^* i ispSf^x -- &J& -JT &X^J$&& THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY '* A ^rv 8^ ." V ^j*' '' \'f^^^^> lr ^> / . * ^<\T nil) &R < gfO: FryA ' ^* x -. ' v m M*M 5Bb> *' SS^* 1^ __T \+:: ff .4rS.'*j. \ '& ^j#'.'?L ^ >^ v-- fc^MMai - ^ri^!^ ^ PAPERS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY-SEVENTH GENERAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION HELD AT PORTLAND, ORE. JULY 4-7 1905 PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION '9S Z- C O N T E|N T S TITLE Glimpses of A. L. A. travel Address of the President: The national library problem to-day Library conditions in the Northwest Libraries in the British Northwest What state and local library associations can do for library interests Library associations and clubs The Library of Congress as a national library . . State library administration Development of the state library State library commissions A model library commission law The work of an Eastern library commission . . . Travelling libraries as a first step in developing libraries Library administration on an income of from $1000 to $5000 a year: Essentials and non-essentials. Library administration on an income of from $1000 to $5000 a year: Economies in plans and methods. The question of library training Rational library work with children and the prep- aration for it Common sense and the story hour Carnegie libraries The training of students in the use of books . . . On the distribution of income in the college library. The uses of government documents in the univer- sity library Report of the Committee on Public Documents . . Report of the Committee on Library Administration. Report of the A. L. A. Publishing Board . . - . . Report on gifts and bequests, June-December, 1904 . Report on standards of library training Proceedings 123-186 First Session 123-136 Secretary's report 123 Treasurer's report and necrology ... 125 Report of Trustees of Endowment Fund 127.. Committee on Resolutions 129 Nominations for officers 130 Transactions of Council, Atlantic City meeting 130 Report of Committee on Co-operation with N. E. A . 132 Report of Committee on International Co-operation 133 Second Session 136-147 Welcome by Dr. Eliot 136 Notes on Pacific libraries: California, Hawaii, The Philippines, Alaska . . 138 A. L. A. exhibit at Portland .... 143 Report of Committee on Title-pages and Indexes to Periodicals 144 Report of Committee on Publishing Board facilities for A. L. A. head- quarters 146 Report of Committee on Keystone State Index to Fiction 146 Report of Committee on Bookbinding . 146 Third Session 146-153 Discussion on state libraries .... 148 Fourth Session 153-163 Plans of John Crerar Library .... 153 Discussion on state library commissions 154 Discussion on travelling libraries ... 158 fifth Session 163-178 Report of Special Committee on Con- ference on Copyright 164 AUTHOR PAGE Frontispiece Ernest C. Richardson 3 Charles W . Smith 9 E. O. S. Scholefield 14 /. C. Dana 17 /. C. Dana 21 Herbert Putnam 27 /. L. Gillis 34 G. S. Godard 37 H. E. Legler 40 Johnson Brigham 46 Caroline M. Hewins 51 Gratia A. Countryman 56 5. H. Ranch 58 Manila W . Freeman 64 Lutie E. Stearns 68 Frances J. Olcott 71 Harriet E. Hassler 76 T. W. Koch 78 H. R. Mead 82 Joseph C. Rowell 84 Lodilla Ambrose 86 Adelaide R. Hasse 92 W. R. Eastman 102 W. I. Fletcher 107 J. L. Harrison no Mary W. Plummer 121 Discussion on library training .... 164 What the public library is doing for children . 176 Discussion on library administration on $1000 to $5000 a year 177 Sixth Session 179-186 American Library Institute 179 Unity and Co-operation in library work. Melvtl Dewey 180 Report of Committee on Resolutions . 184 Election of officers 185 Catalog Section 186-191 Variations in Library of Congress Cards, i898-date. J. C. M. Hanson ... 186 State Library Commissions Section . . . 192-194 College and Reference Section 194 Trustees' Section 194 Children's Librarians' Section 194 Transactions of Council and Executive Board 195 Bibliographical Society of America ... 198 Pacific Coast Library Associations .... 199 Across the continent and in the great North- west: a record of A. L. A. travel in 1905 199-218 I. The outward journey 200 II. A. L. A. week in Portland .... 204 III. Along Alaska's shores 205 IV. A glimpse of California 211 V. In Wonderland 212 Officers and committees 218 Attendance register 219 Attendance summaries 224 National Association of State Libraries, Pro- ceedings and Addresses 225-252 A-M UBKAHY 322825 The Davidson Glacier, Alaska. The "pilot party" at Laggan. Tulems at Old Kasaan. Father Duncan at New Metlahkahtla. "City of Seattle" beached at Petersburg. SCENES OF A. L. A. TRAVEL, PORTLAND CONFERENCE, 1905. CONFERENCE OF LIBRARIANS PORTLAND, OREGON JULY 4-7, 1905 ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT: THE NATIONAL LIBRARY PROBLEM TO-DAY BY ERNEST GUSHING RICHARDSON, Librarian of Princeton University *T*HE St. Louis Conference last year was international in character; China and Japan, Mexico and South America, and half a score of European countries were repre- sented, the libraries of many countries re- ported on and the progress and prospects of international co-operation discussed. The participants, the topics treated, and the breadth of treatment combined to make of this meeting the most truly cosmopolitan li- brary conference ever held in America. This year the Portland Conference has been treated by the program committee as national in its character, first, because having looked abroad last year we naturally turn again this year with peculiar vigor to home affairs; second, because a place of meeting on the Pacific Coast sets forth the fact that our Association is national indeed and not a local association with a national member- ship; and third, because apart even from the accident of opening our session on the 4th of July, the occasion of meeting, the Lewis and Clark Centennial, is one peculiarly inspiring to national sentiment. Great as was the ex- pansion represented by the Louisiana Pur- chase, it does not typify the continental stretch of our national territory, nor fire the popular imagination with national pride as does the Lewis and Clark expedition. The former was a "purchase," wise, fan sighted, involving astute international negotiation and decisive diplomatic action, but this other was an "expedition," breathing that spirit of ad- venture and patriotic endeavor which is pecu- liarly associated with the Northwest, and so it has become a sort of symbol of unconquer- able national growth. And so the conference this year is both national in its extent and national in its limitations, its program touching libraries from the Atlantic seaboard to the Philip- pine Islands, and its attendance represent- ing all sections from Maine to the Hawaiian Islands. In speaking of this conference as national it is not to be forgotten, however, that in the American Library Association two nations are joined together, Canada and the United States, but the national problems of the two constituent countries, where they are not iden- tical, are so parallel that any broad consid- eration of the national library problem as it exists to-day may venture to treat of the problems of the two nations as one. Canada and the United States are alike in their re- moteness from the great European libraries, alike in stretching from Atlantic to the Pa- cific, alike in the long distances between the various centers of population, alike in the progressive extension from a long settled east to a relatively young and pioneer west, and finally, alike in that fundamental problem of the assimilation and education of a vast foreign immigration which it is the privilege of the library to help solve. It is hardly necessary to say after this in- troduction that by the national library prob- lem is not meant the problem of the national library. The national and state li- braries have, to be sure, a certain right of pre-eminence in a national library conference, but both of these matters will be treated at other sessions the national library by the Librarian of Congress himself. The national library problem as here meant is the library problem of the nation at the present day, and in considering this theme we shall briefly PORTLAND CONFERENCE consider a single aspect each of the problem of the reference library, the problem of the popular library, and the problem of the A. L. A. with reference to these. The library problem in whatever locality is always a double one; on the one hand there is the library in its aid to the search for new ideas, on the other the library helping in the diffusion of common knowledge; on the one hand the scientific reference library, and on the other the popular circulating library. The problem of the one is to furnish to the men who are advancing knowledge, whether in science or medicine, theology or trade, all the books that will help them in their task; and of the other, to tempt the multitude to read readable books. In considering our national problem at this time it was the intention of this conference and it is the intention of this introductory paper to lay first stress on the work of the libraries and the library association in the promotion of that common knowledge which is necessary to make men good citizens, the library as a factor in popular education. This very fact, however, calls for some attention at this time to the scientific side, and the pro- priety of this has been emphasized by a request from the college libraries of the Pa- cific Coast to have their needs kept in mind at this conference. Let us consider, there- fore, for a little the national library problem of the reference library at the present time, and this concerns: The adequacy of American libraries as re- gards their books. When President Oilman was preparing plans for the Carnegie Institution at Wash- ington he expressed the opinion that the problem of American scholarship so far as books and libraries were concerned was pretty well settled. We are now so well provided with books, he said, that in one library or another we can get about everything that we need and we can now afford to turn our at- tention to other matters. This was so con- trary to the experience of many librarians and scholars, and yet so precisely expressed the attitude of many institutions at the pres- ent day, that it provoked a more systematic observation on several lines, as to what the actual resources of our American libraries are. This inquiry conveniently divided itself into a study of our total resources and of their distribution over this wide land of ours. And first let us guard ourselves by saying that it would be misleading to imply that the total resources of this country in the matter of books were insignificant. On the contrary, the remarkable growth of actual resources of the country through such libra- ries as those of Harvard University, the Library of Congress, the Boston and New York public libraries, the John Crerar and the* Newberry libraries, and many other col- lege, reference and special libraries, is a matter of just pride, but whether these are adequate is another matter. Being in position to examine a list of some seventeen hundred periodicals current about the year 1900, and to which actual biblio- graphical references in a certain line of work had been gathered, I have taken occasion to study these with reference to this subject. The list is not a miscellaneous one, but is one of actual references gathered which the user is trying to verify by referring to the periodicals themselves. There are, as most of you know, joint lists of the periodicals in the libraries of Boston and vicinity, includ- ing Harvard, of Chicago and vicinity, of Washington and of California, all up to date of 1900 or later. Moreover, there is an older list of periodicals, but not of transactions, in New York, and besides this joint lists of many important classes in New York up to recent dates published in the Bul- letin of the New York Public Library. Checking up in these various sources and comparing with the Astor Library catalog as well, some interesting results appear. These are, of course, subject to such corrections and liable to such error as such statistics must be, but in their general line they represent faith- fully the real state of things as to the ade- quacy of our American libraries. Eliminating the duplicate, doubtful, and those with incomplete comparative data, there remained a list of 1216 substantial series, perhaps 1-3 historical, 1-3 theological and' philosophical, and the remainder scattered over the whole field, but chiefly in philology,. RICHARDSON literature, political and economic science. 478 of these series cannot be found in any of the above sources. In other words 40% of these series, containing actual bibliographical ref- erences which an actual investigator is trying to verify, cannot be found by him readily anywhere in the United States. It is true that a considerable number of these will perhaps be found in other libraries not included in these lists. 131 of the 478 series not to be found in any library, for ex- ample, relate to European history, and of these some will undoubtedly be found at Madison, Wis., and some probably at Cornell, the University of Pennsylvania, and else- where. But set over against this on the other hand the fact that a very large proportion of the total number consists of periodicals pub- lished in America and, on the basis of the figures of 478 out of 1216, not to be found in any of these libraries, it is a very conserva- tive statement to say that of these definitely wanted books more than one-half of those published abroad are not to be found in any library of the United States. If it is said that we have all of the more im- portant works and those lacking are of sec- ondary importance, it may be said in the first place that this is not true an analysis of the series shows many of first importance and, in the second place, if it were true, it would still be the fact that these books are only such as in someone's judgment had something of scholarly value in some line, the best things, in short, for persons working in that line. And of these tested books less than half can be found anywhere in the United States. So much for the total adequacy of our American libraries. A word now as to the distribution of these resources. Here the condition of things is even more striking. It is a far call for a book from the Pacific Coast to Chicago or New York, and yet only 368 out of the 1216 sets are to be found in the California libraries. For 798 out of 1216 sets wanted, the Pacific Coast student must go to the Atlantic Coast, and there are 50 more, making a total of 858 in all which he cannot find nearer than Chicago. On the other hand, there are less than half a dozen of these series which cannot be found in the East and yet can be found on the Pacific Coast, though at Boston there are 20, at Chicago 50, at New York 65, and at Wash- ington 27, which can be found in that lo- cality only and nowhere else in the United States. There is thus, besides the 478 which cannot be found anywhere, a total of say 164 which can be found only at one point in the United States. There is no doubt that our resources have grown greatly, but so long as it remains true that a California student must go 6000 miles for 45 per cent, of the works actually wanted on the subject, and 3,000 miles for 25 per cent, more, only finding 30 per cent, anywhere on the Pacific slope, the library resources of the country cannot be looked upon with complacency as adequate. Moreover, among these 370 periodicals not to be found in the California libraries, but found somewhere in the East, there are no less than 40 of which there are six or more copies in the eastern libraries, and of which there is not one copy in the California libra- ries. The average among these 40 is 9, and among them there is one with 17, one with 15, one with 13, three with 12 and three with II copies, while the Pacific Coast is without a single copy. Chicago, for example, often has two or three or more copies of a period- ical which is not to be found in California, while at the same time it lacks 114 periodicals which some one other locality east or west has, and 478 which no library in the United States seems to have. These figures show that, splendid as is the progress of our great libraries in the supply of books, we lack at these points : 1. In our grand total we lack 40 to 67 per cent, of a minimum total of books needed and published abroad. 2. The distribution of our books is such that one locality may have a dozen copies of a volume, while another has none at all. A remedy for this state of things does not lie in having each of the great libraries start up and buy these 478 periodicals now as fast as they have opportunity. This sort of thing we have been doing a great deal of and the net result is that only a small portion is gotten, for which we have paid much more than it was necessary, and which are distrib- PORTLAND CONFERENCE uted by accident, so that there may be several copies at one center and none in any of the others. The remedy lies rather : I st. In co-operation in purchase and dis- tribution. By this is meant, not the actual pooling and buying by a single agent, but the distribution by agreement among the li- braries, of the important works which shall be acquired by each, so that not more than one or two copies of the less used works shall be purchased in each locality. In many cases a single copy in the Library of Congress would be enough. It would be a compara- tively small matter to distribute 500 or 1000 series among the libraries of any one locality in such a way that the burden of seeing that they were all accessible should not be very great. It is a simple, common sense matter of co-operation, which calls for only a little forethought and reasonable application of the principle of community of interest. 2d. Cheapening of the postal rates would be one of the very best means for relieving the acuteness of the problem of the scholar in the United States. It is a matter of frequent observation to the student working abroad that the moder- ate postal charges, in Germany, for example, make it possible to get the books, which do not happen to be in a single center, at a mod- erate expense. Our problem in the United States in this di- rection is such that a reducing of our postal rates would be of still greater use and would go far to help the student's serious problem. 3d. At the basis of either co-operative pur- chase, co-operative distribution, or the use by the student in one locality of books in another, by use of the mails, lies, of course, the co-operative list. After 30 years' experience in libraries and a recent extensive experience of existing co- operative catalogs of periodicals in this coun- try and abroad, I have no hesitation in saying that there is no point in library practice where capital and organization could be so profitably applied to an economical solution of our national library problem of an ade- quate book supply as in the immediate and considerable extension of the co-operative book list. Let us turn now to the second and more pressing half of our national problem the public library in popular education, The public library as a maker of good citizens. I do not say that this second half of the problem is the greater one. The work of the inventor, the scholar and the poet, is as necessary to national progress as the ele- mentary education of the average man. Without them, mediocrity rules, and a medi- ocre nation can never win in the struggle for existence among nations, for it is only educated directing genius, armed with the best that competing invention can furnish, that can win either in economic or in mili- tary struggle. A nation's very existence, therefore, depends on its science and its science largely on accumulated results re- corded in books. But the immediate problem of the library as concerned with elementary education is, in fact, the more pressing one, because it con- cerns not so much future progress and pro- longed existence as it does our very existence itself at the present time. The army of children reaching school age year after year and clamoring for education is enough in itself to make the problem press- ing, but beyond this common and routine problem three of our chief problems to-day the negroes, the Philippines and the immi- grants depend for their solution on popular education, by which we mean the education of every one without exception in certain fundamental ideas. Without tangling ourselves too deeply in philosophy, we may note that there are two facts wm'ch lie very near the foundation of things : ist. The fact that a man and his ideas are one and the same thing; 2d. The fact that the unity of a nation or any society lies in the ideas which all its members hold in common, in the like-mind- edness of its individuals. The Sanskrit philosopher of three thousand years ago agrees with the modern psycholo- gist when he says that, "We are our thoughts; we are made up out of our thoughts?-' In quantity, quality, form, char- acter, a man is the sum total of his knowl- edge. The vital thing, therefore, about a man RICHARDSON is the sort of ideas that he holds; the vital thing about a nation is the set of ideas in which all its members agree. Therefore it is that we may say without dogmatism that the solution of these prob- lems lies in popular elementary education, and it is for this reason -that the modern pa- triotic librarian takes up with special enthu- siasm his part in the task of making good citizens of every resident of the nation. The average library represented here to- day has of course little to do with negro or Philippine education, but there is hardly one which does not deal in some form with the problem of "Americans in the making," and the libraries of this Pacific slope have the hardest end of this problem, for they have to do with the assimilation of the most unlike, the Orientals. Consider for a moment how the matter lies from.' this point of view : The thing which holds a nation together, we have said, is the body of common ideas. These common ideas are expressed in a constitution or a body of laws or in popular proverbs, common quota- tions, striking phrases, or else in a more gen- eral way, in the common law and in a na- tional literature. Right or wrong, we in the United States have a body of ideas which may be called "American ideas," ideas held in common by practically all members in the nation, except the criminals and the cranks. Alany, perhaps most of these ideas, are of English descent, though enriched from other nations. Some are held in common by all civilized nations, and some even by every member of every family or tribe on earth. We have gone on for some three hundred years, producing, shaping, and multiplying these ideas ; sometimes fighting differences out with armies, but more often fighting them out on pulpit and platform and through the press or political parties. They are our ideas and a man to be an American indeed must have these ideas. Now, it is not to be denied that many na- tions, even granted that they may have na- tional virtues which far utshine many of ours, do differ from our ideas in many ways; for example, as to the proper standard of living for the working man, or this very need of elementary education for every man. There are nations which are foreign to the very idea of fair play, sportsmanship and "a square deal," which are American ideas, though happily not unique to either the United States or Canada. Some of the Oriental nations differ so far from us in their ideas that it is hard for them to understand us at all, or we them still without saying whether the -one or the other of us is the better. It is for this reason that we justly fear any immigration which will not or cannot understand, love, and practice American ideas. Sometimes men get into such a panic about some nation or other or all nations that they lose faith in the power of American ideas to conquer and insist on wholesale exclusion of this or that nation at the cost of throwing to the winds some of our most loved Ameri- can ideas of fair play, asylum and the free- dom of the whole earth, at least for travel. We, however, who believe in American ideas and their irresistible power, and remember the multitudes who have come from many na- tions to enrich our nation, not only in wealth but in ideas and character, we welcome with keen pleasure all who are likely to learn these ideas and so become Americans in fact as well as in residence. It may easily be that we must limit immi- gration to some extent and for the same reason that the attendance in city schools must sometimes be limited when it for a time outgrows the capacity of buildings or teach- ing force to handle. Yet the remedy for the schools is not permanent exclusion of chil- dren, but more school buildings and teachers, and the true remedy for overflowing immi- gration is more facility for education. With adequate facilities to make Americans of them, the more there are the better. Turning now to consider how the library takes its part in the work of education, you have before you in the program of this con- ference many of the forms of activity that it is actually taking. I do not propose to retrace the ground that will be covered by these topics. In general terms, it may be said that in many parts of the country the free public library has come to be counted as much a necessary part of the means of public education as the public school. If things move as they are moving, it will not be long before every community in the United 8 PORTLAND CONFERENCE States has its tax-supported public library, as a matter of course, exactly as it has its public school. If you are interested in this general aspect of the matter, follow in our program the work of the state commissions for the promotion of public libraries and their remarkable activities in the founding of new libraries, in the use of travelling libraries, and in developing the efficiency of existing libraries. Follow, too, the work of the library schools and library associations, whose number and activity are among the most significant signs of the times. Some special attention is given, you will note, on this program, to general conditions on the Pacific Coast. The particular ways in which the public library takes its part in popular education are many, but these may be broadly classi- fied into work with children during the school age and work with adults. The work with children includes first, co-operation with the schools in the many fruitful ways which have been brought out in papers and discussions of this association at its various conferences, and second, the special work with children out of school hours, the growing appreciation of which has resulted in the es- tablishing of so many libraries for chil- dren, and the special school for the training of children's librarians conducted at Pitts- burgh. The importance of this work with chil- dren is very great. The work is done with children at the time when they are most responsive to ideas, and it will be hard to find in the sociological work of the present day any more inspiring reading than the reports of the work of the children's libraries as they are conducted in Pittsburgh and in all our important library centers at the present time. In view of the fact that in the work of assimilating the foreign immigration, we can never hope to make great progress with the adult, but must of necessity rely on be- ginning work with the children, the import- ance of this work in our national problem of Americanizing our immigrants can hardly be overestimated. But the work of the children is by no means the only contribution of the public library to popular education. Some consider it even the lesser part, for the reason that the public library takes up the task at the point where the school lays it down, and con- tinues it for the rest of a person's lifetime. It may work on less tractable material, but it works six times as long. The library is, as is often said in these days, the college of the community. It is the one public instru- ment of advanced education. The better un- derstanding of this fact is leading to a gen- eral expansion of library activity in the di- rection of what is known as library exten- sion, and the library is becoming the natural center of all the educational activity in the community for those out of school ; lectures, debating and literary clubs everything, in short, relating to popular secular education. More direct attention to this aspect of affairs was given at St. Louis than is given here, but the matter is implied in most of the discus- sions of the practical work of the library in the community. The A. L. A. permanent headquarters In conclusion and briefly, a word as to that problem of the American Library Asso- ciation, which is most national in its aspect at the present time and most important for its work in helping the national work the problem of a national headquarters, and a per- manent executive organization. The able re- port of the committee on a permanent head- quarters made last year outlines the varied interests which are rapidly making such a headquarters a necessity. I do not .propose to review these grounds at this time. If you are unconvinced, read the report, and you will find a sober statement of acknowledged functions, which is sure to appeal to some generous giver who is on the watch to fill needs which are definite, concrete, and of acknowledged public utility. Alljhat I wish to do at this point is to suggest that such a headquarters would immensely aid the A. L. A. in its rapidly multiplying activities. To be brief and concrete, I suggest three matters only as types of what the headquar- ters would facilitate: First, on the side of the popular library there has sprung up a great demand for literature helping the li- brary commissions in the establishing of libraries and the small libraries themselves in the cfibice of books this latter being one of the most important of all factors in the final success of the free public library. The Publishing Board, thanks to Mr. Car- ncgie, is in a position to work at this matter arid is doing so, but the very doing develops a business which calls for quarters and ex- perienced, stable business direction. This need is definite, immediate and un- deniably practical; the second and third mat- ters are suggestive rather than immediate, but are only not immediate because they are as yet unendowed. One of these is the prep- aration and publication of joint lists sug- gested above as the best practical remedy for the somewhat helter skelter condition of our resources in scholarly books, and the other simply carries the matter one step far- ther in suggesting it as a possible instrument for the guiding of American students to the manuscripts and rare book sources abroad, which by the nature of things can never be had on this side, and in securing for our libraries by facsimile as many of these as may be practical. This latter suggestion is of course called forth by the plan originated here on the Pacific Coast by Professor Gay- ley, expressed very fully in the New York Evening Post and brought to the attention of the Council at this meeting by Professor Gayley, who will be one of the representa- tives of the A. L. A. at the International Conference of those interested in the repro- duction of manuscripts to be held at Liege in August. Some well considered and well endowed plan for the reproduction of manu- scripts would certainly be a boon to Ameri- can scholarship, and an A. L. A. institution would undoubtedly be the natural and fit agent for such a national undertaking. This suggests in conclusion the burning question of the permanent location of the adequate headquarters and organization which are sure to come out of the temporary headquarters and experimental organization recently established in Boston. Shall it be the capital of the nation or the metropolis of the nation? For myself as an individual I confess a judgment in favor of the na- tional capital, because of a natural co-opera- tion to be had from the national library, the Bureau of Education, and the Carnegie In- stitution, but if the metropolis and its splen- didly growing public and university libraries shall win, well and good, so that somewhere and somehow this great desideratum of the A. L. A. for carrying on its work of helping the libraries in their great national tasks shall be made a fact on a scale commensur- ate with the need, rather than in the pinched, starved, struggling, inadequate but aspiring fashion which is all that is in sight at the present time. We want this not for the A. L. A. as a thing in itself, but for its work in the nation, which is our nation as it is, and ours to make as much better as the ut- most effort of every individual in his own task can make it. LIBRARY CONDITIONS IN THE NORTHWEST BY CHARLES WESLEY SMITH, Librarian Seattle (Wash.) Public Library T N its thirty years' existence the American Library Association has held most of its meetings on the eastern rim of the continent, and the geographical center of American li- brary interests long remained near the Atlan- tic. To this conference on the Pacific many of its members and most of its officers have come as far westward as Columbus sailed westward from the Pillars of Hercules. How many of you or of us, your predecessors here, set out upon the long journey, by land or sea, to Oregon without some such mis- givings about distance as those which we are told threatened his venture? Possibly the very lines concerning Columbus by Ore- gon's great poet came into mind : "They sailed and sailed as winds might blow Until at last the blanched mate said, 'Why, now not even God would know If I and all my men fell dead." " We certainly, all of us, recalled again and again those other immortal lines by another uncrowned American laureate, penned in boy- ish hand three generations since: "Lose thyself in the continuous woods Where rolls the Oregon, and hears no sound;" and though the woods are no longer con- tinuous where our voices are now heard, how 10 PORTLAND CONFERENCE true it was, a century ago, that only "the wings of the morning" might reach the banks of this mighty stream whose waters then, and for many a year after, flowed through the silence down from these match- less mountains to the sea of seas ! This reflection upon the vast distance you have come is a reminder that only twice be- fore in your journeyings have you left the Mississippi behind once to meet in Denver and once in San Francisco. Drawing a line through San Francisco and Denver and thence to St. Louis, we have, north and west of the bounds mentioned, more than one- fourth of our country which this body has never visited. Of this prodigious territory it is the purpose of this paper to deal only with the far northwestern states. Excluding those at the Missouri gateways, because they more nearly reach the East, there are left five Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. These five states alone contain one-half of a million square miles. Mention will be made also of the territory of Alaska, with its more than one-half million miles of area and the province of British Columbia with 350,000. Under your official visitation, then, for the first time, is an area equal to about one-half the map of the United States. But it is hardly necessary to try to im- press you with ideas of our areas, for have you not these many days been yourselves measuring them? It will suffice for a com- parison to say that the state of Washington, the infant of the group in point of size, is several thousand miles larger than all of New England, or eight times as large as the state of Massachusetts, with which one would naturally wish to compare library statistics. In all this vast region of 1,400,000 miles there are, all told, less than fifty libraries en- tirely free and supported by public taxation. From the best information I have been able to gather, the following are the figures : Alaska, I believe, has none (but Dawson, Y. T., has a $25,000 Carnegie library) ; Brit- ish Columbia has 3; Oregon, 4; Idaho, 4; Wyoming, 6; Montana, 14; and Washington, 16. Thirty of these have, already occupied or in process of erection, their own buildings, insuring permanence. The figures at hand show buildings as follows : British Columbia, 3 ; Oregon, I ; Idaho, 3 ; Wyoming, 3 ; Mon- tana, 12 ; and Washington, 8. In 23 of these buildings Mr. Carnegie has made his favorite investment in perpetuity, at his customary rate of interest. Of these, British Columbia has 3; Idaho, 3; Wyoming, 3; Montana, 7; and Washington, 7. There are several monu- ments to other library builders, notably in Montana, In addition to the free institutions al- ready enumerated, there are of course in all these commonwealths numbers of libraries supported by fees or subscriptions. As in other times and places, these are the harbing- ers of future free libraries. In states grow-* ing rapidly and having all legislative condi- tions favorable, most of these can be counted on in the near future to join the permanent free ranks. College and School Libraries Each one of the five states has a state uni- versity, and three have agricultural colleges besides, all with fair college libraries. There is also the customary proportion of denomi- national colleges with similar collections. High schools and academies everywhere, without exception probably, have the refer- ence libraries usual in secondary schools. Montana, Idaho, and Oregon have compul- sory school district library laws, which means that these states have entered upon that hith- erto uncertain route to the ultimate blessings of the real public library. Washington has optional county circulating libraries for its schools. In a sparsely settled region the school district library is perhaps the only feasible beginning. We will trust that the world will no longer let them die, as once died their prototype in the eastern states. Legislation Every one of the political divisions under notice has a general library law, with the sole exception of Alaska, which land of gold and romance is so unfortunate as to be probably the only English-speaking territory on the face of the earth which has no laws of its own making. It has never had a legislature, nor more than an apology for a govern- ment *one somewhat like the "benevolent assimilation" type under which we shelter our new dependencies. It is doubtful if any place in Alaska could start a free public li- SMITH II brary under form of local law. To my own knowledge, however, several communities there are doing the best they can to keep open reading rooms and libraries partially free. Their appeals for gifts of discarded books and even of old periodicals are often most touching, coming from a clime where "long winter evening" may mean three months. If my hearers can do anything to speed the day of autonomy for Alaska, by all means do it, both for the love of your own heritage of freedom and because the once despised land is destined to be one of the richest and most productive on the face of the earth. British Columbia has had an act since 1891 containing liberal provisions for libraries, in- cluding museums and mechanical institutes. On petition of one hundred voters the city council is to submit the question of establish- ment and if the vote is favorable the coun- cil is thereafter to levy an annual tax not exceeding one-half of a mill. Bonds may be issued for the purpose of purchasing property, erecting buildings and even for purchasing the initial stock of books. Altogether its provisions compare most favorably with American laws. The Oregon law has been recently de- scribed in the Library Journal, and you are familiar with its provisions. Modelled on the Wisconsin act, it has the compulsory school district library law and a county law which permits established libraries to extend branches throughout the county. It has been highly commended by those competent to judge. Idaho's law permits a tax of not more than one mill on the dollar. Its school district libraries have the advantage of independent management by a board of trustees to be appointed by the school directors. Under this control, which has approved itself in several of the older states, much of perma- nent value may be expected from the com- pulsory district libraries. Wyoming makes it the duty of county com- missioners, whenever they are assured that suitable quarters will be permanently pro- vided, to levy a tax of not more than one- half of a mill for a county library, to be lo- cated at the jcounty seat, and to appoint a board of three trustees. Of books the trus- tees are e'njoined in the statute to purchase those that "shall be of a kind best suited to inform the mind and improve the character of the reader." Neither sectarian nor pro- fessional books shall be purchased out of public funds, and not exceeding 25 per cent, of the book fund shall be expended for fic- tion. Incorporated cities of over 5000 people are authorized to assist in the maintenance of this county library by appropriation of city funds. In Montana the council of any city or town has power to maintain a free library and may levy a tax of not more than one mill for such purpose. Before any library is estab- lished, however, the question must be sub- mitted to a vote of the electors of the city. In each school district there is a fund created, known as the library fund, from which the trustees of the school district may purchase books for a school library, which must be kept at the school house. Ip cities having a population of 2000 or more this library fund shall consist of not less than 5 nor more than 10 per cent, of the county school fund annually apportioned to the district, pro- vided that such ten per cent, shall not exceed $50 for every 500 children. Montana's var- ious library laws are among the most en- lightened in the United States, and its li- braries have flourished accordingly. Modesty forbids a characterization of the Washington library act of 1901; suffice it to say that it is a composite of the laws of Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Those feat- ures of each regarded as most desirable were selected and the codified bill was passed by the legislature without the amendment of a word and without a dissenting vote. The petition of 25 tax payers submits the ques- tion of organization to the vote of the ap- propriating body at the next meeting at which taxes may be voted in any political subdivision, be it city, county, village, town, or school district. The tax once voted is annual thereafter until changed by further vote, and the statute contains no limitation upon the size of the levy. Four of the five states have a state com- missipn, Montana's dating from 1895 ; Idaho's and Washington's from 1901 ; and Oregon's from the present year. Each commission is 12 PORTLAND CONFERENCE empowered to take up travelling library work. Washington has 57 travelling libraries in circulation and Idaho has 100. Idaho has at present an annual appropriation of $3000 for its state commission work ; Oregon, $2000; and Washington, $2000. Three com- missions have paid secretaries, and they are beginning the active work of library extension so familiar in the eastern and middle states. Training Remoteness from centers of library train- ing and activity has brought it about that most of the work in this section is in the hands of novices or self-made librarians. _There are perhaps not a dozen of librarians and assistants in the five states who ever saw a library school ; and the confidence and power of initiative that comes from an ap- proved course of instruction are often sorely missed. A few of the larger libraries have for some time followed the custom of training their help in an apprentice class, and some of them have even been able to extend that influence beyond their own walls. The University of Washington at Seattle is now giving the first formal summer school course in library science that has ever been offered in the Pacific Northwest. Wyoming begins another this summer and there is no doubt that in other states similar courses will soon be given. Methods In a new country, where an institution starts off full-fledged, with everything new and no traditions to trammel, there is a natural opportunity for up-to-date methods. So far as my observation goes, almost every library in the Northwest, although far re- moved, as has been said, from training schools and old-established libraries, is equipped with most of the modern improvements, or at least a good western imitation of the same. Nor can we be blamed in the latter instances, if we strive to inculcate in our secular public the same broad charity enjoined upon the worshippers of that widely-known western congregation, expressed in the notice, "Do not shoot the organist : he is doing his best." Speaking seriously, however, it is but the simple truth to say that even in small and remote communities you will find the de- voted women who are nobly upholding the cause of the larger intellectual life on this frontier striving by means of the best litera- ture they can secure upon the subject, the "primers" and textbooks and library periodi- cals, and by vigorous correspondence with their next-door neighbors, though they are often a hundred miles away, to obtain and employ the most approved methods of our profession. Library associations The formation of associations of librarian 1 ! is naturally a slower process here than in the more populous East ; but, even under so great difficulties, state associations and li- brary clubs are being formed. The state as- sociation of Oregon dates from last Decem- ber, and Washington's followed in March. With several hundred miles intervening be- tween the extremities of each state, it is more than likely that library clubs for mutual im- provement will soon spring up in sections of the states having the most numerous libraries. One such club is already about to be formed on Puget Sound. We expect that the visit of the national association will be productive of great re- sults in the way of inducing organization and the spirit of cooperation among library forces. What this visit may mean to many in the way of instruction, encouragement, and in- spiration can be estimated only by one who has been almost totally deprived of these blessings ; few of the visiting eastern dele- gates can form any true conception of it. What may it not mean to the cause of free libraries for the two million people among whose homes you now stand, in this kingdom carved by American energy out of the forest and desert, destined to capture other king- doms from the desert and become an empire, once those virgin lands are married to the sky, and to breed a population of ten times two millions? What may your example and inspiring words not mean to these people who have brought hither the love of their country and its institutions, whose hearts are full of mighty hopes and whose eyes are al- ready kindling with the promise of their frui- tion? SMITH The future What prophecy shall I make of the future of the free library as an institution among this people? To one who knows western America there can be but one answer. The arrival depends only upon the merit of an institution and the hour of its recognition. The hour of its adoption has then struck. No dilatory appeal avails; no sophistical plea of economy will be heeded. Grant me that the free library is man's crowning effort to fulfill that "higher law" of human evolution which bids each in- dividual begin where all his predecessors left off, and I unhesitatingly prophesy that these great commonwealths, throbbing with the world's reddest blood, shall quickly appro- priate it. Look around you and you will see on every hand the school and the college already ris- ing. Convince their western builders that the public library is the keystone of the edu- cational system and instantly the world will go forth to hew that stone and put it into place. In every capital and county seat you will already find a costly structure maintained at large expense that the public may preserve, and have access to, the record of their vested rights in lands and chattels which they call their own. You need but whisper in the builder's ear, "Here we will erect a structure that shall contain the record of all the rights of man; the secrets he has wrested from Nature in centuries of midnight toil ; every vision of beauty that has visited his hunger- ing heart; his aspirations toward the High- est; the hopes that have rescued him from shipwreck and despair" ; and such a word shall never be uttered in vain among a gen- erous and enlightened people. The other day at Buffalo President Eliot said : "The final aim of government by the people for the people is to increase to the highest possible degree, and for the greatest possible number of persons, the pleasurable sensations or cheerful feelings which con- tribute to make life happy, and to reduce to the lowest terms the preventable evils which go to make life miserable. The reduction of evil is an indirect benefit. The direct way to promote that public happiness, which is the ultimate object of democracy, is to in- crease the number, variety, and intensity of those sensations and emotions which give innocent and frequently recurring pleasure." I believe pardon my sectional pride that it is in the western states of our Union that these sentiments, the highest secular ex- pression of mankind's rights and duties, are to find their quickest appreciation and accept- ance. Everyone within the sound of my voice knows that it is in the public library, with its treasures free alike to rich and poor, that society must seek its final defense against sciolism in politics and economics ; against blind and unreasoning discontent ; against the ennui of the idle; against the malevolence of the vicious ; against the despair of the dis- heartened; against repeating over and again the mistakes whose correction makes up the story of human progress. Here also we find in largest measure "the direct way to pro- mote that public happiness which is the ulti- mate object of democracy" by increasing "the number, variety, and intensity of those sensa- tions and emotions which give innocent and frequently recurring pleasure." Nowhere else, I believe, as in western America pardon me once more will you find so pure the gospel of the solidarity of mankind; nor yet anywhere so true homage to the royalty of the individual. Once again here, as in pioneer days otherwhere, the struggle to overcome the forces of nature has knit men together as brothers. The very vastness of the land, its riotous extravagance of beauty, the majesty of its forests, the "splendid inutility" of its mountains, the eternal didactics of its seas, lend a solemnity to life and make men thoughtful of its mean- ing. Great wealth has not yet come to chill the heart. Governments are relatively pure. The public conscience is comparatively quick. There is a broadness toward that which is not merely marketable. In all that makes for human progress, then, I say, the West is in duty bound to begin where older lands leave off; and I believe there will be no hesitation. Those Ameri- cans whose pillar of fire has been the star of empire hasting in its appointed course have always tried to block out in the wilderness the best type of home and institutions that they last looked upon before they turned their resolute faces westward in search of an ideal. PORTLAND CONFERENCE Therefore, though I have admitted that the fi' *e library is not yet numerous in the North- west, it is safe to say we have a good ex- cuse they could not have had any library "at home" when we left there, and we don't know just how to go about it to have one here. The public library will be established just as soon as somebody notices the lack and finds out how to start one. You will not hear of the city council's refusing the necessary levy; no donation by Mr. Carnegie ever fails of consummation west of the Missouri for lack of compliance with the "usual terms." So I pledge the West (ever as hospitable of ideas as of the people who bring them) to the cause of the free library, the cause of "the best reading for the largest number at the least cost." The Northwest to-day greets the A. L. A., the priesthood of that cause, because we believe that you have come here to help us understand what the public library is, how to make one, and what kind of people is required to make one *at its best. LIBRARIES IN THE BRITISH NORTHWEST BY E. O. S. SCHOLEFIELD, Provincial Librarian, Vancouver, B. C. T HAVE been asked to tell you something of the library movement in the British Northwest, and it will be my endeavor to deal as concisely as possible with a few of the salient features of this movement. Between Manitoba and the Rocky Moun- tains there exists a vast region, fertile in re- sources, and pre-eminently suitable for set- tlement, which, as probably many of you know, has at last begun to receive the at- tention it deserves from those desiring to make new homes for themselves. Naturally enough, it is not here that one would expect to find an organized effort looking to the establishment of one of the greatest boons that modern civilization has conferred upon humanity the public library. As a matter of fact, there is little to say with regard to this section of the British Northwest so far as actual accomplishment is concerned. The country is too new, and its people too busily engaged in material pursuits, that needs must absorb every faculty, to permit of much time and attention being given to the building and maintenance of free public libraries. So much for the past and for the present. It is, then, to the future that we must look, and I have no hesitation whatever in predicting that the coming years will witness in this region great activity in library matters. It may not, it cannot, come all at once, but of this I am confident that in, comparatively speaking, a short time we shall see many im- portant libraries established in the two provinces now being carved out of the terri- tory which not so many years ago was ex- pressively termed "The Great Lone Land." This is a virgin field, but its possibilities are practically illimitable, and, I firmly believe that a great harvest awaits the energetic li- brary worker in this land which nature has endowed so bountifully. Of course, there is no denying the fact that there are serious obstacles in the way, and I do not wish to minimize them. The territory is so vast, and the population, in spite of the rapidity with which it is being augmented, so scattered, that anything approaching concerted action cannot be counted upon for the present. But notwithstanding all this, taking into consider- ation the recent remarkable development of th^ country, the prospects are certainly ex- ceedingly bright. I might state here that Assiniboia, Saskatchewan, Athabasca, and Alberta comprise an area of 550,000 square miles, and when I add that the population probably does not greatly exceed 250,000, you will be able to judge for yourselves as to the difficulties to be overcome. And now, I would ask your indulgence while I touch briefly upon that portion of the Northwest which I have refrained from mem- tioning heretofore. Reference is made to that prodigious country lying between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, bounded on the north by the Yukon Territory, and SCHOLEFIELD separated from your own land to the south by the narrow, but well-defined, limits of the forty-ninth parallel of latitude. This huge province embraces an area of 372.OOO square miles, and has a population of something over 200,000. A population of two hundred and some odd thousand scattered over an area of 372,000 square miles that is the problem which confronts the librarians of the British Columbia. Remembering this, you will not expect to hear from me a glowing ac- count of our work in this province, but I am glad to be able to tell you that in spite of difficulties difficulties that often appeared insurmountable we have reached, after many years of'waiting, a stage which, to say the least, augurs well for the future. We have been handicapped in the past by the various incidents common to the lot of all new coun- tries. Depression in trade, lack of capital, and similar misfortunes have not been un- known in our history, but I think that we have at last reached the still waters of pros- perity, and this fortunate state of affairs must have the effect of stimulating interest in the establishment of educational institutions, such as free libraries and reading rooms. Probably the first library of any import- ance to be established in British Columbia was that maintained by the sappers and min- ers at the Royal Engineers' Camp, now Sap- perton, a suburb of the city of New West- minster. The sappers and miners, under Lieutenant-Colonel Moody, were ordered to the colony in 1859, and, with the exception of two sections sent in advance across the Isthmus of Panama, embarked on the Thames City in that year. They brought with them a number of works for the use of all ranks, and this collection was for some time the nearest approach to a free library in this, as it was then, out-of-the-way corner of the empire. At that time there was no transcon- tinental railway to form a bond of union be- tween east and west, and it was necessary for intending immigrants to journey overland, or voyage by sea, in order to reach the newly- formed crown colonies of British Columbia and Vancouver Island. Those who braved the dangers of these arduous journeys were, as a rule, men whose love of excitement and adventure led them far from study and the pursuit of book-learning. We need not be surprised, therefore, to find that the pi- oneers of the far west gave little thought to the establishment of libraries. Their minds were occupied with far more practical ques- tions. When the sappers and miners were disbanded their books were presented to the city of New Westminster to form the nu- cleus of a public library. And thus this hum- ble collection of well-worn volumes becomes a landmark in the library history of British Columbia. As one might expect in a new country set- tled by those who were compelled by stern necessity to give their whole attention to prac- tical affairs, the people gave little heed to the building of libraries, especially in the pioneer days when the population fluctuated from year to year. During the inrush of gold- seekers nought else was thought of or dis- cussed but the prospects of the various min- ing camps. It was the finding of gold, how- ever, that first brought British Columbia into prominence. After the gold excitement died away there was great depression, but soon healthier conditions prevailed. Permanent settlers began to occupy the farm and ranch- ing lands of the province, and towns sprang up here and there. Then came the construc- tion of the Canadian Pacific Railway, which was followed by expansion in all directions villages became towns, and towns became cities, and, of course, it soon became neces- sary to establish public libraries. In the chief centers of population these very necessary adjuncts of civilization have been successfully inaugurated. There is no doubt that British Columbia offers a splendid field for work of this nature. So far, it is to be feared that there has been little system in the movement, but it is hoped that with the estab- lishment of a provincial library association a better state of affairs may prevail. Some, time ago a suggestion was made that an as- sociation of this description should be formed, and it is a sign of the times that the idea has been cordially welcomed in more than one quarter. As the southern coast portion of the prov- ince is the oldest in point of effectual settle- ment, it is quite, natural that the library move- ment should be strongest here. In fact, all the coast cities Vancouver, New West- minster, and Victoria possess useful li- i6 PORTLAND CONFERENCE braries. Three large and well-appointed buildings have been erected in the last few years one at Victoria (just completed), one at Vancouver, and the third at New West- minster. For these we are indebted to the munificence of a Carnegie. The construction of these libraries has necessarily given a great impetus to library work, and has had the good effect of arousing public interest. Vancouver, with the aid of Mr. Andrew Carnegie, has erected a particularly fine building, modern in every respect. There are large reading and reference rooms for men and women, and all the appointments are excellent. Thanks to its able management, this library has become an exceedingly popu- lar institution. New Westminster has also built a new library. This building, although much smaller than the one in Vancouver, is exceptionally well adapted for its purpose, and it is evident that those responsible for the architectural details thoroughly appre- ciated the requirements of a modern library. It is very conveniently planned and all the rooms are lofty and splendidly lighted. It is worth noting, perhaps, that New Westminster has very sensibly placed its new structure in the center of a square a plan adopted by neither Vancouver nor Victoria. Victoria, the capital of the province, is for- tunate in possessing three libraries the Li- brary of the Legislative Assembly, the Law Library, and the Public Library. The Library of the Legislative Assembly is purely a refer- ence one. It is maintained for the use of the legislature, although when the House is not in session, the reading room is thrown open to students and to those who may desire to obtain information on any subject. Books are not allowed to be removed from the premises. The Law Library, which contains an excellent selection of standard legal works, is maintained by the Law Society of British Columbia solely for the use of the legal members of the community. The Public Li- brary has quarters in the city hall, but before long the books will be removed to the hand- some building which .has just been handed over to the library commissioners. The civic institution is one of the oldest libraries in the province, and has done much good work, but has long since outgrown its present quarters. There is one phase of library work in Brit- ish Columbia which has not yet been alluded to. Reference is made to the travelling li- brary system which was inaugurated in 1898 by Mr. R. E. Gosnell, editor of the Victoria Daily Colonist. The system is unique in so far that British Columbia is the only province in the Dominion that has attempted to es- tablish anything of the kind. Each library is composed of about one hundred volumes divided into the following classes : social science, natural sience, useful arts, literature, description and travel, fiction, juvenile works, biography, history, and reference. Fifty-four libraries are in use at the present time, and with remarkably good results. They are scattered throughout the vast extent of the province from Cariboo, in the great in- terior, to Fort Simpson and Bella Coola, on the northern coast line. Any rural or mining community, provided that it be not part of a duly incorporated municipality, may apply for a library. The procedure is simple. Blank application forms are distributed, which are filled in by the applicants, a librarian is chosen, a trustee, who is responsible to the government to the extent of $50 for damage done, is appointed, and then all is in readiness. Judging from appearances the cases sent out are greatly appreciated, the main drawback being that the demand for books is always greater than the supply, and thus it often happens that dis- tricts are obliged to wait for a library some little time after their applications have been sent in. In a few short notes it is impossible to give an adequate idea of the working of the system. An interesting article might be written on the results of this experiment, but time forbids further reference to it. In conclusion, I can only say that there is no doubt whatever that the library movement, if such it may be called, is growing apace in the British Northwest. With the rapid in- crease in population, the introduction of cap- ital, and a large expenditure on productive works, towns and cities are rapidly expanding, and new areas are constantly being opened up for settlement. It is only a question of time before all the more important places will establish free public libraries. The quicken- ing spirit of the librarians is abroad. DANA WHAT STATE AND LOCAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATIONS CAN DO FOR LIBRARY INTERESTS BY JOHN COTTON DANA, Librarian Newark (N. /.) Free Public Library T N one of the great books of the world, written about 50 years ago, the author has a chapter or two on man's mental and moral faculties. In them he tells how, as he modestly ventures to imagine it, men learned to be moral, to have a feeling for conduct, to think of other men as possessed of rights, to be at peace with others, to understand others, to get help from others, to work with others for a common end, to cooperate, to organize. This process, all compact with thought and feeling, this growth of the ani- mal into man, has been long continued ; it still goes on ; it may never end. Now, it is far in thought from the snarl- ing of the white and yellow dogs of war in eastern Asia to our gathering of peaceful bookmen for mutual aid and consolation. Yet the two events illustrate at once the conditions from which we have come and the progress we have made. It pays, we now say, for some to work together: and it pays, we still say, for some to fight one an- other. That is our conclusion ; thus far, and thus far only, the race has gone in that slow march toward humanity which Darwin so simply outlined fifty years ago. This is a large text for a humble theme. But why not begin with the obvious? If ever they seem of doubtful value these or- ganizings of ours let us remind ourselves that by such in good part has man learned to be his neighbor's neighbor and that neigh- bor's fellow-citizen. To work with your fel- lows to a common end this is to be civil- ized, to be moral, to be efficient. This makes nations possible and promises the parliament of the world. And so, in speaking of associations of li- brarians the first thing to be said is, that they effect so much by the mere fact that they are. They do so much of which we are but vaguely conscious, they so often give to so many without outward sign that subtle feeling of comradeship which becomes before one knows it a stimulus to further effort and a guide to that effort's profitable expense. One may well say, then, that the best work of an asso- ciation is the association itself. To put it more definitely, and to point to some of the secondary gains, we can say that to organize an association, no matter how poorly attended its meetings may be, teaches much to those who organize it, if to no others. You need not fear over-organization. Take your lesson from modern industrialism. Be sure that the laws of nature hold here as elsewhere and that the useless disappears. Seize the opportunity to get lessons in man- agement and the art of working together. Moreover, the meeting which you carefully plan, provide speakers for, advertise among your colleagues, announce in the papers and duly hold, though attended by but the proverb- ial two or three, has served well ; it has stimu- lated those who prepared for it, has made your calling more favorably known, and so has had its use. One may even say that, after all, it were often almost as well did the well-planned meeting never take place, so effective in education is its making, so meagre often are the tangible results on its appointed day. My theme is mutual aid as a mark of pro- gress, as an aid to progress, as civilization itself. The moral is, establish library asso- ciation. The special application is to the Pacific Coast ; and the illustrative examples are in the list which I offer you in printed form of the library associations and clubs of the world, 77 in number, 57 of them in the United States with a total of over 8000 mem- berships. How inspiring is the story they tell of the growth of the library idea among us in the last thirty years. In the west particularly you will find many intelligent readers, not at all connected with libraries, who are interested in library asso- ciations. Do not be discouraged by the small number in your own vicinity of those who i8 PORTLAND CONFERENCE ar of your own calling. The tools of all the professional classes are books. Discus- sions on books, their making, their indexing in library catalogs, their selection, and their care, will always attract book-users. You have teachers' associations, and they are al- ways ready to give up a part of their meet- ings to the discussion of library questions. A library department in a teachers' associa- tion can often do much to bring the library question into view. And the vast distances which separate the western librarians must not discourage them. Their large meetings must be few, and even small ones may be difficult. Therefore more must be done at each possible library center. Let a few come together, organize in a sim- ple way, call on all interested to support them, exploit their aims and methods freely in the newspapers, prepare a program of as general interest as possible, rather literary than technical, hold meetings, no matter hew light the attendance, and publish through the papers a full report of proceedings. I have said enough about the value of such work to those who carry it through; but too much cannot be said about the value to your calling of discreet and dignified publicity. We have not enough libraries yet, so we as- sume; and those we have, we frankly admit, fail by much of reaching their highest effi- ciency. We wish to impress our fellows with a sense of the value of libraries to their communities. Then, we wish to show how easy it is for any community to establish and support it. Then, we wish to learn from one another and to call forth from the public criticisms and suggestions. The newspapers like to help us to do these things. They can be done, with their help, by one person. They can be better done, usually, by three or four. They can be done better still, usually, by an organization with a name, an object, officers, meetings, and reports. This is sound psy- chological theory. It has worked well many times in practice. Let me be still more specific, for I am warned that my talk must be practical. You are, we will suppose, the one person in your community who is interested in public libraries; you may be a libarian and wish to join with the two or three other library work- ers in your part of the state in learning more of your calling and in increasing library in- terest; or you may have no library in your place and wish to see one established. You send to your library commission or to the A. L. A. headquarters, or to any librarian of experience and ask for suggestions. These being considered you look at your own prob- lem, select the people likely to help you, two or three, and talk the subject over with each of them. Then you lay your plans ajid form a rather definite 'scheme. You ask your friends to come together and you put your ideas before them; and, as you know your ground and know what you want, you push them through. The meeting votes for an or- ganization; appoints one or two to bring in a constitution and a list of officers; and, if it seem wise, you complete the organization at one sitting. You need not have money to print constitutions and by-laws and offi- cers, for the newspapers will do it for you. Next comes a meeting. You study first the audience you may get the minister, the teacher, the reading women, and other possi- bles and decide what topics will most inter- est them. Perhaps such as these: "Our present library laws and how they apply in our town." "How they started the library in Blankville" another small town in your state. "How libraries are helping the school teachers"; and, for the general reader, "The three best novels of the year." The meeting place is a private house, or the school-house, or a church. See to it yourself that the news- paper tells about all these things. The smaller your town the larger the au- dience, relatively, that you will get. You have prepared for absences of speakers, you have arranged for some to speak on call on the subject that you select, you leave nothing to spontaneous, unconsidered utterance; for though you hope there may be free discussion you do not depend on it for any points you wish to make. You prepare the report for the paper yourself. If the nearest available one is small and can only print a brief report, you abstract the speeches, enlarge on the purpose of the movement, and name the names of those most interested. I dwell on the obvious; but with good reason. My list shows that there are many DANA library associations, yet observation has taught us that few of them are ever properly effective. The one moving, pushing, persist- ent person is lacking; too much dependence is put on the meeting itself ; not enough is won from preparation for it or from the pro- per publicity it can induce. And so I think it no fault that I urge again that you your- self be the one efficient person, and that you remember always that it is the organization's daily life throughout the year and the story thereof which chiefly help your calling. The meetings may be much, the constant striv- ings between them may be much more. It is not simply for these A. L. A. gatherings we have so much enjoyed that some have crossed a continent. You of the West and we of the East and the you and we include those at home as well as those here have for these ten months been looking forward to this gathering, have had our thoughts turned often to our great Northwest and to the nourishing of libraries therein, and Have gained thereby a broader view. I am sure I speak for my eastern colleagues as well as for myself when I say that to contemplate our western empire and to consider the task awaiting our Pacific friends and the brave beginnings they have made induce a most excellent state of sanctified humility. Praise be to the A. L. A. which brings us here, and to our western friends who persuaded us to come ! I have touched on the details of the smallest library association. Let me say something also of the larger ones, usually easy to form, often given to sounding brass and tinkling cymbals, sometimes dying and quite unmind- ful of the fact, and never as effective as op- portunity permits. They are often too conservative. They think it is their wisdom which restrains them, while in fact it is simply their mediocrity. They rise no higher than their average. They re- press the aggressive and the original. They fear they may do something improper, and, clothed in perfect propriety, they reach long before they are aware of it a Nirvana of noble inutility. For special sins, common, but of course not universal, they make their meetings too long. In their zeal to make many good points they fail of one. They crowd their programs until they are dizzily and tediously encyclopedic. They fail in hospitality, and the members gather solemnly and glare, at one another across a crowded room and pass out again with never a gain in fellowship. They harp too much on one string; or they talk uncon- sidered prattle about details which only care fully chosen words can set duly forth. They parade their fluent speakers until their meet- ings become little more than one voice crying in a wilderness of inattentive ears. They do not give the timid a chance, rather they don't compel the shy to take up their burdens and talk. They bring the heads, the chiefs, for- ever into gatherings with the assistants and check that outpouring of the spirit which the latter would delight in. They do not culti- vate the art of provoking and guiding dis- cussion. They look for a crop of spontan- eous ideas in a soil which does not grow them. They do not make sure that from the floor, at the call of the chairman, shall come, in seeming impromptu, the best things of the day. They do not work together as they should. Every club and association in the country, more than 50 of them, should be in touch with the A. L. A., and so with each other. Every member of each and every as- sociation should be made to feel that by joining her own association she becomes united with the national organization and will get something from it. They do not the larger and stronger clubs are the more able in this direction and thereby the greater sinners make themselves of direct use to the community of readers at large by produc- ing work of practical value to readers and students. The hundreds of libraries and li- brary workers, gathered within some of the great eastern cities, have, in the ecstasy of self-contemplation, quite forgotten to gather the golden fruit of opportunity and I speak as one of the sinners. Further, these larger organizations, and the smaller, too, are not sufficiently careful about the place of meeting, that it be dignified, homelike, and quiet. For any save very large meetings, they forget that a platform and footlights or anything approaching them are fatal. Once more, associations large and small, 20 PORTLAND CONFERENCE and especially the larger ones, usually fail not only to carry through each year some work of permanent value to the profession and to general and special students work like an- notated book lists, study courses, brief man- uals on the use of books, general or special they fail also sufficiently to acquaint the public through the press with the possible utilities of a public library. By nature the bookman is a gentle and retiring creature. He likes his library and takes proper pride in it. He helps to organize a club, by joining it at least, and then contents himself with the glow of com- radship which comes therefrom. The possi- ble public influence of the instrument he fias helped to fashion is not well discerned. Every club should provide for the publication, from week to week or from month to month, of notes on the elements of libraryology. Libraryology is the knowledge of libraries and the art of using them. No important journal in the country is more ready to aid the library movement or more able to do it intelligently than the New York Independent. A recent editorial in its columns on "Librar- ies for men" shows how far we have come from making clear to editors what a library is, to say nothing of what it hopes and tries to be. If the Independent is still thus un- taught, how unskilled in libraryology must be the average of men. You in the West will repair this lack, I am sure, sooner than we of the East. Precedents and conventions rule you less. You will individually when you can, and through your clubs always, keep up a stream of expository contributions on library- ology in your daily and weekly press. The East is coming to realize the need of these forms of activity. The A. L. A. has now both the disposition and the means, not only to do good things for readers, but also to inform the public of the existence, the char- acter and the possibilities for usefulness of collections of books. Shall I be more speci- fic? Need I refer again to the committee on publicity long ago advocated and never yet realized? Can I say, without being misun- derstood, that to publish an "A. L. A. cata- log" and an A. L. A. Booklist is not enough? That if a health food is worth wide adver- tising, surely these library products also are? That 160 library people should spend nearly $.40,000 to cross the continent and meet with you, was not this such an indication of library progress as the public generally would like to hear of? After I have had my first say I am ready always to give ear to But and If and Remem- ber and Perhaps. You may attach them to these suggestions as you will. I will myself add but one. It is this: Remember, that after all if you wish a certain specific thing done, you must do it yourself. The crowd has the passing emotion, the one man brings tireless zeal. Don't think an organization is an end. If a good club is the work of your hands, do not think it useful unless it does something. We can't conquer the public with our clubs. Moreover, never let your associa- tion . hamper its strongest members. Demo- cracy is the apotheosis of mediocrity. If the many would advance they must look to the leader to guide them. In union is strength; but the worth of strength is in its use. An association tends to the academic and to hold its members to a standard, often a narrow one. I return once more to my text, mutual aid as at once progress itself and the measure of civilization, and to one of its general applica- tions, an appeal for practice in, the art of or- ganizing. If we join with our fellows for an end of value to us all, we learn thus far to love our neighbor in the best possible and the only universally acceptable way through finding him useful and ourselves inspired. In Newark we have made a rough check- list of all the voluntary organizations of the city, religious, educational, industrial, philan- thropic, beneficiary. In a population of 270,000, largely foreign, we find 2700 of these with about 25,000 officials, and with a total estimated membership of 190,000. We hope to make use of more of these organizations than we have heretofore by appealing to more of them through the books which touch on the subjects for which, directly or indirectly, they are organized. I mention them here only to emphasize my statement that we have learned that it pays sometimes to work with our neighbors and not always to fight them ; and to illustrate the old doctrine, now sometimes forgotten, that those who work together of their own free will thereby build a better civ- DANA ilization, on the firm basis of profitable fellow- ship, than was ever built on laws, whether en- forced by emperor.:- or democracies. The conclusion is, encourage your col- leagues, confer with them, work with them, and as opportunity permits join with them in organized effort to attain certain definite re- sults. So doing you get wisdom for your- self and growth in esteem and efficiency for your profession. LIBRARY ASSOCIATIONS AND CLUBS Additions and corrections are requested. Address J. C. DANA, Newark, N. 7. THE following summary of the library as- sociations and clubs of the world was com- piled as a basis for a paper on the subject at the Portland meeting of the A. L. A. AMERICA Alabama Library Association. Sec., Ju- nius M. Riggs, State and Supreme Court L., Montgomery. Est. 1904. Dues $i. Mem- bers, 50. Meetings, i each year. Pubns., Preliminary announcements, 1904 ; Officers and constitution, 1904. Special work, Travel- ing libraries for rural districts. Annual meeting, Nov. American Library Association. Sec., J. I. Wyer, Jr., Univ. of Nebraska L., Lincoln, Neb. Est. 1876. Dues, $2. Members, 1228. Meetings, i each year. Pubns., Proceedings, annual ; Handbook. For book and cards pubns., see pages 18, 19 and 20 of the A. L. A. Hand- book, 1904; reports of Executive Board, an- nouncements, etc., are published in Library Journal, official organ of the association. Special work, sec Handbook. Annual meet- ing, generally July. Ann Arbor Library Club, Michigan. Sec., Miss Carrie L. Watts, Ann Arbor. Est. 1903. Dues, 50 c. Members, 19. Meetings, monthly, Oct. to May. Pubns., none. Special work, co-operative cataloging. Annual meet- ing, May. Bay Path Library Club, Mass. Sec., Miss May E. Robinson, P. L. Young Men's Library Association, Palmer. Est. 1898. Dues, 50 c. Members, 37. Meetings, 2 or more each year. Pubns. Annual meeting, June. California Library Association. Sec., Miss Anna Sawyer, P. L., San Francisco. Est. 1895. Dues, $i. Members, 132. Meetings, 4 each year. Nine pubns., containing the fol- lowing articles: Magazine publishing in California, Charles S. Greene ; The relation of libraries to righteousness, Prof. E. A. Ross, 1898; Libraries of California in 1899, 1900; California library laws 1850-1903, 1903; Book reviews and the librarian, M. G. Dodge ; Notes about bulletin work, Mrs. A. G. Whit- beck; Small library plans, Selection of books for a small library, G. T. Clark; A state li- brary publication, What can a town do for a library, C. S. Greene ; News and notes, W. P. Kimball. Two important meetings. Twenty- five good books on California. List of mem- bers, 1904. Constitution and list of members, 1903. Henry Bradshaw librarian and scholar, Dr. Ewald Fliigel, 1904. Suggestive list of library aids for the librarian in the small town library, Florence B. Whittier. Essen- tials and non-essentials in the children's room, Nellie M. Russ. Forms, rules, and regula- tions, F. B. Graves. The essentials in classi- fying and cataloging, Alice J. Haines. The Santa Cruz meeting of the California Li- brary Association, E. J. Sturges, 1904. List of California periodicals issued previous to the completion of the Transcontinental Tele- graph, Aug. 15, i846-Oct. 24, 1861. Katherine Chandler, 1905. Annual meeting, Jan. Cape Cod Library Club, Mass. Sec., Miss M. N. Soule, Hyannis. Est. 1900. Dues, 50 c. Members, HI. Meetings, 2 or more each year. Pubns., Constitution, 1900. Annual meeting, Sept. Central New York Library Club. Sec., Miss E. P. Clarke, Seymour L., Auburn. Est. 1903. Dues, 50 c. Members, 18. Meetings, i or more each year. Pubns., Constitution, 1904. Annual meeting, May. Chicago Library Club, Illinois. Sec., Evva Moore, Scoville Inst. L., Oak Park, 111. Est. 1891. Dues, $i. Members, 98 in 1895. Meetings, 6 each year. Pubns., Chicago Li- brary Club, Officers, memorandum of organ- ization, and constitution, 1891. Constitution and members, 1893. Chicago Library Club manual, 1895. List of serials in public libra- ries of Chicago and Evanston, corrected to January, 1901, compiled by the Chicago Li- brary Club. 185 p., 1901. Manual of Chicago libraries, 1905. (In press.) Annual meeting, May. 22 PORTLAND CONFERENCE Colorado State Library Association. Sec., H. E. Richie, City L., Denver. Est. 1892. Dues, 50 c. Members, 35. Meetings, 2 each year until 1897; no meetings held 1897-1905; association revived and reorganization meet- ing held May 6, 1905. Pubns., none. Connecticut Library Association. Sec., Mrs. B. H. Johnson, P. L. Committee, Hart- ford. Est. 1891. Dues, 50 c. Members, 125. Meetings, 3 each year. Pubns., none. Spe- cial work, The systematic gathering of ma- terial for a bibliography of Connecticut. Ma- terial entered on special cards which are de- posited at State Library until such time as they may be edited for the bibliography. An- nual meeting, Feb. Detroit Library Club, Michigan. Sec., Miss May Conover. Est. 1902. Dues, $i. Mem- bers, 40. Meetings, 10 each year. Pubns., none. District of Columbia Library Association (before 1901 known as Library Association of Washington City). Sec., Frederick W. Ashley, Library of Congress, Washington. Est. 1894. Dues, $i. Members, 170. Meet- ings, 8 or 9 each year. Pubns., Henri Stein's Manuel de bibliographic, a critical review, H. C. Bolton and Charles Martel, 1899; Daniel Denton's description of New York, Felix Neuman, 1902 ; Karl Dziatzko, obituary no- tice, Felix Neuman, 1903 ; Handbooks, 1897, 1898, 1904. Annual meeting, Dec. Drexel Institute Library School Associa- tion. Sec., Miss Edith Lamberton, 753 Corin- thian ave., Philadelphia. Est. 1899. Dues, 50 c. Members, 30. Annual meeting, Oct. or Nov. Eastern Maine Library Club. Sec., J. H. Winchester, Stewart Free L., Corinna. Est. January, 1901. Dues, 50 c. Members, 45. Meetings, 2 each year. Pubns. Annual meet- ing, Oct. Fox River Valley Library Association, Wis- consin. Sec., Lillian E. Bell, Kaukauna. Est. 1898. Dues, 50 c. Members, 30. Meetings, i each year. Pubns., none. Annual meeting, Nov. Georgia Library Association. Sec., Miss Anne Wallace, Carnegie L., Atlanta. Est. 1897. Dues, 50 c. Members, 20 in 1897. Meetings, I each year; none held since 1902. Pubns., none. Graduates' Association of the Pratt Insti- tute Library School. Sec., Miss Irene A. Hackett, 158 Sixth ave., Brooklyn. Est. 1897. Dues, 50 c. Members, 200. Meetings, i or more each year. Pubns., Handbook, annual- ly. Annual meeting, Jan. Highland Library Club, New York. Sec., Miss E. G. Thorne, Port Jervis. Est. 1903. Dues, 50 c. Members, 30. Meetings, i each year. Pubns., none. Annual meeting, May. Hudson River Library Club, New York. Sec., Miss C. M. Houghton, Albany. Est. 1903. Dues, 50 c. Members, 30. Meetings, i each year. Pubns., none. Annual meeting, May. Illinois Library Association. Sec., Evva L Moore, Scoville Institute L., Oak Park Est 1896. Dues, $i. Members, 93. Meetings, i or more each year. Pubns., President's ad- dress before Illinois Library Assoc., E S. Wilcox, 1900; List of members, 1902; Hand- book ; Constitution and list of members, 1905 Special work, Institutes. Annual meeting April. Illinois State Library School Association Sec., Miss Agnes M. Cole, University of Illi- nois Library, Urbana. Est. 1898. Dues $i. Members, 40. Meetings, i each year. Pubns., Constitution. Special work, To arrange for occasional lectures to be given to the library school by prominent librarians. Annual meeting, at A. L. A. Conference. Indiana Library Association. Sec., Ida Gruwell, P. L., Marion. Est. 1891. Dues, 50 c. Members, 75. Meetings, i or more each year. Pubns., none. Annual meeting, Oct. Iowa Library Association. Sec., Miss Mary E. Downey, P. L. Ottumwa. Est. 1891. Dues, $i. Members, 125. Meetings, i each year. Pubns., History of the Iowa Library Associa- tion. Annual meeting, Oct. Kansas State Library Association. Sec., Miss Lida Romig, P. L., Abilene. Est. 1900. Dues, 50 c. for assistant librarians, $i for all other members. Members, 150. Meetings, I each year. Pubns., none. Annual meeting, Oct. Keystone State Library Association, Penn- sylvania. Sec., Robert P. Bliss, Bucknell L., Chester. Es.t. 1901. Dues, $i. Members, 75. Meetings, I or more each year. Pubns., Con- stitution, 1901 ; Travelling libraries, Frank A. Hutchins, 1903 ; Tentative list of the libra- ries of Pennsylvania, 1903. Special work, In- stitutes. Annual meeting, Oct. Lake Country Library Club, New York. Sec., Miss C. F. Webster, Geneseo. Est. 1903. Dues, 50 c. Members, 30. Meetings, i each year. Pubns., none. Annual meeting, May. League of Library Commissions. Sec., Miss Alice S. Tyler, State L. Commission, Des MoineS, la. Est. 1904. Dues, none. Meet- DANA ings, in connection with the A. L. A. meetings. Special work, Co-operative issue of publica- tions useful to state library commissions. Library Club of Buffalo, New York. Sec., Miss K/L. Cuthbert, Law L., Buffalo. Est. 1898. Dues, 50 c. Members, 75 in 1898. Meetings, 4 or more each year ; no meetings since 1904. Pubns., none. Annual meeting, Nov. Long Island Library Club, New York. Sec., Asa D. Dickinson, Pacific Branch, Brooklyn P. L. Est. 1900. Dues, 50 c. Members, 138. Meetings, 5 each year. Pubns., Constitution and list of members, 1904. Special work, Institutes in remote parts of the field. Annual meeting, April. Maine Library Association. Sec., G. G. Wilder, Bowdoin College L., Brunswick. Est. 1891. Dues, 50 c. Members, 125. Meet- ings, i or more each year. Pubns. Annual meeting, Oct. Massachusetts Library Club. Sec., Miss Louisa M. Hooper, P. L., Brookline. Est. 1890. Dues, 50 c. Members, 450. Meetings, 3 and 4 each year. Pubns., Lists of select fiction, monthly, '96-'97; Handbooks, 1901, 1904 (latter includes full report of all clubs in Mass.) ; The library club and small libra- ries, Miss M. D. McGuffey, 1904. Has pre- pared, with the state library, analytical card catalog of special reports, etc., in Mass, public documents, 1897-1904. Special work, Com- mittee to confer with the state library com- mission on bookbuying, binding, -etc. Annual meeting, June. Michigan Library Association. Sec., Miss Gertrude P. Humphrey, P. L., Lansing. Est. 1891. Dues, 50 c. Members, 125. Meetings, I or more each year. Pubns., Two bulletins, containing addresses given at annual meeting of association, 1904. Annual meeting, May. Minnesota Library Association. Sec., Miss L. M. Poirier, P. L., Duluth. Est. 1904. Dues, 50 c. Members, 12. Meetings, I each year. Pubns., none. Special work, To bring good exhibits to libraries. Annual meeting, Oct. Missouri Library Association. Sec., Miss Frances A. Bishop, P. L., Kansas City. Est. 1900. Dues, $i. Members, 79. Meetings, I or more each year. Pubns., Handbook in preparation. Special work, To secure a state library commission ; to compile and publish foundation lists of books for small libraries ; to prepare bibliographies of books on state history and local subjects. Annual meeting, Oct. Mohawk Valley Library Club, New York. Sec., Miss W. I. Bullock, Utica. Est. 1903. Dues, 50 c. Members, 20. Meetings, I each year. Pubns., Lists of books for small libra- ries. Annual meeting, May . Monongahela Valley Library Association, Pennsylvania. Sec., C. E. Wright, Carnegie L., Duquesne. Est. 1903. Dues, 50 c. Mem- bers, 50. Meetings, 7 each year. Pubns., none. Special work, Collection of material on metallurgy. Annual meeting, Jan. Nashville Library Club, Tennessee. Sec., Miss Jennie Lauderdale, State L., Nashville. Est. 1901. Dues, $i. Members, 20 active, 19 honorary members in 1901. Meetings, 9 each year. Pubns., Handbook, 1901. National Association of State Libraries. Pres., John P. Kennedy, State Librarian of Virginia. Sec., Miss Minnie M. Oakley, State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Est. 1898 as State Librarians' Section of the A. L. A. Pubns., Proceedings and papers for the an- nual meetings, 1901 to 1904. Special work, To publish a bibliography of state official lit- erature, and printed catalog cards for the same ; to perfect exchanges between the states, etc. Annual meeting, at A. L. A. Confer- ence. Nebraska Library Association. Sec., Miss Clara A. Mulliken, University L., Lincoln. Est. 1895. Dues, 50 c. Members, 100. Meet- ings, l or more each year. Pubns., Constitu- tion. Special work, Improving methods for small libraries ; building up school libraries. Annual meeting, Oct. New Hampshire Library Association. Sec., Miss H. L. Johnson, F. L., Berlin. Est. 1891. Dues, 50 c. Members, 100. Meetings, I eadi year. Pubns., Constitution ; An appeal to the library workers of N. H. Annual meeting, June. Nezv Jersey Library Association. Sec., Miss E. H. Wesson, P. L., Orange. Est. 1890. Dues, 50 c. Members, 156. Meetings, 2 or more each year. Pubns., A talk to li- brarians, Wendell P. Garrison, 1904; Mem- bers, constitution, by-laws, officers, 1905 ; Some of the recent and current aids to books selection, compiled by Beatrice Winser, 1905. Special work, Institutes, special meetings for library assistants since 1903. Annual meet- ing, Oct. New York Library Association. Sec., Miss E. M. Chandler, P. L., Buffalo. Est. 1890. Dues, $i. Members, 254. Meetings, I or more each year; "Library week," last week in September, annually, at Lake Placid, N. Y. Pubns., Handbook, 1903. Short lists of good popular books, on various subjects, printed in quantity, to be sold to libraries. Special PORTLAND CONFERENCE work, Institutes in centers of library work and interest. Annual meeting, Sept. New York Library Club. Sec., Miss Alice Wilde, N. Y. P. L., Washington Heights Branch. Est. 1885. Dues, $i. Members, 200 in 1902. Meetings, 5 each year. Pubns., Constitution and officers, 1886; Constitution, officers and members, 1887; Union list of pe- riodicals currently received by the New York and Brooklyn libraries, 1887; Officers and from the foundation and list of members, new members, 1888 ; Constitution, officers 1891 ; Manual of the N. Y. Library Club, 1894; N. Y. Library Club manual, 1897; Li- braries of Greater New York: manual and historical sketch of the N. Y. Library Club, 1902. Annual meeting, May. New York State Library School Associa- tion. Sec., Miss Julia A. Hopkins, Ln., F. L. Madison, Wisconsin. Est. 1894. Dues, $i. Members, 200. Meetings, i each year. Pubns., Handbook, 1902. Special work, To provide each year short courses of lectures for the school by prominent librarians. Annual meeting, at A. L. A. Conference. North Carolina State Library Association. Sec., Louis R. Wilson, State University L., Chapel Hill. Est. 1904. Dues, 50 c. Mem- bers, 50. Meetings, i each year. Pubns., none. Annual meeting, May. Ohio Library Association. Sec., Miss Emma Graham, P. L., Sidney. Est. 1895. Dues, 50 c. Members, 350. Meetings, i each year. Pubns., Handbooks, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904. Special work, Securing from Li- brary of Congress catalog cards especially suited to small libraries. Annual meeting, Oct. Olean District Library Club, New Ylork. Sec., Miss H. M. B. Sherwin, Olean. Est. 1903. Dues, 50 c. Members, 20. Meetings, i each year. Pubns., none. Annual meeting, May. Oregon Library Association. Sec., Miss M. F. Isom, P. L., Portland. Est. 1904. Dues, 50 c. Members, 25. Meetings, i each year. Pubns., none. Annual meeting, Dec. Pennsylvania Library Club. Sec., Edith Brinkmann, Philadelphia F. L., 1200 N. Broad St., Philadelphia. Est. 1892. Dues, $i. Members, 214. Meetings, 5 each year. Pubns., Fiction, John Thomson, 1894; The Halliwell-Phillipps Collection, Albert Henry Smith, 1895, o. p.; American libraries, their past, present and future, George Watson Cole, 1895, o. p.; The German side of Penn- sylvania history, J. G. Rosengarten, 1899; The applied use of photography to the pur- poses of free libraries, John Ashhurst, 1899; College and university libraries, E. C. Rich- ardson, Ph.D., 1899; New lamps for old, Helen E. Haines, 1899; Children's rooms in free libraries, John Ashhurst, 1899; Depart- ment for the blind in free libraries, Edward E. Allen, 1899; The Dante collection at the University of Pennsylvania, Anna C. Laws, 1901. Annual meeting, May. Rhode Island Library Association. Sec., H. O. Brigham, State L., Providence. Est. 1903. Dues, 50* c. Members, 105. Meetings, 2 or more each year. Pubns., Handbook, 1904. Annual meeting, Nov. St. Lawrence Library Club, New York. Sec., Miss Florence R. Curtis, Potsdam. Est. 1903. Dues, 50 c. Members, 25. Meetings, i each year. Pubns., none. Annual meeting, May. South Dakota Library Association. Sec., Miss A. M. Price, University L., Vermillion. Est. 1904. Dues, 50 c. Members, 25. Meet- ings, i each year. Pubns., none. Special work, Travelling libraries. Annual meeting, May. Southern Tier Library Club, New York. Sec., Miss Effie L. Scott, Waverley. Est. 1903. Dues, 50 c. Members, 30. Meetings, I each year. Pubns., none. Annual meeting, May. Tennessee Library Association. Sec., Miss M. H. Johnson, Carnegie L., Nashville. Est. 1902. Dues, $i. Members, 30. Meetings, I or more each year. Pubns., none. Special work, To establish a library commission; work with the public schools. Annual meet- ing, Jan. Texas State Library Association. Sec., P. L. Windsor, State University L., Austin. Est. 1902. Dues, $i. Members, up. Meet- ings, i each year. Pubns., Constitution, 1902; Handbook of Texas libraries, illus., 1904. Special work, Furnishes library news to the press ; working for a library commission. An- nual meeting, Nov. Vermont Library Association. Sec., Edith E. Clarke, University of Vermont L., Bur- lington. Est. 1894. Dues, 50 c. Members, 54. Meetings, I each year since 1903. Pubns., none. Special work, Establishing State Li- brary Commission and securing passage of library law. Annual meeting, May. Washington Library Association. Sec., Miss Mary Banks, P. L., Seattle. Est. 1905. Dues, $i. Members, 58. Meetings, I or more each year. Pubns., A quarterly bulletin, no. I, April, I9fi5. Annual meeting, March. DANA Western Massachusetts Library Club. Sec., J. A. Lowell, City L., Springfield. Est. 1898. Dues, 50 c. Members, 100. Meetings, 3 each year. Pubns., List each year since 1900 of the 100 best books of the year for small libra- ries. Special work, Institutes in small towns since 1900. Annual meeting, spring. Wisconsin State Library Association. Sec., Henry E. Legler, F. L. Commission, Madi- son. Est. 1891. Dues, 50 c. Members, 125. Meetings, I each year. Pubns., none. An- nual meeting, Feb. ALLIED ASSOCIATIONS Association of Medical Librarians. Sec., Albert T. Huntington, 1313 Bedford ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. Est. 1898. Dues, $5. Mem- bers, 50. Meetings, I each year. Pubns., Medical Library and Historical Journal, of- ficial organ of the Association of Medical Librarians, published quarterly from January, 1903. $2 per year, Albert T. Huntington, editor. Annual meeting, June. Bibliographical Society of America. Sec., Charles Alexander Nelson, Columbia Univer- sity L., New York City. Est. 1904. Dues, $3. Members, 100. Meetings, I or 2 each year. Pubns., Constitution ; Circular of in- formation. Special work, To promote bib- liographical research and to issue bibliogra- phical publications. Annual meeting, Oct. National Educational Association: Library Department. Sec., Miss M. E. Ahern, PuUfic Libraries, Chicago. Est. 1896. Dues, N. E. A. $2. Members, N. E. A. 8100. Meetings, i each year. Pubns., Addresses and proceed- ings of the Library Department are given in full in the N. E. A. report for 1896 and each succeeding year. Annual meeting, June or July. Religious Education Association: Library Department. Sec., Herbert W. Gates, Chi- cago, 111. Est. 1904. R. E. A. Dues, $3. Members of R. E. A'., 2000. Meetings, i each year. Pubns., Proceedings. Annual meeting, Feb. ENGLAND Birmingham and District Library Associa- tion. Sec., Robert K. Dent, Ln., Aston Manor. Est. 1895. Dues, 2s. Members, 50. Meetings, 5 each year. Pubns., none. Bristol and Western District Branch of the Library Association. Sec., L. Acklr.nd Tay- lor, Bristol Museum, Queen's Road. Bristol. Est. 1903. Dues, 2s. Members, 75. Meetings, i each year. Pubns., none. Librarians of the Mersey District. Sec., C. Madeley, The Museum, Warrington. Est. 1887. Members, 44. Meetings, suspended. Pubns., none. Library Assistants' Association, London. Sec., G. E. Roebuck, P. L., 236 Cable St., London, E. Est. 1895. Dues, 55. Members, 190. Meetings, 8 each year. Pubns., The Library Assistant, official organ of the Li- brary Assistants' Association, published monthly since 1898. 33. per year. Editor, Hugh Smith, Bishopsgate Institute, E. C. Annual meeting, June. Library Association, Whitcomb House, Whitcomb St., Pall Mall East, London, S. W. Sec., Lawrence Inkster, 265 Lavender Hill, London, S. W. Est. 1877. Dues, one guinea. Members, 415, also 165 libraries. Meetings, 8 each year in addition to the annual meet- ing. Pubns., Transactions, 1877 to 1884; Proceedings, 1885, 1892, 1893, 1894; Monthly notes ; The Library Chronicle, containing the proceedings for 1886 to 1889; The Library, a Magazine of Bibliography and Library Lit- erature, 1889-1898. The Library Association Record, the official organ of the Association. From no. I, January, 1899, is. monthly. Pub- lic Library Manual. The Library Association series: No. i, Library appliances, James D. Brown; No. 2, Public library legislation, J. J. Ogle; No. 3, Public library staffs, P. Cowell ; No. 4, Guide to the formation of a music library, James D. Brown ; No. 5, Cata- loging rules ; No. 6, Books for village li- braries, Frank J. Burgoyne and John Bal- linger; No. 7, Guide to the adoption of the Public Libraries Acts in England and Wales, H. West Fovargue; No. 8, Classified list of current periodicals, James D. Brown; Li- brary Association year book, 1893, Revised Edition (serving for 1894), ^^95, 1899 and 1900 to 1905. Annual meeting, Aug. or Sept. Liverpool Library Old Boys' Association. Sec., W. R. Wild, P. L., Liverpool. Est. 1904. Dues, 2s. Members, 90. Meetings, i each year. Pubns., none. Annual meeting, Jan. North Midland Library Association. Sec., J. Potter Briscoe, Nottingham. Est, 1890. Dues, 2s. Members, 60. Meetings, i each year. Pubns., none. Annual meeting, Oct. Northern Counties Library Association. Sec., H. E. Johnston, P. L., Gateshead. Est. 1901. Dues, Librarians, 55., Assistants, 2s. 6d. Members, 103. Meetings, 4 each year. Pubns., none. Annual meeting, Aug. North-zvestern Branch of the Library Asso- ciation. Sec., C. Madeley, The Museum, Warrington. Est. 1896. Dues, 55. ; members of the Library Association, 33. ; assistants, 2s. Membership under revision. Meetings, 3 or 26 PORTLAND CONFERENCE 4 each year. Pubns., none. Special work, SUMMARY Summer School. No. OF No. OF ,, . , ,. , , , , , , AMERICA. ORGANIZATIONS. MEMBERS. The Pseudonyms: a delightful fabrication A. L. A 1228 of the fancy of a librarian who has humor Alabama 50 and imagination. No dues. Members, all li- Coicf'ad 113 I3 s brarians with a sense of humor. Meetings re- Connecticut.'.', 125 ported in Library World. District of Columbia 170 Georgia 20 OTHER COUNTRIES Illinois 231 A ^TRALIA. gdl^..^.. ...._....... ^ Library Association of Australasia. Est. Kansas 150 1896. No meetings since 1902. Pubns., S^useus:: '"i ! ' ! .!: gj 1 ransactions and proceedings, official organ, Michigan 184 Library Record. Discontinued. Minnesota 12 Missouri 79 AUSTRIA Nebraska 100 Oesterreichischen Verein fur Bibliotheks- % jSyf"?/ .'.'.'.. '.'.'.'. !s6 wesen (Austrian Library Association) . Est. New York. .............. i 1270 1895. Meetings, i or more each year. Pubns., North Carolina 50 Mitteilungen and Einzelpublicationen (Pro- Oregon 3 is ceedings and special publications) . Pennsylvania! '.'.'. .' .' .' ' .' .' .' .' 369 ~ Rhode Island 105 CANADA South Dakota 25 Ontario Library Association. Sec., E. A. Tennessee 50 Hardy, 65 Czar st, Toronto, Ontario. Est. Vermont.'.'. 1901. Dues, $i. Members, 100. Meetings, I Washington.'.'.'. ..'.'..... 58 each year. Pubns., List of best books, 1901, Wisconsin 2 155 1902; A Provincial Library Commission, H. ~ ^~~r H. Langton, 1903. Annual meeting, April. OTHER ASSOCIATIONS. ORGANIZATIONS. MEMBERS. GERMANY Assoc. of Medical Librarians. i 50 Tr ,-. , n'i f IF i. / /-* Bibliographical Soc. of Amer. i 100 Verein Deutscher Bwhothekare (German Nat. Educational Assoc i Library Association). Sec., Dr. G. Naetebus, Religious Education Soc i Berlin. Est. 1900. Dues, 3m. Members, 332 (1905). Meetings, I each year. Pubns., Jahrbuch der Deutschen Bibliotheken (Year- ENGLAND. ORGANIZATIONS. MEMBERS. book of German libraries) ; List of members. ISf "'. ! .!'.'.' .' .'.'.'.:: 75 In 1897 Dziatzkq and others asked the Ve- Library Assistants' Assoc. . 190 rein deutscher Philologen and Schulmanner Library Association 415 to form a Library Section. This was done g^Jj/,^ ;; ".;;;; % and it was determined to continue, this sec- North Midland 60 tion even after the founding of the separate North Western Branch... 121 Library Association in 1900, but it is now Northern Counties ^ 103 disbanded. 9 I14 g T _ OTHER COUNTRIES. IRELAND Austria 100 Irish Rural Libraries Association. Est. Australia 50 1904. Special work, To establish and pro- jgSEv mote libraries in rural districts. Annual Ireland ! 25 meeting, April, May or June. Italy 75 Japan 50 ITALY Societa bibliogranca Italianq. Est. 1897. 732 Official organ, Rivista delle Biblioteche, edi- . SUMMARY. tor, Dr. Guido Biagi, Mediceo-Laurenziana En^and! '.".'. '..'.'.'.'.".'.'.. '.'.'. 5 J 1148 L., Florence. Countries, Other 7 732 Associations, Other 4 150 JAPAN Kansai Bunko Kyokai or (Western Li- 8 49i brary Association). Est. I90I. Official or- O f the organizations in the United States, n pub- gan, Toheki. lish handbooks, 12 constitutions only, 19 other things. PUTNAM THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AS A NATIONAL LIBRARY BY HERBERT PUTNAM, Librarian of Congress T HAVE tampered with my title. The one assigned was "The Library of Congress and what it stands for as our National Li- brary." As it now reads "The Library of Congress as a National Library" it permits me to speak not of what the library is, but of what it may be. The term is "national," not "federal." The Library of Congress is a federal library and will continue to be, whatever the general service that it may perform. As a federal library it will owe to the literature of the country as a whole the duty which the state library or the municipal library owes to the literature of the smaller geographical area which maintains it : that is, to accumulate and preserve, irrespective of present demand. For the United States it must be as these others for their lesser areas, a library of record. As a federal library it must render a serv- ice to the federal government. It was estab- lished to serve, but one department of the government, the legislative. It has come to serve all three legislative, executive, and judicial. In addition, it is a laboratory ab- solutely essential for the bureaus of the gov- ernment engaged in scientific investigation ; and, as you know, these bureaus are many and the amount and variety of their investi- gations prodigious, exceeding those of any other government, or two governments, in the world. As a federal library, then, the Library of Congress must exist for the convenience of Congress, and its law division for the con- venience of the supreme court and its bar; it must aid the executive departments in works of practical administration, a great many of which now that we have come to be a world power involve investigations into descriptive or scientific literature ; and it is a laboratory for the scientific bureaus, except so far as their needs are supplied by the working libraries which they themselves- maintain. But the term is not "federal," but "na- tional," and the question therefore is as to a service not to the federal government which directly maintains it, but to the coun- try at large. The general theory of our national func- tions is that the nation that is, the federal government shall undertake only those services which cannot be performed, or can but imperfectly, or at excessive cost, be per- formed by the local authorities state,, county, or municipal. This limitation may readily be applied here. The national li- brary for the United States should limit it- self to the undertakings which cannot, or cannot efficiently, or cannot without extrava- gance be carried on by the several states or smaller political sub-divisions; or (since libraries are a frequent and common form of private benefaction) are not adequately cared for by private endowment. One great group of activities we may at once set aside those which deal with the elementary and the general reader. To pro- vide for the elementary or general reader is no more the duty of the national government than to provide for the elementary pupils in the schools. But besides the elementary and general reader there is the investigator. The investigator stands on a different footing. His purpose is not self-cultivation, but the establishment of general principles. An in- vestigator who establishes a general princi- ple has benefited the entire community. To aid him is a proper concern of the entire community. Now such investigators exist all over the- country: in the universities of course, and also in the small colleges, and countless of them without any academic connection whatever. Some of them are within reach of municipal,., others of academic libraries, a few of en- 28 PORTLAND CONFERENCE dowed libraries all of these generous in service. How far do they meet the needs? A map of the United States exhibiting them would show at a glance one need not met: the need of an equalization of facilities. Even the popular lending libraries are grouped in certain areas out of proportion to population; and the great collections of specialized material, collections necessary to advanced study and to original investigation, are massed in a few spots, chiefly in the faf East, the North, the Middle West, so-called (that is, the states between the Alleghanies and the Mississippi), and California; and either in a few large cities or in university towns. In a country of the size of Great Britain such concentration is nQ inconveni- ence. In a country covering 3,000,000 square miles it may form an absolute impediment to research of high importance, by men of high capacity. Even, however, in the cen- ters best provided the present or prospective service does not appear completely to cover the need, for with the exception of the en- dowed libraries there is no class of local library whose primary duty is to research. The municipal free library is a department of the system of popular education. It is to aid the systematic instruction of the com- mon schools and to supplement it; it is to give opportunity for self-instruction to those who have missed the schools or wish to go beyond them; and opportunity for self-culti- vation to those who justly look to books for this service. To do this reasonably will ex- haust all its energies; to do even this com- pletely is impossible impossible with the funds likely ever to be available. Each mu- nicipal library must take care first of the people of its own city. It must take care first of the general reader. There is little prospect that the ordinary municipal library can do more. It has some other limitations : it must devote its funds to general litera- ture, it desires only the worthy books, and in the literature of knowledge it gives prefer- ence to the books which interpret agreeably and intelligibly, rather than to those which are the original sources. It can rarely afford the unusual and little used book; and, as a rule, it has not space for it. If, then, it as- sists research it cannot go far in promoting it. Its primary duty is in service of a differ- ent nature. The academic libraries in this country, in particular the university libraries, have be- come the custodians of material of eminence which they employ most generously in aid of research. More than any other class of libraries they at present promote research. Their first duty is, however, to supply the material required in the worjc of direct in- struction. Their funds are not generally able to go far beyond this. They are apt to be embarrassed for space to accommodate conveniently highly specialized material which comes by gift and to make it useful in catalogs and bibliographies. Already the authorities of our oldest university are considering the suggestion of its president that the largest, the oldest of our university libraries, which has heretofore grown com- prehensively, shall hereafter restrict itself within the much narrower dimension requis- ite for the immediate needs of its faculty and students. "Selected libraries" of general literature, working libraries of necessary reference books, museum collections of books that for their form or dress, or rarity, attract the private collector all of these taken together do not make a research library. In literature the need of research is bounded only by the 'limi- tations of the literature which exists, and in a country such as this the need of the inves- tigator is not fully met by local libraries how- every generous, which are limited in means, in space, and have a primary duty to a local constituency. Taking, therefore, the state and municipal libraries in the aggregate, and making due allowance for academic and for endowed li- braries for research in particular fields, there seems room in this country for one library that shall be (i) a library for special service to the federal government ; (2) a library of record for the United States; (3) a, library of research, reinforcing and supplementing other research libraries ; (4) a library for na- tional service that is, a library which shall respond to a demand from any part of the country, and thus equalize opportunities for research now very unequally distributed. These are but a few aspects. Let us con- PUTNAM 29 sider them a moment before passing to others. What do they require? In the first place, an ample building. Th's we have Most of you know it by observation, all of you by description and by report. It is ex- hibited here by model and photographs. Cer- tain of its features and characteristic work within it are being described by my colleague, Mr. Johnston, in connection with the ex- hibit. I need not review them. Sufficient to say that the building is a large one, with eight acres of floor space, with present shelv- ing for two and a half million volumes and possible provision for seven million, and with accommodation for a thousand readers at a time. It is also an efficient building. The second requirement is large collec- tions : a sure provision for the acquisition of Americana, and generous provision for the acquisition of all the literature of knowledge. The present collections aggregate 1,350,000 books and pamphlets and three-quarters of a million other articles a total far in ex- cess of that of any other single collection on this hemisphere, and ranking the library already third among the libraries of the world. Among the sources of increase are three which are unique : ( I ) The copy- right deposits, which ensure to the library two copies of every article copyrighted on or before the date of its publication; (2) international exchange the returns from the issue to foreign governments and insti- tutions of publications of the United States government, 100 copies of which are placed at the disposal of the library for this pur- pose; (3) the returns from the exchanges of the Smithsonian Institution with learned so- cieties all over the world; and the surplus returns (not otherwise retained) from the exchanges of other departments and bureaus of the government at Washington. From these three sources the library has already the largest single collection of American im- prints, of official documents of all countries, and of the publications of learned societies, existing in any single institution. It has become the depository for historical manu- scripts in the possession of the federal gov- ernment no longer required for administra- tive purposes. It has thus the papers of no less than nine of the presidents, and of many other American statesmen, from Franklin to Chase. Its manuscript collections have now by transfer, by gift, by purchase come to be preeminent in American history. It is, I sup- pose, now impossible for any work in any period of American history to be definitive without recourse to Washington. In addition to these sources which are pe- culiar to itself, the library has what other li- braries have the resource of ordinary ex- change and of purchase ; and its appropria- tion for purchase is now $98,000 a year. Freed from any expenditure for current copy- righted books and a considerable mass of other material, this may go far. It might do much even in the purchase of the rare and curious books suited to a museum library. It is not, however, being applied to these. It is being applied to the acquisition of the material not precious from its form or rarity merely, but useful from its content. There is an immense mass of such material which cannot be acquired by the ordinary library; or which, if acquired, could not adequately be maintained by the ordinary library, and which yet is needed by the investigator. The need may be only occasional, but when it comes it may be of vital importance. It may ccme at one time at only one point, so that a single copy of the book, if liberally admin- istered by an institution having a duty to the entire country, may suffice to meet it\ Fifty years ago, it was a grief to an ob- server that all the libraries in the United States together would not have furnished Gibbon the sources for his history. All the libraries in the United States will never, 1 suppose, be able to furnish to any historian of European history the sources for a de- finitive history based upon original sources. For European history, and indeed for that earlier history of America whose origins are European, and whose relations are inextrica- bly interwoven with the affairs of Europe, the original sources are, and must remain, abroad. But the secondary sources that is, the printed book, and reproduction of the original sources in transcript, and where necessary in facsimile : these may ultimately be looked for in Washington. Such a collec- tion is not built in a day. The library is, to be sure, not at its beginnings. When the PORTLAND CONFERENCE new building was completed eight years ago it was already a collection of three-quarters of a million volumes ; but only from the com- pletion of that building only indeed within the past five'years has it had resources for systematic growth reasonably adequate to the problem. The building and the collections being given, the third requisite is an organization capable of maintaining them, of developing them, and of making them useful. The or- ganization that we have is not a huge one, consisting indeed in the library proper of less than 240 persons; but it represents for the technical work a force somewhat care- fully developed during the past eight years; and the division of now go persons which deals with the work most technical that is, classification and cataloging repre- sents, I believe, a group as highly expert as is maintained by any library, and larger in number than is maintained by any other two libraries. Unfortunately, a large part of its energies must still be applied to arrears of both classification and of cataloging, repre- senting work which should have been spread over the past fifty years. No estimate of the service which the library can ultimately ren- der is safe, and, I may say, no criticism of imperfections in its present bibliographic work is just, until these arrears shall have been completely dealt with ; nor is consist- ency in rule or method in such work to be hoped for while both rule and method are being worked out and determined by actual experiment during the present, which is still an experimental, stage. The expert service of a research library must extend beyond its classifiers and cata- logers. It must include interpreters. The expert service of the Library of Congress does include some interpreters men of special training in the subject matter of knowledge, in addition to classifiers and catalogers, as well as accomplished bibliographers who are, to some extent, specialists trained in the sub- ject matter of literature. Our faculty of these is small, and but partially covers the various departments of knowledge, but they may be to some extent supplemented from the scientific bureaus of the government, whose aid can be invoked where ours is im- perfect; and their service in the compilation of bibliographies and in the direct response to particular inquiry, resident and non-resi- dent, is a potent one. But I lay stress upon the group engaged in the technical work of classifying and cataloging, because it is their product that specially concerns libraries in general. The collections being there, what can be done with* them ? There is of course the di- rect and immediate use upon the premises. In the case of national libraries abroad, this service is considered an adequate service. The British Museum, for instance, is, as yon know, a purely reference library. The other great national libraries of Europe are essen- tially reference libraries. But, as I have said, a limitation which works no hardship in Great Britain might work a considerable de- privation in the United States. The Library of Congress is lending books. It has lent them as far east as Maine, as far west as California, as far south as Texas. It lends them only to libraries, but of course for the benefit of individuals. They must be re- quired for serious research that is to say, for an investigation calculated to advance the boundaries of knowledge. They are not lent for the purpose of private study or self-culti- vation. The need, in other words, must be a matter of public concern. But with these conditions fulfilled the library does lend. There is, of course, some risk of loss in transit, and there is also the wear and tear upon the books. There is a possibility that some book lent may be lost to posterity seek- ing it at Washington. There is a risk, to the charge of which I know of but one answer : that a book used is, after all, fulfilling a higher mission than a book which is merely being preserved for possible future use. The character of the demand already met is assuring. It is very largely for out-of-the- way articles in society transactions or the less common scientific periodicals. The number of volumes thus far issued is not great a thousand a year but we have not par- ticularly advertised our willingness in the matter. "Here, then, is a service outside of the limits of Washington. It is indeed a service to the country at large. In dimension it is at PUTNAM present no great service, but its dimension is not to be reckoned by the number of volumes issued. A thousand books for mere self- amusement or self-cultivation issued to 1000 readers will not be a great contribution to the advancement of learning; but 1000 works of scientific content issued to investigators are a very different matter. In the hands of investigators they are transmuted through written word, by word of mouth, or in prin- ciples newly ascertained, and are thus dif- fused throughout the entire community. A visitor to the library remarked to me : "Ah, I see, this library is supplying the authors who are filling the Carnegie libraries !" The amount of investigation under way in the country is not to be reckoned. The va- riety and extent of material requisite for an investigation absolutely thorough seems to be indefinite. A collection containing every- thing that has ever been printed would doubt- less in every one of its parts find some use at some time. Do we propose a collection of everything in print? Heaven forbid; or even of all that's fit to print. A collection comprehensive in scope is one thing ; a col- lection made with reference to something more or less than mere literary worth, and something beyond the present demand, is one thing; but an indefinite accumulation without discrimination and without selection is an- other thing. The Library of Congress must discriminate. It must reject much that is available to it without cost and must select among the material available by purchase. Its range will be far wider than that of any local library, and still there must be both discrimination and selection. Subject to this, the mere accumulation at our national capital of a collection compre- hensive in scope, representative of all depart- ments 01 literature, and as completely as pos- sible exhibiting the product of the American press, would itselt render a national service. Such a mass, even if inert, would offer some lessons and exert some influence. It would be at least a monument. Which is not to say that it need be inert. The active service of such a collection may consist in the direct issue of books either on the premises or abroad, but also in biblio- graphic contributions based upon it or in the direct aid to inquirers rendered by the ex- perts administering it; or, finally, in the ex- amples furnished of method and system as applied to it. The single great bibliographic contribution of the British Museum is its cata'og in book lorm. The notable contribution of the Li- brary of Congress is its catalog on cards. What this is you know. What it means, or may mean, can at present only be roughly guessed at. It is in the first place a catalog, which is to be a complete catalog of the larg- est collection of books on this hemisphere, in- definitely expanding. As such a catalog it will be available in copies placed at over a score at least of centers of research in this country. As such a catalog it is a biblio- graphic aid in the same way as is the catalog of the British Museum, but covering in part a field very different, and covering this pre eminently. It is to inform the investigator what books are in the national library. It will ultimately inform the bibliographer more than does any other one publication, or per- haps all other publications combined, what books are in print. But it is something more than either of these. The copies of the cards distributed to other libraries for their own catalogs become a part of their own appara- tus. The sale of these cards to other librar- ies began, you will recall, three and one-half years ago. We have not sought to press it for three reasons: (i) Because the distribu- tion involves to the Library of Congress an expense and some inconvenience not at all reimbursed by the subscriptions received; and (2) because the cards at present cover but a fraction of the existing collection, and (3) because our methods and rules of entry are still undergoing revision, and we did not covet the task of explaining changes or of satisfying subscribers as to inconsistencies. We have not, therefore, sought to push the sales. They have, however, increased each year in almost geometric proportion. The list of libraries subscribing, or I will say par- ticipating, now totals 608. The receipts from sales during the past fiscal year will have exceeded $16,000. You are aware what it costs to catalog a book. The ordinary esti- mate is from 20 to 35 cents. Five copies of a printed oard cost but 4 cents. The saving PORTLAND CONFERENCE to the subscribing library as against the cost for doing the work independently is thus x from 16 to 31 cents on each book cata- loged, or from 4 to nearly 8 times the amount it pays for the printed cards. The saving, therefore, to the subscribing libraries during the present year will have been from 4 to, say, 7 times the total amount paid in that is, from $64,000 to $112,000. Even if we take the mean of this, in order to allow for some clerical work required on certain at least of the printed cards in order to adapt them to the catalogs of a particular library, we shall have $88,000 a substantial saving effected. These cards are produced primarily for the library itself. The copies supplied to other libraries for their own catalogs are a mere bye-product. I believe, however, and I have suggested elsewhere, that in the end so large a percentage of the libraries of this country will be getting so large a percentage of the cards for so large a percentage of the books in their own collections that the production of these cards alone would justify the main- tenance of a national cataloging bureau at the expense of the entire country irrespective, mark you, of any other use of the books cata- loged. In other words, that it would pay this great community, through its central govern- ment, to buy a book for the mere purpose of cataloging it and making the catalog entry available in these printed cards, even if the bcok should then be thrown away. Yet we do not propose to throw it away. To supplement other collections for re- search your national library must have the unusual book; to enable its cataloging work to be serviceable to other libraries of vary- ing types, it must have the usual book. The distribution of its catalog cards, therefore, will tend to round out its collections in di- rections which mere research would not re- quire or justify. Of bibliographical aids in book form we publish, as you know, some reports, a very few catalogs of special portions of the col- lection, chiefly form groups, select lists of references on topics under discussion, and, beginning recently with the "Journals of the Continental Congress," some manuscript ma- terial in extenso. Of these the reports may have some administrative value, the catalog a value which other catalogs have, the lists of references may save some multiplication cf work in local libraries. The publication of manuscripts is not perhaps so much a service frcm us as a library as a duty from us as the custodians of original sources for American history. But in two publications one of the past, and one proposed for the coming year we have undertaken a service of a different nature. The first was the "A. L. A. catalog" ; the second will be the "Por- trait index." The service of the latter of these will of course include a service to re- search. The service of the "A. L. A. catalog" will be chiefly elementary and popular ; but in publishing the catalog we render that serv- ice not directly to the individual, but to the institutions that is, the libraries them- selves, which serve him 1 . I believe that this distinction may be salutary throughout. While a national library does not supply the elementary or general reader, but rather the investigator, yet it may aid the libraries which do supply him, where the aid that it can render will accomplish for them some- thing that they cannot individually accom- plish for themselves, or if undertaken by them individually would represent a great multiplication of expense. To gather up au- thoritative opinion upon public questions of general concern and to use its facilities for making this generally available this also may be a function of a national institution, whether it be a department of agriculture or a bureau of education, or a marine hospital service, or a national library. There is a direct service to readers, or to inquirers. In a library serving merely a local constituency this consists in the direct serv- ice to resident readers. The Library of Con- gress has its local constituency. It includes, outside of the government, a considerable number of men attached to the academic in- stitutions in Washington and pursuing ad- vanced study or research. It includes also some resident investigators unattached, and it is coming to include an increasing number of non-resident investigators who visit Wash- ington for limited periods for the express purpose of investigation. But beyond this there is now a service by correspondence; for the library answers every appeal for PUTNAM 33 bibliographic information that comes to it from anywhere. The number of such appeals reaches now perhaps eight or ten thousand yearly, and they come from all parts of the United States, and are upon subjects most diverse. Those which can be answered from material in the library are so answered. Where they cannot be, the inquirer is re- ferred to a more competent, or more appro- priate authority. "In the Carnegie Library, this city," writes a correspondent, "is a notice to the effect that anyone not finding the information they de- sired in that library should address you." Then there is method itself. Of this, so far as we have example, one may not speak complacently at least, I am not that one. A national library is conceivable which would exemplify, in its own administrative pro- cesses, methods and service, as well as in its collections and apparatus, what is most effi- cient and most economical for other librar- ies. The Library of Congress makes no pre- tense to this. There are, of course, certain branches of a library system, as well as cer- tain apparatus necessary to a library of a popular type, which would have no appro- priate place or use in a research library. If example of this is td be furnished by the federal government, it must rather be looked for in the free library of the District of Col- umbia than in the Library of Congress. For libraries of research the operations of a national library that might offer analogy would be those which concern the accommo- dation of material, its classification, its ex- position in bibliographies and catalogs, and its interpretation by experts. The problem of selection in a library which has such large accessions by copyright, gift, and exchange, and so small an immediate constituency, has little of analogy. The methods of purchase might have some. The system of record, of use, etc., is, in comparison with the scientific purpose, of trifling moment. Classification is a matter of supreme mo- ment, or would be unless we give that place to cataloging. How excellent a service if the national library could adopt a classifica- tion which would become universally cur- rent! We have had visions of such a one. They have passed. We long considered ex- isting systems, in the hope that one of these might be adopted by us, if that could be seen to have a clear prospect of general adoption. We considered long, but felt obliged to con- clude that no existing system likely to be generally current would serve our purpose without modifications which would defeat the very pdrpose of uniformity that is, identical call numbers. We have proceeded to construct a system of our own, and have thus added one more crime to the calendar, and further confusion. We have sought extenuation in this reflec- tion that it is a matter, after all, relatively indifferent as to whether a book occupies an identical position in relation to its class upon our shelves and upon those of any other li- brary, provided that we supply to that other library a key to its position upon our shelves, and in a particular division of literature, by supplying a printed system of our classifi- cation. If the same notation be not used, at least, with the aid of such key, the symbols of one notation may be translated into the symbols of another. I say we have sought extenuation in this. How far the efficiency of our cards and other bibliographic apparatus is to be diminished by the fact that the call numbers are. not identical with those of the same books in the recipient libraries is yet to be proved. Uniformity in cataloging stands , in our opinion, upon a very different basis. Here- tofore we have not offered our practice as a model. Inevitably, however, it has to be considered, and it has entered into discus- sions of uniformity in cataloging rules. We have contributed our opinion to this discus- sion, and have sought to make all the con- cessions that were consistent with our wil- lingness to have the final compromise repre- sent our own practice. There are still num- erous points of difference, but, as you know, many that were a half dozen years ago points of difference have come to be points of agree- ment. There has been progress, and the points that remain unsettled are, I believe, for the most part of minor importance, at least of detail. In considering what the com- promises should be it must be remembered that your national library is to be a great research library, whose catalog is to be a 34 PORTLAND CONFERENCE piece of permanent apparatus and for schol- arly reference, not for superficial or tempor- ary reference, and that the catalog entry pro- duced by such a library, with an adequately expert staff, will be more full, as it will at- tempt to be more thorough, than an entry which would suffice and perhaps would be convenient for an ordinary library. Of personal service in interpretation there is not yet much to say which could be said compactly or concretely, and I will avoid it wholly, except to refer to a suggestion in my last report that a library with the collec- tions, the equipment, the organization, and the relations of service of the Library of Con- gress offers opportunity for a valuable ex- perience which a national library might fur- nish as a school of experience for the higher grades of library work. In the character of their service the li- braries of this country do not accept as limi- tations the areas of the political divisions which maintain them. If they did, we might foresee an organic structure in which mu- nicipal library would be subsidiary to state library, and the state libraries as a whole, in certain of their relations, subsidiary to the library of the nation not, of course, in their organization or government, but in their service. Neither logic nor constitutional pro- priety is likely to determine such relations. But a specific request from the state libraries to the national library for, a concrete service to be rendered to or through them is certain to be effective. Lastly, if there is a matter of international concern upon which international cooperation should be sought, cooperation between insti- tutions as distinguished from associations, it is the national library of our country which would represent the community of libraries in the exchange of view and of effort. In fine? A collection indefinitely expand- ing, at once a monument of American litera- ture and an exposition of the serviceable in all literature; resident at our national cap- ital, but made available in non-resident serv- ice through the loan of material required for research, and through the exhibit in bibliogra- phies of the material most important for re- search in particular subjects, and expounded by experts in response to particular inquiry; a central bureau upon matters bibliographic; a central bureau for cataloging, the product of whose work may be utilized by other li- braries ; and a few other things. Pleas- ant matter of speculation, some part of which has been brought from the realm of specula- tion into the realm of promise. I recur to Edward Everett, that sensitive soul : "Who,'' exclaimed he, eighty-five years ago "who can see without shame that the Federal government of America is the only government in the civilized world that has never founded a literary institution of any description or sort?'' STATE LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION BY J. L. GILLIS, State Librarian of California *T* HE best administration of any library is that which accomplishes the greatest results at the least expenditure of time, labor, and money. Results depend primarily on the perfection of organization, therefore the most vital thing in library administration is the proper organization of the work. Other things being equal, the successful business firm, railroad corporation, or political party is the one which is best organized, and busi- ness principles are as applicable in library work as they are in any other kind of busi- ness. Successful administration requires a grasp of the library movement as whole; it is not sufficient, nor is it always essential, that the administrator of a library should understand the technical part of the work, but he must see the ends to be reached, and the relation of each part of the work to the other and to GILLIS 35 the whole. He must have a plan and know what means to employ to reach the end he seeks. The administration of a state library, like that of most other libraries, resolves itself into the two divisions of external and in- ternal administration. The former is repre- sented by the governing power vested in the board of trustees or the state officer who is primarily responsible for the management of the library, and who in a broad way outlines its policy. The internal administration de- volves directly upon the person made respon- sible by the governing power for the organi- zation, development, and management of the business, technical, and routine work of the library. The great diversity of the provisions of the several states for the establishment and maintenance of state libraries has resulted in a great diversity of methods for their admini- stration. Where the external governing power of a state library is vested in one per- son, as for example the governor or the sec- retary of state, the library is liable to suffer on account of changes of administration. It lacks stability, is subject to frequent changes of staff and is left at the end of each ad- ministration in the hands of an incoming officer who is entirely unfamiliar with its policy or management, and whose chief in- terest in it is very likely to be the appoint- ment of a new librarian. In many states, certain state officers and judges of the supreme court constitute, the board of trustees. While this arrangement may' insure a majority of experienced mem- bers on the board at all times, it has the dis- advantage of including those who have, per- haps, no fitness nor desire for the position, and look upon it merely as an onerous addi- tion to their other duties. A man may be in any one of three attitudes toward a position as trustee : he may not want it ; he may be indifferent, except, perhaps, for personal ends ; or he may be glad to secure it for 'the opportunity it gives to help the library cause. If he is indifferent or does not want the position and has it thrust upon him, he is pretty certain to make a poor trustee. But if he is interested in the work and is anxious to do whatever he can to help it along, he will prove to be a much more useful member than an unwilling or indifferent man who may otherwise have much greater qualifica- tions for the position. Of the various forms of the external gov- erning body, none seems to be better adapted to library needs than a board of trustees of five members, 'each appointed by the gover- nor for five years, whose terms of office ex- pire in yearly rotation. Such an arrangement insures on the board at all times a majority of members who are not new to the work, who hold their office by special appointment, who are adapted to and who desire the posi- tions to which they are appointed. The personnel of the board depends, of course, upon the governor, and he must be held ultimately responsible for the manage- ment of the library in proportion to the num- ber of his appointees on the board. When the people of a state have been so wise and patriotic as to place in power a man like the Governor of California, they have everything to hope and nothing to fear for the library interests of the state; for under his admini- stration it has been possible to employ trained assistants, and to put the library in the posi- tion of an aggressive factor in the extension of library work in the state. Where the librarian is appointed by such a board, and made directly responsible to the trustees and to no one else, a greater meas- ure of stability is assured in the management of the library than by any other means. To this board should be given all necessary power for the management of the state li- brary and for forwarding library interests throughout the state, for by clothing the trustees with the proper authority, the neces- sity of a state library commission in addi- tion to the state library itself is avoided. There is a decided advantage in having the work of library extension performed by the state library instead of by a commission, al- though there may be some cases in which the work can only be carried on by the latter means; but where it can be done by the state library, the advantage to the library and to the state at large is very great : to the library be- cause it brings it in touch with the people of the whole state, thereby vitalizing it and broad- ening its point of view; to the people of the PORTLAND CONFERENCE .state because it gives them more directly than in any other way access to the resources of the library. There are also manifest advan- tages in the matter of securing appropriations where the library interests of the state are not divided. In most states, commissions of all kinds are looked upon with distrust, and it is often difficult to get suitable appropria- tions to carry on the work of a library com- mission. The amounts secured are usually small and entirely inadequate to perform properly the work that should be done. Where the work is carried on by the state library there is a saving of space, labor, and expense of administration, and the library has facilities for prosecuting the work that no commission can have. Unfortunately, in some states the division of library interests has led to strained relations and a feeling of jealousy between the various workers, a con- dition of affairs exceedingly detrimental to securing the best results; but where the en- tire work is under one management, the full- est measure of co-operation is secured. It was only a few years ago that many li- braries, and more especially state libraries, were in a semi- fossilized, not to say wholly fossilized condition. Administration under those conditions was a comparatively simple matter, but the modern state library with its manifold interests demands the undivided attention and close application of the libra- rian. In addition to a knowledge of the re- quirements of the community in which the li- brary is situated, he must keep himself in- formed as to the needs and progress of li- braries throughout the state. Books must be bought not alone with reference to local conditions, although those books may per- haps be the most used, but with a view to the various interests in all parts of the state. This may not be so important a matter in the smaller states where the interests are not so varied, but it should be remembered that con- ditions are different in California with its 1200 miles of coast line, its 158,000 square miles of area, and its many different clim- ates. There are several counties which are large enough to swallow the state of Massa- chusetts and still have a respectable appetite left. The support of the library is contributed to equally by all sections and no one lo- cality is more entitled to its benefits than another. Under the present plan of circu- lating travelling libraries in California, a com- munity in any part of the state from Siski- you county on the north to San Diego county on the south can get books from the state library absolutely free of any charge. The state library should stand as a model to the smaller libraries throughout the state. It shouM be ready at all times to furnish them information and to offer suggestions for the betterment of the library service. It should stand, in a word, as the parent and counsellor of the libraries of the state. To accomplish these desirable ends, it is neces- sary that the librarian should be given full control of the internal administration of the library. He should be permitted to select his assistants, subject to the approval of the board, in order that he may choose for each part of the work the person best adapted to it. He should be entrusted with the selection and disposition of the books, and with the decision of all questions of management or policy naturally falling to the lot of the ex- ecutive agent of the board. He should keep in touch not only with the library interests of the state, but with the various state officials so that he may ascertain in what way the library can be made most useful to them, for state libraries were founded primarily for the use of the state officials, and while the li- braries have now developed along broader lines, the original purpose should not be for- gotten. It is important, too, that there should be cordial relations between the librarian and the various state officers in order that he may be able to interest them in the work of the library, help them to an intelligent under- standing of its importance, aims and meth- ods, and insure their friendly attitude and hearty co-operation. The needs of the people at large must be provided for by means of loans from the state library, travelling libraries, study club libraries, the circulation of books for the blind, etc. The needs of the small libraries throughout the state must be kept in mind and' sucht assistance and advice given them as may be possible by correspondence, publications,- GODARD 37 and more especially through the instrumen- tality of a state organizer, who should be a person fully equipped with all the essential qualities for the position. The necessary legislation for promoting and fostering the library interests of the state must be secured, and a close watch kept that no detrimental legislation is passed. This part of the work requires a .personal ac- quaintance with the leaders of the legislative body and certain administrative qualities that have no direct relation to library work. It often happens that the state librarian is placed in a position where he is obliged to choose between two evils. All state libraries are at present to some degree subject to politi- cal control, and the appointment of an in- competent assistant may be the price that has to be paid for securing important conces- sions or appropriations. Probably no one more earnestly desires to employ experienced assistants than the progressive state libra- rian, but under present conditions in the ma- jority of state libraries it is not always feasi- ble to make such appointments. Increased power results from unification and" centralization, and where the various library interests of a state, such as its law library, historical library, travelling libraries, library organization work, etc., can be brought under one head, we may expect to see increased efficiency in all departments. DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATE LIBRARY BY GEORGE S. GODARD, State Librarian of Connecticut T IBRARIES are no longer luxuries con- fined to the families and friends of the rich. They are no longer looked upon as a charity nor as a gift from the rich to the poor, but, like the public school and the pub- lic highway, they are for the use and benefit of every one. In other words, libraries have become an element of sound public policy, and demand the same careful, intelligent and interested official supervision and assistance as is given by the state to any other branch of its public economy. Moreover, to reach their highest state of usefulness and personal comfort, this bond of interested, assisting sympathy between the state and the several li- braries within its borders must be supple- mented by a similar bond of sympathy be- tween the libraries themselves. But whether this state supervision, this state sympathy, shall be through the state library, the state library commission, the state board of educa- tion, or some other medium must, in my judgment, be solved by each state for itself. If the work is being properly done by any existing state department, it ought, in my opinion, to remain there until some good rea- son demands a change. We now have our national library, state libraries, county libraries, town libraries, school libraries, college and university librar- ies, historical society libraries, theological li- braries, law libraries, medical libraries, librar- ies devoted to history, science, art, languages ; also libraries of clubs or associations for special study, and special circulating libraries almost without number. Moreover, all of these and many more are intertwined and interlaced through the medium of library commissions, district, state , interstate, na- tional, and international associations, library training schools, branch and travelling librar- ies, exchanges, cooperative cataloging, com- mon donors, and many other kindred ties. Since much of this activity has been de- veloped within the last twenty years and is continuing with renewed strength, what is to be the result? What in the midst of such ac- tivities must we expect in the development of the state library? Possibly we might describe the ideal state library as a library located at the capitol, owned and administered by the state, and representing every department of knowledge, having each department immediately under the direction and supervision of a competent expert in such department, and having a sup- PORTLAND CONFERENCE ply of books properly classified, cataloged, labelled, and shelved, not only representing the several editions of each work, but with sufficient duplicates to meet at once every call in every part of the state and the neighbor- ing states using "neighboring" in the broad sense, with a department of archives repre- senting the development of its several towns, counties, and industries, and the genealogies of its families. Moreover, this library to be ideal should be blessed not only with a beau- tiful, well arranged, well lighted, fire proof building with unlimited, well-lighted accessi- ble and adjustable shelving, but with an un- limited appropriation and the franking privilege. In the few minutes allotted to me, I am sup- posed to present to your view the several stages in the development of the state library. I am asked to call your attention, too, to a few steps in the gradual series of processes from a simple and incomplete condition in its life to a more complex and complete organiza- tion. For the state library, like so many other institutions and other animate things, is the result of evolution and, in my opinion, will continue so to be, for the end is not yet. Moreover, while it has progressed by stages, it has progressed in no two states in pre- cisely the same way nor to the same extent. Practically all of the state libraries of the older states had their foundation in the mis- cellaneous collection of books which had gradually accumulated in the offices of the several state officials from the beginning. These volumes consisted principally of col- lections of their own laws and legislative pro- ceedings, books purchased to meet temporary official necessities, or which had been pre- sented by the sister states, foreign govern- ments, or individuals. Until they had been gathered together and arranged and some one made responsible for their completeness and safety, they were of very little service to the public. It was not until after the War of 1812 that the establishment of state libraries as such began to be seriously considered, al- though in 1777, April 22, Congress passed the following resolutions : "Resolved, That it be recommended to the several states to order their statute laws and the additions that may be made thereto to be sent to Congress and to each of the states to- gether with all discoveries and improvements in the arts of war made in such states re- spectively.'' From the last phrase in this resolution we again see the great foresight of the found- ers of our country. Note : "together with all discoveries and improvements in the arts of war." Evidently they foresaw in their wis- dom the mighty onslaught to be made upon us by our modern publishers. So far as we know governmental libraries began with organized government. The kings of Assyria had their libraries of carved stone and carved clay; the Ptolemies gathered at Alexandria an immense library, and im- mense governmental libraries were accumu- lated at Constantinople and at Rome. The national libraries at Paris, London, and the other European capitals have grown, have evolved to such proportions and are now so deep rooted in the fabric of government that they are numbered among the chief attrac- tions of modern Europe, while in our own country the Library of Congress our na- tional library is an object of admiratidn to the world. It was not until revolutionary times, how- ever, that we find any systematic attempt being made to accumulate regular libraries at the several capitals. The spirit of the I7th and i8th centuries as evidenced by the ad- ministration of , the foreign governors who were sent to the several colonies did not seem to encourage governmental libraries. (To be sure, there had been accumulated in some of the states their own laws and their own legislative proceedings.) Now, the very thought of the individual possession of my ideal state library, just described, is to most states unthinkable, ex- cept possibly to New York under Dr. Devvey. The area of human knowledge is unlimited and getting more so. Books ! Books ! Books ! See how they grow. A dozen or more new ones every hour, twenty-four hours a day, three hundred and sixty-five days in a year. Good books and bad books. Large books and little books. Picture books and scrap books. Sta'ndard books and books to stand, and someone, somewhere, desiring to see, not GODARD 39 necessarily read, each one sometime. Think of it ! From eternity to eternity is a long time, and each decade must learn and un- learn so much, but apparently print it all. It is no longer possible within any sort of reason for any one library town, county, state, or national to think of enveloping everything printed. The expense of purchas- ing, collating, cataloging, and housing is pro- hibitive. Therefore, is it not desirable as has in some instances been done that each state library select its departments or fields of work which may thus be made ap- proximately complete, leaving the other de- partments of knowledge which are thus either neglected or deficient to be covered by other libraries which may in turn be deficient or neglected in some lines covered in this? There are two extremes to be guarded against in our library development, viz., un- due contraction, which may result in chan- nels too narrow to be practical, and, on the other hand, undue expansion, which must re- sult in most libraries in more or less shallqw- ness. There are, however, two lines which the people of a state have a right to expect to find in their state library, viz., whatever pertains to the science of government for the aid of those who are to administer govern- ment and whatever illustrates the history, character, resources and development of their state. The reference department should be es- pecially rich and complete in encyclopedias, dictionaries, gazetteers, atlases, handbooks, and the reliable time savers of our day. So far as needed and possible there should be special libraries for the several departments of state and legislative committees. The scope of the law department should be a broad one. It should be as complete as possible in its collections of the statute laws and official law reports of the United States and of the several states and England ; if not also those of Canada, Ireland, Scotland, and the British colonies, together with such books as mark their development. The world is fast growing smaller and our neighbors are fast getting nearer. The "might be" soon be- comes "may be," and before we realize it "is." An attorney, therefore, has the right to ex- pect to find in his state library any books cited in the opinions of his own supreme court and the Supreme Court of the United States, if not everything cited by the highest courts in the several sister states. The department of archives cannot be overr emphasized. As the writing of history will never end, so the collecting of material for historical purposes must never cease. With each generation there are produced histories of the past, written and interpreted in the light of its own civilization. States are but individuals, and, like indi- viduals, differ in age, occupation, wealth, and territory controlled. Like individuals, then, they should conduct their several households and fashion their several establishments, be- ing governed largely by their environment, requirements, and financial abilities. While in general the state libraries should be to the several states what the Library of Congress is to the nation, the system of com- mon schools, academies, colleges, universities, and public libraries in vogue in a state very materially affect the development of the state library. The development of the, state library in a state whose several towns have good public schools, good public libraries, and in whose borders are one or more good college or university libraries open to its citizens, will naturally be very different from the develop- ment of the state library of a state whose system of education is not so well developed. In the former case the state helps the several communities through the local school or local library, so that the state library is of necessity largely a library of reference, built up not necessarily in all departments of knowledge, but along those lines not adequately repre- sented by the other large libraries within its borders. Such an arrangement or division of labor not only accomplishes the ideal uni- versity plan where each department is inde- pendent and under the direct supervision of a trained expert, but each library is thus per- mitted to use all its funds to purchase books along its chosen lines. It can hardly be expected that the states of Rhode Island, Connecticut, or Delaware, or any one of the smaller states can or will maintain an establishment equal to that of New York, nor that New York will equal our national library. It is not necessary PORTLAND CONFERENCE that they should. In these days of rapid transit distance is fast being eliminated, and one can be served practically in his own home. The time has come to club ; to coop- erate. United we stand. Divided we fall. In the near future I believe local libraries will look to central libraries for books not in common use, and these central libraries will look to larger depositories for books in- frequently called for. The states and several communities will, I think, come to see the waste of money there is in purchasing, cata- loging, and housing certain books in small libraries when a few copies of such books centrally located will serve an entire state. The local, the central, the university, the state, the interstate, the national, and inter- national, or universal library is a series by no means unthinkable. It should be, and I believe sometime will be, possible for any- one who really needs to consult a special work to be able to consult that work or a reproduction of it or a separate printed from it, practically in his own home. Dr. Put- nam's "service to the country at large" is bound to come. Such a service extending through local libraries or in the absence oi a local library through designated public offi- cials as local centers, is reasonable, feasible, economical, and needed. Such a system of interlibrary loans under proper conditions and regulations will do much to clear our library and literary horizons. It is said that through disobedience man fell, that is, he fell by staying just where he was. He ^ell through not advancing to the better and broader things ahead, which it was his privilege and duty to occupy and enjoy. In the same way there may have been times, and probably will be still, when some of our state libraries yes, and some of our large public libraries also seem to have fallen or be falling falling by not advanc- ing to the field prepared for them from the foundations of the world. But whether this fall of libraries is due to disobedience, lack of funds, lack of administration, or lack of the franking privilege, I know not. But one thing I do know, it is not from lack of op- portunity. STATE LIBRARY COMMISSIONS BY HENRY E. LEGLER, Secretary Wisconsin Free Library Commission I: WHAT THEY ARE CTATISTICS of libraries have been col- lected by the United States Bureau of Education at irregular intervals for about thirty years. Six compilations have been published during this period showing the number of libraries and the number of peo- ple per library for each of the years men- tioned in the several reports. In 1875 each library supplied an average of 21,432 per- sons, while in 1903 there was a library to every 11,632 persons, showing that the num- ber of libraries had increased twice as rap- idly as the population. The increase in vol- umes in twenty-eight years has been at even a greater rate than the increase in number of libraries. In 1875 the libraries had 26 vol- umes to the 100 population, while in 1903 there were 68 to the 100 people. While the population increased 83 per cent, in twenty- eight years, the number of books accessible to the people increased 374 per cent. These figures, being official and indicative of extraordinary library growth, are apt to induce a feeling of complacency and a belief that the people of the United Slates are ex- tremely well supplied with library privileges. But statistics will always bear analysis, if wrong deductions are to be avoided. If one millionaire and nine penniless men are put into one group, it will be found that the aver- age wealth of these ten men is $100,000, but doubtless nine of the men will derive but scant comfort from that fact. At a recent state library meeting some comparisons were made of the cost of books. One econo- mically-inclined trustee proudly announced that the books acquired by his library during LEGLER the preceding year had cost an average of but II cents. He forgot to mention that an ex- congressman had transferred from his attic to the shelves of the library about 1200 pub- lic documents amassed by him during his congressional career. This circumstance not only reduced the average cost per book ac- quired, but greatly amplified the average number of books per inhabitant of that par- ticular community. To him who hath, more shall be given. Gratification over the extraordinary increase in number of volumes per too of the popula- tion must be tempered by the fact that the resultant benefit is confined to a fraction of the population. Thousands of people are ab- solutely without library privileges, even though the stimulus given by the Carnegie gifts has, during the past decade, scattered libraries into regions which would, but for that inducement, remain without libraries to- day. Perhaps the statistics for a typical state of the Middle West, or as the Bureau of Education would term it, North Central state, will suffice to illustrate: Total population Population of cities with libraries 866,000 Population served by trav- elling libraries 52,000 Country people with access to city libraries 26,590 2,069,042 Population with library priv- ileges Population without library privileges 944,590 1,124,452 According to the official statistics, there are in this state 58 volumes to the 100 of the population. According to the unofficial, Hut actual fact, certain groups of 100 persons in this state have from two to ten times that number of books within easy reach, and a million and a quarter of people have access to no libraries, and many of them do not see a book from the first day of January to the following Christmas. Conditions such as these, not apparent from official reports, but actually existent, have given to the public library commissions a field of work wide in area, and fruitful of soil. Commissions, or organizations bearing other names and having equivalent functions, are now operating in 23 states, eight of them in the North Atlantic division, eight in the North Central, five in the Western, two in the South Atlantic, and none in the South Central. In a consideration of library com- mission activities, the states in the two latter geographical divisions can be eliminated. In the North Atlantic division, which includes the New England group, the plan of organi- zation and operation differs essentially from that which has found root in the North Cen- tral division, or Middle West group. In the former, direct aid to libraries, with but lim- ited supervision (except in New York) seems to have been adopted as most likely to stimu- late the library movement. In the Middle West, no direct state aid is given the local libraries, but it is held to be important to concentrate effort upon field and instructional work, including the organization of new li- braries and reorganization of older ones on approved lines, instruction by means of in- stitutes and of summer schools, and- individ- ual instruction to librarians in their own li- braries. Instructional publications, such as book lists, bulletins, and circulars of information are also made an important channel of usefulness. In the western states, the methods that obtain in the Middle West have been fol- lowed in essential particulars. In nearly all of them, travelling libraries are circulated for the benefit of remote rural communities where conditions do not warrant the estab- lishment of permanent libraries, and in tem- porary aid of small and struggling libraries whose limited book funds permit only infre- quent or insufficient purchases. The reason for the divergent lines of endeavor governing the commissions in these several geographi- cal groups of states is not far to seek. The characteristics of the one include greater den- sity of population, older established com- munities, and naturally more public libraries within given areas. In sharp contrast are the conditions which affect the compara- tively newer regions of the west, where the material necessities of lighting, transporta- tion, and other utilities overshadow for the time being the desire for intellectual expan- sion. Naturally, different methods must be employed to meet these differing conditions. PORTLAND CONFERENCE Massachusetts boasts that no township within its borders, 353 in number, is without a pub- lic library. It will be many years before, in most of the western states, the same condi- tion will be even approximately true. There it is the province of the commission workers : 1. To educate public sentiment so that a genuine desire for library privileges will manifest itself in the practical form of local taxation adequate to proper maintenance. 2. To give personal help in the organiza- tion of the library, and to furnish such in- struction to the librarian and assistants as will bring the institution to the highest de- gree of efficiency possible. In both these endeavors serious difficul- ties are often encountered. This is an era of public improvements. The construction of gas and electric light plants, roads, court- houses, city halls, and public school buildings swell taxation often beyond the point of en- durance, and naturally the average citizen suggests that library appropriations can be deferred till the unavoidable financial pres- sure is relieved. When sentim'ent has finally ripened and the establishment of a library has been determ- ined upon, the selection of a librarian be- comes a vexing question. There is appar- ently in every community at least one needy old lady who requires the position to keep out of the poorhouse, and where she is not insist- ent, a sister, cousin, or aunt of an influential trustee has the necessary tenacity of purpose to secure it. Sometimes the commission, by firmness supplemented with tact, is enabled to influence the appointment of a trained per- son. Otherwise, the crude material must be moulded into the best form possible by pa- tient work during visitation of the library and by securing attendance at institutes and library summer school. State library commissions have been in ex- istence for fifteen years, but sixteen of them have been created during the second half of this period, and it is not surprising, therefore, that their work up to this time has been largely experimental. In the subjoined table is given the date of organization, state aid for administration purposes, number of per- sons employed and total salaries paid : 1890. Massachusetts Free Public Library Commission. 1891. New Hampshire State Library Com- mission. 1892. New York Public Libraries Division of the University of New York. 1893. Connecticut Free Public Library Com- mittee. 1894. Vermont Free Library Commission. 1895. Wisconsin Free Library Commission. 1896. Ohio Board of Library Commis- sioners. 1897. Georgia Library Commission. 1899. Colorado State Board of Library Commissioners. Indiana Public Library Commission. Kansas Travelling Libraries Commis- sion. Maine State Library Commission. Michigan Free Public Library Com- mission. Minnesota State Library Commission. Pennsylvania Free Library Commis- sion. 1900. Iowa State Library Commission. New Jersey Public Library Commis- sion. 1901. Washington State Library Commis- sion. Delaware' Free Library Commission. Idaho Free Library Commission. Maryland State Library Commission. Nebraska Public Library Commission. 1905. Oregon Free Library Commission. State Revenues. Direct aid to libraries. No employees. 1 Salaries. $ $ 60 $ 100 per lib. Indiana r 4,600 'ooo Massachusetts 100 per lib. 2,220 Nebraska 1 1,720 too per lib. 7 970 1 T 27,990 9,600 J 4,320 I 1,200 ? 2,300 100 per lib. 500 T i, 800 Wisconsin 23i5 1 6 18,860 Proposed laws for library commissions in Illinois, Missouri, and South Dakota were acted upon adversely by the legislatures of 1905. Oregon joined the list of commission states, the law for such authorization being in *ome respects more comprehensive than any heretofore adopted, in that control of school libraries, with power to select and pur- 43 chase books, is vested in the commission. This suggests forcibly the probable future concentration, within the jurisdiction of one department or bureau, of all library interests in each of the several states, but a considera- tion of this question does not come within the scope of this paper. II: WHAT COMMISSIONS ARE DOING While numerous channels of' activity ap- peal to the exploratory instinct of a state library commission, two problems of para- mount importance must engage attention : 1. The problem of the community, urban and rural, without a library. 2. The problem of the small library. The former problem finds its solution in the travelling library, and is largely a matter of funds to buy and facilities to distribute the most wholesome books to the greatest number of people. Methods differ in differ- ent states, some having fixed groups of books with printed catalogs for distribution, and others preferring the elasticity which permits users to make selections. From a recent report may be quoted a comparison of the two plans as operated in the two adja- cent states of Ohio and Indiana : "Ohio had a fund of $7638 for its travelling libraries. Indiana expended last year $1985.02 for its travelling libraries. Ohio employs six persons to administer the travel- ling libraries ; Indiana employs two. Ohio has 30,000 books, many of them duplicates. The Indiana travelling libraries contain 5000 books with only a few duplicates, and cir- culated 330 libraries, while Ohio, with six times as many books and three times the clerical force, circulated 923 libraries. In a consideration of these comparisons the fact must be borne in mind that the chief work of the Ohio libraries is with the schools and study clubs; that of Indiana with the farmers and general realers." In some of the Western states, which have a polyglot population and many distinctive communities of foreign-born population, travelling libraries of books in foreign lan- guages for the use of public libraries, and small groups of foreign books in connection with the English travelling libraries, meet the needs for this class of readers. Much work is also being done in connection with study clubs and debating societies, and some attempt has been made to reach military companies and the inmates of penal and charitable institutions Travelling libraries are also used in connection with small li- braries by a cooperative system that enables each library to secure a hundred new books annually, or semi-annually, for a series of years, each subscribing library paying for one group to be exchanged at stated intervals with the other cooperating libraries. There are many independent and voluntary organi- zations which are engaged in travelling li- brary work, but the tendency seems to be to- ward centralization in commission hands. In Wisconsin, annual appropriations by boards of supervisors are permitted by law for this purpose, and seven counties now have trav- elling library systems for the towns within their borders. These supplement the state and proprietary travelling libraries. Mary-, land has county libraries, a central library supplying the communities within its juris- diction. In Georgia the seaboard line and other agencies circulate travelling libraries. In many states the Woman's Federation clubs do considerable work of this kind. THe travelling libraries maintained through state library (commissions are given in the sub- joined list, which, however, lacks complete- ness because some inquiries sent to official sources have remained unanswered, and fig- ures were not otherwise available : State Annually expended! for books. No travelling I libraries. No. volumes. California. $1,000 150 600 2,000 2,OOO indef. 1,000 i, 800 650 500 3,000 4.300 500 2,000 500 75o 2,500 120 122 1 60 45 100 142 13 300 104 60 297 284 89 02 1,000 1,000 10 165 40 57 344 6,000 6,000 3-158 2,250 6,000 4,978 14,200 15,080 5,000 1,500 12.050 5,70 3,650 72,223 34,232 500 8,100 i, 600 2,400 13,962 Colorado Connecticut Idaho Indiana Iowa Kansas Maine .... Maryland Michigan Minnesota New York Ohio Oregon Vermont.... .... Washington Wisconsin Colorado has two library commissions. Maryland also has two boards. Idaho's com- 44 PORTLAND CONFERENCE mission, which was established in 1901, has ceased to exist. Georgia has a nominal com- mission, receiving no funds and engaging in no activities. In Massachusetts the Wom- an's Educational Association has placed 43 travelling libraries in the field. The second main agency of the state li- brary commission has to do with the small libraries how to promote their multiplica- tion and how to secure their efficient ad- ministration. The term "small library" has a different meaning in the West than in the East, and thereby is largely determined the marked differences in conception of commis- sion work which seems so strongly affected by geographical lines. In the East, where libraries are older and where direct state aid has stimulated the expansion of the shelf- list, a collection of 5000 volumes is a small library. In the West, when the accession book becomes filled to that number, the li- brary is regarded as worthy to rank in the first class it is the library of from 200 to 2000 volumes that is termed small. Some- thing of the difficulties in the administration of these small libraries, especially in the newer communities, has been referred to earlier in this paper. The librarian, the trus- tees, and the members of the common coun- cil who hold the purse strings, must be in- cluded in the educative duties which devolve upon the commission staff. What an import- ant element the small library represents in the library world of the United States may be gathered from the fact that, roughly grouped, five-sevenths of all the public libraries in this country contain less than 5000 volumes each, and but one-seventh in excess of 10,000 vol- umes. The work of the state commission is therefore one of tremendous significance. Its influence must be exerted to effect the proper organization of the small library and the technical equipment of the librarian, so as to ensure good business methods and wise ex- tension work; to influence the selection of first-class plans for new buildings, or at least the inclusion of certain essentials in the plan selected ; to render such unobtrusive but effective aid in book selection as to yield a good permanent nucleus for the larger book collection of the future; to strengthen the reference departments of the libraries by the inexpensive medium of a magazine clearing house; to secure the enactment of laws by the state legislature that seem best adapted to the immediate needs and conditions of the local libraries; to encourage the state li- brary associations and local clubs to hold meetings that shall infuse esprit de corps among their members and a desire to emulate what is most progressive in library work ; by means of model children's libraries, model reference 'libraries, binding exhibits, and other suggestive collections and exhibits, and of well edited instructive literature, such as bulletins, book lists, and similar publications, to bring forcibly to their attention what is newest and best in their profession which may be adopted, or adapted, for themselves. The most important instructional work of the commission is that which centers in the library summer school. The most success- ful commissions are those which have realized this fact. During the past year the Indiana commission has conducted an interesting ex- periment in adding a normal school course designed to bring about closer relations be- tween the library and the school. Wisconsin plans for next year a special course for teach- ers affiliated with the summer course of the University of Wisconsin. The commissions which now maintain summer schools of li- brary training, or which plan to have them hereafter, include the following states : Cali- fornia, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Washington, and Wis- consin. The sole permanent school estab- lished by state funds, up to this year, is that conducted by the New York Department of Home Education. The Wisconsin legisla- ture has now authorized an annual appro- priation for a permanent school of library science to be conducted by the commission of that state, and it is proposed to begin it in September of -next year. In an admirable and comprehensive paper submitted by Miss Gratia Countryman, at the St. Louis Conference last year, the work of the individual commissions was given in ex- tenso. The purpose of this hasty survey has been, therefore, to note rather the general plan of commission work as conducted by certafti geographical groups of states, and the trend of such work as indicated both by well- LEGLER 45 established policy generally followed and by experimental enterprises attempted by indi- vidual commissions. This has been done in a somewhat fragmentary manner, and it may be permitted to briefly summarize commission activities in the following tabular form : Direct aid. State appropriations, usually in money. Travelling libraries : general, fiction, juvenile, study, foreign groups. Clearing house, magazine gifts. Services in cataloging and organizing. Advisory. Counsel in preliminary efforts. Selection of librarian. Plans for buildings. Furnishings and decorations. Book selection : special lists. Extension work : schools, clubs, institutions, stations and branches, country readers, classes for foreigners, lectures, story hour. Instruction. Summer school for library training. Institutes. Personal visitation. Publications : bulletins, book lists, handbooks, library literature. Documents. Legislative reference library. Check lists in printed form. Bibliographies on current questions. Young men's current topics clubs : travelling library groups, outlines for study. Plans have been formulated for material extension of the publishing enterprises un- dertaken by the League of Library Commis- sions. Their work is significant of the newer trend in the library world to minimize expen- diture and energy by means of cooperative enterprises subserving a common end. "Poole's index," the indexes and catalog cards of the A. L. A. Publishing Board, and similar notable achievements, illustrate what may be accomplished to aid libraries which could not hope to undertake such work in- dependently. Much work, however, which libraries now perform for individual use, is a mere mechanical repetition and could be done more expeditiously, more economically and more advantageously in every way by joint arrangement. The library world has given to the business world, in the card sys- tem, a device which has revolutionized its methods, and in the saving of time and money has more than quadrupled its facilities. Until recently, however, librarians have been singu- larly dilatory in availing themselves of the advantages created by themselves. In conclusion, a personal opinion as to the scope and attitude of state library commis- sions may be ventured. It is this : That commission will accomplish most within the sphere of its influence which seeks to exer- cise the least autocratic authority, but in- stills into its relation with the libraries of the state the unobtrusively persuasive rather than the domineeringly exacting element ; which assumes the attitude not of a censor whose judgment is dreaded, but of a guide, counsellor, and friend whose advice is sought and followed because given confidence. It will prove a mistake to invest any commission with powers so broad in scope thai it be- comes virtually a large library with branches scattered over the state. In all matters of moment affecting the administration of the small library, including the selection and purchase of books, the commission should endeavor to exert a directing influence by suggestion and counsel, but not otherwise. Better that some mistakes should be made bj the local library than that they should be avoided by having the commission do for them what they should do themselves. In any system of education, mistakes are a part, and a necessary part; but, of course, these must be not too many, and there should be an avoidance of repetition. It is, there- fore, an important and delicate problem for the commission to determine what not to the state and therefore supported by public taxa- tion. A state system is better moreover be- cause it has the state behind it and is not liable to fail after a few years. As to the libraries themselves, the books must be chosen with great care; books that \\ill be interesting to the people for whom they are intended; books that will suit a PORTLAND CONFERENCE variety of tastes; books for children and adults; and above all books of a wholesome clean tone. No one who has not been actu- ally engaged in the work and visited the li- braries in the needy communities where they are actually loaned, knows how very limited are the number of books which are acceptable to the untrained reader. Then to make the library most liable to accomplish its purpose, it must be placed in the care of some inter- ested person, not necessarily an educated per- son, but one who does his best to loan the books and to make borrowers of all the people. A sign which I saw in California was very interesting. It was on a fence board along with other advertised commodities, reading: "Circulating library is at Jones' Grocery Store." That man didn't want the people to miss knowing about that library. If the library is placed in a private home, it should be in a home where everybody feels fiee to go. Local prejudice and local schisms must be taken into account, and the library should not be in the hands of any faction. The charging system should be simple, and easy to manage by a novice, and yet of such a nature that it could grow into a satis- factory system whenever the travelling li- brary should grow into a permanent library. The travelling library would have been a great step, if it had simply solved the prac- tical difficulty of supplying farmers and residents of small villages with books, but in the hands of the state commissions and state libraries it has -become the strong right arm in developing permanent local libraries, and in strengthening poor and struggling libra- ries. LIBRARY ADMINISTRATIOK ON AN INCOME OF FROM $1000 TO $5000 A YEAR: ESSENTIALS AND NON-ESSENTIALS BY SAMUEL H. RANCK, Librarian Grand Rapids (Mich.) Public Library *THE term "library administration" as used in this paper is limited to the organiza- tion, operation, and maintenance or growth of a library the plans and methods of mak- ing the library an efficient means of service to the whole community. The questions to be considered are, What shall be included? What is essential? and What shall be ex- cluded? What is non-essential? when the total income of the library ranges from $1000 to $5000 a year ; for an institution whose in- come is $1000 must omit many things that are done in the institution whose income is fifty times that sum. We must first of all realize the wide differ- ence between "essential," "desirable," and "non-essential." Those things are essential which, when they are omitted, make it im- possible for the library to exercise its func- tion ; to wit, to spread through the community the knowledge the experience, real or im- aginary the race has accumulated, and has recorded in books here used to include all printed matter. The library must first of all live, and that means a growing existence. It must there- fore have the things that make for life and growth means of subsistence and intelli- gent direction ; otherwise it will die, or at least become devitalized, fossilized. The de- sirable things are those that assist the library to perform its functions to a wider and better extent, corresponding to the comforts of our family life, carpets on the floors of our homes, modern plumbing, etc. The non-essentials are those which may or may not help in the performance of function to a wider or better extent corresponding to the luxuries of life, automobiles, horses, and carriages in the city, etc. All these things grow into each other and the non-essentials in one environment may be absolutely essential in another. In this paper it sha'll be my effort to lay stress on the essentials for the type of library whose annual income is not less than $1000 or more than $5000. The desirable and non- essential will rarely be referred to; for it is the essential that we must ever keep in mind. It must also be remembered that these essentials apply to a greater or less degree to alf kinds of libraries, whether large or small. RANCK 59 By way of personal explanation, permit me to refer to my own experience with small li- braries. I do this because after this paper was assigned to me some one remarked that my treatment of it would doubtless be more or less theoretical, supposing that my ex- perience had been wholly with relatively large libraries with libraries having incomes many times that of $5000 a year. During the four years I was in college I worked in a library (two years as librarian) with an in- come of from $200 to $250 a year. All this money went into operation and growth most of it into growth, for there were no charges for salaries or the maintenance of the building. I recall that the additions to this library in those four years were often in the neighborhood of from 500 to 1000 vol- umes a year and that in two years the li- brary (then over 6000 volumes) was cata- loged on cards, and that its use then, and even to-day, I am informed, is greater in many directions than the college library it- self, not a stone's throw away, with ifs $50,000 building and large collection of books. The other small library with which I was identified is the oldest circulating library now existing in the state of Maryland in continu- ous operation as such since 1795. This li- brary has a regular income for operation and growth of about $125 a year. For a number of years I took an active part in its manage- ment, as a member and as an official on its governing board. You will pardon me, there- fore, if I have my experience in these two small libraries more or less in mind all through this paper, even though I imagine that the committee in assigning it had the public library of a village or town in mind. In the public municipal library the first essential in its administration is that those in charge of it should have a full knowledge, and a clear understanding, of the legal rights and duties of the library and its officers. They should know and understand the provisions of the state constitution, the state laws, and ' the city ordinances relating to libraries in general and in particular. This is of funda- mental importance to the governing board and to the librarian. I need only refer to the fact that the two relatively large libraries with which I have been connected found it necessary to have the state legislature amend their charters in important particulars so as to prevent a possible serious loss to these li- braries. The importance of these legal details was further impressed upon us in Grand Rapids by the fact that only a little over a month ago our library came near losing al- most $6000 for its book fund money that comes to it through a provision of the state constitution because of a clerical omission in the office of the city board of education in reporting to the state superintendent of public instruction the number of children of school age in the city. As it was, legal pro- cesses had to be resorted to to protect the library, and the matter was straightened out by a special trip to Lansing and by keeping one of the county offices open after the usual time of closing on the last day of the year when the state constitution permitted a cor- icction of the error. Another instance of the importance of these legal details is found in the last report of the Michigan State Board of Library Commis- sioners, according to which, and to a. recent remark by the president of that board, it ap- pears that in the state of Michigan at least $50,000 a year is being diverted from library purposes, as provided for in the state constitu- tion, simply because various library govern- ing boards in the state do not know their legai rights or have refused to exercise them. A second essential is that the governing board of the library regardless of whether its members are appointed or elected, whether it contains three members or thirty or the ideal number of five or seven and the li- brarian should have a full understanding of the functions of each, for both have very definite duties to perform in the administra- tion of a library. The board represents the whole community and is presumably chosen to make the library an efficient means of public education and recreation, and I take it for granted that the idea of "spoils" politics personal, social, or religious is excluded from the management of the library. The board should determine the general pol- icy of the library and its administration, regu- late the scale of expenditures, salaries, etc. ; and I assume that the members of the board are disposed to deal justly and fairly in re- gard to salaries, hours, and vacations, ever mindful of the fact that reasonably happy 6o PORTLAND CONFERENCE circumstances are essential for the best serv- ice. The position of the board, therefore, is that of stewardship for the people, and the people have a right to demand that it be ex- ercised. If any member of the board rinds that his interest is not sufficient for him to give the library the little time that is re- quired, he owes it to the library and to the community to resign; and the community owes it to itself to remind him of this fact, should he forget it. s The librarian should be the executive offi- cer of the board, and as such be responsible to them for the execution of the plans and purposes of the library. It is presumed that he has at least some knowledge and ex- pertness m the profession of librarianship. The librarian, therefore, should have a free hand in developing and managing the in- ternal and technical features of the library, control the assistants, detail the work they are to do, including in this the work of the jani- tor, and, in general, have full control of the detailed work of the library. As a rule and under normal circumstances the librarian should represent the library before the com- munity and all the employees before the board. With the advice and consent of the board the librarian should have the right to employ, promote, suspend, or dismiss his as- sistants, again including the janitor. The failure of governing boards to recog- nize these functions of the board and the librarian is a most fruitful source of mis- understanding, trouble and inefficiency in li- brary administration. I recall cases where individual members of the board were in the habit of coming to the library and directing the librarian or the assistants as to the de- tails of routine work set the assistants to doing something different from what was as- signed them by the librarian, set about doing things generally without consulting or re- garding the librarian. When such cases arise the librarian should insist upon his rights. He is the executive officer of the whole board and not of any individual member. If the librarian is incapable of directing or doing this work satisfactorily the board should employ another librarian and not disorganize the whole institution by attempting to right a \vrong thing in the wrong way, thereby mak- ing the last condition worse than the first. I have in mind now an instance where a li- brary was disorganized and much hard feel- ing engendered a hard feeling that exists to-day, years after the occurrence by a member of the board on her own motion coin- ing in and moving and rearranging a large lot of books in the absence of the librarian, thereby causing great confusion. I said "her," for it was a woman on the board who did it. Is this the reason one often finds, es- pecially among women on a library staff, a strong prejudice against women on the board? In more than one instance I have heard women say that men on governing boards are much less likely to take a hand in the details of the work. Men, it seems, are more likely to look for ultimate results, and for that reason they are more likely to permit the librarian and the staff to work them out in their own way. I cannot speak from experience on this point, for I have had men only on my library boards. On the other hand, the deadly blight arising from lack of intelligent interest is much more likely to occur among men on a board than among women. Nothing can be more discouraging to a librarian than to have every plan for the improvement of the library held up by an uninterested, inactive board. Such a blight will in the long run affect the whole library and destroy much of its usefulness. I believe, therefore, that on the whole the misdirected interest that may arise on the part of women is better for the library, though harder for the librarian and the staff, than the paralyzing effect that may come from the persistent lack of interest, inactivity, and in- attention to obvious duties, on the part of men. Another essential is that the librarian and the staff should know the history and spirit of the institution. They are part of an or- ganization that has a life and a spirit, things that are rooted in the past. They can ac- complish the best results only when all con- sciously realize the aims and purposes for which they are working. There should be a very definite plan in the mind of the librar- ian, 'and the whole staff should be taken into the scheme of the plan, so that all can work together in an atmosphere of freedom a freedom which is soon felt by the public and which alone can produce the best results. RANCK 6 1 To a large part of the general public the library suggests a building usually a Car- negie building; and many persons think that a building is the first thing that is necessary. (If I were a Mark Twain I should like to digress at this point to tell of some of the things that happen to a town when Mr. Car- negie offers it a library. This subject has never received adequate treatment.) As a matter of fact, a building is the last thing necessary for any library and especially a li- brary having an income of from $1000 to $5000 a year. A building is a good thing. It makes the library mean more to the public, and it stands for and insures the permanency of the institution. It is an evidence of bet- ter things hoped for; but I believe that a library with an income of only $1000 should not have a building at all, if the maintenance of this building is to absorb practically all of its income. Let trustees have a realizing sense of what can and cannot be done with $1000 a year before assuming the fixed charges that go with a building. It is often wiser to wait for a larger income, and in the meantime much better results will be ac- complished for the community if rented quar- ters are secured and the money put into books and the librarian. It is indeed giving a stone instead of bread when so large a proportion of the total income is absorbed in maintaining a building, starving and freezing the life out of the library for the sake of the things that count for little in the real work it has to do. And right here I wish to call attention to one non-essential in a library building for a small library, and that is the idea that it must be fireproof. Fireproof materials cost from 25 to 30 times as much as some of the materials that would serve every purpose in the working of the library. A library build- ing in a small town need not be built with the idea that it is competing with a safe-deposit company, where the fundamental idea is a safe place for storage. Libraries should be built and administered to keep books out- side of the building as far as possible in the hands of the readers. The few things that are really in need of safety against fire can be preserved much more cheaply in a sub- stantial safe or vault, than in a whole build- ing built on the vault plan, with its expen- sive steel stacks and shelves. The smallest town can start a library with- out a building, and scores of towns bear witness to the fact that they can erect the building when they are ready for it without waiting for some one to present it. I have a special admiration for such towns. They have the true spirit of true democracy. If, however, it is offered a building a Carnegie building, for example what shall the town do ? If it has no library, here is an opportunity to start one. Accept the gift. Then consult a librarian before consulting an architect. It, is of the greatest import- ance for the small library to have its build- ing planned so that its operation is as in- expensive as possible. Build it to save light and coal ; build it to save work in keeping it neat and clean mahogany furniture, pol- ished brass fixtures, and marble floors, foi example, add immensely to the cost of jani- tor service; build it to allow for growth and extension; and finally, build so that one per- son can control all the rooms and do all the work for the public in all but the busiest hours. I believe in fine buildings, handsome fit- tings, and all that goes with them; but it is a sin against the community when these things are put in and administered at the expense of the service that really counts in forming the lives and characters of the citi- zens. Such things are desirable not essen- tial. What a fine, large building means in expense for its care and maintenance may be realized from the fact that the new Ryerson Public Library building in Grand Rapids costs in one year nearly $5000 more than the old wholly inadequate quarters of the li- brary, simply to keep it in condition that regular library work may be done in it. I may add, however, that such a building is worth much to a community simply as a work of art. It ought, however, to be clearly understood that extra provision is made for its care and maintenance on that score, as the city of Grand Rapids is doing and takes pride in doing. Those in charge of a public library are car- ing for property that belongs to other people. It is essential that adequate records and ac- counts be kept of all money received and ex- pended, so that an intelligent report of one's stewardship can be given at any time. But 62 PORTLAND CONFERENCE in book-keeping, as in all other things, elimi- nate every possible bit of red tape. It seems to me that many libraries are woefully lacking in their methods of book- keeping concealing rather than explaining what they did with the public money. Often the methods of book-keeping are beyond the control of the library authorities, being pre- scribed by city ordinance. Instances are not unknown where the librarian must sign his name half a dozen times in the various steps connected with every purchase for the li- brary. I should like, however, to see a great reform in this direction clearness and the exclusion of red tape. I recall selling a book to a library, and the bill for $1.50 came back to me for receipt containing the names of eight different officials through whose hands it passed before payment could be made. Avoid such foolishness as you would the plague. Good books, adapted to the needs of the particular community, are the life blood of the library, for the right use of them is the end and aim of the library. It is essential to have a constant supply of them better, I believe, to add small lots frequently than a relatively large lot once a year. Accept all kinds of books as gifts with the clear under- standing that you reserve the right to make such use of them as comports with the best interests of the library. Never, however, be deluded with the idea that cast-off books which are sent you at house cleaning time can put life into your library, any more than that the cast-off clothing that goes to a rummage sale would supply you with the clothes you would wish to wear at one of President Roosevelt's White House receptions. You can use these things, and you should, only have it generally understood that they will be used on the shelves, for exchange, or for junk as each item warrants. The per- son who gives something to a library in this way is generally more interested in it because of his gift, and it is that interest that we should ever keep in mind. It is vastly more essential for the librarian of the small library to be a student, to know the books in the library, than it is for the li- brarian of the large library. In the large library to know the books in it is, indeed, impossible, and the librarian must depend on others; his time is largely absorbed, as Mr. Putnam once told me in his office in Wash- ington, in pushing buttons the details of administration. Libraries with the proper librarian can do good work without a catalog. Some of the members of this Association who are here present may recall the remark of Judge Pen- nypacker (now governor of Pennsylvania) in his address welcoming us to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in 1897, to the effect that he then had 7500 volumes in his private library, and all that his system of cataloging required when he wanted a book was simply that he should walk to the shelf on which it stood and get it. In short, he carried the con- tents and the location of his books in his head. He was the library's catalog. Public libraries, however, cannot do this satisfactorily, not even small ones. Librar- ians resign, get married, or die, and then there is no catalog. The small library should have an accession book and an author card catalog. It can get along without the other desirable features, and, in large libraries, es- sentials of modern cataloging shelf-lists, subject catalogs, etc., etc. The accession book is an account of stock. It is the one essen- tial record of the history of every book, its cost, etc., in the library, and in case of the library's destruction by fire nothing can take its place in adjusting insurance. Libraries can and do get along without this record, but it seems to me that no public library can afford to be without it. Large libraries have the bibliographical tools to supply most of the information given in this book which the small library has not. Small libraries, as well as large, should avail themselves of the use of the cards supplied by the Library of Congress. By classifying the books on the shelves the small library has some of the es- sentials -of a subject catalog. A system of registration for those who draw books from the library and a regular method of charging the books drawn is essen- tial, though in a small library these records can be made exceedingly simple. In a small town it is not necessary to have guarantors for the registered card holders. I still be- liev^, in view of the methods used in the first library in which I worked, that for a very small library a ledger system of charging RANCK is the cheapest and simplest method. It is inexpensive, however, and soon becomes cum- bersome to handle with the growth of the library. A simple card system of charging is the most satisfactory. Another essential in the administration of this department of the library is that every one be treated alike if fines are to be charged. Nothing arouses opposition to the library sooner than the feel- ing that favoritism is shown in dealing with the public. Have as few rules as possible, however. The golden rule is the shortest and best. Put the emphasis on what can be done rather than on what can't. The latter makes for a passive library, the former for an ag- gressive one. It is essential that the library be aggressive. From the various essential records that are kept, interesting statistics can readily be gathered, and these serve a useful purpose in making intelligent reports and in keeping up interest in the library; for it is essential that the public, as well as the governing board, be kept adequately informed of all the library is doing. And even then you will be surprised to learn how much of ignorance there remains in spite of your best efforts. (I may remark in passing that I believe that our largest libraries ought to employ a press- agent, with his whole time devoted to keep- ing the public interested in the library.) Statistics should not be gathered for their own sake. They may easily cost more than they are worth. When rightly used, however, they enable the librarian to make compari- sons, detect weak points in the work of the library, and so enable the intelligent applica- tion of a remedy. Used in this way statistics are essential in every library. I leave for the conclusion of this paper the one essential that makes all things possible in a library the one thing that the general public usually considers last of least im- portance the librarian. Books alone are not a library, any more than a pile of stones is a cathedral. It re- quires knowledge, intelligence, and skill trained men to make something out of these raw materials; and it takes as many years of training to learn to administer the affairs of a library to the best advantage as it does to learn to erect a large successful building. Furthermore, a librarian must know as wide a range of subjects as the architect. The foremost essential in the administration of a small library (and I mention it last by way of emphasis) is the right kind of a li- brarian a librarian with training and ex- perience. With such a librarian the proper spirit of freedom and of service will soon dominate the whole institution; the various personal problems of dealing with people successfully with the board, with the staff, and with the public will gradually adjust themselves to the satisfaction of all ; the right books will be bought and guided in- telligently and sympathetically into the hands of the people who really need them ; every part of the work will be characterized by econ- omy, accuracy, and efficiency economy in the matter of binding, the purchase of books and of supplies, the use of materials and in methods of work; accuracy in all the details of cataloging and record; and efficiency in making the library a real vital force in every phase of the life of the community.- Such a librarian will keep out fads and personal whims, wilj keep free from becoming a slave of routine, mechanical details, will interest and secure the cooperation of the public in ways that will make many things possible be- yond the regular fixed income of the library. In short, such a librarian will furnish the steam, the motive power, that must be put into any institution to make it go, for insti- tutions no more run themselves than do loco- motives. Such a librarian with a strong per- sonality makes the library stand for character and for the highest manhood and woman- hood; and on these will be built the future glory and greatness of our nation and our race free, manly men. Such service on the part of the librarian can not be measured in dollars and cents, and it never will be. We ought not to expect it. Nor is it likely that such a librarian will receive the reward of famous men, but rather that of "men of little showing," men whose "work continueth," through all time continueth, "greater than their knowing." While all of us fall far short of this ideal, it is the ideal worth striving for, on the part of trustees worth seeking for; for such a li- brarian is the foremost essential, not only of the small library, but of every library. 6 4 PORTLAND CONFERENCE LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION ON AN INCOME OF FROM $1000 TO $5000 A YEAR: ECONOMIES IN PLANS AND METHODS BY MARILLA WAITE FREEMAN, Louisville (Ky.) Free Public Library f^\ N this question of economies, let me state frankly at once, my motto has always been an old maxim of my grand- mother's "Dear things are cheap, and cheap things are dear." It has often brought me into deep waters, but has always piloted me safely through them, and still holds my un- alterable faith, in library as well as private economics. The problem in hand, as I understand it, is this: Given a free public library with an annual income of $1000 or $3000, or $5000, as the case may be, how shall that library most economically expend its income for the public service, keeping in view the greatest good of the greatest num- ber, with an eye always to the interests of the exceptional individual. I may remark in passing that to the librarian of the $1000 a year library, his $5000 a year brother seems as rich as Croesus and as far removed from his own worrisome problems, but when he moves up to the $5000 institution himself, he finds that the necessities have increased with the income, and that much the same princi- ples apply as to the smaller library. In planning the campaign of economy, the first necessity is some sort of a yearly budget, and for this I know no more logical division than that under the three heads of mainte- nance, administration, and growth. Under maintenance is included rent of rooms, or repair of building, heat, light, insurance, jani- tor service, and all supplies. Under admini- stration, or direct service to the public, the chief item is that of salaries of the librarian and assistants. Under growth, the import- ant matter is the purchase and binding of books and periodicals. In the larger libraries this head would include also the printing of finding lists, book-lists, and bulletins, but in the small libraries most of this form of li- brary extension must be done through space given in the newspapers and like gratuitous means. As to the proportion of our fund to be as- signed to each of these three heads, mainte- nance, "salaries, and books, it is a bit difficult to reconcile theory and practice. A division into even thirds sounds symmetrical and at- tractive, but fails utterly to work. A more usual, perhaps quite widely accepted theoreti- cal division, provides one-fourth for books, one-third for salaries, and the remainder for maintenance. But a set of questions sent out last year by the library of which I was then in charge, to a number of representative libraries of all sizes, and a question sent to various libraries during the preparation oi this paper, both brought out the fact that in actual practice few libraries are able to ad- here to this proportion. As a matter of fact, the figures show our plausible third for sal- aries expanding to 40 or even 45 per cent., the necessary expenses of maintenance ab- sorbing an almost equally large proportion, and the book fund conducting itself as best it may upon what is left. For the smaller libraries at least, a tentative division of not more than one-fifth for books and, say two- fifths each for salaries and maintenance, seems about what our actual experiences make possible. The smaller the library, as a rule, trie larger must the salary percentage be. This for the reason that the services of a trained librarian cost much the same in all libraries under a certain size, and therefore draw more heavily upon the fund of the smaller library, and for the second reason that the trained head of the small library must herself, in addition to the formative work for which she is specially engaged, do much of the routine work which in a large staff may be delegated to assistants of a lower grade. Thus the library on an income of $2000 to $2500, with a capable head and one assistant, need feel it no extravagance to expend a full half of its yearly fund for salaries. My 5 " argument for this division of funds is of course based upon the supposition that' the FREEMAN library is to consider as its first requisite in its plan for economical expenditure a trained librarian at its head. The seeming discrep- ancy between book-fund and salary fund is based upon the thesis, which ought no longer to need arguing, that a small collection of well-chosen books, well administered, is of much greater value to the community than a larger collection poorly administered. The directions for making a successful library of whatever size should therefore always begin with the proviso : "First catch your trained librarian." In the very smallest libraries of our group, where it may not be possible to retain the trained librarian permanently, she should at least be employed long enough to organize the library upon a proper basis and to give partial training to the local assistant who will succeed her. Otherwise the library is likely to prove a house built upon the sand. Having set aside our two-fifths, or even a fraction more, for salaries or public service, we shall still have need of all the economies we can practice under this head. The first economic necessity, after a trained executive is assured, is the securing of one or more ap- prentices, to be in training for assistantships and for substitute work. The length of serv- ice required should depend upon the thor- oughness of the training which the librarian is able to give, and therefore upon its value to the apprentice. The average apprentice- ship covers a period of three to six months, with four to six hours' service a day. It should be thoroughly understood with the apprentice that no promise is made her as to a position in the library, but merely that she puts herself in line for and is willing to ac- cept such a position in case of vacancies or additional appointments. The question has been much discussed whether the service given by apprentices pays for the time spent by the librarian upon their training, but in the case of libraries which cannot afford to give their librarians trained assistants, it seems a matter of simple necessity that the librarian have in training a reserve force of this sort, whether large or small, formal or informal. In regard to the question whether this sort of training compensates the appren- tice for the time spent, I believe it to be true that in most small or medium-sized li- brary constituencies, such as we are consider- ing, there are high-school graduates who are glad of the additional book knowledge and general information which such a course gives them, aside from the question of future positions. And I know personally of a num- ber of instances in which such an informal course in a library has proved the necessary stimulus toward the seeking of further edu- cation, either in college, or library schools, or both. An important economy, especially to the li- brary with few assistants, and those on small salaries, is that of short hours of work, and liberal treatment of its staff. A seven-hour day with weekly half-holiday, will go far to- ward compensating for a corresponding brevity of salary, and experience proves that in the long run, any institution gets better and more willing service out of people who are not overworked, and who have a margin of time in which to live, outside the demands of their daily work. I know of no greater economy in library administration than that of giving the public free access to the shelves of the library. From the financial point of view, it seems clearly proverr by cumulative testimony that the small proportion of books lost from open shelves and the additional care required to keep the shelves in order is far outweighed by the saving of the labor necessary in the searching for books by the library attend- ants, and the carrying them to and from the shelves. The doing-away with call-slips and the accompanying machinery is an item not to be overlooked in the petty economies of the small library, but the most important sav- ing involved in the open-shelf system is that of nerves, the nerves alike of the public and of the library worker. For some occult rea- son, it is not half so irritating to find out for yourself that none of the long list of novels you desire is in, as to be told so by a patient attendant over a counter, after a long search on her part and an impatient wait on yours. You are certain that through the wicket which bars you out you see the alluring red cover of "The marriage of William Ashe," and that the deceitful library attendant is saving it for a friend. Whereas, if you are allowed to look for yourself, although you PORTLAND CONFERENCE find that particular red book to be but a deceptively attractive new edition of More's "Utopia" or "Uncle Tom's cabin," and noth- ing upon your list in, yet your attention is ultimately diverted to a book you had never heard of which looks interesting, and you go away tolerably well satisfied, with at least the consciousness that you are a free agent, and have the free use of your own public library. The open-shelf idea has been so long discussed, and now so widely accepted, that we scarcely realize how many attractive Car- negie libraries are being built to-day with a smug, tight little closed stack-room at the rear, and no provision whatever for a com- fortable space where the public may look over its own books. To the librarian who has in- herited such a library, we can only suggest that if she cannot carve a highway to the book-room, she may at least have a book"-case containing a few hundred carefully chosen, attractive books, placed within easy reach of the loan-desk. She will find this a very popu- lar expedient and will be saved many steps thereby. The one article upon which the small li- brary may most wisely economize is tape red tape. To the public it is as irritating as an unexpected barbed-wire fence to a cross- country pedestrian, and to the over-worked library attendant it is often as the last straw to the camel's back. Records we must have, and accurate business-like methods, but let us have no duplication, let us trust the public as far as the law will allow, and let us sim- plify everywhere. Begin with the card cata- log. We may avail ourselves of the work done by others, by buying for our catalog the cards printed by the Library of Congress for all new books, at far less cost than we can afford to make them ourselves. In catalog- ing older books, for which the Library of Congress may not yet have printed cards, we need not feel that we must use the same fulness of detail given on the Library of Con- gress cards. Fulness of imprint is often con- fusing to the untrained eye of the public, and in the small library is not essential to the library assistant, who in the occasional cases where it is necessary to know paging or size may turn readily to the accession book. For fiction there is good authority for the use of author and title only. Such annotations as the contents of a book of short stories are of much more importance than its size. A card headed "College and school stories" or "Detective stories," giving a list of the books under these heads, is of more practical use than a statement of the number of pages in each book given upon its main card. In the matter of book-lists, again, the li- brary may often economize by availing itself of the work already done. The Newark list of "A thousand of the best novels," Miss Hewins' "List of books for boys and girls," bought in quantity, and sold at a few cents each, are eagerly used and appreciated, in place of lists issued by the individual library at great expenditure of time and money. For children's use, the bookmark reading-lists issued by the Democrat Printing Co., Madi- son, Wis., are helpful and inexpensive, as are those more recently issued, for adult readers. In the reference department of the small library, all use of call-slips for reference books and statistics of use of reference books and periodicals may well be dispensed with. Of more value than such statistics is a care- ful jotting down of the various questions asked, and the subjects upon which informa- tion is sought, with a view to supplying de- ficiencies in the library, and to making notes of the material on hand. References found on a given topic should be noted on a catalog card, under the subject, and filed either in the card catalog, or in a separate reference ' index. Other small working economies of admini- stration are the dispensing with labels and call-numbers .for fiction and the dispensing with book-plates for all except reference books. An hour might well be devoted to ""the innumerable little economies of materials, supplies, and labor, such as the saving of spoiled catalog cards and everything with one "blank side" for reference slip work and all sorts of memoranda. Under the head of maintenance, the largest item is of course the care of the building, and here many libraries find themselves swamped at the outset by a costly building whi?h eats into the year's income until the library itself must wellnigh starve for lack FREEMAN of sustenance. I can only say here to the small library, Do not be in haste to build until you have a good working collection of books thoroughly organized under the super- vision of a competent librarian. You will know much better how to build after you have worked in temporary quarters for a time. And when you do build, build from the inside out, if you wish to provide for economy of administration. Keep in mind the unity of the work and, to quote from one of the letters I have received, "economize on partitions." Have all the main working de- partments of your library on one floor, where they may, if necessary, be supervised from one central desk, and where your lighting and heating may be economically centralized. Nothing could make a library less attractive than the economy of light and heat often practiced in a building with departments scattered on different floors and much waste of space in corridors and halls. In towns where the city owns its own water, or light, or heat, or all three, a little foresight at the inception of the library en- terprise may secure these commodities with- out drain upon the library's yearly income. In at least one town in Iowa the free pro- vision of these commodities for the public library was made a condition in the granting of franchises. A source of economy in library mainte- nance is the securing of a good janitor. The right man usually comes high, but in the course of the year will save many a bill with the carpenter and the plumber, and with a iair degree of intelligence in the handling and arrangement of the books may go far toward saving the time of an additional library as- sistant. In everything which concerns the care of the building and grounds, no effort should be spared to make the library a model of cleanliness and beauty for all the city. It is under our division of growth, which includes chiefly the purchase, binding, and rebinding of books and periodicals, that probably the largest saving may be made. I believe that more money is wasted in small libraries by unwise methods of purchasing books than in any other way. Perhaps the greatest part of this waste goes into the pocket of the subscription book agent as his commission. A safe rule is that of a librar- ian who writes, "I never buy subscription- books except at second-hand, even encyclo- pedias." As a rule, within a year the sub- scription work will be on the market either at second-hand or in a trade edition, and you can buy it for something like half the price you would have paid the agent, provided that by this time you still feel you must have this particular work. The subscription edi- tions of standard authors are a specially al- luring form of extravagance. They tempt to the "pathetic fallacy" of buying "full sets," when what the users of our small library want of Blackmore is "Lorna Doone," of Lever, "Charles O'Malley" and "Harry Lorre- quer," and of Turgenieff and George Sand only a few of the representative novels of these writers. It is far better economy to du- plicate the masterpieces of fiction to an ex- tent which will really supply the demand for them than to purchase glittering rows of full sets to gather dust upon our shelves. The new "A. L. A. catalog" has done great good service in its naming of good trade edi- tions of standard works. The smaller the library the tess can it afford to purchase cheap and unattractive editions. At this point our motto has special pertinence, for surely cheap books are dear. I cannot better summarize the economies which may be practiced under our general head of growth than, first, by referring you to the remarks on "Book purchasing for small libraries," made by Mr. W. P. Cutter at a recent meeting of the Massachusetts Library Club, and printed in the Library Journal for January, 1905 ; and, second, by quoting from one of the letters which I have recently re- ceived. This librarian says (i) Our pet economies are (a) rebinding, where we be- lieve the greatest economy lies in prompt re- binding, (b) purchase of books, where we make every effort to make one dollar do the work of two, by second-hand and auction buying, and by importation, (c) not binding periodicals that are really only of current interest, (d) not replacing books that are not really worth while; routine replacement is a common and an enormous waste. (2) We never economize (a) by getting cheap people to do high-grade work, (b) by getting 68 PORTLAND CONFERENCE cheap books or binding that will not last in- stead of dearer ones that will, (c) by letting rebinding wait. A word of emphasis as to the ecomomy of prompt re-binding. Up to a certain point of wear, much repairing may economically be done in the library, but as soon as the sewing of a book begins to give way, it should go at once to the binder. A promptly and well re-bound book will wear twice as long as in its original trade binding. Poor bind- ing and cheap binding are always dear in the end. Periodical sets especially, which are among the library's most valuable reference assets, if worth binding at all, are worthy of the best binding. The sum of the whole matter is something like this : Economize on quantity rather than quality. Have fewer things if necessaary in order to have them better ; books, assistants, rooms, rules. Make your library attractive and your library helpers happy, thereby using your income in such a way that the city and the city fathers will be inclined 'to vote you more, for to him that spendeth, boldly but judiciously, more shall be given. THE QUESTION OF LIBRARY TRAINING BY LUIIE E. STEARNS, Wisconsin Free Library Commission '"FHERE is a surprising and ofttimes ap- palling misconception or total lack of conception in the popular mind, and in the minds of library trustees, concerning the du- ties of a librarian or the qualifications which a librarian should possess. This is too fre- quently shown in the selection of a librarian. A man was recently selected as the head of a new eastern library who had not had an hour's library experience, the only reasons given for his appointment being that he had reviewed books and that he bore the endorse- ment of the local labor union. In an- other instance, the librarian was chosen solely on account of her "aristocratic bearing." Again the office is used for politi- cal reward, as illustrated by a recent case in Connecticut. As showing how little, ex- perience and training may be taken into ac- count, the spectacle was presented a few months ago of a board of trustees- "selling out" to a mayor of a large city, an increased appropriation for the library being guaran- teed by "His Honor" if a non-resident, trained librarian were deposed in favor of a local untrained and inexperienced applicant. In the "Handbook of library organization," in use by many of the library commissions of the country, the fact is emphasized that the usefulness of the library will depend upon the librarian, and the greatest care should "be exercised in .selecting that officer. It insists that the librarian should not be chosen, as is often the case, because she is somebody's aunt, because she is poor and deserving and needs the money, because she is kindly, be- cause she belongs to a certain church, club, or society, nor even because she has a reputa- tion as a reader or confesses to a love of books. Concerning this latter point this love of books we would take issue with the statement, recently made by a prominent library worker, that the librarian does not love books any more than a broker loves the grain in which he deals; for we regard a love of books as one of the essentials in li- brarianship, but we would by no means give it the prominence usually accorded it in ap- plications for library positions. For with this love of books should go culture, execu- tive ability, tact, sympathy for humanity, and a knowledge of modern library methods. Save money in other ways, but never by em- ploying a forceless man or woman as librar- ian; for in a small town a $600 librarian can do more with $400 worth of books than a $200 librarian can do with $800 worth of books. Trained, experienced librarians are the best, but if you have but little money and must be content to employ some local appli- cant without training or experience, insist thaf the appointee shall make an intelligent STEARNS 69 study of library methods in some model small library or through a series of library insti- tutes, or in summer library schools such as are conducted by five commissions, or in a regular library school. The librarian should be keenly alive to the tremendous possibilities of her work. She should come in touch with other librarians and with the vast stores of experience found in books, library periodicals and proceedings. She should identify herself with local, state, and national library organi- zations, commissions, and associations. On the technical side, she should have a knowledge of books from the outside she should understand book-maker's work : paper thickness and durability ; printing size, face of type, leading, spacing, margin, ink,, press work; binding materials, methods, durability, cost; book-repairing materials and methods. From the commercial side she should become familiar with publishers, edi- tions, and prices. In these days of book- trusts and combinations, she should know where to purchase good editions cheaply. From the business side she should have a knowledge of book-keeping and business forms. She should familiarize herself with modern library furnishings, appliances, and supplies, and should be quick to adopt time and trouble savers. She should be a student of the latest and best methods of accession- ing, shelf-listing, classifying, and cataloging. In this connection it would be a revelation to many trustees were they to ask the Ii6rarian to show them the fourteen processes through which a book must go from the time iris pub- lished until it is placed on the library shelves for circulation. In addition to this technical side, the librar- ian must have executive ability, the power to organize and to delegate work and to utilize what Melvil Dewey calls the four m's that produce results materials, machinery, methods, men. On the mental side, she should have an excellent memory, accuracy, dispatch, and prompt decision, grouping im- portant points to the exclusion of the unim- portant. As a scholar, she should possess the best education obtainable. She should have a general knowledge of literature and of what constitutes good and bad style in au- thorship. A knowledge of languages will prove of the greatest assistance. As for so- cial qualities, she should be tactful and should be at ease with strangers. She should not be condescending nor patronizing. She should not be afflicted with "a smile that won't come off," nor should she have Che- shire proclivities, but she should possess a sense of humor in library work, unless she be a cataloger, she is hopeless without it. Physically, she should possess good health, be able to endure strain, for "it is dogged as does it." Morally, she should be earnestly altruistic, of great, big heart and tender sym- pathies, a woman of character, of steadfast purpose and faith. She should not despise present opportunities in the vaulting ambi- tion for larger ones. Unflinching fidelity in a low estate is the discipline for larger duties in a larger life. One of the great lessons of life is to learn not to do what one likes, but to like what one does. The library drudge ofttimes has conscience and devotion, but lacks insight, freshness, power, joy, and the ability to grow. The library world has many painstaking, overburdened people; what it needs is a corps of enthusiastic workers that are full of the spirit of joy in work. Work done for individual ends, for personal grati- ficatiori, or work done which one would not do if one did not have to all this is un- worthy the modern librarian. Recognition of the true nature of her work, with a glad ac- ceptance of its noble responsibilities and pos- sibilities will lift her fast and far out of diffi- culties and cause her to realize in full meas- ure the joys and power of life. As Hugh Black says in his book on "Work," "The true nobility of life is honest, earnest service, the strenuous exercise of our faculties, with con- science in our work as in the sight of God who gives us our place and our tool and our work. At the end of life, we shall not be asked how much pleasure we had in it, but how much service we gave in it ; not how full it was of success, but how full it was of sacrifice; not how happy we were, but how helpful we were; not how ambition was grati- fied, but how love was served ; for life is judged by love; and love is known by Her fruits." You may think we have wandered far afield from the question of library training; but PORTLAND CONFERENCE what we are endeavoring to emphasize is that to fit one's self for the high calling of li- brarian, there must be a training of head, hand, and heart all are essential. The ideal we have placed before you may be too high, though we are by no means ready to concede the point. The trustees of a large eastern library in quest of a librarian, three or four years ago, set forth in printed form the qualifications which they exacted. They would not consider as candidate any school teacher who seemed to have missed his call- ing; any minister who had missed a parish; any book-worm, who, under the name of li- brarian, had delved among library shelves, instead of making the library that he served a living fountain of knowledge and culture to the community about him; any one who had been trained for any other profession than that of librarian, .and who had not had valuable experience as a successful librarian. The board would accept no man who was not in the prime of life, who had not many years of work ahead of him rather than be- hind him. They wanted a man with a thor- ough elementary, secondary and collegiate or university training; a living interest in sci- ence, art, literature, and philosophy as a means of educating and uplifting society; a deep sympathy with the physical, intellectual, ethical, and religious needs of all social con- ditions; breadth of vision and depth of con- viction on important religious, social, scien- tific and philosophical questions; excellent executive ability; great power of discernment of the character and qualifications of per- sons engaged in library work; great tact and skill in dealing with the public; wisdom in practical affairs; trained for the special pro- fession of librarian ; great public spirit ; in short, an all-around citizen who woufd be capable of shaping public sentiment in library matters, of taking an influential position in educational affairs, and one who would t>e deserving the respect and support of the whole community. The salary of the posi- tion, the circular stated, would be commen- surate to the merits of the man finally se- lected. In this connection, we would remind mem- bers of library boards of the trite saying among housekeepers that you cannot expect all of the Christian virtues in a domestic at $2.50 per week. Some trustees might retort that people who take pains never to do more than they get paid for, never get paid for more than they do. It is a fact, however, that librarians are the poorest paid professional people in the world. They must be content to "spare delights and live laborious days." Conditions have ever been favorable for li- brarians to be numbered among those for- tunate individuals who can labor for the honor of being workers and not for the ac- cumulation of wealth. Since time began, the work of the librarian has been considered of value except only as tested by a money standard. Brains and talent that would com- mand large revenues in law and medicine are compelled to be content with meagre grants in the library profession. The mind and energy that manages a library system in- cluding a main library, branch libraries, and deposit stations, covering a tremendous area, ofttimes receives but a fraction of the salary paid to the manager of a department store, while the librarian of one of the world's foremost depositories receives less than one- fourteenth part of the salary paid the presi- dent of an "execrable" life insurance society. If a great philosopher is right when he says that "culture grows only under conditions of wealth and wealth only through accumula- tions of capital, and capital only through accumulation of the. work of those who are not justly paid," then librarians are con- tributing more to the general culture of the world than any and all other classes com- bined. In 1876 the American Library Asso- ciation took for its motto, "The best reading for the largest number at the Ifeast cost." While librarians everywhere are unsparingly and unceasingly working to provide the best reading for the largest number, they have been appropriating to themselves or rather have had meted out to them the "least cost" section of the slogan, as may be shown in Mrs. Fairchild's report in the St. Louis A. L. A. proceedings. In this particular, women are the greatest offenders and sufferers. Women will accept much smaller salaries than men of equal ability and preparation. This is not in any sense to underbid the latter, but arises from two causes the gen- OLCOTT eral fact that women are paid less than men for equal service and the willingness of women to work for the love of it, "without money and without price." Commission work- ers all over the land have daily brought to their attention illustrations of self-sacrifice and heroism undreamt of by trustees or more highly favored members of the profession. The words "library spirit" are used ofttimes glibly and thoughtlessly, and many claim it who have it not; but it is the "library" spirit that makes the underpaid and overworked librarian go and go and go, morning after morning, through storm, through headache and heartache to the appointed spot and do the appointed work and cheerfully stick to that work through eight or ten hours, long after rest would be so sweet. It should ever be remembered by trustees and we cannot emphasize this point too strongly that a worker in a small library ofttimes must pos- sess a good many more qualifications than one in charge of a special department in a large library and that such service should re- ceive compensation in proportion. In the question of library training is involved the question of adequate compensation. After a student adds two years at a library school to three or four years of university or college work, as required by at least two of our ac- credited library schools, the graduate cannot be expected in all reason to accept a salary that will scarcely keep soul and body to- gether. A good librarian is worthy of his hire; a poor librarian is dear at any price. RATIONAL LIBRARY WORK WITH CHILDREN AND THE PREPARATION FOR IT BY FRANCES JENKINS OLCOTT, Head of Children's Department, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh T T is not the purpose of this paper to dis- cuss the influence of good reading on children, but rather to outline a practical or- ganization for the distribution of books among children. As a premise it is assumed that the public library is already an acknowl- edged educational factor, its chief duty being the distribution of good reading to the masses, and that in order to secure generally an intelligent use of the library by adults, it is necessary to begin by educating the children. This last does not mean, however, that we should organize our work with chil- dren at the expense of adult work. To do so would be to defeat the object for which library work with children exists. Instead, we should set aside a suitable portion of the library fund to provide books, special quarters, and at- tendants for the children, the amount of this fund to be decided by the needs of the library. Naturally, a library specializing in reference work, or having any other important spe- cialty, would not spend the larger share of its fund on the children's room; while, on the other hand, a library in a tenement district, where two-thirds or more of its patrons were children, would spend its funds accord- ingly. Rational library work with children most adjust itself to the needs of the library as a whole, and be based on a study of the so- cial conditions of the people who will use the library. Nationality, religion, occupations, and living conditions should be considered, books selected, and methods adjusted according to actual needs. This requires, on the part of the children's librarian, a wide knowledge of books and some experience in working with different classes of people. It is most convenient for me to illustrate an organiza- tion based on social conditions by describing the work with children of our own library, that is, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. First, let me draw your attention to the fact that our work with children is only one of the PORTLAND CONFERENCE activities of the library, and is not carried on at the expense of other departments. The organization has been made to meet the needs of Pittsburgh and of no other city. Conditions in Pittsburgh are as fol- lows: Within an area that might rea- sonably be included in her limits there is a population of about one million. Within her present limits the census records show a population of 321,616 persons, more than two- thirds of whom are either foreign born, or children of foreign born parents, and persons of negro descent. The negroes alone number more than 17,000, which is 5.3 per cent, of tfie whole recorded population. Perhaps the most surprising facts relate to professions and in- dustries. There are more than 90,000 me- chanics, skilled workmen, day laborers, serv- ants, etc. ; 34,000 persons engaged in trade and transportation; as against 6000 profes- sional men and women. Pittsburgh is a city of contrasts, built on many hills, and divided by three rivers. The hillsides and perpendicular bluffs along the rivers are dotted with wooden shanties, while many families live in "jo-boats" moored to river banks. From the very back doors of many fine residences in the East End and from near beautiful parks there stretch, hidden by the hills, long runs and gullies that are filled with shanties, while in the down-town dis- tricts are networks of alleys and courts, lined with unsanitary brick buildings and tumble- down rear tenements, crowded with foreign- ers. Wages, as a rule, are excellent ; work is easily procured, and it is not poverty only, but chiefly ignorance which is to blame for the present shiftless conditions. Jacob Riis recently made a tour of our tenement district, and in a public meeting said that he had never seen tenement conditions as bad as those in Pittsburgh. The physical topography of Pittsburgh makes it especially difficult and expensive for us to reach all parts of the city. Often a high bluff or a deep ravine cuts a neigh- borhood in two, making necessary two de- posits of books in the same district iftstead of one. With such conditions to meet, we have or- ganized our work for children as follows : A children's department was installed in 1898, which has developed gradually until during the past year there were 152 places in the city where children could draw books. The object of this department is to place good literature into the hands of every child in the city, and especially to carry the influ- ence of good books into the homes of chil- dren of few opportunities and no advantages. When it is understood that there are more than 59,ooo children enrolled in our public, private, and parochial schools, besides large numbers of children employed in factories or elsewhere, and that our collection of ju- venile books numbers only 48,000 volumes, it will be seen what a huge task we have be- fore us. In order to accomplish our object of dis- tributing books, the department is organized under the supervision of a chief of depart- ment into the following divisions : Admini- strative division, division of children's rooms, division of work with schools, division of work with home libraries and reading clubs. Each division has its own peculiar field of work. The administrative division is the unifying factor in the department. Through it the work with children is welded into a sys- tematized organization. By it, children's books are examined, read, and selected, dis- tributing agencies organized, collections kept up to date, assistants trained and placed, methods studied and introduced, material compiled for the use of the department in fact, its aim is to help in every way possible the development of the whole work. Next to the Administrative division comes the division of children's rooms, of which, strictly speaking, we have at present seven. Each room offers a distinctly different phase t>f cosmopolitan life, and is in charge of one or more trained children's librarians. The ideal children's room has a double function. First, it is the place in which the children are being prepared to use the adult library, and we feel that if our rooms fail to develop intelligent, self-helpful readers, we have failed in our main object. Second, the ideal children's room should take the place of a child's private library, and it should, as far as possible, give the child a OLCOTT 73 chance to browse among books of all classes and kinds, in a room beautifully proportioned and decorated, and presided over by a genial and sympathetic woman who has a genuine interest in the personalities and preferences of the boys and girls. The gracious influ- ence of this room should differ widely from that of the school-room, with its. rigid law and order, and it should not partake too much of "paternalism." All methods used should be in keeping with the dignity of the library building. It is most important that the technical side of the work of the room, such as the loan system, the cataloging and classification, should not differ essentially from the same work in the adult department, so that the children will not have to unlearn things when they leave the children's room. Technical methods may be simplified, but not changed, and above all, the closest relation should exist between the adult and juvenile departments. We desire also that all meth- ods used to draw the children to the library building should be those which lead them to the best books. It is impossible in so short a space to discuss the problems of book selection or the determinate methods used to draw at- tention to books, such as story hours, read- ing circles, and picture bulletins. It is our endeavor in the children's rooms to use only those methods which are dignified, direct, and informal, and which lead to better reading. The main object of our story hour and read- ing circles is to draw attention to books and to books only. Whereas we try to preserve the informal atmosphere of our children's rooms, keeping out the school-room atmosphere, we are at the same time doing work with the schools. Our 'branch librarians and the children's li- brarians visit the schools of their districts, keep in touch with the teachers, lend them books, and encourage them to send the chil- dren to the library to look up subjects for school compositions. In order not to inter- fere with the atmosphere of pleasure read- ing, which we like to preserve in our chil- dren's rooms, we set aside a corner or a room for school use. Besides the school work done directly from our children's rooms, we have, as already stated, a division of work with schools. This division is in charge of a regular supervisor and assistant, who spend their time visiting the schools, where they talk with the teachers, read aloud and tell stories in the class rooms, and make arrangements to send collections of books to the schools to be used for home circulation and in the class-room. We have at present 15,000 school duplicates and cannot supply the demand. The aims of this division are: that no child shall leave the city schools without having\ had the opportunity to read good books; that no child shall pass the last grade in the ward schools without having had in- struction in the use of catalogs, indexes, etc., and that teachers in the class rooms shall be aided in every way possible with material to illustrate their lessons. We cannot emphasize too much the en- thusiasm with which principals and teacfiers have met the offers of the library to supply them with books and story-tellers. A num- ber of schools set aside regular class periods for story-telling and reading aloud, and we are gaining 1 noticeable results from this work. Besides direct work with the schools, this division carries on a number of deposit sta- tions, and cooperates with the branch chil- dren's rooms in the establishment of summer playground libraries. Although we are reaching thousands of children through our children's rooms and through the city schools, there still remain large numbers of children who do not use our children's rooms and who do not go to school. These children work at home, in toby shops, in factories, or they sell papers. There are also "gangs" of restless boys who hang about street corners and whose lawless mischief leads them into crime. For the pur- pose of reaching these children and young people, we have organized a division of work with home libraries and reading clubs, which penetrates into alleys, "runs," and out-of-the- way corners of the city, and which cooperates with institutions for social betterment, such as the Society for the Improvement of the Poor, social settlements, Juvenile Court, Newsboys' Home, and other similar institutions. This di- 74 PORTLAND CONFERENCE vision has two distinct fields of work; one is in the homes of the children, the other is in the boys' club rooms. The home library work is peculiarly fitted to the needs of Pittsburgh. It reaches directly the homes of the working classes, foreigners, and sometimes criminals. It helps to Americanize that part of our for- eign population whose filth and ignorance is our worst menace. A home library consists of a small case of books placed in a child's home. At a stated time each week ten or twelve children of the neighborhood meet about the case and a visitor from the library gives out the books, and, in various ways, makes the "library hour" pass pleasantly with profit to the chil- dren. The method of spending the "library hour" depends on the sex and age of the children. The visitor's main idea is to in- troduce the children to books, but she can- not hold them by books alone. She reads aloud or tells stories, plays games with the children, and teaches them some such art as sewing or basketry; thus giving them em- ployment with which to fill their idle hours. It is impossible to define the scope of home library work. Its aim is not only to take books into the home, but to carry with them every influence to make the poor into more happyand useful citizens. The library provides the books, a supervisor, and visitors; while, on the other hand, means for teaching bask- etry, cooking, etc., is provided by private in- dividuals. The visitor from the library has a strong influence upon the home in which her group meets, as well as among the neigh- bors. She is often able to aid the families in case of illness, poverty, or lack of work, by putting them in touch with charitable in- stitutions. The other field of this division is that of the boys' "gangs." The "gang" element is a great feature of the social life of the lower classes of Pittsburgh, and the boys devour the trashy literature which is sold in every part of the city. Some of the "gangs" have formed themselves into clubs, and conduct circulating libraries of dime and nickel nov- els. In order to reach these boys we provide^ rooms in different parts of the city, form the "gangs" into reading and game clubs, and send visitors from the library to meet them in the evening and keep them off the streets. The use of rooms for this purpose is given us by school boards, mission houses, bath houses, the Newsboys' Home, and by a Jew- ish synagouge. In almost every case we are given heat, light, and janitor service. The statistics for the use of books in this division are never overwhelming, neither is the collection of books large. The amount of good done can never be recorded in figures : it is the social side of the work that counts. The vital gains are those of the influence ex- erted on ignorant but eager children by good reading, reading aloud, story telling, playing games; the record of a family saved from starvation; a home found for a stray child; a boy given work; a girl kept from running away from home; the teaching of the boys chivalry, courtesy, honesty; the girls neat- ness, industry, deference; such a record can- not be kept by statistical figures. The solidity of all the work of the chil- dren's department, as outlined above, depends upon not only the quality and extent of the book collection, but on the personality, train- ing, and experience of the library workers. This brings us to an important part of our paper, which is the preparation for library work with children. In the beginning of our department, we made decidedly unsatis- factory experiments in employing untrained help. Time was lost, irreparable mistakes made," and much of our work failed of the mark. We found it imperative to establish a training class to supply the children's li- brarians for our own library. This training class developed into a training school, and since the time of its organization in 1900, we have not been able to supply the demand for trained children's librarians, a demand com- ing from all parts of the country. This spring we had some thirty positions to fill, and not more than six children's librarians to send out into the field. It is a great pity that de- sirable young women do not know of this un- developed field of work. We have a great many candidates, but comparatively few of them are accepted as students. We are con- tinually raising our standard for admission. The ideal applicant should have the following OLCOTT 75 characteristics : Sympathy with and respect for children, strength of character, a genial nature, a pleasing personality, an instinct for reading character, adaptability, and last but not least, a strong sense of humor. Her home training and education should have given her a love and knowledge of books, a fund of general information, a quick and accurate mind. These qualities are difficult to find combined in one person. In order to have you understand fully the basis on which we train, it may be well to re- mind you of what has already been stated that we consider the work with children from two points of view, that it is the means by which we prepare the children to use the adult library, and that the ideal children's room should take the place of the child's private library. We therefore divide our lecture course into two distinct parts. First technical training along the lines of adult library work, such as ordering, accessioning, classifying, shelf-listing, cataloging, the study of library organization, history of libraries, history of printing and bookbinding, busi- ness methods, such as making out of reports, statistics, blanks, and schedules. These sub- jects, treated entirely from the standpoint of the adult library, are carried through the two years' work, thus giving the student a solid basis for library work. Side by side "with this, special methods of work with children are taught, including the study of children's literature, planning and equipment of chil- dren's rooms, rules and regulations for chil- dren's rooms, methods of introducing chil- dren to books, making of children's catalogs and lists, and a study of educational princi- ples and social conditions and betterment. Throughout the course a comparative study is made of the methods used by different li- braries. Lectures are given by members of the library staff on those subjects in which they are daily engaged, and the regular library lecturers are supplemented by visiting librar- ians and other educators. Although we have a very full program of lectures, and students are required to do much reading and close study, still we do not lay our stress on class-room work, but on the daily practice work of the student. Each student is required to work from eigh- teen to twenty hours a week in the children's department, under supervision, thus coming in actual contact with the children. This laboratory work is divided between the di- vision of children's rooms, the division of work with schools, and the division of work with home libraries and reading clubs. The student also has work in the deposit stations and in the summer playground libraries. She has opportunity to work with all classes of children, both as individuals and en masse, and in this way she gets her knowledge of children, of their tastes and habits, and she gets her training in discipline, in story telling, and in the practical application of the prin- ciples taught her in class. We lay more stress on the student's ability to do practical work than on her examination papers. It is neces- sary for the student to pass the examinations, but practical work and daily class work stand first. In closing, I should like to add that we endeavor to impress on our students from the beginning that our first duty as children's li- brarians is to interpret literature, and that methods must necessarily be adjustable to the character of the library, and that a rational method of organizing library work with children in any city or town should be based on a close study of the needs of the community. This branch of educational work is young and is growing rapidly, has tremendous possi- bilities, and is open to all sorts of dangers in the way of sentimentalism or fads, and in order to avoid these we must keep before us continually our dignity as custodians of litera- ture, our obligation to the citizens of our community who have entrusted us with the task of interpreting literature to their chil- dren. Let our motto be, good books to all children, and "the right book to the right child at the right time." Just as necessity has produced children's rooms, so necessity will in time 1 show us the right lines along which to proceed in order to produce a suffi- ciently sane body of doctrine to form a science or pedagogy of library work with children. 7 6 PORTLAND CONFERENCE COMMON SENSE AND THE STORY HOUR BY HARRIOT E. HASSLER, Children's Librarian, Portland (Ore.) Library Association "P ROM a purely human standpoint one need fear little or no opposition in standing before an intelligent audience and pleading the cause of story telling. Each of us can recall some special fairy godmother in human guise who once cuddled us into capacious arms before a huge open fire and thrilled us with the delicious terror of a Jack the Giant-killer, or held us spellbound waiting to see what the uncanny staff of a still more uncanny Quicksilver was going to do next. Perhaps some of us are still hold- ing the sunny southwest corner of our hearts sacred to our "Tusitala" our "teller of stories." But, granted that all this is true, and that story-telling is the most alluring of avocations for spinster aunts and bachelor uncles, yet just how far the practice is legi- timate in the public library, at the expense of time and strength paid for by popular taxa- tion is quite another matter. We have heard to a wearisome extent of the "sweet little story for the dear little chil- dren." We do not wish to repeat the ex- perience of the enthusiastic young kinder- gartner who took a position in a children's library and solicitously said to the wrong boy : ~"Well, my dear, can I find you a nice book?" only to have the small boy square his shoulders and rise to every possible inch of insulted dignity as he answered, "I ain't your dear, and I'll find my own books." Perhaps a safe rule for the average chil- dren's librarian to follow is, "Avoid all sto'ry-* telling that does not aim at the improvement of the children's reading." Usually it is bet- ter to tell a story about a subject on which several books are written than about one in- cident or chapter in one special book. Thus, if the Washington birthday story can be told in a setting that would suggest the literature of the whole Revolutionary war, it is a more successful story hour than the same amount of interest concentrated on personal anecdote from one book. From this it will be under- stood why we plead for the sensible story- hour as the most efficient means we have yet found of directing the reading of the chil- dren. In the two-fold function of the chil- dren's, library, of collecting good books, and of getting them read, we have found in the story-hour the easiest and the pleasantest solution of how to direct and systematize their reading. One of my first observations in the chil- dren's room here was the distrust with which many of the children met any suggestions about the classed books. So often the ques- tion came, "Is it non-fiction?" and in spite of attractive binding and good type and illus- trations, they would say "No, thank you," with much the same definiteness that they \v"ld have declined a dose of castor oil. After many repetitions, I began to feel that they were eyeing me with horrid suspicion instead of with confidence, so we tried an- other method. May-day was at hand, and in remembrance of another May-day long ago, it was decided to have a May pole in the children's room. With comparatively^ little effort we soon had a very gay little May pole, twined with rib- bons and garlanded with flowers and hung with May baskets. A simple press announce- ment served to inform the children, and very early in the afternoon our fragrant, flower- decked room was thronged with children. It was necessary to stand very near the pole and repeat all the May-day stories again and again as new groups of children came and old ones were passed on to the "Books about May-day," to be quickly lost in the good green wood with Friar Tuck and Little John, or else to be buried under a shower of blos- soms at the Roman feast of the Floralia. The day was such a success that we have twice repeated it and expect that it will be- come a permanent feature of the department. That was the first time many of the children learned to use the bound volumes of St. Nicholas for themselves. HASSLER 77 The next formal story-hour came a few- weeks later and was based on a Flag bulletin at Decoration day. One tall boy stood be- hind the group of smaller o"hes in front of the bulletin and for once forgot his beloved Henty books, and he so far deviated from his former path as to take home "Recollec- tions of a drummer boy" that day. Of the smaller boys, "Gilbert," who had been lean- ing closer and closer to the story-teller until at last both his elbows were on her knees as he begged with a delectable lisp, "Tell uth an- other, pleathe?" began the reading of his- 'torical literature on that afternoon, and up to the time when he left us a little while ago, he had read almost every good book within his comprehension and had heard so many read to him by his long-suffering aunt, that he was quite an authority on. historical mat- ters. The Independence day stories fol- lowed Memorial day, and there was a noticea- ble increase in the circulation of "Story-hour books." So the work went on from story- hour to story-hour till the dreadful spell which had been cast over certain books in the room by the term "non-fiction" began to lift. The textile exhibit, posted on Labor day and supplemented by a spinning wheel which we learned to use clumsily, suggested the various industrial books and the literature of colonial manners and customs, as well as the myths and legends relating to all phases of the subject. It is almost surprising how generously interested various manufacturers have been in sending us samples illustrating various stages of their processes to use in these Labor day or Industrial exhibits. These stories of the textiles so fitted in with the third grade home geography work of our public schools that the third grade teachers came to us in a body, at the suggestion of one of them, to hear the story-hour. Later, about forty of these teachers brought their classes, ranging from 12 to 85 children, to the library for the stories, and all during school hours. Of course this meant a very large increase in membership for us, as many of these children came to us for the first time. The textile stories had suggested some of the old Greek myths, but only a few. Since we had undertaken to establish the story- hour to give some meaning and method to the children's reading it seemed best to "base us our palace well, broad at the roots of things" ; so we began a series of Friday afternoon Homeric stories in October and were soon lost in the Iliad, never stopping till we had seen the wise Ulysses safely home to Pene- lope, at the end of the Odyssey, late in May. As mentioned in the April number of the Library Journal, we used the translations of Lang and others in the preparation of the stories, employing as many of the melodious Greek epithets as we could in telling the stories. For the use of the children, we pur- chased a number of duplicates of the best versions we could obtain. Last winter we took up the Norse myths and Rhine legends. The children enjoyed hearing the stories as much, apparently, as the Greek cycle, but they read the books less for themselves, so we passed on to our "Soldier stories" illus- trated by bulletins and following in general the outline given in Creasy's "Fifteen decisive battles." This has done more to lift the Henty scourge among our boys than any other set of bulletins and stories. In the two years in which the story-hour has been a recognized feature of our work, our rate of fiction has dropped 12 per cent. To vary the Greek story-hour, we began the birthday stories. It became understood that whenever the children saw a portrait on our birthday calendar instead of a date it meant that we were to have a story-hour at four o'clock on that day. We chose from three to six anniversaries each month and have honored our heroes in point of time, from Julius Caesar to Marconi, and geo- graphically, from the Mikado to President Roosevelt. It would be interesting to tell of the indi- vidual boys and girls who have been lifted out of the slough of the fiction habit into habits of healthy, intelligent and discriminat- ing reading. Of course a comparatively large number of children have followed the soldier story-hour from week to week until they have gone through a chronological course in read- ing beginning with the Abbott biographies of the old-time warriors, and coming down to the present. Of course we have been increasing our equipment steadily, so that some allowance PORTLAND CONFERENCE must be made for this increase in the pro- portion of our historical literature, but the decrease of 12 per cent, in our fiction is all out of proportion to that. The children's librarian and her assistants are no longer watched suspiciously when they get books from the non-fiction shelves and offer them to the children. It is seldom indeed that such suggestion is not accepted as a favor, and the sweetest of all flattery to our ears is the occasional "Yes, I'll take it, for you always find me what I like." The comradeship of the story-hour, the per- sonal inspiration and happiness to the story- teller of taking a room full of eager-faced children for a glorious gallop across the plains with General Custer, where the air is so clear that we no longer mistake reckless- ness for courage, and dare-deviltry for hero- ism ; of long tramps through deep woods with the sweet souled Audubon until we learn to love his birds and the birds of our own door- yards as well ; all this is apart from the sub- ject of our paper, but not apart from the story-hour itself. But leaving aside the story-teller's own satisfaction and the value of a good story for a good story's sake, let me enter my plea for the story-hour for the library's sake, because it is the only means by which we can get the children honestly to want the books "we want them to want." Children, equally with poets, are "taking all hints to use them, but swiftly leaping beyond them," and the child who takes home White's Plutarch because he honestly is interested to know more about Alexander the Great and his splendid horse Bucephalos, is immeasurably better off than if he had been tricked by an alluring title, a bright cover, or a bewildering arrangement on the shelves, to take something he really does not want and read it because he has nothing better. We have a harsh thought for the trades- man who gives us one thing when we think we are choosing another let us see to it that we do not trade upon the ignorance of our children in the matter of book selection; for, after all, we are as eager to please our small customer as the merchants are ; we are as anxious for their esteem and their confi- dence; but let us not forget that the fabric W-are dealing with is the stuff of which we must make citizens for our state; we must fashion characters which we believe are to endure longer than the state, "longer than the sun, longer than the lustrous Jupiter, or the radiant brothers, the Pleiades." CARNEGIE LIBRARIES * BY THEODORE WESLEY KOCH, Librarian University of Michigan T N the North American Review for June, 1889, Mr. Carnegie published an article on "Wealth," which attracted marked atten- tion both in England and America, callmg forth comments and criticisms from Glad- stone, Grover Cleveland, Cardinal Gibbons, Cardinal Manning, Bishop Potter, Rabbi Ad- ler, and others. At the request of the editor, * Mr. Koch's address was concerned mainly with the architecture of the libraries erected in the United States through the generosity of Mr. Carnegie, and was illustrated by seventy-five stereopticon views. As his remarks centered about these illustrations it is impracticable to give here anything but extracts from the more general part of his address. Mr. Carnegie contributed to the December number of the Review a second article, in which he pointed out what were in his judg- ment the best fields for the use of surplus wealth and the best methods of administering it for the good of the people. The two ar- ticles, slightly revised and co-ordinated, have been reprinted as the title essay of his book, "The gospel of wealth, and other timely es- says." In his first paper Mr. Carnegie had said that "the main consideration should be to help those who will help themselves ; to pro- vide part of the means by which those who desire to improve may do so ; to give those KOCH 79 who desire to rise the aids by which they may rise; to assist, but rarely or never to do all. Neither the individual nor the race is im- proved by almsgiving. Those worthy of assistance, except in rare cases, seldom re- quire assistance." This thought was continued in his second paper. "The first requisite for a really good use of wealth by the millionaire who has ac- cepted the gospel which proclaims him only a trustee of the surplus that comes to him, is to take care that the pur- poses for which he spends it shall not have a degrading, pauperizing tendency upon its recipients, but that his trust shall be so administered as to stimulate the best and most aspiring poor of the community to further efforts for their own improvement." Mr. Carnegie's answer to the question, What is the best gift which can be given to a community? is that in his judgment "a free library occupies the first place, provided the community will accept and maintain it as a public institution, as much a part of the city property as its public schools, and, in- deed, an adjunct to these." "It is, no doubt, possible," says Mr. Carnegie, "that my own personal experience may have led me to value a free library beyond all other forms of beneficence. When I was a working-boy in Pittsburg, Colonel Anderson, of Alle- gheny a name that I can never speak with- out feelings of devotional gratitude opened his little library of four hundred books to boys. Every Saturday afternoon he was in attendance at his house to exchange books. No one but he who has felt it can ever know the intense longing with which the arrival of Saturday was awaited, that a new book might be had. My brother and Mr. Phipps, who have been my principal business partners through life, shared with me Colonel Ander- son's precious generosity, and it was when revelling in the treasures which he opened to us that I resolved, if ever wealth came to me, that it should be used to establish free libraries, that other poor boys might receive opportunities similar to those for which we were indebted to that noble man." Colonel Anderson established in 1850 the "J. Anderson Library Institute of Allegheny City," which was open for the free circulation of books at stated hours on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The bookplate which Colonel Anderson had devised for his institute, with a collection of tools for its most characteristic feature, shows clearly that the founder's in- tention was to furnish reading for the me- chanics and working men who made up the larger part of the community. It has the apt motto : "Take fast hold of instruction : let her not go, for she is thy life." Proverbs, chapter 4, verse 13. The Anderson Library was closed shortly after its founder's death in i86i,not perhaps so much on account of lack of public interest in keeping it open as owing to the all-absorbing interest in the Civil War. The books were boxed up and stored in the basement of the city hall until shortly after the close of the war, when they were entrusted to the charge of the recently organized Allegheny Library Association. In 1871 the management of the Association was placed in the hands of the board of school controllers who, during the next year, were empowered to appropriate from the school funds a sum of money for the maintenance of a free public library. When the -Carnegie Free Library was organ- ized in 1890, it was generally expected that the Public School Library would be merged into the new institution, but there were un- fortunately legal difficulties which prevented the amalgamation. The Public School Li- brary now numbers 26,000 volumes, including about four hundred books from the original Anderson Library. Mr. Carnegie has on several occasions paid fond tribute to Colonel Anderson's memory, and on June 15, 1904, there was unveiled in Allegheny as a gift from him a lasting me- morial to the man who inspired the great steel king with the idea of his library cru- sade. The monument is at the corner of the Carnegie Library lot and consists of a por- trait bust by Daniel Chester French. In front of the large granite slab which supports the bust is the figure of an iron worker, who sits bared to the waist, upon an anvil, and rests from his labor long enough to glance at the large open book which he holds on his knees. Mr. Carnegie does not care to be known as a philanthropist, whom he defines as one So PORTLAND CONFERENCE who not only gives his wealth, but also fol- lows it up by personal attention. The claims upon Mr. Carnegie's time and the wide area over which his benefactions have been spread have not permitted of his carrying out the second stipulation to any great extent. Yet it must be said that he has followed with very keen interest and wise counsel the devel- opment of many of the institutions which owe their existence to his liberality, notably those in and around Pittsburg which serve the large communities immediately interested in and dependent upon the works and industries by means of which Mr. Carnegie's wealth was largely acquired. Mr. Carnegie has expressed great admira- tion for the method of giving employed by Mr. Enoch Pratt, of Baltimore, who not only gave to his city the library which bears his name, but also v/atched constantly over its growth and de- velopment, sharing with the trustees the bur- den of the many problems which beset them from time to time, helping with practical suggestions and cheering all with his opti- mism. On the occasion of the formal open- ing of the magnificent library building which Mr. Carnegie had presented to the District of Columbia, he said with genial modesty : "It is so little to give money to a good cause and there end," then turning to the commission- ers and trustees, "and so grand to give thought and time, as these gentlemen have done." At the dinner given in Mr. Carnegie's honor, April 7, 1902, by the Society of Ameri- can Authors, Mr. Melvil Dewey, responding to the toast, "The immeasurable service Mr. Carnegie has rendered public libraries,". said: "If Mr. Carnegie were investing every few days in stocks, men would begin to look very carefully into the condition of the stocks he bought. He has been investing every little while for the past few years in libraries, and I believe that he has done it with the same ideas that made him in an age of steel invest in steel and make the best steel in the world and then command the markets of the world for it. His wisdom has done five times as much as his wealth in the conditions he has put with his gifts." The conditions referred to are the well- known proviso that the community accepting the offer of a library building furnish a site and agree to supply an annual maintenance fund of at least 10 per cent, of the amount of the gift. The percentage was higher in some of Mr. Carnegie's earlier offers, but I know of only one case where it was lower, and I have it from one of the trustees of that par- ticular institution that they regret that Mr. Carnegie was ever persuaded to make an exception in their case. They find it impossible to administer the library properly on a 5 per cent, basis and yet they are unable to persuade the city fath- ers to increase the grant. To the fact that the communities are expected to maintain and develop the many free libraries which are scattered over Great Britain, Mr. Carnegie attributes most of their usefulness. "An" en- dowed institution," he claims, "is liable to become the piey of a clique. The public ceases to take interest in it, or, rather, never acquires interest in it. The rule has been vio- Jated which requires the recipients to help themselves. Everything has been done for the community instead of its being only helped to help itself, and good results rarely ensue." "I do not want to be known for what I give," said Mr. Carnegie on one occasion, "but for what I induce others to give." An interesting list could be made of gifts to Carnegie libraries. It would include not only tracts of }and, but furnishings and en- dowments for the libraries, as well as books and pictures and well-equipped museums. But, of course, the main value of a gift of this kind is not represented by its sum total in dollars and cents, but rather in the civic interest which it arouses in the object of the gift. Many a citizen's attention was first called to the fact that there was a public library in his town by the discussion of a Carnegie grant in the local papers. Some honest doubts have been expressed in regard to this Carnegie library deluge. "Of course, every town ought to have a li- brary," remarked the Boston Transcript in an editorial under date of Nov. 28, 1902. "There does not exist a municipality in the United States but knows that its equipment is incomplete without a library. Moreover, there is not one that would not have a library KOCH 81 sooner or later by its own efforts, unless the hope of a gift from Mr. Carnegie leads it to defer the matter indefinitely." That a com- munity should put off the establishment of a library indefinitely because of being disap- pointed in its expectation of a Carnegie grant is hardly credible. It requires some active canvassing to secure the offer generally a ballot on the subject and a guarantee of a suitable maintenance fund. If the guaran- tee is sufficient and the finances of the com- munity seem to warrant the annual expendi- ture of the amount involved, Mr. Carnegie usually makes the grant. The refusals have, I am inclined to think, been more frequent from the towns than from Mr. Carnegie, the offer usually having been made in response to the request of some private individual or from a body of library trustees. Mr. Carnegie has very rarely taken the initiative in these matters. The majority of the communities in the United States which have shared Mr. Carne- gie's bounty are in the newly settled parts of the country, in places which have been harassed by demands for the more pressing public improvements, such as good roads, schools, churches, courthouses, sewerage, lighting and water supply systems, and Mr. Carnegie has simply put them that much for- ward by giving them the advantages of a library home. He thus directs attention to their library needs, but does not supply them. He supplies merely convenient accessories for the administration of a library, not the li- brary itself the shell and not the kernel. The books and the library spirit must come from the people themselves. This, as already pointed out, has been his policy from the first. Whether the library is to bear fruit depends upon the community. It is conceivable that a community may through a mistaken pride rush into this mat- ter before season, that it may seek the offer of a Carnegie grant before it is prepared to properly take care of a library. But Mr. Carnegie has foreseen the danger of an ambi- tious community overreaching its legitimate ends and his secretary and financial agent have required full statements as to the popu- lation and income of a community before entertaining its proposition. In not a few- cases Mr. Carnegie has not granted the full amount asked for because it was felt that in accepting the larger sum the community would be binding itself to do more than it should undertake. Mr. Carnegie has never thrust his gifts upon a community, nor has he ever willingly stood in the way of anyone else giving a library to a community. I recall one instance where, in response to a request for aid, he offered to furnish money for a library build- ing, but withdrew his offer when he heard that a former citizen desired to present a library to his native town. In notifying the prospective donor of his action, Mr. Carnegie congratulated him upon the opportunity of which he had availed himself. There is a popular misconception to the effect that all these libraries which Mr. Car- negie has scattered over the land bear his name, that he has erected them simply as so many monuments to himself. The direct opposite is true. He makes no stipulation as to the name the library shall bear. The great majority of them are known as the ^Public Library of the town which supports them. Most of the^gifts have been made to libraries already in existence at the time of the offer, corporate institutions the names of which no one would think of changing simply because they had been given a new home. This is as it should be. As one ardent library worker in Montana put it, "You would not give a, child the name of a man who gives him a suit of clothes ; no matter how good a suit it might be, he would bear his father's ndme." Natur- ally there is usually some tablet or inscription on the building stating that it was erected through the generosity of Mr. Carnegie. Com- mon courtesy would require some such ac- knowledgment of so great a gift. Certain library boards have acknowledged their in- debtedness by inserting the words "Carnegie building" as a qualifying phrase under the name of their library. On the other hand, when any particular library has been called into being through the agency of Mr. Carne- gie's princely liberality and the recipients of his bounty have wished to do him special honor they have named the library after him. But this has followed and not preceded the gift. PORTLAND CONFERENCE THE TRAINING OF STUDENTS IN THE USE OF BOOKS BY H. RALPH MEAD, Reference Librarian, University of California \17"HEN asked to prepare this paper I was requested to consider particularly the needs of the small college and university li- brary. It is hoped that a discussion of the subject may bring about some uniformity in a course that will assist in the general cul- ture of the student and enable him to use catalogs and bibliographical aids with intelli- gence when investigating a subject. The value of books as a means of culture holds an unquestionable place in the minds of all men. To-day, as never before, scholars are surrounded by books not even in his own specialty can the scholar hope to read all the books; an intelligent and discriminating knowledge of books is as necessary to him as saw and hammer are to the carpenter. Nowhere so well as in college can the proper use of books be taught and fostered. The col- lege student is in a sort of transition period from the mere text-book learning to that higher stage where he is more particularly concerned in learning a method of acquiring knowledge, in attaining the capacity to do a thing. A large part of knowledge is, after all, being able to find out concerning a certain thing at a certain time a knowledge of where to find the sources of information. This ability can be attained only by careful cultivation. How far the professor and the librarian are to assist in that attainment has been the subject of some discussion. I think it is safe to assume that no librarian can know a subject, certainly not down through the whole realm of knowledge, as well as the pro- fessor who is a specialist in that subject. So I think the professor should see to it that students have a discriminating knowledge of the books in their specialty. A large field is still left to the librarian. There is a class of books that pertain to all knowledge, as dic- tionaries, encyclopaedias, and indexes, that need considerable elucidation. There is an- other class of books that form the chief work- ing tool of all scholars bibliographies and catalogs these the librarian can explain bet- ter, as his work brings him in constant touch with them and he has a larger collection at his disposal. There are a few questions of administra- tion, the consideration of which ought to precede that of the use of books; but 1 can mention them only briefly at this time. Care must be given to the selection of books, to the preparation of them for use, particularly cataloging and classification,* to the con- venient location of a reference collection, and to other facilities for rendering the books easily accessible. The privileges to be granted to faculty and students, as home-use and ac- cess to shelves, need thorough consideration so as to give a fair and just treatment to all concerned. Having the books ready for use we come now to the training of students in their use. Emerson in his helpful little essay on "Books" says that a professoship of books is much needed and we have heard a great deal about it since. Many colleges make at least some attempt toward giving its students a knowl- edge of the use pf the library, in some cases just a general lecture to the entering class soon after college opens. All this is good so far as it goes, but it seems that a systematic course of instruction is both desirable and practicable. I would like to see a course of twelve or fourteen lectures rquired of every first-year student, somewhat as English is a requirement in nearly every college the first year. Just recently I received a letter from Baylor University, Texas; from it I learn that they are to make this sort of instruction a part of the required work in English, and I think it an excellent idea. At Harvard Uni- versity Professor Hart makes a practical knowledge of the card catalog one of the earliest requirements of his courses. The * Read VV. H. Austen: Dependence of reference departments on cataloging and classification depart- ments. Library Journal, 23:108-110. MEAD number of lectures and the division of topics will doubtless be governed somewhat by the environment in which the librarian finds him- self. I would suggest a division somewhat along the following lines the first eight of them have been followed practically at the University of California the past year : (1) INTRODUCTORY LECTURE touching on reading in general and paying particular at- tention to the arrangement of the library, the privileges granted students, and what is ex- pected of them in return. (2) THE CATALOG considering particu- larly the catalog in use in that library and how to answer various questions from it, in short, a sort of exposition of some of the problems encountered daily by the reference librarian, calling attention to important cata- logs that the library may possess, such as the Peabody Institute catalog, and entering but briefly on the fundamental principles of cata- loging. (3) ENCYCLOPAEDIAS giving a brief his- tory, treating as fully as possible of the pe- culiarities of different ones, and of helps in their use, such as the index to the Encyclo- paedia Britannica. (4) INDEXES AND GOVERNMENT PUBLICA- TIONS showing their method of arrange- ment, their value, and how to use them; the value of book indexes, with an exposition of the elementary principles of book-in- dexing. (5) DICTIONARIES, ATLASES, AND GAZET- TEERS including such handy books as do not readily fall under a subject in division seven ; a brief history of the English diction- ary preceding the discussion of specific books. (6) GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY giving a brief account of the general bibliographies, the purposes of a bibliography, and treating at some length of methods of compiling a bibliography. - (7) HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY giving some important general works, the cyclopaedias, handy-books, and particularly bibliographies. The other divisions of knowledge may be grouped in one or two lectures and treated in a similar manner. (8) TRADE AND NATIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHY describing rather fully the American and English bibliographies, particularly those the student is likely to use ; mentioning the im- portant ones in foreign languages. (9) CLASSIFICATION explaining the Dewey and Cutter systems, and especially the system of the local library; some general principles of classification and hints on the classification of notes. (10) THE PRINTED BOOK taking up some of the important things that have to do with the making and issuing of books, as prepara- tion of manuscript, book-sizes, type, and binding. Two additional lectures may follow on : (1) EARLY WRITING MATERIALS AND MANU- SCRIPTS. (2) EARLY PRINTING AND PRINTERS. This arrangement of subject was adopted because it seemed desirable that the student become acquainted with the topics in about that order. The lectures are to be well illus- trated by the use of as many books as can be brought conveniently to the lecture room; ten or fifteen minutes should be left at the end of each lecture for the students to come forward, examine the books, and ask any questions regarding them. In addition to at- tendance on lectures the student would be re- quired to compile a bibliography and to do a certain piece of work that showed a clear understanding of the catalog and catalogs in general. Of course, if the lectures are very informal and no university credit given for the course, such requirements can hardly be made. Whatever is given in the way of instruction should be supplemented by individual assist- ance. The library is the student's laboratory; it is just as important to the general culture student as the chemical laboratory is to the student of chemistry. It is at this point that the librarian needs to exercise all his tact, patience, and ability; here is the largest field for instruction, and here he can accomplish most valuable results. As a rule but few attend such lectures as may be given, but many may be given this individual assistance. Libraries to-day are seeing more than ever the value of having a reference librarian who is free to give as much time as may be needed to rendering all possible assistance. Those who patronize a library feel a great deal PORTLAND CONFERENCE freer with their inquiries if they can see that there is one definite place where it is ex- pected questions are to be asked. There is much that the professor can do to supplement this general instruction of the librarian and the two should work together in hearty co-operation. The professor should direct the reading of his class and make the library supplement his lectures by referring to the best books on the subject he is teach- ing; as a rule this is done and reference books are set aside each term for the pro- fessor's class. If possible the professor should have consultation hours in the library, guiding the students in the use of books. In this connection the seminar room is a great boon to those permitted to enjoy its privileges, for there the professor and the class are sur- rounded by the most important books of his subject. The training of the student in the use of books, just as their training in character or in manners, should begin in the home. In the home there should be inculcated a love and a respect for books that will go with them through life. Later in the high school or the preparatory school there should be taught a knowledge of the more common reference books. When one sees a student come into the college library and show that he has no conception whatever of "Poole's index," he cannot help but wonder if there is not some- thing lacking in the institution that prepared the student for college. A number of high schools are giving some of this instruction now and the public libraries are doing an excellent work in connection with the schools. Just a word of caution to those libraries that are organizing or perhaps changing meth- ods. The small library of to-day will be the large library of to-morrow, at least that is their high aspiration. It is a wise policy, therefore, to make adequate preparation for the morrow; this can scarcely be done with- out the adoption of modern library methods carried on under the supervision of a trained or experienced librarian. From the outset, a catalog should be begun that will not need complete revision as soon as the library reaches a certain stage of its growth ; book- numbers and a stable classification should be adopted, and a reference collection, con- veniently located, started and increased year by year. All these contribute in no small way to whatever success a library may have in training its students in the use of books. ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF INCOME IN THE COLLEGE LIBRARY BY JOSEPH CUMMINGS ROWELL, Librarian University of California A COLLEGE faculty is a bunch of hungry mouths. Most of them have studied where they practically were unlimited so far as printed literature of their specialties was concerned. They long for the flesh-pots of Egypt. They keenly feel deprivation of the books which they were accustomed to use so freely. And as for the new ones ah, me ! Some few they purchase with their scanty stipends. Hence the lean paunch, the thread- bare coat, and the wife's thrice-darned stock- ings. So with avid eye they watch the book com- mittee sweating blood in the endeavor to ap- portion justly the few paltry dollars at their disposal and make them cover the whole ground. I have been through the small-grinding mill of this experience. I have heard the pro- fessor gentleman to the bone though he was growl over the Hand-Commentar or- dered ("which only one of the faculty will refer to once in a decade") ; while his twenty-dollar work on steel bridges ("in Eng- lish, which every one can read") falls into the open draw. Enviously I have seen the public librarian, with a city's treasury at his back, wasting his substance in trumpery novels by the thou- sand. I have pared these college cheese rinds ; made home bindings ; done double duty to save a salary; stretched the eagle until Uncle Sam would not recognize his proud bird; begged, borrowed (and almost stolen) books ROW ELL from reluctant owners. Therefore I deeply sympathize with my brother of the college, and would bid him be of good cheer; there are happier days ahead; he shall hear his shelves groaning, and behold his small build- ing bursting, with books if only he live long enough. And yet, a limited income results in a pro- portionately choicer selection of books. Every work purchased must possess intrinsic value and be of direct and immediate utility. In a small college, a classical author like Plau- tus will be represented perhaps by a single critical edition, as Ritschl's, besides the com- mon texts that drift in by gift. And the student can do just as good undergraduate work in Plautus as if every edition from the princeps of 1472 down, together with all the hundreds of dinky dissertations, were ranged row after row on the shelves. He can appre- ciate and love his Horace, as a poec and as a man, just as clearly and affectionately, with- out poring over some learned Dutch treatise on the sed-clanse. But when, as graduate student, he under- takes research work, he must migrate ; for the college cannot minister to his scholarly needs. Indeed such is not its present func- tion, which is, if I mistake not, to afford a liberal education preparatory to a professional one, and in such proper manner as will best fit for higher work when the door of opportunity is opened. But philosophy feeds no chickens. It is of no avail moralizing on "functions" to a li- brarian concretely anhungered and athirst for books. Box me no parodox about "lim- ited income," but send along a dozen cases of immaculate beauties in musky goatskin, more fragrant than spices from Araby. Gently let me lift and unwrap you one by one; care- fully let me cut your virgin leaves ; tenderly let me open and gaze upon your spotless pages. Dear creatures of the press, you have come to no huge stackhouse to be carted about in trucks like potatoes, or shot through dark tunnels, or dumped with small cere- mony from pneumatic tubes; but (far hap- pier lot and nobler destiny) you shall be fondled and cherished our household pets. Obviously it is impossible to apportion a small book fund to the complete satisfaction of every instructor. And if by some special dispensation an angel from the realms of in- finite wisdom performed the task for one in- stitution, it is pounds to pence that his sug- gestion would meet with disapproval at an- other. Yet his mission would not be in vain if he brought down some general principle of universal application. Is there such prin- ciple? Decidedly, yes. The principle of utility; the selection and purchase of books must be of parity with the character and varieties of instruction given. The curriculum of the minor institutions is very much the same everywhere in our country. It eschews professional and advanced technical training; the book committee need not ponder over expensive technical books soon to be out of date. It demands research work in slight measure; and so the need of costly sets of Transactions and of musty ur- kunden vanishes. But it does encourage study in pure science and the humanities; therefore to these almost all the money must be given. From one-fifth to one-fourth of the in- come should be expended for current periodi- cals, for they are the sources" of the freshest information, most advanced thought and lat- est speculation. The library may not.be able to procure Waldstein's "Argive Heraion," em- bodying in its portly volumes all the detailed results, all the potsherd fragments, of the ex- cavations; but the Journal of Hellenic Stud- ies long ago will have described the import- ant discoveries. The college should not buy newspapers, nor the common magazines, mainly composed of stories, even if they are Poole sets. To be sure, they do not cost much, yet the binding and continuous care entail an aggregate expense which might bet- ter go into periodicals of a higher class. De- pend upon the town library for these, and also for practically all English fiction. Each cur- rent periodical subscription constitutes a mortgage on future income ; the list is certain to grow; therefore over every defunct maga- zine we sing jubilate! Without argument, or elaborate explana- tion, I offer the following scheme of distri- bution of money for the purchase of books in a college library : Group i ; ten units each : 86 PORTLAND CONFERENCE a. Reference, important works of general interest, and filling sets. b. English and comparative literature. c. History, geography, and travel. Group 2 ; five units each : a. Linguistics, Greek and Latin. b. Philosophy, psychology, ethics, religion, and education. c. Economics and sociology. Group 3 ; two units each : a. Modern languages and literatures. b. Politics and jurisprudence. c. Mathematics and astronomy. d. Physics and mechanics. e. Engineering. f. Chemistry and applied chemistry. g. Botany. h. Geology and mineralogy. i. Zoology. In practice it will be found to be a most excellent plan to make special allowances (however small) annually to meet unusual demands in one or more subjects. Such a "curriculum" of expenditures neces- sarily must be modified to conform to local conditions. For instance, if the college makes special effort to prepare its students for the profession of teaching, the subject Education should be brought down into group three, with a separate allotment. Or if it emphasizes its work in the direction of the natural sci- ences, with corresponding strength of instruc- tion and large proportion of students, put a similar proportion of money into books of this character. Frankly abandon the idea of building up a "well-balanced standard" col- lection. I have heard of such libraries, but have never seen one. Indeed, disproportion of books tends toward distinctiveness, and later to distinction. Books "of a feather flock together." Specialization attracts other books of the same kind, encourages specific endowments, and thus relieves tension on funds no small advantage in these days of large output and slight discount. So far as material needs are concerned, the hundred thousand dollar man is as affluent as the billionaire; and the university library with $30,000 for books annually is practically as well off as the institution with $100,000. For in the process of the years it will acquire every book really essential to its purposes, and an occasional call for an incunabulum or rare Bollettino can be met through the generous courtesy of some sister institution. Of the millions of books extant but compara- tively few are of scholarly value or frequent use, and if they were all such, no castle in Spain is large enough to accommodate them. As for the college library, it must be em- boldened to borrow often and without re- luctance ; until, with its own increasing ac- cumulations and richer resources it has at- tained a position approaching independence. When that happy moment arrives, in turn it will impart of its -treasures liberally and ungrudgingly to younger or less fortunate institutions. THE USES OF GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS IN THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY BY LODILLA AMBROSE, Northwestern University Library, Evanston, Illinois OVERNMENT documents present many perplexing problems to the librarian, whether the question be one of collecting, of arranging, or of using them. If the library is limited in means and hence in the number of its staff also, the difficulties are increased. The history of government documents in one such library may furnish serviceable sugges- tions to other librarians working under like restricted conditions. The present narrative covers the years in which a university library grew from a col- lection of 21,000 volumes to one of 58,000 volumes. During this time the hours of opening were increased from 28 to 78 hours a week, the recorded use from 1,660 to 35,000 volumes a year, and the number of persons regularly employed on the staff from one to five. In these years also, as the institution's work of instruction passed out of the text- 'AMBROSE book stage, the library came into living touch with the actual class room work of the uni- versity. Some years before the beginning of this period the library had been made a depository of United States public documents, but there was little in the way of records to show just what the library was supposed to possess of the issues of the Government Printing Office. The brave beginning of a catalog on small cards contained a few puzzling entries of these documents. In a drawer of an old desk was found a package of the lists that the government formerly used in sending shipments to depositories. These lists bore the date of receipt, and were checked to show what volumes had been received. There was some sort of arrangement on the shelves. But the library was in three rooms and a storeroom on the third floor of the main reci- tation building, the shelves were nearly full, and soon the documents had to be piled up on the floor of the storeroom. Ames's "List of congressional documents from the I5th to the 51 st congress . . ." published in 1892, was read and re-read with eagerness. Then volume by volume all the discoverable United States documents were handled, and with well-pointed red pencil a small red check mark was made against the entry of each volume in the "List." For de- partmental publications not given in Ames's "List," brief entries were made on slips the size of the large standard catalog cards, and these were arranged by departments. Then came the days of removal to a new library building and with them the sorting and shelving of the great mass of government publications. Volumes of the sheep-bound set were first separated from those of the cloth-bound sets. Then the sheep-bound set was sorted by congresses, and congress by congress the documents of each were separ- ated into sessions. One session at a time the documents of that session were carefully ar- ranged in series, and each series in the order of volume numbers. In similar fashion, the cloth-bound sets were sorted by departments, then the various sets issued by each depart- ment were separated, and each arranged in the order of volume numbers. The description is brief, but the process filled many days with toil. The organization of the entire library was too rudimentary for a general shelf-list to be possible. It was decided to use Ames's "List" as the shelf-list for United States documents, and they were arranged on the shelves in the same order that they were entered in the "List." In each department, documents that were not given by Ames were placed at the end. With constant reference to the "List" already checked with care, the documents went slowly on the shelves, space being estimated and left for volumes still lacking. Further progress in making United States documents accessible came with the publica- tion in 1895 of Crandall's "Checklist of public documents." This "Checklist" assigned serial numbers to the congressional documents from the beginning of the 15th congress. As it was fuller than Ames's "List," the record by red check marks was transferred to two copies of it, one for the librarian and one for the public desk ; and each copy was bound with a bunch of blank leaves at the end of the congressional documents and with the pages relating to* departmental reports interleaved so that the record could be continued in the same form. The serial numbers were put on the backs of the volumes of the sheepbound set with stub pen and black ink, until the point was reached in the set where the documents were sent from Washington with this serial number on the back as part of the lettering. In the ultimate organization of the library now in progress, the sheep-bound set will be kept together and the volumes referred to by a call-number composed of U. S. and the serial number. The departmental publications will be classified according to their subject matter. The pamphlet issues of the Government Printing Office have had the same care as those received in bound form; and the same methods of checking and shelving have been applied to pamphlets and to bound volumes. The value of a document is not necessarily indicated by its outer form. Some of these pamphlets do not appear later in bound sets, for example, Experiment Station Record, the Monthly Weather Re-view, and the valuable bulletins of the Department of Agriculture. A bibliography of the sugar beet which was in use in the economics seminar all last year 88 PORTLAND CONFERENCE was one 'of these unpretentious looking bul- letins. Some documents of foreign governments have been added. Aside from Hansard's "Parliamentary debates," these are chiefly special reports purchased for the sake of the subject treated, and these reports will be classified according to their subjects. Han- sard, of course, is kept together as one set. For state and municipal publications there was no printed checklist to aid the librarian. The slip of standard size was used in listing these also. The expert cataloger of docu- ments will think it a mongrel entry, but it served, and serves, its purpose. The name of the state was used as a heading, and the significant word in the name of the de- partment, or the subject it dealt with, was taken as a subhead. On the second line was given the actual name of the department with the title of the executive officer in parenthe- sis ; then followed the list of reports possessed by the library, both the number of the report and the year being given. Take, for example, Illinois. Education [first line], Superintend- ent of Public Instruction [second line] ; Illi- nois. Labor [first line], Bureau of Labor Statistics (secretary), [second line]. Under each state the slips were arranged alphabeti- cally by the subheads. The slips became shelf-list as well as catalog, and the state documents were arranged on the shelves al- phabetically by states with subarrangement under each state as indicated by the order of the slips. In the final classification of the library the state documents will cease to be shelved together as a collection, and each set of reports will be classified according to its subject. To aid in shelf arrangement before complete cataloging is possible, part of the call-number will be put on the books. The Decimal Classification is being used; so, for example, the partial number for the set of re- ports of the Illinois Bureau of Labor Statis- tics will be 331 1. Similarly all reports of bu- reaus of labor will find a place with the other books on labor questions. For municipal publications a plan similar to that for state publications was adopted, and slips and documents were arranged al- phabetically by the name of the city. How was the collection of government documents numbering now thousands of vol- umes secured? How is it increased? To speak first of federal documents : before the library was made a depository, various documents came in as part of some gift, or were sent under the frank of some member of Congress. As a depository the library has received certain sets of current publications specified by law to be distributed to all de- positories, as well as certain other volumes from members of Congress and from depart- ments. After Ames's "List" had been checked in red to show exactly what the library already had, a second copy of the same "List" was checked in blue to show what the library did not have, but desired to have to complete its sets, and this copy was sent to the Superintendent of Docu- ments. Out of the duplicates collected by him, many of the desired volumes were sent to the library. When his resources had been exhausted, personal letters were sent to the several departments and bureaus asking for such of their publications as were listed by Ames, but not owned by the library. Finally, certain documents were requested of the rep- resentative of the congressional district and the senators of the state. All duplicate .federal .documents received either from private gifts or by errors in send- ing have been regularly returned to the Su- perintendent of Documents, by mail, carriage free, under franks furnished by him. In this way the librarian has co-operated in maintaining the central supply of dupli- cates from which other libraries may fill gaps in their sets. One exception needs to be made to this statement. In the case of documents dealing directly with the subject included in some course of instruction, such as the reports of the United States Geologi- cal Survey, or the reports of the Department of Commerce and Labor, an effort has been made to secure second sets. That is, if addi- tional copies have come in as gifts, they have been retained for this purpose, but second copies have not been sought from the gov- ernment. This is looking toward the future, toward the growing needs of large classes, toward the coming development of the uni- versity with its multiplication of buildings and demand for seminar and laboratory col- lections. The second set may be charged permanently to the special collection, and the first set be held at the central library for the reference use of all. Documents received in regular course from the Superintendent of Documents are not ac- knowledged beyond the signature required in the mail carrier's book of registered mail. All documents received from departments, representatives, or senators are acknowledged on the regular form used by the library for all gifts, the letter form for bound volumes and the postal card form for pamphlets. As for state documents: a miscellaneous aggregation of these had been received from various sources. The sets were in all degrees of incompleteness. The list of state docu- ments in the "subjects" volume of the "Ameri- can catalogue" for 1884-1890 was taken as a basis of correspondence, and letters were written to state officers asking for their publi- cations. The responses varied all the way from the unopened letter returned with the inscription, "No- such person," to sets of im- portant reports running through a series of years. If there were time for it, the whole state list would be scrutinized every year to see whether current reports had been received. Many a state office keeps no permanent mail- ing list, the edition of its report is soon dis- tributed, and it cannot be obtained unless ap- plied for early. If a report is received and it is noted that the preceding one has not been sent, a request for the one lacking is made in the letter acknowledging the other. A few state documents have been secured from other libraries by exchange. Thus far there" has been no money available to purchase the vol- umes needed to complete sets. Municipal documents were needed chiefly by the department of economics. A few lead- ing American cities were designated by the head of the department, and the request for documents was sent to the mayor of each of these cities. The municipal list also needs yearly scrutiny. Collected, listed, arranged on the shelves how shall these documents be used in the work of the university? Adequate catalog- ing in the public card catalog would go far toward answering this query. But in this library, as doubtless in many others, the staff is too small and too hard pressed to accom- plish this. For here with but few helpers the librarian is endeavoring to keep up with the cataloging of current accessions, and to make some headway in the permanent organi- zation of the library. Let it be said that the first object could be only partially attained, and the second not even attempted without the printed cards of the Library of Congress. In view of the present trend in the matter of printed cards, it seems as if the time must come when some government agency will cat- alog these American public documents by means of printed cards, probably duplicated as a bibliography in book form. A beginning has been made with the printed cards now issued for documents currently distributed to depositories, and with the cards issued for the publications of the Department of Agri- culture. A great help in the practical administration of federal documents would be a new edition of Crandall's "Checklist," now ten years old. This new edition could bring the list of con- gressional documents down to date, and also the various departmental sets. A larger num- ber of the special publications and compila- tions of the departments might well be in- cluded. Such matter as the bulletins of the Department of Agriculture would be more conveniently used for checking purposes if printed in more open form. Some sugges- tions about the use of existing indexes would be of value. The quarto "Table and annotated index" in three volumes referred to below has not taken the place of this handy octavo volume for purposes of checking and quick reference. Brief reference may be made to the litera- ture of public documents. For a list of the chief indexes and checklists of government publications of the various sorts, the inquirer is referred to Miss Kroeger's "Guide to the study and use of reference books."* In 1904 the Superintendent of Documents (L. C. Fer- rell) issued from his office the first volume of *Kroeger, Alice Bertha. Guide to the study and use of reference books, a manual for librarians, teachers, and students. Issued by the Publishing Board of the American Library Association. Boston, Hcughton, Mifflin & Co., 1902. PORTLAND CONFERENCE "Bibliography of United States documents," that is, "List of publications of the Agricul- ture Department, 1862-1902, with analytical index" [compiled by William Leander PostJ. It is a painstaking piece of work in a difficult field, and is of prime importance in using the publications of the Department of Agricul- ture. Similar lists are to be issued for the publications of the other departments. The index of the Library Journal shows re- ports of the American Library Association committee on government documents ; articles on bibliographies of documents, on bills re- garding them, on cataloging them, on a clear- ing house for duplicates, on the distribution of documents, on want of system in municipal, state and federal documents; and one article is entitled "Government publication muddle." Miss Hasse has shown at length in her arti- cles the value of these documents and the difficulties attendant on their use. In one place she has called it a "vexed question." Her "Handbook for the cataloger" * of United States government publications will help to surmount some of these difficulties, if you have the cataloger. Public Libraries con- tains some representative articles on the gen- eral topic. In the Publications of the American Statistical Association (new series, vol. 7, pp. 40-57) is found a most practical article entitled, "Aids in the use of government pub- lications," by the late Lucius Page Lane, of the Boston Public Library. This ought cer- tainly to be reproduced in some form that would make it more accessible to the many librarians who are struggling alone with the difficult document problem. Another prac- tical publication is the pamphlet entitled "U. S. government documents in small li- braries," by J. I. Wyer, Jr., the second edi- tion of which has just been published by the Wisconsin Free Library Commission. But what has been done with "things as they are?" The indexes for United States documents, except those for recent con- gresses, are unsatisfactory and hard to use. * Hasse, A. R. United States government publica- tions, a handbook for the cataloguer. Boston, Lib- rary Bureau, 1902-03. Parts i and 2, parts 3 and 4 to follow. Indexes to individual volumes and sets often share the same qualities. Yet they must be used "as they are," and the attendant must look up in the index, and search on the shelves, and look again and search again trying to find what the reader needs. CrandalFs "Checklist" may often be used in hunting for documents. In the right- hand column of the pages that enumerate the congressional documents are brief titles of important reports. For instance, a report on the Nicaragua canal, said to have been made sometime in the eighties, was found by run- ning over these titles. The list of explora- tions and surveys gives a clew through the name of the explorer. If a second copy of a departmental report is needed, or if a certain volume is lacking in the departmental set, the index to congressional documents in Ap- pendix 3 locates it in that set. To save time in reference work, all the lists in the appen- dixes were checked in red as well as the main body of the "Checklist." The "Tables of and annotated index to the congressional series of United States pub- lic documents," prepared by the Superintend- ent of Documents and issued in 1902, has been so used as to be of great service. The tables in the front part have been checked to cor- respond with the similar tables in Crandall's "Checklist." In the index wherever reference is made to a report which runs through a series of years, the record has been continued on the wide margin, giving the year of the report and the serial number. The "Index" now issued for the documents and reports of each session of Congress is the "consolidated index" provided for by the act of Jan. 12, 1895. F r convenience in use, the list of the documents of the session given in the back has been checked to show what the library has received. The "Catalogue of the public documents" now issued for the publications of each Congress is the "compre- hensive index" provided for by the act ap- proved January 12, 1895. Both the "Index" and the "Catalogue" are prepared under the supervision of the Superintendent of Docu- ments. The "Catalogue" includes "all docu- ments and reports submitted to [each] Con- gress without regard to the time when they AMBROSE were printed; and in addition thereto all pub- lications of the executive departments, bu- reaus, and offices of the government, issued during the two fiscal years." This "Catalogue" is so good and serviceable a piece of work that it is a pleasure to direct special atten- tion to it. Some things come by hunting and by hand- ling the documents themselves. It was a real find in the early days when the librarian dis- covered that the appendix to the Congres- sional Record for each session contained a collection of speeches made in Congress dur- ing that session. But many calls for these documents are so definite that they are as easily located as any other books. The refer- ences in the bibliographical lists prepared by Mr. Griffin of the Library of Congress are opening up the document material on many topics of general current interest. The federal documents have entered into university work in more ways than the unini- tiated dream of. The demands on the con- gressional series are as varied as its contents. One professor whose department covered po- litical science, international law, and diplom- acy, picked out 250 volumes from this series for the use of his classes, as- well as the re- ports issued by the Department of State. The debates and proceedings of Congress under whatever title, the American archives, and the American state papers, and selected volumes from the congressional series have furnished original sources for the seminar in American history, as also the statutes at large and col- lections of treaties and international conven- tions. Students in economics have worked in the same territory. Whole sets of reports issued by the Treasury Department have been in the economics seminar for months at a time. The "Official records of the War of the Rebellion" have served the history people. The reports of the Bureau of Education are consulted by many, and are in constant de- mand for the work of the department of edu- cation. The set of the last census is in the reading room with other reference books. Many volumes of the reports of the Geologi- cal Survey have been taken to the geological laboratory. The Department of Agriculture furnishes material to students of chemistry, zoology, and botany. The Department of Commerce and Labor, the Civil Service Com- mission, the Interstate Commerce Commis- sion the reports of all of these have been used for investigations in economics. The Smithsonian Institution contributes working material to many sciences. And the scientific men of the university are eager in their praise of the scientific work of all kinds now being conducted and reported on by different agen- cies of the national government. State documents have been used by sub- ject and more by the department of econo- mics than any other. When the economics seminar was studying fire insurance for a year, the insurance reports of all the states were placed in the seminar room, and special pains taken then to complete these reports. The reports of the state geological surveys are indispensable to the department of ge- ology. The department of education finds much working material in the state reports on education. When the inter-collegiate debate was on a phase of the labor question, all the reports of state labor bureaus as well as those of {he federal Department of Labor were brought together in the reading room for the entire summer vacation. City docu- ments came into use when problems of city government were being studied. Public documents pay well for the labor of collecting and caring for them. It is not too soon to begin systematic work on them, even if the library is small and the staff limited in number. The uses of documents just indi- cated are from actual working conditions, and they are drawn chiefly from undergradu- ate work. What is true of their value in un- dergraduate activities is still more true of graduate investigations and the researches of the professors. Even the institution that has now no graduate courses should give at- tention to collecting documents, for this ad- vanced work may be developed in the future. Documents are sources, and as such essential in a university library where real work is- done. What has been said about the use of government documents in university libraries applies in large measure to all city libraries that pay any attention to genuine reference work. PORTLAND CONFERENCE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC DOCUMENTS BY ADELAIDE R. HASSE, Chairman To the American Library Association: "VfOUR committee on public documents re- spectfully submits the customary report on current legislation and publication: AMERICAN FEDERAL DOCUMENTS LEGISLATION The only measures affecting the issue of public documents before the s8th Congress, sitting in its third session, are the Perkins bill and certain provisions of the deficiency bill for 1905. The Perkins bill (H. R. 15225), introduced April 11, 1904, was ap- proved Jan. 19, 1905 (33, S{. L., 610). It con- cerns the issue of private bills and concurrent resolutions. A tendency tpwards reaction against mis- cellaneous public printing is evidenced in two provisions of the deficiency bill for 1905, ap- proved March 3, 1905 (33, St. L., 1214). They are, respectively, the prohibition of the print- ing of books or documents not having to do with the ordinary business transactions of the executive departments, unless such printing shall have been expressly authorized by Con- gress; and the authorization of a joint com- mission of inquiry into public printing and . binding. Following is a list of statutes in force af- fecting the act of Jan. 12, 1905 : 1896. Feb. 7. Joint Res. To supply the Dept. of State with documents. (29 St. L.: 463.) Feb. 25. Joint Res. Extending pro- vision of Sec. 79, act of Jan. 12, 1895, so as to include monographs, bulletins and reports of the Geological Survey published in 1894 and succeeding years. (29 St. L. : 465.) Mch. 13. Joint Res. To print the Annual Report of the general supt. of the life saving service. (29 St. L. : 466.) Mch. 19. Joint Res. Directing the public printer to supply the Senate and House libraries each with 10 addi- tional copies of the Congressional Rec- ord. (29 St. L. : 468.) Apr. 20. Joint Res. Authorizing the public printer to print the annual re- port of the supt. of the U. S. coast and geodetic survey in quarto form and to bind it in one volume; amend- ing par. 7, sec. 73, act of Jan. 12, 1895. (29 St. L.: 471.) Apr. 30. Joint Res. To provide for the proper distribution of the publica- cation entitled "Messages and papers of the Presidents." (29 St. L. : 472.) 1897. Feb. 17. Joint Res. To furnish daily Congressional Record to members of the press. (29 St. L. : 700.) Je. 4. Sundry civil bill for 1898 (time for distribution of public docu- ments of members re-elected). (30 St. L. : 62.) 1898. Mch. 15. General apprn. bill for 1899 (sec. 4), authorizing superintendent of documents to sell revised statutes, statutes-at-large, etc. (30 St. L. : 3i6.) 1900. Mch. 21. Joint Res. Authorizing printing of extra copies of the publi- cation of the office of Naval Intelli- gence, Navy Dept. (31 St. L. : 713.) Mch. 26. Joint Res. To amend jt. res. v to furnish the Congressional Record to members of the press . . . approved Feb. 17, 1897- (31 St. L.,: 713.) Je 6. Sundry civil bill for 1901 (ad- ditional printing of certain volumes of Rebellion Record authorized). (31 . St. L.: 632.) 1901. Mch. 2. Joint Res. Concerning the printing of additional copies of the annual report of the geological survey. (31 St. L. : 1465.) Mch. 2. Joint Res. To regulate the distribution of public documents to the Library of Congress, for its own use and for international exchange. (31 St. L. : 1464.) 1902. Je. 28. Sundry civil bill for 1903 (the Librarian of Congress authorized to furnish card indexes and other publi- cations and to charge for them a price to cover cost of publication plus 10 per cent. (32 St. L. : 480.) Je. 30. Joint Res. Providing for bind- ing and distribution of public docu- ments held in custody of the superin- tendent of documents unbound, upon orders of Senators, Representatives, delegates and officers of Congress. (32 St. L.: 746.) Jly. I. Deficiency bill for 1902 (con- gressional directory delivered 10 Sen- HASSE 93 ators and Representatives for distri- bution, to be bound in cloth). (32 St. L.: 583.) 1903. Jan. 30. An act to amend an act ap- proved Mch. 2, 1905, relating to public printing (increased allotment of the Congressional Record). (32 St. L. : 786.) 1904. Jan. 30. An act to amend an act en- titled, etc. (act of Jan. 12, 1895; con- gressional franks may be perforated). .(33 St. L.: 9.) Apr. ,6. An act to amend sec. 68, ch. 23, of v. 28 of statutes-at-large .(quota of congressional documents to be de- livered to sergeant-at-arms of the House). (33 St. L. : 159). Apr. 28. An act to amend an act en- titled, etc. (act of Jan. 12, 1895; al- lotment of laws and of official regis- ter). (33 St. L.: 542.) 1905. Jan. ii. An act to amend an act re- lating to public printing, etc. (act of Jan. 12, 1895 ; Perkins' bill re-issue of private bills, etc.) (33 St. L. : 610.) CATALOGING It is reported (L. J., Feb., 1905, p. 73) that the committee for the revision of the A. L. A. catalog rules has reached a decision in the matter of corporate entry. It is this entry which affects the cataloging of public docu- ments more generally than any other. The text of rules 8 to 12, covering departmental entry, personal author entry, laws and treat- ies, as resolved by the committee, is given on p. 74, L. J., Feb., 1905. In the supplementary rules on cataloging, published by the Library of Congress, the only item affecting public documents is rule 8, relating to Treaties and negotiations with foreign powers. CARD ENTERPRISES In February, 1904, the Superintendent of Documents began the distribution of printed cards of current federal documents to depos- itary libraries. At first full sets of cards were issued, but owing to the increased labor involved it was found necessary to discon- tinue the distribution of subject cards. It is not likely that subject cards will be distrib- uted until Congress shall make an adequate appropriation by which this work may be rendered feasible. Trie library of the Agri- cultural Department continues to print cards for the publications of the department up to May i, 1905. There are over 5000 cards in a complete set, including author and subject, of these agricultural index cards. Cards for the Year-book and for the Farmers' bulletins are kept arranged in separate series, in order that they may be sent to small libraries which need and desire no other cards. The cards are distributed gratuitously to the libraries of agricultural colleges and experiment sta- tions and to those public libraries which agree to preserve them and arrange them so that they may be accessible. 250 sets are printed on "P" size and 150 sets on "I" size, the . latter for agricultural colleges and experiment stations. The A. L. A. continues to publish catalog cards for the Massachusetts Public Docu- ments, for the British Parliamentary papers, and index cards for certain official serials. INSTRUCTION Without exception each library school gives some instruction in the cataloging and use of public documents. N. Y. State Library School During 1905 two lectures were given by Corinne Bacon on the elementary cataloging of public documents, 10 hours of preparation being required. Ada Alice Jones gave one lecture on advanced cataloging, requiring three hours of preparation. Some documents are also cataloged by students in practice work required for the state library. James I. Wyer, Jr., gave five lectures on elementary reference work, requiring 10 hours of prep- aration. It is proposed to print these lec- tures as a library school bulletin. D. V. R. Johnston gave seven lectures on advanced reference work. W. S. Biscoe and R. H. Whitten each gave one lecture, two hours of preparation being required. In all 17 lectures were given. Pratt Institute Library School Ten lessons, or 20 hours, are devoted, in the second term, to public documents, after the class-room course has been completed. The first three lessons are given up to an outline of the government of the U. S. and of state and municipal government in relation to their publications. A list of required reading is also given to students in connection with this course. Gov- 94 PORTLAND CONFERENCE ernment publications of foreign countries are only touched upon incidentally. Throughout the second and third terms the students have problems given them in the reference work which take them to the government docu- ments and give them practice in the use of the various indexes and catalogs of documents. In the third term they have more practice in the cataloging of all kinds of government publication received by the library. University of Illinois Library School During 1904-5, 18 students took the course in public documents the first semester. Two hours' work a week was given by the stu- dents. The work comprised attendance at lectures, cataloging, reference work and oral quizzes. A continuation of the course, in- cluding more of the departmental publica- tions, state and municipal documents, was of- fered the second semester, but was elected by so small a number that it was not deemed advisable to present it. Drexel Institute Library Department On May 16, 1905, the director wrote : "We have not much to report. I have just re- turned from a visit to Washington and have not time to write it out now, but will do so in a day or two." Nothing further has been received. Library School Western Reserve University The course in public documents at trie Li- brary School of Western Reserve University consisted of 10 lectures, and was intended to suggest methods for securing and caring for U. S. documents. An effort was made to familiarize students with the documents through the study of the methods employed in printing, binding, in- dexing and distributing these publications. Practical problems were worked out, each student being given one shipment of docu- ments to check, accession, catalog and pre- pare for the shelves. Aids needed in working with documents v/ere considered and the best methods for or- ganizing document collections were studied. No effort was made to study the subject from the bibliographical side, as this will be taken up in a more advanced course. (Signed) MARGARET MANN, Instructor. Simmons College The course in documents was open to third year students, and to those holding college degrees, and was attended by 20 students. It consisted of eight lectures devoted entirely to U. S. federal documents, state, local and foreign documents not being considered. Topics discussed included the publications of Congress and the general indexes and checklists, methods of printing and distribu- tion, including varieties of editions, and pub- lications of departments. Problems were given requiring the use of the various in- dexes, and the cataloging of a selection of documents, including congressional docu- ments and reports, annual reports of depart- ments and separate documents from depart- ment series was required. Students were given the opportunity to be- come familiar with samples of various sorts of documents, a selection of about 250 pieces having been sent to the college by the Super- intendent of Documents. The course was intended for librarians of small libraries, and attempted to give such a, survey of the series of federal documents as should enable them (i) to understand the place in the series of the separate documents likely to be found in such libraries; (2) to select and obtain such documents as are suited to the needs of small libraries and to catalog and use the same. NEW OFFICES While not a new office, having been estab- lished under the act creating the Bureau of Commerce and Labor, the commissioner of corporations issued his first report for the year ending June 30, 1904, in December, 1904. By provision of the army appropriation bill, approved April 30, 1904 (33 St. L. : 262) the former adjutant general's office and the rec- ord and pension office are to be known as the military secretary's office. Among the serials affected by the merger are the following: Army list, mo. no. 55, is the first number is- sued under the new arrangement. List of recruiting stations, qr. Military commands and posts. Rept. on militia of U. S., ann. ist issued Dec., 1904. Official army register, ann. Roster of organized militia. HASSE 95 NEW BOOKS Among the more important documents is- sued during the year the following are noted : JOURNALS of the Continental Congress, 1774- 89; edited from original records in the Li- brary of Congress by Worthington C. Ford. v. 1-3. Wash., 1904-1905. Large 8 Mo. Cat., 1904, 655; 1905, 308. Not in serial docs. Published by the Man- uscripts Division, Library of Congress, W. C. Ford, chief. The paging for the matter of each year continues regardless of the number of volumes. The volume number for the set is continuous. The publication is embellished with facsimile text, and augmented by bib- liographical notes. Collation of original prints may be found, together with reprints, in Ford's Bibliography of the Continental Congress, and in Frieden- wald's note on the Journal in Report of American Historical Association, 1896, p. 83. Suggested entries : Author, U. S. Congress, Continental ; Ford, editor entry. COMPILATION of treaties in force (1904). Wash., 1904. 996 p. 8 (serial no. 4622). Five hundred copies printed for the use of the Senate. This edition, which supersedes that of 1898, printed as H. Doc. 276, 55th Congress, 3d session, was prepared under the direction of the committee on foreign rela- tions by Wm. M. Malloy, and was submitted for examination to the State Deparfment be- fore being printed. The volume includes all international instruments, except claim proto- cols, to which the United States has been a party, and which are in force on April 28, 1904. The text in full of the Hague conven- tions is found in the volume. Mo. Cat., 1905: ii. Suggested entry: Author, U. S. Treaties. JOURNAL of the Confederate States of Amer- ica, 1861-1865. v. 1-2. Wash., 1904. 8 (serial no. 4610-11). v. i cpntains the journal of the 1-5 ses- sions of the Provisional Congress, and of the constitutional convention ; also, in an appen- dix, the provisional and permanent constitu- tions, v. 2 contains the Senate journal of the ist and 2d sessions of the permanent con- gress. Mo. Cat., 1905 : 89, 302. Suggested entry: Author, Confederate States of America, Congress. LES combatants frangais de la guerre amer- icaine 1778-1783. Listes etablies d'apres les documents authentiques deposes aux ar- chives du ministere de la guerre. Paris, 1903. (i) xn (2), 327 p. 10 pi. f (serial no. 4595). 4000 copies, in addition to the usual num- ber, ordered printed. The volume was pre- pared under the auspices of the French min- ister of foreign affairs. Through the efforts of the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, W. S. Logan, president, the issue of the volume by the American federal gov- ernment was secured. Suggested entries: Title; Author, France, Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres. COMPILATION of acts, treaties and proclama- tions relating to insular and military af- fairs, Mch. 4, i897-Mch., 1903. Jan. 15, 1904. xxv, 472 p. 8 (serial no. 4597). Published by the Bureau of Insular Af- fairs, War Dept. Mo. Cat., 1904: 559. Suggested entry: Author, U. S. Insular Affairs Bureau. PATENT and trade-mark laws of Spanish- American republics, Brazil and Haiti ; re- vised to Oct., 1904. 1904- (1905). 343 P- 8 (serial no. 4672). Mo. Cat., 1905 : 214. An edition in Spanish had been printed earlier, see Mo. Cat., 1904: 528, and an edition in English without the congressional number was printed in Dec., 1904, see Mo. Cat., 1904: 644. The appendix in the English and Spanish edition varies. Suggested entry : Author, International Bu- reau of the American Republics, Title. RECIPROCITY treaties and agreements between the United States and foreign countries since 1850; from (monthly) summary of commerce and finance, Aug., 1904. 1904. in, 527-558 p. 4 (will appear in serial docs, of the 3d session s8th Congress, the index for which is in press). Mo. Cat, 1904: 552. Suggested entry : Author, U. S. Treaties. COMPILATION of annual naval appropiation laws from 1883 to 1903, including provis- ions for the construction of all vessels of the "new navy." Compiled by Pitman Pul sifer, clerk committee on naval affairs, Senate. 1904. 447 p. 8 (serial no. 4596). Mo. Cat., 1904: 614. P. 437-38j tables of naval vessels authorized by acts of Congress, 1883-1903, showing type, displacement, speed, mean draft, contract price of hull machinery, year and congress authorized. On p. 442 there is a paragraph showing the history of apprns. for Holland submarine boats. Suggested entries: Author, U. S. Statutes, Pulsifer, compiler entry. TREATIES and conventions with or concerning China and Korea, 1894-1904, together with 9 6 PORTLAND CONFERENCE various state papers and documents affect- ing foreign interests ; edited by William W. Rockhill. Wash., 1904. v. 555 p. 5 maps, large 8. Not in serial docs. 500 copies only printed. This compilation is intended primarily as a continuation of Sir Edward Hertslet's "Treaties, etc., between Great Britain and China, and between China and foreign pow- ers," Lond., 1896. 2v. 8. The Rockhill compilation includes, with some exceptions, which are cited in the preface, the treaties, conventions, agreements, protocols, conces- sion declarations, etc., made by China and Korea since 1894. Mo. Cat., 1904: 557. Suggested entry: Title; Rockhill, editor entry; Author, China. Treaties, do. Korea. Treaties. DECLARATION of Independence; story of its adoption, with biographies and portraits of signers and of secretary of Congress ; by William H. Michael. Wash., 1904 (1905). vin, 99 p., i il. 57 por., 7 pi., 5 facs., 6 p. facs., large 8. Not in serial docs. Mo. Cat., 1905 : 263. Printed pursuant to provision of deficiency bill for 1905, which directs that 540 copies be delivered to the Senate, 1170 to the House and the residue of the edition to the Depart- ment of State. No further copies of the publication are to be printed unless specially ordered by Congress. Suggested entries: Title, U. S. Congress, Continental; Michael, editor entry. CENSUS of the Philippine Islands, 1903. Wash., 1904-1905. 4 v., 8. Not in serial docs. Mo. Cat., 1905 : 268 ; 302. Suggested entries: Author, Philippine Isl- ands (Amer. occupation). Census Bureau: Title. HONDURAS, geographical sketch, etc. (with bibliography). Wash., 1904. 252 p. 15 pis., 2 maps. Will appear in serial nos. of 3d session, s8th Congress, the index for which is in press. Mo. Cat, 1905: 264. Suggested entries : Same as below. BOLIVIA, geographical sketch, natural re- sources, laws, economic conditions, actual development, prospects of future growth (with bibliography). Wash., 1904. 214 p. 19 pl, 8. Not in serial docs. These regional mono- graphs were formerly printed as numbered "Handbooks" of the Bureau of American Republics. This series has been discontinued, and the former handbooks now appear as in- dependent issues. Mo. Cat., 1904: 644.. Suggested entries : Author, International Bureau of American Republics; Title. VENEZUELA, geographical sketch, etc. (with bibliography). Wash., 1904. 608 p. I por., 34 pis., I map. Will appear in serial nos. of 3d session, 58th Congress, the index for which is in press. Mo. Cat, 1905 : 264. Suggested entries : Same as above. CHILDREN'S courts in the United States ; their origin, development and results ; reports prepared for the International Prison Com- mission, Samuel J. Barrows, comr. Wash., 1904. xvn, 203 p. 8 (serial no. 4676). Mo. Cat, 1905: 215. Suggested entries: Author, Barrows; Pub- lisher or official author, International Prison Commission; Title. Hearings Committee on the District of Columbia (House). Report of special subcommittee as to pro- gress of work on Washington Aqueduct filtration plant; with hearings (1904). 20 p. 8. (Mo. Cat, 1905: 35.) Not in serial docs. Hearings, Jan. 16, 1905, on H. R. 11811 and 12303, to amend code of laws for district regarding corporations. ,1905. 30 p. 8. (Mo. Cat, 1905: 35.) Not in serial docs. Hearings, Jan., 1905, on amdmt. to H. 9166 (that within District, 8 street railway tick- ets shall be sold for 8 cents). 1905. 22 p. 8. (Mo. Cat, 1905: 160.) Not in serial docs. Committee on Election of President, Vice- President, and Representatives in Con- gress (House). Hearing, Dec., 1904, on H. 12042, to protect women citizens of U. S. to vote for mem- bers of the House of Representatives. 1905. ii p. 8. (Mo. Cat., 1905: 242.) To be included in the serial nos. of the 3d session, 58th Con- gress, the index for which is in press. Committee on Indian Affairs (Senate). Hearing, Feb., 1905, on H. 17474, making apprns. for the Indian Dept, 1906. 1905. 31 P. 8. (Mo. Cat, 1905: 121.) Not in serial docs. HASSE 97 Hearings, Jan., 1905, on H. 9, to open for settlement land in Kiowa, Comanche and Apache reservations, Okla. 1905. 28 p. 8. (Mo. Cat., 1905: 121.) Not in serial docs. Hearing before subcommittee, Jan.-Feb., 1905, on H. 17474, making apprns. for Indian Dept., 1906. 1905. 174 p. 8. (Mo. Cat, 1905: 121.) Not in serial docs. Committee on 'Interstate Commerce (Senate). Hearings, Mch., 1904- Jan., 1905 ; water brakes. 1905. 101 p. 8. (Mo. Cat, 1905: ii.) Not in serial docs. Supplemental hearings, Dec., iox>4-Jan., 1905; safety appliances. 1904 (1905). 75 p. 8. (Mo. Cat, 1905: n.) Not in serial docs. Hearings, Dec., loxn-Jan., 1905, on S. 2439, further to define duties and powers of the Interstate Commerce Commission. 1905. 50 p. 8. (Mo. Cat., 1905 : n.) Not in serial docs. Committee on Interstate and Foreign Com- merce (House). Hearing, Dec., 1904, on H. 10431 ... to amend interstate commerce law (stmt. of E. P. Bacon). 1904. 28 p. 8. (Mo. Cat, 1905: 36.) Same, Jan. 6, 1905. 1905. 18 p. (ib.) Not in serial docs. Hearings on bills to amend interstate com- merce act, etc. 1905. 760 p. 8. (Mo. Cat, 1905: 283.) To be included in the serial documents of the 3d session, 58th Congress, the index for which is in press. Committee on Irrigation of Arid Lands (House). Hearings, Jan.-Feb., 1905, relating to pro- jects for irrigation of arid lands under na- tional irrigation act, and irrigation investi- gations of Agricultural Dept. 1905. 159 p. 8. (Mo. Cat, 1905: 243.) To be included in the serial documents of the 3d session, s8th Congress, the index for which is in press. Committee on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries (House). Hearings, Jan., 1905, on H. 7298; abolishment of compulsory pilotage (1905). 52 p. 8. (Mo. Cat., 1905: 185.) Not in serial docs. Committee on Military Affairs (House). Military Academy apprn. bill, statement of A. L. Mills on H. 17984, making apprns. for Military Academy, 1906. (1905.) 35 p. 8. (Mo. Cat., 1905: 61.) Not in serial docs. Hearings, on increase of Ordnance and Med- ical departments, Jan., 1905, on S. 5166, to increase efficiency of Ordnance Dept., and S. 4838 to increase efficiency of Medical Dept. 1905. 31 p. 8. (Mo. Cat, 1905: 61.) Not in serial docs. Hearings, Jan., 1905, on H. 79, to reorganize corps of dental surgeons attached to Med- ical Dept. (1905). 21 p. addenda, 8 p. 8. (Mo. Cat, 1905: 186.) Not in serial docs. Hearing, Feb., 1905, on S. 4838, to increase efficiency of Medical Dept. Stmt. of L. L. Seaman (1905). 15 p. 8. (Mo. Cat, 1905: 186.) Not in serial docs. Hearings, Dec., 1904, on H. 17473, making apprns. for the army for 1906. (1904-) 170 p. 8. (Mo. Cat., 1905: 61.) Not in serial docs. Committee on Privileges and Elections (Senate). Proceedings x in matter of Reed Smoot, Sen. from Utah, to hold his seat. 1904. v. 2, 31027. 775 p. 8. (Mo. Cat, 1905: 33-) Not in serial docs. Committee on Ways and Means (House). Hearings, Jan.-Feb., 1905, on H. 17752, to amend act to provide revenue for Philip- pine Is.; duties on Philippine products. 1905. 320 p. 8. (Mo. Cat, 1905: 196.) Not in serial docs. Hearing, Jan., 1905, on H. 14782, for relief of William Lavahan & Son. 1905. 7 p. 8. (Mo. Cat, 1905: 196.) Hearing, Feb., 1905, on H. 18195, to revise and amend tariff laws of the Philippine Archipelago. 1905. 69 p. 8. (Mo. Cat, 1905: 196.) Not in serial docs. Bibliographies, etc. Rules for a dictionary catalog; by Charles A. Cutter, ed. 4. Wash., 1904. 173 p. 8. Reviewed in L. L, Jan., 1905, p. 42-43 ; Public Libraries, Jan., 1905, p. 14. 9 8 PORTLAND CONFERENCE Guide to the archives of the government of the U. S. in Washington; by C. H. Van Tyne and W. G. Leland. Published by the Carnegie Institution. Wash., 1904. 14, 214 p. 8. Reviewed in L. ]., Feb., 1905. p. 99-100. List of bibliographies contained in U. S. public documents, June, ioo3-May, 1904. App. to report of committee on public doc- uments, A. L. A., submitted at St. Louis Conference, 1904. (L. J., May, 1905, p. 287- 288.) Catalog of the Library of the Department of Justice to Sept. i, 1904 ; by James A. Finch, libn. Wash., 1904. 1135 p. 8. Catalog is divided into three parts : the general index, the subject index, and the list of publications of the U. S. government. Parts I and 2 correspond in form to that ordinarily found in practically all catalogs of law books. An innovation useful to all librarians having the care of American state publications is the manner of listing American session laws. Not only are the laws which the library has listed by sessions, but those lacking are in- dicated in their proper place by using a body of type different from that used for those in the library. Part 3 comprises only U. S. fed- eral issues. It is arranged by departments, and adopts the notation used for the library of the Superintendent of Documents. That part of the notation applied to the Agricul- tural Department has been published in the index issued by the Superintendent of Docu- ments during the past year. In this catalog is published for the first time the entire nota- tion so far represented by the collection of the Department of Justice. List of publications of the Agriculture De- partment, 1862-1902, with analytical index. Prepared in the office of the Superintendent of Documents. Wash., 1904. 623 p. 8. (Bibliography of U. S. public documents, Department list, no. I.) Reviewed in L. J., Jan., 1905, p. 53. List of publications of the Documents Office, U. S. A. (In L. J., 1904. p. 597.) Accessions to Navy Dept. Library, July-Dec., 1904. Semi-annual. 32 1. List of books, pamphlets and maps received (by the Bureau of Rolls and Library), Jan.- June, 1904. n. s. no. 29-30. 4. semi-ann. List of publications of the Soils Bureau. Oct., 1904. 16 p. ; Mch., 1905. 16 p. Index catalog of medical and veterinary zool- ogy, by Stiles and Hassel. pts. 6-10, au- thors G. to H. (Bull. Bureau of Animal Industry, 39, pts. 7-10.) List of publications received by the Experi- ment Stations Office during Jan.-Feb., 1905. bi-m. Index to postal laws and regulations. 1905. 22 p. (Post Office Dept.) The Library of Congress continues to print its lists of books, the following having been issued since Nov., 1904: Federal control of commerce and corpora- tions, 2d issue, 22 p.; U. S. consular service, 77 p. ; Impeachment, 16 p. ; Primary elections, 25 p. In addition the Library of Congress has published calendars of the Vernon- Wag- er papers and those of the Monroe papers. The copyright section has published a bib- liographical and chronological record of con- gressional proceedings on copyright. AMERICAN STATE DOCUMENTS The third part of Mr. Bowker's "State pub- lications" is in press. It will include Minne- sota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Dakota Terr., and Montana. A project for the indexing of American state documents is about to mature. It will provide for an index on cards in sufficient number only to supply the promoters of the project. It is proposed to index in detail the contents of the documents and journals, x The index to state legislation prepared by the New York State Library continues to enjoy the favor of a grateful public. The report of the Public Archives Commis- sion for 1903, printed in the first volume of the report of the American Historical Asso- ciation for the same year, includes a report on the archives in Colorado, Georgia, Miss- issippi, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Vir- ginia. There is, in the report, much informa- tion bearing on the bibliography of state documents. CONNECTICUT The report of the state librarian for 1903-4 includes a list of reports of legislative hear- ii'gs of the state, a list of Connecticut town reports, a list of state publications, and, in appendix I, a list of law reports, digests and statutes in the library. HASSE 99 MASSACHUSETTS Ford (W. C). Bibliography of the Massa- chusetts House journals, 1715-1776. Repr. from the publications of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts, v. 4. Cambridge, privately printed, 1905. (2), 87 p 4- NEW HAMPSHIRE Batchellor (A. S.). The government and laws of New Hampshire before the estab- lishment of the province, 1623-1679. A mono- graph constituting the introduction to the first volume of the province laws. Manchester, 1904. 54 p. 8. WISCONSIN Checklist of the journals and public docu- ments of Wisconsin. Published by the Wis. Free Library Comm. Madison, 1903, 1904. 7+179 P. 8. AMERICAN DEPENDENCIES The United States continues to maintain fiduciary relations with the Philippine Islands and with that territory known as the Panama canal zone. The governing body of the Philippine Is- lands, the Philippine Commission, has issued its fifth report during the year. This report includes the report of the civil governor and the departmental reports ; see mo. cat., 1905 : 90. In addition to this the commission issues, in quarterly volumes, the public laws and reso- lutions which it has passed. These volumes are not distributed gratuitously. They are issued in both English and Spanish and sold at one dollar per volume. The official Gazette of the commission is issued weekly. It also is published both in an English and Spanish edition and is sold at $6 per year, or 15 cents a copy. The departmental reports of the commis- sion comprise many monographs on the phys- ical condition of the country and its inhabit- ants. These are all listed in the monthly catalog, and directions for their acquire- ment are given. The census of the islands is the latest of the numerous larger works issued by the federal government on the Philippines. The work is described in the monthly catalog for 1905, pages 268 and 302. The first report of the Isthmian Canal Com- mission, instituted pursuant to executive or- der of May 9, 1904 and authorized by act of Apr. 28, 1904, was issued in Jan., 1905; see mo. cat., 1905: 90. This report contains the various organic instruments, the first an- ual report of the governor, and the laws of the commission which had been enacted up to that time. The commission has also pub- lished currently a journal of its meetings, a series of numbered circulars and continues to publish currently the laws which it enacts. FOREIGN DOCUMENTS It has not seemed expedient, in view of the not yet operative merger of the two document committees of this association, to make any extended report on documents of foreign countries. A report on some of the more important international documents which have be-;n issued during the year is appended as well as a brief list of documents on those public questions which are at present, or have been during the year, engaging the American and European governments. INTERNATIONAL The principal compilations of international public papers, are the series known as British and Foreign^ State Papers and Das Staats- archiv. British and Foreign State Papers. Com- piled and edited by A. H. Oakes and W. Maycock. Lond., 1904. 8. v. 93-94. Volume 93 comprises a general index to v. 65-92 of the series, and continues the index which appeared in v. 64. Volume 94 covers the years 1900-1901 and includes treaties, etc., concluded and the more important interna- tional papers issued by European, Asiatic and American governments during those years. Das Staatsarchiv. Sammlung der offiziellen Aktenstucke z. geschichte d. gegenwart. Hrsgbn. v. G. Roloff. Leipzig, 1904-1905. v. 70. 8. Contains British corresp. on the Alaskan boundary, on the Macedonian incident, and treaties, etc., concluded. Arbitrations Alaskan Boundary Tribunal. The final volumes of proceedings and the atlases have been issued by the American federal government. , Mo. cat., 1904: 589; 1905: 213. Serial nos. 4600-4606. The British report has not yet appeared. 100 PORTLAND CONFERENCE United States and Venezuelan Claims Com- mission. Report of R. C. Morris, agt. of U. S. before commission Apr., 1904. Wash., 1904. 563 p. 8. Mo. cat., 1904: 591. Ser. no. 4621. IBrasilian and British Guiana Boundary. The eighteen volumes of the Brazilian re- port of this dispute, in which the King of Italy acted as arbiter, have appeared during the year. Treaties The British Foreign Office continues to_ print currently, in its Treaty series, important foreign treaties concluded from time to time. Treaties or conventions with or concerning China and Korea, 1894-1904, together with various state documents and papers affect- ing foreign interests. Edited by William W. Rockhill. Wash., 1904, v. 555 p. 5 maps, large 8. See forward under Amer- ican Federal Documents, New books. Reciprocity treaties and agreements between United States and foreign countries since 1850; from .(Monthly) summary of com- merce and finance, Aug., 1904. iii, 5 2 7-558 P. 4. See as above. Compilation of acts, treaties and proclama- tions relating to insular and military af- fairs, Mch. 4, i897-Mch. 3, 1903. Jan. 15, 1904. xxv. 472 p. 8. See as above. Compilation of treaties (of U. S. A.) in force (1904). Wash., 1904. 996 p. 8. See as above. Recueil des traites et conventions conclus par 1'Autriche-Hongrie avec les puissances Strangeres. v. 23-24. Incidents of 1904-5 Moroccan incident. Beginning with the Madrid convention to the Anglo-French declaration. 1880 Madrid Convention, July 3 Text French text. Br. and foreign State Papers, v. 71 : 639. Documents diplomatiques, France, 1880. Question de la protection . . . au Maroc, p. 269. Gr. Br. Foreign Office Papers, Morocco, no. i, 1881. English text. Foreign relations of U. S. 1880, p. 917. Gr. Br. Foreign Office Papers. Morocco, No., 1881. Treaties and conven- tions . . . 1789-1887, p. 737, ser. no. 2262, U. S. congr. docs. Treaties in force rev. ed., p. 761, ser. no. 4622, U. S. congr. docs. Signatory powers: Great Britain, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Swe- den, and U. S. Russia later acceded to the convention. Proceedings (French report) Documents diplomatiques. Question de la protection diplomatique et consulaire au Maroc. Paris, 1880. 278 p. f, (France, Ministere des Affaires etrangeres.) This document contains annexes to the pro- tocols not included in other reports examined. Corresp. of the French ambassador in Spain, and the Admiral Jaures with his home govt. .(British report) Protocols of conferences (French text) be- tween Great Britain, Morocco and the sig- natory powers, Madrid, May-July, 1880. (In: Br. and Foreign State Papers, v. 71, p. 814.) Correspondence and proces-verbaux between Great Britain and Morocco relating to the right of protection," etc., 1879-80. .(In: Br. and Foreign State Papers, v. 71, p. 764; Gr. Br. Parlt. Papers, 1881, v. 19.) (Italian report) Documenti diplomatici relativi alia confer- enza di Madrid per le protezioni al Ma- rocco. Presented by the Italian minister of foreign affairs, Cairoli. Intended to be in- cluded as document iv bis in the parliamen- tary documents of the Chamber of Deputies in the i4th legislature, 1880-82. Librarians having this set will do well to examine this vol. Sets have been made up and distributed which do not contain doc. iv bis, as above, nor doc. iv ter "Conferenza di Berlino per la questione turco-ellencia." (American report) [General report of proceedings of conference, sent by the American minister in Spain, Lucius Fairchild.] (In: Foreign Relations . . ., 1880, p. 897.) Correspondence between the American HASS 101 secretary of state and the American minister in Spain, Dwight T. Reed, concerning the "memorandums" of the Madrid conference relating to religious liberty in Morocco. (In : Foreign Relations . . . U. S., 1881, p. 1041.) 1887 Madrid Convention In 1887 the Spanish government made a formal proposal that the conference of 1880 should be reassembled at Madrid to consider a request made by the Moorish government for the modification of the provisions of the convention of 1880. A voluminous corre- spondence ensued, but a change of ministry occurred in Spain in June, 1888, and the project was abandoned. Correspondence between the American sec- retary of state, Bayard, and the Italian min- ister in the U. S., the Baron di Fava, con- cerning a proposed conference at Madrid for the regulation of affairs in Morocco : Foreign Relations . . . U. S., 1888, p. 1049. 1901 Moroccan Embassy in France Protocol of July 20 The embassy was conducted by the Moroc- can minister of foreign affairs Si-abd-el- Kerein, and the protocol was signed by this official and by Delcasse, French minister of foreign affairs, at Paris on July 20, 1901. The text has not been officially published. A re- view of it may be found in annee 9, Rev. droit internat. publique, p. 263-279. Articles i and 6 of the protocol are quoted by M. Jaures in his speech in the French Chamber of Deputies, on Nov. 20, 1903. (Jnl. Officiel.) Moroccan Embassy in London Conducted by El Menehbi, Moroccan min- ister of war. No report published. 1904 Anglo-French Declaration of April 8 English and French text. Gr. Br. Treaty ser., no. 6, 1905. Gr. Br. France, No. I, 1904. The latter document includes Lansdowne's note to Sir E. Monson reviewing the Anglo- French attitude in Egyptian and Moroccan affairs. Since the conclusion of the Madrid conven- tion, Morocco has made treaties as follows: 1890 with Germany. Treaty of commerce and a declaration concerning export of grain ; text in v. 82 of Brit, and Foreign Papers of State. 1894 a convention with Spain con- cerning the fortress and territory of Melilla; text in v. 86, ibid. 1895 an agreement with Great Britain concerning the property of the North- West African Company text in v. 87, ibid. 1895 a convention with Spain concern- ing the Riffian outrages at Melilla; text in / ' v. 87, ibid. (Dominican Incident.) Constitution of Dominican Republic, promul- gated 1896, and again put in force 1903. (Wash.,) 1905. 21 p. 8. 59th cong., sped. sess., S. doc. 2. Mo. Cat., 1905 : 240. Data relative to Dominican Republic, from 3ist report (annual) of council of Corpora- tion of Foreign Bondholders, 1903-1904. Wash., 1905. 15 p. (ib., S. doc. i.) (ib., 250.) Includes proctocol of agreement between U. S. and Dominican Republic for arbitra- tion of questions as to payment of sum by Dominica on acct. of claims, and award of commission of arbitration under protocol of Jan. 31, 1903. Message^ of the president transmitting pro- tocol of agreement between the United States and the Dominican Republic for collection and disbursement by us, of customs-revenues of Dominican Republic, signed Feb. 4, 1905. .(Wash.,) 1905. 31 p. (confidential; Sen. exec. V.) (Injunction secrecy removed Feb. 16, 1905.) Not in serial docs. Mo. Cat., 1905 : 197. (Sweden-Norway Dissolution.) 1814. Jan. 14. Treaty of Kiel. Cession of Norway to Sweden by Denmark. Text in v. i, Brit, and Foreign State Papers, p. 194. 1814. May 17. Constitution of Norway. For collation of texts see N. Y. P. L. Bulletin, v. 8, p. 85. 1814. Aug. 14. Convention of Moss. Govern- ment of Norway. Text in v. I, Brit, and Foreign State Papers, p. 924. 1815. Riksakt of Sweden-Norway. French text in v. 5, Brit, and Foreign State Papers, p. 1049. The controversy over joint consular repre- sentation abroad precipitated the pending question of dissolution. In the American consular report for Sept., 1904, the consular system of Sweden and Norway is described. ' IO2 PORTLAND CONFERENCE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION BY W. R. EASTMAN, CORNELIA MARVIN, HILLER C. WELLMAN '"PHE Committee on Library Administra- tion have submitted their report of 1904, including proposed forms for library statis- tics to library commissions in 23 states. Re- plies have come from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, New York, New Jer- sey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wiscon- sin, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Colo- rado. Of these 14, 3 accept the forms as sub- mitted; 4 accept them with a single sugges- tion in each case, and others raise further questions which also merit careful considera- tion. There is a general assent to the plan of 3 separate forms for preliminary, annual and supplemental reports. One state would use only the preliminary and annual forms, and 2 states question the value of the preliminary statement. The value of this consists in its putting on record an account of the library at the time when it comes into relations with the state, and justifies the items of income and expenditure for the current year, even though these will be constantly changing thereafter. It gives the .mark from which the progress of the next year is to be reckoned. But this difference of view raises no serious difficulty, for of course each state will use only so much as suits its own conditions and it will be a great gain if we can agree on the form of the second blank of the series, that is, the annual report. We seem also to be agreed that the larger library may properly make a supplemental report which is not to be imposed on the smaller library, nor indeed on any library which does not choose to make it. This also is a gain. When we come to details the difficulty of preparing any blank that will fully meet the varying conditions and diverse laws of differ- ent states becomes evident, and, certainly, no state commission should be satisfied to use any form of report blank which does not match its own lines of work. Hence the com- mittee wishes to make it perfectly clear that no form of report which it may submit is in- tended to be complete and final. It can only hope to offer an outline touching points on which thefe is general agreement; and, while it would urge the importance of brevity and simplicity, it should also be expressly under- stood that each item proposed is open to such amplification or subdivision as each commis- sion may think desirable. Such enlargement in one state's report will not prevent intelligent comparison with the report in another state if only the details are brought together in totals which lie along parallel lines. Thus in the financial statement some may find reason to ask for many more items than others, but all may agree to keep separate totals of money spent for salaries for books, and for rent of rooms. The criticisms that have reached us have regard to the following points : 1. A clearer preliminary statement of pre- vious library history. 2. A simpler preliminary form for pub- licly controlled libraries and possibly a separ- ate form for association libraries. 3. Date of making report. 4. Proper place for trustees' names. 5. Fulness of financial detail. 6. Specifying foreign languages of books used. 7. Juvenile circulation. 8. Country circulation. 9. Total registry of borrowers. 10. Statistics of binding. On almost all these points your committee, recognizing their obligations to their critics, desire to express their general and hearty ac- ceptance of suggestions made and accord- ingly offer amendments to forms previously reported. i. A clear and full preliminary history of each library should be on record. The im- portant date is not always that of foundation, but of present organization. Therefore, we amend the preliminary form on the first page by changing the words "date of foundation" to "date of present organization or control"; also on the next page call for "additional information as to previous history, present EASTMAN 103 conditions, and plans for the future, giving dates of important changes." This will lead to an informal statement covering the ground in each case. 2. As to separate and simpler preliminary forms for both public and association librar- ies, the committee would regret the necessity of two forms when the insertion t>f two or three simple items regarding trustees and terms of use will make the use of a single form entirely practicable and convenient to both classes. In comparing one state with another where a different law is in force one inclusive form for all classes is certainly best. But if any commission should feel that two preliminary forms are better for them than one, the additional report being only pre- liminary would not affect the integrity of the general scheme. 3. It is impossible to agree at present on a uniform date for the end of the year. Often the state fiscal year will determine this, and often the school year. On the proposed forms the date will be left blank. 4. Trustees' names on the annual blank will be found convenient for mailing pur- poses, and may therefore be omitted from the preliminary report. 5. Under the head of "payments" in the annual report the brace in front of "books, periodicals and binding" is removed so as to make it clear that the cost of each is to be separately given. The items of "heat" and "light" are inserted after "rent" and room should be left for the addition of other items of receipt and payment which any commission may wish. 6. In the supplemental report the classifi- cation of books in both tables will carry at the bottom the words "(specify language)." 7. The supplemental form already shows columns for children's books and their cir- culation. The annual report will also include these items in columns for "adult," "chil- dren" and "total." 8. Country circulation presents a problem of vital importance. A complete system must provide books for homes remote from a li- brary, and any actual experience along this line deserves careful attention. But it is not easy in all cases to mark the line where town leaves off and country begins. In some places township or even county libraries are main- tamed and encouraged, a majority, of whose patrons live in the country. In view of the difficulty of framing a definite question for all cases it seems practical to treat this as a supplemental matter to be included under forms of "special work" noted in the sup- plemental form and calling for a separate statement. In any state where the term "Country circulation" is definitely understood there can be no objection to the item in the annual form. 9. It is certainly important that each li- brary should know and report the number of its patrons so far as this can be ascertained with reasonable accuracy. But this is by no means an easy matter. Men, women, and children come and go. The collection of readers' cards "not in use" grows larger and larger as time passes and the task of a thor- ough weeding out demands time that cannot be spared. Perhaps it ought to be done, but many a librarian will question if the result will repay the cost. The total registry will show very little that is of value in the ab- sence of a system of limitations and constant revision. Rules of libraries will differ. Hence in the interest of simplicity the committee prefer to omit the item. 10. The statistics of binding, the number of books rebound, and number of periodical volumes bound would be of interest in many places. There can be no objection to adding this item to the supplemental report, if any commission desires. The committee repeat what has been said in a previous report that there are very many interesting and important matters of library information which may be obtained through occasional and special circulars, which are not of the rank which places them in the an- nual report. The committee re-submit their report of last year as a part of this report, with forms of library report slightly changed to conform to the suggestions made above, which they recommend for approval of the Association. They also recommend both to state com- missions and to local libraries making printed reports that they follow the general scheme of report which may be approved by the Asso- ciation, thus clearing the way for satisfactory comparison of the results of library work. The three forms proposed are as follows : 104 PORTLAND CONFERENCE FORM I. . Form proposed to A. L. A. committee on library administration 1904-05 Preliminary Library Report 19 to state library commission Name of Library Place Postoffice Date of present organization or control Under what law Trustees Number Chosen by Term of offi>e If the library la connected with another Institution 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 Total, $ State Income from each source for current year. Teim> 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 Ccst Source of building fund Book capacity Facilities for special work Other particulars If the library occnple* rooms in a building not its own a statement 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. Tc 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 bcrtcwer 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. Additional information as to previous history, present conditions and plans for the Future giving dates of important changes. Use separate paper if needed for complete statement. Librarian Date 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 library commission. 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 EASTMAN 105 FORM II. Form proposed by A. L. A. committee on library administration, 1904-05 Annual library report for year ending 10 Adults Children Total Name of library Place Postoffice Terras 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 at beginning of year added during year by purchase added during year by gift lost or withdrawn during year Total number at end of year Count bound books only. Number of volumes of fiction lent for home use Total number of volumes lent for home use See other side of sheet for rales for counting circulation. Number of new borrowers registered during the year Number of newspapers and periodicals currently received Number cf persons using library for reading and study Receipts from Unexpended balance $ Lccal taxation State grants Endowment funds Membership fees Fines and sale of publications .... Gifts and other sources Total Payments for Bocks $ Periodicals Binding Salaries, library service janitor service Rent Heat Light Permanent improvements Other exi>enses Balance on hand Total Additional information Here insert statements regarding changes in organization, brief description of new rooms or building, increased facilities and any benefaction* announced but not received, with names of (fivers and amount, object and conditions of each gift, together with any other information useful for Ihe summary of library progress printed in the report to the Legislature. Librarian Trustees' names Term expires 19 19 19 19.... 19 Date I have carefully read thisi 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 President Rules for counting circulation 1. The circulation shall be accurately recorded each day, counting one for each lending of a bound volume for home use. 2. Renewal of a book tinder 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 stations 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 traveling libraries will be made. 4. Books lent for pay may be included in the circulation, but must also be reported separately. In these rules there is no intent to determine 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. io6 PORTLAND CONFERENCE FORM III. Form proposed by A. L. A. committee on library administration, 1904-05 Supplemental library report for the year ending 1G to Name of library Place Postoffice Number of branches. Number of delivery stations Give on teparate sheet the statistic* of branches and stations, including name, location, volume* in branches and circulation. Classes of books added and total In library ObMM Additions Total No. m Library Circulating dep't Reference Circulating dep't Reference AdulU Children Adult* Children V Periodicals . Natural science Useful arts . Travel Fiction Books in foreign languages . . (Specify language) Total Number of unbound pamphlets Number of maps, pictures, manuscripts, etc. Other library material Classes of books lent. Clawei From main library From branches and stations Total Adult* Children Adult* Children General works . ... ... Periodicals Philosophy Religion . Sociology Useful arts . . . . Fine arts Music scores . Literature Travel History Biography Fiction Books in foreign languages (Specify language) Total Number of schools to which books were sent Number of books sent to schools How long retained by schools (average) Number of other traveling librarieo sent out Number of books in other traveling libraries How long retained in places other than sohocls (average) Number of Sundays the library has been open Number of children using library for reading or study What departments in library other than delivery and reading rooms? Give account on separate sheet of work done for children, schools, clubs and societies. Give account on separate sheet of any other form of special service, as country circulation, etc. Additional information Librarian Date FLETCHER 107 REPORT OF THE A. L. A. PUBLISHING BOARD BY W. I. FLETCHER, Chairman r*HE period covered by this report is only eight months. Partly for this reason and partly because complicated matters always take more time for their working out than we anticipate, the progress of our work since the last report seems slight, but it has never- theless been a busy season with us. The reappointment of Mr. Dewey last fall leaves the personnel of the Board the same as before. The tentative appointment of Mr. E. C Hovey by the A. 1 L. A. executive board as assistant secretary of the Association, and his employment on ths business affairs of the Publishing Board so far as his time permits, and the work of the Board demands his ser- vices, is too recent for any confident state- ment of its results. But the Board sees in it valuable possibilities, and hopes that it marks the beginning of a new era of vigorous and business-like administration for both, the As- sociation and the Board. Its immediate re- sult to the Board has been to relieve the sec- retary of much business detail and permit her to devote herself to the largely increased edi- torial work which the year has brought. Mr. Hovey's suggestions in regard to change in business methods have already been valuable. The Board has long felt the need of just such good business management as a man with Mr. Hovey's experience and ability can give it, and we hope that in conjunction with the Association we may be able to continue him as our business manager. With our last report we submitted speci- men pages of the Portrait Index, and ex- pressed the hope that it would very soon be actually in press. We had been accumulating our income to meet the expense of its print- ing, and had felt obliged to postpone other undertakings that pressed upon us, among others the publication of current annotated lists of new books. At our first meeting after the St. Louis Conference the situation was cleared by a generous proposition from Dr. Putnam, that he would make the Portrait Index one of the special publications of the Library of Con- gress, and so not only relieve the Board of the expense of its publication, but insure its distribution to all the libraries that can profit by it. It was thus only necessary for us to complete the preparation of the copy and place it in Dr. Putnam's hands. It was at first supposed that it might be printed this financial year (1904-05), and for a time extra help was employed to assist Mr. Lane and Miss Browne in getting the copy finally ready for printing. But later it appeared that the Library of Congress could better do the work in the coming fall, when the copy will be in entire readiness. Finding our accumulated income thus made available for other uses, the Board at once voted to undertake the publication of the pro- posed current booklist. Mr. R. R. Bowker, for the Library Journal office, had made a proposition looking to our lists being issued from that office; the Board had been dis- posed to fall in with his offer, but on finding that funds were available for the publication of these lists by the Board itself, without the intervention of any outside parties, we had no hesitation about proceeding on this basis. Miss Caroline H. Garland, of Dover, N. H., was secured as editor, a number of libraries and librarians volunteered to contribute titles and notes, and the A. L. A. Booklist was launched in February. Five numbers, the first a double one, have appeared. Now that this current list has been started there is reason to hope that it will improve as it goes on, and measurably meet the expectations which have been attached to it. It has to be admitted that it is likely always to be dis- appointing, in that it cannot, in the nature of the case, give well-digested critical or even descriptive notes quite so early as they are wanted by those who could use them in the selection of books and wish to buy their books promptly. It may be no detriment to the li- braries in the long run if they should be in- duced to buy the new books somewhat more deliberately. The Booklist now reaches some io8 PORTLAND CONFERENCE 3000 libraries. The following state commis- sions have ordered copies for distribution to the libraries in their respective states : Massa- chusetts and Wisconsin, 500 copies each; Minnesota, 350; Indiana, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Vermont, 200 each; Ohio, 150; Colorado, Ne- braska, New York, Washington, 100 each; the Newark (N. J.) Free Public Library also subscribes for 100 copies. There are about 325 single subscriptions. The sale of our various publications is slower than it would be if the libraries gen- erally were fully alive to their value. As heretofore the "List of subject headings" is called for more than any other, about 500 cop- ies having been sold the past year. Every year the need increases for a thorough re- vision of this work, but it is not apparent who will undertake it. Nothing, perhaps, marks more clearly the general sense of the import- ance of subject entries, and on the other hand of the difficulties connected with the choice of headings, than the continued demand for this book. It has certainly done much to bring in that uniformity of practice which is desirable nowhere more than in subject head- ings. Suggestions from many quarters that we should furnish cards indexing various publi- cations already covered by the "A. L. A. in- dex" emphasize the failure of many libraries to avail themselves of this index, and thus the necessity of many analyticals in their card catalogs. One familiar with its usefulness when properly availed of can only wonder that its sales should not more nearly approach those of the "List of subject headings." Miss Kroeger's "Guide to reference books" has a good and steady sale, which will un- doubtedly insure the issue of an enlarged edi- tion after a few years. "Books for boys and girls," by Miss C. M. Hewins, is having a deservedly large sale, the fourth thousand having now been printed. Wherever it goes it creates its own demand. Two tracts have been added to our series "Notes from the art section of a library," by the late C. A. Cutter, and "Essentials in li- brary administration," by Miss L. E. Stearns. The one by Mr. Cutter consists of his lectures delivered at the New York State Library School, and is an admirable presentation of the subject and the only one available. Miss Stearns' tract is much larger than any of the other tracts, and is really a library handbook, covering the whole field in detail, with illustrations and an index. Another tract by Miss Theresa Hitchler, on "Cataloging for small libraries," is now in press, and is expected to be out before the Portland meeting. Besides directions for cat- aloging, it contains a bibliography of useful reference books for catalogers, a dictionary of bibliographic and typographic terms, and 86 sample cards. Little needs to be said about our card pub- lications. They hold the even tenor of their way, with constant additions to the stock. As has been stated before, we divide the field with the Library of Congress, so that dupli- cation of work is avoided. We have recently added to our supply of cards a set for the Smithsonian annual reports, 1886-1903, and have reprinted cards for the Old South Leaf- lets, these having been much in demand. Cards are also in preparation for the set known as "Modern eloquence," edited by the late Thomas B. Reed. The cards indexing bibliographic period- icals, heretofore prepared by the Bibliograph- ical Society of Chicago, and sent out at ir- regular intervals, will be continued under the newly formed Bibliographical Society of America, the publishing remaining with this Board. At the St. Louis Conference an effort was made to secure cordial co-operation between the Board and the newly formed League of Library Commissions. There seemed to be a mutual readiness to co-operate, and consider- able correspondence was had later looking to an effective co-working. As the readers of the Library Journal will have had occasion to note in the recent report of the League (Lib. J., May), we have not succeeded as yet in settling the details of our mutual relations. The League expresses the hope that these re- lations may be drawn closer at the Portland Conference, a hope which is earnestly shared by the Board. We also anticipate that this meeting of the Association held on the great Pacific slope will witness a large accession of interest and co-operation in the work which the Publish- ing Board seeks to do for the Association and for the libraries of the country. FLETCHER 109 A. L. A. PUBLISHING BOARD FINANCIAL STATEMENT Dr. Publishing Board in account with Endowment Fund Trustees Cr. 1903 Dec 31. To balance 1904 1904 Dec. 31. To proceeds of sales 15104, as follows : Paid salaries To check from Endowment Fund Trustees Portrait index " To interest on bank bal- 6.38 Library Bureau Houghton, Mifflin & 639.21 Co 387 78 A. L. A. catalog Travel expenses 336.96 Rent Gardner M. Jones W. P. Cutter 125.37 IOO.OO Eng. hist Mass. pub. doc Postage 84.45 Advertising A. L. A. exhibit 58.75 Sundries 28.78 Alice B. Kroeger 26.20 Copyright A $6265.32 Balance 833*25 Dec. 31. To balance $837 25 E. and O. E., Boston, December 31, 1904. TRIAL BALANCE * December 31, 1904 Accounts payable (smaller ones). . . $44-34 Jones, Gardner M $161.81 65.09 365-18 5.60 276.85 Accounts receivable A. L. A. catalog $1279.83 1637.94 18.50 Kroeger, Alice B " index " papers and proceedings.. Bibliographical cards 17.09 89 18 612.18 632.15 Library Bureau $96.56 60.67 833-25 Massachusetts pub. doc Miscellaneous cards 21.72 896.57 2122.03 2208.46 78.97 $7909.26 English and American hist Expense and income Fine arts 319-28 Portrait index Reading for the young 3*58. 4* 294.07 31-63 62.97 217.44 Houghton Mifflin & Co . $7909.26 E. and O. E., Boston, December 31, 1904. FINANCIAL STATEMENT Assets. Accounts receivable. . . Cash Stock on hand, at cost. Liabilities. Accounts payable. Surplus {1279. 83 833-25 874 42 $2987.50 $834.10 2153.40 $2987.50 NOTE In taking stock no account has been made of such books, pamphlets, etc., as are not ready sellers. All stock has been taken at absolute cost, and no value has been placed on plates in possession of the Board, though they will be used in subsequent editions of certain publications. no PORTLAND CONFERENCE REPORT ON GIFTS AND BEQUESTS TO AMERICAN LIBRARIES, JUNE TO DECEMBER, 1904 BY JOSEPH LsRoY HARRISON, Librarian, The Providence (R. /.) Athenceum 'T'HE report covers the seven months from June i, 1904, to December 31, 1904, and, in common with all recent reports, 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 Li- brary Journal, Public Libraries, the daily press, from responses to 1000 circular blanks sent to libraries and from 75 letters addressed to state commissions, state associations and local library clubs. The courtesy and con- sideration of those who have assisted the reporter in his work have been greatly appre- ciated, and to them he desires to acknowledge with grateful thanks his deep indebtedness. It will be noticed that the report covers only seven months, that is, the balance of the year 1904 not covered by the report made at St. Louis last year. This short period was taken that succeeding reports might be made to correspond with the calendar year, it be- ing assumed that the report is of value, not from the news side, which is well covered from month to month by the library journals, but from that of a convenient grouping and summary of statistical material. The first Gifts and Bequests report was presented at the Fabyans Conference in 1890. Since this conference the time of holding the annual A. L. A. meetings has varied from May to Octo- ber, and meetings have been held during each of the intervening months. This has natural- ly resulted in the reports varying in the length of time covered, making their summary tables practically useless as a ready means to com- parison. If future reports are made to cover only the 12 months of the calendar year, with- out regard to the dates of the Association meetings, it is obvious that their value in this respect will be greatly increased. Two hundred and fifty-three gifts are re- ported, representing 116,552 volumes, five col- lections of books, $5,128,170, and 58 miscel- laneous gifts, including one building with grounds, seven sites, art and natural his- tory collections, paintings and various other gifts, the several values of which could not be ascertained. An analysis of the gifts in money shows that $2,311,400 was given as endowment funds for general library purposes, $38,153 for the establishment of book funds, $30,347 for the cash purchase of books, $1,009,500, of which $724,500 is reported as accepted, from An- drew Carnegie for buildings; $432,230 from various donors for buildings, $64,450 for sites and $1,242,090 for purposes, the objects of which, for the most part, were not re- ported. This item consists very largely of bequests, and presumably the greater portion of it will be invested as permanent endow- ments. The money gifts, other than those of Mr. Carnegie, amount to $4,118,670. This in- cludes ii of $5000 each, one of $8000, n of $10,000, two of $15,000, three of $20,000, three of $25,000, one of $40,000, one of $75,000, one of $100,000, two of $150,000, three of $200,000, one of $250,000, one of $300,000 two of $500,000 and one of $1,000,000. The total amount of the 16 gifts of $25,000 or more, is $3,740,000, given as follows: $25,000, a bequest from George Smith to Junction City, Kan.; $25,000 from Judge Greenleaf Clark to St. Paul, Minn.; $25,000 from John W. Gates to West Chicago, 111.; $40,000, a bequest from Hon. Ira Davenport to Bath, N. Y. ; $75,000 from John Q. Pack- ard to Marysville, Cal. ; $100,000, a bequest from Mrs. Caroline S. Reid to Syracuse University; $150,000, a bequest from Hon. Elisha S. Converse to Maiden, Mass. ; $150,- ooo, a bequest from Mrs. Sarah E. Kempton Potter to the Boston Medical Library; $200,- ooo, a bequest from Hon. C. H. Hackley to Muskegon, Mich. ; nearly $200,000, a bequest from Hiram Kelly to Chicago; $200,000 from Henry Dexter to the New York Historical Society, New York City; $250,000, a bequest HARRISON III from Mrs. Sarah E. Kempton Potter to New Bedford, Mass. ; $300,000, a bequest from James V. Brown to Williamsport, Pa. ; $500,000, a bequest from Daniel Willard Fiske to Cornell University; $500,000, a be- quest from James Philip Gray to the City Library Association of Springfield, Mass., and $1,000,000 from Archer M. Huntington to the Hispanic Society of America, New York City. There should be noted in connection with these gifts those of a building and site, valued at $400,000, from the Polytechnic In- stitute of Kentucky to Louisville; a building and site, valued at $150,000, from the Max- well family to Rockville, Ct. ; a building and grounds from Wilhelmus Mynderse to Seneca Falls, N. Y., and a tract of land, locally known as Cameron Park, from Hon. Ira Davenport to Bath, N. Y. Among the notable collections of books and manuscripts given may be mentioned 60,000 volumes, valued at $30,000, from the Polytechnic Institute of Kentucky to the Louisville Free Public Library; 58 prayer and service books, valued at $27,825, from Mrs. Harold Brown to the John Carter Brown Library, Brown University, Provi- dence ; $6500 from Julius Rosenwald for the purchase of the Hirsch-Bennays Library for the Germanic department of the University of Chicago; $7000 from John D. Spreckels for the purchase of the Germanic library of the late Prof. Karl Weinhold, of the Uni- versity of Berlin, for the University of Cali- fornia ; 1067 letters and manuscripts rich in material relating to literary New England from C. W. Folsom to the Boston Public Library ; 100 volumes of private and public documents, containing much unpublished ma- terial, gathered by Elihu Washburn when Minister to France, from Hempsted Wash- burn to the Library of Congress; 1700 vol- umes on marriage and divorce from George Elliott Howard to the University of Chi- cago ; and 99 volumes on the history of furniture, the collection of Alvan C. Nye, from the trustees to the Pratt Institute Free Library, Brooklyn. Among other gifts, of interest because of their value, source or purpose, may be men- tioned pictures and statuary, valued at $30,- ooo, and a natural history collection, valued at $30,000, from the Polytechnic Institute of Kentucky to the Louisville Free Public Li- brary; a bequest of $2500 from William H. Bartlett, a teacher in the public schools, to the Worcester Public Library as a token of appreciation of the service the library had rendered him; $500, a bequest from Mary L. Hotchkiss, a former librarian, to the Lenox Library, Mass. ; $500 as an endowment fund, the income to be used for the children's department, from Mrs. Caroline J. Morrill, to the Morrill Public Library, Hiawatha, Kan. ; two sites for branch libraries from the Baldwin Locomotive Works and the Pencoyd Iron Works to the Philadelphia Free Li- brary; a fund for the purchase of American and European periodicals from Daniel Wil- lard Fiske to the Chi Chapter of the Psi Upsilon Fraternity, of Cornell University, and a five-year, paid-up fire insurance policy from M. A. Ryerson to the Grand Rapids Public Library, Mich. Mr. Carnegie's gifts to libraries in the United States number 34 and amount to $i,- 009,500. In their distribution the North Atlantic division of states received $425,000, the South Atlantic $35,000, the South Cen- tral $200,000, the North Central $309,500 and the Western $40,000. Of the states receiving the greatest number of gifts Indiana ranks first with five, Illinois second with four, and Kansas third with three. There were two gifts of $2500, two of $5000, 10 of $10,000, three of $12,500, two of $15,000, one of $17,000, three of $20,000, two of $25,000 and two of $35,000. The larger gifts are $40,000 to Fairmount College, Wichita, Kan. ; $40,- ooo to Omaha, Neb.; $50,000 to Evanston, 111. ; $50,000 to the University of Maine, Orono; $100,000 to Tufts College library, $150,000 to Syracuse University, and $200,000 to Louisville, Ky. A further analysis shows that six gifts, amounting to $105,000, were additions to pre- vious gifts; four, amounting to $270,000, for 12 branch libraries, including a branch for Atlanta, Ga., for the use of negroes, and six, amounting to $392,000, for college libra- ries. In a recent address Mr. Carnegie is re- ported to have said that, judging by the requests for money for public library build- ings, which had decreased to not more than one a day, he had come to the conclusion that the limit of giving for this purpose had 112 PORTLAND CONFERENCE been nearly reached and that in the future his gifts would be more for college and univer- sity libraries. If this statement of his pur- pose is correct, it is perhaps of special in- terest to append to this report the table prepared by Dr. Horace White, of New York, and embodied in the address delivered by him at the d-e.lication of the Beloit Col- lege Library the gift of Mr. Carnegie in January last. It is an interesting and significant statistical summary, the data of which was supplied for the first time by Mr. Carnegie himself, of the great philanthro- pist's work in the establishment of libraries throughout the English-speaking world. For the United States the table is detailed, giving under each state and territory its total popu- lation, the aggregate population served by the Carnegie libraries, the amount given or promised for the erection of buildings, the number of towns with Carnegie libraries, the total number of Carnegie libraries, includ- ing branches, and the percentage of the whole population supplied. The same facts are given for other countries but without geo- graphical subdivisions. The table shows, in brief, that Mr. Carnegie has provided 620 towns in the United States, including Porto Rico, with 780 libraries, at a cost of $29,- 194,080, which serve a population of 14,306,- 880 and that the total number of his library gifts through the year 1904 is 1290, distrib- uted among 1048 hamlets, villages, towns and cities, representing an enormous gift of $39,- 325,240 and serving a population of 24,414,692. When Mr. Carnegie was a poor boy in Allegheny, Col. Anderson, to whom he has erected a heroic bronze statue almost under the shadow of the tall tower of his first library gift, threw open a small library of 400 books to the young men of the town: This opportunity and kindness were so appre- ciated by the boy that he declared if he ever had the wealth he would give freely for the founding of libraries for those who had no other access to books. The table closing this report is a striking revelation of the large fulfilment of that early self-made promis-e. Mr. Carnegie has said: "Free libraries maintained by the people are cradles of de- mocracy, and their spread can never fail to extend and strengthen the democratic idea, the equality of the citizen, the royalty of man." It is a firm belief in the soundness of this reasoning that doubtless brings Mr. Car- negie the greatest happiness in his giving, and it is only by its comprehensive truth that the far-reaching results of his broad and thoughtful generosity can be measured. CALIFORNIA BERKELEY. University of California Library. $7000 for the purchase of the Germanic li- brary of the late Prof. Karl Weinhold, from John D. Spreckels. The collection numbers 10,000 volumes and pamphlets. 300 volumes relating to Latin literature and philology, from Mrs. Louise B. Kel- logg. CLAREMONT. Pomona College Library. $500 for books, from Charles M. Pratt, of Brooklyn, N. Y. MARYSVILLE. City Library. $75,000 for a building, from John Q. Packard. MERCED. Public Library. $20,000 for a build- ing, a bequest from Mr. Francher. OAKLAND. Free Public Library. 425 vol- umes, from William E. Coleman. WHITTIER. Public Library. $10,000 for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Ac- cepted. Site, valued at $3000, from C. W. Har- vey. COLORADO COLORADO SPRINGS. Public Library. $1500 for books, from various citizens. CONNECTICUT ANSONIA. The Ansonia Library. $500 for books, from Miss Caroline Phelps Stokes. ,294 volumes, including the binding of 226 volumes of magazines, from the Eliza- beth Clarke Hall Chapter of the D. A. Rs. of Ansonia. NEW LONDON. Public Library. $2000, from Hon. Augustus Brandegee. ROCKVILLE. Public Library. Building and site, valued at $150,000, from Mrs. Harriet K. Maxwell, Miss J. Alice Maxwell, Fran- cis T. Maxwell, Robert Maxwell and Will- iam Maxwell. $1000, a bequest from William J. Thompson, of Hartford. $1000 for books, from George Sykes. $500 for books, from Hon. Dwight Loomis. WESTPORT. Public Library. $10,000, from Ambrose Hulburt. DELAWARE ODESSA. Corbit Library. $10,000, a bequest from William C. Corbit, of Washington, D. C. The library has just come into pos- session of the gift by the death of the widow, Mrs. Virginia Corbit. (See L. J., Sept., 1904, p. 496.) WILMINGTON. Wilmington Institute Free Library. $500 for general expenses, from William P. Bancroft. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WASHINGTON. ^Georgetown University Riggs Memorial Library. 535 volumes, from the heirs of Charles Horatio Trunnel. Library of Congress. 6874 theses, from the Uppsala Universitats-Bibliothek. 691 volumes, from John Meigs. Hempsted Washburn, son of the late Elihu Washburn, has presented the library with more than 100 volumes of the private and public documents gathered by his father while minister to France. The col- lection contains much unpublished matter. Public Library. $1000 for an endowment fund for the purchase of books and period- icals relating to anthropology, from the Woman's Anthropological Society of Wash- ington. GEORGIA ATLANTA. Atlanta University Library. $25,- ooo for a building, from Andrew Carnegie, given on condition "that the library be lib- erally supported." Carnegie Library. $10,000 for a branch li- brary for negroes, from Andrew Carnegie. IDAHO Moscow. Public Library. $10,000 for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. JLL7ATO75 1 CHICAGO. Public Library. The library is residuary legatee of the Hiram Kelly es- tate. It is estimated that it will receive $172,825. $20,000, as an endowment fund, the in- come to be used at the discretion of the library board, a bequest from Hiram Kelly. University of Chicago Library. $6500 for books for the Hirsch-Bennays library, used specially by the Germanic department, from Julius Rosenwald. 1700 volumes on marriage, divorce and the family, probably the largest collection extant on the subject, from Prof. George Elliott Howard. EVANSTON. Free Public Library. $50,000 for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Ac- cepted. $20,000 for the building fund, from va- rious citizens. ^Northwestern University Library. 464 volumes, a bequest from Prof. John E. George. 434 volumes relating to economics, from the heirs of Prof. Charles F. Dunbar, of Harvard University. FAIRBURY. Public Library. $15,000 for a building, from Mrs. T. B. Domeny. $2000 for books, from Mrs. T. B. Domeny. LA SALLE. Public Library. $20,000 for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. MACOMB. Public Library. $15,000 for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Accepted. MARSEILLES. Public Library. $10,000 for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. MOLINE. Carnegie Library. 600 volumes on law, from F. G. Allen. WEST CHICAGO. Public Library. $25,000 to establish a library, from John W. Gates. The gift is conditional on the town provid- ing the site and maintaining the library. INDIANA ALEXANDRIA. Public Library. $500 for books, from Robert H. Hannah, president of the library board. DECATUR. Public Library. $10,000 for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. MONTICELLO. Public Library. 800 books, from various citizens. POSEYVILLE. Public Library. $5000 for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. SALEM. Public Library. $12,500 for a build- ing, from Andrew Carnegie. SEYMOUR. Public Library. $10,000 for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. UNION CITY. Stone Library. $10,000 for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. IOWA ALGONA. Free Public Library. $1000 for furnishing building, from Col. Thomas F. Cooke? 1 BURLINGTON. Free Public Library. $3153, a memorial to T. J. Potter, from friends. The income is to be used for the purchase of books relating to railroads. GRINNELL. Iowa College Library. $1000 for an endowment fund, from J. H. Leavitt, of Waterloo. MASON CITY. Public Library. $10,000 for building fund, from citizens. $1000 for building fund, from City Fed- eration of Women's Clubs. MOUNT PLEASANT. Free Public Library. $1000 for site, from Ladies' Library Asso- ciation. WEST LIBERTY. Free Public Library. $1700 for site, from citizens. KANSAS HIAWATHA. Morrill Public Library. $500 for an endowment fund for the children's department, from Mrs. Caroline J. Morrill. $75 for books, from Mrs. Caroline J. Morrill. JUNCTION CITY. Public Library. An estate valued at $25,000, a bequest from George Smith. The building will be erected and t"he library established within a year. The income from the property will be used as a maintenance fund. LAWRENCE. City Library. $2500 additional for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. 114 PORTLAND CONFERENCE LAWRENCE. University of Kansas Library. 550 volumes relating to American and English literature and American history, from Edward Arnold Brown. McPHERSON. McPherson College Library. $10,000 for a building, from Andrew Car- negie. SALINA. Kansas Wesleyan University Li- brary. 1000 volumes, from Dr. H. A. Cleveland. TOPEKA. Washburn College Library. 500 volumes, from the heirs of Rev. R. M. Tunnell. WICHITA. Fairmount College Library. $40,- ooo for a building, from Andrew Carnegie, conditional on the college raising an equal amount. KENTUCKY LOUISVILLE. Public Library. Building and site, from the Polytechnic Society of Ken- tucky, valued at $400,000. Natural history museum, valued at $30,000, from the Polytechnic Society of Kentucky. Pictures and statuary, valued at $30,- ooo, from the Polytechnic Society of Ken- tucky. 60,000 volumes, valued at $30,000, from the Polytechnic Society of Kentucky. $200,000 for eight branch libraries, from Andrew Carnegie. Accepted. $16,750 toward a site, from citizens. "3OOO volumes, from the Highland Free Library, on condition that a branch library be established in the vicinity of the High- land Free Library. Condition accepted. 727 volumes, from Mrs. Dudley Hay- don. 600 volumes largely relating to trans- portation, from Mrs. Dudley Haydon, given as a memorial to her son, Sidney Haydon. 260 volumes on medicine, from Dr. John B. Richardson. MAINE MADISON. Public Library. $5000 for a build- ing, from Andrew Carnegie. ORONO. University of Maine Library. $50,- ooo for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. MARYLAND HAGERSTOWN. Washington County Free Li- brary. Life-size portrait of B. F. New- comer, donor of the original endowment fund, from his children. Collection of large Roman photographs, from Mrs. Henry B. Gilpin, of Baltimore. MASSACHUSETTS ACTON. Acton Memorial Library. $1000, the income to be used at the discretion of the trustees, from Hon. Luther Conant, presi- dent of the library board. The fund is to be known as the "Mrs. Susan Augusta and Luther Conant fund." ANDOVER. Public Library. Portraits of Burns and Scott and a valuable collection of books relating to Scotland, a bequest from David Middleton, a member of the first board of trustees. BOSTON. Boston Medical Library. $150,000, a bequest from Mrs. Sarah E. (Kempton) Potter. New England Historic Genealogical So- ciety. $10,000 for an endowment fund, a bequest from William Cleaves Todd. Public Library. 705 volumes, from Great Britain patent office. 610 volumes, from the estate of Rev. Henry W. Foote. 547 volumes relating to French, Ger- man, Italian and Greek literature, from the estate of Mrs. Lucy B. Lowell. 422 volumes, mostly mining reports, from Fred. P. Clappison. 381 volumes, from Harvey L. Wheelock. 317 volumes, from Eugene F. Fay. 1067 letters and manuscripts, rich in material relating to New England literary people and including letters from Holmes, Emerson, Bryant, Longfellow, Prescott and others, from the estate of C. W. Folsom. CAMBRIDGE. Public Library. $5000 for an endowment fund for the purchase of books, a bequvist from James A. Woolson. The books are to be purchased under the direc- tion of his daughter, Mrs. Hurlbut. CANTON. Public Library. $1500 toward the expenses of administration during 1904. CHELSEA. Fits Public Library. 30 books in Braille type, the library's first literature for the blind, from Clement Ryder. DALTON. Free Public Library. $5000, the income to be used for the purchase of books, a bequest from Mrs. James B. Crane. DRACUT. Public Library. Illustrated manu- script, containing the names of 400 men of Dracut who served in the Revolution, the work of Ross Turner, of Boston, pre- sented by the Molly Varnum Chapter of the D. A. Rs. of Lowell and vicinity. EAST BRIDGEWATER. Public Library. $500, to be used at the discretion of the trustees, a bequest from Mrs. Agnes M. Hobart. FALMOUTH. Free Public Library. 500 vol- umes,from the estate of Henry Bryant. FITCHBURG. Public Library. $8000 for an endowment fund, from Herbert I. Wallace. GROTON. Public Library. Collection of 300 butterflies, from Miss Ellen King, of New York. HINGHAM. Nastasket Library. 300 volumes, from Mrs. W. W. Clapp. LENOX. Lenox Library. $1000, a bequest from Henry W. Taft, of Pittsfield, Mass. $500, a beqaest from Mary L. Hotch- kiss, a former librarian. HARRISON 115 LENOX. Lenox Library. Handsome delivery desk, from Mrs. Robert Winthrop, of New York. MALDEN. Public Library. $150,000 for an endowment fund, the income from $100,000 to be used for general expenses and the purchase of books, and from $50,000 for the purchase of works of art, a bequest from Hon. Elisha S. Converse. Oil painting, "The old philosopher," and a marble statue, "Benjamin," a bequest from Hon. Elisha S. Converse. MILTON. Public Library. $5000, a bequest from Mrs. J. B. Crane, of Pittsfield, Mass. $4SOO, a bequest to complete the parapet and work outside the building, from Mrs. Francis Cunningham. NEW BEDFORD. Free Public Library. $250,- ooo, a bequest from Mrs. Sarah E. (Kemp- ton) Potter, of Boston, to be known as the "Kempton trust, the gift of Sarah E. Pot- ter." The income is to be used for the purchase of "books, pictures and other ar- ticles." NORTH ANDOVER. Public Library. $20,000 for a building, from Moses T. Stevens, on condition that the town annually appro- priate $1200 for support. i Site from Moses T. Stevens. OXFORD. Free Public Library. $1000, the in- come to be used for the purchase of books, from Hon. Richard Olney. The gift is to be known as the "Wilson Olney library fund." $700, the income to be used for general purposes, a bequest from Miss Mattie E. Sawtelle, of Springfield. PEPPERELL. Lawrence Library. Painting, subject taken near San Juan mission, Cal., from a friend. PETERSHAM. Memorial Library. Case for a collection of birds, from Miss M. S. Walker. PITTSFIELD. Berkshire Athenaeum. $1000, a bequest from Henry W. Taft. PLYMOUTH. Public Library. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. William Goodwin Russell, from their children. QUINCY. Thomas Crane Public Library. Land valued at $18,000, from Albert Crane. SALEM. Essex Institute. $3973, residue from the estate of Elizabeth C. Ward. SEEKONK. Public Library. 700 volumes and case, from Seekonk Library Society. SHREWSBURY. Free Public Library. Portrait of Dr.. Franklin W. Brigham, through whose efforts the site for the library build- ing was secured, from Mrs. Mary Holland Lee. SOUTH WEYMOUTH. Fogg Library. Portrait in oil of Amos S. White, late a member of the board of trustees, by E. Aubrey Hunt, from Edmund^. Hunt. SPRINGFIELD. City Library Association. By the will of the late James Philip Gray the association will receive at the death of his wife the bulk of his estate, amounting to possibly more than half a million dollars. The income is to be used for the purchase of oil paintings. The gift is conditioned on the association providing a suitable build- ing. $4942, an unrestricted bequest from Orick H. Greenleaf. $4600 toward reducing the debt, from various friends. $1000, from Mrs. Elisha Morgan and Daniel Harris Morgan, toward the payment of the debt. $1000, from Joseph H. Wessen, toward the payment of the debt. 350 volumes relating to medicine, a be- quest from Dr. Phebe A. Sprague. STOCKBRIDGE. Public Library. $500, a be- quest from Henry Dwight Sedgwick. SWANSEA. Free Public Library. Portrait of Dr. James L. Wellington, from Miss Mary A. Case. TUFTS COLLEGE. Tufts College Library. $100,000 for a building, from Andrew Car- negie. Ground will be broken early in the summer, and it is hoped to have the build- ing completed by December. It will be of red brick with white marble trimmings and have a shelf capacity of 195,000 volumes. 709 volumes, from the Massachusetts Historical Society . WELLESLEY. Wellesley College Library. $3000 for an endowment fund, the income to be used for books, from the alumnae as- sociation. WESTFORD. J. V. Fletcher Library. Collec- tion of rare and antique articles, from E. M. Raymond, of Charlestown. WESTON. Public Library. Portraits of Miss Elizabeth S. White, late librarian, and Oli- ver R. Robbins, for many years chairman of the trustees, from friends. WORCESTER. Free Public Library. $2500, a bequest from William H. Bartlett, prin- cipal of one of the grammar schools. The gift was made as an evidence of his appre- ciation of the service the library had ren- dered him. The income is to be used for the purchase of books relating to American history and civil government. The bequest will not be available until the death of cer- tain individual beneficiaries. YARMOUTH. Yarmouth Library Association. $1000, a bequest from Mrs. Abby S. King- man, of Brockton, Mass. MICHIGAN ANN ARBOR. Public Library. $10,000 addi- tional for a building, from Andrew Car- negie. GRAND HAVEN. Public Library. $10,000 to- ward a building, a bequest from Webster Batcheller, of San Francisco. GRAND RAPIDS. Public Library. Five-year n6 PORTLAND CONFERENCE paid-up fire insurance policy on the build- ing, from M. A. Ryerson, of Chicago. JACKSON. Public Library. 581 volumes, from Miss Kate S. Palmer. 15 oil paintings and two steel engrav- ings, from Miss Kate S. Palmer. MUSKEGON. Hackley Public Library. $200,- ooo for an endowment fund, a bequest from Hon. C. H. Hackley. 59 volumes relating to America, valued at $5500, a bequest from C. H. Hadfley. Oil painting, a bequest from C. H. Hackley. SOUTH HAVEN. Public Library. $12,500 for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. / MINNESOTA FERGUS FALLS. Public Library. $2500 addi- tional for a building, from Andrew Car- negie, making a total gift of $15,500. RUSHFORD. Stevens Library Association. $500, a bequest from G. G. Stevens, founder of the library and donor of the building. The income is to be used for keeping up the building. $400 for the purchase of books, a be- quest from C. G. Halbert. ST. PAUL. Minnesota Historical Society. $1000, the income to be used for the pur- chase of books, a bequest from Gov. Alex- ander Ramsey. Public Library. $25,000, from Judge Greenleaf Clark. MISSOURI ST. Louis. Public Library. 791 volumes, from Charles Scribner's Sons. These and the following gifts to the library formed part of the Model Library at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. 742 volumes, from Houghton, Mifflin & Co. 571 volumes, from Macmillan Co. 259 volumes, from Harper & Brothers. 245 volumes, from D. Appleton & Co. NEBRASKA OMAHA. Public Library. $10,000, to be used at the discretion of the governing board, a bequest from Frank Murphy. $40,000 for two branch libraries, from Andrew Carnegie. NEW HAMPSHIRE CLAREMONT. Fiske Free Library. $15,000 for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. CONCORD. New Hampshire Historical So- ciety. $5000 for the building fund, from the trustees of the John H. Pearson fund. NEW JERSEY HACKENSACK. Johnson Public Library. $772 for books, from citizens, raised by popular subscription. NEW BRUNSWICK. Theological Seminary Gardner A. Sage Library. $5200 not pre- viously reported, for the general endow- ment fund. Rutgers College Library. $1000 for fur- nishing, from Robert F. Ballantine, of Newark. NEWARK. Free Public Library. 500 volumes, from the Clark Thread Co. Collection of minerals, from Dr. W. S. Disbrow. New Jersey Historical Society. 630 vol- umes, from Henry Cougar. UNION. Free Public Library. $25,000 for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Ac- cepted. $500 for an endowment fund, the in- come to be used for the purchase of books, from Dr. Albert W. Warden. WESTFIELD. Public Library. $10,000 for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. NEW YORK ALBANY. New York State Library. 300 vol- umes relating to medicine, from Dr. S. B. Ward. ALBION. Swan Library. $10,000, a bequest from Mrs. W. G. Swan. BATH. Davenport Library. $40,000, the in- come to be used for general library pur- poses, a bequest from Hon. Ira Davenport. A tract of land, known as "Cameron park," a bequest from Hon. Ira Davenport. The gift is conditioned on the continued use of the present library for library pur- poses and the park as a park. BINGHAMTON. Public Library. $1000 for books, from individuals, labor unions and a literary club. BROOKLYN. Pratt Institute Free Library. 99 volumes relating to the history of furniture from the trustees. The collection was made by Alyan C. Nye, instructor in archi- tectural design in the institute from 1897- 1904, in preparation for a history of furni- ture. Many of the books are very rare and valuable. GRAVESEND. High School Library. $10,000 for the establishment of a free library in the school, a bequest from Cornelius S. Stryker. HERKIMER. Free Library. $5000 for an en- dowment, the income to be used for the purchase of books, from Judge Robert Earl. The gift was conditioned upon the raising of an equal amount. $5000, from various sources, to meet the condition imposed by Judge Earl. ITHACA. Cornell University Library. $500,- ooo, a bequest from Daniel Willard Fiske, formerly librarian of the university library and at the time of his death a resident of Florence, Italy. $500,000 is the estimated HARRISON 117 amount of Prof. Fiske's estate, including his Petrarch and Icelandic libraries, the largest collections on these subjects in ex- istence. Provisions of the will provide for an amanuensis for each collection as well as one for the Dante collection, given by Prof. Fiske to the library several years ago, for the publication of an annual vol- ume relating to Icelandic history .and lit- erature and for funds to maintain and in- crease each collection. Library Chi Chapter of Psi Upsilon. Be- quest from Daniel Willard Fiske providing a fund, the interest of which is to be used to supply the chapter library with 15 of the best American and European periodicals. NEW YORK. Hispanic Society of America. Archer M. Huntington has announced his intention (the deed of gift is said to have been executed) to give to the society his collection of Spanish books, manuscripts, coins, etc. The collection and endowment to be placed in the hands of trustees is es- timated at more than $1,000,000. (See Library Journal, Sept., 1904.) Mercantile Library Association. $1000, a bequest from George G. Williams. New York Historical Society. $150,000 for a building, from Henry Dexter. Granite for the new building, valued at $50,000, from Henry Dexter. 1975 volumes relating to the United States, from various members. Public Library. 642 volumes and 1587 pamphlets, from the Century Association. 2255 volumes and 1233 pamphlets, from the New York City Comptroller. '2568 volumes and 14,830 pamphlets, from the Y. M. C. A. Library. OYSTER BAY. Free Library. President Roosevelt has presented the mahogany chair given him while governor of New York. It bears a silver plate inscribed. "State of New York. Theodore Roosevelt, Governor 1898-1900." POUCH KEEPSIE. Vassar College Library. $500 for an endowment fund, the income to be used for the purchase of books relating to history, from Miss Mary A. Mivicah. 270 volumes, a bequest from Mrs. E. L. McMahon. ROCHESTER. University of Rochester Library. $5000 for an endowment fund, the income to be used for the purchase of books, from Edwin O. Sage. $4500, from Hiram W. Sibley, for ex- tensive improvements in Sibley Hall, the library building. (This is in addition to the $10,500 reported last year.) 924 volumes, musical literature and scores, valued at $3000, from Hiram W. Sibley. ROUSE'S POINT. Public Library. $6000 for a building, a bequest from Dr. Lynn Dodge. ROUSE'S POINT. Public Library. $4000 for books, a bequest from Dr. Lynn Dodge. SCHENECTADY. Free Public Library. $1000, a bequest without conditions from Howland S. Barney. SENECA FALLS. Library Association. A sub- stantial brick, roomy and centrally located building, locally known as the "Munroe residence," from Wilhelmus Mynderse. The dwelling will be altered and adapted for use as a library. SYRACUSE. University of Syracuse Library. $150,000 for a building from Andrew Car- negie, on condition that an equal amount be raised for an endowment. The amount is now being raised. $100,000 for an endowment, a bequest from Mrs. Caroline S. Reid. UTICA. Public Library. Collection of auto- graph letters of the Presidents from Wash- ington to Roosevelt; also engravings and sketches, mounted in winged case. WEST CHAZY. Public Library. $3000 for a building, a bequest from Dr. Lynn Dodge. '$2000 for books, a bequest from Dr. Lynn Dodge. NORTH DAKOTA UNIVERSITY. Library of the State University of North Dakota. 1595 volumes, from Mrs. John M. Cochrane. 452 N volumes, from Hon. M. N. Johnson, of Petersburg, N. D. OHIO CINCINNATI. Public Library. $20,000 for a building at Norwood, from Andrew Car- negie. (Norwood is within Hamilton county, all of which is served by the Public Library of Cincinnati.) Site at Norwood, valued at $5000, from Edward Mills. CLETOLAND. Adelbert College of Western Reserve University Library. $500 for books, from Hon. John Hay. Public Library. 638 volumes relating to folk-lore and oriental literature, from John G. White. 331 volumes relating to oriental litera- ture. DELAWARE. Ohio Wesleyan University Li- brary. $600 for books relating to classical philology and literature, from Prof. John Williams White, of Harvard. 800 volumes relating to philosophy, the- ology and political science, from ex-Presi- dent J. W. Bashford. 300 volumes relating to political science, from Charles B. Spahr, of New York. FREMONT. Birchard Library. $2500, a be- quest from Mrs. Elizabeth Green Kelly, of Chicago. LANCASTER. Public Library. $5000, a be- quest from W. W. Card, of Pittsburg. PORTLAND CONFERENCE YOUNGSTOWN. Reuben McMillan Free Li- brary. Property adjacent to the library, valued at $10,000, from . Mrs. Richard Brown. OREGON PORTLAND. Library Association of Portland. $500 for art books, from Miss Mary F. Failing. The gift is a memorial to her father, Henry Failing, late trustee and president of the association. PENNSYLVANIA ALLEGHENY. Western Theological Seminary. 3000 volumes relating to theology, a bequest from the Rev. Dr. W. G. Taylor, of Beaver, Pa. BRADDOCK. Carnegie Free Library. $35,000 for improvements to the building, from An- drew Carnegie. EASTON. Public Library. $750 for the pur- chase of photographs of famous paintings, statues and buildings and case. HOMESTEAD. Carnegie Library. $35,000 for improvements to the building, from An- drew Carnegie. HUNTINGDON. Juniata College Library. 750 volumes relating to religion, from the heirs of James Quinter. PHILADELPHIA. Drexel Institute Library. 330 volumes, an addition to a large collec- tion given in 1898, from George M. Stand- ish. Free Library. Lot, 190 by 180 feet, Tor- resdale avenue and Knarr street, from Messrs. Disston. Lot, 150 by 66 feet, Frankford avenue and Overington street, from T. Comly Hunter. Lot, 80 by 99 feet, I7th and Spring Gar- >den streets, from Burnham, Williams & Co. (Baldwin Locomotive Works). Lot, loo by 159 feet, Frankford avenue and Hartel street, from the trustees of Lower Dublin Academy. Lot, loo by loo feet, Manayunk avenue and Osborne street, from A. & P. Roberts Co. (Pencoyd Iron Works). Mercantile Library. $1000, a bequest from Hiram Bro6k. WILLIAM SPORT. Public Library. $300,000, a bequest from James V. Brown. This is ad- ditional to the $150,000 reported in 1903. RHODE ISLAND PROVIDENCE. Brown University Library. $1000, an additional donation to the general library fund from Henry D. Sharpe. The Hartshorn daguerreotype of Edgar Allan Poe, presented by him to Mrs. Sarah Helen Whitman, from Miss Hortense Webster. John Carter Brown Library. 58 vol- umes, comprising prayer and service books, from Mrs. Harold Brown. The collection is valued at $27,825. PROVIDENCE. Public Library. $1000, a be- quest from Mrs. Philip Allen. SOUTH DAKOTA PIERRE. Carnegie Library. $12,500 for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Ac- cepted. $10,000, from various citizens. $5000 for site, from Heughes Co. YANKTON. Yankton College Library. $17,- ooo for a building, from Andrew Carnegie. Accepted and building now in process of erection. TENNESSEE JOHNSON CITY. Johnson City Library. $500 for books, a bequest from Mrs. J. C. Hunt. KNOXVILLE, Lawson McGhee Library. 1017 volumes, from Miss Humes. TEXAS AUSTIN. University of Texas Library. 2700 volumes, from Hon. John H. Reagan. 641 law books, from Judge Robert S. Gould. Unbound volumes of engineering pe- riodicals, valued at $600. VIRGINIA CHARLOTTESVILLE. Library of the University of Virginia. 4000 volumes, constituting the private library of the late Prof. Thomas R. Price, of Columbia University, from Mrs. Price. 1200 law books, from Bradley S. John- son. 250 volumes relating to science, from Rev. Haslett McKim. NORFOLK. Public Library. $1230 for an equipment fund, from various persons. WASHINGTON SEATTLE. Public Library. $20,000 additional for a building, from Andrew Carnegie, making a total gift of $220,000. WALLA WALLA. Free Public Library. Site valued at $3000, from Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Elliott WISCONSIN APPLETON. Laivr { ence University Library. $1000, from a friend. KAUKAUNA. Free Public Library. Site valued at $1000, from the Green Bay and Mississippi Canal Co. MADISON. State Historical Society. Oil painting, "Landfall of Nicolet in Wiscon- sin," by Edwin Willard Deming, valued at $1200, from Robert Laird McCormick, ex- president of the society. Collection of 50 etchings, earliest im- pressions from the original plates, of ruins at Rome and Tivoli, by Giovanni Battista Piranesi, purchased with money raised by special subscription among the members of the society. The etchings cost $700. * H i> n n 3 re* c. L c n y o JC f 1 re I 1 1 re O 5- n n o- K 3 c? o 3 c" a re 91 3-, re , cr c c K- a 3 0. 31 i rt 3 a- Total North Atlantic Division South Atlantic Division South Central Division Western Division Western North C< Division. Divisi Iff || flpfff 3 S |' | ."S-OO^ ' f I'll ' South ntral Central sn. Division. nfii |jf ' 3 J5' ' ^ . w ft C ( ? ^ p 1 ^ South \tlantic North Atlantic Division. Division. 3ps' f ^3n ^- *| O * i 3* p> OO.ft ^ w Bc-r>'*.CB 1 \ ^ Section and State. Ul * CO, * UJ Ul j \O 4" 00^. 00 M Id Total number. Co 8 w O * 0\ ?*: : * 8= :1 II i !i : : : : : -: : : 9: Endowment fund. Gifts in money for purposes other than books. t? I o u "b M S w w oj'w u o o\ tn O Ui O Ul M (0 VJ " : M % - * * *O *-* M'jJNOv Object largely un- known (mostly bequests and probably gener- ally used as en- dowment funds). j | -f 5 i i |8 =3 IllS o 10 5 ui 6 CO M ; ; VI H Money. l o o S 2 8 o 8 ; ; 1 M O\X W U COW Ul* Ul VI Ul OJ Ul O NO H ui * O CONO O M CO O Nl J\ ^ M 00 3 M VJ -g Ul O o ; i ~*0 g Ui P" * * "H ? iT ONO*' -S vl Ul 88 r f :' u vl "oo^ Collections, value known. Miscellaneous. -+ s U 00 : : H H H W * * Collections, value not known. s Hi -So : M M Pictures, busts, etc. VI H j 0> - ; - ;. Other objects. 120 PORTLAND CONFERENCE ANDREW CARNEGIE'S GIFTS TO LIBRARIES, 1881-1904.* Name of State or Country. Total Population. Aggregate of Population Served with Carnegie Libraries. Amount Giv- en or Prom- ised for Erection of Buildings. Number Towns with Carnegie Libraries. Number Carne- gie Libraries. Percentage of whole Popula- tion Supplied. Alaska 63.59* 1,828,697 122,931 1,31 '.564 1,485,053 539,7 908,420 184,735 278,718 523,542 2,216,331 161,770 4,821,550 2,516,462 392,060 2, 23 ',853 ',470,495 *,i47,i74 '.381,625 694,466 1,188,044 2,805,346 2,420,982 1,751,394 1,551,270 3,106,665 243,329 1,066,300 42,335 411,588 1,883,669 i95,3io 7,268,894 1,893,810 319,146 4,157,545 398,331 413,539 6,302,115 428,556 1,340,316 401,570 3,048,710 2,020,616 276,749 343,641 1,854,184 518,103 958,800 2,069,042 92,531 76,058,167 955,243 5,579,666 4,472,000 32,527,843 4,458,775 3,^98,284 874,267 177,072 1,350,000 50,987 16,834 584,451 222,798 6,125 218,196 60,015 182,343 10,866 419,060 382,685 8,890 350,340 141,412 354,747 293,784 77,965 32,798 147,607 522,781 170,614 695,863 3t '$ 101,662 4,5 58,000 266,731 5,601 4,050,112 59>"o 73>723 1,256,980 30,332 92,716 2 > I0 3,93' '6,795 34,887 285,297 135,440 16,313 , 24,449 " 138,123 '88,933 23,626 -296,960 25,963 14,274,832 32,048 1,051,213 ',934,504 6,243,809 746,587 71,39 34,809 25,500 $ 90,000 54,000 '.S^.Soo 433,5oo 20,000 700,000 90,000 267,500 40,000 1,038,250 963,000 25,000 938,500 265,000 533,5oo 260,000 176,000 55,000 361,000 1,301,200 409,000 ',"327,500 95,000 210,000 15,000 137,000 512,000 20,000 6,360,000 100,000 77,700 1,713,500 88,500 110,000 6,612,930 25,000 126,500 ^ 483,500 195,000 25,000 65,000 180,000 432,500 60,000 692,000 92,500 29,094,080 100,000 ',475,500 ',970,550 5,938,610 598,000 91,250 35,250 22,000 s 30 II I I 8 3 53 45 2 5' 12 IO 2 II 3 21 29 28 '5 7 7 j 2 39 4 5 52 5 2 34 2 9 '9 5 i 2 3 9 2 33 4 619 I 45 7i 275 30 5 i I 5 3 35 ii i 7 3 9 3 53 45 2 52 12 IO 5 ii 3 21 34 28 25 7 7 i 18 2 119 4 63 5 2 70 2 9 '9 5 i 2 3 9 2 33 4 779 i 48 IO2 3'7 36 5 i i 2.8 '3-3 39-7 4'-3 .6 78.4 11.9 8.2 6 6 8.7 15-2 2-3 16.1 9.4 16.5 21-3 II. 2 -9 S< 21.6 9-7 22.4 9-5 9-5 10.6 14.1 18.0 2.9 55-7 3-' 7-4 30.2 7-6 22.4 33-4 i. a 8-7 9-3 6-7 5-9 7-' 7-4 36.5 2-5 '4-3 '28 o '8.7 3 4 18.8 43-3 18.2 16.8 8.2 19.6 2.0 Connecticut Dist of Col Florida Idaho - New York North Carolina * * ... Ohio Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Texas Utah West Virginia UNITED STATES PORTO RICO CANADA SCOTLAND ENGLAND IRELAND AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND TASMANIA . WEST INDIES 130,049,317 24,414,692 $39,325,240 . 1,048 1,290 I8. 7 This dates from the first offer, made to Pittsburgh Nov. 25, 1881. PLUMMER 121 REPORT ON STANDARDS OF LIBRARY TRAINING BY A.L. A. COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY TRAINING: MARY W. PLUMMER, SALOME C. FAIRCHILD, KATHARINE L. SHARP, ALICE B. KROEGER, MARY E. ROBBINS, EDWIN H. ANDERSON. 'T'HE committee, composed of six persons, has been obliged to do all its work by correspondence, with the disadvantages that that implies. The chairman, as a means of starting discussion, has assumed certain standards to be desirable, and sent them out to be debated in writing. Various differences of opinion have come to light, and it is a ques- tion whether it can make unanimous recom- mendation on some points. ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS. The subject of entrance requirements for admission to the established winter schools was first discussed. One member expressed no opinion, and the remainder of the committee were ready to agree on two or three years' work beyond high school graduation, two members pre- ferring three years of college, and three pre : ferring to set the requirement' at two years. Literature, history, and foreign languages were suggested as the predominant subjects in college-preparation for the work, while two of the committee expressed a desire to include economics and natural science, par- ticularly physics ; and while no one of the committee objected to an examination for entrance, in lieu of the college residence re- quirement, one member desired questions in economics and natural science to be included in this examination. All five who discussed the requirements lay stress on personal fit- ness for library work, though one member thinks this can only be ascertained by trial. For summer library schools, the committee unanimously recommend as an entrance re- quirement that the applicant hold a paid posi- tion as librarian or library assistant, or a definite written appointment to a library posi- tion. Two members favor an educational re- quirement in addition, such as the completion of a high school course or its equivalent. For entrance to an apprentice-class, when apprentices are trained with the probability and expectation of being employed by other libraries, four of the committee recommend two years of college work, including fifteen hours weekly of literature and history, two being willing to substitute a test by examina- tion, and one of these suggesting the subjects as general literature, history, and current events. For entrance to correspondence courses, four members of the committee considered it absolutely necessary that the applicant should have a paid position as librarian or library assistant, or a definite written ap- pointment to a library position. The remain- ing members disapprove altogether of cor- respondence courses. INSTRUCTION Recommendations as to instruction for library schools: 1. That at least one-third of the school instructors shall have been trained in a recognized library school ; one member sug- gests that the remaining instructors should have had practical experience in library work or wide academic training. 2. That at least one-third of the instructors shall have had experience in other libraries than that connected with the school. 3. One member of the committee feels that one-half the instructors should give their en- tire time to the school, another suggests that one-third of the faculty should be the propor- tion, while two think that the instructors should have regular library duties, in addi- tion to their work as teachers. A fifth mem- ber believes that "instructors are better in- structors if they keep in close touch with practical library work." This might be ac- complished, it would seem, without being sub- ject to the embarrassing limitations of li- brary hours and assigned duties, and the chairman does not know on which side to count this opinion. 4. That for laboratory work there be at least one instructor to every ten students. Recommended by the only members who dis- cussed the point. 5. Three members recommend that at least one-sixth of the student's time be given to actual work in the library connected with 122 PORTLAND CONFERENCE the school, or in some other where it can be supervised by the school. For summer library schools: 1. Recommended that at least one person in the corps of instructors shall have been trained in a library school. Not discussed at all by four members. 2. That at least two persons in the corps of instructors shall have had experience in other libraries than the one connected with the school. Not discussed by four members. 3. That there be at least one instructor to every fifteen students. Not discussed by four. 4. That at least one-fourth of the work for beginners, entering the school on appointment to a position, be practical library work. While this was thought desirable, two of the com- mittee doubted if it were practicable. For apprentice classes: 1. Recommended that the apprentice shall receive instruction as well as be allowed to practice in the library offering the appren- ticeship. Three members did not discuss this. 2. That this instruction be in all depart- ments of the library's work, except the ad- ministrative. Not discussed by three. 3. That the course be not less than six months in length and the time spent in in- struction and practice not less than twenty- four hours weekly. Not discussed by three. 4. That at least one-half hour each day be devoted to a course of required reading. Not discussed. It should be said that one member thought the committee had no jurisdiction to fix standards for apprentice-classes, as being an affair of the individual library; and the chair- man would, therefore, call attention again to the fact that only such apprentice-classes are intended by this recommendation as are taught with a view to securing positions in other libraries. In all schools or classes, one member of the committee recommended that each in- structor possess the knowledge, the natural fitness, training, and experience which shall make him or her fully competent to teach the subject undertaken. Not discussed by five. TESTS AND CREDENTIALS For library schools: Recommended that a certificate or diploma be given at the end of the course, which shall certify only to the satisfactory completion of the course and fulfillment of tests; not to fitness for library work, which should be a question referred to the school in the indi- vidual case, for recommendation. It was agreed that a graduate might be likely to suc- ceed in some lines and not in others, and that very few can be guaranteed at the outset/ Three members were convinced .of the ne- cessity of this caution, two thought the fact should be taken for granted. It should be stated that the sixth member of the committee, Mr. Anderson, had with- drawn by the time this question and the fol- lowing were sent on their rounds. For summer schools: That a pass-card, rather than a certificate, be given to the librarian or assistant who has satisfactorily done the work of the course and fulfilled tests. If different work is taken each summer, the pass-cards may come in time to amount to a full-course certificate. Two members" preferred the pass-card, two had no objection to the certificate, while the fifth member thought that whatever form was used that being sometimes decided by the institution with which the summer school was connected this form should plainly state that it was a summer school course. To this, the committee as a whole would sub- scribe, I think. For apprentice-classes: No certificate or general letter, but a spe- cific letter when the applicant becomes a can- didate for a given position. Three members 'agreed on this, the other two doubting in general if the committee has any right to deal with the subject of appren- tice-classes. MINIMUM NUMBER AND LIST OF SUBJECTS FOR WHICH CERTIFICATE OR DIPLOMA SHOULD BE GIVEN It was the belief of three of the committee that some minimum should be agreed on, and of all that the committee's present report was not the place. However, the list submitted to the committee for discussion was as follows: For library schools: i Decimal, Classification < ^ | Expansive. Classed Cataloging FIRST SESSION 123 Library economy f Accession work Shelf-listing Loan systems Binding and rebinding Supplies and statistics [ Order work, work lectures and practical I Reference problems. Bibliography, trade. Book selection. For summer library schools: Same, except classed cataloging and Ex- pansive classification, with a pass-card to show which subjects were completed in any one summer. For apprentice classes: Same as for summer schools, with the excep- tion of trade bibliography and book-selection. These exceptions were made in the case of the summer schools and apprentice-classes, not because the subjects were not considered desirable, but because in so short a time it seemed impossible to do justice to so many subjects, and these seemed to be the ones for which the library assistant taking a short course would have least use. As the Association will see, there is unanim- ity on almost nothing, which shows two things : first, that the library schools are themselves somewhat uncertain as yet as to the necessary foundations of their work, and second, that it is time thought was being given to the subject. The com- mittee would be glad to assist as indi- viduals, as far as may be, in the work ot fixing standards; but as a committee, begs to be discharged. It would call attention to the recommenda- tion made at Niagara Falls that a standing committee be formed of eight persons, selected from specified fields of library work, to report regularly each year on all known sources of library training. As the number eight would make this action unconstitutional (only five being allowed by the by-laws), and as eight persons seem necessary to cover the required library relationships, the committee suggests that section 6 of the by-laws be suspended, and authority granted to the executive com- mittee to appoint a committee of eight in ac- cordance with the recommendation -made by the committee at Niagara Falls. THE PROCEEDINGS PORTLAND, OREGON, TUESDAY, JULY 4, TO FRIDAY, JULY 7, 1905 FIRST SESSION (MAIN AUDIENCE ROOM, UNITARIAN CHURCH, TUESDAY AFTERNOON, JULY 4) THE first general session of the Portland Conference was called to order by the presi- dent, Dr. E. C. RICHARDSON, at 2.40 o'clock. After local and general announcements the regular business was opened with the presen- tation by J. I. WYER, Jr., of his SECRETARY'S REPORT Mr. WYER. The records of the Associa- tion show a paid membership for the calendar year 1904 of 1228, showing, in common with, each year of the Association's history, a sligfit increase in membership, so that the figures 1228 indicate the largest enrollment of paid membership for any year of the 28 in the As- sociation's history. The work of the secretary's office may be indicated by a brief list of the publications issued, and it has always been found to be a helpful statement to include those in the secretary's report, for the benefit of his suc- cessor. The preliminary announcement, 4500 copies, mailed in February; the final an- nouncement, 3200, mailed in June ; the pro- gram distributed at this meeting, 700; the I2 4 PORTLAND CONFERENCE advance attendance register, 500, distributed at this meeting also; several minor circulars, a circular (200 copies) to delinquent mem- bers more than a year in arrears on their dues, and another circular (250 copies) to Pacific Coast library workers, especially de- signed to interest them in the Portland meet- ing, have been sent out during the year. You will notice the absence of the Hand- book title, which has been regularly printed every year for the last eight or ten, and it is not designed to omit it this year; but the custom of printing the Handbook immediately preceding the annual meeting has rendered its list of officers and committees obsolete within four or five weeks, and the list of members also a regular feature of each year's Hand- book is defective or is not as inclusive as it might be if made to include those in at- tendance at the conference held immediately after its publication. For these reasons the annual Handbook for 1905 will be printed in September, including all names registered in attendance at this conference as members of the Association, and including, to make it an exact and complete record, the officers and committees which are serving at this meeting and those which will be elected at this meeting to serve for the ensuing year. It is worth noting as a significant step for the future that discussion has turned upon the appointment, as soon as circumstances will permit, of a permanent secretary and this has found expression during the past year in the appointment of an assistant secretary who shall work into the duties of the office of secretary and shall be able to relieve the secretary's office of some of the routine and the detailed work. If that were all it would hardly be as significant as I have indicated, but there are larger aspects of the duties of the secretary's office, such as pertain espec- ially to the permanent headquarters, of which we have heard more or less in the last two or three years the field work, the work of disseminating information in response to in- quiries, the work of securing an endowment for the working purposes of the Association, somewhat similar to that enjoyed by the -Na- tional Educational Association. All these duties, and they are of course the most im- portant duties pertaining to the office of the secretary, have necessarily been imperfectly attempted, if attempted at all, so long as a new secretary has been appointed every year or two, so long as every secretary has been always a very busy man apart from the duties pertaining to the Association. It is with the view of remedying this and of providing for someone who may be able to devote the greater portion of his time to these important features of the Association work that steps have been taken, upon which we all may congratulate ourselves, looking^ toward more leisure in executive hands for the prosecution of these features of the work. It is rather more difficult, in connection with our association, to do this, than with the National Educational Association. They number their members in the thousands, and while there is no greater proportion, proba- bly not so great a proportion, of active teach- ers" in the country that are members of the N. E A. as there are of librarians who are members of our association, still they show an enrollment, based upon reduced railroad rates and pleasant excursions in connection with their meetings, of thousands and thou- sands of names, and the conditions attached to these rates bring $2 for every member into the association treasury, so they have been able to accumulate an endowment of a hun- dred or two hundred thousand dollars, to which is added every year a substantial fund. We have worked more slowly, added to our numbers perhaps more legitimately and our membership has always represented the earnest working members of the body of librarians in the country, and on this account we have been unable to employ a competent permanent sec- retary on full time and to engage in print- ing and investigating along lines similar to those which the N. E. A. has been able to do by virtue of its large fund. It is earnestly to be hoped that the efforts inaugurated dur- ing the past year looking toward this in- creased attention to the wider interests of the Association may yield speedy and substantial results. GARDNER M. JONES presented the FIRST SESSION TREASURER'S REPORT Balance on hand, Jan. I, 1904 (St. Louis conference, p. 196) $328.66 Receipts, Jan.-Dec., 1904 Fees from annual members : From 2 members for 1902 77 1903 iiSS 1904 ii " " 1905 1245 @$2 $2490.00 Fees from library members : From 30 libraries for 1904, @ $5 150.00 2640.00 Life memberships : Frank B. Bigelow, J. I. Wyer, Jr., Mary Francis, Katharine P. Loring, Lodilla Ambrose, William Beer 6@$25 150.00 Inside Inn, repayment of deposit 100.00 Found at conference .25 Interest on deposit in Merchants National Bank 41.02 $3259.93 Payments, Jan.-Dec., 1904 Proceedings : Mar. ii. Publishers' Weekly, reprint of proceedings of Trustees' Section 7.50 Dec. 14. M. L. Vanduzee, copying 6.00 " 14. H. R. Greene, copying 5.12 18.62 Stenographer : Dec. 14. C. H. Bailey, reporting St. Louis conference 150.00 Handbook : Oct. 8. Jacob North & Co 129.50 Secretary's salary: Feb. 25. J. I. Wyer, Jr., $25.00; May 24, .$75.00; Oct. 22, $100.00; Dec. 14, $50.00 250.00 Secretary's and conference expenses : Apr. 20. E. R. Sizer, postage 2.00 Aug. 2. J. I. Wyer, Jr., stamped envelopes 55.00 " 12. postage 8.00 " 31- postage, etc 57.48 Sept. 17. Woodruff-Collins Pr. Co., circulars 27.70 " 17. J. I. Wyer, Jr., envelopes, clerical assistance, etc 48.59 Oct. 22. J. I. Wyer, Jr., conference expenses 120.95 Dec. 12. Library Bureau, Chicago, stationery 7.20 " 12. Jacob North & Co., advance attendance register 25.00 " 12. Woodruff-Collins Pr. Co., programs 18.00 " 14. G. E. Benz & Co., buttons 10.00 " 14. J. I. Wyer, Jr., postage, etc 5.25 385-.I7 Treasurer's expenses : Dec. 12. Gardner M. Jones, travel expenses attending conference. 73.20 14. Library Bureau, Boston, catalog slips i.oo " 15. Gardner M. Jones, stamped envelopes 42.80 " 31. Newcomb & Gauss, stationery 9.50 " 31. Gardner M. Jones, clerical assistance, etc 36.04 $162.54 126 PORTLAND CONFERENCE Committee on relations with the booktrade: Jan. 19. Baker Printing Co., bulletins $I3-5O " 19. J. Laurier, stationery and printing 2.50 " 19. M. G. Eichenauer, clerical work i.oo Mar. 11. Baker Printing Co., bulletins 30.00 Apr. 8. J. Laurier, stationery 1.50 May 1 1. Baker Printing Co., bulletins 15.00 " ii. Library Bureau, Chicago, postage and mailing 12.00 June 18. Baker Printing Co., bulletins 15.00 " 18. J. C. Dana, postage and express 5.10 Aug. 2. J. C. Dana, postage and express 2.70 " 2. New York Public Library, postage 2.80 " 24. Baker Printing Co., bulletins. 10.00 " 24. Library Bureau, Chicago, postage and mailing 16.76 " 24. B. C. Steiner, travel expenses 8.00 Sept. 17. J. C. Dana, postage, etc 2.10 " 17. Baker Printing Co., bulletins 6.00 Oct. 8. Library Bureau, Chicago, postage and mailing 25.08 Dec. 12. Baker Printing Co., bulletins . . < 5.75 " 12. J. C. Dana, express i.oo " 14. B. C. Steiner, travel expenses 8.50 " 31. J. Laurier, stationery 5.00 $189.29 Committees, Sections, etc. : Aug. 2. Snow & Farnham, circulars for reporter on gifts and bequests 23.12 " 2. Herbert Putnam, postage and telegrams 14.02 Oct. 22. World's Fair Program Co., report of committee on per- manent headquarters I i.oo " 22. F. W. Faxon, expenses of travel committee 27.00 Dec. 12. Library Bureau, Boston, cards for registration 8.56 " 12. Woodruff-Collins Pr. Co., report committee on library administration 24.00 " 31. F. W. Faxon, expenses travel committee 14.00 121.64 1406.76 Trustees of the endowment fund : Life memberships for investment 125.00 Inside Inn, St. Louis, deposit to secure rooms for foreign delegates 100.00 Balance on hand, Dec. 31, 1904: Deposit in New England Trust Co., Boston 27.10 Deposit in Merchants National Bank, Salem 185.05 Deposit in Merchants National Bank, Salem, Savings Dept 1416.02 1628.17 $3259.93 The number of members in good standing on During the year 1904, 264 new members Dec. 31, 1904, is as follows: joined the Association, and 5 members died. GARDNER M. JONES, Treasurer. ?eT P Sme e T:::::-:::.:::::::::: ? * ****** *>* <* ^ **- Life fellows 2 pended: Life members 44 These accounts have been duly audited by Annual members (paid for 1904)! 1142 tne finance committee and are found to be Library members (paid for 1904) 30 correct, the proper vouchers being shown. S. W. Foss. T. E. MACURDY. 1228 DREW B. HALL. FIRST SESSION 127 Necrology 1. Minnie L. Benham (A. L. A. no. 3012, 1904) died on March 4, 1905, of heart failure, after an illness of two weeks. She was a graduate of Ingham University, Le Roy, N. Y., and of the Pratt Institute Library School, class of 1904. On graduation she was ap- pointed secretary and reviser of the school, in which position she gave entire satisfaction. She joined the A. L. A. in 1904, but had at- tended none of the conferences. 2. John Elmendorf Brandegee (A. L. A. no. 1228, 1893) died at his residence in Utica, N. Y., on Monday, May i, 1905. He was born in Litchfield, Conn., in 1853, and was the oldest son of Rev. John J. Brandegee, who went to Utica in 1854 and was for many years rector of Grace Church. Mr. Bran- degee was educated in the Utica public schools and at Trinity College, graduating in 1874. Later he entered Columbia College Law School and after graduation practiced law in Utica. He was a lawyer of remark- able ability and was in earlier years promin- ent in politics, but his strongest interest was in educational affairs. He was a member of the Utica board of school commissioners for 9 years and trustee of the public library for 12 years. In both positions he gave freely of his time, his advice and his best effort. He had been a member of the A. L. A. since 1893 and had attended the Cleveland and Chautau- qua conferences. He was also a member of the New York State Library Association of which he had been vice-president. Mr. Bran- degee was a man of most modest and retiring nature and his circle of library acquaintance was not an extended one, but those who knew him realized and appreciated his sterling qualities of mind and heart. Library Journal, May, 1005. 3. George W. Williams (A. L. A. no. 1369, J895) died at his home in Salem, Mass., on May 31, 1905. He was born in Salem, Oct. 2, 1838, and was the son of Charles Williams, a former Salem shipmaster. He was edu- cated in the Salem schools and afterward engaged in mercantile pursuits. In early years he was a commercial traveller and af- terwards held a responsible financial position with one of the largest shoe manufacturing concerns in New England. Of late years he had been treasurer of the Security Safe De- posit and Trust Co., of Lynn. He was one of the original board of trustees of the Salem Public Library elected in 1888, and served as treasurer of the board until his death. He was a life member of the A. L. A., which he joined in 1895 and which he had served since 1897 as trustee of the endowment fund. He was also a member of the Massachusetts Library Club. DR. PUTNAM. Mr President, I suppose it is in order to move the acceptance of this re- port, but in behalf of the conscience of the Association I should like to raise a query. I didn't notice any statement of a payment for advertising that "25 cents found." Subject to that qualm I move its acceptance. (Laughter.) The secretary's and treasurer's reports were accepted, and in the absence of Charles C. Soule, the secretary, Mr. WYER read the REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE ENDOWMENT FUND, FROM DATE OF LAST REPORT, Sept. i, 1904, to May 31, 1905 CASH ACCOUNT Receipts 1904, Sept. i. Balance brought over $6368.47 19. Two life memberships Mary Francis and Katherine P. Loring 50.00 Nov. 3. Life membership, Lodilla Ambrose.... 25.00 Dec. 3. Interest, International Trust Co 19.73 29. Interest on Watson mortgage 62.50 1905, Jan. 5. Life membership, William Beer 25.00 9. Interest, Brookline Savings Bank 24.12 Mar. 31. Interest, Union Trust Co 1734.25 Apr. 3. Principal acct., Union Trust Co 4825.00 15. Dividend, Chelsea Savings Bank. May 31. Interest, Union Trust Co 20.00 478.38 $13,632.45 128 PORTLAND CONFERENCE Payments 1904, Sept. 21. Deposit in Chelsea Savings Bank $1000.00 1905. Mar. 20. To A. L. A. Publishing Board 1000.00 Apr. 6. Kidder, Peabody & Co., for five Amer. Tel. & Tel. Co. 4 per cent bonds @ 96^ 4825.00 For accrued interest on same 52.78 May 24. To J. I. Wyer, Jr., sec., for expenses of committee on bookbinding. 50.00 24. To E. C. Hovey, two-thirds of salary as asst. sec., from Apr. 24 to May 24 (remaining one-third paid by Publishing Board 83.34 1905, Redeposited: Chelsea Savings Bank, dividend 20.00 Brookline Savings Bank : Interest, Jan. 12, 1903 44.16 Interest, July 1 1, 1904 69.60 Interest, Jan. 9, 1905 24.12 137.88 Union Trust Co., interest, May 31 478.38 636.26 May 31. Balance on deposit with International Trust Co., Boston 5985.07 $13,632.45 CONDITION OF PERMANENT FUNDS Carnegie Fund (same as last report) 100,000.00 A. L. A. Endowment Fund : Amount at last report 6337.94 Four life memberships (see cash account above). 100.00 6437.94 ASSETS, MAY 3!, 1905 Carnegie Fund (principal) : On deposit Union Trust Co., N. Y 95>i75.oo Five ($1000) Amer. Tel. & Tel. 4% bonds at cost, 9614 (present quotation 99%) 4825.00 100,000.00 A. L. A. Endowment Fund (principal) : Principal On deposit Brookline Savings Bank 1231.10 On deposit Chelsea Savings Bank 1020.00 Watson mortgage (South Boston) 2500.00 On deposit International Trust Co 1686.84 6437.94 Carnegie Fund (unexpended interest, available for use of Publishing Board only) : Union Trust Co., N. Y 478.38 International Trust Co., Boston 3397-51 Accrued interest included in purchase of Amer. Tel. & Tel. bonds. 52.78 3928.67 A. L. A. Endowment Fund (unexpended interest, available at discretion of Council) : International Trust Co., Boston 900.72 $111,267.33 FIRST SESSION 129 In addition to the above unexpended balance, income for the coming year may be estimated thus : From Carnegie Fund, available for the Publishing Board only about $3050.00 From A. L. A. Endowment Fund and unused interest, available for any purpose about 300.00 International Trust Co. : Principal account $1686.84 Carnegie Fund interest 3397-51 A. L. A. Endowment Fund interest 900.72 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 Association, we have examined his accounts and securities. We find evidence of assets amounting to $111,267.33, as stated in his report of May 31, 1905, and also find his accounts correctly cast, with vouchers for all expenditures. THEODOSIA E. MACURDY ) For Finance S. W. Foss j Committee. Boston, Mass., June 14, 1905. Mr. HOVEY : Mr. President, in moving the acceptance of this report I suggest that in future all financial statements from our differ- ent boards be made to cover the same fiscal year. S. S. GREEN : Is there some movement on foot to make a permanent investment cf the funds of the Association? The PRESIDENT : I will answer that. After our great loss in the death of Mr. Williams we have been fortunate in being able to per- suade Mr. Corey to take a hand in the work of the Endowment Fund trustees, and in con- versation with Mr. Corey I have heard that there is serious consideration of the imme- diate placing of the Carnegie fund of $95,000, now in the trust company at 3 per cent., in such a way as to have a 4 per cent, income from the bonds. The matter has not gone far enough for me to be able to say just how or when it will be invested, but immediate steps will be taken to invest it in some such way. Mr. GREEN : From my knowledge of Mr. Corey I do not think there could be a better person selected for this work and I have per- fect confidence that it will be carried on en- ergetically and with great vigor. Mr. HOVEY'S motion was carried. $5985.07 COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS The PRESIDENT: Let me now make an- nouncement of the committee on resolutions, appointed by the executive board as follows : Mr. Crunden, chairman ; Mr. Rowell, and Miss Plummer. I suppose to-morrow it will be our privi- lege to express our pleasure in being here, in a public way, but I think it may not be out of place, in the privacy of our own private business meeting this afternoon, to express to one another our appreciation of the cordial greeting we have had and the pleasantness of finding ourselves together in this agreeable place of meeting and in this delightful town. There are many who would have been glad to be with us, but have not been able to do so. I have had various letters, a telegram of sincere regrets from Mr. Bowker, and a cor- dial short note from one of our good friends of last year, Dr. Andersson. Taking up the routine again, let me call for the report of the Council, saying, first, that this report relates only to the Council meeting at Atlantic City, held in the middle of the year, save for the matter of the nominations which in the course of business must be made at this time. In connection with this, let me remind you that these nominations are subject to any supplement that you may choose to make. Any group of five persons may make such nomination by handing it to the secre- tary, up to the time of the opening of the meeting on Thursday. Nominations sent in r by five persons, up to the meeting on Thurs- day, will have the value of official nomina- tions. NOMINATIONS FOR OFFICERS The SECRETARY : The nominations of offi- cers for the ensuing year as made by the 130 PORTLAND CONFERENCE Council at its meeting this morning are as follows : President, Frank P. Hill, Brooklyn. First vice-president, C. W. Andrews, Chi- cago. Second vice-president, Caroline H. Garland, Dover, N. H. Secretary, J. I. Wyer, Lincoln, Neb. Treasurer, Gardner M. Jones, Salem, Mass. Recorder, Helen E. Haines, New York City. Trustee Endowment Fund, Alexander Maitland, New York City. Councillors, for the term of five years : George T. Clark, San Francisco; Linda East- man, Cleveland; Alice B. Kroeger, Philadel- phia; Mary F. Isom, Portland, and Bernard C. Steiner, Baltimore. The proceedings of the Council at its meet- ing at Atlantic City, while somewhat lengthy, will be read in full for the reason that much of the matter will bear upon business com- ing up for future consideration at this meet- ing and for the further reason that it is felt by the Council that the Association should be informed in detail of all the business there transacted. TRANSACTIONS OF COUNCIL, ATLANTIC CITY MEETING An interim meeting of the Council of the American Library Association, as authorized by the St. Louis Conference, was held at the Hotel Chelsea, Atlantic City, N. J., at 3 p.m., on Saturday, April I, 1905, in connection with the Bi-State Library Meeting. There were 12 members of Council present, as follows : Arthur E. Bostwick, James H. Canfield, Mel- vil Dewey, Helen E. Haines, W. E. Henry, Frank P. Hill, Anderson H. Hopkins, W. T. Peoples, E. C. Richardson, C. C. Soule, John Thomson, Anne Wallace. Dr. Richardson and Miss Haines, as members of the Execu- tive Board, acted as ex officio officers of Council. Committee on A. L. A. Academy. Melyil Dewey reported as chairman of the Commit- tee on A. L. A. Academy, composed as fol- lows : Melvil Dewey, R. G. Thwaites, Herbert Putnam, W. T. Peoples, Miss Gratia Coun- tryman. Mr. Dewey and Mr. Peoples were the only members of the committee present, but the other members had been communi- cated with and had transmitted their views in letters, which were read. Mr. Dewey spoke of the importance of having the gen- eral association as large as possible, and the equal necessity of having a manageable body to discuss the large and important problems of librarianship. The only criticisms he had received, Mr. Dewey said, seemed to hinge upon the use of the word "academy," which he considered might be readily dispensed with. He felt that ofter 30 years of organized li- brary activity the A. L. A. was ready for a plan by which the best people of the country, in a number to get the right results, should come together once a year to discuss the large questions of the profession. Mr. Dewey's remarks were presented as a report of progress for the committee, and the subject was left open for discussion. Mr. Peoples said that there was general objection to the word "academy" and suggested that the name "A. L. A. Senate" would be better. Mr. Spule thought that only one thing was clear, viz., that the Council as at present constituted cannot include all the leading minds in the Association. He thought that the constitution might be altered so that all ex-presidents and ex-secretaries might be made ex officio mem- bers of Council ; they should not go out of of- fice, but should represent those whom the As- sociation has chosen as its leaders and form a permanent body. Mr. Bostwick said that the same result could be achieved by adding to the present Council a number of long-term non-voting members, available for purposes of discussion, but not for business meetings. Mr. Hill asked what object would be obtained by election of non-voting members, and said that he had noticed in other organizations that there is objection to such an element. Non- voting members do not take the same interest in the work of the prganization. Dr. Canfield, on request, described the handling of a sim- ilar situation in the National Educational As- sociation. To give opportunity for discussion which could not be provided in the large gen- eral sessions a National Council of Educa- tion, of 60 members, was formed. This, though useful in some ways, did not meet the anticipations that had been formed regarding it, and its failure has been more marked since the Department of Superintendence began to hold midwinter meetings separate and apart from the general convention. He thought that possibly the A. L. A. needed a depart- ment like this Department of Superintendence, for those whose specific work is work of com- mon interest. Mr. Thomson said that a more detailed and careful report on the subject was needed before any decision could be made. Expressions of opinion were taken on the following points : Is it desirable to limit the size of the Association? No. Is it desirable that business should be transacted by a smaller body than the present Council? Yes. The question, Is a body needed for the discussion of large library questions that cannot be fully considered at a general meeting? had no defi- nite answer, though it evoked some discus- FIRST SESSION sion, in the course of which it was suggested that the present Council might be enlarged and transformed into a debating body, and the routine business be put in the hands of a board of directors. On motion of Dr. Can- field it was Voted, that the report of the com- mittee be accepted, and the committee be continued. California Library Association. Announce- ment was made that a communication had been received from the Library Association of California, inviting the Council to attend a dinner, in San Francisco, in connection with the Portland Conferene. It was Voted, that the invitation be accepted with thanks on be- half of those who may be able to attend, and that the California Association be later ad- vised as to the most desirable date. Bookbinding. The matter of the appoint- ment of a committee of five, to investigate the subject of publishers' bindings, book papers, leathers, and binding methods and processes, as presented on behalf of Mr. J. C. Dana at the St. Louis meeting of the Council (see A. L. A. Proc., 1904, p. 251) was considered. On motion of Mr. Dewey it was Voted, that a committee of three on bookbinding be ap- pointed by the chair, and on motion of Mr. Peoples it was Voted, that the Council re- quest the trustees of the endowment fund to appropriate $50 for the expenses of said com- mittee. Place of next meeting. The question of place of the 1906 meeting was considered, with the announcement that no definite action could be taken and that only an expression of opinion could be had. The invitation to meet in Asheville, N. C., presented for two years pre- viously, was renewed by Miss Wallace, who said that as she would be unable to attend the Portland Conference she desired this oppor- tunity of again presenting the invitation from North Carolina. The invitation was extended in the name of the Governor of the state, the state library association, and the Asheville board of trade. A meeting in Asheville in the first week in June would, she thought, be de- lightful in itself, and most helpful to the li- brary development now just beginning in the Southern states. An invitation to the A. L. A. to hold its annual meeting for 1906 in At- lantic City, in May, June, September, or Octo- ber, was presented by Mr. A. M. Heston, of the board of trustees of the Atlantic City Public Library. Dr. Canfield spoke of the fact that the library movement is following the de- velopment of the public schools, and sug- gested that in planning time and place of its annual meetings regard should be had to the time and place of the annual meeting of the National Educational Association. He thought it would be a great stimulus if the two meet- ings could be held, if not at the same time, in the same place or in the same section of the country within a very close period of time, either immediately before or immediately after. On motion of Mr. Dewey, it was Voted, that the Council recommends to the Portland meeting of Council that Asheville be chosen as place of next meeting, if satis- factory railroad and other arrangements can be made. Yearbook of Library Literature. The prop- osition for a yearbook of library literature, presented by Mr. W. D. Johnston in his paper at the St. Louis Conference, was referred to the next meeting of Council. New England Educational League. A com- munication was presented from the New Eng- land Educational League, asking the co-opera- tion of the A. L. A. in its efforts to secure a "universal library." It was Voted, that this communication be referred to the committee on library administration. National Association of State Libraries. The following resolution, passed by the Na- tional Association of State Libraries at its St. Louis meeting, was considered : "Whereas, There appears in the publications of the A. L. A. mention of a State Librarians' Section, noted as dormant; and whereas the work of said section is being done by the Na.- tional Association of State Libraries, which has been holding its meeting at the same time and place as the A. L. A. meetings a're held : "Resolved, That we, the members of the National Association of State Libraries, re- quest the Council of the A. L. A. to substitute in its several publications the name of 'Na- tional Association of States Libraries' for said 'State Librarians' Section.' " It was not thought that this resolution made it clear whether or not the Association of State Libraries desired affiliation as a section with the A. L. A., and it was Voted, that the matter be referred back to the Association of State Libraries, with the request that the as- sociation define more clearly the affiliation proposed. A. L. A. headquarters in relation to Pub- lishing Board. Mr. Soule made a statement in regard to establishing an A. L. A. head- quarters with a paid assistant secretary in connection with the Publishing Board facili- ties. He said that while the Association needed and should continue its present offi- cers, the need was constantly growing for a man whose time should be given to the work of correspondence, awakening library interest, management of business details, etc. He asked the Council to authorize making the Publishing Board office the headquarters of the Association, with a paid assistant secre- tary, whose duties should be defined by the Executive Board, to be employed and paid partly by the Publishing Board and partly by the Association. Such an officer would give part of his time to the work of the Publishing 132 PORTLAND CONFERENCE Board and part to A. L. A. business, accord- ing to the proportion of salary paid by each. Mr. Soule presented the following resolu- tions, which were adopted : "Resolved, That headquarters of the Asso- ciation be established at the office of the Publishing Board; "Resolved, That the Executive Board be authorized to appoint an assistant secretary to take charge of the headquarters, and to perform such duties as they may prescribe; 'Resolved, That the accumulated interest of the Endowment Fund (other than the Car- negie Fund), not otherwise appropriated, be appropriated toward the expense of such headquarters and the salary of the assistant secretary ; "Resolved, That this opening of headquar- ters and employment of a paid assistant sec- retary shall be understood to be tentative and subject to revision or termination at the next meeting of the Council. "These resolutions to take effect on ap- proval of the two committees on this sub- ject." Advisory Committee on Cataloging Rules. On request of the president, Mr. Hopkins gave a short informal report for the Advisory Committee on Cataloging Rules. The com- mittee met at the Mercantile Library, New York City, on March 23, and held meetings for a week thereafter. At trie end of its ses- sion the committee was convinced that an amount of clerical work has to be done that it was unfair to require of the secretary, and voted to pay clerical expenses for the prep- aration of a condensed code. It also decided to ask that expenses be authorized for the preparation of a much larger code on cards. The committee recommends that it be con- tinued and its powers enlarged, or that an- other committee be appointed to work on these lines. Mr. Hopkins' remarks were ac- cepted as an informal statement. Adjourned 5.50 p.m. The report of nominations and the report of the Council were duly accepted. The report of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, be- ing incorporated in the reports of the treas- urer and trustees of the Endowment Fund, was passed over. The report of the PUBLIC DOCUMENTS COM- MITTEE could not be presented, as it was con- tained in the recorder's trunk, which went astray and was not recovered until after the conference.* No report was received from the COM- MITTEE ON FOREIGN DOCUMENTS. * This report was received in time for inclusion in the Proceedings. See p. 92. In the absence of Dr. Canfield, chairman, Miss M. E. AHERN read the report of the COMMITTEE ON COOPERATION WITH LIBRARY DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION As it was determined early in the year to hold the next meeting of this Association at Portland, Oregon, and the next meeting of the National Educational Association at As- bury Park, N. J., practical and direct co- operation for the Asbury Park meeting was greatly limited. Fortunately the secretary of the Library Department, N. E. A., is a mem- ber of this committee, and her services in preparing the department program and her influence in securing the attendance of speak- ers and others, may fairly be counted as part of the activities of this committee. But the unfortunate geographic separation between the two organizations emphasizes anew the desirability and necessity of closer alliance. The committee brings this thought forward again, because it is daily more apparent that public libraries and public schools must work together if either is to meet with the highest success. Each is now recognized as only one part of the system of public and free edu- cation. The public schools naturally must take the initiative, and the public, libraries must do the work which will complement and supplement that of the schools. Teachers must be brought into closer contact and more sympathetic relations with librarians, and in this the librarians may well take the initia- tive. The committee each in his own terri- tory has given special thought during the year to promoting these most helpful rela- tions. Much has been done by correspond- ence also, and something by personal effort outside their immediate locality. The chair- man has visited seven of the leading cities of New York, speaking at least once in each, and making the relations of the public librar- ies and the public schools his constant theme. On his suggestion of some years ago, there is now in each public school of Greater New York a library bulletin, giving the location of the nearest public library, name of librarian, and carrying from jime to time special library notices of interest. There has also been con- FIRST SESSION 133 stant effort in this direction, in the use of the local press, which librarians are coming to use more and more intelligently each year. It is hoped that before long there may be the very closest relations between the work- ers in these two parts of our educational sys- tem, and that perfect harmony in general purpose and special methods may prevail. It is with children that librarians are now most successful and find their largest oppor- tunity. The school ought to create the read- ing habit, to find its satisfaction in the li- brary. With this thought constantly in mind, and the importance of these relations increasing from day to day, your committee suggests the desirability and feasibility of holding the sessions of the American Library Association at the same place as that in which the Na- tional Educational Association meets, either immediately before or immediately after the session of the latter organization. This would not mean yielding any independence or indi- viduality, while it would give the A. L. A. the advantage of special railroad rates ob- tained by the N. E. A., and above all that which is most important the opportunity of a large interchange of members in at- tendance at various sessions of each organiza- tion. There seems to be no strong reason against such a policy on the part of the A. L. A., and such affiliation, we believe, would add to the strength of each organization. Of course, no proposition of this kind has been made by your committee to the officers of the N. E. A., our first duty being to sub- mit it to our own Association. But we hope this will not be passed over lightly, and that hereafter it may be far more possible than this year to bring about practical and efficient cooperation between these two great organiza- tions which are really moving along similar lines. Your committee has engaged in much cor- respondence with normal school people and others, concerning the proposed small man- ual on library administration, for use in nor- mat schools and possibly in some secondary schools. We are glad to report that this lit- tle book, 10 chapters one for each of 10 recitation or lecture periods is already well under way, and is promised for January next. The chapter headings and the syllabus of each chapter have been, and the text itself when complete will be, passed under the criti- cism not only of this committee, but of li- brarians and principals of some of the more noteworthy normal schools of the country. Respectfully submitted, J. H. CANFIELD, MELVIL DEWEY, M. E. AHERN. The PRESIDENT: If there is no objection this report will be received. The way we are celebrating this afternoon, by getting down to business and serving our country by doing our business well, does not suggest international cooperation so much as it does a little international opposition, which has paved the way for the modern in- ternational cooperation. But we are on the way to cooperation, and last year we ap- pointed a committee with reference to a spe- cific task, of which Dr. Putnam is chairman. I call for the report of the COMMITTEE OX INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION Dr. PUTNAM : The origin of this commit- tee, as you will recall, was in certain resolu- tions passed by the Association at its St. Louis Conference of last year. These resolu- tions are embodied in a circular letter which I shall quote hereafter. The committee ap- pointed by the executive board consisted of Dr. Cyrus Adler, of Washington; Dr. J. S. Billings, of New York; Dr. Morris Jastrow, Jr., of Philadelphia; Mr. W. C. Lane, of Cambridge, with myself as chairman. The committee held n^meeting, but by corres- pondence agreed upon the plan of procedure, the first step in which was to compile a list of the associations, institutions, and public bodies which should be addressed, and the second, the issue of a circular letter of in- . quiry. It was agreed that this letter should not name specific projects and request opin- ion upon them, but should consist simply of a general invitation to the addressees to ex- press their views as to the feasibility of the federation proposed, and as to the projects with which it might usefully concern itself. A list was accordingly drawn. I submit a copy of it (marked "B") to be printed with 134 PORTLAND CONFERENCE the proceedings. Checked upon it are the ad- dressees from whom a response of some na- ture has been received. The circular issued was as follows : "At the International Library Conference, held at St. Louis in connection with the St. Louis Exposition, Oct. 17-22, 1904, upon the suggestion of the librarian of the Laurentian Library at Florence, and consideration and report by a special committee, the following resolutions were adopted : " 'The American Library Association, at its 26th annual meeting, held in St. Louis, on the occasion of the Louisiana Purchase Exposi- tion, has been honored by the presence of dis- tinguished delegates representing the library 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 associations and bibliographical societies of the world. " 'Believing that international cooperation, 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 cooperation 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 pro- posal ; that the committee be instructed to re- port to the next annual meeting of the Asso- ciation with such recommendations as it may deem fit.' "The undersigned (Putnam, Adler, Billings, Jastrow and Lane) have been appointed the committee of the American Library Associa- tion above referred to. They have decided that their first duty is to lay the above reso- lutions before the various associations and societies, and request from them an expres- sion of opinion as to the feasibility of such a federation as is proposed, with what matters it should be concerned, and if with coopera- tive undertakings, to what such undertakings it might advantageously be applied. "We beg to submit the inquiry to your so- ciety, with the hope that you will be interested to give it attention, and to reply with such suggestions as may seem to you pertinent. As some report will be expected from this com- mittee at the coming meeting of the Associa- tion in July, it is hoped that your reply will be a prompt one." I have here the various responses. With your permission I will read from them a few characteristic extracts. [Does so.] In general the responses indicate an. ap- proval of the proposal, but in most cases this does not go beyond an amiable acquiescence. Few specific projects are suggested the only ones in fact being : "Cooperative indexing of literature and periodicals" ; uniformity of treatment with regard to cataloging and subject indexing, particularly lists of subject headings; the indexing of those branches of current scientific literature not included in the International Catalogue. The Bibliographical Society of Great Britain sug- gests that "If it be desired to have a central society for keeping bibliographers all over the world acquainted with what work is being done it will be easier probably to arrange with [that] society tor what is wanted than to consider an entirely new body," and that "as regards cooperative bibliographical work as distinct from the circulation of informa- tion on an international scale it is impossi- ble." The director of the bureau of the Prussian Gesamtkatalog writes that "person- ally, I can not promise myself for the present, any very considerable advantages from such an alliance for the German libraries. That you should reach an agreement on many points in cataloging with the British Library Association seems to me very desirable. But the differences between the English and Ger- man languages are probably too great to permit the establishment of uniform rules within the domains of both." Mr. President, the committee does not re- port accomplishment, as you will see, but simply perhaps a certain measure of progress. It recommends that it be discharged, with the hope, however, that a new committee be ap- pointed and with the suggestion that the next ex-president of the Association shall serve as chairman of that committee. The PRESIDENT: You hear the report with its various recommendations. I am not quite sure of the detail of the procedure involved in all the recommendations, but suggest that the report be accepted and its recommenda- tions referred to the executive board. Voted. The list of associations addressed by the Committee on International Cooperation is as follows : Congres des bibliothecaires, M. Henry Mar- FIRST SESSION 135 tin secretaire general, Bibliotheque de 1' Ar- senal, Rue de Sully, I, Paris. Denmark Statens Komite til Understottelse af Folkebogsamlinger. Dr. A. S. Steenberg, Horsens, Denmark. France Ministre de 1'Instruction Publique et des Beaux-Arts ; Direction de 1'Enseign- ment Superieur; 6 me Bureau (bibliotheques nationales, universitaires et municipales ; Depot Legal et Souscriptions ; fichanges Internationaux) . Chef, M. Musson. Hungary Ungarisches National Museum; Oberinspektorat fur Museen und Biblio- theken, Budapest, v. Szalay Imre. Italy Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione- Administrazione Centrale. Divisione vm. Legislazione, Sezione n. Biblioteche Pubb- liche Governative. Lucca. Portugal Direcc.ao Geral de Instrucjao Pub- lica ; Inspecgao Geral das Bibliothecas a Ar- chives Publicos (Lisbon). Spain Junta Facultativa de Archives, Bib- liotecas y Museos de Antigiiedades (Ma- drid). Jefe Superior, D. Marcelino Menendez y Pelayo. Institut International de Bibliographic, Bruxelles. M. Henri La Fontaine, directeur. Bureau Bibliographique de Paris, 44, Rue de Rennes. President General H. Sebert. Deutsches Bureau der Internationalen Bib- liographic, Berlin. Dr. Oskar Uhlworm. Geschaftsstelle des Gesamtkatalog der Preus- sischen Bibliotheken. Dr. Paul Trommsdorff (Nw. 7, Doro- theenstrasse 5, Berlin, Germany). Concilium Bibliographicum, Zurich. Dr. Herbert Haviland Field, director. Institute Bibliografico Mexicano. Prof. Dr. N. Leon, Museo Nacional, Mexico. The Bibliographical Society, 20 Hanover Sq., London, W. .Hon. Secretary A. W. Pollard. Bibliographical Society of Lancashire. Secretary, Henry Guppy, The John Ry- lands Library, Manchester, England. Edinburgh Bibliographical Society; The Phi- losophical Institution, Edinburgh. Secretary, G. P. Johnston. Societa Bibliografica Italiana. Prof. Dr. Guido Biagi, Biblioteca Medi- ceo-Laurenziana, Florence. "Russkoe Bibliograficeskoe Obscestvo" at the Imperial Moscow University. Jakov Gerasimovic Kvaskov, Rumpancev- sky Muzej, Moscow. Russkoe Bibliologiceskoe Obscestvo, St. Pet- ersburg, Fontanka, 62. Secretary, B. Gorodeckij. Library Association of the United Kingdom. Lawrence Inkster, Hon Secretary, Whit- comb House, Whitcomb street, Pall Mall East, London, S. W. Bristol and Western Branch of the Library Association. Hon. Secretary, L. Acland Taylor, Bris- tol. Northwestern Branch of the Library Asso- ciation. Hon. Secretary, C. Madeley, Warrington Museum. Librarians of the Mersey District. Hon. Secretary, C. Madeley, Warrington Museum. Birmingham and District Library Association. Hon. Secretary, Robert K. Dent, Aston Manor, Warwickshire. North Midland Library Association. Hon. Secretary, J. Potter Briscoe, Public Libraries, Nottingham. Northern Counties Library Association. Hon. Secretary, H. E. Johnston, Public Library, Gateshead. Library Assistants' Association. Hon. Secretary, George E. Roebuck, St. George's Library, 236 Cable street, London, E. Societe Franklin, Paris, Rue Christine, I. President, Eug. d'Eichtal. Verein Deutscher Bibliothekare. Dr. Paul Schwenke, Konigliche Biblio- thek, Berlin. Oesterreichischer Verein fur Bibliotheks- wesen. Dr. G. A. Cruwell, Universitats-Biblio- 1 thek, Vienna. Societe des Bibliothecaires Suisses, Zurich. Dr. Johannes Bernoulli, Schweizerische Landesbibliothek, Bern. Library Association of Australasia. H. C. L. Anderson, Public Librarian of New South Wales, Sydney. Kansai Bunko Kyokai, or Western Library Association. Dr. B. Shima, Librarian Kyoto Imperial University, Kyoto. In the absence of W. I. Fletcher, the secre- tary read the REPORT OF THE PUBLISHING BOARD, which had been printed and distributed in ad- vance. (See p. 107.) Miss MARY W. PLUMMER presented the re- port of the COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY TRAINING Miss PLUMMER: The committee understood that it was continued not so much for a re- 136 PORTLAND CONFERENCE port on library training as for a report on standards of training, which had been sug- gested, and has therefore confined itself to that subject. The report is given in full elsewhere. (See p. 121.) In the absence of W. R. Eastman, chair- man, Miss CORNELIA MARVIN read the report of the COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION (See p. 102.) Adjourned at 4.30 p.m. SECOND SESSION (MAIN AUDIENCE ROOM, UNITARIAN CHURCH, WEDNESDAY MORNING, JULY 5) President RICHARDSON called the meeting to order at 9.15. The PRESIDENT: It is a matter of great pleasure that we are to be welcomed at Port- land by the man whom we welcomed at St. Louis, and who there showed himself such a master in the art of persuading us of the welcome that we should have if we came here Dr. Eliot. Dr. T. L. ELIOT : Dr. Richardson and ladies and gentlemen of the American Library As- sociation: It is not easy for us of the Port- land Library Association and of the state of Oregon and of the Pacific Coast to express to you the delight and the gratitude with which we see you here in our far-away, green Northwest and welcome you from our hearts to all that we can do or give or share with you in making this an occasion of profit and of pleasure to you all. Your president has kindly alluded to our invitation. Let me say that I am increas- ingly full of wonder to think of our audacity, not to say our verdancy, in coming to St. Louis and extending an invitation to you to come here, to make another leap or lap of two or three thousand miles in your adven- tures in search of a convention home. I say we were audacious, not to say verdant, in in- viting you, and perhaps we were guilty almost of effrontery in hoping or expecting that you would accede to our request. It amuses" me to think of the audacity and effrontery and verdancy I am going to play on those three words every time I think of it of ourselves in meeting the solid objections that were so kindly put forward to your making this long trip and visit. We were told, for example, how extremely important and serious your councils ought to be at this time and that anything adventitious, that the allurements that might be offered in any way, in connec- tion, for instance, with the Fair or the trips that were to be had about our city, would in- terfere with that more serious object of your great and honorable body; and some of you will remember that we answered you, almost perhaps with mendacity, that there were no such attractions out here in Portland ; at any rate, that we did not intend in any way to exploit them; that as for the Lewis and Clark Fair it might turn out to be but a feeble shadow of the great Fair that you were then attending in St. Louis, and that if you your- selves were seriously minded we saw no rea- son why, if you came to Portland, you could not be quiet and solemn and earnest and as deliberative as you might be in any part of the earth. But, after all, and serious as were your objections, here you are, and we know and our library board knows perhaps better than anyone else that it is your generosity that brings you here. Your coming to Portland was your answer to the plea which we made, that we were inviting you to this distance not for your profit nor for your pleasure, but we appealed to your hearts upon the mission- ary side for the things that you might do for this great Northwest and for the Pacific Coast. We felt at this early day and in this formative and plastic period of our growth that what you did here might leave a lasting impress upon this part of the world, upon the higher portion of the work that some of us feel is put upon us in upbuilding this won- derful West. We knew that we had but few libraries, we knew that we were thinly scat- tered, we knew that our representation from this side compared with your representation would be almost beggarly, and yet we threw ourselves upon your sentiment of noblesse SECOND SESSION 137 oblige in asking, in almost begging, you to take this opportunity to "come over and help us." It was a Macedonian cry, and you have answered it out of the heart of what is your deepest purpose, that of advancing and uplift- ing the great commonwealth of man. This is what we thank you for and this was our verdancy, if we were verdant, in urging you to come to this distant place. I take it that our verdancy, after all, was the verdancy of the beautiful virtue of Hope. Hope is pictured by poets and artists with the light, sweet green of the springtime, and, therefore, in asking you. to come we perhaps belonged to the beautiful green things of the earth, of which it is said: "O, all ye green things of the earth Bless ye the Lord, Praise Him and magnify Him forever." We welcome you to the hospitality of our homes and of our city. We trust that your deliberations while you are here will be for your profit; we know that they will be for ours. The very breeze of your purpose to come to our coast has fanned our own work into new life, for have we not, as perhaps we will show you more carefully later on, in this year of grace, in our own city, greatly expanded the local work, founded a library association of the state, and passed a law for a library commission, and already secured one of your representative workers to take the important place of secretary of that com- mission a commission that is destined to run the library idea like wildfire among the prairies and the mountains of Oregon? That is all that I will try to say. (Applause.) The PRESIDENT: Dr. Eliot, in acknowledg- ing the welcome which you, as the mouth- piece of the many trustees, librarians, and in- dividuals of the Pacific coast who are now extending to us so cordial a welcome, prom- ised to us in St. Louis let me say, in the first place, that if your welcome promised be- forehand is to be regarded as a triumph of audacity, I may say it is also a triumph of success. For when you so eloquently, with your efficient helper at St. Louis, laid before us the advantages of coming here and the rea- sons for doing so, it was never anticipated that your welcome would be extended to so many of us from the East. Indeed, some of the pessimists of our Association prophesied an attendance of not one-third of those whom you have greeted to-day. And in offering us this welcome you minimized the great at- tractions of the Fair, you minimized the at- tractions of this established town of yours, you minimized even the warm personal indi- vidual welcome which we have found here immediately on every hand. I assure you, Dr. Eliot, that in the wel- come of the individual heart, the welcome of this attractive city, the welcome of the Fair, the welcome of all these surroundings which make the promise of this meeting to us one of great personal pleasure as well as of prom- ise for the fruition of our hope of helping in your work on the Pacific coast in all these things we find more than we hoped for. And the thing which most impresses us in coming here is not what you have alluded to, the need of establishing libraries, so much as it is the rapidity with which, when you have once taken hold of an idea, the thing is carried through^ We are greatly afraid that some of our Eastern states will soon be looking on with some shamefacedness at having been passed in the race when in this short time you have done so much. Whatever encour- agement, in working with you, we can give to-day to encourage you in the ambition to beat us all in the library work of the United States, we give it to you with all our hearts. Dr. RICHARDSON then delivered the PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS: THE NATIONAL LIBRARY PROBLEM TO-DAY (See p. 3.) CHARLES WESLEY SMITH gave an address on LIBRARY CONDITIONS IN THE NORTHWEST (See p. 9-) S. S. GREEN : Mr. President, while the in- terest in the two papers that have been read to us is fresh in our remembrance, I cannot refrain from making a motion which I know that it is the wish of everybody here to vote in favor of that the thanks of the Associa- 138 PORTLAND CONFERENCE tion be extended to the two gentlemen who have read these papers, for the information and inspiration which have been given to us in these admirable addresses; and, feeling that your modesty, sir, is such that you would not like to put this motion, I will do it myself. (Laughter.) Carried unanimously. The PRESIDENT: I venture to accept for, both of the speakers, in their proper pro- portion, this generous testimonial, and to say that I was about to say, before the resolution was offered, that after having heard this most inspiring paper of Mr. Smith, the Eastern librarian who longer doubts the wisdom of our coming to the Pacific states, if there is any such librarian, will, by unanimous con- sent, be regarded as unworthy of being a member of the American Library Association. (Applause.) The little that we Easterners can do has been well typified this morning. The best that we can say from our point of view cannot approach the reality, the inten- sity, and the interest with which those who are on the ground feel and act with reference to library matters. It was thought especially fitting this morn- ing that we should have some instructive ac- count not only of the libraries of this im- mediate region but of the neighboring librar- ies, as the "neighborhood" of this Pacific Coast now extends not only to the continent, but to the farther Northwest and to the islands of the sea. The first of the brief notes on Pacific li- braries, on California, was to have been given by Miss Mary L. Jones, of the Los Angeles Public Library, and I cannot better express the very excusable reason for her absence than by reading her brief letter of apology for not being present, received since my ar- rival in Portland, but dated June 22: "Dear Dr. Richardson: "Politics have again broken out in the Los Angeles Public Library, and last night the board honored me with a summary dismissal. Consequently I shall not be at the Portland meeting as I had planned. This I regret chiefly because it leaves a gap in the pro- gram ; not that the number is of supreme im- portance, but that in making out so difficult a thing as a week's program one insignificant item may disarrange things. I have written to Mr. Lichtenstein and he will probably have a substitute ready for you. "Regretting the necessity of thus disap- pointing the committee, I am "Most sincerely yours, "MARY L. JONES." "Los ANGELES, June 22, 1903." Mr. Lichtenstein has secured the kind con- sent of Mr. Charles S. Greene, of the Oak- land Public Library, and trustee of the Cali- fornia State Library, to speak briefly of the California libraries in Miss Jones' stead. NOTES ON PACIFIC LIBRARIES CALIFORNIA C. S. GREENE: California has occasion to regret the sad reason why you are forced to listen to me at this time instead of to Miss Jones. Miss Jones was recognized by all li- brarians of California as one of the brightest members of our profession. She was chosen to speak of the libraries of California because of her eminent fitness to do it. Her long exper- ience, the great success that she has made, with that Los Angeles library, and our faith that she would be able to continue that work so long as she cared to do it, made it eminently proper that Mr. Lichtenstein should have asked her to speak for the libraries of Cali- fornia. Rising to speak in her place, on no- tice given since I arrived here this morning, I feel a sense of shame that California has to make this apology in the beginning, and yet, if we can pass by that matter, as we have to pass by other bitter things, we really have a right to speak with satisfaction of the libraries of California. The American Library Association met in California in 1891, just half way in the American Library Association's life; and it then brought encouragement, it built up li- braries through its influence, and the Pacific coast, and California especially, has from that day advanced steadily in library work. In 1878 there were no public libraries in California ; that is, in the sense of the free public, tax-supported library. There were some association libraries ; there was the Mechanics' Institute, there were the college libraries; but there were no free public librar- ies in the sense that we have them to-day, and the state library at that time and for many years afterwards, indeed until 1903, SECOND SESSION 139 was limited so that it was only a state library in name; it was actually simply a law and reference library for the city of Sacramento. But in the last five years especially there has been a great awakening in California in li- brary matters, and I will speak of the state library's part of it because it has been through the state library that it was in some measure brought about. The former law, now super- seded, allowed the state library to distribute its books only to state officers and to legisla- tors during the session, and for the rest of the time only those who went to the library could use it. It was only a reference library. The trustees had more money than theycould spend in that way, and they piled up quite a little sur- plus, a thing quite remarkable for a library, and a state of affairs that no longer obtains, because in 1903 a law was passed that extends the use of the books and gives to the trustees of the state library the duties of a state library commission, requiring it to gather library in- formation and disseminate it through the state. That law has been taken very broadly by the trustees ; they have established the travelling library system and have now travelling libraries in every one of the fifty- six counties of the state, not counting the city of San Francisco, which is a county by itself. The state library has also built up its staff in a way that you will approve of, by adding trained people to its staff as fast as it could get them, by establishing the system of travelling libraries, by undertaking to send books to the blind throughout the state, and by establishing a legislative reference depart- ment, after the model of the admirable depart- ment at Wisconsin, putting it in charge of a man that Mr. McCarthy, of Wisconsin, recom- mended to us. So that the state library is in good shape. The library law is also in good shape. In 1901 a state library law was passed, modelled on the same excellent series of li- brary laws that has been mentioned by Mr. Smith. In California a library is now established in any town when 25 per cent, of the voters request the governing board to establish one, and must thereafter be sup- ported by taxation. New libraries have sprung from this law, and all the li- braries of the state have been growing. Mr. Carnegie has been generous to us; he has presented some 35 libraries in California with buildings, and, more than that, a considerable amount of money has been given in other ways. So with all this library building in our state; with an active library association which has increased its membership more than double this last year and is going to double again this year, I hope; and with the added incentive that we are going to have from the visit to Portland of some thirty of our members, and the still further inspira- tion that we are going to receive from the visit to California of many members of this Association, I think you will have no occasion to blush for the libraries of California. (Ap- plause.) E. O. S. SCHOLEFIELD, provincial librarian at Vancouver, B. C, spoke on LIBRARIES IN THE BRITISH NORTHWEST (See p. 14.) Mr. SCHOLEFIELD: In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, I have one ambition which I hope to see fulfilled in a few years. I want to see the American Library Association meet in the capital of British Columbia, Victoria, on one of its journeys to the coast in the future. We have not at present very much to show you in the way of library work, but in a few years I think the development will be remarkable. At the same time Victoria is recognized as a very beautiful spot ; we have many places of interest that would attract you, and I hope one of these days to see the American Library Association meet in Vic- toria, the old historic capital of the Colony of Vancouver Island. (Applause.) The PRESIDENT: It has been with extreme pleasure that we have listened to the repre- sentative of the Canadian Northwest. Mr. Scholefield is one of the men that we came West to get acquainted with and our ac- quaintance, I hope, will prosper. I will call now for the paper on Hawaii, by Miss Helen Hillebrand, of the Pub- lic Library in Honolulu. We are to hear from the Hawaiian library from a Hawaiian librarian, who is also through-and-through an American librarian. 140 PORTLAND CONFERENCE HAWAII Miss HELEN HILLEBRAND: I am very glad to be able to give you, in a few words, some information as to what we are trying to do in Hawaii for our libraries. 1 hope you will not be disappointed when you hear how limited is our field of work, but when you know the conditions there you will probably understand it better. The Territory of Hawaii, as you know, includes eight in- habited islands, with a population of over one hundred thousand. The capital, Hono- lulu, is situated on the island of Oahu, and it is there the Honolulu Library and Reading Room Association is located, of which I am the librarian. On two of the other islands there are some very small travelling libraries which do not extend very far in their in- fluence. Their means are limited and they only reach the towns in which they are lo- cated. Our library was organized twenty- seven years ago, solely through the efforts of public-spirited individuals. We receive no aid from the government with the excep- tion of water rates and electric lights. And here I wish to correct an error which I see in the program, the statement that this is a free library. I wish it were. I hope it will not be long when it will be made free, be- cause we can never do the work that we should do, we can never extend our influence until the library is made free, and able to reach the people who take no interest in it now, or do not care enough about it to pay the subscription fee of 50 cents a month. We have our own building located in the center of the town, and a very large, good, reading room, which is fully attended most of the time ; it is even more largely patronized than the library itself. We have about 115 periodicals in the room, ranging all the way from the Orient to Australia, United States, and Europe. Our library consists of 18,000 volumes. Our membership is very small, which I am sorry to report; but until the library is free I am afraid it will continue to be so. Our work with the school children, which ought to be much greater than it is, and would be the most important feature of the work, is very limited on account of lack of means. We have an endowment of $50,000, the interest on which, with sub- scriptions to the library, constitute its sole support, and until we can get the school chil- dren there and in that way have readers, we cannot extend its influence in that direction. We also need a good reference room, and a system of travelling libraries to reach the other islands, for with a territorial form of government, which has its own problems to deal with, and which are very serious in the first years of its existence, we can expect no support from the government. The class of people that we have for members is very like what you have in your large cities. Hon- olulu is an American city, and an up-to-date city, but the laboring class such as you have, which your large libraries in the large cities reach so extensively, we do not have. They are represented instead by Asiatics. There are very few Hawaiians among the people of the islands and they and the Asiatics do not, of course, read at all in the English, even if they do in their own language, and therefore have no interest in the library except as their children attend the public schools. If we could reach all the schools and in this way reach the children we might do some- thing, but, as I say, our efforts are limited entirely to the high school pupils and of those there are not more than two or three hundred. We have a very good class of read- ers. Honolulu is a city of 40,000 population, and among them there are only eight thou- sand whites, so when you consider that these have to pay for the privileges of the library, you can see that our activities are somewhat curbed. I presume the influences of the climate are not conducive to activity in read- ing. A great many of the people are well-to- do and have their own libraries, and buy a great many of the magazines and periodicals. So that the library membership is not as large as it should be in proportion to the community. We have never before had trained workers. I have one assistant, and the work is not very heavy, so that the two of us can easily do it. The library is open from 9 in the morning until 9.30 in the even- ing, and the reading room is open every day in the year, the circulating department being closed on legal holidays and Sundays. We hope that in the near future you will SECOND SESSION 141 find your way out to Hawaii. (Laughter and applause.) We cannot do much for you in a library way, but we can show you natural wonders that you cannot find anywhere else. We have the largest active and the largest extinct volcanoes in the world, and we shall welcome you most cordially; and I hope that by that time we may have a larger library and be able to show better results. (Applause.) The PRESIDENT : After hearing Miss Hille- brand none of us have any doubt that there is going to be a free library in Hawaii before very long we certainly hope long before the American Library Association meets there. THE PHILIPPINES The following account of the American Library in Manila, by Mrs. Nelly Young Egbert, the librarian, was received too late for presentation at the conference, but is here given in full : The American Library, in Manila, Philip- pine Islands, was organize'' and started by Mrs. Charles R. Greenleaf, wife of Gen. C. R. Greenleaf, U. S. Army, who brought over money and books with which to support it, until some permanent provision could be made. I was elected by the library board as librarian, March i, 1900, and have held that position ever since. The library was opened March 9, 1900, with about 300 books on its shelves. They began to come in sparsely at first, but in a short time the number increased rapidly, and in January, 1905, we had 21,750 volumes, given by the women of America, with a few exceptions and as a rule by the patriotic so- cieties Daughters of American Revolution in different states, Army and Navy League, Red Cross of California, and Tfeel proud of the work and thought of our women when I realize how much access to such a library means to us Americans so many miles from the homeland, with all its pleasures and ad- vantages. This library is a great help to our soldiers, and those in or near Manila come constantly to exchange their books, and many of them have told me what a comfort and help this library has been to them. Some Filipinos, students of the normal school in Manila, come to the library to look up data pertaining to their curriculum. We have braided a fund for the purchase of books out of the sale of tickets entitling the holders to take books from the library, fines for keeping them over time, etc., and are able to buy books for the general library. The memorials to different officers and soldiers who gave their lives in the Spanish-American war constitute a very interesting feature of this library, and these memorials grow in size or stand still, as the friends of these men choose. General and Mrs. Greenleaf have placed a memorial there to the medical officers who gave their lives in this war, and there were many brave and unselfish sacrifices. They add to these books from time to time. The D. A. R. of Ohio have placed a memorial there to Ohio's sol- diers and intend to add books until the vol- umes number 1000. The memorial is marked with a very handsome plate of copper and brass, suitably inscribed, and one of its mem- bers, Mrs. Rath-Merrill, has designed and given a bookplate for these books. The D. A. R. of Montana, of Virginia, of Kentucky, and California have placed books there. Also the Red Cross of California have placed one to California's soldiers. There are also me- morials placed to Col. Harry C. Egbert, 22d Inf., U. S. Army, and the books for this are exclusively on American history. A memorial to Col. Liscum, 9th Inf., U. S. Army; to Col. John Miley, U. S. A.; to Col. Guy Howard, Q. M. D., U. S. A., and to Lieutenant Ward Cheney, 4th Inf., U. S. A. These last four have books on general subjects. There is little or no public amusement in Manila in the evening, so that this library with its well-selected works means a great deal to the English-speaking people living there and to our soldiers. Mrs. Greenleaf tried for two sessions to in- duce our Congress to make an appropriation for the maintenance of the American Library, but in that she failed, and on leaving Manila in April, 1901, she turned these books over to the civil government there, to be held in trust and cared for. We have very good quarters in a government building and its contents are fully insured. We have a large airy read- ing room, well lighted ; fine reading tables, magazine racks, newspaper files made from the beautiful native woods; books of refer- ence conveniently placed for readers, and the bays of books well lighted by electricity. We have about 500 subscribers and average an issue of 1600 books each month. NELLY YOUNG EGBERT, Librarian American Library. ALASKA A report on the library in Sitka, Alaska, by Hon. John G. Brady, governor of Alaska, not received in time for presentation, is also given : Alaska District Historical Library and Museum Alaska's civil code approved June 6, 1900, provides : 142 PORTLAND CONFERENCE Sec. 32. "For each certificate issued to a member of the bar, authorizing him to practice law in the district, a fee of ten dollars shall be paid to the clerk of the court, which shall be by him promptly remitted to the secretary of the district, and at the same time the clerk shall advise the governor of the remittance. For each commission issued to a notary public a fee of ten dollars shall be paid to the sec- retary of the district. The fees .received by the secretary under this section and under chapter seventy-four of title two shall be by him retained and kept in a fund to be known as the district his- torical library fund. The fund thus collected shall be disbursed on the order of the governor for the purpose of establishing and maintaining the district historical library and museum. The same shall em- brace copies of all laws relating to the district, and all papers and periodicals published within the dis- trict, and such other matter of historical interest as the governor may consider valuable and appro- priate for such collection. The collection shall also embrace such curios relating to the aborigines and the settlers as may be by the governor deemed of historical importance. The collection thus made shall be described by the governor in the annual report of the governor to the secretary of the interior and shall be by him kept in a secure place and Burned over to his successor in office. The secretary of the district and the governor shall each annually account to the secretary of the interior for all receipts and dis- bursements in connection with such historical library and museum. Sec. 33. "The historical library and museum pro- vided for in section thirty-two of this title is hereby made a designated depository of publications of the government, and shall be supplied with one copy of each of said publications in the same manner as such publications are supplied to other depositories. At the time of the revision of the civil code for Alaska during the winter of 1899 and 1900 the present governor was in Wash- ington and frequently appeared before the House Committee on the Revision of Laws and the Senate Committee on Territories, the two committees which had in hand this legis- lation for Alaska. After considerable insistance for some pro- vision for a library, Senator Carter, of Mon- tana, who was chairman of the sub-committee, to whom was committed the preparation of this code, took the matter up and dictated to the secretary of the committee the law pretty much as quoted above. The idea of making a library fund was suggested by the law of the state of Wash- ington which provides : Title VI., Chapter I, Section 331': "That the notary public shall pay into the state treasury his fee of ten dollars for a four years' commission for a special state library fund." While this matter was under consideration, Mr. J. G. Price, who was before the commit- tee, suggested that each attorney, who enters the district to practice law should pay ten dollars to the clerk who issues the certificate and that the same should be used for the benefit of the library fund. In chapter 73, providing for the appoint- ment of commissioners to acknowledge deeds, "The secretary of the district shall collect five dollars for each certificate of appoint- ment and place this in the library fund." Since the approval of the civil code, June 6, 1900, the secretary of the district has been collecting fees for all filings by foreign cor- porations, etc., until his right to do so was called in question last year. The result is the law which was approved March 3, 1905, as follows : "That in case the law requires or author- izes any service to be performed or any act to be done by the secretary of the district of Alaska and there is no provision of law re- quiring the payment of a fee for such service by the person for whose benefit the same is performed, the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe such fees for said service as he may deem proper. "That all fees received by the secretary of the district of Alaska as such secretary, from every source whatsoever, shall be dis- bursed, on the order of the governor of the district of Alaska, for the benefit of the Alaska Historical Library and Museum, as provided in section 32, chapter I., title i, of an act approved June 6, 1900, entitled 'An act making further provision for a civil govern- ment for Alaska, and for other purposes'; and all such receipts and disbursements shall be accounted for in the manner prescribed in said section." These rivulets make up the fund which can be spent at the order of the governor for the library and museum. Soon after the law was approved in 1900, the governor visited the various departments at Washington and pleaded the cause of the Alaska library. He was well received and each sent what it could. We are especially indebted to Mr. L. C. Fer- rell, Superintendent of Documents, who sent us copies of every book that he could spare from his shelves. One mail consignment brought nearly seven tons of valuable gov- ernment prints. In addition to these several hundred volumes were purchased at old book stores in Washington. These were for the most part government prints. As the law designates the library a de- pository of publications of the government it is furnished with one copy of each publica- SECOND SESSION 143 tion. This library with such a start can be made one of the very best collections of government publications in the whole country. The district has no library building. We have been permitted by the Society of Alas- kan Natural History and Ethnology to house our books in the Sheldon Jackson Museum. This is an octagonal building whose faces are 28 feet. Its walls are of grout and about 16 feet high. The rafters are supported by large wooden columns and the roof is of heavy galvanized iron. It is the nearest fire-proof of any structure, outside of a bank vault, in the district. Shelves have been erected against the walls and most of the books are stacked upon these. Lately one of the upper rooms in the custom house at Sitka has been turned over for the use of the library. This is being occupied and will be the work-shop of the library. A considerable number of the books are kept on the shelves in the gov- ernor's office. The PRESIDENT : It is a matter of regret that Governor Brady, who was suposed to be in Portland at this time, could not be present with us. Perhaps you know that it is due to his initiative that the remarkable Territorial Library is being formed there. Besides this, there are several libraries of a more popular character, chiefly Y. M. C. A. or mission libraries, and notably the one es- tablished at Fairbanks by Bishop Rowe, the Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Alaska. At the request of the president, Mr. FRANK P. HILL, first vice-president, took the chair. The CHAIRMAN : We will proceed with the reports of special committees. The first com- mittee in order is that on the A. L. A. Ex- hibit at the Lewis and Clark Exposition, of which Dr. Dewey is chairman. REPORT ON A. L. A. EXHIBIT Dr. DEWEY: We are face to face in the matter of our library exhibit with the same thought that has come before you, from your president's address, and from other sources the need of closer organization, of more funds, and of a national headquarters. Mr. Carnegie has helped us out once or twice, but this year if it had not been for our good angel, the Librarian of Congress, we should have had no library exhibit. And, ladies and gentlemen, we may as well face this fact: that the librarians who are competent to do work of this kind and do it creditably are all of them overworked; there is hardly a man who is not doing more than his strength ought to allow, who does not need a larger staff and more salary and more appropria- tions, and he cannot, in justice to his local li- brary, undertake this general work and do it creditably. We are fortunate in having the assistance of the Librarian of Congress, in permitting us to. repeat the exhibit shown at St. Louis. The committee felt that the only other thing possible, lacking funds, was to prepare and issue little pamphlets that could be distributed. One of these, by Miss Hass- ler, of the Portland Public Library, on work for children, has been prepared, and we owe it to the Library Association of Portland that we have at least this one pamphlet. There were those who were willing to undertake the work, but we had not funds in our Asso- ciation treasury. Some of them turned to the Publishing Board ; but you must bear in mind wKat I have said to you before, that our Carnegie endowment is only $100,000, which gives an income of something less than $4000 a year with which to carry on a city office, with heads and assistants and a pub- lishing business. You see the basis for the work is ludicrously small. It was a great gratification to have $100,000 given to us, but the income is inadequate to the demands that are made on us. I am sorry to say, therefore, that the committee, with its best endeavors, were unable to get funds to make such an exhibit as they would have planned and would have been very glad to have made at this Portland meeting. We must have the means to do this important work and the field is opening more and more, and the boundless possibilities in this great North- west will be an inspiration and encourage- ment to us all. Our report from the committee may be summed up in this : that the chief exhibit, to those of us who are most in earnest in regard to library work, is that we have no salaried workers and no means adequate to 144 PORTLAND CONFERENCE do some of the most important things that are to be done in the library world. At the same time we live in a country more than any other in the world, and in an age far more than any other since the world was launched into space, when men of great means are looking for an opportunity to give their money. Now, let's go down from this meeting, every one of us, more and more determined than ever before to help find these people. We talk about the spirit of helpful- ness among librarians. Let us help some of our multi-millionaires to find a place where they can do the greatest amount of good with their money ! The secretary gave a summary of the REPORT ON GIFTS AND BEQUESTS which had been distributed in printed form. (See p. no.) No report having been submitted by the COMMITTEE ON REDUCED POSTAL AND EXPRESS RATES TO LIBRARIES, this subject was passed over. In the absence of W. I. Fletcher, the secre- tary read the report of the COMMITTEE ON TITLE-PAGES AND INDEXES TO PERIODICALS The committee on title-pages and indexes to periodicals beg leave to report that they have not met since their last reappointment, and have not done any business. Having a promise from a committee of the Association of Periodical Publishers that a conference would be arranged, we have waited, so far in vain, for such an opportunity to discuss the matters within the scope of our action with representatives of the periodical publishers. Should the committee be further continued it is believed that something may be accom- plished before another A. L. A. meeting. For the Committee, W. I. FLETCHER, Chairman. In the absence of Mr. Bostwick, chairman, J. C. DANA presented the report of the COMMITTEE ON BOOKBUYING The appointment of this committee took its rise in the general dissatisfaction of librarians with the net book system under the present rules of the American Publishers' As- sociation. Members of the American Library Association felt that this system had resulted in an increase of book-prices and that some- thing should be done about it, although opin- ions differed about the proper course to be pursued. The plans proposed naturally divided them- selves into two categories measures of amelioration and measures of retaliation. Your committee has devoted itself, during the past two years, more particularly to the former. It has been our aim to show that the interests of publishers and booksellers are not opposed to those of libraries, and that favors shown to the latter will result in the general encouragement of all business con- nected with literature rather than in the crea- tion of a sort of monopolistic rivalry, as seems to have been feared. Efforts to secure in- crease of discount to libraries, though not without encouragement, have as yet resulted in nothing practical, and we have devoted most of our efforts to lightening the libr- rian's burden by trying to show him how he may expend his book appropriation to the greatest advantage. That this phase of our work has impressed itself upon the Associa- tion as especially practical and valuable, we gather from the fact that the name of the committee has been changed from the "Com- mittee on Relations with the Booktrade" to the "Committee on Bookbuying." We have taken this as an indication that our relations with the booktrade are to be limited to the peaceful avenues of commerce, excluding con- troversy, retaliation, and all relationships that savor of ill will ; and we have governed our- selves accordingly. Our series of bulletins for the library year 1905 has contained chiefly advice to librarians on the purchase of books, including sugges- tions regarding cheap purchase by importation at second-hand and from remainder sales, with occasional lists of catalogs in which an- nouncements of such sales are to be found, and other items of news which seemed to us calculated to aid librarians in deciding what books to buy and how, where, and through whom to buy them. These bulletins have gone out especially to' SECOND SESSION the smaller libraries of the country, and we have tried to make^them particularly useful to those libraries. We believe it to be a fact that much information in regard to books, even when it appears trite and elementary to the librarian of a large city institution, is not in the possession of those in charge of small rural or town libraries, and that information of this kind, in condensed and simple form, is welcomed by such persons and is of value to them. This information, so far as it pertains to bookbuying, we have endeavored to give in just this way; in other words, we have been conducting an elementary correspondence school of book purchasing in which the ob- ject has been to teach small libraries to get books to fit their own conditions and their own constituencies. That there are frequent misfits is much to be feared. We have had reports, for instance, of book committees in small towns who, having at their disposal fifty dollars or so for the immediate purchase of books, have planned to expend the whole for a ten-volume subscription set. It is in order to stop this sort of thing that we have been urging small libraries to devote more attention to the purchase of good books at reasonable rates. In thus bringing the work of the A. L. A. closer to a large number of small libraries we believe that we have been not only in- creasing its usefulness, but making it more widely known in the most effective manner. Persons to whom it has been only a name, or who have perhaps never heard of it; who have never attended its meetings nor used its publications, have now awakened to the fact that it exists, and that it not only offers good things to those who will come and par- take, but reaches out into the highways and hedges of the library world with gentle com- pulsion. The trusts have taught us that a combina- tion, however beneficent, can rarely be brought about by action that is wholly volun- tary. There is a necessity for pressure, and we may learn a lesson here from the mam- mon of unrighteousness, merely substituting for the questionable methods that have some- times been employed to effect combination by force the legitimate processes of argument. Membership in this Association is the logical basis of combination among librarians, and if we can impress upon all those not now with us the conviction that we are trying to help them, individually, in some direct and con- crete way, the aims of such combination must necessarily be furthered. We have thought it desirable, in connection with our work, to prepare a list of out-of- print books in general demand at libraries and to see whether some publisher could not be induced to reprint all or part of these. It would appear, however, that interest in this matter is almost entirely lacking in libra- ries. A publisher has been found who will undertake the reprinting of such out-of-print works as appear likely to yield a slight profit, but librarians have not yet given him or us any aid in the selection of books for a pre- liminary venture. That there are many good old books that it would pay to reprint all will agree, and it ought not to be difficult to se- cure a list of those mcst in demand. The chairman of your committee has twice been called upon to explain the book-price situation by word of mouth to bodies of libra- rians once to the Iowa Library Association at St. Louis and again to the Illinois Associa- tion at Rockford, 111. It would be well if the work of the committee could include more of this personal element, but with our present small appropriation the expense of such visits must fall either upon the association that is- sues the invitation or upon the member of the committee who accepts it, either of which al- ternatives seems to involve an injustice. The chairman of this committee was chosen by the Executive Board to act as one of the two delegates of the A. L. A. to the Copy- right Conference, called to meet in New York by the Librarian of Congress. The confer- ence held its first meeting at the City Club, New York, on May 31 to June 2. A report of the action of your delegates at this meeting will doubtless be made in the proper place. It may be urged here, however, as having an important bearing upon the pur- chase of books, that the delegates of the Asso- ciation receive explicit instructions as to their action, at future sessions of the conference, regarding the proposed prohibition of the im- portation of American copyright books. In conclusion, in view of the benefits which 146 PORTLAND CONFERENCE we believe must accrue to libraries from the continuation of work of this kind, we recom- mend the appointment of a committee to carry it on during the coming year, and we suggest that it is well to look forward to making this one of the standing committees of the Asso- ciation, if not now at least within the near future. While we have been able to expend our ap- propriation of $200 to good advantage, we be- lieve that more could be done with an in- creased amount, especially in the line of the personal work to which allusion has been made above, and we therefore suggest an ap- propriation of $500 for the ensuing year. We submit with this report tabular state- ments, showing how our bulletins have been distributed and how our appropriation has been expended. Respectfully submitted, ARTHUR E. BOSTWICK, Chairman, JOHN COTTON DANA, BERNARD C. STEINER. A. L. A. bulletins 1 . cx.2 = 3 S t o 2 :5.l A o 'o ,i I B *O * <> 5 h4 [2 \ ~ tk it Oa o his work. With the constant communication with civilization brought about by the steam- ers touching frequently at the island, the dan- ger to the native is not so much of relapse as of taking on civilized vices, and this dan- ger is the one the missionary is now fighting. The neat houses, the clean and well-dressed people, the sound of English speech, the can- ning factory and sawmill at work at first aroused only curiosity and interest. Later, as one looked back on it all, a deepening ad- miration and veneration took possession of one. Even the non-religious and the cynic cannot withold tribute to self-sacrifice like this. This was a day of varying sensations, for a few hours after leaving the beautifully sit- uated island in full afternoon sunshine, the boat made a stop which enabled us to get the sense of contrast more fully than often happens to one. The sun had set and the long, glowing, Alaska twilight had begun when we anchored in Kasaan Bay and the boats were got out to take us ashore to the Indian village of Old Kasaan, a stop not often made nowadays. From the boats as we neared shore we could see the totem-poles, one in front of each wooden dwelling. The stony beach led up into a grove of nettles and fire weed, breast-high, with narrow, slippery- grassed paths between, in which fat, loath- some, green snails or slugs roused our dis- gust. Broken, slimy, wooden steps led up to each house, the doors standing open, the In- dians having gone away for the summer fish- ing and canning, leaving not even a squaw or a dog behind to watch their possessions. The best of these were doubtless in the num- erous chests which we found locked. The interiors consisted of one large room, with a totem-pole in each corner supporting the roof. In the center, the floor was cut away to make a rectangular opening and here on the bare ground were the evidences of hearth- fires, the smoke of which had evidently es- caped through an opening in the roof. On the platform around the walls old stovepipes, old clothes, old utensils, cobwebs and dirt hejd carnival, with an occasional piece of modern furniture broken and cast aside. At this uncanny hour, and with the graveyards with their grotesque totems at each end of the row of houses, the scene was so weird that no pen but that of Foe, or perhaps of Hawthorne, could do it justice. At the bare thought of being left behind in this scene of desolation, with these grinning totems for company, one scuttled back to the beach in a panic. The view as one turned toward the water was exquisite the quiet water, almost oily in its smoothness, the white, waiting boat, which by this time had begun to seem a home, and beyond it the encircling wooded islands and that deep, yellow glow in which there was so much light that even snap-shots were pos- sible made altogether a picture not to be forgotten. It was hard to leave this enchant- ing, haunting place, and for a long time the row-boats were kept busy cruising about the bay for the sheer pleasure of it. No one place is so deeply imprinted on the inward eye of the writer as this deserted village with its surroundings. That night the sky was cloudless and a full moon sailed proudly in the sky, leaving a wake of silver light upon the water to rival the sunset glow. Twilight faded into evening, and evening, long drawn out, brightened into dawn almost imperceptibly. The adventurous spirits who spent the night on deck and those who arose between three and four to see the sunrise as we approached Wrangell Bay, will never see anything to dim that wonderful experience. We were in the region of snow- capped peaks and range after range came into view "as we sailed." Mountainous is- lands, not too close to lose their lovely indis- tinctness, surrounded us, reflected in the sb- 208 PORTLAND CONFERENCE solutely still water, and shreds of mist grad- ually detached themselves and floated away like ghosts with streaming garments. The pink glow touched the peaks and grew into a rosy light and the water was opaline in tint. Nothing but silence was adequate and silence there was. Although the stop at Wrangell was at five a.m., or thereabout, the whistles had fore- told our arrival, and the first of the party to embark found curio-shops already open. In- deed, the boat-whistle must have some unseen connection with the shop-doors, for at any time of the day or night it proves the open sesame. There was, however, not much "do- ing" at Wrangell at this early hour and the town went unexplored by the majority, and at 7.15 we were steaming away toward the real Alaska, the officers told us, the region of snow-topped ranges, of glaciers, ice- bergs, and whales. It was late in the afternoon when we stopped at Douglass City for a few minutes, at Juneau, the present capital, and at the Treadwell Mine, all grouped together, Douglass City opposite the other two, with ferry-boats shuttling back and forth. Although all three were visited, the stay at Juneau was the only considerable one, lasting about two hours. The town has a wonderfully picturesque situation, with a snow-capped round-topped mountain just be- hind it, its only possibility for growth lying in the cleft between this and another moun- tain, a possibility of which it was already availing itself. The dock was crowded with citizens, chiefly white, and the town looked exceedingly American. There are two daily papers and a cable, a good-sized city hall, and the town will erect a suitable residence for the governor who is then expected to remove here from Sitka. The Indians here drive a thriving trade in horn spoons, beads, baskets, and moccasins, squatting along the edge of the sidewalks with their wares spread out beside them. They have learned to ask good prices and to stick to them. A self-appointed committee here inter- viewed Mayor J. F. Malony with reference to a collection of books which the party wished to leave at some point in Alaska where it might serve as the nucleus for a free public library. Juneau had no free library except some government documents in the city hall ; it had a room for books in that building, and a city clerk who could look after them in the absence of an appointed librarian, and it would be very glad to have the books and would try to get an ordinance to establish a free library. Promises were made by librarians from Seattle and Portland to send discarded books and by other individuals to remember the library whenever possible. A letter from the mayor, dated August 2, says "Our people are very much pleased with the books;" so even in a professional way we may hope that the A. L. A. journey to Alaska was not entirely barren. No conditions were imposed except that the books were to circulate free to every one who could read. At the present rate of the As- sociation's globe-trotting, we may see a con- ference held at Juneau within a generation. On the l6th, the boat stopped for a few min- utes at Fort Seward, where a number of pri- vate soldiers who had come up with us, disem- barked, not much in love with their new post, though its scenic situation was beautiful and the grounds and buildings neat in the ex- treme. Haines Mission, which antedates the post, is a next door neighbor, a small tidy- looking village. Skagway, the most northern point of our journey, is the station for the White Horse Pass, the trip to which was taken by ' the greater number of the party. Although the day was not clear it was our first gray, misty weather they saw enough to make them glad they had taken the jour- ney. Skagway itself had not the air of pros- perity its docks, said to be a mile long, were deserted, and there seemed to be nothing go- ing on in the town. It is doubtless a "has- been," but a turn of fortune's wheel may prove that there is still life in the apparently extinct crater. The Davidson glacier was the next sensation, reached at twilight. It was inadvisable to let the passengers land, and we saw the guide put off in a small boat and rowed to the desolate shore to find his way back by land to the settlement he came from. His solitary figure could be seen trudging along in that great and, to the stranger, fear- ful waste, which probably affected him no more than a trip in the subway affects New Yorkers. Not only the Davidson, but two or three other glaciers were visible on this same ACROSS THE CONTINENT 209 evening, all of them showing beautiful color effects. The Muir glacier could not be seen the next morning on account of fog, but in trying, with the captain's usual kindness, to give us this pleasure, the boat succeeded only in breaking one blade of her propeller and in nicking two others. She struggled on with a joggly motion good for inactive livers, and reached Killisnoo at about noon, a little can- ning village with only two white families, one of them that of the Greek priest, whose little church was signalized by its peculiarly- shaped green dome. At the fishing-grounds the party showed absolutely no piscatorial abil- ities and the effort was given up as a bad job. At 7 p.m. the boat docked at Sitka, a thin mist falling, or, rather, pervading the air everywhere. The surrounding mountains could not be seen, but as the party was not going there this was not allowed to dampen its spirits. Were there not Indians galore, a Greek church, a museum, a mission, the trip to Indian River and the totem-poles, besides the army and navy, represented by the garri- son and by the Chicago and Massachusetts then in the harbor? A brisk trade in baskets and furs followed disembarkment and then the road to the Indian River and the museum the principal road in Sitka was dotted with groups doing the sights. The Greek church was duly inspected, its ikons and gor- geous vestments, all of Russian make, were exhibited, its wonderful Madonna and child admired, and its small stock of souvenirs ex- hausted. The Sheldon-Jackson Museum was explained by a curator who fondled at the same time a beautiful tame doe which fin- ally had to be dragged home, against its will, by one of the children. Sounds of merriment guided us to the playgrounds of the girl's mission, where white-aproned Indian girls were swinging, jumping rope, and indulging in other civilized pastimes. A few fortunates who had met the governor were asked to a reception and dance at the home of the cap- tain of the post, tendered to the men of the two warships indeed, a general invitation to the whole boat was given, but sleep seemed very attractive, the scenery being hidden for once, and only a few indefatigable ones ac- cepted. The next morning before sailing, a general raid was made upon the Indian vil- lage, the inhabitants bringing forth "treasures new and old," and laughingly dickering and explaining the uses of some of their wares as well as they could with their defective English. It was ten o'clock when the boat set sail for Petersburg, with the intent of beaching there and mending the propeller. After a day of fog, she reached the Peters- burg dock at midnight in starlight, making a graceful landing that it was worth staying up to see. There were original investigators who remained up to see the boat beached at high tide, but the majority of the party slept peacefully through the operation and knew nothing of what had happened until morning, when they found themselves in their berths lying at an angle of 30 degrees, with head or feet at the lower level according to the side of the boat they happened to be on. Dressing on such a slant meant a new man- ual of tactics, and our windblown appearance as we went about the deck at a greater angle than that of the Leaning Tower of Pisa was a source of constant amusement. "I feel so sentimental, walking like this," said a lady whom no one would ever have accused of feeling sentimental under any circum- stances. "Will you please tell me," asked a man who had just appeared from his state- room, "if anything is the matter with this boat? Either something is the matter with the boat or something is the matter with me we can't both be right." And a young woman from the upper side of the boat gained such impetus as she slid down and out of her stateroom that she could not stop until she landed in the opposite one, which fortunately was vacant for the moment. The tide was not quite out, but "to amuse the passengers" while the propeller was being mended, a lad- der was put over the side, planks laid down in the mud and all encouraged to go ashore by the detailing of several strong sailors to carry them across the watery part of the transit. The kodak-owners saw their opportunity and were no sooner on land than they turned and snap-shotted their successors on the ladder or being borne across the tide. A few, for rea- sons of their own, did not land, but had their fun leaning over the side. Never were the A. L. A. spirits so high as at this point of the 2IO PORTLAND CONFERENCE journey, and the picture of revered and solid members of the Council returning to the boat just too late to reach it dryshod, and being carried to it in a steady procession, is one of the pictures that will "hang on memory's wall" when many others have faded. Petersburg itself is an Indian village with only one white family, consisting of the store- keeper, his wife and baby. "How do you dare try to bring up a baby in these solitudes, so many watery miles from a doctor?" the mother was asked. "Well, we just don't get sick," was the answer, "and if there is any little thing the matter, we go to the Indians. They know the medicinal herbs for ordinary illnesses." At three o'clock, the tide being full, the boat gradually eased herself off and we were afloat with much less commotion than if we had been leaving a dock. It was really as doctors say, "a beautiful and suc- cessful operation " and most of us would rather have missed some of the scenery than the Petersburg experience. A wonderful evening was in store for us that day a glorious blood-red sunset, three rainbows and a sun shower at once, and later the moon. Again we landed at Ketchikan, this time at midnight, but the bolts flew back at our approach and all who had a little money left prepared to see it go. A few went up the mountain side to the top of the town to see the woods by electric light and reported the effort well worth while. Still others met a chained bear and escaped his claws by good luck rather than good management. Arid others sat up to see their last Alaskan sunrise. Fine weather attended the boat through Grenfell Channel, and though an exhibition of purchases was going on in the saloon many of us could not leave the decks, our hearts clutching figuratively at every beautiful scene we passed lest it might be the last. The rough places in our outward voyage were passed unnoticed in the night as we came back. At Alert Bay, at daybreak, we sighted again the Chicago and the Massachusetts at anchor. The nights by this time had grown longer and we had again seen stars, which during the Alaskan night are few and faint in comparison. As usual, a meeting was held on board on the last day of the voyage, to terminate the conference. No business was transacted ex- cept the very pleasant one of thanking and cheering the captain and crew, hurrahing lor the President and the President-elect, the tourist-agent, the travel-secretaries, and every one else we could think of. The meet- ing was held on deck toward evening and was more like a village rally than a meeting. Some of us think we could be a chorus of villagers on the stage and cheer and fling up our caps very gracefully, after this little piece of practice. On the 2ist also we went through Seymour Narrows, where it takes four or five men, it is said, to hold the wheel against the current, and we met and spoke the Spokane of the same line, the boats drawing together until passengers could cross from one to the other. News was exchanged, with congratulations on our safe return and good wishes for their coming voyage, and here we first learned that a "roasting" was awaiting us on shore after our eleven days of cool breezes. And on the 22d at early morning we got it. We had voyaged 2299 miles we are told now that it is a dangerous trip, with fogs, icebergs, sunken rocks, perilous channels, etc., but there were those who would have turned straight back and taken the voyage over again, and few who, after a few weeks of land, would not have liked to repeat the ex- perience, dangers, and all. As it recedes in time, memory makes a composite of glowing sunsets and pearly dawns, of long twilights when reading on deck was possible up to al- most midnight, of steering by the echoes amid heavy fog-banks, of iridescent waters and plum-blue hills, of inlets and fjords, green- coated and deep, magical in their mirror-like beauty, of snowy ranges ethereal in the dis- tance, and one repeats with the poet, "And many days, when all one's work is vain And life goes stretching on, a waste gray plain, With even the short mirage of morning gone, No cool breath anywhere, no shadow nigh Where a weary man might lay him down and die, Lo! thou art there before me suddenly, With shade as if a summer cloud did pass, And spray of fountains whispering to the grass." ACROSS THE CONTINENT 211 IV. A GLIMPSE OF CALIFORNIA BY SENEX On returning from Alaska on July 22, the A. L. A. divided itself into detachments, some going East, via the Yellowstone, others seeking a more direct route to their various homes, while a small party, consisting of a few more than the proverbial baker's dozen, journeyed South, passing through many Valleys of Despair, but finally attaining the Mountain Delectable, San Francisco, where our welcome was so cordial and spon- taneous that, were it not for the editorial command that a full chronicle should be submitted, it would be well nigh inconsiderate to say aught of the perils and discomforts of the journey hither. One must have made the passage from Seattle to Portland on that July Saturday to fully appreciate its suffer- ings, for its heat was aggravated by insuf- ferable congestion. Over eight hours were consumed in travelling a distance of 186 miles and the expected relief did not come to us as we crossed the Columbia River. Arrived in Portland, each went his separate way to cool off and to remove as much as might be the effects of that hot and dusty ride. At 8.30 in the evening we started for San Francisco, only to awaken the next morning at Dante's Inferno, called geographically "Grant's Pass," where we found ourselves stalled for nine hours by an inverted train of freight cars, overcrowded with water- melons. It was a sight for men and gods to see the A. L. A. "go for" those melons. The proverbial southern darkey was not "in it" with them. Then was the time that friend Faxon should have been in evidence with his half dozen cameras. After a day of insuf- ferable heat, the thermometer registering 100 in the cars, we continued our journey to San Francisco, reaching Sacramento at one o'clock where we were met by Mr. Gillis and friends, who gave us a royal welcome and a most substantial luncheon. Our long delay prevented any visit other than the one we n>ade to the State Library where we saw marked and distinct evidence of that execu- tive ability and administrative tact which have wrought such meritorious changes in that institution. Forced to say goodbye to the state librarian and his associates, we hurried on to San Francisco for a needed rest, before beginning the round of functions which our hosts there had prepared for us ; and it was most cer- tainly the right hand of good fellowship which we found extended. On Tuesday we had a trip to Alameda, Oakland and Berkeley, in each of which places we visited the library and received the genuine "Pacific Coast grip." We were welcomed at Oakland by Mr. Greene, the librarian; at Berkeley, by Prof. Clapp, who spoke a few words of kindly greeting; and at Alameda, by the librarian of its public library. At Berkeley we re- newed the very pleasant acquaintance of Mr. Rowell who had been our companion to Alaska and our guide from Seattle to San Francisco, to whom, however, the incidents of that memorable trip should not be laid. Everything possible was done for our com- fort and pleasure, the weather even being specially prepared for our coming. In the evening a royal banquet was served to us in the dining room of the Union League Club. The attractiveness of the room was added to by the floral decorations, while the ladies' dresses, revela- tions indeed to the men who had been trav- elling for days on the Alaskan steamer, brought fresh charm to the scene. After Mr. Lichtenstein had said a few kindly words of honest welcome, he introduced the Hon. Hor- ace Davis, as toastmaster of the evening. His happy introductions and his generous words of hearty sympathy with our cause made him our friend at once. We were welcomed officially by the mayor, to whom Dr. Richard- son made fitting response in words of wisdom and of humor. Mr. Hopkins spoke eloquently and pointedly to the toast "The field of the public library," while Dr. Dewey gave the guests a talk on "The ideals of librarianship." The next speaker was Mr. Herbert E. Law, on "The city beautiful," a description of the efforts now making to improve San Francisco artistically. This talk was accompanied by drawings and diagrams. Mr. Tirey L. Ford, formerly attorney-general of the state, gave us glowing accounts of the resources of Cali- fornia and yet his sentences, ornate and forceful though they were, utterly failed in 212 PORTLAND CONFERENCE carrying to our minds any greater sense of the beauties, opportunities and wonderful prog- ress of his home than our eyes and ears had already pictured. "Face to face with the librarian" was the task set before Mr. E. C. Hovey, who resppnded in a few words of earnest thanks to the Pacific Coast librarian with whom he had been "face to face." The banquet was well conceived, beautifully car- ried out and a decided success, a delightful memory to all there present. The journey to Palo Alto the next day was a very pleasurable occasion. The public li- brary, a perfect gem artistically and from the standpoint of utility, was first visited, after which a drive of a mile and a half took us to the university where, after being driven about the park, we descended at one of the fraternity houses for lunch, which was served to us by young ladies whose charm of manner made refusal impossible. It was delightful indeed, and "Senex" looks back upon that luncheon with special gratitude and sweetest memories. He was permitted even to help the fair waitresses, now and again, which he holds as a distinct honor. Professor Still- man's words of welcome, delightfully hearty and sympathetic, were responded to most graciously by Dr. Richardson, whose ability to say the word appropriate to each occasion was amply evidenced during our entire jour- ney. After visits had been made to the several buildings, including the now nearly completed library, we assembled in the church to listen to the beautiful organ, which is played every afternoon for an hour. Un- happily we were forced to leave early. None of those present, however, will soon forget the beauty and solemnity of that half hour of music so artistically rendered. We left Palo Alto with great regret, enthusiastic over our reception and with feelings of deep friendship for those who had so bounteously administered to our comfort and enjoyment. The itinerary told us that we should be free on Thursday; but Mr. Lichtenstein's kindly courtesy made possible a drive to Cliff House and through the city, a most enjoyable trip, including a visit to the public library, the home of our friends Clark and Lichtenstein. When, however, the party was left to itself, we heard on all sides inquiries as to the exact location of "The Poodle Dog," "The Pup," the Bohemian Club and Chinatown. How the librarians scattered to these various scenes of revelry, and how very unsatisfac- tory have been the individual accounts of their goings and comings ! Finally came the separation of the party, some going South, some North and others East. We all, one and all, have taken back with us a charming and never ceasing recol- lection of the hospitality and kindness of our friends of the Pacific Coast. We realize the difficulty that will surely encompass us about when they come to the Atlantic sea- board to pass the week end with us. We shall extend to them the hand of welcome and do our very best to cement still closer the friendships made here, hoping against hope that they may return with as pleasant words on their lips for us as are the senti- ments we have carried :iway in our hearts. V.IN WONDERLAND BY LITTLE ALICE "O, wonderful, wonderful, and most wonderful wonderful! And yet again wonderful, and after that out of all hooping." Those fortunate beings who enjoyed the magnificent ride over the Canadian Pa- cific route and afterward the trip through Alaskan waters to Skagway, viewing all the interesting settlements and wonderful snow- capped mountains, the glaciers, icebergs, whales, porpoises, salmon, Indians, totems and other marvels too numerous to mention, felt that they had skimmed the cream of the universe, and having exhausted all available words and signs to express their admiration and wonder, were beginning to chant nunc dimittis, thinking that nothing of interest was left to survey. But they little under- stood how easily the human mind expands and recovers and how many prodigies exist in heaven and earth little dreamt of in their philosophy. To give the proper setting and background, the story of the Yellowstone trip (or Won- derland as it is called) must be chronological. On Saturday, July 22, after sad good-byes to ACROSS THE CONTINENT 213 those of the noble 120 who had endured the privations of the trip on the City of Seattle and were going home, the brave 61, who had the time and the substance necessary to hazard yet further adventures, scattered around Seattle, to while away the day. At night, all agreed that the sun seemed hotter in Seattle than at any place in their previous experience, and that the "wonderful climate" that had been so often described to them, was wonderful indeed. After heroic exertions by Mr. Crunden, Mr. "Seattle" Smith and others, the ladies and their baggage were lifted aboard the cars and at 4 p.m. the start was made on the Northern Pacific for the Yellow- stone. The engineers of the two engines, which drew us over the mountains, were evi- dently used to hauling freight, as they did their best to throw us out of the seats when stopping and starting. A landslide delayed the train four hours during the night, and the next day, after the hottest night ever known, we rode through "the country God forgot" with ;i temperature of 101 in the coolest car. All the men shed their coats, and one who has always been an object of ad- miration to the ladies for his spotless linen, beautiful pongee coats and well-groomed ap- pearance, became so desperate that he removed collar and cuffs. If anyone had been brave enough to set the example, all gladly would have returned to the state of Nature and jumped into every river on the way. On July 24 Livingston was reached six hours late, where we said good-bye to Mr. Gould, Miss Plummer, and Miss Lindsay. Near the railroad station was a fence about sixty feet long made of elk antlers. Living- ston is beautifully situated near the "Gate of the Mountains," and we soon entered into the midst of most beautiful and impressive scenery: but while perfect in quality, it was to the Alaskan scenery as the Portland Fair was to that of St. Louis in magnitude. As we neared Gardiner, we had the pleasure of seeing lightning playing around Electric Peak, 11,155 feet in height, the highest in the park. From the station at Gardiner, where six-horse coaches were taken for Mammoth Hot Springs, we had our first view of the boundary of "Wonderland," the largest of our national parks which was set apart by an act of Congress in 1872, "for the benefit and enjoyment of the people," as we saw inscribed on the massive entrance arch, 50 feet high, of which the cornerstone was laid by Theodore Roosevelt in 1903. After an interesting ride of about five miles on a road which ascends about 800 feet by an easy grade we reached Mammoth Hot Springs (the business and administrative center of the park), at four o'clock instead of noon as scheduled. Some rushed for a bath, a luxury which had not been enjoyed for many days, and some to see the sights and buy souvenirs. As it rained after dinner, all had the pleasure of hearing excellent music at the hotel by members of Theodore Thomas' famous orchestra. After a night of sleep which required no blankets for covering, and an excellent break- fast at 6.30 a.m., all were summoned to the piazza, at 7.45 on July 25 for the 150 mile ride which will remain in our memories as the most wonderful we ever enjoyed- and of which words or colored photographs and paintings can convey no adequate idea. It was indeed Wonderland and Fairyland com- bined, and we were all little Alices in our open-eyed wonder at the new marvels await- ing us each day, right at our feet and not afar off as in Alaska. The average eleva- tion of the Park is 8000 feet above sea level, and mountains rise above this from 2000 to 4000 feet. When we reflect that Mt. Wash- ington in the White Mountains is only 6290 feet above sea level, we understand why we puffed so much in what seemed easy climbing. Mrs. Carr on her arrival at Mammoth Hot Springs received the following letter: "DEAR MRS. CARR: "Having learned from personal experience that one item was not included in the list of things necessary to bring into the Park, with the true library spirit of helpfulness, we have compiled this 'Readers' guide to adjectives' for the use of the A. L. A. party. "Hoping you will have as good a time and leave as good an impression as Yours sincerely, "M. L. TITCOMB. L. M. SHAW. M. E. ROBBINS. L. D. CARVER. L. M. CARTER. W. F. SEW ALL. J. C. M. HANSON. G. S. GODARD." 214 PORTLAND CONFERENCE id day Miraculous Unsurpassed Mai-odorous Ex-stinked (? Sulphuretted Sinister Far reaching Beautiful 3d day Grand What a view! This is fine! ! I 4th day f My! Isn't this | great! (Repeat) '.; P, 5th day ist day Oh! Awful Sublime Majestic Marvelous Wonderful Startling Awe-inspiring Picturesque Soul stirring Infernal (to be used at dis- cretion) "To be tt.red ad lib. any old day for bears and other beasts: Elusive, Cute, Graceful, Garbaceous." As the carriages drove up, the piazza was roped off and a man with a megaphone called off the names of the persons in the order in which they were to be seated, according to the arrangement of the previous evening. At this time we bade good-bye to Mr. Cooke, our "personal conductor," who left us here to take another party to Alaska. Mr. Cooke had some good traits, but not having had li- brary training, was not altogether ladylike. Near here the carriages drove by the famous Formations of Terraces, twelve in number, covering 200 acres and having 70 active springs. These terraces have the most deli- cate and exquisite coloring of any objects in the Park. At the foot of the Terraces is Liberty Cap, a monument-like shaft about 40 feet high, supposed to have been a living geyser at one time. The roads are very good, as the govern- ment has recently spent $750,000 on them, and for the most part sprinkled daily, so that the dust is kept down. It is not feasible to mention all the wonders seen, but a word should be given to the new steel and concrete viaduct at Golden Gate, which is the only one of the kind in the world and on which $10,000 was spent. On leaving Golden Gate (so called on ac- count of the yellow appearance of its lofty wall), we see the Koodoos, which are of travertine rocks having all sorts of grotesque shapes. In the distance at the right are sev- eral snow capped peaks over 10,000 feet high. As the party had been cautioned not to drink the hotel water on account of the alkali, all stopped at the Apollinaris Spring and drank. This is said to be natural apollinaris, but it tasted like vichy or slightly salted water. About two miles further, a curious glittering wall attracted our attention and we learned that it was Obsidian Cliff, or volcanic glass. This spot had been a favorite resort of the Indians who made arrow heads from the glass. In building the road, the engineers heated the obsidian and then broke it by pouring on cold water. We soon passed Roaring Mountain which sounded like a steam engine in the distance, and the Devil's Frying Pan, the sizzling of which made everyone feel hungry. Some of the party felt that the Devil's name was applied too often to the numerous abnormalities of the Park and there was some discussion as to whether it would not be fitting to petition Congress to change the names for some of a more godly character. But after all. would not such treatment do away with all mythol- ogy and folklore? After a twenty mile drive we arrived with a ravenous appetite at the Norris Hotel in the Norris Geyser Basin and found an ex- cellent luncheon awaiting us. Here are lo- cated the only real steam geysers in the Park and the earth's crust is said to be thinner than anywhere else in the world. People are not allowed to wander around without a guide, so after lunch, the guide took us to the Black Growler, the Hurricane, the Monarch Geyser, which has not steamed for some time, and the New Crater which burst into an eruption with a loud explosion in 1901. While hearing the guide talk, one felt as though he might start skyward at any mo- ment and that an accident policy would be a convenient thing. As it looked somewhat like rain, competition for seats with the driver (who had no cover over him), was not brisk in the afternoon. The first part of the drive through Gibbon Canon and by the Gibbon Falls was beautiful and reminded us of the Sunday morning drive at Glenwood Springs in 1895. A deer was seen quietly grazing by the roadside and one young lady asked if he were tethered for our benefit. Squirrels and woodchucks were in abundance. As the latter part of ihe ride was somewhat tedious, some hunted palindromes with fair success and some propounded conundrums such as : "When is a rose like got up." Answer: "When it is synonymous." After a slight ACROSS THE CONTINENT 215 shower we pulled up at the Fountain Hotel in the Lower Geyser Basin about dinner time, finishing our forty mile drive. After dinner, -the ladies were eager to see the bears and were wonderfully fearless, seeming to forget that bears besides their propensity for hugging sometimes scratch and bite. Indeed the guard told us that one bear had to be shot the previous year be- cause he killed several calves. As about a dozen calves were gamboling near us, of course we felt nervous. Finally a brave li- brarian was found who promised to walk behind the ladies, if they would protect him. So placing the plumpest ladies in the center and front, a start was made for the garbage pile behind the hotel. A soldier stopped the party about 30 feet from where a bear was seen feeding. Indeed our first experience so near a loose bear was quite thrilling. The Beautiful Young Lady from Providence naively inquired if we had to tip the bears in order to look at them, and when told that it was not necessary, manifested much surprise and remarked that the bears were the only exception on the whole trip. Indeed it might be well in future trips of this sort to give an estimate of necessary tips in the itinerary, as they were found to amount to about $25 for those who went both to Alaska and the Yellowstone. Soon a bigger bear ap- peared and the first one loped off with his ungainly gait, terror-stricken. Some one murmured, "Ain't he cute; he's only six." As the Fountain Geyser, one of the most beautiful in the Park, which spouts every three or four hours about 50 feet high, was due to perform soon, everyone was on the alert to see it. On the way we viewed the Mammoth Paint Pots or Mud Puffs, bubbling and steaming in a crater 40 feet in diameter. The material in this crater was used on the dining room walls of the Foun- tain Hotel, and as there are two or three colors, it is practically a paint mine, and might prove to be a gold mine if properly worked. At about 7.45 p.m. the Fountain Geyser began to spout and we had our first experience of this wonderful sight. While we wer; gazing at the marvellous spectacle, the Decorous Young Lady from Boston, in whose orbit had circled two of the most brilliant and accomplished librarians of the Southwest, overcome by the emotions roused by the beauties of nature, threw her arm around the neck of one of the younger men from New York, and he instinctively, of course, encircled her waist. Thus silhouetted against the brilliant colors of the dying sun in the western horizon, Culture and Com- merce stood, a pleasing picture for the en- raptured throng behind them. Chronicling these little episodes may seem an impertin- ence in the face of the greatest marvels of the universe, but as Mr. Guilford says: "Lit- tle things make perfection, precious thought." As everyone had become very hungry dur- ing the drive of the previous morning, each determined to eat a hearty breakfast the next day; but owing to the poor service and unsatisfactory viands, this was found to be impossible. Although cows had been seen, those who asked for milk to drink were told that there was none. The same reply was made at Norris Geyser, so someone sug- gested that probably the cows, like the gey- sers, were intermittent. As the carriages drove up at eight o'clock, considerable amuse- ment was derived from the deep plots laid to make clear to a few thoughtless or selfish ones that seats with the driver were not permanent and that each must have a turn. A stop was made at the Midway Geyser Basin to view the largest geyser in the world, the Excelsior or Hell's Half Acre. This geyser has not been active since 1888, when it threw 300 feet in the air. Near it are the Turquoise Spring and the wonderful Prismatic Lake, 400 feet long, with its mar- vellous coloring and large body of vapor arising from it and reflecting the exquisite tints. One of the interesting sights of the Excelsior was "Uncle Samuel" with his long linen duster, daintily raised considerably above two feet, so that it would not drag. The Philadelphia Belle took a snap shot, which may be seen on application. Here the road follows the course of the Firehole River and numerous beautiful springs were seen near the Old Faithful Inn, where we were to spend the night. Just as the car- riages were approaching the inn, about 1 1 a.m., the Old Faithful Geyser (which spouts every 70 minutes and throws a stream 150 feet high for about five minutes), began to play. As it spouted again soon after 12, it 2l6 PORTLAND CONFERENCE threw an object into the air which some guessed to be a fish and some a bird, of course, nicely cooked. It proved to be a handkerchief. A soldier on guard picked it up and asked who owned it. When no one answered, he added : "It would have cost the owner $1000 fine, if he had claimed it." The Old Faithful Inn, erected in 1903, is probably one of the most original and odd car- avansaries in the world. Built entirely of logs and "freak" trees, and furnished throughout in an analogous harmony, it is wonderfully attractive and deserves a long description. The architect, Mr. Reamer, should have a tablet erected in his honor. We shall always remember the spacious office with its immense chimney containing eight fireplaces. After luncheon, at which occurred a Brooklyn Bridge crush, a guide took the party around to the numerous geysers the Giant, Beehive, Castle, Splendid, Grand, etc. Dr. Nolan and "Uncle Samuel" paraded arm in arm and furnished the wit for the occasion. At one point, there is a crust about two inches thick between two hot springs, and the guide warned every one to keep off; but "Uncle Samuel" and the Doctor, engrossed in con- versation, walked straight over it before they could be stopped. Both had horrible dreams all night, over what might have happened, as the guide told terrible stories of accidents. During the walk a heavy thunder and hail storm came up, and all rushed for the hotel ; but the storm was welcomed, as the drive next day was said to be a very dusty one. An old battleship searchlight was turned on the Old Faithful Geyser in the evening from the roof of the hotel and produced a novel effect. It is customary every evening at the inn to pop corn in an immense popper over the fireplace, and when the bell-boy went around shouting, "Here is your popcorn geyser," one young lady rushed up wildly excited and wanted to know where it was and when it would spout. On Thursday, July 27, at starting time, 7.45 a.m., the temperature was 40 degrees, so that the steam heat in the rooms and the brightly blazing fireplaces were grateful. In the Yel- lowstone, owing to the sudden changes in the temperature, it is a common saying that the heat in the morning causes blisters and the cold in the afternoon requires a mustard plas- ter to keep the water in the blister from freez- ing. The rain had put the road in fine con- dition and the hail stones killed the mosqui- toes, so our driver said. Ordinarily the horses cannot be seen through the dust and the flies and mosquitoes are maddening. In fact throughout the whole trip our tutelar divinity furnished most unusual conditions. The sun was bright and warm, and riding happily along, we soon passed the beautiful Kepler's Cascades, falling 130 feet; Shosone Lake, six and one half miles long; and then crossed the Continental Divide twice, at Craig Pass and at Lost Lake. After luncheon at Thumb, on the west shore of Yellowstone Lake, we saw Judge Robert Ralston, of Philadelphia, land several, fine trout, weighing about two pounds each. We had all read that it is possible to catch fish in the Yellowstone, and without changing one's position drop the fish into a hot spring and cook them. We stood right beside the hot spring and saw the fish caught, but as the fish in this part of the lake have parasites, Judge Ralston thought it would be cruel to boil them alive, as they could not be eaten, so they were tossed back into the lake. There are about seventy hot springs here and several Paint Pots, and the road from this point skirts the Yellowstone Lake, which is 1428 feet higher than the top of Mt. Washington and the largest body of water in the world at this altitude. We arrived at the Yellowstone Lake Hotel about 5 p.m., where we spent the night. The view from the top of the hotel, the largest in the Park, was more beautiful than can be im- agined. With the lake directly in front dotted with islands and having an area of 140 square miles, a large number of mountain peaks in the distance over 10,000 feet high, and some snowclad, in the light of the setting sun, it was fairyland. The next thing was to see the bears. On the way, we asked a little girl where the bears were. "I don't know," said she ; "where the largest garbage pile is." "Meet me at the garbage pile" became a by-word. Our Fidus Achates from Boston, to whose tender care and good humor we owe our perfect trip, laid out the day thus : "After breakfast, walk a mile; After luncheon, rest awhile; After dinner, the garbage pile." Those who could endure the smells, saw ACROSS THE CONTINENT 217 eleven bears that evening. Twenty-three is the largest number ever seen here at one time. It was a curious sight to see some fifty people sitting around on logs, some with salts and perfumery bottles, some holding their noses, all waiting for the bears to come out of the woods. One old grizzly grand- father was the terror. Most of the bears kept at a respectful distance, but one attempted to eat near the same spot. There was a short, sharp conflict, and the younger beat a quick retreat. A mother tried to coax her young cub along with her to eat. The youngster would go within about twenty feet of the old grandfather and then run whimpering and whining up a tree, with the result that the poor mother got little to eat, as the mothers will not leave their cubs. The only protection we had from these bears was a young soldier armed with a revolver, and it was awe-inspir- ing to reflect what a time the bears could have had with the spectators if so inclined. During this day Mr. Andrews was said to have caught 25 fish; but that is another story. As we left the hotel at 8.30 the following morning, the Clever Young Lady from New London said she felt like an actress doing one- night stands. After driving about seven and one-half miles, we reached the Mud Caldron, a crater 30 feet deep, the bottom of which is constantly throwing up pasty, bubbling mud, with a roaring sound, and is often called the Inferno, suggesting the spirits of the damned trying to escape. Soon we came to the beginning of the Grand Canon, and the wagons stopped at the Upper Falls, which are no feet high, and in some respects more beautiful than the Lower Falls, which are 310 feet high. As a basis of comparison, Ni- agara Falls are only 167 feet high. After luncheon at the Grand Canon Hotel nearly every one visited the Lower Falls and In- spiration Point, from which the Grand Canon can be seen to the best advantage. Its depth is about 1200 feet and its width 1500 yards. Some one has described the magnificent col- oring by saying that "it looks as if a rainbow had fallen from the sky and been shattered on the rocks." It must be seen to be appreciated. Six bears were counted back of the hotel after dinner, which inspired the Registrar to say: "You may shoot, you may frighten the bears if you will, But the scent of the garbage will cling to them still." Another member of the party was inspired to produce the following ode : "Once unto the nation's park, Yellowstone by name and mark, Came a party from afar, Greens and Browne, and more, by Carr. Many sights and strange they saw In five days and nights, or more. But the strangest of them all Saw they as the nights did fall. First a scout was sent to smell Where the hotel's garbage fell; Then at dusk they sought the trail, Waited, seated on a rail, For the bears that tardy came, Old or young, 'twas all the same, Till those garbage piles out there Seemed to them their native air. But alas, the end drew near, And until another year Left they all the gentle wiles Of the bears and garbage piles." As breakfast was not served till 6.30 the following morning and the wagons started at seven, nearly every one appeared with toast or a roll in one hand. The last three miles into Mammoth Hot Springs, as seen from the driver's seat, were probably the most picturesque and striking of all the drive. Lun- cheon was a very hurried affair, and then the party was rushed on coaches to Gardiner, where the train was taken for the homeward trip. The dining car furnished by the Northern Pacific to St. Paul from Livingston was of the extreme old-fashioned pattern and lighted with kerosene lamps considerably the worse for wear. In attempting to regulate a central one, it spattered kerosene over the tables and diners, so that for sometime everything had an odor of kerosene. Indeed, the motto of the line seemed to be, "The poorest service at the best price is good enough." It was planned that the party should get off at Min- neapolis and be entertained by a local com- mittee, but as the train had a habit of stop- ping every five or ten minutes, no one knew when it arrived in Minneapolis, and before half the party could alight, it had pulled out and carried them to St. Paul. The Minneapolis people claim that this is a common occurrence, due to rivalry. After some telephoning, it was arranged to take the trolley back and 2l8 PORTLAND CONFERENCE meet at the Minneapolis Public Library. This was done, and the annoyance caused was for- gotten in the delightful reception accorded the visitors. This included a trip to the beau- tiful Minnehaha Falls, with luncheon there, a visit to Como Park, and a tally-ho ride to St. Paul, ending with dinner at the new cap- itol building. At Chicago the Boston party took the Lake Shore and the New York contingent the Michigan Central Railroad. With mutual surprise the two parties found themselves together at breakfast on the train. At Albany we separated again, the Boston party, in charge of Mr. Faxon, and the New York party, of three persons, in charge of Mr. Banks, whose unfailing courtesy we cannot sufficiently praise, and Mr. Jones, of whom we saw little, both of the Raymond & Whit- comb Company. This account cannot be closed more fit- tingly than by using the poem specially pre- pared in commemoration of the A. L. A. in Wonderland : "Much have I travell'd in the realms of gold And many goodly states and kingdoms seen; Round many western islands have I been Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold. . . . Then felt I like some watcher of the skies When a new planet swims into his ken; Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes He stared at the Pacific, and all his men Look'd at each other with a wild surmise, Silent, upon a peak in Darien." OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES SERVING IN 1904-5 AND DURING THE PORTLAND CONFERENCE President: Dr. Ernest C. Richardson, Libra- rian of Princeton University. First vice-president: Frank P. Hill, Libra- rian, Brooklyn Public Library. Second vice-president: Lutie E. Stearns, Wisconsin Free Library Commission. Ex-president: Dr. Herbert Putnam, Librarian of Congress. Secretary: J. I. Wyer, Jr., Librarian of the University of Nebraska. Treasurer: Gardner M. Jones, Librarian, Sa- lem (Mass.) Public Library. Recorder: Helen E. Haines, Library Journal, New York City. Assistant secretary: E. C. Hovey, A. L. A. Pub. Board, 10^2 Beacon St., Boston. A. L. A. Council:* Mary E. Ahern, A. E. Bostwick, Johnson Brigham, J. H. Canfield, Gratia A. Countryman, Melvil Dewey, C. R. Dudley, C. H. Gould, W. E. Henry, N. D. C. Hodges, A. H. Hopkins, G. T. Little, W. T. Peoples, Herbert Putnam, E. C Richardson, J. C. Rowell, Katharine L. Sharp, C. W. Smith, C. C. Soule, Lutie E. Stearns, John Thomson, R. G. Thwaites, H. M. Utley, Anne Wallace, H. C. Well- man. Trustees of the Endowment Fund: C. C. Soule, Boston, Mass. ; Alexander Maitland, New York City ; Deloraine P. Corey, Mai- den, Mass. Executive Board: The president, ex-presi- dent (Herbert Putnam), vice-presidents, secretary, treasurer, recorder. Publishing Board: W. I. Fletcher (chair- man), W. C. Lane, C. C. Soule (treasurer), * Includes, in addition, members of the Executive Beard. Melvil Dewey, H. C. Wellman, Nina E. Browne (secretary). STANDING COMMITTEES Finance: Sam Walter Foss, Drew B. Hall, Theodosia Macurdy. Library Administration: W. R. Eastman, Cor- nelia Marvin, H. C. Wellman. Public Documents: Adelaide R. Hasse, W. E_ Henry, Johnson Brigham, Charles Mc- Carthy, J. P. Kennedy. Foreign Documents: C. H. Gould, C. W. An- drews, Adelaide R. Hasse, J. L. Whitney. Co-operation with Library Department of Na- tional Educational Association: J. H. Can- field, Melvil Dewey, M. E. Ahern, Electra C. Doren, Martin Hensel. Library Training: Mary W. Plummer, Sa- lome Cutler Fairchild, Katharine L. Sharp,. Alice B. Kroeger, Mary E. Robbins, E. H. Anderson. International Co-operation: Herbert Putnam,. Cyrus Adler, W. C. Lane, Morris Jastrow, J. S. Billings. SPECIAL COMMITTEES A. L. A. Exhibit at Lewis & Clark Exposi- tion: Melvil Dewey, F. P. Hill, Mary W. Plummer, Mary F. Isom, C. H. Hastings. Gifts and Bequests: Joseph LeRoy Harrison. Reduced Postal and Express rates to Li- braries: J. H. Canfield, Melvil Dewey, John- son Brigham. Book Buying: A. E. Bostwick, J. C. Dana, B. C. Steiner. Title-pages and Indexes to Periodicals: W. I. Fletcher, Ernst Lemcke, A. E. Bostwick.. ATTENDANCE REGISTER 219 Permanent A. L. A. Headquarters: Herbert Putnam, C. W. Andrews J. S. Billings, R. R. Bowker, A. H. Hopkins. Publishing Board Facilities for Headquar- ters: W. I. Fletcher, J. I. Wyer, Jr., F. P. Hill, F. W. Faxon, H. J. Carr. Co-operation with Keystone State Associa- tion on Index to Fiction: Josephine Rath- bone, Beatrice Winser. Bcok Bindings and Book Papers: G. F. Bow- erman, W. P. Cutter, A. L. Bailey. Program Committee: E. C. Richardson, J. I. Wyer, Jr., Helen E. Haines. Travel Committee: F. W. Faxon, F. P. Hill, C. B. Roden, J. I. Wyer, Jr., W. B. Brew- ster. SECTIONS AND SECTION OFFICERS Catalog Section: Chairman, C. B. Roden; sec- retary, Josephine A. Clark. College and Reference Section: Chairman, J. H. Canfield; secretary, J. T. Gerould. Children's Librarians: Chairman, Clara W. Hunt; secretary, Alice M. Jordan. State Library Commissions Section: Chair- man, Melvil Dewey; secretary, L. E. Stearns. Trustees' Section: Chairman, D. P. Corey; secretary, T. L. Montgomery. ATTENDANCE REGISTER* ABBREVIATIONS: F., Free; P., Public; L., Library; Ln., Librarian; As., Assistant; Tr., Trustee; Ref., Reference; Sch., School; Br., Branch; Cat, Cataloger. Adams, Edna C., As. State Hist. Soc., Madison, Wis. a Ahern, Mary Eileen, Ed. Public Libraries, Library Bureau, 156 Wabash Ave., Chicago, 111. Allen, L. S., Evansville, Ind. ay Allen, Marina D., As. Ryerson L., Grand Rapids, Mich, ay Ambrose, Lodilla, As. Ln. Northwestern Univ. L., Evanston, 111. ay Andrews, Clement Walker, Ln. The John Crerar L., Chicago, 111. Ayer, W. B., Tr. L. Assoc., Portland, Ore. Babson, Mrs. Glen T., Seward, Neb. Baird, Jean D., Ln. P. L., Fresno, Cal. a Ball, Sarah B., Ln. Marietta Coll. L., Marietta, O. Banks, Mary, Chief of Ref. Dept. P. L,, Seattle, Wash. Barker, Mrs. Sophie W., As. Ln. P. L., Seattle, Wash. Barnwell, W. E., As. Ln. P. L. Cincinnati, Ohio, a Barr, Charles James, As. Ln. The John Crerar L., Chicago, 111. a y Barton, Edmund Mills, Ln. American An- tiquarian Soc., Worcester, Mass. Beckwith, Marie E., Whitewater, Wis. Bedinger, Sarah E., Ln. Beale Memorial L., Bakersfield, Cal. Betteridge, Grace L., As. New York State L., Albany, N. Y. Bettmann, Dr. Henry W, Pres. Board of Tr., P. L., Cincinnati, Ohio. ay Black, Mabel A., As. P. L., Brooklyn. N. Y. a Blohm, Anna F., Marietta, Ohio, a Blunt, Florence T., Ref. Ln. P. L., Haver- hill, Mass. Bowden, Marguerite, Ln. P. L., Helena, Mont Bowerman, George Franklin, Ln. P. L. of District of Columbia, Washington, D. C. Boyd, Mrs. Jessie Reeves, cataloger P. L., Seattle, Wash. Brett, William Howard, Ln. P. L., Cleve- land, O. Brewster, W. L., Tr. L. Assoc., Portland, Ore. Brigham, Johnson, Ln. Iowa State L., Des Moines, la. Brigham, Mrs. Johnson, Des Moines, la. Brown, Clara F., Ref. Ln. P. L., Concord, N. H. a y Browne, Nina Eliza, Sec'y A. L. A. Pub- lishing Board, ioj4 Beacon St., Boston, Mass. Bullock, Edna D., Sec'y Neb. P. L. Com- mission, Lincoln, Neb. a Burdick, Esther Elizabeth, Ln. F. P. L., Jersey City, N. J. Burt, Lillian, cataloger Univ. of Cal. L., Berkeley, Cal. Calef, Ida, As. L., Assoc., Portland, Ore. Calhoun, Annie H., Ref. Asst. P. L., Seattle, Wash. Campbell, Prof. P. L., Pres. Univ. of Oregon, Eugene, Ore. ay Bigelow, Frank Barna, Ln. New York ay Carr, Henry J., Ln. P. L., Scranton, Pa. Society L., N. Y. City. ay Carr, Mrs. Henry J., Ex. Ln., Scranton, Pa. a indicates participation in Alaska trip on S. S. City y Carter, Lillian M., As. P. L., Milwaukee, of f Seattle. Wis. d ' m Do$M P artici P ation in Alaska tri P on s - s - y Carver, Leonard D., Ln. State L., Au- y indicates participation in Yellowstone trip. gUSta, Me. 220 PORTLAND CONFERENCE Catlin, Rebecca, As. L. Assoc., Portland, Ore. Center Mrs. Margaret, Ln. P. L., Walla Walla, Wash. Chace, Edith P., Supervisor Home Li- braries, Carnegie L., Pittsburgh, Pa. Chandler, lone, Bellingham, Wash, d y Chapman, Mrs. Emma A., Hartford, Conn. Chapman Mrs. I. N., Tr. F. L., Alameda, Cal. Cheney, John Vance, Ln. Newberry L., Chicago, 111. Cheney, Mrs. John Vance, Chicago, 111. Clarke, Elva E., Ln. Kansas State Normal Sch., Emporia, Kan. Clendenin, Susan R., As. L. Assoc., Port- land, Ore. Coffman, H. C, Ln. Univ. of Washington, Seattle, Wash. ay Comegys, Mrs. Rozilla Fritz., 520 Madi- son Ave., Scranton, Pa. ay Corey, Deloraine Pendre, Member F. P. L. Commission of Mass., and Pres. P. L., Maiden, Mass. a y Corey, Mrs. Deloraine Pendre, Maiden, Mass. Countryman, Gratia A., Ln. P. L., Minne- apolis, Minn. a y Crandall, Annabel, Cataloger L. of Con- gress, Washington, D. C. a Cross, Leora, As. L. Assoc., Portland, Ore. a y Crunden, Frederick M., Ln. P. L., St. Louis, Mo. ay Daggett, Caroline Mayhew, Head Cata- loger P. L., Syracuse, N. Y. a Dana, John Cotton, Ln. F. P. L., Newark, N. J. Davis, Miriam M., Ref. Ln. P. L., Minne- apolis, Minn. a Derickson, Maud E., As. L. Assoc., Port- land, Ore. Deffenbaugh, Mrs. Estelle, Ln. P. L., Spo- kane, Wash. Dewart, Ella, As. L. Assoc., Portland, Ore. a Dewey, Melvil, Director New York State L., Albany, N. Y. Dexter, Harriette L., Cambridge, Mass. a y Dickinson, Sarah S., As. The John Crerar L., Chicago, 111. Dinsmore,. Lucy C., Ln. North Br. of P. L., Minneapolis, Minn. Dodge, Melvin Gilbert, Associate Ln. Le- land Stanford Jr. Univ. L., Stanford University, Cal. Dolph, C. A., Pres. Board of Tr. L. Assoc., Portland, Ore. a Donaghy, Grace L., Ln. Tompkins Br. P. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. Donnelly, Edith, Cincinnati, O. Donnelly, Emily, Cincinnati, O. Donnelly, June Richardson, Instructor in Library Science, Simmons College, Bos- ton, Mass. Doren, Electra Collins, Head Instructor, Western Reserve L. School Cleveland, O. a y Downey. Mary Elizabeth, Ln. P. L., Ot- tumwa, la. Drinker, Florence L., Ln. Chico State Normal Sch., Chico, Cal. Dunn, Jacob C., Pres. P. L. Commission, Indianapolis, Ind. a Eaton, Harriet, Ln. Normal Sch. L., Su- perior, Wis. Eliot, Grace, Portland, Ore. Eliot, Henrietta Mack, Portland, Ore. Eliot, Dr. T. L., Vice-Pres. Board of Tr. L. Assoc., Portland, Ore. Eliot, W. G. Jr., Treas. Oregon State L. Assoc., Portland, Ore. d Ellis, Victoria, Ln. P. L., Long Beach, Cal. Eppens, Anna, As. P. L., Cincinnati, O. Eppens, Bernadine, Cincinnati, O. Evans, Mrs. Alice G., Ln. F. P. L., De- catur, 111. Faddis, Zoe E., As. Sch". of Education, Chicago, 111. Failing, Mary F., Tr. L. Assoc., Portland, Ore. dy Farrar, Ida F., Chief Cataloger City L., Springfield, Mass. a y Farwell, Winifred, Children's Ln. P. L. of the Calumet and Hecla Mining Co., Calumet, Mich. a y Faxon, Frederick Winthrop, Manager L. Dept. The Boston Co., 83-91 Francis St., Back Bay, Boston, Mass. a y Faxon, Mrs. Frederick Winthrop, Jamaica Plain, Mass, a y Fearey, Charlotte Sophia, Cataloger New York State L., Albany, N. Y. a y Fernald, Helen A., Dorchester, Mass. a y Fiske, Anna J., As. Ln. P. L. of the Calu- met and Hecla Mining Co., Calumet, Mich. Fix, Arminda L., Ln. Whitman Coll., Walla Walla, Wash. Fix, Maude, Walla Walla, Wash, a Forstall, Gertrude, As. The John Crerar L., Chicago, 111. Fox, Nelly, As. L. Assoc., Portland, Ore. a Francis, Mary, Hartford, Conn. a Freeman, Marilla W., Ref. Ln., F. P. L., Louisville, Ky. French, Ben F., Ln. A. O. U. W. L., Port- land, Ore. a Furness, Margaret, As. The John Crerar L., Chicago, 111. Galbreath, Charles B., Ln. Ohio State L., Columbus, O. a Ganley, Marie, Cataloger P. L., Detroit, Mich, dy Gay, Alice M., As. Ln. Conn. Hist. Soc., Hartford, Conn. a y Gay, Helen Kilduff, Ln. P. L., New Lon- don, Conn. y Gaylord, Dema, As. Forbes L., North- ampton, Mass. ATTENDANCE REGISTER 221 Geary, Ellen E., Portland, Ore. a y Gibbons, Vernette L., Wells College, Au- rora, N. Y. Gibbs, Laura Russell, As. Radcliffe Coll. L., Cambridge, Mass. Gill, John, bookseller, Portland, Ore. Gillette, Helen, Cat. P. L., Seattle, Wash. Gillis, j. L., Ln. California State L., Sa- cramento, Cal. Gleason, Eleanor, As. Pratt Inst. F. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. y Godard, George Seymour, Ln. State L., Hartford, Conn. Goetzman, Charlotte, As. L. Assoc., Port- land, Ore. d Goss, Edna L., Cat. Univ. of Cal. L., Berkeley, Cal. a Gould, H. A., L. Dept. A. C. McClurg & Co., Chicago, 111. Graves, Francis Barnum, Ln. F. P. L., Alameda, Cal. ay Green, Elizabeth, St. Louis, Mo. a y Green, Mary S., Worcester, Mass, a y Green, Samuel Swett, Ln. F. P. L., Wor- cester, Mass, a y Green, Thomas, Worcester, Mass. Greene, Charles S., Ln. F. P. L., and Tr. Cal. State L., Oakland, Cal. Greene, Mrs. Chas S., Oakland, Cal. d Gunthorp, Pauline, Cat. Univ. of Cal. L., Berkeley, Cal. Hadden, Anne, Ln. P. L., Palo Alto, Cal. a Haines, Helen E., Managing Ed. Library Journal, 298 Broadway, New York, N. Y. Hall, Elizabeth C., Ln. P. L., North Ya- kima, Wash. Hall, F. C., Tr. North Yakima L., N. Yakima, Wash. Hall, Mrs. F. C., North Yakima, Wash. y Hanson, James Christian Meinich, Chief Catalog Division, L. of Congress, Washington. a y Hartwell, Mary A., Cat. Office Supt. of Documents, Washington, D. C. a Hassler, Harriot E., Children's Ln., L. Assoc., Portland, Ore. Hastings, C. H., Catalog Division L. of Congress, Washington, D. C. Hathaway, Caroline L., As. P. L., Spo- kane, Wash. Hathaway, Gretchen, Ln. P. L., Everett, Wash. Hawkins, Jean, Ln. P. L., Eau Claire, Wis. d Heatwole, Mrs. Ella R., Ln. P. L., Goshen, Ind. d Heatwole, Louise, Goshen, Ind. a y Hemson, Nellie E., Cat. P. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. Henry, W. E., Ln. Indiana State L., In- dianapolis, Ind. Henry, Mrs. W. E., Indianapolis, Ind. Henschkel, Martha, As. Ln. Carnegie P. L., Boise, Idaho. a Hill, Frank Pierce, Ln. P. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. a Hill, Mrs. Frank Pierce, Brooklyn, N. Y. a y Hill, Marion, Brooklyn, N. Y. a Hillebrand, Helen L., Ln. Honolulu Land Reading-room Ass'n, Honolulu, H. I. Hislop, Joanna, Cat. P. L., Spokane, Wash, a y Hitchler, Theresa, Supt. of Cataloging P. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. Hitt, J. M., Ln. Washington State L., Olympia, Wash. a Hoagland, Merica, Sec'y P. L. Commis- sion, Indianapolis, Ind. Hoftman, Mrs. J. E., Portland, Ore. Hoge, Mabel, As. L. Assoc., Portland, Ore. a Hopkins, Anderson Hoyt, Ln. Carnegie L., Pittsburgh, Pa. a Hopkins, Mrs. Anderson Hoyt, Pitts- burgh, Pa. a y Home, Edith Temple, Cat. Harvard Coll. L., Cambridge, Mass, a Hovey, E. C., As. Sec'y A. L. A., loYz Beacon St., Boston, Mass, a y Howard, L. Elizabeth, As. Inst. Mining Engineers, Brooklyn. N. Y. Howe, Harriet E., Instructor Illinois Univ. L. Sch., Urbana, 111. Howey, Mrs. Laura E., Ln. Hist. Miscel- laneous Dept. Montana State L., He- lena, Mont. Hughes, Alice M., Ln. Carnegie L., Pierre, S. D. Hughes, Florence, Cat. Leland Stanford Jr. Univ. L., Cal. a Humphrey, Gertrude Priscilla, Ln. P. L., Lansing, Mich. Huntington, Stella, Ln. State Normal Sch , San Francisco, Cal. Isom, Mary Frances, Ln. L., Assoc., Port- land, Ore. Jackson, Mrs. Arabelle Horton, As. Car- negie L., Pittsburgh, Pa. Jackson, Emilie, Attendant P. L., Los An- geles, Cal. Jackson, Henrietta, As. Ln. P. L. Winni- peg, Manitoba. d Johnson, Marguerite, Michigan City, Ind. Johnston, W. Dawson, Division of Bib- liography L. of Congress, Washington, D. C. a y Jones, Ada Alice, Head Cat. New York State L., Albany, N. Y. Jones, Elizabeth D., As. P. L., Pasadena, Cal. Jones, Gardner Maynard, Ln. P. L., Sa- lem, Mass. Jones, M. Grnce, Prof, of Music, Whit- man Coll., Walla Walla, Wash, d Katz, Louise Waldman, Cat. Univ. of Cal. L., Berkeley, Cal. a y Keller, Mary L., Wells Coll., Aurora, N. Y. a Kelley, Helen T., Supt. Circulation P. L., Detroit, Mich. 222 PORTLAND CONFERENCE Kelliher, Mrs. A. T., Pres. P. L., Salem, Ore. Kimball, W. C, Chairman New Jersey F. L Commission, Trenton, N. J., and Tr. P. L., Passaic, N. J. a Koch, Theodore Wesley, Ln. Univ. of Mich. General L., Ann Arbor, Mich. Kuhnke, Hugo P., Invoice Clerk P. L., Seattle, Wash. Kumli, Bertha, Ref. Ln. California State L., Sacramento, Cal. Ladd, C. E., Tr. L. Assoc., Portland, Ore. Ladd W. M., Tr. L. Assoc., Portland, Ore. i Langworthy, Mrs. S. C, Library Com- mittee Neb. Federation of Women's Clubs, Seward, Neb. Leach, Camilla, Ln. Univ. of Oregon, Eu- gene, Ore. Leeson, Mayme, As. Brumback L., Van Wert, O. Legler, Henry E., Sec'y Wis. F. L. Com- mission, Madison, Wis. a y Leonard, Grace Fisher, As. Ln. Provi- dence Athenaeum, Providence, R. I. Lichtenstein, Joy, As. Ln. F. P. L., San Francisco, Cal. Lilley, Mrs. Adelaide, Ln. P. L., Eugene, Ore. d Lindsay, Mary Boyden, Ln. F. P. L., Evanston. 111. Lucas, Stella, Ln. Taintor Memorial P. L., Menominee, Wis. MacConnell, Christina, teacher, Portland, Ore. McCord, Bessie, Ln. F. L., Bozeman, Mont. McCullough, Elizabeth, Ln. P. L., Lo- gansport, Ind. MacDonald, Agnes D., As. Carnegie F. L., Duquesne, Pa. MacDonald, Katharine I., As. Sec'y F. L. Commission, Madison, Wis. ay McDonough, Agnes, Philadelphia, Pa. ay McDonough, Kathleen M., Philadelphia, Pa. ay McDonough, M. F., Philadelphia, Pa. MacLachlan, Margaret, As. L. Assoc., Portland, Ore. McLoney, Ella M., Ln. P. L., Des Moines, la. a McMicken, Mrs. Herbert, Seattle, Wash. a McMicken, Katharine, As. P. L., Seattle, Wash. McRae, Mary, As. L. Assoc., Port- land, Ore. Marple, Alice, Ref. Ln. P. L., Des Moines, la. Marple, Mrs. ]., Des Moines, la. Marsh, Prof. Joseph W., Ln. Pacific Univ., Forest Grove, Ore. Martin, N. M., As. P. L., Pasadena, Cal. Marvin, Cornelia, Sec'y Oregon F. L. Commission, Salem, Ore. Mead, Herman Ralph, Ref. Ln. Univ. of Cal. L., Berkeley, Cal. Mead, Mrs. H. R., Berkeley, Cal. Mendenhall, Minnie, Ln. P. L., Whittier, Cal. Meydenbauer, Mrs. Margaret Crane, Desk Clerk P. L., Seattle, Wash. a Millard, Jessie, As. L. Assoc., Portland, Ore. a Millard, Mary M., Teacher, Portland, Ore. Mills, A. L., Tr. L. Assoc., Portland, Ore, d Montross, Elizabeth, Asst. The John Crerar L., Chicago, 111. d Montross, Mrs. J. T., Chicago, 111. Moore, D. R., Ln. P. L., Berkeley, Cal. Mosse, Miss E. A., Ln . P. L., Santa Monica, Cal. Moulton, Ella V., As. Harvard Univ. L., Cambridge, Mass. Nichols, Sue C, Ln. P. L., Fort Atkin- son, Wis. a y Nolan, Dr. Edward J., Ln. Academy of Natural Sciences L., Philadelphia, Pa. Ogden, Jessie F., Chicago, 111. Olcott, Frances Jenkins, Chief Children's Dept. Carnegie L., Pittsburgh, Pa. a Osborn, Lyman P., Ln. Peabody Inst, Peabody, Mass. a Osborn, Mrs. Lyman P., Peabody, Mass. ay Palmer, Maud E., Wareham, Mass. Parker, Phebe, Ln. Sage L., West Bay City, Mich. a Parmelee, Mary E., Malone, N. Y. Patten, Katharine, As. P. L., Minneapolis, Minn, y Pease, C. Grace, Ln. Field Memorial L., Cohway, Mass. Peckham, Dr. George W., Ln. P. L., Mil- waukee, Wis. Peckham, Mrs. G. W., Milwaukee, Wis. a Penfield, Helen, Seattle, Wash. Pinney, Grace E., Attendant P. L., Los Angeles, Cal. a Plummer, Mary Wright, Director Pratt Inst. L. S., Brooklyn, N. Y. Pomeroy, Edith, Pratt Inst. F. L., Brook- lyn, N. Y. Porter, Washington T., Tr. P. L., Cin- cinnati, O. Pratt, Elizabeth, As. L. Assoc., Portland, Ore. Prentiss, Mabel E., Ln. P. L., Pomona, Cal. d Preston, Nina K., Ln. Hall-Fowler Mem. L., Ionia, Mich. Putnam, Herbert, Ln. L. of Congress, Washington, D. C. Putnam, Mrs. Herbert, Washington, D. C. a y Rabardy, Etta Lebreton, As. Boston Athe- naeum, Boston, Mass. Ranck, Samuel H., Ln. Ryerson F. L., Grand Rapids, Mich. a Rathbone, Josephine Adams. Head In- structor, Pratt Institute L. Sch., Brook- lyn, N. Y. ATTENDANCE REGISTER 223 Reagh, Mary W., Cat. P. L., Toledo, O. Reed, Corinne, As. L. Assoc., Portland, Ore. Reid, Harriet, Norwood, Cincinnati, O. Reynolds, Mabel M., Ln. Washington State Normal Sch., Cheney, Wash. Richards, Miss D. Royall, As. Enoch Pratt F. L., Baltimore, Md. a Richardson, Dr. Ernst Gushing, Ln. Princeton Univ. L., Princeton, N. J. a Richardson. Mrs. E. C, Princeton, N. J. a' Richmond, Henry A., Ex-tr. Cor. Dela- ware and Tupper Sts., Buffalo, N. Y. Ripley, L. W., Ln. F. P. L., Sacramento, Cal. Ritchie, G. T., Catalog Division L. of Congress, Washington, D. C. Ritchie, Mrs. G. T., Washington, D. C. y Robbins, Mary Esther, Director L. Dept., Simmons Coll., Boston, Mass. Robbins, Ruth, As. P. L., Pasadena, Cal. Robertson, Mrs. Grace Barrett, Sec'y Board of Tr. F. P. L., North Yakima, Wash. Robertson, Prof. J. R., Pacific Univ., For- est Grove., Ore. a Robinson, Rev. L. M., Ln. Divinity Sch., 5000 Woodland Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. Rockwood, E. Ruth, As. L. Assoc., Port- land, Ore. Roden, Carl B., Supt. Ordering Dept. P. L., Chicago, 111. ay Rogers, Miss E. J., Wheeling, W. Va. a y Rogers, Mrs. James P., Wheeling, W. Va. a y Rogers, Miss L. K., Wheeling, W. Va. a Rowell, Joseph Cummings, Ln. Univ. of Cal. L., Berkeley, Cal. a ' Rowell, Mrs. J. C, Berkeley, Cal. Russ, Nellie M., Ln. P. L., Pasadena, Cal. Russell, Alma, Provincial L., Victoria, B. C. a Russell, Louise, Ln. Carnegie L., Alliance, O. Russell, J. R., Ex-ln., Butte, Mont. Salisbury, Grace E., Ln. State Normal Sch. Whitewater, Wis. a y Sanborn, Alice Evelyn, Ln. Wells Coll. L., Aurora, N. Y. Schafer, Joseph, Head of History Dept., Univ. of Oregon, Eugene, Ore. Scholefield, E. O. S., Provincial Ln., Vic- toria, B. C. Selden, Elizabeth C., As. Ln. P. L., Du- luth, Minn. y Sewall, Willis Fuller, Ln. P. L., Toledo, O. y Shaw, Lawrence M., As. P. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. a Shaw, Ruth C., Honolulu, H. I. d Sibley, Mrs. Mary J., Acting Ln. Syra- cuse Univ. L., Syracuse, N. Y. a y Skinner, Eliza Jane, Catalog Division L. of Congress, Washington, D. C. ay Skinner, Elizabeth M., As. P. L., Brook- lyn, N. Y. a Smith, Charles Wesley, Ln. P. L., Seattle, Wash. Smith, Ella Louise, Ln. Brumback L., Van Wert, O. Smith, Elizabeth Church, Ln. Agricul- tural Coll. of Utah, Logan, Utah. Smith, Eva G., Principal P. Sch., Tacoma, Wash. Smith, Izola B., As. Ln. P. L., Tacoma, Wash. Smith, M. W., Treasurer Board of Tr.; L. Assoc., Portland, Ore. Smith, Mary Alice, Ln. P. L., La Crosse, Wis. Smith, W. K., Tr. L. Assoc., Portland, Ore. Spalding, Miss H. F., Portland, Ore. Stearns, Lutie E., Library Visitor Wis. F. L. Commission, Madison, Wis. a y Stechert, Mrs. G. E., New York City, ay Stechert, Hans, New York City, a Steiner, Bernard Christian, Ln. Enoch Pratt F. L., Baltimore, Md. a Stevens, Mrs. Alice F., Catalog Division L. of Congress, Washington, D. C. Stevenson, Harriet, Ln. Colorado State L., Denver, Col. Stetson, Willis K, Ln. P. L., New Haven, Ct. Storaasli, Miss Signe, As. P. L., Tacoma, Wash, y Stowell, Laura, High Sch. L., Calumet, Mich. Sutliff, Mary Louisa, Head Cat. Cal. State L., Sacramento, Cal. Swank, Minnie, with John Gill, Portland, Ore. Sweet, Belle, Grangeville, Idaho. Switzer, Grace E., Ln. P. L., Bellingham, Wash. Taber, Grace M., Ln. P. L., Corona, Cal. Taber, Josephine, Chief of Children's Dept. P. L., Seattle, Wash. Tarlton, Mrs. Lewis B., Watertown, Mass. Taylor, Anna F., Ln. City L., Baker City, Ore. Thayer, Maude, As. Ln. State L., Spring- field, 111. d Tichenor, Mrs. Adelaide, Director P. L., Long Branch, Cal. y Titcomb, Mary Lemest, Ln. Washington County F. L., Hagerstown, Md. Tobitt, Edith, Ln. P. L., Omaha, Neb. Todd, Marie, Asst. Cat. P. L., Minne- apolis, Minn. Tolman, Frank Leland, Ref. Ln. Univ. of Chicago, Chicago, 111. a Tolman, Mary M., Manchester, N. H. a Towar, Sarah L., St. Louis, Mo. Turner, Frances B., As. Ryerson L., Grand Rapids, Mich, a Turner, M. Ada, Janesville, Wis. 224 PORTLAND CONFERENCE Tyler, Alice S., Sec'y Iowa L. Commis- sion, Des Moines, la. a y Utley, Henry M., Ln. P. L., Detroit, Mich, ay Utley, Mrs. H. M., Detroit, Mich, ay Van Benschoten, Anna L., Wells Coll., Aurora, N. Y. Walker, Mrs. J. M., Ln. P. L., Aberdeen, Wash. d Warner, Alice MacDougal, As. Syracuse Univ. L., Syracuse, N. Y. Warner, Mrs. Ella G., Ln. State Normal Sch., Ellensburg, Wash. a Warren, Irene, Ln. Univ. of Chicago Sch. of Education, Chicago, 111. Waterman, Minerva H., Ln. P. L., Santa Cruz, Cal. Watson, William R., As. Ln. Cal. State L., Sacramento, Cal. Weed, Alice, Teacher, San Francisco, Cal. Weed, Ida B., As. F. P. L., San Fran- cisco, Cal. Weller, Eleanor G., As. F. P. L., Pater- son, N. J. Wentworth, Ethel, As. L. Assoc., Port- land, Ore. Wheeler, Henry M., Andover, Mass. Whitaker, Alfred E., Ln. Colorado State Univ., Boulder, Col. Whitney, Henry M., Ln. Blackstone Me- morial L., Branford, Conn. Whitney, Solon Franklin, Ln. F. P. L., Watertown, Mass. Whittier, Florence B., Head Cat. Mechan- ics' Inst., San Francisco, Cal. Wilbur, Earl M., Dean Theological Sch., Oakland, Cal. Wilkerson, Elizabeth B., As. Cossitt L., Memphis, Tenn. Willard, Eliza May, Ref. Ln. Carnegie L., Pittsburgh, Pa. a y Williams, Lizzie Annie, Ln. P. L., Maiden, Mass. Williams, Mary, Brookline, Mass. a Wilson, Jean, Sec'y L. Board, Alliance, O. Wilson, Dr. J. R., Principal Portland Academy, Portland, Ore. Wilson, Mabel Zoe, Ln. State Normal Sch., Bellingham, Wash, ay Wilson, Mary Harlow, Cat. P. L., Syra- cuse, N. Y. ay Winchell, F. Mabel, Ln. City L., Man- chester, N. H. Wyer, James Ingersoll, Jr., Ln. Univ. of Neb. L., Lincoln, Neb. Young, Prof. F. G., Univ. of Oregon, Eu- gene, Ore. ATTENDANCE SUMMARIES BY NINA E. BROWNE, REGISTRAR; SECRETARY A. L. A. PUBLISHING BOARD BY POSITION AND SEX Men. Women. Total. BY STATES Trustees 15 Commissioners 4 Chief librarians 48 Assistants 12 Library school instructors . Commercial agents and editors 3 Teachers 6 Others 7 Total 95 Deduct those counted twice 3 92 BY GEOGRAPHICAL SECTIONS 8 of the 9 No. Atlantic states sent 3 2 S -i 9 So. Atlantic states 8 So. Central states 8 No. Central states 8 Western states 8 Pacific states British Columbia Hawaiian Islands Total 359 6 6 63 in 6 3 8 64 267 267 s 21 10 III 123 6 6 14 362 3 359 Me .' i Minn. ... 6 N H Iowa 7 Mass in Mo 3 R I I Kan i Conn 7 Neb 5 N Y S. Dak i Pa 1C Mont 4 N T . . 6 Col 2 Md i Utah I D C 12 Cal 43 W Va i Oregon . . . 49 Tenn I Idaho 2 Kv I Wash ... 36 Ohio . . . 2O B. C 3 18 Ind O H. I 2 2 111 21 Total .... . . . 359 95 Mich 14 . 13 Wis . IS Park. 3 132 went 70 went to Alaska, to the Yellowstone National 2 . 35Q NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES PROCEEDINGS AND ADDRESSES EIGHTH ANNUAL CONVENTION, PORTLAND, ORE., JULY 5-6, 1905 FIRST SESSION (UNITARIAN CHURCH CHAPEL, PORTLAND, WEDNESDAY, JULY 5.) THE meeting was called to order at three o'clock by the President, Mr. GEORGE S. GODARD, of Connecticut, who spoke as fol- lows : In the absence of the secretary I will ask Mrs. Howey, state librarian of Montana, to act as secretary pro tern. First upon our program is an address of welcome by Mr. J. B. Putnam, state librarian of Oregon. Mr. Putnam seems to be absent, though perhaps he is present in spirit. How- ever, I think there is no occasion for any formal address of welcome on the part of anyone from Oregon or from the Pacific Coast, because many of us from the Far East have found as we have been coming West everything opening to receive and welcome us. I do not think the mountains ever looked higher, the chasms deeper, nor the prairies broader than they did as we came across the continent. It is said that the Cascade Mountain at Banff can be seen to its summit clearly only upon four or five days during the season, and yet all the while during the 24 hours that we were in Banff it was in plain view, both staring at and welcoming us. It \va? the first place where I have seen the Arctic Zone shaking hands with the Tem- perate Zone and both apparently satisfied. When we arrived at Seattle each one of us \vas greeted with roses, as we entered our rooms, roses without number. So I say we have been welcomed all along the line, to such an extent that we already feel at home and ready to take up the work of the con- vention now before us. Mr. GODARD then delivered the PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS Another year has passed and we find our- selves assembled here upon the shore of the Pacific in Oregon under the shadow of Mount Hood in the beautiful City of Portland, amid most pleasant and "fair" surroundings. Less than a year ago we were holding conference in the midst of the "fair" surroundings of the great city of St. Louis upon the Great River. In 1903 our assemblies were held within the immediate presence of that won- derful and majestic cataract, Niagara Falls, while the year before our Fifth Annual Con- vention was held amid the beautiful sur- roundings of Magnolia, Massachusetts, upon the shore of the Atlantic. Our 1901 meeting was also held at a watering place, Waukesha, Wisconsin. It was at Waukesha that our Association began to hold its meetings at the same time and place as the A. L. A. This was the first of our gatherings which it was my privilege to attend. The meetings at Harrisburg, Indianapolis and Washington are known to me largely through tradition, as the Proceedings of our meetings at Wash- ington and Indianapolis are yet to be pub- lished. I am pleased to be able to state, however, that there are a few present at our meeting here who have been present at each session of our Association. The attendance at our several conventions has of necessity been more or less broken. Our country is large but our interests are one. While the distances to our several meetings are usually great, our available funds are always small. Moreover, while many states retain their state librarians dur- ing usefulness, there are some who appar- ently retain them only so long as they can be used. National conventions, like libraries, are 226 PORTLAND CONFERENCE here to stay. They are necessary to the proper understanding and development of any line of work which extends throughout the length and breadth of our land and where the per- fection of the entire work depends upon the efficiency and faithfulness of each individual official connected therewith. It was not until May, 1890, that there was an organized effort to get the state librarians of our country in line. At that time the State Librarians' Section of the A. L. A. was formed at St. Louis. For some reason these sectional meetings did not furnish that de- sired something so essential to a successful organization along our particular lines of work. So in November, 1898, in response to an apparently inspired invitation sent out to all the state librarians, the state librarians of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ne- braska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Penn- sylvania, Tennessee, and Vermont, assembled in the parlors of Cairo (not the "streets of Cairo"), Washington, D. C, and organized the National Association of State Librarians. Mr. Chase of New Hampshire called the meeting to order, Mr. Henry of Indiana was chosen chairman, and Miss Jones of Ten- nessee, secretary. In the discussion which followed all showed a kindly feeling towards the A. L. A. and expressed admiration for the great work which the A. L. A. was doing, but it was the unanimous sentiment that the objects de- sired by the state librarians ; viz., the devel- opment of the state libraries of the United States ; the broadening of their scope ; the binding of them into closer relationship; the perfection of a system of exchange between them ; and the accomplishment of other work of importance alone to state librarians, would be best served by a separate organization which would in no way be antagonistic to the A. L. A., but would rather supplement its work. Accordingly the National Association of State Librarians was formally organized in the City of Washington, November 17, 1898. At this conference the system or lack of system in exchanges between state libraries, the method or lack of method in printing and binding, and the scope of the state library were discussed and active steps taken to standardize these several lines. As already stated, the next two meetings of our Association were also held independ- ently of the A. L. A. at Indianapolis, Indiana, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, respectively. It was felt, however, that it would be desir- able in many ways to meet at the same time and place as the A. L. A. Accordingly the 1001 meeting was so held at Waukesha, Wis- consin, and we have continued this method each year since. However, notwithstanding the fact that the National Association of State Librarians was doing the work of the State Librarians' Section of the A. L. A., which was dormant or dead, that section continued to be mentioned in the several publications of the A. L. A., in- stead of mentioning the National Association of State Librarians. Accordingly at our St. Louis meeting a year ago our Association passed the following resolution : "Whereas, There appears in the publica- tions of the A. L. A. mention of a State Li- brarians' Section, noted as dormant; and whereas the work of said section is being done by the National Association of State Libraries, which has been holding its meet- ings at the same time and place as the A. L. A. meetings are held ; "Resolved, That we the members of the National Association of State Libraries re- quest the Council of the A. L. A. to substitute in its several publications the name of 'Na- tional Association of State Libraries' for said 'State Librarians' Section.' " This resolution has been presented to the Council of the A. L. A. and the request con- tained therein will be granted in such a man- lier as will clearly indicate the work and re- lations of our two associations. That the National Association of State Li- braries has already accomplished much is very evident. Thus, in our correspondence the "Dear Sir" or "Dear Madam" with its formal letter which may or may not be an- swered, has been giving way to "My dear Henry" or "Dear Mrs. Spencer," etc., fol- lowed by a brief letter to the point and heart. We come to know each other better as the mists are rolled away. Our exchanges are coming to us more regularly, better packed, more nearly complete, and usually FIRST SESSION 227 bearing the name of the state from which they come. And so too, the contents of the larger volumes are coming to be shown upon the labels. Uniformity in size and binding is becoming apparent where formerly there was no uniformity. Moreover, as a rule, public officials have not been slow in accept- ing and adopting suggestions and requests made by our Association along those lines over which they have direct control. While much has been accomplished there are many lines yet untouched. How a cheap parcels post or the franking privilege for certain purposes in library work can be se- cured and how the cheap politician can be eliminated from all library work are ques- tions still before us. Why the Government bindery continues to try to make one sheep do the work of many in binding certain pub- lications, when it would be much better not to disturb that sheep at all, is not entirely clear. It has been suggested also that we might with profit consider at some of our future meetings the following: Re-organiza- tion of state libraries; a cumulative system of state library statistics; preservation by state libraries of ballots and check lists; es- tablishment cf a department of libraries sim- ilar to department of education; how and along what lines can state libraries best work in the field of bibliography; what more can we do towards perfecting our system of ex- changes; the practicability of receiving from the several states the necessary standard catalog cards covering all the publications sent out by them upon exchange account ; relation of state library to state school system and state publications; proper books for the state library, the feasibility of giving library instruction at our state normal schools; and how to extend the influence of the Na- tional Association of State Libraries. As provision was made in the A. L. A. program for but two regular sessions of two hours each for our Association, our program which had been arranged for con- sideration at this conference has nominally been crowded into these two periods. I suggest, however, that, as has been done at former meetings, we hasten not hurry as much as possible our several reports and discussions, appointing if need be special meetings to continue our program and com- plete our business. In the selection of subjects and speakers for this meeting special emphasis was given to the replies received from the several state librarians in response to your president's circular letter of December last. It was a pleasure to read the interested responses contained in many of them. Some of the re- grets at inability to be present at this meeting contained words of encouragement, while others had an undertone of pathos. All wished the Association the success which it deserves. Effort has been made, however, to select timely topics and have them dis- cussed by members from widely separted fields of work. While no particular person or persons have been asked to discuss the various papers presented, it is hoped and ex- pected that all will feel free and inclined to add to or question any paper or report presented. The reports due from our several com- mittees appointed last year at St. Louis are upon topics of vital interest to the life yes, and ease of mind of every state librarian. By "state librarian" I mean state librarian according to the interpretation made last year when we changed the name of our Associa- tion from National Association of State Li- brarians to National Association of State Libraries and included all libraries doing the work of state libraries. Whether or not we are to receive tide- pages and indexes to periodicals regularly without sending for them; to what extent, how, and by whom shall the exchange and distribution of state documents be made; the possibility of a clearing house for state publications ; the question of the preparation and publication of session laws; how we may regularly know what official publications have been issued by the several states and how their contents may be easily learned, located and consulted ; how our several state libraries differ in size, scope, personnel and methods ; and how we may make our Association serve the largest number at a reasonable cost reasonable to the Association and reasonable to the one served and still have a dollar 228 PORTLAND CONFERENCE left, are questions in which we are all in- terested and which we have before us at this meeting. We now have printed in convenient and uniform style the Proceedings and Addresses for our Fourth meeting at Waukesha; the Fifth at Magnolia; the Sixth at Niagara Falls; and the Seventh at St. Louis. The abridged Proceedings of our Third Annual Convention at Harrisburg in 1900 were printed in the January, 1901, number of Pub- lic Libraries .(vol. 6, no. i.). As the papers and discussions of our gatherings for the most part deal with practical subjects in our work in a practical way, I wish to urge upon the Association, if practicable, at this time what was suggested by our president last year; viz., the advisability of collecting and publishing in a report uniform with the ex- isting series the Proceedings and Addresses of our First, Second and Third Annual Con- ventions at Washington, Indianapolis and Harrisburg respectively. Next to being pres- ent at our discussions is reading them, and as we cannot attend past conferences they should be brought to us. It should be made possible to have a file of our reports in every state library and the librarian might do very much worse than to glance through them oc- casionally. I desire in closing to thank the Association for the honor conferred upon me at our election last year. Looking forward to a successful meeting and trusting that we will all return to our several posts of duty refreshed, encouraged, and enlightened and feeling that it has been good for us to have been here, and wishing our Association that continued prosperity and growth which it merits, we will resume our regular order of business. The PRESIDENT: Our attendance here to- day is apparently small as we look at it bodily, but there are many who wanted to be here and sent letters of good wishes and regrets, among them being Edward M. Goddard, as- sistant librarian of Vermont; Reuben G. Thwaites, secretary Wis. State Historical So- ciety; E. N. Graves, assistant secretary of state, South Dakota; George P. Garrison, li- brarian, Texas State Historical Association; J. Schulthess, librarian, department of justice, Philippine Islands ; C. B. Tillinghast, state librarian of Massachusetts ; J. W. Cunshaw, librarian Arizona Terr. Library; Miss Mattie Plunkett, state librarian of Mississippi; E. A. Nelson; of Minnesota; Mrs. Maud Barker Cobb, assistant librarian, Georgia State Li- brary; Miles O. Sherrill, state librarian of North Carolina; John P. Kennedy, state librarian of Virginia; E. O. S. Scholefield, librarian Legislative Library of British Columbia. In the absence of Miss M. M. Oakley, her report as secretary-treasurer was duly pre- sented, as follows: REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-TREASURER, 1004-1905 In accordance with the suggestion in the report of the committee on financing the as- sociation, made to and accepted by the asso- ciation, Oct. 19, 1904, Mr. Henry, chairman, the secretary prepared the proceedings of the St. Louis meeting for publication in the usual manner. Five hundred copies were printed by the Library Bureau uniform with previous issues, and distributed to the libraries in pro- portion to the amount of dues promised by the respective librarians, the secretary re- serving loo copies for purposes of exchange and discretionary distribution. The report of last year showed an indebt- edness of $24.25, which could not be dis- charged on account of lack of funds. In or- der to meet this deficit $20 was subscribed during the meeting, and $4.25 was afterward taken from the advance dues of 1905, thereby making it possible for the secretary to clear the record and cancel the indebtedness on Jan. 31, 1905. In response to personal letters sent by the chairman of the finance committee, pledges for annual dues were received from the fol- lowing state libraries: California, Connecti- cut, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hamp- shire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Ver- mont, Virginia, Washington, and from the historical societies of Kansas, Missouri and Wisconsin. Receipts to date: California State Library $10.00 Connecticut State Library 10.00 Illinois State Library 7.50 Indiana State Library 10.00 Iowa State Library 10.00 Kansas State Library 5.00 Michigan State Library 5.00 Minnesota State Library 5.00 FIRST SESSION 229 Montana State Library $5.00 pense of the state, or emanating from any of New Hampshire State Library. .. 5.00 its departments or institutions, and two hun- ghto Y s?ate 3GJK : : : : : : : 2 dred c p ies of each individual r <* rt and <> ub - Pennsylvania State Library 10.00 Hcation. This proposed law reads as follows : f m ^ Jt CnaCted bv the Senate and H USC f ::::: x fe 1 ^ 5 in legislature assembled - as Kansas Historical Society 5.00 c . ' ,, , , ,. . , . bection i. That under the direction of the S * and empowered to exchange copies of every -D .- _ __iJ * T' book, manuscript, document and other publi- Proceedmgs sold 1.00 c?t j on isued by ^ t ' he departments and in P stitu . * tions of this state, with all the states and > 43-5 w i tn any institution or foreign country that Disbursements to date: shall send its own publications to the state Library Bureau for printing library in mutual exchange. 500 Proceedings $91.00 Section 2. Be it further enacted, that at Library Bureau, balance on least 75 copies of public documents, so 1904 bill 4-25 called, shall be delivered annually by the sec- Printing programs retary of state to the state librarian for the Stamps 4.10 purpose of exchange, and that there shall be ~ printed, bound and delivered to said librarian $102.00 at i east 2OO CO pies of every issue of any re- port or other publication of each department, Balance on hand $41.50 bureau and institution of the state. All The Wisconsin Historical Society furnished books, documents, publications and manu- gratis the manila envelopes used for sending scripts received by any one through gift, pur- the 75 single copies of the Proceedings. chase , exchange or loan from any source for the use of the state, shall constitute a part of The report was accepted. the state library, and shall be placed therein In the absence of the chairman of the for use o f its patrons. special committee on TITLE-PAGES AND IN- There were other duties imposed upon your DEXES TO PERIODICALS no report for that com- committee. They were required to recom- mittee was presented. mend that every public document should have L. D. CARVER presented a report for the printed on the back thereof the name of the state from which it emanated, a table of con- COMMITTEE ON EXCHANGE AND DISTRIBUTION tentS > and the VCar COVCred ^ the Va " OUS re ' OF STATE DOCUMENTS P orts contained in the volume. It is questionable whether it was wise to Five years ago this association appointed demand so many radical reforms in one re- a committee and instructed the members p0 rt. Was it not asking too much at once of thereof to devise a more efficient system for poor human nature? The mind refuses to the exchange of documents and other publi- receive anything when confused by a multi- cations between the states. plicity of questions suddenly proposed for its Four years ago your committee reported consideration and instant action. Notwith- recommending the enactment by each state of standing this defect in the report, it produced a uniform law of exchange. This proposed good results. Near the close of 1902, Hon. law invested the state librarian with the sole Roland P. Falkner, chairman of that corn- authority and absolute power of making all mittee, caused copies of the report and recom- exchanges with other states and countries, mendations to be printed and sent to every That he might have the means and power of governor and prominent legislator in each performing this duty efficiently and well, this state. AS a result several states have adopted law gave him the absolute control and posses- laws somewhat similar to the one proposed, sion of seventy-five copies of every public doc- and nearly all the delinquent states have man- ument or other publication issued at the ex- ifested an increased interest and generosity 230 PORTLAND CONFERENCE in regard to exchanges. More than 50 per cent, of the states still persist in adhering to the inefficient and antiquated methods of ex- change adopted in the early days before large collections of books became a necessity, and before the vast importance and value of state publications became known and fully realized. More than 50 per cent, of the states still make exchanges through the secretary of state, or under his supervision. Several states have no law providing for exchange of pub- lications, but perform this function as a mat- ter of custom and courtesy. In two states this work devolves on each department. It is still evident that this association has a further duty to perform in this matter. Your committee believes the work should be di- rected along different lines than those here- tofore pursued. Any argument or appeal to high state officials who are not specially in- terested in our work is of doubtful expediency and uncertain value. If we ever hope to bring about an effective and uniform system of exchange of docu- ments, we must work with the men in each state whose interests should be identical with our own. The appeals and recommendations of this association in this behalf should be ad- dressed directly to the state librarian. He is the man whose business it is to be interested in this matter. He should be held personally responsible to us for any failure to bring about proper relations of his state in the mat- ter of exchanges. This association ought to inaugurate a movement towards the educa- tion of state librarians. It needs to establish a school of instruction, to teach its members more fully and clearly the surpassing interest and value of the despised public documents, and how to use them, before we can ever hope to give and receive complete sets of these publications. It should demand of each of us an account of our stewardship in the administration' of our office. If the exchanges of any state are not satisfactory, it is the duty of this associa- tion to ascertain the reason therefor and to put forth vigorous efforts to remedy the de- fects therein. The secretary of state or other officer who carries on the exchanges as a side line to his chief business should be notified and importuned to give us better and fairer methods of exchange. The state librarian should also be advised, instructed and urged to take upon himself this important function which so naturally and logically pertains to his department, and which is so essential to the growth, development and usefulness of his library. The vast sums now expended in producing the department reports and other publications, both state and national, are virtually wasted because of want of system. There is utter lack of any system in publication, binding, ex- change and distribution of these works. In many states there is no system governing their distribution except the will or notion of the department official whence the work orig- inates. We repeat that it is the duty of this association to give its own members instruc- tion concerning the value and use of these publications, and to put forth all its power to bring about more sane and uniform system of distribution and exchange. If this work is not soon done, the folly of printing material that is wasted will cease, by the demand of the people, who are now becoming alive to the uselessness of such expenditures. Unless there is a reform soon, much valuable infor- mation will hereafter be allowed to sleep in manuscript form in the files of the bureaus and departments. This condition of affairs calls for energetic and continuous action on the part of our asso- ciation. Our first duty is to induce each li- brarian to secure every publication of the sister states by fair exchange. Our second duty requires that we should ourselves learn the value and best use of these publications, and impart such knowledge to others. The preparation and publication of indexes and catalogs of state publications ought to be a part of our work. So far little has been done in this direction. We fail in our high calling if we fail to inform the world of the treas- ures in our possession which belong to all the people of our state and nation. i. In view of these conditions your com- mittee recommend that the report of 1902, as amended by this association, be reprinted and sent to each state librarian, with instructions that it be given to the state library commis- FIRST SESSION 231 Committee. sioners and trustees and to all persons in the state specially interested in library work. 2. We would further recommend that some competent person be employed by this asso- ciation as a permanent lecturer and teacher, whose duty it shall be to visit any delinquent state when its legislature is in session and de- liver lectures before that body upon the sub- ject of exchange and distribution of state publications, and to awaken among librarians a desire to learn the use and value of this class of literature. 3. W further recommend that a commit- tee of three be appointed to devise a system of uniformity in the binding and lettering of public documents and reports of the different states, with authority to send to every state printer, binder and state department the rec- ommendations contained in their report. L. D. CARVER, ) C. B. GALBREATH, j Voted, That the report be accepted and filed. In the absence of E. M. Goddard, chairman, no report was presented from the committee on CLEARING HOUSE FOR STATE PUBLICATIONS, but a letter was read from Mr. Goddard for the committee, in which he stafed that he feared that it would be difficult for his com- mittee to make a report at Portland for the reasons that Miss Hubbard, one member of the committee, was in Europe and so could not well be consulted, while Dr. Whitten and himself had had no time to give to it the necessary attention ; that he felt, however, that some such scheme would be of use to all the libraries and wished that they might get to- gether on it. The PRESIDENT: What is your pleasure in relation to this one sentence, which was to take the place of the report of the committee? Are there any suggestions to be made upon it, whether the exchange should be effected by shipping the documents to the Division of Documents, which would seem to be impos- sible, or whether the Division of Documents should be supplied with lists of the state du- plicates which each library has, and the gen- eral distribution be made through that office? Mr. BRIGHAM: We have forwarded to Washington a number of our surplus docu- ments and have received documents from them in exchange. In the A. L. A. Council meeting I have favored Washington as a place of meeting, and I had, among other things, this plan in mind. I think if we should go to Washington we would get in closer touch with and would more thorough- ly understand the work of the Congressional Library and how to utilize that for our benefit Mr. CARVER: I have received from Wash- ington several packages of duplicate reports of my own state, and just before I left I re- ceived perhaps 200. Some of them were very valuable to me, and I was very glad to re- ceive them, and I am constantly sending in return United States publications that are duplicates with us. I have not received from them any publications of other states. If I understand rightly this is intended to be a mutual exchange between states as well as between the United States and one's own state? The PRESIDENT : That is the point. Mr. HENRY : I am not quite sure what is meant by a clearing-house. The work that Washington is now doing is a house-cleaning instead of a clearing-house; that is, they are simply sending back to the various states a lot of stuff that they have on hand that is use- less to them. We received at the Indiana State Library three or four weeks ago some three or four hundred volumes, including pamphlets, and, as Mr. Carver says, many of them were valuable to us. But that is mere- ly a way they have of getting rid of stuff that they do not want and has become a burden to them, just as we send back to the Superin- tendent of Documents a large amount of United States documents that we have picked up around the state. And I do not quite see why each state cannot attend to its own busi- ness. For instance, if I have documents that Maine needs, why not send them right back to Maine? And if Maine wants Indiana doc- uments that she does not have, let her give us a list of what she wants. Mr. CARVER : I will send you a list in a few days. .232 PORTLAND CONFERENCE Mr. HENRY: I shall not promise to supply all of them, but I will promise to supply all we can. In the last three or four years I have gathered up around the state something like three or four thousand volumes, running back to the very early documents of the state : and we have them stored in our basement ready for just such calls as that, and within the last few weeks have organized them so that we can put a finger on any document we have. I should be very glad to send to any library in the United States any document that we have in duplicate, and I do not see any reason why the several states cannot attend to their own business instead of having a common center do that work for them. Dr. DEWEY: I do not believe it is possible to do anything else, because the state is the publisher and people lacking any document will always send to the state for it. They are overcrowded in Washington, so that they are unloading all they can and they cannot take on anything more. We have got to face the fact that the state library ought to be the book department of the state, the publishing de- partment and distributing department, and I think one of the great functions before the state libraries is to help kill off a lot of this material. Certainly in New York we pub- lish a great deal of stuff that would be just as well unpublished, that nobody reads. My comment is summed up in this : that the state will have to take care of its book publica- tions; that the state library ought to be the book department of the state ; if the librarian is good for anything he ought to know about manufacturing books, printing and labels. The state librarian ought to be the book ex- pert of the state The PRESIDENT: I should like to say, yes to what Mr. Dewey says, but it strikes me that there is another side to it. I wouldn't think of sending down to Washington car- loads of anything. We know we have re- quests from all over the country asking for this, that and the other report. There is hardly a librarian who has not longed to sit down and make, once for all, a fairly good list of his duplicates, but he does not want to go through those duplicates once a week or a month; he gets tired of it. But he can give an approximate list of his duplicate* along certain lines. We know that the gov- ernment has in its national affairs govern- ment depositories. My idea is that there should be sent to some department of the Library of Congress, as far as possible, a complete list of our duplicates available for exchange, not merely those which belong to our own state but to sister states, also. From these several lists an inventory of avail- able duplicates with their locations can be compiled. Each state library might also make request for such publications of his own and the several states as are needed to complete sets. This request to our clearing house could be honored by requesting the needed items to be sent from the libraries having these duplicates, which are located nearest to the library wanting them. Let there be a clearing-house, as in banking, and a check- ing out of those documents to be forwarded to the library which is nearest where those books happen to be located. I believe it is perfectly feasible. I believe also if we had ideal state librarians, if we hac* ideal state libraries, if we had the franking privilege or an unlimited appropriation we could do what is apparently the ideal thing, but we have not. We are facing a condition rather than a theory. It needs united action and intelligent presentation on the part of the state libraries. I think there is some- thing to this that is going to help every state librarian in getting rid of his duplicates and putting them where they are wanted and can best be utilized, at the least possible expense in money and effort on the part of the libra- rian. I hope it will be discussed thoroughly. Mr. BRIGHAM : Excuse my rising with a suggestion, but Miss Haines is with us now and has a report on a subject of interest to us all, and as it is not always easy for her to get away from the main sessions, I move that this discussion be deferred and that we now call on Miss Haines. The PRESIDENT: I do not think it is neces- sary to make that motion. This is a pleasant surprise to all of us, because it does not ap- pear on the program. You have all seen "State publications," published by Mr. Bow- ker, which is an attempt to make a bibliog- FIRST SESSION 233 raphy of state official literature. Mr. W. N. Seaver, who has had in hand the compiling of these lists, has had the goodness to write out some of his experiences, and the answers he has received from state librarians and other librarians throughout the country who have charge of the state publications. Miss Haines has kindly consented to read this paper at this time. Miss HELEN E. HAINES read a paper by *W. N. SEAVER: NOTES ON STATE DOCUMENTS BIBLIOGRAPHY Of all printed things state documents seem to present the greatest perplexities and dis- couragements to the bibliographical worker. In the first place, the bibliographer finds his material fragmentary in the extreme, and ut- terly confused as to dates and series where clearness is of utmost importance ; in the sec- ond place, he finds library collections incom- plete and inaccessible, and comparatively few persons sufficiently intelligent, interested, or willing to assist him in his work or even an- swer his letters. He must in many cases bat- tle on single-handed, making the most of stray hints and forlorn hopes here and there. If his work were backed up with government funds, or even the pence of "pious petro- leum potentates," help would undoubtedly fly to him like steel filings to a magnet. Such, however, are not in these days the conditions under which the benevolent bibliographer works. 1 he particular bibliography with which I have had some experience, Mr. Bowker's "State publications," begun some years ago in an endeavor to do for the several states a work which practically none of them had then done for themselves, is a purely unselfish un- dertaking of which he meets personally the en- tire cost an expense which would not be covered by the sale of the entire edition of 500 copies. The work is pre-eminently a labor of love. Obviously, under these conditions it is impossible to send persons to examine the document collections in the several state?, or to pay for the help of local correspond- ents. This does not deter us, however, from asking for the practical cooperation of libra- rians and historical students, for we know that it is ultimately to their advantage to have the bibliography complete and correct in fact, it was originally planned largely with a view to assisting libraries in the perfecting of their document collections and our experience on Parts I. and II. of the work (the former pre- pared wholly and the latter in part by Miss Frances B. Hawley), covering the northern states from Maine to Wisconsin, had shown that there are here and there progressive li- brarians who are quick to recognize the value of cooperative work and to accept its respon- sibilities as a profitable investment of odd moments. But just what has been our experience in preparing Part III. of the bibliography, which covers the 20 states and organized territories west of the Mississippi except Arkansas, Lou- isiana, and Texas? In the beginning we sent out personally-addressed letters to the state librarians in the states concerned (using the word "state" in a general way to cover terri- tories as well), setting forth the nature of the work, showing the value it would have for them, and asking of each one his cooperation in preparing the list of his own particular state. In three states Iowa, Colorado, and Washington we already had lists previously prepared by former state or city librarians ; of the state librarians of the other states we asked frankly that they would have a list prepared for us "on the spot." What was the result? The state librarians or their assistants in the three states mentioned cooperated very effectively in revising and extending the lists prepared by their predecessors. Evidently the true library spirit was well established in those libraries. Out of the 17 state librarians who were asked for original lists, just three saw the value of the proposed work and complied with the request; this adds to the honor roll the state librarians of Minnesota, Wyoming, and California. This left 14 other lists to be provided. The state historical societies were next approached, and while as a rule they showed greater interest than the state libra- rians, they were too often handicapped by lack of material or the confusion of it Three secretaries or librarians of such societies, how- ever, prepared original lists, namely, in Mis- souri, Kansas, and South Dakota, and two of 234 PORTLAND CONFERENCE these are among the best lists in the entire book. Next there came original lists from one territorial secretary (New Mexico) and one state university librarian (Utah). This left nine states wherein no one could be found, through the usual channels, sufficiently inter- ested or disinterested to prepare an orig- inal list of the documents of his own state, for his own state's sake. The lists for these states, therefore, had to be prepared here in the East, chiefly from the extensive col* lection of state publications in the docu- ment department of the New York Public Library, where Miss Hasse afforded us every assistance, and from a few library catalogs, like that of the State Library of Massachu- setts and others deemed trustworthy. These lists are necessarily incomplete, yet no effort has been spared to make them accurate and reliable as far as they go. And of those origi- nal lists prepared in the states themselves, some were scanty and not very well done and had to be filled out and improved from similar material. A second attempt was now made to obtain local cooperation, and proofs of these East- ern-made lists were sent to state librarians, state historical societies, and state university librarians in the states concerned, this time with the simple request that the proofs be looked over, criticised, corrected, or extended, to the extent of available information. What came of it? Our former experience was re- peated. The total result was really effective cooperation from one more state librarian (Arizona), and from two state university li- brarians (Nebraska and Wyoming) with a promise of help from one other (Washington) not yet finally heard from. There are the statistics. In 20 states just seven state librarians and one secretary were willing to cooperate in preparing a bibliogra- phy intended to be of value first of all to them, which without their cooperation must be less complete and less accurate; 12 rendered no aid whatever, and this notwithstanding the fact that the result would have been a bibli- ography of the publications of their own states published without any expense to them save the labor of some assistant in odd moments. Without moralizing upon the statistics, let me throw a few side-lights upon the work that will perhaps disclose a moral, if there be any lurking in the dark corners. First of all, the success of the cooperative side of the work has probably depended very largely on the attitude of mind in which state librarians and others have received our cor- respondence. From Mr. Bowker's original appeal for original lists, of which I have spoken above, down through many subsequent appeals for the reading or revision of proofs, our letters have met with varying fates. Sad- dest of all is the serious probability that some state librarians, having abundant faith in the keenness of their instincts and but little in human nature, have cried out, upon reading a letter from us : "Aha ! a mere circular ! To the waste-basket with it !" And never an answer from them. Others, even more keen, have scented a confidence game; they do not understand the disinterested tone in which the letter is written at any rate they do not like it. And never an answer from them. After a month of weary waiting we stir up all these delinquents with a most polite letter of inquiry, and very likely receive a reply like this, which came on a scrawled postal-card from an in- dividual who claimed to be secretary of state : "DR. SIR: Your letter of Feb. 16 has been mislaid and we do not remember its con- tents Res. . . . , Secretary of State." Complete disregard of our letters occurred usually in states where the "state librarian" was merely the secretary of state "ex officio." A delicious morsel, that phrase "ex officio," but with secretaries of state it often means total inefficiency in the secondary office. I must, however, record a notable exception in the secretary of New Mexico, Mr. J. W. Ray- nolds, who has courteously furnished us with a careful list of New Mexico publications and exact data in answer to inquiries. But the state librarian, "ex officio" or other, who does not reply to straightforward, personally-ad- dressed correspondence on so vital a subject as the official history of his own state, nor even acknowledge registered letters, is entitled at any time to my private opinion of him in an envelope marked "Personal." Fortunately our correspondents are not all FIRST SESSION 235 like these. Others seem to realize the sin* cerity of the undertaking, and from them come replies of one sort and another. First of all are the prompt promises of help that make the heart tingle with joy and do honor to the sender, as for example, this from the state librarian of California: "DEAR SIR: We have vols. i and 2 of the 'Bibliography of state publications/ and will make arrangements immediately to prepare the work for California and forward it to you at the earliest possible date. . . ." The same spirit is manifest in the following letters from states for which we already had lists and had asked for their revision to date. From the state librarian of Iowa, this : "DEAR SIR: . . . My assistant in the Docu- ment Department is making a careful check of our list of Iowa state publications com- piled for the forthcoming part 3 of Bow- ker's 'State publications.' The list will be re- turned to you in two or three days at the out- V si tie. "I regard these state publications as very valuable, and we are pleased to do our part toward making the same accurate so far as our own state is concerned." From the former assistant state librarian of Colorado, the state librarian de facto, this : "SiR: Yes, I am willing to take the list you have, bring it up to date and add a list of those documents to which Mr. Tandy may not have had access. "Send me two or three copies of the print- er's galley proof. "Tell me, please, the length of time at my disposal. I have all the work of this library to do, but I will try to have this work ready when it is needed, provided the time is not too short." A year later this latter correspondent wrote : "DEAR SIR: I am still working on the list. ... It is not finished, and I cannot tell when it will be. You know that I have to work on it between times, and there are some days that I do npt have time to touch it. ... I have been in every room in the building in the interest of the list. Mr. Dudley, of the Public Library, kindly gave me permission to look over his set of Colorado documents. . . . I also planned to send to the state institutions outside of the city their lists, so they could add those that I had not. . . . Before send- ing on to you I ought to go over the whole thing again. ... I have access also to the documents in the State Historical Society." The cheerful good-will and patient toil which such men and women devote unsel- fishly to a cause cannot be too highly praised. Yet it rarely brings them actual expressions of the gratitude they deserve. Occasionally a promise of help is not pro- ductive of expected results. A letter like this brings cheer and hope that lasts for months : "DEAR SIR: ... I wish to say that I am deeply interested in this matter and would like to have our state fairly and fully repre- sented in part 3, which I understand is in preparation. ". . . If you will be kind enough to give this matter your attention I will in turn promptly do my part of the work." But alas ! it took a year of constant urging and prodding to get the promised help from this good man. Others write pathetically that they appre- ciate the importance of the work, and would like to help a great deal, but that the legisla- ture has been stingy toward the state library from time immemorial and has never pro- vided it with the documents in question, or that their predecessors were incompetent and so the documents are dumped in chaos on the shelves or are down cellar moulding away. For instance, one lady-in-charge-of-a-state- library went to the trouble of making for us a list of general literature about her state or by citizens of the state, and when it was made clear to her what we really wanted she re- plied: "Our library is supposed to have a complete set of all officers' reports, but it does not have, and I have pleaded, coaxed, scolded, and all in vain in some cases." In the ad- joining state, the lady who has charge of the state library wrote: "DEAR SIR: ... I have not the documents you wish in my charge, only now and then a copy; they seem not to have been preserved in the library. I know of no one but the Sec- retary of State who might have them or be able to get them." The secretary of state, however, shoved the responsibility off upon the Oldest Inhabitant, and to him proofs were immediately de- spatched, in high hopes. A few days later the mail brought them back, with the following laconic but decisive message scrawled in pencil : "It would take ten days to veryfy and cor- rect this Statement and I havent the time to contribut" (sic). 236 PORTLAND CONFERENCE When our Eastern-made list was sent, a year later, to the lady-at-the-state-library, she re- turned the proofs quite uninjured, with this letter : "DEAR SIR: I return the enclosed matter, as I find it impossible to attend to it. You seem to have had access to very much more of history than is available to me in this library, where I find no complete sets of literature, except the supreme court reports and very little of her history. This library is entirely law, consequently other matters have small space here. . . ." The secretary of the South Dakota State Historical Society wrote as follows : "DEAR SIR: . . . We will 'have the South Dakota list ready in a short time, but we shall be unable to do anything at all compre- hensive with Dakota Territory. The circum- stances surrounding these territorial publica- tions render it impossible to do so without the most difficult research. ... In the early days officials were grossly careless about pre- serving published reports. Then the capital was removed from Y?nkton to Bismarck and in the transfer manv valuable publications were lost. Later the territory was divided and the books in the territorial library were divided upon the basis of so many feet of shelf room. The South Dakota allotment was boxed up and shipped to Pierre, where in the absence of room for its better disposal the boxes were piled up in the basement of the temporary capitol, where the accumula- tions of 14 subsequent years have buried them beyond hope of resurrection. We do not have a scrap of anything which assumes to be an index to these territorial publica- tions" This, unfortunately, is only typical of the widespread disregard and neglect of state documents by state officials. The governor of Arizona said in his message of 1899: "Hundrels of territorial books have been taken away by unauthorized persons and never returned, and books filched from this library can be found in many attorneys' offices in Los Angeles as well as in Arizona." The most discouraging obstacle of all is the frequent message that the guarantee of much fine gold is a desirable, in fact a necessary, prerequisite to carrying on negotiations for cooperation. Truly we must all over the world earn our livings, and that, too, at our set tasks, but why is it that some people are so glad to devote their odd moments out of work hours to labor that will be of value to the peo- ple of their state and to their fellow-librarians, without thought of reward, while the first question of others is, "What do / get out of it?" How discouraging is such a letter as this, from a denominational university in the state where your conference is to be held : "DEAR SIR : The enclosed papers were given me with a request that if possible I find some one who would do the work of looking up corrections, etc. The state librarian, how- ever, says that it would entail the work of probably two weeks or more. Since there are no funds provided as compensation for the one doing this work, I am compelled to return it to you undone." Why should it not have occurred to the writer that a work like this could be done without "compensation," from "funds" or otherwise? The most striking experience of this kind was in one of the interior states, where the lady-m-charge-of-the-state-library wrote : ". . . We are so busy preparing to put up new shelving in our library and I am short of help. Would therefore recommend Mrs. X. to do your work. She has been in the employ of the . . . Magazine . . . for many years and is well qualified. . . . She will be aided so far as our limited time will allow." In the same mail came a letter from Mrs. X: ". . . If you want these reports and are willing to pay a fair price for the labor in- volved in hunting up the statistics and pre- paring them for publication, I shall be glad to do the work." Upon explaining to Mrs. X that payment was out of the question she sent back word: "... I cannot afford to give my time for glory. I doubt if you could find any one here who would. Mrs. [Lady-in-Charge-of-the- State-Library] told me she would not, and strongly expressed herself against either of us so doing." I like, however, to cherish the fond belief that this spirit is not representative of the li- brary conditions of that state any more than of any other, but only stands forth in a particu- larly aggravated case. In fact, in this same state the attitude of the state law librarian was quite different. He wrote: "... I have taken the time to personally read and correct the strictly legal part of the proofs. . . . You certainly deserve praise for attempting such an herculean undertaking, as 'State publications;' if completed it certainly will be of inestimable value. I wish you all success. . FIRST SESSION 237 So, in spite of many, many discouragements, such as those just related, the work has its encouraging side. And, strange as it may seem, it has also a humorous side. There's probably no dryer work in the world than compiling a bibliography of state publications. If there is, it would be interesting to know what it is. Yet into this dry-as-dust atmo- sphere enters now and then a breath of real human nature, or a breeze of real humor, that relieves and refreshes the nigh stupefied brain of the worker. There is humor even in the confusion of badly-numbered documents ; they get out their reports, those state officials, for no future bibliographer's convenience not a bit of it ! So long as the report is made and printed, what matter if it is numbered the 3d or the iQth? In fact, what harm in each new incumbent of an office starting a new series with his own first report who would dare or care to call this egotism? Or what mat- ter, again, if each biennial report of the Home for Feeble-minded for eight successive years is called the 5th biennial? The imprint says "Printed by the pupils" possibly, too, it was written by one, and allowances must be made. Indeed, one sometimes wonders if the writers of these reports are not graduates of such in- stitutions. Certainly some of then", could have spent little time in the public schools wit- ness this specimen of English in the report of a Soldiers' Home. Referring to the fact that by state law the old soldiers were not allowed to have their wives at the home, the writer says: "Their every necessary want is supplied, but their stay here is embittered because of the separation from the wife of their youth. Under our law she is debarred from accom- panying him and necessity compels them to separate." The most interesting humor, if not the fun- niest, is generally unconscious. For instance, who can suppose that the legislators of Ari- zona saw anything unusual in the title of a law passed in 1871 "An Act to Authorize the Compilation and Publication of Informa- tion to Promote Immigration"? Does the Oklahoma militiaman smile when he sees his blanket stamped "OK. N. G."? When Indian Territory had its own Assembly did the Indians in council at Okmulgee ever smile at remarks by Mr. Tehee? And even the scrawled postal-cards from men who "havent the time to contribut" and the women who "cannot afford to give their time for glory," as well as the declared horror of the state librarian at devoting two whole weeks "and possibly more," to a labor of love are funny at the same time that they are sad- dening. So the work is relieved from time to time by these stray breezes. But it is serious work as a whole, and it leads one to the in- evitable conclusion that while there are many devoted souls in state libraries who realize the value of a work of this kind and are willing to give their time and strength to it without thought of reward, many states have yet to learft the value of the history that lies in their own documents, to learn the real function of the state library and the real meaning of the office of state librarian; and to learn, moreover, that a political state librarian, or one of the ex officio kind, is worse than a dummy is really an obstacle in the way of state progress and development. If in the future this bibliographical ground is gone over again, let us hope there will be no occasion for such a letter as this re- ceived from the librarian of a state univer- sity : "... I cannot suppress a smile when you suggest that the work be done at the state library. This library is a political foot-ball, is not run at all, and there is no one who knows the first thing about such work. Any- thing you could get from them would be 5 superficial botch. This is strong language but fully warranted. . . ." Let us hope on the contrary, that the state libraries then will all be established on modern lines and well organized for work of this kind, and that there may be no necessity to appeal to the lady journalist who "can- not afford to give her time for glory" nor to the Oldest Inhabitant who "hasn't the time to contribut." Mr. BRIGHAM : I have long been of the opinion that we were under many obligations to Mr. Bowker and to Mr. Seaver. My cor- respondence with Mr. Seaver has made a profound impression on me, that he is the right man in the right place. I move a vote of thanks to Mr. Bowker and Mr. Seaver for the work they have done in this 238 PORTLAND CONFERENCE bibliography of "State publications," and also to Mr. Seaver and to Miss Haines for the very interesting paper that has just been read. Voted. In the absence of Dr. R. H. Whitten, chair- man, the president read the report of the COMMITTEE ON UNIFORMITY IN PREPARATION AND PUBLICATION OF SESSION LAWS A circular calling attention to resolutions adopted by this association at its Milwaukee meeting has been sent again this year to the governor and secretary of state of each state holding a legislative session. Returns for the year are not yet available but a full re- port in regard thereto can be made next year. It is kno\vn however that progress toward the desired uniformity has been made in at least one state. ROBT. H. WHITTEN, Chairman. JOHNSON BRIGHAM, C. B. GALBREATH. In the absence of Miss Hasse, chairman, Mr. W. E. HENRY read the report of the com- mittee On SYSTEMATIC BIBLIOGRAPHY OF STATE OFFICIAL LITERATURE Your committee on bibliography begs re- spectfully to report that since the last meet- ing of the Association the sum of $4000 has been made available for the purpose of com- piling an index to those publications of the American commonwealths, having an eco- nomic bearing. The work will be done under the direction of the chairman of the present committee. The sum appropriated suffices to supply only the promoters of the work with copies of the cards. The documents indexed will include de- partmental and committee reports and legis- lative journals from the first printing to and including 1904, It is estimated that a set will comprise between 20,000 and 25,000 cards. The subjects will include every branch of public finance, taxation, banking, insurance, public works, public industries, transportation, etc. The form of entry will be the single line entry familiar as the or- dirary book index. Work is to be begun at once and will proceed without delay. It has not been possible, so far, to make any arrangement by which state libraries, college libraries and public libraries could be supplied with copies of this work. There are two alternatives, viz., to supply libraries with copies of the cards, or to re- ceive sufficient guarantee to warrant the printing of the index when completed. The former is, by far, the more expensive and, in the end, the least satisfactory. Your com- mittee believes that the ways and means to provide libraries with copies of this work would be better devised by a specially ap- pointed committee, and respectfully asks that the present committee be discharged. A. R. HASSE, Chairman. Mr. HENRY: I do not understand what Miss Hasse means by "only the promoters of the work will be supplied with cards." That is, I do not understand who the pro- moters are that she refers to, unless it be the New York Public Library, because it seems the work is to be done under Miss Hasse's direction. There is no suggestion made here of how these cards should be supplied where they will be the most needed; that is, to the state libraries themselves. The PRESIDENT: I would like to take the liberty of asking Mr. Andrews, who has done work right along this same line at the John Crerar Library, his personal opinion as to which is the most desirable and best way to get at the contents of public documents of the several states, whether it would be better to take the cards as they are issued, or to wait until the whole thing could appear as an index in book form? Mr. ANDREWS : I answer with some dif- fidence, because perhaps my answer would be rather biased by our own processes of work and also perhaps by my experience, similar to that of Mr. Seaver, of the difficulty of obtaining material, not merely from state li- brarians, but with other state officials. If you could obtain your material promptly and get it in shape so that it could be indexed, I am inclined to think that book form would be the most available. But I think the only possible way is to use the card form, simply because experience shows that we cannot get the material promptly enough for annual issue, and anything later than an annual FIRST SESSION 239 issue, as the "Poole index" shows, does not satisfy the investigator. It is fair to say that the states which issue their publications promptly are the ones best worth consult- ing, and the ones that make the best pro- vision for distribution are the ones that are most used, and would be most used by in- vestigators in any case, as they have the most valuable material. Mr. CARVER: I have listened to this with great interest. It does seem to me that the use of the cards would give us instant use of a certain portion of the work, as soon as they are received, while if we waited for the matter to be printed we might have to wait many months or years. Mr. GALBREATH: It would seem, to begin with, that it might be best to have this printed index, if it is the purpose of the New York Public Library to bring it out in the near future. Then it could be supplemented by the cards from time to time. The PRESIDENT: It strikes me that the possession of such an index, whether it be card or book, is going to open up to us the contents of the whole field of the official publi- cations of the several states. It is going to save us a whole lot of shelving, by making available the contents of neighboring state li- braries. Mr. HENRY: I think the matter the pres- ident mentions is probably of the high- est value to us. All the documents we have we catalog, as we do the books we purchase. Any book we have from any state is cata- loged. So we are not helpless in our library in regard to the state publications that we have, but there are a large number of states from which we obtain nothing; and of course a large number of the older states that are now distributing to us very freely and fully, have not and never can have their old docu- ments to distribute, so that we are perfectly helpless for documents back of comparatively a few years ago. And it seems to me that this indexing process will be most valuable to us, not for what we have, but for what we have not. Mr. GILLIS: It appears to me that the best plan would be the cards, and the most imme- diate. It appears that it would be a very large work and very difficult to have it brought up to date. This matter is new to me and I am hardly prepared to discuss the subject, but it does seem to me as though the cards are the best and will bring the most immediate results. Mr. HENRY: I should like to inquire if you know or if anyone else knows what is probably the cost of subscribing for these cards? Miss Hasse says there will be from twenty to twenty-five thousand cards, to make it complete to date. There is nothing in the report that indicates how expensive it would be to obtain those. If there were such a report as that issued, I am sure that in the Indiana State Library we should want it at any reasonable cost, but I should like to have some hint, if anyone has any informa- tion, as to what it is likely to cost the state and whether that cost will be distributed, so that it can be met in a certain number of years as the work develops, or whether an appropriation will have to be made so that it should be available at once? The PRESIDENT : In my correspondence with Miss Hasse I received the impression, that if all the states subscribed to this work it would not require anything like $500 apiece, but in view of the possible few who might subscribe it would probably be not far from $500 apiece. I also gained the impression that this would not necessarily have to be paid at once but might be paid in instalments. This can be cleared up if we appoint, as Miss Hasse suggests, a committee of ways and means, to take up the matter and correspond with her, and find out what is expected in the way of contribution of material and con- tribution of money, and report at our next annual meeting. Mr. CARVER: In the law department of our state library we spend about $300 a year on digests and indexes which enable the at- torneys and the courts to get at any decision or any point decided in any of the courts of the states of the United States. Now it seems to me that public documents are of equal importance with the decisions of the courts, and I certainly would feel that in our state library we would be willing to subscribe $200 a year as the work goes on, to put this thing through, because I think it is of value to the people at large, not only 240 PORTLAND CONFERENCE to the law courts and to legislators, but to the literary man and to the historian. Mr. HEXRY: I move that the chair appoint, at some time during this convention, a com- mittee to undertake this work. Voted. It was also Voted that the report be ac- cepted and the committee discharged. Dr. DEWEY: This money has been given by some people who want to use the results of (he work. I stated to Miss Hasse that we must find some way by which the state libra- ries should have the benefit of this index. Of course that means either duplicating the cards or else printing it in book form. The latter, book form, we could circulate much more widely, but we want the record kept up. This index must be kept up every year, and I am inclined to think what we ought to do is to ask Mr. Putnam to print these cards and let us in the state libraries make up a subscription for this purpose. He has all the machinery for doing it and doing it well; Miss Hasse has the material all ready. If the state libraries could make a pool to insure its being printed at Wash- ington, anybody all over the world could get at it, we would be able to keep it up-to-date, and it seems to me that is the better way. Mr. Putnam has never failed to do what library interests demanded, if it was in his power, and I think it would be fair for us in the state libraries not go to him and say "Do this for nothing," but to say "Here are so many states ; we all want this and are will- ing to pay for it," and I think he would do it and I think he ought to do it. It is a service that affects the whole country. SECOND SESSION (UNITARIAN CHURCH CHAPEL, PORTLAND, THURSDAY EVENING, JULY 6.) President GODARD called the meeting to order at 8.15. W. E. HENRY spoke for the committee on STATE LIBRARY STATISTICS Mr. HENRY: On this subject I attempted to follow up the work that Miss Roberts, now of Missouri, had done when she was in the state library of Michigan; and at the re- quest of the Association made last year I sent out a list of questions to all the state libraries in the country and received back reports from somewhat less than half of them. Several of those reports came in only within the last two or three days before I left home, so that any report that I could have made from such statistics would have been practically worth- less. Further than that, when I began to read the answers to the questions, I discovered that I had not asked a very intelligent set of questions. That is, they did not bring out what I had hoped they would elicit and so I have no report to make. I am sorry that is the case; for I have tried always, in the Association and elsewhere, to do the thing that was assigned me to do, as best I could. I am going to make one suggestion to the Association, however, which it may take up or not as it may feel inclined; and that is that we ought to continue the work that Miss Roberts began, and it seems to me that a committee of three probably might consult, and formulate a set of questions that would bring out the yearly advances of the various state libraries. The same set of questions could be reported on year after year, so that in the course of five or ten years or any series of years we might have, perhaps in a single sheet, a recprd showing step by step how the various libraries had developed. Of course, one of the difficulties with most statistical work that we have done in our states is that one year the report deals with one thing and the next year with another thing, and in the course of ten years we have no record that will show whether we have progressed in any one particular line through a series of years or not. The PRESIDENT: Would it not be well to make a motion providing for a committee which shall formulate these standard ques- tions? Mr. CARVER : I move that one person be ap- pointed for that purpose by this association. Voted. The PRESIDENT : The vote is unanimous and I will appoint Mr. Henry. We will now pass to the next matter upon our program, and Mr. Henry will report as chairman of the committee on SECOND SESSION 241 CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS Mr. HENRY presented the following: PROPOSED CONSTITUTION OF THE NATiONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE LIBRARIES Name Section i. The name of this Association shall be National Association of State Li- braries. Object Section 2. The object shall be to develop and increase the usefulness and efficiency of the several state libraries and other libraries doing the work of state libraries. Members Section 3. There may be two classes of members, regular and associate. Section 4. Regular members shall be elected from such persons connected with state libraries, state historical societies, state law libraries, and other libraries doing the work of state libraries, as may be recom- mended by their respective librarians. Section 5. Associate members may be elected from other libraries and shall have all the privileges of regular members except holding office and voting. Voting Section 6. In the election of officers the vote shall be by states as units. Officers Section 7. The officers shall consist of a president, first vice-president, second vice- president, secretary-treasurer, an executive committee, and a membership committee of three, all of whom shall be elected by ballot at the annual meeting and .serve until their successors are qualified. SectionS. The executive committee shall consist of three members, viz., the president, secretary-treasurer, and retiring president. Section 9. The membership committee shall consist of the president, vice-presidents, and secretary-treasurer. Section 10. Vacancies through non-accept- ance or resignation of office shall be filled by the executive committee. Section n. The duties of these several officers shall be those ordinarily assigned to said officers in similar associations. Meetings Section 12. Regi lar meetings of the As- sociation shall be held annually at such time and place as may be determined by the ex- ecutive committee, provided the same has not been determined Vy the Association. It be- ing expected that the meetings will be held at the same time and place as the annual meetings of the A. L. A., unless there are special reasons for holding them elsewhere. Section 13. Special meetings may be held at such times and places as the executive committee may elect or the Association di- rect. Reports Section 14. There shall be printed under the direction of the secretary-treasurer as soon as practicable after each annual meet- ing the Proceedings and Addresses of such meeting, to be printed uniform with recent issues ani to include all papers in full, unless cut by the author, all formal reports, resolu- tions, and recommendations, and such sum- mary of discussion as the secretary may elect. By-laws Section 15. Any by-law may be suspended by a three-fourths vote of those present and voting at any meeting of the Association. Amendments Section 16. This constituton may be amended by a three-fourths vote of those present and voting at two successive meet- ings of the Association, provided that notice of the amendments in their final form be sent to each member of the Association at least one month before their final adoption. BY-LAWS Section i. An annual due of not more than ten dollars nor less than five dollars, the specific amount to be determined by the libra- rian of said library, shall be assessed against each library of the Association and shall be due and payable at the annual meeting. Section 2. Five hundred copies of the an- nual Proceedings and Addresses shall be printed. Section 3. One hundred copies of each re- port shall be reserved by the secretary-treas- urer for exchange. The balance shall be dis- tributed to the several libraries of the Asso- ciation in proportion to the annual due paid. W. E. HENRY, GEO. S. GODARD, C. B. GALBREATH, Committee. It was Voted that the constitution and by- laws be adopted as read. NOMINATIONS The PRESIDENT: The next matter on our (program ; s "Miscellaneous business," and under this head I would announce as the nominating committee, for the nomination of officers for the coming year: Col. Carver, of Maine; Mrs. Howey, of Montana, and Mr. Hitt, of Washington. Knowing that there would now be no opportunity for them to 242 PORTLAND CONFERENCE meet and report before we close the meeting, I advised them of their appointment at the last meeting, and if they are ready they can return their report at this time. Mr. CARVER: Mr. President, the committee has considered and begs to report the follow- ing : for President, John P. Kennedy, of Rich- mond, Va. ; First vice-president, J. L. Gillis, of Sacramento, Cal. ; Second vice-president, Mary C. Spencer, Lansing, Michigan; Secre- tary-treasurer, Miss M. M. Oakley, of Mad- ison, Wisconsin. The PRESIDENT: These nominations will lie upon the table until their regular turn in our program later. Mr. CARVER: Is there anything in the con- stitution to show when it goes into effect? Mr. GILLIS: It is necessary for this con- stitution to go into effect immediately, if we are going to have a membership committee elected as provided therein, and I move that the constitution go into effect immediately. Voted. The PRESIDENT: As unfinished business there is for further consideration the report of Col. Carver upon EXCHANGE AND DISTRIBUTION OF STATE DOCU- MENTS Mr. GILLIS : I move that that committee be continued, with power to act in regard to printing that part of the report of 1902 re- lating to distri