v.\: "* "TTJT - '. linos L . PAPERS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE (f '' TWENTY-SIXTH GENERAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION HELD AT ST. LOUIS, MO. OCTOBER 17-22 1904 PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION 1904 CONTENTS. TITLE. Addresses delivered at Library Section International Congress of Arts and Science: AUTHOR. PAGE. ,V N ^ ;S The library: its past and future ^The library in relation to literature and life F. M. Crunden 3 Guido Biagi g W. E. A. Axon , j6 Address of the President Herbert Putnam 23 . N Some features of recent library practice in Great ) Henry Bond . 28 Britain i Library extension work in Great Britain L. S. Jast 34 JLibrary legislation in the United Kingdom . . . . J- J- Ogle 37 Training for librarians in Great Britain H. D. Roberts 39 Library work with children in Great Britain . . . John Ballinger 40 Book production in Great Britain Walter Powell . . . 50 Some pending matters of importance Desiderio Chilovi . . . f ..55 A note on Italian library affairs Guido Biagi 57 Organization of State-supported libraries in Norway, ti- ffyhtau 60 Recent progress in the popular libraries of Denmark. A. S. Stee'iberg 63 Danish research libraries H. O. Lange 67 Research libraries of Sweden Aksel Andersson 71 The library movement in Austria Reyer 85 Karl Dziatzko: a memorial sketch Richard Pietsclunaun 87 Library work in New Zealand Herbert Baillie .89 Report on the libraries of Guatemala L. D. Kingsland 91 Note on the National Library of Chile Francisco Araya Bennett 92 International bibliography E. C. Richardson 93 International Catalogue of Scientific Literature . Concilium Bibliographicum in Zurich . . . . The International Institute of Bibliography . . The Prussian central catalog ("Gesamtkatalog") The Swedish catalog of accessions Handbook of learned societies Cyrus Adler 97 H. H. Field 99 H. La Fontaine 101 R. Pick 105 Aksel Andersson 112 /. D. Thompson 114 On a biblipgraphy of public documents Adelaide R. Hasse 116 Recent national bibliography in the United States . R- R. Bowker 121 Suggestion for a yearbook of library literature . . W. D. Johnston 126 Classification: the general theory Rudolf Focke 127 Classification: present tendencies . Charles Mart el 132 Present tendencies of catalog practice W. C. Lane 134 Annotation W. I. Fletcher 144 State aid to libraries Gratia Countryman 148 The library and the school: work now done . . Women in American libraries Report of Committee on Library Administration Report of Committee on Public Documents . . Report of the Publishing Board Electro C. Doren ........... 153 Salome C. Fairchild 157 IV. R. Eastman, Cornelia Marvin, H. C. Wellman. 163 R. P. Falkner 168 W. I. Fletcher 169 Report on gifts and bequests, 1903-1904 .... J. L. ftarrison 173 Fifth Session- 222-227 Bibliographic undertakings of interna- tional importance 222 Classification of fiction 225 Sixth Session ' . . 227-246 Review of library literature .... 227 Comments on Mr. Lane's paper . . . 228 Revision of cataloging rules of L. A. U. K 231 International code of cataloging rules . 233 Cutter's Expansive classification . . . 234 Report of Committee on A. L. A. Ex- hibit . . . 235 Resolutions submitted by Council . . 236 Election of officers 237 Report of Committee on Resolutions . 239 Farewell addresses by Foreign Delegates. 241 State Library Commissions' Section . . . 247-248 Transactions of Council and Executive Board. 249-251 Bibliographical Society of America . . . 252-253 National Association of State Libraries . . 254-258 Historical and other meetings 259 Seven Days at the St. Louis Fair .... 259-261 Officers and Committees 261 Attendance register 262 Attendance summaries 270 Proceedings . . 188-246 First Session 188-201 List of foreign delegates 188 Addresses of welcome 189 Secretary's report 194 Treasurer's report and necrology . . . 195 Report of Trustees of Endowment Fund. 200 Second Session 201-208 Report of Finance Committee .... 201 Report of Committee on Library Train- ing 201 Report of Committee on Co-operation with N. E. A 202 A. L. A. catalog 203 A. L. A. exhibit 204 Report of Committee on Reduced Postal Rates 204 Report of Committee on Relations with Booktrade 205 Third Session 208-216 Library extension work in Great Britain. 209 State aid to libraries 211 Fourth Session 216-222 Election of officers 216 Libraries of Sweden 218 Decimal classification . 220 03-0 ArK ; \ ADDRESSES DELIVERED AT LIBRARY SECTION OF INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF ARTS AND SCIENCE. ST. LOUIS, MO. SEPTEMBER 22, 1904. THE LIBRARY: A PLEA FOR ITS RECOGNITION. BY FREDERICK MORGAN CRUNDEN, Librarian St. Louis Public Library. *T*HE Louisiana Purchase Exposition is an epitome of the life and activity of the world from the naked Negrito to the grande dame with her elaborate Paris cos- tume, from the rude wigwam of the red In- dian to the World's Fair palace filled with the finest furniture, rugs and tapestries, sculpture and painting, and decorations that the highest taste and finest technique can produce from the monotonous din of the savage tom-tom to the uplifting and enthrall- ing strains of a great symphony orchestra from fire by friction, the first step of man be- yond the beast, to the grand electric illumina- tion that makes of these grounds and buildings the most beautiful art-created spectacle that ever rn^t the human eye. And to all this magnificent appeal to the senses are super- added the marvels of modern science and its applications the wonders of the telescope, the microscope and the spectroscope, the tele- graph, in its latest wireless extension, the electric motor and electric light, the telephone and the phonograph, the Roentgen ray and the new-found radium. And now after this vision of wondrous beauty, this triumph of the grand arts of architecture and sculpture and landscape of all the arts, fine and useful has for six months enraptured the senses of people from all quarters of the globe, the learned men of the world have gathered here to set forth and discuss the fundamental principles that underlie the sciences, their correlations and the methods of their application to the arts of life to summarize the progress of the past, to discuss the condition of the present and attempt, perhaps, a forecast of the future. In the scheme of classification, our subject appears in the last department that concerns itself with man's purely mundane affairs, and is the last section in that department. It thus appears properly as a climax and summary of the arts and sciences intelligible to man in his present stage of existence; and if the prob- lem of the future life is ever solved this side of the grave, the knowledge conserved and disseminated by the library will be the start- ing-point and the inspiration of the advance, as it has been of all progress since the art of written speech was invented. "The library is the reservoir of the common social life of the race. It is at once the accumulator and the transmitter of social energy." Without the library the highest social culture is im- possible; and a most moderate degree could be achieved by very few. Under the main division, "Social Culture," the library is one of the five sections in the Department of Education. In education are summed up all th,e achievements of the past and the possibilities of the future. In the words of Wendell Phillips, "Education is the one thing worthy the deep, controlling anx- iety of the thoughtful man." "Education," ex- claims Mazzini, "and my whole doctrine is included and summed up in this grand word." It is practically a truism that Jules Simon ut- ters when he says "Le peuple qui a les meil- leures ecoles est le premier peuple; s'il ne Test pas aujourd'hui il le sera demain." Under this Department of Education, with INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS. its grades, the School, the College and the University, the Library is assigned the last section. It belongs there in chronological order of development as an active factor in popular instruction and enlightenment; and, furthermore, the presentation of its claims and functions comes naturally after those of the other factors in education, because it is >; x an essential coadjutor and supplement to each and all. It is a summary and a climax. vY v There have always been libraries, and they have always been a factor in education; but the public, free, tax-supported library is but just half a century old, and could hardly be considered out of the long clothes of infancy till the year 1876 ; while its general acceptance as an essential supplement to the public school and a co-ordinate factor with the college and university may be considered the accom- plishment of the last decade. There are still teachers who look on general reading as an interference with school work and an extra burden on their shoulders. We start, then, with the axiomatic propo- sition that all human progress depends on education; and no elaborate demonstration is necessary to show that the library is an essen- tial factor in every grade of education. Higher education, certainly, cannot dis- pense with the library. The well-known dic- tum of Carlyle, "The true university of modern times is a collection of books," was accepted as a striking statement of a man with the rhetorical habit, without, perhaps, a realization of its full significance. It has been recently expanded into a more express and specific tribute to the importance of the library in university education. In an address delivered in St. Louis and afterwards pub- lished in the North American Review, Pres- ident Harper said: "The place occupied by libraries and labo- ratories in the educational work of to-day, as compared with that of the past, is one of commanding importance. Indeed, the library and the laboratory have already practically revolutionized the methods of higher educa- tion. In the really modern institution, the chief building is the library. It is the center of the institutional activity. . . . That fac- tor of colkge work, the library, fifty years ago almost unknown, to-day already the center of the institution's intellectual activity, half a century hence, with its sister, the laboratory, almost equally unknown fifty years ago, will have absorbed all else and will have become the institution itself." As to the value of the library in elementary education Doctor Harris says : "What there is good in our American sys- tem points towards this preparation of the pupil for the independent study of the book by himself. It points towards acquiring the ability of self-education by means of the li- brary." I might quote similar utterances from many other eminent educators as to the value the necessity of the library in early edu- cation; but I can think of no stronger sum- ming-up of the subject, nor from higher authority, than this statement from President Eliot : "From the total training during childhood there should result in the child a taste for in- teresting and improving reading, which should direct and inspire its subsequent in- tellectual life. That schooling which results in this taste for good reading, however un- systematic or eccentric the schooling may have been, has achieved a main end of ele- mentary education; and that schooling which does not result in implanting this permanent taste has failed. . . . The uplifting of the democratic masses depends on this implant- ing at school of the taste for good reading." To persons who have given little thought to educational questions these utterances will have the weight that attaches to the highest authority; but we need no university pres- ident or national commissioner to tell us these facts. We have learned them from our own experience; and, enlightened as we now are, it seems to us strange that question could ever have been raised as to the essential character of the library in elementary educa- tion. Yet there are some of us, I am sure, who can recall painful consequences from putting into practice an educational theory not generally accepted by the pedagogues of our childhood days. We know that higher education is impos- sible without a library, for the library is the storehouse of the world's knowledge, the record of humanity's achievements, the his- tory of mankind's trials and sorrows and sufferings, of its victories and defeats and of its gradual progress upwards in spite of fre- quent fluctuation and failure. In this chron- icle of the past lie lessons for the present and the future; from the lives of storied heroes comes the inspiration that leads the race on- ward and upward. A university without a library would of necessity have a very small and weak faculty only the few professors C RUN DEN. who could be induced to go where the most important instrumentality of their work was lacking: the university that has an adequate library includes in its faculty the professors of all other universities and all the great teachers of all countries and ages. But is it worth while to consider a uni- versity without a. library? Can there be such an institution? In higher education, then, the library is a necessity. In elementary and secondary edu- cation it is no less essential, if the most is to be n-ade of the few years that the average child spends in school and if he is to be started on a path of self-culture. On this point Stanley Jevons says : "In omitting that small expenditure in a universal system of libraries which would en- able young men and women to keep up the three R's and continue their education, we spend 97 and stingily decline the 3 really needed to make the rest of the 100 effective." At the International Library Conference in London, in 1897, one of the most distin- guished American librarians, who has been an administrator in a large educational field outside of the library, expressed his view of the supreme importance of the library in a scheme of popular education by saying that if he had to choose between the public school and the public library if he could have only one (though the alternative is one that never will or can be presented), he would keep the library and let the school go. For, he argued, every child would learn to read somehow; and, with a free library that actively sought him, he would be better off than if he had a school to teach him to read, but no books to read after he had learned. But however divergent might be opinions regarding this impossible alternative, there is no doubt that the public library, with en- larged functions and activities, has at least equal potentialities with the school. Whether the formal instruction of the school or the broader education of the library is of greater value, depends on what is the chief aim. If it is merely to make bread-winners, the school may be the more useful, though in this, too, the library is an efficient coadju- tor; but if our purpose is to make men and women, citizens of a progressive nation, ac- tive members of an aspiring society, the li- brary may fairly claim at least equal rank with the school. For the school wields its direct influence over the average child but a few years; the library is an active influence through life. Again, more than ninety-five children out of every hundred leave school before they are sufficiently mature to comprehend those studies which open their eyes to the universe, which bear upon their relations to their fel- low-men, upon their duties as citizens of a state, as members of organized society. These are the studies that deal with the most im- portant problems that mankind has to solve. They cannot be taught to children; they can- not be taught dogmatically at all. They involve the consideration of burning ques- tions, subjects of bitter controversy the world-old battle between conservatism and innovation, which, as Emerson says, "is the subject of civil history." They cannot be taught by any teacher, they cannot be taught by any text-book or by any one book. Their adequate consideration calls for the reading of many books books of the present and the future as well as the past. The electrician who allows himself to be guided by the treat- ises of twenty years ago would have no stand ing; neither has the economist or sociologist who has not kept up with the literature of the last thirty years or the last three years. It would be of no particular advantage for all of us to be electricians. We can safely trust that field to experts ; but it is extremely desir- able that every man should comprehend the great issues of economics and politics. The school cannot even present the important problems of sociology; ihe university can- not adequately do so without the library. On no other subject is the wide reading that Matthew Arnold enjoins so necessary. And no other subject is of such momentous im- portance to mankind; for the betterment of social conditions is a necessary forerunner and foundation of moral and religious pro- gress. And that cannot be true religion which does not lead to social betterment. In that noblest aspiration ever put into the mouth and mind and heart (too often, alas, only the mouth!) of man we are taught to pray not that we may be transplanted to a better world, but that God's kingdom may come and his will be done in this world. We are not likely to abate our eagerness in the pursuit of knowledge of physical science, INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS. for the zeal of the scientist is stimulated by the spur of commercialism; and, though it seems impossible, the twentieth century may bring forth as wonderful discoveries and in- ventions as the nineteenth. But, to take the advance just now most sought, can any one raise the question as to which would be of greater benefit to St Louis, to reach Chicago in an hour by airship or to take six or ten hours for the trip and find there and every- where a contented body of workmen supply- ing us with the necessities of life and a set of managers carrying on the transportation sys- tem that we already have on equal terms to all people? What the world's progress most needs is "evening up." The advancing col- umn presents a very ragged front, with phys- ical science and its applications so far ahead that they have almost lost sight of social science in the rear. It would be no great dis- advantage to the world to the progress of mankind as a whole if the swift-footed legion of applied science would merely mark time for a period, while attention should be given to a better organization of the vast human army. The objective point would be reached as soon, for a nation is like a railway train; it can go no faster than its hindmost car. But this is not likely to happen at pres- ent Applied science has every stimulus from within and without, every reward intrinsic and extrinsic; while progress in the social and political sciences must carry the dead weight of the inertia of conservatism and also meet the active and intense opposition of vested interests, which have ever the single purpose of preserving the status quo, no matter how unjust or maleficent The solution of these all-important prob- lems cannot be found in the school, where immature minds are taught merely how to use the tools of knowledge; these questions cannot be settled by the small number of university students; they must be solved by the education of the masses, by instill- ing in them in their early school year; a desire for knowledge and a love for good reading, which will lead them to continue their education by means of the library. The education of the mass of the voters who determine the character of a democratic government must not be left to the party organ or the stump speaker. The great social and political questions should be studied and pondered in the quiet of the closet and not decided, without previous thought, amid the hurrahs of the hustings. To make the public library realize fully its possibilities as the People's University calls for more than the opportunity which every public library now offers; it requires active effort to reach out and bring the people to the library by the fullest co-operation with the school and by means of attractive lecture courses, which shall stimulate reading and guide it in profitable channels. But the be- ginning of this work the inculcation of a taste for good reading lies with the school, with the library's co-operation, especially dur- ing the years from six to ten or twelve, those years when nearly all the children come under the school's influence and when the habit of reading can be most easily formed. If charged with placing undue stress on the value of the library, I might urge its comparative newness and its consequent lack of recognition ; and, as an evidence of the latter, I might point to the fact that in this great educational exposition, while one vast palace is given up to exhibits of the school, the library has with difficulty secured a part of a room in the Missouri State Build- ing for an exhibit of its activities in the great work of education, in which, as I am trying to show, its potentialities are as great as those of the school As our Board of Di- rectors said, in its appeal to the Exposition Directors for a separate library building: "The library, besides being the most effi- cient and most economical agency for popular education, represents all the fair will have to show. It stands for the sum total of human knowledge. It is the instrumentality through which knowledge has been conserved and cumulated. Only through the library can civ- ilization continue to advance, . . . Books are the most potent factors in progress. With- out books we should have had no powerful locomotives to show, no wireless telegraphy, no wonder-making machinery, no beautiful buildings, no impressive statuary, no paint- ings to arouse wonder and yield delight no World's Fair to draw distinguished scien- tists and educators from all over the world." By way of introduction to the comprehen- sive addresses of the two distinguished dele- gates who have travelled four or five thou- sand miles to lay before this Section, and, through publication, before the world, the past history and the present problems of the C RUN DEN. library, it has seemed to me appropriate that, as chairman, I should present a brief plea for the consideration of the library as one of the greatest factors in human progress. It has existed, though not in its present form or with its present functions, from the dawn of recorded civilization. It is itself the record of civilization; and without it there can be no records and no civilization. It is the repository, the custodian, the preserver of all the arts and sciences and the principal means of disseminating all knowledge With the school and the church it forms the tri- pod necessary to the stable equilibrium of society. Let me briefly summarize the func- tions of the public library. 1. It doubles the value of the public school instruction, on which is expended more than ten times the cost of the library. 2. It enables the children who leave school at an early age (an overwhelming majority) to continue their education while earning their living. It provides for the education of adults who have lacked or failed to utilize early opportunities. This is of special im- portance in a country like the United States, where one of the greatest political problems is the assimilation of a vast influx of ignorant foreigners of all races and languages. 3. It supplies books and periodicals needed for the instruction of artisans, mechanics, manufacturers, engineers, and all others whose work requires technical knowledge* all persons on whom depends the indus- trial progress of the community. 4. It furnishes information and inspira- tion to ministers, teachers, journalists, au- thors, physicians, legislators all persons on whose work depend the intellectual, moral, sanitary, political and religions welfare and advancement of the people. 5. It is the stimulus and the reliance of the literary and study clubs, which, especially among women, have done so much not only for individual self-culture but also for civic enlightenment and social betterment. This represents its numerous post-graduate courses, which are taken by constantly in- creasing numbers. * The information furnished by a book in the Cincinnati Public Library once saved that cfty a quarter of a million dollars. This in mnnerotM instances, but on a smaller scale, is a part of the erery-day work of erery library. 6. It has philosophers and theologians to explain and expound and to exhort those who are willing to listen; but, far better, it has poets and dramatists and novelists who compel a hearing and impress on heart as well as mind the fundamental truths of morality and religion. 7. It is also a school of manners, which have been well defined as minor morals. The child learns by example and by the silent influence of his surroundings ; and every visit to a library is a lesson in propriety and re- finement. The roughest boy or the rudest man cannot fail to be impressed by the library atmosphere and by that courtesy which is the chief element in the library spirit." 8. It imparts, as the school cannot, knowl- edge of one's self, and of one's relations to one's fellow-man, and thus prepares the in- dividual for citizenship and fellowship in or- ganized society and leads him to be an ac- tive force in social advancement. 9. It elevates the standard of general in- telligence throughout the community, on which depends its material prosperity as well as its moral and political well-being. ia But not last, if an exhaustive list were aimed at nor least it supplies a universal and urgent craving of human nature by affording to all entertainment of the highest and purest character, substituting this for the coarse, debasing, demoralizing amusements which would otherwise be sought and found. Further, it brings relief and strength to many a suffering body and cheer and solace to many a sorrowing heart It is instruction and in- spiration to the young, comfort and consola- tion to the old, recreation and companionship to all ages and conditions. I dose as I began: Education is the greatest concern of man- kind : it is the foundation of all human prog- ress. The library is an essential factor in all grades of education ; and it is the agent plen- ipotentiary in the betterment of society and the culture and cheer of the human souL "The highest gift of education is not die maSf tery of sciences, but noble living, generous character, the spiritual delight that comes from familiarity with the loftiest ideals of the human mind, the spiritual power that saves each generation from the intoxication of its own success." INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS. THE LIBRARY: ITS PAST AND FUTURE. BY GUIDO BIAGI, Director Royal Laurentian Library, Florence, Italy. *T* HE first founders of public libraries hav- ing been Italians, it will perhaps be neither strange nor unfitting that an Italian, the custodian of one of the most ancient and valued book-collections in the world, should speak to you of their past. He may, however, appear presumptuous in that he will speak to you also of their future, thus posing as an exponent of those anticipations which are now fashionable. It is in truth a curious de- sire that urges us and tempts us to guess at the future, to discover the signs of what it will bring us, in certain characteristics of the present moment. It answers to a want in hu- man nature which knows not how to resign itself to the limitations of the present, but would look beyond it into time and space. This looking forward toward the future is no selfish sentiment; it springs from the de- sire not to dissipate our powers in vain at- tempts, but to prepare new and useful mate- rial for the work of the future, so that those who come after us may move forward without hindrance or perturbation, without being obliged to overturn and destroy, before they can build up anew. Thus does it happen in nature; huge secular trunks flourish and grow green by luxuriant offshoots which add new vigor of life to the old and glorious stock. We may perhaps discover the secret of the future of the library by looking back over its past, by attentively studying the varying phases through which it has passed in its up- ward path towards a splendid goal of wisdom and civilization. By thus doing we may pre- pare precious material for its future devel- opment and trace with security the line of its onward movement. It is of supreme im- portance that humanity in general, as the in- dividual in particular, know whither its ef- forts must be directed, that there may be no straying from the straight path. We are sailors on a vast sea bound toward a shore we know not of ; when we approach it, it van- ishes like a mirage from before our eyes. But we have as guides the stars which have already ruled our destinies, while before us flames, on the distant horizon, that light of the Idea towards which our ships and our hearts move eagerly. Let us stand firm at the helm and not despise the counsels of some old pilot who may perhaps seem faint- hearted to young and eager souls. He who is hurried along by the excitement of the course, by the impetuosity of the motion, finds neither time nor place to look back and to meditate, which is necessary that he may look forward with sharper and calmer gaze. Modern life among the young and more ven- turesome peoples is a giddy race. They run, they annihilate the space before them, they press onward, ever onward, with irresistible impetus, but we cannot always say that this headlong course leads straight to the goal. We are not sure, even, that it may not some- times be running in a circle, a retracing of their steps. In mechanics a free wheel turn- ing upon itself and moving no machinery is so much lost power. Let us beware of free wheels which consume without producing, which give the illusion of movement whilst they still remain stationary. Modern civiliza- tion bears within itself a great danger: the endeavor which loses the end by a misuse of the means, and which though busy is ever idle idle, yet never at rest. It may be, therefore, that a momentary return to the past with all that it can teach will be useful to all of us. Progress has rightly been compared to a continual ascent. Modern man sees before him ever vaster horizons ; the eye of science discover? in the infinitely distant and in the infinitely small ever new worlds whether of suns or of bacteria. In the same way do conceptions and ideas ever widen and tend to a more comprehensive generalization. All the march of civilization, both material and moral, consists in rising from a single pri- mordial idea to another more complex and so on to the highest scientific abstractions. Woe to science if it stops short in the course of this evolution ; its reputation would be in- BIAGI. jured beyond repair. In material things, the fate of certain words shows us the great ad- vance that has been made: the words are the same but the things they represent are very different. We still give the name of Casa (Capsa, that is, hut) to our splendid dwell- ings, which have here among you reached their highest point of development in your sky-scrapers; we still give to the great trans- atlantic steamers, floating cities, the name of boats, which was once applied to the first rude canoes of the troglodites. The first function of the Casa and of the boat still remains, but how differently are the details carried out. So also, the book, the liber, whose etymology is preserved in the word library, was ancient- ly the inner part of the tree (liber) on which men used to write, and which is now unfor- tunately again used in the making of paper, no longer obtained from rags but from wood pulp. The libraries of Assyria and Egypt, those for instance of Assur-Bani-Pal and of Rameses i., consisted of clay tablets, of in- scribed stones, or of papyrus rolls ; the libra- ries of Greece, those of the Ptolemies and of the kings of Pergamus, the libraries of Rome, first opened to publjc use by the efforts of Asinius Pollio ; the Byzantine libraries, which arose within Christian churches or in mon- asteries; and lastly, the rich and splendid collections made at great expense by the pa- trons, by the builders, of the culture of the Renaissance all these, compared with the modern libraries, of which the most perfect specimens may be found in this land, are like an ancient trireme beside a twin-screw steamer. And the essential difference be- tween the ancient and the modern library, be- tween the conception of a library as it existed up to the times of Frederic, Duke of Urbino and of Lorenzo il Magnifico, and that exist- ing in the minds of Thomas Bodley, or An- tonio Magliabecchi, is to be found in the different objects represented by the same word, liber. A study nf the fate of this word would lead us step by step through the varying forms of the library, from those containing clay tablets, from those filled with rolls covered with cuneiform characters, to the codices brilliant with the art of Oderisi da Gobbio, splendid with gold and miniatures, to the first block books, to the printed books of Fust and Schoeffer, and of Aldo Manuzio, of William Caxton, and of Christopher Plantin. The invention of printing caused a great revolution in the world of books. The new art was, as we well know, received at first with scorn and indifference. The incuna- bula were but rough, vulgar things as com- pared with the beautiful manuscripts clearly written on carefully prepared parchment, and glittering with brilliant colors. They were fit at most to be used by the masses by women, by children, to be sold at fairs, to be put into the hands of cheap-jacks and charla- tans ; but they were quite unfitted for the val- uable collections guarded with so much care in perfumed cases carved from precious woods, in sculptured cabinets, on reading desks covered with damask of with the softest of leathers, made from the skins of sucking animals. We can easily understand that fastidious art patrons such as the Duke of Urbino should scorn this new form of book, and should proclaim it unworthy of a place in a respectable library- But this tem- pest of scorn gradually subsided before the advantages which the new invention offered and before the marvellous progress it made. It sought, moreover, the favor of the minia- turists by leaving, in the margins of the new codices, sufficient space for ornamentations and for initials of burnished geld; it sought the favor and the help of the learned Hu- manists by employing them to revise and correct the texts; it won the favor of the studious and of clerks, who have at all times been poor, by spreading abroad the texts of the classics, by offering for a few half-pence that which could at first be obtained only with gold or silver florins, by imparting to all that which had been the privilege of the few. And we must not forget the help given to typography by the invention of the minor arts, calcography and xylography, which added new value to the pages of the no lon- ger despised book; so that printed codices (codices impressi) might stand side by side with the manuscript codices (codices manu- scripti). The word, the sign of the thought, first took on visible form with the invention of the alphabet. But other ways of revealing thought were to be discovered in the future. 10 INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS. No one in the ancient world, no one before the very culminating point of the Renais- sance, could have supposed it possible that a library might contain anything but manu- scripts; just as we, to-day, are incapable of imagining a library containing anything but books. We have seen that the conception of the book underwent expansion, when printed books were added to those written by hand; and in the same way, the library underwent expansion, gradually rising, between the fif- teenth and twentieth centuries, from a simple collection of codices, to th/e vast and wonderful proportions it has at present reached, assuming the duty of receiving with- in itself any kind of graphic representation of human thought, from clay tablets and in- scribed stones and papyrus rolls, to phototypes and monotype or linotype products, from books for the blind written in the Braille al- phabet to the new manuscripts of the type- writers. From this brief compendium of bibliogra- phical history one essential feature emerges. As though directed by an unswerving law, by the law of reproduction, human thought feels the necessity of expanding, and of mul- tiplying and perpetuating itself; and it is ever searching for new means of carrying out this intent. Thus the copyist or the scribe is re- placed by the compositor, the miniaturist by the engraver, the draughtsman by the litho- grapher, the painter by the color-printer, the engraver by the photographer and zinco- grapher; thus the machine replaces the hand of man the machine which is only con- cerned with working quickly, with producing as many copies as possible with diminished effort, with snatching her secrets from Mother Nature herself. We have replaced the note tironiane of the Roman scribes by the typewriter, the wax tablets by the pages of the stenographer; for drawing and paint- ing we have substituted photography and three-color printing; wireless telegraphy has taken the place of messages sent by post- horses. And not content with these singular and wondrous modes of reproducing graphically the thought and the word, we have found an- other means of reproduction still more stu- pendous in the immediateness of its action. Sound, the human voice, whose accents have hitherto been lost, .may now be preserved and repeated and produced like other graphic signs of thought. When the graphophone was first invented, we little thought that the cylinders upon which the vibrations of the voice had traced so slight and delicate an impression, would ever be reproduced as simply as, by electrotyping, we reproduce a page of movable characters. Neither have we yet, or I am much mistaken, grasped the whole of the practical utility which the graph- ophone may have in its further applications and improvements. Up to the present time the graphophone has been kept as a plaything in drawing-rooms or in bars, to reproduce the last roulades of some well-known singer, the hangings of some military band, or the pretended uproar of some stormy meeting. At the present day, the librarian would prob- ably refuse to receive within his library this faithful reproducer of the human voice and thought, just as Frederic, Duke of Urbino, banished from his collection the first exam- ples of printed books. But without posing as a prophet or the son of a prophet, we may surely assert that every library will before long contain a hall in which the discs of the graphophone may be heard (as already is the case at the Brera in Milan), and shelves for the preservation of the discs, just as the libra- ries of Assyria preserved the clay tablets in- scribed with the cuneiform characters. This is a new form of book, strange at first sight, but in reality simply a return to ancient prece- dents, yet a return which marks the upward movement of progress. An Italian Jesuit, Saverio Bettinelli, under- took toward the middle of the eighteenth cen- tury to give laws to Italian writers. He pro- duced certain letters which he assumed Virgil to have written from the Elysian fields to the Arcadia at Rome. In two of these twelve tablets which he put forth under the names of Homer, Pindar, Anachreon, Virgil, Horace, Propertius, Dante, Petrarch and Ariosto, in the poetical meetings held in Elysium, he laid down as a rule: "Let there be written in large letters on the doors of all public libra- ries : 'You will be ignorant of almost every- thing which is within these doors, or you will live three centuries to read half of it ;' and a little further on : 'Let a new city be made whose streets, squares and houses shall contain only books. Let the man who wishes to study go and live there for as long as may BIAGL II be needful ; otherwise printed matter will soon leave no place for the goods, for the food, of the inhabitants of our towns.' " This anticipation, which dates from 1758, still seems an exaggeration; but I know not whether a century and a half hence, posterity will think it so, so great is the development of the industries, the succession of ever new inventions for preserving any graphic repre- sentation of human thought. Not even the life of Methuselah would be long enough to read as much as the tenth part of all that a modern library contains; and I know not whether we could invent a more terrible pun- ishment than to insist upon this for our criminal. How many repetitions of the same ideas, how much superfluity, how many scien- tific works cancelled and rendered useless and condemned to perpetual oblivion by those which succeed them. By welcoming every- thing, without discrimination, the modern li- brary has lost its ancient and true character. No longer can we inscribe over its entrance the ancient motto "Medicine for souls :" few indeed of the books would have any salutary influence on body or on mind. Now that the conception of books and of library has been so enormously expanded, now that the library has become the city of paper, however printed, and of any other material fitted to receive the graphic representation of human thought, it will become: more and more necessary to classify the enormous amount of material, to separate it into various cate- gories. The laws of demography, whatever they may be, must be extended also to books : the dead must be divided from the living, the sick from the sound, the bad from the good, the rich from the poor; and cemeteries must be prepared for all those stereotyped editions of school books, of catechisms, of railway time-tables, for all that endless lug- gage of printed paper that has only the form of a book and has nothing to do with thought. Sanatoria must be provided for books con- demned to uselessness because already infected with error or already eaten away with old age, and the most 'conspicuous places must be set apart for books worthy to be pre- served from oblivion and from the ravages of time, either on account of the importance of their contents or of the beauty of their appearance. In this great Republic of books, the princes will stand high above the count- less mass, and an aristocracy of the best will be formed which will be the true library within the library. But even this will not have the exclusive character of the ancient library. It will re- ceive divers and strange forms of books : next to papyrus of Oxyrinchos, with an un- known fragment of Sappho, may be placed a parchment illuminated by Nestore Leoni o by Attilio Formilli, a graphophone disc con- taining Theodore Roosevelt's latest speech or a scene from "Othello" given by Tommaso Salvini, the heliotype reproduction of the Medicean Virgil, or some phrases written on palm leaves by the last survivor of a band of cannibals. The great abundance of modern production will render -even more rare and more valuable ancient examples of the book; just as the progress of industrialism has en- hanced the value of work produced by the hand of man. Thought as it develops is undergoing the same transformation which has occurred in manual labor: mental work also has assumed a certain mechanical character visible in formalism, in imitation, in the influence of the school or of the surroundings. Industrial- ism has made its way into science, literature and art, giving rise to work which is hybrid, mediocre, without any originality, and des- tined therefore soon to perish. The parasites of thought flourish at the expense of the greater talents, and they will constitute, alas, the larger part of future bibliographical pro- duction. The greatest difficulty of future li- brarians will be to recognize and classify these hybrid productions, in choosing from among the great mass, the few books worthy of a place apart. The appraisal of literature, which has al- ready been discussed in books and congresses, will continue to increase in importance; and in this work of discrimination we shall need the aid of critics to read for other men and to light up the path for those who shall come after. "The records of the best that has been thought and done in the world," said George lies, "grow in volume and value every hour. Speed the day when they may be hospitably proffered to every human soul, the chaff win- nowed from the wheat, the gold divided from the clay." One of the special characteristics of the li- brary of the future will be co-operation, and J2 INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS. internationalism applied to the division of labor. We may already see premonitory symptoms of this in the "Catalogue of scien- tific literature" now being compiled by the Royal Society of London, in the Concilium Bibliographicum of Zurich, in the Institut de Bibliographic of Brussels, and in the card catalog printed and distributed by the Li- brary of Congress at Washington. This co- operation, however, will have to be more widely extended and must assert itself not only by exchanges of cards and of indices but also by means of the lending of books and manuscripts, of the reproductions of codices or of rare and precious works. The govern- ment libraries of Italy are united under the same rules and correspond with all institu- tions of public instruction and with several town and provincial libraries, with free post- age; so that books and manuscripts journey from one end to the other of the peninsular, from Palermo to Venice, without any expense to those who use them, and the different li- braries of the state become, in this way, one single library. And so the day will come when the libraries of Europe and of America and of all the states in the Postal Union will form, as it were, one. single collection, and the old books, printed when America was but a myth, will enter new worlds bearing with them to far off students the benefit of their ancient wisdom. The electric post of the airships will have then shortened distances, the telephone will make it possible to hear at Melbourne a graphophone disc asked for, a few minutes earlier, from the British Museum. There will be few readers, but an infinite number of hearers, who will lis- ten from their own homes to the spoken paper, to the spoken book. University stu- dents will listen to their lectures while they lie in bed, and, as now with us, will not know their professors even by sight. Writing will be a lost art. Professors of paleography and keepers of manuscripts will perhaps have to learn to accustom their eye to the ancient al- phabets. Autographs will be as rare as pa- limpsests are now. Books will no longer be read, they will be listened to ; and then only will be fulfilled Mark Pattison's famous saying, "The librarian who reads is lost." But even if the graphophone does not pro- duce so profound a transformation as to cause the alphabet to become extinct and effect an injury 'to culture itself; even if, as we hope will be the case, the book retains its place of honor, and instruction through the eyes be not replaced by that through the ears (in which case printed books would be kept for the exclusive benefit of the deaf) ; still these discs, now so much derided, will form a very large part of the future library. The art of oratory, of drama, of music and of poetry, the study of languages, the present pronun- ciation of languages and dialects, will find faithful means of reproduction in these hum- ble discs. Imagine, if we could hear in this place to-day the voice of Lincoln or Garibaldi, of Victor Hugo or of Shelley, just as you might hear the clear winged words of Ga- briele D'Annunzio, the moving voice of Eleo- nore Duse or the drawling words of Mark Twain. Imagine, the miracle of being able to call up again, the powerful eloquence of your political champions, or the heroes of our patriotic struggles; of being able to listen to the music of certain verses, the wailing of certain laments, the joy that breaks out in certain cries of the soul : the winged word would seem to raise itself once more into the air as at the instant when it came forth, living, from the breast, to play upon our sensibilities, to stir up our hearts. It is not to be believed that men will willingly lose this benefit, the benefit of uniting to the words the actual voices of those who are, and will no longer be, and that they should not desire that those whose presence has left us should at least speak among us. We may also believe that certain forms of art, such as the novel and the drama, will prefer the phonetic to the graphic reproduction, or at least a union of the two. And the same may be said of poetry, which will find in modern authors its surest reciters, its most eloquent interpreters. The oratory of the law-court and of the parlia- ment, that of ttye pulpit and of the cathedra, will not be able to withstand the enticement of being preserved and handed on to pos- terity, to which their triumphs have hitherto sent down but a weak uncertain echo. "Non omnis moriar;" so will think the orator and the dramatic or lyric artist; and the libraries will cherish these witnesses to art and to life, as they now collect play-bills and lawyers' briefs. But internationalism and co-operation will save the future library from the danger of BIAGI. losing altogether its true character by becom- ing, as it were, a deposit of memories or of embalmed residua of life, among which the librarian must walk like a bearer of the dead. The time will come when, if these mortuary cities of dead books are not to multiply in- definitely, we must invoke the authority of Fra Girolamo Savonarola, and proceed to the burning of vanities. A return to ancient methods will be a means of instruction, and those centenary libraries which have pre- served their proper character, which have not undergone hurtful augmentations, which have reserved themselves for books and manu- scripts alone, which have disdained all the ul- tra-modern rubbish which has neither the form nor the name of book, these libraries will be saluted as monuments worthy of ven- eration. And then some patron who from being a multi-millionaire, as was his far-off ancestor, will have become at least a multi- billionaire, will provide here in America for the founding of libraries, not of manuscripts, which will no longer be for sale, but of re- production of codices in black or in colors; and we shall have libraries of facsimiles most useful for the study of the classics, just as we now have museums of casts for the study of the plastic arts. The application of photography and of pho- togravure to the reproduction of texts which are unique rather than rare, makes it possible for us not only to have several examples of a precious codex or manuscript, but to fix the invisible deterioration which began in it at a certain date so that, as regards its state of preservation, the facsimile represents an anterior stage to the future state of the origi- nal. By thus wonderfully forecasting the future these reproductions render less dis- astrous the effects of a fire such as that which lately destroyed the library of Turin. They have therefore found great favor among students and have excited the attention of the most enlightened govern- ments. If the means for carrying on what have hitherto been but isolated efforts do not fail, if generous donors and institutions and governments do not deny their aid, we might already begin a methodical work of repro- duction, and come to an agreement concern- ing the method of fulfilling a vast design which should comprehend all the most precious archetypes of the various libraries in the world, those which are the documents of the history of human thought and which are the letters-patent of the nobility of an ancient greatness. This, I think, would, nay, should, be the most serious and principal duty assumed by the library of the future: to preserve these treasures of the past while hoping that the present and the future may add to them new ones worthy of public ven- eration. Think how vast a field of work: to seek through all nations the autographs or archetypes to which have been entrusted the thought of great men of every age and of every race, and to reproduce them in the worthiest way and to explain them so as to render them accessible to modern readers. Thus should we form the true library of the nations, which, with the facsimiles, would bring together the critical editions of their authors and the translations and the texts made for the explanation of the works. But the first and most urgent duty would be that of making an inventory, an index, of what should constitute this collection; and, first of all, we should know and search out such authors as may have influenced the history of the human race by their works in all times and among all peoples; and we should have to find the venerable codices which have handed on to us the light of their intellect, the beating of their hearts. Every nation which is careful of its own glory should be- gin this list, just as we are now beginning that of the monuments of marble or of stone which have value as works of art. We should thus begin to prepare the precious material to be reproduced, while at the same time it would be possible to calculate the expense needed for carrying out the magnificent de- sign. The Belgian government has appointed a congress to meet at Liege next year for this purpose, but its programs are too ex- tended; for they take in also the documents in archives and in museums. More op- portune and more practical would be an inquiry affecting libraries alone and be- ginning with oriental and classical authors, with those who represent the wisdom of the ancients. Thus the library of to-day would gradually prepare its work for the future li- brary, which will surely want something more than the editions, however innumerable, supplied to it by the bibliographical produc- tion of the years to come. INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS. Internationalism will also be able to render great service to science, in the field o photo-mechanic reproductions, if it find a way of directing them to some us,eful goal, and if it prevent them from taking a merely material advantage of the precious collections which every nation is justified in guarding with jealous care. Photography with the prism, which has no need of the plate or of the film, costs so little and is so easy of execu- tion, especially if the process of the late Mile. Pellechet be adopted, that one can in a few hours carry away from a library the facsimile of an entire manuscript. No doubt many learned men of the new style find it more convenient to have these collections at their own house, instead of wandering from one library to another to collect them at the ex- pense of their eyes, their patience and their money. To be able to compare the various texts and to have the various readings of them under one's eye is an inestimable bene- fit ; but the true philologist will never be con- tented with simply studying these facsimiles, however perfect they may be; he will want to examine for himself the ancient parch- ments, the time-yellowed papers, to study the slight differences between the inks, the var- ieties in the handwritings, the evanescent glosses in the margins. In the same way an art critic is not content with confining his study simply to the photographs of pictures, but he observes the pictures themselves, their patina, their coloring, their shadows, their least gradations of tones and half-tones. In the same way, too, a musician would not pre- sume to the knowledge of an opera which he had only studied in a pianoforte arrangement. If this manner of shunning fatigue took root, our splendid collections of manuscripts would no longer be the goal of learned pilgrims, but would become the easy prey of the photog- rapher, who would certainly embark upon a new speculation: that of retailing these col- lections to the manifest injury of the libraries and of the states which would thus lose the exclusive literary and artistic possession of what is a national glory. Meanwhile a just jurisdiction will avoid these dangers without injuring or hindering studies and culture. We shall adopt for manuscripts, which excite other people's desires, the proposition made by Aristophanes in the Ecclesiazuse (that charming satire on Socialism) to bridle the excesses of free love. We shall permit a man to have a copy of a manuscript when he has first had one of another and older manu- script and when the latter, which is about equal in value to the first, has already been given up to the library, which will thus lose none of its property. "Do ut des," "I give to make you give," base and foundation of in- ternational treatises for customs duties, must be applied also in a reasonable manner to the intellectual traffic that will be the char- acteristic of future civilization, which will never permit one nation to grow poor while another grows rich, and will! insist that wealth be the bearer of equality and fruitful in good. A well regulated metabolism, as it ensures the health of our organic bodies, will also serve to maintain the health of tint great social body, which we all desire and foresee, notwithstanding political struggles and the wars which still stain the earth with blood. When the time comes in which we shall be able to use for ideal aims the mil- lions which are now swallowed up by engines of war, of ruin and of assault, the library will be looked upon as the temple of wisdom, and to it will be turned far more than at present the unceasing care of governments and of peoples. When that time comes, the book will be able to say to the cannon, with more truth than Quasimodo to Notre Dame de Paris, "ceci a tue cela," and it will have killed Death with all her fatal instruments. But another and a more important aspect of scientific internationalism which will pre- seive the library .'. the futur? from becom- ing a bazaar of social life, will be the impor- tation of the most wholesome fruits of an- cient wisdom collected with wonderful learn- ing by the. great scholars of the I7th and i8th centuries, the first founders of libraries, men who attempted an inventory of human knowl- edge. During the I7th and i8th centuries, hitherto looked upon by experimental science with disdain, was collected with laborious detail all the learning of past centuries, that of the Holy Books, of the Oriental world, that which the Fathers of the Church and after them the Arabs, and later on the Ency- clopaedists of the Middle Ages, and then the astrologists and the alchemists and the nat- ural philosophers, condensed into encyclo- paedias, into chronicles, into treatises, into all that congeries of writings which formed the BIAGI. libraries of the Middle Ages and of the Re- naissance, into that infinite number of primed books which still fill the ancient and classical libraries of Europe with voluminous folios and quartos. The desire of classifying and bringing into line all human knowledge, of reading this immense amount of material and gaining a thorough knowledge of it, armed those first solemn scholars with patience, formed those legendary librarians who, like Antonio Magliabecchi or Francesco Marucelli themselves, were living libraries. The Latin anagram of the celebrated founder of the Florentine Library, Antonius Magliabechi, is well known: "Is unus bibliotheca magna;" but it may be, and at that time also could be equally applied to others. These devourers of books were the first inventors and as- serters of the scientific importance of a card catalog, because armed with cards they passed days and nights in pressing from the old books the juice of wisdom and of knowl- edge and in collecting and condensing it in their miscellanies, in those vast bibliograph- ical collections compared with which the cat- alog of the British Museum is the work of a novice. They not only appraised the known literature of their time, but they classified it; not by such a classification as we make now, contenting ourselves with the title of the book, but by an internal and perfect classifi- cation, analyzing every page and keeping record of the volume, of the paragraph, of the line. The skeleton of the encyclopaedia, of the scientific dictionary, which at the end of the i8th century underwent in France a literary development, may be found within these bibliographical collections now for- gotten and banished to the highest shelves of our libraries. Any one who has looked through and studied one of these collections as I have done, has wondered at the treasures of information, of learning, of bibliographical exactitude contained in those dusty volumes. Above all, the precision of the references and of the quotations, the comprehensiveness of the subjects and of the headings, render them, rather than a precious catalog, an enormous encyclopaedia, to which we may have recourse not only for history, for geography, for liter- ature, for moral sciences, but also, impossible as it may seem, for natural sciences, for medicine and for the exact sciences. In the library of the future, classified on the Decimal system, or Cutter's expansive, every section should contain a sheaf of cards on which should be collected, arranged, veri- fied and even translated this ancient material, which may throw light on new studies and on new experiments; for the empirical meth- ods of our forefathers, like tradition and legend, have a basis of truth which is not to be despised. Meanwhile the modern library, which in this land prospers and exults in a youth strong and full of promise, should collect this material and thus spare the stu- dents at your universities the long researches needed to assimilate the ancient literature of every subject. The modern library, the American library, would not need to acquire and accumulate with great expense all the ancient mass of human knowledge in order to make use of the work of past generations ; it need only collect the extract of this work, opportunely chosen, sifted, classified and translated. This would be an immense ad- vantage to its scholars, and the internation- alism of science, of whose certain advent I have spoken to you, would find in this first exchange, in this fertile importation, its im- mediate application. Why should students and specialists be sent to begin ' new re- searches in learned and dusty volumes, when this work has been already done by the great champions of erudition in their miscellanies, in their bibliographical encyclopaedias? Let us rather try to spread abroad a knowledge of this treasure, this well of science; let us publish information about it; let us draw largely from its pure and health-giving waters. You will not be without guides who will lead you to it, who can and will give you to drink of its fresh waters. Thus shall those noble and solitary spirits who worked unknown in the dark of the I7th century and in the wan i8th century, be joined, by an in- visible chain, to the vigorous intellects which, in the last century and in that upon which we have just entered, are working, are toiling, in the diffused light of civilization, and will continue to work and will continue to toil for Science, for Humanity. And the card, the humble card, the winged arrow of the librarian and of the student, will fly from continent to continent, a mes- senger of knowledge and of concord. i6 INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS. THE LIBRARY IN RELATION TO KNOWLEDGE AND LIFE. By WILLIAM E. A. AXON, Manchester, England. T F the most accomplished and most enthu- siastic librarian in the world were pos- sessed of Aladdin's power and summoned the Spirit of the Lamp, not to build a gorgeous palace for his beloved princess, but to erect an ideal library for the benefit of the world, what would it be likely to contain? The dream library, standing in its fair pleasaunce, a structure beautiful and spacious, of ample proportions, and conveniently ar- ranged both for study and recreation, what would the Magician Librarian desire to place upon its myriad shelves? The library is an instrument of culture, of research, of moralization, and, as the record of human aspiration, touches learning and life at every point. The ideal library would form a com- plete narrative of the past history of mankind, a record of all that men have found out or surmised about the physical facts of the universe, from the giant worlds that roll in space, to the tiniest insect that can be de- tected by the strongest microscope; all that men have thought about that which has not material form ; all that poet and sage, teacher and prophet, have said about ethics, all that men have invented and devised for the arts and pleasures of life in short all the docu- mentary evidences of human activity since the advent of man upon the globe. Such a library never has existed and never can exist, but it is the ideal archetype to which all libraries, consciously or unconsciously, seek to approximate. Even in Utopia such a mass of literature, good, bad or indifferent, would be impossible, for it would embrace all that human wisdom and human folly has ever entrusted to the recording word. Physical and financial considerations impose upon all existing libraries the necessity of selection, but the ideal library would be all-embracing and include all the literature of every land and of every science. Would the ideal library include "trash"? Must everything be preserved? Such in- quiries are natural enough in an age when the printing press vomits forth by day and night much that the! sober-minded could easily spare. But everything that comes from the human brain is an evidence of what the mind of man can accomplish, if not for wisdom then for folly. The most stupid production that ever flowed from a pen is at least a human document. And who shall decide what is and what is not "trash" ? The legendary dictum attributed to Al Moumenin Omar, who declared that whatever was op- posed to the Koran was noxious and what- ever agreed with its teachings was unneces- sary a dictum at once practical and thor- ough has not earned either the assent or the gratitude of posterity. Sir Thomas Bod- ley, the munificent founder of the great Ox- ford Library, a learned man and a friend of learning, excluded plays and pamphlets from his great collection, as mere "riff-raff." He thus missed the opportunity of making a matchless collection of Elizabethan literature, and of furnishing to future ages the material for solving many of the problems that now perplex the student of the most glorious period of English literature. To Bodley the plays of Shakespeare as they came singly from the press were "trash," and he died before they were collected into the goodly "First Folio." That the friends as well as the foes of learn- ing can make such enormous blunders may give us pause in the effort to decide what is unworthy of preservation. "What," asked Panizzi, "is the book printed in the British Dominions . . . utterly unworthy of a place in the National Library?" And he tells of a British library that was entitled to books under the copyright law and that solemnly rejected Scott's "Antiquary," Shelley's "Alas- tor," and Beethoven's musical compositions, as unworthy of a place upon the shelves. Everything that has come from the human mind has a certain value. True, its value may be pathological, an evidence of mental or AXON. moral aberration, but pathology is an im- portant department of science, and in the midst of its sadness, pathetic or grotesque, blossoms the flower of hope. The historian can usefully illuminate his annals by citations from the trivial and ephemeral literature of the period of which he writes. A ballad will express the feelings of the multitude at least as clearly, and as truthfully, as a despatch will exemplify the designs of ambassadors or kings.* A volume valued as theology in the I5th century may now be highly treasured not for its literary contents but as the handi- work of an early printer. That which was once thought to be sober science may now be folk-lore, but it is still a matter for inves- tigation. The intimate nature of its rela- tionship to the whole range of human knowl- edge and human conduct becomes evident when we realize fully that the essential note of the library is universality. All that relates to Man and the Universe in which he has his place it is the function of the library to remember. There we ought to find all that successive scientific investigators have taught us of his bodily structure and of the com- plicated processes by which the mystery of life is sustained; all that has been ascertained of the changes that follow when the silver cord is loosed and the golden bowl is broken and the dust returns to the earth as it was. There we should be able to read the history of the races of men since the first dawn of human life upon the globe; the struggle of man in his efforts for the conquest of nature ; the horror and the heroism, the mixture of grandeur and grotesque in the crimes of con- querors, in the struggles of the enslaved; the rise and fall of empires; the transforma- tion of savage tribes into civilized nations. And the library must record the painful evi- dence of degeneration from higher to lower types, not less than those documents which convince us that "... thro' the ages, one increasing pur- pose runs, And the thoughts of men are widened with the proc- ess of the suns." * An admirable paper on "The idea of a great public library" appears in the Library Association Record for April, 1903, from the pen of Mr. Thomas W. Lyster, M.A., of the National Library of Ireland. If it is the function of the library to pre- serve the records of man acting in the cor- porate capacity of clan or nation, not less so is it to keep account of those members of the race who by the force of their individual- ity stand out, whether for praise or reproach, from the common mass. Apart from its fascination as a picture of human life and character, biography has a practical value both as a warning and an incentive in the conduct of life. The library should con- serve for us all that the thinkers have for- mulated as to the conduct of life, the rules for the guidance of the individual in his duties to himself, in his relations to his fel- lows, in the contact of man with man, in the laws and tendencies to be seen in his in- dustries and commerce, in the relation of na- tion to nation, of race to race, of class to class. Nor is it of less interest to us to know the marvels of industry, the wondrous processes by which the properties and forces of the earth and of the universe are utilized for the service of man. The relation of man to nature, the secrets of bird and beast, of flower and tree, of all the myriad creatures, past and present, that make up the sum of the life of our world, these are to be noted in our ideal library. There, too, we must look for the record of all that can be ascertained and surmised of the countless worlds moving in empyreal space, worlds beyond the sight of man, yet known though unseen. The library is the temple of art as well as of science and in its open volumes we may gaze upon the glowing visions seen by Phidias, by Raphael, by Michelangelo, by all those who in many lands and climes have inter- preted to their fellows the strength and har- mony of nature and the beauty of the human form. The power of the artist is immensely increased by the possibility of reproduction and by the popularization of art in the li- brary. That such reproductions can never convey all the beauty of the originals may be quite true, but whatever may evaporate in the process of transfer enough remains for pleasure and inspiration. . . . The library should garner all that shows the development of the religious spirit. No mani- festation of man's reaching out to the infinite, however ineffectual or however sordid, is i8 INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS. to be despised. "Where others have prayed before to their God in their joy or in their agony is of itself a sacred place." The spec- ulations of philosophers as to the contents and methods of the human mind, its powers and its limitations, should find a place in the li- brary. Nor should the song of the poet or the fiction of the story-teller be excluded. That fiction responds to a need of human na- ture may be safely inferred from its universal popularity. A great critic has styled poetry "a criticism of life," and the phrase may with at least equal justice be applied to nearly every variety of fiction, whether in verse or prose, and whether it take the form of novel, ro- mance, drama or apologue. For every work of fiction, great or small, shapeless or ar- tistic, wise or foolish, is the author's solution of some problem of existence, presented to his mind as the result of experience or of vision. The hackneyed but beautiful Terentian phrase applies to the library which aims at being the record of Man and therefore finds nothing alien or out of place that relates to Man and the Universe which environs him. . . . Centuries ago, Michael the Bishop spoke with enthusiasm of the "Book of the Wise Philosophers" a sort of miniature library in one volume.* "In this book," he says, '"are gathered together many discourses of exhortation and doctrine. This book glad- dens the heart and increases the understand- ing of the intelligent. In it the wise philoso- phers have told of noble and of famous deeds. It contains the wisdom of the wise and the pronouncements of the learned. It is a light of inquiry and a lamp of understanding. There is in it a chain of profit, and it is to he preferred to gold and silver and to precious stones. It is fairer than the flowers of the garden. What garden can be compared to it in the fairness of its aspect and in the fragrance of its scent? And this garden can be carried in the breast and sheltered in the heart. And this book can make thy under- standing fruitful, and God the Almighty may enlarge thy understanding, and make thee to know many things, and make thy character * The book was a translation in Ethiopic from the Arabic. A German version by Doctor C. H. Cornhill appeared in 1875 and is described in The Library, October, 1903, by the present writer. noble, and give increase in all talents. . . . And it is an eloquent although a dumb and silent monitor. If thou have not gained aught else from its preference, has it not kept thee from sitting with fools and from communing with the wicked? This book is a great in- heritance for thee, and a shining glory, and a beloved brother, and a faithful servant, and a joy-bringing messenger." If a small, ethical manual thus impressed the wisdom-loving Michael, what would he have said to a great modern library with its storehouses of all that the human mind has wrought for instruction and delight? "Knowledge grows from more to more," and in the midst of its immense and be- wildering variety we are gradually feeling towards a sense of unity. There may be unity in diversity as there may be progression by antagonism. When the Royal Society was established in 1662 its aim was declared to be "The promotion of natural knowledge," the intention being, presumably, in the inter- ests of peace, to exclude all that relates to the spiritual faculties as supernatural and beyond the scope of research. Some at least of the later academies wisely avoid such limitations and deal with all subjects that can be dealt with from the point of view of scholarship. The Smithsonian Institution, that remarkable gift from a son of the Old World to the sons of the New World, for the benefit of both hemispheres, was founded for the "increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." Is there a better definition of the function of the library? The ideal col- lection of books knows no limitations of sub- ject, but takes all knowledge for its prov- ince. It certainly does not exclude theology. A large library building would not hold all that has been written about the Bible alone. A small one might be filled with the printed material relating to Thomas a Kempis and his "Imitation of Christ." The "Poet at the breakfast table" supposed his neighbor to be an entomologist, but the man of science was too modest to claim that title. Often spoken of as a coleopterist, he was content to be a scarabeeist. "If I can prove myself worthy of that name," he said, "my highest ambition will be more than satisfied." Every specialist knows how great his own subject is, how ex- AXON. tensive its literature, how difficult, if not im- possible, to bring together all the facts and speculations of those who have preceded him in the investigation of the little corner of chaos that he is striving to reduce to cosmic order. If then the librarian could summon the Spirit of the Lamp to create the ideal li- brary, its main characteristic as a collection of books would be its universality. The ideal library may have stood in one of Eden's happy vales, and since then the children of Eve, and especially those of them who are librarians or book-lovers, have sighed for this lost paradise of thought and knowledge. Certain it is that since the fall of man the Bibliotheca Universalis has never taken ma- terial form, and as the years widen the circle of knowledge it recedes further and further into the land of dreams and the speed at which it retires increases, so it would seem, with each new generation. The first edition of the "Encyclopaedia Britannica" appeared in 1771 and filled three quarto volumes. In a century and a quarter the three have grown to thirty-six. It is a significant fact that this period wherein the boundaries of learning have been so widely enlarged is also the period in which libraries, great and small, have increased with marvellous rapidity. It used to be an article of undergraduate faith that the Bodleian contained a copy of every printed book, but no library now, not even the largest, dare claim completeness in every direction, and huge specialist libraries have been created. But happily there is a constant stream of literature in which this specialist learning, in a condensed and quintessential form, finds its way to the general library. The nearest approach to the ideal library is in the attempt to supply with generous lib- erality the literature of all lands and sub- jects, to be seen in the great national col- lections provided mainly at the cost of the state, though often enriched by the munifi- cence of individuals. The British Museum is the most familiar type of such an institu- tion and may probably, alike in extent and in freedom of access, claim the premier posi- tion. France might possibly in some respects challenge the claim, and other European na- tions are proud of their vast repositories of literary treasure. In the Library of Congress, America, though later in the race than some of her compeers, is with amazing energy building up a great national library, and, happily unfettered by conventions, is working with skill and individuality that ensures suc- cess. But, in the nature of things, the newer institutions are at a disadvantage. No mod- ern library can duplicate the treasures of the Vatican. Every great library rejoices in the possession of gems that are unique. Happily in these latter days the arts of exact and faith- ful reproduction have made it possible to have trustworthy facsimiles prepared. These simu- lacra can never have the interest of the originals, but they suffice for the purposes of scholarship and they have a further value as a precaution against the loss to learning that would follow from the accidental de- struction of the originals. It is much to be desired that all mss. of great importance should be facsimiled. In this direction we may commend the action of Italy in the magnificent publication of the mss. of her mighty son Leonardo da Vinci, who com- bined the talents of painter, poet, and engi- neer; whose well-stored mind seems to have contained all the learning of his generation, and whose prescient genius anticipated, in part, some of the great ideas of later gen- erations. There is another function of the National Libraries. Their catalogs, so far as they are printed, should form a standard of excellence and be an important contribution not only to the bibliography of the nation to which they belong, but also to that Universal Catalogue which haunts the dreams of students and li- brarians who in our time have taken such mighty strides towards this unattained ideal. When the first International Library Con- gress was held in London in 1877 I urged the printing of the British Museum Catalogue of Printed Books, which then filled two thou- sand volumes of manuscript and was esti- mated to contain three million entries. There were, of course, many other advocates of the printing scheme both earlier and later. The task was declared to be impossible of execu- tion. Yet it has been accomplished. The British Museum Catalogue of Printed Books is the best bibliography of English literature 20 INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS. and it is also the largest contribution that has ever been made tc the Universal Cata- logue. The publication of the British Museum Catalogue has facilitated research and has .sen- sibly raised the standard of accuracy. In spite of the general opinion that every man, and nearly every woman is able to drive a dog-cart, edit a newspaper, and make a catalog, the ac- curate description of books is not an easy art to be learned without apprenticeship or effort. The youngest of the national li- braries, if I may so style the Library of Con- gress, has made a novel and praiseworthy departure in the supply of printed catalog title slips to other libraries. This is one of several examples of economy by co-operation. The printed catalog of the British Museum is, as I have said, a mighty contribution to the Universal Catalogue.* Every library seems fully occupied with its own special work, but there awaits for some national library or international office the task, not indeed of completing, for in the nature of things it can never be complete, but of greatly advancing the preparation of the Universal Catalogue. This could be done by the simple process of reducing to cards the printed titles of the books in the British Museum, and of incorporating with them, as opportunity served, the "Catalogue of scientific papers," and such special bibliographical works as might be approved or be available. All these ought, in theory, to be editorially revised in accordance with a code of rules, and I know of none better than those of the British Mu- seum, which have the additional advantage of having served as the standard in the largest undertaking of the kind that the world has yet seen. And if absolute uniformity was not attained there would still be an immense advantage in the bringing together and ar- ranging of the multitude of references that could thus be made available for personal inspection or despatch through the post. What has been said refers to an alphabetical cata- log, but there are also many subject-entries awaiting consolidation. The labors of Poole and his continuators and imitators, British and foreign, and the excellent "Subject in- dex" of Mr. G. K. Fortescue should here be named. The Institut International de Bibliog- * Sec Dr. Richard Garnett's paper in The Library, 1903. raphie announces that it has in its possession six and a half million of bibliographical ref- erences and that it is daily adding to its store. Millionaires who desire to advance literature and learning might find a useful employment for their money and energies in the task of facilitating rational efforts towards a general catalog of all literature. "If we think of it," says Carlyle, "all that a university, or final highest school can do for us, is still what the first school began doing teach us to read. We learn to read, in various languages, in various sciences; we learn the alphabet and letters of all manner of books. But the place where we are to get knowledge, even theoretic knowledge, is the books them- selves ! It depends on what we read, after all manner of professors have done their best for us. The true university of these days is a collection of books." In this illuminating passage is the justifica- tion for insisting that universality is the true note of the library. No science can prosper without its aid. He who would add to the sum of knowledge must as a preliminary learn what is already known. He who devises what he hopes is a new invention must in- vestigate, in fear and trembling, lest he has been anticipated. Even the mistakes of prede- cessors may be turned to account. The com- parison ' of discordant views may suggest omitted considerations that will bring them into fruitful harmony. There is happily no finality in science. Classification, even the most elaborate, use- ful and necessary as it is, can often only be approximate and that only in a rough and ready fashion. One book may serve several purposes and may be placed with equal prop- riety in more than one part of the library. . . . Knowledge is not an island but a continent, and however strictly defined the capital may be, each kingdom has vague borderlands where one science merges into another. Literature cannot be hemmed in by exclusive boundaries of nation or race. The arrogant Western world owes its most cher- ished book, the Bible, a volume of many books in one, to the East, to the patriarchs and prophets of a race that lives only in exile from its fatherland a race that wherever it may be, powerful or oppressed, wealthy or mendicant, turns in prayer to the Holy City that is the symbol of its faith and hope. It used to be said that an educated man AXON. 21 was one who knew something of everything and everything of something. With the ever- widening field of knowledge and observation, it is impossible that a man should know even something of everything, and even the most devoted specialist, however minute his spe- cialty may be, finds a difficulty in learning all that can be known of his subject. Thus arise opposite dangers of superficiality and narrowness. The library, whilst it should aid the researches of the specialist, should also help him to take broad views and to see even his own special work in its right proportion and true relation to other studies. To see things not in science but as a whole is not the easiest duty of the student, but it is real and essential. A great library impresses this thought on the mind. Are you an astrono- mer? Has it been yours to feel the awe and wonder when "a new planet swims into the ken?" Your science may have begun when Eve, on the night of the expulsion, saw shining above the lost Paradise a star of hope. Thousands of men have devoted their lives to your study since the days, thousands of years ago, of the shepherd star-gazers on the Babylonian plains. It has a rich and extensive literature, but in the greatest li- brary its hall is but one of many. Mr. Dewey allows it ten places out of a thousand in his Decimal classification. So it is with every other department of learning. I do not know of a more remarkable bibliography than that contained in Dr. J. S. Billings's "Index-catalogue of the Surgeon-General's Library" at Washington. Sixteen volumes of a first series, eight of a second series, and more to follow, all filled with titles of books and papers written on the healing art. Looking on this great effort, we are as ready as Socra- tes to pay tribute to .^isculapius. Yet Medi- cine, like Astronomy, is but one of the many departments of a great library. Universality is, as we have seen, an ideal impossible of realization. Not the less is completeness the watchword for every li- brary a rational effort to provide the best that is possible under the environing cir- cumstances. Every library, however small, may aim at completeness in some direction and every true microcosm is a contribution to the macrocosm. And the ideals of universality and completeness become nearer of fulfil- ment by that spirit of co-operation which is happily becoming more and more common amongst librarians and amongst the large and increasing class of persons who are engaged, to use the fine, Smithsonian phrase, in "the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." Much has already been done but doubtless there are still many ways in which the relations of the library, the school, the university, and the individual student may be improved. - The possibilities of co-operation and serviceable help are practically illimitable. In the morning of life when the direction of the student's energies is still undetermined the resort to a library with its inviting pano- rama of human learning will often give the impulse to fruitful endeavor. Reverence as well as the desire for knowledge is inspired in generous minds by the sight of a great collection of books. Pope's words have often been quoted : "A little learning is a dangerous thing, Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring." The doctrine if not a fallacy is a half- truth at the best. A little learning has some dangers, but a little less learning has more, and no learning is the most dangerous of all. And the wider our knowledge grows the keener will be our sense of the limits of ac- quirement, our eagerness to profit by the labors of the students who have gone before, and the true humility of our desire to add to the sum of human knowledge or at least to make straight some part of the way of those who shall enlarge the boundaries of learning. The library has relation to life as well as to learning. It can aid us in acquiring the practical wisdom for the management of daily affairs, for the right relationship to our fellow-men. It can help us to modera- tion in prosperity, to humility in success, to courage in adversity - and to endurance and resignation in affliction. " 'There is no God,' the foolish saith, But none, 'There is no sorrow.' " How many sorrowing hearts have found consolation in the companionship of books! How tender are the accents of Plutarch, striving to allay the grief of his wife for the death of their beloved daughter ! How many have been strengthened by the words of those 22 IN TERN A TIONAL CONGRESS. who have been dust and ashes for centuries, men who belonged to an empire that has passed away, to a faith that has become ex- tinct, to a race alien to our own, but whose message still lives and has power for con- solation, for reproof and for inspiration. Literature can give us rest as well as in- spiration, nor is it only the great ones who are of service to us in the work of life. There are moments when the melody of the milkmaid's song is a better tonic than the pealing grandeur of a great cathedral's organ. Wise indeed was the ancient Egyptian monarch who placed over the door of a library an inscription signifying that it con- tained "the medicine of the mind." From lit- erature we may derive courage for the bat- tle, fortitude in defeat, wisdom in victory, and an anodyne for grief. What Shelley has said of the drama may well be given a wider application. "The highest moral purpose," he says, "aimed at in the highest species of the drama, is the teaching of the human heart, through its sympathies and antipathies, the knowledge of itself; in proportion to the possession of which knowledge every human being is wise, just, sincere, tolerant and kind." * This is what Arnold means when he describes culture as "a study of perfec- tion." This is that at which our schools, and colleges, and universities, and libraries, all the machinery, great and small, of education should aim. In proportion as this is attained are they successful and their existence justi- fied. No educational system has fulfilled its purpose that does not nourish the love of knowledge and the desire of righteousness. The library has its lessons for nations as for individuals. It is a perpetual symbol of the brotherhood of man. It knows no dis- tinction of Jew or Gentile, of bond or free, but welcomes genius from every quarter. The better part of Emerson the American, Homer the Greek, Kalidasa the Hindoo, Du- mas the French mulatto, Shakespeare the Englishman, Dante the Italian, Omar the Persian, Goethe the German, Tolstoy the Russian, stand on the shelves of the library to warn us against arrogating pre-eminence to our own people; to teach us that every nation may contribute to the common fund, and to lead us to hope that every race will * Preface to "The Cenci." bring some special gift to the common ser- vice of humanity. The American, newest born of time, with his self-reliant individual- ity, the ancient Greek with his sense of beauty, the Roman with his skill as lawgiver, the Japanese with his feeling for color, the Negro with his cheerful endurance, the Englishman with his power of association, the Hebrew with his deep religious instinct, are familiar instances of special gifts and aptitudes. These are mirrored in the literature and history of the races of mankind as we may read them in the halls of a great library. Each race may have its own ideal the French love equality, the English love liberty and the interaction of all these influences upon each other modifies the thought of the world and makes for the progress of mankind. The duty of the library in relation to learn- ing is to garner with sedulous care all the fruits of knowledge, to record what is known, and to provide material from which future knowledge may be wrought. The mission of the library to the individual is to place before him for his use and benefit all the knowledge and all the wisdom and all the inspiration that the ages have accumulated. The summons of Religion, the efforts of Philosophy, the warnings and incitements of the Moralist, the Historian's long record of endeavor, of failure, and of success, the varied wonders that the physical sciences have to reveal, the investigations of the geographer, the narratives of the traveller, the inventions of men for the comfort and ease of existence, the pictures of life drawn by the novelist and dramatist, the melody of the poet's song all these the library places before the in- dividual for delight, for instruction, and for guidance. The library has also its interna- tional mission. Paul's declaration that God "hath made of one blood all nations of men" finds its realization in the library to which East and West, and North and South, the Old World and the New have alike contrib- uted all those things they deem most precious and beautiful ; the holiest and wisest that they have been able to fashion and express. The library is the symbol of Truth, Knowledge and Duty, Virtue, Progress, Right, And Reason scattering hence delirious dreams." f t Victor Hugo, translated by Mathilde Blind. CONFERENCE OF LIBRARIANS. ST. LOUIS, MO. OCTOBER 17-22, 1904. ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. BY HERBERT PUTNAM, Librarian of Congress. T N each of twenty-five years the American Library Association has met in Confer- ence. In twenty-three of these its meetings have been in place and program conventional ; the place such as the general convenience suggested, the program such as might bring helpful counsel to the practical problems of the time. In two of these years the meetings have taken notice of an occasion of general concern, which the Association deemed fraught with interest to libraries or to offer special opportunity for the promotion of the cause of libraries. The first was the Inter- national Exposition at Philadelphia, the sec- ond, the International Exposition at Chicago. Each was an occasion when a great commun- ity has stopped for a moment to consider its relations with the still greater community of the world at large; when the nations making for progress have paused, or perhaps not paused, in their effort to achieve new things in order to exhibit by example the things already done, and to compare these with the field still open. The present is a third such occasion of kin with the others in its main purpose, more significant than they in that it represents society a decade further advanced in the arts and sciences which it exhibits. Its interest for us individually is not strange, for as librarians we must be observers, if not stu- dents, of the general progress, and would but ill fulfill our function if our eyes were turned merely to the past. Its interest for us as a body is vital in that the institutions which we represent are themselves both a record of cul- ture and an appliance for cultivation. We may indeed clairg an interest for it, and a participation as of right, since a single col- lection of books is itself a standing exposition of what mankind has achieved to date, not in one art but in many; and a single library modern in structure, temper and purpose is as potent an instrument of production as any of those which we see performing their proud processes in Machinery Hall, albeit it acts not upon inanimate matter, but on animate man himself, and its process is not mechanical but rather chemical in t'he higher chemistry of the mind and the soul. On an occasion such as this, therefore, when the nations bring together the 'evidence of their accomplishment in material things, we cannot see omitted a statement as to that field not merely of accomplishment, but of Influence which is occupied by the public li- brary. It was inevitable that we should meet this year at St. Louis. And it was appropriate that our program should deal with those larger phases of the library movement and those questions of elemental economy, which at our ordinary conferences have to give way to discussion of practical detail ; and that we should seek to include upon it statements of the progress and problems in other countries than our own. The Exposition itself marks a centennial. It offers thus an appropriate opportunity for a review of the progress of the entire century just past. Such a review of libraries, a state- ment of the concepts fundamental to them, and an estimate of their place as institutions in organized society, and of library economy in a classification of the sciences, would have formed a theme for our program eminently fitting and worthy of our best expression. It has already, however, been anticipated. The Congress of Arts and Science, held her* a month ago, undertook precisely such a re- view, statement and estimate of all the sci- ences; and it included, in its appropriate ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. place, "the Library." It was the privilege of Mr. Axon and Dr. Biagi, under the sym- pathetic chairmanship of Mr. Crunden, to present this. Their addresses must be of high interest to all of us here. We should gladly have incorporated them in our own pro- gram;; but this was not consistent with the plan of the Congress, which refused to be disintegrated on our account. We cannot have the pleasure and instruction of hearing them ; but we must consider them before us.* They render superfluous a project to which without them we should have been tempted : a general presentation of the Li- brary in its recent development and present status; and leave us free to consider a few of the more particular fundamental problems, certain current tendencies, the characteristic development in certain regions and certain particular types. It is these which constitute our program. A review, had we attempted it, would in- clude our losses as well as our gains. In our institutions as such, and in the general movement, each year marks a net gain and a substantial one. So, too, we trust, in our profession. But in the latter almost every year notes the loss of members for whom a heavy deduction must be made. The past year has been no exception. Europe and America have each lost a librarian among the foremost in ability and service.f Not within the twelvemonth, but within the last calendar year, Europe lost also a second of its dis- tinguished librarians, compeer of the other. Of the latter Karl Dziatzko and his work we shall hope for some words of ap- preciation from Professor Dr. Pietschmann, who succeeded him as Director of the Li- brary at Gottingen. Of Charles Cutter we have most of us a nearer knowledge and priv- ilege of possession. At the very beginning of this meeting at the beginning of many a meeting hereafter the memory of him and * The addresses delivered before the Library Sec- tion of the International Congress, by courtesy of the authorities, are included in the present volume of Proceedings, as prefatory to the A. L. A. papers. (.See p. 3-22.) t Otto Hartwig, died Dec. 22, 1903; Charles Ammi Cutter, died Sept. 6, 1903. the sense of his absence will be prompt with us. The "patient fabricator" of Rules and Classification, the equally patient and patent character, the gentle, joyous, humorous com- panion, the keen, insistent, yet always toler- ant, because always modest, critic. He is the third of our most prominent members who have passed from us since the Exposition Conference of 1893. Poole, Winsor, Cutter: in this order they came into the public ser- vice, in this they left it. I would willingly devote my address to an appreciation of what they meant in the work which we have at heart. I would go back much further than 1893 an d include the others who have taken, and should hold, honors in the promotion of this work. For a review of library progress would signify little which omitted the in- dividuals who have thought out the new thing to be done and convinced the com- munity into doing it. But a complete review of library progress amongst us during the nineteenth century would have to take note of too many persons still living. The time is not yet ripe for it May the day be distant when it can be undertaken without indel- icacy The formative influence of the individual librarian in library development has, I think, been more potent in America than abroad. This, not because our librarians have been of heroic dimension, but because of the peculiar conditions under which they worked in com- munities busy with other affairs deemed ur- gent, not professing expert knowledge in this one, and accustomed, having granted au- thority, to leave wide discretion to those en- trusted with the exercise of it. The initiative in 1849 was taken not by librarians, but by men of culture who felt the responsibility of culture. But each important step taken since that year has been upon the initiative of the librarians themselves. If, as has been remarked, "the reputation of a librarian is almost as fleeting as the more widely extended fame of an actor or singer," amongst us an exception would seem just of those American librarians of the latter half of the nineteenth century, who not merely administered but originated. Yet the remark was offered in an estimate of the PUTNAM. foremost of them Justin Winsor, who, it prophesied, would be "longer and better known" as a bibliographer and historian than as a librarian. Must we accept such a view? If so, need we be depressed by it? Panizzi, it suggests, will persist, because he left behind him the British Museum Reading Room; Maglia- becchi from his "knowledge of languages." Must a librarian's memory, to be lasting, be embodied in stone and mortar, or in some "unusual personal accomplishment?" There are really two lines of reputation involved : the one with his profession, the other with the world at large. The creator of scientific cataloging cannot be forgotten by librarians, though the name of Audiffredi convey noth- ing to the general public. The technical ap- paratus of a library does not interest the pub- lic as does technical achievement in some other fields. They regard it at best with tolerance ; but they too often incline to regard it as an impediment interposed between them and the object which to them is the "thing itself" the book. Dr. Garnett ranks Watts "as the most learned and the most widely informed librarian that the Museum and [Great Britain] ever possessed." Yet his name occurs in only one or two American cyclopaedias; and even in England I fancy that it would suggest rather a writer of hymns, or editor of a Dictionary of Chem- istry, or a painter of Love and Life, than a librarian. Indeed, I notice that a British cyclopaedia of great vogue and utility omits him entirely, although it accords space to the author of the "Bibliotheca Britannica." It is delightful to a librarian to know that his profession contains a Bradshaw the modest yet profound bibliographer, to whom books were "living organisms," each press to be looked upon as a genus, each book as a species; and to find among the "Lives of twelve good men" the exquisite face of the "Large-hearted librarian" Coxe. But the qualities which distinguished these, and have been typical of other librarians before the public, were rather adornments of their office than indispensable to its administration from the modern viewpoint. Of the librarians of France it is rather the men of letters De Sacy, Sandeau, Sainte-Beuve than Van Praet, whose names would be familiar. The librarians of Germany of greatest note Ritschl, Heyne, Lessing, Pertz, Hartwig, Dziatzko himself each achieved independent eminence as author, editor, or critic. We may well be complacent in their reputation as such, but whether we may appropriate it to our own profession is another matter. If in the past the fame of a librarian, to endure, must have been gained either for some unusual personal trait, or achievement in some outside field, in the future it is likely to be still more so, for the modern library is an elaborate organization, requiring in its chief rather the general administrator than the personal interpreter. The consummate admin- istrator is supposed to be he who renders the organization independent of himself. How, then, can his personality stand out distinct, or his mere name endure? He has put him- self into the institution. In proportion as it succeeds he becomes anonymous. Justin Winsor the historian and bibliographer, sur- vives in definite and tangible forms; Justin Winsor the administrator, has passed into the policies and methods of the two great libra- ries with which he was associated. Yet his work and the work of other of our librarians during the past fifty years has been so much a work not merely of particular administration, but of invention and of gen- eral stimulus that this period should be set apart for specific record. This Exposition marks, to be sure, not fifty years, but one hundred, not a semi-centennial, but a centennial. Within this hundred years have come about extraordinary contrasts in the activities with which we are concerned. The time never was since the landing of Columbus when books played an unimpor- tant part in the life of America. But libra- ries, general in scope and in privilege, were another matter. At the time of the Louisiana Purchase there were less than a hundred of them intended for popular use even in- cluding among these the libraries of limited availability. These few score contained in all perhaps 50,000 volumes. There are now in the United States nearly 10,000 libraries containing over 50,000,000 volumes. Our ter- 26 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. ritory between Atlantic and Pacific has mul- tiplied four times, our population fifteen; but our libraries have multiplied one hundred times, and the number of books in them one thousand times. In 1803 no single library had more than 15,000 volumes. Now there are fifty-nine libraries containing over 300,000 volumes each, and nearly two hundred con- taining more than 50,000 volumes each. These contrasts are impressive; but they do not state the case. The significant change is the change in type and species the in- stitution of a new type of organized service based on a new theory that libraries may and should be not merely responsive but affirmative. And the contrasts themselves are due almost exclusively to the latter half of the century. The first half produced little advance in dimension and practically none in characteristic and function. As late as 1829, a senator from this state could express his mortification that "the people of the West" had "not a public library for which an ordi- nary scholar would not apologize." It is only from 1849 that the distinctive develop- ment dates. And it is only from the organ- ization of this Association in 1876 that the great activity dates. Dr. Garnett once told the British Association that not much effect upon the general course of things was to be hoped from the effort of that Association. "We are not," he remarked, "a body adapted for public agitation, nor can we be ; we have too little influence as individuals; as a cor- poration we are too dispersed; our general meetings are necesarily infrequent; we want organization and momentum." This was said a decade ago. The prospect may have im- proved since then. Certainly in the United States associated effort has effected much; and we have great confidence in it. We have had certain advantages in that, for the most part, we were working new materials, not recasting old; that our communities do not resent, but rather invite new notions; that they expect organization. There is no doubt about the "momentum." There is, to be sure, a peril from associated effort, which we may not have escaped. It has been described by one foreign observer as "the paralyzing hand of uniformity!" We may be forfeiting cer- tain qualities of value in tradition and use. And yet, looking back upon this half cen- tury, if we are not optimists, we may at least be meliorists. Our friends from abroad would not, we trust, blame us for this, even though the evidence which we find reassuring can be expressed chiefly in vulgar arithmetic. Be- lieve us, we do not set down as a final ac- complishment, a mere multiplication of books and buildings, or even of readers. What we do find reassuring is a progressive under- standing in the community at large as to what the public library means, and what is its efficient rdation with other forms of education and of culture. With this has not, apparently, diminished the enthusiasm which provides the material resources for the work. The work itself is empirical; but with this enthusiasm and appreciation we may hope to develop it until by test we shall have es- tablished the library in relations which shall be permanent. The visiting librarian may recognize that in some respects our problem is a peculiar one. Over an area of three million square miles we have to satisfy a population of eighty million people insatiable for culture, even though but partially expert in seeking or recognizing it. Every person of them is by right of birth or adoption entitled to an equal opportunity for it. We are not per- mitted to equip merely a certain group or class : our direct concern is with all, and each. The area is vast, the demand indefinite. We must have recourse to apparatus for the economies which apparatus can contrive. We must utilize other agencies for securing and controlling large portions of our constituency. We must even, in contravention of a prop- riety deemed professional, advertise our own utility. For our task is to spread not merely the knowledge of books, but the knowledge of the utility of books. In a democracy of equal liberty and equal opportunity, the edu- cation of the citizen is the safety of the state, and the duty of our libraries, as of our com- mon schools, is to let no guilty ignorance escape. If, with these obligations to affect all the people somewhat, our methods suffer the re- proach of "popularization," this may not mean PUTNAM. that we are oblivious of our obligation to affect certain people deeply. Our respect for the scholarship that is tranquil and profound still exists; and our admiration for those mighty collections abroad that serve it. We are trying ourselves to serve it; and, for its benefit, concurrently with the multiplication of libraries of the popular type, there are in process of accumulation at our universities, and in our larger cities, great and fast grow- ing collections for research, in whose admin- istration, under necessary business safeguards, tradition shall have its due, and sound bib- liographic learing shall control. Within the past month one such institution has been nota- bly enriched by a hand already friendly and devoted. Willard Fiske was one of the but seven honorary members of this Association. It must be a satisfaction to us that the dis- tinction accorded him for ardent and gen- erous scholarship has been so well confirmed by his final dispositions for the promotion of scholarship. Himself not merely a col- lector but a bibliographer, touching with en- thusiasm and accuracy points so distant as Iceland and Italy, he was yet an example to collectors in that he gathered but to give. These domestic reflections will be excused to us by our visitors as natural to an occa- sion which commemorates a domestic event of great significance. We should be sorry indeed to be supposed so absorbed in our own affairs as to be oblivious of those of other lands, or so complacent in the activities which are carried on in the United States as not to know that practically every one of them has its exemplar or even prototype abroad. This will sufficiently appear in the course of our present program. You are pleased occasion- ally to say that you study our libraries with profit; we study yours with admiration for many qualities which we cannot duplicate. Twice as an association we have taken part in a gathering of librarians oversea each time not merely welcomed contributors to the program, but recipients of profuse and de- lightful hospitality. We have been anxious to secure a return visit. We early sought to make this Conference, like the Exposition it- self, International ; and we invited to it dele- gates and contributions from all countries of the globe where libraries are active, not omit- ting those where they may be said to be dor- mant. Supplementing the invitation of our Library Association to other associations of librarians went invitations from our Gov- ernment to foreign governments. Many "were called." If fewer were "chosen" why, the choice did not lie with us. The present is still what Gladstone termed "an agitated and expectant age." It is an anxious time for the nations of the world. Political uncertainty, industrial un- certainty a possibility of substantial changes in the boundaries in each. It is not to books, or the other tranquil processes of education that men look in such crises. It is remarkable that at such a time the contributions to the Exposition itself have been so vast and so varied. That the representation at our Con- ference should be complete was not reason- ably to be expected. It is larger than we have secured at any previous meeting of our As- sociation, and it includes members of our profession known and honored wherever li- braries are known and respected. We wel- come you, gentlemen. You have traversed a vast and unaccustomed distance in order to be with us. You have left important and urgent interests. You have committed your- selves, your habits, and perhaps your con- victions, to unknown perils. We appreciate this, we are honored by it, we thank you, and we welcome you right heartily. You and we are in a fellowship which has scarce a parallel in any other profession, for we are handling an identical agent in the service of man an agent which knows no geographical limit, and no essential limit of race, or language, or time. We are seeking to promote the intercommunion of men; to advance the knowledge of, and thus respect for, antiquity, and the peoples beyond our gate. And in all this service we are free from the partiality of the apostle, and the narrowness of the pharisee. We stand for no particular system, we expound no particular doctrine; we let man speak for himself content in our ser- vice if we enable him to speak his best to auditors whom it will profit. 28 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. SOME FEATURES OF RECENT LIBRARY PRACTICE IN' GREAT BRITAIN. BY HENRY BOND, Borough Librarian, Woolwich. T7VEN when writing on subjects not very abstruse it is desirable to begin with a definition of terms. In the title of this con- tribution, therefore, the word "recent" means roughly, and we think fittingly, the period between the last International Conference of Librarians held in London in 1897, and this conference, the St. Louis International, of 1904. The term "library practice" must be understood to mean pure library practice, as distinct from what librarians generally are beginning to call "library extension work." This latter work includes lectures, reading circles, book exhibitions and the like; sub- jects which will, we hope, be dealt with at St. Louis by a representative of the Library As- sociation (British) in person. For purposes of review seven years is a time-honored cycle, and affords, we think, as appropriate and convenient a period for re- viewing library practice as does any other number of years. We purpose disposing of the subject given to us under six heads, and in the logical order named, as follows: (a; selection; (b) classification; .( c ) cataloging; (d) distribution; (e) privileges; (f) bulle- tins. Selection of books. Library practice has recently changed, and is still changing for the better in this matter. A serious attempt is now made by most librarians actually to select, not merely to collect books ; and to bring to bear upon the problem, too, not only their own best judgment, but to secure also the best outside and specialist knowledge available. With the increased output of lit- erature :t would be a great pity if there were not more care exercised in the choice of books than formerly. But there has been more care in this direction, and the recent progress has been sufficiently marked to be worthy of record. The main change for good is in the shifting of the ground of selection. Time was when popularity was the main considera- tion in selecting books for public libraries; time is when at least the chief if not yet the only standards of selection are merit and utility. This improvement, too, is made in the face of opposition. It often needs to be done unobtrusively, else the progress would be enfeebled by the awaking of antagonism. Disagreement with these sounder and more tenable principles of selection was voiced with some claim to authority quite recently. One of the principal newspapers of Newcastle-upon- Tyne, commenting on our annual conference which was held this year in that northern city, told us, in a leading article, that we, as librarians, took ourselves much too seriously, that we had little or nothing to do with edu- cation, and that our duty as public servants began and ended in providing the ubiquitous ratepayer with the books he wanted, and only the books he wanted. Unfortunately this spirit, which largely ruled in the past, is too much with us yet. The assertive rate- payer has his representatives on our govern- ing bodies, and, unfortunately, there are still many places without a majority of the mem- bers of the library authority sufficiently in sympathy with the higher needs of the com- munity to support the more advanced spirits in their attempt to provide what is good in preference to what is merely wanted and pop- ular; and largely wanted and popular be- cause better known. Not infrequently will a carefully selected list of books fail to get the necessary sanction of the governing body on the ground that the books are "too dry," "too heavy." Though disastrously effective, the accusation is not just; in many cases the good books proposed are not dry, and would even become popular if the opportunity were given for making them known. To have such a list condemned makes the aggressive and progressive librarian righteously rebellious in spirit; and sufficiently so to lead him to get into his library, by hook or by crook, some at least of his carefully chosen books. In so doing we incline to the belief that he hath chosen the better part. Sad to relate, too, there are still left not a few librarians who BOND. subscribe, much too freely and willingly, to the pernicious and illogical doctrine, that as the ratepayer pays the piper he should also call the tune; but the dodo is extinct, and there are hopes that this class of librarian will shortly follow the dodo's excellent example. Why this doctrine should be more justly ap- plied to libraries than to other departments of educational and municipal work is beyond us to imagine. By all means, if we can avoid displeasing the ratepayer and also achieve cur end, let us allow him to think he calls the tune, but let us look out quietly for oppor- tunities, and we shall find many, for at least raising the tune to a higher key. We spoke of the assertive ratepayer, and we did so advisedly, for our inspiration for continuing to select as well as we know how, our justification for fighting in the past for a higher standard of selection, for other pre- dominating motives than popularity, lies in the conviction that the assertive, blatant voice is not the true voice of the people. Those who plead for the supply, ad nauseam, of popular books only, are not truly voicing the wishes of the community, but ignorantly or wilfully are misinterpreting that voice. At heart, we believe, the people want, for the most part, what is best, and even if they do not, we are, despite contrary opinion, con- cerned with education; it is our privilege and duty to do what we can to educate ourselves and the public to know and to appreciate what is best in literature. Though there is still too much haphaz- ard work, book selection is decidedly on the up-grade, for most English librarians now lit- erally accept the American motto "The best reading for the largest number." The quota- tion need not be concluded, for "at the least cost" is an absolutely necessary condition of our English work so rigid is the economy in which we are all schooled. That the ques- tion of selection is exercising our minds is incidentally proven by the fact that we are beginning seriously to question the value of the newsroom. Because the limited rate is, unfortunately, still with us, we are beginning to think further of book selection by asking if we cannot dispense with our newsrooms, and so set free a larger part of our income for the purchase of more and better books. Legislative power to secure increased rating for library purposes is sorely needed, but this question, and our efforts to obtain such power, will doubtless be discussed in the paper on "Library legislation in Great Britain" sub- mitted to this Congress. From the outset newsrooms in Great Britain have formed, contrary to the practice of America, an in- tegral part of the public library, and no one until recently has seriously questioned their desirability. Though the disappearance of the newsroom from our libraries is viewed with apprehension by some, and though we cannot yet announce it as a recent feature of library practice, we are fairly safe in predict- ing that at the close of the next period of seven years not a few libraries, probably small branch libraries in particular, will be found without this department, hitherto con- sidered essential. Before leaving the question of book selec- tion we would emphasize the lack of aids for this work. The librarian who undertakes to build up a library of even 10,000 best books, and does the work conscientiously through- out, essays a formidable task. Sonnenschein's two books form a working basis for selection, but their great fault for this purpose is that they are not sufficiently "select," and conse- quently in some directions are too exhaustive ; moreover the supplement, "Contemporary literature," is now nearly ten years old. A great desideratum with us, and probably with you, is a series of model catalogs, or rather model collections on paper, models that is, of selection rather than of compila- tion; and a series, in classes, so as to facili- tate frequent revision. To begin with it would be sufficient if the whole series were to in- clude 10,000 works. Such lists of the 10,000 "best books" would be of much greater value to librarians than the "Hundred best books" is to the general reader, and especially to those in charge of the smaller libraries which, largely owing to the impetus given by Mr. Car- negie, are just now springing up almost every week in some part or other of the country; often, alas, to be organized and conducted by untrained librarians. When the Library As- sociation (British) has command of larger funds it would probably undertake, inter alia, this desirable work. It should not be under- taken entirely, perhaps not even chiefly, by librarians themselves, but they should obtain ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. help from various specialists in each subject. Librarians and bookmen, the terms are not necessarily synonymous, should then co-oper- ate to edit this series of model lists of books ; editing would be needed not a little in order to adjust the differences of the specialists. To make possible such a work as this in Great Britain, and for the purpose of en- hancing the value of the good work he has already done and is continuing to do, Mr. Carnegie might very wisely, we think, give his serious consideration to the question of providing the Library Association with an endowment to enable it to undertake this, as well as much other good work which calls equally loudly for execution. America has been able to do some fine work somewhat in this direction, and we venture to hope that a part of the work of the American Library Association in connection with the St. Louis Congress will be to prepare a revised or ex- tended edition of the 1893 catalog of 5,000 volumes shown at the Columbian Exposition; a work which is still, though published over a decade ago, and notwithstanding its Amer- ican tone, one of our most valued aids to book selection. Classification. Taking into consideration the increased number of libraries in Great Britain, development in the matter of system- atic classification during the last septennate has not been at all extensive, except perhaps in our reference libraries, which in the lar- ger number of cases are now more or less closely classified, or in process of being so arranged. About the time of the last In- ternational Conference there was a more ex- tensive interest than ever before in the Dewey Decimal classification, but this in- terest has hardly been proportionately sus- tained as the years have gone by. Notwith- standing this, among the libraries which have a definite system of classification no system has been so generally adopted as the Dew?y system. Of course it has been modified by many librarians to suit the needs, or the imagined needs, of their particular libraries. Many other librarians have found Dewey, with its index, an invaluable aid to classifica- tion whatever be their system, or even lack of system; for of the libraries not closely classified all but a few are arranged in ten or more main classes, and in this connection Dewey is not infrequently consulted and ap- preciated. The Cutter Expansive classification has a few very ardent admirers in this coun- try who prefer it to any other system, but its unfinished state has greatly militated against its adoption, even against its due considera- tion. Despite the serious loss to librarianship in the passing of Mr. Cutter, it is sincerely hoped that the complete system will shortly be published, and so afford the opportunity of adequate consideration touching its ser- viceability, as well as of comparison with other systems. Not only is a completed Cutter de- sired, but an English edition of Dewey is probably a wider felt desideratum. By an English edition we mean one with less am- plitude on American topics, and more on English ones ; in a word, an edition without American bias, or even without bias at all if that be possible. A less ambitious and less exhaustive scheme than Dewey or Cutter, Brown's "Adjustable classification," has been published during the period here reviewed, but this, too, has not been at all freely adopted. In looking for causes we find that the main reason why systematic or close classification makes such little progress, especially in lend- ing libraries, for this is where the want is most acute, is because the Cotgreave record- ing indicator is still held in high regard as a method of issue by the majority of British librarians, and is much more frequently adopted by new libraries than any other sys- tem. To our eloquent, but now less per- sistent, English advocates of open access these statements may not be very acceptable, but on an occasion like this facts, where possible, should be recorded as well as opin- ions, and it is undoubtedly a fact, for good or evil, that the indicator still reigns supreme in British libraries. For classification's sake it is a pity that it is so ; but it is so and thus classification suffers. And this is because no satisfactory method, one which is not too in- volved or too cumbersome, has yet been de- vised, and may never be because never much wanted, whereby the indicator may be worked in conjunction with close classification on the shelves. Elasticity, and latitude on the shelves, is an essential part of any satisfac- tory scheme of close classification, and of elasticity the ordinary indicator has none. BOND. 3 1 We fear, therefore, that it must be left to the writer for the next International Conference to record much progress in the systematic classification of our lending libraries, and if the indicator continues to be esteemed for some time to come, which seems likely, that record would still be premature unless the coming of the next International Conference be unduly delayed a calamity which is not to be hoped for, even though it were to bring with it the desired opportunity of reporting improvement in the backward condition of. classification, especially in the lending depart- ments of British libraries. With the growth of the desire for close classification would come the waning of the indicator; with the waning of the indicator would come close classification. The indicator, of course, would try to adjust itself to the new conditions, but we think that its attempt at adjustability would be the beginning of its disfavor. That disaffection, however, is not likely to assert itself soon, except by a rapid growth in favor of open access, of which more in a later por- tion of this paper. Cataloging. In the question of cataloging the points of recent practice which call for remark are the revival of the classified cata- log, more often in the form of class lists, and the introduction, practically, of annotation; a not unnatural sequel to the revival of the class list. As in the case of classification, the sudden growth of a few years ago in favor of this form of catalog has not been propor- tionately maintained, and of new catalogs published more than half are still in the dic- tionary form. But though the classified cata- log has flagged somewhat since the active period of its resuscitation, it has left its mark for good on its strong rival the dic- tionary catalog. The revival of the catalog raisonne has led to a more reasoned arrange- ment also in its competitor. The dictionary catalog, probably because it held the field for a while, and thus was largely without the de- sirable competition of the classified catalog, had a tendency to rest in its development as though it had already attained perfection. Since that revival, the dictionary catalog has been pressed nearer to the mark of perfec- tion by having fewer, and consequently larger, subject headings, and these arranged in a more systematic (broadly classified) form than previously, as well as connected more fully and logically by the cross references. Class lists have been much appreciated in many quarters because of the better opportun- ities they afford of spreading the cost of printing over a number of years, and conse- quently of facilitating more frequent revision and the inclusion of annotations. The master catalog, that is one combined catalog of all the libraries in a particular district, is beginning to engage our attention, but has not yet been issued on any large scale ; experiments being largely confined to the card form of catalog. The printed master catalog is one of the many things rendered almost impossible, under existing conditions in this country, on the ground of cost of produc- tion. Not only would the printer's bill swell unduly, but our income can rarely afford suf- ficient staff to cope effectively with such large undertakings. In the matter of annotations there is a very sharp division of opinion amongst Brit- ish librarians as to whether the annotations should be critical or not, and in this con- nection Baker's "Guide to the best fiction," a courageous and invaluable piece of work, much esteemed in America we believe, has been criticised adversely by many here. We understand there is the same conflict of opinion in America, but with you we be- lieve the majority are prepared to stand for criticism or evaluation; with us the greater number appear, for the moment, to be against. We think, however, that this is largely owing to the newness qf the subject, and to the fact that the argumentative excitement which often gathers round a fresh controversial topic has prevented the opposition camps from fully understanding each other. When we come to debate the subject more fully and with less heat our differences will begin to disappear. It will then be seen that most of us who plead for criticism, in addition to descriptive annotation merely, do not wish the said criticism to be done by every libra- rian on his own account, whether qualified or not, and do not even wish it to be done, of necessity, by librarians at all. To a large ex- tent it is probably desirable that the de- scriptive portion of the annotation should be done at present by the librarian, in conjunc- tion with such of his trustworthy readers as ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. he can secure for the work. But only this until the full annotation, descriptive and crit- ical, is done by co-operation and thus made available for all. For the high calling of critic we, who advocate evaluation, realize that few are fitted. We plead for sound, informed criticism, and this means, it need hardly be said, that it must not be the original work of the librarian in every case, in fact in very few cases indeed. The evident duty of the vast majority of librarians in the matter of criticism is to reflect or reproduce the best he can find. Though few, there undoubtedly have been great critics of unimpeachable au- thority, and there are literary models and standards of undeniable excellence with which it is helpful and absolutely safe for the in- formed critic to institute comparison. It is, too, a good exercise, even if not very fruitful in result for others, for any reader to attempt comparison with our literary masterpieces. We deem it desirable to make these state- ments because they have been seriously dis- puted by the supporters of purely descriptive annotation in their attempt to support the thesis that criticism is opinion merely a the- sis which will hardly be maintained, we think, after more mature deliberation. We cannot escape from evaluation; we evaluate when we prepare our book lists, we evaluate when we select from our stock for the guidance of our readers, and in other ways. Why not, there- fore, print a carefully prepared evaluation, our own or another's, for the general good? It is true that one or two of our number ask, "Why not every librarian his own critic?" but between this extreme view and the other extreme of those who call for "de- scription only" is the method we have in- dicated; which is, we think, the true via media wherein lies excellence. Although we have here expressed the view that critical evaluation is desirable, we freely admit that the descriptive portion should be the greater, even as it is the more important part of an- notation. But let us also distinguish between the good and the inferior in literature, as such, between the good and the best, between even the best and the second best, if we have or can secure the necessary information for so doing. Distribution of books. As indicated in a previous section of this paper, the method of issue yet most in vogue in the lending depart- ments of our libraries is the indicator, or else one or other of the more primitive and less scientific methods, with ledgers and che like, which still obtain in our smaller libra- ries. In this conservative England of ours, both librarians and public alike take slowly to innovations ; and such, in its present form at least, is the "open access" system intro- duced into England now about ten years ago. Though it has made some progress recently, in being adopted for lending purposes in the smaller libraries mainly and in being, considerably adopted in reference libraries, it has not yet appealed with any great force to the popular mind and imagina- tion. Even the majority of our reference li- braries are still "closed" libraries, and this in face of the fact that many of them were "open," having all books directly available for all readers, before the coming of "open access," by that name, to this country. Prior to the advent of the new system reference libraries were often "open" as a matter of course, and no one was astonished at the fact. But despite our conservatism, and the consequently slow growth of "open access," many of us feel that it is a progressive movement which will ultimately, but not soon, predominate, and this because it is in keeping with the general desire for greater freedom, in harmony with the almost uni- versal Zeitgeist. We gladly accept it as an ideal that the people should come into direct touch with their books. Such time is coming, so also is the time when people shall so ap- preciate and love the treasures provided, as well as know how best to use them, that the books will be quite safe in their hands, safe from risk of being purloined, safe from ir- reverent use of any kind; but the time of all these things is not yet. It is not sufficient for its ultimate success to call the system "safe-guarded open access," the variety here advocated, as therein lies a fundamental ob- jection to it, and the term "safe-guarded" would, we think, be better dropped. Many of us cannot yet bring ourselves to look quite kindly upon a method which, contrary to that spirit of liberty which is an inherent part of the system, treats all borrowers with at least some suspicion, or else runs the risk of greater losses; and these are far from in- BOND. 33 considerable, more especially if the reports which reach us from your own great coun- try are reliable. To put more explicitly a further reason already suggested why some do not freely accept the "open access" system, it may be said that such is their faith in the possibilities of the development of the cata- log that they hold it better for many readers, the untrained reader especially, to be armed with the catalog that is to be, if not yet, than to have untrammelled access to the shelves ; better for them even than to have such a catalog plus the free access. When, however, "open access" is definitely proven to be a greater aid to readers than are the possibil- ities of our prevailing system, or when on the part of the public a great demand for it arises, it will be much more freely adopted; and the greater risk of losses, as well as the greater wear and tear, both of which are un- questionably inevitable with the system, will be willingly accepted. Privileges to Readers. Recent advances both in the removal of disabilities and in the provision of greater facilities for readers have been made, and are certainly worthy of record as they have tended to popularize th~ libraries. It will suffice if they are mentioned without dealing with them at length. One is the removal of restrictions touching the en- rollment of borrowers, who, in most lending libraries may now be registered, if ratepayers, on their own responsibility; and if not rate- payers, by obtaining one guarantor, whereas two signatures were generally required a few years ago. Another is trie reduction of the scale of fines for the over-detention of books ; yet another, the extension of the time-limit for reading. The chief development in the way of facilities is in the issue of second or even third tickets to one borrower. These are called by various names non-fictional tickets, stu- dents' tickets, music tickets, etc. and the names indicate with sufficient clearness their object. The borrowing power of these extra tickets is more limited in some cases than in others; and most of the libraries which have adopted the supplementary ticket system limit to two the number which one person may have. A few libraries, however, allow a borrower to have out at the same time a novel, a non-fic- tional work, and a work of music. Almost in- variably the second ticket, by whatsoever name it is called, is available for any non- fictional work. The mention of a special music ticket leads us to call attention to the fact that the idea of providing operas, ora- torios and other musical scores in lending libraries has grown very considerably during recent years. This supply, which is widely appreciated, has created a greater demand for music and often leads people to make use of our libraries for the first time; on which grounds alone the movement is amply justified. Bulletins. Probably the most remark- able and most widespread development since the last International Conference has been in the issue of bulletins. These library magazines are now very general, are va- riously named, and are usually issued either monthly or quarterly. The bulletin has "caught on," and largely because prior to its inception many English librarians were, with some measure of success, doing some- what similar work through the medium of the local press. This work, however, is more easily and better done by the bulletin. It has come as a great boon to reader and li- brarian alike ; especially to those places, which are not few, where local editors could not be aroused to sufficient interest in library work to give free space in their papers even for lists of new books. The bulletin, how- ever, is a distinct advance on the use of the local press, however sympathetic in some places the press may be. To have its own bulletin is to give a library a fresh lease of life, and with that life to touch the life of the reading and even the non-reading public at many points. This has been amply demon- strated here, and in a way which more than justifies the existence of the bulletin. That the bulletin is used so extensively, and with such good effect, is proof that the progressive spirit is with us ; and may it ever remain. The readiness to use the bulletin may be taken as a hopeful sign that our English con- servatism is not so deeply rooted as to pre- vent us from taking up with equal readiness all other movements which we see have power for good in them. For these forces may we have a keen vision, and then, for the com- mon good, work them for all they are worth. 34 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. LIBRARY EXTENSION WORK IN GREAT BRITAIN. BY L. STANLEY JAST, Chief Librarian, Croydon Public Libraries. *T*HE term library extension is not per- haps a very clear one, but by it is meant in this paper all those activities of the library which spring from an extension or enlarge- ment of our idea of what we may term in the strict and traditional sense the library "field." The issue, classification, and cataloging of books are obviously part of the essential work of a library; wherever we draw the limits of the library "field" we must at least include these ; what we call extension work lies outside them, much of it becoming germane to the library only as we enlarge or modify our con- ceptions of the functions of a library ; we may perhaps regard the latter activities as linking the "field" of the library with the "fields" of other organizations, into which they may shade off or actually overlap. The subject is an interesting one; in itself, because the li- brary "field," and our notions of what it ought to include, are growing apace; interesting to you, because there are some differences be- tween "extension" work among British and among American libraries, though it may be rather a difference of "emphasis" than of method. Undoubtedly the most prominent item in library extension work in Great Britain is the lecture. The value of the lecture, as an advertisement of the contents of the library, has long been recognized. There are no more admirable models of what such lectures should be than the lectures on the books in the reference department of the Birmingham Public Library, issued together in a volume in 1885. But as always happens in the case of an advanced idea born into conditions not quite ready for it, the example of Birmingham was not followed, at all events to any extent, elsewhere ; and it is only recently that the lec- ture has become a regular department of the work of many public libraries. Even now it is by no means general; in 1001 only one- seventh of the public libraries in the United Kingdom had lectures. One reason for this is no doubt the lack of lecture room accommodation in the older, and even, it is regrettable to say, in some of the newer buildings. But that this is not prohib- itive of this kind of effort is shown by the in- genious system of what Mr. Potter Briscoe calls "half-hour talks," which he introduced into the Nottingham Public Libraries in 1890. The half-hour talk is a short address of thirty or forty minutes' duration, by some local speaker, on some book, subject or writer, delivered in the reading room, The only pre- liminary preparation made is to gather the magazines from the tables a few minutes before the address is given. At Nottingham a series of these talks is arranged every win- ter in the twelve branch reading rooms of the city, two in each branch; they are advertised by window bills distributed in each locality. The obvious objection to the place of the talk is the interference with the frequenters of the news or magazine room, who come to use the room for its legitimate purpose, the read- ing of papers. The reply to this is that in the first place there can be no real hardship in engaging the room occasionally for a brief period at an advertised hour; and in the second place that if the talks do good, and help forward the general usefulness of the library, the possible grumbles of one or two habitues of the paper or the magazine may well be disregarded. When I myself copied Mr. Briscoe, and instituted talks at Peter- borough, we left the magazines in position on the tables, so that anyone who pleased could read instead of listening to the talker if he was able. As a matter of fact it was quite an exception for any one to try. The half- hour talk on these lines has the great ad- vantage that it is within the scope of the humblest library, with even an advantage over the lecture in a special room, in that it cap- tures many whom the lecture room never sees. I am disposed to accord to the library lec- ture more value than to any other extension JAST. 35 activity if it is the proper kind of library lecture. The "if," however, is vital. The ordinary popular lecture, hung very often round lantern slides, can hardly be regarded as possessing any serious educational value whatever. Nor is the merely informative lec- ture exactly the kind in which the library may best specialize. In most towns there are other organizations which provide these; and as a general principle, I would say that it is best for the library to avoid all unnecessary overlapping and competition with other bod- ies and institutions, and at all events, to efficiently occupy what is clearly its special field first, before attempting to cover wider and more debatable ground. The object of the library lecture should be to bring the books in the library, their nature and contents, to the notice of possible readers, with a con- stant view to the best reading in the best way. This being so, somewhere in the lec- ture the attention of the audience should be drawn to the books which illustrate the sub- ject dealt with if the books themselves are not the subject and lists should be pre- pared in connection with each lecture, which may be conveniently printed as a part of a hand syllabus. The abuse of the lantern slide must not of course lead us to neglect so valuable and sometimes essential ally of the lecturer. The writers of the papers presented to this con- gress are, I understand, expected to indicate tendencies as well as to describe things as they are. As far then as the lantern is con- cerned the tendency will, I think, be to make more use of it, but to use it in rather a special way. The possibilities of the lantern in con- nection with library expository work are scarcely perceived as yet. It would take me too long, and be out of place in this paper, to enlarge on the subject; but to illustrate the adaptability of the slide to the particular purpose suggested, I will mention the subjects of some slides prepared for the lecture on encyclopaedias and dictionaries, dealing with and contrasting, as regards plan and utility for special purposes, the "Encyclopaedia Brit- annica" and "Chambers's encyclopaedia." It was explained that the "Britannica" was com- piled on what might be termed the large unit plan, and if, e. g., one looked for ecliptic, one would find it under astronomy; whereas in "Chambers's," compiled on the small unit plan, one would find it under ecliptic; and a slide was thrown on the screen of the refer- ences given at the end of the article astron- omy in "Chambers's" to the specific heads under which other articles would be found, e. g., aberration of light, acceleration, altazi- muth, and so on. The importance of using the index of the "Britannica," if information was not to be missed, was driven home by two slides of the entries in the index under Ballads, showing that Ballads were treated of or referred to under seven other heads beside the head Ballads. One of the differences be- tween the first and last editions of the "Britannica'' was indicated by first throwing on the screen part of the list of authorities upon which the first edition was compiled, containing in all some one hundred and thirty works; and then the authorities quoted in the last edition at the end of the article on allot- ments; there are eight, about one-sixteenth of what sufficed for the whole encyclopaedia in 1771 ; thus not only pointing an instructive contrast, but drawing attention to the value of the encyclopaedia as a collection of bibli- ographies. On these lines the lantern slide is capable of illustrating the contents, plan, treatment, and use of books of all -kinds, ref- erence and other, and supplementing in an attractive way lectures which, from their sub- ject-matter, would repel the ordinary person. A new development, complementary to the lecture, is the library reading. It is based upon the idea that just as you can popularize books by talking about them, so you can at- tain the same end by reading from them. Such readings may be all from a single work or from a number of works on a single sub- ject or by a single author. The difficulty we have, and which all library extension work is designed to overcome, is to convince the "average reader" that in the pages of many books he never dreams of looking at, hidden by colorless or dulness-suggesting titles, is matter at worst less dreary than much he concientiously ploughs through in the name of "light literature," and at best matter which even he will find fascinating. The readings are designed to do this by means of extracts samplings of the dishes he is invited to ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. partake of. Scrappy they are in the nature of the case, but they are saved from mere scrappiness by general unity of subject and by the way in which the extracts may be pre- sented so as to illustrate some specific idea. Again to avoid unduly lengthening this pa- per, I will leave this part of my subject, upon which a good deal might be said to make the adaptability of the readings clear, with an ex- ample of a reading applied to what might be deemed a rather intractable topic, viz., Vol- canoes. The object, besides that of introduc- ing a number of books, was to show the gen- esis and development of a scientific theory. The first extract read was from Judd's "Volcanoes," defining a volcano and giving an account of the ideas of the Greeks upon the subject. These were further illustrated by readings from the two Plinys. The middle ages were represented by Pietro Toledo, who described the elevation of Monte Nuovo in a single night in 1538. Sir William Hamilton's account of an eruption of Vesuvius in 1767 was next laid under contribution. These au- thors were followed by extracts from EH6 de Beaumont, describing his theory of the formation of craters by elevation from be- neath ; and from Scrope, who in dealing with the volcanoes of Central France explained their formation by deposition round a central vent. Dana, on Hawaiian volcanoes, was read; and the modern views were represented by Judd and Bonney; the readings being brought to a conclusion by extracts from Anderson and Flett, and Heilprin, on the recent eruption of Mont Pelee. Dr. Skeats, who gave the reading, connected the ex- tracts by the necessary thread of commentary and explanation. How readings may illus- trate literature is obvious, but the foregoing example may show that the library reading, no less than the lecture and the talk, is cap- able of illustrating and directing attention to works of science, history, and almost any other subject, and in an equally interesting and possibly even in as informative a manner. Good lecturers, especially from the library point of view, may not be plentiful ; but there is hardly any community without acceptable readers, and every library has on its shelves the material for an endless series of such readings. Experience must prove what their value really is for our purpose; but to me they seem a promising development. The study of sources, of the bibliography of a subject, is beginning to be recognized as a part of all serious work upon it. When this is fully recognized, when practical bibliog- raphy takes its place in the curriculum of the schools, then indeed will our public refer- ence libraries come into their own. At pres- ent in England, as was admitted by Professor Mark Wright, Professor of Education at Durham College of Science, in an admirable paper on the place of reference libraries in our educational system, read at a recent meeting of our association at Newcastle, the text-book is supreme, and the student has neither encouragement nor leisure to engage in individual research. Every librarian must share his hope that this will not always be so. An interesting object lesson in the intel- ligent utilization for educational purposes of a great reference library was given recently by Dr. Emil Reich, who took a class of University Extension students to the British Museum, and inviting any person to put any question to him, showed how the information required could be tracked down by consult- ing the proper bibliographies and books of reference. Practical demonstrations on these lines to classes, societies, etc., should be a part of the regular work of every public reference library. Something has already been done n this direction. Cardiff, for example, has made a point of receiving various local trade and other societies and clubs at the reference library, and showing to each the books on the topic with which it is specially concerned. But such work, to be done well, means not only books, but a qualified staff and adequate accommodation for the reception of parties. Very few of our municipal reference libraries are satisfactorily equipped in all these partic- ulars. To take the question of accommoda- tion alone, the provision of study rooms is an almost unknown thing in British library buildings. The conception of the reference library as a great workshop, a literary labor- atory, in which the student, the technical worker, the professional man, in short, every one in search of information shall find every possible facility for consultation and study, and the uses of which shall be a necessary part of everyone's educational upbringing OGLE. 37 this conception will first have to be grasped before adequate attention is likely to be paid to the planning, staffing, exposition, and stocking of our public reference libraries. An extension activity which might well be more common than it is is that of book ex- hibitions. At St. Helen's an exhibition of books in the public library was held in 1893 in the Victoria Park Museum, a short dis- tance from the Central Library, which was open for two months. Valuable books were placed in show cases, properly labelled, and could be obtained from the cases on applica- tion ; and it is interesting to observe as show- ing the popularity of the exhibit that to pre- vent overcrowding an entrance charge of one penny was made. More lasting and definite results are likely to accrue from smaller ex- hibits, limited to some subject or group and held at the library. No reference library can be considered adequate however which has not accommodation enabling it to do this. In my own town we have held for the last three years an annual exhibition of the prin- cipal books and photographs purchased out of a special grant for technical books, which has been of considerable service in advertis- ing the additions to the library from this source. I may say that valuable art books were placed freely on the tables, for anyone to open and look at, and that no damage of any moment has been incurred. The talk or lecture, the readings, reception of parties at the library, exhibitions these seem the main features of library extension work in Great Britain. There are doubtless other directions of effort, some commendable, others showing perhaps more zeal than discretion, but they hardly call for special mention in this paper, which is intended to be rather a rapid sketch than an exhaustive resume. Whether the work here described will become of the first importance in the library activities of the future, or remain more or less of a bye- product, I do not propose to discuss, but so long as the present general ignorance of or indifference to the best contents of our libra- ries, and of the art of rightly using books in relation to the particular end in view, pre- vails, then so long must all genuine effort to dispel this ignorance, to teach this art, form a vital, a necessary part of the functions of the public library. LIBRARY LEGISLATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. BY JOHN J. OGLE, Author of "The free library;" Secretary for Higher Education, Bootle, England. PARTICULAR laws of the United King- dom of Great Britain and Ireland are usually limited in their application to par- ticular countries of the Kingdom, and even then the operation of the law in a given town or district of that country may depend on its adoption by the ratepayers, voters, or house- holders of the given locality or by the vote of the representative local authority. This is so in respect of the library laws. At different times since the passing of the earliest Public Libraries Act in 1850, the legal facilities for establishing and maintain- ing libraries at the public expense in local government areas have differed widely in England and Wales, in Ireland, in Scotland, in the Isle of Man. The parallel development of opinion in the several countries has at last resulted in the Library Laws applicable to one part of the Kingdom being almost the equivalent of those in another part. The principal local government areas which by adoption of the Library Act may become library districts in England and Wales, are (1) a County Borough or a Municipal Bor- ough; (2) an Urban District; (3) a Parish. In Ireland, (i) an Incorporated Borough; (2) a Town or Urban District; (3) a Rural District. In Scotland, (i) a Burgh; (2) a Parish. In England and Wales local adop- tion depends on a resolution passed by the Town Council or the Urban District Council or, in the case of a Parish, by the Parish Meeting or on the result of a poll of the parish electors. In Ireland, the adoption lies with the ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. Urban or Rural District Council, or if they fail to adopt, a poll of householders may be taken to determine the matter. The Scotch law provides that a resolution of the Magistrates and Council of a Burgh may adopt the Acts, and that in a Scotch parish a poll of householders shall be taken. When the Acts have be6n adopted, the li- brary authority is in England and Wales, (i) the Town Council or Urban District Council, or (2) the Parish Council. In Scot- land, (i) the Magistrates and Council, or (2) the Parochial Board. In Ireland a body of Commissioners appointed by the District Council, or if they fail to appoint by the Local Government Board, a department of the central government charged with the oversight of many municipal and parochial matters. In any district in the three countries where two or more library districts have decided to act together in the adoption and carrying out of the Acts a body of commissioners or a joint committee must be appointed. The law provides for special agreements in such cases. Where the library authority is not a body of commissioners, they may delegate most of their powers to a committee. In Scotland this is obligatory. The Library Committee need not in England and Wales consist wholly of members of the library authority, in Scot- land half of the committee must be house- holders. Libraries, museums, schools for science or art, art schools, art galleries may be estab- lished by the library authority, and in Ire- land schools of music also. Only recently has the power to make bye- laws and enforce penalties by conviction in a court of summary jurisdiction been won by the library authorities of the whole kingdom. In most places the principal source of in- come for a public library is the power to levy a rate. Rates in the United Kingdom are, in theory at least, levied on the net annual value of local property. The assessment of this value is a highly complicated matter, with which the library authority has little to do except to recognize it as the value on which a library rate equal to one penny in the pound may be annually levied. Local resolutions may limit this rate still further, or having limited it to J^d or J^d may raise it again, but not beyond one penny. In rural districts, also, a deduction must be made of two-thirds the value of agricultural lands in levying the library rate. Many towns have, by special local acts put through the Imperial Parliament, ob- tained power to levy a higher rate or to re move the limit altogether or to apply profits on municipal trading to educational purposes, including library expenditure. With suitable safeguards, ecclesiastical, charitable or parochial lands or property may be transferred to the library authorities and the library income be thus augmented by rents, sale, or exchange. Borrowing powers are granted subject to the central authority's control. In England and Wales, the Local Government Board's, in Ireland, the Treasury's sanction is needed, but in Scotland money may be borrowed with- out this consent. In the latter country ex- travagance is provided against by a limitation of the loans at any one time to % part of the library rate capitalized at twenty years' purchase. Recent developments of the laws relating to education have made it posible to relieve the library committee of charges incurred for establishing schools, museums, art gal- leries, etc., and this is being largely effected by the grants of education authorities to library committees for maintenance of school libraries and the purchase of technical lit- erature; and by the adoption of the Museums and Gymnasiums Act of 1891 which permits an allocation of the equivalent of a half penny rate for museum maintenance. The most pressing improvements now need- ed are the removal of the limit on the local rating power, the declaration of public li- brary property as free from liability to pay local rates, and the addition of a County Council to the list of local library authori- ties. These reforms, especially the first- named, are being earnestly pressed forward by the Library Association which has al- ready done so much to obtain improvements in the law relating to British libraries. ROBERTS. 39 TRAINING FOR LIBRARIANS IN GREAT BRITAIN. BY HENRY D. ROBERTS, Librarian St. Saviour's Public Library, Southwark; Secretary Education Committee of Library Association. 'T'HE subject of the training of librarians in Great Britain, apart from the prac- tical working in a library, may be classified into three headings (i) Examinations, (2) Summer Schools, (3) Technical and Corre- spondence Classes. I arrange them in chron- ological order of their foundation. (l) EXAMINATIONS. First, then, as to the examinations. To make the present situation clear it seems to me advisable to briefly relate the history of the subject. The Library Association was founded in 1877, and received its royal char- ter in 1898. At the annual meeting held in Edinburgh in 1880, the following resolution was passed on the initiative of Henry R. Tedder, librarian of the Athenaeum Club, and now Hon. Treasurer of the Association: "That it is desirable that the Council of this Association should consider how library as- sistants may best be aided in their training in the general principles of their profes- sion." In the absence of Mr. Tedder the resolution was moved by the late Mr. Robert Harrison, then treasurer of the Association, and librarian of the London Library. After considerable discussion it was carried unan- imously. As a result a small committee was appointed consisting of Messrs. R. Garnett (now Dr. Richard Garnett, C.B.), Robert Harrison, E. W. B. Nicholson (now librarian of the Bodleian Library), and Henry R. Ted- der, together with the hon. secretaries the late Mr. E. C. Thomas and Mr. Charles Welch (now librarian of the London Guild- hall). This committee reported to the annual meeting of the Association held in London in 1881. They considered the question of the training of library assistants might be made an extremely useful feature of the work of the Association, and that it would best be served by providing for the examination of candidates and the granting of certificates of efficiency. As this naturally involved direc- tion as to studies and the choice of books, a scheme was prepared and submitted. It- recommended an examination before appoint- ment a desideratum which still remains un- fulfilled in most of the public libraries of England to-day which included an ele- mentary knowledge of at least one classical and one modern foreign language. After ap- pointment an examination with two certifi- cates was suggested. A second-class certifi- cate, to be given to those candidates who possessed not less than one year's experience in library work, and who satisfied the exam- iner in (i) English literature, especially of the last hundred years, (2) some one or other European literature, (3) principles of the classification of the sciences, .(4) elements of bibliography, including cataloging, (5) Library management. A cataloging knowl- edge of at least two other languages than English was also necessary. To obtain a first-class certificate candidates would be re- quired to have had at least two years' expe- rience in a library to possess an advanced knowledge of the previously-named subjects; and also to pass an examination in (6) General literary history. A cataloging knowl- edge of at least three languages was to be a necessity for this higher certificate. An im- portant suggestion was that the Council should also undertake to examine persons not actually engaged as library assistants. This report was discussed on Thursday, September 15, 1881, but its adoption, for some reason which has never transpired, was negatived by 24 votes to 19. A fresh com- mittee (Messrs. Bradshaw, Cowell, Mullins and Overall) was appointed at a monthly meeting held on Oct. 7, 1881. They reported on Thursday, Sept. 7, 1882, to the annual meeting held at Cambridge and recommended the adoption of the report presented to the previous annual meeting. On this occasion it was unanimously adopted. This was possi- ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. bly due to an admirable paper read at the meeting by Mr. H. R. Tedder on "Librarian- ship as a profession," in part of which he stated as his opinion that nothing could be better contrived which would maintain a high standard among librarians than a well con- sidered system of examination. Mr. Nichol- son, in the subsequent discussion, sounded a true note when he said that while "the num- ber of competent candidates for any vacancy was exceedingly small, it was also true that the number of incompetent candidates was enormously large, and, unfortunately, the election was nearly always in the hands of people who did not know the competent from the incompetent, not having the slightest idea as to the qualifications necessary. One of the best possible ways of teaching these people that librarianship is a profession was to hold such examinations as were suggested in the report, and offer them candidates for libra- rianships provided with the certificates of the Association. It would thus be obvious to the electors that the librarians themselves felt it necessary to establish a distinction between the competent and the incompetent." Other speakers proved that then, as now, the pre- vailing difficulty was that the librarians were so often obliged to take lads of little or no education because the pay offered was so small. The Association seems to have been content with the expression of a pious opin- ion, for no action was taken for over a twelvemonth. In November, 1882, Monthly Notes an- nounced that the details of the proposed scheme would be considered at a special meet- ing of the Council, to be held on Dec. 15, 1882. As a result a sub-committee was appointed to settle details. Nothing further appears to have been done until the 6th annual meeting of the Association, held at Liverpool in 1883, when, on Sept. 12, several members were added to the committee, which was instructed to report on Sept. 14. On the latter date an interim report "That Messrs. Thomas and Tedder be appointed to draw up a syllabus of examination questions and a list of text-books and to submit the same as early as possible to this committee with a view of eliciting fur- ther suggestions; afterwards that Messrs. Thomas and Tedder be asked to formulate a complete scheme" was presented. This mo- tion was carried, after an amendment pro- posing Messrs. Cowell, Sutton and Mullins, instead of Messrs. Thomas and Tedder, had been defeated. A report, presented at the an- nual meeting at Dublin in 1884, was discussed at the proceedings on Friday, Oct. 3, and adopted. As a result the first examination was an- nounced in the columns of the Library Chron- icle for December, 1884, as to be held on the first Tuesday in July, 1885 a one day's ex- amination only, be it noted. The scope of the proposed examination was the same as I have previously stated as having been recom- mended to the annual meeting held in Lon- don in 1881. Fuller details, however, were given, together with much useful advice to intending candidates. The examination was held on July 7, 1885, and the papers set were reprinted in the next number of the Library Chronicle. Centres were held at London and Nottingham. There were only three candi- dates, and it is worthy of note that the ex- aminers (whose names are given in the "Transactions" for 1884), granted second- class certificates to Mr. Albert Butcher, Well- ing, Kent, and to Mr. J. J. Ogle, Free Public Library, Nottingham. I can find no trace of any examination in 1886. Announcement was made of an exam- ination to be held on the first Tuesday in July, but this was postponed till the first Tuesday in August. There do not appear to have been any candidates. An examination was announced for Sept. 13, 1887, and the questions set are given in the Library Chronicle for 1887, page 113, but the examiners for the year reported that no can- didate had satisfied their requirements. An- other examination was announced for March, 1888. It seems to have been held, for the papers set are given in the Library Chronicle for 1888, pages 38 et seq., but I can find no trace of any candidates having either pre- sented themselves or satisfied the examiners. Another examination was announced for March, 1889. This date was changed to Oct. 15, 1889, but afterwards was altered to Jan. 29, 1890, "because so many have asked for a later date to be fixed." I can find no trace of this examination having been held. The Council were evidently not satisfied with the results of their examination scheme, ROBERTS. and at the annual meeting held at Reading in 1890 a committee consisting of Messrs. Peter Cowell, C W. Sutton, J. D. Mullins, William May and J. J. Ogle, was appointed to reconsider the subject. This committee reported to the Nottingham meeting in 1891 that they had considered the excellent scheme then in force, and only suggested changes v.here they thought they were desirable and even urgent. Without wishing to reduce the standard of excellence required, at the same time they wished to make the examination more popular and less onerous to library as- sistants. They proposed to give greater prom- inence to the preliminary examination and to subdivide the advanced one, letting it proceed by one or more subjects at the will of the ex- aminee. They recommended the issuing of interim certificates should students wish to pass the examination in the leisurely way now suggested, and parchments when they had passed in the whole of the subjects. Another suggestion pleaded for the abolition of such questions as only went to prove the super- excellent memory of candidates. The com- mittee saw no reason why the promotion of assistants should not be more or less de- pendent on their passing wholly or in part the examination of the Library Association, and they had every desire to give practical effect to this view. (I cannot find, though, that this was ever done). The new syllabus allowed persons not em- ployed in libraries to present themselves for examination on obtaining permission from the Council. The preliminary examination was to be passed before the ordinary examination could be entered on, or certificates of pro- ficiency, satisfactory to the examiners, were to be produced. The preliminary examina- tion was divided into six headings: I. Com- mercial arithmetic and elementary bookkeep- ing; 2. English grammar and composition, writing and spelling (to be tested by an essay on a familiar subject) ; 3. English history; 4. Geography; 5. English literature: the names of the chief writers, the period when each flourished and the principal works by which each was known; 6. Cataloging transcrip- tion of entries from English title-pages for a short title catalog on the dictionary plan ; cor- rection of catalog proofs. Even this simple examination was allowed to be taken in sections, two at a time as well as the professional examination. The professional examination was also divided into six sections : i. English litera- ture, especially of the last hundred years ; 2. French or German literature, together with easy passages for translation; 3. Classifica- tion; 4. Elements of bibliography and cata- loging (in the latter a cataloging knowledge of two other languages than English was re- quired) ; 5. Library management and admin- istration; 6. General literary history (only for honors). The syllabus spoke of a pass and a full certificate, but I suppose it meant an ordinary pass and one with honors. The report was adopted, and at the same meeting the president (Mr. Robert Harrison) said: "The practice of examining candidates has not hitherto borne much fruit." The first examination under this latest revised scheme was held in London in June, 1892; 7 candidates presented themselves, but with lamentable results. One of them passed in English and French literature in the pro- fessional examination, and one obtained his full certificate in the preliminary examina- tion. Candidates from the provinces had their expenses paid. The next examination was held in December of the same year in four centers. Seven candidates presented them- selves, principally in the preliminary examina- tion, but, on the whole, with unsatisfactory results. The Council decided to hold no ex- amination in June, 1893, and the next exam- ination was held in December, 1893, in 7 centers, when 12 candidates entered, 10 out of the 12 for the preliminary examination only. Four passed the preliminary and one the professional. This scheme remained in force until June, 1894, when the preliminary examination was very wisely abolished. It had always seemed to the present writer to be quite outside the province of the Associa- tion to attempt to examine in the ordinary subjects of a general education. For this ex- amination in June, 1894, 15 candidates en- tered, 12 for the preliminary, and 3 for the professional. Seven passed in the former, and 3 satisfied the examiners in portions of the professional. In consequence of representations made by several of the examiners, the Council, in 1894. remitted the existing scheme of examina- ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. tions to a committee for careful considera- tion and revision. A report, dated July 28, 1894, was sent in, cordially endorsed by the Council, and unanimously adopted at the an- nual meeting of the Association held in Bel- fast in 1894. This scheme, with slight modi- fications, remained in force until quite re- cently. The suggestions adopted were, that the ex- amination should consist of three sections : (i) Bibliography and literary history; (2) Cataloging, classification and shelf arrange- ment; and (3) Library management, the de- tails being given in the ensuing numbers of the "Library Association year book." The Council, at its meeting on the 2Qth of September, 1894, resolved to appoint a com- mittee, to be called the Examinations Com- mittee, to have charge generally of the con- duct of examinations under the direction of the Council. This committee held its first meeting of the 6th of October in the same year, when Dr. Garnett was elected chair- man, and Mr. J. W. Knapman, hon. secretary; but it only held three other meetings up to March, 1898, and was dissolved as a sep- arate committee by resolution of the Council on Oct. 7, 1898, when it was merged into the Education Committee, of which an account is given in another portion of this paper. The first examination under the new sylla- bus was held in January, 1895, when only one candidate presented himself. There was also only one candidate in July, 1895 > one in July, 1896 ; one in June, 1897, and two in December, 1897. No other examination was held until January, 1901, when 3 candidates presented themselves. Fourteen candidates presented themselves in May, 1902, 31 in January, J 903 (principally in bibliography, a series of classes on this subject, by Mr. J. D. Brown, having just finished), and 12 in May, 1903. It is hardly necessary to give the details of these later examinations. The latest revised sylla- bus had now been in force for nine years, but although latterly the number of students had considerably increased, owing most probably to the establishment of technical classes, it seemed quite evident that further revision was necessary. During the few years before this date, various suggestions and criticisms of the existing scheme had been received, and the Education Committee determined to tackle the subject and see if they could not pro- duce a scheme which would be not only useful but practical and popular. Much time and thought were given to the subject, but I will not weary you with the means by which the new scheme was eventually evolved. Suffice it to say that after considerable discussion the Council eventually approved the scheme which is now in force, and is printed not only in the current "Year book," but on pages 170-76 of the Library Association Record, March, 1904. I will refer to the details later. The first annual examination under this new scheme was held in May of this year, with the result that a record number of candidates was reached, no less than 34 different persons presenting themselves in the various subjects. Candidates attended at the following centres: Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, London, Manchester, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Port Elizabeth (S. Africa), St. Helens and Southampton. Originally there were 39 en- tries, but five candidates withdrew. A duly constituted Board of Examiners had been appointed to conduct the examinations and their report was eminently satisfactory. Two candidates satisfied the examiners in bibli- ography (four candidates) ; four in classi- fication (eight candidates) ; one with honors and three with merit; eight in cataloging (15 candidates) five with merit; 10 in library history and organization (13 candi- dates), six with merit; and seven in practical library administration (19 candidates), two with merit. Three candidates entered in liter- ary history, but none satisfied the examiners. Having thus traced the history of the ex- aminations of the Association, I will now turn to the second means for training in order of establishment, viz., Summer Schools. (2) SUMMER SCHOOLS. Up to 1893 the Association had so far done nothing but examine candidates. However, at a general meeting held at Liverpool in December, 1892, Mr. J. J. Ogle read a paper, entitled "A summer school of library science," which he had also read at the annual meet- ing held in Paris earlier in the year, and in which he suggested that it would be a great advantage to assistants and to students of librarianship generally if during each summer arrangements could be made by which they might have an opportunity of visiting repre- ROBERTS. 43 sentative libraries, and of hearing demon- strations of various practical matters and de- tails of a librarian's work. A committee, consisting of the late Miss M. S. R. James, and Messrs. J. J. Ogle and H. R. Tedder, was appointed, which made certain suggestions to the Council, the result of which was that the first Summer School of the Association was held in London on July 18-20, 1893. The program consisted of a series of visits to libraries and other places of interest, at which demonstrations took place. Forty-five stud- ents from various parts of the country at- tended. The Council, pleased at the result, decided to institute a Summer School as a permanent feature of the Association's work. The second School was held on June 19-22, 1894, and was even better attended than the previous one. At the Council meeting on Sept. 29, 1894, a Summer School Committee was appointed, which held its first meeting on the following Oct. 6th, at which Mr. Charles Welch was appointed chairman, and Mr. J. J. Ogle, hon. secretary. The third school was held under the man- agement of this committee on June 24-28, 1895, and was attended by 40 students, in- cluding library assistants from all over the kingdom and one from the McGill University Library, Montreal, Canada. Details of the proceedings, of course, appeared from time to time in the pages of the Library. After the 1895 school, Mr. Ogle was obliged to resign the hon. secretaryship, and Mr. W. E. Doubleday was elected in his place. At the Cardiff meeting of the Association in 1895 a sub-committee was appointed to con- sider and report as to a scheme for system- atizing the work of the Summer School. Their recommendations were eventually adopted, and included suggestions that the work of the school should, as far as possible, include a course of preparation for the sub- jects laid down in the syllabus of the Exam- inations Committee, which, you will remem- ber, had recently been revised. The fourth session was held on June 15 to 19, 1896, and was attended more or less regularly by 44 students. After this meet- ing Mr. Doubleday was unfortunately com- pelled to tender his resignation as hon. sec- retary, on account of pressure of other work in connection with his libraries. On Sept. 6,1896, the present writer was elected to his place, Mr. Welch continuing to act as chair- man. The 1896 school had dealt with a portion of the examinations syllabus, and the session for 1897, the fifth of the series, dealt with the remainder of it. This latter was held on May 3i-June 4. In order that intending students might do more reading on individual lines before the school, a printed prospectus with particulars of lectures, and a list of text- books intended for study, was issued, and a copy sent to each applicant. A letter was sent to the committee of every library estab- lished under the Acts or represented in the Association asking for co-operation in the work. This was six months before the school began. Some little time before the session commenced a copy of the program was sent to every librarian in the kingdom calling at- tention to the forthcoming session and ask- ing that facilities might be afforded to any assistants wishing to attend the school. The result was extremely gratifying, no less than 74 students (from 24 London and 10 provin- cial libraries) attending one or more of the lectures or visits. It might here be mentioned that examinations on the work of the various sessions had been regularly held. After the fifth session technical classes, which I refer to in the next portion of this paper, were established in London, and the committee thought that they practically took the place of the school, which was suspended during 1898 and 1899. In response, how- ever, to numerous representations, a series of visits to libraries in and around London was arranged for the last week in June, 1900, but owing to the poor attendance the committee recommended the Council to discontinue the school for the present, and it would seem that it is not likely to be revived just yet. It should also be noted that every season since its commencement in 1897 Summer Schools have been held in connection with the North- Western Branch of the Library Association, with the exception of the year 1902. This school appeals more particularly to students from Lancashire and district. (3) TECHNICAL CLASSES. Still, however, nothing was done by the Association in the way of definite teaching in the form of classes. At the same Liverpool 44 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. meeting to which I have referred recently a paper was read by the late Miss James en- titled "A plan for providing technical instruc- tion for library students and assistants." This was printed in the Library for i8o,vi, pages 313 et seq., but there was no definite result. About the time that the present writer was appointed hon. secretary of the Summer School Committee he was asked to contribute a paper to a monthly meeting of the Library Association, and chose for his subject the lack of facilities for the technical education of library assistants. The paper was read at the December meeting 1896, and was en- titled "Some remarks on the education of the library assistant : a plea." It was printed in the Library for 1897, pages 103 et seq. At the conclusion of the paper the author moved a resolution which, after considerable dis- cussion, was carried unanimously, asking the Council to arrange for courses of lectures in the winter session on matters in connection with library management, etc. The Council referred the resolution to the Summer School Committee, with a icquest for a report thereon. In December, 1897, the committee submitted a report to the Council which recommended the formation of classes, and to which was attached a scheme which was con- sidered feasible and likely to be successful. This report was adopted by the Council, a small grant of money was made, and the Summer School Committee with increased powers, and under a new name "Education Committee" was requested to undertake the management of the classes. A successful inaugural meeting, presided over by Lord Avebury, was held on February 25, 1898, at which an interesting address was delivered by the late Bishop of London (Dr. Creighton), and the classes commenced on March 2. 1898. For the first series of classes there were 58 students attending lectures on the following subjects: Cataloging (Mr. J. Macfarlane), Bookbinding (Mr. Douglas Cockerell), Elementary bibliography (Mr. Henry Guppy), and Historical printing (Mr. John Southward). The second series commenced on Feb. I, 1899, and for this course 44 students enrolled themselves, the classes being as follows: Ele- mentary bibliography (Mr. Henry Guppy), Public library cataloging (Mr. F. J. Bur- goync), Public library administration (Mr. Henry D. Roberts), Subject cataloging (Mr. J. H. Quinn), and Public library legislation (Mr. C. T. Davis). The third series commenced on Feb. 14, 1900. 41 students entering for one or more of the following classes : English literature and language (Mr. W. E. Doubleday), Subject cataloging (Mr. J. H. Quinn), Public library office work (Mr. Henry D. Roberts), and French literature (Miss Hentsch). The fourth series commenced on Feb. 13, 1901. Two classes only were held this session on Wednesday afternoons, and for these 14 students were enrolled. The classes were : Cutter's rules for a dictionary catalog (Mr. J. H. Quinn), and Historical printing (Mr. J. Southward). The fifth series commenced on Feb. 26, 1902. Two classes were held, on Wednesday afternoons, and for these 27 students entered. The classes were: Subject cataloging in theory and practice, more especially for dic- tionary catalogs (Mr. J. H. Quinn), and Classification and shelf arrangement (Mr. Franklin T. Barrett). Examinations on the work of the classes were conducted at the end of each of the se- ries, with fairly satisfactory results. It must be noted, however, that these examinations had nothing whatever to do with the pro- fessional examination of the Association. The fees for the classes were only nominal for library assistants, but unattached students had to pay more. For some time endeavors had been made to obtain a grant from the London Technical Education Board in aid of these classes, but without success. As a result, however, of various conferences on, the subject the Edu- cation Committee, on May 22, 1902, recom- mended the Council to adopt the following resolution : "That the Library Association co-operate with the London School of Economics in conducting courses of instruction in: (1) Bibliography and literary history, (2) Cataloging, classification and shelf arrangement, (3) Library management, ROBERTS. 45 Subject to the following conditions: (1) That the Council of the Library Association nominate the lecturers in the three subjects. (2) That the Council continue to hold the professional examinations and to grant certificates, (3) That the classes be open to all comers, (4) That the Council have an equal rep- resentation with the Governors of the School of Economics on the Sub-Com- mittee of Management." This resolution was subsequently unan- imously adopted by the Council and the first series under the new conditions commenced at the London School of Economics in the Michaelmas Term, 1902, on Wednesday after- noons. The special class was in "Elemen- tary bibliography," conducted by Mr. J. D. Brown, librarian, Finsbury Public Libraries. In addition, on Wednesdays, a series of lec- tures on "Bibliographies of special subjects," by specialists, was also given, and was con- tinued during the Lent Term, 1903. In this latter term the special class on Wednesday afternoons was in "Classification and cata- loging," conducted by Mr. Franklin T. Bar- rett, librarian, Fulham Public Libraries. In the session 1903-04, arrangements were made for two classes to be held on Wednesday afternoons in the Michaelmas and Lent Terms, and one class in the Summer Term, the classes being "Library economy" (Mr. J. D. Brown), "Library management" .(Mr. Henry D. Roberts), "Library cataloging" (Mr. J. H. Quinn) and "Classification" (Mr. Franklin T. Barrett). The attendance of students at the school has been eminently satisfactory and has fully justified the Coun- cil of the Association in transferring its teaching work to a definite educational in- stitution. In the present writer's opinion the Association is to be congratulated on having at length been the means of definitely estab- lishing technical classes in librarianship. The arrangements for the ensuing session include lectures on Historical bibliography, by Mr. A. W. Pollard, M.A., on Practical bibliog- raphy, by Mr. Henry D. Roberts, and on Library economy, by Mr. J. D. Brown. These classes are arranged to commence on October 5 and to be continued throughout the Michaelmas and Lent Terms. In addition to these technical classes there are a number of other classes in connection with the School of Economics to which the attention of li- brary students is particularly directed, such as Palaeography and Diplomatic; Economic History, Theory and Geography; History; Accountancy and Statistics, etc. These classes are only of practical utility to students living in and around London. The Education Committee having given very careful consideration to the matter have this season been able to announce a course of cor- respondence classes by Mr. J. D. Brown on "Library economy." Up to the moment of writing 24 students from the provinces have entered for this first course of experimental lectures. This is considered to be extremely satisfactory. The classes will run concurrently with Mr. Brown's oral classes at the School of Economics. PRESENT SITUATION. Let me, as briefly as possible, define the situation as it is to-day in connection with the actual title of my paper. There is no school for the training of li- brarians in constant session, although some of us who are enthusiasts, and optimists as well, look forward to an early date when our dreams in this direction shall be realized. The existing means are Summer Schools, Technical Classes, including the newly-in- stituted Correspondence Classes, and exam- inations. It is, I believe, probable that dur- ing the ensuing winter, technical classes in librarianship will be held in connection with the Manchester School of Technology. Other provincial centers of library teaching may also be established later on. The Library Assistants' Association does its best by means of study circles, etc., to en- courage its members to take an interest in the matter. Various librarians in the coun- try also aid their assistants by holding in- formal classes at their own libraries. Some committees pay the fees and travelling ex- penses of those of their assistants who attend the Summer Schools and Technical Classes. This practice is on the increase. I may here interpolate that the fees at the London School of Economics average one shilling per lecture. During next session there will be 22 lectures ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. on Library economy and 22 on Bibliography. The Library Association pays half the fees of any student nominated by one of its mem- bers, so that it does not cost an aspiring assistant in London and district much to at- tend the classes. The correspondence classes are limited to students outside the metro- politan area, and are divided into two sec- tions, each of ii lectures. The net fee for each section of the correspondence course is io/-, or 17/6 for the two. The classes, both technical and correspondence, are not re- stricted to library assistants. One word as to the examinations syllabus. This is now divided into six different sub- jects, viz. (i) Literary history; (2) Elements of practical bibliography; (3) Classification; (4) Cataloging; .(5) Library history and or- ganization : (6) Practical library adminis- tration. These subjects may be taken collec- tively or separately, at the discretion of the candidate. The examinations are held an- nually in May, and pro tanto certificates are issued to those who satisfy the examiners. A new feature of this scheme is that essays, written at home, on various prescribed sub- jects are also required from candidates for the certificates. When a student possesses certificates in the six subjects and has also- had practical experience of not less than 24 hours a week for at least three years as a member of the administrative staff of one or more libraries approved by the Council of the Association, he may apply for the full certificate or diploma. He has to write a thesis on some topic previously set by the Council and also to present a certificate showing that he possesses an elementary knowledge of Latin and of one modern for- eign language. No text books are prescribed, but various sources of useful information are notified. The syllabus is a very detailed one and lays down quite clearly exactly what re- quirements are necessary for the candidates to satisfy the examiners, and forms a guide both to private students or teaching institu- tions which may be disposed either wholly or in part to provide courses of training. I have endeavored to trace the history of the present forms of instruction and exam- ination of library assistants, and hope you will agree with me that however far short it may fall of the ideals some of us hope may be realized, there is, at any rate, a certain amount of "Training for Librarians in Great Britain." LIBRARY WORK WITH CHILDREN IN GREAT BRITAIN. BY JOHN BALLINGER, Librarian, Cardiff Public Libraries. T N preparing a statement as to the library work done for children in Great Britain, it is essential to begin by calling attention to the straightened financial conditions under which our libraries exist. Not only our up- keep, but to a large extent, our buildings have to be paid for out of a limited rate. Mr. Carnegie has done great service to our country by his generous gifts for the estab- lishment of libraries in places where the Li- braries Acts were not in force ; but, up to the present, he has not seen his way to relieving the older libraries from the burden of the building debts, which they incurred in their zeal for the library cause. The districts which pioneered the library movement, will put this work for the children upon a secure basis as soon as they are re- lieved of the heavy financial burdens by which they are at present crippled. They have al- ready given evidence of their earnestness, for it was in the towns which were among the earliest to provide public libraries that work for the children began Manchester notably, with its excellent children's reading rooms in every district, and Nottingham also with ex- cellent libraries and reading rooms for chil- dren. Leeds, Plymouth and Norwich made early efforts at providing school libraries, and only failed for want of funds to keep up the stock. In the near future we are going to change all that. We mean to link on our BALL1NGER. 47 public libraries to the education system in such a way that the temporary failures of the past will never recur. Up to the present the work has been done here and there by enthusiastic committees and librarians. They have done much and tried many experiments some successful, some not. For the want of money many promising schemes have come to a standstill. The li- braries were short of funds, and the education authorities, except in a few instances, de- clined or neglected to assist. All this may now be changed. The Education Act of 1902 abolished the school boards, handing over the control of education in cities and towns to the borough councils, the same authority which controls the libraries. (Unfortunately we have not, at present, any adequate powers for extending the operations of the Libraries Act to the rural districts.) An extension of school library work has begun, and as the new authorities get a better grip of their powers and duties, the movement will grow in strength. One of our most hopeful signs of progress is the removal of the age limit for readers in our lending libraries, which means that our work is being extended so as to include all young people who are able to read. Three years ago only 69 libraries out of 287 had no age limit, while in 193 libraries the age limit was 12 or more, in one instance 18 and in one 17. At that time there were 128 li- braries where a child under 14 was not ad- mitted to borrow books for home reading. I have no accurate statistics of later date cov- ering the same wide range of libraries, but there has been a considerable change for the better. i There are two landmarks in the history of this movement, which afford a basis for a survey of the past and present position. These are (i) the publication of Mr. Ogle's report on "The connection between the pub- lic library and the public elementary school" in 1898,* and (2) The session devoted to the discussion of "The relations between public education and public libraries" at the Leeds Conference of the British Library Associa- tion in 1003. * Special reports on educational subjects, v. 2 issued by the Education Department, London. Mr. Ogle's report showed that most public libraries provide books for children as liber- ally as their resources permit, and by the printing of special catalogs, and other facil- ities, successfully encourage the use of the books. He also showed that in a few places efforts had been made to provide reading for the children through the schools, efforts which failed one after another, for want of funds when undertaken by the public libra- ries, and for lack of continued interest when started independently. In the last six years some practical steps have been taken to bring the libraries and the schools into closer relations, and discus- sions at conferences have brought before edu- cationists the importance of the subject, and the need of a co-ordination of forces with a view to securing better results. We have also by experiment gained important knowledge for guidance as to what to do, and what to avoid. The conference on the relations be- tween public libraries and public education held at Leeds in September, 1903, marks the most important step yet taken in Great Brit- ain on this subject. The conference was at- tended by delegates representing the prin- cipal elementary and secondary educational bodies, appointed by various societies on the invitation of the Library Association. This was the first occasion upon which representa- tives of schools and libraries met together (of course I mean in Great Britain) to dis- cuss their relations to each other. The conferenece appointed a committee, representative of education and of libraries, to collect information. This committee has brought together a mass of material, and pre- sented an interim report to the annual con- ference just held at Newcastle- upon-Tyne. This interim report puts forward a series of suggestions for co-operation between libra- ries and other educational organizations which if carried out will give the libraries a definite place in the educational machinery and add greatly to the working power of the schools and colleges. The results of numerous experiments and pioneer work have been considered, and the experience gained has been embodied in the recommendations for future action brought forward in the report. I do not in this paper propose to discuss 4 8 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. these recommendations in detail. Our cir- cumstances differ so much from yours that it. would be waste of time to do so. It will be better to lay before you some general prin- ciples applicable to the subject as a whole to enable you to see where we agree with you and where we differ from you. The experience already gained shows that the most satisfactory way of reaching chil- dren is through libraries deposited in the schools, the books being distributed by the teachers to the children for home reading. The teachers can get into closer touch with children individually than any other available agency. They know the capabilities and the tastes of each child, as no librarian can. Each teacher has only a comparatively small num-. ber of children to supervise, and an earnest teacher has an influence in this direction which no librarian can ever hope to attain. A chance remark may fix the child's interest, and make it a reader for life. Our greatest hope for training children to read good books and to read them thoroughly and intelligently lies in the school library worked by the teachers. But though the children are best left to the teachers, there is need of the librarian's special qualifications in the selection, pur- chase, organization and supervision of the school libraries. The repairs, renewals, and rebinding can best be done by the librarian superintending these, and similar details of supply and organization, but refraining from any interference with the teachers as to the distribution of the books to the children, be- yond seeing that the books are kept in use. A word as to the extent to which teachers are held responsible for the books. They ought to exercise strict discipline with the children, and if a book is lost or dam- aged to exact some payment if possible. If the child's parents are very poor, the amount collected may be nominal, while the well-to- do should be made to pay full value. All this should be done for the lesson it enforces. On the other hand, a teacher should not be expected, or allowed, to pay for or to re- place a book.. They may offer to do so, but as a matter of principle, the offers should not; be accepted. It is on record that the opposite policy was adopted by an important school board, which provided libraries for its schools. A code of rules for dealing with the books was drawn up, one rule being that the teachers should be responsible for and be called upon to re- place any missing books. The result would have been foreseen by any practical librarian. Most of the teachers safeguarded themselves by locking the books up in a cupboard and never allowing them to be used. Experience has considerably modified our views upon the question of an exchange of books between school and school. The state- ment that after a year or less every school will have a fresh stock of books by exchang- ing with some other school, sounds well, and always meets with approval. In practice, however, it has been found to have many dis- advantages, and, unless the available stock is very limited, no real merits. We must bear in mind that the life of a boy or girl in one school is of short duration, and in one class rarely exceeds a year. The mov- ing on of the children supplies the change. Let me set out the reasons for the conclu- sion that -exchange should be the exception rather than the rule. First of all comes the fixing of the child's mind upon a few good books, to be carefully read, understood, and appreciated. Too much choice is not good, it is likely to encourage rapid and careless reading. Then the teachers can take a fuller interest, they will have a better chance of becoming thoroughly acquainted with the books and directing the reading of the children. Teachers also suggest books with more will- ingness and care when they know that the books are to be a constant factor in their own school, especially when they realize that if they suggest a poor book, it may keep out a good one. The circumstances of the locality can better be taken into account when dealing with wear and tear, and the care taken of the books. If (he books are changed at intervals it is very difficult to fix responsibility for abuse, and a failure to do this may counteract all the good done. It would be almost better for the- children to be left without books than that they should be allowed to abuse them. For the supervising librarian to be in a position to put his finger upon a school where the books are continuously abused or neglected is an important factor in the character build- ing value of the work. BALLINGER. 49 A final reason, if the school groups of books are not to be changed about, it is not necessary to vary the books in each group for the mere sake of giving the schools a fresh selection, and the choice can be restricted to the very best books, allowing only for the circumstances of the school where they are to be used. One hundred good books will give a child, borrowing one book each school week forty per annum a supply of reading for nearly three years, and a library containing that number might remain in a school for two years before it could be fairly read up by the average child. In mentioning one hundred books I am only considering the number necessary to give the individual child a fair supply of reading. As a matter of fact only very small schools would find that number sufficient to go round. In large elementary schools a group of four hundred books is necessary to meet the demand, and with such a number the library should, in my opinion, be permanent, and not movable except for special cause. In schools other than ele- mentary the library is always larger, five hun- dred books or more, and being specially se- lected for each school interchanges do not take place. The question of how the cost of school li- braries can best be met is not of interest internationally. On your side the libraries can in most cases undertake the cost. With us the attempt to put the cost on the library funds leads to a breakdown because of our strictly limited rate. We have been obliged to seek a way round by asking the education board for the money, the library finding the service. This leads naturally to a joint com- mittee for administration. I mention these points because this combining of forces car- ries with it important consequences. It is not only the officers (school teachers and libra- rians) who have to come to agreement for common action but also the governing bodies. If the school authority finds the money for the establishment and upkeep, and the library authority the skilled service of its officials, then both are pledged to efficiency and con- tinuity. The inclusion in the scheme of the governing authorities brings strength and power. Such a combination gives the librarian a fixed status in the administration of the scheme, and at the same time relieves the teachers from organization work with which they are unfamiliar. The librarian ceases to be a voluntary worker in the schools, forcing books upon indifferent or unwilling teachers. He has the support of and reports regularly to the school authority, and is responsible to school and library authority alike for the efficient performance of his part. The teachers are responsible to the school au- thority. These relations established, the librarians and the teachers become fellow-workers. The building up of a system of co-operative work is comparatively easy. And if, as is the case in Cardiff, the head teachers have repre- sentation on the School Libraries Committee, there are few or no difficulties. The aim of the library work with children, so far as we have developed it, is to interest the children in the best books, to draw them away from pernicious reading by supplying what is better. We seek to turn the power to read, which is the inheritance of every child, into a channel calculated to be a bless- ing, not a curse in after life. We believe that a child started on the right road by its teach- ers during school life will continue on that road, or at any rate have a better chance. The habit of steady and thorough reading can be more readily cultivated during school life than afterwards, and the children so trained will use the larger libraries with more intelligence and profit. With us the school library is not designed to directly assist the school work. Its aim is chiefly recreative, though indirectly it is highly educative also. Teachers have told me over and over again that the reading of "penny dreadfuls" has practically ceased since the establishment of the school libraries. They also say that the written essays of the children show more grasp of a subject, a wider range of ideas, and a better vocab- ulary ; that the children who read are quicker, more intelligent, easier to teach, and brighter in disposition. They develop a better sense of humor, can see a point, and laugh more readily than children who do not read, or only read morbid trash. We believe that "the cultivation of children's taste for read- ing is among the most important influences that education can bring to bear on char- acter." ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. BOOK PRODUCTION IN GREAT BRITAIN. BY WALTER POWELL, Deputy Librarian, Birmingham Free Libraries. A PART from that great body the "general public," those concerned or interested in book production may perhaps be divided into five classes, viz.: i, The publisher; 2, The paper-maker; 3, The printer; 4, The binder; and 5, The librarian. I think it must be admitted that number 5 is the only one among them who is both interested and dis- interested. The publisher is commercially interested. The paper-maker, printer and binder are interested in their own depart- ments only, and sometimes spoil one another's work. Especially does this apply to the binder, whose destructive shears have re- moved the splendid margins from many a beautifully printed sheet of hand-made paper, with the sole object of glorifying his own art by elaborately gilding or marbling the edges. In writing on the question of "Book pro- duction in Great Britain," I have thought it best to deal with the subject under certain definite headings, and to give as far as pos- sible a collection of facts. The first section relates to the paper. Paper. In the production of a book the quality of the paper used is perhaps the most important consideration. A book may be badly printed, but it would have to be unnaturally bad to be unreadable It may be badly bound, but it can always be rebound if the paper is good enough to b^ar the stitches. If, however, the paper is bad the case is hopeless, and in a comparatively short time the book perishes beyond recovery. Shakespeare states that "there is good in everything," and there is comfort in the re- flection that bad paper sometimes does good work, by shortening the lives of books that deserve no better fate. On the other hand it is a distressing sight to see works of great value and importance printed on . inferior paper. Dr. Murray's "New English diction- ary" .(Clarendon Press) is a case in point. Better paper would have increased the al- ready enormous cost of production, but there is little doubt that those who can afford to buy the "Dictionary" would have been glad to pay the slight increase in price that this would have entailed. It is quite the fashion when discussing the quality of present-day paper to make a com- parison with the paper used in the early days of printing. This is not reasonable. The number of books produced to-day compared with the number produced in the isth and 1 6th centuries puts a proper comparison out of the question. Moreover, it is reasonable to suppose that some of the paper used in the early days of printing has perished long ago, and that the best specimens only are now ex- tant While endeavoring, however, to be as fair as possible to the paper of to-day, it must be admitted that there is some very poor stuff manufactured. The so-called "art-paper," which is largely employed for modern illus- trated works, is mostly a poor quality paper, coated with a material containing clay. It is used chiefly because it takes good impressions of half-tone illustrations. Against this ad- vantage may be set the disadvantage of its great weight and the fact that it is very try- ing to the eyes. In many cases of books printed entirely on this paper, it would be practicable to print the illustrations separately on "art" paper, and the text of the book on paper of a more suitable kind. A thick spongy paper is also very much used, par- ticularly for novels. It is an especially bad paper for public libraries, being so spongy that it will not hold the stitches, and conse- quently many books have to be replaced long before they are really dirty, because the paper will not carry the binding. This paper, not- withstanding its poor quality, is likely to hold its own on the market because it is light in weight, a fact which finds great favor with a public who give little thought to durabil- ity. In 1897 a most important inquiry into the POWELL. quality of paper produced in Great Britain was undertaken by the Society of Arts, who published in 1898 a "Report of the Committee on the Deterioration of Paper." A circular letter was addressed by the secretary of the society to paper makers, publishers, libra- rians, chemists, and artists. The following extract from the letter, which invited ex- pressions of opinion and results of expe- rience, shows the line of inquiry undertaken by the committee: "It has been brought to the notice of the Council of the Society of Arts that many books of an important character are now printed upon paper of a very perishable na- ture, so that there is considerable risk of the deterioration and even destruction of such books within a limited space of time. This is believed to be especially true of books which are in constant use for purposes of reference, and are therefore liable to much handling." The replies mostly agreed that modern pa- per does not last well, owing to the fact that it is largely made from wood-pulp instead of unbleached linen rag. The report includes a specification recommended by the committee for a "normal standard of quality for book papers required for publications of perman- ent value." How far this report has had practical re- sults I am unable to say. It is, however, in- teresting to note that a "permanent" paper has been used for a number of the recent pub- lications of the Trustees of the British Mu- seum. It is very pleasing in appearance, and not too heavy in weight, though it remains to be seen whether it will sustain what is claimed for it as regards durability. The Printing. This is a much less controversial subject than that of paper. Perhaps the most remarkable feature of modern printing is what is known as the "Revival of printing" which began with Wil- liam Morris's Kelmscott Press publications. Many imitations of these magnificent speci- mens of printing have since been issued, and while it is not my intention to attempt to make comparisons I may remark that I have heard the edition of "The Bible" issued by the Doves Press described by an eminent au- thority as "perfect." Other followers of Morris's revival have been the Vale Press, the Essex House Press, and several minor presses. I believe I am right in stating that all the publication of these presses are on hand-made paper, with large paper copies, if any, on vellum. The Binding. This stands on quite a different footing from the paper and printing, and conies nearer home to us as librarians, because while we cannot select the paper or control the print, we are often responsible for the binding. My paper is addressed to librarians and I do not, therefore, propose to seriously dis- cuss the pros and cons of publishers' cases. Perhaps, however, it would be well to remark that in Great Britain it is the custom to pub- lish books in cloth cases and not in paper wrappers as is more often done on the con- tinent. The continental system has the ad- vantage of allowing the purchaser to have a binding to his own taste put on his books, though the advantage is more apparent than real, the actual fact being that many books never get bound. The British system, though perhaps not so desirable bibliographically. certainly gives longer life to many books. It is, however, with permanent bindings and re-bindings that I propose to deal. Like the deterioration of paper, the decay of leather for bookbinding has been made the subject of a special inquiry by the Society of Arts, who published in 1901 a "Report of the Committee on Leather for Book- binding." This very thorough and comprehensive inquiry, together with the "Report on Paper" already dealt with, undoubtedly forms the most important effort to raise the standard of book production in this country that has been made. The committee, which was formed in 1900, appointed two sub-committees, the first of which was appointed to visit a number of li- braries, and to ascertain the comparative durability of the various book-binding leathers used at different periods and pre- served under different conditions. The second sub-committee was appointed to deal with the scientific side of the matter, to as- certain the cause of any deterioration noticed and if possible to suggest methods for its prevention in future. The report gives most ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. interesting and important details of the work of the two sub-committees, which, however, are too lengthy to set out here. The conclusions at which the committee itself arrived were summarized as follows: 1. They consider that the general belief that modern bookbinding leather is inferior to that formerly used is justified, and that the leather now used for binding books is less durable than that employed fifty years ago, and at previous times. They believe that there ought to be no difficulty in providing leather at the present time as good as any previously made. 2. They think that the modern methods of bookbinding are to some extent answerable for the lessened permanence of modern bind- ings. The practice of shaving down thick skins is a fruitful source of deterioration. 3. They consider that the conditions under which books are best preserved are now fairly well understood, except that the injurious effect of light on leather has not previously been appreciated. They are satisfied that gas fumes are the most injurious of all the in- fluences to which books are subjected. They consider that with proper conditions of ven- tilation, temperature, and dryness, books may be preserved without deterioration for very long periods, on open shelves, but there is no doubt that, as a general rule, tightly fit- ting glass cases conduce to their preservation. 4. The Committee have satisfied themselves that it is possible to test any leather in such a way as to guarantee its stability for book- binding. They have not come to any deci- sion as to the desirability of establishing any formal or official standard, though they con- sider that this is a point which well deserves future consideration. In addition to the work of the sub-com- mittees, a circular letter was addressed by the secretary of the Society of Arts to a number of prominent librarians who were in- vited to answer four questions. Thirty-nine replies were received as fol- lows: 1. (a) Doanyof yourleath- (a) Thirty-one replied er bookbindings "yes." Two replied show marked deteri- "no." Four were un- oration, and if so, decided. (b) What is, in your (b) Twenty-one, "gas." opinion, the cause ? Six, " bad leather." 2. What class of leather Morocco and pigskin rec- do you consider the best ommended by almost all ; for bookbinding ? cloth by six ; calf by three ; What are the conditions of your library as to lighting, heating and ventilation ? Have any regular means been taken to prevent your leather bindings from decaying, by the use of preservative ap- plication ? russia by one ; vellum by three ; bark tanned leather by one ; sealskin by one (a member of the Commit" tee) ; persian recommended by one and condemned by one. Twenty-eight now use elec- tric light where gas was formerly used ; hot water and open fires generally used ; ventilation good in twenty cases. Twenty-five have not used regular means; four used vaseline ; two used cuirine ; one (a member of the Com- mittee) used furniture pol- ish. At a meeting of the Library Association in January last, however, Dr. J. Gordon Par- ker, director of the London Technical School of Leather Manufacture, read a paper on "The manufacture of bookbinding leathers." At the next meeting of the Council of the Li- brary Association, a committee was appointed to report on the advisability of publishing Dr. Parker's paper in a separate form, with cer- tain additional information. At the sugges- tion of this committee the Council appointed Dr. Parker examiner in leather to the As- sociation, the object being that members of the Association should be able to obtain reports on binding leathers from Dr. Parker at a reduced charge. The Sound Leather Committee as it is called is still at work, and it is to be hoped that the practical out- come of these inquiries and reports may be the production of sound bookbinding leathers without the objection of too great an in- crease in cost. Methods of Publication. It is not necessary under this heading to say anything of books issued in the ordinary way through a publisher of repute, and sold through the booksellers. There is, however, a practice, which I regret to say is extend- ing, of publishing from certain houses books which are not obtainable through the trade, but are only to be had direct from the pub- lisher or his representative. There does not POWELL. 53 seem to be any reason why such a system should find favor. The books published in this way are seldom of a very high standard, and owe their success, as far as they have it, to their popular subjects. To librarians, the gentlemen (and latterly ladies also) whose calling in life is to advertise these works, are, to say the least of it, a nuisance. They can demonstrate with great volubility that the "Encyclopaedia" issued by their firm in four volumes at S/- each contains far more than the "Encyclopaedia Britannica," and that the information is much more reliable. No doubt some of the books issued in this way are readable, but there is little doubt that any original work likely to be of permanent value or interest will be able to find a publisher through the ordinary channels. The system of book-production, or perhaps more properly book-distribution, recently in- troduced by The Times and taken up by other great newspapers, and various pub- lishers of high standing, is quite a different matter. This is the method of "payment by instalments," and whatever one's private feelings in reference to the instalment sys- tem under any circumstances may be, there is no doubt that the innovation has resulted in many comparatively poor people having become the possessors of expensive works, which under ordinary circumstances would have been quite beyond their reach. Many thousands of copies of the "Encyclopaedia Britannica" have been distributed by this method, and among other standard works offered for sale in this way have been the "Dictionary of national biography," 66 vols., Grove's "Dictionary of music." 4 vols., Mor- ley's "Life of Gladstone," 3 vols., "The En- cyclopaedia of names," and others. Price. The chief question agitating the book world at present, so far as librarians are concerned, is that of price. A few years ago practically all books were subject to a discount of 25% to the public, and anything from 25% to 40% to libraries. During the last few years, however, the great publishing houses have mutually agreed to fix net prices at which their publications are offered for sale. Al- most all books except works of fiction are now published "net." As a result, libraries which spend hundreds of thousands of pounds a year on books get no better terms than individuals who spend as many pence. Librarians somewhat naturally contend that this is not fair, and not on a parallel with terms in other trades, where discounts vary in proportion to the amount of business done. Up to the present, however, the pub- lishers stand firm or obstinate. Undoubted- ly they are losing a certain amount of cus- tom, as many books are being waited for until they get into the second-hand market that would be bought new if a small reduction were made. It is only reasonable to suppose, however, that the publishers are quite aware of this and consider that the loss is counter- balanced by the gain. The Library Associa- tion has discussed the question more than once, and has endeavored to come to some agreement with publishers, but so far vainly. A proposal at a recent monthly meeting for co-operative book-buying has re- sulted in the appointment of a standing Com- mittee on Book-Production, whose object is not merely to consider the net book ques- tion, but "to watch over all points connected with book-production, in regard to the methods of issue, prices, bibliographical de- tails, binding, etc., and to obtain, if possible, the co-operation of American and European societies of similar character." Fashions and "Crazes'' In the book world as in all things there is a constant succession of ''fashions." The five or six volume novel of the i8th century gave way to the three volume novel of the iQth century. In the last decade of that cen- tury, the three volume novel gave way to the one volume novel at six shillings, and this will apparently have hard work to hold its own against the three-and-sixpenny or even sixpenny novel of the near future. In the i8th and early IQth centuries, many volumes of biography and poetry were is- sued in handsome quarto volumes. To-day such volumes in these classes are practically unknown. Perhaps the most notable feature to-day 54 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. is the large number of expensive "series" and cheap "series." As typical examples of the expensive sets may be mentioned "Goupil's historical series" which appears to find a ready sale at 63/- net a volume, unbound; "Historical monograph*'' of which the first volume has just been is- sued at 42/- net; "The Victoria history of the counties of England" of which about 10 volumes have been issued at one guinea and a half net a volume, (this great undertaking is to be completed in 160 volumes costing 240) ; and others. The cheap series are naturally much more numerous, and quite one of the features of modern book production is the large number of classical works that can be had in a com- pact, neat, handy form, in a cloth binding for a very small sum. The fashion in this direc- tion was begun by Messrs. Dent & Co., with their Temple Classics and so great was the success of these charming little volumes, which are publihed in cloth at 1/6 net and lambskin at 2/-net, that imitations galore followed within a very short time. Methuen's "Little library," Newnes's "Thin-paper series," Nelson's "New century library," "The unit library" (the prices of which are fixed by the number of sheets the volumes contain), Grant Richards's "World's classics," a wonderful series at i/- net a volume, and "Cassell's national library" at 6d net a vol- ume, are some of the most popular of these cheap series.. In addition to these "series," which are all duodecimo volumes in cloth cases, many hun- dreds of standard works can now be had in paper covers at 6d. A sixpenny book is no new fashion, but whereas the works formerly published in this way were almost entirely fiction not of the highest quality many standard works of fiction are now to be had, and in addition a large number of important works of general literature by such writers as Newman, Huxley, Matthew Arnold, Clodd, and others. A recent innovation in the publishing world is the system, introduced by Messrs. A. & C. Black, of including in their publica- tions reproductions in color of illustrations by eminent artists. Some of the works issued in this way are very beautiful and have met with a well deserved success. Statistics. No doubt the subject would be incomplete without a reference to statistics. The follow- ing table, taken from the Publishers' Circular for January 2, 1904, gives a comparative statement of the books issued in the years 1902 and 1903. Divisions 1902 1903 || > OT3 H * Theology, Sermons, Biblical, etc.. . Educational, Classical, and Phi- 567 81 639 63 5O4 68 650 OH Novels, Tales, and Juvenile Works 727 I,8,S9 801 Law, Jurisprudence, etc 88 46 57 3 Political and Social Economy, Trade and Commerce 4 6^ 130 509 100 Arts, Science, and Illustrated Works 420 44 413 32 Voyages, Travels, Geographical Research 162 38 172 34 H istory, Biography, etc 480 57 482 9 1 Poetry and the Drama 272 4 o8 76 33 457 88 Year-Books and Serials in Volumes Medicine, Surgery, etc '53 84 187 95 Belles-Lettres, Essays, Mono- 227 44 147 284 687 319 Miscellaneous, including Pamph- lets, not Sermons ^ 6,699 1,682 5,839 6,699 7,38i 8,381 Statistics can be made to prove anything. An American writer, Dr. E. C. Richardson, has made a justifiable protest against the method adopted in some countries of in- cluding in such summaries as the above all pamphlets and parts of books and magazines, the numbers thus obtained giving an entirely false idea for purposes of comparison of the book production of various nations. I believe the above table to be a bona fide state- ment of the number of actual books produced in this country, and if statements compiled on the same lines were available for all countries, there is little doubt that Great Brit- ain and America would be found to be the leading nations in the matter of "Book-pro- duction." CHILOVI. 55 SOME PENDING MATTERS OF IMPORTANCE. A COMMUNICATION FROM DESIDERIO CHILOVI, Librarian Biblioteca Nasionale Centrale di Firense. To Mr. Herbert Putnam: T REGRET to have delayed so long in re- sponding to the courteous letter with which you have honored me. I had hoped that my health would improve sufficiently to enable me to attend the International Congress of Librarians, about to meet in St. Louis. But it is now only too evident that I shall be unable to undertake the jour- ney, greatly as I desire to do so, and with much regret I find myself obliged to renounce the great pleasure of seeing you again, and of making the personal acquaintance of many ,iibrarian!s whom I have always esteemed most highly, as also that of seeing in prac- tical operation the taws governing American libraries. . . . You will, I trust, permit an old Italian librarian to state what, in his opinion and according to his most earnest desire, this Congress of Librarians which is to meet in America should accomplish. Assuredly the study and knowledge of the history, present condition and administration of libraries of different nations is of great importance: and even more so is an acquaintance with the special function of each library in the general plan of national education whether assigned by the government or not. Thus the mere comparison of the amounts granted to vari- ous libraries, and of the methods pursued by them, would be useful. But since, as you have stated, all this may be learned through printed papers, it would seem to me to be very desirable that on this occasion all themes dealt with in the public discussions should be international in character; for that which is most urgent, and yet most difficult of accomplishment, is to bring the librarians of the various coun- tries into accord upon certain questions. The special conditions existing in the libraries of any nation may be examined with ease and discussed to advantage by the librarians of that country in their own conferences, as is done each year with such good results by the American Library Association. On the other hand, if one of the foreign librarians, taking part in the Congress, should wish to make his memoir more widely known or to present a proposition which in his judgment would be useful, I should concede that he might have printed copies of his paper dis- tributed among the members of the Congress, as an homage to that body, but upon the condition that it should not be read or dis- cussed unless bearing upon some subject which should come within the scope of the program as planned by the Executive Board. Thus if my health should permit, I myself would take advantage of this occasion to send you a printed memoir upon a subject which is not of international interest, and which for this reason does not need the approval of the entire body. If those libra- rians who judged it useful for their own institutions should accept its suggestions, its purpose would be accomplished. The educational congresses in Europe (namely at London and at Paris) did not greatly further the international relations of libraries. The French do not accept with cordiality the propositions made by the Ger- mans; the Germans value little those of the French; the English confine themselves to their own libraries, which are very different from ours. The international congress convened in free America will find there a land friendly to all and, what is of great importance, one which offers splendid examples worthy of imitation and study. Now I believe that if you will announce with the authority which you possess because of your official position, and still more, by reason of the innovations which in so short a time you have succeeded in introducing in the Library of Congress, if you will an- nounce, I say, in the name of the American Library Association that the Congress about to meet shall deal exclusively with the inter- ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. national relations of the great libraries of the world, and the assistance which they should render to the common cause as well as to the smaller libraries, I firmly believe that this Congress will be forever remembered as making an advance in civilization, not only in the study of bibliography, but also in that of the administration of libraries. In the field of our own study and activities, the subjects which might be discussed and acted upon are numerous. To enumerate these subjects is easy; to choose among them is not so easy. The most difficult of all is the introduction of a univer- sally accepted symbol to indicate and explain the meaning of an inappropriate, capricious, ambiguous or fantastic title, even to one who does not understand the language in which the book is written. It is of little use to read in a catalog the title of a book when it is not possible to judge from that title of what sub- ject the book treats. And here it seems to me, and I have said as much publicly, that the symbol, or classification number of the Dewey decimal system would serve best as an international symbol, leaving full liberty to each librarian to use his own system in the systematic arrangement of his literary stores and in his own catalogs. The international symbol, or classification number, as I regard it, will be merely a means of indicating to all librarians the contents of a book, even if written in Chinese. The numerical symbol adopted by the Royal Society of London does not answer this purpose; for among other reasons it does not embrace the whole field of knowledge, and it does not show in what form the author -presents his book. Be it one system or another, what is im- portant is that in co-operative card catalogs, 'bibliographies, etc., the character of each book should be indicated by a symbol or clas- sification number universally understood. It is furthermore advisable that the Con- gress should recommend the custom of send- ing with each book a printed slip and also, as is done by the Royal Society of London, the R. Institute Lombardo in Milan, etc., of giving the corresponding slips with the lists of titles of the memoirs which appear in the publications of learned societies and in library and scientific reviews. Each of these printed slips should have its respective clas- sification number. How much more useful the titles of the university theses printed in Berlin, Paris and elsewhere would be if they bore a symbol which would make clear to all, librarians as well as students, the subject discussed in each thesis ! As it is, every library is obliged to examine for itself each of these titles, often with great difficulty and at an enormous loss of time. The Congress should also urge upon the governments there represented to send such printed slips with all publications issued or subsidized by them. This would be similar to the work undertaken by the International Congress in London to collect the necesary material and publish a catalog of scientific literature. It is impossible to estimate how much such arrangements would facilitate co- operative work in bibliography and of how much more use such works would be to li- braries and to students. As proof of this I would cite the bibilographic publications of the International Institute in Brussels. The compilation of an approved list of abbreviations in various languages to be used in bibliographical works would also be a work of great value. Furthermore, arrangements should be made to establish a form of correspondence to be adopted and practice to be followed by the great libraries in order to facilitate biblio- graphic research, and information as to the li- brary in which any desired book may be found. Better provisions should be made for in- ternational interchange; but that is not enough. It will be necessary to find new methods of furthering this interchange in order to make international loaning easier and to bring about what the Germans call transmarine exchange to the fullest possible extent, not only of manuscripts and of rare books, but also, in cases of recognized neces- sity, of ordinary books, or, to express it bet- ter and more clearly, of books which are ordi- nary in one country whereas in another they are not to be found at all. Ways and means should be sought by which a great library may aid those of other nations in the choice and in the acquisition of the books best adapted to represent in dis- tant countries the literary and scientific prog- ress of its own country, etc., etc. And now one more consideration. How much more successful would this BIAGI. 57 Congress be, and how much more productive of results for us Europeans, if each subject of international character should be examined by prominent American librarians, and if their papers should be printed and distributed. They would form a publication similar to the report on the history, conditions and man- agement of American libraries, published at Washington in 1876, by the Bureau of Edu- cation. These memoirs, read by all before the opening of the Congress, would aid and guide public discussion, having been written under the restrictions previously agreed upon. In answer to your question concerning the new building for our library, I can, as yet, say nothing definite, because the second com- petition in which twelve Italian architects are entered, remains open to December 31 of the current year. The library will be built on the place mentioned, near Santa Croce, the Pantheon of the great Italians. It will have in the arrangement of the interior some entirely new features. Among these is that the hall for the distribution of books will be the center of the library. There will be spe- cial reading rooms for manuscripts, periodi- cals, etc. There will be "la sala dei reparti," which does not exist in any other library and does not even appear in my original project of 1892. It will be a success, I am confident, and well adapted for administrative purposes. Students will find rooms reserved for bib- liographical research : the large rooms for the catalog of books in our possession, and others for catalog and cards merely for con- sultation. The material for this has been in preparation for some time. Moreover, in the new library, the Archives of Italian literature (at the present 500,000 letters) will have a worthy place. There will be a bibliographical museum; two monuments, one in honor of Dante, and the other in honor of Galileo, etc., etc. And now, thanking you once more for your honorable invitation, I conclude by predicting that the Congress about to meet will leave an indelible trace as regards its interna- tional usefulness. I also predict that every librarian in leaving hospitable America will feel tied to all the other librarians by the bond of intelligent and cordial fraternity, and will depart with the desire and purpose of rendering mutual aid. Thus alone will he be able to make his own library more efficient and more useful to the student; for the book is the open letter which moves, main- tains and brings to perfection an exchange of ideas, sentiments and purposes, bristling with life between people different by nature and circumstances. A NOTE ON ITALIAN LIBRARY AFFAIRS. By DR. GUIDO BIAGI, Biblioteca Mediceo-Laurenziana, Florence, Italy. TV/I" Y friend Chilovi, the dean of our Italian librarians and the head of the most important national library in Italy, the Na- zionale Centrale of Florence (formerly Mag- liabecchiana) my friend Chilovi, a pioneer of all library improvements, and myself were both requested to present to this conference papers on the library situation in Italy. But we have both imitated the example of the famous preacher, who had only one pet sermon in his stock one on confession. This preacher being summoned on a certain occasion to speak in honor of St. Joseph, be- gan with the words: "St. Joseph was a car- penter, and in this quality should have made confessionals. Therefore I will speak to you of the confession." And cur "confession" will be this: That it is preferable to write about international li- brary congresses, as my friend Chilovi has done with his unwearied enthusiasm, or to speak of some peculiar features of Italian li- brary work, as I propose to do, than to write upon the library situation in Italy. In the life of nations, as well as in that of individuals, there are days and years which in the book of the memory should be marked out with a black scratch. These are the periods of sore disease, when we feel discouraged, depresssd, abated, weak; when the heat of fever throbs in our veins, when the times of crisis come for the fate of a patient. The fire of the 26th January in the ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. National Library of Turin, the tremendous misfortune which deprived us of so many glorious treasures of culture, and which ought to have revealed the imminent dangers with which the ancient libraries are threatened that fire was the fever fortunately followed by a beneficial crisis. The alarm was given and the government, the parliament and the citizens began to seek for the dangers and for the remedies. An inquiry was made to learn the real conditions of the 31 other pub- lic libraries of the government, including university libraries, and the result was that no one of them could be considered thor- oughly safe from harm. Then an act was presented by the government to the parlia- ment, at the end of June, in order to have a special fund for rebuilding some parts of the destroyed library, and for preventing the dangers of fire in the other royal libraties and in the national archives, where are preserved the documents of our history and art. The Hon. P. Boselli wrote on that occasion an admirable report in which the most important questions concerning the libraries are pointed out and examined, and made a motion, adopted by the government, to cover by a special law all the library field. When the law is carried out, I trust that the whole mat- ter will be settled in a definite way, so that we may look with firm security to our glo- rious collections, and with cheterful con- fidence to the future results of the educational public library to be established by the same act. As this is a peculiar feature of our present library work, we need a classification of libraries ; we need the help of such public libraries as those started first in England in 1850 under the Ewart Act, which in this country have found such a favorable soil for growth. Our government libraries, a few ex- cepted, are obliged to accomplish a double task to be a laboratory for scholarly work, and at the same time to be an educational library for young students. And this double task is to be accomplished with the same stock, so that a pupil of a secondary school may have at home for his school work a val- uable edition of a classic, lent by the library; so that a girl of a high school can read for the first time a Shakespearean drama in a valuable edition with precious engravings in the original English binding of the i8th cen- tury. All this, I fancy, will appear rather ex- traordinary to you ; but it is the natural result of the extreme freedom of our regulations about lending books and manuscripts, with- out any fee or material guarantee. Every- body who has in Italy an official position is entitled to the loan of five books from a government library; and in some towns where as in Rome there are seven li- braries, a single person can get 35 books with- out any expense. And the same persons can sign a guaranty for outsiders ; and each of these is entitled to a loan of three books from every library, always without any expense. Moreover the government libraries, united under the same rules, interchange with all institutions of public instruction, with one another and with several town and provincial libraries, with free postage; so that books and manuscripts journey from one end to the other of the peninsula, from Palermo to Venice, without any expense to those who use them, and the different libraries of the king- dom become, in this way, one single library. As you see, our libraries do their best for the public, without any requital. The time is coming when the nation ought to do some- thing more for her libraries. The desired law must consider all kinds of libraries not only those ruled by the government; we have town libraries, provincial libraries, libra- ries in monasteries and in chapters, libraries supported by private associations, by insti- tutes; they are all scattered here and there, on the top of our Alps and Appenines in a silent convent, with battlemented walls in the churchyard of one of those artistic cathedrals where every stone speaks a gloomy story of the past they are all the patrimony of the nation, like our pictures and statuary, like our art treasures. Speed the day when they may be considered by our people, and by our rulers, more precious than the mil- lions of the treasury, than the dirty bills of the national banks ! However, a great step forward was made when the motion for a library law was adopted by the Italian Government, and let us hope that in the next International Li- brary Conference we may be able to talk to- gether about the law and its good results. BIAGI. 59 In the meantime, it will be useful to ex- amine what we are doing, both on the educa- tional and on the scholarly side. The trav- elling libraries have found a patron in the Ministry of Agriculture, Industry and Com- merce in Rome, where a special department is devoted to this undertaking The wood- cases, with a selected collection of useful books, carry far away to the most remote towns and villages the benefit of instruction and education. You may be proud of this result; you can repeat with Milton: "I gave, thou sayest, the example, I led the way." The popular lending libraries, founded forty years ago by Antonio Bruni, and after- wards neglected, have now a new and vig- orous revival, because we have now new and vigorous allies, the women; and one of them, Countess Maria Pasolini, must here be men- tioned not only as the founder and the sup- porter of two lending libraries in Ravenna and in Peargamo, but as an apostle, a con- vinced and convincing one, of the best read- ing, who reads and illustrates with critical notes the books bought and presented. We have the emigrants' libraries collected and presented by the Dante Alighieri Society, an institution for the promotion of Italian language, to the ships where the emigrants are crowded in the steerage, to help their first steps in the new life of hope and labor. On the other side, the scholarly one, much more has been done. Bibliographical re- search is now more easy, and fresh and important material of information is daily gathered by our scholarly society, by our pro- fessors of the university and secondary schools and by our students. The theses presented every year for a diploma or degree in our universities, are full of up-to-date ma- terial, collected with patient diligence and with admirable skill. Our scientific methods, learned in Germany, are serious and by our practical results justified. Guglielmo Marconi has justified his master, the professor of the Bologna University. Augusto Righi. Alfredo Trombetti, a self-made philologist, has scien- tifically established the affinity of all the lan- guages of the world, and the results of a decade of laborious work have been recog- nized by the highest German authority. The libraries are also with us th,e labora- tories of science; and librarianship is now considered as a profession, no longer as a pastime or a sinecure. I hope to start this year in Florence an international library school, for the study of ancient culture and of Amer- ican improvements, in a friendly exchange of mutual aids. We reproduce our most precious manuscripts, like the Pandects of Justinian, the two Laurentian Tacitus, the Venetian Homer and Aristophanes, the Laur- entian Aeschylus for the benefit of scholars abroad; and we would be willing to repro- duce and perpetuate in the same way all our archetypes if some Carnegie would support the material expense; we would also send to you the bulk, the iuice of the ancient knowl- edge, if you can find a patron for this grand undertaking. If you like culture and learning, you may aid us in these enterprises. You cannot limit your work to the modern output only, you must go farther and take some interest in the sources of our modern culture. Leaining is a very ancient pedigree, of which you should know the ancestors, the trunk and thr roots. And now let me have the honor of pre- senting to the A. L. A. on behalf of the two editors, Giosue Carducci, our great Italian poet, and Vittorio Fiorini, his learned pupil, a copy of the new edition of the Rerum Itali- carum Scriptores of Muratori, critically re- vised and completed. What the value of the Muratori collection is does not need to be stated to an audience of librarians. All the history of the Middle Ages, as in Monu- menta Germanics, is gathered in these vol- umes. A new edition adequate to the modern needs of science was necessary, and the parts hitherto published prove that this admirable undertaking could not be better performed. Giosue Carducci and Vittorio Fiorini deserve the praise of your American scholars, as they deserved that of the International Historical Congress of Rome in April, 1903. But these two words International Con- gress remind me of an important plan which must be carried out before this Conference is over. You all remember the powerful and eloquent speech of that great Kentucky man, President Francis, who gave us his hearty welcome. Since I tame here, I have had several times the privilege of hearing Governor Francis on the stand, and each time I applauded not only 6o ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. his eloquence, but the practical appropriate- ness of his views. Last Monday he proposed an International Library Association, and he anticipated that this might be the result of the international character of this World's Fair. I think that an International Federa- tion of Library Associations and of Biblio- graphical Societies, which are substantially the same, should be established here, with the co-operation of all the foreign delegates. This is the right moment, it seems to me. We have assisted at the birth of the Biblio- graphical Society of America, why cannot we also assist at another baptism, with Governor Francis as godfather? There are many international questions which cannot be resolved in these rare con- gresses, and which deserve a continuous prep- aration and care. Such a federation would constitute a strong and powerful organization, worthy of consideration and respect. There are leagues of tradesmen, why not a league of learned men, for the benefit of science and mankind ? THE ORGANIZATION OF STATE SUPPORTED LIBRARIES IN NORWAY. BY HAAKON NYHUUS, Librarian Det Deichmanske, Bibliothek, Christiania, Norway. TV/T Y limited time will not permit me to *** enter extensively into the library his- tory of Norway. And yet much could be said on that subject. A century ago representa- tives of enlightened rationalism, then in vogue all over Europe, endeavored to start small parochial libraries for the benefit of the peo- ple in the thinly populated country districts, suffering from the effects of hard times and unfortunate wars. Anyone, who would take the trouble of studying this subject, would certainly be impressed with the sight of a people hungering, physically and mentally, for lack of food and books. The difficulties which the Norwegians of a century ago had to contend with can hardly be conceived by a man of to-day, surrounded as he is with books, overfed with printed matter. At that time there were few books in the homes of the average citizens ; now almost all homes have their bookcase. If I could lay before you the literary output of Norway during the first 30 years of the iQth century, it would be clearly understood that there were not enough books published in the country to furnish libraries. The Patriotic Society of Norway (Sels- kabet for Norgesvel) in 1838 issued a catalog of best books for parochial libraries, a pamphlet of 16 pages in I2mo., containing a list of about 80 books and pamphlets. Many, if not most, of them were not suited for the purpose. How these early libraries of Norway could fill their mission and do the work they really did is indeed astonishing. They were libraries without books and with- out librarians. The municipal reform of 1837, which brought self-government to the Norwegian municipalities, forced the farmer to read in order to enable him to take part in politics. And it was not long before the Storting was asked to grant money for the estab- lishment of rural libraries. Already in 1836 it was moved that the Storting should grant $25 to each school district for the purchase of books for public use. The motion did not pass, however, but 5 years later the Storting voted $2000 for the establishment of such libraries. During the following 30 years the Storting granted about $6000. From 1876 the budget of Norway has always made some provision for the support of libraries. Start- ing with $2000 the amount has now reached $6000 a year. The amount granted to any one library does not exceed $54 (200 kroner). For many years the Education Department limited its library efforts to the disbursement of said appropriation. But in 1901 the Minis- ter of Education requested Mr. Karl Fischer of the University Library of Kristiania, Mr. Heiberg, chief of Bureau in the Education Department, and myself to form a library committee to plan a new organization for the state supported libraries. In the same year we submitted to the department our report : "Public libraries in Norway." Next year I entered the service of the department to carry out the plans of the library committee. The problem laid before the committee was NYHUUS. 6l not easily solved. Norway had about 750 mostly small libraries scattered all over the country from North Cape to Lindesnes, a distance of about 900 miles. The librarians had no training. We had no library schools. We had no handbooks in library economy. It seemed almost a hopeless case. If we could have expected to get an appropriation, we should certainly have advised the depart- ment to start a library school, to send out library organizers, to publish handbooks. But the prosperous times which we had en- joyed for several years came to a sudden end in 1901, and we had to give up any plan that would cost money. So we took up the question of co-opera- tion. If we could consolidate all the 75 libraries into one library association, would not that give us strength and make the work easier? The more closely we followed the idea of co-operation, the more clearly we saw that this was the only solution for us. We went to the publishers and told them about our plans. The state-supported libra- ries of Norway had consolidated themselves into one union of 750 members. Were the publishers willing to give 20-25% discount on their books? They could expect to sell books for $10,000 or more a year. The Edu- cation Department would issue a catalog of the books selected. No other agency in the country would furnish a demand for books to equal that of the library ring. The cata- log would be a good advertisement. The li- braries would stop buying second-hand books, if they could get new copies at reasonable prices. I do not know if the American pub- lishers have the same difficulties to struggle with as their European brethren have. Copies given to papers and journals, and prominent citizens, and well-known reviewers, are thrown on the market in one way or another. One copy given away is a copy less sold. When the librarians go to the second-hand shops they do not buy according to carefully made-up lists, but they are tempted to 4 .ake what they find on the counter and books sold at a bargain. But our aim was to stop buying books in such ways We liked to induce the libraries to buy new and clean copies of good books. In order to give a selection of the best Nor- wegian books the Education Department asked the good services of a score of well- known literary and scientific men. Every one consented to do his share of the work. I think it speaks highly of the interest for public education in Norway that so many busy, scientific men and captains of industry volunteered to serve. As we intended to make it a condition tor state support that the books bought with pub- lic money should be selected from the catalog of the Department, it must necessarily cover a wide field. The books selected should be there in sufficient number, and the different views should be represented. The only con- dition sine qua non should be that the books should be worth reading. To my share fell the task of collecting the material for the literary advisers. As soon as possible I laid before them lists of books in their different departments. When the material was returned it was found that about 3000 books were accepted; about 1200 were works of fiction, about 700 were non-fictional books. At once I went to work preparing the catalog. After some hesitation I decided to use the Decimal system of Dr. Dewey. I had hoped that a new edition would have ap- peared, amended, altered, revised. But, I am sorry to say, no such edition came, and I had to use the old carriage with its ten wheels, some of which are a little loose and shaky from wear and tear. So it happened that 750 libraries in Norway in the course of time probably will be class- ified according to the system of Dr. Dewey. Our plan i"s that all the state-supported li- braries should use the numbers, which they find in the catalog issued by the Education Department. And we intend every year by the ist of April to issue a supplement to the catalog, containing the books which have been published in the course of the year, recorded and cataloged according to the rules once laid down. To guard against abuse all orders for books must be issued in duplicate, one copy to be sent to the bookseller, the other to the department. The booksellers send, the books ordered to a bindery controlled by the Department, where they are bound in a uniform cloth binding. The cover used is called granitol, made in Germany. The inside cover is spe- cially designed for the state-supported libra- ries. Every book has an ex-libris, book-card and pocket. The number of the book, its au- 62 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. thor and title are printed on a paper label. Some libraries pay extra for gilding. But the great majority use the ordinary binding, which costs 0.40 kr. (n cents) a volume re- gardless of size. In this way the libraries receive their books ready for the shelves. The bound volumes are neatly wrapped up in the bindery and sent free of charge by mail as public business. When checked by the librarians they are ready for use. Our system of co-operation does not stop here. We keep the main catalog and supple- ments in type and on demand make finding lists for the different libraries. So far we have printed 15 catalogs containing from 200 to 3000 books. Printing is rather expensiv in Norway, and the means of the libraries are very limited indeed. But in this way we hope that a great many libraries will get their own catalogs. In a city library you can get along very well with a card catalog and open shelves. But in sparely populated country districts it is of great value to have inex- pensive finding lists to spread all over the field. Our libraries certainly have many books which are not found in the catalog of the Department. This is one of the drawbacks of our system. But we do the best we can to get over this difficulty. Libraries with a stock of old and obsolete books are advised to put them aside as a special collection. Their current books, if not already in our catalogs, are classified and cataloged, but not printed, free of charge, when they or- der a separate catalog. In this way the number of books cataloged is constantly in- creasing. The card catalog of the Education Department will be more complete and one day it will probably cover all the literature found in small and medium sized Norwegian libraries. From the start we have sold printed cards at the moderate price of 3 ore. (not fully i cent) apiece, the cards being also printed from the type of our catalogs. So far we have not dared to enter into subject work, but the day may not be so far off when we are going to issue a circular of information regarding dictionary cataloging. But we have to work our way slowly forward. Just before I left Norway I examined the first annual reports for 1903 which each li- brary has to submit to the department with the application for state support. The city libraries have all the way from one to seven issues a volume. The public library of Tron- dhjem is leading. It has 13,000 books and 100,000 issues. It is organized and managed by Miss Martha Larsen, formerly of the New York State Library School in Albany and Deichmanske Bibliothek. The country li- braries have from one to three issues a vol- ume. The Department will probably refuse to support libraries which do not reach two to five issues a volume in the towns and one issue a volume in the country, or it will give them time to reach those figures. It is very difficult indeed to outline the future of the library movement in Norway. But I hope that we shall never give up the idea of co-operation. One of my favorite dreams is that one day all the state-supported public libraries in Norway shall use the same classification and the same lending system, that one central bureau shall do their catalog- ing, and that they all shall receive their books ready for the shelves. Our system may not prove so practical as we now have reason to hope. An actual test may show that the scheme looked better on paper than in real life. But even if it should go down it will have done much good in arousing library interest in our country. I see very plainly that there are too many libraries in the world, which do the same work over and over again. Many small li- braries are struggling hard with small results, when one expert should do the work. The finest cataloging, classification and indexing can only be done by experts. The same rules which govern the industrial world will pretty soon come down upon us. Each country will make use of a few high salaried experts, in a central or national library, and the great number of library workers will simply avail themselves of their efforts. And thus expert work can be within the reach of every li- brary in the land for the benefit of all its people. The library organization of Norway owes very much to American experts and to Amer- ican library progress in general. I think it would make all of you feel well pleased to see a small library under the polar circle using the latest American lending system. In our business we do not need to look upon each S TEEN BERG. other with anxious eyes, trembling that some- body might have stolen our latest patent. Any one of us who has been fortunate enough to do something to shorten the way between the book and an interested reader will be delighted to see his system and ideas copied and used. I admit and recognize with the greatest pleasure the influence of the American li- brary movement on our efforts in far away Norway. And in the name of the Norwegian state supported libraries I tender the Amer- ican librarians, who are here so prominently represented, our sincere thanks. RECENT PROGRESS IN THE POPULAR LIBRARIES OF DENMARK AND THEIR PRESENT CONDITIONS. BY ANDR. SCH. STEENBERG, Horsens, Denmark. "pOR understanding the place of the Danish popular libraries, "Folkebogsamlinger" (people's libraries), it is necessary to keep in mind that until now there has not been anything in Denmark which can be compared with the free public libraries of the English speaking nations. The difference between these free libraries and the Danish libraries for the sake of brevity "libraries" in this article means popular libraries will easily be understood from the fact that nearly all the Danish libraries are without a reading room. They give out books for home-reading and these books for the most part (75 per cent, and more) are fiction. They are open only a few hours every week and have no trained librarians. In 1885 an inquiry was made of the condi- tions of the popular libraries. The results were published in 1889.* Of the 1697 parishes in Denmark 1068 had libraries; some exten- sive parishes had more than one. 318 of them were the property of the municipality, the other of reading associations; out of these, 105 received a small grant from the munici- pality. A further inquiry into the materials on which this report was founded, shows that the larger part of those libraries was very small; they contained only a few hundred volumes, some of them less, and had often not more than 8-10 borrowers. They de- pended for their existence on the interest taken by a single person (generally the teach- er.) Such libraries had of course but little vitality and resisting power. * Beretning fra Komiteen til Understottelse af Sogne-og lignende Bogsamlinger om Sogne-og Sko- iebog-samlinger, printed in Ministerialtidende. B 3889, Nr. 37, p. 915-19. For several reasons among them the vehement political struggle in the eighties and nineties the interest in the libraries was diminishing more and more. And when about the beginning of this century a new effort was made for bringing the libraries more forward in the public mind and giving them a more advanced position in the educa- tional work, it turned out that a great part of the libraries had perished. So heavy had the mortality been that even now, after eager work for the promotion of the libraries, the number of libraries cannot be more than half of the number recorded in 1885. The present situation, it must be understood, is for the most part the result of only a few years' work. What has been said here will apply mainly to the country. In the towns it was in earlier times the social clubs which had small li- braries (very often only fiction) for the use of their members. The last few years have seen the libraries advancing, though at a very slow pace. New libraries have been founded in the country, old ones have risen from the dead and the municipalities have begun to understand that the libraries ought to be supported. In the towns there has been progress also; 47 of the 77 towns have now got public libraries pos- sessed or supported by the municipality. The government works for supporting and or- ganizing the libraries. And one of the most important advances is the fact that teachers and others have begun to ponder whether the schools teach their pupils in the proper way the difficult art of reading, and they begin to understand that the lack of good and well used libraries tells of a standard of education 6 4 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. that has several defects in comparison with the education of some other nations. The popular libraries in Denmark can be grouped in three divisions the libraries in Copenhagen and the town Frederiksberg (lying close to Copenhagen), the libraries of the towns, and the village libraries.* The largest of the popular libraries in Copenhagen ( c. 400,000 inhabitants) is "The People's Libraries of the Municipality of Copenhagen" (Kobenhavns Kommunes Folke- biblioteker), founded in 1885. They contain seven libraries. The budget is c. $11,000, of which $5400 are spent by the municipality. They have a total of 45,000 volumes. In 1903 they received 3094 new books, of which 2191 were duplicates or books replacing worn out ones. The libraries are open five week days from 7-9 p. m. They are intended for the use of people only fairly well off. 70 per cent, of the borrowers belonged to this class; 24 per cent, were women. The borrowers pay 4 c. every month. Their number was 6000 on an average every month. 366,096 volumes were given out (on an average 60 volumes to every borrower, every book given out 8 times, every loan costs c. 2j^ c.) Three of the libraries had reading rooms, opened week days from 7-10 p. m. and Sundays from 5-10 p. m. ; they have been visited about 11,000 times. In these libraries has been incorporated the People's Library of the suburb Valby, which had 100 borrowers every month and gave out 12,000 volumes. "The People's Libraries of the Municipality of Frederiksberg" (Frederiksberg Kommunes Folkebiblioteker. Frederiksberg has c. 80,- ooo inhabitants) were founded in 1887. There are three libraries. Their budget is $2000, of which the municipality pays $1100. The li- braries contain 10,800 volumes. They are open 9 months of the year, i l / 2 hours 4-5 times every week. The borrowers pay as in Copen- hagen; they numbered in 1902-3 1152 on an average every month. They come from the same classes as in Copenhagen ; 71 per cent, were men. 73,000 volumes were given out (on an average 63 volumes to every borrower, * In the following report the informations are based on library reports for 1903 or 1903-4, when not otherwise stated. every book given out 7 times ; every loan- costs 2 c.) There are no reading rooms. Besides these municipal libraries there are in Copenhagen many libraries founded by societies. Some of the most important are mentioned here. The Women's Reading Society (Kvindelig Laeseforening) was founded in 1872. Five ladies form the governing committee. The budget is $6000 ($540 grant from the gov- ernment). The staff has n persons, all ladies. The subscription is $2.70 a year. There were in 1902-3 12,700 members. The lending library contains 25,000 volumes ; it is open 11-4 and 6-8 p. m. ; the classification is a modified form of the Dewey classification ; the charging system is by book cards. 109,190 volumes were given out (every borrower 40 volumes, every volume lent out 4 times). There are much frequented reading rooms, with a reference library (500 volumes), news- papers and magazines, open 9 a.m.-io p.m. The society arranges lectures for its members. The Workingmen's Reading Society (Ar- bejdernes Laeseforening) is founded by work- ingmen and is governed by 12 members and a president (he has a salary of $60). The budget is $2500 (herein $150 from the govern- ment). The staff has 5 persons. There were 2100 borrowers, who pay 10 c. monthly. The lending library has 9554 volumes; it is open 7-10 p.m.; 75,000 volumes were, given out (every borrower 35 volumes, every book given out 9 times). There are reading rooms open 10 a.m. to II p.m., with a reference li- brary (280 volumes), newspapers and maga- zines, where also new books are placed and given out; no account is given of these loans. The society arranges lectures and visits to the museums for its members. The Workingmen's Union of 1860 (Ar- bejderforeningen af 1860) is founded by well- to-do people for helping the workingmen. Besides other purposes it lends books to its members. The budget (for the library only) was $750. The lending library has 20,000 vol- umes ; 1300 borowers got 50,491 books (every borrower has got 70 books, every book was given out 2^ times). Reading rooms with- 600 volumes, newspapers and magazines are open from 9 a.m. to n p.m. Smaller libraries are The Library of the S TEEN BERG. Young Men's Christian Association (Kriste- lig Ynglingeforenings Bibliotek), 2800 vol- umes, with 3000 volumes given out, and The Library of the Supply Association of Eastend (Osterbro Husholdningsforenings Bibliotek), 3000 volumes, with 7000 volumes given out. The libraries of the towns, 47 in number, are founded in different ways, some by an association, some by a committee, a few by the municipality. But they are all supported with small sums by the municipality, for the most part also by lending of premises (in a school or in the town hall). Some of them are lodged in technical schools ; a few of them have their own building. Sometimes they get support from savings banks. They are opened a few hours every week. The borrowers get the books gratis, or generally by paying a small sum (c. 5-9 c.) every month. They have for the most part class divided, printed catalogs; a few have a dictionary catalog. The charging system is very often a card system. The 36 libraries, which are subsidized by the government in 1904-5, have in all 100,000 volumes, 10,000 borrowers (the population of these towns is together 300,000 persons) and gave out 226,- ooo volumes. On an average each library had 2500 volumes, 250 borrowers and 6000 loans (every borrower got 23 books, every book was given out twice). Nine of the libraries had reading rooms. In four towns the library gives out books to the surrrounding country also. The bor- rowers out in the country, who participate in the management of the library, are organ- ized in reading circles and get boxed con- taining 10 books or more, sent to them; the boxes can be changed as often as the bor- rowers wish. The largest is the Library of Vardi (on the west side of Jutland) ; it has 250 borrowers in the town and 550 in the country; it gives out 12,000 and 30,000 vol- umes to them. Two libraries have other arrangements for co-operation between town and country. Different from the common form of the town libraries is The Reading Society of the Diocese of Funen (Fyens Stifts Lsese- forening), founded 1838. It owns a large property in Odense (on the island Funen), with a large garden, where concerts are given. The staff consists of 5 persons. There are 2055 members, who pay $3 (town people) and $2 (other members) in the year. The lend- ing library, open 10-1 and 3-7, contains 29,- ooo volumes and was used by 1689 borrowers. There are several reading rooms, with news- papers, magazines, and reference library (1260 volumes), open 8 a.m.-ii p.m. The village libraries are often called parish libraries (Sognebogsamlinger) or reading so- cieties (Lseseforeninger). They are mostly founded by private means and are possessed by a society; a few are the property of the municipality; some of them get support from the municipality. In the last year the grants from the municipalities have been much more common because the government now, when subsidizing the libraries, takes into account whether the library has got local support. The libraries contain only a few hundred of volumes. The librarian is generally the teach- er, who works for the library without getting any fee. In many parishes the library is closed during the summer months. A few of the libraries have a reading room. The bor- rowers pay a small sum (20-60 c.) every year. Of these libraries there exist c. 450. In 1904-5 the government subsidizes 366 li- braries; they had together 140,000 volumes, 16,000 borrowers and 300,000 loans; on an average every library had 400 volumes, 44 borrowers and 800 loans (every borrower got 18 books, every book was given out twice in a year). Some of the village libraries have tried to help the smallness of their book stock by co-operation. On the island Samso, the li- braries have formed a central library (with a reading room), from which the district libraries every fall get a box containing c. 50 volumes for use during the winter. In some parishes (with more than one school) the library is divided in parts, which are placed in the different schools and changed from school to school every year. Sometimes sev- eral parish libraries co-operate by mutual changing of their books or a part of them. Co-operation between town and the surround- ing country has been mentioned above. The Danish state subsidizes popular li- braries in two ways through the State Li- brary Commission, and through the Com- mittee for the Promotion of the People's Enlightenment. The State Library Commission (Statens Komite til Understottelse af Folkebogsamlin- 66 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. ger) in 1899 succeeded a former commit- tee, whose only aim was to distribute grants from the government to the libraries. The commission spends yearly c. $4000. It distributes grants to the libraries, works for arousing the interest in public libraries and helps in organizing them. In 1904-5 it sub- sidizes 366 village libraries and 36 town li- braries (besides 6 in Copenhagen), with sums of from $2 to $54. A member of the commission gives lec- tures on libraries, followed by lantern slide pictures, or gives opening addresses to dis- cussions of libraries and reading. He works for getting the teachers interested in the li- brary question by lecturing at school meet- ings and on the normal schools. More re- cently the commission has taken up the ques- tion of the use of books in the schools and will soon publish a little book about it, which will be distributed to all Danish schools. For teaching the libraries how to manage a library the commission presents to every library a library handbook,* bound in a model binding, for helping them in choosing their books, the commission presents to them a catalog in two volumes,! containing the titles and prices of the best books for popular li- braries. The catalog has been published by the Royal Danish Agricultural Society; this society has through many years worked for agricultural and parish libraries; it published its first catalog in 1807. In order to help the libraries in the ar- rangement of the libraries, a member of the commission visits the libraries and gives advice about their management. As it often is very difficult for small village libraries, when founded, to get enough books to be able to begin to lend out, the commission lends to such libraries gratis, for six months, boxes containing 40-50 vol- umes. Every box has a printed catalog and a handy charging system. * A. S. Steenberg, Folkebogsamlinger, deres His- toric og Indretning. Aarhus og K6benhavn, 1900. vi. + 176 pages, 8. t Fortegnelse over Boger passendi for Sogne-og Landbrugs bibliotheker, udgivet af det kongelige danske Landhusholdningsselskab. Kj6benhavn, 1889. vn. + 151 pages, 8. Supplement to this book, Kobenhavn, 1902. vii. + 172 pages, 8. The commission sometimes receives books from private persons or public institutions for distribution to the libraries. The Committee for the Promotion of the People's Enlightenment (Udvalget for Folk- eoplysnings Fremme) was founded in 1866. It is the aim of the committee to publish books treating in an intelligent form sub- jects which enlarge and make clear the ap- prehension of the world and the human life. By support from the government the com- mittee is able to sell its books very cheap or give them away. To people's libraries and libraries in the public schools it has, since its foundation, presented books to the value of $13,000 (the last two years $900). But besides that it sends books to the soldiers' libraries, sailors' libraries, to teetotal so- cieties, young men's Christian associations, workingmen's clubs and to private persons (pupils in the common schools, "high schools," evening schools, normal schools, etc.). For this purpose it has spent $65,000 (the last two years $8000). In this article the libraries, founded by associations, whose principal object is some- thing else than reading and enlightenment, are not mentioned. There are, and especially have been, many of them, but they are for the most part very small. The Teetotallers' As- sociation has formed a system of travelling libraries, sending books to the local associa- tions from a central library. From this account of the Danish popular libraries it may be seen that they do not play a prominent part in the educational work in Denmark. But upon the whole there are good conditions for their advancement. Dan- ish literature, if the smallness of the country is taken into consideration, can very well stand comparison with the literature of other countries ; more than 1000 new books are pub- lished every year. The public schoo], upon the whole, is well organized and great efforts are made for giving the young people a con- tinued education after they have left the school for children. The nation is not poor, and its democratic institutions are constantly developing. On these facts can be based a firm hope for a further development of popu- lar libraries in Denmark. LANGE. 6 7 DANISH RESEARCH LIBRARIES. BY H. O. LANGE, Principal Librarian, Royal Library, Copenhagen. *"pHE relation of popular libraries to re- search libraries is very different in Den- mark from what it is in the greater countries. The smallness of the Danish literature, com- pared with the literatures of the great nations, makes a serious study of any branch of hu- man knowledge (the national history, lan- guage and literature excepted) almost impos- sible to anybody who does not know one for- eign language or more. The purchase of books in other languages than the Dano-Nor- wegian becomes then the distinguishing fea- ture between the research libraries and the popular libraries. Only one Danish library, and that the youngest, the State Library, Aarhus, aims clearly and consciously at unit- ing both objects, but the financial resources of this library do not yet allow it to carry on the work of a research library to any great extent. Just as the popular libraries are essentially communal institutions, supported by the state in different ways, the research libraries with- out exception have been founded by the state and are supported by state means. Pri- vate initiative has not made itself felt in Den- mark in the case of libraries. The only re- search library founded by private initiative, the Classenian Science Library was in 1867 united with the University Library. Big for- tunes are rare in this country, and as yet only very few people are fully awake to the real importance of libraries. On the other hand the present generation has incurred a heavy debt of gratitude to the long series of scholars and book-collectors of the past, whose libraries form the founda- tions of the present research libraries, as either the owners with a rare liberality placed them at the disposal of the state, or else they were bought by the state authorities. With- out the wise and strenuous exertions of these men, the research libraries of modern times would not be able to boast such literary treasures of the past. The small size of the country should make it practicable in Denmark to centralize the organization of the research libraries and to establish a thorough co-operation. A begin- ning has been made by publishing an annual catalog of the foreign literature yearly ac- quired by the research libraries. We must look to the future for a further development of this principle. Experience teaches that minor libraries connected with learned in- stitutions and serving more or less as refer- ence libraries for such institutions, are very difficult to incorporate in a larger whole. The abnormal size of the capital in relation to the total number of population (with sub- urbs containing about 490,000 of a total of 2,500,000 inhabitants), and the fact that it is the seat of nearly all the learned institutions, will always make its two great libraries the chief seats of library life and traditions. The State Library at Aarhus in Jutland was first opened in 1902, and in course of time it may be reasonably expected to become of real im- portance for the development of learning in that part of the country, but as yet its means are too small. For the rest the Copen- hagen libraries lend their books to readers residing in the country, and when the reor- ganization of the Royal Library in its new building is complete this side of its work will be more developed. The Royal Library is the principal library of the country. It was founded in the middle of the I7th century by King Frederick in., who for that purpose erected the building in which it is still kept. Since that time it has, by the liberality of the kings and of private persons, acquired the most important of the literary treasures collected in this country. Its development has of late been hampered by the wholly inadequate local accommodation, and a new era in its exist- ence will begin, when in another two years it will be transferred to its new building now in course of erection. It is calculated to con- 68 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. tain about 600,000 volumes (whereof about 2600 are incunabula) and about 20,000 manu- scripts, and to this must be added large col- lections of music, maps, portraits, prints, and pamphlets innumerable. Last year's budget was 83,915 kroner 27 ore. The present staff consists of the principal librarian, two sub- librarians, 12 ordinary assistants, eight extra ordinary assistants, and three servants. Last year 41,410 volumes were issued to readers. All this will necessarily be altered in the course of the next few years. The new build- ing, with its large reading room and modern accommodations, will make a quite new de- velopment possible, which will make itself deeply felt. While the library in its capacity of a national library must preserve its national collections and will not be able, like a popular library, to place them in unrestricted cir- culation, it will be able in many other ways to make its great treasures of foreign litera- ture more useful for a larger public. The existence in the capital of the two great libraries and many smaller special li- braries has led to a certain specialization; thus the University Library gives special at- tention to the natural and the medical sciences, and the Royal Library to the liberal arts. It is possible that in a near future we shall see a further development of this specializa- tion in our research libraries. The University Library with the Classenian Library united to it is the oldest research li- brary in Denmark, having been founded, to- gether with the University, in 1482. The lit- erary treasures collected there were, however, almost entirely destroyed in the great fire of Copenhagen in 1728. Since that time it has risen again to a size of about 300,000 volumes, besides about 100,000 academical dissertations and a great number of Danish pamphlets. It possesses about 7000 manuscripts. Its yearly budget amounts to 44,400 kroner. The pres- ent staff consists of a principal librarian, two sub-librarians, five ordinary assistants, four extra ordinary assistants and two ser- vants. Last year 59,666 volumes were issued to readers. Besides these two large libraries there are in the capital several special libraries, founded for special purposes, or serving as reference libraries for special institutions. Only few of them have specially appointed li- brarians, but the work is mostly done by a functionary of the institution in question. The Library of the Rigsdag has -a consid- erable collection of law books, and historical, statistical and economical works. It is in- tended chiefly as a reference library for the members of the Rigsdag, but is open to others. The number of volumes cannot be ascertained, but is considerable. Annual budget 6250 kroner. The Town Hall Library is a communal institution, chiefly consisting of works of local interest regarding municipal affairs. It 1 was founded in 1896, and contains about 10,000 volumes. An annual income of 5000 kroner and a reading room in the new Town Hall have been placed at its disposal. Last year about 1500 volumes were issued to readers. The Library of the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural College is specially intended for the sciences taught there. It contains about 37,000 volumes and has excellent rooms in the college building. It is managed by a librarian with the assistance of one servant. Annual budget 6000 kroner. Last year's issue about 5200 volumes. The Library of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts contains 11,704 volumes, about 10,000 photographs, and about 5000 drawings. It is managed by a librarian, with the help of one assistant and one servant. Annual budget 9100 kroner. Last year about 12,500 volumes and 3000 portfolios containing photographs and drawings were issued for use in the read- ing room ; 1226 volumes were issued for home use. The Library of the College of Pharmacy was founded in 1892. It contains about 4000 volumes. There is no special librarian ; h:st year aboiu 720 kroner were expended in acquisitions. The Library of the State Teachers' High School was founded in 1896 and contains about 8000 volumes. Annual budget 2050 kroner. It is managed by a librarian with a salary of only 400 kroner. There is no read- ing room. Last year about 3000 volumes were issued for home use. The Library of the Danish Meteorological Institute was founded in 1872 and now con- tains 13,120 volumes. Annual budget about 1300 kroner. Last year about 300 volumes were issued for home use. LANGE. 69 The Library of the State Statistical Bu- reau is now a little more than 50 years old; it contains about 3000 volumes, and is man- aged by the staff of the Bureau. Annual budget 800 kroner. The Library of the Patent Commission was founded in 1894, an d now contains about 651,800 descriptions of patents and about 1200 volumes. There is no special staff ; about 2000 kroner are annually expended in buying and binding of books. The Library of the Royal Picture Gallery dates from 1848, and is principally a refer- ence library for the staff of the Fine Arts Museum. It now contains about 6000 vol- umes, and about 2000 kroner are yearly spent in acquisitions. The Library of the National Museum is principally a reference library for aid in the archaeological, ethnographical and historical studies represented by the collections of the museum. Further data cannot be furnished. There are in Copenhagen four military and two naval libraries, but their reorganiza- tion is only a question of time. The follow- ing table will give the necessary information: Number of vols. Staff Budget Library of the Gen- eral Staff c. 13,000 2 Library of the Ar- tillery c. 15,800 i Lib'y of the Royal Engineers c. 12,000 i and c. 1 1 oo maps The Royal Garrison Library c. 20,000 2 Lib'y of the Royal Navy, i. Dep't. c. 6000 2 Lib'y of the Royal Navy, 2. Dep't. c. 5500 Vols. issued c. 3000 kr. c. 1800 kr. 740 c. 780 kr. 560 c. 2500 kr. c. noo 2000 kr. c. 600 800 kr. 154 There are several libraries connected with the learned institutions of the university, principally serving the studies in question. Only the library of the Botanical Gardens has a special librarian. These libraries are chiefly supported by gifts and by exchanges ; regular budgets do not exist. Number of volumes Budget Library of the Astronomical Observatory c. 5000 Library of the University Zoological Museum 200 kr. Library of the University Mineralogical Museum. .... c. 7000 Library of the Botanical Gardens c.i6,ooo c. 1900 kr. To these must be added the laboratories founded in the last few years, correspond- ing to the seminars of the German univer- sities, with real reference libraries and specially appointed librarians. Books are not issued for home use. Number of volumes Budget The Theological Laboratory.... 1400 kr. The Philologico-Historical La- boratory c. 4000 3500 kr. The Statistical Laboratory c. 3000 1800 kr. Of the libraries outside Copenhagen the State Library of Aarhus must first be men- tioned. It began its activity June 17, 1902, in a beautiful newly erected building. The stock of this library was formed by the Danish duplicates of the Royal Library (which re- ceives by law two copies of every book print- ed in Denmark), besides great parts of the Aarhus Diocese and Cathedral School Li- brary; in addition to these the state suc- ceeded in acquiring two large private collec- tions, and by the Act of May 2, 1902, this library acquired right to one copy of every- thing printed in Denmark. It now contains about 200,000 volumes, a great number of pamphlets, and a large collection of music (about 2800 volumes), portraits, maps and prints. Annual budget 33,370 kroner. The staff consists of the principal librarian, one sub-librarian, two ordinary and one extra ordinary assistants and one servant. Last year 10,500 volumes were issued for home use ; the reading room was visited by about 30,000 persons. In the beginning of the igth century Diocese Libraries were founded in the cathedral cities of the kingdom; they were intended chiefly for the use of the clergy, but also for the use of the learned public at large. One of these libraries, the Aarhus Diocese Library, has been incorporated in the State Library of Aarhus; another, the Aalborg Diocese Library, has been united with the library of the Aalborg Cathedral School. The rest are still existing, but owing to their inadequate means their activity is very restricted. The librarians are so miserably paid that they cannot spend much time in library work. Not one of these libraries has a reading room worthy of the name. ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. These libraries are as follows: c-o S Maribo Diocese Library, Maribo . 1795 c. 14,000 c. 480 c. 4000 Funen Diocese Li- brary, Odense. .. 1813 c. 40,000 c. 2000 c. 600 Ribe Diocese Li- brary, Ribe 1806 c. 3000 c. 100 95 Sealand Diocese Li- brary, Roskilde.. 1812 c 30,000 c. noo 182 Viborg Diocese Li- brary, Viborg.... 1817 c. 800 c. 80 The libraries connected with the State Grammar Schools form a class by them- selves. They are intended not only for the use of the teachers, but more or less as missionaries of book culture each in its lo- cality, and for that purpose they issue books for home use; only very few of them permit their books to be consulted on the spot, as special reading rooms are lacking. Each library is managed by one of the teachers of the school to which it belongs. II gsfc c &CB S-o o Library of the Metropoli- tan School, Copenhagen, c. 20,000 800 c. 400 United libraries of Aalborg Diocese and the Aalborg Cathedral School 0.38,000 1350 0.2150 State School Library, Frederiksborg c. 20,000 c. 900 c. 1000 Herlufsholm College Li- brary c. 30,000 State School Library, Hor- sens c. 20,000 Library of the Higher Common School, Kolding. c. 8000 Nykjobing Cathedr'l School Library c. 10,000 c. 1200 c. 500 Odense Cathedral School Library 0.20,000 c. 1000 1410 'State School Library, Randers c. 9500 1120 c. 700 "Ribe Cathedral School Li- brary 15,589 870 1222 Hoskilde Cathedral School Library 0.14,000 1190 State School Library, Ronne c. 16,000 900 0.3000 Viborg Cathedral School Library 0.20,000 noo c. 800 Library of the Soro Acad- emy c. 35,ooo 1950 c. 850 Finally, we must mention the Askor High School Library which is doing excellent work in the intellectual development of Southern Jutland. It contains about 20,000 volumes, and about 5000 volumes were last year issued for home use. About 800 kroner are ex- pended annually in buying and binding of books. One of the professors is librarian. LITERATURE. Chr. Bruun: Det store kongelige Bibliothek og Uni- versitetsbibliotheket. Nogle Bemserkninger. Kjo- benhavn, 1860. Katalog over Erhvervelser af nyere udenlandsk Litteratur ved Statens offentlige Bibliotheker 1901 og 1902. Udg. af det store kgl. Bib- liothek ved Emil Gigas. Kjpbenhayn, 1902-1903. 1903 ved Axel Anthon Bjornbo. ibid. 1904. Chr. Molbech: Kort Efterretning om det store konge- lige Bibliotheks Stiftelse, Skiebne og Tilstand. Kiobenhavn, 1816. Aarsberetninger og Meddelelser fra det kongelige Bibliothek. Udgivne af Chr. Bruun. Bind. 1-4, for Aarene 1864-1897. Kjobenhavn. Herein: Chr. Bruun: Den danske Literatur fr_a Bogtrykkerkunstens Indforelse i Danmark til 1550. Chr. Bruun: De illuminerede Haandskrifter i det store kongelige Bibliothek. I. A. Boiling: Index librorum saeculo xvmo impressorum, quorum exempla possidet Bibliotheca Regia Hafniensis. Aarsberetning om det store kongelige Bibliotheks Virksomhed i Finansaaret 1901-02 og 1902-03. Af givet til Ministeriet for Kirke-og Undervis- nings-vaesenet af H. O. Lange. Kjobenhavn, 1902-1903. E. C. Werlauff: Historiske Efterretninger om det store kongelige Bibliothek i Kjobenhavn. Kjo- benhavn, 1825. 2. Udgaye. Kjobenhavn, 1844. Chr. Bruun: Det store kongelige Bibliotheks Stiftelse under Kong Frederik den Tredie og Kong Christian den Femte. I Anledning af Biblio- thekets 2oo-aarige Jubilaeum. Kjobenhavn, 1873. John Erichsen: Udsigt over den garnle Manuscript- Samling i det store kongelige Bibliothek. Kio- benhavn, 1786. N. C. L. Abrahams: Description des manuscrits frangais du moyen age de la Bibliotheque Royale de Copenhague, precedee d'une notice historique de cette bibliotheque. Copenhague, 1844. N. L. Westergaard & A. F. Mehren: Codices orientales Bibliothecae Regiae Hauniensis enu- merati et descripti. Haun, 1846-57. Charl. Graux: Notices sommaires des manuscrits grecs de la Grande Bibliotheque Royale de Copenhague. Paris, 1879. Kr. Kalund: Katalog over de oldnorsk islandske Handskrifter i det store kongelige Bibliotek. Kobenhavn, 1900. S. Birket Smith: Om Kjobenhavns Universitets- bibliothek for 1728 isaer dets Haandskrifts- samlinger. Udg. til Minde om Universitets- bibliothekets grundlaeggelse for 400 Aar siden. Kjobenhavn, 1882. S. Birket Smith: Beretning om Universitetsbiblio- thekets Virksomhed i 18^-198?. Kjoben- havn [Extract from Aarbog for Kjobenhavns Universitet.] N. L. Westergaard: Codices Indici et Iranici Biblio- thecae Universitatis Havniensis. Havn. 1846. Kr. Kalund: Katalog over den Arnamagnaeanske Handskriftsamling. i.-2. Bd. Kjobenhavn, 1889-94. Erling Steensgaard: Statsbiblioteket i Aarhus. Aar- hus, 1902. Andr. Sch. Steenberg: De laerde Statsskolers Biblio- teker. Horsens, 1898. ANDERSSON. THE RESEARCH LIBRARIES OF SWEDEN. BY DR. AKSEL ANDERSSON, Vice -Librarian of the University of Uppsala. T N Sweden three libraries may be called national libraries, inasmuch as they are supported by public grants and have the privilege of receiving and the duty of pre- serving the national literature. They are the Royal Library, Stockholm, and the univer- sity libraries in Uppsala and Lund; but the Royal Library in Stockholm is the National Library in a strict sense. The fourth im- portant general library in the country is the Library of the City of Gothenburg, being at the same time the library of the Faculty of Letters of that city. All publications bearing upon the history and the present state of these libraries were reported in the "Catalogue de 1'ecxposition suedoise de 1'enseignement superieur," at the Paris exhibition of 1900. The present Royal Library dates oniy from the beginning of the i8th century, three other considerable Royal Libraries having existed before that time. The first, dating its origin from the first half of the i6th cen- tury, for a great part composed of the mon- astic libraries confiscated at the Reformation, and also of books collected by the literate kings of the House of Vasa, was presented by the King Gustavus Adolphus to the Univers- ity of Uppsala in 1620 and constituted the effective beginning of the library of that university. Of the second, formed during the reign of the Queen Christina, partly from libraries conquered in the Thirty Years' War, partly bought by the queen's learned agents in all parts of Europe, the most valuable part was brought by the queen after her abdica- tion, to Rome, where its manuscripts are now preserved in the Vatican Library under the name of "Bibliotheca Reginae." Of the third, the main part was destroyed in the great conflagration of the royal castle in 1697, when out of 24,000 books and 1400 manuscripts only 6286 books and 283 mss. were saved. During the i8th century the growth of the Royal Library was not very great, owing to the insufficient appropriations granted for the purpose, the principal sources of enrichment being a considerable number of donations. By far the most important acquisition, how- ever, was that of the books and manuscripts of the Royal Antiquarian Archives (Kongl. Antiquitetsarkivet), transferred to the Royal Library in 1786, and with them one of its most important collections, the one of mediae- val Scandinavian manuscripts. Also during the last century the library's department of foreign books, increased for a long time chiefly by several private donations and by the incorporation of some other public libra- ries, for instance, the collections brought from three royal country palaces. It was only in 1778 that it received its first fixed, very modest, regular annual appropriation for the purchase of foreign books and binding. Gradually augmented by comparatively insig- nificant sums, this appropriation was in 1896 raised from 25,000 crowns* to its present, still insufficient, amount of 34,000 cr. Of this sum about 8000 cr. are spent for binding. For expenses of other kinds (incidentals and equipment) the Royal Library is within limits entitled to draw upon the public treas- ury as occasion requires. These expenses amounted in 1903 to 10,500 cr., and in this sum the cost of the union Swedish "Acces- sions-katalog" is also included. The Royal Library is calculated to have contained about 30,000 volumes at the begin- ning of the igth century. There are, however, no exact figures in this respect till the end of 1903, when the library was properly counted and measured according to the prin- ciples set forth below in my account of the Uppsala library. It was then found to con- tain 315,000 vols., including 10,900 cases con- taining pamphlets under 100 pages each and all kinds of small things, broadsides, circu- * i crown = nearly 27 cents. ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. lars, and the like, and nearly 10,500 vols. or cases of manuscripts, the whole library occupying 10,069 metres of shelves .(exclu- sive of empty space). The pearl and the pride of the Royal Li- brary is its department of Swedish books, thanks to the late Chief Librarian, G. E. Klemming, the most complete and the best conditioned existing. In the department of foreign books the chief importance of the Royal Library is to be found in the domain of humanistic sciences, while the two univer- sity libraries naturally have to provide for all faculties. As there are in Stockholm some very good libraries for special branches, as for instance, for natural and for medical sciences, the Royal Library has had the ad- vantage of being allowed to leave these sub- jects aside and of thus being able to central- ize its means upon the bibliographical, phil- ological, archaeological, historical, geograph- ical, and political sciences. The department of manuscripts is very important, especially in the domain of mediaeval Scandinavian manu- scripts, and for Swedish history and biog- raphy. Famous are the Codex Aureus (a Latin evangeliarium of the 6th century) and the "Gigas librorum" or, as it is also called, the "Devil's Bible." The collection of in- cunabula is also very valuable, containing nearly 700 volumes, many of which contain several works bound together in one volume. The growth of the Royal Library in the year 1903 was: 1. In the department of Swedish books : a. Received in virtue of the press law, 22,896 nos. (besides several thousands of small things not counted) this accession be- ing equal for this library and the university libraries of Uppsala and Lund; b. Purchased or presented, 713 nos. 2. In the department of foreign books: a. By gift and exchange, 1461 nos.; b. Purchased new works, 985 nos. ; c. Purchased periodicals and other con- tinuations, 2085 nos. 3. In the department of manuscripts : 41 nos. The Royal Library has since 1878 a mod- ern, appropriate building, completed at a total cost of nearly one million crowns. It is constructed of stone and iron on the mag- azine or stack system, has a good reading room with about 50 tables, each for one per- son, and a well supplied reference library of 3000-4000 vols., a great exposition hall, etc. It is situated in a park and has no other build- ings close to it. There is electric light in the reading room, in the offices, and. in the part of the basement story adapted for receiving the newspapers. The building is heated by a good hot water system. It is open to the public from 10-3 and 5-7, the evening hours being only for study in the reading room, the stacks (without electric light) not being accessible in the dark part of the year. In 1903 the number of visitors to the Royal Library was in the morning hours 22,610, using in the reading room 53,484 vols., and taking home about 12,000 vols.; in the evening hours 9063 persons using over 20,000 volumes in the reading room, exclusive of the books in the reference library, which is naturally at the public's free disposal. The officers of the Royal Library, appointed by the King in council, are: One chief librarian, salary 6400, after five years' service, 7000 cr. Two librarians, salaries 4500 cr., after five and ten years' service, 5000-5500 cr. Five assistants ("amanuenses"), salaries beginning with 3000 cr. and with the same periodical increments as the librarians', up to 3000-4000 cr. An unlimited number of supernumerary assistants ("extra ordinary amanuenses"), for the present 6. For their remuneration and for extra work done .(for instance, copy- ists' work and extra remuneration to the "e. o." amanuenses for evening service) there is a yearly credit of 10,000 cr. The qualification required for being ap- pointed an "e. o." amanuensis is a university degree. Office hours for the supernumerary officers are generally two hours a day. There is one first porter, salary noo cr., and there are four other porters, salaries 800, after five years' service, 900 cr. The "e. o." amanuenses and the porters are appointed by the chief librarian. Besides the salaries mentioned above there has been voted for the last two years a tem- porary increase of 10 per cent, of the salaries ANDERSSON. 73 for all officers and attendants attached to public offices in the country whose regular appointments do not exceed 6ooc cr. The officers have to retire at 65 years of age, with life pensions amounting for the Chief Librarian to 4400-5000 cr., varying ac- cording to the rate of his actual salary when retiring; for the librarians, to 3000-3500-4000 cr. ; for the assistants, to 1800-2300-2800 cr. ; for the first porter, to noo cr. ; and for the other porters, to 700-800 cr. for all accord- ing to the same rule as mentioned for the Chief Librarian. The Royal Library is an independent in- stitution, the Chief Librarian of which is di- rectly responsible to the government. The Chief Librarian, therefore, decides independ- ently upon all matters concerning the direc- tion and organization of the library, in con- ference, however, with the two librarians, who may in certain questions have put on record their dissenting votes. There are, as mentioned already, in Stock- holm many very good special research libra- ries. In the first place I mention the Library of the Royal Academy of Science. Founded the same year as the Academy (1739 Linnaeus was one of the founders), the library is de- voted to the natural sciences and is one of the richest libraries existing in these branches. It has now about 100,000 vols. and between 30,000 and 40,000 pamphlets, dissertations and the like. The collection of manuscripts is especially rich in Swedish scientists' letters and manuscripts, for instance, those of Swed- enborg and Berzelius. The Academy assigns yearly 10,000 crowns for the purchase and binding of books ; other expenses are paid by the Academy as occasion requires. The Academy also often assigns extraordinary appropriations for the purchase of special collections, expensive works and so on. A very extended exchange of publications is also of eminent value to the library. Although the property of the Academy, it is practically public, and lends books most readily to all the scientists of the country. The librarian's salary is 5000-5500 cr. ; there are two assistants with salaries of 1500 and 700 cr. A very promising library exists since 1901 in the Nobel Library of the Swedish Acad- emy. The Academy having tc award the Nobel prize for literature founded this li- brary for the polite literature, classical as well as modern, of the modem occidental peoples. At first 100,000 cr. were at once assigned for the purchase and binding of books. The librarian then visited all parts of Europe for this purpose and 20,000 cr. were assigned for the equipment of the library. The average annual appropriation for books is about 6500 cr. and for other expenses 2000 cr. It has had a quick growth and counts already about 25,000 vols. The reference library contains a very good collection of dictionaries, encyclopaedias, biographic dictionaries and the like. Properly this library has to provide for the Nobel In- stitute of the Swedish Academy, but prac- tically it is in fact public as far as research is concerned. The officers are the librarian and two as- sistants, besides extra help for cataloging. Other special libraries are: that of the medical faculty of Stockholm, the richest library for medical sciences in the country (about 40,000 vols.) ; for political sciences, the library of the Parliament; for statistics, the library of the Royal Central Statistical Office; for technology, that of the Royal Technical High-School ; for geology, in the Geological Survey of Sweden; a considerable pedagogical library organized by Dr. N. G. W. Lagerstedt, and many others. The oldest as well as the greatest of the Swedish libraries is the Library of the Royal University of Uppsala. The university was founded in 1477, but from its first century we do not know more of a university library than that we must suppose that a university must have had some books, and that the old cathedral library as was the case in Lund no doubt was accessible to the professors of the university, although it w&s only at the end of the i8th century that it was incor- porated into the university library. The uni- versity, however, was not in action during a great part of the i6th century. In 1593 it was effectively reestablished; but it is only from 1620 that we can, properly speaking, date the origin of its library, for that year King Gustavus Adolphus, as already mentioned, 74 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. presented the then Royal Library to the uni- versity, and therewith the very valuable li- brary of the convent of Vadstena and re- mains of other monastic libraries were brought to Uppsala, constituting still an im- portant part of the department of manu- scripts. The same king constantly cherished the university, which he presented with his great hereditary estates, as well as its li- brary, which received the very important foreign monastic libraries conquered in the wars. Many of the treasures, manuscripts, and early printed books thus acquired are still distinguished ornaments to it. And up to this time our kings as well as our magnates have favored it by numerous and important donations, so numerous that it would hardly be possible to mention here even the principal ones ; for the ambition, so to say, of many of the magnates of the kingdom was to see their collected treasures preserved for after ages in the Uppsala Li- brary. Our greatest treasure, the Codex Argenteus, is a present from the university's great chancellor and benefactor, M. G. De la Gardie, the first gentleman of the kingdom during the latter pare of the I7th century, who with the Codex Argenteus gave a considerable number of valuable manuscripts to the library, as for instance, many of its principal Icelandic manuscripts, among them the well-known so-called Uppsala-Edda. The whole of his library, no doubt the finest pri- vate library of the country in that time, was after his death presented to the university. At the beginning of the i8th century the Uppsala library was justly famous; it contained about 30,000 vols., at that time a high figure. But later, as the production of books has increased beyond comparison faster than the modest grants of money to the li- brary, it has relatively been going down from its prominent place among the great libraries of the world, although, as far as the collec- tions of manuscripts and early printed books are concerned, it would at any rate be in the front rank among university libraries. It is naturally for Swedish history in all its branches that the department of mss. has its chief importance. Of mediaeval mss. there are nearly 1000 vols., besides a con- siderable collection of smaller mediaeval documents on vellum and paper. The collec- tion of incunabula contains oni> 1155 vols.; but considering the numerous collective vol- umes among these old books, nearly all of them in original bindings, the number of works is considerably higher. In 1886 the Uppsala library was found to contain 230,000 vols. The last week of the last year it was counted and measured again. The result shows a total of above 340,000 vols., including 12,260 cases of pamphlets, dis- sertations, etc., and 13,637 vols or cases of manuscripts, occupying nearly 14 kilometres* of shelves. Every bound volume was counted as a unit without regard to the number of separate works that may be bound together in each of the very numerous old collective volumes. In order to save binding cost, as many years or volumes of periodical publica- tions are bound together in one volume as can conveniently be made, and in many cases for the same reason little used serials are kept unbound together m very thick open pamphlet cases. Each such case, as well as every case with pamphlets, dissertations, etc., was also counted as a unit. And here is the explanation of the fact, that in the Uppsala library the average number of volumes upon a metre of shelving is so low as about 26. In the great national libraries ot St. Peters- burg and Paris the proportion was shown to be about 50 volumes a metre, and in the libraries of Strassburg and Giessen the metn- contains about 40 vols. These figures prove that in reality the Uppsala library compared with others is greater than indicated by the 340,000 vols. and the same is also true with regard to the Royal Library in Stockholm for taking the last stated proportion of 40 vols. a metre, the 12.000 metres in Uppsala occupied by 315,000 bound volumes strictly speaking (except pamphlet cases and manu- scripts) would represent nearly half a million vols. in the two German libraries. The pamphlets, preserved in generally very thick cases (nearly all the foreign disserta- tions, for instance, are kept in this way) amount to several hundred thousand pieces not to speak of the immense number of broad- sides, circulars and so forth, in the Swedish department. In addition to the above figures the library possesses 285 very voluminous portfolios with * i ki lorn. = 1094 Engl. yards. ANDERSSON. 75 maps, portraits, engravings and the like. The leaves are not counted, but may be estimated at about 70,000. Till 1834 the Uppsala library was sup- ported only by the university's own resources. Regular annual appropriations, however modest, have been assigned to it for the pur- chase of books since 1620, and since 1692 ic has received, in virtue of a royal ordinance of that year, certain university nomination, promotion and matriculation fees. In 1834 it received its first regular annual state ap- propriation, in the beginning- only 3150 crowns. Gradually raised, the annual ap- propriation for the purchase and binding of books and all other expenses (exclusive of salaries) is since 1896 24,000 cr. Be- sides there is a varying yearly revenue from old donation funds, university fees, etc., gen- erally amounting to nearly 3000 cr., and a grant of 1500 cr. from the university for heating, etc., the total income for the year 1903 amounting to little more than 28,000 cr., which may be considered as the actual aver- age income. A not very considerable addition comes from the Uppsala reading union, a kind of Athenaeum, supported by the annual subscriptions of the members and by an an- nual subvention from the university of about 500 cr., the reviews taken in by the union going to the university library. It is not worth while to point out in this assembly how very insufficient these means are to a library that has to provide for all the faculties of a great university. The average annual cost for books during the last five years has been about 16,000 cr. ; binders' accounts (not only binding, but also pamphlet cases, carton work and the like) 6800 cr. ; office expenses, extra help and all kinds of other expenses, about 3400 cr. ; heating and water supply (the elevator is driven by the municipal water-service), 3000 cr. The average growth of the foreign depart- ment in whole volumes for the last five years is 4350 bound vols., including the important factor of gifts and exchanges, contributing annually during the five years 3125 bound vols.; of foreign dissertations and university and school programs, kept in cases, 6874 nos. were received in 1903. The library is rather rich in learned periodical publications. The collection of foreign maps increased the same year by 18 nos., containing 375 leaves ; the collection of engravings and the like (chiefly received in virtue of the press-law) by 2225 leaves. The growth of the Swedish depart- ment is for Uppsala and Lund the same as stated above for the Royal Library. In length of shelves the annual growth during the last five years has been 240 metres. The library is open to the public from 10-3, the absence of light in the long winters making reading in the evening hours impos- sible. In the summer, however, students who apply for it are freely admitted to the read- ing room any time of the day, even though no officer should be present; an order is simply given to the porter to let them in and out at the hours agreed upon. Practically every- body who applies for it is admitted to the stacks, a permission that can be given without great danger in a small city where most of the visitors belong to the university, and where those who come from other places gen- erally are well-known scholars. I cannot re- member any book having been lost in this way during my time of service. The reading room was, in 1903, visited by 8265 persons using over 40,000 vols. (among them 6230 manuscripts), exclusive naturally of the books belonging to the reference li- brary. The average number of books lent during the last five years has been about 19,000 vols. yearly. The officers of the Uppsala library are : One librarian, salary 6000 cr. ; after five and ten years of service, 6500-7000 cr. At 65 years of age he has to retire with a life pen- sion of 4000-4500-5000 cr., according to the actual amount of his salary. Two vice-librarians with salaries of 4000 cr., after five years 4500 cr. Four assistants ("amanuenses") with sal- aries of 2500 cr., after five and ten years 3000-3500 cr. An unlimited number of supernumerary ("extra ordinary") "amanuenses" (actually there are five) ; 3500 cr. yearly are granced for their remuneration. Three porters, salaries 700, after five and ten years 800-900 cr. One of them is at the same time engineer for the heating appara- tus, with special pay for that service Periodical increase of the salaries prevails, 7 6 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. as noted above for the Royal Library. Only the librarian is entitled to a pension when re- tiring, but the Diet will never refuse to vote a pension for other officers after long service. Office hours, five hours a day. The librarian is appointed by the King in council, and has in all respects the position of an ordinary professor of the university. The other officers are appointed by the Chan- cellor of the university; the "extra ordinary'' officers and the porters, upon the presentation of the librarian, by a committee of professors known as the Minor Academical Consisto- rium. There are no stipulations concerning quali- fications required for appointment as an "extra ordinary" assistant, but the rule is to accept only candidates who have taken a uni- versity degree. The present library building was erected in the first half of the last century on a very appropriate open place, with parks practically all round it, at a total cost of nearly half a million crowns ; in 1841 the books were trans- ferred to this building from the then central university palace known as the Gustavianum, where the library had been housed since 1691. Although thus by no means modern, the present building, partly reconstructed in 1893 after the magazine or stack system, an- swers its purpose fairly well. For that time it was a very good one, with lofty rooms, plenty of light, and an old though not un- practical system of movable shelves. Since 1877 the whole building has been heated by a good hot-water system. The most urgent actual need of the library is light. This year it was proposed by the government to 'the Diet to vote a grant for electric light, but unhappily the news of the disastrous confla- gration in the Turin Library then passed through the press and frightened the mem- bers of the Diet; this was, I think, the rea- son why the grant was not voted. It is in- tended, however, soon to take the question up again in connection with the final equip- ment of the top story of the building, ne- cessitated within the next few years for want of space, and then to consider a satisfactory technical measure to ensure safety. The reading room contains a good reference li- brary of 5000-6000 vols. with a special catalog, but it is too small: there are only about 30 tables, each of them for one person alone; it is hoped that it will be considerably en- larged in connection with the planned altera- tions mentioned above. Now readers often have to work in the stacks, which must be considered as a serious inconvenience, and not least so to the students themselves, being thus far away from the reference library. The library being strictly a research li- brary * there is certainly not the same need of a large reading room as in a so-called pub- lic library. Those who visit the library for reading a certain book are relatively few ; they prefer of course to take the book home. The students have not the habit of reading their text books in the library, and as a rule, there is in the university library only one copy of each work. The best and numerically strongest readers are those who write their scientific papers and dissertations in the read- ing room, and for them it seems very ap- propriate; everybody who comes regularly has besides the reference library a table for himself with as many books taken out from the stacks as the shelves standing on the table can hold. It is also to be consid- ered that the university institutions (corre- sponding to the departments of the American universities) and seminaries have libraries of their own with special appropriations, however modest. These libraries are in Swe- den entirely independent of the university library. The 13 student "nations" (cor- porations of students coming from the same diocese) also have libraries of their own, raturally provided in the first place with books needed for the examinations. The union of all the students ("studentkaren") forming an organization of its own has a very good library, especially rich in Scan- dinavian history, philology and literature and much used in these branches. The profes- sors, as a rule, have considerable private libraries, and every student has at least a little collection of books. To a certain ex- tent these facts also account for the relatively small statistical figures above. The third of the Swedish libraries is the Library of the Royal University of Lund. Founded by Royal charter of 1666 in order to promote the amalgamation of the conquered * Swedish fiction is, as will be shown below, neither lent nor given out in the reading-room. ANDERSSON. 77 southern provinces, this university was in- augurated and began to act in 1668. The origin of the university library was the old library of the Chapter of Lund. A private library soon was purchased by the king and presented to the university, and the learned bishop's library also seems to have beer at the disposal of the professors. The library's growth during the first centuries of its ex- istence was essentially due to private dona- tions, some of them of considerable value. It contains now about 200,000 vols., the count of 1897 giving a result of about 174,000 vols., including about 6000 cases of pamphlets, dis- sertations, etc., and nearly 5000 manuscripts. A statement as to the length of shelves occupied by these books is not at hand, and the old library being overcrowded, with dou- ble and more rows of books on many shelves, an exact measuring would have been very difficult to perform. The Lund library has had a regular though very modest income since the end of the I7th century, university matriculation, promotion and nomination fees, etc. In 1881 the annual public appropriation was raised from 10,000 to 15,000 cr., and in 1901 again to 24,000 cr. for books, binding, and all kinds of expenses, exclusive of salaries, with an additional yearly revenue from old donation funds, university fees, etc., generally amount- ing to 3000-4000 cr. a year. In 1903 the total income was about 27,300 cr., which may be considered as about the average annual in- come. The same year books were bought for 20,260 cr., binding expenses were 4360 cr.. heating and other expenses 2330 cr. The accession to the department of foreign books in 1903 was 2800 vols.; of these 845 vols. were gifts or exchanges, besides 5850 dissertations and other university publications ot an analogpus kind. The addition to the department of Swedish books is the same as for the Royal Library and the Uppsala li- brary. In 1902 the university library of Lund was visited by 11,630 persons; 37,846 books were used ; of these 14,902 were taken home. Office hours, admission at other hours, lending conditions and the like are practically the same as in Uppsala. Officers are: the librarian, one vice-libra- rian, and three assistants ("amanuenses"), and an unlimited number of "extra ordinary" assistants, for the present seven. The salar- ies, periodical increases of the salaries, and pensions, are the same as in Uppsala, as well as the qualifications for the extra ordinary assistants. Office hours for these are two hours a day ; the annual public grant for their remuneration is 2500 cr. The local conditions of this library have long been far from satisfactory. In its ear- liest days housed in one of the cathedral's chapels, it was in 1697 moved to the building which for a long time served also other uni- versity purposes but now, after many different arrangements and reconstructions, is wholly occupied by the library alone. A new build- ing, very carefully planned, in every respect modern, with electric light throughout, with final accommodation for more than 500,000 vols., and well situated in the middle of a park, is now in course of construction, at a calculated total cost of 450,000 cr. The gen- eral reading room of course with a great reference library will contain 35 places, 16 of them at tables for one person each ; an- other reading room is provided for special purposes, and one for periodicals. The li- brary will probably take possession of the new building next year. The university reading union ("Akademiska Lasesallskapet") in Lund is something of the same kind as the one in Uppsala men- tioned above. The Academic Union ("Aka- demiska Foreningen," upon the whole corre- sponding to the union of Uppsala) has a very good and useful library, and the libraries of the university institutions .(departments) and seminaries are organized in the same way as in Uppsala. The youngest Swedish research library of a general kind is the Library of the City of Gothenburg, at the same time the library of the Faculty of Letters of that city ("Gote- borgs Hogskola"). It dates only from the lat- ter part of the igth century, and its present organization is of the same year as the Fac- ulty (1891) ; but thanks to a great number of private donations of high-minded citizens of Gothenburg it is developing very fast, a good many private libraries, partly important ones, being in this way bought and pre- sented to it. An exquisite Swedish library, {he late Chief Librarian Count C. Snoilsky's, ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. was in 1903 bought by four persons for 20,- ooo cr. and presented. Extraordinary appro- priations have been given several times for such purposes, and the libraries of some learned corporations of the city, in the first place that of the Royal Society of Science of Gothenburg ("Kungl. Vetenskaps-och Vit- terhets-Samhallet), have been incorporated or deposited in the Library of the City. Thus it now contains more than 100,000 vols., in 1869 only 10,000 vols. The library has a fund of its own, given by the Municipal Council from the Renstrom municipal donation fund ; in 1903 the interest of this library fund was about 4700 cr. Be- sides, its chief regular incomes are granted by the Municipal Council (in 1903, 24,500 cr.) and by the Board of Directors of the Faculty (in 1903, 4500 cr.). In the same year books were bought for nearly 10,000 cr. ; binding cost over 2700 cr., and salaries amounted to 13,000 cr. The total addition to the library in 1903 was 2750 vols. ; of them 1850 were gifts and exchanges. The library is open to the public from 11-3, and in the winter also from 5-8, in the eve- ning hours only for study in the reading room. In 1903 the visitors were nearly 20,000, using in the reading room 12,500 vols., ex- clusive of the reference library, and taking home nearly 7000 vols. The officers, appointed by the Board of Directors, are : the librarian, salary 4500 cr. ; two assistants ("amanuenses"), salaries 3000 and 2000 cr., and for the present, three "ex- tra ordinary" assistants ; three porters. The Board of Directors is composed of nine members elected for two years, four by the Municipal Council, one by the body of the town magistrates, two by the Board cf Directors of the Faculty, one by the Board of Directors of the City Museum, and one by the Royal Society of Science, with the libra- rian as ex officio member, three of them re- tiring annually. In looo the library took possession of its new modern building, erected at a cost of nearly 300,000 cr. and with final accommoda- tion for about 300,000 vols. There is a good reading room with 41 tables, each for one person, and a good reference library, also a supplementary reading room for visitors wanting a greater number of books for their daily use. There is electric light in the offices, the reading rooms, and the basement,, with room for the newspapers, but as yet not in the stacks, and a hot water heating ap- paratus. The situation of the building is good with plenty of room for extension. These libraries are generally speaking or- ganized according to the same principles. The statements regarding their general or- ganization given below, therefore, will except as otherwise noted be applicable to them all. The regulations of the Royal Library are given by Royal Charter; those of the univer- sity libraries are sanctioned by the chancellor of the universities, and those of the Gothen- burg library are enacted by authority of the Municipal Council. All these regulations are administered in a most liberal way; where they seem antiquated,, innovations appr;O- priate to the times are often informally made by the officers. Characteristic of the Royal Library and the two university libraries is that their collec- tions of printed books are divided into two general departments, the national (domestic) and the foreign. This arrangement seems particularly suitable to these libraries, as re- ceiving by virtue of the press law everything printed in the country. By this means, for one thing, the shelves of the department of Swedish books are, so to say, a national bibliography, and besides, the libraries have not to mix up their other books and espe- cially pamphlets with all kinds of rubbish. In the Swedish department are placed books printed in Sweden, concerning Sweden, writ- ten by Swedes, and printed in the Swedish language. The first thr.ee categories are in fact considered as belonging to the national bibliography; the fourth is chosen from a more practical point of view. The third group all books written by Swedes causes some trouble with regard to American citizens, and the boundary can here naturally not be very sharp. The rule is. I should say, to place books written by a Swedish- American, even though in English, in the Swedish department, if the author has re- ceived his education in Sweden, and can so be considered to have been once a reaf Swedish citizen. In the Royal Library the Chief Librarian ANDERSSON. 79 decides upon the purchase of books. In either university there is for this purpose a com- mittee, composed of the librarian as pres- ident, the vice-librarian and six (in Lund, seven) professors from all faculties. In Uppsala two of them, in Lund three, retire yearly, according to seniority as professors ; in Uppsala the retiring members are re- eligible. According to the regulations those committees dispose of two-thirds of the an- nual income of the library for the purchase of books, the third being at the librarian's free disposal for books and all kinds of ex- penses. Only four meetings are held in the year, at the beginning and at the end of each term, and therefore the librarian oc- casionally must buy books without consult- ing the committee. There are no other trus- tees for the libraries than these committees for the purchase of books. The library has formaliter just the same position in the uni- versity as what in this country would be called a department of the university, and the librarian has in all respects the position of a professor at the head of a department. The Swedish libraries have no foreign agents: the new foreign literature is generally bought through Swedish booksellers. It is generally believed that the library, at least in the small university cities, ought to encour- age the booktrade of the place. It is ques- tionable whether this is wise or not I hardly believe it is, ihough it is certainly convenient in some respects to have one's bookseller in the place. To a certain extent the same question arises regarding the binding. Gifts and exchanges are important factors in the development of the Swedish libraries. The Uppsala library rejoices in regular re- lations of exchange with more than 1300 foreign learned institutions and societies ; a considerable number of them are American, and among these many of the greatest value. It is my hope to see our relations with this country's eminent learned institutions con- siderably extended and deepened, these scien- tific relations being, in my opinion, in many directions of an importance that can hardly be overestimated. The accessions of foreign books to the greater Swedish libraries are since 1886 re- ported in a yearly union "Accessions-kata- log." published by the Royal Library. Twen- ty-nine Swedish libraries now report yearly their foreign additions in it.* A somewhat fuller account of this Accessions-katalog will be given in another report to this Congress. The principal Swedish publications are registered in the Swedish publishers' yearly catalog. It is not necessary to say that accession lists for foreign books are kept. In the Upp- sala library this list is, as far as periodicals, transactions and the like are concerned, ar- ranged entirely according to the classification of the printed catalog of accessions, and this method has proved especially convenient when the titles are copied out for that cata- log. It is also very convenient for everybody who is acquainted with the system of the printed catalog to find a publication in this list. No numbers are . needed. For the Swedish department the printers' lists serve at the same time as accession-lists. The catalogs are of different pattern. In the Royal Library, the University Library of Lund, and the Gothenburg Library, the alpha- betical and the systematic catalogs are both on cards, or rather leaves, kept loose in cases like small pamphlet cases, each leaf contain- ing only one title, except different editions of the same work. The leaves are of a different shape, rather too large, in these libraries. In the Royal Library the size is 20 x 12 cm., the leaf standing on the short side; in Lund and Gothenburg 20 x 15^ cm., standing on the long side. In order to save space they have invented in the Royal Library a few years ago a kind of double catalog case, one half of it behind the other on the shelf, both united in their narrow sides. In certain Swedish libraries, for instance, that of the Royal Academy of Science, the American card catalog is employed. In Uppsala there is a printed authors' catalog of the old stock of the library up to 1796 (published in 1814) in three quarto volumes, and for the old books this is still the main catalog, although the titles are grad- ually transferred to the actual written cata- log. This so-called supplement (to the printed catalog) is based upon a system of bound volumes in common quarto size, the * Up to 1885 annual catalogs of accessions were published separately by the university libraries of Uppsala (since 1850), and Lund (since 1853). 8o ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. leaves measuring 27 x 22 cm. Only one author is entered on each leaf, but as many titles of books by the same author as there is room for. For authors with, for instance, 20 or even more titles no order needs to be observed between the titles ; the pages may be run over in a moment. For great authors, such as Cicero, Luther, Goethe, and the like, the titles should be divided into sections according to the well-known rules of Cutter. When a leaf is full, another is begun for the same author, the new leaf being pasted into the volume in the proper place. If a leaf should for some reason need to be replaced by a new one, it is not a very serious matter to have it copied. When a volume becomes too crowded, it is separated and rebound in two volumes. I cannot give statistics as to the average time a volume will last till it is filled up and has to be divided, but certainly long enough not to cause any serious incon- venience. This system seems to be a good combination of cards and the convenient bound catalog. There is, however, a con- siderable inconvenience, viz. : that it is pos- sible to catalog only in one room ; but this inconvenience is removed if the books are first cataloged on cards or slips, to be copied in the general catalog and afterwards used for other special catalogs. The weak point in the actual Uppsala catalog is the catalog of anonymous works. In the old printed catalog, instead of being arranged alphabetically these are classified systematically and arranged chronologically in each division ; unhappily this system was not only continued in the first so-called sup- plement to the printed catalog, but carried on for so long (till about 20 years ago, when the now retired librarian, Claes Anner- stedt, set about the new anonymous works catalog) that it is a heavy task to have all those books recataloged according to the new plan. A satisfactory system for cataloging anonymous works being, as we know only too well, not only difficult to find, but not yet found, or at least not generally recog- nized, the methodical work with this catalog v/as put off too long as a very disagreeable task that one would like to set about to- morrow rather than fo-day. And the truth is, that there is in Uppsala still some experi- menting with the different systems in this respect. In Uppsala, for practical reasons, the for- eign dissertations are not entered in the main catalog; it is thought advisable not to augment the bound quarto catalog never- theless growing very fast by such an enor- mous mass of leaves with generally only one title on each. They are cataloged on cards kept in cases, for ^he present 257 in number. The annual catalogs of the French, German, Swiss and Swedish disserta- tions printed on thin paper are cut and the slips pasted on the cards. The modern Swedish dissertations are en- tered into the main catalog; for the earlier ones we have the very good catalogs of Liden, printed 1779 and 1780, continued oy Marklin, printed 1820 and 1856, and for 1855- 1890 by Mr. Aksel Josephson. In Sweden all pamphlets and disser- tations are cataloged just as carefully as a valuable work and according to the same principles except of course in the Swedish department, where a great number of small things naturally could not be cataloged. With this exception our great libraries are entirely cataloged, only the Gothenburg catalog being not yet finished. In Lund a really grand work has been done within the last 20 years, the whofe library being reclassified and recataloged. The work was begun and carried through by the un- commonly vigorous and energetic late libra- rian, Elof Tegner. Authors and anonymous headings, mixed together into one alphabetical series, are in the alphabetical catalogs of Stockholm, Lund and Gothenburg. In Uppsala they are di- vided into three alphabets one for authors, one for anonymous works, and one for trans- actions of learned societies and analogous works cataloged under the name of the place. And there is in fact no inconvenience what- ever in this method, for everybody acquainted, however superficially, with the system of the catalog knows immediately to what part of it he has to go in order to find a given title. I have heard the late librarian of the Uni- versity Library of Gottingen, Karl Dziatzko. say that, after having practised in Breslau for a long time the same method of keeping the authors' catalog separated from the anon- ymous one, he had found it very practica- ble and commendable. Some other parts of the main catalog, such as Bibles and statis- ANDERSSON. 81 tical tables, which are in reality special cata- logs, are also kept separately. The American system of the so-called dic- tionary catalog is not in use in Sweden at all. We make neither subject nor catchword nor title entries. For want of means the Swedish libraries, like many others, are unable to print the titles for their catalogs. In the Royal Li- brary, in Lund, and in Gothenburg, two copies are made of every title, one for the alphabetical catalog, the other for the systematic one. Th?. latter is classified according to the same system as the books on the shelves and is, therefore, really an. enlarged local catalog or shelf list. In the Uppsala library there is, I am sorry to say, no systematic catalog ai all and I do not think I shall live to see the beginning of one, for want of workers. For several reasons, however, I for my part am inclined to believe that this deficiency is not so very great in systematically classified libraries as it is generally considered to be. In the first place the technical question is so difficult by far the most difficult of all bib- liographical or library technical questions that I do not think that I have seen a satis- factory systematic catalog. It is also much too difficult for the general public to find their way in it, and I am sure that even most university professors would be rather helpless with such a catalog if not guided in its use by a librarian. In most cases the systematic catalogs are very nearly local catalogs, but the shelf itself is no doubt the best local catalog. Let the student go and look there if practicable; in most university libraries it is proved to be practicable. And the more the bibliographical literature de- velops in quantity and quality, the more easily we can do without the systematic catalog. All the Jahresberichte and similar works of our days are eminent helps to the librarians in their efforts on behalf of the students, not to speak of such great enterprises as the Royal Society's "Catalogue of scientific lit- erature." Concerning the grand work done in this country in this respect I need not more than quote the "Lists" issued by the Library of Congress and the New York State Library in Albany. It is my belief that a dictionary catalog, generally speaking of the American pattern, with subject or catchword cards, or both, is a much more useful catalog than a system- atic one only I should prefer to have the authors' cards filed separately from the others. The cataloging system in Sweden is, gen- erally speaking, based on the same principles as the German one, set forth in the Prus- sian "Instruktionen fur die alphabetischen Kataloge . . .," though naturally with certain differences. We catalog, for in- stance, an anonymous work under the first substantive in nominative case; if there is no such substantive we take for instance a pre- position for heading, as "Over the sea." Transactions of learned societies, and official publications of boards, corporations and ether institutions are cataloged under the name of the place, as Smithsonian Institution, or U. S. Department of Agriculture, under Washington, with cross-references as needed from the title of the work or from another geographical name. The latter is regularly the case with institutions of one of the United States, for instance, Geological Survey of Maryland under Baltimore, with cross- reference from Maryland to Baltimore. In the Royal Library and in Lund, however, the main entry is made under the title of the work, with cross-reference from the name of the place. The name of a society is not used as a heading in Sweden. The three principal libraries have good catalogs of their manuscripts, the Gothen- burg mss. catalog being in progress. In Uppsala there are special catalogs for some very great mss. donations; these as well as the one of the main collection for the greater part a splendid work of the retired librarian C. G. Styfre are classified cata- logs. The scholarly catalog of the mediaeval mss. (about 1000 vols.) is in its present state chiefly due to the retired librarian, Claes Annerstedt. There is a special catalog of the great collection of litterae doctorum virorum, on leaves kept in 35 cases, a work of another retired officer, the Count Eugene Lewenhaupt. The extremely useful alphabetical index to the manuscripts does not exist in Sweden any more than in other large libraries. One of the "e. o." assistants m Uppsala began one last year; I do not know what generation shall see it finished. Hitherto the Swedish libraries have gen- ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. erally bound their books in a good half binding, which is indeed much too expensive for libraries with our insufficient grants, such a binding for an ordinary octavo volume costing in our country 2-3 crowns. It is only lately that we have begun to use cloth or linen to a greater extent ; we now often even give the books only quarter bindings cut flush, at a cost of about one crown for a big octavo volume, and in Uppsala little used serials nowadays are often kept unbound in open pamphlet cases, a book never being placed in that library unbound on the shelf unless in a case. It is TO be considered that we can bind in less durable bindings, because in a research library books generally are not so worn away as in a popular library. In case of need it will generally be cheaper to rebind one or more volumes of a series in a cheap binding than to bind the whole collection in a more expensive way Pamphlets are never bound together in one volume now; we consider it better in all re- spects to keep them unbound in open pam- phlet cases, shelved at the end of the division they belong to. The classmark with the in- dication "case" is written on the front cover. About twenty years ago in Uppsala and Lund the foreign dissertations were bound to- gether in volumes, a method found to have great inconveniences. Two persons may demand different dissertations in the same volume, but only one of them can have it. And, besides, we do not consider it safe to lend such a volume, for if it were lost, all the pamphlets bound in it could hardly be pro- cured again. On the contrary, our principle is to separate such volumes as much as our means allow. Old original bindings, or those of any historical interest, however, naturally are never touched by the knife. I have mentioned already that the three greatest Swedish libraries are divided into a national and a foreign department of printed books. Both these departments are classified systematically. The subdivisions are separ- ated by dummy books where there is not an open space left between them, as is generally the case. The classification, however, is not so minute as, for instance, the Decimal sys- tem, or the German one of Halle, two or more neighboring subdivisions being for practical reasons consolidated into one when they con- tain only a few books. Thus in Uppsala the aboriginal languages of America or general floras of the United States and of the individ- ual states form each only one subdivision, be- cause there are not more books on these sub- jects than are easily looked over, on the other hand there is a subdivision for the geology of each state. The system is no doubt question- able, especially because it makes it more diffi- cult to the cataloger to know the subdivisions by heart ; but it saves space, and one larger division is in fact more easily kept in order than many small ones, especially where the public is admitted to the stacks. The cataloging officer decides the class- mark. This is not composed of single letters or figures ; it is an abbreviation of the name of the subdivision in which the book is placed, for instance, Math., Geom., Phys., Electr., Philol., Lat, Diet., and so on. The books are not numbered at all except in the collections of early printed books and, naturally, manu- scripts. They are arranged alphabetically in each subdivision according to the authors' names or the word of an anonymous title used for heading in the catalog, the first letter of that word being underlined on the title page. We have found this system in mam" respects more convenient than the numbering and, as far as I can see, in no way incon- venient. Books are ordered from the shelves to the issue desk by means of pasteboard slip* sent to the stacks with the book's abbreviated title, classmark and the lending date on them. The slip rests in the book's place as a substitute for it till it comes back to its place Borrowers' order forms are kept in the al- phabetical order of the borrowers' surnames. Every day these are copied in ledgers in alphabetical order of authors, this order be- ing only so far observed that each letter of the alphabet is divided into a convenient num- ber of sections, for instance, A-Af. The book card system is not used in Sweden any more than the borrowers' card system. In the Royal Library and in the Gothen- burg library books are lent for one month ac- cording to the regulations, but this limit is generally not observed unless the book is required by another reader. In the university libraries the loan periods are too long, all the books having to be returned only at the ANDERSSON. end of each university term. Professors of the universities may even keep them during the whole academic year. At the universities and in Gothenburg university professors are entitled to demand the return of books lent to non-professors. In Uppsala there are fines stipulated for books not returned in due time. The regulations require a guarantee from borrowers, except for professors in the uni- versity libraries, but this rule is observed in a most liberal way, a guarantee never being requested from a known borrower. The num- ber of books allowed to be taken home by one person is practically unlimited, even for stu- dents at the universities. Also the university libraries are in fact public; they welcome everybody who comes for the purpose of re- search, university man or not, though, nat- urally, the general reading public in these libraries is different from that in the Royal Library in the metropolis. Practically every- body who applies for it is admitted to the stacks. Books are lent in a most liberal way be- tween the Swedish libraries. This system is neither ordered nor organized by any regu- lations; it is entirely voluntary and works extremely well. By means of the union Swedish "Accessions-katalog" everybody can find out in what library a desired book is to be had, and within a couple of days he can have it. Applications are never refused ex- cept regarding periodicals which are much in demand. Demands from private scholars all over the country, where there is no great library to act as an intermediary, are met with the same liberality. As the Royal Library and the two univer- sity libraries, as well as government offices in general and many public institutions, en- joy the franking privilege for letters and parcels sent through the post, this lending system causes no expense whatever to the borrowers. We also readily lend books and manuscripts to foreign libraries (sometimes even to private scholars abroad directly), and we borrow a good deal from abroad but never books that can be procured through the booksellers. We do not think it proper to ask a foreign library to keep current books for our students. We also send our books abroad free of postage, and we do not charge borrowers for packing. Modern Swedish fiction is neither lent nor supplied in the reading room except for the purpose of research. We receive the national literature in order to preserve it, which would be impossible if it were lent to the general public ; nor would our small staffs be able to answer to the demands of a free public library service. Our officers are too few and their salaries too low ; a great por- tion of our work must be done by super- numerary officers, who are either very poorly or not at all remunerated a very bad sys- tem which needs a thorough reformation. In the Uppsala library 27 students have en- tered the library service during the last twenty years; 18 of them have given it up, seeing no possibility of an adequate promo- tion. Women are not employed in the great general libraries in Sweden; one woman only has been a supernumerary officer in the Upp- sala Library. She was a university graduate. In some special libraries in Stockholm, how- ever, women are employed as assistants, in a few cases even as librarians. For the systematic training of young li- brarians nothing has, as yet, been done in cur country. For a special library school we are evidently too few in number; but even in the service there is hardly any system in the train- ing of the beginners, the small number of offi- cers not permitting a strict division of the work into departments, so that everybody has occasionally to do all kinds of work on the same day. Before finishing I may say a few words on the Swedish press-law. It has been stated above that the Royal Library in Stockholm and the two university libraries of Uppsala and Lund enjoy the privilege, of receiving each one copy of everything printed in the country. This privilege is not connected with the copyright, the copyright act not prescrib- ing to the publisher any deposit of copies. But the -printers have the obligation of de- livering four complete and perfect copies of everything printed by them, nothing, however insignificant, being excepted. The printer who has printed the main work has to deliver the whole, even though the plates were printed abroad; the libraries claim also the productions of the job-printing offices and of the lithographical printing offices, engrav- ings and the like. 8 4 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. Three of these copies have to be delivered to the said libraries, the fourth to the Minister of Justice in Stockholm or to this minister's deputies in the country towns for the purpose of censure. For although the press is in Sweden practically entirely free, there are naturally certain grave abuses of it exempted from this liberty; for instance, blasphemy, grave personal insults, and so on. The printers are entitled to send in their book-parcels by the post free of postage, and the libraries are entitled to receive their copies free of any charge. If, therefore, the printer sends his books any other way than through the post, he has to pay the carriage himself. The delivery is very slow, the law provid- ing only that what is printed in one year must be delivered before the following July. Many printers, however, especially the greater ones, deliver their productions twice a year. A list of all printing offices in the country is kept in the Department of Justice, so the libraries can always have their lists complete. But to exercise an effective control over the printer is more than difficult; it is in fact im- possible, although his name, and the place and the year of publication have to be printed on everything. The printers are advised to send in lists of what is printed by them dur- ing the year, and generally they do so, but the librarian cannot compel them to do it. The deputies of the Minister of Justice have to keep lists of what is printed in their places, but they are not obliged to send in copies of them to the libraries. The librarian may, it is true, ask them for information in doubtful cases but how to know whether a printer's list is complete or not ? The publishers' annual catalog naturally does not contain more than a fraction of what has been printed. And besides, even the most scrupu- lous printer is liable by inadvertence to send in an incomplete list. It is, therefore, prob- able, or rather certain, that some productions of the press escape the librarian's notice, al- though he may display any amount of vigil- ance and energy. Fortunately absence of readiness on the printers' side to deliver their press-law copies is rare. The printers have not the same reason as the publishers to struggle against this law, and the fights fought in other coun- tries between librarians and publishers con- cerning the copyright copies are unknown in Sweden. When a printer is found not to have de- livered a certain book to a library, he is sum- moned to send in a copy. If he does not, the librarian notifies the Minister of Jus- tice, who then proceeds against him and fines him 37 or 50 cr. for each omission. There is no time provided in the press-law within which an action against a printer for defec- tive delivery shall be commenced. The press-law does not contain any stipu- lations as to the quality of the paper upon which the copies have to be printed. The law is older than the invention of the ex- tremely bad paper of our days, so there was then hardly occasion for such stipulation. Recently the question has been under dis- cussion by the authorities, and it is to be hoped that this deficiency may be remedied. The amount of Swedish press-productions delivered to the three libraries during the year 1903 was 22,896 nos., besides several thousands of small things. This obligation of the printers, originally for the censure of the printed literature, and now, as we have seen, serving two purposes the censure, and the preservation of the national literature exists since 1661, the date of the first royal ordinance for this pur- pose. In this ordinance, however, the univer- sities were not comprehended and it was only at the end of the I7th century that the priv- ilege was extended to them also. For a long time these ordinances were of very little ef- fect, though often repeated and although the fines for non-observance in the earlier times were heavy enough. It is only since the middle of the last century that the law has been more strictly superintended and ob- served. The present press-law dates from 1812, and is one of the fundamental laws of the king- dom a good thing in so far as it cannot easily be changed according to an occasional opinion; but on the other hand it is thereby also made difficult to have deficiencies amended, for instance, to obtain a quicker de- livery, a more durable paper for the library- copies, and to make the printers' requirement to send in correct and complete lists con- trolled by the deputies of the Minister of Justice, on pain of fine. REYER. THE LIBRARY MOVEMENT IN AUSTRIA. BY DR. EDOUARD REYER, Central Bibliothek, Vienna. *T*HE public libraries of Vienna have now a circulation of three millions. In the year 1887 they had 100,000 and it was and is still very hard work to advance along this road. Our difficulties, and our means and methods, are different from those existing and employed in other countries, as will be seen from the following statement. Before the year 1870 little was done in Austria in regard to public libraries. In the cities old state libraries existed, libraries of the universities and of the corporations, and the learned classes looked with indiffer- ence on the great work done in your coun- try. Some men tried the work, but they found no aid; most newspapers declined to publish articles on a matter of so little interest. If the progressive, liberal part of the population felt so little inclination towards public libra- ries, it was natural enough that the mighty aristocratic, conservative and clerical parties made a firm opposition. Rich men of the lib- eral party, asked to do something for a li- brary, answered : "Come and ask something for the poor, for an asylum or for an hos- pital and we will give willingly, but what will you do with these libraries? You will create half-culture, you will increase the discontent of the masses." If even the liberals think in this way, we may not wonder that the cler- icals fight openly against our public libraries. So began our work. We have many foes, few friends, nearly no help. In some small towns we opened libraries with some 100 volumes; people came, but after the lapse of some years the books were worn out and it was harder to raise the necessary means again. The municipality gave nothing, rich citizens who had given something at first, were not willing to continue. So these first free libraries were soon regarded as un- successful charity work. The second difficulty to be surmounted was the general tendency to subordinate the library to a certain political creed. The authorities never declared it, but in fact everyone felt it immediately. When I first worked as member of a corporation creating public libraries, I proposed to introduce the leading newspapers in the reading room; the proposal was accepted, but when I men- tioned the names of the leading clerical and socialistic newspapers, the president protested and I saw that he accepte'd only liberal and conservative newspapers as suitable for pub- lic libraries. After some years of practical work I had formulated my methods which differed in so many points from the formula adopted in Vienna that I was obliged to try the ex- periment, at first on a small scale in one of our provincial towns. The society which we created ten years ago in Graz accepted all essential points and its success was full. In the next year we had attained a circulation of 200,000 for 100,000 inhabitants. Return- ing to Vienna we founded a corporation un- der the name Central-Bibliothek, which in the course of seven years has opened 18 libraries with a circulation of 1,800,000. Our regulations provide that books and periodicals shall be given to readers, without regard to religious or political tendencies. This may seem to you natural, but in our country many people find it dangerous and there is opposition. And this is not only the case in Austria but also in Germany. Visit any reading room sustained by a liberal mu- nicipality and you will never find the leading socialistic newspapers, and the socialists avoid those reading rooms. In Graz we had opened the library and reading room under the auspices of the gov- ernor, the mayor and other leading persons, and not only the liberal, but also the clerical and socialist newspapers were provided. The effect was good, no political party was of- fended and we had at least no determined enemies. Now it seems difficult to maintain this prin- 86 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. ciple without expending considerable sums for a great variety of clerical, socialist and other publications. But in fact the solution of this problem is not so difficult. We had the works of Lassalle, Marx and other lead- ing socialists, but they were little used even by socialistic workingmen, because they had long ago read the same works in the social- istic library, and in the same way it was not necessary to buy a great stock of clerical works, as the clerical readers of high culture found the literature in our old state libraries, and the clerical readers of low culture were satisfied with a small collection. The next question of importance was how to raise the necessary means. For nearly twenty years we had seen, in Germany as well as in our state, that it is impossible to maintain free libraries for many years in a decent condition. America and England have municipalities and rich men who give the necessary means ; we have nothing of that sort. We have not a shadow of a Carnegie, and every politician would laugh at the sug- gestion of a library tax. How can a free library exist under these conditions? "Free library" is an empty, even a pernicious phrase in our country. In the beginning the reader must pay a trifle till we have educated a generation, ripe for library taxes and free libraries. At first we introduced a tax of 10 kreuzer (4 cents) a month, later we took 20 and 25 kreuzer in the richer districts of Vienna. In the poorer districts where the working classes prevail, the tax is mostly four cents a month, and even the laborer does not ob- ject to pay this trifle, which for a long time will be a necessary contribution to maintain our public libraries in a decent condition. At the present time our libraries spend about 200.000 kronen a year, which is little for a circulation of three millions. The question of economy, unknown in your country, is dominating in our work and we lave introduced methods and made experi- ments under this constraint. For years the great publishers of Germany and Austria have given us almost half the books we want as gifts. We buy on a large scale and have the books bound in quantities. Some hundred volumes of the same author are frequently delivered at once in the cen- tral library and distributed afterwards to the libraries in Vienna and in the provinces. The binding is cheap and excellent (black cloth with illuminated letters, price per volume 24 kreuzer 9 cents). A further economy was introduced by dividing thick volumes, so that a volume seldom has more than 300 pages. The books are so well preserved that re- binding seldom occurs. If the pages are dirty or worn out, we remove the books. The space which is at our disposal must be used in the most economical manner, as we must pay a high rent. The work is done mostly by women workers, because women's wages are low in our country (50 and 60 kronen, or 10 to 12 dollars a month). Every worker has a vacation of four weeks, she receives a percentage of the income of the li- brary, and we pay the cost of doctor and medicines in the case of sickness. The central library has introduced a system of delivery only for the scientific department ; the books are delivered every day to most of the public libraries of Vienna. Co-operation with some scientific libraries has been intro- duced. The Chamber of Commerce, the Juridische Leseverein and the Railway club allow us to record the books contained in their libraries and we send those books in case of demand to the library where the reader has requested the book. About 60,000 volumes are contained in the scientific libra- ries of these corporations. Our central li- brary, including branches, contains 240,000 volumes. The public libraries of other socie- ties have about 150,000 volumes. The circulation of our central library with- out the branches was last year 644,000 (236,- ooo books from the scientific department). The central library inclusive of branches has a circulation of 1,800,000; the public libraries of other societies have 1,300,000, so that Vi- enna has a circulation of 3,100,000. As we divide thick volumes, this number must be reduced, and it results in a net circulation of two million complete volumes for a population of 1,600,000. We have done much under the prevailing circumstances, but more is left to be done by the rising genera- tion. In the provinces most of the library work PIETSCHMANN. done is rather poor; only in some towns were sufficient means raised to create a free library. Most of the public libraries must demand from the readers a fee of a few cents a month. For the Alpine provinces Dr. Michael Hainisch, who gives every year 6000 kronen has done a good deal. These provinces have now a circulation of about half a million. But Dr. Michael Hainisch, who is a man of great idealism and of moderate income, stays isolated in this regard, for no one of our rich citizens has the ambition to work in the same line. I have mentioned many difficulties. Last but not least I must say a word on our con- flicting nationalities, which lead to the same enmity as does the question of color in your country. Once I thought it possible to create mixed libraries in districts with mixed pop- ulation, and I hoped to bring better under- standing and peace to these districts. To- day I know that this is impossible. The library would be destroyed by both nations. KARL DZIATZKO: A MEMORIAL SKETCH.* BY PROF. DR. RICHARD PIETSCHMANN, Director, University Library of Gottingen. T T is not without hesitation that following a kind suggestion of your president I shall try to speak some words on the late Karl Dziatzko. I would have wished to have had leisure to prepare a somewhat elaborate address; but time did not permit. Neverthe- less I feel obliged not to let pass the oppor- tunity of speaking to so select and competent an audience in memoriam of a man whose work has been widely appreciated, and under whom I have worked more than twenty years. Karl Dziatzko received his first instruction in library science when he was a student at the university of Bonn. He worked there under Friedrich Ritschl, who, besides being one of the most successful teachers of phil- ology, had also charge of the administration of the university library. Ritschl entirely reorganized the library and did a great deal for its development. He made it a rule for the members of the philological seminar to assist in the library, and Dziatzko served for a long time in the circulating depart- ment. Many of the best librarians of Ger- many received their training from Ritschl, of whom I mention only Aug. Wilmanns, general director in Berlin, Jos. Stander, di- * Translated by Miss Selina Nachmann, student Pratt Institute Library School. rector of the university library at Bonn, and Wilhelm Brambach, until recently librarian at the Court library in Karlsruhe. At first Dziatzko had apparently no inten-. tion of making library work his vocation. He received his degree in 1863, his disserta- tion being a work on the prologues in Plautus and Terence, and chose the career of a teacher, first at the Gymnasium at Op- peln and later in the Lyceum at Lucerne. In 1871 he was appointed director of the univer- sity library in Freiburg, Baden, but very soon exchanged his position for one at the gymnasium in Karlsruhe. In the fall of 1872 the Prussian govern- ment, upon the advice of Anton Klette, ap- pointed him head librarian of the Royal and University Library in Breslau and from that time on he remained faithful to the pro- fession; for not until then were the high ideals of his calling brought home to him. In Breslau he found a large field of activity. First of all he had a new alphabetical card catalog made. In doing this he examined personally every book and compared every title page. Questions which arose were dis- cussed in conferences of the library staff and the decisions arrived at were reduced to rules. The fundamental principle's estab- lished by this experience were published by Dziatzko in 1886 under the title "Instructions ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. for the arrangement of titles in the alphabet- ical card catalog of the Royal and University Library in Breslau." As early as 1887 an Italian translation of the book appeared and Klas August Linderfelt utilized it in his "Eclectic card catalog rules," which were published in Boston in 1890. It forms the basis of the first discussions for the instruc- tions for form and arrangement of headings now used in Prussia. Adolph Friedrich Stenzler awakened his interest in the history of early printing and the research work that he now began led him to the discovery that Caspar Elyan was the first printer of Breslau. A new field of activity was opened to him when he was called to Gottingen as profes- sor of library science and head librarian of the university library. Here he found one of the most important documents regarding the history of printing, the "Helmersperger instrument." He published a new edition of it from the original and continued his re- searches in connection with the subject. I mention only one of his works, which is im- portant on account of its results as well as its method, his "Gutenberg's friiheste Drucker- praxis." Up to that time it had been a ques- tion which of the two oldest Bibles was the work of Gutenberg. Dziatzko proved beyond a doubt that the Bible with 42 lines was printed before the one with 36 lines. His research work was not limited to this sub- ject. He also studied seriously questions touching the books and libraries of the an- cients. According to his idea the field of knowl- edge in regard to library science is a very wide one and embraces everything that can be brought in connection with books. He liked to occupy himself with questions con- cerning the booktrade and copyright laws, and he had a very clear conception of jurist- ical problems. He objected to being called a scholarly librarian. He treated the daily routine of the administration with the same importance as his scientific studies. For his subordinates he was a splendid example of most rigorous and careful attention to duties. He de- signed the arrangement for locking the card catalog in the library in Breslau and was in- terested in other technical details, as for instance bibliographical photographic repro- ductions. He possessed organizing and ad- ministrative ability in a very high degree. During his career a great reform in library matters took place in Prussia. It is true that as early as 1872 some measures were taken for the improvement of university li- braries ; they differed, however, very little from previous methods. A more general re- form began in 1884. At this time a number of radical measures were started which, free from theoretical prejudices and doctrines, brought about a complete reorganization of library management in Prussia. Uniform in execution and plan, they can be traced back to one strong personality, the present director in the Kultus-ministerium, Friedrich Althoff. If the history of this reform is to be written Karl Dziatzko has to be mentioned as coun- sellor in many important questions. Dziatzko devoted a great deal of care and attention to the training of assistants. The practice of the German printers of the i5th century had the foremost place in his stud- ies. He lectured on library administration, history of printing, and booktrade before and after the Reformation, history of books and libraries of the ancients, development of modern library methods, and also on the palaeography of the Latin classics and the legal status of the book world. His assist- ants were also given a systematic training in library work, advancing from the simple to the difficult through all phases of practical service. Dziatzko was chairman of the commission on examinations for librarians. He worked constantly towards elevating the profession and was instrumental in bringing about the association of the librarians of Germany. He was earnest and firm in his ideas and principles, at the same time a friend of social intercourse, and he always endeavored to come into personal contact with his offi- cials. Many of those who worked with him were closely attached to him, and all will remember him with gratitude and admiration. BAILLIE. 8 9 LIBRARY WORK IN NEW ZEALAND. BY HERBERT BAILLIE, Librarian Public Library, Wellington, N. Z. "M"EW ZEALAND appears to have been al- ways generous in the matter of public libraries ; every community possesses a section of land which was reserved for library pur- poses when the town or village was laid out by the government. Subsidies are paid an- nually, to all libraries that make application, in proportion to the revenue which may be received either in rates, donations or sub- scriptions. The subsidy is allotted by a system which is advantageous to the smaller libraries. No library is credited with a larger revenue than 75, and a nominal addition of 25 is made to the income of each library. The library with an income of say 20 is assessed for subsidy at 45. The library with an income of 100 or more receives the same grant as the one with 75. The stipulations are that the subsidy is to be spent in the purchase of books, and that in the case of libraries within a borough a free reading room must be pro- vided.* The Public Libraries Act was passed by the New Zealand Parliament during the session of 1869, being based upon the "Ewart bill" of Great Britain. Sir G. M. O'Rorke, who introduced the bill, stated "that so far as he was aware there was no library freely open to the public at large in the colony." The act was passed with practically no dis- cussion. This act stipulated that a charge of not less than s/- per annum was to be made for the privilege of borrowing books. The Municipal Corporations Act, 1890, incorporating the Public Libraries Act, as far as boroughs are concerned, left it optional for the corporations to make a charge to borrowers. As far as I know, there is no purely free library in the colony, excepting, of course, the General Assembly Library, and that is restricted to certain privileged persons. * According to latest available returns 364 libra- ries participated in vote of 3000 granted for sub- sidies, 1902-1903. As Carnegie grants have been accepted by Dunedin (10,000), Westport (2000), and Thames (2000), it will be necessary for these libraries to be perfectly free. .The first community to take advantage of the act was Auckland, which struck a li- brary rate in 1879, ten years after the pass- ing of the act. Methods. The first card catalog was in- troduced into the General Assembly Library by Mr. H. L. James, who was then (1898) acting-librarian. Mr. James has also the honor of introducing Mr. Dewey's system of classification. The Wellington Public Library, Mr. T. W. Rowe being then librarian, soon followed the lead of the General Assembly Library in both these important particulars. Other libraries are now compiling card catalogs, but unfortunately, most of our librarians are of a conservative nature. The usual method of loan charging is by means of ledgers either single or double entry. Books are num- bered in classes designated A, B, C, etc. "A," theology; "B," history and biography; "C," travel. This facilitates charging, be- sides classifying the books roughly very roughly. One important library uses a ledger, in which is entered the full name of book borrowed, and seems quite satisfied with it. The Newtown branch (Wellington) will complete the Newark system of charging as soon as our supply of pockets arrive; we have been using a card system there since the opening in 1902, and although it is an im- provement on the ledger system, it was too intricate during rushes. I hope to install the Newark system at the Wellington library as soon as convenient. In the matter of book supplies, I think that we may consider ourselves fortunate as far as fiction is concerned. The English pub- lishers issue what are called "colonial edi- tions" of all important works ; in most cases the colonial edition is issued at the same time as the original edition, and the books are ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. retailed at 3/6 for cloth bound copies and 2/6 for paper covers. They cost libraries, on an average, 3/- per copy for the cloth edition. The American publisher is now beginning to deal direct with this colony, with special prices, much to our pecuniary benefit. I shall now give a few details of the prin- cipal public libraries of the colony. New Zealand was first colonized by the British in 1840, the first settlers coming out under the auspices of the New Zealand Company, a company formed in England for that purpose. The Aurora, the first ship conveying set- tlers, arrived at Wellington Jan. 22, 1840, and by the end of that year there was a population of about 1200, among whom the library spirit was evidently well developed, as we find that on Dec. i a meeting was held at Barrett's Hotel "to consider the advisability of open- ing a public library and reading room." A number of names famous in New Zealand history are mentioned in the short report of the proceedings that has been handed down to us. A house was bought for 30 and a librarian, in the person of Dr. Knox, was appointed librarian at a salary of 75 per annum, which must have been a good salary for the duties to be performed. It is fair to say that Dr. Knox reciprocated in gen- erosity, as there are now in the Wellington Public Library a number of medical books that he presented to the infant library. In these days of anti-fiction it is refreshing to find a librarian who put such books as Fyfe's "Anatomy," Beclard's "Elements of Anatomy," and similar works into his collection, but, judging by the appearance of the books after this space of time the public were as wilful as they are 1 now-a-days and would only read what they liked. Towards the end of 1843 Governor Fitzroy granted a portion of a reserve that had had been set aside by the New Zealand Company when they were laying out the town, and the foundation of a permanent home was laid on May 2, 1844, the name of the institution then being "The Port Nicholson Mechanics' Institute, Public School and Library." Trouble seems to have cropped up which delayed building operations until 1849, in which year the central portion of the building was completed and opened, the name at the same time being changed to "Wellington Athenaeum and Mechanics' Institute." This building, with subsequent additions, appears to have fulfilled its func- tions satisfactorily, those who had the man- agement of the institute being animated with a true sense of the value of intellectual cul- ture. In 1876 the members of the institute were advised that something more pretentious was required, and the foundation stone of a large building was laid Jan. 20, 1877. This proved a disastrous step, as after a few years' struggle with a heavy mortgage the concern passed from the hands of the members. In 1890 a movement was inaugurated to estab- lish a Public Library, and the citizens agreed that a library rate should be levied ; the move- ment was helped considerably by a donation of 1000 received from Mr. W. H. Levin for the purchase of books. The books of the defunct Athenaeum were purchased, thus en- abling that ill-fated concern to clear off its liabilities. The foundation stone of the present central library, which is only a part of the original design, was laid Dec. 15, 1891, and the build- ing was opened to the public on April 23, 1893. A subscription of $/- a year is charged for the privilege of borrowing books, all other branches being free. There are about 1700 subscribers. The reference library con- tains 14,000 volumes, and the lending branch 10,000 volumes. The Newtown branch was opened May, 1902, being the first branch li- brary in New Zealand. Plans for another branch to be erected at Brooklyn have now been approved. On the completion of this branch Wellington will have a central library and two branches for a population of 50,000. In Auckland in 1880 the City Council took over for the purposes of a public library the "Mechanics' Institute," which had been established in 1843, and had had a checkered career until the City Council came to its aid, as was the case in Wellington. In 1887 the library took possession of its fine new quarters which are part of the Auckland Municipal buildings. Auckland has been particularly fortunate in having been the recipient of some generous donations, the principal one being that of Mr. Edward Costley, which amounted to over 12,000. Sir George Grey, a former governor KINGSLAND. of the colony, and who had always been keenly interested in public libraries, pre- sented his library, which contained a large number of valuable books and mss. Though the Auckland Library is second in point of age it is easily first as to its fittings and collection. The librarian is Mr. E. Shilling- ton. The subscription to the lending branch is io/- per annum. The Christ Church Library was opened as a Mechanics' Institute in 1859 eight years after the arrival of the first settlers in that province. This settlement was promoted by a company under the auspices of the Church of England. Large endowments were reserved for the benefit of church and educa- tional purposes. In 1868 permanent buildings were erected which took the place of the temporary home of the library. In 1873 the property was transferred to the Superinten- dent of the Province, and by him transferred to the control of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College. It has been maintained by them since out of endowments with the aid of a subscription fee from borrowers. The library has had one or two handsome dona- tions, it is a very popular institution and has been well managed. The reading rooms and reference library are free to the public; the subscription to the lending branch is io/- per annum; there are 1800 subscribers. The ref- erence library contains 15,000 volumes, and there are over 22,000 volumes in the lending branch. Mr. H. Strong is librarian. In Dunedin, Mr. Mark Cohen, one of the principal promoters of the public library movement, has promised to contribute a short history of library work in that city; it has not arrived in time to enclose with this paper. There is no public library in Dunedin; the City Council are now advertising for competi- tive designs for the Carnegie library building. A Mechanics' Institute and Athenaeum was established in 1859; it is restricted to sub- scribers who pay an annual fee of i. i. o. Mention should also be made of the Gen- eral Assembly Library. It was first proposed July 28, 1856, during the sitting of the second parliament after the colony had been granted responsible government. A motion was passed granting 100 to carry out the recommenda- tion of the Legislative Council's committee that that amount be expended in purchase of books ; the committee also reported that the Auckland Provincial Council had agreed to amalgamate and to provide an equal vote for purchase of books and at their own expense to provide fittings and pay the librarian's salary. When the seat of government was re- moved to Wellington the library was also removed. The library has had in the past the benefit of the literary knowledge of mem- bers of both branches of the legislature, which has been of the highest order. In 1871 the Hon. Alfred Domett (the "Waring" of Robert Browning) on his retirement from the public service received a valedictory letter of thanks from the New Zealand Government, in which his services in connection with the formation and management of the Parliamentary Li- brary were gratefully acknowledged. Mr. Charles Wilson is librarian. REPORT ON THE LIBRARIES OF GUATEMALA. BY L. D. KINGSLAND, Consul-General of Guatemala at St. Louis. 'npHE City of Guatemala was the capital * of the kingdom of the same name in the time of the Spanish government, and for this reason it was the residence of the higher officials and nobles who attended to the pub- lic affairs, consequently Guatemala was the center of learning and education of the king- dom, which comprised at that time what now forms the five republics of Central America the State of Chiapas and the Province of Soconusco, that now belong to Mexico, and the territory known to-day as Belize or Brit- ish Honduras. In this long past epoch, edu- cation and intellectual culture were almost entirely in the hands of the many convents of monks and friars; consequently all these con- ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. vents were the owners of valuable libraries containing important works of history, philos- ophy, literature, etc. After the revolutionary movement of 1871 a decree was issued by the Liberal Govern- ment, prohibiting all convents of monks and nuns and nationalizing all their property, in- cluding their valuable libraries, which were taken to form the basis and the foundation of the National Public Library of Guatemala. The library since that time has been gradually and constantly increased, and contains to-day over 25,000 volumes, being far ahead of any other in Central America, not only as the possessor of the largest number of volumes, but also the most valuable works, specially on account of their antiquity. As an illustra- tion, we have a Bible in seven languages, all written by hand on parchment. Besides this library, the capital contains the following libraries: the Supreme Court Library; the Medical School Library; the Archbishop's Library; the High School Li- brary; the Society of Artisans; the Por- venir de los Obreros ; the Guatemala Club ; and many other smaller libraries of societies and private parties. The general archives of the government may be regarded also as a library, because it contains complete collections of all the laws, decrees, codes, etc., that have been in use since the beginning of our independence (1821). The municipal archives of the city include in good preservation all the official and many non-official documents of the colony since this section of the country was conquered by Don Pedro de Alvarado (1524). These docu- ments include among many other interesting ones the complete correspondence of the Spanish monarchs to the conquerors and royal auditors of the kingdom. In the principal cities and capitals of the departments we have libraries and reading rooms; the principal ones being those of the following cities : Quezaltenango, San Marcos, Coban, Salama, Totonicapan, Chiquimula, Jalapa, Antigua, Mazatenango, and many others of minor importance. The natural tendency and disposition of the Guatemalan people to literature make it necessary to enlarge these libraries constantly in all the branches of human learning. It is a well-known fact that Guatemala has the largest number and the best equipped libra- ries of Central America. NOTE ON THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF CHILE. COMMUNICATION BY FRANCISCO ARAYA BENNETT, Government Delegate to the St. Louis Conference. present era, in the felicitous phrase of Carlyle permit me to call your attention to the work accomplished by the National Library of Santiago, and to solicit, in its behalf, re- ports which may be useful alike to scholars in Chile, and to those who are, although for- eigners, interested in advancing the intellec- tual life of my country. . . . The history of the library of Santiago . . , was published on the occasion of the Inter- national Congress of Librarians at Paris in 1900. When national authority was first established in Chile, at the same time were founded a library, a newspaper, and an edu- cational institution, the diffusion of knowl- edge being regarded as fundamental, and the absent from my own land, and already charged with two official com- missions, I was honored with that of repre- senting my country in the Congress of Li- brarians now in session at St. Louis, in the character of secretary ad hoc to his Ex- cellency the Minister-Plenipotentiary of Chile to the United States and Mexico. When I arrived here his Excellency the Minister of Chile was in Mexico ; and on account of this circumstance it has not been possible for me to take part officially in the proceedings of the Congress. However, in my private char- acter as a citizen of a young country, who thoroughly appreciates the civilizing agency of the libraries the real universities of the RICHARDSON. 93 corner-stone of free institutions. The jour- nalist par excellence of the Revolution, Gamilo Henriquez, at one time was also the librarian of Chile. The library, at present directed by a dis- tinguished man of letters, is a center for use- ful studies and for investigations, which have illuminated with the light of history all phases of the national life. In its work, it now counts upon the co-operation of all edu- cational establishments, both secondary and higher, which have at least regular collections of books. Libraries of special character are steadily increasing ; and, among these, that of the National Congress occupies a promin- ent place on account of its richness in pub- lications which comprise the more important of the social sciences. The National Insti- tute (another foundation dating from the epoch of Chile's independence), the Peda- gogical Institute, the School of Medicine, the Agricultural Institute and the Commercial Institute ; the Catholic University, and the leading educational institutions that are sus- tained by the ecclesiastical authorities and the religious congregations ; and, moreover, a great number of workmen's societies all these [are gathering] collections of books, regularly classified, and placed at the service of a continually increasing number of readers. In the general Congress of Public Instruc- tion held at Santiago in December, 1902, un- der the auspices of the University, one of the subjects especially discussed was the forma- tion of popular libraries. The National Library has issued the follow- ing publications : Annuario de la Prensa Chilena, issued from 1886 to the end of 1900. Boletino Bibliografico, October, 1901. Catalogo de los manuscritos relatives a los antiguos jesuitos de Chile. Catalogo del Archivo de la Real Audiencia de Santiago. 2 v. Catalogo de autores griegos y latino. Catalogo de la seccion Americana (America en general). Bibliografia musical Chilena, 1886-1896. Catalogo de la seccion de Lectura a Domi- cilio. Chile has much to learn from nations who can depend on greater resources and ex- perience ; and the discussions and conclu- sions of this Congress will assuredly be of interest to us. Since it has not been possible for me to be personally present at your de- bates, permit me to ask you for such publica- tions as may be issued in consequence of those discussions ; and, if I may, for any others which relate to the work of the American Li- brary Association. I do not know whether that association possesses its own library, or is merely an association of librarians. If the former sup- position be correct, let me place at its dis- posal twenty-four volumes, comprising the publications of the National Library of San- tiago and of its director, Sefior Don Luis Montt. . . . Among the books which he sent, the Bib- liografia Chilena (of which only the second volume has been published) deserves especial mention, because it is a work of well-directed investigation, placed in methodical form. Its introduction contains information that is val- uable to the foreigner who wishes to under- stand the bibliography of my country of which Senor Montt's work is a full and sum- mary account. INTERNATIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHY. BY ERNEST GUSHING RICHARDSON, Librarian of Princeton University. 1DIBLIOGRAPHY may be pure or applied, and may be international in scope, inter- national in method, or international in exe- cution. As librarians we are interested in applied rather than pure bibliography, and as a conference, international in its composition, we are especially interested in the interna- tional execution, or what is known as interna- tional co-operation in the carrying out of bibliographical plans. The foundation in connection with this conference of an American Bibliographical Society is in itself a distinct contribution to the conception of what belongs to a confer- 94 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. ence of librarians. It marks off the field of pure bibliography from that section of the field of applied bibliography which belongs to the librarian. Briefly, the distinction is this pure bibliography concerns itself with the gen- eric book, applied with the specific. The pure bibliography gives a list of a given class, say books printed on vellum, or on a given sub- ject, say Dante, without regard to the loca- tion of any particular copy, or even strictly speaking any description of value or pecu- liarities of individual copies. The applied bibliography gives a list of specific copies of books, and it is intended to guide a reader to where he may find one for his use, either by purchase or by loan; if for purchase then the applied bibliography takes the form of the bookseller's or auction catalog; if for loan it is the library catalog. With pure bibliography the librarian, as librarian, has nothing to do, although as student or booklover, he may be deeply in- terested in it. The formation of the Biblio- graphical Society, composed so largely of members of the Library Association, shows that this is in fact the case among American librarians. As a matter of science pure bib- liography is indeed one of the most important and characteristic features of the librarians' equipment, ranking even above the knowl- edge of languages, but it is not the character- istic business of the librarian nor the proper business of a library association. In the same way that applied bibliography which relates to the obtaining of specific copies for use by purchase is, like pure bibli- ography, knowledge of languages, of the en- cyclopaedia of the sciences, etc., an important part of a librarian's equipment, but not his direct business. It belongs to booksellers' and publishers' associations, rather than to library associations. The special applied bibliography in which every librarian is most directly interested is the catalog of his own library, whether printed or unprinted. But every librarian very soon finds the limitations of his own library at a thousand points, and the practical need of referring readers to books that one does not have in one's own library has led to the inter-library loan and the development of the inter-library catalog the so-called joint or co-operative list. The best example of the inter-library cat- alog in America to date is the co-operative list of periodicals. Such lists have been pub- lished for the libraries of Boston and vicinity, of New York, Washington, Chicago, and California. These co-operative catalogs are of the very highest usefulness, both as time- savers and as contributors to the highest scientific work. One of the best things which could be done for the progress of scientific method in this country would be to unite, bring up to date, and somewhat extend the best of these lists. Other essays in this direc- tion of the co-operative catalog have been made in various fields, such as historical sources, etc., and the librarians of the larger reference libraries in America are feeling their way towards farther practical develop- ment. Mr. Lane and Mr. Putnam among others have written or spoken on this subject. In Europe the Prussian Gesamt-Katalog is perhaps the best illustration of the joint cat- alog. This joint catalog, or co-operative catalog, or inter-library catalog, is the highest devel- opment of applied bibliography to-day and the proper theme of such a session as this is the possible extension of the co-operative catalog now being successfully developed for local needs, to international undertakings. Good examples of the international joint catalog are somewhat rare. The work of the International Catalogue of Scientific Liter- ature is rather pure than applied bibliography, although it might very easily be turned into an inter-library catalog and a very practical one simply by printing a list of a limited number of chosen points where each of the periodicals, especially those not found in many libraries, might with certainty be found. There is, however, one kind of the true international, inter-library catalog of which there have been many examples during the last eight centuries that is the general cat- alog of manuscripts. As early as the I4th century a catalog was prepared of works existing in all the various Franciscan mon- asteries of England and Scotland. This, in the enlargement by Boston, included the libra- ries of no less than 182 monasteries. The aim of this catalog seems to have been pre- cisely that which underlies our co-operative lists of periodicals, the idea being that if RICHARDSON. 95 books are not in one library a person may use them in another or else have them sent to him. Provided only he knows where a copy may be found he may in some way or other consult it. In modern times there have been many examples of the inter-library cat- alog of manuscripts including many of the so-called bibliographical journeys like Blume's Iter Italicum. Some of these are strictly national like that of Robert for France and Mazzatinti for Italy. The great catalog of the French Departments also falls under this head. Among the older catalogs those of Bernard and Montfaucon are the most famous and most comprehensive, but the best example of the truly international manuscript catalog is that of Haenel, pub- lished in 1830 and covering British, French, Swiss, Spanish, Portuguese, Belgian and Dutch libraries. It has been said that the international char- acter of a bibliographical undertaking may be as regards scope, method, or execution. The scope may be international as regards the books included or the libraries referred to. Most high-class bibliographies are inter- national in respect of the books included. In the co-operative lists of periodicals, for example, there is no distinction of nationality, and almost all library catalogs are inter- national in this regard. On the other hand, however, most reading lists and ordinary bib- liographies are confined to the books of a single country, or at most of a single lan- guage, and there are the strictly national bibliographies such as Heinsius, Keyser, Lorenz, the English and American catalogs, etc. Bibliographies which are international as regards the libraries referred to are the joint catalogs of manuscripts before referred to. By internationality of method is to be un- derstood a uniformity of method in various countries, so that work done independently in each may be available for a joint result. This sort of thing is attained where the card bibliographies of the European institutes and councils can be joined with those of the American Library Association Publish- ing Board, the Library of Congress, etc., in a uniform whole, as has actually been done to some extent. These matters of method include (i) a uniform size of card. This, thanks to the foresight of Mr. Dewey, in almost forcing the metric system on Amer- ican librarians, to the great advantage of the librarians, is practically secured for us and the i2 T /2 by 7^ centimeter card is, to- day, the de facto basis of a wide range of important international bibliographies. (2) A very important matter for uniformity in method is that of cataloging rules, and more especially the matter of entry. Some progress has been made in this regard by an actual evolution, and Mr. Jast is bringing to this conference a proposition for definite co-oper- ation between British and American libra- rians in this matter. This is a distinct step towards the bibliography which is interna- tional in method. (3) Another matter on which some lay stress, but which can hardly be counted in the same class of necessity with uniform entry, is the uniform classi- fication. The Decimal classification has the field just now through its adoption by the Brussels Institute and frequent use in Great Britain and the ready incorporation of the Zurich cards, for example, with other cards having the Decimal classification, has actually produced international bibliographies with this uniform classification. The classification of Brunet, in earlier times and for long was practically an international classification. The matter of the international execution of bibliographies, or international co-operation in bibliographical work, is of more immediate interest to such a conference as this than even the matters of international scope and method. The International Catalogue of Scientific Literature is the most admirable and suggestive example of international bib- liography in this aspect. This remarkable un- dertaking, thoroughly international in scope, carried out in a method arrived at by formal convention and executed internationally is, whatever one may think of particular meth- ods adopted, a most remarkable and encour- aging exhibition of the possibilities of inter- national co-operation in bibliographical work and as has been already suggested needs only an indication of where the periodicals may be found to make a complete example of the most practical type of international bibliog- raphy. Whenever we attempt co-operation in any 9 6 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. branch of human endeavor we face two methods: (i) The contribution of labor, (2) the contribution of money to purchase labor. Poole's Index is a good example in the bib- liographical field of the actual contribution of labor by scattered individuals. Poole is, in fact, itself, to some degree international in that it had Canadian contributors. It may, perhaps, be fair to count the Zurich Index as an example of international co-operation through the contribution of money. The In- ternational Catalogue is in some sense a combination, for work is done chiefly at single centers, though in different countries, and is not scattered as in the Poole's Index or even the cards published by the Publishing Board of the A. L. A. It must be confessed that co-operation by means of volunteer labor represents a relatively elementary and unsat- isfactory method. The more highly central- ized and organized the work is in most lines the more economically and accurately it will be done, and well endowed bureaus for this sort of thing are undoubtedly the thing to be desired. Still, even with the bureaus there would be ample field for international co-operation between the bureaus and even through voluntary contribution of individ- uals. Librarians are all the time being called upon to revise and improve check lists, and the best organized bureau for bibliog- raphy would make large calls for co-opera- tion at the point of indicating what works the library contains in any essay in applied bibliography. On the whole we have reason to congratu- late ourselves that there are so many en- terprises which, in one way or another of an actual international character, are in prog- ress and we hope to see these multiplied in the near future. One of the lines which has been most urgently and anxiously proposed is the extension of the international catalog to historical and philological periodicals. An- other useful thing might be a list of the pub- lications of learned societies showing at what particular libraries copies can be found in short the extension of what was suggested before regarding scientific periodicals. One of the most practical and attractive things which could be undertaken would be a new general catalog of manuscripts. There has been no comprehensive attempt since that of Haenel in 1830, and there are few things which would save as great an aggre- gate number of hours in research as a com- plete short title index to all codices. It rep- resents the maximum usefulness because every item represented is unique ; it is not a question of going from one library to an- other until a copy is found; there is but one copy of each. Moreover it is a work which can be done in sections, Latin, Greek, Oriental, etc. How far it could be done by voluntary contribution of labor is a question. It would certainly be best done by some moderately endowed central bureau not depending too much on the voluntary labor of overworked librarians, but there would be in any event a large field of co-operative work. It may strike the average American librarian as not a matter of the first practical importance for him and yet, in a sense, it is peculiarly im- portant with reference to Americans. In the first place it saves Americans more time than others because they are further away from the bulk of the manuscripts. But it is also more important to-day than it ever has been before because of the growing number of manuscripts here in America. The contin- ental worker in any particular line is now uncertain whether he has exhausted his- sources until he knows whether some manu- script may have or may not have crept to- America. One of the important needs of European scholarship to-day is a list of the ancient Greek and Latin and more especially the Oriental manuscripts (for there are sev- eral Oriental collections which number in the thousands) in the libraries of this country. Another line to which the co-operative cat- alog, as distinguished from the co-operative bibliography, is applicable is to the matter of very rare books. It will be safe to predict that before many decades have passed there will, in fact, be a universal international cat- alog, or at least, finding list, of incunabula; an extensive but by no means impossible task if attempted in a practical method. It would not be by any means as useful scientifically as the manuscript finding list, but it appeals to bibliographers where the catalog of manu- scripts appeals more to students. Doubtless many other lines will develop. Meantime we congratulate ourselves on progress made and now making. ADLER. 97 THE INTERNATIONAL CATALOGUE OF SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE. BY CYRUS ADLER, Washington, D. C. \ S the history and scheme of organization of the International Catalogue of Scien- tific Literature have been brought to the atten- tion of the American Library Association on several occasions in the past, it will only be necessary at the present time to give a brief resume of the principal facts showing the growth of the undertaking, together with a short account of the present condition of this important aid to scientific research. Professor Joseph Henry, the first secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, originated the idea of producing, through international co- operation, a catalog of scientific literature, and in 1855 pointed out the great need for such work to the British Association for the Advancement of Science. Nothing came of this suggestion until 1867 when as a partial fulfilment of Professor Henry's idea the Royal Society began the publication of its "Cata- logue of scientific papers." The inadequate scope of this work, to- gether with the total lack of a classified sub- ject index of the papers cited, emphasized the need of Professor Henry's plan, but not until 1893 was any determined effort made to im- prove on the work so begun. In that year the Royal Society of London began making a systematic effort to obtain international co-operation for the production of a classified index to current scientific lit- erature. Based on a request from the Royal Society the British Foreign Office issued an invita- tion to the governments of the world to send representatives to a conference to be held in London in 1896. As a result of this and sim- ilar conferences held in 1898 and in 1900 it was determined to issue an authors and subject catalog embracing all original sci- entific literature, beginning with the publica- tions of 1901. All of the sciences were grouped under the seventeen following named main divi- sions, and one volume a year was to be devoted to each of these divisions : Mathematics, Mechanics, Physics, Chemistry, Astronomy, Meteorology (including Terrest- rial Magnetism), Mineralogy (including Petrology and Crystallography), Geology, Geography (Mathematical and Physical), Palaeontology, General Biology, Botany, Zool- ogy, Human Anatomy, Physical Anthro- pology, Physiology (including experimental Psychology, Pharmacology and experimental Pathology), and Bacteriology. Supreme control of the catalog was vest- ed in an International Convention to be held in London in 1905, in 1910, and thereafter every ten years. In the interim the admin- istration was intrusted to an International Council, convening at stated intervals in Lon- don. The actual work of collecting and classifying the material forming the catalog devolved on Regional Bureaus caring for the several countries taking part in the enter- prise. Regional Bureaus have been estab- lished in each of the following named coun- tries : Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, India and Ceylon, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New South Wales, New Zeal- and, Norway, Poland (Austrian, Russian and Prussian), Portugal, Queensland, Russia, South Africa, South Australia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States of America, Victoria, and Western Australia. At present these Bureaus collect, index, and classify all scientific matter published within their regions and forward the manuscript in the form of index cards to the Central Bureau, whose duty it is to ^assemble and publish these ref- erences in the form of the annual volumes. The Smithsonian Institution, several attempts to obtain governmental aid to carry on the work in the United States failing, has from its private funds set apart a small annual sum to provide for a Regional Bureau in this country. In beginning the work of the Regional 9 8 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. Bureau in this country it was hoped and ex- pected that much aid could be had from the card indexes kept by the various scientfic branches of the Government Service in Wash- ington, but experience has shown that it is far preferable to obtain the references di- rectly from the publications themselves than to depend on the work done largely from the point of view of narrow specialties. Aside from this objection it was found that, on ac- count of the lack of uniformity in the sev- eral systems used, the labor involved in trans- posing the references to the International Catalogue system was greater, and the result less exact and on the whole much less satisfac- tory than was the plan at present employed, to examine each publication and get the informa- tion necessary to properly index the subject directly from the paper itself. In this way t"he point of view of all branches of science can be given equitable consideration and the vari- ous phases of interest be brought forward by references and cross references to the sciences treated. When a paper is classified in this way an abstract of its contents is in effect made through the use of the "shorthand" methods adopted in the International Cata- logue Schedules of Classification. The general method employed to index the periodical literature coming within the scope of the Catalogue is briefly as follows : a list is kept of the titles of all periodicals published in the United States in which matter of sci- entific interest is even likely to appear. For the sake of convenience a transposed card index of these titles is also kept and at frequent intervals this card record is gone over and the periodicals needed to bring the record up to date are called for from the Smithsonian Library or the Library of Con- gress. Reference cards to all articles to be included in the Catalogue are prepared, and to each card the classification letters and numbers are added and the card copied by a mechanical process as many times as is necessary in order that a separate and com- plete card may be supplied to the Central Bureau for each of the references required to properly cover the ground embraced in the subject of the paper, beside providing those cards required for the record in the Smithson- ian Regional Bureau. On the proper classifi- cation of the thousands of papers yearly pub- lished depends the value and utility of the Catalogue, and as all branches of Science come within the scope of this work the under- taking is one of no little difficulty. The rather small force at command is greatly aided by the members of the scientific staff of the Smithsonian Institution and of the scientific bureaus of the government, who have freely rendered aid when called upon. Some delay has necessarily been occasioned in the beginning of so great an enterprise, but at the present time all of the first annual issue has been published, together with 13 volumes of the second annual issue, and a vol- ume containing a list of the periodicals in- dexed. In a report from the Central Bureau issued last May the statement was made that the to- tal number of reference cards received from all of the Regional Bureaus was 343,503. Of these 37,688 were from the United States. At present the total number of references from the United States is over 50,000. It is now believed that within a year the work will have been brought fully up to date and that then the annual volumes will prac- tically embrace references to all of the litera- ture of the preceding year. The importance and need of an exhaustive index of this kind should be fully appreciated by individual workers and by the large reference libraries, as the plan aims to assemble and make ac- cessible in a compact and concise manner all the works published iri any special department by means of the minutely classified subject catalog. In these days of voluminous authorship on endless subjects an aid of this kind is an imperative necessity if all of the writings daily appearing are to be rendered available or to be brought to the attention of students working in a given field. Brief accounts of the different phases of the enterprise, by the writer of this paper, may be found in Science, Aug- ust 6, 1897, June 2, and 9, 1899, and August 29, 1903, which together give a more detailed history than can be attempted within the limits of the present paper. The yearly cost of subscription to the whole set of 17 annual volumes is $85, but volumes on any of the -subjects may be purchased FIELD. 99 separately. The money received from the sub- scribers is used exclusively to defray the ex- penses of actual publication, that is, the ex- penses of the Central Bureau, which has charge of editing and printing. The cost of all work done by the Regional Bureau is borne by either private or governmental aid from the countries co-operating, each country supporting its own Regional Bureau. As the idea of the catalog originated in the United States it is a matter of congratulation that this country is the largest subscriber, there being about 100 individual subscribers equiva- lent to over 70 full sets. The success of the publication has been such that it is now ten- tatively suggested, after the first period of five years shall have elapsed, to broaden the scope of the work to include some of the so- called applied sciences, such as Medicine, Surgery, Agriculture, Horticulture and For- estry. With the publication of the volumes for 1905 ends the first period of five years in which it was decided to make no change in the scope or manner of classifying the catalog. This was to allow time for the organization to obtain a sure footing and also to find out how successful the enterprise was to be finan- cially. All questions of changes from the original plan are to be brought for decision to the International Council at the meeting to be held in 1905. It now appears that a proper beginning has been made in the great task of recording and grouping in a permanent and available form references to all published records of man's attempt to fathom the secrets of nature, and it is to be earnestly hoped that the task will be aided by those for whom the work is being done, the librarians and their clients, the students and investigators of the world. To further this object criticism is invited, and co-operation of authors and publishers is sought, for it is only through these means that it will ever be possible to reach that degree of perfection which is the ultimate aim of the International Catalogue. THE CONCILIUM BIBLIOGRAPHICUM IN ZURICH. BY HERBERT HAVILAND FIELD, Director. *T*HE movement which led to the founda- tion of the Concilium had its ori- gin in the keenly felt needs of a group of graduate students at Harvard University. As early as 1890 the writer began a series of negotiations and of studies which soon came to take all his time and energy. Having become acquainted with the views of Amer- ican biologists, he visited every country of Europe (save Portugal and the Balkans) and believes that it would hardly be possible to found an enterprise on a more careful study of international needs and of the world's experience. Five years later the Third International Congress of Zoologists gave its stamp of approval to the work, and in 1895 operations began. The Concilium looks back to-day on nearly nine years of unremitting work and has reason to be proud of what has been accomplished. That a card bibliography of scientific liter- ature forms a crying need, there can be no doubt whatsoever. In July 1896, an inter- national conference was held in London under the auspices of the Royal Society of London, which in its minutes declared unqualifiedly for the card system. In consequence of this vote, detailed plans were made for the pub- lication of a great card bibliography to in- clude all the natural sciences. The plans failed ; for it was decided at a later confer- ence that the undertaking required resources such as it would be impossible to provide. The enterprise was backed, one might almost say, by the united governments of the world. Its failure renders the achievement of the Concilium little short of a marvel. Let us then consider what has been accomplished by our modest undertaking. First, the number of individual cards dis- tributed. The number of cards issued by the Concilium aggregates 13 millions, compris- ing some 200,000 entries of primary cards and 100,000 secondary cards. At the time of my recent visit to the Library of Congress. IOO ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. we were slightly in the van in regard to the number of cards handled. Now the Library of Congress doubtless stands first. In point of thoroughness with which the text of a publication is considered, it is probable that no approach to the methods of the Concilium have ever before been at- tempted. Each work is studied by a special- ist and every observation recorded. Numer- ous are the publications in which as many as a hundred new species of insects are de- scribed. Here every new species is especially noted, together with the district where it was found. To prepare the manuscript of a single such card will often require many hours' labor. In other cases we are unable to ascer- tain from the text the exact systematic posi- tion of an animal mentioned in a work under review. Having used all the works of ref- erence at our disposal, we then invariably write to the author to ask his assistance. Cards requiring 50 lines of print are by no means uncommon. The zoological classification alone com- prises nearly 1500 different headings. It is probable that such detailed treatment of a science was never attempted before. Each of these headings can be ordered by itself. Indeed there is no limit to the com- binations of cards that may be supplied. Individual cards from the collection of the Concilium cost one cent each; for all larger orders the price is one-fifth of a cent per card. Those who have been intimately con- nected with card publishing assure us that this rate of charge is the most inexplicable feature of our success. With what resources has the Concilium been able to accomplish this result? As is well known, the institution receives certain subsidies for its work. Without these failure would have been inevitable. Few, however, are aware that the subsidies received since 1896 amount annually on the average to only $1055. With this insignificant sum, it has been possible to accomplish all that has thus far been done. Of course there is a further imponderable subsidy to the Concilium, that consisting in the devotion and self-sacrifice of those who have given their lives to the work. It seems only reasonable for relief to be obtained here, for provision to be made to carry on the work in the event of the in- ability of the present director to continue. The present sections of the Concilium can be given an assured future, if only an endow- ment of $10,000 can be secured. Unfortunately, the Concilium has not yet come adequately into touch with American libraries. Much of the work is perhaps too special for public libraries; but there is one section of the bibliography which ought to be taken by all the libraries of the land which include natural history within the scope of their purchases. I refer to the bibliography of the works on the animals of the United States. Most libraries would find it advan- tageous to take all the cards on North Amer- ica (costing about $10 for the eight years) ; but others would limit themselves to their own section. Thus the cards on Missouri cost 12 cents for the eight years and yet no library nor individual in Missouri has seen fit to order them. Offered at such rates, it is evident that we can appeal to librarians to make use of this series without fear of ap- pearing to seek financial advantage. Our only object lies in the desire to be in touch with the libraries and to have our work turned to account. It is thoroughly discour- aging to maintain for so many years a spe- cial section on Missourian fauna without ever having a subscriber for it. The same is true of the other states of the Union. Turning now to plans for the future, it may be of interest to point out that the last year has witnessed a distinct movement on the part of the old established bibliographies of the world to enter into intimate relations with the Concilium. The international bib- liographies of botany, of physiology and of anthropology will undoubtedly eventually be affiliated with the institute. Already the great zoological bibliography which runs back to the beginning of the i8th century has passed into our hands, and the success attend- ing this step seems to point out the means of reaching our goal by co-operating with existing enterprises instead of trying to sup- plant them. Should it be possible for us to obtain the modest endowment which we seek, our work would be at once doubled and an adequate card bibliography for all the natural sciences would seem possible of speedy at- tainment. LA FONTAINE. 101 THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF BIBLIOGRAPHY. BY HENRI LA FONTAINE, Director, Brussels. HTHE International Institute of Bibliography was officially founded in 1895. But the work it since performs dates from many years ago and it was after a long experience and careful inquiries about the best systems of classification and cataloging that the Univer- sal Bibliographic Catalog (Repertoire Biblio- graphique Universel), which is the main aim of the Institute, was definitely started. It is sufficiently known, by all librarians and bibliographers, that American cataloging rules in part and the Decimal classification were adopted in order to realize the Universal Bibliographic Catalog. Even the size of the cards, and the furniture cases and drawers used by the International Institute of Bibliog- raphy are those employed by most American libraries. Accordingly it can be affirmed that the largest bibliographical work now realized is as much an American as a European enter- prise. It therefore probably was discussed and questioned as strongly on the western as on the eastern side of the Atlantic. But, as has been said here and elsewhere, every new fact or scheme, be it intellectual or material, has its defenders and its opponents. Along each century there live men belonging to the last or to the next century, and we accept readily the charge of being in the twentieth century in the bibliographical field men of the twenty-first century. Nevertheless, the idea of having somewhere a general catalog of bibliographical notices referring to any written matter of every kind, on every subject, in every country, is not a new one. Even in the Middle Ages the idea of forming a catalog as complete as possible of all existing printed books was proposed and attempted. But the need of such a catalog was not felt at that time and the necessity of having a tool as elaborate as a general cata- 'log or index ought to be in our modern time, is a new and contemporaneous one. The in- creasing number of books, pamphlets, articles in periodicals renders it impossible for the most trained scientist, and yet more difficult for a single reader, to collect rapidly and en- tirely the literature about a special question. The actual average number of publications of all kinds, appearing in the different civilized countries is about 290,000 a year. This ex- plains the constantly increasing number of bibliographies which are published year after year, and whose average number is about 700 at the present time. These motives are sufficiently explicit by themselves and do not need further explana- tions to justify the existence of a central bib- liographical enterprise, gathering systematical- ly and bringing up to date the elements of a Universal Bibliographic Catalog. Such a Universal Bibliographic Catalog must be at once international and extensible. Once established and completed it must be definitive and adapted to be used everywhere and forever. It must contribute a prototype from which partial or general reproductions can be obtained at the least cost and with the most rapidity.* The Universal Bibliographic Catalog, as it was established by the International Institute of Bibliography, is extensible for the very simple reason that all the titles collected are written, pasted or printed on cards. It is international by the adoption of the Decimal classification: all the numbers of the classi- fication are readily explained in all possible languages and understood by Chinese and Japanese as well as by Russians, Scandina- vians and Brazilians. The methodical tables and the alphabetical index alone need to be translated. The bibliographical cards, with their classifying numbers, remain untouched and useful in all countries and for all times. This would have been impracticable if any other system had been applied. Catchwords must be translated, and symbols formed by letters must be transliterated. Figures alone are quite international. * It would be possible to have duplicates of the Universal Bibliographic Catalog in such cities as Washington, New Orleans, San Francisco, Buenos Ayres, Melbourne, Rome, Berlin, St. Petersburg, etc. 102 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. GENERAL INVENTORY OF ACCESSIONS. I. INDEX OF SUBJECTS Not. of Bibl. Classifica'n NUMBER OF NOTICES TOTALS Classed ace. to abridged tables Classed ace. to full tables OI 02 3 4 OS-6 07 08 09 1 2 3 3 3 1 33 33 34 35 3 I 5 36 37 38 39 4 5 5 5i 52 53 54 U 57 58 59 6 60 61 612 62 3 64 65 66 67-68 69 7 71-77 78 8 9 90 91 92 93 94 941-942 943 944 945 946 947-948 949 9493 95 96 97 24,000 35,000 174,000 < 98,000 29,000 5,000 16,000 2,000 21,000 2,000 i ,000 20,000 337,000 17,000 25,000 15,000 46,000 71,000 43,000 12,000 6,000 21,000 81,000 200,000 47,000 50,000 55,000 35,000 23,000 1,500 so 800 8,000 800 850 30.000 60,000 230,500 4,000 6,500 13,000 55,ooo 71,000 25,000 5,ooo 16,000 11,000 16,000 8,000 8,500 282,000 1,000 23,000 25, coo 10,000 50,000 35.000 11,000 10,000 37,000 80,000 564,000 2,000 390,000 38,000 74,000 16,000 2,000 10,000 19,000 10,000 3,000 91,000 19,000 72,000 45,000 195,750 9,000 60,000 59,000 6,000 2,000 3,000 12,000 13,000 2,000 2,000 1,000 6,000 16,000 2,000 750 2,000 59,000 30,000 95,000 404,500 28,500 619,000 764,000 138,000 95,000 250,750 Encyclopedias and Collections of Essays Reviews and General Societies . Political Journals Manuscripts, Rare books .... Politics Political Economy Art of War ... .... Charity and Thrift Customs, Folklore Philology, Languages General Mathematics Astronomy Paleontology BioJofifv Botany General Medicine Physiology Engineering Domestic Economy Chemical Technology Various Industries . . ... Building Fi* Art Various Music .History and Geography General Geography Biography ancient of Europe i of Great Britain of Germany of France . x of Italy o of Spain te of Russia and the Scandinavi- an Countries small European States .... of Belgium of America TOTALS 942,000 1,541,750^:,; 2,483.75 3,061,000 II. ONOMASTIC INDEX, OR ACCORDING Number of cases of drawers for each letter of of authors: A (218), B (380), C (264), D (174), I (19), J (61), K (66), L (181), M (261), N (75) (289), T (129), U (13), V (68), W (135), X (2), T III OTHER INDEXES TO NAMES OF AUTHORS. the alphabet according to names E (108), Fd4o), 6(150), H(i6i), . (50), P (227), Q (7), R (176), S T (8), Z (22) TOTAL OF ALL INDEXES .... 6,269,750 LA FONTAINE. 103 The choice of the Decimal classification by the promoters of the Universal Bibliographic Catalog seems, now more than before, to have been a very practical one ; from the most different countries of the world we have heard of its adoption and, if criticisms were justified, they relate to mere details and leave the prin- ciples of the system intact. As it was explained by its author, the Deci- mal classification was intended simply in the beginning to classify books on the shelves, but more recently librarians felt the necessity of a closer classification. The Universal Bib- liographic Catalog, as planned by the Inter- national Institute of Bibliography, could only be realized if the most minute classification were used. For ten years the elaboration of an enlarged edition of the Decimal classifica- tion was the constant preoccupation of the founders of the Institute. Aided by scientists and specialists, it was possible for them to ac- complish this difficult and elaborated work and the new edition is now nearly ready and printed. Each main subdivision is printed separately so as to permit the intercalation of new developments without being obliged to reprint the whole tables. The alphabetical in- dex will contain about 35,000 entries; each entry forms a single line composed by lino- type and the index can be readily reprinted at a low price as often as the inclusion of new entries becomes a necessity. Besides this it will be possible to print spe- cial alphabetical indexes of special subdivi- sions, as was realized recently for Sociology, and to place in the hands of the specialists separate tables as has been done already for Physics, Zoology, Physiology, Railroading, Photography, Agriculture, Sports. The classification, as it is now enlarged, was applied on a large scale to the titles collected by the International Institute of Bibliography and an experimentation of the new tables was constantly made. At the end of June, 1904, the systematic part of the Universal Biblio- graphic Catalog contained about 2,500,000 cards and more than 3,000,000 cards were classed in its alphabetical part. In addition to these about 750,000 cards form special cata- logs of different kinds, which it would be interesting to describe, but whose description would go beyond the object of this short ad- dress.* From the 2,500,000 cards now sys- tematically arranged 625,000 are titles printed, with the symbols of Decimal classification, or directly on cards (105,000), or in book- form (316,000), but in this case each entry is complete by itself and can be cut out and pasted on cards, and directly introduced in a catalog. It will be interesting to give here the list of the different printed contributions to the Universal Bibliographic Catalog. They form together what was called the Bibliografia Universalis.^ The list is as follows : Approximate no. of notices appearing up to Jan. i, 1904. 1. Bibliographia Zoologica Univer- salis, from 1896. Edition A, in weekly numbers, fr. 18.75 a year ; Edition B, in weekly num- bers, fr. 25.00 a year; Edition C, on cards (fr. 10 per 1000 cards) Sent out in series of about 50 cards. 2. Bibliographia Philosophica Uni- versalis, from 1895. Edition B, in quarterly numbers, fr. 5.00 a year 3. Bibliographia Physiologica Uni- versalis, from 1893. Edition B, 3 or 4 numbers a year, fr. 0.50 a number; Edition C, on cards, price varying 4. Bibliographia Anatomica Univer- salis, from 1897. Edition A, 24 numbers a year, fr. 10.00; Edi- tion B, 24 numbers a year, fr. 14.50; Edition C, on cards, price varying 5. Monthly Bibliography of Rail- ways, from 1897. Edition B, 12 numbers a year, fr. 10.00, about 6. Bibliography of Ewe - et - Loir , from 1898. Edition A, in monthly numbers, fr. 4.00 a year; Edition C, in printed cards, annually: in France, fr. 4.00 ; abroad, fr. 5.00 7. Bibliography of Belgium, from 1897. Edition A, bi-monthly numbers 102,952 14,248 9,007 9,991 25,000 720 93,915 * The most prominent of these catalogs are: i, a geographical catalog; 2, a catalog of periodicals; 3, a catalog of the articles in periodicals, classed under each periodical. t The numbers on the right are those of the notices published on January ist, 1904. The different edi- tions are indicated by letters and in the following sense : Edition A Ordinary book form. Edition B Printed on recto of pages only. Edition C On printed cards. Edition D Notices cut out and pasted on cards. 104 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. Approximate no. of notices appearing up to Jan. i, 1904. 8. Bibliographia Geologica Univer- salis, from 1896. Edition A, in annual volumes, price varying. 38,112 9. Bibliographia Juridica Pprtugal- ensis, from 1898. Edition B, appearing irregularly, 1800 reis a year ; Edition C, per 100 cards, 300 reis 1,106 10. Bibliographia Medico Universalis, from 1900. Edition A, about 36,000 notices a year, fr. 120.00. 108,000 11. Bibliographia Bibliographies Uni- versalis, from 1898. Edition B, in an annual pamphlet, fr. 4.00; Edition C, on printed cards, fr. 12.00 a year; Edition D, on gummed cards, fr. 7.00 a year. . 2,146 12. Bibliographia Economica Univer- salis, from 1902. Edition B, in an annual volume, fr. 6.00 3,375 13. Bibliographia Agronomica Uni- versalis, from 1903. Edition B, in quarterly numbers, fr. 12.00 a year 2,094 14. Bibliographia Technica Univer- salis, from 1903. Edition B, in monthly numbers, annually : Belgium, fr. 10.00; abroad, fr. 13-25 15,064 Total number of notices, about. .. 425,730 We think it is unnecessary to go into fur- ther details concerning the task performed by the International Institute of Bibliography. If the work done by it is not the most perfect ever accomplished it is certainly the most ex- tensive and the boldest ever undertaken. And we dare affirm that, if the requisite intellectual and pecuniary means could be placed at the disposition of the Institute, the Universal Bibliographic Catalog could be realized in less than ten years and the world would pos- sess the most accurate tool of education and progress. The work hitherto accomplished, with very inadequate resources, proves vic- toriously, and this was our first aim, that the idea of the Universal Bibliographic Catalog is a practical and a practicable one. Our next aim is to achieve the work so boldly undertaken. As state aid was claimed for the advancement of national libraries and bibliographies, world aid ought to be claimed for international bibliographical and biblio- theconomical enterprises. And what private persons have done for the endowment of local and national libraries and bibliographies can also be done for the completion and fulfil- ment of our international scheme. Whatever can be obtained from the gov- ernments or by private contribution, the in- ternational bibliographical work must be per- formed in fact. It can only be realized by international co-operation and we think it is desirable to add, on this question, a few words to the present address. The whole field of human knowledge can be covered by two different methods. Na- tional or regional bureaus may be established in every country and the titles of the publi- cations appearing in each country sent to a central office ; this system was adopted for the International Catalogue of Scientific Litera- ture. Special bureaus can also be established for each branch of knowledge, to collect in- dependently the bibliographical notices con- cerning the science or art considered; the associate institutions of the International In- stitute of Bibliography constitute in reality such special bureaus. However, the Institute, in accordance with the Association des Li- braires de Belgique, publishes the Biblio- graphie de Belgique, which contains the titles of all the publications appearing in Belgium (books, pamphlets, articles in periodicals). Moreover the cards issued by the Library of Congress, as well as the cards edited by the Publishing Board of the A. L. A., are intro- duced in the Universal Bibliographic Catalog, and we think that, for Belgium as for the United States of America, this system of a national bureau, collecting all bibliographical material, gives full satisfaction.* The very complete system adopted by Norway can also be considered as a contribution to the Uni- versal Bibliographic Catalog by the medium of our national bureau. Perhaps a double organization will be the more fitted to assure mutual control and maintain a useful emulation. We are of the opinion that it would be premature to adopt a resolution on this question. The most important thing, in this moment, is that the Universal Bibliographic Catalog could be completed by one method or by the other and we trust that if the A. L. A., in this international conference, would express its warm sympathy in favor of this completion the means and the ways would be readily found and the work performed without diffi- culty or delay. * We express, however, the wish that the Library of Congress and the Publishing Board of the A. L. A. would add the symbols of the Decimal classification to the catchwords used on the cards published by them. FIGK. 105 THE PRUSSIAN CENTRAL CATALOG ("GESAMTKATALOG"). BY DR. RICHARD FICK, Librarian Royal Library, Berlin. I. ORIGIN. A T a congress of librarians, which sits in the classic land of organization of labor and labor methods, and which has taken up co-operative work as a separate part of its program, a word about the Prussian "Gesamt- katalog" will not be unwelcome. This under- taking represents the first effort to compile a central catalog by means of the co-operation of several libraries, a catalog which gives the contents not of one, but of eleven great libraries of one country, and which, if it were completed and printed, could be regarded as a solution of the frequently discussed problem, how scholars can do away with superfluous writing and librarians with the endless repeti- tion of one and the same work. For, if the nearest and chief aim of our Gesamtkatalog is the establishment of a central bureau, which gives information to the scientific world in the widest sense, whether a wished-for book is to be found in the Prussian scientific libra- ries, and where, it may also become valuable for the compilation of bibliographies and for the cataloging of the libraries concerned, sav- ing much work and expense. To be sure, the printing of the catalog is still far off, and if it is encouraging on a long and weary day sometimes to think of the enticing view which is to be seen at the end, it is not less important, especially at the be- ginning of an undertaking, to bear the attain- able constantly in mind. What will be laid before you to-day is a glimpse over the course of the work and a statement of the results attained up to the present. Before, however, we begin to consider the work itself, it is advisable to touch upon the history of the origin of the "Gesamtkatalog" in a few words. In Milkau's work, "Central- kataloge und Titeldrucke," Leipzig, 1898, we possess an exhaustive treatment of the whole problem, which starting from historical dis- cussions criticises all the propositions which have been made up to the present time, and then sketches the plan for the organization of the undertaking, as it afterwards took shape in its essential parts. Through a short review in the Library (new ser. vol. 2, 1901, p. 274- 81) the contents of this book have become accessible and also probably known to our English speaking colleagues. Therefore, it will be enough to repeat, in as short a form as possible, in what way the plan sketched for the Prussian "Gesamtkatalog" differs from similar projects, and what points of view have been decisive for its present organization. In contrast to former proposals as they had been made in Italy by Narducci, and in Germany, under the influence of an essay of Treitschke's, by Kochendorffer which aimed at bringing together copies of the card-catalogs of the provincial libraries at a central office and there forming them into an alphabetical "Gesamtkatalog," Milkau, whilst he proved in a striking way the un- avoidable waste of work through such a method, accentuated the necessity of making the inventory of one institution, that of the greatest, the Royal Library, the basis of the "Gesamtkatalog," of sending this catalog in alphabetical parts following one another to the university libraries, and then on one hand to note the possession of a work already rep- resented in the catalog, and on the other hand, to add the works in their own library. The saving of work compared with the sending-in of the cards to the central office is evident. Whilst the university library to which the por- tion sent comes first in the order now de- termined, Breslau has to note everything on the cards which it possesses over and above the contents of the Royal Library, the second Halle only needs to add that which is to be found neither in the Royal Library nor at Breslau; and so on. The further the portion comes, the fewer cards have to be added and the less is the work required. Although the question of the simplest or- io6 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. ganization of the comparison seemed to have found its answer, yet an important problem remained to be solved: it was necessary to guard against the catalog becoming anti- quated ; every new book added, the title of which belongs to the part of the "Gesamt- katalog" already finished, would have to be registered in it afterwards. This continual completion and rejuvenation of the catalog was attained through the following rule: In so far as the subsequent acquisitions be- long to literature which has lately appeared, their registration must take place through the title-prints of the Royal Library, which have been extended since October, 1897, to a collective list of the additions to the Prus- sian libraries, and which give the share of the various libraries in the year's increase at the end of every year by a numbered register. The acquisitions from the older literature are sent in to the central bureau by the li- brary concerned either on original cards or in copies, as far as they belong to the fin- ished part of the "Gesamtkatalog." The cen- tral bureau then copies and arranges the cards, or, if the book is already represented, registers the fact of possession, and de- stroys the card. The preparation of an alphabetical card- catalog in manuscript was taken the more into consideration as an object of the work, be- cause it would be valuable as a necessary preparation for the subsequent printing; so the possibility offered itself to put the ques- tion of the definite form of the printed cata- log aside for the present. We too need not take the question of printing into account, and, when the "Gesamtkatalog" is spoken of, have only the manuscript of the alphabetical card-catalog before our eyes. The attainment of this object alone is more important for Germany and especially for Prussia than it could be for any other country, because the German libraries almost without exception send their books out, and because every one who makes use of the lending institution is able for quite a small fee to send to another library for a book which is not to be found in the place where he lives. This lend- ing institution will fulfil its object more and more with the progress of the "Gesamt- katalog," for the further the catalog pro- gresses, the oftener the central bureau will be able to give information not only on the presence of a book and its different editions, but also on the stock of works of an author. II. METHODS OF WORK. Before the work itself could be begun, one difficulty above all had to be removed; in the place of the different methods of regis- tering which had been used so far in the libraries, uniform rules had to be introduced not only for the registration, but also for the ordering of the titles. A way had also to be found by which the existing parts of the catalogs of all libraries would be utilized and taken into consideration as much as possible. These requirements were fulfilled through the issue of the "Instructions for the alpha- betical catalogs of the Prussian libraries and for the 'Gesamtkatalog,' May 10, 1899." The rules contained in the instructions have to anticipate this one result of the work done up to the present time on the whole proved themselves good. If at first views concerning the interpretation of these rules differed and opinion stood against opinion, yet an agree- ment regarding the interpretation has been gradually arrived at through the progressive understanding of the spirit of the instruc- tions. The maxim, "in dubiis libertas, in necessariis unitas" which rules throughout, was felt as a particular advantage by the central bureau, because through it it was possible to come to a decision from case to case in the revision of the parts which were sent back from the libraries, and to find a balance between differences of opinion. Naturally it was not intended to alter the catalogs of all the libraries made before the beginning of the work in the smallest de- tails according to the new maxims ; only the foundation of the comparison, the card-cata- log of the Royal Library, had to show the principles which were to be used hence- forth, in the strictest manner before the copying. After the revision which had been undertaken for this purpose was ended, it was possible to begin with the copying on the 23d June, 1902. Up to the end of August of this year 201 boxes of the card-catalog of the Royal Library, reaching to the beginning PICK. of the letter D and containing in round num- bers 175,000 cards to be copied, have been finished. As the catalog consists of 1045 boxes, there is a prospect of finishing the copying by the year 1910, if similar progress is further made. The numerous titles of Oriental literature with names such as Abdallah, Abraham, An- nambhatta amongst others, which appear especially at the beginning of the alphabet, have proved themselves a particularly dis- turbing element in the smooth progress of the work. The copying of such a title, for example in Hebrew, Arabic, or Sanscrit, even if it had been transcribed already, could only be trusted to persons acquainted with the language, and these were not always easy to find; besides the copying of an Oriental title with its many diacritical signs requires a care which essentially lessens the quan- tity of work done by a copyist, which quantity is besides very often reckoned too high. As it was afterwards found out by the compari- son that the university libraries often had not officials with the knowledge necessary to undertake a new registration of Oriental titles or to identify with certainty a title con- tained in their catalog with those of the Royal Library, it was decided to leave the Oriental literature out of the plan of the "Gesamtkatalog" for the present, as has al- ready been done with the university and school publications, as well as with maps and music. It is intended to compile special cat- alogs for their registration, after the ex- ample of the British Museum, into which the probable increase of about 8 per cent, from the university libraries will be worked easily in another manner. It was planned to send out, beside the copy- ing work, after gaining a small start, separate portions of the catalog to the university li- braries in strict alphabetical order. The first portion, comprising the part of the catalog A-Aar, began its journey on the 2d Jan- uary, 1903 ; it went the prescribed way over Breslau, Halle, Marburg, Bonn, Minister, Gottingen, Kiel, Greifswald, Konigsberg, and returned after also being attended to at the University Library in Berlin on the 28th January to the central bureau. Like this first portion, the other 456 consignments sent up to now, of which the last contained the part of the catalog Berk, each contained 150 cards on an average. It was found that, at least with the first and most heavily bur- dened libraries, this number represented the amount of work that can be. accomplished by an official in one day, and generally the con- signments could be sent out again on the day of their .arrival or the day after. Meanwhile un- expected difficulties arose in the regular dis- patch of some parts; for example the part Augustinus required about three weeks for its journey, a circumstance which is easily explained when we consider the plus added by the university libraries which will be spoken of afterwards. As it was now to be feared that, through the frequent occurrence of similar parts, the course of the comparison would be made much slower or would be- come so irregular that one library would at one time be overburdened with portions and another time would not be able to go on with the work, it was decided to take the particu- larly difficult parts out of the regular turn and to dispatch them side by side with the usual day's portions. How far this regula- tion will help in bringing a greater regularity into the work of the university libraries re- mains to be learnt from experience; up till now four consignments (the articles Beden- ken, Beitrage, Bemerkungen, and Bericht) have been taken out of the regular series, but have not yet come back to the central bu- reau. The final work of the central bureau proved to be particularly interesting, and also as re- gards extent and difficulty equally consider- able. According to the instruction for the "Gesamtkatalog," the remarks and correc- tions given on the prescribed (green) cards by the officials of the university libraries con- cerning this or that title, are completed in an expert manner and the libraries concerned are informed of the completion. An example will show better than theoretical explana- tions how the process takes place in prac- tice. The copy of a card from the Royal Li- brary was sent round from the central bu- reau, on which was to be read "Joannis Adlz- reitter a Tetenweis : Annalium Boicae gentis pars 3. Ed. nova cum praef. Godofr. Guilielmi Leibnitii. Francofurti a.M. 1710." The card had passed the libraries 2-9 without any re- mark, these libraries all having added their io8 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. note of possession. At last the tenth library, Konigsberg, remarked on the green card: "Author according to Wegele, Gesch. d. His- toriographie, S. 388: Vervaux. The collec- tion is placed here under this name." The central bureau examined the reference, which allows of no doubt that not Adlzreitter who in his profession as keeper of archives had only provided documentary material for the book but the Jesuit P. Vervaux is the author; a glimpse into A. de Backers "Bib- liotheque des ecrivains de la compagnie de Jesus" showed that this bibliography also gives Jean Vervaux as author. The central bureau sent the Konigsberg card round now with the remark: "Now placed by the Royal Library and the "Gesamtkatalog" under Jean Vervaux," upon which the separate libraries noted this fact in the shortest form. In a similar way as in this case, a number of green cards containing corrections, inquiries or re- quests to examine the matter in question by means of the book sent, are daily added to the portions of the catalog. III. PRESENT RESULTS. The result of the comparison up to the present time expressed in numbers is as follows. Up to the end of August 406 con- signments which had been sent out had come back to the central bureau; they went out with about (in round numbers) 64,000 cards (45,000 main and 19,000 reference cards), and came back again with about 72,- ooo main and 29,000 reference cards. The increase in main cards according to this was 27,000, that is 60 per cent., while it had been computed beforehand at about 50 per cent. Now of course such a number does not say much in itself; firstly it can alter in course of working and become materially lower ; secondly the number does not give a correct idea of the real state of possession because, through the exclusion of Oriental literature, the percentage has been considerably altered to the detriment of the Royal Library. Be- sides this, however, and this is the chief point, the principal consideration in the es- timation of the increase is not its extent but its inner worth. The question : How high is the percentage? is of less importance than the questions: Of what kind is the increase? Is there much worthless literature amongst it (school-books, reprints and so on) ? Are there translations or new editions of which the Royal Library already possesses the origi- nals or older editions? Further, it is of importance to find out what is the participation of the libraries in the different departments of knowledge, if, and at which libraries, particular branches of literature have been especially cultivated. We must also examine the question : How is German literature represented, and how that of foreign countries? Further: In what re- lation does the result of the Gesamtkatalog stand to the two greatest printed catalogs in the world, that of the British Museum and that of the Bibliotheque Nationale? The an- swer to all these questions is only possible after a thorough examination of a larger continuous part taken out of the Gesamtkata- log, a task which has been begun and the re- sults of which are to be made public later on. Perhaps, however, we can arrive at a tolerably if not absolutely correct idea of the whole by selecting a few important and pro- ductive authors from different departments of literature, and thus attempt to obtain a useful result by answering the question: How are their works represented in the "Gesamtkatalog ?" We will begin with an author of classic antiquity, L. Apuleius Madaurensis. He is represented in the Gesamtkatalog by 94 different independent editions of his works, of which 65 are to be found in the Royal Li- brary, so that the increase in the case of this author amounts to 26 works, about 38%. Thirty-four editions are to be found only in one library; of these 16 only in the Royal Library, 6 only at Gottingen, 4 only at Kon- igsberg, two each only at Marburg and Greifs- wald, one each only at Breslau, Halle, Bonn, and Kiel. Compared with the catalogs of the British Museum and the Bibliotheque Na- tionale the list of the Gesamtkatalog exceeds that of the Paris library by nine works, but is, on the contrary, behind that of the British Museum by 33. The Bibliotheque Nationale has 38, the British Museum 61 editions, which the Gesamtkatalog does not contain; on the other hand there are 12 works in the Gesamtkatalog, which are to be found neither in the British Museum nor in the Bibliotheque Nationale catalogs. A compari- FIQK. 109 son with the literature given by Teuffel shows that all the editions mentioned by him are represented in the Gesamtkatalog. Ac- cordingly the conclusion is justified that nothing important of the works of Apuleius is wanting in the Gesamtkatalog, and that a scholar who makes this author the object of his study, so far as the works of Apuleius are concerned, can find and reach all that is im- portant for him through the Gesamtkatalog. In order not to weary through continual repetition of the same comparison of num- bers, we may limit our attention in the case of the following authors to particularly inter- esting points, whilst reserving the detailed statistics for another occasion. For, if for example, to pass on to the middle ages, Au- relius Augustinus and his representation in the Gesamtkatalog were made the object of an accurate bibliographic examination, an extensive monograph would be the result. Here we will only say that he is represented in the Gesamtkatalog by about 500 editions, of which 242 are to be found in the Royal Li- brary, so that the increase amounts to 258 works, over 100%. Most of these belong to the University Library of Breslau, whose wealth in other theological literature has its origin principally in the former Silesian mon- astery libraries, which formed its nucleus. Breslau, which possesses altogether 212 writ- ings by Augustinus, has 129, which are not to be found in the Royal Library, and 90, which are to be found only in Breslau. Got- tingen takes the third place with 163 editions, of which 22 are to found only in Gottingen, whilst Miinster with only 30 editions occupies the fourth place. However, each of the other libraries represented in the Gesamtkatalog can boast of having some edition of Augus- tinus, which is not to be found in any other of the 10 great libraries of Prussia. The rhetorician Batteux and the politician d'Argenson may serve as examples from the French literature of the i8th century. Bat- teux found particular favof especially in Germany, which in his time was greatly under the dominion of French taste, and had a last- ing influence on the art theories flourishing with us at that time; in accordance with this his writings given in the Gesamtkatalog are comparatively numerous. The British Mu- seum only possesses 12 editions of him, amongst them four German translations and one English translation, but 28 works of Batteux are to be found in the Gesamtkatalog whilst without counting the references and university publications we find about 40 numbers in the Bibliotheque Nationale. The edition of the work, "Les beaux arts reduits a une meme principe," Leide 1753, which is in possession of the library at Miinster, is not to be found in Paris; further, the work "Quatre memoires sur la poetique d'Aristote," which appeared in Geneva in 1781 and is to be found in the Royal Library and at Bonn, as well as a German and a Danish transla- tion .(which is to be found at Kiel) of the "Cours de belles lettres," are also missing in the Paris library. Out of the 28 works of Batteux the Royal Library possesses 23 and only five are not to be found there; the increase, which is limited to other editions or translations, consequently amounts to only about 22% in the case of this author. This preponderance of the Royal Library, which can be called a disproportion from the point of view of the Gesamtkatalog, appears still greater in the case of the Marquis d'Argen- son; here the university libraries have not added a single new card to the 16 cards sent out from the central bureau. The reason for this may be the favor which the Royal Li- brary, in the time of Frederick the Great, was obliged to show, whether it wanted to or not, to French literature, as it was dependent on the supplies of the Frenchman Pitra. If the state of things were similar in the Ceases of the majority of the important au- thors to that of the last named, we should be right in saying that the result of the Gesamtkatalog did not justify the trouble taken, and that it would have been better to print the catalog of the Royal Library, and thus to save the great cost of copying and comparison. This, however, as we saw al- ready with Augustinus, is not the case. The examples also taken from English literature gave quite another idea of the share of the university libraries. Francis Bacon is repre- sented in the Gesamtkatalog by 125 works, of which the Royal Library possesses 79, whilst 46 have been added by the other libraries. That this increase is not made up by different, reprints or translations may be shown by a short list of particularly important editions that are wanting in the Royal Library. Bonn possesses the first English edition of the no ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. work "De dignitate et augmentis scienti- arum," which appeared in London in 1605 under the title of "The two bookes of Francis Bacon of the proficience and advancement of learning," and was later on repeatedly published in Latin. At Gottingen are to be found the first edition of Bacon's work, "The elements of the common lawes of England," the second edition of the "His- toric of the reigne of King Henry VII," which appeared in 1629, and the second edi- tion of the "Silva Silvarum," of the year 1628. Still more unfavorable for the Royal Li- brary, more favorable for the university li- braries and consequently for the Gesamtkata- log, is the state of possession of the writings of the English doctor of the i8th century, John Arbuthnot, of whom the Royal Library only possesses three works: a Latin trans- lation of the "Essay concerning the effects of air," of which the original edition, the editio princeps, is to found at Breslau and Gottingen, an edition of the "Essay concern- ing the nature of aliments" of the year 1753, of which work the first edition, of 1731, is also at Gottingen and, lastly, a Latin transla- tion of "Tables of ancient coins," of which the original edition, of 1727, is again to be found at Gottingen and Halle. Go.ttingen possesses nine editions in all, among them the new edition which appeared in 1770 of the "Miscellaneous works," a wealth, which is easily explained by the intimate relationship that the Gottingen University maintained with England in the i8th century. In the case of Arbuthnot's contemporary, Joseph Addison, the great number of edi- tions which are to be found only once is striking. Of the 62 numbers of the Gesamt- katalog there are about 170 in the British Museum, whilst the Bibliotheque Nationale has about the same number as the Prussian libraries together ten are only in the Royal Library, ten only at Konigsberg, five only at Bonn, four only at Kiel, three only at Bres- lau, two only at Halle and at Minister, one only at Marburg and at Halle. The first complete edition of the works, of the year 1721, of which copies are only to be found at Gottingen, Kiel, and Greifswald, must be especially mentioned; also the translation of "Cato" by the Gottschedin (Leipzig) 1735, which is to be found at Halle and Greifswald, and the treatise "Dialogues upon the useful- ness of ancient medals," which appeared anonymously and which is not in the British Museum. In closing the list of English authors, we will say, that the philosopher and novelist Grant Allen, who died in 1899, is only rep- resented in the Gesamtkatalog by ten works, of which Bonn alone possesses the "Physio- logical aesthetics" and "The evolution of the idea of God," Gottingen alone "Force and energy." This state of possession, which is small in comparison to the number of works that have really appeared, is probably to be due to the fact that Allen's works belong to light and popular literature; this, however, is on!y an explanation, not a justification of the rtglect of this author. Of course for our Prussian libraries Uie question, How is German literature repre- sented in the Gesamtkatalog? is of far greater interest and importance than the state of foreign literature. Here also at present it must be enough for us to attempt to obtain an 4 proximate ic'ea of the state of things by means of a few examples. Johann Agri- cola of Eisleben, the pupil of Luther and Melanchthon, is represented by 72 editions of his works in the "Gesamtkatalog," of which the Royal Library possesses 58, among them several rare items from the bequest of Frei- herr von Meusebach, the celebrated collector and connoisseur of older new high German literature. This large and valuable collection of the Royal Library allows us to suppose from the beginning, that the increase con- tributed by the university libraries is neither in quantity nor in quality very considerable ; at the same time it is of interest to learn that the pamphlet referring to the Antinomis- tic dispute "De duplici legis discrimine," of the year 1539, which is not to be found in Berlin, is to be found at Breslau, Kiel, and Konigsberg, and that Greifswald is the only library that possesses a low German transla- tion of the "130 Fragstiicke" (Wittemberch, 1528), which, by-the-bye, is not mentioned at all in Godeke's Grundriss. Let me in conclusion deal more fully with a man whose name is dear to all Germans, and the possession of whose works, up to the smallest and remotest editions, lies as a matter of honor near to the hearts of all German librarians: I mean Ernst Moritz PICK. Ill Arndt. The Royal Library possesses 119 of his works, of which 20 are to be found there only, whilst the university libraries have added 22 editions, of which 15 are to be found only in one library. Of these 22 works, 12 form a less important addition, as the Royal Library possesses other, mostly older, editions. So, for example, the "Geist der Zeit" is to be found in the Royal Library in the ist, 2nd, and 4th edition, in the uni- versity libraries in the 3rd (Th. I Altona 1815), 5th (1863) and 6th (1877) edition. Of essential importance, on the other hand, are about ten writings, of which we will mention the most important, Arndt's first attempt at writing, from the beginning of his career, when he was Privatdocent at Greifs- wald: "Ein menschliches Wort iiber die Freiheit der alten Republiken" (Greifswald 1800). This is only to be found at Greifs- wald. The first edition of his poems, which is not mentioned in Godecke's Grundriss and which is given falsely in the "Allgemeine Deutsche Biographic" as having appeared at Rostock in 1804, was really published in the year 1803 at Greifswald, as the only copy which is at Greifswald shows. Greifswald further possesses the Swedish translation of the "Reise durch Sweden," which is to be found elsewhere only at Konigsberg, and the pamphlet, "Noch eine kleine Ausgiesung in die Sundfluth," referring to the movement of 1848, which is to be found only at Konigs- berg and at Bonn. Like the first edition of the poems, a large number of other writings added by the university libraries are not mentioned by Gqdeke, and must consequently be considered as quite unknown up to the present time: e.g., the poem, "Auf Scharn- horst's Tod," 1813, added by Breslau, the "Kriegslieder der Teutschen," 1814, only to be found at Bonn, and "Ideen iiber die hochste historische Ansicht der Sprache," Greifswald (1804), only to be found at Ko.nigsberg, which up till now were only known in the edition Rostock, 1805. As we could, naturally, establish the fact of a preponderance in the possessions of the British Museum and the Bibliotheque Nationale in the case of the English and French authors, so those libraries are far be- hind the Gesamtkatalog in their possession of works by Arndt. The British Museum has 65 works, among which are two Eng- lish translations that are not represented in the Gesamtkatalog; the Bibliotheque Na- tionale has only 31, among which is the edi- tion of the first part of the "Marchen und Jugenderinnerungen" which appeared in Berlin in 1818 and which strange to say is not among the works we have. The comparison with Godeke's Grundriss already made, and the proof that many works represented in the Gesamtkatalog are not mentioned there at all or incorrectly, show plainly what a valuable means of help the Gesamtkatalog can already be under certain circumstances. It must remain to be seen whether during further progress the conviction will be won that the Gesamt- katalog must be consulted before everything else by every scholar who wishes to make bibliographic researches; only so much seems to be proved by the impartially selected re- sults of the comparison, which are set forth without any extra coloring, as that the under- taking is useful and promises to become more so. Quite independent of these present results of the Gesamtkatalog or those which will appear later, other unexpected advantages arise from this work for the libraries con- cerned, which have nothing to do with the real object of the catalog, but which can be welcomed as useful bye-products of the work. To these belongs the correction of the cata- logs, of which one example out of many has been given above, and which extends to the discovery of authors, the putting in of orig- inal titles, the removing of false dates and the like. To these can further be reckoned the identification of defective works with missing title. So, for example, it could be proved through the Gesamtkatalog that the copy of the Low German translation of Joh. Agricola's 300 Proverbs in which the title and the last leaf are wanting, and which is to be found in the Library of the Berlin Uni- versity as a part of the bequest of Jacob Grimm, is identical with the copies printed in Magdeburg, which are to be found in the Royal Library, at Gottingen, and, with small variations in the print, at Greifswald. How pleasant it is for the librarian to be able, in the case of rare and valuable works, to re- place the registration of his catalog which 112 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. had been conjectural or incorrect by one which is absolutely correct; how delightful it is for him, if by means of the Gesamtkata- log, he can inform the scholar, who disap- pointed brings the defective copy back, be- cause just the pages which are most import- ant for him are wanting, that this or that li- brary possesses a complete copy. As the libra- ries are obliged to indicate every defect, the loss of single parts, and even single pages, such mutual completions could repeatedly be proved. So, for example, only Konigsberg possesses the second part of a small work by J. W. v. Archenholtz on the war in the Vendee, whilst only the first part is to be found in the Royal Library. The Appendix 2 of the work, "Appendix ad opera edita ab Angelo Maio," Romae, 1871, is wanting in the Royal Library and at Kiel, whilst it is to be found at Halle, Gottingen, and Greifswald. In this way, though their collaboration in the work of the Gesamtkatalog, the libra- ries have their attention drawn to the gaps in their own stock, which they will naturally try to fill up, if possible, by procuring the missing copies; these gaps, however, are al- ready filled by the Gesamtkatalog. That, with the exception of these side re- sults, not many practical results can be re- corded, seems partly to result from the fact that the existence of the undertaking is too little known. Only a short time ago a South- German library, instead of applying to the Gesamtkatalog, addressed a request to all the Prussian libraries for information on the Amadis works in their possession. In order to make the Gesamtkatalog now as useful as possible for scientific work, it was made known a short time ago by order of the Ministry, through advertisements, that the central bureau is ready to give information for a small fee. Perhaps this paper will also help to make the undertaking better known in the world of science and thus call forth frequent in- quiries. The oftener the Gesamtkatalog is in a position to give satisfactory informa- tion, the firmer the consciousness of those who are helping in the work will become that they are collaborating in a useful under- taking, and the more the energy of all those concerned will be stimulated to further it with all their strength and to bring it to an end as soon as possible. Of course in the short glimpses given here on the position of the Gesamtkatalog many questions above all that of expenses have not been mentioned. We must not, however, leave the fact unmentioned that the expenses are very considerable, as well as that an unexpected weight of work for the libraries concerned has grown out of the comparison. Also the fact that the catalog is for the present limited to Prussia is found a defect. It is being taken into consid- eration how the defects named can be rem- edied, but these questions are still so difficult to answer that a definite decision cannot yet be given. At the same time I believe myself not justified in discouraging the lively inter- est which has been shown in the undertaking on the part of American librarians. THE SWEDISH CATALOG OF ACCESSIONS (SVERIGES OFFENTLIGA BIB- LIOTEK: STOCKHOLM, UPPSALA, LUND, GOTEBORG: ACCESSIONS-KATALOG) . BY DR. , AKSEL ANDERSSON, I 7 ice-Librarian Uppsala University Library. T N his annual report for 1885 the late li- brarian of the University of Lund, Elof Tegner, suggested that a co-operative catalog of the accessions of new foreign literature to the greater Swedish research libraries should be published annually. The sugges- tion was immediately taken up with sympathy by those first concerned. In 1886 representa- tives from the Royal Library in Stockholm and the university libraries of Uppsala and Lund met in Stockholm to discuss the ques- tion; the scheme for the catalog was agreed upon, and in 1887 the catalog of the acces- sions to seven libraries for 1886 was pub- lished. At present the participant libraries are 29, all of them situated in the four cities ANDERSSON. indicated in the title, and among them being the libraries of the institutions (departments) and the seminaries, and of the medical so- cieties at the universities of Uppsala and Lund, counted for each university as a unit. The catalog is published by the Royal Li- brary in Stockholm. The years 1886-1895 were edited by E. W. Dahlgren, now chief li- brarian of that library, who also compiled a general index to these 10 years. It is in- tended also in future to publish an index for every ten years. The present editor is E. Haverman, likewise an officer in that li- brary.* The cost is defrayed from the sum which the Royal Library is entitled to draw upon the public treasury for its incidental and equipment expenses. The catalog is issued only once a year, more frequent issues requiring more work- ers and a larger sum than is available for the purpose. There is, however, no doubt a certain advantage in publishing the whole yearly accession together in one volume. The annual issue is an octavo volume of 400-500 pages. Distributed gratuitously in a very liberal way to most scholars in the country, and practically to everybody who applies for it, the catalog renders good service. In the uni- versity libraries especially it has proved to be extremely useful. Everybody can find out in it in what library a desired book is to be had. Thus it has occasioned a widely ex- tended system of lending between the libra- ries and also to private scholars all over the country a system that has developed itself in an entirely voluntary way without any official regulations at all. The franking privilege accorded to public institutions also facilitates this lending system in a high de- gree, borrowers receiving books free of pos- tage and any other charge. The catalog reports only the accessions of foreign literature and, as a rule, nothing published at an earlier date than 1886, its first year. Unimportant pamphlets and ex- tracts from reviews are generally omitted, and of university dissertations only the more * The editor's work is considered as office work, and thus it is not remunerated, although a good deal of night work at home is requisite for prompt issue. important ones are given, catalogs of this kind of literature being published annually for the French, German and Swiss univer- sities. From each of the participating libraries the titles of the books acquired during the past year are sent in to the editor on cards in January, each card containing only one work. Each library is marked by a letter in full- faced type after the title by the right-hand margin, indicating by what library or libra- ries the work has been acquired during the year. If the same work was acquired by a library at an earlier date, this library's letter is put in a parenthesis. A star with the letter indicates gift or exchange.* * The catalog is classified systematically, in great general divisions. Each division is arranged in three sections : books, properly speaking, alpha- betically according to author's names; trans- actions of learned societies and analogous publications, alphabetically according to the names of the cities where they are estab- lished; other periodical publications, alpha- betically according to the chief substantive of the title, for instance, Journal, Revue, Zeit- schrift, this word f in heavy-faced type. The titles and imprints are given in full, omitted words being marked by three dots, but not number of pages and plates. No cross-refer- ences are made in the annual issues, but in the decennial index they are given amply. There is no printed catalog of accessions for the books printed in Sweden; the most important ones, however, are reported in the annual catalog published by the Association of Swedish Publishers ("Svenska bokhand- elns arskatalog"). As the Swedish press- productions, according to the press-law, have to be sent into the libraries only during the year succeeding their publication, such a catalog published by the libraries would necessarily be very late; but it is nevertheless to be hoped that the Royal Li- brary in Stockholm will some day take up this question also and solve it. ** Proof-sheets are sent by the editor to the several libraries. t As well as, in the other sections, authors' and cities' names put in front of the title. ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. HANDBOOK OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. BY JAMES DAVID THOMPSON, Editor, in charge, Science section, Library of Congress. *T*HE purpose of these remarks is to tell briefly about an investigation of inter- national interest which is being carried on at the Library of Congress, and for the ac- complishment of which I have been made re- sponsible. A bibliographical handbook of the learned societies and institutions of the world, which publish contributions to knowledge, has long been desired by librarians. To know whether a set is complete, to be able to trace any given publication through its various changes in title and through the various changes in the organization of the societies and institutions which have issued it, is a thing which is very much needed by all those who handle this kind of material. But it is not only the librarians who require a reference book of this character; learned societies and institutions which have publica- tions for exchange desire to know the char- acter and the extent of the publications of other societies and institutions in order that they may establish exchange relations which will add to their libraries desirable publica- tions for the use of their members. Then, too, in the organization of an international congress it is extremely difficult to-day to get into communication with the societies and in- stitutions, which deal with the particular sub- ject. Also individual investigators, finding a reference to a publication, not in the library to which they have access, very often wish to know how to secure the particular volume or number required, or, if necessary, the set. During the last 30 or 40 years a small library of reference books giving information about learned societies has come into ex- istence. Many of them are excellent, but al- most all are restricted to a particular field. Scudder's catalog is restricted to scientific and technical serials. It gives no other in- formation about the societies publishing them and is now 30 years old. Of those restricted to a particular country I may mention the admirable bibliographies of Miiller, for Ger- many, and of Lasteyrie, for France. The former of these, however, omits entirely the great academies and all the technical socie- ties; the latter treats only the historical pub- lications, and the supplementary work deal- ing with scientific societies has not yet got beyond the first few letters in the alphabet of departments. Of a different type is the "British year-book of learned societies," which is exceedingly useful for current in- formation but rather weak in its bibliog- raphical features. Of those attempting to cover the whole world and all subjects the "Annuaire" of M. A. d'Hericourt in the 'sixties was soon discontinued. "Minerva" is the one publication which may seem to some to cover the ground adequately, but this is primarily a handbook of learned institu- tions. Not more than about one-eighth of the learned societies find a place in it, and while it is exceedingly valuable for current information, e.g., personnel, budget, etc., it very rarely gives any information about pub- lications except the brief title of a serial and possibly the first date of issue. I might mention many others, but this is sufficient to show that to cover the whole field comprehensively and to collect into a single manual all the important information about learned societies and institutions is a task of considerable difficulty and one re- quiring considerable resources. The com- pilation of such a handbook is obviously an indispensable preliminary to bibliographical work in any region of knowledge. When, therefore, the trustees of the Carnegie In- stitution, in planning the initial activities of that foundation, appointed an advisory com- mittee on bibliography to report on the most necessary undertakings in that field of re- search, it was considered both an excellent opportunity to have this necessary work done and a suitable undertaking to be recom- mended to be carried out under such aus- pices. The Library of Congress was consid- ered the most suitable place for an office in which the work should be done because of its extensive collection of the publications of learned societies, received chiefly through the Smithsonian deposit, and its proximity to important collections of similar material in . THOMPSON. the various libraries of the government bu- reaus. My connection with it began when our president, Dr. Putnam, who was chairman of this committee, requested me to outline a plan and prepare a brief for presenting the case to the Trustees of the Institution. In order that something might be accomplished in a short time he suggested to me that the time should be limited to two years ; that the subjects medicine and agriculture should be excluded; that only living societies should be taken into account and that the complete bibliographical statement should not be at- tempted in the first issue; that we should collect the best we could and leave the rest for a second edition. The appropriation was made to be expended under Dr. Putnam's direction, and the work was commenced at the beginning of February, 1903. As it was to be carried on in an office, the first method which had to be adopted was to send out a circular letter to the societies and institutions, requesting the information which we desired to incorporate in the handbdok. Circulars were prepared, consisting of a printed outline of information and a facsimile typewritten letter. In these we asked for (i) the full official name, (ii) the permanent postal address and the name of the permanent official, if any, (iii) brief historical notes, giving date of foundation, changes of title, with bibliographical refer- ence to any published sources of fuller in- formation, (iv) object, .(v) meetings, (vi) membership and (vii) under "serial pub- lications" the exact title of each serial, changes of title, if any, number of volumes, period covered, place and dates of publica- tion and size; wherever a publication was issued jointly by a number of societies that was to be noted. With regard to special pubfications, if there was a published list in existence we desired a reference to it and a copy if possible. Then too we asked for the conditions of exchange as far as they could be definitely stated; a price-list or a reference to one, if published, and the place where the publications were sold. Finally, an account of the research funds and prizes of the so- ciety or institution was requested. There does not exist to-day any adequate statement of the resources of the various societies and institu- tions in the way of funds available for the en- couragement of investigation, and as the pro- motion of original research is the fundamental object of the Carnegie Institution it was thought desirable to include such a statement in this handbook. A list of the societies was first prepared on cards to be. used as an index to the re- plies received and as a record of the corre- spondence, and about 4000 circular letters were sent out in 1903. As was expected, more than half of the societies did not reply to this first request and further efforts to ob- tain information about them where necessary. These further efforts consisted in personal investigations in Europe by various members of the Library of Congress staff, in assistance rendered by the United States diplomatic service in South America (and we hope also in Algeria and Turkey) and in further cor- respondence, using new addresses and circu- lars in various languages, to bring replies from the societies which had not already answered. The chief sources of these new addresses were the "Annuaire international des societes savantes," published by M. Delaunay (Paris, 1903), and the "Geographen-Kalender," 1904- 1905 (Gotha, 1904), in addition to recent numbers of the publications of the societies themselves. The circulars, originally in English and French, were translated into German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Rus- sian, Danish and Norwegian. Great Britain, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Italy and Switzerland were visited last fall by Mrs. Thompson and myself. We collected bibliographical notes in the national libraries of these countries and in the libraries of some of the great Academies. The secretaries of a large number of so- cieties in many of the principal cities were visited and in each country we found those who volunteered to co-operate with us. Among these may be mentioned Dr. Johannes Miiller, of Berlin, who has supplied notes of the publications of German historical societies from the manuscript supplement of his bibli- ography, and Dr. A. B. Meyer, of Dresden, who has collected the necessary information from the societies of Saxony. For Belgium and Switzerland, respectively, M. Victor Luerquin and Dr. J. Bernoulli have rendered important service. Last fall and winter Mr. A. V. Babine, while on a visit to his native country, Rus- sia, collected information for the Handbook ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. in St. Petersburg, Moscow and other cities and on his return journey visited Budapest, Vienna and Prague to obtain material about the societies of Austria-Hungary which had not replied. Advantage was taken of Dr. A. R. Spof- ford's visit to Spain and Italy last spring to obtain some missing information about so- cieties in these countries, and Mr. J. Diese- rud has just returned from a tour in the Scandinavian countries, during which he has collected sufficient material to complete the statement for this region. In Australia we have had the help of the li- brarians of the Public Libraries of Sydney, Adelaide and Perth and the Secretary of the Royal Society of Victoria, and in Japan the Department of Education has assisted us very considerably. Here in St. Louis I find a col- lection of the publications of the learned so- cieties of France exhibited in the Education Building which I am working over now, and Dr. Biagi has supplied me witk names of per- sons in Italy to whom I may write for further information necessary there. International co- operation has therefore been an important factor in this undertaking, which, I trust, we shall soon bring to a successful conclusion. In reply to questions asked, it may be added that the Handbook will include American universities publishing series of contribu- tions to knowledge; and that it is hoped to send the material for North and South Amer- ica to press before the close of the year, and the remainder of the work, for the rest of the world, by next February. ON A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. BY ADELAIDE R. HASSE, New York Public Library. T S a bibliography of public documents feas- ible? What does the effort of production involve ? What is the return which reasonably may be expected from the consummation of the effort? Where does the province of this bibliography encroach upon that of bibliogra- phies of similar nature? These are ques- tions which suggest themselves in considering the possible performance of a bibliography of public documents. While it may be necessary, at this time, to touch incidentally upon these questions, no attempt will be made towards giving a defi- nitive answer to them. There have been, particularly in America, tentative references to a bibliography of this subject. Not until this present occasion, how- ever, has the consideration of the practical aspect of the project been favored with so distinguished an audience. It has been deemed wiser, therefore, rather to indicate what the term "a bibliography of public documents" implies, than to indulge in the, as yet, prema- ture consideration of ways and means. The subsequent working out of the idea may safely be left to the scrutiny of that interest which shall have been aroused by this preliminary statement. If, as is averred, a bibliography of public documents, to be adequately considered, de- mands to be considered as an independent enterprise, it is because it is believed that any adequate bibliography is a constructive operation in which detail is a variable quan- tity. The management of detail is determined by the purpose of the production. To present the history of a subject in general, and to present it by means of a co- ordination of the literature of that subject are two different occupations. The former is historiography, the latter is bibliography. To compile the bibliography of a subject which is closed is one thing, and to compile that of a subject which not only is not closed, but which never will be closed, is another thing. Again, to compile the bibliography of a living subject dependent upon documentary evidence for its dissemination, as scientific discovery must do for instance, and to compile that of a living subject itself producing the docu- mentary evidence to be co-ordinated, are two different occupations. It is this intimate association of agent and product which differentiates a bibliography of public documents somewhat from an ordinary bibliography. When, in 1896, Mr. Frank Campbell, then of the British Museum, published his "Inter- BASSE. 117 national bibliography," and for the first time called attention to the bibliographic possibili- ties of public documents, he advocated the separation, in practical bibliography, of official from general literature. His assigned reason was, that as compared to general literature, official literature was chiefly distinguished by having, as a rule, no authors, and that because of this deprivation it could be cataloged ac- cording to rules of a subject catalog only. In assuming it to be necessary to separate official literature from general, because, as a rule, it has no authors, Mr. Campbell makes the all too common, but none the less de- plorable, error that a bibliography is a literary compilation subject to a certain artificial and invariable method. There really is no more reason why public documents should be segregated for any ex- ternal cause than there is for segregating the proceedings of learned societies, or those of sectarian institutions. It is this assumption that public documents are books per se, are entities, finalities, which is the starting point of the misapprehension in regard to a bibliography of them. Inher- ently they are anything rather than stationary, final or independent units. They represent not the opinion of one man, nor yet the consensus of opinions of men joined in social or scientific compact. They do represent the activities of those intensely, ceaselessly active unions, the body politic, and the body politic and cor- porate. Wherever and whenever organized society has been developed, this union, the body politic, has lived and died. During every stage in the evolution of these unions, two sustaining activities have manifested them- selves, viz., the local activity of the compo- nent agencies of each union, and the relations between union and union. These activities are expressed tangibly, and preserved, in what we term public documents. In even a tentative furtherance of a bibliog- raphy of public documents two fundamental items are to be noted; namely, provision for continuous, or current, production, and con- struction on a basis of function. The great basic fact to be recognized is that there is no cessation in the activities of bod- ies politic. A single body may have become defunct by reason of impotence, as in the Central American Confederation, by reason of lack of power of resistance, as in the South African Republic, or through voluntary sur- render, as in the case of the Republic of Texas. The result is not an interruption of political activity, but, merely by a change of sov- ereignty, a modification of the proportions of one or more usurping bodies. Even where the authority is compar?tively fixed, as in the American commonwealths, to terminate a bib- liography of the public documents of any one jurisdictional authority is to produce a frag- ment. The second great fact to be recognized is the importance, in construction, of deference to function. The method of functional opera- tion of bodies politic is moderately uniform, though the functions themselves are widely varying in development and in complexity. When a record of the publications which rep- resent these functions is dominated by the regulations of an artificial method, the result is distortion and deformity. The success of a bibliography of public documents depends primarily upon the execu- tion of a plan which shall insure the sys- tematic accretion of current material. Precedents for a centralized accumulation and re-issue of federal publications are the existing international compacts for the mu- tual exchange of certain information. In 1875 there was concluded at Paris a treaty whose provisions established an inter- national bureau of weights and measures. There are seventeen signatory powers. The object is international uniformity and pre- cision in standards of weight and measure. The functions of the bureau are consultative and directive. There is no publication. The bureau is maintained at the common expense of the contracting parties, contributions being apportioned on a basis of population. Paris is the seat of the bureau, and the agency is the French ministry of foreign affairs. In 1883 there was concluded, also at Paris, a convention for the international protection of industrial prosperity. There are eleven original signatory powers. The object is to insure protection of industry and of com- merce. For this purpose an office is estab- lished at Berne and provision is made for the publication of a periodical and other docurnents. The office is maintained at com- mon expense, the maximum expenditure of any one state being stipulated in the provi- n8 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. sions of the convention. The ratio of ex- penditure is computed according to a fixed classification declared in the final protocol of the convention. The superior administration of Switzerland is the agency of the union. In 1886 there was concluded at Brussels a convention for the international exchange of official documents, etc. There are nine origi- nal signatory powers. The convention estab- lished no central bureau, and is merely an agreement to facilitate certain exchanges. On the day of the conclusion of the last named convention, March 15, 1886, there was concluded, also at Brussels, another conven- tion for the immediate exchange of official journals, parliamentary annals and documents. There are eight original signatory powers. The convention established no central bureau, and is merely an agreement to deposit the documents named in the legislative chambers of each contracting state. In 1890 there was concluded at Brussels a convention for the formation of an international union to pub- lish customs tariffs. There are forty-one original signatory powers. The object is to make known, as speedily as possible, the cus- toms tariffs of the various states of the globe. The seat of the office of the union is at Brus- sels, and the office is maintained at common expense. The maximum expenditure for maintenance is stipulated in the provisions of the convention. Contributory shares are com- puted according to a fixed classification de- clared in art. 9 of the convention, the ratio being the volume of commerce of the respec- tive states. The organ is the International Customs Bulletin, and the agency is the Bel- gian ministry of foreign affairs. In so far as governments have, by these compacts, conceded the practicability of and the advantage to be derived from a central distributing bureau of information and con- sultation, in so far has the advantage and the practicability of an international bibliography of public documents been conceded. It may, then, safely be assumed that a bibliography of public documents, if once realized, will be the outcome of something quite apart from any than the most perfunc- tory association with literary compilation. During the time from which we are just emerging, governments were far less keen than they are at present about the public import of their domestic affairs. Conflicts for the supremacy of power, or for the maintenance of a certain balance of power, whether peace- ful or belligerent, are, it is significant, now induced by commerce. International points of contact have grown more and more complex. This new condition causes each competing government to scruti- nize the habits of every other competing gov- ernment, and all competing governments to scrutinize those of non-competing govern- ments. The feeders of national commerce are to-day infinitely more varied and more active than before these young years of com- mercial expansion. Government has come to be more keenly alive to the need of supervi- sion, protection and inspection of these feed- ers all manner of local trade and industry. Those regulations which a nation imposes for the development and carriage of natural resources, for their promotion in local trade and industry, and for the advancement of that trade and industry, comprise the major portion of that nation's public documents. That medium which will give information concerning these regulations will be a bibliog- raphy of public documents. Whether this medium be mobilized on an international reciprocal basis, or as a local indicator, its success will depend on its ability to supply authoritative current record of gov- ernmental activity. The objection may be raised that the bulk of such a bibliography would soon be a bar to its utility. Certain temporary provisions would, it is admitted, be necessary to eliminate the extraneous habits of traditional bibliography. There are at the present moment about 40 federal governments, divided into about 800 local governments and 182 colonies and de- pendencies. In these federal and local gov- ernments there are some 1000 cities appre- ciably producing material such as we have under consideration. This nets a total of some 2022 political organizations. These 2000 political and corporate bodies, carrying on an industrial, commercial and financial business, publish a record of their business amounting annually, by a conserva- tive estimate, to 50,000 pieces. Private industry, finance, commerce and in- vestment are very seriously concerned in these official operations. In a measure private inter- est is advised of these operations. The industrial combinations, i.e. leather, HASSE. 119 paper, glass, etc., the natural product com- binations, i.e. coal, iron, etc., and manufac- turing combinations, i.e. cotton, wool, imple- ments, appliances, and machinery of all sorts are, as a rule, each represented by a trade medium. Incidentally these trade journals publish advice of official rulings. This advice is mainly secured by private agency. It is, naturally, selected advice. The field of the proposed bibliography of public documents i to supply impartially and in the most con- cise form advice of international intercourse, federal decisions, rulings, declarations, etc., on all matters affecting public welfare, advice of interstate relations and of municipal prog- ress, as they are reflected in the public docu- ments of these several organizations. Such a bibliography is, of course, not one man's work, nor yet a work the time of whose accomplishment may be estimated. It would seem, however, that what is possible for the mind to conceive, it would be possible to execute. A bibliography such as has been outlined, is, it will have been seen, not so much a description of titles, as it is an indication of political administration. Technically it might more properly be referred to as an index. The underlying motive for the preparation of such an index is to really make available the information in this accumulating class of public documents. A list of titles, no matter how well attend- ed bibliographically, or even a subject catalog based on titles of documents, will never quite give this information. If a man wants the official return showing the value of Panama stocks during the four years preceding the crash, he does not care about the title of the report in which this particular information is published. The man who is looking for the report on the origin of British supervision of Chinese maritime customs, for the text of the unratified Squier Treaty, or for that of the peace of Westphalia, will never find them by the title of any report, or in any catalog where subject entries are based on titles. And yet the only, at least the main contribution of public documents is this specific information. The compilation of title bibliographies, or of subject bibliographies based on titles, is a satisfactory medium only to the collector of documents, be he librarian, curator or archiv- ist. The reader using such a bibliography will either have to make a supplementary internal investigation of the titles listed, or he will have had his attention drawn to a specific title by some agency foreign to the bibliogra- phy. It is while we are still on the threshold, so to speak, of this question, that we may well stop to consider the most economical method of re-conducting the utilizable material at present stored away in public documents. It is believed that if we unquestionably follow the present tendency to let title lists suffice, we will be involved in years, perhaps even generations, of experiment, only patently to realize, in the end, the inadequacy, as an in- dicator, to the reader, of this form of bibliog- raphy. And it is for these reasons that you are asked to consider the index as the most immediately economical bibliography of cur- rent public documents, a bibliography, you are reminded, which by the very nature of its con- struction, presupposes a bibliography by titles. The index form is not submitted to you as a final solution of the whole subject of a bibliography of public documents. It is a form which would hardly be practicable for the older records; documents, let us say, ante- dating the constitutional period. These older records are subject to the scholarly interpre- tation of specialists. A good deal of biblio- graphical work with archives has been done in England and on the continent, but that which has been done has been largely in the nature of inventories of single collections. It remains for a bibliography of public docu- ments to assemble from these inventories the official material and to rearrange it in order that we may have a consecutive record in one place of the papers of sovereigns and of their ministers of state. In other words, a bibliog- raphy of early official records will reconstruct, as nearly as records can, the political organiza- tion of extinct and pre-organic governments. Whether, in the case of the records of the organic period, the index form would be best for all records, or only for those of the cur- rent and future issues, is a question. The estimated 50,000 pieces now annually appear- ing produce an average of five index entries each, or 20,000 entries monthly and 5000 week- ly, covering every phase of governmental ac- tivity. Adverting for a moment to what has been done in official bibliography, there should be mentioned as of first importance the reprints I2O 57'. LOUIS CONFERENCE. of government archives, now in course of appearing in England, the Continent and in the colonies. They are too well known and have too recently been made the subject of work of French bibliographers to require col- lation here. Much valuable work in official bibliography will be found to have been al- ready done in histories of regional jurispru- dence, as for instance in those three volumes of the Documentos Ineditos, dealing with Spanish colonial law; as well as in disserta- tions on obsolete administrations such as you find in the fascicules of the Bibliotheque de 1'Ecole des Hautes Etudes. Catalogs of official libraries contribute some- what to official bibliography, those of depart- ment libraries more than those of national li- braries. Catalogs on finance, economics and jurisprudence of British and continental book- dealers contribute quite as much, if not more, than do library catalogs. Of official bibliography per se, built on the lines which we are accustomed to consider as confining bibliography, there may be men- tioned the monthly and quarterly lists of H. B. M. Stationery Office, Mr. Campbell's "Cat- alogue of Indian official publications," the recent index to British Parliamentary Papers, and the productions of the American office of Superintendent of Documents. The British Stationery office lists are sales lists; British bluebooks not being distributed gratuitously. The lists are published monthly in two series, namely, parliamentary and offi- cial, corresponding to the American congres- sional and departmental. Every quarter there is a cumulative list and index. These lists are very well prepared, and the index for the fourth quarter, together with the fuller an- nual index to the parliamentary papers, is a very fair indication of British official publica- tions for the year. Mr. Campbell's India catalog is a very care- ful, very able piece of compilation. In method it is a compromise between a check list ar- ranged by subjects and an index. The index to British Parliamentary papers, issued a few months ago, is a conscientious example of the title list catalog, of which more presently. We Americans have suffered so long from an inundation of public documents, with only occasionally a weak dam to stem the flow meaning the catalogs preceding those of our Superintendent of Documents that we are not disposed to allow cavil with these later productions. The congressional indexes and the monthly catalogs of this office would seem to admit of no improvement. They are so good that the only fault I have to find with them is that I cannot get them sooner. The sessional catalog, like the index to Brit- ish parliamentary papers referred to it dis- tresses one to have to appear to find fault with such good work in its way suffers in usefulness from being a title catalog. Tech- nical form overbalances technical conformity to subject. Let me illustrate. In 1854, France, England and the United States were jointly involved in Hawaii. In American public documents much of this correspondence was not printed until 1892 or 1893, with the custo- mary caption titles: "Message of the Presi- dent, accompanying the report of the Secre- tary of State, &c." According to the method of the present catalog, this document would appear under State Department as author and under Hawaii as subject, the only date being that of the report, namely, 1892 or 1893, with no reference to or indication of the 1854 correspondence. And yet the only place in American documents where this 1854 cor- respondence, and it was important, is printed, is in this document of forty years later. I am asked to produce a letter written by Dudley Mann during his Hungarian mission. This antedates the period of the series now known as diplomatic correspondence, and which is indexed. There is no cue whatever to the Dudley Mann correspondence. It may have been printed and it may not. If I find it, it is by a combination of accident, patience and experience. If a catalog made on the lines of the present catalog had existed, it would not have helped me. A publisher comes to me and says: "The United States Government publishes each year a table showing by States the production of staple crops. I am revising a school geog- raphy and want the table for 1903." I find it in the Agricultural Year Book, but not by means of the catalog. I will ask you to consider in how far the requirements could be met, if current lists such as the British and American monthly lists and sessional indexes were published by the several governments and an international index were published by a central bureau. BOWKER. 121 RECENT NATIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHY IN THE UNITED STATES. By R. R. BOWKER, Editor Library Journal. *T*HE twentieth century is here, and "the librarian of the future" has arrived. He confronts the vast task of the handling of books, books, books, in yearly increasing num- bers, the world over, and without end. The problem of record, and still more of selection, becomes more difficult and serious each year, and thus bibliography, and notably "eval- uated" bibliography, becomes more and more important. I have been asked to present a summary of the present state of bibliography in our own country, which may be of service at this time, on an occasion which is of more than passing scope and interest. I shall not endeavor to go over the field covered in my paper on "Bib- liographical endeavors in America,"* at the International Conference in London, 1897, .which summarized the history of bibliography in and of this country up to 1897, but rather to present briefly the facts as to bibliographies of recent issue and current value. The "A. L. A. catalog" of 1904, of which the first copies are presented at this confer- ence, renewing the similar work of 1893, pub- lished at the time of the Chicago World's Fair, should have first mention as the most practical and helpful work placed, within this period, at the service of libraries and readers. It was prepared under the general editorship of Melvil Devvey, with the help of Miss May Seymour of Albany and Mrs. H. L. Elmen- dorf of Buffalo as associate editors, with the co-operation of the New York State Library and Library of Congress staffs in preparing and revising lists, and of over a hundred spe- cialists in passing on the books to be included in the several departments, under the author- ization and general oversight of the Publish- ing Board of the American Library Associa- tion, with the Government Printing Office as printer, and the Library of Congress as pub- lisher a happy conjunction which has re- sulted in a volume of about 900 pages, cata- * Transactions and Proceedings of the ad Inter- national Library Conference, London, 1897, p. 150- 154; L. j., Aug., 1897, p. 384-387- loging, with notes, 8000 volumes best suited for a popular library. A copy will be sent gratuitously to each library in the country, and copies may be had by individuals from the Superintendent of Documents at Wash- ington at the extraordinary price of 50 cents in cloth or 25 cents in paper, for the complete work, and at a lower price for the two parts. These two parts consist respectively of a classed catalog arranged on the Decimal sys- tem, preceded by an address list of publish- ers, a list of series abbreviations, a list of authorities for notes, and a schedule of gen- eral abbreviations, and also by a synopsis of the Decimal classification, going to the third figure; and of a dictionary catalog including designation of the Expansive classification mark for each book and of its place in the Decimal classification. It is impossible to overestimate the value of this work for libra- ries and for all who have reason to consult books. The "American bibliography" of Charles Evans, of which the first volume, covering the period 1639-1729, was published by the author in 1903, is one of the most ambitious bibliographical undertakings current in any country. It is to be "a chronological diction- ary [sic] of all books, pamphlets, and period- ical publications printed in the United States of America from the genesis of printing in 1639 down to and including the year 1820, with bibliographical and biographical notes." The period is limited to 1820 probably because in that year Roorbach began the bibliograph- ical work which has since been continued in one shape or another under the editorship of James Kelly, Frederick Leypoldt, and the present writer, in the several forms of the American Catalogue. Mr. Evans in this first volume records in chronological order, and so numbered, 3244 items of the work of our American printers, including even books of which no issues are now known to exist, but of which trace is somewhere found ; and gives in the case of unique or rare issues very full descriptive and bibliographical notes. There 122 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. is an endeavor to cite auction prices, so far as practicable, which, if not always accurate, are indicative of value. An index of authors, a classified subject-index of a limited nature, and a list of printers and publishers supple- ment the main part of the volume. The work has been severely criticised by bibliographical scholars for inaccuracies and omissions, and for lack of research in large and representa- tive collections; but much is to be forgiven in an undertaking so vast, and on the whole so satisfactory. Its importance is such that it should be found in all national libraries and ii! every important library the world over. Of the monumental work of Joseph Sabin, his "Dictionary of books relating to Amer- ica," or "Bibliotheca Americana," of which the publication was begun in 1868, and which was left unfinished at his death in 1881 nineteen completed volumes have now been published, covering the alphabet from A to Simms, and two additional parts, nos. 115- 116, covering Simms-Smith (Henry Hollings- worth). Mr. Wilberforce Eames, who has been the general editor since Mr. Cutter's re- lations with the earlier volumes, does not find himself able to add to his burdens as a libra- rian the work of continuing this series, and although much material for the remainder of the alphabet has been accumulated, the com- pletion of the work cannot be said to be assured. The quarto series of the "American cata- logue," originated by Frederick Leypoldt in 1876 and continued under the editorship of the present writer, approximately in five- yearly volumes, came to an end with the vol- ume covering the period July i, i8Q5-Jan. I, 1900. The original volumes, covering books in print in 1876, were published in quarto size, partly because the large editorial and publish- ing outlay demanded a form which would seem to justify the price necessarily charged for the volumes. But the size proved cum- brous for general use, and with the close of the century it was decided to begin another series in another form. It may be interesting to note that the total outlay on the original two-volume work was $27,622, without com- pensation to its editor, and the return $27,321, a loss of $301 ; while the expense of the suc- ceeding two volumes, 1876-84 and 1884-90, has been $23,258, and the returns $28,928, a gain of $4770; and the expense of the final two volumes, 1890-95 and 1895-1900, has been $26,- 645 and the returns $22,461, a loss of $4184. Thus a total expense exceeding $76,000 has been almost exactly balanced by the returns, with no or little reckoning either of interest on investment or return to editor and pub- lisher. Except for the fact that the editions of the first volume of the 1876 work, of which looo copies were printed, and the supplement- ary volumes for 1876-84 and 1884-90, of each of which 1000 copies were issued, were by per- sistent "pushing" completely sold, permitting a substantial increase of price as the volumes were running out of print, the loss would have been serious, as was in fact the case on the Subject- volume of 1876 and the volumes 1890-95 and 1895-1900, of each of which 1250 copies were printed, but the entire edition was not sold. The last-named volume in- volved a maximum loss of nearly $3000, prob- ably owing in part to the division of the field by an enterprise covering in some measure the same period. These figures show the lim- itations of the bibliographical market and the difficulty of obtaining a commercial basis for bibliographical work in this country. I may say here that Mr. Evans's undertak- ing will make unnecessary the scheme, on which some though little progress had been made, of publishing a volume of the quarto American Catalogue series, to com- prise books published within the nineteenth century previous to those included in Mr. Leypoldt's monumental work of 1876, as a preliminary to the greater undertaking of publishing a comprehensive bibliography of American books of the nineteenth century also on the quarto American Catalogue plan. Both these projects would have involved so much outlay above any possible return thai it is a relief to find such a bibliographer as Mr. Evans ready to cover the only part of this field in which there is a serious gap. The new American Catalogue series is planned to be in five-yearly cumulative volumes, in a one- alphabet entry by author, title, subject, and series, comprehending the material of the Publishers' Weekly monthly record as cumu- lated quarterly and yearly; and the plan may include a second five-yearly volume giving the full titles from the Publishers' Weekly original record. This work will be a utilization, with BOWKER. 123 editorial revision, of the actual linotype "slugs" used in the Publishers' Weekly for its Weekly Record of full title entries and for the condensed entries by author, title, subject, and series making up its monthly list, its quarterly cumulation, which becomes an an- nual cumulation in the Annual Summary Number, published each January, and finally, the cumulation covering two, three, and four- year periods, issued in one alphabet pending the culminating and final five-yearly publica- tion as the American Catalogue. The most important comprehensive volume covering current publications is the "United States catalog," published by the H. W. Wil- son Co., of Minneapolis, originally recording books in print 1899, under the editorship of George F. Danforth and Marion E. Potter. The issue of 1899 covered 738 pages of author entry, a list of publishers, and a title index of 361 pages, in all a volume exceeding noo pages, with the purpose of doing for the book- trade and libraries at the close of the century, though in condensed form, the service which Mr. Leypoldt had rendered a quarter of a century before. In this original issue au- thors' names were given in full-face type, with condensed single line titles of the sev- eral works arranged under the author's name, while the title index was confined to the short title with "see" author. The improved edition of 1902, edited by Marion E. Potter and brought up to January i, 1902, presented a single al- phabet system, covering 2131 pages, with en- tries under author, subject, and title, includ- ing author's birth and death dates in many cases, and particulars of binding, price, date, and publisher, forming a remarkabiy com- pendious and practical volume. This had been preceded by a preliminary issue of author entries only. The catalog is sup- plemented by the "Cumulative book in- dex," which on the same system presents monthly, progressive and annual cumula- tions, which last are combined into a Cumu- lative Index for 1902-4, continuing the main catalog up to date from year to year. The "Publishers' trade list annual," which has been continuously issued since Mr. Ley- poldt's beginning of the series in 1873, had been published until 1902 (except for a brief index in 1875) without an index, but the in- clusion of a book index as a part of Whit- aker's English "Reference list" emphasized the demand for a book index to the American publication. The great cost of such a work, and the difficulty of publishing an index with- out delaying the volume, as the Whitaker publication had always been delayed, had pre- vented such an index, until in 1902 the "Index to the Publishers' trade list annual," cover- ing in a single alphabet by author, title, and subject catchword entries the books included in the volume of catalogs was issued in a supplementary volume of noo pages, soon after the issue of the huge annual itself. This result was accomplished by working from the catalogs of the previous year and filling out from information furnished by publishers in advance of the new catalogs. A Supple- mentary Index covered the new material of 1903, and a second Supplementary Index, in- cluding in one alphabet the new material of 1903 and 1904, have since been published this last being also issued bound up with the original Index in a single volume as the Com- bined Index, 1902-3-4. In addition to editing the regular volume of "Poole's index to periodical literature" covering the period 1897 to 1902, being the fourth volume in continuation of the reissue of 1882, Mr. W. I. Fletcher has done ihe ex- cellent service of preparing in a single volume an "Abridged Poole's index," which fur- nishes a subject-index to the leading sets of important periodicals which are to be found in most libraries, from 1815, the earliest date of their beginnings, through 1899. He has also edited for the Association a second edition of the "A. L. A. index to general literature/' (1901), also known as the "Essay index," which, in a large octavo volume of 680 pages, furnishes a valuable and needed key to the essays, papers, and chapters on distinctive specific subjects which form part of composite or general books. The "Annual literary index," in continua- tion both of Poole's "Index to periodical liter- ature" and of the "A. L. A. index to general literature," has been continued yearly under the editorship chiefly of Mr. W. I. Fletcher, covering periodical articles, chapters in com- posite books, notable events and the bibliog- raphy and necrology of the year. It is pro- posed, beginning with 1905, to utilize this an- nual material monthly and quarterly in the 124 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. new shape of a periodical which shall permit small libraries to subscribe to a monthly index to periodicals covering the forty publications taken in the greater number of libraries, on an improved plan of entry, covering both subject and author in one alphabet this monthly publication including probably also a short- title purchase list of books recommended for libraries, and an evaluation of new books as soon after their publication as practicable, these features being supplied by the Publish- ing Board of the A. L. A. It is proposed that a quarterly cumulation, including an ad- ditional number of periodicals, shall also be published at a separate subscription price, and finally that this material, with other period- ical entries completing and extending the Poole's Index list, should supplant the present system of the "Annual literary index" and furnish the material for future issues of the Poole series. In this same field the "Cumu- lative index to periodicals," originated by Mr. William H. Brett at the Cleveland Public Li- brary, is now published by the H. W. Wilson Co. in combination with the Reader's Guide, providing a monthly index, cumulated month- ly and yearly, to the sixty-two periodicals for- merly covered by the two separate publica- tions. The Publishing Board of the A. L. A., en- dowed by Mr. Carnegie with a fund of $100,- ooo which should have the result of fur- nishing adequate bibliographic helps at low cost to the many libraries which he has so nobly and generously established or strengthened has continued its good work by several pub- lications. The foremost of these is the great evaluation of the "Literature of American history," for which Mr. George lies contrib- uted not only the original inspiration but a ftmd exceeding $10,000, and which Mr. J. N. Lamed has edited without compensation. This great work, which does for American history what has not been done in any other country or for any other subject Mr. lies' evaluation for Fine Arts excepted is con- tinued by a supplement for 1901 edited by Philip P. Wells, and by a yearly bibliography covering current books on English and Amer- ican history, which can be had either on cards or in pamphlets. The Publishing Board has also published a most useful "Guide to refer- ence books," by Miss Alice B. Kroeger, of the Drexel Institute Library, and has nearly ready for publication the great A. L. A. index to portraits in printed books, which has been in preparation for many years. It has also con- tinued the issue of the special card indexes to certain current periodical publications, to bib- liographic serials, and to special sets and books of composite authorship. Reference may here be made to the "Bibliography of American history," prepared by Prof. E. C. Richardson, of Princeton University, and to the fact that Mr. George lies plans a reissue of the "Reader's guide in political science," originally prepared under the editorship of Mr. lies and the present writer some years ago. The bibliography of United States govern- ment publications is now so well cared for by the Superintendent of Documents, a posi- tion established in 1895, and now held by Mr. L. C. Ferrell, that little remains to be done outside that office. As Miss Hasse's paper at the present meeting will cover more fully the subject of official publications, I need but briefly mention that this office has published a "comprehensive index" for the two-year period of each Congress from the 53d, 1893-95, to the s6th, 1899-1901, covering the two or three sessions of each in a single volume or in two volumes, known as the "Catalogue of public documents," and also ?. "consolidated index" for each session from the first session of the 54th Congress, 1895- 96, to the second session of the 57th Congress, 1902-03, known as the "Index to subjects of documents and reports," etc., as well as a monthly "Catalogue of United States public documents," from January, 1895, to July, 1904. Besides these regular publications, it has issued priced lists of official publications on sale or for exchange, usually at intervals of about six months; priced lists of laws of the United States, usually yearly; and special bibliographies or priced lists on irrigation, on labor, industries, trusts and immigration, on interoceanic canals and transcontinental traffic, on explorations, on new navy, and on agriculture; and various schedules indicating the series and volume relations of govern- ment publications. A check-list of public documents containing debates and proceed- ings of Congress from the first to the 53d, is also included in its publications. This office also has taken a most important step BOWKER. 125 in the direction of making public documents useful to depository libraries, by the issue, beginning in January of this year, of printed cards, which are supplied in duplicate to such libraries in connection with which there has been printed a valuable schedule of "Author headings for United States pub- lic documents," giving an official method of classification in this difficult field. Several of the states are now giving more careful attention to the bibliography of their own publications, bibliographies of state documents having been issued by, or for, Ohio, Iowa, Kansas, and California the work perhaps stimulated by the "Bibliography of state publications" prepared under the edi- torship of the present writer, of which the parts covering the New England states and the North Central states have been issued, and of which the third part, covering the Western states, is nearly ready. Bibli- ographies for Vermont and Kansas, as well as an earlier bibliography for Texas, have been issued, covering, however, books printed in the state rather than by the state. The bulletins of the New York Public Library have contained interesting material relating to the boundaries, etc., of New York state. Mr. T. H. Cole has continued his bibliogra- phies of statute law and has issued schedules for Alabama, Arkansas, and Florida. A record of the "Publications of societies" was issued in 1899, under the editorship of the present writer, but the important pub- lication in this field will be the forthcoming "Handbook of learned societies and their pub- lications" to be issued by the co-operation of the Carnegie Institution and the Library of Congress. The Library of Congress, under the pub- lic-spirited and enterprising headship of Herbert Putnam, has finally assumed its proper function as the chief center of library bibliography in this country. It has, at last, realized the long-discussed project of pub- lishing catalog cards for the leading books issued from the American press, furnishing any library at a price covering only the me- chanical cost, not the large outlay in prepara- tion, not only the series of cards, but such selection as an individual library may desig- nate. Its special department, the Copyright Office, publishes the weekly Copyright Bul- letin in improved shape, and it is now pro- posed to print the certificates of copyright record also on catalog cards. The great medical "Index-catalogue" to the Surgeon- General's Library, originated by Dr. J. S. Billings, has been continued in a second series of supplementary volumes, of which the ninth, covering the alphabet as far as Lyuri, has recently been published, and by the re- sumption of the Index Medicus originally is- sued by Frederick Leypoldt. The New York State Library has continued its interesting publications, of which the most noteworthy are the yearly lists of the Best Books of each year, and its yearly Summary and Index of Legislation, covering the several states of the Union. It is intended by Mr. Putnam to work out a similar plan, extended and improved, for the legislation of the United States and other countries, should Congress authorize the International Index to Current Legislation, which he has pro- posed. Much good work has been done by other libraries in their individual bibliogra- phies and bulletions, but these it is not prac- tical to follow in detail. Important contributions to general bibliog- raphy in relation with the booktrade have been made by Mr. A. Growoll in his work on "Booktrade bibliography in the United States in the xixth century," his monograph on "American book clubs," and, with the co- operation of Mr. Eames, in the book on "Three centuries of English booktrade bib- liography." One of the most notable advances in Amer- ican bibliography has been the better work done in supplying individual volumes with indexes, as an integral part of the work, and in supplementary indexes, printed separate- ly. It is impracticable, however, even in a "dry-as-dust" paper like the present, to cover in detail the individual bibliographies issued in this country in recent years, of which the annual list will be found in the successive volumes of the "Annual literary index." Bib- liography has perhaps taken the place of political economy as the "dismal science"; but it is a necessary evil in view of the enormous cumulation of books from year to year, and it is a problem of increasing difficulty how this record shall be provided continuously and adequately in the face of the enormous production of books with which the presses of the world are now teeming. 126 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. SUGGESTION FOR A YEARBOOK OF LIBRARY LITERATURE. BY W. DAWSON JOHNSTON, Library of Congress. T N undertaking systematically to collect and make more available and more complete our information about libraries and library' administration two methods are open first, to index existing library literature; second, to add to that literature. In a paper upon the "Relation of library history to library science and administration," which I have presented to this Association, I have set forth the mo- tives which led the national library to in- augurate the preparation of the series of "Contributions to American library history." It is the desire of the authorities of the library to gather together in this series existing in- formation regarding American libraries and American library methods. I now wish to present for your consideration another under- taking of no less consequence, the preparation of an annual summary of or index to the literature of libraries. As the one series looks to the past, the pursuit of the historical meth- od, and the description of the conditions of library progress in America, so the other looks to the future, the pursuit of the com- parative method, and the description of the ideals which animate the profession at home and abroad. The first requisite of the progress of library science, as of all science, is permanent and systematic records. This has been recognized in the establishment of the numerous journals devoted to library interests and bibliography. But with all these there is no publication devoted to library literature. Among gen- eral periodicals we have our reviews of re- view's, and among the periodical publications devoted to special sciences we have our jahres- berichte the most German, and, therefore, perhaps, the most scientific of our periodicals, but we have not an index to the current lit- erature of library science. A few years ago there was no need for such an index, but the increasing number of periodicals devoted to library interests and the multiplication of articles upon library questions in other periodi- cals literary, historical, educational, archi- tectural, etc. makes an index now both de- sirable and necessary. Desirable because in it we would have in convenient form a summary of the most noteworthy matters of interest to librarians, that is, such as have been thought worthy of discussion or notice among con- temporary publications ; necessary because few if any of us can now keep track of all the literature of our profession. The practical value of such an index must be obvious, particularly to members of an association which has produced a Poole. It may, therefore, be sufficient to say a few words regarding its scientific value, its importance as a contribution to the comparative study of library law and custom. Existing records of library literature, particularly those which are contained in foreign periodicals, are not generally accessible. When accessible they are not readily available because sandwiched in between the current news and notes. And when finally discovered they are unsatisfactory because of their incompleteness both in re- spect to the selection of the literature record- ed and in respect to the description of it. Such a report as we are considering, consist- ing of (i) a summary of the contributions of each country to library science, to be prepared by specialists representing the different sec- tions of the library world, (2) a classified list of current books and articles in magazines re- lating to libraries and library administration, and (3) an index such a report, I say, should remedy these defects in our existing record of library literature. As an annual it would not have the scrappiness inseparable from a monthly, and as the work of experts it would possess a completeness and an ac- curacy which is most to be desired. Furthermore, it should be observed, bib- liographical criticism must remain compara- tively barren as long as it remains provincial, and our generalizations in library science must fall short of universal validity as long as we reason from mere local experience. A work which shall present us with additional data for comparative study of library administra- tion should, therefore, prove useful not merely FOCKE. 127 as a work of reference, but as a factor in the reorganization of thought upon library ques- tions. Among the practical results to be expected from such a widening of the field of library science we may note two, (i) the discovery of new possibilities and responsibilities in inter- national, national and local bibliography, (2) the suggestion of new ideals and methods of library administration. This widening of the field of library science should in the first place be suggestive of new methods of international co-operation. As we broaden our intellectual and moral horizon new duties and opportunities are brought within our view, and the better definition of existing duties is made possible. Certainly nothing will promote the development of bib- liography more surely than the latter, particu- larly the definition of the functions of bib- liographical agencies, international, national, and local, a definition of those functions from a cosmopolitan point of view. This widening of the field of library science should in the second place be suggestive of new ideals and methods of library admin- istration. We need to project ourselves be- yond the circle of our immediate surroundings in order to understand the real nature of our work; we need to orient ourselves, as the phrase is. American and European libraries particularly have much to gain by a free ex- change of ideas, not only because the com- munities which we have to serve, English, German, Scandinavian and other, are similar in character, and our needs therefore similar, but because our experience has been different. Europe has been in possession of libraries for hundreds of years and has books that we shall never have. We can profit by the experience of these ancient institutions, learn from them the wisdom of conservatism, as they from us, the desirability of change. American and English libraries above all must profit by inter- course and co-operation, because of their com- munity of speech, of science and of literature. An organ of international library activity which shall, to this end, gather up whatever is of general utility in the experience of the libraries of the world, and make more ac- cessible the best of what is being thought and said, should widen the range of our view, Hit us to a participation in each other's labors, settle some questions, raise new ones, help to clarify our conceptions of what is important and what is not, and, in short, place us in pos- session of the net results of current profes- sional experience. CLASSIFICATION: THE GENERAL THEORY. BY PROFESSOR DR. RUDOLF FOCKE, Director Kaiser-Wilhelms-Bibliothek, Posen, Germany. n ^ HE higher a profession stands, the more scientific are its foundations. It is not only our preparatory general scientific train- ing, not only our daily dealings with science or with scientific material that give us the right to characterize our labors as scientific. The essential element of the scientific nature of our profession lies rather in the intrinsic necessity of conducting our official business in a scientific manner, that is, according to scientific principles and general well defined premises. Foremost among the librarian's activities stands the making of the catalogs. In these also centers the scientific part of his pro- fessional labors. All else is matter of tech- nique, of practical experience and routine. Three catalogs are indispensable to every well managed and well arranged library: The accession catalog, the alphabetical [au- thor and title] catalog, and the subject cata- log [realkatalog]. I consider this proposition as an axiom of library science. The shelf-list may be dispensed with, in as much as one of the other three catalogs may serve its pur- pose. The distinction here made is correct because it is based upon a scientific difference between the catalogs. Other classifications, for example the division into general and special catalogs, depend upon a graduated distinction which cannot be a first principle of division. Each one of the three catalogs registers the books in a manner peculiar to itself. The 128 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. elementary constituents, that is the titles of the books, are the same in all of the three catalogs. The difference consists in the ar- rangement or order of the titles. For the accession catalog the governing principle is the date of the incorporation of the books into the library, for the alphabetical catalog the order of the letters of the constituent parts of the title, for the subject catalog [realkatalog] the contents of the books. The order of the titles in the accession and in the alphabetical catalog is therefore due to external reasons and is accidental, in the subject catalog it is due to intrinsic reasons and is obligatory. Wherefore it is evident that it is the subject catalog [realkatalog] only which is constructed upon a scientific basis. To be sure we must have scientific knowl- edge even for the accession catalog and for the alphabetical catalog, especially knowledge of languages. But that knowledge has, nevertheless, only the value of a scientific working tool. The more he knows of lan- guages, to mention no other qualifications, the more fit the librarian will be to run these two catalogs. This indeed holds good for the subject [realkatalog] as well, but here make themselves felt in addition to these auxiliar- ies, first the sciences themselves, which are to be exhibited in the subject catalog [real- katalog] as they express themselves in liter- ature and which the librarian therefore must command more or less, and second, the theory of the scientific classification of books. The requirements in the way of scientific accomplishments are least in the case of the accession catalog, they rise with the alpha- betical catalog, and reach the highest point with the subject catalog [realkatalog]. The leading principle for the accession cat- alog is, as we have seen, the chronological order of the incorporation of the books into the library. There is nothing simpler than the rule based upon this. The accession cat- alog contains in addition information about the provenance of books, about their con- dition, price, etc. All of which is very im- portant indeed, but involves no principle, no rule for the arrangement of the titles. The leading principle for the alphabetical catalog is the order of the letters of the main component parts of the titles. Here diffi- culties arise. For the consistent carrying out of this principle demands first, a uniform alphabet for all sorts of script, and second, a definition of what are the main component parts of the titles, the words under which the titles shall be entered, and the relation of these words to one another. In order to find one's way in the alphabetical catalog of a large reference library one must know the standard alphabet, which presupposes the transcription of foreign letters on the basis of a particular alphabet. In the second place one must be familiar with the rules govern- ing the alphabetical arrangement of the titles. But if the very use of the catalog with any degree of certainty depends upon this knowl- edge, how much more must the librarian be sure of it, who is to continue and complete the catalog. The leading principle of the subject cat- alog [reaikatalog] is the subject of the books. Three demands are therefore made upon the librarian in this connection : first, he must have a sure judgment upon the subject of of the books; second, he must arrange the titles according to the subjects, that is ac- cording to their relation and their place in the sciences; third, he must know the rules governing this arrangement with respect to subject; in other words he must be at home in the theory of the scientific classification of books, because trie sciences in themselves do not convey a rule for the scientific classifica- tion of books, as we shall see. How then are the rules established for the three several catalogs? The rule for the accession catalog elabo- rates itself. It is contained in the definition of the accession catalog. The rule demands the arrangement of the titles in the order of accession, or chronological incorporation of books into the library. The observance of the rule is as simple as the definition. The rule for the alphabetic catalog also is given by the definition of that catalog and in so far is just as easily determined. The rule says: The books are to be registered in purely alphabetical order; that is according to the sequence of the letters of the words under which the titles are entered. But since the conception of alphabetic order is not exact it requires closer definition and here the difficulties begin. Opinions as to what should govern and is essential with re- gard to the alphabetic arrangement of titles FOCKE. 129 differ widely in certain cases, as is well known. A decision upon principle arrived at deductively does not exist any one prac- tice or another may be followed. There are three ways in which a uniform treatment in the arranging of titles may be reached for one or more libraries : Custom founded on tradition; simple agreement; and official rules. While formerly custom prevailed ex- clusively, lately resort has often been had to official rules. And rightly so. For by means of voluntary agreement various practices are scarcely to be welded into a single one, while progressive technique certainly demands uni- formity to the greatest possible degree. The rule for the subject catalog [real- katalog] again, stated in its most general terms deduced from the definition is : The books are to be entered in groups and successive divisions according to the subject. The question arises: Is it really the subject alone that determines the arrangement of the titles? The answer can only be: Not at all. For besides the intrinsic principle of arrange- ment, i.e., the subject, an external objective factor the use of the books must be rec- ognized. This principle of arrangement, con- sideration of the chief end of every library, governs of course for the alphabetic catalog as well, while the accession catalog is des- tined primarily to serve the administration. But in the alphabetic catalog the two prin- ciples of arrangement, the rule deduced from the definition, and facilitation of the use, co- incide. Not so in the case of the subject catalog [realkatalog], as we shall soon see. The principle of order of the subject cat- alog [realkatalog] comprised in its defini- tion is the subject of the books. The titles therefore are grouped and arranged accord- ing to the subject. This grouping, this order, in turn is determined by the diversity of the sciences and their branches. There is com- plete agreement on this point; the thesis is an axiom of library science. Books are ar- ranged in the order of the sciences and their branches. All the sciences combined constitute science. Its subdivision into special sciences may take the form of empirical enumeration or may follow a systematic classification. The sys- tematization of science is a philosophical problem. Many solutions have been at- tempted but no system has received general recognition. Each separate science which is to be fitted into the general system is, like the whole, an organism. To reduce to a system the or- ganism of a special science is already easier of accomplishment. In this way originates the classification of the special sciences. The degree to which such classification may be carried is unlimited in so far as subdivision must needs stop only when it arrives at the single idea, the single fact. The systematic arrangement of books, or rather of their titles, must closely follow the classification of the sciences, as long as no other principle of arrangement is adduced, and this with regard to the system as a whole, as well as with reference to the systems of the special sciences. This is demanded by the general rule of the subject catalog [real- katalog]. To this principle of arrangement, which we will call the systematic principle, is op- posed another one, which proceeds entirely from a practical standpoint. It seeks in the first place an arrangement which facilitates the most rapid, easy use of the collections of the library as classed by subject in various groups. To attain this there exists, aside from ap- plication of the systematic principle, only the one way: To resolve the entire matter of science or portions of it into subject catch- words and arrange them alphabetically. We will therefore call this the subject-alphabet principle. I have already pointed out that it is most certainly entitled to consideration. We have therefore now obtained two prin- ciples of arrangement for the subject cat- alog [realkatalog] : the systematic order and the subject-alphabet. We call subject cat- alog [realkatalog] every catalog which ex- hibits an arrangement, carried out according to the one or the other of these principles or a combination of both. As greatly as these principles seem to differ and even to be opposed to each other, it may now be pointed out that the general principle is in both the same; the matter is resolved into separate groups or parts according to subject. There is no specific or material difference between the two principles, but merely a difference of form. The separate 130 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. groups or divisions are the same m the sys- tematic as well as in the subject-alphabet arrangement. But they are arranged from different points of view and by different methods, bringing them into a different rela- tion to one another. May we then designate as classification any arrangement of material which results from the application of one of these prin- ciples? In order to answer this question we will now try to fix the definition of classifi- cation. Upon this philosophers are in general agreed. It is therefore an easy matter for us. Classification is an elementary process of cognition and consists according to its gen- eral concept in the systematic arrangement of ideas (Begriffe) into classes thoroughly car- ried out. We think always in a multiplicity of concepts. The multiplicity of concepts may be either an aggregate in form, that is, an agglomeration without inner connection, or it may be a system, that is, it may possess logical unity. As long as our multiplicity of concepts forms an aggregate our thinking is fragmentary; it rises and becomes systematic when the multiplicity of concepts forms a unity. We will now apply this general rule to our subject. When we divide the whole subject matter of the sciences or of a special science into a series of co-ordinate divisions strung together one after another it is not classifica- tion but simply division. In classification subordination must accompany co-ordina- tion. Subordination consists in the estab- lishment of main divisions and subdivisions. Classification is therefore not a mechanical but a logical process of division, and more- over a logical division which proceeds from a supreme concept limits the scope of the con- cept by addition of distinctive attributes, forms new and subordinate concepts with reference to opposite characteristics, and ar- rives finally at the lowest species. In the light of the definition given just now we will easily be able to recognize the essen- tial difference between the principle of the systematic and that of the alphabetical sub- ject catalog. While the latter contents itself with the empirical enumeration of the sec- tions of the system and of the specific con- cepts falling within them, brought into al- phabetic order, the systematic principle seeks the very closest conjunction with the logical classification. It follows, therefore, that in the strictest sense of the term we can only speak of a classification in connection with the subject catalog [realkatalog] when the sys- tematic principle is taken as a basis. In a broader sense, however, we call classification any arrangement of the subject matter or the content of a science which is carried out according to some plainly recognizable prin- ciple. For these two methods, which are the only ones possible, stand nevertheless in a certain closer relation to one another. In rank the systematic order stands, however, above the subject alphabet form; the former is the primary one. The logical classification is the necessary premise of the alphabetical subject arrangement. Without the former the latter could not even come into possession of those catchwords, which express more than one single concept, for it will not do to limit oneself to the titles of books in choosing such general conceptions. The two kinds of arrangement whose prin- ciples I have just developed permit a three- fold method in the construction of the subject catalog [realkatalog] : i. Adoption of a sys- tem; 2. Alphabetical grouping of the matter of the sciences as resolved into subject catch- words ; 3. The combination of these two methods. The last mentioned procedure is applied when the co-ordinate divisions of one or more sections of the system are arranged alphabetically, on account of greater per- spicuity, or when an alphabetical subject in- dex is added to the classed catalog con- structed upon the systematic principle, or when both occur. Whoever goes to work carefully following one of these three methods will soon see clearly that there exists a specific difference between science and its literature, i.e., the books, a difference which it is easy to make clear by definition. Science, its whole body as well as any given special science, is an organism. Its clasification results in the first place not in books but merely in branch sciences and scientific subjects, which may be left either in their organic gradation or arranged alphabetically by catchwords. The sciences and their branches are the matter which finds expression in books. Science is material, literature formal. In books science is exhibited in various forms. I have pointed out this fact, which is of considerable im- FOCKE. portance, already in a former paper * and have called the feature which is brought out here, this peculiarity of the book, the formal principle of literature (das formale prinzip der literatur). We will call the two principles of order, with which we have dealt so far, together the scientific or material principle of order. To this is to be added as equivalent the principle of order by literary form (Liter- arisch-f or males anordnungsprinzip) which we may also designate [briefly] as the literary or as the formal principle. But we may not stop at dividing books according to the material principle into scientific groups and materials ; we must also arrange the books in divisions and sections according to the form in which they present the mat- ter of science. Each group of books con- nected by contents be it that they treat science as a whole, or a special science, or a specific subject may therefore fall into the following subdivisions: Bibliography; History; Philosophy and Methodology; Sources ; Periodicals ; Collections ; Miscel- lanea ; Dictionaries ; Systematic treatises ; Monographs. In one rank, and in one sub- ject there will be many, in another rank, or another subject, but few such [literature] for divisions. I refer to my former paper, in which I also demonstrated how to proceed in order to construct the scheme of a systematic catalog, with equal regard to both principles, the material or scientific and the formal or literary. What was said there also holds good for the subject catalog. For the lit- erary form, divisions will not be arranged co-ordinate but subordinate to the subject divisions, just as they must be subordinated under the gradations of the systematic cat- alog. The gradations of the systematic and the subject catchword divisions are [therefore] to be strictly differentiated and separated from the literary form divisions in the construc- tion of the subject catalog [realkatalog]. Whoever offends against this rule, commits a blunder in method and makes the use [of the catalog] more difficult. One should not, for instance, as is done sometimes, place all the periodicals belonging to a science in the * "Grundlegung zu einer theorie des systemati- schen Katalogs." In: Sammlung bibliothekswissen- schaftlicher arbeiten. Heft 13, 1900. same rank with the main systematic divi- sions. The periodicals belonging to the va- rious systematic main divisions should rather be placed with those divisions, while only those periodicals devoted to the science in general will find their place in the first sys- tematic subgroup "General." It would be easy to quote numerous examples of mistakes of this and similar kinds from printed and manuscript catalogs, while many systems, as for instance that of Mr. Melvil Dewey, have avoided such errors. If we sum up the substance of our study the following fundamental rule holds good: Classification may follow the systematic prin- ciple or the subject alphabet plan, but it must strictly differentiate the divisions originating in logical subdivision of the subject from the literary form divisions. Adherence to the systematic principle sat- isfies the methodological demand that the whole of anything which may be the object of scientific investigation and literary treat- ment must be capable of presentation in the form of a clearly and logically developed chain of subdivisions. We feel the necessity of arranging the existing literature in an easily surveyed inventory, based upon logical relations, in order that we may find under the guidance of scientific system the writings which exist upon a certain science or branch, or upon any given subject. Adherence to the subject alphabet prin- ciple takes into account the undeniable fact that no logical classification can group all the co-ordinate and subordinate divisions of science or of a special science so that even one, or the few, (not to mention the un- trained many) may rapidly find their way through the intricate structure. It renounces that methodological demand and, with an eye to didactic value, puts in place of the sys- tematic arrangement a mechanical co-ordina- tion of the divisions standing in a relation of subsumption to one another, depending upon the alphabet, and shifting in this manner the trouble of finding one's way from the head to paper. Both methods have their advantages, both have their drawbacks. It has therefore been attempted, to combine them, and rightly. The best combinations following constitute: ' i. The systematic classification is taken as a basis, but with it is combined the subject 132 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. alphabet order of arrangement in such a way that whenever any section of the system con- tains so large a number of co-ordinate divi- sions as not to be readily surveyed, these divisions or subjects are arranged alphabet- ically; 2. To the subject catalog [realkatalog] made in this way, with some attention to the subject alphabet principle, an alphabetic sub- ject index is joined. There are no other methods of classifica- tion than these three: i. The method of sys- tematic classification ; 2. The method of sub- ject alphabet classification; 3. The method which consists of a combination of these two. At bottom there is but one method of sys- tematic classification, for the subject alphabet method is of secondary importance; it cannot exist without the other. In truth, there is also but one system of classification, the logical system ; it is the classification nar' E^OX^V. As there are but three methods of classifi- cation, so the possible varieties of the subject catalog [realkatalog] also are limited: there is the systematic subject catalog, the alpha- betical subject catalog, and the subject cat- alog [realkatalog] combining the character- istics of these two. Forms, apparently new, as for example the Dictionary catalog, and the Alphabetico- classed catalog, are only varieties of the three basic forms. There are no important objections to their adoption; for certain classes of libraries they are even much to be recommended. To this class of innova- tions belongs also the system of Mr. Melvil Dewey, which is nothing more than the method of systematic classification with the superaddition of an extraneous principle, to wit: the decimal system, the objects aimed at being external symmetry and practical ad- vantages. It is permissible to inject such a new principle into the original principle of systematic order provided an actual practical gain results, as is the case with the subject alphabet principle. Whether we have such a case here, or whether the acceptation of the Decimal system, which acts upon the classifi- cation of the sciences like a Procrustes bed, whether this and other considerations do not tend to prove the whole thing unsuitable it is not the province of this paper to decide ; its thesis is the general theory of classifica- tion. Nevertheless I would not refuse Mr. Dewey the acknowledgment that his system represents an energetic attempt to introduce technical uniformity into the subject catalog [realkatalog]. In conclusion I will remark that every- thing I have said about the relation of classi- fication to the subject catalog [realkatalog] holds also good for the relation between bib- liography and classification. The close re- lation between the subject catalog [real- katalog] and bibliography makes both of them subject to the same principles of con- struction. CLASSIFICATION: PRESENT TENDENCIES. BY CHARLES MARTEL, Library of Congress. TT is nearly a quarter of a century since the late Mr. Cutter presented before the fourth A. L. A. Conference, held at Washington, 1881, a report on classification, taking his cue from a custom prevailing with other learned bodies of giving a periodical survey of the activities and progress in the several domains of science cultivated by them. His suggestion of covering in this way the various depart- ments of library science met with warm ap- proval. Reports on classification followed with more or less regularity at succeeding conferences. In the interval between formal reports there were papers and discussions on various features of the classification problem for public libraries, centering around the merits or advantages of particular schemes, especially the D. C. and the E. C. or Cutter classification. That series of reports and dis- cussions is very instructive and helpful for the study of tendencies, but there does not ap- pear to be much inner connection or continuity between them with reference to that particu- lar purpose, and they embody only a fragmen- tary record of the literature of classification, which is imperfectly supplemented by periodi- MART EL. 133 cal lists of current publications like the rubric "Cataloging and classification," opened in 1885 in volume 10 of the Library Journal. Naturally, the handbooks of library science like Maire and Graesel treat the subject and present the literature more systematically and comprehensively. Even here, however, the limits are drawn more or less closely, and sources when not including theoretical dis- cussions are barely touched. The most com- plete record is the bibliographical history of systems of classification in Dr. Richardson's "Classification, theoretical and practical," 1901. But the bibliographical history confines itself to a record of comprehensive systems. There is a chapter vn. : "Partial system of classifica- tion," where it is said, "It would be vain to at- tempt to give any comprehensive survey of the enormous number of partial classifications, but this account would be incomplete if atten- tion were not called to the fact of the exist- ence of these, and to the great advantage that they may be in the preparation of a general sys- tem." I am grateful for this eminent prece- dent and may well plead that space forbids the insertion of a bibliography within the limits of a short summary like the present, of cer- tain phases of the subject. I propose to confine myself to a statement of the existence of certain classes of docu- ments of interest to the classifier of books and will offer on the basis of a few typical examples my interpretation of their signifi- cance, without prejudice or pretension, hoping nevertheless that my interpretation may be true and that many of you will agree with me. I will add that it is to be hoped that the next report on classification may have the ben- efit of the annual bibliography of library lit- erature projected in another paper before this Conference by Mr. William Dawson Johnson. Among the reports presented to your Con- ferences, that of Horace Kephart before the World's Library Conference, Chicago, 1893, is distinguished by unusual comprehensive- ness. It was based on the returns to a cir- cular of inquiry to American librarians and presented a digest of the answers, together with an interpretation of the tendencies in the form of a masterly summary of conclusions by the editor. It is not for the purpose of comparison to my own disadvantage, however, that I revert to that report, but because, though confined almost wholly to a consideration of American expert opinion and practice at that time, its conclusions seem to me borne out by the trend of doings since then both at home and abroad. As far as American library practice is con- cerned the situation seems but little changed, if at all. I have had an opportunity of exam- ining the returns to a circular similar to that of 1893, sent out a few years ago. The proportion of libraries using or adopting the Decimal classification, pure or modified, of those using the Cutter E. C. and the re- mainder, chiefly the larger libraries or spe- cial libraries using individual schemes has remained almost constant with a relatively larger increase in the number using the E. C. classification. This seems to indicate that there are two apparently opposed tendencies, each holding its own : on the one hand, the tendency toward corporation and uniformity, on the other, the tendency toward specialization and in- dividuality. Since the report of 1893, some important bibliographical events have taken place which seem to justify the reasonable belief that the two may be combined in a measure to great advantage. Taking a glance at the various classes of documents and facts, which bear evidence in this question, we have (i) Systems of classification of the sciences; (2) Systems of classification for libraries or for books ; (3) Schemes underly- ing the catalogs of general libraries with more or less leaning towards development in cer- tain subjects; (4) General schemes for special libraries; and (5) Schemes for general and special bibliographies, i.e. for the classification of titles, rather than of books; (6) The ar- rangement of many general and special li- braries, public and private, whose classification is not in print in any form. Within the last four groups falls the "enor- mous number of partial classifications," re- ferred to by Dr. Richardson. Of the prodigi- ous number of libraries, catalogs, and bibliog- raphies a relatively small number have the same classification an astonishing fact, con- sidering the undeniable advantages of a rea- sonable degree of uniformity in arrangement and the great economy which would be effect- ed in adopting a system already devised. What can be the explanation? It is in the very nature of classification that it should closely fit the collection of things classified. The gen- 134 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. eral library, the universal bibliography, the select reference library, the small popular li- brary, the special library according to its subject, if classified with the fine discrimina- tion and regard for extent, nature of collec- tions, character of use, etc., etc., will have an ideal classification as far as the purpose of classification, the use of the collections, goes, but their classification will differ from one another in various ways. Idealism and indi- vidualism need not go too far, however, and concessions can be made with profit in the interest of co-operation and uniformity. The problem is, how far? One of the bibliographical events alluded to above is the foundation in 1895 of the In- stitut International de Bibliographic of Brus- sels. True to its program, it has during the first decade of its existence worked energeti- cally through publication and propaganda for unification of method ; n bibliography and classification. With the help of collaborators, it has extended the Decimal classification tables for a great number of subjects, and a revision of the entire system has progressed to the number of 20 sections. The other event is the co-operative publica- tion of the International Catalogue of Scien- tific Literature. Some advance has, I believe, been made toward the organization of similar enterprises for the literature of the technical arts, for history and philology. All great divisions of literature may eventually be cov- ered. We shall then possess classifications, originally devised by specialists, expert both in science and bibliography, classifications improved as experience and use may seem to dictate and modified from time to time in accordance with the progress of science. There will be local lists to be applied in the natural history and physical sciences, others for historical subjects; there may be language and period tables, and simple and extended arrangements of the form divisions at the beginning of subjects. The librarian will co- ordinate them for his use in a general collec- tion, and libraries, large and small, may have their normal standard schemes adapted to their requirements. A notation also will be easily adjusted, using perhaps the symbols of the special classification for the form divisions, local divisions and systematic subdivisions, but different libraries prefixing their own gen- eral class symbols to place the main subjects in the order suitable to their character and use. This seems to me the legitimate and desirable extent to which uniformity may go. The attempt to assign to every subject a significant symbol, absolutely fixing its position and limit- ing the use of that symbol I believe explains the relatively slow progress of the Decimal system in Europe as against its successes in the United States, where it is used in libraries mostly of the same character and scope. PRESENT TENDENCIES OF CATALOG PRACTICE. BY WILLIAM COOLIDGE LANE, Librarian of Harvard University. HTHE present tendencies of catalog practice may be conveniently summed up under three heads, as tendencies toward enrichment, simplification and economy. I. Under enrichment, we note all the endeav- ors to make the library catalog a more perfect and serviceable tool by expanding it into a combined author and subject list, and by enlarging its scope, in both these ways adapt- ing it to meet a greater variety of demands and to serve a greater number of persons. The typical catalog has been a simple au- thor list, its entries arranged alphabetically by authors' names, or by titles when no au- thor's name could be found. Its entries may have been of the briefest, a title a line per- haps, or they may have been full, careful, accurate, distinguishing one edition of the same book from another, and describing the peculiarities of the individual copy in hand, as does the great catalog of the British Mu- seum, perhaps the most complete and carefully worked out example of the pure author cata- log that exists. In the case of biographies, to be sure, this catalog enters under subject as well as under author, and its entry of anony- mous works necessarily introduces a certain number of subject headings, but these excep- LANE. 135 tions only emphasize the fact that it does not pretend to show what the library has on any subject or in any special department. A col- lection of the enormous extent of the British Museum can hardly be expected to do this; at least it cannot be expected to provide a complete catalog by subjects or a subject index* for its whole collection, though this very project was discussed with some heat in letters in the Times in October and November, 1900, and was commended by Dr. Garnett. Of other libraries, however, more is de- manded. Every library must, according to our present lights, have its subject catalog as well as, or combined with, its author cata- log. For the smaller libraries this is espe- cially true, and here the necessity of the sub- ject catalog is unquestioned. In the case of the larger libraries the large libraries of reference conducted mainly in the interest of students the relative merits of subject catalog and bibliographies as keys with which to unlock the treasures of the library is some- times discussed with a decided leaning in favor of the bibliography. In practical use can the bibliography take the place of the subject catalog? The ques- tion assumes many different aspects, according as it is looked at from the point of view of the small library or the great one, the highly specialized library or the general one, ac- cording as one considers the needs of the un- trained reader or the experienced scholar, and also according to the special subject one has in mind. A full discussion of the question is therefore impossible in a paper which must deal with other subjects as well. An article by C. H. Hull, then of the Cornell University Library, in the Library Journal for June, 1890, (15:167) is the best statement that has been made of the shortcomings of subject catalogs and the advantages of working with a gener- ous collection of bibliographies, yet the author confesses at the end that he is only half con- vinced by his own well-put arguments, and no library already provided with a subject catalog has been induced, or has had the cour- age, to discontinue it, though many librarians feel the burden of keeping it up and look * In England a subject catalog is distinguished from a subject index, the former being understood to be in classed form, the latter in dictionary form. I shall use the term subject catalog to include both forms. with apprehension upon the bulk to which their catalogs are likely to grow. The most recent statement in favor of the subject cata- log is that by Mr. J. C. M. Hanson, of the Library of Congress, in the Library Journal for September, 1904, a statement called out by a request for advice with regard to the policy to be pursued by the Royal Library in Vienna. I must confine my remarks to one or two points only. It may readily be admitted that no subject catalog is equally useful in all its parts. Lists of general works on music, philosophy, the- ology, history, etc., which do not admit of a natural subdivision, gradually increase in bulk, become wearisome to examine, and after all are seldom of service, books of this kind being oftener known by their authors and sought in the author catalog. General works on scientific subjects accumulate in the draw- ers of a subject catalog as the years go by, and the superseded books overshadow and conceal the recent and authoritative ones. Such cases may lead us to prune our subject catalogs on some sides or to modify their arrangement. Such headings, if omitted al- together, would be less missed than others, or they might be restricted to include only a few select titles. In large libraries, bibliogra- phies could fill their place reasonably well. Or, to suggest a different policy, the arrange- ment of the cards under such classes in chronological order (instead of in the ordi- nary or alphabetical sequence) would imme- diately give the titles under even such subjects a new interest and value. Against the bibliographies it is rightly urged that, more often than not, the needed bib- liography either does not exist or is hope- lessly out of date, and it will always be true that any thorough bibliography will present such a mass of titles not to be found in any one library, as to require great labor to select those titles that may be had, and any searcher who has not a command of the whole subject already will be discouraged. Relief from the difficulty of too great bulk seems to lie in two directions: .(i) in the printing from time to time of certain whole sections of the catalog (subjects in which the library is specially strong) and the can- cellation of the corresponding cards, or (2) in the printing of select lists to include only books of current interest and value for the 136 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. general reader. In the first case the size of the catalog itself would be diminished, in the second, the necessary use of the catalog. Another plan might be worth trying in cer- tain cases. Take such a bibliography as En- gelmann's Bibliotheca Scriptorum Classico- rum, comprehensive, exact, minute, corrected and completed by the issue of successive edi- tions; check in it all the titles to be found in your library, cancelling the corresponding cards in your catalog and leaving in their place under each author (i.e. subject) a refer- ence to the volume and page of the bibliogra- phy. Leave in the catalog cards for such books only as have escaped the notice of the bibliography, and add cards for books pub- lished since its completion. The bibliography thus becomes a catalog of the library so far as its titles serve, and the catalog becomes a continuation of the bibliography so far as the material is represented in the library. The expense will be considerable in the end perhaps not less than the expense under the ordinary system. The advantage will be some reduction in the bulk of the card catalog and probably some convenience in consulta- tion. I cannot stop to work out the details, but offer the suggestion as a possible way of reconciling in some cases the claims of the subject catalog and the bibliography. Notice, however, that it presupposes the existence of a subject catalog in fairly complete form, certain portions of which, and certain por- tions only, may be supplemented or displaced by published bibliographies. I do not myself believe that any library, large or small, that already has a subject catalog, can afford to discontinue it as a whole; on the other hand, a large library that undertakes now to make a subject catalog after its collections have been accumulating for a long term may wisely omit the older books or the most of them, and leave these to be sought either on the shelves or in bibliographies. This is in effect the course pursued by the British Museum, whose Subject Index includes modern works only, being limited in most cases to books printed between 1880 and 1900. Another library might include a selection of older books, but in any case the labor of preparation and the bulk of the catalog would both be substantially re- duced by such limitation. Let us then have a subject catalog and let us have it as perfect as we can manage to make it, will continue to be the cry of librarians, in my opinion, and the scholars who some- times scoff at our imperfect results will in time find that the subject catalog justifies itself. The question still remains What kind of a subject catalog? Shall it be in dictionary or classed form? Which is to prevail? This is a problem, one of the problems, it seems to me, which has not at present a definite answer. Long ago the class catalog held the field with no competitor, but with many rival claimants in its own family. Then came the dictionary catalog, and at present in America it has almost driven out its older and more aristocratic rival, while in Europe it has made steady and notable gains both as applied to library use and in bibliographical publica- tions. Among classed systems, almost the only one which shows any vigor of life is the Decimal classification; but this, though in- tended for the classification of titles in a cata- log as well as of books on the shelves, has been mainly adopted as a shelf classification in this country, and with some notable ex- ceptions has made comparatively little head- way as the basis of a subject catalog. It was designed primarily for popular libraries, and in such libraries it has done its best service. But lately there has appeared in the field the Bibliographical Institute of Brussels, a vig- orous young champion of the Decimal classi- fication as a system of cataloging. The en- ergetic directors of this Institute have taken the Decimal classification as used in America, have translated it into European languages, and with amazing ingenuity and perseverance have expanded and modified it, and added new elements of elasticity and new methods of combination to its already flexible system of notation, so that for purposes of bibliographi- cal subdivision and record, a far greater de- gree of exactness and detail can be attained now than ever before. At the same time, with the greatest industry, the Institute has been bringing together for its Repertoire an enormous mass of bibliographical material, already amounting to two and a half million references classified by subjects according to the expanded Decimal classification. This it is ready to put at the disposal of all comers gratuitously, while copies of what it has col- lected are furnished at very low rates. It has also established, or affiliated with itself, numerous bibliographical periodicals or cur- LANE. 137 rent title-lists, in all of which the Decimal classification numbers are attached to each title and in many of which the titles are classified on this system. It has made the sys- tem more widely known than ever before, has shown by actual practice its applicability to the most minute records of bibliography, and, what is more, has demonstrated the necessity of a classed system with a simple notation for work that is to have international significance or secure international co-operation. A dictionary catalog must necessarily be compiled, so far as its headings are concerned, in a single language, but a classed catalog, in which the headings are represented by figures, is equally applicable to any language, and simply requires an index in the language most familiar to the student. Will the Decimal system finally prevail as the normal type of subject catalog? Who can say? It has a strong hold as a shelf classification in a very large number of libraries; the advantages of uniformity and of employing, as it were, a universal language are very great; the Bib- liographical Institute has certainly extended the possibilities of its use as a bibliographical tool of great precision and adaptability; yet the rough and ready convenience of the dic- tionary catalog, its simplicity apparent from the very start, and the directness of its an- swers to the questions put to it will no doubt prevent its being displaced by any other sys- tem in popular libraries, while the example of Mr. Fortescue's "Subject index of the modern works added to the library of the British Mu- seum, 1881-1900," shows that the dictionary principle can be satisfactorily applied even to the greatest collections. This catalog also shows that even in a dictionary catalog a certain amount of classification necessarily creeps in under its larger headings (especially country headings) in order to reduce into a manageable shape the great mass of titles that accumulates there, and in some cases this catalog frankly slips over into the classified form while keeping its alphabetical arrange- ment, as in putting under Psychology the sub-heads, Attention, Belief, Consciousness, Effort, Imagination, etc.* Our normal catalog has become then, and is to remain, enriched by subject entries. It * Precisely the same arrangement that character- izes the subject catalog of the Harvard College Library. is also frequently enriched by annotation. It is not content, that is to say, with simply plac- ing the contents of its library before readers in orderly fashion and leaving them to, it may be, an uninstructed choice. The demand grows that the reader shall be guided. He is not expected, like the profound scholar, to know his subject before he comes to the catalog, and even the scholar is not expected to be a universal genius, and to be as familiar with the field which his neighbor cultivates as with his own. Notes indicating the relative value and scope of different books on the same subject, even notes designed to catch the casual eye and awaken an interest where no interest be- fore existed, are all natural outgrowths of the general desire to make the library an active educational force, not a mere storehouse from which the educated alone may draw what they have already learned to value. Hence comes the desire to reach out after the reader, after the child before he becomes a reader; and the appropriate tools have to be provided bulletins of new books with short, interesting accounts of them, select reading lists on sub- jects of current interest, even picture bulletins to attract the notice of the young or the un- interested. "Best book" cards have been rec- ommended and used to some extent. Mr. Johnston, of the Library of Congress, has late- ly proposed the preparation of printed cards summing up under each specific subject the best books on each subject, with brief notes as to their scope, etc. It is not impossible that something of the kind may be done and the cards distributed to libraries. All devices which help the unpractised reader are wel- comed, and fit in acceptably into the general purpose to make our libraries, even the small ones or especially the small ones, count for all they can. The introduction of annotation into library catalogs is really the introduction of a feature characteristic of bibliographies as distin- guished from catalogs, but it must be con- fessed that hitherto there have been too few bibliographies so enriched. Most bibliogra- phies are still unannotated, bare lists of classi- fied titles in whose mounting numbers the compiler takes solid satisfaction, whether he knows anything of the contents of the books recorded and can give the student some useful hint or not. The German Jahresberichte are 138 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. the best examples of that richer bibliography which not only lists but describes or even summarizes. Our own Association has taken an honorable part in adding to a hitherto meagre company annotated bibliographies which are of real service as guides to readers. But I am wandering from my subject, which is the catalog, not the bibliography. My excuse is that catalogs are introducing biblio- graphical features and are inclined to pattern themselves on the more popular form of criti- cal bibliography. A third method of enriching the catalog is by the inclusion of references to articles in periodicals, society transactions, etc., a field which was once considered to belong to the bibliography alone. The catalog of the Bos- ton Athenaeum was one of the pioneers in do- ing this, but the smaller libraries were quick to learn the lesson that with their limited re- sources they could make what they had more directly useful by displaying in their catalogs essays, articles, etc., which would otherwise be overlooked. The smaller the library the more important this is, for the greater is the difficulty and loss of time involved in using elaborate bibliographical tools, when so little of what is recorded there can be found at hand. Yet for most libraries, the appearance of Poole's Index, with its successive supple- ments, makes the insertion in their catalogs of what can there be traced unwise and cum- bersome. In more learned fields, with the better organization of bibliographical work, with the completer records of current produc- tion presented first in periodicals arid annual lists and finally in systematic bibliographies, the chance of such articles being overlooked becomes less and less. At the same time production has enor- mously increased, and while every great li- brary tries to keep itself supplied with the principal periodical publications, and is con- stantly enlarging its list, the bibliographical record as constantly outstrips it and still presents a great mass of material not to be found in any but the very largest libraries. Under these conditions is a library justified in attempting to include in its catalog any part of this material, in periodicals and society transactions, which lies more or less remote from the ordinary processes of book catalog- ing? During the last few years, the inclusion of such material has been directly encouraged by the issue in several quarters of printed catalog cards. The number of such cards representing articles contained in other pub- lications is now really very large, far larger, I imagine, than most of us realize. To men- tion them very briefly, with no attempt at completeness, there are : cards for the whole current literature of zoology prepared at Zu- rich by H. H. Field (103,000 titles) ; cards indexing the descriptions of new American botanical species issued formerly by Miss Clark in Washington and now by Miss Day at the Herbarium in Cambridge (about 30,000) ; similar cards issued by the Herbier Boissier for European species (about 4000) ; cards is- sued by the Torrey Botanical Club for the lit- erature of botany (about 8000 titles) ; cards is- sued by the Department of Agriculture in Washington for the contents of its own Year- books and the publications of Experiment Sta- tions, and cards now in process of printing, prepared by the same department, to cover the contents of certain long sets of agricultural periodicals (2800 titles) ; cards issued by our own Publishing Board, prepared by five great libraries working in co-operation and covering the contents of some 235 periodicals of a more or less learned character ; cards for certain sets of government publications, so- ciety transactions and books of composite au- thorship, like Warner's library, the Chicago University Decennial publications, etc., and cards for the contents of bibliographical pe- riodicals, all issued by our own Publishing Board (25,000). Cards of a similar kind, intended to cover all material of a biblio- graphical nature, whether found in periodicals or in other books, and cards for titles m physiology, anatomy, Portuguese law and the history of Eure et Loire, all published by or in connection with the Bibliographical In- stitute of Brussels (20,000) ; cards for the literature of mathematics published by Gau- thier Villars in Paris (about 10,000 titles). There are doubtless other undertakings of a similar nature which I have overlooked in this hasty survey, but those which I have mentioned alone have produced in the last few years something over two hundred thous- and titles printed on cards to be incorporated in card catalogs. LANE. 139 What is lo be the attitude of libraries tow- ard cards of this kind? The work of the smaller libraries is not seriously touched by them, but so far as these libraries have the material covered by these cards, they should accept and use them freely (more freely than they do), for they make accessible material to which there is no other clue except in the elaborate bibliographies which the small li- brary is not expected to own and does not find it practicable to use. The A. L. A. Pub- lishing Board, in all the work which it has undertaken on its own initiative, has tried to keep the needs of such libraries in view, and it may be said in passing that the work of this kind that it has carried on has been more profitable financially than any of its book publications (with one exception). But what are the large libraries to do with these new cards which are beginning to de- scend upon them like the leaves in autumn, and which, if full advantage were taken of them, might easily double the number of entries to tie added to the catalog yearly? For the most part, the titles found on these cards are specific in subject and therefore the easier classified ; they represent additions to knowl- edge or are discussions of matters of current interest, and therefore have a value for the immediate present, a value that in some cases will diminish as time goes on. But a large part of them will soon get to be incorporated in the standard bibliographies and be as easily found in that way as in the card catalog. What shall we do with them? Shall we drop them into our card catalogs? Shall we make a separate "repertoire" of them, to borrow the expression of our Brussels friends? And if so, on what basis shall we arrange them? Those which reach us from Brussels bear the Decimal Classification mark in its ex- panded form and can be arranged accordingly. The American cards, for the most part, bear a suggested dictionary-heading, modestly printed at the bottom, for we know from experience that our catalogs differ so much one from another that no generally satis- factory heading can be assigned by a central bureau. This suggested heading is a substan- tial help in classifying, yet, even so, the handl- ing, classification and arrangement of these cards is a serious burden, and if the system should break down, this difficulty will be the principal cause. From this point of view, the work done in Brussels is on a better plan, for net only the cataloging and printing, but the classifying is done at the central point. If we put them into our general catalogs, these new titles stand side by side, as they should do, with earlier books and articles on the same subject. The student has but one place to look. Beside finding books that con- cern his subject, he finds references to some of the latest periodical contributions, refer- ences that he may be already familiar with from recent bibliographical records in the journals, but others also, just ahead of the bibliographical record or just behind what is being currently reported, and this latter ma- terial, until it has got established in systematic bibliographies, is perhaps the most likely to escape notice. For the specialist in his own field this may not be so, but we are too apt to forget in discussions of this subject that the specialist has to make frequent incursions into other fields, and that there is a great num- ber of beginners in literary investigation who have not the whole thing already at their fingers' ends. Once in the catalog, however, these cards cannot be readily extracted. They will in all probability remain there, swelling the bulk of the catalog, and in some cases, not by any means all, giving information which might just as conveniently be sought in a bibliog- raphy. If, on the other hand, these cards are kept as a separate catalog by themselves, we have the inconvenience of separated entries relating to the same subject, and of a second- ary parallel catalog growing up by the side of the main one, yet on the whole this may be the best practical solution. It is at any rate a safe temporary solution until the final outcome is more clear. Under this treatment, we shall build up a new general bibliography, full and minute in some departments, frag- mentary in others, having the same relative advantages and disadvantages with respecc to bibliographies in book form that card catalogs have with respect to book catalogs. Library practice in general has decided in favor of the card catalog; the card bibliog- raphy may come into equally general use. Whether in that case it will eventually be combined with the catalog or will remain a 140 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. separate collection, it seems to me too early to decide. n. Other tendencies in cataloging are in the direction of simplicity and uniformity. The card catalog itself, as a substitute for a print- ed catalog with a succession of supplements or a cumbrous system of interleaving, was a step in the direction of simplicity, and the gradual codification of cataloging custom and tradition has brought about a certain degree of uniformity. The card catalog, as the sim- plest permanent complete record of a library's contents, seems to be an established and ac- cepted fact, despite certain inconveniences which are inseparable from it. It occupies much floor space, it is not as readily consulted as a printed book, and in- dividual portions of it can be used by only one person at a time, but no better method which retains its advantages of unity, com- pleteness and simplicity has yet appeared. Its bulk gives some cause for uneasiness, both on account of the space it occupies and be- cause of increased difficulty of finding in it what one seeks. The question of space must be seriously reckoned with by the architect, but so must the question of shelving for the books, and the difficulty of providing room for a million additional cards is as nothing compared to providing for the half million volumes of which they give the record. As to difficulty of consultation, it is quite true that it is more troublesome to find a given card among 500,000 other cards than among 5000, but it is not very much more so. A card catalog is made up of a number of trays arranged in alphabetical order. Each tray contains a certain number of groups of cards arranged in alphabetical or nu- merical order and distinguished one from the other by a common heading (author or subject). In each group the individual cards are arranged in a precise and easily under- stood order, with nothing haphazard from beginning to end. If a catalog increases from 5000 to 500,000 cards, the trays increase in the same proportion, but it is still almost as easy to put one's hand on the special tray one wants ; the tray contains no more cards than one of the trays in the small catalogs; it probably contains fewer groups (authors or subjects), for these do not increase in the same proportion as the catalog. Under each group there are likely to be more cards, but all are still arranged in the same order, and on the average there will not be very many more than before, for if, while the catalog has increased a hundred times, the number of specific groups will have increased (let us say) fifty times in the author division and twenty-five times in the subject division, and the number of cards under each group will only have doubled (on the average) under the authors, and quadrupled under the subjects. It would seem therefore that, while the con- tent of the catalog increased a hundred fold, the difficulty of consulting it might increase by a tenth or possibly a fifth. The ratio of I -10, or even 1-5, to 100 is not an alarming one to contemplate. Moreover the book catalog is subject to the same progressively increas- ing difficulty in consultation. If the catalog has been reprinted in a complete form, the proportional increase of difficulty is doubtless less than in the case of a card catalog, but if the catalog has grown by successive sup- plements, as most book catalogs must, the inconvenience of the book form is immensely greater than that of the card form, and on the ground of simplicity, the advantage is alto- gether on the side of the card catalog. Nevertheless, while the card catalog seems to have come to stay, printed book catalogs on a large scale are still undertaken, but main- ly, it should be remarked, by national libraries having an obligation to make their riches known to others. The British Museum cata- log is complete and a supplement, bringing down its accessions to 1900, is well under way. Will it continue to issue printed sup- plements? The Bibliotheque Nationale has already printed sixteen volumes of a general alphabetical author catalog, which reaches part way through the letter B. A commission in Berlin is collecting material for a joint catalog of eleven Prussian libraries, which I suppose will be printed in book form. The Surgeon-General's Office, in Washington, is still issuing the great quarto volumes of its catalog. Sixteen volumes sufficed to go through the alphabet the first time; the sup- plement contains already nine volumes, and has reached the letter L. Probably not less than a million and a quarter entries (author and subject) are contained in the work so far. On the other hand, the Library of Congress, LANE. 141 which is not behindhand in recognizing its obligations to other American libraries, is printing its catalog in card form, and is pre- pared to send its cards as a whole to deposi- tories in different parts of the country. In matters of form, the movement is also in the direction of simplicity and uniformity, and to attain this end many new codes of rules have been issued or are now under revision. The codes, it is true, become longer the oftener they are revised, but the object is to make the work simpler and more uni- form by providing specific instructions to fit a greater number of cases. In this country, in England, in Prussia, in Austria, in Bel- gium, in Spain, this work has been, or is now, in progress, and we ought to be nearer to the next great step forward, an international agreement so that co-operation between the bibliographers of different nations may be fostered. The changes in our own rules (those with which I am most familiar) have been gen- erally in the direction of making the catalog simpler from the reader's point of view, with- out sacrificing substantial accuracy or exact- ness; theoretical considerations are made to give way to practical convenience. For in- stance, in theory an author's full name should be given in the heading, but practically the introduction of names which he may have received at baptism, but which he never uses, is confusing, and the present tendency is to omit them. For it is held that a library cata- log is not a biographical dictionary, its prime object simply being to show, as directly and quickly as possible, what books the library has. For the same reason entry under pseud- onyms is permitted when the pseudonym is in everybody's mouth. In theory every book or series of books should be entered under an author or under some one who stands to the book in the place of an author, as an editor, compiler, translator, or even a publisher, but many such books or series are commonly known under the title only, and title entry is the easier and better. In this we approach nearer to Euro- pean practice, which commonly enters all such cases and frequently even the publications of learned societies under their titles. Uncommon abbreviations, however ingeni- ous and however satisfactory they may be to the inventor, we should be ready to drop if, after trial, the public is not inclined to adopt them. Peculiarities of type, capitalization, spelling, or punctuation which make a cata- log look strange or unnatural, even if they may be defended on theoretical grounds, catalogers are now disposed to give up and to make their work, when it comes to print, conform to the best trade usage. in. The other tendencies in catalog methods which deserve . mention are those which in one way or another secure economy. The chief methods of securing economy are by uniformity, by co-operation and by centraliza- tion. The tendency to uniformity has already been mentioned in connection with simplified meth- ods of cataloging and revised codes of rules. A certain degree of uniformity is one of the prerequisites for successful co-operation and centralization, and the desire to bring these into practical operation has been the main incentive to the adoption of uniform cata- log rules. Too great uniformity, however, in matters of detail must not be insisted upon, or all possibility of co-operation is cut off. A librarian who by careful attention to these matters has secured a high degree of uniform- ity and consistency in his catalog in matters of form or style, finds it hard to let go his hold on any of these details and to accept cards varying ever so little in punctuation, arrangement and capitalization from his own. But if one takes a little broader view, con- cessions in these things are well worth mak- ing for the sake of attaining a practically sat- isfactory result at a real saving of labor and expense. Co-operation and centralization have already brought us good results in cataloging as in other departments of library administration, and from a still larger application of these principles are to be won some of the most useful developments of the future. Co-opera- tion has already given us admirable "union lists" of periodicals taken by libraries in the same vicinity, and the co-operation in the issue of bulletins has been attempted with a moderate degree of success. Co-operation in bibliographical work is especially effective, and to its aid we owe Poole's Index, the A. L. A. 142 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. Index, the A. L. A. Catalog and the Portrait Index, to mention only the undertakings in which members of this association have lent their aid. The printed cards for the contents of periodical publications issued by our Pub- lishing Board is another instance of the same method. Five libraries working in co-opera- tion prepare the copy and send it in to our office, which looks after the printing and dis- tribution. Already nearly 21,000 titles have been prepared in this way.* Centralization of work is closely connected with co-operation, and the cataloging of books seems to be a particularly favorable field in which to apply it. A popular new book is bought by, let us suppose, 500 different li- braries. Each library has to go through a closely similar process in order to insert the title in its catalog and place the book on its shelves. So far as the preparation of the catalog card is concerned, this might be done once for all at a central point instead of being repeated 500 times by 500 different persons in 500 different places, provided the result could be communicated in suitable form, at the right time, and without too great expense, to the 500 libraries. The Library of Congress, receiving new publications more completely and promptly than any other library, equipped with every facility for carrying on the work, and recognizing and accepting the opportunity to serve the general library interests of the country, is the natural central point for this work in the United States; the printing-press supplies the means of inexpensive multiplica- tion in satisfactory form, the post-office ser- vice delivers the cards promptly in every part of the country, and the cost is no more than that at which a far less perfect card can be produced in the library itself in most cases it is much less than the cost at which the corresponding work is now done by the in- dividual library. All the necessary favorable conditions seem to be present and the libraries of to-day may be congratulated upon having already come into the enjoyment of advan- tages which those of any other time have * For a complete record of all work of this kind undertaken up to 1902 see Jahr and Strohm's "Bib- liography of co-operative cataloging and the printing of catalog cards" appended to the Report of the Li- brarian of Congress for 1902. never had. If the method of ordering indi- vidual cards can remain simple, if the cen- tral bureau can keep the cards in stock so as- to fill orders without delay, and if the library receiving them does not have to make too many additions (such as shelf-marks) or corrections to fit them to its use, the plan which Mr. Putnam has put in operation in Washington will surely succeed, and there seems every reason to believe that all these conditions will be fulfilled. One difficulty has appeared. Cards which in point of bibliographical elaboration are satisfactory in the Library of Congress and in other great libraries, are objected to as con- fusing from their very fullness by those who have made or used the simpler catalogs of the smaller town or society libraries. A sim- pler form of card corresponding to what Mr. Cutter has called "Short" or "Medium" in his catalog rules, is demanded, and perhaps some way can be found to supply it, but it is too much to expect that the Library of Con- gress itself shall print two kinds or modify to any extent its present carefully considered system. This is one of the points where uniformity pinches at first (like ready-made shoes when first tried on) but may be expect- ed to wear easier on longer acquaintance. Of the different ways in which this scheme of making and printing catalog cards at a central office can be adapted to the service of other libraries, I need not speak in detail, since the subject at the present time is a familiar one to this company. The work as done by the Library of Congress has its limi- tations, it is true. It catalogs only books received within the walls of that library. This is a large number, but large as it is, other large libraries find that they buy great num- bers of books which the Library of Congress does not receive. This is true both of cur- rent publications, and to a still greater degree, of older works. The success of the work now done by the Library of Congress suggests the possibility of its being carried still further. Why should not a number of the larger li- braries establish a central office at which all their titles not provided by the Library of Congress should be printed, the results being distributed to all the participating libraries? A saving would result whenever the same LANE. 143 book was owned by two or more libraries, and a further saving could be expected from organizing the work on a larger scale, but even if the saving were inconsiderable, the fact that each library would thus be kept in- formed of the acquisitions of the others would be no slight advantage. This suggests another direction in which co-operation is likely to be fostered by the easily reproduced printed card. Interlibrary loans are a familiar method of co-operation, though not one with which we are at the moment concerned, but as such lending be- comes more common, it will become more and more desirable for each library to possess accurate information in regard to what books its neighbors own. The printed card makes it possible to impart such information prompt- ly and economically, I might almost say, auto- matically. The Library of Congress deposits a full set of its cards at several different points ; the John Crerar Library sends its printed cards to the other libraries in Chicago, and libraries in other places will doubtless in time follow the same practice. The work done by the Library of Congress, while by no means confined to American books, only makes any approach to complete- ness in American publications. The question naturally comes: Cannot other nations establish the same system for the books printed within their own borders? Such a proposition for Italy was made some time ago by Mr. Richardson of Princeton, and was cordially received by Signor Biagi and Signor Chilovi of Florence, but I have not heard that any progress has been made. The success of such an undertaking would doubtless depend in each case upon the sup- port to be found for it in its own country. American libraries could profit by the issue of such cards in European countries, only if through the booksellers some arrange- ment could be made, so that catalog cards could be imported along svith the books to which they belong. Centralization of work or of administra- tion as a principle is something of which we are apt to be shy in America, or in some parts of America. We are inclined to value highly our local independence and individual initia- tive, and to be restive under any system of central control. It is a fair question to ask whether in library matters, where individual initiative has been a fruitful source of prog- ress, this is to be checked by such plans as we have been discussing. The danger certain- ly exists and must be guarded against. If the difficult and expensive part of the work is done at the central point, and the more me- chanical processes left for the library, the result may be the gradual introduction into the library of rule-of-thumb methods in place of trained personal judgment and understand- ing. Such a result would be a calamity; there is a tendency toward it whenever well devised machinery is introduced to accomplish what has heretofore depended upon personal interest, and illustrations of it are found from time to time in many departments of library work. It is possible, however, to use mechani- cal improvements in a better way, and to turn the effort and the ability which were once exhausted on elementary or routine matters into channels where they will accomplish bet- ter things. We must see to it that improve- ments in administrative details are made use of in this higher way to give new force and intelligence to the whole. This paper has covered the ground but im- perfectly. It has raised more questions than it has answered, but library administration would be a cut and dried affair indeed, if every question were to find its final answer on the spot. To sum up, the questions in connection with this subject which the library profession now has before it are in my opinion the following: How to establish a just relation between subject catalog and bibliography. How to improve our subject catalogs. What form of subject catalog is best. How to make use of printed analytical cards to the best advantage. How to make the best possible use of print- ed cards from the Library of Congress and how to extend the work on similar lines. How to obtain international uniformity. How to get foreign government libraries to print catalog cards. How far libraries should go in keeping on file cards for books in other libraries. These questions are left to this company to take up in the hope that new light may be shed upon them, but looking toward final so- lutions only in the future. 144 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. ANNOTATION. BY WILLIAM I. FLETCHER, Librarian of Amherst College Library. 'yHE subject assigned to me is "Annota- tion." I understand this term to mean, for present purposes, the addition to book titles in a library catalog or elsewhere of notes intended to aid to a better understand- ing of the titles, a fuller knowledge of the contents of the books, or a more complete and ready appreciation of their value. Notes have always formed a part of book catalogs, but more especially those of booksellers and auc- tion sales rather than those of public libraries. They are recognized as indispensable if the catalog is to serve its ends of giving a fairly adequate account of the various books, and of identifying editions or copies that have special excellences or peculiarities of any kind. Catalogs of public libraries have generally exhibited much less of annotation than those of booksellers for the main reason, probably, that those who made them lacked the book- seller's motive. The librarian's object was to furnish a list from which one might select a given book or a book on a given subject; and his catalog need not set forth his wares in glowing colors to attract the knowing patron, or to dazzle and partially blind the unwary one. This is consistent with one theory, and that for a long time the accepted one, of the public library, by which it was regarded as a storehouse of literature, more or less available to those who could use it, the ends sought in its administration being, first (and most im- portant) the acquiring and preservation of books, and second, making them available to those who inquired for them. So long as this was the prevailing theory of the library, annotation might, and did, nourish in booksellers' lists so that many pages in them might be oceans of notes with sparse islets of titles, while nothing of the kind ap- peared in a library catalog. But the public library of the last fifty years, and more espe- cially of the last twenty-five years, is based on quite a different theory, which if it is to be described in one word, is perhaps best called the educational theory, particularly with the use of the word "educational" which reflects the modern concept of "compulsory" education. This theory regards the public library as an agency established in the name of the community to accomplish definite re- sults in public culture through the use of books. These results can only be secured when an intelligent and well directed use of the library is, if not universal, at least prevailingly common in the community. Such a theory of the library smacks strongly of "paternalism" in government, and has been wholly disapproved by Herbert Spencer and writers of his school, but it is not too much to say that it is the accepted theory wherever free public libraries have been numerously established, and that in fact on no other theory could they have been made the object of the generous expenditure of public money, and the truly lavish outpouring of private means, which have made possible their wonderful growth and development in recent years. It is, in fact, quite evident (we may remark in passing) that neither in England and her colonies, nor in the United States will the economic advantages of public co-operation for culture be surrendered at the demand of an individualistic social philosophy. This "educational" (or more properly cultural) theory of the library, while cropping out in the utterances of the far-sighted men who initiated the modern library movement, both in England and the United States, at the mid- dle of the last century, only gradually broke through the trammels of usage and conven- tion, and affected the practice and the regula- tions of libraries. Long after the theory was generally accepted, libraries maintained their rigors of administration. Readers were debarred from all access to the books ; only one volume could be taken at a time; fines for over-detention were rigorously collected, until in many places, a large share of the possible readers, having burned their fingers with fines, were escaping further inflictions by FLETCHER. 145 letting the libraries severely alone; incipient readers, hungry for books, were excluded be- cause they were under fourteen years of age. Only within about ten years has the liberal theory fairly taken possession of the library machinery, and this only in some small sec- tions of the country where the library move- ment has attained its riper stage. But it is thirty years since Justin Winsor, then librarian of the Boston Public Library, in prophetic recognition of the bearing of the educational theory of the public library on the making of library catalogs, brought out the pioneer annotated library catalog in his "List of books in history, biography and travels in the Lower Hall of the Boston Public Li- brary." After a generation this catalog stands as a model of what an annotated library cata- log should be. A comparison between it and the annotated bookseller's catalog is instruc- tive. In the bookseller's catalog the notes refer to individual books, saying all that can be said in favor of the book, the edition, and the particular copy offered. In the library catalog, on the other hand, the notes con- stitute rather a guide to the choice of books, comparing them, as impartially as may be done, showing how one will best serve one purpose and one another and opening up to the reader whole vistas of information to which the ordinary library catalog gives no clue. Was then a new era in library cataloging inaugurated by the Boston Public Library List? If this was the sort of catalog de- manded by the new theory of public library management, we might suppose that its ex- ample would have been followed by many other libraries, and that no longer would the old-fashioned catalog, with its bare list of titles, be tolerated. Such, however, was not the case. Even the Boston Public Library itself, while it did issue two or three other rinding lists with notes similar to those in the one we have referred to, did not long continue the practice, nor extend it to anything like the whole scope of the library ; nor have other libraries to any considerable extent prepared such catalogs either in ms. or in print. The practice has indeed become somewhat common of printing with titles of new books in library bulletins notes extracted from critical reviews, but this is quite a different practice. One other library, however, stimulated by the example of the Boston Library, did issue an "Educational catalogue" in 1875, which is, in fact, so far as the present writer is in- formed, the one example of this method as applied to the catalog of an entire library. This was the Crane Library of Quincy, Mass. Mr. Charles Francis Adams, now of Lincoln, Mass., was president of this library and the compiler of the catalog. In 1879 he read a paper before this association at its meeting in Boston, giving his views of the subject, after four years of experience with this cata- log. In this paper he expressed much doubt as to the real value of his notes, saying: "I have since come to the conclusion that for the purposes, at least, for which I designed them, the notes of the Quincy catalog were almost wholly useless." He further indicated that the notes needed for such a catalog must be very much more popular, less scholarly, than were his, and outlined his idea of them as being "unpretentious and compact, and above all else, human." He further ex- pressed his "confident belief" that with such annotated catalogs as might be produced "the public library would very speedily become a far more important and valuable factor in popular education than the whole high school system." Perhaps the most suggestive remarks in this paper of Mr. Adams's are those in which he intimated that only by "combined action" of various libraries can such a result be se- cured. He said : "The immense cost of doing the same copy and press work over and over seems at present to be the chief obstacle in the way of all educational catalogs. It is an obstacle which seems to require very little in- genuity to overcome." As Mr. Adams indicated, the educational catalog demanded more resources, intellectual and material, than the individual library could furnish. As to the intellectual, a Winsor or an Adams might be found here and there, who was capable of executing such a task, but not many libraries were provided with such men, nor were the libraries generally financially able to bear the expense of such undertakings. As, however, the American Library Asso- ciation grew and assumed importance as an agency for such "combined action" as Mr. Adams had desired, it was inevitable that an 146 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. "appraisal of literature" for the benefit of libraries in general should be urged upon it as one of its legitimate functions, through its Publishing Board. This was done by Mr. George lies in papers presented to the Asso- ciation in 1891 and 1892. In these papers, in the second of which the term "evaluation of literature," so often heard since, was intro- duced, Mr. lies based his argument for action by the Association on the inadequacy and partiality of the book reviews and notices found in critical or other journals, his own sense of the need of an unprejudiced and sys- tematic appraisal having arisen from his ex- perience as a writer and student. Mr. lies followed up his vigorous exposition of this idea by engaging seriously in the work of securing the issue, through the Publishing Board of this Association, of "annotated bib- liographies." Three have been published : List of books for girls and women and their clubs. Bibliography of fine art (including Music). Literature of American history. In the. preparation of these bibliographies Mr. lies has endeavored to carry out his idea of expert and competent testimony to the value of the individual works, and has gone so far as to include some titles which are adversely criticised, in which cases the notes serve the purpose of warning. In order to secure this expert appraisal of books, Mr. lies has paid the collaborators a reasonable sum for their services, which has made the undertaking an expensive one; and he has endowed the enterprise to the extent of the several thousand dollars he has thus expended, the proceeds from the sales of the books barely covering the publishing expense. It has been demonstrated that such publications, while eagerly sought by a limited number of libra- ries and scholars, and proving extremely use- ful to them, cannot be paid for out of the proceeds of sales, and must be prepared if at all at the expense of some sort of an endow- ment fund. For lack of such support the scheme has not been carried beyond the issue of the three lists named. It is hoped that the Publishing Board may find it feasible to pre- pare similar lists for other fields of knowledge, by the co-operation of librarians reasonably expert in certain departments of knowledge, thus avoiding the large cost of a paid staff of expert reviewers. The need of periodically issued annotated lists of desirable new books, to serve as a guide to libraries in their purchases, has been much felt, and is emphasized by observing how quickly guides like those referred to above get out of date and need supplementing. In the annual report of the Publishing Board for the current year will be found some state- ments regarding efforts now making in this direction. Meantime the English Library World has for some months had a department called "The book collector," giving monthly a small number of titles of new publications ("ap- praisal by selection") with the addition of brief descriptive, and to some extent critical, notes. There is as yet no consensus of opinion as to the kind of notes that should be given in these publications for the use and benefit of libraries. To meet Mr. Iles's idea of a superior sort of appraisal, at once competent and im- partial, notes must be essentially critical; his call is for something more authoritative than the notices in our reviews and journals. Various objections to such a scheme of "authoritative" criticism have been made. That which is based on the impropriety of any effort on the part of librarians to "direct" the reading of their patrons an objection oftener expressed in England than here, the English people being more jealous of the "liberty of the subject" than are Americans needs little attention; as has been already re- marked, our libraries are committed to an educational policy, and will not shrink from exercising a directive and helpful function any more than will our school authorities in their department. Another and better-founded objection to this expert appraisal is that there are in every department of knowledge differing schools of thought, and that to select one expert to ap- praise a certain book may result in getting a one-sided and far from impartial view. As an English scholar said to the present writer, speaking of the plan of the "Literature of American history," "to make that sort of note a man would need the acumen of a Casaubon and the candor of an archangel !" It is easily argued that it is much better for the librarian and his patrons to be left to form a well-rounded idea of a book by reading notices and reviews from different FLETCHER. 147 quarters than to have this nominally "expert" judgment from some one source. And as the work must have an editor it is inevitable that his predilections will give more or less color and tone to the publication, e.g. through his selection of a staff of contributors. This general objection to the appraisal scheme was well (perhaps too strongly) set forth by Prof. Richard T. Ely, in a paper before this Association in 1901. Dr. Ely, indeed, came very near denying the right or propriety of any effort on the part of libraries or of this Association to assist readers in their choice of books. Doubtless there is hesitation among our librarians as to the scheme of expert appraisal as conceived by Mr. lies. This is apparent in the "Symposium" on the subject in the Li- brary Journal for December, 1901. At the same time the general expression of those who contributed was commendatory of the "Lit- erature of American history," which was the special subject of notice, and favorable to future efforts in the same line. A paper by Mr. W. Dawson Johnston, in the same num- ber, and another in the number for August, this year, discuss intelligently questions as to the kinds of notes most useful and as to the places where notes can best be made of service. Notes on single books in a list under authors (as for example in a card catalog) must be confined to statements about the par- ticular book, and their value is much affected by the passage of time. In a subject-catalog on the other hand, a note under a given sub- ject may constitute a general view of its literature, and be of the greatest service in showing which books are of the most value for this or that phase or portion of the sub- ject. It would appear that four forms of "annota- tion" may well be cultivated by this Associa- tion and will be welcomed by the libraries of the country, ist, Lists of books in all depart- ments of literature, exemplifying the idea of "appraisal by selection" and also accom- panied by notes which shall not undertake to pass critical judgment on them so much as give descriptive information with references to and citations from critical reviews. 2d, Introductory notes to these lists, which, like that in the "Literature of American history" or the notes in the Boston Library's Finding lists shall discuss the literature of the subject and especially the sources. 3d, A periodical issue, giving as promptly as possible, especially for the benefit of the smaller libraries, which generally buy books at long intervals, and whose librarians do not see many critical jour- nals, a selected list of the best new books with descriptive notes such as are best adapted to be helpful in the choice of these books for purchase, and in their use by the readers. 4th, Cards for subject-catalogs giving under subject names a summary guide to the best reading. Mr. W. Dawson Johnston, of the Library of Congress, whose interest in this matter has already been mentioned, has issued some experimental cards of this sort, which will commend themselves to many librarians. This kind of card has been made in some of the larger libraries, but most libraries will welcome an opportunity to secure them at a reasonable price, as they cannot hope to make them for themselves. Some confusion of thought has arisen from a failure, in discussing this subject, to dis- tinguish between the needs of the larger and the much more numerous smaller libraries. Mr. Iles's scheme has had in view the sup- plementing of the resources for judging books of even the largest and best supplied library. The efforts of our Publishing Board have been directed rather to doing for the numer- ous smaller popular libraries what the larger libraries habitually do for themselves. An- notation is a very different thing for one purpose than for the other, and that which may be usefully done in the latter case should not come under the objections which may be made in the former. This Association may well be interested in whatever can be done by united or endowed effort in either of these directions. But our most immediate and most hopeful work, as has been said, is along the line indicated by the terms of gift of our Carnegie Fund : "The income of which should be applied to the preparation and publication of such reading-lists, indexes, and other bib- liographical and library aids as would be especially useful in the circulating libraries of this country." That a simple, unpretentious, mainly de- scriptive kind of annotation may well have a large place in the work thus described can- not be doubted. 148 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. STATE AID TO LIBRARIES. BY GRATIA COUNTRYMAN, Librarian Minneapolis (.Minn.) Public Library. T N order that this topic may be somewhat limited, it will be understood as pre- cluding all state aid to public school and district school libraries, to state law libraries and state historical libraries. It will be in- terpreted as meaning that form of state aid which has sought to promote the establish- ment of free public libraries by the appro- priation of state funds. It will also include the effort to furnish, through state agency, the free use of books to the entire population of the state, and to supervise and organize this library effort through state organizations, as the public school system is organized. The aid of the state was first invoked when the movement for library extension felt the need of help which could not be supplied by any other means. The story of state aid and of library extension are therefore nearly identical, and state aid has been the good right arm without which little would have been accomplished toward library ex- tension. Library extension has been the battle cry of the library leaders for the last decade and a half. Previous to that time nearly every city or large town had its well equipped li- brary, more or less properly maintained by municipal taxation. The advantage which the city had over village or country life was as marked in its library facilities as in every other. The continual and alarming drift of the country population into the cities was due to the barrenness of opportunity which up to that time library workers had done little to mitigate. There have been many movements looking toward a reversal of this condition of barren- ness, such as rural mail routes, rural tele- phones, better school privileges, and not least among them, the village and travelling libraries which have been made possible through state aid. The city no longer has a monopoly of libraries, and perhaps no more significant thing has happened in the history of libraries than the rapidity with which the spirit of library extension has spread over the country, and the zeal with which the work has been prosecuted. For the most part, the initiatory work has been accom- plished by the voluntary and unpaid services of enthusiastic library workers and by the well directed efforts of women's clubs, and the wisdom of an occasional legislator. To most of us state aid to libraries seems as natural a use of trie functions of the state as aid to schools or commercial enterprises. It seems as legitimate to have a library com- mission as a state board of education or a dairy and food commission. But in the ear- lier history of the work, and in some local- ities still, it was considered as an act of paternalism not to be countenanced. In the Minnesota legislature Ignatius Donnelly, a literary legislator, said in regard to the pro- posed law for state aid to libraries that the state might as well furnish the people with boots as with books. No arguments, how- ever, have prevailed against the conviction that if libraries were a good thing for cities, they were equally good for all towns, villages and country communities, and that since the smaller towns and country places could not maintain libraries themselves that the state should give aid in some systematic way that could be applied impartially to all of its peo- ple who needed such aid. Under this conviction 22 states have en- acted laws embodying state aid in some form. State aid is therefore a principle established by practice, the experimental stage is passed and it remains to us to review what it has accomplished for library extension, and the methods by which a great educational and constructive work has been begun. State aid, having for its object the build- ing up of free libraries, has taken two chief methods of accomplishing this result that of a direct gift of money or books, and that of a loan of books by the travelling library COUNTRYMAN. 149 method. Each state has placed the distribu- tion of state aid under a state library commis- sion or under its state library, so that the personal aid of expert librarians has been em- ployed to carry on the distribution, and has become in fact the most important application of state benefit. Of the 22 states above mentioned, seven use both forms of state aid, u use the travel- ling library only, and three give direct aid only, and two, Colorado and Georgia, have library commissions which are at present ad- visory only. Of the ten states which give direct aid nine are Eastern states, and of the 18 which use the travelling library method II are Western states. Quite a distinct dif- ference of method seems to be drawn between the East and West, the East preferring to use the direct money aid. The difference also in the amount of personal visitation given by Eastern and Western commissions is very marked, the West making it a chief feature. This difference has come about partly by accident in that one state is liable to pattern its law after an adjacent state, but chiefly because of the difference of popu- lation. Eastern states like Massachusetts and Connecticut have a much larger town population than states like Wisconsin, Minne- sota or Nebraska, which have a large and scattered country population. In the West, moreover, where the towns and villages are comparatively new, other necessary improve- ments make it difficult to levy a library tax. The travelling library has exactly fitted the conditions of both town and country. Whereas in the East many towns which were able to support a library needed only the initial im- petus of state aid in some form, and a wise direction of their efforts. East and West have, therefore, developed along somewhat different lines, as will be manifest from the following resume. Massachusetts was the pioneer state in this direction, establishing a library commission in 1890 which was authorized to grant $100 in books to any town upon the establishment of a free public library. These books were to be selected by the commissioners, who used the greatest care in selection and required the assurance of each town receiving the gift that they would take all reasonable means to make the books accessible. Information and advice on library economy have been freely given, but no actual personal assistance in the organization or classification. In 1890, when the law was enacted, there were 105 towns out of 352 without free libraries. At the end of five years this number was reduced from 105 to 24, and now in 1904, every town in Massachusetts has a library. The work of the commission has been altogether through direct aid, but it has recently been consider- ably supplemented by the Women's Educa- tional Association, who themselves have equipped travelling libraries, and have 43 in the field. This pioneer step of Massachusetts quick- ened library interest everywhere. It sug- gested this new possibility of aid from the State Treasury. Within a year, the com- missioners received requests for information from nearly every state in the Union, and even from Great Britain and Continental Europe. New Hampshire followed the next year, 1891, enacting a law nearly identical with the Massachusetts law, giving $100 to each town founding a free library. The New Hamp- shire commission was not satisfied, however, with starting a library which had no assur- ance of further support, so in 1895 they were instrumental in passing a compulsory library law, which is unique, and which comes nearer to paternalism than any other piece of library legislation known to the writer. According to this law, every town in New Hampshire must levy a certain assessment to maintain a library; the minimum amount in- stead of the maximum is prescribed ; if the town has no library, or does not wish to establish one immediately, then the fund ac- cumulates. If a town wishes to omit an as- sessment, it must especially vote to do so; failure to vote results favorably to the library fund. So when the New Hampshire com- mission establishes a library by a gift of $100, that library is assured a continuous support. The commission also publishes a bulletin of much merit for the instruction of libraries. In 1903, 144 libraries had been established by state aid during the 12 years, leaving but 24 towns without a free library. The Board of Library Commissioners was ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. then abolished, and the work turned over to the trustees of the State Library, who as- sumed the work, and are in effect a State Li- brary Commission. The next year, 1892, New York entered the list with quite an elaborate law, the re- sults of which we will review a little later on. In 1893, Connecticut established a commis- sion to be annually appointed by the State Board of Education. This commission, like the others, was advisory and was authorized to give an amount, in books equal to the amount spent by the town for the establish- ment of a library, not exceeding $200. In 1895 an act was passed allowing an annual grant to any town equal to the amount ex- pended by the town not exceeding $100. In 1903, an increased appropriation was made for travelling libraries, and for a library vis- itor, who should personally encourage and assist new libraries. In 1894 Vermont's law was passed, follow- ing the Massachusetts law, but in 1900 the commission was empowered to buy travelling libraries, and in 1902 to hire a secretary, the whole appropriation being $900 annually. Maine and Rhode Island had by this time passed laws giving direct aid under certain conditions, but Maine did not establish a commission until 1899. Since that time Maine has had an appropriation of $2000 annually for travelling libraries, besides giv- ing $100 to new libraries and 10% cash on the yearly appropriation. The commission in 1904 conducted a training school of two weeks' duration, and the state librarian, who is secretary of the commission, assists new libraries by visits and correspondence. It will be noticed in all these states that in the beginning the method of state aid was confined to the direct gift of books or money, following Massachusetts as a model. The amendments authorizing travelling libraries were made quite recently, after that plan was a well established movement To return to New York: In 1892 the Regents of the State University established the Public Libraries Division of the State Library, and in 1893 the first system of travelling libraries was organized. The regents were given power to charter libra- ries which fulfilled certain conditions, and to give them financial aid. These libraries are supervised and inspected yearly, which gives opportunity for much valuable personal coun- sel. Attention has been particularly given to library architecture, and the furnishing of library buildings. The state appropriations have varied from $25,000 to $62,000 at pres- ent, and could be expended for travelling libraries, for direct aid to town libraries, and for the necessary administration. The direct aid given is equal to the amount spent by the town, not to exceed $200, and may be granted annually. The New York Public Libraries Division has engaged in numberless activities, it does very valuable work for clubs, prints most helpful reports and lists of books and conducts the finest training school in the country. Not only have the libraries of New York benefited by the activ- ities carried on under state aid, but other states have watched and learned from New York experiments, and the publications and reports sent throughout the country have been most suggestive. The story must now pass to the West. Wisconsin established a commission in 1895, Ohio in 1896 and Georgia in 1897. Then the labors which had been going on in a number of states for several years came to a head in 1899, when seven states passed laws establishing commissions, all carrying ap- propriations for travelling libraries except Colorado. The seven states were Maine, In- diana, Kansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Pennsyl- vania and Michigan. Then followed Iowa and New Jersey in 1900, Idaho, Washington, Nebraska and Delaware in 1901, and Maryland in 1902, and so the movement has crossed and recrossed the continent. Just as Massachusetts had been the model for the New England States, and New York a model for us all, Wisconsin became the pioneer and inspiration of the West. Mas- sachusetts gave direct aid only to libraries, New York added the features of travelling libraries and library inspectors, while Wis- consin, dropping the feature of direct aid, made the plan of field workers and per- COUNTRYMAN. sonal visitation and instruction the chief feature, with the travelling library as a necessary but subordinate feature. They be- gan with a nominal appropriation of $500 and now have $18,000. From the begin- ning, most of the appropriation has been spent in salaries and administration, but the work has been largely missionary work, the creation of a desire for books, and the per- sonal work was the first necessity. Right here it seems fitting to express our appreciation of that great hearted man, Frank A. Hutchins, who has worn himself out in the service of Wisconsin libraries, and who in spite of his unceasing efforts to reach every man, wo- man and child in Wisconsin with free books, still had time to give sympathetic counsel to every other worker, and to impart to them his own earnest spirit. Wisconsin activities include general and special travelling libra- ries, a magazine clearing house, a state docu- ment department, publications of book lists and other helps. They also help without cost to organize and classify new libraries, to re- organize old ones, and to visit and interest towns having no libraries. They conduct a summer training-class, which will probably be changed soon to a permanent school. Ohio began work in 1896, in connection with the state library. Indeed the Library Commission has charge of the state library, and appoints the state librarian. The State Library of Ohio is a state library in fact as well as in name, and is open to all citizens of the state. It consists of two departments, the general library and the travelling library department, which in 1904 had an appropria- tion of $8600. According to the 1903 report, Ohio sent out 923 travelling libraries, and reached 553 different communities, more than any other state in the Union. The travelling libraries of Ohio are not in fixed collections, but are made up anew each time they are sent out. This flexible feature may account for their great popularity, and might well be copied. The Ohio law does not authorize field workers, or the free organization of town libraries; that work has been accom- plished in other ways than by state aid. In Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Ne- braska and Idaho, the work has proceeded along lines very similar to Wisconsin, with more limited facilities, but just as commend- able work. Each has a travelling library system with salaried officers to administer the work. Each, except Kansas and Idaho, do as much organization and field work as their appropriations will allow. Each is seek- ing to establish free libraries and to better those already in existence. Minnesota, In- diana and Iowa have summer training schools. While the working details vary somewhat, yet so nearly akin is the work of the Western states, that more or less co-operative work has been found practicable, and more is con- templated for the future. And the time will certainly come when all the commissions will find it economical and practicable to do many things which are for the common good at one central office. But to return to the resume of each state: In Kansas, the commission has confined its efforts to travelling libraries, having 15,000 books in circulation, visiting 371 localities, which is as extensive a work, considering the time and money so far expended, as is done in any other state. They expect to send out a library organizer as soon as possible. Indiana has at present an appropriation of $7500 for commission work. Besides the usual features of travelling libraries, club libraries, free organization of libraries and training school, Indiana is making a spe- cialty of library Institutes. For this purpose the state has been divided into 17 dstricts, which will be covered systematically; five institutes were held in 1903 and eight in 1904. A new department of library work with schools has just been formed, which will be watched with interest. Minnesota with an appropriation of $6000 has now about 300 travelling libraries, con- taining over 10,000 books, and having a cir- culation of nearly 60,000 annually. Since the establishment of the commission the number of free libraries has increased from 34 to 74 and the number of library buildings from five to 32. The plans for many of these buildings have been made in accordance with the advice 152 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. of the commission, and most of the new libraries have been organized and cataloged free of cost. State aid in Michigan is carried on by two organizations ; the state library has charge of the travelling library system, and supplies books to communities having no libraries. The Board of Library Commissioners are concerned with building up town libraries, and to this end have a system of registered free libraries to whom 100 books are loaned for six months. Each library in the state through a mandatory law must make a report to its County Commissioner of Schools, who in turn must make report of every district, school and public library in his county to the Library Commission. This method seems to affiliate schools and libraries very closely. Iowa, established in 1900, makes a specialty of the personal assistance of town libraries in the way of visits and correspondence, and also through the publication of a Quarterly Bulletin. They also have spent much time and labor in aiding library boards to plan their new buildings. They have accom- plished at least a beginning in the better dis- tribution of state documents. Nebraska, nearly the last to form a commis- sion, is following along the same lines as its predecessors, with equally successful results. In California, the state library has recently formed a department of travelling libraries which are loaned throughout the state. They began in December, 1903, and now have 100 libraries in use. Idaho has 6000 books in circulation at 100 stations, many of these being lumber and mining camps. Washington, which has so new a field be- fore it, is organized like Ohio, with a com- mission having the state library also in charge. A good beginning has been made with 57 travelling libraries in use. Their law authorizes direct financial aid to libra- ries, though no appropriation has yet been made for this purpose. Pennsylvania has now an appropriation of $6000 annually, and has about 7000 volumes in use in 227 communities. Maryland unfortunately has two organiza- tions working separately in that small state. Each commission has $1000 annually. The Public Library Commission is attempting to establish county library systems. The State Library Commission uses the travelling li- brary plan, and in 1903 sent our 109 libraries ; they are also anxious to prosecute the work of establishing town libraries more vigor- ously. The Delaware commission has sent a li- brary organizer over the state, has remodelled the library law and has published a handbook on library economy, which has recently been revised and greatly enlarged. New Jersey has an appropriation of $2500 annually, $1000 of which may be used directly to aid free libraries. They have published a handbook of instruction and a list of 1000 best books, and have sent out an organizer to aid small libraries. They have a good field for missionary effort, as only $400 out of $1000 has been used any one year to aid free libraries, and of the 62 travelling libraries which they possess but 12 are in use. And so in brief we have reviewed very in- completely the work which various states have undertaken. It will not serve for any purpose except to show the direction of effort under state aid; for it is impossible in this paper to enter into much detail of the work of each state; a handbook of library commissions will shortly be a necessity. It is even more impossible to tabulate the re- sults, for the very best results have been in- tangible. That many towns have felt the awakening of library interest through the efforts of some enthusiastic library worker, that dead libraries have been put into working shape, that laws have been remodelled, that many country comunities have rejoiced in the use of free books, that these and many other things have been brought about, are matters which do not yield readily to statis- tical tables. But these and many others are the fruits of library extension carried out through state aid, which we believe are only the first fruits. The field is unlimited, and the only wonder is that fourteen years have accomplished so much. DOREN. 153 THE LIBRARY AND THE SCHOOL: WORK NOW DONE. BY ELECTRA COLLINS DOREN, Librarian Dayton (Ohio) Public Library. '"PHIS paper confines itself strictly to the work of public libraries with public schools and aims to present a composite view of the practice and the working ideals of American librarians, as gathered from replies to a circular inquiry upon the subject, sent in July, 1904, to 300 representative libraries. Responses were received from 218. A spirit of alertness and interest, even when but little definite or systematic work on their part with the school was possible, was a distin- guishing characteristic. Not all of the libra- ries which replied to the circular answered all of the questions in it, but with very few exceptions each of the 218 was prosecuting some kind of work with schools. In other words, such work is plainly a prominent con- sideration in the scheme of administration of American public libraries. The school work of libraries falls practically into two broad divisions distribution and reference. Under the former are classed book resources, classroom libraries, deposit stations and teachers' cards. Under the second come ordinary reference work and assistance to students, library and biblio- graphic instruction, museum and extra illus- trative material. Auxiliary interests are (i) the co-operation of librarians and teachers, and (2) the story hour. Resources; supplementary readers: From the reports before us we find that the book re- sources of the country for free distribution to the public schools are only equalled by the dil- igence of publishers in exploitation of buyers. Libraries are not the only purveyors of books; schools have collections, largely con- fined, however, to text-books and supple- mentary readers, and among them, it may be said, are some very excellent ones. From a count of answers from 15 cities upon this class of books which is furnished almost exclusively by boards of education, it appears that in these 15 cities alone there is a total of 340,000 volumes of supplementary reading. A small town in Pennsylvania has in addition to an excellent public library a proportion of 1.7 supplementary readers to each child of the school population. Several cities have one to every child, and those cities lowest in the scale have one to every 16 pupils. These collections, of course, are very largely com- posed of duplicates or sets for entire classes. In some instances, as at Los Angeles and Alameda, California, and at Columbus, Ohio, the local library is made a depository and makes the distribution to schools. One hundred and thirty-four cities on our list are reported as furnishing free sup- plementary readers; in 60 of these cities there are public libraries which also furnish schools with classroom libraries of general literature. Classroom libraries: Twenty-five public li- braries having classroom or school duplicate collections aggregating 69,000 volumes had last year a total annual circulation to public school pupils of a million and a quarter volumes. One library, that of Buffalo, New York, with a collection of 33,000 volumes, circu- lated over 309,000, while a little library in Wisconsin (Kenosha) with a collection of 825 volumes had a proportionately large is- sue of 8500. In addition to its 105,000 sup- plementary readers (one book to each pupil), Milwaukee has as a part of the public library a school duplicate collection of 15,000 vol- umes, which has an annual circulation of 143,000 volumes. The 'New York Public Li- brary circulates from 11,000 volumes 115,000. That children in the public schools are read- ing at such a rate seems incredible; yet these are simply cited as examples and the records show that the average annual circulation of each book in the 97 library collections re- ported is 7% times. To return to the recital of statistics: 97 public libraries (44%) of libraries reporting furnish the schools with 154 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. classroom libraries; 49 of the public li- braries (29%) report that they also lend col- lections to private, parochial and Sunday schools. Of the 97 libraries which lend classroom libraries, 22 do not distinguish between the main collection and that for distribution to schools. The other 75 libraries maintain school duplicates as a separate collection, the earliest noted having been opened in 1879. In the 17 years from 1879 to 1896, 19 libra- ries, a little more than one per annum, opened such collections. In the last eight years (1897-1904) 56 libraries (or 80%) have fol- lowed suit. In 27 libraries (or 30%) the schools defray carriage expenses. In all the rest the library bears all expenses. The school duplicate collections vary in size from 200 volumes to 33,000 volumes and comprise books in all classes of literature. Two only report exclu- sion of fiction, and four the inclusion to any great extent of supplementary readers, such as those usually furnished by boards of edu- cation. All others report "general," "all classes," "best juvenile literature." Three libraries Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Dayton have duplicates as reference libraries for teachers. All libraries duplicate from three to four copies of each book. Many duplicate more liberally, averaging 15 to 20 copies of a single book, while still others run up to 50, 68 and 100 copies. The maximum number of volumes sent to a single classroom varies in different libraries from 10 volumes to 150 volumes. Forty-six libraries .(or over 50%) send books to all grades from the kindergar- ten to the high school ; 12 omit the first grade ; nine the first and second grades ; 21 the third and below, and nine make no reply. The length of time that the libraries may be kept is from one month to a school year ; three month? is the average. One hundred and fifty-three libraries (66%) independent of and in addition to school duplicate collections allow special cards to teachers upon which from three to 30 books may be drawn at one time ; the min- imum time limit being four weeks; the max- imum a school year. School deposit stations: These are branch libraries in miniature for the use of the adults as well as the children in the immediate vicinity of the school build- ing. Thirty-three libraries employ this means of distribution; some add reference work for the school and a periodical room for the public. Collections vary from several hun- dreds to three or four thousand volumes. Apart from the general value to the child's direct education is the social one of uniting the interests of parents and children. This is also the rule in the case of classroom libra- ries, the books of which are read by the adults of the family. We know of one such library of thirty volumes which was read by nearly 500 people within a period of three months. Many touching stories have come to us of the new sense of companionship awak- ened between the father and child through the reading of these books together. Reference work: In respect to the reference work for schools, 72 libraries (or 33%) have special collections of reference books for children, of from 20 volumes to 3500 volumes. Mil- waukee reports 10,000 volumes. Fifty-six libraries (25%) supply subject catalogs and book lists, either printed or typewritten for school subjects; 28 libraries have special as- sistants for children's reference rooms ; 62 libraries (29%) report one or more special rooms reserved for teachers and students; 126 (56%) make reserves of circulating books for class use in the library. As to differing methods of work for high schools and grammar schools, 25% discover nothing essential, except that which naturally arises from differences in subject and the superior attainments of older students. Sev- enty-five per cent, however, of the libraries, note these differences as follows, named in order of emphasis : (1) High school reference work is both greater in extent and more minute, tending to research and source work. (2) It more frequently makes demand for reserves of circulating books for class use. (3)' High school students receive more DOREN. 155 definite class instruction in the use of refer- ence books, catalogs and bibliographies, etc. One library (Atlanta) regularly furnishes lectures to high school students upon subjects for debate. Many libraries lack provision for reference work to pupils of the grammar grades. Books are therefore sent to the teachers. When such reference work is given at the library, however, it requires personal direction and more detailed and specific help from the li- brary assistant than does the high school work. Library instruction: The report upon library instruction in schools, i.e., in the use of reference books, catalogs, special bibliographies and resources of the local library, is somewhat surprising. Evidently the experiences of the reference librarian are bearing fruit in organization of effort in this department, so that a larger number of students may benefit from the opportunity to increase their independent power in utilizing literary materials. Sixty- three libraries (29%)' offer such class in- struction. (In one case, that of a high school, it was declined.) In 28 libraries instruction consists of informal talks and lectures and is occasional, as necessity arises from year to year; in 35 libraries, however, it has taken the definite form of a regular course although still more or less experi- mental. In all cases it is an elective and does not as a rule count in credits. Such courses have been given in 20 high schools and in a number of normal schools as well as a few grammar schools. In addition to the foregoing 63 libraries, 19 report that this work will be introduced during the present school year. A total of 82 librarians con- sider it necessary and very desirable. Three are doubtful as to the expediency and 25 re- port that some interest has been evinced upon the part of the teachers. Eight libraries offer courses to teachers and normal school stu- dents in children's literature. Of 40 col- leges to which inquiries upon this subject were addressed, Oberlin College, University of Michigan, Western Reserve University, University of Texas and the University of California responded with outlines of definite courses. Nearly all the college librarians who replied felt that it would be a distinct gain to the student were he to have biblio- graphical instruction as a part of his en- trance preparation. Museums and illustrative material: Fifty-six libraries have, under the same governing board, either direct or co-ordinat- ing, museum collections comprising objects of art, natural history, ethnological and his- torical material. Nine of these are supported by taxation, the others by gift, endowment or corporation. Independent of such collections, 82 libraries make collections of pictures, lan- tern slides, photographs, picture bulletins and toy picture books to lend as supplementary material for class work. Story hour: The introduction by library workers of this method of leading children to the use of books is of comparative recent adoption in the schools, but may be said to have had its prototype some 30 years ago in the weekly reading hour in some of the public schools of Boston. Fifty libraries now employ it as a perman- ent feature of their work and in a number of cases in the classroom itself. In all but four instances the story hour has had the effect of noticeably increasing the circulation of a higher class of books. Going a step further, the Wagner Free In- stitute, Philadelphia, and the Cincinnati Pub- lic Library have been very successful in il- lustrated lectures to children. Both serve as a strong incitement to the use of books. The library work with schools is steadily growing. Since closing this report (October !5)> word has been received from the secre- tary of the Indiana Library Commission that a trained librarian and teacher has been ap- pointed to organize library work in the schools throughout the state. The outline which ac- companies this report presents a very compre- hensive program and indicates study of al- ready existing methods. Such, briefly, are the facts as to the methods of American libraries in their prac- 156 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. tice in the direct field of public school work. It is to be regretted that it is told from trie li- brary side only. On the continent schools have their special libraries, but have no working connection with the public library. In Eng- land co-operation is under discussion and interim report has been made this year by the special committee appointed at the Leeds conference. Until we can have school views of this same library practice and repeated critical discussion of it by teachers, we ought perhaps to curb our fancy and credit our- selves only with a subjective existence. To the question as to the nature of the de- mands upon the library from pupils and teachers, the 104 replies indicate that such demand is dependent first, upon the scope of the curriculum, and second, upon the en- thusiasm of teachers. Librarians find that the calls classify first and most insistently along the lines of reference work, including illustrative material, i.e., pictures, bulletins and museum specimens (when they can be had), and second, supplemental and collateral reading. In both of these emphasis seems to be laid most strongly and most generally upon the reading which bears upon literature and English composition; history and debates rank next; then follow in order geography and natural science, fiction and fairy tales. Special stress is laid upon the fact that sim- ple attractive books are needed for the more immature children of all grades. The possibilities of work for the library in the school as viewed by 76 librarians seem to be limited only by time and money. (I confess to a consciousness of another and more serious limitation. It is that arising from a system which crowds too many pupils into one class and burdens the teacher with details of routine.) Suggestions from libra- rians as to lines of work to be emphasized in the future are given below in order of em- phasis, (i) A distinct bias toward instituting regular, definite and systematic library in- struction in schools is indicated by 26 libra- rians, who urge it on various grounds. Ad- vices are as follows : It should be given by the normal school ; it should be given in all grades to prepare children for the independent use of books and libraries; teachers should have a course in children's literature; and lastly, such courses should be outlined and systematized by a com- mittee from the American Library Associa- tion. (2) Another suggestion is for more class- room libraries and deposit stations. (3) More detailed work and expansion along all the lines indicated by the circular. (4) More study of literature in the schools. (5) Develop reference work for the gram- mar grades: (a) by sending a special assist- ant to the schools to forecast subjects; (b) by a card catalog for reference in each school. (Several libraries do this by means of dupli- cated cards.) Certain principles which belong to the proper exercise of function are suggested as limitations upon the work of the library in the school ; these are : (i), That the library should jealously main- tain its own distinctive character as a prompt- uary and purveyor of books, not arrogating to itself the function of formal instruction. (2) In rendering service to the schools, a due sense of proportion is to be preserved in considering the claims of school work and those for other classes of readers. (3) Care must be exercised not to check the initiative of the school by doing too much, or by doing those things which it would bet- ter do for itself, i.e., supplying text books, supplementary readers, and the like. .(4) Avoid anything which would savor of imposing upon children or teachers, a com- pulsory use of the library. Children should be allowed full scope for the independent choice of their reading, and librarians should wait for requests to come from teachers! (By waiting is doubtless meant that in- viting silence which may be construed as courteous attention to unspoken desires.) While the relation of library and school has been seriously discussed for the past 26 years, the most noticeable growth in new lines of work has taken place within the last eight years. It may be said, in describing the animus of the movement toward the school, that however crude the methods and however FAIRCHILD. meager the product of reality may appear to the superficial observer, the attempt to meet, shall I say the endeavor to invent, opportunities- of service have been genuine attempts. They have proceeded from definite convictions; they are informed with ideals and they are directed toward a purpose the evidences are found in continuity of de- velopment and a certain logical progression from less to greater. As for example, the expansion of distributing systems, or the growing sense of organization in reference work to deepen and broaden its efficiency by its bibliographic and library instruction; or the feature of collecting illustrative mate- rials for class use, carrying illustration a step further by lectures with stereopticon for children. In all these things, though so recent as to be regarded as experiments only, the ten- dency is nevertheless toward regularity, repetition, established procedure and further extension. While constantly aiming to spread knowl- edge by attractive means and to supply the schools, as they are, with such books as are needed for tools, following in greater and greater detail the curriculum from the primary to the graduating class, there is evident a determination on the part of the library, both in book-selection and organ- ization, to use the schools as distributing cen- ters for literature; to use them as conduits of purely literary writing to the large mass of people, who are distinctly unliterary, even though lettered; and to affirm directly and to all the fact of the book as a transforming power through the exercise of the imagina- tive faculties. To those who are open to the aesthetic ap- peal of literature either as a presentment of experiences of a high order, or as in itself a regenerating influence, this is the final and greatest justification of such activities of the library in the school as are exemplified in provisions for other things than the printed book, such as art collections, picture bulle- tins and story hours. It is not to coax or coddle the child into learning, but so to nur- ture his fancy and inform his intellect that in manhood he shall know what a book can do for him. WOMEN IN AMERICAN LIBRARIES. BY SALOME CUTLER FAIRCHILD, Vice-Director New York State Library School. A STRIKING illustration of the change of *T sentiment and practice with reference to the prominence of women in American libraries is afforded by a comparison of three conferences of the American Library Asso- ciation. At the first meeting of the Associa- tion in Philadelphia, 1876, only 12 of the 103 members present were women ; at the Chicago meeting in 1893, 166 of the 305 members pres- ent were women; at Magnolia in 1902, the largest conference yet held, 736 out of 1018 members present were women. The change as shown by attendance is thus from about eleven per cent, in 1876 to nearly 72 per cent, in 1902. The Library Journal, commenting editorial- ly (November, 1876) on the first meeting, says : "They (the women) were the best of listeners and occasionally would modestly take advantage of gallant voices like Mr. Smith's, to ask a question or offer a sugges- tion." Miss Caroline M. Hewins, librarian of the Hartford (Ct.) Public Library, has the dis- tinction of being the first woman to lift her voice in a meeting of the American Library Association. In 1877 at the second meeting, in New York, she asked whether in any other state besides Massachusetts the income from the dog tax was used to support the public library. Miss Mary A. Bean, at that time librarian of the Brookline Public Library, was the first woman to appear on a library program. She 158 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. read a paper on "The evil of unlimited free- dom in the use of juvenile fiction" at the Boston meeting in 1879. In 1893, of the 28 papers making up the so- called "World's Fair papers," six were writ- ten by women. In 1902, of the 21 formal pa- pers printed in the Proceedings, three were by women. In the same year two of the seven section meetings were presided over by wo- men ; one was the Children's Section, the other was a large general evening session in which prominent men like Dr. Canfield and Dr. Dewey gave addresses. The names of 36 men and 16 women, excluding foreign delegates, appear on the present program. From the role of modest listener in 1876 to a represent- ation of nearly one-third on the program of an international conference is a long step. The proportion of participation in the work of the conference is still small in relation to the proportion of attendance. It would appear to me, therefore, evident that there is practically no discrimination with regard to sex in the American Library Association. For many years women have been constantly represented on the Council and Executive Board. Any woman who has anything to say may be sure of a fair chance and no undue favor in saying it. What she may write or say or do in the work of the As- sociation is usually rated at its real worth. I may not be a fair judge, but. it would seem to me that the work of women in the Asso- ciation shows a pleasing lack of self-con- sciousness. There is very little posing or ap- parent effort to be conspicuous. The broad- minded attitude of the men who have been leaders in the library movement from 1876 to the present day accounts for the place of women in the American Library Association. Quite another question, however, is her place in the library field itself. What propor- tion of women are holding responsible posi- tions? Are those positions varied or con- fined within narrow lines? Are her services considered valuable as tested by a money standard? I have undertaken to gather some statistics which may throw light on the rela- tive service of men and women in American libraries, both as regards the character of that service and its remuneration. The inquiry does not particularly interest or attract me, but I am glad to undertake it because of my confidence in the judgment of our president who thinks that such a statistical statement, with a slight analysis of the statistics, will be of value. I have used as a basis for inquiry 100 libra- ries originally chosen as representative for a course of lectures on American libraries given by me in the New York State Library School. A tentative list was secured as fol- lows: Mr. W. S. Biscoe, of the New York State Library, and the writer of this paper, read through with some care the list of li- braries contained in "Public, society and school libraries," published by the Bureau of Education in 1901, checking those that seemed in any way worthy to be considered. The ten- tative list thus formed was submitted to about 43 librarians, as follows: all the members of the Council and Executive Board of the A. L. A. 1902-3, the directors of library schools, and persons specially familiar with the libra- ries of certain states. The list of representa- tive libraries thus formed includes all large general libraries in the country and a selection of smaller libraries of different types in dif- ferent parts of the country. Special collec- tions like the Surgeon-General's Office at Washington have been excluded. The follow- ing is the list of 100 representative libraries thus selected: REPRESENTATIVE LIBRARIES. Free, circulating, endowed or tax-suported. Boston P. L. ' Newark F. P. L. Chicago P. L. Northampton, Forbes L. Philadelphia F. L. Peoria (111.) P. L. Cincinnati P. L. *Brooklyn, Pratt Insti- Baltiraore, Enoch Pratt tute F. L. F L. *Hartford P. L. New York P. L. *Newton (Mass.) F. L. Cleveland P. L. *Brookline (Mass.) P. L. Detroit P. L. *Los Angeles P. L. Buffalo P. L. *Omaha P. L. St. Louis P. L. Syracuse Central L. Brooklyn P. L. New Haven F. P. L. Worcester F. P. L. * Day ton (O.) P. L. San Francisco F. P. L. *Kansas City (Mo.) P. L. Milwaukee P. L. Somerville (Mass.) P. L. Springfield (Mass.) City New Orleans, Fisk F. L. Ass'n. and P. L. Minneapolis P. L. Salem (Mass.) P. L. Pittsburg, Carnegie L. *Burlington (Vt.) Fletch- "Indianapolis P. L. er F. L. Providence P. L. Wilmington (Del.) Inst. Denver P. L. F. L. * Have a woman as librarian. FAIRCHILD. 159 REPRESENTATIVE LIBRARIES. PUBLIC. Free, circulating, endowed or tax-supported. Scranton P. L. *Utica P. L. *Wilkes-Barre, Osterhout F. L. Philadelphia, Drexel In- stitute L Dover (N. H.) P. L. Evanston (111.) F. P. L. Medford (Mass.) P. L. Gloversville (N. Y.) F. L. Washington, P. L. of L>. C. Atlanta, Carnegie L. Dubuque (la.) Carnegie- Stout P. L. North Adams (Mass.) P. i^. Jamestown (N. Y.) James Prendergast F. 1* Oak Park (111.) Scoville Inst. L,. Eau Claire (Wis.) P. L. Galveston (Tex.) Rosen- berg Library. FREE REFERENCE. Newberry L., Chicago. Peabody Institute L., Baltimore. John Crerar L., Chicago. Grosvenor L., Buffalo. Watkinson L., Hartfoid. Howard Memorial L., New Orleans. GOVERNMENT. Library of Congress, Washington New York State L., Al- bany. Massachusetts State Boston. UNIVERSITY OR COLLEGE. Harvard University. Chicago, University of. Columbia University. Yale University. Cornell University. Pennsylvania, Univer- sity of. Michigan, University of. Princeton University. Brown University. Johns Hopkins Univer- sity. Dartmouth College. California, University of. Amherst College. Bowdoin College. Wisconsin, University of. 'Vermont, University of. Wesleyan University. Mass. Inst. of Technol- ogy. Oberlin College. Nebraska, University of. "Northwestern University. 'Illinois, University of. Adelbert College. Leland Stanford Jr. University. WOMEN S COLLEGES. "Wellesley College. ^Vassar College. 'Bryn Mawr College. 'Mount Holyoke College. PROPRIETARY. Phila., Library Company New York Society L. of. Providence Athenaeum L. Boston Athenaeum L. Redwood L., Newport. SUBSCRIPTION. N. Y., Mercantile L. Ass'n of. Pbila., Mercantile L. Co. of. St. Louis Mercantile L. Ass'n. San Francisco, Mechan- ics' Inst. L. The following blank was sent to the 100 representative libraries : I have been asked by the President of the American Library Association to prepare for the printed Proceedings of the St. Louis Con- ference a statistical statement on "Women in American Libraries." Will you co-operate to that end by filling the following blank for the library which you represent : 1. Total number of staff members. 2. Total number of women. i and 2 sl'ould include all full-time employees, excluding janitors. * Have a woman as librarian. 3. State relative salaries of men and women for: 1. Positions involving administrative responsi- bility. 2. Responsible positions, technical and otherwise, not administrative. 3. Others. in the following form: Admini Respon Men strative sibility. Women Other Re Posit Men sponsible ions. Women Oth Men en. Women i at $5000 a at 2400 i at $2100 3 at 1800 i at $2400 3 at 2100 3 at 1500 3 at 1200 i at $1500 3 at 1200 4 at 900 a at $720 a at 600 3 at 480 4 at 360 7 at $900 5 at 720 21 at 600 14 at 480 3 at 360 State frankly (so far as you are willing) the policy of the library board and your in- dividual opinion as to the employment of women on a library staff. Mention all the ad- vantages and limitations which occur to you. Indicate positions or lines of work for which you may think women specially fitted, or un- fitted, with reasons. Every statement regard- ing individual libraries shall be held as entire- ly confidential. Will you kindly give the matter immediate attention. Very truly yours, v SALOME CUTLER FAIRCHILD. Replies have been received from 94 of the loo libraries. A few declined to answer the questions regarding salaries. Dividing the 54 public libraries investigated into two groups by size, and including in the larger group the first 21, the Newark library being the last of the first group, the following is true: In 19 out of 21 libraries in the large library group the librarians are men, the Minneapolis and Indianapolis libraries being the two in charge of women. In 21 out of 33 libraries in the small library group the librarians are women. Men are in charge of each of the six reference and of the three government libraries. Of the 24 college or university libraries (excluding those exclu- sively for women), 20 have men as librarians, four have women, namely, Chicago, Vermont, Northwestern and Illinois. Women are in charge of the four women's college libraries. Men are in charge of the five proprietary and of the four subscription libraries. Thirty- one of the loo representative libraries are in charge of women. In the first group, including 21 large public libraries, all reported, but only 18 reported i6o ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. fully. Of these, 46 administrative positions are held by men, 73 by women. In the second group, of 33 smaller public libraries, 29 re- ported fully. Of these, n administrative po- sitions are held by men, 29 by women. In the free reference libraries reporting, all ad- ministrative positions are held by men. In the government libraries, 24 are held by men, five by women. Of the 19 college libra- ries reporting fully (excluding those for women only), 47 administrative positions are held by men, 14 by women. All the ad- ministrative positions in the four women's college libraries are held by women. No women hold administrative positions in the five proprietary or four subscription libraries. In all statements made above regarding ad- ministrative positions, the head positions are included. The following is a summary of facts with reference to responsible positions not admin- istrative. Of 18 reporting fully in the large library group, 69 are held by men, 205 by women. Of 29 reporting fully in the small library group, eight are filled by men, 77 by women. In the free reference libraries report- ing one such position is filled by a man, seven by women. In the government libraries, 102 by men, 84 by women. Of the 19 college li- braries reporting fully (excluding those for women only), 20 are held by men, 44 by women. All such positions in the women's college libraries are held by women. In the five proprietary and four subscription libraries reporting, six are held by men, seven by women. Of the 94 libraries of various types report- ing, 514 subordinate positions are filled by men and boys, 1211 by women and girls. 2958 is the total number of persons employed by all the 94 libraries reporting; 2024 is the total number of women. One library employs only men, 21 employ only women, 10 employ less than one-half women, 36 from one-half to three-quarters women, and 25 more than three-quarters women. In tabulating salary returns only public li- braries have been considered. The number of libraries of the other types is small, the number reporting is smaller than for public libraries and fewer women are employed. The comparison of salaries would therefore be of little value. In the large library group the highest salary reported for men is $7000, the lowest $3000; the highest salary paid to a woman is $2100.* The average highest salary paid to men hold- ing responsible positions not administrative is $1208, to women $946. The average mean salary paid to men and boys in subordinate positions is $532, to women and girls $530. It will be remembered that the statistics include pages but not janitors or part time employees. The highest salary paid to a man as libra- rian in the small library group is $3000, the lowest $1500, the average $2118. The highest salary paid to a woman as librarian in this group is $2000, the lowest $800, the average $1429. The figures prove that women greatly out- number men in the libraries selected. It is a safe conclusion that they outnumber them by a larger proportion in the libraries of the country. They hold a creditable proportion of administrative positions but seldom one in- volving large administrative responsibility. They outnumber men in responsible positions other than administrative, but they seldom- hold the most responsible of such positions in the largest libraries or in those which might be called distinctly libraries for scholars. They vastly outnumber men in other positions. Broadly speaking, they hold a large number of important positions, seldom the most im- portant. They do not hold the positions offering the highest salaries, and broadly speaking, ap- parently they do not receive equal remunera- tion for the same grade of work. The utmost kindness and courtesy have been invariably shown by librarians in stating the peculiar advantages and limitations of women, and most replies have been full, frank and discriminating. They throw considerable light on conditions as shown by statistics. Economic reasons go far to explain the situation. "Women will accept much smaller salaries than men of equal ability and preparation. There is an abundant supply of women who will work for less than men require and gen- * Not the highest salary paid to a woman in-- American libraries. FAIRCHILD. 161 erally can afford to do so. Therefore, women drive men out of the library profession as they do out of the teaching profession." "Women do not cost as much as men. This you may say is a mean advantage, but with little money and many books needed it is a very potent one." Library trustees in filling a position can usually choose from a larger number of women than of men who are fitted by natural ability, education, training and experience to do the work. A woman thus chosen will usually accept a lower salary and remain satisfied with the salary longer than a man would. If she has others dependent on her support the burden is more likely to decrease than to increase, and her social obligations are less in a pecuniary way. She is more likely than a man to prefer a comfortable position at a moderate salary among her friends to strenuous responsibility at a high salary in a distant city. Women in the future may have more people dependent on their support. They will never have so many as men. A growing desire in the single woman for independence, for personal comfort and for travel may make her more ambitious. Women are quite generally acknowledged to work under a handicap because of a more delicate physique. This shows itself in less ability to carry calmly the heavy burdens of administrative responsibility, to endure con- tinued mental strain in technical work or to stand for a long period. It also doubtless accounts for the "nerves and tears" men-, tioned by one librarian (a woman) and the "tears" mentioned with profuse apologies by a man. It is quite probable that the physical handicap of women will be reduced as greater emphasis is placed on the importance of athletics and of out-of-door life and sports for girls. I do not see how it can be elimi- nated. Whether women will ever hold the highest administrative positions in libraries may remain perhaps an open question. That such positions are not now held by women is i fact. It is evidently believed by men holding >uch positions and probably by trustees hold- ing the appointing power, that women are not in the present stage of civilization fitted to hold such positions. The following reasons ire given: i. She has not the temperamental fitness for the exercise of large authoritative control over a mixed staff. 2. She is not in touch with the world of affairs. 3. She is distinctly unbusinesslike. 4. She shuns rather than courts responsi- bility. 5. She is conservative and afraid of legiti- mate experiments. 6. She lacks originality. 7. She lacks a sense of proportion and the power of taking a large, impersonal view of things. Some of the criticisms just cited have come from women. In many cases men stating cer- tain disadvantages of women as a class have recognized that exceptional women are not only free from them but positively excel in the opposite direction. It is quite possible that with larger experience they may as a class rise above all disadvantages and ultimately hold the highest positions. There could be no agreement on such a point and individual opinion is of slight value. It is doubtless true that since women fill satisfactorily ad- ministrative positions of considerable impor- tance, they might easily hold some others now held by men. A certain degree of conserva- tism and prejudice in the appointing power should not be left out of account. It may also be said on the other side that in the medium sized libraries, of which so many women have charge, some one or more of the trustees may in reality deal with city officials and make business decisions which would fall to the librarian if a man. How far such is the case it would be impossible to discover. But I know that trustees frequently elect a man instead of a woman because as they say they have not time to devote to the business interests of the library. They assume that a woman would not have business capacity. Such sentiments on the part of trustees ac- count for what I believe to be a fact that a woman is seldom appointed from the outside to a head position in even the medium sized libraries. She is promoted from a responsible position in the same library or she was made librarian when the institution was small. It is quite generally conceded that in posi- tions which do not involve the highest degree of executive or business ability but which 1 62 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. of women by comparing them to a familiar character "There was a little girl, And she had a little curl Right in the middle of her forehead. When she was good She was very, very good, And when she was bad she was horrid." It is interesting to observe the proportion of men on the staffs of libraries in charge of women. Of such libraries reporting, by far the greater proportion of them have a staff made up entirely of women. In most others (there are exceptions) the masculine element is represented by pages, or by men who do evening work, or who fill comparatively un- important positions. It seems to me that the library serving a constituency of men and women can render better service through a staff on which the important positions are divided between the two sexes. Men and women represent different elements, they look at things from a different point of view. If they work together side by side in an indi- vidual library as they do in the home, in social life, in the church, and as they already do in the library association, each contributing his or her best, the result is broader, richer and more vital than if men alone or women alone take part. The economic reasons already dwelt upon operate in many libraries to prevent such an arrangement. One reporting library attempts as even as possible a division of positions between the sexes. In many other libraries I suspect such a division is recognized as an ideal. Reviewing all the facts it seems clear that women in American libraries have accom- plished much creditable work which has won generous recognition. Still more avenues of opportunity are open. At the same time, on account of natural sex limitations, and also actual weakness in the work of many women as well as because of conservatism and preju- dice, many gates are at present closed to women. To the ambitious every form of handicap acts as a spur. In the long run, however, women may prefer to work mainly in those lines where they can if they will equal men hi the various forms of scholarly effort; and in those where they naturally excel him in positions where the human element pre- dominates. require a certain "gracious hospitality," women as a class far surpass men. Such positions are: the head of a small or medium sized li- brary, first assistant and branch librarian in a large public library, the more important positions in the loan department and all work with children, both in the children's room and in co-operation with schools. Here it is said her "broad sympathies, her. quick wits, her intuitions and her delight in self sacrifice" give her an undoubted advantage. One librarian writes: "The enthusiasm a woman usually puts into her work is a great leaven and tends to lift the most monotonous task out of the common- place." And again : "There should be at least one woman in a responsible position on every large staff where women are employed. There is always a cer- tain amount of housekeeping and of matroniz- ing (he might have said mothering) which is essential for the health and comfort of all concerned." There are a few exceptions, but it is the consensus of opinion that, granted equal edu- tional advantages, women are as well fitted as men for technical work, even the higher grades of cataloging. They are preferred by most libraries reporting for all ordinary cata- loging positions because of "greater conscien- tiousness, patience and accuracy in details." Women and girls are generally preferred to men or boys in the routine work of a li- brary. They are thought to be more faithful and on the whole more adaptable. The lack of permanence because of marriage is largely balanced by the fact that boys who take cleri- cal positions in a library so generally do it as a stepping stone to other work. Women lose more time on account of illness and their health must be more carefully watched. They are more subject to petty jealousies, more easily upset and demoralized in their work by little things. Although in the main more conscientious than boys, girls show a curious lack of reliability in the matter of punctuality. Women in charge of libraries have not in- frequently told me that the hardest thing they had to do was to make the girls on the staff realize that it is dishonest to be habitually five or ten minutes late in the morning. One librarian of large experience sums up his highly appreciative estimate of the work EASTMAN. 163 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION. BY W. R. EASTMAN, CORNELIA MARVIN, HILLER C. WELLMAN. ~V7"OUR committee on library administra- tion is instructed to report at this meeting "a schedule of library statistics to be recommended for use in making and col- lecting annual library reports, this schedule to include or be accompanied by rules for counting circulation and for estimating other forms of library service." In order to present in bold outline the work of a library year it is necessary to select certain salient features which are es- sential and to neglect those which are sub- ordinate. We must also keep in mind the important distinction between permanent or fixed items and those which mark the history of a single year. Much confusion may be avoided if the fixed items are given once for all by each library in a preliminary report to be kept on file in the state office. Any changes which may afterward occur can be included in any annual report under the head of "Additional Information." Preliminary Report. For such a preliminary report the following form is proposed : Preliminary library report October 17, 1904. to state library commission. Name of library Place Postoffice Date of foundation Under what law Trustees Number Chosen by Term of office Names Term expires 19 19 19 If the library is connected with another institu- tion as a college, church or association, a statement of that fact will take the place of the report on trustees. Source of income Local taxation $ State aid Endowment Membership fees Gifts and other sources State income from each source for current year. Terms of use Free for lending Free for reference Free to limited class, as students Subscription Underscore words that apply or add explanation. Building Date of completion Material Cost Source of building fund Book capacity Facilities for special work Other particulars If the library occupies rooms in a building not its own a statcn.ent of that fact will take the place of the report on building. If rent is paid the amount should be stated. Number of volumes. Count only bound volumes. System of classification Catalog Accession book Card Printed Manuscript Underscore words that apply and add any needed description such as "author," "dictionary," "classed," etc. To what extent have readers free access to shelves ? Charging system by cards ledger entry Underscore words that apply and add any needed description. Number of books allowed to each borrower at one time. Number of books of fiction allowed to each borrower at one time. Librarian Name Salary Number of assistants Salaries of assistants Number of branches Number of delivery stations Give details of branches and delivery stations on separate paper, giving name and /location of each. 164 ST. 'LOUIS CONFERENCE. Additional information Date (Signed) (Librarian.) I have carefully read this report, have caused an exact copy to be filed with the library records, and with the consent of the library board it is submitted to the state li- brary commission. (signed) President of Whenever any changes in the items above reported occur, the fact should be noted in the next annual report under the head of "Additional Information." The above report will usually be addressed to the state library commission, but in some cases to the education department or some designated state officer. Annual Report. It is a question of some importance and of some difficulty to decide at what date the library year should end. In the attempt to secure uniformity, the choice seems to lie between June 30 and December 31. In favor of June 30 it must be said that it corresponds with the school year, which is important when the library is recognized as part of the educational system. The break also occurs at a season of diminished activity in most cases. On the other hand, the year ending December 31 is the calendar year. It corre- sponds more generally with the municipal and business year, and the break comes at a season when not only the librarian but also the library officers are likely to be accessible for business purposes. The summer would be a quiet and ideal time for the librarian to make out reports if he could do it alone. But if the treasurer is absent in Europe there may be trouble about the items of receipt and expense. An experience of 12 years in trying to collect library statistics in the sum- mer has satisfied the writer that promptness in returns is seriously compromised by the vacation habit. The busy months are better for all sorts of business. The committee therefore recommend that, the library year be the same as the calendar year wherever feasible. It is a question what kind of record of reference work shall be attempted. It is not easy to express its value in figures. An ac- tual count of the books used in an open room would not only be impossible to make but also misleading in a multitude of cases. When feasible, the number of persons using the library for reading and study should be reported. In the annual report blank which follows, three or four of the fixed items, name, place, postoffice and terms of use, are repeated for the sake of definiteness. All other items rep- resent the work of the year. This form will serve for reports submitted to the state; or, by omitting unneeded particulars, for annual printed reports. Annual library report for year ending Dec. 31, 1904. Name of librarv Place Postoffice Terms of use Free for lending Free for reference Free to limited class, as students Subscription Underscore words that apply. Days open during year Hours open each week for lending Hours open each week for reading Number of volumes January I, 1904 Number of volumes added during year by pur- chase Number of volumes added during year by gift Number of volumes lost or withdrawn during year Total number Dec. 31, 1904 Count bound books only. Number of. volumes of fiction lent for home use Total number of volumes lent for home use Number of new borrowers registered during the year Number of newspapers and periodicals cur- rently received Number of persons using library for reading and study RECEIPTS FROM Unexpended balance.? Local taxation PAYMENTS FOR Books | $ Periodicals >- Endowment funds ... Membership fees.... vice, janitor service Rent Fines and sale of pub- lications Permanent improve- Gifts and other sources Other expenses Total Total Additional information Here insert statements regarding changes in or- ganization, brief description of new rooms or build- ing, increased facilities and any benefactions EASTMAN. 165 announced but not received, with names of givers and amount, object and conditions of each gift, to- gether with any other information useful for the summary of library progress printed in the report to the Legislature. (Signed) (Librarian.) Date I have carefully read this report, have caused an exact copy to be filed with the li- brary records and with the consent of the library board it is submitted to the State Li- brary Commission. (President.) Every library, large and small, can readily make this report and upon this basis the state summary can be presented with a complete- ness which will be of real service. But an attempt to require more from small libraries and untrained librarians will not only cause uneasiness and hesitation, but will also result in uneven and partial returns and in many cases in failure to secure any reports at all. It is claimed that an elaborate report blank is educational; that it suggests many lines of library enterprise beyond the mere lending of books, such as work with children, with schools and with clubs; that it may enforce the need of employing a more capable and advanced librarian, and that it can do no harm for a careless library to be reminded year by year how much is expected of it in detail of organization and in progressive schemes for public enlightenment. The ob- jects sought are such as we all have at heart but there may be other and more suitable agencies for securing them than the annual report blank. This should neither be made an instrument of torture nor a summons to judgment. The state commission have other resources. They may send out circulars of inquiry, encouragement, instruction or ad- monition without limit as they deem it wise; thej' may make their personal appeal and gather the librarians in institutes to press these matters home. But the library that chooses to disregard their persuasiveness has nevertheless its rights, and one of them is to have the opportunity of reporting what it has done without being too forcibly or insistently reminded of what it has not done in matters which are non-essential. We cannot afford to make our smaller and weaker libraries feel that they are outside the pale or disgraced in any way because they cannot answer all our questions affirmatively. Supplemental Report. But there are many libraries which might with profit both to themselves and to the pub- lic make a much more detailed and compre- hensive report. To such, a supplemental form may be offered. It was suggested last year that an expansive form of report might be useful, printing essential items in bold type and the details in smaller letters. But fur- ther consideration, combined with an attempt to work out the table on such lines, has led your committee to prefer the use of a sup- plement, leaving the original report in which all libraries join, to stand in more simple, clean cut outline. In the supplement the number of volumes may be separated into subject classes, the lending of books distrib- uted among the various agencies for lending and the work of each department set by itself. This will call for an analysis of the main report and may be employed by all who wish to use it ; but, if required at all, it should be required only from libraries of a certain size or importance or from those which apply for special grants or privileges. With this distinct understanding the form may be suggestive and valuable. A library with delivery stations will state either in the supplement, or on a paper at- tached to it, the number and location of each and the circulation from each. This circu- lation will then be included with that of the main library. A library with branches will make a similar record for these, adding their circulation to the general total, and in ad- dition, each branch should make its separate report as other libraries do, so far as the material for such report is available under the system employed by that library for branch relations. In the department of travelling libraries or collections of books sent out for distribu- tion from another center another considera- tion is involved. The use of these books whether in schools, institutions, factories, engine houses or distant neighborhoods is not within the direct control of the library. It is a circulation carried on by outside agencies and the results are known only at second hand. The conditions of use are often i66 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. such as to make an exact account impossible, and yet by reason of these very conditions the work may merit the highest commenda- tion. A system so elastic as to adapt itself perfectly to school life, work life and home life is likely to defy expression in the terms of statistics. Yet the use of such books while issued is very great and the expense of re- placing worn books is considerable, so that libraries seem to feel that these books ought to be counted in their circulation which is the figure used most frequently for comparative purposes. Hence much pains has been taken to express properly the value of this use. Exact records have been tried, but they do not cover all forms of use which the books invite and even in partial form are secured with difficulty and accepted with much un- certainty. Libraries have resorted quite gen- erally to averages and estimates. Here are some of the various plans proposed. In one place a volume counts once when sent to a school, and again for each time it is taken home by a pupil, but school room use is not recorded. Tn another case the circulation of each volume sent to a school is estimated at four, certainly a low figure in the case of books retained from five to ten months. In certain other libraries it is the custom to count one in the circulation for each month a book is at a school. Others count one for each fortnight. Cases are known of count- ing one for each week, and some do not count such circulation at all. Most of these estimates are fair and can be defended. It would be hard to say which is best ; but in the face of such variety and manifest uncer- tainty, we cannot avoid raising the question whether any one of them is really worth while. The simplest solution of the diffi- culty is to state the case as it is, report the number of books sent out, tell where they went and how long they were retained, and stop with that. This is just as strong an appeal for credit or for recompense as if the attempt were made to translate these facts into equivalent terms of circulation. If so many books go to a school, that tells the whole story for which the library is com- petent to vouch, and tells it more clearly than if the facts are concealed in an indefinite and disputed translation. The books are used in various ways, of course; they come back badly worn, of course. Such results are to be expected when the books go to a school, and the public as well as state and local au- thorities are entirely capable of reading all this into the report. If some exceptional teacher has done exceptional work with the books, that also can be separately stated and considered. The same principle will hold in regard to devising equivalent statements of reference work in terms of circulation. It is not necessary to reduce all library activity to circulation. There are different departments to be recognized and each has its own value. Circulation, reference and travelling libraries are three distinct departments, each to be judged on its own merits and recognized accordingly, and hence to be separately re- ported. It will be easier to reckon the value of ser- vice rendered from a plain statement of known facts than to follow a circuitous line of estimation, translations or equivalents. Rules for Counting Circulation. The following rules for counting circula- tion are recommended : 1. The circulation shall be accurately re- corded each day, counting one for each lend- ing of a bound volume for home use. 2. Renewal of a book under library rules at or near the end of regular terms of issue may also be counted, but no increase shall be made because books are read by others or for any other reason. 3. Books lent directly through delivery sta- tions and branches will be included, but the circulation from collections of books sent to schools or elsewhere for distribution will not be included. A separate statement of such travelling libraries will be made. -, 4. Books lent for pay may be included in the circulation, but must also be reported sep- arately. In these rules there is no intent to deter- mine the policy of any library as to the manner or terms of circulation, but only to place the count on a uniform basis which will render comparison possible. Supplementary Report for Larger Libraries. A form for supplementary report from more important libraries follows: Supplemental library report for year end- ing Dec. 31, '04. EASTMAN. I6 7 Name of library Place Postoffice Number of branches Number of delivery stations Give on separate sheet the statistics of branches and stations, including name, location, volumes in branches and circulation. Classes of books added and total in library Additions Total No. in Library Classes Circulating department Reference Circulating department Reference Adit's Chil- dren Adit's Chil- dren General works. Periodicals Philosophy Religion Sociology Language Natur'l science. Useful arts Fine arts Music scores.. . Literature Travel History Biography Fiction U. S. Docu- ments State documents Books, foreign languages Total . . . Number of unbound pamphlets Number of maps, pictures, manuscripts, etc. Other library material Classes of books lent Classes From main library From branches and stations Total Adults Chil- dren Adults Chil- dren General works Periodicals. . Philosophy . Religion .... Sociology . . . Language. . . Natural science Useful arts. . Fine arts.... Music scores Literature . . Travel Biography Fiction Books in for- eign languages Total... Number of schools to which books were sent Number of books sent to schools How long retained by schools (average) Number of other travelling libraries sent out Number of books in other travelling libraries How long retained in places other than schools (average) Number of Sundays the library has been open Number of children using library for reading or study What departments in library other than de- livery and reading rooms ? Give account on separate sheet of work done for children, schools, clubs and societies Any other form of special service ' Additional information (Signed) Date Librarian It will be borne in mind that while certain forms of report are required by the state and perhaps also by the city or village, no library is obliged to submit its case without argument. Each has opportunity to make all additions and explanations it may think desirable and the larger libraries are really under obligation to their own communities to enlarge upon and emphasize the tabular presentation of their activities, successes and failures. In printing reports for the infor- mation of the local public they will often find it convenient to arrange some items in forms differing from those here proposed and to add others. Your committee have sought to present with the utmost possible simplicity three forms of statistical reports: one to convey preliminary information of each library, an- other to show its annual service on certain elemental and essential lines, and a third to suggest details in regard to which a fuller presentation from some libraries will be found valuable. These are intended to be filed with the state and used in making up a general summary report, but the infor- mation asked should be furnished also in annual printed reports. The leading purpose has been to take a step toward uniformity. To this end it has been necessary to leave out many interesting items of inquiry that seemed of subordinate consequence or that have appealed only to a few, and to include only those respecting whose vital importance we are all agreed. The aim has been to free the statistical question from its complications and to reduce it to its simplest terms as an accurate record of known facts. With the light to be gained by discussion and by comparison of views, may we not hope soon to be able to express the results of library activity in a common language? i68 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. BY ROLAND P. FALKNER, Chairman. T T has been customary for your Committee on Public Documents to present in its annual report an account of the legislation and publications during the preceding year which may be of interest to librarians. The sole legislation of Congress affecting the public documents of the United States was a Joint Resolution of March 24, 1904, authorizing the publication in two volumes instead of one of the Index to Congressional Documents from 1881 to 1803, in preparation by Dr. John G. Ames. This may be noted as presaging perhaps the early appearance of a part of the work.. The indexing of public documents, render- ing them more valuable for general use, con- tinues. The work of the Superintendent of Documents has been carried on under lines already familiar and continues to enjoy the grateful appreciation of librarians. The executive bureaus feel more and more the need of a survey of their own publications aiid one after another prepare indexes of them. Such an index, covering the period 1867-1902, has been prepared by the Bureau of Ordnance of the War Department. The United States Geological Survey, in its Bul- letin no. 215, has continued the index of its own publications for the period 1901-1903. Still more helpful is the Bulletin no. 222 of the Survey which indexes the publications of the several official surveys which preceded the present organization. Contributions to library science are found in the publications of the Library of Con- gress. The revised edition of the "A. L. A. catalog" is published under its direction. It has? also issued a pamphlet on the "Classi- fication of music," thus adding another chap- ter to its work of classification. It has in press the first volume of a "History of the Library of Congress," prepared by Mr. W. Dawson Johnston. Contributions to general bibliography have been made in large numbers by the Library of Congress and by other offices of the Gov- ernment. Since the date of our last report the Library of Congress has begun the pub- lication of selected reference lists already familiar to librarians generally. These are less exhaustive in scope than general bibliog- raphies which have been published by the library, and are designed for the guidance of the general reader. The last report of this committee submitted a list of the general bibliographies to be found in public documents issued between May I, 1902, and May I, 1903. A similar list for the year ending May, 1904, is appended to the present report.* Like the former list, it bears testimony to the fact that references to existing literature are coming to be recog- nized as an important part of the scientific and executive publications of the government. It has been our practice to note the activ- ities of the several states which tend to make the official publications of the states more valuable for libraries and to make their con- tents better known. For information on this point we are indebted to the courtesy of the state librarians, who, as heretofore, have gen- erally replied to the circulars of inquiry ad- dressed to Ihem. With respect to legislation it should be remembered that the states which hold legislative sessions in years terminating with an even number are comparatively few. Laws of interest to librarians have been en- acted in Iowa (Ref. Laws, Session of 1904: exact content net known to writer). In Rhode Island the recent enactment of the Legislature has placed at the disposal of the state librarian 25 copies of all public docu- ments for distribution among the public li- braries of that state .(See Acts and Joint Resolutions, 1904, pp. 55 and 93.) Of kindred interest to librarians are any steps which may be taken in the direction of * This will appear later in The Library Journal. FLETCHER. 169 bringing the state documents to the atten- tion of librarians generally. In this connec- tion it may be noted with pleasure that the Wisconsin Free Library Commission has pub- lished a brief list, with some annotations, of state publications from July I, 1902, to Sep- tember 30, 1903. with directions how they could be obtained and indications as to those which have a peculiar interest for permanent preservation in a library. Less directly the publication of bibliog- raphies of the state documents tends in the same direction. Our inquiries reveal consid- erable activity among the state librarians in preparing lists for Part III. of Mr. R. R. Bowker's "State publications." The editor advises us that this Part will cover the western states that is to say, all states and territories west of the Mississippi with the exception of the southern states, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. The volume will con- tain about 300 pages, one-third of which is already in print. Work is well under way and the publisher hopes that the volume can be issued in the early part of 1905. Reports come to us of bibliographical un- dertakings in other states. One of the most comprehensive is the proposition for a state bibliography of Connecticut which is being undertaken by a committee of librarians in that state.. The bibliography will include the state publications, which will be especially in charge of the state library. The state libra- rian of Indiana advises us that he has in press a new catalog of the state library. In Iowa a comprehensive list of the state publications has recently been prepared by the state li- brary and published by the Iowa Library Commission. A recent issue of the Iowa State Historical Society consists of a general bibliography of state documents which has been prepared by Miss Budington of the Iowa State University. In the state library of Maine there has just been completed a card index to the special laws of the state from 1820 to 1903. This index, whose value for local history must be manifest, is now on cards (27,000), but its publication in book form is looked for at an early date. In New Hampshire the state library has recently issued volume i of its catalog. In Wisconsin Mr. I. S. Bradley is at work upon a complete bibliography of the state, including not only official publications but all other matter relat- ing to the state. In concluding our report we desire to ex- press our grateful thanks for the courtesy of the state librarians, who have in many instances furnished us with valuable infor- mation relating to the bibliographies of their states which the committee is unable to pub- lish in detail, since its only function is to record the most recent undertakings along these lines. REPORT OF THE PUBLISHING BOARD. BY W. I. FLETCHER, Chairman. HP HIS report is made to cover the time be- tween the Niagara and St. Louis confer- ences, practically fifteen months. The personnel of the Board remained the same during the past year, as the term of no member expired. The services of Miss Katharine L. Swift as assistant to the secre- tary have been retained. The Board is still looking forward to the time when the long- talked of "headquarters" of the Association shall provide it with suitable accommoda- tions for its growing work, and also facili- tate that work by closely associating it with the general office work of the Association. As is shown by our financial statement, work on the "A. L. A. catalog" has absorbed $1500 of our income since our last report. The Board voted to pay $100 a month for 12 months for clerical work on the catalog at the State Library in Albany, and later voted an additional $300 to pay Mrs. H. L. Elmendorf for special service in the final ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. revision of the work. Melvil Dewey has given the catalog his personal supervision, and the Library of Congress is issuing it as one of its special publications. At the writ- ing of this report the printing is nearly com- pleted, and it is hoped that it will be issued before the meeting of the Association. It has been decided to issue it, for greater con- venience, in two parts ; the first part contain- ing the classified and annotated list, the sec- ond the dictionary catalog of the same books. The number of volumes cataloged is about 7500, and most of these are on exhibition in the "Model Library." The ^'portrait index" is much nearer com- pletion than it was a year ago. It has proved necessary to put a great deal of work into the revision of the ms., especially in rightly identifying and distinguishing persons of similar names, particularly those entered (as monarchs, etc.) under their Christian names. A few first pages of the work are in print and will be exhibited at this conference, and it is hoped that the work of printing can proceed with some rapidity during the com- ing year. This work has now for several years absorbed much of our income, being chargeable with a considerable share of our "office expenses," as the secretary and one assistant (and for several months a second), have been quite largely occupied with it. Of the "A. L. A. index," 75 copies were sold during 1903. There are still many li- braries that fail to appreciate the value and usefulness of this book. The "A. L. A. list of subject headings," compiled by Mr. Gardner M. Jones, con- tirues to have a sale of about 500 copies a year, being on the whole our most successful publication. It now needs a thorough re- vision, and it is hoped a new edition may be prepared soon. Miss Kroeger's "Guide to reference books" has also been welcomed by the libraries, and over looo copies have been sold, so that the book has become a slight source of profit to the Board, and we have been able to make a small payment to Miss Kroeger for her work as compiler. The Library Tracts go rather slowly, less than 700 copies being called for in 1903. They have been less used by state commis- sions and others for distribution as a means of forwarding library interests than was ex- pected. For two or three years a movement has been on foot looking to the preparation by the Children's Librarians' Section of the A. L. A. of a somewhat extended list of books for young readers. The committee of the Children's Librarians' Section made a re- port last year outlining a scheme for the work and addressing some queries to the Publishing Board, to which the matter had been referred by the Association. (Proc. Niagara Conference, p. 206, 207.) After consideration of these queries the Board reached the conclusion : 1. That a list of children's books prepared by the committee arranged for by the Chil- dren's Librarians' Section would be emi- nently worth while; 2. That it should be a selected list rather than a full bibliography of children's litera- ture; 3. That the expenditure of a sum not ex- ceeding $150 for the mechanical preparation of the list should be authorized. 4. They appointed a member of the Board as an adviser to confer with the chairman of the committee in charge of the list. 5. They were not able to present "a crit- ical estimate from the publisher's standpoint of the strong points and weak points in the lists of children's books which have been published already" ; but they felt that in general the list should include from 1500 to 3000 titles, with critical and descriptive notes, designed largely to interest the chil- dren and parents, but of such a character as to be of great assistance to librarians. A conference was held by the sub-commit- tee of the Board with the chairman of the committee of the Children's Librarians' Sec- tion, at which it was learned that the latter, owing to the approaching publication of the "A. L. A. catalog," felt that a selected list was no longer desirable, but desired to know whether the Board would be willing to print a bibliography which should represent a FLETCHER. 171 guide to children's literature. She felt that she could not at present give any estimate of the time necessary to prepare such a bibli- ography, or of its size when completed, or of the cost of its mechanical preparation. After further consideration the Board felt that it must defer decision as to its willing- ness to print such a bibliography until its scope and cost could be outlined by the Sec- tion with more definiteness. The Board is convinced that a list prepared by the Section would be of great value, and hopes that the plan may be matured in the near future. As it was evident that the proposed list of young people's books would not be forth- coming this year, Miss Hewins was asked to revise and have reprinted at once her "Books for boys and girls," to be issued in similar form to the "Tracts." She consented to do so, and the list in a form much su- perior to the earlier edition is expected from the press before the St. Louis meeting. The card publications of the Board have proceeded since the last report with very little change. Some changes have been made in the list of serials covered by the serial cards, due mostly to the dropping of some sets which have been taken up as subjects for printed cards by the Library of Con- gress. The number of serials indexed has been kept good by the addition of other titles. The revised list has been sent out quite recently to the libraries, and the Board would call special attention to the advantage to many of the smaller libraries of subscrib- ing for cards for a part of the list such as are, in each case, taken by the li- brary. No addition has been made to the cards for "Miscellaneous sets," but cards are in preparation and will soon be issued for the set of Decennial publications of the University of Chicago. Cards are in stock for most of the sets that have been indexed, and the Board invites suggestions as to additional sets that should be covered. We still have a good supply of the cards printed in 1903 for the Massachusetts public documents, and can also supply the cards for articles in bibliographic periodicals, which have been issued for the last two years, the Bibliographical Society of Chicago doing the indexing. Our "annotated bibliographies," with the exception of Miss Kroeger's "Guide to refer- ence books," already referred to, find a slow sale, largely because they are of a special character, not appealing strongly to the smaller libraries. It is apparent that no suf- ficient support can be obtained from the li- braries for the extension of the scheme to other departments of literature, unless the material can be provided less expensively than has been the case with the lists already issued. The high appreciation on the part of the libraries using them of these annotated lists, and the fact that they so soon become out of date and need supplementing, has led to a demand for something in the way of a periodical issue of selected ~~and annotated titles of new books, prompt enough to be of service in the selection of books for pur- chase. The difficulties in the way of such an issue are considerable, especially as to its promptness. The Board has given much attention to this matter for the last two years, and is at the present writing consid- ering a proposed arrangement with Mr. Bowker of the Library Journal for the issue of a library purchase list in combination with a monthly index to leading periodicals. It is hoped that the feature of annotation may soon be added, and the Board is pre- pared, if this undertaking develops as it is expected to, to provide for competent editor- ship and give the idea of early and period- ical annotation of current literature a thor- ough trial. The attention of librarians is called to the fact that the Board is its own selling agent, and that it is a matter of mutual advantage for orders for its publications to be sent di- rectly to the Board and not given to the trade. The usual financial statement is attached to this report. It is for the calendar year 1903 ; as the conference comes later in the year than usual, the treasurer will present at the conference a summary statement of the affairs of the Board up to Oct. i, 1904. 172 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. A. L. A. PUBLISHING BOARD STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS, JAN. i TO DEC. 31, 1903 PUBLICATIONS. Copies sold in 1903. Copies on hand Dec. 31, 1903. Balances Jan. i , 1903, on the basis of expenditures over receipts to date. Operations Jan. i to Dec. 31, 1903. Balances Dec. 31, 1903, being excess of expenditures over receipts to date. Spent Received Expenses Receipts Spent Received A. L. A. Proceedings 6 477 13 pap. 43 cl. 37 32 pap. 54 cl. 363 Pts. 796 156 cl. a sheep 677 4 pap. 2 Cl. 2 J-2 mor. 46 457 74 cl. i % mor. 58 36 1190 1 66 172 3560 4 cl. 200 sheets Bel. 85 sheep 277 sheets 2292 129 pap. 219 cl. 323 51 cl. 7^ mor. 55 sheets 17.69 $4.90 18.76 37-43 1.89 ro 3 .6s 864.14 8".45 $12.59 26.36 [$274.45 1237-03 French fiction 42.99 14.70 103.65 187.34 811.45 30.18 Books for girls and women. . -j Guide to reference books ! Larned's Am. history \ Library tracts, 1-4 \ \ \ 578.47 i 104.81 ( 153-50 \ 349-85 j Reading for the young : Complete.. - " Sup..- 44.28 785.00 679.60 305.57 1059.69 283.49 1561.20 A. L. A. index -| V 1252.15 572-55 Portrait index, prelim, exp Bibliographical cards "39 584-97 1131.62 639-54 180.42 151-33 5 21 191.00 1705.92 169.51 17.70 Current books 590.18 English history cards -j Periodical cards -I Miscellaneous, 17-28 38 sets cds 27 pams. 199.795 cards 84 sets [= 86.33 228.50 1202.90 42.39 123.83 1634.64 766.76 17-03 Mass. Pub. Doc. cards Warner library cards 63 198 So in 461.03 37800 83-03 Wells' Sup. to Lamed Totals 14895.28 $3502.52 $3961.54 $6151.45 $3940 22 803.53 $4743-75 803.53 General balance 14895.28 $4895-28 $6151-45 $6i5i-45 $4743-75 $4743-75 OTHER ACCOUNTS. Balance Jan. i, 1903 Operations of 1903 Balance Dec. 31, 1903 Dr. Cr. Dr., Cr. Dr. Cr. A. L. A. catalog 1200.98 $801.13 $1703." 27.27 688.89 263.60 General expense and income ace Old members' account ount $1175.41 38-65 82.14 $2084 10 11.38 82.14 7634.28 3374-06 683.38 $2611.80 688.89 77i3-5i 1709 45 334-14 Charges unpaid Balance of cash $980 36 Library Bureau account . ...r 1928.21 349-24 Houghton, Mifflin & Co. accoun t 1484.49 Totals $2180.89 $3573-65 $2682.87 803.53 Balances $3486.40 $3573-65 $3573-65 $3486.40 $3486.40 HARRISON. 1/3 REPORT ON GIFTS AND BEQUESTS TO AMERICAN LIBRARIES, 1903-1904. BY J. L. HARRISON, Librarian The Providence (R. /.) Athenaum. *"PHE report covers trie period from June I, 1903, to May 31, 1904, and includes single gifts of $500 or more, of 250 volumes and upwards, and such others, miscellaneous in character, as seem specially noteworthy. The material has been obtained from the Library Journal, Public Libraries, Public* Library Monthly, the daily press, from re- sponses to 800 circular blanks sent to li- braries and from 75 letters addressed to state commissions, state associations and local library clubs. To all those who by their replies have so kindly assisted in his work, the reporter acknowledges with grate- ful thanks his deep indebtedness. Five hundred and six gifts are reported, representing in all 137,318 volumes and $6,- !03>I37- An analysis of the moneyed gifts shows that $732,359 were given as endow- ment funds for general library purposes, $198,654 for the establishment of book funds, $78,709 for the cash purchase of books, $i,- 507,600, of which $970,100 is reported as ac- cepted, from Andrew Carnegie for build- ings; $2,750,419 from various donors for buildings, $27,400 for sites and $642,496 for purposes the objects of which could not be ascertained. This item consists for the most part of bequests, and presumably will be largely invested as endowment funds. In addition, 15 sites, the value of which is not known, are reported, and also the gifts of buildings and grounds to the amount of $155,000. The gifts of the year, other than those made by Mr. Carnegie, amount to $4,595,537- This includes 36 gifts of $5000 each, 18 of $10,000, nine of $15,000, seven of $20,000, five of $25,000, two of $30,000, four of $35,000, three of $40,000, one of $45,000, and 21 of from $50,000 to $600,000. The total amount of the 21 largest gifts is $3,055.000, given as follows: $50,000, a bequest from Mrs. Daniel Hussey to Na- shua, N. H. ; $50,000 from the family of the late Frederick Billings to the University of Vermont; $50,000 from Mrs. George R. Cur- tis to Meriden, Conn.; $50,000 from Willard E. Case to Auburn, N. Y. ; $50,000 from the Robert Wright estate to the Apprentices li- brary company of Philadelphia; $50,000 from the heirs of Simon Hernshein to New Or- leans; $51,000 from Silas L. Griffith to Dan- by, Vt. ; $59,000 from Judge William H. Moore and James H. Moore to Greene, N. Y. ; $60,000 from Ralph Voorhees to Rutgers College; $65,000 from an unknown donor to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; $65,000, a be- quest from Col. Nicholas P. Sims to Waxa- hachie, Texas ; $80,000 additional from the Sibley estate to the Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston; $100,000 from the Maxwell family to Vernon-Rockville, Conn. ; $100,000, a bequest from Mrs. Mary Kasson, to Glov- ersville, N. Y. ; $100,000 additional from Mrs. T. B. Blackstone to Chicago; $125,000, a bequest from Wilbur F. Braman, to Mont- pelier, Vt. ; $200,000, a bequest from Kendall Young, to Webster City, Iowa; $250,000 from William Baldwin Ross to Yale Uni- versity; a building valued at $300,000 from Martin A. Ryerson to Grand Rapids, Mich. ; $600,000, a bequest from Charles F. Doe, to the University of California, and $600,000 from Mrs. Leland Stanford to Leland Stan- ford Junior University. Among the notable collections of books given may be mentioned the Konrad von Maurer collection of German history, com- prising 10,000 volumes, from Prof. Archi- bald Cary Coolidge to Harvard University; the Sidney S. Rider collection of Rhode Island history, a collection of 10,000 volumes, manuscripts and broadsides from Marsden J. Perry to Brown University; a collection of 20,000 volumes on magic from Dr. S. B. El- lison to Columbia College; the private li- brary of 4000 volumes of the late John Sher- man to the Ohio State Library; 8000 vol- 174 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. umes relating to fungi from E. W. D. How- lay to the University of Minnesota, and 2700 volumes on ichthyology from David Starr Jordan to Leland Stanford Junior Univers- ity. Among the interesting gifts may be men- tioned Mrs. Phoebe Hearst's gift of a li- brary valued at $100,000 to Anaconda, Mont. ; Mrs. Charles A. Cutter's gift of $5000 to Forbes Library, Northampton, Mass., as a memorial to her husband and for the pur- pose of establishing an endowment fund, the income to be used for increasing the libra- rian's salary; $6000 from Edwin H. Cole to St. Lawrence University, also for the pur- pose of creating an endowment fund for the salary of the librarian ; the Morse collection of Japanese carvings, valued at $10,000, to Princeton University, and a handsome stained glass window, "Hans Christian An- dersen with the children," purchased with money raised by popular subscription and given as a Christmas gift to the children's room of the Milwaukee public library. The report confines Mr. Carnegie's gifts to the United States. They number 100, and amount to $1,507,600. In their distribution the North Atlantic division of states re- ceived $505,800, the South Atlantic $100,000, the South Central $75,ooo, the North Central $601,800 and the Western $225,000. Of the states receiving the greatest number of gifts, Minnesota ranks first with 13, Cali- fornia second with 12, and Iowa and Wis- consin third with nine each. There were 14 gifts under $10,000, 51 of $10,000, 16 between $10,000 and $15,000, six between $15,000 and $20,000, five of $25,000, three of $30,000, one of $40,000 and four of $50,000 or more. The larger gifts include $50,000 to Mount Holy- oke College, $50,000 to Beloit College, $100,- ooo to Clark University and $250,000 to the General Society of Mechanics and Trades- men of New York City. A further analysis shows that two gifts were for branch li- braries, 13 for college libraries, one for an institutional library, one for library equip- ment, and 83, including 12 additional gifts, for public libraries. The total additional gifts amount to $107,900, varying in sums from $2500 to $25,000, and the gifts to col- leges, which seem to be increasing, to $390,000. It may not be inappropriate at this time to review briefly the history of the "gifts 'and bequests" report, and to express the hope that a few words spoken in its behalf may lead to a larger service in the future. In 1884 the Library Journal established as a regular feature a department of "gifts and bequests." It was not until 1890, however, that the report on gifts and bequests became a part of the fixed proceedings of the A. L. A. meetings. Since, and including that year, 10 reports have been presented. Those of 1890, 1891, 1896 and 1897 were made by Miss Caroline M. Hewins, of 1894 by Mr. Horace Kephart, of 1898 by Miss Elizabeth P. Andrews, of 1900 by Mr. George Stock- well, of 1901 and 1902 by Mr. George Wat- son Cole, and of 1903 by the present re- porter. There were no reports in 1892, 1893, 1895 and 1899, but those of 1896 and 1900- each covered two years, so that apparently the only breaks during the past 15 years are those of 1892 and 1893. The reports vary in length from one to 23, pages, in the months comprising the year covered, in the minimum number of vol- umes and amount of money required as a basis of record, in the treatment of subject matter, and in what, perhaps, is of most importance, the classification of gifts in the tabulated summaries. It may be stated, however, that the year from June to May predominates, and that the minimum number of volumes most used is 250, and the minimum amount of money $500. In treatment of subject matter five reports are tabulated, three are printed solid, the text arranged under state, city and li- brary, with a summary under divisions and states, grouped after the plan used by the United States Bureau of Education in its- library statistics, while one is confined to a brief statement of a general character. The headings under which the gifts are classified, both in the tabulated reports and the tables of the text reports, vary to some extent in nearly every case, the tendency of each suc- ceeding year being to a more minute classi- fication. No one can realize more fully or regret more sincerely the incompleteness of the re- ports presented than those who have pre- pared them. The sources of information. HARRISON. 175 so far as the reporter is personally con- cerned, are practically limited. For the completeness and accuracy of his work he must rely on the co-operation of the libra- ries. It has been suggested several times in these) reports that the state commissiona might collect the information for their states, as the Massachusetts commission is so thoroughly doing, and at a definite time turn the material over to the reporter who has been assigned the work of covering and summarizing the entire field. As the state commissions must be more familiar with the libraries of their states and have facilities for coming into closer touch with them than the reporter, this method, especially if the proposed national organization of state li- brary commissions is effected, would seem the most practical and businesslike means of securing accurate and complete reports. In the first report, prepared by Miss Hew- ins for the Fabyan conference, she said : "Last June 800 postal cards asking for state- ments of gifts and bequests received were sent to libraries in the United States. Only about 200 of these libraries have answered the cards. Some request more definite informa- tion as to whether all gifts, or only gifts of money, are to be counted. Many send min- ute particulars, many more only vague gen- eralities. Some tabulate their statements, others scatter them through letters of several pages." After more than a decade of reports the reporter last year met with the same old dif- ficulties. This year an attempt was made to avoid at least some of them by sending out blanks, with spaces for answers left un- der each of the ten headings used. By this means a somewhat more minute classifica- tion of the gifts reported has been possible. Attention is called to the method employed, however, not for the purpose of discussing the headings, but with the object of suggest- ing the official adoption by the Association of a carefully worked-out classification to be used in future reports. It would seem, in short, that the gifts and bequests reports would be more serviceable if it could secure I. Greater accuracy and completeness, 2. Uniformity of entry and tabulation of summaries, thereby facilitating comparison. The first end could doubtless be obtained with the hearty co-operation of the state commissions, and the second by the official adoption by this association of definite rules of entry and headings for classification. ALABAMA. NORMAL. Agricultural and Mechanical Col- lege Library. $10,000 for a building from Andrew Carnegie. TALLADEGO. College Library. $15,000 for a building from Andrew Carnegie. Accepted Jan. 18, 1904. TUSKEGEE. Normal and Industrial Institute Library. 462 volumes, largely educational and general literature, from the estate of Miss Anna E. Moore, of Altoona, Pa. ARIZONA. PHOENIX. Public Library. $25,000 for a building from Andrew Carnegie. ARKANSAS. FAYETTEVILLE. University of Arkansas Li- brary. 500 volumes from Col. F. M. Gun- ter. CALIFORNIA. BENICIA. Public Library. $10,000 for a build- ing, from Andrew Carnegie. BERKELEY. University of California Library. $6co,ooo, a bequest from Charles F. Doe, of San Francisco. The will provides that the gift shall be used for the construction of a building, and, in the event of a sur- plus, the income of the same for the pur- chase of books. 650 volumes relating to French language and literature from Madame F. V. Paget. CHICO. Public Library. $10,000 for a build- ing, from Andrew Carnegie. Accepted. FRESNO. Public Library. A library site, given by a number of citizens. $500, for books, from Louis Einstein. HANFORD. Public Library. $12,500, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Ac- cepted. HAYWARDS. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Ac- cepted. NEVADA CITY. Public Library. $10,000, for a building from Andrew Carnegie. Ac- cepted. OAKLAND. Free Public Library. Three large mural paintings from the artist, Mrs. Ma- rion Holden Pope. The subjects are "Lit- erature crowned by fortune," center panel, "Poetry," and "Prose." REDDING. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Ac- cepted. REDWOOD CITY. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Ac- cepted. SAN FRANCISCO. Mechanics Institute. Mural decoration, from Rudolph J. Taussig. 176 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. SAN FRANCISCO. Public Library. $15,000 ad- ditional, for a branch library, from Andrew B. McCreery, making a total gift of $42,500. SAN Luis PBISPO. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Accepted. SANTA CRUZ. Public Library. $750, for furnishing the library, from the Santa Cruz improvement society. $100, for improving the grounds, from the same society. SANTA MONICA. Public Library. $12,500, for a building from Andrew Carnegie. Ac- cepted. SANTA ROSA. Public Library. $1000, from Nelson Carr. The gift was used for the construction of stacks. STANFORD UNIVERSITY. Leland Stanford Jr. University Library. $600,000, for a build- ing, from Mrs. Leland Stanford. (Gift noticed in 1903 report, but amount not given.) The library will be the last of the buildings to complete the quadrangle at Palo Alto. It will be 305 feet by 194 feet, in Byzantine style, of buff sandstone, with an especially ornamental front. The en- trances will be at each corner of the build- ing and these entrances will be supported by pilasters of sandstone. The great ro- tunda, 140 feet in height, will occupy the center of the building and will be 70 feet in diameter. On the ground floor the space in the rotunda will be used as a general reading room. The corner stone will be laid soon after the opening of the fall term. 2700 volumes on ichthyology, probably the finest library in existence on the sub- ject, from Dr. David Starr Jordan. VALLEJO. Public Library. $20,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Ac- cepted. WATSONVILLE. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Ac- cepted. WOODLAND. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Ac- cepted. YOSEMITE VALLEY. Le Conte Memorial Lodge. $5000, from the Sierra Club of the Pacific, for a library, reading room and headquarters, given as a memorial to Jo- seph Le Conte, whose death, in 1901, oc- curred near the site of the lodge. COLORADO. BOULDER. University of Colorado Library. $15,000, for a building from Andrew Car- negie. Accepted. PUEBLO. Public Library. $10,000 additional, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie, making a total gift of $70,000. CONNECTICUT. BERLIN-KENSINGTON. Public Library. $10,- ooo, for a building, from H. H. Peck, of Waterbury, and Mrs. N. L. Bradley, of New Britain. BRIDGEPORT. Public Library. $1000, a bequest from W. B. Hincks, for the purchase of books. COLCHESTER. Bacon Academy Library. $12,- ooo, for a building, from Dr. Edward B. Cragin, of New York City, as a memorial to "his father. COLUMBIA. 5\ B. Little Free Library. $2500, for a building, from Saxon B. Little, of Meriden. $500, a bequest from Judge Dwight Loomis, of Hartford. DARIEN. Public Library. Building site, from Dr. and Mrs. Noxon. EAST HADDAM - MOODUS. Public Library. $5000, a bequest from Mason H. Silliman, available on the death of his son. ELLINGTON. Public Library. $13,000 addi- tional, from the Hall family, making a total gift of $43,000. FARMINGTON. Public Library. $3000, a be- quest from Frederick Augustus Ward. KILLINGLY-DANIELSON. Public Library. $15,- ooo, for a building, from Edwin H. Bugbee. looo volumes, from the same donor. MERIDEN. Curtis Memorial Library. $50,000, for a building, from Mrs. George R. Curtis. (Noticed in 1901-02 report, but amount not given.) '$7885, f r a fund, subscribed by a num- ber of citizens. $1000, from Russell Hall, for the estab- lishment of the "Russell Hall Alcove." MIDDLEFIELD. Levi A. Coe Library Associa- tion. $2000, a bequest from Judge Levi A. Coe. MIDDLETOWN. Berkeley Divinity School Li- brary. $500, for the general endowment fund from various alumni. Wesleyan University Library. 454 volumes relating to theology, from the family of the Rev. S. M. Stiles, of Hartford. 394 volumes of U. S. public documents, needed to complete sets, from the Hon. Jo- seph R. Hawley. NEW BRITAIN. Public Library. $20,000, for a fund, from John B. Talcqtt. NEW HAVEN. Free Public Library. $5000, a bequest without restrictions, from Philo S. Bennett. Yale Law School Library. 700 volumes, from Francis Wayland. Yale University Library. $250,000, for an extension of the library building, from Will- iam Baldwin Ross, of New York City. $37,000, a bequest from Mrs. Henry Far- nam, of New Haven, the income to be used for the purchase of books. $22,000, a bequest from Edward Wells Southworth. (This sum has been realized by the estate in addition to the $150,000 re- ported in 1902-03.) RIDGEFIELD. Public Library. $500, a bequest from John Adams Gilbert. 'HARRISON. 177 RIDGEFIELD. Public Library. Building, from James Morris. SOUTH NORWALK. Public Library. $1000, a bequest from R. H. Rowan. SOUTH SALEM. Public Library. $5000, from Cyrus J. Lawrence, of New York City. SOUTHINGTON. Public Library. $25,000, a be- quest from Charles D. Barnes, available on the death of the two legatees named in the will. Building, given by various citizens. STAMFORD. Ferguson Library. $5000 toward an endowment fund. Name of donor with- held. STRATFORD. Public Library. $1000, a bequest from Mrs. Charles Olney, of Cleveland, Ohio. SUFFIELD. Kent Memorial Library. 2000 volumes, comprising one of the most val- uable antiquarian libraries in the state, from Hezekiah S. Sheldon, of West Sufneld. VERNON-ROCKVILLE. Public Library. $100,- ooo, for a building, from the Maxwell fam- ily. WESTBROOK. Public Library. $6000, for a fund, from Edwin B. Foote, Thomas P. Fiske, Nancy A. Perry, Cornelia Chapman and John S. Spencer. WINSTED. Beardsley Library. $10,000, a be- quest from Amanda E. Church, comprising her entire estate. DELAWARE. WILMINGTON. Wilmington Institute Free Li- brary. $20,000, from William P. Bancroft, on condition that the city council agree to give the library $50 a year in perpetuity for each $1000 given. The gift was accepted with the proviso that the appropriations un- der the terms of the contract should not exceed $5000 in any one year. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. WASHINGTON. Howard University Library. 263 volumes, from Gen. Whittlesley. 304 volumes, from Dr. J. E. Rankin. Library of Congress. A collection of 1500 pieces, comprising letters, papers and a manuscript autobiography in six volumes, of Martin Van Buren, from Mrs. Smith T. Van Buren, of Fishkill-on-the-Hudson, N. Y. A collection of papers known as the "Chancellor Kent collection," from William Kent. Public Library. $25,000 additional, for buildings, from Andrew Carnegie. GEORGIA. ATLANTA. Carnegie Library. 414 volumes on labor and monetary questions, from James C. Reed. The collection is valued at $1000. IDAHO. BOISE. Public Library. $5000 additional, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie, making a total gift of $20,000. BOISE. Public Library. $5000 toward the building, subscribed by various citizens. ILLINOIS. ALTON. Jennie D. Hayner Library. $20,000, from Mrs. W. A. Haskell and Mrs. John E. Hayner, to be known as the "John E. Hay- ner endowment fund." $500, an endowment fund in memory of John E. Hayner, from John A. Haskell. $250, for an endowment fund, from Mrs. William Eliot Smith. ANNA. Public Library. $40,000, for an en- dowment fund, from Captain A. D. Stenson. CHICAGO. Newberry Library. A valuable collection of maps and manuscripts, cover- ing the history of the French marine from the I3th century to 1870, made by Paul Carles, from Edward E. Ayer. Public Library. $100,000 -additional, for a building, from Mrs. T. B. Blackstone, mak- ing a total gift of $250,000. The John Crerar Library. 300 volumes and 200 pamphlets relating to political economy, from Henry D. Lloyd. EVANSTON. Northwestern University Library. $215, for German books, the proceeds of a performance of Schiller's Wallenstein, given in Chicago. LINCOLN. Public Library. $5000 toward the building fund, from Stephen A. Foley. LITCHFIELD. Public Library. $5000 addition- al, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie, making a total gift of $15,000. ROCK ISLAND. Public Library. $5369.32 ad- ditional toward the new building, from Frederick Weyerhaeuser, making a total gift of $7869.32. ROCKFORD. Public Library. A museum of natural history, collected ' by Dr. J. W. Velie, from the Beattie family. SALEM. Public Library. $25,000, for a build- ing, from William J. Bryan. $15,000, for the purchase of books, from the same donor. TUSCOLA. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. URBANA. Burnham Library. $10,000, from W. B. McKinley. University of Illinois Library. 384 vol- umes and 544 pamphlets on chemistry, the private library of the late Prof. Arthur W. Palmer, from Mrs. Palmer. INDIANA. COLUMBUS. Public Library. $2500 toward the building fund, from Joseph Irwin. ELWOOD. Public Library. $5000 additional, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie, mak- ing a total gift of $30,000. FORT WAYNE. Public Library. $15,000 ad- ditional, for a building, from Andrew Car- negie, making a total gift of $00,000. HAMMOND. Public Library. $25,000, for a building from Andrew Carnegie. HANOVER. College Library. $10,000, a be- i 7 8 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. quest from Mrs. Eliza C. Hendricks, for the completion of the Thomas A. Hendricks Memorial Library, making a total gift of $35,000. INDIANAPOLIS. Butler College Bona Thomp- son Memorial Library. $15,000 additional, for a building, from Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Thompson, making a total gift of $45,000. $600, from alumni, for the purchase of books. Public Library. Building and site, valued at $2500, for a branch library, from the Riverside Sunday-school Mission. The building can be utilized with few alterations. 534 volumes relating to Indiana history, said to be the most valuable collection on the subject in existence, from Judge Daniel Wait Howe. MICHIGAN CITY. Public Library. $5000, for an endowment fund for books, from John H. Barker, given on condition that an equal amount be raised by subscription. . $7000 given by various citizens to se- cure Mr. Barker's offer. MUNCIE. Public Library. $5000 additional, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie, mak- ing a total gift of $55,000. PERU. Railroad Y. M. C. A. Library. $4000, from Miss Helen Gould. TERRE HAUTE. Emeline Fairbanks Memorial Library. $25,000 additional, for a building, from Crawford Fairbanks, making a total gift of $75,000. IOWA. BURLINGTON. Free Public Library. 250 mis- cellaneous volumes, from Philip M. Crapo. Rear Admiral George C. Remey, a na- tive of Burlington, has presented the library, upon its request, an oil portrait of himself, by Harold L. MacDarold. CHEROKEE. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. DUBUQUE. Public Library. A collection of minerals, numbering some 1000 specimens, from Mrs. James Hervey. IOWA FALLS. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Ac- cepted. $2500 toward the building, from E. S. Ellsworth. The library will be known as the "Carnegie-Ellsworth Free Public Li- brary." LE MARS. Public Library. $2500 additional, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie, making a total gift of $12,500. ODEBOLT. Public Library. $4000. for a build- ing, from Andrew Carnegie STORM LAKE. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. TAMA. Public Library. $7500, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. WATERLOO. Public Library. $20,000 addi- tional, for a second building, in another part of the city, from Andrew Carnegie, making a total gift of $50,000. WEBSTER CITY. Kendall Young Library. $200,000, for a building and endowment fund, a bequest from Kendall Young, which became available on the death of his wife, in September, 1903. The will provides $25,- ooo for the erection of the building and $175,000 as an endowment fund. WEST BRANCH. Public Library. Library building, costing $2000, from Mrs. Hulda Eulow. WEST LIBERTY. Public Library. $7500 for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. WINTERSET. Public Library. $10,000 for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. KANSAS. KINGMAN. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. LAWRENCE. University of Kansas Library. $500, for an endowment fund for the pur- chase of books on English literature, from the Kappa chapter of the Kappa Alpha Theta fraternity. MANHATTAN. Carnegie Free Public Library. Site valued at $1500, from the Manhattan Institute. Real estate valued at $600, from the same donor. $1025, for establishing and maintaining a library, from the Manhattan Library As- sociation. TOPEKA. Washburn College Library. $40,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Ac- cepted March, 1904. KENTUCKY. BEREA. Berea College Library. $30,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Ac- cepted June 9, 1904. LOUISIANA. NEW ORLEANS. Public Library. $50,000, from the heirs of the late Simon Hern- shein. 270 volumes relating to agriculture, from Lewis Stanton. MAINE. BRUNSWICK. Bowdoin College Library. 400 volumes relating to education, from Mrs. Thomas Tash, of Portland. FARMINGTON. Public Library Association. Building and site, valued at $35,000, from John L. and Isaac M. Cutler. $4000, an endowment fund, the income to be used for general repairs to the build- ing, from Isaac M. Cutler. $2000, for furnishing the building from the same donor. PORTLAND. Public Library. 949 miscellaneous volumes, from Edward M. Rand. WATERVILLE. Colby College Library, iioo vol- umes relating to ethics and theology, from Mrs. Caroline M. Fairbanks. 200 volumes in fine bindings, with black walnut bookcase, from Dr. William Mathews. HARRISON. 179 MARYLAND. HAGERSTOWN. Public Library. $16,000 to- ward paying off an indebtedness of $21,000, from the children of B. F. Newcomer. $5000 toward the same purpose, from E. W. Mealy. $5000, for the establishment of branch libraries in the county and a department for the young, from an unknown donor. TRAPPE. Philemon Dickinson Library. Build- ing and grounds, from Miss Laura Dickin- son, a daughter of the founder. MASSACHUSETTS. ACTON. Public Library. Oil painting from E. M. Raymond, of Boston. AMESBURY. Public Library. $500, to be used at the discretion of the trustees, from Rob- ert T. Davis, of Fall River. Card catalog case, periodical cases, pic- tures and reference books, valued at $500, from Moses N. Huntington, as a memorial to his sister, Ruth A. Huntington. AMHERST. Library Association. $952.50, a bequest from Isaac Gridley. ASHLAND. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Ac- cepted. BOSTON. American Congregational Associa- tion Library. $1000, from the estate of S. Brainerd Pratt, the income to be used for caring for the Bible room of the library. Boston Athenaum. $10,000, from the es- tate of Robert Charles Billings. The gift forms an endowment fund, one-half of the income of which is to be used for printing and one-half for books. $800, for books, from Howard Payson Arnold. Boston University Library, noo volumes, from Prof. Augustus Buck. Massachusetts Historical Society. $80,000 additional, from the Sibley estate, making a total gift of $180,000. Public Library. $4154, a bequest from Lu- cius Page Lane, for the establishment of a fund to be known as the "Sarah Chapin Memorial," the income to be used for the purchase of books on natural religion, moral philosophy and sociology Memorial tablet of Robert Charles Billings, by St. Gaudens. 2480 miscellaneous books, from the late Joseph H. Center. 505 miscellaneous books from Charles A. and Nathaniel T. Kidder, in the name of the late Henry T. Kidder. 466 miscellaneous volumes from Mrs. Harriet T. Boyd, of Dedham. 2388 numbers of German patents, from the patent office, Germany. BROCKTON. Public Library. $3000, a bequest from Mrs. Henry L. Ford. CAMBRIDGE. Harvard University Library. $34So for books from various donors, for purchases in specific departments. $1000, from Edward Mallinckrodt, of St. Louis, for refitting the library of the Boylston laboratory and purchasing books on chemistry. $900, from J. H. Hyde, of New York City, for cataloging and binding books of the Moliere collection. 10,000 volumes on German history, from Assistant Professor Archibald Cary Cool- idge. The collection was formed by the late Professor Konrad von Maurer, of Mu- nich, and will probably be known as the "Hohenzollern collection," in memory of the visit of Prince Henry of Prussia to Har- vard in 1902. 750 volumes, from the family of the late J. Elliot Cabot, of Brookline. CHELSEA. Fits Public Library, $500, a be- quest from W. T. Bolton. CONCORD. Public Library. $10,000, a bequest from Samuel Hoar, available on the death of his wife, the income t6 be used for the purchase of books. If no lineal descend- ants survive, the residue of his personal prop- erty is to be divided between the library and the fellows of Harvard University. $2000, for the art department, a bequest from the same donor. Mr. Hoar also bequeathed the library his office table. It was used as a cabiriet table by successive presidents of the United States, from Madison to Grant. DRACUT. Public Library. Oil portrait of Dr. Israel Hildreth, presented through the ef- forts of Col. Butler Ames. DUXBURY. Public Library. Painting of the brig "Smyrna," built in Duxbury and the first vessel to bear the American flag into the Black Sea after it was opened to our commerce, presented by William B. Wes- ton, of Wilton. EAST DOUGLAS. Simon Fairfield Public Li- brary. $25,000, for a building and site, from James Marshall Fairfield, of Boston, as a memorial to his father and mother, Simon Fairfield and Phoebe Churchill Fairfield. $500, for books, from James M. Fair- field. EASTHAM. Public Library. $15,000, a be- quest from Robert C. Billings, $1000 for present improvements and $14,000 as a gen- eral endowment fund. EDGARTOWN. Public Library. $1000 toward the Carnegie library building, from Mrs. Caroline Warren, of Boston. Site for the building, from the same donor. FRANKLIN. Public Library. $15,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. $5000, a bequest from Albert D. Mason, available on the death of his wife. GREENWICH. Public Library. $475, a bequest from Mrs. R. Spooner. HARDWICK. Public Library. $10,000, a be- quest from the Rev. Lucius R. Paige. HAVERHILL. Public Library. $15.000, for an endowment fund, the income to be used for the purchase of books, from James H. Carleton. i8o ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. HAVERHILL. Public Library. Bound volumes of the Haverhill Gazette, 1828-1835, cover- ing the editorship of Whittier, from Miss Sarah D. Thayer. HEATH. Public Library. 400 volumes, from Marshall Field, of Chicago. LANCASTER. Public Library. $1000, a be- quest, the income of which is to be used for developing the library's collection of Lan- castriana, from Henry S. Nourse. $500, a bequest from Francis N. Lincoln. LEE. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Extension of time in which offer can be accepted has been requested. LEICESTER. Public Library. 250 volumes, from the Springfield City Library Association. LYNN. Public Library. Antique clock, a be- quest from W. Henry Herner. Oil portrait of the late Orsamus B. Bruce, superintendent of schools, from the teachers and scholars of the city. MALDEN. Public Library. $15,000, a bequest for a fund, the income to be used for the purchase of works of art, from Mrs. Elisha Converse. MEDFIELD. Public Library. $5000, from the Billings estate, the income to be used for the purchase of books. MELROSE. Public Library. $3500, contributed in small amounts, towards the new Carnegie building, by the citizens of the town. MIDDLEBOROUGH. Public Library. $1000, a be- quest from Joseph E. Beals. MILLBURY. Public Library. $1000, a bequest from Calvin W. Barker. MILTON. Public Library. $21,000 toward the building, from Nathaniel T. Kidder. $1000, for the building, from A. L. Hol- lingsworth. $500, for the same, from Mrs. William H. Forbes. Lot, valued at $5000 and containing an acre and a half, from various citizens whose names are not announced. NATICK. Morse Institute Library. Life-sized portrait of himself, from J. O. Wilson. Bronze memorial tablet, commemorative of the life and works of Henry Wilson, from George F. Hoar. NEEDHAM. Public Library. Site for the new Carnegie library, from J. G. A. Carter. NEW BEDFORD. Public Library. Marble bust of the late librarian, Robert C. Ingraham, by Walton Ricketson, from friends of Mr. Ingraham. NEWBURYPORT. Public Library. Portrait of Edward Strong Moseley, for 40 years a di- rector of the library, from C. W. and F. S. Moseley. Portrait of William Cleaves Todd, founder of the reading room, from his as- sociates in the work. Both portraits are by Robert G. Hardie. NORTHAMPTON. Forbes Library. $5000 as a memorial to her husband, Charles A. Cutter, the income to be devoted to the librarian's salary, from Mrs. Cutter. The gift was made on the condition that a yearly amount equal to the income of the fund should be added to the salary appropriated by the city council. $500, from the trustees of Smith College. The gift is annual. OXFORD. Charles Lamed Memorial Library. $30,000, for a building as a memorial to his mother, from Charles Larned. REVERE. Public Library. $3100, for furnish- ing the reading rooms, from Revere Wo- man's Club. Drinking fountain in memory of his mother, Mary E. Grover, from Theodore Grover. Stained glass window, from the Current Events Club of Beachmont. ROCKLAND. Public Library. $12,500, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Accepted April 29, 10x14. ROCKPORT. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Accepted Nov. n, 1904. SALEM. Essex Institute. One-half interest in the Ropes homestead and all its contents, as a memorial to the Ropes family, a be- quest from Miss Mary P. Ropes. The gift is available on the decease of her sister, Miss Eliza O. Ropes. It is the wish of the donor that a botanical garden be maiatained on the grounds, and that free classes, with a competent instructor, for the study of bot- any, be held in the house. Real estate and bonds were given to support this object. $25,588, a bequest from Walter Scott Dickson. SOUTH HADLEY. Mount Holyoke College Li- brary. $50,000, for a building, from An- drew Carnegie. Accepted. $50,000, from various sources. $3000 of this amount was given by friends and un- dergraduates, $1000 from the class of iox>4 and $15,000 from citizens of Holyoke. $1700. for general endowment fund. SOUTHAMPTON. Public Library. $5000, for a library building, to be known as the "Ed- wards Memorial Library," from Winslow T. Edwards, of Easthampton, as a memorial to his father. The gift is made on condition that a site be furnished and that $100 be granted annually for maintenance. SpRiNGFtELD. City Library Association. $5000, the income to be used for the pur- chase of books of permanent value in his- tory, science and the useful arts, a bequest from Albert D. Nason. The gift is avail- able on the death of his widow. $1500, to be divided equally between the library, art and science museums, a bequest from Richard W. Rice. The gift is avail- able on the death of those having a life in- terest in the estate. $1000, to be known as the "Astor fund," the income to be used for specimens of the wood engraver's art, either books or proofs, from the estate of Mary R. Searle. HARRISON. 181 SPRINGFIELD. City Library Association. $1000, from E. Brewer Smith. $1000, from D. B. Wesson. Siooo, from Henry H. Steinner. $1000, from Nathan D. Bill. $600, from Dr. L. Corcoran. These five gifts to be applied to the reduction of the library debt. Large and valuable collection of coins, from the heirs of Henry S. Lee. Cases for the display of the collection, from the trustees of the Horace Smith estate. STOCKBRIDGE. Public Library. $1000, a be- quest from Daniel R. Williams. STONEHAM. Public Library. $15,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Accepted. TUFTS COLLEGE. College Library. $1144, for books, from various alumni. $500, for books, from T. T. Sawyer, of Boston. $500, for books, from Taber Ashton, of Philadelphia. 1670 volumes, from the estate of the Rev. G. H. Emerson. TYNGSBORO. Public Library. $5000, for a building, to be known as "The Littlefield Library," a bequest from Mrs. Lucy Little- field. WAKEFIELD. Public Library. Crayon por- trait of Mrs. Harriet N. Evans, a benefac- tress of the library, from her nephew, Harry B. Evans. WALPOLE. Public Library. $10,000 toward the new Carnegie library, from various citizens. WELLESLEY. Public Library. Three bronzes, from the Hunnewell estate. Wellesley College Library. $5000, for an endowment fund, the income to be used for the purchase of books, a bequest from A. A. Sweet, of Newton. SQO volumes relating to Italian litera- ture, from George A. Plimpton, of New York. Presented as a memorial to Frances Taylor (Pearsons) Plimpton, Wellesley, '84. WEST BRIDGEWATER. Public Library. $499.50, the income to be used for general library purposes, a bequest from Francis E. How- ard. WOBURN. Public Library. $500, a bequest from John Clough. WORCESTER. Clark University Library. $100,- ooo as an endowment fund for the new li- brary, from Andrew Carnegie. The gift is designated as an honor to Senator George F. Hoar. MICHIGAN. ADRIAN. Public Library. $15,000, a bequest from Amos M. Baker, of Clayton. The gift was made for the purpose of founding a scientific library, to be kept separate from the main library, and to be called the "Amos M. Baker Scientific Library." EATON RAPIDS. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. FLINT. Public Library. $10,000 additional, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie, mak- ing a total gift of $25,000. GRAND RAPIDS. Ryerson Public Library. Building completely furnished, valued at $300,000, from Martin A. Ryerson, of Chi- cago. HILLSDALE. College Library. 300 volumes, for the Ambler alcove, from Judge W. E. Ambler. IONIA. Public Library. 1000 volumes as a nucleus, from the Ladies' Library Associa- tion. PORT HURON. Public Library. $5000 addi- tional, for a building, from Andrew Car- negie, making a total gift of $45,000. MINNESOTA. ALEXANDRIA. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Accepted. BLUE EARTH. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from W. E. C. Ross. CROOKSTON. Public Library. $12,5000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Ac- cepted. -$5000, for a site, from various donors. FAIRMONT. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Ac- cepted. FERGUS FALLS. Public Library. $13,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Ac- cepted March, 1904. HUTCHINSON. Public Library. $12,500, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Ac- cepted June 10, 1903. Site from various citizens. 500 volumes, from W. W. Pendergast. LITCHFIELD. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Ac- cepted April I, 1903. $2000, for a site, from citizens. 600 volumes, from various citizens. LUVERNE. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. MARSHALL. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. MINNEAPOLIS. University of Minnesota Li- brary. 8000 volumes relating to botanical researches in fungi, from E. W. D. Howlay. MOORHEAD. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. MORRIS. Public Library. $10,000, for a build- ing, from Andrew Carnegie. Accepted Dec. 10, 1903. $650, for a site, from various citizens. $500, from citizens, for beautifying grounds. PARK RAPIDS. Public Library. 500 miscella- neous volumes, from Lucius T. Hubbard, of St. Paul. PIPESTONE. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Accepted. $2000, for site, from citizens. REDWOOD FALLS. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. WINNEBAGO CITY. Public Library. $1000, for books, from George D. Gygabroad. WORTHINGTON. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. 1 82 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. MISSOURI. FAYETTE. Central College Library. $1400, from Samuel Cupples. MARSHALL. Missouri Valley College Library. $5000, for books, from Joseph McClintick. $1000, from G. H. Althouse and wife. MARYVILLE. Public Library. $13,500, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. PARKVILLE. Park College Library. $15,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. $5000, from Mrs. Carrie E. Parsons. $4200, from Stanley G. McCormick. ST. JOSEPH. Free Public Library. 750 vol- umes on education, from Mrs. E. B. Neely. ST. Louis. Eden College Library. $660, from the German Evangelical Synod. Missouri Botanical Garden Library. 450 volumes and an index of 52,300 cards, from the E. Lewis Sturtevant Library. Missouri Historical Society. $5000, a be- quest for an endowment fund, from Prof. Sylvester Waterhouse, of Washington, D. C. Public Library. 375 miscellaneous volumes, from Mrs. John C. Learned. SPRINGFIELD. Drury College Library. 250 volumes, from the law library of Judge M. L. Gray. MONTANA. ANACONDA. Hearst Free Library. Mrs. Phoebe Hearst has turned over to the city the Hearst Free Library, valued at $100,000. NEW HAMPSHIRE. ALEXANDRIA. Haynes Public Library. $4000, a bequest from Elias A. Perkins, of Quincy, Mass. CONCORD. Historical Society. $15,000, the in- come to be used for the purchase of his- torical and genealogical works, a bequest from William C. Todd. '3517 miscellaneous volumes, from the estate of Lorenzo Sabin, of Roxbury, Mass. !233 volumes, valued at $7000, given in memory of Rev. Charles Langdon-Tappan, from Miss Eva March Tappan. FRANKLIN. Public Library. $15,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. GREENFIELD. Public Library. $6000, a be- quest, for a memorial library to her parents, from Albe Stephenson, of Hillsboro. HILLSBOROUGH BRIDGE. Fuller Public Library. $1000, for a building lot, a bequest from Albe Stephenson. NASHUA. Public Library. $40,000, for a building, a bequest from Mrs. Daniel Hus- sey, of Kentucky. $10,000 as an endowment fund, for the purchase of books, a bequest from Mrs. Daniel Hussey. NEWINGTON. Public Library. $1000 to be added to the library fund, from Woodbury Langdon, donor of the library. PORTSMOUTH. Public Library. Building and site from J. Albert Walker, made on condi- tion that city would annually appropriate $2500. The condition has been accepted. ROCHESTER. Public Library. $17,500, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. WARREN. Public Library. $500, a bequest from Mrs. Damon G. Eastman. Gift is conditional on the raising of $2000 addi- tional, and is for a building to be known as the "Joseph Patch Public Library." NEW JERSEY. BERNARDSVILLE. Public Library. $12,000, for a building. CAPE MAY. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Ac- cepted. MADISON. Drew Theological Seminary Li- brary. $500, for books on sociology. Name of donor not given. NEW BRUNSWICK. Gardner A. Sage Library. $12,000, to form an endowment fund, the income to be used for general expenses, from 10 friends whose names are not an- nounced. Rutgers College Library. $59,000, for a building, from Ralph Voorhees, of Clinton, N. J. The library will be known as the "Ralph Voorhees Library." $1000, for equipment, from the same donor. $4000, for equipment, from various alumni. Scientific and mineral collection made by the late Prof. Chester, given by Albert H. Chester, as a memorial. NEWARK. Public Library. Two bronzes of heroic size, an Apollo Belvedere and a bust of Caesar Augustus, from Dr. J. A. Coles. PATERSON. Public Library. $30,000 addi- tional, for a building, from Mrs. Mary E. Ryle, making a total gift of $130,000. Mrs. Ryle has offered to purchase the Market street site at a sum not to exceed $65,000 in case the library board could not find a purchaser at a satisfactory price. PLAINFIELD. Public Library. 265 law reports, from Mason W. Tyler. PRINCETON. Princeton University Library. $2000 as an endowment fund, for the pur- chase of books, from various persons. $1000, for library helps. $500, for books, from various sources. 1253 volumes, from three donors whose names are not announced. Morse collection of Japanese carvings, valued at $10,000. SOUTH ORANGE. Public Library, $1000, for the purchase of children's books, from Mrs. F. Le Baron Mayhew, of Brooklyn, N. Y. TRENTON. Public Library. $1500 without condition, from Col. Washington A. Roeb- ling. NEW YORK. ALBANY. New York State Library. 1338 volumes, from the Brookline Public Li- brary. 647 volumes, from Fairfield Academy. 557 volumes, from Clavernack Institute. AUBURN. Seymour Library Association. HARRISON. 183 $50,000, for a building and site, from Wil- lard E. Case, conditioned on the city giving nine cents for every volume of approved circulation. (Mentioned in 1900 report, but amount not given.) BROOKLYN. Library of the Medical Society of the County of Kings. 6042 volumes, li- brary of the physicians to the German hos- pital and dispensary of New York City, purchased by subscription and presented to the library. 1476 volumes, the library of the late Dr. Joseph Jones, of New Orleans, purchased and presented by Dr. William Browning. Long Island Historical Society. $1000, a bequest from Charles A. Hoyt. BUFFALO. Historical Society. 1269 volumes, from various sources. CAMBRIDGE. School Library. $6800 for a building, from Mrs. Lawrence Williams. CANTON. St. Lawrence University Library. $6000, for an endowment fund, the income to be used for the librarian's salary, from Edwin H. Cole. DUNKIRK. Free Library. $25,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. EASTON. Burton Free Library. Bequest of $1000. FRANKLIN. Library Association. $5000, a be- quest from Albert E. Mason, of Springfield. GLOVERSVILLE. Free Library. $100,000, a be- quest without conditions, from Mrs. Mary Kasson. The gift is mainly in real estate, and includes the Kasson opera house and several business buildings. $12,000 toward the Carnegie library building, contributed by various citizens in gifts ranging from five cents to $15,000. GREENE. Moore Memorial Library. $40,000 additional, for a building, from Judge Will- iam H. Moore and James Hobart Moore, making a total gift of $70,000. $50,000, for an endowment fund for maintenance, from the same donors. $9000, for organization expenses, also from the same donors. Library site from Mrs. Nathaniel F. Moore, mother of the donors, to whose hus- band the library is a memorial. HAVERSTRAW. King's Daughters Public Li- brary. $1300, for furnishings, from Mrs. Denton Fowler. HUDSON. Public Library. $20,000, for an en- dowment fund, the income to be used for general expenses and books, from Mrs. Francis Chester White Hartley. IRVINGTON. Guiteau Library. $500, for the purchase of books, a bequest from F. W. Guiteau. ITHACA. Cornell University Library. 880 volumes relating to history and English lit- erature, from Dr. Andrew D. White. 302 volumes relating to Arabic literature, from Willard Fiske, of Florence, Italy. JOSHUA'S ROCK. Public Library. Ground was broken for the new Mountain Side li- brary building at Joshua's Rock in July, the ceremonies being very simple. There was a large gathering in the pine woods on the beautiful spot of ground donated by Mr. Elwyn Seelye as a site. George Gary Eg- gleston, president of the association, who has secured the money to erect the building from Andrew Carnegie and other friends in New York, addressed the assemblage briefly, recalling how the institution had been founded just 10 years ago by Dr. Edward Eggleston, the nucleus being realized from a large and successful "garden party" given by the doctor. He also spoke of the plans which had been formed for the institution's growth. The first sod was then turned by Mrs. George Gary Eggleston and Mrs. El- wyn Seelye. LE ROY. Library Association. Bequest of a private residence, valued at $2500, for li- brary purposes. LONG ISLAND CITY. Queen's Borough Library. Site from residents of College Point. 2093 miscellaneous volumes from the Conrad Poppenhusen Institute. MATTITUCK, L. I. Public Library. Building and site, valued at $20,000, from F. M. Lupton, of New York City. MONTOUR FALLS. Memorial Library. Re- modelled building, valued at about $3500, from Jesse C. Woodhull. NEW YORK. Columbia University Library. $10,000, for books, for Avery Library, from unknown donor. $3000, for same purpose, from another unknown donor. $1000, for current expenses of the Avery Library, from Mr. and Mrs. S. P. Avery. _ $600 for books, for medical reference li- brary, from unknown friend. Collection of 20,000 volumes on magic, said to be the largest of its kind in this country, from Dr. S. B. Ellison. 1134 volumes, from Prof. J. McK. Cat- tell. 250 volumes, from Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler. General Society of Mechanics and Trades- men. $250,000, for enlargement of building, from Andrew Carnegie. Public Library. 3000 prompt books, col- lected by Mr. Bliss during his long career as an actor, from James Becks. The col- lection contains notes by Garrick, Macready, Forrest and Booth. 1817 volumes and 375 pamphlets relating to Egyptian and Hebrew mysticism and al- lied subjects, from the estate of Isaac Myer. 406 volumes and 437 pamphlets relating to the Indian government, from the secre- tary of state for India. 360 volumes, 91 pamphlets and 235 prints, from Mrs. Henry Draper. 338 volumes and 380 pamphlets, from Mrs. Henry Marquand. 245 volumes and 53 pamphlets relating to naval history and sailing, from Charles T. Harbeck. 184 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. NEW YORK. Public Library. 863 prints, American wood engravings, from Thomas D. Sugden. 343 prints, a collection of engravings by Alfred Jones, comprising 268 bank note prints and 75 larger ones, from the Misses Jones. 129 prints, the Lepha N. Clarke collec- tion of wood engravings, from Elbridge Kingsley. 240 prints, 6p volumes and 74 pamphlets relating to music, art, etc., from Samuel P. Avery. 71 field maps and 1168 orders used by the late Major-General Daniel Butterfield dur- ing the Civil War, from Mrs. Daniel Butter- field. Two oil paintings, William Cullen Bry- ant and Catskill landscape with portrait figures of Bryant and Thomas Cole, both painted by Asher Brown Durand, from Mrs. Julia S. Bryant. Bronze bust of George William Curtis, from the George William Curtis memorial committee. Bronze bust of Simon Sterne, by Victor D. Brenner, from Mrs. Simon Sterne. St. Francis Xavier College Library. $3500, for books, a bequest from John Mooney. POUGHKEEPSIE. Vassar College Library. $1200, for books, from Samuel D. Coy Kendall. ROCHESTER. University of Rochester Library. $10,500, for improving and furnishing Sib- ley Hall in the library building, from Hiram W. Sibley. Bronze bust of Hiram Sibley, valued at $2500, from his son, Hiram W. Sibley. ROCKVILLE CENTER. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. SARANAC LAKE. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. SCHENECTADY. Union College Library. 500 volumes relating to classical and oriental literature and language, from the Taylor Lewis Library. SOLVAY. Public Library. $10,000, from Sol- vay Process Co., to supplement Andrew Carnegie's gift of $10,000 for building. $500 annually toward maintenance, from the same company. Site, valued at $1500, from F. R. Hazard. SYRACUSE. Syracuse University Library. $6000 as an endowment fund, the income to be used for "library improvements," a bequest from Mrs. John Morrison Reid. TICONDEROGA. Public Library. $5000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Ar- rangements making for acceptance. WARSAW. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. NORTH CAROLINA. DURHAM. Trinity College Library. 7049 vol- umes relating to literature and history, from Dr. and Mrs. Dred Peacock, of Greensboro. GREENWICH. Public Library. $30,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Accepted Dec. 8, 1903. NORTH DAKOTA. GRAND FORKS. Public Library. $2700 addi- tional, for a building, from Andrew Car- negie, making a total gift of $22,700. $5000, for site, from various citizens. OHIO. AMHERST. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. ASHLAND. Public Library. $500, from an anonymous benefactor. ATHENS. Public Library. $30,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. BELLEVUE. Library Association. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Ac- cepted. $3600, for equipment, from Andrew Car- negie. $6750, for a site, given by popular sub- scription. $5000, for books, from Harlow C. Stahl. CINCINNATI. Public Library. $8000, a be- quest from Miss Mary Pitman Ropes, of Salem, Mass. CLEVELAND. Adelbert* College of Western Re- serve University Library. $500, for books, from Hon. John Hay, of Washington. $500, for books, from K. D. Bishop. Case Library. 1238 volumes, valued at $7000, known as the Koch collection, and rich in fine bindings and de luxe editions, from Mrs. Laura E. Koch, as a memorial to her husband, Joseph Koch. COLUMBUS. Ohio State Library. $4000 vol- umes, the private library of the late John Sherman, as a memorial. The library will be kept intact. Ohio State University Library. 600 vol- umes relating to general literature and medicine, from Eliza Haines, of Waynes- ville. DELAWARE. Public Library. $20,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Accepted. The library building will be erected on the site formerly occupied by the house in which President Hayes was born. GAMBIER. Kenyan College. $12,000, for a li- brary building, for the theological depart- ment, from Mrs. Colburn, of Toledo. $5000, to complete building, from the heirs of James Pullman Stephens. MANSFIELD. Memorial Library Association. 700 volumes, from the library of the late John Sherman. The collection includes many first editions and valuable Americana. WILBERFORCE. University Library. $15,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. OKLAHOMA TERRITORY. ENID. Public Library. $10,000, for a build- ing, from Andrew Carnegie. OREGON. EUGENE. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. HARRISON. 185 } ORTLAND. Public Library. $10,000, as an endowment fund, the income to be used for the purchase of books, a bequest from Mrs. Amanda W. Reed, of Pasadena, Cal. PENNSYLVANIA. LNNVILLE. Lebanon Valley College Library. $20,000, for a building, from Andrew Car- negie, given without conditions. lERMANTOWN. Friends' Free Library and Reading Room. $10,000 without conditions, a bequest from Clementine Cope. IAVERFORD. Haverford College Library. $550, for books. Name of donor not announced. 'HILADELPHIA. Apprentices' Library Co. $50,000, for an endowment fund, a bequest from Robert Wright. $7000, a bequest from Philip Jagode, available on the death of his widow. -Free Library. John Wanamaker has pro- posed to erect two buildings, the free use of which will be given to the trustees for branch library work. Site, 50x133 feet, at Fortieth and Wal- nut streets, for a branch library, from Clar- ence H. Clark. - Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsyl- vania. 436 volumes relating to physics as a memorial to the late Prof. Ogden Nicholas Rood, of Columbia University, from Mrs. Rood. -Historical Society of Pennsylvania. $65,- ooo, for a fire-proof addition to the present building. -Library Company of Philadelphia. $1000, a bequest from Charles G. Sower, the in- come to be used for keeping the Sower col- lection of books in proper repair. $1000 without conditions, a bequest from Lloyd P. Smith. 2059 volumes, general in character, a bequest from Charles G. Sower. - University of Pennsylvania Library. 1000 volumes, comprising the Hebrew and gen- eral scientific library belonging to the late Rev. Dr. Jastrow, from the rabbi's sons, Professors Morris and Joseph Jastrow. ITTSBURG. Carnegie Library. $10,800, for a branch library, from Andrew Carnegie. Ac- cepted. 4765 volumes relating to German litera- ture, from the German Library Association. HAWNEE. Public Library. Library, theatre and public hall, from C. C. Worthington, of New York City. /EST CHESTER. Public Library. $4000, a bequest from Alice Lewis. RHODE ISLAND. RISTOL. Rogers Free Library. $2000 as an endowment fund, the income to be used for the purchase of books, a bequest from Sarah Hadwin Hoard. AST PROVIDENCE CENTER. Free Library. $5000, for a building, from Samuel Bridg- ham. EWPORT. People's Library. 274 miscella- neous volumes, from Mrs. J. C. Gray. NEWPORT. Redwood Library. $5000, the in- come to be used for the purchase of books, a bequest from John Nicholas Brown. $2000, a bequest from Miss Mary Leroy King. $500, a bequest from George W. Wales. NORTH KINGSTON. Public Library. $5000, for books, a bequest from William D. Davis. PORTSMOUTH. School Libraries. $2500 for the school libraries of Portsmouth and Mid- dletown, from Peter F. Collier. PROVIDENCE. Brown University Library. $1000 as an endowment fund, the income to be used for the purchase of books on biol- ogy, from Dr. William W.-~Keen. 10,000 books, pamphlets, manuscripts, broadsides relating to Rhode Island, known as the "Sidney S. Rider collection" and valued at $15,000, from Marsden J. Perry. '346 volumes and pamphlets on interna- tional law, from Dr. William V. Kellen. Collection of 200,000 newspaper clip- pings on sociological subjects, covering the years 1883-1903, made by Walter C. Hamm, now United States consul at Hull, while on the editorial staff of the Philadelphia Press. Public Library. $36,000, a portion of a still larger bequest, for establishing a fund to yield an income, from Charles C. Hos- kins. $1000, from Mrs. T. P. Shepard, to be added to the book fund already donated by her. Two clocks and a portrait, from the es- tate of Charles C. Hoskins. Rhode Island Historical Society. $1000, the income to be used for general expenses, a bequest from Charles C. Hoskins. 300 volumes relating chiefly to American history and biography, from the George T. Paine estate. The Providence Athenaum. $1000, a be- quest from Charles C. Hoskins. WARREN. George Hail Free Library. $1000 as an endowment fund, for the purchase of books, from Anna R. Viall. WESTERLY. Memorial and Library Associa- tion. 550 miscellaneous volumes, from Anna E. Park, of New York City. SOUTH CAROLINA. CHARLESTON. Library Association. $45,000 endowment fund, the income to be used for the purchase of books, from the South Car- olina Jockey Club. $3096, subscribed by several citizens, for the purpose of paying off an old debt. $1000 as a memorial to William Porcher Miles, for the purchase of books on Eliza- bethan literature, from Miss Sallie Bierne Miles. 1000 volumes, known as the Legare Li- brary. Name of donor not announced. 800 miscellaneous volumes, from Mrs William L. Trenholm. ROCKHILL. Winthrop College Library. $20- ooo, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie i86 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. SPARTANBURG. Converse College Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Car- negie. Kennedy Free Library. $15,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. SOUTH DAKOTA. Sioux FALLS. Carnegie Free Public Library. $800, for the purchase of books relating to history and biography, from J. W. Tuthill. 400 volumes by Roman Catholic authors, from the Right Rev. Thomas O' Gorman. TENNESSEE. MEMPHIS. Cossitt Library. 398 volumes and 404 pamphlets relating to Tennessee, from the state. NASHVILLE. Carnegie Library. 497 volumes, from George T. Coit. TEXAS. FORT WORTH. Public Library. 440 volumes of government documents, from the Fort Worth Commercial Club. Landscape by George Inness, valued at $1000. Name of donor not announced. HOUSTON. Lyceum and Carnegie Library As- sociation. 4000 volumes and pamphlets on varied subjects, known as the "Circle M collection," from a friend whose name is not announced. LAREDO. Public Library. $10,000, for a build- ing, from Andrew Carnegie. WAXAHACHIE. Public Library. $65,000, for the founding of a library and lyceum, from Col. Nicholas P. Sims. VERMONT. BURLINGTON. University of Vermont Library, $50,000, for an endowment fund, the in- come to be used for general library ex- penses, from the family of the late Freder- ick Billings. DANBY. Public Library. $51,000, from Silas L. Griffith. The use of the money is di- vided as follows : $14,000 for a building, $5000 for books, and the income of $32,000 for the general support of the institution. MANCHESTER. Public Library. $40,000, as an endowment fund, from Mrs. Frances Skin- ner Willing, the income to be used for the maintenance of the library built and equipped by her. MIDDLEBURY. Middlebury College Library. $1000, for books, from Dr. Allen Starr, of New York City. MONTPELIER. Kellogg - Hubbard Library. $125,000, one-fifth of his estate, a bequest from Wilbur F. Braman. His widow has a life interest in the property. WOODSTOCK. Norman Williams Public Li- brary. $500, for books, from Edward H. Williams, Jr. This is an annual gift, Mr. Williams having paid for all books pur- chased since 1900. VIRGINIA. CHARLOTTESVILLE. University of Virginia Li- brary. Barnard Shipp, of Louisville, Ky., has presented the college with his library, valued at $100,000. WASHINGTON. WALLA WALLA. Public Library. $25,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. WISCONSIN. BARABOO. Public Library. $1000, a bequest from Miss Alma Andrus. BELOIT. Beloit College Library. $50,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Ac- cepted June 20, 1903. DARLINGTON. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. EAU CLAIRE. Public Library. 725 volumes re- lating to theology, from C. W. Lockwood. HAYWARD. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. MADISON. University of Wisconsin Library. $500, for books, from John Kremer, of Mil- waukee. MILWAUKEE. Downer College Library. $10,- ooo toward the erection of a library build- ing, from Mrs. H. A. J. Upham. The gift is made as a memorial to her father and mother. $5000, from Mrs. Upham, $1000 for equipment and $4000 as an endowment fund, the income to be used for the purchase of books. Public Library. $5000, for the purchase of books on literature for the Keenan memorial room, from Mrs. Matthew Keenan. Stained glass window, valued at $700, for the children's room. The subject is "Hans Christian Andersen with the chil- dren." It was purchased as a Christmas gift for the library by popular subscription. MUNROE. A. Ludlow Memorial Library. $12,500, for a building, from Henry Ludlow, Edwin Ludlow and William Ludlow, to be known as the "A. Ludlow Memorial Li- brary," given on condition that the Carne- gie offer is not accepted. NEW LONDON. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. RICE LAKE. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. RICHLAND CENTER. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Ac- cepted. $2000 for a site, from W. H. Pier. $1525 from various donors whose names are not announced. VIROQUA. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Accepted Feb. 9, 1904. WAUPUN. Public Library. $10,000, for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. WAUSAU. Public Library. $2500, for a build- ing, from Andrew Carnegie. North Atlantic Division. South Atlantic Division South Central Division. North Central Division. Western Diviision Total Western North Central So. Central So. Atlantic North Atlantic Division. Division. Division. Division. Division. C/5 (I O o' 9 M D O. P r* SUMMARY BY STATES OF GIFTS AND BEQUESTS TO LIBRARIES, JUNE i, 1903, TO MAY 31, 1904 : .*-3; *>p. .... 8s Os O f SS 10 HHUtOHMH Htt O\OJ tO O H VJNMWMIOMO*. M M 4*. Qv^n O X J^)-#>>'^1 w H t/i w OJ (0 M H OO (0 H Oi 4^ H OB M ^ OxtOUl OOtjJ CO Total number. is : f :f ::: ::: :: ^3 ::::: : i :::::::::: i^Hooojoj^S Endowment fund. Gifts in money for purposes Hi i;jSi[iijihiiJ]i:jiJJiii!i i^si s OS :!' s SoJ'o 1) 'b ||j n;rNis!!!!fMiinnin:!Mfi!!f Object unknown (mostly bequests and probably largely used as endowment funds). $2,750,419! 827. H M -P- 0000 < o o 8 Building and equipment. Site. M* lA*' **OOOJOUl CT*^ *' ***O\*Ln O^4> tO tn O 4- O^ to 8 a CT> S M : 8 : 8 00 OU1 U> 00 M U> OJ Os u On OJ vO on M 01 O 00 SUMMARY tS *** -WOOOOM B W * * * * U U)-'W'*''MMCO'\O"* Ut *Cn*Cn' O" W UOOOtntntnOJ* ' Wl O* O " * OOO*""*-I No. (includ- '.-. a n TO Accepted. n' o" re S o o Ln 8 OS 00 M ^J O O O O O ^4 C3 H n H : : :: i MM M -H " '-w* ** O <-n tn " ' O * CO*O ONOOtnt/iO" O" "Ln* 'CA* * O* O" C/l * 10" cr * JO I O I s Building and site, value known. Building and site, value not known. Buildings and M "CT\ P -P^ J o *"i"i < *'!* M iiriiitii tn z*rrii w vaooj^jji Site, value not known. Endowment. 2. n m CO O JP 00 8 * H tO ...;;.. H H ^>* Money. o w"g O Os ^w o\ ! O tn H O . : . : :-H i : : : ^ : Volumes. Collections, 8 00 OJ * U 8 VO 8 o Collections, value not known. Pictures, busts, tablets, etc. Miscellaneous. : - 00 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ^ :: H Other objects. i88 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. THE PROCEEDINGS. ST. Louis, Mo., MONDAY, OCTOBER ^-SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1904. FIRST SESSION. .( HALL OF CONGRESSES, ST. Louis EXPOSITION, MONDAY AFTERNOON, OCT. 17.) THE first general session of the St. Louis Conference was called to order by the Pres- ident, HERBERT PUTNAM, at 3-2O o'clock. The SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT, DR. RICHARD- SON : Mr. President, the present occasion is something more than a meeting of the Amer- ican Library Association. It is to be distin- guished not merely by contributions from abroad but by the actual presence of dele- gates from foreign countries; from govern- ments, from library associations, and from particular libraries. In recognition of this, the Executive Board recommends to the As- sociation the designation as Honorary Vice- presidents of the Conference of the delegates, whose names will be read by the President. The PRESIDENT : You have heard the recom- mendation of the Executive Board. The names are as follows : * Austria-Hungary : Dr. Paul Cohn, of the Technological Institute at Vienna, delegate accredited by the Commissioner-General from Austria-Hungary. Belgium: Monsieur Henri La Fontaine, Senator, Director Institut International de Bibliographic, Brussels. Chile: His Excellency, Senor Joaquin Wal- ker-Martinez, the Chilean Minister; Senor Francisco Araya Bennett. (Delegates accredited by the Chilean Gov- ernment.) China: Dr. Kimhao Yu-Tchu Su, of the Chi- nese Legation, delegate accredited by the Chi- nese Government. * France: Monsieur Jules Boeufve, accred- ited by the Commissioner-General from France. Germany: Prof. Dr. Richard Pietschmann, Director of the University Library of Got- tingen; Prof. Dr. A. Wolfstieg, librarian of the Prussian House of Deputies. (Delegates accredited by the German Gov- ernment.) Great Britain: L. Stanley Jast, Esq., chief librarian, Croydon Public Libraries, acting honorary secretary L. A. U. K., and special- ly accredited by the Library Association of the United Kingdom. Guatemala: Mr. L. D. Kingsland, Consul- General of Guatemala at St. Louis, accredited by the government of Guatemala. Honduras: Dr. Salvador Cordova, Consul- General of Honduras at New York, accred- ited by the government of Honduras. Italy: Dr. Guido Biagi, librarian of the Mediceo-Laurenziana Library of Florence; Hon. Attilio Brunialti, member of the Cham- ber of Deputies. (Both accredited by the Italian Govern- ment.) * Japan: Mr. Seeichi Tegima, Commis- sioner-General from Japan. Mexico: Senor Licenciado Emilio Velasco, accredited by the Mexican Government. Netherlands: Mr. J. G. Robbers, of Am- sterdam, accredited by the Government of the Netherlands. Norway: Mr. Haakon Nyhuus, librarian of the Deichmanske Library, Christiania. Peru: Dr. David Matto, of Lima, accred- ited by the Peruvian Government. Sweden: Dr. Nils Gerhard Wilhelm Lager- stedt, Commissioner-General from Sweden, accredited by the Swedish Government; Dr. Aksel Andersson, vice-librarian of the Uni- versity of Uppsala, accredited by the Univer- sity. This list is submitted to you by the Execu- tive Board with a recommendation that those gentlemen be designated as Honorary Vice- presidents of this Conference. I shall ask your approval of this recommendation by a rising vote. (The recommendation was unanimously adopted.) The American Library Association has not yet a headquarters, but that is not to say that it has not a home. It has, in fact, some eight thousand homes ; for wherever within the region of its activities there is a library, there, we may say, is its dwelling place. When, therefore, it came to St. Louis fifteen years ago, when it comes to-day it comes not as a stranger to a strange land, but as a resident revisiting a place where he has a friendly status, and is understood. It is greeted not by a stranger, but by one of its own family. Names presented at later session. FIRST SESSION. 189 is particularly grateful to us that in this ise the member is not merely one who has jndered to it and to the public long and alued service, but has held the highest office i the gift of this Association Mr. runden. Mr. CRUNDEN : Ladies and gentlemen, fel- iw-librarians : President Putnam has given sry clearly the reason why I was selected )r this grateful office of tendering to you a elcome. It was done without my knowl- ige, without my consent, and at first I won- ered why he had chosen me to give you a elcome to this city. I am not the oldest tizen in St. Louis, though I am a pretty [d citizen, having been a life-long citizen id, I may add, a loyal citizen. It is, there- >re, as a fellow-worker; as, I may say, the Idest librarian in the city oldest in years id oldest in service, I believe that I am losen to bid you, my fellow-workers, wel- >me to this, my beloved city. I remember there were some differences f opinion about the advisability of meeting i St. Louis during this exposition year; it as feared that the librarians could not be rought together. I appeal to this assembly i absolute refutation of that fear. I am sure lat all who have come will be glad that they ime, while those who stayed away have lost, i our opinion, the opportunity of a lifetime. : was deliberately accepted that the con- ;rence should be somewhat subordinated lis year. We can have conferences, as we ave had every year, with papers and dis- ussions ad libitum; but a world's fair does ot come every year. Such a scene of beauty nd magnificence as greets the eye from the .ouisiana Purchase Column or from the eights of Festival Hall will probably never e looked upon again by any member of this jsembly. Such an ordered aggregation of ic products of the hand and the brain of tan, such an exhibit of the achievements of ivilization, such a conspectus of the world nd its life and activity will probably never e seen again on the American continent in ur lifetime. It is now fifteen years since the American .ibrary Association honored this city with s presence. During that time there has grown up a new St. Louis. I think it is safe to say that four-fifths of the finest features of St. Louis its grounds and public build- ings and parks and residences have been added during that period, and the progress is going with accelerating pace. I speak with a proud consciousness of being the citizen of no mean city. As to libraries we have not much to show in the way of buildings. But if you will come again don't wait fifteen years next time, we shall be ready for you in five years we shall be able to show you more progress in the nexl five years than we are now able to show in the fifteen since you were last here. At that time we shall be able to show you a fine central public li- brary building and numerous branches; and I hope that the Mercantile Library also may be able to show a new building, though that library already is very comfortably housed and has, I think, the most attractive reading room that I have ever seen. But even if we could show you now all that we promise in ten years, still the great attrac- tion, the prime magnet, would be the Fair. Nothing could go beyond that. And I know that the Fair is the main thing in your minds and that your greatest present interest is to receive your welcome to it from the man who made it. Many years ago how many I hardly like to say my class in Washing- ton University, then in its junior year, one day received an accession in the person of a tall, young lad, as lean as a Kentucky race horse and as full of fire and energy as that famous breed. It was from this blue grass region that he came, with all the alertness and energy and daring and endurance that characterize the sons of that soil. He was found a little too young for the junior class; we were able to look down on him; and he was put with the freshmen. But long since then he outclassed us all and he has been for years our star alumnus in a class by him- self. When we, Washington University alumni, begin talking about what our insti- tution has done, the first thing we say is, it has given to the Merchants' Exchange a president ; it has given to St. Louis a mayor ; it has given to Missouri a governor; it has given to the United States a Secretary of the 190 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. Interior and then we point to one man. He is the man who made the Fair. I have great honor and pleasure in introducing the Honorable David Roland Francis, President of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. Gov. FRANCIS : Mr. President, and ladies and gentleman, the very flattering introduc- tion which brings me before you is almost embarrassing. You can attribute it, as I do not the embarrassment but the flattery to the long-standing friendship that has ex- isted between the man who introduced me and myself. As he stated, it was 37 years ago when I applied for admission to Washington University. I did not know that I then pos- sessed the qualities of a race horse ; but there are no qualities of which I would be more proud. I come from Kentucky, as he states, and I not only like speed but bottom as well. I had left a small school in a country town, of which I had the honor to be the head, with the expectation that I could go to college and enter the junior class. I found myself al- most a year behind the freshman class. I was able to enter the freshman class in math- ematics only; was an irregular freshman for a whole year, at the end of which time I became a full-fledged sophomore; and, as Mr. Crunden has stated to you, all of the collegiate education I have received was within the walls of this institution whose buildings we are occupying now. As President of this Exposition I feel it a very great honor to be permitted to welcome the members of the American Library Asso- ciation and also the delegates from abroad to this meeting of that association. I have had the pleasure of welcoming many assemblages within these grounds, but there are audiences and audiences, and while I am not disparag- ing other audiences, I do mean to say that it is somewhat embarrassing to rise before an audience of the culture of that now assem- bled in this hall. For that reason, however, we are the more delighted to have you hold your meeting of 1904 within the grounds of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. I know of no association whose members can appre- ciate more thoroughly what the work of an exposition is than can the members of a li- brary association. It is true that we are proud of the area of this Exposition twice as large as that of Chicago and equal to that of Chi- cago and Buffalo and Paris combined. We are proud of the structures erected to re- ceive the exhibits that are installed therein; we are proud of the landscape effects that surround these buildings; we are proud of many features connected with this Exposi- tion ; but we realize the fact, as you do, that it is not brick and mortar, it is not struc- tures, it is not landscaping, that make an exposition of the character that we have at- tempted to install here, but it is the exhibits that are in these buildings, it is the friendly rivalry that here takes place between all civ- ilized countries, and that rivalry is not con- fined to material products. We have, in our effort to make this a uni- versal Exposition, made an experiment which by many was considered a dangerous one, in having in connection with this exposition an International Congress of Arts and Science, in which were assembled the savants of all civilized countries. The ambitious object of that international congress was to unify all human knowledge. That in itself, as you know, is a most difficult task; and in con- nection with it bear in mind what a classi- fication means a classification of all the ma- terial products of the human race. I know of no assemblage of people that can appre- ciate half so fully the difficulty of making such a classification of material products, and a classification, also, of the mental achieve- ments of the human race, as can an as- sociation of librarians. That is your bus- iness. You can form some estimate of the task we have had to perform in our clas- sification of the products that are on exhibi- tion here, and also of the magnitude of the undertaking upon which we entered when we determined to have an International Congress of Arts and Science. There have been inter- national congresses upon various subjects, and those congresses have often been held in connection with expositions, but there has never been an international congress such as was held in these buildings during last month. There has never been an organiza- tion formed such as we created for the pur- pose of classifying human knowledge, of se- FIRST SESSION. 191 lecting men from all sections of the world and from all lines of human thought to pre- sent papers upon subjects assigned them. When we looked around over the United States to select a board of administration and an executive committee, of course we had to bear in mind the accomplishments of the men whom we selected for that responsible work. I will not go through the personnel of the board of administration nor of the executive committee, but suffice it to say that we real- ized at the beginning of this work that no such administrative board would be complete if it did not have in its membership a libra- rian. We acknowledged at that time, and we were proud to do so, the important part per- formed by the librarians of the world in the promotion of human knowledge, in the pres- ervation of human knowledge, and we real- ized that its classification could not be ac- complished without the aid of an accom- plished librarian. The time has long since passed when libra- rians were mere custodians. It is admitted by every community that a librarian must be a person of culture ; that a librarian must not be qualified solely to shelve books, to keep a record of those that are given out; but, very wisely, it was some years ago determined that schools for the instruction of librarians should be established throughout the land, and to-day no first-class library in this coun- try would think of selecting as its librarian one who has not had training in the vocation of which you should all be proud. Yours is a profession, and one of the learned profes- sions. We welcome you, therefore, to these grounds, not merely as citizens ; we appre- ciate the interest you manifest by your pres- ence in this great enterprise; but we are also mindful of the critical eye with which you will view our work. We are mindful of your ability to utilize the information you gain here and we are prouder of the effect of this Exposition, of its lasting influence, after the Exposition shall have closed and the buildings shall have been removed, than we are of the Exposition itself, magnificent as it is. Libraries have been in existence many thousands of years. Without them what ad- vance would human knowledge have made? This Exposition is, we flatter ourselves, an epitome of civilization. We think it is a marker not only in the industrial develop- ment of the world, but in the intellectual progress of the human race. It could not be so, however, without system, and it would be of no avail if its records were not classi- fied and preserved in such a way that the human race could be benefited by reading them. I cannot overestimate the benefit that accomplished librarians can confer upon their fellows. That is recogru'zed all over countries where education is fostered. I do not know of any form of beneficence that has within the past generation in this country attracted more attention from men who are able to give than has the library. It is admitted by all that nothing can so benefit a community, nothing can so broaden its culture as a li- brary, and the men who have accumulated fortunes, and are desirous that their felloWJ should have the benefit of the means they have acquired, have found no better way of perpetuating their memory, or of benefiting the human race, than by endowing libraries. We of St. Louis may not have made so much advance in that line as have some cities of equal wealth and equal population, but that is not the fault of some people in our com- munity. The gentleman who introduced me to you, and who has been a member of your organization for many years, has always in this city, in season and out of season if it is possible for such good work to be out of season been advocating the benefit of a li- brary or additional library facilities for St Louis. If this exposition shall be the means of improving the utility of the libraries through- out this land, then we who have devoted years of time to its organization and to its operation shall feel that we are very amply repaid for all of the sacrifices we have made. We are pleased, I may again be permitted to say, that you are to hold your 1904 meeting within the walls of this Ex- position. Upon inquiry a few minutes ago I learned that the American Library Asso- ciation was formed in 1876, not only the cen- tennial of our independence but the year of the exposition that commemorated that cen- ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. tennial, and although I am not familiar enough with the history of your organization to say, I would not be at all surprised to learn that the organization of this Library Association was the result of the meeting held at the Philadelphia Centennial of 1876. Whether that was the case or not, I trust that the meeting that you are holding at this Exposition in 1904, participated in as it is by representative librarians from foreign countries, may be the means of the organiza- tion of an international library association. We shall be very much pleased if that result should follow this meeting. Now I am not going to detain you, talking about this Exposition. It is here and speaks for itself. I am sure that you will admit its educational qualities. Bear in mind what may be seen in these Exposition buildings, and then bear in mind also that the exhibits that are here presented to our visitors are net dead exhibits they are exhibits of processes; and that in addition thereto there are free lectures being given in all of these exhibit palaces, almost every hour in the day, that are instructive to all who may desire to listen. You know that one of the great difficulties of this age is the education of adults. The libraries of the country con- tribute more toward that end than any other agency that I know of. But how few adults are there who can take a scientific book, without previous training, and read it in- telligently? How many thousands will there be who will read such scientific works in- telligently after this Exposition, after they have seen these processes and heard these lectures, and who will be benefited thereby? This Exposition, in my judgment, will make libraries even more useful in the future than they have ever been in the past. It will in- crease the demand for books in the great libraries of this country. There are other than educational features in connection with this Exposition, and there is a demonstration of one of those great features in this meeting of yours to-day. This Exposition not only serves to bring people together from all sections of our own country but also is the cause of bringing here representative men from foreign countries. It promotes fraternal feeling between all human creatures. It lessens the circumfer- ence of the earth. Here friendships are formed that will be as lasting as life. Here there will be better understandings arrived at between countries whose interests may have been conflicting. I have within an hour left a meeting of the Superior Jury of this Exposition, a jury composed of 63 mem- bers, 36 of whom are representatives of foreign countries. The work of that jury, according to the expressions made by the foreign members, has been eminently satis- factory. Foreign countries we invited to par- ticipate in this Exposition showed some hes- itation. They said, "Why should we go to America? Why incur the expense of taking cur exhibits there and maintaining custodians and directors through a season of seven months? You do not wish our trade; you are competing with us. You have built up a tariff wall that prevents us from selling to your people." We met that argument on every hand in Europe. We had many ob- stacles to overcome in order to induce foreign people to come and participate in this Ex- position. But they have come. There has been no more general representation in any exposition ever held in this or any other country than there is in this Exposition from every civilized country on the globe. And the expressions made to-day by the members of the Superior Jury from foreign countries were to this effect: "We are glad that we have participated in this Exposition. We have a different opinion of the American peo- ple. We feel that our experience here has made still closer the bonds of friendship that bind our representative countries." So, my friends, we who have been engaged in this Work for six years or more, who have devoted all of our time and thought to it, without any object other than to make it a success, feel greatly encouraged by the presence of such a representative convention as the members of the American Library Association. Speaking to Americans, I am sure that you have come here through a sense not only of interest in your association, but through a desire to assist a city, or a section, of this country, in doing credit t FIRST SESSION. 193 our common country, in helping us to en- tertain the people who visit us from abroad, in doing your share toward impressing upon them what this country is and what its limit- less possibilities are. I will not detain you longer, but thank you sincerely for your very considerate attention and express the hope that your stay here may prove pleasant and profitable, that it may be prolonged to the greatest extent possible, and that when you return to your homes you may use that in- fluence, which I know you all possess in your respective communities, to induce others to visit this Exposition during the remaining days of its existence, because it will be a long time before another universal exposition will be installed in this country. I thank 3 r ou for your attention. The PRESIDENT: We thank you, Mr. Pres- ident. We are sure of our welcome. It has been your privilege to welcome many con- ferences and congresses and to inform each that its deliberations were to be of the most entrancing interest of any exhibit upon the Grounds, and that the subject matter of its business was the most important which can engage the attention of man. We had won- dered where you would place us. We are very well satisfied. And this, you know, friends, is the Hall of Congresses. We are not its first occu- pants. Many bodies have met here bodies of high eminence and there has been much conflict here of opinion. I suppose this very room is strewn with corpses of 'ologies and 'isms, I mean that have contended here and been worsted. There has been a series of such frays, under the general direction of President Francis and his particular dep- uty, Mr. Rogers. They have marshalled them and incited them, and, I suppose at the end of each, gathered up the remnants. It must have been for them an exceedingly exciting period. We fear, sir, that our contribution to it will seem rather tame. Our purpose is distinctly peaceful. Our meeting is rather for conference than for discussion; rather a putting together than a shaking apart. We expect no violent adversities of opinion, and we look to march our convictions from here reasonably intact. We have the greater con- fidence in this because as a profession we eschew 'ologies and we do not permit our- selves 'isms scarcely truisms. It would be tempting to make a complete acknowledg- ment of your courtesies, Mr. President, but I understand that you have an engagement impending. Mr. Jast is, however, to share the acknowledgment in behalf of the visitors whom you have so kindly greeted from over- sea. Mr. Jast. Mr. JAST: While I feel, sir, that the honor of making this response might better have been placed in the hands of one possessing an importance of a less temporary and adven- titious character than mine, I, nevertheless, rise with extreme pleasure to acknowledge on behalf of the foreign delegates present at this meeting the very warm welcome ex- tended to us by the Public Library of St. Louis, by the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, and also to acknowledge to you, Mr. Pres- ident, the extreme honor which you have conferred upon us by electing us Honorary Vice-presidents of this Conference. We are, sir, all of us glad to be here, and you have made us feel that you are glad to have us here. After- an extended survey of this country of no less than two weeks' duration, I am inclined to think, sir, that perhaps the two most valuable and satisfactory character- istic products of American civilization are the librarian, on the one hand, and the cock- tail on the other. I will not attempt, sir, the delicate question of deciding which is best, but I am given to understand that some of us have sampled both and found them both equally satisfactory and equally stimulat- ing. There is no country in the world in which the profession of which we are proud to be members is held in such high honor as in this; in which the public library is so clearly recognized as possessing a great cultural and educational force in the community; in which library administration has been carried to a higher pitch of efficiency, and in which there are so many beautiful library buildings. We came here, sir, to see and to learn, and we shall each of us go back to our respective countries having seen and having learned, and with, I am sure, our enthusiasm for our work considerably and permanently aug- mented. 194 .ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. Speaking, sir, particularly with reference to the Library Association of the United Kingdom, it has been a matter of great regret to us that our official representation is lim- ited to myself alone, but I can assure the meeting that this is due to no lack of interest in your work on the part of English libra- rians. Indeed, the exact contrary is the case. We take and always have taken extreme in- terest in your work, and I am instructed by my association to convey to you their most cordial greetings and to express on their behalf the hope that this Conference will have an agreeable and a successful meeting. The PRESIDENT: In accordance with the provision of the Constitution, the Executive Board has appointed a Committee on Resolu- tions. It consists of Dr. Thwaites, of Wis- consin, of Prof. Dr. Wolfstieg, of Prussia, of Miss Ahern, of Illinois. Dr. PUTNAM then delivered the PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. (See p. 23.) The PRESIDENT: Many who could not come here wish to be recorded and remembered. I have here letters from England, France, Austria, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, all expressing interest, all enthusiastic for the opportunities which might come with attend- ance, all profoundly chagrined to be unable to be with us. Dr. PUTNAM then read extracts from let- ters received from M. Emile Picot, of Paris; Dr. Fumagalli, of the Societa Bibliografia Italiana ; the Director of the Imperial Library of St. Petersburg; J. Y. MacAlister and Lawrence Inkster, of the Library Associa- tion of the United Kingdom ; Hew Morrison, of the Edinburgh Public Library; M. Wylie, of St. Petersburg; E. La T. Armstrong, of the Public Library of Victoria, Melbourne; Miss Margaret Windeyer, of the Public Li- brary of New South Wales, Sydney; and Herbert Baillie, of the Public Library of Wellington, New Zealand. A communication was also received on behalf of the Verein Deutsches Bibliothekare, from the secretary, Dr. Naetebus, expressing the hope that the society might be able to delegate a represen- tative for the St. Louis Conference. J. I. WYER, JR., presented his SECRETARY'S REPORT. American Library Association. Your secretary respectfully submits the fol- lowing report: There have been issued from this office the following publications since Niagara meeting : Announcement St. Louis Conference, 8 pages. Edition 5500. Cost $24.20. Mailed Aug. 25, 1904. Handbook 1904, 65 pages. Edition 2500. Cost $129.50. Mailed Sept. 10. This is the first time that a complete new edition of the handbook has been pub- lished in each of two consecutive years. It costs little more and is vastly more satisfactory to print 2500 complete, up-to- date handbooks every year than under the old plan, to print 4500 or 5000 every other year and 2500 supplementary handbooks each intervening year. Program, 8 pages. Edition 1500. Cost $18. Advance distribution limited to officers, councillors, members of committees and those having place on the program. Advance attendance register, 12 pages. Edi- tion looo. Cost $25. Circular to trustess, i sheet. Edition 800. Cost $3.50. Prepared on request of Trustees' Sec- tion. Report of the Committee on Library Admin- istration, 16 pages. 500 copies^. Cost $24. This will be distributed in the session to which the report will be presented, to facilitate discussion and criticism. Membership. Our membership at this moment, slightly above 1400, shows an increase of 150 over last year and is now greater than ever before. Some random statements have been put in print during trie past year to the effect that there are 12,000 library workers in the United States, and that by a little effort the A. L. A. membership might be easily increased to three or four thousand. There may be 12,000 li- brary workers in the country, but the com- bined membership of the A. L. A., the 25 state library associations and 11 local library clubs, shows only 5000, and has been almost constant at this figure for trie past three years. The annual revision of this consolidated mail- ing list in the secretary's office shows that about one-fourth of these names change every year; in other words, of the 5000 persons in the country most interested in library work, 1200 appear to have a library life of less than a year, or at any rate they appear for only one year on the roll of any library association. It is probable that among the 5000 other library workers who have never been sufficiently in- terested to identify themselves with any local association, the percentage of annual change is still larger, the tenure of library service even FIRST SESSION. 195 shorter, or their library service nearly nom- inal (being in hundreds of instances only a few hours per week for little or no pay), so that they are practically out of the reckoning as far as A. L. A. membership is concerned, except as they may with time, experience and quickened interest come to form part of the more permanent body of library workers. It is then from this permanent body, numbering as we have seen somewhat less than 4000 and probably tending to grow slightly larger from year to year, that our association will add to its members. No systematic or extensive effort to secure new members has been possible in the past, because the annual income of the association has barely sufficed to pay for our annual vol- ume of proceedings, the expenses of our an- nual meeting, and strictly necessary adminis- trative expenses of the association. Some ef- fort has been made during the past year to secure new members by special letters to each of the 180 persons who are dropped from the rolls for a year's arrearage in dues, by effort to interest students at the leading library schools in A. L. A. membership and by per- sonal letters to a few librarians of larger li- braries, but even the small expense of this slight missionary work of necessity was borne by the fund set apart for the secretary's of- fice, which only rigid economy has made to answer for convention expenses, printing and postage. It would seem that the time is now come, with a growing annual income of nearly $3000, with no likelihood or necessity that our chief item of expense, the annual volume of proceedings shall increase, when the Executive Board might wisely add to the budget for the secretary's office a modest travel fund to be used for field work at library meetings and an increased allowance for printing and post- age, to be available for a dignified, legitimate but earnest and vigilant effort to interest li- brary workers in the A. L. A. The results of such an effort will not be startling, but they should be sufficient to bring to pass before many years (even in default of other pro- vision) a membership and income sufficient to provide the long-desired and never-more- needed permanent secretary. A word as to permanence of membership. Very many members and librarians regularly pay dues year after year without regard to whether they or their representative can at- tend the conference for that year. This is right. On the other hand, there are many members, more than there should be, who maintain a spasmodic or intermittent mem- bership in the A. L. A. Many of the first joined years ago, and have been continuously in library work ever since, but their sole cri- terion for payment of annual dues seems to be the chance for their personal attendance at conferences. There should be a broader view of the matter than this, and it would be highly desirable if the feeling might be greatly strengthened, that continued membership in the A. L. A. ought to be for all active library workers, a distinct, obvious, indisputable, pro- fessional obligation, to be cheerfully met year after year, thus not alone because the A. L. A. can use your $2, or because you will do the A. L. A. good, but chiefly because the A. L. A. can do you good by thus stimulating your fre- quent attendance at its meetings and by con- stantly increasing your interest and informa- tion in its work. GARDNER M. JONES presented the TREASURER'S REPORT. Balance on hand, Jan. i, 1903 (Niagara conference, p. 129) $12 38 RECEIPTS, JAN-DEC., 1903. Fees from annual members: From 2 members for 1901, From 83 members for 1902, From 1116 members for 1903, From 6 members for 1904, 1207 members at $2 $2,414 oo Fees from library members : From i library for 1902, From 31 libraries for 1903, 32 libraries at $5 160 oo Li-fe membership : Andrew Keogh . Interest on deposit at New England Trust Co Interest on deposit at Merchants' National Bank, Salem. 8 28 16 oo $2,574 oo 25 oo 24 28 $2,635 66 196 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. PAYMENTS, JAN.-DEC, 1903. Proceedings : Oct. 5. Publishers' Weekly, Niagara proceedings and delivery $1,072 23 Oct. 5. Helen E. Haines, indexing proceedings 10 oo $1,082 23 Stenographer : July 27. Charles H. Bailey 18000 Handbook : June n. Jacob North & Co 175 oc Secretary's salary: Mar. 4. J. I. Wyer, Jr., $50; July 22, $75; Nov. 18, $100; Dec. 21, $25 250 oo Secretary's and conference expenses: Mar. 4. J. I. Wyer, Jr., stamped envelopes, etc 6697 May 8. J. I. Wyer, Jr., postage, etc 4633 May 19. Edward R. Sizer, postage 6800 July 22. J. I. Wyer, Jr., printing, etc 19222 July 22. J. I. Wyer, Jr., printing ballots, etc 644 July 22. Whitehead & Hoag Co., buttons 1095 Oct. 5. J. I. Wyer, Jr., telegrams, etc 2 15 Nov. 18. J. I. Wyer, Jr., stationery, express, etc 14 19 407 25 Treasurer s expenses : Mar. 4. Library Bureau, white slips I oo Mar. 4. Newcomb & Gauss, delinquents' notices 2 50 Oct. 5. Gardner M. Jones, stamped envelopes 4280 Oct. 5. Library Bureau, oak card case 1200 Dec. 21. Newcomb & Gauss, stationery 13 25 Dec. 21. Gardner M. Jones, clerical assistance, postage, etc 69 49 141 04 Committees and Sections : May 8. Snow & Farnham, postals, "gifts and bequests" 675 July 22. Children's Librarians' Section, postage, etc 4 67 July 22. F. W. Faxon, expenses travel committee 17 71 Nov. 18. A. L. A. Publishing Board, mailing proceedings Trustees' Section 885 Dec, 21. Bernard C. Steiner, travelling expenses, Booktrade Committee 850 46 48 2,282 oo Trustees of the Endowment Fund, life membership for investment 25 oo Balance on hand, Dec, 31, 1903: Deposit in New England Trust Co., Boston 27 10 Deposit in Merchants' National Bank, Salem, Mass 1056 Deposit in Merchants' National Bank, Savings Dept 291 oo 32866 $2,635 66 The number of members in good standing This report covers the financial year from on Dec. 31, 1903, is as follows: Jan. to Dec., 1903. From Jan. i to Sept. 30, Honorary members 10 I QO4. the receipts have been $2303.77 and the Perpetual member I payments $712.37, the balance on hand OcL Life fellows 2 T being $1920.06. The unexpended balances Life members 38 f appropriations amount to $2195, but it is Annual members (paid for 1903).. 1118 expected that the receipts at this conference Library members (paid for 1903) . . 31 W 'H enable the treasurer to pay all the bills and to report a small balance on hand at 1 200 the end of the year. During the year 1003, 240 new members GARDNER M. JONES, Treasurer. joined the Association, and n members died. FIRST SESSION. 197 NECROLOGY. 1. Miss Elizabeth S. White (A. L. A. no. 2666, 1902) librarian of the Weston (Mass.) Public Library, died at her home in Weston, Feb. 15, 1903, at the age of 38 years. Miss White graduated from Wellesley College in 1886 and for several years was a successful teacher in the public schools of Kingston, Concord, and Weston. In 1893 she was chosen librarian of the Weston Public Li- brary. She joined the A. L. A. in 1902 and attended the Magnolia Conference. 2. Charles Ammi Cutter ,(A. L. A. no. 20, 1876) died at Walpole, N. H., Sept. 6, 1903. Mr. Cutter was born in Boston, Mass., March 14, 1837. He graduated from Harvard Col- lege in 1855 and from the Divinity School in 1859. In 1858 he became librarian of the Divinity School Library which he rearranged and reclassified and, in conjunction with Rev. Charles Noyes, prepared a new manuscript catalog. On May n, 1860, he became an assistant in the Harvard College Library where he remained about eight years. In 1865 he began an engagement of several years at the Boston Public Library as a "special" assistant, during which he made a final re- vision for the press of the Prince Library catalog. On Jan. I, 1869, Mr. Cutter began his nearly 25 years' service as librarian of the Boston Athenaeum. He resigned early in 1893, and, after two visits to Europe, the second largely in the interests of the Forbes Library of Northampton, Mass., he was chosen librarian of that library Aug. i, 1894. This position he filled until his death. Mr. Cutter was one of the founders of the A. L. A. in 1876 and a life member and was al- ways active in its service.. He was a member of the Council from 1889-1902 and president for two years, presiding at the Catskills Con- ference in 1888 and at the St. Louis Con- ference in 1889. He was a constant attend- ant at the conferences, having been present at 21 out of the 25 held previous to his death, also at the International Conferences in Lon- don in 1877 and 1897. He was the first pres- ident of the Mass. Library Club (1890-91), and also the first president of the Western Mass. Library Club (1898-99). In addition to Mr. Cutter's almost constant service upon the working committees of the A. L. A., and as editor of and contributor to the Library Journal, his most important contributions to library progress were his Boston Athen- aeum catalog (5 vols. 1874-1882), the "Rules for a dictionary catalog" (first ed. 1876), "Author tables," and the "Expansive classi- fication," the latter being unfinished at the time of his death. The Library Journal for Oct., 1903, contained an extended and scholarly memorial sketch of Mr. Cutter, written by Mr. William E. Foster. See also the editorial in Library Journal for Sept., 1903, and Mr. Solberg's "Memories" in the Nov., 1903, Library Journal. 3. Philip M. Crapo (A. L. A. no. 2840, !903) died in Burlington, Iowa, Sept. 20* 1903. Mr. Crapo was born near New Bed- ford, Mass., June 30, 1844. His early edu- cation was received in New Bedford but, at the outbreak of the Civil War, he aban- doned his plans for a collegiate course and enlisted as a private in the Third Mass. In- fantry, serving until the close of the war. In April, 1868, he went to Iowa in the in- terests of the Conn. Mutual Life Insurance Co., whose financial agent he became. Of his service the company said he had loaned for them more than $19,000,000 of which not one cent had been lost. Mr. Crapo was connected with the Burlington Free Public Library from its organization. He was instrumental in changing the original subscription library to a free one, having made himself person- ally responsible for a debt of $1000, which encumbered the former organization. He was chosen one of the first board of library trustees in 1885, became vice-president in 1895, and president in 1897, which position he held at the time of his death. Towards the new library building opened in 1898, he gave a cash donation of $20,000, besides the most careful and painstaking oversight of its construction. To its final embellishment he contributed in addition many costly ar- ticles of artistic value. 4. Sarah Polk Wharton .(A. L. A. no. 2045, 1903) was born at Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 27, 1876, and died at Memphis, Sept. 20, 1903, of Bright's disease. Aug. 6, 1902. she 198 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. was appointed as stenographer in the period- ical division of the Library of Congress. She married Mr. John F. Walker, of Memphis, Tenn., on July 20, 1903. She attended the Niagara conference. 5. Henry Stedman Nourse (A. L. A. no. 2601, 1902) died in Lancaster, Mass., Nov. 14, 1903. Mr. Nourse was born in Lancaster, April 9, 1831. He graduated from Harvard College in 1853, and after a short period as teacher of classics at Exeter, N. H., engaged in the work of a constructive engineer in Pennsylvania and the West. From 1866-1874 he was engineer and superintendent of the Bessemer Steel Works, Steelton, Pa. He served through the Civil War in the 55th Illinois Regiment, becoming adjutant and captain. He was present in forty pitched battles as well as numerous smaller engage- ments. He returned to Lancaster about 25 years ago and gave his time to priceless work for his town and state. He was representative in the legislature in 1883 and senator in 1885-6. At the time of his death he was a member of the State Board of Charities and the Free .Public Library Commission. He was one ,of the original members of the latter, ap- .pointed in 1890, and although more than 150 meetings were held, he was never absent. "His cheerful readiness to devote his time .and ability to its interests notably in the preparation of its historical ninth report ?has produced more lasting results than the .work of any other member." In 1878 he was elected a trustee of the 'Lancaster Town Library and his services on that board were invaluable. He instituted a most careful search for all material con- nected with local history, and, with patience and skill so arranged the collection that it forms a model for all others. The smaller pieces of printed matter were preserved in five scrapbooks. Pamphlets were classified and bound. Works of authors who, by birth or residence, could be claimed by Lancaster were secured. One folio volume is a record entitled, "Soldiers of Lancaster in the Rebel- lion," an exhaustive tabulation of all facts in their war experience that could be obtained. Another similar volume, called "Early Lan- castriana," is filled with copies of various manuscripts relating to Lancaster, 1644-1800, mostly from Massachusetts Archives and Middlesex County Records. This was an ar- duous task fulfilled by Mr. Nourse while he was a representative, as he considered that his whole time while in Boston should be de- voted to the service of the town. His own printed historical work was ex- tensive and valuable, including ''Early Records of Lancaster, 1643-1725," "Military Annals of Lancaster, 1740-1865," "Birth, Marriage and Death Register, Church Records, and Epitaphs of Lancaster, 1643- 1850," "A Bibliography of Lancastriana," "History of the town of Harvard," "Address at Dedication of the Houghton Memorial, Littleton, Mass.," in 1895, "Address at Ded- ication of the Fogg Library, South Wey- mouth," "Address before the New York Library Association and the New York Li- brary Club." Numerous articles on the same subjects were printed in newspapers and magazines. His last service was to edit the "Mary Rowlandson Narrative," a fac-simile reprint of the earliest edition in existence, presented to the town as a memorial of its 25Oth anniversary by Mr. John Eliot Thayer, in 1903. A pamphlet in commemoration of this anniversary has lately been issued which was in preparation by him at the time of his death, and contains his eloquent speech on that occasion. Td. this literary material should be added the collection and arrange- ment in the Library Museum of many ar- ticles connected with the town history, in- cluding numerous portraits. Outside of his work in local history he was joint author and editor of the "Story of the Fifty-fifth Regiment Illinois Infantry," 1887. He was a member of the American Antiquarian So- ciety, the Massachusetts Historical Society, and the Massachusetts Military Historical Society. His life was an example of con- scientious and faithful work, done with in- finite patience, great ability, and love of country in its best and highest form. ALICE G. CHANDLER, Lancaster Mass. 6. Mary Stone Hosford (A. L. A. no. 1695?, 1898) died at her winter home in Orlando, Florida, on Feb. i, 1904. She was born in FIRST SESSION. 199 Haverhill, Mass, in 1848, and was for many years a most successful teacher in several well known schools, resigning her beloved profession only under compulsion of failing health. 7. Harriet Eliza Garretson (A. L. A. no. 438, 1882) died in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 14, 1904. Miss Garretson was born in Cin- cinnati, Nov. ii, 1841. She received her edu- cation at Hughes High School, supplemented by a thorough course in English literature. She was cataloger and classifier at the Cin- cinnati Public Library from May, 1866, until her death, practically all the new books pass- ing through her hands. She was a life mem- ber of the Cincinnati chapter of the Daugh- ters of the American Revolution and a mem- ber of the Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church, devoting much of her spare time to charities. 8. Helene A. Kingman (A. L. A. no. 2489, 1002) died at the home of her sister in Vine- land, N. J., on Apr., 22, 1904. She was a graduate of the Drexel Institute Library School, class of 1900, and had been connected as cataloger with the Trenton (N. J.) Free Public Library from its organization in Jan., 1001, until her short but fatal illness. She attended the Magnolia Conference. 9. Adelaide M. Chase (A. L. A. no. 2384, 1901) was born in West Medford, Mass., July 29, 1876, and died there May 19, 1904. She was educated in the public schools of West Medford and of Chicago, to which city her family moved in 1893. In 1895 she en- tered the academic department of Armour Institute of Technology, and the next year the Armour Library School. She went with the school on its removal to the Uni- versity of Illinois, finishing the library course, but her degree of B.L.S. was not granted until 1901, after she had made up at Tufts the required general college work. In 1897 and 1898 Miss Chase was employed in the li- brary departments of A. C. McClurg & Co. and Hayes, Cooke & Co. of Chicago, and from April, 1899, to Aug., 1900, she was cataloger and classifier in the New Hampshire State Library. In July, 1901, she undertook to organize the private library of Stone & Webster, of Boston, general electrical en- gineers. Here there were few books to be dealt with, but many engineering periodicals and vast piles of documents. The question of time was a serious one, but by a common sense adaptation and application of library methods she fully demonstrated the value of a trained librarian to a large business house. Miss Chase attended the Waukesha, Mag- nolia, and Niagara Conferences. 10. Daniel Willard Fiske (A. L. A. no. 413, 1881) died at Frankfort, Germany, on Sept. 17, 1904. Prof. Fiske was born in El- lisburg, N. Y., Nov. n, 1831. He studied at Cazenovia Seminary, Hamilton College and the University of Upsala and he learned to use the Icelandic, Swedish, and Danish lan- guages with the facility of a native. He was first assistant in the Astor Library from 1852 to 1859; general secretary of the American Geographical Society, 1859-60; attache to the American legation at Vienna, 1861-62 ; editor . Syracuse, N. Y., Journal, 1864-66, and of the Hartford, Conn., Courant, in 1867. He was elected Professor of North European lan- guages and chief librarian of Cornell Uni- versity in 1868, which position he held until 1883. In 1880, Prof. Fiske married Miss Jennie McGraw, who died in 1881, bequeath- ing the bulk of her property to Cornell Uni- versity. The courts decided that the uni- versity had all the property it could legally hold and a large share of the estate went to Prof. Fiske. This matter caused so much ill feeling that he resigned his position and moved to Florence, Italy. He did not, how- ever, lose his interest in the library, but con- tinued to send it books. His collections of Scandinavian, Rhaeto-Romanic, Petrarch, and Dante literature were among the largest, if not the largest, in the world. The Dante and Rhaeto-Romanic collections he had pre- sented to Cornell before his death, and it is understood that the other two collections and practically all of his estate have been be- queathed to the university. Prof. Fiske joined the A. L. A. in 1881, but apparently attended none of its conferences. He was, however, present at the Librarians' Conven- tion in 1853, and his name was on this ac- count added to the list of honorary members of the A. L. A. in 1902. The treasurer's report was referred to the finance committee to be audited. CHARLES C. SOULE read the 200 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE ENDOWMENT FUND. June 10, 1903, to Sept. i, 1904. CASH ACCOUNT. Receipts. 1903, June 10. Balance brought over $3,876 oi Tune 20. Interest, Watson mortgage..., 0250 Nov. 18. " Union Trust Co., N. Y., Carnegie Fund 1,380 82 Dec. i. " International Trust Co 48 13 Dec. 18. " Watson Mortgage 6250 1904, Jan. 12. Brookline Savings Bank 44 16 Mar. 5. Life memberships, F. B. Bigelow and J. I. Wyef, Jr.. 50 oo June 29. Interest. International Trust Co 6081 July 2. Watson Mortgage 6250 July II. Brookline Savings Bank 6960 Aug. 31. " Union Trust Co., N. Y., Carnegie Fund... 2,383 56 Sept. I. " International Trust Co 2788 $8,128 47 Payments. 1903, Nov. 24. To A. L. A. Publishing Board 75<> oo 1904, June 1 1. Rent of box Safe Deposit 10 oo Aug. 2. To A. L. A. Publishing Board 1,000 oo 1,760 oo $6,368 47 CONDITION OF FUNDS. Carnegie Fund: Principal (inalienable) on deposit with Union Trust Co., New York $100,000 oo A. L. A. Endowment Fund: Principal (inalienable), On hand June 10, 1903 $6,287 94 Two life memberships (as above) 50 oo $6,337 94 Interest Account: Carnegie Fund, available only for A. L. A. Publishing Board. . $2,716 04 A. L. A. Endowment Fund Account, available for any purpose on order of Council 907 71 3,623 75 $109,961 69 ASSETS, SEPT. I, IOX>4. Deposit at Union Trust Co., New York (principal $100,000, interest $2,383.56) Carnegie Fund $102,383 56 Deposit at International Trust Co., Boston, Mass, (principal $2,630.96, inter- est $1,240.19) 3,871 15 Deposit at Brookline, Mass., Savings Bank (principal) 1,206 98 Watson Mortgage, South Boston (principal) 2,500 oo $109,961 69 ESTIMATED INCOME FOR 1904-5. Interest on hand, Union Trust Co $2,383 56 Interest on hand, International Trust Co 1,240 19 $3,623 75 To Accrue, Carnegie Fund, about 3,000 oo " Brookline Savings Bank. 50 oo Watson Mortgage 125 oo Bank deposit, about 75 oo Amount probably available $6,873 75 SECOND SESSION. 2OI Of this amount the Carnegie Fund income account shows that $5716.04 must be devoted to the publications of the Publishing Board, leaving $1157.71, which can be used for any other purpose at the discretion of the Council. The following account of audit was ap- pended : At the request of Charles C. Soule, treas- urer of the Endowment Fund of the Ameri- can Library Asociation, I have examined his accounts and securities. I find evidence of assets amounting to $109,- 961.69, as stated in his report of Sept. 21, 1904, and also find his accounts correctly cast, with vouchers for all expenditures. S. W. Foss, of Finance Committee. Approved, GEO. T. LITTLE, Chairman. The PRESIDENT: This statement will be particularly pertinent in connection with the report of the Publishing Board which will be laid before us to-morrow, and with its projects in the future. Unless there be any special suggestions to the contrary, the chair will entertain a motion to adjourn. Adjourned at 5 p.m. SECOND SESSION. (LIBRARY HALL, WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, ST. Louis, Mo., TUESDAV MORNING, OCT. 18.) The meeting was called to order by Presi- dent PUTNAM at 9.40. GEORGE T. LITTLE gave the REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE. The finance committee makes a report of the usual brevity. It has attended to its duties laid down by the constitution, prepared a list of estimates for guidance of the Execu- tive Board, examined and approved the re- ports of the secretary and treasurer of the Association and of the Endowment Fund Trustees. In the absence of the chairman, Dr. FALK- NER, no report was submitted from the COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. This report was later received for publica- tion in the Proceedings. (See p. 168.) The President announced that the report of the COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION had been printed in advance, and distributed. (See p. 163.) Miss MARY W. PLUMMER reported infor- mally for the COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY TRAINING The committee found its task very much more serious than it x had anticipated, and found also that it was rather hard to come to an agreement about standards of library training. It is, therefore, only able to report progress, and to promise that if it is con- tinued it will make a more satisfactory report next year. Dr. E. C. RICHARDSON spoke for the COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION. The report of the committee for the year is the section of the program devoted to 1 bibliographical undertakings of international concern. This will give us a survey of the more considerable undertakings of this nature, and the committee, in view of the progress which has been made on these lines, recom- mend three complimentary resolutions con- cerning the work of the International Cata- logue of Scientific Literature, the work of the Brussels Bureau of International Bib- liography, and the work of the Zurich Bib- liographical Council. These resolutions will, I suppose, pass to the committee on resolu- tions, in due course, for approval. The resolutions were referred to the Coun- cil, and were later presented in amended form, to the Association by the Council, and adopted in general session. (See p. 237.) The secretary gave a summary of the REPORT ON GIFTS AND BEQUESTS, which had been distributed in printed form. (See p. 173.) The PRESIDENT: The next special commit- tee noted on the program is the COMMITTEE ON PERMANENT HEADQUARTERS. I think that was placed in this list by in- advertence. At the meeting last year the 2O2 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. Association instructed the Executive Board to appoint such a committee and that com- mittee was to report not to the Association but to the Council. It has rendered its re- port to the Council and that report will be printed as part of the record of the Council proceedings. (See Transactions of Council.) The secretary read a communication from Dr. Canfield, chairman of the COMMITTEE ON CO-OPERATION WITH THE NA- TIONAL EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION. As chairman of the committee on co-opera- tion with the N. E. A., I beg leave to report that at the last meeting of that Association, held at St. Louis in July, this whole matter of co-operation was taken up in the Library Department, with careful discussion as to ways and means, etc. Because so many teach- ers are necessarily librarians, in connection with the libraries of their schools, and be- cause for other reasons it seems extremely desirable that all teachers should know some- thing of library economy, it was thought best to enter into correspondence with the leading normal schools of the country, with a view to placing some instruction in library economy in normal courses. Accordingly, a circular letter has been sent out, a copy of which is enclosed. I have personally taken the matter up with Dean Russell, of Teachers' College, Columbia Uni- versity, and at some time during October I am to meet Commissioner Draper at Al- bany for a conference concerning the possi- bility of doing some work of this kind in the teachers' institutes of this state. AS you will see by the circular-letter en- closed, this work is being carried on by some normal schools : at Whitewater, Wisconsin, and at Ypsilanti, Michigan, with unusual suc- cess. Those in charge of this work have already put out little booklets of instruction for their own use. I hope the committee appointed at the St. Louis meeting of the A. L. A. will feel in- clined to continue the work along the lines already determined. JAMES H. CANFIELD. Circular letter sent out: "President. .Normal School. "DEAR SIR: The American Library Asso- ciation and the National Educational Associa- tion have been seeking for some time to bring together in a helpful and stimulating way the librarians and the teachers of this country. It is believed that there is a common ground, that the public libraries are an integral part of the great system of public and free educa- tion, and that only as these mutual relations are appreciated will either the public schools or the public libraries accomplish the most satisfactory results. Just how far co-opera- tion may be carried and what may be the most practical details are questions which are still open to discussion. "This much, however, the Committee on Co-operation feels may reasonably be asked and undertaken. In by far the greater part of the schools so fortunate as to possess libra- ries, the teachers are necessarily and only too often exclusively the librarians. For this and for other reasons it seems extremely desirable that those preparing to teach should be given definite instruction in the fundamentals of library economy. This burden, if such it proves to be, necessarily falls upon the normal schools of the country. It is believed, how- ever, that all that is immediately necessary may be accomplished without unduly or un- wisely increasing the demands now made upon normal students. "The committee therefore begs leave to sug- gest that if instruction of this kind is not al- ready provided for in your curriculum, or, if provided, is for any reason not wholly satis- factory, you will correspond with the presi- dents or other proper officers of the normal schools at Whitewater, Wis. ; Normal, 111.; Charleston, 111.; Ypsilanti, Michigan; and with the librarians of the high schools at De- troit, and at Washington, D. C. All of these schools have given careful consideration to this work, have finally placed it definitely in their curricula, and have had an experience and a success which makes their advices pe- culiarly helpful in this undertaking. "The committee will be glad to continue this correspondence with you, if you so desire and if the committee can be of any service whatever. If there seems to be sufficient de- mand, the committee will even undertake, sub- ject to the general advice and direction of the Library Department of the National Educa- tional Association, to prepare a suitable text- book, unifying and harmonizing this work in all schools. Cordially yours, . "Chairman Committee on Co-operation." SECOND SESSION. 203 W. I. FLETCHER gave an abstract of the REPORT OF THE PUBLISHING BOARD which had been printed and distributed. (See p. 169.) A. L. A. CATALOG. The PRESIDENT : In connection with this report I may remind you that the new edition af the "A. L. A. catalog," which has just been issued, published by the Library of Congress, is available for distribution, one copy to each member of this conference. Those copies may be had at the Library of Congress Exhibit at the Government Build- ing. The free distribution in general of this work must be limited. One copy in cloth will be sent to each library in the United States in the last Bureau of Education list, 3r, if omitted from that, a library that ap- plies directly. Copies will be issued to cer- tain foreign institutions. The 600 copies that have been sent out here for distribution to members of the conference are entirely in addition to any limited plan of distribution we had otherwise determined on. These are merely in paper. There was not time to send out the cloth edition. The last proof was received by the Government Printing Office a week ago to-day, last Tuesday. These 600 copies started to St. Louis on Thursday. They are in paper, but as they are they in- dicate what the work is. Mr. FLETCHER: May I be permitted to add to what I said. This is an occasion for a remark other than can perhaps modestly be made by the Librarian of Congress, our presi- dent. The report of the Publishing Board calls attention to the fact that the Board is indebted, the libraries of the country are in- debted, most heavily to the State Library at Albany and its distinguished head for the editorial part of this work, and to the Li- brary of Congress for putting it in print in such fine shape and especially under great difficulties, with such remarkable promptness as has been done. The president has re- marked that the last proof was received a week ago to-day. Now, if any of you have sent a piece of printing through the press and in a week after you read the last proof have placed a book of this kind in the hands of those who asked for it, I should like to know it. (Applause.) The PRESIDENT: The Librarian of Congress is abashed (laughter) that as president of the Association he was obliged to call this work to your attention and thus seem to invite the encomiums which have just been given. The modesty with which Mr. Fletcher charged us is perhaps a novel attribute to be assigned to Washington. It would not be the desire of the Library of Congress to have any misunderstanding as to the policy adopted in distribution or in the charge for copies beyond those distributed free. It was deemed by the Publishing Board desirable that be- yond the one copy that should go to each library there should be a nominal charge affixed to the remainder of the edition that we shall issue. That charge does not re- imburse the government for the cost of pub- lication; does not cover the expense, by any means. It is a nominal charge, to prevent waste. The price of the entire work will be in this form (paper) 25 cents. It is a work of about 900 pages. In the cloth covers it will be 50 cents, 25 cents covering the cost of cloth, and you must remember this also covers postage. There will be no charge for postage. It will go to you franked. Be- sides the complete work, which consists of two parts (the first part classed, the second a dictionary), these two parts will be issued separately, and each part may be obtained separately, in paper, for 15 cents; in cloth, for 25 cents. The edition that we have print- ed is about 20,000 copies, but we are not necessarily limited. It has been plated. This edition may run out, of course, shortly, but we can reissue with considerable rapidity in case it should. I have had a note from the Director of Congresses apologizing for the transfer of our session this morning to this room and reminding me that when we were originally assigned to the other room for our sessions this week, it was with the stipulation that on this morning it might have to be used by the Deaf-and-Dumb Convention. Of course, the other room is larger than this and we shall hope to resume it to-morrow, with pleasure. 2O4 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. Melvil Dewey made an informal report for the COMMITTEE ON A. L. A. EXHIBIT AT LOUISIANA PURCHASE EXPOSITION. The report is a brief one. We tried from the general Government and from a half- dozen different states, and from Mr. Carnegie also, but couldn't find money for the necessary expenses. The committee were agreed, in consultation with the Council, that it was unwise to undertake an exhibit with no funds, and there were no funds in the treasury. The Library of Congress, that helps us out of so many dilemmas, took up the general exhibit, in connection with its exhibit, and we turned over to it all the material we had accumulated. Mr. Crunden induced the Missouri people to give the beautiful room in the Missouri Building, which you have all seen, with that fine exhibit which is made as the Missouri library exhibit, but takes what would have been in our general exhibit. So, between the Library of Congress in the Government Build- ing and Mr. Crunden, who was made a sub- committee with power, on the exhibit in the Missouri Building, you have the library ex- hibits of this Exposition. The other exhibit is not properly a part of the work of this committee. That is the "A. L. A. catalog," which is here and which we are very glad to have at this meeting; but it was not prepared by the Exposition committee, though it has been spoken of repeatedly as being a part of our exhibit at this meeting. If Mr. Crunden is present he will give the report in regard to the library exhibit in the Missouri Building. W. C. LANE presented the report of the COMMITTEE ON REDUCED POSTAL AND EXPRESS RATES. The committee reports that but little prog- ress has been made this year in attaining the end for which it works. The bill to allow library books to be transmitted to and from libraries at the rate of one cent a pound was again introduced in Congress, but has not been acted upon. Correspondence between Dr. Canfield, acting as chairman of a com- mittee of the N. E. A. library section, and President Roosevelt and Postmaster-General Payne brought out the fact that the Post- master-General's only expressed objection to the bill was on the ground of overloading the carriers and requiring a general intro- duction of delivery by horse and wagon. This is distinctly encouraging, since delivery at the destination is no essential part of what we are asking for, and we should be satis- fied if the delivery of such matter were brought under the provisions of section 641 of the postal laws and regulations. How the new Postmaster-General will look at the matter we do not know, but if the department has no other objection to offer there would seem to be no reason why the bill should not go through. The only thing for us to do is to take the matter in hand individually and press it upon the attention of senators and repre- sentatives with whom we are acquainted. The legislatures of Massachusetts and California have each passed strong resolutions in its favor, and if we can secure the passage of similar resolutions by other legislatures we shall do good work. Another winter we may be able to get another hearing in Washington, and we ought to be able to send on a persuasive and en- ergetic advocate. For this purpose we should need an appropriation of money. The committee is weak in not having representation in Washington, and if con- tinued it would be well to strengthen it by the addition of a member or members from that vicinity. The New England Education League has made the Library Post one of its special in- terests and the committee desires to acknowl- edge and praise the efficient aid to the cause given by the League's secretary, Mr. W. Scott. Mr. Scott, whose address is West Somerville, Mass., will be glad to send to any member of this association, or to any one else whose interest can be counted upon, printed matter relating to the subject. The committee submits with its report a printed slip issued by the New England Education League which gives a statement of what has lately been done, and copies of the Postmaster-General's letters. Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM C. LANE, for the Committee. SECOND SESSION. 205 The PRESIDENT: In one of the addresses at a later session you will find a report of conditions abroad that are peculiarly sugges- tive in the matter with which this committee has concerned itself. In this country we are modest enough to apply only for reduced postal rates for libraries. You will hear that in Sweden books may be sent from one li- brary to another without any charge what- ever for postage, and not merely that, but that books may be sent from Sweden to the Continent, to any point on the Continent, I believe, without any charge for postage whatever. The United States is not the only country that has reached the twentieth cen- tury. ARTHUR E. BOSTWICK presented the report of the COMMITTEE ON RELATIONS WITH THE BOOK TRADE. The resolution constituting this committee directs it to secure and communicate to li- brarians from time to time information re- lating to the limitations of discount on books purchased by libraries, and to advise them in regard to any feasible measures for avoiding the hardships of the net price system. Our duties have thus seemed to us to be divided into two categories the dissemina- tion of information and the giving of advice. As regards the medium of both, the monthly library publications naturally suggested them- selves and both Public Libraries and The Library Journal expressed willingness to print whatever we should desire to say to librarians. To reach a very considerable number who see neither of these papers it was decided to form a mailing list of one thousand names of such persons, and to send to them what we might desire to say, printed in small type on a postal card. Public Li- braries not only took out of our hands the work of preparing our list, but has acted as our mailing agent, charging only for postage and not for labor. By so doing it has earned the thanks of this committee and of the Association. As has been said, the contents of the bulle- tins, of which we have sent out eight, has consisted in accordance with our instruc- tions, partly of information and partly of advice. Under the former head we have printed a description of what the "net price system" is, with statistics showing that it has raised book prices to libraries, also figures showing that the same book is often sold at a lower price abroad than in this country; we have given the names of reliable importers and second- hand dealers in this and /other countries; we have given the titles of valuable aids to bookbuying; we have shown statistically the value of the library book-trade; we have pointed out the proper procedure in im- porting books, in buying at auction and in saving money by using special forms of bind- ings. Finally, we have called attention to certain public measures prejudicial to the interests of libraries, notably to Senate bill no. 5314, amending the copyright law so that libraries may not import books that are copy- righted in America, without the author's written consent, and the recent Treasury ruling requiring written receipts for all ar- ticles imported duty-free. Under the head of advice, we have urged librarians to spend more money in importa- tion and in the purchase of good books at secondhand and by auction. Besides these specific items of advice others may be in- ferred from our paragraphs of information. It was thought best to make no formal divi- sion between the two, and in fact, as may be seen from an examination of the bulletins themselves, a set of which is herewith sub- mitted, their contents are presented without special arrangement or classification and in the most informal manner, the main object be- ing to reach librarians quickly and effectively. It is a pleasure to record the reception that has been given to these little bulletins. We have had much evidence of their acceptability to librarians, both in the demand for them from unexpected sources and in voluntary letters of commendation from members of our profession. We have been aided in our distribution by the library commissions of the states of Wisconsin, Indiana, Connecti- cut, New Jersey and Iowa, who have under- taken to see that the smaller libraries in their respective states are supplied with the cards. 2O6 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. In making our preliminary announcement, the committee stated that "if there seems to be any practicable method by which libraries may secure better discounts directly, such as by business combination or engaging di- rectly in the book business themselves" it would "investigate details and report results as soon as possible." Your committee is of opinion that there is no inherent impossibility in the formation of such a combination or company. The practical difficulties are the necessity for a considerable amount of capital and the lack of someone possessing both time and in- terest sufficient for the promotion of such an enterprise. Even the small amount of work done by this committee during the year is no inconsiderable tax on the time of busy men, but if there is some librarian who is willing and able to devote a much larger part of his attention to the matter than we have been able to do, we believe that the results may be interesting and worthy of fur- ther and more detailed consideration. As regards any direct result upon the publishing trade or the book trade of what we have done or what is likely to be done along the same line, we may say frankly that it is not apparent. And although we have not been unmindful of the possible results of a demonstration that the library trade is worth something and that its diminution or diversion into other channels means a loss to somebody, at the same time we feel that immediate relief from the hardships of the net price system must come from what the librarian may do toward adjusting himself beneath the burden, not by ineffectual strug- gles to throw it off, nor yet by attacks upon those who imposed it. Combination, in one form or another, is the order of the day and librarians should not be slow to recognize the fact. If, instead of combining against each other, however, publishers, booksellers and libra- rians could work together for the common good, they might discover that their aims and interests are not, after all, diverse. We li- brarians are perhaps in closer touch with the reading public than the members of any other profession. We believe that by stimulating the demand for literature and increasing gen- eral interest in the subject we have already helped the business of those who deal in books. But libraries could aid the book trade not only generally but specifically. Publishers, for instance, spend thousands of dollars in the preparation of book-lists which, if modified, librarians would be glad to circu- late for them. This is only another way of saying that those whose interest it is to in- crease the reading of books should pull together and not against one another. We feel that one of the most effective ways to improve the situation will be to increase the membership of this association, and to make librarians feel that membership is connecting them in some way with efforts to aid them in their work along the lines that have been followed by your committee. We would, therefore, recommend the appoint- ment of a committee to continue the work that we have begun, with definite instructions to send information along the lines followed by our bulletins of the past year, to all members of this association, as well as to persons likely to become members ; but to make it evident in the latter case that those who do not join us cannot expect to profit indefinitely by our activity. That this may be done thoroughly and effectively we sug- gest that the expense allowance of the com- mittee be placed at $500. We believe that in this way the member- ship of this association might be greatly in- creased, and that such enlarged membership of the American Library Association would be one of the most effective ways of promot- ing library combination and mitigating the hardships of the net price system. An account of the expenses of the com- mittee is subjoined: Dec. 21, 1903, Dr. B. C. Steiner, travelling expenses Jan. 19, 1904, Mr. J. Laurier, stationery.... Jan. 19, 1904, Baker Printing Co Jan. 19, 1904, M. A. Eichenauer, clerical work. Mar. n, 1904, Baker Printing Co Apr. 8, 1904, Mr. J. Laurier, stationery May ii, 1904, Baker Printing Co May ii, 1904, Library Bureau, postage June 1 8, 1904, Baker Printing Co une 1 8, 1904, J. C. Dana, postage and ex- press Aug. 2, 1904, J. C. Dana, postage and express. Aug. 2, 1904, New York Public Library, post- age Aug. 24, 1904, Baker Printing Co $8.50 12.50 13-50 1. 00 30.00 1.50 15.00 12. OO 15.00 5-10 2.70 2.80 IO.OO SECOND SESSION. 207 Aug. 24, 1904, Dr. B. C. Steiner, travelling expenses $8.00 Sept. 17, 1904, J. C. Dana, postage and ex- press 2-io Sept. 17, 1904, Baker Printing Co 6.00 October, 1904, Library Bureau, postage 25.08 October, 1904, J. C. Dana, printing, postage and express 14.80 $175.58 Aug. 24, 1904, Library Bureau, postage.... 16.70 $192.34 PURD B. WRIGHT: In view of the recom- mendation of the committee I move that this report be referred to the Council with power to act. Voted. The PRESIDENT: One additional foreign delegate has presented his credentials, this one from Austria Dr. Paul Cohn, from the Technological Institute of Vienna. The Executive Board recommends that Dr. Cohn be added to the list of Honorary Vice-presi- dents chosen by you yesterday.. We shall certainly be glad to accord Dr. Cohn the compliment of a rising vote. .(Unanimously carried by a rising vote.) The first five or six topics upon the pro- gram this morning cover library work in Great Britain, treating it topically. It would be unfortunate that they should be broken. Yet it may not be feasible, owing to the ab- sence of Mr. Jast, to give them as they stand, consecutively, unless Mr. Jast succeeds where others have failed in pushing through the crowd outside. We will, therefore, pro- ceed, with your acquiescence, to the paper of Miss Countryman on State Aid to Libraries. Miss COUNTRYMAN read a paper on STATE AID TO LIBRARIES. (5V* p. 148.) The PRESIDENT: In its first plan for this conference the program committee had a large ambition. Succeeding the general re- view at the Congress of Arts and Science it thought that we might take up in our program the progress and present status of the various types of libraries in this country and the various types of library activities, and have each treated in turn. You will see that had we done this, this paper by Miss Countryman would most excellently have cov- ered this particular activity; and it does form a model of what we should have desired to be covered in each one of the other fields and will be a very valuable contribution to our published Proceedings. Of course, the first reflection upon a statement such as this, as to so large a work already in hand is, Where is it to end? We are to have from Mr. Dewey a discussion of that question not where it is to end, but where it should end. For various reasons, however, it will be de- sirable that Mr. Dewey's address and dis- cussion be withheld until' we can resume the larger room. The program committee, there- fore, suggests that we take a step now to a rather distant field and hear something of New Zealand. The paper by Mr. Baillie, librarian of the Public Library at Wellington, cannot, unfortunately, be read by Mr. Baillie himself, who is not with us, but an abstract of it will be read by Mr. Ranck. This pro- gram as a whole, in its arrangement for par- ticular days, was necessarily somewhat pro- visional. The program committee will have to take liberties with the order of papers for a particular day and somewhat as to the order of days. We have but one session each day. There is not a paper on the entire list that any one of us can really afford to miss, and I think that the Executive Board of the Association has a right to expect that mem- bers will attend as a matter of course, and that if they are disappointed at not hearing at a particular session the particular paper that they came to hear, they will have something else by way of recompense, but the loss will not be the real fault of the administration. We have compacted, in order to get into this single session, what we could not with any conscience leave out, and everything that has remained upon the program cannot be missed without a serious loss. SAMUEL H. RANCK read an abstract of the paper by Herbert Baillie on PROGRESS AND PRESENT STATUS OF LIBRARIES IN NEW ZEALAND. (See p. 89.) The PRESIDENT: Among the papers which we have down from Great Britain are three which will be printed in full in the Proceed- ings and are to be presented to us in abstract. Those three may, we think, be dissociated 208 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. from the rest of the group and submitted now. The first, on Library Legislation; the second, on Production of Books; and the third, on Work with Children. Dr. BERNARD C. STEINER read an abstract of the paper by John J. Ogle on LIBRARY LEGISLATION IN GREAT BRITAIN. (See p. 37.) FRANK B. BIGELOW read an abstract of the paper by Walter Powell, on PRODUCTION OF BOOKS IN GREAT BRITAIN. (See p. 50.) Miss L. E. STEARNS read an abstract of the paper by John Ballinger on LIBRARY WORK WITH CHILDREN IN GREAT BRITAIN. .(See p. 46.) The president read the following cable- gram, received from Paul Otlet, secretary of the Institut International de Bibliog- raphic, Brussels: "Bibliographical Institute expresses confi- dence your Conference shall realize interna- tional co-operation." ARTHUR E. BOSTWICK read a paper by Henry Bond on RECENT LIBRARY PRACTICE IN GREAT BRITAIN. (See p. 28.) The PRESIDENT: This is the last paper which we shall have this morning. Mr. Jast is now here in person; but there are too many who failed to gain admission who would be disappointed not to both see and hear him, and, with his permission and yours, we shall reserve him, with Dr. Dewey, until to-morrow morning. The paper which we have just had was so comprehensive, so lively, so practical a presentation of problems in which almost every one of us have a practical interest that I think we should like to have some discussion or at least observa- tions upon it. Of the topics with which it dealt, three classification, cataloging and annotation will naturally be considered in our session of Thursday morning. As to some of the others we shall hope for some ob- servations to-morrow morning. In the mean- time, before we adjourn, the secretary has one or two announcements to make and the chair will state that a communication has been received from the Commissioner-General of the Siamese Royal Commission, extending greetings to this Conference and offering to all members a copy of the handbook "The Kingdom of Siam," published by the Com- mission and to be had at the Siam Building. Adjourned at 12 o'clock. THIRD SESSION. (HALL OF CONGRESSES, ST. Louis EXPOSITION, WEDNESDAY MORNING, OCT. 19.) The meeting was called to order at 9.45 o'clock by President PUTNAM. The PRESIDENT: According to the provi- sional assignment, yesterday morning was to be given to a description of library work on the Continent. As I have at various seasons informed you, the arrangement was provi- sional and the topics will be more or less shifted. We shall have this morning among other topics the paper from Mr. Jast and the address of Dr. Dewey withheld from yesterday's session. Yesterday morning we concluded our ses- sion with statements with reference to certain of the more popular activities, particularly in Great Britain. The program committee has decided to begin this morning with the statement from Denmark regarding popular libraries there, preceding with that the paper by Mr. Jast. Miss ISABEL ELY LORD read an abstract of a paper by Dr. A. S. Steenberg on POPULAR LIBRARIES IN DENMARK. (See p. 63.) The PRESIDENT: In our original plan for a review of the recent progress and present ten- dencies in each country we, of course, con- templated a systematic statement from Great Britain. Putting ourselves in communication with the Library Association of the United Kingdom we invited their co-operation and THIRD SESSION. 209 sistance. They took so much interest that ey appointed a special committee that had scheme of topics which would adequately ver that field, and their selection is indi- ted in trie six topics given on page 3 of the ogram, set down originally for yesterday orning's session. Of these the paper on Draining for librarians," by Mr. H. D. Rob- ts, of Southwark, Honorable Secretary of e Education Committee of the Library As- ciation, will be read simply by title. It will )pear in the published Proceedings.* Of the :hers, we had yesterday the papers on li- rary legislation, on production of books, on ork with children, and on recent library ractice. The latter, as the chair suggested esterday, deals with topics which among us re apt to be provocative of discussion. The snditions yesterday were not favorable for iscussion. They are better to-day. But, as ie paper deals specifically with certain topics hich are on our program to-morrow 'das- ification, cataloging, annotation, evaluation' : will be more appropriate to withhold the omments and discussion until they may be indertaken in their proper place topically. Phe sixth paper is on "Library extension," by AT. Jast, who is here. I believe that in addition to Mr. Jast the Jbrary Association of the United Kingdom lesignated two other British librarians to at- end as delegates Mr. Sutton and Mr. Plummer who would gladly have attended, )ut were prevented by urgent business in their ?wn libraries. Mr. Jast, we are happy to say, has come. He has not merely come, but he das been in the United States for over a fort- night and he has made two discoveries the librarian and the cocktail. He did not say which of them was a novelty. I feel not as president of your Association but in another capacity I feel a little responsible for this announcement by Mr. Jast, because he came to St. Louis via Washington. Librarians grow in Washington. They need to. In fact they have to grow faster there than in most other places in order to "catch up." But as to cocktails, I think I ought to bear witness that the only cocktail with which I saw our visitor make personal acquaintance was grown in * See p. 39- Ceylon, of rather dubious nativity at that. Mr. Jast is to tell us, however, of other phases of library extension besides this. L. STANLEY JAST read a paper on LIBRARY EXTENSION WORK IN GREAT BRITAIN. (See p. 34-) The PRESIDENT : We have an advantage over Mr. Jast that he did not have over his col- leagues of Great Britain whose papers have been read to us, but not by them in person. Mr. Jast is here. There are many topics which he has touched that awaken interest: many awaken curiosity. Some perhaps might suggest a challenge. I have no doubt that Mr. Jast would be happy to know that they did. Here is a chance to ask of Mr. Jast further information as to any particular points upon which he has touched as to library practice in general in Great Britain, which we have had treated somewhat in the other papers, or as to other phases of library activity upon which he, as representing the Library Association of the United Kingdom, can speak with author- ity. Miss CAROLINE MC!LVAINE: I would like to ask Mr. Jast how a library which had not al- ready a large clientele would advertise such a lecture, in order that when the lecture was given it might not be to an empty reading room. Mr. JAST: The reply is exceedingly simple. So far as our newsrooms are concerned, they are nearly always filled with people ; at all events, in the evening. The newsroom, of course, is one of the features of an English public library which differentiates it from the American libraries that I have seen. You do not make anything like as much of your news- rooms as we do. The newsroom in nearly every British public library that is to say, the room where newspapers are displayed and weekly papers, sometimes monthly periodicals as well is an exceedingly popular depart- ment of the library far too popular I think but anyhow there it is, and one of the ad- vantages of giving these talks in the reading room is that you capture a certain number of people who did not come there to hear the talk, but who are usually glad to remain and who come again to the next talk. With re- 210 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. gard to the advertising of lectures proper, this is done, in our case, by syllabus bills. A cer- tain number, perhaps thirty or forty, are struck off, placed in all the libraries of course, and displayed in shops and other institutions of various kinds, clubs and so on. In addi- tion to that we print small hand syllabuses containing a list of the lectures, with lists of books in the library treating of the subjects, and these hand syllabuses are distributed to the readers in the libraries when they come for books. The PRESIDENT read a telegram from C. H. Gould, of Montreal, expressing regret at his enforced absence, reporting progress for the Committee on Foreign Documents, of which he is chairman, and sending best wishes to the conference. The PRESIDENT: We had yesterday Miss Countryman's admirable statement of the work done by the state in aid of libraries in this country a statement necessarily in part historical, by reference, but meant to be particularly a statement of the existing conditions, the work now done. This is not the only country in which the state aids. Mr. Nyhuus is to tell us of what Norway does, through its central government, in aid of the local libraries throughout Norway. HAAKON NYHUUS : I am the first foreigner to speak, and I trust you will kindly remem- ber that we foreigners have to use a foreign tongue. I hope that when you hear me you will think of yourself as in the same position, speaking Norwegian. I should certainly not have dared to call your attention to the work done in Norway for the benefit of our 750 mainly small libraries had it not been for the kind' encouragement of your president, Dr. Putnam. Mr. NYHUUS read a paper on STATE-SUPPORTED LIBRARIES IN NORWAY. (See p. 60.) The PRESIDENT: The chair judges, from his post of observation, that to the mind of this audience things are extremely practical in Norway. We had to confess yesterday with reference to the franking of library books from research libraries to other research li- braries, not merely in Sweden but throughout the Continent, that the United States was not the only nation that has reached its twentieth century. I think we shall have to confess this morning that in certain comparisons some other countries are perhaps making steps to- wards the twenty-first. State support, a cen- tral state commission, a centralized authority, a centralized catalog an A. L. A. catalog, as it were centralized selection, printed cards our compensation must be (it is only partial) that part of Mr. Nyhuus' training was gained among us. If there is any one in this audience not of Scandanavian origin who could have presented in Norwegian a state- ment similarly lucid and equally delightful and charming in style, he has not yet been notified to the chair. The Executive Board have to report the ac- cession of another country to our conference Japan and to submit for your approval the name of Mr. Seechei Tegima, the chief commissioner of Japan, to be added to the list of honorary vice-presidents. I am sure your rising approval will be as cordial as before. (Unanimously adopted.) We have been hearing of the Decimal Sys- tem abroad. We heard of it in Russia, in New Zealand, in Australia, this morning from Norway, and as we progress throughout the Continent I have no doubt that we should hear of it in each region reached. Very com- monly, almost universally, librarians and others abroad attach to it the name of its founder, in its modern applications. We have not the slightest objection to that. It is a gratification to us to have the Decimal Sys- tem attached to Dr. Dewey. What we do in- cline to resent is that by those who have been interested in the study of the Decimal System abroad, but are not fully familiar with con- ditions in this country, Dr. Dewey has been attached to the Decimal System. We are not content to have him so limited. The decimal description of Dr. Dewey would be peculiarly inappropriate, a power decreasing as you progress. His influence be- longs fully on the other side of the point. If some slay their thousands, it would hardly be appropriate to say that one slays merely his tenths-ot-thousands ! There is no man who THIRD SESSION. 211 has meant so much to the library activities of this country, of which I spoke in my address on Monday. When I looked over the pro- ceedings of previous conferences I found that at the conference at Chicago in 1893 the pres- ident, in opening the sessions, said that he would defer any extended remarks. So far as I observed he did not later offer them. The president was Dr. Dewey. I felt rather abashed under the circumstances in submit- ting any formal address at this conference; for if one who has so much to say, and who says it with such surpassing facility, could exercise such self-denial on such an occasion, it hardly seemed becoming for me not to fol- low his example. I was not, however, quite equal to that abnegation. In a note to Bos- well you will find a reference to a visit to Litchfield of Johnson, the librarian "who propagates learning all over his diocese and advanceth knowledge to its just height." Now if we may modify that a bit and read it, "the librarian who propagates enthusiasm all over his diocese and advanceth confidence to its just height," and the diocese America, we shall have Dr. Dewey. Dr. Dewey was to discuss the proper limits of state aid. The admirable paper by Miss Countryman gave us a statement as to the work now done. Inevitably we inquire on such an occasion as this, How far beyond shall this work go? The proper limit, the feasible limit, the necessary limit; is there one? Whether Mr. Dewey has succeeded in finding it he will tell us. MELVIL DEWEY: I was asked to discuss Miss Countryman's paper, to which I listened with great interest. We cannot intelligently examine the limits of state aid without going back to fundamentals, and I haven't anything now to say but simply to restate in this con- nection the things for which some of us have stood for years. We have been on the ob- servatory, taking an outlook over the things that are being done. Come with me into the basement and let us examine our foundations. Now, any proposition that looks to broad- ening library work is going to be opposed. There are good men and women in this Asso- ciation who during all these years have in- variably been with the opposition when every new step of progress was made. When we discussed an annual meeting of the A. L. A., and the possibility of the life of the Library Journal and the library school, and printed cards, and open shelves, and annotations there were always those, wise and strong and interested, who protested that we were going too far and too fast; and yet all these things have been done and more is before us. But we need those people. The A. L. A. will do better work because of the conservative men and women that hold back. When I come, as I did last week, off the mountains in an auto- mobile weighing three thousand pounds, I was proud of the engine, but I was prouder still of the brakes that made it safe, and we ran steadier and surer to our goal and got there quicker because of these brakes and yet I confess it is more inspiring to ride on the cow-catcher than it is to be behind and al- ways holding back. Some people can't help this tendency. It reminds me of the Irishman who was driving the pig from Cork to Lim- erick. Some one said, "Where are you going with that pig?" "To Cork," said Pat. "I thought you were going to Limerick?" Says Pat, "Whist, I am going to Limerick; but don't let the pig know it." For twenty-five years we have been going to Limerick some- times, and have been a little cautious about letting the pig know it. These friends of ours do not say as much as they used to ; but they are still troubled, especially on these lines of state aid, because they feel we are doing things that we have no business to do. It has been inspiring to many of us to hear these reports from various parts of the world. We are proud to be humiliated, when we be- lieve so much in American library progress, to be told from New Zealand, from Canada, from Norway and from other parts of the world of progress so much beyond our own in postal facilities for distributing the best liter- ature. We have been content to sit still, an^ until recently some of our own people have antagonized the movement to rid ourselves of this incubus; we have been content with laws that charged as much to send the best book that we could select and buy and pay for at public expense to a man's home in sight of the library windows as it costs to send it to the other side of the world. We have been con- tent to let the worst enemy of the public li- 212 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. brary, the yellow journal, be circulated at pound rates through the mails, while we pay the highest price for the best literature that we are circulating as an educational force simply for the public good. Here are limits to state aid that ought to be removed. When the American people decide that a thing ought to be done and is a good thing, and when it is clear that a certain way is the best way and the quickest way and the cheapest way, they are not concerned any longer with the doc- trinaire who explains that it ought not to be done in that way. They say "he's harmless. Let's go do it." And now I want to repeat what I have said many times, for some of you may not have grasped all that it means. We are fortunate enough to be living in a great world move- ment. It is taking shape. Libraries have been in a kind of unsettled equilibrium, and we are now coming to the time of centering them on solid foundations, and these founda- tions are state and national aid. Let us thank all the bibliothecal gods at once that at last we have in America a National Library ready to take its place as the chief cornerstone in this new work. (Applause.) And following upon that, in this great structure that reaches all over the land, in every state there should be another cornerstone, the state library. Every year those who follow its history see the growing strength of the state li- brary, the place that it is to occupy, and yet we know very well that it has not attained the A B C in the long alphabet through which it has to go. There are two supreme con- cerns of the state: the sordid one, to build material prosperity; the high one, to raise men, to build character. No one questions that these are the two great concerns of this state and nation. And I have yet to find any intelligent man who questions, when you put these fundamental facts before him, that it is the work of the library that is the cornerstone under both of these concerns, the one essen- tial that we cannot leave out. All civilization and the wonders that it performs is based on the printed page that passes on from father to son the accumulated wisdom of the race. The animal in the forest does what the animals of the same kind have done for a thousand gen- erations before; the savage passes his ac- quirements on orally from father to son and makes some progress perhaps; but the civil- ized man who does things like this wonderful Exposition about us, beyond the dreams of human possibility a few generations ago, the civilized man who does this, does it because he is all the while standing on the shoulders of the men who have gone before in all countries and in all ages. And it is the printed page, of which we are the official cus- todians, that has made the wonders of modern civilization. This is not the theory of the librarian; it is not the dream of an enthu- siast. It is the simple fact that we know if we stop to think. Then, on the other side repeating the statement that I made first at the last International Congress in London the supreme thing, the building of character, works back to the same beginning. The old statement of old Mother Church in regard to this holds perfectly true : that reflection begets motive, and motive begets action, and action repeated begets habit, and habit begets char- acter. Now, what makes people reflect? It is no longer so much the pulpit or the rostrum or the chance remark. What sets you think- ing on some important subject? Something that you have read ; something you have been talking of with a friend. What made the friend speak of it? Wasn't it something that he read, or that his friend read? Is it not true that in the great majority of cases reflec- tion among thinking men and women is based in the first, usually, or the second or at least the third remove, on something that was read ? So that this is perfectly true : that reading begets reflection, and reflection begets motive, and motive begets action, and action begets habit, and habit begets that supreme thing, character. Ignatius Donnelly once said the state might as well furnish boots as books. Do boots carry on the accumulated wisdom of the world and pass it from father to son, through all the generations, and build material prosperity? It is books, not boots that beget reflection and build character. Be- fore we discuss what limits state aid should have, we face this fundamental fact that our profession is charged with the custody of the printed page, and that the printed page is the cornerstone of the great concerns of the state. A second thought. We in our libraries are THIRD SESSION. 213 duplicating exactly the story of the American public school. We have to recognize the public library as one-half, easily one-half of our system of education. We are committed absolutely in the civilized world to the prin- ciple that an education for every child born into the world is not only his birthright and the duty of the state, but its privilege. No civilized community dares to withhold that education. But it is a modern thought. It is of our own time. Education is in two parts. The school education that is carried on by elementary schools and high schools and col- leges and professional and technical schools and universities, the education carried on in the regular teaching institutions that is only half, the half that deals with people in youth for a limited period. It does not cover all of life for people who are engaged in other pursuits, who must get their education in the margins of life, holidays, evenings and Sun- days and vacation time ; that, the home educa- tion that reaches all through life for all our people, young and old, is quite as important a factor as the school education. In 1876, when this Association was organ- ized in Philadelphia, we came together to cele- brate the centennial of our independence, and curiously just that year we began the eman- cipation of the library from the trammels of association with schools and with churches and with various bodies that had recognized something of the power of the book and had begun to build libraries. We began an eman- cipation looking to our independence, just as the school had been going through the process of emancipating itself from the domination of the church. It is not so long ago. In my own time, young as I am, I remember very well a conference with that great figure in American education, Henry Barnard, so re- cently gone over to the majority, who went as a young man to nearly thirty different states, and by the courtesy of their legislature stood before them and in almost the words that I use to you to-day pleaded for the establish- ment, at public expense, of a public school system as a part of the state's organization. Curiously the first conference of librarians ever held in the world, in 1853, was held in the city of New York, in the city and the year in which the public turned over $600,000 of property to the Public School Society of New York and established the department of public instruction. Now we have come to a time when most of the states have established state library com- missions. New laws are being made, larger appropriations are granted, legislatures are facing the question, What do these requests mean? And we who attend the A. L. A. should be prepared at' all times to defend our position, not by dealing superficially with symptoms on the outside, not by saying "books are a good thing, it is a good thing to give information, and inspiration, and inno- cent recreation," but by going straight to fundamentals and saying to our finance com- mittees and our governors, "This is not a question that admits of discussion." We should refuse absolutely to discuss it on any plane except that the modern public library is an absolute essential of modern civilization, and that will solve very largely the question of the limits of state aid. The limits are those of fruitful fields and furnished funds. Just a word as to the developments of state aid. The state library is bound to be for the state what the national library should be for the nation, the center of this work. There are those who still cannot see why this should be, but it is inevitable. It is perfectly useless to discuss it. We are coming to demand a single library interest for every state. We have had in New York for half a century this unfortunate duplication in education. Most of you know that after agonies that have ex- tended over years last year we put dynamite under the whole foolish duplication, and out of the pieces that have come down we have organized a better system than the state ever had before, and with larger appropriation, and we are going to do better work in New York than we have ever done before, under the man of all men in the country best fitted to head the work, Andrew S. Draper, late president of the University of Illinois. The other states will have to unify this work in the same way. The state library started probably in most states with the conception of a law library for the courts ; then some of them added to it the historical archives, with 214 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. the thought that the history of the state ought to be preserved. In some others the historical society grew up with it, and we had a divided library law and history. The next development was books for the state de- partments, and that has been slow. Many states yet have not recognized the duty of the state library to provide the tools for every department of the state, with which it might do its work best ; and it was a much later conception that the state library was really the library for the whole state, encyclopaedic in its character, belonging to all the citizens of the state and bound to make its rules so that its books might be available to all parts of the state. Then came the other functions that have started often from the state library commissions. Every commission, of course, sends out printed matter, keeps up correspond- ence, and exercises a certain amount of super- vision and direction. The commissions have four natural functions: the founding of new libraries, the improvement of old libraries, as- sistance in the selection and perhaps in the buying of books and aid as a clearing-house for duplicates. Then comes the question of more definite aid, and the most natural step is lending from the state library, and the de- velopment of the home library and the house library in what we call the travelling library system. We are sending what we call the house library to individual homes in New York, so that a farmer in a distant part of the state, away from library privileges, may have a collection of ten books to keep all winter, adapted as well as possible to the dif- ferent members of his family. A next step is to give books the Massachusetts system of buying books and giving them to a library to keep and another is to give money out- right, coupled necessarily with the provision that the community shall raise an equal amount from local sources. So we lend books and give money, but we haven't done the main thing yet For that the best example is the state of Wisconsin, where they have skipped some of the steps that others thought more essential and that were much easier, and have given the library the personal touch, as Frank Hutchins, of Wisconsin, gave his very life to build up the libraries of his state. The trav- elling librarian the field librarian perhaps is the best word is one of the functions of the state that should be more cultivated if we are going to build up this great library move- ment. It is not alone in these directions that the state is to reach out further. There is no reason why we should send books if the same thing can be accomplished better with other things, and we are beginning now to take the next step in sending pictures, music, speci- mens from the museum. We tried an ex- periment last year that we are going on with this year in stimulating interest in choice lit- erature by a picture evening. We took the subject "Evangeline," with illustrations from photographs made by Rev. Mr. Compton, him- self a native of Nova Scotia, who spent three or four years in collecting the material, choos- ing carefully the historic costumes of the time, grouping his figures and getting as nearly as possible the scenes that we should have had if we had followed Longfellow's poem and had photographed from point to point. The story of Evangeline, in 150 pic- tures, was put upon the curtain while it was read by a good reader, the pictures moving across the scene, so that the audience took in the story not alone with the ear, but with the eye. It was an experiment and I watched in the audience, and I was immensely pleased to see among all classes of people an interest beyond what we had anticipated. An interest was developed in Evangeline and in that coun- try that could not have been developed so rapidly in any other way, as by this evening of pictures, helping them to see as well as to hear. We have had Miles Standish in the same way, and this year we have Hiawatha. Of course I believe in the circulation of pic- tures just as freely as of books whenever they will do the work. Just as proper a func- tion for state money is to supply in all our libraries the perforated paper for music. If you study the advertising pages of magazines they will tell you better than any other index how rapidly the mechanical piano and organ player is being distributed all over this coun- try. Now, there is no use of trying to make people understand art if they cannot see good pictures. You cannot cultivate music with- out hearing good music. What are people away from the great centers to do? How THIRD SESSION. 215 often will it be their lot to hear one of Beeth- oven's great symphonies? Once in five or six years, by good fortune, they may hear a competent orchestra play it. And yet with these simple piano-players a farmer out on the Western prairie, a lumberman back in the Adirondacks and this is not a fancy sketch may play the world's best music, over and over, and they and their children may hear the best music that the world has made. Why shouldn't Beethoven's Fifth Symphony be sent from the library to a home that cannot afford to buy those costly rolls, and played there as often as they want it, for a week or two weeks, just as you would send them Shakespeare's "Macbeth"? Such work is within our limits. The study clubs are within our limits. We have now over six hundred of those clubs scattered over the state that are registered in our state library. These are not desultory clubs, doing all kinds of work, but six hundred clubs that are taking systematic, continuous work on a single topic for at least ten consecutive meetings, and are learn- ing the charm of doing a piece of substantial work, learning to study, getting results. We help make their programs; we lend them books ; we lend them lanterns and slides and screens, and send them photographs, and en- courage the people everywhere who are try- ing to carry on educational work or to pro- mote culture in any practical and wise way; and all the extension of teaching that Mr. Jast told us about is within the proper limits of state aid. Lists of available lectures, whether for a single lecture or a full course; help in laying out programs, provision of books and pictures, telling people where they can find instruction in the summer and by correspondence on any topic in short, it is within the proper limits of state aid that any man, woman or child should be able to come to the public library and ask for help if he wishes to go on with his education, if he wishes to contribute to the widest practical culture. We have great things before us and the public believe in them. There are no ap- propriations that are granted with less oppo- sition than library appropriations, because the state is learning to believe that nothing pays better than to remove the limits and to let the library do the work that is needed. Now, when we climb laboriously to the heights of Pisgah let us look back, not on the dusty deserts and the Red Sea past, but over to the Promised Land, under the radiant bow that a good God puts in the intellectual heaven of every man and woman who has faith to look forward; and when we finish this meeting and go back to our homes, let us go forward toward this broad ideal, and look out and not in, forward and not back, up and not down, and, above all, lend a hand. The PRESIDENT: If Mr. Dewey has con- ceived a limit, it is quite obvious that he con- siders it not yet within sight. And you note a very interesting concurrence. Mr. Leh- mann, on Monday evening, gave us a most in- vigorating address, peculiarly invigorating from the confidence it expressed in the grad- ual amelioration of society and peculiarly be- cause that confidence was expressed by a man of affairs. On the other hand, we have here the confidence which we are well wonted to, of the men and women in the profession who justly exalt their own vocation and its oppor' tunities, because without that exaltation the work could not be done and progress made. I suppose Mr. Lehmann would call himself a meliorist. I believe we always think of Dr. Dewey as an optimist. But there is not much difference between the terms. No optimist believes that we can turn over the world be- tween now and to-morrow morning. It is all a question of gradual amelioration. And after all the question, when we have started, is not so much where we may have to stop one of these days, but whether we need stop now and here. Mr. Lehmann referred to certain discouraging phenomena to which the cynic is apt to point as evidence that the world is going the wrong way. Well, what is the other side? He spoke of corruption in the public service. The question is not whether cor- ruption exists, but what is the attitude of the community toward it. Is it looked upon with nonchalance and with tolerance, with a sort of a jaunty indifference, or does it now awaken indignation? We see flabby books published in immeasurable quantities, but does not the good book survive? We see plays produced day after day that are flabby, but does not the good play make its way? I have heard actors say so with comfort and confi- dence. The question is, Are things on the 2l6 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. whole getting better with reference to our op- portunities? Have we yet gone a step be- yond the approval of the community? Dr. Dewey says that we haven't; that he has never heard a criticism expressed by the gen- eral public on its behalf as to any of these undertakings that we consider vital to our work, and he may justly say, Why stop now to consider where we may have to stop gen- erations hence? At first we thought of having the other side represented on the program, of having somebody who would be more apt to speak upon the conservative side, but we came to the conclusion that at such a confer- ence as this the conservative would be inap- propriate, even if we could find a man to pre- sent it. We are dealing not with pauses but with progress; not with limits but with op- portunities ; and we haven't any place for the doubter nor for the cynic. On the whole I am inclined to think that Dr. Dewey was cor- rect and appropriate to this occasion in not showing us the limit. Adjourned at 12 o'clock. FOURTH SESSION. .(HALL OF CONGRESSES, ST. Louis EXPOSITION, THURSDAY MORNING, OCT. 20.) President PUTNAM called the meeting to order at 9.50 o'clock. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The PRESIDENT announced that the Council had selected nominees for office for the com- ing year, in accordance with sec. 17 of the constitution, and that these nominations had been posted at headquarters. Other nomina- tions sent in with the signatures of five members of the Association before three o'clock would be added to the official ballot. The election was announced for Friday morning, and the two assistant secretaries, Mr. A. D. Dickinson and Mr. M. G. Wyer were designated as tellers. Dr. R. G. THWAITES made a brief state- ment, on behalf of those members interested in historical societies, regarding various ex- hibits connected with the Exposition that possessed special historical and bibliograph- ical interest. The PRESIDENT: It was a confirmation of the theory of the program committee that the present would be an opportune season for a review of existing library conditions not merely in this country but abroad, that an in- dependent inquiry resulting in just such a statement was undertaken by the editor of Public Libraries. The results are given in the October number of Public Libraries. This number was ready for distribution sev- eral days ago, but at the request of the pro- gram committee was withheld until this time to prevent any misapprehension as to what these papers consisted of. They cover, in title, the libraries in Germany, modern Brit- ish libraries, public libraries in Austria, pub- lic libraries in Denmark, Swedish libraries, Dutch libraries and other regions, and in some cases the articles are by writers who are down as contributors to our program. They are not the same articles as were to be papers for our program, but there might have been that misapprehension, which would have been unjust to the statements that we are pro- posing to have to-day; and the editor of Public Libraries very courteously withheld the distribution of this number until this time when that apprehension need not exist. Copies may be had at the headquarters, and there are also a score or more copies here for any who desire them. If it be true that the fame of a librarian may not be lasting before the general public for those administrative qualities which have gone to make success in his work, that is not true as to his reputation within his own profession. Especially is it not true that a librarian who has accomplished much and given great distinction to the office that he holds will be allowed by the intelligent au- thorities of the institution with which he has been connected to be succeeded by one who will not hold up the traditions of that office. A standard has been created; there is a plateau of achievement upon which his suc- cessor must stand. It needs no description of the work of Karl Dziatzko to indicate what the presence here of Dr. Pietschmann, his successor at Gottingen, must mean in the li- FOURTH SESSION. 217 brary world of Germany and must mean as a recognition of Dr. Pietschmann's abilities for that office. Dr. Pietschmann has kindly consented to say a word to us in estimate of the position Prof. Dziatzko held in Germany, the work he did. He has deprecated his use of English and has rather preferred, if we would permit him, after beginning in English to relapse into German. I said that I thought there had not been any vote passed making English the exclusive language of this conference, and that we should all be complimented rather than otherwise to have any of our foreign friends speak to us in the tongue which is the home tongue to them. It takes us with them. Dr. PIETSCHMANN read -a paper on KARL DZIATZKO. (See p. 87.) At the request of the President, Dr. AN- DERSSON, Honorary Vice-president, took the chair. Mr. PUTNAM: From Italy the program, under the session of yesterday morning, had included two papers, one entitled "Recent general progress in Italy," by Dr. Biagi; the other, the "General library situation in Italy," by Signer Chilovi. Dr. Chilovi's contribution was not a paper but a communication ad- dressed to the president of the Association in answer to the invitation to participate. As the recipient in your behalf, of that com- munication, I ask the privilege of reading it to you, in translation. Mr. PUTNAM then read Dr. Chilovi's com- munication, on SOME PENDING MATTERS OF IMPORTANCE. (See p. 55.) Dr. ANDERSSON retired from the chair, which was taken by Mr. PUTNAM. The PRESIDENT: It seems to the president of the Association that the letter from Dr. Chilovi accepting the plan of this conference as upon a high plane with purposes of inter- national utility is not merely most interesting in itself, but likely to be most serviceable to the purpose we had in view. Dr. Biagi having at the Congress of Arts and Science contributed one of the two lead- ing statements there given one of which was upon the history and the other upon the fundamental concepts of libraries in the gen- eral scheme which treated all sciences might rightly feel that as that section of that Congress was in a sense preliminary to our conference, he had the/re made his contribu- tion to our conference. He has. And yet I am sure that you would not be satisfied not to hear in person from him at our own conference, because there is no librarian upon the continent whose name has been more in- teresting to those of us who have either vis- ited foreign libraries or been interested in the library movement abroad the custodian of a distinguished collection, full of the choicest flavor, in a building in itself a monument, Dr. Biagi has not confined himself, as he might have been tempted to do, to the bibliographic research for which he had such talents so admirably cultivated, but has been interested in the promotion of all library activities in Italy, in the education of librarians, in the perfection of the apparatus of libraries. There is no one, I suppose, upon the Continent who has followed with more assiduity all the liter- ature published, even on this side of the water, regarding even the more technical, dry, mechanical part of library administra- tion that part which has had to receive more attention from us here in America be- cause of the numbers with which we deal than would be supposed to be necessary under existing conditions in Europe. Dr. Biagi has had all these varying interests. You never would be satisfied with your program cominittee if they had assented to let this week pass without your seeing him in person. Dr. Biagi. Dr. BIAGI read A NOTE ON ITALIAN LIBRARY AFFAIRS. (See p. 57-) The PRESIDENT: Dr. Chilovi has said in the communication that I read to you that the library subjects which touched only one par- ticular country might well be treated in papers to be printed and that we should, at 218 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. this conference, deal only with subjects of international concern. The difficulty with that is that there is not a subject of im- portance of local library concern that is not of international library concern. There is not a word that Dr. Biagi has told us of the conditions, the prospects, the spirit, the needs in Italy that is not of surpassing interest to us. We do not, in the case of libraries, form international conferences for the sake of making questions international. We form them because all library questions that are of real moment to-day are already international, and a conference that is international is merely a recognition of this. The program committee was not, I see, mistaken in insist- ing that we should hear from Dr. Biagi. During Dr. Biagi's address your president rose on your behalf in recognition of the proffer of a gift. In your behalf he is very proud to accept for the records and the li- brary of the American Library Association this superb new edition of Muratori, by the best, most critical editorship which Italy can now provide, and one could scarcely say more. I do not know how large a library we have already. I think we should be rather pleased if we had not begun one, in order that this might form the foundation stone. (Applause.) And in your behalf I wish to accept not in behalf of the American Li- brary Association merely but of this con- ference I wish to accept the suggestion with which Dr. Biagi concluded his paper, that this conference might see the birth, un- der these favoring auspices, of an interna- tional federation of library associations and organizations, including bibliographic socie- ties. It would be premature for me to in- dicate any details upon this subject. It is a matter as to which perhaps some expression will appropriately be formulated to-morrow. But in your behalf I accept that suggestion to be laid before you, and if there be a parlia- mentary distinction between accepting and adopting, I am sure that in this case any de- lay in its adoption will be due only to the fact that an international federation requires action of other bodies besides our own. We yesterday considered some phases of the library movement on the popular side, and the papers that came to us, from Great Britain, for the most part, dealt with ques- tions that touch the more popular side of library work rather than the research side. Upon our program for to-day are questions practical to library progress.. There is the research library in Norway, although Mr. Nyhuus did not speak of it; his scheme was other; there is the research library in Den- mark as to which we are to have the state- ment from Dr. Lange * ; there are the re- search libraries in Sweden. It is curious how non-descriptive the science of geography is and of cartography. A cartographer makes first a map of Eu- rope and he puts it up before us. We accept it for what he intends it to be, but it is not our Europe. Every one of us has a Europe different from his, and he cannot construct it. We have individualized Europe as we have individualized the rest of the earth's surface, each one of us. We use figures in common, but I believe it is the fact that our individual concepts of the running scale of figures differ ; that in the case of certain peo- ple the numbers from I to 4 seem to run up and then dip down to 5 and then up to 6 and so on. These are recognized phenomena al- though we use the same numbers and for practical purposes use them in much the same way. Now, in our conception of the map of Europe we have similar individualities. It is not a flat map; it is a relief. The tourist who has been through Europe constructs ex- periences upon various places that he has vis- ited. If his experience has been only the most trivial, where the muffins were good or the tea was bad, there is something left there, a little elevation or a depression that forms for him a certain permanent variation of the earth's surface at that point. I think we have all experienced this. And if it is not the question of the tourist at all I mean the man who travels physically but merely the tourist in mental matters, over the mental field, he also is constructing reliefs all over Europe. The man who is educated, who is interested in one field of science, sees grad- ually rising an elevation of interest in that field another man, another elevation; and they won't be the same elevations and the * Dr. Lange's paper was not read, but is printed among the papers. (See p. 67.) FOURTH SESSION. same places ; and the cartographer won't have noticed them at all. Now, the bibliographer and the bibliophile construct such elevations all over Europe; and so do the theologian, the student of ecclesiastical history, the stu- dent of texts. The student of texts thinks of codices, the great codex at St. Peters- burg, for instance, and that forms for him an elevation; another in the British Museum, and there is one; another in the Vatican, and there is one. And among all these there will be one that stands up on a very high pinnacle, and that is a certain one at Upsala. The in- terest of the bibliophile in it is different from the interest of the philologist, but to each it stands upon a pinnacle and gives a radiance to Upsala. This book is the version of the scriptures by Bishop Ulfilas; that is, not by him, but translated into Gothic by his direc- tion. It is one of the precious books of the world. The bibliophile looks upon it with reverence as a book of priceless dignity, and the philologist as the foundation of our knowledge of the Gothic. But Upsala has, with this great codex, a university, a very ancient seat of learning; and the university has a library, a most interesting library; and the town is a charming town. Those of you who have reached, as most of you will, Stock- holm, should never pass over beyond without going to Upsala, and if, as I did last autumn, you have the fortune to come t,o Upsala on a lovely autumn day when the brown leaves are crackling under your feet, and come into this tranquil old town, with its charming uni- versity and its air of sedate and tranquil scholarship, and if, beyond all, you find on that lucky day the vice-librarian to receive you, that will be a radiant day indeed in your recollection of Europe. ( Applause.) And now, Dr. Andersson. Dr. Andersson's contribution to our program is, from his great amiability and most obliging readiness, to be various. Part of it will, however, only appear in print. We shall be able through him to have in our printed Proceedings a systematic statement particularly for each of the great research libraries of Sweden, a systematic statement concerning those libra- ries which will form in itself a valuable mon- ograph. But I said to him, in behalf of the program committee, that our interest went beyond mere historical or analytical state- ment of the general conditions and statistics; that we were to take up at this morning session some questions of practical practice and that it might form a very proper intro- duction to the consideration of such ques- tions to hear how they were doing some of these things in those research libraries which have existed the University of Up- sala has existed since the fifteenth century which have existed for years, have been acquired from various sources, have had a picturesque and checkered career, have gener- ally been much embarrassed for space in which to grow and facilities for administra- tion; and what Dr. Andersson will treat this morning will be some of these practices which are common to the three great research li- braries of Sweden, particularizing only where their practice differs. ' Dr. ANDERSSON read part of a paper on RESEARCH LIBRARIES OF SWEDEN. .(See p. 71.) The PRESIDENT: I notice no face did not show interest, but I noticed many that showed surprise at the description of some parts of these processes, the practices in these research libraries. They are very usual in many research libraries abroad, and that is particularly why we asked Dr. Andersson to recite them to you this morning. It is quite evident that many of them are such as you cannot adopt. It may be healthy, never- theless, to remember that in the research li- braries of Europe learning has flourished. We are now coming to the region of con- troversy. We have this morning scheduled for treatment of course we shall only be- gin with it classification and cataloging, annotation, which you may call "evaluation" or "estimate" or "critical appreciation" or anything else that may avoid hurting some people's feelings sometimes or all people's feelings at other times. Most of our papers have of course been papers that have interest for us for their spirit and fact, the facts which they set before us, and for many other qualities, but at a conference such as this we cannot have omitted some discussion of 22O ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. certain of the fundamental problems of li- brary practice upon which opinion differs. If we do not get a difference of opinion here, if that difference is not expressed with some warmth, the program committee will be dis- appointed. The first subject is classification, upon which we have had a contribution from Dr. Focke of the library at Posen, who has theo- rized much upon it, and a brief contribution from the chief classifier of the Library of Congress. We were hopeful of a contribution from Mr. Biscoe, of course; our thoughts would naturally turn to him; but he was un- able to prepare it. Mr. Martel of the Library of Congress is not here, and neither his paper nor Dr. Focke's will be read in full, but Dr. Richardson, who also, as you know, has given much attention to the theory of classification, will present some of the fea- tures suggested in those two papers, with some comments of his own. Dr. RICHARDSON gave a summary of the papers by Dr. Focke and Mr. Martel on CLASSIFICATION which are printed elsewhere. (See p. 127, 132.) W. C. LANE: I am pleased and interested to see the suggestion made by Dr. Focke in his theoretical paper, that the grouping of the minor subjects for ultimate subjects of a classified catalog can be improved by, in many cases, arranging them in alphabetical order under classified headings. This is precisely what has been done for the last forty years by the catalog of the Harvard Library. Planned in 1865, I believe it was modified somewhat since that time as the subject has developed, but that is precisely the principle followed. It is a classified subject catalog, arranged entirely in alphabet- ical order. W. I. FLETCHER: May I ask Dr. Dewey to answer a question? I take great inter- est in the prospective new edition of the Decimal classification which has been re- ferred to, and my question is, by what method, in a general way, is it hoped to meet the necessity of the introduction of quite new subjects the recasting, as we may say, of such subjects as come up nowadays in so- ciology and in the new views taken of the philosophical sciences. Using the Decimal classification myself and attempting to adapt it, I confess to serious difficulty in this matter of recasting whole divisions. I should like to ask if he can give us a hint of what it is hoped to do in the matter of making a new edition which shall meet the demands of the future; whether we may expect in the new edition a recasting of departments where there have been radical changes in scientific classification. I may instance sociology as one of the most noteworthy. Dr. DEWEY : We found, in checking over the users of the classification and asking their advice, a very general agreement on this principle : that it would be unwise to make many very radical changes because the number of users is so large. In view of the amount of cataloging that has been done by the present scheme the cost of changing would be so serious that we found nine- tenths of the people favored rather the plan of providing for new subjects by introducing them where they could be added, not exactly as we should have done if we were doing it for the first time, but in a way to provide practically for every subject. We have been actively at work on the new edition for the last two years. The work, which was well advanced, was suspended because of the "A. L. A. catalog," but now that that is off the press we are going to work on the classifica- tion. We are expecting almost any day the work from Brussels on which they have been doing so much, and of course it is ex- ceedingly important that we should be in har- mony in international use. I myself believe that it is foolish to dream of recasting and remaking a classification over twenty-five years old to fit new theories. The old books exist; they have been cataloged; they have been numbered. If we could change cer- tain details we should be glad to, it would be a great desideratum; but it wouldn't pay at all for the cost. Take an extreme case. Everybody recognizes that it would be much better if History and Philology changed places. That would bring History next to FOURTH SESSION. 221 Sociology, with which it is closely allied, and would bring Philology next to Literature, with which it is closely allied. I have urged people for many years to arrange those classes that way. But although it is a very simple thing to say that all the Q'S are changed to 4's, and all the 43 to Q'S, it means hopeless confusion in the catalog as used. I do not think it is wise to improve our theory at so practical a cost. Even if we tried to do it, the great majority of libraries would not follow, on account of the expense, and our numbers would be badly jumbled. We got that as the opinion of the great majority of users. We have no theories in regard to this except to attain the maximum of usefulness. I do not think there is anyone in our library who cares a rap for the fact that the classi- fication has been associateed with my name. It never occurs to me as a thing that I have any interest in, except a responsibility to try to make it useful. We shall go to work on it again this fall, and if any one has any fur- ther suggestions that you haven't already made in writing, if you will send them in to us they will all receive full consideration. We do not feel at liberty to decide the matter alone. We consult constantly, especially with our friends in Europe who have done so much work in this matter; and where they have already worked out a solution even if we think we know a little better solution, we think it is much better to take theirs than try to make an improvement at the expense of lack of harmony. Harmony is worth more than theoretical perfection. There are some subjects, as Mr. Fletcher says, where the changes have been so radical that we shall simply have to explode them; but they are only a few. I think the result will be that we shall have a classification that is mostly a modification, that will work with the old with a minimum of change, and that will not mean serious expense for a library to adapt itself to. The changes will be in subjects where there is not a great volume of old books. May I repeat most earnestly this word : that we are simply trying to represent the wishes of those who are using this method for numbering books. The PRESIDENT : This is not a question for America alone. Are we not to hear from abroad, from Brussels, for instance? Mr. La Fontaine. Mr. LA FONTAINE: Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, I must speak in English. It is not very easy for me, but I will try to ex- plain what we have done and what are the difficulties we have encountered in develop- ing the Decimal classification of Mr. Dewey. As he has said, we have to save things that we must change as little as possible. It was possible for us, for all the divisions, to pre- serve all the x numbers of the first Decimal classification. We have now only two great difficulties. One is chemistry, which has been so transformed in the last few years; the other is mathematics. In mathematics we have asked the first mathematicians of Eu- rope to help us in developing the original scheme, but they all answer that it is not pos- sible; that ideas in mathematics are so differ- ent now from what they were before that a radical change must be made. We have not taken a resolution on that question, because it is very hard to change a matter so divided as this division is now in the Decimal classi- fication, and we hope it will be possible to keep what exists for the older books, because the old ideas in mathematics exist. So I think it is necessary to maintain, as far as possible, the subdivisions of the main sub- division 51. We hope that we can come to an understanding with the new mathemati- cians and make a subdivision from one of the subdivisions already existing. The new edi- tion, our French edition, is not printed now. All the other parts will be printed and will be before you to-morrow, I hope. The great question is the question of history. We think that all the old divisions can be maintained but that new ones can be introduced without changing the old divisions. We have observed by chance that all dates can be written deci- mally; so all the years, centuries and even minute dates, as the date of the French Rev- olution, can be written decimally if you put zero before the numbers of the months and days which have only one figure. Take the date of the i4th of July, 1789, the date of the French Revolution. You may write it 222 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. "1789 07 14" and that number is a decimal number. So you can classify all dates under a decimal scheme, using the dates of the months, and we think it is the easiest system to use. The great difference which now exists be- tween the American decimal classification and ours is that we have placed between paren- theses all the form subdivisions, and the geo- graphical numbers. Instead of writing "914.4" for geographical France we write "91(44)." We have done it because geo- graphical numbers are used in all possible subdivisions. Thus "Salaries in Europe" will be "331.2(4)." If we add directly the number 4 to the number 331.2, we will have "331.24," having two interpretations, one a subdivision of the question of salary and the other the salaries in France; and to avoid such confusion we have put all geographical numbers in parentheses. I think I have said enough for you to see that what Dr. Dewey has said is true, and that it will be possible to enlarge the classi- fication as it exists now so that it will be un- necessary to reform all that has been done until now. The little differences that exist will be very small and it will be easy to use the old cards as they are now and to bring them together with the new cards which will be printed with the new scheme. Adjourned at 12.30. FIFTH SESSION. (HALL OF CONGRESSES, ST. Louis EXPOSITION, FRIDAY MORNING, OCT. 21.) The meeting was called to order by Presi- dent PUTNAM at 9.45 o'clock. The PRESIDENT: The first portion of this morning's session will be devoted to that sec- tion of the program under the caption "Bib- liographic undertakings of international con- cern," and the president turns over the gavel to the senior vice-president, who is to conduct this portion of the session, having himself ar- ranged for it. Dr. RICHARDSON then took the chair, and spoke, in introduction of the topics to follow, on INTERNATIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHY. (See p. 93.) The CHAIRMAN: I am very glad that the arrangement was made for me to take the chairmanship for a few moments this morn- ing, if for no other reason than that it gives me the opportunity to say that it is to the world attitude of our president, the Libra- rian of Congress, that we owe not only the successful inception and progress of this in- ternational conference, but the live hope that we have that the American attitude, under his leadership, towards matters of interna- tional concern, will always be one of co- operation rather than rivalry, and of earnest endeavor to do our share in the co-operative work of the world. This word "internation- al" is the keynote of all meetings of our conference at this time. The difference be- tween this session and other sessions does not lie therefore in its international character, but in the word "bibliography," and more particularly with bibliography as applied to practical results. Now applied bibliography, as treated this morning, includes the co- operative catalog and the co-operative bibli- ography intended to be used for catalog purposes. We have to do, in the program this morning, with the international catalog and the international bibliography which may be used as a catalog. To the first class belong the paper by Dr. Fick on the Prussian Gesamtkatalog and the paper of Dr. Anders- son on the Accessions-katalog of Sweden ; and to the other aspect of applied bibliog- raphy which may be used as a catalog belong the papers of Dr. Adler and Mr. La Fontaine, and from another point of view the papers of Miss Hasse and Mr. Thompson. Now it has been my fortune to need more or less to use manuscripts, and Dr. Putnam has asked me to say a word regarding the extreme courtesy that I have met with in this use among the European libraries, so many of whom are represented here to-day. Time would fail if I were to begin to repeat the innumerable courtesies of foreign libra- rians in the matter of special facilities and special loans. When, e.g., the Laurentian Library was about to be closed for a num- FIFTH SESSION. 223 ber of days and Dr. Biagi saw my face fall, "Why," said he, "Let's see. This is a manu- script absolutely unique. Its illustrations are such that it would be a world disaster to have it lost. Almost anything else I would be glad to let you take elsewhere, but about this I don't know. But after all," he said, "it is for scholarship, and if you like I will send it over to the university library and you can work on it during the vacation here." So he sent it over to another part of the city and I was able to work it through. That is char- acteristic of what I have found in Italy, and Germany, and all over. But it is not of that phase that I was to speak. What I was to speak about is the sending of manuscripts from one library to another, even from one country to another, and that not only for the native but for the stranger from abroad, as a matter of inter- national courtesy. One summer I wanted manuscripts from the west, north and south of France. The question rose : Shall I travel to all those places? They were not manu- scripts of absolutely the first importance for my purposes, but they were manuscripts I ought to see for that particular work. But must 1 go to all parts of France for them? No. At the National Library in Paris they gathered those together for me, and I was able to see in two or three days what would have taken me as many weeks to get around to, and what seemed remarkable and even unnecessary courtesy I was not allowed even to pay expenses of transportation. The last time I was abroad I wanted something similar in Germany. There were two manu- scripts at Leipzig and one at Vienna which it would have required long special trips to see, so I wrote to the two libraries. Without any concern whatever, with the utmost cour- tesy and the utmost promptness, the manu- scripts were sent me Vienna to Munich, Leipzig to Munich and there I was able to use them with half a dozen Munich manu- scripts all together, to a great saving of ex- pense in time and money. When our govern- ment gives us the reasonable rates for postage on library books for which we hope, we may be able to do as well for one another and for foreign visitors in the matter of inter-library loans as they do abroad, but not until then. Mr. BOWKER : Before you pass to the papers, may I make this 1 suggestion, in line with your remarks a suggestion perhaps to the com- mittee on resolutions : A service to one is a service to all and I think it would be grace- ful at least in the American Library Asso- ciation to recognize thd service done to Amer- ican scholars by our friends from abroad. I would, therefore, suggest to the committee on resolutions that in expressing our gratifica- tion at the presence of foreign representatives they also record the gratification of American librarians at the most liberal and generous treatment which American scholars have had at the hands of our foreign brethren. (Ap- plause.') The CHAIRMAN : I ask all those who would like to confirm this recommendation which Mr. Bowker suggests to raise their hands. (Unanimously adopted.) It is unanimously supported. In taking up this portion of the pro- gram the order has been somewhat inverted. Taking first the Prussian Gesamtkatalog, I regret to say that Dr. Pick's paper, which is on the way here, has not come to hand and cannot be read therefore at this time. There was a certain delay in conse- quence of having to submit it to the Minis- terium, and the result was that although I had word last night that it would be sent, it has not yet arrived, and we miss from the oral, but not we trust from the printed, Proceedings this very interesting example of the application of this co-operative method to actual catalog work.* The paper of Dr. Andersson is next, his report on the Swedish Union Accessions katalog. Dr. Andersson. Dr. AKSEL ANDERSSON read a paper on THE SWEDISH ACCESSIONS-KATALOG. (See p. 112.) The CHAIRMAN: We have on the program two items which belong together. Both in their character and in their relation to gen- eral method, they belong rather with the prep- * Dr. Pick's paper is printed in the Papers. (See p. 105.) 224 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. aration of further enterprises in international bibliography than with the actual enterprises which are now under way. They are in fact contributions to international bibliography. The first of these will be presented by Miss Adelaide Hasse, of the New York Public Library. Miss HASSE read a paper on BIBLIOGRAPHY OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. (See p. 116.) The CHAIRMAN : Miss Hasse has long been known as master of her subject. I fancy the bearing of her remarks on the question of the advantage of formal international co-opera- tion between library associations was lost on none of us. Our next paper is by a man who, though not so long known to us in the Li- brary Association, has equally become known as master of his subject, and the subject on which he speaks is that of a bibliography which is being waited for with eagerness by librarians. Dr. JAMES DAVID THOMPSON gave an ac- count of the HANDBOOK OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. (See p. 114.) The CHAIRMAN : We are happy in having for the remainder of our program three pa- pers on the three most active and character- istic enterprises in international bibliography at the present day. The first of these papers is on the International Catalogue of Scientific Literature, and we are especially happy in be- ing able to have this time the direct repre- sentative, Dr. Adler, who has shown himself a champion of international co-operation in many ways besides this. Dr. CYRUS ADLER read a paper on the INTERNATIONAL CATALOGUE OF SCIENTIFIC LIT- ERATURE. (See p. 97.) W. DAWSON JOHNSTON read a communica- tion from Dr. Herbert Haviland Field on the CONCILIUM BIBLIOGRAPHICUM OF ZURICH. (See p. 99.) The CHAIRMAN : The one remaining paper of this section of the program is the paper on the Institut International de Bibliographic of Brussels, and we shall have the pleasure of hearing this from Mr. La Fontaine, who is al- ready well known to you as a member of this conference, and who is also equally well known to you as the enthusiastic and com- petent promoter of the whole plan. HENRI LA FONTAINE read a paper on the INSTITUT INTERNATIONAL DE BIBLIOGRAPHIE. (See p. 101.) Dr. RICHARDSON then gave up the chair to the President. The PRESIDENT: I receive back the gavel with reluctance, for it seems to me that thih section of our session just closed is a very important notification of the broad work that this Association proposes beginning, and I should have liked to see this subject pro- longed into discussion of further practical detail. You recall my communicating a letter to you from M. Picot regarding his inability to be with us to represent France at our confer- ence. In the list of the countries represented upon our program additionally in delegates who have been selected as Honorary Vice- presidents France was, owing to the absence of M. Picot, unfortunately omitted. That omission has been made good. The Com- missioner-General representing France at the Exposition, realizing the significance of this conference, as possibly the beginning of a series, realizing the interest of France in a report of its proceedings, has designated M. Jules Boeufve recently counsellor to the French Embassy at Washington, now we sup- pose to be designated as amicus curia of the Commissioner-General as a delegate to us, and the Executive Board asks to add his name to the list of names of the Honorary Vice- presidents. I ask your approval as before by a rising vote. (Unanimously carried.) Dr. ADLER: Before resuming the regular business, I am going to ask permission to submit a resolution which might seem to come as a climax to the proceedings up to this point. Prof. Biagi, I think, yesterday struck the keynote of what was in the minds of every one when he suggested some closer association of the associations of librarians and bibliographers than has existed hereto- FIFTH SESSION. 225 fore; and I presume, sir, in "accepting" his proposition at the moment you voiced the sentiments of every member of the American Library Association. Nevertheless, it is nec- essary to put that in some business form, and I venture to present to you a resolution. It will, I understand, of course go to the com- mittee on resolutions and is subject to modi- fication. It is as follows: "The American Library Association, at its 26th annual meeting, held in St. Louis, on the occasion of the Louisiana Purchase Ex- position, has been honored by the presence of distinguished delegates representing the li- brary and bibliographical interests of many of our sister nations, and the Association has heard from them with pleasure the suggestion of a federation of the various library associa- tions and bibliographical societies of the world. "Believing that international co-operation, which has already done so much to promote interests common to all nations may be ex- pected to be effective in the field with which we are concerned, "Be it resolved, That the incoming Execu- tive Board be requested to appoint a special committee of five to consider plans for the promotion of international co-operation among libraries; that the committee be directed to ascertain whether the library associations and bibliographical societies of other countries are disposed to entertain favorably such a proposal; that the committee be instructed to report to the next annual meeting of the As- sociation with such recommendations as it may deem fit. In submitting this resolution, Mr. Presi- dent, I would only like to make the single re- mark that just as there are great advantages from international association, so in such proportion must we enter upon international enterprises with caution and self-restraint. International enterprises have great advan- tages and can only be effective by mutual concessions and compromises. The PRESIDENT: Under the rules of the As- sociation the resolution as read by Dr. Adler goes to the Council. The Council meets this evening and will be able doubtless to report it back to-morrow morning. I express regret for the Commissioner of Japan that he could not wait this morning to hear this resolution read, for he was much interested in its prospective influence. He will, I hope, be with us to-morrow to hear it reported back. In our program yesterday we had two great fundamental questions of library practice one, classification ; the other, cataloging. Next came annotation, not perhaps one of the great fundamental problems, but one which is just now being considered with great vivacity. Now, I notice that when anybody is treating now of classification he is apt to refer to the tendencies in cataloging as bearing upon the problem of classification, and when he is treating of cataloging he is very apt to refer back to classification as bearing on cataloging, and now also on annotation just as he refers to subject bibliographies as bearing on the problem of cataloging. So it is not necessary for us logically to follow the order of the subjects in the list as given. It is convenient to vary the order, owing to Mr. Fletcher's necessary departure from town this after- noon, and to hear first something from hitn upon the subject of annotation. It is also a useful method, however, to begin the consid- eration of a general question by a specific question, and Mr. John Thomson, of Phila- delphia, will submit a communication em- bodying a specific question. JOHN THOMSON : For some years some of our librarians have been carefully consider- ing the importance of arriving at some method of classifying fiction. This matter was dis- cussed at several library meetings held in the state of Pennsylvania, and finally a com- mittee was formed by the Keystone State Li- brary Association to consider the question of the evaluation and classification of fiction in public libraries. That committee finally made a report urging that a tentative effort should be made to deal with the question, limiting the first attempt to classification and leaving the matter of evaluation for the future. An- other committee was formed, and it was final- ly decided to take one branch library, take all the books of fiction in that one branch, and classify them almost entirely on the Decimal system, adding only some supplementary headings I am much indebted to the president for the opportunity of saying a few words as to what we have done, and I desire then to ask 226 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. co-operation and assistance from other libra- ries. We took the Wagner Institute branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, because it was the oldest of our branches and there- fore had probably a larger selection of books than the other branches of the system. About 4500 books were classified. As far as pos- sible they were classified under the Decimal classification, with the addition of supple- mentary headings, so as to bring in such sub- jects as Adventures, American Indians, Character sketches, Life, subdivided under different countries, Scandinavian, Norwegian, Russian and so on; Military tales, School tales, and Sea tales. A small note was ap- pended to each title, the notes comprising in most instances only two or three lines point- ing out the treatment of the subject, and es- pecially giving the names of legendary or his- torical personages introduced in the book. When the work was prepared for the printer it was thought it would be a valuable and useful addition to have an index of these his- torical or legendary personages, and an index of some forty pages was appended, showing in what novels you may find George Wash- ington, William Shakespeare and other fa- mous characters. We also used a system of rubber stamps, and indicated on the book label the subject according to our classifica- tion. I desire to-day specially to ask the kind consideration and co-operation of the librarians of other libraries in carrying on this work. We want to increase the work by a cumulative system until the classification shall include the ten thousand most important books of fiction printed prior to the end, say, of last year. The way in which co-operation and assistance can be given is to appoint a committee. The New York Library Associa- tion, at its recent meeting in the Adirondacks, formed a committee to co-operate in this mat- ter, and that committee and the Pennsylvania committee propose to issue a joint circular asking co-operation and showing how other libraries can classify the books on their own shelves and not included in this volume, and so enable us in the course of a year or so to bring out a new volume. In this way, by a cumulative system, it is hoped that we may furnish a weapon to answer the common but unsound objection that the circulation of books in free libraries is mainly of ephemeral and not valuable material. We hope by this classification to show that fiction is the mod- ern vehicle by which many serious subjects are submitted to the public, and that it is a useful thing to read and to study good books of fiction. These are the points which it oc- curred to me as desirable to lay before you, and I trust that when the proposed circular reaches the librarians of the different libra- ries in the state that it will not be put aside, but that you will, by offering us suggestions as to improvements, aid in bringing what has been a very laborious work to a better and an enlarged condition. The work has been printed in lintoype shape, so that what is use- ful may be preserved in the cumulative vol- umes and what is useless may be readily omitted. The PRESIDENT : I suppose the way in which annotation has come to be a practical matter with us librarians is the difficulty of obtain- ing information from other sources as to that very difficult class of material from which we have to select current literature. It is a ques- tion of depending upon the critic. We find that the critics nowadays are not particularly certain as guides. I am not sure that they were particularly more reliable in former days. I recall an estimate in a leading maga- zine in 1853 I do not recall it personally, but I recall the quotation of it of a work of fiction then just issued: "In our opinion the book is anything but a failure. It has all the nice power of observa- tion and picturesqueness of the author; but as the action is laid in past times it cannot have the freshness and truth of a novel re- lating to the present day. The story is a little too intricate, and not overinteresting." The book was "Henry Esmond." (Laugh- ter.) If we cannot depend on the critics we are very apt to go direct to the author and see what indications he gives. Well, we have al- ways been accustomed to think of the preface as an introduction. You remember, however, that when Mr. Boswell asked the mild sage who, he knew, had written a preface to a cer- tain dictionary of commerce by one Robert SIXTH SESSION. 227 Rolt asked him whether he knew Rolt: "Sir," said he, "I never saw the man and never read the book. The booksellers wanted a preface to a dictionary of trade and com- merce. I knew very well what such a dic- tionary should be, and I wrote a preface ac- cordingly." (Laughter.) There are questions, however, at issue, if the librarians come to undertake an estimate in their own behalf or to secure such an esti- mate by the aid of outside specialists. There are questions of policy, questions of pro- priety, questions of policy and utility. We heard from Mr. Bond that "in the matter of annotations there is a very sharp division of opinion amongst British librarians as to whether the annotations should be critical or not. . . . We understand there is the same conflict of opinion in America, but with you we believe the majority are prepared to stand for criticism or evaluation ; with us the greater number appear, for the moment, to be against." What position Mr. Fletcher takes we shall ask Mr. Fletcher to state. W. I. FLETCHER read a paper on ANNOTATION. (See p. 144.) The PRESIDENT : These three topics of clas- sification, cataloging and annotation are so interdependent and interrelated that they ought, in any discussion, to be considered to- gether. We shall conclude this morning with the main statement on cataloging. The pro- gram committee asked Mr. Lane to prepare that. Its treatment by him is what the com- mittee hoped it would be large, calm, and scientific. With that statement before us we shall be prepared to-morrow morning to take up the discussion, so far as we may desire to discuss them, of these three topics, and as this is one of the most technical and scientific of all the topics that can be considered in the Library Association, your President thinks that you are entitled to an authority superior to that of the present occupant of the chair. While Mr. Lane reads his paper I shall ask Dr. Pietschmann to take the chair. Dr. PIETSCHMANN, Honorary Vice-presi- dent, took the chair, and W. C. LANE read a paper on PRESENT TENDENCIES OF CATALOG PRACTICE. (See p. 134-) Adjourned, 1.15 p.m. SIXTH SESSION. (HALL OF CONGRESSES, ST. Louis EXPOSITION, SATURDAY MOR.WING, OCT. 22.) The meeting was called to order by Pres- ident PUTNAM at 9.45 o'clock. The PRESIDENT: With your leave I will call first for a brief statement from Mr. W. D. Johnston, with reference to an annual re- view of library literature. W. D. JOHNSTON : In order to bring before the Association a motion, I wish to make a very few remarks with regard to the prep- aration of the year-book of library science. Mr. JOHNSTON then spoke on } A YEAR-BOOK OF LIBRARY LITERATURE. (See p. 126.) Mr. JOHNSTON : With a view to the prepara- tion of a year-book of library literature, either under the auspices of this Association or by this Association in co-operation with the next international library congress, I move, Mr. President, reference of this matter of a year- book of library literature to the Council of this Association. The PRESIDENT: Are there any suggestions or remarks? It is proposed that the project of a year-book which shall be a library record and some other things shall be referred to the Council. S. H. RANCK: Does that mean that the Council has power to act, to carry this plan into effect? The PRESIDENT: It would not so mean un- less that were so designated. Mr. RANCK : I should like to have the motion amended to that effect. The PRESIDENT : It was perhaps Mr. John- ston's idea that such a hand-book would in- volve international co-operation and there- fore not be a matter simply for the Council. So that perhaps it would be undesirable to do more than refer it as a matter for inquiry, investigation, and subsequent report. Am 228 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. I right in interpreting your ideas, Mr. John- ston? Mr. JOHNSTON : Yes, Mr. President. The PRESIDENT: All those in favor please say aye; opposed, no. Carried. The PRESIDENT: The paper on "Recent national bibliography in the United States," by Mr. Bowker, prepared as a necessary con- tribution to a conference such as this, has been systematically prepared and will be printed with the Proceedings ; but, at the sug- gestion of Mr. Bowker, will not be read.* In the session as arranged for Thursday there is a topic, "Women in American libraries," upon which we were to have a paper from Mrs. Fairchild. This topic was suggested from the fact that all of us who are administering libraries of considerable size in the United States, receiving visitors from abroad, are constantly asked as to the number of women employed and the kind of service they per- form, and so on, and it seemed that it might be appropriate, as part of our record of this year, to have a systematic tabulated statement as to the number of women employed in American libraries; the character of the positions they hold, the work they perform, their relation to the whole. We are familiar 'with these conditions. Our colleagues from abroad are not so much so. They have shown constant interest in the utilization oi women in all types of positions in the libra- ries. Mrs. Fairchild very properly said that such a statement was in no sense required by the women of this country, if it were a question of their claim to recognition in library service. We all know that. This contribution is not a paper; it is a tabulated, systematic statement which will appear in the Proceedings, but will not come into our program this morning except to be accepted for publication.! We left off yesterday at the conclusion of the main paper on cataloging by Mr Lane. We are now to have some comments upon that by Mr. Clement W. Andrews, librarian of the John Crerar Library of Chicago. COMMENTS ON MR. LANE'S PAPER. C. W. ANDREWS : When I was asked to comment on Mr. Lane's paper, I was in- * See p. 121. t See p. 157- formed that the principal papers were ex- pected to be dispassionate and impartial in their reviews of the present tendencies in li- brary work, but that the comments on them could be as polemical as their authors chose to make them. Naturally, the opportunity offered me by the president for unsparing criticism is most tempting, but unfortunately for me, though fortunately for you, Mr. Lane's paper is so temperate, so accurate, and so thorough, as to offer me almost no points for dissent and but few for amplification. Passing over for the moment the first point of his paper, the question of the subject cata- log, it seems to me that what is said of the A. L. A. printed cards for analytical refer- ences fails to give an adequate idea of the difficulties met in this co-operative work. Al- though there are only five libraries respon- sible for the selection of the periodicals to be analyzed, there are almost as many and at least two very different lines of selection favored. Consequently the work done must suit in very different degrees each of these libraries and probably each of the other 60 subscribing libraries. So far as our ex- perience is concerned, I see no reason to change the opinion which I expressed at Lakewood that a large library would not find it practicable to put all these titles in its cata- logs, but that it ought to insert the titles of all articles which from their style of publica- tion, e.g., with separate title-pages, or from their length, are likely to be republished in separate form or quoted as individual pub- lications. Another point which might well be em- phasized is the postponement, or perhaps even the elimination, of the question of a substitute for the card catalog, brought about by the general use of trays in place of drawers. Mr. Lane's paper was necessarily brief in its treatment of the minor details of catalog- ing. I wish, however, that I could share more fully his impression that American cat- aloging had been brought into closer agree- ment with the best literary style in its treat- ment either of English or of foreign languages. Some of us who heard Mrs. Fairchild's clear and apparently unanswerable statement at Magnolia of the proper position of the A. SIXTH SESSION. 229 L. A. in these matters a statement which appeared to be in accordance with the prac- tice of ihe great majority of the larger libra- ries as well as of those libraries represented at that conference ^- have been surprised and disappointed at the failure of our Committee on Rules to follow her advice. Not only on such questions of style as capitalization, ab- breviations, etc., are we at variance with recognized literary style, but en the very im- portant technical questions of main entry of books of indeterminate authorship we are at variance with the best European usage. If this conference does anything toward a recon- ciliation of these differences it will be by no means its least important result. Mr. Lane's suggestion of a central printing office for titles of new books not purchased by the Library of Congress, and for which therefore cards cannot be obtained from it, seems to me very practical. The John Crerar Library purchases annually, even within its limited field, some two or three thousand volumes not purchased by the Library of Congress. That some at least of these titles are wanted by other libraries is shown by the fact that at present three libraries (those of the Northwestern University, the University of Michigan, and the U. S. Geological Sur- vey) are regularly taking advantage of our offer to supply copies at cost. It is probable, therefore, that a more comprehensive plan would be successful. In this connection the possibilities of the monotype might be consid- ered. An examination of this machine has convinced me that it comes near to the ideal for library work. I am sure that you could not fail to be interested in the ingenuity of the in- vention, but lack of time forbids a description of it. Its adaptability to our needs is shown by the fact that the retention of a perforated slip of paper not over ten feet in length and costing not over one-fifth of a cent will make possible the reprinting of a catalog entry at any time and in any^sized type, while the cost of the first impression is much less than from type set by hand and no greater than from linotypes. Returning now to the first point of Mr. Lane's paper, that of the subject catalog, it is interesting to note that our last discussion of the fundamental questions in regard to it took place at our last Exposition meeting at Chicago eleven years ago. At that time the Association formally recorded its opin- ion that the days of the subject catalog were not yet numbered and that there was no prospect of its passing away within a genera- tion. With a third of that time already gone, Mr. Lane fully confirms that opinion and his summary of the reasons for its ex- istence appears to relegate its disappearance to the dim future. Accepting then its desir- ability as proved, the real question for a li- brary without one or without a satisfactory one is the kind to be chosen. Now Mr. Lane appears to consider the choice to lie between a dictionary or a classed catalog. A better answer is that of the tramp, who, when asked by his hostess whether he preferred apple or mince pje, replied promptly and emphatically, "Both, Madam, both." A still better answer is,, with Dr. Focke a combination of both. It is certain that many special subjects are not easily treated in a classed catalog, be- cause the books on them must necessarily be widely separated in a classed catalog according to their relation to larger sub- jects, and that again many special topics must be lumped together under a more general heading (ex., Cat-boats under Boat-building). In all such cases, alpha- betical entry under the most specific heading undoubtedly helps the reader most. On the other hand, the classed catalog fur- nishes the only practical means of serving the scholar who wishes to exhaust the resources of the library on a broad subject. If you doubt this statement read the list of cross-references under Botany in the "List of subject head- ings" and consider how many more would be found necessary in a library making a spe- cialty of botanical literature. That such considerations have made libra- ries dissatisfied with both classed and specific entry catalogs can be easily understood. A combination of the two was suggested by me as early as 1896, and has been worked out at ihe John Crerar Library in the past nine years. In the exhibit of the Library 230 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. of Congress in the U. S. Government build- ing you will find a sample case. Its actual working has been so successful that I venture to describe it somewhat in detail. It is in three sections : 1. Author catalog, not differing materially from that portion of other catalogs. 2. Classed subject catalog, arranged ac- cording to the D. C. This part is very full, attempting to place a title wherever it might be of use to readers. Under each subdivision the arrangement is chronological, but with the latest title in front, an arrangement with which we are very well satisfied. As to the system of classification, I do not desire to make any especial plea for the D. C., but I do take issue with the statement that it was primarily designed for small public libra- ries or is necessarily limited in its application to them. Included in the classed catalog is a topo- graphical index which has seemed to us to avoid happily the many difficulties of the usual American methods of separating more or less effectively throughout the alphabet and sub- alphabets the material relating to a country. In this index the first entry is by the D. C. number for the place, under 900 to 999, and then by a subheading consisting of the first three numbers of the D. C. 3. The third section is primarily an alpha- betical index to the classed catalog. Such an index is an absolute necessity without which no classed catalog is complete. One of its peculiarities is its being on cards, and so it has the advantages of that form in including at once new subjects and excluding all unnec- essary and misleading references. The other notable peculiarity is the insertion of titles tinder those specific headings which seem to us not well treated in the classed catalog. It must not be thought that I consider this the only possible solution of the problem. For libraries classified by the D. C. a simple form of a combined catalog can be obtained by following Miss Tyler's suggestion in the Library Journal for 1903, p. 21, to refer from all general topics to the shelf list. And on the other hand an alphabetically classed catalog like that of Harvard (which seems to be the type which the Library of Congress is approaching) can be conveyed into a com- bined catalog by a systematic insertion of specific subject headings in their proper places, referring to the more general heads and accompanied or not by titles, according to the principles suggested by our experience. The officials of a library possessing such a catalog undoubtedly would find themselves able to render better assistance in many cases, and nearly the only objection to be urged is the extra cost. Admitting that this would be prohibitive without the use of printed cards, though I am by no means sure of this, still with them I cannot consider the argument of any strength. The guides are required in any case, leaving the extra cost less than a card for every two titles, so that the cost of the cards is small. The cost of determin- ing the proper subject heading and that of storing the extra cards is more considerable, but without entering into an elaborate calcu- lation I may say that the total appears to be an insignificant fraction of the money spent in purchasing the book, preparing and printing the title, and determining its classi- fication. We find that on the average the total number of copies of a title used in the whole catalog is less than 5 (2.5 in the classed, 1.7 in the author, and 0.4 in the in- dex). As on the average i title covers two volumes, the number of cards for volumes is about 2.5. I can conclude, therefore, with the hope that those libraries which are dissat- isfied with either a classed or dictionary cat- alog alone may find this experiment at a combined catalog sufficiently promising to secure their efforts in obtaining from similar experiments the best possible results. The PRESIDENT : We are in receipt of a con- tribution to our Proceedings, a report on the libraries of Guatemala, by the accredited dele- gate to the conference, Mr. Kingsland, a statement of but two pages, which will be an interesting contribution to the Proceedings and will be printed there in full.* I am in receipt also of a communication from Mr. Bennett who represents, with the Chilean Minister, the libraries of Chile at our conference, giving a similar statement, as to * See p. 91. SIXTH SESSION. 231 the libraries of Chile. This statement also will be recorded with gratification in our Proceedings.* It contains, however, one pas- sage which I shall read to you, as follows : "Chile has much to learn from nations who can depend on greater resources and experi- ence, and the discussions and conclusions of this congress will assuredly be of interest to us. Since it has not been possible for me to be personally present at your debates, permit me to ask for such publications as may be issued in consequence of those discussions; and, if I may, for any others that relate to the work of the American Library Associa- tion. "I do not know whether that Association possesses its own library, or is merely an as- sociation of librarians. If the former sup- position be correct let me place at its dis- posal 24 volumes, comprising the publications of the National Library of Santiago and of its director, Senor Don Luis Montt." Mr. LANE: Mr. Bennett suggests, it seems to me, one thing in which we might well take part. So far, I believe, we have distributed our Proceedings only to our members. Why should not they be sent to a certain number of foreign libraries as well? I should like to move, Mr. President, that the Executive Board be requested to consider the advis- ability of distributing the Proceedings of our conferences to a certain number of foreign libraries and library associations. Voted. The PRESIDENT: We are now to hear from Mr. Jast on the REVISION OF THE CATALOGING RULES OF THE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. Mr. JAST : You have in your association an advisory catalog committee which has for some time past been engaged upon the work of preparing a new edition of your official association cataloging rules. We also in- cur association have had a similar committee appointed to consider and prepare a revised edition of our association rules, the rules of the Library Association of the United King- dom, for an author catalog. This committee was appointed at our Birmingham meeting in 1902, as the result of a paper which I had the pleasure of submitting to that meeting, in which I pointed out that our official rules * See p. 92. had been several years out of print and that as it was necessary to reprint to meet constant demand for them, and as we had been also put to shame by the New York State Library which had reprinted those rules, it was desirable that before reprint- ing we should reconsider the whole bus- iness and bring our nules into better harmony with the best current cataloging practice. That committee was appointed at Birming- ham and is a thoroughly representative com- mittee. That is to say, it represents the views and the practices of all kinds of libra- ries. It has upon it Mr. Fortescue, represent- ing the British Museum; it has Mr. Hulme, representing the Patent Office; it has Mr. Tedder of the Athaeneum, representing large club and institution libraries; and it con- tains in addition a considerable number of municipal librarians; so that all kinds of practices and all kinds of views are repre- sented upon it. When I was secretary of that committee I may say that I am no longer secretary and since my resignation that committee has ex- hausted no less than three secretaries I re- ceived a letter from Mr. Dewey in which he referred to the fact that your association had a committee engaged in doing the same work that our committee was doing, urging the importance of establishing a common code between the two countries, and suggesting that as we were engaged in the same work we might as well work together and in the same way. At the time I received that com- munication from Mr. Dewey the work of our committee had not assumed a definite enough shape to render it advisable for any action to be taken then, but I wrote to Dr. Putnam asking for copies of the advance edition of the rules issued by your committee, which had not then been published. He was good enough to send copies for the use of our committee and it is only just that I should state here that we have found those rules exceedingly useful in our work. They have been upon the table at every meeting of that committee and have been constantly con- sulted, and we have taken the opportunity indeed of "lifting" straightway a considerable number of them. In August of this year our work had advanced to the stage that we 232 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. printed a draft code which was presented to our meeting at Newcastle in September this year. That draft code was submitted to the general meeting of the association, not for adoption, for we did not consider that the association was capable of really adopting those rules in a large general meeting, but simply for discussion. At that meeting the following resolution was unanimously passed, arising out of the letter of Mr. Dewey which was read by the then secretary of the committee : "That this meeting cordially approves Mr. Dewey's suggestion in favor of a common code of cataloging rules for England and the United States, and hereby instructs the Coun- cil to take the necessary steps to attain this object." (Applause.) That resolution was submitted in due course to the committee on catalog rules and that committee passed the follow- ing supplemental resolution: "That Mr. Jast be requested to convey the resolution of the annual meeting to the American Library Association Conference at St. Louis, and to ascertain if possible wheth- er the American Library Association is favor- able to the common action suggested, and what method of procedure in the opinion of the American Library Association or of its Catalog Rules Committee is desirable." Well, Mr. Chair, these two resolutions form the credentials upon which I venture to submit this matter to your attention. I do not think it necessary that I should en- deavor to be eloquent upon the advantages of such action as is here suggested between the two countries. Those advantages must be perfectly obvious to every librarian. They are obvious and they are immediate, and the time seems peculiarly opportune for this ac- tion because we both appear now to have arrived at identical stages in this work. The committees of both associations have printed draft rules or advance editions and neither committee I understand is finally committed to any of those rules. If we do not seize the present opportunity for common action, then, owing to the progress of various bibliogra- phic undertakings in one country or another for example, the vast card undertaking of your Library of Congress I am afraid the chance of rendering so signal a service both to library economy and to bibliography will never again present itself; at all events dur- ing our lives. And the work of co-operation does not seem to me to present any obstacles worth naming, in view of the results to be achieved. Nor, I think, need the work take any long time. If our two codes as printed are laid side by side you will see that we are agreed upon all the important points. There are no very important differences be- tween the two codes. Consequently, we can eliminate a large number of the rules and the two committees can simply deal with the residuum, the differences between which will, I am convinced, be easily adjusted. You will observe that we do not come be- fore you with any proposition as to an inter- national cataloging code. There can, of course, be no question that such an inter- national code would be a magnificent achieve- ment, but we are inclined to think that the time is not ripe, at any rate for the present, for any such result. For one thing, there are no such differences between our practice and yours as exist between our practices in England and in America and the general con- tinental practice. The way, for example, in which most continental catalogers deal with corporate authorship, by ignoring it, would, I am convinced, not be accepted by us or by you. Our practice in the matter seems hope- lessly at variance and I very much doubt whether continental practice is likely at pres- ent to follow ours, and, sir, if I may say so, without offence to any of the foreign delegates present, I cannot help personally feeling that if England and American agree on this mat- ter it is only a question of time before the rest of the world must follow. (Applause.) In conclusion may I say that in my opinion the fact that such a common code of cata- loging rules had been brought into being by the friendly co-operation of the librarians of the two countries would be secondary to the fact that we had co-operated. That seems to be the important thing, the most important thing; more important than the immediate subject of co-operation, because if we can co-operate on cataloging rules there is no reason whatever why we should not co-oper- SIXTH SESSION. 233 ate in other matters also; why, for example, we should not co-operate in the preparation of annotated bibliographies of English books. But the various fields of library endeavor in which we may together till, need not detain us now. I am sure you will agree with me that such co-operation as is here suggested in the preparation of a common cataloging code would, if translated, as I believe it will be, into deed, be of the happiest augury for the future of library work in both lands. Mr. LANE : Mr. President, I should be glad to propose a motion in line with Mr. Jast's remarks. The PRESIDENT: Mr. Lane proposes a mo- tion in pursuance, I presume, of the sugges- tion of Mr. Jast. The chair is informed, however, that Mr. Josephson would like to submit a suggestion pertinent to that of Mr. Jast, and perhaps we could consider Mr. Lane's motion more intelligently if we had the supplemental remarks before us. Mr. JOSEPHSON: When our president sug- gested some time ago that I comment on Mr. Jast's paper it seemed to me that it might be advisable for me to make some preliminary notes before I knew in detail what Mr. Jast had to say. I therefore made some notes on the subject of an international code of cat- aloging rules, and these notes I beg to read. In attempting to frame an international code of cataloging rules it should be remem- bered that while the first object of such a code is the preparation of entries that can be used in the catalogs of many libraries in many lands, bibliography has legitimate claims to attention. In fact, cataloging and bibliogra- phy are one thing, if looked at from the stand- point of international co-operation. The par- ties to such co-operatiou must be chiefly, if not exclusively, the national libraries, and the catalog of a national library will become to a large extent the bibliography of a national literature. But cataloging is not indexing, and in this respect bibliography has certain needs which cataloging should not be asked to meet. Cataloging has to do with books, roughly speaking with anything that has a title-page and with nothing that has not. The indexing, on the other hand, of articles in serials, of essays or chapters in books with more or less miscellaneous contents cannot come within the scope of cataloging. Special provision must be made for their recording. But international cataloging should provide the material for it as far as this can be done by giving full contents notes for all books of miscellaneous contents and even for other books, when this will aid in showing their ac- tual scope and purpose. For serials this is, of course, impossible. If the claims of bibliography must be ad- mitted as legitimate, those of the small and popular libraries, on the other hand, cannot be admitted. They must not be allowed to stand in the way of the demands of the large libraries and of bibliography for minuteness in the preparation of the entries. But another objection to minuteness will be raised, namely, that many cheap and common books do not require the same minute de- scription as old and rare books, to which fhe answer is that our rare books were in many cases common enough when first issued, and that what is now common and even unimpor- tant might some day become a great rarity. Therefore the cataloging of all books must be made so that it can stand the test of time. This is quite practicable in cataloging. The title-page should be copied with all practicable fulness, including the author's name and such titles of honor or occupation as may serve as identification or characterization. Uniformity should be aimed at in capitaliza- ton and transliteration. The bibliographical description of the books should be uniform. A uniform terminology for collation should be agreed on, and a uniform size notation and mode of measurement. In these cases, then, of title copy, collation, and notes an international agreement would be quite possible. When we come to the headings, however, the matter stands differ- ently. I need only to mention the question of corporate authorship, where it is not easy to reach agreement between two libraries in the same country, as we in America and our friends in England are well aware, while for the librarians of the European continent the very problem does not exist. In determining the headings, even for books with individual authorship, so many questions come up which 234 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. each library must answer in its own way that I am tempted to suggest that in international cataloging no headings at all be given. If the title-page shows the authorship, if initials on the title-page be filled out in copying, if the author's name, when not given on the title-page, be stated in a note, then it might be left to each library using the entries to add ^the headings in such form as is demanded by its own needs. In classed or alphabetical sub- ject catalogs, moreover, as well as in the case of added entries in author catalogs, a printed author heading is not necessary, at times not even desirable. Mr. LANE : It seems to me that the sugges- tions made by Mr. Jast, supplemented by what Mr. Josephson has said, appeal very strongly to this company and to all American libraries, especially in the present temper of this Conference, in which we are all alive to the advantages of international co-opera- tion, and I should like to move, Mr. Presi- dent, that this Association welcomes the pro- posal made by the Library Association of the United Kingdom for a uniform common code of catalog rules, and requests the Executive Board to take such action to further the pro- posal as may seem to it wise. Voted, The PRESIDENT : In trie paper by Mr. Bond, on recent library practice in Great Britain, there is this passage: "About the time of the last international congress there was a more extensive interest than ever before in the Dewey Decimal classification, but this inter- est has hardly been proportionately sustained as the years have gone by. Notwithstanding this, among the libraries which have a definite system of classification no system has been so generally adopted as the Dewey system. Of course, it has been modified by many libra- rians to suit the needs, or the imagined needs, of their particular libraries. Many other li- brarians have found Dewey, with its index, an invaluable aid to classification, whatever be their system, or even lack of system ; for of the libraries not closely classified all but a few are arranged in ten or more main classes, and in this connection Dewey is not infrequently consulted and appreciated. The Cutter Expansive classification has a few very ardent admirers in this country who pre- fer it to any other system, but its unfinished state has greatly militated against its adop- tion, even against its due consideration. De- spite the serious loss to librarianship in the passing of Mr. Cutter, it is sincerely hoped that the complete system will shortly be pub- lished, and so afford the opportunity of ade- quate consideration touching its serviceability, as well as of comparison with other systems." It is, I think, well known to us of the American Library Association that Mr. Will- iam P. Cutter, who has succeeded Mr. Charles Cutter as librarian of the Forbes Library at Northampton, has in hand the completion of his scheme of classification. If Mr. Cut- ter is here, perhaps he will state to us what is the present condition of the work and the prospect. Mr. CUTTER: I have prepared a statement in printed form which has been distributed, giving in detail the exact condition of the Expansive classification at present. A large portion of the classification is still in manu- script, but some of it is being put through the press. In press are Astronomy and Mathe- matics, two of the largest parts of the classi- fication. Those were in manuscript at my uncle's death, and were made very largely by him. They were started by Mr. Richard Bliss, of the Redwood Library, Newport, R. I. Mr. Bliss also had in preparation at the time of my uncle's death Physics, Botany and Zoology. The Applied Sciences I shall un- dertake to complete myself, with the assist- ance of such experts as I can obtain. I have, however, in manuscript, outlines of the Ap- plied Sciences which will be used in making up the rest of the classification. I think that I can promise definitely that all of the classifi- cation except the general index will be printed and finished within two years. Work will be- gin on the general index this winter, and I hope to be able to have the classification and the general index finished, printed and dis- tributed within three years. I sent out this circular to every subscriber to the classifica- tion. I may say that the mailing list was in very bad shape, so that I was unable to de- termine just who were subscribers to the clas- sification, but I sent to every name that I could find had been connected with it in any possible way a copy of the printed circular, requesting that indication should be sent to me of missing parts of the classification as it exists, and stating that I should be very glad to furnish those parts to any person sending such indication. SIXTH SESSION. 235 May I add another word. No one, I think, has called attention to the fact that the fourth edition of the "Rules for a dictionary cata- logue" is now ready for distribution. It can be obtained of the Commissioner of Education in Washington, on application. The PRESIDENT: Our last formal paper is to be on a subject which was touched in a contribution from Great Britain, but as to which we have accumulated our interest till now, as far as the United States is concerned. Just as we were desirous that our conference for this year should contain a statement as to the activities of the state through public com- missions and other agencies in promoting libraries, so we thought it appropriate that there should be a statement as to the relations between the libraries and the schools, which have been during the past few years the sub- ject of discussion at almost every one of our conferences, and at almost every one, I think, of the conferences of a local association. The same thing has been said over and over again a great many times probably never re- peated without a profit as to what might be done. Much account has been given of par- ticular work done. What we thought desir- able, and what I think that you will agree to be desirable, is a statement of what is done to-day typically in the United States. Now, that statement could be compiled only with the assistance of the libraries doing this work. It involved an inquiry and would result in statistics. Miss Doren, who consented to un- dertake the inquiry, reports to us to-day the statistics, with a brief summary of results, generalizing from the tables, which will of course not be read, but be printed. Miss ELECTRA C. DOREN read a paper on LIBRARIES AND SCHOOLS : THE WORK NOW DONE. (See p. 153-) The PRESIDENT: This is the last paper that we shall have at our conference. Our session this morning would not admit of the biblio- graphic excursion upon which Mr. Beer was to take us. The mere outline, however, of what he had proposed was in itself so inter- esting and so suggestive that I had asked him to sketch out this for us. Unfortunately, he has just been called to New Orleans by the sudden death of Mrs. Parrott, the donor of the Howard Memorial Library. We are thus, to our chagrin, deprived of the pleasure of hearing from him at all. We have concluded, therefore, the program which was before us at the beginning of the week. We are to have some communications from the Council, the, report upon the elec- tions, and then we shall have to take farewell of our friends from abroad, and perhaps they may express to us what value they have set upon their week with us, and then we shall have to take farewell, as a body, of St. Louis itself. Mr. CRUNDEN : Mr. President, before you begin those concluding numbers, may I make an announcement? On the morning when the report on the model library was called for I was barred out of the hall by the crowd. I should like to submit that report now. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON A. L. A. EXHIBIT. At the last meeting of the committee at Niagara it became evident that as the com- mittee had no funds at its disposal it could do nothing as a committee, but must work through its individual members and through the agencies they might severally be able to command or influence. Accordingly, Doctor Putnam undertook the task of rearranging and enlarging the A. L. A. exhibit displayed at Chicago and Paris and incorporated it in the exhibit of the Library of Congress. He also agreed to publish the proposed "A. L. A. catalog." Doctor Dewey volunteered, on be- half of the New York State Library, to take charge of the editing of the catalog, and to Mr. Crunden was assigned the execution of his project of establishing at the Fair a work- ing library as a branch of the St. Louis Pub- lic Library. Each of these undertakings has been suc- cessfully carried out. In the Government Building is the admirable comparative exhibit of Chicago and Paris, enlarged and refitted and renovated, forming part of the exhibit of the Library of Congress. The "A. L. A. cat- alog" is now ready for distribution, and in the Missouri Building, occupying a hall 75 x 75 ft. is what may be called, with certain unavoidable limitations, a "model library." 236 ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE. The "A. L. A. catalog," as you know, com- prises some 8000 titles, representing the best books in every department as determined by a consensus of two hundred or more librarians and university professors. The editing, as above stated, was done by the New York State Library, with the assistance of Mrs. H. L. Elmendorf as special bibliographer. The Missouri Commission provided the room in which the model library is housed, and appropriated $3500 for furnishing and for transportation of books and incidentals. The various publishers promptly supplied the books gratis; and the Library Bureau fitted up the room with stack, counter, card cabi- nets and tables and chairs of high grade and handsome appearance. Your committee, therefore, through the co- operating agencies mentioned, presents an A. L. A. exhibit, consisting of a "model library" in active operation, containing the bulk of the A. L. A. collection, a printed catalog of said collection, and a comprehensive comparative exhibit of library buildings, blanks, catalogs, and methods of administration. One other announcement in connection with this exhibit I think will be of interest. Some two or three weeks ago I received this formal communication from President Francis, ad- dressed to the American Library Association, sent in my care. It reads as follows: "In accordance with the rules I beg to in- form you that the Superior Jury has ap- proved the recommendation that you" that is, the American Library Association "be awarded the Grand Prize in Group A." (Applause.) Any expression of dissatisfac- tion with this award must be delivered to the president of the Superior Jury within three days, which notice must be followed within seven days thereafter by written statement setting forth at length wherein the award is deemed inconsistent or unjust. (Laughter.) You are not warranted in making any an- nouncement of the award until you have been formally notified, about Oct. 15." Another that may be interesting, although not of so much importance, is the same in form, except for the changing of a word or two, and is addressed to F. M. Crunden, "collaborator," announcing "in accordance with the rules, that you be awarded the Gold Medal in Group A. Any expression of dis- satisfaction," etc. (Applause.) The secretary presented the REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. (See Transactions of Council.) The PRESIDENT : The following resolutions are submitted by the Council for your con- sideration and adoption : REDUCED POSTAL RATES FOR LIBRARY BOOKS. "The American Library Association, at its 26th annual meeting, held at St. Louis, in connection with the Louisiana Purchase Ex- position, notes with deep satisfaction the re- cent act of Congress providing for the free transmission through the mails of books for the use of the blind. It congratulates the community upon a measure so benevolent, and, it believes, so just. And it ventures to hope that Congress will regard this measure as a but partial justice, and will ultimately consider that the general interests of educa- tion require a similar exemption from post- age of other books transmitted from library to library for the public benefit. In certain other countries, as appears from the accounts at this conference, such a general exemption is customary and a matter of course. In the United States books lent between libraries are still subject to the full charges of fourth class mail matter, even though the libraries are both free and public, and as such have received from the government special ex- emption from tariff duties on their importa- tions, on the theory that the promotion of their usefulness is a matter of national con- cern. It is therefore "Resolved, That this suggestion be com- municated to Congress in connection with the so-called Lodge bill, now pending a bill which by no means provides for free trans- mission, but merely places books so lent upon the same basis as newspapers circulated in the ordinary course of business. "Resolved, That Congress be urged to take speedy, prompt and favorable action upon this or some equivalent measure of relief." Voted. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF FACILITIES FOR RESEARCH ABROAD. "The American Library Association is im- pressed with the accounts at this conference, confirming the general report, as to the facil- ities accorded by the libraries of Europe to non-resident investigators, especially in inter- library loans for their benefit. The liberal policy of European libraries in this regard has laid American scholarship under lasting obli- gations, and, by deepening the confidence of investigators in the spirit and service of li- braries will promote the cause of libraries, as it promotes the cause of learning, throughout SIXTH SESSION. 237 the entire world. It is based on a true and lofty comity which this Association recog- nizes and rejoices in, and will gladly foster." Voted. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL UNDERTAKINGS OF INTERNA- TIONAL CONCERN. "The American Library Association, at its 26th annual conference held at St. Louis in connection with the Louisiana Purchase Ex- position, having listened with great interest to accounts of various bibliographical under- takings of general concern, including the In- ternational Catalogue of Scientific Literature, the Concilium Bibliographicum of Zurich, and the Institut International de Bibliographic of Brussels, records its appreciation of the un- selfish labor, personal devotion, and even pe- cuniary sacrifice, which have established and are maintaining these, and expresses its con- gratulations upon the progress already made." Carried by a rising vote. INTERNATIONAL LIBRARY FEDERATION. "The American Library Association, at its 26th annual meeting, held in St. Louis, on the occasion of the Louisiana Purchase Ex- position, has been honored by the presence of distinguished delegates r