of society as in Edith 
Wharton's "House of mirth"; of commercial 
corruption as in William Allen White's "A 



136 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



certain rich man"; of human motiyea as In 
Margaret Deland's "Helena Ritchie" com- 
pare favorably with novels in any other 
country. The growing democracy of sex 
has been treated with great wit In "An- 
gela's business"; with sympathy, If not with 
understanding, in Samuel Merwln's "An- 
thony, the Absolute." But no great seer 
has arisen out of the ranks of American 
novelists to spealt the impassioned truths 
of democracy. 

In England the belief that the world is 
to go on like a well-directed army has 
found a leading spirit in H. G. Wells. In 
his explanation of the province of the 
novel, in one of his literary essays, he gives 
it ample scope for becoming a vehicle of 
prophecy. He himself uses his novels to 
express his ideals of an evolving conscious- 
ness, "that something greater than our- 
selves, which does not so much exist as 
seek existence." This is the one thing 
Gorky's Yevsey also believed and could not 
explain. It is the thing which drives Ben- 
ham in "The research magnificent" on 
through the fear of fear to find out how 
men may conquer life for themselves and 
for each other. This is to be the work of 
those whom Wells calls "Hlnterlanders — 
all those who make an aristocracy, — not of 
privilege — but of understanding and pur- 
pose — or mankind will fail." 

"There are kings and tyrannies and im- 
perialisms simply because of the unkingli- 
ness of men," said Benham, sitting on the 
heights of La Ferriere and putting into 
words for the first time "this long cher- 
ished doctrine of his of the Invisible King 
who is the lord of human destiny, who will 
one day take the sceptre and rule the earth 
This is the root idea of aristoc- 
racy," said Benham. 



"I have never heard th« underlying Idea 
of democracy, the real true thing In democ- 
racy BO thoroughly expressed," said the 
young American. 

A sweeping circle seems to have brought 
all the writers of the twentieth century to 
one point, that in which the Will to Serve 
has become even stronger than the Will to 
Live. It is the culminating ideal of the 
right of the social thing over the individual 
thing. "Who dies if England lives?" said 
Kipling, voicing not so much the sweetness 
of dying for one's country, as the fact that 
man, himself, lives in the social group 
rather than in the individual. Says Jean 
Christophe: "The smallest among you 
bears the infinite in his soul. The infinite 
is in every man wlio is simple enough to be 
a man, in the lover, in the friend, in . . . 
every man and every woman who lives in 
obscure self-sacrifice which will never be 
known to a single soul; it is the very river 
of life flowing from one to another, from 
one to another and back again and 
around . . . 

"Write the story of this simply ... as 
simply as its own unfolding. There are no 
words noble or vulgar; there is no style 
chaste or impure . . . there are only words 
and styles which say or do not say exactly 
what they have to say." And the life that 
"flows from one to another and back again 
and around" is that which Yevsey saw and 
could not put into words. It is that which 
Benham found at the end of his Research 
Magnificent. It is that which is common to 
all and greater than the sum of all. It is 
the kind of democracy men and women 
everywhere are groping after. And be- 
cause fiction is the very mirror held up to 
life, it is expressing this democracy more 
clearly than any other form of written 
word is expressing it. 



RITTBNHOUSB 



THE NEW POETRY AND DEMOCRACY * 



By Jessie B. Rittenhouse, New York 



This is tlie second time this spring that I 
have had the opportunity to speak directly 
to book people, people who are Intimately in 
the book realm. The first time was at the 
Book Sellers' League, held in New York a 
few weeks ago, and when I looked around, 
and saw those men who dispense our fate 
with the public, I thought it was the op- 
portunity of my life to avail myself of 
Walt Whitman's advice to "celebrate my- 
self." But on the contrary I had to talk 
about Whitman on that night! 

Now you librarians do very much more, 
to my mind, than the book sellers in 
democratizing American literature. You 
have democracy in your hands; you and the 
schools, going hand in hand, are the two 
bulwarks of democracy In America, and if 
we ever get democracy it will be through 
what the librarians do In conjunction with 
the schools to bring it to the public. When 
Miss Plummer wrote to me and said that 
she wished me to speak on this particular 
phase of modern poetry I was glad that she 
named a phase, because overnight there 
is a new phase in poetry. Poetry is mov- 
ing so rapidly that you are likely to get up 
In the morning and find that all the ideas 
you have had during your lifetime are abso- 
lutely exploded. 

When people used to ask you to define 
poetry — you know there are curious people 
who ask you to define things — you were 
able to fall back on the three R's — rhyme, 
rhythm and reason — but now these three 
R's are knocked from under you. You 
haven't them any more to fall back upon, 
and the other day in the subway I heard 
what I thinlc is as pat a definition of poetry 
as could well be. Two men were looking 
over Don Marquis' "Sun Dial." One man 
said to the other, "Well, how are you going 
to know any more what Is prose and what 



is poetry?" and the other man replied, 
"Why, if the lines go to the edge of the 
page, it is prose, but if they stop In the 
middle, it is poetry!" 

I thought that was delicious, and right 
to the point; but the danger of it is that 
pretty soon they won't stop in the middle! 
They are not going to make that concession 
to us very long, because poetry Is in a 
state of revolution. The present movement 
Is like an army with banners, and eacli 
insurgent poet has a different brand of 
revolution. On one of those banners you 
will find imagism, on another vers libre or 
free verse, cubism, futurism, and a dozen 
other things. All of this looks to you very 
much like chaos. You think : What are they 
doing? What does it amount to? Has poetry 
lost its head? It looks that way, but un- 
derneath all of these indications of revolu- 
tion is a law, and that law is that all things 
grow by revolution, and that every time 
there Is a new expression in poetry that 
new expression has had to come through 
tearing down the former tradition. These 
are the birth pangs of the new movement 
that is now breaking down the old 
romanticism. In the twentieth century, 
you know, we decry VIctorlanism. We say, 
"That is so Victorian." We will have noth- 
ing to do with it because it is Victorian. 
In other words we mean that through the 
whole nineteenth century there persisted 
the mood of what we call romanticism; 
and that came in as a reaction to 
what we now call classicism. Classicism 
reached its height with Pope, and 
Dryden, and that formal scholastic, 
stereotyped phase of poetry which we had 
in the eigliteenth century. We know what 
Pope's style is: It is like a sentinel on 
march: the soldier goes back four feet and 
forward four feet. You just come up stand- 
ing at the end of the second line. 

Romanticism, which was the mood of 



I 



188 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



the nineteenth century, was the reaction 
against that dead, formal, crystallized type; 
It meant the breaking up of this type and 
putting beauty, and emotion, and sensi- 
bility, and imagination back into poetry. 
The whole mood of romanticism grew out 
of democracy. It grew through the French 
Revolution. Just at the time when 
Coleridge and Wordsworth evolved the be- 
ginning of romanticism, they were obsessed 
by the French Revolution, and all over the 
world spread democracy. It was like a 
wave of fire from the French Revolution. 
Wordsworth went over to France eager to 
enlist with the revolutionists. Shelley, who 
was a little younger, was the ideal demo- 
crat. It will take probably two or three 
hundred years to live up to the Shelley 
ideal. Byron was a democrat, a revolu- 
tionist through and through. All these 
men started as democrats, and the whole 
movement was radical: it was just as radi- 
cal as what we are passing through now, 
but by the law of all of these things, these 
radical things, after they pass through 
their cycle — which may be fifty years, or 
a hundred years (it was about one hundred 
years in this case) ; they become conserva- 
tive and finally effete. What started as 
radical, at the beginning of the nineteenth 
century, became conservative and doubtful 
when it reached Tennyson. Tennyson 
knew almost nothing of democracy. By 
the time it came to Matthew Arnold it was 
scholastic again. It is beautiful poetry, 
but it Is negative. When the movement 
of romanticism reached Swinburne only 
the sensuous beauty remained. 

It was just as necessary for another 
revolution to take place after Swinburne, 
Oscar Wilde and Arthur Symons as it was 
necessary at Pope's time. It simply had 
to be done and nature raised up the man — 
evolved him — and that man was right here 
In America. It was Walt Whitman! No 
other man could have taken the place of 
Walt Whitman at that time. Whitman 
said, "Everything has been done, the last 
word has been said In meter and academic 
form — it has all been said. Now we will 
have the waves of the sea for our rhythm. 



we will have the undulation of the wind 
over the grass of the prairies, we will have 
the sighing of the pines, we will have all 
the natural things back again." Whitman 
drew his poems from the elements of nature. 
Romanticism vanished in Walt Whitman, 
and in its place came democracy. 

Now there is all the difference in the 
world between Walt Whitman's brand of 
democracy, Edwin Markham's brand, and 
the brand I am going to speak of. Walt 
Whitman was what we call an oceanic soul, 
who received everything — all the streams 
of life flowed into him and he accepted 
everything. To him the criminal was as 
good as the martyr. He said that with 
every criminal who walked handcuffed, he 
walked handcuffed. That was splendid, that 
was the brotherhood idea, the comrade Idea, 
which came in with Whitman. His brand 
was universality. Everything was good 
with Whitman. As a matter of fact, every- 
thing is not good. Some things are very 
bad, but In wishing to put humanity first 
he said, "I am not curious about God; 
what do I need to know about God? I 
am at ease about God. Let me know 
about my fellow men." "I hold nothing 
as good," he said, "that ignores indi- 
viduals. The whole American compact is 
with individuals, and the whole theory of 
the universe is directed to one individual, 
namely, to you." 

Now, that was splendid. Walt Whitman 
gave what we call the communal mood. 
He brought the twentieth century spirit 
into poetry. He did not particularize; he 
had social consciousness but not social 
conscience. You see a difference there? 
Social conscience comes in when you feel 
your personal responsibility to society, and 
Walt Whitman ignored the failures of so- 
ciety and so did not impress upon one his 
personal responsibility to it. He struck off 
the fetters and left the danger which arises 
from undisciplined freedom. 

The other day I attended a Walt Whit- 
man meeting. A conservative happened by 
some great mischance to get in there — a 
delightful man. He said to the audience. 
"All of these single tax people, anarchist* 



RITTENHOUSE 



139 



and socialists are monopolizing Walt Whit- 
man. Vou are putting him out of our reach. 
You are appropriating him as if he be- 
longed to you." They began to hiss all over 
the house. That shows there is danger in 
misinterpreting Walt Whitman. Walt 
Whitman was magnificent; he Is the body 
and soul of this movement, but when you 
strike off the fetters you allow the social 
system to spin lawlessly around. 

When this century came in and Edwin 
Markham came forward he took up the so- 
cial movement and, particularized it. He 
began immediately to arraign society. At 
that time the labor unions were just form- 
ing, the Socialist party was just formed — 
or had been formed a little before that, but 
was just getting under way — and the ques- 
tion of labor and of the poor and of the 
defective, of toil without any hope, was in 
the air. It was in the air, but nobody had 
made it definite, nobody had crystallized it, 
and then suddenly appeared Edwin Mark- 
ham's "The man with the hoe." The man 
with the hoe is not a man with a hoe at all : 
he is the man in the sweatshop, he is the 
stoker down in the bowels of the ocean 
liner; he is the man in the coal mine; he 
is the man anywhere that is working 
without privilege. He is the man working 
without the fruit of his toil; the man 
working without joy; the man working 
without hope, and the hoe is nothing 
but a symbol. Of course, Mr. Markham did 
not mean it for anything but a symbol, 
but at the same time it crystallized and 
spiritualized and brought the whole thing 
before us, and gave to society the social 
responsibility — what we call the social con- 
science, as against the social consciousness. 
There is a good deal of difference in the 
two. 

Now, Mr. Markham had grown up in the 
West. He came up from the people, from 
the very simplest people. He was a shep- 
herd boy. He used to stay out on the hills 
weeks at a time. He would roll up in his 
blanket after he had built a fire to keep 
off the wild animals at night. Then his 
mother sold her sheep ranches and bought 
a great cattle ranch. There were moun- 



tains on the ranch; it extended over miles. 
Then Markham graduated to a pony and 
was a range rider, riding over these ranges 
for mile.s with buoyancy and joy. Mark- 
ham's "The joy of the morning" and some 
of his other poems are filled with this 
spirit: 

"I ride on the mountain tops, I ride; 
I have found my life and am satisfied. 
Onward I ride in the blowing oats. 
Checking the field-lark's rippling notes — 
Lightly I sweep 
From steep to steep: 
Over my head through the branches high 
Come glimpses of a rushing sky; 
The tall oats brush my horse's flanks; 
Wild poppies crowd on the sunny banks; 
A bee booms out of the scented grass; 
A jay laughs with me as I pass." 
The first books of poetry Edwin Mark- 
ham ever owned were those for which he 
plowed a twenty-acre lot. He read Shelley, 
and Shelley made a democrat of him, and 
that was Markham's beginning. You can 
see that out of that background he could 
describe the kind of thing that "The man 
with the hoe" had to go through. After 
Markham wrote that poem a wave 
seemed to pass over American poetry — 
what we call the social wave. Immedi- 
ately all the poets began thinking what 
they could do to interpret this new move- 
ment. Immediately romance went out in 
favor of the social need, and the time spirit 
became a catchword. One of the first so- 
cial poems following Markham's work was 
Robert Haven Schauffler's "Scum o' the 
earth." I think Mr. Carr, of the Immigra- 
tion Society is to follow me and he prob- 
ably knows of this poem by Mr. Schauffler. 
We are all talking about Americanism 
now. A great many Americans are foreign- 
born. This poem puts the blame on 
America for not Americanizing them bet- 
ter. It says they come here by the thou- 
sands and millions and we meet them with 
contempt, we call them the "scum o' the 
earth," and out of that despised and re- 
jected term Mr. Schaufller constructed this 
splendid poem. The poem takes up one 
type and then another; first a young Greek 
like a Hermes, from Socrates' land; then a 
young Italian from Dante's land, Caesar's 



140 



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land, and Angelo's land, but he is only a 
"dago" and "scum o' the earth." Then he 
takes the Pole: 

You Pole with the child on your knee. 
What dower tiring you to the land of the 

free? 
Hark! does she croon 
That sad little tune 

That Chopin once found on his Polish lea 
And mounted in gold for you and for me? 
Now a ragged young fiddler answers 
In wild Czech melody 

That Dvorak took whole from the dancers. 
And the heavy faces bloom 
In the wonderful Slavic way; 
The little, dull eyes, the brows a-gloom, 
Suddenly dawn like the day, 
While, watching these folk and their 

mystery, 
I forget that they're nothing worth; 
That Bohemians, Slovaks, Croatians, 
And men of all Slavic nations 
Are "polacks" — and "scum o' the earth." 

And so the poem goes on. He takes the 
Jew, and he is but a "Sheen ey"; he takes 
them all and then shows how crude Amer- 
ica is, how young America is, to despise 
the people that come from older civiliza- 
tion and bring our art to us, because our 
art comes chiefly from our foreign-born. 
The Jewish boys and young Slavs are com- 
ing up to do the great work in art. 

The nest typical poem I might mention 
is "The Broadway shop-girl." All women 
who work in the social movement, with 
the fallen girl, for instance, ought to read 
that poem. It does not simply classify the 
girl, and tabulate her, but it brings out 
the finer side of the girl. It is a beautiful 
poem; I might give you a little of it. I 
will take the vers libre movement for the 
latter half of what I wish to say, but this 
social movement underlies the other and 
the new poetry has grown out of and was 
secondary to this. Miss Branch, the author 
of "The Broadway shop-girl," is a New 
England girl but she looks like a Botticelli 
picture. She is a classical type, reserved 
in manner, and you never would think she 
could approach the shopgirl in so intimate 



•Miss Rittenhouse quoted the poem 
which is too long to be included here. It 
may be found in "The shoes that danced," 
by Anna Hempstead Branch (Houghton Mif- 
flin). 



a way as to express what is in tlais poem.* 
All through modern poetry, if I had 
time to take up one piece after another, 
you will find scores of these poems. The 
other day one of your New York librarians 
came to me and wished to make up a 
bibliography of the poetry of democracy. 
I told her I could cite her to a great many 
books along these lines, and I should be 
glad to name them now but I must take 
up imagism and the vers libre movement. 
Imagism made its appearance in the 
spring of 1913. It came through Ezra 
Pound, and indirectly by way of Walt Whit- 
man, because all the free verse, and un- 
rhymed cadence emanated from Whitman. 
When Ezra Pound in Harriet Monroe's 
magazine published his first free verse 
called "Contemporania," he acknowledged 
his debt to Whitman by saying it was he 
who broke the new wood and now was the 
time for the carving. In Germany and 
France, and all over the old world the vers 
libre movement came from Walt Whitman 
but imagism came directly from Ezra 
Pound and he had gained the idea from T. 
B. Hulme, a young London poet. Ezra 
Pound picked it up very quickly, as he has 
a way of doing. Ezra's mind is a poetic 
ragbag, out of which he weaves a garment 
for himself. He has ranged from Pro- 
vengal to Chinese, but his work has a 
great deal that is beautiful if not strictly 
original. 

Some time after Ezra Pound had evolved 
imagism came Amy Lowell, who is now 
the head of it in this country. She is a 
brilliant woman, highly eccentric. The 
other day in the New York "Times" she 
.said that James Russell Lowell was a "cul- 
tivated gentleman." No doubt James Rus- 
sell Lowell's "Commemoration ode" will 
outlive anything she has yet done, although 
we will see what she may do. You know 
one of Miss Lowell's most celebrated poems 
is on a bathtub. The idea of imagism Is 
to take the things that are absolutely at 
hand. It does not matter what they are; 
every theme is suitable for poetry — that is 
the primary law of the new cults. Every- 
thing is suitable for poetry; therefore she 



RITTENHOUSE 



141 



starts out in the morning and first de- 
scribes the bathtub. Now the old Romans, 
you remember, used to have a sea shell for 
a bathtub and you could imagine you were 
Venus coming up out of the sea, but you 
can't think that when you are in an Ameri- 
can bathtub! It is impossible! So I per- 
sonally draw the line at bathtubs and coffee 
pots — the next part of this poem describes 
the breakfast, with the coffee pot, the boil- 
ing of the eggs, and all of those things. 
This is hardly, to me, dignified poetry. 

I do not object to poetry about the coffee 
pot or bathtub if one could do it beautifully 
enough — the bathtub is a symbol of democ- 
racy! But it is the only connecting link 
with democracy in the whole of imagism; 
it is the only one I have found. Imagism is 
exotic. It is the Japanese tonka; you know 
the Japanese write much of their poetry 
in the tonka, which is in five-line form. 
Imagist poems are frequently five or six 
lines built upon the scheme of the tonka, 
and they are in that sense like the Oriental 
or the Chinese poetry or like the Japanese 
print. The Japanese print may have one 
thing, balanced by some other slight thing 
in the corner. The imagist idea is to give 
the picture. You are to take the picture 
without comment — that means you are not 
to be introspective in imagism. You must 
not be introspective or subjective; in other 
words, the picture is a picture; if you read 
in imagism a subjective meaning you do 
what the imagist does not expect you to do. 
It is exquisite for an external picture. 

In the "New imagist anthology," 1916, 
just out, there are poems on Arizona and 
New Mexico which are beautiful etchings: 
just what they purport to be, beautiful lit- 
tle pictures; and that is what imagism 
can do, and do splendidly, and so long as it 
confines itself to that, to some external pic- 
ture, a beautiful little engraving or etching, 
with one or two details, it is beautiful, but 
it is not interpretative. In other words, it 
is not subjective. There is nothing in 
Imagism that is not external, and that Is 
their boast. Their word is externality, 
whereas the highest beauty Is internality: 
there is no hidden spiritual meaning that 



the poem is trying to interpret, and there- 
fore to me imagism is sterile and exotic. 
In that sense it is undemocratic, for it it 
were democratic it would have the bigness 
of American life instead of a Japanese and 
Chinese element. But it is beautiful in the 
sense of something purely artistic and ex- 
ternal. Prom the picturesque side I like it 
very much; I enjoy the imagist anthology. 
But after you have read it you cannot state 
which of the poems were written by one 
author and which by another. They sound 
alike. There is a certain colorless color 
about them — they are just about the same 
thing. They have the same form of doing 
things. 

Doing away with rhyme is all right. The 
greatest poetry existed without rhyme: it 
is not necessary. You can also do away 
with formal rhythm. They substitute what 
they call "cadence," rhythm without a 
beat. Of course, you know the difference. 
The old poetry has stress; you beat it off 
in metrical intervals. This poetry is 
without a beat, but is supposed to have a 
cadence. Let me give you a little thing 
which is one of the most beautiful things 
they have done, — one of Amy Lowell's, and 
as I give it you will see that it is just as 
beautiful as if it had formal rhythm: 

VENtIS TltANSIEKS 

Tell me. 

Was Venus more beautiful 

Than you are, 

When she topped 

The crinkled waves. 

Drifting shoreward 

On her plaited shell? 

Was Botticelli's vision 

Fairer than mine; 

And were the painted rosebuds 

He tossed his lady. 

Of better worth 

Than the words I blow about you 

To cover your too great loveliness 

As with a gauze 

Of misted silver? 

For me, 

You stand poised 

In the blue and buoyant air. 

Cinctured by bright winds. 

Treading the sunlight. 

And the waves which precede you 

Ripple and stir 

The sands at your feet. 



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Now, I don't know whether you get there 
the sense of rhythm, but it is in two or 
three words to a line — "Tell me — was 
Venus — more beautiful — than you are — 
when she topped — the crinkled waves — 
drifting shoreward — on her plaited shell." 
You see it does have a beat and a very 
lovely cadence. Miss Lowell is quite equal 
to that, and she does it frequently; it is 
because she was trained in the old forms, 
and she exhibits a sense of cadence — more 
than the other people who came into the 
movement later. 

There are two men of great importance 
in the new poetry, Robert Frost and Edgar 
Lee Masters. I want to mention them be- 
fore I close, because they are a vital part 
of the movement. Robert Frost is demo- 
cratic to the core; he is American to the 
core, and the types Robert Frost writes of 
are strictly out of America. They are the 
New England types from the stony hill 
farms and their barren and unhappy lives 
give you a certain sense of sadness, but 
they are elemental, they are from the 
ground up. You know Robert Frost is a 
farmer; he had a little farm up in the New 
England hills, and had a very diflBcult time 
to keep the farm going. His farm was 
perpendicular; it simply rolled off the hill; 
it could roll, and roll, and roll until there 
was nothing left of it. He had only a 
little money in it; it was mortgaged, and 
he made up his mind he would pull out 
that little money while he could save his 
soul alive. He sold it and went to Eng- 
land. He coined his soul and his last dol- 
lar to bring out his book, and with this 
book he is buying back another farm! I 
don't know what he is thinking of, but I 
suppose he gets his local color up there. 
The new farm rolls just as the other one 
did. He is a beautiful character with the 
face of a Christ. He has a delicate little 
wife and several children, and the tender- 
ness with which Robert Frost approaches 
life is just the opposite of the attitude of 
Edgar Lee Masters. Every woman in 
Robert Frost's work is a Madonna. There 
are only two or three respectable women 
in "The Spoon River Anthology," and one 



of those is ninety years old! Edgar Lee 
Masters is obsessed by sex and the moment 
you take up the book you say, "Here Is a 
man coarser than Rabelais." That is your 
superficial idea; when you read it more 
thoroughly you see it is a big, broad Inter- 
pretation of life; but he sees life entirely 
through its negative phases. In one sense 
that is democratic; in another it is not. 
We have in the Middle West in all villages 
just such characters as these referred to 
in "Spoon River." Edgar Lee Masters' 
father is a criminal lawyer in Lewiston, 
111. He was brought up in that country and 
these are actual scenes from the criminal . 
courts. Many of them are real types, and 
in that way they are vital and probably 
valuable. But in the end I think it comes 
to a very doubtful thing as to whether it 
is well to dig in graves to the extent that 
Edgar Lee Masters does, because if you are 
digging in graves you are pretty sure to 
find something that is ghoulish. 

Perhaps the most beautiful thing in 
"Spoon River" is what he wrote about Lin- 
coln's old sweetheart, Ann Rutledge. You 
remember Lincoln was about to be married 
to Ann Rutledge when she died, and her 
grave is so neglected that nobody knows 
about it. Edgar Lee Masters put these im- 
mortal words into her mouth: 

ANN RUTLEDGE 

"Out of me, unworthy and unknown 

The vibrations of deathless music; 

'With malice toward none, with charity 

for all.' 
Out of me the forgiveness of millions 

toward millions 
And the beneficent face of a nation 
Shining with justice and truth. 
I am Ann Rutledge who sleep beneath 

these weeds. 
Beloved in life of Abraham Lincoln, 
Wedded to liim, not through union 
But through separation. 
Bloom forever, O Republic 
Prom the dust of my bosom!" 

You see, that is a very beautiful thing. 
It is a beautiful thought, that out of the 
love of Lincoln for this girl came the for- 
giveness and charity, and all of the glori- 
ous things associated with Abraham Lin- 
coln. 



143 



There are many high notes, many more 
poetic In the sense of color than that, but 
those high notes show that Edgar Lee Mas- 
ters has a great future. He Is a powerful 
man If he gets to seeing life whole. He 
sees life clearly as far as he sees It, but 
he does not see it whole as yet; his new 
book has a great deal of beauty in it. I 
think Robert Frost and Edgar Lee Masters 
are the most vital of any of the group. 
They do not write absolutely free verse. 



and no doubt these new forms will assimi- 
late with the old forms and modify them. 
An interesting book, lately out, called "The 
new world," by Witter Bynner, is written 
in an unconventional form with infrequent 
rhyme. And we will find that through 
Edgar Lee Masters and Robert Frost and 
all of these others there will be an assimila- 
tion; the new forms will modify the old 
forms and we shall have a certain freedom 
within the law. 



MODERN DRAMA AS AN EXPRESSION OF DEMOCRACY 



By Robert Gilbebt Welsh, New York 



Shortly after Miss Plummer assigned to 
me this topic, "Modern drama as an expres- 
sion of democracy," there came the dis- 
concerting intelligence that the trouble 
with our American drama was precisely 
that, — too much democracy. 

At least, so Winthrop Ames said at the 
dinner given to Miss Julia Marlowe and 
Edward H. Sothern on their recent and 
lamented retirement from the stage. You 
remember Winthrop Ames as the manager 
of our least democratic playhouses, — the 
New Theater that was, and the Little 
Theater that still is, — occasionally. 

"I think we shall diagnose the trouble 
with our stage more accurately," Mr. Ames 
is reported to have said, "if we say that the 
average isn't as high as it ought to be. The 
good plays are so submerged and over- 
whelmed by a flood of inferior rubbish that 
they seem to have been lost in the shuffle. 
I believe that the average quality of good 
plays has declined for these four reasons: 
America is a democracy; we have free pub- 
lic schools; unexampled material pros- 
perity; and labor unions. 

"For these reasons those in America wlio 
have been called peasants abroad have ad- 
vanced a stride in the social scale, increas- 
ing the middle class and quintupling the 
number of our theater-goers. A whole new 
section of the public has suflScient mental 



advancement and spending money to be- 
come patrons of the drama." 

According to Mr. Ames, all that this new 
great clientele wants is a "show," a simple, 
rapid, exciting story told in terms of ac- 
tion. They care nothing for such things 
as character delineation, psychological 
analysis or subtleties of dialogue — the 
things that make for dramatic literature. 

They become the general public and the 
managers are forced to cater to them. 

"The trouble with the drama now, and 
for several years past," continued Mr, 
Ames, "is that it is dominated by a great, 
new, eager, childlike, tasteless, honest, 
crude, general public. And as for blaming 
anyone for it — well, it is pretty poor fun 
blaming a great primal force like gravita- 
tion or democracy." 

However Mr. Ames may feel about it, 
democracy is finding its expression more 
and more in our drama. 

And why not, pray? Are we not a 
democracy? 

The aim of modern drama should be to 
mirror every phase of life and embrace 
every strata of society, and if it achieves 
that aim it will indeed be a democratic art. 

As it is, our theater is in a period of up- 
heaval and change. There are shifting 
currents. All is unsettled. 

Even in the midst of the many pieces 



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ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



which New York as a producing center 
spills annually over the country, — that long 
stream of musical comedies, revues, bur- 
lesques, crook plays, sex plays and the 
numerous farces of high life and low, — 
even In this mighty stream of undis- 
tinguished "shows," there may be found 
the play of ideas, the play that is original, 
that voices the social, and therefore the 
democratic ideal, for democracy is a social 
philosophy. 

Oddly enough, if one takes into consid- 
eration the dramatic output in this demo- 
cratic country during the season just 
closed, he will find that this voice of social 
democracy speaks not so clearly in our own 
creations as in those of foreign dramatists, 
and not in new plays but most pointedly in 
those that won their position not alone on 
foreign stages but in seasons now past. 

These signal plays are three, — John Gals- 
worthy's "Justice," George Bernard Shaw's 
"Major Barbara" and Gerhard Haupt- 
mann's "The Weavers." 

Let us take the last-named first. 

Every day when I go through Thirty- 
sixth street from Fifth to Sixth avenues 
on my way to the New York Herald Build- 
ing, I pass certain quiet, wistful persons. 
Only by close observation in this daily 
passing have I learned that they are the 
pickets of the garment makers' strike, and 
I realize with a curious thrill that these 
persons in the heart of one of the richest 
and most democratic cities in the world are 
actually facing starvation in a conflict 
which has some similarity to the conflict in 
"The Weavers." The wage earners in this 
present struggle represent industrial prog- 
ress and democracy, while the manufactur- 
ers stand for a despotism tempered by 
anarchy. 

Although now twenty-five years old, "The 
Weavers" is as contemporaneous as If it 
were written yesterday. It deals with the 
Silesian weavers of the last century, and 
Hauptmann wrote out of his own experi- 
ence. His father was one of the weavers. 

Here Is a tragic panorama showing, in its 
five episodes, various stages in the misery 



of the weavers from patient suffering to 
despair, revolt, riot and ruin. 

Academic criticism would probably deny 
that the work is a play, judged by accepted 
standards of dramatic construction. Some 
critics claim that it is propaganda rather 
than drama. On the other hand, it has 
been described as a work of genius inspired 
by a humane and philanthropic purpose 
and infused with a great dramatic ideal. 

The first episode depicts the rich manu- 
facturer from whose office miserable pit- 
tances are doled out for their hard labor 
to starving wretches who are too destitute 
to rebel. 

In the next episode we are brought into 
a weaver's hovel, where the starving folk 
are shown, feasting, if you please, on dead 
dogs. Here they are given brandy by a dis- 
charged soldier. Under its baleful influ- 
ence they are awakened from torpor to re- 
volt. 

Again the scene changes, this time to an 
inn where the soldier is rallying the dis- 
contents. More drinks, excited discussions, 
and the weavers are ready for any rash 
undertaking. 

We are next carried to the house of the 
tyrannical manufacturer. The maddened 
weavers rush in and as the owner escapes 
with his family, the mob destroys his house 
and machines. 

The rioters disperse the soldiers in the 
final episode. This reflection on military 
efficiency was too much for the Prussian 
censor and the play was barred In Ger- 
many. Only after many exciting episodes 
was it finally produced there. 

"The Weavers" was produced in English 
in New York City last December by Ema- 
nuel Reicher, the distinguished actor who 
had been responsible for the original Ger- 
man production. In spite of his own dif- 
ficulty with English, and the hard task of 
marshalling the crowds in the scenes, Mr. 
Reicher made a production tliat compelled 
serious attention. The play had a measure 
of success in New York even in an unpopu- 
lar playhouse in a part of the city now con- 
sidered inconvenient, although the Circus 



WELSH 



146 



and the Horse Show are given annually 
under the same roof. 

It was In this same Garden Theater In a 
corner of the huge Madison Square Garden 
that Richard Mansfield, E. S. Willard, Mme. 
Modjeska, Mme. Bernhardt, the elder Co- 
quelin, Otis Skinner and other famous 
players have appeared. 

The play was taken to Chicago. Its stay 
there was brief. Here is its ironic dis- 
missal by Percy Hammond in The Chicago 
Tribune : 

"For some reason or other this commu- 
nity failed to react to Herr Hauptmann's 
threnody of hunger and woe among the 
looms of Silesia in the early '40s, and it 
was still after last evening's utterance at 
the Princess theater. Weary and worn 
fingers, eyelids heavy and red, pathetic ap- 
petites which welcomed stray dog saute, 
mean nothing, it seems, to those who in 
this sector of culture pay to go to the play. 
And so "The Weavers" was as an unheard 
Miserere, uplifted in a desert of comfort 
and ease. Why we neglected to don this 
hair shirt of the drama, especially when 
it was so earnestly prescribed by the au- 
thorities in New York, may not definitely 
be indicated. It is the dependable black 
and white stuff of the theater — -the em- 
ployers all black, the employes all white, 
suffering and pitiable and righteously re- 
bellious. It is said that happy persons like 
to see the distress of unhappy persons in a 
play, but perhaps Silesian sorrows are too 
remote. Besides, the people of a nation 
whose anthem begins with 'O say' may 
easily be cold to a revolution whose hymn, 
as in 'The Weavers," goes thus: 

The justice to us weavers dealt 
Is bloody, cruel, and hateful; 

Our life's one torture long drawn out, 
For Lynch law we'd be grateful." 

That inflammatory quatrain by the 
Silesian Irving Berlin inspires me almost 
as much as Eddie Foy does when he sings, 
reassuringly, in vaudeville, "America, I 
love you, and there are a million more like 
me!" 

Galsworthy's "Justice," the next play in 
our trio, was first produced by Miss Harris- 



man in Manchester, England, a half dozen 
years ago. A little later In 1910, It waa 
produced by Charles Frohman in his reper- 
tory theater at the Duke of York's in 
London. 

After only eleven performances it was 
withdrawn, but not before it had made so 
marked an impression on those who saw it, 
that the prison system of England was re- 
vised because of its plea for the prisoner. 

The group spirit enters into both "The 
Weavers" and "Justice." In the Haupt- 
mann drama the hero is a group— "The 
Weavers" themselves. In "Justice" the 
villain is a group — and the audience is the 
villain. So skillfully does Galsworthy ar- 
raign modern social conditions that the 
audience inevitably feels itself responsible 
for the tragedy. 

John D. Williams, a young American 
manager, trained in Charles Frohman's of- 
fice, produced the play here last spring 
amidst many dubious head-shakings. 

You may have heard Walter Prichard 
Eaton's story anent the first performance 
at New Haven. He came out from the 
theater with Professor Phelps of the Eng- 
lish Department of Yale University. 

"Oh, Professor," said one of the audi- 
ence, "wasn't it depressing?" 

"Madam," responded Professor Phelps, 
"nothing is depressing, — except dullness." 

There were seven New York managers 
at that first performance. Not one of them 
had the courage to open the doors of his 
theater to the play. At the Candler 
Theater, where it was presented, two hun- 
dred persons were turned away on the 
second night and the play has been given 
before crowded houses. It closes on Sat- 
urday night only because the actors need 
a rest and the theatrical season is over. 

"Justice" is a modern realistic tragedy, 
simple yet poignant. It is a protest against 
impersonal justice with its crushing in- 
human force. It is this justice which in 
its relentless revolution picks up a 
lawyer's clerk in London who has forged a 
check in order to get money to help the 
woman he loves in her desperate effort to 



146 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



get away from a brutal husband who Ill- 
treats her and her children. 

Falder at his trial is a pitiable figure. 
It is a fair enough trial, too, but the ma- 
jesty and machinery of the law are shown 
in all their Inhuman action and Falder is 
sent away for two years. 

The prison scene follows with a heart- 
rending picture of the awful results of 
solitary confinement with the collapse of 
the prisoner into something close to mad- 
ness. 

Finally, Falder is shown in the final act, 
a broken human being, unable to live up 
to his parole and finally, in despair, plung- 
ing to death from a balcony. 

A well-known jurist once said to John 
Galsworthy, "1 don't think your play 'Jus- 
tice' is adapted to American conditions." 

"I forget my answer," said Mr. Gals- 
worthy, "but it ought to have been this: 
Human nature is the same the world over. 

"The machinery, the setting through 
which this story of the dispensation of 
'Justice' is presented may be peculiar to 
Britain, but the essential features, the 
usual blind disproportion of the whole 
business, the departmentalism, the self- 
preservative attitude of Society, and the 
emotions at work are the same in whatever 
white man's country you choose to take. 

"The play is a picture of the human 
herd's attitude toward an offending mem- 
ber — heads down, horns pointed — and of its 
blind trampling of him out. A picture 
painted in facts — as all written pictures 
must be— facts which happen to be Eng- 
lish, but which might just as well have 
been American or Austrian or Dutch. 

"If you do not look through them to what 
lies behind, you have missed the gist and 
meaning of the play. 'Justice' is a machine 
that, when someone has given it the start- 
ing push, rolls on of itself. 

"That is true with you as with us, and 
will most probably be true in the time of 
our children's children; if you don't be- 
lieve this, attend your courts and prisons, 
not as a jurist, but as an observer of life as 
a whole; and ask of those who are under 
the wheels. 



"You may not, in America, give vent to 
your self-preservative herd instinct in simi- 
lar trial procedure, in solitary confinement, 
in tickets of leave, but you do in other 
ways, whenever someone has given the 
starting push. 

"Your institutions may be different from 
ours, may be more enlightened — I know 
not; but your human nature is the same. 
The great majority of you will stand shoul- 
der to shoulder against erring members 
of your community, just as we do here. 
You are as liable, or nearly, to stick a label 
on a man and have done with him. In 
your huge and yet loosely-knit country of 
many states, an offender no doubt has 
more chance of escaping the results of the 
initial branding than he has in Europe, but 
that's a mere incident, and not the conse- 
quence of a different spirit. 

"No! You also are civilized human be- 
ings with the same social instincts of self- 
preservation and defense; the same fears of 
not doing your duty to society; the same 
wholesale, perhaps you would rather call 
it wholesome, blindness — inevitable and 
right, you say. So be it. I would merely 
draw your attention to the disproportionate 
result which generally ensues. 

"In this way I have set down the main 
truth as I see It; cleared my conscience of 
a bit of vision. If you in America do not 
think it true because your rules of evidence 
are not the same, your judges less formal, 
your cells more open and your uniforms a 
different color, I am sorry, because those 
things to me seem mere surface differences. 

"But, if, divested of its superficial trap- 
pings, — the trappings with which an Eng- 
lishman whose deliberately chosen method 
is that of actuality, must necessarily clothe 
the story, if, seen naked, seen to the heart, 
the play still seems to you untrue, that will 
mean a difference of vision, not between 
an Englishman and Americans, but be- 
tween one human being and others, and 
each will hold to his own as men ever must, 
without regret. 

"Hearts are deep wells. If only they who 
khow what lies at the bottom of their own 
and other hearts alone were allowed to 



147 



'give the machine the starting push,' your 
prisons and ours would stand empty. This 
play does not suggest that we pursue jus- 
tice to the point of such a calamity as that; 
but it does perhaps Invite us all to look 
into those deep wells 'before we lift a finger 
to set the wheels of justice rolling.' " 

The third play, "Major Barbara," was 
written more than a decade ago. Probably 
because it deals with the manufacture of 
munitions. Miss Grace George included the 
piece in her brilliant series of standard 
comedies at the Playhouse. 

I need not remind you that its author, 
George Bernard Shaw, excels as an expon- 
ent of the Democratic Social Ideal. He is a 
better philosopher than dramatist, but his 
command of wit, dialogue and dialectic 
make his plays absorbing. 

Moreover, the comedy is absorbing in it- 
self. There is splendid character drawing 
throughout. Major Barbara, the heroine, 
Is a wealthy English girl who works for 
the aid of the poor in the London slums 
through the Salvation Army. 

You who have read the play or have seen 
the noteworthy production made by Miss 
George remember its value as a scourge of 
certain social hypocrisies. Poverty and in- 
efficiency are among the many evils that 
Shaw flails. You remember that ironic 
moment when Major Barbara discovers 
that the money to carry on her Salvation 
Army work is supplied by Badger, the 
whisky manufacturer, and her own father, 
the maker of munitions. 

The aim of the modern drama with 
democratic impulses should be to mirror 
every phase of life and embrace every 
strata of society. We need hardly remind 
ourselves that the radical dramatists of to- 
day caught their chief inspiration from 
Ibsen, the uncompromising iconoclast, who 
sought to tear down all false ideals, all 
shams, all hypocrisy. 

We cannot go fully into his plays here. 
Suffice to cite two, "The pillars of society," 
in which Consul Bernlck tries to build his 
life on a lie and in the course of the play 
learns that the Spirit of Truth and the 
Spirit of Freedom are the true pillars of 



society, and "The doll's house," with Its 
argument for the individual freedom of 
woman. There is no need here to go more 
deeply Into his works, familiar as they are 
to librarians, in printed if not in acted 
form. 

From Ibsen we turn to Strindberg, the 
Swedish dramatist, with his repulsive but 
salutary studies of certain types of modern 
woman. 

We find in the German dramatist Suder- 
mann and some of his contemporaries a 
revolt against sentimentalism. He was 
among the first of the modern German 
dramatists to treat on social topics and to 
discuss the pressing questions of the day. 
We have already touched on the work of 
his confrere. 

Brieux in France has been as keen and 
forceful as Shaw, Galsworthy and others 
in England, and Hauptmann, Sudermann 
and others in Germany. 

Brieux' best known work in this country, 
"Damaged goods," you have read, I am 
sure, in order to determine whether it 
should go on your shelves or no. 

In our own country there was a time 
when the drama of social democracy was 
represented by nothing better than a senti- 
mental dramatization of "Uncle Tom's 
cabin." In that same day we had Joseph 
Jefferson's "Rip Van Winkle," but it was 
"Jo Jeff's" remarkable presentation of the 
lovable old Rip that caught the public and 
not the play as a worthy piece of stage 
architecture. 

I suppose the impetus toward a native 
American drama were what the frivolous 
call "By Gosh!" plays. "The old home- 
stead," the first play many of us ever saw, 
is a type. So is "Way down East," with 
its hapless heroine turned out into the 
blinding snowstorm. It was from such 
cheap dramas as these that audiences 
turned eagerly to James A. Heme's "Shore 
Acres," a play of simple warmth worthy to 
be called an American folk play. 

Our civil war gave an inspiration to 
American dramatists which cannot be over- 
looked. Bronson Howard's "Shenandoah" 
and William Gillette's "Held by the 



I 



148 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



enemy" carried the American drama a 
little further along. Augustus Thomas in 
his "Alabama" wrote a beautiful pastoral 
which came at a time when the South was 
recovering from its war-wounds. The scene 
in which a bird's nest is discovered in the 
mouth of an old cannon was a parable that 
spake peace at the right moment. 

Mr. Thomas, now turning toward sunset, 
has written several plays that stand as dis- 
tinct achievements in the American drama 
of the twentieth century. "The witching 
hour" is the most natural, the most 
thoughtful and the most interesting of his 
plays. Telepathy and hypnotism are his 
themes, and they are handled deftly in a 
play with warm human quality, naturally 
and strongly told. 

Not long after "The witching hour" was 
produced I asked a Frenchwoman on the 
way back to her native land that bromidic 
question, What is the most distinctively 
American thing she had seen in this coun- 
try? 

She was not aware that I was specially 
interested in the theater and I have no 
doubt of the truth of her reply. 

"It was a play," she said, "called 'The 
easiest way.' " 

You remember that Eugene Walter wrote 
it. He made of it a remorseless study of 
a pitiful and plentiful phase of life in "the 
tenderloin." 

Its heroine is a pretty girl, frail and 
weak-willed. She escapes from an unhappy 
marriage to the stage, where a rich broker 
"protects" her, as the saying is. Presently 
she falls in love with a young man and 
tries to lead a straight life until he can 
make enough money to come for her and 
marry her. 

She is not a capable actress — merely the 
sort to whom a certain type of manager 
gives certain roles because the girl has a 
rich broker to back her. 

But without her rich broker's help she 
fails to get work, and growing shabby and 
hungry, she finally returns to him for more 
"protection." 

When the young man comes for her, at 
last, she tries to slip away with him but the 



broker discovers her intention and makes 
plain to the young man the relations be- 
tween them. 

Both men throw her over pitilessly and 
the final scene shows her starting out for 
the life of the streets. 

Not a pretty story, — certainly not. Its 
strength lies in its uncompromising truth 
to certain unsavory phases of life. 

Mr. Walter has written several other 
plays, none so biting as this. It led the 
way for many wearisome imitations. 

Eugene Walter possesses realistic power 
without the illumination of an Ibsen or a 
Galsworthy. His plays are a reporter's 
transcripts of certain vital truths, but he 
does not see deeply enough. Here, in his 
plays, is life itself, raw and crude rather 
than life transfused into beauty by an 
artist. But the fact that a present day 
manager was found with the courage to 
produce "The easiest way" was a long 
step on the arduous path of the dramatist 
who dares to express our democratic life as 
he sees it. 

There are other young and aspiring writ- 
ers for the stage. Their work you know. 
In some cases it is on your shelves and not 
on the stage itself because it has not yet 
won the confidence of timid or limited pro- 
ducing managers. The growing and com- 
mendable habit of publishing plays brings 
many works to your shelves which would 
otherwise fail to reach the public. 

Just one thing more. 

It may be that the real theater of democ- 
racy is now with us, not fully recognized, 
indeed, not fully developed. 

Horace Traubel, who was the secretary 
and is the literary executor of that great 
exponent of democracy, Walt Whitman, de- 
fines the new theater in this way: 

"As I have said again and again to Gor- 
don Craig and Percy Mackaye, while you 
are getting ready to hand a theater down 
to the people, the people have got ahead of 
you and are handing a theater up to you. 

"The movie is a crowd creation. It is 
preparing a future for the democracy. It 
can't be made the toy of the 61ite. . 



149 



"You may call the movie house a theater 
or something else. If you refuse us all the 
old names, we'll find a new name for it. 

"It comes along as one of the profound 
revelations of the crowd life. 

"It may not bring with it the sanction 
of tradition. It needs no academic guaran- 
tee. 



"No other audience includes so many di- 
verse classes, individuals, talents, fools, 
philosophers, nobodies, somebodies. 

"It's the first democratic audience. It's 
the introduction of a new dramatic and 
pictorial era! 

"It throws out a net which catches the 
universal man!" 



SOME OF THE PEOPLE WE WORK FOR 



Bt John Foster Cakr, Director, Immigrant Publication Society, New York 



It's work with the immigrant, of course 
— as the jeering cynic says, "doing good to 
one's fellow man at the other end of a 
book." Rejoicing in my equivocal title, my 
first thought is to turn an admiring mirror 
toward your busy selves, and to show some- 
thing of the rapid development and prog- 
ress of a library movement that within a 
few years has become both nation-wide and 
^\onderfully efficient in patriotic service. 
Yet it has been accomplished so quietly that 
a campaigning propagandist has found it 
possible to ask: "Why don't the libraries 
do something for the Americanization of 
the immigrant?" 

What I shall have to say must be largely 
concerned with individual results, and, 
above all, with the opportunities of the 
work. But I must also tell something of 
the magnitude of actual accomplishment, 
and of the remarkable way in which the 
libraries have adapted existing methods 
and machinery, with plentiful invention, to 
this new problem — new in its present in- 
terest and great extent. 

Let me begin by saying that our Society, 
to a greater or less extent, has had the 
privilege of the co-operation of more than 
five hundred public libraries in our par- 
ticular work for the immigrant. With a 
considerable number of them, we have a 
friendly and frequent correspondence, that 
tells its own amazing story of results. But 
for the purpose of this talk, I have espe- 
cially sought the opportunity of knowing 
more intimately of the work now being 



done in the libraries of some twenty cities, 
til at are very actively engaged in the edu- 
cation and Americanization of these for- 
eign-born friends of ours. 

In spite of its newness, much of the work 
has a background of many years of labor. 
There is a wide range of ingenious and 
successful experiment, yet the startling 
thing is the union in common purpose and 
method. I sometimes quote, as true of one, 
a method that is common to nearly all. 
Or I have caught a single activity, as it 
stood out, and have seemed to make it 
represent the complex work of a large and 
aggressive organization. I can here at- 
tempt no fairly comprehensive account of 
these undertakings — only a series of flash 
pictures, taken as the magnesium chanced 
to burn, that together, I hope, may have 
a certain truth of indication. As to the in- 
justice done, I mean later to make full 
amends. 

Let me give you some of the large, or 
illuminating, facts taken almost at random 
from the mass of these records, personal 
as well as formal. Bear in mind that these 
last two years have been years of 
exceptional difficulty. In the matter of for- 
eign literature, it has been impossible to 
purchase any books whatever from some of 
the nations now at war. Add to this, that 
during these two years many of our im- 
portant libraries have been forced, through 
lack of funds, to curtail work, to close 
stations or branches, discharge employes, 
buy fewer books. At such times new ven- 



150 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



tures are the first to suffer or be abandoned. 

Yet see how the work grows! In our 
own city of New York, with Its forty-three 
library branches, those branches having the 
largest so-called immigrant membership 
lead all the others in circulation. The use 
of books in foreign languages has increased 
so rapidly that their circulation now reaches 
nearly seven hundred thousand a year. 
The results have proved so satisfactory 
that the library supply of foreign books 
has been increased thirty per cent in two 
years. The demand? The Italian circula- 
tion has Increased twenty-seven per cent 
in each of two successive years. The Y'id- 
dish thirty-one per cent and forty-two per 
cent. 

Chicago writes graphically how the for- 
eign-born are "storming" the library for 
books in their own tongues. "Crave" and 
"yearn" are the immigrant's words. "The 
shelves for foreign books are nearly always 
empty, volumes being borrowed as fast as 
they are returned." For the coming year 
a generous appropriation is to be devoted 
to the purchase of foreign books; yet this 
is the official word of despair: "The supply 
will still fall far short of the demand." 
Appropriately Mr. Legler tells the story of 
the poor little Jewish boy, whose head 
hardly reached the top of the librarian's 
desk. He wanted "Oliver Twist," because 
he knew the story. It was of a hungry lit- 
tle boy, who lived in a poorhoiise, and who 
always asked for more. "More what? " 
asked the sympathetic librarian. "More 
corn-flakes," lisped the small borrower. 

Cleveland has pushed the work with 
many clever devices. There is, of course, 
as almost everywhere, the systematic use 
of night schools, national clubs and foreign 
language newspapers. But besides, there 
are talks and lectures on citizenship, 
American institutions, the opportunities of 
American life. One branch in a Jewish dis- 
trict supplies Russian tea, and wafers, at 
two cents a glass. The staff numbers many 
assistants speaking foreign languages. 
Patiently, persistently the children are 
used to Interest the parents. Results? One 
branch writes: "The demand for foreign 



books far exceeds the supply." Another: 
"We are losing steady readers who have 
read 'everything.'" Another: "It is sel- 
dom possible to find a single English gram- 
mar, conversation book, or naturalization 
guide on the shelves." Another: "A^tcr 
languages, fiction is most popular." 

St. Louis, like Cleveland and Chicago, 
has made surveys, and on a wide scale, of 
the different populations served by the 
library's branches. It has made sympa- 
thetic studies of their racial and national 
ideals, their cultural backgrounds. Like 
Cleveland, New York and Chicago, it is 
struggling with the problem of nationalities 
constantly shifting from district to dis- 
trict. "Kerry Patch" with its joyous brick- 
bat rule has disappeared before an In- 
vasion from eastern Europe; and the an- 
cient and unchanging "Old French Town" 
is actually becoming polyglot. Industriously 
the work has been pushed. Members 
of the staff have done house-to-house 
visiting. Posters and leaflets have been 
energetically used._ These sentences, for 
quoting, picture the character of the 
work and tell results: "All our material is 
used over and over again." "These people 
devour American history and biography." 
"Grown men and women pass books in 
their own language, pocket their pride, and 
go on to the children's corner." "Books in 
English for foreigners are in such demand 
that we are unable to fill the call." 

One St. Louis branch librarian reports: 
"The one class of books, which reaches 
readers of all nationalities, is the collection 
of easy readers and books on civics and 
citizenship." And for the benefit of those 
who fear divided allegiance among the 
mass of our foreign -born, she adds: "Our 
collection of books on the war is not to be 
compared in popularity to crochet and cook 
books, or books on poultry and auto- 
mobiles." 

Providence, distinguished for its careful 
lists and its Bulletin, and for so much other 
model work in this field, is dealing, like 
several other cities, with a problem of 
twenty different languages. Slides of the 
library have been explained by interpreters 



CARR 



151 



at the movies. The library has helped or- 
ganize meetings of different nationalities. 

Springfield is using attractive leaflets of 
Invitation. Staff members visit the evening 
schools and give library talks. They also 
visit the foreign clubs, treating the people 
"as normal folk," and there is the same 
happiness of result. Detroit, stressing 
"human sympathy," is determinedly mak- 
ing the foreign department a bridge to the 
English. Pittsburgh is successfully using 
window exliibits, and an automobile in 
parade decorated with books and placards 
advertising the library. It has had groups 
of foreigners organized and brought to the 
library on personally conducted visits. 

Louisville, almost outside the immigrant 
zone, is still doing interesting, original and 
successful work with Yiddish. Jersey City 
believes in cultivating patriotism in the 
American as well as in the foreigner, and 
has prepared for general free distribution 
an admirable and attractive series of 
leaflets and pamphlets dealing with the 
origins and government of city, county and 
state, our patriotic holidays, the flag, and 
sketcli biographies of great Americans. 

Buffalo, specializing, has made of the 
small library a friendly center, "where 
guidance can be had to almost anything 
that pertains to the new country." These 
branches give advice and help in the 
humblest matters of daily life — settling 
disputes, naming babies, writing letters of 
condolence, obtaining employment; but 
they also work, and they work powerfully, 
in helping the newcomer to learn English, 
to obtain citizenship papers, as well as aid- 
ing in many difficult cases with the public 
authorities. "Extraordinary work for the 
library to undertake!" would have been our 
comment but a short time ago! 

"It is the personal contact whicli tells," 
writes Mr. Walter L. Brown. And this 
claim of human helpfulness proves its un- 
expected power in the Buffalo library in 
such a matter as dealing with street gangs. 
It is a power based upon the gratitude of 
the people for service generously and 
democratically rendered. A couple of years 
ago a cut was threatened in the library 



appropriation, that would have closed some 
of the branches. An appeal was made for 
the help of those who used tlie libraries, 
and the branches were speedily saved. 

I know no more Impressive testimony 
to the possibilities of this work, than these 
earnest words of Mr. Brown, born of prac- 
tical and successful experience with the 
immigrant in Buffalo: "We believe that 
the branch libraries, if they were as plenti- 
ful as they should be in cities where new 
Americans gather, would practically solve 
the whole problem." 

In Boston, also, the remarkable success 
of the work has brought a remarkable 
faith. The North End Branch writes in 
full conviction: "It is the library which 
has the greatest power to interpret the 
spirit of American democracy to the for- 
eign-born." From the immigrant's very 
first day the library in Boston serves him. 
It is often his official welcomer. And so 
highly does it succeed in its friendly educa- 
tion that new difficulties are discovered, 
and a junior librarian writes from Bennet 
Street in warning: "The librarian's duty 
as a public hostess is not so to socialize 
the library as to make it a public 
rendezvous!" Much work is done in Boston 
that deserves careful description. Sum- 
ming its activities, Mr. Ward, supervisor 
of branches, says of the growing success: 
"With results like that, what librarian 
would not be willing to do any amount of 
work?" 

Passaic, pioneer in the field, systemati- 
cally begins with fundamentals and takes 
for its motto: "The first thing is to inform 
ourselves." And so for three years the 
staff has made special studies in the his- 
tory, literature and conditions of life in 
the native countries of our immigrants. 
Picturesque exhibits have brought many 
foreign-born visitors, and there are lectures 
on Franklin. Washington and Lincoln. "I 
came with a sad heart and a tired head," 
wrote a grateful Italian, "but left with 
joyous, happy feeling." 

And may I end this hasty summary with 
a note of the work so humbly started by 
Mrs. Kreuzpointner, of Altoona? You re- 



152 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



member lier beginning four years ago with 
ten books in a soap box? I wish I had time 
to share with you some of her wonderful 
letters — her quaint and human stories of 
readers. For it is the spirit and wit 
that count. The major problems and the 
work are the same, be the library large or 
small. 

"Our books are read to pieces," she says. 
"We are altruists playing Cinderella on 
short rations. But the joy I get doing 
something with nothing! Some weeks I 
get nothing out of it but mud. It depends 
on the weather. Once in a while I have 
the pleasure of scrubbing up some dear 
Italian boy, before I allow him to 
take a book in his hand. That is where 
the personal touch comes in!" 

And so it goes! The uncouth new-com- 
ers, soon disciplined! The zeal in reading, 
the growing appreciation of our country 
among her members — Poles, Italians, 
Armenians! The sudden success that per- 
force led for a while to taking all English 
books out of the Polish library, until a 
fair supply could be secured, and the 
clamor stopped. 

As I talk to these good librarian folk, I 
find myself always in an atmosphere of 
enthusiasm, when we speak of work with 
our immigrants. They tell me — and I have 
collected hundreds of astounding instances 
— of miracles wrought, of affecting grati- 
tude, of beautiful friendships formed. They 
have level judgments, undeceived, of the 
failings of these newcomers, but they also 
understand their possibilities. And in the 
work they find personal benefits. One li- 
brarian, questioned in an open Boston 
meeting, told me that the first thing she 
and her staff had learned from the for- 
eigner was — what do you think? — polite- 
ness! Another librarian gives the happy 
confidence that she had entered the work 
with the compassion that the kind hearts 
of the first cabin hold for the steerage; 
but that the gain in the end for her had 
been a complete conversion to democracy. 
"I could talk on forever about it," writes 
me one of your most distinguished and suc- 
cessful workers. 



To the immigrant the library represents 
the open door of American life and oppor- 
tunity. "Before we had these books, our 
evenings were like nights in a jail," said 
an Italian in a hill town of Massachusetts. 

"You mean that I can take these books 
home? You trust me?" asked a poor fel- 
low of a Chicago librarian. "If I tell that 
in Russia, they no belief me." 

"Will America ever be militarist?" I 
heard one Italian baker ask of another. 
"No," was the prompt reply, "the friendly 
schools and the libraries are against it." 

I gave a simple sketch of Lincoln to a 
Lithuanian waiter, who came back in a 
couple of weeks and said: "Gee, that book 
you gave me sure did give me a hunch. I 
was sick and out of work, but it got me a 
job." Next I found him struggling through 
Bacon's "Essays" and Epictetus. That was 
only six months ago. The other day he 
wrote me from Detroit, where he had joined 
the library, and had just heard a lecture on 
psychology. 

Wonderful and rapid is often the surface 
change in these people of good will. They 
fall, for instance, very readily into our 
ways and into our vernacular. 

I descended into a greengrocer's dark 
cellar in our Bleecker Street colony. It 
was lit by a smudgy lamp. Peppers 
festooned the walls. The black shawled 
padrona was roasting her big pine cones 
over a charcoal fire. I seemed in Naples. 
An eager signorina was haggling over a 
purchase. I looked. It was about the 
choice of a Christmas tree. I listened. 
She impatiently stamped her foot: "No, 
not that one. It's kinder skimpy." 

It was at the movies — a special showing 
of the film of Paul Revere's Ride for an 
audience of new-come Poles. The bombastic 
English general advanced and imperiously 
ordered his lieutenant to swing wide the 
barn doors, expecting to find a great store 
of Yankee ammunition. But, lo! the barn 
was empty! Excitedly a young Pole 
jumped up, waved his hat, and joyously 
shouted: "Stung!" 

You may fairly take these surface things 
for straws indicating a vital change, a 



CARR 



168 



change often brought about from sheer 
gratitude for the peace and the comfortable 
living of America, and its rough and hearty 
good fellowship. 

Ever in this library work I find a deep 
patriotic purpose, and never do I fail to 
find two thoughts to which I wish power 
might be given. One is that we born Ameri- 
cans need a more perfect understanding 
— a more human understanding — of these 
newcomers, and of the enormously com- 
plex problem that they represent. The 
other is an entire lack of sympathy witli 
this mad propaganda of haste in turning 
the immigrant forthvv-ith into a citizen — 
the foolish beating of patriotic tom-toms! 

Citizenship counts for nothing unless it 
is sought in love and knowledge, and con- 
ferred in dignity. Doubt human nature, 
talk of the menace of the "unassimilated 
foreigner," his violence and crime; force 
unschooled men to learn English within a 
year under the penalty of losing their jobs, 
though you yourself may not have the gift 
of tongues, or be able to learn a foreign 
language for the life of you; force them in 
droves through citizenship classes; and you 
earn only contempt, gaining nothing to the 
nation. But first give a man reasons for 
loving his new country; appeal to his am- 
bition; give him the opportunity he so 
often craves; and then you have a citizen 
indeed! 

Miss Marguerite Reid, whose admirable 
work in Providence has been made so effec- 
tive through understanding and sympathy, 
tells me of an indignant Greek friend of 
hers, an ardent, unpaid library worker. 
"Make them over into Americans?" he 
cried, "Before they have had time to 
breathe the air of freedom? Don't be too 
energetic! Let time do something." 

My mind turns back to these immigrant 
millions — their splendid human material 
for the upbuilding of our country. Among 
them we shall often find refreshment for 
cur own patriotism. The other day in the 
mouth of my friend Gusto, I heard again 
the old slogan of the Know-Nothings. 
"That's just what it ought to be!" he said 
in his fluent Italian. "America for the 



Americans!" "But who are the Ameri- 
cans?" I interrupted. "Why, we are! 
Those who care for America! We, too, who 
cpme here starving and are grateful!" 

In my Intimate living with these humble 
folk of many nations, though many times 
sharply divided by the conflicting passions 
of the war, I have still found them one 
in devotion to the new land. Their 
patriotism is not that of Decatur's: "My 
country, right or wrong!" Not that of 
the distinguished hyphenate's of the other 
week: "My country, when she's right!" 
But among them I have always caught the 
calm certitude: "My country will be 
right!" 

"Patriotism refreshed!" I said. You can- 
not fail of a heartening thrill, when you 
come to know of so many instances of 
patriotic devotion, devotion like that of a 
lover, finding expression in extravagances, 
may I say, impossible to our slower pulses; 
for the rest of us are apt to take our love of 
country too much "as a matter of course." 
And so may I give you three stories, each 
of which I know to be true? 

A friend of mine saw a young Armenian 
hurl himself into the roadway to save our 
flag, a torn and muddied bit of cotton that 
had been thrown away, from the wheels 
of an onrushing automobile. He grasped 
the flag, slipped and desperately tried to 
roll out of the way to save himself, but not 
in time to prevent the crushing of his 
leg. 

And this comes to me directly. A lady 
bought an old colonial mansion in New 
Jersey, reputed to have been used as head- 
quarters by Washington. For months it 
had housed a gang of Italian laborers. 
Fearfully she went to inspect her purchase. 
She found it indeed spoiled — a grimy bar- 
racks. But one room was spotless. The 
answer to her surprised question was that 
the Italians had heard tliat room was the 
great Washington's own. So they carefully 
cleaned it; found a lithograph of the 
famous Stuart portrait in Boston; hung it 
on the wall, and under it kept a glass with 
a floating and ever-burning wick. 

I've been asked to tell you again the 



164 



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tale of my Russian-Jewish friend — ttie 
electrician. I'm glad to do so, because 
only now can I give you the full story. 

He was a little, wizened, squint-eyed, 
old man. He had told me that he came to 
America because of Lincoln, and I had 
asked him how that was. He said he was 
born on the shores of the Sea of Azof, and 
that as a boy he had heard this story: 
Tolstoi was once traveling in the Caucasus, 
and being very fond of public speaking, he 
one day made a speech through an inter- 
preter to a Tartar tribe. He was at that 
time very much interested in Napoleon. 
So he spoke of Napoleon and of other great 
war captains. When he had finished, the 
Tartar chieftain said: "Now, will you be 
good enough to tell my children of a man 
who was far greater than any of these men, 
of a man who was so great that he could 
even forgive his enemies?" When Tolstoi 
asked him who that might be, he said: 
"Abraham Lincoln." 

The next time he heard of Lincoln it was 
in this way: A sailor friend, a Russian 
Christian, returning from one of his voy- 
ages brought back a wonderful book in 
English, of which he knew a little. "It con- 
tains," he said, "things so true and beau- 
tiful that they would bring tears to your 
eyes, if you could only read them." So 
they had some pages of it translated and 
hektographed, and these they circulated 
among their friends. But some of the 
sheets fell into the hands of the police. And 
my Jewish friend told me how he and the 
poor lad's mother, one early morning, crept 
through the shadows of by streets down to 
the railroad station, and from the hiding 
of an old engine-house saw his friend start 
on the long journey to Siberia. "And the 
book?" I eagerly asked. "It was Henry J. 
Raymond's 'Life, speeches and public serv- 
ices of Abraham Lincoln.' " 

And so this man came to America. To- 
day beside his telephone in his little shop 



in New York, there are the two great 
speeches pasted on the wall, and very old 
and dirty they are. I asked him about 
them. "Oh," he said, "I learned them 
quick. But when I am waiting for a tele- 
phone call I let my eye go over them, and 
you know I always find something new and 
something fine. It is like a man who looks 
into one point of the heavens all the time. 
He ends by discovering a new star!" 

An American by right of the spirit! Few 
of them, it is true, are like my Russian 
Jewish friend. But to all of them, partic- 
ularly now, is it our duty to reveal the 
ideal America, to prove that the sacred 
things of our past, and the great ideals of 
our fathers, for which they have such won- 
derful, ready reverence, can still be found 
in the America of today. 

This is the remedy for the divided al- 
legiance that some fear. This is the na- 
tion's great need today — a preparedness for 
the future more important than any other, 
for it will give us citizens filled with devo- 
tion to our country and to the ideals for 
which she stands. This is our work and 
our opportunity. Millions are to come. 
Some of them already are at the gateway, 
eager to know of our life and to have a 
part in it, but barred by ignorance. 

Shall we not with them build up this 
America, one with our past, into the great- 
est cosmopolitan nation of the world — a 
glorious welding of men, who are one in 
their desire for Liberty, Equality, Brother- 
hood and Peace? 

The work that you are doing is a mighty 
part of it. And there come back to me 
certain words from "The dream of John 
Ball." "In these days are ye building a 
house which shall not be overthrown, and 
the world shall not be too great or too 
little to hold it; for indeed it shall be the 
world itself, set free from evildoers for 
friends to dwell in." 



BISHOP 



LEADERSHIP THROUGH LEARNING 



By William Warkek Bishop, Librarian, University of Michigan 



This is the commencement season. Up 
and down the land in the past three weeks 
thousands of young people have assembled 
for their final exercises in school and col- 
lege and university. Hundreds of com- 
mencement orations, perfervid or quiet, 
hortatory or reflective, have been addressed 
to fond parents and their graduating off- 
spring, while teachers and professors have 
listened with a touch of wearied reminis- 
cence to well-worn truth, to lofty aspira- 
tion, to solemn admonition. Diverse as 
these addresses have been, different in 
quality, in manner and in topic, it is prob- 
ably safe to say that one reflection, one 
phase has been absent from no one of them. 
Whatever his theme, whatever his purpose, 
it is a poor commencement orator who does 
not at some moment of his discourse ad- 
dress the graduates as "the future leaders 
of the community." Nay more, it is on 
this postulate of future leadership that 
most of the solemn warning of responsi- 
bility and the ardent exhortation to serious 
use of training and of the fruits of study 
is grounded. To the coming leaders of 
thought, of action does the commencement 
orator appeal. Not to those who will prove 
average American citizens or commonplace 
voters and toilers are his eloquent periods 
addressed. They are, so generations have 
been told, the choice spirits who shall lead 
the hosts, shall guide the republic, shall 
mold the destinies of nations yet unborn. 

With what sardonic inward grins and 
grimaces do old and worldly-wise teachers 
listen to these familiar phrases! And in 
how many audiences have the real powers 
that be, snatching a hasty hour from busi- 
ness in deference to paternal Interest or 
maternal pride, instinctively muttered 
derisive comment on the foolishness of the 
wise men. For both sorts — the veteran 
teacher and the real leader of men — 
diverse as are their aims and their outlook 
on life — know by bitter experience that 



while many are called, few are chosen. A 
generation hence it may well be true — and 
probably will be — that our leaders are 
mainly school and college bred. It is not 
so now, nor has it ever been so in the his- 
tory of this republic. While our uni- 
versities count their presidents and their 
distinguished senators and representatives 
by scores, there have been hundreds of 
equal power and weight who have known 
no academic halls or scholastic training — 
to say nothing of the men in the back- 
ground who made them all presidents and 
senators and representatives. While our 
technical schools have turned out great 
engineers, railroad builders, masters of in- 
dustry, it is not from them that Harrl- 
man, Westinghouse, Carnegie, Rockefeller, 
Ford, Edison graduated, but from the hard 
school of business and industry. What 
man who will run over the list of those 
who have truly led thought and action in 
our country from its beginnings on this 
shore to its achievements on the Pacific 
can affirm that scholastic training produced 
all these leaders? Some of them it did pro- 
duce, — and we may thank God for them, — 
Jefferson, Hamilton, the Adamses, Madison, 
Webster, Sumner, Roosevelt and Wilson. 
But no college counts among its alumni 
Washington, Marshall, Clay, Jackson and 
Lincoln. Least of all is it true that the 
majority of our school and college gradu- 
ates become leaders of men. 

Why is this so? We are all agreed that 
the education received in college and pro- 
fessional school leaves on men and women 
a stamp of quality and fineness. We are 
convinced beyond possibility of doubt that 
without formal education the attainment 
of certain valued and almost vital at- 
tributes is generally so difficult as to be 
almost impossible. Even those very men 
who by reason of native force and ability, 
by sheer pluck and unending toil, have 
reached posts of leadership and large use 



k 



166 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



fulness without formal education are as a 
rule most anxious that their sons and 
daughters shall have the very training they 
have lacked. None of us belittles or 
derides formal training; least of all the 
librarian of a university. 

But if there be this gap between ex- 
pectation and result, if our colleges and 
schools do not train leaders as such, where 
are our leaders trained and what school 
produces them? We are, said Mr. Lowell, 
the "most common-schooled people on 
earth" — "and," he added, "the least edu- 
cated." His observation will not always 
be true, but there still remains ample 
justification for it. It is the school of 
experience, the laboratory of business, the 
seminar of competition that produce the 
real leaders of opinion and of action. And 
in our universities it is probably contact 
with his fellows that brings into con- 
sciousness a man's qualities of leadership 
rather than instruction in classes and lec- 
ture rooms. One of President Wilson's 
keenest observations on university life was 
his dictum that fully as much education was 
going on between the hours of four in the 
afternoon and eight in the morning as be- 
tween eight and four. It is a matter of 
common observation that the leaders of 
student opinion and action are but seldom 
those whose class standing is of the first 
rank. The intense specialization of our 
day in all our universities doubtless con- 
tributes to this failure to develop qualities 
of leadership. Pew undergraduates — or 
graduate students, for that matter, — com- 
bine high attainments in one field with 
comprehensive grasp of many fields, or 
unite scholarship with an ability to meet 
many men on terms of equality and in- 
telligence. 

And yet no lasting and effective leader- 
ship is found which is not based on knowl- 
edge. A moment's reflection will convince 
anyone of this elemental truth. Take our 
own calling, for instance; this very 
A. L. A. of ours. We have had our leaders, 
and of most of them we have been proud — 
and justly. To mention only the dead — 
who will deny sound learning and high 



attainment to Cutter, Winsor, Poole, 
Thwaites, Lamed, Spofford, Billings? 
Somehow these men, and others like them, 
combined a rare knowledge of their pro- 
fession with an ability to use that knowl- 
edge effectively. They not only knew, but 
they kneio how. So it is in almost ary 
field. It is the man who knows and who 
knows how that stands at the top. Even 
in the realm of politics, that most hopeless 
of all callings from the scholar's viewpoint, 
it is the man who knows the ins and outs 
of the game, wlio knows men, and knows 
how to work the machine, that commands 
followers and gets results. Leadership is 
a combination of certain personal qualities 
with sheer ability and knowledge even in 
politics. In every other walk of life it is 
even more conspicuously true that on 
knowledge and the ability to use it well 
and honorably are based distinction and 
honor and power. 

Political philosophers have always been 
doubtful about the matter of leadership 
in a democracy. More than ever today 
when the very foundations of the social 
structure seem rent and torn, when halt 
the world is engaged in deadly strife, and 
when both the alarmist and the pacifist 
are dinning in our ears discordant cries, 
are beards wagged and heads shaken over 
the sad state of this poor republic, bereft 
of sane leadership and dependent on the 
whim of erratic demos. We have, say 
these gloomy philosophers both old and 
new, no hereditary leaders to guide our 
thought and action, we have no rulers 
divinely appointed. We have no ruling 
class. We have not even a leading class. 
We lack great families in whom is vested 
a tradition of leadership, whose many 
generations have served the state honor- 
ably and well. We are left to ourselves, 
and not to folk like you and me, at least 
passably educated and with some power of 
reason, but to a host of unintelligent and 
ignorant citizens with the power of vot- 
ing but with no other asset for governing. 
Only our geographical isolation has pre- 
served us thus far from destruction. So 
runs the burden of these modern vates 



167 



malorum, of late a numerous crew, lament- 
ing our lack of an aristocracy, of hereditary 
leaders, of trained governors. 

In truth the situation is serious enough 
without the groans of the calamity howler. 
On all sides we see facing us new prob- 
lems both internal and external. Our old 
world is making itself over very fast, and 
it is entirely likely that the next thirty 
years will not be a comfortable period for 
any people. In these United States the 
frontier period is pretty definitely closed, 
despite the fact that its needs and condi- 
tions are reflected in the great body of our 
public institutions and laws. It Is perfectly 
patent — though not always perceived In 
Washington — that the old-fashioned politi- 
cal thinker and his machinery both mental 
and moral are out of date and doomed. 
The man who shouts for the Old Flag — and 
the post-offices — is not the sort that 
twentieth century constituencies are most 
keen to return to office. In fact, I think it 
may be said safely, it is exactly in times 
of emergency both social and political that 
the people instinctively turn for leadership 
to the men who both know and know how. 
Knowledge plus efficiency plus character 
becomes vastly attractive in times of stress 
and strain. The leadership which a 
democracy will require — and will get — in 
such times as are ahead of us is no 
demagoguery or chauvinism. These have 
their day — and unfortunately it is some- 
times a long one. But with the need there 
arise the men to meet it, and they will 
be men of that sort of practical learning 
who can unite the best thought of the past 
with a keen perception of the needs of the 
present. They will be men of vision — but 
not visionaries, scholars — but not scholas- 
tics. The man who knows and who can 
apply his knowledge is the sort of leader 
American society needs at the present, and 
will need vastly more in the future. We 
need him in business, in the professions, in 
politics, in industry, in our military and 
our civil service. Sound learning and the 
ability to use it must perforce form the 
basis of leadership in the present temper 
of the world. It takes but a glance at the 



frightful struggle in Europe to see that the 
man who knows, who can use his knowl- 
edge and who can be trusted has come 
to the fore in the relentless sifting of war. 
Even so will our own problems — less dread- 
ful, if not less pressing — demand and (I 
believe) secure — a leadership based on the 
three fundamentals — learning, skill, char- 
acter. 

Well, supposing that all this is true, what 
has it to do with libraries and librarians? 
Granted the thesis — and you do not all 
grant it, I am sure — what place has it on 
the program of the A. L. A.? The topic 
has, perhaps, at least one vital application 
to our own work. We cannot well fore- 
cast the future librarian of distinction 
along any other lines than those I have just 
indicated. Who of us will venture to 
deny that the successful leader among 
librarians must combine an intimate and 
minute knowledge of library processes and 
details with an ability to put that knowl- 
edge to efficient practical use? As librar- 
ians we have a three-fold duty, to gather 
and conserve our material (books), to ar- 
range it to serve the needs of our genera- 
tion (classification and catalog) and to 
exploit it to the best interest of the com- 
munity (service). No one of these divisions 
of our calling can be conceived apart from 
learning, skill, and character. And it is 
primarily his learning which gives distinc- 
ton to a librarian's other qualities. 

In fact, it is a fair question In the 
present state of the world's knowledge 
whether it is possible to conceive any ex- 
tensive and deep learning apart from books 
in libraries. So closely is the actual knowl- 
edge of the present woven with the record 
of each science and art, that it is im- 
possible as a rule to say, "On this side 
of the line lies the past with its error 
and its truth, and on that the reality as 
men see it today." In few, if any, lines of 
work is learning divorced from books. The 
physical and natural sciences, the applied 
sciences and technology seek in books the 
record of their progress. Without that 
record (largely in journals, to be sure) 
they must depend on memory and tradition 



158 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



for a feeble and groping advance. It Is 
almost impossible to conceive nowadays 
any branch of knowledge which is not 
based on the recorded progress of the past, 
whether that past be distant or very recent. 
No science, no discipline, no branch of 
learning under our modern conditions 
flourishes for long aside and apart from 
its record in boolis. The laboratory and 
the factory demand the library as truly 
and persistently as does the historian's 
study or the philosopher's cabinet. The 
practical arts of life, the daily worli of 
the world, are also — to a less extent in- 
deed — dependent more and more in our 
complex social organization on recorded 
knowledge. Preeminence In almost any 
field is more and more an ability to put 
book-learning to vital and practical use. 
To cite but one example from the hideous 
conflict in Europe; the change which has 
come over warfare because of the develop- 
ment of artillery. Can you conceive the 
makers of these dread modern engines of 
destruction creating them without a knowl- 
edge of matliematical ballistics, of metal- 
lurgical chemistry, of the properties of 
high explosives, and a host of intensely 
technical subjects? And where did they 
get this knowledge which has enabled ships 
to destroy other ships below the horizon 
line? From the record in books of each 
successive step in these various and mani- 
fold sciences. 

If, then, leadership is conditioned by 
knowledge, and knowledge largely by the 
variety, extent, and availability of books, 
we may well pause to reflect a while on 
the competence of American libraries as 
regards their books. Is our democracy 
furnished as it should be to aid the man 
who aspires to leadership through his 
knowledge? How far are our resources 
adequate to the demands now actually 
made on them and likely soon to be made 
even more insistently? I shall not inquire 
as to our willingness to make our material 
available, our efficiency In arranging it, 
our power and desire to advertise. But 
have ice the goods f Can American science, 
art, philosophy, criticism, history, litera- 



ture discover in any (or all) our libraries 
its needed and, Indeed vital, food? Here 
Is a question we may well ask ourselves In 
an honest spirit of searching inquiry. How 
well is your library equipped to sej-ue the 
real leaders of your community? We are 
not to ask ourselves whether we do a good 
work, a useful work, but can we do a vital 
work for our day? Can we supply the 
man who knows with the means of 
broadening and deepening his knowledge? 
Do we own the books we should? 

In general, we do not. We have hosts 
of libraries throughout this land. We have 
many large libraries. We have a few huge 
libraries. But we do not yet have any- 
thing approaching in point of completeness 
the British Museum or the Biblioth^que 
Nationale. Dr. Richardson's survey of our 
actual owning of scientific journals pub- 
lished at the Atlanta Conference in 1899 
would doubtless require great revision and 
restatement if made at the present day. 
But even granted all the magnificent prog- 
ress of these seventeen years — for it has 
been magnificent — a survey of the same or 
related fields would show no startling gains 
over the situation in 1899. Only fair prog- 
ress has been made in supplying our funda- 
mental needs in the sciences, taking the 
country as a whole. We have some splendid 
examples of specialization — the Surgeon- 
General's Library, the John Crerar Library, 
the John Carter Brown Library, the United 
Engineering Societies Library in New 
York, the Wisconsin Historical Society's 
Library, and others which will occur to 
you at once, particularly in highly techni- 
cal fields such as law and chemistry. But 
not even the libraries maintained by the 
Federal Government liave yet come within 
sight of the point of saturation (if I may 
be allowed the figure) in their respective 
lines. Our American scientists, techni- 
cians, historians, economists, jurists, have 
not at their command, even with our pres- 
ent development of inter-library loans, such 
resources as are at the disposal of their 
British, French, German, and Austrian 
colleagues. We have a splendid beginning, 
but it is only a beginning. We sorely need 



BISHOP 



169 



to study co-operative buying and co-opera- 
tive use. We must -n-ork together and not 
at random or at cross-purposes if we are 
to put American libraries in a full state 
of preparedness to serve American leaders 
of thought and action. The very eminence 
achieved by the Library of Congress, the 
New York Public Library, the Harvard 
University Library, the Boston Public 
Library, and Yale University Library (to 
mention only some of our millionaires) de- 
mands of them and of the rest of us that 
we all work together to the end that no 
real scholar be let and hindered in his 
work by the absence from these United 
States of the books his work demands. 

At this point I may perhaps enter a 
caveat. Let no one suppose that I for a 
moment ignore or underrate the service of 
our libraries on other than the purely in- 
formational or scholastic side. This is not 
the place, nor am I, perhaps, the man, to 
pay just tribute to the devoted labors of 
those pioneers who have brought libraries 
into being throughout this land. We are 
not now discussing the value to our people 
of the stores of poetry, fiction, literature, 
and art which our libraries are supplying 
to an ever-widening clientele. The worth 
and value of recreative reading no one 
feels more keenly than I. Did our libraries 
serve no other purpose, they would still 
have an ample excuse for being in their 
function of providing good, wholesome, 
attractive, inspiring books for their com- 
munities. Incidentally it may be remarked 
that frequently the lack of such food for 
the soul in libraries of the learned type is 
one of their greatest weaknesses. 

Are we competent on the side of service? 
In general we are. Nowhere in the world 
is the scholar less hampered by rule or 
petty regulation, less hindered by imper- 
fect or wanting records, more helped by 
specially trained librarians. We haTe de- 
veloped a professional spirit, and it is a 
spirit of service worthy of comparison with 
the best Ideals of the medical or other 
learned professions. The note of service 
is Insistent In all our gatherings, all our 
schools, all our libraries. Despite indi- 



vidual cases of grudging use of facilities, 
of poor catalogs or worse schemes of ar- 
rangement, despite all those deficiencies of 
buildings, staff, equipment which we know 
too well, it remains true that the American 
librarian has developed technical efiiciency 
to a high degree, has shown a public spirit 
and a zeal in his work which have won 
hearty recognition from the community. I 
need not fear an accusation of self-praise 
when I affirm that on the side of service 
we are prepared to render real and vital 
aid to research and to learning. More than 
that, we are seeking to find out the actual 
needs of our communities and constit- 
uencies, to bring the library home to them, 
to render not only a willing and competent, 
but an intelligent and sympathetic service. 
But such generalizations as these seldom 
carry conviction. They represent at best 
an opinion, and give but small measure of 
the grounds on which judgment has been 
reached. Consider, however, the actual 
facts revealed by a few experiences. Cer- 
tain members of a committee appointed to 
survey the needs of the scientific and prac- 
tical work of the Department of Agricul- 
ture declared to me a few months since 
that, — notwithstanding the existence of the 
splendid library facilities of Washington, — 
not the least of which is the Library of 
that Department, — notwithstanding all that 
well-known bibliographic work which has 
been so well done in the various bureaus 
of the Department, — the botanist, the 
zoologist, the expert In farm management 
and the agricultural chemist were mani- 
festly and painfully worse off In the way of 
vitally necessary books than were their 
colleagues in England, France and Ger- 
many. The United States government, said 
these gentlemen, should spend a hundred 
thousand dollars a year for five years to give 
the scientist in applied botany and zoology 
the books they absolutely require In order 
to do satisfactory work for the American 
people. No one who knows the government 
service will accuse these men and others 
like them of being visionaries and dream- 
ers. The man who was most emphatic In 
voicing the demand for more, and yet 



160 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



more, books has successfully introduced 
into America the cultivation of the date 
palm in the desert country of our South- 
west, has brought the high-priced Egyptian 
cotton to successful commercial growth on 
the irrigated lands of Arizona with a yield 
which a few years since was five bales and 
last year was over a million, and has 
brought under contribution for the benefit 
of this country the native and cultivated 
fruits of regions as far asunder as 
China and the Sahara desert. When such 
men tell me they can't do their work well 
because we do not have in this country — 
or librarians can not find for them — the 
books they want, I feel it is up to us to 
take notice. 

Most of you are familiar with the efforts 
made some years since by a committee of 
the American Historical Association to lo- 
cate in our libraries copies of the funda- 
mental collections of sources of European 
history. Now it is probably true that the 
prosperity of the country and the quality 
of its leadership can hardly be shown to 
be dependent on at least a sufficient supply 
of these monumental works. But how shall 
we divorce institutions, politics, govern- 
ment from their origins and from the long 
story of their growth? Without these 
sources, how shall we train historians or 
aid them to develop? Are we not heirs of 
European life and culture? In this complex 
of nationalities which we call the United 
States can we afford to be without the rec- 
ord of any and all European nationalities? 
No one library — save perhaps Harvard — 
if my memory does not fail me — was shown 
to have even a working majority of the 
sources of European history when this 
inquiry was begun. Surely the resultant 
purchases alone have justified Dr. Richard- 
son's undertaking. 

Last winter at the Bibliographical So- 
ciety's meeting at Chicago a young Ameri- 
can scholar read a most illuminating — 
almost an epoch-making — paper on the 
sources of Slavic bibliography. One by 
one he unfolded for us the checkered and 
painful record of bibliographic labor in 
Russia, Poland, Croatia, Bohemia, and so 



on. At the conclusion of the paper I turned 
to the librarian of one of our large uni- 
versities with the query: "How many 
of those titles do you suppose you have 
in your library?" "Perhaps five per cent," 
was the answer. At Michigan we proved 
not to have even that many, although our 
collection of bibliographies is by no means 
to be despised; in fact, we have been rather 
proud of it. Comment is unnecessary, 
when one considers that in Michigan we 
have at least two hundred and fifty thou- 
sand people of Slavic origin. 

Take the case of the chemical industries 
as another example. If there is any one 
branch of science pretty well covered by 
American libraries, chemical technology is 
probably that one. And yet an expert in 
but one branch of metallurgical chemistry, 
a scientist who was also an expert 
bibliographer, had to work in half a dozen 
different cities, resorting continually to 
inter-library loans, before he could secure 
for abstracting the greater portion of his 
references on vanadium alone. Even then 
he had in reserve enough references to 
justify a trip to Europe at the expense of 
his employers. The great chemical in- 
dustries of Detroit are writing to us almost 
weekly inquiring about journals of which 
we can get no track in our card and other 
bibliographies. The very fact that we can 
get them so much very properly renders 
them irritable when we have to tell them 
we don't know where a set can be found. 
I might go on — and any other librarian 
here might do the same — showing field 
after field in which the existing and 
recorded literature of value is not well cov- 
ered in our American libraries. In the 
very nature of things it can not be other- 
wise at present. We are after all a very 
young people. Our libraries are not old — 
as men count age in Asia and Europe. 
What I have just said but lends emphasis 
and point to those oft repeated injunctions 
of previous conferences. We must co- 
operate in service to bring out the full 
power of what we have. We must co- 
operate in buying to make our money 



WILKINSON 



161 



count for the most. We must help each 
other by every bibliographic device we can 
invent. We must organize for mutual serv- 
ice of our communities. If leadership 
through learning means anything, on us 
in large measure rests the burden of pro- 



viding the means of learning. If the man 
who knows needs to increase his knowledge 
— as he always will — we must not fail him. 
We must have the books for him. How 
we shall bring him and the books together 
is another story. 



ESTABLISHING LIBRARIES UNDER DIFFICULTIES 



By Mabel Wilkinson, Organizer and County Librarian, Cody, ^Vyoming 



In December, 1914, the Wheatland Li- 
brary Association donated its collection of 
about two thousand volumes, a brick build- 
ing with two rooms, and a splendid corner 
lot to Platte County, Wyoming. 

The Association had been formed in 1896 
by the ladies of Wheatland, first as a read- 
ing circle for mutual benefit, and later for 
the purpose of establishing a subscription 
library. The library evolved under the 
auspices of this organizativn was composed 
largely of fiction, and was supported by an 
assessment of one dollar in annual dues 
from each member. When the Association 
was three years old, Mr. Carey of the 
Wyoming Land and Development Company, 
and later Governor of Wyoming, donated a 
fine corner lot for a library building. 
Through donations and subscriptions from 
the entire community the present building 
was erected in 1901. Prior to this, the 
books were housed in the home of Dr. Rig- 
den. For a number of years the collec- 
tion was cared for, and circulated by volun- 
teer attendants, the building being open 
Saturday afternoons for such service. Nat- 
urally as the collection increased the service 
became very unsatisfactory, and toward 
the last the books were becoming a "white 
elephant" on the hands of the Association. 

In October, 1914, several members were 
present at a meeting of the Women's Fed- 
eration of Clubs, and while there became 
greatly interested in an address on library 
extension, given by Mr. Hadley, of Den- 
ver. After consulting Mr. Hadley regard- 
ing the county library law, which Wyoming 
has had since 1886 and from which the 



residents while paying taxes annually for 
library purposes had been getting no re- 
turns in the majority of cases — most of 
them not even being aware that the state 
has such a law — the Wheatland library 
trustees found that if they wished to do- 
nate a collection of books, a building, or 
anything pertaining to library work to any 
county, the county would be obliged to ac- 
cept the gift. The law provides also for 
the appointment of three trustees who shall 
be responsible for securing an organizer, a 
competent librarian, and see that a tax of 
not less than one-eighth, nor more than 
one-half mill on the dollar be provided for 
the organization, furnishing, and perma- 
nent support of the library according to ap- 
proved library methods, and that all books 
purchased from the county fund be In- 
structive and of a nature to improve the 
mind and character of the reader. 

After the report from its delegates, the 
W. T. K. Club of Wheatland appointed a 
committee to confer with the trustees of 
the Library Association, and through their 
efforts the collection, building, and lot 
were formally deeded to Platte County. 
The following February an organizer was 
secured for a term of four months to get 
everything in working order and plan ex- 
tension work in advance, "on a strictly 
county basis." 

The organization was begun at once and 
has progressed steadily and rapidly since. 
In addition to the necessary technical 
work, special entertainments were ar- 
ranged for the purpose of raising funds 
with which to purchase new books, as the 



162 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



appropriation made by the outgoing com- 
missioners was too small to cover the necee- 
sary expenses for the first year. Unfor- 
tunately the entertainments were given too 
soon to obtain the best results; the people 
being antagonistic at first in their attitude 
toward anything which might have a ten- 
dency to raise the taxes, besides demand- 
ing extra support at the very beginning. 
Fortunately their antagonism vanished as 
soon as they were made to realize the ad- 
vantages of the system, and the manifold 
returns from the amount of money ex- 
pended. Through the entertainments 
enough was secured to get some excellent 
material for the story hour, which has been 
established from ten to eleven o'clock every 
Saturday for the benefit of the children of 
Wheatland and surrounding country. 

As there was no place in which the young 
people of Wheatland could spend their 
evenings in a social way, the library has 
been closed as a reading room each Monday 
evening, and thrown open as a clubroom to 
all young women over twenty; girls over 
sixteen and under twenty; young men; and 
boys; each organization in turn having a 
monthly meeting at the library building 
under the direction either of the librarian 
or one of the directors. The reading room 
is also kept open Sunday afternoons in or- 
der to provide an attractive place for one 
to spend his time without being obliged to 
stay in a cheerless room, walk the streets, 
frequent the pool halls or saloons. 

Since opening on a regular library basis, 
every effort has been made to reach and 
interest the people in library work and ex- 
tension throughout Platte County. It is 
our aim to provide each Individual, who 
is able to read, with the best available 
literature. Consequently I recently made a 
library trip over the entire county with 
this in view. To be sure we are handi- 
capped this year with a tiny collection, no 
funds, enormous distances between thinly 
populated settlements, and few as well as 
poor railroad facilities, but we intend to 
have our collections used to the greatest 
possible extent. Therefore, I visited each 
post-office, town, village and hamlet in the 



county on this trip. The interest shown 
ia the various communities concerning 
their welfare where educational ad- 
vantages of every kind are limited, has cer- 
tainly aroused the good will and generosity 
of all concerned, not only toward my horse 
"Joker" and me, but in a willingness to 
meet any extra tax levy for library pur- 
poses, and to donate every service possible 
to assist the work and its extension. 

As distances are great, train service ex- 
tremely poor, and automobile service high, 
my entire library extension trip of two 
weeks' duration had to be made on horse- 
back, the journey covering about four hun- 
dred miles through very rough country, over 
poor roads, and worse trails with very few 
accommodations along the line. Numerous 
claims are being filed on constantly, and 
while one may ride jauntily down a fairly 
good road from one hamlet to another 
today, it is nothing to return on the mor- 
row and find the road well fenced in. 
Then there is nothing to do but scout 
around and keep the general location of 
destination in mind until another road or 
trail leading approximately in that direc- 
tion is found. Of course there is always 
danger of a novice going miles out of the 
way, or even getting lost, but that is only 
a part of the work and of the joy of living, 
and if one doesn't arrive today, tomorrow 
does just as well. 

For three weeks preceding the library ex- 
tension trip, all of my spare time was en- 
gaged in trying out saddle horses of various 
sizes, colors, dispositions, and qualifica- 
tions. Seven horses submitted were guar- 
anteed to be absolutely gentle, tough, not 
afraid of anything and as sound as a dollar. 
Two of them were so old that they could not 
have gone ten miles; one insisted on getting 
down on his knees every time there was a 
hill to be climbed; another stood straight 
on his hind legs and whirled around each 
time I mounted and whenever I met an 
automobile or motorcycle; another flatly 
refused to carry anything besides the rider ; 
the sixth had a nasty habit of jumping 
violently to one side of the road without 
any reason or warning, and the seventh 



WILKINSON 



163 



bucked his owner off before he was quite 
through guaranteeing him! The eighth 
was a young bay pony, sound in wind and 
limb, extremely nervous and as quick as 
a cat: he had a Roman nose and a decided 
broncho slope to his hips, furthermore his 
owner said that he would not guarantee one 
thing about him, excepting that he had 
never done a mean thing so far in his life, 
that he was not "lady-broke" and was not 
overly gentle! The pony meanwhile winked 
lazily at me and showed his teeth! 

I mounted, fired a gun, put a pack on 
him, in fact took all the liberties with him 
that I could think of, and each time he 
"made good," so "Joker" was chosen to be 
the library horse for this memorable trip. 

The first place visited for preliminary ex- 
tension work was Lakeview, a tiny hamlet 
in the heart of the Goshen Hole dry-farm- 
ing district about twenty-three miles south- 
east of Wheatland. I am still wondering 
whence it got its name as there isn't 
a sign of water within miles. Miss Jones, 
commonly known as "Jimmy," the owner 
of the Ideal picture theatre, became in- 
terested in the extension work, and after 
giving an especially good show for the 
benefit of the library, decided to hire a 
horse and accompany me over the county, 
beginning with a trip to Lakeview. 

Such a time as we had trying to get in- 
formation how to find the place! Each 
person consulted gave us entirely different 
directions, but they all agreed that Lake- 
view was southeast of Wheatland; that we 
follow the main travelled road through 
Seaburn CaiSon, and we'd get there. To 
get back, it would be necessary to come 
by the way of the Dickerson Canon, — "It's 
farther, but it saves a bad climb up a hill 
four miles long!" With these definite direc- 
tions v.-e started, sticky mud under foot 
and heavy clouds over head. Owing to the 
weather we drove a sedate black horse 
commonly known as "Blizzard, the ladies' 
favorite." 

We followed a fairly visible road without 
trouble out through Antelope Gap, which 
lies about twelve miles east of Wheatland. 
The Gap received its name from the vast 



herds of antelope which have used it as a 
favorite grazing ground since long before 
the white man came. It is a large natural 
enclosure with few outlets, embracing rich 
grazing lands, fed by numerous springs, 
and broken here and there by gigantic rock 
deposits of peculiar formation, many of 
which resemble the ruins of castles to such 
an extent that one almost imagines that 
he lias been suddenly transported into some 
warlike place of the mediaeval period. 

Our troubles began almost as soon as we 
left Antelope Gap. The "main traveled 
road" suddenly went off in three directions, 
all equally popular. We took the left hand 
road only to find it fenced in by some new 
settler who had taken up a homestead 
within the past week. We struck off across 
country and soon found another road, but 
it led to a different part of Goshen Hole 
altogether. By this time we were utterly 
disgusted with roads, and turned "Bliz- 
zard's" head point blank across the track- 
less prairie in sheer desperation, telling 
him to "hit the trail!" 

For nearly an hour we rocked and 
bumped over rolling prairie, part of the 
time a driving Wyoming rain doing its best 
to cool our over-heated dispositions. 
Thanks to "Blizzard" we suddenly struck 
a trail which dropped off the rim of Goshen 
Hole into the Seaburn Canon entrance, and 
after some fancy balancing stunts on the 
part of the "buggy," and some neat turns- 
on the part of "Blizzard" we struck the 
canon road safely and enjoyed a very pic- 
turesque drive for the remaining two miles 
down into Lakeview. 

For miles on either side the country 
stretches out perfectly fiat, broken here and 
there by a tiny claim shack, and an oc- 
casional small ridge of rocks. The entire 
space is enclosed by an abrupt wall rising 
some two or three hundred feet and 
through which are very few entrances, the 
better known being the Seaburn Canon 
and the Dickerson CaSon roads, the others 
being mostly cattle trails. Goshen Hole, 
as it is called, gives one the Impression 
that this vast territory over twenty miles in 
diameter suddenly sunk. 



164 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENGE 



Before the advent of the "dry-farmer" 
it was a very popular grazing ground as It 
is sheltered on all sides and furnished an 
abundance of rich grass and permanent 
springs. Strange to say, when the grass 
has been plowed under, a hard crust forms, 
througli which it is almost impossible for 
any vegetation to penetrate, thus mailing a 
very discouraging proposition for the "dry- 
landers" to face in their almost vain at- 
tempt to eke out an existence. 

After hearing the explanation of the li- 
brary scheme, the dry-farmers jumped at 
the chance to obtain a traveling library, or 
in fact anything that resembled reading 
material, very much as a drowning person 
clutches at a straw. We dined with the 
Baptist missionary and his sister, then felt 
our way through the Dickerson Canon, 
making a house to house canvass on our 
return to Wheatland. The Lakeview trip 
completely cooled Miss Jones' enthusiasm 
for county extension work, and nothing 
could induce her to continue the journey 
over Platte County. 

Next morning I had to feel my way to 
Bordeaux, Slater and Chugwater. About 
two hours ride from Wheatland, "Joker" 
suddenly squirmed away from a warning 
rattle. As he did so, I grabbed my Colt's 
.38 revolver and blazed away, having the 
satisfaction a moment later of seeing a 
dead rattlesnake four feet in length lying 
within striking distance to my right. By 
this time I did not have the courage to 
dismount and secure the rattles for a 
souvenir. In making a hasty flight from 
this snake infested district, of course the 
newly fenced claims were again encoun- 
tered, and in getting around them this time, 
it was necessary to ford an immense irriga- 
tion ditch several times, to the detriment 
of the appearance of all wearing apparel, 
both worn and packed. 

By the time the road had re-appeared, 
"Joker" and I were miles out in the sand 
hills. An ominous roar of thunder caused 
me to glance to the rear. A heavy black 
cloud, broken by frequent vivid flashes of 
lightning, was rapidly coming down over 
Laramie Peak and spreading in every direc- 



tion. I fairly strained my eyes seeking 
for some form of shelter, but nothing was 
visible except the barren sand hills, sage 
brush, Spanish bayonet and lonely thread 
of a road. Meantime the clouds were grow- 
ing blacker, and the thunder more threaten- 
ing. We galloped briskly for several miles 
before it began to sprinkle. By this time I 
had given up all hopes of finding any shel- 
ter when to my joy, I spied a tiny new 
"claim shanty" and near it a half finished 
house. A curl of smoke indicated which 
of the two was inhabited, and accordingly 
I made all possible haste toward the little 
shed-rooted establishment. 

Almost before "Joker" stopped, I was 
hammering on the door with my quirt. As 
I was dismounting, a young, simply-clad 
Danish woman opened the door and in 
broken English bade me enter and bring 
the pony along! Scarcely believing my 
ears, I glanced inside the "twelve by 
eighteen" structure and beheld one room, 
the front end of which was occupied by the 
family of three, and the farther end, 
partially curtained off, was occupied by 
four fairly good sized horses contentedly 
crunching their hay! Over the "horse-end" 
was a semi-loft, accessible by means of a 
ladder. In this loft the family slept on 
straw ticks, commonly known as "Missouri 
feather-beds" in this section of the country. 
The remainder of the space was used as a 
general store room. The "family-end" con- 
tained an immense range which stood in 
the corner next the door. From the stove 
to the cupboard in the opposite corner was 
a long narrow bench on which were the 
water barrel, a basket of clean clothes, an 
extra chair and some cooking utensils. The 
table took up nearly all of the space be- 
tween tlie cupboard and the "partition." 
Around it were two rough and ready chairs 
and an old high chair for the little boy. 
The appearance of the table indicated that 
dinner was just about ready. It was cov- 
ered with a red cloth and was set with a 
simple although plentiful repast of fried 
salt pork, boiled potatoes, rye-bread, water- 
melon pickles and strong coffee. 

My hostess timidly invited me to dine 



WILKINSON 



165 



with them. As I was wondering what 
was to become of "Joker," the young set- 
tler informed me that as the horse-end was 
full, my pony was privileged to stay with 
me in the family-end. Just as I was seated 
in the extra chair with my back to the 
door, I was handed a box of oats to hold 
In my lap so that "Joker" could eat over 
my shoulder, without inconveniencing any- 
thing or anyone, at the same time the rest 
of us were eating. 

During the course of the meal, my bash- 
ful Danish host and hostess managed to 
explain that they had been in Wyoming 
about four weeks. They had built the 
"shack" first, and as soon as they com- 
pleted two rooms of their house, they in- 
tended to move into them and convert the 
shanty into a stable. At this time, they 
kept their horses out of doors, excepting 
in case of a storm like the present, when 
they were housed in one end of the room. 

After the storm, it was only a matter 
of a few minutes until Bordeaux was 
reached. Bordeaux boasts of one residence, 
a postoffice, hotel, and ticket office, all of 
which are sheltered under one small roof. 
At first the post mistress fiatly refused to 
have anything to do with the traveling li- 
brary proposition. She was suspicious of 
anything supposed to be free, but after 
chatting with her for a few moments, and 
Incidentally mentioning that I had at- 
tended some "hard-shell Baptist" meetings 
in my home town some time before — what 
the connection was, I haven't the slightest 
idea — she suddenly looked with favor on 
the proposition! My having attended 
those meetings had won the day! 

From Bordeaux to Slater I took a short 
cut through a field and followed the rail- 
road track on down through the "M Bar" 
sheep ranch. For nearly ten minutes be- 
fore the pens were reached, the bleating of 
the sheep could be heard growing louder 
and louder until it was almost deafening 
by the time I rode over the crest of the last 
hill and around the bend into the valley 
where the shearing camp was. Everything 
was in confusion. Some half hundred men 
were sullenly sitting or standing near the 



pens where thousands of sheep were rush- 
ing back and forth trying to escape. The 
recent heavy shower had made their wool 
so wet that it was impossible to continue 
the shearing. Many of the sheep were only 
partially sheared; others were all sheared; 
and nearly all showed more or less angry 
gashes due to careless handling by the 
shearers. The vast majority had not been 
touched. Back of the sheep pens were im- 
mense barns and in behind the barns, 
snuggling against a high hill, lay the 
shearers' colony of tents and sheep-wagons. 
Off to the left lay the "M Bar" ranch houses, 
tucked away among a lonely grove of cot- 
tonwoods, and lined up in front of the 
houses was a row of at least twenty sheep- 
wagons with their white canvas tops and 
green beds glistening from the recent rain. 

Soon after passing the ranch houses we 
came to Slater where quite a number of 
people had gathered to hear about the 
traveling library station which we were 
considering placing in the postoffice. As 
there isn't a single book store in the 
county, and the nearest one is at Cheyenne 
nearly one hundred miles away, these peo- 
ple certainly appreciated any opportunity 
which would put them in touch with the 
almost priceless treasures. Chugwater was 
also an enthusiastic community. The post- 
master even volunteered to have the school 
teachers and visiting ministers co-operate 
with him and get up a "pie-sociable er 
somethin' " for the purpose of purchasing 
a few good reference books to be kept as a 
nucleus for a future branch reading room 
for "Chug." 

Next morning I rode east from Chug- 
water through a prosperous looking farm- 
ing community, bound for the Iowa Cen- 
ter postoffice. It was rather hard to locate, 
but I finally succeeded, and was fortunate 
enough to find quite a few families as- 
sembled waiting for the mail which was 
due that morning. Out in that neighbor- 
hood the postman comes but three times a 
week, consequently he is a very important 
personage. After talking County Library 
and showing most of my pictures, — I was 
succeeding most beautifully in arousing 



166 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



their attention and enthusiasm, — Imagine 
my consternation when I suddenly discov- 
ered that I had "strayed" four miles be- 
yond the boundaries of Platte County, and 
was talking to Goshen County residents! 
The people were terribly disappointed when 
they learned that they v.ere not eligible to 
our library privileges. Goshen County has 
no library. 

After a brief rest and a good dinner at 
Iowa Center, I pushed back through the 
farming community on the "Platte" side of 
the line, discussing plans for establishing 
traveling library stations for the granges 
with every farmer I could see. Just about 
five o'clock another storm came rolling 
across the plains from Laramie Peak, and 
seeing a tiny shack about a mile ahead, I 
lost no time in getting to it. 

The shanty was much larger than I had 
at first imagined. It was low and broad 
with a curved roof. On the outside it was 
covered with black building paper. Just 
back of the shanty stood an immense wind- 
mill, water tank, and horse trough. A few 
rods to the right were the stable and 
corrals. 

As I dismounted, two friendly, half- 
grown pups came rollicking out to greet 
me, while from the inside came a lusty 
wail proclaiming the presence of a hungry, 
husky infant. The door was suddenly 
opened and you may imagine my joy and 
surprise to find some friends of mine, the 
head of the house having been the mayor of 
a large city in Iowa within the past decade. 
A near relative had swindled the family 
out of nearly two hundred thousand dollars, 
willed it to his wife, and then committed 
suicide. For that reason, Mr. B — and his 
family came to Wyoming and took up a 
homestead. In the meantime their only 
daughter had married a young Westerner 
and was now the proud mother of a little 
son. 

While the outside of the shanty was 
typical of the homestead, the inside was 
far above the average. There were six 
large, comfortable rooms, nicely finished 
and furnished; beautiful oil paintings 
adorned the walls; in the living room a 



piano occupied a conspicuous corner; near 
it was a case full of good books and maga- 
zines. Comfortable chairs were scattered 
through all of the rooms, giving a cheerful, 
homey appearance. 

For the next three nights 1 made their 
"claim" my headquarters. The first even- 
ing it hailed hard, and a severe frost fol- 
lowed in spite of it being the middle of 
June. The second evening was perfectly 
beautiful, and in order that we might en- 
joy it better Mrs. B — sent her daughter and 
me to the nearest neighbor's after some 
fresh eggs. In order not to make the ride 
too exciting, Mrs. T — took one of their 
"gentler" horses, called "Squawman" and 
we drove him over without any trouble. 
On the way home, "Squawman" heard the 
eggs rattle and away he ran at full speed 
over the prairie. After we threw the eggs 
out of the buggy, he stopped, but in cross- 
ing several rough places he had broken 
the harness so badly that we had to walk 
home and lead that gentle horse! We were 
successful in rescuing four of the eggs 
unbroken, and were feeling duly elated over 
the fact until Mrs. B — , with a twinkle 
in her eye, informed us that three out of 
the four rescued eggs which we had gone 
through so much to get, were far beyond 
the age of usefulness! 

As we were watching the magnificent 
sunset, we were all hastily driven indoors 
by the sudden appearance of a mad bull 
which had wandered in from the range. 
It took quite a bit of shouting plus a few 
doses from Mr. B — 's shotgun before he 
could be persuaded to return to his proper 
grazing ground and leave us in peace. 

On Sunday morning, I returned to 
Wheatland over a different road. Although, 
as usual, fenced in claims were encoun- 
tered, by permitting "Joker" to have his 
own way in following the railroad track, 
I was fortunate enough to get through in 
time for dinner, after opening eight barbed- 
wire gates, fording a ditch twice, and a 
creek six times. Before I had finished my 
repast, representatives from all the 
churches had informed me, either by tele- 
phone or in person, that I was scheduled 



WILKINSON 



187 



to play a violin solo at the Union Service 
to be held at the Christian church that 
evening. The remainder of the day was 
therefore spent in finding an accompanist 
and practicing. Verily there is no rest 
for a librarian! 

Early Monday morning, after packing the 
khaki bags with a plentiful supply of clean 
clothing, I started for the northern part of 
the county. Between Uva and Guernsey, 
I stopped at most of the "claims" and had 
a thoroughly delightful time with all of 
the settlers interviewed. At dinner time 
I was welcomed royally by a young Ger- 
man and his wife in their comfortable 
house of three rooms. 

Prom Guernsey to Sunrise the contour of 
the country changed abruptly. Instead of 
the rolling prairie, one had the impression 
that he was in the heart of the mountains. 
The road wound through a steep canon for 
six or seven miles. About two miles from 
Guernsey was a lovely glade, in the midst 
of which stood a picturesque log cabin. On 
a steep hillside back of the cabin were at 
least a hundred goats of all sizes, colors 
and descriptions. How they managed to 
stick on, let alone find anything to eat, is 
a mystery. These goats were owned by 
two Greeks who lived in the log cabin. 
The men had been injured in one of the 
mines several years before, and now earned 
their living by selling goat's milk, cheese, 
and butter to the Greek laborers of Hart- 
ville and Sunrise. 

At the end of the canon road lay the 
beautiful little hamlet of Hartville, noted 
throughout the country for its tough char- 
acters and numerous saloons. A mile above 
Hartville suddenly appeared the pretty lit- 
tle village of Sunrise nestling among the 
rugged reddish-brown hills. All of the 
houses were built alike and painted a dull 
red. Although this is the largest town in 
the county, everything is owned by the 
Colorado Fuel and Iron Company — iron 
and copper mining being carried on ex- 
tensively. 

Reverend Daniel McCorkle of the Presby- 
terian Church and his wife were awaiting 
my arrival with eagerness. Everyone In 



Sunrise was not only anxious to obtain a 
traveling library, but was willing to make 
a special effort to get a branch library and 
reading room as well. Thanks to Mr. and 
Mrs. McCorkle, I was able to call on each 
family. Including the Greek and Italian 
worklngmen, Mrs. McCorkle acting as in- 
terpreter. Not a single word of opposition 
was met with regarding the proposition. 

Many of the worklngmen were overjoyed 
at the prospect of getting something to 
read. Eighteen good magazines were 
voluntarily pledged for the reading room, 
and some of the prominent citizens volun- 
teered to get up entertainments to raise 
money for obtaining more books, par- 
ticularly in modern Greek and Italian for 
the benefit of the worklngmen. As none 
of the residents of Sunrise is a taxpayer, 
this plan met with enthusiasm on all sides. 

Mr. Weed, the manager of the C. F. & 
I. Co., after finding how enthusiastic the 
people were, promised to furnish a room 
with three reading tables, chairs, book- 
cases, heat and light*. The Boy Scouts are 
also invaluable helpers in this cause. The 
Women's Club is going to be responsible 
for a caretaker, and for the organization of 
a story-hour for the children. "Anything 
to counteract the vicious Infiuences of the 
saloons and other establishments of the 
village of Hartville one mile distant" say 
the residents of Sunrise. They are making 
a mighty effort to substitute clean amuse- 
ments for their people, and at the same 
time attract the better element in Hartville 
to Sunrise. 

Mr. McCorkle says that the C. F. & I. 
Co., treats Its men well at Sunrise, and any- 
thing within reason which the company 
can provide to make its men more eflScient 
workers, and increase their safety, it is 
willing to give. 

During the day, blasting is heavy and 
frequent, but there is always a warning 
whistle preceding the blast by about three 
or four minutes in order to give ample 
time for those within the danger zone to 
reach shelter. Sometimes the blasts are 
so heavy that windows are shattered, and 
various small articles go flying from the 



168 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



shelves, tables, etc. While Mrs. McCorkle 
was getting breakfast the last morning that 
I was In Sunrise, there was an unusually 
heavy blast and every one of the good 
things on the stove leapt into the air, 
turned over and landed upside down on the 
floor with a crash ! It must have been mad- 
dening to the hostess, but with one 
astonished glance at the mess on the floor, 
she laughed heartily and said: "Yet Daniel 
McCorkle expects tlie people — and me — to 
remain good-natured Christians in spite of 
all this!" 

After breakfast, a delightful hour was 
spent visiting the mines, dodging blasts, 
gathering specimens, and talking with tlie 
workmen. Then with a feeling of real re- 
gret over leaving this unique little town. 
I mounted Joker and, bidding farewell to 
my host and liostess, wended my way down 
through Hartville to Guernsey, arriving at 
the leading hotel hot, dusty, travel- 
stained, and ravenously hungry. Just as 
I was seated and congratulating myself 
that I was to be alone in the dining room, 
in came about twenty members of the 
"Wheatland Boosters' Club. We had a very 
jolly time for the next hour. 

Arrangements were made to furnish 
Guernsey with a traveling library, at pres- 
ent to be kept at the drug store. The 
women's clubs were to take the matter up 
with the town council, endeavoring to have 
the town furnish and support a branch 
reading room in the same manner as Sun- 
rise, bj' co-operating with the main county 
library at Wheatland. Then at any time 
when the town is through witli its indi- 
vidual collection it may exchange it with 
the county library for a collection equal in 
value, thereby receiving many times the 
value of reading material for the amount 
expended, than it could receive if it re- 
mained independent. 

From Guernsey I went to Hartville Junc- 
tion, more commonly known as Junction. 
This is the only town in Platte County 
which turned the library proposition dov.'n 
unconditionally. 

As it was late in the afternoon when I 
finished the business at Junction, I had 



to remain overnight. The entire "town" 
consists of a cheap hotel, a station, a tiny 
general store and postofflce combined, two 
residences and three railroads. There was 
no stable, so "Joker" had to spend the 
night in a tea-acre lot where six other 
horses of various ages, sizes, dispositions 
and colors made life miserable for him by 
keeping him moving so fast that he had 
very little time for eating or resting. 

After chatting with the "residents" of 
the town, I decided that the hotel would 
be the only place in which I could stay. I 
was fortunate enough to find a front room 
with a lock on the door, and made myself 
as comfortable as possible. The meals were 
fairly good so I got along nicely. 

Early next morning I went to Glendo, a 
small tov.-n in the extreme northern part 
of the county, in the heart of the old ranch- 
ing community. Tlie residents there had 
been expecting me for a week, but for some 
unaccountable reason I had changed my 
plans at the last moment and had made the 
southern part of the county first, and by 
so doing had escaped probable death from 
a severe hailstorm which tore all shingles 
from the houses, made kindling of the 
roofboards, killed and injured stock, turned 
into a tornado a few miles farther on, car- 
ried off three houses, killed three people 
and injured several others, just at the 
time I had written the postmaster that I 
should probably arrive in that vicinity! 

At dinner time I was the first to enter 
the dining room of Glendo's "leading hotel." 
Hearty laughter and more or less "josh- 
ing" in the next room indicated that there 
would be plenty of company. In a few min- 
utes the door opened and six "punchers" 
appeared attired in characteristic soft shirts 
with the bandanna kerchiefs around the 
neck, "chaps," high-heeled boots and jingling 
spurs. They were almost in the room when 
their leader spied me. An exclamation of 
surprise from him, and they all turned 
and fairly flew back into the next room, 
from where they re-appeared about five 
minutes later with their hair neatly 
combed; neckties taking the place of the 
bandannas; coats on; minus the "chaps," 



HICKS 



169 



spurs, and rollicking manner, coming in 
the most quiet, dignified way imaginable. 
There are but two unmarried young women 
within a radius of thirty-five miles of Glen- 
do, one living six miles and the other six- 
teen miles from town, and these two are ex- 
tremely popular. As for young men, there 
are any number of eligibles living in this 
vicinity, owning more or less property, and 
most of them having a college education. 

All of the ranchers called me by name as 
soon as they saw me. At first I wondered 
at it, but came to the conclusion that as 
I was the only strange woman on horse- 
back who had been up that way for a long 
time, it was but natural that they should 
recognize me after they had learned that 
I was due there. 

After arranging for placing a traveling 
library station in the Glendo postoffice, 
chatting with the ranchers, and snatching 
about four hours of sleep at the tiny 
frontier hotel, I saddled and mounted 
Joker about two-thirty in the morning, in 
order to avoid the heat and electrical 
storms prevalent later in the day, and 
"struck the home-trail" for Wheatland. It 
was too early for breakfast when I arrived 
at Junction, so stopping just long enough 
for Joker to have a good feed of oats, I 
rode on, reaching Wheatland after a ride 
of fifty miles, at ten o'clock. 



No traveling library was established at 
Grant, about twenty-five miles south-west 
of Wheatland, as all of the ranchers there 
are well-to-do and motor to Wheatland at 
least once a week in their own cars, so that 
it is easy for them to secure their books 
from the main library. 

Not long ago I was greatly surprised as 
well as amused when a library director in 
the northern part of Wyoming, upon re- 
questing a library organizer for her county, 
required: "A young woman who is not 
only a college graduate with library school 
training and experience but in addition 
must be able to get along with Western 
people, ride and drive, as well as pack a 
horse, follow a trail, shoot straight, run 
an automobile, and be able to 'rough it' 
whenever necessary!" Now, it has been 
proved that those qualifications all come in 
as a part of the business, as well as the 
fun of organizing in Wyoming. 

We haven't a fine Carnegie building, nor 
a large expensive collection — they will come 
later — but we have a trained librarian, 
Miss Fenton, who has had some experience, 
and a broad-minded and liberal board of 
directors. Our collection, though small, 
is exceptionally well circulated, and best 
of all, we are gaining the good will and 
confidence of all residents of Platte County, 
even to the professional grouches! 



THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AS AFFECTED BY MUNICIPAL RETRENCHMENT 
Bt Frederick C. Hicks, Law Litrarian, Colim'bia University 



When at the request of the president, 
this study of the relation of municipal re- 
trenchment to the financial problems of 
public libraries was undertaken, I was 
under the impression that there had been 
such general and marked reduction in sup- 
port of public libraries that something like 
a crisis in library afi:airs had been reached. 
There had been public notice of a number 
of instances of retrenchment, and these 
had in the minds of many brought a state 
of unrest. What is the matter with 



democracy, they asked, if the library is 
always the first to suffer in time of finan- 
cial stress? Is not the library an integral 
part of public education, and education the 
bulwark of liberty, and liberty the watch- 
word of democracy? If we were in the 
midst of a campaign for the establishment 
of a public library we would all answer 
yes, with a flourish ; but such a reply would 
serve no useful purpose today. We must 
not declare Miss Democracy faithless un- 
less we can support the accusation with 



170 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



facts; and this I have been unable to do. 
The results of a questionnaire addressed 
to librarians In every state may be sum- 
marized as follows: During the last year 
there has been a general reduction in sup- 
port of public libraries in five states. In 
three states, Oregon, Tennessee and 
Mississippi the reduction is attributed to 
general financial depression; in Washing- 
ton, to a decision of the Supreme Court 
making effective an act which limits library 
expenditures in cities of the third class 
to one-fourth of a mill on the dollar; and in 
Ohio, to a law passed five years ago plac- 
ing an absolute limit of fifteen mills on 
the dollar on municipal expenditures for 
all purposes including public libraries. In 
five other states (Alabama, Illinois, Minne- 
sota, New York and Pennsylvania), there 
have been notable special instances of re- 
duction in support; while in the five states 
first mentioned some libraries have suf- 
fered much more than others in the same 
states. Although the unhappy situation in 
which several of these libraries found 
themselves is the result of unbusinesslike 
city management, or of "graft," or mere 
failure to take the library's needs 
seriously, there are signs of public awaken- 
ing In the comments of the press. For in- 
stance, after commenting on the meager 
appropriations for the Youngstown, Ohio, 
Public Library, a local paper says: "The 
first thing we know some of our critics 
will be tracing a connection between the 
East Youngstown riots and the neglect of 
our library. Which reminds us, that the 
Youngstown Sheet & Tube Company could 
not do a better or a wiser thing than to 
give $15,000 or $20,000 to the public library 
with the condition attached that a branch 
should be opened in the vicinity of Its 
works. Books are better than policemen 
under such conditions as prevail in the 
East End." The opposite view was taken 
by an alderman of Columbus, Ohio, in de- 
bate on the apportionment of the city 
deficit of $320,000. He argued "that It 
would be better to have the people do with- 
out books than to have the city subjected 
to a 'reign of crime," and urged using the 



$10,000 which the library needs, to pay city 
policemen." As fair-minded librarians we 
are forced to admit that In the present 
state of affairs, national and International, 
it Is an open question whether the police- 
man or the bibliophile is more potent for 
good. It depends on the point of view, 
and whether we speak of this generation 
or the next. Other instances there are of 
diminution of support for libraries of na- 
tional repute whose affairs have been given 
much publicity; but when all the facts are 
judicially surveyed, it does not appear that 
there has been any general change of senti- 
ment unfavorable to libraries, giving 
ground for widespread misgiving in the 
library world. There is partial support of 
this conclusion in a pamphlet issued In 
February, 1916, by the U. S. Bureau of 
Census, which gives "Comparative financial 
statistics of cities under council and com- 
mission government, 1913 and 1915." For 
these two years statistics of 24 cities are 
given, eight under council government, 
eight under commission government, and 
eight which have changed from the council 
to the commission form. Although the 
average per capita expenditures for li- 
braries In the eight cities under council 
government have decreased from 20 to 19 
cents, the expenditures for libraries under 
commission government have increased. In 
the first group from 12 to 15 cents, and in 
the second, from 10 to 15 cents. The full 
significance of these figures cannot be 
known until the complete report of the 
Census Bureau on "Financial statistics of 
cities having a population of over 30,000 in 
1915" has come from the press; but if they 
are typical, there has been a slight reduc- 
tion In library expenditures in cities 
governed by mayor and council; and a 
much larger Increase in commission gov- 
ernment cities. And when we realize that 
85 out of the 195 cities, having between 
30,000 and 500,000 population are now 
governed by commissions and that the 
number Is rapidly Increasing, the outlook 
Is decidedly encouraging. The general 
testimony of librarians Is that commission 
government is favorable to library develop- 



171 



ment because there are fewer men to con- 
vince. 

It is not wise, however, to be unduly 
optimistic. Retrenchment Is very real in 
character when appropriations stand still 
and no provision is made for normal 
growth. There is retrenchment also w2iei 
appropriations for libraries do not increase 
evenly with appropriations for other mu- 
nicipal activities. Referring again to the 
statistics of the 24 cities above mentioned 
we find reason tor inferring tliat there is 
a tendency to minimize the importance 
of public libraries. Whereas the average 
per capita expenditures for libraries in 
council cities have decreased, the expendi- 
tures for all other purposes have increased, 
and in the other two groups the increase 
for libraries is not equal to the Increase for 
the police, fire, charities and education de- 
partments. Moreover there are very large 
areas in the United States where munici- 
pal retrenchment could not possibly affect 
public libraries, either because there are 
no libraries or because tlieir existence lias 
never been recognized in a financial way 
by municipalities. These are disquieting 
facts. It is the essence of Democracy that 
she must bow to the will of the majority. 
Is it the will of the majority that public 
libraries shall not exist at all, or that they 
shall exist only by the bounty of indi- 
viduals, or that they shall be supported 
publicly only In a timorous manner? 
Were it not for the fact that the popular 
voice changes its tone under the influence 
of leadership the answer from some states 
would be in the afBrmative. For instance, 
in answer to my questionnaire, the former 
president of the now defunct Louisiana 
State Library Association wrote, "There is 
no state appropriation for public libraries, 
never has been, nor likely to be any; nor 
is there any tax levied by municipalities, 
nor is there likely to be any." But on the 
other hand, in Alabama, where schools as 
well as libraries are at a premium there is 
now going on a determined campaign 
against Illiteracy; while North Carolina, 
already alive to library values, has adopted 
the slogan "A public library in every town 



by 1920." The leaders to stimulate the -will 
of the majority must come from the library 
profession. And our work must be system- 
atic as well as enthusiastic. May we not, 
therefore, find profit in considering for a 
few moments not only means of preventing 
retrenchment, but methods of initiating 
and then insuring a minimum of support. 

Funds for the establishment and main- 
tenance of public libraries come from one 
or more of the following sources, viz: en- 
dowments, gifts for specified purposes, rent 
of lecture halls, over-due book fines, dupli- 
cate pay collections, license fees, police 
court fines, state grants and local taxation, 
the latter to be applied directly, or as a 
subsidy, or to meet a contract obligation 
with an existing library. The moving 
power of a check for $50,000, with or with- 
out conditions attached, need not be dilated 
upon, and we all are deeply conscious of 
the debt wliich the library world owes to a 
host of generous donors. They have has- 
tened the establishment and growth of 
libraries throughout the land. They have 
taught the State by example. In them the 
voice of leaders is heard, but not the will 
of the majority. For that will we must 
look to enactments of the representatives 
of the people in state, county and city. 
And this voice speaks most significantly 
when it takes no note of existing endow- 
ment funds, or library subsidies made on 
the basis of circulation or of contract ob- 
ligations existing between a city and a 
private library. If the right of a people to 
tax themselves for public library support 
is limited because individuals have been 
generous, or because there are libraries in 
being whose facilities can be had by the 
payment of a contract price, the incentive 
to individuals to be generous is taken 
away, while on the other hand, the tax- 
paying body is discouraged from raising its 
own library above those of less fortunate 
neighboring cities. 

Constitutions and general laws applica- 
ble to a whole commonwealth are the most 
positive evidences of democratic will. 
When a state regulates education by gen- 
eral laws it is considered an evidence of 



172 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



advanced civilization. General library laws 
are, therefore, proper products of state 
legislation. A recent pamphlet by Edna 
D. Bullock on "State supported library 
activities in the United States" (Nebraska 
Legislative Reference Bureau, Bulletin 
No. 9), gives the facts concerning library 
agencies, such as state and historical so- 
ciety libraries and library commissions 
which are supported directly by the state 
as a part of its central organization. Im- 
pressive as these activities are, especially 
in the field of library extension, and the 
traveling library, they are less important 
than activities developed under general 
laws which determine what the various 
local governmental units of society must, 
or may, or shall not do in relation to 
libraries. 

In only one state do we find a definite 
constitutional provision concerning public 
libraries. Article 11, section 6, of the 
Michigan constitution says that "the legis- 
lature shall provide by law for the estab- 
lishment of at least one library in each 
township and city; and all fines assessed 
and collected in the several counties, cities 
and townships for any breach of the penal 
laws shall be exclusively applied to the 
support of such libraries." Although the 
word "shall" is used, the laws passed by 
the legislature are permissive rather than 
mandatory. Moreover the courts have in- 
terpreted the clause relating to fines to 
mean those resulting from breach of the 
penal laws of the state, excluding those 
collected for the breach of city ordinances. 
We find, therefore, that only libraries es- 
tablished under the school law and thus 
under the control of the Superintendent of 
Public Instruction receive support from 
penal fines. 

On the other hand, the legislatures of 
every state have passed general acts con- 
cerning public libraries. It is obvious that 
an intelligent idea of the underlying con- 
ditions affecting library support cannot be 
gained without a knowledge of these laws. 
Having examined the provisions of those 
laws relating to taxation, it is necessary 
through printed reports and correspond- 



ence to learn something of their operation, 
and of modifying legislation by local gov- 
erning bodies. In any study of library sup- 
port the latter is a very important element. 
In many states, cities granted special char- 
ters are freed from the limitations of the 
general library laws. These charters then 
have the same relation to city ordinances 
that constitutions do to state laws. For 
library purposes, charters and city ordi- 
nances are still unexplored territory, the 
surveying of which might show important 
discoveries. Especially is this true since 
"home rule" has been emphasized. Any 
generalizations that have been made here- 
after might, therefore, be considerably 
modified if they were based on an exami- 
nation of charters and city ordinances as 
well as state laws. 

The extremes of state-wide library legis- 
lation are found, first in those states, 
which, like Alabama, merely confer on 
cities and towns "the right to establish and 
maintain public libraries," without other- 
wise defining or limiting that right; and 
second, in the state of New Hampshire, 
where the selectmen in each town are 
commanded annually to assess and levy a 
ratable tax for the maintenance of a public 
library even though no such library exists. 
In the latter case the annual appropria- 
tions are held in trust and allowed to ac- 
cumulate until a public library has been 
established. As a result libraries have been 
established in all except twelve towns, 
while it is only a question of time when 
there will be a public library in every 
town in the state. Between these extremes 
lie many variations in methods of library 
support. These I have attempted to sum- 
marize. In some states a source from 
which money may or must be drawn is 
designated. In Kentucky one-half of the 
net proceeds, and in Colorado and Wash- 
ington the total proceeds of police court 
fines may be used for libraries. The con- 
stitutional provision in Michigan has al- 
ready been mentioned. This is a device 
which places the librarian in an awkward 
position since it is to his interest to have 
crime Increase in order that fines may be 



173 



larger. License fees, designated in Wash- 
ington, are open to the same objection, but 
not so with the dog tax which is a source 
of library revenue in Massachusetts. Such 
devices perhaps insure a minimum of sup- 
port, but it is to direct local taxation that 
we must look for results. The most popu- 
lar device is to set a maximum limit to 
the rate without setting any minimum 
limit. Thirty-five states have done this 
for certain classes of their administrative 
divisions, the maximum rate varying from 
% of a mill to 5 mills on the dollar. Next 
in popularity is a combination of a man- 
datory minimum and a permissive maxi- 
mum. Six states use this device, the man- 
datory minimum varying from % to % of 
a mill, and the permissive maximum from 
% of a mill to 1 mill. Only one state. New 
Hampshire, has a mandatory minimum, 
with no maximum. Another variation may 
be termed a sliding scale, by which a city 
is either permitted or commanded to raise 
designated amounts depending on some 
condition precedent, such as the assessed 
valuation, or the rate of school taxation, or 
the amount of support received from the 
state. The limits of taxation are usually 
designated in mills, but in a few states a 
poll tax is preferred. It must be noted also 
that usually there is a different rate for 
cities of different classes, and for counties, 
townships and other districts. In general 
it may be said that the rates of taxation as 
designated by state law, are lower for large 
cities than for small cities, and lower for 
counties than for cities. Ordinarily the 
actual rate of taxation that is to be levied 
within the limitations of the law, is de- 
termined by the local legislative body, 
whether it be a council, commission, board 
of county commissioners, or a town meet- 
ing. But in some states the rate is deter- 
mined by the electorate, either at a special 
or a general election. When so fixed it 
cannot be changed until another election 
is held. Sometimes the school board has 
power to fix the rate; and in three states, 
Indiana, Iowa, and South Dakota, the li- 
brary board has exclusive power. 
Since our purpose is to consider means 



of procuring and insuring adequate sup- 
port for public libraries, it would be help- 
ful if we could determine which of the 
several methods of regulating library tax 
rates is most desirable. Is it better to 
make no regulations at all, or to set merely 
a permissive maximum limit, or to have a 
mandatory minimum limit, or to have a 
minimum combined with a permissive maxi- 
mum? A Massachusetts librarian would 
answer in favor of home rule, secure in 
the consciousness that in his state libraries 
are almost as numerous as churches. A 
very few librarians would strike the very 
ground from under our feet by asserting 
not only that tax legislation is of doubt- 
ful value, but that an occasional decrease 
in appropriations is a wholesome thing be- 
cause it necessitates needed liousecleaning. 
A Virginia enthusiast would heartily de- 
sire a law based on New Hampshire's, 
which forces the creation of library funds 
in every town. Most librarians, however, 
would say that neither Massachusetts nor 
New Hampshire should be taken as a 
model. Some regulation, they would say, 
is helpful, but not too much. They would 
then be called upon to decide between the 
two remaining classes. To those who pre- 
fer a permissive maximum, on the ground 
that it leaves greater freedom of action 
and is a goal for which a library may work, 
a further question must be put. What 
should the maximum be? Should it be % 
of a mill or 5 mills; and what distinction 
should be made between cities of the vari- 
ous classes, and counties, townships, etc.? 
Existing library laws would not provide 
the answer. Another group of librarians 
would declare themselves in favor of a 
mandatory minimum tax on the ground 
that it insures continuous support on a 
known basis. They would say that it is a 
solid rock on which a library can be built; 
and their secondary care would be to have 
the permissive maximum made as high as 
possible. Answers to the questionnaire 
which I sent out show that wherever there 
is a mandatory minimum its continuance 
is favored. It is pointed out that in bad 
times the library is secure; while at all 



17i 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



other times It may count on a gradual In- 
crease as wealth and population increase. 
The majority of libraries not now having 
a mandatory minimum rate would fear to 
have one specified. They think that such 
a minimum rate would usually be made 
the actual maximum; and they give as ex- 
amples the failure of city councils to appro- 
priate for maintenance more than the spec- 
ified 10% of the cost of Carnegie library 
buildings. Others give a qualified approval 
of the mandatory provision, advocating it 
for the weaker community, or for states 
where the library movement has not yet 
gathered strength, and favoring home-rule 
in more advanced communities. 

For each method of library support there 
are plausible if not convincing arguments. 
But we must not overlook a fundamental 
fact. All taxation for libraries depends 
not only on the rate of taxation, but on the 
rate of assessment, and the kind of prop- 
erty to which the rate applies. A few states 
specify assessment of all taxable property, 
both real and personal, at full value. 
Others have a different provision for real 
and personal property, as in Illinois, where 
real property is assessed at j^ value, and 
personal property at full value. For the 
most part assessment is at part value, vary- 
ing from Vb to %. But even where full 
value is required, there is no guaranty 
that such assessment will be made. The 
personal equation here operates with full 
vigor. Moreover, a change from one 
method of assessment to another may nul- 
lify the effect of the most mandatory pro- 
vision for library support. Some cities 
in Missouri have suffered a reduction for 
this reason during tlie last year. On the 
other hand, Utah has nearly doubled the 
assessed value of its city property, by a 
recent change in the general tax law. The 
rate of taxation was correspondingly de- 
creased; but the section providing for the 
library levy was overlooked. The result 
Is that the Salt Lake City library has an 
appropriation for the present year of $64,- 
000 instead of $29,000. 

We are all convinced of the necessity for 
adequate support of public libraries. We 



consider ourselves members of a profes- 
sion devoted to a great cause; and we hold 
ourselves out as experts capable of guiding 
the destiny of libraries. Our library com- 
missions and state libraries are giving in- 
telligent attention to their particular prob- 
lems. And we are now assembled in na- 
tional convention to consider the relation 
of libraries to democracy. Suppose we 
were asked, as an organization, to advise 
the legislature of a state in framing a gen- 
eral library law which would insure ade- 
quate support. What would be our answer? 
Can anyone tell? I do not overlook the in- 
forming article on this subject by Mr. 
Franklin F. Hopper (A. L. A. Proceedings, 
1911) when I say that the problem has not 
been solved. Personally, I quote with ap- 
proval his concluding statement that "the 
only way in which a library may be sure 
of continuously progressive support in pro- 
portion to growth of population and in- 
crease of library needs, is to secure either 
by state law or city charter a certain 
minimum millage of the annual tax levy, 
such minimum to be adequate for at least 
the essential needs of an efficient library, 
and to be determined in the first place by 
the amount needed to reach the present 
population, and by the necessary modifi- 
cations of property values, character of 
population, plan and number of library 
buildings." But as has been shown, there 
is still no general agreement on this 
method, and we do not know how to work 
this plan out in detail. We still leave each 
librarian to fight his own battle. And up 
to a certain point this should always be; 
for librarians must be a race of leaders 
directing the course of democracy. But 
can we give him help on this confusing and 
all important question? The proportion of 
public librarians who are members of this 
Association is overwhelming. There is a 
library trustees' section, a League of Li- 
brary Commissions, and a Special Libraries 
Association, among the members of which 
are many municipal and legislative refer- 
ence librarians. A committee of the 
American Library Association is co-oper- 



ating with the National Municipal League 
in drafting the library section of a pro- 
posed model city charter. All of the above 
are vitally interested in legislation for the 
support of public libraries. May we hope 
that through their united efforts, not hast- 
ily but after much travail, there may be 
drawn up a statement of underlying prin- municipal retrenchment. 



JBR 175 

ciples of library legislation to which this 
Association may give its approval, and 
which may serve as a guide to city councils 
and commissions and state legislatures? If 
so, one step will have been taken toward 
securing continuous adequate support for 
libraries and minimizing tlie evils of 



THE LARGER PUBLICITY OP THE LIBRARY 



Bt Joseph L. Wheeler, Librarian. Youngstoion Public Library 



At this late date, when librarianship has 
been an organized profession for forty 
years, we are malting a small beginning in 
what always has been and always will be 
an important part of our worlt. If the 
goal of the library is to get as many good 
books read as possible; if the function of 
the librarian is to get two books read 
where only one was read before; then li- 
brary publicity is an ordinary, legitimate 
activity, calling for our best interest and 
effort. For, no matter how good his service, 
the librarian can never hope to reach the 
mass of the people without advertising his 
wares. 

That this is true, proof may be found in 
some of our well thumbed pages of library 
statistics, whicli show that even in those 
cities where the libraries are working for 
larger use of books, less than a fifth of the 
people are enrolled as library users. We 
have only begun to do library work, after 
these forty years. If we omit all of the 
population which is unable to read in any 
language, which is too young, too ill, too 
handicapped by distance and circumstance, 
to use the libraries in our cities and towns, 
can we prove to anyone that we have made 
much progress in our dealings with the re- 
maining large part of the population? 

The time may come when the technique 
of getting books read will be taught In li- 
brary schools, along with instruction in 
marking numbers on their backs. One may 
arise among us and teach us the psychology 
of our profession, the appeal of colored 
book-covers, the lure of the book-line that 



reaches out to the sidewalk, the cause and 
cure of the craving for "something new," 
tlie origin of dull seasons and rush hours, 
the mind of him who comes for a light 
novel and takes away a biography of power 
and inspiration. Publicity is nothing more 
than the study of human nature, followed 
by a carefully planned appeal to it. A 
man in any other work or business would 
tell us that if we librarians hope to achieve 
a greater use of books, we should make 
more study of human nature, and more ap- 
peal to it. 

A feeling still lingers in some corners 
that library publicity is a fad, a side-issue, a 
running after newspaper glory and large fig- 
ures of circulation. It is true that we still are 
so elated over the publication of a booklist, 
circular, or news story, that our delight 
must often appear elementary even to our 
fellow workers. But it is not true that 
library publicity aims at size rather than 
quality of circulation, or tliat circulation 
of books is a less worthy object than their 
use in the library building. Why not as- 
sume that publicity can increase both qual- 
ity and quantity of reading, that it can 
make steady book users out of persons who 
have previously used books but little, that 
it can be directed to building up reference 
work itself? 

One thinks first of the publicity which 
works directly for a larger use of books. 
Even more important, in some respects, 
and in the long run, is the publicity which 
works for a larger public understanding of 
the library Itself, and what it is trying to 



176 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



do. lu all too many Instances librarians 
are reminded of this public understanding 
and support only when the city council is 
voting on the annual appropriation. Why 
is It that in a great many cities and towns, 
the playgrounds, the public schools, the 
social centers, the Christian associations, 
and all the rest of the agencies for social 
advance, receive so much more attention 
than the library? Why is It that the state 
experiment stations can send out a column 
of news that describes the county adviser 
as a distributor of agricultural literature, 
and have the column appear in every news- 
paper in the state, when a news story on 
the same topic, if sent out by librarians, is 
almost sure to be ignored by the editors. 
The answer is that though we ourselves 
take our work with tremendous serious- 
ness, we have not yet made much of a dent 
in public opinion. 

It is only natural that in a community 
where the library has followed a quiet 
course of handing out volumes to those 
who ask for them, distributing well-made 
booklists from the desk, trying to operate 
the library economically and according to 
the rules of Hoyle, we should become al- 
most oblivious to the great question: What 
is our real standing in the community, as 
a vital factor in the life of every citizen? 
It is easy to delude oneself into thinking 
that the small number who use the library 
are typical of the whole population. It is 
hard to realize that even among the crowds 
who are already borrowing library books, 
few know anything of the purpose, the 
plans and the methods of the work for 
which they themselves are paying. The 
library plays such a small part in the 
public mind, as compared with schools, 
for instance, that to the nine out of ten, 
education and school are completely syn- 
onymous terms. Chambers of commerce, 
women's clubs, and improvement societies 
gather to discuss and argue about the Gary 
system, vocational schools, the platoon 
plan. Librarians probably hope that the 
time will never come when the public will 
assemble to discuss the proper aims, 
methods and finances of library work. Per- 



haps it would be better for us if they did. 
Perhaps, In our well-meaning efforts to do 
just the right thing for our "dear public," 
we have built a fence around our profes- 
sion, and have left our public too much on 
the outside. 

To come down to facts instead of specu- 
lations, the public must know more about 
the library and the librarians, as well as 
about the books, if we are to gain a place 
in the sun. Conversely, unless the librarian 
himself has the outward vision, unless he 
studies and loves the crowd, and has his 
finger on the pulse of his community, he 
will find it slow work to build up enthusi- 
asm, interest and support for his institu- 
tion. The personal element plays a large 
part in library work, all the way up and 
down the staff. But nowhere is it so Im- 
portant as in the attitude which the libra- 
rian has toward one hxmdred per cent of 
his fellow citizens. People do not have to 
come to the library; they do not have to 
read books. There is no legal, social or 
moral obligation to use the library. We 
must use suggestion, attraction, enthusiasm 
and satisfaction, if we are to lead an ever 
growing stream of people to the open book, 
and secure for our libraries the increasing 
support to which they are entitled. 

What then, more definitely, are some of 
the things which the librarian may do in 
this direction? Beginning close at home 
he can undertake to make each of his trus- 
tees into an active and zealous missionary. 
It is no easy matter. It is the librarian's 
self-punishment, that his willing, inter- 
ested and conscientious trustee too often 
reflects the lukewarm attitude of the pub- 
lic. Rather should trustees act as bearers 
of the great truth that the library is vital 
to the community. Nothing can reveal to 
the librarian with such dismaying clear 
ness his own neglect of this opportunity, 
as to have his trustees, perhaps at the 
threshold of some new development, as- 
sume that the library is doing well enough, 
that the public will not pass a bond issue, 
will not increase the millage, or that the 
city officials will not grant a larger appro- 
priation, when current library practice 



WHEELER 



177 



points forward. With their standing In the 
community, the confident and outspoken 
leadership that trustees could take before 
the public, would be a new and priceless 
asset to most librarians. It is well to have 
the librarian given the responsibility for 
running the library. But we have made 
another great step toward an ideal situa- 
tion, when we know that each trustee is 
an active co-worker in some of these larger 
problems. 

For the good of the library we have 
duties to our trustees other than making 
a weekly or monthly report. We must in- 
form and inspire them, that they in turn 
may help us teach the public what the li- 
brary means. We can keep them abreast 
with current library practice. We may 
Inflict an occasional library magazine ar- 
ticle on them. Bring them to the library 
between meetings, and visit them in their 
offices, not to bother them with troubles, 
but to tell them of constructive hopes, 
plans and problems, and to have them 
share the pleasure of directing the work, 
and realizing what it means in the com- 
munity. 

One would hardly need to add, if it were 
not so often overlooked, that the staff mem- 
bers are likewise indispensable helpers in 
winning public opinion. A recent article 
in a library magazine gives the warning 
that staff members should not have their 
first knowledge of the librarian's policies 
from news articles or from readers. Be- 
side the embarrassment of the assistants 
in having what they regard as their busi- 
ness told them from outside, the public 
cannot escape the thought that the libra- 
rian is not closely enough in toucli with 
his own family of workers. 

There are conditions and developments 
of a general enough nature to allow the 
librarian to take his staff into his confi- 
dence, to some extent, especially in the 
smaller libraries. While it is difficult to 
know just how far to go, and one must 
be sure of himself, it is probably true that 
nearly every librarian could benefit by a 
larger discussion of general library prob- 
lems with his staff. 



Such an attitude would surely be re- 
flected In the attitude of the staff toward 
the public, and in turn in the attitude of 
the public toward the library. The busi- 
ness man, especially, knows the value of 
team work In store or factory, and respects 
it in the library. Business men would 
take more interest in the library If they 
were shown how library operation follows 
many of the methods of business Itself. 
To mention a few, there are: buying, turn- 
over of the stock, advertising, organization, 
operating costs, scientific layout of the 
working space, and good-will. This is a 
good outline of topics on which to base a 
talk before business organizations. A 11 
brarian ought to take advantage of every 
possible opportunity to appear before 
groups of business men, not only to en- 
courage them to a larger personal use of 
the library, but even more to let this large 
class of citizens know something about the 
library's purpose. 

In attempting to reach the business men, 
and indeed, In trying to uproot the whole 
of the old-fashioned idea that a library is 
merely a storehouse for novels and cul- 
tural books, we often have the appearance 
of going to the other extreme and empha- 
sizing far too strongly the mere dollar 
value of library books. But is it not true, 
after all, that this emphasis is more ap- 
parent than real? It would be hard to find 
a library, which in developing its work 
with artisans, engineers, business men, has 
really neglected or even slackened its ef- 
forts to make the library what it always 
must be, a center and source of culture. 

The emphasis on the dollar is natural 
and necessary. Though it may have been 
especially noticeable of late, it is doubtful 
if it will be abated. We cannot change 
human nature to meet our little ideas of 
what books people should read. Nor Is 
there anything about our work which we 
can tell with such force, as the stories 
of men and women who find library books 
of some use in earning their daily bread, 
and in solving the merely physical, com- 
mercial problems that are to be found in 
every city and town. It does no good to 



178 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



stand proudly aloof from the crowd, whis- 
pering about culture and the classics. It 
does do good to meet the crowd on the 
basis of its work-a-day interests, and to 
have enough understanding and sympathy 
with its point of view, to be able to say in 
an effective way, "Here, too, are books for 
you. Books that will refresh and inspire, 
though they may not make your pay check 
larger." We take pride in knowing the 
single reader and his tastes. But we are 
on the right road when we try to know the 
taste and feeling of the great hundred 
per cent. 

Therefore we must forever emphasize 
the mere commercial value of our work, in 
keeping the library in the public mind. It 
Is because the public mind cares most for 
this presentation. There are three public- 
ity methods which seem especially success- 
ful, and which have as one of their central 
motives this work-a-day value of books. 
The first of these has just had its best ex- 
ample in the Library Week that was car- 
ried out this spring by the joint efforts of 
the Toledo Public Library and Chamber 
of Commerce. We all know that in any 
town or city, the mass of people has prac- 
tically no understanding of the library. It 
is reasonable to say that now, in Toledo, 
there is practically no one who has not at 
least heard of the library. The whole town 
was aroused and interested in the library. 
The business men were not only interested, 
but they did much of the actual planning 
and work. The Chamber of Commerce 
stood shoulder to shoulder with the library. 
Not that the library needed moral support, 
but that Business felt its personal con- 
nection with the realm of books. This 
campaign consisted of a whole week of 
widespread and active publicity of all 
kinds. There were circulars, posters, book- 
lists, window displays, a proclamation by 
the mayor, public meetings and speeches 
about books and the library. There were 
signs on the street cars, even. What li- 
brarian with the outward vision, can help 
wishing to follow so notable an example? 

Yet It is possible that there are still a 
few who murmur to themselves, "This is 



not the library work of my grandfather's 
day." Even these would be inclined to ap- 
prove of the second method that seems 
worth mention. This is the public exhibi- 
tion of diagrams, charts and otlier material 
which shows what the library does with 
books and money. The purpose of such ex- 
hibits is not the larger use of books, except 
as an indirect result, but to tell the story 
that will bring greater interest and support 
for the library itself. Something is needed 
for the guidance of librarians in the prep- 
aration of such exhibits, and it is probable 
that the Publicity Committee of the Asso- 
ciation will undertake something of this 
sort. At least the smaller cities, and 
many of the larger ones, could well use a 
traveling exhibit, as the nucleus for their 
local effort. The things which work most 
for success will be: choosing the few forci- 
ble facts and presenting them forcibly; 
the use of few and brief legends; the use 
of bold and clear-cut lettering, which 
should be done by an expert; the placing 
of the exhibit where it will be seen by the 
greatest number. Even the most conserva- 
tive librarian could feel that exhibits of 
this sort were appropriate and useful, and 
they could be carried out in every com- 
munity. 

The third method is one which has been 
used in many cities, with marked success. 
This is tlie display of library books in store 
windows, to increase the use of books. By 
making a change in the display, the em- 
phasis can be thrown onto the library and 
its work, as well as on the appeal of the 
books themselves. This means the use of 
placards and small diagrams which tell the 
important things about the library : How it 
is supported, how it spends its money, how 
it is used, increases in use, decreases in 
operating costs. In preparing window ex- 
hibits take advantage of the help that the 
advertising men and window-trimmers can 
give. In one city, at least, this cooperation 
went to the length of preparing a scene 
from a reader's home, with father and 
mother reading in their arm-chairs, while 
in the foreground a little girl lay at full 
length, reading "Alice In Wonderland." 



WHEELER 



178 



In this instance the library's exhibit oc- 
cupied an entire window in a large depart- 
ment store, and during the same week ten 
other windows, equally valuable, were 
given to the library by other merchants. 
The money value of such cooperation 
meant the loss of hundreds of dollars to 
the stores, and simply shows that though 
they would never grant such a privilege to 
anyone else, they regard the library as on 
a different basis from other organizations, 
and are glad to help it. 

This is not the best time to discuss the 
details of actual publicity. The point is, 
that we have lying at our hands many 
means for showing the public something 
of our plans, methods and purposes, and 
this education of the public is worth the 
time and trouble which it takes. 

All of our plans, hopes, labor, for ade- 
quate appropriations come to their climax 
when the town or city council takes its vote 
on the annual budget. The fortunes of 
the average town or city library are prac- 
tically dependent on a very few men, and 
most of all on the finance committee of 
the council. Librarians can well depart 
from the usual American custom of elect- 
ing men to the City Hall, and then charg- 
ing them, in a vague and careless way, with 
being dishonest, small minded and incom- 
petent. The men who make the city ap- 
propriations are perhaps as honest and 
conscientious as we could desire, if we 
only took the trouble to find out. The li- 
brarian is only one of the swarm of busy 
bees who sing loudly in the councilman's 
ears at budget time, and if he pays more 
attention to the ones who sing loudest, 
who shall blame him? 

The librarian's hum is not very loud, sad 
to say, and his singing seldom arouses any 
loud echoes from the public, we must ad- 
mit, still more sadly. When we make 
library service mean as much to the public 
as schools do now, we may expect the same 
outspoken demands for more support, and 
complaints at any cuts In the budget. 

Be actually acquainted with councilmen, 
or supervisors, or selectmen, or whatever 
their titles are. Know the city hall and 



its workers and their work. They will 
doubtless be as much Interested in you and 
your work as you are in them, and not any 
more so. -The librarian's temptation is to 
look on all the olBce holders as politicians, 
in the unhappy sense of the word, and to 
forget that he too must be a politician, but 
in the good sense of the word. 

We need to go to council meeting, once 
or twice a year, to find out how little a 
part the library plays in the grist of mo- 
tions for street openings, paving, more 
police protection, tax payer's complaints, 
and all the rest. Interest the President 
of the council, and ask him for ten or fif- 
teen minutes out of some session, so that 
you can give the members a bird's-eye view 
of tlie library system, what it means, how 
you buy books, how a budget Is divided, 
how the accounts and bills are handled, 
hov/ your library ranks with others in va- 
rious respects. If you have any forcible 
figures or comparisons, perhaps they can 
be made into a large diagram that can be 
shown. One showing the population 
growth, and the increase in library sup- 
port as compared with the growth of cir- 
culation, could be used to advantage in a 
great many cities. These men are busy, 
they are not predisposed to give their time, 
but on the other hand they will give close 
attention and be much interested and Im- 
pressed by a short, plain talk, that touches 
the main points. 

Over and over, councilmen have been 
invited to visit libraries. It would be in- 
teresting to count noses and find out how 
many councilmen have ever been inside the 
libraries to which they apportion money. 
In one city, several invitations having had 
no effect, the library board descended upon 
the council chamber and brought the mem- 
bers to the building in their automobiles. 
Surprise at the amount of patronage was 
followed by deep interest in the methods 
of handling the work and helping readers 
in different departments. Still the wonder 
grew, as these men watched the steady 
stream of borrowers, that the library was 
doing so great and useful a work, and that 



180 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



library books are not all novels, by any 
means. 

The librarian can maintain a mutually 
helpful acquaintance with many city offl- 
cials and show them forcibly the value of 
the library if he makes a point of seeing 
that the library service connects directly 
with the problems, at least the occasional 
more important problems, which come be- 
fore the council and its committees. The 
larger library is able to do this much more 
successfully than the small. But the small 
library can often select a topic which is 
sure to interest the public very widely and 
deeply, and endeavor to make the books, 
pamphlets, and reports of some actual as- 
sistance. 

The campaign with mayor and council 
and city officers is not a temporary or spo- 
radic thing, therefore. It ought to be based 
on a continuous acquaintance with the men 
in authority, and find its expression in 
ever-renewed efforts to show them the rela- 
tive importance of the library in a well or- 
ganized community. 

Last of all, and very briefly, what about 
the librarian himself? 

We have heard that the librarian should 
spend fifty per cent of his time inside of 
his building and fifty per cent outside. Cer- 
tainly every library worker feels the ever- 
lasting necessity of more books, the 
acquaintance with the inside of books, bet- 
ter service, attention to a host of details, 
and all the rest. It is in the worthy de- 
sire to perfect service that he forgets the 
people outside. Out of each day, or from 
his week, he should hold inviolate a few 
minutes, an hour or two, in which he can 
forget details and project his mind into 



the community mind, get his ear to the 
heart of the crowd. 

After all, the librarian is the library's 
greatest advertiser. To join the local his- 
torical, literary and scientific societies, 
has always been held in good repute. Join 
also the Chamber of Commerce, or the 
leading civic and business organizations 
of the city, not with the notion that mere 
membership produces support for the li- 
brary, but to take active part in work that 
helps the people, and thereby show that 
the librarian is liuman as well as being a 
librarian. (Both in and out of libraries 
this interesting doubt still seems to exist 
in some localities.) We ought to seek and 
accept every opportunity to appear per- 
sonally before clubs, social, business, re- 
ligious organizations, labor unions, foreign 
societies, and all other groups. We cannot 
stifle the personal element out of library 
work. We cannot even use the newspapers 
successfully without injecting the personal 
name, the human interest into them. The 
value of interviews, the personal touch, is 
understood well enough by newspaper men 
and by everyone but librarians, many of 
whom possess a false modesty that is based 
on self-consciousness rather than on the 
good of the library. 

There should be no specialists on library 
publicity. Every librarian must be a 
publicity man, with his heart in the work 
of reaching his people. The motive of 
publicity is the great democratic ideal of 
librarianship. It is a sound, healthy, help- 
ful motive. It is only a reflection of our 
chosen motto, under whose inspiration we 
have all been striving these many years, 
"The best books for the greatest number." 



HOW ONTARIO ADMINISTERS HER LIBRARIES 
By E. a. Hardy, Toronto, Secretary Ontario Library Association 



The origins, the development and the 
administration of a provincial or state li- 
brary system are matters of high import- 
ance to the body politic. This importance 
is my justification for treating the subject 
in a somewhat formal fashion and for in- 
troducing considerable amplifying and 
illustrative detail. The broad outlook and 
the working detail are both valuable to one 
studying library administration from a 
provincial or state standpoint, for, al- 
though no administrator is likely to adopt 
another's plans in exact reproduction, yet 
he will find in these plans much material 
for comparison and for stimulating his own 
activities. 

The thorough understanding of a state 
system involves a grasp of the political his- 
tory of that state. The sovereignty of the 
town (or township) in New England is the 
explanation of much that would otherwise 
be mysterious to a Canadian. Conversely 
a brief glance at the history of Ontario is 
necessary to understand our library sys- 
tem. You will remember that during the 
Seven Years' War Canada passed into Brit- 
ish possession, understanding by the word 
Canada what we now call Quebec and On- 
tario and some southwestern additional 
territory. Military rule from 1760 to 1763 
was followed by civil government under 
royal proclamation till 1774, in which year 
constitutional government was granted in 
the Quebec Act. This act set up a legis- 
lature and a governor, with complete juris- 
diction over the whole country of the then 
Canada. Note that this included what is 
now Ontario but in which there was no 
population to be governed, except Indians. 

This state of affairs was suddenly 
changed by tlie immigration of the United 
Empire Loyalists in 1783 and immediately 
succeeding years, so that by 1790 Ontario 
had 30,000 inhabitants, over whom the 
Legislature of Canada had jurisdiction. In 
1791 the Constitutional Act separated On- 



tario from Quebec and gave each province 
a legislature, and, with the exception of the 
period of union, 1841 to 1867, these provin- 
cial legislatures have had full control over 
their respective areas. 

What I want to make quite clear is that 
the legislative authority existed in Ontario 
before the population arrived. That means 
that it was the legislature which created 
the municipalities, and which defined their 
powers, which created the school system 
and which created the library system. That 
explains the uniformity or standardization 
in our municipal institutions, our school 
system and our library system. That also 
explains why we have no problems about 
city charters and the like, which are giving 
you so much concern. It also explains why 
the Ontario library system is under a min- 
ister of the crown and not under a library 
commission. When the legislature speaks, 
its enactments cover the province from its 
capital city to its remotest hamlet, and 
thus provincial uniformity and control has 
been our system for one hundred and 
twenty-five years. 

The first library in Ontario was organ- 
ized in 1800 in the town of Newark (Niag- 
ara). The first legislative grants were 
made in 1835 to Toronto and Kingston, and 
the first general library statute was passed 
in 1851, and under the provisions of that 
act 10 libraries were granted $200 each. 
From that date to the present (with only 
a brief interval) the legislature has been 
generous in financial assistance. These 
early libraries were called Mechanics' In- 
stitutes and were planned to encourage 
what we now call technical education, but 
really they were public libraries, and they 
have been so designated since 1895. From 
1851 to 1880 they were administered by the 
Department of Agriculture, but in 1880 
they were transferred to the control of the 
Minister of Education, and thus became an 
integral part of the educational system of 



182 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



the province. Two things at once resulted, 
viz., the appointment in 1881 of a superin- 
tendent or inspector of public libraries, 
which officer has full administrative pow- 
ers over the libraries, and the passing of 
the Free Libraries Act, 1882, modelled on 
the Ewart Act (1850) of the British Par- 
liament, providing for (a) the establish- 
ment of free libraries by the vote of the 
ratepayers, (b) their administration by a 
board of management ranking with the 
city or town council and the scliool board 
as a municipal authority, and (c) their 
maintenance by taxation to the extent of a 
half-mill rate. There has been much subse- 
quent amending legislation, but the main 
features of the system remain the same. 

This brief historical sketch sets forth 
the basis of the official library activities of 
the province which may now be treated in 
some detail. The authorization of these of- 
ficial activities is found in the Public Li- 
braries Act, a comprehensive statute pro- 
viding for the establishment, maintenance 
and administration of public libraries and 
their supervision by and financial assist- 
ance from the government. The act divides 
libraries into two kinds, (a) those main- 
tained by the municipality and adminis- 
tered by a board of management appointed 
by the council and the board or boards of 
education, and (b) those maintained by 
membership fees and administered by a 
board of management elected by the mem- 
bers. The former must, the latter may, re- 
ceive municipal support; both receive legis- 
lative grants and both are under govern- 
ment supervision. 

The administration of the Public Libra- 
ries Act is entrusted to the Minister of 
Education, v,'ho reports annually to the 
Legislature the condition of the libraries, 
their progress and their needs, and who ad- 
vises the House as to financial appropria- 
tions and advisable legislation. The actual 
work of administration, however, is in the 
hands of the superintendent of public libra- 
ries, who has a fairly free hand, especially 
In initiating advance movements for the 
betterment of the libraries. Just here It 
may be noted that the retirement this year 



of Mr. Walter R. Nursey, after seven years 
of valued service, afforded the Minister of 
Education the opportunity of appointing to 
this position a trained librarian, Mr. W. O. 
Carson, chief librarian of the London Pub- 
lic Library, a forward step in our library 
development of the highest importance. 

The chief official activities under the 
Public Libraries Act are, (a) grants, (b) 
supervision, (c) cataloging, (d) travelling 
libraries, (e) library school, (f) library 
bulletin. Every library is entitled to a 
legislative grant, which is obtainable in 
three ways. Approximately 50 per cent of 
its expenditure upon books up to a maxi- 
mum grant of $200 and upon periodicals 
and newspapers up to a maximum grant of 
$50 provides a possible grant of $250. To this 
is added a maximum of $10 for maintain- 
ing a reading-room. Thus a library which 
spends $500 a year on books and periodic- 
als and which maintains a reading room 
may earn a grant of $260. (By a recent 
regulation this has been extended to 
branch libraries.) The smallest libraries 
with annual receipts less than $500 receive 
special maintenance grants of $5 to $20. 
The total grants paid out in 1915 were $30,- 
351.45 to some 400 libraries, and the total 
library appropriation was about $40,000. 

Assistance in cataloging is provided in 
two ways. The Department will send its 
official cataloger to a small library for a 
sufficient period to classify the library and 
to carry on the cataloging to a point where 
the local librarian can complete the work. 
Not only does the Department bear all the 
expense of its cataloger, but it permits the 
materials used in cataloging to be counted 
as book purchases in estimating the annual 
grant. In 1915 the official cataloger. Miss 
Patricia Spereman, classified and cataloged, 
wholly or in part, 16 libraries, with a total 
of 61,600 volumes, installing the Newark 
charging system in 9 libraries and complet- 
ing the establishment of a children's depart- 
ment in all of them. In 8 years Miss Spere- 
man has assisted 99 libraries with a total 
of 497,790 volumes. 

Travelling libraries were introduced into 
the Ontario system in 1901. The maximum 



HARDY 



18S 



circulation was reached In 1911 when 241 
libraries were sent out. A comprehensive 
plan was laid out and special appropria- 
tions have been made, but from lack of 
office staff and facilities these libraries have 
not achieved their full usefulness. In spite 
of drawbacks, however, the average circu- 
lation for the past 8 years has been 175 
libraries. 

The summer library school was opened 
in 1911, and was held for four years, and 
will be resumed this year. A short course 
of four weeks is given to the students ac- 
cepted by the Department. There are no 
fees in this school. The Department bears 
the whole cost of instruction and all the 
supplies used by the students, and in addi- 
tion pays the travelling expenses of the 
students outside Toronto. The only ex- 
pense to the student is for the four weeks 
board. In 1914, 48 students registered and 
30 completed the course. 

The library bulletin is a new venture 
which we owe to Mr. Carson ; the first num- 
ber is now being issued. It will follow the 
examples of well established American bul- 
letins and be a medium of communication 
between the Department and the libraries, 
which has long been desired. 

In addition to these official activities 
there must be noted certain unofficial activ- 
ities, as they might be termed. I refer to 
the cooperative movements of the library 
workers themselves apart from the official 
staff of the Government. Library co- 
operation is quite an old story in Ontario. 
From 1857 to 1867 we had a "Board of Arts 
and Manufacturers for Upper Canada" 
made up of representatives from the vari- 
ous Mechanics' Institutes. From 1868 to 
1880 an Association of Mechanics' Insti- 
tutes for Ontario replaced it. Both of these 
were organized according to statute, and 
each did some good work. After a lapse of 
twenty years the Ontario Library Asso- 
ciation came into being, resulting from 
the Inspiration of the Montreal A. L. A. 
meeting. It was intended to organize a 
Canadian library association, but that was 
not possible. We have never ceased to be 
grateful to the American Library Associa- 



tion for that Montreal meeting and its In- 
spiring influence. 

From its first meeting in 1901, with 32 
representatives of 24 libraries, down to the 
recent meetings with an attendance of 200, 
the Ontario Library Association has been 
an active missionary force. It has striven 
successfully to secure modern methods In 
book selection and purchase. In accession- 
ing, classification and cataloging, in charg- 
ing systems, in library buildings and equip- 
ment, In library training. In short in all 
the phases of development for which the 
A. L. A. stands. It has brought hundreds 
of library workers together. It has Initiated 
many Improvements, and It has shaped 
legislation. One striking indication of its 
vitality was evident in the presence of six 
ex-presidents at the 1916 annual meeting 
out of the ten for whom attendance was 
possible. 

A third group of activities remains to be 
noted. These may be termed joint activi- 
ties, since they represent the cooperation 
of the Ontario Library Association and the 
Department of Education. These may be 
summarized briefly. First, the issue of the 
O. L. A. Proceedings. A stenographic re- 
port of the annual meeting along with 
the papers, addresses and annual reports, 
makes a volume of about 100 pages. The 
Proceedings are edited by the secretary of 
the 0. L. A. and are published and dis- 
tributed as a government document. The 
"Selected list of books" Is published under 
the joint authority of the O. L. A. and the 
Department. It is a quarterly bulletin 
Issued on the following plan. Part I gives 
a selection of the best books of the pre- 
vious year, as chosen by some twenty ex- 
perts; Part II lists some 600 to 800 titles 
of the new books of the first half of the 
year, January to June, classified on the 
decimal system and briefly annotated; 
Part III contains a special bibliography, 
e. g. Canadian History; Part IV lists some 
600 to 800 titles of the new books of the 
latter half of the year, July to December. 
The purpose of the "Selected list" Is to in- 
form rather than to advise, two underlying 
principles being (a) that no two libraries 



184 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



have exactly the same needs, and (b) that 
every community has readers of culture 
and experience whose ability in book se- 
lection may be utilized by the local library 
If reasonably full and accurate informa- 
tion is supplied. Decentralization in book 
selection is valuable as well as centraliza- 
tion, and both should be used. The "Se- 
lected list of books" is edited, printed and 
issued to all the libraries (and also to the 
high schools) at the expense of the De- 
partment. 

The library institutes were begun in 
1907 with an experiment at Brantford. 
Since then the province has been districted 
into 15 institutes, each of which has an 
annual meeting. The Public Libraries Act 
in 1909 incorporated the institutes as a 
feature of our library law and made three 
interesting provisions: First, to pay all 
the expenses of the meetings; second, to 
pay the expenses, travelling and entertain- 
ment, of one representative from each li- 
brary in the institute, and, third, to fine 
every library that did not send a represent- 
ative. All three provisions are carried out. 
The O. L. A. initiated the institutes and 
through the library institutes committee is 
still the active agent in arranging the 
yearly schedule and programmes. The in- 
spector of public libraries is present at and 
assists in all of them. The Department of 
Education pays all the bills. Small won- 
der that the institutes are a great success, 
that they have linked up all but 16 of our 
389 libraries with organized library work, 
and that they have brought a new concep- 
tion of the public library to thousands. 

The legal committee of the O. L. A. is 
composed of two judges and a practising 
lawyer, all keenly interested library trus- 
tees, and two of them ex-presidents of the 
O. L. A. This committee carefully con- 
siders all the resolutions of the institutes 
and the O. L. A. and makes such recom- 
mendations thereupon to the Minister of 
Education as may, in their judgment, as- 
sist him in amending the Public Libraries 
Act from time to time. The Department 
bears the cost of the meetings of this 
committee. 



A special joint activity is that of depu- 
tations financed by the Department. For 
example, in 1910 a deputation of three mem- 
bers of the O. L. A. and the inspector of 
public libraries was sent to visit several 
American libraries to study the relation of 
the public library to technical education. 
Again in 1912 the Legislature, on the re- 
quest of the O. L. A. to the Minister of 
Education made a special grant of $1,000 
to enable the smaller Ontario libraries to 
send representatives to the Ottawa meeting 
of the A. L. A. In these matters as in all 
library matters, the Hon. Dr. Pyne, the 
Minister of Education, and Dr. A. H. U. 
Colquhoun, the Deputy Minister, are al- 
ways sympathetic and alert to take ad- 
vantage of every opportunity to advance 
the library interests of the province. 

To sum up, the distinctive features of 
the Ontario library system are four. First, 
the public library is an integral part of the 
educational system of the province. Sec- 
ond, voluntary cooperation, organized as 
the Ontario Library Association, is a driv- 
ing force of increasing power. Third, the 
joint activity of the official staff and the 
unofficial organization makes possible 
many things that neither could accomplish 
by itself. Fourth, the development of the 
trustee has kept pace with that of the li- 
brarian. It may be that this is our most 
distinctive feature, for steadily from the 
outset a guiding principle has been this, 
that the advancement of the public library 
to its rightful status in the community and 
the State is too big a task for the librarian 
alone. The trustee must stand beside the 
librarian. Especially true is this when one 
reflects that while librarians and trustees 
may both be ratepayers, yet the trustee 
usually has a vote, while the librarian has 
not. We have tried to avoid the heart- 
break of an enlightened librarian and an 
ignorant trustee, by bringing them along 
the road of library progress together. They 
really make a fine team. 

Our aims are two-fold, to extend library 
privileges to every community and citizen 
within the boundaries of the province and 



186 



to place the public library on a par with 
the public school. Both are high aims and 
difficult of attainment, but both are worth 
while. Until the public library is compul- 
sory in every community, like the public 
school, and until the librarian takes his 
place beside the teacher as a public servant, 
with Government certificates, reasonable 
salary and proper superannuation allow- 
ance, we must not be satisfied. 

The dynamic of library work is the 
vision of democracy in the coming years. 
The present giant struggle will leave no 
nation untouched. One result will be the 
rush to North America of millions of new 



population. Another result will be the re- 
casting of the federal relations within the 
British Empire. Another will be the re- 
vision of the international relations of all 
the great powers. Who can be sufficient 
for these mighty tasks of the future? An 
enlightened and ennobled democracy, of 
sound knowledge, wide sympathy and 
broad vision can render the highest service 
in the great days to come. The United 
States and the Dominion of Canada must 
be such democracies and the librarian must 
rank alongside the teacher, the legislator, 
and the preacher in the making of the new 
world. 



COMPARISON OF THE CURRICULA OP LIBRARY SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC LIBRARY 
TRAINING CLASSES 



By Mrs. Hasriet P. Sawyer. Chief, Instructional Department, 8t. Louis Public Library 



In 1909, a questionnaire was sent out to 
246 public libraries containing these ques- 
tions. Do you take apprentices? and Does 
it pay? In 1916, seven years later, we have 
progressed to the point where the appren- 
tice class is an accepted factor in library 
training and we are ready for a "Com- 
parison of the curricula of library schools 
and public library training classes; points 
of similarity and difference between the 
two types of courses." It should be noted 
that the present paper covers only points 
of similarity. I freely confess, at the out- 
set, that the resemblances between training 
class and library school depend largely 
upon the size and resources of the library 
that operates the class. 

The library school has been standardized. 
Unfortunately, the training class has not 
and the variance In courses from one 
month's training to a curriculum approach- 
ing that of an accredited library school 
makes any general comparison somewhat 
difficult. However, there are at least half 
a dozen training classes in the country, 
perhaps more, giving nine and a half 
months to the work and approximately 
reaching the library school standard. These 



will serve as a basis for the subject under 
discussion. 

So far as entrance requirements are con- 
cerned, I think that the library school 
standard is pretty closely followed; i. e., 
a high school education or its equivalent, 
plus college credits where possible, with 
entrance examinations; or, the acceptance 
of the college degree without the entrance 
examination. Such requirements best con- 
serve the interests of the small library as 
well as the large. In addition to the ex- 
amination in history, literature and cur- 
rent events, the applicant for the St. Louis 
Library Training Class must also take an 
examination in one foreign language. This 
may seem ambitious but the library 
handles so many foreign books that it is a 
necessity. One of our applicants thought 
that she ought to be excused from the 
language test because her father had been 
minister to France and spoke several 
languages fluently. Needless to say, she 
was excused from taking the other exami- 
nations as well. On the other hand, it Is 
quite common for our applicants to take 
the examinations in two foreign languages, 
and last fall we were fortunate enough to 



186 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



find one who offered Hebrew, Yiddish and 
Russian, as well as German and French. 

A well equipped schoolroom is not un- 
common, supplemented on occasion by the 
use of the library auditorium, especially 
when visiting lecturers speak to both the 
class and members of the staff, or when the 
public is invited for some special address. 
In the smaller libraries, there is always a 
study room or work room where the Gary 
plan as to equipment may be carried out. 
Even the invasion of staff quarters should 
not be regretted, for contact with members 
of the staff will prove an inspiration to 
those in training. 

Outside of the necessary textbooks and 
a small working collection of reference 
books in the schoolroom, the general li- 
brary is used, and in this way the students 
become familiar with the location of the 
different classes and so more helpful dur- 
ing the practice periods. Even the books 
used in the cataloging and classification 
courses do not form a permanent deposit 
in the schoolroom, but are drawn from the 
reference and circulating department 
shelves as needed, so that the students 
handle live books and thus broaden their 
knowledge by actual contact with the latest 
editions and the latest books in the field, as 
well as by contact with the older standards. 

The instruction of a training class is 
usually in the hands of a library school 
graduate, who may or may not devote her 
whole time to the work. In some instances, 
she has had experience on the staff of an 
accredited library school, but in any case, 
with the ideal of a thorough course in 
mind, you may be sure that library school 
standards will be the goal of her ambition, 
and toward this, she is going to bend her 
own energies and enlist the services of 
the general staff. It follows naturally that 
the curriculum, while planned to enable the 
student to meet the demands of a certain 
library, is after all a pretty close replica 
of the one which the preceptor knows best 
of all. 

The foundation principles of technical 
knowledge are necessary In any system of 
training, with not quite so much stress laid 



upon comparative methods, In the appren- 
tice class. This gives the chance to expand 
the laboratory work, where the student 
has the opportunity to study the compara- 
tive methods of one system at first hand 
as she observes the work in the Branch 
libraries which varies according to their 
location and constituency. 

In the training classes of Los Angeles 
and St. Louis special emphasis is laid on 
work with children, as the assistants in the 
Branches deal wtih both adults and chil- 
dren. In fact, in certain neighborhoods 
the work is largely with children. Brook- 
lyn meets this situation by offering a spe- 
cial course for the training of children's 
librarians. Fortunately, a Pittsburgh Li- 
brary School graduate will be found in 
all the larger libraries to conduct the 
course and supervise the practical work. 

Specialization, of course, should receive 
no consideration but there seem to be un- 
usual facilities for discovering the par- 
ticular bent of a student as she is tried out 
in so many different departments during 
the year, especially as to fitness for work 
with children. Two of our own students 
qualified for the position of children's li- 
brarian, after the requisite experience as 
assistants. A third has been taking the 
special course given in the Cleveland Pub- 
lic Library, and we hope to send others for 
such specialized training. 

The proportion of class room work is 
steadily increasing and although the dan- 
ger point has not been reached, the ques- 
tion of elimination and substitution needs 
careful consideration quite as much in the 
training school as in the accredited school. 
It may seem, at first thought, unnecessary 
for an apprentice class to spend time on a 
course on the annotation of books and sub- 
ject bibliography. It really is most prac- 
tical in our case for the library assistants 
are expected to read and write notes for 
the new books received on approval. They 
also are often called upon to compile anno- 
tated book lists. As a part of the required 
work of the course, the students have writ- 
ten all the book notes for the annual Train- 
ing Class number of our Monthly Bulletin, 



187 



appearing in May, 1915, and in June of the 
present year, and also compiled the selected 
bibliographies appearing in each. 

Methods of conducting classes need no 
comment except to say in passing that the 
Seminar method is especially valuable in a 
training school where the direct cause and 
effect may be studied in every course as the 
subject is developed. The instructor has 
an unusual opportunity to observe the re- 
sults of certain methods of teaching, and 
a great chance for experimentation, as the 
curriculum is more or less flexible. At the 
same time, the work of the student is 
checked up so thoroughly in the different 
departments, that such experimentation is 
naturally kept within bounds. 

The number of hours devoted to practice 
work in the library schools varies from 
200 to 500, the majority of them using a 
400 hour schedule or thereabout. The 
time given to practice work in training 
classes varies still more, dependent partly 
on the length of the curriculum. 

For practical training, a large public li- 
brary system offers an excellent laboratory, 
with its branches presenting the various 
types of small libraries as to local condi- 
tions and clientele, while the various de- 
partments at the Central Library give a 
chance for Intensive training along special 
lines. In St. Louis, for instance, the Ca- 
rondelet Branch is a perfect example of the 
library in a small town. In the early his- 
tory of the city, Carondelet was a rival 
town and it still retains community con- 
sciousness and interests. The student thus 
has a chance to observe conditions in a 
home neighborhood which has not been in- 
vaded to any extent by apartment houses 
or even by boarding houses. There are a 
few manufactories creeping in, but it comes 
nearer the agricultural community than 
any other section of the city, with its mar- 
ket and truck gardens and the large straw- 
berry farms on its borders. The Caron- 
delet Business Men's League holds its meet- 
ings at the library. The Carondelet Wom- 
an's Club raises funds for pictures to dec- 
orate the library and there is even a local 
newspaper to print lists of new library 



books at the branch. The Carondelet yearly 
picnic, 10,000 strong, takes the place of Old 
Home Week and at this picnic, tlie branch 
librarian has a booth advertising the li- 
brary in the most approved county fair 
fashion. 

Divoll Branch, at the other end of the 
city, is also in an old residence district, 
which, however, has rapidly changed to a 
manufacturing community with only a few 
of the old landmarks remaining which fig- 
ured in Churchill's novel, "The crisis." 
The branch is very active as a social cen- 
ter, with societies swarming all over the 
place on winter evenings when often the 
librarian's office and the kitchen are 
pressed into service as club rooms. There 
are also neighborhood parties, which are 
family affairs with both parents and chil- 
dren joining in the games and dancing. 
Here the student comes into contact with 
our growing system of library instruction 
for grammar-school pupils. Last fall, I was 
somewhat startled to hear of a reported 
statement by the mother of one of the ap- 
prentices that lier daughter and the other 
students were being sent to the "most im- 
possible places in slum neighborhoods." 
When the story was investigated, the "im- 
possible place" proved to be Crunden 
Branch, where a west-end debutante — a 
very transitory member of the class — had 
been sent for her two weeks of preliminary 
practice work. The location is one which 
ought to delight the heart of either a social 
worker or a librarian. Most of the children 
are either foreign born or of foreign born 
parentage and turn to the library both for 
recreation and study, and many of the 
adult readers are conversant with several 
languages. It is a rallying point for such 
clubs as the Arbeiter Ring, Capmakers' 
Union, Karl Marx study club, Jewish Na- 
tional Workers, the Lithuanian socialists 
and all sorts of relief organizations. The 
branch librarian finds it advantageous to 
advertise the resources of the library In 
Yiddish as well as in English. 

Soulard Branch Is also situated in a 
foreign neighborhood and divides with 
Crunden the honor of circulating books In 



us 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



all sorts of queer languages — to the 
Slovaks, Croatlans, Ruthenlans, Lithuani- 
ans, etc. 

Barr and Cabanne Branches are located 
near high schools with plenty of reference 
problems to vary the students' afternoon 
work. Barr Is in a German neighborhood 
and Cabanne in the west end residence dis- 
trict with no factories and no foreigners, 
but such societies using the branch as the 
Dickens Fellowship, French Circle, Dra- 
matic club. Progressive club, Shakespeare 
club, Psychology class and Classical club. 

The field of practice work is still further 
enlarged by assignments to school stations 
and our down town branch in a depart- 
ment store. 

In the Chicago Library course, the theo- 
retical work is finished before any practice 
work is given, but in most instances, theory 
and practice go hand in hand. In St. Louis, 
each student is scheduled for nine hours of 
practice work each week during eight 
months of the school year, and the ninth 
month is entirely given over to practice 
work, thQ individual appointments chang- 
ing every four weeks so that each one is 
sent to branches and departments in turn. 
So far as possible, the appointments are 
arranged to cover short schedules and the 
rush hours in the afternoon, and the as- 
sistance is most welcome. In fact several 
of our branches and departments make up 
their yearly schedules with the under- 
standing that a certain amount of help will 
be furnished from October to June by the 
apprentices. There is sufficient care taken, 
however, to insure a variety of work, for 
example: During an afternoon's assign- 
ment at one of the branches the first hour 
Is usually devoted to general or technical 
work, whatever the librarian has at hand, 
the second hour to desk work and the third 
to work in the children's room. Again the 
routine may be varied by assisting at a re- 
ception given to the teachers or serving tea 
at the mothers' meetings. 

The course In trade bibliography is given 
early in the year as the student has need 
of it in her assignment to the catalog de- 
partment, where she looks up publishers. 



prices and other bibliographical data, 
checks lists, files cards and typewrites. 

During the latter half of the year, actual 
practice in telling stories to the younger 
children at Divoll Branch and a school sta- 
tion was made elective, and two of the stu- 
dents took entire charge of home library 
groups, under the instruction of the super- 
visor of children's work. 

An S. O. S. call for apprentice help is 
likely to come any day and the practice 
work is planned so that It is usually pos- 
sible to meet just such demands. 

The supervision of the practice work of 
the members of a training clr-.ss is, from 
the nature of the case, quite as thorough 
as in the laboratory system of affiliated 
libraries used by many of the library 
schools. The question incorporated in the 
monthly report blanks "Would you be will- 
ing to accept the apprentice as an assistant 
in your department or branch?" is a vital 
one and liable to be a live one at any mo- 
ment. Hence the student is under close 
scrutiny as to personality, work and adapt- 
ability for each particular department and 
branch library during the apprenticeship, 
and in case of doubt, a second assignment 
in the same quarter is decidedly helpful to 
everyone concerned. To the chief of the 
department, it offers a great opportunity to 
make a choice from a number of applicants. 
To the student, it offers the opportunity 
not only for all around development but 
also for orientation in the chosen profes- 
sion. 

Although handicapped by lack of funds 
for such purposes, the larger training 
schools can count on the cooperation of the 
faculty of the local university for lectures 
on the bibliography of sociology, economics 
and kindred subjects. The Los Angeles 
Training School has a long list of speakers 
including several from the University of 
Southern California. In St. Louis, there 
are several educational institutions to draw 
upon, and this enables us to change the 
supplementary course from year to year, so 
that we shall not make too heavy demands 
upon the time of any one person. Then 



189 



too, a change Is desirable because these 
lectures are always open to the staff at 
large and are attended by such assistants 
as may be spared from work for the hour. 
There are occasional lectures, open to the 
public, given at the University, which sup- 
plement our course in current news, and 
this last winter, the Pedagogical Society 
invited the class to hear Seumas McManus 
lecture on the fairy tales and folk tales 
of Ireland. We have also been fortunate 
in securing lectures relating to municipal 
affairs and conditions, given by persons 
actively engaged in civic work. Mr. Roger 
Baldwin, secretary of the Civic League, 
gives an annual talk on the library and 
civic activity. Mrs. January, secretary of 
the Consumers' League of Missouri, keeps 
us informed as to local industrial condi- 
tions and legislation on the subject. Mrs. 
Moore, former President of the General 
Federation of Women's Clubs, lectures on 
the work of women for a better city, with 
local references and examples. 

The course on public libraries and public- 
ity was contributed to this year by Mr. 
Ranck of Grand Rapids, Mr. Hirshberg of 
Toledo, Miss Morgan and Miss Ward of 
the Detroit Public Library. Miss Wales, 
secretary of the Missouri Library Commis- 
sion, makes us an annual visit to bring 
news from the field, and a district confer- 
ence, held in St. Louis, brought out other 
phases of library work. 

As to library visits, every large city 
contains libraries of varying types to be 



inspected, while the large library system 
itself presents current methods of expan- 
sion and development in every department 
and branch. Further than that, the stu- 
dent is better prepared for general obser- 
vations and comparisons after a year or 
two of actual experience. The Detroit Li- 
brary Training Class has gone as far afield 
as Buffalo for a library tour, but such visits 
are more apt to be made by the individual, 
as it is not often possible to ask a class to 
bear the expense of a long trip, valuable as 
it might prove. The Brooklyn Training 
Class makes a special point of visiting 
branch libraries. 

The training class in general has kept 
pretty closely to its own field, i. e., pre- 
paring assistants only for the library wliich 
conducts it. However, because of the 
dearth of library scliools on the coast and 
the demand for trained workers, the Los 
Angeles and Portland schools are training 
for other libraries as well. 

In general, the youth of the student in 
the apprentice class militates against rapid 
promotion, on the other hand, there is 
more willingness shown to wait for the ex- 
perience which is necessary for advance- 
ment in a large system. 

The success of the graduate whether of 
a library school or an apprentice class is 
after all, largely a matter of personality 
and devotion to work, and the aim of the 
training, I take it, is the same, to provide 
our libraries with trained workers so that 
they may give the best possible service. 



VITAL DISTINCTIONS OF A LIBRARY APPRENTICE COURSE 
By Ebnestiue Rose, Librarian, Seward ParJc Branch, New York Puilic Library 



In Max Eastman's wholly delightful 
chapter on "Names practical and poetic," 
he says that a poetic name is one which 
"engenders a strong realization" of the 
thing named. I should hesitate to call the 
title of this paper poetic, but it will, I 
hope, "engender a realization" that to me 
there appear to be elements in library ap- 



prenticeship which are distinctive and in- 
teresting. 

Many prominent library thinkers believe 
that the training course as distinct from 
the library school is the temporary ex- 
pedient of a poorly organized profession. 
Of course, in many respects this is true. 
One may, with reason, forecast a time when 



190 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



both librarians and library boards will per- 
ceive the waste in efficiency involved in the 
extensive upkeep of small training classes 
by individual libraries. 

This means, simply, that in all cases 
where tne training class aims to arrive at 
library school results by cheaper and 
briefer methods, it is a professional short- 
cut, to be used only so long as necessity 
impels; to be abandoned as soon as tlie 
longer and better road becomes possible. 
It does not follow, however, that the aims 
of a training class may not be somewhat 
different, and in a way quite as valuable as 
those of the longer course. In that case, 
different methods may be not only per- 
missible but indispensable. My purpose in 
writing this paper is two-fold. I wish not 
merely to point out the distinctive differ- 
ences between the professional course of 
a library school, and the work of a train- 
ing class: in addition, I desire to indicate 
certain values inherent in what we call 
apprenticeship, and to point out that, if 
understood correctly, its purposes and its 
results form a legitimate and integral part 
of professional training. 

It will be simple enough, I fancy, to dis- 
cover what are the main points of differ- 
ence between the two types of training. 
Let us consider them very brieily. 

Most important is the stress laid upon 
practical work in the apprentice class. 
This results from the need of preparing un- 
trained persons in as short a time as pos- 
sible to become efficient assistants. No 
doubt, also, it was felt instinctively, that 
practice rather than professional technique, 
should be the dominating note in an ap- 
prentice course. It would be well for us 
not to lose sight of this valuable point of 
view. 

Another result of the need of quick 
preparation, in many instances, is the 
brevity of the training course. In such 
cases, it is important to alter, discriminate 
and condense in the use of material which 
is altogether legitimate matter for the cur- 
riculum of a library school. 

A highly important factor in planning 
the work of a training course 1b the age 



of the students. Such a course alms to 
prepare for positions lower than those oc- 
cupied by library school graduates, and it 
is possible to use in these positions girls 
too immature to undertake the professional 
training. It goes without saying that 
difference in age must materially alter the 
character of the instruction. Quite ir- 
respective of the requirements of such 
positions as the training course graduates 
will occupy, their immaturity and inex- 
perience as well as their mental flexibility 
must be considered. These young minds 
respond readily to the training offered, but 
for the same reason, they are most easily 
bound by the strictures of the unessential. 
Moreover, they are not as yet capable of 
discriminating and rejecting in the use 
of masses of material, while such a process 
somewhat later will have a distinct value 
for them. 

Perhaps the most conspicuous point of 
difference between the two types of train- 
ing lies in the fact that a library school 
gives a general preparation for librarian- 
ship, while an apprentice course trains for 
one library or for one situation. This cir- 
cumstance offers great variety to the pos- 
sibilities of preparatory training, but it is 
also highly restrictive to the work of any 
individual course. It follows that training 
classes may vary extensively according to 
special conditions. 

Take, for example, the work of the Los 
Angeles Training Class during the first few 
years of its existence. Without doubt, this 
class is the fore-runner of all professional 
library training in California. Miss Sutllff, 
in her paper on "Library training in Cali- 
fornia" read before the Pasadena Confer- 
ence, called attention to the fact that "to 
the influence of this training class more 
than to any other single agency is due the 
high quality of library service in southern 
California." It was essential that the work 
01 this course should be of a generalized 
nature, for from it went forth those who 
were to offer the highest type of profes- 
sional service. Local training was neces- 
sary since no other was available. 



ROSE 



191 



Now let us observe a situation presenting 
conditions quite the opposite. 

The training course for junior assistants 
in the New York Public Library Is under 
no necessity of training its students for 
a variety of positions. This library has 
the advantage of close connection with a 
library school offering a professional train- 
ing which renders quite inexpedient any 
other instruction of this order. 

The training course, therefore, is a short 
one, designed to give the maximum of prac- 
tical experience combined wltli explanation 
and interpretation of the work by prac- 
tical experts, 1. e. the librarians and super- 
visors of the library Itself. The second 
task to which this course applies itself is 
the broadening of the students' knowledge 
of books and of the social conditions with 
which the library is in vital contact. Read- 
ing, book reviews, discussions of current 
topics, the freest individual expression of 
opinion, both orally and on paper, these 
are the elements which go to make up the 
work of a very busy short period. 

The training class of the Brooklyn Public 
Library finds itself in a situation some- 
what similar. It is fortunate, however, in 
the length of the course which it may offer, 
and the resulting facilities for more ex- 
tended instruction. 

Thus far I have confined myself to a dis- 
cussion of the actual existing differences 
between a library school and an apprentice 
course. I wish now to draw your atten- 
tion to the causes which underlie the con- 
tinued existence of apprenticeship and 
which, I suspect, will continue this method 
of training for some time to come. I be- 
lieve that such causes exist and they con- 
vince me that a discussion of this nature 
is worth while. Otherwise, I ask you, 
would it not be a futile thing to talk at 
length of a matter which is apparent to 
everyone? If we believe that library ap- 
prentice courses furnish merely a tem- 
porary bridging over of the situation which 
will be replaced as soon as possible by a 
more solid structure, why, to discuss dis- 
tinctions in that case were much as though 
one should talk gravely of differences be- 



tween the laying of stepping stones and the 
building of a modern bridge. All that is 
needed is a warning not to spend as much 
time and labor in placing the stones and 
smoothing their surfaces as we should in 
erecting our bridge. This, by the way, la 
a warning which we cannot afford to dis- 
regard. 

But is this all the story? I think not. 

An abused figure of speech is as tiresome 
as a gown worn too long, but permit me to 
inflict this one upon you for another sen- 
tence. I like to think of a library apprentice 
course, not as a frail and tentative con- 
struction, but as forming an approach to 
the permanent bridge structure. In other 
words, it is as a preparatory period that 
the training course interests me. I quite 
realize that many such courses are of an 
impermanent character, used merely to 
bridge over a transition period. But such 
courses do not interest me greatly, in this 
connection. As I understand it, there are 
two situations in which apprenticeship is 
still used, 1. e. 1) by libraries which prefer 
to train their own assistants or which can- 
not afford to pay the salaries expected by 
library school graduates and, 2) by large 
systems with a graded service, in which 
the training course prepares for the lower 
grades. It is to training of the latter type 
that I would call particular attention. But 
these considerations do not apply entirely 
or even predominantly to very large 
libraries. It is the training course, per se, 
which interests me. There is every reason 
to anticipate that these methods, tried ex- 
perimentally by the large libraries, may be 
followed or adapted by the smaller ones. 
It is entirely probable, as well, that small 
libraries may develop methods of their own. 
Experimentation on a sound basis Is highly 
desirable. 

Library training, we may remind our- 
selves, is in its infancy. That it is still 
possible, in many places, for almost en- 
tirely untrained persons to enter library 
work is surely a proof of this statement. 
So also is the dissatisfaction with the pres- 
ent methods of library training as a whole, 
which is felt in some quarters. Possibly 



192 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



these two facts are more closely related 
than we have imagined. Perhaps the per- 
sisting desire for individual training by 
the libraries themselves, is in part, an out- 
growth of such dissatisfaction. Whether 
this is the case or not, whether it is 
probable that school methods will be 
changed in any important degree, it is 
absolutely without question that in pro- 
fessional training itself lies the correction 
of all its defects. "More training to cure 
poor training," we may say, Just as "More 
democracy to cure democracy." Under 
these circumstances, if apprentice courses 
are holding back the progress of training, 
as compromises always do, we should 
rightly be eager to do away with them. 
But I do not perceive such eagerness, quite 
aside from questions of expediency or ap- 
propriation. 

What is it then, about apprenticeship 
which is valuable to a beginner? Which 
commends itself to the librarian? 

I take it that insistence upon practical 
work is one of these elements of value. One 
of the criticisms of all academic training 
is that, to speak colloquially, "it takes a 
year or so to get over it," — that is, to rid 
oneself of non-essentials. This applies par- 
ticularly to the young person whose 
previous experience has not been such as to 
balance her judgment. When an immature 
and inexperienced mind applies itself to a 
new task, all phases of the new work seem 
equally important. There is little or no 
differentiation of values. From my own 
experience of a library school course 
directly after college, I realize this with a 
personal keenness. No doubt many of you 
have had the same experience, A little 
practical work before or during technical 
training is a mighty ir -.irpreter. It may 
be observed that library schools which re- 
quire preliminary practice realize this to 
be true. 

Another value of the local training 
course, and one which should do much to 
make it permanent, is the lower age limit 
of its students. There is little doubt, I 
think, that the library profession loses 
many promising young people who go at 



once into other callings or into preparatory 
training for them. Note, then, the value 
of a course which openly prepares the 
young student for library work. 

An extremely interesting element in such 
preparatory training is the opportunity of 
emphasizing the human, social, and book 
sides of our work. Can there be any 
doubt that in the minds of too many young 
aspirants for librarianship technique has 
been permitted to loom disproportionately? 
The library course attached to the cur- 
riculum of a high school has much to 
answer for in this respect, turning to the 
details of charging and filing, minds which 
need all the broadening influences of a gen- 
eral school curriculum. 

There is another characteristic of appren- 
ticeship which is at once valuable and re- 
strictive. I refer to its local character. A 
library's apprentice class should prepare 
for its own service alone, and in this case, 
the very restriction is worthy, for it does 
much to protect other libraries from partial 
training. 

The truth which I pluck from these 
various elements is that an apprentice 
course may be extremely, even perma- 
nently, valuable, if it restricts itself to the 
aims and methods of preparatory training. 
It Is only a makeshift, however necessary, 
however valuable, when it copies the man- 
ners of a professional library school. More 
than this, it is a menace as well, for it 
turns out people who believe themselves 
trained, when they are merely prepared 
for the real training. 

Still further, I glean from the situation 
as it has been outlined, that the preparatory 
work to which an apprentice course should 
devote itself, is not only of value, it is of 
supreme importance to professional train- 
ing. Many of the failures in a library 
school are those who have been trained 
along entirely different lines or none at all. 
There are exceptions, I will admit, but 
they are the rare individuals who would 
succeed in any line of endeavor. I ask you 
if it does not seem reasonable that a pre- 
liminary training which combines a strong 
educational and social impetus with plenty 



ROSE 



1S3 



of practical work, supervised and in- 
terpreted, should be the proper entrance to 
professional training. But It Is futile for 
such courses to attempt the methods of the 
regular schools, with their financial sup- 
port, their high grade of instruction, and 
their professional standing. So long as 
such attempts are mad'j, just so long will it 
be inevitable that parsimonious library 
boards and the undiscriminating public will 
persist in perceiving very little difference 
betwen the graduates of one and the other. 

At this point the question naturally 
arises: Would it not be along the lines 
of logical and efficient organization to 
combine this preparatory work with the 
library school proper? My reply is: Yes, 
undoubtedly such would be the case. But 
I add, with conviction, that I believe such 
considerations are relatively unimportant 
compared with the greater freedom and 
the closer touch with practical conditions 
which characterize the union of library and 
apprentice course. 

Of necessity, the viewpoint of practical 
work and that of technical training are pro- 
foundly different. This is not undesirable. 
While theory alone makes one vague and 
ineffectual, — in a word, too theoretical, — 
practice alone tends to restrict one within 
the narrowness of one situation. The two 
points of view are essential to a well 
rounded attitude toward any work. The 
most valuable worker is he who is guided 
along the broad basis of theory by his prac- 
tical experience. An apprentice course is 
merely a systematized gathering of such 
experience. But should apprenticeship be- 
come an integral part of technical training 
proper, it would lose its most noticeable 
point of view. To however great a degree 
practical experience might be crowded 
into it, the dominating spirit would be 
that of training, not that of work. As a 
result, it is almost certain that confusion 
would arise in outside thought regarding 
the two courses, a state of affairs already 
too prevalent. 

Turning now from a consideration of its 
proper place in a system of training, what, 
I wonder, could be more interesting than 



the task which I have indicated,— that of 
turning the crude, unshaped material of a 
school girl's mind into an instrument of 
value and use? To be as practical and 
concrete as possible, I will state what would 
appear to constitute the legitimate elements 
which may be worked together to form a 
preparatory training course, — an apprentice 
course. 

I like that good old word apprentice. In 
bygone days it meant individual responsi- 
bility, a great deal of drudgery, but of lov- 
ing care as well; it meant a training at 
the bench, but it implied at the same time 
a knowledge of all parts of the work in- 
volved and an appreciation of its value to 
the world. In other words, it reached to 
that true culture which is a matter within 
the soul and refuses to be superimposed 
from outside. 

What other statement is needed of the 
functions of a preparatory course of library 
training? Perhaps this sounds to you 
cumbersome, pretentious and altogether 
too serious. I can only say that if we do 
not aim so high, we shall succeed only In 
preparing, at enormous labor, mere com- 
monplace routine assistants with souls no 
higher than the charging desk or the card 
catalogue? 

The materials out of which to construct 
apprenticeship instruction are manifold. 
The realm of books may be entered, paths 
indicated, hidden ways interpreted. Have 
you any idea how utterly lost most high 
school girls feel when they glimpse the 
literary world beyond their school books 
and their home reading? With the present 
flood of popular books and the myriad 
social attractions of the day, even the girls 
from cultivated and book-loving homes find 
themselves very far from a genuine knowl- 
edge of literature. 

Moreover, at a time like tliis, when the 
world is growing small and all its units 
touch in the bewildering intimacy of new 
relationships, a young person Just from 
her high school desk needs not only an 
introduction to all these forces, but an op- 
portunity to become acQuainted with them. 

We call the library a melting pot, and 



1»4 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



set to watch and control It those who do 
not know even the component elements of 
the stuff within! 

I may be reproached with encroaching In 
these remarks, on the function of the 
library school. Why, all the better! We 
need these elements in all our training. 
But the apprentice course may do its share 
to turn the minds of its students to those 
forces which are re-molding the world to- 
day, — even libraries! 

Our greatest difficulty, I fancy, will be in 
gaining for our ranks those young people 
whom we would wish to see enter them. 
Very briefly, it may be said that there are 
two reasons for this situation. 

One is our own failure to insist on the 
high standing of our work. The other is a 
sordid and earthly condition of which you 
are all aware and of which I have not been 
asked to speak! I should like to suggest, 
albeit with some temerity, that the latter 



reason is partly an outgrowth of the first. 
We might abandon the apologetic, the senti- 
mental, the too-genteel attitude, translating 
our high talk into the language of the 
practical man. Conviction within, possibly, 
would lead to quicker acknowledgment 
from without. 

Let me finish very quickly. Without 
wishing to assume too large and serious 
a task for the apprentice work of libraries, 
I believe sincerely that those of us who 
have the opportunity of forming this work 
are peculiarly fortunate, and also ex- 
tremely responsible. In our selection of 
young people to enter library work we 
cannot be too discriminating. What we 
need in our profession, I fancy, is 
spontaneity, a quicker life, a capacity for 
growth. Our privilege, as I believe, is to 
give every opportunity for such growth. 
It Is a question whether any education, 
however complete, can do more. 



THE UTILIZATION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC METHODS IN LIBRARY RESEARCH WORK. 
WITH ESPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE NATURAL SCIENCES 

By Walter T. Swingle and Maude Kelleeman Swinqlj;, 
Bureau of Plant Industry, Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 



Photographic methods are no novelty in 
library research work and many rare 
manuscripts and incunabula have been re- 
produced photographically. It is our pur- 
pose to call attention to the possibility of 
making fuller and more frequent use of 
some of the newer photographic methods 
in library research work, particularly in 
the natural sciences and industrial work. 

Photostat Used to Copy Books and 
Manuscripts 
In recent years there have been placed 
on the market large cameras which take 
photographs by the light of a mercury 
vapor lamp directly on a roll of sensitized 
paper which after exposure is cut off and de- 
veloped at once in the machine. These ca- 
meras are known by the trade names of 



photostat, cameragraph, etc., and were orig- 
inally devised for use in copying important 
legal documents, letters, drawings, plans, 
etc. Such a camera has proved so valuable 
in our work that we venture to give a few 
notes on the uses to which we have found 
it fitted. 

We have used in our work the larger 
size photostat (No. 2), which is able to 
take a roll of paper 13 inches wide and 
can also use the narrower roll, 11 inches 
wide. It takes a photograph of a maximum 
length of 17% inches. By using the wide 
paper a print 17%xl3 inches can be secured; 
allowing for trimming, plates or printed 
pages up to 16%xl2 can be taken natural 
size. The large size machine can be set to 
wind off automatically 9 or 18 inches of 
paper and the smaller one lYa or 15 Inches. 



195 



By a new attachment devised by the junior 
author It Is possible to wind into place 
36 different lengths of paper, varying from 
one-half to 18 Inches, so It Is easy to set 
the machine to make the most economical 
use of the sensitized paper In photograph- 
ing a book, plate or map. A special frame 
that comes with the machine permits the 
book to be held in a horizontal position 
and the image is rectified by passing 
through a right-angled prism which cor- 
rects the reversal of the image due to the 
photographic lens. Consequently a direct 
exposure gives a negative as to color, 1. e. 
white letters on black background, but a 
positive as to position, 1. e. the print can 
be read directly from the face of the paper. 
This permits the use of such a direct 
image or negative for reproducing printed 
or written matter. 

The commercial uses of the photostat 
are usually limited to negative prints, 1. e. 
letters, specifications, diagrams, drawings, 
etc., are reproduced in white on a black 
ground. Such negative prints are very 
useful for reproducing a single page or a 
few pages of a publication and may some- 
times be used in photographing botanical 
specimens. If several copies are required, 
all that needs to be done is to make several 
exposures without changing the position of 
the book or specimen. 

One drawback to such copies is that the 
black background prevents notes or correc- 
tions being added with pencil or pen. Even 
red ink does not show up well on the black 
ground. (Chinese vermilion ink that is 
ground on a slab like India ink makes a 
very good mark, and liquid white ink may 
be used.) 

By photographing the negative print 
again a positive is secured which has black 
letters on a white ground. Such a copy 
can be annotated as easily as the original, 
which it is often desirable to preserve in- 
tact. By using positive prints pasted back 
to back it Is possible to make very good 
copies of printed works that look remark- 
ably like the original work. In all cases 
where positives are made a negative copy 
Is also available. These negatives can be 



bound up by perforating them so they can 
be tied Into a pamphlet holder or a special 
binder made to fit them. They are then 
available at any time for making additional 
positive copies. It is sometimes desirable 
to make the negatives natural size, 
whereas the positive can sometimes be re- 
duced in size to advantage, making a more 
ccnvenient volume. 

It frequently happens in copying old, 
more or less discolored, books or manu- 
scripts that it is necessary to use a color 
screen and make long exposures to secure 
good negatives. Such negatives when once 
secured can, however, be copied into posi- 
tive prints very rapidly. Moreover, the 
copying of negatives is always easier than 
making prints from the original book, 
since it is not necessary to open the frame 
and adjust the pages as with the book. 

In general it would seem desirable to 
preserve the original negatives in the 
library and to make positive prints for the 
use of investigators. If, in addition to the 
cost of making the positive copy, say one- 
tenth of the cost of making the original 
negatives is charged to the investigator, in 
the long run the libraries will get back the 
initial expense of making negatives and 
at the same time supply to students positive 
copies more cheaply than negatives can be 
furnished. Such positives have the ad- 
vantage of reproducing properly any illus- 
tration that may accompany the text. Only 
simple line drawings or mechanical dia- 
grams appear equally well on the negative 
and positive copies. All complicated illus- 
trations and especially all photographic 
process illustrations are difiicult to under- 
stand or use in the negative copy. Further- 
more, notes can easily be made on the 
white surface, whereas negative prints can 
only be annotated by using white ink or 
Chinese vermilion. 

In copying works printed in non- 
European alphabets not to be found in the 
ordinary printing oflice and not capable of 
being typewritten, the photostat is, of 
course, invaluable. It has been found to be 
particularly useful In handling Chinese 
works on agriculture and botany. On ac- 



196 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



count of the scarcity of tranelators It is 
often necessary to send such material to 
China or Japan to have It translated or 
abstracted. The photostat makes it easy 
to do such work cheaply. In the copying of 
ancient manuscripts the photostat method 
is absolutely necessary to secure accuracy. 
By using this machine, such copies can be 
made at very reasonable cost. 

Having formerly used glass plates for 
reproducing rare books, we are in position 
to know from experience not only the 
heavy cost of such a method but also the 
great difficulties in filing in a safe and 
convenient manner the heavy and easily 
breakable negatives. 

Photostat negatives are merely sheets 
of flat paper and if properly bound may 
be used for reference if the original work 
or the positive copy is not at hand. 

We have found that in order to keep 
the operating cost of the photostat low 
per unit of work it is necessary to keep 
the machine in continuous use during at 
least five or six working hours each day, 
thereby permitting an economic utilization 
of the operator's time and of the chemicals 
used for developing. In this way we have 
found that the total cost may be kept down 
as low as 4% cents per photostat print 
7%xll inches. 

Although it is a fact that even a beginner 
can get some sort of results with the photo- 
stat, it is nevertheless true that a con- 
siderable degree of skill is necessary to 
enable an operator to get the best results, 
especially in copying old or discolored 
books or manuscripts and in making first- 
class positive copies. It is well worth while 
for librarians having such work done to 
insist upon a high standard of excellence 
in photostat copies. In this way, without 
materially increasing the cost, a superior 
grade of work can be obtained. 
Utilization of Photography in Botanical 
Researches 

Besides these obvious uses in reproduc- 
ing rare or costly manuscripts or printed 
books and articles, we have found the 
photostat very useful in other ways. 

In our work on crop planti and par- 



ticularly in the study of the citrus fruits 
and their wild relatives, we have found 
it necessary to have at hand the original 
descriptions of hundreds of different 
species and also notes as to their uses in 
their native countries, etc. These descrip- 
tions and notes are, of course, scattered 
through many hundreds of volumes and 
even though one might happen to be so 
extraordinarily fortunate as to have within 
reach a library containing all of the books 
needed, it Is not a simple matter to have 
a dozen or more descriptions from as 
many different books immediately before 
one for comparison. 

Our citrus index comprises descriptions 
of more than twenty genera, each one of 
which has a number of species; in addition 
there are copies of numerous illustrations. 
Yet all of this material is contained in one 
filing drawer and is immediately accessible 
for consultation and comparison. 

In addition to this file we have made up 
booklets in cases where accounts and dis- 
cussions of several species are included 
in one work. The title page of the book 
is included in these booklets and an index 
of the species to be found in the 
photostat copy is bound in at the front of 
the booklet. In this way we have a small 
citrus library of our own containing the 
material on this special subject which Is 
scattered through hundreds of volumes, 
many of them so bulky or so rare that they 
are practically inaccessible for daily use. 

We have found it possible to use to ad- 
vantage the large size machine in making 
copies of valuable herbarium specimens 
wliich we cannot retain in our own collec- 
tion. These prints are made on glossy 
finish paper which gives a print somewhat 
like that from a glass plate. In many 
cases the type specimens of plants are too 
precious to be consulted except for very 
critical work. For all ordinary purposes 
the photostat print suffices. 
Instances of the Use of Photography in 
Library Research Work 

One of the most important uses of the 
method outlined above is to supply missing 
numbers of periodicals or missing pages 



SWINGLE 



197 



from valuable books. It has been possible 
tor us to complete In this way a number of 
very important old works on natural his- 
tory and in one case a series of 61 dis- 
sertations of the University of Upsala, 
Sweden, published from 1787 to 1827, con- 
stituting a catalogue of the Natural His- 
tory Museum of Upsala, a collection of un- 
usual importance because it contained 
many specimens collected by Linnaeus or 
his pupils upon which the scientific names 
now current all over the world were based. 
No American library had a complete set but 
by using the photostat two complete sets 
were made up, one for the Library of Con- 
gress (51 original, 10 photostat copies) and 
one for the New York Botanical Garden (59 
original, 2 photostat copies). A memo- 
randum bound in the Library of Congress 
copy shows where each original was found 
(they came from four public libraries and 
one private collection) so that in case of 
special investigations involving the quality 
of paper or ink, the original could be found 
and consulted. 

A more extensive piece of work is the 
making of a photostat copy of an entire 
book, as was done with Osbeck's Dagbok 
Bfwer en Ostindisk Resa, Stockholm, 1757. 
Only one copy of this work could then be 
located in this country. Since it was very 
important for our work we borrowed this 
copy and made one negative and two posi- 
tive copies of it. The original negatives 
are filed in our oflSce, one positive copy is 
filed in the library of the Department of 
Agriculture and the other positive copy 
is now available for field use so that an ex- 
plorer traveling in China may consult the 
descriptions of plants that were written 
more than one hundred and fifty years ago 
by Osbeck, a pupil of Linnaeus, who was 
the first botanist to assign modern scien- 
tific names to Chinese plants. 

Another instance showing the importance 
of photographic methods in reproducing an 
entire book is that of the original account 
of a new and virulent disease of sugar cane 
and maize that appeared six years ago In 
Formosa. A bulletin issued by the Sugar 
Bxperiment Station of the Formosan 



Government in December, 1911, consisting 
of some 80 pages and 9 plates gave a full 
description of the new parasitic fungus 
causing the disease. It was not found in 
any library in Washington and was finally 
borrowed from the library of the Sugar 
Planters' Experiment Station at Honolulu, 
Hawaii. The entire bulletin and plates 
were copied by the photostat and largely 
because of the information thus secured It 
has been possible for the Federal Horti- 
cultural Board of the Department of Agri- 
culture to put into effect quarantine regula- 
tions which it is believed will effectively 
prevent the introduction into this country 
of this dangerous maize parasite which if 
once introduced might easily cause a hun- 
dred million dollars a year damage to the 
corn crop of the United States. As the 
bulletin in question contained maps, photo- 
gravures, lithographic plates, and was, 
moreover, written in Japanese, it would 
have been impracticable to copy it at any 
reasonable cost in any other way than by 
photography. 
Every Book and Manuscript in the World 

Placed Within the Reach of the Investi- 
gator by Photographic Means 

It often happens that important investi- 
gations on critical matters involving inter- 
ests into the tens or even hundreds of 
millions are delayed for years because of 
the lack of books which are known to exist 
in Old World libraries. Often these books 
are rarely or never put on the market, 
practically all of the copies being in the 
possession of museums, libraries and other 
public Institutions. Under such circum- 
stances it seems the part of wisdom to 
make definite arrangements by which pho- 
tographic copies can be secured promptly 
of all works believed to be of importance 
for scientific or economic investigations in 
progress in this country. It is believed 
that any objection the librarians might 
feel to having photographic copies made 
of their treasures would be removed by de- 
livering to the library furnishing the work 
to be copied a complete photostat copy of 
It. This could be circulated to readers in 



198 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



place of the original copy which could be 
kept under lock and key and only consulted 
on critical matters. In this way the use of 
the photostat would not only result in the 
wider diffusion and greater use of rare 
books but also in the better preservation 
of the originals from which the photo- 
graphic copies were made. 

In view of the difficulty, often impossi- 
bility, of purchasing old foreign books it 
becomes evident that in the photostat we 
have a cheap and efficient means of repro- 
ducing quickly such works as are needed 
by American investigators. It will be 
necessary to place a photostat in one or 
more favorably situated cities in Europe 
and then copy such books and papers as 
they are needed. 

We often forget that European investiga- 
tors have access not only to the books of 
their own libraries but to those of foreign 
countries either by exchange or by a few 
hours railway travel. The English and 
French investigators for example, have ac- 
cess to the national libraries of France, 
Belgium, Holland and England and by a 
railway journey not exceeding eight to 
twelve hours' duration. In order to 
give our investigators facilities equal 
to those of western Europe our great 
libraries should be very much more 
complete than those of London, Paris 
and Berlin, not, as is actually the case, 
much less complete. The only feasible way 
to supplement our scanty library facilities 
is to use modern scientific and business 
methods to make available the books of the 
Old World until we are able and willing 
to purchase copies. In the case of manu- 
scripts of which often only a single copy 
exists it is obvious that the photostat will 
be invaluable for making cheap copies. 

There is no longer any need for any 
competent scholar to be hampered for lack 
of material provided arrangements are 
made to install photostats in Old World 
library centers. 

Finally the need of the isolated worker 
in our own country can be met by furnish- 
ing him with photographic copies of the 
literature he cannot consult In his Btate. 



Possibly if the original user were charged 
a fifth or a tenth of the cost of such a 
copy enough other copies could be sold 
to make the work self-supporting in a short 
time. 

If American scholars are to take the 
place in the learned and scientific world to 
which their energy, originality and In- 
telligence entitle them steps must be 
taken to free them from the heavy handi- 
cap they now suffer in competition with 
their Old-World colleagues because of the 
greater volume of old books and records 
at the disposal of the European scholars. 

APPENDIX: NOTES ON THE SPECI- 
MENS OF PHOTOSTAT WORK 
EXHIBITED 

1. (a) Negative photostat copies on 
loose sheets, such as are used in com- 
mercial work. 

(b) Positives made from such negatives. 

2. (a) Negative prints in loose-leaf 
binders. In the case of material of which 
it may at any time be desirable to make ex- 
tra copies, the negatives are made natural 
size, perforated at the margin, and pre- 
served in these binders so as to be avail- 
able for making positive copies. 

(b) Positives made from these nega- 
tives. 

3. (a) Negative prints trimmed and 
rearranged for use in reproducing books. 
In the case of books that open flat it Is 
often cheaper and quicker to make a print 
of two pages at one exposure. These can 
then be cut apart and tipped on large 
sheets of black paper in reverse order. 
When the positive is made it can be folded 
in the middle with the two blank sides 
pasted together; the pages will then follow 
in the same order as in the original book. 

(b) A positive copy made from such 
negative. 

4. A book (Osbeck, Dagbok ofwer en 
Ostindisk Resa, Stockholm, 1757) in posi- 
tive photostat copy, one-fourth natural size, 
made as described below: 

If the negatives show large clear print, 
four negatives, each of two pages, can be 



19> 



placed at once In the frame under the lens 
and a reduced positive copy made on a 
single sheet. For example, pages 8-15 of 
a book would be arranged thus: 



il-Zl 


TT-OT 


lu-15 


3-3 



The resulting positive is folded first on 
the line A-B and the blank sides pasted 
together. Then the pasted sheet is folded 
on the line C-D; turning the double page 
14-15 under, leaving the double page 8-9 
on top. If the book is bound with guards, 
Buch a folded sheet, carrying 8 pages of 
the original work, can be attached to the 
stub by a single strip of linen which 
greatly reduces the work of binding. 

5. (a) Negative prints stapled or 
sewed into a booklet without being pasted. 
These are useful for reference work and 
notes can be made on the blank side of the 
print, 

(b) Positive prints made up into a 
booklet in the same way. 

6. (a) Negative prints with the blank 
sides pasted together bound into a booklet. 
These small booklets resemble the original 
book from wliich they are made except 
that black and white are reversed. Posi- 
tives pasted and bound in the same way 
make notations in the text easier. If bound 
with each sheet guarded these books open 
flat and are often easier to use than the 
original. 

7. (a) Negative prints of herbarium 
specimens, on glossy paper, 16%xlli4 



inches. Prints of this kind, made natural 
size, are very useful when the original 
specimen Is not available for study. 

They can be made for a small fraction of 
the cost of bromide enlargements from 
glass negatives. 

8. Photostat cards and booklets from 
the Citrus index. A sample showing 
method of handling and indexing litera- 
ture relating to the cultivated species of 
Citrus and their wild relatives. This in- 
dex comprises loose sheets, filed alpha- 
betically, giving the original descriptions 
of about twenty genera of the orange sub- 
family of plants, having from one to fifty 
or more species; in addition there are 
photostat copies of numerous illustrations. 
Besides these loose sheets there are about 
two liundred booklets made up from indi- 
vidual books, monographs, and local floras, 
which contain accounts and discussions of 
several species. 

9. Photostat copy of index of Chinese 
botany. The Chih wu ming sMh t'u k'ao 
by Wit Ch'i chiin, the best modern work 
on Chinese botany, comprises 60 volumes 
but has no index and no general table of 
contents, though one is given at the begin- 
ning of each volume. These tables of con- 
tents of the individual volumes were copied 
with the photostat, the page references 
added and the whole bound together, 
which greatly facilitates looking up any 
particular plant in the text. This piece of 
work could scarcely have been done at 
all without using the photostat. 

10. Card index of Chinese plant names. 
Extra copies of the tables of contents of 
the Chinese botany noted above were made 
and the plant names occurring in the work 
pasted on cards, obviating the difficulty and 
expense of writing these Chinese char- 
acters. 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCB 



POSSIBLE RESULTS OF THE EUROPEAN WAR 



By Walter Lichtenstein, Librarian. Northtcestern University 



He Is a bold man who will undertake 
to prophesy as to the outcome of the war 
and Its effect upon the commercial and 
Boclal organizations of the world. I need 
only point out how many fallacies have 
already been exploded. The greatest ex- 
perts of the financial world were certain 
that the war could not last beyond a few 
months on account of the fact that all the 
countries involved would be bankrupt it 
it lasted any length of time. Likewise, 
many military experts were of the opinion 
that the loss of life would be so great as 
to preclude the possibility of a war last- 
ing several years. And so, probably the 
experts will be found wrong as regards 
what will happen after the war. I need 
only mention a question which deeply af- 
fects our own country, the question of 
immigration after the war. I have heard 
statements to the effect that on account 
of the poverty-stricken condition of Europe, 
we should be swamped with Immigrants, 
coming from all the belligerent countries. 
And, on the other hand, I have heard main- 
tained with equally good reason the thesis 
that our immigration would be almost nil 
after the war, because there would be 
room for everyone in Europe when the 
present holocaust was over. So, in regard 
to the book market, I hardly venture to 
give any definite expression of opinion. 
All I should like to do is to point out a 
few possibilities, based upon what I know 
of the European book market. 

In the first place, something will depend 
upon who wins. If Germany were to be 
hopelessly defeated, it would probably 
mean the end of that strong central organi- 
zation situated at Leipzig which directly 
and indirectly has been able to control 
prices of books, not only in Germany, but 
also in many other parts of Europe by 
acting as a kind of a clearing house. 
Should Germany win an overwhelming vic- 
tory, the power of Leipzig would probably 



be extended. You understand, of course, 
that I am dealing with the class of books 
that chiefly interests American libraries 
in their purchases abroad, namely the large 
number of scientific publications long out 
of print. I am not speaking about current 
publications. 

In France, England, Spain, Italy and 
other smaller countries the book trade is 
not nearly as centralized as it is in Ger- 
many, and the greater part of that book 
trade of which I am speaking in these 
countries was more or less in German 
hands before the war. If, therefore, the 
present war is practically a drawn battle, 
or if Germany wins, probably the German 
bookdealers will flock back into the coun- 
tries out of which they have been 
temporarily driven, and, as far as the 
organized book trade is concerned, there 
may not be much change. If the Germans 
are unable to maintain this lead in the 
European book market, disorganization 
may result tor a time, and, until matters 
are adjusted, prices may fall. If such dis- 
organization does not result, it does not 
seem to me that we are likely to see a 
very sharp fall in the price of books. I 
know that this is not in accordance with 
the opinion of most of my friends, but the 
fact is that the more important dealers 
who own large stocks of books are most 
of them people of considerable means who, 
while at the present moment they would 
be glad to sell cheaply rather than have 
much of their capital lying dormant, at 
the end of the war will probably feel that, 
having been able to withstand business 
depression for so long a time, there is no 
need for them to make sacrifices when 
immediate improvement may reasonably 
be expected. These large dealers have not 
been suffering as much from the war as 
you may suppose. The ones that have 
been suffering most have been those whose 
chief business has been to supply us and 



LICHTENSTEIN 



201 



other countries beyond the seas with our 
current needs, but these library agents are 
not the people who possess the large stocks 
of books and are not the ones who in- 
fluence prices. The dealers with the large 
stocks have been somewhat protected by 
the fact that in spite of the war the Ger- 
man government and some of the other 
governments also have not cut down their 
budget for the support of libraries and art 
museums materially. At least, in Germany 
it was felt that the amount that could be 
saved by any sudden cessation of the pur- 
chase of works of art and books would be 
more than offset by the losses occurring 
thereby to the business enterprises in- 
volved. My German friends have Informed 
me that they have been doing a fair busi- 
ness in Germany, Austria-Hungary and in 
neutral countries such as Holland and the 
Scandinavian kingdoms in spite of the war. 
All of these dealers have had vastly more 
than the Biblical seven prosperous years 
and are quite able to withstand the pres- 
sure of seven lean years. Thus I do not 
anticipate a sudden fall in the price of 
the books that we ordinarily order. 

You ask: Will there be then no result? 
Yes, I do anticipate some results, but not 
in the case of books bought through the 
usual channels. In England, in France, 
in Germany, in Austria-Hungary large col- 
lections of art and libraries have been 
handed down for generations In certain 
families. Especially in England, but also 
in the other countries, those families are 
paying very heavily the price of blood In 
this war. They are losing the bread earn- 
er. Oh, I do not mean the man who keeps 
them from starvation, but the man who can 
enable them to afford the luxury of main- 
taining a large library and a large collec- 
tion of art. In many cases the whole male 
relationship of such families may be wiped 
out of existence, and the widows will be 
left perhaps not poverty-stricken but 
severely hampered. What is perhaps more 
important, the people who were the ones 
to be interested in these family collections 
will have disappeared. The ones left, 
women and small children, will regard the 



possession of the books and treasures of art, 
which prevent them from moving into 
smaller quarters and thus husbanding 
their resources, as simply a burden, and 
they will be glad to sell for cash to almost 
the first comer. Formerly, the large book- 
dealers would have been the ones to buy, 
and they would have driven up the price 
rather than allow an outsider to obtain 
possession. But while, as I have pointed 
out in the first part of my paper, I do 
not believe these dealers will be so hard 
pressed financially as to be compelled to 
unload what they already own, they will 
probably not desire to load up with a large 
number of collections until they are pretty 
well aware how things are going to go. 
Before they are able to readjust themselves 
and to take action, we here In America 
will have the opportunity to acquire some 
of the choicest treasures of books and of 
objects of art that are now In private hands. 
We shall, moreover, be doing a service to 
the widows and orphans by being able to 
offer them cash for their treasures, cash 
which many of them will need badly, and 
which they will regard as a Godsend. From 
my personal experience, I can tell of a 
somewhat analogous case. This was the 
purchase of the Ehrenburg collection for 
the John Crerar Library. This collection 
had been the prized possession of Dr. 
Ehrenburg of the University of Wiirsburg. 
When he died rather suddenly he left a 
widow and a small child In very comfort- 
able circumstances. I heard of this collec- 
tion accidentally, visited Mrs. Ehrenburg 
and found that on account of the library 
she had to liave much larger apartments 
than she wanted, and that she much pre- 
ferred to let an American library have her 
collection, thus keeping It more or less 
together, than to turn it over to an 
European dealer. I bought the collection, 
as Dr. Andrews can testify, for about $500. 
I could have turned around and sold it 
to any dealer for about double that sum. 
It is of situations like this that I am 
thinking when I say that perhaps as a 
result of the war the research facilities in 
American libraries may be Increased. The 



202 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Hohenzollern Collection of German History 
at Harvard has nearly everything that It 
can obtain in the ordinary way and 
through ordinary trade channels. What It 
lacks are those older publications that are 
entirely in the possession of public insti- 
tutions and in the hands of a few families 
who have held the material for generations. 
It is only as a result of a cataclysm such 
as has been talcing place in Europe that 
America can hope to obtain any of this 
material and thus strengthen collections 
for scholastic research in this country and 
make us less and less dependent upon 
European libraries. I think that measures 
ought to be taken by the library world 
analogous to those taken by the commer- 
cial world in order to be prepared for ac- 
tion as soon as the war is over. We ought 
not to wait to plan until the war is over, 
because recuperation may be quicker than 
we expect — let us hope that it may be. 

If we are wise, we may be able to 
make our libraries along many lines as 



great as the greatest collections In Europe. 
What research facilities our libraries now 
offer and wherein they are lacking, others 
after me are to discuss. Only, this much 
Is certain, that for practically all fields of 
history and literature except those Im- 
mediately pertaining to this country, we 
are still far behind even many of the 
minor libraries of Europe. It has not been 
our fault, much has been done in recent 
years, but we have been handicapped by 
the fact that most of these European 
libraries have had centuries in which to 
develop and have often acquired material 
for an infinitesimal proportion of the ex- 
pense which we should have to undergo 
now. This war may give us the oppor- 
tunity to make up the loss of these cen- 
turies, and perhaps the old adage will be 
found to be correct: 

"Yet true it is as cow chews cud, 
And trees at spring do yield forth bud, 
Except wind stands as never it stood 
It is an ill wind turns none to good." 



LIBRARY PREPAREDNESS IN THE FIELDS OF ECONOMICS AND SOCIOLOGY 
By Adelaide R. Hasse, Chief of Documents Division, New TorJc PuMic Library 



In my most serious appeals about docu- 
ments I never was as serious as I am about 
my present subject. Whatever I have said 
about the failure of librarians to get at the 
crux of the document question I see now is 
only part of the general failure of librarians 
to value the essentials of their whole busi- 
ness. Don't think I am knocking. I'm in 
the same business with you. I have no in- 
tention of going into another business. I 
think at the present time it's the finest 
business in the world. You remember Ben 
Franklin's "Mind your business"? Well, 
my friends, that is what we've not been do- 
ing. We've been letting our business mind 
Itself — muddle along any old way. And 
now, last year, this year, to-day, to-morrow, 
we are face to face with the greatest oppor- 
tunity that will come to us — and we are 
making mudples In the back yard. 



Every interest in this country which is 
essential to the economic and social well- 
being of our people has had, within the last 
two years, a prod to be up and doing. Man- 
ufacturers, engineers, scientists, through- 
out the country are arrested by the sense 
of an impending revolution in the existing 
order of things. You cannot pick up a 
single number of any technical journal 
without finding there some appeal for 
greater appreciation of this fact. The in- 
dustrialists say: we must pull together, not 
apart. The technologists say: We must 
pay more attention to research. They all 
say in effect: We must look around more, 
we must extend our knowledge and inten- 
sify its application. Last autumn I sent 
out a questionnaire to engineers, manufac- 
turers, and economists which read: 

"There is every reason to believe that 



203 



with the cessation of European hostilities, 
scientific research In the United States, 
using the term in its widest application, 
will experience an intensified activity. 
Universities, manufacturers, engineers are 
already anticipating it. The large Ameri- 
can libraries naturally will feel it too. 
What can these do In the way of prepa- 
ration? 

"What suggests itself to you as a prac- 
tical, useful, above all useful, library un- 
dertaking in the field both of economics 
and sociology designed to meet the antici- 
pated inquiries referred to?" 

Since then I have been reading every 
technical and scientific periodical I could 
get hold of in order to sense the attitude of 
the interests represented. I have attended 
numerous meetings of business men in 
New York City with the same object in 
view. The Newlands Bill has been intro- 
duced in Congress. The replies to my 
questionnaire, the gist of the technical 
press, the substance of the addresses and 
the Newlands bill have all pointed to inten- 
sified research and the benefit to be derived 
from accumulated experience. Now, my 
friends, does this touch us? Does it touch 
us? 

What are we but the keepers, the con- 
servators, the dispensers of this accumu- 
lated experience? What are we doing to 
adjust it for the use of these men who 
maintain the good of the country depends 
upon their having it? We are making 
those confounded little mudpies in the 
backyard. 

Dr. Willis R. Whitney of the General 
Electric Co., Schenectady, N. Y., is one of 
our keenest exponents of research as a na- 
tional duty. In an article in Metallurgical 
& Chemical Engineering of May 15, 1916, he 
says, speaking of co-operative scientific re- 
search in a certain European state: "V7e 
should do all we can to bring about the 
establishment of this kind of effort in the 
United States. It could be done as it has 
been done in so many cases in that coun- 
try, by encouraging the scientific men of 
our colleges. Most of them are now so ex- 
hausted by undergraduate teaching, and 



discouraged by financial conditions that re- 
search seems impossible. When we recall 
the successful teaching and research work 
of such men as Llebig, Nernst, Roentgen, 
Hertz, Bunsen, Helmholtz and many more, 
we must deplore the short-sighted method 
of confining our scientists to teaching." 

Consider the sheer waste of intellect. 
There is no other field calling so acutely tor 
conservation. And the nation needs what 
these men might give it. Thus far we have 
been "forgetting that growth and continued 
prosperity come only to those nations 
which are responsible for original research 
work and not for the storage and conserva- 
tion of knowledge." Governor Walsh in 
1914 in the report of the Committee on or- 
ganized Co-operation between the Massa- 
chusetts Institute of Technology and the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, said: 
"One cannot be Governor of the Common- 
wealth of Massachusetts very long without 
realizing the absolute lack of thorough re- 
search information available on public prob- 
lems." 

What Dr. Whitney says of scientific re- 
search and what Governor Walsh says of 
research in political economy is equally 
true of economic research and of social re- 
search. When the federal valuation law 
was enacted in 1913 we were stampeded 
with demands for railway statistics. We 
were not prepared and it was a case of 
hunt, hunt, and hunt with loss of time and 
loss of business. If the operation of one 
American federal law of normal intent finds 
us so unprepared, where will we be when 
the shattered economic and social structure 
of seven-eighths of the civilized world be- 
comes operative! The years 1910 and 1911 
were census years in most of these coun- 
tries. In ordinary circumstances approxi- 
mate estimates of probable variations could 
be based on these census figures. The war 
has made this impossible. Incalculable de- 
pletion of population has taken place, in- 
calculable shifting of population will take 
place when the war is over. The same dis- 
placement is foreseeable in industry and 
commerce. Granted. But, you say, where 
do we come In? Just here. The academic 



204 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



world and the business world are each con- 
sidering the most feasible, the most ad- 
vantageous adjustment of these displace- 
ments. They will require during the nest 
five or ten years an enormous variety of 
combinations of fluctuation of value, of 
output of resources, natural and intrinsic, 
of marketing possibilities, of transporta- 
tion facilities, of banking, exchange and 
credit. They will have to draw upon ac- 
cumulated experience. This accumulated 
experience they themselves have recorded 
from time to time in the technical 
press. This we have religiously subscribed 
to, bound, shelved and considered our duty 
ended there. We have made of the lauded 
American library a vast storage place, a 
v/arehouse of accumulated experience. Our 
failure to appreciate the need of a practical 
display of the contents is an effective pad- 
lock on the warehouse. 

I would like to see within the near future 
a plot of the country, state by state, dis- 
playing the library resources and the prob- 
able consumers, 1. e. students, educational, 
industrial and manufacturing concerns. I 
would like a liberal distribution of this plot 
to consumers. I would like to follow this up 
with the actual goods. I would like to 
be able to distribute to consumers at least 
at the end of a year a general guide to the 
richest deposits of economic and so- 
ciological accumulated experience in Ameri- 
can libraries. 

It makes me heartsick day after day to 
have the shortsightedness of our business 
as a whole brought home to me. If this 
business were one oi material profit and 
loss we would all have been in the receiv- 
er's hands years ago. 

From personal experience, particularly 
since conducting reference work in the New 
York Public Library, I am convinced that 
there is a large and important public to 
whom the service we could render would be 
of material benefit. The little tapping of 
this lead which I have dared to do owing 
to our inadequate facilities to follow up 
any possible response, has amazed me with 
the richness of the prospect. I am sure 
ather reference workers must have had the 



same experience. It is not fair to our 
administrators nor to our trustees not to 
impress them with the impairment of 
plant which an inadequate reference serv- 
ice is. Almost all our libraries are over- 
loaded at the business end and under- 
manned at the reference end. Yet it Is 
tiie reference end which brings the solid 
business to the library. We all know what 
good advertisers students are for us. The 
slightest service rendered them is sure to 
bring a comeback. They do not, however, 
begin to compare with the business man. 
He will talk about your service at the 
oflJce, to his friends, and he never fails to 
follow up the first satisfactory attention. 
It is a great pity, therefore, that with the 
opportunity of the past two years already 
spent, we are not making some effort 
towards economic and sociological pre- 
paredness. Our business sense, if we had 
any, would tell us that German systems of 
industrial co-operation, economic informa- 
tion without end concerning new foreign 
markets, port development in this country, 
terminal facilities, economics of transporta.- 
tion, utility development, are among the 
great questions which will influence 
theoretical and practical economic re- 
search in the near future. 

It would be out of place to consider here 
the best method of preparation, but it goes 
without saying that the orthodox catalog 
is wholly inadequate. Nor is the excep- 
tional industry of a few persons sufficient. 
We reference workers must have a program 
which will enable us to co-operate on a 
common basis, which will relate us closely 
as a body to those men and women in the 
world of affairs who need the corroboration 
of accumulated experience. Only tlien can 
we hope to lift our work out of that half- 
light of romantic piffle in which it is gen- 
erally viewed. It is not fair to all the 
young people we are enticing into librarian- 
ship not to develop this opportunity of 
reference work for them, while insisting on 
overlong training in routine matters. It 
is not fair or loyal to the great men, Poole, 
Winsor, Dewey or Billings who believed so 
mightily in the American library, to allow 



LEGLER 



205 



this most dynamic phase of our work to 
lapse into insipidity. 

With the coming reorganization, coun- 
tries heretofore in the lower ranks of the 
economic and sociological scale will come 
to the front as subjects of research. India, 
Russia, Latin America, Asia Minor are on 
the tapis for exploitation. It is our busi- 
ness to see that accumulated economic and 
sociological experience concerning these re- 
gions is exploited simultaneously with the 
demand. The finest collections of official 
documents in the world are in this country. 
I dare say some of the richest deposits of 
accumulated economic and sociological ex- 
perience are to be found in the great 
American libraries. Has there been so 
much as a whisper of suggestion for the 
working of these deposits? No! Can it be 



possible that we don't care? Dr. Whitney 
has said of the wastage of confining scien- 
tists to teaching to the exclusion of re- 
search — "the nation needs what these men 
might give it." The nation needs what we 
can give it. Why not then, my friends, arouse 
ourselves out of our professional com- 
placency and do what another group of 
men, no more fit than we are, will surely 
do. By our own inertia we are condemn- 
ing ourselves to a deserved inconsequence. 
It is a sore temptation to expatiate on 
the importance to us of the opportunity 
now waiting. A trifle of foresightedness, a 
moment of attention to the alert profes- 
sional and business men, and we must 
realize that an advantage such as is offer- 
ing now to give to our business a functional 
value, will never again come to us. 



LIBRARY WORK WITH CHILDREN: A SYNOPTICAL CRITICISM 

By Henry E. Legler, Librarian, Chicago Public Library 



1. Too many hours spent in reading. 

2. Books read fragmentarily, and not 
digested. 

3. Best books neglected for the latest 
books. 



5. Too many abridgments, extracts and 
compressions of masterpieces. 

6. Too many titles purchased, and dupli- 
cates of best books too illiberally supplied. 



"Tou remind me, madam," said I. "of an 
old courtier, who, being asked by Louis XV 
which age he preferred, his own or the 
present, replied, 'Sire, I passed my youth in 
respecting old age, and I find I must now 
pass my old age in respecting children.* " 
HANNAH MORE, 



What are the children's rooms in the 
public libraries accomplishing? 

Are their methods correct? 

Are they influencing the lives of many 
young people, or but few? 

Are they busily engaged in doing what 
is useless, extravagant, sentimental, 
ephemeral? 

Are their efforts directed to the shaping 
of right ideals? 

Are they putting emphasis upon the kind 



of books that will place the right impress 
upon the characters of boys and girls? 

Faultfinding is an occupation that re- 
quires no special training nor special 
knowledge, nor close adherence to facts, 
and it leads to no productive result. Con- 
structive criticism, though it may prove as 
distasteful, is based upon actuality, judg- 
ment of comparative values, knowledge of 
conditions, and it demolishes in order to 
recreate. If this brief survey hopes to be 
excluded from the first classification, it can 
certainly lay no claim to the merit of the 
latter. Perhaps, midway, there may be 
place for an inquiry, and as such these 
questions are modestly submitted, rather 
than as a solution of the incidental prob- 
lems. Every sentence that follows ought, 
perhaps, to end with an interrogation point. 

For present purposes it may be assumed 
that boys and girls of from five to fifteen 
are under consideration. Intensive library 
work with children conducted by trained 
workers is employed chiefly in the larger 
systems. In the rural communities, sup- 



206 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



piled with starveling libraries as a rule, 
workers trained and untrained are lacking, 
and Indeed this Is true of hundreds of li- 
braries in many cities of considerable popu- 
lation. While authoritative statistics are 
wanting, scattered data supplemented by 
means of questionnaires indicate decisively 
that less than a million children are in con- 
tact with the influences that centre in chil- 
dren's rooms. This leaves 20,000,000 wholly 
unaffected. Certainly this woeful dispro- 
portion is not attributable to the children's 
librarians, whose zeal and interest cannot 
be questioned. It does raise the question, 
however, whether methods which apply to 
less than one-twentieth of the juvenile 
population can be profitably adjusted to 
more than nineteen-twentieths thereof, who 
are left to their own devices in the matter 
of reading, who never come into contact 
with children's librarians, and who are 
utterly uninfluenced by teachers beyond 
the use of the textbook. Some thousands 
of them procure books from their local 
libraries through delivery stations, mak- 
ing acute the problem of selection. It 
denied the loan of books comparatively 
mediocre in character, the library loses its 
appeal, and the reader turns to the un- 
speakable stuff in print which circulates 
among certain types of boys by the million 
copies, procurable at a penny a copy. The 
efforts of the Boy Scouts to introduce good 
books to such readers is a hopeful element. 
Individual instances are within the ex- 
perience of every librarian indicative of 
the immense importance chance acquaint- 
ance with a book may exercise in shaping 
the afterlife of a boy or girl. George 
Eliot has told with forceful effect how 
poor Maggie TuUiver's life was colored by 
a cherished volume. But one need not go 
to books of fiction to prove the controlling 
force of books. In an editorial preface 
to a set of books for young people, Thomas 
Bailey Aldrich notes that "they are often 
incidental factors in determining some step 
affecting all our future. The writer was 
lately told by one of our distinguished 
naval commanders that his career was 
pointed out to him by a chance reading of 



a biography of Paul Jones. Doubtless many 
a lad has been sent off to sea by the perusal 
of Captain Marryat's 'Midshipman Easy' 
or Fenimore Cooper's 'Two admirals.' It 
was the sonnets of William Bowles that 
awakened the poetic instinct in Coleridge, 
as in subsequent years it was Spenser's 
'Faerie Queene' and Chapman's translation 
of Homer that cast a spell upon the 
imagination of young Keats. His love of 
Grecian mythology, out of which grew his 
noblest poem, dated from the hour he 
opened Chapman's English version of the 
Iliad. In her 'Memoirs' Madame Roland 
speaks of the singular fascination which 
Plutarch's 'Lives' exercised upon her when 
she was little Jeanne Philipon." 

Where choice of books may be influenced 
by personal association in children's rooms, 
there is no warrant or excuse for second- 
rate standards, though even here judg- 
ments of taste and of worth must not 
be so extreme as to become absurd. 
Many self-constituted judges of juvenile 
literature are prone to decry unsparingly 
the writings of authors whose books they 
have never read, basing their condemna- 
tion on the pronouncement of someone 
else whose censorious opinion has also been 
derived at second-hand. On the shelves 
of the children's rooms presided over by 
some of them may be found books fully 
as unworthy as the ones excluded. 

It is of relatively minor importance 
whether the story hour should be con- 
ducted by children's librarians in the li- 
brary, or by teachers in the class room. 
It seems absurd to spend time in argument 
over the excellence or futility of picture 
bulletins. It does not matter greatly 
whether certain books are assigned for 
children of a certain age or are listed with 
more elasticity of designation. But it Is 
of supreme moment whether the approach 
to reading is through the right lane of 
print or the wrong pathway of books. 
Primarily, the problem is one of selection, 
and secondarily of application. It must be 
patent to any careful observer, as it has 
been for some time to many thoughtful 
parents and teachers, that In two partlcu- 



207 



I 



lars the trend In children's rooms may be 
criticized severely: 

For the average patron of Juvenile litera- 
ture In children's rooms, there is a surfeit 
of reading, and an oversupply of books not 
worth while. 

It is not wholly new, this problem of 
over-reading, as we learn from the diary 
of Sir William Pepys. He lived in the 
days of King Charles, and this is what a 
matron of Bath wrote to him about chil- 
dren's reading and education: "The poor 
little things are so crammed with knowl- 
edge that there is scant time for them to 
obtain by exercise and play, and vacancy 
of mind, that strength of body which is 
much more necessary in childhood than 
learning." 

This was the period when, as we learn 
from the same source, it was no unusual 
circumstance to feed Milton to boys and 
girls of six, lead up to the "Faerie Queene" 
at ten and eleven to note "an animated 
relish for Ovid and Virgil." 

Many years later, though a hundred 
years before this present year of grace, we 
get from a contemporary source this 
illuminating picture of the time: 

"I asked Kate how it happened, that she 
seemed to be distinguished on this occasion 
from her little sisters. 'O, sir,' said she, 
'it Is because it is my birthday. I am eight 
years old today. I gave up all my gilt 
books, with pictures, this day twelve-month, 
and today I give up all my little story 
books, and I am now going to read such 
books as men and women read.' " 

These sage remarks are attributed to 
one of the parents of the little girl: 

"We have," he said, "too many ele- 
mentary books. They are read too much 
and too long. The youthful mind, which 
was formerly sick from inanition, is now In 
danger from a plethora. As to the mass 
of children's books, the too great profusion 
of them protracts the imbecility of child- 
hood. They arrest the understanding, in- 
stead of advancing It. They give forward- 
ness without strength. They hinder the 
mind from making vigorous shoots, teach 
It to Etoop when it should soar, and to 



contract when it should expand. Yet I 
allow that many of them are delightfully 
amusing, and to a certain degree Instruc- 
tive. But they must not be used as the 
basis of instruction, and but sparingly used 
at all as refreshment from labor." 

"I can get most girls to read Dickens, 
because I have read all of Dickens myself," 
is the testimony of a successful librarian, 
and in this statement is comprised the prin- 
ciple which many children's librarians 
would do well to note. Familiarity with 
the approved literature of the world is a 
prerequisite in the qualifications of a chil- 
dren's librarian, whose work must prove 
as potent in influencing parents and teach- 
ers as individual children. 

Unhampered freedom in permitting un- 
disciplined children access to miles of 
shelves has created disrespect for the 
physical book, and Indifference to Its con- 
tents. There is much reading and little 
thinking. Many books are bolted, and 
mental dyspepsia has become a prevalent 
ailment of childhood. Craving for excite- 
ment has been stimulated by sensational 
thrillers that would be termed dime novels, 
it they were bound in yellow and did not 
cost a dollar. The masterpieces of litera- 
ture are given medicinally in school, and 
poorer substitutes are sought as a relief, 
to remove the unpalatable taste. 

If young people are encouraged to de- 
mand the latest instead of the best books, 
a tendency now all too manifest among 
adult readers will be accentuated. If I 
may be permitted in this connection to 
quote myself, there is grave danger that 
the race will develop a ragtime disposition, 
a moving picture habit and a comic supple- 
ment mind. 

Whatever may be said in criticism of 
library work with children, the fact is In- 
disputable that herein lies what there Is 
of hope In the larger and more permanent 
usefulness of the public library. In the 
modern definition of this service, so recent 
has been development on an appreciable 
scale that It would seem unfair to demand 
distinctive results at this time. Perhaps, 
even the experimental processes have been 



L 



208 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Justified up to now. With the multiplica- 
tion of children's rooms, and their direc- 
tion by librarians trained for this spe- 
cialized service, the day has come when 
it is well to question more sharply the 
expenditure of energy and effort in unpro- 
ductive activities. This does not imply 
that their work has been a failure. Out 
of it has grown abundant good, and more 
good will unquestionably follow. But, it is 
Just as well to avoid an attitude of com- 
plete satisfaction with one's work. Com- 
placency has never led to improvement 
and progress. 

If the Library of the Twentieth Century 
is to be a greater force than it has thus 
far been in the intellectual life of the peo- 
ple, and to realize its possibilities in tlie 
cultural as well as the utilitarian develop- 
ment of the common life, the impulses 
must germinate in the children's rooms. 
And herein lies the potency and the worth 
that give character and meaning to the 
efforts put forth, gropingly maybe, but 
charged with that spirit which shall in the 
ultimate realize their purpose. With Mr. 
Compton Leith we may say that we need 
not repeat the cant that is often written 
about children. Not all of them, as he 
truly says, are like the infant angels of 
Bellini or Filippino Lippi or Carpaccio; 
some indeed are strident, pert, without 
charm or candour, not doves but little jays. 
But with him, too, we may hold that for 
the loveliness of many, whether rich or 
poor, whether wild or tended flowers, we 
may well hold the whole company dear. 

"The comparison of children with 
branches of tlie olive is not the mere orna- 
ment of a Bible verse, but the simile of one 
who knows both tree and child. For as 
children are bright creatures of swiftly 
changing moods, so are the olive leaves 
in the blue Aegean air. I once read of an 
artist who essayed to paint a group of 
olives and a cypress growing before them. 
Against their silvery leaves its dark 
burnished form stood finely mysterious, 
the contrasting grey lending it a profound 



depth of colour; all was propitious for his 
work. Then suddenly, the air being to all 
seeming quite still, the grey-green leaves 
began to shake and quiver, until each olive 
tree was like a silver bonfire, tremulous 
with a thousand waves of wliite fiame flow- 
ing and following along the branches. It 
was a revelation and swift efHuence of life, 
perplexing and full of charm. The brush 
was laid down, the moment of Inspiration 
gone, before the capricious leaves ceased 
their quivering to be robed once more in 
grey, casting on the ground that trans- 
lucent shadow which tempers the sunlight 
only, and does not overwhelm its grace. 
In the end the canvas was covered, but 
with a sketch far less true and beautiful 
than the painter's first happy vision. Even 
so of all our children few attain the per- 
fection of our dreams. While we look, 
some influence comes upon them and they 
are changed, some breeze, born we know 
not where, stirs them to tlielr heart of 
joy while we stand perplexed; innumerable 
laughter of leaves, a rushing and a shiver- 
ing in quick answer to a mere breath, 
silence as swift when unperceived it dies 
away— these are their replies to our silent 
Invocations. We cannot follow the swift 
course, but are quickened with a glad 
rejuvenescence, the true prize and guerdon 
of fatherhood. They may grow old or die 
or bring us sorrow; it is enough that once 
they so lived and stirred a pride within 
us. Let Hedonist and idealist dispute, let 
one worship pleasure and another wait on 
the intangible joy, but in the fathering 
and mothering and the bringing up of 
young children, of the flesh, the mind, or 
the spirit, lies the natural happiness of 
men and women. It is a joy which outlasts 
disillusions; it rests surely upon achieve- 
ment and deserts which lie ponderable in 
the archangel's scales. For it Is certain 
that he who creates as best he knows best 
serves God, the world and himself, and 
what system of Ethics has conceived a 
more perfect entelechy?" 



BOSTWICK 



ao» 



LIBRARY WORK WITH CHILDREN 



Bt Arthur E. Bostwick, Librarian. St. Louis Public Library 



What I have to say was prepared under 
the erroneous impression that it was to be 
printed in advance of this meeting, and 
that you were to read it instead of listening 
to it. I was strictly limited in the length 
of it, which accounts for its brevity. 

Children constitute a separate class in 
the community. Children's clothes, chil- 
dren's amusements, children's food, must 
all be considered separately from the same 
subjects in their relationships to adults. 
It Is natural, therefore, that libraries have 
been forced to deal separately with chil- 
dren. The older libraries dealt with them 
by disregarding them. The first library 
that I used as a boy had no books for chil- 
dren. When children began to use public 
libraries it soon became evident that sepa- 
rate reading-rooms, separate book-collec- 
tions and a separate staff would greatly 
facilitate the business of the library, not 
only with the children but with adults. 
My conception of library work witli chil- 
dren is simply that adults and children 
both obtain more satisfactory service at 
the library if they get it separately, and 
that the business of a children's depart- 
ment is to study the way in which the chil- 
dren may be best served, having regard 
to the differences between them and the 
adults, their present interests and require- 
ments as they see them now, and those in- 
terests and requirements as they will ap- 
pear when the children, grown to adult age, 
look back upon their relations with the li- 
brary and their experiences in it. 

The conditions under which such service 
may be rendered may be different with dif- 
ferent groups of children and in different 
localities. They may be conceived differ- 
ently by different librarians; and yet the 
methods employed by each may be the best 
for him to employ and the best for the 
children that use his library. I would en- 
courage each librarian to work out his own 
problem, never imitating without certainty 



that the thing imitated will work as well 
with him as it does elsewhere; and realiz- 
ing also that what he has found to be best 
in his own library and his own city may 
not be the best for others. 

Library work with children has been 
more thoroughly systematized than that 
with adults. In the first place, it needs 
more systematizatlon. In the second place, 
those in charge of it have looked upon 
themselves as specialists. They have re- 
garded their task with a special enthusi- 
asm, not altogether devoid of a kind of 
fanaticism. They have shown all the good 
points, and all the faults, of the specialist. 
It Is unfortunate, I think, that they have 
all been women, although, if it is neces- 
sary to turn the work over to one sex, the 
women are the ones to do It. They have 
special love for children and special apti- 
tude for dealing with them. But I should 
like to see one male assistant in every chil- 
dren's department. It would do no harm 
to have fifty per cent of our children's li- 
brarians men. I do not know that our 
present staffs would object, but I have yet 
to see the man who would like to specialize 
in this field. We meet with the same 
trouble in school education, in the primary 
and grammar grades. This is one of the 
problems to be solved by those who are 
studying the best methods of rendering li- 
brary service to children. 

The children's room in a library, or the 
children's department of a library system 
should do anything whatever that proves 
to be effective In bettering library service 
to its children, whether any other library 
does that thing or not. It should not adopt 
any method or introduce any innovation 
simply because it has been successful else- 
where — except experimentally, to ascertain 
whether it will also be successful in the 
place of trial. It should drop everything 
that Is not shown clearly to be of advantage 



210 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



In rendering library service to the particu- 
lar children, In the particular place In 
which it is working. The children's libra- 
rian should remember that the library ex- 
ists only because the community believes 
that necessary service can be rendered 
through its agency; and that she herself 
exists only because experience has shown 
that the sum of service rendered by the 



library to the community is greater when 
It is rendered to adults and children sepa- 
rately. The criticisms that I have to make 
on library work with children as usually 
conducted by children's librarians in the 
children's rooms of public libraries may all 
be reduced, I think, to one — the occasional 
neglect of the fact stated just above or the 
failure to realize it. 



THE PLACE OF THE SCHOOL LIBRARY IN MODERN EDUCATION 
By James Fleming Hosic, Chicago Normal College 



The campaign for better school libraries 
which is being waged with so much spirit 
and success in all parts of the United 
States is based upon a new conception of 
education and is, therefore, in harmony 
with the efforts which are being put forth 
to improve the schools in other ways. It 
is not merely the outgrowth of ambition 
springing up in the minds of a few pro- 
fessional librarians. Nor is it traceable to 
the efforts of publishers to Increase the 
sale of the products of their presses. It is 
part and parcel of the onward movement 
which is rapidly transforming the whole 
educational system of America and which 
is destined to give us, ultimately, schools 
adapted to the training of young people in 
a democracy. 

The education of the day is modern In 
two principal respects. In the first place, 
the doctrine of formal intellectual disci- 
pline through hard and disagreeable effort 
expended upon intrinsically valueless ma- 
terial is now largely discredited. In its 
stead is being built up a doctrine based 
upon the theory of native and acquired ten- 
dencies and capacities, to be developed 
through favorable environment in the di- 
rection of sound knowledge, useful habits, 
elevating ideals, and satisfying Interests 
and appreciations. We are ceasing to talk 
of cultivating the memory. Psychologists 
tell us that in all probability the native 
power of retentiveness cannot be greatly 
altered by anything we can do in the 



schools. We speak now of cultivating a 
memory for specific valuable facts and of 
developing the power of retaining certain 
types of facts. One person, for example, be- 
comes deeply interested in all that pertains 
to plants. He forms the habit of remem- 
bering plants, their names, their habitat, 
their methods of propagation, and so on. 
Another person with quite different tastes 
may early conceive the idea that he would 
like to possess a library. Hence he ex- 
amines every book that comes into his 
hands, noting carefully the title, the au- 
thor's name, publisher, the price, and the 
principal contents. Presently he has a 
surprising fund of general knowledge of 
books. As with memory, so with skill and 
accuracy. Granting that we may come to 
cherish the ideal of being accurate and 
skillful, we must still maintain that the 
application of skill is specific. The fact 
that one can play the piano does not argue 
that one can play golf, though certain 
powers developed in the one will doubtless 
be of some assistance in the other. In short, 
education has ceased to be a process of 
strengthening mental faculties and has be- 
come a process of developing definite ten- 
dencies and capacities into certain specific 
usable attainments. 

In the second place, the school course Is 
being reorganized from the social point of 
view. This means, among other things, 
that the basic needs of contemporary soci- 
ety must be considered in the determlna- 



HOSIC 



211 



tlon of wliat to teach and how to teach It. 
The children in the elementary school of 
yesterday were thought of as about to go 
Into the world to make their living In the 
less intellectual occupations. They would 
be citizens and must know how to read the 
Constitution and their ballots. Therefore, 
they must be taught reading, writing, spell- 
ing, and arithmetic. Likewise, the pupils 
in the high school were thought of as can- 
didates for college and the professions. 
They must, therefore, study the subjects 
demanded by college authorities in prepara- 
tion for the work of college halls. Latin, 
Greek and mathematics, consequently, 
absorbed the lion's share of time and at- 
tention. Today, however, the curriculum 
of the elementary school has been wholly 
transformed and that of the high school is 
in rapid process. The elementary school 
is conceived of as a place for all- 
round growth and development of the 
human personality. The boy and the 
girl of today are to be the man and 
the woman of tomorrow and must be pre- 
pared to live their lives fully and effective- 
ly in the several relations which they will 
occupy. These are almost certain to in- 
clude membership in the family, the social 
community, the state, and an occupational 
group, either industrial, commercial, or 
professional. Their time will be divided 
between work and play, and for both of 
these the school must prepare. It must 
prepare for them by providing experience 
in work and play. Here we have the view- 
point of the modern elementary school and 
the explanation for the stress now laid 
upon history, studies in vocations, hand- 
work, music, art, playground activities, and 
not least of all, general reading. 

As for the high school, it has ceased to be 
a college preparatory Institution and is 
rapidly becoming a true people's college, 
that Is, a place where the youth of our 
democracy may obtain somewhat of a lib- 
eral education combined with preparation 
for a specific vocation. Larger and larger 
emphasis Is being placed upon manual 
activities, domestic science, physical edu- 
cation, community civics, music, art, mod- 



ern languages, and the reading of the best 
books and magazines in the English 
language, both ancient and contemporary. 
The assumption is that the majority of 
the graduates from this school will take 
their places, without further scholastic 
preparation, as citizens, householders, and 
workers; that in their various relationships 
they will need that many-sided develop- 
ment which only a curriculum of studies 
made up from all aspects of modern life 
can provide. 

It is clear that in the new scheme of 
things the library is indispensable. So long 
as "boning" upon a formal textbook in 
ancient language or mathematics was sup- 
posed to be sufficient to develop the human 
faculties and prepare for college, a collec- 
tion of books for general reference and 
reading was almost unnecessary. The pupil 
merely conned his textbook and recited 
upon it to his teacher. This is the time- 
honored conception of the recitation, not 
yet obsolete, it must be admitted. When it 
comes, however, to the investigation of a 
problem in history, say, a far larger quan- 
tity of data is necessary than can possibly 
be gathered within the covers of a text- 
book. At the best the textbook can be 
only a sort of laboratory manual, an out- 
line of the problems to be solved. The 
pupils must go elsewhere for the facts. 
This means the consultation of books and 
comparison of authorities. It means the 
use of maps, pictures, chronological tables, 
biographies, and eye-witness accounts. 
The case may be illustrated equally well 
by reference to the work in English. If 
the subject be composition, then the pupils 
must have access to numerous examples of 
good writing by contemporary authors. A 
sufficient number of these cannot possibly 
be excerpted and made available within the 
covers of a school text. The pupils must be 
sent to the library shelves and the maga- 
zine rack. They must be sent there, more- 
over, not only for examples of good writing, 
but for information on topics which they 
are seeking to develop and present to their 
classmates. This will require not con- 
densed encyclopedic summaries, but 



212 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



elaborated articles such as the modern 
magazine contributor so well knows how 
to put together. If the subject be litera- 
ture, the masterpieces around which the 
class activities center must be supported 
by extensive reading. These masterpieces, 
indeed, must be thought o£ not merely as 
providing great pivotal experiences with 
art, but also as the open doors to fresh 
fields and pastures new which otherwise 
might remain unknown or at least unappre- 
ciated by the youth of the school. It is 
perhaps not too much to say that class- 
work in literary masterpieces which does 
not lead to wide and voluntary reading on 
the part of most of the pupils is in large 
measure a failure. 

What has just been said concerning his- 
tory and English holds true in greater or 
less degree of all the subjects in the mod- 
ern school. All subjects have their litera- 
tures. It is now well known that labora- 
tory work in science which is not supple- 
mented by reading results in a hopelessly 
narrow and technical knowledge which is 
often meaningless to the immature pupils 
who are the possessors of it. Geography 
offers particularly rich opportunities for 
wide reading concerning the conditions and 
products of the various countries of the 
world. The teaching of French and Ger- 
man aims directly to produce the power to 
read the masterpieces of these languages, 
and pupils who pursue them ought soon 
to come to the place where they enjoy read- 
ing books printed in them. In general, the 
pupil is expected not merely to read and re- 
member, but to read, select, evaluate, judge, 
and organize. To do these things he must 
have access to well-filled library shelves. 
He must become a skillful user of that most 
valuable of all the products of civilized life, 
the printed book. 

There is, besides, another significant 
reason why the school library is indis- 
pensable in modern education. This is im- 
plied in what was said above concerning 
the socialization of the course. The mod- 
ern school recognizes that life is made up 
mainly of work and play, of occupation and 
of leisure, and that, therefore, instruction 



and training In school should include all 
the important aspects of these. It is not 
enough, for example, to teach the chil- 
dren of the people to read; they must also 
learn what there is to read and must form 
the habit of reading. That the majority of 
our people are not at the present time good 
readers of good books, is well known. The 
reading of the ordinary business man out- 
side of the literature of his special calling 
seldom goes beyond the daily newspapers, 
or at least beyond a light magazine. The 
careful perusal of thoughtful works by 
either ancient or modern writers is quite 
beyond the power, certainly beyond the 
taste, of the vast majority of middle-class 
Americans. So long as this is the case, 
we cannot lay claim to having an educated 
populace. What Charles Lamb is reported 
to have said holds good today. He re- 
marked that he could tell In a few minutes' 
conversation with a stranger into whose 
company he fell while waiting under a 
doorway for a passing shower whether his 
chance acquaintance was or was not a 
reader. There is no substitute for wide 
and discriminating reading. It is the one 
indispensable means of coming in contact 
with ideas and of developing the vocabulary 
which is evidence of ideas. Indeed, if the 
schools were to aim primarily at develop- 
ing a wise and well directed habit of gen- 
eral reading, they would probably be per- 
forming their mission much better than 
they do today. 

Now, the habit of such reading can never 
be developed by the use of mere textbooks, 
although much more could be done by the 
use of them than is now the case. Teach- 
ers, especially high-school teachers, realize 
that it requires years to form the habit of 
reflective reading, and should aim to train 
their pupils in doing it. Even so, there 
would remain the positive necessity of the 
library. Within reasonable limits the indi- 
vidual must be encouraged to pursue his 
own special interests and gratify his own 
special tastes. He must have the oppor- 
tunity of companionship with books. He 
must turn to books in his leisure hours 
until doing so becomes habitual. He must, 



ais 



In short, prefer It. This means the oppor- 
tunity to browse and select, to discover 
for oneself the congenial friends upon 
the shelf. This opportunity the school 
must provide through a well selected li- 
brary with a trained librarian in charge. 
Long ago science won its fight for the 
laboratory. Now, as a matter of course, all 
high schools are equipped with expensive 
apparatus, which is used by the pupils un- 
der specific guidance and direction. Lately 
we hear of the necessity of equipping the 
elementary schools with similar apparatus. 
The shop, too, has come. The principal 
will show you with pride his wood-turning 
lathe, installed at an expense of many thou- 
sands of dollars, while across the hall, per- 
haps, is the metal working room, equally 
well provided for. The gymnasium is now 
almost a matter of course and with it comes 
the swimming pool. There must be rooms 



also for music, and for drawing and design. 
Considering the place it occupies in the 
life of the school, of the home, and of the 
community, and in view of its importance 
and value to all the pupils alike, the library 
should unquestionably have the place ot 
honor and should receive a support beyond 
that provided for any other single part of 
the equipment of the modern school. 
Every argument which can be advanced in 
svipport of the expenditure of public money 
for the gymnasium, the music room, the 
laboratory, and the shop, holds with double 
force for the library. In view of this it is 
easy to understand why the campaign for 
the school library is on, why it has already 
attained such signal success, and why it 
is sure, in the not distant future, to reach 
a point of development beyond the hopes 
of its most sanguine friends. 



HOW THE PUBLIC LIBRARY CAN HELP IN DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE HIGH 
SCHOOL LIBRARIES 

Bt Henry E. Legler, Librarian, Chicago Public Library 



From such recent figures as are available, 
tlie opportunity for strongly organized high 
school libraries may be thus summarized: 

There are 13,714 public and private high 
schools, 11,515 of them being public high 
schools. Of these but 968 are in cities of 
8,000 population or more, with an average 
enrollment of 600, while more than 10,000 
public high schools located in cities or 
towns containing less than 8,000 popula- 
tion, have an average of but 60 students 
each. 

Practically all of the latter may be 
eliminated from present consideration. Of 
the 968 high schools maintained in cities 
possessing at least 8,000 inhabitants, about 
one-half are located in communities num- 
bering less than 25,000 persons. These, too, 
may be set aside as unlikely to afford a 
profitable field for intensive library en- 
deavor, because insufficiently financed. 

There remain, therefore, less than 500 



high schools of such strength as to invite 
consideration in connection with library 
organization on a basis of full effective- 
ness. This basis may be minimized, briefly, 
thus : 

Suitable quarters planned as to size, 
equipment and location with this special 
purpose in view. 

Ample book collection, reference, gen- 
eral and recreational, balanced to meet lo- 
cal requirements. 

Trained teacher-librarians, or librarian- 
teachers assigned for full period of service 
during school year for administration of 
the library and its incidental demands. 

Organization of high school libraries on 
the broadest and most practical plan pos- 
sible as an essential and not an incidental 
factor in promotion of the school work, is 
Justified by the increasing importance of 
secondary education in the development of 
every interest that makes for community 



214 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



betterment. Not merely In the preparation 
for bread and butter courses, but In build- 
ing cultural foundations, the high school 
library may serve in fruitful co-operation 
with every force that centers in the Institu- 
tion. 

The high school is the residuary 
legatee of the old academy conducted by 
educators of the old-fashioned type whose 
rare personality and fine scholarship multi- 
plied themselves in the student body that 
came within the radius of their influence. 
The blending of aristocratic tendencies, in- 
evitable perhaps as the result of inherited 
wealth, has faded with the displacement 
of the old privately-supported academy by 
the free public high school. Unfortunately, 
there has also vanished something of that 
fine flavor of culture which one generation 
gave with increment to the succeeding 
generation. The public high school, first 
looked upon with suspicion as a survival 
of aristocratic arrogance, has been adopted 
by democracy as a necessary complement to 
the elementary school for life equipment. 
Nearly a million and a half boys and girls 
are enrolled in high schools today. The 
growth in attendance in recent years has 
been phenomenal, and there has been a 
marked increase in the number of students 
completing the high school courses. The in- 
crease in the aggregate number of students 
shows a gain of more than 100 per cent 
since 1902. 

The fact that in three years past in cities 
of ten to tv,'enty-five thousand population 
there has been an average increase in en- 
rollment of 36.84 per cent, and in some in- 
stances as high as 75 and 80 per cent, marks 
the growing importance of this develop- 
ment, even though today only the larger 
cities are affected as regards local library 
service. 

As of immediate moment, however, the 
problem is one for the larger cities, 
chiefly.* Using the 1916 "World Almanac" 



•Certain wealthy communities of lesser 
population easily can, and some do. carry on 
parallel worlc. Among the communities so 
situated may be mentioned Kenilworth and 
Cicero, 111.; East Orange, N. J.; Winsted, 
Conn.; Madison, Wis., and some cities in 
California. There are others not here men- 
tioned. 



estimates of population, there are 132 cities 
numbering each in excess of 25,000 Inhabit- 
ants. There is a public library In each with 
one exception. Many of the public libraries 
are so poorly equipped and are supported 
so meagerly that they are unable to give 
more than casual service to their respective 
high schools. Two-thirds of the approxi- 
mately 500 high schools in these 132 cities 
are located in one-fourth of them. Thus, 
under existing conditions, the high school 
library fully equipped and staffed is de- 
pendent for existence upon the willingness 
and ability of public libraries in thirty 
municipalities, if dependence for such pro- 
vision is to be placed upon the public li- 
braries. If the maintenance and ad- 
ministration of high school libraries Is 
sought from the school systems, perhaps 
twice the number of cities enumerated in 
the first group would be in a position to 
make suitable provision, financially. So 
recent has been the development of the 
high school library as a vitalizing element 
in the school, that the controversial ques- 
tion of library or school management re- 
mains undetermined. For reasons which 
need not be entered into in detail here it 
would seem the wiser policy to entrust to 
the public library the direction of the high 
school library. But the important thing, 
after all, is that each high school should 
be provided with an efficiently administered 
library, and that it should be recognized 
not as a by-interest, but as an integral 
and indispensable part of the organization. 

If the responsibility of management rests 
upon the public library, some of the ways 
and means that may be legitimately em- 
ployed in furtherance of common aims are 
principally these: 

Staff organization provided through 
trained and experienced librarians pos- 
sessing university education and the teach- 
ing point of view supplemented with techni- 
cal knowledge of library methods and the 
appreciation of larger concerns which grow 
out of them. 

Such intimate fusing of school and li- 
brary resources as will enable faculty and 



215 



student use of materials to the fullest pos- 
sibility and the best advantage. 

Instruction of freshmen and sophomore 
classes in the use of reference books, 
catalogs and bibliographic apparatus. 

On a less comprehensive scale, propor- 
tioned each to its own situation, the smaller 
libraries can similarly serve their respec- 
tive constituencies. Necessarily, they can 
accomplish at long range but a fraction of 
the effectiveness possible to the libraries 
which are in full control in the school build- 
ings. They can, however, exert a powerful 
stimulus in the anticipation of the day 
when they may assume a more intimate and 
complete relationship. 

There is a large meaning in the 
democratization of higher education. When 



the gloomy days which have come upon the 
ruling races of the world shall have yielded 
to happier times, great reconstructive 
forces wiU dominate the world. In the de- 
velopment of economic activities that shall 
prosper the nations, those peoples will sur- 
vive the severity of commercial rivalries 
which prove their superiority through 
knowledge of scientific methods. 

The laboratory and the library must do 
their part it talent is not to remain undis- 
covered, and inventive genius and origi- 
nality are to reach full fruition. And the 
library bears the added duty of serving 
those ends which make not only for general 
proficiency and prosperity, but for general 
intelligence and culture, and thereby na- 
tional completeness. 



WHAT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY CAN DO FOR GRADE SCHOOLS 



Bt EiFiE L. Power, Carnegie Library. Pittsburgh 



The first conception of library work 
with children was in connection with grade 
schools. The librarian of thirty years ago, 
who had no room for children within his 
library, sent a tew books into the class- 
room and expected the teacher to thus pro- 
vide for the needs of the pupil who had no 
books in his home. If she was a poor 
teacher she succeeded in satisfying him 
with the books at hand. If she was a good 
one, he wanted "more" and still "more" 
and his enthusiasm spread from the class- 
room to the library, where he was finally 
taken care of in a separate children's room 
presided over by an assistant specially 
trained to direct his reading. The teacher 
continued her work of forming reading 
taste, while the children's librarian studied 
the field of children's literature for the few 
best books which the teacher might use, 
and the many more which the children 
should read during their leisure hours. 
In theory the child was passed from one to 
the other, but the line was not sharply 
drawn. The children's librarian took over 
some school methods and gave them new 



color, as has been exemplified in modern 
library story-telling and club work, but 
each kept to her own special field, while 
both built upon the same basic educational 
principles. 

Thus library work in grade schools de- 
veloped naturally as a means to an end, 
and not an end in itself, its aim being 
to train to an appreciation of good books, 
and an intelligent use of public library re- 
sources. 

Methods have changed with the growth 
of educational ideals, but from the begin- 
ning of the public library movement in 
America in 1876, library work has held an 
intimate place in grade schools. 

Since the unit in the grade school is 
smaller than in the high school, its ten- 
dency has been to combine with other 
agencies rather than to build up an inde- 
pendent department. The library, being 
essentially a co-operative institution, has 
responded to its call, or more often, antici- 
pated its needs and met it half way. The 
resultant co-operation when successful, has 
required systematic organization, and as a 



216 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



result departmental library work is at pres- 
ent more fully developed in grade schools 
than in high schools. It is also true that 
more uniformity in grade school library 
methods has been possible owing to the 
comparative simplicity of the grade school 
curriculum. This does not mean a dead 
level of activities. 

A head of a school department in a large 
public library where the work is closely 
organized was recently told by a member of 
the local school staff that it would be much 
easier to help her in the matter of equip- 
ment if she could make up her mind to 
follow one plan. "I've observed that you 
work in a little different way in each 
school," he remarked, not realizing that 
this variation was an end to be desired, 
and was the result of system rather than a 
lack of it. 

Granted that library co-operation with 
grade schools has developed practically, 
and has reached a satisfactory basis as re- 
gards departmental organization, what is 
the problem confronting us today? 

Following is a summary of the activities 
in operation among library departments at 
the present time: 

The selection of books, pictures and other 
material. 

The care and distribution of deposits of 
library material in schools. 

Reference work with teachers and 
classes of pupils. 

Instruction to teachers and classes of 
pupils in the use of the library. 

Instruction in library use and children's 
literature in normal schools. 

The publication of school lists. 

The exhibition of model collections of 
books for children. 

The selection and collection of pedagogi- 
cal books and magazines. 

The collection of textbooks for compara- 
tive study. 

The collection of museum material for 
teachers and pupils. 

The collection of magazine and news- 
paper clippings showing local and current 
history of school work. 

Talks and lectures on school-library 
topics. 

Story-telling. 

Attendance at school-library meetings. 



Co-operation with other child-welfare 
agencies. 

The administration of a special room for 
teachers within the library. 

The presentation of library work as a vo- 
cation. 

The training of school librarians. 

The materials which have been de- 
posited in schools by such departments are 
books, pictures, maps, museum specimens, 
lantern slides, s.tereopticons, victrola 
records: 

As one studies this long list of functions 
It is apparent that each operation is an ex- 
tension requiring specialization along one 
of the following lines: 

The selection and presentation of chil- 
dren's literature. 

The selection, care and distribution of 
books of information and related material. 

The exploitation of the special field and 
the ideals of library service. 

Of these lines of work, the first two, 
which are the fundamental ones, have been 
long established. 

Looking within the grade school one sees 
the same tendency toward specialization in- 
tensified, in the courses of study and teach- 
ing equipment. Why is this? The prac- 
tical problem of every-day living demands 
it. Today large and constantly Increasing 
numbers of children of varying racial in- 
stincts and capacities throng the grade 
schools and children's libraries. A larger 
output of ever finer quality Is expected and 
this must be met through increased effi- 
ciency. More and better service along old 
lines, rather than old service along many 
lines Is what the modern grade school asks 
of the modern public library. The high 
power machine, well-oiled and driven by 
a well-trained hand and discerning eye, 
which turns out the best product with the 
least waste is the only one tolerated today. 
This applied to school library work, means 
an organization so definite and practical, 
that It shall give freedom for variations in 
method to meet every legitimate school call, 
skilled service in book selection and per- 
fection in methods of directing children's 
reading. 



217 



WHAT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY CAN DO FOR GRADE AND RURAL SCHOOL 

LIBRARIES 



By Obpha M. Pkteks, Assistant Lihrarian. Oary PuiUc Library 



Few topics recur more often in the 
library world than that of the relation of 
the school and the library. What the 
library can do for the school. Co-operation 
between the school and the library, etc., are 
frequent topics for discussion. Only re- 
cently however, has consideration been 
given to the rural and graded school li- 
brary. In the great movement for rural 
betterment, school gardens, proper school 
sanitation, adequately equipped play- 
grounds, contests in the scientific raising 
of corn and garden produce figure very 
largely, but the school library has received 
very little attention. Many magazine 
articles and books have been written on 
the need for better rural schools but only 
a few of them are devoted to or include 
any reference to the school library. Yet 
the school library should be a most vital 
factor in the school curriculum and in the 
life of the rural community. There is still 
a large percentage of the population of the 
country to whom an adequate collection of 
books or a reading room is not available. 

Taking for granted that we are consid- 
ering what an up-to-date public library can 
do for rural and graded schools in their 
present condition, we must then first know 
what the present condition is. The 
typical rural school library of today con- 
sists of from fifty to several hundred 
books, unorganized and sadly in need of re- 
pair. The titles have been selected chiefly 
from the state reading circle lists. It 
would be a joy to some of us to find the 
best rather than so many mediocre books 
on these lists. Nevertheless, the reading 
circles deserve much of the credit for what- 
ever library advancement has been made in 
many of the rural schools. The method 
of selection, however, has caused much 
duplication of certain kinds of books. 
These are soon read and reread by the chil- 
dren and there is no new supply to freshen 



the shelves. If the schools of a township 
would co-operate, and select their books 
from a list of four or five hundred, each 
purchasing a different collection, the books 
could be interchanged and all children 
would have the use of several times the 
number of books they would have other- 
wise. Provision for such exchange has been 
made in at least two states, — Wisconsin 
and Alabama. The Wisconsin law making 
this possible was enacted in 1913. It gives 
the county superintendent the right, with 
the consent of the district boards, to ar- 
range exchanges or they may be made with- 
out his assistance. Given such an arrange- 
ment and teachers who love children and 
who know and love children's books, the 
usefulness of the books in the township 
would be greatly increased and the school 
library would come more nearly meeting 
the needs of the children. 

But even with the above plan the public 
library, in many ways, can aid the rural 
and graded school libraries. Since most 
city public libraries are maintained by 
city taxation, the first step toward making 
possible public library aid to the rural 
and graded school library is to bring about 
some financial co-operation between the li- 
brary and school authorities. The county 
library method is working successfully In 
some places, notably in California, where 
it has been tried now for six years. Here 
the school library and the public library 
finances are pooled and the public library 
takes the entire responsibility of managing 
the school libraries. In Indiana, the state 
law makes it possible for a city library to 
extend its privileges to townships on con- 
dition that they in return contribute to its 
support. Co-operation between the rural 
school and the public library seems most 
advantageous as well as most economical. 
Both are educational Institutions, both are 
supported by the same people. It Is the 



218 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



business of the public library to furnish 
reading, both for pleasure and profit, to the 
people of the community — and that com- 
munity includes the school. Why not com- 
bine the school library book fund and the 
public library fund and thus be able to 
more adequately serve all of the people. 
It would mean the saving of money in the 
purchase of books. Where books for a 
county or several townships are ordered 
together there is a great saving in the cost 
of transportation and better discounts for 
larger quantities obtained. Then, too, It 
is the librarian's business to keep informed 
not only as to the best books but the best 
editions of the best books and where they 
can be bought to advantage. Neither the 
teacher nor the county superintendent of 
schools can be expected to know as much 
about this as the librarian who has had 
special training for the work and who 
knows about books and knows what to 
buy and where to buy. More people can 
be served with more books at less cost. 

Some financial arrangement having been 
made, the librarian should of course visit 
the school, familiarize herself with the 
books in the school library and interest her- 
self in the general and special work being 
done in the school. She will then be in 
position to place the resources of the public 
library at the command of the teacher. 
The aid may be fourfold. First: In the 
organization of the books already owned 
by the school and in supplementing the 
collection. School authorities are often 
willing to turn over to the public library 
the school library books for binding, repair 
and preparation for circulation. This school 
collection placed in proper condition and 
supplemented from time to time by books 
from the public library is thus made avail- 
able for home circulation. In supplement- 
ing the school collection not only many in- 
formational books on the special lines of 
work being done in the school but many 
Inspirational books as well can be supplied 
which the school library working in- 
dependently could not possibly provide. 



Second: The public library can attend to 
all the binding and repair of books. In- 
struction, also, as to the care and use of 
books and the kind of books to read can 
be given by the members of the library 
staff. Third: The joy of school work can 
be greatly increased by having in the 
library stereoscopic views of various coun- 
tries and industries which can be supplied 
by the public library. If the school pos- 
sesses a lantern, lantern slides can be 
loaned and thus the verbal and book in- 
formation can be more clearly and firmly 
fixed in the minds of the children. Four: 
It is possible also for the public library 
to furnish books for adults as well as 
children. Here too, the adult book collec- 
tion should consist of both practical and 
cultural books. A "community organiza- 
tion with the school as the intellectual, in- 
dustrial, educational and social centre" has 
been advocated. This plan carries with it, 
too, the teacher's home and demonstration 
farm. In this plan, also, the library should 
hold a foremost place providing material 
for grange papers and women's study clubs, 
books and magazines on scientific farming 
and all kinds of rural community better- 
ment along with books on music, art and 
the more cultural things of life. 

The possibilities of a rural library for 
the betterment of country life are great. 
Much work is to be done. The methods 
used are not so important as that results be 
obtained. It would seem, however, that 
adequate library facilities will be more 
readily and firmly established and main- 
tained through the three following avenues: 
The pooling of library and school interests 
and funds; township or county supervision 
by the public library with a staff espe- 
cially trained for the work; teachers who 
know how to judge a book and who know 
and love good children's books. Given these 
things, the possibilities are infinite for 
aiding, through the public library, the rural 
school library and through It Is given the 
opportunity of playing a most Important 
rdle In solving the rural problem. 



TRAINING COURSES FOR SCHOOL LIBRARIANS 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAINING COURSES FOR SCHOOL 
LIBRARIANS* 



At present several committees of botli 
the American Library Association and tlie 
National Education Association are investi- 
gating the general subject of trained 
librarians for school libraries. As their 
Investigations to some extent overlap, the 
present committee has thought it desirable 
to confine its report to the changes in 
courses of training for school librarianship 
and the demand from schools for librarians 
trained in these courses, together witli a 
general survey of the opinions of some 
representative educators and members of 
library commissions on the general subject 
of trained school librarians both as to the 
desirability of employing them, the actual 
qualifications required for those in school 
library positions and any further qualifica- 
tions deemed desirable. The questionnaires 
Bent out by the committee have been too 
short to be exhaustive but the replies are 
sufficiently representative to give some 
bases for general deductions. 

In the regular library schools two re- 
ported changes of importance in courses 
have been made in the school year 1915-16. 
In the New York State Library School, the 
Library School of the New York Public 
Library and Simmons College Library 
School there have been slight increases in 
the number of special lectures on the sub- 
ject. Both Simmons College and the 
Syracuse University Libi-ary School expect 
to Introduce definite courses in the subject 
next year. Among the colleges and uni- 
versities giving such courses the only con- 
siderable change has been the introduction 
of a course in library training at the Col- 
lege of Education of the University of 
Minnesota. It is planned to develop this 
into a regular library school as soon as 
practicable. Carleton College will also In- 
troduce courses in library training next 
year. Among the normal schools the actual 
and prospective changes in training courses 
are more numerous. The Geneseo (N. Y.) 
State Normal School has outgrown its quar- 



ters and added room and instruction will 
be provided next year. The East Tennessee 
State Normal School (Johnson City) has 
given for the first time a course of two 
periods a week for one term. At the Klrks- 
ville (Mo.) Normal School, the work is to 
be divided into a required course in refer- 
ence work and children's literature and an 
elective course in more technical subjects. 
The Western Illinois State Normal School 
(Macomb) has increased one of its elective 
courses from 30 to 60 hours while the ad- 
vanced course at the Milwaukee State 
Normal School will next year be increased 
from 36 to 60 periods. Several schools 
represented in last year's report have sent 
no data this year but no extensive move- 
ment toward further increase in these 
courses is apparent except in the few cases 
noted above. Perhaps tliis may be ex- 
plained, at least in part, by the answers re- 
ceived in reply to the question, "Has there 
been any perceptible change in the demand 
for trained school librarians?" Of the 
twenty replies received, eleven indicate no 
increase in demand, though Pratt Institute 
sees a prospect in the near future. Sim- 
mons College Library School replies "Yes, 
though there is still not a clear idea on 
the side of the school people of what library 
training is, and they are inclined to con- 
sider a librarian's work as purely clerical 
and to offer most inadequate salaries." At 
the New York State Library School a 
perceptible increase in demand has been 
noted. In several cases it was impossible to 
meet this demand because of the greater 
preference of the students for other kinds of 
work or because of the low salaries offered 
by the schools or for other local dis- 
advantages. The University of Tennessee 
reports an increased demand and at West 
Virginia an increased demand for high 
school librarians is anticipated though it Is 
not yet apparent. Beloit College has 
noticed a slight increased demand, as has 

•Presented to the School Libraries Section. 



330 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



also tlie University of Minnesota. 

Among the normal schools, three (Klrks- 
vlUe, Mo.; Springfield, 111.; and White- 
water, Wis.) report increased demands for 
teacher-librarians. In last year's report, it 
was noted that only one normal school at- 
tempted to train for general library work 
and that very few train specifically for 
librarianship. The same situation exists 
this year. It is well summarized in the 
reply from the Milwaukee State Normal 
School. "We are not trying to train 
librarians .... We give teachers a knowl- 
edge of library methods so that they may 
be able to organize and make use of the 
books in their schools." 

The reported enrollment of students in 
library training courses shows such strik- 
ing variations as to be of little general 
value. In 13 institutions, 1703 students in 
such courses are reported, varying from 6 
in the Library School of the New York 
Public Library to 348 in the Milwaukee 
State Normal School, 432 at the Winthrop 
Normal and Industrial College (Rock Hill, 
S. C.) and 561 at the Emporia (Kan.) 
State Normal School. The statement al- 
ready quoted from Milwaukee shows the 
need of differentiating clearly between 
"teacher-librarians," and those training 
specifically for library work in schools and 
Invalidates any general conclusions drawn 
from present data. In general there seems 
to be a slight increase In the number of 
those in training to become school li- 
brarians as well as of prospective teacher- 
librarians. 

As was stated in last year's report, prod- 
uct without market is of little effect and 
the establishment of training courses for 
school librarians is of little avail without 
a rather general demand for trained school 
librarians. As other committees are in- 
vestigating the general subject, this com- 
mittee felt it beyond their jurisdiction to 
make a detailed investigation of the mat- 
ter. All the organized state departments 
of education and all existing State Library 
Commissions were circularized as to their 
regulation of school libraries and brief 
luestionnaires sent to the superintendents 



of schools in some fifty representative cities 
presumably large enough to afford the serv- 
ices of trained librarians devoting their en- 
tire time to their library work. 

A detailed table showing the amount of 
supervision of school libraries by state 
education departments and state library 
commissions is included as an appendix to 
this report. The data received show that 
15 state education departments exercise no 
supervision, 2 "very little," and in 9, such 
assistance, either on the part of the State 
Department of Education or the State Li- 
brary Commission is simply advisory and 
given only at the request of the school 
library concerned. In 10 states, consider- 
able supervision over school libraries is 
exercised. From the reports received this 
work seems most highly organized in 
Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, 
Utah and West Virginia. In Minnesota, 
New York, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin, 
the state education departments have school 
library inspectors or organizers attached to 
their staffs; in New Jersey and South 
Dakota the school libraries are under the 
control of the State Library Commissions. 
In these states the amount of supervision 
varies considerably but both technical or- 
ganization and book selection are included 
in it. A considerably larger number of 
states (12) give their chief aid to schools 
by preparing required or recommended 
lists of books for school libraries. 

It is quite natural to expect that in- 
difference to supervision of school libraries 
would be coupled with little demand in the 
way of required qualifications for school 
librarians. On the basis of the informa- 
tion received in preparing this report, such 
proves to be the case. In 33 states there 
are no requirements. In those states which 
have requirements, they are almost always 
confined to high school librarians and to 
the librarians of larger schools. In most 
cases even the minimum requirements are 
fixed by the local boards, not by the state 
authorities. Idaho, Minnesota, New York 
and V/isconsin demand varied amounts of 
library training (usually a summer course 
as a minimum) from their high school 11- 



TRAINING COURSES FOR SCHOOL LIBRARIANS 



221 



brarians. Minnesota and Wisconsin require 
high school librarians to be regularly 
certified and California and Rhode Island 
have definite plans for certification under 
way. 

An encouraging sign is the feeling on the 
part of several state departments or com- 
missions that improvement in this direction 
is necessary. Fourteen make specific 
recommendations ranging from six weeks 
Instruction in library methods to a full 
year of professional library training. It Is 
Interesting to note the general location of 
these states. One (Rhode Island) is In 
New England: New York, New Jersey, 
Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia and 
West Virginia are Middle Atlantic states; 
Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, Ne- 
braska, North Dakota and South Dakota 
are in the Central West; California repre- 
sents the Pacific Coast. It is hardly credible 
that these represent the only states in 
which some attempt has been made to im- 
prove school libraries by improving the 
librarians or that those wliich already have 
some standard are not planning even 
higher ones. It is interesting to note the 
desired qualifications. As a rule, the 
school authorities suggest broader educa- 
tion and an ability to do reference work; 
the library commissions usually lay 
emphasis on a knowledge of the essentials 
of organization. There is no fundamental 
disagreement in this, but it does suggest 
the great need of co-operation between the 
school and the library if a well-balanced 
plan is to be developed. In at least one In- 
stance lack of such cooperation seems to 
have had positive as well as negative 
effects. A state ofiicial (not a teacher) 
writes: 

"The department of public instruction is 
making a conscientious and systematic 
effort to build up libraries in all of the 
high schools of the state and this depart- 
ment is co-operating in giving personal as- 
sistance in the organizing of these libraries. 
The department of public instruction wel- 
comes this assistance but some of the lead- 
ing members of our State Library Associa- 
tion look upon it with disfavor. It is a 



case of the chronic opposition of the public 
library people against the development and 
administration of the public library 
through the agency of the public school 
authorities. . . .In the meantime our depart- 
ment of library organization is lending 
every assistance possible to the public 
school libraries already in existence on the 
assumption that the public school library 
is much better than no library at all. We 
propose to do what we can to build up and 
popularize it where the effort to establish 
and maintain a public library through 
other sources has failed." 

The establishment of school libraries and 
the appointment of properly qualified 
school librarians has in most cases been a 
matter of local action quite apart from 
the general attitude of the school or library 
oflScials of the state. Naturally enough, 
it has usually been the larger cities 
with large schools that have felt able to 
afford librarians with special training to 
devote their entire time to the school li- 
brary, and these librarians are seldom 
found except in schools below the secondary 
grades. From the fifty superintendents of 
typical cities to whom Inquiries were sent, 
thirty-two replies were received.* Eighteen 
of these reported that "trained" librarians 
were employed in their schools but in most 
cases the amount of training was not speci- 
fied. There are strong grounds for believ- 
ing that in several cases the only profes- 
sional training these librarians have had 
was received in a summer session. The re- 
quirements In New York City are the most 
rigid and, if actually enforced, will make 
it out of the question to put the high school 
libraries in charge of any but trained peo- 
ple. It is significant to note that the edu- 
cational prestige of a city is no index to 
its school library policy. Boston has no 
school librarians and apparently wants 
none. Springfield, Worcester, St. Paul and 
Providence have none, though the last Is 
making an attempt to get at least one and 
St. Paul expects to have several next year. 
Philadelphia has but one (a library school 



•These cities were selected as representa- 
tive by Miss Mary E. Hall. 



222 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



graduate). Cincinnati and Houston appear 
to tiave them irregularly. 

In about a dozen cases, "Library train- 
ing" is required. In some Instances college 
training and library experience are added 
requirements; in others, they may be sub- 
stituted for library training. In many 
cases there are no definite requirements. 
Indeed, in some cases the indefiniteness 
seems intentional rather than accidental. 
Here are a few instances. "A specially 
adapted teacher;" "Knowledge of books and 
aptness in dealing with pupils;" "We com- 
bine the position of librarian and study hall 
keeper and have not insisted on library 
training for these positions." Although 
outside the scope of the questionnaire, in- 
formation has reached the committee which 
seems to indicate that the old tendency to 
make the school library a refuge for the 
unsuccessful teacher is by no means gone 
and, in several recent cases, prescribed or 
Implied qualifications have been waived 
to permit the employment of such persons 
or to provide a congenial resting-place for 
a specially favored teacher. 

There are grounds for thinking that this 
tendency is more prevalent among boards 
of education than among principals and 
superintendents. When the reporting 
school officer did not pass In silence the 
question as to his suggestions for points to 
be included in a training course for school 
librarians, the answers, in nearly every 
case, showed a growing recognition of the 
need for competent librarians and a rather 
definite opinion as to the character of their 
work. Personality, general education and 
technical training are all mentioned. In 
many cases a knowledge of school curricula 
or other pedagogic training is mentioned. 
Skill in reference work and knowledge of 
and sympathy with children are frequently 
cited as necessary. A broad knowledge of 
literature, history and civics in its wide 
sense are also considered by many as legiti- 
mate subjects for inclusion in a training 
course for school librarians or as pre- 
requisite to such a course. There is no 
apparent disposition to undervalue the 
need of technical training even when per- 



sonal service to the pupils and teachers is 
emphasized. The characteristic attitude Is 
summarized by the Principal of the Balti- 
more City College: "Include everything in 
a regular librarian's training course, 
omitting nothing. Emphasize personal 
qualifications, reference work, administra- 
tion, mechanical arrangement and library 
technique generally." 

From the mass of data of which this 
report is a brief summary these deductions 
seem justified: 1. There are two distinct 
types of training for school librarianshlp. 
One is represented by the normal school or 
teachers' college course which aims 
primarily at a knowledge of books and 
simple methods of administering small 
libraries. The teacher-librarians who are 
the products of these courses must be first 
teachers and second librarians. Their 
double training, though necessarily lacking 
in depth, makes them available for many 
positions in many schools which cannot af- 
ford a separate librarian. Under present 
conditions most of the work with class- 
room libraries and with the first eight 
grades and the care of the smaller high 
school libraries must be undertaken by 
these teacher-librarians. The second type 
of course is that planned for the student 
who intends to devote her entire time to 
library work. The courses in library 
schools are usually of this type. This, as 
stated before, practically presupposes a 
position in a large city or, at least in a 
large school.^ Though apparently more re- 
stricted in scope, this work requires even 
broader educational foundation than is re- 
quired from the teacher-librarian. The 
school-librarian must be the intellectual 



1 "There are two classes of school libra- 
rians who require first of all training as 
teachers and secondarily such library train- 
ing as they may be able to secure in the 
university or normal school, (1) those who 
are to have charge of rural school libraries 
which may serve the general public, and (2) 
those who are to have charge of city school 
libraries which are a part of a public library 
system, in which the reference work is done 
by the school librarian and the boolts ordered 
and catalogued In this central library. 

"Even in the larger city schools It will often 
be easier to secure the appointment of libra- 
rians of this type and quite as often the 
results will be more satisfactory." — W. D. 
Johnston. 



TRAINING COURSES FOR SCHOOL LIBRARIANS 



equal of her faculty associates and their 
superior in her own technical field. Lower- 
ing of requirements means lowering of 
standard, lowering of prestige and lower- 
ing of efficiency. The established courses, 
as pointed out in last year's report, divide 
naturally along these two general lines, 
and, when properly organized, seem to be 
providing about as good preparation as can 
be expected at present from the general 
educational equipment of the students in 
those courses. There seems little general 
disposition to alter present courses except 
in the direction of more intensive work. So 
far as any definite feeling exists among 
school authorities their ideas of what the 
efficient school librarian should do corre- 
sponds quite closely with what the training 
courses are teaching her to do. 

2. The demand for trained librarians is 
increasing slowly. This slow increase is 
largely responsible for the apparent lack 
of marked increase in the number of per- 
sons preparing specifically for school li- 
brary work. The demand is also lessened 
by the apparent lack of interest on the part 
of local and state authorities alike in school 
libraries. Until the library is supervised as 
carefully as any other part of the school, 
the librarian will not be required to bring 
her work up to the standard required from 
the teachers, and until an equivalent 
standard is required, the appointment of 
competent librarians will be more of an 
accident than a matter of general policy. 
Persons with common sense will prefer not 
to prepare for positions which are subordi- 
nate in prestige and salary and uncertain 
in tenure, and training of the right sort 
in library methods will not flourish. An 
increase in the number of trained teacher- 
librarians is generally impracticable except 
through state ac ion in connection with 
normal schools or with college or university 
schools of education. A healthy demand 
for better school librarians of either type, 
must be the natural expression of a 
realized need in the school, not a concession 
made by a local board of education or a 
state department to placate a persistent 
group of interested specialists outside the 



school. The demand must be stimulated 
and such stimulation must be the result of 
a patient, persistent policy pursued if neces- 
sary for a number of years. Your commit- 
tee, therefore, offer the following recom- 
mendations: 

1. That an effort be made through the 
school libraries section of the American 
Library Association, the Library Section 
of the National Education Association and 
similar bodies to avoid useless duplication 
In the work of all committees appointed to 
investigate and report on the work of 
school libraries. This can be done by 
clearer definition of the specific jurisdic- 
tion of such committees, by conference be- 
tween meipbers of similar committees and 
co-operation in dividing between them the 
field of their investigations. 

2. That a standing committee be ap- 
pointed to report annually on the subject 
of training for school library work, and 
the demand for suitably trained school 
librarians; to suggest suitable means for 
increasing the demand for such librarians 
and to indicate needed improvements in 
courses of training for school libraries. 
This committee should be large enough to 
be representative and its personnel changed 
often enough to prevent its becoming fixed 
in its general policy. 

3. That this section encourage the in- 
tensive study of the school library situation 
in definite localities and the report, to this 
section, from time to time, of such studies 
or surveys as may be made. 

Frank K. Walteb, Chairman. 

Hakriet a. Wood. 

Mary C. Richardson. 

W. D. Johnston. 

Effie M. Power. 

Ida M. Mendenhali. 

Mart E. Haix. 



APPENDIX A 

The Trained School Librarian 

(Questions sent to school superintendents, 

and their replies) 

1. What qualifications do you require 

from your school librarians? 



224 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



2. In planning a training course for 
school librarians, what subjects would you 
Include and what points would you espe- 
cially emphasize? 

3. Do you employ trained librarians 
(1. e. persons who have taken courses in 
technical library work) in your schools? 

Name of school 

Name of officer reporting 

Qualifications for School Librarians 

I. Cities requiring none: Boston Mass., 

Des Moines, la., Jersey City, N.J., Nash- 
ville, Tenn., New Orleans, La., Paterson, 
N. J., Providence, R. I., St. Louis, Mo., 
St. Paul, Minn., San Francisco, Cal., 
Springfield, Mass., Syracuse, N. Y. 
(not at present), Trenton, N. J., 
Worcester, Mass. 

II. Cities with requirements: 
Baltimore, Md. (Graduation from ap- 
proved training school for librarians, 
and previous experience in library 
work with schools.) 

Birmingham, Ala. (Graduation from li- 
brary school or apprentice class.) 

Bridgeport, Conn. (College diploma, 
library training, and teaching experi- 
ence.) 

Cincinnati, Ohio. (Prefer regular library 
training.) 

Columbus, Ohio. (Graduation from high 
and normal school, with summer 
school library training when possible.) 

Houston, Tex. (Prefer college gradu- 
ation.) 

Indianapolis, Ind. (Regular library train- 
ing in high schools.) 

Los Angeles, Cal. ("Library certificate 
issued under state law.") 

Milwaukee, Wis. ("University training, 
or equivalent, and graduation from a 
library school.") 

New Haven, Conn. ("1) Familiarity 
with the library. 2) Ability to sys- 
tematize and catalog. 3) Ability to 
maintain discipline and to co-ordinate 
library work with the school studies 
of the children.") 

Oakland, Cal. (Library training and ex- 
perience.) 

Philadelphia, Penn. (The one librarian 
In the system is a library school 
graduate.) 

Portland, Ore. (Ability.) 

Reading, Penn. ("A knowledge of filing, 
cataloging, accessioning, charging, 
mending; familiarity with publishing 
houses, standard editions, government 
bulletins, pamphlets issued by li- 
braries and societies; wide reading and 
ability to use this in helping pupils to 
choose books; skill in reference work.") 



Richmond, Va. ("A broad educational 
foundation, professional training in 
library work, some administrative 
ability, and an abundance of tact and 
good judgment.") 

Scranton, Penn. ("Knowledge of books 
and aptness in dealing with pupils.") 

Seattle, Wash. (Same as for high school 
teachers and some training in library 
work in addition.) 

Youngstown, Ohio. ("High school gradu- 
ation, special library training and 
ability to handle class groups in li- 
brary room. Also ability to direct re- 
search work well.") 

Suggestions for Training Courses for 
School Librarians 

I. Cities suggesting no changes: Boston, 

Mass., Des Moines, la., Indianapolis, 
Ind., Jersey City, N. J., Los Angeles, 
Cal., Nashville, Tenn., New Orleans, 
La., Oakland, Cal., Philadelphia, Penn., 
Richmond, Va., St. Louis, Mo., San Fran- 
cisco, Cal., Scranton, Penn., Spring- 
field, Mass., Trenton, N. J., Worcester, 
Mass. 

II. Cities making suggestions: 
Baltimore, Md. ("Include everything in 

a regular librarian's training, omitting 
nothing. Emphasize personal qualifica- 
tions; reference work; administrative; 
mechanical arrangement and library 
technique generally.") 

Birmingham, Ala. ("A good high school 
education as a minimum qualification. 
Courses in the technique of library 
management.") 

Bridgeport, Conn. ("Literature, history, 
science, political economy.") 

Cincinnati, O. ("Such training as is 
given for librarians in the Public Li- 
brary plus the special training which 
school librarians should possess to 
make them of the greatest use to the 
different departments of the high 
school; especially such courses as 
would enable the librarians to give a 
special library course to the pupils.") 

Columbus, O. ("A knowledge of chil- 
dren's books, and of reference work 
with children of the elementary and 
students of the high schools. Having 
passed through the normal school, they 
are familiar with the course of study.) 

Houston, Tex. ("Literature, history, li- 
brary methods.") 

Milwaukee, Wis. (Prerequisite of col- 
lege graduation, personal sympathy 
with children, upon which could be 
erected a superficial structure of li- 
brary technique, especially the effec- 
tive cataloging of subject content.") 



TRAINING COURSES FOR SCHOOL LIBRARIANS 



225 



New Haven, Conn. ("Ability and dis- 
position to be helpful to pupils; order 
and system in arranging and catalog- 
ing books; orderly assignment of work 
in connection with library.") 

Paterson, N. J. ("English and history 
courses particularly; a liberal educa- 
tion such as an A. B. degree demands, 
with general knowledge of a wide 
range of subjects; technical library 
work.") 

Portland, Ore. (Emphasizes book selec- 
tion and ability to read aloud.) 

Providence, R. I. ("Ought to include 
thorough courses in English and 
Civics.") 

Reading, Penn. ("Should include (a) A 
knowledge of filing, cataloging, acces- 
sioning, charging, mending. (b) 
Familiarity with publishing houses, 
standard editions, government bul- 
letins, pamphlets issued by libraries 
and societies, (c) Wide reading and 
ability to use this in helping pupils to 
choose books, (d) Skill in reference 
work. Special emphasis on (c) and 
(d).") 

St. Paul, Minn. ("They should be 
widely read so as to be able to find 
material in books, magazines and 
pamphlets on questions on which pupils 
desire information.") 

Seattle, Wash. ("Good knowledge of 
English and History. Other reference 
subjects also need much attention.") 

Syracuse, N. Y. ("1. A knowledge of 
books, papers, etc., as sources of in- 
formation. 2. Their proper classifica- 
tion, arrangement, and care. 3. The 
general operation of a public library, 
etc., in serving persons interested. 4. 
How to reach more people with the 
library.") 

Youngstown, O. ("Buying and catalog- 
ing of books; reference work; current 
events; English and history.") 

Employment of Trained Librarians in 
Schools 

I. Cities not employing trained librarians 
in schools: Boston, Mass., Des Moines, 
la., Nashville, Tenn., New Orleans, La., 
Paterson, N. J., Portland, Ore. (does 
not state definitely). Providence, R. I., 
St. Louis, Mo., St. Paul, Minn, (not at 
present, but expects to next year), 
San Francisco, Cal., Scranton, Penn., 
(not at present, but thinks it would be 
a good plan), Springfield, Mass., 
Syracuse, N. Y., Trenton, N. J. (not at 
present, but expect to employ one with 
library experience next year), Wor- 
cester, Mass. 



II. Cities employing trained librarians in 
schools: Baltimore, Md., Birmingham, 
Ala., Bridgeport, Conn. (In high 
schools only), Cincinnati, O. (when- 
ever possible; summer school training 
sometimes taken after appointment), 
Columbus, O., Houston, Tex. (not al- 
ways), Indianapolis, Ind. (in high 
schools), Jersey City, N. J. (several 
school libraries are branches of the 
public library and in charge of its 
employees), Los Angeles, Cal., Mil- 
waukee, Wis. ("Public library fur- 
nishes the librarians both in high 
schools and grammar schools"). New 
Haven, Conn, (in the high schools), 
Oakland, Cal., Philadelphia, Pa. (the 
one librarian in the system is a li- 
brary school graduate), Reading, Penn., 
Richmond, Va., Seattle, Wash., Youngs- 
town, O. 

APPENDIX B 

Supervision of school libraries by State 

education departments and Library 

commissions 

Questions Srnt to State Officials 

1. To what extent does your department 
supervise the school libraries of your state? 

2. What qualifications are required for 
school librarians? 

3. What changes, if any, in these quali- 
fications, do you consider desirable? 

Name of department or commission 

Name of officer reporting 

Replies from, State Officials 
Letters Indicate departments reporting, a.? 
follows: 

E Education department or department 
of public instruction. 

L Library commission. 

S State library. 
I. States exercising no general super- 
vision: 

Arkansas, E. 

Delaware, L. 

District of Columbia, Board of examiners. 

Georgia, L. 

Iowa, L. 

Kansas, L. 

Kentucky, L. 

Maryland, L. 

Massachusetts, E. and L. 

Michigan, E. 

Missouri, E. 

Nebraska, L. 

New Hampshire, L. and E. 

Oklahoma, E. 

Pennsylvania, E. 

Virginia, S. 

Washington, S. and L. 

Wyoming, E. 



226 



ASBtlRY PARK CONFERENCE 



II. States with a small amount of super- 
vision: 

California, E. (Very general.) 

California, S. (No supervision for all 
school libraries; county free library 
provides it for each school district join- 
ing the county library.) 

Connecticut, E. (Grants money, and 
"special attention is given to school 
libraries" in towns where supervisors 
are appointed by Bd. of Educ.) 

Connecticut, L. (Assistance in organiz- 
ing and cataloging given on request.) 

Florida, E. ("Very little supervision.") 

Illinois, E. (Advisory only.) 

Illinois, L. (Organizes and advises on 
request.) 

Indiana, E. (High school inspector must 
see that "certain requirements" for 
such libraries are met.) 

Indiana, L. (Organizes on request; 
hopes for a special supervisor of school 
libraries in the near future.) 

Michigan, L. (Book list, and advice and 
organization on request.) 

Missouri, L. (Acts in advisory capacity 
only.) 

Nebraska, E. (Power to recommend, no 
other.) 

New Jersey, L. (Grants money, ap- 
proves purchases, and adopts "rules 
and regulations for the organization 
and management of such libraries.") 

New Mexico, E. (Advisory only.) 

North Carolina, L. (Advisory only.) 

Nortli Dakota, E. (Exercises some super- 
vision through the high and rural 
school inspectors.) 

Pennsylvania, L. ("Only casually"; help 
on request.) 

Rhode Island, E. ("In a general way"; 
for future plans see H193 "an act to 
promote efficiency of library service in 
public schools.") 

South Dakota, L. (Aid in book selection, 
administration, etc., on request.) 

Tennessee, E. (Law provides for Direc- 
tor of Library Extension who shall 
"encourage the establishment of li- 
braries, especially in public schools; to 

prepare selected lists and to assist 

in preparing Reading circle courses for 
public school teachers and pupils.") 

Utah, E. (Has supervision of all li- 
braries in the state; the library or- 
ganizer works under the state depart- 
ment of education.) 

Vermont, E. ("By inspection.") 

Vermont, L. ("Book lists and any other 
advice" on request.) 

Washington, E. 

West Virginia, E. (Standard require- 
ments for high school libraries before 



they can receive state aid; as to size, 
"care and use of the library.") 

III. States with considerable supervision: 
Minnesota, E. (Provides a Supervisor 

for school libraries who prepares lists 
from which books are required to be 
purchased, gives advice on all matters 
relating to school libraries, holds ex- 
hibits, gives talks and instruction, etc. 
also requires that each school shall 
provide a library with certain definite 
qualifications, e. g. at least 500 books, 
$50 annually to be spent for books, a 
separate room, books to be classified 
according to a standard classification, 
marked, kept in repair, etc., records of 
circulation to be kept and an annual 
report to be made.) 

New York, E. (Provides a School Li- 
braries Division which apportions 
funds to be applied toward the pur- 
chase of books approved by the de- 
partment. Certain requirements must 
be fulfilled before state aid is given, 
such as an accession book, proper care, 
record of circulation, etc. Inspection 
is made by the regular department in- 
spectors who visit schools for general 
purposes of inspection.) 

Ohio, E. (Certain requirements for all 
school libraries, such as a permanent 
classification, a card catalog, and good 
care; poor libraries forfeit H. S. char- 
ters.) 

Oregon, S. (Makes rules, adopts standard 
supplies, buys books, prepares book 
lists, and gives advice by letter and in 
person; hopes to have a special field 
worker for high schools.) 

Wisconsin, E. (Provides a Supervisor of 
school libraries and an assistant, both 
under the Library department of the 
State superintendent of public instruc- 
tion. This supervisor selects books, 
prescribes rules and regulations for 
school libraries, gives advice and assist- 
ance and collects statistics.) 

IV. States Issuing book lists only: 
Georgia, E. 

Idaho, L. 
Iowa, E. 
Louisiana, E. 
Montana, E. 
North Carolina, E. 
Texas, E. 
Virginia, E. 

Qualifications for School Librarians 
I. States requiring none: 
Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, 
Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Ken- 
tucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, 
Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, 



TRAINING COURSES FOR SCHOOL LIBRARIANS 



227 



Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, 
New Mexico, North Carolina, North Da- 
kota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsyl- 
vania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, 
Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, 
West Virginia, Wyoming. 
II. States with requirements: 

California. (Certificate issued by State 
board of education; requirements for 
certification not yet definitely fixed; 
"this is for high school librarians.") 

District of Columbia. (For high school 
librarians, "graduation from approved 
high school and one year of training 
in library methods and science.") 

Idaho. (Larger schools and state institu- 
tions have "trained librarians.") 

Illinois. (No uniform requirements; 
larger schools have trained librarians.) 

Minnesota. ("Same educational qualifi- 
cations as a teacher" with minimum of 
sis weeks summer school professional 
training, and "if possible, a full year's 
training in an accredited library 
school.") 

New Jersey. (No legal requirements, 
though attempt is made to have library 
school graduates, summer school train- 
ing also accepted; prefer teaching ex- 
perience in addition.) 

New York. (Varied; to draw "teacher's 
quota" from the state, librarian must 
be graduate of approved library 
school, approved normal course or its 
equivalent; for small schools summer 
course or equivalent is accepted.) 

Rhode Island. (None at present, but pro- 
posed law provides for certificate of 
qualification from Board of education.) 

Utah. (Summer school training when 
possible.) 

Wisconsin. (No legal qualifications; If 
paid from district funds, librarian 
must have a certificate from Board of 
education; for smaller schools same 
as for teachers.) 

Recommended Changes in Qualifications 

I. States recommending none: 
Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, 
Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, 
Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, 



Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, 
Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, 
North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, 
Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, 
Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wash- 
ington, Wisconsin, Wyoming. 
II. Suggested state changes: 

District of Columbia. ("Special library 
courses, preferably with college degree 
in addition, or sufficient number of li- 
brary courses with allied or related 
topic courses to lead to a college de- 
gree, provided salary paid is same as 
that of a regular high school teacher.") 

Illinois. (First need is law providing for 
school libraries; second, a state super- 
visor of the same.) 

Michigan. (Each graded school should 
have librarian with at least summer 
school training.) 

Missouri. (High school diploma or 
equivalent in general education; mini- 
mum of 2-hr. normal course in library 
economy.) 

Nebraska. (Same as for teachers, with 
professional training in addition, espe- 
cially in reference work.) 

New Jersey. (To make present prefer- 
ences (see opposite column) manda- 
tory.) 

New Mexico. ("Professional training.") 

New York. (Librarian in every school 
should have some special training; 
minimum for small schools should be 
high school diploma and summer 
school, and "as much more as prac- 
ticable.") 

North Dakota. ("A course in library 
science in a higher institution of learn- 
ing.") 

Pennsylvania. ("The place to get at this 
is in the normal schools and in our 
state this is a difficult nut to crack.") 

South Dakota. (Minimum of six weeks' 
training in library economy in addition 
to regular requirements for high school 
teachers; a plan similar to that in 
Minnesota.) 

Utah. (Summer school training at 
least.) 

West Virginia. (Professional training, 
though most schools are too small.) 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



SOME OPPORTUNITIES IN AGRICULTURAL LIBRARY WORK 

By Mrs. Ida A. Kidder, Librarian, Oregon Agricultural College 



The longer we live the more practical 
and the more Idealistic most of us grow, 
paradoxical as that may seem; by prac- 
tical we mean, if a deed must be done, hunt 
the shortest, most effective way of doing 
it Some one has said the world asks just 
three questions of every man, What can 
you do? How well can you do it? How 
quickly can you do it? But we cannot 
answer even these questions satisfactorily 
without ideals. By being idealistic we 
mean, appreciating more deeply that only 
as we are actuated by high and strong 
ideals shall we accomplish anything worth 
while; ideals are the impulsive force which 
pulls us up and out to accomplishment. 

So when the writer was asked to pre- 
pare a paper for the Agricultural Libraries 
Section on "Some opportunities in agricul- 
tural library work," she felt that she had 
no right to confine herself to the few 
methods of her own library and her own 
few ideas and ideals. The agricultural li- 
brarians were therefore called upon to tell 
what they were doing outside the regular 
routine library work and what they thought 
might further be possible. This paper is, 
therefore, a compilation of what is being 
done in our various libraries and of what 
under sufficiently favorable circumstances 
our librarians believe may be done. From 
these suggestions each of us can see the 
opportunities presented by our own library. 

From some of the replies to the question- 
naire sent out, it would seem that some re- 
ceived the idea that something original or 
spectacular was desired; far from it, our 
work is too great, too vital to be weakened 
by spectacular attempts at originality. Also 
such an attempt would be futile; there is 
very little originality to be found. There 
may be such an unusual adaptation of 
methods employed In other lines of busi- 
ness that it looks like originality, and we 
can scarcely have too much careful scrut- 
hiy of the methods of other successful busi- 



ness enterprises, or too much weighing of 
the principles which underlie these 
methods. It sometimes seems as if libra- 
rians were rather too prone to feel that 
their work is set off in a sacred niche, and 
like most things set apart in sacred niches, 
it doesn't get taken out and scrutinized and 
criticised often enough. 

Now we are going to observe the methods 
in operation in many libraries and see what 
suggestions we may get for improvement in 
our own work. 

Analyzing the replies to the question- 
naire sent out, there stand out clearly cer- 
tain divisions of our work: methods of ad- 
ministration, work for students, work for 
the faculty, and that new and wonderful 
work for those outside the college campus, 
especially those in rural communities. 

In the work for students, the opportun- 
ity most remarked was instructing students 
in the use of the library. In many schools 
the librarian is giving instruction in the 
use of the library, usually to freshmen, 
ranging in extent from a regular two credit 
course, to three or four lectures a semester. 

One library reports that in addition to 
work for freshmen a course of six lectures 
is given to students taking secretarial 
work; the lectures cover classification, 
cataloging, indexing, subject headings and 
government documents. 

Special bibliographies are made out for 
the use of students in certain courses. 

Some libraries keep a vertical file of ma- 
terial which might, otherwise, be easily 
lost, and also material of an ephemeral 
nature. 

Lectures are being given by the libra- 
rian to seniors in domestic science and art 
on reading in the home. 

Several libraries are making a strong 
effort to get complete files of duplicate bul- 
letins and reports so filed as to be easy of 
access for reference work. 

Many libraries are extending the inter- 



229 



est of students in cultural literature by use 
of the library bulletin board and the collese 
paper, calling attention frequently to a 
new and interesting book or magazine ar- 
ticle. New books are displayed on special 
tables or shelves in the reading room, and 
partial lists of them published in the col- 
lege paper. One excellent bit of work is 
reported by a live library — traveling libra- 
ries, or small collections of books, are sent 
to the women's dormitories, and it is sug- 
gested that collections of cultural books 
might be sent to the different club and fra- 
ternity houses. In the reading room of sev- 
eral libraries there are special collections 
of books for general culture on shelves 
close at hand. One library has on these 
shelves the Harvard Classics in the edi- 
tion bound with facsimiles of the cele- 
brated historical bindings. From this at- 
tractively bound group of books there are 
always in circulation from four to ten vol- 
umes; this same library has frequently on 
exhibit at a table conveniently near the 
entrance attractive groups of books on spe- 
cial subjects. One library makes the effort 
to interest its students in broader culture, 
by placing in attractive covers among the 
most popular magazines, an illustrated 
periodical published in each of the lan- 
guages taught in the school. 

Another wide-awake library has insti- 
tuted a very prosperous and growing Book- 
a-month club, the membership of which is 
entirely voluntary. The purpose of this 
club is stimulation to the reading of gen- 
eral cultural literature; the faculty has 
been interested in this movement by being 
asked to select a certain number of books 
and to give a talk on the books selected. 
This is one of the most original and pro- 
gressive movements for general culture re- 
ported. 

In the same line of endeavor one libra- 
rian reports a dream which she has not yet 
realized. She thinks that for our technical 
schools nothing would so broaden and 
deepen Interest in the great books of the 
world as to require that in sections of mod- 
erate size every student should attend a 
session once a week In which throughout 



his entire four years' course a selection 
from some great book was read aloud by 
an excellent reader of broad culture, who 
should give just enough explanation to 
arouse interest and make the historical set- 
ting clear. A number of duplicates of the 
books read from should be in the library 
for circulation to those interested enough 
to pursue the subject. Her argument that 
this course should be required rather than 
elective is, that the students whose interest 
in good literature is already aroused and 
who would elect such a course do not so 
greatly need it as the students whose In- 
terest is not yet awakened. There should 
be nothing compulsory about the course 
except attendance at the readings. This 
librarian thinks constant association with 
good literature may be trusted to awaken 
and cultivate a taste for it. We should 
like to see this beautiful dream realized 
in some school with courage enough to step 
outside the beaten path. 

From all the reports received, it would 
seem that nearly every librarian has the 
general culture of the students greatly at 
heart and is endeavoring in season and out 
of season to promote it, and though many 
of us have little time to go outside our 
routine work to help in this really vital 
matter, there is always in our hands what 
is perhaps, after all, the most powerful 
and effective instrument — personal help. If 
we have the spirit for it the students will 
come to us and force us to give them of our 
little time the help they need. In our 
every day service at the desk what oppor- 
tunities we have! One of the sweetest 
memories of my life is awakening in a big 
sturdy boy the love of poetry. He had come 
to the library to get for a friend a copy of 
Gray's "Elegy in a country churchyard." 
I took him to the shelves with me (taking 
a student with you to get a cultural book 
is always an excellent thing), then I read 
a little of the poem to him. He exclaimed, 
"Why! that's great." I asked if he cared 
for poetry; he replied no, but if it was 
like that he was going to read some and 
asked me to recommend some poems. This 
I did, also recommending him to read them 



230 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



aloud at first, and so this young fellow, 
just at the time of his life when he needed 
the Idealism and music of poetry, came into 
his rightful heritage. I recall another lad, 
the captain of our football team, who acci- 
dentally overheard me reading Kipling's 
"McAndrews' hymn." He begged tlie book 
and became a devoted admirer of Kipling's 
poems, and several years afterward I 
found he had become a lover of good poetry. 
Let us then take heart of grace; our sim- 
ple, nearby opportunities for this service 
are perhaps our greatest. 

A considerable amount of work is re- 
ported as being done for the students who 
come from the farms for various short 
courses: lectures by the librarian on books 
and reading for the farm home and how to 
procure material from the State library 
commission and from the United States De- 
partment of Agriculture; lectures on chil- 
dren's reading, with an exhibit of chil- 
dren's books for the mothers; exhibits of 
books from the college library on subjects 
of special interest to different groups of 
short course students, and a specimen 
traveling library from the State library 
commission. 

One library has a collection of books per- 
manently in the reading room that are 
strictly scientific in basis, but popularly 
written. This collection was purchased 
from a fund left for that purpose by vari- 
ous short course classes. The origin of this 
little library, as related, is very interesting. 
A young lawyer, a graduate of Yale, who 
had come "back to the land" and was at- 
tending the farmers' short course, was much 
struck by the smallness of the library, and 
collected a fund from his class for the pur- 
chase of books; the librarian conceived the 
idea of a little farmers' library of scientific 
books popularly written. This library has 
grown by successive gifts from short course 
classes and Is much enjoyed by the farm- 
ers and their wives. The announcement 
of the short courses alv/ays contains an in- 
vitation and welcome to the library, men- 
tioning the Short Course classes' own col- 
lection of books. 

One school invites the state librarian to 



address the short course students, making 
them acquainted with the resources of the 
state library and its very generous lending 
policy and methods. 

It would seem that the opportunity af- 
forded by the presence of so many farmers 
and their wives at the short courses was 
one of the greatest presented to our libra- 
rians. We have thus a chance to send to 
the farm an effective message calling to a 
higher intellectual life. There is no reason 
why our farm homes and the grounds 
about them should not be just as beautiful, 
just as artistic as those of the city, and no- 
body has a better opportunity to foster this 
artistic expression than the librarian if 
she has it on her heart and her mind. Why 
may not the librarian cooperate with the 
landscape gardener, the lecturer on archi- 
tecture, the teacher of domestic art, and 
have In her library collections of books on 
exhibition which these lecturers recom- 
mend? Why may not the librarian In her 
lectures on bo^ks for the farm emphasize 
the aesthetic side, which usually gets all 
too little attention from the lecturers ab- 
sorbed in their technical subjects? Why 
may she not in sending out to the farmer 
some technical book requested, inclose a 
beautifully Illustrated book on landscape 
gardening, or house decoration, or a book 
of poems or essays appreciative of the com- 
mon beauties of nature? Why, In fact, 
should not the agricultural librarian as a 
public servant In one of the broadest fields 
of service, feel it her duty to be alert to 
every possible opportunity to foster the 
love of beauty In the country home as the 
city librarian does in the town? Who that 
cares for these things that elevate and 
make for the sweetness and light of home 
has so good an opportunity as we to em- 
body our ideals In action for the country 
dweller, and what home presents so favor- 
able a field for cooperation with nature to 
produce beauty, as the farm home In the 
midst of the open country? It Is encour- 
aging to note the cooperation of the farm 
dwellers for their own advance In Intel- 
lectual and social life aa well as In bus)- 



231 



n«SB, and it will be our loss if agricultural 
libraries have no part in this expansion. 

There was rather a meager report from 
libraries as to special work done for the 
assistance of the faculty. Several libraries 
reported that lists of new books added to 
the library were sent to ihe members of 
the faculty. This certainly is an excellent 
work as it noticeably increases the reading 
of the faculty outside their own technical 
subjects. 

One library reports a library reception 
held for the faculty, at which there were on 
display interesting collections of books; 
during the evening the librarian gave a 
brief talk, calling attention to the collec- 
tion of trade bibliographies and the "Book 
review digest" briefly explaining the use 
of each in the purchase of books; she also 
called attention to the vertical file recently 
begun; she impressed upon the faculty the 
privilege of inter-library loans, especially 
those of the United States Department of 
Agriculture Library; she called attention 
to the duplicate collection of bulletins and 
reports which was being constantly in- 
creased and made more usable, she bespoke 
their help in sending to the library such 
bulletins as they received, but did not care 
to retain for their own collections. These 
receptions were well attended and the fac- 
ulty seemed to find them enjoyable, and 
expressed themselves as benefited by the 
information given. 

Another library reports making up spe- 
cial bibliographies for her faculty. An- 
other librarian, in charge of continuations, 
has succeeded in arousing a great deal of 
Interest in her department, having, by her 
enthusiasm and personal work, aroused the 
faculty to assist her in building up her col- 
lections. 

One librarian who has the interest of her 
faculty warmly at heart, reports that in a 
time of financial stress she set about pro- 
curing that splendid collection, the publica- 
tions of the Carnegie Institution of Wash- 
ington. The ofiBcers of the Institution re- 
sponded promptly to her plea, and before 
the depressing year was ended, the faculty 
were cheered by the gift of this collection. 



so wonderfully inspiring to men In the re- 
search field. 

There is little doubt that our greatest 
service to our faculties must be direct and 
personal. The faculty in few of our agri- 
cultural colleges is so large that we may 
not know the members well. We may 
know the bright young man who is becom- 
ing too absorbed in his specialty, who is 
narrowing his reading to the degree that 
his perspective is becoming limited, so that, 
presently, in his own chosen field he will 
not be able to estimate values correctly. It 
is for his librarian to lure him into the 
safer, broader path by a delightful book 
or article so interesting that he must read 
it. It is the librarian who sees that the 
head of some department is too utilitarian 
in his selection of periodicals, it is she who 
can call his attention to those of broader, 
more inspiring scope, and if she has the 
genuine sympathy with him and his work 
which she ought to have, he will listen to 
her suggestion. It should always be sug- 
gestion, not advice. 

There is, perhaps, no opportunity with 
our faculty which we should be more care- 
ful to cultivate than that of inspiring them 
on all occasions with confidence in our dis- 
interestedness and desire to be perfectly 
just. Disinterestedness is the source of 
great power with a college librarian. We 
never can afford to allow personal feeling 
to creep into our relation with our faculty. 
We must regard each man's work as of 
value, we must try to see of what extreme 
value it appears to him; that will explain 
why he sometimes appears jealous and 
selfish, and why he may be impatient with 
the imperfections of our service; his fault 
grows out of his virtue usually, and we 
ought to be big enough and disinterested 
enough to sympathize with his ultimate 
desire and ignore the unpleasantness of 
his method. When we get to this state of 
mind our own irritation vanishes and his 
greatly diminishes, for it is remarkable 
how much more quickly we hear what a 
man thinks, than what he says. 

The opportunity which seems to be im- 
pressing Itself most deeply upon agricul- 



232 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



tural librarians just at present Is that of 
reaching the farm home with helpful litera- 
ture. This, no doubt, has been brought to 
us more forcibly through the activities of 
our colleges under the Smith-Lever act. It 
is gratifying to note that though there 
seems comparatively little financial pro- 
vision made, the librarians are bestirring 
themselves that they may have a part in 
this interesting, broadening work. 

The writer was greatly pleased to note 
by the replies to her questionnaire, that 
the majority of agricultural librarians are 
working in harmony with their state li- 
brary or state library commission in fur- 
nishing literature to the farmer and his 
home. It seems the ideal way that the state 
library or commission should furnish the 
more popular, frequently called for ma- 
terial and the college the more technical. 
In our own state this method works very 
well. The college library turns over to 
the state library all requests which it is 
thought that library can grant, and the 
state library turns over to the college all 
requests for material of such a technical 
nature that the state library cannot afford 
to carry it. The state and college libra- 
rians whenever they speak before farmers 
and their wives acquaint them with this 
arrangement. This cooperation permits 
much more effective and economical service 
than if each operated independently of the 
other. As limited as are the funds in every 
state for this kind of work, we cannot af- 
ford expensive duplication; we are also in- 
teresting each farmer served in two valu- 
able state institutions instead of one. It 
speaks well for the broad-minded outlook 
of the librarians that there appears no 
jealousy concerning the work of the state 
libraries and commissions in this field, this, 
certainly, is as it should be. 

Some librarians are going out occasion- 
ally under the auspices of the extension di- 
vision of the college to speak before 
granges and in the movable schools of agri- 
culture. 

Several libraries are making out lists of 
desirable books for the farmer and his 
home. One reports lists of books for high 



school agricultural libraries, published in 
the state educational Journals, and lists of 
books and periodicals for the farm home 
in the farm and county papers. Another 
library cooperates with the Library com- 
mission in making out lists of short 
stories for reading aloud at the gatherings 
of country girls. This librarian suggests 
collecting for country girls, old magazines 
containing especially good stories for read- 
ing aloud. 

Several college libraries that either do 
not have effective commissions or do not 
cooperate with such as they have, are 
sending out package libraries consisting of 
books, bulletins and clippings; these are 
sent either direct to the farmer or through 
the county farm adviser. 

Some libraries have a special assistant 
detailed to assist the extension division in 
its correspondence courses. 

The extension work of our colleges is 
just in its dawn, and it behooves the live 
librarian to be alert to render every pos- 
sible service. It is true that most of us are 
already taxed severely to meet our imme- 
date duties with the resources at command, 
but we must not allow the difficulties in 
the way to limit our vision, or dampen our 
enthusiasm; the way usually opens to the 
wisely adventurous; and certainly we who 
have gone into the country and have seen 
the many homes bare of the beauty which 
might have blossomed there, and lacking 
the stimulating books and periodicals 
which should be theirs, must realize that 
here is a field for enriching life, our very 
own, a field which no one has so great an 
opportunity to cultivate as we, and we 
must be strong enough and wise enough 
to go up and possess the land. 

Several successful librarians have spoken 
of the need of a better organization of our 
library staff and resources, and of better 
business methods among us. There is, no 
doubt, a goodly opportunity for improve- 
ment here. In our smaller libraries espe- 
cially, it would no doubt be well for us to 
consider carefully whether we have our 
staff, however small, as effectively organ- 
ized as possible. Are we all doing a little 



2SS 



of everything, or have we organized our 
force, making certain assistants responsible 
for certain departments of the work, and 
impressing upon them the fact that they 
are not only to care for this department, 
but are to see that it grows In effectiveness, 
that they are to be alert for every new 
method of improving their department, 
that it is a part of their happy duty to 
make faculty and students feel the value 
of the service of that particular depart- 
ment, and above all that they are to realize 
that the spirit in which their department 
serves is, perhaps, the most important fac- 
tor in the whole library? Are we pressing 
home upon our assistants this feeling of 
responsibility for certain definite work? 
Nothing so dignifies our work to us, noth- 
ing calls out our best service like feeling 
that this piece of work is our very own; 
we alone are responsible for its success or 
failure. 

Are we arranging our work so that as 
many as possible of our assistants have 
certain hours in which they are in direct 
contact with the public they serve? Noth- 
ing so refreshes and Inspires interest as 
direct contact with students and faculty. 
This can easily be arranged in libraries 
where the staff is not too large, and makes 
not only for refreshment of spirit, but for 
efficiency of work; for instance, your cata- 
loger is not going to run off into technical 
ruts if she has a couple of hours a week 
at the loan desk during the busy time of 
day and sees whether she is choosing too 
technical or too popular subjects for her 
public; also in giving to those assistants 
doing strictly technical work, a certain 
period of direct service with students and 
faculty, there may by careful arrangement, 
be secured relief from the fatigue of too 
long periods of one kind of work, thus con- 
serving the efficiency and energy of the 
staff. This side of our administration 
merits consideration. 

Are we careful In dealing with our as- 
sistants to direct and to criticise from the 
point of view of principles rather than 
methods? We can much more easily bear 
a criticism of our method, if we see the 



large aim of that method, and are made to 
feel that it is not because we are negli- 
gent or inefficient that we are criticised, 
but because some great work suffers. The 
more we lift our criticisms out of person- 
ality and up to the plane of large and high 
service, the more truly and lastingly ef- 
fective they become. Do those of us who 
serve as librarians always remember that 
our assistants have just as high ideals as 
we, that they make mistakes just as we do, 
from lack of experience and natural limita- 
tions? And do we who are assistants bear 
patiently the criticisms of our librarians, 
crediting against their impatience with our 
mistakes their high ideals of service? 

Do we sit down to our problem of library 
administration like a good business man, 
marshalling before us the end we desire to 
accomplish and the forces at our command? 
Do we plan carefully and deliberately to 
accomplish with these forces the desired 
end in the most economical and effective 
manner? Do we compare our administra- 
tion and business methods with those of 
other successful business enterprises, try- 
ing to discover the principles which have 
led to success? 

Are we keeping always in view that we 
are not a department of the college, rival- 
ling in funds or fame other departments, 
but rather that we are a vital part of every 
department, that our every failure in serv- 
ice or spirit weakens every department of 
the college, our every improvement In 
method, in resources, in spirit lifts the 
work of every department a little higher? 
It is only as we take this larger, compre- 
hensive view of our place in the scheme of 
college work that we can hope to do our 
legitimate part toward building up a great 
educational Institution. 

Are we not only cherishing big, high 
Ideals, but are we putting our brains to 
the practical realization of our ideals? Our 
work is so big, so fine, so useful that It la 
worthy of all our powers. 

In looking over all the letters received 
from the agricultural college librarians, 
there is one opportunity which stands out 
above any other, calling most imperatively 



234 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



that we embrace It. It is plain that our 
greatest lack is not In enthusiasm, ability, 
or even practical methods, but in the finan- 
cial means absolutely necessary to the 
proper development of our libraries. Un- 
questionably our small and moderate sized 
libraries are not taking their legitimate 
place in the development of the college. 
The opportunity toward which we must 
put every particle of our brains and our 
enthusiasm is, inducing our boards of re- 
gents and administrative heads to realize 
the importance of the library. There are 
just three factors absolutely indispensable 
to the normal growth of a college, first 
rate teachers, first rate research men, a 
first rate library; and perhaps the most im- 
portant of these is the library, since the 
first two cannot be kept in the first class 
without a constantly renewed, up-to-date 
library. We must impress these facts 
upon our president and board of trustees. 



We must bring every legitimate pressure 
to bear to this end. We must arouse our 
faculty to their duty in making a plea for 
adequate library equipment. We must be 
alert on every occasion to press home upon 
our administrative college authorities the 
importance and the needs of the library, 
for it is appallingly plain that without 
greater resources than are at present pro- 
vided, few of us can hope to enter into that 
splendid field of service which waits, an al- 
luring heritage, for our future. 

In presenting the subject of our oppor- 
tunities, the writer feels that they have 
been very inadequately expressed and are 
but partially realized, but it is plain that 
our vision is rising and broadening, and we 
have only to give ourselves with practical 
devotion to the opportunities that are open- 
ing before us to become true builders, work- 
ing upon the foundation of the temple of 
education. 



PROBLEMS DISCOVERED IN CATALOGING THE LIBRARY OF THE MISSOURI 
SCHOOL OF MINES AT ROLLA 



By Jesse CrNNinoHAM, Librarian, St. Joseph Public Library 
(Formerly Librarian, Missouri School of Mines) 



The Missouri School of Mines is a de- 
partment of the State University of Mis- 
souri and is located at Rolla. The Uni- 
versity proper is located at Columbia. The 
Mines school was created in 1870 by an act 
of the General Assembly and was formally 
opened in 1871. The statutes fix the status 
of the school as one of the colleges of the 
State University. The school is within 
easy reach of the important mining dis- 
tricts of the state and offers facilities for 
the study of the theory and practice of 
mining geology, mining methods, ore dress- 
ing and mining machinery. The allied sub- 
jects of civil engineering, chemistry, elec- 
trical engineering and mechanical engineer- 
ing are a part of the curriculum of the 
mining and metallurgical courses. 

The library contains about 20,000 vol- 



umes exclusive of pamphlets, bulletins and 
reports of mining companies. The bulk of 
the collection consists of works in the 
sciences, chiefly geology, physics and chem- 
istry, and the useful arts, the main part of 
this division being engineering and mining 
treatises. In literature the standard Amer- 
ican and English authors are represented; 
there is some fiction; a good section of 
biography and an extensive collection of 
description and travel. 

The student body of the institution num- 
bers ordinarily about 300 earnest, virile 
young men ranging in age from 18 to 30 
years. There are 30 members of the fac- 
ulty. These students, the faculty and 
other oflScers, the janitors, engineers 
and gardeners, with pupils from the 
grade schools, students of the high 



CUNNINGHAM 



235 



school and citizens of the town are the re- 
sources for the clientele of the library. 

The library for a period of years pre- 
ceding the erection of the new building in 
1913 was housed in a suite of three rooms 
located in the main college building and 
administered at various times by members 
of the faculty whose work permitted of 
some recreation, or by some widow of a 
former professor and occasionally by the 
director's stenographer. The resulting con- 
ditions of this arrangement were brought 
forcibly to the attention of the authorities 
by a "French leave" vacancy in the chief 
librarianship in 1912. The time was ripe 
and a demand was made for a trained, ex- 
perienced librarian. 

The problems met in organizing the li- 
brary were not so much problems of cata- 
loging as problems of administration. 
There was a demand for library facilities; 
an excellent collection of books was at 
hand, fortunately experts in the faculty 
had recommended all purchases; the prob- 
lem was to get these books and the material 
in them to men hungry for information 
and earnestly seeking it. The immediate 
task was a technical one. Good books were 
at hand, eager students were wanting 
them. Could we make the library attrac- 
tive and usable for a body of men opposed 
to formalities, extra routine and restric- 
tions? A systematic arrangement of the 
books on the shelves and a full catalog, the 
backbone and foundation of any serviceable 
library, were the paramount needs. 

The collection, already well classified in 
the subjects least used, needed revision in 
the engineering classes. The seventh edi- 
tion of the Decimal Classification was used 
as a basis for the revision relying on 
the expansion of the general engineering 
subjects made at the Engineering Experi- 
ment station of the University of Illinois 
and the expansion of the mining engineer- 
ing sections made at the Colorado School 
of Mines. 

In taking up the work of cataloging, we 
were not on the lookout for a great deal of 
unnecessary trouble and we did not wish to 
prepare a deluge for those that should come 



after us. The usage of the Library of 
Congress was adopted except to shorten 
entries when cards had to be typed. Li- 
brary of Congress cards were used In all 
cases when they were obtainable. When 
Library of Congress cards were not avail- 
able the L. C. list of subject headings was 
used as a guide for the assignment of the 
headings. 

At the time the organization of the li- 
brary was begun the "U. S. Catalog ol 
books in print to January 1912" was dis- 
tributed and our problem of ordering cards 
was made easy. Three student assistants 
were employed in shifts of four hours each 
and starting with the O classes, working 
down through the succeeding sections, the 
U. S. Catalog was examined for the entry 
of each book and if found the order num- 
ber taken and cards ordered by number. 
For books not found in the U. S. Catalog, 
cards were ordered by the author and title 
method. 

The most liberal use was made of analyt- 
ical cards for all serial publications, this 
material including printed matter from the 
different departments and bureaus of the 
U. S. government, the bulletins and reports 
of the state geological surveys and publica- 
tions of educational institutions, societies 
and congresses. The headings given on 
the cards for publications of this nature 
taking particular note of the issues of the 
Geological surveys. Bureaus of Mines and 
other offices of the U. S. government are 
designed to conform to the headings used 
in the catalogs of the L. C. whether copy 
for the cards is supplied by the libraries of 
the publishing office or by the cataloging 
division of the Library of Congress. The 
subject headings on these cards were found 
satisfactory, with few exceptions. True, 
headings assigned for a general catalog 
were occasionally unnecessarily long for 
use in a catalog of a special library or col- 
lection. This is especially the case In a 
library made up almost entirely of works 
relating to mining and geology. It seems 
unnecessary to repeat over and over again 
terms which indicate that the subject Is 
a subdivision of mining and geology, but In 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



case these cards were put in a general cata- 
log the addition of the terms is necessary. 
The L. C, recognizing this difference in 
the requirements for a general catalog and 
a special catalog, is allowing the Bureau 
of Education, Department of Agriculture 
and the Law Division to have alternative 
headings printed on the cards and these 
can be used without change in the special 
catalogs. This arrangement would be de- 
sirable in the case of geology and mining 
but neither the Geological Survey nor the 
Bureau of Mines is interested or equipped 
for working out a connected and satisfac- 
tory series of headings for a special cata- 
log in this line. Important influences in 
reaching a decision to follow the practice 
for a general catalog were the facts that 
the scope of the school was likely to broad- 
en taking in more subjects for study and 
instruction, and if the scope of the curri- 
culum was not broadened there seemed a 
possibility of consolidation with the pa- 
rent institution. 

The standing order for Library of Con- 
gress cards was used for all U. S. Geologi- 
cal Survey publications and for publica- 
tions of any interest to the school coming 
from other federal bureaus as well as is- 
sues of state and foreign departments of 
geology and mines. In the beginning 
blanket orders were placed for all Library 
of Congress cards for the state survey ma- 
terial as each state was taken up sepa- 
rately in the reorganization. These orders 
brought cards for material in the collec- 
tion, also for publications not received. 
The same condition resulted from standing 
orders for cards for current publications; 
the cards were often received for bulletins, 
memoirs, reports and circulars not in the 
hands of the library. These cards were 
used to serve a dual purpose. 

Headings were added as if the publica- 
tions were in hand and a dictionary file 
separate from the main catalog was made. 

This served as a list of the wants as 
well as an addition to the bibliography of 
geology and was used in begging material 
wanting in the collection and it showed 



material that might be borrowed on inter- 
library loans if wanted by the clientele. 

This scheme of standing orders for loose 
bulletins, circulars, etc., of regular and 
irregular periods of publication amply 
cared for a large part of the pamphlet ma- 
terial. Other matter of this class of ma- 
terial and for which no cards were printed 
was treated according to one of two 
methods. Those pamphlets that seemed 
worthy of the treatment were bound in 
Gaylord binders and cataloged with the 
same care as books. Those pamphlets of 
a somewhat ephemeral nature were all 
classified according to subject, filed in pam- 
phlet boxes and shelved in the stacks imme- 
diately following the books in that class. 
The relative index to the decimal classifi- 
cation served as an index to this material. 

The test of any tool is its use and the 
reception of the reorganized library and 
its bibliographical aids were awaited with 
considerable interest. During the early 
stages, that is, the first year of the work in 
the old building, practically no use was 
made of the library other than the reading 
of "Life" and the nev/spapers. To the 
positive knowledge of the chief librarian 
not more than a dozen students and less 
than one-half the faculty made any attempt 
to use the collection. Those persons well 
enough acquainted with the books to be 
able to locate them by size, color or kind 
of binding occasionally made the effort. 

The plans were so made that the work 
was brought to such a stage of completion 
and the new building finished for occu- 
pancy so as to allow the moving and ar- 
rangement of the books during the sum- 
mer vacation, the object being to have the 
new quarters ready to open to the students 
at the beginning of the fall semester. Pre- 
paratory to the introduction of the students 
to the new building the chief librarian de- 
livered three lectures to each of the four 
University classes, outlining briefly the 
scheme of classification, the arrangement 
of the books on the shelves and the dic- 
tionary catalog. A fourth period was given 
to visiting and examining the library build- 



287 



Ing and the bibliographical tools. Imme- 
diately following these lectures and visits 
the use of the library began to increase be- 
yond all expectation. Students and faculty, 
the public schools and the townspeople 
alike began to recognize the library as a 
useful tool in their work and there never 
seemed the least difficulty in understanding 
the use of the catalog. 

Entering freshmen each fall received 
the regular instruction in the use and 
methods of the library and beyond the first 
few weeks when everything is new and 
strange to the incoming boys, no difficulty 
was experienced in the utility of the cata- 
log. The young men seemed naturally to 
take to the proper use of a library. This 
may be due in great measure to experi- 
ence gained in school libraries, a feature 



of library work in Missouri which Is pro- 
gressing very rapidly. 

It was a happy condition to find that 
after a few years of experience with im- 
proved library facilities every member of 
the faculty made regular use of the school's 
libraries and practically every member of 
the student body made some use of the 
opportunities offered. More than 80 per 
cent of the students were withdrawing 
books for home reading and study. The 
library in this institution is given credit 
for raising to a higher level the standard 
of scholarship and requirements for ad- 
mission to the institution, as well as bring- 
ing the public schools in the locality to an 
accredited standing and a deeper apprecia- 
tion of better things by the community as 
a whole. 



INSPIRATION THROUGH CATALOGING 



By J. Christian Bay, Chief Classifier. The John Crerar Library 



One of the most common superstitions 
about library work is that it offers not only 
a fair social advantage but also a snug 
haven of rest, relaxation and perpetual de- 
light to the person fond of literary pur- 
suits. We all know the stern reality does 
not sustain this popular view; that we are 
not called upon to collect, but to dispense 
information, and that mere enthusiasm 
about books will lead us nowhere, unless 
it is properly balanced with a wholesome 
regard for library routine and a willing- 
ness to bow to the spirit of service. 

Education for library work presupposes 
such a tempering of enthusiasm to a prac- 
tical end. We are not dreamers, but work- 
ers. We are not poets or historians or 
scientists shelved in a library position 
in order to enjoy leisure for a set 
study. Library training justly emphasizes 
the business, social and routine phases of 
library activity, and the personal equation 
is expected to be solved by personal effort. 

I am concerned here with this personal 
equation. There is no lack of evidence in 
the experience of every one of us to show 



that its solution is a matter of common in- 
terest. We know that many are called but 
few are chosen, even in our profession. We 
are aware of a tendency of the young 
in our ranks leading away from its 
philosophical, scientific aspects and even 
disregarding the routine details, and in- 
stead making straight for what is termed 
administrative work. This is not an evi- 
dence of ambition toward higher things as 
much as it is due to the belief that an 
easier life and a greater power go with ad- 
ministrative and representative duties, 
which is another delusion. We also know 
colleagues who perform routine duties in 
the spirit that fate has wronged them by 
consigning them to drudgery, and who re- 
gard their work as a necessary evil, hoping 
that the tide may turn and land them high 
and dry in a swivel chair on a Brussels rug 
in an exclusive office. The feeling of dis- 
satisfaction with routine work undoubtedly 
is responsible for much lack of buoyancy 
and for many a case of nervous prostration 
among library workers. 
I give praise to the sentiment that 



2S8 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



whether we catalog, classify, shelve books 
or label them, file cards in a catalog or 
gather in our hands the threads, the web- 
work of administration, tve all are li- 
brarians. I claim for us the ideal spirit 
that during the janitor's sickness any one 
of us willingly and in the sight of every- 
body would sweep out the reading room or 
dust the furniture. I still am to meet the 
librarian that refuses to admit the equal 
necessity of all work in the library, the 
equal privilege of doing it, the equal honor 
in performing it v/ell. 

This is theory and philosophy. In prac- 
tice we frequently think differently. The 
work, well done, does not always seem its 
own reward. Cataloging and classification 
will grow monotonous, the preliminary 
leaves, semicolons, plates, subject headings 
and what not, bore us, and we chafe at the 
necessity which dooms us merely to pass 
into the routine a book which we would 
rather read and enjoy. 

These days of severe specialization are 
apt to foster the idea that only functionat- 
ing administrators are librarians ex 
professo, while those who functionate in a 
special line of work possess no general view 
of the whole field — precisely as the chief 
librarian is not considered versed in the 
details of other specialties than those which 
he prefers. The functionating librarian 
may speak for himself, yet as a type of 
worker he undoubtedly deserves credit for 
a mastery of detail not often attributed to 
him. The functionating specialist, how- 
ever, frequently lacks the broad outlook on 
library science, and remains content to sup- 
port such linguistic immoralities as 
"cataloger," "classifier," "shelver," "subject- 
headinger," "card-filer," — the result being 
that only a "reference librarian" is con- 
sidered some sort of a librarian, others are 
mere clerks. Even the romantic title of 
"page" is of some positive value as com- 
pared with the ignominy of "shelflister," 
just as a Reginald or Horace will color 
the human clay differently from that 
designed by John or Peter. The clay does 
not become inferior, perhaps, but differ- 
ent. Luke McLuke asserts that "the name 



is one-half of the education." Our spe- 
cialties begin with their names, — they 
should not end with them! 

If we fall into the error of regarding in- 
variably the cataloger only as a person 
who catalogs books but is supposed to know 
little else, we are apt to narrow the sphere 
of influence and utility of a person perhaps 
well versed in matters of other special and 
probably general interest in the library. 
We cannot wonder that cataloging has 
fallen into most undeserved disrepute as 
a monotonous, grinding occupation involv- 
ing some tedious routine, much petti- 
fogging and automatism unworthy of a 
real live woman's or man's efforts. Classi- 
fication still retains some flavor, because 
one may gain reference knowledge or other 
useful insight from even a casual glance 
at a book. 

The cataloger's professional attitude de- 
pends in a measure upon the value set 
upon the work by others. But it depends 
emphatically upon the cataloging librarian's 
estimate of his own efforts, their general 
and relative importance, their results. Ex- 
perience seems to prove without doubt that 
a great deal of that knowledge by which 
a librarian's usefulness is measured, begins 
and ends with the art of cataloging. It is 
an art, the doing of which can be learned, 
but the philosophy of which develops only 
with personal growth toward the ideal. 
Describing a book accurately and ade- 
quately for a definite purpose certainly is 
an accomplishment worth striving for; if 
it is not worth doing passing well, no li- 
brary work is of any value. The very keynote 
of the work is as democratic as the plan of 
the city directory where none is excluded be- 
cause of rank or fortune. The catalog de- 
partment is the one place in the library 
where all books are treated equally, with- 
out reference to their individual merits, 
described calmly and committed to the 
catalog to win such use and favor as they 
deserve. 

While the work of cataloging is a routine 
effort depending for its efliciency upon the 
intelligent observance of a code of rules, 
the very Intellectual character of thl? 



239 



work should presuppose in the cataloger a 
personal method as a safeguard against 
monotony and drudgery. This can be indi- 
cated better than described. First and fore- 
most, let it be remembered that all rules 
for cataloging yet are in a preliminary and 
preparatory state, and that we are far from 
creating in the reader's mind an adequate 
picture of any book by simply recording 
the title, noting some of the most apparent 
physical and historical peculiarities of the 
book, and confiding to the world some sub- 
jects of which the book seems to treat. 
The cataloger should know that his art 
still is in a state of development; that 
many cataloging problems await a general 
solution, — that the ideal of full and 
adequate book-description still is a far and 
distant light. It always gives courage and 
buoyancy to know that we are carrying 
stones to a common temple; and certainly, 
every day's work must satisfy any of us 
that we can work our problems and ac- 
cumulate intelligence of common interest 
to all. Here the personal method should 
apply itself. If we carry out easily and 
cheerfully those rules which already have 
been formulated for general practice, we 
shall be able to reserve some effort for 
the problems which are still to be solved. 
We may carry the particular detail which 
engages our attention through the process 
of comparative study, until by observation 
and experiment we have surveyed it fully 
and succeeded, perhaps, in solving it, thus 
adding a trifle to the common store of 
professional knowledge and gaining the 
high joy felt by the pioneer in breaking 
new soil. 

By the term personal method I do not 
mean a free, individual use and interpreta- 
tion of cataloging rules, for each library is 
bound to demand a historical continuance 
in the methods of work it sustains, and 
this does not permit a free play of personal 
preferences. Furthermore, it is not con- 
trary to freedom and independence to fol- 
low a system which, although the indi- 
vidual may chafe at certain inconveniences, 
represents a collective effort, historically 
fixed and of known efficiency. A personal 
method Is that economy of efficiency which 



draws the line hetween essential and un- 
essential, which lets the rule or regula- 
tion have its way in all ordinary questions, 
which wastes no effort in discussing 
futilities, but bridles with alertness to new 
forms, important distinctions and rare op- 
portunities. There are some catalogers 
who seem incapable of anything but debat- 
ing the distinction between illustrations 
and diagrams; who spend every grain of 
their energy upon the elaboration of im- 
possible and misleading author and subject 
headings, collations and descriptive notes, 
plagiarizing information easily available 
everywhere. In such cases, the "cataloger" 
is not the master of the catalog, but the 
catalog governs him — not as a cherished 
care of which he is proud, but as a burden. 
His mind may be perfectly serene as to 
the treatment of literature on apples until 
he runs up against the reports of a 
pomological society and realizes that he 
cannot use the subject heading "Apples — 
societies," and relapses into consternation, 
because he cannot be consistent. If of a 
literary bent he may remember with a sad 
feeling the young farmer in Eugene Field's 
story who bought an encyclopedia and 
looked up the subject of apples when they 
came and searched under "baby" when the 
baby caught the measles. He was referred 
to pomology and maternity, respectively, 
and growled because the volumes contain- 
ing these letters had not yet appeared. 
George Eliot throws him into cold 
perspiration until, after having consulated 
every available source of information, he 
produces the following beautiful concoc- 
tion: 

Eliot, George, pseud., i. e., Marian Evans, 
afterwards Cross, 1819-18S0. 

Cross, Mrs. Marian (Evans), see Eliot, 
George, pseud., i. e., Marian Evans, after- 
wards Cross, 1819-1880. 

Evans, Marian (Mrs. Cross), see Eliot, 
George, pseud., i. e., Marian Evans, after- 
wards Cross, 1819-1880. 

Small wonder that catalogers go into 
nervous prostration under the strain of the 
dictations of a supposedly harsh catalog 
which demands the distinction of being an 
encyclopedia of universal knowledge rather 



240 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



than a discreet guide to the library's re- 
sources of books. 

Let us turn the leaf and consider how 
that inspiration which means well balanced 
power and mastery of required method, 
may be won. 

One important source of inspiration to 
the cataloger in the library itself, the mass 
of books with their actual or potential 
value for public reference or enlighten- 
ment. The library may be small, sordid, 
commonplace, and the cataloger may 
despair of it, but this despair should re- 
lieve itself in an effort to build up the 
catalog all the more effectively. Analytical 
entries, or even a sort of indexing, will 
do wonders to increase the efficacy of a 
limited collection of books. If the library 
is deficient in modern, up-to-date books, the 
cataloger's duty consists in bringing to 
light all that is of actual value to the 
community, according to the spirit of Mark 
Tapley, who grew more alert, the darker 
and drearier the prospects were. Not one 
of the little, out-dated, perhaps misman- 
aged libraries is indifferent, nor the library 
which lacks support, — for the problems are 
there; and problems turn up to be solved, 
not to be despaired of. The worse the 
catalog, the greater the necessity of renew- 
ing it. If one can do nothing with a small 
library and under adverse circumstances, 
he had better not imagine that an easier 
life will make him either more efficient or 
more happy. 

One very important matter — one, more- 
over, which touches upon the personal 
method aforesaid — is that the cataloger 
never should become isolated. The prin- 
ciple of specialization frequently isolates 
workers in different departments of even 
moderate-sized libraries. The cataloger 
may feel that his very work relegates him 
to a place out of touch with what is going 
on in the library. This isolation is not 
necessary. I admit that the average daily 
working period is too long for most em- 
ployees in the modern library, but I con- 
tend also that whoever works strictly by 
the clock fails to have acquired the cor- 
rect institutional spirit and attitude. This 
spirit demands that you reach out at all 



times and make certain of being in ready, 
sympathetic mental intercommunication 
with your surroundings. In a large library, 
an occasional extra hour or two spent in 
looking about, in studying the catalog, in 
exchanging opinions with colleagues, in 
the hundreds of ways offered by intellectual 
workers being housed under one roof, will 
assist materially to build up that esprit de 
corps without which we despair. 

Again, there is a great satisfaction in do- 
ing justice to a book which partakes of 
the public service extended by the library. 
A good and useful book — any book in the 
true sense — will reward your efforts, per- 
haps by being worn out with use; or it 
may back up on you and remind you of 
some mistake in its treatment. Books 
respond in these ways almost as readily as 
human beings. 

Nor are the human beings themselves 
slow in responding where the right word 
has been spoken. The cataloger always 
should consider himself in direct inter- 
communication with the reading public; 
should speak through his catalog, of the 
books, tersely and clearly, with the one 
object in mind of engaging the reader's at- 
tention. If he fails, it is not the fault of 
the public, it is the fault of him who has 
not spoken well enough, advertised well 
enough, offered strongly enough the oppor- 
tunity which it is his business to see in 
behalf of others. 

In the large libraries all these conditions 
are emphasized and more complicated, but 
not different. There, the cataloger has the 
added advantage of finding the great books 
and of co-operating with persons who know 
them. The advantage to the cataloger of 
working in a large library lies chiefly in 
the wider range of view and in the greater 
historical outlook induced by the greater 
mass of books. On the other hand, the 
danger of isolation grows with the greater 
specialization, — and the isolation embodies 
the most significant source of discomfort of 
the cataloger. A wise organization will do 
all in its power to harmonize the different 
elements among the workers, by assigning 
some reference work, book selection, ad- 
vertising, etc., to such as might suffer from 



241 



the monotony of one continuously repeated 
effort. 

It Is possible that some of the ill repute 
of cataloging may arise from a fault of ad- 
justment which is a common trait of many 
young librarians in these days of strenuous 
life. The library worker who follows the 
recognized and universally applauded 
course of professional training, will acquire 
a college education, followed by a library 
school course, — and then, suddenly, Ms edu- 
cation ceases: he no longer reads profes- 
sional literature, no longer feels the spur of 
a definite purpose, but plunges into work 
and is lost in it. Many and many a library 
worker who studies eagerly and with good 
results while at school, becomes indifferent 
to library science and library literature as 
soon as he lands in a position. Thenceforth 
he thinks of little else than his daily duties, 
and carries stones to no building but the 
cherished castle of his own succcess. Many 
and many of this type of library worker 
never read, far less study, a book, but fling 
themselves into work at that pace which 
kills, — which stifles the higher ambition and 
renders its slaves incapable of personal 
growth, philosophic view and ideal striving. 
Why go to the trouble and expense of a spe- 
cial education for librarianship, merely to 
toil strenuously for outward success and 
gain, when we know that the same amount 
of dynamic effort in other lines will produce 
far greater remuneration? Why seek li- 
brary work at all, unless one strives toward 
the ideal which colored the lives of such 
men as Panizzi, Ebert, Justin Winsor, and 
Spofford? Rarely if ever do the executives 
of our large libraries antagonize an effort 
toward personal growth and development in 
their subordinate associates; on the con- 
trary, a ready and free sympathy is reached 
out to those who strive for higher things. 

No library worker can succeed in the 
highest sense without being somewhat of 
a studiosus perpetuus, nor can he create 
harmony within himself without dreaming 
the healthy dream of high hope. Efficiency 
alone is as much a curse as knowledge 
alone. Only a handful of years ago men's 
time was of scant commercial value com- 
pared with Its value today. But the woman 



or man is lost who thinks he has solved the 
great life problem of an occupation when 
he has succeeded in trading his time and 
work against a fair economic equivalent. 
The frequent changes in library staffs all 
over the country, and the rather numerous 
adventures in neurasthenia, prove that the 
few suggestions offered here are not en- 
tirely out of season. There is some need 
of a pastoral theology for library workers! 

The problem which I have tried to dis- 
cuss freely and without prejudice to any 
side, may be summed up in a simile. Years 
ago a man came out of a country of wild 
heather and fresh breezes to a great me- 
tropolis, where an unkind fate consigned 
him to a night's so-called rest in a large 
modern hotel which faced an open square. 
He went to his room, but could not sleep. 
He lay awake long, listening to the noises 
within the immense building and without, 
in the vast city surrounding him. Finally 
he arose, opened a window and looked out. 
There was the rush of sound in his ears, 
of clang and noise — but not one sound 
which he knew. He listened a long time. 
Then, of a sudden, he became all alive with 
attention. He heard something which he 
recognized. It was springtime, and from 
high above the city came the rush of swift 
wings and the honk of the wild geese and 
other migratory birds which travel by 
night. He knew the sound of each new 
and different flock that came. None was 
visible, but they were there, and he felt 
grateful and at rest. 

Such is in some respects the position of 
the worker in a modern library. The din 
and rush of the routine are around him, 
and he responds with sullenness or cyn- 
icism, or becomes apathetic and automatic 
— unless he listens and reaches out for 
the higher, but often hidden, symbols of 
freedom and joy, and listens for the chorus 
of gleeful and jubilant praise which is 
everywhere to be heard by him who listens 
earnestly. And then he will turn to his 
work with a morning face, glad that he Is 
there, his work awaiting him, his work, 
because duty alone does not call him, nor 
the reward, nor anybody's praise, but the 
approval of his own conscience. 



ASBURY PARK CONFERBNCK 



THE CATALOGING TEST: RESULTS AND OUTLOOK 
By Aksel G. S. Josephson, Head Cataloger, The John Crerar Library 



The result of the cataloging test as a 
whole would seem to he negatived by the 
fact that such a small number of libraries 
took part in it. Of the 38 libraries that 
finally sent in replies to the questionnaire 
that was sent out first in 1913 and again in 
1914 only 17 took part in the test, and 
one library took part in it without having 
answered the questionnaire. These 18 libra- 
ries divide themselves naturally in the fol- 
lowing four groups: 

1) Three large libraries, each of which 
represents a type of its own, none of them 
easily compared with the other two. These 
libraries cataloged for the test a total of 302 
books in 283 hours and 23 minutes at a 
total cost of $193.83, giving an average of 
56 minutes in point of time and an average 
cost of 64y5C. 

2) Four university libraries which cata- 
loged together 402 books in 139 hours and 
16 minutes at a cost of $64.20, giving an 
average of 20% minutes in point of time 
and an average cost of 16c. 

3) Seven large public libraries with 
branch systems, reporting together 684 
books cataloged in 399 hours, at a total 
cost of $172.52, giving an average of 35 
minutes in point of time and an average 
cost of 25yBC. 

4) Four smaller libraries, namely three 



OWN 



public libraries and one state library, re- 
porting together 326 books cataloged in 73 
hours 31 minutes at a total cost of $36.14, 
giving an average of 131/5 minutes in point 
of time and an average cost of 10'/j„c. 

Studied in these groups the tests made 
by the different libraries will have a story 
to tell, and the Committee on Cost and 
Method of Cataloging has recommended to 
the Executive Board that a study of them 
be made. The most fruitful group, because 
more of a unity than any of the others, is 
the third group, the seven large public 
libraries. For the purpose of this paper, 
however, I have chosen the second group, 
the four university libraries, and the uni- 
versity library included in the first group. 
These libraries are numbered X, XI, XII, 
XIV and XV in the tables of replies to the 
questionnaire." 

Dividing the grand averages of time and 
cost in the reports of these five libraries 
under the heads of books cataloged by these 
libraries themselves, and books for which 
they have used cards printed by other 
libraries (here called L. C, because the 
number of cards from other libraries than 
the Library of Congress is infinitesimal) 
and again dividing the books cataloged by 



English 



Foreign Total Average 



■These tables, which have not yet been 
printed, cover both the test reports and the 
replies to the questionnaire. 

L. C. Grand Estimated 

Total Average Average Cost 
1912 



$1.34 



X Ih. 42m. 


Ih. 10m. 


Ih. 16m. 


35m. 


54 yam. 


91%c 


65c 


67ysc 


39c 


52yoC 


XI 23V,m. 


30%m. 


2614m. 


ny^m. 


21%m. 


ley^c 


22V„c 


18%c 


16c 


17V.C 


XII 16%m. 


187,m. 


17%m. 


12%m. 


15m. 


11V.C 


12y2C 


12c 


18V,c 


isyac 


XIV 25m. 


37%™. 


36 yam. 


19m. 


26%m. 


nVac 


26i^c 


25%c 


18c 


2iy2C 


XV ISVam. 


20y2m. 


20m. 




20m. 


8%c 


loy^c 


9%c 




9%c 



39c 



3014c 



70c 



47c 



JOSEPHSON 



243 



the libraries themselves In books In Eng- 
lish and foreign languages, we find the 
results shown in the accompanying table. 
It is a seemingly curious fact that Li- 
brary No. X spent so much more time on 
the English books than on the foreign; 
but this is explained by tae character of 
the books. Of the total of 101 books cata- 
loged by this library nearly 25 per cent 
required long searches, because the authors 
■were new to the library and found neither 
in the L. C. depository catalog, nor in the 
first couple of reference books consulted, 
and some of the books in English were of 
this kind. Two of the titles reported by 
this library represented long sets of peri- 
odicals. This library deliberately included 
in the test a number of difficult books, 
while the others more closely followed 
the recommendations of the Committee, 
that in all cases average books be selected. 
No. XI stated that in its test, books of 
average difficulty had been selected, and 
that the test, therefore, was not represen- 
tative of its work; the more difficult and 
time-consuming books had been eliminated. 
This was to all appearances the case with 
the other three libraries as well. 

No. XII stated in the reply to the ques- 
tionnaire that its "accessions consist to a 
large degree of documentary and serial 
matter of all sorts, for which we have some 
particular method of cataloging, devised 
to expedite the reaching of the shelves by 
this material." This class of books, how- 
ever, was not selected for the test. That 
No. XIV, in estimating the cost in its reply 
to the questionnaire, counted a monograph 
series consisting of a number of analyzed 
monographs as one title, should be taken 
into account when comparing this estimate 
with the average computed from the test 
report, where individual titles only were 
recorded. 

The high cost reported by No. X, in 1912, as 
compared with the average computed from 
the test report is accounted for by the year 
1912 having been a very unfavorable one 
for that library to make any estimate of 
work in, on account of its opening of a 
new building, which necessitated the mov- 



ing o£ half a dozen large libraries, and 
this In addition to the library being en- 
gaged in changing its method of work to a 
new system. That this library maintains 
a number of special catalogs and shelf-lists 
affects the number of cards to be prepared 
and therefore the cost of multiplying them; 
it affects, however, chiefly the cost of fil- 
ing, a process on which this library did not 
report in the test. 

No. XI finds a cause of economy in the 
fact that the same person attends to both 
the cataloging and the classification of a 
book, and that the books for the purpose 
of treatment are divided into groups, of 
which each cataloger has charge of one; 
these groups consist in some cases each of 
a definite subject, sometimes of two or 
three. 

No. XV did not make a very detailed re- 
port in response to the questionnaire, but, 
if I am not mistaken, this system of divid- 
ing the books into groups, prevails there 
also, at least as far as the classification is 
concerned. ■ ■ vj 

While speaking of the kind of books 
selected for the test, I might mention that, 
when I selected at the John Crerar Library 
what I considered books of average diffi- 
culty from the standpoint of cataloging, the 
classifiers threw up their hands and said 
that they had never had such a collection 
of snags coming to them at any one time. 

Another factor that naturally influences 
the cost of the work is that of salaries. In 
this respect the five libraries stand as fol- 
lows: 

No. X has a cataloging force of 24 per- 
sons, with an average salary of $906.00. 

No. XI has a force of 20, with an average 
salary of $E81.00. 

No. XII had in 1912 a force of 16, with 
an average salary of $985.00. 

The staff of this library has since been 
increased, but I have no report of any in- 
crease in the salaries. 

No. XIV has a force of 12, with an aver- 
age salary of $505.00. 

No. XV has a force of 19, with an average 
salary of $502.00. 

There are other factors that will in- 
fluence the time consumed in cataloging 
and thereby the cost of the work: matters 
of organization, of local conditions, the 



244 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



experience and alertness of the workers, 
lack of which will naturally result in waste 
of time. 

Now, what might we regard as the net 
result of the test? One thing stands out 
clearly enough, and that is the economy 
effected by the use of the printed cards pre- 
pared by the Library of Congress. That 
library No. XV does not use Library of 
Congress cards at all, and still shows a 
low, one might say minimal cost of catalog- 
ing even if compared with the other three 
libraries that selected easier books than 
usual for the test, cannot be said to vitiate 
the result in this respect, because in this 
case the cost was clearly the result of low 
salaries. It has been shown by No. X both 
that the use of Library of Congress cards 
reduces the cost and that in university 
libraries, especially the larger, there al- 
ways will be a large number of books for 
which the Library of Congress cannot sup- 
ply cards. The test, therefore, in this re- 
spect, points to the question whether the 
work of the Library of Congress could be 
supplemented by a central bureau, perhaps 
organized as an appendix to the catalog 
division of that library, where books pur- 
chased for a number of large libraries could 
be sent for cataloging before being shipped 
to their final destination. This involves, 
however, other questions of co-operation 
which, if I am not mistaken, are being con- 
sidered by the American Library Institute. 
If such arrangements be made, what would 
then become of the cataloger? Would he 
be relegated to the scrap heap? By no 
means. For one thing there will always 
be a residue of local and other publications 
that would come within the scope of 
neither the Library of Congress nor any 
other central bureau; then there is what 
might be called the individualizing of the 
catalog of a library, the annotations to be 
made in order to meet the needs of a 
particular constituency. 

Until a co-operative cataloging bureau be 
established, and in case this idea should 
not be realized there is another way of 



solving the problem, at least partially, 
namely, by arranging to have each of a 
group of libraries prepare entries for books 
falling within its special fields, the cards 
to be printed by the Library of Congress 
under some such arrangement as already 
exists, only with a more definite plan. 

There is also the problem of possible re- 
organization of the work within a library, 
such rearrangement of the functions of the 
members of the working force as is sug- 
gested by Library No. XI which has found 
it profitable as a saving to have the books 
handled by the same person for both 
cataloging and classification. This method 
would necessitate a certain specialization 
in studies on the part of the individual. At 
present too much attention Is paid to the 
technique at the expense of the higher func- 
tions. The reorganization of work along the 
lines indicated might lead to a reorganiza- 
tion of the studies in the library schools by 
introducing, as a part of the curriculum, a 
thoroughgoing study of the history and 
interrelations of the sciences and arts. If 
the plan were adopted more generally it 
might lead to attracting to the library pro- 
fession university graduates with definite 
scientific specialties who might find in 
library work an even better outlet for their 
faculties than in teaching. In the meantime, 
libraries adopting the plan of organizing 
their staffs along subject lines would have 
to demand from their workers a certain 
amount of specialization in their outside 
reading and study, and might well encour- 
age such specialization by offering extra 
time to such members of their staffs as are 
willing to give a considerable amount of 
their own time to studies of this kind. 

These two ideas: the extension of the 
central cataloging work of the Library of 
Congress and the possibility of organizing 
the work in the individual library so as to 
utilize to a larger extent than is now the 
case the special interests and the special 
knowledge of the Individuals, stand out for 
me as the net result of the cataloging 
test. 



WINSER 



MAKING MAPS AVAILABLE 



By Beatrice Winser. Assistant Librarian, Newark Free Public Library 



All libraries are confronted by the map 
problem. The first question is: shall we 
collect them? The next is: if any, which? 
And the next how shall we keep them and 
use them if we acquire them? 

We have no definitely settled policy; but 
after experimenting for eight years we 
have succeeded in making our maps easily 
accessible at a comparatively low cost. 
Many libraries feel that they cannot afford 
to have maps; not primarily because of the 
cost of the maps themselves, but because 
of the cost of putting them into condition 
for use, this process usually involving ex- 
pensive storage cases and the taking of 
much space therefor. 

Another very serious difliculty, one about 
which you wish me to speak to you espe- 
cially, is the cataloging of maps. We con- 
tend tliat a well arranged map collection, 
without a catalog, is infinitely to be pre- 
ferred to a well-cataloged collection with an 
arrangement so cumbersome that it is diffi- 
cult to find the desired map or so expensive 
that few libraries can afford it. 

The Newark Public Library employs sev- 
eral different methods in the cataloging of 
Its maps. As conditions vary greatly in 
the two places, we employ certain methods 
at our business branch and certain others 
at the main library. 

For example, at the business branch we 
use the Irving Pitt Loose Leaf Ring-Book, 
No. 721, which costs $3.30. Sheets of ledger 
paper each 8%xll, cost $7.50 per thousand. 
Each map is entered on its own separate 
sheet; and sheets are arranged by class 
numbers, thus making a classed catalog of 
all the maps in the collection. Full infor- 
mation about each map is found here, and 
nowhere else. This brings together the 
maps in each geographical group, no matter 
where the maps themselves are filed. The 
reason for using a sheet rather than a card 
Is that the catalog of maps at the business 
branch requires many changes, as new 



editions of maps are received and the old 
ones are returned to the main library to be 
stored; also, we find it easier to consult 
and to manage sheets than cards, for a 
small collection. 

In addition to the above "Loose Leaf." 
which serves the purpose of a classed in- 
dex to the map collection, very brief catalog 
cards under subjects are made and put in 
their proper places in the general catalog. 

We find it indispensable to make analytic 
cards for maps found in Baedeker Guides, 
and foreign directories. The maps in these 
books are excellent; but as they are often 
small, and seem unimportant, they are sel- 
dom used. These analyticals give us a 
complete index to all the map resources of 
the branch. We are often asked for maps 
which we could not find if we had not in- 
dexed books of this character. For ex- 
ample: A shipper, desirous of sending to 
Kula Lumpur, wishes to know whether the 
town of Penang is nearer to that place than 
Singapore; and also wishes to know of the 
railroad connections. The answer, found 
in an inexpensive guide to the Federated 
Malay States, could not have been given 
readily. If at all, if an analytical had not 
been made. 

Real estate dealers, in developing real 
estate, give high sounding names to cer- 
tain sections of certain cities. This Is done, 
of course, for advertising purposes merely. 
Other sections get special names in other 
ways. Inquiries are often made at the 
business branch as to where certain of 
these parts of cities are to be found. To 
answer these queries it was found desirable 
to make analyticals for local real estate 
atlases. For Instance, a man asked about 
Elmhurst Park; the analytical showed that 
Elmhurst is in Westfield, a town In New 
Jersey. The usefulness of analyzing such 
local matter Is shown again by instances 
like these: Waverly, once an independent 
town, is now incorporated in Newark; New- 



S4C 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



ton is now part of Queens; Ampere is now 
part of Orange. The names I have cited 
are still quite commonly used for localities 
which were, as towns, long since merged 
In other towns. 

The Automobile Blue Books have small 
maps which, although not very good, con- 
tain information about many small towns 
for which other maps are either not avail- 
able or not worth buying. Questions about 
Warren, Pa.; Three Rivers, Canada; 
Malone, N. Y. ; and many other places, have 
been answered through analyticals for the 
Blue Book maps. 

I will describe very briefly our arrange- 
ments for maps: 

1. Large ivaU maps, and smaller ones 
which are in constant use: Mounted on 
Hartshorne shade rollers and hung from 
shade roller brackets on a specially con- 
structed platform. Each map has a handle 
hung by wires a foot below the map's lower 
edge, and on the handle is plainly printed 
the name of the map. These make effective 
advertisements of the maps and also form 
a visible catalog of them. 

2. Vertical Map File: All small maps 
of temporary interest or value or maps that 
are used too seldom to warrant the ex- 
pense of mounting, are arranged as fol- 
lows: 

Each is mounted on a large sheet of pulp 
board, a cheap card board, and all are filed 
like cards in a catalog in a huge box. The 
name and character of each map are writ- 
ten on the top edge of its mount. 

Colored bands, pasted over the edges of 
the cards, are used as guides in keeping all 
in alphabetical order. 

3. Topographical Maps (U. S.) are 
mounted on smaller sheets of the same 
pulpboard and filed vertically on shelves 
divided into small compartments. They 
are classified by states and under each 
state alphabetically by quadrangles. The 
government checklist thus becomes a 
catalog of them. 

4. Rural Belivery County Maps: Nearly 
1,000 have been published to date, cover- 
ing nearly a third of the United States. 
While their topographic information is 



meager, they cover large areas not y«t 
mapped by the U. S. Geological Survey, 
and information given by them, and not 
found elsewhere, makes them very valu- 
able. For example, they give names of 
roads, railroads and trolley lines; locations 
of schools, churches, institutions, etc., and, 
frequently, names of farmers. They cost 
20 cents each, and are not given to public 
libraries. 

We paste these maps to the edge of cloth 
strips which hang from pieces of sheet 
metal folded over steel rods. The rods are 
all of equal length and their ends rest on 
the edges of a large box, while the maps 
suspended from them hang down in the 
box. This method we adopted to save 
space and still preserve the vertical filing, 
and is suitable only for maps on tough 
paper and where some degree of fixed loca- 
tion does not harm. From one to four maps 
may be hung on a single rod, depending on 
the completeness of the alphabetical 
sequence. The official Postal Guide is the 
index of the collection. Questions of this 
kind can be answered by these maps: 

Is there a schoolhouse near Pealiquor 
Landing, Md.? 

Is there a deer-preserve near Leather- 
corner Post Office, Pa.? 

How far from New Castle, Pa., is Coal 
Centre School? 

How far from the Wampum Road is Irish 
Ripple, Lawrence Co., Pa.? 

Storing and lending maps 

1. Large Roller Maps: Older and less 
used maps of this kind, including also many 
which are lent, are tightly rolled about the 
bottom stick, tied with tapes, and num- 
bered on a large round Dennison label 
pasted on each. A screw eye is fastened 
into one end of the stick, and all is hung 
from a screw hook in an overhead platform. 
Tliis method saves not only much storage 
room, but makes every map immediately 
available. 

2. Dissected Maps: Since the beginning 
of the current year many maps have been 
prepared for lending by dissection. They 
are cut into sections of convenient size and 



WINSER 



247 



mounted on cloth by an expert. Grommets 
are put In the top margins for convenience 
in handling. They are then folded, as per 
the dissection size, and a stout card is 
pasted over each outside fold, as a cover. 

3. Maps Mounted on Pulp Board or 
Compo Board: We mounted about 50 maps 
on pulp board or compo board, with edge 
bound and top corners fitted with grom- 
mets. This method we abandoned. The 
maps were of awkward size to carry, or 
even deliver by wagon, and were frequently 
damaged and in need of repair. 

4. Unmounted Maps. No money is spent 
on maps little used, like those taken from 
atlases, books, directories or obtained by 
gift. They are folded and then placed in 
envelopes of convenient size (17% inches 
by 13 inches), made of Rugby paper, witla 
wide flap on the long side. The name of 
the map, corresponding in form to the 
catalog entry, is written on the upper right 
corner of this envelope. The envelopes 
are kept in alphabetical order by legend, in 
an appropriate box. Maps are lent in the 
envelopes and required to be returned in 
them. With maps of unusually light weight 
a sheet of pulp board is kept in the envelope 
to prevent folding or creasing. 

Rules for cataloging maps 

1. Main or Author Entry: The main 
entry is the subject entry. It should be 
as brief as possible and still be descriptive, 
— as "Asia," "California, — Land Office," 
"New York (city) — Geology, historical." 
This entry is written on the card in the 
position of an author entry, first line, 1 cm. 
from left edge. On the maps it appears 
with the year of publication. 

2. Year of PubJication: Placed on line 
with and as part of subject. If copyright 
date only is given, or it date is known but 
does not appear on face of map, date is 
put in brackets. If unknown, "n.d." is 
written in its place. 

3. Title Entry: This corresponds to the 
title entry on a main author card. It is 
Indented 2 cm.; the second line also Is in- 
dented 2 cm. The title entry gives all the 
inscription on the face of the map, includ- 



ing the publisher's name if this is used as a 
possessive, as in "Rand McNally and Go's, 
map of Asia." In this case the name of 
the publisher is repeated in the publisher's 
entry. 

4. Description: Any added information 
descriptive of the map Is added directly 
below the title entry. Often the subject is 
description enough, as, "California — Land 
Office," Land OflSce maps being all alike and 
well known. 

5. Author: The author or designer of 
the map is often given. It follows the title 
entry (as amplified by description) on the 
main entry card. 

6. Scale: The unit or natural scale is 
given first, then the scale in miles to the 
inch. Meter scale is not given unless no 
other is mentioned. If no scale is indi- 
cated, "no scale" is written. 

7. Publisher, etc.: Information concern- 
ing imprint is given next. The order of 
arrangement is: place, publisher, date, 
price (or cost). Information of this kind, 
known but not brought out in the inscrip- 
tion, as in the case of maps taken from 
atlases, is enclosed in brackets. 

All the foregoing is written as one para- 
graph. 

8. Dimensions: Dimensions are given 
in inches or parts of inches to the nearest 
half inch; width or horizontal dimension 
first. Measurements are made from the 
innermost border of the map face, i. e, 
where the parallels of latitude or longi- 
tude end, or where the lines of configura- 
tion end. Dimensions are written at right 
of line following information concerning 
imprint, etc. 

9. Insets: If of no special importance, 
insets are merely listed. Brief title only; 
not cataloged. Cross references are made, 
however, to main card. If important and 
not covered by another map, size, scale, and 
information are given. Cross references 
are made. Indent 1 cm. Dimensions, scale, 
and information follow. 

10. Location: The place where the 
mounted or folded map is to be temporarily 
located is pencilled in the upper left corner 
above subject line. 



24S 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



11. Copies: The number of copies ol 
the map Is pencilled in upper left hand 
corner, below the subject line. 

12. Cross References : Only title of main 
author entry and date are given. Indent 
2 cm. "See" is written on subject line 1 
cm. from subject heading of reference. Title 
is written on line below. If an inset, 
"inset" is written after title entry. 

13. Place of Publication: See Publisher, 
etc. 

14. Date of Publication: See Publisher, 
etc. 

15. Price or Cost: See Publisher, etc. 

I have indicated only a few of the kinds 
of maps acquired and of the methods em- 
ployed in handling them, to show how 
simple a matter it is to make maps avail- 
able at small cost. 

A trustee, of a library which shall be 
nameless, admired a large map of Northern 
New Jersey, displayed at our business 



branch In the simple and inexpensive man- 
ner we use. He expressed the wish that 
his library could afford it, — it costs less 
than $10. Later he told of buying a charg- 
ing desk for $125;— -and his library's total 
yearly appropriation is only $5,000! 

I have not gone into details of cost or 
construction in this brief statement, as all 
these, and of course many others upon 
which I have not touched, are covered by 
the pamphlet in the Modern American 
Library Economy Series called "Maps, 
atlases and geographical publications." I 
do not hesitate to mention this pamphlet, 
because it so completely covers the ground. 
It is especially useful to the librarian who 
has been afraid to put money into maps 
because of the cost of their care. It de- 
scribes how one library has begun to solve 
that bugbear of all librarians, the map 
question, and gives its experience to those 
who are still grappling with the problem. 



BOOK WAGON DELIVERY 



By Maby L. Hopkins. Librarian, Seaford, Del. 



The book wagon made its appearance in 
Delaware in the spring of 1912. The State 
Library Commission had abundant reason 
for desiring to reach and help a large part 
of the rural population, as you would agree 
could you have read the answers to a 
questionnaire sent out to the pupils of the 
rural schools. Here were the books so full 
of information and inspiration, and there 
were the children and grown-ups who 
needed them but between the two there 
was a great gulf. The book wagon has 
bridged the chasm. 

The writer of this paper was asked to 
test the plan in her county because the 
need seemed greatest there. The result 
was gratifying and the work, extended to 
the other counties, has become permanent, 
at least until some better plan is evolved. 

The results are of course partial and 
temporary, for the reason that there is but 



one book wagon in each county; and Sus- 
sex County, the field of my labor, has 964 
square miles. 

To aid in the extension of the work, it 
has been the plan to seek the cooperation of 
the rural school-teachers in placing libra- 
ries in their schools for the winter, after 
the book wagon has visited these districts 
through the spring, summer, and fall. 

The work has been altogether interest- 
ing. After four years in it, I look forward 
with increasing pleasure to my trips over 
the various routes and to my association 
with the folks on the farms. 

A professor from one of our state agri- 
cultural colleges visited our county recent- 
ly. He said it was the spottiest section he 
had ever seen; that it contained some of 
the richest soil and some of the poorest in 
our country. It is just as true of mental 
culture. I visit homes from which eons 



HOPKINS 



24S 



and daughters have gone out to fill chairs 
in our best schools, while in the very next 
home neither parent can read. 

This latter class Is composed generally 
of tenants who form a large proportion of 
the rural population in some sections where 
large farms and non-resident owners are 
the rule. These tenants move from farm 
to farm, never staying long enough for the 
children to receive much benefit from the 
schools. Few of them attend the rural 
church and Sunday school; indeed in these 
sections, the Sunday school is almost a fig- 
ment of the imagination, for they are 
closed in winter because of the cold and in 
summer for the campmeetings. 

It always pleases me to see the boys and 
girls, at the sound of the book wagon, 
raise their heads from work or stop their 
play, give an instant's look to be sure, then 
run to the house crying, "The book-woman 
is coming." 

I most enjoy the work with the chil- 
dren. The mothers on all the routes tell 
how the little folks have read, or had read 
to them, the same book over and over 
again, and between ourselves, the mothers 
like these books quite as well as the chil- 
dren. 

I hardly know when they find time to 
read during the busy months of the book 
wagon season, but they do, for I loan an 
average of one hundred books a day. The 
boys and some of the men read at the noon 
hour. One woman said that she read an 
hour after the other members of the family 
had retired; she was too tired to sleep and 
reading rested her. 

I have two routes on which I use a car, 
each requiring a day from seven until six. 
On one I visit and loan books in sixty- 
seven families, on the other, seventy-four. 
A third route passes through a section 
where the roads are quite sandy, too heavy 
in portions for even the Ford. On this 
route, forty-eight miles long, I use a horse 
and carriage and it takes three days to do 
the work. But I like it best of all, for 
being alone I feel that I get closer to the 
people and I take more time at each farm- 
house. The noon hour, while the horse Is 



eating his dinner and I am enjoying my 
lunch (I commend the work to the dyspep- 
tic), and the nights on the farm, help in 
getting the rural viewpoint, particularly in 
regard to early rising when the hour of 
six-thirty finds the book wagon well on its 
way. 

When I begin the work in April, I do 
not know where I shall spend the second 
night and although I do not feel the same 
anxiety that I did the first year, I am al- 
ways glad when at the end of the day, some 
hospitable farm-house is willing to add to 
its labors by sheltering the book wagon 
and its driver. 

Next to the pleasure of helping the chil- 
dren is that of serving the old folks. I 
have in mind a dear old lady, the children 
married and gone and herself sad over the 
death of the youngest, when I came along 
and introduced her to Rebecca of Sunny- 
brook Farm. At my second visit she said, 
"I did not neglect my husband, as you said 
I might, but I am afraid that I have neg- 
lected my Bible." 

You may be interested to learn what they 
read. The children have a decided prefer- 
ence for fairy tales and some of the older 
ones have not outgrown it. Such books as 
"When mother lets us garden," "A little 
garden calendar" and any nature books in 
which the forces of nature are not personi- 
fied are drugs on the market. The state- 
ment of other rural librarians that the 
rural reader prefers stories about city life 
has been verified in my experience. The 
unfamiliar is always interesting. 

The boys and younger men prefer ad- 
venture and humorous literature. "Give 
me a wild west story," or "Haven't you a 
jokey book?" are frequent requests. So 
seldom does "A young man's fancy lightly 
turn to thoughts of love" that I have begun 
to look upon such an one as almost ab- 
normal. Neither does the college story 
with the baseball or football hero appeal 
to them. Napoleon fails to interest but 
Lincoln is always enjoyed. A young wife 
said to me recently on returning Morgan's 
Lincoln, "My husband read it through 
twice." 



2S0 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



The young girls are very decided in their 
preference for sentimental books but Miss 
Alcott, Mrs. Wiggin, Bliss Montgomery, 
Eleanor Porter and other writers of good 
wholesome literature are displacing other 
writers of little merit. The farmer prefers 
the agricultural paper to the book. A 
notable exception is the foreigner who 
comes from another country or only from 
another state. Most of these former are 
German. No sentiment for him, science 
first, last and all the time. 

There are many of both sexes who have 
formed the reading habit. I have been able 
to interest some of the women in domestic 



science books, but their general attitude 
toward that class of literature is indicated 
in the reply of one woman who said she 
had enough of work without reading 
about It. 

In this little string of commonplace ex- 
periences the thing which redeems them 
is the faith of those who send out the book 
wagon which is expressed in this little 
verse: 

"Never yet. 
Share of truth was vainly set 
In the world's wide fallow; 
Other hands may sow the seed. 
Other hands, from hill and mead, 
Reap the harvest yellow." 



LIBRARY INSTITUTES IN NEW YORK 
By Asa Wynkoop, Bead of Public Libraries Section, New York State Library 



The system of local library institutes, as 
developed in New York State, is based on 
the same theory as underlies all associated 
effort in the library field, that progress is 
mainly the outcome of association and co- 
operation on the part of library workers. 
The degree to which libraries share in each 
other's ideas and achievements is the de- 
gree of their individual and collective ef- 
ficiency. The date when a library is first 
represented at a library meeting is often 
as important for it as the date of Its found- 
ing. Isolation for a library is starvation, 
self-sufficiency is death. 

One of the first problems, therefore, in 
the working out of any successful state 
program for library development is obvi- 
ously that of bringing the scattered, unre- 
lated libraries and library workers of the 
state Into some degree of fellowship and 
unity. Toward the accomplishment of this 
end, nearly all the progressive states have 
organized state library associations, with 
annual conferences lasting from a day to 
a whole week. New York was the first of 
the states to organize such an association, 
and its annual meeting in September, 
known as "library week," has come to as- 
sume a place in the library world second 



only to that of the American Library Asso- 
ciation. 

At the meeting of 1900 at Lake Placid, 
where with an attendance never before ap- 
proached, numbering 115, and with a con- 
sciousness of assured success, the Associa- 
tion voted to make permanent its annual 
observance of "library week." There were 
a few at the meeting, with eyes fixed on the 
state as a whole, who were not quite satis- 
fied with the kind of success represented 
at this meeting. Among these were Mr. 
W. R. Eastman, the state library inspector, 
Mr. A. L. Peck of Gloversville, Dr. Canfleld 
of Columbia University, and Mrs. Elmen- 
dorf of Buffalo, all of whom were concerned 
more with the strengthening of the weak 
and needy than with the enrichment of the 
strong and prosperous. They made a care- 
ful analysis of the attendance at the meet- 
ing, brought out the surprising fact that 
out of a total of 175 free libraries then ex- 
isting in the state, only 15 were repre- 
sented at this meeting and only two with 
less than 4,000 volumes, and presented a 
strong resolution emphasizing the duty 
owed by the Association to the many small 
libraries which never had been and never 
could be reached by a central state meet- 



WYNKOOP 



asi 



Ing, and calling for the organization each 
year of not less than ten local meetings 
covering every section of the state, to do 
for the small, weak and scattered libraries 
something of what "library week" was do- 
ing for the larger ones. The resolution, 
presented by Mr. Eastman, was cordially 
supported by most of those prominent in 
the Association, and on formal vote was 
enthusiastically adopted, and tlius the sys- 
tem of library institutes in New York State 
was born. A committee was appointed to 
report on a practical scheme of work at the 
next annual meeting. Such a plan was 
carefully worked out during the year, and 
at the meeting of 1901, was adopted, to be 
put into effect in the following spring. To 
show its faith and deep interest in the en- 
terprise, the Association voted from Its 
scanty funds, $125 for meeting expenses. 

The work began with tlie division of the 
state into eight library districts, each with 
Its central meeting place, the districts being 
so constituted as to reduce so far as pos- 
sible the average distance between the li- 
braries and this library center. Each of 
the meetings consisted of three sessions, 
covering the afternoon and evening of one 
day and the forenoon of the next. The 
day sessions were designed to be mainly 
instructional and were for the benefit of 
those engaged directly in library work. 
The evening sessions were termed "inspira- 
tional," consisting of one or two more or 
less formal addresses on the general scope 
and function of the library, and to these, 
all local friends and patrons of the library 
were invited. A general program and out- 
line for all the meetings was prepared and 
printed in advance, and two members of 
the state committee were in charge of each 
meeting, so that, except in respect to the 
public sessions, the meetings were almost 
duplicates of one another. 

At the eight institutes of the series there 
was a total attendance of 299 at day ses- 
sions, 735 at evening sessions, and 110 dif- 
ferent libraries were represented. Thus 
in a single year of tliis work more libra- 
ries were reached and helped and more li- 
brary workers brought into associated ef- 



fort than in the entire previous decade of 
the association's existence. On receiving 
the report at the 1902 meeting, the Associ- 
ation expressed Its mind and purpose re- 
garding this work in the following reso- 
lution: "That inasmuch as the holding of 
institutes is the most definite and import- 
ant work of this association, the funds in 
its treasury should, in large measure be 
held for the benefit of this work." 

With very little modification either in 
the plan or in the personnel of the com- 
mittee in charge, the work as thus in- 
stituted, was carried on for four years. 
Attempts were also made, with some suc- 
cess, to organize into district clubs the 
more active local workers in the different 
institute groups and to put upon these 
clubs an increasing degree of responsibility 
in the organization and conduct of the 
meetings. No one can estimate the amount 
of good done the library cause in these four 
years of pioneer institute work. 

With all the eloquence, energy and ability 
that were put into the work, hardly more 
than a quarter of the libraries on the com- 
mittee's list and to which invitations were 
regularly sent, could be induced to par- 
ticipate in the meetings, and from the first 
to the fourth series of institutes there was 
an actual and material decline in the num- 
ber of libraries represented. 

When these facts were presented to it in 
the annual conference of 1905, the Asso- 
ciation was as firm as ever in its conviction 
that the work in some form must be con- 
tinued, and that if it had erred at all in 
its attempts to bring the benefits of asso- 
ciated effort to the smaller libraries of the 
state, it had erred only in not going far 
enough in its approach to these libraries 
and in not beginning in a sufficiently sim- 
ple and elementary way. After careful con- 
sideration It was, therefore, unanimously 
decided at this meeting to adopt a plan pro- 
posed by the Committee of increasing the 
number of districts and meetings from 
eight to thirty, of thus bringing a meeting 
each year near to the doors of each library ; 
and further to popularize the movement, 
to let the libraries of each group select 



252 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



themselves the topics which should be dis- 
cussed at the meeting. For the word "in- 
stitute" the term "round table" was sub- 
stituted and all attempts at systematic or 
formal instruction were laid aside. The 
whole emphasis was placed on the one idea 
of drawing the libraries out of their isola- 
tion, of bringing them into touch and ac- 
quaintance with one another and so of fos- 
tering a sense of unity and common inter- 
est. 

In this design the new plan showed itself 
immediately to be a distinct success. In 
the first year of its adoption the number 
of libraries registered at the meetings in- 
creased from 93 to 194, a large proportion 
of these being very small libraries which 
had never before been in attendance at 
any library meeting. This plan was con- 
tinued with slight modification and with 
growing popularity for eight years, the 
register showing in 1913 that no less than 
433 libraries of the State had had a share 
in the meetings of that year. 

But with all its success in the funda- 
mental thing of bringing libraries together, 
the plan had decided disadvantages which 
year by year became more and more evi- 
dent. With no fixed or comprehensive pro- 
gram, with the topics chosen each year by 
vote of those attending, there could be no 
consistency or definite progress in the dis- 
cussions. The Committee, while never in 
doubt on this point, concluded at the end 
of the 1913 series of meetings, that the 
time had come for the adoption of a more 
serious systematic and logical plan of 
work. Having developed among the libra- 
ries in so large a degree the habit of asso- 
ciation, it was now hoped to put into prac- 
tice some of the more ambitious and con- 
structive ideas with which the work had 
first started. With the expressed approval 
of the Association, the Committee worked 
out such a plan in the winter of 1914, to 
comprise a continuous and consecutive 
course of work to cover four years, the 
program each year to be devoted to a par- 
ticular field of library economy, the whole 
course to include in an elementary way, 
the entire problem of the small library. 



The plan was put into effect with the meet- 
ings of 1914. With such a fixed and formal 
program, removing at once from the libra- 
ries their privilege of choosing for the 
meetings such random topics as they might 
prefer, it was fully expected that some of 
the popularity which the meetings had at- 
tained under the former plan, would be 
lost. 

This plan has now been in operation for 
three years, and the results are interesting. 
The first year of the new plan, owing to 
some financial uncertainties that the Com- 
mittee had to take into account, the num- 
ber of meetings was cut down from 30 to 
20, furnishing a strong additional reason 
for expecting a falling off in library at- 
tendance. But the libraries proved them- 
selves more serious in this matter than 
the committee had dared to hope, showing 
a remarkable change in their attitude since 
the first plan for instructional institutes 
was given up in 1905; and when the re- 
ports for the twenty meetings came in, 
they showed that in average attendance, 
both of libraries and individuals, they had 
broken all records, and that in total attend- 
ance, the 20 meetings under the course plan 
had brought more libraries together than 
any 30 meetings under the former plan, 
except for one year. In 1915, the second 
year in the course plan, meetings were held 
in 31 centers, with a total representation 
of 535 libraries or districts, 112 more than 
had ever before been registered; and this 
year, in the series of meetings completed 
on June second, consisting of 27 institutes, 
there was a representation of 568 libraries 
or districts and an attendance at day ses- 
sions alone of 1,248 persons. 

The total advance then, in figures of at- 
tendance, since the work began fourteen 
years ago, is from 108 to 568 in the number 
of libraries participating, and from 299 to 
1,248 in the number of library workers or 
patrons sharing in the benefits of the meet- 
ings — figures testifying eloquently, both to 
the notable increase in libraries during 
this period, but more specifically to a 
growth in professional interest and esprit 
de corps, which are the best guarantee of 



WYNKOOP 



253 



their growth In efficiency and public 
service. 

From the first, although initiated, di- 
rected and sustained by the State Library 
Association, it has been made possible only 
through the close cooperation and support 
of the library department of the state. A 
member of that department has always 
been the administrating member of the in- 
stitute committee and upon him has de- 
volved the larger share of the work. On 
the same ground, the state bears a large 
part of the other expenses of institutes, 
such as cost of printing, postage and travel- 
ing expenses of such state officials as help 
at the meetings. Altogether it is a fair 
estimate that the State expends the equiva- 
lent of $500 a year on this work, while the 
Association itself appropriates from $150 
to $200 toward it. 

The Committee plans in all cases to give 
each institute group as much of initiative 
and responsibility as it will and can as- 
sume. In a few of the districts, where 
there are permanent library clubs, the 
meetings are put in charge of these clubs, 
and the state committee does little beyond 
providing the program, outlines and refer- 
ences and forms of announcement and in- 
vitation. The same Is true in a few other 
centers where there is an especially strong 
library with a recognized and gladly ac- 
cepted position of leadership in the district. 
In point of attendance and sustained in- 
terest, the meetings in these centers are 
unquestionably the most successful. But 
the need is certainly greater in the less 
favored districts and it is to these that the 
Committee gives the greater part of its ef- 
fort and attention. In such districts, prac- 
tically all the work and responsibility for 
organizing, securing attendance and con- 
ducting is assumed by the Committee, the 
local library being asked merely to provide 
a suitable place for meeting and a spirit 
of cordiality and welcome. 

The first work of the committee each 
year is to decide how many meetings shall 
be held, to find the most suitable centers 
for these meetings that are available, to 
draw the boundaries for the several dis- 



tricts in such a way as to bring each li- 
brary into the district whose meeting place 
is most accessible to it and to make out a 
complete mailing list for each district. 
This is a work that has to be done over 
again each year, for it has been the policy 
of the committee to change somewhat each 
year about one-third of the places of meet- 
ing, which requires a change in boundaries 
and mailing lists, not only of these districts 
but of those adjoining them on either side. 
Then there is of course a constant develop- 
ment of new libraries to be included and 
constant changes in the personnel of old 
ones. In 1916 there were in the mailing 
lists 1,116 different libraries distributed 
among the 27 districts. One can easily 
understand how careful a study of maps, 
railroad routes and time-tables, state roads, 
omnibus routes and library records is 
needed, in the assignment of each library 
to its proper district and the selection of 
the particular person at each library in 
whose name and care the invitation is 
likely to prove most effective. 

The next task of the committee is to 
prepare the year's program. As the plan 
for a four years' consecutive course is now 
in force, the topic for each series of meet- 
ings has of course been prescribed; so the 
preparation of the program is now merely 
the analyzing of this topic into its simplest 
elements, the preparation of an outline em- 
phasizing and giving in detail its points 
of principal interest to the small library 
and the citing of references treating more 
fully of these points. The outline has now 
become one of the most distinguishing 
features of the meetings, being prepared 
with much care, printed and distributed in 
advance to all on the mailing list, and de- 
signed to serve not only as an aid to the 
meeting but as a permanent guide and help 
to libraries in the treatment of the ques- 
tions under consideration. The references 
are mainly to articles which have appeared 
in "New York Libraries," a file of which 
is supposed to be on hand at each library, 
though numerous references are also made 
to standard library textbooks and periodic- 



254 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



als. This outline is regularly printed In 
the May issue of "New York Lihrarles," so 
it Is permanently available for reference. 

The final and most important task of 
the committee is to find and assign to the 
various districts, the most helpful and in- 
spiring conductors and contributors that 
can be secured from the library workers 
of the State. In this task the committee 
has had from the beginning the most de- 
lightful experience. From 60 to 75 per- 
sons are now needed each year to insure 
for all the meetings the desired freshness, 
variety and interest in the carrying out of 
the program. Almost without exception 
the leading library workers of the State 
best fitted for this task and selected as 



first choice by the committee, have freely 
volunteered their service at the commit- 
tee's call. Practically the only limitation 
on the amount of library talent to be pro- 
vided for the different meetings has been 
in the amount of funds available for travel- 
ing expenses. Were these institutes 
notable for nothing else, they would be 
worthy of commendation and would prove 
highly profitable for the State, merely for 
the large amount of purely altruistic li- 
brary service whicla they have called out 
and made available for general library 
stimulus and progress. They have been 
the agency for the mobilization and prac- 
tical utilization for the good of all, of the 
best library talent of the state. 



LIBRARY AND SCHOOL COOPERATION IN UTAH 
By Maby E. Downey, Library Secretary, Utah Department of Public Instruction 



On going to Utah I found the state li- 
brary work affiliated with the state Depart- 
ment of Education instead of the State Li- 
brary to which I had been accustomed. I 
am sometimes asked whether this associa- 
tion is an advantage or otherwise. At pres- 
ent it is a distinct advantage in Utah as 
it places the whole army of teachers behind 
it. The cooperation is all that one could 
desire and it is wonderful what can be 
done in the library movement of a state 
when all the school people are back of it. 
This connection with the state Department 
of Education lias brought about such co- 
operation between the libraries and schools 
as I have not seen possible in states where 
the work of the two departments is sepa- 
rate. In fact, in addition to increasing the 
eflBciency of libraries already established, 
and starting new ones, which is usually 
considered the work of an organizer, it 
would seem to add a third feature of equal 
importance, that is the supervision of the 
school libraries of the state. 

We have usually been led to believe that 
library and school cooperation is almost 
wholly a one-sided affair — in favor of the 



library. But in Utah I find the school 
people in every case ready to welcome 
whatever can be brought about. Where 
we have any conservatism at all, it is on 
the part of the librarian and board, which 
also is rare. 

The schools till recently have followed 
the old time method of haphazard purchase 
and use of books with little idea of the 
real purpose of a school library. A few 
books, called a library, could be found in 
most schools. The books were usually for 
adults, seldom selected to suit the grades 
or the individual child. But Utah is com- 
ing to be proud of her public school system, 
and is learning that no state can have first- 
class schools without good libraries to sup- 
plement them. 

Wherever there is a public library, we 
are advocating that these books and any 
school funds for books be turned over to 
it. Then we urge that a school census be 
made by grade and that sufiicient books be 
provided to distribute to each teacher as 
many as she has pupils and suited to their 
grade. The books are all returned to the 
public library for summer vacation use. 



DOWNEY 



255 



The library thus Increases Its services to 
the children many times, for no librarian or 
group ot children's librarians can possibly 
do for the children of a whole community 
what the teacher can do for her group of 
thirty or forty children of the same grade 
with whom she works every day. 

Why is it that teachers in the high 
school, academy, college and university tell 
us that the average child comes to his 
higher studies of history, language, and 
the classics with no background of general 
reading? 

What will happen if we teach a boy 
manual training and then give him no tools 
or material with wliich to work? Or a 
girl domestic science and give her no 
kitchen utensils or other things to make 
an attractive home? That is just what is 
happening to our boys and girls in learn- 
ing to read and it is probably the greatest 
fault of our public school system today. 
We are spending great amounts of money 
for public school education, primarily to 
teach people to read and then give them 
nothing to read. 

Do we realize that the masses of our 
children, all over this country, are going 
through the public schools, yes, even 
through the colleges and universities with- 
out learning how to read? I do not speak 
of learning to read from the philological 
standpoint, but from that of getting the 
reading habit. 

Nor has it yet been possible to have a 
generation of reading teachers. Ask the 
following questions at our county teachers' 
institutes and see the results. "How many 
of you in your preparation for teaching 
had the use of a good public library?" 
"How many of you now in your teaching 
have the use of a good public library?" 
The answer is not at all common to any 
one state, but the point is, we can work 
together to bring about a generation of 
reading-teachers from the children now 
coming through our public schools. 

School boards and superintendents in 
Utah are cooperating with us in a state- 
wide campaign for a book to a child, suited 
to his grade, in every school-room. Where 



there are no tax supported libraries the 
books are being distributed from the super- • 
intendent's office. So strongly is this move- 
ment taking hold that the measure of a 
school-board member, superintendent, prin- 
cipal, teacher, library board member, or 
librarian, is his ability to accomplish this 
result in his community. 

By the time the child reaches the fifth 
grade, the plan is to so have the parent, 
teacher, and librarian working together as 
to assure his reading habit. A record is 
to be kept by author, title and date of 
books read. This means that the children 
now coming through the public schools will 
be a generation of readers. Members of 
the committee now working on the new 
course of study for the public schools have 
assured me that every child will be re- 
quired to have read one hundred books to 
finish junior high school and two hundred 
for graduation from senior high school. 
There will then be no chance whatever for 
school boards to evade the fifteen-cent law, 
or to divert the book fund, as the books 
must be supplied, to enable the children 
to meet the requirements of the state 
course of study. 

It is so planned to supply the public 
school system with books that the child 
may be shown that each study is merely a 
suggestion of the store-house of knowledge, 
and that the end of his public school course 
may be the beginning of freedom of mind, 
capable of guiding itself through the maze 
of books. 

Another stimulus to this movement is 
the library established in the state Depart- 
ment of Education. A beautifully equipped 
room has been set apart for a library in the 
offices in the new capitol. This library is 
as near model as it is possible to make it. 
A section is set apart for each grade, first 
to sixth inclusive, two for the junior high, 
two for senior high and four for the teach- 
ers' professional collection. The library 
is also practically used by the school people 
over the state, the books being sent and 
returned by parcel post. 

The university and public libraries are 
also very generous in sending books to 



266 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



schools and individuals over the state who 
pay transportation. 

A series of addresses relating directly to 
library -work and reading has been given 
before a number of county teachers' in- 
stitutes. The results are: stimulus to the 
use of the local library by the teachers of 
the county as well as the town where the 
meeting is held; encouraging the teachers 
to create the reading habit in children 
through the grades; interest toward devel- 
oping a library in towns and counties hav- 
ing none; such cooperation between the li- 
braries and the schools as will bring about 
an intelligent use of the technical and ref- 
erence helps of libraries throughout the 
state. 

Addresses have been given also before 
many parent-teachers associations over the 
state and before the normal school students 
of the University of Utah. 

Both school and library people like to 
have state approval of books for purchase. 
So lists are provided as fast as they have 
money to buy. A list of about sixty books 
for each grade was made for the schools 
which will be revised from year to year. 

State traveling libraries are not prac- 
ticable on account of long distances from 
the railroad and great cost of transporta- 
tion. County traveling libraries, however, 
would be the ideal thing, with a library at 
the county seat, and traveling libraries go- 
ing to every school and community center. 
The condition is different from the east 
and tlie middle west in that there is al- 
most no isolated farm life. People live in 
community centers and go out to the 
ranches and mines. So the problem re- 
solves itself into every town wanting its 
own individual library. 

A state-wide campaign is also being in- 
augurated through the' schools, libraries, 
and parents' organizations, teaching care 
and respect for books. The annual loss 
from some of the libraries is entirely too 
great. Experienced school people say, too, 
that the wear and tear of textbooks is far 
more rapid than it should be. To help meet 
this, and also because of the binding prob- 
lem, we are recommending the purchase of 



children's books in re-inforced bindings as 
far as possible. While they cost a little 
more in the beginning, they can be used 
several times as long and seldom need re- 
binding, which really makes them cheaper 
in the end. 

Another great need being met as fast 
as facilities become adequate is teaching 
people how to use the library. The classi- 
fication, catalog, and periodical indexes in 
our libraries are as a, b, c, and 1, 2, 3, and 
yet to the masses of people, are a closed 
door. No child today should go through 
the public schools, even through the eighth 
grade, without these things being made 
clear to him. All these things should be 
systematically taught in our public schools 
in order to have the library accomplish 
what it should. 

Again, in addition to branch buildings 
some of the school people of our cities, in 
line with the "Back to the schoolhouse 
movement" are asking that public library 
branches be provided in their school build- 
ings. It is especially easy to make pro- 
vision for a library with an outside en- 
trance on the floor of new buildings. Such 
a library with its children's, reference and 
reading rooms, provided with wall shelving, 
open in the afternoon, after school, and in 
the evening, for the use of the whole com- 
munity, would give more value for money 
invested in school buildings and make 
many a dark schoolhouse a source of 
greater light. Why not? The school build- 
ings are so located as to cover every part 
of the city so that a library placed in each 
building at a distance from the main li- 
brary would make books available to all 
the people. Every family, or its neighbors, 
has children going to the public schools 
who may act as messengers, carrying books 
to and from the library and home. Under 
this plan the school board would provide 
rooms and furnishings, heat and light, for 
the library in the school buildings, while 
the library board provides the books and 
attendants. Such a plan would bring about 
the millennium so far as library and school 
cooperation in the city is concerned. 

Our states are spending great amounts 



257 



ot money for education. In fact, they boast 
that the greater part of the tax Is expend- 
ed for public education, primarily to teach 
people to read. Again, I repeat, is It ever 



wise to create a demand that la not sup- 
plied? The school without its efficient li- 
brary laboratory is like "Hamlet" with 
Hamlet left out. 



THE IMMIGRANT, THE SCHOOL AND THE LIBRARY 

Bt Albert Shiels, Director, Division of Reference and Research, New York Board of 

Education 



The school and the library equally are 
conscious instruments of education. One 
emphasizes the agency of man directly, the 
other that of the books he writes. Yet 
the school has its books and the library has 
its teachers. Really the difference between 
the school and the library is not so signifi- 
cant as it may appear to be. 

Yet the school and the library must con- 
tinue to remain separate organizations. 
This does not mean that they should be 
isolated one from the other. Isolation 
means waste. Democracies are prolific in 
making new adjustments to meet new 
situations, but they permit unnecessary 
duplication. Business being under one 
head does not do these things, because, I 
suppose, business is not a democracy. The 
librarian and the school teacher will have 
to put two heads together, but they can 
have a single directing purpose. 

Wasteful duplication we find every- 
where; it is not confined to the library or 
to the school, but it is only with these we 
are immediately concerned. We all realize 
keenly enough that they ought to work 
one with another, so we utter the familiar 
cry for co-operation. We hear so much of 
co-operation at every convention and every 
council meeting! Everybody pays a verbal 
tribute to its value. Unfortunately much 
of the effort devoted to it, as to the realiza- 
tion of many excellent things, is exhausted 
in strenuous expressions of agreement. To 
plead for co-operation is as unnecessary as 
to plead for the Ten Commandments or the 
Declaration of Independence. Everyone 
believes in them, but not so many act on 
their belief. Faith we have — not works. 
My text is three-fold: The variation in 



types of immigration and its Implications 
for us; the relation of the library and 
school to the immigrant; the getting to- 
gether of library and school. Yet it is con- 
cerned with but a single subject^co-opera- 
tion. 

This requires a digression concerning the 
immigrant, for the immigrant holds the 
third place in the triangle. Of late he has 
been a somewhat popular subject at edu- 
cational meetings and at all sorts of public 
and private gatherings. Time was not long 
since when interest in the immigrant was 
a negative one. Publicly and privately he 
was disliked, suspected, abjured. At one 
time the antagonism was strong enough to 
make a party platform. The vocabulary of 
description was more forcible than elegant 
— "superstitious," "criminal," "ignorant," 
"dependent," "diseased," "foul," "dirty." 
Turn to the newspaper files before 1870 
and again about 1900, and contrast them 
with the amiable appreciations of to-day. 
For this change in attitude there are many 
causes. Let us he hopeful and assume that 
the greatest is a more enlightened sympa- 
thy and a more general Intelligence. 

Those of us whose business it is to work 
with the immigrant and not talk about him 
are aware that in this fortunate reaction 
there has been a little excessive emotion. 
The immigrant is discussed in rather 
hyperbolical terms; there is sometimes a 
flavor of saccharine sentimentality. Serious 
workers are interested in actual conditions. 
They find no profit in writing fanciful de- 
scriptions of peoples as miracles of in- 
tellect or artistry. When one is seeking 
for facts It is a bit wearisome to be regaled 
with stories of the great brown eyes of 



268 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



poetic GluseppeB, of little Ivans who weave 
impossible tales, of Infant Solomons who 
quaff daily drafts of Tolstoi, Nietzsclie and 
Herbert Spencer. 

The foreigner is not made up of such 
extraordinary types, young or old. He is 
much like ourselves. There are some who 
are very good, some quite indifferent, and 
some who are most unpleasant. Lil?e us 
the foreigner loves and hates. He is some- 
times industrious and sometimes lazy. Let 
us conceive him as an ordinary human be- 
ing to whom we have something to give 
and who has something to give us. We 
should understand and sympathize, not 
abuse, nor flatter, nor patronize. 

In some respects, however, the twentieth 
century immigrant may be distinguished 
from such of our ancestors as were immi- 
grants of the seventeenth and eighteenth 
centuries. He does not icnow English, or 
he knows it imperfectly. He is very apt to 
foregather with his own people — a very 
natural tendency. He is told to respect our 
institutions and to obey our laws, and he 
does this, on the whole, very well, though 
he has some opinions of his own concerning 
them. Surely he must sometimes be 
puzzled when he sees dislionest notaries 
licensed, dangerous and unhealthful build- 
ings permitted to stand, and private banks 
allowed to represent themselves as insti- 
tutions of the state until the loss of his 
savings shows the immigrant depositor the 
difference. If hailed to court he observes 
that the official court interpreter may not 
understand his language, although that 
may not prevent the latter translating 
fluently. Our contradictions of profession 
and practice confuse him. What wonder! 
They confuse us sometimes. He is promised 
a good job by an office licensed by the 
state, and when he is dodging stones or 
bullets, learns for the first time he is a 
strike breaker. Later on, when he is with 
us longer, he may do some stoning on his 
own account. 

No, every immigrant is not a Columbus, 
or a Beethoven, or a Kant, but usually a 
plain man who has had some very hard 
knocks, knows too well what work and pri- 



vation mean, and comes here and remains 
here because he is able to market his labor 
as we are able to use It. 

But the possession of these common quali- 
ties should not permit us to forget the 
greater differences. When the immigrant 
is considered neither with hyst*lcal 
sentiment nor blind prejudice, so that he 
can be dealt with as an individual, we 
realize that each of the differences in type 
requires its own method of approach. We 
shall not deal with all immigrants in one 
way; instead our judgment will be selec- 
tive. Not one school or one book or one 
method for immigrants, therefore, but a 
variety of schools and classes, books and 
methods each adapted to the class or group 
to whom they apply. 

In making individual adjustments for 
the immigrant, the library has been more 
successful than the school. To begin 
with, the reader in the library chooses his 
own books, and reads after his own fashion. 
He may receive suggestions, but he is not 
oppressed by direction. Then again the 
library is devising new methods for dif- 
ferent classes. Besides provision for the 
usual class of readers who know what they 
want, libraries like those of Providence, 
St. Louis and Chicago have special refer- 
ence shelves of foreign books, and room for 
foreign periodicals. This suits the brows- 
ing and uncertain reader. In Buffalo, they 
find the reference shelf insufficient and 
they print and issue special manuals for 
certain groups. Here is a class of immi- 
grants that needs to be brought in and the 
library goes out after it. The opening of 
the lecture room for foreign groups shows 
that the library can take a school sugges- 
tion. The lecture crowd and the library 
crowd are often not the same. When a 
librarian utilizes the knowledge of the most 
intelligent and best educated persons in a 
foreign group so as to get a really fine 
bibliography, as Miss Campbell did in 
Passaic, you have an excellent example of 
selective adjustment, the service here be- 
ing given by the immigrant. I really did 
not appreciate what a fine thing this was 
until a librarian explained to me that good 



259 



book lists are really rare — that a librarian's 
idea of Paradise is a golden typewriter, 
which under the guidance of an In- 
visible spirit of omniscience prints perfect 
bibliographies on any subject at command, 
and which corrects and renews them auto- 
matically through the years.* 

The special adjustments to the needs of 
individuals I have noted, do not represent 
all that the library has done for the immi- 
grant. The State Library Commission of 
Massachusetts has a special director whose 
function it is to devise better methods of 
reaching the immigrant through the li- 
brary. Our State Departments of Educa- 
tion might well consider the propriety of 
appointing a similar school officer, espe- 
cially for the immigrant in rural schools 
and camps. Again the libraries are paying 
a great deal of attention to an improved 
text for foreign readers — a subject con- 
cerning which our schools yet have much 
to learn. The original list of books for 
foreign groups usually included names of 
literary masterpieces in the foreign tongue. 
Later, books were introduced which -were 
written in the foreigners' own tongue, 
and which discussed American govern- 
ment, American history and civics, and in- 
dustrial opportunities. Other books have 
been issued in which both the foreign 
sentence and its translation into English 
are included. We also have some fairly 
good books written in simple English for 
those who have acquired some elementary 
command of the vernacular. We have yet 
to reach the perfect series that will com- 
bine simplicity of language, maturity of 
thought and attractiveness of style, but we 
are getting on. 

There is a great deal yet to be done if 
we are to extend library facilities and 
benefits to the foreigner. But already we 
owe the library a heavy debt. Since the 
library has done so much at least in spots, 
what remains to be done? The first thing 
is to capitalize its efforts up to date, so that 



•Miss Tracey of the library school of the 
New York Public library has prepared a very 
useful bibliography on the work of the 
library for the immigrant, which is appended 
to this report. 



it can yield better dividends to libraries 
that are poor because they suffer from a 
poverty of ideas. The second thing Is to 
get into closer touch with the schools. 

A committee of the Association that 
works tliroughout the year should act as a 
clearing house for exchange of views on 
current experiments. Every librarian in a 
town that lias a foreign population ought 
to know what every other librarian in 
similar towns is doing. Youngstown, 
Providence, Altoona and Cripple Creek may 
differ ever so greatly, yet, in relation to 
the immigrant, they have certain problems 
in common. Librarians may have tried 
out certain methods, or they may wish to 
initiate some new experiment. Prom what 
I have read and from such conversations 
and correspondence as I have been 
privileged to share, I feel very strongly 
that what we need is less the initiation of 
new library experiments for immigrants 
than the multiplication of existing experi- 
ments in places that have yet done little 
or nothing concerning this subject. 

Now, what of tlie other educational agent, 
the public schools? I have no disposition 
to criticize the schools, for this is my own 
field of labor. Moreover, I am well aware 
that in all the ocean of discussion on the 
immigrant and notwithstanding all the 
multiplication of foreign newspapers, of 
welfare associations, of philanthropic or- 
ganizations, the school and the library to- 
gether have made by far the greatest 
contribution to the problem of immigrant 
assimilation. But there is so much more 
for the schools to do! If we work together 
it will be so much better done. 

At present we are co-operating to some 
extent. The school sends its pupils to the 
library and the library sends its books to 
the school. In the day schools I could 
quote a great many examples of really en- 
thusiastic co-operation. I know, for 
example, of one place where at stated 
periods classes of pupils are assigned to a 
neighboring library just as they would be 
assigned to the shop, the kitchen or the 
playroom. The library receives them most 
hospitably. The children have most care- 



2«0 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



ful attention and the material given them, 
whether books or pictures, Is suggestive and 
abundant. Now, so tar as the children who 
attend the day schools are foreign born, 
or are living In homes that in language, 
point of view, habits of living, are really 
foreign, we might assume that the schools 
and the libraries are co-operating for the 
foreigner. But the assumption is un- 
sound. A child brought up in the public 
schools is not a foreigner in a sense that 
we use the word for adults. Therefore, 
while I rejoice in this co-operation, while 
I believe that library attendance should be 
part of every child's experience, while I 
believe it is even more necessary to put 
children into libraries than to try to put 
libraries into school buildings, still that 
does not touch the real problem — how shall 
the school and library co-operate in the 
education of the adult immigrant? 

Does the foreign adult go to school? 
Some do, although the fraction of attend- 
ance either in library or in school is a 
small one. The optimists are not dis- 
turbed. They seem to think that the only 
foreigners to take care of are the school 
children. For them the adult wave of 
immigration is a passing phenomenon. It 
represents a group that will be with us 
for a time only, ten, twenty or fifty years 
at the most. 

For many of us who are interested in 
this problem of immigration, ten or twenty 
or fifty years is a long time indeed. We 
know that adult immigration is a constant 
and not an infrequent or sporadic thing. 
We believe that those who live in a com- 
munity for half a century, or for very much 
less time, exert an influence that will con- 
tinue long after they have been forgotten — 
an influence that may not always be as 
good as it might be under proper condi- 
tions. 

We are aware that foreign people have 
a very great deal to give us, not only their 
skill and their labor, but the finer contribu- 
tions of their social and emotional life — 
their fiestas, their folklore, their athletic 
organizations, their dress, traditions — all 
things that contribute to our national life. 



But we cannot be recipients only, and they 
need what we have to give. These foreign 
people should become literally an integral 
part of our national life, and not merely 
hewers of wood and drawers of water — 
great sluggish groups that are with us but 
not of us — speculating with their labor in 
the industrial market but keeping their 
hearts and souls to themselves. 

We have as you know evening schools 
for these foreigners. Our educational sys- 
tems have established a rather modest or- 
ganization by which the foreigner may 
learn English and something of civics and 
institutional life. The conditions are yet 
more encouraging for promise than per- 
formance. In the volume of work done 
proportionately. New York and Boston 
stand first; yet even in these cities there 
is room for much improvement in the kind, 
amount, quality and extent of teaching. 

We have been able to attract to these 
schools perhaps a tenth of the foreign 
population and to retain something less 
than a quarter of the number. We have in 
a few cities learned something about 
proper organization. There is now a pretty 
clear conception that classes of foreigners 
must not be mixed together any more than 
you would mix books on a shelf no matter 
what the subject. We have finally estab- 
lished some effective methods of teaching. 
We have made some progress in the use 
of better texts. Therefore, we have 
reached the time when we can undertake 
some very real kind of co-operative action. 

Of actual co-operation there is but little 
record. Miss Hansen used the schools, 
among other instruments, in order to make 
a survey of the foreign districts of the city 
of Seattle. You doubtless heard her de- 
scribe the work at the last council meeting. 
In one New York neighborhood, on the 
evening when the schools are closed, a 
branch library sets aside a reading room 
for classes of Bohemians, and provides ap- 
propriate books. The libraries generally 
have sent reading books to evening schools. 
The teachers have told pupils the location 
of libraries and have explained their 
facilities. I do not say that this Is all the 



261 



evening schools and the libraries have 
done. Except through original investiga- 
tion, there Is no means of knowing what 
has been done. But if I cannot discuss 
history I can indulge In imagination. May 
. I suggest some such program as this: 

In communities in which classes for 
foreigners are maintained, let the local 
librarian and teacher appoint committees 
corresponding in number to the pre- 
ponderant immigrant groups. Usually a 
neighborhood does not require more than 
two committees. On this committee there 
should be three representatives — the li- 
brarian, the teacher, and one recognized 
leader of the foreign group in question. At 
regular intervals — for we must have some 
sort of organization — the class will meet in 
the library reading room. These meetings 
may be held on school nights. They should 
be very carefully planned in advance, so 
that the speaker and listeners both will 
be prepared. The subjects chosen should 
be varied and especially interesting — a for- 
eign author, a local industry, a bit of 
American history, a story of the national 
song. Supplementing the subject there 
should be related books in the room, not 
a list of books, but the books themselves. 
These are to be shown, handled, referred 
to in the talk and passed about so that 
each member of the foreign group shall get 
the feel of the book. If possible there 
should be an exhibit of maps or charts, not 
necessarily so elaborate in arrangement as 
the excellent one Mr. John Foster Carr 
suggested at the Washington meeting, but 
as good as conditions permit. The com- 
mittee should be present as part of the 
audience and should have a share in the 
proceedings of the evening. The members 
of the class should not be silent; the im- 
migrant should always be conscious of 
his own identity with the group. Such 
meetings need not be held on evenings only. 
There is a large place for Instruction and 
guidance for the foreign woman during 
afternoon hours. 

Similar meetings should be held in the 
school premises, but they should not dis- 
place the library meetings nor should they 



be repetitions of these. The foreigner must 
not imagine that he goes to the library 
room merely for a change of scene. In the 
school the librarian should be present and 
should have an occasional short confer- 
ence with students, giving talks on recent 
accessions to the library, suggestions for 
magazine or periodical reading. She should 
ask as well as give. For foreigners who 
have not advanced far enough to under- 
stand her, either there should be a librarian 
who speaks the language or an interpreter 
present. But the librarian who is the com- 
mittee member should be present. 

If the library has a lecture room, it is 
sometimes better than the school audito- 
rium. The lecture room activities should 
be more formal than the reading room ac- 
tivities, should include a larger number 
in the audience and might include some un- 
usual features. 

If social affairs are conducted in the 
evening school or under its auspices the 
librarian should be present, not as a guest 
but as a member of the faculty. She should 
attend not for her own pleasure, though she 
might well be pleased, but for the good of 
the cause. 

An outline like this is not concerned 
with precise steps of procedure, for these 
are matters which must be determined by 
local conditions. It is not so much a ques- 
tion of doing a particular thing as of re- 
alizing the purpose for which the thing is 
done. 

The immigrant should be conscious of 
the fact that the library and school are co- 
operating. He should learn to realize that 
the library and the school are two great 
engines for social development in which he 
himself is an active agent. After all the 
really significant persons in a library or 
school room are not the librarian or the 
teacher, but the readers and the pupils. 
From this co-operation between school and 
library the foreigner should learn to form 
two habits, the school habit and the library 
habit. At present a great many foreigners 
never get either. Some start to get these 
habits but they leave off too soon. Where- 
ever the fault lies, I am quite sure that it U 



282 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



not altogether the foreigner's. I can speak 
positively so far as the school Is con- 
cerned. 

Every school system tends to be 
mechanized, and the bigger it is the greater 
the tendency. In dealing with adults a 
certain flexibility in administration is 
necessary. It is true that so many fixed 
hours, so many days, so many periods do 
guarantee much service, but usually it is 
a minimum service regulated by the needs 
of the poorest students. We need variety 
in the classroom. The teacher needs the 
occasional visitor and the librarian; the 
regular text needs occasional multiplicity 
of texts; the standard methods of teaching, 
however good, need an occasional lecture 
and conference. In these occasional sup- 
plementary conferences the immigrant 
himself is apt to take a larger part, and 
thus he gets a new sense of personal im- 
portance which is one of the greatest in- 
centives to all human activities. If the 
schools are selective in their organization, 
this gradual flexibility will make for bet- 
ter teaching and will affect favorably the 
library attendance. In time the foreigner 
will come to look at the library from a new 
point of view. You may not realize that 
notwithstanding the soft voice and the en- 
gaging smile of the librarian, she is apt to 
appear a distant sort of personality to the 
grown men who attend; just a person who 
receives a slip and hands out a book. Meet- 
ing her in the school will make her seem 
a different personality in the library. The 
foreigner will no longer be an isolated 
figure occupying a solitary corner in the 
reading room. Having met the library 
people in the class, he will enter the library 
with a sense of ease as if dropping in to 
borrow a book from a friend. I believe 
sincerely that co-operation of this kind will 
tend to give immigrants both the school 
and the library habit. 

There are too many evening schools for 
foreigners which lack any good standard 
for organization. If the same class is to 
hold a graduate of the gymnasium and a 
graduate of the plow, there will not only 
be difficulty of instruction, but difficulties 



in library co-operation. No discussion on 
the brotherhood of man can hide certain 
obvious facts. In grading students I should 
inquire into previous education first, na- 
tionality, age and occupation next. Under 
normal conditions nationality is important 
only for first year students and not then in 
all cases. 

Even if classes are properly organized, 
the methods of instruction may be poor. 
Tlie ignorance of metliods in teaching Eng- 
lish to foreigners is too common in Ameri- 
can evening schools. I do not assume that 
there is a single perfect method; but there 
are several excellent methods susceptible 
of definition. A librarian might well be- 
come familiar with some of the funda- 
mentals of methods, not because she is 
going to displace the school teacher in her 
work, but in order that she may have a 
more sympathetic understanding of the 
teacher's own procedure and problem. 

I have already referred to the textbooks 
that are used. We have made very great 
strides in this matter in the last three 
years. I believe, however, in letting the 
foreigners see that there are a great many 
kinds of texts and making them under- 
stand the resources of the neighborhood 
library. Extensive reading is as necessary 
as intensive reading. 

There are school systems whose rigidity 
seems to make co-operation difficult. Never- 
theless the regulations as to time, the size 
of classes, the place of recitation, and the 
number of sessions can be adjusted in any 
school system. The difficulty of overcom- 
ing such handicaps is greatly exaggerated. 
Any intelligent teacher who can show a 
rational scheme of co-operation will find it 
an easy matter to have regulations waived 
if they interfere. 

Finally, there is the personality of in- 
dividuals. It is quite useless to expect co- 
operation unless the persons who are to 
determine it are thoroughly sympathetic. 
It Is difficult to continue it unless they are 
also intelligent. In this great land of 
ours there are doubtless some librarians 
who look with cold and fishy eye upon any 
change in administration, and believe that 



SHISLS 



163 



th« premlBes are desecrated by anyone 
■who 1b not there for the precise purpose 
of writing on slips, receiving books and re- 
turning them. I have not met such per- 
sons, but if they exist they should be pro- 
moted or otherwise disposed of as to be 
got out of the way. In school systems 
there may be persons who take their office 
very seriously and who look upon teaching 
as one of those mysterious functions which 
only the elect can comprehend. They are 
sensitive to tlie presence of others. I do 
not know what can be done with such per- 
sons, because the remedies I have in mind, 
however effective, are too violent for 
adoption. But all these are exceptional 
cases. I have met so many persons who 
seek only some method for closer co-opera- 
tion that I am confident that the way how 
Is the only thing they need to know. 

Much lias been said about the futility of 
mere book knowledge. Volumes have been 
written on the necessity of knowing things 
rather than words. There is just enough 
truth in the statement to be deceptive. The 
tact is that few men can know more than 
a very little at first hand. Even those who 
have travelled extensively cannot go far 
beneath the surface. We are all aware that 
there is a certain kind of reading tliat does 
not get the thought from the page. That 
is because all the reader obtains from the 
print is the image on the retina of his eye. 
There is so little back of that! But the 
same holds true of a certain quality of ob- 
servation. To get a thought from either 
v.'ords or things needs brains. 

Not only for the treasured knowledge of 
the past but for an understanding of the 
present, man must continue to depend upon 
the words of others. Nothing can ever 
change the fact that civilization must ap- 
peal to its books if it is to be worthy of its 
books. In this respect the immigrant dif- 
fers from no other human being. He must 
learn not only in the shop, in the home and 
in the streets, but through language — of 
the tongue, the pen, or the type. Whether 
he learns well or ill must depend first upon 
himself and then upon his teacher. 

It matters not if we be preachers or 



editors, authors or lecturers, school people 
or librarians — we are teachers. Teaching 
1b the oldest and noblest of occupations. 
If we really feel what teaching means, then 
neither of us, librarians or teachers, can 
refuse to work together Intimately, not for 
ourselves only, not for the immigrant alone, 
but for that greater group — the strange 
complex mass, the marvelous social whole, 
we love to call our country. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY ON 

LIBRARY WORK WITH FOREIGNERS, 
1911-1916 

Prepared by Catharine S. Tracey, New 
York Public Library School 

A. L. A. Committee on books in foreign 
languages for traveling and public li- 
braries. Report, 1916. A. L. A. Proceed- 
ings, 1916, p. 338-339. 

Campbell, J. Maud. Foreign periodicals. 
Massachusetts Library Club Bulletin. 
4: 67-9. March-May, 1914. Reprinted as 
pamphlet by Massachusetts Free Pub. 
Lib. Commission. 

What the foreigner has done for one 

library. Passaic, N. J. Public Library. 
Library Journal 38: 610-15. 1913. 

Carr, John Foster. Guide to the U. S. for 
the Jewish immigrant. 2d edition. N. Y. 
Immigrant Publication Society, 1916. 64p. 

Immigrant and library. Italian helps 

with lists of selected books. N. Y. Immi- 
grant Education Society, 1914. 93p. 

The library and the immigrant. A. L. 

A. Proceedings, 1914, p. 140-147. 

Some of the people we work for. 

Library Journal. 41:552-557. August, 
1916. Also in this volume of A. L. A. 
Proceedings, 1916. 

-What the library can do for our for- 
eign born. Library Journal 38: 566-8. 
1913. 

Comstock, Sarah. Eight million books a 
year. World's Work 26: 100-108. 1913. 
Describes activities of New York Public 
Library, Including work with foreigners. 

Crawford, Ruth. Immigrants in St. Louis. 
(Studies in social economics, ed. by the 
St. Louis school of social economics, v. 1 : 
No. 2.) "Gives credit to the St. Louis 



264 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



public library for Its work In the Interests 
ol the foreign citizens." (Not seen. Re- 
ferred to In Public Libraries, 21:327; 
July, 1916.) 

Delaughter, N. M. The German story-hour, 
Carondelet branch library, St. Louis pub- 
lic library. Public Libraries. 21:255. 
May, 1916. 

Hansen, Agnes. Work with foreigners. 
A. L. A. Proceedings, 1915, p. 196-99. 

Hewins, Caroline M. comp. Library notes. 
Hartford Courant, Oct. 24, 1915. 

Library's part in making Americans. N. Y. 
Libraries 4: 235-6. Aug. 1915. 

McPike, Josephine. The foreign child at 
a St. Louis branch. Library Journal 
40:851-5. Dec. 1915. 

Maltby, Mrs. Adelaide B. Immigrants as 
contributors to library progress. A. L. A. 
Proceedings, 1913, p. 150-154. 

Massachusetts Free Public Library Com- 
mission. Books about America for new 
Americans; compiled by Ida F. Farrar, 
n. d. 

A few inexpensive and useful books for 

foreigners. Typewritten. 

Reports 1914 to date. 

Newark (N. J.) Public Library. The 
Newarker. Dec. 1913. 

Welcome extended to foreigners. Sun- 
day Call, Newark, N. J., Feb. 22, 1914. 

Pennsylvania Free Library Commission. 
Books for the foreigner. Pennsylvania 
Library Notes, v. 8, no. 1, p. 7, Jan. 
1916. 

Poray, Aniela. The foreign child and the 
book. Library Journal 40: 233-9. April 
1915. 

Reid, Marguerite, and Moulton, J. G. comp. 
Massachusetts Library Club bulletin. 2: 
29-36. March 1912. 

Reid, Marguerite and Moulton, J. G. comp. 
Aids in library work with foreigners. 
Chicago, A. L. A. 1912. 24p. Reprinted 
from Mass. Library Club Bulletin 2: 
37-56, March 1912. 

Roberts, Flora B. The library and the for- 
eign citizen. Public Libraries 17: 166-69. 
1912. 



Roberts, Peter. Library and the foreign- 
speaking man. Library Journal 36: 496-9. 
1911. 

The new immigration. N. Y., Mac- 

millan, 1912. p. 289-291. 
St. Louis Public Library. Report 1913, p. 

76-84; 89-94. 
U. S. Bureau of Education. Texts in Eng- 
lish for foreigners. Typewritten. 
Webster, Caroline F. Library work with 
foreigners. A. L. A. Proceedings, 1915, p. 
192-195. 
Wendell, P. C. H. Stranger within our 
gates; what can the library do for him? 
Public Libraries 16: 89-92. 1911. 
Wilcox, Mary E. Use of the immigrants 
guide in the library. Massachusetts Li- 
brary Club Bulletin 4: 69-73. March- 
May 1914. 
Wolcott, J. D. Library service to immi- 
grants. (In U. S. Bureau of Education 
report, 1915. v. 1, p. 527-531.) 
Excellent summary with statistics. 
The following are some of the libraries 
which have done excellent work with for- 
eigners. Interesting material may be found 
in their reports and lists of books for 
foreigners : 

Brooklyn Public Library 
Buffalo Public Library 
Calumet & Hecla Mining Co. Public Li- 
brary, Calumet, Mich. 

Cedar Rapids Free Public Library 
Chicago Public Library. 
Cleveland Public Library 
Detroit Public Library 
Duluth Public Library 
Grand Rapids Public Library 
Homestead, Pa., Public Library 
Newark Public Library 
New York Public library 
Passaic, N. J., Public Library 
Pittsburgh Carnegie Library 
Providence Public Library 
St. Louis Public Library 
Seattle Public Library 
Springfield, Mass., City Library 



WHEATON 
AN AMERICANIZATION PROGRAM FOR LIBRARIES 



266 



H. H. Wheaton, Specialist in the Education of Immigrants, United States Bureau of 
Education, Washington, D. G. 



The Americanization of the immigrant 
is not merely a problem of rendering a 
service to the immigrant himself. It is 
not merely a question of philanthropy, of 
giving something to the newcomer who has 
arrived upon our shores. The American- 
ization of the immigrant means something 
larger and more fundamental than dealing 
with the immigrant himself — it means the 
making of America. This country fifty or 
sixty years ago was practically a homo- 
geneous country. In the early days of 
immigration, most of our immigrants came 
from English-speaking or allied stocks. 
They came from England, Scotland, Wales, 
Ireland, Germany, Holland, Belgium and 
Scandinavia. Immigrants from these coun^ 
tries readily acquired our language and 
adapted themselves to our conditions; 
hence it may be said that during the first 
part of the nineteenth century the country 
was unified in spirit, unified in language, 
unified in ideas, and unified in attitude 
toward democracy, liberty, and equality of 
opportunity. Since the Civil War, however, 
this has changed on account of the enor- 
mous development in industry, and immi- 
grants have been coming from Southern 
and Eastern Europe and Asiatic countries, 
coming from countries wholly different in 
traditions, wholly different in customs, 
wholly different in language, wholly differ- 
ent in habits of thinking, ideas, and ideals. 

Now, the Injection of that mass — and 
there are thirteen million and over foreign- 
born in this country today — into our popu- 
lation of one hundred million means that 
we are not altogether that unified country 
which we were fifty or sixty years ago. It 
means we are not unified entirely in lan- 
guage. One person out of every eight in 
Pennsylvania does not speak the English 
language; almost as many are illiterate. 
It means that this country is not a unit in 
thought, for we have injected into our 
thought and into our national psychology 



a mass of ideas foreign in origin, foreign 
in nature, foreign in type, thereby making 
more than anything else that uneasiness so 
noticeable in America today. We do not 
have complete sympathy between ourselves 
and the man of foreign birth or of foreign 
origin. 

There were in the United States, in 1910, 
2,953,011 foreign-born whites ten years of 
age or over who were unable to speak the 
English language. With immigration com- 
ing in at the rate of a million a year, mostly 
from non-English speaking countries, this 
has undoubtedly increased to five million. 
The number of illiterates is almost as large, 
and yet we are not coping with these con- 
ditions through our public schools by pro- 
viding night-school facilities. Only 375 
communities are providing evening classes 
directed toward overcoming that tremen- 
dous inability to speak English and the 
illiteracy of our foreign-born. 

I am glad that Dr. Shiels has mentioned 
and taken up rather extensively the school 
phase of the problem, for of the agencies, 
educational in nature, who are to cope with 
this enormous task of Americanization, the 
school and the library are the most promi- 
nent. These are the two which must bear 
the burden of education, removing illiter- 
acy, teaching the English language, and 
giving civic training. These two institu- 
tions hold the key to the situation. 

Now I am not coming here to make a 
speech or read a paper. I am going to take 
up with you frankly some of the things I 
think ought to be done by librarians in for- 
eign communities. 

I may say that with reference to the li- 
brary you stand in a position somewhat 
different from the school. The library can 
reach a substantial number of immigrant 
mothers, who will never attend any evening 
school, however effective or interesting may 
be its instruction. The library can get a 



266 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



great many children over school age who 
will never again go to school. The library- 
can get many immigrant adults who feel 
that they are too old to go to school, espe- 
cially men, who are afraid of the ridicule 
of their children should they go to school. 
The library may become, if properly or- 
ganized and equipped, the place where such 
people can go, drop in for an evening and 
read a book, since they are not bound, as 
in the schools, by any rules regulating at- 
tendance. This freedom of action appeals 
to a certain type of foreigner, and heuce 
the library is in a position to take care of 
a substantial portion of the foreign popula- 
tion which the school can never reach. 

Nov/, I am going to put three proposi- 
tions before you. The first is for librarians 
to make a survey of your immigrant com- 
munities; find out how many aliens reside 
in your community; find out how many do 
not speak the English language and are 
illiterate, if the figures are obtainable. Of 
course in the census you cannot find com- 
plete figures for small communities, but you 
can find some data of value. Find out how 
many attend schools and what schools are 
reaching them; what nationalities are at- 
tending school; what the principal nation- 
alities are; what foreign-language news- 
papers there are, and who their editors are. 
Find out the districts in which the aliens 
live. Find out what nationalities live in 
those districts. In other words, learn your 
community, so that you can know what will 
be demanded of the library by the foreign- 
ers living in that community. It is indis- 
pensable that the librarian or a commit- 
tee representing the librarian should know 
the foreigners, know who they are, know 
where they live, know what schools they 
are going to, and know their relative social. 
Industrial and economic status, because 
only by knowing these facts can you 
adequately equip your library to take care 
of their needs. In other words, it is a ques- 
tion of studying your community and 
the needs of the foreigners residing therein. 
You can get much of that information in 
the census, but most of it must be obtained 
by personal investigation or observation in 



the field. That Is something which you 
must take care of locally. 

The second proposition is this: make a 
survey of your own conditions. What 
have you in the library for the use of for- 
eigners? Two years ago we made a survey 
of the conditions, provisions, and facilities 
for foreigners in libraries in a state ad- 
joining New Jersey. We found some re- 
markable things. We found one community 
which was composed almost entirely of 
those of foreign birth or foreign origin. 
In that community, made up of immigrants 
largely from Eastern and Southern Europe, 
and even Asiatic countries, 25 or 30 nation- 
alities being represented, there were four 
books in foreign languages, — only four 
Italian books. The same thing was true 
of many communities. We found others 
that did not have any foreign-language 
books, and we found still other communi- 
ties that had only German or French books, 
which were put in largely for students 
in high schools or their teachers; not for 
the Germans or French in the community. 
I am going to mention a city of about 500,- 
000 inhabitants. Thirty-three and one-third 
per cent of its population is of foreign 
birth; seventy-five per cent of foreign 
origin, that is, of foreign birth and of for- 
eign parentage. There were 325,000 vol- 
umes in the entire library system, including 
the branches. Only 21,000 were in foreign 
languages. Of that 21,000, over 16,000 were 
in German and French, not in the lan- 
guages of those who needed the books. 
There were, for example, only 401 Italian 
books for an Italian population of 20,000. 
Fifty thousand foreigners in that city could 
not speak the English language. 

Take an inventory of your book supply 
for the foreigners, and see whether you are 
meeting the conditions and needs as shown 
by your first survey of the community, and 
your eyes will be opened immediately to 
something tangible which you can do — buy 
books. It may be diflicult to get those 
books because of lack of money, because the 
city administration, perhaps, does not look 
with especial favor on the library. Let me 
suggest a way of overcoming that. Only 



S«7 



by getting an enormous public Interest 
through cooperation — the Interest of soci- 
eties of all descriptions, native and foreign- 
born — will you be able to overcome apathy 
on the part of the city council in the appro- 
priation of money. I believe in the mili- 
tant manner of getting appropriations, and 
not in the apathetic manner which many 
of us adopt of sitting down and saying, 
"We need $10,000," and then waiting for 
the report to be read by some councilman 
or congressman, or what not. It may never 
be read, and hence you may not get your 
$10,000. 

Here are a few of the questions you must 
ask yourselves in the library introspection 
you may want to make as a second part of 
your work. What is the number of books 
in foreign languages in your library? Is 
the number available in proportion to the 
foreign-born population? Are the foreign- 
language books in proportion to the lan- 
guages spoken by the various immigrant 
groups? What is the circulation of the 
foreign-language books? How does it com- 
pare with the circulation of books in Eng- 
lish? Are the foreign-language books those 
which the immigrant wants to read? Are 
they those which the immigrant should 
read for Americanization purposes? There 
Is quite a difference. What foreign news- 
papers or magazines are available for the 
reading room? How much are they read? 
What special means does your library use 
to encourage immigrants to take advantage 
of your facilities? What are the titles and 
numbers of books for immigrants on citi- 
zenship and learning English? If you will 
inquire of some successful librarians, you 
will find they have studied their communi- 
ties and the conditions of their own libra- 
ries, and have endeavored to build up a 
foreign department so that conditions and 
needs may be met. 

Now the third proposition which I am 
going to lay before you, and which I hope 
somebody will act upon, is an Americaniza- 
tion program for a public library. One 
of the things really lacking in this 
country is cooperation. The Bureau of 
Education at Washington is constantly 



emphasizing the Importance of cooperation; 
the importance of getting together on a 
proposition, not of endeavoring to carry 
it out exclusively for your benefit, perhaps 
purely for your own pride. Get together 
and render national, state, or city service; 
that is the keynote upon which each should 
work. Hence, interview members of your 
foreign societies. Ask to speak at their 
meetings, ask to have announcements made 
relative to the libraries. Encourage the ap- 
pointment of committees for these societies 
to represent the various nationalities for 
the purpose of cooperating with the libra- 
rian and the assistants in the library in 
purchasing books suitable for each nation- 
ality. Encourage cooperating committees 
on publicity. The only way you will get ef- 
fective publicity for a library is by getting 
people to talk about it; by getting the for- 
eigner himself to talk about the library 
facilities; by going to the foreign-language 
societies and asking for their cooperation; 
by making speeches on the public library 
and its facilities, and by urging the appoint- 
ment of committees to give publicity to the 
library and get people to patronize it. Then 
you will have started a publicity campaign 
in behalf of the library at the very root 
where it should be started, with the for- 
eigner himself as the active agent. Cir- 
cularize by multigraph letters or otherwise 
the various foreign societies in your com- 
munity, enlisting their interest, sending 
them, if you have them, printed or type- 
written lists of foreign-language or English 
books suitable for their respective nation- 
alities. Then interview also the foreign- 
language newspaper editors and persuade 
them to insert free advertisements. 

There are two agencies which can be 
made exceedingly important factors in 
Americanization. We have come to take 
the position in this country that the for- 
eign society and the foreign-language press 
are against Americanization. They are. If 
you set yourselves up against them and con- 
stantly attack them as being un-American. 
You can, by going to them, get their co- 
operation. They have a well-organized as- 
sociation, the "Association of Foreign- 



268 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Language Newspapers," with about 742 
membership newspapers. You can get 
them to do a great deal through their col- 
ums in Americanization work. They will 
give you free space for articles concerning 
the library; they will advertise your library 
facilities. Try them out by writing articles 
on the importance of learning English, of 
reading books, of becoming literate. It 
has been done in many communities. These 
two agencies, the foreign society and the 
foreign-language press, should be taken ad- 
vantage of more largely by the Americans 
of this country and made into an American- 
izing influence, not left out in the cold to 
promote foreign ideas and ideals. We must 
utilize these tremendous factors in the life 
of the immigrant in this country in order 
to overcome that element of decentraliza- 
tion in the Americanization process which 
has been going on for so many years. 

I would suggest further that you display 
posters and handbills, regarding library 
facilities, in lecture halls, fraternity meet- 
ing places, stores, banks, steamship ticket 
agencies, even saloons, if necessary. These 
should be in foreign languages and also in 
English. You may, through the Boy 
Scouts, distribute handbills, circulars, and 
small dodgers advertising the library. 
Through the various Industries you may 
distribute pay-envelope leaflets. These cir- 
culars are folded and slipped into the pay 
envelopes by the company paymaster. 
They should be put out in sufficiently large 
numbers, so they may be inserted two 
or three times during the year. This is a 
very effective way of reaching the for- 
eigner, because the slip comes with his 
pay. He reads it out of curiosity and 
Interest, because he thinks it is a communi- 
cation from liis employer, and has some 
reference to an increase in pay. 

Request night-school teachers to devote 
at least one lesson in an English or civics 
course to the library and its facilities. If 
It can possibly bs arranged, ask that dif- 
ferent classes be brought up to the library 
from time to time for some oral instruc- 
tion upon the library facilities, how to take 
out library books, what the rules are, and 



so forth. That cannot be done, of course, 
in the larger cities, on account of the enor- 
mous numbers, but it has been done suc- 
cessfully in cities of two or three hundred 
thousand inhabitants or less. It is a very 
effective means of familiarizing them with 
the library and its facilities, a work which 
you cannot so effectively carry out through 
dodgers, handbills, and posters. Also make 
arrangements with the evening-school 
teachers so that you may speak to some of 
the more advanced classes concerning the 
library and its facilities. Then if you 
can arrange with the director of evening 
schools for a mass meeting on library 
facilities, at which the librarian, his assist- 
ants, or other interested individuals, may 
appear and present the objects, facilities, 
rules, etc., of the library. 

Then, too, in connection with the evening 
schools, you may conduct a campaign of 
issuing library cards. Print application 
slips. Have these distributed by the even- 
ing-school teachers, filled in by pupils wish- 
ing library books and giving satisfactory 
credentials, and returned to the library so 
that cards may be issued. You will find 
that there will be an enormous increase in 
library attendance and circulation of books 
through this method. 

Clerks of naturalization courts should 
be provided with these slips to be handed 
to the applicants for citizenship. These 
slips may urge the applicant to patronize 
the library, read books about the govern- 
ment and constitution of the United States, 
and learn English, so that they may be 
equipped to pass their naturalization ex- 
amination. 

Finally, I would suggest preparing an ex- 
hibit of library facilities specially adapted 
to foreigners, an exhibit which can be 
placed for short periods in the various 
halls where foreign societies hold their 
meetings, in public schools, and in other 
places where foreigners congregate in large 
numbers. Such an exhibit may be placed 
on a large placard or displayed in some 
other suitable form so that the immigrant 
will be attracted to it and will be induced 



CAMPBELL 



269 



In this way to pay more attention to library 
facilities. 

In closing I wish to make one comment, 
and that is this, that while there are many 
libraries in this country which are doing ef- 
fective Americanization work, the number 
is relatively small. It is small for two rea- 
sons: first, because librarians and Ameri- 
cans generally have not appreciated the 
problem of Americanization and the part 
which the library can play in this process, 
and second, because our state and city gov- 
ernments have not interested themselves 



sufficiently in civic questions. Government 
itself is a civic factor, yet we have been too 
much interested in the machinery of gov- 
ernment and not enough in real civic rela- 
tionships between the various citizens of a 
community. We must do something more 
than merely try to educate: we must try to 
inspire and instill in the mind of the for- 
eigner the instinct of civic responsibility 
to the community. That is one of the 
things which the school and the library 
must and can do in this great Americaniza- 
tion problem. 



AMERICANIZING BOOKS AND PERIODICALS FOR IMMIGRANTS 



By J. M. Campbell. Director, Work with foreigners, Massachusetts Free Public Library 

Commission 



I think the first time the American 
Library Association put itself on record as 
having any duty towards our immigrant 
population was at the Narragansett meet- 
ing in 1906 when Dr. Canfield made a mo- 
tion that the institute should investigate 
the subject and report to the Association. 
What became of that suggestion, I do not 
know. If there has been an investigation 
and report by that august body, it has not 
reached the ears of one humble member 
of the Association! 

At that meeting, I made a plea for more 
and better material — books, pamphlets and 
magazines — with which to satisfy the 
hungry demands of our foreign-speaking 
population. If I recollect rightly, I referred 
to the "starvation diet" on which we were 
trying to produce results. I regret to say, 
we have not fattened perceptibly since then, 
though we have a little for which we can 
give thanks and I am here once more to 
ask — with your indulgence — that the mem- 
bers of the Association make known our 
starving condition, in the hope that we 
will receive help to enable us to carry out 
the program Mr. Wheaton has laid out for 
us. 

This seems to be the psychological 
moment, for "Americanization" is the word 



of the hour. There are innumerable defini- 
tions of the word, from those of the presi- 
dential candidates to that given me by an 
Italian friend. In response to my inquiry 
as to what he thought of all the talk about 
Americanization, he said, "With all respect, 
I really think the Americans who are so 
much agitated about the loyalty of the for- 
eign-born now, are really whistling to keep 
up their courage. They know, in the 
struggle for wealth and social position, 
many Americans have forgotten the 
patriot's zeal and the passion for Justica 
which in the old days made this country — 
in the true sense of the word — a real 
democracy. We have to acknowledge that 
we have had a privileged class with its 
grip on politics which, in some cases, used 
its power in such disgraceful ways that 
'politics' became a by-word for corruption. 
In the swinging of the pendulum there is 
hope for the return to the sturdy incor 
ruptibility of the just and liberty-loving 
that the newcomers shall be impressed with 
citizenship of the pioneers. And in order 
the importance of living up to our ideals-— 
rather than in following our recent example 
— everyone is now shouting 'Americaniza- 
tion.' There is no need to fear the lack of 
loyalty to American ideals on the part of 



270 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



the Immigrant class; they set far too great 
a value on liberty and justice. And to 
those of foreign birth in high places who, 
following our example, aspire to 'privilege' 
through corruption, the cry of 'Americaniza- 
tion' will never reach." 

I am giving you his opinion as it points 
to the place where we through our libraries 
can lay the emphasis; and where we feel 
the pinch of our "starvation diet" in the 
way of inadequate material. 

Few libraries can reach the foreign-born 
in high places from whom we may have 
cause to fear disloyalty. Many, many 
libraries — ever so many more than ever 
thought of such a thing at the time of the 
Narragansett meeting — are doing active, in- 
tensive work with tlie immigrant class who 
come here open-minded, ready to appreciate 
the torch of an enlightened civilization 
which this country is trying to show to 
the world, founded on equal justice for all; 
the moral asset which makes Lincoln's 
definition of tliis government "of the people, 
by the people, for the people" — more than a 
dream. And yet how little of the right 
material to intensify this love of the ideals 
of our government do we have in foreign 
languages! 

I am not speaking of the literatures of 
foreign languages; we have that in both 
quantity and good quality. The more we 
work with the books in foreign languages 
the greater our surprise at the many in- 
teresting and admirable things to be found 
in most of them; the briglitness of the 
French plays and poetry; the character- 
istic thoroughness of Germany's contribu- 
tion to the world's science and government; 
the romance of Italy's literature; the depth 
and graphicness of Russia's drama and fic- 
tion, which is now coming into its own; 
and so on through almost all languages. 
While we have much to learn of foreign 
literatures, largely on account of our lack 
of culture of the language senses, we need 
have no misgivings as to the extent of this 
literature though difficult to procure just 
at this time. While these things are essen- 
tial to success in attracting the foreign- 
speaking to our libraries, they are not the 



most fundamental to our success in chain- 
ing the mass of our foreign population to 
the ideals we are seeking to present, — the 
Vision of greater liberty and wider oppor- 
tunities which was the lure that brought 
many to these shores. And is not this really 
the only thing this country has to offer of 
real worth? We have no national culture, no 
national language and stand supreme in 
the eyes of the world today only for our 
wealth. As one of the Italian newspapers 
recently stated — if by some strange fatality 
most of the things we boast about, our 
buildings, wonderful engineering feats, rail- 
roads, etc., should all be wiped out, we 
would only lose material things, bricks, 
iron, mechanism, gold. But the pioneer 
spirit which has spelt Liberty for all times 
and nations; the spirit of sacrifice which 
led the pilgrims to face unknown dangers, 
privation and suffering in order to found 
a haven for the oppressed and establish the 
principle of the brotherhood of man, this is 
the finest offering made to the world's his- 
tory and that can never be lost. This is the 
thing we should seek to perpetuate for our 
foreign-speaking population and for which 
the material is so strangely lacking. For 
many nationalities we have absolutely 
nothing to offer about this country in their 
own language, and *ven for the others, 
who is writing our history for them? Per- 
sonally, I feel that those whose interest 
and love for this country is greatest ought 
to be better equipped to tell the nation's 
story and inspire it with the true spirit; 
they should be the ones to undertake the 
task and not leave it to foreigners to 
interpret for us, or simply supply the dry 
bones of history. And look at the form in 
which even these things come to us; take 
Sawicki's Polish history of the United 
States, undoubtedly accurate and better 
than the average foreign-made history, but 
look at the paper, type and illustrations; 
look at the picture of Benjamin Franklin, 
or even worse. General Lee, and see if you 
think it would inspire respect, far less 
admiration, for the Bayard of our history. 
With such historians as Channing, Ban- 
croft, Fiske, Parkman, Lodge, Wlnsor and 



CAMPBELL 



271 



countless others, I hate to have such un- 
known names as Cermak, Badach, Giani, 
Sawlckl, etc., supplying our history to their 
different nationalities. We want the in- 
spired histories to create the Vision which 
is to be the salvation of our newcomers. 

And in the more practical matters of life 
in this country, how strangely silent we 
have been! To me It always seems most 
unpatriotic to circulate books on poultry- 
raising in Italian, for instance, which con- 
tain no mention of "Plymouth Rocks" or 
"Rhode Island Reds," yet in spite of the 
enormous amount of gratuitous informa- 
tion issued by both federal and state depart- 
ments of agriculture, and our loud cries to 
the immigrant of "back to the land," we 
have to satisfy the demand for such ma- 
terial with books published abroad, and 
dealing with conditions entirely different 
from those our immigrant people meet here. 
It is only their native wit that saves them 
from shipwreck! 

Look at the ridiculous conditions we find 
in our work in Massachusetts. I have been 
told by bankers, that, for the amount of 
money invested, there is nothing showing 
as great a return as is earned by the Poles 
and Italians raising onions and tobacco in 
the Connecticut Valley. Their harvests net 
millions and most of this goes right back 
into improvements upon the land. To see 
that lovely valley you can readily believe 
this. When we have requests for printed 
material on these crops for the foreign- 
speaking husbandmen, we either have to 
say there is nothing, for tobacco and onions 
are not cultivated to any extent in Poland, 
so we cannot procure material from there; 
or supply the demand with material printed 
In English which is a barrier to the under- 
standing of the majority. Another instance 
of our helplessness. The most successful 
In raising cranberries and strawberries in 
Massachusetts are the Portuguese on the 
Cape. When the Falmouth Library had 
requests for printed material on the cul- 
ture of small fruits in Portuguese, the only 
thing we could send to supply the need 
was either books in English, or imported 
books in Portuguese, barely mentioning 



strawberries, as In Portugal they are not 
cultivated to the degree which would 
dignify them to be considered as a crop, 
the Portuguese consul tells me; cranberries 
were not mentioned at all, but there were 
fascinating pictures of the "espalier" 
method of training fruit along brick walls, 
which are about as scarce on the Cape as 
cranberries in Portugal. And such experi- 
ences can be multiplied indefinitely in most 
of the practical concerns of life in this 
country, whether we are interested in agri- 
culture, manufacture, hygiene, the laws, or 
what not. 

Where are we to look for aid to remedy 
our difficulties? Personally, I think we can 
look hopefully to the patriotic socirtles for 
the right, inspiring historical material but 
we have to acquaint them with the need 
and then convince them that it is their 
"job" to provide the right material to 
enable us to perpetuate the spirit of 
patriotism of their ancestors, of which the 
"Sons of the Revolution," "Daughters of the 
Revolution," "Mayflower Descendants," etc., 
are so proud. The federal and state de- 
partments of agriculture must be made to 
see that the very information they are now 
distributing will be a welcome help, — and 
not a menace, — when translated into the 
only language our successful agricultural 
workers can read, their own. 

Then we will have to suggest to our 
publishers not to be outdone in patriotism 
by the publishers of the foreign-language 
presses and not to look too closely to a 
large financial profit from the books we 
need for this work. In speaking to an 
Armenian publisher about the lack of a 
history of the United States in Armenian, 
he said he regretted it as much as I did, 
as he felt sure it would be of great interest 
to his race. He was quite willing to put a 
good deal of time and some money into the 
publication of something, but he did not 
feel competent to supply the proper 
material. He would be quite willing to 
take the time to translate anything I could 
suggest, and to put his own money into the 
necessary stock and printing for an edition 
of say a thousand copies, and while he 



272 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



did not expect to get his money back for 
some time, It ever, he would be glad to 
contribute his mite to a better understand- 
ing of this country's history for the benefit 
of his countrymen. I thought this was 
quite a generous offer. Having in mind a 
small U. S. history which would have been 
suitable, I wrote to the author asking If 
there would be any objection to having her 
book translated into Armenian, and pos- 
sibly Italian, and got a very cordial reply 
saying she would be only too glad if her 
little book could be made of benefit to our 
newcomers, but as the copyright stood In 
tlie name of her publishers, I had better see 
them. I wrote the publishers explaining 
what we wanted and asked if they would al- 
low the book to be translated and what ar- 
rangements could be made about the use of 
the plates for illustrating. They replied, I 
had better send the Armenian publisher to 
see them, which I did; and after getting him 
to call three different times, and after they 
had said each time they would look into 
the matter, but would make no offer one 
way or the other, he came to see me and 
said he would have to give up tlie idea; 
there were other ways in which he could 
lielp his own people and these publishers 
made him feel as If he were making Illegal 
demands upon them. I urged him to write, 
asking them just to state their terms for the 
use of the cuts and the privilege of translat- 
ing the book, which he reluctantly did, and 
got a reply saying under no circumstances 
would they lend or rent the cuts and for 
the privilege of translating the text they 
wanted five per cent! This does not sound 
very patriotic from the firm which an enter- 
prising librarian discovered charges more 
per page for their books than any other 
publisher librarians usually patronize, espe- 
cially In comparison with the sacrifice the 



Armenian publisher was ready to make In 
order to spread a knowledge of thig coun- 
try's history among his countrymen. 

As librarians I think our opportunity to 
help comes In buying freely the books 
we can get which seem good. I have visited 
several libraries where the librarian told 
me with evident pride that they did not 
have a single book on their shelves for 
learning English, or books about this coun- 
try in the foreign languages, they were so 
much In demand; but on inquiring, I dis- 
covered the library usually only owned a 
single copy of these very popular books. 
We can certainly afford to duplicate this 
sort of material, especially when at the 
same time we are encouraging the publica- 
tion of It. 

About periodicals In foreign languages. 
At present we are somewhat In the position 
of tlie galley-cook who went to the captain 
of his vessel and asked if a thing was lost 
when you knew where it was? On being 
answered, "Of course not, you fool!" he 
replied, "Well, Captain, your copper kettle 
is at the bottom of the sea." The receipt 
of foreign magazines is uncertain, owing to 
the war, and with the possibility of not get- 
ting them, there is just a question how far 
we should invest our money In them, 
though they are often the first tie to bind 
a foreigner to our libraries. 

I know some of you are thinking that, 
as librarians, our "job" Is to circulate 
books, not endeavor to get them published. 
For our comfort, I think we can take to 
heart the parable of the faithful servant 
and decide whether we want to be con- 
sidered among those who buried their 
treasure, or whether we would rather hear 
the response, "Well done, good and faithful 
servant, thou hast been faithful over a few 
things, I will make thee ruler over many." 



LIBRARY WORK FOR IMMIGRANTS 
By John Foster Cabb, Director, Immigrant Publication Society, New York 



One of our local humorists has an excel- 
lent fable of a typewriter possessed by a 
familiar spirit. I know not what familiar 
has entered into possession of a certain 
typewriter, for I find to my surprise that 
the subject for which I am set down on the 
program does not agree witli my official in- 
vitation. The humor of the situation is 
further emphasized by the fact that, as 
stated, it is a suggestion with which I am 
not entirely in sympathy. So I propose to 
say, in the first place, a few words about 
that; in the second, with the consent of 
your program committee, to discuss the 
subject assigned me by your President: that 
is to say, foreign lists, and how the books 
In foreign languages that are so much 
needed by our public libraries can be pro- 
vided. 

First, then, I think there is no exagger- 
ation in the statement that perhaps the 
library's greatest need in the matter of 
work with foreigners is that of publicity, 
publicity among those whom you hope to 
make readers, as well as the publicity that 
chiefly concerns us this morning, that will 
be of mutual help to librarians. This need 
is all the greater for the fact, that, as I be- 
lieve I showed you yesterday, the libraries 
of the United States have already built up 
a highly successful and efficient program of 
work in this field. It remains to make that 
program known to libraries that have not 
yet taken up this work, and wish to do so, 
as well as to libraries that tomorrow may 
find the need to do it. 

In increasing the local service of the 
library, everything that can help in adver- 
tising is important. The question is how 
to get the maximum amount of result from 
your efforts. In this connection I would 
like to call your attention to a very excel- 
lent article that appeared in your Bulletin 
for last January, by Mr. Kerr, of Kansas. 
It seems to me that that covers the ground 
— with easy adaptation to immigrant work 
— in the most splendid way; and itself de- 



serves the widest publicity, for I know of 
nothing so practical and useful in advice 
on this subject. 

As to the help that library can give 11 
brary, as well as other societies: It is the 
officially declared purpose of this Associa- 
tion that the Secretary and his office, 
within due physical limits, constitute a 
clearing house of information. Here is the 
useful germ that can be usefully developed 
by actual demand — a far better plan, it 
seems to me, than the sudden creation ot 
imposing machinery. 

Dr. Shiels has spoken with effective 
humor of the common use of the word "co- 
operation." In the jargon of modern 
efficiency there is one other alluring term, 
and that is "clearing house." I know of a 
society interested, among other things, in 
immigration, that di'ring many years has 
made — I am so informed by its secretary — 
a very comprehensive collection of books, 
documents, pamphlets, leaflets, and what 
not, relating to immigration. It has as- 
pired to be a clearing house of informa- 
tion on the subject. Yet its facilities are 
almost unknown to specialists in the field. 
Another society, of large means and active 
interest in immigration, wrote to me some 
six years ago on this same subject of "the 
clearing house": "Do you approve of it?" 
"Would you help?" "Would you give money 
to support it?" The last letter received 
from it, just a few weeks ago, proposed the 
same three questions. As a matter of fact, 
to speak very frankly, I think it hard, if 
not impossible, to find one of these am- 
bitious clearing house projects that has 
ever succeeded. They usually fail either 
on account of the unforeseen and forbid- 
ding cost of the enterprise, or because of 
lack of interest on the part of those that 
they are organized to serve. That is my 
own experience. 

It is, of course, very important for other 
societies to have the means of knowing 
what the public libraries are doing in this 



274 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



great work with our foreign-born, but It Is 
vastly more important for the librarian, 
suddenly faced with the need of work with 
foreigners, to know how that work is be- 
ing done successfully in other libraries, and 
how other libraries have failed. A formal 
resolution will doubtless provide for the 
development of this new publicity. I wish 
only to emphasize the need of individual 
interest to help, and like Dr. Shiels, to beg 
that "cooperation" be interpreted in terms 
of work. 

And now for the matter of foreign lists: 
I have a friend whose little girl was sud- 
denly confronted with the statement that 
God had made everything. She asked, 
"Did God make you, mama?" "Yes, 
dear." "Did God make me?" "Yes, dear." 
"Did God make the flies, too?" "Yes, dear." 
The child thought a few moments and then 
said: "Awful fussy business, making 
flies!" 

That is the thing with these lists; yet 
lists we must have. Good annotated lists 
are the basis of this work of ours. They 
are imperatively necessary for purchase 
and reference. Many librarians keep them 
in constant circulation — particularly 
through the children, they are sent home 
to suggest reading to adults of the family 
who do not come to the library. They are 
cut and pasted within the books to which 
they refer, and so are useful to readers 
who go to the open shelves. They are use- 
ful to librarians who are not familiar with 
these languages. They are also useful to 
Americans interested in foreign languages. 

But there are, as I have suggested, 
many difficulties in preparing such lists, 
and difficulties beyond the thousand details 
of a minute bibliographical task. Our im- 
migrants are largely illiterate or poorly 
educated. There are very few competent 
advisers to be found among them.- The few 
with education are rarely fitted to select 
books for the average man who needs them. 
One of your ex-presidents has told me of 
his attempt to start an Armenian depart- 
ment. He found a well-educated young 
Armenian who had repeatedly asked for 
Armenian books. He said, "Make up a list, 



and we will see If we can't get you the 
books." The list was made. He insisted 
upon having the titles translated, and to 
his horror the books consisted largely of 
anarchistic and atheistic literature. An- 
otlier librarian — I want to give you very 
briefly the experiences of librarians — had 
the help of a deeply interested priest, who 
provided, at need, a list of books in his 
native language. But it was found to con- 
tain almost nothing but imposing classics. 
Another eminent librarian has told me of 
his library's need of a French list suited to 
French Canadians. He tried to get it from 
a French professor of learning and repute, 
and explained to him the necessity, that 
these people were not higlily educated, that 
what they wanted were books simple, use- 
ful, interesting. "You hardly need have said 
that to me," said the professor, "I have 
been on a walking trip througli French 
Canada. I know these people." And yet 
when the list was finished it was found to 
be made up of books far too scholarly for 
popular use. 

To illustrate further the difficulty of get- 
ting competent advice: There is an im- 
portant foreign society, devoted to the serv- 
ice of one of the great languages of culture. 
With a large endowment it has specialized 
on libraries and books for workingmen. 
Yet when I wrote and asked what practical 
methods they were using to interest work- 
ing people in reading books, methods that 
might be of service in America, their reply 
was: "What are your American libraries 
doing, and what do you advise?" If this 
is true of a foreign society of that sort, of 
distinguished standing, what shall we 
think of other foreign language literary so- 
cieties, with imposing names? 

Then there is the danger of having the 
matter handled, as it often is handled, by 
those who have no personal knowledge 
whatever of the language that may happen 
to be involved, and who furthermore, as 
you librarians so well know, often attempt 
to force their advice upon you. 

Now, what are some of the other con- 
ditions that we are facing? Faithful, they 
say, are the wounds of a friend. So let me 



27S 



tell you a few facts. On the shelves of one 
of our most important libraries the largest 
representation of Italian fiction is devoted 
to the Laura Jean Libhey of Italy. It boasts 
her complete works in I know not how 
many duplicates. In another library I was 
shown the other day a book which had been 
innocently placed on the list — a bartender's 
guide. Many of our libraries have been vic- 
timized by popular demand for books that 
are flagrantly indecent. Books of religious 
polemics are too often admitted. Then one 
library has lately sent me a nicely printed 
sheet of library conversation in Italian, in- 
terlined with English. There was not an 
Italian sentence or line of that sheet that 
did not contain some gross error. Two 
or three sentences were absolutely unin- 
telligible because of their errors. Another 
important library, in a very attractive 
leaflet, got out to advertise to foreigners 
the facilities and opportunities of the li- 
brary, is using in one language for the 
word "library" a word that does not mean 
library at all. It means a bookseller's 
shop, or two or three other things, but 
never a public library. That is the danger 
of depending upon the chance adviser, even 
though you believe him cultured in his 
native language! 

Now, one need of these lists as reflected 
in the correspondence and work of our 
Society with libraries shows the sharply 
marked difference between the needs of 
small and large libraries. Preliminary 
lists are often needed of a small number of 
selected books, say of from 25 to 50 vol- 
umes. Then lists of general use are in 
large demand giving about 500 titles, such 
as the Italian list that our Society has pub- 
lished. Beyond that, supplemental lists are 
immensely needed; and more ambitious 
than that, an annotated list, regularly is- 
sued, of the important and useful books 
published each year in a dozen foreign 
languages. 

A question that is constantly being asked 
me by librarians, several times since I have 
been here, is how persons can be found 
who are competent to prepare these lists? 
For the reasons that I have given you I 



think it must appear that It Is difficult. If 
not impossible, to find single helpers who 
are capable of preparing any one of these 
lists. You know the extreme pains you 
have to take, and that you are continually 
taking, in the selection of books in the 
English language; the endless process of 
criticism and suggestion and consultation! 
Yet I know how modest you are with re- 
gard to the result. You do not consider it 
as definitive, or perfect in choice, or free 
from error. How much more necessary is 
it to observe the greatest care, indeed to 
multiply care, when you are dealing with 
books that are in a foreign language. 

To sum up, then, the teaching of our ex- 
perience in these matters: 

First, a list of foreign books is worthless 
unless it is in harmony with the culture of 
their land of origin, but it must still be 
made up of books that are simple, appeal- 
ing, useful — books that will meet the taste 
of the people who are going to read them 
here. 

It is, consequently, worthless unless it is 
prepared with an accurate knowledge of 
the people's needs. 

It is worthless unless prepared with an 
accurate knowledge of what has already 
been done in popular library work in the 
country of origin. 

A list is worthless unless it is formed 
with American library experience behind 
it, and, if possible, experience in the special 
field of the language treated. 

It is worthless unless prepared with a 
comprehensive knowledge of the foreign 
publishers' newest lists, and with accurate 
knowledge of the best editions for library 
use, as well as with the definite knowledge 
that the books listed are not out of print. 

Supplying these lists and books in 
foreign languages, that will help the immi- 
grant to adjust his life more quickly to 
that of the new land, and to understand 
its conditions, as well as his duties and op- 
portunities here, is a matter of very large 
expense Indeed. Every librarian knows 
that no bibliography of the sort we are 
here contemplating can by any possibility 
even pay for the expense of printing, to 



276 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



say nothing of other expenses Involved. 

So with the preparation of other books, 
that form the second subject of our dis- 
cussion. It is impossible, I think, to ex- 
pect a publisher whose business existence 
depends upon making money, to undertake 
the publication of books having a circu- 
lation, restricted at best and that must 
necessarily be dwindling, as we have seen 
— with the certainty of making no profit, 
and with the possibility of large loss. 

Now, our Immigrant Publication Society 
is intensely interested in this matter. We 
have the experience, and we have the co- 
operation of the most competent helpers. 
We have the sympathy and the enthusiastic 
interest of our foreign-born — a unique 
thing — who delight in the democratic ideas 
that we have been trying to stand for. The 
work is not endowed; it is not a com- 
mercial venture, but it must pay its ex- 
penses in the large and more ambitious field 
on which we are now entering. The ques- 
tion is how we can make these needed 
books pay for their cost, and that is placed 
before you librarians with the hope that 
through you in part the affair may be man- 
aged, if we can continue successfully to 
meet your needs. The first suggestion I 
take the liberty of making, in reply to your 
President's question, is the wider trial and 
the use of the books tliat we have already 
published, and that have been fully and 
satisfactorily proved by library use. 

I have been talking this matter over 



with some of our friends here, and they 
have suggested this plan : We propose soon 
to send to each member of the Association, 
who is conceivably interested in this work 
with foreigners, a letter stating the titles 
of books that are very much needed, among 
others, the History of the United States in 
Ita'ian and Polish that Miss Campbell has 
just spoken of. And there are other books 
in constant library demand, the Yiddish 
and other foreign lists, our Immigrants' 
Guide in other languages, our "Makers of 
America" in Italian and Yiddish, the Guide 
to Citizenship, now nearly ready, a simple 
book on agriculture, one on hygiene. 

We are going to prepare a list of such 
books, a few of them already well advanced 
for publication, and we are going to ask 
you: "If we publish these books, how 
many will you agree to take?" Some of 
them you are already familiar with, be- 
cause it is only a question of translations. 
For others you may wish to place merely a 
trial order. All will be very modestly 
priced. Then when we receive your replies, 
we shall proceed as rapidly as possible, first 
with those for which we find the expense 
most nearly guaranteed. Also through this 
means, with the successful advance of the 
work, I hope we shall be able to develop an 
efficient bureau of advice. We are always 
willing to give advice and help, within 
the limits of our power. We shall be glad 
to hear from you at any time on any sub- 
ject relating to this work. 



THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AS SEEN FROM THE CIRCULATION DESK 
A SYMPOSIUM 



This is the first time that I have at- 
tempted to record, even for my own use, a 
statement regarding my personal feelings 
toward the American public. It is one 
which is ever present, but to discuss it, even 
among one's friends, seems almost equiva- 
lent to betraying a confidence, and perhaps 
would be considered so by most of us, if 



any attempt were made to cite special cases. 
I feel quite sure that in the discussion this 
evening, the American public will be con- 
sidered in its entirety and we shall thus 
escape being accused of disloyalty to our 
readers. I believe that those who are to 
follow me on the program would have pre- 
ferred the subject reversed, and it is pos- 
sible that some of the speakers will ap- 



277 



proach It from the other side, for certainly 
we all frequently question ourselves re- 
garding the public's view of us, particularly 
v.'hen our sins of omission and commission 
are so many that we sometimes wish to 
hide our heads in shame. 

The acceptance of a library position indi- 
cates a willingness to become a public ser- 
vant, and we may excuse our presumption 
in discussing our employer, the public, on 
the ground that every servant, no matter 
how conscientious and loyal, at some time 
places his employer before him and at- 
tempts an analysis of his chief character- 
istics, so perhaps it is not altogether out 
of place for us to take this position. 

The American public, as viewed from the 
circulation desk, should not be limited to 
library readers, but should include all of 
those who have the right to use the library, 
for the library employee must be able to 
see far beyond the walls of the library 
building, out to the very limits of the dis- 
trict which the library is to serve, for the 
comparatively limited group which uses the 
library must not be allowed to represent 
to us the entire American public. Naturally 
the attitude of mind of the employee at the 
circulation desk is much influenced by those 
who decide the library's policy and if the 
management has not the broad general out- 
look, the employee will be lacking in this 
particular. It rests with those at the top 
to have a well defined belief that the library 
exists for all the people, not alone for the 
mere handful, which happen to use it. 

As we look out from our libraries upon 
the groups of people in which we are so 
much interested, have we not all felt at 
times, that the task of making the library 
effectively known to the entire community 
is almost more than we dare undertake? 
We wonder by what means we can make 
these people believe in our honesty and in 
our sincerity and also, that having accepted 
the position and the responsibility we will 
try to use their money to their best ad- 
vantage. It is not often that a library 
serves directly more than thirty per cent 
of the people and, counting the indirect 
service which it is so very hard to esti- 



mate, not more than fifty per cent. Th« 
honest and sincere library worker believes 
that this condition is due for some reason 
to some fault of hers and if she has any of 
the spirit of tlie social worker, she longs 
to bring about a decided increase. 

Much, perhaps too much, has been said 
about conducting our libraries on business 
principles. Businesslike methods must be 
adopted, without question, but this should 
not mean that we must look upon our read- 
ers and possible readers, with the same atti- 
tude of mind and the same commercial 
spirit as that shown by the merchant 
toward his customers. As soon as the com- 
mercial element enters into our work, we 
are in danger of losing that sympathy for 
our public which our interest in the public 
has created, but which competition will 
soon destroy. A comparison of figures of 
circulation with other libraries, and an 
effort to learn the reason for increase or 
decrease of library use is always commend- 
able, but as soon as we begin to look too 
eagerly for numbers in circulation, we are 
becoming too commercial, or we are being 
overly zealous for figures by means of 
which we may acquire a good standing in 
the library world. I would rather bring 
about a condition which would prompt 
every person of the community to use the 
library once each year, than to prompt what 
might appear to be a much greater use, 
if the latter would mean service to only a 
part of the population: for in so doing, I 
should feel sure that the earnest effort to 
give good service at the circulation desk by 
extending sympathy and help to all was re- 
ceiving the response and co-operation of 
the public. Generally speaking, the public 
is not indifferent to the value of its public 
institutions. It simply needs to be kept 
informed of the existence of these institu- 
tions. We must always keep in mind the 
fact that we have no compulsory library 
law corresponding to our public school law. 
If we had, possibly our libraries would 
seem to be as important in the eyes of all 
the people as are our schools. We must de- 
pend upon holding tlie public's interest 
principally by giving freely of ourselves to 



278 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



our work and by recognizing the public's 
due. 

In our western cities the public libraries 
are used more generally by all classes of 
people than I believe is the case in eastern 
cities. This is due, no doubt, to the exist- 
ence in the older cities of many association 
and semi-private libraries. This naturally 
prompts a different outlook by the library 
upon the public. You of the eastern cities 
may not be much concerned if the people of 
some particular district do not use your li- 
brary, because you believe they may have 
access to some other library, but we of the 
west know that generally it is a choice be- 
tween the purchase of books and the use of 
the public library and knowing something 
of the financial standing of our people, as 
we generally do, we know whether or not 
they can afford to purchase many books, 
and from this we know fairly well who are 
readers and who are not. These facts often 
govern in the work of library extension. 

I am quite conscious that the personal 
work which we do is the most valuable to 
both doer and recipient. Our work would 
not seem worth the doing if at the close of 
a hard busy day, we could not look back 
over the past few hours and recall those 
cases where much service has been needed 
and which has been greatly appreciated 
where received. Sometimes at the close 
of a period of concentrated effort and hard 
work, we may ask ourselves if it is all 
worth while, if there is any reason for its 
being done, for sometimes the indifference 
of the public is deadly. When we are able to 
look on the brighter side of things we recall 
not only the service given to the student 
and to the scholar, but also the fact that 
real joy has been taken into many homes, 
into homes where the chief pleasure is that 
derived from the use of library books. It 
would be foolish and sentimental to go into 
details of this character of the work, but 
we may as well admit to ourselves that the 
personal work which we do gives us the 
keenest pleasure of all, because it is the 
most human. We are conscious that we 
are acting as the medium by which the 
thing which we believe is of vital import- 



ance to the people is being conveyed to 
them and which without our assistance 
might not reach them, and this belief 
naturally produces a feeling of real joy In 
the work that we are doing. 

It is a noticeable fact that the employee 
in the library who occupies some other 
position than that of serving the public 
from the delivery desk, generally considers 
that she is holding a higher position than 
what is generally termed "desk assistant," 
but what position in the library can pos- 
sibly be of more importance than the one 
which brings us in direct contact with the 
public? Her position is equivalent to that 
of the teacher who comes in direct contact 
with the pupils and should be considered 
of the first importance. Who can possibly 
wish to exchange the position which gives 
breadth of view and largeness of outlook, 
which prompts an open mind and brings 
one in contact with the world at large, for 
one which may limit its horizon to the in- 
terior of the library building? It is only 
when we place at the circulation desk our 
best library assistants, those employees who 
can look upon the public in a generous, 
sympathetic way that we shall reach the 
best results from our labors. 

Naturally, no two of us will look upon 
this question of the American public in 
quite the same way. To some, it is the ex- 
ceptional reader who makes the strongest 
appeal, to others the children, still to others 
the person who is down and out and to 
many, perhaps the majority, the great mid- 
dle class will be looked upon as being the 
strongest friend and advocate of our free 
public libraries. I am sure we shall each 
have our favorite type, but this feeling of 
favoritism will be carefully concealed In 
the circulation department which wishes 
to make a success of its work. 

We must remember as we look upon the 
American public from the circulation desk, 
that the term "The Public" means all of 
the people, that every possible human char- 
acteristic enters into the make-up of the 
public, that the library Is their institution, 
not ours, and that we are placed in our 
various positions for the purpose of convey- 



I7» 



Ing to them In the simplest manner and 
according to the rules which they may ap- 
prove the material contained In the library. 
It Is the public's privilege to judge of the 
work of the library employee and the duty 
of the library employee to profit by such 
criticism if it be just, and always to see in 
her field of labor an opportunity for greater 
service. 

EDITH TOBITT, 
Omaha Public Library. 

II. 

Few of those who come to this country 
looking for copy report shyness as an 
American characteristic. Yet diffidence is 
evident when the average citizen enters a 
library. It is surprising to see how much 
awe can be inspired by a very young as- 
sistant who does not know much and is 
aware of it, but who happens to be sit- 
ting behind a desk against a background 
of books. The result of this diffidence is 
a tendency to ask for what Is wanted, in 
the most general terms — "a book on agri- 
culture" when all the man really wants is 
to raise cucumbers in his back yard. 

Part of this vagueness Is due to a hope 
of obtaining information without exposing 
his own lack of knowledge though it might 
uncover only what someone has aptly 
called one of "the honorable points of 
Ignorance;" and part to the inability of 
the majority of people to phrase their mean- 
ing exactly. 

Men who need technical books are used 
to doing things, and they know precisely 
what they want, but their range of expres- 
sion is often limited. Others know their 
subject in a general way, but cannot put it 
Into words. Some day we may take a hint 
from the salesmanship schools and have 
practice classes for our staff in the science 
of questioning and the art of finding out 
by suggestion. For a textbook we can 
use some librarian's pamphlet on "Success- 
ful questions I have asked." 

An unexpected trait is encountered when 
we ask for a borrower's signature before 
he uses certain books. People do not like 
to trust you with their namei! It Is more 



than the reserve of modern life. It la some- 
thing more elemental, a queer and atavistic 
kink that makes us kin to Rumpelstlltzkln. 
I have felt so often that it harked back to 
the old folk ways superstition. If you get 
possession of another man's name, or any- 
thing that is a part of him, even one hair 
from his head, you have him in your power. 

It is not for malignant power but for 
purposes of identification that we prefer to 
have a borrower's full name as part of our 
library records. Our success Is largely a 
question of locality. In the east the middle 
name is usually a matter of family pride 
and used very freely, while farther west 
the name seems to be regarded as a mere 
tag, and shortened for convenience, with 
even a vigorously expressed distaste for us- 
ing more than the two initials. 

There is a part of the public as seen from 
the circulation desk, which — to put It 
Irishly — we never see at all. 

"Please give me a book for my mother." 
"My grandmother wants another story." I 
have in my mental picture gallery a whole 
row of nice grandmothers still reading 
Marlitt and Rosa Carey; but you cannot be 
sure that somebody's grandmother will not 
return "Gold Elsie" and demand Instead 
"The great adventure." 

That is the difficulty in indirect work of 
this kind. Finding the right books for 
someone you have never seen Is as elusive 
a task as matching a piece of red calico. A 
method of solution, however, can be found 
for every problem, and the approved first 
aid in these emergencies is "What book 
had you before that your mother liked?" 

I still remember my own initial experi- 
ence. A small girl asked me for a book 
to take home to her mother. I applied the 
formula — her mother liked Thackeray. In 
less than ten minutes another little girl 
came in. With "Henry Esmond" and 
"Vanity Fair" in mind, I did, however, 
stop long enough to say again, "And what 
has your mother had before that she 
liked?" "Please, teacher," the little girl 
said, "she likes the Blue fairy book pretty 
well." 

By such means we choose the books and 



280 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



the children take them home to fathers 
and mothers, big brothers, Catholic Sisters 
in the parochial schools, and often to 
"neighbor ladies," sometimes at as much 
as a penny apiece. 

For sisters the formula is, "Is your sis- 
ter in high school?" not "How old is she?" 
for she is always "twenty," old enough, 
that is, so that you will let her have a love 
story. 

The children develop an amazing keen- 
ness in selecting and remembering books. 
If you have given them a love story they 
look at the frontispiece. If they have not 
seen it before, but if he and she are both 
pictured there, in colors, and close enough 
together to indicate a happy ending, they 
know Big Sister will be satisfied. 

In foreign districts much of the adult 
work is done through the children. It is 
necessary to win their confidence first and 
then find out what they want. 

Foreign juvenile books we send to the 
grandmother; fairy tales frequently, to the 
mother; fiction and travel, to the father. 
Some of the fathers will come to the 
library, but history and tradition are 
against the mothers. Often, when asked to 
come and take out a card, they say, "I'll 
have to ask my man." Cook books and 
crochet books are often a successful bait, 
and apparently "my man" approves read- 
ing with so practical an object In im- 
mediate view. 

Fortunately no fixed questions or 
formulas, however skillful, can cover all 
cases, and every day at the circulation desk 
brings some new situation to meet and 
some new opportunity for service. 

LomsE Prouty, 
Cleveland Puhlic Library. 

III. 

The desk assistant might divide the 
American public into three classes. First, 
those who disconcert her by their rever- 
ential awe; second, those who embarrass 
her by a surprising irreverence; third, 
those, who reassure her by Intelligent ap- 
preciation. 

She cannot judge them without realizing 



to what extent the library is responsible for 
their attitude. If, for Instance, librarians 
had not at one time sanctioned the belief 
that the library was a retreat for scholars 
only and the librarian a law unto himself, 
we would never have inherited the "rever- 
ential" class. If the public library had 
achieved a wider publicity, we would no 
longer be approached with a deference 
which we do our utmost to discourage. 
Neither would the public find it necessary 
to resort to an air of bravado, evidently 
intended to conceal an uncomfortable 
strangeness in the presence of books. 
Everyone would feel as much at home as 
does that intelligent reader who is alive 
to the inherent democracy of the library 
and to the librarian's desire that it shall be 
put to test. 

While the desk assistant can never attempt 
to shoulder responsibility for all of the pub- 
lic's foibles and failings, (alas, she is 
altogether too conscious of her own short- 
comings!) she can at least "give the devil 
his due" and see to it that the discussion 
is not entirely one-sided. 

If the librarian has many new standards 
to uphold, she has also many traditions to 
live down. She must direct the scores of 
borrowers who come with ready-made ideas 
of the old-fashioned library, to the up-to- 
date information bureau. They will ex- 
pect to find a literary atmosphere, a 
scholarly librarian, a ponderous printed 
catalog and books invisible, or at any rate 
inaccessible. Indeed they are vaguely dis- 
appointed to be greeted by anything else. 
No wonder that the sight of many tables 
crowded with earnest workers, who help 
themselves from open shelves and actually 
consult the impressive card index, should 
stagger them. The amazing part of it is 
that so many months pass before they can 
bring themselves to apply the object lesson. 
What joy, pray, can you find in the happy 
slogan, "Our business is answering ques- 
tions," if borrowers will continue to apolo- 
ent in the removal of "silence" placards, If 
gize for asking them? What virtue is appar- 
stage-whlspered inquiries still persist? 
What gain have you made in setting no 



VAN DYNE 



281 



limit on the number of books lent, i£ bor- 
rowers uncomplainingly accept one volume 
aa their quota? 

As for the card catalog, — it is only the 
thoroughly acclimated and intrepid reader, 
whom you may direct to it. All others 
need to be coaxed. Printed directions for 
its use are posted, but they prove no sub- 
stitute for personal reassurance. You must 
accompany readers to the cases to explain 
that the filing is by dictionary arrangement 
with authors, titles and subjects in one 
alphabet. You must pull out one of the 
neatly labeled drawers, find the required 
entry, copy the call number and produce the 
corresponding book. And then, having 
partially convinced them that the process 
is simple, you leave them to flounder help- 
lessly among the cards and to discover that 
titles, identical with subject headings, are 
listed only under subject, that nondescript 
titles beginning Principles, Elements, Text- 
book are disregarded entirely, etc. 

Nevertheless every library is convinced 
that the theory of self-help is correct even 
if the practice has its disadvantages. Yet, 
while a vigorous and persistent campaign 
is being waged to introduce the reader to 
the catalog, other library tools, almost as 
indispensable, are often shelved in some re- 
mote corner where the timid fear to tres- 
pass. To remedy this inconsistency the 
Newark Library has recently collected 
"Books in print," "Publisher's trade list an- 
nual," "Cumulative book review digest," to- 
gether with the new "Standard dictionary" 
and placed them on a raised table con- 
venient to the card catalog and supplement- 
ing it. Familiarity with books and index 
tools — the useful variety like city direc- 
tories, street maps, railroad guides, etc. — 
is certainly the most effective antidote for 
literary prejudice and the librarian's halo. 

Is it some perverted form of deference 
or distrust arising from ignorance, that is 
responsible for the public's reluctance to 
take us into their confidence when they 
have any definite information to secure? 
Are they too considerate to burden us with 
their personal problems? Or, does the im- 
portance of their own affairs advise against 



the indiscretion ot confidences? They 
know what they want, but are loath to give 
us the clue. If it is possible to obtain the 
desired information by any indirect scheme, 
so much the better. Should worse come 
to worse they may drop an inkling of what 
is wanted; but will never by any chance 
tell you why it is needed or precisely what 
it is. Adroit and tactful questionings are 
just as likely to prove disastrous as suc- 
cessful. The inquirer grows suspicious un- 
der cross-examination and will answer at 
random. Sometimes, if you are content to 
take him at his word and give him exactly 
what he asks for in spite of your better 
judgment and acquired intuition, he will 
make a pretense of examining the material 
submitted, while planning his next move; 
will then return to the desk, make a second 
request a little nearer the truth, and re- 
peat his Inquiry until eventually the secret 
is out. Which of us has not interviewed 
the mother who asks for books on travel, 
when what she really wants is a large pic- 
ture of a polar bear; and the student who 
asks to be directed to the art books when 
she merely wishes Shakespeare's "Hamlet?" 
Occasionally it happens that the inquirer, 
encouraged by a sympathetic assistant, will 
throw discretion to the winds and sud- 
denly decide to make a clean breast of the 
entire situation. Such impulses are rare. 
If the riddle remains unsolved, the library's 
efiiciency is discredited. If the borrower 
departs with the "answer," it must be with 
an awakened assurance in his own ability 
to "play the game." 

The irreverent are not so. They stoop to 
no such subtle subterfuges. They cherish 
no illusions regarding marble halls, literary 
atmosphere and a librarian's intellectual 
superiority. Books, catalogs, and index 
tools have no terrors for them, because they 
cheerfully decline to consider them. They 
prefer to get their information first-hand 
from the librarian. Why is she there, un- 
less to make herself generally useful? If 
a shortage of time makes it advisable that 
they leave their list or question, or problem, 
the librarian can be depended on to look It 
up "at her leisure." They depart with a 



282 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



promise to call again for the information. 
Perhaps a personal visit presents diffi- 
culties. In that case a messenger may be 
sent with very satisfactory results. For 
instance, a third grade child, dispatched 
by a teacher with a note, will return to 
school with a dozen pictures, selected irom 
a collection of three hundred thousand, to 
Illustrate the effect of climate and rainfall 
on human habitations! What matter that 
innumerable subject headings are consulted 
and hundreds of pictures handled in the 
search? The child is willing to wait and 
will overlook interruptions. 

We have advertised that all questions 
will be answered. We are anxious to 
spread the news that the library is pre- 
pared to furnish information on electric 
bell, tariff, the fire-fighting apparatus in 
Kalamazoo, pill-box manufacturers in 
Pennsylvania, parliamentary law or scien- 
tific salesmanship. We are distressed that 
a great number of taxpayers know the 
library only as a place where you can con- 
sult a local directory, where you can read 
a San Francisco paper in New York or a 
New York paper in San Francisco, or where 
the children go to prepare school composi- 
tions. Each advertising venture brings an 
influx of new business and our claims are 
taxed to a point which is more than in- 
teresting. We have announced that all 
questions will be answered, and the ques- 
tions are forthcoming. Memory-gem en- 
thusiasts bethink themselves of forgotten 
favorites and present them for identifica- 
tion. They seat themselves at a table to 
await results and when, after a painstaking 
search for "When grandma danced the 
minuet," you report nothing closer than 
"When grandma danced the tango," it is a 
sorry reward to have the borrower smile 
blandly upon you and casually remark, "I'll 
ask the next time I'm at the Business 
Branch. They can always teli you what 
you want to know!" Likewise a skeptical 
patient will puzzle his amateur brain for 
hours over professional medical terms that 
he may confirm a physician's advice, and 
a prospective client will spend days among 
the law books to fortify himself against the 



tricks of unscrupulous lawyers. When in 
doubt the desk assistant is called upon to 
settle fine points. The idea that a public 
institution is not justified in devoting an 
hour to some inconsequential query, or 
that it is not qualified to furnish profes- 
sional aid, simply does not occur to them. 
The number of estranged families, reunited 
through the city directories service, cannot 
be estimated. Certainly some very absorb- 
ing family histories are poured into the 
desk assistant's ear, in spite of non-com- 
mittal replies and discouraging silences. 
There is practically no end to these con- 
fidences. Borrowers like nothing better 
than to discuss books returned, weighing 
their opinions with the author's and ex- 
pounding their own pet theories. The 
elderly retired gentleman is a problem. He 
spends most of his time at the library, 
cultivating ideas on a variety of subjects 
and rehearsing them to the desk assistant. 
He explains at length his elaborate plans 
to return the ten tribes to Canaan and in- 
variably mistakes your attitude of polite 
attention for one of deep concern. Mean- 
while a party of gay young friends may 
flounce in, sweep you and the rest of the 
equipment with an appraising glance, miss 
the other crowd, whom they have arranged 
to meet, sing out "nobody home" and whirl 
out again with an innocent indifference. 
All are oblivious to your distraction and to 
the business in hand. 

Many of these offenders would doubtless 
prove agreeable and interesting under more 
favorable circumstances. They do not, 
however, constitute a satisfying public. 
Some of them are natural-born drones. The 
majority would rather impose on good na- 
ture than betray a strangeness in un- 
familiar surroundings. In their eyes it is 
the lesser of two evils. 

Those readers, who reassure us by In- 
telligent appreciation, are obviously the 
most satisfying class. Appreciation is here 
meant to imply understanding and not 
gratitude. There is no more reason for a 
desk assistant to feel exalted because she 
is the humble means of cheering a con- 
valescent with "Molly-Make-Believe," than 



VAN DYNE 



28> 



for an obliging clerk to experience a mis- 
sionary zeal In the sale of a becoming 
gown. It is simply that to them the library 
has succeeded in imparting the spirit of 
good-will and unobtrusive helpfulness, for 
which it strives unceasingly. They recog- 
nize our aims, but respect our limitations. 
They ask for what they want witli a busi- 
ness-like directness and avoid irrelevant 
personalities. They discriminate between 
legitimate requests and unreasonable de- 
mands. They question our inconsistencies 
and arbitrary rulings. They do not indulge 
in promiscuous praise. Neither do they 
withhold honest appreciation. In short, 
they are as near perfect as the public can 
well be. 

In one form or another these qualities, 
good and bad, are met in every business 
and profession. They are not peculiar to 
patrons of libraries and the public is under 
such constant criticism that we can hardly 
expect them to be visibly affected over their 
failure to conform to our particular 
standards. Nevertheless, experience shows 
that many borrowers would be far more 
comfortable in the library were they better 
acquainted with its machinery. Others, 
whose unfamlliarity has deterred them 
from making a first visit, would un- 
doubtedly be encouraged by more frequent 
and more casual reference to the library in 
print. 

Here, then, is the strongest argument for 
library publicity, widespread and far-reach- 
ing; for a publicity which presupposes the 
generous support of local newspapers and 
educational agencies; for the type of 
publicity which prompted the "Saturday 
evening post," with a circulation of two 
million a week, to arrange for a two-page 
story about the Newark Library under the 
suggestive title of "Literature on the job"; 
for publicity which awards libraries a place 
side by side with public schools and public 
health in Zeublin's "American municipal 
progress"; and, finally, for publicity as 
spontaneous and delightful as Mary Antin's 
tribute in her "Promised land." 

Mistaken notions and contemptuous In- 
difference could not long survive a cam- 



paign of print. Articles which depend for 
their interest on the facetious rehash of 
curious questions and ludicrous errors 
would soon lose caste. Not only that, but 
cur advertising would then be absolutely 
honest. We would, for example, never 
intimate that information was invariably 
at hand, when in reality a diligent search 
is often necessary to unearth it. We would 
sacrifice to an even greater extent library 
hobbies to popular wants. We would some- 
how manage to buy books as they are 
needed. The complaint that books are 
"never in" is often more just than we are 
pleased to admit, and is one which we can- 
not afford to dismiss with a circulation- 
desk smile and a word of praise for the 
admirable reserve system. 

After all, it is not with the born librarian 
a question of how the public appears across 
the circulation desk, but of how a library 
impresses its community. 

CATHARINE VAN DYNE, 
Xewarlc Free Public Library. 

IV. 

The procession which files past the main 
desk in the library I am acquainted with 
raises three questions; where it comes 
from, what it contains, what it might con- 
tain. 

It comes from a normal American city, 
located towards the setting sun from the 
line dividing the East and the West. We 
have had our moral survey and profited 
by it; we have had Billy Sunday and 
profited by him; our city is not dead to its 
opportunities for social service, and it has 
plenty of such opportunities. Among them 
is a large foreign population, but the cen- 
sus tells us that not more than one of each 
twenty-five of us who are more than ten 
years old are staying out of this proces- 
sion because of illiteracy, 

A study of the first thousand names in 
the registration book in the library I know 
about gives a composite picture of the bor- 
rower, seven-tenths Anglo-Saxon, more 
than one-tenth German by birth or descent, 
a little less than one-tenth Irish, and so on. 
I picture him as one who looks back for 



284 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



the most part to Magna Charta and Plym- 
outh Rock for his tastes, his prejudices, 
his views, and as one who owns a Ford and 
rents the upper flat to another family. He 
Is all this in spite of the fact that a good 
deal less than half the population of the 
city is made up of native whites of native 
parentage, and in spite of the fact that 
the usual inducements have been made to 
reach the reader who is at home in Italian, 
Yiddish, Polish or Greek. 

It is rhetorical license to refer to this 
composite borrower as "he." The borrower 
is in fact, mostly the other sort of thing. 
Out of every forty borrowers in the line I 
am describing twenty-three are women. 

So far as we have gone then, in de- 
scribing this procession at the main desk 
we are at liberty to frame an indictment 
against ourselves for not penetrating more 
deeply below the polished crust of what is 
genteel and well-to-do to make our institu- 
tion a more positive social force in the 
community, and we are also at liberty to 
say to ourselves that we are not doing all 
we might to commend ourselves to the 
more practical and vigorous elements of 
the community. Too much Myrtle Reed, 
perhaps, you will say, and not enough 0. 
Henry. Too much Chautauqua and not 
enough Ginger Talks on Salesmanship. 

Of our duty to the readers in foreign 
languages we have been very frequently 
and forcibly reminded. I find a wealth of 
suggestions in the proceedings of this Asso- 
ciation and in the contents of library peri- 
odicals. It has been an almost constant 
topic of discussion for the past ten years, 
led by such capable enthusiasts as John 
Foster Carr of the Immigrant Publication 
Society. Three years ago this Associa- 
tion listened to an inspiring talk by the 
author of "The promised land," who said 
that as for the five-foot shelf of classics 
the child of the immigrant swallows it 
whole and makes no bones of it. . . 
"There," said I to myself, "I always knew 
that if I lived long enough I would one day 
hear of somebody who could read the Har- 
vard Classics." And as I read that state- 
ment and considered the writings of Mil- 



ton, of Mill, of Locke, of Hume and of 
Pasteur contained in Dr. Eliot's choice 
collection, and thought of what an exami- 
nation I could pass in these standard au- 
thors, and then of the Ingenuous immigrant 
child sitting there and swallowing them 
whole, I wondered what all the indignation 
was for which has been shown at the pro- 
posal of a literacy test in the immigration 
law. It is the librarian, the school teacher 
and the English professor, I said to myself, 
who should be forced to undergo a literacy 
test. 

Mary Antin's exaggeration is the natural 
outgrowth of her inspiration and zeal. On 
the other side quite as interesting, is the in- 
dignant rejoinder of Miss Repplier to Miss 
Addams, Mary Antin and the rest, in that 
remarkable essay "The modest immi- 
grant." She resents the idea that if we 
don't give ourselves up to the work of 
Americanizing the foreigner he will pres- 
ently swallow us up alive. Well, if the 
aliens whom Edward Alsworth Ross de- 
scribes as "backward men" are becoming a 
threatening danger to the Republic, which 
I doubt, probably it is the immigration offi- 
cials and not the public libraries, that must 
be looked to first for protection. The rea- 
son for trying to increase the number of 
foreign born in this procession that flies 
past the main desk should not be shame 
nor fear but love of the great calling of 
leading our fellow men to the living wat- 
ers of good reading, and contributing joy 
to the lives of those who can be led to ap- 
preciate the splendid heritage of literature. 
For promoting the influence of literature 
is I assume still the chief business of our 
lives. 

But what I miss chiefly in this procession 
is not the Russian, the Hungarian, the 
Pole, the Italian, or the male of any species, 
but the American farmer, the farmer's son, 
the farmer's daughter, the farmer's wife, 
and most particularly the last. 

I miss these folks especially, because 
they are my own folks. I know them. I 
know what they are doing for America and 
what they deserve at her hands and what 
they need if they are to keep their indis- 



PAINE 



286 



pensable end up. Something, I think, re- 
mains to he done for them which has not 
been done, something that can't be done 
by the splendid organization of our depart- 
ments of agriculture, our experiment sta- 
tions, our summer courses, our soil surveys, 
our innumerable bulletins and our union 
schools. All these cannot give these people 
all they need of vital impulse and inner 
growth and gratify in them the appetite 
for joy. I say that the agency that can 
add joy to the life of the family on the 
back road, that can make the son of this 
family braver, purer and nobler, that can 
give to the daughter of this family com- 
panions among all the heroes and heroines 
of poetry and fiction, and that can lighten 
the burdens of the mother by taking her 
mind for a little time away from the dead- 
ening routine that so often weighs her 
down is a more valuable service even than 
the most recent information about lime, 
sulphur spray and incubator chicks. 

Can it be possible, I ask myself, that the 
library in the city will be able indefinitely 
to remain deaf to the call from the Ameri- 
can on the farm? Does the library which 
acknowledges so compelling an obligation 
to the immigrant in the city owe no obli- 
gation at all to the people on the farm 
whose children are drifting aimlessly to 
the city though the welfare of city and 
county alike demands that most of them 
should stay where they are and make coun- 
try life better? Are the city limits a dead 
line at which the influence of the library, 
as a free institution, must halt forever? 
And on the other hand, is it out of the 
question to expect that county and town 
authorities in counties where large libra- 
ries exist may some day be awakened to 
the splendid advantage of free reading, and 
to a willingness to cooperate with the city 
in securing these advantages for country 
people? 

Is there no hint for us, city and country, 
too, in the extension of rural free delivery 
routes over the whole United States and 
the consequent growth of the mail order 
business to the stupendous proportions that 
we see today? The most notable encour- 



agement which this Association ap- 
pears to have got on this subject Is that 
contained in the stimulating address of 
Dr. Claxton two years ago who told you 
that every city library should at once be 
open to all the people of the country dis- 
tricts in the county where it is located and 
that some other provision should be made 
for the 2,000 counties with no library of 
more than 5,000 books. 

Finally, if I were asked how I regard and 
describe the public as it files past the main 
desk in the Carnegie building in Syra- 
cuse, I should answer that I look on each 
individual as a worker of miracles for the 
glorifying of my duties. The boy in the 
young people's room who sat immovable 
and undisturbed, neither seeing nor hear- 
ing the explosion of the flash light that 
took his picture as a faithful reader, was 
then engaged with the Tanglewood Tales. 
He was engaged in bringing Nathaniel 
Hawthorne back to life. That is the mir- 
acle I mean. Hawthorne was there talking 
to that boy. The inmost, sweetest, strong- 
est soul of the author, whether it be Moses 
or Homer or Stevenson or Shakespeare 
speaks to the appreciative reader wherever 
the book is read. Here is the Miracle of 
the Real Presence of the author actually 
taking place hundreds of times a day. The 
more frequently it happens the more com- 
pletely is the library itself brought to life, 
and to bring it all to life we need the as- 
sistance of all kinds of readers. Towards 
the end of the Billy Sunday campaign in 
our town a fellow citizen whom I had never 
seen before, demanded an interview. Then 
he demanded a copy of the Holy Bible. 
Then he demanded that I turn to a certain 
verse. I didn't know where to find the 
verse, but I knew where the concordance 
was. I don't remember what the verse 
was, but it might well have been that bit 
of advice to the Galatlans "be not en- 
tangled again with the yoke of bondage." 
The man's voice was thick. His gait was 
wobbly. His breath was strong. There Is 
no reasonable doubt that he had left a 
friend somewhere in a saloon and that he 
wanted the Bible to decide a bet as to how 



286 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



that verse read. So he took the book and 
zigzagged out of the building. Weeks 
afterwards I met him. He shook my hand 
for a long time. Then he told me who he 
was. He had changed. He had climbed 
on the wagon. "I'm on to stay," he re- 
marked. "You should hear me at a trail 
hitter's meeting. My conversion dates 
from the day I came into the library." The 
man, you see, had brought St. Paul to life 
In that saloon in Syracuse. I want more 
and more people and more and more kinds 
of people to take part in this kind of mir- 



acle. It can never be complete with any 
element of the reading public left out. It 
demands the help of the Immigrant, the 
graduate student, the club woman, the shop 
girl with her splendid appetite for ro- 
mance, the mechanic, the salesman, the 
farmer and the farmer's wife. I want to 
think of the farm house in Onondaga as a 
place where David Copperfield, Alan Breck, 
Beth, Joe and Amy are enjoying an im- 
mortality. 

Paul M. Paine, 
Syracuse Pulilic Library. 



TIMES PAST— TWENTY-FOUR A. L. A. CONFERENCES RECALLED * 



By Fbedeeick W. Faxon, Former Secretary of A. L. A. and Chairman Travel Committee 



Listen my friends 

And you shall hear. 
Of the A. L. A. travels 

From year to year. 

Look closely good people, 

That you may see 
How the delegates journey 

From sea to sea. 

A wonderful opportunity to see our coun- 
try under the most satisfactory auspices 
has been enjoyed by those who have regu- 
larly attended our annual meetings for the 
last twenty-four years. Aside from the in- 
terest in the papers and discussions, and 
the added inspiration and enthusiasm for 
our work gained, those yearly trips have 
broadened our knowledge of the world, have 
made us familiar with our country's scenic 
wonders, and introduced us to the beauties 
of many of the cities — their parks, art col- 
lections, and libraries. 

At the request of our president, I am 
going to bring back to you some of the 
joys of our travels since I became a mem- 
ber of the A. L. A. in 1893, and attended the 
Chicago World's Fair meeting. 

The fascination and beauty of that ex- 



•This paper was written to Illustrate a 
series of lantern slides shown at the Asbury 
Park meeting, but was not read owing to late- 
ness of the hour. Descriptions of slides are 
here omitted. 



position will always remain with me — the 
myriads of lights at night reflected in the 
lagoons, the bands playing, the gondolas 
silently gliding by — it made an impression 
that will never fade, — a vision of some for- 
eign country set down in the center of the 
United States. Since then we have at- 
tended five other world's fairs each beauti- 
ful in its way, but the first will to me 
remain the unique experience. Samuel 
Swett Green has given us in his book "The 
public library movement in the United 
States" an intimate history of this Asso- 
ciation down to 1893, so it is appropriate 
that we should begin with that year, the 
fifteenth conference. Mr. Dewey was presi- 
dent. Dr. Hill secretary, and Mr. Carr 
treasurer. In 1893 was gathered the 
A. L. A. model library and the first "A. L. A. 
catalog" was compiled. The sessions at 
Chicago were spread over two weeks, thus 
allowing opportunity to study the exposi- 
tion without missing meetings. They were 
held all over town, — at the Art Institute, 
in the old Newberry library, in the City 
Hall — where the Chicago Public Library 
was housed, — in several of the buildings of 
the University of Chicago. I believe the 
mileage we covered attending the 1893 ses- 
sions has remained a record to this day. 
A tally-ho ride from the North Side out to 



FAXON 



287 



Buffalo Bill's Wild West I well remember, 
and as a new member I marvelled that Dr. 
Poole and Mr. Dewey and such important 
and famous members should enter into the 
spirit of the outing like boys at a circus. 
I learned at this my first A. L. A. what 
approachable and delightful persons li- 
brarians were. Though the weather was 
hot, and our poor feet blistered by sight- 
seeing, it was a long to be remembered 
experience. 

The following year the conference was 
at Lake Placid, the Grand View and Mir- 
ror Lake Hotels accommodating us nicely. 
President Larned in his address men- 
tioned the new work libraries were doing 
with schools, and spoke of the need of li- 
brarians getting outside their library walls. 
There were three social evenings, — one the 
annual dinner, at which I first met Miss 
Ahern, then librarian of the Indiana State 
Library. Mr. C. C. Soule was toastmaster, 
and when he called upon her to speak she 
prefaced her remarks with a story of how 
a man passing a barber shop in Boston saw 
a sign, "Whiskers dyed here." He went 
in and handing the astonished barber a 
bunch of flowers, said: "Put this on his 
grave." Lake Placid was a most beautiful 
region, and many were the walks, rides and 
boating trips we took. I remarked that 
even on these excursions much discussion 
of library problems was in progress. It 
was evident that the social side, the be- 
tween-sessions periods, the meal times, 
were fully as valuable as the program. 
One could not help becoming enthusiastic 
for the library profession. My first post-con- 
ference followed — a coaching party through 
the Adirondacks — to Saranac Lake, Loon 
Lake, Ausable Chasm and Lake George, and 
thence by boat and train to Saratoga 
Springs. Lasting friendships are made on 
these jolly excursions which follow the con- 
ference almost every year. 

Eighteen ninety-five brought a small 
company of librarians to Denver, where Mr. 
Dana of the Public library and Mr. Dudley 
of the City library had planned a truly west- 
ern reception for us. Mr. Utley, of Detroit, 
was president, and urged the duty of each 



state to provide a free library tor every 
town, as New Hampshire had done. Den- 
ver impressed us as a beautiful city, and 
we saw the Rocky Mountains for the first 
time, a dim wall to the west. Later we 
touched them in their rugged canons and 
on their mountain railway passes — wonder- 
fully grand. The "Loop trip" to George- 
town was a day's excursion. The journey 
to Glenwood Springs and back to Colorado 
Springs was the post-conference. It gave 
the tenderfoot his first intimate Rocky 
Mountain knowledge. A trip to the top 
of Pikes Peak was a fitting climax to this 
Colorado week, though the visit to Cripple 
Creek, then but recently discovered, was 
unique. Librarians on burros are a funny 
sight, but we found that method of loco- 
motion quite exhilarating; not that the 
beasts were rapid, — oh no! they try to see 
how slow they can go, and they easily be- 
come "stalled" unless a small boy with a 
whip follows close behind — for it was be- 
fore the days of the "self-starter." 

Mr. Dana was president at the Cleve- 
land conference in 1896 and told the li- 
brarians about "The seamy side of library 
work." Since that early date Mr. Dana, of 
Denver, Springfield and Newark, has ever 
been listened to with increasing interest, 
His speeches fill a book, — he shows up our 
pet troubles, dear Bernard Shaw of li 
brarianship that he is. 

It was at Cleveland that Miss Anne Wal 
lace, of Atlanta, attended her first A. L. A 
and told of her pleasure in meeting on 
such friendly terms the great librarians 
It seemed to her fiippant to laugh and joke 
with the author of "History for ready ref- 
erence"; an honor to lunch with the writer 
of "Public libraries in America," and she 
said she would never forget having danced 
with the man who perfected that wonder- 
ful device "The Cutter rules for a dic- 
tionary catalog." 

That year the post-conference was a 
steamer trip to Detroit and thence to 
Mackinac Island, where a two-day stop 
gave opportunity for a final session, and 
much sight-seeing. "And with all, the 



288 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



wonder grew, when so much had been done, 
so much remained to do." 

Another year rolled by, and we gathered 
in Philadelphia, in 1897. Mr. Brett, of 
Cleveland, was president, and sessions were 
held at the Drexel Institute. This year we 
found in attendance one whom the registrar 
listed as "J. O. Wyer, Jr., student." Do 
you recognize J. I. Wyer, Jr., of Albany, 
ex-president of the A. L. A., and in "Who's 
Who." Then he belonged in the "Who's 
He?" class. Another unknown seen In the 
official group was Mr. Purd Wright, of St. 
Joseph, Mo. A small post-conference to the 
Delaware Water Gap was provided for those 
who did not sail for England. The Kit- 
tatinny was headquarters, and thence ex- 
cursions were made by foot, by bicycle, by 
carriage, by ferry — delightful days, and 
restful. 

In 1898 Miss Mary E. Hazeltine, by her 
charming personality, secured the meeting 
for Lakewood-on-Chautauqua, near her 
home, Jamestown, N. Y., where she was 
librarian. Dr. Herbert Putnam served 
as president, and what a delightful pre- 
siding officer he made. The sessions 
were held in the Waldmere Hotel. 
One of the largest exhibits we ever had 
was installed in the little unused chapel 
near at hand. A "Geographical section" 
was organized this year, to explore, in the 
early mornings, the many beauties of the 
region. It had two permanent members, 
and others were members by invitation 
and ability to arise in the early morning 
hours before breakfast. 

One day the conference journeyed to 
Niagara Falls, giving many members their 
first sight of that splendid cataract, and 
its gorge. We recall the vivid color of Mr. 
Dewey's white trousers after he had sat 
upon a bunch of those luscious black 
cherries, which the boys sold along the 
Gorge, tied by the stems in great bunches, 
like the toy balloons at a circus. 

Miss Anne Wallace won the meeting for 
1899 and carried us off to Atlanta. We 
went by way of Old Point Comfort and 
Hampton Institute. Mr. Lane was presi- 
dent, and next in importance came the bar- 



becue. See the shoats turning on the spits! 
Hear the "lard-can quartet!" This year our 
Constitution was changed and we nearly 
died during the ordeal, but at last it was 
over and the post-conference proceeded 
from Lithia Springs to Lookout Mountain 
and Chattanooga, with the Natural Bridge 
of Virginia and Caverns of Luray for good 
measure. Did any one of you ever try to 
room sixty people where there were beds 
for but forty? A gold A. L. A. pin I am 
wearing was the prize won for that ac- 
complishment on top of Lookout Mountain. 

Canada's first conference was a great 
success in the early summer of 1900, and 
Mr. C. H. Gould as our host, aided by the 
manager of the Windsor Hotel, was ever 
alert for our comfort. Mr. Thwaites, be- 
loved of all who knew him, was 
president at this Montreal conference and 
in his address "Ten years of library prog- 
ress" (the first presidential address which 
had been given a title) he recalled how in 
the short space of ten years there had de- 
veloped; Library commissions, district as- 
sociations, traveling and branch libraries, 
library advertising, children's rooms, rooms 
tor the blind, access to the shelves, coopera- 
tion with schools and teachers, coopera- 
tive cataloging, inter-library loans, library 
buildings, library gifts and library legisla- 
tion. 

Here at Montreal was a re-union of the 
party which went to the Atlanta Cotton 
Exposition in 1895 and discovered Miss 
Anne. They were Mr. and Mrs. Carr, Mr. 
Bowker, Miss Hannah P. James, Miss Mary 
Sargent, Miss Alice B. Kroeger, Miss Nina 
Browne, Miss Edith Tobitt. 

From Montreal two specially chartered 
steamers took 300 of the 450 in attendance 
on a never-to-be forgotten post-conference 
cruise to Quebec, and up the wonderful 
Saguenay River to Chicoutimi, with a 
visit on the return to Ste. Anne de BeauprS. 
There has never been such a large post- 
conference and probably never will be, as 
this planned by Mr. Gould, and so success- 
fully carried out. 

Now among all the librarians none Is so 
devoted to his Vichy water as he who pre- 



389 



Bides over the Scranton Public Library. 
It was eminently fitting, therefore to hold 
the 1901 conference among mineral springs. 
At Waukesha, Wisconsin, Mr. Carr was 
president. "Being a librarian" was the title 
of his address, delivered during one of the 
hottest conventions, — as to weather — we 
ever held, until in 1914 Washington, D. C, 
set the record for all time to come. "Mad- 
ison day" was a treat — we were entertained 
in true western style, and shown the 
beauties of the region, and the great new 
library building occupied jointly by the 
State Historical Society and the University 
library. Sam Walter Foss was with us 
this year, having recently been appointed 
librarian at Somerville, Mass., Purd 
Wright, of Missouri, was no longer an 
unknown. Mr. Godard, of Connecticut, 
made his first appearance this year; he is 
now one of those we could not spare. The 
Eastern and Southern members returned 
homeward via the Great Lakes, and "My, 
my, wliat a sail!" as Dr. Steiner would 
say. But on the last day Lake Erie did 
misbehave awfully just when "the Infinite 
Eight" had planned a dinner party. We 
finally landed at Buffalo and spent several 
days at the Pan-American Exposition be- 
fore separating tor our homes. 

Nineteen-two brought 1,018 of us to the 
Boston-Magnolia meeting and set a record 
for attendance not equalled until 1914. Dr. 
Billings was president and addressed us on 
"Some library problems of tomorrow." 
That was where he said "twelve new 
novels a year is ample allowance for the 
average public library." President Eliot 
of Harvard came to this meeting and 
advocated storage libraries for little- 
called-for books, an address that created 
much discussion. It was here, too, that 
the announcement of Mr. Carnegie's gift 
of $100,000 to the Association was made. 
Magnolia was one of the pleasantest meet- 
ing places we ever had, the three big hotels 
— Oceanside, New Magnolia and Hesperus 
— accommodating everyone comfortably. 

A small party made a post-conference 
trip to Mt. Desert where two fine days be- 
tween the storms gave opportunity to 



explore the region, and the western mem- 
bers had a fine taste of rough weather on 
the trip down. 

Niagara Falls was the place of the 1903 
conference and Dr. J. K. Hosmer spoke 
in his presidential address of "Some things 
that are uppermost," discussing Pres. 
Eliot's address of the year before. This 
year the question of a headquarters for 
the Association was discussed; the office 
liad always before been in the secretary's 
pocket between meetings, and on a little 
table near the door of the assembly hall 
during convention week. This was the 
"shredded wheat" conference, for the meet- 
ings were all held in the hall of that com- 
pany's plant. It was Sam Walter Foss 
who one morning said he was going out 
for a trip on the "Mayflower"; he meant 
"Maid of the Mist," but his New England 
ancestry led him to make this uninten- 
tional slip of the tongue. We all enjoyed 
the Falls that week and the wonderful 
Gorge trip, but the post-conference into the 
Canadian wilderness was long to be re- 
membered. Seventy, chosen as it seemed, 
for their congeniality, took this excursion, 
crossing Lake Ontario by steamer to 
Toronto, thence by train and boat to the 
Royal Muskoka Hotel in the center of the 
then newly opened Muskoka Lake district. 
The return was by way of Rosseau, Maple 
Lake, Parry Sound and thence by steamer 
down through Georgian Bay's ten thousand 
islands to Penetang and Toronto, where 
we were entertained by the local library 
folk. 

We had not seen a World's Fair since 
1901, so in 1904 St. Louis was our Mecca, 
and the Inside Inn our home for a week 
in October. The very mention of this Inn 
with its chilly barn-like rooms sends a 
shiver down our spines to this day. The 
Fair was much enjoyed; and the inter- 
national character of the sessions will be 
long remembered, for there were delegates 
present from England, Belgium, Italy, 
Sweden, Austria and Netherlands. Cool 
evenings on the Lagoons, long walks from 
hotel to meeting place for sessions, in- 
formal sessions at the Tyrolean Alpi 



290 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



restaurant, Mr. Crunden's Indefatigable 
efforts for our enjoyment, are other recollec- 
tions of that week at the great exposition. 

But listen! you who have only recently 
begun to come to these meetings, while I 
touch upon the high points of a most won- 
derful trip across the continent in 1905 to 
the Portland (Oregon) conference. We had 
a Raymond and Witcomb special de luxe 
train of Pullman's and our own dining car, 
and observation car. We traveled West 
by way of the Canadian Rockies, stopping 
a day at Banff, and at Glacier, where we 
went up and stood upon the great Illecille- 
waet glacier. A perfect day for the passage 
over the Great Divide with glorious views 
of mountains and canyons, comparable 
only with Switzerland, made everyone en- 
thusiastic. Our arrival at Seattle was an 
event. The local library people had lit- 
erally filled our rooms at the Washington 
Hotel with all sorts of flowers. Special 
trolleys were at our disposal to see this 
hustling city with its lakes and hills and 
parks. Next, a boat trip to Tacoma and a 
sightseeing trip there, with views of the 
pyramid of Mt. Tacoma, pink and ethereal 
in the sunset glow. There our special train 
was waiting and it seemed like getting 
home to find Nathaniel waiting with our 
■bags and the beds all made. Of course all 
seven porters were not named Nathaniel, 
but he shall be here typical of all that 
was good and faithful. He could even pick 
cactus, in the desert, for the ladies. 

At Portland was another Exposition, 
the Lewis and Clark — smaller than St. . 
Louis had been, but interesting. We had 
for president Dr. E. C. Richardson, of 
Princeton, whose address was on "The 
national library problems of today." 359 
registered at this far western meeting, 
and 150 sailed at its close for Alaska. 
Words fail me when I recall that ten days 
inland cruise on the "City of Seattle." 
There were mountains by the thousand, 
glaciers by the hundred, icebergs, Indian 
baskets, totem poles, furs, forests, and 
vegetation such as we had never seen be- 
fore. Daylight lasted all night. We had 
frequent opportunities to go ashore explor- 



ing. We saw Vancouver, then a little 
struggling village. We visited Father 
Duncan and his Indians at Metlakahtla, 
we founded a public library at Juneau, the 
new capital of Alaska, a library of novels 
which at Miss Plummer's suggestion we 
had saved from our reading en route. 
Indian baskets delighted Mr. Dana's artistic 
eye, and Newark's museum is the richer for 
this trip. At Skagway we made the ascent 
of the White Horse Pass to the Interna- 
tional boundary, and saw where the gold 
seekers had travelled and perished on their 
way to Dawson a few years before. Sitka 
was an interesting city. Taken as a whole 
the A. L. A. never had such a trip before. 
But even this was not the end. Yellow- 
stone Park was visited on the homeward 
journey and that five-day coaching trip 
among the geysers, paint-pot-holes, and 
other freaky wonders of nature will be re- 
membered as long as we live. We saw 
lakes, mountains, canyons, tame wild ani- 
mals, hot springs; we enjoyed every 
moment even those nightly visits to the 
garbage heaps, back of the hotels to see 
the bears came down to feed. Our routine 
became: — 

"After breakfast walk a mile, 
After luncheon rest a while. 
After dinner garbage pile." 

Then again we found Nathaniel waiting 
for us at the entrance, and resumed our 
places in our Pullmans to finish the 9,000 
mile trip of 1905. 

Nineteen-six spells Narragansett Pier 
with Dr. Hill at the helm of the A. L. A. 
ship. He brought out the change in library 
methods from the book-wise, book-loving, 
library care-taker to the business executive 
in charge of a complex system of library 
aggressiveness. Two vivid points we 
recollect — the universal sea bath from 12 
to 1, and the very late hours kept by the 
library company. 

One whole day was given to a visit to 
Providence: — libraries, spreads, and clam 
bakes, special boat, special trolleys, and 
even special clams, provided for our en- 
joyment. Then Newport was added to our 
list of notable places visited by the A. L. A., 



FAXON 



2tl 



and a stay on quaint, restful old Nantucket. 

In May, 1907, the Southland again 
claimed us, this time AshevUle, N. C, with 
Battery Park Hotel as headquarters. Dr. 
C. W. Andrews was president, and "The 
use of books" his chosen subject. Had he 
been writing an address today its title 
would have been, "Have you seen my latest 
library plans?" Blltmore recalls visions 
of black Vanderbilt pigs, happy apparently 
with asphalt runways and private bath 
tubs; big stables full of thoroughbred 
horses and cattle, fields of alfalfa. Though 
we were not allowed to approach within 
half a mile of the mansion house, the 
stables were open to visitors. From the 
south porch of Battery Park Hotel is visible 
the peak of Mt. Pisgah, sixteen miles away. 
Twenty-five miles beyond is the great Hog- 
Back, the top of which is named Toxaway 
— Redbird mountain. At the foot of this 
mountain Is the lake and by the lake 
Toxaway Inn, where a delightful post-con- 
ference was spent. Oh, the recollections of 
mountain laurel, and flaming wild azaleas, 
verdant forests, waterfalls, and the won- 
derful feat of Miss Ahern — her climb of 
Mt. Toxaway and her thrilling descent 
thereof. Others rode on horses or were 
content to sit in carriages, or, like our Mr. 
Hovey and Mrs. Ross of Charlotte, found 
contentment in a rowboat on the lake, — 
and ever since our ex-executive officer has 
made his happy home in Carolina — a warn- 
ing or a hint to all good people who attend 
A. L. A. post-conferences. 

To complete this trip the Jamestown Ex- 
position was visited on our return trip, and 
one more World's Fair added to our record. 

Have I now made it clear, that regular 
attendance upon our conferences gives one 
an ever broadening knowledge of our coun- 
try, and an ever increasing enthusiasm for 
library work? If not, bear with me a few 
minutes more while I rapidly recount the 
travels of more recent years — no less ex- 
tensive, and fully as interesting a-s those 
trips already recalled. 

In 1908 it was Minnetonka Lake, near 
Minneapolis. Tonka Bay Hotel was head- 
quarters, where "gentlemen without coats 



will not be allowed in the dining room," 
and — so very proper are these western 
resorts — "ladies having gentlemen call- 
ers and gentlemen having lady callers will 
please have the same in the public parlors 
and not in their rooms." 

Dr. Bostwick presided over this confer- 
ence which was held in the "Aviary," or at 
least it was so known until the chirping 
sparrows among the rafters had been pre- 
vailed upon to cease their song and give 
the speakers a chance. This year we had a 
daily newspaper with cumulative attend- 
ance register through the enterprise of Mr. 
H. W. Wilson. There was even a pink 
sporting supplement on one occasion. 

For post-conference we visited Duluth, 
and explored iron mines at Eveleth; then 
went to Calumet, Mich., and saw more 
mines, this time of copper, and came home 
by way of the Great Lakes. 

Nineteen-hundred-nine was White Moun- 
tain year, witli Mr. Gould, of McGill 
University, our president. The Mt. Wash- 
ington Hotel at Bretton Woods will for- 
ever remain our ideal of all a hotel 
should be. Coordination was the keynote 
of the program, and Rev. S. M. Crothers 
gave us that delightful essay, "The con- 
vention of the books." 

One day we visited the Flume, another 
we enjoyed a trip by cog-wheel to the sum- 
mit of Mt. Washington. Then for post- 
conference a mountain-wagon trip through 
the mountains — Jefferson, Randolph, Gor- 
ham. Glen, Jackson, Intervale, North Con- 
way — and to add variety two days on the 
sea coast at Ogunquit, Maine, where one 
evening we were entertained by John 
Kendrlck Bangs, George Jay, and Nathan 
Haskell Dole — three summer residents of 
the region, whose humor you all know so 
well. 

Nineteen - hundred - ten was Mackinac 
Island, — a hazy, fog-horcy week at the old 
Grand Hotel, yet a very successful confer- 
ence. President Hodges when he wanted to 
call the meetings to order had but to come 
out on the broad piazza and clap his hands 
— and wait. One day was given up to a 
boat trip and picnic at "The Saows" where 



292 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



one of our number, Mr. Stevens of Brad- 
dock, has his summer bungalow. The post- 
conference was to Temagaml Lake, Ontario, 
a veritable Canadian wilderness near the 
mining district of Cobalt. Although only 
a baker's dozen were able to take the trip 
we enjoyed every minute of It. Temagaml 
Inn was a rustic joy; the beautiful chain 
of lakes, the canoeing with swarthy Indian 
guides, the primeval forests on every hand 
contrived to make our stay Interesting. 

Pasadena in 1911 meant another special 
train excursion — this time by the Santa Fe 
route with two days at the Grand Canyon 
of Arizona, and a remarkable trip across 
the desert — really a wonderland of sage, of 
yucca, of hills and rugged valleys, beautiful 
and strange, though parched In the hot sun. 
Then the sudden change from desert to 
Orange groves and roses as we entered 
California. What a regal reception we had, 
how charming was our Hotel Maryland and 
its bungalows, how strange to Eastern eyes 
the palms with their geranium covered 
boot-jack trunks, the heliotrope "trees," 
and the geranium hedges! 

After the sessions we went north by the 
coast line to Santa Barbara — Old Mission, 
Mrs. Linn's reception; Santa Cruz — big 
trees grove lunch; Del Monte — maze, old 
cypress grove, seventeen-mile drive; San 
Jose — fruit farms. Miss Eastman's horse- 
back ride; Palto Alto — reception at Uni- 
versity club, Leland Stanford, Jr., Uni- 
versity; San Francisco — newly rebuilt, — ex- 
cursion to Chinatown, to Golden Gate Park, 
to Mt. Tamalpals summit, to Oakland and 
Berkeley, — and then — Yosemlte Valley, 
three days in heaven. Homeward via 
Sacramento and Salt Lake City, with two 
days at Manitou, Colorado, a trip to Cripple 
Creek on which the railroad tried all too 
successfully to show us why the region 
was so named. Thus ended a trans-conti- 
nental trip entirely different from that of 
1905, but just as wonderful and ever to be 
remembered for the opportunities to see at 
the best the beauties of our country. "The 
greatest travel for the best people at the 
least discomfort." 

Ottawa — the new Chateau Laurler hotel, 



— our first woman president, Mrs. Elmen- 
dorf — post conference, a repetition of that 
steamer cruise up the Saguenay river. Such 
in topical form Is the Index record of 1912, 
the second Canadian conference. 

Nineteen-hundred-thirteen, the mountain 
top meeting at Hotel Kaaterskill, is too re- 
cent to need my account of a most success- 
ful conference in a most unsuccessful hotel. 
If ever any hotel had seen better days, it 
was the Kaaterskill, yet there were ad- 
vantages. It is probably the only hotel In 
the country that can accommodate the pres- 
ent size meetings of the A. L. A. and give 
exclusive occupancy. It simplifies the giv- 
ing of dinner parties to have all registered 
at one hotel, and the dinner acquaintance 
is one of the most valuable features of a 
conference. So we had a good meeting in 
spite of the hotel, and we paid our bills 
eagerly at the end of the week by patiently 
sitting for hours in line before the cashier's 
window. "Rocking chair row," was some- 
thing unique in the annals of our meetings. 
Mr. Legler was president and the program 
one of the best in recent years, and sessions 
were always well attended. The post-con- 
ference was a visit to Mr. Dewey's Lake 
Placid Club in the Adirondacks, with a stop 
on the way, over Sunday, at Albany to In- 
spect the new State Library building. Then 
a pleasant excursion to Eagle Bay, and Blue 
Mountain In the southern Adirondacks. 
The presence with us of Mr. Jast of the 
British Library Association added much to 
the excursion. The very cordial reception 
at Lake Placid by the Deweys and Miss 
Sharp will long be remembered. The coun- 
cil fire was lighted in our honor in the 
forest amphitheatre, and motor trips were 
made to the points of interest in the region, 
including Ausable Chasm. 

Washington, D. C, in 1914 will be remem- 
bered, first for its heat, and second as the 
largest meeting we had ever held. Mr. 
Anderson, of the New York Public Library, 
was president. The New WlUard Hotel was 
headquarters, but delegates were scattered 
all over town, and the hotel being European 
plan few had meals there. In fact the 
nearby Cale des Enfants, otherwise known 



298 



as Child's Restaurant, looked Uke an 
A. L. A. gathering at eating times. Al- 
though uo official post-conference was "per- 
sonally conducted" this year, over fifty 
went to Old Point Comfort after sessions 
were over, and several made the trip thence 
to Richmond, Va. 

In closing what shall I say of last year's 
conference? It was the third special-train 
transcontinental journey in ten years, ten 
thousand miles of delightful travel under 
most auspicious circumstances. West 
through Denver and the Royal Gorge, with a 
glorious day at Glenwood Springs, Colorado 
— re-visited after twenty years ; then a morn- 
ing at Salt Lake City, followed hy the 
desert journey through Utah and Nevada 
to Riverside, which received us in true 
California style, with fruits, flowers and an 
orange luncheon in the inner court of the 
Mission Inn. Thence to Los Angeles for 
dinner and the following two days at the 
San Diego Fair, with side trips to Old 
Mexico, Coronado Beach, Point Loma, and 
Ramona's home. 

Then again aboard our special A. L. A. 
train we go north to Berkeley where the 
conference was held. There had been two 
dining cars all across the western country, 
a luxury of travel we had never before ex- 
perienced, and the use of "first sitting" and 
"second sitting" cards prevented the usual 
long waiting line of hungry people at the 
entrance to the diner. 

Mr. H. C. Wellman was president, and 
the sessions were held in one of the halls 
of the University of California. Of course 
the greatest attraction was the San Fran- 
cisco Exposition across the bay from 



Berkeley. You are all familiar with Its 
beauties from pictures if not from an actual 
visit. The indirect illumination and the 
changing colors cannot be described. Home- 
ward our way lay north past Mt. Shasta 
and the volcano Lassen to Portland, Oregon, 
where Miss Isom provided a day of the an- 
nual rose festival for our enjoyment and 
showed us her beautiful new library. At 
Tacoma we motored 72 miles, to the base of 
Mt. Tacoma, in Ranler National Park — an 
excursion no one should miss. After a day 
in Seattle, we took steamer to Vancouver, 
stopping at Victoria on the way. Van- 
couver was a big city now, and we mar- 
velled at its growth since our previous visit 
in 1905, only ten years before. 

We turn East and, with a special train 
provided by the Canadian Pacific, traverse 
once again America's Alps, stopping two 
days at Lake Louise, and an afternoon at 
Banff where a big hot sulphur swimming 
pool seemed an even greater attraction than 
the wonderful mountain scenery. At Chi- 
cago ended the 1915 conference, and our 
series is complete to date. 

Look back and consider what these years 
of A. L. A. membership and travel have 
meant, even if we omit the three European 
excursions that were participated in by a 
goodly number in 1897, 1910 and 1914. The 
broadening of our vision, the Interchange of 
ideas with workers from all parts of our 
country, the ever-increasing incentive to 
make our libraries even more useful and 
efficient, such are a few of the advantages 
of membership in the American Library 
Association. 



LIBRARY TRUSTEES' OBLIGATION TO THE STATE 
By Elizabeth Clatpool Earl, President, Indiana Public Library Commission 



Since we rise or fall with the masses — 
is It not of the most urgent importance 
to educate the masses in the proper 
standards of living? And In the process 
of the education of the masses the library 



its only hope, since the public schools turn 
the masses out into the world before or In 
the eighth grade, with immature minds, 
and almost, as yet, no library habit; hence 
it does not take much of a prophet to 



Is the state's greatest asset — In fact about speculate on futures. 



294 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



When trustees realize their obligation to 
the state, public sentiment will be molded 
into channels of constructive effort, through 
a well equipped library force — be it one 
person or more. A small library in a small 
town has the same obligation as a large 
one in a great city; even more important 
because small communities have time to 
think and those who have time to think 
are the ones who arrive in mature years 
and do tne world's constructive work and 
whether they arrive in considerable num- 
bers depends with what degree of honesty 
the members of library boards have per- 
formed their obligation to the state. There 
is no trust in this wide world so abused 
as the use of public money, and the man 
who will not take time to invest public 
money with the same careful study as that 
of his own private funds, is certainly unfit 
to handle public money. It is a much 
more serious graft to employ an in- 
competent librarian to shape the young life 
of the community than to build a side- 
walk without any grouting or many other 
familiar examples I might name in public 
life. 

I am truly glad to see an awakening 
among taxpayers to a realization of what a 
library should be — I admit if all the tax- 
payers did know what they had a right to 
expect three-fourths of the libraries today 
would be closed, until boards could be re- 
organized, funds increased and real librar- 
ians in charge. The community cannot re- 
ceive all that is due to it until librarianship 
ranks second to none among professions 
and not as a means to an end, but as the 
high calling of a noble profession, and 
with a special person in each library to co- 
operate with the public schools, study the 
needs of each child and teach him to know, 
— not to believe, — but to know that the 
library is the great source of Information; 
instilling the library habit so fully as a 
part of his nature, that his feet will un- 
consciously strike the path to the library 
door all his life for Information and recrea- 
tion. 

The results of this Investment cannot be 
estimated in dollars and cents. Personally 



I would rather trust a children's librarian 
horn for the job, and I say born advisedly, 
to raise the moral and spiritual standards 
of the community than any of the other 
forces employed at the present time. 

Librarianship can never take its just 
rank among professions until trustees do 
realize their obligation to the state, and 
we in Indiana have found organization a 
satisfactory way to bring them to a con- 
sciousness of their sins. Measuring up 
with their fellow men at the state meetings 
soon starts a campaign of education. Much 
of the trouble comes from a misconception 
of the real value of a library as an educa- 
tional force in the community. 

Too many persons accept positions of 
trust on library boards out of compliment, 
personal or political, never for a moment 
considering their fitness or responsibility. 
The librarians themselves are not without 
blame for the lax way in which boards con- 
duct themselves. People who have not time 
to attend local and state meetings should 
resign. The trustee obligates himself un- 
der oath, to spend the public funds eco- 
nomically and judiciously, to meet the 
needs of the community, and he cannot 
honestly shift his responsibility to the 
librarian or otiier board members. He 
must be willing to give the required time 
for intelligent study of the business of li- 
brary administration and management. 
How can he otherwise know wlien the li- 
brarian is meeting the needs of the com- 
munity or have the courage to dismiss the 
librarian if the need arises. Trustees 
should define the policies of the library and 
demand results, if their sense of obligation 
to the state means anything to them. Miss 
Ahem defined a trustee as "one to whom 
property belonging to the public is en- 
trusted to he used for the public benefit," 
and the public, she explained, "Means 
everybody, not just those in whom one is 
interested." 

The Indiana Library Trustees' Associa- 
tion was organized seven years ago, meet- 
ing each November in Indianapolis, every 
other year holding the convention at the 



CERTAIN 



29s 



same time as the state library association 
with Bome joint sessions. The results 
toward a better appreciation of the trustees' 
duties, higher standards of library ad- 
ministration, value of the budget system, 



securing legislation and the dignity and 
value of the library as an educational force 
have been so satisfactory that we feel 
Indiana should urge other states to do 
likewise. 



THE SCHOOL-LIBRARY SITUATION IN THE SOUTH 

Bt C. C. Cebtain, Head of the Department of English, Cass Technical High School, 
Detroit. Michigan, (.formerly of Polytechnic Institute, Auhurn, Ala.) 



My discussion of the school-library situ- 
ation in the South is confined entirely to 
library conditions in the southern high 
schools. It seems advisable to discuss the 
situation from the standpoint of southern 
high-school libraries because, until recent- 
ly, little information has been available 
concerning library conditions in southern 
high schools. 

In the past any attempt to secure definite 
information from public officials as to high- 
school library conditions usually resulted 
in some such generalization as the follow- 
ing: 

"I am sorry I cannot give you any defi- 
nite information in regard to libraries in 
the public high schools of this state. Prac- 
tically every high school in the state has a 
library of some kind and many schools 
have excellent ones. In every new school 
building that is erected there is a room set 
apart for library purposes and by means 
of effort on part of faculty and pupils this 
room is soon supplied with books. 

"We have no public aid in support of high 
school libraries, but there is a certain 
amount set apart each year for the support 
of libraries for the common or elementary 
schools. 

"Few high schools have paid librarians. 
Yours very sincerely." 

Typical again is this reply from the sec- 
retary of one of our state library commis- 
sions : 

"The limited data which I have to give 
you on the subject of high school libraries 
was delayed because of absence from the 
oflice of the State Supervisor of High 
Schools, and on his return he has little to 
give us, etc. 

Very sincerely yours." 



Another letter that I might quote, from 
the Virginia Board of Education begins, 

"Our records on this subject I regret to 
say do not give as full information as I 
would desire." 

Legal emphasis has tended toward a 
greater development of library facilities in 
the elementary schools than in the high 
schools, and as a consequence little atten- 
tion is given to facts concerning high- 
school libraries in official reports from 
state departments. In most southern states 
there are school-library laws but the chief 
beneficiaries of state aid are the elementary 
schools, the rural schools, or perhaps at 
best only a few one or two-year high 
schools in the smaller towns. A recent 
investigation in the state of Virginia 
showed that the high schools of the larger 
cities as a rule do not receive aid from the 
state because the list of books from which 
libraries must be selected is too limited 
and does not contain good reference works. 
Most of these larger high schools depend 
upon donations from friends, patrons, and 
alumni associations. A few of them receive 
small annual appropriations from local 
boards; but as a rule any official relation 
with the state or municipality is so slight 
that no official records are kept regarding 
higli-school libraries. 

In view of these facts the Southern Con- 
ference for Education and Industry at the 
suggestion of the N. E. A. Committee on 
High-School Libraries created in April, 
1915, a High-School Library Committee to 
make investigations and serve in an ad- 
visory way in bettering condition!. One 



396 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



of the foremost objects of the Committee 
was to secure the appointment of local 
committees In all southern states. While 
these committees were being organized 
during the past winter a thorough inquiry 
was made into high-school library condi- 
tions in seventeen southern states. In 
order to coordinate this survey with that 
contemplated by the Committee of the Na- 
tional Education Association, the question- 
naire of the National Committee was se- 
lected and used with only a few alterations. 
Through the cooperation of the National 
Bureau of Education copies of the question- 
naire were sent under government franlc to 
3,729 southern high schools. Of the ques- 
tionnaires sent out there were returns from 
over 1,300, or about 35 per cent. 

At the outset the Committee considered 
it unwise to send a questionnaire of more 
than six or eight separate items, for fear 
of forestalling replies by excessive in- 
quiries; but tlie completed form contained 
more than seventy-two items. When this 
elaborate form was released, it was with 
the expectation of receiving returns aggre- 
gating from 7 per cent to 8 per cent, and of 
sacrificing a larger percentage of returns 
in order to secure the benefits that might 
result from advertising. The returns are 
tremendously significant, since they have in 
number exceeded all possible expectations 
and indicate an intense interest along 
library lines tliroughout tlie high schools 
of tlie South. 

The tabulation of figures from these re- 
turns is yet incomplete, but the Commit- 
tee is continuing its study of the question- 
naire witli the view of publishing its find- 
ings in the form of a bulletin which will be 
issued by the National Bureau of Educa 
tion during the ensuing year. The follow- 
ing facts may be stated as the most im- 
portant ascertained so far: 

1. The dates of establishment of southern 
high-school libraries indicate no growth in 
many cases, and the accumulation of much 
dead and useless material. 

2. Results are not commensurate with 
expenditures. 

3. Sources of Income are unbusinesslike, 
show a lack of system and indicate ignor- 



ance of the importance of the library In the 
high school. 

4. The selection of books is haphazard, 
resulting in poorly balanced book collec- 
tions with very meager duplication of 
standard books. 

5. The use of the reading room and books 
remains undeveloped. Illustrative material 
and periodicals are almost unknown. 

6. There is but little provision made for 
filing, classifying and cataloging the ma- 
terial in the libraries. 

7. Instruction in the use of books is 
given in but few instances and then but 
very imperfectly. 

8. The policy toward adult patrons and 
tlie public is unsatisfactory. The libraries 
are of but slight service to their communi- 
ties; even the children do scarcely any 
home-reading from library books. 

9. The few libraries having full-time, 
trained librarians are giving far superior 
service to those having part-time, un- 
trained workers. 

Statistics from this questionnaire show 
that the administration of high-school li- 
braries is almost universally neglected in 
the South. In Delaware, Virginia, Ken- 
tucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Ala- 
bama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, 
Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri, more tlian 
870 high schools report but 24 full-time 
librarians and but 10 part-time, at an aver- 
age annual salary of but $350 for the full- 
time librarian. Only 136, or 15.5 per cent, 
of tlie libraries in these high schools have 
card catalogs, and 56 of these are in the 
state of Missouri. 

The following statistics regarding condi- 
tions in Delaware, Virginia, Georgia, Ala- 
bama, and Florida are illuminating: 

The combined report of 235 high schools 
is as follows: 

Total number of volumes in libraries, 
144,173. 

Average number of volumes to the li- 
brary, 613. 

New volumes added past year, 17,063. 

Of these new volumes 10,688 or 62% 
were gifts. 

Increase in total number of volumes for 
the past year 13%. 

Income from states for past year, $65. 

Income from counties for past year, $1,349. 

Income from cities for past year, $1,411. 

Proportion of libraries borrowing from 
state librarians, 9% — none outside of the 
state of Virginia. 



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297 



Proportion of libraries borrowing from 
state library commissions, 1.7% — none out- 
side of Delaware and Virginia. 

Proportion of libraries borrowing from 
state universities, 1.7% — none outside of 
Delaware and Virginia. 

Libraries witii card catalogs, 16.5%. 

Libraries witli books classified, 50.2%. 

Thirty-two per cent of tlie libraries take 
daily newspapers. 

Fourteen per cent keep newspaper clip- 
pings. 

Average number of magazines received 
per library, 3. 

9.4 per cent keep magazine clippings. 

6.3 per cent have sets of post cards. 

10.6 per cent have picture collections. 

3.8 per cent have collections of lantern 
slides. 

8 per cent have bulletin boards. 

3 per cent have full-time librarians. 

40 per cent keep libraries open to the 
public. 

16 per cent report public libraries in the 
same town. 

60 per cent of the high schools in towns 
with public libraries report cooperation in 
some form. 

In reply to the question, "Who selects the 
books?" one high-school principal wrote 
laconically, "Nobody now." Another sig- 
nificant reply to this question was "Who- 
ever donates tliem." 

Under the heading "Needs" were listed: 
funds; more books and definite income; 
regular appropriation; more money for 
books and card catalogs; new books and 
equipment; regular librarian; better cata- 
logs; paid librarian full-time; organiza- 
tion; a librarian and a suitable room; bet- 
ter supervision; more books, more room 
and a librarian; books and periodicals. 

The needs in other states, as expressed 
on the questionnaires returned are mucli 
the same as those given by the high schools 
In Delaware, Virginia, Alabama, Georgia 
and Florida. "A librarian" is demanded 
by 21 high schools in Missouri; one asks 
that she be a "cataloging librarian." In 
Louisiana and Missouri many ask for defi- 
nite appropriations. One reports, "We have 
the merest start; we need everything." 

Conclusions as to many points are ob- 
vious. Nearly every southern high school 
does seem to have a library of a sort, but 
few high schools appear to be getting the 



utmost or even much from their libraries. 
Very few teachers seem to understand the 
function of the library. This is shown by 
the fact that there is little or no use of 
leans from state agencies, and but slight 
cooperation with public libraries. The se- 
lection of books and of student assistants 
in the library is haphazard. Tliere is 
almost no systematic instruction in the 
use of libraries; and there are very few 
card catalogs, collections of pictures, slides, 
clippings and other such material. Many 
libraries have no bulletin boards and in 
very few cases is the use of the bulletin 
board understood. Nearly every high 
school reports a confusing variety of 
methods of selecting books. The periodicals 
received have been selected in most cases 
with even less foresight. Many of them, 
no doubt, were received as gifts. On the 
list of periodicals are the "Ladies home 
journal," the "Pathfinder," the "Midland 
Methodist," "Modern Priscllla," the "De- 
lineator," the "Hibbert journal," tlie "Chris- 
tian herald," and the "Cosmopolitan." 

Notwithstanding the many discouraging 
facts brought out through the inquiry, the 
outlook is hopeful. On the question sheets 
returned were many requests for literature 
on "How to use the bulletin board" and 
how to get other advantages. The main 
trouble seems to be ignorance, especially 
ignorance of the function of the library 
and how to remedy existing conditions. 

Miss Lucy E. Fay, librarian of the Uni- 
versity of Tennessee, and a member of the 
High-School Library Committee, states her 
conclusions in these words: 

"Such expressions 'under greatest needs' 
as, a larger library; comfortable, respect- 
able furniture; almost everything at pres- 
ent; a library that will occupy the idle and 
leisure time of pupils; more good reading 
material and means of getting people inter- 
ested; a library room and a 'posted' libra- 
rian; more room and more books; by all 
means a librarian in charge all the time, 
— such expressions as these show the trend. 
It needs more intelligent direction. Some- 
how we must go forward until every high 
school, of the first class at least, has: 

1. Annual and adequate library funds. 

2. Sufficient library room, both reading 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



room and shelf room, to accommodate the 
needs of the school. 

3. Better selection of books and wiser 
buying. 

4. Instruction of pupils In the use of 
books and the library, to be given by the 
librarian and required for credit of all 
pupils. 

5. A trained librarian with the rank and 
salary of a teacher." 

The securing of trained librarians is of 
the greatest fundamental importance. 

Recently the principal of the Gilbert 
High School of Winsted, Connecticut, 
wrote me: 

"I am convinced of the fact that the li- 
brarian is as important as the library itself, 
because in this school for twenty-one years 
we had a library practically as good as our 
present day library; but for the first thir- 
teen of these twenty-one years the library 
was not properly administered with the re- 
sult that it was of no practical value to 
the school. For the last seven or eight 
years we have had a well-equipped libra- 
rian and the result is that with the same 
books, practically, the library is the busiest 
and at the same time the most useful part 
of the whole plant, hundreds of pupils 
using it every day; while, according to a 
census that I made seven and one-half 
years ago, only 24 pupils had ever set foot 
within the library. It seems to me, there- 
fore, that our problem is to get the ap- 
pointment of the right kind of librarians 
and thus make secure the right selection 
of books. The librarian and the books 
will not fail to make the desired connec- 
tion with the needs of the school." 

The high-school library situation in the 
South can be but imperfectly understood 
without some knowledge of the variety of 
activities carried on by sub-committees of 
the Southern Conference. For the recent 
meeting of the Conference in New Orleans, 
La., seven special reports were prepared 
by the chairman of these sub-committees. 
The report of Dr. Milledge L. Bonham, pro- 
fessor of history in Louisiana State Uni- 
versity and chairman of the Sub-Committee 
on Rural High-School Libraries in Louisi- 
ana, Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and 
Texas, bears testimony to the usefulness of 
the local state committees. The members 
of these committees, Dr. Bonham reported, 
have through personal contact and letters 
urged leaders to promote the movement 



for better high-school libraries. The fol- 
lowing excerpt indicates the nature of the 
work that is being done. 

"Talks have been made in these states 
at teachers' institutes, at conventions, and 
to classes in normal schools and teachers' 
colleges. Articles and letters have been 
published in the general press, journals of 
education and professional journals along 
allied lines. In many instances the press 
has, by editorial comment, materially aided 
the work. In most cases state departments 
of public instruction have willingly co- 
operated; though, in some instances othel 
problems have been regarded as of more 
immediate moment than libraries. Where 
it seemed expedient tentative effort was 
made in the direction of securing state li- 
brary commissions, traveling libraries and 
directors of public school libraries. The 
local committees are endeavoring in some 
states to organize state conferences in the 
state teachers' associations. Interest has 
been aroused, promises of help secured and 
plans formulated. A foundation has been 
laid for real progress in the light of intelli- 
gence secured from this year's question- 
naire." 

Another report of peculiar interest Is 
that by Mrs. Pearl Williams Kelley, state 
director of Library Extension, Nashville, 
Tenn. This report has as its subject, "Li- 
brary conditions in the rural high schools 
of Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Florida 
and Tennessee." 

"In these states," says Mrs. Kelley, "the 
rural high-school library consists usually 
of only a shelf or two of poorly selected 
books, being in reality a pathetic collection 
and in no sense a library. In but few in- 
stances has the unsuited collection been 
supplemented by well-balanced school li- 
braries. At its best the rural school library 
is in varying stages of development, first 
as a table or corner devoted to library in- 
terests, and in but very rare instances a 
room equipped with carefully chosen books 
and periodicals, with pictures adorning the 
walls, and plants and flowers adding to the 
attractiveness of the room. The library 
and the reading room are combined, and 
under favorable conditions separate from 
the study hall. Few of even the best libra- 
ries have the books classified, fewer have 
them shelf-listed, and still fewer cataloged. 
A trained librarian giving her entire time 
to the administration of the library and re- 
ceiving a salary equal to any teacher in the 
school is almost unheard of. The benefits 
accruing from rural high-school library 



i 



299 



acquisition, however, are making their ap- 
peal to the entire rural population by 
nourishing and building up the best pos- 
sible activities of the country boy and girl, 
and by preventing the adult mind from 
running around upon a cycle of hard in- 
dustrial facts. The non-reading habit, so 
common to the average rural community 
is being gradually broken down." 

For the state of West Virginia, Mr. Wal- 
ter Barnes of the Fairmont Normal School 
prepared an exhaustive report. Mr. Barnes 
drew up eight counts in the indictment 
against the high-school libraries in the 
cities of the state and at the same time 
indicated the direction along which im- 
provements should be made. Reports simi- 
lar to the report for West Virginia have 
been completed for Maryland, Tennessee, 
Alabama, Virginia, Louisiana, Arkansas, 
and Missouri, with detailed supplementary 
reports upon the question of high-school 
library control in the South. 



Only a beginning has been made In the 
undertakings of the Committee on South- 
ern High-School Libraries. The greatest 
task ahead consists in the awakening of 
public sentiment. Public opinion must be 
aroused concerning the functions, services, 
and needs of the high-school library. Spe- 
cific problems must be solved more defi- 
nitely regarding the administration, the 
maintenance, the organization, and the use 
of the high-school library. Investigations 
must be made regarding school-library 
legislation in southern states. Work in 
the future must be done with sufficient 
completeness and authoritativeness to ap- 
peal strongly to taxpayers, school boards, 
and teachers. The forthcoming bulletin, 
now being prepared by the Committee, will 
contain a constructive program for high- 
school library development throughout the 
South. 



ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO— RELATIVELY SPEAKING 
By Maby S. Saxe, Librarian, Westmount (P. Q.J Public Library 



When the British delegate to the Ameri- 
can Library association meeting was in 
this country in 1913, he journeyed home- 
ward via Montreal, Westmount, Quebec, to 
take his steamer for Liverpool. We, there- 
fore, had an opportunity to entertain him 
by asking him to tea at the Place Vigor 
Hotel, a Canadian Pacific hostelry, ex- 
tremely well run. And there on a wide 
balcony, with flippy awnings, and potted 
plants tea was served. 

Our guest I remember stirred his cup 
very fast, tasted it, and murmured, "Oh! 
my aunt!" Now I have never been quite 
sure whether that tea was to his liking or 
not. But the expression, "Oh! my aunt!" 
has remained with us, and I have been apt 
to use it when surprised. 

Therefore when your secretary wrote to 
me in May, and asked it I was ready to 
come here tonight and tell you somewhat 
of a dead and gone New England poet 
whose centenary is this June, 1916, I was 



startled enough to have said "Oh! My 
aunt!" but I had to change the gender, and 
say "Oh! My uncle!" 

It seems that your president. Miss Plum- 
mer, thought you might feel an interest in 
this Vermonter who amused an older gen- 
eration. And now that the incense which 
has been wafted toward Shakespeare's 
image, has all vanished into 'airy air,'— 
I quote the bard of Avon's own language 
which we know to be good despite the com- 
mentators, — and now that the disputes, as 
to whether Shakespeare ever ate Bacon or 
not, are more or less settled, perhaps you 
will be ready to hear of the anniversary 
of the birth of a much, much humbler 
poet. 

John Godfrey Saxe was born on June 2, 
1816, in a very northernmost corner of 
Vermont, in a town marked on the early 
maps of Franklin county as Saxe's Mills. 
We know it as Highgate. He was born In 
the frame house, still standing, which had 



soo 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



been built by tlie pioneer grandfather, who 
moved in Revolutionary days from Rhine- 
beclc on the Hudson river, up through the 
full length of Lake Champlain and settled 
in those northern woods, very certain that 
he was in Canada. But they had to draw 
the line somewhere, and when the 
boundaries were finally settled, this great- 
grandfather discovered that he had been 
taken in by the United States! 

Journals which John Godfrey Saxe kept 
In his boyhood and which are now the prop- 
erty on his grandson in New York City, 
show that he was fond of roving in those 
northern woods, of sitting by the mill 
stream and reading Scott's novels. 

Verses of his which begin, 

"Beneath the hill, you may see the mill 
"With wasting wood and crumbling stone, 
Tlie wheel is dripping, clattering still — 
But Jerry the miller is dead and gone," 

are clearly reminiscent of his youth. He 
was educated at the local schools, and 
graduated from Middlebury College, Ver- 
mont, in 1839. Last week his centenary 
was celebrated by his Alma IWater in a 
very special manner. With the class of 
Harvard '54, he received the degree of 
LL.D., and at a banquet on that occasion 
he read the Psi Upsilon verses, the closing 
lines of which are sung at most of tlie 
meetings of that fraternity today. They 
run thus: 

"Success to Psi Upsilon, Beautiful name! 
To the eye and the ear it is pleasant the 

same. 
Many thanks to one Cadmus who made us 

his debtors, 
By inventing one day those capital letters, 
Which still from our hearts, we shall know 

how to speak, 
When we've fairly forgotten the rest of our 

Greek. 
Remember 'tis blessed to give and forgive; 
Live chiefly to love, and love while you live; 
And dying when life's little journey is run 
May your last fondest sigh — be Psi- 

Upsilon." 

After his graduation, Saxe settled at 
Burlington, Vermont, and studied law there. 
He became attorney-general, state's attor- 
ney and was twice candidate for governor. 



At one time he was editor of the Burling- 
ton Sentinel, and old scrap books of his are 
filled with bits of campaign jests and 
rhymes of those good old fashioned times 
that have lost most of their meaning for us. 
There is a note of sternness in his northern 
Democracy that makes us feel he would not 
have been "Too proud to fight!" 

When he was about twenty-five years of 
age, his ballad of "The briefless barrister" 
appeared in the "Knickerbocker magazine," 
the leading periodical of that day. The 
next contribution was "The rhyme of the 
rail." This was reprinted all over the 
United States and appeared in London 
"Punch" and was known to generations of 
school children. "In reading it," says one 
commentator on Saxe, "one can close his 
eyes and almost hear the varied sounds 
that form the undersong to the monotonous 
rumble of the train." 

Now it is not my intention to read to you 
any extracts from his published verse. If 
you are interested enough to look it out 
for yourselves, it will help your non-fiction 
circulation, and after all, that is a libra- 
rian's aim in life — to have a good circula- 
tion. But I will repeat to you some verses 
that have been handed down to me, and 
which you will not find in any complete 
edition of his poems, nor anywhere in print 
just as I give them. I quite realize these 
are not suited to the ears of the children's 
librarian — but we will hope she has gone 
home! 

(Miss Saxe here recited "Ho-Ho of the 
Golden Belt. One of the nine tales of China. 
Versified and di-versified by J. G. S.," but 
the limitations of space unfortunately pre- 
vent reprinting it here. — Editor.) 

I think you will agree with me that such 
rhythm is not found in the so-called mod- 
ern poetry, which has to have its rhythm 
beaten out so that the eye catches 
what there is rather than the ear. 

Fashions change in literature, but cer- 
tain things abide. There may be disputes 
from generation to generation, even from 
decade to decade, even from day to day, as 
to what is beautiful, what is aesthetic in 



CARTER 



SOI 



poetry. But there Is less dispute as to what 
Is human. Perhaps that is why the verses 
of John Godfrey Saxe stiil appear and re- 
appear in the press, though he has been 
dead more than a quarter of a century. 



He realized that the mission of humour 
was to restore the balance which Is fre- 
quently lost by so much that is drudgery 
in life. A vein of jests is soon worked out, 
but humour Is a perennial flower. 



THE PRINTING BILL 



By George H. Carter, Clerk. Joint Commitlec on Printing, Congress of the 

United States 



I am directed by the Joint Committee on 
Printing of the Congress to thank you for 
this opportunity of again discussing the 
Printing Bill before your round table. The 
Joint Committee greatly appreciates the 
continued and helpful interest that the 
American Library Association has mani- 
fested in its efforts to bring about much- 
needed reforms in the printing and dis- 
tribution of government publications. On 
behalf of the committee, I desire especially 
to express its appreciation of the generous 
co-operation of your genial chairman, Mr. 
Godard, in the consideration of these pro- 
visions of the Printing Bill that are of 
principal concern to libraries. The com- 
mittee regards as of the highest importance 
the distribution of government publications 
to libraries and, I am sure, earnestly de- 
sires to have that distribution made in the 
best possible manner that the fullest 
information may be freely available to all 
the people concerning the affairs of their 
government. With this object in view, the 
Printing Bill has been presented to 
Congress. 

When I had the pleasure of addressing 
your round table at Washington in 1914, 
the bill was pending before both Houses 
of the Sixty-third Congress. Subsequently, 
the bill was passed by the House at the 
third session of that Congress and was 
favorably reported to the Senate, but it 
was not reached for consideration in that 
body before the end of the Congress. The 
bill was re-introduced in both Houses at 
the beginning of the Sixty-fourth Congress 
and has again been favorably reported from 
the Printing Committees of the House and 



the Senate. In the House, the bill has 
been considered on two calendar Wednes- 
days of the present session and about half 
completed v.'ithout any material changes, 
other than the rejection of the proposed 
valuation plan for the distribution of 
documents by members of Congress, which 
the committee expects to have restored be- 
fore the bill is passed by the House. Under 
a new rule of that body, the bill had to be 
laid aside as "unfinished business" until 
the Printing Committee is reached again 
on the Wednesday call of committees, 
which probably will not occur until next 
session. In the Senate, the bill is now well 
to the front of its calendar of business, but 
will hardly be taken up for consideration 
at this session unless Congress remains in 
Washington until late in the summer. The 
committee is very hopeful, nevertheless, 
that the bill will become a law before the 
close of the Sixty-fourth Congress. 

Representative Barnhart of Indiana, who 
put the bill through the House in the Sixty- 
third Congress, is again in charge of the 
measure in that body, while Senator 
Fletcher of Florida, chairman of the Joint 
Committee on Printing, has charge of the 
bill iu the Senate, assisted by Senator 
Smoot of Utah, who, as chairman of the 
Printing Investigation Commission, intro- 
duced the bill in the Sixty-first Congress 
and secured its passage by the Senate In 
the Sixty-second Congress. 

Senate and House Bill identical 

The Senate and House Bills (S. R. 1107 
and H. R. 8664) are identical except for a 
few minor amendments. The two committee 



302 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



reports (S. Report 183 and H. Report 32) 
are also similar, thus clearly showing that 
the Senate and House Printing committees 
are united in their support of the measure, 
as they were in previous Congresses. It 
was the purpose in submitting the bill to 
the Senate and the House at the same time 
not only to give added strength to the 
measure by favorably reporting it in both 
Houses, but also to have the bill in position 
to be urged for consideration in whichever 
body the opportunity might first present 
itself. Thus, if the bill passes the House 
first, the Senate committee will substitute 
the House bill for its own measure in the 
Senate with such amendments as it may 
then desire to offer. The House commit- 
tee will do likewise, if the Senate should 
enact its bill first. 

As submitted to the present Congress, 
the bill has been thoroughly revised and re- 
arranged in the constant effort of the com- 
mittee to perfect the measure, but the 
principal provisions are substantially the 
same as in the bill of the Sixty-third 
Congress, whicli I discussed at some length 
at your Washington meeting. I trust you 
will pardon me, therefore, if I may indulge 
in some repetition of the views then ex- 
pressed. 

Though the bill is a complete revision 
and codification of all the laws relating to 
the public printing and binding, and the 
operation of the Government Printing 
Office, I assume that you are interested 
chiefly in the provisions relating to the 
distribution of government publications to 
libraries and accordingly shall confine my- 
self to that phase of the bill. 

Depository libraries 

First, let me present those provisions 
that relate especially to the libraries which 
are designated by law as depositories of 
government publications, for it is in those 
libraries that Congress is particularly con- 
cerned. The bill continues the present plan 
of designating certain libraries throughout 
the country as depositories of the govern- 
ment's publications which are supplied by 
the Superintendent of Public Documents. 



These designations are made in section 79 
of the new bill, which provides. In addition 
to the government, state, land-grant col- 
lege, and certain other libraries, that one 
library for each congressional district and 
two libraries at large for each state shall 
be selected by the Superintendent of Public 
Documents as depositories of government 
publications. The existing depository li- 
braries are continued as permanent designa- 
tions. This latter provision was taken 
from the printing bill and enacted into law 
by Congress in 1913, thus ending the 
privilege which members of congress had 
had since 1858 of changing at will the 
designation of depository libraries in their 
respective districts. This bit of so-called 
"political patronage" was given up without 
the slightest objection on the part of any 
member of Congress. It is also a credible 
fact that during the debates on the print- 
ing bill in either House not a single 
criticism has been made of any of the gen- 
erous provisions relating to the library dis- 
tribution of government publications. Nor 
has any opposition been manifest to the 
additional proposition that all future 
designations of depository libraries, when- 
ever vacancies exist, shall be made by the 
Superintendent of Public Documents in- 
stead of by members of Congress, thus 
completely removing the libraries from the 
field of politics, if such a consideration has 
ever entered into their designation. 

There are now 482 libraries on the mail- 
ing list of the Superintendent of Docu- 
ments as designated depositories of govern- 
ment publications, while the total number 
of possible designations is 667. Thus 185 
more libraries may become oflScial deposi- 
tories, if so designated under the present 
law by members of Congress, whose dis- 
tricts now have no such depositories. 

Publications for libraries 

Next in importance to their designation, 
are the number and character of publica- 
tions that may be sent to depository 
libraries. It is the intention of the Print- 
ing Bill to make available for depository 
library distribution practically every publl- 



303 



cation Issued by the government, whether 
congressional or departmental. The hill 
provides in section 80 that the Public 
Printer or any other government officer 
Issuing publications shall furnish sufficient 
copies of each, whenever and wherever 
printed, for distribution to depository 
libraries. This provision, however, espe- 
cially excepts from library distribution 
"matter ordered withheld as confidential, 
publications for the use of the courts or 
officers thereof, blank forms, and circulars 
not of a public character," which, of course, 
are not suitable for general library pur- 
poses. The section by its broad terms is 
intended to cover sucli printed matter as 
committee hearings and other committee 
publications which frequently are of great 
importance but are not now furnished 
depository libraries. It also includes the 
House and Senate Journals which now go 
to only three libraries in each state under 
special designations by the Superintendent 
of Documents that are abolished by the 
bill. The bill likewise makes the much 
sought Executive Journals of the Senate 
available to the depositories whenever 
printed and released to the public by order 
of the Senate. Another provision of the 
bill makes the daily as well as the bound 
edition of the "Congressional record" avail- 
able for all depository libraries which will 
thus complete the sets of Congressional 
proceedings that are provided for library 
readers. 

Additional assurance that the deposi- 
tories will have access to all government 
publications is contained in the section 
which requires every establishment of the 
government to have practically all of its 
printing done at the Government Printing 
Office. This will end the present practice 
of some of the departments of having 
publications printed by private contractors 
which thus makes it impossible for the 
Superintendent of Documents to obtain 
copies for library distribution. The Postal 
Guide will be one of the more useful 
publications affected by this provision, 
which also prevents the War Department 
from having another valuable document 



like its "American campaigns" printed In a 
private office where it Is inaccessible for 
depository distribution. There Is abso- 
lutely no occasion or excuse for any gov- 
ernment publication to be printed else- 
where than at the Government Printing 
Office, which is the largest and best 
equipped printing plant in the world. The 
committee is determined that henceforth 
Uncle Sam shall print all of his own publi- 
cations. 

Exceptions in distribution 

There are, however, certain publications 
that the bill expressly excepts from dis- 
tribution to depository libraries. These In- 
clude the bills of Congress, Supreme Court 
decisions and reports. Patent specifications, 
publications of the Hydrographic Office, 
Coast and Geodetic charts and pilots, and 
Geological maps and atlases. 

In section 60 of the bill, it is provided 
that the reports and digests of decisions 
of the United States courts shall not be 
distributed to depository libraries. As be- 
fore stated, section 80 also excepts from 
depository distribution such publications 
as are printed for the use of courts and 
their officers. This relates to briefs, plead- 
ings, motions, and similar legal papers 
which, like the reports, are of no practical 
value in a general public library. These 
publications, if distributed by the govern- 
ment, should be sent out only to law 
libraries. Depository libraries and libraries 
of the courts of last resort in each state 
will, liowever, continue to receive tlie slips 
and session laws, Statutes-at-Large, and the 
Revised Statutes and Supplements. 

Though patent specifications are ex- 
cluded from distribution to depository li- 
braries, any public library may obtain a 
copy of each patent specification with the 
accompanying drawings upon the payment 
of $50 a year to the Commissioner of 
Patents. Such sets must be kept accessible 
for free public inspection. The bill as con- 
sidered by the Sixty-third Congress re- 
stricted this privilege to only one library 
In each state, but under the pending meas- 
ure any number of public libraries may re- 
ceive the sets of patent specifications on 



304 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



payment of the required fee. This distribu- 
tion takes the place of the library edition 
of patent specifications and drawings which 
was abolished on recommendation of the 
Joint Committee in 1912. The patent speci- 
fications now made available to libraries 
are sent out in separate sheets which each 
library will have to bind at its own ex- 
pense, amounting to five or six hundred 
dollars a year. It would cost a library or 
an individual fully $1,500 a year to buy 
these specifications separately at the fixed 
price of 5 cents each. The nominal charge 
of $50 a year to libraries is simply to pre- 
vent irresponsible requests for this costly 
set of publications which are of value to 
comparatively few libraries in large manu- 
facturing centers. 

In this connection, I call your attention 
to the fact that the bill abolishes the pres- 
ent "Patent gazette" disti-ibution to eight 
libraries specially designated by each 
senator and member under existing law. 
The total possible designation at present 
is 4,488 libraries, of which only 1,813, or 
about one-third of the total number, have 
been made by members of Congress, indi- 
cating the small interest taken by libraries 
In the weekly "Patent gazette." The 
"Gazette" will, however, be available for 
depository distribution. 

Geological publications 

Geological maps and atlases for gratui- 
tous distribution to foreign governments, 
literary and scientific associations, educa- 
tional institutions and libraries, to be 
designated by the Director of the Geological 
Survey are limited to 500 copies which, I 
take it, prevents their distribution to depos- 
itory libraries, as such. These maps and 
atlases. If desired by depository or other li- 
braries, are to be obtained by direct appli- 
cation to the Geological Survey. Two copies 
of each map and atlas are also placed at 
the disposal of each member of Congress 
who, undoubtedly, will gladly donate his 
supply to Interested libraries. The bill 
abolishes the special depositories of 
geological publications, including mono- 
graphs, bulletins and reports, for which 



each senator and member has been entitled 
to designate for public libraries. Out of a 
total possible designation of 2,144 libraries 
only 716 are now carried on the mailing 
list of the Superintendent of Documents. 
All the geological publications that have 
been sent to these special depositories will 
be Included in the distribution to the 
libraries designated by the bill. 

The publications of the Coast and 
Geodetic Survey, including charts, coast 
pilots, and tide tables, are specifically with- 
drawn from free distribution except as to 
a limited number of copies provided for the 
Secretary of Commerce and members of 
Congress. This provision seems to prevent 
library distribution by the Superintendent 
of Public Documents. 

The Secretary of Commerce has 300 
copies of the charts for presentation to such 
foreign governments, libraries, scientific 
associations and institutions of learning as 
he may direct. Ten copies of the Coast 
and Geodetic charts for each session of 
Congress and four copies of each Coast 
Pilot and Tide Table are also made avail- 
able for distribution by members of 
Congress, which gives the libraries an op- 
portunity to obtain such of these publica- 
tions as they may desire. 

Publications of the Hydrographlc Office 
of the Navy Department are withdrawn en- 
tirely from free distribution "except for 
official use" and no copies are provided 
for library distribution either by the 
Navy Department Itself or by members of 
Congress. These publications relate en- 
tirely to navigation and are extremely 
technical, including maps, charts, naviga- 
tors' sailing directions, and instructions to 
seamen. 

Bills printed for Congress 

As for the bills, I do not know what the 
average depository library would do with 
such a flood of printed matter if it were 
to be let loose upon them. In the Sixty- 
third Congress the bills numbered almost 
30,000, many of which were reprinted half 
a dozen times in the course of their con- 
sideration by the two Houses. The bound 



CARTHK 



306 



■at of bllU for the Sixty-third Congress 
flllB fully 20 feet of shelf space. The govern- 
ment Itself preserves only six sets of bills 
in bound form, two each in the documents 
rooms of the Senate and the House and 
two In the Library of Congress. I under- 
stand that only two other libraries obtain 
full sets of bills. Your round table, I be- 
lieve, has suggested that the text of a bill 
be printed in the accompanying report. It 
is evident that many of the reports now 
distributed to the depository libraries are 
of little value without the bills covered by 
such reports, but the reprinting of bills in 
the form of reports would entail a very 
large expense and be of little or no service 
to Congress itself, for Congress, as you 
know, considers bills in their regular form 
with lines numbered and every amendment 
to the original text carefully indicated ac- 
cording to line and page. Some commit- 
tees, however, are beginning to include the 
text of important bills in their reports to 
make the presentation complete and more 
intelligible to the public. Perhaps the 
problem will work out its own solution in 
this way, but the Joint Committee on Print- 
ing has not been convinced as yet that the 
adoption of a hard and fast rule for the 
printing of bills with reports would be ad- 
visable. ■-. s 
As a measure of relief from the over- 
whelming stream of bills pouring in on 
Congress each session, it has been pro- 
posed in the Printing Bill to discontinue 
the printing of private pension and war 
claim bills when introduced. Instead it is 
planned to provide uniform blanks for the 
filing of pension and war claims which 
can then be referred to appropriate com- 
mittees without printing, the same as peti- 
tions. This would do away with the use- 
less printing of thousands of bills that 
never receive any further consideration 
from Congress. In the Sixty-first Congress 
27,996 private pension bills were intro- 
duced, one member alone having presented 
more than 600 such bills. The committee 
estimates that $80,000 a year can be saved 
by eliminating private pension and war 
claims bills from those printed for 



Congress. This will greatly reduce the 
bulk of bills and may eventually make It 
possible to supply sets of bills to public 
libraries, perhaps at a nominal charge. 

Selection plan proposed 

Alter making available for distribution 
to depository libraries all the publications 
of the Government, with a few exceptions 
I have just discussed, the bill proposes 
that depository libraries may select such 
of the publications as they desire to re- 
ceive. As a matter of fact, practically all 
depositories have already been compelled 
by the tremendous increase of govern- 
ment publications in recent years to select 
and retain from the numerous documents 
unloaded on them only such as they could 
afford to give shelf space. The result has 
been that for many years more than 100,- 
000 documents have been returned to the 
Superintendent of Documents annually by 
depository libraries. This self-adopted se- 
lection plan has been a most wasteful one 
but it appears to have been the only relief 
possible under the present method of de- 
pository distribution. When depository 
libraries were first established by the 
government it undoubtedly was the inten- 
tion that they should receive and preserve 
complete sets of all public documents. It 
was easy to comply with this requirement 
when less than 100 documents a year were 
issued by the government but now that the 
number of publications sent to depository 
libraries exceeds 2,000 annually only a 
few libraries can give shelf space to such 
an enormous accession. 

The selection plan, as set forth in section 
79, paragraph 2, of the bill, proposes that 
the Superintendent of Public Documents 
shall give advance notice, as far as possi- 
ble, concerning the issuance of govern- 
ment publications available for library 
distribution. Annual, serial, and periodi- 
cal publications may be selected at the 
beginning of a year and reasonable 
changes during the year are to be per- 
mitted in the discretion of the superintend- 
ent. Any depository desiring a copy of 
every government publication available 



306 



ASBURY PARK CONFERBKCE 



for library distribution will be bo supplied 
if It convinces the Superintendent of Pub- 
lic Documents that it is prepared to make 
all such publications accessible to the 
public. I believe that this latter provision 
will, or at least ought to, compel nearly 
every depository library to adopt the selec- 
tion plan. 

As a matter of fact, the Superintendent 
of Documents is even now planning to put 
the selection plan into operation without 
waiting for the passage of the printing 
bill. He takes the view that, as the plan 
has already been approved by both the 
House and the Senate, he is justified in 
making a liberal interpretation of the pres- 
ent law so as to permit its voluntary adop- 
tion. Of course, without additional legisla- 
tion such as is proposed by the bill, no de- 
pository can be compelled to make selection 
of the publications to be furnished it, or 
denied the complete depository set if it 
so demands. When the Superintendent of 
Documents first undertook to adopt this 
selection plan in 1914 he ascertained that 
276 of the depository libraries were will- 
ing to enter into such an arrangement, 
which would insure the success of the 
plan and effect a material economy in the 
library distribution. I quote the follow- 
ing from the Annual Report of the Super- 
intendent of Documents for 1915: 

Selections at early date 

"We receive many requests from the 
libraries asking relief from the present 
burden of caring for so many publications 
by granting them the privilege of selec- 
tion instead of being compelled, as now, 
to receive all that are printed. This selec- 
tion plan has the sanction of the Joint 
Committee on Printing, and as the debate 
on this feature of the printing bill in both 
Houses of Congress has not developed any 
opposition, it Is my purpose to consider 
putting the selection plan into operation 
at as early a date as possible." 

The question arises in my mind as to 
how much latitude should be allowed de- 
pository libraries in their selection of gov- 
ernment publications. The designation of 



certain libraries as depositories imposes 
a duty on them that does not obtain as to 
other libraries. The name "depository 
library" itself seems to imply an obliga- 
tion to receive and preserve the publica- 
tions intrusted to such library by the gov- 
ernment. It is a notice to the public that 
the printed records of the government are 
there on deposit and available to all with- 
out price or preference. The purpose of 
designating a depository library in each 
congressional district was to provide con- 
venient and equitably distributed places 
where the people may have access to the 
publications of their government. Im- 
proper and inadequate selections by a de- 
pository library would defeat the very 
object of its designation. 

The bill specifically requires a deposi- 
tory library carefully to preserve all the 
publications it shall receive from the gov- 
ernment and provides that if such a de- 
pository shall cease to be a free public li- 
brary or for any other sufficient cause be- 
comes unfit to be a designated depository 
of government publications, the Superin- 
tendent of Public Documents shall direct 
the return of such publications. This pro- 
vision may be construed as giving the 
superintendent authority to require deposi- 
tories to make proper and adequate selec- 
tions by virtue of his power to declare a 
library, for "sufficient cause," unfit to con- 
tinue as a government depository. In any 
event, there seems to be no doubt that 
such authority may be exercised by the 
superintendent as to future designations 
through the provision that these designa- 
tions shall be made by him under such 
rules and regulations as are approved by 
the Joint Committee on Printing. 

May classify depositories 

By the adoption of proper regulations, it 
might be possible so to classify the de- 
pository libraries as to insure that ade- 
quate and suitable sets of government pub- 
lications may be obtainable in all of such 
libraries. The failure of the present law 
relating to depository libraries is due 
chiefly to the fact that it treats big and 



307 



Uttle libraries all alike. There ought to 
be an intelligent regulation of this distri- 
bution to meet the needs and capacity of 
the respective libraries. 

The Superintendent of Documents re- 
ports that last year he sent 2,130 different 
publications to each of the 482 depository 
libraries. Congressional documents and 
reports for the Sixty-third Congress alone 
numbered 5,309, which were bound in 352 
volumes. The number of Congressional 
documents and reports from the Fifteenth 
to the Sixty-third Congress, inclusive, 
totaled 182,537 which were bound, accord- 
ing to serial numbers, into 6,894 volumes. 
A number of depository libraries have re- 
ceived the greater portion of these volumes 
in addition to hundreds of other govern- 
ment publications that did not form a part 
of the congressional sets. Is it any 
wonder that they have reached the break- 
ing point in their capacity to further pro- 
vide accessible space for the documents 
that are being unloaded upon them at an 
ever-increasing rate? What will the de- 
positories do when the entire field of gov- 
ernment publications is made accessible to 
ihem as proposed by the bill? It is evi- 
dent that only the largest could survive 
such a flood without the relief to be found 
in the selection plan. I am sure, neverthe- 
less, the committee does not want that 
privilege turned into a license to ignore 
the special responsibilities that rest upon 
a depository of government publications. 

In an effort to end duplication and delay 
in the distribution to depository libraries 
Congress, in 1907, adopted a resolution 
prepared by the Joint Committee and 
representatives of the American Library 
Association, providing that all annual and 
serial publications originating in the exec- 
utive departments should not be num- 
bered in the document series of Congress 
even though ordered printed by either 
House. That plan, however, proved un- 
workable at the outset. 

Need of numbered documents 

In the first place, the Senate and the 
House document rooms found that they 



could not handle with the requisite 
promptness the vast quantities of unnum- 
bered documents which came to them 
under this new arrangement. The reso- 
lution took the congressional number off 
fully two-thirds of the publications that 
were printed for distribution through the 
document rooms of Congress and utterly 
disorganized the work of those document 
rooms which are of special Importance to 
Congress in that they supply the reports 
and documents that are of immediate use 
to members for legislative purposes. 

To store away temporarily hundreds or 
thousands of copies of a single document 
is a far different proposition from that of 
finding permanent shelf space for only one 
or two copies. No fixed space can be pro- 
vided in the document rooms for all of 
the publications that they have to dis- 
tribute, as the copies remaining at the 
close of each session have to be moved 
back into more remote store-rooms to give 
space in front for the incoming documents 
of the next session, which must be easily 
accessible. Years of experience in this 
work have convinced the document room 
superintendents that all the publications 
for their distribution should have an 
identifying number printed thereon, not 
only as a stock label for their vast stores 
of documents, but also for the convenience 
of congressmen in sending for such publi- 
cations. This document number furnishes 
a simple and certain guide to the docu- 
ments printed for the use of Congress and 
is of special value in view of the numerous 
duplications and the frequent confusing 
similarity of titles. 

The numbers, which are assigned con- 
gressional documents by the Public Prin- 
ter in the order received, are generally 
inserted in the Congressional Record 
when the document is ordered printed and 
consequently can be at once adopted by 
the Public Printer, the Superintendent of 
Documents, the document rooms, all the 
government officials, libraries, and the 
public in general as the identifying num- 
ber under which to record, print, catalog, 
store, order, or distribute such publica- 



308 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



tion. No other method seems to be capa- 
ble of so many uses or so simple of opera- 
tion. 

Senate and House Libraries 
In the second place, the removal of the 
annual and serial publications from the 
numbered series, while still continuing to 
print them as Congressional documents, 
caused a serious break in the sets of docu- 
ments that the Senate and House libraries 
have retained in complete numerical 
order for nearly 100 years. These libra- 
ries are of the first consideration to Con- 
gress for they contain the only permanent 
files of documents and reports printed by 
both Houses that are kept in the Capitol. 
They must have copies of all congressional 
documents and reports ready for imme- 
diate response to any call that may come 
from the floor of their respective Houses. 
In addition, these libraries are constantly 
used by members engaged in research 
work and the document numbers furnish 
the only index that is available to them 
in consulting the thousands of publications 
that have been issued by the Government. 
Of course, the libraries at the Capitol 
could adopt the card system of indexing 
their accessions the same as other libra- 
ries, but it appears to me this would be a 
needless task in view of the fact that the 
document numbers, which are necessary 
for other purposes, already furnish such 
an index. 

At any rate, Congress soon became con- 
vinced that the numbering of all docu- 
ments and reports submitted to It was 
essential to the proper transaction of its 
business and that a serious mistake had 
been made in further dividing the reports 
and documents printed for its information 
into a numbered and an unnumbered 
series. It was therefore determined by 
the Joint Resolution of January 15, 1908, 
to restore to the numbered series all an- 
nual and serial publications submitted to 
Congress by the departments, but, as a 
concession to the librarians who had so 
strongly urged the removal of these publi- 
cations from the congressional series, it 



was provided that copies of such annuals 
and serials for depository distribution 
should be printed and bound under plain 
titles the same as the departmental edi- 
tions. This arrangement made the an- 
nuals and serials available for the deposi- 
tories much earlier than had been possi- 
ble when they were bound in the num- 
bered congressional sets and had to be with- 
held by the Superintendent of Documents 
until the volume and serial numbers could 
be assigned such sets. 

Even this change has, to my mind, been 
a most unfortunate one in that it has 
practically abolished the congressional set 
of documents for library distribution and 
has continued the wasteful and confusing 
practice of issuing the same publication 
under two or more titles. Fully two-thirds 
of the documents that properly belong in 
the congressional sets owing to their 
having been assigned congressional docu- 
ment numbers are now supplied the de- 
pository libraries under plain titles with 
no indication whatever that they are also 
congressional documents. The result may 
be seen in your House documents for the 
Sixty-third Congress, third session. These 
documents were bound in 109 volumes, yet, 
out of the entire series, only 15 were sup- 
plied to the depositories with binder's 
titles and volume numbers indicating that 
they were properly House documents. It 
seems absurd to give volume numbers to 
only 15 out of 109 volumes, jumping, as 
they do, from 4 to 20 and then again from 
21 to 101. Of the 352 volumes of congres- 
sional documents and reports for the 
Sixty-third Congress, 235 were sent to the 
depositories with plain titles. The remain- 
ing 117 volumes were given volume num- 
bers without any regard for their 
■sequence and they can only be shelved in 
complete sets by filling in the gaps with 
the plain-titled documents bound in as 
many colors as Joseph's coat. If it is the 
desire to abolish the depository sets of 
congressional documents, that task ought to 
be completed by wiping out the few remain- 
ing traces of the once imposing, and. In 
many libraries, highly cherished array of 



CARTER 



309 



uniformly-bound reports and documents of 
Congress. As a matter of fact, the Super- 
intendent of Documents has submitted 
such a proposition to the Joint Committee 
on Printing but no action has been taken 
on it as the committee Is not inclined to 
make any further changes in the deposi- 
tory sets until the pending bill has been 
disposed of. 

Congressional series restricted 

The committee believes that it is first 
necessary to determine once and for all 
what documents shall be included in the 
congressional set and what documents shall 
be treated as departmental publications, 
and to then require that such designations 
shall be fixed for all purposes. In other 
words, it is proposed to end the present 
publication of the same document in both 
the congressional and the departmental edi- 
tions. The bill provides in section 36 that "no 
publication provided for by lav.' or Issued 
by any executive department, independent 
office, or establishment of the Government 
shall be printed as a numbered document 
or report of Congress, but shall be desig- 
nated by its original title if reprinted by 
order of either House, except that reports 
required by law or resolution to be sub- 
mitted to Congress, or either House thereof, 
shall be designated for all purposes as num- 
bered documents thereof, and all reprints 
of congressional publications shall bear the 
original title and number thereof." 

In effect, this provision restricts congres- 
sional documents to those publications the 
original print of which is ordered by resolu- 
tion of either House and to such reports as 
the departments and various officers of the 
Government are required to submit to 
Congress. This provision eliminates from 
the congressional series such publications 
as the bulletins, monographs, professional, 
and water-supply papers of the Geological 
Survey, bulletins relating to ethnology, 
fisheries, the hygienic laboratory, and the 
yellow fever institute, and publications of 
the Naval Observatory, Pan-American 
Union, and National Academy of Sciences, 
none of which is of any practical service 



to Congress for legislative purposes, and 
consequently are not needed In the docu- 
ment rooms at the Capitol. 

The failure of the resolution of 1907 was 
partly due to the fact that, after taking 
publications I have just mentioned out of 
the numbered congressional series, it con- 
tinued their distribution through the docu- 
ment rooms. 

Under the plan now proposed only num- 
bered documents and reports will be sup- 
plied the document rooms of Congress and 
hence strictly departmental publications, 
such as I liave enumerated, will not be in- 
cluded in the congressional series in any 
form. The committee has, in fact, already 
undertaken to limit the document room 
distribution to its original purpose of sup- 
plying only such documents, reports, and 
bills as are of immediate value to Congress 
in the preparation of legislation. By way 
of experiment the committee directed that 
none of the serial publications just referred 
to should be furnished the document rooms 
of either House. This test has confirmed the 
committee's opinion that departmental 
publications having no legislative value 
should be kept out of the congressional 
series. It is impossible, however, to remove 
them from the numbered series until the 
Printing Bill is enacted into lav/. 

Reports submitted to Congress 

On the other hand, the committee is just 
as firm in the opinion that all reports 
which are required to be submitted to Con- 
gress for its information and guidance 
should be printed as congressional docu- 
ments. Though originating in the depart- 
ments these reports are intended prin- 
cipally for tha use of Congress, and, in fact, 
their preparation is directed by Congress. 
The records and files of Congress must 
contain the reports submitted to it in 
proper end convenient form and that ap- 
pears to be possible only by their publica- 
tion as numbered documents of the House 
to which they may be submitted. If these 
reports were comparatively few in num- 
ber it might be possible to adopt some 
other method of designating them as re- 



SIO 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



ports that have been submitted to Congress 
for Its consideration. The tact Is, more 
than 400 reports are required by law to be 
regularly submitted to Congress and, In 
addition, scores of special reports are called 
for by resolutions each session. It has 
been the rule and practice of the Govern- 
ment since its first organization to record 
reports submitted to Congress as a part of 
the papers of Congress, and, for nearly 100 
years nov/, these reports have been print- 
ed as numbered documents of either the 
House or the Senate. I am under the im- 
pression that this practice is likewise ob- 
served by many state and foreign govern- 
ments in the compilation and binding of 
their legislative and administrative re- 
ports in serial form. 

This proposition of the committee, that 
all reports submitted to Congress shall be 
designated as numbered documents of 
Congress in printing the same for the use 
of both the legislative and executive 
branches of the Government, does not neces- 
sarily require tliat such reports shall be 
bound In sets for depository libraries. The 
bill now pending before Congress does not 
contain tlie requirement of previous print- 
ing bills that reports submitted to Congress 
shall be bound the same as other congres- 
sional documents. That language has been 
stricken out of the bill and the House has 
already approved this change. 

The bill furthermore does not contain 
any reference, as such, to "sets" of con- 
gressional numbered documents and re- 
ports or other publications, or make any 
requirement that they shall be bound in 
sets for depository library distribution. 
The matter of such binding is to be done 
under the direction of the Joint Committee 
on Printing. In this connection the com- 
mittee undoubtedly will give considera- 
tion to the Superintendent of Documents' 
proposition to eliminate the volume num- 
ber from the binder's title for all the con- 
gressional series and to make the actual 
title of each separate publication the prin- 
cipal title, with a secondary title indicating 
the document number, congress, and sea- 
clon. 



"One edition" for documents 

Such a plan would, I believe, finally 
bring about the much desired "one edition" 
for government publications, the printing 
bill preventing the duplication of congres- 
sional and departmental editions and the 
proposed binding regulation cutting out 
the duplications tliat now obtain in print- 
ing and cataloging a congressional docu- 
ment under its own number and also under 
the volume number of the library sets. The 
plan would seem to meet the wishes of those 
who desire binder's titles suitable for 
classifying their government publications 
according to subjects, and would also per- 
mit other libraries to continue shelving 
their government publications in sets ac- 
cording to numerical sequence. In case of 
the latter, the serial number could be 
adopted Instead of the volume number. As 
a matter of fact, the volume number is of 
no particular value when the serial num- 
ber is used, except that it is printed in the 
document index by the Superintendent of 
Documents who could as readily substitute 
the serial number for the volume number 
if the committee can persuade the Senate 
and House libraries to have their sets 
marked with the serial instead of the vol- 
ume number. 

These two libraries are now the only 
ones receiving uniformly bound sets of 
congressional documents, including the an- 
nuals and serials, that do not have the 
serial number as part of the back title. The 
Library of Congress and the library of the 
Superintendent of Documents, which also 
are supplied with complete sets of con- 
gressional documents, use the serial num- 
bers, and, I have been Informed, the serial 
number is also used as the call-number for 
public documents in numerous libraries. 

Of course, if the documents are to be 
sent to depositories as soon as published, 
the serial number will have to be furnished 
later and affixed by the library itself just 
as at present, for these numbers cannot be 
assigned until the four series of Senate 
and House documents and reports are 
practically completed. Whatever slight dls- 



311 



advantage there may be In thla arrange- 
ment la more than offset, I believe, by the 
fact that the libraries could receive all of 
their congressional volumes practically as 
soon as printed. Under the present plan, 
aside from the plain-titled volumes, the de- 
positories do not get the more important 
Senate and House documents until they 
can be assigned volume numbers, which 
delays their distribution sometimes for 
several months after the close of a session. 
In view of the proposed prompt distribu- 
tion of all congressional documents, the 
bill abolishes the preliminary distribution 
to libraries of unbound documents contain- 
ing less than 100 pages. 

Non-depository libraries 

So much as to the depository libraries. 
You perhaps are asking, of what interest 
is the bill to the vastly greater number of 
libraries that have not the special priv- 
ileges of a government depository. Sug- 
gestion has been offered that the commit- 
tee ought to make provision whereby any 
public library could obtain publications 
free of charge from a central distributing 
point such as the Superintendent of Docu- 
ments. The Bureau of Education has a 
list of more than 18,000 libraries in the 
United States. If these libraries were to 
be accorded free access to all the govern- 
ment publications they might want, we 
would at once have 18,000 depository libra- 
ries in the United States. With govern- 
ment publications as the prize In a free- 
for-all grab-bag, there soon wouldn't be a 
library in the entire country with less 
than 5,000 or 6,000 public documents, re- 
gardless of its need of such publications. 
Uncle Sam's books make a fine beginning 
for any embryonic but ambitious library 
that is temporarily short on fiction. 

Seriously, though, the bill does offer an 
excellent opportunity for the non-deposi- 
tory libraries to obtain desirable govern- 
ment publications. I refer to the valuation 
plan for the distribution of documents by 
members of Congress. At present senators 
and members are annually allotted small 
quotas of certain publications, principally 



annual reports and other documents of a 
more or less perfunctory character. The 
few really important documents that they 
receive are usually ordered printed by spe- 
cial resolutions and the limited quotas of 
these are generally exhausted before the 
average librarian gets around to ask her 
congressman for a copy. The committee 
has ascertained that the reprint value of 
the documents so allotted to members of 
Congress has averaged for many years ap- 
proximately $1,800 a year for members of 
the House and ?2,200 a year for senators. 
It is, therefore, proposed to allow each sen- 
ator and member such a book credit annu- 
ally with the Superintendent of Public 
Documents who shall supply them with 
publications available to the amount speci- 
fied. Some publications are listed in the 
bill as subject to valuation distribution. 
These Include, in addition to the docu- 
ments heretofore allotted to congressmen, 
all the publications of the following de- 
partments and bureaus in which the public 
is specially interested: the departments of 
Agriculture, Commerce, and Labor, the 
Public Health Service, the Bureau of Edu- 
cation, the Geological Survey, and the Bu- 
reau of Mines. Comparatively few of the 
publications of these departments and bu- 
reaus are now available for distribution by 
congressmen and then only in very limited 
quantities. The valuation credit of each 
member is also to be available for such 
other publications as congress may order 
printed from time to time, like the report 
of the recent Industrial Relations Com- 
mission. 

Documents from congressmen 

Under this plan, an alert librarian can 
obtain practically as complete a set of the 
more important Government publications 
as is sent to the depository libraries. Sen- 
ators and representatives have a personal 
interest in the libraries of their own states 
p.nd districts, and, I believe, the non- 
depository libraries, especially the smaller 
ones, will fare better at the hands of mem- 
bers of Congress, who are thus closer in 
touch with them, than they would If the 



312 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Superintendent of Public Documents were 
vested with optional authority to supply 
such libraries. If you approve this valua- 
tion plan, you ought so to advise your sen- 
ators and members, especially the latter as 
they seem to hesitate over Its adoption. 

In addition to this, however, the bill does 
provide that the Superintendent of Public 
Documents may supply such libraries as 
are suitable custodians of government pub- 
lications with copies whenever there is a 
surplus in his office after filling the re- 
quests of the regular depositories. This 
Is a rather indefinite provision but it is 
susceptible of expansion into one of great 
service to the non-depository libraries. 

There are also several provisions in the 
bill specifically authorizing distribution 
by the departments of certain valuable pub- 
lications such as patent specifications, daily 
commerce reports, coast and geodetic 



charts, and geological maps and atlases to 
libraries. I am rather inclined to believe 
that the bill will be amended to also pro- 
vide the daily Congressional Record for 
every tree public library in the United 
States. 

It seems to me, therefore, that the inter- 
ests of the libraries, both depository and 
non-depository, have been well cared for in 
the bill and that the measure will be of 
much benefit to them when it is enacted 
into law. I am sure every member of the 
Joint Committee on Printing has had the 
welfare of the libraries foremost in his 
thoughts in the preparation of the bill. 
That it may be still further improved is 
undoubtedly true, for we have not yet 
reached the millennium in legislation. The 
committee believes, however, that there is 
enough of merit in the bill to justify fully 
its prompt enactment by Congress. 



GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS AS SEEN IN LIBRARIES— WITH A PROGRAM OF 
BETTERMENTS IN THE PUBLIC PRINTING 



Bt Edith E. Clarke, Auburn, N. Y. 



Prom my recent trip to California and 
back, visiting libraries all the way, and in- 
quiring as to government publications 
everywhere, and my efforts in different 
library schools to make the government 
publications clear to and manageable by 
young recruits in librarianship, together 
with my experience in the Documents Of- 
fice and depository libraries, I have gath- 
ered and offer you here a few observations. 
I will give you first my observations, and 
follow these with a program of betterments 
which, if carried out, would, according to 
my judgment, remedy the difficulties which 
the libraries experience, and put the na- 
tional publications and their distribution 
on a basis of efficiency equal to that of 
private publishers. And as I shall speak 
only of the publications of the United 
States government, let me omit the coun- 
try, for brevity's sake, in all I have to say. 

First, Government publications as seen 



in libraries. I will take this up under the 
three topics: 1) Use; 2) Supply; 3) Treat- 
ment in libraries. 

1) Use. Diversity is the keyword to 
the use made of the government publica- 
tions a) in different parts of the country 
and b) by different kinds of libraries, a) 
I have been greatly impressed by the differ- 
ence between the kinds of publications 
called for in this part of the country and 
in the western and Pacific states. And let 
me say that the libraries of the west that 
came under my observation do an amount 
of active reference work with the national 
publications which puts to the blush some 
of our less wide-awake eastern libraries. 
But here in the east the demand is all for 
works on banking, finance, transportation, 
manufacturing and the tariff, labor and 
immigration, and international relations. 
In the west the call is for publications on 
Indians, public lands, forestry, conserva- 



313 



Hon of natural resources, geology, mining, 
soils, irrigation and reclamation. It is 
a matter of course that the local interests 
vary with the locality, agriculture and edu- 
cation being perhaps the most universal. 

b) Not only the free public library, but 
the college library, that is, of the land- 
grant or agricultural and mechanic arts 
college, and the state library are also 
depositories, the last two without liberty 
of saying whether they wish to be so or 
not. Consider, if you please, the poor agri- 
cultural college library of the newer 
states, usually in the country, with no 
general readers, with the need to conserve 
every penny and every effort for its own re- 
stricted field of work. Also, the state 
library, which one may see in cramped 
quarters, obliged to pile its U. S. documents 
in great heaps on the floor, where they 
could not be used even were readers in the 
habit of coming to the library who would 
want to use them. But as depositories, 
under the present law they are obliged to 
receive and keep everything. Now, a really 
live library wishes to have what its read- 
ers want, not a lot of dead lumber in book 
form taking up shelf room. Thus, while 
on the one hand one cogitates the highly 
praiseworthy idea which is the basis of 
the depository system, namely, to secure in 
every district of our country a complete col- 
lection of its publications, one reflects, on 
the other hand, on the burden of accept- 
ing each year one thousand books and 
pamphlets. The idea will come up, 
heresy, no doubt, that the depository 
system has had its trial and been found 
wanting, because the libraries are not 
able to accept so much that they 
do not want to get the little they do 
want. We are glad to know that the new 
bill, when it becomes a law, will allow the 
depository the privilege of selection and 
rejection, according to its use and needs. 

This brings me right up to my second 
topic, namely, Supply of documents. Here 
the key words are Elasticity; Supply Gratis 
to Libraries; and Centralization. A large 
public library has many branches, and a 
number of departments separated widely 



in floor space. It needs often more than 
one copy of certain publications, possibly 
upward of twenty to supply every branch 
and several departments. The head of the 
economics department of a large library do- 
ing a vast amount of reference work in 
documents, reports that she has the most 
difliculty to get enough copies of just those 
publications which are thrown around to 
individuals the most lavishly. By means 
of personal applications from her friends, 
who turn over to the library the copies re- 
ceived, she manages to keep the library 
supplied. A university where there was 
constant friction between the reference 
desk and the library school giving instruc- 
tion in government publications as to which 
should have the single copy of the Check- 
list, 3d addition, had to pay $1.50 to get 
another copy to keep the peace. Of course 
this is a special work in limited edition, 
and I must give my cheerful testimony to 
the scores of other occasions when the 
Documents Office has responded most 
liberally to appeals for documents which 
it could supply free. But, as my friend, 
the reference department head, sagely says, 
it would seem right, when the library keeps 
all it gets for the public to use, and the 
public daily report, in asking to use a 
work, "Yes, I had a copy, but I don't know 
where it has gone to," that the library 
should have all the copies it can use, and 
without payment. So much for free and 
elastic distribution. 

As to centralization. A librarian of a 
non-depository library, whose readers asked 
for the Guide Book of the Western United 
States, in four parts, bulletins of the 
Geological Survey, applied first to the Sur- 
vey, hoping for free copies. She obtained 
from this office two of the volumes, with 
the recommendation to ask the Superin- 
tendent of Documents for the other two. 
These others were on hand, but at a price 
of a dollar apiece. 

I myself, as an individual, but my ex- 
perience would have been the same had I 
been applying for a library, have had oc- 
casion to seek needed publications in re- 
gard to the printing investigation of 



314 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



1905-11, from the Documents Office, the 
Joint Printing Committee, Senators Root, 
Smoot and Wadsworth, and the authors of 
the publications. And in spite of the 
cordial help which everybody gave me, 
each to the extent of his resources, I have 
not got some of the most important of them 
yet. But these latter are Congressional, 
not department publications. We are again 
glad to know that the new law will make 
better provision for distribution of mate- 
rial issued by commissions and committees. 

Now as to my third topic, the treatment 
of government publications in libraries. 
Here the key words are Non-segregation, 
and the Cataloging in the library catalog, or, 
at least, the serial check record, of all sets 
like annual reports, agricultural and educa- 
tional bulletins, etc. A separate catalog 
of government publications is not advisable, 
unless it be a duplication of what is also to 
be found in the general catalog. I saw in 
one depository library a catalog of U. S. 
government publications made according to 
the advice given in an otherwise helpful 
and popular guide to government publica- 
tions. The advice given is that the very 
small library omit the government authors 
in cataloging these works. This catalog 
has omitted them. It was nebulous and 
misleading to a degree that would have to 
be seen to be appreciated. The advice 
given in the guide was addressed to only 
the smallest libraries. But it seems to the 
writer that readers even in a village of 500 
inhabitants should know that there is in 
Washington a Department of Agriculture, 
a Children's Bureau, and a Bureau of Edu- 
cation — the library would not have many 
other U. S. publications — and the good read- 
ing published by these government bodies 
should be found in the library catalog un- 
der their names. 

Unwillingness on the part of librarians 
to keep on their regular shelves, perhaps 
frequented by the public, and along with 
other books on the same subject, long sets 
especially of reports or bulletins, seems 
general. They prefer to stow them away 
In an attic or a basement stack, out of 
sight, but not out of reach when asked for. 



This feeling has a basis of good sense, 
although it does not promote the use of 
this material. For it is to be remembered 
that a government report is source ma- 
terial, not a popular exposition of its sub- 
ject, and the library of from 5,000 to 35,000 
volumes deals almost wholly in secondary 
works. In deference to this feeling I would 
suggest putting the latest report, or, with 
bulletins, perhaps a selection of the most 
popular of the bulletins, on the regular 
shelves, with a dummy to say that the 
other issues will be found in the basement. 
The adoption of the Checklist classifica- 
tion puts the publications out of the way, 
and saves the labor of classifying this stuff. 
But we do not group mankind as men, 
women, and government officials, and why 
should we classify our libraries as books 
on history, science, technology, etc., and — 
government publications. If the subject 
material in these works is used, it will be 
as much an economy in the end to arrange 
these by subject as so to arrange any other 
books In the library. In order that these 
works may be classed according to subject 
it is desirable to get them out of the 
entangling series methods of publishing. 
Of course, in this subject arrangement, the 
four series that make the Congressional 
serially numbered set will have, as a set, 
its subject place, 328.73 in the Decimal 
Classification. Also, all legitimately made 
series of bulletins, according to the formula 
to be given later, will be kept all together, 
under the broad subject of the set. The 
Checklist classification is an admirable 
piece of work. But it does not keep sub- 
jects together, and it breaks up continued 
series by the classification changing every 
time the organization of the government 
changes, as the government organization is 
its basis. In time, this classification will 
become more and more broken as to con- 
tinued sets, and less in alphabetical order 
as to government authors. Those who use 
it because of the labor It saves, should 
transfer all the earlier Issues of a set to 
its latest classification number, thus keep- 
ing sets together instead of in sections In 
different places on the shelves. 



315 



Now to turn to the program of better- 
ments directed toward removing these diffi- 
culties of the libraries, and waste, lack 
of system, and bibliographical complica- 
tions in publishing these works. Here 
also my recommendations Issue from per- 
sonal observation and experience. But 
every item on the program has been voiced 
by librarians and investigating commis- 
sions again and again as both practicable 
and desirable. So there is nothing original 
nor startling about any of them. They con- 
sist in applying to these publications the 
canons of book-making adopted by the best 
private publishers, and principles of busi- 
ness management without which no private 
firm could keep its head above water. They 
also reaffirm, with the step ahead to which 
our present stage of progress opens the 
way, the traditional and united policy of 
the Documents Office and the A. L. A. All 
are perfectly fit to be put immediately into 
practical effect, and will work out harmoni- 
ously with each other and the present sys- 
tem of things. The only difficulty is to 
convince Washington of all this. I will first 
state the program, and then add some 
explanations and reasons. 

Program of betterments in the public 
printing 

A. Recommendations as to Methods of 
Publication. 
In order to make government publica- 
tions easy to understand, easy to 
handle, and to stop duplication of 
the same publication in different 
forms, the following four rules 
should be enforced: 

1. Only one edition of any publication. 

2. Exclusion from the two series. Senate 

Documents and House Documents, 
of publications of the executive and 
judicial branches of the government; 
and these two series to be made up 
of only the smaller miscellaneous 
papers on Congressional business, too 
small to be made independent books 
or pamphlets. 

3. In every branch of the government, 
Including Congress, everything im- 



portant and large enough to be pub- 
lished as a distinct and separate 
work, either in paper covers or as a 
bound book, to be so published. No 
works to be tied together into a series, 
whether as documents, bulletins, 
circulars, papers, or by any other 
serial name, unless they fulfil the 
three following conditions, namely, 
1) all to be issued by the same gov- 
ernment body; 2) all to have the 
same general subject material or 
purpose; 3) all, or almost all, to be 
so small as to make it convenient 
to bind several together to make a 
volume. 
4. Duplication caused by reprinting of 
sub-reports with the report of the 
higher office, as, for instance, bureau 
reports as appendixes to department 
reports, etc., to be minimized by ex- 
clusion of sub-reports from the re- 
port of the higher office, and separate 
publication of the sub-report, as far 
as possible, as has been done with 
the report of the Bureau of Educa- 
tion. Desirably the department re- 
port should have appended to It a 
list of all subordinate bureaus whose 
reports for the year have been pub- 
lished. 
B. Recommendations as to Administration. 

1. The indexer of the Congressional 
Record to be trained in subject in- 
dexing. 

2. The Superintendent of Documents by 

the terms of the pending bill is to 
become a Presidential appointee. 
This will make the position more a 
political appointment than ever. In 
the twenty years since the establish- 
ment of the office, there have been as 
many as six Superintendents of 
Documents, while there have been 
only eight librarians of Congress 
since 1802. In view of this the li- 
brarians should make a concerted 
effort to induce the President to 
ignore political pull in filling the 
office; to require in the appointee 
qualifications and some kind of ex- 



316 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



perlence the equivalent of what is 
demanded in the librarian of a large 
public library; and to give him the 
same continuous tenure that is ac- 
corded to the Librarian of Congres"!. 
3. An Editorial Board on government 
publications to be created on the 
lines of the recommendation of the 
Committee on Department Methods, 
or Keep Commission, to meet an- 
nually or quarterly, or as needed. 
This board to include the Superin- 
tendent of Documents, another repre- 
sentative of the Government Print- 
ing Office, a representative of tl;e 
Joint Committee on Printing, a 
representative or representatives cf 
the executive departments, and, as 
chairman, a person of large experi- 
ence in printing and publisliing who 
shall not be a government official. 
C. Recommendations as to Distribution. 

1. Distribution by members of Congress, 
a survival from an earlier period 
when there was no Documents Office, 
to be now relinquished by Congress 
to that office, which was created by 
it expressly as the central agency for 
distribution, as soon as Congress can 
be won over to this action. 

2. Of the three distributing agencies. 

Congress, the publishing body, and 
the Documents Office, now worlcing 
inharmoniously and with duplica- 
tion, Congress is the only one whose 
distribution is wholly free. Con- 
gressional distribution being stopped, 
of the two agencies left the publish- 
ing body should retain only distribu- 
tion which is free, but which is in 
furtherance of its work, for propa- 
ganda or other sufficient reason in 
each case. The Documents Office 
should then assume its full func- 
tions as sole distributing agent on 
the basis of sales to individuals and 
free gift to libraries open to the pub- 
lic. At present the libraries are 
bandied about between the three 
agencies, and frequently pay for 
publications, end have to resort to 



expedients to get all the copies they 
need for use. The Documents Office 
should be given such control over the 
edition, both as to requisitioning the 
printing of an adequate supply, and 
the handling of the supply, as to be 
enabled to answer the needs of the 
libraries till the last copy is given 
out. 

3. Larger provision for distribution free 

through this office to non-depository 
libraries. 

4. Greater elasticity in distribution of 

different publications, a) to different 
parts of the country and different 
kinds of libraries, and b) in number 
of copies to be supplied according to 
request. 

5. A depository of public (private not 

included) bills and resolutions to 
be provided, presumably best in the 
Documents Office, where such bills 
may be obtained for a certain period, 
say till the next Congress, by de- 
baters and others interested in them. 



A. Methods of publication. "Only one 
edition of any publication" has been 
preached by the Superintendent of Docu- 
ments ever since the establishment of the 
office. It has always been the doctrine of 
the A. L. A., backing up that office. Its 
necessity was demonstrated beyond a doubt 
and reiterated again and again in the hear- 
ings before the Printing Investigation 
Commission of 1905-1911. The same is to 
be said of the exclusion from the Senate 
and House Documents of publications of 
the executive and Judicial branches of the 
government. The Printing Investigation 
Commission, after years of the most search- 
ing study, showed their conviction that this 
was an evil crying for reform when they 
caused to be passed the joint resolution of 
March 1, 1907, which provided, among other 
tilings, for this exclusion. Congress itself 
showed its entire willingness to let this 
exclusion become law. This was the 
starting point since when the libraries 
have been getting the executive reports 
and other publications in the department 



or plain title edition. It must be borne 
in mind that the Document edition is al- 
most invariably a reprint, a later republi- 
cation of what was already in print. Thus 
this twenty years worked-for reform was 
won. 

But on Jan. 15, 1908, at the request of 
certain officials in Washington, the old re- 
print Document edition was reestablished 
for their use only. These ofTicials would 
actually benefit by simplification of the 
government's publications, except as they 
would have to unlearn the more involved 
methods of the early bad system. But it 
is fair to them to say that they probably 
have never had demonstrated to them the 
evils that the reprinting of each of these 
reports, etc., in the Document edition, even 
if it be only one copy that is reprinted, en- 
tails. These evils, as they have existed 
since Jan. 15, 1908, are, in part, the follow- 
ing: 1) The Documents Office has to record 
this added edition in every one of its cata- 
logs and indexes, and to preserve on its 
shelves a copy of each. The Document In- 
dex could be reduced in bulk possibly one 
third — I .speak subject to correction — the 
other catalogs in less degree, if these reprint 
editions did not have to be entered; and all 
this labor saved. 2) There is, of course, the 
expense of putting to press for another edi- 
tion. 3) There is, again, the confusion 
which these reprint editions cause among 
users of the.se works, if this reprint edi- 
tion comes into the hands of the public. 
4) There is tlie infinitely greater confusion 
caused rmong all who try to understand 
these works by finding this edition listed in 
all the catalogs and indexes, although it is 
not expected ever to be seen by librarians 
or the public. 

We were, however, getting along on a par- 
tial, if not complete basis of economy and 
efficiency. But, especially in the kaleido- 
scope of official Washington, as the person- 
nel changes, the lessons of previous in- 
vestigation and reform are lost to sight, 
and old abuses continually recur. So in 
this new bill the proposition is to publish 
again the executive reports in the old Docu- 
ment edition, sending them in this form to 



LKE 317 

"I 
the libraries, and to abolish the plain title 
edition. Part of this Document edition is 
to be bound in a plain title edition binding, 
part in the Document binding. Here we 
have over again our two editions, confusing 
and wasteful. Add to the four objections 
noted above the following: 1) The Docu- 
ment edition is always a little delayed by its 
placing in the series, as neither its volume 
number nor its serial number can be as- 
signed until it is clear what other Docu- 
ments the set will include. 2) In many 
libraries both the Document bound copy 
will be kept to make the Document series 
complete, and in addition, the plain title 
edition bound copy in a file under the sub- 
ject. 3) The vagueness and lack of clear- 
cut notions as to the government body is- 
suing each publication will still prevail. 
This is at the root of the difficulties which 
the national publications present, and can 
be got rid of by printing each work in one 
edition only, with its government author 
clearly stated on title-page and back bind- 
ing, and by not complicating matters by 
inclusion in any series whatsoever. 4) And, 
this objection above all! The two series 
of Senate and House Documents are mis- 
cellaneous in the highest degree as to au- 
thor, subject, and size. This can not be 
helped for the great mass of publications 
filling one leaf or a few pages only which 
form the majority of the genuine Docu- 
ments, and the numbered series is, for 
these, the best way to publish. But among 
these minor publications, shoving in works 
of several hundred pages or In sev- 
eral volumes, by another branch of the gov- 
ernment, and on subjects which are as dis- 
connected as field guns and the care of 
a baby, makes the series over-swollen and 
cumbersome. Private publishers who issue 
big miscellaneous series, like Everyman's 
Library, find it desirable to make groups 
within their series, e. g. Travel, Science, 
Fiction, etc. The folly of such an amor- 
phous, heterogeneous, unassorted lot of 
works as made up the old series of Senate 
and House Documents would never be per- 
petrated by any publishing house that had 
its living to make. You cannot distribute 



318 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



with any economy unless your books are 
separate from each other, so that you can 
provide each reader with that only which 
he wants to read, not with a great mass of 
all sorts of literature which he must pitch- 
fork over to find the little thing he wants. 

Rule 3 is aimed against the tendency of 
government publishing bodies — it Is not 
confined to Congress alone — to issue in 
series works that have no connection with 
each other. In the Department of Agri- 
culture the former separate series of bulle- 
tins issued by the Public Roads Office, the 
Chemistry Bureau, the Biological Survey, 
the Forestry Service, and other bureaus re- 
spectively, were good series. The present 
series, roads, chemistry, wild animals, for- 
estry, etc., all consolidated into one num- 
bered set, is, I am sure you will all agree 
with me, a bad series, being too miscel- 
laneous in subject and author. 

To Rule 4 I do not care to devote much 
time, as I hope by degrees it will be wholly 
reformed, as it has been partially in the 
last twenty years. 

B. Administration. The indexing of the 
Congressional Record is good, according to 
all testimony and my experience, so far as 
entries under persons and committees go. 
Anyone who has tried to use it for subject 
material, and who knows what good sub- 
ject indexing is, will testify that it is im- 
possible to make sure that one has found 
all the material on a subject, and that the 
indexer is apparently ignorant of the a b c 
of scientific subject indexing. Not only are 
the subject entries of a single issue unsatis- 
factory, but the continuity and uniformity 
of subject entries in the whole series of an- 
nual Indexes, which are desirable, and 
which one sees in the biennial issues of the 
Document Catalog, for instance, are lack- 
ing. There is a science of subject indexing, 
and a man who is capable of indexing the 
Congressional Record should find it not dif- 
ficult to acquaint himself with it. And we 
wish we could induce the Joint Committee 
on Printing to see that he does so. 

Recommendations 2 and 3 are too large 
matters to discuss here. As to 3, it has 



been the judgment of some who were in- 
timately acquainted with the management 
of the Government Printing Office that a 
commission representing all Interests 
should have charge of that office, of which 
Congress alone now has charge. In sup- 
port of this claim, they state the fact that 
the public printing, originally concerned 
with work for Congress alone, has broad- 
ened out till now only about one-third to 
one-fourth, a fraction which tends to di- 
minish, of the work of the Government 
Printing Office, is done for Congress. But 
this is going beyond the business of libra- 
rians, which is with publications only. 

C. Distribution. As to distribution, 
what I have said about the difficulty libra- 
ries have in getting free what they want, 
no more than they want, and as many 
copies as they want, will apply here. When 
the pending bill becomes law, all deposi- 
tories can pick and choose what they shall 
receive. If, then, every library be made a 
depository — for even the smallest wants, 
occasionally a Farmers' Bulletin or a re- 
port of the Education Bureau — and the 
Documents Office be equipped to supply 
free all demands, we shall have the ideal 
administration. The responsibility will 
then fall on the libraries not to be satis- 
fied with the ragged and haphazard assort- 
ment of specimens of what the nation is 
publishing which I have seen in non- 
depository libraries, the librarian evidently 
not trusting in her own knowledge enough 
to get rid of partial sets and odd lots 
which can never be of any service to her 
readers. Then every librarian must know 
and supply her readers with the best the 
nation gives out. And may I say in this 
connection that I have found everywhere 
the Price Lists of the Document Office used 
and helpful, and I think they are supplying 
a need very satisfactorily. 

The government publications can never 
have editions adjusted to the demand, so 
as to stop the selling of tons of them to 
the junk man, which is like selling good 
money paid by taxpayers, till indiscrimi- 
nate free distribution ceases. Congress is 
the agency that does this indiscriminate 



S19 



giving. The publishing department dis- 
tributes free, but for propaganda and popu- 
lar education, and supposedly on a plan 
carefully worked out. But the Document 
Office should be the one centralized agency 
for sale and — to libraries only — for gifts. 
The need for a copy of a pending bill for 



use by the debating team or others has 
been voiced by librarians of schools and 
colleges many times. It would seem that 
the proposed plan to supply this need, with 
its limitations, should not be too much of 
a burden even for the overworked Docu- 
ment Office. 



COMMENTS ON LIBRARY LEGISLATION 



By William H. Bbett, Librarian, Cleveland Public Library 



The library work of the country is car- 
ried on by authority of the state. The 
reason for this is obviously found in 
the federal constitution. When the thirteen 
commonwealths by courage, endurance, 
some good luck, and some aid from outside, 
had achieved their independence, they 
united to form the federal Union, surrender- 
ing to the central government certain 
powers, and naturally retaining those 
which were not surrendered, among these 
being the right and duty of educating the 
people. Consequently, all educational work 
carried on by direct taxation and being in 
any degree compulsory is carried on by 
authority of the state. While the state 
government does certain things directly 
affecting and benefiting the whole state, the 
greater part of the library work of the 
country is local, being established for the 
benefit and carried on largely at the ex- 
pense of various geographical units, the 
principal ones being the county, the 
municipality and the school district, and 
occasionally the township. The distinction 
between municipality and city school dis- 
trict is, however, not one of territory, but 
of organization, the same people being in 
one case organized for political and busi- 
ness purposes, and in the other for educa- 
tional purposes. 

In many states, the laws provide also for 
a cooperation between these various library 
districts, as permitting a municipality to 
cooperate with the surrounding township 
or with adjoining townships; permitting 
two or more townships to cooperate; per- 



mitting the extension of municipal or 
county; or even permitting adjoining 
school-district libraries throughout the 
counties to cooperate. 

Most public libraries of the country be- 
long to one of three important divisions, 
although there are other variations. These 
divisions are, the municipal library, the 
school-district library, and the association 
library or proprietary library, which Is 
subsidized by the library district in which 
it stands and is made a free public library. 
This latter class includes libraries belong- 
ing to a great variety of associations, some 
of them being formed for other purposes 
as well as merely for the organization of 
the library. A fourth division, the county 
library, is of recent years becoming very 
much more important, though not yet 
nearly as numerous as the other classes. 

As I have already indicated, the mu- 
nicipal and the school-district library are 
usually alternatives, the school-district 
library usually including the same terri- 
tory, so that it is simply a question as to 
whether the people of a certain town or 
city will maintain their library through 
their organization as a city or through 
their organization as a school district. 

There is a great amount of library legis- 
lation in the statute books of the various 
states relating to all of these and other 
classes of libraries, enough to fill many 
volumes. The principal subjects of legisla- 
tion are, the government of libraries, their 
initiation and organization, the acquisition 
of library property, both real and personal, 



!20 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



and the continuing support of libraries. 
Most of the library laws fall under one 
or the other of these heads. The govern- 
ment of public libraries is almost uni- 
versally in the hands of library boards. In 
the municipal library these boards are 
almost universally appointed by the mayor 
and confirmed by the council. Frequently 
the mayor himself is an ex officio member. 
There may be also other ex officio members. 
Sometimes the school superintendent will 
be a member ex officio of the municipal 
library board. 

In the cities governed by the commission 
or city manager plan, the organization is 
effected under a special charter, the details 
of which do not appear in the state laws, 
and must necessarily have a special study. 
My understanding of this, however, is that 
in such cities the library, whether it be a 
municipal or city school-district library, 
forms a part of one of the divisions of the 
city's activities and is under one of the 
commissioners, a subordinate to the city 
manager. 

School-district libraries are very gen- 
erally governed by boards appointed by 
the board of education, though sometimes 
by the board of education directly. 

The law defines the powers and duties of 
the library board. An invariable condition 
is that they serve without compensation. In 
many states the desirability of having 
women on the board is distinctly recog- 
nized by a statement that no one shall be 
ineligible by reason of sex, or in some cases 
by a definite requirement that a certain 
proportion of the board shall be women. I 
have never discovered a corresponding 
proviso as to men. 

The form of organization is prescribed. 
Sometimes the secretary is a member of 
the board; frequently not; and sometimes 
it is prescribed that the librarian shall also 
be secretary of the board. The require- 
ments as to the number of meetings and as 
to the number of members necessary to 
form a quorum are generally fixed. In 
both municipal and school-district libraries, 
there are limitations in the laws as to 
selection, — as, for instance, no member of 



the appointing body shall be chosen. In 
one case it provides that no one who has 
been in the year past a member of the 
appointing body shall be appointed. The 
purpose of this law is evidently to prevent 
the council or the school board from offer- 
ing to someone who may have failed of 
re-election a consolation prize in the shape 
of membership in the library board. In 
one state there is a definite prohibition of 
the appointment of book-sellers or pub- 
lishers on the state library board. 

Association and other proprietary li- 
braries which are subsidized and made 
public are sometimes governed by a board 
appointed by the proprietary association. 
Sometimes the law requires that the library 
district which is taxed to support the 
library shall have a reasonable representa- 
tion on the board. The county library is 
very generally under the direction of the 
county commissioners or supervisors by 
whom it is established. 

Libraries may be established in most 
library districts at the initiative of the 
body to whom the authority is given by the 
statute, — in the municipality, the council or 
the mayor; in the school district, the board 
of education; in the county, the super- 
visors; in the township, the trustees. In 
some states the proposition to establish 
must be referred to the people at an elec- 
tion, for ratification, before action can be 
taken. Such action must be taken by the 
proper body upon the petition of either a 
specified number of citizens stated, or a 
percentage of the voting population. The 
law usually provides, in case it is sub- 
mitted to the people, for putting up the 
question again, after a reasonable interval, 
if not successful at the first election, — and 
also provides for the discontinuance of the 
library when voted by the people in the 
same way. In a large majority of the 
states, however, the body given the 
authority by law to establish a library may 
do so on its own initiative, without refer- 
ence to the people. 

The Initial expense of providing library 
equipment may be borne by direct current 
taxation, or it may be provided for by the 



321 



issue of bonds, — the limits of which as to 
amounts, time and rate of Interest are 
generally prescribed. Special provision is 
made in one state for the receipt of sub- 
scriptions, a proportionate amount to be 
added by taxation. Provisions for the ac- 
ceptance of gifts for the erection of library 
buildings are very general; and in some 
states adequate provision is made for the 
fulfillment of any contracts entered into in 
consideration of such gifts. In two or 
three states laws have been enacted pro- 
viding for contracts with donors, in which 
Mr. Andrew Carnegie's name is mentioned. 
In a considerable number of states, laws 
have been enacted, very obviously to meet 
the ordinary conditions upon which the 
gifts of Mr. Carnegie and the Carnegie Cor- 
poration are made. 

The maintenance of libraries is almost 
universally provided for by taxation. The 
amount of taxation is usually stated In 
terms of a percentage on the tax dupli- 
cate, the maximum being invariably given ; 
and rarely a minimum also is provided; 
this maximum, however, is of little value 
as a guide to the amount of support re- 
ceived by the libraries of each state, as it 
is not only liable to be greatly reduced by 
the taxing body (except in a few cases 
where the minimum is provided), but for 
the further reason that the practices as 
to the valuation of property for purposes 
of taxation vary so greatly in different 
states and even in different parts of the 
same state, — in some states It being valued 
as nearly as possible at the amount of its 
real money value, and in some at a very 
small part of that value. 

The maximum amount permitted to be 
levied in different states varies from two- 
tenths of a mill to two per cent; and 
obviously there is no such intentional 
variation in the amount intended to be 
levied, the larger levies being doubtless in- 
tended to be made upon a duplicate in 
which the property is valued at a small 
part of its actual value. The method of 
valuation is rather a matter of local prac- 
tice than of statute, — although there are 
laws on some statute books which provide 



definitely that property shall be valued at 
its true value in money. 

The amount which may be raised by 
taxation is also limited, as are taxes for all 
other purposes, by any general tax-limiting 
laws wliich may exist in the various states. 

Indirect methods of public support found 
in various states are: the appropriation of 
fines for violations of the general statutes; 
this is provided for in the constitution and 
enacted in the statutes of one state. In 
another state, the dog tax Is appropriated 
for library use; in another, provision is 
made from the proceeds of a liquor license 
law. 

The appointment of the library staff is, 
with very few exceptions, absolutely within 
the power of the library board, and ap- 
parently little attempt has been made by 
legislation to secure the appointment of 
qualified persons, this being almost in- 
variably left to the discretion of the board. 
More definite requirements have been 
made which apply to the newest form of 
the public library, — the county library. — 
by the requirement of examinations for 
applicants held under the authority of the 
state. One state definitely requires that 
candidates for county library positions 
shall be graduates of a library school and 
have at least one year's experience. In 
one state the library commission may ex- 
amine, grade and register librarians, In 
order to give library boards help in the 
selection of assistants. One state aims to 
prevent nepotism by definitely forbidding 
the appointment of relatives of any of the 
library board. One state definitely provides 
that women shall be eligible as librarians, 
— a seemingly unnecessary bit of legis- 
lation. 

One of the most important current ques- 
tions is the relation of the library staff to 
the civil service commission. This I have not 
been able to look into with any thorough- 
ness; but I know that in two or three states 
at least the members of the staff of all public 
libraries are placed in the unclassified 
service and exempted from the authority 
of the civil service commission; in others, 
they are under the authority of the civil 



322 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



service commission, although I understand 
that It can usually be arranged so that the 
questions may be prepared by those familiar 
witli the needs of the library service and 
thus a better class of candidates be secured 
and the library authorities be less ham- 
pered in tlie appointment of the staff. The 
most serious Inconvenience comes from the 
necessity which exists in some states, of 
appointing residents, thus preventing the 
appointment of specially qualified persons 
for particular positions. Teachers in the 
schools in some states at least secure 
exemption from the operation of the general 
civil service law, as they pass an examina- 
tion specially provided by the authority of 
the state for teachers, which has thus 
equal standing in the eye of the law with 
the regular civil service examination. My 
own view of this matter Is tliat the in- 
terests of the libraries in this respect will 
be best served by the establishment in each 
state of a system of examinations for 
candidates for library positions, under the 
management of the state library or some 
other state authority competent to do it, 
whicli would give tliose who passed a stand- 
ing under the law which would exempt 
them from the authority of the general civil 
service commission. 

The weakness of the position of the large 
libraries which have adequate examinations 
is that, though there may be no actual 
question as to the adequacy of the examina- 
tions, they are conducted voluntarily by the 
authorities of each library and have no 
legal standing. 

In two states provision is made for an 
employees' retirement fund, to be supported 
partly by the staff of the library and partly 
from the public funds. I think something 
of this sort has also been done in some 
Individual libraries outside of these states. 

Occasionally, laws in various states pro- 
vide for work for special classes, as, for in- 
stance, libraries for the use of farmers, 
or for the blind; in one state, special work 
to meet the needs of foreigners is provided 
for; in four states, separate libraries are 
provided for colored people, and, in some 
other states where no such laws exist, these 



libraries are provided tor by municipal pro- 
vislona. In some states provisions are 
made for auditoriums and the conduct of 
lectures in connection with libraries; and 
in other states this is done without special 
authority of state law, by local action. In 
one state, gymnasiums are established In 
connection with libraries. 

The legislatures in various states have 
endeavored to control the character of the 
books which should be purchased for 
libraries. A provision that sectarian re- 
ligious books shall not be purchased is 
found In the laws of several states. In 
several states book-lists are prepared by 
state authority, especially for school 
libraries, and the purchase of books is 
limited to those contained in such lists. 
One state provides definitely that "Books 
so purchased shall be of a kind best suited 
to inform the mind and improve the char- 
acter of the reader;" and the laws of sev- 
eral states contain similar generalizations. 

Legislation to protect library property Is 
found in many states. Penalties of fine 
up to five hundred dollars, and imprison- 
ment up to, in one instance, three years in 
the penitentiary, are provided for wilful 
injury or stealing of library property. Sim- 
ilar penalties, though less serious, are pro- 
vided in many states, for failure to return 
library books after due notice. Penalties 
are also provided for the failure on the 
part of tlie librarian to perform his duties; 
in one state in wliich the county sheriff is 
made librarian, ex officio, of the county 
library, he is to receipt for all books placed 
in his charge and to be fined ten dollars 
for each volume not found on the shelves; 
in order to make this more effective, the 
chancellor of the judicial district is di- 
rected to clieck up the books and enforce 
the penalty in case any are missing. In 
anotlier state the librarian is punished as 
for a misdemeanor for permitting books to 
be issued except in strict conformity to the 
law. Much remarkable legislation stands 
on the statute books of various states, pre- 
scribing in detail the duties of librarians; 
in one case, it is made the librarian's duty 
to receive and label the books. In one 



333 



state, he is specifically directed to keep 
the books from "molding and mildewing," 
and In another to keep them "well bound In 
leather or In boards with leather back and 
corners." 

The general work of the state provided 
for by law consists in maintaining state li- 
braries, both general and special, and li- 
brary commissions, usually so-called but In 
some states operated under other names. 
The state libraries are governed by a board, 
sometimes ex ofBcio, sometimes appointed, 
usually by the governor with the consent of 
the senate, sometimes composed of both ex 
oflBcio and appointed members. It usually 
has, as other library boards, the appoint- 
ment of the staff and the general control of 
the library. The legislature, in placing the 
appointment of the library staff in the 
hands of the board, sometimes keeps a 
string tied to it, as, for instance, in the 
statutes of one western state it provides 
that the board shall appoint the state libra- 
rian, providing only that the present 
incumbent keep the position as long as he 
wants to. The state librarian very fre- 
quently has the distribution and exchange 
of public documents as one of his functions. 

Work tending to promote library inter- 
ests is carried on in most states by the 
state library commission under that name; 
in one state it is called the Public Library 
Committee; in other states the Board of 
Regents, the Department of Archives and 
History, the State Historical Commission 
and the Archaeological and Historical Com- 
mission perform similar functions and are 
recognized by the League of Library Com- 
missions. They usually have both appoint- 
ive and ex officio members. Some states re- 
quire that women shall be represented on 
the State Library Commission. In one 
state the Federation of Women's Clubs Is 
expected to nominate to the governor, and 
the governor has the right to appoint a 
woman member only from a list of three 
nominated to him by the women's clubs. 

Perhaps the most important work of the 
library commission is the management of 
traveling libraries and library organization. 
In two statei, I think, there Is a special 



commission to establish and manage the 
traveling libraries. I would, however, like 
to say that the work of the traveling libra- 
ries, it seems to me, is a permanent one. 
It has two functions; one is pioneer work, 
to Introduce books, to make a place for 
the establishment of a permanent local 
library; tlie other is supplying special col- 
lections for students to local libraries. The 
first function ought sometime to be largely 
fulfilled; the second I think should be a 
permanent function of the traveling library. 

Library organization work and library 
instruction is usually given as part of the 
work of the commission. The library work 
of the state of New York illustrates in a 
remarkable way what has so often been 
said, namely, that a poor, in this case we 
might say rather a meagre, law, executed 
by good people, is worth more than the 
best law executed by inefficient people. The 
authority for all the great work of the state 
— the library school, the traveling libraries, 
library extension and supervision, seems to 
be based on four or five lines which au- 
thorize the regents to give advice and in- 
struction and to loan books; but these lines 
have been wisely and liberally and cour- 
ageously construed and a great work 
built up. 

The disparity between states which have 
active comnlissions and those which have 
not is notable, and this can scarcely be at- 
tributed to any other cause than the work 
of the commission, as in their prosperity, 
intelligence and Interest in education the 
states I have in mind are practically on 
an equal basis, but states with active com- 
missions which keep the library work 
keyed up have faithfully met their obliga- 
tions to maintain the libraries provided, 
while others in which commissions have 
been less active have come far short of 
meeting such obligations. 

To sum up, there are in some states well- 
drawn library laws but there Is also a great 
body of library legislation which shows 
simply an Interest in and an effort to estab- 
lish libraries, but, very frequently, if not 
absolute ignorance, at best a limited knowl- 
edge, of library needs and conditions; and 



324 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



consequently it is unsatisfactory. All the 
library legislation, which as I have said 
v.ould fill several volumes, could well be 
condensed into a small compass for each 
state. As 1 have pointed out, they fail to 
meet the important needs, go entirely too 
much into detail, and are therefore ham- 
pering. It is important to have attention 
called to this condition, and to remedy It. 
I am hopeful that an important step has 
been taken in the appointment of a com- 
mittee of the National Municipal League. 

It seems quite possible to draft a law 
having the essential things for library ef- 
ficiency which, with minor variations, 
would meet the needs of the county, the 
municipality and the school district and 
would provide for the adoption and main- 
tenance of association and other libraries. 

Much has been said at this meeting as to 
library Income and the difficulty of securing 
an adequate support. Looking forward to 
future legislation, I believe that the logical 
course is also the politic and desirable one. 
The library should always be definitely rec- 



ognized in law as a part of the educational, 
and not of the business, org?,nizatIon of the 
community. In cities in which schools are 
made a part of the municipal organization, 
as in commission-governed cities, it should 
of course be a part of the educational de- 
partment. In the cities in which the 
schools are under a separate board, It 
should be classed with them either as a 
function of the Board of Education or, 
preferably, under an independent board. 
By this definite recognition as an educa- 
tional institution, it will gain in dignity 
and is likely to be more willingly and ade- 
quately supported. If, as a city institution, 
it depends for its support upon an appro- 
priation from the council, it comes in com- 
petition with the more material interests 
of the city and is likely to suffer thereby. 
If it can be recognized as definitely educa- 
tional, as are the schools, and its support 
provided for separately from the business 
activities of the city, as is the support of 
the schools, it is less likely to suffer from 
political caprice or temporary stringency. 



REPORTS OP SECRETARY, TREASURER, TRUSTEES OP ENDOWMENT FUNDS, 
AND COMMITTEES 



SECRETARY'S REPORT 

The Secretary begs to submit herewith 
the seventh annual report of work con- 
ducted at the executive offices since thsir 
establishment in Chicago. 

Chicago headquarters. — It is with an ex- 
ceptional sense of appreciation that we 
this year record our gratitude to the Chi- 
cago Public Library, board of directors 
and librarian, for their continued hospital- 
ity in housing the executive offices of the 
Association. During the past year that 
library has been consummating some long 
desired physical alterations and improve- 
ments, which involved the shifting and 
transfer of several departments and bases 
of activity. The remarkable growth of 
work throughout the system has placed 
space in the central building at a premium, 
and it would have been but natural for the 



officers cf the institution to inform the 
Association that they could no longer pro- 
vide accommodations for our executive 
offices. Instead of this, however, when it 
became necessary for the library, in car- 
rying out its scheme of readjustments, to 
repossess itself of the room on the fifth 
floor which the Association has occupied 
since September, 1909, the board and the 
librarian set aside a room on the second 
floor which is practically of the same floor 
space as the other, and which serves all 
our purposes equally well — in fact, in 
some respects even better. Into these new 
quarters we were moved early in January 
by the employees of the Chicago Public 
Library, the shelving rearranged and set 
up, light fixtures and window openings re- 
adjusted, and all without any expense to 
the Association whatever. As heretofore 



SECRETAllY'S REPORT 



325 



heat, light, hot and cold water, Janitor 
service and general supervision have all 
been gratuitously provided. The other 
members of the Association will, therefore, 
I am sure, agree with the Secretary that 
there is reason this year for an uncom- 
mon degree of appreciation to the Chi- 
cago Public Library for this continued gen- 
erosity and hospitality. 

Membership. — When the 1915 Handbook 
went to press there were 3,024 members 
of the Association. Since then there have 
been additions as follows: New personal 
members, 126; former personal members 
rejoining, 21; new institutional members, 
5; total, 152. Six personal members took 
out life membership. During the confer- 
ence year 1914-15 there were altogether 
432 new members added to the roll and 
it appeared that the membership was rap- 
idly increasing, and that the 4,000-marK 
was soon to be reached. But to our great 
regret many who joined in 1914, the year 
of the Washington conference, proved to 
be only "transients," as a total of 313 re- 
signed or lapsed their membership and 
had to be dropped from the roll in the 
summer of 1915. So the new members 
acquired had to counterbalance this large 
weight in lapses and the net increase 
therefore to be recorded in the 1915 Hand- 
book was only 119. To join the Associa- 
tion we believe is good; to stay joined we 
are convinced is better: good and worth 
while for him who joins, and also good for 
the Association, which each year is find- 
ing more and yet more need for every dol- 
lar it can muster. Our committees are all 
handicapped by inadequate appropriation. 
A few hundred dollars more could he ju- 
diciously expended, and in ways to show 
results, and an increased revenue through 
membership seems the only avenue by 
which it can come. 

Routine. — It seems unnecessary to re- 
hearse here the routine work of the office 
to which previous reports have referred. 
It Is perhaps enough to say that these 
duties have from week to week and month 
to month been discharged to the best of 
the ability of the office staff; that the Bul- 



letin has been edited; that other publica- 
tions have been edited and published; that 
membership fees have been collected, pub- 
lications sold, and the resulting bookkeep- 
ing performed; that the necessary con- 
tracts in printing and publishing have been 
looked after; that the business coincident 
with the mid-winter and annual confer- 
ences has received its necessary attention; 
and that articles have been written for 
newspapers, magazines, year books, etc., 
and other publicity secured as opportunity 
offered. 

It is difficult to report on that most im- 
portant and time-consuming work of the 
office, namely the general correspondence. 
Thousands of letters are written every 
year to librarians, library trustees, 
women's clubs in towns engaged in library 
campaigns, library commissions and li- 
brary schools, publishers and booksellers, 
officers of other associations, applicants 
for positions, committees of the Associa- 
tion, members of the Executive Board and 
Publishing Board, officers of the Associa- 
tion, hotel managers, local committees, 
chambers of commerce, publicity bureaus, 
newspapers and editors of magazines; let- 
ters about our publications, arrangements 
for printing with authors, editors and 
printers, campaigns for new members; 
and many others that cannot be corraled 
even into a semblance at classification. 
But they are all interesting and we sin- 
cerely hope contribute to at least a modi- 
cum of beneficial result. 

Library plans and photographs. — We 
have endeavored during the year mate- 
rially to increase our collection of library 
plans and Inaugurate a collection of photo- 
graphs of library buildings and library 
work. We have received some excellent 
material, but on the whole not so much In 
quantity as we had hoped for. Other office 
work has hindered us in the proper classi- 
fication and arrangement of this material 
and it is not yet in the shape we hope ulti- 
m.ately to have it. The wisdom of making 
such a collection has been already abun- 
dantly demonstrated in the numerous calls 
to borrow plans and pictures which have 



326 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



come in since the report went out that the 
ofiice was engaged in this attempt. 

Sponsors for knowledge. — Members of 
the Association have doubtless seen refer- 
ences in the past three issues of the Bulle- 
tin to the "sponsors for knowledge" 
scheme, which Mr. George Winthrop Lee, 
of Boston, has been particularly active in 
promulgating. The plan in brief is to have 
the A. L. A. office become a clearing 
house to bring together the man wanting 
certain information and the man posses- 
sing it. The plan was outlined in some de- 
tail in the January Bulletin and in earlier 
articles by Mr. Lee in "Library Journal." 
Thus far about seventy "sponsors" have 
been secured on a corresponding number 
of subjects in the field of knowledge. Lit- 
tle actual work has yet been accomplished. 
If the plan gives promise of growth to 
practical success steps must soon be taken 
to place it on a business basis, formulate 
rules, and give it wider publicity and more 
systematic attention. 

Publicity.— The A. L. A. Publicity Com- 
mittee will in due time and place report 
on its efforts and accomplishments (see, 
for example, the report of the committee 
in the Bulletin of the A. L. A., November, 
1915), and no extended word is here nec- 
essary. The Secretary has endeavored to 
co-operate with the committee in every 
possible way and has In addition found op- 
portunity to secure independently a 
greater than usual amount of publicity for 
the Association and library work generally. 

Publishing Board. — The Secretary of the 
A. L. A. Is also Secretary of the A. L. A. 
Publishing Board, and as such has, of 
course, devoted a considerable part of his 
time and efforts to the activities of the 
Board. The same applies also to the other 
members of the headquarters staff. These 
facts are set forth in sufficient detail In the 
report of the Publishing Board presented 
elsewhere in print and need not be re- 
iterated here. 

Recommendations for positions. — The 
office has been consulted oftener than in 
previous years regarding the filling of 
library positions and in a considerable pro- 



portion of cases the recommendations 
made have led to appointments. It has 
been gratifying to feel that headquarters 
has been of practical assistance in this 
way, both to those wishing a change of 
position and to those in search of as- 
sistants or librarians. 

Field work. — During the past year the 
Secretary has addressed the following 
library schools: University of Illinois 
(two lectures). Western Reserve Univer- 
sity, Carnegie Library School of Pitts- 
burgh, New York Public Library School, 
the University of California summer 
school, the Minnesota Public Library Com- 
mission summer school, the University of 
Iowa summer school, and the summer 
library conference at Madison, Wis. He 
also addressed the Milwaukee Library 
Club, the Indiana Library Trustees Asso- 
ciation, the Connecticut College for 
Women (on library work as a vocation for 
women), the training class of the Chicago 
Public Library, the staff of the Seattle 
Public Library, and the women's clubs of 
Riverside, 111., and Hampshire, 111. He at- 
tended also the meetings of the New York 
State Library Association at Squirrel Inn, 
Haines Falls, the Illinois Library Associa- 
tion, at Urbana, the Indiana Library Asso- 
ciation at Gary, and the spring conference 
at Atlantic City. 

Uniform Library Statistics. — The Com- 
mittee on Library Administration In its re- 
port comments on the work of collecting 
uniform library statistics. Last year we 
printed a complete tabulation of all statis- 
tics sent in by 85 public libraries. This 
year, with college and reference libraries 
also contributing, the list is more than 
three times as large, and the cost of print- 
ing complete statistics is unfortunately 
prohibitive. With the assistance of the 
chairman of the Committee on Library 
Administration we have selected those 
items which seem the most important and 
have been most generally answered and 
which can be printed across a double Bul- 
letin page, allowing a line to each library. 
These statistics are herewith appended to 
and made a part of this report. The com- 



SECRETARY'S REPORT 



327 



plete statistics will be kept on file in the 
Secretary's ofl3ce, where they may be 
consulted at any time, or where informa- 
tion on any particular point will always 
gladly be given. 

Extra-library activities. — A number of 
enterprises not strictly in the field of li- 
brary work have engaged the attention of 
the office. These seem to indicate that 
the Association is gradually being recog- 
nized by educational agencies which have 
heretofore overlooked its possible assist- 
ance and influence. 

The Association was invited to send offi- 
cial delegates to the National Conference 
on Immigration and Americanization held 
in Philadelphia, January 19-20, under the 
direction of the National Americanization 
Committee. The president appointed Mr. 
Robert P. Bliss, of the Pennsylvania Free 
Library Commission, who was invited to 
give a short address at one of the sessions, 
and Miss Emma R. Engle and Mrs. Emma 
N. Delfino, both of the Philadelphia Free 
Library. Growing out of the conference 
there was an interesting three-cornered 
correspondence between Miss Frances 
Kellor, of the Americanization Committee, 
and the President and the Secretary of the 
A. L. A., which resulted in the proposal 
that our Association appoint a committee 
to gather, schedule and correlate informa- 
tion as to the work with foreigners which 
is being done by the various libraries of 
the country. This work in Its ramifica- 
tions and the desirability of having such a 
committee are to be considered by the 
Council at Asbury Park. 

A French committee, which terms itself 
the Alliance for Social and Civic Educa- 
tion, has well-ordered and elaborately ex- 
tensive plans for social and civic recon- 
struction in France after the war. The 
scheme, among other things, calls for a 
system of free public libraries throughout 
the republic of France, modeled after those 
obtaining In the United States of America. 
The Secretary has had considerable cor- 
respondence with the spokesman of the 
committee, M. Henri Oger, rue Oblin 6. 
Paris, and has conferred by correspond- 



ence with the members of the Executive 
Board. In consequence of our very earnest 
desire to aid in every way possible this 
commendable propaganda this subject also 
will be presented to the Council at Asbury 
Park. 

We have recently had some interesting 
correspondence also with the Belgian 
Scholarship Committee, of Washington, 
relative to free libraries in Belgium after 
the war. 

The American Library Association re- 
ceived a formal invitation in August from 
the Secretary of State to participate by 
the appointment of an official delegate 
with alternate in the Second Pan-American 
Scientific Congress, to be held under the 
auspices of the United States Government 
in Washington, December 27 to January 
8. The President appointed Dr. Herbert 
Putnam as delegate and Mr. H. H. B. 
Meyer as alternate. Although there was 
an "Edueationa!" group in charge of the 
United States Commissioner of Education 
no library topic was included in the pro- 
gram, although we endeavored to have 
some phase of the subject treated. The 
only consideration of a library character. 
Judging from the printed program, was a 
project for the creation of a Pan-American 
Library Union introduced by the chairmen 
of the Argentine, Brazilian and Chilean 
delegations. 

We co-operated with the Drama League 
of America in a number of respects in 
connection with plans for observance by 
libraries of the ter-centenary of Shakes- 
peare's death. 

For the first time in its history the Na- 
tional Conference of Cliarities and Correc- 
tion carried in Its recent Indianapolis 
program a section meeting on library work 
in institutions. This was worked up and 
conducted by Miss Miriam E. Carey, super- 
vising librarian of the Minnesota State 
Board of Control, and Its unquestioned 
success was gratifying to all who had 
taken a hand in bringing It about. We are 
encouraged to hope that a similar meeting 
may be held next year. 

Necrology — During the past year the 



338 



ASBURY PARK CONFERBNCB 



Association bai lost by tbe hand of death 
sixteen of Its members. 

The number includes three who had 
served with signal success as library trus- 
tees, of whom one was perhaps the oldest 
member of the Association; the chief 
librarians of four of our colleges and uni- 
versities; the venerable and beloved head 
of the free library system in the third 
city of the country; and others who in 
their respective places of responsibility had 
performed their duty faithfully and well. 

The list is as follows: 

Henrietta St. Barbe Brooks, librarian 
of Wellesley College, died March 16, 1916. 
She joined the A. L. A. in 1896 (No. 1389) 
and attended the conferences of 1896, '98, 
1900, '02 and '03. 

Esther Elizabeth Burdick, librarian of 
the Jersey City Free Public Library since 
1895 and in the service of that library as 
head cataloger and assistant librarian dur- 
ing the four previous years, died May 25, 
1915. She joined the A. L. A. in 1892 (No. 
1051) and attended the conferences of 
1892, 1900, '05, '06 and '07. 

Samuel S. Greeley, president of the board 
of directors of the Winnetka (111.) Free 
Public Library, died March 9, 1916. Mr. 
Greeley had the distinction of being the 
oldest living graduate of Harvard College, 
but notwithstanding the burden of 91 years 
his mind was clear and his body strong and 
vigorous until shortly before the end. He 
was deeply interested in library legislation 
and had repeatedly served on state library 
association committees. He had been a 
member of the A. L. A. since 1909 (No. 
4614) but attended no conferences. 

Helen E. Green, assistant in the Water- 
town (Mass.) Free Public Library, died 
January 27, 1916. She joined the A. L. A. 
in 1909 (No. 4638) but attended no con- 
ferences. 

Walter Learned, president of the board 
of trustees of the New London (Conn.) 
Public Library, author, editor and business 
man, died December 12, 1915. He joined 
the A. L. A. in 1906 (No. 3636) but at- 
tended no conferences. 

Bertha M. Letts, assistant in the 



Columbia University Library, died April 
23, 1915 (death not learned in time for 
inclusion in last year's report). She Joined 
the A. L. A. in 1910. Attended no con- 
ferences. 

George T. Little, Litt. D., librarian of 
Bowdoin College for the past thirty-two 
years and one of the best known and best 
beloved of our colleagues, died August 6, 

1915. He was a life member of the A. L. A., 
joining in 1883 (No. 467); attended the 
conferences of 1883, '85, '86, '89, '90, '92, 
'93, '94, '98, '99, 1900, '01, '02, '04, '06, '07, 
'08, '09, '11, '13 and '14. See Library 
Journal 40:671; Public Libraries 20:361. 

George A. Macbeth, chairman of the 
library committee of the Carnegie Library 
of Pittsburgh and prominent manufacturer 
and citizen of Pittsburgh, died February 11, 

1916. He joined the A. L. A. in 1896 (No. 
1457) and attended the conferences of 1896, 
'97 and 1909. 

Lucy Ogden, assistant in the division of 
prints. Library of Congress, died Novem- 
ber 10, 1915. She joined the A. L. A. in 
1905 (No. 3243) and attended the con- 
ferences of 1906, 1911 and '14. 

Arthur Jeffrey Parsons, chief of the 
division of prints, Library of Congress, 
died November 5, 1915. He joined the 
A. L. A. in 1900 (No. 1912) and attended 
the conference of 1902. 

John Christopher Schwab, librarian of 
Yale University, died after a week's illness 
of pneumonia, on January 12, 1916. He 
had been connected with Yale for twenty- 
five years; for the last ten as head of the 
university library. He joined the A. L. A. 
in 1905 (No. 3462) and attended the con- 
ferences of 1906, '09 and 1913. 

Ruth Lockwood Terpenning, branch 
librarian of the Piedmont Avenue Branch 
of the Oakland (Calif.) Free Library, died 
May 10, 1915. She joined the A. L. A. in 
1914 (No. 6482), but attended no con- 
ference. 

John Thomson, Litt.D., librarian of the 
Free Library of Philadelphia since its 
opening in 1894, died February 23, 1916. 
As a librarian, bibliographer, organist 
scholar and friend, he made a deep Im- 



SECRETARY'S REPORT 



329 



presslon on all with whom he came in con- 
tact, and will be sincerely missed for many 
years to come. He joined the A. L. A. in 
1893 (No. 1113) and attended the confer- 
ences of 1894, '96, '97, '98, '99, 1902, '04 
'06 and '13. See Library Journal 41:162 
(Editorial), 264-65 (portrait as frontispiece 
to number); Public Libraries 21:125 (Edi- 
torial), 153. 

Irving Strong Upson, former librarian of 
Rutgers College, died February 25, 1915 
(decease not learned in time to be in- 
cluded in last year's necrology). He Joined 
the A. L. A. in 1887 (No. 623) but attended 
no conferences. 

Evan J. Williams, assistant librarian of 
the Columbus (Ohio) Public Library, died 
March 5, 1916. He joined the A. L. A. in 
1910 (No. 4967) and attended the confer- 
ence of 1910. 

Albert Sherwood Wilson, librarian of 
Washington State College Library, Pull- 
man, Wash., and formerly assistant direc- 



tor of the University of Illinois library 
school, died May 2, 1915. He joined the 
A. L. A. In 1907 (No. 4036), and attended 
the conferences of 1908 and '10. 



The Secretary most deeply appreciates 
the cordial spirit of co-operation and help- 
fulness which, as usual, has been so mani- 
fest from all members of the Association, 
and he feels that it is a rare privilege to 
serve in the midst of such a fellowship. 
He particularly desires to thank the mem- 
bers of the Executive Board and the Pub- 
lishing Board for their unfailing courtesy 
and kindness. He wishes also to record 
his sincere appreciation of the loyal, 
capable and energetic support given him 
by his associates in the headquarters of- 
fice, Miss Eva M. Ford and Miss Gwendo- 
lyn Brigham. 

Respectfully submitted, 

George B. Utley, 
Secretary. 



STATISTICS OF LIBRARIES 



In the following tables an effort has 
been made to record statistics under such 
headings as seem most nearly to apply to 
the items submitted by the respective li- 
braries, without resorting to explanatory 
notes. For example, in the column "Terms 
of use," each library has been assigned to 
one class, according to its most general 
use, although the work of the library may 
partake of the nature of more than one 
class. 

There is given the maximum number 
of hours during which the libraries are 
open each week, shorter hours usually 
prevailing during some portion of the 
year. 

Library "agencies" have been enumer- 
ated only in the case of free lending li- 



braries, the departmental agencies of uni- 
versity library work receiving no nota- 
tion in the table. 

The item "Total valuation of library 
property" has been variously interpreted. 
The entries as given usually indicate, 
however, real estate values or values of 
buildings alone. 

For lack of conformity, certain statistics 
furnished have necessarily been omitted, 
and where only very meager statistics 
could be conformably recorded, the li- 
brary has been given no record herein. 

In practically all cases statistics cover 
year ending some time in 1915 or early in 
1916. Lack of space prevents recording 
definite dates in each instance. 



380 ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 

STATISTICS OF 

An asterisk (*) indicates that the figures given are approximate. 

An arrow (->- or ■<-) in place of an item indicates that the omitted item is 

included in the next column toward which the arrow points. (AccordlJig to form adopted by tlie Council 


City or town 

and 

name of library 


•a o 
I" 


1.1 

M 

3 *" . 

"o j; M 

B 


c 


w 

c 

•c 

3--; 
•V ^ 

a— 

. U 


Hrs. open 

each 

week 

(central 

library) 


— • 


a 
a 

13 


B 

'5 
■| 

> 
Z-o 


13 

£ 

> 

"o 
Ho 


a 
E 
S. 

go 


IP 

S O 3 
■S g c 

^oSl 


oS 

_ 3 

•Si 


B 

5 1 

•2 

IC 

•o ^ 

> t) 

6 \. 
Z£ 




2 


■5 




10 


F. 


1 


312 


66 


66 


2 


$ 28,250 


7,074 


7,610 


-. 1 


30,205 


28,124 








Abilene, Kas. F. p. 1 


4 


F. 


1 


261 


37 


37 


3 


14,000 


5,828 


6,158 






20,177 














F.l.c. 




310 


81 


81 


105 




383,538 


410,082 


150,000 




41,972 
















F.l.c. 






51 


51 


2 




22,915 


23,452 






5,300 














Altoona, Pa. Mechanics' 1 


65 


S. 


1 




75 


75 


3 


75,000 


53,601 


55,093 






48,000 














F.l.c. 




348 


82 


82 






44,406 


48,411 






9,324 


















Annapolis. Md. Naval Acad. 1. 




F.l.c. 




313 


54 




5 




55,104 


55,744 






7,618 










Arlington, Mass. Bobbins 1 


14 


F. 


2 


304 


66 


69 


6 


140,782 


27,774 


28,435 






54,598 


38,616 








10 


F.l.c. 




297 


53 


55 


4 


130,000 


39,778 


43,219 






24,311 












Atlanta, Ga. Carnegie 1 


102 


F. 


33 


359 


75 


79 


24 


578,710 


66,442 


"3,726 


2,500 




375,831 


237,341 




15 


F. 


1 


307 


61 


61 


3 


35,000 


19,194 


19,829 


2,613 




56,583 








Aurora N Y Wells Coll. 1. . . 




F.l.c. 




245 


75 


92 


3 


58,000 


24,584 


26,433 






















Austin, Minn. Carnegie p. 1... 


9* 


F. 




352 


39 


43 


2 


26,200 


7,727 


8,180 






22,722 


16,384 








37 


F. 


45 




48 


48 


5 




16,193 


19,925 


1,600 





80,302 












558 


F. 


73 


345 


69 


83 


123 




321,576 


334,366 




770,737 


696,111 


536,659 






Baltimore, Md. Peabody Inst.. 


600* 


F.r. 


1 


328 




81 


9 




182,471 


187,138 


31,176 

















Bangor, Me. P. 1 


26 


F. 


1 


305 


72 


72 


12 


200,000 










82,956 


55,100 


Belfast, Me. F. 1 


4 


F. 


3 


307 


18 


18 


2 




17,104 


17,462 






29,665 


23,307 


Berkeley, Cal. P. 1 


65" 


F. 


7 


361 


72 


75 


21 


60,000 


51,319 


55,188 






296,362 


175,253 


Birmingham, Ala. P. 1 


200 


F. 


14 


359 


75 


75 






37,991 


44,638 


11,651 




280,670 


195,969 






Bloomington, 111. Withers p. I. 


26 


F. 


5 308 72 


72 






26,639 


27,339 






98,141 


56,182 










Bloomington, Ind. Ind. Univ.. 




F.l.c. 


307 79 


74 


16 


375,000 


98,041 


104,081 





116,755 










Boston. Bar Assn. 1 




S. 
F.r. 


1| 305 


48 


48 


2 




12,691 


12,997 










Boston. Mus. of Fine Arts 1... 




1| 304 




45 


6 




15,469 


16,155 


9,087 
















Boston. P. 1 


745 


F. 


294 


358 


81 


88 


420 


7,500,000 


1,098,702 


1,121,747 






1,910,320 




Boulder, Colo. Univ. of Colo. 1. 




F.l.c. 




302 


82 


82 


7| 230,000 


83,938 


91,958 


24,000 


28,090 


28,090 






Braddock, Pa. Carnegie f. 1... 


85* 


F. 


175 308 


72 


72 


14 


1 


63,504 


66,652 




432,298 


383,218 


192,887 


1 


Bradford. Pa. Carnegie p. 1... 


14 


F. 


1 307 


72 


72 


1 


19,821 


20,325 






102,036 


75,431 


1 






Brockton, Mass. P. 1 


65 


F. 


3 305 


72 


78 


14[ 180,000 


68,554 


71,416 






261,542 


184,186 


Brookline, Mass. P. 1 


33 


F. 


20 355 


79 


79 


24 


300,000 


86,388 


89,663 






230,913 


136,115 


Brooklyn. Children's Mus. 1... 




F.r. 


.... 348 




54/. 


2 




7,230 


7,442 






















1,825 


F. 


426 365 


87K 


91 


372 




808,787 


862,112 






5,875,190 


3,977,998 














S. 


1 30e 


75 


75 


2 




11,933 


12,061 






16,185 


11,593 














F.r. 


1 35( 




82 


1( 




97,523 


101,091 


17,000* 




















Burlington, la. F. p. 1 


24 


F. 


11 31f 


72 


72 




105,000 


37,439 


39,278 






113,336 


65,710 






Cairo, 111 P 1 




F. 


1 30 


) 72 


108 






18,917 


19,482 






5S,22C 


35,746 
















Calumet, Mich. C.&H.Mfg.Co 




F. 


2 35 


48 


60 






39,523 


42,120 






179,561 


105,657 














F.l.c. 


.... 28 


55 








33,155 


35,323 






32,454 















Camden, N. J. F. p. 1 


102 


F. 


3 ... 


72 


72 


1 1 


5 


57.047 


61,682 






238,616 


167,000 



IBRARIES 



331 



f the American Library ABsoclatlon) 





h 


li 

S *^ 

(S 33 


Registration 


c 
1 

a 


No. of 
news- 


3 M 

C 

C ctt 
III 








Expenditures for maintenance 






i'i 


and 
peri- 
odicals 
currently 
received 


Receipts | 


! 


1 


■5 


Salaries 




► u> 


C.2 


1 
S 

•a 
c 
W 






o ^ 


1 1 






"3 1 
< 1 


1 




I'E 




Be 


> 


H 


H 


a 
u 


H 


n 


H 












2,614 




51 


51 










$ 232 


$ 91 $ 1,086| 


$ 420 




$ 2,413 












3,565 




63 


63 


41,036 


$ 1,387 




$ 2,141 


323 


96 


892 


315 




1,804 


2,610 










2,645 




4,325 






170,560 




237,996 


76,660 


■<r 


105,104 






219,325 


















































1,615 


~ 


165 


165 








2,873 


1,851 


498 






























6,196 


$ 607 


6,804 


2,333 


1,689 








6,804 

















77 


77 




2,500 





























8,500 


23 


117 


117 


41,384 


4,000 


2.692 


7,608 


715 


315 


3,335 


951 




7,602 








4,710 


582 


5,242 




152 


152 










2,000 


361 


3,480 








3,086 










62,603 


5 


291 


291 


114,744 








9,150 




18,972 




3,350 


34,805 












•5,000 


5 


73 


73 




2,750 


190 


3,579 


567 


105 


1,450 


363 


499 


3,656 
















162 


162 










2,466 


456 


2,957 






7.253 








1,770 


780 


2,550 


3 


31 


31 


19,712 


2,571 




4,366 


417 


77 


782 


240 




2,524 






















189 


189 




15,985 





4,051 


542 




3,145 






10,262 






















2.sri 










44,929 


3 


462 


462 




48,300 


50,000 


101,410 


16,178 


2,465 


55,361 


-<- 




101,650 






92,020 










485 


485 


25.531 




21,518 


21,614 


10,499 


<- 


10,360 






21,518 
























2,484 


3,787 




1 


\ 




4,300 


4,720 


26,153 


8,791 


455 


7,368 


1,152 




22,953 


















. 526 


500 








3,336 


10 


57 


57 




93 


1,563 


1,813 


212 


111 


710 


170 




1.626 












1- : 




2,557 








8,711 


1 


267 


534 




26,326 




39,736 


6,767 


1,217 


12,939 


1,675 


1,062 


29,717 














318 


776 




19,545 


8,043 


27,588 


5 


386 


572 


'85,332 


12,592 




20,483 


4,734 


843 


10,128 


730 




19,621 












9.392 


2 












12,897 


1,219 


258 


5,139 


840 


1,808 


9,804 


















































14,215 




16,000 












































































2,937 










































13,075 
















7,789 








2,950 


1,050 


4,377 






8,377 
































101,585 




60,380 


51,819 


112,199 




4,384 


5,673 




407,688 


20,600 


458,517 


30,972 


8,465 


208,038 


69,810 




419,296 


















1,900 


4 


819 


2,292 


2,600 


15,122 




15,616 


7,133 


1,242 


6,167 






15.082 






















49,080 






15,556 


3 


205 


358 


74,182 






26,331 


3,107 


806 


9,756 


1,350 




22.137 






















5,351 


1,645 


6,996 


3 


117 


122 




4,936 




13,600 


540 


231 


2,100 


708 


8,171 


13,591 


















13,534 


2,945 


16,479 


3 


367 


367 




24,000 


1,611 


26,411 


4,665 


843 


10,294 


2,210 


1,611 


26,411 










7 6^4 


4,583 








11,207 


2 


187 


317 




34,000 


862 


35,348 


4,676 


908 


20,575 


<- 


1,677 


35,348 




























8C 


80 


51,002 








242 


122 


1,890 












































351,835 


3 


•550 


•550 




464,899 


3,902 


644,524 


97,244 


9,424 


248,374 


34,573 


32,498 


545,154 


























1,13C 




52 


52 


































































31^ 


312 




29,222 




82,550 


5,177 


578 


10.069 


1,200 




23,202 


















2,40, 






4,602 


2,652 


7,254 


4 


114 


117 






18C 


9,792 


2,536 


204 


3,841 


691 




9,524 
























♦2,877 


. .A 


9C 


9C 


•12,32S 


4,138 




5,515 


83C 


205 


1,823 


513 




5 076 
















6,552 








9,55C 


.. 


22e 


32C 


89,284 
























































67^ 
















1,96S 


45 


3,522 
















































5,23( 




11. 


lis 




18,00C 





18,8331 5,103 




8,888 






21,617 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



STATISTICS OF< 



An asterisk (*) indicates that the figures given are approximate. 

An arrow (-> or -<-) in place of an item indicates that the omittec 

included in the next column toward which the arrow points. 


item is 




(According to form adopted hy the Cancel | 


City or town 

and 

name of library 


c 
■So 


ti 

H.S.S 


c 

e2 


c 

a-- 
>, = 

if. 


Hrs. open 

each 

week 

(central 

library) 




3 

> 
a 


c 

> 

i'o 


T3 

Ho 


a. 
E 

a 

"o g 


■a 




No. of vols, fiction lent 
for home use 




►J 








F. 


....| 306 


42 


42 






17,550 


18,093 






35,608 


28,506 • 














Carlisle, Ind. P. 1 


3 


F. 1 4l 279 


33 


33 


1 




1,817 


891 




8,832 


3,588 












Carthage, Mo. P. I 




F. 


1 3071 72 


72 


3 




8,503 
30,000 


9,079 






42,389 


30,949 


















Cedar Rapids, la. Iowa Masonic 








107 


48 


48 


.... 




31,300 




1,200 




Cedar Rapids, la. P. 1 


43* 


F. 


151 


364 


72 


84 


8 


110,000 


32,311 


35,252 






208,712 


125,615 


Charlotte, N. C. Carnegie 1 


34 


F. 




314 


54 


68 


3 


80,000 


7,828 


8,216 






44,891 


36,986 




4.1 
40' 


F. 




304 


66 


66 


7 


73,000 


16,333 


17,524 




107,954 


103,741 


78,142 




Chester, Pa. Crozer T. S. 1 


F.l.c. 




243 


64 


64 


2 


40,000* 


26,049 


26,996 


6,230 


8,070 


3,711 


-J 






Chicago, 111. Art Inst. 1 


F.I.C. 




361 


66 


66 


16 




9,876 


11,307 


9,563 


9,067 


3,605 












Chicago, 111. City Club 1 




F.I.C. 




280 




39 


2 






4,500 


15,000 









Chicago, III. John Crerar 1 


2,500 


F.r. 




314 




78 


57 


5,392,477 


337,136 


353,394 


122,824 









Chicago, 111. Univ. of Chicago 1. 


]2« 
30* 


F.l.c. 




309 


84 


84 


102 




430,33£ 


458,616 




176,339 


116,123 








Chickasha, Okla. Carnegie p. 1. 


F. 




354 


38 


38 






3,200 
33,965 


3,621 






14,670 




Chicopee, Mass. P. I 


F. 


4 







8 


45,000 


35,806 




108,085 






Chillicothe, 0. P. 1 




F. 


11 


3131 72 


72 


3 


60,000 




35,000* 






84,726 


38,303 


Cincinnati, O. Cin. Med. Hosp. 




F.l.c 


306 


78 


78 


3 




18,025 


20,101 


3,277 




693 




Cincinnati, O. P. 1 


500" 
17 




357 


78 


91 


155 


1,600,000 


463,521 


487,088 


102,195 




1,669,216 


996,752 




F. 




Cleburne, Tex., Carnegie p. 1... 


1 


364 


72 


76 


3 


25,000 


7,577 


7,868 






21,374 


16,435 








Cleveland. O. P. 1 




F. 


559 


363 


81 


89yi 






511,067 


519,519 






3,023,156 


1,413,655 




26 










Clinton, la. F. p. 1 


F. 


4 


306 


72 


75 


5 


55,000 


20,180 


21,715 






96,367 


60,0n2 








Colo. Springs, Colo. Colo. C. 1.. 





F.l.c. 










5 


50,000 


67,000 


71,610 


40,000 




16,600 
















Columbus, O. State Univ. 1... 


F.l.c. 




342 


85 


89 


17 


673,648 


138,102 


147,265 






14,078 




Columbus, Wis. F. p. 1 


F. 




307 


36 




1 




4,756 


5,059 






21,297 


14,i 










Concord, Mass. F. p. 1 


6 


F. 


?. 


304 


72 


72 


3 


70,000 


43,142 


44,249 






48,514 












Cornish, N. H. G.H.Stowell f. 1. 


F. 


19 


306 


30 


30 


2 




3,043 


3,444 






5,431 


2,1 


Corvallis, Ore. Ore. Agr. Coll. 


7 


F.l.c. 




307 


74 


74 


6 





29,901 


34,944 






19,063 


Dallas, Tex. P. 1 


130 


F. 


20 


365 


66 


83 


.... 


335,000 


48,341 


51,972 






156,707 


106,f 


Danbury, Conn. L 


23 


F. 


20 


304 


66 


66 


.... 




22,081 


22,353 






54,627 


42,. 
53,994 


Danville, III. P. I 


40 


F. 


3 


305 


70 


75 


6 


55,000 


32,775 


32,851 






87,239 








Davenport, la. P. 1 


48 


F. 16 


363 


72 


76 


10 




39,949 


42,669 


1,200* 




192,098 


125,80F 










Denver, Colo. P. 1 


213 


F. 


26 


360 


76 


79 






155,633 


167,020 


2,200 




647,711 










Detroit, Mich. P. 1 


600 


F. 


102 


363 


72 


72 


.... 




325,487 


329,675 






1,491,034 


834,048 


Dickinson, N. D. P. 1 




F. 


1 


304 


36/. 


40 


1 




3,695 


4,182 


100 




15,494 


11,C 








Dover, N. H. P. 1 


13 


F. ij 3051 72 ( 76 ( |. 


43,046 


44,275 






76,848 


49,05( 
170,87£ 


Duluth, Minn. P. I 


94 


F. 


16 


350 


79 


szy. 


18 


245,004 


68,009 


67,623 






269,429 




Dunkirk, N. Y. F. I 




F. 


1 


306 


66 66 


3 


39,440 


12,34? 


12,653 










Elkhart, Ind. Carnegie 1 


23* 


F. 


12 


307 


66 


72 


5 


60,000* 


23,049 


24,401 


3,266 




87,441 


61,38i 


Elmira, N. Y. Steele Mem. 1.. . 




F. 


18 


312 


66 


66 


3 


40,000 


20,522 


21,834 


447 




76,452 


63,28C 


Emporia, Kas. F. 1 


12 


F. 


7 


348 


76 


76 


3 


22,000 


12,600 


13,963 






43,636 




Endicott, N. Y. F. 1 




F. 


1 


245 


48 


53 


2 


2,000 




1,940 






24,493J 17,?9.' 1 

































LIBRARIES 



of tlie American library Association) 




























> u 


•&| 
a'" 
d u 


£ > 

^ o c 

S "^ 


Registration 


■a 
a. 

& 


Xo. of 
news- 
papers 
and 

o§fcais 
currently 
received 


in -a 

Hi 


Receipts 


H 


Expenditures for maintenance 






pq 
566 




Salaries 




H & 


n 

E 
S 

W 




I'E 


■g'> 




3 


I 


H 




P 


CJ 


1 












2,221 


7 


54 


54 




3,000 


274 


5,131 


126 


1,831 




161 


3,531 














300 










866 


3 


23 


23 




1,382 




1,41C 


176 


24 


680 


50 




1,244 






















4,616 




69 


69 


12,599 


3,443 




5,79t 


879 


■<r 


1,628 


-<- 




3,508 


















■ 



































































8,056 


2,659 




8,679 


3,176 


11,855 


4 


200 


200 




15,688 




19,170 


4,270 


393 


6,573 


1,045 




16,781 








5,044 


1,660 


6,704 


5 


70 


70 


23,075 


4,300 




5,063 


827 


189 


2,186 


500 


579 


5,406 
















1,787 


1,660 


3,447 


5 


126 


126 




7,325 




17,121 


1,170 


211 


5,100 






9 909 


V 
























271 




151 


151 










387 


319 


2,925 


















































94,959 




2,094 


3,980 






8,910 

















































125 


125 






























































195,502 










3,758 


3,789 


170,163 




229,923 


231,111 


27,329 


6,749 


59,223 


4,540 




190,667 



















60,216 










2 615 2.fil.'; 


335,542 






136,541 




') 






136,541 
















' 














68 








1,879 


3 


51 


51 




1,495 




1,557 


228 


71| 600 


120 


•300 


1,550 






















5,750 




94 


94 




6,300 




6,500 


1,122 


153| 3,473 


90 




6,500 
























10,844 










3,370 




4,225 


1,327 


151 2,443 


<- 




5,134 


































243 


243 












1 






































;^ 44,233 


491,635 




68,069 


33,063 


101,132 


3 


1,006 


2,150 




183,964 


3,553 


196,121 


43,627 


1 91,104 


25,780 


3,728 


195,964 














3,483 


3 


68 


68 




2,950 




4,459 


2S9 


-^ 


1,650 


-<- 




4,459 














87,470 


3,895 




102,238 


61,180 


163,418 


3 


818 


2,227 




351,756 




525,485 


39,712 


5,511 


204,752 


26,519 


14,612 


415,636 




\395 










10,473 


5 


130 


130 




9,826 




14,90; 


2,266 










8,840 























100,000* 










298 


298 


100,000 






















































53,506 










1,300 


1,300 






363 




14,560 




16,140 


3,990 


18,290 


42,825 




























1,667 




43 


43 




1,675 


114 


2,463 


3.S1 


70 


565 


240 




1,793 




























124 


124 




4,661 


3,133 


8,038 












6,939 




























456 










500 




26 


26 


4,159 




























































430 


430 








12,245 


4,000 


1,401 


6,300 






12,245 


























T 916 










24,631 










13,500 




17,975 






1,118 




16,394 


















1 '"1 


.855 






2,137 


1,133 


3,270 


4 


68 


71 




820 


424 


9,826 


1,090 


172 


2,827 


<- 




4,999 






2j824 










6,075 


3 


150 


150 




8,500 




8,982 


1,684 


328 


2,900 


690 




8,127 












4,559 


6,359 




8,734 


2,607 


11,341 


4 


166 


184 




25,781 




40,357 


4,186 


422 


7,549 


1,615 


1,399 


20,822 




-3,087 


3,359 








57,923 


2 


508 


567 




62,000 




68,128 


12,614 


1,989 


28,194 


8,423 




66,762 










?',2I3 


4,437 




67,746132.548 


100,294 


3 


758 


1,406 




205,922 




554,392 


o9,987| 3.500 


114,577 


14,518 


134,863 


343,547 














338 


362 


700 


... 


41 


41 


9,668 


1,500 




3,327 


316 


58 


830 


137 




1,811 


















15,840 


31 


185 


185 


25,422 


5,800 


168 


6,260 


1,108 


288 


2,693 






6,017 
















2,916 






15,128 


6,935 


22,063 


5 


178 


195 




22,903 




29,060 


3,853 


675 


10,581 


2,684 




28,847 
















3,000 










3,135 




3,851 


367 


121 


1,394 


480 




3,S4r 




















1,400 


548 








7,690 




171 


171 




7,358 




9,137 


1,277 


324 


3,125 


720 




6,408 










355 






6,473 


2,338 


8,811 


3 


79 


79 


•2,800 


4,635 


2,956 


8,105 


1,215 


1561 2-540 


350 




8,10! 




















4,871 




33 


106 




4,036 


480 


4,902 


1,139 


351 


1,751 


565 




4,902 























1 1,842 




33 


33 




700 




4,441 


1,163 


<- 1,190 


100 


»74 


4,329 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



k i* ) indicates that the figures given are approximate. 
(-> or -<-) in place of an item indicates that the omitted item 
n the next column toward which the arrow points. 



STATISTICS OF 



(According to form adopted by tlie Connci 



City or town 

and 

name of library 


t'i 

c-a 


e 

£ si's 
H.5.:: 


c2 




Hrs. open 

each 

v/eek 

(central 

library) 


c 2 

WE 


> 

>. 

o. 
.5 

3 


c 
I'd 


c 


2 
a 
S 

a 


Total recorded use (no. 
of vols, lent for home 
use and no. used in 
building) 


"o 

"o 5! 

= 1 


E 




g 




-o 
i.3 


Eugene, Ore. P. 1.: 


14 


F. 


1 


360 


66 


70 


2 


15,000 


5,974 


7,084 


547 




33,969 


26,657 


Eugene, Ore. Univ. of Ore. 1.. 




F.I.c. 




310 


iWi 


8154 


^°l 


51,578 


58,589 




68,458 


21,305 




Evanston, 111. N. W. Univ. 1.. 




F.I.C. 




309 










98,330j 102,874 


67,800 




13,557 




Evanston, 111. P. 1 


27 


F. 




350 


72 


76 


8 


165,000 


50,7S6j 52,056 




149,904 


109,966 


72,429 


Everett, Wash, P. 1 


33 


F. 


1 


363 


72 


76 


4 




9,385 9,495 






50,880 


36,987 


Fairhaven, Mass. Millicent 1. . . 


6 


F. 


4 


365 


84 


84 


6 


150,000 


21,36lj 22,596 






54,211 


35,117 








Fargo, N. D. N. D. Agr. Coll. 




F.I.c. 






67 


67 


4 


25,000 


25,583 


26,620 


















Fort Collins, Colo. StateA. C. I. 




F.lc. 




308 


66J4 


66J4 


3 












8,113 
















Fort William, Can. P. I 


20 


F. 


21 


357 


72 


82 


6 


80,000 


13,S9f 


17,632 






89,557 


63,155 








Galveston, Tex. Rosenberg!... 


45* 


F. 


6 


302 


72 


75 






52,596 


54,712 


30,300 




72,623 


40,719 








Gardner, Mass. Heywood Mem- 


16* 


F. 


12 


309 


52 


60 


4 




15,815 


16,401 






75,870 


55,684 










Gary, Ind, P. 1 


45 


F. 


20 


363 


85 


85 


18 


140,000* 


43,195 


53,566 




360,847 


223,387 


140,387 


Gerraantown, Pa. Friends' f. 1. 




F. 


1 


313 


69 


69 


3 




28,83f 


29,585 






18,862 
















F. 


1 


204 


12 


12 


1 




3,474 


3,817 


9,548 


9,508 


7,679 










Goshen, N. Y. L. & Hist. Soc. 


3 


F. 


1 


303 


17K 


V% 


1 




3,383 


3,526 






14,758 












Gouverneur, N. Y. Rdg. R. A . . 


4 


F. 


1 


303 








8,000 


5,951 


6,325 






22,438 


19,926 














Grand Rapids, Mich. P. 1 


112 


F. 


100 


308 


75 


79 


63 


529,512 


147,671 


160,308 


4,933 


470,936 


433,213 


211,914 




12 


F. 


8 


357 


72 


76 


4 


40,000* 


31,334 


32,546 






82,699 


57,643 












Gunnison, Colo. State N. S. 1.. 




F.I.c. 




245 


46 


46 


1 


6,778 


4,545 
























20 


F. 


13 


361 


75 


75 


5 


40,000 


15,248 


17,295 






42,847 


27,08" 










Hanover, N. H. Dartmouth C. 




F.I.C. 




362 


84 


87 


11 


207,000 


130,000 


134,293 






15,487 












. 2 


F. 




299 


45 


45 


2 




5,010 


6,173 


63 




25,575 


20,155 












F.r. 










1 




6,702 


7,300 


5,000* 


783 


275 














8* 


F. 




335 


42 


47 






12,448 


12,633 






29.200 


22,584 














Homestead, Pa. Carnegie 1 


30* 


F. 


33 


336 


78 


78 


6 


170,000 


44,265 


46,374 


1,500 


140,517 


137,788 


46,637 






F. 


26 


307 


72 


75 


3 




3,876 


4,726 






26,607 


16,675 


















6 


F. 




305 


37 


40 




25,000 


10,966 


11,419 






46,914 


37,87? 












20 


F. 




365 


72 


75 






7,309 


8,104 






39,874 


21,685 














7* 


F. 




257 


72 


75 






6,789 


7,075 




40,657 


28,937 












Iowa City, la. P. 1 


10 


F. 




319 


72 








13,887 


14,765 







50,071 


25,252 




















20 


F. 




255 












3,569 






38,377 


20,044 




















Tackson, Mich P. 1 


38* F. 


11 


359 


72 


76 


10 


85,000 


43,582 


46,816 






165,308 
















Jamaica, N. Y. Queens Bor... 


395 


F. 


98 


313 


72 


72 


92 




194,199 


214,916 






1,533,289 


937,597 












Jameito-.vn, N. D. P. 1 


6 F. 




362 


36 


39yi 


2 




5,390 


5,515 






18,524 


15,797 


















4 


F. 




365 








1,500 


2,808 


2,907 






6,513 


















Kansas City, Mo. P. I 




F. 


49 


362 


91 


91 






162,930 


187,479 






646,863 


- 405,918 


















Kaukauna, Wis. F. p. 1 


4 


F. 




313 


33 


33 






5,450 


5,640 


228 




17,128 


12,784 


Knoxville, Tenn. Univ. of T. . 




F.I.C. 




250 


60 


60 


3 




33,289 


33,990 




17,741 


8,741 




Kokomo, Ind. Carnegie p. 1. . . 


17 


F. 




360 


72 


75 


3 


39,000 


10,011 


10.646 






59,406 


40,762 



LIBRARIES 



of tbe American Iilbrary Association) 





Is 

0.- 

ii 


£ ^ 
(SSS 










Xo. of 
iiews- 


il 






H 


E.xpen 


ditures 


tor main 


tcnance 


"si 

III 




«'o 


Registration 


and 

currently 
received 


Receipts 




■5 


Sala 


■ies 




> M 


^ c 


E 

5 




^ 


>. ^ 


II 




o 


1 




u 




H 


P 


U 


H 










4,808 


5 


65 


65 




1,939 




6,423 


1,525 


<- 


1,207 


200 




3,502 
















47,153 








*450 


450 










6,250 


1,307 


8,340 


960 




19,552 






























1,581 












23,049 


25,145 


12,350 


<- 


7,568 







24,913 






























39,938* 




10,237 


5 


189 


189 




12,930 


662 


19,356 


444 


235 


7,108 


925 




12,285 
















4,393 1,054 


5,347 


2 


99 


99 




5,586 




6,076 


511 


187 


2,845 


321 




5,229 










305 






1,250 766 


2,016 


3 


118 


165 






8,350 


8,627 


1,354 


377 


3,923 


720 




8,359 


























338 


338 




















5,000 








































1 


1,060 




125 


125 










1,932 




3,125 


101 




5,484 






















IS 189 






3,282 


1,593 


4,975 




164 


178 




16,561 




17,770 


4,121 


418 


3,910 


1,383 


2,448 


16,265 












1,564 






8,469 


7,646 


16,115 




384 


384 










^2,921 


701 


11,948 






23,475 






























3,549 




75 


78 




3,584 


2,180 


7,185 


1,127 


285 


2,103 


491 




6,629 


















27,551 




7,054 


6,132 


13,186 




257 


433 


186,201 


28,240 




42,835 


6,469 


823 


12,303 


1,616 


4,845 


32,731 


















27,253 


























































354 


343 


697 




40 


40 


4,308 


2,122 




4,198 


428 


71 


490 


72 




1,539 




















1,021 


4 


37 


37 




535 




1,054 


162 


52 


145 


15 




579 






















1 


1,591 


4 


60 


60 




880 




2,108 


478 


87 


360 


41 




1,254 














16,526 


891 






26,385 


944 


1,401 


1,401 


440,047 


65,210 


237 


79,605 


11,937 


2,454 


32,036 


2,882 


2,120 


63,747 










407 






4,019 1,199 


5,218 


3 


125 


135 




6,800 




7,959 


1,543 


334 


2,496 


758 


540 


7,959 














S9 










79 


79 










1.200 


110 


1,250 






2,721 




























1,768 






1,375 


2,749 


4,123 


3 


128 


128 


18,790 


7,680 




10,227 


1,870 


299 


2,104 


724 


546 


7,361 






















650 


650 








22,397 


5,367 


2,092 


10,075 


310 




20,135 































1,033 




49 


49 






























































93 


93 


593 


2,000 




2,000 


420 


178 








2.000 




























*4,580 


7 


..40 


40 




1,600 


600 


5,605 


290 


98 


684 


168 




1,898 














13,000 




57,100 




•12,500 


7 


102 


102 






6,500 


10,693 


2,312 


320 


2,892 


700 




13,551 
















2,857 


2 


57 


57 


*S,368 


4,072 




4,636 


587 


140 


1,779 


400 




3,829 










2,500 


2 


83 


83 




1,700 




2,166 


374 


92 


868 


240 




2,165 






















3,725 




106 


106 




2,848 




3,035 


1,071 


112 


1,661 


503 




3,904 




























43 


43 




3,270 




3.559 


845 


82 






251 


3,434 






















r 










5,393 




93 


93 




5,629 




6,820 


940 


74 


1,976 


600 




4,583 




















1,416 


1,103 


2,519 


3 


24 


24 




4,700 




4,816 


2,015 


73 


891 


<- 


563 


3,675 





















8,735 


3 


141 


159 




12,297 




16,297 










1,240 


15,829 






















19,337 










104,126 


5 


155 


1,074 




157,385 




181,033 


27,279 


2,510 


78,116 


7,964 




156,309 












2,971 




50 


50 




2,147 




2,466 


261 


121 


1,046 







2,268 












543 


1 


34 


1 




1,000 




1,040 


64 




540 


180 




1,040 





























1,150 










27,028 




45,860 


7,597 


27,000 


































1,135 1,574 


2,709 


5 


25 


25 


•5,250 


1,200 




2,209 


162 


54 


523 


240 




2,209 












9,000 




880 


4 


275 


275 




3,970 


3,970 


5,224 


1,057 


538 


2,840 


480 





5,224 














1 


4,309 


3 


66 


66 


23,138 


2,817 





5,866 


1,213 


<- 


1,680 


i 


5,553 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



An asterisk (') indicates that the fig 
An arrow (— >" or -<-J in place of ar 
included in the next column toward 


ires given are approximate. 

item indicates that the on; 
which the arrow points. 


itted 


item is 


STATISTICS OF 

(Acoordlner to form adopted by the CotinoU 


City or town 

and 

name of library 










Hrs. open 

each 

week 

(central 

library) 




Q. 
ft 


> 

- >> 

^"0 


t3 
f2o 


1 

5 S 
Ha 


IP 

eSoSI 


> 

e2.2 


1 
.0 

> V 




c 
n 
►J 


c 
'■5 


Laconia N H P. 1 


u* 


F. 


3 


304 


66 


72 


5 


75,000 


21,672 


22,499 


22,439 




43,881 


35,937 




Lafayette, Ind. Purdue Univ. 1. 




F.l.c. 




309 


78 


78 


9 


127,463 


35,687 


40,000 


5,000 


64,209 


15,934 




Lancaster, Mass. Town 1 


2 


F. 


13 


305 


24 


42 


2 




39,115 


39,704 




18,962 




12,752 




Lancaster, Pa. Smith Mem. 1.. . 


52* 


F. 


1 


303 


72 


72 


4 




12,358 


13,504 


122 




76,290 


55,101 






13 


F. 


1 


302 


63 


66 


2 


28,500 


13,115 


13,834 






50,969 


39,695 


Lawrence, Kas. F. p. 1 






Lexington, Ky. State Univ. 1.. 




F.l.c. 






84 


84 






7,760 


9,780 






2,490 














Lincoln, Neb. Univ. of Neb. I.. 




F.l.c. 




309 


83 


83 


18 


305,000 


115,325 


119,489 


















Little Rock, Ark. P. 1 




F. 


20 


364 


72 


76 


6 


108,000 


19,258 


21,602 


247 




102,599 


70,729 


Long Beach, Cal. P. 1 


32 


F. 


60 


363 


72 


79 


17 




32,561 


36,934 






317,611 


212,505 








Lorain, O. F. p. 1 


32 


F. 


3 


306 


66 


69 


3 


40,000 


9,768 


10,334 


455 




63,971 


36,992 


Louisville, Ky. F. p. 1 


259 


F. 


98 


364 


74 


82 




163,214 


169,892 


45,429 




945,966 


509,619 






Lynn, Mass. P. 1 


89 


F. 


25 


303 


72 


76 


18 




99,744 


102,302 


21,286 


329,925 


270,876 


166,305 




Macomb, 111. W. III. S. N. Sch. 




F.l.c. 




241 


48 


48 


2 




14,374 


15,013 




31,273 












Madison, N. J. Drew T. S. I... 




F.l.c. 




313 


60^^ 


60/2 


2 




125,045 


127,329 




5,045 












Madison, N. J. P. 1 


S 


F. 


1 


303 


48 


48 


3 




10,445 


11,201 






28,027 


18,784 




7n 


F. 


4 


304 


72 


76/2 


14 


356,000 


•74,000 


77,000* 






147,443 


89,130 








Manchester, N. H. High S. 1.. 


















2,136 


2,254 




18,159 


3,418 






















Manila, P. I. Bur. of Science. 




F.l.c. 




364 


62 


62 


7 




30,860 


32,032 






17,824 


33 










Massillon, O. McClymonds p.l. 


16* 


F. 


8 




56H 


S6/2 


2 


40,000 


20,158 


20,627 






64,222 










Mauch Chunk, Pa. Dimmick M. 


8 


F.r. 


1 




61 H 


eij.^ 


2 




12,735 


12,961 






26,802 


18,778 








Menominee, Mich. Spies p. 1... 


13* 


F. 




308 


70 


70 






11,982 


12,406 






46,958 


29,113 










Menomonie, Wis. Painter M... 


5 


F. 


1 


357 


69 


69 


4 




14,720 


15,220 


2,617 




54,430 


37,712 




Methuen, Mass. Nevins Mem. 1. 


11 


F. 




302 


36 


36 






20,775 


21,211 




35,415 


33,557 


11,640 






Milford, N. H. F. 1 


3 


F. 


\ 


304 


54 


54 






12,124 


12,642 


2,857 


1 39,122 


27,860 


Mills College, Cal. M. Carnegie 




F 1 c 








68 


2 


28,000 


16,400 


17,031 


3,100* 






















Minot, N. D. F. p. 1 


10 


F. 


2 


304 


66 


69 


2 


30,000 1 4,111 


4,784 






22,237 


15,555 






Missoula, Mont. P. 1 


12* 


F. 


1 


359 


48 


51 


4 


50,000* 


16,417 


17,456 






51,326 




Mitchell, S. D. Carnegie 1 


7 


F. 


1 


309 


72 


72 


2 


20,000 


6,277 


6,788 






23,185 


16,586 






Montclair, N. J. F. p. 1 


25 


F.l. 


19 


361 


72 


76 


10 


85,673 


37,394 


38,801 






176,116 


128,734 






Nashville, Tenn. Carnegie 1 


138 


F. 






79 


84 




300,000 


66,915 


67,779 




174,918 




66,750 






New Britain, Conn. Institute. 


52 


F. 


19 




72 


9 




54,000 


59,392 






206,702 


125,811 












New Haven, Conn. F. p. 1 


150* 


F. 


47 


307 


72 


72 


28 


613,000 




125,000 
















New London, Conn. P. 1 


19 


F. 


1 


304 


66 


66 


5 




29,384 


30,137 






87,275 














34 


F. 


3 


361 


72 


76 


S 




33,081 


36,893 


1,966 


140,426 


132,926 


91,453 










S. 




365 




112 


36 




109,658 


114,437 




























F.I.C. 




260 






A 




7,274 


8,409 


1,635 




1,571 
















New York. Engineering Soc. 1 




F.r. 




309 




78 


11 




49,666 


52,201 


10,545 
















New York P 1 


3,039 


F. 


998 


365 


82 


82 






1,041,258 


1,100,952 






10,384,575 


5.471,871 














New York. Y.W.C.A. Cent.Br 




F.l.c. 


I 


306 


73-/ 


73'A 




1 20,789 


16,331 






16,0461 7,975 

































LI8RARIES 

of tlie American Zilbrary Association) 








REPORTS 










33? 






> a 


h 

ft*" 


1- 

£ ° 

«33 


Registration 


1 


No. of 
news- 
papers 
and 
peri- 
odicals 
currently 
received 


S to 

^ >> 


Receipts 


H 


Expenditures for maintenance 


i 






(S 


Salaries 




t- Q 


1 
c 




*0 




S 'C 










}! 


< 


> 


H 


H 




(2 


1,830 


■ 








6,846 




156 


156 




2,500 


3,315 


6,376 


623 


219'l 3.002 






6,00< 














































14,529 






7,127 


600 




14,529 










































851 


5 


100 


100 




1,955 


481 


2,542 


663 


<- 


957 






2,542 





























3,981 




52 


52 


17,641 


3,000 


50 


4,791 


844 


42 


1,425 






3,708 
























2,311 


433 


2,744 


2 








3,697 


85 


4,241 


776 


217 


1,933 




310 


4,269 


























636 


4 


260 


260 




3,109 




3,109 


573 


582 


1,335 


110 




3,109 








































26,109 


12,575 


2,534 


11,000 






26,109 






































11,654 


5 


102 


102 


60,792 


6,666 




7,323 


1,598 


159 


3,925 


■<- 




7,323 














51,375 




1 


le.sisl 2 


264 






22,021 




23,763 


4,755 


539 


12,859 


1,225 




23,743 






























8,155 


3 


83 


83 




4,351 




5,390 


679 


168 


1,972 


660 


117 


4,430 






















26,458 


23632 


50,090 


5 









63,288 




122,736 


13,010 


2,021 


36,145 


7,362 


37,087 


122,366 


















52,245 






1 


18,171 




369 


368 




26,861 




28,000 


4,320 


682 


12,401 


3,889 




27,999 
















1 


1.315 




156 


156 





3,152 




3,493 


757 


317 


2,152 






3,489 






























































































1,462 


424 


1,886 


3 


70 


70 






5,333 


6,119 


437 


154 


1,940 


960 


299 


6,035 
















2,596 






11,997 


5 


329 


366 




17,000 


1,471 


20,809 


3,371 


656 


9,479 


1,783 




19,529 

























































































571 
















3,000 


4,000 


10,900 


480 





18,380 




































4,137 


... 


113 


113 




1,917 


1,323 


7,582 


772 


227 


1,500 


279 




3,466 


























1,819 


... 


61 


61 


6,029 




5,458 


5,592 


778 


165 


1,981 




1,886 


5,592 
























4,038 




101 


101 































































4,947 




72 


72 




























































318 




50 


50 




























































2,272 




65 


65 


11,861 


1,600 


251 


2,007 


441 


133 


953 


66 




1,976 


























62 


62 


♦140 




1,000 


1,000 


1,000 


-<- 




































1,813 1,054 


2,867 




74 


74 


21,129 


3,767 




8,242 


785 


131 


1,720 


486 





4,579 


















5,399 


... 


133 


133 




7,054 




10,036 


1,345 


231 


2,903 


600 


335 


7 162 


























66 


66 


11,363 


2,700 




3,370 


452 


95 


1,214 


25 




2,333 
















7,524 


2,174 






11,069 




142 


203 




16,000 




27,995 


2,582 


474 


8,921 




6,856 


21,907 








";6,00O 






26,557 4,938 


31,495 










15,000 




16,211 


2,346 


356 


10,619 






15,975 





























13,632 


... 


212 


212 




11,000 


5,263 


18,356 


5,436 


450 


5,604 


1,117 


1,415 


18,200 




















27,245 




370 


370 




37,000 


3,850 


44,436 


9,247 


1,152 


20,807 


3,542 


450 


43,848 
















4,625 4,285 


8,910 




84 


84 






















































9,670 3,824 


13,494 




132 


132 


•18,000 






13,596 


3,084 


325 








13,175 



































































































195 


... 


223 


223 


19,791 




240 




343 


41 


850 


































1,020 


1,020 


12,820 


17,283 


161 


17,444 


4,990 


■<- 


8,513 






16,380 


















962.358 










3 


625 


4,176 


4,636,929 


749,102 


34,340 


843,741 


153,793 


10,609 


470,046 


46,590 




843,741 




















1,207 ... 


102 


102 


31,3521 




















338 

An asterisk (*) indicates that the rtg 
An arrow (-> or -<-) in place of a 
included in the next column toward 


ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 

ures given are approximate, 
n item indicates that the omitted item is 
which the arrow points. 


STATISTICS OF 

(According to form adopted by the OoimoU 


City or town 

and 

name of library 


|l 


E 
H.S.t: 


C 


c 

Is 


Hrs. open 

each 

week 

(central 

library) 




_3 

a 

a 

3 


'5 

> 

"o 2 
■ >> 

^0 


C v. 


2 

t 
a 

S 

h3 


Total recorded use (no. 
of vols, lent for home 
use and no. used in 
building) 


> 


"o ^ 




c 


« 


Newark, N. J. F. p. 1 




F. 


9 


363 


75 


82 


90 


650,000 


215,321 


226,897 






1,194,817 










Newport, R. I. Redw'd 1. & Ath. 


30 


S. 




303 


48 


48 


4 




59,917 


61,556 






15,353 


9,756 












F. 


11 -■!04 


13 


13 






86,159 


89,665 






294,054 


182,542 


















Niagara Falls, N. Y. P. 1.... 


42 


F. 


14 


307 


72 


76 


5 


63,700 


24,440 


24,886 






81,801 


57,593 










F. 




302 


72 


72 


6 


125,000 


23,371 


24,103 




75,642 


63,135 










North Adams, Mass. P. 1 


22 


F. 


13 




66 


70 


4 


79,700 


36,415 


37,382 




98,734 


86,648 


50,297 


Norwich, N. Y. Guernsey M. 1. 


8 


F. 


54 


304 


48 


48 


2 


20,000 


11,496 


12,334 






30,401 


22,352 






Oak Park, 111. Twp. H. S. 1... 




F 1 c 








37 


1 




3,752 


3,945 






























30 


F. 




308 


69 


75 


7 


128,000 


25,531 


27,136 






140,140 


97,024 








Oakland, Cal. F. 1 


215* 


F. 


44 


302 


72 


75 


102 


235,468 


109,097 


125,161 


5,842* 




806,278 


517,213 




Oklahoma City, Ok. Carnegie 1. 


90 


F. 




356 


72 


75 


5 


95,414 


23,003 


24,420 






85,916 










Orange N J F 1 


29 


F. 




302 


60 


62 


7 


170,000 


40,036 


40,796 






82,423 












Oskaloosa, la. P. 1 


10 


F. 




307 


66 


66 


4 




11,245 


11,366 






58,355 


37,559 










Oxford, O. Miami Univ 1 . 




F.l.c. 




308 


80 


80 


5 


195,000 


53,934 


55,964 


844 




66,725 


27,694 






Oxford, O. W Coll (or Women 




F.l.c. 




210 






1 




16,100 


16,471 


























Painesdale, Mich S S Paine M 


3 


F. 




365 


60 


84 


4 




6,965 






30,458 


19,432 












Parsons, Kas P 1 


15* 


F. 










2 




8,143 


8,717 






45,125 



















Pasadena, Cal. P. 1 


43 


F. 




353 


72 


74 


21 


70,000* 


44,025 


49,051 


5,000* 




317,211 


162,415 




Passaic, N. J. P. 1 


61 


F. 


11 


305 


72 


72 


11 


260,500 


35,089 


37,841 






294,065 












Patchogue, N. Y. L 


4 


F. 






24 


24 


1 




6,508 


6,734 






32,115 


25,809 










Paterson, N. J. F. p. I 


124 


F. 




365 


67 


79 


27 


325,000 


57,424 


60,675 




282,963 


269,584 


187,950 


Pawtucket, R. I. D. C. Sayles 


55 


F. 


17 


308 


54 


61 


11 


305,559 


33,525 


35,712 






179,879 


126,927 






Peace Dale, R. I. Nar. 1. Ass'n. 


5 


F. 




313 


36 


72 


2 




14,598 


15,024 






29,269 


20,878 










Peru. Neb. State Nor. Sch. 1.. 




F.l.c. 




263 


SO'A 


SO'A 




52,000 


23,824 


25,245 






















Philadelphia. Drexel Inst. 1. . . 




F.l.c. 




249 


70 


70 






39,619 


40,545 






6,688 
















Philadelphia. Franklin Inst. 1. 




S. 


.... 


300 


58 


58 


6 




65,437 


67,437 


29,327 




2,000 










Philadelphia. F. 1 


1,549 


F. 


112 


304 


72 


72 


302 


1,753,023 


470,728 


494,992 


229,607 




2,730,173 


1,905,798 




Phoenix, Ariz. Carnegie p. 1.. 


13* 


F. 




304 


72 


75 






12,639 


14,224 






50,646 


42,985 


Pierre, S. D. Carnegie 1 




F. 




305 


46/. 


46/ 






4,829 


5,185 






13,997 


3,004 


Pittsburgh, Pa. Carnegie 1 


533 


F. 


11 


362 


72 


82 






405,394 


419,149 


34,783 




1,351,731 


737,926 


Plainfield, N. J. P. 1 


24 


F. 




363 


76 


76 






50,693 


52,580 






99,607 


65,880 


Plattsburgh, N. Y. P. 1 


11* 


F. 




300 


38 


38 






13,910 


14,638 


3,000* 




36,392 


23,309 


Pocatello, Ida. Id. Tech. Inst. 


15* 


F. 


' 


210 


32/. 


32/ 


1 




5,580 


6,251 


12,000 




3,745 




Portland, Ore. L. association.. 


275* 


F. 204 


364 


75 


82/ 


74 




201,533 


225,560 






1,385,964 


543,201 


Pottsville, Pa. F. p. 1 


20 


F. 


1 


308 


72 


72 


4 




9,127 


10.531 






81,364 


55,367 


Poughkeepsie,N.Y. Adriance M. 


32 


F. 


1 


305 


66 


70 


5 




52,657 


54,043 






125,380 


50,878 


Princeton, Ind. P. 1 


9 


F. 


1 


352 


72 


76 


3 


35,000 


12,376 


12,977 






33,140 


21,376 


Princeton, N. J. University 1.. 




F.I.C. 




347 


84 


89 


34 


1,000,000 


331,985 


373,224 


63,142 


71,984 


50,171 




Proctor, Vt. F. 1 


3 


F. 


1 


306 


42 


42 


21 


9,020 


9.374 






22,610 


11,773 






























■ 



LIBRARIES 



of tbe American Library Aasoclatlon) 






























■5.| 
a— 


1- 
ta'o 

■- M 
« 33 


Registration 


>> 
T 


Xo. of 
news- 
papers 
and 
peri- 
odicals 
currently 
received 


fc'' 


Receipts 


e2 


E.xpenditures 


or maintenance 


la 

c c 

II 

o ^ 

131 




■ig 




a- 


Salaries 




> u 




1 

c 




■°o 




11 






3 
•a 
< 






^£ 




e2 


P 




1 








40,970121,035 


62,005 


... 









124,775 




148,571 


26,012 


3,226 


65,285 


13,069 




148,567 














160 


160 







5,889 


17,431 


3,702 


■<r 


3,080 


<- 


884 


9,588 
























29,439 








12,361 


3 








29,885 


1,756 


32,780 


6,850 


1,189 


13,905 


2,285 




32,780 


















24,724 











21,176 


16 


110 


110 




8,135 




8,851 


1,639 


236 


3,390 


861 




8,073 
















9,339 


2,142 


11,481 


... 


91 


91 




6,000 




6,463 


736 


174 


3,328 




416 


5,767 




















7,808 


5 


161 


161 




6,999 


33 


7,562 


1,761 


299 


2,973 


624 




7,321 














9 207 








3,900 


10 


84 


84 


22,050 


1,250 


1,051 


4,068 


656 


143 


971 


75 


144 


3,017 
























40 


40 










422 


77 


1,000 







1,575 









































11,407 


... 


84 


84 


*575,00O 


8,409 




16,620 


2,248 


235 


4,122 






9,582 


















1.404 


18,582 








40,820 


2 


1,367 


1,566 


•1,104,961 


118,098 




120,894 


19,789 


4,693 


71,183 


-<- 


10,245 


120,894 




















24,137 


2 


183 


183 




8,466 




9,045 


1,824 


285 


3,926 


840 


690 


9,735 


















903 








12,994 


7 


171 


171 


19,689 




1,500 


12,084 


734 


272 


3,898 






12,089 


























2,982 


3 


105 


105 




4,434 




5,423 


868 


151 


1,936 


412 




4,685 








' 












i 






300 


300 




8,390 




8,390 


3,000 


<- 


5,030 






8,390 
















































500 


500 


<- 





















































3,555 










2,500 




3,251 


122 


<- 


2,469 


<- 




2,591 






























3,374 




80 


80 





2,372 




2,642 


488 


98 


1,080 


420 




2,642 
















10,000 










200 


406 




31,070 




32,533 


9,150 


1,016 


15,188 


1,260 




31,070 



















487 










177 


177 


246,664 


15,600 


561 


17,080 


2,597 


470 


4,080 


960 




16,340 






















2,429 


3 


47 


47 




1,635 




2,355 


416 


88 


578 


220 


108 


1,945 






















23,940 


3 


365 


365 




32,000 




33,981 


5,285 


1,130 


15,727 


3,498 




33,906 






















9,822 


3 


223 


223 




17,647 




17,647 


2,536 


497 


7,898 


2,233 




17,647 






















1,471 


5 


70 


70 




200 


1,537 


1,796 


304 


153 


1,033 






1,771 


































174 


174 








4,654 


844 


454 


3,216 






4,883 






































3 


186 


186 




































































597 


597 






















































1,305 










165,648 


3 


1,059 


2,794 


1,813,201 


281,454 


13,855 


342.508 


53,854 


<- 


178,203 


<- 




294,818 


























2 


124 


124 


32,204 


6,872 




9,780 


. 2,593 




2,280 


420 




6,125 




















605 


362 


967 




70 


70 


5,185 


1,373 




2,339 


302 


88 


600 


240 




1,811 





















3 






1,587,442 


250,710 


64,437 


379,435 


44,770 


<- 


79,874 






350,348 




















7,321 






4,495 


1,334 


5,829 


6 


250 


250 


89,363 


11,103 


1,379 


19,213 


2,944 


782 


4,125 


1,078 




11,499 


















8,268 




110 


110 




3,298 




4,888 


519 


154 


1,000 


300 




3,170 



























90 


90 




2,200 




2,245 


795 


194 


1,200 






2,239 




























64,566 15,751 


80,317 




875 


1,743 




152,074 




206,604 


23,754 


3,050 


86,712 


14,033 




157,781 














61 






7,245 


4 


42 


42 




3,500 




8,140 


1,179 


98 


2,319 


216 




6,044 


















5,628 


2,918 


8,546 


3 


89 


89 




12,450 




13,061 


2,502 




6,587 


750 




13,061 
















1,200 


970 


2,170 




46 


46 




2,563 




500 


798 


97 


1,471 


240 


314 


3,659 
















21,813 






2,400 




1,467 


1,467 




38,873 


9,153 


62,504 


21,923 


<- 


23,690 






62,504 




















i 


1,200 




55 


55 
























340 ASBUKV PARK CONFERENCE 

An asteris!; (') indicates that the figures given are approximate. 

An arrow (-> or -<-) in place of an item indicates that the omitted item is 

included in the next column toward which the arrow points. 


STATISTICS OF 

(According to form adopted by the Council 


City or town 

and 

name of library 


1 


f^.E.S 


tS 


it 


Hrs. 

(ce 
lii.. 


open 
ach 
eek 
ntral 
rary) 


V. if 


3 
>^ 

a 

3 


'B 

- >, 


> 

fS'o 


g 

a 
c ° 


IP 

||g 
E "'cm 

h'oS.S 


H,2 


1 
^,2 




J 


rt 


l^roviaence. Atnensum 




s. 


1 .insl 73 


72 


6 




81,528 


84,401 






62,272 


44,464 






















F.l.c. 




344 






8 




210,000 


215,930 






8,854 






















247 


F. 


48 


360 


72 


86 






179,389 


181,306 






294,352 


182,990 












Pueblo, Colo. McClelland p. 1.. 


45 


F. 


8 


307 


72 


78 


4 




27,559 


28,417 






103,180 
















F.l.c. 




358 


















56.992 



























45' 


F. 


14 


359 


72 


74 


8 




24,521 


27,539 


1,464 




152,601 


102,440 
11,562 








4 


F. 




361 


30 


33 


1 




4,110 


4,605 






16,709 












6 


F. 




260 


16 


15 


2 




8,807 


9,122 








25,668 














Redlands, Cal. A.K.Smiley p. 1. 


11* 


F. 




363 






7 


75,000 


25,825 


27,759 


7,961 


1 115,423 


73,940 










F.l.c. 




309 


60 


60 


2 


10,500 


27,058 


28,268 






11,108 


678 










2 


F. 




207 


36 


36 


1 


10,000 


4,334 


4,358 






14,657 


11,526 












F. 


3 


339 


77 


77 






7,718 


10,998 






79,873 


51,707 


















F.l.c. 




256 


73 


73 


1 




3,590 


3,920 






3,043 














Rochester, N. Y. Reynolds 1... 


218 


F. 




360 


72 


76 


9 




75,713 


78,021 


6,409 


54,736 


43,062 


25,649 




Rochester, N Y West H S 1 




F.l.c. 




190 


35 


35 


1 




4,375 


4,469 






3,990 














Rock Island, 111, Augustana C. 




F.l.c. 




226 


72 


72 


3 


225,000 


21,266 


22,220 


20,400 




6,588 






Rockford, 111. P. 1 


50* 


F. 


IS 


364 


72 


75 


11 


100,000 


60,643 


62,940 




199,240 


186,047 


129,632 




Rockville, Conn. P. 1 




F. 


11 




329 
313 


63 


63 


3 




11,482 


12,059 








44,575 














Russell, Kas. P. 1 


1 


F. 


i&Vi 


36>/J 


1 


9,000* 


3,449 


3,907 






6,161 


3,610 
















313 


42 


42 


50 


587,315 


190,446 


199,143 



























Saginaw, Mich. East Side p. 1. 


30 


F. 




307 


60 




3 




19,381 


20,018 






82,585 


65,999 








St. John, Canada. P. 1 


60* 


F. 




305 


60 


69 


5 


50,000 








50,513 


36,963 


30,870 










St. Louis, Mo. P. 1 


750* 


F. 


184 


365 


72 


83 






390,455 


414,623 






1,690,037 


995,092 












St. Louis, Mo. Wash Univ 1 




F.l c. 










7 




72,000 


74,612 






15,042 






















St. Paul, Minn. P. 1 


276 


F. 


32 


365 


66 


91 


58 




158,180 


327,926 






438,643 












Salem, Mass. P. 1 


37 


F. 




304 


72 


78 


16 




62,148 


63,545 






148,172 


103,196 










Salt Lake City, Utah. P. 1.... 


100* 


F. 


20 


363 


66 


79 


17 


145,000 


56,921 


62,331 


5,402 





313,796 


166,937 


San Francisco, Cal. Mech.-M. I 




s. 




350 


84 


84 


10 




56,740 


63,672 






127,866 














Scottdale, Pa. F. p. 1 


7» 


F. 




308 


72 


72 


3 




9,263 


9,952 




101,214 


50,744 


30,116 






Scranton, Pa. P. 1 


145* 


F. 




274 


72 


72 


14 




75,324 


78,506 




163,212 


119,804 


29,565 






Seattle, Wash. P. 1 


330 


F. 


125 


365 


78 


86 


132 


1,563,000 


233,881 


254,536 







1,369,485 


836,850 




86 


F. 


45 


304 


72 


75 


42 




110,109 


108,849 






422,466 


282,184 










Springfield, 111. Lincoln 1 


57 


F, 




303 


72 


75 


9 


105,000 


61,792 


65,883 







193,409 


125,092 


Springfield, Mass. Int.Y.M.C.A. 




F. 




365 





97J^ 


3 


101,435 




11,894 


24,000 








Stockton, N. Y. Seymour Mem. 




F. 1 


104 


13 


13 


2 


6,000 


4,329 


4,986 






3,371 


2,530 


Superior, Wis. P. 1 


46 


F. 


1 


365 


72 


75 


7 


50,000 


26,924 


29,400 






151,591 




Syracuse, N. Y. Ct. of App. 1.. 




F.r. 










4 




33,800 


35,377 


_ 








Syracuse, N. Y. P. 1 


145 


F. 


32 


350 


76 


76 


31 


237,850 


114,411 


121,186 


3,373 




422,841 


319,7: 


Tacoma, Wash. P. 1 




F. 


88 


358 


76 v; 


S3'A 






73,854 


81,367 






421,071 


158,594 

































LIBRARIES 

4 
of tlie American library Association) 








REPORTS 










341 




■? c 


is 

H 

.5 ^ 
a*" 




Registration 




No. of 
news- 
papers 
and 
peri- 
odicals 
currently 
received 


= 60 


Receipts 


fS 


Expenditures for maintenance 


c c 




P3 


£ 


Salaries 






S 
s 

W 




|> 


'c'E 




1 




•5 j i 


H 


P 


c. 
U 


H 






















2,896 


14,295 


2,992 


495 


4,159 


780 


1,500 


12,726 




























..._. i. 






472 


472 




13,150 


5,575 


19,061 


3,025 


3,041 


7,750 






13,816 




















! 


37,603 


3 


1,114 


1,175 




32,450 




63,292 


7.839 


1,255 


31,896 


7,431 


955 


63,267 














1 


8,000 




88 


100 




7,000 





7,424 


1,663 


2421 3,253 


840 




7,344 
















...1... 


1,444 


...1 S4fi 


846 






6,000 


18,658 


8,302 


-<- 8,645 






13,066 


























6,5S4| 4,175 


10,759 


4 


70 


70 




15,500 




24,333 


3,759 


292 5,824 


1,210 


1,277 


15,893 


















905 


395 


1,300 


3 


47 


47 




2,789 




4,007 


472 


77) 1,083 


360 




2,334 



















352 




42 


42 










487J 791 540 


<- 






























1 




7,779 




148 


186 




10,233 




16,326 


1,540 


554 


4,495 


900 




lO^Si 
















j \ 












4,660 






1,573 
176 


-<- ) 3,000 












1 / 
























1,032 446 


1,528 




20 


20 




1,250 




1,207 


66 360 


240 
















950 




! 'i 


4,986 


2 








11,259 




12,888 


2,872 


261 4.614 


750 


879 


11 626 
























1 ) 






128 


129 




910 




910 


230 


168 


785 






1,239 
























'l 


4,447 


... 


217 


217 










2,220 


716 5,325 


986 




13,419 




























26 


38 


23,750 










l._ 












i 
































250 


250 










3,435 


599) 8,783 


1,167 




20,103 
































11,362 


3 


201 


201 




19,507 


20,302 
















































2,746 


3 






9,140 


500 




3,985 


668 


131| 1,930 


240 


































68 


68 


14,728 


676 




852 


63 


100) 300 


120) 








































95,000 




96,487 


11,749 


2,519) 57,795 


<- 






































4,182 










3,482 




4,372 


1,208 


1 1,930 


300 




4,222 


























1 












5,000 




5,378 


939 


-<- ) 2,741 






4,940 








( 
















13,578 






53,571 




inO-717 


3 


1,907 


2,636 




275,386 




420,539 


40,014 


3,472) 115,385 


27,956 




241,065 


















289 




775 


775 


























































38,813 




736 


1,156 










31.184 


-<- ) 41,555 


<- 


1 86,800 


























1 


1,426 


3 


159 


159 




16,400 


1,908 


21,974 


2,965 


4831 8,535 


1,833 


17,928 














2,000 






13,752 


11,793 


25,545 


5 


337 


417 




29,703 




34,500 


6,314 


243 14,510 


2,126 




30,392 
















1 


3,599 













































.. . 
















85,253 


1 


225 




63 


63 




900 


2,500 


5,510 


795 


173) 1,524 




251 


3,003 






J 










14,014 


2 


110 


130 




22,840 


50 


26,032 


3,180 


332) 9,230 


1,309 


2,762 


24,481 
















66,186 


2 


1,087 


1,465 




115,197 




171,298 


26,975 


2,943) 86,145 


15,605 


34,091 










9,137 






i 


23,940 


2 


210 


585 




40,302 




45,988 


7.103 


1,262) 24,975 


2,841 





44,531 




















5,579 


4,091 


9,670 


2 


266 


276 




14,371 




23,945 


4,775 


334) 7,430 


1,140 


1,193 


17,771 


















295 




147 


147 




4,180 




4,839 


527 


-<- 1 3,160 


460 


1 4,339 
























328 




35 


1 




100 


209 


992 


240 76) 129 

































6,799 6,022 


12,821 










9,500 




25,364 


3,224 420| 6,599 


1,062 


1 14,850 










1 














...1 






9,100 






5,014 186) 5,500 






11,259 






i 
















70,809| 


199.1131 6,683 


25,796 31 509 
1 1 


564 


84,723 


45,200 


50,180 


10.816; 1,683) 20,633 


4,592 


1,322 


49,966 


a737| 3.430 


1 11,9781 5.970 


18.1481 2\ 320 


432 




30.574 


38,517 


3,7991 8121 20,762 


3,147 




35,313 



An asterisk (*) 
An arrow (->- c 
included in llie 



Tdicates that the figur 

■<-) in place of an 
ext column toward wl 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



are approximate, 
icates that the omitted item 
arrow points. 



STATISTICS OF 



(Acoordtngr to form adopted by the Oonncll 



t.- 

City or town 

and 

name of library 


ll 

II 


life's 

e 

tw'g 
H.S.t: 




•a? 

0- 

6 f^ 


Hrs. open 

each 

week 

(central 

library) 


It 'I 


Library property value 


c 


> 
"o 
d 

Ho 


2 
1 

S 
H« 


Total recorded use (no. 
of vols, lent for home 
use and no. used in 
building) 


> 


V 




-5 






Tempe, Ariz. Normal Sch. 1. . . 




F.l.c. 




32Ka 


32K 


2 




7,420 


8,280 
























Toronto, Ont. P. 1 




F. 


14 




75 


72 


106 


1,100,000* 


230,953 


257,657 


20,953 


1,255,783 


892,161 


446,802 


Trenton, N. J. F. p. 1 




F. 


9 


306 


72 


72 


21 


255,800 


63,897 


69,957 


1,318 


288,691 


281,209 


209,344 


Troy, N. Y. Renns. Poly. Inst. 




F.l.c. 


....1 308 


53 


53 


2 




11,035 


11,341 


11,850 




3,710 


2,045 






Union Springs, Ala. L 


s 


F. 


1 


310 


42 


42 


1 


11,841 


2,000 


2,285 






7,573 


5,645 








Uxbridge, Mass. F. p. 1 




F, 


1 


289 


37 


37 


2 




12,738 


12,871 





19,046 


18,738 


15,001 






Valley City, N. D. State N. 1. . 




F.l.c. 






51 


51 


3 




9,977 


11,026 


523 




12,974 


2,568 






Van Wert, O. Brumback 1 


29 


F, 


123 


308 


66 


72 


21 




22,215 


23,808 






98,011 












Visalia, Cal. Tulare County 1. . 


35 


F. 




358 


42 




32 


22,527 


12,718 


19,118 






119,028 










Wabash, Ind. Carnegie 1 


8* 


F. 


1 


306 


60 


60 


2 


25,000 


8,489 


8.5S9 






27,810 


16,278 


: •; 


Waco, Tex. P. 1 


35* 


F. 


11 


352 


72 


76 


5 


44,688 


17,810 


20,211 






106,886 


61,867 


Wahpeton, N. D. State S. of S. 




F.l.c. 





215 


40 


40 


1! 


1,424 


1,554 






2,192 










Walpole, Mass. P. 1 


5 


F. 


5 


305 


42 


47 


3 35,000* 


14,005 


14,538 







33,479 


23,533 


Washington, D. C. Cent. H. S. 1. 




Flo. 








38)4 


1 




5,956 


5,963 






2,600 
















.. 




Washington, D. C. P.l. ofD.C. 


358 


F. 


166 


361 


72 


79 






168,187 


179,183 




835,853 


802,998 


440,222 








Waverlcy, Mass. McLean H. 1. 




F.l.c. 




365 






1 




13,638 


14,130 




9,073 
















Waxahachie, Tex. N. P. Sims 1. 


7* 


F. 


9 


362 


54 


58 


1 


72,000 


6,323 


6,528 






11,667 


7,431 













F.l.c. 


.... 


365 


72 


72 


10 




71,227 


74,905 






27,648 
















West Point, N. Y. U.S.M.A. 1. 




F.l.c. 




365 


73 


73 


6 




93,981 


96,751 






14,956 


8,742 










Westfield. Mass. Athenreura... 


IS 


F, 


....| 365 


61 


76 


5 




30,960 


31,359 






90,620 












Whiting, Ind. P. I 


8* 


F. 


2J 346 


42 


46 


3 


30,000 


10,085 


11,260 







36,471 


19,967 


Williamsport, Pa, J.V.Brown 1. 




F. 




72 




7 




24,175 


25,448 







115,167 


85,169 

















Williston, N. D. James Mem. 1. 




F. 


1 


362 


36 


40 


1 


29,000* 


3,960 


4,192 






15,563 


12,824 








Winchester, Va. Handley 1.... 


5 


F. 




304 


66 


66 






3,880 


5,669 






29,851 


21,510 




















246 


34H 


34'/, 


2 




10,825 


11,146 






15,677 


10,129 








' " ■ 










Woonsocket. R. I. Harris Inst. 


40* 


F. 


1 


304 


42 


42 


3 






20,863 






43,497 














Worcester, Mass. F. p. 1 


162 


F. 




91 


365 


72 


81 


55 


251,935 


206,126 


212,253 


34,756 


795,186 


609,804 









LIBRARIES 

of the American Iilbrary Association) 



„. 


I" 

C I. 

Is 


« 3 3 








a. 
S. 


No. of 
news- 


3 to 

c 

a. ^ 
° >. 






H 


Expenditures for maintenance 


Hi's 




"3 5 


Regislratloii 


and 
peri- 
odicals 
currently 
received 


Receipts 




•5 


Salaries 








1 




"o 


£*u V- u 






1 






1 1 


H 


P 




H 














133 












780 


250| 1,500 













































66,653 




438 


825 




144,345 




185,713 


27,021 


2,699| 67,608! 9.124 


30,362 


172,928 
























11,847 5,601 


17,448 


3 


222 


222 


13,134 


25,460 


2,463 


35,467 


9,115 


593| 12,511 






31,975 
















1,655 




660 


4 


119 


119 


15,395 










1 \ 




































1,032 


3 


15 


15 




999 




1.145 


133 


-<- 600 


<- 


118 


1,025 




















1,273 








5,424 


1. 000 


875 


2,483 


280 


-<- 800 




765 


2,483 






































1,250 


1,250 


-<- 2. .5X0 









































4,515 


147 






12,440 


3 






























































8,692 










13,884 




15,222 


5,428 


800 


5,561 






15,113 






























1,008 


1,733 


2,741 


5 


56 


56 




2,607 




3,121 


228 


130 


910 


213 




2,220 














704 








15,307 


10 


106 


106 




7,123 




8,641 


1,805 


254 


2.918 


480 




8,426 








































41 


123 


1,035 


















































•1,000 




57 


57 




3,000 


54 


3,250 


778 


158 


1,260 






3,250 






























479 


479 


14,328 




















































93,745 


33,855 31.896 


15,348 


47,296 


3 


531 


723 




73,240 


90 


79,455 


12,056 


1,311 


43,418 


6,480 


2.500 


79,166 


















1 1 






98 


116 








422 


551 


296 


700 






1,673 










1,196 
























3141 


1.510 




37 


37 
























































1 






315 


315 










3,935 


2,466 












































1 






235 


235 




12,130 




12.130 






4,930 


360 








































2,856 










5,582 


290 


7,283 


1,556 


-<- 


3,230 


708 




7,283 






















446 




802 


1.132 


1,934 


5 


87 


87 




6,995 




15,995 


1,307 


192 


1,950 


960 


4,391 


9,922 




■ 1 

















6,519 


3 


98 


98 


20,344 




8,356 


9.897 


1,659 


270 


4,616 


860 




9,758 




















788 


447 


1,235 


3 


45 


45 


7,245 


3.600 




3,849 


211 


94 


1,075 


793 




3,029 
















! 


1.700 


3 


77 


77 


53,964 






































































































































\ ' 


5,463 


6 


110 


122 




4,101 




6,497 


1,589 


-<- 


1,874 






4,226 










1 














16,303 


8,170] 


32,851 


3 


592 






65,520 


2,730 


73,564 


13,156 


1,771 


32,571 






70,353 








1 










1 






> 1 1 1 



344 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY 
ADMINISTRATION 

The report of this committee covers 
three topics: (1) Uniform library statis- 
tics; (2) Library labor saving devices, and 
(3) Testing of library supplies and ma- 
terials. 

1. Uniform Library Statistics 
The Committee believes that the Associa- 
tion took another important step forward 
when the College and Reference Section 
voted at Berkeley to adopt (at least experi- 
mentally for one year) for the use of col- 
lege and reference libraries the same statis- 
tical form as had originally been adopted 
by the Council for the use of general li- 
braries, plus certain additional items 
needed to give fuller statistical representa- 
''on of reference work. This form has re- 
cently been completed, printed and sent out 
to libraries by the secretary for the col- 
lection of the statistics of the libraries rep- 
resented in the Association. 

It is of course not to be expected that 
any uniform schedule could ever be devised 
that would prove entirely acceptable to all 
librai'ies — the very large, the very small, 
the single unit, the many branched, the 
general, the highly specialized, the publicly 
supported, the endowed, libraries entirely 
distinct in their organization and finance 
and libraries closely intertwined in organi- 
zation and finance with larger institutions. 
It, however, the present uniform schedule, 
with future modifications as need directs, 
can approve itself as even approximately 
acceptable to American libraries, your Com- 
mittee is of the opinion that it will be 
better to have one uniform schedule rather 
than two or more specialized schedules. 
Your Committee therefore urges that the 
present form have a fair trial and suggests 
that such trial be for more than the single 
year voted by the College and Reference 
Section at Berkeley. 

Your Committee has noted with satis- 
faction that in an increasing number of 
printed reports of public libraries the A. 
L. A. schedule is used. However, we re- 



gret not to find it in use in the recent re- 
ports of a number of important libraries 
where it was most expected. 

During the year the chairman of the 
Committee has received, either directly or 
by reference from the secretary, a number 
of questions and requests for interpreta- 
tion of rules. In the interest of the general 
adoption of the form such inquiries are 
encouraged. Notes of such questions and 
answers may be of general interest. 

For example, one librarian raised the 
question as to what constitutes juvenile 
circulation, that is, whether it is circula- 
tion of books (adult as well as juvenile) 
to juvenile readers or whether it is the 
circulation of books classed as juveniles 
to both juvenile and adult readers; also 
what are to be considered as juvenile read- 
ers. The answer was to the effect that in 
counting circulation the books circulated 
from children's rooms or other special 
juvenile collections are to be classed as 
juvenile circulation, whether given out to 
parents, teachers or the children them- 
selves. It is believed that in most public 
libraries the transfer in registration from 
juvenile to adult groups is made at 16 
years of age. 

Another public librarian pointed out in 
sending his 1915 figures to the secretary 
that the adoption of the A. L. A. rule for 
counting circulation which permits the 
counting as home circulation of only books 
actually recorded as so taken out and for- 
bids all estimates of circulation from 
schools and other agencies made a decrease 
in his total circulation figures from those 
of previous years. He points out that not 
only did the following of this rule seem to 
show a reduction in the work of his own 
library but that he was at a disadvantage 
in comparisons with other neighboring li- 
braries in which he felt sure the esti- 
mating of circulation v/as still carried on 
in spite of the adoption and use in their 
reports of the A. L. A. form, and that 
traveling library books sent to various 
agencies and used only at the agency are 
counted as books "delivered for home use." 
The objecting librarian gave it as a prob- 



LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION 



345 



able explanation that the neighboring 
librarians had not carefully read and un- 
derstood the rules for counting of circula- 
tion. This librarian suggests that the Com- 
mittee call attention to section D (Rules 
for counting circulation) and says that he 
has reworded the definition and Instructed 
his assistants as follows: "Count one for 
each piece handed directly by a library 
employe to a personal borrower." 

On this latter point your Committee 
would urge that the rules for counting cir- 
culation be followed in this and all other 
respects. The chief value of the use of a 
uniform schedule is to make comparisons. 
Unless rules are closely and uniformly fol- 
lowed the value of the statistics Is vitiated. 

2. Library Labor Saving Devices 

On the work in connection with the in- 
vestigation of labor-saving devices and 
library equipment the Committee can re- 
port progress, but not to the extent which 
had been hoped for and expected. At the 
meeting of the Council in December, 1915, 
a definite plan was outlined for the con- 
tinuance of the investigation and the prep- 
aration of a manual to be issued, probably 
In loose leaf form, for distribution among 
members of the Association. The full de- 
tails of the plan are printed in the A. L. A. 
Bulletin, January, 1916, p. 53-56. In giving 
approval to the plan the Council voted that 
the Committee be authorized to proceed 
with the preparation of the manual, which 
should be printed on a subscription basis 
under the auspices of the Publishing 
Board, for distribution among libraries 
represented in the Association. It was 
then expected that the manual would be 
approaching completion by the middle of 
the year. Various circumstances, however, 
have arisen to delay the work. 

An effort was made to arrange for an 
exhibit of labor-saving devices at the As- 
bury Park conference. It seemed that in 
many ways the facilities offered at Asbury 
Park were better than those afforded at 
the Washington conference In 1914, and 
better than could be expected in any meet- 
ing place likely to be chosen within the 



next few years. Preliminary arrangements 
for the exhibit were carried on satis- 
factorily and tentative arrangements 
were made with a number of important 
manufacturers. Many obstacles, however, 
were encountered and a number of the 
most important exhibitors of 1914 an- 
nounced that they would be unable to par- 
ticipate in an exhibit this year. On ac- 
count of war conditions many manufac- 
turers reported that they are having so 
much trouble in getting raw materials for 
the manufacture of their products that 
they are unable to keep up with the orders 
they are receiving. Several manufacturers 
who might possibly have decided to enter 
the exhibit had it been held in a city 
where they have agencies, decided not to 
exhibit at Asbury Park where they would 
have been under the expense of sending 
their machines and their representatives 
and meeting their expenses for a week in 
which no business of any kind could be 
done by those representatives excepting 
the work of demonstrating their machines. 

The Committee finally came to the con- 
clusion that the exhibit could hardly be 
expected to be as satisfactory as the 1914 
exhibit, for it would have been impossible 
to fill satisfactorily the places of the im- 
portant exhibitors of 1914 who were un- 
able to exhibit again this year. It was 
felt that it would be unsatisfactory to both 
librarians and manufacturers to carry out 
the plans for the exhibit if the undertak- 
ing could be made only partially success- 
ful, and the decision was therefore reached 
that it would be better to abandon the 
undertaking so far as this year's confer- 
ence is concerned. 

The Committee hopes that at some con- 
ference within the next few years it will 
be found possible to hold another exhibit 
which will be as successful as could be de- 
sired. It has been the feeling of the Com- 
mittee at all times that, in general, a suc- 
cessful exhibit could be held only in some 
large city, and that the usual summer re- 
sort would not prove satisfactory for this 
purpose. Asbury Park seemed to be an 
exception to this principle because of its 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



ready accessibility from New York, Phila- 
delphia, and other important points. It is 
probable that the exhibit could have been 
successfully carried out at Asbury Park 
if it had not been for the exceptional busi- 
ness conditions caused by the v/ar. Any 
future exhibit, however, will probably have 
to be held in connection with a conference 
meeting in some city of considerable size. 

The time required by the effort to ar- 
range for the exhibit has been the chief 
cause of delay in the preparation of the 
manual. The clearing house feature of 
the investigation has, however, been con- 
tinued and many requests for information 
concerning various devices have been re- 
ceived from librarians in all parts of the 
country. Since the beginning of the work 
in January, 1916, requests for information 
have been received and answered, coming 
from 62 libraries concerning 39 kinds of 
equipment. The list of devices concerning 
which information is wanted when avail- 
able by different librarians now includes 
66 different devices. The work of answer- 
ing all such requests as promptly and as 
fully as is desired is somewhat hampered 
by the fact that relatively few librarians 
seem to consider the work a co-operative 
enterprise. 

In an effort to obtain definite informa- 
tion concerning the value of certain de- 
vices, or the relative merits of competing 
articles, careful studies have been made 
of several devices. These include the dic- 
tation machine, pasting machines, and Ink 
pads. As soon as possible tests will be 
made of other articles. Any librarians 
who are willing to co-operate by making 
such tests in their libraries in order that 
the conclusions drawn by tests in one 
library may be checked by similar tests 
made in other libraries, are urged to com- 
municate with the Committee in order that 
plans may be made for most effective co- 
operation along this line. 

For some months to come it is likely that 
the preparation of the manual will again 
bo Inevitably delayed. On this account, the 
Committee is especially desirous of making 
the clearing house feature as important as 



possible. Librarians who at any time de- 
sire information concerning any kinds ol 
library equipment or any mechanical de- 
vice are urged to communicate with Mr. 
C. Seymour Thompson, Savannah Public 
Library, Savannah, Ga., and all the infor- 
mation which has been collected will be 
sent them. In many cases it may be that 
no information is available concerning a 
certain kind of device, and in such cases 
every possible effort will be made to col- 
lect the desired information as rapidly as 
possible. The Committee would again 
urge upon all librarians the importance of 
their co-operation if this work is to be as 
successful as is desired. Information is 
very frequently obtained by mere chance 
concerning some new device or new method 
which some library is employing with 
highly satisfactory results, and which 
would be of very great interest to a large 
number of other libraries if made known 
to them. The value of the Committee's 
work would be very greatly Increased if 
librarians would take the trouble to send 
the Committee information concerning new 
devices which they may discover, or new 
methods which they may institute, to be 
added to other information which the Com- 
mittee may have along the same line. 

3. Testing of Materials and Supplies for 
Libraries 

Toward the close of the year the presi- 
dent of the Association referred to this 
Committee a statement from Mr. Samuel 
H. Ranck of the need for more systematic 
testing on behalf of libraries of the ma- 
terials and supplies bought by them and a 
suggestion that A. L. A. headquarters might 
organize and conduct a testing bureau for 
libraries. The available time was too 
short to make a thorough study of the prob- 
lem, but a report of some progress is pos- 
sible. 

A partial list of supplies that require 
testing include catalog, borrowers' and 
book cards, paper for book plates and 
labels, for use in correspondence and In 
duplicating machines, carbon paper, en- 
velops, blotters, book repair materials. 



LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION 



cloth for mounting maps, glue, paste, var- 
nish, shellac, rubber bands and erasers, 
type-writer ribbons, inks for pen, for 
mimeograph, for marking books, for rubber 
stamps and for numbering machines and 
ink eradicators. 

la view of the tests of materials and 
supplies made by the National Bureau of 
Standards for the United States and Dis- 
trict of Columbia governments, including 
their libraries, the first step seemed to be 
to find out what the Bureau of Standards 
is prepared to do for the libraries of the 
country either to the extent of making 
such tests or at least to the extent of giv- 
ing expert advice for the best direction of 
the Association's efforts. An inquiry out- 
lining the problem brought to the Chair- 
man of this Committee from the director 
of the Bureau of Standards the following 
reply: 

"The Bureau of Standards is unable to 
make your regular routine tests as it is 
now very much overcrowded with such 
work for the Government service. The fol- 
lowing suggestion is offered: Have your 
committee on materials and supplies make 
up a list of all supplies used, secure 
samples of all supplies used and informa- 
tion relating to the use made of each ma- 
terial needed. 

"After collecting this information and 
samples the Bureau of Standards will be 
very glad to advise with you, and assist 
you in preparing specifications. We will 
also help you prepare simple methods of 
testing, most of which may he carried on 
with a very little apparatus. For tests re- 
quiring more than a few simple pieces of 
apparatus it is suggested that you refer 
to the regular commercial testing labora- 
tories. 

"The laboratories of the Bureau of 
Standards and the methods of testing are 
always open to interested parties and if 
you decide to take this matter up, it is 
suggested that you arrange to visit the 
Bureau and take up these questions in 
greater detail. 

"The Bureau of Standards assures you 
of its interest in your needs and will gladly 
assist you in any way possible." 

In a visit to the Bureau of Standards and 
in further correspondence it was pointed 
out that one of the principal problems 



would be the testing of paper. On this 
point the reply was as follows: 

"In accordance with your request that 
you be furnished with data in regard to 
paper testing devices which might be used 
by the members of the American Library 
Association for the examination of paper, 
you are advised as follows: 

"1. Machines for weighing paper. Pair- 
banks Co., approximate cost, $5.00. 

"2. Machines for measuring paper — ordi- 
nary yard stick. 

3. Machines for measuring the thickness 
of paper — Ashcroft Mfg. Co., New York, 
$10.00; B. F. Perkins Co., Holyoke, Mass.. 
about $20.00. 

"i. Machines for testing the strength of 
paper— Ashcroft Mfg. Co., $20.00. 

"These simple and fairly inexpensive 
pieces of apparatus might well be used in 
the various libraries to check up deliveries. 

"As was explained to you, the Mullen 
Tester is used by the Bureau of Standards 
because it possesses certain advantages. It 
has the disadvantage of being expensive, 
costing $75.00, which would limit its use 
to those libraries ha^-ing considerable test- 
ing to be done. 

"Other useful pieces of apparatus would 
be the Schopper folding and tensile 
strength machines. These machines are 
not obtainable at present, due to the war, 
and besides are rather expensive. They 
are handled in this country by Cornelius 
Kahlen, New York City. 

"In your letter of May 1 you say that 
Mr. Ranck of the Grand Rapids Public 
Library suggests establishing a central 
testing bureau for the American Library 
Association. This would seem to be an 
ideal arrangement and would undoubtedly 
be of great benefit to the Association. Too 
little intelligent work of this kind is being 
done and the American Library Associa- 
tion coming in contact with people all over 
the country would be able to take a very 
prominent part in this important educa- 
tional work. 

"As explained to you, the Bureau of 
Standards is so burdened with regular gov- 
ernment work as to be unable to do addi- 
tional testing work. We would be very 
glad to assist the Association in every way 
possible in an advisory capacity, and you 
are assured that we shall be decidedly in- 
terested in any work of this kind which 
you may undertake." 

Your Committee would not, without a 
further study of the question be justified 
in making a recommendation to establish 
at headquarters a bureau for testing ma- 



348 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



terlalB and supplies. If desired the Com- 
mittee will make a further study of the 
question. One element would be a demon- 
stration that other librarians feel the need 
as Mr. Uanck does. Will not all librarians 
who would like to see such a testing bureau 
established so express themselves by letter 
addressed to the Chairman of this Com- 
mittee? 

Geoeoe F. Bowerman, 

Chairman. 
Edith Tobitt 
C. Seymour Thompson. 

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON 
LIBRARY TRAINING 

The Committee has held one meeting 
during the year, in connection with the 
January meetings at Chicago. At this 
meeting the work of examining the field 
of library training outside the regular 
library schools was divided among the 
members, one member taking "Apprentice 
classes in the larger libraries"; another, 
"Instruction in library training as given 
by normal schools"; another, "Work in 
colleges and universities aside from those 
maintaining regular library schools"; and 
another "Summer courses in library 
training." It is hoped by this division of 
the field to complete the survey of the 
v/hole field of library training more 
rapidly. While none of these reports is 
ready for the present conference, prelim- 
inary use of the material on Apprentice 
classes in tlie larger libraries will be avail- 
able for the discussion of that topic by the 
Association of American Library Schools. 

During the year the chairman of the 
Committee has devoted such limited time 
as was at his disposal, to examining all the 
material on library schools, v/hich has 
been collected by the examiner. It seems 
apparent from the examination that all 
the schools are fairly meeting the require- 
ments laid down by the Committee in 1905 
and 1S06 as a minimum standard. In 
many cases these are very considerably 
exceeded. In only one case did it seem 
necessary to communicate with the library 
school authorities, and In this case not be- 



cause the minimum requirements were not 
met, but rather because the program un- 
dertaken by the School seemed somewhat 
ambitious when compared with the number 
of instructors and the equipment of the 
School. Friendly suggestions were there- 
fore sent to the director with the hope that 
this might facilitate increasing the equip- 
ment, and in the obtaining of relief for an 
over-worked faculty. These suggestions 
were received by the School in the same 
friendly spirit in which they were made 
and the Committee hopes the results will 
be to the advantage of the School. 

Tlie Committee having thus satisfied 
itself that the work done by the regular 
library schools meets the standards 
hitherto established would naturally now 
proceed to a discussion of the question 
v.'hether the developments of the last ten 
years Iiave made it necessary to modify 
or extend the minimum standard set down 
ten years ago. No time has been found 
during the year to take up this question. 
Happily, at the winter meeting of the 
Association of American Library Schools 
at Chicago, Dr. Harold O. Rugg, of the 
School of Education of the University of 
Chicago, came forward suggesting the need 
of a survey of the field of library training. 
His outline of a proposed survey seemed 
nearly to duplicate the work which the 
Committee had already undertaken. Upon 
learning of our survey he expressed his 
readiness to look over the material which 
tlie Committee had collected and see how 
far it could be utilized in studying from a 
strictly pedagogical point of view the con- 
ditions which ought to be developed in pro- 
fessional schools of this type. 

The Committee was exceedingly de- 
lighted to find an educational expert in- 
terested in this material and very gladly 
sent it to him for his consideration. The 
pressure of other engagements has thus 
far prevented Dr. Rugg from examining the 
material, but during the coming year it is 
hoped he will find time to do this and 
make such recommendations as the ma- 
terial suggests. His work ought to give 



CO-ORDINATION 



349 



the Committee much light upon the larger 
ouestions involved in such a study, par- 
ticularly those of a strictly educational 
ohr.racter, as for example, "what ought to 
be the curriculum of a library school," 
"what pedagogical training and equipment 
ought to be required of teachers in library 
schools," "what are the best methods of 
presentation in teaching library methods," 
and "how far can actual practice in library 
work be made stimulating and effective as 
a means of training." 

Respectfully submitted for the Committee, 
AzARiAH S. Root, 

Chairman. 

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON 
CO-ORDINATION 

The Committee on Co-ordination has 
been asked by the A. L. A. Publishing 
Board to draw up a brief set of Rules for 
the use of libraries participating in inter- 
library loans. 

The Committee most willingly makes 
the attempt, although it feels that the time 
is, as yet, hardly ripe for more than a be- 
ginning in the way of such Rules. Prac- 
tice is still being modified in those libra- 
ries which have been, and are, most active 
in lending; and the modifications do not 
always tend toward uniformity; rather the 
reverse. For behind the modifications lie 
diverse causes, such as: the natural wish 
of every library to preserve its freedom 
of action when dealing with its own prop- 
erty; and — of still greater influence — the 
fundamental differences, both as to pur- 
pose, and material sought, that are to be 
found between such loans as are e:;enipli- 
fied in county library systems, on the one 
hand, and loans made in the intere!5ts of 
scholarship and research, on the other. 
These two classes of loans, essentially 
diliferent as they are, necessarily demand 
diversity of treatment. A state library, 
for example, might be justified in lending, 
might indeed be in duty bound to lend, to 
libraries in its own state, books which a 
large reference library might be equally 
Justified in declining to lend at all. 

Moreover, as loans of a "popular" char- 



acter grow in volume (as they surely will 
in future), additional sources will have to 
be provided for the supply of such loans. 
Whatever form such provision may ulti- 
mately take, it will undoubtedly entail fresh 
modifications of what may now be re- 
garded as current practice concerning in- 
ter-library loans. 

All this divergence, however, only 
makes it the more desirable that agree- 
ment should be reached upon all points 
upon which agreement is possible. Prac- 
tical uniformity in regard to business de- 
tails has already been achieved among 
certain leading libraries. Such details, 
with suggestions on more vital questions, 
have been embodied in the following 
Rules. These Rules, with the accompany- 
ing remarks, are now submitted as the 
report for 1916, of the Committee on Co- 
ordination. Suggestions for their im- 
provement are earnestly requested, and 
will be cordially welcomed. 

REGULATIONS FOR THE CONDUCT OF 
INTER-LIBRARY LOANS 

Suggested by 
The Committee on Co-ordination 

Note: Words or clauses enclosed in 
brackets, have not received the unani- 
mous approval of the Committee. 

1 Purpose 
The purpose of inter-library loans is 
(a) to aid research calculated to advance 
the boundaries of knowledge, by the loan 
of unusual books not readily accessible 
elsewhere [(b) to help augment the sup- 
ply of the average book to the average 
reader; subject, in both cases, to making 
due provision for the rights and conven- 
ience of the [immediate] constituents of 
the lending library, and for safeguarding 
the material which is desired as a loan.] 

2 Scope or extent 

Almost any material possessed by a li- 
brary, unless it has been acquired on terms 
which entirely preclude its loan, may be 
lent, upon occasion, to another library; 
[but whether a particular loan should, or 



350 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



should not be made on a given occasion, 
will depend on the use to be made of the 
material, and upon the person who wishes 
to use it. 

The decision in each case must be made 
by the lender, and, therefore, cannot be 
provided for in a code of rules.] It may 
be assumed, however, that all libraries are 
prepared to go as far as their regulations 
permit, or as they reasonably can, in the 
way of lending to others. 

Failing the possibility of a loan, camera- 
graph or photostat copies of the material 
desired, may often be obtained as a sub- 
stitute and at small cost. 

3 Material which should not be applied 

for 
(Practice will vary according to the nature 
of both applicant and lender.) 
Current fiction; [books that are inexpen- 
sive and can be easily procured; mere text- 
books or popular manuals; books for stu- 
dents' debates, for student or study-club 
work; in general, books which should be 
accessible in any good public library;] 
any book requested for a trivial purpose. 

4 Material which should be lent only 

under exceptional circumstances 

(Practice will vary according to the nature 

of both applicant and lender.) 

Material in constant use or request in 
the library applied to; books of reference; 
books that are not to be taken from the 
library applied to except under special per- 
mission; [parts of large sets, such as 
periodicals and publications of learned 
societies;] manuscripts, incunabula, spe- 
cial editions, and, in general, any rare or 
costly book. 

Material which by reason of its size or 
character requires expensive packing or 
high insurance; material which by reason 
of age, delicate texture, or fragile condi- 
tion, is likely to suffer from being sent by 
mail or express. 

5 Music 

Music is lent on the same conditions as 
books, but must not be used for public 
performances. 



6 How effected 

By libraries of standing, which will ap- 
ply to others expected to possess the de- 
sired material, in order of their relative 
distance from, or relative duty to, the com- 
munity in which any particular requests 
originate. 

7 Limit of number of volumes 
Each library must fix a limit for itself. 
Four works at one time for a single bor- 
rower, is, perhaps, a reasonable maximum. 

8 Duration of loan 

This will vary with the nature and pur- 
pose of the loan. The time allowed in each 
case, will be stated by the lender when 
the loan is made. Four weeks is, perhaps, 
a fair average period. The period is 
counted [from the day the book leaves the 
lender] to the day it is returned by the 
borrower. An extension of the period may 
usually be obtained for good reasons. Ap- 
plication for extension of time must be 
made early enough to permit an answer 
from the lending library to be received 
before the book's return is due. The lend- 
ing library always reserves the right ot 
summary recall. 

9 Notice of receipt and return 

The receipt of books borrowed, must be 
acknowledged at once; and when books 
are returned, notice must be sent by mail 
at the same time. Promptness in this re- 
spect, is necessary to permit books to be 
traced if they go astray. 

Notice of return should state: Titles o' 
books sent (with call numbers) ; date of 
return; conveyance, e. g., Insured parcel's 
post, prepaid express, etc., in the latter 
case, naming the express company. 

10 Expenses in connection with loan 

[All expenses of carriage (both ways) 
and insurance, when effected, must be 
borne by the borrowing library.] 

11 Safeguards 
The borrowing library is bound by the 
conditions imposed by the lender. These 
it may not vary, although a good deal will 



FEDERAL AND STATE RELATIONS 



351 



usually be left to the discretion of the bor- 
rowing library. In such a case, the bor- 
rower will safeguard borrowed material 
as carefully as it would its own; [and its 
librarian will require to be used within 
the walls of the borrowing library, what- 
ever material would be so treated were 
the borrowing library its possessor.] 
12 Responsibility of borrower 

The borrowing library must assume com- 
plete responsibility for the safe-keeping 
and due return of all material borrowed. 

[In cases of actual loss in transit the 
borrowing library should not merely meet 
the cost of replacement, but should charge 
itself with the trouble of making the re- 
placement, unless the owner prefers to 
attend to the matter.] 

13 General provisions and suggestions 

Disregard of any of the foregoing rules, 
injury to books from use, careless pack- 
ing, or detention of books beyond the time 
specified for the loan, will be considered 
good ground for declining to lend in fu- 
ture. 

The borrowing library should inform in- 
dividuals of the conditions attached to 
each particular loan. 

[Lending libraries should acknowledge 
return of loans to the borrower.] 

Individuals who wish an inter-library 
loan to be effected on their behalf, should 
consult, as a first step, the librarian of the 
library which they expect to borrow for 
them. He can often suggest some source 
of supply nearer, and more suitable than 
any the individuals have in view. 



As a matter of course, special condi- 
tions will arise from time to time, which 
will necessitate the modification of the 
foregoing rules. 
For the Committee on Co-ordination. 
C. H. Gould, 
Chairman. 

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FEDERAL 
AND STATE RELATIONS 

The Committee on Federal and State 
Relations has had a number of matters re- 
ferred to it for consideration during the 



year, and has endeavored to advance the 
interests of libraries as far as possible. 

1. With reference to the importation 
of books from countries at war with each 
other, the activity of the Library of Con- 
gress has rendered it unnecessary for us 
to take extensive action. 

2. We have urged upon the appropriate 
Committees of Congress that they act 
favorably upon an amendment offered to 
the Post Office Appropriation Bill by Mr. 
Jones, on April 7, so that bulletins pub- 
lished by libraries which are not sepa- 
rately incorporated, but are part of a 
county government, may be admitted to 
the mail at second-class rates. 

3. We have secured a re-affirmation of 
the position of the Treasury Department, 
that each building with a separate stock 
of books should be considered as a sepa- 
rate library and that, therefore, each 
branch library may be considered entitled 
to have one copy of any book imported 
for it, free of duty, although copies for 
other branch libraries are included in the 
same invoice. 

4. This Committee has never taken any 
action in reference to Canadian affairs, 
and when it was suggested that there was 
need of some such action, it was requested 
that the duty be not added to us, but that 
a separate committee be instituted for the 
purpose of handling such questions. 

5. The suggestion has been made to us 
that it would be desirable that a copy of 
the list of foreigners who are candidates 
for citizenship be sent by the Federal offi- 
cers, not only to the school superintend- 
ents of the cities in which the candidates 
live, but also to the librarians of the public 
libraries in that city, in order that the lat- 
ter might send to each of such candidates 
a letter inviting him to make use of the 
library to supplement any studies he may 
take in the public school. This suggestion 
seems a very good one to us, and we heart- 
ily endorse it. 

6. In this year, as in so many previous 
ones, a bill was introduced Into Congress, 
for the purpose of limiting the rights of 



362 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



libraries to import books. The attempt at 
this time was in the bill H. R. 10,231 intro- 
duced by Mr. Driscoll. In this bill is con- 
tained a provision that the importation of 
books for public libraries be made only 
"with the consent of the proprietor of the 
American copyright or its representative." 
When the present copyright law was 
passed, this question was thoroughly dis- 
cussed and the continuation of the libra- 
ries' privilege was obtained. Protest was 
made against the passage of the provision 
at this time and it is believed that there 
is no immediate danger. It behooves, how- 
ever, all librarians to be on the lookout 
against renewal of these attempts to di- 
minish the usefulness of the funds pro- 
vided, for the most part by public taxation, 
for the purpose of so important a part of 
the educational system of the common- 
wealth as the public library. 

7. We were glad to cooperate with the 
Bookbuying Committee in the successful 
attempt to insist that House Bill 4,715 en- 
titled "A bill to prevent discrimination in 
prices and provide for publicity of prices 
to dealers and the public" should not in- 
clude public libraries within its provisions. 
This bill was first introduced by Mr. Ste- 
vens, and afterwards in various forms by 
Messrs. Ayres and Stephens. The great 
number of protests which were made by 
libraries, and the strong resolutions 
adopted by Boards of Trustees were effect- 
ual in averting any danger to the interests 
of the public through raising the price of 
books bought by libraries. 

Respectfully submitted, 
For the Committee. 

Bernard C. Steineb, 
Chairman. 

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON 
BOOKBINDING 

The most important work accomplished 
by the Committee on Bookbinding during 
the past year was the revision of Library 
Handbook No. 5, which was published in 
October by the A. L. A. Publishing Board. 
The first edition of this Handbook was con- 
fined to specifications for binding fiction, 



juvenile books, newspapers, periodicals, 
reference books and non-fiction, and was 
designed primarily for small libraries. In 
the second edition the specifications have 
been thoroughly revised, and, in addition, 
there will be found brief discussions on 
sewing, guarding of end papers, sections, 
etc., back-lining, and attachment of cover. 
At the end will be found a brief reading 
list. In its revised form the Handbook is 
much more useful than before and can 
be used advantageously by all libraries, 
large and small. In Los Angeles the Pub- 
lic School Board have decided that bids 
for school binding must be based on the 
specifications in this Handbook. 

A notice was sent to many of the edu- 
cational periodicals, calling the attention 
of superintendents and school teachers to 
the fact that the binding of reference 
books, such as dictionaries and encyclo- 
pasdias, plays an important part in the life 
of the book, and pointing out the work done 
by this Committee in inducing publishers 
to issue such books in a suitable binding. 
Many periodicals published the letter, with 
the result that inquiries about binding 
came from schools all over the country. 

Two publishers have showed a renewed 
interest in reinforced bindings. Houghton 
Mifflin Company have reinforced several 
titles of new fiction. Charles Scribner's 
Sons have also reinforced the Universal 
Edition of Dickens, volumes of which are 
admirably suited for library use. These 
can be obtained either as a complete set or 
in single volumes. On request, specifica- 
tions for commercial binding of reference 
books have been sent to several publish- 
ers, though we have no record that the 
specifications were adopted. One commer- 
cial binder has twice submitted samples 
of work for the approval of the Commit- 
tee. 

The European war has had a disastrous 
effect upon the prices of binding mate- 
rials. Some leathers are almost impossible 
to obtain. Cowhides have increased 
greatly in price and deteriorated in qual- 
ity, so that the Committee advises that 
library buckram be substituted for cow- 



BOOK BUYING 



353 



hide until the price and quality again be- 
come normal. The shortage of dyes has 
also affected the cost of cloths, though not 
to the same extent as leathers. 
Respectfully submitted, 
Arthur L. Bailey, Chairman. 

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON 
BOOKBUYING 

The report of the Committee last year 
referred to the fact that owing to various 
court decisions libraries were no longer 
limited to the former 10 per cent discount 
on new net books, and that the question 
of discounts was a matter for the individ- 
ual library and the individual dealer or 
jobber. The courts have practically pro- 
hibited the enforcement of fixed retail 
prices by the manufacturer or jobber. As 
a result there has been real competition 
for library trade in so far as prices are 
concerned, which means that the discount 
to libraries on new net books is no longer 
limited to 10 per cent. 

The court decisions have had an effect 
much wider than that of library bookbuy- 
ing. In order to counteract such decisions 
and to obtain legislation permitting the 
enforcement of fixed prices by the manu- 
facturers, various bills have been intro- 
duced into Congress. For the last two 
years your Committee has watched these 
bills, with interest and concern, but there 
seemed little chance of any such bill be- 
coming a law until this session. In Decem- 
ber of last year it was apparent that a 
determined effort would be made to pass 
some bill legalizing fixed prices. This 
movement was being strongly pushed by 
the American Fair Trade League with the 
support of the United States Chamber of 
Commerce. The matter was brought be- 
fore the Executive Board and the Council 
of the American Library Association at 
the December meeting, with the result that 
the Executive Board authorized the Book- 
buying Committee, in co-operation with the 
Committee on Federal and State Relations, 
to arrange for a representation of the 
American Library Association at hearings 
before Committees of the House and Sen- 



ate on fixed price legislation. In addition 
the Council passed the following resolu- 
tions: 

"RESOLVi-.n; That the Council of the 
American Library Association, acting for 
said Association and representing the pub- 
lic, educational, scientific and institutional 
libraries of the country, most earnestly ask 
that such libraries be exempted from the 
provisions of the H. R. No. 13,305. They 
ask this because such libraries are large 
purchasers of books and are operated en- 
tirely for the benefit of the public and for 
general educational purposes, and are sup- 
ported in the main by public taxation. 

"Votkd: That the Bookbuylng Commit 
tee be requested to secure and compile, as 
promptly as possible, statistical and other 
material in support of the position taken 
by the Council on the Stevens Bill, and 
that such material be at once distributed 
to all libraries affected by the provisions 
of the bill." 

In accordance with the resolutions of 
the Council the Bookbuying Committee of 
the Association prepared a circular to 
libraries, urging the necessity of joint ac- 
tion to secure an amendment to the Ste- 
vens Bill, which would exempt libraries 
from the provisions of the bill. The 
Committee also had planned an energetic 
campaign looking toward the same end. 
Just as the circular was about to go to 
press, however, a conference was ar- 
ranged, through the aid of Mr. Bowker, 
with Mr. Whittier of the American Fair 
Trade League. Mr. Whittier informed the 
Committee that a new bill was about to 
be introduced which would replace the old 
Stevens-Ayres bill. He offered his co- 
operation in obtaining a clause in the bill 
exempting libraries. The new bill was 
introduced by Representative Stephens of 
Nebraska, January 21st, (H. R. No. 9,671). 
The bill contains the following clause: 

"The provisions of this act shall not 
apply in cases of sales of such article or 
articles of commerce to the United States, 
or in cases of sales of such articles to any 
state or public library, or to any society or 
institution incorporated or established 
solely for religious, philosophical, educa- 
tional, medical, scientific or literary pur- 
poses, made in good faith for use thereof 
by such society or institution." 

It appeared that all objections on the 



364 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



part of librarians, as such, to the old bill 
were obviated by the introduction of the 
new bill and that no further action was 
necessary, except that of "watchful wait- 
ing." At this date (May 20th) the bill is 
still before the Committee on Interstate 
Commerce of the House. Any such legis- 
lation will require careful and continual 
attention lest unfavorable amendments be 
introduced in Committee. It seems appar- 
ent that price maintenance bills with their 
ever present danger to libraries will be 
actively pushed for some time to come, 
whether the present bill becomes a law or 
not. 

The report of the Bookbuying Commit- 
tee last December, together with action 
by the League of Library Commissioners, 
resulted in a number of appeals and pro- 
tests to Congressmen against the earlier 
Stevens-Ayres Bill. These protests were 
made before a report of the new bill 
exempting libraries could be given pub- 
licity. The influence of such communica- 
tions was marked. It seems apparent to 
your Committee that the effect of con- 
certed action by libraries and librarians 
throughout the country, if made in season 
and with sufficient force, will to a large 
extent avert the danger of hostile legisla- 
tion such as contained in the original fixed 
price bills. 

Chahles H. Beow>'. Chairman, 

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE 

CARNEGIE AND ENDOWMENT 

FUNDS 

The Trustees of the Endowment Fund 
beg leave to submit the following statement 
of the accounts of their trust for the fiscal 
year ending January 15, 1916: 

There has been no change in invest- 
ments during the year. On the 10th of 
February, 1916, however, the $15,000 par 
value of New York Central & Hudson 
River Railroad Company, Lake Shore Col- 
lateral, 3%% Bonds of February 1, 1998, 
were, in accordance with the plan for the 
consolidation of the New York Central & 



Hudson River Railroad Company with the 
Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway 
Company, exchanged by us for a like 
amount of the Consolidated Mortgage 4% 
Bonds due February 1, 1998, of the new 
consolidated corporation. The New York 
Central Railroad Company. As a result of 
this exchange the income from the fund 
will be increased ?75 a year, dating back 
to February 1, 1915. All Interest on in- 
vestments has been promptly paid except 
that default was made in the payment of 
the semi-annual installment of 2%% due 
September 1, 1915, on the $15,000 par value 
of Missouri Pacific Railway Company Col- 
lateral Trust 5% Bonds due January 1, 
1917, which were included in the securities 
which we took over upon our appointment 
as trustees. Owing to the default and to 
the proposed reorganization of the affairs 
of the Missouri Pacific Railway Company, 
a committee of which Mr. Moreau Delano, 
of the firm of Brown Brothers & Company, 
is chairman, was formed to protect the 
interests of this particular issue of Mis- 
souri Pacific bonds. We deposited our 
bonds with the Columbia Trust Company, 
the depositary of that committee, and took 
advantage of the committee's offer to ad- 
vance to us the amount of the coupons 
due last September. The $375 of coupons 
due March 1, 1916, have been collected In 
the same way. No final adjustment of the 
Missouri Pacific finances has yet been 
reached. We hope that such a settlement 
will be made as will fully preserve the 
interests of the Collateral Trust bond- 
holders. 

The usual audit of the investments and 
accounts of the trust was, at the request 
of the Chairman of the Finance Committee 
of the American Library Association, made 
by Mr. Franklin O. Poole, librarian of the 
Association of the Bar of the City of New 
York. Respectfully submitted, 

W. W. APPLETON, 

M. Tatlob Pyne, 
Edward W. Sheldon, 
Trustees Carnegie and Endowment Funds. 



ENDOWMENT FUNDS 3BS 

CARNEGIE FUND, PRINCIPAL ACCOUNT 

Cash donated by Mr. Andrew Carnegie $100,000.00 

Invested as follows: 

Book 
Date of Purchase Cost Value 

June 1, 1908 5,000 i% Amer. Tel. & Tel. Bonds S6^ ? 4,825.00 

June 1, 1908 10,000 4% Amer. Tel. & Tel. Bonds 94% 9,437.50 

June 1, 1908 15,000 i% Cleveland Terminal 100 15,000.00 

June 1, 1908 10,000 4% Seaboard Air Line 95Mi 9,550.00 

June 1, 1908 15,000 5% Western Un. Tel 108y2 15,000.00 

June 1, 1908 15,000 31/2% N. Y. Central (Lake Shore Col.) . 90 13,500.00 

June 1, 1908 15,000 5% Missouri Pacific 104% 15,000.00 

May 3, 1909 15,000 5% U. S. Steel 104 15,000.00 

Aug. 6, 1909 1,500 5% V. S. Steel 106% 1,500.00 

July 27, 1910 1,000 5% U. S. Steel 102% 1,000.00 99,812.50 

102,500 
Jan. 15, 1916 United States Trust Co. on deposit 187.50 



$100,000.00 



There is also a surplus account amounting to $150.00. 

CARNEGIE FUND, INCOME ACCOUNT 
1915 

January 15 Balance $1,441.06 

February 1 Int. New York Central 262.50 

March 1 Int. Missouri Pacific 375.00 

March 1 Int. Seaboard Air Line 200.00 

May 1 Int. Cleveland Terminal 300.00 

May 1 Int. United States Steel 437.50 

July 1 Int. Western Union 375.00 

July 1 Int. American Tel. & Tel 300.00 

August 3 Int. New York Central 262.50 

September 1 Int. Seaboard Air Line 200.00 

November 1 Int. Cleveland Terminal 300.00 

November 1 Int. United States Steel 437.50 

December 1 Int. On deposit 57.54 

Decemberl7 Int. Missouri Pacific (due September) 375.00 

1916 

January 3 Int. Western Union 375.00 

January 3 Int. American Tel. & Tel 300.00 $5,998.60 



Disbursements 
1915 

May 11 Carl B. Roden, Treasurer $1,500.00 

September 15 Carl B. Roden, Treasurer 1,500.00 

December 4 United States Trust Co., Commission 75.00 

December 14 Carl B. Roden, Treasurer 1,500.00 

January 15, 1916, Cash on hand 1,423.60 $5,998.60 



ENDOWMENT FUND, PRINCIPAL ACCOUNT 
1915 

January 15 On hand, bonds and cash $7,886.84 

March 3 Life Membership, M. T. Pyne 25.00 

April 3 Life Membership, H. R. Peck 25.00 

May 5 Life Membership, E. Crane 25.00 

June 4 Life Membership, M. E. Downey 25.00 

August 2 Lite Membership, M. A. Newberry 25.00 

August 2 Life Membership, E. S. Bucher 25.00 

August 2 Life Membership, A. S. Root 25.00 $8,061.84 



356 ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 

Invested as follows: 

Date of purchase Cost 

1908 

June 1 2 U. S. Steel Bonds SSVe .n,970.00 

October 19 2 U. S. Steel Bonds 1025^ 2,000.00 

November 5 l^^ U. S. Steel Bonds 101 1,500.00 

1910 

Julv 27 IVz U. S. Steel Bonds 102y2 1,500.00 

1913 

December 8 1 U. S. Steel Bond 99^^ 991.25 

January 15, 1916, Cash on hand U. S. Trust Co 100.59 $8,061.84 

ENDOWMENT FUND, INCOME ACCOUNT 
1915 

Mav 1 Int. U. S. Steel Bonds $200.00 

November 1 Int. U. S. Steel Bonds 200.00 $400.00 

Disbursements 
1915 

March 3 Exchange on check $ .10 

April 3 Exchange on check 10 

May 5 Exchange on check .10 

May 11 Carl B. Roden, Treasurer 199.70 

June 4 Exchange on check .10 

December 14 Carl B. Roden, Treasurer 199.90 $400.00 

REPORT OF THE TREASURER 
January-May, 1916 

Receipts 

Balance, Union Trust Company, Chicago, Jan. 1, 1916 $ 3,957.57 

Membership fees 6,104.95 

Life Memberships 150.00 

Interest on Bank Balance, January-May 37.94 

$10,250.46 
Expenditures 

Checks No. 80-87 (Vouchers No. 1224-1332) $4,091.20 

Balance Union Trust Co., Chicago $6,159.26 

G. B. Utley, Balance, Nat. Bank Republic 250.00 

Total Balance $6,409.26 

James L. Whitney Fund 

Principal and interest, Dec. 31, 1915 $226.89 

Interest, Jan. 1, 1916 3.33 

Sixth Installment, Jan. 15, 1916 22.86 

Total $253.08 

Respectfully submitted, 

C. B. RODEN, Treasurer. 

REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE published in the Bulletin for January, 1916, 

To the American Library Association: together with the budget adopted by the 

In accordance with the provisions of Executive board, and are for this reason 

Section 12 of the Constitution, your Finance not given here, 

committee submits the following report: Dr. C. W. Andrews has audited for the 

The probable income of the Association Committee the accounts of the Treasurer 

for 1916 has been estimated as $24,045.00 and of the Secretary as Assistant Treasurer, 

and the Executive board has been author- He found that the receipts as stated by the 

ized to make appropriations to this amount. Treasurer agree with the transfers of the 

The details of the estimated income were Assistant Treasurer, with the cash accounts 



WORK WITH THE BLIND 



257 



of the latter, and with the statements of 
transfers in the accounts of the Trustees. 
The expenditures as stated are accounted 
for by properly approved vouchers, and the 
balance shown as that in the Union Trust 
Company of Chicago agrees with the bank 
statement of December 31, 1915. The bank 
balances and petty cash of the Assistant 
Treasurer agree with the bank books and 
petty cash balances. The accounts of the 
Assistant Treasurer are correct as cash ac- 
counts. 

The securities now in the custody of the 
Trustees have been checked for the Com- 
mittee by Mr. F. O. Poole, who certifies that 
their figures are correct. He found that 
the bonds and other securities amount, at 
par value, to $102,500 for the Carnegie 
fund, and to ?.8,000 for the Endowment 
fund. 

The accounts of the James L. Whitney 
fund, which is In the hands of the Treas- 
urer, have been examined and found to be 
cs stated by him in his annual report. 
Respectfully submitted, 

H.VRBISOX W. CUA\-EK. 

Chairman. 

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON WORK 
WITH THE BLIND 

Your Committee desires to emphasize 
the need of a few well-stocked library cen- 
ters for the blind in neglected districts. 
From St. Louis to Sacramento there is a 
large area, having a considerable blind 
population, and few distributing points for 
embossed books. In the southern states 
there is little reading matter available for 
the adult blind. In order to supply the 
sightless readers of the country econom- 
ically and satisfactorily no considerably 
populated territory should be without a li- 
brary center, having power to circulate 
embossed books throughout the state and 
often in adjoining states. 

As a definite experiment the Committee 
has undertaken to develop by loan, a small 
collection of books in a district now cov- 
ered by loans sent to individual borrow- 
ers from libraries at a distance. The 
library chosen for this experiment has 



consented to receive and circulate such 
books as may be borrowed from the idle 
duplicates on the shelves of large libra- 
ries. The director ot the Perkins Institu- 
tion for the Blind has generously promised 
to negotiate a loan of such duplicates as 
can he spared from their book-shelves. 

Our plan, not yet fully carried out, has 
nevertheless already met with favorable 
interest and the co-operation of the local 
Association of Workers for the Blind. 

Some overlapping of territory supplied 
by large libraries may be inevitable, but 
librarians have lately concurred to restrict 
readers, where feasible, to the library 
from which they should borrow. 

On account of the uncertainty about 
type the American presses have this year 
printed fewer books than usual. The 
problem of getting more books for blind 
readers will be solved by the adoption of 
a uniform type, which may at last be im- 
minent. So hopeful are we that it seems 
not amiss to look ahead to the satisfactory 
stocking of our shelves with great num- 
bers of books in tangible print, without 
the disheartening duplication of titles in 
three types. 

Librarians will do well to remember 
that the sympathetic attention the public 
is giving to the needs of blinded European 
soldiers may be expected to intensify in- 
terest in all work for the blind, every- 
where. 

Inventory of Canadian Libraries of 
Embossed Books 

Key to abbreviations used in this in- 

AB ^= American Braille. 
B = Rvaille. 
Circ= Circulation. 
EB = European Braille. 
Ll=-- TAne letter. 
M = Moon. 
Ms = Music scores. 
NY== Xe-v York Point. 
Vols. ^= Volumes. 

Halifax, Nova Scotia. School for the 
Blind, vols. 500 to 600 EB (not counting 
duplicates). Circ. 1700. Books may be 
circulated throughout Canada, but are in- 
tended to meet the needs of the blind of 
the provinces of Nova Scotia, New Bruns- 

•Repeated from 1915 rerort. 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



wick, Prince Edward Island and New- 
foundland. 

Ontario: Brantford. Circulating Library, 
vols. 2237: L1625; M281; NY1431. Titles 
200. Circ. 157. Books may be circulated 
throughout Canada. Printed catalog sup- 
plied free of charge. 

Ontario: Toronto. Canadian Free Li- 
brary for the Blind, vols. 4489: AB25; 
EB994; L178; M325; NY3057. Titles 1383. 
Ms: NY and B1323 (B. Ms. negligible). 
Circ. 9260. Books may be circulated 
throughout Canada, Newfoundland and the 
United States. EB and NY catalogs are 
sold for 25c. The readers of this library 
represent one-ninth of the total estimated 
blind population of Canada. 114 new 
names were added to the list of borrow- 
ers last year. The accessions for the year 
were almost 1000 volumes less than actu- 
ally ordered, for the disorganization of 
ocean transport has prevented the ship- 
ment of a very large consignment from 
Great Britain. The inconsiderable use of 
embossed music has led to a serious 
thought of abandoning this branch of the 
service. The librarian, Mr. S. C. Swift, a 
blind man, conducts classes of instruction 
in Braille reading and writing on the li- 
brary premises and elsewhere. Consider- 
able home-teaching is done by volunteer 
members of the library association in vari- 
ous parts of the country. A supply de- 
partment is maintained, which -furnishes 
at cost or at advantageous discounts, such 
needful articles as paper, slates, games, 
typewriters, etc. Last year this library, 
working in conjunction with Sir Frederick 
Eraser of Halifax, secured from the Do- 
minion Government the franking privilege 
on books for the blind sent to Newfound- 
land, such concession having previously 
been agreed to by the Government of that 
colony. 

Quebec: Montreal. Association of the 
Blind, vols. 600: AB50; EB460; LI20; 
M50; NY20. Titles 550. Ms: BIOO. Circ. 
200. Books may be circulated throughout 
the province of Quebec. Catalogs supplied 
free of charge. 



Announcements of New Collections 

Public Library of Birmingham, Alabama, 
Mr. Carl H. Milam, director, announces a 
small collection of books for the blind, 
which is about to be considerably aug- 
mented. The local association for the 
blind has appropriated a sum of money for 
the purchase of new books, and special 
shelving has been installed to receive 
them. 

Carnegie Library at San Antonio, Texas, 
circulates among the local blind a small 
collection of loan books, which is changed 
from time to time. The librarian, Miss 
Elizabeth West, has plans for developing 
a permanent collection. The records of 
loans made to Texas adult blind by libra- 
ries extending their privileges to that state 
demonstrate the need of increased library 
facilities for the blind of Texas. 

The IVlinnesota Agency for the Blind 
is experimenting to test the advisability of 
loan collections sent from the library cen- 
ter at the State School for the Blind, to 
the public libraries of Duluth and Minne- 
apolis. These loans are to be exchanged 
for new ones whenever expedient. Agency 
teachers meet the local blind at these sub- 
centers, and assist them to learn the 
reading and writing of embossed systems, 
and to learn typewriting. 

Reports on the Year's Work of a Few 
Important Libraries 

The California State Library, Sacra- 
mento, reports through the head of its 
Department for the Blind, Miss Mabel R. 
Gillis, a collection of 5,356 volumes and 636 
music scores, and a circulation of 10,923. 

We quote as follows: "From May 1, 
1915, to April 30, 1916, our home teacher. 
Miss Foley, gave 906 lessons to the blind. 
She made many calls on borrowers who 
were in need of other help besides actual 
lessons. She made twelve speeches before 
clubs and other associations. She has 
c-ilced by correspondence many borrow- 
ers in distant parts of the state to learn 
to read, and has aided the blind of Los 
Angeles and vicinity in many ways which 
no statistics can show." 



WORK WITH THE BUND 



8S» 



Carnegie Library, Pittsburgh, Pa., Miss 
Lucy D. Waterman, in charge of Work 
with the Blind, reports that the collection 
of embossed books was increased in 1915 
by 101 volumes and now numbers 1,943. 
There are also deposited here 792 books 
and periodicals which are owned by the 
Pennsylvania Home Teaching Society, 
making a total of 2,735 books and maga- 
zines available for blind readers in the 
western part of the state. The circulation 
for the past year was 4,336. 

A home teacher employed by this soci- 
ety has been working successfully in the 
Pittsburgh field for more than eight years, 
and during the past year two additional 
teachers have been appointed for work in 
Armstrong and McKean counties, drawing 
upon this library for books for their pupils. 

The circulation for the year was 4,336. 
Forty-eight new readers used the collec- 
tion, while the eleven withdrawals were 
due to death, removal to another district, 
or lack of desire to continue reading. The 
library is now serving 292 readers. 

The New York Public Library, Miss 
Lucille Goldthwaite, librarian for the Blind. 
The year was one of unprecedented activ- 
ity. It shares this distinction, however, 
with the majority of the libraries for the 
seeing, and this fact may be illuminating 
to those who consider that blindness cre- 
ates a class apart, untouched by the 
world's interest. 

The total circulation, including maga- 
zines and music scores, was 31,528, an in- 
crease of 5,304 over last year. This cir- 
culation is divided among the more impor- 
tant types as follows: American Braille, 
4,892; European Braille, 7,798; Braille 
music, 1,103; Moon, 5,649; New York Point, 
9,866; Point music, 2,113. Of the total 
circulation, only 1,065 were due to renew- 
als. There was only a normal increase in 
the number of active readers, 896 In 1915. 

Three embossed sections of the catalog 
were issued early in the year, one list of 
the books in the European Braille type, 
and two lists of the music scores. Music 
Bcorea were circulated to the number of 
3,216. The home teacher has given 280 



lessons, paid 476 visits, and exchanged 318 
books. 

New York State Library, Albany, Miss 
Mary C. Chamberlain, librarian for the 
Blind, reports as follows: Books are cir- 
culated outside of the state when im-»)os- 
sible to be obtained in the reader's uome 
state. An Ink print finding list may Ve had 
upon application and is always sent to new 
readers. From the annual stat* appro- 
priation of $2,000 many books printed in 
the different systems have been pur- 
chased and twelve titles have been printed 
in New York point. Through the generos- 
ity of Miss Nina Rhoades of New York 
City the printing and binding of twenty- 
five copies of one more title have been 
given this year to the library — making in 
all 152 titles which have been printed by 
the New York State Library, of which 13 
were the gifts of Miss Rhoades and three 
the gifts of friends of President John Hus- 
ton Finley. These titles are all available 
by purchase to libraries and individuals. 
If other libraries would add the printing 
of even two or three titles each year to 
the very limited number of titles, com- 
paratively speaking, which are available, 
the blind of this country — and when the 
uniform type becomes a reality — the blind 
of the whole world indeed would have 
cause for rejoicing. 

The Perkins Institution Library, Water- 
town, Mass., is the distributing center for 
embossed books for the blind throughout 
the New England states in particular, and 
also loans books in any part of the United 
States and Canada wherever they are 
needed. The librarian, Miss Laura M. 
Sawyer, writes that during the year Sep- 
tember, 1914-September, 1915, the library- 
circulated 7,786 books among the pupils of 
the school and 5,318 to blind people out- 
side the school, making a total of 13,104. 
This does not include the music scores 
loaned by the school. The number of books 
circulated is reduced by the fact that there 
is no time limit, which would undoubtedly 
iiicrease the rapidity with which many of 
the borrowers read. 

The librarj' supplies the books needed 



360 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



by the home-teachers in Massachusetts 
and many books used for the blind in 
Rhode Island and New Hampshire. The 
Massachusetts Commission also frequently 
enlists new readers of the embossed books. 
Through the co-operation of these agencies 
the library does not require a special 
home-teacher as a connecting link between 
it and the outside reader. 

An ink print catalog of the embossed 
books for circulation has recently been 
issued, also a supplement to the list pub- 
lished in 1907 of the books In the special 
reference library relating to the blind. 
The material in this special library is con- 
tinually being increased. It is open free 
to all for study and reference work on all 
subjects relating to blindness and the 
blind. 

The Library of Congress Room for the 
Blind, Mrs. Gertrude T. Rider, Chairman 
of this Committee, in charge. The collec- 
tion of books has been increased in all 
types. Great care has been taken to select 
from the many applicants for loans, such 
as we considered legitimate borrowers 
from this center. All other applicants 
have been referred to collections of em- 
bossed books in their own states, with our 
promise to lend to them in case they are 
unable to borrow nearby what they re- 
quire. 

In addition to well-stocked tables of ap- 
paratus and devices for the blind, we main- 
tain a permanent exhibit under glass, of 
the products of blind labor, lent by 
Schools for the Blind, State Commissions 
and Industrial Shops. 

Volunteer home-teaching service has 
been placed at our disposal by the District 
of Columbia Association of Workers for 
the Blind. The need of home-teachers has 
been keenly felt, and we value the co-op- 
eration of this association of which most 
of our local readers are members. 

After attending the Conference of Work- 
ers for the Blind at Berkeley, California, 
June 28-July 4, 1915, Mrs. Rider went to 
Japan, where she visited officially libraries 
and schools for the blind. 



Uniform Type 

In April, 1916, the Commission on Uni- 
form Type for the Blind invited co-work- 
ers in Great Britainn to appoint a com- 
mittee of three having authority to work 
with a like committee in America toward 
the improvement of British Braille with 
a view to the possibility of its adoption as 
the uniform type of the English speaking 
world. Certain changes in British Braille 
were suggested to the proper authorities 
in Great Britain and these changes will be 
the basis of the committee's report to the 
Halifax Convention of American Instruc- 
tors of the Blind, July, 1916. 

It is hoped and believed that a substan- 
tial agreement with the British may justify 
America in arriving at a satisfactory con- 
clusion of this great question. 

Books and Music 

All books available in American Braille 
are recorded in the "List of Publications 
in American Braille" published at the Penn- 
sylvania Institution for the Blind, Over- 
brook, Philadelphia. 

The Hymnal of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church published in American Braille by 
the Society for the Promotion of Church 
Work among the Blind is now complete in 
ten volumes. 

Hitting the Dark Trail, by Clarence 
Hawkes, blind naturalist, is being copied 
into American Braille, by the Perkins In- 
stitution for the Blind. 

The Novel Music Embossing Company, 
of Jacksonville, Illinois, organized in June, 
1915, specializes in embossing populaj mu- 
sic to sell at the current prices of the 
same music in ink print. They publish also 
some books on music and two periodicals, 
all of which may be had in both American 
Braille and New York point. 

The list of New York point books has 
been increased by a number of titles em- 
bossed at the American Printing House 
for the Blind. 

We note with appreciation that subject, 
author, and initials of type are now printed 
directly upon the buckram bindings of 



WORK WITH THE BLIND 



361 



books published there. The publication 
committee states that they propose also 
making uniform the place of the title on 
books. 

A stereograph and press have been in- 
stalled at the Clovernook Home for the 
Blind, Mt. Healthy, Ohio. To date a list 
of seven titles is offered in New York 
Point. 

Five volumes of free literature in New 
York Point have been issued by the Bible 
Training School of South Lancaster, Mass. 

The Xavier Free Publication Society tor 
the Blind, 59 E. 83d Street, New York 
City, has published thirty-nine new titles. 
This society is using steel plates for stereo- 
graphing, instead of brass or zinc ones. 
So-called Bessemer steel has been found 
to be an excellent substitute for the metals 
originally used, and effects quite a saving, 
as brass and zinc have increased from 
three to four hundred per cent over for- 
mer prices. 

The presses of The National Institute 
for the Blind, London, have offered a rap- 
idly increasing output of English Braille 
and Moon type books. 

New/ Periodicals 

The Music Survey, AB and NY editions. 

The Weekly News, NY and AB editions, 
published by the Novel Music Embossing 
Co., Jacksonville, 111. 

Sunrays, interlined EB, published by the 
Oakdale Publishing Co., 4 New London 
Street, London, E. C. 

The World Blind, monthly, AB, 

The World Blind, monthly, ink print, 
published by The United Workers for the 
Blind of Missouri, 2616 Gamble Street, St. 
Louis, Mo. 

The Cincinnati Globe, weekly, ink print, 
"published to interest the Seeing In the 
Blind," Suite 414, Greenwood Bldg., Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio. 

Recent Articles of Interest to Librarians 
for the Blind 

"Library work for the blind," by Miss Mary 
C. Chamberlain, of the New York State 



Library, has been Issued as a "preprint" 
of Chapter XXX of the A. L. A. Manual 
of Library Economy. A valuable bibliog- 
raphy will be found in this new handbook 
which has been announced in the A. L. A. 
bulletin. 

"Library facilities for the blind of the 
United States" is the title of a reprint of 
this Committee's report of 1915, compiled 
by Miss Lucille Goldthwaite, Chairman. 
This important rfisume is issued in pam- 
phlet form by The New York Public Li- 
brary. 

"The work of a circulating library for 
the blind," as illustrated by the California 
State Library, is the subject of a paper 
presented at the Berkeley Conference on 
the Blind, June-July, 1915, by Miss Mabel 
R. Gillis, in charge of the collection of 
embossed books in the California State 
Library. 

"What the national government is doing 
for the blind and what more it ought to 
do," by O. H. Burritt, Principal of the 
Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruc- 
tion of the Blind, Overbrook, Philadelphia, 
Pa. 

This article, which appears in the last 
annual report of the institution, was read 
as a paper at the Washington Conference 
of Workers for the Blind, April 16, 1914. 

"Notes on the blind of Japan," by Mrs. 
Gertrude T. Rider, Library of Congress. 
Appears with illustrations in the spring 
number of the Outlook for the Blind, pub- 
lished at Columbus, Ohio. 

"The crystal phonoptican," a print-read- 
ing device for the blind now in the labora- 
tory stages of development, is fully de- 
scribed in the following periodicals: The 
Scientific American, Aug. 14, 1915, "A 
Mechanical Eye;" The Outlook for the 
Blind, July, 1915, "A Mechanical Eye" (re- 
printed from the Scientific American). 

Effort Toward Standardizing Statistics 

In reporting circulation, libraries for the 
blind universally count each volume of a 
book, each magazine and music score as 
a unit. Renewals are counted by very few 



362 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



librarians; in fact, few libraries send over- 
due notices regularly. The consensus of 
opinion is that renewals should not be 
counted as a second loan, as the library 
has not the extra work of sending them 
out again. 

For the Committee, 
GERTRUDE T. RIDER, Chairman. 

FINAL REPORT ON 

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION 

PANAMA-PACIFIC EXHIBIT 

(See Leipzig report, Library Journal 39 
288-90, 583-87, 591-96; Public Libraries 19 
310-12, 344-46, and Bulletin of the A. L. A 
8:117-27, and report of committee to 
Berkeley Conference, Bulletin, 9: 237.) 

The war interfered in a decided way 
with the plans of the Committee. It was 
our expectation that the material sent to 
Leipzig would be returned without cost, in 
a usable condition; and when it seemed 
quite certain that the Leipzig exhibit would 
not be returned in time to be used at the 
Panama-Pacific Exposition there was con- 
siderable doubt as to the feasibility of mak- 
ing up an exhibit for San Francisco. 

It was felt that without the Leipzig ma- 
terial for a foundation difficulty would be 
found in gathering a fresh lot. After con- 
sultation, however, with several librarians, 
and hearing in a decided way from Pacific 
Coast members, the Committee decided to 
proceed with preparations. As soon as this 
decision was reached an appeal was made 
to A. L. A. members for funds and material 
with the usual excellent results. 

When the Leipzig Exposition closed the 
goods were packed and sent to a store- 
house until such time as arrangements 
could be made for their return. After a 
long delay the goods reached New York in 
a greatly damaged state; and, (although 
the agreement was that the exhibitor 
would not have to pay return freight) 
owing to some misunderstanding between 
the A. L. A. representative and the Exposi- 
tion authorities, at an enormous cost to 
the A. L. A. for freight, which made sad 
Inroad in the Committee's finances. The 
total charge for transportation from Leip- 
zig to New Y'ork was $638, and from New 



York to San Francisco, $463.50, of which 
the Library of Congress paid $154.50; and 
it was only through the good offices of Dr. 
Putnam, librarian of Congress, and the 
State Department that the return of the 
Exhibit was expedited. 

Mr. J. L. Gillis, a member of the Com- 
mittee, owing to illness, was unable to at- 
tend to the installing of the Exhibit, and 
his place was filled most acceptably by Mr. 
Charles S. Greene, librarian of the Oak- 
land Free Library. The other members 
of the Committee owe a debt of gratitude 
to Mr. Greene for this labor of love per- 
formed under most trying circumstances, 
and unstinted appreciation of his services 
by the Committee and the whole Asso- 
ciation cannot be named in too strong 
terms. 

The exhibit was ready when the Expo- 
sition opened, February 20th, in charge of 
Miss Elizabeth Lowry, who remained until 
May 1st, when Mr. Joseph L. Wheeler, of 
Los Angeles, came to the front. Miss 
Lowry, after the termination of her paid 
engagement, gave several weeks time with- 
out cost to the fund. Mr. Wheeler was in 
continuous charge, (except for the last 
three weeks in June, when the exhibit was 
in the hands of Mr. George B. Utley) until 
he resigned at the end of October to accept 
the position of librarian of the Reuben Mc- 
Millan Free Library, Youngstown, Ohio. 
After this date the attendants were volun- 
teers from California libraries. 

The voluntary attendants were secured 
through the efforts of Mr. Greene and the 
California Library Association, so that at 
all times some librarian was in charge of 
the exhibit. To all these who gave so 
freely of their time and labor, the Com- 
mittee on behalf of the Association gives 
sincere thanks, for without their aid the 
exhibit could not have been kept open 
from the beginning to the end of the Ex- 
position. 

Thanks are especially due to the Library 
Bureau for the loan of furniture, amount- 
ing to over $300 in value, for both the 
Leipzig and the Panama-Pacific exhibits; 



PANAMA-PACIFIC EXHIBIT 



363 



and to publishers who so kindly sent books 
needed for display. 

The Public Library of San Francisco of- 
fered to establish a branch within the ex- 
hibit space, gather a model library of about 
500 volumes, new books in good editions, 
and provide an attendant to care for it. 
Lack of space, however, prevented the 
Committee from accepting this generous 
and sincerely appreciated offer. 

An attempt was made to have the A. L. 
A. and Library of Congress exhibits side 
by side, but the application was filed too 
late to make such an arrangement prac- 
ticable, and so the former was in the Edu- 
cation Building and the latter in the Lib- 
eral Arts Building. Mr. Kletsch, of the 
Library of Congress, who was in charge of 
the L. C. exhibit at Leipzig and also at San 
Francisco, was of great assistance in help- 
ing the Committee find and assemble the 
Leipzig material. 

Instructions were sent to the California 
representative to Install the exhibit along 
the lines of the Leipzig exhibit, but they 
could not be carried out owing to the de- 
layed receipt of the Leipzig material, so 
the best disposition possible under the cir- 
cumstances were made in the 2,000 square 
feet floor space available. 

An excellent description of the exhibit 
was written by Mr. Joseph L. Wheeler and 
printed in "Library Journal" for Novem- 
ber, 1915 (pp. 794-96). From this we copy 
the following extracts: 

"Of the Leipzig material, practically none 
has been used in the present exhibit. The 
collection of juvenile books, some of the 
volumes of professional library literature, 
and ten of the "wing frames" of mounted 
material, were intact. But the main body 
of photographs and forms, and the Inter- 
esting model of a small litsrary, had to be 
discarded on account of breakage and mil- 
dew. The views, lists, forms, blanks, and 
other Items which form the present exhibit, 
are largely the material that was sent in 
to the California State Library during the 
winter. All of the work of sorting, arrang- 
ing, mounting, writing the explanatory 
labels and notes, and having the mounts 
lettered by a sign writer, was done during 
the month of May, and it is to be regretted 
that unfortunate circumstances which had 
preceded allowed only this short time. 



"The most notable feature of the entire 
exhibit, and the one which has accom- 
plished the greatest result, is the immense 
map of the California county library sys- 
tem. This map, forty feet high, covers the 
entire wall space of the booth. It is a 
forcible explanation of the rural library 
work carried on by one state. 

"The phase of library work with which 
the greatest portion of the visitors seem 
already acquainted is that with the chil- 
dren. A table of juvenile books near the 
front railing draws many interested visit- 
ors. The first of the seven booths in the 
exhibit is labeled "Library work with chil- 
dren," and contains a goodly array of 
books for small and large boys and girls, 
with the furniture one would expect. 
Every day scores of parents, uncles, aunts 
and friends, as well as the boys and girls 
themselves, take away something of the 
pleasure which comes from handling good 
books, and understand a little of the work 
which libraries everywhere are doing to 
secure only the best books and to make 
them available to everyone. On the walls 
are many photographs of children's rooms, 
story hours, reading clubs, and other activ- 
ities. Much interest has been shown in 
school library work. Elementary school 
library work is not so well shown as that 
from the high schools, but more inquiries 
have been made about it. Picture posters 
are examined with delight, and it is plain 
to see that the example will be followed 
not only by librarians, but by school teach- 
ers and parents In many parts of the coun- 
try. 

"The work of large city public libraries 
occupies the second section. On the left 
wall the branch system is shown by a large 
map of a typical city, and again by a very 
interesting series of photographs from an- 
other city. Even library users in large 
cities are only slightly acquainted with 
the branch library idea, and are surprised 
to find that in their home cities library 
work is being carried out on such a large 
scale. On the right wall is shown the serv- 
ice of city libraries to various classes and 
interests in their communities — foreigners, 
the blind, art and music lovers, business 
men, engineers, students of economics and 
civics, and many others. This, too, is work 
which few of the people most directly con- 
cerned know anything of. 

"Rural libraries of varied type are shown 
in the third section. The pictures of the 
book automobile in Maryland are most ef- 
fective, and they lead persona to study 
also the work of the county libraries, the 
library commissions, and the contrasted 
type of individual local small libraries, as 



364 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



!u New England. On opposite sides are a 
map of Massachusetts which shows a pic- 
lure of each public library building in the 
state, and a map of a typical county in 
California, with its branches. These serve 
as texts for an explanation of the contrasts 
between the two systems. To supplement 
this, the immense map of California is ex- 
plained to as many visitors as possible. 
Moving-picture films of California library 
service are shown in an adjoining theater. 

"The section on special libraries and 
college libraries includes pictures and ma- 
terial from the American Bankers' Asso- 
ciation, some insurance libraries, the Co- 
operative Information Bureau at Boston, 
Arthur D. Little, Stone and Webster, and 
several others and a score of college 
library buildings. 

"An entire section of the exhibit is de- 
voted to library publicity, and visiting 
librarians pay more attention to this than 
to any other feature. 

"The section on library 'technique' ap- 
peals to both the librarian and the lay- 
man. The subjects of book selection, 
cataloging and bookbinding are presented 
so that the uninitiated will realize some- 
thing of the m-^thods which libraries follow 
in choosing the good books from the poor 
ones, what it means to have a book well 
cataloged to bring out its contents, and 
how library books are rebound so as to 
give three or four hundred circulations in- 
stead of thirty or forty. For the librarians 
there are model order forms, time records, 
accounting sheets, sets of forms for sta- 
tion work, and other material of varied 
sorts. 

"Library architecture is shown by a con- 
siderable variety of photographs and plans, 
ranging from those of the Library of Con- 
gress and the Nev/ York Public Library 
down to the small model building of a 
branch at Montclair, N. J. Several archi- 
tects have spent much time in studying 
these plans, and beside the scores of peo- 
ple who wish to see 'their' home library 
pictures at the exposition, the exhibit has 
given good suggestions to hundreds who 
are working for the establishment of libra- 
ries in small country towns. 

"The work of the various library schools 
Is shown in small space, but space promi- 
nently located at the front of the exhibit. 
Pictures and catalogs of the schools, aa 
well as some typical examination ques- 
tions, are displayed. In arranging this, 
the trustees of small new libraries were 
in mind, as well as possible candidates fo«- 
the schools, and it is certain that the two 
panels have made several thousand visit- 
ors realize that library work requires spe- 



cial preparation, as much as teaching law 
or medicine. 

"Two other panels at the front of the 
exhibit are given to a display of the work 
of the Association itself. Here are a vari- 
ety of booklists, chapters from the 'Man- 
ual,' pamphlets on traveling libraries, etc. 
One must explain continually that the 
American Library Association does not 
publish or sell books, does not operate a 
book-loaning system, and is not a central- 
ized governing body. The most effective 
way of explaining it has been to liken it to 
the National Education Association, as an 
organization of workers for their own mu- 
tual benefit, and for encouraging the estab- 
lishment and improvement of library work 
everywhere. 

"A conservative estimate of the attend- 
ance during the whole period of the fair 
would be 50,000. These visitors were of 
all types, naturally, but the total includes 
a very large number of persons whose 
knowledge of library work will be put to 
actual use. The exhibit must surely have 
good results. Many foreign representa- 
tives have made a careful study of the ex- 
hibit, and those from China, Argentina, 
Sweden, Japan, India, and possibly other 
countries have done this with a view to 
printing information about American 
library methods in their own lands. For 
the Chinese and Argentine visitors, who 
spent several entire days at the exhibit, a 
statement of American library methods 
was prepared, emphasizing the traveling 
and county library systems, and these vis- 
itors are now translating their informa- 
tion into Chinese and Spanish, with a view 
to its publication at home in the form of 
illustrated booklets. Duplicate photo- 
graphs were requested from many libra- 
ries. Many requests have been made for 
photographs, slides and even for sections 
of the exhibit itself, for use in campaigns 
and educational displays in various places." 

Under the title "Some impressions — 
Three weeks at the A. L. A. exhibit, San 
Francisco," Secretary Utley described 
briefly his experience at the exhibit the 
last three weeks in June. This article was 
printed in "Public Libraries," November, 
1915 (20:415-17). There is a five-page 
illustrated article on the exhibit in the 
U. S. Bureau of Education Bulletin, 1916, 
No. 1. 

The California Library Association and 
California librarians individually contrib- 
uted much in time, material and money. 

The money contributions show in the 



PANAMA-PACIFIC EXHIBIT 



36S 



detailed account of receipts. It may be 
noted that the sums credited to the coun- 
ties and county tree libraries (practically 
the same thing; for the county library 
funds are all provided by the counties) 
were given mainly to have the county's 
work in the library field represented in the 
moving picture film. This film, shown in 
the Education Building at the Exposition, 
in an adjoining theater, and a duplicate 
shown at the San Diego Exposition, occu- 
pied an hour, and covered all phases of 
California library work; the delivery desk 
of a large city library, the distribution by 
automobile of a box of books to a farm- 
er's family from the top of a convenient 
stump, story hours, work with jails, desert 
scenes where cowboys dash up on their 
ponies, a multitude of forms of conveyance 
and housing of books in all sorts of loca- 
tions. Schools, country stores, windmills, 
barber shops, private houses, banks, 
churches, and a great many more places 
where little county library deposits were 
housed, made the film one of great variety 
and interest. Since the Exposition closed 
the film has been cut up and made into 
twenty-minute reels. One of these is 
shown in Los Angeles, one is at the State 
Library, one went to China for use with 
the American Library Association material 
there, and one is in the possession of the 
California Library Association. Less cum- 
bersome than the whole hour run, these 
films are even more interesting to the or- 
dinary observer. 

The volunteer attendants at the Ameri- 
can Library Association booth all found 
the experience interesting and valuable. 
Some of them were detailed by their libra- 
ries, but many contributed the time from 
their own vacation periods. Some libraries 
contributed as much as ten weeks' time of 
an assistant. 

To sum up the effect of the display on 
California libraries is a diflicult matter, but 
it is easy to see some results. There has 
been given an object lesson in co-opera- 
tion, and in spite of many improvements 
that would be made another time, the Cali- 



fornia people as a rule believe that what 
was done was worth all it cost. 

It is certain that the county library move- 
ment vi'as greatly helped by the display in 
the map and films. Seven counties estab- 
lished libraries during 1915 and two more 
have come in since, so that thirty-four 
counties have county libraries. San Fran- 
cisco is a city and county, leaving but 
twenty-three counties yet to be organized. 
Commissioner Claxton now speaks of the 
"California County Library System." 

Illustrations of the exhibit will be found 
in "Library Journal." November, 1915 
(p. 769), and in "Public Libraries," Novem- 
ber, 1915 (p. 395). 

Among the pamphlets and leaflets which 
were distributed from the exhibit were 
Hadley's "Why do we need a public 
library" (about 1,500 copies), "A. L. A. 
Booklist" (8,000 copies), and a twelve-page 
illustrated leaflet on "Free public libra- 
ries," especially prepared and printed for 
the exhibit (10,000 copies). Numerous cop- 
ies of other A. L. A. publications, "Library 
Journal," "Public Libraries," and an- 
nouncements of Library Bureau, H. W. 
Wilson Company, Publishers' Weekly, 
Boston Book Company, etc., were also dis- 
tributed. A complete set of A. L. A. pub- 
lications were on display. 

The "Koniglich-Sachsische Staatspreis," 
which the officials informed us ranked 
above the grand prize, was awarded the A. 
L. A. exhibit at Leipzig and the Medal of 
Honor, next below the grand prize, was 
received at the Panama-Pacific Exposition. 
These medals are now deposited in the 
archives at the headquarters office. 

The Japanese Government donated to 
the A. L. A. twenty-three very beautiful 
art panels, the work of students from six- 
teen to twenty-five years of age in the 
Tokyo School of Fine Arts. These formed 
a part of the Japanese Educational exhibit 
at the fair. They arrived in Chicago the 
last of February and were loaned to the 
Chicago Public Library for exhibit first in 
the arts and crafts room at the central 
building and later at some of the branches. 



366 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



It is possible that some other libraries may 
wish to borrow them later, in which case 
arrangements can doubtless be made. The 
"Fine arts journal" for May, 1916, contains 
an illustrated (7 cuts) article on these art 
panels. 

The Leipzig Committee turned over a 
balance of ?262.00 which was exhausted 
by the payment of freight. 

Of the total amount contributed, the 
California Library Association raised 
$3,184.50, a part of this being appropriated 
toward the general A. L. A. expenses in 
San Francisco. Altogether, $5,341.00, in- 
cluding the foregoing sum of $3,184.50 
raised by California, was received in sub- 
scriptions. 

A study of the appended list of sub- 
scriptions shows that a much larger num- 
ber of small libraries subscribed to thie 
San Francisco exhibit than to that at 
Leipzig. A full accounting of the amounts 
received and expended by the A. L. A. 
Committee is to be found in the appended 
table. 

The disposition of material remaining 



at the close of the Exposition was made 
according to the recommendations sub- 
mitted by the Committee to the Executive 
Board, December 29, 1915. These recom- 
mendations were: 

1. The return of Library Bureau furni- 
ture to the Library Bureau agency in San 
Francisco. 

2. Return to the publishers of expen- 
sive technical books loaned by them. 

3. The return to libraries sending ma- 
terial such material as they have specific- 
ally requested should be returned. 

4. That the popular books be donated 
to the library at Thane, Alaska, in charge 
of Mrs. Whipple. 

5. The gift of such remaining material 
as may be desired to the Commissioners of 
the Young Men"s Christian Association of 
China to form an educational exhibit to be 
shown in the leading cities and educational 
centers of China. 

FRANK P. HILL 
MARY EILEEN AHERN 
J. C. DANA 
J. L. GILLIS 
GEORGE B. UTLEY 
CHARLES S. GREENE 



LEIPZIG COMMITTEE 



FINANCIAL STATEMENT 



(Continued from report printed in Bulletin. July, 1914, p. 122.) 



Receipts 

Balance on hand, as per report $946.28 

Balance, contingent fund (Edyth L. Miller) 1.20 

Subscriptions: 

Special Libraries $ 10.00 

Carnegie library, Dequesne, Pa 5.00 

American Library Association 250.00 265.00 

Expenditures 

Kxpenses incidental to installation of exhibit (T. W. Koch) $101.50 

I'rinting material for distribution (Brooklyn Eagle) 158.72 

Services and incidentals (A. R. Hasse) 302.81 

Miscellaneous expressage, etc 87.52 

Freight, Leipzig to New York (J. W. Devoy) part payment 299.83 

Bank exchange 10 

Balance 



$1,212.48 



$ 262.00 



PANAMA-PACIFIC EXHIBIT 867 

PANAMA-PACIFIC EXHIBIT COMMITTEE 

FINANCIAL STATEMENT 

Receipts 

Balance on hand (from Leipzig Committee) $ 262.00 

Subscriptions 5,341.00 

Refund on freight 6.12 

Refund on typewriter rental 2.00 

Sale of publication 1.00 

American Library Association contribution to cover final expenses. . . . 201.83 



$5,813.95 



Expenditures 

Miscellaneous expenditures (F. P. Hill) $ 788.97 

Miscellaneous expenditures (C. S. Greene) 1,724.48 

Miscellaneous expenditures (A. J. Haines) 1,359.98 

Expense of map of California 276.52 

Expense of motion pictures 1,403.25 

Miscellaneous packing, crating, freight, expressage (at close of ex- 
hibit) 225.75 

Final payment toward expense at San Francisco (G. B. Utley) 25.00 

Final incidental expense (G. B. Utley) 10.00 

$5,813.95 
Detailed Distribution of Expenditures 

Freight, Leipzig to New York (J. W. Devoy) balance $ 338.17 

Freight, New York to San Francisco (Southern Pacific Co.) 463.50 

Miscellaneous freight, expressage and cartage on arrival 35.47 

Custom house entry, war tax. etc 6.00 

Carpentry on booth (Bell & Rosslow) 955.00 

Miscellaneous additional carpentry 49.50 

Burlap on walls of booth ( W. J. Sloane) 146.80 

Plaster work on booth ( D. Beveridge) 130.00 

Architect's fee (C. S. Kaiser) 123.18 

Printing booklets, etc., for distribution (Max Stern's Sons) 238.72 

Printing A. L. A. Booklist for distribution (Tucker-Ken worthy Co.) 52.85 

Advertising and publicity 17.18 

Expense of map of California 276.52 

Expense of motion pictures 1,403.25 

Miscellaneous signs, show cards and posters 113.40 

Miscellaneous photographs and slides 61.05 

Miscellaneous stationery and ofBce supplies 56.75 

Miscellaneous plants and flowers 60.40 

Miscellaneous painting 32.90 

Miscellaneous furnishings 31.80 

Rental of typewriting machines 17.00 

Incidentals (fares, admissions, postage, telephone, telegraph, etc.) 84.33 

Partial traveling expense, Atlantic City committee meeting (G. B. Utley) 34.00 

Traveling expense (J. L. Wheeler) 26.75 

Expense at San Francisco (G. B. Utley) 50.00 

Services (J. L. Wheeler) 489.00 

Services ( E. Lowry ) 104.00 

Services ( T. McCown ) 14.50 

Seivices (other attendants) 2.25 

Stenographic services 4.00 

Janitor service 116.95 

Bank exchange 3.48 

Banner award 4.50 

Medal award 2.50 

Removal of booth 42.50 

Miscellaneous expressage, freight, crating, etc. (close of exhibit) 225.75 

Total |5,81S.95 



368 ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 

LIST OF SUBSCRIPTIONS TO THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION EXHIBIT 
PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 

Ahern, Mary Eileen, editor Public Libraries, Chicago $ 5.00 

Arkansas City (Kansas) Public Library 5.00 

Baker, Charlotte A., librarian State Agric. Coll., Fort Collins, Colo 2.00 

Berkeley (Cal.) Public Library 35.00 

Blakeley, Bertha E., librarian Mt. Holyoke Coll., South Hadley, Mass 3.00 

Boston Public Library 100.00 

Bowker, R. R., editor Library Journal, New York 25.00 

Brigham, Johnson, librarian Iowa State Library, Des Moines 10.00 

Brookline (Mass.) Public Library 50.00 

Brooklyn Public Library 200.00 

Brown, Walter L., librarian Public Library, Buffalo 10.00 

California State Library 350.00 

Chandler, Alice G., trustee. Town Library, Lancaster, Mass 5.00 

Chapin, Artena M., librarian A. K. Smiley Public Library, Redlands, Cal 10.00 

Chase, Arthur C, librarian N. H. State Library, Concord, N. H 1.00 

Chicago Library Club 25.00 

Chlvers, Cedric, bookbinder, Brooklyn 20.00 

Cincinnati Public Library 25.00 

Clarke, Miss M. C, Brooklyn 1.00 

Colcord, Mabel, Bureau of Entomology, Washington, D. C 2.00 

Commercial Museum, Philadelphia 10.00 

Connecticut State Library 5.00 

Contra Costa Co. (Cal.) Free Library 50.00 

Cooper, May, librarian Public Library, San Rafael, Cal 1.00 

Cox, Mrs. Cora B., librarian Public Library, Ben Lomond, Cal 2.50 

Crawford, Miss I. M., librarian Public Library, San Mateo, Cal 5.00 

Detroit Public Library 50.00 

Dills, Clara B., librarian Solano Co. Free Library, Fairfield, Cal 10.00 

Dow, Mary E., librarian Public Library, Saginaw, Mich 1.00 

Dulin, Elizabeth, librarian Free Library, Coalinga, Cal 1.00 

Dunbar, Margaret, librarian State Normal School, Kent, Ohio 2.00 

Elizabeth (N. J.) Public Library 25.00 

Feldkamp, Cora L., office of Farm Management, Vv'^ashington, D. C 1.00 

Fresno (Cal.) Public Library 50.00 

Fresno Co. (Cal.) Free Library 200.00 

Friends Free Library, Germantown, Philadelphia 10.00 

Gaylord Bros., Syracuse, N. Y 5.00 

Gilroy (Cal.) Public Library 10.00 

Glencoe (111.) Public Library 5.00 

Gould, Charles H., librarian McGill University, Montreal 20.00 

Green, Samuel S., librarian-emeritus Free Public Library, Worcester, Mass.... 5.00 

Hadden, Anne, librarian Monterey Co. Free Library, Salinas, Cal 5.00 

Hagey, E. Joanna, librarian Public Library, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 5.00 

Hanford (Cal.) Free Public Library 100.00 

Harrison (N. J.) Public Library 5.00 

Harvard University, Department Landscape Architecture 2.00 

Haverhill ( Mass. ) Public Library 10.00 

Hayward (Cal.) Public Library 20.00 

Hean, Clarence S., librarian Coll. of Agric, Univ. of Wis., Madison, Wis 1.00 

Hills, Elizabeth C, librarian Cobleigh Library, Lyndonville, Vt 1.00 

Homestead (Pa.) Carnegie Library 15.00 

Hume, Miss J. F., librarian Queens Borough Public Library, Jamaica, N. Y 5.00 

Huntington, Stella, librarian Santa Clara Co. Free Library, San Jose, Cal 10.00 

Indiana Library Association 10.00 

James Memorial Library, Williston, N. D 4.00 

John Crerar Library, Chicago 100.00 

Kane (Pa.) School Library 5.00 

Kern Co. (Cal.) Free Library 300.00 

Kerr, W. H., librarian State Normal School, Emporia, Kas 1.00 

Kings Co. (Cal.) Free Library 100.00 

La Jolla (Cal.) Library Association 5.00 



PANAMA-PACIFIC EXHIBIT 389 

Leary, Stuart & Co., book-sellers, Philadelphia 25.00 

Lee, George W., librarian Stone & Webster, Boston 1.00 

Lemcke & Buechner, book-sellers. New York City 10.00 

Library of Congress (account freight charges) 154.50 

Little, George T., librarian Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Me 10.00 

Long, Harriet C, librarian Kern Co. Free Library, Bakersfield, Cal 10.00 

Long Beach (Cal.) Public Library 15.00 

Los Angeles Co. Free Library 300.00 

Los Angeles Public Library 200.00 

Louisville (Ky.) Public Library 100.00 

Lucht. Julius, librarian University Club, Chicago 5.00 

Lyons, Rev. John F., librarian McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago 1.00 

Mcllwaine, H. R., librarian State Library, Richmond, Va 5.00 

Manchester (N. H.) Public Library 3.00 

Marx, Henry F., librarian Public Library, Easton, Pa 10.00 

Massachusetts Agricultural College 1.00 

Matthews, Harriet L., librarian Public Library, Lynn, Mass 5.00 

Mechanics-Mercantile Library, San Francisco 150.00 

Merced Co. (Cal.) Free Library 100.00 

Milner, Miss A. V., librarian State Normal Univ., Normal, 111 5.00 

Minnesota Library Association 10.00 

Minot (N. D.) Public Library 5.00 

Missouri Library Association 5.00 

Moline (111.) Public Library 5.00 

Monterey Co. (Cal.) Free Library 50.00 

Monterey (Cal.) Public Library 15.00 

Montclair (N. J.) Public Library 25.00 

Mt. Holyoke College Library, Mt. Holyoke, Mass 5.00 

New Haven (Conn.) Free Public Library 25.00 

New York Library Club 25.00 

New York Public Library School 50.00 

Newberry Library, Chicago 50.00 

North Adams (Mass.) Public Library 10.00 

Oakland (Cal.) Free Library lOO.OC 

Oakland Free Library, Alameda Co. Dept 100.00 

Oklahoma Library Association 5.00 

Ontario (Cal.) Public Library 25.00 

Pacific Grove (Cal.) Public Library 25.00 

Palo Alto (Cal.) Public Library 10.00 

Passaic (N. J.) Public Library 25.00 

Polk, Mary, librarian Bureau of Science, Manila, P. 1 5.00 

Portland (Ore.) Library Association 100.00 

Pratt Institute Free Library, Brooklyn 25.00 

Prendergast Free Library, Jamestown, N. Y 5.00 

Preston, Nina K., librarian Hall-Fowler Library, Ionia, Mich 5.00 

Princeton University Library, Princeton, N. J 50.00 

Ranck, Samuel H., librarian Public Library, Grand Rapids, Mich 5.00 

Reagan, Ida M., Oroville, Cal 10.00 

Reed College Library, Portland, Ore 5.00 

Riverdale (Cal.) Public Library 10.00 

Riverside (Cal.) Public Library 25.00 

Roberts, Flora B., librarian Public library, Pottsville, Pa 2.00 

Roberts, Jennie E., librarian University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 1.00 

Root, Azariah S., librarian Oberlin College, Oberlin, O 10.00 

Ross, Mrs. Elizabeth, Oakland, Cal 2.00 

Ruckteshler, N. Louise, librarian Guernsey Mem. Library, Norwich, N. Y 2.00 

Rugg, Arthur P., Worcester, Mass 5.00 

Ryerson Library, Art Institute, Chicago 25.00 

Sacramento (Cal.) Public Library 100.00 

St. Joseph (Mo.) Public Library 10.00 

St. Louis (Mo.) Public Library 100.00 

San Bernardino Co. (Cal.) Free Library 50.00 

San Diego Co. (Cal.) Library 100.00 



370 ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 

San Leandro (Cal.) Public Library 10.00 

San Rafael (Cal.) Public Library 35.00 

Santa Barbara (Cal.) Free Public Library 100.00 

Sawyers, Laura A., librarian Public Library, Chlco, Cal 2.00 

Shaw, Robert K., librarian Free Public Library, Worcester, Mass 2.00 

South Dakota Free Library Commission 2.00 

South Dakota State College 10.00 

Springfield (Mass.) City Library 25.00 

Stanislaus Co. ( Cal.) Free Library 50.00 

Stechert, G. E., & Co., book-sellers. New York 25.00 

Thomas, Henriette G., librarian State Normal School, Chico, Cal l.OC 

Toronto Public Library 10.00 

Tulare Co. (Cal.) Free Library 100.00 

University of California Library 100.00 

University of Chicago Libraries 50.00 

University of Colorado Library 10.00 

University of Missouri Library 5.00 

University of Texas Library 50.00 

Utica (N. Y.) Public Library 50.00 

Vermont Library Association 5.00 

Walla Walla (Wash.) Public Library 5.00 

Washington Co. Free Library, Hagerstown, Md 25.00 

Washington (D. C.) Public Library 25.00 

Waters, Carrie S., librarian Co. Free Library, San Bernardino, Cal 5.00 

Westerly (R. I. ) Library Association 10.00 

Western Massachusetts Library Club 5.00 

Whiting (Ind.) Public Library 25.00 

Wilmington ( Del. ) Free Library 25.00 

Wilsey, Delia M., librarian Public Library, Richmond, Cal 10.00 

Wilson, H. W., Co., publishers. White Plains, N. Y 35.00 

Winnetka (111.) Public Library lO.OC 

Woman's Educational and Industrial Union 5.00 

Yolo Co. (Cal.) Free Library 125.00 

Total $5,341.00 



REPORT OF A. L. A. PUBLISHING BOARD 

New Publications — The chief publication esteemed publications which the Board 
of the past year was "Subject headings for has put forth in recent years is the "Brief 
use in dictionary catalogs of juvenile guide to the literature of Shakespeare," 
books," by Margaret Mann, chief cataloger by H. H. B. Meyer, chief bibliographer of 
of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. the Library of Congress. The compiler 
This was issued in February and has al- undertook this work at the request of the 
ready had a very gratifying sale. Not of Drama League of America, and the regard 
the least value in the book are twenty- in which it is held by the officers of that 
three introductory pages in which Miss body is voiced by Mr. Percival Chubb, who 
Mann discusses the making of a catalog wrote the Secretary: "It seems to me the 
of juvenile books, passing in review the test and most helpful thing of its kind 
various classes in which knowledge is that has been published, and I hope that 
grouped. It may be wise to offer this in- it will be very widely used." 
troduction as a separate pamphlet publica- Miss Hitchler's "Cataloging for small 
tion, and as electrotype plates have been libraries" should really rank as one of the 
made for the entire work, this could be publications of the year, as it was just 
done very easily and inexpensively. coming from the press as last year's re- 
One of the most scholarly and highly port was prepared. Up to the present 



A. L. A. PUBLISHING BOARD 



371 



time more than eighteen hundred copies 
have been sold and there seems to be a 
reasonably steady demand for it. 

The A. L. A. Manual of library economy 
is nearly complete. Four new chapters 
have been printed during the year, leaving 
only four now unpublished. 

The new publications of the year are as 
follows: 

Subject headings for use in dictionary 
catalogs of juvenile books, by Margaret 
Mann. (Plates.) 2,000 copies. 

Brief guide to the literature of Shakes- 
peare, by H. H. B. Meyer. (Plates.) 2.000 
copies. 

Binding for libraries; suggestions pre- 
pared by the A. L. A. Committee on Book- 
binding. Handbook 5, entirely rewritten 
and enlarged. (Plates.) 2,000 copies. 

Mending and repair of books, by Mar- 
garet W. Brown, revised by Gertrude 
Stiles. (Handbook 6.) (In press.) 

List of Russian books recommended for 
public libraries, compiled by J. Maud 
Campbell. (Foreign book list 7.) (In 
press.) This list will supersede that which 
the Board last year reported was in prep- 
aration by M. Braslawsky. The present 
list unquestionably better represents the 
public library point of view and is there- 
tore an improvement for our purposes over 
the other list. 

A. L. A. Manual of library economy: 

Chap. 11. Furniture, fixtures and equip- 
ment, by Linda A. Eastman. 3,000 
copies. 

Chap. 18. Classification, by Corinne 
Bacon. 3,000 copies. 

Chap. 24. Bibliography, by Isadore G. 
Mudge. 3,000 copies. 

Chap. 30. Library work with the blind, 
by Mary C. Chamberlain. 2,000 copies. 

Reprints — The following publications 
have been reprinted: 

Essentials in library administration. 
Handbook 1. 1,000 copies. 

Catalog rules. 2,000 copies. ' 

A. L. A. Catalog, 1904-11. 1,000 copies. 

Why do we need a public library. Tract 
10. 2,000 copies. 



From A. L. A. Proceedings, 1915: 

Inspirational influence of books in the 
life of children (Scott). 500 copies. 

Some recent features in library archi- 
tecture (Hadley). 500 copies. 

Forthcoming publications — The revised 
edition of the Kroeger Guide to reference 
books, which is being prepared by Miss 
Isadore G. Mudge, and which the Board 
hoped to have in print before the presenta- 
tion of this report, unfortunately has been 
delayed owing to the illness of the com- 
piler, but we confidently hope the manu- 
script will soon be ready and that the book 
will be printed during the summer and 
ready for distribution before the library 
schools open in the fall. 

A list of modern French books, prin- 
cipally those in the fiction and belles 
lettres classes which would be of interest 
to English readers, is being prepared by 
Mrs. George F. Bowerman. 

A selected list of detective, mystery and 
ghost stories is being compiled by Harold 
A. Mattice and Miss A. C. Laws, both of 
the Library of Congress, and if prepared 
from the point of view of the small public 
library will probably be published by the 
Board. 

Mr. LeRoy Jeffers, of the New York 
Public Library, is compiling a list of stand- 
ard titles in the best editions for library 
use. This is akin to previously published 
lists compiled by him. 

A list of books on railways and railroad 
operating, selected with a view to their 
educational value, is being prepared by 
Mr. D. C. Buell, director of the Railway 
Educational Bureau in Omaha. The list 
will be short and inexpensive and it is 
hoped that it can be issued in such form as 
to encourage public libraries to distribute 
it freely to patrons who are in the employ 
of railroads. 

Arrangements are being made with Mr. 
H. G. T. Cannons, of Finsbury, London, 
author of the "Bibliography of library 
economy," to publish a supplement 1910- 
1915 to this work. The original bibliography 
has been so helpful to all librarians who 
have learned of its existence and used it 



372 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



that it is believed a supplement covering 
the periodical library literature of the past 
six years will be warmly welcomed and 
supported. The Board will probably act 
also as American agents for the original 
edition and in this way call the attention 
of librarians of this country more em- 
phatically to this excellent reference tool. 

The A. L. A. Committee on Co-ordination 
(C. H. Gould, chairman) are preparing at 
the request of the Board rules and regu- 
lations to govern inter-library loans. It is 
hoped that a trial draft will be presented 
in the forthcoming annual report of the 
Committee. When the final draft is ready, 
these rules will be issued by the Board. 

Mr. Wyer, directing editor of the 
Manual of library economy, reports as fol- 
lows on the four unprinted chapters: 

Pamphlets and minor material — Being 
prepared at the New York State Library; 
manuscript will be ready for submission to 
committee shortly. 

Cataloging — This chapter is still unas- 
signed. 

Library work with schools — Being pre- 
pared by Mr. W. H. Kerr. 

Museums and libraries — This chapter is 
being prepared by Mr. P. M. Rea, and the 
Committee hopes to have it ready for 
printing soon. 

A. L. A. Booklist — The total subscrip- 
tions to the Booklist now are as follows: 
Bulk to commissions and libraries, 2,478; 
retail subscriptions, 2,063; sent to library 
members and affiliated state associations aa 
part of their membership perquisites, 478; 
free list, 115; total, 5,134 (as against e 
total of 4,899 reported last year). 

Reading lists — At the Squirrel Inn meet- 
ing of the Board last September it was 
voted that the secretary be requested to 
secure a collection of short popular reading 
lists, which had been compiled and printed 
by individual libraries, with a view to re- 
printing them and offering them for sale. 
As a result four such lists, "Good stories 
of today and yesterday," "Fifty-two read- 
able books," "Cheerful books," and "Idle- 
hour books for high school boys," which 
had been prepared and printed by the 



Springfield (Mass.) City Library, were re- 
printed and offered for sale. Imprint of 
the purchasing library was inserted, and 
at additional cost other titles could be sub- 
stituted, or call numbers given. Altogether 
71,100 of these lists were taken by 35 dif- 
ferent libraries. It is a moot question 
whether the scheme is a success or not. 
The lists were sold as cheaply as they 
could be and not cause loss to the Board. 
Not only printing, but circularizing, bill- 
ing, correspondence and bookkeeping, of 
course, have to be considered. Two or 
three libraries stated they were not sub- 
scribing because they could get independent 
lists printed locally just as cheap. Others 
preferred lists on timely specific subjects 
rather than general lists, and perhaps some 
such can be issued in the future. The Board 
acknowledges gratefully the permission of 
the Springfield City Library to use these 
four lists, and this without credit given on 
the lists themselves. 

With the co-operation of the Harvard 
University Press a "Bibliography of scien- 
tific management," by C. Bertrand Thomp- 
son, was reprinted and offered to libraries 
at a price which permitted free distribu- 
tion to patrons. Of this list 6,973 copies 
were sold to 31 libraries. Mr. George lies 
called attention to this bibliography and 
advised reprinting it. 

Advertising — Methods have been those 
pursued in previous years. Direct cir- 
cularization of libraries has brought the 
most effective results. In October and 
November an extensive campaign was con- 
ducted with high school libraries on be- 
half of the Booklist. About 4,500 high 
school libraries were addressed, a sample 
copy of the Booklist also being sent. A 
"follow-up" letter was mailed about two 
weeks later. About 110 new subscriptions 
were secured. The result is not very en- 
couraging. Various attempts are made 
from time to time to interest specialists 
in certain publications in their special 
field: e. g. we advertised Miss Curtis' 
"Collection of social survey material" to 
all the teachers of sociology in the coun- 



A. L. A. PUBLISHING BOARD 



373 



try by the aid of a mailing list very kindly 
furnished by Prof. Scott E. W. Bedford, 
of the University of Chicago, secretary of 
the American Sociological Society; and 
Miss Chamberlain's chapter on "Library 
work with the blind" to all the institutions 
of the country engaged in this special work. 
We always get some results from these 
specialized efforts, but never enough to 
pay for the expense and time involved. 
Perhaps, however, the service to the few 
who respond is sufficient to justify the 
enterprise. 

Reports are appended from Miss Massee, 
editor of the A. L. A. Booklist, and Mr. 
Merrill, editor of the A. L. A. periodical 
cards. 

What has been said in previous reports 
of Secretary Utley's splendid service can 
be repeated with added emphasis. His 
energy has been largely responsible for 
the satisfactory business results, and his 
intelligent interest has contributed largely 
to the editorial excellence of the output. 
Henry E. Leglkr, Chairman. 

A. L. A. BOOKLIST 

Miss May Massee reports as follows on 
the A. L. A. Booklist: 

A prominent publisher said last week 
that the Booklist is the most influential 
review in this country as affecting actual 
sales. 

It is certainly the most important power 
of the American Library Association as a 
whole and the individual members as they 
realize themselves part of this power are 
sending personal notes of books read or 
examined for their libraries. Since Jan- 
uary, one commission and three more 
libraries have been added to the list of 
those which send notes each month or 
each week, and there have been ten addi- 
tions to the list of those to whom the 
tentative list is sent. 

The number of books grows each year. 
The Booklist is as large as it can be with 
its present staff and resources. This 
means each year an increasing number of 
usable books which can not be included 



for lack of space. It seems that the list 
should be larger, with a longer suggestive 
list for very small libraries and with either 
a special supplement or a special designa- 
tion for books for high school libraries. 

We should have ten thousand individual 
library subscribers. Why could not li- 
brarians in central libraries take a census 
of the libraries in their districts, the public 
libraries and the high schools, and have a 
mild subscription campaign? With fifteen 
hundred new individual subscribers we 
could add a high school librarian to the 
Booklist staff, and work wonders. 

There is much discussion of the fiction 
which may and may not be included. As 
more librarians send in votes and notes 
there is chance for more varying opinions 
and if only stories which have all plus 
votes were noted, the list would rarely if 
ever include ten titles in a month. This 
does not mean that the burden of selection 
is thrown entirely on the editor, because 
the majority must rule and it merely be- 
comes necessary for the editor to make 
sure which way majority rules. 

The Booklist acquaintance in Chicago is 
growing. The editor has visited the sum- 
mer school of the Indiana Library Com- 
mission, addressed five clubs in and about 
Chicago, has attended three state library 
meetings, Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota, 
addressed the American Booksellers Asso- 
ciation at its annual meeting in Chicago, 
the subject being "Libraries as bookstores 
— bookstores as libraries." She is to talk 
briefly before one of the meetings of the 
High School library section of the N. E. A. 
This work is important as it enlarges the 
special acquaintance of the Booklist wliich 
means sources of information about books 
and sometimes subscriptions. 

The editor was unable to take the 
planned trip to New York to interview 
publishers. We are still receiving the 
benefit of the trip the year before in the 
personal acquaintance with publishers and 
their aims which Is so necessary to mutual 
understanding. We hope to continue this 
visit each year until acquaintance is firmly 



374 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



established and have vowed a solemn vow 
that grippe nor other pestilence shall Inter- 
fere next winter. 

We regret the loss of Florence Clark who 
goes to the School of Civics, in Chicago, 
where she will be available for book notes. 
We are fortunate to have secured the serv- 
ices of Anna G. Birge, who had her library 
training in Albany and has been familiar 
with the Booklist work for a number of 
years. 

In reviewing the work of the year we 
feel that the technical books and children's 
books sections have given the poorest serv- 
ice. We would be glad of any suggestions 
or offers for help on those two sections 
especially. 

Subscription books form a large part of 
book publishing which the Booklist can not 
attempt to cover. Of course the immediate 
advice given by experienced librarians is 
"Never buy subscription books." In spite 
of this libraries do buy them and in some 
instances of second hand sets receive good 
value for their money. We have many re 
quests for information on subscription sets 
and there is need for a committee to ex 
amine such books and file reports in the 
office for the use of librarians who wish 
reliable information. 

The Booklist is growing and it is grow- 
ing better because more librarians are 
contributing to its power. The members of 
the staff wish to express their appreciation 
of the unfailing support given by the Pub- 
lishing Board in their efforts to extend 
and improve the work. 

A. L. A. PERIODICAL CARD^ 

Mr. Wm. Stetson Merrill reports as fol- 
lows on the A. L. A. periodical cards: 

The present report, relating to the 
preparation and distribution of printed 
analytical cards for serials indexed, covers 
the year ending May 1, 1916. Four ship- 
ments were made, numbered 325 to 328, 



three of which are in the hands of sub- 
scribers and the fourth is in press. The 
number of titles was 790 and the number 
of cards was 59,130, a great falling off from 
the record of the year 1914-15 in which 
twelve shipments, including 1917 titles and 
149,760 cards were sent to subscribers. The 
difference is due partly to the war abroad, 
which has seriously affected both the pro- 
duction and delivery of foreign serials; 
and partly to the change recently made 
in the selection of articles to be indexed. 
The longer interval between shipments is 
due to the terms of our contract with the 
printer, according to which a shipment 
must contain at least 165 titles. 

A thorough and somewhat radical revis- 
ion of the list of serials to be indexed by 
printed cards has been carried out in ac- 
cordance with the recommendations of the 
collaborating libraries. The old list, dated 
July, 1904, covering 235 titles, had already 
been reduced by 54 periodicals, discon- 
tinued or dropped; this list has been 
further decreased by dropping 49 periodi- 
cals which were not monographic in char- 
acter. 

In place of periodicals dropped, there 
have been added 89 new serials, making a 
present total of 221 serials for which the 
Board is furnishing cards or will do so 
soon. Entries for the new serials begin 
with the first issues of 1915. 

For several years the expense of index- 
ing has exceeded the receipts. To meet 
this annual deficit, the price of subscrip- 
tion for the entire list has been raised from 
$2.50 per one hundred titles (2 cards to a 
title) to 13.00; and for subscription to 
selected titles, the price has been raised 
from $4.00 to $5.00. As the increase has 
been cheerfully accepted by the subscrib- 
ers, no further modifications are looked 
for. The material now furnished by our 
printed cards is of permanent and endur- 
ing value, which renders all these cards 
worthy of inclusion in library catalogs. 



A. L. A. PUBLISHING BOARD 176 

A. L. A. PUBLISHING BOARD— FINANCIAL REPORT 
Cash Receipts May 1, 1915, to April 30, 1916 

Balance, May 1, 1915 $ 660.61 

Interest on Carnegie Fund (May, 1915— $1,500.00) 

(Sept., 1915— 1,500.00) 

(Dec, 1915— 1,500.00) 4,500.00 

Receipts from publications 13,449.68 

Interest on bank deposits 3.78 

oundries .30 $18,614.37 

Payments, IVlay 1, 1915, to April 30, 1916 
Cost of publications; 

A. L. A. Booklist $1,852.40 

A. L. A. Catalog, Supplement 1904-11, reprint 934.15 

A. L. A. Index to General Literature, reprint 75.00 

A. L. A. Proceedings (back numbers) 3.85 

A. L. A. Publishing Board Report, 1915 20.00 

Binding for libraries, Bailey, Handbook 5, revised ed. (in- 
cluding plates) 59.08 

Book lists (4) 216.27 

Catalog rules, reprint 350.00 

Cataloging for small libraries, Hitchler, new ed 1,797.50 

Collection of social survey material, Curtis 68.00 

Essentials in library administration. Handbook 1, reprint 55.50 
Lists of material to be obtained free or at small cost, 

Booth 253.20 

Manual of library economy; Chaps. 7, 8, 24, 30 321.45 

Periodical cards 391.04 

Reprints from A. L. A. Proceedings, 1915: 

Inspirational influence of books, Scott 12.85 

Proceedings N. A. S. L., Berkeley, 1915 5.20 

Some recent features in library architecture, Hadley. . 6.00 

Scientific management, Bibliography of, Thompson 93.00 

Shakespeare, Brief guide to literature of, Meyer 213.00 

Subject headings for catalogs or juvenile books, Mann.. 844.24 

Why do we need a public library. Tract 10, reprint 57.00 $7,628.73 



Addressograph supplies 28.74 

Advertising 493.46 

Editing publications 249.29 

Expense, headquarters (1914 — a/c $ 500.00) 

(1915— a/c 2,000.00) 2,500.00 

Postage and express 1,203.30 

Publications — as agent: 

League of Library Commissions Yearbook, 1912 14.85 

New types of library buildings, Wisconsin Free Library 

Commission 3.50 

Royalties 202.46 

Salaries 4,600.08 

Supplies and incidentals 1,004.77 

Travel 321.16 

Balance on hand April 30, 1916 364.03 10,985.64 



$18,614.37 



SALES OF A. L. A. PUBLISHING BOARD PUBLICATIONS 
April 1, 1915, to March 31, 1916 

A. L. A. Booklist, regular subscriptions 1,858 $1,858.00 

Additional subscriptions at reduced rate of 50c 205 102.50 

Bulk subscriptions 1,049.82 

Extra copies 1,244 176.65 $3,186.97 

Handbook 1. Essentials in library administration 379 86.86 



376 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Handbook 3, Management of traveling libraries 30 

Handbook 5, Binding for small libraries (now out of print) . 123 

Handbook 5, Binding for libraries, revised ed 463 

Handbook 7, Government documents in small libraries 543 

Handbook 8, How to choose editions 53 

Handbook 9, Normal library budget 132 

Tract 2, How to start a library 93 

Tract 4. Library rooms and buildings 274 

Tract 5, Notes from the art section of a library 28 

Tract 8, A village library 31 

Tract 9, Library school training 80 

Tract 10, Why do we need a public library 296 

Foreign lists, French 37 

Foreign lists, French fiction 12 

Foreign lists, German 23 

Foreign lists, Hungarian 21 

Foreign lists, Italian 34 

Foreign lists, Norwegian and Danish 20 

Foreign lists, Polish 30 

Foreign lists, Swedish 22 

Reprints, Arbor Day list 1 

Reprints, Bird books 1 

Reprints, Bostwick, Public Library and Public school 24 

Reprints, Christmas Bulletin 1 

Reprints, Inspirational influence of books in the life of chil- 
dren 133 

Reprints, N. E. A. — List of books for rural school libraries. . . 103 
Reprints, N. E. A. — Report of Committee on rural school 

libraries 496 14.49 

Reprints, Some recent features in library architecture 75 3.74 

Periodical cards, subscriptions 965.92 

Periodical cards, Great debates in American History 30 sets 94.00 

Periodical cards. Reed's modem eloquence 2 sets 4.00 

League publications: 

Aids in library work with foreigners 36 

Buying list of books for the small library (now out of print) 43 

Directions for the librarian of a small library 81 

League Handbook, 1910 7 

League Yearbook, 1912 8 

A. L. A. Manual of library economy: 

Chap. 1, American Library history 151 

Chap. 2, Library of Congress 64 

Chap. 3, The state library 393 

Chap. 4, College and university library 82 

Chap. 5, Proprietary and subscription libraries 112 

Chap. 6, The free public library 179 

Chap. 7, The high school library 602 

Chap. 8, Special libraries 893 

Chap. 9, Library legislation 59 

Chap. 10, The library building 195 

Chap. 12, Library administration 148 

Chap. 13, Training for librarlanship 140 

Chap. 14, Library service 202 

Chap. 15, Branch libraries 142 

Chap. 16, Book selection 912 

Chap. 17, Order and accession department (now out of 

print) 172 

Chap. 20, Shelf department 140 

Chap. 21, Loan work 276 

Chap. 22, Reference department 121 

Chap. 23, Government documents (state and city) 645 

Chap. 24, Bibliography 486 

Chap. 26, Bookbinding (now out of print) 127 



248.16 



4.14 

16.56 

49.79 

66.41 

7.35 

18.06 

4.01 

14.93 

1.27 

1.48 

2.01 

13.40 

8.30 

.60 

10.60 

2.86 

10.90 

4.57 

6.89 

5.05 

.05 

.10 

2.12 

.05 

6.64 
2.29 



1,063.92 

4.16 
3.98 
6.90 
1.69 
1.92 18.65 

10.64 

5.19 
31.19 

6.92 

7.00 
11.34 
47.54 
39.45 

4.97 
16.43 
10.94 
12.43 
13.55 
10.34 
65.01 

12.47 
10.12 
17.68 
10.50 
46.66 
37.28 
8.79 



A. L. A. PUBLISHING BOARD 377 

Chap. 27, Commissions, state aid, etc 85 7.18 

Cliap. 29, Library work with children 366 28.56 

Chap. 30, Library work with the blind 232 13.82 

Chap. 32, Library printing 163 11.61 497.61 

A. L. A. Catalog, 1904-11 299 418.73 

A. L. A. Index to General Literature 26 139.80 

A. L. A. Index to General Literature, Supplement 1900-10 63 224.40 

Book lists (4) 68,100 236.25 

Books for boys and girls 1,261 210.48 

Catalog rules 583 318.41 

Cataloging for small libraries (new ed.) 1,758 1,885.97 

Collection of social survey material 810 54.16 

Geography list 169 16.57 

Graded list of stories for reading aloud (new ed.) 1,877 121.17 

Guide to reference books 452 578.83 

Guide to reference books, Supplement 1909-10 419 95.06 

Guide to reference books. Supplement 1911-13 522 189.96 

High school list 234 99.88 

Hints to small libraries 97 60.81 

Hospital list 85 20.05 

Index to kindergarten songs 114 155.85 

Index to library reports 22 19.20 

Library buildings 44 4.12 

List of economical editions 88 20.11 

List of music and books about miisic 58 13.49 

List of subject headings, 3rd edition 577 1,308.02 

List of 550 children's books 50 7.24 

Lists of material to be obtained free or at small cost 973 189.45 

Periodicals for the small library 329 28.98 

Scientific management, Bibliography of 5,470 67.13 

Shakespeare, Brief guide to the literature of 486 219.80 

Subject headings for catalogs of juvenile books 626 629.48 

Subject Index to A. L. A. Booklist 25 5.20 

Subject Index to A. L. A. Booklist, Supplement 20 1.94 

Vocational guidance through the library 188 16.87 

A. L. A. Bulletin and Proceedings 177 65.05 7,422.46 

Total sale of publications $12,554.12 



378 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 

PROCEEDINGS 

June 26-Iuly I, 191 6 



FIRST GENERAL SESSION 

(Monday evening, June 26) 

The Thirty-eighth Annual Meeting of 
the American Library Association was 
called to order by First Vice-President 
WALTER L. BROWN, in the Auditorium, 
at Asbury Park, New Jersey, on Monday 
evening, June 26, 1916. 

VICE-PRESIDENT BROWN: In opening 
tlie Tliirty-eighth Conference of the Ameri- 
can Library Association in its fortieth year, 
it is with extreme regret that the first offi- 
cial announcement has to be that of the 
absence of the President because of illness. 
We wish, however, to have it well under- 
stood that this meeting is Miss Plummer's 
meeting, for it was she who drew up the 
program, who secured the speakers and 
who has even written the presidential ad- 
dress which we shall hear tonight. 

Miss Plummer has devoted herself with- 
out stint, notwithstanding her year of sick- 
ness and pain, to the interests of the Asso- 
ciation. We feel under great obligation to 
make this meeting a success, and we hope 
that all Miss Plummer's friends will share 
with us this obligation so that we can send 
her word of a successful conference. 

We are greatly pleased to have with us 
tonight Mr. M. TAYLOR PYNE, chairman 
of the New Jersey Public Library Commis- 
sion, who has very kindly consented to 
offer us a greeting. 

Mr. PYNE: It is a very great pleasure 
to me, ladies and gentlemen, members of 
the American Library Association, to bid 
you a very hearty welcome to the state of 
New Jersey. It has been a great disap- 
pointment to me and a real grief to all of 
you that Miss Plummer has been so very 
ill that she has not been able to be present. 
I hope in a short time she will be restored 
fully to health and strength. 

I am asked to mention again what the 
secretary has already announced, that after 
tbls meeting there will be a reception in 



the New Monterey at which I hope all will 
be present. I trust that the meetings here 
will be conducted with pleasure and profit 
and I am sure that the able committee who 
have charge of them have done and will 
do all in their power to make them a suc- 
cess. We of Princeton are looking forward 
to having you make us a visit next Thurs- 
day. We will give you as warm a reception 
as we can, but I trust you will not find it 
too warm, because the weather has a habit 
at this time of the year of making every- 
thing warm. 

As a trustee of Princeton, of course I 
represent one type of library — the scholar's 
library, but as a public library commission- 
er tonight my interests, as yours, mainly 
lie in the other type — the people's library. 
Realizing as I do that this is the greatest 
auxiliary of the school, the college and 
the university, re-enforcing both, and ap- 
pealing to a still greater constituency, — and 
everything that tends to make the library 
more easily accessible and more useful is 
of great value to the State, — I believe that 
this staff should consist of not only experts 
trained in library administration but also 
of men and women of wide general knowl- 
edge, broad sympathies and sufficient tact 
to enable them to act as guides and ad- 
visers of the public in its reading. A well- 
equipped, well-administered and well-used 
library is the greatest corrective against 
the ill-informed, superficial thinking which 
is the great curse of a country of universal 
suffrage. Trashy novels, flashy magazines, 
yellow journals are doing wliat they can to 
demoralize and dementalize — if I may use 
the expression — the minds of the people of 
this country, so that they are coming more 
and more to depend almost exclusively 
upon them for their opinions and their 
views of life. Surely that is what Jonah 
had in mind when he called on the Lord in 
his distress and said, "They who observe 
lying vanities, forsake their own mercy." 



PROCEEDINGS 



379 



So It seems to me that the greatest work 
of the librarians of the present is not in 
the details of library administration but in 
the magnificent opportunity which is given 
them to direct the reading and to lead the 
minds of readers to those higher and better 
things which make life purer and happier. 
The VICE-PRESIDENT: We certainly 
have full knowledge of the hospitality of 
New Jersey. Many of us have enjoyed it 
at Atlantic City and at State meetings, and 
notwithstanding all that we are promised 
at this meeting we still expect more be- 
cause New Jersey always makes her hos- 
piality more than she claimed. 

We come now to the President's Address, 
which at the special request of Miss Plum- 
mer, will be read by the secretary. 

SECRETARY UTLEY: The regret at the 
absence of Miss Plummer has already been 
voiced, and I can assure you that I too 
feel her absence very keenly. It has been 
a pleasure to work with Miss Plummer as 
president during the year, and we all share 
in the sorrow in knowing that she is ill ; 
but we are likewise glad to hear that she 
is getting better. You will be interested to 
know that last Tuesday I had the pleasure 
of seeing her. I called on her for a few 
moments and found her looking well, in 
spite of the fact that she was too weak 
still to consider coming to be with us to- 
night. I asked her if she had a greeting 
which she could send us on this occasion, 
and she said, "Tell them I feel as guilty as 
a hostess who has invited friends to a ban- 
quet and is not there to help entertain 
them." You can yourselves realize how 
keen the disappointment is with Miss 
Plummer. 

Before reading her address the statement 
must be made at her special request that 
the address is not in as polished and fin- 
ished a condition as she would like to have 
it. I think you will not feel that these 
words are necessary, but I am saying them 
at her request. Miss Plummer wrote this 
address — she did not write it, but rather 
dictated it — from her bed of pain and ill- 
ness and under those trying conditions I 
am sure you will feel that no apologies are 



necessary for any lack of literary finish 
which Miss Plummer feels is in the address, 
but which I think you will have diflJculty 
in finding, unless it be in the short-comings 
of the reader. Miss Plummer has taken for 
her address the subject, 

THE PUBLIC LIBKARV AND THE PURSUIT OF 
TRUTH 

(See p. Ill) 

The VICE-PRESIDENT: Appreciating 
as we all must this fine and thoughtful ad- 
dress, I know you share witli us the de- 
sire to send Miss Plummer a message to 
show that appreciation. I am sure there is 
no one in our number who can better voice 
this than Mr. Bowker, whom I should like 
to recognize. 

Mr. BOWKER: Mr. Vice-President: It 
is my regretful duty to offer a resolution 
to be sent in the name of this body to our 
absent president as a night message, with 
the signatures of the vice-president and of 
the secretary, and I will ask the secretary 
to read the resolution which it is proposed 
you shall presently vote upon as the expres- 
sion of your thought. 

The secretary read the message, as fol- 
lows : 
Miss Mary W. Plummer, Chicago, 111. 

The American Library Association send 
to their absent president their affectionate 
sympathy and their high appreciation of 
her devoted service to the profession and 
to the Association. As a leader in library 
school development you have the gratitude 
of hundreds here present for whom you 
have cleared the way, and your achieve- 
ments have contributed largely to the honor 
and dignity of the profession. The Asso- 
ciation, while sorrowing at your absence, 
appreciate gratefully your efforts for the 
success of this conference and thank you 
for the inspiring presidential address which 
they have just heard. 

Mr. BOWKER: Mr. Vice-President and 
fellow members of the American Library 
Association: It has more than once been 
the lot of this Association to miss from the 
annual conference the president of the year, 
but I think never under circumstances 
which we must all so regret. Miss Plum- 
mer has so devoted herself to her library 



380 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



work for years that we pay in her absence 
the penalty for that devotion. She has sent 
her special apologies that she cannot be 
here as our hostess, and it is one of our 
regrets that we miss the gracious presence, 
the winning smile, the kindly v.'ord in 
which she typifies the eternal feminine, the 
ever womanly which represents so large a 
majority of this Association. Miss Plum- 
mer came to her library work from out the 
sweet sanctity of the Society of Friends, 
and from that brought perhaps two quali- 
ties which many of us who have been her 
Intimate friends know, but perhaps not all 
of you — the quality of a quiet sincerity and 
the quality of force which often comes into 
noble causes from that society. 

Next to Melvil Dewey, whose thought of 
the library school met at the start with 
such scoflSng, not least from our dear scof- 
fer of honored memory. Dr. Poole, Miss 
Plummer perhaps has done more for the 
development of that part of the inspiration 
of the profession than anyone else. It re- 
quired some courage not only to propose a 
library school, as Mr. Dewey did, but to 
become a member of the first class In the 
first library school, as Miss Plummer did, 
and from that first class have come many 
whose names and whose work you recog- 
nize as leaders in this profession, first 
among them all — Mary Wright Plummer. 

Perhaps most of you may not know Miss 
Plummer as she shows herself in that vol- 
ume of poems, most creditable contribu- 
tions to American poetry, not of the new 
sort, which she published in 1896. Those 
of you who have conducted small libraries 
know how much you owe to ner for her 
"Hints to small libraries," which the Amer- 
ican Library Association has published 
through successive editions. Those who 
are children's librarians have reason to be 
thankful to her for those charming books 
of travel, "Roy and Ray in Mexico," and 
the two children again in Canada, as well 
as for the delightful reworking of the 
stories of the Cid, which have come from 
her pen. 

So throughout she has dignified the work 
of the librarian, the work of the teacher, 



the work of the writer. In a united library 
service. I know that she Is one whom all 
of you have especially delighted to honor. 
I know that no one could be more missed, 
especially in this year, than she, and I 
know that you will all unite with absolute 
unanimity in sending her some such ex- 
pression of your real feeling, which I am 
sure, Mr. Vice-President, will be adopted 
by a rising vote, after others have said a 
word or two In further expression of your 
feeling. 

Dr. HILL (Brooklyn Public Library): 
Members of the American Library Associ- 
ation: In rising to second the adoption of 
the resolution presented by Mr. Bowker I 
do so with mingled regret and sorrow; re- 
gret at the absence of the honored chief 
executive officer and sorrow because the 
absence has been occasioned by Illness. I 
have known Miss Plummer for a long time 
as a trained librarian and as a trainer of 
librarians, and in both capacities she has 
attained the highest standard of proficiency. 
I cannot add to the effectiveness of the reso- 
lution or to the words of Mr. Bowker, but 
I am sure that I voice the unanimous senti- 
ment of the Association In wishing for the 
speedy recovery of our president, and for 
her early return to her own chosen field 
of library activity. 



The resolution having been unanimously 
agreed to by a rising vote, the vice-president 
declared the session adjourned, and the 
audience returned to the New Monterey 
Hotel (headquarters) for the delightful re- 
ception tendered by the New Jersey Public 
Library Commission and the New Jersey 
Library Association. 

SECOND GENERAL SESSION 

(Tuesday morning, June 27, Auditorium) 
Mr. CHALMERS HADLEY, second vice- 
president of the Association, presided. 

Attention was called to the reports of 
officers and committees which had been 
printed In advance of the Conference and 
were distributed at this session. These re- 
ports included those of the secretary, treas- 
urer, trustees of the endowment funds, the 
Publishing Board, and of the following 



PROCEEDINGS 



381 



standing committees: library administra- 
tion, library training, coordination, federal 
and state relations, book-binding, book- 
buying and work with the blind; and of 
the special committee on the Panama- 
Paciiic exhibit. 
(For these reports see p. 324 and following.) 

Mr. Gould, of McGill University, em- 
phasized the desire of the Committee on co- 
ordination for suggestions from members 
as to the practicability and desirability of 
the rules to govern inter-library loans, 
which were set forth in the report of that 
committee. 

In the absence from the room of Mr. H. 
W. Graver, chairman of the Finance com- 
mittee, the report was read by the secre- 
tary. 

(See p. 356) 

On motion of Mr. W. H. Kerr, the follow- 
ing telegram of greetings was sent to the 
Associated Advertising Clubs of the World, 
then in conference in Philadelphia: 

To Herbert S. Houston, President, Asso- 
ciated Advertising Clubs of the World, care 
The University of Pennsylvania, Phila- 
delphia, Pa. The American Library Asso- 
ciation, in its Thirty-eighth Annual Confer- 
ence, with over thirteen hundred delegates, 
representing eight thousand libraries, sends 
greeting and good will to the great organi- 
zation of kindred spirits, the Associated Ad- 
vertising Clubs of the World, in session at 
Philadelphia. Both bodies are engaged in 
bringing ideas and truth to the American 
public. As servants of the whole public 
the librarians desire to render genuine as- 
sistance in the responsible work of truth in 
advertising. When advertising men find 
librarians can help them, will they straight- 
way tell the whole world about it? 

The secretary read the report of the 
nominating committee In which was pre- 
sented the list of nominees for officers for 
the coming year, and announced that the 
election would be held on Friday. 

Dr. ARTHUR E. BOSTWICK, librarian 
of the St. Louis Public Library, read a 
paper on 

HOW THE COMMUNITY EDUCATES ITSELF 

(See p. 115) 
Mr. JOHN JAY CHAPMAN was unable 
to be present, owing to the tragic death at 



Verdun, on June 24, of his son Victor Chap- 
man, a sergeant in the Franco-American 
Flying Corps, but his paper on 
children's books 
(See p. 122) 
was read by Mr. Henry N. Sanborn, secre- 
tary of the Indiana Public Library Com- 
mission. 

Miss MARY OGDEN WHITE, of Sum- 
mit, New Jersey, delivered an address on 

DEJtOCEACT IN MODERN FICTION 

(See p. 126) 
Mr. WILLIAM WARNER BISHOP, libra- 
rian of the University of Michigan, read a 
paper on 

LEADERSHIP THROUGH LEARNING 

(See p. 155) 

The session then adjourned. 

THIRD GENERAL SESSION 
(Thursday morning, June 29, Auditorium) 

The session was called to order by First 
Vice-President BROWN, who stated that 
the first matter of business was a proposed 
amendment of Section 2 of the By-laws to 
the Constitution, which had already re- 
ceived the approval of the Executive Board. 
At the request of the presiding officer the 
secretary read the By-law as it then stood, 
and the following as it would read if 
amended: 

Sec. 2. At least three months prior to 
the annual meeting of the Association the 
Executive board shall appoint a commit- 
tee of five, no one of whom shall be a mem- 
ber of the Board, to nominate the elective 
officers and other members of the Executive 
board, trustees of the Endowment fund, 
and such members of the Council as are to 
be chosen by the Association under the pro- 
visions of Sec. 14 of the Constitution. 

This committee shall report to the Ex- 
ecutive board, which shall, after adoption ol 
the report, publish its nominations in the 
Bulletin at least one month prior to the an- 
nual meeting of the Association and shall 
place such nominations before the Asso- 
ciation on a printed ballot which shall be 
known as the "Official Ballot." (Remainder 
of Section unchanged.) 

On motion of Dr. Hill, and duly seconded, 
it was voted that the amendment be- 
adopted. 



382 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



The secretary read the following tele- 
gram of greeting, which had been received 
from the Associated Advertising Clubs of 
the World, in session in Philadelphia: 

The national educational committee of 
the Associated Advertising Clubs of the 
World in conference at the University of 
Pennsylvania send hearty greetings and 
best wishes to the American Library Asso- 
ciation in session at Asbury Park. We ap- 
preciate how the work that we are trying 
to do for better business is helped through 
the valuable service you are rendering to 
the business men of America by furnishing 
them authoritative business books and in 
placing before them classified information 
of every sort upon business subjects. In 
this great work we tender to you every as- 
sistance of which we are capable. 

Mr. ROBERT GILBERT WELSH, dram- 
atic critic of the "New York Telegram," 
read a paper on 

MODERN DRAMA AS AN EXPRESSION OF DEMOC- 
RACY 

(See p. 143) 
Miss JESSIE B. RITTENHOUSE, of New 
York, delivered an address on 

THE NEW POETRY AND DEMOCRACY 

(See p. 137) 
Mr. JOHN FOSTER CARR, director of 
the Immigrant Publication Society, of New 
York, delivered an address on work with 
foreigners, taking as his title 

SOME OF THE PEOPLE WE WORK FOR 

(See p. 149) 
The session adjourned. 

FOURTH GENERAL SESSION 

(Friday evening, June 30, Auditorium) 
Second Vice-President HADLEY, who 
presided, stated that before beginning the 
formal part of the evening's program Mr. 
Bowker had a matter of general interest to 
present. 

Mr. BOWKER: It is understood that the 
librarian of the National Library of Mexico 
is one of the foremost in endeavoring to 
maintain and promote friendly relations be- 
tween that republic and our own, and it 
seems proper that, without taking action 
which might be construed as anything that 
sounds partisan, this Association should 
send to him, in a way our colleague, its 



best desires for the success of what he has, 
and I think all of us, have at heart; there- 
fore this resolution is proposed: 

RESOLVED: That the Executive Board 
be authorized to send Senor Luis Manuel 
Rojas, the Librarian of the National Li- 
brary of Mexico, from the American Library 
Association, its earnest hopes for the con- 
tinuing friendliness and the increasing in- 
timacy and mutual appreciation between 
the people of the United States and the 
people of our sister republic of Mexico. 

The VICE-PRESIDENT: You have 
heard the resolution presented by Mr. 
Bowker. What action does the Association 
wish to take regarding it? 

Mr. GEORGE: Assuming, Mr. Chairman, 
that the resolution has been offered in the 
form of a motion, I would be very glad to 
second it. 

The resolution was carried. 

Mr. BOWKER: Mr. Vice-President and 
fellow members of the American Library 
Association: It is my happy fortune to 
be the representative — it is my unfortu- 
nate misfortune to be the sole representa- 
tive at this meeting, of the men and women 
who forty years ago started the American 
Library Association. This meeting has 
been spoken of as the Thirty-eighth Annual 
Conference. In truth, the conferences have 
not been annual: had they been, this would 
have been the forty-first annual conference. 

For a special purpose I will hark back 
tor a moment to those early days. It was 
something more than forty years ago, in 
the spring of 1876, that Melvil Dewey, re- 
cently a student at Amherst College, and 
then assistant librarian of his college — he 
had already evolved, or begun to evolve, 
the decimal classification— came to New 
York for a consultation at the office of the 
"Publishers' weekly," then in Park Row, 
with Mr. Frederick Leypoldt and myself 
regarding the starting of a library journal. 
The earlier periodical had developed a de- 
partment of library notes which we had 
thought might be further developed into a 
separate professional periodical, and Mr. 
Dewey, whose enthusiasm for library work 
was already active, desired to associate 
himself in such an enterprise which he 



PROCEEDINGS 



383 



already had in mind. In the consultations 
between the three of us it was suggested 
that there should be an American library 
association. In 1853 the first library con- 
ference had been held in New York, with 
a large attendance, and with promise of an 
effective future. A number of resolutions 
and plans were adopted which prophesied 
in large measure the work which has since 
been accomplished or is under way. It was 
proposed to hold a meeting the next year 
and annually thereafter, but that organiza- 
tion lacked a Melvil Dewey to carry the 
thing through, and the second meeting was 
never held. 

From us three, therefore, a call was sent 
out to ask if librarians generally would co- 
operate in calling a national conference, 
and that was met with not a little scoffing, 
particularly from that honored veteran 
whom I very often speak of as our dear 
scoffer, Dr. Poole, as to who these young 
people were who had proposed this national 
association; but the thing carried itself. 
An organization was begun at the meeting 
held in Philadelphia in September, 1876, 
the year when Mr. Cutter had published his 
famous Rules as a part of the great gov- 
ernment work on libraries. Since that time 
events and estrangements have somewhat 
sundered old ties, but the continuing work 
of twenty-five years cannot be forgotten, 
and I think you will like to join, I am 
sure with unanimity, in sending messages 
of gratitude to those who can be reached 
now, and who took part in the beginning of 
the work which has reached such a won- 
derful culmination. I will ask the secretary 
to read two telegrams, which if they meet 
with your approval, it has been arranged 
shall be sent tonight to Mr. Dewey at Lake 
Placid and to the widow of Mr. Leypoldt at 
Scranton, and after that I will take two 
minutes more to tell you as to the survivors 
— the other survivors of the 1876 confer- 
ence — to whom it is proposed to send a 
general message which will later be read. 

The first telegram, addressed to Melvil 
Dewey, read as follows: 

The American Library Association sends 
from this fortieth anniversary special 



greetings to that one of its founders whose 
indomitable courage, energy and persist- 
ence assured the early and permanent suc- 
cess of the Association, and whose inven- 
tive genius in evolving the decimal classi- 
fication and in initiating the library school 
has earned the world-wide recognition of 
the library profession. 
That to Mrs. Leypoldt was as follows: 
The American Library Association, on 
the occasion of its fortieth anniversary, 
sends to you its appreciative recognition of 
Frederick Leypoldt's part in the formation 
of this Association and of his self-sacrific- 
ing labors in behalf of American bibli- 
ography. 

THE VICE-PRESIDENT: Will all those 
in favor of these two resolutions please 
rise? 

(The resolutions were adopted by a 
unanimous rising vote.) 

Mr. BOWKER: At the 1876 conference 
there were present no less than 103 per- 
sons, men and women, of whom, however, 
only 67 became members of the American 
Library Association and were called char- 
ter members. The consecutive numbers on 
our roll do not represent quite the order of 
the membership, it being a relation with 
the treasurer which somehow governed the 
accession number. Of the 67, counting Mr. 
Dewey and myself, sixteen are certainly 
known to be living, and there are possibly 
a few more, perhaps making up twenty in 
all, of whom Mrs. Carr has no present 
knowledge. By Mrs. Carr's help we can 
present to you the brief list of the other 
fourteen. 

Perhaps I may mention first of all a man 
whose name is unknown to most of you, 
who came, to that first conference in his 
sixtieth year, a friend and associate of Mr. 
Larncd in Buffalo, and who will presently, 
we hope, celebrate his hundredth birthday, 
Mr. William Ives, of Buffalo.^ There came 
also our honored associate, Mr. Peoples of 
New York. From Boston came Mr. Griffin, 
then of the Boston Public, now assistant 
librarian of Congress. From Worcester 
there came Dr. Green, our Uncle Samuel, 
always of affectionate memory, and Mr. 



*Mr. Ives died at his home in Buffalo on 
August 21, aged 99 years, 7 months. 



384 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Barton, of the Antiquarian Society. From 
Lynn our ever-young lady Miss Matthews 
and her associate, Miss Rule. From Provi- 
dence Mr. W. E. Foster, whose absence of 
recent years we old fellows have much de- 
plored, and from New Haven Mr. Addison 
Van Name, still living in that city; from 
Philadelphia Dr. Nolan, who should have 
been with me at this time to help me in this 
representation, but who disappeared in his 
usual fashion on Tuesday; and Mr. Barn- 
well, still in Philadelphia, though retired; 
also Mr. Rosengarten, a library trustee, of 
whom we have since seen too little. From 
the West came Mr. Charles Evans, whose 
service to American bibliography you know, 
and who was at that time librarian of the 
Indianapolis Public Library. I must in- 
clude also — and this is a name which I 
would not willingly omit — Mrs. Melvil 
Dewey, then Annie Godfrey. Her marriage 
is one of several with which the library 
association has been honored. To her who 
for some time spelled her name A-n-i D-u-i 
in the reformed spelling of her husband, 
and those others it is proposed to send to- 
night a message of greeting, for it seems a 
pity that the fortieth anniversary should 
pass without this recognition of affectionate 
memories on the part of an association 
which has grown into such an effective and 
remarkable membership from a not very 
large beginning. 

The secretary then read the following 
telegram, which was sent in identical terms 
to the fourteen people named by Mr. 
Bowker : 

The American Library Association, on 
the occasion of its Fortieth Anniversary, 
sends to those members of the first confer- 
ence still with us in spirit, though absent 
from this meeting, its affectionate greet- 
ings, remembrances and thanks for their 
participation in the seed sowing which has 
produced such abundant harvest. 

THE VICE-PRESIDENT: If there is 
no objection these resolutions will be 
adopted by consent. The chair has the 
privilege of communicating to you still an- 
other expression of felicitation issuing out 
of this anniversary. It is directed to Mr. 
Bowker himself. A number of our mem- 



bers have asked me on their behalf to hand 
him this loving cup and to read to him in 
your presence the inscription which accom- 
panies it. I do so gladly, for I assume your 
satisfaction with the incident will thus be- 
come part of our oflScial records. 

In presenting this cup, which is full of 
affection for Mr. Bowker, let me read the 
inscription on it: 

"1876-1916. To Richard Rogers Bowker, 
friend of libraries and librarians, from 
members of the American Library Associa- 
tion. In admiration of his forty years of 
unique service to the Association in whose 
foundation he shared, at whose meetings he 
has been a constant attendant, to whose 
councils he has without obligation brought 
the wise judgment of a man of affairs, and 
whose work he has furthered in many prac- 
tical ways by lavish gifts of his time and 
talent. Asbury Park, June 30, 1916." 

Mr. BOWKER: Mr. Vice-President and 
follow members: Words are poor things, 
and tears are not in place. This comes to 
me with a glad surprise — for it is absolutely 
a surprise to me — and is therefore the more 
welcome. One could have no better reward 
after so many years than in reaping such 
a harvest of thanks as this cup of love 
represents; and for Mrs. Bowker, whom 
you have so pleasantly welcomed as a 
newer member, as well as for myself, I 
thank you from the depths of our hearts. 

After this pleasant introduction the 
formal program for the evening was taken 
up. The first topic was a symposium on 

THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AS SEEN FROM THB 
CIBCUTATION DESK 

The speakers were Miss Edith Tobitt, 
librarian of the Omaha Public Library; 
Louise Prouty, Cleveland Public Library; 
Catherine Van Dyne,' Newark Public 
Library and Paul M. Paine, librarian of 
the Syracuse Public Library. 
(See p. 276) 

Miss MABEL WILKINSON, librarian of 
the Park County Library, Cody, Wyoming, 
was unable to be present, and Miss 
Sarah B. Askew, of the New Jersey 



1 Miss Van Dyne was unable to be present 
on account of illness, but furnished her paper 
which forms a part of the Proceedings. 



PROCEEDINGS 



385 



Public Library Commission, read her 
paper on 

ESTABLISHING LIBEABIES TJNDEB DIFFICULTIES 

(See p. 161) 
Miss MARY S. SAXE, librarian of the 
Westmount (P. Q.) Public Library, gave a 
short memorial sketch of her uncle, John 
Godfrey Saxe, the centenary of whose birth 
has been observed this year. 

ONE HUNDRED TEAKS AGO RELATIVELY 

SPEAKING 

(See p. 299) 
Mr. FREDERICK W. FAXON, chairman 
of the committee on travel arrangements, 
and formerly secretary of the Association, 
gave an illustrated lecture on 

TIIIES PAST 

(See p. 286) 
delighting his fellow-travelers with many 
association-provoking scenes of conference 
places and personages from the Chicago 
meeting of 1893 to the Pacific tour of 1915. 
Following the lecture the session ad- 
journed. 

FIFTH GENERAL SESSION 

(Saturday morning, July 1, Auditorium) 
First Vice-President BROWN presided. 
The first paper of the morning was by 
Mr. FREDERICK C. HICKS, law librarian 
of Columbia University Library, on the 
subject. 

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AS AFFECTED BY 
MUNICIPAL RETRENCHMENT 

(See p. 169) 
Dr. E. A. HARDY, secretary of the 
Ontario Library Association, followed with 
a paper on 

HOW ONTARIO MANAGES HER FREE LIBRARIES 

(See p. 181) 

THE VICE-PRESIDENT: Are there any 
questions prompted by this interesting 
paper? 

Miss AHERN: Mr. Chairman, I have not 
a question but I do ask the privilege of 
adding one word to what Mr. Hardy has 
said. I was not here when he began, but 
knowing Mr. Hardy as well as I have 
known him for these last fifteen or sixteen 



years I am quite sure that he did not 
strike the note in his address which I 
should like to have had there, and which 
he so richly deserves. Mr. Hardy has been 
secretary of the Ontario Library Associa- 
tion from the first. He has been a very 
ardent admirer of and listener in the 
A. L. A., and there Is a very large part 
of the progress and of the spirit of li- 
brary progress in Ontario at least that is 
due to the personal effort and the per- 
sonality of Mr. Hardy himself. 

Mr. JOSEPH L. WHEELER, librarian of 
the Reuben McMillan Free Library, Youngs- 
town, Ohio, read a paper on 

THE LARGER PUBLICITY 

(See p. 175) 
Mr. WILLIAM H. BRETT, librarian of 
the Cleveland Public Library, gave 

AN ANALYSIS OF LIBRARY LEGISLATION 

(See p. 319) 
In the absence of the chairman. Dr. 
BERNARD C. STEINER, the secretary 
read the report of the Committee on reso- 
lutions. 

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON 
RESOLUTIONS 

The American Library Association de- 
sires to express the pleasure with which 
the days of the conference have been passed 
at Asbury Park in its thirty-eighth annual 
conference, and our satisfaction with the 
selection of this city as a place of meeting. 
Ample accommodations have been provided, 
surroundings have been attractive and 
good weather has fortunately fallen to our 
lot. 

It is difficult to single out the persons 
who contributed to the success of the gath- 
ering, so many have co-operated toward this 
end, yet we feel that we may well name 
several Individuals and organizations whose 
services stand out in a marked manner: 

(1) First of all, we thank the Honorable 
James A. Bradley for the use of the 
Auditorium, without expense to the Associa- 
tion, as the place in which to hold our 
sessions. 



386 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



(2) We so greatly enjoyed the pleasures 
given us by the tickets issued through the 
Department of Publicity of the city of 
Asbury Park that we wish to thank that 
Department and the enterprises represented 
by these tickets for their courtesy and for 
the opportunity to obtain so much enjoy- 
ment in our leisure moments. 

(3) The New Jersey Public Library 
Commission and the New Jersey Library 
Association deserve our sincere thanks for 
the delightful reception tendered us on the 
first evening of our conference, and we 
return them our appreciation and grati- 
tude. 

(4) We recognize also with gratitude 
the careful and successful attention to de- 
tails shown by the local committee of ar- 
rangements under the able chairmanship 
of Miss Edna B. Pratt, and the untiring 
efforts to have all members become per- 
sonally acquainted with each other which 
were put forth by the committee on Intro- 
ductions efficiently directed by Miss Sarah 
B. Askew. 

(5) The Asbury Park Chamber of Com- 
merce on Friday afternoon through an 
automobile ride displayed to us the charms 
of the New Jersey coast, and throughout 
the entire conference have showed numer- 
ous courtesies to our members, all of which 
we acknowledge with thanks, and with the 
assurance that they have added much to 
the success of the meeting. 

(6) Mr. M. Taylor Pyne, chairman of the 
New Jersey Library Commission and Dr. 
E. C. Richardson, librarian of Princeton 
University, were most helpful in arranging 
our visit to Princeton Thursday afternoon. 
It was a delight to visit that renowned 
institution of learning and we have a high 
appreciation of their hospitality. 

(7) Finally, we gratefully recall the in- 
teresting and helpful addresses to which we 
have listened from the following able per- 
sons not members of the Association: Miss 
Mary Ogden White, Mr. John Jay Chapman, 
to whom we send our sincere sympathy 
upon his recent sad bereavement. Miss 
Jessie B. Rittenhouse, Mr. John Foster Carr, 



Mr. Robert Gilbert Welsh, Dr. Albert 
Shiels and Dr. H. H. Wheaton. 

Bernard C. Steineb, 
Gertrude E. Andrus, 
J. T. Gerould. 

Upon motion, duly seconded, the report 
of the Committee was adopted. 

The following resolution, passed by the 
American Association of Law Libraries, 
was read: 

RESOLVED: That we, the members of 
the American Association of Law Libraries, 
hereby extend our tlianks and appreciation 
to the American Library Association for 
the privileges enjoyed through our affili- 
ation with that organization. 

The newly organized Russian Library 
Association sent the following message of 
greeting: 

The Russian Library Association, re- 
cently incorporated at Moscow, at its first 
organizing meeting this 15/28 May re- 
solved: 

To greet the A. L. A. as the oldest library 
association in the world and to express our 
deep admiration for the great achievements 
of the American libraries, due to their 
librarians. 

MsiE. L. HAFFKiN-HAMBtTRGER, President, 

A. Kalishewsky, Vice-president, 

A. PoKROVSKY, Secretary. 

From the Punjab Library Association, 
Lahore, India, came also a message of 
greeting, signed by eight fellow librarians 
of the antipodes, including our fellow-mem- 
ber, Mr. Asa Don Dickinson.^ 

The SECRETARY: During the past 
year the hand of death has taken from us 
some of our most useful and honored mem- 
bers, whose names and brief records are 
found in the necrology, a part of the Secre- 
tary's report. There are two names in that 
list which it Is thought wise by the com- 
mittee on resolutions to mention especially 
in minutes which have been prepared. The 
first relates to the passing of our friend 
Dr. George T. Little, librarian of Bowdoin 
College, and the other to our veteran and 
beloved member. Dr. John Thomson, libra- 
rian of the Philadelphia Free Library. 



1 These messages from Russia and from 
India were unfortunately delayed in the mail 
and arrived too late to be read at the con- 
ference, but are here, nevertheless, made a 
part ot the ofBcial record. 



PROCEEDINGS 



387 



JOHN THOMSON 

The American Library Association has 
heard with sorrow of the death on Feb- 
ruary 23, 1916, of John Thomson, A. M., 
Litt. D., after a long and trying Illness 
which he bore with characteristic forti- 
tude. The Association desires to place on 
its records a minute of its appreciation of 
the ability and standing of its associate 
as a librarian and of his worth as a man. 

In the history of the extraordinary de- 
velopment of public libraries in America 
the achievement of Dr. Thomson merits 
emphasis. The institution which he di- 
rected as librarian for twenty-three years 
was chartered in 1891 and began its serv- 
ice to the public in 1894 with 1,500 volumes 
arranged in two small rooms in th€ corner 
of the City Hall. The subsequent growth 
of the Free Library of Philadelphia is 
mainly due to the enthusiasm, the indus- 
try, and the mental equipment of Dr. Thom- 
son. 

His faculty for enlisting the personal 
interest and co-operation of those with 
whom he was associated was of enormous 
value to the institution over which he pre- 
sided. It secured the munificent gifts of 
Messrs. Carnegie and Widener, the devo- 
tion of his Board of Directors, the affec- 
tion of his administrative staff, and the 
loyal support and confidence of the pub- 
lic. 

Of wide culture and diversified attain- 
ments, the honorary degrees conferred on 
Dr. Thomson by the University of Penn- 
sylvania and Ursinus College were well- 
merited recognitions of his services to the 
world of letters. 

When he v.-as forced to relinquish his 
work twenty-seven branches had been es- 
tablished in the County of Philadelphia 
in which, and in the main library, 500,000 
volumes are stored, with an annual circula- 
tion of more than 2,000,000 books. It lends 
a special pathos to the record that he who 
had done so much for the advancement of 
the institution did not live to see even 
the beginning of the palatial building de- 
signed to serve as the center of the library 
system. 



Generous, sympathetic, and practically 
helpful. Dr. Thomson made friends in every 
walk of life. The affectionate regard en- 
tertained for him by the many members 
of this Association is now united to a 
heart-felt sympathy for his family in their 
irreparable bereavement. 

GEORGE T. LITTLE 
Dr. George T. Little, librarian of 
Bowdoin College, whose life came to its 
earthly termination August 6, 1915, had 
been a member of this Association for many 
years, and had made important contribu- 
tions to its proceedings. His administrative 
ability, his fine scholarly instincts, his rare 
graciousness of manner all combined to 
make him one of the Association's most 
loved members. Our heartfelt sympathy 
goes out to his bereaved family and to the 
institution which he had so long and so 
worthily served. 



These minutes were by consent made a 
part of the official record of the Conference. 
The secretary read the report of the tell- 
ers of election, showing that the following 
officers had been elected: 

REPORT OF THE TELLERS OF 
ELECTION 

Total number of votes cast, 171. 

President 
Walter L. Brown, librarian Buffalo Public 
Library. 156 votes. 

First Vice-President 
Harrison W. Craver, librarian Carnegie 
Library, Pittsburgh. 155 votes. 
Second Vice-President 
George H. Locke, librarian Toronto Pub 
lie Library. 164 votes. 

Members of Executive Board 
(for three years) 
Josephine A. Rathbone, vice-director 
Pratt Institute School of Library Science, 
Brooklyn, N. Y. 156 votes. 

Arthur L. Bailey, librarian Wilmington 
(Del.) Institute Free Library. 163 votes. 
Members of Council 
(for five years) 
Mary F. Isom, librarian Portland (Ore.) 
Library Association. 157 votes. 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Willard Austen, librarian Cornell Uni- 
versity, Ithaca, N. Y. 159 votes. 

J. C. M. Hanson, associate director Uni- 
versity of Chicago Libraries, Chicago. 158 
votes. 

Gratia A. Countryman, librarian Minne- 
apolis Public Library. 160 votes. 

Linda A. Eastman, vice-librarian Cleve- 
land Public Library. 162 votes. 

Trustee of Endowment Fund 
E. W. Sheldon, trustee and treasurer 
New York Public Library. 158 votes. 

PRESIDENT BROWN: The feeling of per- 
sonal obligation which this must carry to 
anyone to whom it comes is, it seems to 
me, overshadowed by the appreciation of 
the responsibility, of the obligation, which it 
carries with it, and it is something which 
cannot be expressed by words or by 
promise; it can only be shown in ac- 
complishment, and we hope that something 
may come from that. I feel deeply, as I 
am sure the members of the Executive 
Board feel, that we should like very much 
to have the desires and wishes of the Asso- 
ciation, of the members of the Association, 
very freely expressed. At every confer- 
ence we hear more or less, always in an 
indefinite way, of certain things which the 



members would desire to have the Asso- 
ciation do or do differently; to put upon 
the program of the conference some work 
which they think may have been over- 
looked by the Association; or that they 
think that certain sections have not had 
the voice they should have had; or that 
certain persons of whom they know, al- 
though better equipped than those selected 
to speak upon certain topics, have not been 
recognized as would have been best for 
the Association. Almost all of these sug- 
gestions come in such an indefinite way 
that it is impossible to take advantage of 
them, and we do wish that people would 
not hesitate to send direct to the officials 
of the Association suggestions of this sort. 
I am sure they are eager to do what the 
Association desires to have done. The 
suggestions which may be made possibly 
could not be acted upon at the time, but 
we certainly should have them on record 
and be better able to feel the pulse of the 
Association through the expression of the 
individual members, and we sincerely hope 
that this year no one will hesitate to send 
in anything of this kind. I thank you. 

The Thirty-eighth Conference held in the 
fortieth year of the American Library Asso- 
ciation is now adjourned. 



EXECUTIVE BOARD 



FIRST SESSION 

A meeting of the Executive Board of the 
American Library Association was held at 
the New Monterey Hotel, Asbury Park, 
N. J., June 26th. 

Present: Messrs. Brown, Hadley, Cra- 
ver, Putnam, Bostwick, Dudgeon and 
Ranck. 

The following committee on resolutions 
was appointed: Bernard C. Steiner, Ger- 
trude E. Andrus and J. T. Gerould. 

It was voted that the election of of- 
ficers be held on Friday, June 30th, and 
that the polls be open from 9 a. m. to 
4:30 p. m. William Teal and H. E. Roelke 
were appointed tellers of election. 



The report of the Committee on nom- 
inations was received, adopted and or- 
dered posted on the official bulletin 
board. 

A communication was read from Dr. 
Frank P. Hill recommending that Section 2 
of the By-laws to the Constitution be so 
amended that the nominating committee be 
appointed at least three months before the 
date of the annual meeting instead of one 
month, and that the report of the commit- 
tee on nominations instead of being posted 
on the official bulletin board at least 48 
hours before the election be printed in the 
"Bulletin of the American Library Associa- 
tion" at least one month before the elec- 



COUNCIL 



389 



tion. This proposed amendment received 
the unanimous recommendation of the 
Executive Board. (Note: The Associa- 
tion at Its general session on June 29th 
adopted this amendment to the above By- 
law.) 

The Board discussed plans for library re- 
organization in France and Belgium after 
the war but took no official action inas- 
much as this subject was scheduled to 
come before the Council at a subsequent 
meeting. 

Adjourned. 

SECOND SESSION 

A meeting of the Executive Board was 
held at the New Monterey Hotel, on Sat- 
urday, July 1. 

Present: President Brown, First Vice- 
president Graver, Miss Rathbone and 
Messrs. Bostwick, Dudgeon, Ranck and 
Bailey. 

Mrs. H. L. Elmendort was unanimously 
elected a member of the Publishing Board 
to succeed herself for a term of three 
years. 

A brief report was presented from Wil- 
liam Stetson Merrill, chairman of the 
Committee on code for classifiers. The 
report stated that the Committee had held 
no meeting during the past year owing 
to difficulty of assembling the members. 
Interest in the code continued to be mani- 
fested by occasional requests for copies 
of which the supply would long since have 



been exhausted had not the chairman de- 
cided to decline personal requests and in- 
stead to send a code to the library most ac- 
cessible to the applicant where it can be 
consulted. The Executive Board was re- 
quested to add to the Committee Miss Le- 
titia Gosman, Princeton University Library, 
and Miss Julia Pettee, Union Theological 
Seminary Library, who have aided the Com- 
mittee by their papers treating on the sub- 
ject of the code and whose further counsel 
and cooperation are desired. The Board 
voted to accept the report and appoint the 
members recommended. 

A report was received from Aksel G. S. 
Josephson, chairman of the Committee on 
cost and method of cataloging. He stated 
that since arriving at Asbury Park the 
Committee had further discussed the mat- 
ter of having a study made of the material 
it had collected and the suggestion was 
made that this material be turned over to 
one of the library schools as problem work 
by some student or a group of students. He 
reported that the matter had been taken 
up with Mr. Wyer, who had expressed his 
v,'illingness to give the suggestion careful 
consideration and to give the work per- 
sonal supervision in case it is taken up by 
the New York State Library School. 

The appointment of standing committees 
was postponed to a later date to be taken 
up either by correspondence or at a meeting 
of the Board. 

The meeting place for 1917 was informal- 
ly discussed but no decision was reached. 



COUNCIL 



FIRST SESSION 

The first session of the Council was held 
in the Ball Room of the New Monterey 
Hotel, Wednesday morning, June 28. 

The following forty-four members were 
present: M. E. Ahern, E. H. Anderson, C. W. 
Andrews, C. Bacon, A. L. Bailey, C. F. D. 
Belden, W. W. Bishop, S. C. N. Bogle, A. E. 
Bostwick, G. F. Bowerman, R. R. Bowker, W. 



L. Brown, W. N. C. Carlton, H. J. Carr, W. O. 
Carson, H. W. Craver, M. S. Dudgeon, E. C. 
Earl, C. H. Gould, C. Hadley, M. E. Hall, H. 
S. Hirshberg, N. D. C. Hodges, A. Keogh, W. 
H. Kerr, H. E. Legler, H. Putnam, S. H. 
Ranck, J. A. Rathbone, M. E. Robbins, A. S. 
Root, G. D. Rose, C. E. Rush, H. P. Sawyer, 
M. L. Titcomb, E. Tobitt, S. Wagner, H. C. 
Wellman, J. I. Wyer; and the following 



390 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



representatives of affiliated state library 
associations: M. J. Booth (Illinois), J. F. 
Davies (Montana), G. W. Fuller (Pacific 
Northwest), C. D. Johnston (Tennessee) 
and H. H. B. Meyer (District of Columbia). 

First Vice-President Walter L. Brown 
presided. 

Dr. C. W. Andrews made a brief report 
on behalf of the Committee on a Union List 
of Serials. He stated that to the Commit- 
tee's regret no marked progress had been 
made, that plans for cooperation with the 
Library of Congress had again failed, as 
that library was not in a position to under- 
take a general list, as such a list would 
reach 100,000 titles and would take a long 
time in preparation. The Committee had 
discussed the possibility of Issuing the 
work in sections and had hoped to report 
at this time to that effect. They had also 
Interviewed the officials of the Smithsonian 
Institution in the hope of securing their 
aid, but the Institution regretted they could 
not assist, owing to other work in Iiand. 
Medical societies and librarians of agricul- 
tural libraries are discussing the prepara- 
tion of check lists on their respective spe- 
cialties. He stated it was a pity we could 
not get together and issue one list which 
would cover all sections of the country; 
but if we can not it would appear we shall 
have to be content with special lists on 
special subjects. The committee expected 
to confer with the H. W. Wilson Co. on 
the possibilities of cooperation and did not 
wish to ask to be discharged until this had 
been done. 

Mr. Bowker asked if the American Eco- 
nomic Association had been asked to help, 
and Dr. Andrews said they had not been 
conferred with, although the committee 
had been keeping in touch with a number 
of kindred organizations. 

Mr. Bowker suggested that the commit- 
tee might draft a form which could be a 
model for different sections, so that work 
performed would in advance be aimed in 
one direction, and that these sections could 
be brought together and bound together. 

Replying to a question Dr. Andrews said 
he understood the Carnegie Institution 



would not increase their bibliographical 
activities. 

On motion of Mr. Bowker the report was 
accepted and the committee continued. 

The CHAIRMAN: We are disappointed 
this morning in having received a dispatch 
from Mr. Brett saying that he will not be 
present until the latter part of the week. 
We hoped also to have Mr. C. H. Brown, 
Chairman of the Bookbuying Committee, 
present to have a discussion on this topic. 
Unless you wish to discuss the question of 
the "Librarian's relation with the publish- 
ers," which Mr. Brett was to consider, we 
will pass that part of the program for the 
present. The secretary has some corre- 
spondence relative to French and Belgian 
reconstruction plans, and I will ask him to 
report on this matter. 
French and Belgian Reconstruction Plans 

The SECRETARY: Mr. Chairman, as per 
haps many of you know, the Executive 
Board and the headquarters of the Asso- 
ciation and a number of other librarians 
have had some correspondence within the 
last few months with a committee in 
France regarding reconstruction plans 
after the war. This French committee 
terms itself the Alliance for Social and 
Civic Education, and the spokesman of that 
Committee, with whom I have corre- 
sponded, is Monsieur Henri Oger, of Paris. 
This Committee has drawn up quite an 
elaborate scheme of reconstruction, which 
includes not only libraries, but social cen- 
ters, playgrounds, university extension 
work, gymnasia and many other forms of 
social work. Of course, the Committee 
realizes that in their appeal to us it is only 
that portion of their plan which relates to 
libraries in which we will be professionally 
interested, and regarding which they wish 
to secure our attention and interest. They 
have made several suggestions as to what 
they would like to have done. 

Before I mention what they wish I would 
like to say what many of you already know, 
that before this was taken up formally in 
connection with the committee movement. 
Monsieur Oger corresponded with several 
other librarians and myself and as a result 



391 



of that the headquarters office requested 
various librarians of the country, many of 
whom are here present, to send material to 
him, and in response to such requests li- 
brary reports and book lists, photographs 
and plans of library buildings, and other 
material which he assured us would be of 
value, were sent. 

In addition to these things which have 
already been sent, the Committee wants 
more. Their plans, as outlined in the cir- 
cular which they have issued, include many 
other things: the possible establishment 
of an American circulating library in Paris, 
one that can as far as possible be a model 
of what American libraries are, and be not 
only architecturally a model, but be a 
model in its method of operation, and par- 
ticularly loan books to American tourists 
and to French students. In addition to the 
library which they would like to see estab- 
lished in Paris the Committee call our 
attention to the fact that France is a coun- 
try of small proprietors, small business en- 
terprises, and that many of these are es- 
tablished if not in rural communities at 
least in villages and non-urban communi- 
ties, and that it would be a very good thing 
if a village library or a small public library 
could be established which would show 
what the small public libraries are doing 
in this country. 

The Conjmittee would also like consid- 
erable in the way of an exhibit of our 
work here — both the materials for an ex- 
hibit and also slides and moving picture 
films — anything of that sort, they assure us. 
They want more library plans and photo- 
graphs — more than have been sent, and in 
fact anything which will show our admin- 
istration and methods of operation. 

In my correspondence with Monsieur 
Oger I have told him that the Program 
Committee of the Association have prom- 
ised to bring up this matter at this Council 
meeting, and that possibly as an outcome 
ol the discussion which would here take 
place a committee would be appointed in 
whose hands would be lodged the further- 
ance of the scheme. So I think it is the 
intention of the chairman to throw the 



subject open to discussion to see what sug- 
gestions members of the Council have to 
offer. So much for the French plan. 

Grouped with the French plan I have had 
some correspondence also with certain Bel- 
gian representatives regarding reconstruc- 
tion plans in Belgium. I read in the paper 
some two or three months ago a notice re- 
garding the formation of the office of the 
Belgian Scholarship Committee in Wash- 
ington, and I at once wrote to the address 
given, saying that we were interested in 
the plans which that Committee had for 
library reorganization and reconstruction, 
and that it was unnecessary for me to 
say that the American Library Association 
and librarians in general in this country 
would be very glad indeed to do what we 
could to help in that work. Prof. George 
Sarton, of the University of Ghent, secre- 
tary of the Committee, replied to the let- 
ter and we have had considerable corre- 
spondence since that first exchange, and 
just before I left Chicago he happened to 
be in the city and we had a very pleasant 
personal interview. 

The Belgian Committee is quite unde- 
cided as to what it is able to recommend, or 
what can be done in a library way. Their 
problem seems to be divided into two 
parts; first, a provision for school and 
university libraries, which perhaps is more 
easily met than plans for tax-supported li- 
braries, which is the second part of the 
plan and which the more ambitious Bel- 
gians hope to establish. 

Madam Van Schelle, an American woman 
who since her marriage about twenty years 
ago to a Belgian gentleman, has been a 
resident of Belgium, has been in this coun- 
try for some months and in Chicago part 
of the time, and I have had several con- 
versations with her. She is much inter- 
ested in seeing popular libraries estab- 
lished, and has noted with satisfaction 
the work of the traveling libraries and the 
library commissions of our country. She 
seemed pretty well posted on what they 
are doing, both from observation and from 
study. She would like to see traveling 
libraries established in Belgium, and yet 



392 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



she realizes the great obstacles in the way. 
We have helped her In such ways as we 
can, but of course nothing definite can be 
done until something more is knov/n as to 
the future status of Belgium. It will be 
very difficult, as Madam Van Schelle 
realizes, to induce the Belgian official au- 
thorities to tax the people for the support 
of libraries, but she hopes that something 
on a private scale may be started, and I 
am sure you will be interested in helping 
the Belgian situation in such way as you 
can. If I may suggest to the chairman, 
possibly Miss Aheru, who has had more 
conversation with Madam Van Schelle than 
I, might add something as to what her 
plans are for Belgian reconstruction. 

The CHAIRMAN: I hope we will have a 
general expression as to v/hat you think 
should be done and what can be done, so 
that the committee, if we choose to have a 
committee appointed to look into the mat- 
ter thoroughly, may have the benefit of this 
expression. I should like to have Miss 
Ahem tell us further about the movement. 

Miss AHERN: I cannot say very much 
more than Mr. Utley has already said. 
Madam Van Schelle is fully alive to the 
value of having the Belgian people read. 
Her husband is connected with the former 
administration of educational affairs in 
Belgium, and is one of the few Belgians 
who are cooperating with the German au- 
thorities, so there will be no more friction 
than necessary in carrying on the work. 
She is having personal friends help as far 
as she can and her idea in bringing this 
to the American Library Association is to 
convince us, if convincing is necessary, 
that this is a helpful thing, and to con- 
vince the people there that it is not an 
effort on her part to separate the influence 
of the church from the parishioners, nor to 
bring into the minds of these young people 
of Belgium any feeling of animosity 
towards the Germans at this time. It is a 
question of education. She thinks that if 
the American Library Association, who had 
been so well received on the other side at 
various times, were willing at least to 
commend this effort to start traveling li- 



braries as a means of popular education 
without question of government or re- 
ligion, it might help her to allay the sus- 
picion that is Inevitable in the introduction 
of that plan in a country such as Belgium. 
She will take money or goods or anything 
else that we want to give, but her idea as 
she expressed it to me, was that she would 
like to have a body of such standing as the 
American Library Association say that 
they believe that this is a good thing to do. 
Her idea is to start libraries from centers 
in Belgium just as we have done in the 
United States. 

Dr. PUTNAM : Will Miss Ahern tell us, is 
it her idea to start something practical at 
once under present conditions or is this a 
proposal for the future? 

Miss AHERN: She has quite an estab- 
lishment outside of Brussels and there she 
has started something like a technical 
school. Students come there from all over 
the country and then go back into their 
own section, and she wants them to give 
a greater importance to the value of popu- 
lar reading than they do now. They 
read church books and books on their own 
line of business, but popular reading as we 
have in this country they do not have. She 
expects to start the work just as soon as 
she can. She has gathered several hundred 
books; she has been especially fortunate 
in the New England States and Canada in 
getting books in French, but the question 
of language is going to handicap her. She 
will take English books and as she herself 
said "anything that is loose." 

The CHAIRMAN: The need in Belgium 
seems to be more simple in that it is more 
definite. We should like to have an expres- 
sion of opinion as to what is possible to 
be done in France as well as in regard to 
Belgium. 

Mr. BOWKBR: We had some cor- 
respondence with Monsieur Oger at least 
a year ago. I remember one plan which 
seems to have dropped out of the discus- 
sion; I would be interested if Secretary 
Utley has heard more of it. It was asked 
at that time that proofs of our illustrations 
showing types of American library build- 



393 



Ings be sent to France from which to 
select material for publication regarding 
the American library system. I thinlc we 
have not heard further from that side of 
the proposal.* 

I might add one or two other points of 
information as to the French situation. 
There is in this country Monsieur Louis 
Rouquette. I have not personally met him, 
but I thinlt he was associated with the 
French exhibit at San Francisco. He is 
said to have an official commission from the 
French Government in respect to books af- 
ter the war. I understand that his mission 
has some relation to bookselling, and 
would fit into a general plan they may have 
over there. 

Then there have been one or two com- 
munications from M. Otlet. He is con- 
cerned as to the future of the great card 
collection — I think something like ten 
million cards, at Brussels. M. Otlet 
has been much concerned as to the fate of 
that great collection in Belgium, and he 
had two or three plans: one was to liave 
the Library of Congress provide for a 
duplicate collection. Or he hoped some- 
thing might be done by the American Li- 
brary Association, his idea being that the 
collection itself would be brought over here, 
though of course it would be more satis- 
factory if there could be a duplicate set of 
the cards over here. That is a matter of 
such magnitude as to be almost im- 
practicable. I have answered M. Otlet but 
the letter has been returned from the ad- 
dress he gave — he was then in Paris. I 
should mention that Madam Hatfkin-Ham- 
burger has been heard from in Russia. She 
emphasized the desirability of progress 
there in the American direction after the 
war. Naturally v>-e have not heard much 
from Germany, for the two reasons that 
there is less communication and tliat the 
library organization there is in fairly good 



I think if we do anything it should be 
on a basis which would be International. 
First of all, we should learn by cor- 



•The Secretary said he had had no corre- 
spondence on this subject for some time. 



respondence as to the status and probabili- 
ties. We should look to the end of 
the war as the time for action rather 
tlian now, so as to give the committee time 
for investigation. I feel that the American 
Library Association ouglit not to be back- 
ward in holding up the hands of any of 
our friends across the sea, of whatever 
nation, in doing the kind of work we did 
at the beginning. The American Library 
Association started just forty years ago 
and possibly the work which the men and 
women who have been mentioned have in 
view will forty years hence prove as im- 
portant as that which this Association 
typifies here today. 

I would suggest that this matter be 
referred to a Committee on which there 
ought to be one person familiar with the 
French language, one person familiar with 
German — a good correspondent in each 
language, and if there is anyone who 
is familiar with Russian that would 
be desirable. I do not want to be on the 
Committee, but would suggest a special 
Committee on International Cooperation, 
and that we offer our best help in promoting 
the extension of library development among 
the people after the war. 

The CHAIRMAN: I should like to have 
that motion put. I think perhaps I can 
agree not to put the mover of the motion 
on the Committee. 

Mr. BOWKER: I will make the motion. 

(The motion was seconded and carried.) 

Mr. BOWKER: I suppose the Committee 
will be made up by the president after full 
consideration so that we may have persons 
equipped to correspond in their own 
language with these different people. 

The CHAIRMAN: We should like this 
matter discussed further. As you know, 
the general scheme as presented to the 
Association was a very broad one indeed 
so far as France was concerned. 

Dr. PUTNAM: I think it would be un- 
fortunate if the appointment at this time 
of any committee, or any instruction to an 
existing committee, should give an impres- 
sion abroad of some immediate possible 
service from this side. I can not under- 



394 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



stand how it would be practicable for the 
American Library Association to do any- 
thing that would be of any widely ex- 
tended practical value at this time. Of 
course, for Individual libraries to con- 
tribute certain books, such an undertaking 
as we have had described in Belgium, 
would be one thing; but if we appoint a 
committee which is charged with some 
practical service or recommendation to us 
of some practical service to be instituted in 
the immediate future it may create an im- 
pression that would be disappointed later. 
If the committee could be charged simply 
with a further inquiry, with the accumula- 
tion of information, with observation of the 
course and trend of things abroad; with 
the idea that at the mid-winter meeting, if 
the time should then seem right, it should 
report to us any practical service which 
might be rendered by American libraries in 
the promotion of undertakings abroad 
similar to those for which we stand in this 
country, then perhaps that impression 
would be avoided. Now if it is necessary 
to have a special committee appointed for 
that, that might be done at this time, but 
I would circumscribe the duties of that 
committee until the war is over, or until 
we have had a chance to consider some 
intermediate report from them at the mid- 
winter meeting. 

Mr. BOWKER; I would like to accept 
this suggestion and make the motion that 
the special Committee on International Co- 
operation consider these proposals and re 
port at the mid-winter meeting. 

Dr. PUTNAM: In the meantime to ac- 
cumulate all information possible by cor- 
respondence or otherwise. 

The CHAIRMAN: Is that acceptable to 
the seconder? 

(The motion was accepted and carried.) 

Mr. BOWKER: We understand that any- 
thing coming from M. Otlet or any of these 
people should be sent to that Committee? 

The CHAIRMAN: Yes; that is under- 
stood. 

We have a report from Mr. Dudgeon on 
Fire Insurance Rates. 



Fire Insurance Rates 

Mr. DUDGEON: In our last report we 
announced that the Committee was work- 
ing on three things: first, the language to 
be placed in a fire insurance policy; second, 
to consider whether or not an entire library 
policy was a practical thing, and third, to 
develop a simple but effective fire pre- 
vention code. I want to admit with humility 
that we have not accomplished these three 
things to our own satisfaction as yet, and 
can only report progress. 

Mr. BOWKER: Can Mr. Dudgeon tell us 
whether it is general to insure books 
separately from the building, and some- 
thing as to what the rates are? 

Mr. DUDGEON: There is absolutely no 
general practice followed as to rates. We 
have a great deal of information which we 
have attempted to tabulate, and from which 
we can conclude almost nothing, except 
that librarians generally have not been, pos- 
sibly, as watchful as they should be as to 
rates. Our purpose was to deposit with 
the Secretary of the A. L. A. these figures 
and tabulations so that they should be a 
source of information, and to give some 
suggestions as to prevailing rates. The 
other question was whether books and 
buildings were separately insured. Gen- 
erally they are; but we find also that there 
is a great deal of carelessness in the insur- 
ing of the contents for the very simple 
reason that most of the standard policies 
used exclude much of the property of a li- 
brary from the property insured, unless it 
is specifically included in the written por- 
tion. For example, the tapestries and art 
works are excluded as not insured unless 
they are mentioned, and some of the 
libraries have not mentioned them. We 
are seeking to include these in the form. 

Another feature is omitted: the law 
seems to be that if a card catalog is de- 
stroyed it is deemed to be of a value equal 
to the material — the tangible property that 
went into it, unless a special value is put 
upon it. There are a number of these 
things that we will have to work out rather 
carefully. 



395 



Mr. BOWKER: Do you know about the 
new standard policy of 1916? 

Mr. DUDGEON: I know there is a new 
one; I have not examined it, but the insur- 
ance commissioner suggested that it would 
probably not affect our subject. 

Mr. BOWKER: I have had occasion to 
study the new policy, partly from the 
librarian's point of view. The insurance 
commissioners of the several states now 
have a national association and have been 
working out a new form of standard policy 
which has been adopted by Pennsylvania, 
North and South Carolina and possibly by 
this time by other states. It came into 
operation in 1916 in Pennsylvania and it 
is understood that every effort will be made 
by insurance authorities throughout the 
states to make that an absolutely national 
standard policy. It is based on the old 
standard policy but contains a very im- 
portant change, to this effect: the old 
policy voided insurance indefinitely if cer- 
tain restrictions were at any time not 
complied with. For instance, in the case of 
a house — this would not apply to a library, 
probably — non-occupancy was permitted 
only for a month. It a person left his house 
for two months and then a year or two 
afterward a fire should occur, the policy 
would be voidable. One of the great 
changes has been that the word "while" is 
used, so that the policy is voided only 
while these conditions are in existence. 
This is really a great step forward. Li- 
brarians should study the standard policy 
of their state and then if the committee 
gets a "rider," as it is called, which will 
be inclusive of library property, that would 
be another great step forward. 

The next service of the Committee would 
be in regard to rates, and with respect to 
fire prevention. There has been an 
enormous saving of property — hundreds of 
millions of dollars — in the last few years 
through fire prevention methods, and most 
of the great industrial establishments — I 
have known something about one or two 
— find their insurance lowered by the use 
of the mutual system. Whether any mutual 
system is possible for libraries is a ques- 



tion. It might be possible to have some 
such organization in specific states. One 
feature of the fire prevention plan has been 
to make a rate — this has been carried out 
in New York City — on a general scale, 
which means a large rate, and then give 
credit of so many points, so many fractions 
of a cent, for this or that or the other fea- 
ture of precaution. 

I think the Committee can do a very real 
service in the three directions I under- 
stand Mr. Dudgeon to indicate — first, the 
nature of the standard policy as affecting 
libraries: second, the rider which should 
be inclusive of library property — and there 
let me add this caution, that when you are 
insuring the contents of the library be 
sure to make the description not specific 
and exclusive but general and inclusive, 
that is to say, that you include not simply 
"books and card catalog," but "books, cards 
and like property," or some general phrase 
of that sort. Then the third point — that 
the committee should suggest what could 
be done in the way of additional fire pre- 
caution that would reduce the rates to 
libraries. This last is a matter of great 
importance, and I think it is one to which 
not enough attention has been given. 

Mr. DUDGEON: I might say in connec- 
tion with the question of fire prevention 
that I have been in communication with 
the expert on our Industrial Commission 
who is a practical inspector and has in- 
spected fire prevention methods in all the 
factories of the state, and he is cooperat- 
ing with us. We have corresponded with 
authorities all over the country to some ex- 
tent to get the best of these fire prevention 
methods. 

Mr. BOWKER: There is a curious little 
kink, for instance, Mr. Dudgeon; for cer- 
tain purposes the insurance boards permit 
the Pyrene extinguishers, and for other 
purposes they prefer the water bucket. 
There is a good deal of nonsense about it. 

Mr. ANDERSON: I should like to call 
the attention of the committee to an 
anomalous condition in New York City. 
We carry no insurance, but recently the 
question arose as to whether we should in- 



396 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



sure a loan collection, and we found that 
the rate on prints, for instance, in a pri- 
vate residence in New York, in a non-fire- 
proof building, was fifteen cents per hun- 
dred. In our building it was fifty-six cents 
per hundred, because v.'e come under the 
skyscraper rule; that is to say, although 
we are in a fireproof building, the local 
underwriters association apply to us rules 
designed for these large, tall, concrete, steel 
constructed buildings. I think if the Com- 
mittee can do anything to change that 
situation as applied to public library build- 
ings it would be doing a great service. In 
New York if we take out, for insta,nce, the 
wire glass which at the time the building 
was erected was required by the under- 
writers association, and put in a separate 
screen of wire and the glass, one above the 
other, that would cause the rate to come 
down two or three points. 

Mr. RANCK: This matter of rates in 
Michigan is simply outrageous. Apparently 
conditions were identical in different towns, 
so far as character of the building was con- 
cerned, separation from other buildings, 
etc., etc., and yet they would be charging 
three times as much per hundred in one 
town as in the other, on the general plan, 
it seems to me, to "take all the traffic would 
bear." We have had this situation in the 
last few weeks: we have a fireproof build- 
ing and carry a limited amount on the 
building, which we believe would cover all 
damage in case of fire, yet they want us 
to carry $300,000 on the building, and we 
do carry a considerable amount of insur- 
ance on the books and contents, which has 
been worked out rather carefully; but one 
of the large companies of New York within 
the last month canceled their policy, which 
was for five years, for the reason that we 
did not carry a sufficient amount on the 
building. It is trying to force the library 
to carry a much larger amount on the 
building, and the policy was canceled. We 
did not have any difficulty in placing the in- 
surance with another company. At the last 
session of the legislature a bill was slipped 
through, putting insurance on the basis 
of a public utility; in other words, the same 



rate uniform throughout the state for the 
same class of property, leaving the classifi- 
cation of the property to the Board of 
Underwriters, and as a result of that the 
insurance rates on a great deal of property 
have gone up tremendously by changing 
the classification. And this is only one of 
the aspects of a very big subject. 

Dr. ANDREWS: We have had some of 
these difficulties, and our treasurer has 
recommended to the Board, and the Board 
has accepted the recommendation to insure 
ourselves. We are paying two and one-half 
times as much as others, and we do not 
think our risks are two and one-half times 
as great. For this and other reasons we 
have considered that, after all, any loss 
we meet would not be irreparable, and in 
a few years our surplus would be large 
enough to meet any loss. I rose to ask If 
the committee would consider not merely 
the question of fire insurance on property, 
but the question of safety of life. That is 
going to be, with us, rather more promi- 
nent than that of property. My office will 
be one hundred and fifty feet from the 
ground, and I have been puzzled to know 
whether it would not be well to establish 
a fire drill so that the people in the library 
would know what to do when the fire 
alarm rang. I wonder how many libraries 
have such a drill and whether this com- 
mittee would think it within its province 
to consider and recommend a simple form 
of safeguarding life as well as property? 

Mr. DUDGEON: I may say we sent out 
a communication to the State Industrial 
Commissioner, who has charge of that, 
recommending that an informal fire drill be 
practised in order that the staff should 
know exactly what to do in case of fire. 
In our library building we have certain 
provisions for the safety of life, such as 
exits and stairways in certain portions of 
the building in lieu of fire escapes, etc. 

Dr. ANDREWS : We have contented our- 
selves so far with printing in red a little 
card showing where the exits are, where 
the fire plugs are and also a statement 
that the men of the staff are expected to 
see that the public and the women of the 



COUNCIL 



397 



staff are In safety — and then save the 
catalogs! Everyone of the staff has one of 
the cards and keeps it in plain sight on his 
or her desk, so it can be referred to in 
case of need. 

We have never had a drill. In our pres- 
ent quarters our staff is small and we have 
been content with the precautions named, 
but in the nev«- building with a larger stafi 
and with less familiar surroundings I have 
felt we should have a drill such as Mr. 
Dudgeon has indicated would be ad- 
vantageous. 

Mr. BOWKER: I want to take the oc- 
casion — it seems to me this is an ideal 
time, when we have here the heads of li- 
braries discussing these very practical 
points — to add one or two suggestions. The 
most important thing in the event of a 
library fire is to see that everybody is out 
of all the rooms; so it seems to me there 
ought to be a quiet fire drill after hours 
with reference to that particular point. I 
have had experience in industrial establish- 
ments, and my way used to be to go to a 
particular point in a building, call the alarm 
of fire f4nd take a watch to see how 
long it required for them to get there and 
put out the "fire." 

There is another question that should be 
taken up. The enemy of books is water. 
We had much difficulty in our electric light 
station in New York, in trying to get the 
firemen to understand that they were not 
to rush in and fiood everything. We should 
consider whether the use of sand is not 
thoroughly effective, or whether dry powder 
fire extinguishing methods could not be 
used. Another thing has come up in 
Brooklyn, the questions of employer's 
liability insurance and of accident insur- 
ance of the public. This has come up 
rather interestingly in regard to the 
Carnegie libraries. The city is self-insured, 
and as we understand it the Carnegie 
libraries, having been given to the city, 
are taken care of by the city as to fire 
or accidents to the public. But that does 
not cover the buildings which are owned 
by library associations and it does not 
cover the books in the Carnegie libraries. 



There is a beautiful complication. Then 
we have the question of people slipping on 
the steps. We have had I think one suit 
in regard to some such accident. Then 
there is the question of elevator insurance. 
Really, this question broadens out into 
great detail, and is a rather pressing one. 
I imagine it has come up in a good many 
trustees' meetings and that light from the 
Association througli this committee would 
be very gladly welcomed. It is one of the 
questions that should be taken up in the 
Trustees Section, and I think that such 
a committee report, submitted either to the 
Trustees Section or sent to trustees of 
libraries throughout the country, would 
really emphasize the value of this Associa- 
tion, and all library associations, to boards 
of trustees that at present believe them to 
be rather a luxury than otherwise, to whose 
meetings the librarian goes for enjoyment. 
Mr. BISHOP: Mr. Bowker has raised a 
point which has concerned me very highly 
in the past few months. He has emphasized 
the fact that this exchange of experience is 
valuable; perhaps I might venture to bring 
up the danger from fire prevention ap- 
paratus to the ''ontents of libraries. In 
planning for the library which has oo 
cupicd my time for the last ten months I 
found one extremely serious difficulty. We 
had on the campus in the University of 
Michigan a liigh-pressure system of fire 
mains, and it has proved effective in the 
case of incipient fires in the old non-fire 
proof buildings on the campus. Naturally 
the superintendent of the grounds and the 
university authorities thought well of the 
system, which has saved them serious 
losses, and the architect and superintendent 
of buildings were proposing to couple it to 
the reservoir system in the library stacks. I 
protested and succeeded in having connec- 
tion made with the ordinary city mains, for 
if they had a fire on the campus with the 
high pressure system connected through 
our building the chances of bursting inside 
the book stacks were good, and we might 
find ourselves with an incipient flood on 
our hands because there was a fire some- 
where else. 



398 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Another matter that concerns us is the 
possibility which Mr. Bowker has suggested 
of using otlier than a liquid form of fire 
extinguisher. I think it is well worth while 
for the committee to study that point. 
There are other means of extinguishing 
fires than by water. We are experimenting 
with a view to introducing into our new 
structure certain apparatus of that sort, 
but I do not yet know exactly what it will 
be. 

Mr. GOULD: I would like to know 
whether the committee has considered the 
question of insuring inter-library loans. I 
came across rather a strange feature of 
insurance in that connection. Last winter 
we were sending a rare book to another 
library. It occurred to me that possibly 
the library to which the book was being 
sent might not insure it, and I thought we 
would like to insure it ourselves. I found 
out that we could not do so. We could 
not insure a book going to another library 
and there seemed no way of overcoming the 
difficulty. 

Mr. DUDGEON: I think that can be 
done either through Lloyds or another in- 
surance company. Lloyds at the present 
time would be very high, but we are 
handling exhibits from out of town all the 
time, and they are insured against any 
and all risks. 

Mr. BOWKER: At a rather high rate. 

Mr. DUDGEON: It is a high rate, but 
for a short period. 

Mr. BOWKER: Do you have to insure 
each loan or is there a blanket insurance? 

Mr. DUDGEON: It is specially insured 
for the loan, but recently institutions have 
insured loans as sent out. For instance, 
the American Federation of Arts' collec- 
tion is insured from the beginning to the 
end of its journey. We don't give the ex- 
press companies any value. 

Mr. DUDGEON: I wanted to say a word 
to emphasize the importance of education 
In fire prevention. I don't know that this 
Association has any money to spend, but 
I think if we had it could be v/ell spent 
in this direction. The factory mutuals are 
a case in point. For instance, these fac- 



tories are getting insurance for those in- 
flammable buildings where oils and paint 
are stored at a very much lower rate, some 
of them I think less than one-third the rate 
fireproof library buildings are paying. 
Some of those mutuals spend half of the 
money they collect from their policy hold- 
ers in education in fire prevention, and 
the rest for losses; in other words, they 
pay more for education than for losses. 

The CHAIRMAN: I think there will be 
no objection to accepting the report as a 
report of progress. 

The Council has at this meeting to ap- 
point a committee of five to nominate 
members of the Council who are elected 
by the Council. What is your pleasure as 
to that committee? 

Dr. ANDREWS: I move that the chair 
appoint the committee of five, for the pur- 
pose of nominating members of the 
Council. 

(This motion was seconded and carried, 
and the Chairman appointed Mr. S. H. 
Ranck, Mr. W. 0. Carson, Miss Edith 
Tobitt, Mrs. Harriet P. Sawyer and Mr. 
H. S. Hirshberg.) 

Mr. DUDGEON: I am going to ask the 
privilege of making a request that each 
member who has spoken, or anyone else 
who is present and has suggestions, relative 
to library insurance matters, formulate his 
suggestions in a letter to the committee 
with a view to the solution of problems 
that are to be solved. 

Meeting adjourned. 

SECOND SESSION 

The second session of the Council, open 
to all, was held in the Auditorium, Friday 
morning, June 30. Second Vice-President 
Hadley presided. 

Mr. Ranck, chairman of the committee 
to nominate five members of the Council 
to be elected by the Council, reported the 
following nominations: Gertrude E. An- 
drus, Seattle Public Library; Chalmers 
W. T. Porter, Cincinnati; and A. S. Root, 
Oberlin College Library. 

On motion of Mr. Wyer it was voted that 
the secretary be instructed to cast a bal- 



COUNCIL 



399 



lot for these nominees. The secretary de- 
clared such ballot cast and the nominees 
elected to the Council for a term of five 
years. 

The vice-president called on Mr. Ranck, 
chairman of the Committee on ventilation, 
lighting and heating of library buildings to 
conduct a question box on the subjects 
covered by the Committee. 

The VICE-PRESIDENT: This morn- 
ing's program is a rather full one, and we 
will dispense with explanations and intro- 
ductory remarks whenever possible. The 
first item will be the Question Box on heat- 
ing, lighting and ventilation, which will 
be opened by Mr. Samuel H. Ranck, 
librarian of Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

VENTILATING AND LIGHTING 
Mr. RANCK: As some of you know, the 
Committee on Ventilation and Lighting 
has been more or less active for several 
years. The Committee realizes that they 
did not know wliat they were getting into 
when they undertook this work. I may 
say, In defence of the Committee, that a 
number of other organizations, some of 
them with a considerable amount of money 
to spend, are at work on several phases of 
this problem and that their conclusions 
have not gone any further than ours. We 
have been experimenting in library build- 
ings, and getting the benefits of the results 
of other Investigations by the Bureau of 
Standards, manufacturers, etc. 

I will not have time this morning to go 
into this subject very fully. During the 
course of a year the Committee gets a good 
many letters from persons asking questions 
with reference to either ventilation or 
lighting, or both. It is a curious fact, 
however, that more questions come to us 
about lighting than about ventilation, 
though the latter, in my opinion, is very 
much more difficult than the former. Light- 
ing, of course, is more obvious than ventila- 
tion. I have here a few of the questions 
that have come to us; we will not have time 
this morning to take up all of the questions. 
"Which Is the best: direct or indirect 
lighting?" This is a question of relative 



terms. I assume most of you know what 
this sort of lighting means. Indirect light- 
ing is where the source of light is wholly 
hidden, the lighting effect being produced 
by reflection either from the ceiling or from 
some apparatus suspended over the source 
of light. Semi-indirect lighting is where 
some light comes through from the original 
source, and some of it is reflected. It Is the 
opinion of the Committee, I think — I have 
cot had time to get them all together on 
this — that the tendency is at the present 
time toward semi-indirect lighting. Dr. 
Andrews, by the way, who is at work on 
tlie new building for the John Crerar 
Library In Chicago, is Installing a system 
of semi-indirect lighting, based on very 
elaborate and important studies both on 
the part of himself and the architects. I 
would say that you cannot give any hard 
and fast answer to that problem unless you 
know all the elements that enter into it, 
and the elements are a great many, and a 
good many of them are engineering 
elements. 

One of the most important things is 
color: color of the walls, color of the ceil- 
ing, color of the floor and of the furniture. 
In some rooms the color will absorb more 
than fifty per cent of the light, and all of 
these things must be taken into account. 
The psychological element is also a very 
important one. My own opinion is, at 
least so fp^r as these things affect me, that 
the semi-indirect system produces on me 
a better psychological reaction. I will not 
have time to go into that, but it is a very 
interesting thing, and there are a number 
of cases on record of experiments where a 
whole institution has been adversely af- 
fected by the color of the lighting, and that 
by changing the color of the light or ob 
jects reflecting light very much better re- 
sults were obtained In efficiency and the 
general happiness of the workers, reducing 
nervous prostration and all that sort of 
thing. Where there is a good deal of red, 
as a rule, that gets on most people's 
nerves. 

Another question is about the kind of 
fixtures to install in a room of given size, 



400 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



with the number of outlets or lights. As 
I have already indicated, there are a great 
many elements in this. There is the height 
of the ceiling, since it makes a vast differ- 
ence in the kind of fixtures you install 
whether a room is twelve feet or thirty feet 
high; also the kind of light. In most of 
the problems relating to lighting hitherto 
the cost of current and of operation has 
been the primary consideration. There are 
many things more important than the cost, 
but a lot of these other elements that enter 
into this have nothing to do with cost. 
They are being studied at the present time, 
but the scientists and others in making 
these investigations have not come to any 
full conclusion. 

I think we do not pay enough attention 
to natural lighting. When we think of 
lighting for reading rooms, and so forth, 
we mostly think of artificial lighting. Most 
of our cities are badly planned to get the 
best natural lighting results in the build- 
ings. For instance, the orientation of build- 
ings so that you can get sunlight into all 
the rooms most of the days of the year 
when the sun is shining: with the build- 
ings arranged on the north and south, east 
and west plan at certain seasons of the year 
you get no sunlight in certain rooms. This 
is a rather new question in connection with 
the problem of lighting, so that if you can 
control the location of your building on a 
lot — we cannot often do that — you can help 
your lighting system problem very much 
by planning it with reference to the natural 
light. 

Another thing we do not think of in con- 
nection with lighting — I have already re- 
ferred to the color of walls, floors, windows, 
etc. — is the fact that at night, light leaks 
out of windows that are not shaded just as 
water leaks out of an open faucet; if you 
have windows properly shaded, and if you 
do not need windows raised for ventilation, 
it will make a considerable difference — a 
measurable difference — in the amount of 
light in the room if you pull down the 
shades and if they are of the right color. 
I know of rooms where there was a com- 
plaint about the lighting, and by simply 



putting on properly colored window shades 
and drawing those shades, when there was 
sufficient ventilation there, nothing more 
for the time being was necessary, simply 
because a lot of the light which had 
streamed out into the street, and into the 
night, was reflected back into the room. 

Of course a good deal depends on the 
use made of the room, number of people, 
and so on. Here is a pamphlet on 
"Photometric units and nomenclature." It 
is rather technical and scientific, but any of 
you who are interested in this problem 
will find it worth while to get this bulletin 
from the Bureau of Standards. They have 
a number of other pamphlets of interest in 
this connection. I have been especially for- 
tunate in this work because two of my per- 
sonal friends are connected with the light- 
ing work of the Bureau of Standards, and 
they have helped me a great deal. 

The new science of lighting is going to 
approach this problem from a scientific 
point of view rather than from the experi- 
mental point of view, and that means that 
a lot of the terms used in lighting, and so 
on, are being discarded and new terms are 
coming in. Most of us are not as yet 
familiar with these new terms and new 
units. When lighting is put on a scientific 
basis you will determine how much light 
you need on a square foot of surface on 
the reading plane — that is, the table in the 
reading room; and then it will be, rela- 
tively, an easy engineering problem to put 
in the fixtures and the arrangements to get 
the number of foot candles or whatever else 
you want on a square foot of surface. The 
newer study in the art of lighting engineer- 
ing is going at it from that point of view, 
but very little in the past has been done in 
that way. ,' /.■: 

Then another very important element 
relating to this lighting proposition is the 
matter of the individual eye. There is a 
committee, I think, in France, studying 
the physiology of light, and one of the 
most interesting things that have been 
brought out by some of the studies on this 
point is that eyes in different individuals 
require varying amounts of light for the 



COUNCIL 



.401 



satisfaction or comfort of the individual. 
There is a difference, It seems, in different 
individuals of at least fifty per cent, so that 
the light that is favorable and satisfactory 
for one person to work by with efficiency 
for three or four consecutive hours is fifty 
per cent less or fifty per cent more than 
another person needs. For that reason in 
reading rooms we can never get along 
without a certain number of individual 
lights, because of the difference in the 
human eye. General lighting is, therefore, 
in my judgment, very expensive, because as 
a rule you have to have the whole room 
flooded with a quantity of light sufficiently 
great for what you might call the eye re- 
quiring the greatest amount of light, and 
that means that at certain hours of the 
day a large part of the room is flooded 
with an amount of light which is not used 
and therefore is not necessary. 

Another very important element in col 
nection with fixtures is the matter of clean- 
liness, not only from the point of view 
of health, which we all admit, but on ac- 
count of the amount of light that is lost by 
dirty walls and dirty ceilings, dirty 
lamps — that is, the incandescent lamps — 
and dirty shades. I have been in many 
libraries where at least fifty per cent of 
light is being lost by reason of the fact that 
things are dirty. You can all help to im- 
prove conditions in that direction, with 
little extra expense. 

I had several more questions but the 
Chairman says my time has nearly expired 
so I will omit those. 

I want to say a word about ventilation. 
Humidity and the motion of the air are 
being recognized in recent years as two 
most important factors in proper ventila- 
tion, as well as temperature. Humidity and 
motion are of such great Importance be- 
cause of their effect on the functioning of 
the organs of the body — the skin, for in- 
stance. I want to say we have been mak- 
ing some interesting experiments under the 
direction of a ventilation engineer in our 
building, and as a result of this, at a con- 
siderable saving in fuel and power for the 
operation of the fan we are getting a 



ventilation that has been very much more 
satisfactory to the workers and to the pub- 
lic. We think it is worth while, but we are 
not ready to make a definite report. I 
may say, however, that Dr. Andrews told 
me the other day that in the new building 
of the John Crerar Library they are de- 
pending on direct ventilation so far as pos- 
sible; that they expect to get results at a 
cost for power of about 30 cents per hour, 
whereas under the old system (the system 
commonly in use in libraries) for the 
whole building it would cost $1.25 per 
hour simply for power to drive the fan dur- 
ing the winter. You can multiply the hours 
your library is open by a cost of 30 cents 
or $1.25 per hour and you see how the lal 
ter eats into your appropriation. 

I want to say one word more on this 
problem of ventilation. In my judgment 
it is a problem of ventilating people rather 
than of ventilating buildings or rooms. 

In conclusion I want to emphasize the 
importance to library workers of daily out- 
door exercise on their part, because it has 
a vital relation to tliis problem of ventila- 
tion. I want to express my conviction that 
the time will come when libraries will re- 
quire of their workers that those who do 
not take proper outdoor exercise will be 
regarded as a menace to themselves, to 
their fellow workers, and to the public. 
Personally I would rather work alongside 
of a person, using reasonable care, who has 
tuberculosis than a person who from the 
lack of proper exercise and taking care of 
herself is unhappy unless the room is at 80 
degrees temperature. 



"The library's part in the Americaniza- 
tion of the Immigrant," the general subject 
for the morning's consideration was theii 
taken up, the first speaker being Dr. Albeit 
Shiels, director of the division of reference 
and research, New York Board of Educa- 
tion, who discussed "The immigrant, the 
school and the library." 

(See p. 257) 

He was followed by Dr. H. H. Wheaton, 
specialist in immigrant education, U. S. 



402 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Bureau of Education, who spoke on "An 

Americanization program for libraries." 

(See p. 265) 

Miss J. Maud Campbell, director of 
work with foreigners, Massachusetts Free 
Public Library Commission, spoke on 
"Americanizing books and periodicals for 
immigrants." 

(See p. 269) 

Mr. John Foster Carr, director Immi- 
grant Publication Society, of New York, 
was the final speaker in the symposium, 
taking as his general theme "Library 
work with immigrants." 

(See p. 273) 

Mr. W. H. Brett, librarian of the Cleve- 
land Public Library, spoke briefly in con- 
clusion on "The library and the book 
trade," after which the session adjourned. 

THE LIBRARY AND THE BOOK TRADE 
By W. H. Brett, Cleveland Public Library 

I have had the opportunity, within the 
past few weeks, of discussing the relations 
of the library to the book-seller and pub- 
lisher, with some of the largest book-sell- 
ers in the country who pay especial at- 
tention to library business, and have been 
greatly interested in what they have told 
me. 

I endeavored first to get some informa- 
tion as to the importance of the library 
business to the book trade. I have the 
impression that, while the library busi- 
ness is undoubtedly important, still, the 
books purchased by libraries are a very 
small part of the entire book sales of the 
country. This is something of which I 
realize it would be impossible to give any 
accurate figures; I have been interested in 
the guesses that have been made, varying 
from one to fifteen or twenty per cent; 
possibly the average opinion would be that 
the libraries take two per cent of the vol- 
ume of novels published in the country, 
and not over ten per cent of the other 
books; my own guess would be that both 
these figures are too high. 

Another opinion In which I was Inter- 
ested was expressed by two leading deal- 



ers, namely, that somewhere from forty 
to sixty per cent — averaging the opinions, 
I would say fifty per cent — of the book- 
selling to libraries is in the hands of a 
few large book jobbers who pay especial 
attention to library business. While this, 
I imagine, is largely guess work, there can 
be no question but that a very large share 
of the business is done by these dealers, 
while the business done by the remainder 
and second-hand houses is considerable 
but very small in comparison with that of 
the regular jobbers. 

The most out-standing question — the one 
which comes into mind when we discuss 
our relations with the book-seller — is that 
of price; and I will consider that first. I 
have asked myself, and I have asked 
others, why a library should have a dis- 
count as a library; and I have never re- 
ceived a satisfactory answer. My own 
view is that there Is no ground for think- 
ing that libraries should have special treat- 
ment and receive any special considera- 
tion, on account of the nature of their 
work; and I think the feeling that they 
should, so far as it exists, is a survival 
from those early days when the minister 
and the teacher were given a discount on 
account of their educational service to 
the community, and doubtless also because 
they were known not to receive very large 
salaries. The result was that in a few 
years discounts became very general; 
everybody expected twenty off, very much 
to the demoralization of the book trade. 
To remedy this it became necessary to 
bring about a gradual change to net prices. 

It Is fundamentally unsound to base 
the question of price or discount on the 
occupation or the purpose of use on the 
part of the purchaser. The minister and 
teacher ought to be paid enough to buy 
their books as other people; and this is 
equally true of the library. It is supported 
by public taxation, in which case the book- 
seller pays his share, as other citizens, and 
should not be asked to make a special 
additional contribution in the way of dis- 
counts greater than the volume and char- 
acter of the business would warrant; or. 



COUNCIL 



403 



it is supported by endowment, in which 
case the donor certainly would not want 
the book-seller more than any other cit- 
izen to help support the library. 

The only logical and fair way of fixing 
prices and discounts for any purchaser 
is to gauge them by the volume and char- 
acter of the purchases. The library book- 
buyer has a right to expect as large dis- 
ccunts and as generous treatment in every 
way as is accorded to any buyer of equal 
quantities and of the same goods, mod- 
ified by other considerations which affect 
the value of the business to the dealer: 
some of these are: 

1. The intelligence and accuracy with 
which orders are placed. 

2. The certainty that payment will be 
made. 

3. The promptness with which payment 
is made. 

4. The amount of goods returned. 

And about these things I have the opin- 
ion of a considerable number of book-deal- 
ers: 

1. As to this, I find that libraries stand 
fairly, though the dealers say there is a 
very great deal of difference. The large 
library, where the work is thoroughly sys- 
tematized, sends its orders accurately and 
carefully made out, giving all the neces- 
sary data, and therefore easy to fill. On 
the other hand, many libraries are care- 
less in giving the information, uncertain 
as to what they want, and if the purchases 
are made personally, take a great deal of 
time in their selection. I think the con- 
sensus of opinion from the book-dealers 
is that the majority of large libraries are 
above the average customer as to the form 
in which their orders are placed, and that 
many of the smaller libraries are very 
much below the average, requiring more 
attention and time to sell the same amount 
of books than the ordinary private buyer. 

2. As to this item, the credit of libraries 
is beyond question, according to the gen- 
eral testimony of book-sellers. The loss 
of a library account is very rare. 

3. As to the item, time of payment, li- 
braries are, on the average, prompt. There 
are occasional delays, due generally to 



formalities. They probably average bet- 
ter than the private buyer. 

4. As to the return of books, libraries 
rank very low in the estimation of book- 
sellers. While many book-sellers send out 
books on approval and accept their return 
as part of the business, and sometimes 
permit books to be returned which were 
not on approval, in case the library de- 
cided afterwards to return them, there 
is no question but this is a very serious 
deduction from the value of the business 
of the library to the book-seller and may 
very fairly, and actually does, affect the 
discount which the book-seller can afford 
to make. 

The objections to the return of books are: 

First, and I suppose really most serious, 
io the work involved. I saw an illustration 
of this lately. If one hundred dollars' 
worth of books are sent out on approval 
and ?25 worth are returned, — assuming, 
which I think is really true, that it is al- 
most as much trouble to the book-seller 
to receive books back, check the bills and 
restore them to their places, as it was in 
the first place to bill and sell them, — such 
a deal would mean that the book-seller 
handles $125 worth of books in order to 
sell $75 worth, at an expense which great- 
ly lessens the profit of the transaction, if 
it does not render it entirely profitless. 
The overhead expense of the book-seller 
is one which the librarian does not always 
take into account. 

Another serious objection to the return 
of books is the difficulty of keeping them 
from injury. It is practically Impossible 
for even a careful reader to read a book 
through without making a second-hand 
book of it. If you will notice a book which 
has been read, lying fiat on the table, you 
will usually observe that the accurate curve 
of the front and the back is gone, one of 
the covers projects beyond the other, and 
the front is comparatively flat. The book 
is not fit to go onto the shelf of the book- 
seller and be sold as a new book to the 
fastidious buyer; it would probably go to 
a library without question, if the book- 
seller happened to have another library 



464 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



customer for it. I have no doubt but that 
many book-sellers endure very serious im- 
positions of this sort rather than disturb 
their pleasant relations with library cus- 
tomers, believing that on the whole the 
business with libraries is profitable. This 
I think, in simple fairness to the book- 
sellers, should be adjusted in some way, 
possibly by the reduction of discount on 
books which are sent on approval, so that 
the larger profit on those retained would 
fairly offset the injury to those which are 
returned. 

There are, however, certain other very 
important things involved in the relation 
of libraries to the book-trade, relations of 
mutual service. I have been greatly im- 
pressed during the years in which I have 
known something of and have had some 
experience in library book-buying, with the 
thoroughly honest service rendered to li- 
braries by book-sellers, and more partic- 
ularly by those larger jobbers who pay 
especial attention to the business of li- 
braries, studying it carefully, and equip- 
ping themselves to give satisfactory serv- 
ice. Such a book-seller will not intention- 
ally sell to a library a book which he does 
not believe to be the best selection, the 
best edition, or a desirable purchase for 
the library. 

The library may and does receive from 
the book-seller most valuable service in 
the making up of its orders; the larger 
library, with its fuller equipment of bib- 
liographies, keeping up with the trade lists 
and journals, is much better able to select 
books wisely than is the small library; 
but even the large library may receive 
valuable assistance from the intelligent 
and well-equipped book-seller; and the 
small library with a meager supply of 
trade-helps needs such assistance much 
more. I am impressed with the fact that 
the intelligent book-seller does render real 
service to the library in addition to mere- 
ly filling the orders as placed. 

On the other hand, I am no less con- 
fident that the library renders a great 
service to the book-seller, in educating an 



army of readers who are and will be more 
01 less book-buyers, and the aggregate of 
whose purchases I believe will very much 
more than offset any lessening of book- 
buying which may come from the fact that 
books may be had free in the library. This 
phase of the question was most admirably 
treated by Mr. Dudgeon in a recent paper 
at the book-sellers' meeting in Chicago, 
and was compared with the methods 
adopted by organizations in various lines 
of business to create a demand for their 
goods. As to this particular question — 
M hether the library increases or dimin- 
ishes the business of the book-seller — 
there is a very wide difference of opinion 
among book-sellers. So far as I can learn, 
some of the larger book-sellers are in- 
clined to regard the library on the whole 
as helpful to the book business, while 
others disagree with this, and the smaller 
book-sellers more generally seem inclined 
to look upon the library as rather a rival 
snd a detriment to their business. My 
own view of it is that the library and the 
book-store are mutually serviceable to each 
other. The book-seller may, and the best 
of them do, give to the library more than 
mere exchange of so many books for so 
much money without reference to the in- 
terests of the library. They give, beyond 
this, an intelligent and valuable service 
and a genuine interest which lead them 
to regard the library's advantage as well 
as their own. On the other hand, libra- 
rians should, and many of them do, realize 
the difficult problems of the book-seller. 
The interests of both the library and 
the book trade would be promoted by a 
better understanding on the part of li- 
brarians of the problems and difficulties 
of the publisher and book-seller. No fair- 
minded librarian wants a book-seller to 
sell books at a rate so low as not to afford 
a reasonable profit. On the other hand 
every librarian should insist on the lowest 
rates that the volume and character of 
his purchases will justify. Nor should the 
library whose orders are carefully made 
and intelligible and whose bills are prompt- 
ly paid have its discounts held down for 



AGRICULTURAL LIBRARIES SECTION 



406 



the shortcomings of other institutions. 

Better acquaintance and mutual under- 
standing of each other's problems should 



furnish a substantial basis for business 
relations advantageous to both libraries 
and the book trade. 



AGRICULTURAL LIBRARIES SECTION 



The annual meeting of the Agricultural 
Libraries Section was called to order 
Wednesday morning, June 28, 1916, at 9:30 
o'clock, in the Auditorium, Asbury Park, 
N. J., by the chairman, Mr. M. G. Wyer, 
librarian of the University of Nebraska. 
Miss Julia C. Gray, librarian of the Penn- 
sylvania State College School of Agricul- 
ture and Experiment Station, was appoint- 
ed secretary of the meeting. 

After brief introductory remarks by the 
chairman, Mr. John A. Lapp, editor of 
"Special Libraries," Indianapolis, Ind., 
gave an address on "Agricultural libraries 
as special libraries." Mr. Lapp's address 
caused a discussion which brought out the 
following suggestions for making the Sec- 
tion useful to the libraries: 

A union of all libraries, particularly agri- 
cultural libraries, to develop and strengthen 
the agricultural library in Washington for 
the use of research workers — a center for 
the collection of material that European 
men already have at their disposal. This 
would require an appropriation of $100,000 
a year for five years. 

Increased cooperation between the U. S. 
Department of Agriculture and the agricul- 
tural libraries all over the country by main- 
taming a trained assistant in Washington, 
to serve as an agricultural library organ- 
izer, to improve those libraries for the use 
of faculty and students. 

County agent libraries or clearing houses 
of information, to be acquired by the col- 
lection of free material on agricultural sub- 
jects, so that the county agent may be pre- 
pared to hand out to the farmer free publi- 
cations treating of special problems with 
which he has to deal. 

The agricultural bulletins were criticized 
as being too technical for the farmer, and 



lor not giving the right kind of informa- 
tion in the right way. 

It was agreed that through tne Smith- 
Lever Bill for Agricultural Extension the 
agricultural libraries are facing great prob- 
lems and great possibilities. 

In regard to methods of extension dis- 
tribution, Mr. Green, of the Massachusetts 
Agricultural College Library, stated that it 
was difficult to secure the interest of ex- 
tension representatives in the library phase 
of the work. Mr. Hepburn, of Purdue Uni- 
versity Library, stated that boxes of free 
literature had been fitted to the running 
boards of automobiles and distributed to 
farmers in that way. 

The first paper on the program, "A union 
check-list of serials in agricultural libra- 
ries," was prepared and read by Mr. 
Charles R. Green, librarian of Massachu- 
setts Agricultural College. This paper sug- 
gested a geographical scheme in connection 
with the interlending system. 

The second paper, "The agricultural in- 
dex." by Mr. H. W. Wilson, of White Plains, 
N. Y., explained the purpose and plan of 
the new index of agricultural periodicals, 
prepared by H. W. T,^ilson and Co. In the 
discussion which followed much frank but 
friendly criticism occurred. Some believed 
the price too high. Others did not favor 
the inclusion of the experiment station 
bulletins, because of the fact that the sta- 
tions are provided with the card catalog 
of these bulletins by the States Relations 
Service. It was stated that the card cata- 
log was seldom less than a year behind 
time, and that Mr. Wilson's index would 
come out more promptly. 

The following motions were made and 
carried: 

On motion of Mr. Hepburn it v/as re- 



406 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



solved that a committee be appointed to 
confer with Mr. Wilson in regard to the 
index. Committee to he appointed by the 
chair. 

On motion of Mr. Deveneau of University 
of Illinois Library it was resolved that the 
section take some action to induce the U. S. 
Department of Agriculture to revise its 
list of Experiment Station publications, as 
contained in Bulletin 180, to bring it up 
to date. 

On a second motion made by Mr. Deve- 
neau it was resolved that the section also 
take some action to induce the U. S. De- 
partment of Agriculture to revise its own 
check-list of publications to date. 

Tlie appointment by the chair of a com- 



mittee to cooperate with Miss Barnett, li- 
brarian of the U. S. Department of Agri- 
culture, in the preparation of a handbook 
for small agricultural libraries was ap- 
proved. 

On account of the lateness of the hour 
the paper on "Some opportunities in agri- 
cultural library work," prepared by Mrs. 
Ida A. Kidder, librarian of Oregon Agri- 
cultural College, was read by title only. 
(See p. 228) 

Mr. Charles R. Green, librarian of Mas- 
sachusetts College of Agriculture, was ap- 
pointed chairman of the next meeting. 
Julia C. Gray, 
Secretary. 



CATALOG SECTION 



FIRST SESSION 

The first meeting of the Catalog Section 
was held Tuesday evening, June 27, the 
chairman Miss Sula Wagner, of the St. 
Louis Public Library, presiding. Mr. Jesse 
Cunningham of St. Joseph, Mo., read the 
first paper of the evening on "Problems dis- 
covered in cataloging the library of the 
Missouri School of Mines." 
(See p. 234) 

A paper by J. Christian Bay, of the John 
Crerar Library, on "Inspiration through 
cataloging," was read, in his absence, by 
Carl B. Roden, of the Chicago Public 
Library. 

(See p. 237) 

In commenting on Mr. Bay's paper. Miss 
Agnes Van Valkenburgh, of the New York 
Public Library School, said: 

"I thought at first that the subject an- 
nounced was 'Cataloging by inspiration' 
and instantly examples of this method of 
work came into my mind, like putting Mrs. 
Alexander's 'Forging the fetters' under 
the subject Slavery, though this might pos- 
sibly have been done witli malice afore- 
thought, since marriage furnished the fet- 
ters forged. It seems to me full time that 



the inspirational side of our profession 
should receive our attention, if this means 
the things which make it worth while. 
This generation seems to have be- 
come obsessed with a desire to work loith 
the public, the idea of working for the 
public has eluded them. Judged in the 
light of real helpfulness to the world, the 
catalogers, tor instance, who made the use- 
ful debaters' handbooks did fully as much 
service as the person who uses them and 
who feels quite a thrill of satisfaction in 
giving to the high school boy more material 
than he can possibly digest, for his debate. 

"There are many things inspiring in our 
work and I would call attention to a few 
of them. 

"First: We are making a permanent 
record, v/hich will be useful to people yet 
unborn, and whose influence will go on 
long after we are done with this earthly 
scene. I suppose if Mr. Charles A. Cutter 
had been stung with the bee of working 
witTi people, he would have had much in- 
fluence with a few, he was that kind, but 
nothing at all to be compared with the 
influence he has had throughout this coun-' 
try in giving us formulated and uniform 



CATALOG SECTION 



407 



rules for helping all people to get Informa- 
tion. 

"Even if we are working for the more 
Ignoble reward of gratitude, the sum total 
felt in the hearts of people for quick and 
timely service far exceeds that given to the 
worker at the desk, though not expressed to 
us personally. We place the key in the 
hands of the searcher for knowledge. 

"Second: Our work is vital and interest- 
ing. In order to do it well we must always 
work with the user of our labors in mind. 
We precede our clientele and to a certain 
extent blaze the way for them. We have 
all the joys of the path-finder and the 
pioneer. 

"Third: The watchword of this age 
seems to be self-improvement, and in no 
other profession does the actual carrying 
on of the work produce that effect so 
surely. When I was explaining 'what I 
did,' to a man, one time, he concluded by 
saying, 'Why, all the interesting things in 
the world come over your desk.' 

"It is true, we, as catalogers must know 
of all the new things in science, art and 
religion. Each new discovery or invention 
must be reflected in our product. Litera- 
ture in all its forms is the instrument with 
which we work, and it is impossible to 
think daily of all these things without 
broadening our own liorizons. 

"Of course, we have to admit that 
some of our knowledge spreads out pretty 
thin in spots, and we will all welcome the 
day when each one of us will have some 
branch of knowledge which we really know, 
but in the meantime there is a great deal 
of pleasure and some profit in at least 
knowing what people are talking about, and 
in helping them to more knowledge about 
their own subjects of interest. This may 
be to some an idea different from the one 
usually held of us and our labors, that we 
sit in secluded offices and spend our time 
poring over dusty books in which no one 
is interested. I sometimes wonder how this 
idea became current, for I defy anyone 
here to name a profession which has more 
to offer to its followers than ours. 

"To recapitulate: Our work is vital and 



interesting, it makes daily and hourly for 
self-culture and education, and has as a re- 
sult a record which posterity will find help- 
ful. Who can hope to find more than this 
in any means of livelihood?" 

Mr. Charles Martel, of the Library of 
Congress, emphasized Mr. Bay's point on 
personal method and personality in catalog- 
ing. 

Miss Beatrice Winser, of the Newark 
Free Public Library, gave a talk on "Mak- 
ing maps available." 

(See p. 245) 

Mr. A. Law Voge, of the Mechanlcs'- 
Mercantile Library, San Francisco, pre- 
sented the 

REPORT OF THE DECIMAL CLASSIFI- 
CATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF 
THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIA- 
TION 

No one doubts that the open shelf has 
come to stay. Those who have drunk of 
the elixir of that freedom will never permit 
reversion to the closed shelf. 

With the open shelf a system of mere 
pigeon-holing of books, irrespective of their 
relationship with adjacent books, no longer 
can have any worthy argument in its de- 
fense. All librarians must have noted that 
their most earnest readers not infrequently 
question the classification of certain books 
or classes of books. This attention to 
classification by readers who are specialists 
will grow as access to the books grows. 
You cannot classify too closely for these, 
the readers most worthy of being served. 
The intelligent reader goes to the shelf ex- 
pecting to find there all the books on the 
subject in which he is interested. The 
arrangement on the shelf by classification 
number should show him the material the 
library has to offer as the subject catalog 
cannot. Without close classification his 
expectations will be disappointed. It is 
increasingly important that the individual 
books should be carefully classified, if the 
library is to retain the respect and trust 
of its best readers. 

How much more necessary is it then that 
the classification-code itself should be ac- 



408 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



curately prepared or else the most pains- 
taking care of the classifier struggling with 
the individual book will go for naught. 

No classification extant today can prevent 
this anguish of the classifier in every in- 
stance. Most classifiers recognize this fact. 
Most of them, too, have vision; their call- 
ing has claimed that for them; and they 
have seen (and sometimes thought they 
saw) places where alterations or extensions 
of the code of classification would have 
made it a better working tool. Many strove 
to make these suggestions where they 
would be acted upon, and then later, see- 
ing little or no results, felt they had been 
ignored. 

In the case of the D. C, the editors 
have readily listened to suggestions from 
all sources. 

No classification is better than a bad 
classification, for if there is no classifica- 
tion you can begin with a clean slate; but 
if a bad classification has been used, much 
correction must be made of books and 
catalogs before the good classification 
can be utilized. So that before a 
chapter of any classification is perma- 
nently expanded, it is imperative that the 
tentative scheme or schemes be given ex- 
haustive tests. This the classifier fre- 
quently fails to realize, but it is this sound 
principle that makes the editors of any 
classification conservative in adopting ex- 
pansions or changes unless they are satis- 
fied that the expansions have been 
thoroughly tested with all or most of the 
literature on the subject. Failure to make 
such tests inevitably results in embarrass- 
ment to all concerned in the classification. 

For some years I have recognized the de- 
sire to aid in classification-expansions on 
the part of classifiers and catalogers gen- 
erally, and I have felt equally certain of 
the willingness of the editors of the D. C. 
to co-operate in this. As acting chairman 
of the Catalog Section last year I saw the 
opportunity for combining these two forces 
in a resultant one of much greater power. 

Mr. Dewey was asked if he approved the 
appointment of an advisory committee of 
the A. L. A. He replied most cordially 



that he did, that he would not only accept 
suggestions from the committee on classifi- 
cation but would also transmit to them for 
approval or disapproval all proposed ex- 
pansions coming to him from other sources. 

At the session of the Catalog Section at 
Berkeley where over one hundred were in 
attendance, it was moved and seconded that 
the Catalog Section recommend to the 
Council that such a committee be appointed. 
This motion was unanimously carried. The 
Council at its last meeting in Berkeley 
passed the recommendation on to the 
Executive Board with its approval. There 
was not a quorum of the Executive Board 
present, so action was deferred. 

At the Haines Falls meeting of the New 
York State Library Association in the fall 
of last year, the Executive Board met, con- 
sidered the recommendation for the ap- 
pointment of the committee, but because of 
some opposition, tabled it, leaving it to be 
brought up for final consideration at the 
December meeting. 

The ex-acting chairman of the Catalog 
Section of the Berkeley meeting then cir- 
cularized many of the large libraries, ask^ 
ing them to write to the Executive Board 
if they desired the appointment of the com- 
mittee. Some 65 librarians wrote, urging 
the appointment of this committee. 

The Executive Board, at the meeting in 
Chicago last December, instructed the presi- 
dent of the A. L. A. to appoint such a com- 
mittee, being again assured by Mr. Dewey 
of his cordial welcome for their co-opera- 
tion. Miss Plummer therefore appointed: 
Dr. C. W. Andrews of John Crerar, Miss 
Corinne Bacon of H. W. Wilson Co., Mr. 
Walter Biscoe of New York State Library, 
Miss June Donnelly of Simmons College 
Library School, Miss Jennie Fellows of 
New York State Library, Mr. Charles Flagg 
of Bangor, Me., Public Library, Miss Julia 
Pettee of Union Theological Seminary Li- 
brary, Miss Mary Sutliff of New York Pub- 
lic Library School, and Mr. A. Law Voge of 
Mechanics' Institute, San Francisco, who 
was named secretary of the committee. Miss 
Plummer recommended that the committee 
choose its own chairman. 



CATALOG SECTION 



409 



All those appointed have consented to 
serve, and by circular letter have nominated 
and elected Dr. Andrews chairman. 

The committee held its first meeting this 
afternoon. It resolved to circularize the 
libraries asking for replies to four queries: 

1. A list of the subjects most in need of 
numbers. 

2. A list of the classes' most in need of 
expansion. 

3. A list of the classes most in need of 
change and for which they would be will- 
ing to reclass their books and correct their 
cards. 

The committee desires above all things 
now to get a very general expression of 
opinion as to just what is most wanting in 
the Decimal Classification. It can do that 
in no better way than by the heart-to-heart 
talks for which a Round Table offers op- 
portunity. 

Among the types of suggestions which it 
is hoped will be made are the following: 

1. Sections most in need of expansion. 

2. Sections most in need of alteration. 

3. Important subjects not yet classed or 
symbolized. 

4. Unofficial expansions of the D. C. that 
might me used as basis for approved ex- 
pansions. 

5. Unsymbolized classifications that 
could be similarly used. 

6. General modus operandi of classifica- 
tion making and classification testing. 

The committee proposes for itself a va- 
riety of work: 

1. Compilation of a supplementary list 
to the John Crerar Bibliography of 
bibliographies (for use in testing classifica- 
tions). 

2. Preparation and testing of some spe- 
cial expansions. 

3. Testing and passing upon classifica- 
tions prepared by libraries or indi-viduals. 

4. Testing and passing upon classifica- 
tions submitted by the editors of the D. C. 

5. Advising the D. C. editors what new 
subjects are most in need of class-numbers. 

6. Determining where changes in the 
D. C. ane most necessary and most desired. 

The committee will probably accomplish 



this very considerable amount of work by 
means of the assistance of a numerous body 
of collaborators. Sub-committees of four 
or six would he formed from these col- 
laborators, each sub-committee directed by 
one member of the main committee. Each 
sub-committee would be assigned a classifi- 
cation to prepare or test. The results of 
the work of the collaborators would be 
passed upon by the main committee, and 
if approved transmitted to the editors of 
the D. C. 

These are few words and simple sen- 
tences, but the speaker has not worked 
with classification continuously for a 
decade without being able to realize that 
the tasks laid out are great. 

Many, many have been the criticisms 
made of the D. C. There will be little room 
for them longer. If the critics are earnest, 
— and these are the only ones deserving of 
attention — here is their opportunity to be 
heard, their opportunity to aid their pro- 
fession by getting out and working to 
eliminate the imperfections of the classifi- 
cation. 

Whether the work of this committee is to 
be successful or not, depends upon whether 
the classifiers and catalogers will work to 
make it so. It is work in harmony with the 
key-note of this convention — Democracy. 
It is co-operation, all working as one for 
the good of all. 

All are invited to aid. Grant us your 
active support. 

SHC0N3 S333IOM _ 

The second meeting of the Catalog Sec- 
tion was held Friday afternoon, June 30. 
The chairman introduced Mr. Martel who 
had consented to take up the "Report of 
progress on the Manual for alphabetiza- 
tion," by Mr. C. H. Hastings of the Library 
of Congress when it was learned that the 
latter could not be present. Mr. Hastings 
has written the secretary of the Section 
asking that the paper be omitted from the 
Proceedings as it is in a provisional state. 
It is hoped that the Manual will be in print 
within a year. The discussion by Miss 
Mary E. Baker and others was detailed and 



410 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



valuable and has been sent back with the 
paper to Mr. Hastings. In Miss Mann's ab- 
sence Miss Sutliff gave the report of the 
committee appointed to confer with Mr. 
Hastings. 

The following memorandum from Mr. 
T. Franklin Currier, of Harvard College 
Library, was read by title only and ordered 
printed in the proceedings : 

MEMORANDUM: METHOD OF RECORD- 
ING VOLUMES OF CHINESE AND 
JAPANESE BOOKS 

In connection with the work of our 
Oriental collections, I have made inquiry 
of several American libraries as to their 
method of counting Chinese and Japanese 
books. I have received replies which are 
summarized as follows: 

COLUMBIA. "We bind our Chinese and 
Japanese fascicules into convenient vol- 
umes and then count the volumes in giving 
the total number of volumes in the Library. 
Professor Hirth, head of the Chinese De- 
partment, attends to collecting the volumes 
and arranging them for binding. If for any 
reason he decides not to bind, we count as 
one volume the fascicules which are col- 
lected in one cover." 

Professor Hirth of Columbia in a later 
letter says: "I quite agree with your con- 
clusion regarding the fascicule as the un- 
changeable unit in describing a Chinese 
library. In fact I have acted on this prin- 
ciple myself in counting the contents of my 
own collection of Chinese books as about 
7,000 fascicules, or pon. If I separated the 
bound-up volumes from the loose fascicules 
at our university library, it was done in 
view of these books being handled by men 
and women not knowing Chinese, to whom 
a volume, though it may contain a number 
of fascicules, is just one volume. However, 
I would suggest that the number of fasci- 
cules bound together in each volume be 
stated on the first page and in the catalog. 
In some cases it will be hard to ascertain 
the exact number of fascicules that are 
bound together, and then we would have to 
resort to a guess. There is no absolute 
reliance in the counting of fascicules any- 



how, since I have often come across the 
same work being issued in different num- 
bers of fascicules at the discretion of the 
binder." 

JOHN CRERAR. "We give 14,000 vol- 
umes, the total number of thin fascicules, 
as the number of our Orientalia." 

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. "Our count 
of Chinese and Japanese works by fasci- 
cules was assumed to be the conventional 
one and thus adopted. We still hold to it, 
notwithstanding that the cover, into which 
we put such works, group five or six of the 
fascicules as a new unit. We might, of 
course, take this unit as the basis ; and may 
do so, if we see reason to think that by 
doing so, we should promote uniformity in 
practice." 

NEWBERRY. "Hence we speak of '1,217 
works in 21,654 Chinese volumes,' in (1911 
Report, p. 7) meaning 1,217 titles in 21,654 
brochures; we describe the Tripitaka as 
numbering '7,920 volumes, i. e. Chinese 
volumes or brochures, in 729 richly bound 
cloth cases (t'ao)." 

"We discussed the matter in 1911 with 
Dr. Laufer, and followed his advice in call- 
ing each independently stitched part in our 
Tibetan collection a 'volume.' He also 
gave us the term 't'ao' for Chinese covers." 

YALE. "The 'volumes' in our Chinese 
collection refers to rebound volumes, not 
to the original thin fascicules, but in case 
of unbound volumes we refer to the thin 
volumes." 

To summarize: John Crerar, Library of 
Congress and Newberry count the thin 
fascicules as volumes, though the Library 
of Congress would consider a change to 
promote uniformity. Mr. M. Mohri, assist- 
ant librarian of the Waseda University, 
Tokyo, now in this country, states that this 
is the practice in his library. Columbia 
takes as the unit the volumes or bundles 
formed of several fascicules, though Pro- 
fessor Hirth seems to favor the count by 
fascicules. Yale takes as a unit the bound 
volume containing several fascicules but 
when the fascicules are not bound together 
count each one a volume. 



CHILDREN'S LIBRARIANS' SECTION 



411 



Conclusion: The unchangeable unit is 
the fascicule. Three of the libraries, or 
four counting Harvard, have adopted this 
unit and it seems to agree v.-lth Oriental 
custom. Harvard recommends, therefore, 
that this method be adopted and that 
where further specification is desirable the 
count be given as so many works in so 
many fascicules. 



The last paper of the session was by 
Mr. Aksel G. S. Josephson, of the John 



Crerar Library on "The cataloging test; 
results and outlooks." 

(See p. 242) 
The nominating committee, through the 
chairman, Mr. Voge, proposed the following 
for officers for the ensuing year: Chair- 
man, Edna Goss, head cataloger University 
of Minnesota Library; secretary, Bessie 
Goldberg, head cataloger Chicago Public Li- 
brary. This ticket was elected and the 
meeting adjourned. 

Charlotte H. Fote, 
Secretary. 



CHILDREN'S LIBRARIANS' SECTION 



FIRST SESSION 

The first session of the Children's 
Librarians Section was held in the Audi- 
torium on Wednesday evening, June 28, the 
chairman. Miss Gertrude E. Andrus, Seattle 
Public Library, presiding. The subject of 
the meeting was "Ckitical Comments on 
Library Work with Children." 

Dr. Arthur E. Bostwick, St. Louis Public 
Library, read the first paper. 
(See p. 209) 

Mr. Henry E. Legler, Chicago Public 
Library, read the second paper. 
(See p. 205) 

Mr. R. R. Bowker, of "Library journal," 
was then called upon to contribute to the 
subject and spoke as follows: 

Mr. BOWKER: Madam Chairman and 
fellow grown-ups — indeed, until Dr. Bost- 
wick succeeds with his suffrage campaign 
in relation to children's librarians, I should 
say "lady grown-ups": If I do not treat 
you with brevity and levity I shall try not 
to tire you with too much longevity. Hap- 
pily I am pretty sure to forget the larger 
part of what I should like to say; happily 
especially because the Fairy Godmother is 
to follow me, and we hope that all this talk 
will be followed by a real discussion of 
any points that are brought before you, if 
you young ladies can, like Ulysses, stop 



your ears with arguments against the siren 
strains that tempt you to the dancing floor. 

Most of us were once a child — not the 
plural — because this is individual work, 
though some few were born old. We think 
of ourselves as children of a larger growth, 
and I suppose there is a general notion in 
the community that anybody who has been 
a child and is of the feminine persuasion is 
fitted to be a children's librarian; but the 
children's librarian is one, I will not say 
born, not made, but properly selected by 
the library school and the librarian, and 
stands to the child even in a more import- 
ant relation in some respects than in loco 
parentis. 

We hear a great deal of abuse of parents 
in these times; and indeed, parents are not 
apt to know their children over well. I 
remember crossing in a steamer once and 
forming an intimacy with a young lady not 
up to flirtation age, and after a while her 
father, passing by, said, "I perceive you 
have formed a closer intimacy with my 
daughter than I have ever had the honor 
of enjoying." One of the reasons why the 
parent has difficulty in knowing the chil- 
dren is that the children are with the pa- 
rent all the time. It is the every-day rela- 
tionship which perhaps has a bit of the 
commonplace in it , whereas the child 



412 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



comes to the library eager for the new 
things and the children's librarian has the 
opportunity to take advantage of that 
eagerness. Then you have not the tempta- 
tions of the parent: you cannot whip the 
child if you want to. I am fond of quoting 
Mrs. Bowker on Froebel: Froebel is say- 
ing what he thought of corporal punish- 
ment. He said, "Madam, if your brains are 
not stronger than your arm, I believe in 
corporal punishment!" You can't use your 
arm as the parent can, or as the old-fash- 
ioned school teacher could. You have to 
use your brains, and therefore you have a 
relation with the child which is in some 
respects even more effective from time to 
time than that of the parent. The child 
looks to you eagerly and with avidity, 
hopeful to get of your best, and I think the 
first thought should be as to how the child 
should be met. 

Now, you may ask why I am speaking to 
you about children rather than, perhaps, 
about children's reading. First, because 
Miss Andrus told me to do so, and told me 
with a voice that reached all the way 
across the continent, sweet as it may be in 
this hall, and secondly, because I have long 
collected cliildren. When I was a boy I 
collected postage stamps; later I collected 
children; I have brought up temporarily 
several small families of other people's 
children, not altogether without success. I 
have come into intimate relationship with 
many children. I say this because I want 
to emphasize the real way of corning into 
such intimate relationship. I know of noth- 
ing worse than the way of approaching a 
child when you ask its name, and age, and, 
if it has studied French, if it can't talk a 
little French for you; a few questions of 
that sort will put the child absolutely on 
its self-consciousness and leave no possi- 
bility of intimacy. The child comes to you 
naturally, with a purpose; there is that 
kind of immediate intimacy between you, 
and this is really the great opportunity that 
the children's librarian has with the child. 
The opportunity, in some respects, as I 
have said, is more effective than that of the 
parents or even of the teacher, whose work 



with the child must be confined within 
school hours. 

Miss Plummer's address gave to me 
really two points on which I should like 
to speak this evening. Miss Plummer 
spoke of the main difficulties in the way of 
humanity as ignorance and fear. Now, 
there are essentially two kinds of ignor- 
ance; the one is the ignorance of the child, 
with which you have to do; the happy ig- 
norance of want to know; the other is the 
ignorance of the adult, who won't know, 
who doesn't want to know; and they are as 
different as the poles. The ignorance of the 
child is, of course, your opportunity, and 
as the child comes to the inquiring age, 
that is the age at which the child comes 
also to the library. I always think of the 
child's mind as going out like the antennae 
of insects, quivering with desire to know. 
Perhaps you have heard a child, as I have, 
coming into a room and saying, "What dat 
is? What dat is? What dat is?" faster than 
you can possibly answer; it is simply a 
thirst to know, and too often such inquiring 
is followed by its suffocation by the unap- 
preciating parent. This receptivity of the 
child is the field for the first work of the 
children's librarian. 

I am not meaning to take your time to 
discuss books in detail, and the principles 
of reading. There are those wiser than I 
about that. I am not to discuss how you 
should answer the unanswerable questions 
that the child asks. I am not wise enough, 
no one is wise enough, for that; questions 
about birth, death, sex, and the like. Be- 
fore those we are ourselves all more or 
less agnostics. We can not rebuff the child 
by rebuking him for his ignorance. We 
can only, as in the fine poem of Walt Whit- 
man regarding death and the child, say 
that we do not know, but that we hope, and 
to the child we can simply show the anal- 
ogies of nature that will some day answer 
for him — that every day answer for him 
— the questions which we also ask. So the 
ignorance which is a curse to the adult is 
the opportunity of the child, and your 
opportunity. 
The difficulty of fear — does that come 



CHILDREN'S LIBRARIANS' SECTION 



413 



with the child? I think not, and I think 
one of the chief alms of the children's libra- 
rian sliould be to banish, and not to encour- 
age fear. I suppose most of us have our 
bugaboos, many of them, alas, brought from 
early childhood. I remember Wilkie Col- 
lins once telling me that, just as he was on 
the point of finishing those terrifying 
novels of his, always as he went up the 
stair there waited for him a green woman 
with yellow tusks, to try to bite him as he 
passed. That was the excitation born of 
the nervousness of the work, but I suspect 
there was some left over from the early 
days of the child. We know of a little 
child, whose father might very rightly be 
here, who was taught by her nurse that 
there was a tiger under the bed, and for 
months the mother could not get at the 
truth; perhaps the children's librarian 
could have done so. But that child was 
distressed and probably influenced in all 
after life by that unhappy fear which had 
been given her. That same child had read 
Scripture to poor purpose, or had been 
told Scripture to poor purpose, because 
when they read of Daniel in the lion's den 
she said, "But why did God put Daniel 
among the lions? It wasn't nice." It was 
said to her, "Well, he came out all right." 
"Yes," slie responded, "but he had to stay 
all night among the lions!" Another story 
is that of the little girl sent up to bed and 
told the Lord would take care of her. There 
came up a thunderstorm, and a small voice 
was heard upstairs, "Mama, mama, you 
come up to bed with me and let God stay 
downstairs with papa!" 

I tell you these stories because thej 
really give you a picture of the child's 
mind, and show the importance of avoid- 
ing tear, and I am going to cliallenge the 
Fairy Godmother with reference to the tell- 
ing of certain fairy stories which I think 
err decidedly in that direction. Perhaps 
one of the things I should criticize in the 
present children's library is the over-ten- 
dency to story-telling. Indeed, story- 
telling has been given an exaggerated em- 
phasis, I think, as a matter of literature 
and education, and I have heard with dis- 



tress some of the stories told to children, 
out of folk-lore, to be sure, which I felt 
would leave in their minds these very after 
impressions of fear. I think I heard one 
told by the Fairy Godmother herself. I 
should question much story-telling about 
the devil; I recall, for Instance, a legend 
of Table Mountain and the devil's tobacco 
pipe, told by a well-known story-teller, 
which seemed to me at least unkindly. We 
may say that these came in the childhood 
of the nations, therefore the child wants 
them and should have them. But let us re- 
member this: The savage, of course, began 
the history of the race, and we repeat it 
more or less. But the child of today is not 
the child of a savage; it is the child of 
all the heredity since the savage, and it 
does not seem to me that the modern child 
needs to have, or should have, or can well 
liave these pictures which the savages, as 
savages, conjured up to themselves of the 
awful, malevolent deities which constituted 
their theology. 

In speaking as I have of the Inspirational 
work of the children's librarian and its 
moral nature, I would emphasize what I 
like to call the apostolic succession of this 
kind of work. Perhaps not all of you have 
heard the story of Helen Keller and the 
apostolic succession which made that won- 
derful woman and brought her out of dark- 
ness into radiance. When Dr. Samuel G. 
Howe, the head of the Perkins Institution 
for the Blind, and one of the great leaders 
of the blind, went to Athens nearly a cen- 
tury ago to aid the Greeks, he looked about 
for some young Greek who would help with 
his knowledge of the people and of the 
language, and he learned of a young man 
named Anagnos. He asked about Anagnos 
and found he was a young journalist, earn- 
ing his living by journalism. When he sent 
for Anagnos and said, "Will you come and 
help me do this work for your people?" 
Anagnos said, "Of course." Dr. Howe 
asked, "How much shall I pay you?" 
"Nothing, because If you have come over 
here on this work of helping my people, I, 
as one of my people, cannot take money for 
my work." So for a good while Anagnos 



414 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



served Dr. Howe as secretary and helper, 
and the Doctor told him that when he 
wanted to come to America his passage 
would be provided for. Later on he did 
come to America. He taught one of Dr. 
Howe's daughters Greek, and later she be- 
came his wife. Presently Anagnos became 
the successor of Dr. Howe. After a while 
his young bride passed away, and in the 
depths of his sorrow he received a letter 
from the South — from Alabama — in which 
a physician told him of the birth of a child 
who seemed to have no means of communi- 
cation with the outer world. There seemed 
to be a spirit that wanted to come out, but 
she could not see, or speak, or hear. There 
had been in the Perkins Institution a young 
woman, Anne Sullivan, who had been 
helped from blindness into light. She was 
grateful and wanted to do her share in the 
work. Anagnos thought over whom he 
could ask, and he sent for Anne Sullivan, 
and asked lier whether she would think 
of going to Alabama and taking up this 
work. She said, "I will think about it." 
She went home, got together the books writ- 
ten about Laura Bridgman, that first blind 
deaf mute, and came back and said, "I have 
read all I can about Laura Bridgman, and 
I am ready for the work." Anagnos said, 
"How will you teach the child?" and here 
is the great phrase: "I will let the child 
teach me how to teach her," said Miss Sul- 
livan. That spirit showed Anagnos that 
he was right, and that spirit was the key 
to Helen Keller. Miss Sullivan went South 
and said to the father and mother, "You 
must let me have Helen in a little house by 
ourselves, and I must have entire control 
and familiarity with her." She began the 
simple business of trickling water on 
Helen's hand and spelling out the sign 
language that meant water. What I want 
to point out is that through Samuel G. 
Howe, through Anagnos, through Anne 
Sullivan, through Helen Keller, a great in- 
spiration has come to the world. That, to 
me, is the real apostolic succession, and 
that is the kind of work that is before you, 
if you will have it, as children's librarians. 
I never can forget, I like to speak of the 



work that "Mawtucket of Pawtucket" in- 
itiated for children. Mr. Peacock here is one 
of Mrs. Saunders' boys. Miss Hewins took 
up the work independently, but doubtless 
the later children's librarians got more or 
less inspiration from Mrs. Saunders, who 
was the first, when the children peeped 
around the door, to welcome them in and 
cut off the legs of the tables and chairs and 
give them a place to sit down and look at 
picture books. 

Then in the University Settlement work 
we have Helen More, who dealt with Jewish 
boys, and I wish I could take the time to 
tell you how boys were helped by her 
through settlement work and finally 
through college and in after life. I cannot 
imagine better proof of the opportunity you 
have in your work. I recall that Miss 
Annie Carroll Moore has told me it was 
through some acquaintanceship or knowl- 
edge of Helen More that she was interested 
in children's work, and many of you have 
reason to know, in turn, how much Annie 
Carroll Moore has been to you. There has 
been you see within our own circle an ex- 
ample of the real apostolic succession, and 
we may hope that out of this company may 
come such great radiations of influence 
which will have their work in inspiring 
children's librarians of the future and 
molding in a way we cannot imagine the 
life of childhood in the future, and the life 
of the great future itself. 

To till flowers in the garden is one of 
the chief delights of life, but to till flowers 
in the garden of childhood, that the flowers 
may unfold to their brightest and best, is 
one of the noblest occupations in which 
woman (or man. Dr. Bostwick) can in- 
dulge. 

Miss Marie Shedlock, of London, story- 
teller and specialist in children's litera- 
ture, contributed to the discussion as fol- 
lows: 

Miss SHEDLOCK: One of the draw- 
backs of speaking last is the fact that your 
predecessors have always stolen your 
thoughts. There is very little left for me 
to say. I don't in the least know why I 



CHILDREN'S LIBRARIANS' SECTION 



416 



have had the honor to he chosen to speak 
with these eminent people. But I may say 
a few words, if only to express my admira- 
tion for the children's library work in this 
country. I should like to tell you what 
an Englishman said of it. I was explain- 
ing some of the mysteries and charms of 
your children's rooms and he said, "If only 
we could have something like this here in 
England. We have a library dumped down 
upon us and very little else done." When 
I visited Manchester I asked the librarian 
about the children's room and he said "Oh! 
if you have seen the children's libraries 
in America we have nothing to show you 
here." And he added, "I think we should 
have some of their librarians over here" — 
he mentioned the name of Miss Plummer. 
I was glad that he mentioned this because 
Miss Plummer's work seems to me to be 
most excellc-nt for this reason: she always 
recognizes the truth of the axiom that a 
part is less than the whole, but she also 
recognizes that a part can be a very im- 
portant fraction of the whole, and she has 
never treated the children's work as just 
a department by itself, but has always con- 
nected it with the whole movement. 
Therein lies her greatness, and if you will 
pardon me for a personal reference I 
should like to say I am deeply grateful to 
her for giving me the honor of appearing 
before the librarians, for it was she who 
first presented me and gave me the oppor- 
tunity to meet so many librarians. 

I want to thank you for the very kindly 
generous spirit in which you have received 
my little work in story-telling. I had not 
intended to mention my part of the work at 
all, and that is the only reference I shall 
make, except to answer the challenge 
about telling the brutal folk-lore stories. I 
always protested most strongly against 
stories which create fear. Nobody has ever 
heard me tell such stories. 

I thought that all the papers would be 
before me so that I might build up what I 
was going to say on what other people had 
said, but I saw only one of these admir- 
able papers before it was presented here to- 
night. I am now coming to the criticism 



part. I believe I am obliged to say that I 
entirely agree with Dr. Bostwick's point 
that the good books are neglected in favor 
of the late books. I think it is the spirit 
of the whole of America, that you are so 
eager to be up-to-date that sometimes you 
wish to be almost beyond the date. 

That reminds me of a story of an English- 
man who was in a humorous mood — for 
they do have them, sometimes — and who 
said to a little paper boy, "Well, my lad, 
have you any of tomorrow's papers?" The 
boy paused, but considering the question 
a mad one took no further notice of it. 
The Englishman was on his way to Dublin, 
and when he arrived there he put the same 
question to a paper boy, "Have you any of 
tomorrow's papers?" The boy at once 
replied, "I sold them all yesterday, your 
honor!" 

It is rather natural that Americans 
should want the children's room to be up- 
to-date, but it seems that you are skipping 
over generations of things, and your chil- 
dren have that spirit, too. 

I entirely agree v.'ith Mr. Legler on the 
question of too many abridgments and com- 
pression of masterpieces. There is, how- 
ever, one exception I should like to make. 
I think it is well in story-telling to choose 
part of a story and lead the children to a 
further examination of that subject by say- 
ing, "You will find the book on the shelves." 
That, it seems to me, is the real good that 
story-telling is going to do. 

Now, for my own criticism. I think the 
fear that Mr. Bowker spoke of, fear in the 
children, that that danger is not so great 
as perhaps a certain amount of fearfulness 
on the part of children's librarians. I 
think that you hover in a rather too pro- 
tective manner over your children, and 
are just a little too fearful of their not 
reading what you wish them to read. That 
is a pity, because it prevents the child from 
making the complete investigation. It is 
so difficult for you not to tell the children 
the things you love and hope they will love 
too, but after all, a second-hand admiration 
is always a little second-rate. The great 
thing for librarians to learn is to let the 



416 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



children have a part In their own educa- 
tion. 

Tlien there is the question of too many 
women in the library. I share absolutely 
the opinion that the work would be done 
better by an equal number of men and 
women. We feel in England more strongly, 
perhaps, than you do, that the best kind 
of work is always done by men and women 
together; that the work, for instance, 
among the poor has been done by both men 
and women most successfully. I think the 
best children's library work will be done 
when you have an equal number of men 
and women doing the kind of work neces- 
sary with children. 

The grave danger, if you will allow me to 
say it, is that of making reading rather a 
virtue than a privilege. We are apt rather 
to praise children who read instead of im- 
pressing on their minds what a privilege 
it is to be able to read. 

One of the best things Mr. Legler has 
done has been to give constructive criti- 
cism. I thank him, as an old teacher, for 
the thought that bringing this joy to chil- 
dren is in time accompanied by disillusion- 
ment for you. As an old woman I should 
like to say to the young librarians, there 
comes a time when you are disillusioned, 
and you may think your work is not so 
worth while. Then it is that that sentence 
is worth while. Having outlived your dis- 
illusionment you still find great value in 
your work. 

In the June number of the "Atlantic 
monthly" there is a most remarkable paper 
by Bertrand Russell on "Education as a 
political institution." Probably most of 
you have read it. I think it is the most 
suggestive thing I have read in education 
for a long time, and I am going to read a 
little portion from it because it seems to 
me that what he says of education in gen- 
eral will apply most particularly to chil- 
dren's librarians. He says that children 
are more or less at the mercy of their 
elders, and cannot make themselves the 
guardians of their own interests. Authority 
in education is to some extent unavoidable, 
and those who educate have to find a way 



of exercising authority in accordance with 
the spirit of liberty, so as not to produce a 
spirit of glib mediocrity. "He thinks it 
is his duty to 'mold' the child; in 
imagination he is the potter with the clay. 
And so he gives to the child some un- 
natural shape which hardens with age, 
producing strains and spiritual dissatis- 
factions, out of which grow cruelty and 
envy and the belief that others must be 
compelled to undergo the same distortions." 
It should be to "help the child in its own 
battle, to strengthen it and equip it, not 
for some outside end proposed by the state 
or by any other impersonal authority, but 
to the ends which the child's own spirit 
is obscurely seeking." I think that if, as 
librarians, we made that our aim It would 
be a marvelous help in the education of 
the child. 

The CHAIRMAN: There are people 
here who must have something to say in 
reply to some of the things the speakers 
have said. I hope that we will have a 
very active discussion. Just to start the 
ball rolling I am going to say "You are it," 
and I am going to say it first to Mr. 
Dudgeon. 

Mr. DUDGEON: Madam Chairman: It 
may be possible that I am not a children's 
librarian. I feel like suggesting something 
from the standpoint of the parent rather 
than from the standpoint of the librarian, 
and it seems to me that one very striking 
fundamental principle has been suggested 
repeatedly tonight. As I studied the prob- 
lem of a child's literature in my own home, 
I found that we were forced to let the 
child teach us how we might teach our 
child. In other words, we had to experi- 
ment a little, and try this and try that 
to find out really what the child wanted, 
and to get the child's point of view; to 
project ourselves into the child's position 
and to see how the child loolced at litera- 
ture and what the child wanted, rather 
than to try to conceive of what we thought 
the child ought to want. 

And I want to say that the generally 
recognized principles of children's librar- 
ians proved very true. The first principle 



CHILDREN'S LIBRARIANS' SECTION 



417 



we noticed was that the child's tastes were 
good. For example, we tried a number of 
things on our little girl between four and 
five years old, and finally found that read- 
ing aloud "Hiawatha" pleased her more 
than anything that we could do. We then dis- 
covered that the original unabridged litera- 
ture suited her best. We discovered that 
in this way: We had read to the child the 
original text, Indian names and all. A 
friend of the family brought to us the 
"Hiawatha Reader," in which everything 
is fully explained, and all the hard words 
cut out, and so forth, and we read this 
faithfully — tried this on the child, and at 
the end of about three days the child, 
rather timidly, and in the absence of the 
person who had presented the book, asked 
us if we would not request the donor to 
"take that nasty book away!" I want to 
suggest that at least in these two books 
we found that the principles recognized by 
librarians evidently are very true: first, 
that the child will choose what is best; 
second, that the original and unabridged 
and real thing is better than the abridged 
and unreal and doctored piece of litera- 
ture. 

The CHAIRMAN: It seems to me as 
though there must be some difference of 
opinion on the point of children wanting 
new books to read. Will someone please 
give her experience on that question. 
Miss Zacliert, what is your experience in 
connection with new books for children; 
do you feel that the children want them in 
place of the best books? 

Miss ZACHERT: (of Rochester, N. Y.) 
Of course they always want them, and it 
should be left to the wisdom of the chil- 
dren's librarian to give just the proportion 
that should be given. 

I think the speakers have given to those 
who have been children's librarians and 
who might combat any criticism very little 
of the adverse but have made us feel 
that after all we children's librarians have 
a wonderful opportunity. You see children 
are in the library first a duty, then they 
are an asset, and finally they are a joy. 
The time is not long past when there was 



a notice: "SILENCE! CHILDREN AND 
DOGS NOT ADMITTED." Now in the 
larger libraries the best corner is given 
to the children, the best books given them, 
and the greatest wisdom used in the selec- 
tion of their books; yet over and over 
again, as we go through small towns, we 
find libraries with no children's depart- 
ment. It is our duty to the child to tell 
them about children's work and emphasize 
children's work. 

Then the children are an asset. It has 
been my fortune to work where the library 
was a new venture in the community, and 
the number of children who came when we 
opened a new branch has been gratifying. 
They cause the circulation records to go 
up, and in that way they are an asset. 

Best of all they are a joy, because you 
know that nothing is too good for them. 
The cataloger may have her place, and the 
others their functions; the head librarian 
has a wonderful opportunity, but after all, 
the greatest opportunity comes to the chil- 
dren's librarian. There came once a visitor 
to our library, where that afternoon were 
nine hundred children. There were several 
of us grown-ups there, but when she looked 
about she said to me, "You are the chil- 
dren's librarian." I said, "Oh, yes, I am; 
but how did you Icnow?" She replied, 
"When you go into a school and you see 
someone who is very, very happy, that 
is the kindergartner, but when you come 
into a library and see someone who is 
idiotically happy, that is the children's 
librarian!" 

The CHAIRMAN: Mr. Legler's point of 
criticism was largely taken on the score 
that the children's department of the pub- 
lic library is not an unmixed blessing. Is 
there anybody who thinks it is an entire 
blessing — that it works only good and no 
harm? Miss Herbert, I am going to call 
on you; apparently I have got to continue 
saying "You are it." 

Miss HERBERT (of Washington, D. C.) : 
I think the difllculty one has in getting 
up an argument is perhaps due to the fact 
that we are so much in agreement with 
the speakers that tliere is nothing to argue 



418 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



about. I was interested in Mr. Legler's 
point that there is danger that the chil- 
dren will read more than they think, and 
it reminded me of an experience I had 
this winter. I went to speak to a parents' 
association and one of the speakers who 
spoke before me was from the Associated 
Charities. She made an earnest appeal to 
the parents to teach their children to save 
their pennies (it was in a poor district), 
and when she got through a Socialist rose 
and tore her paper all to pieces talking 
in a way that really was very critical and a 
little difficult to meet. When I rose to 
speak afterwards I noticed the same man 
with a notebook making notes and I won- 
dered what I was going to meet at the end 
of my little talk. He finally rose and said, 
"May I ask the lady something? I should 
like to ask: if the children read all the 
time, when do they think?" I could not 
help thinking he had brought out the weak- 
est point in our work. I think the weak- 
ness of the children's work is that in 
our interest to get the millions of children 
in the country supplied with books we per- 
haps forget that it is not altogether an 
unmixed advantage to the children who 
cculd be reading better books, to put in 
their hands the necessarily less good 
books which will appeal to a good many 
of the younger and the less privileged 
children. In the schools, the problem of 
meeting the needs of the superior children 
is a serious one, and I have wondered if 
possibly the time will come when we also 
may have to make some special arrange- 
ments for them. I have a feeling 
possibly that that is one of the gravest 
weaknesses of all work in a democ- 
racy; that we are inclined to allow the 
high to come down because we are so con- 
centrated upon bringing what is neces- 
sarily a little interior up to the average. 

Mr. GEORGE (of Elizabeth, N. J.): We 
seem to have renched the stage of wonder- 
ing, and I would like to add some wonders 
of my own. I confess it strikes me that 
after all the difficulties are in the high 
standards of the libraries themselves. If 
it is a fact that all the literature does not 



live up to the high standard I wonder if 
there is not some necessity for it? I 
v/onder if there is not some substantial 
justification for that literature being 
there? I would like to indulge in the 
privilege that several of the speakers have 
taken (Mr. Dudgeon, for instance, referred 
to his own family), and use my own family 
to illustrate my point. By the way, I won- 
der if there will ever be a meeting of this 
kind that will treat concretely the ques- 
tions before us,' and give names, instead of 
setting before us abstract examples of 
what is proper for the children to read? 
I have searched through many children's 
librarians' talks in the "Library journal" 
and "Public libraries" and found Robert 
Louis Stevenson and possibly one or two 
more authors recommended, but I never 
found many concrete examples, and in our 
effort to find a good standard set of books 
to get into the library we have found diffi- 
culty in obtaining suggestions, and we 
don't tell anybody what we have here. 
Amy Brooks is one of the best circulation 
boosters there is, but I don't suppose many 
people would feel justified in boosting 
circulation that way. My own children's 
librarian will not have any more Brooks. 
But even among the standard authors a 
poor one will creep in, and I feel like 
"trying it on the dog" — our young daugh- 
ter, to see how it goes; but the children's 
librarian will always insist on sending it 
back before my daughter gets it. 

In referring to my daughter I want to 
say that I feel there is some justification 
for that old expression, "When I was a 
child I spake as a child." My child is a 
thoroughly human child. I think her 
studies in school are up to the high stand- 
ard we want to give the children througli 
the medium of the libraries. A couple of 
weeks ago, after her school had closed, she 
happened to read in the newspaper head- 
lines that the successor to the former 
president of China had been chosen. She 
called him by name (I can't do it) and 
said, "Why did they put him out of office?" 
She had heard about political ambition, 
and so on, and she thought that his sue- 



CHILDREN'S LIBRARIANS' SECTION 



419 



cesser having been chosen, the former 
president must have been put out of office. 
I had read of the death of the president 
of China, so I informed her of that fact. 
She said, "That is because I have not kept 
up my 'Current topics.' " In her scliool 
they use that, and the child was informed 
en affairs both in our country and abroad; 
they have tests on the subject in school. 
I thinli that is pretty high class work. 

A man has been mentioned here tonight, 
one of the most respected and the best- 
known of librarians in this country. A 
couple of years ago I sat in his office and 
he said, "George, have you been reading 
any fiction lately?" I said, "No; I have 
not had much time." He said, "Get the 
'Red button' and read it: it is a dandy!" 
I got the "Red button" and I read it, and 
I was entertained while I was reading it. 
So I think that in our libraries there is a 
justifiable place for such books. I think 
that the children are having crammed 
down into their brains enough of the sub- 
stantial things to justify some of the 
lighter literature. 

Now, Mr. Bowker refers to the savages 
and our present generation, and says that 
what is necessary for the savage is not 
necessary for this generation; but you 
can't take one generation removed or two, 
possibly, and find that explanation satis- 
factory for the need of the literature that 
is desired. I maintain, too, that the 
examples quoted by all the speakers on 
these topics every time are examples of 
people who are exceptional. When some 
particular person has reached a high posi- 
tion in life it is because those people have 
done it in spite of and not because of their 
having read certain books. Those people 
would have reached their positions 
whether they read the "Life of Lincoln" 
or not. Between ninety and ninety-nine 
per cent of the people never could have 
been interested by the same things they 
were interested in. At a recent grand jury 
dinner in our town, attended by several 
judges and other distinguished men, I was 
chairman of the entertainment committee, 
and as one of the forms of entertainment 



I asked those men to tell me what litera- 
ture they had read when boys; and there 
was hardly a man who was not perfectly 
familiar with Alger and those books, and 
I shook hands with every one of them! I 
don't believe that a generation or two is 
going to make so much difference. I am 
told Alger, and some of the rest that we 
read, must be thrown out, and they are 
thrown out, but I don't believe that it is 
fully justified; they are entertaining and 
inspirational. I have expressed my wonder 
and I have made my confession! 

Mr. TRIPP (of New Bedford, Mass.) : I 
agree with Mr. George that nearly every 
man has at some time read Alger and 
Nick Carter. 

I would like to make a criticism of the 
work of children's librarians. When all 
are shouting hosannas there ought to be 
one Jeremiah to make his lamentation. I 
think that children's librarians err in this 
rtspect: They give the children too much 
to read. There are too many books. They 
fail to see the woods on account of the 
trees, and I think we all err in that re- 
spect. I know in my library most 
emphatically we make a mistake in fur- 
nishing too much reading for the children. 
When we grown-ups go into an art museum 
like the Metropolitan, we are overwhelmed 
and do not really enjoy the artistic 
treasures there as much as if we were 
confined to a room in which there were 
three or four first-class pictures to look 
at, admire, enjoy and appreciate. When 
a child is set loose in a room where, as 
in my own library, there are five or six 
thousand attractive children's books 
spread out for him, he is overwhelmed. 
Ic is too much of a tax on the intellect of 
the child to allow him to go around and 
browse among those books and select what 
he wants to read, when he does not really 
know what he is after. It would be much 
better if he were told by the children's li- 
brarian that on Monday hs can only take 
out a book from that case; that on Tues- 
day he can pick out a book from the next 
case, and so on around. I think it might 
be really worth trying. I assume that all 



420 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



the books are worth reading at one time 
or another. 

We grew up on Oliver Optic — Alger 
came later, but Oliver Optic was the 
children's favorite then. I don't really 
find that they do much harm. Seriously, 
I do think that the range is too wide for 
the children; that we should limit their 
reading. We are too lavish. We are 
either too much unprepared or too much 
prepared. We do not do things by halves. 
We just go the whole figure. I was a 
teacher for a great many years, and when 
I was in the schools a few years ago the 
craze was for Madonnas. The children 
were overwhelmed with pictures of the 
Madonna. They did not select two or 
three representative pictures to put be- 
fore the children, but there were twenty 
or thirty, and the result was that a child 
came to me one morning at that critical 
time between Thanksgiving and Christ- 
mas, when turkey was served in a great 
many varieties, and said, "There are two 
things I am sick to death of: Madonnas 
and turkey soup!" 

Take up another point, the lack of con- 
centration. Every time I go into the chil- 
dren's room I see little urchins there tak- 
ing picture books and wetting their 
fingers — if they are not reproved by the 
librarian — glancing up at a girl, if they 
are old enough, and turning the pages to 
see one picture after another, without pay- 
ing any particular attention to what is on 
the page they have before them, but going 
from one thing to another without any 
concentration. And then what do we do? 
We put into our children's libraries such 
monstrosities — Mr. George says we don't 
go into concrete facts, so I will be con- 
crete — we put into our children's libraries 
such monstrosities as the "Book of knowl- 
edge," which is a hodge-podge of miscel- 
laneous, ill-assorted information. The 
agents come around and tell me I am the 
only librarian In Massachusetts or New 
England or in the United States that 
doesn't tumble over himself to buy that 
for the children's library. I know that he 
is not telling me the truth; but none of 



his efforts prove successful: I have turned 
him down and turned him down again. The 
child reads a little smattering and turns 
over the page. I think it is all wrong; I 
think it is absolutely opposed to the 
principle that ought to be at the founda- 
tion of education: to teach concentration. 
I really hope sometime we will make a 
concerted effort to concentrate our ener- 
gies on something that is worth while to 
bring to the children joy; I would not 
have them read anything distasteful or 
anything burdensome to their little intel- 
lects, but 1 do believe they would be hap- 
pier if they had some definite purpose 
and pursued it. 

The CHAIRMAN: Our speakers have 
certainly given us food for thought in the 
preparation of a program for next year's 
meeting, and if we follow out some of 
these ideas perhaps we can arrive at 
something definite. Is there any one else 
who has something to add to the discus- 
sion? 

Miss ROBERTS: Mr. George spoke of 
Alger, and here is a little experience of 
mine, years ago. A young boy came in 
and asked for Alger. He had Dumas and 
I asked, "Will you take another Dum.is?" 
He said he had read all of Dumas. "Will 
you take Victor Hugo?" He said he had 
read all of Hugo. He said "I have read 
everything except Meredith." Then I 
asked, "What do you want Alger for?" 
He said "You know how it is: after a while 
you get so tired it is very comforting to 
pick up a book where the good boy always 
grows up and marries his employer's 
daughter and the bad one gets hung!" I 
remember that Gladstone read "The 
Duchess" in his leisure moments. I should 
like to ask Miss Shedlock what she thinks 
of the story of Beowulf for children. It is 
one of the things I have been looking at 
seriously lately. Is it too gory? 

Miss SHEDLOCK: I think very much 
depends on the age of the child. I think 
the mistake we have made with these 
fairy stories is that we have told them to 
children when they are too young. It 
would be better to leave It to come at an 



CHILDREN'S LIBRARIANS' SECTION 



421 



age when they would not be frightened. 
"Jack the Giant-Killer" could be put off 
until a little later. We have to be careful. 
I have never told Beowulf but I think it 
would not be terrible for a child of seven 
or eight years. 

Miss ANNA TYLER (of New York): 
I, too, feel hurt a little bit about what Mr. 
Bowker said. I want to say just this, be- 
cause I happened to tell the story that he 
referred to. Furthermore, I take it on 
my own shoulders. The story happened to 
be one connected with a series on South 
Africa. To finish up one of these series I 
gave the one "How Table Mountain got its 
cloud," told by the natives and then re- 
told to us. It was told to a crowd of boys 
from fourteen to sixteen years of age, 
quite old enough to hear stories of that 
kind. I feel strongly about the myths and 
these great stories, and believe that they 
should not be given to the children until 
they can understand the difference be- 
tween myths and folklore or fairy tales, 
and therefore I do not think that the aver- 
age child is ready for myths — and you 
must put Beowulf in with the legends and 
myths, — until that child has reached the 
age of at least eleven years. Of course, 
when you begin with the individual child as 
early as four or five and read to that child 
"Hiawatha," by the time that child is eight 
years old he is quite able to comprehend 
almost any great myth story, but the 
average child is not. I wish to wait until 
the average child Is ready, and he is not 
ready before he is eleven or twelve years 
old. Mr. Bowker heard me tell that story 
in connection with South African stories. 
It was in connection with the celebration 
which we were giving at a certain point 
in the city where we were having slides 
of the Dutch occupation of New York, and 
the only Dutch story that would apply was 
"How Table Mountain got its cloud," so it 
was told that night. 

The CHAIRMAN: While we are on the 
subject of story telling, it would be appro- 
priate to hear the story which Miss Shed- 
lock has promised us. 

(After Miss Shedlock had told the Japa- 



nese story of the two frogs, the meeting 
adjourned.) 

SECOND SESSION 

The second session of the Section was 
held in the ball room of the New Monterey 
Hotel on Friday afternoon, June 30, at two 
o'clock. The meeting took the form of a 
Round Table conducted by Miss Caro- 
line M. Hewins. The first topic considered 
was, "Training in work with children for 
librarians in small libraries." Miss Grain 
of Soraerville spoke on the need of care- 
ful selection of children's books in small 
libraries. She suggested book lists as 
helpful in making purchases, and told of 
the new bibliography of lists called "Aids 
in selecting children's books," recently 
published by the Massachusetts State Li- 
brary Commission. Visits to larger libra- 
ries she also considered of great impor- 
tance to workers with children from small- 
er libraries. 

Miss Donnelly of Simmons College told 
of the summer courses at Simmons 
planned for the librarians from small li- 
braries, and Mrs. Root, of Providence, 
urged duplication of these summer course.^ 
in other places. 

The subject, "Children's librarians as 
social workers," was discussed by Mi.ss 
Zachert of Rochester. She said that the 
successful children's librarian, besides 
knowing books, must bo a social worker. 
At least fifty per cent of her time ought to 
be spent outside the library. 

"Co-operative lists" was another subject 
which had been suggested for discussion. 
Mr. Rush of Des Moines, Mr. Wheeler of 
Youngstown, Miss Hassler of Queens 
Borough, and Miss Moore of New York 
spoke briefly on this subject. 

"Fines," the last subject to be taken up, 
was discussed by Miss Hewins who spoke 
with much spirit on the disciplinary value 
of fines in a children's room. 

The Section unanimously adopted the 
report of the Committee on resolutions 
which presented the following to be sent 
as a night letter to Miss Plummer: 

"The Children's Librarians' Section 



422 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



gathered in final session at Miss Hewins' 
Round Table sends affectionate greetings 
to its honored president. It desires 
to express its grateful appreciation of 
her early recognition of the library's part 
in the education of children and her valued 
contributions, of which Mr. Chapman's in- 
spiring paper on children's reading is one 
more reminder." 

After a story by Miss Shedlock, "To 
your good health," and a vote of thanks to 
her for the pleasure and inspiration she 
had given, the meeting was adjourned. 
BUSINESS MEETING 

At a short business meeting held Friday 
morning, June 30, the following officers 
were elected: 



Chairman, Alice M." Jordan, Boston Pub- 
lic Library; vice-chairman, Alice I. Hazel- 
tine, St. Louis Public Library; secretary, 
Rosina C. Gymer, Cleveland Public Li- 
brary; advisory board, Richard R. Bowker, 
Library Journal, New York, and Edith 
Tobitt, Omaha Public Library. 

A proposed letter to be addressed to the 
American Booksellers' Association con- 
cerning better binding for children's books 
was discussed. A committee was ap- 
pointed to investigate the matter and re- 
port next year. , 

Jessie G. Siblet, Secretary. 



COLLEGE AND REFERENCE SECTION 



The College and Reference Section met 
in the Auditorium on Wednesday after- 
noon, June 28, William M. Hepburn, li- 
brarian of Purdue University, chairman of 
the Section, presiding. 

The CHAIRMAN: The general subject 
of the afternoon is as stated in the printed 
program "Research facilities in American 
libraries." This is not a new topic, but 
old subjects constantly recur and new 
things have to be said about them. The 
subject has also been referred to by other 
speakers at this conference, notably by 
Mr. Bishop in his paper "Leadership 
through learning." We will let our pro- 
gram speak for itself and after the three 
formal papers are presented we hope for 
an interesting and profitable discussion. 
I will now call upon Dr. Walter Lichten- 
stein, of Northwestern University, for his 
paper on "Possible results of the European 
war on the European book market." 
(See p. 200) 

The CHAIRMAN: In working up the 
program the committee were fortunate to 
find one who had been thinking and work- 
ing along the same line in her own special 
field and they are pleased to be able to 
present a paper by Miss Adelaide R. Hasse, 
chief of the Documents Division, New 



York Public Library, on "Library prepared- 
ness in the fields of economics and sociol- 
ogy." 

(See p. 202) 

The CHAIRMAN: Among the formal 
papers, we wished to have a statement 
from a practical worker in the field of re- 
search, a statement of what library re- 
search means to the practical scientific 
worker, and we were able to secure such 
a paper. 

Dr. Walter T. Swingle of the Depart- 
ment of Agriculture, Washington, in co- 
operation with Mrs. Swingle, has prepared 
for us a paper on "The utilization of 
photographic methods in library research 
work with especial reference to natural 
science." 

(See p. 194) 

After the reading of the formal papers 
there v.-as a spirited discussion of which 
the following is a condensed report. 

Dr. SWINGLE: In reply to the question 
of Mr. Bishop, I would say that it was im- 
portant to have a list of the Chinese books 
in Washington and in other great libraries 
of the country. The Department of Agri- 
culture is spending thousands of dollars 
in investigations on the economic plants of 
China. It seems ridiculous to speak of 



COLLEGE AND REFERENCE SECTION 



423 



China's books as having a practical bear- 
ing on practical things, but I can assure 
you that they are most important. There 
existed in the Library of Congress a 
manuscript list of the books needed. There 
existed in Chicago two lists; those three 
lists contain nine-tenths of all the Chinese 
books in America. By the photostat we 
were able to reproduce all three lists and 
place them at the disposal of the Library 
of Congress and of our own Department. 
I need hardly mention how invaluable the 
photographic method is in reproducing 
such material as Arabic and Chinese. 
where you cannot use the typewriter and 
where the ordinary methods of copying 
are useless. It copies in any language. 
We are using our photostat instead of 
hiring expert copyists; it is much cheaper. 

Dr. ANDREWS: In connection with Dr. 
Lichtenstein's paper, where the interest of 
the John Crerar was direct and very per- 
sonal, I would simply confirm and agree 
with his statements. I would state for 
the information of my colleagues that 
realizing the prospects of having such op- 
portunities, I suggested to our board, and 
they accepted the suggestion, that we 
store up our regular appropriations, which 
we have not been able to spend because of 
the lack of supplies from the Central 
States of Europe, to meet the opportuni- 
ties as they occur. Whether you will con- 
sider this sufficient preparedness for the 
opportunities remains to be seen, but at 
any rate it is all that a library facing an 
expenditure of nearly a million dollars for 
its building feels that it could do. 

Miss Hasse's paper brought to my mind 
a very interesting incident, which to me 
disproves the statement we often hear that 
the value of our older books diminishes 
rapidly, and that it almost ceases to exist 
at the end of ten years. You -have all 
heard the advice of the scientist to his 
library friend, "After ten years put the 
books in the cellar." We had a call for 
information in regard to the manufacture 
of certain basic substances for the de- 
velopment of the dye-stuff industry in this 
country. To our amazement we found 



that the later publications practically 
ignored those basic processes. They were 
assumed to be matters of common knowl- 
edge. We found that our modern text- 
books on the dyestuff industry did not 
contain the basic processes for these basic 
substances, and we had to go back to 
books of the seventies and eighties to get 
the material that our readers wanted. I 
hope that you will, therefore, take confi- 
dence in the value of our collections as 
collections, and I hope also that you will 
find opportunities to use them. 

I wish Miss Hasse had given us some 
hints as to how this material should be 
used in cooperation. We have, for in- 
stance, given orders to dealers in Ger- 
many, in France, in Italy and in England 
to collect for the John Crerar Library all 
material not evidently ephemeral on the 
economic, social and technical sides of the 
war. Now, how are we to bring that into 
best use in this country? I wish Miss 
Hasse had gone on and given us some 
definite pointers, whether by cooperative 
cataloging, whether by a revised list of 
our special collections, how we might tie 
up these little collections of ours with the 
collections being made elsewhere, so that 
the scholars who do have the needs which 
she so ably presented can find the ma- 
terial they want. 

As to Dr. Swingle's paper, I quite agree 
as to the importance of these photographic 
methods. In connection with Mr. Gould's 
report of the Committee on co-ordination 
in inter-library loans, I commented that 
it did not sufficiently emphasize the im- 
portance of these photographic methods 
as extending the field of work which we 
have been trying to do in the past almost 
exclusively by inter-library loans. The 
inter-library loan system has its limits, 
most decidedly. We cannot loan every 
book to every scholar throughout the 
country. Some of us have provisions in 
our foundations which forbid; many have 
conditions of use in our own territory 
which forbid; others have limitations of 
other kinds. Now, the photographic re- 
production does solve many of those dif- 



424 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Acuities. The rare books which we could 
hardly trust to the express companies or 
the mails we can reproduce in this way, 
or the book which is in very frequent de- 
mand, and which we ought not to allow to 
go because of this fact. Particularly we 
should not run the risk of losing our 
periodicals by loaning them to a reader 
who wants a particular paper, where the 
expressage on the bulky volume will be 
more than the cost of the reproduction of 
the paper. 

And now I want to turn to the partic- 
ular point I wanted to bring before you, 
and that is, the value of the union lists of 
periodicals to the scholar. I think, as 
Miss Hasse intimated we have in this 
country a good deal of material; the dif- 
ficulty is to use it, to know where it is 
and to find it for use, and it seems to 
me that the union list is one of the most 
valuable tools for that purpose. I accepted 
membership on a committee to attempt to 
obtain a general list of all the periodicals 
■n the country which we hoped to have 
published by the Library of Congress. In 
that hope we have been disappointed. 
When we were told the conditions under 
which it would have to be made, the high 
standard of perfection which the staff of 
the Library of Congress place before them 
In their preparation, I realized that we 
could not expect it, not at least, in the 
life times of most of those present. If 
you are to put in the title of every period- 
ical with absolute bibliographical ac- 
curacy, and estimate that these titles will 
amount to very nearly one hundred thou- 
sand, you have a problem which certainly 
every librarian will hesitate to attack. 

The Committee then took up the ques- 
tion of the division of the union list into 
sections. We have made some progress 
and we have met also in some sections 
• with discouragements. The Section may 
like to know that there are prospects of 
obtaining portions of this list under the 
different subjects. Dr. Lichtenstein, for 
instance, has charge of the preparation of 
a union list of historical periodicals which 
will meet the demands of the students of 



history. Mr. Cutter has in preparation a 
list of the technical periodicals, which 
ought to meet the needs of a great 
many. The Agricultural Libraries Section 
of the Association has had under discus- 
sion, and I hope will bring to fruition, 
plans for a checklist of the agricultural 
periodicals. The medical societies have 
under discussion and partly prepared a 
checklist of the medical periodicals. In- 
deed, I understand that their interest is 
so great that the Boston Medical Society 
is not content to wait for the general list, 
but has in preparation a local list of the 
medical periodicals available in that vi- 
cinity, 'i 

And last, but not least in interest, 
though smallest in extent, the mathe- 
matics teachers have felt this need, which 
I tried to emphasize, and have under dis- 
cussion plans for a checklist of the mathe- 
matical periodicals. More than that, when 
we come to the general periodicals, where 
we cannot hope to interest very many 
workers, we may perhaps succeed by re- 
verting to the system of local lists. 

I happen to know that there is in prepa- 
ration in Boston a general list; that there 
is in Illinois for the libraries connected 
with the University a local list, and there 
is under discussion at least the reissue of 
the Chicago list. I have also under dis- 
cussion the question of cooperation in a 
general list In somewhat different form 
than those I have outlined through a cen- 
tral printing bureau, which shall print 
sections and local lists, as desired. I think 
that the mere enumeration of these list.";, 
or proposed lists, proves my thesis that 
the union list of periodicals is a valuable 
tool for scholars and that it should be 
encouraged. 

Miss KELSO: I want to ask this as- 
semblage if I may speak on behalf of a 
large part of this gathering — the ordinary 
man in the ranks — the general librarian. 
These plans are for the highest court of- 
ficers. I think the greater number of those 
in attendance here have to do with a small 
part of this problem, in little towns where 
industries are at work. We need advice 



COLLEGE AND REFERENCE SECTION 



425 



and mobilization and we are told that 
there will be a list, and to the ordinary 
infantry body such a list is very little 
good in mobilization times. It is the 
equipment — the ability to answer the per- 
sonal question. I am fortunate enough to 
live within reach of that great central 
arsenal, the New York Public Library 
Document Division, and it seems to me 
this Section and the several libraries, in- 
stead of making lists, should mobilize for 
the benefit of these others, so that the 
smaller libraries can write to these cen- 
tral bureaus and find out where such ma- 
terial is available. Now, instead of lists, 
we ought to give a little more personal 
help, ought to have a little more communi- 
cation with these people. What good are 
these lists to the ordinary town? There 
must be some connection between the 
town and the money it has spent. In the 
smallest town there is some man who 
stands high for his original scientific work; 
and he is a good business man, and wants 
information, but when he asks for it he 
gets a list of all the scientific resources 
of this country. 

Mr. J. I. WYER: I would like to ask a 
question about those Japanese and Chinese 
books. I assume that even in their repro- 
duced form, before they are thoroughly 
available for workers they have to be trans- 
lated, and that this translation probably 
costs something. Now, take the expense of 
reproducing those books, the traveling ex- 
penses, the photostat to reproduce them 
with, the photostat material that is re- 
quired, the general sum total of all ex- 
penses necessary to make one or two or 
at most three copies of these books — if 
ycu took the money necessary to repro- 
duce a book, the net cost of it reproduced 
by the photostat, and the translation of 
it, afterwards, how far would it go to- 
ward the printing of an edition which 
would be available generally throughout 
the country? 

Dr. SWINGLE: It would go a very lit- 
tle distance indeed, because the cost of 
this photostat reproduction is very low. 
In ni.iny cases it is impossible or unneces- 



sary to translate the whole work; the 
translation of such languages on technical 
subjects is very difficult. We have a trans- 
lator go through a book and translate a 
single paragraph, the one we must have. 
In the case of this Bulletin there was not 
a copy in North America, so in that par- 
ticular case every word has been trans- 
lated. The lithographic subjects alone, a 
single plate, would cost ?50, and there are 
a dozen lithographic plates in that Bul- 
letin. Any additional copies can be re- 
produced by the photostat at a reason- 
able rate. 

Dr. RICHARDSON: There is a marked 
line of distinction between research and 
the general promotion of knowledge. There 
are two tasks for humanity: one is to find 
out new ideas, and the other is to mul- 
tiply those ideas for every individual of 
the human race, so far as it can be done. 
Those two are clearly distinguished tasks 
— the task of research and the task of the 
propagation of knowledge. You cannot 
propagate your ideas until you get them, 
and the great trouble with our United 
States civilization is that we try to propa- 
gate ideas before we get them. The point 
here is not to furnish material for town 
libraries or the small public libraries: it 
is to furnish the fundamental material 
— the Japanese and Chinese or other books 
absolutely essential for the developing of 
new ideas. It is the research facilities in 
American libraries which is our subject 
this afternoon. I venture to say that the 
two most essential things for the promot- 
ing of research facilities for American li- 
braries are those referred to in the very 
best form this afternoon; that is to say, 
the photostat reproductions and the joint 
list. With them is closely united the mat- 
ter of purchasing, which has already been 
referred to. 

Now, we are talking about preparedness, 
the type of preparedness which depends 
on the guns, and the men behind the guns, 
but the lesson of this war is that you 
must have no end of ammunition or the 
guns and the men are of no use. The 
facilities of the libraries are the muni- 



426 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



tions of research in this country at the 
present time, and the problem is how to 
get munitions enough for the men we have 
been developing, to use for the produc- 
tion of new knowledge. That is the be- 
ginning, middle and end of the problem of 
research in America at the present time. 
We may talk all we please about what we 
are going to do after this war, the exhaus- 
tion of the countries at war, and the stim- 
ulus to this country, but we cannot do any- 
thing in research unless we have muni- 
tions, and the way is threefold. The first 
i.^ the purchase of research material. In 
the second place we have revolutionized 
the purchasing system by the photostat, 
and we are way behind the times if we 
do not recognize what Dr. Swingle has 
set forth — that we have revolutionized the 
method of acquiring research material 
through the photostat. The third method 
i;; inter-library loans, and the only pos- 
sible way of utilizing that is the co-oper- 
ative list about which Dr. Andrews has 
been telling us. Therefore purchasing after 
the war, the photostat, and the coopera- 
tive index are the essential methods of 
getting preparedness in the matter of re- 
search material at the present time. There 
is no getting away from it. 

I am tremendously interested in what 
Dr. Swingle said, because If you go over 
to Princeton tomorrow you will find that 
we have made a specialty of an exhibi- 
tion of photostatic material, showing what 
can be done in the way of ordinary re- 
production; what can be done for the ad- 
vantage of the administration, cataloging 
department, reference department, and so 
on. We are publishing a little monograph 
in connection with it, showing some of the 
things on which Dr. Swingle laid stress, 
In a very much less thorough way but 
covering the surface of the ground. For 
example, in the last two or three months 
there have been four cases of absolutely 
unique books which have been borrowed 
by professors in the University for use 
because they could not find any other 
copies in America. They had been trying 
for months and years to buy copies but 



they finally had to borrow the books. We 
made a copy with the photostat in each 
case. The professors have the leisurely 
use of the copy and we have added it to 
our files, and at the same time we sent to 
the library from whence the book came a 
letter stating that if they have a call for 
it they might refer the inquirer to us 
and we would loan our photostat copy in 
consideration of their courtesy in loaning 
the original to us. At a cost of $6 we 
copied three books which would have cost 
$40. That sort of thing happens all the 
time. 

Just as we were getting up this little 
report to go with this exhibition a letter 
was brought in, stating that a gentleman 
in Glasgow said he could not borrow cer- 
tain books, could not buy them from Ger- 
many, and needed them immediately for 
his work. One was a small book but the 
man in Glasgow could not get it. Money 
was no object. We had the book and I 
had a copy made by the photostat. In 
two hours the ninety pages were repro- 
duced and everything was in shape; the 
cost amounted to $1.93 for the ninety 
pages. That sort of thing could be ap- 
plied in a large way to the archival docu- 
ments; take the collections Dr. Lichten- 
stein spoke of — magnificent collections. 
We need the cooperation through Dr. An- 
drews' lists, so that we will not be dupli- 
cating but will supplement each other, and 
we need some system of reproducing 
archival documents and a catalog of the 
photostat reproductions. The American 
Library Institute has been feeling its way. 
Mr. Gould has been one of the foremost 
promoters, and he and Mr. Montgomery 
have been aiming at cooperative catalog- 
ing of photostat reproductions. It would 
be a big proposition, but one of the most 
valuable things that could be done. Money 
spent in this way would go ten times as 
far as any of the casual money we are 
throwing into the proposition now could 
go. 

The librarian of the American Bankers' 
Association asked how to obtain theses 



COLLEGE AND REFERENCE SECTION 



427 



which are not yet in print. She was in- 
formed that the way was to have them 
photostated. 

Mr. H. H. B. MEYER: It seems to me 
that the question is: Where is this lady 
to find the dissertation tliat she is after? 
We have the same difficulty confronting 
us- in the case of miscellaneous books. I 
understand that the union lists which are 
in preparation are union lists of serials 
and periodicals. With the great mass of 
hooks we cannot take care of them all by 
any union list or general catalog. It is 
too large a problem. They might be han- 
dled in what might be called "carload 
lots," if we were to get up a list (I am go- 
ing to suggest another list), a list of sub- 
jects, and under each subject the name of 
the library in the United States that is 
strong in that subject. A little of this 
has been done in the case of Dr. John- 
ston's "Special collections in American 
libraries." I can speak for the Library of 
Congress that this is a very good presen- 
tation of the special collections in the 
Library of Congress up to the time of pub- 
lication, but it by no means indicates the 
research facilities of the Library of Con- 
gress. The list I have in mind would 
do that. Under every subject that the 
library is strong in its name could appear. 
It would be a brief list, the briefer the 
better and the easier to make, and that 
would be a thing that could be put in the 
hand of the very small library and meet 
the possible need of a scholar or business 
man or expert in any particular line who 
may be located in the immediate vicinity 
of that library. Then the question could 
be answered, "How am I going to know- 
where there is a good collection on this, 
that or the other?" This list would an- 
swer the question and the rest ought to 
follow from correspondence. 

Mr. GEROULD: We now have lists of 
special collections printed in our library 
report. We know of what tremendous 
value the catalog of the Dante Collection 
at Cornell has been to the scholarship of 
the country. Cornell has printed other 
lists and has still other lists in prepara- 



tion. A number of other libraries have 
done this. It does not seem that we have 
begun to do in this line the things that 
ought to be done. We ourselves have a 
list in a single field which we hope to 
publish this fall, and I think we shall 
do other things in this line, but if Har- 
vard, for example, could publish a list of 
some of the collections of tremendous rich- 
ness which they have in that library that 
would be doing a service to the scholar- 
ship of the country very much out of pro- 
portion to the cost of that service. 

Just a word in regard to this photostat 
work: a single example of how the thing 
actually works out in practice. It hap- 
pened that we came into possession, a few 
months ago, of a manuscript diary of one 
of the sessions of the Long Parliament. 
We wanted to publish it, but before doing 
so a collation of that manuscript with the 
other manuscript diaries of the same pe- 
riod was necessary. Two diaries are al- 
ready published. There is a manuscript 
of the same session in the Massachusetts 
Historical Library; there is one in Trinity 
College, Dublin; one in the British Mu- 
seum and another at Berlin. We borrowed 
the Massachusetts manuscript but that 
would have been relatively valueless for 
collation without the ability to use the 
others. By the photographic process we 
secured, for a relatively small sum, copies 
of the Dublin manuscript, of the Berlin 
manuscript and the British Museum manu- 
script and now we have copies of all the 
available diaries of the Long Parliament 
in our library, where the man who is in- 
terested in that field can work on them. 
That saved that man at least two summers' 
work abroad, and it gave him his material 
in a much more satisfactory shape than 
if he had used the manuscripts themselves. 
The text is clearer and he is able to col- 
late the one with the other directly, with- 
out copying them. I feel confident that 
there is no single invention which has 
added so much to the possibilities of 
American scholarship as this photographic 
method. 

Mr. H. O. BRIGHAM: Bearing on the 



428 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



idea suggested by Mr. Gerould you may 
be interested to liiiow that at Providence 
the librarians looked over the library re- 
sources, and formulated a list of subjects 
two or three hundred in number. We 
tried to ascertain the number of subjects 
that were absolutely lacking in our col- 
lections. We found it rather interesting 
to know that we did not have anywhere 
near a complete list. We found a dis- 
crepancy in naval history, but it so hap- 
pens that thirtj'-six miles south of us is 
the Naval War College, with a magnificent 
collection of books on Naval history. That 
list will eventually be printed in the Provi- 
dence Public Library Bulletin. Suppose 
you do that at thirty or forty centers in 
the country, then consolidate, and you 
have the problem worked out with the 
least amount of friction, with the persons 
directly in charge of the collections pass- 
ing upon each group in his locality. A 
combined list including the cities of Bos- 
ton, Providence and Worcester, all within 
an hour's train ride, will show a large col- 
lection of rarities along specific lines. I 
do not need to name them; you know the 
collections. 

Mr. E. P. STEVENS: I know now that 
it was for the express comfort of Miss 
Kelso and the privates in the ranks, the 
foot soldier, that your chairman wrote to 
me in connection with this Section, the 
College and Reference Section, to which I 
did not belong. Our library was not a 
college library: it was not a reference li- 
brary, but is every kind of a library. I 
wrote to the chairman that our library did 
not, strictly speaking, belong in this Sec- 
tion — had never before been let in. So 
I decided there was nothing for me, and 
unless the meeting dragged I would be 
perfectly safe in saying nothing, but when 
Miss Kelso spoke I knew why Mr. Hep- 
burn had sent for me. A very useful man 
among the troops is the one that carries 
the waterbucket to the sidelines, refresh- 
ing tlie common soldier, and that is where 
we are, and that is what we do. We are 
the foremost reference library, and we 
stop at nothing. This is how we do it: 



We have the greatest resources in the 
country at the Pratt Institute Free Li- 
brary. We have a special room devoted 
tc fine arts, one to technology, a general 
reference room, a circulating department, 
and a whole lot of other things that be- 
long to the small library. But we dare 
say we do the most extensive work in 
our territory. We have annexed every 
other library within reach. A borrower 
comes to us and asks a question. We 
recognize it is beyond our immediate re- 
sources. We give him a card of intro- 
duction to one of the great collections in 
Greater New York, and he is glad to get 
on a trolley line and go and get that in- 
formation. So we claim the university 
library is always at our beck. A man comes 
in and uses our library as far as our re- 
sources go. We say, "This far we go and 
no further." He wants to pursue a tech- 
nical subject, and we give him an intro- 
duction to Columbia University Library 
and say, "It is such and such a station 
or. the Subway. You can go there tomor- 
row morning just as quickly as you can 
come here." So we often send a man to 
the Metropolitan Museum of Fine Arts 
v.hen we find we have given him all we 
have got on our premises. We flatter our- 
selves that we are an extension library. 
We assure our friends these resources are 
at their command, and they use them. The 
people to whom we send our friends are 
pleased to have a new patron. They like 
to have business sent to them. They don't 
mind our indulging in these fancies that 
these are all departments of our own li- 
brary. We have splendid collections in 
our departments. There is the Columbia 
University Library; the New York Pub- 
lic Library; there is the Long Island Med- 
ical Society, which does our medical work 
for us, and does it exceedingly well; there 
if! the Long Island Historical Society — it 
supplies all our genealogical information 
when a man wants to get up a coat of 
arms for his family — we don't happen to 
have a single family history. Really, the 
small library is not neglected In this Col- 
lege and Reference Section. I wish to 



PROFESSIONAL TRAINING SECTION 



429 



pay my tribute to those who have the great 
resources. We take off our hats to those 
in whose class we are not but with whom 
we can cooperate to serve the common peo- 
ple. 

Mr. G. W. LEE: I want to say that it 
is hoped the Boston list will be ready in 
two years; further than that, I hope it 
can be made part and parcel of the na- 
tional scheme, and it is likely we shall 
have to change to a topical list and treat 
it in that way. If any are interested in 
the Boston list I wish tliey would speak 
to me about it; I would like to keep them 
i;i touch. 

Mr. BRIGHAM: At a Joint session of 
the American Association of Law Libraries 
and the National Association of State Li- 
braries the question of the index to legis- 
lation was brought up. It was thought it 
might be brought before this session, and 
as a member of the Committee I want to 



present it to you. It involves a complete 
index to State legislation during the year, 
printed weekly and then annually, at the 
end of the session. There Is a real need 
of it; college libraries are keeping track 
of various forms of legislation and also 
getting in touch with the political, social 
and economic problems which arise. This 
process will enable one to trace the his- 
tory of legislation from the beginning. I 
would like to have anyone who so de- 
sires, consult with the members of the 
Committee. 

The nominating committee, consisting 
of Mr. Carl H. Milam, Chairman, Mr. H. B. 
Roeike and Mr. G. G. Wilder, reported the 
name of Mr. Malcolm G. Wyer, librarian 
o* the University of Nebraska, as the third 
member of the Committee in charge of the 
Section, and on motion Mr. Wyer was 
unanimously elected, to serve for three 
years. 



PROFESSIONAL TRAINING SECTION 



The seventh annual meeting was called 
to order on Tuesday, June 27, 2:30 p. m., 
by the vice-chairman, Miss Agnes Van Val- 
kenburgh, as, owing to serious illness in 
her family, the chairman, Miss Frances 
Simpson, was prevented from attending the 
conference. 

As the minutes of the preceding meeting 
had been printed in the A. L. A. Proceed- 
ings, their reading was dispensed with and, 
no corrections or additions being suggested, 
stood approved. 

The chairman appointed a Nominating 
committee, as follows, to report at the close 
of the session: Miss Mary Emogene Hazel- 
tine, Miss June Richardson Donnelly, Miss 
Harriet B. Gooch. 

The program was then taken up. The 
subject for consideration was a comparison 
of the curricula of library schools and pub- 
lic library training classes. 

"Points of similarity between the two 
types of courses," was treated in a paper 
by Mrs. Harriet P. Sawyer, chief of the in- 



structional department of the St. Louis 
public library. 

(See p. 185) 

Points of difference between the two 
types of courses, was treated in a paper 
by Miss Ernestine Rose, librarian Seward 
Park Branch of the New York public 
library. 

(See p. 189) 

Opening the discussion of the two papers, 
Mr. Frank K. Walter, representing the view- 
point of the library school, said, that to 
his mind, the main cause of misunderstand- 
ing in regard to the courses given by train- 
ing classes and library schools was due to 
an indefiniteness of definition; and that it 
the preparatory function of the training 
class was kept clearly in mind the difficulty 
would be largely done away with; that, in 
reality, the two courses stood to each other 
as those of the high school and the college. 
He added that the library school course 
should become more thorough than it is 



430 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



now, with more careful Instruction; that 
there were too many short-cuts toward effi- 
ciency; and that much of the practice work 
in vogue at present, should be eliminated; 
that, in short, the instruction should be In 
principles plus some practice, rather than 
in practice plus some principles. 

Following Mr. Walter, Mr. Carl B. Roden, 
speaking for the public library, took up the 
discussion. He said that in the Chicago 
Public Library, of the 364 applicants who 
had tried the entrance examinations, 195 
had been admitted to the class, 145 had 
been graduated, 122 appointed, and 94 were 
still in the service of the library; that, in 
their library, three things had to be con- 
sidered: (1) Assistants were born, not 
made. (2) The city civil service threw the 
examinations open to everyone. The library 
was allowed to prepare the entrance ex- 
aminations only by courtesy. (3) That, in 
their rapid expansion of the library's work, 
they needed assistants for but one kind of 
work, — general branch work. Therefore, 
the instruction must be such as to 
prepare the students in the shortest 
possible time; and the function of the 
training class was not so much to convey 
knowledge as to transmit inspiration; that 
the aim of their course was to teach the 
student to like library work; and the mem- 
bers of the staff who spoke to the class were 
selected for that work largely for their 
ability to convey enthusiasm. That the 
sifting process was the most important 
function of the class; and that, finally, as 
each individual training class must con- 
form to its own local conditions and needs 
there could be no systematizing or stan- 
dardizing of a training-class course. 

Mr. Roden was followed by Mr. Azariah 
S. Root, chairman of the A. L. A. Com- 
mittee on library training, who said that 
the difference between the two types of 
courses was well defined by their names; 
one was a school, the other was a class. 
This would mark the difference, even if 
the courses of instruction and the methods 
of teaching were the same. The funda- 
mental difference was one of atmosphere; 
one preparing for general service, the other 



for a local institution. The same differ- 
ence existed for a boy going to a local col- 
lege or to a college away from his home 
town. The breadth of training, the Indirect 
education, was the main thing In the gen- 
eral course. 

Mr. Root said, further, that the discus- 
sion raised the whole question of the future 
of professional training; that in the pres- 
ent day library schools the age limit was 
too low and the period of preparation too 
short; and that, not until the entrance 
requirement demanded under-collegiate 
work, and the course prescribed a rigid 
discipline of study and research work, 
would library work be regarded, in the out- 
side world, as a learned profession. 

The subject was then thrown open to 
general discussion. A question was asked 
from the floor if training classes could sup- 
ply librarians for small libraries which 
could not afford to pay large enough 
salaries to obtain graduates from library 
schools. The chairman referred the ques- 
tion to Mrs. Sawyer, who replied in the 
negative, saying that the small libraries 
were taken care of by the numerous sum- 
mer schools. 

Miss Annie Carroll Moore said that it 
would seem a pity to eliminate practice 
work from library school courses; Inas- 
much as such work was not merely 
mechanical and clerical, but the only 
medium through which the student came 
in touch with the borrower, and thus 
realized the aim of his work; and that such 
practice, therefore, had great psychological 
value. 

Miss Josephine Adams Rathbone said 
that the testing value of practice work 
made it an essential part of a library school 
course; as, without it, no director could 
have a fair knowledge of the working 
ability of the student, and so would be 
utterly at sea in making recommendations. 

Dr. George P. Bowerman added a word 
to the discussion by saying that he should 
dislike to see training class students 
simply Marthas; that there must be 
something inspirational to give an Incen- 



PROFESSIONAL TRAINING SECTION 



481 



tlve to ths work and a goal to work 
towards. 

Mr. Walter explained his attitude toward 
practice work as not wishing to have it en- 
tirely eliminated, but to decrease the promi- 
nence and the amount of time given to it 
in an advanced course. 

After some further discussion, partici- 
pated in by Miss Moore, Mr. Walter, Miss 
Rose and Mr. Roden, Dr. Bowerman asked 
if some library school could not offer a 
course for training students to take charge 
of training classes in public libraries. 

Miss Rathbone replied that, a few years 
ago, Pratt institute had offered such a 
course for two successive years; but that 
it had received such slight support from 
the profession that it was deemed unad- 
visable to continue it. 

This closed the discussion. 

The chairman now called for reports 
from the various library schools of any new 
phases of work recently undertaken or 
planned for the immediate future. 

The Library School of the University of 
Wisconsin reported a course in library 
science for teachers, given to university 
students in the normal course at the uni- 
versity. The course, covering the elements 
of library science, requires five recitations 
a week and counts five credits. 

The Syracuse University Library School 
reported a course in library science for 
teachers in the high school, counting ten 
hours credit. 

The Pratt Institute School of Library 
Science reported an elective course, given 
In the third term, in sight-reading in the 
Italian language, open to students who 
had had Latin; also, an elective course in 



story-telling, which includes practice as 
well as Instruction. Further, the instruc- 
tion in the Expansive classification had 
been omitted this last year. 

Simmons College Library School re- 
ported a course in high school library work 
for students. 

The Library School of the New York Pub- 
lic Library reported that an elective course 
in Italian (similar to that at Pratt Insti- 
tute) had been given from the beginning 
of the school; and this last year there had 
been a request for a similar course in 
Spanish. 

The Library School of the Carnegie Li- 
brary of Atlanta reported the appointment 
of Miss Mary E. Robbins to the faculty in 
the position of associate director of the 
school. 

Mr. Root, as chairman of the A. L. A. 
Committee on library training, was asked 
to give a report of the year's work of the 
committee. He replied by saying that the 
report was in print and had been dis- 
tributed, and therefore he would not take 
the time to speak of it. 

The report of the Nominating committee 
was then presented, as follows: Chairman, 
Miss Sarah C. N. Bogle, director of the 
Carnegie Library School for Children's 
Librarians; vice-chairman, Miss Mary E. 
Hyde, instructor, Simmons College Library 
School; secretary, Mrs. Harriet P. Sawyer, 
chief of the instructional department, St. 
Louis Public Library. 

By unanimous vote, the report of the 
committee was adopted and the officers de- 
clared elected. 

On motion, the meeting adjourned. 

Julia A. Hopkins, 
Secretary. 



4<2 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 

SCHOOL LIBRARIES SECTION 



FIRST SESSION 

The first session of the second annual 
meeting of the School Libraries Section 
was held in the ball room of the New 
Monterey at 8:30 p. m., June 29, with an 
attendance of about 300, Miss Mary E. 
Hall, Girls' High School, Brooklyn, chair- 
man of the section, presiding; Miss Alice 
A. Blanchard, Public Library, Newark, 
secretary. 

The papers and discussions centered 
about the topic "The national campaign for 
better school libraries." Mr. C. C. Certain, 
recently of the Polytechnic institute. 
Auburn, Ala., now of the Cass Technical 
High School, Detroit, read the first paper, 
taking as his subject "The school library 
situation in the South." 

(See p. 295) 

A paper by James F. Hosic, Chicago 
Normal College, followed, read in Dr. 
Hoslc's absence by Mr. Kerr. His subject 
was "The place of the school library in 
modern education." 

(See p. 210) 

After Dr. Hosic's paper the meeting was 
devoted to a symposium on the subject: 
How can we further the school library 
movement? 

Prof. Azariah S. Root, Oberlin College, 
spoke first on: "What the college and uni- 
versity can do." Mr. Root said that since 
90 per cent of high school teachers are col- 
lege trained the responsibility for good 
school library work depends largely upon 
the colleges. We cannot have good school 
libraries until teacliers, as college students, 
learn what good libraries are and how to 
use them. A teacher's ideal of what a 
library can do will not rise above what 
he found it in his college days. The col- 
lege must, therefore, first, make its library 
so efficient and so well adjusted to the 
student's needs that he will use it and sec- 
ond, because the student will go out to 
give the same kind of instruction that he 
got in college, must require intelligent use 
of the library by Its faculty. 



The judicious use of supplementary read- 
ing is of great importance. Students who 
are to become high school teachers should 
not be instructed as if they were working 
for Ph.D. degrees. The college faculty 
must know how to use reference material 
which will make their subjects alive to 
students. Furthermore, teachers must 
know the elements of library economy, or 
rather, the use of the library. They 
must know something about classification, 
various types of libraries, library etiquette, 
the value of unity in classification, and 
cataloging. 

With such instruction offered generally 
iu colleges it would be easy to supply satis- 
factory libraries for high schools, even in 
the large proportion of high schools where 
it is not possible to have trained librarians. 

Henry E. Legler, librarian of the Chi- 
cago Public Library, followed Prof. Root 
with a paper on "How the public library 
can help in developing effective high school 
libraries." 

(See p. 213) 

A paper written by Miss Eflie L. Power, 
Carnegie Library, Pittsburgh, was next 
read on "What the public library can do for 
grade schools." 

(See p. 215) 

This was followed by another paper on 
the same subject, by Miss Orpha M. Peters, 
of the Gary (Ind.) Public Library. 
(See p. 217) 

Mr. Claude G. Leland, Department of 
Education, New York City, was to have 
spoken on "What a department of educa- 
tion can do for the school libraries of a 
city," but was unable to be present. 

SECOND SESSION 

The second session of the Section waB 
held Saturday, July 1st, at 2:30 p. m., in 
the ball room of the New Monterey, with 
a most enthusiastic attendance of about 
200, Miss Mary E. Hall presiding, Mlsa 
Alice Blanchard, secretary. 

As it was the last afternoon of the con- 
ference and many people were planning to 



SCHOOL LIBRARIES SECTION 



4SS 



take a 4:30 train, the business meeting, 
■cheduled to come first on the program, 
was postponed, to give time for the discus- 
sion of special problems connected with 
school library work. 

Miss M. Louise Converse, Central State 
Normal School, Mount Pleasant, Mich., 
opened the discussion by a talk on the sub- 
ject of picture collections, their value and 
methods of caring for them. 

She considered a picture collection one 
of the normal school's best teaching 
methods, both as a means of cultivating a 
taste for good pictures and as aid in 
illustrating definite lessons. She advised 
mounting boards 12%xl4% inches, classi- 
fication, using travel numbers as closely as 
possible and a brief catalog. 

Mr. W. H. Kerr, Kansas State Normal 
School, raised the question of the ad 
visability of cataloging pictures. With him 
Mr. Hodges, Cincinnati, Miss Whitcomb, 
Chicago, and Mr. Wright, Kansas City, 
urged that a picture collection catalog, be 
cause of its expense and the difficulty in 
volved in using it, was not worth while. 

At the close of the discussion the meet- 
ing was divided, In order that two round 
table conferences, one for high scliool libra 
rians, the other for normal school libra 
rians might be held at the same time. Miss 
Hall conducted the conference for high 
school librarians, Miss Nancy I. Thompson, 
State Normal School, Newark, that for nor- 
mal school librarians. 

HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARIANS' ROUND- 
TABLE 

The high school meeting opened with a 
question box discussion led by Miss Bessie 
Sargeant Smith, Cleveland Public Library. 
From many questions covering a wide 
range of topics the one chosen as most in 
demand was: "Is It advisable to open the 
high school library to the public?" 

Mr. Purd B. Wright, Kansas City, Mr. 
Samuel H. Ranck, Grand Rapids, and Dr. 
Sherman Williams, N. Y. State Education 
Department, spoke strongly in favor of 
opening high school libraries to the public. 
Mr. Henry E. Legler, Chicago, Mr. W. H. 



Brett, Cleveland, and Miss Smith, Cleve- 
land, on the other hand, out of their ex- 
perience questioned as strongly the advis- 
ability of so doing, on the ground that the 
use of the library by the public crowded 
out the students and the book collection 
could not be as well adapted to the stu- 
dents' needs. Mr. Ranck described in de- 
tail the Grand Rapids method of success- 
fully administering school libraries which 
are open to the public, laying stress upon 
the necessity of close cooperation between 
the school and the library, and the prereq- 
uisites of outside entrances to school li- 
braries, and, for librarians, proper training, 
personality and experience. 

Miss Hall then took the chair and called 
for brief informal reports concerning spe- 
cific kinds of work done by different high 
school libraries. Miss Louise Smith, Lin- 
coln High School, Tacoma, described a 
library assignment card used by teachers 
sending classes for special reference ma- 
terial; Miss Tobitt, Omaha, described 
Omaha's new high school library; Miss 
White, Passaic, N. J., told of the Passaic 
method of book purchase. 

The topic of "Instruction in the use of 
the library" was suggested. This was such 
a popular subject and brought out so many 
questions that the meeting was given ove^ 
to its discussion. It was found that nearly 
every high school librarian present was 
giving systematic library instruction, with 
credit given by the school. Miss Smith, 
of Tacoma, reported that the teachers in 
her school had asked for a course for their 
own benefit. 

Miss Hall paid an appreciative tribute 
to Miss Laura Newbold Mann, Central High 
School, Washington, Miss Florence M. 
Hopkins, Central High School, Detroit, and 
to the Cleveland librarians for their splen- 
did work in developing high school library 
instruction. 

Owing to the lateness of the hour the 
postponed business meeting was made as 
short as possible. It was voted to accept 
the report of Mr. Frank K. Walter, chair- 
man of the Committee on professional 
training of school librarians, without its 



434 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCB 



being read, the report to be printed In full 
In the A. L. A. Proceedings. 
(See p. 219) 
Other reports were omitted. The follow- 
ing officers were elected for 1916: Miss 
H. Elizabeth White, Public Library, Pas- 
saic, chairman; Miss Orpha M. Peters, 
Public Library, Gary, Ind., secretary and 
treasurer. 

ROUND TABLE OF NORMAL SCHOOL 
LIBRARIANS 

Miss Nancy I. Thompson, State Normal 
School, Newark, N. J., led the round table 
which convened directly after the joint ses- 
sion of high school and normal school libra- 
rians. Miss Ursula K. Johnstone served as 
secretary. 

Mr. O. S. Rice, state supervisor of School 
Libraries, Madison, Wisconsin, was the 
first speaker. He outlined in a most inter- 
esting way the history of the compilation 
of a pamphlet, entitled "How to use the 
school library." This may be purchased 
for fifteen cents, from the State department 
of Education, Madison, Wisconsin. He 
argued that a teacher is not expected to 
teach geography without a textbook. There- 
fore a teacher should be equipped with a 
textbook on the use of a library. Hence 
the little book issued by the state of Wis- 
consin. These lessons are a part of the 
course of study. During the discussion 
that followed, many tributes as to the use- 
fulness of this pamphlet, were brought out. 
The desirability of any course of instruc- 
tion being required as a part of the curricu- 
lum was emphasized. 

Upon request. Miss Ursula K. Johnstone, 
reported an innovation in library training, 
installed by the Board of Education of New 
York City. The class was organized in 
September, 1915, in the Bay Ridge Evening 
High School for Women, Brooklyn. The 
school is one especially devoted to voca- 
tional branches for women, Including 
courses in domestic science and nursing. 
The evening class in library training offers 
an opportunity to young women who can- 
not afford to give up a day-time position to 



take the regular library course In a li- 
brary school. The course Ig two years, 
four evenings a week. 

Mr. Willis H. Kerr, librarian State Nor- 
mal School, Emporia, Kansas, spoke on the 
subject of "What the Kansas State Normal 
School does for the school libraries." 

During the discussion that followed, the 
need of advertising the work done in nor- 
mal school libraries was brought out. Al- 
bums and scrapbooks were suggested as 
an excellent means of revealing the excel- 
lent work done in many schools. Mr. Kerr 
made a motion, which was duly seconded, 
that the N. E. A. committee on Normal 
Schools be authorized to form an outline 
of subjects for these scrapbooks and that 
a request for the compilation of such books 
be asked of the schools. The motion was 
carried. 

The final note of the round-table meeting, 
was, that to make instruction in the use of 
a library effective, to place it where it be- 
longs, and to give it its due value, it Is 
necessary that the instruction be a part of 
the curriculum. 



During the conference the School Libra- 
ries Section held a most successful exhibit. 
The work of high schools was shown by a 
collection of loose leaf scrapbooks con- 
tributed by representative high school li- 
braries throughout the country showing 
photograplis of rooms and equipment, floor 
plans, forms used, book lists, etc. These 
scrapbooks containing a wealth of valua- 
ble material are to be available as a loan 
collection on application to Miss Hall. A 
scrapbook collection of mounted courses 
of study used by normal schools; a selec- 
tion of pictures from the picture collection 
of the Newark Public Library; charts and 
pamphlets describing the work done with 
rural schools in Wisconsin, Missouri and 
Gary; and a permanent loan collection of 
over 100 book lists from public libraries 
and state commissions were also shown 
and used continually throughout the week 
of the conference. 

Alice A. Blanchakd, 
Secretary. 



TRUSTEES' SECTION 

TRUSTEES' SECTION 



43S 



The meeting of the Trustees' Section 
was held in the Ball Room of the New 
Monterey Hotel, Tuesday afternoon, June 
27. Mr. W. T. Porter, trustee of the Cin- 
cinnati Public Library, and chairman of 
the section, presided. 

After a few introductory remarks the 
chairman introduced Mrs. Elizabeth Clay- 
pool Earl, president of the Indiana Public 
Library Commission, and trustee of the 
Connersville (Ind.) Public Library, who 
read a paper on "The trustee's obligation 
to the state." 

(See p. 293) 

Mrs. Earl was asked if the meetings of 
the library trustees association, of which 
she had spoken, are called by the Commis- 
sion, and if they were attended by trustees 
from all public libraries of the state. 

Mrs. EARL: The organization started 
through the Commission because they felt 
the advisability of it, but it is entirely in- 
dependent and has nothing to do with the 
Commission, except that the Commission 
cooperates in any way that they may be 
helpful. It is composed of the trustees of 
all of the public libraries and any other 
trustees of libraries, whether it be school, 
university, or special libraries. 

Mr. RANCK : I would like to ask a ques- 
tion as to the title of the paper: "The 
trustee's obligation to the state." Now, In 
some states there is a feeling on the part 
of the municipal authorities that the obli- 
gation should be not to the state but to 
the municipality — to the city — and there 
is a very strong movement in some states 
to eliminate what they regard as the state's 
control over the educational interests of 
the state. This is a matter that all of us 
ought to be interested in, because this 
comes up at one time or another, both in 
local and state-wide movements. In the 
first place, the American Library Associa- 
tion has gone on record that education is a 
matter of state rather than purely local 
concern, and In more than one state there 
li a feeling of resentment against that posi- 



tion. In the state of New York they believe 
control over educational matters should 
rest more largely with the authorities rep- 
resenting the local communities, than with 
the state. I should be glad, for my own 
information, to have an expression from 
some of the persons here on the subject of 
the trustee's local status. 

Mrs. EARL: I would like Mr. Ranck to 
be more specific. I confess this is some- 
thing new to me. It seems to me from my 
point of view to put more things on the 
state than really belong to the state. 

Mr. RANCK: In most of our states the 
educational interests are organized under 
one clause — and the library Is entitled to 
be considered one of the educational inter- 
ests — and the local government under an- 
other clause, and the educational interests 
which are represented are controlled large- 
ly by state legislation. Now, on account 
of the growing expense and the increasing 
taxation payable by the municipal govern- 
ment, a large part of which is on account 
of educational expense, both of school and 
library, the city officials feel that they 
ought to be in position to exercise not only 
more control but absolute control; in other 
words, that the whole taxing power of the 
local community, both for educational pur- 
poses and for local municipal government 
ought to vest in one body, and that would 
be the common council or the authorities 
represented by it. 

Mrs. EARL: Mr. Chairman, I hope that 
the good Lord will in time deliver all the 
library interests from the common council 
of the average city! It is fortunate in 
Indiana the library boards can control the 
tax for the libraries, to a certain limit 
which the state fixes by law, and that seems 
wise and to work well with us. I feel the 
library should be a distinct educational 
force in the state. 

Mr. PURD B. WRIGHT: We do not 
agree with the attitude of Mr. Ranck. In 
Kansas City we resent being classed with 



436 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



the city by the city authorities. Our 
schools are a distinct corporation. 

Mr. RANCK: That Is true in Michigan. 

Mr. WRIGHT: Our schools are in no 
wise connected with the city administra- 
tion; the funds are not collected or handled 
by it, or assessed and levied. We do not 
want to be connected with the municipali- 
ties. They are the same corporate body, 
the same stockholders, but they exercise 
no authority in the selection of boards of 
education. We have higher class boards of 
education In every instance than we do 
aldermen. 

Mr. SANBORN: I was interested in 
what Mrs. Earl said about Indiana condi- 
tions, because we seem to be just In the 
opposite direction from what Mr. Ranck in- 
dicates would be the feeling in Michigan. 
We have, as Mrs. Earl says, three taxing 
bodies in Indiana: we have the city coun- 
cil, the school board and the library board, 
which makes its own levy, and in going 
around to help establish libraries we find 
that as soon as the people learn that the 
taxing power is not going to be in the city 
council, so that it will go ahead and raise 
their taxes, — as soon as they get rid of that 
feeling, — they are perfectly willing that we 
should go ahead and they will levy their 
own tax. I find it is very much easier to 
have them separate, and the citizens feel 
better than when it is under one taxing 
head. 

Mr. MILAM: I should like to raise the 
point in this discussion as to whether it 
is not a trifle inconsistent with the com- 
mission form and the city management 
form of government to have conditions 
such as Mr. Wright describes in Kansas 
City. Is there not likely to be the ten- 
dency running along with the tendency 
toward commission form of government of 
placing the authority with the commission 
rather than settling it all by state legisla- 
tion? Now, I happen to be familiar with 
conditions in Indiana, as they were two 
or three years ago, and with conditions 
in Alabama as they are today, and It hap- 
pens that in Indiana you have a state gov- 
ernment OD which you can depend. In 



Alabama we have a city government which 
is the only decent government we have in 
the State. In Alabama we can depend ab- 
solutely on the Birmingham City Commis- 
sion, which lines up behind everything that 
is good and against everything that is bad, 
whereas the county and state government 
are absolutely in politics of the old variety. 

It seems to me, however, that aside from 
these local conditions, with the commission 
form of government, we must eliminate 
eventually, at least, a part of the state con- 
trol; and furthermore, and along a some- 
what similar line, I believe the tendency 
will also be to do away with the library 
board and with the school board. I know 
that in our city there has recently been 
recommended the establishment of a pub- 
lic welfare board, and the Commission has 
said. "Very well, we will take over the pub- 
lic welfare work of the city, but we will 
not create any new board. The public holds 
us responsible and we will supervise the 
work. The amount necessary will be paid 
directly by the Commission, and not 
through any board." I may say there is no 
"boss" in the city of Birmingham. While 
those conditions reign we are glad to have 
the tendency as it is; when the conditions 
change we will be glad to go back to some 
other form. 

Mr. HANCK: The Committee appointed 
by the National Municipal League to work 
out this problem as it relates to libraries, 
in tlieir draft of a library section for a 
city charter, contemplate management 
under the commission or business manager 
form of government. Those who are on 
the committee v.'ould like to get all light 
possible from the various states, because 
we realize it is a diflScult problem to 
deal with. We are interested in know- 
ing the feeling on the part of cities where 
they have a Commission form of govern- 
ment and where they have this tendency 
to centralize the taxing power all in one 
body. 

Rev. E. J. CLEVELAND: There is an 
interesting situation that has developed 
in the state of New Jersey on account of 
the enactment of the commission govern- 



TRUSTEES' SECTION 



487 



ment law, which went Into effect In Presi- 
dent Wilson's first year of his administra- 
tion as governor. The Commission Gov- 
ernment Act provides, among other things, 
that the schools shall be excepted from Its 
provisions, and then it leaves out every- 
thing else. The Public Library Act, which 
was passed originally in 1884, and amended 
in subsequent years, which is adopted by 
various municipalities which are going to 
have their libraries supported by the pub- 
lic moneys, provides that there shall be a 
board of trustees consisting of five mem- 
bers appointed by the mayor and approved 
by the other members of the governing 
body, with the mayor himself and the su- 
perintendent of schools as ex-officio mem- 
bers. It is also provided in that Act that 
the support of the library shall be provided 
by one-third of the regular fund. This is 
a mandatory clause, and It is supplemented 
by a permissive clause of one-sixth in addi- 
tion if the governing body sees fit. When 
this commission government went into ef- 
fect in the various states there was an 
obvious conflict of authority. The schools 
were excepted from Its provisions, that Is 
true, but the libraries apparently were 
under Its provisions. We find in the state 
of New Jersey today in some commission 
governments, at least, we have library 
boards. That is true in Jersey City and 
Burlington. In other places they have been 
eliminated; that is true in the cities of 
Bayonne and Hoboken, and this city of 
Asbury Park. The library is a part of the 
mayor's department in this city, and it has 
worked out very well. In the city of Ho- 
boken it has not worked out so well. I be- 
lieve in the two or more cities where they 
still retain their library board it has 
worked out well. It means that when you 
reduce the thing to its simplest terms the 
personal element is found to be the import- 
ant element. Here are men from the sev- 
eral states telling of poor local govern- 
ment and who find everybody engineering 
to get the personal influence behind them- 
selves. In the city of Hoboken I am con- 
fident it is not working out well. Librari- 
ans will appreciate the fact that the first 



act of the Commission after the law was 
adopted was to reduce the librarian's salary 
by $500 on the basis of economy, and the 
next week to appoint a brother-in-law of the 
commissioner of public safety a sergeant of 
police. So that was all in the interest of 
good city management! That is the way 
things apparently work out, and I think it 
comes down to a condition of confused legis- 
lation. I have been talking with a number 
of men from other states and asked what 
they are doing to provide against this piling 
up of laws on the statute books and amend- 
ing them year after year, where one act 
conflicts with another, and the politicians 
come out on top. We are afraid in this 
state to do anything with our library act, 
for we are afraid if we get to tampering 
with it some of its most valuable provisions 
will be taken away. So we are acting on 
the proposition that when you get the good 
element in control you must keep it there 
and trust the good Lord not to allow any- 
body to "monkey" with your legislation. 

Mrs. EARL: May I ask the gentleman 
from New Jersey how he can keep that 
best element In? New Jersey has missed 
its opportunity: to give women the vote. 

Miss AHERN: The personal touch, of 
course, has a great deal to do with all these 
things. I have recently come to believe 
that we have too much government; too 
many kinds of government; too many 
boards; too many forms of government. I 
said the other day, because I was sort of 
In a corner, that if we had a national gov- 
ernment and municipalities it would be 
much better than to have so many state 
and county and township governments, and 
all the rest of it, and I do believe, from 
my experience, that the plan which they 
have adopted in Indiana, and which we 
have in a somewhat different form in Illi- 
nois, that of making the library a separate 
interest of the state, as the schools are 
separate, works for the advantage of the 
library in the best way. Now, Michigan 
Is a queer library state. It is better than 
any place else in spots, and then it retains 
the archaic form of school trustees and 
there is the feeling in some places there Is 



48S 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



nobody else that knows anything save the 
school people and what they say Is the be- 
ginning and the end of wisdom. But it all 
comes back to the sort of library which 
you give to the community. If you have 
a good library the question of support and 
control is a secondary one, unless it gets 
to be such a powerful engine as our schools 
are in Chicago, and the politicians think 
they can use it. The question of the qual- 
ity of the library force depends in large 
degree on the kind of trustees, and as I 
had the honor of saying on the menu card 
at noon, what I had before said, as to the 
kind of libraries, it means in the end and 
the beginning the sort of trustees you have. 
What Mrs. Earl says about the good work 
of the Indiana Trustees' Association is 
true, but it is largely because she has had 
so much wisdom in her commission work 
that the trustees are afraid not to do what 
she says. However, I doubt, myself, the 
wisdom of trustees and librarians keeping 
apart in council, and in arrangements for 
the betterment of library conditions. If 
you have good trustees and poor librarians, 
it will only be a half accomplished work, 
and if you have good librarians and poor 
trustees the people will come nearer get- 
ting what they ought to have out of books, 
but it will be at the expense of the heart 
and life of the librarians, and after all, I 
think we can not improve on the old coun- 
sel that in the multitude of counselors 
there is bound to be some wisdom. 

The CHAIRMAN: If you will pardon 
me for speaking to the question while I am 
presiding, I will say that in Ohio we have 
practically two classes of libraries: the 
municipal library and the school district 
library, and I am not certain but what we 
have still another library, and that is the 
Cincinnati Public Library, because It is 
neither one of the other two. We know 
we stand alone in the peculiar character of 
the library, and its management. We have 
a municipal library in Ohio, which as you 
may understand is provided for by the 
council and by a board elected by the coun- 
cil. We have the school district library, 
which Is provided by the school d rict 



fundc, the fund not being th« same fund 
at all; sometimes the school district is very 
much larger than an ordinary city, as was 
the case with Cincinnati. The Board of 
Education elected the members of that par- 
ticular body, but In 1898 we desired to ex- 
tend our privileges and did so by a stroke 
of the legislative pen, and the county at 
large provided that there should be a county 
levy made, which was to be made by the 
board of trustees of the library. That 
board certifies a levy to the county auditor. 
Prior to that the entire amount of taxes 
with which we operated the library had 
come from tlie Board of Education. We 
took away from the Board of Education in 
that act the power of making a levy for 
books, leaving with them, as you will see, 
the entire amount of money we have had 
to spend on the management of the library, 
and vested the power of a five-tenths levy 
— originally it was only a three-tenths levy 
— in the board of trustees of the library, 
and since 1898 our board of trustees has 
certified to the county auditor a levy, and 
that levy has been placed upon the county 
duplicate and collected. We thus took oc- 
casion to separate ourselves entirely from 
the Board of Education, and we are prac- 
tically an independent library, and thus 
we belong to that third class in which we 
are the only one. We are able thus to do 
whatever we see fit with reference to the 
library service, and we serve the county 
of Hamilton entirely. We have in that way 
extended ourselves all through the county. 
We have built Carnegie libraries and are 
maintaining eight or nine of those. There 
were quite a number of municipal libraries 
all through the county and we said to them 
in 1909, "You give us your library and we 
will maintain it." Those libraries were 
given to us and we maintain them under 
our one county library levy. It is under 
that that our Cincinnati library is gov- 
erned, and we tlilnk we do rather good 
work in that regard. 

Miss AHERN: May I ask you a ques- 
tion right here? If something were to 
come up to change the government of the 
Cincinnati Public Library don't you think 



TRUSTEES' SECTION 



439 



you have such a force at the present time 
that the politicians would take hold of it? 

The CHAIRMAN: We have never found 
they disturbed us very much in that re- 
gard. The politicians, to be sure, were in 
the Board of Education, and we separated 
ourselves from them and they were very 
glad, finally, for they were allowed to re- 
tain the power of levy. I don't think that 
there could be a disturbance. Politicians 
might get control of the money but so far 
we have been provided in that regard. 
Practically our library board has been sim- 
ply a continuing board. 

Mr. RANCK: What do you think of the 
effect of the so-called Smith law on taxation 
in Ohio, limiting the total amount that 
could be raised? It hit Cleveland hard. 
Did they scale you down? 

The CHAIRMAN: The levy I spoke of, 
the five-tenths limit, does not apply to that 
general state levy. We make one levy for 
library purposes out of which the entire 
expenses of the library come. Prior to 
that new arrangement the old school dis- 
trict levy provided a certain two-tenths levy 
for books alone; all other expenses came 
out of the general levy. For some reason 
they limited the book levy, and they could 
only use that two-tenths for books at that 
time. Cleveland is under a different law 
than Cincinnati. Cincinnati is a law to 
itself on the library question. The Cleve- 
land Library is under the general library 
laws of the State. 

MARY E. DOWNEY: The law to which 
Mr. Ranck refers affects libraries all over 
the state. The Smith law cut the tax fund 
until it was a great hardship to the libra- 
ries all over the state. Utah and some of 
the other states are meeting that class of 
legislation which is hurting them. That 
is one thing trustees ought to look out for. 
I do not know how long it will be before 
Utah is coming to it. They usually adjust 
things but it takes some time to do it. 
Even the libraries were almost shut down, 
and there were many changes that hurt. 
Librarians worked on half salary for 
months and months. I want to ask one 



other question: It has occurred to me not 
only in this meeting but a dozen times, to 
know the value of this section. In my li- 
brary work in different states one does oc- 
casionally meet an ideal trustee. We have 
a few of them. I suppose you have a good 
many In Indiana, but once in a while we 
find a few of them. I wonder if these 
model trustees have not thought or have 
considered at all working out a simple 
code for library trustees? Would it be a 
practical thing; could it be done; to have 
a committee of these model trustees work 
out a code that might be used by libraries 
all over the country? The things we are 
discussing here are the big ones, they 
are not the little details. A trustees' code 
it seems to me would be a very helpful 
thing. For instance, you have a board of 
aristocratic trustees in a town of good size. 
They never have a meeting in the public 
library; they go out to a clubhouse once a 
year and have dinner. I know a library 
in a town of 30,000 population where the 
trustees never have a meeting in the li- 
brary. You go to that town; you call on 
them or send them a letter telling them the 
things that ought to be done. The trustees 
of the Cincinnati Library have a meeting 
in the library. I do not know they do; I 
presume they do, but a good many trustees 
do not know the condition of their library 
building; they can not realize the condition 
it gets into. I know one city where one 
trustee comes into the library. The whole 
board is made up of aristocrats; they have 
a meeting once a year. It is very hard 
to work with them. I know a lot of little 
libraries where they are open until ten 
o'clock at night and the librarian gets $25 
a month. If complaint is made the trus- 
tees say, "There are plenty of others who 
want the work." It is all you can do to 
keep your mouth tight shut, when you go 
to towns and see the girls do all the work 
of their library for $25 per month. Things 
like that we would like to have brought 
out. It would be helpful, I believe. 

Following this discussion the chairman 
Introduced the Hon. David A. Boody, presi- 
dent of the board of trustees of the Brook- 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



lyn Public Library, who delivered the fol- 
Icwlng address on 

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AS A PART OF 
OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM 

We need to be very humble after swal- 
lowing the portion of the menu provided 
) J Miss Ahern, and if it did not reach our 
stomach it did reach our conscience, and 
when we have that new enlarged vision 
which has been spread out before us we 
shall certainly try to do better. Now, the 
trustees even as they exist today have some 
duties to perform, and they frequently per- 
form them! And they do present reports 
occasionally, provided they are furnished 
by their librarians! And yet, as I have 
said, these trustees do perform certain 
functions, but we admit from the start 
what they do has no comparison with the 
work which the librarians and their asso- 
ciates do. They give to this work thought, 
and time, and labor, and experience and 
conscience and life itself, and to that we 
wish to give full consideration for this 
work. 

Now, I have been very much Interested 
in what has been said here today, but it 
seems at times as though we were dealing 
with the top and the branches of the tree 
rather than with the things that nourish 
the roots and promote the growth. I do 
not believe that it depends very much 
upon the kind of government which you 
have; I mean whether your library is un- 
der municipal administration or whether it 
is under state authority. Go to one place to- 
day, and you will find that the municipal 
government is much better qualified to ad- 
minister the affairs of the library than the 
state government. In another place you 
will find the state government is better 
qualified for that work. It seems to me 
that what we want is not to depend upon 
any one form of government. 

What we ought to remember to do Is to 
magnify the character and the dignity of 
the library Itself and let it make its way. 
We must Insist that it Is a part of our edu- 
cational system, and not an Inferior part. 
Its constituency is much larger than that 



of our colleges and of our universities. It 
is almost, if not fully as large, as that of 
the common schools. In the Borough of 
Brooklyn we have 350,000 book takers. I 
do not know how many they have in Man- 
hattan, but I do know that Greater New 
York circulates over seventeen millions of 
volumes. 

It may seem a little bit of a departure, 
but I want to bring the idea that out of 
these cities as they are constituted today 
you can get the best results of an education- 
al character. I think it is a great mistake to 
intimate that you cannot depend upon the 
people who are in authority. It is the very 
genius of our form of government that we 
must rely upon the people, and we must 
make them capable of our reliance, and 
they will respond. It is not a pleasant 
question to discuss, but if we take up the 
character of the government of the city of 
New York and the character of the 
government of the state at large, we 
shall find out that we can trust our 
local interests today better with the 
city of New York than with the state at 
large. The effort in every legislation is 
lor the state at large to get advantages at 
the expense of the city of New York, and 
the state does get many advantages from 
the city, so that it is not the men that 
may be in power today, and others that 
may be in power tomorrow that we should 
look to so much. It is to rely upon this 
part of our educational system in connec- 
tion with the other parts and make men 
be what they should be, and not rely upon 
legislation, not rely upon what this man 
will do or upon what that man will do. 

You have spoken about politicians. The 
statesman is simply the successful politi- 
cian! I would say to my boys today: Do 
your part in the political work of the city, 
and of the state in which you live. It is 
your moral duty, and you may be called 
only a politician, simply because you are 
doing what is called political work. But 
it is governmental work; it Is work that 
somebody must do, and have your best 
do It, your educated men, your men that 
read in your libraries, men educated in 



TRUSTEES' SECTION 



441 



your schools; then you will have the gov- 
ernment that will take care of your libra- 
ries and take care of your schools; take 
care of all your institutions. 

But, Mr. Chairman, we come right back, 
after all, no matter what we are talking 
about, to the heart of the subject: It is 
education; it is what we believe in. We 
believe that it is the best preparation for 
government; it is the best asset. It pre- 
pares men better than anything else to 
enter upon the duties of being a man, and 
It prepares young women better than any- 
thing else to enter upon the duties of being 
a woman. And so I say we believe in edu- 
cation. Our fathers believed in education, 
and the colony of Massachusetts as one of 
its first legislative acts established the com- 
mon schools, and long before the Declara- 
tion of Independence was signed those 
great institutions of Harvard, and Yale, 
and Princeton, and William and Mary, 
were established; Harvard a hundred years 
before; Yale eighty years before; Prince- 
ton between thirty and forty years before; 
and William and Mary about the same 
time. And when I think of that fact, of 
those four great institutions along our At- 
lantic Coast, I feel as though they were 
the greatest declaration that has ever been 
made, and that our fathers very well said, 
"Look and see these institutions, as illus- 
trating the character of government which 
we mean to establish and maintain for- 
ever!" 

I believe that the voices that came from 
the academic halls of those institutions did 
more work tiian the cannon of the Con- 
tinental Army in defending those great 
principles of the declaration which main- 
tained that they who support the govern- 
ment should share in its administration. 
Yes, our fathers believed in education, and 
we believe in it. They believed it when 
our population was sparse. They believed 
In it before the anarchists, and the social- 
ists, and the get-rich-quick men were with 
us, and if they believed in it, how much 
more important it is for us today to be- 
lieve In it, when we see with our own eyes 
that this land has become the melting pot 



of the world. Right here today, when we 
see this melting pot hung over the flames 
of a Christian civilization, we should be- 
lieve in this general education. It has 
been our salvation through all the ages of 
our existence, and we need it this very day, 
so that patriotism, and service, and love of 
country shall not grow cold in the hearts 
of our people. We need the product of this 
melting pot, that it shall ring true, strong, 
patriotic, American in every purpose and 
in every effort. 

What shall we do, as trustees, to promote 
this general education which we believe in? 
It is more important than any of the vari- 
ous forms of administration which have 
been referred to today. See that every 
component part of it stands upon an equal 
footing before the public, before the boards 
of estimate and apportionment, before 
everybody that has any authority in ad- 
ministering tlie affairs- of education. I 
would further urge that we bring our 
young men into this work, and make them 
feel that it is honorable; that it is a post 
of honor, no matter what they may be 
called. This great system is being handled 
largely by women. These great institu- 
tions are sending into the field women bet- 
ter and better educated than ever before. 
They must have work to do. They realize 
their fitness. They realize that they must 
take some stand in the affairs of the world. 
What can be better? I believe that this 
is the place for women's work under any 
circumstances. 

When we started our Brooklyn libraries 
we had a talk with Mr. Carnegie as to his 
views in regard to the uses to be made of 
these library buildings, and he said, "Make 
them centers of local population; make 
them civic centers, if you please." These 
words are used much at the present time. 
Let them be places for the meeting of the 
people of the neighborhood. And so I 
would urge as one other consideration that 
it is one of the ways by which we can 
promote the usefulness of these institu- 
tions. Lift them up to their position 
where they stand on their own merits, to 
be seen by all men and by all womeu. 



442 



ASBUUY PARK CONFERENCE 



Bring the people to these centers and 
teach them how to work together. What 
can be accomplished when confidence and 
purpose go hand In hand! I believe that Is 
one of the ways to build up these institu- 
tions. It is one of the things we have not 
yet learned how to do: the multiplication 
of units. The tremendous things that can 
be done where many hands work together, 
and many hearts and many minds are of 
one accord. It can be done. How Holland 
did it when she was defending herself, 
when she was establishing her institutions 
of government and of education; those 
things which blessed the world for cen- 
turies. Many of them we pattern after in 
establishing our own institutions. It is 
one of the lessons we have got to learn, to 
put our hands together. We can not live 
for ourselves alone. Consider how much 
of our life, our interests, our happiness are 
connected with the interests and the hap- 
piness of others. We must learn to be 
mutually protective and helpful, and when 
we have learned to put our hands together 
for these various purposes we shall know 
how to make them strong and useful when 
the great emergencies of life come, as they 
may come any day, to this people, as well 
as to the people of other nations. 

The CHAIRMAN: I am sure we are 
very much obliged for the inspiring ad- 
dress, and the program indicates that Mr. 
Bowker will open a discussion. Mr. Bow- 
ker, I call upon you to follow Mr. Boody on 
the subject to which he has addressed him- 
self. 

Mr. BOWKER: I do not know, sir, that 
I can dissect or discuss what Mr. Boody 
has so eloquently said, but I will spend a 
very few minutes and a few words on what 
one knows of trustees from the inside. I 
think the question was raised early this 
afternoon which was better and more ef- 
fective, a good librarian and a poor board 
of trustees or a poor librarian with a good 
board of trustees. Now, the ideal which we 
have in Brooklyn is a good librarian and 
a well-trained board of trustees, of which 
Mr. Boody and myself are the notable ex- 
amples. We both happen to belong to a 



board of trustees of another Institution. It 
Is a board of fifty members, whose chief 
function was to try to hold the director 
back, or down, and we never succeeded. 
The result was that the trustees were dis- 
couraged and it was very difficult to get 
them together. I do not like to put Dr. 
Hill to the blush too often, but in Brooklyn 
we have a model system, in which the libra- 
rian is an executive whose board gladly 
follow his suggestions, but whose board 
also has the opportunity of knowing every- 
thing that is going on and passing upon 
it very effectively if they so desire. 

With respect to the large subject which 
came up this afternoon: We must not for- 
get, and it is often said, that our series 
of state governments and our many munic- 
ipal governments are at once an advantage 
and a disadvantage. They give us oppor- 
tunities for reaching the best by experi- 
mentation and elimination and we are still 
going through both of these processes. In 
New York, as President Boody has said, 
the library system is in the hands of the 
city government; in fact, as you know, 
there are three great library administra- 
tions under the one administration of the 
great City of New York, and all power Is 
concentrated practically in the board of 
estimates and apportionment, a very small 
body of seven men, I think, having some- 
thing like thirteen votes; the mayor and 
other officials having more than the 
borough presidents. There the taxation is 
all concentrated in that board of estimates, 
and I suppose those of us who are students 
of government and economics feel that on 
the whole it is desirable to have a concen- 
tration of power. In New York state we 
favor home rule. Where there is a com- 
mission form of government home rule is 
favored, but as has been said, no one form 
of government, state or municipal, whether 
commission or otherwise, is so important as 
the personnel that composes it, and the 
public spirit that is behind it. That la 
really the key to the situation. But I sup- 
pose there is more and more public feeling 
in favor of home rule in municipalities and 
of the state as a means of control and 



TRUSTEES' SECTION 



44S 



regulation. It Is rather to keep Its hands 
off In the municipal work, and to Intervene 
only when it can really act as a corrective. 
It is rather extraordinary that in New 
York politics have never crept Into the 
library board, although we have only two 
representatives. The libraries have been 
conscientiously and carefully administered 
by the trustees, who hold their meetings in 
the library, as they should, once a month, 
and who give careful attention to the de- 
tails of trustees' work. 

In regard to the question of taxation I 
suppose in that also we are at a very ex- 
perimental stage, from which we have 
sooner or later to emerge. We are in won- 
derful confusion as between national and 
state and municipal taxes. They overlap 
each other. There are different taxes; 
there are different methods and different 
distributing authorities, and we rather feel 
that in New York we are in better shape 
because of the concentration in a few con- 
scientious hands. We have never had even 
a joint meeting of the three boards of trus- 
tees in the three great library systems of 
New York. I don't know that it would be 
to the comfort of the librarians if we held 
such a meeting, but it might be a good plan 
if we could follow the example of the state 
of Indiana and have meetings of that sort. 
In the smaller libraries also I don't know 
of any case in which any large number of 
trustees have come together for mutual 
consultation, but there are many problems 
common to all libraries, which trustees 
should thrash out, and if there could be an 
annual or even biennial meeting of trustees 
in each state, who would then meet local 
trustees, as in the meetings of this Sec- 
tion, I think it would be to the benefit of 
the whole community of librarians and 
readers. Therefore, it is worth while to get 
together as many trustees as we can in this 
Section and thrash out the larger prob- 
lems which come right home to trustees. 
There are a good many very difiicult prob- 
lems coming up in relation to libraries. 
Carnegie contracts have been made and 
many municipalities are now beginning to 
default, and that ope", s t, very wide and 



dlfflcult range of questions as to library 
administration. I believe In Texas so many 
municipalities and other taxing bodies 
have defaulted that the Carnegie Corpora- 
tion is rather loath to make any more li- 
brary grants in that state. 

But after all, as has been said, and as 
can be well repeated, very often the value 
of your library is the basis of its support. 
We had in Brooklyn a very interesting epi- 
sode when it was decided that we should 
remove a branch from one particular sec- 
tion of the city because one of the new Car- 
negie branches had been placed sufficiently 
near to cover that same population. To our 
great surprise and delight we found quite 
a revolution in that little community. They 
held a public meeting; they appointed com- 
mittees to visit our board and the city au- 
thorities, and I don't think the city authori- 
ties were ever more impressed with the 
value of the library as a city institution 
than when that body of local citizens called 
upon them to protest against the removal. 
Prom our point of view they did not seem 
to be right; the new branch seemed to 
serve the community, but it was a great 
satisfaction to us as trustees to find that 
this branch work was thoroughly appre- 
ciated. And that brings us back to what I 
really think, as others have said, is the 
fundamental question: if you are going to 
have liberal support for your library you 
must give a service to the public which 
the public appreciates. 

The CHAIRMAN: Are there any re- 
marks on the subject, other than what we 
have had? This Section has performed a 
good service to the American Library As- 
sociation. I believe the records indicate 
that it was at a meeting of this particular 
Section that the endowment fund of the As- 
sociation was created. As was suggested, 
if more trustees could attend these meet- 
ings, and have, as they necessarily must 
have, a common interest in the work and 
the several different subjects to be dis- 
cussed, I think it would be advisable. 
Mr. WRIGHT: I should like to move 
before we adjourn that as Indiana has 
the only association of library trus- 



444 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



tees, that that association, through Mrs. 
Earl, be requested to send to the Trustees' 
Section of the A. L. A. a brief statement, 
showing some of the things that they have 
accomplished. If that could be presented 
to us I think we could use it to encourage 
other state associations and encourage 



other trustees to come to these meetings, 
which are so helpful. 

(The motion was seconded and carried.) 
The officers of the Section were con- 
tinued: Chairman, W. T. Porter, secretary, 
T. L. Montgomery. 
Adjourned. 



PUBLIC DOCUMENTS ROUND TABLE 



The Public Documents Round Table was 
held at the New Monterey Hotel, Friday 
morning, June 30. Chairman, George S. 
Godard, state librarian of Connecticut; 
secretary, E. H. Redstone, librarian Social 
Law Library, Boston. 

The chairman called attention to tlie suc- 
cessful meeting of the Round Table held in 
Washington In 1914, at which representa- 
tives of the superintendent of documents 
and the Joint Committee on Printing ex- 
plained the printing bill then before the 
Sixty-third Congress. As this bill failed to 
be enacted by that Congress it was neces- 
sary to formulate and introduce another 
bill into the Sixty-fourth Congress, which, 
like its predecessor, included practically all 
the suggestions which have been made from 
time to time by librarians and the Gov- 
ernment Documents Round Table. 

He stated that it was their privilege at 
the present time to listen to Mr. Carter, 
clerk of the Joint Committee on Printing, 
who, through the courtesy of the Com- 
mittee, was present to explain the provis- 
ions of the bill so far as it affected library 
Interests. He then introduced Mr. George 
H. Carter, who read a paper on "The print- 
ing bin." 

(See p. 301) 

Chairman GODARD: I am sure we have 
all appreciated the plain statement of the 
bill before the Sixty-fourth Congress, as 
set forth by the clerk of the Joint Com- 
mittee on Printing. 

Mr. BOWKER: I am so very much Im- 
pressed with this that I think we ought to 
go a bit further, and I move that this body 



present its thanks to the secretary of the 
Committee, and through him to the Joint 
Committee on Printing for the bill, and 
the happy presentation of it by their repre- 
sentative. 

Mr. CARR: Seconding Mr. Bowker's mo- 
tion, I wish to say, as one who has had 
much to do with documents for thirty 
years, that I do feel, as I listen to Mr. 
Carter, that while we have not reached the 
millennium in legislation, I feel that the 
millennium is almost in sight. I second 
the motion. 

(The motion was unanimously adopted 
by a rising vote.) 

Mr. CARTER: I am sure the Committee 
will be greatly gratified. 

Chairman GODARD: We are especially 
fortunate in having with us Miss Edith B. 
Clarke, wlio has had so much to do with 
the handling and investigation of public 
documents, who will present to us "Some 
observations concerning government publi- 
cations as they are and as they should be." 
(See p. 312) 

Mr. BOWKER: I think we may rejoice 
with Mr. Carter that we have come so 
much nearer the millennium, and we can 
also thank Miss Clarke for leading us 
toward Utopia. The whole question recurs 
In government documents which for other 
documents we have solved in most of our 
libraries. The old systems of Issuing and 
numbering was a sort of fixed location, 
based on the numbers. You put your govern- 
ment documents right along on the shelves 
and got your shelves as the series extended, 
and that was very convenient for the person 



PUBLIC DOCUMENTS ROUND TABLE 



446 



who had the scheme fully in mind. Not all 
Congressmen had the old scheme fully in 
mind, but it was in a way an easy system. 
The plan somewhat carried out in the bill, 
which I would like carried out in Miss 
Clarke's plan, would give opportunity for 
the subject classification and the movable 
location we now have generally adopted. 
Of course, that is a somewhat different mat- 
ter from the question of serial numbering, 
but the two are inter-related, and so much 
has been used commercially in the ad- 
mirable cataloging and publishing of the 
Victor and Columbia phonograph records. 
You will notice that there the title is 
brought forward, the authors given by 
themselves, below is a number, below that 
is another little number of which I don't 
quite understand the significance, but the 
names which are printed are large letters, 
— all useful things for the general user. 
I have several collections of records; for 
instance, one of national airs, one of dis- 
tinctive dance music, and others of other 
kinds, and those are arranged in a movable 
location by subject. Now, the dealer ar- 
ranges the collection entirely by the large 
numbers, and I presume the small number 
is the manufacturer's serial number. 

To my mind, the government publications 
should follow somewhat of that plan; that 
is to say, the main thing should be the 
actual subject of the volume, with the 
issuing author strongly brought out, and 
the serial number or the United States 
document number, or whatever It may be, 
should be entirely subordinate, and instead 
of printing 73 additional copies they should 
merely reprint the title page, similar to 
the page in the catalog, but with these 
small numbers added. It is absolutely a 
waste of the taxpayers' money to have 
these additional printings. 

Of course, we are looking from two points 
of view. The Congressman wants govern- 
ment documents for Congressional use, and 
perhaps doesn't fully appreciate the 
enormous use of government documents to- 
day by the general public, and especially 
by the student, the person who is most able 
to interpret the valuable material which 



used to be inserted in government docu- 
ments. But the difference between docu- 
ments today and forty years ago when this 
Association was formed. Is almost as great 
as the difference between the Bible in the 
old days and the Bible as circulated by the 
Gideons today. 

As to the matter of distribution. In our 
small library in Stockbridge we actually 
hurt the feelings of our Congressman by 
saying that we couldn't afford to give shelf 
room to the daily "Congressional record," 
and it seems that that, even that, should 
not be imposed upon public depositories. 
The large library wants a good many copies 
where the small library may not want one 
copy of a good document 

It is perfectly impossible In a meeting 
like this to discuss these matters in detail. 
It would take all day and the next week. 
We can, of course, be thankful that those 
great advances have been made, and I 
think in the spirit which Mr. Carter has 
shown and in the suggestions which Miss 
Clarke has brought before us we will be 
fairly considered. We cannot get all of 
them, but we can probably get some of 
them adopted. 

I wish there were time to ask what I 
have in mind. When this Association 
was formed, as I have indicated, govern- 
ment publications were simply an atom. 
They were not used; they were so 
much lumber for the most part. Today 
it is wonderfully different. One of my first 
tasks in bibliography was to try to get 
some kind of practical cataloging done in 
government publications. The catalog of 
that day was the most absurd chronological 
printing work of all Congress and the gov- 
ernment in general had published. I had 
to go to Washington and work in the de- 
partments and bureaus, and finally I had 
published as an appendix to the "American 
catalog" a catalog resume arranged by de- 
partments and bureaus of government 
publications. 

It would interest you to know how many 
of our recommendations have since been 
adopted. Some of the recommendations 
which Miss Clarke has urged are still 



446 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



found here, unadopted, but the progress has 
been enormous, and I think the thing for us 
all to do is to put our shoulders behind the 
printing bill, get Mr. Carter to adopt as 
many more of these steps toward Utopia 
as possible, and get some action. 

There have been two measures pending 
before Congress for years which are of the 
greatest importance to the people, and 
which get shelved because of urgency of 
less important things. One is this bill, the 
other is the bill for the reorganization of 
the Post Office on a decent, businesslike 
basis, and we shall approach very much 
nearer the governmental millennium when 
we get these two bills through. 

Miss HASSE: I am very glad that you 
so unanimously gave your approval this 
morning to the new printing bill, if only 
for one reason. I think I am right in 
understanding Mr. Carter that the commit- 
tee hearings will hereafter be distributed. 
I don't know whether you all realize the 
importance of hereafter getting those com- 
mittee hearings sent to you regularly. You 
have never had them before unless you 
especially asked for them, and if the bill 
goes through with that recommendation I 
hope that there will be a reprint of the 
hearings. The merchant marine hearings 
taken two years ago take up two volumes. 
Those hearings contain testimony from the 
specialists in the subjects, and are, of 
course, most useful material on the shelves 
for advance reference work. 

As to the immediate subject under dis- 
cussion, I do not know whether I am com- 
petent to say anything. I had a dream, 
too, of the reformation of cataloging and 
distribution, and reformation of waste in 
government documents. I don't know 
where I got it, but I have got over it. 
There are other documents besides United 
States documents. Since getting over this 
obsession of reforming the United States 
documents I have taken up a little work 
■with state documents. I think since I have 
done that that United States documents are 
really very simple. You all know Mr. 
Seaver and what a very careful, con- 
ecientlous worker he is. Several years ago 



he re-cataloged the publications of the Uni- 
versity of the State of New York. He took 
this very carefully home and worked for 
two hours every day, — his own time, with- 
out interruption, to arrange things for us. 
And then he resigned. There isn't another 
accumulation of publications of the Uni- 
versity of the State of New York in the 
shape in which this is. 

A DELEGATE : What possibility is there 
of having this bill passed at this session of 
Congress? Will it have to go to another 
Congress; pass one House in one Congress 
and pass the other House in the other 
Congress? Now that there is a uniform re- 
port from the Joint Committee, is there 
any possibility that this will pass this 
Congress, this session, or what can we do 
to push it? 

Mr. CARTER: I don't know whether it 
will pass this year or not. We have never 
been able to get it through both House and 
Senate in the same Congress. The thing 
is to get your Congressmen and Senators 
interested, in showing that you are in- 
terested. I don't know a better way than 
oy writing to your Congressman. 

Might I just explain a word here? Gov- 
ernment depositories now get a portion of 
their sets without trouble, — title, "62d 
Congress, First Session," and so on; 
"Senate Documents, Volume 1." Now, then, 
the purpose is to abolish this volume num- 
ber here and eliminate that reference to it, 
then take the actual title of the book itself 
and make the main top title, "Navy year 
book," for instance, the year "1911," sub- 
ordinate the document number; "Senate 
Document 112, 62d Congress, Second Ses- 
sion," and any library that wants to shelve 
that according to subjects doesn't have that 
awkward top title, which means nothing to 
it. If we eliminate this volume number 
it will take out of the catalog any reference 
to this having been in the Congressional 
set, particularly, and if you want to put it 
on your shelves with the serial number 
that serial number can subsequently be in- 
serted here (illustrating), or down below, 
but you still have your book with the one 
title on top, the individual title of the 



ROUND TABLE ON LENDING WORK 



447 



book, so that whenever that book Is pub- 
lished it will bear that same back title, so 
that there will be in the future no duplica- 
tion whatever, whether or not you get the 
book from the department itself. Suppos- 
ing it is the secretary of war's report of 
1914. If he sends it to you it will have that 
same top title, if you get it from Congress 
it will have the same top title, and both 
editions will have the fact that it had been 
printed as a Senate Document, which will 
give the key in advance of the serial num- 
ber. Then, afterward, the superintendent 
of documents will furnish you the serial 
number, which will be the key to his in- 
dexes and his catalog. From that he will 
drop all reference to the volume number. 
Chairman GODARD: Before we close I 
want to call attention to another matter. 
All of you have heard of the effort that has 
been made for the past nine years by the 



joint committee of state librarians and law 
librarians to get an index to current legis- 
lation of all the states. 

While I have no occasion to give a talk 
on what that index does, as we all have a 
chance to get a sample copy, I hope that 
when you get home you will speak to those 
interested in such things and emphasize the 
fact that it is a co-operative work, and that 
while the present publishers have con- 
tributed towards its present state of per- 
fection something like thirty thousand dol- 
lars, they now feel that the index has been 
shown to be practical and desirable, and 
they feel that it should be self-supporting. 
So anything that any of us can do to help 
this Joint Committee that has been work- 
ing so hard for nine years to perfect this 
index, ought to be done. 

A motion to adjourn being seconded and 
agreed to, the meeting adjourned. 



ROUND TABLE ON LENDING WORK 



In response to a wide-spread desire for 
an opportunity to discuss the problems of 
adult circulation a Round Table was held 
Wednesday, June 28, at 2:30 in the Palm 
Room of the New Monterey. 

Mr. Paul Blackwelder, of the St. Louis 
Public Library, who presided, explained 
briefly the reasons for holding the Round 
Table and in conclusion, said: 

Librarians, who are interested in public- 
ity, would do well to ponder the adver- 
tising value of a friendly and satisfied 
public. Successful business men have 
long appreciated this self-evident fact. 
Hotels, department stores, even public 
service corporations, are making every 
effort to advance their business by 
courteous and intelligent service. In this 
connection, I want to remind many of you 
of the exceptional entertainment received 
by the A. L. A. at the Hotel Maryland in 
Pasadena a few years ago. Many libra- 
rians remember the charming personality 
of the manager, Mr. Linnard, and the re- 



markable consideration shown them by 
the members of his staff. On the last day 
of the meeting one of the librarians asked 
Mr. Linnard the secret of his perfect 
discipline and of the homelike spirit in 
his hotel. He replied that if the statement 
were true it could be explained by one 
rule which his employees were told must 
never be broken. That rule was: "The 
guest is always right." 

I commend to all librarians the spirit 
expressed in that regulation. 

Of the many topics handed to the chair- 
man for discussion, the first presented 
was: Shall the guarantor requirement for 
readers' cards be abolished? The discus- 
sion showed that a large number of li- 
braries still require a guarantor, but the 
general tendency of the times seems to be 
against a guarantee of any kind. Even a 
reference is deemed unnecessary in many 
libraries if the applicant's name be in the 
city directory, or he can be identified in 
any way, by presentation of a tax receipt. 



448 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



a business card or a library membership 
from another city. 

This brought to light the fact that St. 
Louis gives the holder of library cards 
from other cities all the regular privileges. 
This seemed to appeal to several speak- 
ers, especially Mr. Carr who said that he 
thought the plan could be worked to 
particular effect between his own library 
at Scranton and the neighboring one at 
Wilkes-Barr6, whose book collections in 
many ways supplement each other. 

Shall books he issued for one month? 
was the next question. 

Those who now issue books for four 
weeks or one month were unanimously in 
favor of continuing the practice. The 
advocates of the shorter period objected 
that the book collections, especially small 
ones, could not stand the strain of such 
a liberal policy — that borrowers would 
keep books much longer than now, thus 
causing inconvenience to other borrowers. 
This view was termed chimerical by those 
who have tried out the four weeks issue 
period. They declared that borrowers re- 
turn books when they have read them, 
especially if, as in most cases, they want 
others. The saving in work connected 
with renewals and the reduction of irrita- 
tion over fines were mentioned as further 
advantages of the longer period of issue. 

Question three: Shall the prevailing 
limitation of one or two novels to each 
reader be withdrawn? 

Here again the discussion brought out a 
tendency toward increase of privileges. 
The policy of unlimited issue of both fic- 
tion and classed books seems more com- 
mon than is generally supposed. Mr. Hall, 
of Somerville, stated that he had found 
no abuse of this practice, the physical 
capacity of a borrower in carrying books 
away, proving a sufficient limitation in 



itself. No speaker, however, advocated 
the issue of current periodicals without 
limit, or the issue of more than one seven- 
day book. 

The question of rental or pay collections 
was touched upon incidentally, but could 
not be discussed for lack of time. 

The animation which characterized the 
whole session reached its height on the 
question of "Fines." Every point of view 
was expressed. There were advocates of 
"no fines," and of "heavy fines," and of 
fines graded according to the ability of the 
borrower to pay. One library charges five 
cents for the first day, four cents for the 
second day and so on. Some speakers 
looked upon fines as a penalty and others 
regarded them as a source of revenue. 
Many advocated a maximum fine of one 
cent a day; a few wanted five cents a 
day. The tendency towards liberality was 
apparent, however, in this as in all other 
questions before the meeting and the 
speakers who favored reducing fines met 
a hearty response from the audience. 
Especially impressive was the sympathy 
expressed for those poorer readers to 
whom fines are always a burden. Many 
libraries at present appear to be reduc- 
ing or remitting fines in individual cases 
which seem to warrant such treatment 
and most of the speakers seemed to agree 
that if this secured the return of the book 
it was a good policy. 

In view of the enthusiasm shown in the 
discussions, and the attendance of about 
two hundred people, it was decided to hold 
another Round Table on lending problems 
at the A. L. A. conference in 1917. 

Mr. Chalmers Hadley was chosen chair- 
man for the coming year, and Miss Agnes 
Greer, secretary. 

Agnes F. P. Greeb, 
Secretary. 



THEOLOGICAL LIBRARIES' ROUND TABLE 

THEOLOGICAL LIBRARIES' ROUND TABLE 



The first round table of theological 
librarians met as scheduled, Friday morn- 
ing, June 30, in the Palm Room of the 
New Monterey. The roll of the attendance 
shows that the following institutions were 
represented: Union Theological Seminary, 
New York City, Crozer Theological Semi- 
nary, Chester, Pa., Philadelphia Divinity 
School of the Protestant Episcopal Church, 
Philadelphia, Pa., Yale University, New 
Haven, Conn., Public Library of Butte, Mon- 
tana, Diocesan Library of Cambridge, 
Mass., The Episcopal Theological School of 
Cambridge, Mass., Chicago Theological 
Seminary, Chicago, 111., Colgate University, 
Hamilton, New York, Library of Congress, 
Washington, D. C, Dropsie College, Phila- 
delphia, Pa., General Theological Library, 
Boston, Mass., Hamilton College, Clinton, 
New York, Hebrew Union College, Cincin- 
nati, Ohio, Lutheran Theological Seminary, 
Mt. Airy, Philadelphia, Pa., McCormick 
Theological Seminary, Chicago, 111., Mis- 
sionary Research Library, New York City, 
Newark Public Library, Newark, N. J., 
Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, Syracuse 
University, Syracuse, N. Y., Temple Uni- 
versity, Philadelphia, Pa. 

There were twenty-one libraries, repre- 
sented by twenty-seven people, from eight 
states and the District of Columbia — an at- 
tendance that was gratifying to those in- 
terested. Eight of the libraries represented 
were those of theological seminaries, seven 
were libraries of colleges and universities 
in which theology is a department, two 
were interdenominational libraries, one, a 
diocesan library, and the other, the Library 
of Congress. 

The prime object of the meeting was, that 
theological librarians might get acquainted 
with each other. Accordingly, as each one 
arrived he was promptly Introduced to the 
others present. Only a few, who came quite 
late, were not thus taken the rounds, even 
after the more formal part of tbe meeting 
had begun. 

Dr. Frank G. Lewis, librarian of Crozer 



Theological Seminary, called the meeting to 
order and explained the call for the con- 
ference. He was unanimously elected chair- 
man of the meeting, and the Rev. John F. 
Lyons, secretary. The chairman read a 
letter from Dr. O. H. Gates of the Andover- 
Harvard Library, regarding the Library of 
Congress cards and classification, to the 
effect that they should soon be available 
for Theology. But a letter from the 
Library of Congress, that the chairman 
read, stated that they would not be able 
to work on Theology for several months 
yet. 

A letter from Miss Julia Pettee, that was 
read, told of a union list of Bibles being 
made by Dr. Gates of the Andover-Harvard 
Library. The conference gave a hearty 
vote of appreciation of this work, and also 
of willingness to co-operate in any way 
possible. 

The subject of the classification of a 
theological library was then broached. It 
had already been discussed among some of 
the leading members of the conference 
earlier in the week in conversation, and 
there was a feeling that if the round table 
attempted to thresh the matter out at that 
time there would be no time left for the 
consideration of other subjects. A call 
for a show of hands as to the use of the 
D. C. made evident something of the 
diversity of practice among the libraries 
represented. About one-third were using 
the D. C, and practically all these had 
modified it according to their own needs, 
and all were convinced of the need of a 
revision of the D. C. The rest of the li- 
braries represented were using their own 
systems of classification, some of them 
satisfied and others dissatisfied. 

In order to dispose of the matter and to 
have the facts as to the practice of the 
theological libraries of the country and 
their satisfaction with their systems, It 
was decided to appoint a committee to in- 
vestigate the matter and report, with 
whatever recommendations they might see 



450 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



fit to suggest, to the meeting at the confer- 
ence one year hence. Miss Julia Pettee, of 
Union Theological Seminary, New York, 
was appointed chairman of this committee; 
and the chairman and secretary of the 
meeting, Messrs. Lewis and Lyons, were 
appointed as the other members. 

The request of Prof. Walter C. Green, 
librarian of Meadville Theological School, 
Meadvllle, Pa., for a list of the best of the 
denominational papers, was mentioned by 
the chairman. The desirability of such a 
list was felt by many. Dr. Robinson, of 
Philadelphia Divinity School, said he 
needed it, on account of courses in Ameri- 
can church history. No practical means of 
meeting this request was found, but It led 
to the discussion of union lists of files of 
periodicals, especially those in which 
theological libraries are Interested. Prof. 
Root of Oberlin brought the welcome in- 
formation that the H. W. Wilson Co. is 
planning to bring out a union list for the 
whole country and later, local lists. 

Next for consideration was the subject of 
co-operative indexing of material not now 
indexed. Dr. Lewis told of work that they 
were doing in their library in indexing 
biographical material found in church 
papers. Dr. Estes, of Colgate University, 
described the special work that their refer- 
ence librarian was doing in sending notices 
to members of the faculty concerning 
articles of interest to them in current 
periodicals. These were preserved on 
cards and filed in the index, and were be- 
coming a valuable adjunct to published 
periodical indexes. Dr. Robinson also 
spoke of the work of one member of their 
staff, who was busy all the time indexing 
periodicals and pamphlets. This made it 
plain that here was a problem to be solved: 
how to make this work that is being done, 
that would be useful generally, available 
for other institutions. 

Miss Colegrove, of the Newark Public 
Library, brought a practical problem of her 
work before the conference at this time. 
She said that since "Billy" Sunday had 
been holding meetings in New Jersey there 
had been an Increased interest among the 



patrons of their library in books on re- 
ligion written in a plain, popular style, 
such as Posdick's "The Meaning of Prayer," 
etc. She asked the assistance of theological 
librarians in suggesting where she could 
secure lists of modern, popular religious 
books. In response, she was referred to 
the Bulletins of the General Theological 
Library of Boston, the accessions published 
there being mostly of the more popular and 
readable sort. The reading lists also of 
these Bulletins were recommended, as was 
the list of new books of Pratt Institute. 

Some description of the Missionary Re- 
search Library in New York, perhaps the 
youngest library represented, was called for 
by Dr. Estes. Miss Hering, the librarian, 
responded, telling of the need the library 
had already been able to meet, and their 
appreciation of the co-operation of other 
libraries In helping them secure out-ot-print 
material. Their greatest difficulty in classi- 
fication had been with Comparative 
Religion. 

At this point Prof. Keogh, librarian of 
Yale University, suggested that Miss Mon- 
rad, who helped to organize the missionary 
library at Yale, might be able to offer sug- 
gestions. Miss Monrad replied that they 
had made their own classification based 
on Prof. Beach's Bibliography. Prof. Keogh, 
at the request of the conference, spoke still 
further on the Yale Library of Missions, 
saying that it was distinct from the Uni- 
versity Library, but that he, the librarian 
of the university, was chairman of the Mis- 
sionary Library committee, and that the 
most cordial co-operation existed between 
the two libraries. 

It was felt by all present that the round 
table should be continued, and continued as 
a round table, rather than as a section of 
the A. L. A. So the officers of the meeting 
were continued in oflice for the ensuing 
year. Every effort will be made to have a 
live, helpful conference next year; and the 
co-operation of all who are interested, is 
urged. 

Before adjourning, attention was called 
to the General Theological Library of Bos- 
ton, and Miss Pillsbury, the librarian, was 



LEAGUE OF LIBRARY COMMISSIONS 



481 



called on to speak of it. The best part of 
It, she felt, was the work of serving the 
rural pastors of New England by sending 
them books post-paid both ways, and bul- 
letins of reading lists, etc. Those from 
the Middle West expressed the need that 
is felt for such a library in Chicago, to 
meet the needs of the rural pastors and 
other social and religious workers of the 
Mississippi Valley, without regard to 
denominational lines. It was pointed out 
that the remnant of the Chicago Theological 
Seminary Library not needed by the Chi- 
cago University, with which the Seminary 
is becoming affiliated, might form the 
nucleus of such a library, and it was most 
earnestly hoped that some broad-minded, 
warm-hearted man, with sufficient means. 



would see In this a supremely great oppor- 
tunity of serving the country and the cause 
of Christianity in general. 

It was pointed out that some of the 
seminary libraries were already doing a 
similar work that was much appreciated. 
It was felt, however, that Chicago needs a 
great, interdenominational library to sup- 
plement the existing seminary libraries, 
and so liberal in its management as to 
make it easy for those without adequate 
opportunities of securing religious books, to 
get them. 

The meeting then adjourned for informal 
discussion and conversation. 

John F. Lyons, 

Secretary. 



DECIMAL CLASSIFICATION ROUND TABLE 



A well-attended round table on decimal 
classification, conducted by the Advisory 
committee on decimal classification, was 
held at the New Monterey Hotel, Wednes- 
day evening, June 28. Many suggestions 



were made, which will give additional ma- 
terial for the committee to work on. 

Two meetings of tlie committee were 
also held during the conference week, at 
which all nine members were present. 



LEAGUE OF LIBRARY COMMISSIONS 
Mid-year Meeting, Asbury Park, N. J., June 28 and 30, 1916 



FIRST SESSION 

The first session of the League of Library 
Commissions met in the Ball Room of tlie 
New Monterey Hotel, June 28, at 2:30 p.m.. 
Miss Fannie C. Rawson, president, presid- 
ing. The following states were represented 
by one or more members of their commis- 
sions and staffs: Colorado, Connecticut, 
Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ken- 
tucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, 
Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North 
Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, 
Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin. 

As the annual meeting of the League is 



now held in Chicago in the winter, there 
was no business transacted. 

The program was opened by Miss Mary 
L. Hopkins of Seaford, Delaware, with 
an entertaining account of "Book Wagon 
Delivery" in Sussex County, Delaware. 
(See p. 248) 

In the discussion of this paper, Miss 
Mary L. Titcomb of Hagerstown, Maryland, 
told on request some of the details of the 
work of the book wagon in Washington 
County, Maryland. Mr. Henry N. Sanborn, 
of Indiana, reported on the new undertak- 
ing of the public library at Plainfield, In- 



462 



ASBURT PARK CONFERENCE 



diana, which la just beginning house to 
house delivery In two townships served by 
the library. Each house Is visited every 
six weeks. 

The second paper of the afternoon was 
by Asa Wynkoop, of New York, on "Con- 
ducting Library Institutes," read by Miss 
Caroline P. Webster. 

(See p. 250) 

Miss Robinson of Iowa then spoke of the 
district meetings in Iowa. According to 
the custom there, the president of the state 
association and the secretary of the com- 
mission, attend each meeting. At the six 
held last year the average attendance was 
38, and at one meeting there were more 
trustees than librarians present. The dis- 
tricts arrange their own programs. 

Mr. Sanborn described the system of dis- 
trict meetings In Indiana. The nine dis- 
tricts of the state meet once, and tills year 
in most cases twice, with some member of 
the Commission staff, usually the secretary. 
In attendance. District secretaries are ap- 
pointed by the secretary of the commis- 
sion and suggestions tor meetings are 
printed in the "Library occurrent." 

Following this discussion. Mrs. Elizabeth 
Claypool Earl, president of the Indiana 
Commission, read a paper on "The value 
of the organization of library trustees. 

"The Important place the library is 
rapidly assuming in the educational forces 
of the community and the demand that 
those who spend public money shall use it 
with economy and intelligence, places an 
obligation upon library trustees to seek 
Information and knowledge about what are 
their responsibilities and opportunities. 

"The taxpayer has a right to expect the 
greatest good to the largest number at the 
least cost. The greatest good embraces the 
molding of public sentiment toward right 
thinking, bringing within reach the desired 
needs, to the citizen, student, poet, 
dreamer, lover of nature; the providing of 
information. Inspiration and recreation. To 
the largest number means an Intimate ac- 
quaintance with books, a friendship with 
the people of the community, a tactful ap- 
proach and an understanding of and in- 



terest in serving the public. At the least 
cost means value received, a business 
ability to appreciate that the highest salary 
you can afford for a well equipped librarian 
is the best investment for the community 
tnat you can make and will yield the 
largest returns of any money Invested. 

"There is something about the personal 
touch, the getting togetlier and exchang- 
ing ideas that has a most beneficial effect 
on the growth and broadening of the mind. 
It has always seemed to me the cart was 
being placed before the horse. State li- 
brary associations can meet until doom's 
day and wish for higher salaries and better 
hours, trained librarianship more appre- 
ciated, and the profession recognized to the 
dignity it so well deserves; but the prog- 
ress toward the goal is so slow that you 
are hardly conscious of its moving. 

"Through the state library association, 
the commission can stimulate ambition and 
preach progressive methods and improve 
conditions wonderfully, and through the 
summer school raise the standards of effi- 
ciency among librarians, taking conditions 
as they are and making some progress. 
But the commission can only g<5 so far 
without the support and co-operation of 
the power that can bring tilings to pass, the 
library trustees. 

"The stimulating effect of the trustees' 
organization is felt throughout the state. 
The Indiana Library Trustees' Association 
is a body of men and women with in- 
fluence in their communities, who are 
awakening to the Importance of the library 
as an educational center of their communi- 
ties; and its value is keenly felt by the 
library commission in all its activities — 
the power to act and demand lies with the 
trustees, and I am sure it is good common 
sense to see, through organization, that 
their power is not misdirected by in- 
difference or lack of appreciation. 

"Its value is perhaps more distinctly felt 
in the place the library should hold as an 
educational force. After a state conven- 
tion there Immediately begins a campaign, 
by the trustees who have attended the state 
convention, for internal and external im- 



LEAGUE OF LIBRARY COMMISSIONS 



4G< 



provement, higher salaries, trained librar- 
ians, up-to-date methods, better hours, sys- 
tematic vacation periods, — demanding that 
their community shall have as good if not 
better than any other place of Its size in 
the state. Also the proper attitude of the 
public toward the library is not forgotten. 
Its value is specially felt by the commis- 
sion in bringing about a closer and more 
efficient touch with the public libraries; a 
greater professional attitude of the library 
trustee; better understanding of the duties 
of a library trustee; better financial man- 
agement of libraries; higher qualifications 
for librarians; rural extension of library 
service; and its ever increasing value in 
library legislation. To have a body of 
influential men and women taxpayers back 
of the library legislation counts; and it 
needs no argument to appreciate its real 
value. 

"Indiana, we feel, has already proved the 
immense value of a trustees' association in 
the development of library interests and 
can heartily recommend to other states to 
do likewise." 

The final paper of the first session was 
by Miss Mary E. Downey of Utah, on 
"Library and school co-operation in Utah." 
(See p. 254) 

Miss Downey's paper caused lively dis- 
cussion. Mr. Bliss of Pennsylvania ex- 
pressed his opinion that libraries in 
schools, whether public library branches or 
traveling libraries, were not successful. 
Mr. Galbreath of Ohio felt that although 
what Mr. Bliss said is true in many cases, 
there are great opportunities for schools 
and libraries to co-operate. 

Miss Orpha M. Peters, of Indiana, said 
briefly in explanation of the work of the 
Gary, Ind., Public Library with the public 
schools: "Except for a few talks on the 
use and care of books and what books to 
read, no instruction has been given in the 
rural schools. However, a regular course 
of Instruction, extending from the first 
grade through the high school. Is given to 
all children in the city schools. Two 
weeks' work (forty-five minutes each day) 



Is given to high school freshmen. Five 
days are devoted to classification, arrange- 
ment of books and the use of the catalog, 
three days to general reference books, 
periodicals and periodical indexes and two 
days to examination. The course counts 
as a part of the regular English work in 
school. This year some advanced work has 
been given to high school seniors." 

Mr. Kerr, of Emporia, Kansas, concluded 
the discussion with a statement of what 
the school library can do and what the 
public library and the school library can do 
together. 

SECOND SESSION 

The second session was held on June 30, 
in the parlor of Columbia Hotel. 

Mrs. Minnie C. Budlong, of North 
Dakota, was to have reported on the "Field 
work of the North Dakota Library Com- 
mission as outlined by the educational sur- 
vey," but the survey was not complete 
enough for a report, and Mrs. Budlong was 
absent. 

Mr. Franklin K. Mathiews opened the 
meeting with a brief talk on the import- 
ance of the boy's recreational reading. He 
referred to the recent legislation which 
gave the Boy Scouts of America the ex- 
clusive use of the name Boy Scouts. His 
purpose in speaking was to urge the 
League to take action towards a Library 
Week to coincide with the Good Book Week 
of the Boy Scouts, to be in 1916 from De- 
cember 4-9. Mr. Bliss made a motion that 
the League suggest to the libraries of the 
country through the various commissions 
that the first week in December be ob- 
served as Library Week in conjunction 
with the Good Book Week of the Boy 
Scouts of America. Miss Downey moved 
an amendment to Mr. Bliss' motion to the 
effect that a committee of the League be 
appointed to work out programs and sug- 
gestions. On Mr. Bliss' acceptance of the 
amendment, the motion was put and car- 
ried. At a later meeting of the Executive 
Committee, Miss Mary E. Downey was ap- 
pointed chairman of the committee and 
Mr. Robert E. Bliss as the other member. 



454 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Traveling library problems 

The remainder of the session was de- 
voted to a round table on traveling library 
problems, conducted by Miss Anna A. Mac- 
Donald of Pennsylvania. 

The discussion was opened by Miss Mary 
L. Tltcomb, of Hagerstown, Md. 

"Miss MacDonald has asked me to open 
the discussion of the question 'Is It pos- 
sible for library commissions to give all 
around library service through traveling 
library centers?' The first step in approxi- 
mating such service would be an Intimate 
knowledge of each community to which a 
traveling library is to be sent, conse- 
quently in making up the personnel of a 
traveling library bureau we must choose 
first, and with care, a field agent. She 
must be a woman of tact, of personal 
charm, of knowledge of books and human 
nature, and of unfailing good judgment. 
Having found this rara avis, let it be her 
first work to canvass the traveling library 
field and make herself a welcome and 
trusted friend In each little community. 
When she has each of her centers well in 
hand she can then begin to do something 
for each one. We will suppose that up to 
this time each village has been given a 
traveling library of the average type. 

"But now our field agent (field angel will 
be a better name), has discovered that no 
two of her parishes are alike. The first vil- 
lage does not want what the second one does. 
Our field agent will find that she wants a 
different library for every place in which 
she works, so we shall be obliged to give 
up at once any idea of a fixed collection 
marked number so and so, if we wish to ap- 
proach real library service. We will suppose 
now, that each group is supplied with the col- 
lection best suited to its needs, a collection 
made most often, with the personality of a 
few individuals in mind. The gifted and 
indefatigable field agent breathes a sigh 
of satisfaction, and feels that now indeed 
she is going to be able to do much, — almost 
to give real library service. But let her 
not rest upon her oars too soon. Let her 
visit those groups a month or two months 
after they have received the carefully 



handpicked collections, and what disap- 
pointments she will encounter. To be sure, 
she will find bright spots, at the stations 
where the custodian has a personal interest 
in the books, but in most cases she will be 
obliged to acknowledge that the right book 
has not often found its way into the hands 
of the right person. So our field agent 
gradually becomes convinced that the only 
way to give real library service is to have 
a "Library Day" for each station, when It 
will be understood that the field agent will 
be present, ready to serve the community. 
She finds that this works very well. 

"But our woman above price has her 
physical limitations. She finds that in her 
zeal she has undertaken more than any 
mere mortal can endure, so perforce she 
is obliged to call upon the staff of the cen- 
tral bureau for reinforcements, and as 
time goes on each member of the staff 
will find herself with certain "Library 
Days" as fixed dates, with the chief or field 
agent cherishing and overseeing each group 
as best she may. This necessitates 
naturally a large central force, but as you 
may have gathered my plans are to be 
put into execution in a state where politics 
are clean, where there is no graft, and 
where the surplus funds can easily be used 
for this and other educational purposes. 

"The matter of special collections for 
study clubs or other organizations easily 
adjusts itself. Each club wants something 
definite, which can be supplied with a little 
thought. The matter of general reference 
calls will also be one that can be worked 
out satisfactorily by the field agent, grant- 
ing her access to some collection where she 
may gather her data. 

"Now having her scheme in smooth run- 
ning order, our field agent sees that the 
work of her hand and head and heart is 
good. Then comes that little imp that 
haunts the night watches and whispers in 
her ear, 'Yes, you have done much, they are 
perhaps as well or better served than If 
they had real permanent libraries, but have 
you done the right thing for those com- 
munities? Have you not perverted the 
function of a traveling library? Is a travel- 



LBAQUE OF LIBRARY COMMISSIONS 



4S6 



Ing library In Its very nature anything but 
a stepping atone or stimulus towards the 
foundation of a village library? And when 
you have given your people so much, has It 
not been radically antagonistic to the spirit 
of our democratic institutions?' You have 
taught them to lean upon you, to come to 
you and ask freely, secure in the belief 
that you 'will find a way.' But in making 
them perfectly satisfied with your service, 
have you not really done them an injustice? 
What is the greatest thing a public library 
can do for its community? Is not the last and 
best gift conferred when a library is so 
administered that a love of books is born 
in the hearts of its borrowers, when they 
realize that there is something better than 
borrowing from the library, and that is to 
own a library of one's own, a shelf of com- 
panions and friends within reach at all 
times? If we grant this, as I think we all 
must, then is it not the logical conclusion 
that a traveling library should go no 
further than to promote a desire for a li- 
brary for the community?" 

Discussion on Miss Titcomb's paper was 
postponed. Miss Evelyn S. Lease, of 
Vermont, then spoke of the "Character of 
collections." She said: 

"Vermont traveling libraries are fixed 
collections made up in four kinds as fol- 
lows: 

"General traveling libraries containing 
45 books; 15 stories and 15 non-fiction for 
adults; 15 of both kinds for children. 

"School libraries containing 30 books; 
10 stories and 18 non-fiction for children 
(not textbooks), and 2 books of special In- 
terest to the teacher. 

"High-school libraries containing on an 
average 40 books. These were begun at the 
request of principals of high schools where 
there were no libraries, or where it was in- 
adequate for the needs of older pupils, and 
at their suggestion, contain a large propor- 
tion of non-fiction, as well as such fiction 
as is 'required reading' for admission to 
college. 

"Study club collections, each containing 
books on one subject, vary In size, and 
naturally consist largely of non-fiction. 



"Under this head, we also Include Farm- 
ers' libraries and Teachers' aids collections. 

"Farmers' libraries contain 45 books: 20 
on various phases of agriculture, 10 stories 
for adults, and 15 stories and non-fiction 
for children. These are much used by 
granges. 

"The Teachers' aids libraries, consisting 
of 30 books on pedagogy approved by the 
State Superintendent of Education, were 
originally designed for groups of teachers 
who wislied to do some professional read- 
ing, but have also been used quite ex- 
tensively by training classes for rural 
teachers. 

"To make these fixed collections as 
adequate as possible for the varied needs 
of different stations we emphasize our will- 
ingness to add to the library chosen, books 
on certain subjects, books asked for by 
authors and titles, and books for specified 
ages and grades, if we have them in our 
'open' collection. This ever growing 'open' 
collection we find very useful, too, In 
satisfying the increasing demand from in- 
dividuals for books for personal use, and 
in reference work. 

"In addition to our book collections we 
have about 10,000 mounted pictures which 
are much appreciated by teachers and club 
women." 

Miss Elizabeth B. Wales, of Missouri, 
who was to speak on "How to make up the 
collections," was not present, but she sent 
her contribution, which was read by the 
secretary of the League. 

"Having been present at several lengthy 
discussions upon shelving vs. fixed group 
collections for traveling library work, I 
want to say that I am quite in accord with 
those who wish to preserve elasticity in 
traveling library combinations. Having 
made this confession I ask most humbly 
to be permitted to discuss the elements of 
the fixed groups. One rule can be made 
tc apply equally to both systems, namely, 
it should be the exceptional case in which 
the traveling library should consist of fic- 
tion entirely. 

"Traveling libraries may be made up in 



466 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCB 



general set* of Bpeclflc number or ipeclal 
collections. 

"The books may be purchased In fixed 
sets or In duplicates of two or more. In 
Missouri we have tried the four kinds. The 
Ideal method would be special libraries for 
each borrowing center, which of course 
means single sets; the other method how- 
ever saves a great deal of clerical labor in 
preparing lists and also a great deal of 
expert time in selection of books. 

"For the fixed group duplicate library 
system, one must predicate that the gen- 
eral needs of the communities served, will 
be parallel. It is a fact that is more or less 
true. The first traveling libraries sent out 
from the Missouri Library Commission 
were proportioned as follows: 

Class Adult Juvenile 

Fiction 15 10 

Ethics 2 

Religion 1 1 

Social 2 

Natural Science 1 

Useful Arts 2 1 

Fine Arts 1 

Literature 3 1 

History 2 

Travel 3 1 

Biography 3 1 

This makes a total of 35 volumes of 
books for adults and 15 volumes for 
juvenile readers. It Is but just to give the 
Iowa Library Commission credit for these, 
the first proportions used in Missouri. 

"In actual use, we found the books on 
useful arts and natural science In the fixed 
group lists were likely to miscarry. We 
therefore include in our libraries at pres- 
ent only the most general books on science 
and crafts. The places of these volumes 
were supplied by adding to literature a 
volume of humorous character whenever 
possible and to biography one book of 
collective biography and to history one ex- 
tra book of United States history. We 
further found that it was difficult without 
knowing something about the people to 
select the proper volumes on ethics and re- 
ligion, whereas the demand for sociology 
was more general. We compromised there- 
fore, by putting in one volume of either 



ethics or religion of universal Interest, and 
replacing the other two volumes by books 
treating of recent social movements. 

"In selecting history, travel and 
biography, the effort has been to make 
them inter-dependent rather than too 
varied; for instance, if our history selec- 
tion contained a history of France, the 
travel in the library might contain a repre- 
sentative volume on French chateaux and 
the biography a life of some prominent 
Frenchman. The same plan has been fol- 
lowed in the selection of fiction when It 
could be done without undue effort. 

"Occasionally we are asked to make up 
special libraries containing for instance, six 
or eight books on fine arts for club work 
and 'the rest fiction because that is what 
our people want to read.' In making a 
rule for ourselves we have said that fiction 
should never hold a larger proportion than 
that of 20 in 50 or 40 percent. When this 
is the case we also try to have five of 
the 20 volumes represent standard fiction 
and 15 volumes current fiction. This pro- 
portion obtains also in Ohio. 

"In studying the use of the fixed group 
in the field, the library worker has to keep 
constantly in mind that the reading de- 
velopment of the community does not de- 
pend upon a single set of books, but upon 
a continuous series of exchanges. The 
problem of the man who wants books on a 
specific topic, may be met by sending addi- 
tional books on request." 

In the discussion on these papers, Mr. 
Bliss, of Pennsylvania, said that it was his 
experience that on his visits he found the 
rural patrons often could not understand 
the books sent, even in the case of standard 
fiction. For this reason, he does not think 
it best to send standard fiction, but more 
popular books. Miss Titcomb suggested 
the use of children's books for the grown- 
ups; Miss Robinson, of Iowa, said that 
the Iowa Commission also used children's 
books for adults. Miss Askew, of New 
Jersey, came to the defense of the rural 
population and said that she thought 
that Mr. Bliss had under-estimated the 



LEAGUE OF LIBRARY COMMISSIONS 



467 



mentality of most farmers and that she 
found them generally as Intelligent as the 
people In most towns. She found that the 
talks by the library visitor with the rural 
reader often arouses his pride. Mrs. Earl, 
of Indiana, agreed with Miss Askew as to 
the intelligence of the farmer. Miss Tit- 
comb, of Maryland, was inclined to agree 
with Mr. Bliss. She felt that in certain 
districts of the country the population was 
very uneven in matters of education and 
intelligence, and she explained that al- 
though they were obliged to use children's 
books for many of the adults in Washing- 
ton County, the class of books borrowed 
from the book wagon was fifty per cent bet- 
ter than those read by city people. In 
regard to special collections, Miss Wool- 
man, of Missouri, said they had had so 
many demands for books on special sub- 
jects that they were unable to furnish them, 
owing to lack of funds. Mr. Watson in- 
formed the audience that in New York spe- 
cial collections were not furnished free, but 
for a fee of $1, and that special collections 
were borrowed with the understanding a 
certain number of days in the club pro- 
gram should be devoted to the subject for 
the study of which the books were bor- 
rowed. Mr. Dudgeon, of Wisconsin, took 
issue with the attitude of New York State 
and said that he felt the study clubs were 
the organizations which the traveling li- 
braries were trying hard to reach and that 
furnishing free books to them was one of 
the most valuable things that the traveling 
libraries could do. Mr. Sanborn, of 
Indiana, agreed with Mr. Dudgeon and 
spoke of the co-operation in Indiana of the 
traveling libraries with the extension de- 
partment of the universities, the granges, 
and the parent-teachers associations. Mr. 
Bliss said that in Pennsylvania study club 
books were loaned upon the condition that 
they should be free for the use of the whole 
community and not merely for the mem- 
bers of the study club and that when a 
request for a special collection came, the 
borrowers were asked if a general collec- 
tion would not do as well. Several states 
reported that it was the custom in the 



case of a request for special collections, to 
send general collections also. 

The next topic on the program was, 
"Making the station a success." Mr. 
Dudgeon opened the discussion with the 
following information in regard to their 
work in Wisconsin: 

"In Wisconsin we have found that the 
success of the traveling libraries depends 
upon two things. First, placing it where 
people will come, and second, letting people 
know where and what it is. 

"In our judgment the ideal place is a 
business place — a postofBce or general store 
— a place of business where all ages and 
sexes come freely and frequently. For 
example, a millinery store will not 
ordinarily do. We prefer a business place 
to a school house for the reason that each 
year there are months when the school 
house is closed, each month there are days 
when it is not open, and each day there 
are many hours when the books would be 
inaccessible. In addition the public has 
never got away from the idea that the 
school house is only for children. Where 
we place it in the school house we try to 
get the teacher to locate it during the 
summer months in some other place, so 
the community is not without book 
facilities. 

"There are many ways of getting pub- 
licity. We have settled down to this 
procedure. With each box of books there 
goes to the custodian a personal letter of 
which the following is a substantial copy: 
To the Librarian: 

We are sending herewith four copies of 
the list of books in this traveling library. 
One of these lists is to be retained with 
the library. Attached to another copy of 
this list you will find a note "To the prin- 
cipal"; attached to another you will find 
a note "To the editor." The fourth should 
be posted with the sign. 

We find that often the general public 
does not fully appreciate that there is a 
free traveling library in the community. 
These state traveling libraries belong to 
everybody and everybody ought to know 
of their existence, location, and contents. 
We have decided, therefore, to ask every 
custodian to send to the principal or other 
person highest in authority in the nearest 



458 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



public school a list of the books in the 
traveling library, together with definite in- 
formation as to where they are located. We 
are also asking you to have a similar no- 
tice sent to the editor of the paper which 
circulates best in the locality tributary to 
the traveling library. (Each of these two 
letters contains in addition to the list of 
books, a definite statement as to where the 
library is, and when it is open; also a 
cordial invitation to use the books.) 

Will you not, therefore, fill out these two 
blank letters Ijy inserting exact informa- 
tion as to the location of the library and 
when it is to be open? It should of course, 
be open practically all of the time. Will 
you then kindly sign the letters and send 
them with the attached lists of books to 
the persons indicated. 

Yours truly, 

M. S. Dudgeon, 
Secretary. 

"We find that the custodians quite gen- 
erally do as we ask and that notice and 
lists do actually reach the schoolhouse 
and the newspaper oflSces and that through 
these the public is well informed as to 
the location of the books. 

Miss Hopkins, of Seaford, Delaware, con- 
tinued the discussion, speaking on "The 
part that contact plays in making the li- 
brary station a success." 

"I know very little about the library 
station. I did, in the beginning of my book- 
wagon work, open my home for the benefit 
of the people on the farms and as many 
books were loaned, I presume it was suc- 
cessful, but when I thought of the num- 
ber of those who came I was reminded of 
what I heard Billy Sunday say in Phila- 
delphia about the size of his audience: 
'You look,' he said, 'at the 20,000 men who 
are here, and call it a big crowd, but I 
think of the 200,000 who are not here.' So 
I feel about library work, but then, 'I am 
so green.' 

"However, I am convinced that in all 
kinds of library work the personal equation 
is important and in the work of the travel- 
ing libraries, whether resting quietly and 
with much dignity at a station, or rolling 
noisily and democratically over the roads 
in a book-wagon, it is pre-eminently so. I 
am ready to confess that at the end of a 



day with a traveling library, one has some 
small conception of what He means who 
said, 'Virtue has gone out of me.' 

"Just an incident or two as a reason for 
my faith. It is my pardonable pride to 
loan at least one book at each home. In 
this case it was a woman with absolutely 
no taste for reading. She did not want a 
book — how could I interest her— gazing 
about in my perplexity I saw a number of 
patch-work quilts airing on the clothes line. 
I offered her 'The housekeeper's week' 
which she took reluctantly, but on my sec- 
ond visit, she desired to renew it and on 
my third, was most anxious to buy It. 

"I wonder if you will laugh when I say 
that I think that the personal touch In plac- 
ing 'Napoleon Jackson of the plush rocker' 
in the hands of a homesick woman who was 
actually dying for her native New York 
hills, or taking 'Pollyanna' to a young girl 
that had been shaking for weeks with 
chills, helped quite a bit in bringing both 
back to health and happiness. 

"There are great possibilities In the 
work with traveling libraries; much will 
depend on the personal touch." 

The final paper on this subject was that 
of Mrs. Belle Holcomb Johnson, of Con- 
necticut, who told of the work of the Con- 
necticut book-wagon: 

"In February, 1910, our chairman said, 
'Why don't you put on your bonnet and 
your gum shoes and take a box of books 
through East Granby, calling at the houses 
and lending them books? We have had 
traveling libraries in the Center, but they 
have not and will not reach the people In 
the Copper Hill and Spoonville districts be- 
cause those people have no occasion to go 
to the Center.' 

"It seemed to me rather a fantastic 
scheme and I was more than a little skep- 
tical as to the possibility of carrying out 
his plan, or of keeping up the undertaking, 
once It was begun, but the motto of our 
office is 

'Theirs not to reason why. 
Theirs but to do — .' 

"So on a winter's day, with the chair- 



LEAGUE OP LIBRARY COMMISSIONS 



469 



man's son for escort, I started out with a 
case containing about fifty books. These 
were shipped to the nearest railroad sta- 
tion, where we secured a horse and sleigh. 

"The first day, which was only half a day 
when all arrangements were completed, we 
left books at five houses, twenty books In 
all, and the demand for the books was so 
small that the outlook for the project was 
decidedly dark. But our chairman had 
faith In the good sense and Intellectual 
qualities of the country people and advised 
me to make a trial trip In Spoonville, an- 
other district of the same town. 

"Literature seemed in greater demand in 
this section, the school supervisor was my 
companion on the trip, and he had pre- 
pared some of the families in advance for 
our coming. That day we left thirty-one 
books in eight families, and were warmly 
welcomed at each of the eight houses, 
though some other doors were opened very 
grudgingly and quickly closed again on the 
suspicion that I was a peddler or a book 
agent, and that, even if no payment was 
mentioned when the books were left, there 
would be an attempt to collect money on 
my next visit. 

"The second trip on the next route, a 
month after the first trip, was very grati- 
fying. The news had spread, and at nearly 
every house, requests were waiting from 
new patrons for calls. 

"The beginnings were very small, and If 
a gradual increase of interest had not been 
apparent, the undertaking would have been 
given up, but the gain of one or two fam- 
ilies, or of twenty-five books in the circula- 
tion, on each trip kept up our spirits, and 
made it seem worth while to continue the 
work. 

"We served five towns, having two routes 
in one town. Each route occupied a day 
(5 a. m. to 9 p. m. in one case) and was 
traveled once in six weeks. 

"None of the towns visited had a public 
library, and none of them seemed at all 
likely to have a library. To our surprise 
and gratification, the town which seemed 
least likely to have a library, has recently 
opened one, a direct result of the book 



wagon, for there was no reading taste In 
the town. It seemed to be created by the 
visits of the book-wagon. 

"In another town there was a desire for 
reading. That was evidenced by the pass- 
ing from house to house of books. But 
such books! They were more dangerous 
in moral tendency and more trivial in style 
than the reading of any other town which 
I have observed. On a recent trip in this 
town among the fiction loaned were 'John 
Halifax,' 'Last days of Pompeii,' 'Our 
mutual friend,' 'David Copperfield,' and 
'Ben Hur.' If the book wagon trip is de- 
layed for any reason, the old paper novels 
come out and are circulated again, but not 
so largely as before. 

"There is an opportunity to introduce 
books to readers which rarely comes in a 
public library. There is an advantage In 
choosing from a small collection. Books 
are read which would never be chosen from 
a larger collection. Then in making up the 
boxes to send out, I have in mind the fam- 
ilies, and put in something especially suited 
to each. 

"In winter I take an armful into each 
house to be looked over, and they are us- 
ually pleased with my selection. 

"As the books are not classified, they 
make less distinction between fiction and 
other books. Of 279 books on one route, 
93 are non-fiction and of 122 books loaned 
on another route, 52 books are non-fiction. 

"The cost per volume in the circulation 
varies from sevent cents to twelve cents. 

"The largest number of families served 
on one route is 41. I find it almost impos- 
sible to call on each of those in one day, 
as the borrowers take so much time in 
looking over the books and making their 
selection. I consider the time spent this 
way so valuable that I cannot cut it short." 

In the general discussion Mr. Dudgeon 
raised the question as to whether states 
with small appropriations like Connecticut 
or even states with larger appropriations, 
could afford to carry on house-to-house 
visiting and delivery of traveling library 
books for only a small portion of the state 
to the neglect of other sections. It was 



460 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



his opinion that such book-wagon delivery 
could properly be undertaken only by 
county or township library systems. This 
raised the question of the value of visiting 
traveling library stations. Mr. Bliss, of 
Pennsylvania, felt it very essential that all 
traveling library stations as far as possible 
should be visited. He felt that it was a 
means of preventing the giving up of a 
traveling library station and of aiding in 
developing the reading habit in a com- 
munity. Mr. Dudgeon felt that with sev- 
eral hundred traveling library stations in 
the state, such visiting were impracticable, 
and he asked the experience of Indiana in 
this matter. Mr. Sanborn replied that it 
was not the custom in Indiana to visit 
traveling library stations except very in- 
cidentally, and he questioned whether such 
visiting would bring sufficient returns for 
the amount of money and time expended. 
If a field visitor is employed at all in 
traveling library work, she should use her 
efforts in establishing stations rather than 
in visiting those already established. 

On account of the program planned by 
the local committee for the rest of the 
afternoon, it was necessary to adjourn the 
meeting at 4 p. m. without continuing the 
discussion on the matter of giving definite 
library help through special collections 
and through general reference calls. Miss 
Julia A. Robinson, of Iowa, had planned 
to contribute to the discussion of special 
collections the following paper on "Helps 
through special collections." 

"While the policy of fixed groups of 
books for general community reading has 
been adopted by most of our state com- 
missions in the operation of their traveling 
library systems, whether the best library 
service for special requests can be pro- 
moted in the same manner or through an 
open shelf collection, seems still to be an 
unsettled question and is likely to remain 
so because of differences in local condi- 
tions, the size of book collections, the 
amount available for book purchases, and 
the office help employed to carry on the 
work as well as the nature of the calls com- 
ing to the commission oSices. 



"The advantage, as I see It, of fixed or 
special collections covering special subjects 
ready to send immediately upon receipt of 
requests, lies in greater promptness, per- 
haps, of service, and the handling of the 
work by a smaller office force and fewer 
trained assistants, thus making for econ- 
omy in commissions with small appropria- 
tions. 

"On the other hand, a small book col- 
lection may be made to serve a larger con- 
stituency if books on special subjects may 
be scattered among several borrowers in- 
stead of being confined to one, especially if 
the group includes different phases of a 
subject either in one book or several. 

"This is especially true of periodicals 
from which much valuable reference ma- 
terial is drawn and unless the article in 
question is cut from the magazine, other 
subjects are tied up with it. 

"In the third place, many of the topics 
most frequently called for are questions of 
the day or those upon which the most re- 
cent word is desired, and this is often 
found In the magazines and even where 
books are used, the frequent revision of 
such special collections is necessary. 

"Therefore, in Iowa, though our general 
loan collection is comparatively large, it is 
thrown into one open shelf collection from 
which the best and most suitable material 
on each subject desired is selected for each 
request. Sometimes this may mean the 
same books that were used for a similar 
request, sometimes only part of those 
books, and in others a larger number, with 
substitutes perhaps in one or both of the 
latter cases. 

"This requires the services of an expert 
reference librarian giving her entire time 
to the work, but we believe thereby we 
give better and more satisfactory individ- 
ual help, and are able to answer more calls 
and to make our collections available to a 
larger number of borrowers, and with less 
duplication of books, than would be pos- 
sible if it consisted of groups intended to 
cover all calls on various subjects. 

"Two exceptions might perhaps be men- 
tioned, one a Story-tellers' library contain- 



LEAGUE OF LIBRARY COMMISSIONS 



461 



ing theoretical books on story telling as 
well as collections of stories, and the other 
the provision made each year to supply the 
calls on the subject for debate chosen by 
the Inter High School Debate League. In 
the latter, however, the entire collection on 
either side is never sent to one place, but 
the selected material divided among the 
various teams calling for it. 

"Much of our work is done with the 
women's study clubs of the state to whom 
outlines for the preparation of their pro- 
grams are also loaned, but the arrange- 
ment of the subjects often varies. We also 
believe that clubs of fifteen to twenty 
members require more material on a sub- 
ject than does a single borrower." 

Miss J. Maud Campbell, of Massachusetts, 
was to continue the discussion, but has not 
sent in writing what she had planned to 
say. 

Miss Minnie W. Leatherman, of North 
Carolina, was to have opened the discus- 
sion on "Definite library help through gen- 
eral reference calls," but had prepared no 
written paper. 

Miss E. Louise Jones, of Massachusetts, 
sent the following statement of what she 
intended to say in the discussion: 

"It is a pity to close this interesting dis- 
cussion on traveling library problems with 
a word from a representative of a Commis- 
sion which has no traveling libraries, with 
the exception of the foreign collection of 
which Miss Campbell has spoken. The 
conditions in Massachusetts are so dif- 
ferent from those in other states discussed 
here that I fear our problems can be of 
little help to others. Because we have a 
library in every town, with one exception, 
the nature of our reference calls is en- 
tirely different and where other states use 
the traveling libraries as a center we use 
the local library. Thus, when a call 



comes to us and we cannot answer it from 
our own files, we refer it if possible to the 
local library unless we know the local li- 
brary cannot supply the material, in which 
case we send to the nearest large library 
and by inter-library loan the material is 
readily supplied. 

"By a recent law, any resident of a town 
can borrow of a library in a neighboring 
town by consent of the board of trustees, 
so whenever possible the individual can 
get material in this way if her own library 
cannot obtain it. 

"The State Library is always willing to 
lend to a small library for a limited time 
and the Commission has this large refer- 
ence library at its disposal. There is there 
a very complete vertical file of ephemeral 
material arranged by subject, including 
bibliographies, pamphlets, and newspaper 
clippings, all of which they are ready to 
lend on call. They also have a splendid 
card index to all Massachusetts newspapers 
which is constantly being consulted and 
the important magazines are also indexed 
on cards daily, thus keeping the periodical 
material always up-to-date. The cards are 
weeded out as soon as the Reader's Guide 
appears. 

"The calls come mostly from the libra- 
ries and trustees rather than from indi- 
viduals or study clubs, as such calls go di- 
rectly to each library and when the libra- 
rian cannot furnish material she appeals 
to the Commission. When the teacher and 
superintendents appeal to us for books on 
subjects needed in the schools that are not 
in their local library, the Commission 
urges the local library to furnish such re- 
quests as far as possible. When this is 
impossible as it often is in the small libra- 
ries a direct gift of the material needed is 
made from the Commission if it be of per- 
manent value for work with the schools." 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 

Nineteenth Annual Meeting:, Asbory Park, N. J., June 27 and 29, 19 J 6 



FIRST JOINT SESSION 

(Joint session with the American Asso- 
ciation of Law Libraries.) 

Parlor, Columbia Hotel, Asbury Park, 
N. J. 

TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2 P. M. 

The meeting was called to order by Mr. 
A. J. Small, president of the National 
Association of State Libraries. 

President SMALL: Members and friends 
of the joint convention of the National 
Association of State Libraries and Ameri- 
can Association of Law Libraries, I wel- 
come you most cordially. 

We will now receive a word of greeting 
from Mr. Dullard, state librarian of 
New Jersey. 

Mr. DULLARD: Mr. President, Ladies 
and Gentlemen: It would seem almost 
superfluous, after Mr. Pyne's greeting last 
night, that another address of welcome 
should be on the program. The National 
Association of State Libraries and the 
American Association of Law Libraries 
are, however, organizations separate and 
distinct from the American Library Asso- 
ciation and we of New Jersey want to 
lose no opportunity to make you all feel 
perfectly at home while you are with us. 
I regard it as a great honor to have the 
privilege of extending to you upon behalf 
of our state and our people a most cordial 
welcome. 

New Jersey is essentially a hospitable 
state. We are accustomed to having 
visitors in our midst and we are always de- 
lighted to have them. We are very much 
In the entertaining business. Our sea- 
shore resorts, some three score or more of 
them, line the Atlantic coast for a distance 
of upwards of one hundred miles and to 
these resorts people come every summer 
from far and near by the hundreds of thou- 
sands. Somebody has said that our sea- 
side resorts make New Jersey the play- 
ground of the country. Be that as it may. 



we are quite sure that those who visit us 
always find a hearty welcome and are glad 
to come again. 

New Jersey is very versatile in every- 
thing she undertakes and makes no excep- 
tion in the matter of providing places 
where one may rest and recuperate while 
enjoying our climate and the many attrac- 
tions for which our commonwealth is noted. 
Besides the seashore, we have, in the north- 
ern part of the state, our lakes and our 
mountains. Our mountains are a part of 
the Blue Ridge chain and at some of the 
higher points have an altitude approximat- 
ing two thousand feet. 

Nor are our attractions for the visitor 
confined to our summer resorts. Many of 
the hotels at the larger seaside places are 
open the year round, while just to the south 
of us is Lakewood, located inland in what 
is known as our pine belt, and extensively 
patronized as a winter resort because of 
its balmy atmosphere. 

I have said New Jersey is a hospitable 
state. It has even been accused of being 
over-friendly to the great trusts of the 
country that come here to get their char- 
ters and then go to New York or elsewhere 
to transact business. A few short years 
ago, smarting under this criticism of being 
too kindly disposed toward the trusts, we 
passed a series of laws to regulate better 
these gigantic corporations, which laws 
President Wilson, then governor of our 
state, very cleverly denominated the Seven 
Sisters. It was said at the time that these 
Seven Sisters had ferocious teeth and some 
of us were bemoaning lest this new policy 
should drive the trusts away and deprive 
us of a large revenue we have been receiv- 
ing from them in the shape of franchise 
taxes. Whatever the cause, whether the 
trusts were not so bad after all or the Seven 
Sisters were less ferocious than pictured, 
or the trusts themselves had suddenly be- 
come good, I shall not attempt to explain it. 
The fact is, however, that the trusts are 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OP STATE LIBRARIES 



4fi3 



still with us and are paying their taxes as 
usual and New Jersey continues to be able 
to boast of being a state that has neither 
a state debt nor a state tax. Of course, 
this is not entirely due to the trusts, as a 
large part of our state revenue is derived 
from the taxation of railroads, the licensing 
of automobiles, etc. 

We long have been receiving visitors in 
goodly number in our midst. We began 
nearly a century and a half ago, although 
the visitors at that time were by no means 
welcome. They constituted the British 
army, and for four or five years occupied 
portions of our state. Historians tell us 
that, while the British soldiers were on 
New Jersey's soil, there were something 
like ninety engagements and skirmishes be- 
tween them and the Continental troops. 
Some of these engagements were, of course, 
of minor importance. But New Jersey was 
the scene of the Battle of Trenton, gener- 
ally regarded as the turning point of the 
Revolutionary War. Also, there were the 
battles of Princeton, of Red Bank on the 
Delaware below Camden, and of Monmouth, 
fought only about twenty miles from this 
very spot, a crowning feature of which was 
the heroic patriotism of the immortal Molly 
Pitcher. 

Mr. Pyne told you last night something 
about the importance of New Jersey in the 
library field. I shall not attempt to traverse 
the same ground, although I suppose we all 
feel, just at this time, more or less like 
talking shop. You will pardon me, there- 
fore, if I refer to the fact that the New 
Jersey State Library, over which I have 
the honor of presiding, is one of the oldest 
libraries in the country. It was established 
in 1796 as a legislative library and, some 
years later, absorbed tlie library of the 
New Jersey Law Library Association and 
ever since has been a general and law 
library combined. 

But I am not going to talk to you about 
New Jersey's library facilities. I prefer 
to give you a few thoughts regarding the 
state in its other fields of usefulness and 
attractiveness, so that you may learn some- 
thing more about us than perhaps you al- 



ready know. Of course you all are aware 
that in area we are very small. In fact, 
we are in size the fourth smallest state in 
the Union. Ranking as we do forty-flfth 
among the forty-eight states in area, never- 
theless we rank eleventh in population ac- 
cording to the 1910 federal census, and are 
exceeded in density of population by only 
two states — -Rhode Island and Massa- 
chusetts. Of the 114 cities in the United 
States having a population of upwards of 
50,000, according to the 1910 federal census, 
nine are located in New Jersey. 

In aggregate wealth we rank tenth among 
all the states and in per capita wealth we 
rank sixth. In only five of the forty-eight 
states is the gross value of all manufac- 
tures greater than in New Jersey. We 
lead the country in the smelting and re- 
fining of copper and the manufacture of 
silk, sewing machines, oilcloth and lino- 
leum. We hold second place in the manu- 
facture of chemicals, rubber goods, pot- 
tery, terra cotta, fire clay products and 
paint and varnish. Other lines of goods 
manufactured by us in great quantity are 
foundry and machine-shop products, woolen, 
worsted and felt goods, including hats, 
petroleum products, leather, jewelry, iron 
and steel, boots and shoes, glass and to- 
bacco. 

Our friends from the boundless West, 
perhaps, may not be surprised to learn of 
our standing as a manufacturing state. 
But I should like to remind them that 
even in agriculture, considering our size, 
we are "some pumpkin." Our output of 
agricultural products, including butter and 
eggs, runs up to something like sixty or 
seventy million dollars a year. Fruit and 
vegetables are specialties with us and we 
find a ready market for the produce of 
our orchards and gardens in New York and 
Philadelphia and in our own large cities. 

We are also a great railroad state. In 
fact, at one time, we used to be facetiously 
called the State of Camden and Amboy, 
which was then the name of our principal 
railroad, one of the first, if not the first 
railroad chartered in the United States. 
We now have a combined railroad mileage 



464 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



within our borders of thirty thousand 
miles and, in proportion to our area, have 
more miles of railroad than any other state 
In the Union. Nine great systems cross 
our state and land people from all parts 
of the continent into that great metropolis 
of the New World noted, among a thousand 
other things, as the home of those two 
great institutions — Wall Street and Tam- 
many Hall. 

New Jersey has upwards of eight thou- 
sand miles of improved roads, something 
more than forty-one per cent of the total 
mileage of streets and roads in the state. 
Back in 1S91 we were the first state to 
adopt a system of state aid for road build- 
ing; during the twenty-five intervening 
years there has been spent in this state for 
road construction, repairs and maintenance, 
the enormous sum of $36,286,752.13. You 
will note that I am getting down to the last 
cent. This is because these figures are 
not mere guess worlc, but are taken from 
the actual records. 

I would be remiss if I did not say some- 
thing about our schools. We have an en- 
rollment in our public schools of a little 
more than half a million children, with 
sixteen thousand school teachers. The 
operating expenses of our public schools last 
year were over $17,000,000 and nearly an 
equal amount was expended for new build- 
ings and other permanent improvements. 
The per capita cost of our schools per en- 
rollment was $33 and per attendance $42. 
This is larger than in any of the other 
states, with the exception of some of the 
sparsely settled ones in the far West. 

In the matter of higher education, we 
have the far-famed Princeton University. 
We have also Rutgers College, the scientific 
school of whicli is officially designated as 
the New Jersey State College under the 
federal land grant laws. Also, we have 
three state normal schools, Stevens Insti- 
tute of Technology, Lawrenceville, Seton 
Hall, and scores of other private colleges, 
seminaries and preparatory schools. 

I should like to tell you much more 
about our state, but I do not want to take 
up too much of your time. While you are 



here, you may be able to see more of the 
state than what is to be observed in this 
immediate vicinity; and remember that we 
can show you almost anything — rich farm- 
ing country, luxurious homes, thriving 
manufacturing cities, mines and mountains 
and lakes, and some of the most beautiful 
scenery to be found anywhere. If you visit 
the National Education Association next 
week at New York and take a trip up the 
beautiful Hudson, which trip you should by 
no means miss, remember as you pass the 
majestic Palisades that, if your boat keeps 
to the westward of the middle of the river, 
you are still in New Jersey. 

And now in conclusion let me say to you 
in all earnestness, speaking both as an 
official and as a citizen of the State of New 
Jersey, that it is my pleasure and privilege 
on behalf of our state government and its 
people to extend to you a most heartfelt 
welcome, to express the hope that while 
you are with us you will enjoy yourselves 
to the utmost, and that when you return to 
your homes, you will do so with fond and 
lasting recollection of the little common- 
wealth of which we Jerseyites are all so 
proud. 

President SMALL: I will ask Mr. Lien, 
State Librarian of Minnesota, to respond 
on behalf of the joint association. 

Mr. LIEN: Mr. President, Mr. Dullard, 
and friends: It becomes my very pleasant 
duty, on behalf of the National Association 
of State Libraries and the American Asso- 
ciation of Law Libraries, to express our 
profound appreciation of the kind words of 
welcome that we have just heard, as well 
as our thanks and appreciation of the ef- 
forts that have been put forward for our 
comfort and pleasure and enjoyment while 
here. These Associations have met at vari- 
ous places during the past few years, and 
at all meetings tliey have found pleasure 
and profit, although sometimes they have 
met with some inconveniences. Last year 
we met on the shores of the Pacific and en- 
joyed the hospitality of the people of tha 
Par West; this year we meet In this most 
beautiful resort in New Jersey and again 
are made to feel a most hearty welcome. 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



465 



I am sure that all of us appreciate very 
much the welcome that we have received, 
appreciate the beautiful surroundings and 
the efforts that have been made for our con- 
venience. There might be danger that sucli 
beautiful attractions as we find about this 
place detract from the attendance at the 
meetings; but, as we know, the librarians 
are such earnest workers they will remem- 
ber that duty comes first and that pleasure 
may be enjoyed at other times. 

Again, I want to say that verbal words 
of thanks on behalf of the Association prob- 
ably do not express our feelings adequately, 
but you will find that we will all take ad- 
vantage of your hospitality and enjoy it to 
the utmost, and that we will remember 
with pleasure the very kind and courteous 
hospitality of this beautiful place. 

President SMALL: The next number 
should be a report of the Committee on a 
National Legislative Information Service, 
but as Mr. Allen, of the Law Reporting 
Company, is not here we will diverge and 
have a paper prepared by Dr. Clinton 
Rogers Woodruff, of Philadelphia. In a 
letter which I received from Dr. Woodruff 
when I started the correspondence to se- 
cure him for this meeting, he promised me 
tentatively that he would be present. Last 
week I found myself embarrassed by re- 
ceiving a letter from him stating that he 
could not be here. He sent his paper, how- 
ever, and Mr. Johnson Brigham, state libra- 
rian of Iowa, will read it. Mr. Brigham 
is also on the program to lead in the dis- 
cussion afterward. 

ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF THE 
TWENTIETH CENTURY 

By Dr. Clinton Rogers Woodruff, 

Secretary National Municipal League, 
Philadelphia 
Paternalism is a new thing under the sun, 
and like all new ideas we are working it 
over time. He overlooks the fact that 
when our forefathers landed on these 
shores, many of them came from under 
the shadow of a government paternal in 
the extreme. In the Old World, the state 



in many places took care of a citizen from 
his birth to his death. It awakened him 
in the morning, made him get out of bed 
and say his prayers; told him what to have 
for breakfast; where to work; for what 
wages; what to wear; when to leave off 
work. Then, it put him to bed, made him 
say his prayers again, and took away the 
candle. At the close of life, it prescribed 
in what cloth he should be laid out. 

Looking to New France on the north, the 
New England settler saw this paternal re- 
lation carried even further. The French 
king regulated the trade of the colonies, 
prescribing what kind of cargo a vessel 
should carry from France; and should 
carry on its return. He forbade a colonist's 
making more than a certain percentage of 
profit, and, let us hope, guaranteed him 
against making less. The privilege bf 
carrying on any certain business was sold 
by the king, through the intendant. The 
government, however paternal, of course 
expected to be paid for its trouble. It 
took the earnings of the citizen, allowing 
him what it thought best, as the parent 
takes the wages of the minor child and 
boards and clothes him. 

From such a paternalism there was a 
natural and a violent reaction on the part 
of the English colonist. He resented being 
cared for by any one, be it government, 
church or overlord. He insisted that he 
should stand on his own feet, that he be 
his own underwriter (like the South 
African of recent years he even refused 
insurance) ; he asked no man or group 
of men to make good his losses; he ex- 
pected no one to lay claim to his successes. 
He set out to heaven on the way 
he thought right; he did not wish any- 
body to take him by the shoulders and put 
him into a different path. If, perchance, 
he mis-read the guide-board, and took the 
wrong road (although he was unwilling to 
admit the possibility of his being wrong) 
he knew there would be no one to help him 
out. This economic individualism reached 
its flower in New England and was trans- 
planted to the western lands, as the tide of 
immigration flowed over them. This re- 



466 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Uglous Individualism came to Its flower in 
the little state of Rhode Island. 

This extreme individualism had its place 
in those early pioneer days, first in New 
England and later in the Central West. In 
the words of a distinguished son of New 
England (Dr. H. L. Wayland) : "A system 
of individualism, of self-reliance, of letting 
things take their course, of laissez faire, 
was the very best thing for the colonies in 
their infancy, and for a long time after." 

Life was simple, the people were content 
to wrest from the rugged soil and climate 
a plain support, to give their children a 
fair start. Everybody knew everybody; 
everybody trusted everybody. Nobody 
dreamed of overshadowing fortunes of gi- 
gantic corporations. The rebound was ex- 
cessive. The doctrine of laissez faire ran 
wild and it was used to defend courses that 
would have been as offensive to the 
pioneers of those days as they are to those 
of this day. 

That the rich are growing richer, no one 
would have the hardihood to deny. On the 
question whether the poor are growing 
poorer. Professor J. E. Thorold Rogers, the 
distinguished Oxonian, says: "There Is 
collected in our large cities a population 
which equals in amount the whole of those 
who lived in England and Wales six cen- 
turies ago, whose condition Is more desti- 
tute, whose homes are more squalid, whose 
means are more uncertain, whose prospects 
are more hopeless, than those of the poor- 
est serfs of the Middle Ages, or the meanest 
drudges of the Mediaeval cities." Another 
student, Professor Cairn es, says: "Unequal 
as is already the distribution of wealth in 
this country, the tendency of industrial 
progress, on the supposition that the pres- 
ent separation between industrial classes is 
maintained, is toward an inequality 
greater still." 

We have the word of a group of official 
Investigators that this growing divergence 
is an underlying cause of our present social 
problems. The report of the staff of the 
Industrial Commission declared the cause 
of unrest to be: 

First — Unjust distribution of wealth and 



income; second — Unemployment and denial 
of opportunity to earn a living; third — De- 
nial of justice in the creation, adjudication 
and administration of the law; fourth — De- 
nial of the right and opportunity to form 
effective organization. 

According to Professor John R. Com- 
mons, whose views were those of a majority 
of the Commission: "The greatest cause 
of industrial unrest is the breakdown of 
the labor laws and the distrust of our 
municipal, state and national governments 
on the part of a large portion of our 
people." 

Among the remedies suggested by Pro- 
fessor Commons for existing ills were: To 
enforce lav/s by creating administrative 
machinery Independent of politics; to 
create a federal fund for social welfare, 
maintained by an inheritance tax on all 
large fortunes; to create a commission on 
industrial relations and an advisory board 
made up of employers, employes and the 
public; to mediate, use conciliation and — 
if both parties to a dispute agree to it — • 
make public the conditions surrounding the 
dispute; to give labor the right to institute 
primary or secondary boycotts; to provide 
federal employment agencies; to restrict 
immigration and extend credit to tenant 
farmers to purchase their own homes; to 
encourage collective bargaining and union 
organization, applying British trades dis- 
pute act. 

Let Congress and the national govern- 
ment do these things, the staff urged: Ex- 
tend education; develop social service; co- 
operate with states in great constructive 
works; fight to regain land, water power 
and mineral rights now in others' hands; 
apply the doctrine of "superior use" to 
land laws; tax nonproducing land the same 
as producing and not tax improvements; 
legislate to protect the right of habeas 
corpus, jury trial, free speech, peaceful as- 
semblage, to keep and bear arms, to be free 
from unreasonable search and seizure, to 
speedy public trial, freedom from excessive 
bail and cruel and unusual punishments; 
pass a constitutional amendment prohibit- 
ing courts from declaring legislative acta 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



467 



unconstitutional; regulate private detective 
agencies; draw new rules for the militia; 
incorporate in constitutional bill of rights 
the right to organize without punishment 
or loss; provide an inheritance tax which 
will confiscate great estates and allow no 
bequest greater than $1,000,000. 

These several diagnoses and recommend- 
ations are cited not to bring them into the 
arena of discussion at this time, before this 
body, but to show how far we are now 
swinging away from the doctrine of laisscz 
faire towards one of governmental care 
and concern. If time permitted we might 
with interest contrast the old form of 
parental, sumptuary regulation with the 
modern recognition of the fact that we are 
members one of the other, and that what 
is the concern of one is the concern of 
all. There is a world of difference between 
the autocratic regulation of personal con- 
duct and a Canute-like effort to control 
natural and economic laws by a kingly 
mandate and for a royal advantage, and the 
utilization and exercise of the power of a 
democratic state for the benefit of all its 
members. Paternalism — yes, but how dif- 
ferent in Its conception and motive and 
therefore in its objects and purposes. 

It is not only in national affairs that 
we see this trend away from "let alone" to 
"take a care," but likewise in state and 
city, and especially in the latter, which 
touches so closely and at so many points 
the lives and welfare of the people. Per- 
haps we can best get some idea of the ex- 
tension of municipal functions by running 
over the heads to be found in the con- 
spectus which I have outlined for use in 
the preparation of the "Municipal Encyclo- 
paedia," which I am editing for the firm 
of D. Appleton & Company. 

Under the general head of "V. The city 
and economic questions," we find these sub- 
heads: The city as a producer; The city 
and public utilities (gas, electricity, water, 
transportation) ; Streets; Public buildings; 
Bridges; Dams; Docks and terries; City 
planning and Industrial, taking up ten 
pages in a total of 44. 

Under the general head of "VI. The city 



and social questions," we find these sub- 
heads: Public health; House and building 
Inspection; Food Inspection; Baths; Nui- 
sances; Parks, boulevards and public recrea- 
tion; Vital statistics and hygiene reports; 
Charity and penology; Education by cities; 
Religion; Public safety, taking up 14 out 
of the total of 44. In other words, 24 pages, 
or 54^4%, of the conspectus is taken up 
with what the city is doing along economic 
and social lines, and I venture to say that 
not a single topic enumerated under any 
of those heads would have found a place 
in a conspectus of municipal government 
prepared a century ago, and very few In 
one prepared even a generation ago, for 
even then laissez faire was a strong and 
powerful influence to be reckoned with. It 
went on the principle that every man 
would take better care of himself than the 
state or city could take care of him. Hence, 
it was opposed to all state inspection of 
boilers, bridges, vessels, steamers, and fac- 
tories, not to mention their control. Dur- 
ing the California excitement, sixty years 
ago, before the Panama Railroad, or the 
Overland Route, was dreamed of, the old 
worn out steamer Rhode Island, built many 
years before for the navigation of Long 
Island Sound, was put up for the passage 
from New York to California around Cape 
Horn. There was then no government in- 
spection; nobody asked any questions. She 
sailed out of New York, crowded v.'ith pas- 
sengers, loaded down to the guards. She 
was never seen again. The owners knew 
that she would never make her voyage. It 
was murder at wholesale. But the State 
was dumb. 

In England the theory was that no sailor 
would ship on any unworthy craft, and that 
no insurance company would insure a ship 
that was sailing for the bottom. In fact, 
the companies, tempted by the offer of a 
large premium, and trusting to luck, would 
insure anything. The sailor, out of a job, 
money gone, the creditor pressing, the fam- 
ily needing the advanced wages, would ship 
v/ithout seeing the craft. The ship would 
prove to be rotten; if the sailor tried to 
back out, he was arrested for breach of con- 



468 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



tract and imprisoned. The ship went to 
pieces in the first gale. The crew would 
be lost; the owners would get the insur- 
ance; the insurance company would make 
up the loss on some other ship. Plim- 
soll's law for the inspection of ships and 
against overloading was a violation of the 
hiissez faire principle; its only recom- 
mendation was that it was just, humane, 
necessary, that it has saved thousands of 
lives, has kept thousands of women and 
children from being widows and orphans, 
and has preserved millions on millions of 
property. 

Laissez faire goes on the principle (It 
principle has anything to do with it) that 
parents can be trusted to take better care 
of their children than the State can pos- 
sibly take; but why multiply instances? 
Why extend the arguments? Twenty-five 
years ago an acquaintance of mine went to 
Washington to urge the House Committee 
on Post OflSces to recommend a postal sav- 
ings bank. The chairman of the sub-com- 
mittee in charge was a gentleman named 
Jones, from Texas. The idea which had 
taken possession of what he was pleased 
facetiously to call his mind, to quote my 
friend, was "We don't want a paternal 
government." Had it been possible to sup- 
pose him capable of understanding an argu- 
ment, my friend would have said to him: 
"Excellent, Mr, Jones; all government is 
paternal. The public school is paternal; 
carrying the mails is paternal; protecting 
life and property is paternal. In fact, 
everything that is not anarchy is paternal. 
The truest specimen of individualism 
among us is the savage, or rather was the 
savage, and is now the cow-boy. He does 
not look to the State for anything; he 
keeps his elbows well behind him, so as to 
feel if his twin six shooters are on either 
hip. He is his own court, sheriff, bench, 
jury and executioner." 

The first protest against paternalism was 
in the words, "Am I my brother's keeper?" 
And from that day to this, under the fos- 
tering care of the New Testament idea of 
the Fatherhood of God and the Brother- 
hood of Man. Government, or man in his 



organized capacity, has gone on step by 
step in caring for the least as well as the 
greatest; and today in this democratic 
America, and in monarchial England and 
in autocratic Germany, we find the Govern- 
ment extending its power and influence to 
supervise and control the secular educa- 
tion of the people, to prescribe a moral 
level, below which commercial competition 
shall not descend. The series of legislative 
enactments known as factory acts, pre- 
scribing the length of working hours, pro- 
hibiting or regulating the employment of 
women and children, providing for the pre- 
vention of accidents, and defining the em- 
ployers' liability, etc., are all framed on 
the assumption that the State is a moral 
personality, and its supreme end the 
welfare of the people. In this relation it 
is taking control of such natural monopolies 
as it can wisely manage, the post office, 
roads, bridges, canals, is managing the 
railroads in Germany and the telegraphs in 
England. Public authority in cities and 
towns is being utilized to administer the 
water-works, gas and electric lighting, and 
now in some places, as in San Francisco, 
street railways. 

What has all of this to do with the 
library, you ask. In the first place bear 
in mind that I was invited to discuss the 
"Economic tendencies of the twentieth cen- 
tury," with only a suggestion that their 
relation to libraries be touched upon, and 
in what I have written I have tried to place 
before you the trend from individualism 
and individual effort towards a policy of 
community effort to promote social welfare. 
Men of English training and condition — 
I had almost said language — are not likely 
ever to form a communistic state; but mod- 
ern democracy is committed to a policy of 
guidance, and common weal, and in some 
places to common wealth. 

In all this trend and urge the public 
library has become an established fact in 
practically every modern city and within 
the present generation. It has developed 
with the times from a static, individualistic 
collection of interesting and polite litera- 
ture to an essential, dynamic, community 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



469 



instrument of power and useful informa- 
tion. 

In an era of intense economic activity 
and a period of pitiless publicity, the public 
library has come to play a part undreamed 
of when the American Library Association 
was holding its first meetings. Moreover, 
methods have changed, and verification and 
comparison of results and conclusions have 
become the order of the day; and the 
librarian has been the chief coadjutor in 
the work. His field of usefulness is prac- 
tically unlimited; but to make the greatest 
contribution and to win the greatest results 
he must catch the genius of the age and 
learn the lesson of cooperation: One for 
all and all for one. 

Mr. BRIGHAM: I read the paper this 
noon, and then I thought I would do the 
usual thing — write out something which I 
would present in an extemporaneous way 
as though it had just occurred to me. Then 
something did occur to me — it was, that 
I was hungry. I went down to dinner, and 
to get a very little took all the time I had. 
I am now going to see what I have here. 
Bear in mind that this is only an introduc- 
tion, and that you are to take up the dis- 
cussion and carry it through. 

Certain red flags are bleaching and give 
promise of coming out a very satisfactory 
white. Among these terrors of our 
fathers and of some of us older ones in our 
youth I will name two — "Socialism" and 
"Paternalism." Even in this second decade 
of the twentieth century we who grasp the 
bleaching process referred to are from 
time to time made disagreeably, if not pain- 
fully, conscious that not a few of our other- 
wise near and dear neighbors are like — I 
don't know whether it was Mrs. Parting- 
ton or Mrs. Malaprop, I think it was Mrs. 
Partington, who said that her son Ike 
was never as happy as when he was miser- 
able. We live in those communities in 
which there is a great deal of growling, 
and more grouchiness that doesn't reach 
the growling state; they are never so much 
themselves as when they see things red. 
We librarians who are grown wise through 
much reading of books^that is, reading 



them by tlie title, table of contents, and 
index — need not be told that we and our 
chronically alarmed neighbors and our well- 
and ill-governed cities and our common- 
wealths and our nation are all already com- 
mitted to policies and measures of social- 
istic and paternalistic character. Speaking 
figuratively, we have already adopted the 
before-named twins found on our doorstep, 
have taken them in, and undertaken to 
train them to spheres of usefulness in our 
social life; seeking to curb their excesses 
without robbing them of their splendid 
initiative. 

Mr. Woodruff's informing paper is one to 
evoke suggestion rather than differences 
of opinion. I think that we are all on his 
side, but I will find out about that. I take 
it that we are all convinced that the old 
French phrase which we usually translate 
as "Let well enough alone" is a fallacy in 
that there is no "well enough" this side of 
that dream of the ages, the Millennium. 
Even that well-known evangelist and famous 
leader of men, "Billy" Sunday, has failed 
to convince most of us that the Millennium 
may be ushered in at any time, for we 
realize all too well that the world, our 
world, is in such a state of unpreparedness 
for such an event that even the best laid 
scheme of a Utopia wouldn't work with the 
very human material on hand at the 
present time. 

Assuming that we have the interesting 
and only partially developed twins. Social- 
ism and Paternalism, on our hands, what 
are we going to do about it? We cannot 
get rid of them even if we wish. And we've 
seen so many glorious possibilities in them 
that we must stand behind them; we must 
follow them up and do our level best to 
restrain them from doing violence to them- 
selves and to us, so that when they attain 
their majority they will be accepted by 
even the doubters of today as of invaluably 
practical service to the community and the 
state. George Eliot in "Middlemarch" had 
a character named Brooke, who, when 
pinned down to an argument would always 
say. "Yes, yes, I agree with you, to a 
certain extent, you know." And we are all 



470 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Socialists to a certain extent, you know. 
And some of us are still painfully conserva- 
tive and some of us are painfully radical, 
probably; but there Is a middle ground for 
Socialism and Paternalism which we are 
trying to find and when we find it we 
ought to let the world know. 

Meantime, we will go on buying books on 
the one hand and on the other hand pass- 
ing them over to the jury — a very ill- 
selected jury at times. I sometimes 
tremble — I do not literally tremble — when 
I see certain books that are of an anar- 
chistic trend passed out to certain high 
school boys and girls who haven't taken 
their own measure yet; but I also feel 
reluctant when I see painfully conservative 
books passed out to those same young peo- 
ple, for I am afraid they will grow pre- 
maturely conservative, which is a very bad 
sign in a young reader, as you all know. 

So the paper this morning suggested 
something along this line: How thorough 
is our mental classification of the books 
v.-e hand out and how much of policy have 
we in handing out these books, and how far 
does our responsibility go for the books 
that we pass out. I have known some in- 
stances of very serious impressions very 
strongly taken by young people who may 
never unlearn them, or who will have to 
run up against a great deal of experience 
before they unlearn the lessons that I in- 
directly may have passed out to them. I 
think we can all remember when we were 
in the plastic state — to some of us it is 
quite a long stretch of memory — when cer- 
tain books fortunately handed to us did us 
a great deal of good and certain other books 
which were mistakenly handed to us did us 
some harm. We would not be here if they 
had wrecked us entirely; but we had to 
overcome some of their influence. 

Dr. Woodruff has taken up large issues, 
but he hasn't given us as much of himself 
as I had expected; he hasn't given 
us to such an extent as I had an- 
ticipated his own conclusions from all 
those reports that have come in, and 
he leaves us in that respect right where 
we were. Take, for instance, the report of 



the Industrial Commission. He refers to 
labor boycotts but says nothing about the 
boycotts of the employing power. He pre- 
sents certain phases, which suggest a 
great deal; but after all he leaves us right 
where we are, except for this suggestion: 
I think he has strengthened our im- 
pression that we are all over on the 
paternalistic side, paid that the question is 
how far to go. 

That is the question I think I might well 
leave to you. We are confronted with new 
legislation and the suggestion of newer 
legislation, with a desire on the part of 
many well-meaning legislators to draw back 
from certain advance positions taken, with 
the insistence of others that we go still 
further; and we are up against a great 
many interesting problems that cannot be 
worked out by the next legislature or by 
several legislatures. I think we ought to 
remember this, impatient as we are in our 
attitude toward legislation. My experience 
and observation are that legislation, like 
the mills of the gods, grinds very slowly, 
and I sometimes think it does not grind 
as sure. We have had in our state some 
very radical legislation on primaries. I 
was one who fought for it, talked for it. 
Certain recent circumstances have led me 
to question whether I was wise or not; in 
fact, have led me to confess that I wasn't 
wise, and to hope that we will have some 
reactionary tendency. What I am afraid 
is that we will go all the way back, swing 
away back to the old primary system with 
all its faults, instead of taking a middle 
ground. That is only a single illustration. 

President SMALL: Is there any one else 
who would like to consider this paper of 
Dr. Woodruff's? 

Mr. GODARD: Mr. President, I move 
that a vote of thanks of this Association be 
extended to Dr. Woodruff for the paper 
which he has presented. 

The motion was seconded and agreed to. 

President SMALL: We have present 
with us today one who is interested in the 
preparation and publication of a very im- 
portant legal document, or series of docu- 
ments, Mr. A. S. Hilli of the Utilities 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



471 



Publication Committee of New York. I 
should like to have Mr. Hills make an an- 
nouncement of the consolidation of two re- 
ports which have been heretofore duplicat- 
ing each other. 

Mr. HILLS: Members of the Associa- 
tion: About two years ago a body of men 
representative of the large utility interests, 
the bankers, the engineers, the accountants 
and the legal profession, decided that it 
would be desirable to have a set of reports 
that would record the decisions of the pub- 
lic service commissions of the country. 
These men formed a syndicate and con- 
tributed a sum of money for the support 
of such a publication, believing that the 
need of an authentic and standard system 
of reporting was clearly apparent. At 
about the same time, the National Associa- 
tion of Railway Commissioners, at one of 
its annual meetings in Washington, ap- 
pointed a committee to Investigate the 
need of a similar series of reports, to find 
a suitable publisher, and to support, as 
far as it was possible for the Association 
to do so, such a series. Those two bodies 
of men, the syndicate representing the 
bankers, the legal profession and the utility 
interests on the one hand, and the com- 
mittee of the National Association of Rail- 
way Commissioners on the other, each 
selected a separate publishing house to 
do this work. The syndicate selected the 
Lawyers' Co-operative Publishing Company. 
The Committee of the National Association 
of Railway Commissioners selected the Law 
Publishing Company, of New York City. 
Each began its publication with a definite 
plan in view: namely, the establishment of 
an authentic, non-partisan, complete series 
of reports, giving all the decisions of the 
railway and public service commissions of 
every state. The Lawyers' Co-operative 
Publishing Company called its reports the 
"Public Utilities Reports, Annotated"; the 
Law Publishing Company called its reports, 
"Official Public Service Reports." 

After the two publications had gone on 
for some months, it appeared that they 
were constantly becoming more and more 
identical in scope and character, and that 



in a short time they would be virtually 
duplicates of each other. When that was 
realized the two interests came to an 
agreement by which the publications were 
merged. This merger and the signing of 
the agreements concerning it took place 
about a week ago. The series of reports 
known as the "Public Utilities Reports, 
Annotated" will now take the field, repre- 
senting the merged publications. It will 
be issued under the advisory supervision 
of the Committee of the National Associa- 
tion of Railway Commissioners, and will 
be the official publication of that Associa- 
tion. It is the only publication of the kind 
now in existence. 

I am very glad to have had an oppor- 
tunity to make this announcement, for the 
reason that I know many of the librarians 
have been hesitating, and quite properly 
so, between these two publications, not 
knowing which would be more suitable 
to their uses. There is now but one; and 
consequently the question of choice is 
eliminated. 

I wish to thank you, Mr. Chairman, for 
the opportunity of explaining this merger. 

President SMALL: A merger usually is 
an unlawful act, but in this instance we 
welcome it and congratulate you upon the 
success and the happy termination of the 
rivalry between these two publications. 
Has anyone questions to ask Mr. Hills? 

Mr. METTEE: Is there any question 
cited in the "Official" that is not in the 
other publication? In other words, is it 
necessary for a library to buy all up to 
date for future use? 

Mr. HILLS: The plan of the merged 
publications is to publish either in full or 
in abstracted form each decision that is 
handed down by any of the state commis- 
sions. The importance of the decision, its 
value as a precedent, will determine 
whether or not it is to be printed in full; 
and that general determination will be sub- 
ject to' the advisory supervision of the 
Committee representing the National Asso- 
ciation of Railway Commissioners. It will 
not be necessary, therefore, to have both 
sets of reports to date. Everything will be 



472 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



published in the "Public Utilities Reports, 
Annotated." Some of tlie decisions which 
have been omitted from the Public Utilities 
Reports because they have been considered 
of little importance, and have been printed 
In full in the "Official Public Service Re- 
ports," will be governed by the system of 
abstracting which has been approved by 
all parties to the merger. 

Mr. LIEN: I think this matter is of 
considerable importance. The law libraries 
at this time, judging at least from mine, 
are very much interested in the reports or 
decisions of these various boards. We have 
them in scattered form. Some states pub- 
lish them in a separate series, as California 
and New York; some others have them 
with their annual reports; and some don't 
publish them at all. Now, many libraries 
had to take both these series because some- 
times you would find one citation in one 
and one in the other. For that reason I 
am very glad that the consolidation has 
been made; and I think that the series is 
going to be a very important one, and that 
the librarians generally will find that there 
will be a call for it. 

I am sorry, however, about one matter 
in connection with these reports. A year 
ago, at our meeting we passed a resolution 
criticising and probably condemning the 
new system of numbering reports. The 
Official Public Service Reports were num- 
bered by volumes, "1, 2, 3," which system 
we very much preferred. The Public 
Utilities Reports have been numbered, 
"1915, A, B, C, D, E, F," "1916, A, B, C, etc." 
If the decisions increase in number we will 
have them run up to Z. That system is very 
confusing, and I should like to see them 
run consecutively, by numbers. It is so 
much more simple, and saves a good deal 
of confusion. 

Aside from that criticism, I would say I 
am very much in favor of these reports, 
because they cover a field which would 
otherwise be covered by scattered publica- 
tions. 

President SMALL: It is very confusing 
to have the volumes numbered by letters 
and annually. If we omit the annuals, and 



Just cite the letter, we are confused — we do 
not know whether it is one year or another. 
But whether or not that system will be con- 
tinued depends on Mr. Hills and his Com- 
mission. We hope that they will at least 
look into the matter and consider the ad- 
visability of giving consecutive numbers. 
We are speaking particularly from the 
librarian's standpoint, and for the conveni- 
ence and accuracy of citations. It is a very 
important matter, so far as the librarian is 
concerned. 

We have a paper which is not upon the 
printed program, by a young attorney of 
Des Moines, Iowa, who has been making a 
study of binding leathers. At my request 
he has prepared a summary of the result of 
his investigations. I believe that it is 
worth our time and our attention to listen 
to it. In the absence of the author I will 
ask Mr. Demarchus C. Brown to read this 
paper. 

REVIEW OF LEATHER FOR BINDING 

DURING THE LAST ELEVEN YEARS 

IN ENGLAND AND AMERICA 

By Emory M. Nourse, Des Moines, lotva 

After all that has been written since 1905 
about leather for libraries, an additional 
v/ord at this time might seem superfluous, 
but the apology is only too near at hand. 
Day after day the librarian beholds the 
ravages of red decay utterly wipe out whole 
shelves of books. The history is always 
the same: First the title powders off, then 
the joints crack, and finally the boards 
dangle from the cords. This is what the 
librarian has to offer the reader before the 
end of the binding's fifteenth year. Hands, 
clothes and manuscripts become all 
stained; the leaves of the book enjoy no 
happier fate. The student with resentment 
will plod through the pile. The beginner 
will either turn from the old to the new 
or resort to the "best sellers." Sir Philip 
Sidney said that books serve two purposes: 
to teach, and to please. The library is no 
longer inviting. Law libraries suffer the 
most; but the other libraries share a com- 
mon grief and the end, though slightly less 
sudden, is always the same. 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



473 



Over ten years ago, two valuable English 
treatises on the subject of leather book- 
binding appeared— the first, "Report of the 
Committee of the Society of Arts on leather 
for bookbinding;" the second, "Leather for 
libraries." Both books proceeded along 
thoroughgoing scientific lines of investiga- 
tion. The result was revolutionary in mod- 
ern leather bookbinding of the better sort. 

The salient causes of leather decay in 
binding were found to be three: the treat- 
ment of the leather for binding was in- 
jurious; the binding itself was faulty; the 
care of the leather bound books was im- 
proper. The cause for the decay of modern 
leather — that is, roughly speaking, from 
1860 forward — was due chiefly to the use of 
.stronger tanning materials, the employ- 
ment of sulphuric and other mineral acids 
to aid in bleaching and dyeing, and the 
practice of splitting, scouring, stripping, 
rolling and embossing the skins. In bind- 
ing, the leather was often pared down too 
thinly, stretched too much when wet and 
often printed and rolled with hot irons; 
and its fibre thus weakened and destroyed. 
Again, the strain was unevenly divided; 
the attachment of the boards to the book 
was often made to depend almost solely on 
the strength of the leather. With regard 
to the care of the books, the committee 
found that the rays of the sun, moisture, 
heat, tobacco smoke and fumes from burn- 
ing gas, were especially deleterious. Lack 
of ventilation and the accumulation of dust 
were likewise adjudged harmful. Sunlight 
turned vellum yellow and scaly, calf be- 
came hard and brittle, while sheep, if too 
dry, softened and rubbed away. 

The committee, after studying the old 
leather bindings which had successfully 
withstood the assaults of time from as far 
back as the sixteenth century, prescribed a 
positive method of securing the best results 
which may be briefly summed up as fol- 
lows: The leather should be tanned and 
dyed without the use of mineral acids, and 
thereby the natural oil of the skin is pre- 
served. The leather should not be branded, 
scoured, printed or embossed so as to de- 
stroy the fibre. Though the leather should 



be flexible, the surface should be hard and 
firm In order that it may wear well. Glaire 
or varnish, and oil dressing were suggested 
as a preservative, especially where the 
books were used but little. The leathers In 
order of their strength and durability were 
roughly graded as follows: Pigskin, seal, 
goat-morocco, sheep and calf, vellum, 
Russia leather and skiver. The last three 
were hardly to be recommended. 

Subsequently Henry E. Bliss of this coun- 
try. In an article entitled "Better book- 
binding for libraries" (Library Journal, 
1905, p. 849) clearly set forth the faults 
of modern leather book binding as gleaned 
from his own experience. Mr. Bliss called 
the American public's attention to the 
methods and opinions of the members of 
the English Society of Arts, of which he 
heartily approved. 

A note on book-binding on page 848 of 
the Library Journal for the same year 
(1905) praises the English work cited and 
recommends it to American librarians. 
After deploring the necessity of a similar 
movement in America, the note concludes 
that "it ought to be possible for the A. L. A. 
Committee [on Book-bindings] to present 
from year to year a series of reports that 
would materially contribute toward more 
thorough knowledge of library book-bind- 
ing and higher standards for process and 
methods." 

Reviewing the later reports of the A. L. 
A. Committee on book-binding and leathers, 
as well as other notices for the same period, 
one can truly say that, though better 
leather is to be had in America than 
formerly, the results leave much to be de- 
sired. The reports for 1909 (Library 
Journal, 1909, p. 223-24) referring to a 
"Tender for book-binding" received by the 
Committee from an English establishment, 
states: "Under the head of 'Materials' it 
will be noted that all leather must conform 
to Society of Arts standard. It must be re- 
gretted that in this country leather con- 
forming to this standard is so hard to ob- 
tain." 

The report of four years later, in the 



474 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Bulletin of the American Library Associa- 
tion for 1913, reads: "Until within the last 
two or three years it has been difficult to 
get leathers tanned according to the speci- 
fications of the Society of Arts. Recently, 
however, several Arms in this country have 
begun to specialize in leathers free-from- 
acid; and in addition to this, the Govern- 
ment Printing OflBce insists on having a 
certain amount of such leather and calls 
for it in its proposals for bids. These are 
encouraging signs that in the future we 
may hope to get leather which will not dis- 
integrate so rapidly as that which we have 
been obliged to use for many years past." 
It is to be lamented, however, that the 
"encouraging signs" have not produced very 
satisfactory results. This observation would 
seem to be in some measure confirmed by 
the report of the A. L. A. Committee on 
Binding (see Public Libraries for 1914, 
page 112, also Library Journal, 1914, page 
31) in its recommendations for the use of 
cloth and leather, when it says: "We know 
positively that leather which is not free- 
from-acids is sure to deteriorate under con- 
ditions which will be found in all libraries. 
We know that leathers free-from-acids will 
last much longer, but how long is a matter 
of conjecture. Furthermore, it has been 
discovered that in many cases leathers 
which have been advertised to be free-from- 
acid have been found on ana.lysis to con- 
tain as high as one per cent of free sul- 
phuric acid." The article as a whole offers 
slender promise indeed with regard to 
durability of leather bindings, except where 
the books are large or subject to frequent 
use. This contemplates a short life — ten 
years at the most. On the other hand, cloth 
is given the preference in case of doubt, 
with the suggestion that it is everlasting 
in a temperate zone. The last deduction 
will not fail to provoke a smile from any- 
one who has read of the Chinese libraries 
situated in a temperate zone, which have 
had in their keeping for some thirty-six 
hundred years inscribed rolls and cloth 
bound boxes of strong silk and linen fabric, 
and who knows that the rolls and the 
boxes are not the same. 



Even granting a long life to cloth as a 
binding material, it cannot wholly displace 
leather. A good leather binding lends a 
dignity and elegance to a book shelf which 
cloth can never attain. As the article just 
referred to points out, cloth is inferior for 
hard wear and bulky strain. In an earlier 
report of the A. L. A. Committee on Book- 
binding (Library Journal, 1907, page 167) 
it was said: "Books bound in art vellum, 
buckram or other book cloths become shaky 
sooner than those bound in leather. A 
leather-backed book, properly bound, wears 
longer, holds the lettering better, and looks 
well on the shelves even when ready to be 
withdrawn from circulation." 

If the reports of librarians show a dis- 
couraging condition of leather bindings and 
leathers which purport to be free-from- 
acids and according to Society of Arts speci- 
fications, and are so advertised, the experi- 
ence of the Individual librarian is sadder 
still. Such American leathers have fre- 
quently been found to contain, when 
chemically tested, more than one per cent 
mineral acid. This means, of course, that 
a far stronger mixture was used at some 
time during the process, for it is well- 
known that the skins undergo a bath spe- 
cially designed to remove the acid em- 
ployed. Mineral acid will not wholly 
evaporate, as do the harmless formic, lactic 
and acetic acids. A tell-tale percentage of 
mineral acid always cleaves fast to the 
fibre. 

It is dilBcult just yet to judge leather 
bindings done within the last few years by 
American firms which advertise to conform 
with the Society of Arts specifications. 
However, if the samples submitted of even 
date with the bindings are any criterion 
now of the life of the bindings, the efforts 
of the last ten years in our country have 
been vain indeed. The writer has pre- 
served such samples together with the no- 
tices concerning them, some being placed 
in a large envelope, others within the 
covers of an ordinary book. In every case, 
these samples, ranging from one to three 
years in age, can be torn with ease in the 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OP STATE LIBRARIES 



475 



fingers like paper. The thick cowhide, the 
niger morocco, are not excepted. Starting 
with knife or shears is not required. The 
niger morocco observed, while soft to the 
touch, will skin up with a little wear. Of 
course leather tanned with mineral acids, 
except possibly a piece of pigskin or very 
thick cowhide, may be torn almost as 
easily when just new. The writer has 
often tried the experiment with the whole 
hide. 

What makes the inferiority of the 
American leather appear all the more no- 
ticeable is the startling contrast it presents 
with the English leather. Not only the 
English samples, chemically given a test 
as advertised, but samples and bindings of 
ten and eleven years ago belonging to the 
writer's private library, have shown no 
change and have worn well. In proof let 
the reader kindly turn to the two English 
books mentioned above, in which he will 
find samples of different kinds of leather 
pasted inside the covers. None of them 
can be torn, though the books were pub- 
lished in 1905, eleven years ago! 

So much for the strength of the leather. 
The colors of the English leather have still 
preserved their original hue. It must be 
said, however, that the books so observed 
have not stood in the bright sunlight for 
long intervals. 

Perhaps the most astonishing feature is 
the lack of disparity in price between the 
English and the American leathers. The 
writer has carefully compared the prices 
quoted by Messrs. Edward and James 
Richardson (English leather sellers who 
have enjoyed the patronage of the best Eng- 
lish libraries) with the prices of ten pre- 
sumably reliable and large bookbinders 
and leather sellers of the United States. 
The prices which obtained before the war 
were approximately the same. Since the 
(var, the English prices have advanced but 
ten per cent, the American, thirty to forty 
per cent and even higher. Since the war, 
all American leather is not only high 
priced but scarce. (See recent report of 
leather convention which met last May.) 
Since all hides excepting sealskin are 



duty free and existing express and postal 
rates are low, it would seem that in the 
future only excessive confidence in Ameri- 
can leather sellers and buckram, plus, per- 
haps, unfavorable state legislation, would 
keep English leather from gracing our more 
precious books for some time to come. 



A motion was made that this paper be 
referred to the Committee on Bookbinding 
of the American Library Association. 

This motion was seconded and agreed 
to. 

President SMALL: We will now take 
up the report of the Joint Committee on 
National Legislative Information Service, 
of which Mr. George S. Godard, state li- 
brarian of Connecticut, is chairman. 

Mr. GODARD: Members of the Associa- 
tion and friends: I am reminded at this 
time of Mr. Hooligan. He had been gone 
from town for a few days, and when he 
came back they asked him where he had 
been, and he said, "I've just been to a 
convintion." And they said, "What did 
you do?" He said, "We convaned." 

I am reminded of Hooligan's convention 
because it is so different from ours, because 
we seem to be so busy and trying to do 
things. I remember that in our convention 
at Mackinac there was a great desire ex- 
pressed that there miglit be some system 
provided whereby state libraries might 
keep in touch with the legislation of differ- 
ent states. At that meeting in 1907 a com- 
mittee was appointed on National Legisla- 
tive Information Service, but without funds, 
without plans, and, shall I say, without 
patrons? Your Committee started out and 
I think has appeared regularly, patiently, 
and shall I say persistently, up to the pres- 
ent time. 

Not simply three times, but three times 
three, this Committee met. It is a pleasure, 
as one of the members, to present to you 
this report in a formal way. I think that 
every one has had a copy sent to him 
direct, in order that he might get in touch 
with what the Association was planning 
and what it is thought can be done. 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION TO AID 
LIBRARIANS 

Report of Joint Committee on National 

Legislative Information Service on the 

Publication of the Official Index 

to State Legislation 

To the American Association of Law 
Libraries and tlie National Association of 
State Libraries: You are frequently called 
upon for Information respecting pending 
or previous legislation, in your own and in 
other states, but owing to incomplete rec- 
ords and to insufficient appropriations to 
provide for the proper analysis, classifica- 
tion and arrangement of the available ma- 
terial, you have been unable to furnish 
much of the requested information and 
such information as you have given has, in 
many cases, been obtained only after more 
or less delay, by considerable research and 
at the expense of valuable time, not to 
mention inconvenience and annoyance. 

The Joint Committee on National 
Legislative Information Service of the Na- 
tional Association of State Libraries and 
American Association of Law Libraries, 
has continued its efforts unremittingly 
since the work was organized in 1907, and 
feels that it has now finally solved these 
problems in the publication, under its 
direction, of the "Official index to state 
legislation," which was inaugurated in its 
present form in 1915 and has been con- 
tinued each week during 1916. Since 
January 1, 1916, it has furnished to every 
state library and legislative reference 
bureau the weekly cumulative numbers of 
the "Official index to state legislation," 
which have given you an opportunity to 
judge its merits and its necessity as a 
working tool in your reference work. 

It has enabled you to answer easily and 
quickly questions respecting legislation, in 
any or all states, regarding which in other 
years you could not have furnished any 
Information. This Index has solved one 
of your problems. It has made your library 
service more complete and valuable, and 
has enabled you to give information w-ith 
little expenditure of time or effort. 



Plan of Publication 

It contains a subject and numerical in- 
dex, digest and record of all bills in all 
state legislatures, cumulated and corrected 
weekly. Each issue is complete in itself, 
contains all changes in position of bills 
and all bills introduced during the week, 
and enables the user to ascertain the sub- 
ject, nature and status of every pending 
bill. 

Subject Index 

The subject index classification tenta- 
tively adopted by the Committee, covers all 
legislation of general or public interest, is 
based upon a study of all classifications now 
in use, and has been designed to meet the 
practical requirements of daily use by 
legislators, legislative reference librarians, 
and lawyers. Private and local bills are 
not classified. Many changes and improve- 
ments in the subject classification have been 
decided upon and will be shown in the final 
number for 1916. The arrangement of the 
subject index is (a) by subjects, alphabeti- 
cally; (b) under each subject, by states, 
alphabetically; (c) under each state, the 
Senate first and then the Assembly, or 
House; and (d) under each house, the bills 
first and then the resolutions, numerically, 
by introduction numbers. 

Numerical Index 
The arrangement of the numerical index 
is (a) by states, alphabetically; (b) under 
each state, the Senate first, and then the 
Assembly, or House; (c) under each house, 
the bills first and then the resolutions, 
numerically, by introduction numbers. The 
entry for each bill and resolution gives, (1) 
the bill number, (2) the date of introduc- 
tion, (3) the subject, (4) the effect of the 
proposed legislation or the "short title" 
of the bill, (5) the name of the member 
introducing the bill, and (6) the position, 
or status of the bill, on the date shown 
at the head of the column. 

Service in 1917 
During 1917, forty-three legislatures 
will be in session and the development 
legally, economically and socially In the 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



477 



several states will be correspondingly im- 
portant and, until June 1st, the Official In- 
dex, according to present plans, will be 
cumulated and published weekly and each 
issue will contain everything that previous 
issues have contained, until final disposi- 
tion of bills is shown, with changes in 
position of bills and new bills introduced 
subsequent to the previous issue. Weekly 
supplements will be issued from June 1st, 
until the publication of the complete annual 
number, about August 1st, which will show 
the final disposition of bills when all the 
legislatures adjourned. After the issue of 
the complete annual number, weekly cumu- 
lative supplements will be issued when any 
legislature is in regular or special session. 
We also expect to make arrangements 
whereby, during the coming year, that part 
of the weekly numerical index for any 
specific state may be furnished separately 
at nominal cost, in lots of one hundred, 
to any state library, legislative reference 
bureau or legislature desiring to secure 
them. 

Benefits of the Service 
The Official Index will save your time, 
eliminate many annoyances, and enable you 
to make the service of your library more 
valuable. Its use will enable you to answer 
any question concerning legislation easily 
and quickly. Its arrangement is so simple 
that the seeker for information can easily 
find for himself any information regarding 
state legislation. As the material comes 
from official sources, and is compiled and 
edited by most carefully trained legisla- 
tive experts, you need feel no doubt as to 
its accuracy or dependability. 

The following instance is but cue of 
many illustrating the usefulness and value 
of the Index: 

"Can you tell me," said Senator Murray, 
addressing Miss Brown, an assistant in 
the Legislative Reference Library, "in 
what states bills have been introduced this 
year in relation to rural credits?" "Cer- 
tainly," Miss Brown replied, rapidly turn- 
ing the pages of the OfBcial Index on her 
desk. "There was one bill in Kentucky — 



House Bill No. 551, Louisiana House Bill 
No. 31, Mississippi House Bill No. 46, New 
York Senate Bill No. 1311, South Carolina 
House Bills Nos. 603, 606, 649, 1225, and 
Senate Bills Nos. 881, 892, 1616, 1627, 1661." 
1661." 

"I am very agreeably surprised," the 
Senator said. "Last year I was anxious to 
ascertain in which states legislation affect- 
ing the subject of Workmen's Compensation 
had been proposed, and you were unable to 
offer me any assistance. After consider- 
able delay I procured, through correspond- 
ence from the various states, some informa- 
tion, but it was far from satisfactory. I 
am curious to know if your book gives 
any information on the subject." Miss 
Brown turned to the last page of her Sub- 
ject Index and immediately told the Senator 
that there had been legislation on that 
subject in ten states this year. 

Co-operation of State Libraries, Bureaus 
and Departments 

The OfBcial Index is compiled and pub- 
lished under a co-operative agreement be- 
tween the publishers and this committee, 
pursuant to which the state libraries and 
legislative reference departments, which 
have co-operated in furnishing the informa- 
tion and material from which the Index has 
been compiled, have received the Official 
Index service without charge during 1915 
and 1916. 

In 1915 and 1916 twenty-seven state li- 
braries, legislative reference bureaus and 
departments co-operated in furnishing to 
the committee the legislative information 
and material required, from which the In- 
dex is compiled. Some furnished entirely 
complete, accurate and prompt service, 
while the service from others was not com- 
plete or prompt enough to be relied upon 
fully, and was supplemented by information 
procured from legislative officers or pri- 
vate information bureaus and other sources, 
at an expense of several thousand dollars. 
Six additional states have promised to co- 
operate in 1916, making thirty-three states 
co-operating, and leaving only fifteen states 
not co-operating. These states are: 



478 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, 
Florida, Idaho, Kentucky, Mississippi, 
Louisiana, New Mexico, New York, North 
Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Wyoming. 

Your committee urges tlie libraries in 
those states to do their utmost to co-operate 
to the fullest possible extent, if necessary 
making special appeals to their legislatures 
for the means with which to do so, in order 
to make the co-operative plan an entire 
success and to make the service entirely 
satisfactory and also to reduce the expense 
as much as possible. Libraries which have 
co-operated in part only are urged to make 
their service full, prompt and accurate, so 
that their states may be fully represented 
in the Index, and that the other libraries 
may not be embarrassed by missing, de- 
layed or inaccurate information as to those 
states. 

Cost of Publication and Subscriptions 
In 1915, the cost of compiling, editing and 
printing, not including overhead or super- 
vision, was $14,866.44 and the publishers 
received no income, except $390 from thirty- 
nine copies of the annual number at $10 
each, because the service was not yet suffi- 
ciently complete and prompt to sell, only 
six numbers being issued at irregular in- 
tervals and the subject index not being in- 
cluded until the final number. This made 
the net loss in 1915, $14,476.44, and the 
service was furnished entirely without 
charge to all the state libraries and state 
legislative reference departments, whether 
they co-operated by furnishing information 
and material or not. 

In 1916, the cost of compiling, editing and 
printing, not including overhead or super- 
vision, was $7,956.76 and the publishers' 
total income, from thirty-three subscrip- 
tions at $100 each and contributions by the 
state libraries of Illinois, Indiana, Ken- 
tucky, Maine and Connecticut of $100 each, 
was $3,800, making their net loss in 1916, 
to the date of this report, $4,156.76, and the 
service was furnished without charge, ex- 
cept the five contributions noted above, to 
all the state libraries and state legislative 
reference departments, whether they co- 



operated by furnishing material and in- 
formation or not. Of the thirty-three paid 
subscriptions to this service at $100 each, 
only sixteen were from public and law 
libraries. 

It will probably cost between $27,500 and 
$30,000 to give prompt complete weekly 
service in both the numerical and subject 
index in 1917, or about $12,000 more than 
it cost to give the incomplete service in 
1915. 

The publishers decline to increase their 
loss, especially as the present plan of publi- 
cation has been perfected and their ability 
to give a regular weekly cumulation and 
publication has been fully demonstrated 
throughout 1916; and this committee must 
therefore secure one hundred subscriptions 
for 1917, at $200 each, in addition to the 
thirty-three present subscribers, in order to 
pay the cost of publication. In view of the 
situation it has been decided that the co- 
operating libraries as well as the non-co- 
operating libraries, will pay for subscrip- 
tions in 1917, but the committee and the 
publishers have agreed that, as soon as the 
index becomes fully self-supporting from 
subscriptions from non-co-operating li- 
braries, corporations, associations and indi- 
viduals, and from saving in expense by 
reason of increased co-operation on the part 
of state libraries and legislative reference 
bureaus, who now do not furnish their 
states' journals, bills and calendars, etc., 
or who do so only imperfectly, the service 
will thereafter be furnished to the co- 
operating libraries without charge, and the 
charge to other libraries will be reduced 
from year to year, as rapidly as possible, 
to a maximum of $100 in the odd, or heavy 
legislative years, and to $50 in the even, 
or light legislative years. 

It is necessary that the Index be finan- 
cially self-supporting, and no longer be a 
burden on the compilers, and we urge you 
to give it your active support during 1917, 
not only by serving as a co-operator, but by 
subscribing for the service. As the cost 
of the undertaking is determined by the 
total number of co-operators and subscrib- 
ers, your participation is essential. 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



479 



The members of the Committee will re- 
ceive subscriptions and furnish copies of 
the Index and any other information de- 
sired, if you will call on them at the Ameri- 
can Library Association Headquarters in 
the New Monterey Hotel, or the headquar- 
ters of the National Association of State 
Libraries in the Columbia Hotel. 

Asbury Park, N. J., June 27, 1916. 

George S. God.^^rd, Chairman. 
F. O. Poole, Secretary. 



President SMALL: Any further report 
of this committee? What is your pleasure? 
I should like to hear from several here 
in regard to this. This is a worthy ques- 
tion, one to which we should give our co- 
operation and support. If you do not 
understand just what this Index is, now Is 
ycur opportunity. Mr. Lapp, will you give 
us a few words additional to the printed 
report? 

Mr. LAPP: I don't know that anything 
of very great value could be added to the 
printed report, except one or two sugges- 
tions of the use which can be made of this 
service. As Mr. Godard has pointed out, 
it has been organized for the last nine 
years, and was tried first on cards. Many 
of us did not think the card system would 
work because of the fact that in a very 
short time the whole available space would 
be filled with card stacks. Not until this 
cumulation was worked out did we think 
the service possible, but now everyone who 
has had any part in it feels that it is just 
the thing desired. For my part I do not 
see any opportunity to make the service 
better than is now given or promised for 
1917. I do not know of any particular 
thing I could suggest to perfect it. The 
whole problem now is to meet the cost 
involved in getting it out. I think it is 
the duty of every legislative reference 
bureau and state library to subscribe to 
this service for the purpose of giving the 
adequate financial support. 

For one thing, it will offer us a chance to 
save the state from five to seven thousand 
dollars. You will notice that the committee 
refers to a plan to furnish reprints of the 



weekly numerical index to the bills of any 
specific state. What does that mean? It 
means this: We will furnish the informa- 
tion from Indiana so that the copy will be 
In by Saturday evening; by Sunday morn- 
ing the reprint of the Index to Indiana's 
bills will be in the mails; and by the time 
the legislature convenes on Monday it will 
be In the hands and on the desks of the 
members. We will secure, say, three hun- 
dred copies, enough to go around. That 
will serve as a calendar of bills, at a saving 
of at least five to seven thousand dollars. 
This will give, when the matter is com- 
pleted, the calendar of bills from Indiana 
at a very great saving. That then is one 
Item which the states, at least those on 
this side of the Mississippi River, can make 
of great advantage to them. So far as 
service to Individual libraries and legisla- 
tive reference bureaus is concerned, it is 
my own notion that the legislative refer- 
ence bureau that does not use this isn't 
very much of a live reference department. 
It is a measure of the activity of the 
legislative reference bureau whether or not 
this service is used, and by the extent to 
which we use it we measure our activity 
as a department and our service to the 
state. 

I hope that right here we shall have suflS- 
cient support guaranteed to be sure that 
with the support to come from outside we 
can make this a success during the coming 
year. We cannot ask the publishers, of 
course, to go on sinking money in it. I 
do not think that the publishers will lose 
beyond this year. I do think that at the 
close of this year the promise of reduc- 
tion which is made at the end of the report 
will be fulfilled. That means that we shall 
then have the service at a much lower 
figure. I do not think that it is possible 
to have a more perfect service. I can 
answer for Indiana that we shall save the 
Committee and the company as much ex- 
pense as possible by furnishing all informa- 
tion about bills and the progress of bills; 
and I am willing to agree to our share of 
whatever expense may be necessary. Two 
hundred dollars is an exceedingly low 



480 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



price. I hope that we shall be able to se- 
cure the number of subscribers we need. 
I promise for our section of the country, 
and I promise whatever influence I have 
with other people to bring about the adop- 
tion of this report. We have quite a num- 
ber of librarians here who are sure to 
co-operate if this matter is brought to them 
in the right light. 

Mr. ROBERTSON: I simply wish to ex- 
press my pleasure at the program the 
Committee has worked out. Of course, be- 
ing a Canadian province, we are not in- 
terested directly; but we feel like this: 
Very often lawyers from Manitoba and 
other places come into my library to get 
particulars such as this Index furnishes, 
and we haven't anything to give them. We 
have to hunt up with considerable labor 
the statutes of the various states and let 
them search for themselves to find what 
they want. 

I think this Committee is deserving of 
commendation. Although our Province is 
not now included, it may be later on, but 
in any case if we are accepted as subscrib- 
ers to the Index, I am quite willing, on be- 
half of Manitoba, to help out the enter- 
prise. 

Mr. POOLE: Here we have a service, a 
means of information that we have always 
wanted. You all know that the one thing 
to which we had no adequate answer was 
a question regarding legislation in the 
states, and here we have it. Are we going 
to let it fall down; are we going to lose 
it? It is a well-nigh perfect thing, care- 
fully worked out; and there has been no 
end of money spent in perfecting the de- 
tails. Now, it is up to you to make a 
move. We have what we have always 
wanted. Up to the present it has been 
practically a gift to us. Are we going to 
let this thing go by the board? That Is 
the question. 

Mr. GODARD: I would suggest that our 
secretary call a list of the present co- 
operators to see how many of them feel 
that they can assure us at this time of 
their support. I would say, Mr. President, 



that I was very much pleased this morning, 
after talking with Dr. Putnam, librarian 
of Congress, to receive the subscription of 
the Library of Congress for the service next 
year; this will be in addition to the two 
copies which they now receive under the 
copyright law. 

(The co-operators in attendance then re- 
ported informally on their ability to sub- 
scribe to the Index at the new rates.) 

Mr. GODARD: Before we adjourn I 
should like to have Mr. Allen stand up 
and show himself. 

President SMALL: I will say that Mr. 
Allen is the man behind the gun. He Is 
doing the work and is putting a large 
amount of money into it. I understand he 
is willing to stand behind it if we will do 
our part in co-operating to make it at least 
self-supporting. We hope that after awhile 
it will be profitable to the company. 

Miss DAVIS (Wyoming) : We hope to 
co-operate after this winter if the Legisla- 
ture will give us the money. 

Mr. BRIGHAM (Rhode Island): Will 
' this not be continued unless we make it 
self-sustaining? 

President SMALL: Mr. Allen, Mr. Brig- 
ham asks: "If this is not self-supporting 
will you continue it?" Mr. Allen has lost 
only about thirty thousand dollars already. 

Mr. ALLEN: I think that we feel that 
we ought not to go any further than we 
shall have gone when we have finished 
the service for 1916. The number of sub- 
scriptions to be secured is not large — a 
hundred or more will do it, and un- 
doubtedly we will get some from corpora- 
tions and trade associations — but if the 
thing isn't good enough to stand on its own 
feet, after tlie nine years of work done on 
it and the two years in which it has been 
carried out, if it isn't good enough to work 
its own way from now on, we don't feel 
that we ought to put any more money into 
it. We have given our time and a great 
deal of hard work, in addition to the 
money; and we don't feel that the risk 
ought to be increased any further. As a 
matter of fact, our Board of Directors won't 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



481 



consent to increasing the investment to 
be made. 

Thereupon the Joint Session adjourned. 

FIRST SESSION 

National Association of State Libraries. 

Parlor, Columbia Hotel Tuesday, June 
27, 8 p. m. 

The meeting was called to order by Presi- 
dent Small. 

President SMALL: I am informed that 
Mr. Dullard, state librarian of New Jersey, 
who welcomed us so cordially this after- 
noon, has an appendix to his address of 
welcome. 

Mr. DULLARD: Mr. President, ladies 
and gentlemen: I think the chairman has 
fallen into a trap that Mr. Godard set for 
him. Mr. Godard called him a moment ago 
and told him that I had not finished my 
speech this afternoon, that I had something 
more to say. I have something more to 
say that was not appropriate this afternoon, 
because we had a joint meeting. Now we 
are meeting as the National Association of 
State Libraries; and, Mr. President, your 
friends in the National Association of State 
Libraries appreciate the efforts that have 
been put forth by you to make this meeting 
a success, and because of that and because 
of the very high personal regard they have 
for you, they have thought it fitting that 
some expression of their feeling should be 
made. They have deputized me to do the 
expressing, so to speak, and I have the 
pleasure, on behalf of the National Associa- 
tion of State Libraries, to hand you this 
little memento, which we ask you to take 
back with pleasant recollections of this con- 
vention. 

(Presents Mr. Small with a gavel). 

President SMALL: Mr. Dullard, and 
friends of the Association: When I made 
that unseemly remark about an appendix 
I did not realize what was coming to me. 
But I wish to assure you, Mr. Dullard, 
that I highly appreciate your courtesy in 
presenting me with this gavel. I will say 
that I have a failing: wherever I go I 
always try to carry back with me a 
memento of the occasion or the place I have 



visited. This shall be a memento of the 
Asbury Park Conference, the nineteenth an- 
nual session of the National Association of 
State Libraries. I appreciate it, Mr. Dul- 
lard, coming from the Association as it 
does, and presented, as it is, by you per- 
sonally as state librarian of New Jersey. 
I hope that I shall not use it in an 
arbitrary manner; and I will try to conduct 
myself in such a way as to merit the con- 
fidence you have in me. I thank you and 
thank you all. I value it much more than 
I can express to you. 

The time has now come for the first 
separate session of the National Associa- 
tion of State Libraries. I have prepared a 
lengthy report, but I assure you that I 
shall not read it all. Much of it is 
statistics, which you will find later in print, 
and which may be of interest, especially to 
those who are in state library work. 

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS 

By A. J. Small, Law Librarian. loira State 
Library 

Once again our Association is meeting on 
the Atlantic coast where the ensign of 
liberty was first flung to the breeze, and 
whence came those patriotic pioneer citi- 
zens and soldiers who blazed their way 
toward the land of the setting sun and 
aided in founding this mighty nation, the 
benefits and privileges of which we now 
enjoy. As your executive ofBcer for the 
year just closing, I am glad to welcome you 
here; and in the midst of these pleasant 
surroundings, with a spirit of patriotism 
filling the heart of every true American 
citizen, I greet you. 

Our mission is one of progress. Our 
forefathers and predecessors did a great 
work in founding our free institutions; 
their successors were equally wise and 
noble in their development and extension; 
and it is for us to continue the work 
placed in our hands. So it is with the 
library as an institution. Each generation 
has progressed a little further. Many of 
the difficulties of the past have been over- 
come but there are still problems to be 



482 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



solved. Two thousand years ago and more, 
there was a cry against the multiplicity of 
books, and we still have that complaint. 
With a thousandfold more books today, our 
difficulties are multiplied; yet scientific 
principles applied, with co-operative ideas, 
have worked out systematically many of 
the fundamentals. Today we are dealing 
v/ith the technical. It is not enough to 
know a book by its title or color; its con- 
tents must be analyzed and digested and 
put in the best shape for quick and ready 
reference. "Preparedness" is the slogan 
everywhere, and is applicable to every walk 
of life, whether in war or in peaceful pur- 
suits. 

Progress and advancement have been 
made in many lines and we often refer 
to our "enlightened civilization" ; yet, when 
considered from the standpoint of greed for 
conquest or self-glorification, we are not 
far removed from the semi-barbarism of 
Alexander and Caesar. Human nature is 
much the same in every age. The accounts 
which we see of the "whipping post" of 
Delaware or the "boiling water test" of 
Northern Rhodesia stir us with righteous 
indignation, and for the moment we ques- 
tion our "advanced" civilization. After two 
and a half centuries the courts of this coun- 
try have been asked to determine the ques- 
tion of the authorship of Shakespeare. One 
judge says "no"; another says "yes." The 
works are not minimized by the con- 
troversy, and it makes but little difference 
to the reader whether Shakespeare or 
Bacon was the author. 

Many other matters might also be noted, 
but as librarians come together for a 
specific purpose, I herewith submit a few 
questions in which we are interested. 

Documents 
We are all more or less interested in 
documents. There is not a section or a 
division of our libraries of which they do 
not constitute a part. Valuable and im- 
portant as documents are, they are as a 
rule, except those upon special subjects 
in which we are particularly interested, but 
little understood and more often greatly 



mistreated, and receive the least consid- 
eration of any class of books under our 
control. Many documents received are 
scarcely given a decent burial, by consign- 
ment to the top shelves of the upper story. 
From the standpoint of the ordinary reader, 
this is the usual conception of their value; 
but it is wrong to place them anywhere in 
the library, without knowledge of their 
contents. Documents, if desirable, should 
have a fair share of our consideration, by 
being carefully reviewed and their con- 
tents drawn out and carded. The same is 
true of much pamphlet material. Pamphlets, 
not altogether documentary, are continually 
coming to us in large quantities, and the 
best manner of caring for them is still a 
mooted question among librarians. 

Standardization of IVIiscellaneous 
Publications 

The state libraries publish or have an in- 
fluence over the issuance of numerous 
publications, such as bibliographies, indices, 
check-lists, pamphlet laws and reports. 
These publications are of various form, 
size, style and arrangement. As a com- 
mittee on bibliography and publications in 
the American Association of Law Libraries, 
I have called attention to this subject here- 
tofore. As most of these publications 
emanate from state libraries or affiliated 
institutions, I consider it not inappropriate 
to restate in substance my former recom- 
mendations. 

I would suggest and recommend that we 
standardize miscellaneous publications 
originating from our respective libraries, 
or other departments over which we have 
control. 

For filing purposes it is inconvenient 
to have pamphlets of various sizes, some 
thick and short, others thin and oversize. 
It is becoming quite the custom In the 
several states to publish much of practical 
material in pamphlet form for convenience 
and ready reference. If expedient to have 
material published separately, why not con- 
sider convenience in size and usefulness for 
handling? 

Our bibliographies are quite irregular as 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



483 



to make-up, individual fancy appearing to 
dictate size, style and order of arrange- 
ment. Some consider the author or writer 
of the article paramount for alphabetical 
arrangement; others, the title as it appears, 
or a catch word; and still others arrange 
by dates. The point is not so much how it 
is done as the advisability of establishing 
a uniform system. 

Occasionally pamphlets, verbatim re- 
prints of some particular law or laws, are 
issued without title-page, date, subject or 
state. In such instances, when these 
pamphlets are separated from the wrapper 
in which they were received, it is difficult 
to identify their history and origin, and 
particularly to decide to which of the forty- 
eight states they belong. 

I would also call your attention to the 
fact that documents are being issued, ■with 
the name of tlie state omitted from the 
back label and the contents not specifically 
made known. 

I appreciate that as a rule, these matters 
are outside our jurisdiction; but we can 
offer the suggestion to the issuing depart- 
ments and in many instances have these 
errors corrected. In this day of co-opera- 
tive service, completeness and uniformity 
are highly desirable. 

Volunteer Service 

If our organization stands for anything, 
it is for co-operation and fraternal assist- 
ance; and yet, I sometimes wonder if we 
express our friendliness and willingness in 
the most substantial manner possible. 
None of us can live to ourselves alone, and 
be we great or small, each in a certain 
degree is dependent on the other. We ask 
personal and public favors of each other, 
which, as a rule, we gladly grant with the 
invitation to "come again." 

But do we volunteer our services? We 
all have pressing duties claiming our at- 
tention, and opportunities for volunteer 
service are occasionally overlooked or 
neglected. For instance, did we volunteer 
to go into our basements or attics where 
our duplicates are stored and offer them to 
the New York State Library after its de- 



struction by fire a few years ago? A state 
may have an abundance of money for pur- 
chasing, but volunteer service such as this 
in time of misfortune stands for far more 
than that which may be had by purchase or 
financial remuneration. Such a service is 
not charity, it is a demonstration of our 
friendship; and in the conduct of a library 
the interchange of friendly courtesies is 
most desirable. The documents or volumes 
which we might send would cost us prac- 
tically nothing except a little labor on our 
part. We need not necessarily await a 
calamity such as befell New York to render 
voluntary service. No doubt, there are now 
in our several storerooms, attics or base- 
ments, many out-of-print documents much 
wanted by libraries of other states. Some- 
times we see advertised in the catalogs of 
auction or secondhand dealers a long list of 
out-of-print material, much of which comes 
from libraries. Why not give other libraries 
the first chance? If a price is required, it 
might be considerably less than that asked 
after the material has gone through the 
hands of a second party. 

Let us not wait for the S. O. S. signal 
before rendering a needful service, but 
rather at all times give evidence of uni- 
versal fellowship and co-operation, extend- 
ing not only to those who are permitted to 
attend these conferences, but also to those 
state libraries Iiaving limited resources, and 
especially those who have not had the ad- 
vantage of years of accumulation sucla as 
have been accorded to some of us. 

Index to State Legislation 
For a considerable number of years, and 
in fact ever since legislative reference work 
became a factor, each library in its own 
way has been trying to keep in touch with 
current laws and bills pending in the sev- 
eral state legislatures. 

A joint committee, representing the 
American Association of Law Libraries and 
the National Association of State Libraries, 
has been in existence for some years work- 
ing co-operatively upon a plan of having a 
publication issued periodically, giving the 
status of all bills introduced in the legisla- 



484 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



tures of the several states. I need not go 
into a review of the labors of the com- 
mittee and the result attained in the Official 
Index to State Legislation, as a detailed re- 
port has already been made. Suffice it to 
say, that I heartily recommend the co-opera- 
tion of each and every library of the coun- 
try In this work. We know the value and 
convenience of the Official Index to current 
legislation and should give it our support. 

Is Political Partisan ControJ ac Issue? 

Has the pendulum of public opinion 
swung back so far as to eliminate partisan 
control from our libraries and to place them 
in their rightful position, coordinate with 
other educational institutions, without 
creed or party affiliations. Institutions 
whose fundamental principles are for all 
the people? Elimination of politics has 
been our watchword for a generation. Has 
this been accomplished, or what have we 
done? 

Politics in the library, whether state or 
municipal, is most unfortunate. It has a 
tendency toward uncertainty and ineffi- 
ciency. Fortunate are those of us who have 
been relieved from its ban. As a rule, the 
short-term librarian, subject to partisan 
control, is placed in an embarrassing posi- 
tion. Much as he may desire to do effective 
and constructive work, there is no incen- 
tive for close application or progressive 
methods. I appreciate that this Associa- 
tion has no jurisdiction or possible in- 
fluence over affairs of state in the various 
parts of the country; but from personal 
knowledge and contact I know that much 
good has been accomplished indirectly in 
the years that have passed. Compare, if 
you will, our present condition with that 
of the early nineties when Melvil Dewey 
and a few more aggressive librarians 
spread their influence throughout the na- 
tion and brought system out of chaos. 
From a majority of the libraries of the 
land have come institutions high in public 
affairs, rendering service that stands for 
loftier ideals and better citizenship. Not 
only have libraries been aroused from their 
former lethargy and stagnant condition, 
but new avenues have been opened by 



which their field of usefulness has been en- 
larged. A third of a century ago, the legis- 
lative reference library was a visionary 
idea in the minds of a few; traveling 
libraries were undreamed of; library ex- 
tension was practically unknovi-n except in 
its simplest form and then only as a mat- 
ter of courtesy; a library school was un- 
heard of; and librarians, as a rule, were 
chattels in the grip of politicians. 

That we may know the present condi- 
tions and note the progress toward non- 
partisan libraries and librarianship, I have 
tabulated the laws of the several states 
giving, 

First, the source of the appointment of 
state librarians, with length of term; 

Second, the governing body; 

Third, the salary; 

Fourth, the length of service as far as 
possible; 

Fifth, statute references; and 

Sixth, a recapitulation or resume, group- 
ing the various phases topically. 

Summary of State Laws Relating to State 
Libraries 

Alabama: The marshal of the supreme 
court is ex officio librarian of the State and 
Supreme Court Library. Appointment Is 
for an indefinite term and is made by the 
supreme court who are trustees. The func- 
tions of the state library are almost en- 
tirely law. The Department of Archives 
and History is a library of a general na- 
ture, consisting of miscellaneous works, his- 
tory, library extension, etc. Salary of 
librarian, $2,000. Code 1907:1417, sees. 
5971-5974. 

Arizona: The state library is known as 
the State Law and Legislative Reference 
Library. The first appointment was made 
by the legislature. The vacancies are to 
be filled by the board of curators for an 
indefinite term. The library is managed 
by a board of curators consisting of three 
members appointed for two years by the 
" governor, with the consent of the senate. 
The functions of the library are general, 
including legislative reference. The length 
of service of the present librarian is ono 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OP STATE LIBRARIES 



48S 



year. Salary of librarian, |2,400. Laws 
1915:134; 1st special session, p. 20, sec. 88. 

Arkansas: There are two libraries under 
separate control. State Library — The sec- 
retary of state Is ex officio state librarian, 
whose term is two years. The library is 
under the direction of the governor. The 
length of service of the present librarian is 
five years. Kirby's Digest 1904:783, sec. 
3377. Supreme Court Library — The clerk of 
the supreme court appoints the law libra- 
rian for an indefinite term. The library is 
under the supervision of the clerk of the 
supreme court. Salary of the law librarian, 
$1,500. Laws 1905:218: 1907:1054: 1911: 
227. 

California: The librarian is appointed 
by the board of trustees for a term of four 
years. The board of trustees consists of 
five members appointed by the governor 
for a term of four years. All the state 
library activities are centralized in the 
state library. The length of service of the 
present librarian is seventeen years. Sal- 
ary of librarian, ?3,600. Deering's Pol. Code 
1915: sees. 2292-2303. 

Colorado: This state has two separate 
libraries, namely, the state library and the 
supreme court library. State Library—The 
superintendent of public instruction is ex 
officio state librarian, and is authorized to 
employ an assistant at $1,000 per year. The 
state librarian appears to be accountable 
only to the legislature for funds expended, 
etc. The length of service of the present 
librarian is three and one-half years. 
Supreme Court Library — The law librarian 
is appointed by the supreme court for an 
indefinite term. The justices of the court 
constitute the governing board. The length 
of service of the present librarian is three 
and one-half years. Salary of the law li- 
brarian, $1,500. Courtright's Stats. 1914: 
sees. 1420, 3951-3964. Constitution, Art. 4, 
sec. 20. 

Connecticut: The state librarian is ap- 
pointed for an indefinite term by the li- 
brary committee. The library committee 
consists of the governor and two persons 
appointed biennially by the general assem- 
bly. Custom, however, has selected the 



secretary of state and a judge of the su- 
preme court living at Hartford. The na- 
ture of the library is general, including law, 
legislative reference, archives and public 
records. The length of service of the pres- 
ent librarian is sixteen years and for two 
years before that he was an assistant. His 
predecessor served for forty-five years. 
Salary of librarian, $3,600. Laws 1911:1308, 
ch. 49; 1913:1759. 

Delaware: The librarian is appointed by 
the governor for a term of two years, sub- 
ject to removal at any time. The library 
is under the supervision of the supreme 
court. The librarian is ex officio custodian 
of the state house and secretary of the li- 
brary commission. The functions of the 
library are general. The commission and 
traveling libraries are separate. The 
length of service of the present librarian is 
four years. Salary of librarian, $1,200, pay- 
able quarterly. Rev. Laws 1915:17, ch. 5, 
sees. 24-31. 

Florida: There are two libraries, the 
executive and legislative library and the 
supreme court library. Executive and 
Legislative Library — The secretary of state 
is ex officio librarian and custodian of 
capitol building for a term of four years. 
The library is under his supervision. The 
length of service of the present librarian is 
fourteen years. Supreme Court Library — 
The clerk of the supreme court is ex officio 
librarian and custodian of the supreme 
court building for an indefinite term. The 
supreme court constitutes the governing 
board. Comp. Laws 1914: v. 1, ch. 2, sec. 
84; v. 2, ch. 5, sec. 1753a; ch. 9, sec. 1773. 

Georgia: The governor appoints the 
state librarian and the senate confirms the 
appointment. Term is four years. The li- 
brary is under the direction of the governor 
but the expenditure of the library fund is 
under the direction of the supreme court. 
The library is of a general nature, includ- 
ing legislative reference. The length of 
service of the present librarian is eight 
years. Salary of librarian, $1,800, payable 
quarterly. Park's Code 1914: v. 1:112, 
sec. 172. 

Idaho: The supreme court appoints the 



486 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



librarian for an indefinite term. The jus- 
tices of the supreme court constitute a man- 
aging board. The library is of a general 
nature. The length of service of the pres- 
ent librarian is fourteen months. Salary 
of librarian, $900. There is a second library 
located at Lewiston, known as the State 
Law Library, for the use of the supreme 
court, and the deputy clerk of court is act- 
ing librarian. Rev. Code v. 1: 455, sees, 
833, 834. 

Illinois: Illinois has a state library and 
a state law library, each under a separate 
management. In addition there are a state 
historical library, a traveling library, and 
a legislative reference bureau, each under 
separate control. State Library — The sec- 
retary of state is ex officio state librarian 
for a term of four years. He Is authorized 
to employ an assistant at $1,300 per year. 
The length of service of the present assist- 
ant is four years. The governor, secretary 
of state and superintendent of public in- 
struction constitute a board of commis- 
sioners. The length of service of the pres- 
ent ex officio librarian is about one year. 
State Law Library — The supreme court 
librarian is appointed for an indefinite 
term by the judges, who constitute a board 
of trustees and are authorized to fix the sal- 
ary of the librarian at not to exceed $3,000. 
The length of service of the present libra- 
rian is sixteen years. Kurd's Rev. Stats. 
1916:773, ch. 37, sec. 17; p. 2541, ch. 128. 

Indiana: Indiana has two libraries con- 
trolled by different boards. The bureau of 
legislative information is separate. State 
Library — The state librarian is appointed 
by the board of trustees for a term of two 
years. The state board of education con- 
stitutes a board of trustees. The length of 
service of the present librarian is ten years. 
Salary of state librarian, $2,500. Supreme 
Court Library — The supreme court controls 
and manages the supreme court library and 
appoints a librarian for an indefinite term. 
Salary of law librarian, $1,800. Burns 
Stats. 1914; sees. 1370, 9290. Laws 1915: 
346-347. 

Iowa: The state librarian is appointed 
by the board of trustees for a term of six 



years and is also president of the library 
commission. The governor, secretary of 
state, superintendent of public instruction 
and judges of the supreme court constitute 
a board of trustees. The library is of a 
general nature including general, law, his- 
torical, and legislative reference depart- 
ments. The length of service of the pres- 
ent librarian is eighteen years. Salary of 
librarian, $2,400. Code Sup. 1913: sec. 
2881b. 

Kansas: The state librarian is appointed 
by the governor for a term of four years, 
upon recommendation of the judges of the 
supreme court. The supreme court con- 
stitutes a board of directors. The library 
is of a general nature, including legislative 
reference. Length of service of present 
librarian is seventeen years. Salary of 
librarian, $2,000. Stats. 1909: sec. 8242. 
Constitution, Art. 15, sec. 228. 

Kentucky: The state librarian is elected 
by the general assembly for a term of four 
years. The secretary of state, attorney gen- 
eral, and auditor of public accounts con- 
stitutes a board of trustees. The length of 
service of the present librarian is eight 
years and he was previously an assistant 
for sixteen years. Salary of librarian, 
$1,800. Carroll's Stats. 1915, v. 1:1269, sees. 
2445-2450. 

Louisiana: The secretary of state ap- 
points the state librarian for four years. 
The secretary of state has supervising 
powers over the library. The length of 
service of the present librarian is four 
years. Salary of librarian, $1,200. Marr's 
Rev. Stats, v. 2:1484. 

Maine: The state librarian Is appointed 
for three years by the governor with the 
advice of the council. The governor and 
council constitute a board of trustees. The 
library is of a general nature. The length 
of service of the present librarian is one 
and one-half years. Salary of librarian, 
$1,800. Rev. Stats. 1903:63. 

IVIaryland: The librarian is appointed by 
the governor with the consent of the sen- 
ate for a term of four years. The judges 
of the court of appeals appoint a commit- 
tee of three or more persons to purchase 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OP STATE LIBRARIES 



487 



from time to time sucli books, etc., as are 
deemed advisable. This committee pre- 
scribes rules for the conduct and manage- 
ment of the library. The length of service 
of the present librarian is two months. 
Salary of librarian, $1,500. Const. Art. 7, 
sec. 3. 

Massachusetts: The governor appoints 
the librarian with the advice and consent 
of the council, for an indefinite term. The 
president of the senate and speaker of the 
house, with three persons appointed by the 
governor for a term of three years, con- 
stitute a board of trustees. The library is 
of a general nature, including legislative 
reference. The length of service of the 
present librarian is seven years. Salary 
of librarian, $4,000. Rev. Laws, v. 1:102, 
sees. 24, 26. Laws 1910:164, ch. 217. 

Michigan: The librarian is appointed 
for a term of four years by the governor, 
with the approval of the senate, and the 
governor may remove him at any time for 
cause. 

The governor acts jointly with the two 
legislative committees in the making of 
library rules, etc. The library is of a gen- 
eral nature, including traveling libraries 
and legislative reference. The length of 
service of the present librarian is twenty- 
five years. Salary of librarian, $1,800. 
Howell's Stats, v. 1:383, sec. 629. 

Minnesota: The governor appoints the 
state librarian for a term of two years, 
with the consent of the senate. The jus- 
tices of the supreme court constitute a 
board of trustees. The functions of the 
library are largely law and legislative ref- 
erence. The service of the present libra- 
rian is five and one-half years, with pre- 
vious service of six years as an assistant. 
Salary of librarian, $3,000. Const. Art. 5, 
sec. 4. Genl. Stats. 1913, sees. 130, 131, 
294, par. 8. 

Mississippi: The state librarian is 
elected by the legislature for a term of 
four years. The board of trustees consists 
of the governor, attorney general and jus- 
tices of the supreme court. The function 
of the library is largely law. The general 
works are in the Department of Archives 



and History. Salary of librarian, $1,500. 
Const. Art. 4, sec. 106. Code 1906; 1276, 
sec. 4717. 

Missouri: The supreme court appoints 
the state librarian for an indefinite term. 
(By order of the court the term has been 
made four years.) The supreme court con- 
stitutes a board of trustees. Function is 
largely law; legislative reference and ex- 
tension departments are under the library 
commission. The length of service of the 
present librarian is three and one-half 
years. Salary of librarian, $1,500. Rev. 
Stats. 1909, V. 2:2548, sees. 8152, 8168. 

Montana: Montana has two libraries 
which are under separate management. 
State Historical and Miscellaneous Library 
— The librarian is appointed by the board 
of trustees for a term of two years. The 
board of trustees consists of five persons 
appointed by the governor for a term of 
two years, with the advice of the senate. 
The legislative reference is included in this 
department. Salary of librarian, $2,100. 
State Law Library — The law librarian is 
appointed by the board of trustees for a 
term of two years. The justices of the su- 
preme court with the secretary of state and 
state auditor constitute the board of trus- 
tees. Salary of law librarian, $2,500. Code 
1907, v. 1:341, sec. 1208-10. 

Nebraska: The supreme court reporter 
Is ex officio state librarian and is appointed 
by the supreme court for a term of four 
years. The judges of the supreme court 
constitute a board of directors. The legis- 
lative reference library and the library 
commission are in separate departments. 
The length of service of the present libra- 
rian is twelve years. Salary of librarian, 
$1,500. Const. ArL 6, sec. 8. 

Nevada: The librarian is appointed by 
the state library commission for an in- 
definite term. The justices of the supreme 
court constitute the library commission. 
The library is of a general nature. Salary 
of librarian, $2,000. Laws 1915:310. 

New Hampshire: The librarian is ap- 
pointed by the board of trustees for an in- 
definite term. The board of trustees con- 
Bists of three members appointed by the 



488 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



governor for three years The state library 
is of a general nature, Including library 
extension and legislative reference. The 
length of service of the present librarian 
is twenty-one years. Salary of librarian, 
12,500. Stats. 1901:79, sec. 4, 12. 

New Jersey: The librarian is appointed 
by the state library commissioners for a 
term of five years. The library commis- 
Bioners consist of the governor, chancellor, 
chief justice, attorney general, secretary of 
state, treasurer, and comptroller. The 
library is of a general nature, including 
legislative reference. The length of service 
of the present librarian is two and one-half 
years. Salary of librarian, $3,000. Comp. 
Stats. 4:4901, sec. 3. 

New Mexico: The governor appoints the 
librarian with the advice and consent of 
the senate. The judges of the supreme 
court constitute the board of trustees. Sal- 
ary of librarian, $900. Laws 1915:56. 

New York: The regents of the univer- 
sity of the state of New York appoint the 
director of the state library for an in- 
definite term. The governing board is 
vested in the regents of the university of 
the state of New York. All the state 
library activities are centralized in the 
state library. The length of service of the 
present director is eight years. Salary of 
director, $5,000. B. C. & G. Code, v. 1: 1315, 
sec. 1091. 

North Carolina: There are two libraries 
in North Carolina under separate manage- 
ment. State Library — The state librarian 
is appointed for a term of four years by the 
board of trustees. The board of trustees 
for the general library consists of the gov- 
ernor, superintendent of public instruction, 
and secretary of state. Length of service 
of present state librarian is sixteen years. 
Salary of state librarian, $1,500 plus extra 
work about $250. Law Lilirary — The law 
librarian is appointed by the supreme 
court for an indefinite term. (By rule of 
board of trustees the term is fixed at eight 
years.) The supreme court constitutes the 
board of trustees for the law library. Sal- 
ary of law librarian, $1,500. Pell's Revisal, 
1908, V. 2: 2439, sec. 5077, 5084. 



North Dakota: The State Historical So- 
ciety Library is de facto the state miscel- 
laneous library, of which the secretary is 
librarian. The governor, auditor, secre- 
tary of state, commissioner of agriculture 
and labor, and superintendent of public In- 
struction are ex officio board of directors. 
The library extension and legislative ref- 
erence departments are with the library 
commission. Salary of librarian, $1,800. 
State Laiv Library— The clerk of the su- 
preme court appoints the law librarian for 
an indefinite term, subject to the approval 
of the supreme court. The library is under 
the control of the clerk of the supreme 
court under the direction of the judges. 
Salary of the law librarian, $1,200. Comp. 
Laws 1913, V. 1: 429, sec. 1845; p. 97, sec. 
380. 

Ohio: Ohio has two libraries, the state 
library and the supreme court library. 
State Lilirary — The board of commission- 
ers appoints the librarian for an indefinite 
term. The board of commissioners is com- 
posed of three members who are appointed 
by the governor for a term of six years. 
The length of service of the present libra- 
rian is from 1896 to 1911 and later from 
1915 to date. Salary of state librarian, 
$3,000. Supreme Court Library — The law 
librarian, who is also marshal of the court, 
Is appointed by the supreme court for a 
term of three years. The law library Is 
under the direction of the supreme court. 
Salary of librarian and marshal, $2,500. 
P. & A. Code, V. 1: 275, 546, sees. 788, 1491. 

Oklahoma: The librarian is appointed 
by the board of directors for an indefinite 
term. The supreme court constitutes the 
board of directors. The function of the 
library is largely law. The length of serv- 
ice of present librarian is one and one-half 
years. His predecessor served eight years. 
Salary of librarian, $1,500. Laws 1913:327. 

Oregon: Oregon has two libraries, the 
state library and the supreme court library. 
State Library — The librarian is appointed 
by the board of trustees for an indefinite 
term. The governing board consists of 
the governor, superintendent of public in- 
struction, president of the University, libra- 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



489 



rlan of the Portland library association, 
and one appointed member. The state li- 
brary, as now constituted, was created by 
act of the legislature in 1913, which con- 
solidated the miscellaneous portion of the 
former state library with that of the library 
commission. The functions of the library 
are twofold: those of the state library and 
the former library commission and travel- 
ing libraries section. The office of the 
secretary of the commission was abolished 
and the duties merged with those of the 
librarian. The legislative reference and 
library extension departments are in the 
state library. Length of service of present 
librarian is eleven years. Salary of libra- 
rian, $3,000. Supreme Court Libranj — The 
librarian is appointed by the supreme court 
for an indefinite term. The members of 
the supreme court comprise the board of 
trustees. Salary of the law librarian, 
$1,800. Laws 1913:264. 

Pennsylvania: The State Library is 
called the Pennsylvania State Library and 
Museum. The governor appoints the libra- 
rian, with the consent of the senate, for a 
term of four years. The librarian is ex 
officio secretary of the library commission 
and director of the museum. The governor, 
secretary of the commonwealth and attor- 
ney-general are ex officio trustees. The 
library is of a general nature, including 
law, archives and a museum. The legis- 
lative reference and the library commis- 
sion (which has charge of traveling libra- 
ries) are in separate departments. Length 
of service of present librarian is nineteen 
years. Salary of librarian, $4,500. Purd. 
Dig. V. 4: 4452, sec. 2. 

Rhode Island: Rhode Island has two 
separate libraries, namely, the state library 
and the law library. State Library — The 
secretary of state appoints the state libra- 
rian with the consent of the senate for a 
term of three years. The secretary of 
state is ex officio supervising official. The 
state librarian is director of the legislative 
reference bureau. Length of service of the 
present librarian is thirteen years. Salary 
of state librarian, $1,600. Law Library — 
The supreme court appoints the law libra- 



rian for an indefinite term. The supreme 
court constitutes an executive board for 
the library. The length of service of the 
present librarian is seven years. Salary 
of law librarian, $1,600. Gen. Laws 1909: 
192, 193. 

South Carolina: South Carolina has two 
libraries under separate management. State 
Library — The general assembly elects the 
state librarian for a term of two years. The 
governor, secretary of state, and superin- 
tendent of education constitute a board of 
trustees. Length of service of present libra- 
rian is two years. Salary of state librarian, 
$1,200. Supreme Court Library — The su- 
preme court appoints the law librarian for 
a term of four years. The supreme court 
constitutes the governing board. Salary of 
law librarian, $800. Code 1912, v. 1: 255. 
Laws 1915:346. Const. Art. 17, sec. 1. 

South Dakota: South Dakota has two 
libraries, the state library being, in fact, 
the state historical library, of which the 
secretary and superintendent of the De- 
partment of History is the librarian. The 
state librarian is appointed by the execu- 
tive board of the historical society for an 
indefinite term. The legislative reference 
department is in the state library. The 
length of service of the present librarian is 
fifteen years. Salary of librarian, $2,000. 
Supreme Court Library — The law librarian 
is appointed by the supreme court for an 
indefinite term. The supreme court con- 
stitutes the library board. Length of serv- 
ice of the present librarian is twenty years. 
Salary of law librarian, $1,200. Comp. 
Laws, 1913:168, 848, 849. 

Tennessee: The library commission ap- 
points the state librarian for a term of four 
years. The library commission is com- 
prised of the governor, the attorney gen- 
eral, and the chief justice. The length of 
service of the present librarian is thirteen 
years. Salary of librarian, $1,500. Code 
Sup. 1903:241, sec. 2. 

Texas: Texas has two libraries. State 
Library — The Texas library and historical 
commission elects the state librarian, who 
is also secretary of the commission, for an 
indefinite term. The chairman of the 



490 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



school of history in the state university 
and the state superintendent of schools, to- 
gether with three persons appointed hy 
the governor with the consent of the senate, 
constitute what is termed the Texas library 
and historical commission. The library is 
of a general nature and includes historical, 
legislative reference and library extension 
departments. The length of service of the 
present librarian is fourteen months. Sal- 
ary of the state librarian, $2,000. Supreme 
Court Library — The clerk of the supreme 
court is ex officio law librarian, appointed 
by the court for a term of four years. The 
library is in the charge of a full time libra- 
rian, with the title of assistant librarian. 
His salary is $1,200. The law library is un- 
der the control of the supreme court. The 
length of service of the present assistant 
librarian is twenty years. McEachin's 
Stats. V. 1:625; v. 2, 1989. 

Utah : The clerk of the supreme court is 
ex officio state librarian, appointed by the 
court for an indefinite term. The library 
is managed by a board of control consisting 
of the governor, secretary of state, and 
justices of the supreme court. The func- 
tions are almost entirely law. Comp. Laws 
1907:338, 339, sees. 660, 664, 1349. 

Vermont: The state librarian is appoint- 
ed by the board of trustees for an indefinite 
term. The governor, chief justice, secre- 
tary of state, three state trustees and three 
resident trustees constitute a board of 
trustees. The legislative reference bureau 
is independent of the state library except 
as to approval of financial accounts. The 
library is of a general nature. The length 
of service of the present librarian is four- 
teen years. Salary of librarian, $1,500. 
Pub. Stats. 1906: 141, ch. 21. 

Virginia: Virginia has two separate 
libraries under different management. The 
legislative reference is a separate and co- 
ordinate department. State Library — The 
library board appoints the librarian for an 
indefinite term. A board of five directors, 
styled "The Library Board," is appointed 
by the state board of education for a period 
of five years, to manage and direct the af- 
fairs of the library. Length of service of 



the present librarian is nine years. Salary 
of state librarian, $2,500. Law Library — 
The law librarian is appointed by the su- 
preme court of appeals for an indefinite 
term. The law library is under the control 
of the judges of the supreme court of ap- 
peals. Salary of law librarian, $1,800. Pol- 
lard's Code, V. 1: 133, 136. 

Washington: There are two separate 
libraries in Washington. State Library — 
The librarian is appointed by the state 
library commission for an indefinite term. 
The library is under the supervision of the 
state library commission, consisting of the 
governor, judges of the supreme court, and 
attorney general. In addition to these 
there is an advisory board. The length of 
service of the present librarian is twelve 
years. Salary of state librarian, $1,500. 
Law Library — The supreme court appoints 
the law librarian for an indefinite term. 
The law library is under the general super- 
vision of the supreme court. The length of 
service of the present librarian is fifteen 
years. Salary of the law librarian, $2,400. 
Pierce's Code 1912: 2042, sec. 3, 7. 

West Virginia: The governor appoints 
the state librarian for a term of two years. 
The governor, secretary of state, and at- 
torney-general are trustees. The functions 
of the state library are largely law. The 
miscellaneous and general works are in 
the Department of Archives and History 
which includes also the legislative refer- 
ence department. Salary of librarian, 
$1,000. Code 1913, v. 1: 158, 159. 

Wisconsin: The state librarian is ap- 
pointed by the trustees for an indefinite 
term. The justices of the supreme court 
and the attorney general constitute the 
board of trustees. The functions of the 
state library are largely law, political 
science and statistics. The miscellaneous 
and general works are in the Historical So- 
ciety Library. The legislative reference 
and library extension departments are with 
the library commission. Length of service 
of present librarian is ten years. Salary 
of librarian, $3,000. Stats. 1915: 221, sees. 
367, 368. 

Wyoming: The governor appoints the 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRABIES 



491 



librarian, with the consent of the senate, 
for a term of two years. The librarian is 
ex officio custodian of the historical society 
and superintendent of weights and meas- 
ures. The judges of the supreme court 
have general supervision. The state library 
is of a general nature. The length of serv- 
ice of the present librarian is three years. 
Salary of librarian, $1,.500. Comp. Stats. 
1910: 177, sec. 386. 

Recapitulation 
Statistics Relating to State Libraries 

States having separate law and miscel- 
laneous libraries: 

Ark. — State Library and Supreme Court 
Library. 

Colo. — State Library and Supreme Court 
Library. 

Fla. — Executive and Legislative Library 
and Supreme Court Library. 

Ida. — State Library and State Law Li- 
brary. 

111. — State Library and Supreme Court 
Library. 

Ind. — State Library and Supreme Court 
Library. 

Mont. — State Historical and Miscellan- 
eous Library and State Law Library. 

N. C. — State Library and Law Library. 

N. D. — State Historical Society Library 
and Law Library. 

Ohio — State Library and Supreme Court 
Library. 

Ore. — State Library and Supreme Court 
Library. 

R. I. — State Library and Law Library. 

S. C. — State Library and Supreme Court 
Library. 

S. D. — State Library and Supreme Court 
Library. 

Tex. — State Library and Supreme Court 
Library. 

Va. — State Library and Law Library. 

Wash. — State Library and Law Library. 

State libraries whose functions are 
largely law: 

Ala., Minn., Miss., Mo., Okla., Utah, W. 
Va., Wis. 



Supervising boards: 

Ala. — Supreme court. 

Ariz. — Three members appointed by gov- 
ernor. 

Ark. (State) — Under direction of governor. 

Ark. (Supreme court) ^Clerk of supreme 
court. 

Cal. — Five members appointed by governor. 

Colo. (State) — Accountable to legislature. 

Colo. (Supreme court) — Supreme court. 

Conn. — Governor and two persons appoint- 
ed by the general assembly. (Custom has 
selected the secretary of state and a resi- 
dent judge of the supreme court.) 

Del. — Supreme court. 

Fla. (Executive and legislative) — Secretary 
of state. 

Fla. (Supreme court) — Supreme court. 

Ga. — Governor and supreme court. 

Ida. — Supreme court. 

111. (State) — Governor, secretary of state 
and superintendent of public instruction. 

111. (Supreme court) — Supreme court. 

Ind. (State) — Board of education. 

Ind. (Supreme court) — Supreme court. 

la. — Governor, secretary of state, superin- 
tendent of public instruction and su- 
preme court. 

Kan. — Supreme court. 

Ky. — Secretary of state, attorney general 
and auditor of public accounts. 

La. — Secretary of state. 

Me. — Governor and council. 

Md. — Judges of court of appeals. 

Mass. — President of senate, speaker of 
house and three persons appointed by 
governor. 

Mich. — Governor and joint legislative com- 
mittees. 

Minn. — Supreme court. 

Miss. — Governor, attorney general, and su- 
preme court. 

Mo. — Supreme court. 

Mont. (Historical) — Five persons appointed 
by the governor. 

Mont. (Law) — Supreme court, secretary of 
state and auditor. 

Neb. — Supreme court. 

Nev. — Supreme court. 

N. H. — Three persons appointed by gov- 
ernor. 



492 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



N. J. — Governor, chancellor, chief justice, 
attorney general, secretary of state, treas- 
urer and comptroller. 

N. Mex. — Supreme court. 

N. Y. — Regents of state university. 

N. C. (State) — Governor, superintendent of 
public instruction and secretary of state. 

N. C. (Law) — Supreme court. 

N. D. (Historical) — Governor, auditor, sec- 
retary of state, commissioner of agricul- 
ture and labor, and superintendent of 
public instruction. 

N. D. (Law) — Supreme court. 

Ohio (State) — Three persons appointed by 
governor. 

Ohio (Law) — Supreme court. 

Okla. — Supreme court. 

Ore. (State) — Governor, superintendent of 
public instruction, president of state uni- 
versity, librarian of Portland library as- 
sociation and one appointed member. 

Ore. (Law) — Supreme court. 

Penn. — Governor, secretary of the common- 
wealth and attorney general. 

R. L (State) — Secretary of state. 

R. I. (Law) — Supreme court. 

S. C. (State) — Governor, secretary of state 
and superintendent of education. 

S.C.( Supreme court) — Supreme court. 

S.D.( State) — Historical society. 

S.D.( Supreme court) — Supreme court. 

Tenn. — Governor, attorney general and 
chief justice. 

Tex. (State) — Chairman of school of his- 
tory in the state university, state super- 
intendent of schools, and three persons 
appointed by governor. 

Tex. (Supreme court) — Supreme court. 

Utah — Governor, secretary of state and su- 
preme court. 

Vt. — Governor, chief justice, secretary of 
state, three state members and three resi- 
dent members. 

Va. (State) — Five members appointed by 
board of education. 

Va. (Law) — Supreme court. 

Wash. (State) — Governor, supreme court 
and attorney general. 

Wash. (Law) — Supreme court. 

W. Va. — Governor, secretary of state and 
attorney general. 



Wis. — Supreme court and attorney general. 
Wyo. — Supreme court. 

Librarians who serve ex-officio in other 
capacities: 

Ala. — Marshal of supreme court. 

Ark. — Secretary of state. 

Colo. (State) — Superintendent of public in- 
struction. 

Del. — Custodian of state house and secre- 
tary of library commission. 

Fla. (Executive and legislative) — Secretary 
of state and custodian of capitol building. 

Fla. (Supreme court) — Clerk of court and 
custodian of supreme court building. 

Ida. (Law) — Deputy clerk of court. 

111. (State) — Secretary of state. 

la. — President of library commission. 

Ky. — Superintendent of public stationery. 

Neb. — Supreme court reporter and clerk of 
supreme court. 

N. D. (Historical) — Secretary of historical 
society. 

Ohio (Supreme court) — Marshal of court. 

Penn. — Secretary of library commission and 
director of the museum. 

R.I. (State) — Director of legislative refer- 
ence. 

S. D. (Historical) — Secretary and superin- 
tendent of the department of history. 

Tex. (State) — Secretary of historical com- 
mission. 

Tex. (Supreme court) — Clerk of supreme 
court. 

Utah — Clerk of supreme court. 

Wyo. — Custodian of historical society and 
superintendent of weights and measures. 

Librarians who are appointed by the 
governor: 

Del., Ga., Kan., Me., Md., Mass., Mich., 
Minn., N. Mex., Penn., W. Va., Wyo. 

Librarians appointed by the secretary of 
state. 

La., R. I. (State). 

Librarians appointed by the legislature: 

Ken., Miss., S. C. (State). 

Librarians appointed by the clerk of su- 
preme court: 

Ark. (Supreme court), N. D. (Law). 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



493 



Librarians appointed by board composed 
exclusively 0/ state officers: 

Ala. — Supreme court. 

Colo. (Supreme Court) — Supreme court. 

Ida. (State) — Supreme court. 

111. (Law) — Supreme court. 

Ind. (State) — Board of education. 

Ind. (Law) — Supreme court. 

la. — Governor, secretary of state, superin- 
tendent of public instruction and su- 
preme court. 

Mo. — Supreme court. 

Mont. (Law) — Supreme court, secretary of 
state and auditor. 

Neb. — Supreme court. 

Nev. — Supreme court. 

N. J.- — Governor, chancellor, chief justice, 
attorney general, secretary of state, treas- 
urer and comptroller. 

N. Y. — Regents of state university. 

N. C. (State) — Governor, superintendent of 
public Instruction and secretary of state. 

N. C. (Law) — Supreme court. 

N.D. (Historical)— Secretary of historical 
society and librarian appointed by the 
governor, secretary of state, commission- 
er of agriculture and labor, and superin- 
tendent of public instruction. 

Ohio (Supreme court) — Supreme court. 

Okla.— Supreme court. 

Ore. (Supreme court) — Supreme court. 

R. I. (Law) — Supreme court. 

S. C. (Supreme court) — Supreme court. 

S. D. (State) — Executive board of historical 
society. 

S.D.( Supreme court) — Supreme court. 

Tenn. — Governor, attorney general and 
chief justice. 

Tex. (Supreme court) — Supreme court. 

Utah — Supreme court. 

Va. (Law) — Supreme court. 

Wash. (State) — Governor, judges of su- 
preme court and attorney general. 

Wash. (Law) — Supreme court. 

Wis. — Supreme court and attorney general. 

Librarians appointed by boards composed 
of state officers and citizens: 

Conn. — Governor and two persons appoint- 
ed by general assembly. 



Ore. (State) — Governor, superiuLeudeul of 
public Instruction, president of univer- 
sity, librarian of Portland library associ- 
ation and one appointed member. 

Tex. (State)— Library and historical com- 
mission. 

Vt. — Governor, chief justice, secretary of 
state, three state members and three resi- 
dent members. 

Librarians appointed by citizen boards: 

Ariz. — Three members appointed by gov- 
ernor. 

Cal. — Five members appointed by governor. 

Mont. (Historical)— Five members appoint- 
ed by governor. 

N. H. — Three members appointed by gov- 
ernor. 

Ohio (State)— Three members appointed 
by governor. 

Va. (State) — Five members appointed by 
board of education. 

Librarians appointed for an indefinite 
term or terms not specified: 

Ala. 

Ariz. 

Ark. (Supreme court) 

Colo. (Supreme court) 

Conn. 

Fla. (Supreme court) 

Ida. (State and Law) 

111. (Supreme court) 

Ind. (Supreme court) 

Mass. 

Nev. 

N. H. 

N. Mex. 

N. Y. 

N. D. (Historical and Law) 

Ohio (State) 

Okla. 

Ore. (State and Law) 

R.L (Law) 

S. D. (State and Supreme cuiin ) 

Tex. (State) 

Utah 

Vt. 

Va. (State and Lhw) 

Wash. (State and Lawj 

Wis. 



494 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Librarians appointed for term oj liio 
years: 

Ark. (State), Colo. (State), Del., Ind. 
(State), Minn., Mont. (Historical and 
Law), S. C. (State), W. Va., Wyo. 

Lihrariana appointed for term of three 
years: 

Me., Ohio (Supreme court), R. I. (State). 

Librarians appointed for term of four 
years: 

Cal., Pla. (Executive and legislative), 
Ga., 111. (State), Kan., Ky., La., Md., Midi., 
Miss., Mo., Neb., N. C. (State), Penn., S. C. 
(Supreme court), Tenn., Tex. (Supreme 
court). 

Librarians appointed for term of five 
years: 
N. J. 

Librarians appointed for term of six 
years : 
la. 

Librarians appointed for term of eight 
years: 

N. C. (Law). 

Salary: 

Ala $2,000 

Ariz 2,400 

Ark. (Law) 1,500 

Cal 3,600 

Colo. (Law) 1,500 

Conn 3,600 

Del 1,200 

Ga 1,800 

Ida 900 

111. (Law) 2,500 

Ind. (State) 2,500 

Ind. (Law) 1,800 

la 2,400 

Kan 2,000 

Ky 1,800 

La 1,200 

Me 1,800 

Md 1,500 

Mass 4,000 

Mich 1,800 

Minn 3,000 

Miss 1,500 



Mo 

Mont. (Historical) 

Mont. (Law) 

Neb 

Nev 

N. H 

N. J 

N. Mex 

N. Y 

N. C. (State) 

N. C. (Law) 

N. D. (Historical) 

N. D. (Law) 

Ohio (State) 

Ohio (Law) 

Okla 

Ore. (State) 

Ore. (Law) 

Penn 

R. L (State) 

R. I. (Law) 

S. C. (State) 

S. C. (Law) 

S. D. (State) 

S. D. (Supreme court) 

Tenn 

Tex. (State) 

Tex. (Supreme court assista}it li 

brarian) 

Vt 

Va. (State) 

Va. (Law) 

Wash. (State) 

Wash. (Law) 

W. Va 

Wis 

Wyo 

Terms of serviee of present state li- 
brai-ians as far as ascertained. 

Ariz 1 year. la IS years. 

Ark 5 years. Kan 17 years. 

Cal 17 years. Ky S years. 

Colo. ...3% years. La 4 years. 

Conn. ...16 years. Me IV^ years. 

Del 4 years. Md 2 months. 

Pla 14 years. Mass. ... 7 years. 

Ga 8 years. Mich. ... 25 years. 

Ida 14 months. Minn. ..5% years. 

Ill 1 year. Mo 3% years. 

Ind 10 years. Neb 12 years. 



1,500 
2,100 
2,500 
1,500 
2,000 
2,500 
3,000 

900 
5,000 
1,500 
1,500 
1,800 
1,200 
3,000 
2,500 
1,500 
3,000 
1,800 
4,500 
1,600 
1,600 
1,200 

800 
2,000 
1,200 
1,500 
2,000 

1,200 
1,500 
2,500 
1,800 
1,500 
2,400 
1,000 
3,000 
1,500 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



495 



N. H 21 years. S. C 2 years. 

N. J 2% years. S. D 15 years. 

N. Y 8 years. Tenn. ...13 years. 

N. C 16 years. Tex 14 months. 

Ohio ..le^^ years. Vt 14 years. 

Okla. ..1% years. Va 9 years. 

Ore 11 years. Wash. ..12 years. 

Pa 19 years. Wis 10 years. 

R. 1 13 years. Wyo. ... 3 years. 

I hope that this information may be of 
interest, and that it will convey an idea 
as to the permanency of library appoint- 
ments. By comparison, we find that there 
is a tendency toward longer terms and 
a greater stability in appointments, and, 
most fortunately, that politics in the state 
library is not a paramount issue in many 
of the states. 

Librarianship is more and more being 
looked upon from the standpoint of quali- 
fication and efficiency. We hope the taint 
of partisan politics will eventually be 
eradicated from every library in the land, 
and the standard of librarianship further 
raised to the point where librarians may 
command due recognition from the legis- 
latures of the several states and the peo- 
ple as a whole, and receive compensation 
worthy of the high calling. And after a 
lifetime of service, they should be re- 
tired as befits their station upon a com- 
petency suflScient to assure a comfortable 
old age. 

Interesting Library Items 

Kentucky: The state librarian is nom- 
inated by a majority party legislative cau- 
cus and elected by the legislature. 

The librarian provides ink and station- 
ery for the use of the public offices at the 
seat of government. He also is authorized 
to have water from the Frankfort water 
works turned into the fountain in Capitol 
Square! 

Louisiana: Before the librarian takes 
possession of the library an inventory is 
taken of the books and papers, clearly 
and distinctly set forth, etc. On the re- 
tirement of the librarian from office he 
is bound to account for all books and 



papers which have been mentioned in the 
inventory and such as may have been re- 
ceived since. Any losses sustained are to 
be paid by the librarian in a sum not ex- 
ceeding the amount of the bond, which is 
$5,000. 

Michigan: Before any member of the 
legislature or any officer of the State shall 
receive his pay in full, it shall be neces- 
sary for him to obtain an exhibit from the 
state librarian that he has returned all 
the books he may have drawn from the 
library. 

Minnesota: The state librarian is the 
only appointive State officer mentioned in 
the constitution. 

Mississippi: The constitution provides 
that any woman, a resident of the State 
for four years, and who has attained the 
age of twenty years, shall be eligible as 
librarian. 

Missouri: The state librarian shall ap- 
point an assistant who shall perform the 
duties of janitor for the library. 

The librarian reports to the state auditor 
all books in the hands of the members of 
the legislature at the close of the session 
and he shall deduct from the per diem 
of each member treble the value of said 
books. 

Montana: The law librarian is required 
to prepare an index to the session laws 
after each legislative session. 

Nebraska: If the librarian allows any 
person not authorized by law to remove 
a book from the library, he is liable to 
pay a fine of not less than five nor more 
than fifty dollars for every book. A per- 
son taking a book without permission is 
liable to a fine of not less than ten nor 
more than fifty dollars tor each book so 
taken. 

New Mexico: The librarian is liable to 
a fine in a sum not less than ten nor more 
than fifty dollars for each book loaned 
to anyone except to a few prescribed state 
officers; and the governor is directed to 
enforce the penalty. 

North Carolina: In this state, neither 
legislative bills nor Journals are printed 
until after the session adjourns. 



496 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Tennessee: The librarian is liable to a 
fine of not less than ten nor more than 
nfty dollars for loaning a book to anyone 
except on a requisition from specially 
designated state officers. 

Utah: The librarian Is liable to a fine 
of from five to fifty dollars for loaning any 
book to other than a few prescribed state 
officers. Persons not authorized to take 
books and violating the law shall be fined 
not less than ten nor more than fifty dol- 
lars for each book so taken. 

Constitutional Provisions Relating to 
State Libraries 

Colorado: Art. 4. Sec. 20. "The sup- 
erintendent of public Instruction shall be 
ex officio state librarian." Adopted 1876. 

Kansas: Art. 15. Sec. 228. "The legis- 
lature shall not create any office the 
tenure of which shall be longer than four 
years." Adopted 1859. 

Maryland: Art. 7. Sec. 3. "The state 
librarian shall be appointed by the gov- 
ernor, by and with the advice and consent 
of the senate, and shall hold his office dur- 
ing the term of the governor by whom 
he shall have been appointed and until his 
successor shall be appointed and qualified. 
His salary shall be fifteen hundred dol- 
lars a year; and he shall perform such 
duties as are now, or may hereafter be 
prescribed by law; and no appropriation 
shall be made by law to pay for any clerk 
or assistant to the librarian. And it shall 
be the duty of the legislature, at its first 
session after the adoption of this consti- 
tution, to pass a law regulating the mode 
and manner in which the books in the li- 
brary shall be kept and accounted for by 
the librarian, and requiring the librarian 
to give a bond, In such penalty as the 
legislature may prescribe, for the proper 
discharge of his duties." Adopted 1867. 

Minnesota: Art. 5. Sec. 4. "He [the 
governor] shall have power, by and with 
the advice and consent of the senate, to 
appoint a state librarian." Adopted 1857. 

Mississippi: Art. 4. Sec. 106. "There 
shall be a state librarian, to be chosen by 
the legislature on joint votp of the two 



houses, to serve for four years, whose 
duties and compensation shall be pre- 
scribed by law. Any woman a resident 
of the state four years, and who has at- 
tained the age of twenty years, shall be 
eligible to said office." Adopted 1890. 

Nebraska: Art. 6. Sec. 8. "There shall 
be appointed by the supreme court a re- 
porter, who shall also act as clerk of 
supreme court and librarian of the law 
and miscellaneous library of the state, 
whose term of office shall be four years 
unless sooner removed by the court, whose 
salary shall be fixed by law, not to ex- 
ceed fifteen hundred dollars." Adopted, 
1875. 

South Carolina: Art. 17. Sec. 1. "... 
of which offices any woman, a resident 
of the state two years, who has attained 
the age of twenty-one years, shall be 
eligible." Adopted 1895. 

Virginia: Art. 9. Sec. 132. "It [state 
board of education] shall appoint a board 
of directors consisting of five members 
. . . which shall have the appointment 
of a librarian . . . but the supreme court 
of appeals shall have the management of 
the law library." Adopted 1902. 

Conclusion 

We rejoice in the passing of the an- 
tiquated "closed shelf" system and of 
"service to state officials only." The state 
library of the future ought to be an in- 
stitution through which the local com- 
munities are privileged to take advantage 
of the superior opportunities afforded by 
the state. Likewise, the Library of Con- 
gress should (and under the present effi- 
cient management it certainly will to the 
best within its power) supplement the state 
libraries in similar ways. Great sums 
are spent for books; and it is morally 
wrong if they are not made to the fullest 
extent available and usable. The age 
demands it and the libraries should be in 
a position to respond. 

Each year we carry back from the con- 
ferences new thoughts, renewed resolu- 
tions and higher aims. I hope this year 
will not be an exception. It has been a 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



497 



great honor and a rare privilege to serve 
as your president It has been my pur- 
pose to consult your interests and carry 
out as best I could that part of the work 
assigned to the presidential office — an of- 
fice which has been so ably filled by the 
best librarians of this country. 

To the membership I owe a debt of 
gratitude. As president I have received 
very courteous treatment and kindly con- 
sideration. The faithfulness of our sec- 
retary, Miss Elizabeth M. Smith of the 
New York State Library, deserves men- 
lion. She has been kind, enthusiastic and 
courteous, and her services are much ap- 
preciated. I also desire to express my 
thanks to Mr. John P. Dullard, state li- 
brarian of New Jersey, for valuable assis- 
tance rendered in making local arrange- 
ments. 

I bespeak your kindly consideration 
throughout the conference and thank you 
for your presence. 

President SMALL: The next paper to 
which we shall have the pleasure of listen- 
ing this morning is by Mr. Tolman, and is 
on the timely subject 

MOBILIZATION— A NEXT STEP IN THE 

ORGANIZATION OF A STATE 

LIBRARY SERVICE 

By Frank L. Tolman, 

Reference Li1)rarian. New York State 
Library 

It is not often that in a summer resort 
at which the National Association of State 
Libraries and tlie other library organiza- 
tions with which this association is either 
officially or unofficially affiliated, hold their 
annual meetings librarians rub shoulders 
on boardwalks and on the main streets of 
the city with men in khaki. It is not often 
that one finds, as happened to me this morn- 
ing, on landing from the boat in New York 
City, one of the main thoroughfares of New 
York filled with soldiers, and regiment after 
regiment passing by to the transports that 
are to take them to mobilization centers 
in the far south. First came the Seventh 



Regiment down the street; followed by the 
Fourteenth. That was followed by the 
Forty-seventh Regiment, and that was fol- 
lowed by the Seventy-first. And so all 
over the state the men In khaki are mov- 
ing. 

It brings certain thoughts to us at this 
time, meeting as we are a few miles from 
the New Jersey mobilization point at Sea 
Girt; and our thoughts are apt to wander 
across the sea where, two years ago, on 
a very much larger scale, the same scenes 
were enacted. Mobilization is a new thing 
with us. It is not a new thing for the 
libraries of France, it is not a new thing 
for the libraries of Germany, it is not en- 
tirely novel now to the libraries of Great 
Britain. 

Reading the other day some accounts of 
the work of French, English and German 
libraries in that phantom and undiscov- 
ered Europe of today, certain new concep- 
tions of the functions of the library and its 
place in the super-state stuck in my mem- 
ory. There is, for example, a description 
of the Blbliotheque Nationale in Paris de- 
prived of a large proportion of its staff but 
attempting to meet all its old and its many 
crucial new obligations, although crippled 
both within and without — the national li- 
brary "mobilized at its post" in the beloved 
city, accomplishing its duty to la Patrie as 
ably and as honorably as those who left the 
staff to serve in the trenches. Then there 
is the testimony from Germany from one 
closely identified with war library work 
that books of the right kind are absolutely 
essential to the morale of the army, as 
potent as medicine in the hospitals or as 
woolen socks and cigarettes in the 
trenches. The production and distribution 
of books, says the writer, should be organ- 
ized just as the production of munitions 
is organized, and not for the army alone 
but for the nation, whose morale is equally 
essential to military success. There Is that 
tribute of amused admiration in the Lon- 
don "Times" entitled "Bookworms in war," 
which reads in part, "If you happen to care 
for books it is impossible to get along with- 
out them. They are one of those so-called 



498 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



luxuries more necessary than bread. We 
know a bookworm in khaki who ordered a 
private library to follow him to the front, 
who received regularly from his dealer first 
editions on approval behind the lines 
within sound of the guns! Amazing man! 
Fatal example!" 

And astounding are the figures that indi- 
cate the affection of those amazing men in 
khaki for books; for the libraries and pri- 
vate associations at home have furnished to 
the English army and navy over ten mil- 
lions of books, pamphlets, and journals rep- 
resenting a permanent sacrifice of four or 
five million volumes by the country, a 
voluntary retrenchment by library and 
booklover far beyond any recommendation 
of the parliamentary retrenchment com- 
mission. "A book for every man in the 
army and a book for every man in the 
navy" is the motto of the movement. This 
reminds one that Germany has organized a 
special library service designed to mitigate 
the "monotony and tedium" of life on the 
submarine in active service. 

There is a brief sentence characterizing 
the larger English public libraries as hav- 
ing changed largely into war inquiry bu- 
reaus, frequented for the most part by fig- 
ures in khaki, serving as local headquarters 
of relief committees, reserve forces, and 
boy-scout associations; serving as hospitals, 
Red Cross stations and recruiting ofHces. 

But perhaps the most perfect picture was 
that of the great spiritual mother of all 
Frenchmen, La Belle France, anxious above 
all else for her children, that they might 
all know the spiritual inheritance of the 
ideals and achievements of a great people, 
that made necessary the supreme sacrifice, 
and convinced that the Republic would be 
culpable if it so portioned out the national 
task that any institution or person should 
have no share in the common sacrifice, and 
equally culpable if France neglected to pro- 
vide a complete chronicle of these epic 
times — the tale of the birth and crusade of 
the new France militant. "We should be 
culpable indeed," writes the minister of 
public instruction to the librarians of 
France, "if in a time of national crisis we 



neglected the task of collecting and pre- 
serving the record of this all-important 
epoch in our history as recorded from day to 
day and from hour to hour, in the spontane- 
ous ferment of public discussion and the 
spontaneous formation of social groups. 
You all know the unprecedented activities 
of the press in those first days, the instinc- 
tive attempt of the people to adjust them- 
selves to the unbelievable fact. You know 
that great marshalling of the power of the 
state, the mobilization military, followed by 
the mobilization economic. You know how 
the adaptability of our people showed itself 
in ready accommodation to trench life — 
that antithesis to all they had valued in the 
past. None of these facts should be allowed 
to perish: the record of any manifestations, 
however small, of the national spirit, 
from cartoons to trench newspapers, evi- 
dences of calmness or emotion, great or 
small, with which this nation met the crisis, 
those days of suspense and of the national 
transformation, the ushering in of the new 
era of mobilization, the records of trench 
life, the narratives of soldiers, the phe- 
nomena of economic change, the organiza- 
tion of charities: these are a few of the 
many aspects of the life of our people in 
this unique epoch of our history com- 
mended to the libraries of Prance as de- 
manding assembling, logical arrangement 
and permanent preservation in our li- 
braries. For this task no library is too 
small and none too large." 

The limits of this paper do not permit 
an account of the transformation of the 
libraries of Europe under the compulsions 
of war, or an outline of the history of their 
mobilization and mustering into a higher 
service to the state. I have attempted 
merely to suggest for consideration the 
fact that the libraries of the nations-in- 
arms present a new phenomenon — a con- 
ception of new library functions and a 
practice of wider and more essential 
library activities than are current with us. 

I believe it is plainly our duty, in view 
of this European experience, to ask our- 
selves searchingly, frankly, as so many in- 
dustries and institutions in America are do- 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



499 



ing, whether some equivalent of mobiliza- 
tion is not needed in our libraries. 

At the period of the first Taube raids on 
Paris, enterprising Parisian merchants 
near the Eiffel tower (the objective of the 
raids) sold reserved seats on the roofs of 
the higher buildings to thousands of in- 
terested and unterrified onlookers. Many 
of us in America, from a somewhat safer 
vantage ground, have gazed in similar 
spirit on the sublime struggle of the heroic 
nations. 

Now we are turning our thoughts once 
more to America, not without anxious 
questioning as to the comparative worth 
and potency of our instruments of govern- 
ment, our institutions, our industries, and 
the stuff of our citizens. We look anxiously 
for evidence of a collective power and a 
spiritual force in the nation in any measure 
equal to that shown daily by the chief 
battling states. We look anxiously for a 
genius for organization and leadership in 
our public men, for experimental ability in 
science and industry, for public spirit, 
simple living, the instinct for workman- 
ship and some tinge of the heroic in our 
citizens. Looking into the future, we won- 
der sometimes as to the importance of the 
part America is to play in the coming in- 
dustrial and social war, the new peace for 
which Europe is now preparing with the 
same intelligence, courage, and organiza- 
tion that carries on the war today. 

"We [the American people]," says Mr. 
Whitney of the Naval Consulting Board, 
"are a preliminary experiment on the pos- 
sibility of operating a competitive nation 
in a democratic manner, and we don't care 
enough about it. I hate to see my own 
country such a trailer as it now is." 

"We all see now," says President Butler, 
"and we know what it means to organize, 
to mobilize, and to conserve, to develop, 
to order the resources of a nation. We 
have seen this accomplished by the heavy 
hand of the state laid upon the individual 
Institution, the individual human being, 
the individual industry, and ordering them 
Into place in the great national organiza- 
tion. The great problem before the people 



of the United States today, is how to ac- 
complish this end by voluntary co-operative 
effort of institutions, individuals and in- 
dustries: how without the sacrifice of the 
freedom of individual initiative or of our in- 
dividual liberty, we can organize, conserve, 
mobilize our national resources, intellect 
and industries for this carrying forward 
of a great national purpose and a great na- 
tional ideal. If democracy fails in this 
achievement we shall have to resort to the 
harsh and heavy hand of autocratic gov- 
ernment." President Butler has retained 
in fuller measure than many of us the tradi- 
tional American distrust of "heavy hand 
of government" as well as the equally 
traditional admiration for abstract "lib- 
erty"; but he has the merit of seeing clearly 
the problem of today — the problem of the 
organization of an incipient civilization — 
and the merit of seeing with equal clearness 
the way of our salvation — mobilization. 

Our democracy lacks cohesion, effective 
social nuclei, focal points, centers and or- 
gans of state and national assemblage. The 
task of the day is organization — or re- 
organization of the national life of the 
state, reorganization with the attendant 
elimination of our wholesale waste, the 
liberation of spiritual forces, the close 
articulation of social groups and institu- 
tions, in short, the refashioning of a de- 
mocracy into a super-democracy as differ- 
ent from the United States we know today 
as are the super-states of Europe from the 
Europe of the Spring of 1914. 

A beginning has been made. There has 
been much discussion recently of the neces- 
sity of a "get-together" movement on the 
part of the hitherto unrelated or loosely re- 
lated institutions of our national life. The 
mutual courtship of business and univer- 
sity, the proposed reconciliation of in- 
dustry and government, the attempts to 
induce labor to purr and not to spit at 
the sight of a soldier or a capitalist are 
cases in point. The really epoch-making 
attempt along this line is of course the 
Engineers Committee of the Naval Con- 
sulting Board on industrial preparedness. 
These engineers are asking, as you know. 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



each manufacturer in the United States to 
make a careful survey of iiis plant with a 
view of determining what essential service 
he can render to the United States in case 
of need. Over 30,000 companies have re- 
plied favorably, promising definite informa- 
tion and suggestions. 

If we as a nation can broaden the scope of 
such an investigation to include all es- 
sential elements of our national life. In- 
cluding schools, libraries, newspapers, agri- 
culture, secret societies, etc., if we can 
make a national survey or a series of state 
surveys as a basis for our new society, 
we shall have done much. I wish here to 
suggest that our profession ought to have 
a part in such an investigation, the first 
phase of which deals rather with strategy 
than tactics. We must determine in the 
deliberations of some library general staff 
our part in the program of mobilization; we 
must find what essential public service 
libraries can offer to an organizing 
democracy, and transform or transcend our 
library shelves as need may be. 

The proposition I have tried to emphasize 
( that mobilization is a social organiza- 
tion) is meeting a general acceptance from 
thoughtful men. 

The second proposition seriously ad- 
vanced is that the basis of mobilization, its 
essential foundation, is research. Says 
Mr. Whitney, "Research is preparedness — 
the very best preparedness for national de- 
fence. It is the lasting, undeviating factor 
which has always dominated." That the 
larger reference libraries are essential in- 
struments of research is generally ad- 
mitted; but how imperfectly mobilized are 
we for this service. Not until the library 
Is a real university with special and 
diversified skill and knowledge in Its serv- 
ice equivalent to that of the faculty of a 
graduate school; not untU the specialist in- 
stinctively recognizes in the reference at- 
tendant a special knowledge of the 
methodology, literature and bibliography 
of his subject equal to his own, shall we 
have done enough. 

The older sociologists, in developing 
an analogy between the structure and 



function of society and the living 
organism, were fond of saying that the 
library was the organ of social memory, 
by which they generally meant the organ 
of forgetting. However useful the function 
of permanent or spasmodic forgetting may 
be, such a definition no longer satisfies. 
Many of us covet for the library a function 
of public discussion, claiming for the li- 
brary a determinant part in the forming 
and reforming of an alert public opinion. 
For such service there is great need. The 
events of the last years have sliown a cer- 
tain inelasticity in the American mind, 
an inability to face frankly unexpected and 
unpleasant facts. No institution, I suppose, 
has had to face these facts as constantly as 
the reference force of our great libraries. 
The New York Public Library has shown in 
a peculiar degree those essential character- 
istics of a mobilized library to which I 
have referred. It attempts to collect all 
the important printed material relating to 
the war. It has not refused to recognize 
that explosives and military science have 
some possible relation to American condi- 
tions. It has not thought the ferment of 
American thought as expressed in propa- 
ganda and counter-propaganda alien to its 
spirit. The reference staff in the New 
York State Library have been almost con- 
stantly occupied with similar problems, 
questions of state military policy, national 
military policy, furnishing information 
for the nation-wide debate, distributing 
throughout the length and breadth of the 
state material essential to the compre- 
hension of the situation in Europe and 
America. 

I know that many librarians have been 
reluctant to face the question of war frankly, 
I know that not all of us have realized what 
an opportunity has been presented for 
essential service. But I think it fair to 
claim that on the whole libraries have 
adjusted themselves to the war situation 
more quickly than any other institution. 
Some historian of the future, writing of 
this new period of national reconstruction, 
may delve below the activities of security 
leagues and navy leagues and political 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



501 



parties and big business and bear witness 
that the leaven that leavened the whole 
lump of our perplexed civilization came 
from our impartial fact-seeking libraries. 
I have ventured this prognostication in 
spite of the fact that our national loaf is 
still heavy, and our leaven somewhat sour. 
But it has been done in the hope that 
librarians may realize that any definition 
of library service in terms of books alone is 
futile, and that only as libraries become 
conscious organs of public discussion and 
of alert public intelligence and nuclei of 
wise social groupings, do they measure 
up to the stature of their high calling. 

In approaching the end of the time al- 
lotted to me, I find I have been able to 
give only an introduction to what I was 
expected to say. I have disappointed our 
president who looked for an account of 
our attempt in New York state, through a 
federation of institutions of learning and 
the development of inter-institutional rela- 
tions and loans, to mobilize the intelli- 
gence of the state. 

I must briefly make good this omission. 
In New York state all public libraries in- 
cluding the State Library are members 
of a great alliance or federation of learn- 
ing, the University of the State of New 
York. In this federation are approxi- 
mately 13,000 public schools, 40 colleges 
and universities, 8 schools of technology, 
30 schools of medicine, dentistry, phar- 
macy and 150 normal schools and colleges 
and training classes for teachers, nearly 
600 libraries and 130 institutions and asso- 
ciations for the promotion of science, 
literature, art and history. 

We are trying to build these thousands 
of separate raonadlstic institutions into a 
real system, a macrocosm, which will offer 
some real analogy to the brain with its 
different orders of cells, ganglia, and 
centers, connected by nerve fibres, thus 
building a real intelligence organ for the 
state. In this organization, the State Li- 
brary has functions somewhat like those 
of the nerve fibres, comprising connecting 
tissues and furnishing nourishment. The 
State Library takes this obligation ser- 



iously, and aspires to become in fact the 
central reference library of the great uni- 
versity system, serving each of the sepa- 
ate institutions according to its need. 
Some time ago in the handbook of the li- 
brary we referred to the Education build- 
ing as the home of the State Library. We 
hope in a future edition to be able truth- 
fully to say that the home of the State 
Library is the state of New York, and the 
Education building its distributing center. 

At present each of the thousands of in- 
stitutions in the University is automati- 
cally admitted to library service, includ- 
ing both loan privileges and information 
service. They become library centers for 
the local community, serving local needs 
as occasion may offer. It is hoped in time 
to have in each of these institutions an 
accredited representative of the State Li- 
brary, to ensure that each locality in the 
state receives efficient library service. We 
have no designs on the integrity of any 
local library or school; but we do desire 
to aid in establishing a standard state- 
wide library service, adequate to the needs 
of all classes of institutions, and to all 
kinds and conditions of our population. To 
this extent the State Library is mobiliz- 
ing itself for state-wide service. It may 
be interesting to add that the State Li- 
brary has offered to become responsible 
for efficient library service for the division 
of New York State troops while on serv- 
ice. 

Through press dispatches information 
has reached this country that the K. Wil- 
helm Library has been operating for many 
months an automobile library service to 
the eastern front. The New York State Li- 
brary has faith that the time will come 
when, on every day of the year, on every 
state road of the state, a considerable part 
of the load of every automobile and cart 
driven by the men in the uniform of the 
United States will be package libraries, 
books on the march to thousands of mobili- 
zation centers in the schools, colleges, and 
libraries that dot the map of the state. 

I desire in closing to quote from a Ger- 
man librarian, who writes of the function 



502 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Of the library after the war: 

"To preserve after the war the magnifi- 
cent public spirit that characterizes these 
war years, to strengthen and direct along 
natural lines the race power peculiar to 
our people, to hold in check the crude 
materialism that is the peculiar tempta- 
tion of a conquering people, to see to it 
that the intellectual power developed in 
all classes of our people by the accom- 
plishing of great tasks be not without 
means of further development and practi- 
cal application — how can these great na- 
tional policies be accomplished without the 
effective co-operation of the libraries?" 

In America, the task of the libraries is 
similar but more difficult. We have not 
only to preserve, but to create, magnifi- 
cent public spirit, race power, intelligence, 
and to direct their practical application. 
Here again is matter for a board of library 
strategy! 

President SMALL: We thank you very 
much, Mr. Tolman, for this excellent paper. 

Mr. C. H. Gould, of McGill University, 
wishes to present to us rules of the Com- 
mittee on Co-ordination. 

(Mr. Gould here read the list of regu- 
lations for the conduct of inter-library 
loans suggested by the Committee on Co- 
ordination of the American Library Asso- 
ciation and printed on p. 349 of the A. L. A. 
Proceedings for 1916.) 

President SMALL: Have you any sug- 
gestions or questions that you wish to ask 
of Mr. Gould? If there are none we will 
ask Mr. Brown, state librarian of Indiana, 
tc give us a paper on "The Literature of 
Today." 

THE LITERATURE OF TODAY 
By Demarchus C. Brown, 

State Librarian of Indiana 
When I received your communication 
asking me to present some thoughts on 
the literature of today, two points came 
to my mind immediately. One was, how 
do we know whether to call anything 
literature when it is only of today; how 
do we know whether it is belles lettres or 
not? And the other point that entered my 



mind was this: I have heard an expres- 
sion or two in recent years to the effect 
that state librarians were interested in 
public documents and traveling libraries 
and in the care of archives to such an 
extent that they had really forgotten all 
about books; they were not readers of 
books, especially books of the day. I do 
not, myself, believe that. I believe that 
the time has come, if it has not always 
been here, when state librarians will read 
just as much as anybody else. Wasn't it 
Mr. Dana who said some years ago that 
the day was coming when librarians would 
read? And he thought that, I believe, of 
state librarians just as much as of any- 
body else. 

Now, I take it, ladies and gentlemen, 
that the state librarians are reading and 
keeping up with the literature of the day 
just as far as they possibly can. I see 
no reason why, when a state librarian 
must attend to documents in the base- 
ment or office work or to some business 
arrangement with the state auditor, he 
should not turn from these to a beautiful 
book and read it. I am very fond of 
going home in the evening, after doing 
such work as that, and getting out Hous- 
man's "Shropshire Lad," and reading it 
through. 

Is it possible for us to project our minds 
forward and see what is going to be good 
litersituTe^belles lettres of the future? I 
do not know whether we can do that or 
not. We may think now that a book Is 
literature; ten years from now we may 
not; and I am not sure that it is possible 
to tell. Therefore state librarians, as 
well as other librarians, should be fond 
of what is already known and accepted as 
literature. Wasn't it Charles Lamb who 
said, when asked to write for posterity, 
"Posterity be damned; I am going to write 
for antiquity." After all, we do like to 
read what has been accepted as good 
literature. There is nothing more joy- 
giving to a state librarian or any other 
librarian than to sit with feet on the 
fender and read a beautiful old book, and 
read It again and again. 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



603 



I do not agree with one sentence uttered 
by someone this morning, that the main 
duty of the library was to purchase just 
what was asked for. I believe it is as 
much the duty of the librarian to select, 
before it is asked for, what may be or 
what he thinks will be a great work, and 
what he believes will build up a reference 
library. That is as much his duty as to 
purchase what someone has asked for. 

Now, if I am expected to say a few 
words about the literature of today I can 
sum it up briefly, I think, and give you 
my idea of some of the things that are ap- 
pearing at the present time and that may 
be, I hope, good literature of the future. 
Possibly I may be able to give you what 
seems to me, at least, to be a characteris- 
tic of a given phase of literature, like the 
drama, or poetry. 

I believe that you will find in the drama 
what I call the sociological note (I was 
going to say the pathological note, be- 
cause, as you know, that does appear in 
Brieux and even in Shaw, and in Strind- 
berg and many others). It is very notice- 
able; it brings up the question of our 
social relations; it is democracy and the 
drama. That is a very dominant note in 
drama at the present time. I am perfectly 
willing to confess — and it Is good to con- 
fess — that I cannot keep up with all the 
drama and all the fiction and all the 
poetry; so I am not acquainted, for in- 
stance, with Granville Barker. I know 
that he has written dramas; but I have not 
read them. I have read some of Brieux's 
and have seen the plays. They are not 
offensive to me, even if they do have this 
pathological note. I know that "Damaged 
goods" has shocked the conventions of 
the good people, or the moral ideas of 
many of the good people — others are not 
shocked. 

This, then, is a characteristic of much 
of the dramatic work of the present day. 
Now, the drama of the present day is not 
what Corneille's was, not what Racine's 
was, not what Shakespeare's was. The 
current drama takes a section of life, a 
year of a family's life, a number of years 



of a family's life, and sets them before 
us. There is no plan, no plot or scheme; 
there are no so-called unities, as Aristotle 
used to say. (By the way, he never did 
say that.) That is very characteristic; it 
is a portrayal of what people are doing 
and suffering and thinking and enjoying 
all the time and not a development of a 
character or the building up of a great 
scheme or a plot with a climax. I think 
that is largely a feature of the modern 
drama. 

Shaw, at the same time, is a reminder 
of Aristophanes — a cynic, shall I say a 
paradox? He wants to puncture the 
popular conventions. He is particularly 
fond of slapping England in the face, 
slapping all of us in the face, about our 
manner of thinking, our politics, religion, 
social life; and, by the way, that is good 
for the people. I think it is capital for 
any nation to have a man who is ready 
to do that, just as it is good for us to 
have somebody tell us that we are utterly 
wrong, that we don't know what we are 
talking about; it sets us to thinking and 
to examining our ideas and our actions. I 
believe that a man like Shaw, with every- 
thing that he writes, long prefaces and 
all, is a great public teacher, just as 
Aristophanes was in ancient days. 

There are one or two others I can use 
as examples of the sociological in the 
modern drama. I fancy you would men- 
tion Wentworth's "War brides." It is 
connected with the war, of course; but it 
is also a part of life as it is now seen, in 
Europe especially, and when presented on 
the stage by Nazimova you say at once 
that it is a great dramatic success, a 
wonderful presentation of a phase of life 
that, fortunately for us, we do not have 
in this country, but which we can readily 
understand. 

It would be quite impossible, in a few 
minutes, to cover in the discussion of the 
literature of today the subject of political 
science and government. I only want to 
mention It. It is hardly worth while to 
give even one or two books, because you 
may think I have left out other Important 



504 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



ones. The field Is a large one, and Is 
very ably covered by writers in this coun- 
try and in Europe also. It covers such 
subjects as "American diplomacy," for in- 
stance, by Fish; and "Comparative free 
government," by Macy and Gannaway; 
"The principles of labor legislation," by 
Commons and Andrews. I have placed 
here a book that every American ought 
to read, especially if he is particularly 
fend of so-called democracy — Faguet's 
"Cult of Incompetence." It has been out 
tor some years, but is a book belonging 
to this general field. I recall one section 
in it that struck me very forcibly. The 
author attempted to do what people can- 
not do usually — that is, give a definition 
of something that will be all inclusive. 
You all know that is quite impossible. But 
he does say in his attempt to define 
democracy as practised in France and this 
country, that modern democracy is simply 
a system of electioneering. I thought he 
hit part of the truth very plainly. 

I hardly know what to say about fiction. 
There is so much of it that is good and 
BO much that is bad that one cannot in a 
few minutes suggest very much about it. 
It reminds me of a college boy whom I 
once knew, who wrote an oration for an 
oratorical contest and submitted it to his 
instructor, who frankly said: "Now, you 
take this oration and put it in the fire." 
"What's the matter with it?" The instruc- 
tor said, "I'll tell you what's the matter 
with it. Did you ever hear of a farmer 
putting all the oats and the barley and the 
wheat and the corn and potatoes and 
everything else in one bin?" "No, I never 
did." "That Is what you have tried to do 
in this oration. You have them all — lib- 
erty, free government, polities, ancient 
Rome and Greece, the Magna Charta, and 
the Declaration of Independence — in one 
oration. Simply get rid of it and write 
another oration on a single theme." 

Now, to talk about fiction would be 
somewhat like that. There is so much of 
It, so much that is good and so much that 
is bad, that one can hardly mention what 
is worth thinking about. 



Russia has come to the fore in fiction, 
in great fiction, just as she has in music — 
I was going to say, beyond any other na- 
tion. All of you know, of course, 
Dostoevsky's greatest book, not exactly 
of today but not by any means old, "Crime 
and punishment"; and one of Maxim 
Gorky's that appeared quite recently, 
"Confessions." This is an interesting 
book — a study of democracy, a study of 
the social problem. It is a sort of parable 
story, in which he is searching for God; 
and his search is successful. It turns out 
that He is the people; the people are God. 
That is the summing up of his wonderful 
story. You see once again the subject of 
Democracy. 

You have all read (I have not) Alice 
Brown's "The prisoners," so that you can 
talk about that better than I can. 

I have been very much interested, in 
recent months, in biography. Maybe my 
mind is Plutarchlan; it runs to the lives 
of men. I am fond of such writers as 
Plutarch upon that account. Really great 
biographers have appeared at this time. 
I think perhaps the greatest and most 
interesting is Charles Francis Adams' 
"Autobiography," which appeared a short 
time ago. It is particularly good because 
of the exceeding frankness of it. He 
criticises his own grandfather, his own 
father and himself; and you know to 
criticise the Adams family is — well, it is 
a crime. But he does it, none the less. 
He says one thing that I fancy would 
interest many of you who are particularly 
concerned with the history of our own 
Civil War, which is something of a fad of 
my own. In mentioning the monument to 
General Hooker in front of the State 
House in Boston he wonders why any 
society or any group of men or any state 
could erect a monument to such a man 
as General Hooker; and then he says, 
"The headquarters of the Army of the 
Potomac (under Hooker) was a place to 
which no self-respecting man liked to go, 
and no decent woman could go." For a 
man to be as frank as that is very un- 
usual; and I fancy that after a while the 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OP STATE LIBRARIES 



505 



friends of Hooker will come to the front. 
The book is exceedingly valuable. It 
interests nearly everybody. It interests 
historians because he wrote so much for 
the Massachusetts Historical Society; it 
interests soldiers because he was a 
soldier; it interests railroad men because 
he was the founder of the first Railroad 
Commission of Massachusetts, and was 
president of the Union Pacific Railroad. 
He was a diplomat and wrote addresses 
and papers of all sorts. As an autobio- 
graphy I do not know anything more sug- 
gestive. 

I have been attracted by Monypenny and 
Buckle's "Life of Disraeli," four volumes. 
It is, as I recall now, the only fair and com- 
plete life of "Dizzy." Olcott's "Life of Wil- 
liam McKinley," while partisan and rather 
personal, is of value because it is taken al- 
together from the original sources. Brad- 
ford's "Union portraits" is another excel- 
lent volume of biography. Professor 
Harper's life of Wordsworth, showing 
Wordsworth from a new point of view, is 
a critical appreciation of him as a poet. 
Charles R. Williams' life of Hayes is 
another excellent American biography. 

There are some general books that 
might be classed in a broad way as litera- 
ture which are of interest to all. They are 
so striking that I cannot refrain from 
mentioning one or two. We are just now 
talking about Democracy, and I call your 
attention to Mr. Waldstein, who comes out 
with a book which he calls "Aristo- 
democracy." The insistence of the book 
is that it is the "demos" (crowd) that is 
the "aristos," not a certain individual. 
That Is an original point of view; and Mr. 
Waldstein is always original, if nothing 
else. 

Balfour is out with a defense of theism 
against humanism. I have been particu- 
larly interested in the discussion of 
Dante, because my neighbor and friend, 
Alfred Brooks, has just issued a book on 
Dante. You see him from some other 
standpoint than that of theology. I have 
always had an idea that Dante and Mil- 



ton were responsible for much of our 
dogmatic theology. 

I think it is worth noting that Belgium 
in recent years has given us two very 
great writers. We are all quite familiar 
with Maeterlinck, but we don't know 
Verhaeren. Verhaeren reminds me a 
great deal of Poe. He writes in jingles 
and in rhyme. That is rather unusual in 
French poetry; but I remember some 
instances in which he makes words jingle 
and rhyme not unlike Poe. Verhaeren 
himself is a poet of outdoors, of the 
weather and the wind and the trees and 
the flowers and the roads. 

Among these other general books should 
be listed "Democracy and education" by 
Dewey; and Vachel Lindsay on the 
"movies." Lindsay has written a capital 
book on that subject. And "Feminism" 
(you are all interested in that) by Mr. and 
Mrs. Martin. They write somewliat from 
different points of view, without any 
proselyting. They present the question of 
feminism. 

The Russell Sage Foundation is a great 
producer of literature, and is publishing 
a vast amount of stuff — I am using "stuff" 
in a good sense — on sociological problems. 

Two other things particularly attract me. 
The first one I wish to mention is the 
re-birth of poetry. I have been for the 
last ten years lamenting the death of 
poetry; and my good friend, one of the 
dealers In books in Indianapolis, who has 
always made fun of me because of this, has 
told me that there was more poetry sold 
in the last five years than in the previous 
twenty-five. But there is a re-birth of 
poetry all over the world, in America and 
England, in Prance and Belgium. The war 
has brought it out, no doubt. I know the 
average business man doesn't think much 
about it. He thinks it is culture and refine- 
ment; and he misunderstands culture. Hf 
thinks it is a sort of I-don't-know-what, but 
he doesn't like it, he doesn't care much 
about it; but nevertheless it is a sign of 
the spiritual inner man that I believe indi- 
cates development and growth among our 
own people. 



506 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Nov.', by the way, the most noticeable fea- 
ture in modern poetry is the social element 
in American poetry to a marked degree. 
For instance, take Margaret Widdemer'a 
"Factories with other lyrics." I don't know 
who, fifty years ago, would have thought 
of writing poetry about factories. And 
Untermeyer's "God's youth," or his 
"Caliban in the coal mines" in which he 
asks God to throw him a star and give him 
some light in his gloomy workshop. Here 
Is a passage from another: 

"Open my eyes to visions girt 
With beauty, and with wonder lit. 
But let me always see the dirt 
And all that spawn and die in it." 

He wants to hear music, but he also wants 
to hear the bitter ballad of the slums. 

You are all acquainted with Amy Lowell. 
Her study of the French poets is valuable. 
It is critical and appreciative, giving verses 
of the poets in French and English. She 
has included the Belgian poet Verhaeren, 
Paul Fort and others of the French poets. 

The English are doing much good work. 
We all V:now Rupert Brooke, Katherine 
Tynan and James Stephens. 

There are men and women writing 
poetry in vers libre. I say "poetry" for this 
reason — that form isn't all of poetry. The 
spirit, the diction, the creative imagination, 
these are just as necessary to poetry as 
form. Poetry isn't rhyme and what we 
call verses, necessarily. These may form a 
beautiful element of it; but the other fea- 
tures appear also, so that you will find 
much poetry in the so-called "free verse." 

Now, the tremendous upheaval across the 
sea has brought out a large number of 
books, and they are part of the literature 
of today. The subject is so big that one 
can hardly touch upon it. There are two 
or three ways of considering it. First, the 
technical side, showing the strategical 
movements — Belloc, for instance; and the 
letters about the war, as Mr. and Mrs. 
Gleason's; and the partisan side — you will 
find much of that; and the diplomatic side, 
which you will find in many, particularly 
Stowell. Then you will find another phase, 



and that is the personal side, in Bigelow's 
"Personal memories," in which he speaks 
of his own experience with the present 
kaiser; you will get a very severe arraign- 
ment, but also a very delightful apprecia- 
tion of certain phases of the kaiser's life. 
As a mere suggestion, the famous phrase 
that the French soldiers around Verdun are 
singing every day appears in Simonds' col- 
lection — "ils ne passeront pas" ("they shall 
not pass"); it is sung in the French lines 
from day to day as the struggle goes on. 

I have given you just a few suggestions 
that have occurred to me about the litera- 
ture of today. I am indebted to you for 
your courtesy. 

President SMALL: We have on our pro- 
gram the report of the Public Archives 
Committee, by Mr. H. R. Mcllwaine, state 
librarian of Virginia. 

Mr. GODARD: As Mr. Mcllwaine is un^ 
able to be with us tonight, and as it is so 
late, I would make a motion that the 
report be read by title and printed in the 
Proceedings. 

(The motion was seconded and agreed to.) 

REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ARCHIVES 
COMMITTEE 

The following report of the Public 
Archives Committee of the National Asso- 
ciation of State Libraries is respectfully 
submitted to the Association. It consists 
of information as to the work done on the 
archives of the various states and terri- 
tories of the American Union during the 
past year, so far as such information has 
been obtained from the archival workers 
of the country, in reply to a circular let- 
ter sent out the latter part of April by 
the chairman of this committee, and fol- 
lowed by a second letter in the case of 
each of those failing to reply in a reasona- 
ble time to the first. As heretofore, even 
the second letter has in the case of some 
failed to elicit a response. In most cases 
the letters of the several correspondents 
have been given either in full or in part, 
though here and there they may have 
strayed away somewhat from the subject 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



507 



of "archives" as the word is usually 
understood. The report may be looked 
upon in the main as a newsletter narrating 
facts of interest occurring the past year 
in relation to the archives of the country, 
the parts of the letter having been written 
by those best acquainted with the facts 
detailed. As usual, the facts set forth are 
grouped alphabetically under the names of 
the states and territories. 

Alabama — Up to the time of the writing 
of this report no detailed information has 
been received from Alabama. It is taken 
for granted, however, that work on the 
archives has been prosecuted along the 
lines indicated in the report of the Public 
Archives Committee for 1915. 

Alaska— Under date of May 2, 1916, Mr. 
W. W. Shorthill, secretary to the gover- 
nor of Alaska, writes in part as follows: 

"You are advised that very little of 
Interest has occurred during the past year 
in connection with the Alaska Historical 
Library and Museum, of which the gover- 
nor is the official custodian. Unfortunately, 
no provision has as yet been made for 
suitable quarters for this institution, and 
at the present time its property is stored 
and cared for in the building occupied by 
the governor's offices." 

Arizona— In a letter dated May 20, 191G, 
Mr. Thomas Edwin Farish, Arizona 
historian, gives interesting information in 
reference to the work in which he is en- 
gaged and also in reference to what may 
in a sense be deemed cognate work to his. 
He has nearly completed two additional 
volumes of the "Official history of 
Arizona" and intends to "continue the 
preparation and printing of the History 
until the same is brought down to date." 
[For the duties of the Arizona historian 
In connection with the archives of the 
state, see the reports of the Public Ar- 
chives Committee for the years 1911 and 
1914. Presumably these archives are very 
largely the sources for the History.] 

Arkansas — Under date of June 20, Mr. 
Dallas T. Herndon, secretary of the 
Arkansas History Commission, writes: 

"Section 5 of the act creating the com- 



mission authorizes state and county offi- 
cials 'to turn over to the commission, for 
permanent preservation, any official books, 
records, documents,' etc., 'not in current 
use'. In conformity with this provision I 
have the satisfaction to announce that 
several state departments have turned 
over thousands of volumes of original 
records and provision has been made for 
their storage under the supervision of the 
commission. We propose gradually to ar- 
range the whole lot of it in such a man- 
ner as to render it properly available for 
consultation. 

"The future seems to promise better 
things, as I see it, from almost any angle 
at which I view the work of the commis- 
sion. We have several publications ready 
for the press which I feel sure will be 
vastly appreciated. At present, however, 
we are without the necessary funds to 
turn out this work." 

California — No report. 

Colorado — A letter, dated June 1, signed 
by Miss Alice Lambert, assistant state li- 
brarian, is in part as follows: 

"A year or more ago I received a re- 
quest for such information from you, and 
at that time I went into the matter care- 
fully, and wrote you the result of my in- 
vestigations. I regret that I cannot at 
this time give you the date of that letter, 
as our library has been in a state of 
supreme disruption, having had nearly 
one-third of its already overcrowded 
space taken from it to make room for 
other departments which thought they 
needed it more than we, and my letter file 
for that year has become temporarily lost 
in the hasty rearrangement of the books 
of the library. This library does not have 
any of the archives on file. So far as I 
know, there has been no change in the 
system of caring for them, in the vaults 
of the various offices." 

(The letter referred to above was not 
received by the Public Archives Com- 
mittee last year.) 

Connecticut — Mr. George S. Godard, li- 
brarian. State Library, reports (June 28) : 

Many important gifts and transfers to 



508 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



the Archives Division have heen made. 
Among these should be mentioned: 

All legislative papers prior to 1820, from 
the secretary of state. 

All court records and files prior to 1820, 
from the clerk of the Superior Court of 
Hartford County. 

Photostat copies of Connecticut Revo- 
lutionary records. 

The subject, name, and place Index 
covering the original records of Connecti- 
cut's part in the Revolutionary war, which 
has been in progress for two years, has 
been completed. 

Forty-nine of the one hundred thirteen 
probate districts in the state have de- 
posited their earlier files in the Division 
of Public Records. These have been 
sorted, repaired, and made immediately 
accessible. Various church societies and 
other semi-public organizations also have 
placed their records in the library. 

Under direction of the examiner of 
public records, the land records of the 
several towns are being systematically 
indexed, standard ink and paper are being 
prescribed for public records, and new 
vaults and safes constructed. 

Delaware — No report. 

Florida — A letter from the Hon. H. Clay 
Crawford, secretary of state, dated June 
20, gives the Information that no change 
is to be reported in reference to the con- 
dition of the archives of Florida. 

Georgia — Mrs. Maud Barker Cobb, state 
librarian, writes under date of June 9: 

"In Georgia the state librarian has 
nothing whatever to do with the archives, 
which are in custody of the secretary of 
state. 

"During the past year the compiler of 
state records has issued volumes 23 and 
24 of the 'Colonial Records of Georgia,' 
which were delivered by the state printer 
to the state librarian for sale and distri- 
bution. Vol. 25 is recently from press." 

(In connection with the above see the 
Reports of the Public Archives Committee 
for 1911, 1914 and 1915.) 

Hawaii — No report. 



Idaho — Miss Stella B. Balderston, state 
librarian, writes, under date of June 7: 

"The secretary of state has handed me 
your letter of recent date with a request 
to reply to same. We have not, I am sorry 
10 say, a custodian for archives, and so 
far as I know no effort has ever been made 
to collect history papers and records. 
This, I think, is a grave mistake; but I 
trust the time is not far distant when the 
matter will be taken up by the state." 

Illinois — No report. 

Indiana — Under date of May 10 Mr. 
Harlow Lindley, director of the Depart- 
ment of Indiana History and Archives, 
writes: 

"As you already probably know, our De- 
partment of History and Archives is pro- 
vided for by law as a department of the 
State Library. Because of lack of room 
it has been impossible for us to give much 
more attention to public archives than to 
keep in touch with the situation in the 
various departments of state. We have 
not been able to give any attention to 
local archives so far. Our chief activities 
have been with state historical material — 
locating and securing such material and 
making it available for use. We have 
secured during the past year some valua- 
ble manuscript material as well as printed 
material. 

"Closely associated with the Depart- 
ment of History and Archives is the 
Indiana Historical Commission, created by 
an act of the last General Assembly in the 
spring of 1915. This commission is made 
the publication agency of the state's his- 
torical interests and also is charged with 
the supervision of the state centennial 
celebration, which occurs this year. As 
director of the Indiana Department of 
History and Archives I am ex-officio mem- 
ber of the Indiana Historical Commission 
and am also its secretary. We are plan- 
ning to publish three volumes this year. 
One of these will be the first volume of a 
set containing the messages of the govern- 
ors of Indiana, which are not now in general 
available. Another volume will be a 
history of constitution making in Indiana 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OP STATE LIBRARIES 



509 



and will consist largely of original mate- 
rial. The third will he on early Indiana 
travels. The idea is to make the Indiana 
Historical Commission a permanent com- 
mission w^hose chief function will be the 
publication of oflBcial and source material 
concerning Indiana." 

Iowa — The Iowa General Assembly of 
1915 made the curator of the Historical 
Department of Iowa custodian of the ar- 
chives of the state. Mr. Edgar R. Harlan, 
curator, writes, under date of May 3, that 
there has been no material change in the 
administration of the archives the past 
year but that the methods heretofore de- 
scribed in the annual reports of the Pub- 
lic Archives Committee and elsewhere 
have been vigorously prosecuted. 

Kansas — Under date of June 16. Miss 
Clara Francis, librarian of the Kansas 
State Historical Society, writes: 

"I am sorry not to be able to report 
some progress in the archives work of 
Kansas. We are sorting and arranging 
as best we can with absolutely no equip- 
ment. The demands were so great in the 
new building, for the library, the manu- 
script section, the newspaper room and 
the museum, that the map section and 
the archives section both suffered. We are 
gradually getting things into shape in the 
archives section so that it is possible at 
least to find things. About two weeks 
ago the insurance department of the state 
turned over to us a mass of material and 
we are now at work sorting that." 

Kentucky — Mr. P. F. Taylor, recently 
appointed archivist in Kentucky, wrote on 
May 27 that he had not been in office a 
sufficient length of time to enable him to 
write a full report of the condition of 
affairs in his state. He, however, gave no 
little Information of Interest. At the time 
of the writing of the letter he was engaged 
In saving and classifying a large file of 
mixed papers which for some years had 
been lying in one of the cellars of the old 
capitol. These papers consist largely of 
the financial reports of various state insti- 
tutions; but mixed with them are legisla- 
tive, executive, and judicial papers of 



much historical value. From Mr. Taylor's 
letter it is also learned that the records 
of the secretary of state and those of the 
court of appeals are in good condition and 
that the land ofBce records are fairly com- 
plete from 1792 down. There are also in 
the land ofl[ice the surveys sent from Vir- 
ginia to Kentucky when the latter became 
a state. These number about 16,000, and, 
though in bad condition from age and want 
of care, are most interesting and valuable. 
Mr. Taylor has examined them in order to 
find which of them were made for the 
soldiers of the French and Indian Wars, 
and his list will be published by the So- 
ciety of Colonial Wars, Kentucky branch. 

Louisiana — No report. 

Maine — Under date of June 8 Mr. W. F. 
Livingston, assistant librarian of the 
Maine State Library, writes: 

"Your letter to the secretary of the 
state of Maine, relating to archives of 
Maine, has been referred to this library. 
In reply to your inquiry, the archives of 
the state have not been transferred to a 
central depository, but are kept mostly In 
the offices of their origin. The state house 
was enlarged In 1910, and since that date 
some of the archives have become more 
accessible to historical students. The 
state library is still limited in its facilities 
for storing any archives. 

"The Maine Historical Society has been 
printing in its documentary series many 
original papers relating to the history of 
the state. The Maine legislature, in 1915 
as In previous years, made an appropria- 
tion for the purchase of 500 copies of the 
current issues of each of these volumes 
for distribution to public institutions 
within the state, as well as certain institu- 
tions outside of Maine. The last volume 
issued was volume 22, which brings the 
record down to the period of 1791. The 
earlier volumes contain papers relating to 
the first settlements of the coast of 
Maine." 

Maryland — Volume 35 of the Maryland 
Archives, containing the proceedings and 
acts of the assembly of Maryland from 
1724 to 1726, has been published by the 



510 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Maryland Historical Society, the custodian 
of the Colonial and Revolutionary records 
of the state. (Information furnished in a 
letter from Miss Nettie V. Mace, state libra- 
rian, dated April 21.) 

Massachusetts — The Hon. Albert P. 
Langtry, secretary of the commonwealth 
of Massachusetts, reports as follows, under 
date of May 2: 

"No enactments have been passed and 
no publication of early records made or 
authorized since the last statement fur- 
nished by this office. 

"The vsfork of making a card index to the 
valuable Massachusetts archives manu- 
script collection has been in progress since 
early in 1915. This index is being made 
according to the most approved method 
known to archivists. It will be thoroughly 
cross referenced, will cover every proper 
name (persons, places, etc.), and each 
card will bear a terse yet complete state- 
ment of the purport of the document to 
which it refers. The first group to be in- 
dexed consists of ten volumes, entitled 
'Muster Rolls Series,' covering the period 
1710-1774. The work has progressed suffi- 
ciently to elicit commendation, and the in- 
dex when completed for the different 
groups of records — letters, military, peti- 
tions, etc. — will be invaluable to students 
and historians. 

"There has been no change in the num- 
ber of clerks employed or in the equip- 
ment of the archives division, but it is ex- 
pected that quarters in the new west wing 
of the state house will be ready for occu- 
pancy in a few months." 

Michigan — The third annual report oi 
the Michigan Historical Commission (for 
1915) shows that the archival work whicn 
it was designed that the commission 
■should accomplish (see the report of this 
committee for 1914) has not yet been en- 
tered upon because of the fact that the 
commission does not have adequate 
quarters. 

Minnesota^Dr. Solon J. Buck, superin- 
tendent of the Minnesota Historical So- 
ciety, writes as follows, under datt of 
May 5: 



"There does not appear to be anything 
new to report relative to the Minnesota 
archives. The inventory which Mr. 
Herbert A. Kellar was making has been 
completed and will appear in the forth- 
coming report of the American Historical 
Association. The five hundred thousand 
dollar building for the historical society, 
to which we hope to have the non-current 
archives transferred, is now under con- 
struction and will be completed in the 
fall of 1917." 

Mississippi — No report. 

Missouri — Mr. A. J. Menteer, assistant 
librarian of the Missouri State Library, 
writes as follows, under date of June 10: 

"The Missouri archives remain in the 
offices of origin, and so far as I know there 
has never been any attempt made to have 
them transferred to a central depository." 

Montana — Mr. W. Y. Pemberton, libra- 
rian of the State Historical and Miscella- 
neous Library of Montana, sends the fol- 
lowing report, dated April 26: 

"No laws have been passed in the last 
year affecting this library or the archives 
of the state, and none of the unpublished 
archives have been printed. The library 
has made an unusually determined effort 
to collect historical material during the 
past year, both that sort which you in- 
clude in your definition of "archives," and 
that which is more specifically narrative. 
The effort has been fairly successful, and 
among other things we have collected the 
mining laws of a number of the first dis- 
tricts in Montana, which are rare." 

Nebraska — No report. 

Nevada — Mr. Frank J. Payne, librarian 
of the Nevada State Library, writes, under 
date of April 28, that there has been no 
change in the past year in Nevada in 
reference to the custodianship of the ar- 
chives. Each department has the care of 
its own records. 

New Hampshire — No report. 

New Jersey — Mr. A. Van Doren Honey- 
man, corresponding secretary of the New 
Jersey Historical Society, writes, under 
date of June 20: 

"You are correctly informed that Mr. 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



511 



William Nelson, of Paterson, editor for a 
number of years of the 'New Jersey Ar- 
chives' and corresponding secretary of this 
society, died (in 1914), and I am his suc- 
cessor as corresponding secretary. 

"One more volume of the 'Archives' was 
nearly printed when he died, viz., vol. 28, 
and since then the society has issued a few 
numbers of the same, waiting for the state 
to make an appropriation before getting 
out the entire edition, which will be issued 
some time during the year. Tnere were 
also two other numbers under way at the 
time of Mr. Nelson's death; one of these, 
vol. 5 of the Second Series, is going to 
be printed during the year. The vol. 28 
of the First Series will continue the news- 
paper extracts from October 1780 for- 
ward, but we do not know quite to what 
period. 

"There will also be published, by the 
Society of Colonial Wars, a civil list of 
New Jersey officials from 1664 to 1800. 
This was also prepared by the late Mr. 
Nelson for our society, and is now turned 
over to the Society of Colonial Wars, be- 
cause they have made the offer to print 
it, and it is expected to come out during the 
current year. 

"Our society is also printing another 
matter which Mr. Nelson had about fin- 
ished, entitled 'New Jersey Biographical 
and Genealogical Notes', being an amplifi- 
cation of the footnotes which have ap- 
peared in the volumes of 'Archives'. It 
will be a work of about 250 pages and 
will be known as 'Collections, vol. 9, New 
Jersey Historical Society.' We expect to 
issue this in about a month." 

New Mexico — Mrs. Lola C. Armijo, li- 
brarian of the New Mexico State Library, 
repeats in a letter dated June 14 the state- 
ment made last year by the Honorable 
Antonio Lucero, secretary of state, that 
some years ago the most valuable archives 
were sent as a loan to the Library of 
Congress and that they have not yet been 
returned. Mrs. Armijo gives no Informa- 
tion as to the archives that were not sent 
to Washington, or as to those which have 



come into existence since the loan was 
made. 

New York — Under date of June 19 Mr. 
Peter Nelson, archivist of the New York 
State Library, reports as follows: 

"Since the report of a year ago the only 
important accession of archives material 
to the state library has been the records 
and papers of the constitutional conven- 
tion of 1915. 

"The activities of the state in the super- 
vision of local records have been dormant 
because of the action of the legislature of 
1915 in refusing to grant any appropria- 
tion to the Public Records Division, estab- 
lished in 1911, which therefore ceased to 
exist at the close of the fiscal year last 
September. This division, the History 
Division and the State Library were co- 
ordinate activities under the University 
of the State of New York, and the only 
provision for the continuance of the pub- 
lic records work was the addition by the 
appropriation act of another assistant in 
the History Division to give special atten- 
tion to the preservation of public records. 
Owing to the failure of all candidates at 
the examination held, no appointment has 
as yet been made to this position. 

The title of the above-named division 
has been changed to 'Archives and His- 
tory' and that of its chief to 'State Histo- 
rian and Director of Archives and History'; 
the chief archivist in the state library 
(Mr. van Laer), whose duties for some 
years have related to the translating and 
editing of Dutch records, was at the same 
time transferred to this reorganized divi- 
sion without any immediate change in the 
character of the work upon which he is 
engaged. The salary appropriation of 1916 
'?12,980) is one-fourth less than that of 
1914 (?17,380) for the work now grouped 
within the division. 

"As the archives work of the state, aside 
from that performed by the state library, 
is hereafter included with the duties of 
the state historian, mention should be 
made of the resignation, effective in 
September, of Mr. James A. Holden, and 



612 



ASBURY PARK CO>fFERENCE 



the appointment of Mr. James Sullivan to 
that position." 

North Carolina — On a report submitted 
by Mr. R. D. W. Connor, secretary of the 
North Carolina Historical Commission, on 
May 5, covering the work of his commis- 
sion for the year ending November 30, 
1915, the following statements are based: 

The work of restoring, reinforcing, and 
mounting the historical manuscripts has 
proceeded satisfactorily, 5715 papers 
having been attended to. Forty-two vol- 
umes of papers were bound, and are now 
available for use. A total of 2,677 manu- 
scripts were added during the year and 
23 maps. A card index was made to twelve 
of the collections of papers. 

During the year the commission issued 
six printed volumes. One thousand three 
hundred and sixty-nine additions were 
made to the exhibits in the Hall of History. 

North Dakota — No information. 

Ohio — Mr. C. B. Galbreath, state libra- 
rian, writes, under date of May 5: 

"I regret to say that there has been 
absolutely nothing done within the past 
year toward the preservation or care of 
the archives of Ohio or making them 
more readily accessible to those interested 
in them. Interest in work of this kind is 
at a standstill here, with little prospect 
of any attempt at a more orderly arrange- 
ment In the near future. There is no 
adequate space available for the work 
necessary to put the records Into accessi- 
ble shape, and, until additional room is 
provided by the erection of a state office 
building, there is little prospect of the 
accomplishment of anything along this 
line. There was, however, a law enacted 
at the recent session of the legislature 
authorizing the erection of such a build- 
ing, and it is possible, if the matter is 
brought to the attention of the governor, 
that some provision may be made for the 
proper care and custody of the archives 
of the state." 

Oklahoma — No reply has been received 
from Oklahoma to the circular letter sent 
out this year, but Mr. W. P. Campbell, 
custodian in charge of the Oklahoma 



Historical Society, wrote the chairman of 
this committee on October 28, 1915, a let- 
ter commenting on the reply which was 
sent by the secretary of the common- 
wealth of Oklahoma to the circular letter 
of last year and which was incorporated 
in the last year's report of the committee. 
Mr. Campbell's letter gives considerable 
information as to Oklahoma's archives. It 
appears that the public records of Okla- 
homa — that is, the state records — are kept 
in the offices of their origin in safe and 
ample quarters and that they are accessi- 
ble to those wishing to consult them. A 
law was passed some years ago authoriz- 
ing the transfer of non-current records to 
the Oklahoma Historical Society, but the 
transfer was not made mandatory, and, in 
the words of Mr. Campbell, "coaxing has 
brought many promises, and — that's all." 

Oregon — Miss Cornelia Marvin, state li- 
brarian, writes — letter is not dated — that 
the archival situation in Oregon is about 
the same as that described in former 
years, the secretary of state being the 
custodian of all records except departmen- 
tal records and little being done to insure 
their preservation. 

Pennsylvania — From the report of the 
state librarian, Mr. Thomas L. Montgom- 
ery, for the year ending December 1, 1915, 
the two following paragraphs are taken: 
"The only casualty during the year was 
the death of Mr. Luther Relly Kelker, 
custodian of public records. Mr. Kelker 
was chosen for the custodianship, upon 
the organization of the division in 1903, 
on account of his interest in Pennsylva- 
nia history and his familiarity with the 
muster rolls and marriage records. He 
assisted in preparing the material for 
some twenty-eight volumes of archives, 
including the fifth and sixth series and the 
indexes thereto. His work had made it 
possible for anyone to secure records con- 
cerning individuals engaged in the French 
and Indian Wars, the War of the Revolu- 
tion, the War of 1812, and the Mexican 
War, in a few minutes' time, when formerly 
this was a laborious and most uncertain 
task. He also arranged in books the 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



613 



papers of the governors and repaired and 
mounted a tremendous collection of 
provincial papers. He was neat and 
accurate In the preparation of his mate- 
rial, and the work done In the division 
will compare favorably with that of any 
similar departments in the United States. 

"The division of public records during 
the year has completed the Cumberland 
County papers in sixteen volumes, the 
Berks County papers in seventeen vol- 
umes, and the York County papers in 
twenty-seven volumes. Fees for certifi- 
cates amounted to $300.22, which has been 
turned over to the state treasurer. 1,186 
letters, many of them requiring extended 
research, have been received and 
answered." 

Philippine Islands — The following in- 
formation is taken from a letter of June 
14, 1916, from M. de Griart, assistant di- 
rector. Division of Archives, Philippine 
Library and Museum: 

"During 1915 the number of records 
classified, in connection with land composi- 
tions granted by the Spanish government, 
is 2426; those relative to shortages and 
defalcations, 524; those relating to de- 
nunciations, 152; and those relative to 
government property, 400. Indexes for 
all these documents have been made, to 
facilitate the search for such as are wanted 
for the work of preparing official and 
private reports. Likewise 4278 court 
records from the abolished audiencia and 
the courts of first instance for the dis- 
tricts of Intramuros, Quiapo, Tondo, and 
Binondo of the Spanish government have 
been classified. 

The Division of Archives of the Execu- 
tive Bureau was in March 1916 consoli- 
dated with the Library of the Government, 
under the name of the Philippine Library 
and Museum." 

Porto Rico — Under date of June 16 Dr. 
Cayetano Coll y Toste, historian of Porto 
Rico, writes as follows, his Spanish being 
translated into English: 

"The archives of this island have under- 
gone some improvement this year in com- 
parison with last year; but not even now 



are they Just what they should be. In 
the archives of the general government 
many packages have been classified, ex- 
tending from the time of the Spanish 
domination; but much remains to be 
cataloged. Without indexes it is Im- 
possible to consult an archive. Besides, 
there is no fit place in the insular govern- 
ment building (La Fortaleza — The Fort- 
ress) for the archives in question. They 
are being kept to-day in a damp, unlighted 
basement or cellar; and it is necessary 
even in the daytime to make use of artifi- 
cial light when going into the room. No 
matter how much in love with this subject 
a man may be, he could not remain in such 
a place longer than one hour at a time. 
Moreover, he would expose himself to 
some sort of infection or other there — the 
air being so excessively impure. Adjoin- 
ing the office of the government secretary 
there is a small hospital, which should 
disappear from this locality. The Catholic 
Episcopacy should be paid its value, by 
'forcible expropriation' (condemnation 
proceedings) and the building should be 
dedicated to the general insular archives. 

"In the department of the commission 
of the interior there exist other archives. 
Conditions there are better than those 
described above. Whenever I have con- 
sulted them, I have been able to derive 
profit from my researches. Still, even they 
should be reorganized according to modern 
methods. 

"In the supreme court the best of at- 
tention is given to its archives, and im- 
provements in keeping them have been 
introduced. 

"In many towns of this island attention 
has been turned to the preservation of the 
local archives. The city of Arecibo has 
reorganized its department of archives in 
a thorough manner and has published a 
good index. 

"The archives of the Catholic Episcopacy 
are also being organized and the collec- 
tions of papers and records cataloged. 

"To this care and zeal in taking care of 
the general archives of this Island, a bi- 
monthly work — 'The Historical Bulletin of 



514 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Porto Rico' — (Boletin Historia de Puerto 
Rico) which I am publishing at my per- 
sonal expense, has contributed somewhat. 

"I believe and understand that the legis- 
lature of Porto Rico is going to make an 
appropriation for founding the general ar- 
chives of this island, with the right kind 
of quarters and an office force sufficient 
for attending to the work; and that at 
the end of every period of five years the 
documents or packages which are not 
needed in the municipal and central offices, 
are to be placed amongst those in the 
abovementioned central or general ar- 
chives. In other words, this branch of 
public service is to be made to conform 
to modern life and to the progress 
characterizing that life." 

Rhode Island — From the nineteenth an- 
nual report of the state record commis- 
sioner, for the year 1915, it is learned that 
the customary visits to the several record 
offices of Rhode Island were made, with 
special trips as occasion demanded. The 
year was marked by great efforts on the 
part of the different towns of the state to 
comply with the law in reference to the 
protection of records from fire. Many 
safes and metal filing cases were pur- 
chased. It is also learned that the 
compilation of Revolutionary records con- 
tinued throughout the year. Nothing is 
said in the report in reference to the cen- 
tral archives, but it is presumed that their 
physical condition, arrangement, accessi- 
bility, etc., are satisfactory. 

Mr. Herbert O. Brigham, state record 
commissioner, writes, under date of 
April 21: 

"There has been no new legislation, but 
upon the completion of the fire protection 
campaign there will be an attempt made 
to modify tlie conditions regarding record- 
ing, indexing, and other matters relating 
to local archives." 

South Carolina — No report. 

South Dakota — Mr. Doane Robinson, 
secretary and superintendent of the De- 
partment of History of South Dakota, 
writes, under date of April 24: 

"There is no change in the matter of 



South Dakota archives since the last re- 
port. The archives of Dakota territory 
were badly kept and much of the valuable 
matter lost. Since statehood all material 
has been well preserved and is not yet be- 
yond the capacity of the several offices in 
which It originated. It is apparent, how- 
ever, that the time is approaching when 
a systematic plan must be evolved for the 
preservation of records. Agitation has 
already begun for erection of a commod- 
ious building for the joint occupancy of 
the supreme court and the state library 
with ample accommodation for archives. 

"The several counties are provided with 
fireproof accommodation for their archives 
to date, and in many of them fine fireproof 
court houses have been erected with 
special accommodation for out-of-date 
records and files. It will not be many 
years until all counties are so provided. 
While we have a township system, the 
county is our really practicable unit. 
While it is not a matter of law, still the 
policy prevails of making all new public 
constructions fire proof. This policy has 
prevailed for about fifteen years and 
neither state nor counties longer build 
otherwise." 

Tennessee — No report. 

Texas — Under date of June 8 Mr. Sin- 
clair Moreland, state archivist and histo- 
rian, writes as follows: 

"During the past several years the 
Texas State Library has secured for its 
archive and history department many rare 
and valuable letters, documents and va- 
rious other papers relating to the establish- 
ment and development of the Republic of 
Texas, and also relating to the state after 
annexation, during the Indian, Civil War 
and Reconstruction periods. 

"In our collection of letters, documents, 
etc., are to be found the Nacogdoches Ar- 
chives, Lamar Papers, Reagan Papers. 
Hunt Papers, Ewing Papers, Butler Papers, 
Burnley Papers, Yoakum Papers. Fisher 
Papers, Miller Papers, Lubbock Papers, 
Sam Houston Papers, David G. Burnet 
Papers, letters and reports of Stephen 
F. Austin, diplomatic correspondence 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



616 



(France, United States, Great Britain, 
Mexico) ; consular and domestic corre- 
spondence; state, army, navy and coloniza- 
tion papers; transcripts from the archives 
of Spain, Mexico and Cuba. 

"In the archive and history department 
there are many bundles of miscellaneous 
papers, which we are now classifying and 
filing in order. A card is then made out 
for each letter, document, etc., and filed 
in due order in the special card index used 
exclusively for the archive and history de- 
partment. 

"During the past year the state archivist 
and historian has devoted a part of his 
time to compiling the governors' messages. 
The first volume will contain the messages 
of the governors of Texas from, and in- 
cluding, the Coke administration, to, and 
including, the administration of Governor 
Ferguson, the present governor. This vol- 
ume will be off the press and ready for 
distribution within the next sixty days. 

"This department has been of much 
benefit to the people of Texas, and. in 
many instances, to people of other states. 
Letters and personal inquiries are con- 
tinually being i-eferred to this department 
for an answer. In a few instances, contro- 
versies over some historical point have 
been taken to this department for a deci- 
sion. 

"For the keeping and protection of all 
papers in the archive and history depart- 
ment, we are installing the Art Metal fil- 
ing cabinets. We find these cabinets keep 
the papers dust and moth proof. 

"During the next session of the legisla- 
ture, we hope to be able to get a liberal 
appropriation for the purchase and collec- 
tion of important historical letters, docu- 
ments, manuscripts and other papers that 
are now scattered throughout Texas, and 
in the possession of private parties." 

United States. Library of Congress — 
Under date of April 25 Dr. Gaillard Hunt, 
chief of the Manuscripts Division of the 
Library of Congress, writes: 

"So far as the Federal Government is 
concerned, the last year has marked dis- 
tinct progress toward the concentration 



of Federal archives in a suitable archives 
building, for the plans have been made 
and approved, and it now remains to 
choose a site and obtain an appropriation 
for the erection of the building. The atti- 
tude of the government departments, and 
of Congress, toward the project is more 
favorable than it has ever been." 

Utah — No report. 

Vermont— Under date of April 24 Mr. 
E. L. Whitney, assistant state librarian, 
writes : 

"Replying to your circular letter regard- 
ing state archives, will say that in Ver- 
mont no archives are deposited in the 
state library. Some are kept in the secre- 
tary of state's office and some in the office 
of the governor. No work is being done 
on any such material at the present time, 
altho there is a partial card index of the 
vital records of the state in the secretary 
of state's office." 

Virginia — During the year the 13th and 
last volume of the "Journals of the House 
of Burgesses" has been printed. It con- 
tains such papers of the House of Bur- 
gesses of Virginia and of the General As- 
sembly as have been found for the period 
1619-1659, and a general index to the 
series of volumes. 

A record kept by Mr. Morgan P. Robin- 
son, head of the Department of Archives 
and History in the Virginia State Library, 
for the ten months from January through 
October 1915, shows that in that time Mr. 
Robinson wrote 1075 letters and prepared 
845 certified copies of records of Virginia 
soldiers — mainly those who saw service in 
the Revolutionary War. So much of his 
time was taken up in this work, to the 
detriment of the archival work of the de- 
partment, that the Library Board has di- 
rected that he be relieved of it altogether. 
It is at present being attended to by the 
state librarian and his secretary. Another 
piece of work on which the archivist has 
spent much time, taken necessarily from 
time which otherwise would have been 
spent in regular archival work, has been 
the preparation of a monograph to be 
published as one of the numbers of the 



iS16 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Virginia State Library Bulletin, entitled 
■•Virginia counties: Those resulting from 
Virginia legislation." 

Despite the foregoing diversions of 
energy, however, the archival work of the 
department has not been entirely neg- 
lected. Whenever possible the head of the 
department, who as a usual thing is the 
only worker In the department, on ac- 
count of the lack of funds, has been given 
the assistance of other employees of the 
library, of apprentices in the library and 
of outside helpers employed for some 
specific purpose. As a result, the papers 
known as the "Bounty Warrants," con- 
sisting of certificates of service on which 
were issued warrants for bounty lands to 
Virginia Revolutionary soldiers (15,162 
pieces) have been arranged chronologically 
and alphabetically and transferred to 
specially constructed boxes. The whole 
mass of papers is well indexed. Work of 
a similar kind is now being pushed on 
our collection of legislative petitions, 
probably more than twenty thousand in 
number. 

The General Assembly of 1916 made an 
appropriation of $4,000 for the purpose of 
providing the archives room with metal 
shelving and filing cases. 

Washington — Under date of June 13, Mr. 
J. M. Hitt, librarian of the Washington 
State Library, writes as follows; 

"Regarding the archives work of this 
state I am sorry to be obliged to continue 
the report of last year that we are not 
gathering and calendaring archives as 
other states are doing, and as our own 
law contemplates, because of the lack of 
funds, and of room in which to care prop- 
erly for the archives if we had them. Our 
law is all right, but until such time as the 
library gets requisite room, filing cases 
and funds, we cannot do the work 
contemplated by an archives department. 
However, we are receiving constantly the 
unused flies of the various state depart- 
ments and housing them in their original 
cases preparatory to more systematic 
work later. No one regrets more our in- 
ability to do this work than the writer." 



West Virginia — Under date of April 25, 
Mr. Henry S. Greene, state historian and 
archivist, reports as follows: 

"The law establishing the West Virginia 
Bureau of Archives and History provides 
quite comprehensively for the collection, 
preservation and classification of public 
records, state papers, documents of the 
legislative, executive and judicial depart- 
ments, all valuable papers and documents 
1 elating to the settlement and early history 
of the state; and the statute requires that 
'in this bureau there shall be devised and 
adopted a systematic plan for the preserva- 
tion and classification of all the state ar- 
chives of the past, present, and future.' 
Since the enactment of this law in 1905, 
progress has been made in gathering up 
such manuscript papers relating to the 
settlement and early history of the state 
as were available. The elaboration of a 
systematic plan for the classification ana 
preservation of 'all the state archives' has 
been hindered by lack of suitable equip- 
ment and space for the proper accommo- 
dation of the material, as well as by lack 
of affirmative legislation directing the de- 
posit of archival material for preservation 
In the department. Manuscript records of 
many of the departments of the state gov- 
ernment are retained in the oflaces of their 
origin, and this is true of all county 
records in the fifty-five counties of the 
state. Nothing has been done toward 
making any index or inventory of such 
records owing to lack of funds for this 
purpose. 

"During the past year some progress 
has been made toward getting the manu- 
script records of West Virginia military 
organizations participating in the Civil 
War ready for publication. Much of this 
material is now ready for the printer. It 
is being carefully indexed as rapidly as 
our resources permit, and will thus be 
made accessible to research workers in 
its unpublished form." 

Wisconsin — Under date of May 18 Dr. 
M. M. Quaife, superintendent of the State 
Historical Society of Wisconsin, writes 
that the society has during the year made 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



517 



a number of notable additions to its col- 
lections of historical manuscripts but that 
no state or local archives have been 
transferred to its keeping. 

(Wisconsin has no regular public ar- 
chives department, but according to law 
state oflficers may transfer to the society 
for preservation records which are not in 
current use — see Report of the Public Ar- 
chives Committee for 1911 — and many 
such records have been in fact trans- 
ferred.) 

Wyoming — It is learned from a letter, 
dated April 26, written by Miss Frances A. 
Davis, librarian of the Wyoming State Li- 
brary, that since the preparation of the 
report on the public archives of Wyoming 
by Professor James F. Willard (see the 
Annual Report of the American Historical 
Association for 1913, v. 1, pp. 279-317) the 
material in the vault in the governor's 
office has been properly arranged. 
Wyoming has no legislation in regard to 
the preservation of archives. 

H. R. McIlwaike, 

Chairman. 

President SMALL: Mr. W. G. Leland, 
secretary of the American Historical Asso- 
ciation is scheduled to give us an illus- 
trated lecture; but as we have met with 
disappointment in the non-arrival of the 
lantern, we will have to ask Mr. Leland 
to give his talk without the illustrations. 

THE ARCHIVE DEPOT' 

By Waldo G. Leland, Secretary American 
- Historical Association, Washingtofi, D. C. 

This is an illustrated lecture without 
illustrations, so you will have to draw 
upon your imaginations in order to supple- 
ment these unprepared remarks. Because 
of the lateness of the hour I will endeavor 
to speak briefly, and for that reason you 
may perhaps be thankful that the operator 



•This paper was to have been Illustrated 
with lantern views of state, national, and 
foreign archives; but owing to the failure of 
tile operator to arrive with a lantern, Mr. 
Leland spoke extemporaneously. The paper 
as here printed has been revised by Mr. Le- 
land from the stenographic report. 



and the lantern have not put in an appear- 
ance. 

I was to talk on the "archive depot," a 
term which, like most other terms in the 
new science of archive economy, requires 
definition. An archive depot is a place 
where archives are deposited. It might be 
a tin box, as it often is; it might be a 
safe, or a vault, or a section of shelving in 
a library. The tendency in America seems 
to be to confide the custody of archives to 
librarians. It is a practice almost unknown 
abroad; but, under proper conditions, it 
seems to be a good practice, and I rather 
think that when we come to establish the 
National Archives in Washington the ulti- 
mate custody of them will be confided to a 
librarian. Archives require much the same 
sort of attention as books; a.nd librarians, 
it seems to me, should be qualified by ex- 
perience to care for them. Of course, there 
are certain distinctions to be borne in mind. 
Archives are official documents, the records 
of public action; they are needed by the 
public offices and are often called for by 
the courts; if destroyed the loss is 
irreparable. The first object of their 
custodian is to preserve them from all de- 
structive forces; the second object is to 
make them accessible for official use; and 
the third object is to make them available, 
under proper restrictions, for purposes of 
historical or other scientific investigation. 

Almost all librarians have a fev,' manu- 
scripts in their libraries, and it is a rather 
common practice to call these manuscripts 
"archives," but we must distinguish very 
sharply between archives and historical 
manuscripts, because the two are not the 
same thing. In any public office there are 
a great many documents going out and a 
great many documents coming in, and 
copies of the one and the originals of the 
other are carefully preserved and filed. All 
those which are produced in the transaction 
of public business and which have to be 
kept in any office constitute the archives 
of that office. 

You can readily see that to understand 
fully the transactions of a given office you 
must have the records of those transactions 



518 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



and have them arranged in the order in 
which the transactions took place, other- 
wise you will not have a complete or an 
intelligible record. It is highly desirable, 
therefore, that the records of public offices 
should be kept by themselves, and that 
otlier manuscripts of private origin — the 
records of business houses, correspondence 
of individuals, etc. — should not be mixed 
with them. It may be that among the pub- 
lic archives there are documents relating 
to a certain subject, and that among pri- 
vate manuscripts there are other docu- 
ments relating to the same subject. The 
tendency of the librarian, rather naturally, 
is to place them together; but in so doing 
he would insert in the public records mat- 
ter which officially does not belong there 
and which would be a cause of confusion, 
because to anyone investigating that sub- 
ject It would give the idea that those 
private manuscripts are of official origin, 
whereas they are not. 

That, then, is the first thing for a 
librarian to remember — that he must dis- 
tinguish sharply between public archives 
and historical manuscripts, that he must 
not mix them. They may be kept in the 
same building, of course, or In the same 
room; but they must be entirely separate, 
both as to location and as to treatment. 

To turn now to the subject of the archive 
depot, it should be considered under two 
heads, administration and storage. Whether 
the depot is an entire building or only a 
part of a building, it naturally divides 
along these lines. 

The administrative part is of course that 
part of the building, or those rooms, where 
are the offices of the archivist and his staff, 
and where the work on the archives is per- 
formed. There must be accommodations 
for receiving the archives when they are 
transferred from the various offices, for 
cleaning and repairing them, if there is 
need of these operations, and for arranging 
and cataloging them. Then there must be 
accommodations for the officials who will 
have to come to consult them, and for 
students, lawyers, and others, who are 
allowed to use them in their investigations. 



Also there should be a room with pho- 
tographic apparatus where documents may 
be copied; and accommodations should be 
provided for typewriters, so that it may be 
possible to copy documents on the machine 
without disturbing other workers. Finally, 
and this may sound paradoxical, there must 
be arrangements for the destruction of use- 
less documents. In the course of time 
many papers accumulate which cease to be 
of any service in the transactions of busi- 
ness, and which have no conceivable value 
for historical, legal, or other purposes, and 
which may be disposed of as useless. The 
method of the Canadian Bank of Commerce 
in disposing of such papers is ideal. By 
means of a machine they are macerated un- 
til all writing and signatures are de- 
stroyed; then they are placed in a press 
and baled and finally are sold to the paper 
mill. 

These, then, are the principal features of 
the administrative part of the depot. As 
to the storage part, the most important 
thing is to provide for the safety of the 
archives and their security against all pos- 
sible destructive forces, of which there 
are a great many: fire, damp, dirt, air, ex- 
cess of heat or cold, theft and vandalism. 

When we were making plans for a na- 
tional archive building in Washington we 
thought it desirable to make a study of 
European archive buildings, but I think 
that we got our best ideas from the modern 
American library building with its steel 
and concrete stack. 

It used to be thought that great cement 
or stone vaults afforded the greatest de- 
gree of security; and many public build- 
ings were constructed with one or more of 
these vaults for the preservation of records. 
Experience has shown that while the vault 
protects documents against fire, it is gen- 
erally damp and badly ventilated, and as a 
place for storing large masses of material 
it is expensive, wasteful of space, incon- 
venient of access, and generally unsuitable. 

I feel confident that the best storage 
accommodations are afforded by the modern 
stack. For the storage of archives the 
usual type of stack, with its foundations on 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



619 



the ground, its seven-foot stories, its three- 
foot or four-foot passageways, its frequent 
stairs, and adequate electric lighting, 
measurably approximates the ideal. The 
shelves should be twelve inches in depth 
so that they will receive almost anything 
likely to be placed on them. 

As to precautions against fire, there 
should of course be a fire wall with steel 
doors entirely separating the stack from 
the rest of the building, so that the latter 
raight burn down, yet leave the stack 
standing. The greatest care should be 
taken to protect the electric wiring, and 
there should of course be a cut-out outside 
the stack itself. Heating, lighting, and 
ventilating are practically solved prob- 
lems; and so is the matter of cleaning, 
now that we have the vacuum system. 

Such a stack as I have described should 
be able to accommodate about two cubic 
feet of archives for every square foot of 
floor space. At the present day the average 
state archives bulk perhaps about 10,000 
cubic feet, so that they could be accom- 
modated in a five-story stack with floor 
measurements of 40x25 feet. 

When archives are stored in a library 
there is no reason, of course, why a part 
of the general stack should not be set apart 
for them. 

in Europe, in the archive buildings of 
the modern type we generally find that the 
storage part is in a building by itself, the 
administrative part in another building, the 
two being connected by a bridge of one or 
two stories. We haven't tried that in this 
country; and in our archives building in 
Washington the front will be devoted to 
administrative purposes and the back to 
storage, with fire walls between the two 
parts. 

There is a type of building which is 
common in Prance and England — the small- 
room type of building. The Public Record 
OflSce in London is the best example of 
this. It has 113 small rooms, with fire- 
proof partitions. One of every ten rooms 
is vacant so that when it comes to cleaning 
(each room being cleaned every ten years) 



the contents of the room to be cleaned 
are moved into the vacant room. 

There is one other matter of which I 
might speak — the receptacle. It seems to 
me that in Iowa they have adopted the 
best sort of filing box that I have seen.^ It 
is of binder's board covered with black 
cloth, and measures about 9" high by 12" 
inches long and 3" deep. This box opens 
part way down the front and on the top; 
and by means of folders which are labelled, 
as in a vertical filing system, the contents 
of the box are classified so that on opening 
the top of the box you readily see what it 
contains. This system seems to me to be 
tlie most flexible and the most economical. 
Papers are filed fiat — which is essential; 
and there is little, if any, waste of space. 
The boxes are placed on the shelves as if 
they were books. 

I cannot forego to speak to you for two 
or three minutes of what we are trying to 
do in Washington. Of course it is well 
known to every one here that the condition 
of our Federal archives is most disgraceful 
for a nation of our age and size and civiliza- 
tion. Our archives are scattered about 
among the offices in which they originated, 
in cellars, in attics, near steam pipes, drain- 
age pipes, water pipes, in sub-basements 
where in case of heavy rain the water over- 
flows — everywhere except where they ought 
to be. After twenty-five years or more the 
friends of the archives in Washington have 
at last succeeded in getting Congress to 
authorize a national archive building. We 
hope that this building will be built near 
the Library of Congress, which it will ap- 
proximate in size. Very likely it will be 
an administrative division of the Library 
of Congress, which seems to us an excellent 
arrangement. In it will be brought to- 
gether all the archives of the government; 
and then we shall have an unparalleled 
collection of material relating to American 
history since the adoption of the Constitu- 
tion. 

President SMALL: I thank you, Mr. 
Leland, for this splendid talk on archives. 



620 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Mr. LIEN: In view of the fact that we 
are to have an election of officers, would 
it not be wise at this time for the president 
to appoint a nominating committee? 

President SMALL: I will appoint Mr 
J. I. Wyer, of New York, Mr. C. B. Gal 
breath, of Ohio, and Miss Elizabeth M 
Smith, of New York, to constitute a com 
mlttee to revise the constitution and by 
laws. The Nominations Committee will be 
Mr. Godard, of Connecticut, Mr. Brown, of 
Indiana, and Mr. Glasier, of Wisconsin; and 
on Resolutions, Mr. H. O. Brigham, of Rhode 
Island, Mr. J. P. Robertson, of Manitoba, 
and Miss Margaret Eastman, of California; 
for auditing the books of the secretary- 
treasurer, Mr. E. J. Lien of Minnesota and 
Miss Frances A. Davis, of Wyoming. 

I wish to call your attention, since I 
neglected to do so at the time I read my re- 
port, to the length of service of the state 
librarians who have been longest in office. 
I find that Mrs. Mary C. Spencer, state 
librarian of Michigan, who has served 
twenty-five years, is the oldest in service; 
Mr. Arthur H. Chase, state librarian of New 
Hampshire, has served twenty-one years, 
and Mr. Johnson Brigham, state librarian 
of Iowa, eighteen years. Mr. Robertson, of 
Manitoba, is the dean of us all, as he has 
served for thirty years in the Provincial 
Library. Mr. Robertson came a long way; 
we welcome him and we hope he will be 
with us next year. We thoroughly enjoy 
having him present, with his words of en- 
couragement. 

We will stand adjourned until the next 
meeting. 

SECOND SESSION 

National Association of State Libraries. 

Parlor, Columbia Hotel, Thursday, June 
29, 9 a. m. 

The meeting was called to order by Presi- 
dent Small. 

President SMALL: The hour has ar- 
rived when we shall call our final meeting 
of the National Association of State 
Libraries. The first number on the pro- 
gram will be the report of the secretary- 
treasurer. 



REPORT OF THE SECRETARY- 
TREASURER, 1915-16 

The financial report for the year is as 
follows: 

Receipts 

Balance from 1914-15 as audited 

June 8, 1915 5422.56 

Interest on deposits 10.94 

Dues as follows for 1914-15: 
Alabama state department of ar- 
chives and history 5.00 

British Columbia provincial library 5.00 

Georgia state library 5.00 

Hewitt, Luther E 2.00 

Illinois state historical society 7.50 

Illinois state library 7.50 

Illinois legislative reference bureau. 5.00 

Iowa state library 10.00 

Maine state library 5.00 

Massachusetts state library 10.00 

Minnesota state library 5.00 

Mississippi state library 5.00 

Nebraska state historical society. . . 5.00 

New York state library 25.00 

Northwestern university law school 

library 5.00 

Washington state library 5.00 

Wyoming state library 5.00 

Dues as follows for 1915-16: 
Alabama state department of ar- 
chives and history 5.00 

Boston public library 5.00 

British Columbia provincial library 5.00 

California state library 25.00 

Cole, T. L 2.00 

Georgia state library 5.00 

Illinois legislative reference bureau 5.00 
Illinois state historical society and 

library 5.00 

Indiana state library 5.00 

John Crerar library 10.00 

Kansas state historical society 5.00 

Law reporting company 5.00 

Machen, L. H 1.00 

Magee, Alice M 1.00 

Massachusetts state library 10.00 

Michigan state library 5.00 

Minnesota historical society 5.00 

Minnesota state library 5.00 

New Hampshire state library 5.00 

New Jersey state library 5.00 

New York state library 25.00 

New York public library 5.00 

Oregon state library 5.00 

Pemberton, W. Y 1.00 

Pennsylvania state library 20.00 

Pennsylvania legislative reference 

bureau 5.00 

Philadelphia free library 5.00 

Rhode Island state library 10.00 

Robertson, J. P 2.00 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OP STATE LIBRARIES 



62-1 



Vermont state library 5.00 

Virginia state library 5.00 

Washington state library 5.00 

Wisconsin legislative reference li- 
brary 5.00 

Wisconsin state historical society.. 5.00 
Wisconsin state library (part pay- 
ment) 1.00 

Worcester county law library 5.00 

Total receipts $781.00 

Expenses 

J. W. Christie, reporting 1915 con- 
vention $ 15.00 

Postage, express, etc 21.52 

Stationery and billheads 11.85 

Printing 1915 Proceedings in Pro- 
ceedings of A. L. A 96.00 

300 cops, separates of Proceedings. 58.61 
40 cops, separates of Archives report 16.50 

Rubber stamp (for secretary) 50 

Envelopes for mailing Proceedings. 1.00 
Printing 200 programs 4.50 

Total expenses $225.48 

Balance on hand 555.52 

Deposited in Albany County 

Savings Bank $213.94 

Deposited in New York 

State National Bank 335.10 

Money order 2.00 

Cash on hand 4.48 

$781.00 

Dues amounting to about $60 remain 
unpaid. These would further increase the 
balance, which is large mainly because the 
Proceedings for 1912 and 1913 are still 
unprinted. 

There are now fifty-one members of the 
Association, if we assume that the mem- 
bers whose dues are still unpaid intend to 
renew their membership for this year. The 
following six joined during the year: 
Arizona State Library, Wisconsin State 
Library, West Virginia State Depart- 
ment of Archives and History, Lewis 
H. Machen, director Virginia Legisla- 
tive Reference Bureau, Miss Alice M. 
Magee, librarian Louisiana State Library 
and J. P. Robertson, Provincial Librarian 
of Manitoba. The New Jersey State 
Library, formerly represented by Mr. Dul- 
lard as an associate member, has now be- 
come a regular member. Invitations to 
join were sent together with a notice of 
the Asbury Park meeting and a copy of 
the Proceedings, to about fifty eligible 



members. A summary of the tentative 
program, also, was mailed to these fifty 
and to about fifty additional libraries (in- 
cluding municipal reference libraries) 
which presumably would find it of interest. 
Twenty-nine states are now represented in 
the Association, many of them by more 
than one institutional member; and 
Canada by the provincial libraries of 
British Columbia and of Manitoba. 

The Proceedings were included in the 
Proceedings of the American Library 
Association and were also printed sepa- 
rately in an edition of 300 copies. These 
were distributed, following the precedent 
established by the secretary in 1914, two 
copies to each $5 member, three to each 
member paying ?7.50 or $10 and so on, 
according to the amount of dues assessed. 
This is a modification of the original prac- 
tice of sending one copy for each $1 of 
dues paid. There are now on hand 122 
copies of the 1915 Proceedings. The 
Chairman of the Archives Committee 
ordinarily requires forty-odd copies for 
distribution to those who co-operate with 
him in the preparation of his report. 
This year, through a misunderstanding, 
separates of the Archives report were 
printed for this purpose, so that these ex- 
tra copies remain in stock. It has been 
customary to send additional copies to 
members on request, the only rule guid- 
ing such distribution being the value to 
the members making the request. The 
secretary for the coming year would 
doubtless be glad to learn whether the 
procedure followed this year in the distri- 
bution of the reports is satisfactory. The 
secretary regrets to report that the stock 
of Proceedings of previous years was 
damaged by water while in transit from 
California. These earlier numbers 
though usable are not attractive. 

Two committees, the Archives Com- 
mittee and the Joint Committee on an 
Official Index to State Legislation, have 
served during the year. 

Sixteen libraries (one of them, Okla- 
homa, a non-member) responded to the 
secretary's request with items of news on 



622 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



state library progress of the year. There 
were thirteen replies in 1915 and twenty- 
four in 1914. It would seem that such 
an annual summary, to be found where it 
would most naturally be looked for, in 
the Proceedings of this Association, would 
be of value. I do not know whether the 
failure of such a large proportion of the 
libraries to reply comes from the feeling 
that it is a useless piece of compilation. 

Aside from enlarged quarters, the topics 
of inter-library loans, legislative reference 
work and distribution of state publications 
brought forth the most comment. The 
establishing of a parcels post for books 
is responsible for increasing markedly, 
even to doubling, in several states the 
number of loans made by the state library 
to individuals and other libraries. Several 
libraries report a steady development of 
their legislative reference departments. 
Miss Davis reports from Wyoming that 
she is collecting material with a view to 
establishing a foundation tor a future- 
legislative reference bureau. The legisla- 
ture of North Carolina established in 1915 
a legislative reference library under the 
appointment and control of the State His- 
torical Commission. In Maine a legisla- 
tive reference bureau has been made, 
without legislative action, a part of the 
State Library. 

A brief summary by states of the re- 
ports follows. Unless otherwise noted the 
information is taken from letters of the 
librarian in charge. 

Arizona — From the report submitted by 
the Arizona Historian to the Archives 
Committee it is learned that the newly 
established Bureau of Mines is directed to 
collect a library and compile a bibliog- 
raphy of all literature pertaining to 
Arizona mining and geology. 

British Columbia — During the past year 
the 100,000 books and papers in the 
Provincial Library have been moved into 
a new and commodious building having 
shelving to accommodate about 250,000 
volumes, with provision for further exten- 
sion. The collection is so arranged that 
legislative material and certain Govern- 



ment documents are on the same floor as 
the House of Assembly, with the lobby of 
which the library is connected by a short 
corridor. There is also a general collec- 
tion of reference works covering all sub- 
jects. Special attention is being given to 
the collection of books and manuscripts 
dealing with the history of the Pacific 
Northwest. The work of arranging these 
various collections is in progress. The 
letters, papers, prints and photographs are 
being card indexed and placed in vertical 
filing cabinets. The books at present are 
grouped chronologically; it is intended to 
extend the scheme of classification used 
throughout the library to meet the require- 
ments of the Northwest history section. 
Bulletins issued from time to time make 
the resources of the library and Archives 
Department better known. 

Connecticut — The activities of the State 
Library are arranged under the following 
divisions: 

Supreme Court law library; legislative 
reference department; department of 
local history and genealogy; archives de- 
partment; depository of public records; 
examiner of public records; depository of 
Connecticut state, county, town, municipal 
and society official publications; public 
documents; library exchange agent for 
Connecticut state and departmental publi- 
cations; custodian of portraits of govern- 
ors; custodian of State Library and Su- 
preme Court building! 

Mr. Godard reports that emphasis dur- 
ing the past year has been placed on the 
Legislative reference, Archives and Pub- 
lic records departments. The activities 
of the two latter sections are referred to 
in detail in the report of the Public Ar- 
chives Committee, p. 507-08. 

Georgia — The year 1915-16 has witnessed 
much activity and creditable progress. 
The cataloging of public documents of the 
several states is well under way. The 
Legislative Reference Department, little 
more than a year and a half old, and boast- 
ing the modest maintenance fund of $1000 
annually has made substantial headway in 
the indexing of bills of earlier as well as 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



623 



current sessions of our legislature. Service 
by mail, heretofore impracticable, has 
been rendered and many individual loans 
of printed matter made to members of the 
legislature, debaters and others. The book 
fund has been increased $1000 annually. 
Additional cases for bound volumes of 
newspapers have been installed. 

Illinois — Mrs. Fowler, assistant libra- 
rian of the State Library writes: "We are 
proud to say that our reference work has 
more than doubled and the localities 
reached have increased accordingly. V/e 
received no increase in appropriation in 
1915 and therefore the staff remains un- 
changed. Our work of reorganization con- 
tinues; and we begin to see our way clear 
to complete the present plans if we suc- 
ceed in procuring additional room tor 
stacks for which we have appropriation. 

The principal change in legislation af- 
fecting the library was the transfer of the 
exchange work from the shipping depart- 
ment of the office of Secretary of State to 
the State Library. We can now attempt to 
complete the files of Illinois documents in 
all the state libraries and shall hope in 
time to complete our files of documents 
from other states." 

The John Crerar Library reports that 
plans are now being drawn for a perma- 
nent building to be located opposite the 
Chicago Public Library. 

Indiana — With the assistance of the 
Governor two additional rooms adjoining 
the librarian's office have been given to 
the State Library and shelving put in 
them for the files of newspapers of the 
state, thus saving hundreds of volumes 
which were decaying in the basement. 
There are now on the shelves about 1.500 
volumes of bound newspapers. 

By a new law the library receives 50 
additional copies of all state publications 
for distribution to libraries. 

A third point of interest is that the 
History and Archives Department has 
been able, in large measure because of 
the very great interest in the state's 
centennial celebration, to do much more 
work than ever before in collecting and 



organizing material on the history of the 
state. 

Iowa — The past year in the State Li- 
brary has been one of steady progress. 
Each of the three departments has been 
making a special effort along the line of 
filling in gaps and adding new sets; and 
several rare and expensive editions have 
been purchased. The Legislative Refer- 
ence Section, greatly strengthened despite 
the fact that no special appropriation h:'.s 
been made to carry on the work, is rapialy 
becoming a valuable adjunct to the State 
Library. 

Manitoba — Mr. J. P. Robertson, librarian 
of the Provincial Library, sends in reply 
the library's report for 1915 from which 
the following abstract is made. The li- 
brary, now numbering about 50,000 vol- 
umes and one of the largest provincial li- 
braries in Canada, is looking forward to 
proper accommodation in the new Parlia- 
ment house, to relieve the present 
cramped condition of its collection. Dur- 
ing the year an expert assistant has been 
secured to classify and catalogue the en- 
tire collection. Special attention is called 
to the Department of Provincial Archives, 
which has been receiving continued atten- 
tion since the organization of the library 
in 1884 and now has a very good collection 
of old documents, both printed and manu- 
script. Plans are under consideration for 
much expansion of this work when the 
new quarters make it possible. 

Massachusetts — The State Library is in 
the midst of recataloging its book collec- 
tions in accordance with a resolve of the 
1915 legislature. Details may be found in 
tlie last two annual reports of the librarian. 

The recommendations of the Board of 
Trustees of the State Library were all 
turned down by the 1916 legislature. For 
a time it looked as though all work on 
the recataloging would have to be stopped. 
A $5,000 special appropriation for re- 
cataloging, however, was finally secured. 
The total appropriations for the library 
amounted to $32,190 or $320 less than for 
the last fiscal year. 

No striking changes have been made in 



524 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



the administration of the library or in the 
legislative reference service. The de- 
mands made on the library by state offi- 
cials, members of the legislature and the 
public have been more numerous than 
ever in the history of the library. 

The Secretary of the Commonwealth 
has agreed to bind sets of the Massachu- 
setts Public Documents for distribution to 
state libraries, the Library of Congress 
and certain large libraries of the country. 
The Secretary hopes to make up some sets 
for the years 1912-1915, Inclusive. The 
Public Documents were last issued in 
bound form in 1911. It will be necessary 
for state and other selected libraries to 
elect whether they will receive the 
Massachusetts Documents in bound form, 
perhaps a year after the time of issue, or 
receive the separate documents as issued. 
It will not be possible for the Secretary to 
furnish the Documents in both forms. 

Michigan — Mrs. Spencer, state libra- 
rian, reports that though there have been 
no new departures during the past two 
years, there has been a noteworthy in- 
crease in the volume of the library's dif- 
ferent activities. 

Minnesota — State Library. Mr. Lien 
state librarian, writes: The appropria- 
tion available for the purchase of books 
by the State Library was slightly in- 
creased at the last session of the legisla- 
ture, so that the annual appropriation for 
that purpose is now $6,500. 

There were 2197 volumes added during 
the past year. Special effort has been 
made to increase the collection of legal 
periodicals, and also to complete as far 
as practicable the sets of state session 
laws. 

Much additional material for legislative 
reference work has been collected, and 
we aim to make the library increasingly 
useful to members of the legislature and 
others interested in information concern- 
ing legislation. 

Historical Society. Prom the 1913-14 
report the following notes are taken. 

"It is hoped to emphasize especially in 
the future the collection and care of 



manuscript material, the supervision and 
administration of state and local archives, 
the publication of original documentary or 
source material and the diffusion of a 
knowledge of and interest in the history 
of Minnesota among the people through- 
out the state." By its extension work the 
Society is endeavoring to bring about the 
organization of a historical society in 
every county. It is doing everything pos- 
sible to encourage the introduction of a 
reasonable amount of state history into 
the curricula of the schools and to assist 
in supplying the necessary materials for 
such work. 

The new building will be completed, ac- 
cording to contract, on Oct. 1, 1917. 

New York — During the year Mr. P. D. 
Colson, librarian of the New York State 
Law Library, resigned to accept a posi- 
tion with the State Court of Claims. Mr. 
John T. Pitzpatrick, Legislative Reference 
Librarian, was appointed to the vacant 
position. His place in turn was filled by 
Mr. William E. Hanuan, formerly assistant 
director of the Nebraska Legislative Ref- 
erence Bureau. 

An unsuccessful attempt was made in 
1915 and again in 1916 to make the State 
Library sole distributer to libraries of all 
documents, both collected and depart- 
mental. 

The increase in book circulation among 
libraries and individuals in this state is 
the most noteworthy item of news. The 
number of traveling libraries sent out In 

1915 (1,612) was twice as great as in 
1909-10. The circulation from the Ref- 
erence Department from October to June 

1916 was over one-third as large again as 
in the corresponding months of 1915. The 
greatest part of this increase is due to 
the development of work with schools. 
Nearly one-half of the traveling libraries 
circulated wont to schools. Much of the 
increase in circulation from the Reference 
Department also is due to the registered 
teachers' added use of the library since 
the red tape of guaranties was abolished. 
In 1915 for the first time an eleven-day 
library institute for high school librarians 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



525 



was held under the joint auspices of the 
School Libraries Division and the State 
Library School. 

Oklahoma — Mr. E. G. Spilman, librarian 
of the Oklahoma State Library, forwards 
copy of resolutions in memory of S. O. 
Daws, State Librarian for eight years, 
who died on March 23, 1916. He further 
writes, "The Oklahoma State Library is 
growing by leaps and bounds, thanks to 
the wise and timely exchange law enacted 
by the Oklahoma Legislature and to the 
activity of the State Librarian in making 
Its provisions operative." It has also pro- 
vided the law library of the State Uni- 
versity at Norman with approximately 
1,000 volumes of latest textbooks and re- 
ports of state courts. It is badly cramped 
for room, but commodious quarters are 
provided for in the new capitol building 
now nearing completion. 

Oregon — Miss Marvin sends for the 
State Library a brief note of explanation 
of the inter-library loan system operative 
in Oregon. Libraries are urged to send 
all requests to the State Library, which 
supplies the book from its own shelves 
when possible and, when not, borrows it 
from the University Library, the Agricul- 
tural College Library or from some other 
public library in the state. The inter- 
change of books among the smaller li- 
braries, to freshen their collections, is also 
encouraged. The number of mail order 
loans has almost doubled during the past 
year. 

The State Library continues to serve 
as the exchange center for Oregon docu- 
ments, though this is not now required 
by law, and is possible simply through 
courtesy of the departments in supplying 
publications for this purpose. 

Pennsylvania — The report for 1915 of 
the Pennsylvania State Library calls at- 
tention to the fact that the problem of 
providing for the various collections of 
the state will soon become a serious one; 
quarters for 500,000 volumes are asked 
for. It announces also a cut in appropria- 
tions. 

Rhode Island — The following statements 



are taken from the State Library report 
for 1915. The past year has been marked 
by a continued strengthening of the re- 
sources of the library and an unusual 
growth in its book collection, which now 
numbers 40,000 volumes and is very much 
in need of enlarged quarters. 

The Legislative Reference Bureau has 
completed its ninth year of activity, under 
the same administrative policy with which 
it was begun. The department control 
and general administrative principles are 
similar in type to the neighboring states 
of Massachusetts and Connecticut. The 
bureau has prepared special studies on 
"Economy and Efficiency Commissions" 
and on the "Exercise of Sanitary Police 
Powers in Rhode Island." 

Virginia — There has been a noticeable 
increase in the circulation of books from 
the Virginia State Library throughout the 
state of Virginia by means of the parcels 
post system. With this exception, the 
work of the library has been about the 
same as heretofore. 

The Legislature passed a bill allowing 
the Library Board to have printed as a 
part of its annual report each year be- 
tween five and six hundred pages of ma- 
terial valuable from an historical point of 
view; and it reduced the number of ap- 
plicants necessary to secure a traveling li- 
brary from ten to five. It also passed a 
bill giving the library $4,000 to be ex- 
pended in furnishing the archives room 
with metal filing cases. The movement 
for a new Library and Supreme Court 
building was unsuccessful. 

Wyoming — Miss Davis, librarian ot the 
State Library, writes: 

"With a special appropriation of $3,000 
by the legislature we were able to in- 
stall ten new steel stacks in the library, 
necessitating the moving and rearranging 
of all the books. A special appropriation 
of $1,000 made for the purchase of law 
hooks placed the library on a good finan- 
cial basis, clearing all back debts. There 
lias been a slight decrease in the law and 
miscellaneous book funds due to the fact 
that several large tracts of land have 



526 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



been sold and the rent stopped, but this 
money has been placed out at interest 
and will soon contribute additional funds. 
We have continued to collect pamphlet 
laws as well as duplicate bound volumes 
with a view to establishing a foundation 
for a future legislative reference bureau. 
The outlook for our library is exceedingly 
pleasant. 

The Association is indebted to the New- 
York State Library for many courtesies 
extended to the secretary-treasurer which 
have very materially aided her in her 
work. 

Elizabeth M. Smith. 
Secretary-Treasurer. 
June 29, 1916. 

President SMALL: You have heard 
the report of the secretary-treasurer. 

Mr. BROWN: I move that it be re- 
ferred to the Auditing Committee. 

(The motion was seconded and agreed 
to.) 

President SMALL: It will be so re- 
ferred. 

REPORT OF AUDITING COMMITTEE 
Mr. LIEN: Your committee of audit 
beg to report that we have examined the 
accounts as presented by your treasurer. 
and find them correct, showing a balance 
as follows: 

Deposit N. Y. State National Bank. $335.10 
Deposit Albany County Savings 

Bank 213.94 

Money Order 2.00 

Cash 4.48 

$555.52 
Respectfully submitted. 
E. J. LiEX. 
FBAtfCES A. Davis. 

Mr. DULLARD: 1 move that the report 
be accepted, placed on file and printed. 
(Motion seconded and agreed to.) 
President SMALL: We will now have 
the report of the Committee on Resolu- 
tions, by Mr. H. O. Brigham, of Rhode 
Island. 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON 
RESOLUTIONS 

Ml BRIGHAM: The Committee has 
two resolutions: 

"WHEREAS, Mr. Theodore L. Cole, of 
Washington, D. C, has signified his will- 
ingness to prepare for publication a bib- 
liography of American Statute Law, and 

"WHEREAS, the Carnegie Institution, 
through Dr. J. F. Jameson, director of 
the Department of Historical Research, 
has expressed its deep interest in this im- 
portant contribution to American legisla- 
tion, therefore be it 

"RESOLVED, that the National Asso- 
ciation of State Libraries express its sin- 
cere appreciation to Mr. Cole for his un- 
remitting interest in this bibliography of 
legislation and his willingness to place in 
permanent form his vast store of bibli- 
ographical data in this field of research; 
and be it further 

"RESOLVED, that this Association, ap- 
preciating the importance of this unique 
contribution, respectfully urge such action 
on the part of the Carnegie Institution as 
will enable the work to be begun at the 
earliest opportunity, and be it further 

"RESOLVED, that this resolution be 
spread upon our records, and copies sent 
to Mr. Cole and Dr. Jameson." 

"RESOLVED, that the National Associa- 
tion of State Libraries and the American 
Association of Law Libraries thank their 
Joint Committee on National Legislative 
Information Service for their labors cov- 
ering many years which have resulted in 
the publication during 1916 of the "Offi- 
cial Index to State Legislation," an in- 
dispensable tool for those called upon to 
investigate legislative matters and to keep 
in touch with current legislation in the 
several states, and be it further 

"RESOLVED, that these two Associa- 
tions thank Mr. F. W. Allen, of the Law 
Reporting Company, for his constant op- 
timism, wise suggestions and financial aid. 
without which the efforts of the Commit- 
tee, in the face of the tremendous diffi- 
culties to be overcome, would have come 
to naught." 

(A motion that these resolutions be 
adopted was seconded and agreed to.) 

President SMALL: We will now have 
the report of the Committee on Amend- 
ments to the Constitution, of which Mr. 
J. I. Wyer is chairman. 

Mr. GAI.BREATH: Mr. Wyer is not 
present, and in his absence I will read the 
report of the committee, 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



627 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON AMEND- 
ING THE CONSTITUTION 

The committee begs to submit the fol- 
lowing report: 

The following amendments are sug- 
gested: 

That Sections 3, 4 and 5, relating to 
membership, and Section 6, relating to 
voting, be amended to read as follows: 

Sec. 3. Regular members. Any state 
library, or person engaged in state library 
work, any state historical society, state 
law library or other library doing the 
work of a state library, including the Li- 
brary of Congress, and any legislative ref- 
erence library maintained in whole or in 
part by the state, shall be eligible to reg- 
ular membership. 

Sec. 4. Associate members. Any insti- 
tution kindred in aim and purpose shall 
be eligible to associate membership, and 
shall have all the privileges of regular 
members except those of holding office and 
voting. 

Sec, 5. Honorary members may be 
elected by unanimous vote at any annual 
meeting of the Association. 

Sec. 6. Each organization admitted to 
regular membership shall have one vote 
through its representative, but any officer 
or member of such organization may at- 
tend the meetings of the Association and 
share in its deliberations. 

That Sections 1 and 4 of the By-laws be 
amended to read as follows: 

Sec. 1. Annual dues of not more than 
twenty-five dollars nor less than five dol- 
lars, the specific amount — based upon the 
number of employees on staff — to be de- 
termined by the executive officer of the 
institution, shall be assessed against each 
institution of the Association, and shall 
be due and payable at the annual meet- 
ing; provided that the Library of Con- 
gress shall be considered ex officio a reg- 
ular member and so not liable for dues. 

Sec. 4. Associate members shall pay an 
annual due of ?2 payable at the annual 
meeting. C. B. G.vldre.4TH. 

E. M. Sjiith. 
J. I. Wter. Jr., Chairman. 



President SMALL: You have heard the 
report of the Committee on Amendments 
to the Constitution. There is nothing that 
can be done at this time, as Section 16 of 
the Constitution reads thus: "This Con- 
stitution may be amended by a three- 
fourths vote of those present and voting 
at two successive meetings of the Asso- 
ciation, provided that notice of the amend- 
ments in their final form be sent to each 
member of the Association at least one 
month before their final adoption." 

This will be placed on file, and the sec- 
letary will notify each member of the 
Association at least one month before the 
next regular meeting. 

We are now coming to the final business 
of the nineteenth conference of the Na- 
tional Association of State Libraries, 
and — 

Mr. LIEN (interrupting) : Before you 
close I should like to make a suggestion. 
I don't know whether it appeals to the 
ether librarians, but it certainly does to 
me. The president's address, prepared 
with considerable care and after a good 
deal of work and research — I had the 
pleasure of examining the document — con- 
tains the statistics of the state libraries, 
the laws governing the state libraries, and 
a great many other matters of peculiar 
interest to state libraries from a reference 
standpoint. Now, it seems to me that that 
document is worthy of more than just be- 
ing published in our Proceedings and laid 
aside. I think it would be wise to have 
the address of the president, with such 
changes as he may care to make, printed 
as a separate pamphlet and distributed 
among the various libraries. There is in- 
formation which it would take days to 
dig out, all put in such shape as to be 
leadily available. If you want to know 
by what authority state librarians are ap- 
pointed, their term of office, the govern- 
ing body — anything of that kind — you will 
find it fully covered in that report. I do 
not think it would be a very great ex- 
pense to have a few hundred copies sep- 
arately printed. 

I move that the paper be so printed and 



628 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



distributed as a separate document aside 
from its publication in the Proceedings. 
I thinlc our funds are sufficiently ample at 
this time to justify us in doing that, and 
it it is the sense of the meeting I think 
it would be a good thing. 

President SMALL: You have heard the 
motion as stated. I feel highly honored 
by this motion as made by Mr. Lien, in 
that he considered the paper worth pub- 
lishing in separate form. I had taken some 
trouble and pains to compile it, and I 
heartily appreciate the compliment, or at 
least the motion, as made on his part. 
Of course, it is for you to say whether or 
not it will be worth while, so far as you 
are concerned. You have heard the mo- 
tion as stated. Are there any remarks? 

Mr. DULLARD: Like Mr. Lien, I had 
the privilege of looking over this statis- 
tical matter; and I think it is very valu- 
able. I assume that the motion will be 
passed. In case it does pass, I should 
like to make a suggestion to Mr. Small. I 
think it would be advisable for him to sup- 
plement the information with something 
like a brief characterization of each state 
library. Some state libraries are law li- 
braries, pure and simple; some are gen- 
eral, some have a legislative reference 
department. I just offer that as a sugges- 
tion. I think it could be included. 

President SMALL: I rather think that 
is included in one part of this paper. It 
gives a statement as to whether or not 
there are separate departments of the li- 
brary, shows where they have historical 
work, and so on, so I think that is fairly 
covered. Have you other additions to 
suggest? I should be glad to have it made 
as full as possible. 

Mr. GALBREATH: Does it simply cover 
the law in the case, or do we have in- 
formation outside of the legal enactment? 

Mr. LIEN: The information given takes 
a much wider scope than wo>ild be revealed 
by the mere reading of the law. 

President SMALL: Oh, yes. There are 
several Instances where the law has been 
construed; from the law I could not under- 
stand what the purpose might be. In one 



instance it appeared that the term of the 
librarian was indefinite; but by a rule of 
the board of trustees the term had been 
fixed for four years. There were other 
things of that sort outside of the law. 
Then I followed up constitutional provi- 
sions, found what the constitutional re- 
quirement is, and so on. 

Mr. LIEN: But it does give the reference 
to the law, doesn't it? 

President SMALL: Oh, yes, references 
are given where the law may be found, 
whether it is in the constitution or in the 
statutes. 

Mr. BRIGHAM (of Rhode Island): I 
am interested in the motion, and pleased 
to know it has been made and will pass. 
I am interested in the question because 
of the peculiar situation in our own state. 
The law for the creation of the legislative 
reference department would indicate that 
the state librarian has nothing whatever 
to do with it; there is nothing in the law 
that would even remotely suggest that the 
state librarian has anything to do with the 
legislative reference department; but there 
has been a general opinion rendered by 
the attorney-general of our state that one 
person may hold more than one office if 
he receives a salary for only one, and a 
little over a year ago I was elected by the 
board of library commissioners Director 
of the Legislative Reference Department, 
with the understanding that there was to 
be no additional salary. That condition 
would not be revealed by the reading of 
either the state library law or the legis- 
lative reference law. 

President SMALL: I found several in- 
stances where, as in your case, an inter- 
pretation of the law was necessary to re- 
veal its full purpose or scope. 

Mr. BROWN: I should like to ask, if 
the Proceedings of this Association are to 
be separately reported and printed in addi- 
tion to the A. L. A. Proceedings, what 
would be gained by printing one address 
separately. We will in that case have three 
printings. You will have this single ad- 
dress; you will have all the papers read 
before this Association; and then you will 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



529 



have all reprinted iu the A. L. A. Proceed- 
ings. What is going to be gained by having 
a triplicate printing? 

Mr. LIEN: My idea was simply this: 
The report of the proceedings of this Asso- 
ciation is very often simply put aside; and 
if this report were printed as a separate 
document under a separate title it 
would be distributed among the reference 
pamphlets, and would probably be used by 
nine persons where one person would other- 
wise see it. It was not my purpose to dis- 
tribute only to members. Of course, the 
Proceedings are distributed only to the 
members. This was intended for general 
distribution. 

Mr. BRIGHAM: (Rhode Island) As I 
remember, I think we have a certain ar- 
rangement whereby we pay for a portion of 
the signatures in the A. L. A. Proceedings, 
and then from them we draw off our own 
pamphlet. 

The SECRETARY: As an affiliated asso- 
ciation we can have fifteen pages in the 
Proceedings. Any pages over that we pay 
for. Last year we had thirty-two pages in 
excess. The same printing press strikes oif 
the separates of the Proceedings. The cost 
last year for 300 separates was $58.61. 

Mr. GALBREATH: I was just going to 
remark that when this address is put into 
type for our regular Proceedings it would 
cost very little to have it run off separately, 
and in this form it is much more con- 
venient for use in the legislative reference 
department, because it can be classified ac- 
cording to its subject matter. My under- 
standing is that the expense v/ould be very 
slight; and I believe it would be well worth 
printing as suggested in this resolution. 

Miss DAVIS: I should like to add a 
word or two. In Wyoming we haven't had 
the law changed since territorial days. The 
judges of the Supreme Court make the 
rules, and that is why our library work 
and several other things are confused. 

Mr. BROWN: In reference to Mr. Dul- 
lard's suggestion I think it would be worth 
while for this report to show what many of 
the state libraries do which are general 
libraries. I do not think you would know 



[rom the law iu Indiana that the library 
covers in a broad sense v^hat is meant by a 
general library. I think that should be 
covered; also, such points as the general 
collection of periodicals, both domestic and 
foreign, and wiiether state documents and 
federal documents are included. For in- 
stance, some of the law libraries have docu- 
ments, but don't have general books. I 
think it would be a good thing for all those 
points to be covered. 

President SMALL: They are covered 
partly, not as fully as you have suggested. 

Mr. LIEN: My library is also the depart- 
ment of history and archives of the state, 
and yet the term "general library" wouldn't 
necessarily indicate that. In order to make 
this a complete and thorough report this 
point ought to be brought out. 

I had another purpose in view in making 
this motion. I thought that distributing 
such a pamphlet quite liberally among 
others would help to advertise the National 
Association of State Libraries, and a 
pamphlet of that kind, bearing our name 
on the front page, I think would be worth 
while. I think it v.ould call attention to 
t'ne work of this Association, to some ex- 
tent. 

President SMALL: All those in favor of 
the motion signify by saying "Aye." 

(The motion was unanimously passed.) 

President SMALL: I certainly appre- 
ciate your kindness, and feel happy over 
this action. I will try to make It worth 
while. I should be glad to have all who 
are here write me fully concerning the 
nature of your libraries, and furnish any 
information that you wish to go into the 
report. This will save possibly twenty or 
more letters. I will make the paper as 
brief as I possibly can and put it out in 
separate form. 

Mr. BRIGHAM (Rhode Island): I hesi- 
tate somewhat to mention this matter, but 
will bring it up as a suggestion: 

These two associations are working side 
by side. In their nineteenth annual conven- 
tion. I am referring to state librarians and 
law librarians. I made a brief list of the 
officers and on checking it up I notice that 



530 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



the present president of this Association is 
past president of the law libraries' associa- 
tion, and that among the law libraries' 
officers are six law librarians and three 
state librarians, and among the state 
libraries' one law librarian and three state 
librarians, or employes of state or law 
libraries. 

We can do much better work if we work 
together than apart; and I make this 
merely as a suggestion — whether an or- 
ganization with a title such as "National 
Association of State and Law Libraries," 
having a state section, a law library sec- 
tion, and a legislative reference section, 
would not be a great advantage. 

I have heard in the past few days quite 
a bit of comment because there wasn't 
enough attention paid to legislative refer- 
ence librarians in the program, and some 
suggestion was made that a conference or 
round table he held. 

I bring this out now, with no intention 
of either starting a dispute or taking time, 
but merely present it to the Association as 
something to think about. 

President SMALL: Do you wish to take 
any action or make any remarks upon the 
suggestion of Mr. Brigham? 

Mr. GODARD: I feel a great deal of the 
force of what Mr. Brigham says. I remem- 
ber what force I tried to use with Mr. Small 
when he felt that he saw the necessity of 
organizing a separate association for the 
law librarians. At that time I wasn't very 
much in sympathy with it; but I do feel 
that there are questions peculiar to law 
librarians and questions peculiar to state 
librarians, and it seems to me now that 
where state libraries differ so much from 
each otiier there are reasons why the two 
associations should remain separate. We 
can have joint sessions, and so forth. I 
heard two people say: "Were it not for tlie 
fact that I am an officer of this association 
I don't think I would be here." Now, anj'- 
thing that does not increase our expense 
too much and does enable more members 
to come, and enables us to consider topics 
which are vitally connected with the asso- 



ciation before which they come, should not 
be done away with. 

President SMALL: I would say that it 
has been my privilege to be president of 
both associations, and I do really feel, as 
Mr. Godard says, that there is room for 
both. At least, there would not be the same 
freedom if they were consolidated. It 
seems to me at this time we would better 
continue separately. We are always will- 
ing and glad to co-operate in whatever is 
the will of the two associations; and I am 
more convinced than ever of the value of 
the separate associations, having been 
president of both, and knowing their func- 
tions and the work that is being done by 
each of them. 

Mr. GODARD: May I make one more 
observation? I think that there is a 
tendency for national organizations to get 
nearer together, but as yet our two organi- 
zations have not been doing very much 
work with the American Bar Association, 
and I think we can get into closer contact 
with them and get their support along cer- 
tain lines, if the proposition comes through 
the American Association of Law Libraries 
rather than through the state librarians. 

Mr. LIEN: I have been rather inclined to 
feel, as Mr. Brigham has suggested, that 
we would be just as well off if we joined 
together in one association. However, with 
the joint meetings as we have them this 
year, and the prospect of increasing the 
number of them, I do not see that it makes 
much difference whether we are in one 
association or continue in separate asso- 
ciations and have joint meetings. Our 
joint meetings are better attended than our 
separate meetings; and I think that it 
would be better at this present time to 
continue in our separate way and get to- 
gether as much as possible in joint meet- 
ings. 

Mr. BROWN: May I ask, inasmuch as 
the legislative reference bureau is sepa- 
rated from the state library, if it would 
not be a good point to have an organiza- 
tion to which the legislative reference 
librarians could belong? Wasn't that in- 
serted in the amendment? 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



531 



Mr. GODARD: I think it was in tlie old 
constitution. 

Mr. BROWN: I am not ready to offer a 
motion on the subject. I think the work is 
being done, and next year we would be 
together, anyhow. 

President SMALL: I do really believe 
we should lose from our attendance. We 
can judge from our attendance today, and 
that at our other separate meetings, that 
we would suffer the loss of quite a num- 
ber who would not have the incentive to 
come here because they are not strictly 
law librarians. This is merely a sugges- 
tion, as I understand it, for future con- 
sideration. 

We are always glad to welcome new 
members into our Association. Of course, 
we are always sorry to lose our old friends; 
but life and fortune are uncertain. We 
have this morning one new member, who is 
here from one of the southern states. I 
am sure you will all be glad to meet her — 
Mrs. Moody, the state librarian of South 
Carolina. I should like to have Mrs. Moody 
rise and speak a word. 

Mrs. MOODY : This is a very unexpected 
pleasure. I did not expect to attend this 
meeting when I left my home, but I was in 
New York and decided to come over. I 
am very glad to be with you, and hope 
that next year I shall be able to be with 
you again. 

President SMALL: We are surely glad 
to have you with us, Mrs. Moody; we are 
sorry that you were not here for the earlier 
sessions. And we are also glad to have 
Mr. Galbreath back with us again. Of 
course you know he met the fate that some 
of us do, but was finally restored to his 
rightful position. 

We will now have the report of the Com- 
mittee on Nominations for Officers for the 
ensuing year. We will ask Mr. Godard 
to read the list of nominations. 

ELECTION OF OFFICERS 
Mr. GODARD: Your Committee on 
Nominations is pleased to report the fol- 
lowing ticket: 



President— John P. Dullard, State Li- 
brarian of New Jersey. 

First Vice-President— Gilson G. Glasler, 
State Librarian of Wisconsin. 

Second Vice-President — Miss Frances A. 
Davis, State Librarian of Wyoming. 

Secretary-Treasurer — Miss Elizabeth M. 
Smith, State Library, Albany, New York. 

Mr. LIEN: Mr. Chairman, I move that 
the nominations be closed and that the 
secretary be instructed to cast the vote of 
this Association for the nominations 
named. 

The motion was seconded and agreed to, 
and the secretary cast the vote of the Asso- 
ciation for the nominations named. 

President SMALL: The officers for the 
ensuing year are as read. 

Mr. Dullard, will you please come to the 
front? 

I welcome you as my successor, Mr. 
Dullard. I know of no one whom I would 
like better to have succeed me than the 
good librarian of New Jersey. I will turn 
over to you all the rights and prerogatives 
that have been mine for the past year 
through the courtesy of this Association. 
I make one exception, however, and that 
is the gavel which you presented to me the 
other day. This shall remain with me as a 
memento of my year of service. With this 
exception, the office is yours, and the Asso- 
ciation is in your hands. I wish you suc- 
cess, and appreciate your co-operation and 
support. 

Mr. DULLARD: Members of the Na- 
tional Association of State Libraries: This 
is a very unexpected honor, for which I am 
deeply grateful. As most of you know, I 
am rather young in the game, and I feel 
that if my administration is to be a suc- 
cess I shall have to make up in energy 
what I lack in experience. I will, however, 
do the best I can, and will take occasion, 
as the year goes by, to get into communica- 
tion with the members of this Association 
and get the benefit of their suggestions and 
advice. I thank you very much. 

Is there any further question before the 
meeting? 

Mr. SMALL: I know of none. 



532 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



President DULLARD: If there is no 
furtlier business, the Chair will entertain 
a motion for adjournment. 

Mr. SMALL: Mr. President, inasmuch 
as the session is now closing, and so far 
as I know everything has been attended 
to, and the members are now ready for 
their journey to Princeton; I move that we 
adjourn, or at least until the joint session 
tonight. 

Mr. LIEN: Before that motion is sub- 
mitted to the meeting I should like to 
make another motion. I want to move the 
thanks of this Association to the retiring 
officers. I am sure that we appreciate 
their services, and want to express it by a 
rising vote of thanks. 

President DULLARD: You have heard 
the motion for a rising vote of thanks to 
the retiring officers. Those in favor of 
it will please rise. 

The motion is unanimously adopted. 

(The motion to adjourn being seconded 
and agreed to, the meeting adjourned.) 

SECOND JOINT SESSION 

(With the American Association of Law 
Libraries) 

Parlor, Columbia Hotel, Thursday, June 
29, 8:30 p. m. 

The meeting was called to order by Mr. 
Lien, president of the American Associa- 
tion of Law Libraries. 

President LIEN: This is the second 
joint meeting of our two associations, and 
as the meeting is being held in the state 
of New Jersey, and as we have enjoyed so 
many courtesies from the librarian of this 
state, I think it eminently proper that the 
state librarian of New Jersey should preside 
at this meeting. I should like to ask Mr. 
Dullard to take the chair. 

Chairman DULLARD: I am quite sure, 
considering the lateness of the hour, that 
you don't want to hear anything from me, 
therefore I will restrain myself and refrain 
from making any speech. 

We have the pleasure of having with us 
this evening Mr. R. H. Johnston, librarian 
of the Bureau of Railway Economics at 
Washington, whom, most of you know. He 



is to read us a paper. I take great pleasure 
in introducing Mr. Johnston. 

THE LIBRARY OF THE BUREAU OF 
RAILWAY ECONOMICS IN ITS 
INTER-LIBRARY RELATIONS 
By R. H. Johnston, Librarian 
The Bureau of Railway Economics was 
founded in 1910 for the purpose of con- 
ducting investigations of interest to the 
railways in common. Its main purpose is 
to study the economic relations of the rail- 
ways, to collect information and to pub- 
lish it in statistical or other forms for the 
information of the railways, the public 
and special students interested in trans- 
portation. In fulfilling these aims It was 
necessary to build up a library of railway 
literature with such collateral material as 
could not be conveniently borrowed from 
sister libraries. Under the broad purview 
of the railway presidents who have directed 
our work the Bureau has developed into a 
quasi-public institution made use of by all 
classes of individuals, business firms and 
libraries; but in referring to the work we 
have done in connection with what we wish 
to continue to do we are compelled to state 
that the increasing demands from those 
who sustain the Bureau quite frequently 
abridge or at least delay undertakings of a 
more public character. 

In building up the library collection it 
was not our idea that it would be pos- 
sible even after considerable time to bring 
together in one library all of the available 
literature relating to the economic aspects 
of railway transportation. A large propor- 
tion of the literature is found not in 
treatises but in the so-called ephemeral 
pamphlet literature, in documents, state 
and federal, foreign and domestic, and as 
parts of books on more general subjects. 
Our first effort, therefore, was to obtain a 
record of the railway contents of other 
libraries, both with a view to our own pos- 
sible needs and also in order to be able to 
refer investigators in other cities to col- 
lections more accessible than our own. This 
work was originally limited to thirteen 
libraries and our own in the expectation 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



533 



that in the larger collections as a total prac- 
tically all of the railway literature would 
be disclosed. It was soon found, however, 
that local material and even material of 
the most general interest was to be found 
— sometimes only one or two items — in 
some of the less extensive collections. The 
records have accordingly grown by personal 
visit and by correspondence, so that now 
we have almost a hundred libraries in our 
records, including three European li- 
braries: that of the International Railway 
Congress, from manuscript furnished by 
the Congress; the library of the London 
School of Economics, from printed cata- 
logs, manuscripts and correspondence; and 
the library of the Ministry of Public Works 
of Prussia, from the printed catalog fur- 
nished by that library. Our original cata- 
log was met with most enthusiastic recep- 
tion in Europe, the Archiv fiir Eisenbahn- 
wesen making a special article signed by 
the editor himself who was for twenty-five 
years the head of the railway system of 
Prussia. The libraries included are as fol- 
lows: 

Libfaries whose Material on Railways Is 
in our Records 

American Antiquarian Society. 
American Philosophical Society. 
American Society of Civil Engineers. 
Amherst College 
Bibliotheque de la Commission Centrale de 

Statistique, Brussels. 
Boston Athenaeum. 
Boston Public Library. 
Bowdoin College. 
Brown University. 
Buffalo Historical Society. 
Bureau of Railway Economics. 
California State Library. 
Clark University. 
Cleveland Public Library. 
Columbia University. 
Connecticut Historical Society. 
Connecticut State Library. 
Cornell University. 
Cossitt Library, Memphis. 
Dartmouth College. 
Denver Public Library. 
Des Moines Public Library. 
Goodwyn Institute, Memphis. 
Collection of Professor Henry D. Gardner, 

Providence. 
Harvard University. 



Collection of James Hillhouse, Esq., New 
Haven. 

Hopkins Railway Library, Leland Stanford 
Jr. University. 

Houston, Texas, Public Library. 

Illinois State Library. 

Indiana State Library. 

International Railway Congress, Berne. 

Interstate Commerce Commission. 

Iowa Historical Society. 

Iowa Legislative Reference Bureau. 

Iowa University. 

John Crerar liibrary. 

Johns Hopkins University. 

Kansas Historical Society. 

Kansas State Library. 

Kansas City Public Library. 

Lehigh University. 

Library Company of Philadelphia. 

Library of Congress. 

F. J. Lisman & Co., New York City. 

London School of Economics, University of 
London. 

Los Angeles Public Library. 

McGill University. 

Maine Historical Society. 

Maine State Library. 

Maryland Historical Society. 

Massachusetts Historical Society. 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

Massachusetts Public Service Commission. 

Massachusetts State Library. 

Mechanics Library of Altoona, Pa. 

Mechanics-Mercantile Library, San Fran- 
cisco, Cal. 

Milwaukee Public Library. 

Minneapolis Public Library. 

Minnesota Historical Society. 

Nebraska Historical Society. 

Nebraska State Library. 

New Hampshire State Library. 

New Jersey State Library. 

New Orleans Public Library. 

New York Public Library. 

Omaha Public Library. 

Pennsylvania Historical Society. 

Portland, Ore., Public Library. 

Princeton University. 

Pliny Fisk Statistical Library, Princeton 
University. 

Bibliothek des Konigl. Ministeriums der 
Oeffentlichen Arbeiten, Berlin. 

Ridgeway Library, Philadelphia. 

Rosenberg Library, Galveston. 

St. Louis Public Library. 

Salem, Ore., Public Library. 

Seattle, Wash., Public Library. 

Spokane, Wash., Public Library. 

Springfield, Mass., City Library Associa- 
tion. 

Syracuse University. 

Tacoma, Wash., Public Library. 

Texas State Library. 



534 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Toronto Public Library. 
Trenton Public Library. 
Tufts College. 
University of California. 
University of Chicago. 
University of Illinois. 
University of Michigan. 
University of Minnesota. 
University of Nebraska. 
University of Pennsylvania. 
University of Toronto. 
University of Wisconsin. 
Vermont State Library. 
Western Reserve Historical Society. 
Worcester Public Library. 

By the use of this union catalog we have 
been able to assist inquirers at a distance, 
to render available to newspapers and in- 
dividuals and even to libraries themselves, 
information contained in the larger libra- 
ries which because of their very size has 
not been treated as closely in indexing as 
our specially limited scope has enabled this 
Bureau to do. We have also had the de- 
lightful testimony from the librarian of 
one of the largest university libraries that 
the printed catalog has been a great saver 
of time in connection with inter-library 
loans. We ourselves, while prohibited by 
our regulations from loaning to individuals, 
loan freely to other libraries any material 
which is not irreplaceable. 

This work is also made to serve in an- 
other field of our inter-library activities. 
In so far as the subjects undertaken by the 
Bureau require the collection of material 
preparatory to a study, lists are compiled in 
which we embody the information from 
our bibliographical records. On these lists 
we indicate the various libraries in which 
the items included in them may be con- 
sulted. We have no means of tracing the 
extent to which this service is made use of 
in inter-library loans except that we our- 
selves are loaning to other libraries ma- 
terial listed as in this Bureau. These lists 
are distributed freely among libraries ex- 
cept in cases where their preparation is the 
result of hurried labor. Even in these 
cases we are quite willing to send out copies 
when we have an opportunity to make the 
needed explanations. 

It may be of Interest, as showing the 



breadth of scope of the work of the Bureau 
of Railway Economics, to submit here a 
list of the various typewritten, mimeo- 
graphed and printed lists of references, 
long and short, which the Library has pre- 
pared: 

Lists prepared by the library 

Select list of references on industrial acci- 
dents in the United States. 6p. 

List of references on accidents on railroads. 
Nov. 1912. 53p. 

Railroad accounting. Nov. 1, 1914. [Mimeo- 
graphed] 26p. 

Railway publicity and railway advertising. 
Jan. 11, 1915. 

Railroads in Alaska. ' Jan. 12, 1914. 5p. 

Allocation of costs in railway accounting. 
Aug. 18, 1915. 4p. 

Compulsory arbitration of railway labor 
disputes. Mar. 31, 1916. 2p. 

Industrial arbitration in Australia and 
New Zealand. 4p. 

Statements, etc., concerning railroads, of 
George Roberts Blanchard, 1841-1900. 2p. 

Government regulation of business. 5p. 

Railroad capitalization. 4p. 

Recent articles on the British coal strike 
and minimum wage, 1912. Ip. 

Railway clearances. Aug. 31, 1915. 5p. 

Color blindness and defective hearing 
among railway employees. June, 1911. 4p. 

Commerce Court. 5p. 

Railway cost accounting. Apr. 3, 1915. 3p. 

Costs of railway operation. Jan. 28, 1914. 3p. 

Grade crossings on railways. [Mimeo- 
graphed] 1914. 27p. 

Dining cars and dining service. Aug. 18, 
1914. [Mimeographed] 5p. 

Minor economies in railroad operation. 
Apr. 14, 1914. 2p. 

Industrial insurance and employers lia- 
bility. Oct. 27, 1913. 13p. 

Effect of European War on railways of the 
United States. Dec. 30, 1914. 2p. 

—Supplementary list. Sept. 30, 1915. 2p. 

Transportation of explosives. May 25, 1915. 
4p. 

Express service. 7p. 

Marketing farm products. Mar. 19, 1915. 2p. 

Fast freight lines. Oct. 24, 1914. [Mimeo- 
graphed] 2p. 

Federal control of commerce and corpora- 
tions. Sept. 2, 1915. 4p. 
[Supplementary to Library of Congress 
list published 1913] 

Federal incorporation. June 29, 1915. 5p. 

Satements, writings, etc., of Albert Fink. Ip. 

Railroads and fire losses. 3p. 

Rehearing of the Five Per Cent Case. Oct. 
14, 1914. 3p. 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



535 



Bibliography of Sir Sandford Fleming. 6p. 
Works of Sir Sandford Fleming relating to 

railroads. Ip. 
Freight. Apr. 8, 1915. 9p. 

[Includes Freight, Yards. Terminals, 

Freight Handling] 
Full crew laws. 1913. 5p. 

Printed in Special libraries, June, 1913, 

p. 121-25. 

Supplementary list. Aug. 28, 1914. 4p. 
Minimum train crews and maximum length 

of trains legislation. Feb. 1, 1915. 

[Mimeographed] 20p. 

Printed in Special libraries, Feb., 1915, 

p. 25-39. 
— Supplementary list. Apr. 10, 1915. 6p. 
Writings of Hiram Glass relating to rail- 
roads. 1916. Ip. 
References on Jay Gould. Nov. 20, 1914. 2p. 
Government ownership of railways. Mar., 

1913. Printed. 14p. 

Revised to Sept., 1914. Issued as Bulle- 
tin 62 of the Bureau. 93p. 

Documents bearing on Hepburn rate bill. 5p. 

Interlocking directorates. Oct. 21, 1914. 
[Mimeographed] 9p. 

Writings of the Interstate Commerce Com- 
missioners. Jan. 18, 1914. 22p. 

Jitneys and jitney regulation. July 15, 

1915. [Mimeographed] lip. 
Railroad land grants. Nov. 29, 1913. 16p. 
Transportation of live stock. Mar. 9, 1916. 

5p. 
Recent books on steam locomotives. Jan. 7, 

1916. 8p. 

Some references on the Long Island Rail- 
road. Apr. 28, 1916. 4p. 

Railway mail pay. 1911. 5p. 

Locomotive mechanical stokers. July 28. 
1915. [Mimeographed] 9p. 
Printed In Locomotive Firemen and En- 
ginemen's Magazine, Sept., 1915, p. 269-74. 

More important writings of Hon. Edward 
A. Moseley, Secretary of the Interstate 
Commerce Commission, 1887-1911. Ip. 

General railroad laws of New York State. 
Compilations. 2p. 

New York, New Haven and Hartford Rail- 
road Company. Trial Bibliography. Nov, 
30, 1915. [Mimeographed] 144p. 

Noise problem on railways. July 7. 1915. 
3p. 

Use of oil as fuel for locomotives. Mav 11, 

1914. 4p. 

References on the Panama Canal. 17p. 
[Supplementary to Library of Congress 
list prepared by H. A. Morrison, Jr., 1900] 

Passenger fares: 
Two-cent passenger fares. 4p. 
Additional references on two-cent passen- 
ger fares. Nov. 2, 1914. 5p. 
Additional references on two-cent passen- 
ger fares. Dec. 22, 1914. 5p. 



References on railway passenger fares. 
Apr. 1, 1915. 2p. 

Maximum railway passenger fares. Apr. 
12, 1915. [Mimeographed] 14p. 
—Supplementary list, July 29, 1915. 5p. 

Parcels post, 1911. 6p. 

[Extension of Library of Congress select 
list, 1908] 

Relief and pension systems on American 
railways. Apr. 13, 1914. 4p. 

—Revised to Jan. 21, 1916. 9p. 

Periodicals published by United States rail- 
ways in the interests of their employees. 
Feb. 29, 1916. [Mimeographed] 2p. 

Physical examination of railway employees. 
Oct. 12, 1915. [Mimeographed] 17p. 

Pipe lines. Jan. 19, 1915. Memo. list. Ip. 

Railway pooling. Jan. 4, 1915. 8p. 

Public service commissions. May 6, 1915. 3p. 

Public service commissions and corpora- 
tions. Jan. 3, 1914. 13p. 

Suggested list of works on railways. Feb. 
8, 1916. [Mimeographed] 6p. 

Early American railroads and early works 
on railroads. 6p. 

Development of railways west of the Mis- 
sissippi River. Feb. 12, 1915. 3p. 

Railway motor cars. Nov. 30,1915. [Mimeo- 
graphed] 37p. 

Printed in Locomotive Firemen and En- 
ginemen's Magazine, Feb., 1916:130-32; 
Mar., 1916:251-56; Apr., 1916:390-96; May, 
1916:520-24. 

Operation and maintenance of railways. 
Dec. 18, 1913. 3p. 

Railway passes. Oct. 4, 1915. 5p. 

List of books on regulation of railroad and 
public utility rates. Apr. 11, 1916. 4p. 

Effect of regulation of railway rates on the 
development of railways in the United 
States. Oct. 21, 1913. 4p. 

Conflict between state and federal regula- 
tion of railways. Mar. 25, 1916. 5p. 

Railroads in South America. Mar. 24, 
1915. 12p. 

State documents relating to state aid for 
railroads. Jan. 16, 1914. 8p. 

Railroad taxation. Oct. 23, 1913. 13p. 

Use of railroads in war. Oct. 10, 1914. 
[Mimeographed] 15p. 
Printed in Special libraries, Nov., 1914, 
p. 134-43. 

—Revised to Aug. 2, 1915. [Mimeo- 
graphed] 34p. 

This list was used as a basis for the 
bibliography in Edwin A. Pratt's "The 
Rise of Rail Power in War and Con- 
quest," London, 1915. 

References showing comparisons between 
railways of the United States and foreign 
countries. Feb. 23, 1915. 9p. 

Railway reconstruction. 2p. 



636 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Some references on savings plans for rail- 
way employees. Dec. 24, 1915. 2p. 

Some references on the Seaboard Air Line 
Railway. Mar. 31, 1916. 5p. 

Regulation of the issuance of railway 
stocks and bonds. Feb. 17, 1914. 6p. 

—Revised list, Feb. 6, 1915. 5p. 

— Additional references, Apr. 13, 1916. 2p. 

Some references on ship railways. Feb. 19, 
1916. 2p. 

Sixteen-hour law. Dec. 16, 1915. 2p. 

Some references on cost of operating high- 
speed trains. July 6, 1915. Ip. 

Some references on the speed of railway 
trains. Feb. 28, 1916. 6p. 

Subways. Sept. 18, 1912. 6p. 

Industrial railways and tap lines. July 10 
1915. 5p. 

Use of intoxicants by railway employees, 
Jan. 8, 1912. 2p. 

Railroad terminals. Apr. 1, 1916. [Mimeo 
graphed] 41p. 

Work done by railroads to increase traffic, 
Dec. 15, 1915. 4p. 

Train loading. Oct. 25, 1915. 3p. 

Valuation of railways. 1916. 125p. [Mime 
ographed] 

Locomotive valve-gears. Mar. 24, 1915. lip 
Printed in Locomotive Firemen and En- 
ginemen's Magazine, May 1915:509-15. 

Select list on relation between railways and 
waterways as agents of transportation. 
1909. 15p. 

Raihvays and waterways. Feb., 1912. 20p. 

Western and Atlantic Railroad. 1915. 3p. 

Some references on railways and economic 
development. May 2, 1916. 13p. 

Some references on the ownership of rail- 
ways. May 4, 1916. 4p. 

Some references on freight congestion at 
eastern terminals. Apr. 6, 1916. 5p. 

Some references on railway fires and fire 
losses. June 2, 1916. 3p. 

Railway fire protection. May 25, 1916. 2p. 

Early history of railroads in Alabama. 
June 5, 1916. 3p. 

Freight handling. June 3, 1916. 9p. 

Documents in the New Hampshire Railroad 
Controversy of 1887. June 8, 1916. 5p. 

List of briefs filed in Advanced Rate Case 
before the Interstate Commerce Commis- 
sion, I. C. C. Docket 5860 and I & S 
Docket 333, 1913-1914. 2p. 
List of briefs in the rehearing of the case, 
Oct., 1914. Ip. 

List of briefs filed in Western Rate Ad- 
vance Case, before the Interstate Com- 
merce Commission, I. & S. Docket 555, 
1915. 4p. 

A third development of very large inter- 
est to us, from our records of the railway 

contents of other libraries is our work with 



the library scrap heap. One of the large 
eastern railways sold its scrap metal for 
the year 1914 for $2,157,241.24, a sum less 
by a million dollars than it received in 
1913. We have found much of value in the 
duplicate collections of other libraries. We 
solicit from other libraries any and all of 
their duplicates which relate to railways. 
In our purchases of lots at auction and 
otherwise we acquire duplicates of our own. 
These duplicates we attempt to distribute 
on open exchange except in the few in- 
stances where they have cost us any large 
sum. The distribution is conducted with 
a view to localities, relative completeness 
of sets and relative interest. Our largest 
distribution heretofore has been of the an- 
nual reports of the railway companies, due 
to the fact that these records are more 
easily kept up to date than non-serials. It 
may be readily appreciated that the incor- 
poration of the records of one hundred 
libraries into our bibliography must take 
its place with the current demands upon 
the Bureau. Now that this record is get- 
ting more close to date we expect to dis- 
tribute some thousands of duplicates of a 
more general and non-serial character. The 
following table will illustrate the growth 
of this phase of inter-library work: 

Items: 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 
Sent out 8591 4906 6747 14922 15477 12759 
Rec'd ..15982 2177 3981 4673 6967 4647 

a total of 63,401 items sent out as against 
38,427 received from other libraries. The 
number of items received on exchange 
which find a place on our own shelves is 
not now as large as it was in the earlier 
years; but the placing of material on the 
shelves of other libraries facilitates inter- 
library v.'ork, promotes the use of literature 
relating to railways and adds to the general 
information about railway affairs, which is 
far from being the matter of common 
knowledge so generally supposed. 

We consider that the information which 
we furnish to other libraries of the con- 
tents of our own library is one of the im- 
portant aspects of the work we do in com- 
mon with other American libraries — the 
furnishing of copy for Library of Congress 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



637 



printed cards. Through the galleys of the 
Library of Congress, the records of the de- 
pository catalog, and the union catalogs 
now quite common in the larger libraries, 
the cards printed for this Bureau come 
under the eye of students and cata- 
logers. 

The Bureau supplies copy to the Library 
of Congress for printed catalog cards for 
current books and important pamphlets 
which relate to transportation and particu- 
larly to railways, and which are not al- 
ready provided with cards. But we make 
an especial effort to supply copy for books 
which our records show are contained in 
four or more other libraries. Cards for 
certain series, such as the Interstate Com- 
merce Commission accident reports, are 
supplied to the Library of Congress regu- 
larly by agreement and we comply with all 
requests or suggestions from the Library 
of Congress that copy be furnished even 
when the material is in the possession of 
the Library of Congress. Approximately 
1,800 cards have been thus provided during 
the last four years. About five hundred 
have already been furnished during the 
current year, of which, however, only about 



four hundred have been so far printed by 
the Library of Congress. 

The Bureau Library does not attempt to 
take too broad advantage of the oppor- 
tunity afforded by the Library of Congress 
to add entries within brackets for headings 
not used by them. Such entries however 
as "Railroads — Government ownership" ; 
"Railroads — Financial condition"; "Rail- 
roads — Use in war"; and "Railroads — Pas- 
senger rates"; we have so added when 
there seems to be a real need for them. 

The Bureau is very glad to respond to 
inquiries from other libraries. We do not 
expect to cover the broader phases of rail- 
way economics or even those more special 
aspects which the larger public libraries 
and the Bibliographical Division of the Li- 
brary of Congress are handling to a rapidly 
increasing extent. The special library is 
intended to supplement, not to supplant, 
the general library; and there are some 
of the more minute questions which this 
Bureau is in a better position to handle 
than perhaps any other general library. 
Some indication of the nature of such in- 
quiries may be afforded by the following 
table: 



Inquiries Received by the Bureau of Railway Economics Library from Other Libraries 
[Selected chronologically from the Library Log] 



Inquiry 

Railway Mail Pay Committee Report and other mail pay 

material. 
List of insurance libraries in U. S. 
"Recent periodical article" on railway fuel economy. 

Systems of filing & indexing periodical clippings. 
Methods of computing earnings of proposed railways. 
Panama Canal Act and railroad-owned steamships. 
Collections of railway tariffs. 

Material on government ownership of railways. 
Railway maps. 

Fire protection by Monitor hose nozzles. 
Train-length limit legislation. 

Railroad reports to copy for files. 

Transportation of farm produce by water routes. 

Rolling stock of Trans-Siberian Railway. 
Methods of filing periodical clippings. 



Reply 

All furnished. 

List compiled and forwarded. 

Found in Railway Age Ga- 
zette. 

Bureau's system described. 

References furnished. 

References furnished. 

Information as to best col- 
lections. 

Printed material furnished. 

References given. 

References furnished. 

Memo showing states having 
legislation. 

Copies desired borrowed on 
inter-library loan. 

Referred to waterways expert 
and references suggested. 

Information furnished. 

Our system suggested and ex- 
plained. 



538 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Material for article on improvement in transportation 

since 1891. 
Minimum passenger rate laws. 

Maximum passenger rate laws. 
References on railway pooling. 

Trunk Line Committee Publications. 

Montana Railroad Commission Reports. 
Material on safety first and trespassing. 
Government owuersiiip of railways. 
Railroad reports to be copied for lile. 



Western Rate Case Exhibits. 

Conant's testimony in Five Per Cent Rate Case. 
Material for use in course on transportation of produce. 
Railway cost accounting and cost of operating high speed 

trains. 
Information relative to Railroad Commission reports. 

Transportation of explosives. 

Publications of Nebraska Railroad Commission. 

Rare government documents. 

Rare government publications desired. 
Noise problem on railways. 
School ticket regulations. 

Passenger service & rates in U. S. and Europe. 
Railway clearance. 

Electrification of terminals. 
Exhibits in Western Rate Case. 
Railroad reports to copy for file. 

Traveling railway libraries. 

Copy of rare item desired for file. 

Methods of increasing railway trafiic. 

Employees' saving plans. 

Minimum railway rates. 

Issuance of railroad stocks and bonds. 

Recent material on locomotives. 

Periodicals published by railway companies for em- 
ployees. 

Addresses of Wilson and Post before Railway Business 
Ass'u. 

Railway clearances. Later data than previously given. 

Speed on American railways. 

Wig-wag signals at grade crossings. 
Pullman sleeping cars. 
History of early passenger cars. 

Railroads publishing annual reports. 



References suggested and 
books loaned to the Library. 

Memo prepared showing 
states having such laws, etc. 

Memo as in previous inquiry. 

List mailed to correspondent 
as requested. 

Bibliographical information 
furnished. 

Bibliographical information 
furnished. 

Printed material forwarded. 

Printed material forwarded. 

Copies desired borrowed on 
inter-library loan. 

Copies secured through Com- 
mittee. 

Transcript furnished. 

Material furnished. 

References furnished. 
Bibliographical information 

furnished. 
References furnished. 
Bibliographical information 

furnished. 
Borrowed on inter-library 

loan. 
Copies secured. 
References furnished. 
Copy of one road's regulations 

secured. 
Memo, furnished. 
References, copies of laws, 

bills, etc., forwarded. 
References furnished. 
Copies secured and forwarded. 
Copies borrowed on inter- 
library loan. 
Material sent; referred to 

other sources. 
Photostat copy secured from 

New York Public Library. 
References furnished. 
References furnished. 
References furnished. 
References furnished. 
References furnished. 

List furnished. 

Copies furnished. 

Additional references sent. 

Table of speed records fur- 
nished. 

References furnished. 

References furnished. 

Material and references fur- 
nished. 

List of such roads sent. 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



539 



Among the things we are endeavoring to 
do and in the accomplishment of which we 
shall have to ask for much assistance from 
the state libraries is the completion of 
the record of the documents relating to 
railways in the states not covered so far in 
Miss Basse's monumental work. It has 
already happened that among our miscel- 
laneous accessions there have appeared 
documents copies of which were not in the 
files of the state library concerned because 
not printed in the jumbo set. While we do 
not find these things in the ground covered 
by Miss Hasse we have been able at times 
to advise her that an item marked "not 
seen" has strayed into our collection. Until 
tlie happy time arrives wlien Miss Hasse 
shall have covered the entire list of states 
we have some hope that our work in this 
field with the co-operation of the state 
libraries may prove of mutual advantage. 

In a small way the Bureau Library is 
now calling the attention of the librarians 
of some of the special libraries to titles 
relating to their field which crop up within 
our own. Such matters as fire losses, bank- 
ing questions, street railway questions such 
as the jitney matter, telephone and tele- 
graph operation of trains, occur in the 
railway technical literature and might fail 
to meet the eye of those very much inter- 
ested in them. We would be glad to ex- 
tend this service. Of course it is part of 
our regular duty to notify railway folk of 
articles of particular interest in their line 
of investigation. 

Printed cards fill but a minor part of 
our needs. For magazine articles and a 
large number of our pamphlets we are 
thrown on our own resources. Because of 
our need for a large number of cards to 
represent the varied aspects of these 
articles and pamphlets we have adopted 
the Belknap Tag and Label Addresser for 
printing these cards. The stencils used 
in the addresser will take in nine lines of 
seven words each. They are prepared 
Japanese Silk Fiber, readily cut on any 
standard typewriter. The printing is made 
by placing the stencil in the addresser and 
running an inked rubber roller over it as 



many times as we need copies. The 
stencil can then be filed for further use. 
It is our idea that as the Library of Con- 
gress will not be printing cards for maga- 
zine articles and analytics for a long time 
to come, our work in cataloging the con- 
tents of the railway periodicals such as 
the Railway Age Gazette and its predeces- 
sors, the Railway Review, the Railway 
World and its predecessor, might be made 
available to other libraries it the extra 
cost of printing and distributing the cards 
were met by them. It would be our idea 
to add the railway articles in the files of 
the general magazines such as the North 
American Review, which even if indexed 
in Poole are not so indexed as to give all 
of the information of interest to the spe- 
cial student. It would also be our idea 
to distribute cards for currently received 
material not found important enough to 
be included in the Library of Congress or 
John Crerar printed cards. 

However halting it may be in its methods 
the object of the library of the Bureau of 
Railway Economics is to be as helpful to 
other libraries as its scope and facilities 
will allow; and we will welcome any sug- 
gestions that will help us to further this 
object. 

Chairman DULLARD: We have all been 
very much instructed by Mr. Johnston's 
very excellent paper. I should like to call 
attention to the part where he asks the 
co-operation of state librarians in the mat- 
ter of furnishing him from their duplicate 
copies such material as he may not have. 

I do not know whether anybody here 
would like to ask Mr. Johnston any ques- 
tions. I am quite sure he would be per- 
fectly willing to answer them. 

Question": Mr. Johnston, do you cover 
canals? 

Mr. JOHNSTON: Only in the case of 
canals such as the Delaware and Hudson 
Canal, that have grown into railways. 

Chairman DULLARD: We have with 
us this evening Miss Joanna G. Strange, 
who is to give us a paper on "Library By- 
products." I have the pleasure of present- 
ing Miss Strange. 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



LIBRARY BY-PRODUCTS 
By Joanna Gleed Strange, 

New York Piiilic Library 

Not so very long ago there came into a 
certain library reference department a tall, 
white haired, sharp-eyed business man. He 
stated his v/ants, and while waiting for his 
books he explained that this was his first 
visit to the library. He had never come 
before because he had books enough in his 
own private library. But today he wanted 
some specific information, having to do 
with oil fields in a certain country, which 
he had been unable to find. It was the 
library's indexes and system he really 
wanted more than the books or magazines, 
he said. The books he could buy if neces- 
sary, when he knew what to buy. 

The reference work being "slack" just 
then, and the assistant friendly, he con- 
tinued to talk. The only other public library 
he had ever used was oue in a small town 
in New England — twenty years ago. It had 
been in charge of the milliner. He smiled 
as he looked about the big room, with its 
card files and rows of labeled books. 
"There's certainly a difference. She kept 
the library all mixed up with the hats and 
feathers, and sometimes you had to wait 
for your book till she made change for 
Mrs. Jones, or sewed the daisies in with 
the lilacs on Jennie Smith's Sunday bon- 
net. I wasn't a business expert in those 
days and it didn't bother me." He laughed. 
"Now my job is applying modern business 
methods to old fashioned firms. Some time 
I am coming in to check up this library 
and see if my rules apply here as well as 
to Armstrong's factory over the way. It 
would be an interesting experiment." 

I don't know v.'hether he ever came. I 
do know he was using in his expert work 
many library methods— -whether he realized 
it himself or not. And I also feel sure that 
if he came to us with his business tests, 
most of our libraries, in spite of their mod- 
ern methods and trained workers, would 
fall short — for there is not enough business 
organization in our libraries today. If it 
were possible to rate all of our processes in 



dollars and cents, we would find, I am sure, 
a staggering amount of funds wasted. Be- 
cause we cannot see our profits and losses, 
in the actual "coin of the realm," because 
we cannot balance our books and know 
our exact standing, there is much that is 
wasteful in our methods. 

Now suppose, for argument, our libraries 
were commercialized. Suppose every 
library had a rival or two or three in town, 
each working to "sell" more of its stock 
in trade than the others. What would 
happen? Our library buildings would cease 
to be, as is often the case, architectural 
wonders only, whether viewed from the 
outside or the inside. The business house 
desiring to grow and succeed, builds with 
an eye to the comfort of its patrons, and 
the library desiring the same progress 
must be one whose accessibility is all it 
should be, whose elevators always run, 
whose clocks are in sight, whose telephones 
are available to the public, whose book car- 
riers are to be depended upon, whose 
catalogs are convenient and whose stock is 
arranged for speedy distribution. It must 
have a building with room enough and light 
enough and heat enough and quiet enough, 
and with all these, rest rooms and lunch 
rooms and writing rooms for its readers, 
besides sufficient stock to sell, with sales- 
men who know the business and have the 
ability to read the minds, characters, tem- 
pers and peculiarities of their patrons. 

If our libraries were managed on an 
efficiency basis there are many things we 
would do besides make our buildings more 
convenient. We would apply more busi- 
ness sense to our book stock. The smaller 
libraries would buy better. They would 
borrow more from state libraries and 
library commissions. They would make 
better use of available documents. They 
would make the most of their records. 
They would advertise systematically. They 
would employ with a better eye to the sell- 
ing ability of their employees. They 
would "speed up" in many ways, and they 
would utilize their waste, forming there- 
from such by-products as would double 
their own output. And it is about these 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



641 



by-products or waste-products I want to 
talk. 

Not so very long ago I heard a librarian, 
speaking ot advertising, say, "I don't be- 
lieve in It. It's too commercial. Libraries 
should not be put on that basis. The library 
system as it is seems quite satisfactory — 
why change? Libraries are different." Why 
are they different? Churches advertise. 
Boards of health advertise. Why should 
libraries arbitrarily do just as they always 
have done? Her reason why reminds me of 
a small boy's reason for believing in peace. 
He came to the library for material on a 
debate against war; and he was so insistent 
himself that peace was right and war and 
preparedness for war were wrong that the 
children's librarian said to him, "I believe 
as you do, Henry, that war is wrong; but 
what have you against preparedness? Why 
do you not believe in it? What is your 
reason?" 

"Well, you see," Henry explained eagerly, 
"It means a great lot of tiresome old train- 
ing and obeying someone else and all that, 
and if a feller's nose itches, he's just gotta 
stand there and leave it itch. He dasn't 
scratch. You bet I believe in peace." 

Perhaps there are other librarians who 
would say they do not believe in business 
organization in libraries. Perhaps there 
are some who believe that as their libraries 
are being administered now, all their 
wastes are being utilized. But, it seems 
to me that until co-operation between 
libraries is a science, not just a word with 
a vague meaning, until we create library 
visions that reach beyond the obvious work 
right under our noses, until we apply busi- 
ness sense and methods in utilizing our 
waste, it is impossible that there can be 
the full development of our by-products. 
One library can accomplish but little alone. 

Not being on a dollars and cents basis, 
not having the stimulus of actual competi- 
tion, we are slower in realizing our losses. 
We reckon our profits by circulation, by 
the proportion of classed books to 
fiction our clients use, by the quality of 
readers we are able to draw to our libraries, 
by their satisfaction in what they receive. 



by our reference statistics and by our feel- 
ing that we are making things grow. We 
are very prone to keep on, year after year, 
satisfied with a normal increase in readers, 
now and then adding some special line to 
our goods, and always bewailing the fact 
that there is not enough money for more 
branches, more stations, and more assist- 
ants. To grow, libraries, like everything, 
must outgrow. It would be too bad to 
be satisfied. 

But meantime, why not take stock of pos- 
sible by-products? There is not a big manu- 
facturing plant today that does not direct 
its greatest energy toward conserving and 
utilizing its by-products, for these bring 
in the greatest profits. 

What are by-products? "By-products" 
may be defined as "those materials which 
in the cultivation or manufacture of any 
given commodity remain over, and which 
possess or can be brought to possess a mar- 
ket value of their own." By-products or 
waste products then for libraries! What 
are some of them? What do we make of 
our waste material which will bring more 
patrons to our libraries? 

First, there are our extra newspapers 
and magazines, pamphlets, and timely re- 
ports and documents which may be turned 
into clipping collections instead of being 
dumped; picture collections may be made 
from these same waste materials — by-prod- 
ucts from which most libraries are already 
realizing big returns. 

There are our duplicate collections — 
waste material, because unused. Is there 
any reason why every library In a state 
should not send a list of its duplicates to 
the state library, and a systematic, not a 
desultory, exchange be made, first within 
the state, and then an interstate exchange? 
There is no library of any size at all with- 
out duplicates wliich are not used. Dupli- 
cate documents, especially city and state 
documents, are often very valuable and 
hard to find. Why not turn this "waste" 
into a profit? 

What about that growing collection of 
pamphlets behind the door on the floor of 
the work room, not duplicates, mind you. 



S42 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



but forming a library white elephant, 
scorned because no one is quite sure how to 
treat them! And all the time the dust is 
gathering on the pile, it probably contains 
just the reports you are borrowing from 
your state library for the use of the city 
engineer, or perhaps that little American 
Federation of Labor pamphlet giving the offi- 
cers of all the federated trade unions, which 
information you have been quite unable to 
find elsewhere. I wonder why this un- 
kind discrimination against pamphlets. It 
seems to be a universal feeling. I was 
told not long ago that a certain group of 
branch librarians, ordering for their li- 
braries directly from the books and 
pamphlets before them at their book meet- 
ings, rarely chose a pamphlet. All I can 
say is that they are wasting some of the 
best material available on live subjects of 
every kind. 

What about collections in your town, 
wasted because not used, which the library 
might have for the asking, or as a result 
of a little diplomatic coercing? I know of 
one man who had a valuable collection of 
municipal documents, which he had used 
in his work at one time. There was no 
chance of their ever being useful to him 
again, and just two days before the city 
librarian dropped a hint that the library 
could make good use of them, he had had 
them sent to the furnace. What a waste! 
In this case perhaps not quite as wasteful 
as it might have been; for the man, inter- 
ested in the fact that the librarian was "up 
and doing" enough to know who owned 
such a collection and to ask for it, made a 
first visit to the library "to see what it 
was like anyway," and has been coming 
ever since to use its reference material. 
More than that, he sends other business 
men who, like him, "didn't know the library 
was anything but a place to get books to 
read at home." 

It might perhaps even pay the larger 
libraries to employ special agents whose 
chief duty it would be to act as scouts — 
on the lookout for anything of value to the 
libraries. Probably it he were the right 
kind, such a scout would save his salary 



many times over each year, through the 
additions to the library's stock and by the 
number of clients he could interest in the 
library's resources. 

The waste in the city and town libraries, 
which comes of not utilizing to the fullest 
extent what is offered by the state libraries 
and the library commissions, it seems to 
me must be great. The waste is not realiz- 
ing the facilities of the Library of Congress 
is also worth considering. In a business 
house, when a salesman receives orders en- 
tirely out of his line he refers them to the 
head office or the department which handles 
the special commodity. Sometimes they 
go to the factory. In like manner we 
should refer requests not in our line to 
the state library, the library commission, 
the Library of Congress, or wherever they 
can best be handled. 

One must be sure, of course, that the 
waste is worth saving. The librarian who 
saved for years all the used pen-points — 
thousands of them — thousands, too, of pen- 
cil stubs, less than an inch long, box after 
box of used book slips, and hundreds and 
hundreds of dirty book covers, till the 
cellar of the library was filled with these 
choice collections, may have had some idea 
of turning them into something useful 
sometime. But she died without imparting 
her scheme to anyone. The librarian who 
followed her and found a complete set of 
St. Nicholas in tatters because it had never 
been mended, felt, naturally enough, little 
sympathy for the saving propensities of 
her predecessor. 

There are no end of waste materials 
which might be turned into products; but 
there are other wastes, too. There are 
"waste assistants." Few, very few, libra- 
rians will admit having enough assistants, 
but many librarians have waste assistants. 
There are those who are doing library 
work who are totally unfitted for it — total 
waste. No business man would continue to 
employ such material year after year. 
There are those who are doing one kind of 
work poorly, who when tried out in other 
kinds, make good. I know of an assistant, 
an educated foreigner, who was kept on 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



543 



routine work for years. She did it in- 
differently and she was an unhappy, dis- 
contented element in the catalog room. It 
happened that an evening assistant in the 
reference room was ill one time and this 
girl was put in her place as a last resort. 
What happened? An assistant so alert, so 
Interested that she never went back to the 
routine job — valuable because of her knowl- 
edge of languages, an indefatigable worker, 
pleasing to the patrons of the library. A 
paying by-product, found through an acci- 
dent. 

Then there are librarians with visions, 
those who are able and willing to do much 
more than they are permitted to do, either 
from the ignorance or lack of vision of 
the powers that be. Here is waste indeed. 
Often these people are real captains, ready 
to sacrifice everything to the development 
of big ideas, bound hand and foot to small 
things. Like the mill with its power 
turned on and no grist to grind, the 
machinery is weakened and the whole plant 
suffers. Waste again! Until every assist- 
ant is contributing definitely to the prog- 
ress of the library, until his work shows 
the minimum of waste, we are not efficient 
plants. 

And here, as in factories, comes the idea 
of welfare work for employees — • medical 
inspection, rest rooms, air, light, recreation 
clubs and classes. One time in Pittsburgh 
I went to one of the big department stores 
to find out about their welfare work. 
I explained to their manager what I 
wanted and why, and I was courteously 
told that they would be delighted to show 
me their club rooms and tell me their plans, 
if I would not write them up. "We pay 
our clerks decent salaries," he said. "We 
do these things for them in no way to ad- 
vertise the store. It's plain business with 
us. It's common sense that the clerks 
who are comfortable mentally and physi- 
cally will do better work as salesmen, and 
the better educated and cared for they are, 
the better it is for us. To put it frankly," 
said he, "we are doing this for business 
reasons. We want our clerks to feel an 
interest in the store and be free to give us 



suggestions. It's good for them and there- 
fore good for the business." Exactly. It's 
good for every library to have its em- 
ployees comfortable, physically and men- 
tally. It is good for every employee from 
the pages and janitors up, to feel a per- 
sonal interest in the library. I remember 
being told in Albany that the very effective 
and usable classification and arrangement 
of the "Granger" collection was invented 
by a page. I know of some excellent short 
cuts, among the many not so good, which 
pages have worked out. Why not have a 
"suggestion day" — let every library em- 
ployee contribute his ideas, and see what 
happens? Some unusual, and so far un- 
known by-products might be developed in 
this way. 

Another library waste which I feel very 
strongly would not be tolerated in most 
business houses, is waste work. There is 
so much of this kind of waste that one won- 
ders at it. Take routine work, for instance. 
There is no getting around the fact that a 
great deal of it is necessary. Cards must 
be filed, shelves must be read and fine 
postals written. But with the typewriters 
and duplicating processes available, is it 
necessary still for even small libraries to 
have catalog cards laboriously copied by 
hand? Should intelligent human beings 
have to cut books and magazines by hand 
hour after hour, when a cutting machine 
can do the work in a fraction of the time? 
As for schedules, think of the time spent 
In every library on schedule making! A 
business house with the same problem 
would compile a book of schedules, collect- 
ing every conceivable arrangement, index- 
ing the whole elaborately, and so save at 
least some of this schedule making time for 
other business. This schedule book might 
be a short cut, not usable always perhaps, 
without adapting, but helpful nevertheless. 
And I wonder if it has ever been proven 
that the hours and hours spent in "collat- 
ing" new books pays in the long run. 

Probably no end of routine work could 
be avoided if all our work were scrutinized 
from a business viewpoint. But the waste 
in routine work, I am sure, is not so great 



644 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



as la the waste in so-called "busy work" — 
jobs to fill in odd moments. It these jobs 
actually contribute to the library efficiency, 
all very well and good. But so much of 
this "busy work" is totally and absolutely 
unnecessary — admittedly so. "Why," a 
librarian was asked one day, "must those 
young women sit and erase numbers from 
cards? They look like intelligent girls." 
"Oh, yes, they are," she answered. "They 
are from the apprentice class — doing prac- 
tice work. We save those cards all year 
for them to erase during times when it is 
not busy. They must do something, you 
know." 

Pine experience for them, wasn't it? The 
visitor having no library traditions sug- 
gested that it might be more profitable in 
the long run for these apprentices to read 
during slack time, since the books were to 
be their stock in trade. But the horrified 
face of the librarian, as she explained 
haughtily that "it was against the rules to 
read in library time," sent the Philistine 
away with opinions of her own on the sub- 
ject. "Busy work" of this kind is degrad- 
ing. A man once stopped at a big farm 
house and asked for a job. The gentleman 
farmer looked him over and said he might 
move the pile of rocks on one side of the 
road to a place on the other side. Glad 
of the chance for the work, the laborer 
asked no questions, but took off his coat 
and got busy. In half a day the job was 
finished and he sought out the farmer to 
know what next to do. "Got that done?" 
said the farmer, laconically. "Well, move 
'em back again." Is it any wonder that the 
workman left? Would he not have been 
a pretty poor specimen of manhood other- 
wise? Just as senseless is this "busy 
work," most of it, especially since those 
who are given it to do are the very ones 
who need to know the books they handle, 
especially since there are so many things — 
useful things — which are crying to be done, 
and the doing of which adds considerably 
to the efficiency of the library and at the 
same time stimulates and educates the as- 
sistant. There are, for instance, the many 
sets of periodicals, unindexed. There are 



many, many volumes on our shelves to be 
analyzed. There are bibliographies to be 
checked and clippings to be classified, and 
then there is always that pile of pamphlets 
behind the workroom door! Even it the 
white elephant should trumpet at her and 
tramp on her and shake the dust of years 
upon her, the assistant will be much better 
oft associating with him than she is spend- 
ing hours of the library's time on useless 
"busy work." 

And why this fetish that librarians 
should not read? Is it because we are 
afraid we will be criticised by the gentle 
public? Then the public should be edu- 
cated differently. Is it because we are 
afraid our assistants will abuse the 
privilege? Then we should get other assist- 
ants. The girl at the desk on a dull even- 
ing need not of necessity read "The 
Prisoner of Zenda" nor "Sherlock Holmes." 
But why should she not compare different 
handbooks if she chooses, and why not 
make herself familiar with new books and 
old books and public documents and 
periodicals instead of folding book pockets, 
for instance. 

We hear a good deal about time-savers — 
indeed, I believe we were to have had an 
exhibit of time-savers at this convention^ 
but too often in the very libraries where 
the most of these excellent devices are em- 
ployed, the time of assistants is wasted on 
"busy work." 

It might be worth a special committee's 
report some time to know how much time, 
which might be saved for the library, is 
wasted in "hiring and firing" library em- 
ployees. Before the National Association 
of Manufacturers at their twentieth annual 
convention last year, Mr. M. W. Alexander 
had a very enlightening paper on "Hiring 
and firing; its economic waste and how to 
avoid it." Mr. Alexander made a careful 
study of twelve factories located in six 
different states, and his statistics were 
compiled from various viewpoints. His 
conclusions are interesting indeed. Of 
course, much of this data applies only to 
manufacturers and their employees; but 
there are certain statements made by Mr. 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



645 



Alexander which tend to make us think. 
I quote: 

"While one manager estimated the cost 
of hiring and breaking in an employee at 
$30, the estimates of all others range from 
$50 to $200 per employee. The great differ- 
ence in these estimates is no doubt due to 
the diversity of the industries represented 
by these managers. Most estimates ranged 
between $50 and $100. The head of a large 
automobile manufacturing concern states 
with positlveness that the engagement of 
a new employee would involve the expendi- 
ture of at least $100. This statement is so 
much the more surprising, as it is well 
known that on account of the high wages 
paid In the automobile Industry, it should 
not be difficult to secure the best type of 
employees, both as to technical skill and 
general discipline, and to hold them fairly 
well. Unquestionably the skill, experience 
and intelligence of a new employee have 
much bearing upon the amount of money 
that needs to be expended for his training." 

Mr. Alexander then divides his operatives 
into groups according to skill and he pro- 
ceeds to see how many have been hired 
unnecessarily and for what reasons. The 
paper has the following subheads, which 
might be quite as applicable to libraries as 
to factories: 

"Money waste in unscientific hiring." 
"Instruction expense." 
"Preventing waste in hiring." 
"Selecting the right man." 
"Instruction for new employees." 
"The employer's relation to the com- 
munity." 

"The spirit of loyalty." 

And the last paragraph we would subscribe 
to entirely, I am sure. Again I quote: 

"Close analysis of the men and women 
we take into our employ, effective systems 
under which we train them in their work, 
fair treatment while they are in our serv- 
ice, and adequate methods to insure their 
dismissal only for justified cause or their 
voluntary withdrawal with no ill-feeling 
toward their employer — these are essential 
factors in our problem of hiring and firing 
and must be our earnest concern lest we 



waste money in our business and sacrifice 
friendly relations with our employees." It 
we could know something of the actual 
money loss to the library the hiring of 
poor assistants entails, perhaps it would 
seem wise, and cheaper in the end to pay 
the good workers higher salaries. 

While I am still on the waste work topic, 
I wonder if we cannot do more than we are 
doing in listing for the use of others, notes 
of our difficult questions and where we find 
the answers. Most reference departments 
have a file of answers to "stickers" for 
their own use, so that the same work need 
not be done a second time. But might there 
not be some library co-operation in this? 
It one librarian, after hours of searching 
for a list of the Co-operative Apartment 
Houses of New York City finally locates 
this information in a certain report, should 
it not be available so that otiier reference 
workers in other towns may be saved the 
same long hunt? Why not distribute our 
finds? The H. W. Wilson "Public Affairs 
Information Service" and "Information" 
published by the Bowker Company are great 
helps, we can all testify. The "Sponsors for 
knowledge" plan is another big stride in co- 
operation, and the scheme of filing at 
A. L. A. headquarters subjects of bibli- 
ographies in the process of making should 
save much duplication. But we must have 
more getting together with the work, more 
co-operation of all kinds. If we co-operated 
with each other as libraries with half the 
zeal we put into the work with our indi- 
vidual library clients, our by-products 
would soon equal those of the Standard Oil 
Company in usefulness, if not in dividends. 

I think of one other library by-product. 
How are we going to utilize our waste pub- 
lic? From the library point of view a 
person is wasted until he finds the library. 
When we remember that no document or 
book or periodical or clipping or pamphlet 
is worth anything until it is read, it Is 
obvious that we must get the people and 
the books together. This same statement 
has been made in one way or another at 
every library meeting since the library 
movement began. 



646 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



With our children's libraries, our work 
for club women, our school work, our li- 
braries for the blind, the traveling libraries 
which go to hospitals and prisons and light- 
houses and to many odd nooks and corners 
of the country; with our technical and busi- 
ness libraries, our legislative reference li- 
braries, our state and college libraries, our 
libraries of art and architecture, our gen- 
eral collections and special collections, it 
seems sometimes as though we must be do- 
ing about all that can be done. But too 
small a percentage of our population forms 
our library clientele. We must have more 
library patrons. We must have our refer- 
ence collections used more. Not only must 
they be used by students. They must be 
realized as research laboratories for the 
business man, the man of affairs, the prac- 
tical man. "The material this department 
turned up tor me the last time I was in," 
said a man not long ago to the chief of the 
Documents Division of the New York Public 
Library, "saved my firm a special investiga- 
tion which would have cost us five thousand 
dollars." "This library stuff is so exactly 
what I wanted," said another, "that I 
needn't go abroad for it. I was afraid I 
should have to." We want more of these 
things said to us. And to get these people 
Interested we must do as they are doing. 
We must advertise. It even seems to 
me that a library advertiser, hired for 
this work and nothing else, would pay some 
libraries. We are slow to start some things 
in the library world, and probably it will 
be some time before we make use of this 
very patent method to get more library 
patrons. But there are ways of advertising 
which are automatic and which we may all 
follow, tor having once acquired a new 
reader, we must, of course, make the library 
60 necessary to him that he will come 
again and bring other readers. There is a 
"follow up" system as good for libraries as 
for business houses. Here comes a man, 
for instance, for something on compressed 
air diseases. The librarian gives him all 
the material she has time to collect, while 
he is in the library. But she has sized 
him up as a reader who is making a 



thorough study of the subject, and after 
he has gone she keeps right on looking for 
references, collects them in French and 
German and Italian, in books and periodi- 
cals and documents, and mails them to him 
on the installment plan. For a while that 
man will be an advertisement for the li- 
brary, as good as an electric light sign ten 
feet high. "Go to the library" will be his 
slogan. Long after the librarian has for- 
gotten all about compressed air diseases, 
he will be turning his office force and all 
his friends into first-class library by-prod- 
ucts without any doubt. 

Because of the tact and effort and under- 
standing of the chief of a department in a 
certain large library, the secretary of one 
of the largest associations of manufacturers 
in the country made the statement that the 
best thing they had done during the year 
was to connect with the public library! A 
by-product worth having? In more ways 
than one, surely. 

Fascinating work, much appreciated by 
the clients sometimes, and always a great 
satisfaction to the reference librarian who 
understands the game, is the helping of 
readers to help each other. Here is a man 
coming to the library to dig into Spanish 
diplomatic papers. In the opposite corner 
is a scholarly Spaniard at work on a manu- 
script for a book on South American com- 
merce. Each one has a point of view 
which may be useful to the other, and the 
librarian sees to it that they meet. The 
result is that now, day after day, they work 
at the same table, helping each other. 

And the ex-bird man over near the door 
is more than pleased to meet the novelist 
who wants information about wireless 
apparatus on flying machines, so much so 
that one sees them later going to lunch to- 
gether. And each one has suddenly ac- 
quired a certain "feeling of ownership" tor 
the library, which in itself is a worth while 
by-product. 

These illustrations might be multiplied 
many times. It's all for the business, and 
it goes to show that if we are going to be 
successful salesmen, whether for libraries 
or for any other concerns, we must have 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



547 



more than the cold science of our particular 
business, whatever it is. We must see 
things from the other fellow's viewpoint, 
and earnestly and sincerely try to under- 
stand our clients. 

Probably these by-products which have 
come to my mind are not new to anyone 
here, and there are doubtless any number 
of wastes which are being turned into prod- 
ucts for libraries, of more importance than 
these. But I do sincerely believe that by 
intelligent use of these wastes our libraries 
will be improved, our patrons better satis- 
fied and we ourselves more alive to the 
work and keener to its possibilities. 

Chairman DULLARD: In this very care- 
fully prepared paper Miss Strange has 
presented to us her viewpoints in a most 
interesting and convincing way. It is not 
my privilege at this time to discuss this 
paper. The program provides that the 
meeting is to be open for discussion gen- 
erally, and that the discussion is to be led 
by Miss Hasse, whom you all know, and 
who has done so much to lighten the work 
of librarians. 

Before introducing Miss Hasse I should 
like to take this first opportunity to express 
publicly the appreciation that we in New 
Jersey feel for the splendid work that she 
has done in compiling the index to eco- 
nomic material in the documents of our 
state. As you know. Miss Hasse has com- 
piled an index of this kind for several 
states, and we in New Jersey have availed 
ourselves of the opportunity to get all of 
these indices. After a study of the New 
Jersey index I have no hesitation in saying 
that it is about as fine a piece of work as 
I ever had the opportunity of examining. 
I take very great pleasure in presenting to 
you Miss Hasse. 

Miss HASSE: Mr. Chairman, ladies and 
gentlemen: I feel terribly out of place. 1 
understand this is a joint meeting of law 
librarians and state librarians. I know 
nothing of the law: I never was connected 
with a state library. 

I don't know that I am expected to say 
anything about Mr. Johnston's paper; but 
Mr. Johnston, though he doesn't look it, 



is an indefatigable worker. He has made 
you a proposition for card service. In 
coming years the subject which Mr. John- 
ston's office concerns itself with is going 
to be one of the important reference sub- 
jects of all librarians in this country; there- 
fore I would sincerely recommend to you 
the proposition which Mr. Johnston has 
made to you. 

I suppose I am expected to say something 
about documents. For the last two years 
I have done almost no work with docu- 
ments. At that time the former document 
division of the New York Public Library 
was merged with its economics division. 
We have concerned ourselves since that 
time with reference work. Events happen- 
ing about that time concentrated the sub- 
ject of reference work within tolerably 
narrow lines. In doing that reference 
work I have often thought of what Dr. 
Billings used to say — that he would engage 
to run any library on periodicals and public 
documents. I have come to realize that I 
will engage to run any library with Miss 
Strange. 

Chairman DULLARD: Has anyone else 
something to say? 

Mr. LEE: Mr. Chairman, I wish there 
could be a discussion tonight that would 
take the form of "what are you going to 
do about it?" It seems to me that very 
good papers have been presented from time 
to time for the various groups of the 
A. L. A., and nothing has happened except 
to get them printed in the regular files of 
the Library Journal and of the Bulletin, 
and so on, and they disappear. I want to 
mention a paper of Mr. Gould's, president 
in 1909, about "reservoir libtaries." I 
don't believe they exist in the way he out- 
lined them ; but about two weeks from 
now we hope to have a reservoir library 
in Boston, containing five hundred docu- 
ments. 

I have about a thousand books in mine — 
those "behind-the-door" documents, things 
which are invaluable, and which we are 
not referred to oftener than once in two 
months. We have them cluttering our 
shelves — back numbers of the American In- 



648 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



stitute of Electrical Engineers, which 
have been thrown at me by different mem- 
bers who don't want them, until I have 
three or four sets. Two are enough. 

Miss Strange suggested a Job that she 
should never leave until it is finished — 
the by-product job. The way she handled 
it for New York City should be put in type 
for the rest of the country, the rest of 
the world; and if what she tried in New 
York City were advertised through the 
A. L. A. headquarters, people would get 
into touch with her or her position, and 
would come to look to the New York Public 
Library as a standard, and she in turn 
would learn more about how other people 
handle their by-products. 

I hope we won't rest by simply clapping 
hands and saying, "What an excellent 
paper," but will do something about it. 

Mr. HEWITT: As this is a joint meet- 
ing of the law people and the state librar- 
ians, perhaps it would be well that some- 
thing should be said touching this subject 
from the side of the law library. 

Co-operation is not altogether a new 
idea, so far as lawyers are concerned. It is 
an old story that the courts and lawyers 
engaged in patent cases have had to study 
art; and recourse has often to be made to 
the books in scientific libraries to find 
whether a certain art is a new art or 
whether it was known before. I remember 
an incident that I thinK it is worth while 
to mention in this connection — a very re- 
cent matter in Philadelphia before the 
United States Court. A struggle arose be- 
tween rival manufacturers; one, the com- 
plainer, had used horsehair for straining 
oil in the process of purifying certain 
fabrics. A rival began using human hair 
imported from China. Litigation was be- 
gun in the United States Court between 
these two concerns, one of the questions 
involved being, whether the use of hair was 
a new art, so that the one first in the 
field could claim exclusive right. The 
Court sent the question to the Free Library 
of Philadelphia and to tv70 or three other 
libraries in that city. The information fur- 
nished the Court was so extensive and 



valuable that the Judge sent similar 
queries throughout the country — I dare say 
there are librarians in this room who re- 
ceived such letters — and the accumulated 
replies showed a wealth of invaluable in- 
formation — proving by the way, that the 
use of hair in straining was not at all a 
new art. Had private counsel gathered 
that information through private people, in- 
stead of through libraries, it would have 
meant, I think, an expenditure of a couple 
of thousand dollars, and very likely the re- 
sults obtained would not have been nearly 
as great. 

This is a great field. Workmen's com- 
pensation laws, to take another example, 
will introduce study in medical jurispru- 
dence. We must know, for instance, whether 
the disease suffered by the laborer is a 
disease growing out of the occupation — ■ 
that is, an accident — or a disease, pure and 
simple. We could extend these illustra- 
tions indefinitely. The law library cannot 
do work of this sort, neither can other li- 
braries do the work of the law library, 
and there must be co-operation. I think 
these problems have a vital importance to 
the work of both associations. 

Mr. S. Y. WHEELER: I should like to 
inquire whether county law libraries have 
the privilege of asking questions in meet- 
ings of state and law librarians. I have 
never tried to avail myself of it because 
I felt that I had no right to do so; but if 
the president of the state library associa- 
tion would bring that matter before the 
State Libraries meeting and give the law 
libraries of counties, municipalities, or uni- 
versities, the privilege at least of asking 
questions, it would be greatly appreciated 
by myself and I am sure by others. 

Chairman DULLARD: I am quite sure 
that in matters not strictly relating to the 
state library association it would be a 
pleasure to have anybody ask questions, 
and they would be answered. 

Before I ask if there are any other ques- 
tions — I understand that Miss Woodard, 
the secretary of the American Association 
of Law Libraries, has an announcement to 
make. 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OP STATE LIBRARIES 



649 



Miss WOODARD: In the American Jour- 
nal of Comparative Legislation the state- 
ment was made that State Librarian God- 
ard's annual report proposed a standard or 
skeleton index to legislation. I should like 
to ask Mr. Godard to make a statement 
about this. The statutes and compilations 
of the different states have peculiar indices; 
every indexer has his own idea, and when 
we search for any particular subject In the 
statutes of all the states we find it a very 
difficult matter to get the information we 
want. Mr. Godard suggests that a skeleton 
index be made to which future indices 
might conform. This is a most excellent 
suggestion, and if he would make a state- 
ment I think we should be glad to hear it. 

Mr. GODARD: This is what suggested 
the idea: The inquirers who come to the 
Supreme Court Law Library at Hartford 
to look up the laws of the several states 
have a great deal of difficulty in finding the 
law they want unless they have acquired 
the terminology of all the other states, as 
well as Connecticut. For instance, in Con- 
necticut we say "probate"; New York 
would say "surrogate," Pennsylvania some- 
thing else. New Jersey something else, etc. 

My thought was that we might have a 
committee appointed to find somebody to 
take in hand the compilation of a skeleton 
index, which might be incorporated in the 
index of each revision or compllatira pub- 
lished by the several states hereafter. For 
example, the word "probate" would be 
found in each index; an index to New 
York laws would contain the reference 
"Probate, see Surrogate;" the reference in 
the case of New Jersey laws would be "Pro- 
bate, see Orphan's court," etc. This would 
save the attorneys and the law librarians 
a great deal of time. I think it would be 
an easy matter and I don't see any ob- 
jection to it. 

I should like to hear some of the others 
sreak upon it. I would say, by the way, 
that ill Connecticut we have a commission 
on revision working on our laws. The 
last revision was in 1912. This commis- 
sion is to report in 1917 to the general 
assembly of that year, and will probably 



be instructed to incorporate the laws of 
1917. 

The clerk of that commission happens to 
be the executive secretary, Mr. Maupay, 
who has published a supplement to Bur- 
nett's "Digest of Connecticut reports." I 
have put this publication up to him and if 
nothing happens it may be incorporated in 
the new index to our revision. 

Question: Who does the indexing? 

Mr. GODARD: That is done in the office 
of the secretary of state. It has been pro- 
posed by one or two governors that the 
clerk of bills, being a permanent officer, 
should do all the indexing of the laws, 
should be the clerk of any revision com- 
mittee, and should also index the journal 
in order that we might have a consistent 
index; but I have been thinking that if we 
could get a good skeleton of the index, the 
index would be at least as good as the 
skeleton incorporated. 

Mr. LIEN: Do I understand that you 
would incorporate in all indices all these 
various titles, with the "See" reference? 

Mr. GODARD: Yes; that is, all probate 
matters in New York would be indexed 
properly under "surrogate," whereas in 
states where "probate" was the word used 
they would come under "probate," but after 
"surrogate" would be "See Probate." 

Mr. LIEN: The only objection might be 
the size of the index. For each term used 
— and in many instances I think there will 
be five or six or seven of them — at least 
two lines would be needed, and it would 
seem to me that the references might pos- 
sibly add considerably to the length of the 
index. 

Mr. GODARD: I have thought that it 
would not be necessary to have two lines, 
but I should like to hear other expressions 
of opinion. 

Mr. FITZPATRICK: In New York the 
indexing of the session laws has been un- 
der my supervision since 1907. I want to 
ask if you would put these in as cross- 
references or as separate tables? 

Mr. GODARD: I should put them In as 
cross references, so that, whatever legal 
language an attorney was in the habit of 



650 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



using, he could find the term to which he 
was accustomed and be referred from that 
to the term under which the topic is 
treated. 

Mr. FITZPATRICK: A separate table I 
think could be put in compact form; but 
cross references would lengthen the index 
unduly. Our index last year ran to 375 
pages. I have no way of calculating what 
the additional length under that scheme 
would be, but I think it would be consid- 
erable. You have been doing indexing to 
legislation. Have you any idea of how 
many extra pages would be needed? 

Mr. GODARD: It would not take as 
many as we think off hand. 

Chairman DULLARD: I think you would 
find that it would take a great many. One 
of the chief difficulties with this plan would 
be to get each state to carry it out, whereas 
a simple cross reference table could cover 
all the states. 

Mr. LIEN: The thing is too complicated 
to discuss generally until it has been 
worked out. Possibly some one from New 
York can explain the direct result worked 
out by Mr. Wadhams in his court revision. 
I think he sent all of us a sample index 
and asked for suggestions regarding the 
possibility of making that the standard 
index for New York State. 

Mr. FITZPATRICK: It became so com- 
plicated that the legislature at its last ses- 
sion turned the matter over to a legislative 
committee to investigate the possibility o! 
making some sort of practical index out 
of it. The index had run to thirty or forty 
volumes and it seemed time to call a halt 

I should like to make a suggestion about 
Mr. Godard's plan. I should think a table 
in the hands of librarians would serve the 
purpose because there are very few lawyers 
using statutes of other states except 
through the librarian. He wouldn't then 
be burdened with too long an index. 

Mr. GODARD: I think there must be a 
misunderstanding. I am recommending 
just those references that are essential. 
Only a very few of the terms vary in the 
different states; that is, you wouldn't need 



a sign-board at every curve, only at the 
four corners. 

I had some correspondence with Mr. 
Wadhams and with some others, and my 
firm conviction is that such a skeleton — I 
am not building up a collection of skele- 
tons, just the barest necessity— is greatly 
needed, and I think that those who are 
making indices would say, "God bless you, 
and thank you," and would all begin to fill 
in the index as we do in the American 
Classification scheme. 

Mr. FITZPATRICK: It is the rarer 
terms that you need; because most statutes 
are used through law librarians who 
wouldn't need references from such coaj- 
nion terms as orphans' courts, etc. 

Mr. GODARD: We are up against it as 
it is. There isn't a day when somebody 
isn't looking for the statutes of the several 
states on a certain subject. 

Mr. FITZPATRICK: I think that a poly- 
glot dictionary would do. Instead of in- 
corporating an index to each volume, have 
it done, once for all, in the form of an inter- 
state polyglot dictionary. 

Mr. GODARD: If we could get this mat- 
ter started by taking it up in our Associa- 
tion and then presenting it to the proper 
division of the American Bar Association, 
I think it would be a good thing. I should 
like to hear from Mr. Mettee on this. 

Mr. METTEE: We have damages, per- 
sonal injuries, negligence, master and 
servant, workmen's compensation, and so 
on. Here comes along transfer tax, col- 
lateral inheritance tax, etc. I find in my 
experience that very often a well known 
lawyer will come to our place, climb a lad- 
der, get his own books, won't tell anybody 
what he is doing. Sometimes there is some- 
thing to be sprung — lawyers have no busi- 
ness divulging a client's secrets, they can't 
tell the law librarian anything about it. 
The man may look and look — it isn't any of 
my business — and may go astray, may go 
out of the library. I have known several 
cases where, about worn out, they have 
come to ask me a very simple matter. 

But, as Mr. Godard says, a key something 
like this man Wadhams' book of abbrevia- 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



651 



tions would be a very good thing to have 
for you to knock off your angles. It Is a 
very difficult thing to get such an index of 
text books in a law library. I have been 
twenty-six years in law libraries, and I 
know that it is hard work. No one knows 
what one has to go through until he under- 
takes such a job. I think there should be 
a committee appointed to report at the 
next meeting — a committee of three, the 
smaller the number the better. 

Chairman DULLARD: Mr. Mettee, will 
you make that a motion? While there has 
been some discussion, there hasn't been any 
concrete proposition before the house. 

Mr. WHEELER: I hope that some mo- 
tion will be made and passed, and if some 
classification along the line of Mr. Godard's 
suggestions could be adopted by the Asso- 
ciation I think most of the state librarians 
would be more than willing to accept it. 

We had a motion passed a few years ago 
which changed the form of procedure 
where two judges had to sit in capital cases, 
so that one judge could sit in a capital case 
in place of the other. A judge asked me 
to find the law. I looked under "judges," 
under "procedure," under "murders," under 
"capital cases," and I could not find it. 
Pretty soon I found it under "jurisdiction." 

This last year Massachusetts passed a 
law regarding the sale of tags on "tag 
days," providing that no person under six- 
teen years of age and only certain parties 
could sell tags. An attorney who came in 
to hunt for this law said, "I cannot find it 
anywhere." "I am sure the law has been 
passed," I said; and I found it under "over- 
seers of the poor," because overseers of the 
poor granted the license. I think that any 
change would be an improvement. 

Mr. HEWITT: I should like one word 
more. I think Mr. Fitzpatrick has indi- 
cated what the word finally will be on this 
question, but I don't think we can have it 
at present. The complete remedy is a dic- 
tionary of tables, as Mr. Fitzpatrick sug- 
gests. Such a dictionary would include the 
various titles in use throughout the differ- 
ent states, and would include titles of the 
past as well as of the present, because these 



also will have to be borne In mind. "Bills 
and notes" are put under the title "nego- 
tiable contracts" — which is, after all, rather 
unsatisfactory because it excludes those 
which are non-negotiable, whereas the old 
title of "bills and notes" was strictly scien- 
tific, which showed tlie ability and keen- 
ness of vision of the old lawyers. A dic- 
tionary of titles would take notice of titles 
like these and give a person not so well up 
on old law books a hint of where he might 
go for valuable material. Social changes 
have caused the old title of "master and 
servant" to grate somewhat on the feelings 
of many, so we have "master and servant," 
"employers' liability," "workmen's compen- 
sation." We have "collateral inheritance 
tax," "inheritance tax," "successors' tax," 
"transfer tax." 

A dictionary of titles would improve the 
whole situation, from the Atlantic to the 
Pacific and from the Canadian line south- 
ward. Meantime, I think something of the 
nature of Mr. Godard's scheme would be of 
great advantage. 

Chairman DULLARD: Mr. Mettee, will 
you kindly repeat your motion? 

Mr. METTEE: I move that a commit- 
tee of three be appointed to investigate the 
subject, work out the method as suggested 
by Mr. Godard, and report at the next 
meeting. 

Chairman DULLARD: If I might be per- 
mitted to say a word or two, I think there 
has been some violence of opinion and dis- 
cussion. It depends a great deal upon the 
viewpoint of those who might be appointed 
on the committee as to Just what they 
would undertake to do. 

Mr. GODARD: To inquire into the prac- 
ticability of such a skeleton — now, don't 
get the idea of an index — the practicability 
of such a skeleton to be incorporated into 
the indices of American statute law as 
shown in the several revisions. 

Mr. LIEN: I think we should be very 
careful that the question isn't made one of 
statutory indexing in general, but is sim- 
ply a suggestion as to cross references for 
the different titles used by various states 
for the same subjects. I do not believe that 



662 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



at this time we want to take up this whole 
subject, but I tlilnk the committee might 
consider just this particular suggestion of 
Mr. Gcdard's and report at the next meet- 
ing. 

Chairman DULLARD: As long as the 
motion doesn't give the committee author- 
ity to do anything except malce recom- 
mendations It won't make very much dif- 
ference v/hat form the recommendation 
takes; but I think perhaps the whole mat- 
ter miglit be investigated. The committee 
might go Into tliese various phases and 
come to us a year from now with some sug- 
gestions. 

Mr. FITZPATRICK: Are these to be rec- 
ommendations to indexers of session laws? 

Mr. GODARD: Of course, that is all we 
could do. In the first place, we want to con- 
vince ourselves — you see I still consider 
the skeleton of cross-references — we want 
to decide upon what is practicable, and 
then when we have found it we can pass a 
resolution recommending It to others who 
are indexers. Lots of things have been 
considered impossible until some fellow 
came along who didn't know it was impos- 
sible to do them. 

Chairman DULLARD: If the chair un- 
derstands tlie motion, the recommendation 
is to be made that tlie committee is to 
come back to this meeting next year, wlien 
the recommendation will be threslaed out, 
and the result of that threshing out will go 
to the Indexers. 

Mr. FITZPATRICK: Do you know, Mr. 
Godard, whether there are any state libra- 
ries beside New York that do the indexing 
to tlie session laws? 

Mr. GODARD: I am not sure. Let us 
ask. 

(No answer.) 

Mr. FITZPATRICK: I am afraid the 
recommendations won't go very far in 
many states. 

Chairman DULLARD: They may take 
tl;e form of a recommendation for a table 
of cross-references. 

Mr. SMALL: I believe we are getting 
entirely away from the motion in discus- 
sing what may be done in the future. As I 



understand, the motion is that a committee 
be appointed to investigate and report back 
the advisability of such a skeleton or pro- 
posed cross reference index, and tliat being 
the motion, it is not necessary for us to 
take the time to discuss the merits of it 
this year. I therefore call for tlie question. 

I will say that I am heartily in favor of 
this motion as made, that a committee be 
appointed, because I, like all of the rest, 
have difficulty with indices of different 
states. I know there is need of improve- 
ment, and I believe we are steering right 
by having a committee appointed to in- 
vestigate and report to the association next 
year. 

Chairman DULLARD: That is the way 
the chair understands the motion. 

Mr. LIEN: This is a joint meeting of 
the associations, and I think that we ought 
to specify that the incoming President of 
the National Association of State Libra- 
ries should appoint the committee. 

Chairman DULLARD: If the motion is 
adopted, X would say, as the newly-elected 
President of the National Association of 
State Libraries, that in the appointment of 
the committee I should feel under obliga- 
tion to act jointly with Mr. Hewitt, presi- 
dent of the American Association of Law 
Libraries. 

Mr. GODARD: I should think that this 
was just the meeting to take the matter up; 
and there ought to be a joint committee, 
as there are so many state libraries that 
don't have anything to do with law. 

Mr. LIEN: The motion was that the 
president appoint the committee. If this 
is a joint meeting there are two presidents. 

Chairman DULLARD: I think that first 
we would better adopt the motion. Those 
in favor of the adoption of the motion will 
say "Aye." 

(The motion was adopted.) 

Chairman DULLARD: The understand- 
ing of the chair Is that this matter will be 
acted upon by a committee that will report 
to the joint association next year — the com- 
mittee to be appointed by Mr. Hewitt and 
myself. Is there anything else to come 
before us this evening? 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES 



563 



Mr. LIEN: We have during these meet- 
ings had various reports and heard a great 
deal about legislative data index, official 
index of state legislation, and no doubt 
most of you have seen copies of the index 
which are at the headquarters of the A. L. A. 
at the New Monterey. The committee has 
been working at it for many years, and 
Mr. Allen has been working with the com- 
mittee for some time. I think it would be 
very proper for this joint meeting to adopt 
a resolution acknowledging their labors 
and expressing our thanks. For that rea- 
son I move the following resolution. 

"RESOLVED, that the National Associa- 
tion of State Libraries and the American 
Association of Law Libraries thank their 
Joint Committee on National Legislative 
Information Service for their labors cov- 
ering many years which have resulted In 
the publication during 1916 of the 'Official 
Index to State Legislation,' an indispensa- 
ble tool for those called upon to investi- 
gate legislative matters and to keep in 
touch with current legislation in the sev- 
eral states, and be it further 

"Resolved, that these two Associations 
thank Mr. F. W. Allen, of the Law Report- 
ing Company, for his constant optimism, 
wise suggestions, and financial aid, without 
which the efforts of the Committee, in the 
face of the tremendous difficulties to be 
overcome, would have come to naught." 

Upon motion being duly made and sec- 
onded, the resolution was adopted. 

Chairman DULLARD: Is there anything 
else to come before us? 

Mr. LIEN: I think that some one ought 
to answer the question raised some time 
ago as to wliether law librarians should 
be permitted to take part in discussions of 
state librarians. I tliink Mr. Small should 
answer that question. 

Chairman DULLARD: I thought that it 
had been pretty fully covered by the re- 
marks made tonight. Of course. In a joint 
meeting the members of the joint organi- 
zations have equal rights, but at a meeting 
of the National Association of State Libra- 
ries members of the other organization 
haven't that right where some matter is 



before the house that Is purely a state 
library matter. The law librarians would 
not have any desire to vote on such a sub- 
ject, and perhaps wouldn't have any desire 
even to discuss it, but I suppose if they did 
we would be perfectly willing to listen to 
them. I think there need not be any dif- 
ficulty about a proposition of that kind. 
Of course, the only thing that could be said 
about it at the present time Is that it is 
entirely a matter of courtesy from the pre- 
siding officer, or the organization Itself. 
There is no way of making it official except 
to change the Constitution. Is there any- 
thing else? 

Mr. LAPP: I missed the early part of 
the meeting, and I should like to know If 
any action has been taken on the matter 
of presenting to the members of both or- 
ganizations the suggestion of legislative 
service. We must do something, or we are 
not going to get our hundred subscribers. 
It seems to me that the proper thing would 
be for the National Association of State Li- 
braries and the American Association of 
Law Libraries, respectively, to submit to 
their members a letter of endorsement and 
recommendation that they do all In their 
power to support this service. If it is In 
order I should like to move that that be 
done — that each one of the associations 
send a letter to Its members strongly urg- 
ing them to participate actively in the con- 
duct of this enterprise. 

Chairman DULLARD: You have heard 
the motion by Mr. Lapp that the National 
Association of State Libraries and the 
American Association of Law Libraries 
send to the members of their respective as- 
sociations a letter strongly urging that the 
members of the associations become sub- 
scribers to the Official Index to State Legis- 
lation. 

I think you all understand the matter. 
If you think discussion necessary the chair 
will hear you; otherwise the motion will 
be put. Those in favor will say "Aye." 

(The motion was passed.) 

Mr. POOLE: Now, I am wondering as 
to whether the active cooperation of the 



664 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Special Libraries Association could not be 
secured in this matter. 

MEMBER: I will take the matter up 
with the Special Libraries Association, and 
I am very sure they will adopt it. 

Mr. GODARD: I am sure we have all 
enjoyed the papers which have been pre- 
sented at this meeting, and I am sure we 
all appreciate the labor which has been 
bestowed on them by those who have pre- 



pared them. I move that a hearty vote of 
thanks, signified by rising, be extended to 
those who have so ably instructed us by 
their papers this evening. 

(The motion being seconded, a rising vote 
of thanks was tendered Mr. Johnston and 
Miss Strange, and the motion unanimously 
adopted. 

A motion to adjourn being seconded and 
agreed to, the meeting adjourned.) 



AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF LAW LIBRARIES 



The eleventh annual meeting of the 
American Association of Law Libraries 
held June 27-29, at Asbury Park, was one 
of the most successful and enjoyable in its 
history. Two separate meetings and two 
joint sessions with the National Associa- 
tion of State Libraries gave ample oppor- 
tunity for papers and discussions of mutual 
interest. 

President E. J. Lien, in his address 
touched briefly upon three topics of cur- 
rent interest; the present activity in the 
gathering of literature on the subject of 
administrative law; the increasing use of 
legal periodicals made possible by the pub- 
lication of the "Index to legal periodicals 
and the desirability of a check-list to legal 
periodicals: advance opinions of supreme 
courts and how they may be obtained." 

Mr. P. C. Hicks, law librarian of Colum- 
bia University, read a paper on "Instruc- 
tion in legal bibliography at Columbia Uni- 
versity Law school." This was followed by 
a similar paper by Mr. Frederick W. 
Schenk, law librarian of the University of 
Chicago. The discussion of these papers 
resulted in the appointment of a commit- 
tee which will urge that courses of instruc- 
tion in the use of law books and tools be 
made a part of every law school program. 

The reports of the secretary and treas- 
urer showed a prosperous condition of the 
Association and gave assurance of a vigor- 
ous continuance of its work. 

A most interesting paper on "Problems 
of statutory indexing" prepared by Mrs. 



Agnes McNamara Munson to follow her 
article on the same subject, printed in the 
April "Law library journal," was read by 
her husband, Mr. F. Granville Munson. It 
was peculiarly valuable in that Mrs. Mun- 
son was engaged in the preparation of the 
Index to Federal Statutes and the Index to 
New York Statutes, two of the most ex- 
tensive statutory indexes attempted. Mrs. 
Munson was considered an expert in this 
special line and her recent death has re- 
moved a leading authority on the subject. 

The report of the Committee on legal 
bibliography was devoted principally to the 
Official Index to State Legislation which 
has been promoted during 1915 and which 
both associations are strenuously attempt- 
ing to place on a permanent footing. It is 
an unusual undertaking and deserving of 
enthusiastic support. The proposed bibli- 
ography of session laws and statutes, which 
it is hoped will be undertaken in the near 
future by Mr. T. L. Cole, who has ex- 
pressed his willingness to put into perma- 
nent form such information as he has been 
able to accumulate during his busy life in 
the field of American statute law, was 
strongly advocated, especially as the Car- 
negie Institution has shown an interest in 
its publication. 

The report of Chairman T. L. Cole on 
"Symbols to indicate pagination of books" 
will be issued in pamphlet form for use of 
librarians interested in statute law. 

A paper by Frank E. Chipman, president 
of the Boston Book Company, on "Austra- 



SPECIAL LIBRARIES ASSOCIATION 



656 



lian law reports, official and otherwise," is 
a valuable contribution to the bibliography 
of foreign law. 

At the joint sessions were read the fol- 
lowing papers: "Economic conditions of 
the twentieth century," Dr. Clinton R. 
Woodruff, secretary National Municipal 
League, Philadelphia; "The library of the 
Bureau of Railway Economics in its inter- 
library relations," R. H. Johnston, libra- 
rian; "Library by-products," Miss Joanna 
G. Strange, New York Public Library. 

The following officers were elected to 
serve during the year 1916-1917: 

President, Luther E. Hewitt, Law Asso- 
ciation of Philadelphia. 

First Vice-President, J. C. Robertson, 
Winnipeg, Manitoba. 



Second Vice-President, Miss Mary K. 
Ray, Lincoln, Nebraska. 

Secretary, Miss Gertrude Elstner Wood- 
ard. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. 

Treasurer, Edward H. Redstone, Social 
Law Library, Boston, Mass. 

Executive Committee: Gilson G. Glazier, 
Madison, Wise; George S. Godard, Hart- 
ford. Conn.; C. Will Shaffer, Olympia, Wash. 

The Association passed resolutions of ap- 
preciation of the work of the officers of the 
American Library Association and of the 
local committees which made its sessions 
not only profitable and successful but ex- 
tremely enjoyable as well. 

Full proceedings will appear in the "Law 
library journal." 



SPECIAL LIBRARIES ASSOCIATION 



FIRST SESSION 

The eighth annual meeting of the Spe- 
cial Libraries Association was called to or- 
der by the president, Andrew Linn Bost- 
wick, in the Palm Room of the New 
Monterey hotel, Asbury Park, N. J., June 
28, at 9:30 a. m. President Bostwick made 
a few introductory remarks and gave a 
very interesting resume of the activities of 
the Association during the past year, mak- 
ing special mention of work of the member- 
ship committee and the efforts of the 
Executive Board to devise a practical 
scheme for the publication of the magazine 
"Special libraries" without expense to the 
managing editor. The report of the mem- 
bership committee and the discussion of 
the publication of "Special libraries" was 
continued to the regular business session. 

Owing to the absence of Mr, D. C. Buell 
of Omaha his paper entitled "Sources of 
information for the business man" was 
read by Mr. Samuel H. Ranck, of Grand 
Rapids, Michigan. 

Dr. C. C. Williamson, Municipal Refer 
ence Library of New York City, presented 



a paper entitled "Public officials and the 
special library." 

This was followed by a brief discussion 
of a printed paper on the subject "Stan- 
dardization of a library unit system," by 
George W. Lee, librarian. Stone and Web- 
ster, Boston. 

After informal discussion from the floor 
Miss Rhea King, librarian of the Retail 
Credit Co., of Atlanta, Georgia, read a very 
interesting paper entitled "The system usee 
by the Retail Credit Co. to develop em- 
ployees." 

"The Editorial office — a new field for li- 
brarians" was the title of a talk given by 
Miss Renee B. Stern, of the Mothers' Maga- 
zine. Elgin, Illinois. 

In the absence of Dr. Clinton Rogers 
Woodruff, chairman of the Committee on a 
national center for municipal information, 
the report of the Committee was read by 
President Bostwick and action deferred un- 
til the final business session. 

At the close of these papers the presi- 
dent announced the appointment of the fol- 
lowing committees: 



666 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Auditing Committee: Gteorge W. Lee, 
Dr. C. C. Williamson. 

Nominating Committee: O. E. Norman, 
K. C. Walker, Ren6e B. Stern. 

The meeting adjourned at 12:15 p. m. 

SECOND SESSION 

The second session was called to order 
by the president in the parlor of the 
Columbia Hotel, on the evening of June 28. 
This meeting was given over to a series 
of Round Table discussions, a half hour 
being devoted to each of tour subjects 
Miss Elizabeth V. Dobbins presided at the 
discussion of the "Treatment of pamphlets 
Mr. D. N. Handy led the conference on "Spe 
cial libraries employees." Miss Marian R 
Glenn conducted the "Classification sys 
tems" round table. H. H. B. Meyer had 
charge of "Co-operation in bibliographical 
worlc" and "Special library publicity" was 
handled by Brainerd Dyer. 

At the close of these discussions the 
meeting adjourned to Friday, 9:30 a. m. 

THIRD SESSION 

President Bostwick called the third ses- 
sion to order in the Parlor of the Columbia 
Hotel at 9:30 a. m., June 30. 

Kenneth C. Walker, technology librarian 
New Haven Public Library, read a paper 
entitled "Co-operation between special li- 
braries and the engineering profession." 

The "Public affairs information service" 
was discussed by John A. Lapp. 

Mr. Ralph L. Powers, librarian College 
of Business Administration, Boston Uni- 
versity, presented a paper "The special li- 
brary and the student of business." 

Mr. Frederick Rex, librarian of the 
Municipal Reference Library of Chicago, 
was not able to be present to deliver his 
paper on "The municipal reference library 
as a public utility." A typewritten copy of 
the paper was in the hands of the presi- 
dent and on the recommendation of the 
Association the paper was ordered printed 
in "Special libraries." 

"The work of the Detroit Edison Co. 
Library" was well presented by Miss Maud 
A. Carabin, librarian of the company. 

Meeting adjourned at 12 noon. 



FOURTH SESSION 

The annual business meeting was held in 
the Palm Room of the New Monterey Hotel 
at 2 p. m., June 30. President Bostwick 
in the chair. 

The secretary-treasurer presented the 
financial report for the year and on motion 
properly made and passed the report was 
accepted. 

At this point the report of the Nominat- 
ing committee was called and Chairman 
Norman submitted the following recom- 
mendation : 

President, F. N. Norton, Philadelphia. 

Vice-president, Dr. C. C. Williamson, New 
York City. 

Secretary-treasurer, John A. Lapp, Indian- 
apolis. 

Member of the Executive Board, Eliza- 
beth V. Dobbins, New York City. 

On motion made by Mr. Lee and passed, 
the secretary was instructed to cast the 
ballot of the Association for the ticket. 

Mr. Johnston moved that the by-laws be 
so amended as to permit the ex-presidents 
of the Association to be members of the 
Executive Board and that a new office of 
assistant secretary be created. Motion was 
seconded and passed. 

Chairman Cunningham of the Committee 
on clippings made a progress report and 
upon motion of Mr. Lapp, properly sec- 
onded and passed, the committee was con- 
tinued with Instructions to present a final 
report at the 1917 meeting. 

A motion was made by Mr. Johnston that 
appointment of an assistant secretary be 
left to the incoming Executive Board. 
Motion seconded and passed. 

Mr. Lee moved that members of the 
Advisory Board be provided with regular 
forms for the making of district reports. 

At this point adjournment was taken to 
6 p. m. 

ADJOURNED SESSION 

The adjourned session was called to order 
in the Palm Room of the New Monterey at 
6:15 p. m. Mr. Lapp moved that the 
Executive Committee be authorized to make 
arrangements with the secretary and man- 



SPECIAL LIBRARIES ASSOCIATION 



557 



aging editor for the payment of clerical 
help in the office of the secretary and man- 
aging editor. The motion received a sec- 
ond and was passed. 

Mr. Lapp moved that authority be given 
the Executive Board to make payment from 
the Association's funds, when conditions 
allow, of certain indebtedness to Lillian 
Henley for services rendered. Motion sec- 
onded and passed. 

Miss Marian R. Glenn moved that a com- 
mittee of three be appointed by the chair to 
act as a Committee on relation of business 
libraries to industrial organizations. The 
motion was seconded by Mr. Lapp and 
passed. The president appointed Miss 



Glenn, Chairman, and Mr. Lapp and Miss 
Dobbins. 

Mr. Lapp moved that it be expressed as 
the sense of the Special Libraries Associa- 
tion that of. the three plans proposed by 
the Committee on national center for 
municipal information the so-called second 
plan or the development of the public af- 
fairs information service gives the most 
promise and that the committee be asked 
if it is feasible to work out a plan along 
this line. The motion received a second 
and was passed. 

The meeting adjourned. 

J. Cunningham, 

Secretary. 



ATTENDANCE SUMMARIES 



By Position 



Trustees 5 

Library Commissions 9 

Chief Librarians 136 

Heads of Dept's. and 

Branch Lib'ns 29 

Assistants 42 

Library School Instructors 1 

Library School Students . . 8 

Editors 5 

Commercial Agents 40 

Others 43 



and Sex 
Men Women Total 
..5 3 8 



14 
205 

210 

365 

15 



191 



23 
341 

239 
407 
16 
56 
15 
47 
234 

1386 



318 1068 
By Geographical Sections 

of the 6 New England States 125 

5 North Atlantic States and 
District of Columbia 935 

6 South Atlantic States 24 

5 North Central States 229 

6 South Central States 12 

" 14 Western States 23 

3 Pacific States 19 

Canadian Provinces 14 



China . . 
England 
Finland . 
Norway . 
Sweden . 



Total 1386 

By States 



Alabama . . . 
Arizona .... 
Arkansas . . 
California . . 
Colorado . . . 
Connecticut 

Delaware 10 

District of Col- 
umbia 49 

Florida 4 

Georgia 9 

Illinois 80 

Indiana 11 

Iowa 20 

Kansas 3 



North Carolina. 1 
Ohio 40 



Oregon 

Pennsylvania .. 
Rhode Island. . 
South Carolina. 
South Dakota.. 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Utah 

Vermont 

Virginia 

V/ashington . . . 
West Virginia. . 



3 
119 
16 
3 
1 
4 
2 
2 
8 
5 
9 
2 



Kentucky 6 

Maine 4 

Maryland 13 

Massachusetts .. 60 

Michigan 17 

Minnesota 7 

Missouri 31 

Montana 1 

Nebraska 4 

New Hampshire 5 

New Jersey.... 182 



New York 563 

Wyoming 1 



Foreign Countries 

Canada 14 

China 1 

England 1 

Finland 1 

Norway 1 

Sweden 1 

Total 1386 



Wisconsin 23 



By Libraries 

Libraries having five or more 

representatives 

New York Public Library 159 

Brooklyn Public Library 81 

New York State Library 43 

Chicago Public Library 21 

New York Public Library School 20 

St. Louis Public Library 19 

Newark Public Library 19 

Cleveland Public Library 15 

Library of Congress 15 

Philadelphia Free Library 15 

Pittsburgh Carnegie Library School. ... 15 

Queens Borough Public Library 15 

Columbia University Library 12 

Trenton Public Library 11 

Pratt Institute Free Library 10 

Bayonne Public Library 9 

Pittsburgh Carnegie Library 9 

Asbury Park Public Library 8 

Pratt Institute Library School 8 

Wilmington Institute Free Library.... 8 

John Crerar Library 7 

Rochester Public Library 7 

Vassar College Library 7 

Washington Public Library 7 

Elizabeth Public Library 6 

Providence Public Library 6 

U. S. Dept. of Agriculture Library.... 6 

Boston Public Library 5 

East Orange Public Library 5 

Jersey City Public Library 5 

Perth Amboy Public Library 5 

Plainfield Public Library 5 

Union Theological Seminary Library. . 5 
University of Pennsylvania Library. ... 5 



[Note — The above figures from the library schools do not show the full attendance 
of students, as several from the classes of 1916 were present who registered under the 
libraries witli which they were about to be connected.] 



ATTENDANCE REGISTER 



Abbreviations: F., Free; P., Public; L.. Library; T., Trustee; ref.. Reference; catlgr., 
Cataloger; In., Librarian; asst., Assistant; br., Brancli; sch., Scliool. 



Aclier, Margaret. In. P. L.. Ossining, N. Y. 
Ackerly, Mary B., asst. Vassar Coll. L.. 

Poughkeepsie, N. T. 
Ackley, Gabriella. 1st asst., Fort Washing- 
ton Br. P. L., N. T. 
Adams, Benjamin, chief Circ. Dept. P. L., 

N. Y. 
Adams, Ellen F., stud. N. Y. State L. Sch., 

Albany, N. Y. 
Adams, Florence A., In. Polytechnic Prep. 

Sch., Brooklyn. N. Y. 
Adams, Leta E., head catlgr. P. L.. Roches- 
ter, N. Y. 
Adamson, Ruth E.. stud. Carnegie L. Tr. 

Sch., Pittsburgh, Pa. 
Adkins, Venice, 1st asst. Muhlenberg Br. P. 

L., N. Y. 
Ahern, Mary Eileen, editor Public Libraries. 

Chicago, 111. 
Akers, Susan G., In. and asst. curator, Dept. 

of Hygiene & Physical Culture. Wellesley 

Coll. C. Wellesley. Mass. 
Akin, Sally M., In. P. L., Frederick. Md. 
Alexander, Emily, St. Louis, Mo. 
Alexander, Laura, In. High Sch. L., Dallas, 

Tex. 
Alexander, Mary L., asst. P. L., St. Louis. 

Mo. 
Allen, Amy, organizer, State L., Columbus. 

O. 
Allen. Edith E., asst. F. P. L., Englewood. 

N. J. 
Allen, Mary T., asst. P. L., Asbury Park. 

N. J. 
Allen, Maude E., stud. N. Y. State L. Sch., 

Albany, N. Y. 
Alliger, Isabel, child. In. P. L., Brooklyn, 

N. Y. 
Alsberg, Pauline, asst. P. L., St. Louis, Mo. 
Anderson, Edwin H., director P. L., N. Y. 

City. 
Anderson, John R., bookseller, N. Y. 
Anderson, Mrs. John R., Montclair, N. J. 
Andrews. Clement W., In. The John Crerar 

L., Chicago, 111. 
Andrews. Evelyn R., In. JIuhlenberg Br.. 

P. L.. N. Y. 
Andrus, Gertrude E., supt. Child. Dept., 

P. L., Seattle, Wash. 
Armisted. Lewis A., In. Elevated Ry., Bos- 
ton, Mass. 
Ashley, Frederick W., supt. Reading Room 

L. of Congress, Washington. D. C. 
Ashley, Grace, sec'y to In. F. P. L., Newark. 

N. J. 
Ashley, May, In. P. L., Greenfield. Mass. 
Askew, Sarah B., organizer N. J. P. L. Com.. 

Trenton, N. J. 
Austen, Willard, In. Cornell Univ. L., Ithaca, 

N. Y. 
Avery, Emma L., In. in charge, McPherson 

Br. F. L.. Philadelphia. Pa. 
Avery, Jessie R., In. Lincoln Br. P. L., 

Rochester, N. Y. 
Ayers, Mary A., child In. 115th St. Br. P. L., 

N. Y. 
Babcock, Helen S., sr. asst. Austin Br. P. 

L., Chicago, III. 
Bachem, Gertrude, asst. Washington 

Heights Br. P. L., N. Y. 
Bacon, Corinne. on ed. staff H. W. Wilson 

Co., White Plains. N. Y. 
Badcock, Mrs. Mabel A., ref. asst. Russell 

Sage Foundation L., N. Y. 



Badger. Evelyn J.. 1st asst. P. L., Cedar 

Rapids, la. 
Baecht, Minnie C. asst. Ref. Dept., P. L., 

N. Y. 
Baer, Harriet I., In. Douglas Park Br. P. 

L., Chicago, 111. 
Bailey, Arthur L., In. Wilmington Inst. F. 

L., Wilmington, Del. 
Bailey, Loa E., In. East Portland Br. L. 

Assoc, Portland, Ore. 
Bailey, Sarah R., br. In. P. L., St. Louis, Mo. 
Bailev, Thomas D., Library Bureau, N. Y. 
Baillet, May E.. In. F. P. L., Irvington, N. J. 
Baird, Bertha S., In. P. L., Mason City, la. 
Baker, Charlotte A., In. State Agric. Coll. 

L., Fort Collins, Colo. 
Baker, E. S., Encvc. Brit. Co., N. Y. 
Baker, Julia A., In. Austin br. P. L., Chi- 
cago, 111. 
Baker, Mary E., head catlgr., Univ. L., 

Columbia, Mo. 
Baldwin, Emma V., sec'y to In. P. L., Brook- 
lyn, N. Y. 
Balston, Mabel E.. catlgr. Missionary Re- 
search L.. N. Y. 
Bamford, Mrs. C. Y.. Belmar, N. J. 
Bancroft, Edna H., In. Saratoga Br. P. L., 

Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Bankard, Florence R., head catlgr. Enoch 

Pratt F. L., Baltimore, Md. 
Bankard, Margaret S., Baltimore, Md. 
Banks, Grace S.. br. In. P. L., Passaic, N. J. 
Barickman, Mrs. Rena M., In. P. L., Joliet. 

III. 
Barker, Jessie C, In. Elmhurst Br. L. 

Queens Borough P. L., Elmhurst, N. Y. 
Barker. Tommie Dora, In. and director L. 

Sch., Carnegie L., Atlanta, Ga. 
Barnard, Mabel A., asst. P. L., Rutherford, 

N. J. 
Barnett, Claribel R., In. Dept. of Agric. L., 

Washington, D. C. 
Barnsted, Winifred G., catlgr. P. L., 

Toronto. Can. 
Barrow, Trotman C, asst. supt. Child. Dept. 

P. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Barrv. Kathleen E., Chivers Bookbinding 

Co.", Brooklyn, N. Y'. 
Barton, Mrs. Irene, N. Y. City. 
Batchelder, Annie, jr. asst. P. L., Chicago, 

III. 
Baver, Edna E., child. In. P. L., Rochester. 

N. Y. 
Bayne, Marian S., In. Hollins Coll., Hollins, 

Va. 
Beall, Mrs. Rachel H., 1st asst. Bond St. 

Br., P. L., N. Y. 
Beattv, M. Sophronia, In. P. L., Lansdowne, 

Pa. 
Bedell, Margaret A., asst. In. P. L., Nutley, 

N. J. 
Beecroft. Lillian J., chief Newspaper Dept., 

Wis. Hist. Soc, Madison, Wis. 
Beers, Mrs. H. L., trus. P. L., Roselle, N. J. 
Belden, Charles F. D., In. State L., and 

chairman Mass. F. P. L. Com., Boston, 

Belden.' Mrs. C. F. D., Boston, Mass. 
Bement, Constance, ref. asst. Mich. State L., 

Lansing, Mich. 
Bemis, Dorothy, stud. Pratt Inst. L. Sch., 

Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Bendikson, Loderoyk, bibliographer, Henry 
E. Huntington L.. N. Y. 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Bennett, Norma B., In. P. L., Madison 

N. J. 
Berry, Silas H., In. Bedford Br. Y. M. C. A. 

L., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Bidwell, Stella F., asst. L. of Congress, 

Washington, D. C. 
Blen, Corabel, asst. Cat. Div. P. L.., N. Y. 
Birch, Florence, catlgr. P. L., Jersey City, 

N. J. 
Birdsall, Mrs. Grace H., a.«st. Osterhout 

F. L., Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 
Biscoe, Walter S., sr. In. N. Y. State L., 

Albany, N. Y. 
Bishop, William W., In. Univ. of Mich. L., 

Ann Arbor, Mich. 
Black, Helen M., asst. Doc. & Mag. Dept. 

P. L,., Denver, Colo. 
Black, Miss, M. J. L., In. P. L., Ft. William, 

Ont. Can. 
Black, Norma D., asst. In. P. D., Bogota, 

N. J. 
Black, Susan E., In. in charge Tacony Park 

Br. P. L., Philadelphia, Pa. 
Blackwelder, Paul, asst. In. P. L., St. Louis, 

Mo. 
Blair, Irene E., In. P. L., Sedalia, Mo. 
Blair, Mellicent F., catlgr. P. L., Brooklyn, 

N. Y. 
Blake, Mrs. Elveretta S., In. F. L,., Adams, 

Mass. 
Blake, Irma I., catlgr. L. of Congress, 

Washington, D. C. 
Blakely, Bertha E., In. Mt. Holyoke Coll. 

L., South Hadley, Mass. 
Blanchard, Alice A., supervisor of Child. 

Work, P. P. L., Newark, N. J. 
Blanchard, M. Gertrude, child. In. Home- 
wood Br., Carnegie L., Pittsburgh, Pa. 
Blandin, Ethel, child In. 96th St. Br. P. L., 

N. Y. 
Blessing, Arthur R., stud. N. Y. State L. 

Sch., Albany, N. Y. 
Bliss, Robert P.. asst. sec'y F. L. Com., 

Harrisburgj Pa. 
Blogg, Harriet A., In. Goucher Coll. I.,.. 

Baltimore, Md. 
Blumberg, Theresa, br. In. Tremont Br. P. 

L., N. Y. 
Blunt, Florence T., Inst. L. Science, Sim- 
mons Coll. L. Sch., Boston, Mass. 
Boardman, Marguerite, stud. L. Sch. P. L., 

N. Y. 
Bogle, Sarah C. N., director Carnegie L. 

Training Sch., Pitt.sburgh, Pa. 
Bohmert, Lucy B., In. St. Gabriel's Park 

Br. P. L., N. Y. 
Boody, David A., pres. P. L., Brooklyn, 

N. Y. 
Booth, Mary J., In. Eastern 111. State Nor- 
mal Sch., Charleston. 111. 
Borden, Fanny, ref. In. Vassar Coll. D., 

Poughkeepsle, N. Y. 
Bostwick, Andrew L., municipal ref. In. P. 

L., St. Louis, Mo. 
Bostwick, Arthur E., In. P. L., St. Louis, 

Mo. 
Bostwick, Mrs. A. E., St. Louis, Mo. 
Bowerman, George F., In. P. L., Washing- 
ton, D. C. 
Bowker, Richard R., editor. Library Journal, 

N. Y. City. 
Bowker, Mrs. R. R., N. Y. City. 
Bowne, Carolyn A., asst. In. P. L., Perth 

Amboy, N. J. 
Bowman, Florence M., In. P. L., Plainfield, 

N. J. 
Brackbill, Anna L., stud. L. Sch. P. L., N. Y. 
Bradford, Faith, asst. Card Div. L. of Con- 
gress, Washington, D. C. 
Bradley, Florence, asst. br. In., P. L,, N. Y. 
Bradley, May D., P. L., Cranford, N. J. 
Brainerd, Jessie F., In. P. L., New Rochelle, 

N. Y. 
Brandon, W. J., N. Y. City. 



Brett, William H., In. P. L., Cleveland, O. 
Brewer, Clara A., stud. N. Y. State L. Sch., 

Albany, N. Y. 
Briggs, Elizabeth V., catlgr. P. L., N. Y. 
Brigham, Gwendolyn, asst. A. L. A. Office, 

Chicago. 
Brigham, Herbert O., In. State L., Provi- 
dence, R. I. 
Brigham, Johnson, In. State L., Des Moinee. 

la. 
Brigitte, Monrad I., Plainfleld, N. J. 
Brock, Adeline M., P. L., Plainfleld, N. J. 
Broderick, Florence R.. stud. Carnegie L. 

Tr. Sch., Pittsburgh, Pa. 
Brooke, Evelyn, stud. Pratt Inst. L. Sch., 

Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Brooks, Maud D., In. P. L., Clean, N. Y. 
Broomell, EUyn C, asst. Armour Inst, of 

Technology L., Chicago, 111. 
Broughton, Mildred, asst. P. L., Trenton, 

N. J. 
Brown, Adeline E., In. Travel. L., P. L., 

N. Y. 
Brown, Charles H., asst. In. P. L., Brooklyn, 

N. Y. 
Brown, Demarchus C, In. State L., Indian- 
apolis. Ind. 
Brown, Ethel S., asst. In. Central Br. Y. M. 

C. A. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Brown, Mrs. F. E., In. Retail Credit Co., 

Atlanta, Ga. 
Brown, Mabel W., asst. Wellesley Coll. L., 

Wellesley, Mass. 
Brown, Walter L., In. P. L., Buffalo, N. Y. 
Browning, Earl W., asst. P. L., St. Louis, 

Mo. 
Brundage, Nellie M., child. In. Leonard Br. 

P. D., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Bubb, M. Ethel, child. In. P. L., Washing- 
ton, D. C. 
Bucknam, Edith P., chief Cat. Dept., Queens 

Borough P. L., Jamaica, N. Y. 
Bull, Helen R., sr. asst. Prospect Br. P. L., 

Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Bullock, Walter I., chief loan In., Carnegie 

L., Pittsburgh, Pa. 
Bunn, Arralee, asst. Cossitt L., Memphis, 

Tenn. 
Burgess, Alice P., in charge Child. Room 

P. L., N. Y. 
Burgess, Harriet L., br. In., P. L., Brookljn, 

N. Y. 
Burke, Mildred M., In. Stanford Park Br. 

P. L., Chicago, 111. 
Burnet, Duncan, In. Univ. of Ga. L., Athens, 

Ga. 
Burnet, Martha A., In. F. P. L., Dover, N. J. 
Burrage, Edith M., catlgr. P. L., N. Y. 
Burrows, Dorothy E., In. F. P. L., Ruther- 
ford, N. J. 
Burrows, Marion, catlgr. P. L., Brooklyn. 

N. Y. 
Burt, Martha P., asst. In. P. L., Eau Claire, 

Wis. 
Burtis, Amy R., P. L., Elberon, N. J. 
Burtis, Mabel V., asst. P. L., Asbury Park, 

N. J. 
Burwell, Ethel I., In. National Pk. Sem. L.. 

Forest Glen, Md. 
Bushfleld, Minnie L., asst. In. Ohio State 

Arch. & Hist. Soc. L., Columbus, O. 
Butler, H. L., In. Amer. Law L., N. Y. City. 
Butler, Mabel E., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Cable, W. Arthur, Univ. of Chicago Press, 

Chicago, 111. 
Cahn, Betty, asst. P. L., Denver. Colo. 
Caldwell, Lena E., In. P. L., Flint, Mich. 
Callahan, Lillian, In. Levi Haywood Memo- 
rial L., Gardner, Mass. 
Callow, Hattie, br. In. P. L., Cleveland, O. 
Cameron, Jean E., stud. Pratt Inst,, L. Sch., 

Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Campbell, Clara E., stud. Carnegie L. Tr. 
Sch., Pittsburgh, Pa. 



ATTENDANCE REGISTER 



661 



Campbell, Donald K., asst. Ref. Dept. P. L., 
N. T. 

Campbell, J. Maud, dir. Work with Foreign- 
ers. Mass. F. P. L,. Com., Boston, Mass. 

Campbell, Jessie A., In. Tome Sch., Port 
Deposit, Md. 

Cannon, Carl L., stud. N. T. State L. Sch., 
Albany, N. Y. 

Carabin, Maud A., In. Edison Co., Detroit, 
Mich. 

Carlisle, Ruth L., child, in. West End Br., 
Carnegie L., Pittsburgh, Pa. 

Carlton, William N. C, In. Newberry L., 
Chicago, 111. 

Carnes, Katharine P., child. In. P. L,., N. Y. 

Carr, Henry J., In. P. L., Scranton, Pa. 

Carr, Mrs. Henry J., Scranton, Pa. 

Carr, John Foster, director Immigrant Pub- 
lication Soc, N. Y. City. 

Carr, Mrs. John Foster, N. Y. City. 

Carson, Jessie M., asst. to supervisor of 
work with children, P. L,., N. Y. 

Carson, W. O., inspector of Public Libraries 
of Ontario, Toronto, Can. 

Carter, Elizabeth, In. P. L., Somerville, N. J. 

Carter, George H., clerk Joint Committee 
on Printing, Washington, D, C. 

Carter, Julia F.. child. In. Travelling L'S. 
P. L., N. Y. City. 

Chamberlayne, Ellen F., child. In. P. L., 
Binghamton. N. Y. 

Champion, Marietta IC, In. Cooper Park 
Br. F. P. L,., Camden, N. J. 

Chapin. Esther S., asst. Ref. Dept. P. L., 
N. Y. 

Chapman, Effle L., sec'y to In., P. L., Seattle, 
Wash. 

Charlock, Laura S., 1st asst. Tompkins Park 
Br., P. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Chase, Mary A., ref. In. F. P. L., New Bed- 
ford, Mass. 

Chenery, Winthrop H., In. Washington 
Univ. L., St. Louis, Mo. 

Cheney, George N., In. Court of Appeals L., 
Syracuse, N. Y. 

Cheney, Mrs. G. N., Syracuse. N. Y. 

Child, Emily E., catlgr. P. L., Brooklvn, 
N. Y. 

Child, Grace A., catlog reviser, P. L., 
Hartford, Conn. 

Chlvers, Cedric, bookbinder, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Christie, John W., stenographer, Washing- 
ton, D. C. 

Clark, Anna D., Long Branch, N. J. 

Clark, Elizabeth V., In. Drexel Inst. L., 
Philadelphia, Pa. 

Clark, Mabelle L., In. F. L.. Belmar, N. J. 

Clarke, Edith E.. Auburn, N. Y. 

Clarke, Elizabeth P., In. Sevmour L., Au- 
burn, N. Y. 

Clarkson, Mary, In. P. D., Long Branch, 
N. J. 

Cleaver, Phyllis, Jr. asst. P. L., Chicago, 111. 

Cleavinger, John S., In. P. L.. Jackson, Mich. 

Clement, Ina, asst. Amer. Bankers' Assoc. 
L., N. Y. City. 

Clendenin, Susan R., In. in charge P. L., 
Harrisburg, Pa. 

Cleveland, Rev. E. J., N. J. P. L. Commis- 
sion. W. Hoboken, N. J. 

Cleveland, Mrs. E. J.. W. Hoboken, N. J. 

Cleveland, Mrs., West Hoboken, N. J. 

Cleverdon. Laura L., ref. asst. Union Theo- 
logical Sem. L., N. Y. City. 

Clifford, William. In. Metropolitan Museum 
of Art L., N. Y. 

Clizbee, Azalea, catlgr. P. L., N. Y. 

Cobb, Edith H., asst. F. P. L., New Bedford. 
Jlass. 

Cobb. Mary E., sr. asst. Child. Dept. Bush- 
wick Br. P. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Coe. Lucy D., asst. P. L., Dover, N. J. 

Colcord, Harriet T., br. In. P. L., Brooklyn, 



Colcord, Mabel, In. Bureau of Entomology 
L., Washington, D. C. 

Cole, Eva A., asst. ref. In., Columbia Univ. 
L., N. Y. 

Cole, George Watson, In. Henry E. Hunting- 
ton L., N. Y. City. 

Cole, Gladys, In. Clark Br., P. L., Cleve- 
land, O. 

Cole, Theodore L., Law Bookseller, Wash- 
ington, D. C. 

Colegrove, Mrs. Mabel E., ref. asst. F. P. L., 
Newark, N. J. 

Coleman, Mrs. A. H., Goshen, N. Y. 

Coleman, Henriette, In. Goshen L. and Hist. 
Soc. Goshen, N. Y. 

Collar, Herbert C, head catlgr. Grosvenor 
L., Buffalo, N. Y. 

Colt, Alice M., In. Ferguson L., Stamford, 
Conn. 

Colville, Nell, asst. 115th St. Br. P. L., N. Y. 

Comings, Marian E., In. Museum of Art L., 
Cleveland, O. 

Conard, Jane, In. DeKalb Br. P. L., Brook- 
lyn, N. Y. 

Condell, Lucy, ref. asst. P. L., N. Y. 

Congdon, Mrs. William M., L. visitor & dir. 
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Conway, Hester, child. In. Thompklns Sq. 
Br. P. L., N. Y. 

Cook, Ella B., ref. In. F. P. L., Trenton, 
N. J. 

Cook, Grace L., stud. L. Sch., P. L., N. Y. 

Cook, Mary A., supervisor Accessions Dept., 
Columbia Univ. L., N. Y, 

Cook, Mary E., In. Dennis L., Newton, N. J. 

Cooke, Marion A., asst. catlgr. P. L., 
Providence, R. I. 

Cooper, Elizabeth, In. Library Co., Red 
Bank, N. J. 

Cooper, Isabella M., head Sociology Dept., 
P. L., Brooklyn. N. Y. 

Copeland, Lora A., asst. P. L.. Brockton, 
Mass. 

Coplin. Martha L.. 1st asst. F. L., Philadel- 
phia. Pa. 

Cornell, Edith, Asbury Park, N. J. 

Cornew, Elsie M., 1st asst. Aguilar Br. P. 
L., N. Y. 

Corwin, Belle, In. N. Y. Univ. L., N. Y. 

Corwin, Margaret T., Yale Univ. Press, New 
Haven, Conn. 

Cotter, Minnie B., In. Harcourt Wood Me- 
morial L., Derby. Conn. 

Cotton, Willia D., In. P. L., Marietta, O. 

Couillard. Ada S., catlgr. Columbia Unlv, 
L., N. Y. 

Couse, W. J., Asbury Park, N. J. 

Covert, Flora I., catlgr. P. L., Brooklyn, 
N. Y. 

Cowing, Agnes, child. In. Pratt Inst. F. L., 
Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Cowper, Virginia S., In. John Wanamaker, 
N. Y. City. 

Cragin, Emma F., supt. of Cataloging Office, 
P. L., N. Y. 

Craig, Helen M., asst. ed. H. W. Wilson Co., 
White Plains, N. Y. 

Grain, Gladys L., asst. Child. Dept., P. L., 
N. Y. 

Grain, Lucy B., asst. In. P. L., Somerville, 
Mass. 

Crandle, Inez, In. Dimmick Memorial L., 
Mauch Chunk, Pa. 

Craver. Harrison W., In. Carnegie L., Pitts- 
burgh, Pa. 

Crosby, Claire P., asst. P. L., Brooklyn, 
N. Y. 

Cross, Anne G., In. Dept. of Commerce L., 
Washington. D. C. 

Cross, Leora M., In. West High Sch. Br. 
P. L., Cleveland, O. 

Crowe, Helen, asst. P. L., Chicago, 111. 

Crowe, Mabel, br. asst. P. L., N. Y. 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Crowne, Helen S., charge Ref. Room, UniY. 

of Pa. L., Philadelphia, Pa. 
Crowther, Mary, catlgr. U. S. Dept. Agric. 

L.. "Washington, D. C. 
Cruice, Mary Z., In. Pacliage L., Wilson 

Co., White Plains, N. Y. 
Cunningham, Jesse, In. P. L,.. St. Joseph, Mo. 
Cutter, Annie S., supervisor Grade Scliools 

Libraries, P. L,., Cleveland, O. 
Cutter, Marian, child. In. Saratoga Br. P. 

L., Brooklyn, N. T. 
Dalphin, Marcia, child. In. Hamilton 

Grange Br., P. L,., N. Y. 
Dalzell, Mrs. B. F., In. Allegheny High 

Sch. L., Pittsburgh, N. S., Pa. 
Dana, John C, In. F. P. L., Newark, N. J. 
Darlington, Genevieve, senior asst. John 

Crerar L., Chicago, 111. 
Darwin, Gertrude, catlgr. P. L., Brooklvn, 

N. Y. 
Datz, Harry R.. Library Bureau. N. Y. 

City. 
Davidson, Addine T., asst. ref. In. P. L., 

East Orange. N. J. 
Davies, John F., In. P. P. L., Butte, Mont. 
Davis, Alexander A., with N. A. Pheraister 

Co., N. Y. 
Davis, Caroline H., asst. Circ. Dept., P. L., 

N. Y. 
Davis, Georgia S., statistician P. L., Grand 

Rapids, Mich. 
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Syracuse, N. Y. 
Davis, Frances A., In. Wyo. State L., Chey- 
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Davis, Irene, child. In. Ferguson L., Stam- 
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Davis, Mary H., In. Woman's Coll. L., New 

London, Conn. 
Davis, Mildred E., child. In. Hamilton First 

Park Br. P. L., N. Y. 
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Mass. 
Davison, Mrs. Hannah P., In. emerita P. 

L., San Diego, Cal. 
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Hartford, Conn, 
Dayton, Hazel I., In. High Sch. Br., P. L., 

Passaic, N. J. 
Dean, Florence M., asst. Tremont Br. P. 

L., N. Y. 
Dean, M. B., Hudson Guild Settlement L., 

N. Y. 
Delflno, Mrs. Liborio, in charge Traveling 

libraries, F. L., Philadelphia, Pa. 
Dennis, Lorraine D., asst. P. L., Madison. 

N. J. 
Deshon, Corinne A., In. Curtis Memorial 

L., Meriden, Conn. 
Deveneau, George A., In. College of Agric. 

L., Univ. of 111., Urbana, 111. 
Dexter, Elizabeth H., child. In. P. L., N. Y. 
Dice, Anna C. F., Pittsburgh, Pa. 
Dice, J. Howard, asst. Ohio State L., 

Columbus, O. 
Dick, Christian R., stud. N. Y. State L. 

Sch., Albany, N. Y. 
Dick, Grace I., stud. N. Y. State L. Sch.. 

Albany, N. Y. 
Diclierson, Luther L., In. Grinnell Coll. L.. 

Grinnell. la. 
Dickey, Philena A., ref. asst. 9eth St. Br. 

P. L., N. Y. 
Diescher. Irina, asst. Child. Room, Home- 
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Dilks, Sara E., child. In. Chestnut Hill Br. 

F. L.. Philadelphia, Pa. 
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Dixon, Edna A., 1st asst., Fort Washington 

Br. P. L., N. Y. 
Doane. Stella T.. child. In. Yorkville Br. P. 

L., N. Y. 
Dobbins, Elizabeth V., In. American Tel. & 

Tel. Co. Accounting L., N, Y, City. 



Dolder, Ernest, P. L., N. Y. 

Doncourt, Amy E., asst. Flushing Br. 
Queens Borough P. L., Flushing, L. I., N. 
Y. 

Donnelly, Alice M., Cincinnati, O. 

Donnelly, Edith, Cincinnati, O. 

Donnelly, June R., director L. Science & In. 
Simmons Coll. L., Boston, Mass. 

Dore, May A., In. Gen. Electric Co., 
Schenectady, N. Y. 

Doster, J. B., sec'y H. W. Wilson Co., White 
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Dougan, Alice M,, head catlgr. Purdue Univ. 
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Dougherty, Anna R., chief Art & Music 
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Dougherty, Harold T., In. F. L.. Newton, 
Mass. 

Dow, Madelene, In. Barringer High Sch. L., 
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Dow, Mary E., In. P. L., Saginaw, E. S., 
Mich. 

Downey, Mary B., library sec'y & organizer 
Dept. of P. Instruction, Salt Lake City, 
Utah. 

Downing. Aida M., In. Bayside Br. Queens 
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Drake, Hetty S., class, and head catlgr. 
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Draper, Miriam S., In. Child. Museum L., 
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Dudgeon, Matthew S., sec'y Wis. F. L. Com., 
Madison, Wis. 

Duff, Ida J., child. In. Bushwick Br. P. L., 
Brooklvn, N. Y. 

Duffleld, D. W., supt. Print. & Bind. Depts., 
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Dunbar, Mary E., catlgr. Grove City Coll. L., 
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Durham, Josephine E., In. F. P. L.. Dan- 
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Duvall, Louise, asst. In. Bureau of Chemis- 
try L., U. S. Dept. of Agric, Washing- 
ton, D. C. 

Dwight, Franklin B.. pres. P. L., Morris- 
town, N. J. 

Dwyer, Winifred G., ref. In. P. L., Bayonne, 
N. J. 

Earhart, Frances E., In. P. L., Duluth, Minn. 

Earl, Mrs. Elizabeth C, Indiana P. L. Com., 
Connersville, Ind. 

Easby, Harriette M., asst. Queens Borough 
P. L., Jamaica, N. Y. 

Eastman, Mary A., stud, in child, course,, P. 
L., Cleveland, O. 

Eastman, Mary H., ref. In. Wilmington Inst. 
F. L., Wilmington, Del. 

Eastmore, Mabel, asst. P. L., Jacksonville. 
Fla. 

Eayrs, Ellen K., rep. Holt & Co., N. Y. City. 

Eckert, Eunice, asst. In. P. L., Plainfield, 
N. J. 

Eckman, Emma, head Circ. Dept. Inst. F. 
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Eddy, C. Vernon, In. Handley L., Winches- 
ter, Va. 

Edgerton, Frederick W., In. P. L.. New Lon- 
don, Conn. 

Eichenbaum, Rose L., In. Temple Br. P. L., 
Cleveland, O. 

Eldridge, Mildred, asst. In. P. L., Bayonne, 
N, J. 

Ellis, R. E., Nelson & Sons, Pub., N. Y. City. 

Else, Ethel E., catlgr. P. L., Madison, Wis. 

Ely, Margaret, In. Lake View High School 
Br. P. L., Chicago, 111. 

Emmons, Alice M.. In. Franklin Br. P. L., 
East Orange, N. .T. 

Endicott, Louise, child. In. Inst. F. L., Wil- 
mington, Del. 

Engell, Mrs. Jennie C, stud. L. Sch., P. L., 
N. Y. 



ATTENDANCE REGISTER 



563 



Engl, Erna, asst. P. L,., N. Y. 

English, Elizabeth M., child. In. Macon Br. 

P. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Enright, Alice, jr. asst., P. L.. Brooklyn, 

N. Y. 
Erb, Frederick W., asst. In. Columbia Univ. 

L., N. Y. 
Erskine, Edith, In. Harrison Tech. High Sch. 

Br. P. L., Chicago, 111. 
Estabrook, Lillie O., 1st asst. City L. & In. 

Hist. Soc, Newburgh, N. Y. 
Estes, D. P., In. Colgate Univ. L,., Hamilton, 

N. Y. 
Eubank, W. C, Rand McNally & Co. Pub., 

Chicago, 111. 
Evans, Mrs. Alice G., In. P. L., Decatur, 111. 
Evans, George H., In. P. L., Woburn, Mass. 
Evans, Onena L., ed. H. W. Wilson Co.. 

White Plains, N. Y. 
Fagan. Nellie K., In. Dickinson High Sch. 

L,., Jersey City, N. J. 
Fair, Ethel M., 1st asst. P. L., Harrisburg, 

Pa. 
Fairbanks, Frances, asst. Inst. F. L., Wil- 
mington, Del. 
Farquhar, Alice M., asst. Br. Dept. P. L.. 

Chicago, 111. 
Farren, Abigail H., child. In. P. L., N. Y. 
Faxon, Frederick W., mgr. L. Dept. Boston 

Book Co., Boston, Mass. 
Faxon, Mrs. F. W., Roslindale. Mass. 
Feazel, E. A., In. Cleveland Law L., Cleve- 
land, O. 
Feipel, Louis N.. editor of publications P. 

L., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Feipel, Mrs. L. N., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Fell, Emily J., catlgr. Metropolitan Lite 

Ins. Co. L., N. Y. 
Fellows, Jennie D., sub. In. Classification. N. 

T. State L., Albany, N. Y. 
Fellows, Juanita A., asst. Williamsburg Br. 

P. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Ferguson. Helen S., asst. P. L., .'?t. Louis. 

Mo. 
Ferguson, Mabel. St. Louis, Mo. 
Ferry, Genevieve, catlgr. Carnegie L., 

Duquesne, Pa. 
Field, Katharine W., asst. in charge Mun. 

Ref. Dept. F. L., Philadelphia, Pa. 
Field, Pearl I., supt. Circ. Dept. P. L., Chi- 
cago, 111. 
Fillman, Mrs. Emma E., Newark, N. .1. 
Finney, Grace B., chief of Cir. Dept. P. L.. 

Washington, D. C. 
Finster, Robert R., clerk Bd. of Trustees, 

P. L., N. Y. City. 
Fisk, Mary V., In. Law Assoc. L.. Toledo. O. 
Fitzpatrick, John T., law In., N. Y. State 

L., Albany, N. Y. 
Flagg, Charles A., In. P. L., Bangor, Me. 
Fleming, Ruth. stud. L. Sch. P. L., N. Y. 
Fletcher, Fanny B., trus. Fletcher Memor- 
ial L., Ludlow, Vt. 
Fletcher, Sheldon, asst. Aguilar Br. P. L.. 

N. Y. 
Flickinger, Mrs. Caroline R., In. F. P. L., 

Dalton, Mass. 
Foote, Elizabeth L., br. In. P. L., N. T. 
Foote. Mary S.. In. New Haven Co. Bar L.. 

New Haven. Conn. 
Ford, S. B., N. Y. Times Index, N. Y. City. 
Ford. Eva M., asst. sec'v A. L. A.. Chicago. 
Ford, Helen E., sr. asst. P. L., Brooklyn, 

N. Y. 
Forgeus, Elizabeth, catlgr. F. L., Philadel- 
phia, Pa. 
Foshay, Florence E., ref. asst. Aguilar Br.. 

P. L., N. Y. 
Foster. Helen W., F. P. L.. Newark. N. J. 
Foye, Charlotte H., sr. asst. John Crerar L.. 

Chicago, III. 
France, Mary G., chairman L. Com. N. T. S. 

Fed. Women's Clubs, Johnstown. N. Y. 
Francis, Mary, Hartford, Conn. 



Frank, Mary, In. P. L., Everett, Wash. 

Freeman, Marilla W.. In. Goodwyn Inst. L., 
Memphis, Tenn. 

Frick, Eleanor H., In. Amer. Soc. of Civil 

Engineers' L., N. Y. City. 
Friedel, Esther, asst. Brownsville Child. 

Br. P. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Freidus, Abraham S., chief Jewish Div. P. 
L., N. Y. 

French, Wallace, asst. P. L., N. Y. 

Frost, Pattie, chief of Loan Dept. anil asst. 
caltgr. P. L., Jacksonville, Fla. 

Fuller, Edith D., In. Episcopal Theological 
Sen. L., Cambridge, Mass. 

Fuller, George W., In. P. L., Spokane, Wash. 

Fulton, Edith, In. So. Phila. Br. F. L., 
Philadelphia. 

Furst, Elsie M.. In. Monroe Br. P. L., 
Rocliester, N. Y. 

Gaillard. Edwin W., P. L., N. Y. 

Galbreath, Charles B., In. State L.. Colum- 
bus, O. 

Galloway, Blanche, br. In. Queens Borough 
P. L., College Point, N. Y. 

Ganser, Helen A., In. Pa. State Normal Sell. 
L., Millersville, Pa. 

Gardner, Blanche, F. P. L., Newark, N. J. 

Gardner, Jane, art ref. In. F. P. L., New- 
Bedford, Mass. 

Gardner, Julia M., 1st asst. 58th St. Br. P. 
L., N. Y. 

Garvin, Ethel, custodian Special Libraries 
P. L., Providence, R. I. 

Gates, Alice J., asst. In. Engineering So- 
cieties L., N. Y. 

Gates, Edith M., sr. asst. F. P. L., Worces- 
ter, Mass. 

Gates, Marguerite L.. asst. P. L., Newark, 
N. J. 

Gay, Frank B., In. Watkinson L., Hartford, 
Conn. 

Gaylord, H. J., Library Supplies. Syracuse, 
N. Y. 

Geddes, Helen C, head catlgr. Brvn Mawr 
Coll. L., Bryn Mawr, Pa. 

George, C. A., In. F. P. L., Elizabeth, N. J. 

George, Mrs. C. A.. Elizabeth, N. J. 

George, Miss, Elizabeth, N. J. 

Gerould, James T., In. Univ. of Minn. L., 
Minneapolis, Minn. 

Gerow, Irma, asst. P. L., N. Y. 

Ghee, Mary A., sub. In. P. L.. Lakewood. 
N. J. 

Gibbs, Laura B., serial catlgr. Columbia 
Univ. L., N. Y. 

Gilfillan. Emily M., asst. Rockefeller 
Foundation L., N. Y. 

Gilkey. Malina A., asst. Catalog Div., L. of 
Congress, Washington, D. C. 

Gillette, Edna M., sec'y to In., Yale Univ. 
L., New Haven, Conn. 

Glasier. Gilson G., State L., Madison, Wis. 

Glasier, Mrs. G. G., Madison, Wis. 

Glenn, Edwina F.. Governor's Island. N, Y". 

Glenn. Marian R.. In. Amer. Bankers' Assoc. 
N. Y. 

Godard. George S., In. Conn. State L., Hart- 
ford, Conn. 

Goddard, William D., In. Deborah Cook 
Sayles L., Pawtucket, R. I. 

Goding, Sarah E., 1st asst. F. L., Philadel- 
phia, Pa. 

Goeks. Hedwig M., In. Mott Haven Br. P. 
L., N. Y. 

Goeppinger. Eva C, 1st asst. and catlgr. 
P. L., So. Norwalk, Conn. 

Gogorza, Flora de. In. Brownsville Child. 
Br. P. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Gold. Louise E., asst. L. Assn., Portland, 
Ore. 

Gold, Mary K.. teacher Pub. Sch., Asbury 
Park, N. J. 

Goldstein, Mildred, br. asst. P. L.. Brooklvn, 
N. Y. 



664 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Goldtliwaite, Lucille A., In. L. for Blind, P. 

L,., N. T. 
Gooch, Harriet B., instructor Sch. of L. 

Science, Pratt Inst., Brooklyn. N. Y. 
Goodman, Marie L., Kansas City, Mo. 
Goodrich, Natlianiel L., In. Dartmouth Coll. 

L., Hanover, N. H. 
Gordon, Edith L.., asst. child, room, P. L., 

Jersey City, N. J. 
Gordy, Mrs. C. L., asst. In. P. L., Columbus, 

Ga. 
Goss, Agnes C, In. State Nor. Sch. Carne- 
gie L., Athens, Ga. 
Gould, Charles H.. In. McGill Univ. L,., 

Montreal, Can. 
Grady, Emma A., ref. asst. P. L., Newark, 

N. J. 
Grannis, Ruth S., In. GroUer Club, N. Y. 
Gravez, Mary C, catlgr. P. L., Cincinnati, O. 
Gray, Elizabeth P., supt. of binding, P. L.. 

Washington, D. C. 
Gray, Julia C, In. Agric. Coll. L., State 

College, Pa. 
Green, Anna M., asst. Ord. & Acces. Dept., 

Syracuse Univ. L., Syracuse, N. Y. 
Green, Charles R., In. Mass. Agric. Coll. L., 

Amherst, Mass. 
Green. Ethel A., In. Dept. of Archives & 

History L., Charleston, W. Va. 
Green, Janet M., In. Lewis Inst. Br. P. L., 

Chicago. 111. 
Green. Lola M. B.. catlgr. Legal Dept. Amer. 

Tel. & Tel. Co., N. Y. 
Green, Margaret S., In. Par Rockaway Br. 

Queens Borough P. L., Far Rockaway. 

N. Y. 
Greene, Helen H., asst. Ref. Room, Fergu- 
son L.. Stamford. Conn. 
Greene, Lenore, asst. Tremont Br. P. L.. 

N. T. 
Greene, Marian P.. child. In. Epiphany Bi-. 

P. L., N. Y. 
Greer. Agnes F. P., head Loan Dept. P. L.. 

Tacoma. Wash. 
Greer, Sarah, catlgr. Columbia Univ. L.. 

N. Y. 
Griffin, Georgia S., asst. P. L.. Milwaukee. 

Wis. 
Griffln. Mrs. J. L., Milwaukee, Wis. 
Grimm. Minerva E., In. Morrisania Br. P. 

L., N. Y. 
Griswold, Alice S., In. Hartford Medical 

Soc. L.. Hartford, Conn. 
Grumpelt. H. J., P. L., N. Y. 
Grunenthal, Emily, asst. Tremont Br. P. L., 

N. Y. 
Guertin. Teresa A., jr. asst. Leonard Br. P. 

L.. Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Hackett, Irene A., In. F. P. L., Englewood, 

N. J. 
Hadlev, Chalmers. In. P. L.. Denver, Colo. 
Hafner. Alfred (G. E. Stechert & Co.). N. Y. 
Hafner. Mrs. Alfred. N. Y. City. 
Hagey, Mrs. E. M.. Cedar Rapids. la. 
Hagey, Joanna. In. F. P. L., Cedar Rapids, 

la. 
Hall, Anna G., In. F. L., Endicott. N. Y. 
Hall. Drew B.. In. P. L., Somerville. Mass. 
Haller. Chrissie H.. asst. P. L.. Detroit. 

Mich. 
Hallsted. Sarah, catlgr. Lincoln L., Spring- 
field. 111. 
Halyburton. Dorothea, asst. Barr Br. P. L., 

St. Louis. Mo. 
Hamilton. Louise, stud. Tr. Sch. C. L., Pitts- 
burgh. Pa. 
Hance. Emma, chief Ord. Dept. P. L.. 

Washington, D. C. 
Handerson. Juliet A., regietrar N. Y. P. L. 

Sch., N. Y. 
Handy, D. N., In. Insurance L. Assoc. L., 

Boston. Mass. 
Hannah, Edith, asst. P. L., Passaic, N. J. 
Harden, Walter L., Houghton Mifflin Co.. 



N. Y. 
Harding, Henrietta H,. sr. asst. P. L., 

Brooklyn. N. Y. 
Harding, Rachel McA., child, asst. P. L., 

N. Y. 
Harding, Ruth G., child, asst. P. L., N. Y. 
Hardy, E. A., sec'y Ontario L. Assoc, To- 
ronto, Can. 
Harper, Wilhelmina. child. In. College Point 

Br. Queens Borough P. L., College Point, 

N. Y. 
Harris, George W.. In. emeritus Cornell 

Univ. L., Ithaca, N. Y. 
Harris, Helen M., stud. N. Y. State L. Sch., 

Albany, N. Y. 
Harrison, Joseph L., In. Forbes L., North- 
ampton, Mass. 
Harrison. Marion V.. catlgr. P. L., N. Y. 
Hart, Lila G., child. In. P. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Hartmann, Hattle, asst. P. L., Perth Amboy, 

N. J. 
Hasse. Adelaide R., chief Doc. Dept., P. L., 

N. Y. 
Hassler, Harriot E., chief Child. Dept., 

Queens Borough P. L.. Jamaica, N. Y. 
Hatch. Alice K.. asst. P. L., St. Louis, Mo. 
Haugh, Mary T., asst. P. L., N. Y. 
Hauke. Rilla M., catlgr. L. of Congress, 

W^ashington. D. C. 
Hauser, Nellie G., asst. P. L.. Brooklyn, 

N. Y. 
Havender. Florence M., asst. Tremont Br. 

P. L.. N. Y. 
Hawkins, Enid M., In. Stevens Inst, of Tech., 

Hoboken, N. J. 
Hayward, Mabel, sr. asst. John Crerar L., 

Chicago, 111. 
Hazeltine, Mary E., preceptor Univ. of Wis. 

L. Sch., Madison. Wis. 
Heimbecker. Beatrice W.. asst. Ft. Washing- 
ton Br. P. L.. N. Y. 
Heims. Louise P., catlgr. P. L.. N. Y. 
Heiny, Mrs. Florence D., Cincinnati, O. 
Hellings. Emma L.. In. in charge, Wana- 

maker Br., F. L.. Philadelphia, Pa. 
Hemphill, Mrs. Wayne. Asbury Park. N. J. 
Henderson. Isabel L., br. asst. P. L., Brook- 
lyn, N. Y. 
Henderson, Lucia T., In. James Prendergast 

F. L., Jamestown, N. Y. 
Henderson, Robert W., asst. Information 

Div. P. L., N. Y. 
Hendrikson, Olive, asst. P. L., Asbury Park, 

N. J. 
Hendry, Donald, head Applied Science Dept. 

Pratt Inst. F. L.. Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Henlev. Lillian, H. W. Wilson Co.. White 

Plains. N. Y. 
Hepburn. William M.. In. Purdue Univ. L.. 

Lafayette. Ind. 
Hepburn. Mrs. W. M., Lafavette. Ind. 
Herber, Elizabeth R., asst. In. P. L., Bay- 

onne. N. J. 
Herbert, Clara W., asst. Child. Dept. P. L., 

Washington, D. C. 
Herbert. Samuel B.. asst. supt. Pub. Libs., 

Toronto. Can. 
Hering. Hollis W., In. Missionary Research 

L.. N. Y. City. 
Herrick. Grace E.. In. Western Coll. for 

"Women L.. Oxford, O. 
Herron, Roberta, stud. Carnegie L. Tr. Sch., 

Pittsburgh. Pa. 
Herron, Sara, br. In. P. L., East Orange. 

N. J. 
Hetrick, Hon. C. E. T., mayor, Asbury Park, 

N. J. 
Hetrick, Mrs. L. R., Asbury Park, N. J. 
Hewins, Caroline M., In. P. L., Hartford. 

Conn. 
Hewitt, Luther E., In. Law Assoc, of Phila.. 

Philadelphia. 
Hewitt. Mrs. L. E., Philadelphia. 
Hibner, Mrs. Cora M., Ocean Grove, N. J. 



ATTENDANCE REGISTER 



Hicks, Frederick C, law In. Columbia Univ. 
L., N. Y. 

Hifton-King:, Harriette J., asst. Copyright 
Office, L. of Congress, Wasliington, D. C. 

Hill, Emilie, In. P. L,., Summit, N. J. 

Hill, Frank P., In. P. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Hill, Galen W., In. Millicent L.., Fairhaven, 
Mass. 

Hill, Gertrude P., asst. Ref. Dept. P. L,., 
N. Y. 

Hills, A. S., sec'y Utilities Pub. Com., N. Y. 

Hills, Elizabeth C, In. Cobleigh L., Lyndon- 
ville, Vt. 

Hilson. Matilda, asst. P. L.. Trenton, N. J. 

Hilson, Sue E., children's In. F. P. L., Tren- 
ton, N. J. 

Himmelwright, Susan M.. In. High Sch. L., 
Tyrone, Pa. 

Hinckley, George L., In. Redwood L., New- 
port, R. I. 

Hinkins, Cora E., In. Sears, Roebuck & Co. 
L., Chicago, 111. 

Hinman, Katharine D., 1st asst. P. L., Sum- 
mit, N. J. 

Hinsdale, K. L,., In. L., Lakewood, N. J. 

Hinsdale, Louise G., In. F. P. L., East 
Orange, N. J. 

Hirshberg, Herbert S., In. P. L., Toledo, O. 

Hiss, Sophie K., head catlgr. P. L., Cleve- 
land, O. 

Hitchcock. Ella S., catlgr. Dept. of Leg. 
Ref.. Baltimore. Md. 

Hitchler. Theresa, supt. of cataloging P. 
L., Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Hobart, Frances, Cambridge, Vt. 

Hodge, Cordelia B., Pa. F. L. Com., Harris- 
burg, Pa. 

Hodges, N. D. C, In. P. L., Cincinnati, O. 

Hodgson, James L., stud. N. Y. State L. Sch., 
Albany. N. Y. 

Holmes, Dagmar O., In. Arents F. L., Rich- 
mond, Va. 

Holt, Jean MacK., in charge L. Dept. Mac- 
millan Co., N. Y. City. 

Homes, Henry F., N. Y. City. 

Hoopes, Edna M. H., child. In. P. L., Atlan- 
tic City, N. J. 

Hoopes, Mildred S., desk asst. Inst. F. L., 
Wilmington, Del. 

Hope, Louise K., catlgr. F. P. L., Trenton, 
N. J. 

Hopkins, Jessica, asst. Tompkins Sq. Br. 
P. U. N. Y. 

Hopkins. Julia A., prin. Training Class, P. 
L., Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Hopkins, Mary L.. In. of Book Wagon, Sus- 
sex Co.. Del. State L. Com., Seaford, Del. 

Hopper. Clara F., In. P. L., White Plains, 
N. Y. 

Hopper, Franklin F., chief Order div. P. L., 
N. Y. 

Horton, Mabel T., catlgr. P. L,., Brooklyn, 
N. Y. 

Hough, Romeyn B., author and publisher, 
Lowville, N. Y. 

Houghton. Celia M.. In. High Sch. L., Al- 
bany, N. Y. 

Howe, Harriet E., Instructor Western Re- 
serve Univ. L. Sch., Cleveland, O. 

Hubbell, Jane P., In. P. L., Rockford. 111. 

Hughes, Howard L., In. F. P. L., Trenton, 
N. J. 

Hulburd. Anna A., head Cat. Dept. Syracuse 
Univ. L., Syracuse, N. Y. 

Hulings, Florence, In. Annie Halenbake Ross 
L.. Lock Haven. Pa. 

Hume, Jessie F., In. Queens Borough P. L., 
Jamaica, N. Y. 

Hunt, Carrie S., aset. In. P. L., Lexington, 
Ky. 

Hunt, Clara W., supt. Child. Dept. P. L., 
Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Hunttlng, Henry R.. bookseller, Springfield, 
Mass. 



Hurd, Carol, 1st asst. Woodstock Br. P. L., 

N. Y. 
Huse. Mary B., stud. Carnegie L. Tr. Sch., 

Pittsburgh, Pa. 
Husted, Harriet P., head catlgr. Pratt 

Inst. F. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Hutchinson, Susan A., In. Museum L., 

Brooklyn Inst., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Hyde, Dorsey W., Jr., In. American City Bu- 
reau, N. Y. City. 
Hyde, Mary E., instructor L. Science, Sim- 
mons Coll. L. Sch., Boston, Mass. 
Hyde, Sara G.. catlg. rev. Yale Univ. L., 

New Haven. Conn. 
Huxley, Florence A., office ed. Library Jour- 
nal. N. Y. 
Ibbotson, Joseph D., Jr., In. Hamilton Coll. 

L.. Clinton. N. Y. 
Jackson, Helen, child. In. P. L., Detroit, 

Mich. 
Jackson, Margaret, ed. H. W. Wilson Co., 

White Plains, N. Y. 
Jadwin. H. Augusta, asst. Pratt Inst. P. L., 

Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Janvrin, Charles E., In. Natural Hist. L., 

Univ. of 111., Urbana, 111. 
Jaques, E. D., supervisor Bind. Dept. F. P. 

L.. Newark, N. J. 
Jeffers, Le Rov, mgr. book order office Circ. 

Dept. P. L., N. Y. 
Jenkins, Frederick W., In. Russell Sage 

Foundation L., N. Y. 
Jennings, Anna V., In. Neb. State Normal 

Sch. L.. Kearney, Neb. 
Jessup, Luella N., sten. and bkpr. P. L., 

Grand Rapids, Mich. 
Jewett, Alice L., asst. Order Sec. N. Y. State 

L.. Albany, N. Y. 
Joeckel, Carleton B., In. P. L., Berkeley, 

Cal. 
John. Edith H., br. In. Queens Borough P. L., 

Ridgewood, N. Y. 
Johns, W. S., Washington, D. C. 
Johns, Mrs. W. S.. Washington, D. C. 
Johnson, Mrs. Belle H., visitor and inspector 

Conn. P. L. Com., Hartford, Conn. 
Johnson, Edith. Matawan, N. J. 
Johnston. Charles D., In. Cossitt L.. Mem- 
phis, Tenn. 
Johnston. Helen L., catlgr. P. L., Bast 

Orange, N. J. 
Johnston, Peter N, asst. Read. Room P. L., 

N. Y. 
Johnston, Richard H.. In. Bur. of Railway 

Economics, Washington, D. C. 
Johnstone, Helen M., head Circ. Dept. P. L., 

Binghamton, N. Y. 
Johnstone. Ursula K., Indus. Sch. Assoc. L., 

Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Jonas, Frieda, child. In. Morrlsania Br. P. 

L., N. Y. 
Jones. E. Louise, gen'l sec'y Mass. F. P. L. 

Com., Boston, Mass. 
Jones. Gardner M.. In. P. L.. Salem, Mass. 
Jones, Louise E.. asst. Washington Heights 

Br. P. L.. N. Y. 
Jones, Perrie, stud. L. Sch. P. L., N. Y. 
Jordan, Alice M.. custodian Child. Dept. P. 

L.. Boston, Mass. 
Josephson, Aksel G. S., catlgr. John Crerar 

L.. Chicago. 111. 
Josephson. Mrs. A. G. S.. Chicago, HI. 
Joslyn. Rosamond, In. Jamaica High Sch. L., 

Jamaica, N. Y. 
Josselyn. Lloyd W., In. P. P. L., Jackson- 
ville, Fla. 
Josselyn, Mrs. L. W., Jacksonville, Fla. 
Judd. Lewis S., asst. Information Desk P. L., 

N. Y. 
Kaighn, Mary E.. asst. In. Krauth Memorial 

L., Mt. Airy. Philadelphia. 
Kaiser, John B., In. P. L., Tacoma. Wash. 
Kamenetzky, Elizabeth L., asst. Woodstock 

Br. P. L., N. Y. 



666 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Kai-lson, Edith, N. Y. City. 

Karlson, Judith E., asst. 115th Br. P. L 

N. T. 
Katzenbach, Edward L., trus. F. P. L., Tren- 
ton. N. J. 
Katzenbach. Mrs. E. L., Trenton. N. J. 
Kaufman, Kate, br. In. Riverside Br. P. L 

N. T. 
Kearney, George, Amer. Assoc, of Law L's.. 

Dept. of Justice. Washington, D. C. 
Keefer, M. Louise, asst. P. L., Scranton, Pa 
Keith, Effle A., catlgr. Columbia Univ. L , 

N. T. 
Keller. Helen Rex. In. Sch. of Journalism 

Columbia Univ. L., N. Y. 
Keller, R. Louise, In. Independence Inspec. 

Bur. L., Phila. 
Kelly, Marie M., stud. L. Sch. P. L, N. Y 
Kelso, Tessa L.. In. Baker & Tavlor Co 

N. Y. ■ 

Kemmerer, Leila, Extension Dept. P. L 

Davenport, la. 
Kendall. Alice W., asst. F. P. L., Newarli. 

N. J. 
Kennedy, Edith L., child. In. P. L., Bavonne 
N. J. " ' 

Kent, Sadie T., In. State Nor. Sch. L., Cape 

Girardeau, Mo. 
Kent, Sophie P.. In. Rivington St. Br. P L 

N. Y. 
Keogh. Andrew, In. Yale Univ. L., New Hav- 
en, Conn. 
Kerr, Julia A. C, stud. N. Y. State L. Sch 

Albany, N. Y. 
Kerr, Willis H., In. State Nor. Sch. L., Em- 
poria. Kan. 
Kerr, Mrs. W. H., Emporia. Kan. 
Kerschner, Constance, Maps and Charts Div 

L. of Congress. Washington, D. C. 
Kil Gour, M. Belle, In. F. P. L.. Kearny, N. J. 
King, Edna B., F. P. L.. Newarlt, N. J. 
King. Edward, N. Y. City. 
King, George, head Stacli Dept. P. L., Chi- 
cago, 111. 
King. Louise D. Coulter-, stud. Pratt Inst 

L. Sch.. Brooklyn, N. Y. 
King, Rhea, Retail Credit Co.. Atlanta, Ga. 
Kmgsland, Grace E.. asst. sec'y P. L. Com 

Montpelier, Vt. 
Kinkeldy, Otto, chief Music Div. P L N Y 

City. 
Kirk, Helen C. asst. Pruvn L., Albany, N Y 
Kite, Agnes C. In. in charge West' Phila- 
delphia Br. F. L., Philadelphia, Pa. 
Kite, Anna A. W., asst. Widener Br. F 

L.. Philadelphia. Pa. 
Klager, Karoline. asst. Bureau of Labor Sta- 
tistics, Washington, D. C. 
Klingelsmith, Mrs. M. C, In. Biddle Law 

L., Univ. of Pa., Phila. 
Knapp, Alice L., stud. N. Y. State L. Sch 

Albany, N. Y. 
Knight, Marion A.. H. W. Wilson Co. White 

Plains. N. Y. 
Kohler, Minnie M.. In. P. L., Moline, 111 
Konert, Paul M., In. F. P. L., West Hoboken 

N. J. 
Krauss. Eugenie, br. In. P. L., N Y 
Krauss, Gertrude E., catlgr. P. L., Elizabeth. 

N. J. 
Kraybill, Mrs. Sue R., Asbury Park, N J 
Krouse. Edna L.. In. P. P. L.. Scottdaie, Pa. 
La Foy, Almira V. N., In. F. P. L., Little 

Falls, N. J. 
Landon. Fred., In. P. L., London, Ont 
Lane. Harriet, In. P. L., Freeport, 111 
Lang, Nan H., child. In. Inst. F. L., Wilming- 
ton. Del. 
Langdon, Grace T., catlgr. P. L.. Brooklyn, 

Lanlce, Julia, stud. L. Sch. P. L , N Y 
Lamb, George H., In. Carnegie F. L., Brad- 
dock. Pa. 



Lapp, J. A., Bureau of Legislative Inf., In- 
dianapolis. Ind. 

Lapp, Mrs. J. A., Indianapolis, Ind. 

Larson, Mrs. Emily T., catlgr. P L Chi- 
cago, 111. 

Lauman, Caroline, catlgr. Allegheny Car- 
negie F. L., Pittsburgh, N. S., Pa. 

Laurson, Edla, In. Carnegie L., Mitchell, S. D. 

Lavallette. E. A. F., Tablet & Ticket Co., 
Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Lavallette, Mrs. E. A. F., Brooklyn N Y 

Law, Marie H.. gen. asst. Child. De'pt.'& 
registrar Carnegie L. Train. Sch., Pitts- 
burgh, Pa. 

Lawrence. Alice M., br. In. P. L., N Y 

Lawrence, Hannah M., supervisor of 
branches P. L., Buffalo, N Y 

Lawson, Mildred H.. asst. Ref. Dept. P. L., 

Lazell. Annie W., asst. Art Ref. Dept. Pratt 

Inst. F. L.. Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Le Clear, Minnie, substitute P. L., N. Y 
Leach. Howard S., asst. to In. Princeton 

Univ. L., Princeton, N. J. 
Lease. Evelyn S., In. Kellogg-Hubbard L., 

Montpelier. Vt. 
Leatherman. Minnie W., sec'y N. C L Com 

Raleigh, N. C. 
Leavitt, Miss M. V.. in charge Gifts P. L., 

Lee, George W., In. Stone & Webster, Bos- 
ton. Mass. 

Leeds, J. B., Temple University, Philadel- 
phia. 

Legler, Henry E., In. P. L., Chicago, 111. 

Lehman, Reba E., ref. In. P. L., Spokane, 
Wash. 

Leipziger, Henry M., N. Y. City. 

Leipziger, Pauline, In. 58th St. Br P L 
N. Y. City. 

Lemcke. Ernst, bookseller, N. Y City 

Lentilhon. Ida W., br. In. Queens Borough 
P. L., Jamaica, N. Y. 

Leonard, Julia C, br. In. P. L., N. Y 

Leonard, Mary A., In. Hudson Park Br. P. 
L., N. Y. 

Lesch, Rudolf, Art Importer. N Y 

Levy, Martha, asst. P. L., Denver, Colo 

Lewmson, Leah, In. 115th St. Br. P. L N Y 

Lewis, Eleanor F.. ref. In. Northwestern 
Univ. L., Evanston. III. 

Lewis. Frank G., In. Bucknell L., Crozer 
Theol. Sem.. Chester, Pa. 

Lewis, Robert H., Oxford Univ. Press N Y 

Lewis. Mrs. Robert H., In. P. L West 
Haven. Conn. 

Lewis. Sarah V., In. Homewood Br. Car- 
negie L., Pittsburgh, Pa. 

Lhotka, Charles, div. supt. P. L., Chicago. 

Lhotka, Lillian M., Chicago, III 

Licht, Emma A., catlgr. Missionary Re- 
search L., N. Y. 

Lichtenstein, Walter. In. Northwestern Unlv 
L., Evanston, III. 

Liebmann, Estelle L., ref. In. Brownsville 
Br. P. L.. Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Lien. Elias J., In. State L., St. Paul, Minn. 

Linder, Greta, sec'y State L. Com., Stock- 
holm, Sweden. 

Lindgren, Elin J., asst. Pratt Inst. F. L 
Brooklvn, N. Y. 

Lindsay, Mary B., In. P. L., Evanston, HI 

Lmgenfelter, Mary R., Philadelphia, Pa. 

"^'iJ^'i Elizabeth, br. asst. P. L., Brooklvn 
N. Y. 

Littell, Mrs. W. G., Brooklvn, N Y 

Little, Adelaide C, P. L., N. Y. 

Lloyd, Florence M.. desk asst. Inst. F L 
Wilmington, Del. 

Lloyd, Grace, clerk P. L., N. Y 
Lockard, Jessie, In. High Sch. L., Daven- 
port, la. 

Lockard, Lois, Davenport. la. 



ATTENDANCE REGISTER 



567 



Logan, Jennie B., Bridgeport, Conn. 

Loucks, Irene, Scottdale, Pa. 

Love, Cornelia S., stud. N. Y. State L. Sch., 

Albany. N. Y. 
Lovett, Kate, Goshen, N. Y. 
Lovis. Marion, In. Stadium High School Br. 

P. L., Tacoma. Wash. 
Ludey. Mrs. Metta R., In. Jarvle Mem. L., 

BloomHeld. N. J. 
Lund, Mari H., Deichmanske L., Chrlstiania, 

Norway. 
Lydenberg, Harrv M., ref. In. P. L., N. T. 

City. 
Lyon, Dorothy D., In. P. L., Little Rock, 

Ark. 
Lyon, Frances D.. sub. In. State Law L.. 

Albany, N. Y. 
Lyons, Rev. John F., In. McCormick Theo- 
logical Sem. L., Chicago, 111. 
Macardell, Edith C, child. In. P. L., East 

Orange, N. J. 
McCarthy, Ada J., In. Stephenson P. L.. 

Marinette, Wis. 
McClelland, Maud, 1st asst. 125th St. Br. 

P. L., N. Y. 
McCollough, Ethel F., In. Carnegie P. L., 

Evansville, Ind. 
McCombs, Charles F., 1st asst. Readers' 

Div. P. L., N. Y. 
McCoy, Margaret T., In. P. L., Bogota, N. J. 
MacCurdy, Jessie C. Toronto, Can. 
McDaniel, Arthur S., asst. In. Assoc, of the 

Bar, N. Y. 
MacDonald, Anna A., consulting In. Penn. 

F. L. Com., Harrisburg, Pa. 
McDonald, Anna R., asst. Travel. L. Dept., 

P. L., N. Y. 
Macdonald, Grace E., legislative ref. asst., 

State L., Providence, R. I. 
McGahen, Mrs. Rebecca B., asst. Platbush 

Br. P. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
McGregor, Delia, 1st asst. Child. Dept. P. 

L., St. Paul, Minn. 
McHale, Daisy I., In. Armour Sq. Br. P. L . 

Chicago, 111. 
Machen, Lewis, director Leg. Ref. Bureau. 

Richmond, Va. 
Machen, Mrs. L. H., Richmond. Va. 
Mclnerney, Marie, Carnegie L. Tr. Sch.. 

Pittsburgh, Pa. 
McKay, Mabel, In. Y. M. A., Pruyn L., 

Albany, N. Y. 
McKay, Mary N., stud. N. Y. State L. Sch., 
Albany, N. Y. 
McKee, Clara M., ref. cat, div. P. L., N. Y. 
Mackenzie, Annie, head of Circ. Dept. Pratt 

Inst. F. L.. Brooklyn, N. Y. 
MacKinnon. Elizabeth McN., Berwick, Nova 

Scotia. 
McKnight, Elizabeth B., assoc. In. Bav 

Ridge High Sch. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
McLachlan, Nancy C, In. F. P. L., Hannibal. 

Mo. 
McLaughlin, AurSle B., asst. P. L.. N. Y. 
McLenegan, Charles E.. In. P. L., Milwau- 
kee, Wis. 
McMllIen, James A., In. L'niv. of Rochester 

L., Rochester. N. Y. 
McMullen, G. Elizabeth, stud. N. Y. State 

L. Sch.. Albany, N. Y. 
McVety, Margaret A., chief Lending Dept.. 

F. P. L., Newark, N. J. 
McWilllams, Edith, catlgr. and ref. In.. 

Cincinnati, O. 
McWilliams, Mrs. J., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Maine, Irene G., jr. asst. P. L., Brooklyn, 

N. Y. 
Makepeace, Mary E., In. State Nor. SCh. L.. 

Providence. R. I. 
Maloney, Ethel wyn J., book wagon work 

in New Castle Co.. Del. State L. Com., 

Townsend, Del. 
Maltby, Mrs. Adelaide B., In. Tompkins Sq. 

Br. P. L., N. Y. 



Manley, Marian C, asst. F. P. L., Newark, 

N. J. 
Mann, Annie L., catlgr. Columbia Univ. L., 

N. Y. 
Mann, Elizabeth E., head catlgr. Smith Coll. 

L., Northampton, Mass. 
Mann, Mrs. H. N., Washington, D. C. 
Mann, Laura N., In. Central High Sch. L., 

Washington, D. C. 
Mann, Margaret, chief catlgr. Carnegie L., 

Pittsburgh, Pa. 
Margerum, Cora A., Princeton, N. J. 
Markowitz, Augusta, In. Woodstock Br. P. 

L., N. Y. 
Marquand, Fanny E., reviser Ref. Cat. Dept. 

P. L., N. Y. 
Martel, Charles, chief Catalog Dlv. L. of 

Congress, Washington, D. C. 
Martin, Phyllis McF., reviser Catalog Dlv. 

P. L., N. Y. 
Martin, Mrs. Ruth, Asbury Park, N. J. 
Marvin, Katherine G., catlgr. Union Theolog. 

serv. L., N. Y. 
Massee, May, ed. A. L. A. Booklist, Chicago, 

111. 
Masterson. F. Adele, child. In. P. L., Brook- 
lyn, N. Y. 
Mathes, Florence, stud. Pratt Inst. L. Sch., 

Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Mathiews, Franklin K., chief Scout In. Boy 

Scouts of America, N. Y. 
Matthews, Etta L., catlgr. Northwestern 

Univ. L., Evanston, 111. 
Maurice, Nathalie A., asst. catlgr. Columbia 

Univ. L., N. Y. 
Maynard, Mrs. Katharine, 1st asst. Riving- 

ton St. Br. P. L., N. Y. 
Maynard, Mildred, child. In. P. L., Waterloo, 

la. 
Meehan, Lina, 1st asst. Cabanne Br. P. L., 

St. Louis, Mo. 
Meigs, Avis F., stud. L. Sch., C. L., Pitts- 
burgh, Pa. 
Meisel. Max, stud. N. Y. State L. Sch., Al- 
bany, N. Y. 
Melick, Alice P.. asst. P. L., Bayonne, N. J. 
Mell, Mildred R., 1st asst. Ga. Univ. L., 

Athens. Ga. 
Melvain. Janet F., catlgr. P. L., N. Y. 
Merity, Lily, charge Circ. Dept., P. L., Jer- 
sey City. N. J. 
Mettee, Andrew H., In. L. Co. of Baltimore 

Bar, Baltimore. 
Mettee, Mrs. A. H., Baltimore. 
Meyer, Hermann H. B., chief bibliographer, 

L. of Congress, Washington, D. C. 
Meyerhoft. Clara A., asst. P. L.. Brooklyn, 

N. Y. 
Meyrowitz. Jennie, ref. asst. Seward Pk. 

Br. P. L., N. Y. 
Middleton, Jean Y., chief Order Dept., 

Queens Borough P. L., Jamaica, N. Y. 
Milam, Carl H., director P. L., Birming- 
ham, Ala. 
Miles, Helen, asst. Washington Heights 

Br. P. L., N. Y. 
Millener, Mrs. Jessie S., stud. L. Sch.. P. 

L., N. Y. 
Miller, Agnes, In. F. P. L., Princeton, N. .1. 
Miller, Clara, In. McClymonds P. L., 

Massillon, O. 
Miller, Dorothy P.. asst. P. L., N. Y. 
Miller. Edmund W., In. P. L., Jersey City, 

N. J. 
Miller, Eunice H.. stud. L. Sch. P. L.. N. Y. 
Miller, Eva L., Springfield, Mass. 
Miller. Grace. In. D. A. Wells Econ. L., City 

L., Springfield, Mass. 
Miller, May A., P. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Miller, Newman, Univ. of Chicago Press., 

Chicago. 
Miller, Mrs. Newman. Chicago. 
Millet, Myra E., asst. P. L., Scranton, Pa. 
Milligan, Grace H., Pittsburgh. Pa. 



568 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



MiHigan, May L., asst. Ref. Dept., P. L., 

Mills, Alice E., stud. N. T. State L. Sch., 
Albany, N. Y. 

Mills, M. Eleanor, 1st asst. Trav. L. P. L., 
N. Y. ' 

Miltimore, Louise D., 1st asst. Seward Park 
rJr. p. L,, N. Y. 

Mitchell, Sarah L,., In. Ryerson L., Art Insti- 
tute, Chicago, 111. 

Moewes, Ella, In. Goldschmidt Thermit Co., 

Molieson, Susan M., asst. Circ. Dept. P. L,., 

Molnar, Ida B. L., In. Melrose Br. P L 

N. Y. 
Monahan, Gertrude, asst. In. P. L., Bayonne, 

Monchow, Carlina M., In. P. L., Dunkirk 

N. Y. 
Monrad, Anna M., reviser Yale UniV L 

New Haven, Conn. 
Monro, Isabel S., asst. Ref. Dept, P. L,, 

Montfort, D. Florence, Doc. Dept., State L 

Sacramento, Cal. 
Montgomery, Thomas L., In. State L., 

Harrisburg, Pa. 
Moody, Virginia G., In. State L., Columbia, 

Mook, Ella B., asst. P. L., Brooklyn N Y 
Moon, Edith C, chief Civ. Dept. PPL 

Trenton, N. J. ' 

Moore, Annie C, supervisor Child. Work 

P. L., N. Y. 
Moore, Mabel L., gen. asst. P. L., Holyoke, 

Mass. 
Morgan, Helen H., catlgr. Museum of Arts 

& Sciences, Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Morgan, Margaret, br. In. P. L., Providence, 

Morley, Linda H., br. In. P. P. L., Newark 

N. J. 
Morningstern, W. B., head Tech. Dept. P 

P. L., Newark, N. J. 
Morningstern, Mrs. W. B., Newark, N J 
Morrill, Ella M., Takoma Park Br., P L 

Washington, D. C. 
Morrow, Helen H., In. Haddington Br. F 

L., Phila. 
Morson, Gertrude, asst. P. L., Brooklyn, 

N. Y. 
Mosher, Marion D., In. Genesee Br P L 

Rochester, N. Y. ' ' 

Moth, Axel, chief Ref. Cat. Div. P. L NY 
Moulton, John G., In. P. L., Haverhill, Mass' 
Mouquin, Henrietta, asst. P. L., Brooklyn 

N. Y. 
Muchmore, Alice B., act. In., Morristown 

N. J. 
Mudge Isadore G., ref. In. Columbia Univ. 

L., N. Y. 
Mueser, Emilie, asst. P. L., N Y 
Mulheron, Anne M., stud. N. Y State L 

Sch., Albany, N. Y. ' ' 

Mumford. B. W., Penn. Pub. Co., Philadel- 
phia. Pa. 
Munn, Mrs., Asbury Park, N J 
Murphy, Ethel, head Circ. Dept., P L 

Jersey City, N. J. f , . ., 

Murray, Katherine M., sr. asst. in chge sch 

work, P. P. L., Worcester, Mass 
Murray, Rose G., supervisor of Bind P L 

N. Y. ■ '' 

Muzzy. A. Florence, asst. Ref. Dept. P. L., 

Myers, Prances P., child. In. Platbush Br. 
P. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Nelson, Zoe B., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Nevin, Julia, asst, P. L., Brooklyn N Y 
Newberry^ Marie A., asst. Reading Room 

Newcomet,' Edith S., asst. P. L., Brooklyn, 



Newen, Ray, child In. P. L., Atlantic City, 

Newkirk, Bessie H., P. L., Camden, N. J. 
Newman, Frances, head Circ. Dept. Carnegie 

L., Atlanta, Ga. 
Nichols, Albert R., asst. In. P. L., Provi- 
dence, R. I. 
Noble, Louise, asst. P. L., St. Louis, Mo. 
Nolan, Edward J., In. Acad, of Natural 

Sciences L., Philadelphia, Pa. 
Noll Amy W., in chge. Circ. Dept. la. State 

Coll. L., Ames, la. 
Norling, Nannie, Moline, 111. 
Norman, Carl, mgr. Albert Bonnier Pub. 

House, N. Y. Citv. 
Norman, Oscar E., In. Peoples Gas, Light & 

Coke Co. L., Chicago, 111. 
Norris Helen, in. Commonwealth Edison 

Co. L., Chicago, 111. 
O'Connor, Alice K., child. In. Webster Br 

P. L., N. Y. 
Oko, Adolph S., In. Hebrew Union Coll. L. 

Cincinnati, O. 
Oliphant, Mary C, gen. asst. P. P. L., Tren- 
ton, N. J. 
Olliffe, Susan M., asst. P. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Olschewsky, Johanna L., sr. asst. P L 

N. Y. " 

2,'.?,®"!,^'^"''^ M., In. P. L., Eau Claire, Wis. 
O Neill, Irene, asst. P. L,, Brooklyn, N Y 
Osborn, Augusta P., stud. Carnegie L Tr 

Sch., Pittsburgh, Pa. 
Osborne, Lucy E., catlgr. Williams Coll. L., 

VV illiamstown, Mass. 
Outhouse, Emma G., asst. Carnegie L.. 

Evansville, Ind. 
Overton, Clara P., asst. Traveling L. Dept. 

Overton, Florence, supervisor of branches 

P. L., N. Y. 
Overton, Jacqueline M., child In. George 

Bruce Br. P. L., N. Y. 
Owens, Mrs. S. B., In. Y. W. L., Augusta, 

Pafort, Emma. stud. L. Sch. P. L N Y 
Paine, Paul M., In. P. L., Syracuse. N Y 
Paine, Mrs. P. M.. Syracuse, N. Y 
Palen, Ruth, shelf lister, Univ. of Pa L 

Philadelphia, Pa. 
Palmer, Laura E., Pratt Inst. L., Brooklyn. 

N. Y. 
Paltsits, Victor H., chief of Div. of Am 

Hist, and Keeper of Manuscripts P. L 

N. Y. 
Parham, Nellie E., In. Withers P. L., Bloom- 

ington, III. 
Parker, K L., 1st asst., Hudson Park Br. 

Parker,' Elizabeth, asst. 5Sth St. Br P L 

N. Y. ' 

Parker, Elizabeth L., Auburn, N Y 
Parker Fanny L., U. S. Dept. Agric. L., 

Washington, D. C. 
Parker, Glen, Baker & Taylor Co., N, Y 

City. 
Parker, John, In. Peabody Inst., Baltimore, 

Md. 
Parker, Mrs. John, Baltimore, Md. 
Parker, Mary C, In. Federal Reserve Bank, 

N. Y. City. 
Parker, Phebe, catlgr. Brown Univ. L., 

Providence, R. I. 
Parkinson, H. O., asst. P. L., Newark, N. J 
Parsons, Alma, asst. P. L., Perth Amboy, 

Parsons, Mary P., asst. Ref. Dept. P. L., 

Patten, Katharine, In. Minneapolis Athen- 
aeum, Minneapolis, Minn. 

Patterson, Edith, In. P. L., Bloomsbury. Pa. 

Patterson, Edith M., 1st asst. P. L., Pond 
du Lac. Wis. 

Patterson, Emma V.. In. State Nor. Sch. L., 
Montclair, N. J. 



ATTENDANCE REGISTER 



669 



Patterson, Ethel, catlgr. P. L., Brooklyn, 

N. Y. 
Patton, MoUie >L, catlgr. Tale Univ. L., 

New Haven, Conn. 
Paxson, Ruth M., stud. Carnegie L. Tr. 

Sch., Pittsburgh, Pa. 
Peacoclc, Joseph L,, In. Memorial and P. L., 

Westerly, R, I. 
Peck, Edith M., In. P. L., Rockville, Conn. 
Peck, Harriet R., In. Rensselaer Polytech- 
nic Inst., Troy, N. Y. 
Pegan, Patience, In. North Side High Sch. 

L., Denver, Colo. 
Penrose, Kate A., 1st asst. Br. P. L., N. Y^. 
Perkins, Caroline B., In. in charge Chestnut 

Hill Br. P. L., Phila. 
Perrine, Helen V.. In. F. P. L., South Am- 

boy, N. J. 
Peters, Florence, asst. Circ. dept. Univ. of 

Mich. L., Ann Arbor, Mich. 
Peters, Louise M., catlgr. Ref. Catalog Div., 

P. L., N. Y. 
Peters, Orpha M., asst. In. P. L., Gary, Ind. 
Pettee, Julia, head catlgr. Union Theolog. 

Sem. L.. N. Y. City. 
Phail, Edith, In. Nat'l Cash Register Co. 

L., Dayton, O. 
Phelan, John F., chief of Branches, P. L... 

Chicago, III. 
Phelps. Edith M., editor, H. W. Wilson Co., 

White Plains, N. Y. 
Phillips, Edna, In. F. L., Edgewater, N. J. 
Phillips, Elizabeth E.. loan desk, P. L,., 

Plainfield, N. J. 
Phillips, Irene C, In. P. L.. Nutlev, N. J. 
Phillips, Lynda, In. P. L., Chatham, N. J. 
Phipps, Alice R., catlgr. P. L., Brooklyn. 

N. Y. 
Pidgeon, Marie K., asst. N. Y. State L., Al- 
bany, N. Y. 
Pierce, Marian M., West Chester, Pa. 
Pierson, Genevieve, stud. Pratt Inst. L. 

Sch., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Pierson, Harriet W.. asst. Catalog Div. L. 

of Congress, Washington, D. C. 
Pilcher, Margaret, Ref. dept., P. L., St. 

Louis, Mo. 
Pillsbury, Mary M., In. General Theolog. 

Sem. L., Boston, Mass. 
Pinneo, Dorothy A., ref. In. P. L., Elizabeth, 

N. J. 
Pinneo, Dotha S., In. P. L., Norwalk, Conn. 
Pinneo, F. W., Newark, N. J. 
Pinney, Agnes A.. Flint. Mich. 
Plalster, Cornelia D., supervisor of 

Branches P. L.. Sioux City, la. 
Pomeroy, Editli M., head Order Dept. Pratt 

Inst. F. L.. Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Poole, Franklin O., In. Assoc, of the Bar L.. 

N. Y. City. 
Porter, Carrie, Asbury Park, N. J. 
Porter, Josephine W., In. P. L., Asburv 

Park, N. J. 
Porter, Washington T., trus. P. L., Cin- 
cinnati, O. 
Potter, Inez, asst. P. L., Evanston, 111. 
Potts. Edith W., ref. In. Acad, of the New 

Church L., Bryn Athyn, Pa. 
Power, Lenore, asst. Central Child. Room 

P. L., N. Y. 
Power. R. L., In. Coll. of Business Adminis- 
tration L., Boston Univ., Boston, Mass. 
Pratt. Adelene J., 1st asst. P. L.. Asbiiry 

Park. N. J. 
Pratt, Edna B.. organizer N. J. P. L. Cora.. 

Trenton, N. J. 
Pratt, Ruth C, asst. P. L., Perth Ambov, 

N. J. 
Prentiss, Charlotte R.. chief Circ. Dept., 

P. L.. Elizabeth, N. J. 
Prescott, Harriet B., supervisor Catalog 

Dept., Columbia Univ. L., N. Y. City. 
Prevost, Marie L., asst. In. P. P. L., Eliza- 
beth, N. J. 



Priaulx, J. M., care Oliver Ditson Co.. N. Y. 
City. 

Price, Anna M., sec'y 111. L. Extension Com., 
Springfield, 111. 

Price, Christine, In. in charge Williams Coll. 
L., Williamstown, Mass. 

Price, Franklin H., Binding & Exchanges, 
F. L., Philadelphia. 

Price, Helen L., Oakland, Cal. 

Price, Marion, asst. Bryn Mawr Coll. L., 
Bryn Mawr, Pa. 

Prichett, Elizabeth O., In. L. Church of 
Good Shepherd, Rosemont, Pa. 

Pritchard, Martha C, In. High Sch. L., 
White Plains, N. Y. 

Prouty, Edythe A., supervisor L. Stations, 
P. L., Cleveland, O. 

Prouty, Helen G., asst. P. L., Cleveland, O. 

Prouty, Louise, asst. P. L., Cleveland, O. 

Putnam, Herbert, In. L. of Congress, Wash- 
ington, D. C. 

Pyne. M. Taylor, chairman N. J. P. L. Com., 
Princeton, N. J. 

Pyne, Mrs. M. Taylor, Princeton, N. J. 

Quaife, M. M., supt. Wis. State Hist. Soc, 
Madison, Wis. 

Quinn, Genevieve E., In. in charge, Con- 
cord Sta., P. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Raclcett. Maud B., asst. Hudson Park Br. 

P. L., N. Y. 
Ranck, Samuel H., In. P. L., Grand Rapids, 

Mich. 
Randall, Bertha T., In. East Liberty Br. 

Carnegie L., Pittsburgli, Pa. 
Rathbone, Josephine A., vice-director Sch. 

of L. Science, Pratt Inst., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Rawlins, Mary S., asst. P. L., N. Y. 
Rawson, Fannie C, sec'y Ky. L. Com., 

Frankfort. Ky. 
Redstone, Edward H.. In. Social Law L., 

Boston, Mass. 
Reed, Amy L., In. Vassar Coll. L., 

Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 
Reed, Bessie J., In. High Sch. L, Fairmont, 

W. Va. 
Reed, Lois A., In, Bryn Mawr Coll. L., Bryn 

Mawr, Pa. 
Reed, Susan H., asst. Bond St. Br. P. L., 

N. Y. 
Reid, Alice, asst. Tatowa Br. P. L., Pater- 
son, N. J. 
Reider, Joseph, asst. In. Dropsie Coll. L., 

Phila. 
Remann, Henry C, In. Lincoln L., Spring- 
field, 111. 
Reynaud, Annette M., asst. Child. Room P. 

L., Newark, N. J. 
Rice, Frances V., In. Nicholas Senn High 

Sch. Br. P. L., Chicago, 111. 
Rice, Mildred A., In. P. L., Hackettstown, 

N. J. 
Rice, O. S., supervisor Sch. L's, Wis. Dept. 

Public Instruction, Madi.son, Wis. 
Rice. Paul N., asst. information desk Ref. 

Dept. P. L., N. Y. 
Rice, Ruth C, In. High Sch. Br. F. L., Madi- 
son, Wis. 
Richard, Mrs. John M., Long Branch, N. J. 
Richardson, Ernest C, In. Princeton Univ. 

L., Princeton, N. J. 
Riddell, Elizabeth C, stud. Carnegie L. Tr. 

Sch.. Pittsburgh, Pa. 
Ridington, John, In. Univ. of B. C, Van- 
couver. B. C. 
Ridlon, Margaret, asst. Simmons Coll. L., 

Boston, Mass. 
Rittenhouse, Jessie B., literary critic, N. Y. 

City. 
Ritter, C. V., bookseller, Chicago, 111. 
Bobbins. Mary E., indexer H. W. Wilson 

Co., White Plains, N. Y. 
Roberts, Alma R., chief catlgr. P. L., 

Bayonne, N. J. 



670 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Roberts, Flora B., In. P. P. L., PottsviUe. 

Pa. 
Roberts, Jane. Newark, N. J. 
Roberts, Kate L., Newark, N. J. 
Robertson, J. P., In. Provincial L., Winni- 
peg, Can. 
Robi, Ruth, asst. Divoll Br. P. L., St. Louis, 

Mo. 
Robinson, Julia A., sec'y Iowa L. Com., Des 

Moines, la. 
Robinson, Rev. Lucien M.. In. Philadelphia 

Divinity Sch., Phila. 
Robinson, Mabel F., catlgr. Osterhout F. L., 

Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 
Robinson, Maude H., asst. In. Federal Re- 
serve Bank L., N. Y. City. 
Robinson, Sylvia H., catlgr. P. L., Brooklyn, 

N. T. 
Robison, Emily, In. Temple Univ. L., Phila- 
delphia, Pa. 
Rockwell, Bertha L.., In. Barnard Coll. L., 

Columbia Univ., N. Y. City. 
Rockwell, Helen E., catlgr. Penn. F. L. 

Com., Harrisburg, Pa. 
Roden, Carl B., asst. In. P. L., Chicago, 111. 
Roelke, H. E., asst. ref. Ih. John Crerar L., 

Chicago, 111. 
Rogers, Katharine B., ref. In. N. J. State L.. 

Trenton, N. J. 
Rogers, Lillian, Asbury Park, N. J. 
Rogers, Lou, asst. In. P. L., Long Beach, 

N. J. 
Rood, Emma L., In. Andrew Carnegie F. L., 

Carnegie, Pa. 
Root, Azariah S.. In. Oberlin Coll. L., Ober- 

lin, O. 
Root, Mrs. Mary E. S., child. In. P. L., 

Providence, R. I. 
Roper. Eleanor. In. Flushing Br. Queens 

Borough P. L., Flushing, N. Y, 
Rose, Alice L., catlgr. Statistical L. of the 

Nat'l City Bank, N. Y. 
Rose, Ernestine. In. Seward Park Br. P. L., 

N. Y. 
Rose, Grace D., In. P. L., Davenport, la. 
Rosenthal, Herman, chief Slavonic Div., P. 

L., N. Y. 
Rothrock, Mary U., head Circ. Dept. Cossitt 

L., Memphis, Tenn. 
Rowell, Warren C, rep. H. W. Wilson Co., 

N. Y. City. 
Roy, Myrtle I., In. Davenport L., Bath, N. Y. 
Roys, Margaret, asst. Catalog Dept., Colum- 
bia Univ. L., N. Y. 
Rugg, Harold G., executive asst. Dartmouth 

Coll. L.. Hanover. N. H. 
Ruotolo. Dominic, asst. Ref. Dept, P. L., 

N. Y. 
Rupp, Julia, In. P. L., Oshkosh, Wis. 
Rush, Charles E., In. P. L.. Des Moines, la. 
Rush. M. Gladys. Ames, la. 
Russell, Helen A., gen. asst. P. L., Buffalo. 

N. Y. 
Rutherford. Nettie E., In. Reading Room 

Assoc, Gouverneur, N. Y. 
Ryder, Olive M., In. P. L., Hanover, Pa. 

Salzraann, Helen. In. P. L., McGraw, N. Y. 

Sanborn. Alice E., In. Wells Coll. L., Aurora, 
N. Y. 

Sanborn, Henry N., sec'y P. L. Com., In- 
dianapolis. Ind. 

Sanborn. William F.. In. P. L,. Cadillac, 
Mich. 

Sanborn, Mrs. W. F., Cadillac. Mich. 

Sauer. E. M., br. In. St. Agnes Br. P. L., N. Y. 

Sawyer. Mrs. Harriet P., chief Instruction 
Dept. P. L.. St. Louis, Mo. 

Sawyer, RoUin A.. Jr., asst. Public Docu- 
ments Div. P. L.. N. Y. 

Saxe. Mary S., In. P. L., Westmount, P. Q., 
Can. 

Schaplro. Israel, in charge Semitic Div.. L. 
of Congress, Washington, D. C. 



Schawarock. Kathryn, asst. Queens Borough 

P. L., Jamaica, N. Y. 
Schenk. Frederick W., In. Univ. of Chicago 

Law L.. Chicago, 111. 
Schlesinger, C. A., Wylie Av. Br. P. L., 

Pittsburgh, Pa. 
Schooley, A. J., br. In. P. L., Passaic, N. J. 
Schriever, Emma, br. In. P. L., Bayonne. 

N. J. 
Schulte. Theodore E., bookseller, N. Y. City. 
Schultze, Agnes W.. 1st asst. Tremont Br. 

P. L., N. Y. 
Schwab. Marion F., child. In. De Kalb Br. 

P. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Schwegler, Edith E., jr. asst. De Kalb Br. 

P. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Schwind. Dorothea, asst. In. F. P. L., Jersev 

City. N. J. 
Scott, Emma W. H.. In. F. P. L.. Harrison, 

N. J. 
Sears, Minnie E.. 1st asst. Ref. and Catalog 

Div. P. L.. N. Y. 
Sears, Rose R., asst. In. Hammond L., Chi- 
cago Theological Sem., Chicago. 
Semmendinger, Gladys, asst. P. L., Edge- 
water, N. J. 
Seng, S. T. Y.. asst. Boone Univ. L.. Wu- 
chang. China. 
Sewall. Willis F., Toledo, O. 
Sharpless, Helen. In. Haverford Coll. L.. 

Haverford. Pa. 
Shattuck, Helen B.. In. Vt. Univ. L., Bur- 
lington, Vt. 
Shaver, Mary M., classifier and catlgr. Vas- 

sar Coll. L.. Poughkeepsie. N. Y. 
Shedd. Mary M.. Order Div. P. L., N. Y. 
Shedlock, Marie L., specialist in story-tell- 
ing, London, Eng. 
Sheldon, Philena R., Ref. Catalog Div. P. L., 

N. Y. 
Shelley, Edna, acting In. P. L., Morristown, 

N. J. 
Shepard. Jeannette B.. catlgr. Crozer Theol. 

Sem. L., Chester. Pa. 
Shepherd, Mrs. F. S.. Passaic. N. J. 
Sherrard. Mary C. asst. P. L.. Utica, N. Y. 
Sherwood, Elizabeth J., asst. P. L., N. Y. 
Shields, Ethel A., ref. In. State Teachers' 

Coll. L., Cedar Faljs, la. 
Shields, Zora. in charge Central High Sch. 

L.. Omaha, Neb. 
Shiels, Albert, Board of Educ, N. Y. City. 
Shiels, Mrs. Albert. N. Y. City. 
Shimer, Mrs. Nell T.. ed. Agric. Index, H. W. 

Wilson Co., White Plains, N. Y. 
Shivers, Anne O., In. F. P. L.. Perth Amboy, 

N. J. 
Shoemaker. Helen R.. In. in charge Oak Lane 

Br. F. L.. Philadelphia. Pa. 
Shoemaker. Katharine H., In. Stephens Mem. 

L. of Manayunk, Phila. 
Sibley, Eleanor H., stud. Carnegie L. Tr. 

Sch., Pittsburgh, Pa. 
Sibley, Jessie G.. child. In. P. L., N. Y. 
Siegel, Frances. H. W. Wilson Co.. White 

Plains, N. Y. 
Silverman, Rose, asst. In. AVashington Hgts. 

Br. P. L., N. Y. 
Simonton, Judith, In. P. L.. Hasbrouck 

Heights, N. J. 
Simpson. Ida D., In. 96th St. Br. P. L.. N. Y. 
Simpson, Ray, asst. Aguilar Br. P. L., N. Y. 
Sinclair, Mrs. D. A.. Denver. Colo. 
Skinner, Marie A., In. Delford F. P. L., Ora- 

dell, N. J. 
Small, A. J., law In. State L., Des Moines, 

la. 
Small, Marion L.. catlgr. P. L., N. Y. 
Smith, Anna J., asst. P. L., N. Y. 
Smith, Bessie B.. In. F. P. L.. Westfleld, 

N. J. 
Smith, Bessie Sargeant, supervisor Smaller 

Branches and High School L's. P. L., 

Cleveland. O. 



ATTENDANCE REGISTER 



Smith, Mrs. Cornelius M., Montclair, N. J. 

Smith. Edith L., child. In. Red Hoolt Br. 
P. L.. Brooltlyn, N. T. 

Smith, Elizabeth, inst. Syracuse Univ. L. 
Sch.. Syracuse, N. Y. 

Smith. Elizabeth M.. head Order Sec. N. Y. 
State L., Albany, N. Y. 

Smith. Estelle H., Teachers' Coll.. Columbia 
Univ., N. Y. 

Smith, George D., In. Fletcher F. L., Burling- 
ton. Vt, 

Smith, Gretta, organizer la. P. L. Com.. Des 
Moines, la. 

Smith, Mrs. J. Fred, Freeport. 111. 

Smith. L. Louise, In. Lincoln Park Higli Sch. 
Br. P. L., Tacoma. Wash. 

Smith, Lillian H., child. In. P. L.. Toronto. 
Can. 

Smith, M. Singleton, asst. Jlott Haven Br. 
P. L.. N. Y. 

Smith, Robert L.. asst. ref. In. P. L.. Brooli- 
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Snead. Ira S.. Jersey City, N. J. 

Solberg, Thorvald. register of Copyrights. 
L. of Congress, Washington. D. C. 

Spangler. H. JIary, In. High Sch. L., Hart- 
ford, Conn. 

Spaulding, Forrest B., supt. of Travelling 
Libraries, P. L., N. Y. 

Speck, Mrs. Laura, asst. P. L., St. Louis. Mo. 

Speirs. Charles E., Van Nostrand Co.. N. Y, 
City. 

Spicer, Mildred J., 1st asst. P. L.. Plain- 
field, N. J. 

Spoftord. Mrs. Edith P., In. Bur. of Mines L., 
Washington. D. C. 

Spofford, Walter R., In. Univ. Club. Chicago. 
111. 

Sprague, .Toanna H., In. P. L., Salt Lake 
Citv. Utah. 

Sprague, W. H.. with Theo. E. Schulte, book- 
seller, N. Y. City. 

Stanger, Marion E., classifier, Univ. of Pa.. 
Philadelphia, Pa. 

Starkey, Grace M.. asst. child, in., Wylie 
Ave. Br. Carnegie L., Pittsburgh, Pa. 

Starrett, Mildred, asst. catlgr. Columbia 
Univ. L., N. Y. 

Stechert. Mrs. Emma, Brooklyn. N. Y. 

Stechert P. C bookseller, N. Y. City. 

Stechert. H. A., with P. C. Stechert Co, 
N. Y. City. 

Steiner, Annetta M., assist. P. L.. Plainfield. 
N. J. 

Steiner, Bernard C, In. Enoch Pratt P. L.. 
Baltimore, Md. 

Stern, Renee B., Editorial Dept. Mothers' 
Magazine. Elgin, 111. 

Stetson. Willis K., In. F. P. L.. New Haven. 
Conn. 

Stevens, Edward F.. In. Pratt Inst. P. L.. 
and director L. Sch., Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Stevenson. Luella M., 1st asst. In. Carnegie 
L., Braddock, Pa. 

Steward. Hazel, In. Llewellyn Br. P. L., Mil- 
waukee, Wis. 

Steward, Rachael E.. Milwaukee. Wis. 

Stewart. Rose G., chief catlgr. P. L.. Phila- 
delphia, Pa. 

Stiles. Helen A., asst. catlgr. F. L.. Philadel- 
phia, Pa. 

Strange, Joanna G., asst. Ref. Dept. P. L.. 
N. Y. 

Stull, Maud I., asst. Trav. L.. Circ. Dept. 
P. L.. N. Y. 

Subers. Helen D., organizer, Ashbourne. Pa. 

Sutherland, Lillian A., head Child. Dept. P. 
L.. Kansas City, Mo. 

Sutliff. Mary L., instructor L. Sch. P. L.. 
N. T. 

Sweet, M. Louise, asst. Ref. Dept. P. L.. 
Utica. N. T. 

Swingle, Mrs. Maude K., botanical asst. 
Dept. of Agric, Washington. D. C. 



Swingle, Walter T.. Chairman L. Com. U. S. 

Dept. of Agric, Washington, D. C. 
Switzer, Grace E., asst. P. L.. Cleveland, O. 
Svkes. W. J., In. Carnegie P. L.. Ottawa, 

Can. 
Taft, May E.. catlgr. Univ. of Maine L., 

Orono, Me. 
Tappert, Katherine, head of Lending Dept. 

P. L.. Davenport, la. 
Tavlor. Laura, In. Bay Ridge Br. P. L., 

Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Taylor, ilaud, head of Per. Dept. L. Assoc, 

Portland, Ore. 
Taylor, William B. A., chief Ref. Ace Div. 

P. L., N. Y. 
Taylor, Mrs. W. B. A., N. Y. City. 
Teal, William, supt. of Delivery John Cre- 

rar L., Chicago, 111. 
Temple, Truman R., In. P. L., Leavenworth, 

Kans. 
Terrien. Mary L., asst. ref. In. Bryn Mawr 

Coll. L., Bryn Mawr, Pa. 
Thibou. Anna E., In. Holmes L., Boonton, 

N. J. 
Thomas, Sarah A., In. Alliance Br. P. L., 

Cleveland, O. 
Thompson, Grace, ref. asst. F. P. L.. New- 
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Thompson. J. David. Leg. Ref. Div. L. of 

Congress, Washington. D. C. 
Thompson, Laura A., In. Children's Bureau, 

Washington, D. C. 
Thompson, Nancy I.. In. State Nor. Sch. L., 

Newark, N. J. 
Thompson. Ruth E., head of Extension Work 

P. L., Denver, Colo. 
Thomson, Jessie L., child, room P. P. L., 

Jersey City, N. J. 
Thorne, Elizabeth G., inst. Syracuse Univ. 

L. Sch., Syracuse, N. Y. 
Thurston, Elizabeth, chil. In. Kingsbridge 

Br. P. L., N. Y. 
Thurston. Elsie R.. asst. Child. Room P. L., 

Brockton. Mass. 
Thvng, Mav C, In. P. L., Roselle, N. J. 
Tidd, B. Hazel, asst. In. Decorah Cook Sayles 

P. L., Pawtucket, R. I. 
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Tilton, Mrs. E. L., N. Y. City. 
Titcomb, Mary L., In. Washington Co. F. L.. 

Hagerstown, Md. 
Tobey. Grace, asst. supt. Catalog Dept. P. 

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Tobev, Lillian Q., br. In. P. L., N. Y. 
Tobias, Ella P., head catlgr. State L., Lan- 
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Tobitt. Edith, In. P. L.. Omaha. Neb. 
Tolman, Frank L., ref. In. N. Y. State L., 

Albany, N. Y. 
Tomlinson, Rev. E. T., member N. J. P. L. 

Com., Elizabeth, N. J. 
Tomlinson. Mrs. E. T., Elizabeth, N. J. 
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Tornudd, Allan V.. asst. Reading Room P. L., 

N. Y. 
Towner. Mrs. Horace M., Washington, D. C. 
Tracey. Catharine S., inst. and sch. In. L. 

Sch. P. L., N. Y. 
Tracv, Angle E., In. P. L., Lewiston, Me. 
Travis. Mrs. Lillian, P. P. L.. Newark, N. J. 
Trimble, Katherine M.. asst. Drexel Inst. 

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Tripp, George H., In. F. P. L.. New Bedford. 

Mass. 
Troy, Cecilia M., 1st asst. Douglas Park Br. 

P. L., Chicago, 111. 
TurnbuU. Laura S., ref. asst. Union Theo- 
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Turner, Isabel McC. In. F. L., AUentown, 

Pa. 
Tuthill. Alice M., jr. asst. Brownsville Er. 

P. L.. Brooklyn, N. Y. 



ASBURY PARK CONFERENCE 



Tutt, Virginia M., In. P. L., South Bend, 

Ind. 
Tuttle, Henrietta G., sr. asst. New Utreelit 

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Tuttle, Mary L., sr. asst. P. L., Brooklyn, 

N. Y. 
Tye, Myrtle, catlgr. L. of Congress, Wash- 
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Tyler, Anna C, charge of Story-Telling 

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Underhill, Adelaide, assoc. In. A'assar Coll. 

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Princeton Univ. L.. Princeton, N. J. 
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Warner, Mrs. Cassandra, prin. Training 

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White, Mary Ogden, journalist, Summit, 

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WTnitnev, Mrs. E. L., Montpelier, Vt. 
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L„ N. Y. 
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Wildes, Marjorle, head catlgr. Minn. Hist. 

Society L., St. Paul. Minn. 
■Wiley, Betsy T., asst. P. L.. Dallas, Tex. 



ATTENDANCE REGISTER 



S73 



Wilkinson, Emma L., ehil. In. F. P. L., Eliza- 
beth, N. J. 

Wilkinson, Mary S., child. In. P. L., St. 
Louis, Mo. 

Willever, E. E., Law L., Cornell Univ., Ith- 
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Williams. Edith, catlgi-. L. of Congress. 
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Williams, Marion E.. sr. asst. De Kalb Br. 
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Williams, Sherman, chief Sch. L. Div. Edu- 
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Williamson, Charles C, In. Municipal Ref. 
L., N. Y. 

Williamson, Julia W., supervisor of Story 
Hours, Child. Dept. F. L., Philadelphia, Pa. 

Willigerod, Alice, In. P. L., Hazelton, Pa. 

Wilson, Halsey W., pres. H. W. Wilson Co., 
White Plains, N. Y. 

Wilson, Mrs. H. W., White Plains, N. Y. 

Wilson, Jessie, asst. P. L., Scranton, Pa. 

Wilson, Josie, Jr. asst. Brownsville Br. P. 
L., Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Wilson. M. Florence, In. Natural Sciences 
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Wilson, Margaret S., 1st asst. P. L., Nor- 
walk. Conn. 

Wilson, Ralph H., bookseller, N. Y. 

Wilson, Mrs. R. H., bookseller, N. Y. 

Winchester, George F., In. F. P. L., Pater- 
son, N. J. 

Winans, Frances W., In. P. L., Avon, N. J. 

Wlnchell, F. Mabel, In. City L., Manches- 
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Wing, Florence S,, In. State Nor. Sch. L., 
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Winser, Beatrice, asst. In. F. P. L., New- 
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Winslow, Amy, asst. in Education Extension 
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Winslow, Esther, asst. P. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Winslow, Mary E., child. In. Washington 
Hts. Br. P. L., N. Y. 

Wire, Dr. George E., deputy In. Worcester 
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Wire, Mrs. G. E., Worcester, Mass. 

Wisdom, Elizabeth, asst. P. L., Brooklyn, 
N. Y. 

Wltham, Eliza, In. Greenpoint Br. P. L., 
Brooklyn, N. Y. 



Wolcott, John D., In. Bureau of Education, 

Washington, D. C. 
Wolter, Peter, mgr. L. Dept. A. C. McClurg 

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Wood, Frederick C, In. Grosvenor L., Buf- 
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Wood, Mabel G., asst. Bellevue Ave. Br. P. 

L., Montclair, N. J. 
Wood, Mary W.. supervisor of Special De- 
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Woodard, Gertrude E., In. Univ. of Mich. 

Law L., Ann Arbor, Mich. 
Woodin, Gertrude L., head catlgr. U. S. Geo- 
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Woodman, Clara B.. Springfield, Mass. 
Woodruff, Eleanor B., ref. In. Pratt Inst. F. 

L., Brooklyn. N. Y. 
Woodruff, Helen R., asst. Catalog and Ref. 

Depts. P. L., South Bend. Ind. 
Woolman, Mima E., Cincinnati, O. 
Woolman, Ruth, itigr. Travel. L. Dept. Mo. 

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Wright, Charles E.. In. Carnegie F. L.. Du- 

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Wright, Edith I., catlgr. P. L.. N. Y. 
Wright, Frank, N. Y. City. 
Wright, Margaret E., asst. Grade Sch. Div. 

P. L., Cleveland, O. 
Wright, Purd B., In. P. L., Kansas City, Mo. 
Wright, Ruth M., In. State Nor. Sch., Tempe, 

Ariz. 
Wyer, James I., Jr., director N. Y. State L., 

Albany, N. Y. „ , ^ 

Wyer, Malcolm G., In. Nebraska Univ. L., 

Lincoln, Neb. 
Wyeth, Ola M., In. Modern Language Sem., 

Univ. of 111., Urbana, 111. 
Wvnkoop, Asa. head of P. L's. Section N. Y. 

State L., Albany, N. Y. 
Yates, Marjorie. asst. Swarthmore Coll. L., 

Swarthniore, Pa. 
Young, Bertha T., asst. Hamilton Fish Park 

Br. P. L., N. Y. 
Young, Frances R., child. In. Jackson Sq. 

Br. P. L., N. Y. 
Young, Iva M.. In. High Sch. L., Manchester, 

N. H. 
Yust, William F., In. P. L., Rochester, N. Y. 
Zachert, Adeline B., supt. Extension Dept. 

P. L., Rochester, N. Y. 
Zlnno, Donate, catlgr. P. L., N. Y. 



INDEX 



"Agricultural library work, some 
opportunities in" (Kidder), 
228-234. 
Agric. lib. sect., "Agricultural in- 
dex" (Wilson), 405. 
"Agricultural libraries as special 

libraries" (Lapp), 405. 
— "Union check-list of serials in 
agricultural libraries" (Green), 
405. 
— minutes of, 405-406. 
— "Some opportunities in agricul- 
tural library work" (Kidder), 
406. 
Ahern, Mary Eileen, 385 ; dis- 
cussion, 392, 437-fI, mem. 
com., 366. 
Amendment of by-laws to consti- 
tution, adopted, 381. 
American association of law li- 
braries, proceedings, 554-555; 
officers, 555; resolution, 555; 
rpt. of com., 554; rpt. of sec'y- 
treas., 554 ; resolution, 386. 
American Library Association, 
president's address, 111-115; 
sec'y's, rpt, 324-329; treasur- 
er's rpt, 356; rpt. of trus. of 
Carnegie and endowment funds, 
354-356; election of officers. 
387-388 ; attendance summaries 
and register, 558-573. 
A. L. A. Booklist, rpt. on (Mas- 
see), 373-374. 
A. L. A. committees on 

bookbinding, see Bookbinding, 
bookbuying, see Bookbuying. 
co-ordination, see Co-ordina- 
tion, 
federal and state relations, 
see Federal and state rela- 
tions, 
finance, see Finance, 
resolutions, see Resolutions, 
ith blind, see Blind. 



— Chicago headquarters (rpt. 
sec'y.), 324. 

— conferences. "Times past — 
twenty-four A. L. A. con. re- 
called" (Faxon), 286-293. 

— Constitution, recommended 

amendment to by-laws to, 388 ; 
adopted, 389. 

— extra-library activities, (rpt. of 
sec'y.), 327. 

— field work (rpt. of sec'y.), 326. 

— library plans and photographs 
(rpt. of sec'y.), 325. 

— membership (rpt. of sec'y.), 

— necrology (rpt. of sec'y.), 327- 
329. 

— proceedings, 378. 

— publicity (rpt. of sec'y.), 326. 

— recommendations for positions 
(rpt. of sec'y.), 326. 

— periodical cards, rpt. on (Mer- 
rill), 374. 

— "Sponsors for knowledge" (rpt. 
of sec'y.), 326. 

— Council, minutes of, 389-405. 

—Exec, bd., 388-389. 

— Publishing board, rpt. of, (Leg- 
ler, chrra.), 370-377. 

"American public as seen from 
circulation desk." symposium 
(Tobitt, Prouty, Van Dyne, 
Paine), 276-286. 

Americanization, sec Immigrants. 



"Americanization program for 
libraries" (Wheaton), 265-269. 

"Americanizing books and peri- 
odicals for immigrants" (Camp- 
bell), 269-272. 

Attendance register, 559-573. 

Attendance summaries, 558. 

Austen, W. mem, council, 388. 

Anderson, E. H., discussion, 395. 

Andrews, C. W., discussion, 396 
ff. ; 423 ff. ; rpt. com, union 
list of serials, 390. 

Andrus, Gertrude E., mem. com. 
386; mem. council, 398; pre- 
sides at Children's Librarians' 
section, 411. 

Appleton. W. W., rpt. as trustee 
Carnegie and endowment funds, 
354-356. 

Apprentice course. "Vital dis- 
tmctions of a library apprentice 
course" (Rose), 189-194. 

"Archive depot" (Leland), 517- 
519. 

Archives committee, rpt, of the 
public (Mcllwaine), 506-517. 

Askew, Sarah B., 384; resolution 
addressed to. 386. 

Associated Advertising Clubs of 
World, greetings to, 381 ; greet- 
ings from, 382. 

Bailey, A. L., rpt. of com. on 
bookbinding, 352-353 ; mem. 
exec. bd. ; 387, 389. 

Baker, Mary E., 409. 

Barton, E. M., telegram to, 384. 

Bay, J. Christian, "Inspiration 
through cataloging," 237-241, 
406. 

Belgian reconstruction plans, 390- 
,394. 

Binding, See Leather. 

Bishop, W. W., "Leadership 
through learning," 155-161, 381; 
discussion, 397. 

Blackwelder, P., presides at round 
table on lending work, 447-448. 

Blanchard, Alice A., sec'y school 
lib. sect., 432. 

Blind, rpt. of com. on work with, 
(Rider, chrm.), 357-362. 

Bogle, Sarah C. N., chrm. pro- 
fessional training sect., 431. 

Boody, D. A., "Public Hbrary as 
part of our educational sys- 
tem," 440-442. 

Bookbinding, rpt. of com. on, 
(Bailey, chrm.), 352-353. 

Bookbuying, rpt. of com. on 
(Brown, chrm.), 353-354. 

Booklist. See A. L. A. booklist. 

Book trade. See Library and. 

"Book wagon delivery." (Hop- 
kins), 248-250. 

Books. "Children's books," 

(Chapman), 122-125. 

Bostwick, A. E., 388. 

— "How the community educates 
itself," 115-122, 381. 

— "Library work with children," 
209-210, 411. 

Bowerman, G. F., rpt. of com. 
on lib. administration, 344-348, 
430. 

Bowker, R. R., offers resolution, 
379; 382; 383; loving cup pre- 
sented to, 384; discussion, 
392-ff, 394-ff, 442-ff, 444-ff; 



mem. adv. bd. Children's Libr. 
sect., 422. 

"Boy scouts' good book week," 
453. 

Brett, W. H., "Comments on li- 
brary legislation," 319-324; 
"Library and the booktrade," 
402-405 ; 385. 

Brigham. H. O., discussion, 427f{. 

Brigham, J., discussion. 469-fI. 

Brooks, Henrietta St. Barbe, 
necrology, 328. 

Brown, C. H., rpt. of com. on 
bookbuying, 353-354. 

Brown, D. C, "Literature of to- 
day," 502-506. 

Brown, W. L., presides at gen- 
eral sessions, 378-ff; elected 
president, 387-388; at exec, bd., 
388; presides at council, 389-ff. 

Burdick, Esther Elizabeth, 

necrology. 328. 

"Bureau of railway economics, 
library of the, in its inter-li- 
brary relations," (Johnston), 
532-539. 

Campbell, J. Maud, "American- 
izing books and periodicals for 
immip;rants," 269-272; 402. 

Carnegie and endowment funds, 
rpt. of trustees of, (Appleton, 
Pyne, Sheldon), 354-356. 

Carr. Mrs. Henry J., 383. 

Carr, J. F., "Some of the people 
we work for," 149-154, 382. 

— "Library work for immigrants," 
273-276, 402. 

Carter, G. H., "Printing bill," 
301-312; 444; discussion, 446. 

Catalog section, proceedings, 406- 
411. 

— rpt. of progress on manual for 
alphabetization," (Hastings), 
409. 

— rpt. of decimal classification ad- 
visory committee of A. L. A., 
(Voge), 407-409. 

— "Memorandum : method of re- 
cording volumes of Chinese and 
Japanese books," (Currier), 
410-411. 

Cataloging. "Inspiration through 
cataloging," (Bay), 237-241. 

Cataloging problems. "Problems 
discovered in cataloging the 
library of the Mo. Sch. of 
Mines," (Cunningham), 234- 
237. 

Cataloging rules for maps (Win- 
ser), 247-248. 

"Cataloging test: results and out- 
look," (Josephson), 242-244. 

Cataloging, rpt. of com. on cost 
and method of, (Josephson, 
chrm.), 389. 

Certain, C. C, "School-library 
situation in the South," 295- 
299, 432. 

Chapman, J. J., "Children's 
books," 122-125, 381. 

—Victor, 381. 

Children. "Library work with 
children," (Bostwick), 209-210. 

— "Library work with children : 
a synoptical criticism," (Leg- 
ler), 205-208. 

"Children's books," (Chapman), 
122-125. 



INDEX 



— librarians as social workers," 
(Zachert), 421. 

— librarians' section; proceedings; 
"Critical comments on lib. 
work with children," 411-422. 

—"Training in work with chil- 
dren for librarians in small li- 
braries;" "Children's lib. as so- 
cial workers ;" co-operative 
lists; fines; greetings to Miss 
Plummer. 421. 

Chipman, F. E., 554. 

Circulation of books. Round 
table on lending work, 447-448. 

—"Fines." (Round table), 448. 

Clarke, Edith E., "Government 
publications as seen in li- 
braries — with program of bet- 
terments in public printing" 
312-319, 444. 

Classification, decimal, see Deci- 
mal classification. 

— theological, discussion, 449-fT. 

Classifiers, code for, rpt. of com. 
(Merrill, chrm.), 389. 

Cleveland, E. J., discussion, 436- 
437. 

Code for classifiers, see Classi- 
fiers, code for. 

Colegrove. Mabel E., 450. 

Colletre and reference sect., pro- 
ceedings; "Research facilities in 
American lib.," 422-429. 

"Comments on library legislation," 
(Brett), 319-324. 

"Community educates itself, how 
the," (Bostwick), 115-122. 

"Comparison of the curricula of 
lib. schools and pub. lib. train- 
ing classes," (Sawyer), 185-189. 

Constitution, see A. L. A. consti- 
tution. 

Converse, M. Louise, discussion, 
433. 

Cooperation, see Library and 
school c. in Utah. 

Co-ordination, rpt. of com. on 
(Gould, chrm.). 349-351. 

Council, see A. L. A. council. 

Countryman. Gratia A., mem, 
council, 388. 

Crain, Lucy B., discussion, 421. 

Craver, H. W., rpt. of com. on 
finance. 356-357; elected vice- 
president, 387; at exec. bd.. 
388. 

Critical comments on lib. work 
with children," 411-422. 

Cunningham, J., "Problems dis- 
covered in cataloging the li- 
brary of the Mo. Sch. of Mines," 
234-237. 

Currier, T. F., "Memorandum : 
Method of recording volumes 
of Chinese and Japanese books " 
410-411. 

Cutter, C. A., 380, 383. 

Dana, J. C, mem. com., 366. 

Davis, Frances A., second vice- 
pres. N. A. S. L., 531. 

Decimal classification, round table 
on, 451. 

"Democracy in modern fiction," 
(White), 126-136. 

— "How the community edu- 
cates itself," (Bostwick), 115- 
122. 

— "Modern drama as an expres- 
sion of democracy," (Welsh), 
143-149. 

— "The new poetry and democ- 
racy," (Rittenhouse). 137-143. 



115. 

Deveneau, G. A., 406. 
Dewey, Melvil, 380; 382; telegram 

to, 383. 
Dewey, Mrs. Melvil, telegram to. 

384. 
Dickinson, A. D., greeting from, 

386. 
Dobbins, Elizabeth V., mem. exec. 

bd., S. L. A., 556. 
Downey, Mary R, "Library and 

school cooperation in LTtah," 

254-257, 453; discussion, 439. 
"Drama as an expression of de- 
mocracy, modern," (Welsh), 

143-149. 
Dudgeon, M. S., rpt. of com. on 

fire insurance rates, 394-398 ; 

discussion, 394-ff, 416-ft, 457-ff; 

at ex. bd., 388. 
Dullard, J. P., welcomes National 

association state lib., 462-464 ; 

president N. A. S. L., 531; 

presides at joint session of A. A. 

L. L. and N. A. S. L., 532. 

Earl, Elizabeth Claypool, "Li- 
brary trustees' obligation to the 
state," 293-295; "Value of or- 
ganization of library trustees," 
452-453; discussion, 435-flE. 

Eastman, Linda A., mem. council, 
388. 

"Economic conditions of twentieth 
century," (Woodruff), 465-469. 

Economics. "Library prepared- 
ness in the fields of economics 
and sociology," (Hasse), 202- 
205. 

Efficiency. See "Library by- 
products," 540-547. 

Election of officers, 387-388. 

Elmendorf, Mrs. H. L., mem. 
Publishing bd., 389. 

Endowment funds, rpt. of trus- 
tees of, (Appleton, Sheldon, 
Pyne), 354-356. 

"Establishing libraries under dif- 
ficulties," (Wilkinson), 161-169. 

European book market. "Pos- 
sible results of the European 
war," (Lichtenstein), 200-202. 

Evans, C, telegram to, 384. 

Exhibits. See Panama-Pacific ex- 
hibit. 

Faxon, F. W., "Times past — 
twenty-four A. L. A. confer- 
ences recalled," 286-293; 385. 

Federal and state relations, rpt. 
of com. on, (Steiner. chrm.), 
351-352. 

Fire insurance rates, rpt. of com. 
on, (Dudgeon, chrm.), 394-398. 

Finance. Treasurer's rpt.. 356. 

— rpt. of com. on, (Craver, 
chrm.), 356-357. 

—A. L. A. Publishing board, 
financial rpt., 375-377. 

— Financial statement of Leip- 
zig committee, 366. 

— Panama-Pacific exhibit com. 
financial statement, 367. 

— List of subscriptions to A. L. A. 
Panama-Pacific exhibit, 368-370. 

"Fines." Round table on lending 
work, 448. 

Foreigners. "Bibliography on li- 
brary work with foreigners," 
(Tracey)," 263-264. See also 
Immigrants. 

Foster, W. E., telegram to, 384. 



Foye, Charlotte H., sec'y Catalog 
sect, 411. 

French and Belgian reconstruc- 
tion plans, 390-394. 

George, C. A., discussion, 418-ff. 

Gerould, J. T., mem. com., 386; 
discussion, 427. 

Gillis, J. L., mem. com., 366. 

Glasier, G. G., first vice-pres. 
N. A. S. L., 531 : mem. exec, 
com., 555. 

Godard, G. S., presides at public 
documents round table, 444-447; 
rpt. of joint com. on nat. legisl. 
inf. service, 475-479; exec. com. 
A, A. L. L., 555. 

Goldberg, Bessie, sec'y Catalog 
sect., 411. 

Gossman, Letitia, mem. com., 3S9. 

Goss. Edna, chrm. Catalog sect., 
411. 

Gould, C. H., rpt. of com. on co- 
ordination, 349-351; discussion, 
381, 398. 

"Government publications as seen 
in libraries — with program of 
betterments in public printing," 
(Clarke), 312-319. 

Grade school libraries. "What 
the pub. lib. can do for grade 
and rural school lib.," (Peters), 
217-218. 

Grade schools. "What the public 
library can do for grade 
schools," (Power), 215-216. 

Gray, Julia C, sec'y Agric. lib. 
sect.. 405-406. 

Greeley, S. S., necrology, 328. 

Green, C. R., "Union check-list 
of serials in agricultural li- 
braries," 405 ; chrm. Agric. lib. 
sect., 406. 

Green, Helen E., necrologv, 328. 

Green, S. A., 383. 

Greene, C. S., mem. com., 366. 

Greer, Agnes, sec'y, round table 
on lending work, 448. 

Griffin, A. P. C, telegram to, 384. 

Group action. "How the com- 
munity educates itself," (Bost- 
wick), 115-122. 

Gymer, Rosina C sec'y Chil- 
dren's lib. sect, 422. 



Hadley, C, presides at second 
session, 3S0-ft; at Exec, bd., 
388; presides at Council, 398; 
chrm. round table on lending 
work, 448. 

Hall. Mary E., presides at School 
lib. sect., 432 J conducts round 
table, 433-434; mem. of com., 
223. 

Hardy, E. A., "How Ontario ad- 
ministers her libraries," 181- 
185; 385. 

Hasse, Adelaide R., "Library pre- 
paredness in the fields of econo- 
mics and sociology," 202-205, 
422; discussion, 446. 

Hastings, C. H., "Rpt. of progress 
on manual for alphabetization," 
409. 

Hazeltine, Alice I., vice-chrm. 
Children's lib. sect., 422. 

Hepburn. W. M., presides Col- 
lege and reference sect., 422; 
405. 

Hewins, Caroline M., conducts 
round table, 421. 

Hewittt, L. E., president A. A. 
L. L., 555. 



676 



INDEX 



Hicks, F. C. "The public library 
as affected by municipal re- 
trenchment," 169-17S, 385; 534. 

Hi^h school libraries. "How pub. 
lib. can help in developing ef- 
fective high school lib.," (Les- 
ler). 213-215. 

High school lib. round table. 
School Lib. Sect., 433-434. 

Hill, F. P., final rpt. A. L. A. 
Panama-Pacific exhibit, 362-370; 
380-fI. 

Hills, A. S., 471. 

Hopkins, Julia A., sec'y Profes- 
sional training sect., 431. 

Hopkins, Mary L., "Book wagon 
delivery," 248-250 ; discussion, 
458. 

Hosic, J. F., "The place of the 
school library in modern edu- 
cation," 210-213, 432. 

Houston, H. S., 381. 

"How to use the school library" 
textbook pub. by Wis. lib. com., 
434. 

Hyde, Mary E., vice-chrm. Pro- 
fessional Training Sect., 431. 

"Immigrant, the school and the 
library," (Shiels), 257-263. 

Inimigrants. "Americanizing 

books and periodicals for im- 
migrants," (Campbell), 269-272 

— Library work for immigrants." 
(Carr), 273-276. 

~/'^Sr'?„°^ '•'^ people we work 

, for," (Carr), 149-154. 
Inspir,-ition through cataloging," 
(Bay). 237-241. *' 

'■Instruction in use of lib.," 433 

Xnter-hbrary loans, see Co-ordina- 
tion. 

International cooperation, com 
on, 393. 

Isom, Mary E., mem. Council, 387. 

Ives, William, telegram to, 383. 

Johnson, Belle Holcomb, discus- 
sion, 458-ff. 

Johnston, R. H., "Library of the 
bureau of railway economics in 
c'Iq '"'^'■■•'brary relations," 532- 

Johnston, W. D., mem. of com., 

Johnstone, Ursula K., sec'y round 
table, 434. 

Jones, E. Louise, 461. 

Jordan. Alice M., chrm. Child- 
dren's Lib. Sect., 422. 

Josephson, Aksel G. S., "The 
cataloging test : results and out- 
look," 242-244; 411; rpts. for 
com. on cost and methods of 
catg, 389. 

"Kansas state normal school, what 

It does for school lib.," (Kerr), 

434. 
Keogh, A., 450. 

Kelso, Tessa L., discussion, 424. 
Kerr, W. H., motion by, 381; 

discussion, 433; "What Kansas 

state normal school does for 

sch. lib.," 434. 
Kidder, Ida A., "Some opportuni- 

ties in agricultural library 

work," 228-234; 406. 

Labor saving devices, rpt. of com. 
on lib. administration, 345-346. 

Lapp, J. A., "Agricultural li- 
braries as special libraries," 
405; discussion, 479-ff; sec'y- 
treas. S. L. A., 556. 



"Leadership through learning," 
(Bishop), 155-161. 

League of library commissions, 
proceedings, 451-462; "Value 
of organization of lib. trustees," 
452-453 ; traveling lib. prob- 
lems. 454-fF. 

Learned, Walter, necrology, 328. 

Learning. "Leadership through 
learning," (Bishop), 155-161. 

Lease, Evelyn S., 455. 

"Leather for binding, review of, 
during last eleven years in Eng- 
land and America," (Nourse), 
472-475. 

Lee, G. W., 429. 

Legislation, "Comments on li- 
brary 1." (Brett), 319-324. 

Legler, H._ E., "Library work 
with children ; a synoptical 
criticism," 205-208; "How the 
pub. lib. can help in developing 
effective high school lib.," 213- 
215 ; rpt. of A. L. A. publishing 
bd.,, 370-377; 411; 432. 

Leipzig committee, financial state- 
ment of, 366. 

Leiand, W. G., "Archive depot," 
517-519. 

Lending work, round table on, 
447-448. Lending, see Circu- 
lation. 

Letts, Bertha M., necrology, 328. 

Lewis, F. G., presides at the- 
ological libraries' round table, 
449-451. 

Leypoldt, Mrs. Frederick, tele- 
gram to, 383. 

Leypoldt, F., 382. 

Library administration, rpt. of 
com. on, (Bowerman), 344-348. 

"Library and the book trade," 
(Brett), 402-405. 

"Library by-products," (Strange), 
540-547., 

^'Library institutes in New York," 
(Wynkoop), 251-254. 

"Library and school cooperation 
in Utah," (Downey), 254-257. 

Library schools. "Comparison of 
curricula of lib. sch. and pub. 
lib. training classes." 185-189. 
— "Vital distinctions of a library 
apprentice course," (Rose), 189- 
194. 

Library training, rpt. of com. on, 
(Root, chrm.), 348-349. 

"Library trustees* obligation to 
the state," (Earl), 293-295. 

"Library work for immigrants," 
(Carr), 273-276. 

Lichtenstein, W., "Possible re- 
sults of the European war," 
200-202; 422. 

k ;___ .. 

L. L., 554. 

"Literature of todav," (Brown), 
502-506. 

Little, G. T., necrology, 328; 
eulogy, 387. 

Locke, G. H., elected second vice- 
pres., 387. 

Lyons, J. F., sec'y theological li- 
braries* round table, 449-451. 



Macbeth, G. A., necrology, 328. 
MacDonald, Anna A, conducts 

round table, 454. 
Mcllwaine, H. R., rpt. of public 

archives com., 506-517. 
Maps. "Making maps available," 

(Winser), 24?-248. 
Martel, C, 409. 



Massee, May, rpt. on A. L. A. 
Booklist. 373-374. 

Materials and supplies for li- 
braries, testing of, (rpt. of com. 
on lib. administration), 346-348. 

Mathiews, F. K., 453. 

Matthews, Harriet L., telegram 
to, 384. 

Mendenhall, I. M., mem. of com., 
223 

Merrill, W. S., rpt. of com. on 
code for classifiers, 389; rpt. on 
A. L. A. periodical cards, 374. 

Meyer, H. H. B., discussion, 427. 

Missouri school of mines, "Prob- 
lems _ discovered in cataloging 
the library of," (Cunningham), 
234-237. 

Milam, C. H., discussion, 436. 

"Modern education, place of 
school lib. in," 210-213. 

Montgomery, T. L., sec'y Trus- 
tees' Sect., 444. 

Moore, Annie Carroll, discussion, 
430. 

"Municipal retrenchment, the 
public library as affected by," 
(Hicks), 169-175. 

Munson, Agnes McNamara, 554. 

National association of state li- 
braries; proceedings, 462-554; 
joint session with A. A. L. L., 
462 ; rpt. of sec'y-treas., 520- 
526; rpt. of auditing com., 526; 
rpt. of com. on resolutions, 526 ; 
rpt of com. on amending con- 
stitution, 527 ; election of of- 
ficers, 531. 

"National campaign for better 
school libraries," 432. 
National legislative information 
service, rpt. of joint commit- 
tee on a, (Godard), 475-479. 

Nolan, E. J., telegram to, 384. 

Necrology, see A. L. A. necrol- 
ogy. 

"New poetry and democracy," 
(Rittenhouse), 137-143. 

Normal school lib. round table. 
School Lib. Sect., 434. 

Norton. F. N., president S. L. 
A., 556. 

Nourse, E. M., "Review of leather 
for binding during the last 
eleven years in England and 
America," 472-475. 

Ogden, Lucy, necrology, 328. 

"One hundred years ago — rela- 
tively speaking," (Saxe), 299- 
301. 

Ontario. "How Ontario admin- 
isters her libraries," (Hardy), 
181-185. 

Organization, "Establishin.g li- 
braries under difficulties," 
(Wilkinson), 161-169. 

Paine, P. M., "American public 
as seen from circulation desk,** 
symposium, 283-286 ; 384. 

Panama-Pacific exhibit, final rpt. 
on A. L. A., (Hill, chrm.), 362- 
370. 

Parsons, A. J., necrology, 328. 

Periodical cards, see A. L. A. 
periodical cards. 

Peoples, W. T., telegram to, 384. 

Pettee, Julia, mem. com. 389 ; 
449. 

Peters. Orpha M., "What the 
public library can do for grade 
and rural school libraries,' 217- 



INDEX 



B77 



318; 432; sec'y-treas. School 
Lib. Sect., 434. 

Pillsbury, Mary M., 450. 

Photographic methods. "The 

utilization of photographic meth- 
ods in library research work, 
(Swingle, Swingle"), 194-199. 

Plummer, Mary Wright, Presi- 
dent's address: "The pubUc li- 
brary and the pursuit of truth," 
111-115; A. L. A. addresses, 
resolution to, 379 ; greeting to, 
421. 

Poetry. "The new poetry and de- 
mocracy," (Rittenhouse), 137- 
143. 

Poole, F. O., sec'y com., 479. 

Poole, W. F., 380-ff. 

Porter. W. T., mem. Council, 398; 
presides at Trustees' Sect., 435- 
444. 

"Possible results of the Euro- 
pean war," (Lichtenstein), 200- 
202. 

Power, Effie L., "What the pub- 
lic library can do for grade 
schools," 215-216; mem. of 
com., 223; 432. 

Printing. "Government publica- 
tions as seen in libraries — with 
program of betterments in pub- 
He printing." (Clarke), 312-319. 

"Printing bill," (Carter), 301-312. 

Professional training section, pro- 
ceedings, 429-431. 

Prouty, Louise, "American public 
as seen from circulation desk." 
symposium, 279-280; 3S4. 

Public archives. See archives. 

Public documents. "Library pre- 
paredness in the fields of eco- 
nomics and sociology," (Hasse), 
2C2-205. 

Public documents round table, 
proceedings, 444-447. 

"Public library and the pursuit 
of truth." (Plummer), 111-115. 

"Public library as part of our 
educational system," (Boody), 
440-442. 

"Public utilities rpts. annotated," 
471. 

"Publicity of the library, the 
larger," (Wheeler), 175-180. 

Publishing board. See A. L. A. 
publishing board. 

Punjab Library Association, 
greeting from, 386. 

Putnam, H., at Exec, bd., 388; 
discussion, 392 ff. 

Pyne, M. T., rpt. as trustee Car- 
negie and endowment funds, 
354-356; welcomes A. L. A., 
378-379. 

Ranck, S. H., at Exec, bd., 388; 
discussion, 396; 398; conducts 
q^uestion box, 399-401 ; discus- 
sion, 435-flF. 

Rathbone, Josephine A., mem. 
exec, bd., 387 ; 389 ; discussion, 
430. 

Rawson, Fannie C, presides at 
League of lib. commissions, 
451-462. 

Ray, Mary K., second vice-pres, 
A. A. L. L., 555. 

Reading. "American public a 
seen from circulation desk,' 
symposium, (Tobitt, Prouty 
Van Dyne, Paine), 276-286. 

Redstone, E. H., sec'y publi 
documents round table, 444-447 
treas. A. A. L. L., 555. 



Research. "The utilization of 

photographic methods in H- 

brary research work, (Swingle, 

Swingle), 194-199. 
"Research facilities in American 

libraries." College and refer- 
ence sect., 422-429. 
Resolutions, rpt. of com. on, 

(Steiner, chrm.), 385-386. 
Roberts, Flora B., discussion, 420. 
Rule, Elizabeth E., telegram to, 

384. 
Rice, O. S., discussion, 434. 
Richardson, E. C, mem. of com., 

223; discussion. 425-ff. 
Rider, Gertrude T., rpt. of com. 

on work with the blind, 357-362. 
Rittenhouse, Tessie B., "The new- 
poetry and, democracy," 137- 

143; 382. 
Robbins, Mary E., 431. 
Robertson, J. C, vice-pres. A. A. 

L. L., 555. 
Robinson, Julia A., 460. 
Roden, C. B.. rpt. of treasurer, 

356: discussion. 430. 
Roelke, H. E., 388. 
Rojas, L. M., resolution sent to, 

382. 
Root, A. S., rpt. of com. on 1 

brary training, 348-349; mem, 

council, 398 ; discussion, 430 

432. 
Rose, Ernestine, "Vital distinc 

tions of a library apprentice 

course," 189-194; 429. 
Rosengarten, J. G., telegram to, 

384. 
Rural book delivery. "Book 

wagon delivery," (Hopkins), 

248-250. 
Rural school libraries, see Grade 

school lib. 
Russian Library Association, 

greeting from, 386. 

Sanborn, H. N., reads paper by 
J. J. Chapman, 381; discussion, 
436; 451-fF. 

Sawyer, Harriet P., "Comparison 
of curricula of library schools 
and pub. lib. training classes," 
185-189; 429; sec'y Professional 
training sect., 431. 

Saxe, Mary S., "One hundred 
years ago — relatively speaking," 
299-301 ; 385. 

Saxe, J. G., memorial address on, 
299. 

Schenk, F. W., 554. 

Scholarship, see Learning. 

"School library, place of, in mod- 
ern education," (Hosic), 210- 
213. 

"School-library situation in the 
South," (Certain). 295-299. 

School libraries sect., proceedings, 
432-434 ; "National campaign 
for better sch. lib.," 432; "In- 
struction in use of lib., 433 ; 
high sch. lib. round table, 433- 
434 ; normal sch. lib. round 
table. 434. 

School librarians, rpt. of com. on 
training courses for, (Walter, 
chrm.), 219-227. 

Schwab, J. C, necrology, 328. 

Secretary's rpt. (Utley), 324-329. 

Shaffer, C. W., exec, com., A. A. 
L. L., 555. 

Shedlock, Marie, 414-416 ; discus- 
sion, 420-ff. 

Shiels, Albert. "The immigrant, 
the school, and the library,' 
257-263; 401. 



Sheldon, E. W., rpt. as trHStee 
Carnegie and endowment funds, 
354-356 ; trus. of endowment 
fund, 388. 

Small, A. J., presides at joint ses- 
sion of N. A. S. L., and A. A. 
L. L., 462-flt ; gavel presented 
to, 481 : president's address, 
481-flF. 

Smith, Bessie Sargeant, leads 
question box discussion. 433. 

Smith, Elizabeth M., rpt, sec'y- 
treas. N. A. S. L., 520-526; 531. 

"Social workers, children's li- 
brarians as," 421. 

Sociology. "Library prepared- 
ness in the fields of economics 
and sociology,'* (Hasse), 202- 
205. 

"Some of the people we work for," 
(Carr), 149-154. 

Special libraries association, pa- 
pers, proceedings, 555-557; of- 
ficers elected, 556; by-laws 
amended, 556 ; sec'y-treas. rpt. . 
556. 

State laws, summary of, relating 
to state lib., 4S4-ff. 

"State library service. Mobiliza- 
tion — a next step in organiza- 
tion of a," (Tolman), 497-502. 

State libraries, statistics relating 
to, 491-flF. 

Statistics ; uniform lib. statistics, 
(rpt. of sec'y), 326; of libraries, 
tables following. 329-343; uni- 
form lib., rpt. of com. on lib. 
administration, 344. 

Steiner, B. C, rpt. of com. on 
state and federal relations. 351- 
352; chrm. com. on resolutions, 
386. 

Stevens, E. F., discussion, 428. 

Strange, Joanna G. "Library by- 
products," 540-547. 

Sutliff, Mary L., 410. 

Swingle, W. T.. and Maude K., 
"The utilization of photographic 
methods in library research 
work, with especial reference to 
the natural sciences," 194-199; 
422. 

Teal, W., 388. 

Terpenning, Ruth L., necrology, 
328. 

Theological libraries round table, 
proceedings, 449-451. 

Thompson, C. S., mem. of com., 
348. 

Thompson, Nancy L, conducts 
round table, 434. 

Thomson, J., necrology, 328 ; 
eulogy, 387. 

"Times past — twenty -four A. L. 
A. conferences recalled," 

(Faxon), 286-293. 

Titcomb, Mary L., discussion, 454. 

Tobitt, Edith, "American public 
as seen from circulation desk." 
symposium, 276-279; mem. com. 
lib. administration, 348; 384; 
mem, advisory bd. children's 
lib. sect., 422. 

Tolman, F. L., "Mobilization— a 
next step in organization of a 
state hb. service," 497-502. 

Tracey, Catharine S., "Bibliog- 
raphy on library work with for- 
eigners," 263-264. 

Training classes. "Comparison of 
curricula of lib. schools and 
pub. lib. t. c," (Sawyer), 185- 
189. 

Training classes. "Vital distinc- 



tions of a librar>' apprentice 
course," (Rose), 189-194. 

Training courses. "Rpt. of com. 
on training for school li- 
brarians, (Walter, chrm.), 219- 
227. 

"Training in work with chil- 
dren for librarians in small 
lib.," 421. 

Traveling library problems; round 
table, League lib. com., 454-ff. 

Treasurer's rpt. (Roden), 356. 

Tripp, G. H., discussion, 419-iT- 

Trustees' section; proceedings, 435- 
444; "Public lib. as part of our 
educational system,' (Boody). 
"140-442; "Value of organiza- 
tion of lib. trustees," (Earl), 
452-453. 

Tyler, Anna, discussion, 421. 

Utley, G. B., rpt. of sec'y, 324- 
329; reads president's address. 
379; discusses French and Bel- 
gian reconstruction plans, 390- 
91 ; mem. com., 366. 

Union list of Bibles, rpt. on, 
(Pettee), 449. 

Union list of serials, rpt. of com. 
on, 390. 

Upson, I. S., necrology, 329. 

Utah. "Library and school co- 
operation in Utah," (Downey), 
254-257. 



V*an Dyne, Catherine, "American 
public as seen from circulation 
desk," symposium, 280-283, 384, 

Van Name, A., telegram to. 384 

Van Valkenburgh, Agnes, discus 
sion, 406-407 ; vice-chrm. pre 
sides Professional training sec 
tion, 429-431. 

Ventilating and lighting, question 
box, (Ranck, chrm.), 399-401. 

A"oge, A. L., rpt. of decimal 
classification advisory com. of 
A. L. A., 407; 411. 

Wagner, Sula, presides Catalog 
sect., 406. 

Wales, Elizabeth B., discussion, 
455-ff. 

Walter, F. K., rpt. of com. on 
training courses for school li- 
brarians, 219-227; discussion, 
429-flf; 433. 

Welsh, R. G.j "Modern drama as 
an expression of democracy," 
143-149; 382. 

"What the public library can do 
for grade and rural school lib.," 
(Peters), 217-218. 

Wheaton, H. H., "Americaniza- 
tion program for libraries," 
265-269; 401. 

Wheeler, J. L., "The larger pub- 
licity of the library," 175-180; 
385. 



White, Elizabeth, chrm. Scbooi 

lib. sect., 434. 
White, Mary Ogden, "Democracy 

in modern fiction," 126-136; 

381. 
Wilkinson, Mabel, "Establishing 

libraries under difficulties," 161- 

169; 384. 
Williams, E. J., necrology, 329. 
Williamson, C. C, vice-pres., S. 

L. A., 556. 
Wilson, A. S., necrology. 329. 
Wilson, H. W., "Agricultural in- 
dex," 405. 
Winser, Beatrice, "Making maps 

available," 245-248; 407. 
Wood, H. A., mem. of com., 223. 
Woodruff, C. R., "Economic con- 
ditions of twentieth century," 

465-469. 
Woodard. Gertrude E., sec'v. 

A. A. L. L., 555. 
Wright, P. B., discussion, 435-i?: 

makes motion, 444. 
Wyer, J. I., 389; discussion, 425. 
Wyer, M. G., presides Agri. lib. 

sect., 405-406; mem. com., 429. 
Wynkoop, A., "Library institutes 

in New York," 251-254; 452. 

Zachert, A. B., discussion, 417-fI 
"Children's librarians as social 
workers," 421. 



THf UBBARY OF THE 
APR 28 i^ 

UMlVfc^-^in OF ILLINOIS. 






BULLETIN 

OF THE 

AMERICAN Library Association 

Entered as second-class matter December 27, 1909. at the Post Office at Chicago, 111., under 
Act of Congress of July 16. 1894. 

Vol. 10, No. 4. CHICAGO, ILL. July, 1916 

CONTENTS 

Papers and Proceedings of the Asbury Park 
Conference 



OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION 
PRESIDENT 

Mary Wright Plummer - New York Public Library School 

FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT 

Walter L. Brown .... Buffalo Public Library 

- SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT 

Chalmers Hadley . . - . Denver Public Library 

TREASURER 

Carl B. Roden Chicago Public Library 

SECRETARY 

George B. Utley - - A.L. A. Executive Office, Chicago 



THE LIBRARY OF THE 
APR 2 8 ^^^ 



*\C l\ t , ;;f»t<? 



UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 




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