I B RARY OF THE UN IVER.SITY OF ILLINOIS AM 1886-89 The person charging this material is re- sponsible for its return on or before 1 Latest Date stamed below. Result in dismissal from the Univers.ty. University of Illinois Library ML 2 7 IIJU- L161 O-1096 PAPERS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE iU -5* EIGHTH GENERAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, HELD AT MILWAUKEE, JULY 7 TO 10, 1886. BOSTON: PRESS OF ROCKWELL AND CHURCHILL, 39 ARCH STREET. 1886. * CONTENTS. Title. Author. Page . W: F. Poole i Why librarians know . Ernest C. Richardson . . . 6 . W: C. Lane 10 Close classification vs. bibliography . W: I. Fletcher ii . G: T. Little '4 16 .F: Vinton 17 . E. F. Barton '9 University libraries and seminary methods of instruction . E. H. Woodruff 21 Cooperation of the Newton Free Library with the public schools, 1885-86 .... . Miss H. P. James 26 The evolution of the hobby . W. DeM. Hooper 27 . R. B. Poole 3' 34 Some thoughts on bibliography, especially of science, as exemplified in " Psyche " 47 . T. Solberg 52 . T. Solberg 78 . C: A. Cutter 82 . R. C. Davis 9' 96 98 Relation of the public library to the public school . H. M. Utley i3 How to make the most of a small library . Miss C. M. Heviins .... 107 Report on aids and guides, Aug., 1883 June, 1885 . F: M. Crunden ill 33 Proceedings 142 First Session 142-150 Addresses of welcome and President's re- sponse 142 Address of President Poole 142-143 Secretary's report 143-146 Treasurer's report 146 A.L.A. catalog 147 Post-conference excursion 148 Postage on library books 149, 158 Second Session 150-156 Life-membership 150, 151, 158, 159 Harvard College subject-index 151-152 Close classification 1 S 2 ~ 1 SS Third Session 156-158 Letters 156 New devices J S&~ 1 S7 Shelves for heavy books 157 Lloyd P. Smith 157-158, "71-172 Postage on library books 158 Fourth Session 158-170 Report of Cooperation Committee 159-160 Library buildings 160-165 Committee on report of Cooperation Com- mittee 165-174 Electric light 165-167 Heat regulation 167-168 First librarians' association 168 Miscellaneous matters 169-170 Fifth Session 170-178 Letter from Mr. Yates 170-171 Lloyd P. Smith 171-172 Next meeting 172-173 Officers 173 University seminaries and libraries I73-I74 Libraries and schools 175 Binding 175-178 Distribution of public documents 178-180 School of library economy 178 Sixth Session 178-183 Distribution of public documents 179-180 Library of U.S. agricultural department . . . 181 Aids and guides 181 Miscellaneous 181-182 Resolutions of thanks 182-183 Spelling 183 By-law 183 Amendment to Constitution 183 Binding magazines 183 Appendixes 184-188 A.L.A. Publishing section 184-185 The A.L.A. excursion, July 12-20 185-188 Persons present at Milwaukee meetings .... 189-191 A.L.A. supplementary list of members .... 192-193 CONFERENCE OF LIBRARIANS. MILWAUKEE MEETING, JULY 7, 1886. ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT, WILLIAM F. POOLE, LL.D., LIBRARIAN OF CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Association : IT is a noteworthy incident in the history of the American Library Association that we meet for our eighth annual conference in the great North-west, more than a thousand miles from the fringe of cities on the Atlantic coast, where it had its origin and its earlier confer- ences were held. I know something of the North-western States, and venture the state- ment that no city in the East has received us with a more intelligent and generous welcome than we experience to-day in Milwaukee. No- where are the benefits of libraries better under- stood, and the purposes of our organization better appreciated than here. We are not on pioneer and missionary ground, so far as a proper valuation of books and libraries is con- cerned. If you ask me : " Where in the West is that pioneer and missionary ground?" I must say I do not know. I have here an official invitation from a Board of Trade which has lately established a free public library in a city a thousand miles west of Milwaukee, in- viting this Association to hold its next annual conference in Denver, Colorado, and promis- ing a cordial welcome and every kind of hospi- tality. The idea which suggests to a Board of Trade to establish a public library, and the idea which the masses accept as an axiom, that the maintenance of such an institution is as legitimate an object for general taxation as the maintenance of a public school, seems to be indigenous in Western soil. If you insist on my localizing that pioneer and missionary ground to which I have alluded, I should say to'our Eastern friends that you left the region when you came into the North-western States. The present year marks the close of the first decennial period in the history of our Associa- tion. In reviewing briefly its record a mention of its precursor, a convention of eighty librarians and others interested in bibliography, which was held in New York City, in September, 1853, must not be overlooked. Prof. Charles C. Jewett, of the Smithsonian Institution, Dr. Samuel F. Haven, of the American Antiquarian Society, and Mr. Charles Folsom, of the Bos- ton Athenaeum, all of whom have passed away, were among its prominent members. Prof. Jewett was the leading spirit in the call and management of the convention, and its Presi- dent. Indeed, he may justly be ranked as the ablest and most zealous of the early American reformers in the methods of library manage- ment. He was the first to collect the statistics of the libraries of the United States, which he published in 1851. One week ago three of the librarians who signed the call for that Con- vention, and were present, were members of this Association. Two of them were our es- teemed associates, Mr. Smith, of the Phila- delphia Library Company, who died on Friday last, and of whom further mention will be made, and Dr. Guild, of Brown University. The third was myself, then in charge of the Boston Mercantile Library. If I did not fear to encroach upon the theme of Mr. Barton, who will read at this conference a paper on 173341 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. "The Convention of 1853," I could give some reminiscences of its sessions. I may say, how- ever, that the Convention of 1853 made a last- ing impression on the minds of all the librarians who were present, and that it must be regarded as an era in American bibliography. Prof. Jewett said in his opening address : " This is the first convention of the kind, not only in this country, but, so far as I know, in the world." That conference aroused a spirit of inquiry and search after better methods. The card catalogue, about that time, had been adopted in several American libraries, and Prof. Jewett had prepared a system of rules for cataloguing, based on those of the British Museum, which he simplified and improved. Prof. Jewett had on his mind, and pressed it on the convention, a scheme of making the Smithsonian Institution a great national library. He had met with opposition from the scientists, who had no sympathy with his project, and wished the funds of the Smithsonian to be used for the printing of scientific papers. His scheme was later defeated by the action of Con- gress, and with sadness he retired from the Smithsonian Institution. Another project he was much interested in at the time ; and it was highly creditable to his enterprise and inge- nuity. It was an honest attempt to lessen the cost of printing elaborate catalogues, which were then, and are now, absorbing funds which ought to be expended in books. The develop- ment of his scheme was one of the chief topics considered at the Convention of 1853. In brief, the scheme was to stereotype in separate blocks the titles of books, using a material cheaper than metal ; keeping these blocks in stock, and printing from them all the library catalogues of the country. The material he used was a sort of clay from Indiana. Congress made an appropriation for executing the plan. I rec- ollect that the librarians of the country gener- ally favored it, and that I did not. I remember that I spoke of it at the time as " Prof. Jewett's mud catalogue." My views concerning it were based on some practical knowledge of legiti- mate typography, and from specimens of the work which Prof. Jewett exhibited. I doubt whether the scheme of stereotype blocks could have been a success under any circumstances ; but it failed in this instance from mechanical defects in the process, the shrinking and warping of the blocks in baking, and the in- tractable nature of the material when baked, which made the exact adjustment of the blocks on the press impossible. In presenting the scheme, Prof. Jewett stated that " practical stereotypers had said that it could not be done." It is not necessary, to be a successful man, that one should be successful in everything he undertakes. Errors, mistakes, and blunders even, mark the path of all the great inventors, and the benefactors of the race. One who was so full of resources and expedients in library economy as Prof. Jewett could afford to make an erroneous judgment on the process of using baked clay in typography. Those who in fu- ture years shall read the Library journal will find, with much which is of the highest im- portance, schemes which are of no practical value in the form in which they were presented; but even these may afford suggestions which, in other relations, will lead the reader to excel- lent and practical results. In 1855 Prof. Jewett was elected superin- tendent of the Boston Public Library, where, with such trustees as George Ticknor and Edward Everett, he had a part in developing the sagacious policy of that great institution, the pioneer of all the free public libraries of the country. If he were living to-day, with what zeal and charming urbanity would he have taken part in the exercises of this conference ! He would have completed his seventieth year on the 1 6th day of August next. Our profes- sion is a debtor to Prof. Jewett for his early and scholarly services in bibliography and in library economy ; and a memorial paper con- cerning him from Mr. Winsor, who was his successor in the Boston Public Library, would be a fitting recognition of this obligation. In the wide range of topics treated at the meet- ings of the Association, I do not recall a biographical memorial of any eminent American bibliographer who has passed away. The services of Ezra Abbot, George Ticknor, Samuel F. Haven, Joseph G. Cogswell, and some others, entitle them to such a recogni- tion. PRESIDENT POOLERS ADDRESS. At the close of the sessions in 1853, it was unanimously " Resolved, That this convention be re- garded as preliminary to the formation of a permanent Librarians' Association." A committee, of which Prof. Jewett was chairman, was appointed to draft a constitu- tion and by-laws, and to present them at the next meeting of the convention^ to be held at Washington City. Perhaps the retirement of Prof. Jewett from the Smithsonian Institution accounts for there being no subsequent meet- ing of the convention. If I understand the matter correctly, to our accomplished Secretary is due the credit of suggesting the revival of the excellent scheme of forming a Librarians' Association which had slumbered undisturbed for twenty-three years. A telegram from Mr. Leypoldt to me at Chi- cago, in the summer of 1876, asking if I would sign a call for a Librarians' Convention, was the first intimation I had on the subject ; and I replied by asking who were behind the scheme. On receiving a satisfactory answer I gladly signed the call. The conference met at Philadelphia, October 4, 1876, and was in session for three days. The American Library Association was there organized, a constitution adopted, and officers appointed. One hundred and three members were enrolled, eleven papers were read, and a variety of interesting topics were discussed. The proceedings filled one hundred and one pages of the Library journal, the first number of which was issued in Sep- tember of that year. About the same time the elaborate " Report on the Public Libraries of the United States " appeared from the Bureau of Education, the principal contributors to which were the librarians who formed the Association. The printed report of the Philadelphia Con- ference attracted immediate attention in Eng- land. Mr. E. B. Nicholson, now Librarian of the Bodleian Library at Oxford, urged in the Academy of January 27, 1877, tnat a similar conference be called in London. The sugges- tion was approved by the principal librarians in the kingdom, and the result was the Inter- national Conference of Librarians at London in October, 1877, and the founding of the " Library Association of the United King- dom," which has since made a brilliant record. Mr. Henry R. Tedder, in his introduction to the printed Proceedings of the London Con- ference of 1877, assigns its origin to the exam- ple and good results of the Philadelphia Conference. In speaking of the latter, he says : " This date, 1876, may almost be said to mark a new period in the history of bibliothecal science ; for at the same time was issued the exhaustive Report of the Bureau of Education on the Public Libraries of the United States, and in the previous month had appeared the first number of the Library journal, founded by some of the promoters of the conference. Perhaps the most important result has been the foundation of an American Library Asso- ciation, 'which has since undertaken much work of real practical use." Mr. John Winter Jones, Librarian of the British Museum, and President of the Conference, said in his inaugural ad- dress : "The idea of holding a Conference of Librarians originated in America, in that country of energy and activity which has set the world so many good examples, and of which a conference of Librarians is not the least valuable." The second meeting of our Association was held in New York City, September 4-6, 1877. At its close sixteen of our members sailed for Europe to attend the International Conference at London, where we were received with every mark of attention and hospitality, and the Proceedings of the Conference show that the American librarians had a large share in its de- liberations. The third meeting was held at Boston, June 3o-July 2, 1879; the fourth at Washington, February 9-12, 1881 ; the fifth at Cincinnati, May 11-13, 1882; the sixth at Buffalo, August 14-17, 1883, and the seventh at Lake George, September 22-25, 1885. At these seven meetings ninety-seven papers on topics relating to library economy were read, and the papers and discussions, as printed in the Library journal, fill 639 pages. In literary merit, and in the treatment of historical, anti- quarian, and biographical topics relating to our profession, these papers are not equal to those which have appeared in the proceedings of the British Association. They are, however, emi- MIL WA UKEE CONFERENCE. nently practical and suggestive, and, by confes- sion of English librarians, more useful than those of their own Association. What the American librarian, in his treatment of profes- sional topics, lacks in scholastic style, he makes up in suggestive helpful devices. "He refuses to be trammelled by conventional ideas, and the solemn frown of precedent has no terror to him. He takes delight in cutting red tape ; in schemes for enlarging the usefulness of his library; in contributing to the accommodation of readers ; in devising shorter paths to the sources of information, and better methods in the arrangement of his books, catalogues, and indexes. All his methods and contrivances do not survive the test of experience ; but some of them do. His associates have no more respect for a plan because it is new than because it is old. If it be useful it will be generally adopted. If it be not useful its ingenuity will not save it. The meetings of our Association, and the visit- ing of libraries, which is one of the most useful features in these annual gatherings, furnish opportunities for the exchange of ideas in library economy and the discussion of their merits. The result has been a practical agree- ment in this country as to the essential prin- ciples on which libraries should be conducted. There is, nevertheless, a great diversity in the methods by which these 'principles are applied. Every librarian who has ability and originality has methods of his own, which, if they have no other merit, meet the conditions of his own personal equation. Some librarians surround themselves with short-hand writers and much routine. Every emergency is provided for by a rule or contrivance, and every sort of busi- ness transaction, by an armory of hand-stamps. Other librarians take delight in doing work in the simplest way ; in meeting emergencies as they arise ; in reducing each business operation to its lowest terms, and in turning over to sub- ordinates work which they can do well. Such librarians are not swamped in an ocean of detail ; they write their own letters, are de- lightful correspondents, and have time to attend to the higher and bibliographical wants of their libraries. Methods which are adapted for one library are not necessarily adapted for another where the conditions are different. The past record of the association may be seen not only iri the Library journal, but in the practical working of the new libraries throughout the land which have sprung up under its influence. The old libraries have been reorganized, and, now that they are more intelligently conducted, meet with a more liberal support. The promptness with which our members engaged in the cooperative work on the Index to Periodical Literature, and, perform- ing all they promised, are now carrying on the Cooperative Index, is a pledge that other work of a similar character may be accomplished. Mr. Fletcher, the chairman of the cooperative committee, will lay before you a scheme of work which his committee has elaborated, to which I ask your respectful attention. I have not made myself familiar with its details, but I have the highest confidence in Mr. Fletcher and his executive ability ; and whatever he un- dertakes will be a success. What this association has done in bringing the public libraries and the public schools into closer relations the work of one supple- menting the work of the other in the general system of education is in itself an object of sufficient importance to justify its existence. The old controversy, as to whether it is proper to lay a public tax for the support of a public library, is happily ended, except in the Middle States ; and New Jersey, if I am cor- rectly informed, has at last come into line with the Eastern and Western States on this point. New York City is still wrestling with the problem of establishing and maintaining a public library without using public funds, or giving the municipal government any control of the institution. It is a problem which, in my judgment, can never be solved, unless there are citizens in New York who are ready to endow the library with four or five millions. The one million which Enoch Pratt gave to Baltimore will not give New York such a library as it needs. What would become of the public schools of New York City if their support was left to charitable contributions, and to passing round the hat periodically? Is the municipal government of New York City so much worse than that of other large cities PRESIDENT POOLERS ADDRESS. Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, and Milwaukee that it cannot be trusted with the interests of a public library? No peculation or scandal has ever occurred in connection with the manage- ment of a public library. If every department of the corporation affairs in the cities which have been named were managed as well as their public libraries they would be model munici- palities. There is every reason to believe that a public library in New York City, organized under such library statutes as exist in the Western States, would be equally well man- aged. New York has no disturbing element which does not exist in Chicago, Cincinnati, or Milwaukee, unless it be the reluctance of wealthy men to be taxed for such an object. What are alleged to be disturbing elements a large foreign population, socialism, communism, anarchism are not so in fact. These people desire their children to be educated, and make no opposition to the public schools. They desire to read books, that their children should read, and that this reading should be furnished at the public expense. The most zealous friends of public libraries in large cities are the middle and poorer classes who carry votes, and it is public policy to educate these classes. The large legacies and gifts which have re- cently been made for the founding of libraries in this country are among the most cheering signs of the times. The Newberry legacy to Chicago, the Pratt and Peabody gifts to Balti- more, the Scofield gift to Oak Park, 111., the Fuller gift to Belvidere, 111., the Hoyt fund for East Saginaw, Mich., the Seymour fund for Auburn, N.Y., the Ames fund for Easton, Mass., the Nevins fund for Methuen, Mass., and the Board of Trade gift for Denver, Col- orado, are a few among the many which might be mentioned. The erection of library build- ings by private individuals for institutions already existing has become in New England a favorite and appropriate mode of expressing their donors' interest in libraries. The work for which this association was organized is not yet completed. We need to carry on the reform in the construction of li- brary buildings which has already begun ; that they shall be planned for the specific purpose for which they are to be used, and not simply as exercises in architectural display. It is a misfortune that the absurd plans of a building for the Library of Congress, which were pre- sented to this association at its meeting at Washington, in February, 1881, and con- demned by the unanimous voice of the mem- bers present, and also at the meeting of the association at Cincinnati the next year, have been adopted by Congress. To say that we need more discussion of the subject of classification would be superfluous. We need, however, that the discussion should be divested of some of the asperities and per- sonalities into which earnest men and honest men are liable to fall. We need, also, that the discussion should be cleared, as far as possible, of technicalities and abstruseness, so that an incipient librarian, who has not the wisdom of Solomon and the ingenuity of a magician, may understand it. We need some practical method of lessening the expense of printed catalogues, which absorb the resources of libraries, and, in rapidly increasing collec- tions, soon grow out of date. We have many other needs at present, and the future will fur- nish its own quota when these are supplied. In the midst of this cordial welcome and these happy greetings a dark shadow falls upon us in the death of our esteemed associate, Mr. Lloyd P. Smith, of the Philadelphia Library Company, which occurred on Friday, July 2. To many of us who read the announce- ment in the telegraphic dispatches of Saturday last it was a dreadful shock. We had not heard of his illness, and he was expected here with his wife and daughter. His name is on our programme to read a paper on " The Great Enemy of Books." I have a letter from him, dated May 10, announcing his intention to be present, and giving the subject of his paper. It is in his usual sportive vein, and a perfect type of his mind and temperament when in health. To me the death of our friend comes as a deep personal affliction. I made his acquaintance at the Librarians' Convention in 1853, and since that time we have been frequent correspondents. I never passed through Philadelphia without visiting him at his Library, or at his home in Germantown. He was the host of the members of the associa- MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. tion when it was formed in Philadelphia, in 1876, and he has attended all its conferences except the one at Lake George. He was one of our number who attended the International Con- ference in London, in 1877, and was one of its Vice-Presidents. A more lovely spirit and genial companion never lived. His sonorous laugh was something to be remembered. He was a fine classical scholar, and Latin to him was almost a vernacular. He loved to think and talk and write in Latin, and his letters were often half, and sometimes wholly, in Latin. His mind had a mediaeval tinge, which led him to take delight in the monkish Latin of the middle ages. He was by nature and habit a conservative, and he had a right to be one. He was the librarian of the oldest library, not connected with a college, in the country, where his father was librarian before him. He believed in what is old, rather than in what is new, and in this respect was a typical Philadelphian. He was never reconciled to the idea of laying a public tax for the support of a public library. " If people want to read books," he would say, " let them buy the books, or buy a share in a proprietary library," like his own. His amia- bility was such, however, that he never op- posed, except in a sportive manner, those who held modern ideas on these subjects. I hope that appropriate resolutions concerning our de- ceased associate may be adopted during our sessions, and sent to the family. WHY LIBRARIANS KNOW. BY ERNEST C. RICHARDSON, LIBRARIAN HARTFORD THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. PRESIDENT R. D. Hitchcock, telling at the A Amherst Alumni dinner, last week, of the changes during the fifty years since his gradua- tion, said, "Then there were three learned professions, theology, law, medicine ; now there are four, theology, law, medicine, and journalism." I take this occasion, before our secretary, in his multiform devices and inex- tinguishable energy, has elevated librarianship into one of the mechanical arts, to offer this modest plea for the recognition of librarianship as one of the learned professions. Whether they profess it or not, librarians practise learn- ing, and they have to, or they couldn't be librarians. Of course there are exceptions, and you and I would be the last to deny it ; but there are exceptions in all the learned professions. I remember the true story of a negro preacher, on the plantation of a friend of mine in Virginia. This worthy man, as an example of the zealous worker, was admirable ; but, as the representa- tive of a learned profession, no great success. His exegesis was often at fault, and on one occasion he preached a sermon forbidding the children to play marbles, because the good book says, " Marble not, my bredderen." And yet he was a member of a learned profession ; and so, too, was the successful doctor of medi- cine, a woman by the way, whom I heard remark, in response to the suggestion that she didn't seem to be entirely familiar with Paris as yet, "Oh, my! guess I aint; guess I'm kinder green." But these do not prove that theology and medicine are not learned professions. The object of this paper is not mutual ad- miration, or self-gratulation on our superior learning or wisdom, and even contains some food for humility. It was suggested by the thought of the very varied and extensive, and yet exact and avail- able, intellectual culture of some of our leading representatives at home and abroad, whose names will readily suggest themselves. It struck me that a very considerable percentage, relatively to other professions, was notable in this regard, and it occurred to me to query whether this knowledge was real, or only super- ficial, and, if real, why it is so general. It is a common insinuation that librarians know about the outside of books without know- RICHARDSON. ing much of the ideas which they contain ; and, again, that their knowledge is fragmentary, scat- tered, and accidental. The insinuation hardly calls for resentment, it is so easy to demonstrate whether it is true or false ; and then, too, we are not apt in this world to resent things unless they have some sting of truth in them. Analyzing, therefore, the title of the library profession to be called learned, the most com- mon and simple test is the popular verdict. Did you ever notice, thus, in the first place, how many librarians have produced books ? I know that this is very far from proving that a man is learned, and still farther from proving that he is wise ; but it is one of the factors of the popular verdict, and the number of libra- rian book-producers is very large. Of the still larger number "who, therefore, only are reputed wise for saying nothing,' 1 al- most every one has his local reputation for learning. Formerly his unwisdom was often as great as his learning ; but the modern libra- rian must have real knowledge, and that of very extended, well-arranged character. Both repu- tation and observation, therefore, point to this same fact. But, passing by this first and very dubious claim to a title of knowledge on the basis of the popular verdict, to find whether a librarian's knowledge is real inquire, first, what the nature of knowledge is. And so we conclude again that librarians as a class do know, from asking what it is to know. To some men a steak is a steak, a book a book, a horse a horse, whether it be tough or tender, good or bad, fast or slow ; and so of knowledge. The careful way in which men sometimes treasure an accumulation of worth- less knowledge reminds one of the man and his name is Legion who fancies he has a rare work of untold value, in some eighteenth cen- tury tract, dear at half a dime. It is always amusing to see men cutting off knowledge into sections of various sizes and shapes, as the country grocer does a big cheese, and then, labelling them with some name, Latin or otherwise, set themselves to the mastery of its every detail, in profound conceit that they are scholars, and they alone. Knowledge is vital by its very nature an organism ; nay, in a certain real sense, if you accept the scientific, and at least partially true, analysis of Bain and Spencer, it is life itself. That man is most learned who has the broadest view of the va- ried, interdependent, nucleated facts of this universal organization. The specialist, in our growing use of the term, is not often the learned man. This mod- ern, egotistic, utterly unbearable assumption of so-called specialists is fundamentally opposed to the intrinsic nature of knowledge and life. One of the greatest vices of modern scholarship is the truly scientific method of German learn- ing gone to seed, in an unvital, uneconomical aggregate of unnecessary facts. It is not necessary to measure every unit in a symmetrical pile of bricks, and add the re- sults, in order to find the cubic contents of the pile ; nor is it necessary to measure every brick in the world in order to find what the size of a brick is. I know a man who, I think, if he was asked to find the size of an ordinary brick, would proceed, after having secured the most exact metrical apparatus, to take the measure of every brick in the world, so far as length of life permitted, with the truly scientific and un- selfish purpose of making a "complete induc- tion." He would, of course, die before he had made the induction ; but notice this, his induc- tion would be untrue for application, at the best ; for, according to him, the normal brick would be, say 8.0031781, and he would lay up in the National Treasury " a normal brick," which was only an approximation to the truth, which a less scholarly man would have ascer- tained more exactly in fifteen minutes. Travesty again, you say of this ; but no, not at all. Why should literary pedants be allowed to arrogate to themselves an aristocracy of learning, just because they are spending their lives in getting materials for useless and untrue generalization, in things even less vital than bricks? Not that I disparage the scientific method, very, very far from that, nor spe- cialization of studies. It is the only method, whether in Natural Science or Theology ; but it is in breadth of generalization and trained ra- pidity and accuracy of induction that all new expressions of truth and all increase of con- sciousness and life come, rather than in the ac- MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. cumulation of facts which shall be mechanically added, subtracted, multiplied, or divided, and the result labelled an induction. I could go on for an hour discoursing on the mutilators of the true method ; but, not to prolong, I remind you that the end of all true induction is the recognition of the universal likeness running through a series of facts, or groups of facts, and that knowledge and life are the organized total of such generaliza- tions, recognized in consciousness by illustra- tive units. All knowledge is classification, and a very heterogeneous and misty system it is with most of us worse, even, than Mr. well, we must not specify, let us say Mr. X's system. Every judgment that we form, every obser- vation we make, is the arrangement of one fact with reference to its likeness or unlikeness to some others. The man who most constantly observes and compares, who has learned most quickly to grasp all the features of resemblance or unlikeness, and pass the judgment of ap- proval or disapproval, acceptance or rejection, is the man who is learning fastest, and will know most. With this brief analysis of knowledge it is easy to see why librarians know, may know, or ought to know. The largeness of a man's life is the extent of the range of facts which he is accustomed to take into his every-day thoughts. It is the cosmopolitan vs. the provincial, the catholic against the dogmatist. The range of facts from which he makes his daily inductions is his greatness, and the man whose horizon is limited by his workshop or native town, whose thought is limited to a perfected pin-head, or Latin paradigms, or Sanscrit roots, or a couple of Bacteria, can only make inductions within those narrow limits, and cannot know, as one whose thoughts range round the world, and up to the farthest star, and down to the most mi- croscopic atom, and here and there, and back and forth, noting and comparing, in the very process fixing and enlarging, and preparing the way for newer, and broader, and truer gen- eralizations. This is the reason of the cultivation which comes in foreign travel, it enlarges the cus- tomary and natural range of thought. Every new science or class of facts touched astronomical, geological, geographical, an- thropological, or what not adds to possible knowledge. One of the most influential factors in this cultivation, this framework for knowledge, has always been the study of languages, ancient or modern. Each new language opens a new world ; enlarges the limits of thought at the same time that it increasingly compels pure thought, thinking the thing itself instead of its familiar word symbol. The first reason for the capacity for knowl- edge a librarian may possess is, therefore, the necessary equipment of languages, which almost every librarian must have, for selection, cata- loging, or classification of books. Again, the range of topics, of whose exist- ence, at least, the librarian must be aware, is as universal as knowledge itself. Notice that there is no such thing as knowing of a thing without knowing a greater or less number of facts concerning it. The very identification of a thing is the knowledge of certain facts which are peculiar to it. The limits through which a librarian's mind may range, perhaps must range, are almost absolutely universal. One of the most striking things to a librarian is the vast range of topics of which the average man, even the professional man, is absolutely ignorant ; has never heard the name of, much less inquired whether it might be fish, flesh, or fowl. A third reason is the very considerable con- tent of each general subject which a librarian must possess or acquire : (a) In the selection of books. Notice the process : In each title the librarian answers the question, Do we want this book? To answer he must answer as to (i) The sub- ject treated, (2) Whether it is appropriate to this library, (3) The relative desirability to others on the same subject. To answer the first question he must know a certain amount of the contents of the subject, for the word is simply the convenient symbol which represents to the mind a certain class of facts, and simply to know the meaning of the word requires a certain general vision of the facts and their relation. RICHARDSON. To judge its appropriateness he must know very much more. Whether this judgment is formed from title or book notice, or the book itself, in making it a man passes in general review all that he knows of the subject, the phases of it in which knowledge is desirable and will be sought. And to decide the relative desirability he reviews all that he knows of other treatises on the same subject with all that he knows of this, and that, too, in its relation to his judgment of what is true in that subject, and all with the practical end in view of making the knowledge available to others. This, you notice, is the constant operation in every title, book, or auction catalogue read, a constant review. (b) In the classification of books. This, we have seen, embodies the very essen- tial nature of knowledge, the arrangement of facts according to their mutual likeness or un- likeness. To classify a book requires the review of what its contents is, and what the relation of this to others is, and this fact con- tains in itself the fundamental warning against artificial systems of classification. I fear I have not brought before your minds this, to me, very interesting bit of analysis of our psychological processes, with sufficient clearness to give you the same interest ; but, in passing by many subordinate reasons, I trust that this fourth and final reason will, of itself, make clear the fact to which it is the object of this paper to call attention, the fact of the superior possibility of knowledge in the very exercise of the office of librarianship. This fourth reason is the very great, and hardly to be estimated, economy of time in adding to any desired line of knowledge, Lessing accepted his office of librarian largely for the opportunity it gave him for learning where things could be found, and it was his practice to go through each library he visited, taking down and examining every book. I fear me that the father of German literature confined his duties as librarian largely to this line of personal improvement ; but he knew how to learn, and owed his tremendous range and grasp of facts to this consistent cultivation in knowing where facts were to be found. Three of the brightest student helpers I have ever had, two of them with me for three years, and one for five or six, have told me inde- pendently that they considered the time they spent in library-work as well spent as any in their course, and the value of the experience equal to that of any single line in college or seminary curriculum ; and the men were men of unexcelled scholarship. Every librarian has had not few, but many, occasions where men have worked hours and days to find given facts, or lines of facts, which he at last finds easily for them in a quarter or half an hour. In the matter of verifying references, looking up given facts, and in a large range of things, it is far within the limit of truth to say that a librarian stands at an advantage of ten to one over the average scholar. And then in the matter of avoiding worthless and secondary or outdated sources he may save for himself months and years of other men's wasted lifetimes. These could be illustrated ad infinitum, but I have been too long. There is no limit to knowledge. There is no limit to memory excepting artificial or false classification. I sometimes think, it seems to have some foundation in analogy at least, that increase in knowledge is in geometrical pro- gression, as if each new fact properly placed had two new points of contact. Librarians, therefore, in brief, possess unusual opportunities of knowledge : (i) In knowing where to find facts. (2) In the constant necessity of receiving and forming judgment on facts. (3) The consequent constant, almost unconscious, stimulus and necessity for the ac- quirement of new facts. (4) The habit of the systematic arrangement of facts. The food for humility which I promised in the beginning lies in the fact that under such circumstances we don't know more. I suggest that, if we are in any danger of neglecting or despising the thoroughly scholarly side of librarianship for the so-called practical, we are narrowing our own lives and our capability of usefulness. In conclusion let me quote an estimate of librarians which I hope is not true, for knowl- edge which is not vital is not knowledge. As I took my seat at table, at the Plankinton IO MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. House this morning, some expressions which I caught from the conversation of two gentlemen at the next table showed that the subject of conversation was librarians. Presently one broke forth with so much animation that it was impossible not to overhear : " The [blank- est] lot of cranks, they may know every- thing, but they haven't the least idea of common-sense and the like." We are on trial. I am sure our sessions will show that librarians have both knowledge and sense. HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY SUBJECT-INDEX. BY W. C. LANE, HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY. ^HE Subject-Index to the catalogue of the 1 Harvard College Library, now in process of preparation, although its principal usefulness is confined to that Library, is still of some gen- eral interest, as it will furnish, when complete, the fullest list of topics for catalogue headings yet published. I ought to speak briefly of the general plan of our catalogue, in order that it may be seen what this Index is intended to be and why it is needed. In Mr. Cutter's catalogue, which has been the model for so many others recently pub- lished, all the subjects, whether general or special in character, are arranged in one alpha- betical series. In other systems (Mr. Dewey's, for example)' the special topics are grouped under more general headings, and these in turn under still more comprehensive classes, but without regard to alphabetical arrangement. The subject-catalogue of the library of Har- vard College combines features from both plans. Related special topics are grouped under gen- eral heads ; but the arrangement throughout is strictly alphabetical. In this it resembles the Brooklyn catalogue, but differs from that in having the special topics under many of the main heads separated into a number of distinct divisions, in this way bringing topics of the same kind more closely together, but increasing the complexity of the whole. In some cases this is carried so far that there are alphabets within alphabets in four or five degrees of sub- ordination. With such a system it is evident that the inquirer must frequently be in doubt just where he is to look for any given subject, and hence the need of a complete index of all special topics referring directly to the place or places in the catalogue where they will be found. The material for this Index was prepared by going through the whole catalogue (some 500,- ooo cards), and drawing off on separate slips of paper all the subordinate headings, with in- dications of the place where they were found. These were then arranged in alphabetical order, and to them were added whatever desirable additional topics or references were found in the Index to Mr. Dewey's Decimal Classifica- tion, Poole's Index, the catalogues of the Athe- naeum Library, the Princeton College Library, and the Library of the Peabody Institute, the American Catalogue, Haydn's Dictionary of Dates, Townsend's Manual of Dates, and occa- sionally other sources. In many of these works there are, of course, many subjects which it was not thought worth while to in- clude in this Index. Indeed the principal dif- ficulty has been to decide what to include and what to omit. In general, the Index is an index of the topics in the Harvard Library catalogue, but many topics have been added to the catalogue under which reference could be made to easily accessible sources of infor- mation, as to the entries in Pool's Index, or to the references in Knight's American Me- chanical Dictionary, and the like. It thus in- cludes many subjects which at present are treated of mainly in periodicals ; but these are the subjects about which books and mono- graphs will be written in the near future. The Index, therefore, cannot be considered as in FLETCHER. ii any sense complete or final ; additions will have to be made continually, but it is intended to stand a little ahead, or, at least, fully abreast of the needs of the present. In order to make reference more simple a system of numbering has been introduced in the catalogue for all the main headings, their chief divisions, and, in many cases, for each special topic. The numbers appear on the out- side of the drawers, and on the guides inside, and the user is led by these directly to the place that he wants. The Index will be prefaced by a brief state- ment of the system of classification, and a list of the main headings, with their chief divis- ions. CLOSE CLASSIFICATION VERSUS BIBLIOGRAPHY. BY W: I. FLETCHER, LIBRARIAN OF AMHERST COLLEGE LIBRARY. 1 A HE little Latin word in the title I have given to this paper is, perhaps, its most signifi- cant word. Our president has assured the mayor and people of Milwaukee that we are a peaceful company, and I am very loath to introduce here anything wearing a belligerent aspect. But the nature of my paper is wholly defensive. If I assume the attitude of con- troversy it is not from a love of it, but be- cause there seems to be need that some one should raise the standard and blow the trumpet against an arch-invader, and even a penny whistle is better than no trumpet. Please observe that I labor here under the disadvantage of following an able champion of close classification, and of preparing my paper in ignorance of the views and arguments he may advance. I must, therefore, state the position of the close classifier as best I may from my knowledge of what it has generally been. And the best statement I can make of it is this : a library should be so arranged that all its resources on a given subject are brought together in one place, readers to be referred to that place as the chief means of directing them in their pursuit of the subject. In stating my objections to close classifica- tion I would mention first its necessary imper. fection. Classification, as used in the sciences, may be exact, and, to all intents and purposes, is so. But, as applied to a library, it cannot be, for the reason that many of the best contributions to the discussion of a great many subjects are not detachable from the books or sets which contain them, and which are not classible with them. This has been so often urged, and with so much force, that I need not dwell upon it. I know of but one means of meeting this diffi- culty which has been proposed, and that is the use of dummies. In speaking of some library methods we can judge them by experience ; but I have yet to learn of a library where the dummy system has been used to such an extent as to furnish any answer to the question, "How does it work?" My own impression is that it is likely to prove a larger and more difficult task to carry the dummy business to the point of elaborateness and efficiency proposed by the advocates of close classification than they sup- pose. Take, for example, the department of biog- raphy. Open the Brooklyn catalog under that heading. In repeated instances there are five or six titles in small print, under the name of some person, for one in large print. That is to say, five or six titles that would be repre- sented by dummies on the shelf, to one volume falling into the same final subdivision with them. And, if the idea of looking to the shelves rather than to catalogs for guidance is to be followed to its logical conclusion, the paragraphs which we find in the Brooklyn cat- alog, containing several lines of direction to periodical articles, etc., must be represented either by one dummy bearing this information on its side, or by a further set of dummies, one for each reference. Nor is this a mere reductio 12 MIL WA UKEE CONFERENCE. ad absurditm for the sake of argument. It ap- pears to be indubitable that to meet the wishes of those who would have the shelves them- selves exhibit the full resources of the library under the various divisions and subdivisions of literature, even the minutest of 'them, this dummy system must be carried to the point I have indicated. Even the references in Poole's Index must be carried out on dummies. If it be objected that no one has proposed anything so extreme as this, I would reply that it is simply because no one has got far enough along with this idea of a library being its own sub- ject-catalog to appreciate whither it tends and what it demands. Once entered upon I believe this scheme of making the library exhibit in one spot on the shelves its resources on a given subject will inexorably demand that something be placed upon the shelf at that spot which shall refer to everything contained in the library on the sub- ject not classible with it. Here is where we join issue with the system as to its practica- bility. In practice its demands cannot be met, and just the moment its advocates draw back from one of them they have struck their flag. If, for example, they say they will not parcel out Poolers Index in the dummy form all over the library, they say they will not have each section represent all the resources of the library on its subject ; and the system is nothing if not all-inclusive. Nor are the references in Poole's Index the only illustration that can be given of the im- practicability of this scheme. Is any one going to put into his scientific department a dummy for each paper in the Philosophical Transac- tions and similar collections? The absurdity of the phrase " all the resources of the library on a given subject," in this connection, is such that it only needs to be hinted at. No librarian will deny that catalogs and indexes must be consulted before one can be sure that he has found either the whole, or even the larger part, or the better part, of the references he will need on a certain subject. And yet the fallacy of close classification is carried to the extent in some quarters of giving readers to understand that their main reliance may be placed on the classification. By this means readers are misled (and this is my second objection), and allowed to content themselves with a partial grasp of the literature of a subject. I have found myself constantly under the necessity of cautioning readers against the misleading ten- dency of so much of classification as we have at Amherst ; and I believe the true attitude of the librarian who would help readers to do the best with their subjects must be this. He must advise and encourage them in every way to find what is the literature of the subject in hand. The work of the best librarians we have had in the past has been in this direction, and the catalogs of the Boston Public Library, the Boston Athenaeum, the Brooklyn Library, and many others, such as that of Quincy, Mass., have at once recognized the demand, and been recognized as meeting it admira- bly. The time now seems ripe for the next step in the progressive development of library science, namely, practical cooperation in the produc- tion of such bibliographical guides as are to some extent furnished by the catalogs I have mentioned. I have undertaken to present this paper at this time largely because at this point its subject runs in a line with the effort we are making through the cooperation committee to organize cooperative cataloging. But I regret the misapprehensions likely to arise from the use in this connection of the word cataloging. Cataloging is properly used only of that work by which we describe and locate for finding purposes the contents of a library, or the books of a certain period, or those on a special sub- ject. The catalogs of which I have spoken as showing progress in the direction of fur- nishing readers with the means of tracing the literature of subjects are marked by the addi- tion of what is properly bibliography. They answer the question to the best of their ability, "What can I find on my subject?" but being made with reference to a certain library they are confessedly partial as bibli- ographers, and only answer the question, " What can I find here on my subject?" I do not anticipate a time when this ques- tion must not be answered in a general way with the here in it, by each library for itself. But we are all agreed that there is a large field FLETCHER. i3 of bibliographical work not to be well or eco- nomically done by each library for itself, but rather by a combination of libraries or by individual enterprise outside, and we may well hope and expect that the small number of such guides we now have (and find so useful) may rapidly and greatly increase. All the progress of the past has been in the direction of more and more of bibliographical guidance for the users of our libraries, and, if I do not greatly mistake, bibliography is the watchword of the future for us. Here, then, is where we join issue with close classification, as to its fatal defect as a sys- tem of guidance to the resources of a library on given subjects. Close classification says: "Here you will find all our resources on this subject." It will doubtless be objected that I lay undue stress on this as the motto of close classification ; but I should insist that it is practically the claim put forth by close classi- fiers, and the fulfilment of which is legitimately to be demanded by them. Please observe that I allude only to those who use close classifica- tion as the common guide to serve in the find- ing of the books, and who prefer it to cata- logs for that purpose. I have no issue with those who classify as closely as possible, so long as classification is relegated to its subor- dinate place as a minor factor in library admin- istration. As opposed to this motto of close classification, sensible classification says : "You will find in this place our most available re- sources on your subject ; " but it adds a warn- ing that bibliographies and catalogs and in- dexes must be also used. And it modestly refuses to be made of much account itself, insisting that it is not intended or adapted for this work of guidance beyond a most general and limited scope. I shall be asked why I make so much of a supposed antagonism between the two methods of guiding readers to what they need. Instead of being rival claimants to favor and use, why may not classification and bibliography go hand in hand, each supplementing the other? But this is a simple impossibility. The seeker after knowledge cannot go first both to your shelves and to your catalogs and bibliographical helps. The whole reason for existence of these elabo- rate schemes of classification is that they may furnish the reader with a short-cut to the knowledge he seeks, avoiding the time-honored and roundabout modes of study. In this con- nection it may be regarded as representative of the whole mischievous system of the new edu- cation, so called, which would lead men through the world of mind by short-cuts on account of the modern lack of time for culture. If the library system of our day has one mission more strongly set before it than another it is that of furnishing the means of culture to a people the whole current of whose life is in danger of being drawn out into the straight canal of a fatal specialization. May God forbid I say it with reverence that the library system itself should add another to the narrowing and specializing tendencies of these times ; that it should en- courage the disposition to save time at the expense of culture, by being itself an embodi- ment of the labor-saving, time-saving, and superficial spirit of the age, a spirit which wants nothing for a classical library but a shelf of " ponies." To sum up what I have said as to the un- wisdom of the proposed substitution of classi- fication for bibliography in a wide sense, as the best means of directing readers, I would char- acterize it as an attempt to substitute machin- ery for brains. Intelligent librarians and as- sistants, and the best obtainable intelligence crystallized in bibliographical books, are the furnishing our libraries need. To " ring out the old and ring in the new " here means to turn out the sorrowing genius of culture from what should be the citadel of her hopes, and fill her place with a set of cog-wheels. A few words on one more aspect of the scheme of elaborate classification, and I am done. I have attempted to show that in im- proving the bibliographical resources of our libraries, and laying the chief stress on them as guides to readers, we are on the solid ground of experience and an orderly development of our library system. But this Will-o'-the-wisp of close classification dances over the quag- mires of inexperience, uncertainty, and extrava- gance. For, of all the movements that have ever been made in the field of library work, this latest one is the most exorbitant in its MIL WA UKEE CONFERENCE. demands for the sinews of war. I am not prepared with figures as to the cost of the work undertaken, and to some extent done, where the genius of classification most reigns, nor should I wish to deal in particulars on this ground where we cannot fail to find a" consider- able sensitiveness. But those who care to do so can easily get the figures, or a basis for an estimate in those quarters, and I will content myself with predicting that they will find the result surprising. The expense put upon this work in two or three of our leading libraries is such that it can be justified only on the theory that it is done once for all, and when com- pleted will call for but little further expendi- ture. But this will prove to be a delusion. The more elaborate and thorough-going is your system the more constant and consider- able will be the changes dictated by one's own progress in knowledge and inevitable shifting of position on certain points, and much more by the constant changes in the crystallizations of the world's thought. Supposing a library had been nicely adjusted in all its parts by one of these schemes of close classification just before the appearance of Darwin's " Origin of Species," who can tell what modifications would have been made as the result of the earthquake caused by that book, not only in science, but in every branch of knowledge? Noblesse oblige] and just in proportion as a scheme is now made to fit with exactness the present state of knowledge and modes of thought will it be necessary to make changes and modifications as knowledge and thought change their shapes in the wonderfully rapid development of the nineteenth century. As well attempt to draw the figure at the bottom of your kaleidoscope while it is being slowly revolved as to catch and hold the ever-varying scheme of human knowledge. I have thus attempted, in a humble way, to protest against this innovation of close classify- ing. I have prepared this paper with a deep feeling of the importance of the subject, and an earnest desire to throw some clear light upon it. From those who may differ with me I bespeak the respect and consideration due to earnest conviction ; and, above all, I sincerely hope that here and elsewhere we may have the grace to conduct this inevitable and irrepress- ible conflict without unseemly personalities, and to the- ultimate triumph of the true, the good, and the beautiful. A CHARGING SYSTEM FOR SMALL LIBRARIES. 1 BY PROF. GEORGE T. LITTLE, LIBRARIAN OF BOWDOIN COLLEGE. THIS system consists in merely replacing each book loaned by a wooden dummy bearing the name of the borrower. These dummies are pieces of board one inch in thick- ness, four in width, and six in length, dimen- sions that can be increased with advantage when the size of the smallest shelf will allow. Each has the name and registration number of a borrower painted or otherwise plainly marked on the edge or narrow surface which corre- sponds to the back of a book. 1 This system of charging-, in a modified form, was described and advocated by Mr. Melvil Dewey several years since, in a paper printed in the Library journal, vol. 3, page 359. The two wider surfaces, or sides, are covered with sheets of note-paper, lined perpendicu- larly as well as horizontally, so as to give spaces in successive rows for book numbers and dates, and attached so as to be removed when filled. To charge a book the number or location mark is put on the dummy of the borrower, and this placed in the vacant space left by the book. When the latter is returned the dummy is removed, the date marked on the space adjoining the book number, and the account is balanced. The limitations of this system should be plainly stated before dwelling upon its advan- LITTLE. tages. It is adapted to small libraries only. I should hesitate to recommend it to any of more than ten thousand volumes or three hun- dred regular patrons, and many within each limit would be debarred from its use by special circumstances, such as a frequently changing clientele, free access of visitors to the shelves, books at an unusual distance from the counter or in a different room. Again, this system will not work well in libraries where it is desir- able to give daily notices of books overdue, or where the patrons are allowed to take several volumes at a time, for it cannot answer with readiness the question so frequently asked, "What other books have I out?" Despite the limitations just referred to, this method seems to me more useful and better suited than any other to the great majority of small libraries now using the ledger account, libraries where the one in charge knows by sight most of those who borrow books, attends to their wants in person, and especially where aid is wont to be asked in the selection of read- ing. Foremost among its excellences I place accuracy. Mistakes can and of course will occur under any system, but this one leaves little room for them. A book returned leads the librarian directly to the dummy containing the loan account of the borrower. Holding this in hand until another book is selected he is constantly reminded of his duty to make the proper entry. On the other side, every book loaned has upon the shelves visible evidence of the borrower in the dummy, with its location marked upon it as check against displacement. Under favorable conditions as to the ar- rangement of volumes this method of charg- ing is a rapid one. From my own experience I feel authorized in saying that a circulation of a hundred volumes a day can be attended to in two-thirds of the time demanded by the ledger account. The continual turning of leaves and the consultation of library-card or index to find the proper place involve a loss of time which, though slight, becomes perceptible when compared with the ease and quickness with which an entry can be made on an open page in the hand just at the moment needed. Fully as important as either of the advan- tages just mentioned is the ease with which the selection of a book can be made. If the bor- rower is desirous of obtaining a particular volume he mentions its location-mark, and, in case it is not in, can be informed at once who has it and when it will be due. If he has prepared a list of volumes this can be used and returned to him, often a great convenience when time and thought have been given to its preparation. If the selection is left to the librarian, as is not unfrequently the case in small libraries, he has before him a record of the past reading that will enable him to per- form the task wisely and quickly, without being repeatedly met with the remark, " I have had that." While in all large libraries the examination annually is a task as unwelcome and laborious as it is necessary, in a small library, on the fixed location plan and this method of charging, it can be made every week without unduly drawing upon the energies of the librarian. It is indeed by weekly examinations alone that he can be absolutely sure that no book is being kept out beyond the proper time. In actual practice, however, it will be found that popular books likely to be loaned from family to family with- out return to the library are those most apt to be overdue, and the frequent calls for these are quite sure to remind the librarian of any delin- quencies on the part of the borrower. As a rule this system does away with the need of book-supports. I believe, however, that it will be found advantageous to have the shelves on which the more popular works of fiction and the juveniles are located divided into compartments by upright strips of zinc or tin. To fix definitely the position of a book that is likely to be called for a dozen times a day is well worth the cost of fitting up a score of shelves in this manner. This system can be made as inexpensive as it is simple. The erection of a single house in the village will furnish in its waste odds and ends all the material needed for the dummies, and a portion of that leisure with which libra- rians and school teachers are popularly sup- posed to be favored will be ample to fit this material for service. i6 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. UNBOUND VOLUMES ON LIBRARY SHELVES. BY H. A. HOMES, LIBRARIAN OF THE N.Y. STATE LIBRARY. IN the N.Y. State Library there are at all times from i,oooto 1,200 volumes unbound on the shelves, filling the same places which they would occupy if bound. The meaning of the words " unbound volumes," as here used, is this : the covers of books, from which the volumes which belonged to them have been withdrawn, are employed to receive such classes of books in paper covers or pamphlets, as the following: (i), the writings of a single author; (2), numbers of periodicals ; (3), State or city documents; (4), serials of colleges, benevo- lent, scientific, or other societies ; (5) election sermons of various States ; (6) , eulogies col- lected on the same individual. Other classes might be mentioned, accordant with the aims of the library. The covers may be of octavo or larger or smaller size, according to the size of the pamphlets. The lettering on the back of the cover may be washed off, or covered over with paper pasted on to receive a new title to be written upon the paper. The front edges of both sides of the cover, in the middle, will have holes made with an awl, into which pieces of red tape, of two and three inches long, will be fastened, so as, by means of them, to tie them together with a bow as closely as desired. In practice, when three publications by the same author are on hand in pamphlet form, such an unbound volume may be commenced, to be titled with his name, and to be carded with his name, with full title of each publica- tion. Gradually, during several years, the volume will expand by additions made to it, so that, in some instances, besides being obliged to change for a wider cover, the expansion will extend in a short time from one to two volumes, to four, and even more than six volumes of dis- courses and the like, of 500 pages each volume for a single author. The longer the librarian is able to keep his collection of an author in an unbound condition the more complete will be his arrangement of the pamphlets by the date of their publication. Still, it is not best to leave such volumes unbound for too long a time, lest, by carelessness or malice, some pamphlet should disappear. The unbound volumes devoted to the writings of an author, or to other subjects, will frequently be composed in part of articles that have never appeared in pamphlet form, but have been made up from slips from newspapers cut down to an octavo page in length, and pasted upon octavo size leaves, as of a book. In the case of State or city documents the volume may commence with miscellaneous sub- jects ; but, gradually, by additions, retaining first and last the heading of the State or city, the volumes will subdivide themselves into reports on health, asylums, water, the poor, etc. When enough on any one topic are re- ceived to fill a volume in a continuous series they may be bound. The expansion on the card catalogue must correspond with the ex- pansion on the shelves, so that, when a volume on a particular subject regarding a city has been commenced, it should have its separate card. The volumes with the heading of a single city, Milwaukee for example, will finally have many volumes under that heading, with subordinate headings of charities, fire depart- ment, and the like. Unbound volumes relating to colleges will be commenced so soon as three or four pamphlets, catalogues, or other kinds regarding a particular college have come to hand ; and, when enough pamphlets have been collected to form a volume of four to six hundred pages, it can be bound in the usual manner, and ticketed Vol. I., and so, successively, for following volumes. For some of the older colleges, whose pamphlets of various kinds will be very numerous, as much classification as may be convenient should be indulged in, annual catalogues, triennial cata- logues, annual reports, obituary notices, class histories, inaugurations, etc. Our set of Har- vard College publications make thirty volumes ; of Yale College, twenty-four ; and of Columbia VINTON, College twenty volumes, all averaging more than 500 pages each. All of these have been bound, except three or four, which are waiting for the process of growth. The same method is pursued with periodicals and serials generally. If a set of thirty vol- umes of a review is complete, except in part of a volume, the part on hand is placed on the shelves unbound, and carded. And so, also, with the proceedings of ecclesiastical conven- tions and reports of all societies and associa- tions. As few as possible are to be massed in pamphlet volumes of a miscellaneous cast ; but, if there is a fair probability of obtaining enough to make a volume, they should remain unbound until enough have been obtained for at least a single one. The advantages of the system are, that, so far as it is carried out, one readily can tell just what pamphlets are in the possession of the library, and the inquiries of readers can be definitely answered. It secures the library from unnecessarily multiplying duplicates. The wants of the library are constantly suggested from the cards and the presence of the un- bound volumes. The New York State Library has not sufficient staff to carry out this plan as thoroughly as is desirable. Consequently there are always 10,000 loose pamphlets, assorted under subjects with which they have an affinity, waiting to be picked out, as time favors, and to be put in an unbound volume, or be bound up wi^h our thousands of volumes of miscellaneous pamphlets. Whereas it would be desirable that, under the system, all pamphlets in the library could be as speedily catalogued, as the books are, and at the same time be subject-indexed. The sources from whence covers in sufficient numbers for the purpose can be obtained are : from the covers of cloth-bound books when sent to the bookbinders by the library ; from the bookbinders who will give up, for a trifle, covers which they take off of the books which they bind ; and from the unused cases or covers prepared for editions of thin and thick volumes which they have occasion to bind. The same covers may serve several times in succession for fresh unbound volumes ; the first pamphlets placed there having become numerous enough , or consecutive in serial numbers enough, to admit of their being bound. The upper left- hand corner of each card of an unbound volume should have plainly written there, with a lead- pencil, u.b. or unbound. And when, in due time, the u.b. volume reaches a condition to render it expedient to bind it in the usual man- ner, this symbol should be rubbed off the card . The whole plan here set forth is especially adapted to a reference-library, or to the refer- ence department of a popular library. THE NEW ASTOR CATALOGUE. BY F. VINTON, LIBRARIAN OF THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY. THE reissue of a Catalogue of the Astor Library, presenting all the contents of that great and choice assemblage of books, is of in- terest to every intelligent American ; for that library is larger and more select than any other to which we are offered access. It is cause for congratulation that this first volume is so well edited and so well printed. Many things show that high intelligence and learned caution have watched over it. Oriental names have been skilfully treated ; and a comparison of the pages with the corresponding parts of the alpha- bet in Brunet demonstrates that few books of signal importance are yet wanting in the col- lection. The chief deficiency thus far notice- able is " Art (L 1 ) de verifier les dates." Three forms are possible in making a cata- logue, all depending on what stands first in the titles. The first thing may be an author's name ; or, the subject of the book may be written over the title as a heading ; or, the title may be entered under its first word. Origi- nally all catalogues took the first form ; the second makes a true subject-index ; the third is meant to help the memory, and is very useful in respect to novels, plays, and poems. But, i8 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. to enter every title under its first word, aggre- gates enormous numbers under such words as " History," "Address," and the like, with vory little benefit to anybody. Besides, it swells prodigiously the bulk and the cost of the cata- logue. We have so long been accustomed to the alphabetical list of authors' names that many people expect that in every catalogue. But it is useless for purposes of research. It is of no use except to the man who already knows that a certain author has written upon a given subject. What the student needs is in- formation on a certain topic ; and, if a catalogue shows him all the library contains on that sub- ject, it is all he wants. Such a catalogue is a true dictionary, and a dictionary is the shortest road to knowledge. Some catalogues unite the list of authors with the list of topics in one alphabet. That is the plan of the Boston Pub- lic Library. The Peabody Institute, of Balti- more, adds to these the series of titles under the first word of each. This makes a book exceedingly bulky and expensive. The two volumes of their catalogue yet issued contain 1826 pages, of double columns, and full of small type. They include the titles A-G. If con- tinued in this manner to the end there will be five volumes, and much more than 4,000 pages. If one of these pages cost $3, the cost of merely printing the whole must be more than $12,000; and the subject-index will yet be wanting. The new Astor Catalogue gives every title under the author's name, and elsewhere notices the same book under the first word of the title. It gives no aid to research. All the help it gives is for him who remembers that a certain author has written on a given subject, or re- members the first word of a title having to do with it. It is true there are cross-references meant to guide to a few select topics. But these bear no proportion to the wealth of the library. They may be said to be of no use, for the stu- dent is never sure that his topic has been selected. They may be called excrescences, marring the harmony of the plan, for they can- not be called part of it. If this catalogue is to be followed by a subject-index these cross- references should be found there. Alas ! there is no promise in the preface of any subject- index at all ! And, if there shall be no subject- index, these beautiful volumes merely mock the inquirer. Another pitiable waste of work is in the copious tables of contents given under the names of learned societies. Of what use are they, standing where they do? Is any man going to read them over for the chance of remembering who wrote upon some subject? W T e may be thankful that they have been ana- lyzed, and that each man's contribution is under his name. But even that is of value chiefly to the biographer, for it is not also set under the topic discussed. At the beginning of each letter is a copious collection of initialisms found in the title-pages of certain books. These are a sort of pseudo- nyms, but they are the proper contents of a dictionary of initialisms, and are out of place here; for the words "authors and books" are prefixed as a heading to this catalogue, and an initialism is neither. Whatever its excellences, this catalogue shows want of wisdom and want of strictness in adhering to the plan. Its authors fixed their attention on details, and not on the way to be useful. These characteristics may not have originated in those who did the work, but in those who formed the plan, and fixed the lines of the cataloguers' operation. BARTON. THE FIRST CONFERENCE OF AMERICAN LIBRARIANS. BY EDMUND M. BARTON, LIBRARIAN OF THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY, WORCESTER. F) EPRESENTING, as I do, a society which IV has for nearly seventy-five years attempted not only to preserve books relating to America, but to make them as well, I shall be excused, at least by my A.L.A. associates, for announc- ing as the subject of my short paper, that which relates to the dead past, and not to the living present. It might be added, if any fur- ther excuse were necessary, that the American Antiquarian Society had much to do with the calling of the meeting of 1853, and still holds to Ovid's sound doctrine upon it sseal, that "Nee poterit ferrum, nee edax abolere vetu- stas." My purpose is twofold : to give a hasty sketch of the proceedings of " the first Con- vention of Librarians that ever assembled in the United States," and to draw from three of its members and ours Messrs. Poole, Guild, and Smith their impressions of that intelli- gent and clear-headed body whom we of the American Library Association of 1876-1886 may well delight to honor. 1 The " Call," which was signed by twenty- four librarians, was as follows : " The under- signed, believing that the knowledge of books, and the formation and management of collec- tions of them for public use, may be promoted by consultation and concert of action among librarians and others interested in bibliography, respectfully invite such persons to meet in con- vention at New York, on the I5th day of Sep- tember next, for the purpose of conferring together upon the means of advancing the prosperity and usefulness of public libraries and for the suggestion and discussion of topics of importance to book collectors and readers." At the informal meeting in the chapel of the New York University, Thursday morning of the day appointed, fifty-three delegates were in 1 Mr. Lloyd P. Smith, our friend dearly beloved, rested from his abundant labors on the second day of July, iSS6. attendance. Mr. Charles Folsom was elected temporary chairman, Mr. Charles C. Jewett, president, and Mr. Ed. B. Grant, Secretary. Rev. Samuel Osgood made the wise and far- sighted statement that " the object of the Con- vention will be to create a cooperative spirit among librarians, and there is no class in the community that deserves more honor ; for how much do we owe them ! We should call the attention of the people at large to the desirable- ness of establishing a good popular library in every village." He also offered the following resolutions, which were adopted : "Resolved, That while we maintain most decidedly the importance of libraries of the highest class, in furtherance of the most ad- vanced literary and scientific studies, and re- joice in the rise and progress of our few great collections of books for professional scholars, we are convinced that for the present our chief hope must be in the establishment and im- provement of popular libraries throughout the land. " Resolved, That the Business Committee be requested to call attention to the desirable- ness of a popular library manual, which shall embody the most important information upon the chief points in question, especially upon : I. The best organization of a library society in regard to its officers, laws, funds, and gen- eral regulations ; 2. The best plans for library edifices and the arrangement of shelves and books, with the requisite architectural draw- ings; 3. The most approved method of making out and printing catalogues ; 4. The most desirable principle to be followed in the selec- tion and purchase of books as to authors and editions, with lists of such works as are best suited for libraries of various sizes from five hundred to one thousand volumes or upwards. " Resolved, That the Business Committee be requested to consider the expediency of me- morializing Congress to procure the preparation 20 MIL WA UKEE CONFERENCE. of such a manual through the agency of the Smithsonian Institution." The president appointed Mr. Guild, of Provi- dence, and Rev. Mr. Osgood, of New York, a committee upon these resolutions. The first resolution indicated a need which the country was not yet ready to endorse, nor is it to-day fully willing to do so, though its wisdom cannot well be gainsaid. The second, as we know, bore fruit five years later, when the chairman of the committee, Mr. Guild, issued his admirable Librarian's Manual. Mr. Folsom read a paper on " The Duties apd Qualifications of Librarians and the Impor- tance of Libraries," and Mr. John Disturnell, the publisher, one in which he proposed a plan for the preparation of a catalogue of works re- lating to American history and geography, and statistics of population, emigration, agri- culture, internal improvements, minerals, coin- age, and banking. Invitations were duly received and accepted to dine with an association of gentlemen at the Kemball House, in Nineteenth street, and to visit the New York Historical and New York Society libraries. Wyman's gallery of paint- ings, the Crystal Palace, and Banvard's pano- rama. Mr. Guild offered the following resolutions, which were adopted : " Resolved, That this Convention be re- garded as preliminary to the formation of a Librarian's Association. " Resolved, That a committee of five be ap- pointed to draft a constitution and by-laws for such an association, and present them at the next meeting of the Convention. ''Resolved, That when the Convention ad- journs it adjourn to meet in Washington City, at such time as the said committee shall ap- point. l " Resolved, That this committee be requested to suggest topics for written communications or free discussion at this adjourned meeting, and also to make such other arrangements as shall, in their judgment, be best adapted to meet the wants of the public in regard to the whole subject of libraries and library economy." 1 The Second Conference was held in Philadelphia, October 4-6, 1876. Messrs. Jewett, Folsom, Grant, Haywood, and Guild were appointed the committee on permanent organization, called for by the second resolution. Mr. Lloyd P. Smith presented a resolution with reference to the distribution of public documents through the Smithsonian Institu- tion. Mr. Gorham D. Abbott read .the follow- ing, which was adopted : " Resolved, That the time has now arrived when the extension of well-selected libraries of one thousand, five thousand, or ten thousand volumes throughout the towns and villages, the associations, the institutions, the schools of every kind in the United States, has become a matter of the greatest importance to the future welfare of our country. ''Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to report a digested plan for the promotion of this object at the next meeting of this Convention;" and Messrs. Abbott, Haven, and Jewett were named as that com- mittee. Mr. Charles Folsom submitted the follow- ing: " Resolved, That we have examined the work entitled ' Index to Periodicals,' by W. F. Poole, librarian of the Mercantile Library Association of Boston, and that we approve of its plan and execution, and that we recommend a similar plan of indexing to be extended to the transactions and memoirs of learned societies." It was, on motion of Mr. Guild, " Resolved, That the members of this Con- vention cordially recommend the mutual inter- change of the printed catalogues of all our public libraries." An editorial in the New York Herald, of the issue of September 17, 1853, says: "From the report of the Librarians' Convention, in an- other part of our paper, it will be seen that they have not met in vain. Several resolutions of a most important nature to the cause of libraries were passed, and if carried into exe- cution, as we trust they will be, great and beneficial changes must take place in the pres- ent methods of arranging, classifying, and managing libraries throughout the United States. In these important particulars we are fast going ahead of other countries. . . . WOODRUFF. 21 There is one feature which distinguishes this Convention above all others, and that is the entire unanimity with which its proceedings are conducted." Let me add that it is unfor- tunate that the official records of this Conven- tion, at which so many good resolutions were at least made, have apparently not been pre- served. Lt would be of real interest to know who responded at the session which was given up to the reports of librarians. We know that our president reported for the Mercantile Library Association of Boston ; Mr. Samuel F. Haven, for fifteen years my beloved mentor, for the American Antiquarian Society ; Rev. Edward E. Hale, for the then newly born Young Men's Library Association of Worces- ter, of which the Free Public Library is the rugged offspring; Mr. Charles Folsom, for the Boston Athenaeum ; Mr. Reuben A. Guild, for Brown University; Mr. Lloyd P. Smith, for the Library of Philadelphia ; and Mr. Charles C. Jewett, for the Smithsonian Institution ; but beyond this short list we cannot go. It is probable that there were no lady members of the conference of '53 ; but the world moves, and we of '86, looking at this goodly company of men and women, will not only be thankful that we can together do the great work set before us, but also for the blessings which so surely come with its faithful performance. UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES AND SEMINARY METHODS OF INSTRUCTION. BY EDWIN H. WOODRUFF, CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY. THE recent labors of librarians have been almost wholly directed to library econ- omy. This term may be more narrowly con- strued as having for its object the service, mainly by mechanical means, of the maximum number of books to the largest number of read- ers in the shortest possible time, and at a mini- mum expense. In its aggravated form it is fully possessed of what the president of Johns Hopkins, on a recent occasion, aptly called the " statistical devil." The mechanical devices which library econ- omy has called out have hitherto relieved many actual necessities, and there should be no word of depreciation for those who have zealously and unselfishly devoted themselves to the in- vention and perfection of these labor-saving contrivances. Yet it is becoming noticeable that the engrossing inventive interest which has been excited, in librarians of a mechanical turn of mind, by the demand for the most eco- nomical administration of our large libraries, may result in blinding their eyes to those who should be the objects of any such contrivance soever, namely, the readers. This particular phase of library-work is beginning to be pur- sued for its own sake, and the result is show- ing in an occasional discussion of frivolous themes, and in the restless effort to elaborate simple articles that have always been of com- mon utility into library trinkets of somewhat questionable worth. While those librarians have been debating the recent advances in step-ladders, or have feverishly discussed the latest wrinkle in cata- logue cards, or have waxed violent over the merits of various combination pen-wipers and inkstands, others, comparatively few in this country, have been devoting themselves, in the privacy of their vocation, to pure bibliography, if what is more often sheer bibliomania should be dignified by a considerate euphemism. To these bookmen there is no odor so fra- grant as the sensuous pungency of crushed le- vant, no sight so ravishing as the gilded mazes of filagree tooling. A tremulous word or un- certain ligature made five hundred years ago by some lean, monkish scribe, who had too fully explored his cup's design at the refectory table, hatches a brood of their learned monographs, 22 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. which flutter about in our libraries with piercing and critical notes. But this sort of bookish enterprise is sane and worthy too, if it does not go to the irrational extreme which has just been suggested. When, however, it is pursued, it may well be left to those laymen whose wealth, aptitude, and leisure incline them to it, and it should not be done at the slightest sacrifice, even in a library which only assumes to touch the people at the third or fourth remove. The first-mentioned tendency to reduce li- brary-work to service by machinery finds its counterpart in our present industrial condition, which manifests itself in the substitution of a few large industries for many small ones, call- ing for a limited number of mechanical en- gineers to invent and superintend, and not for many skilled workmen with a comprehensive knowledge of the scope and continuity of their work. There are no longer apprentices being equipped by various service for any emergency, and there are few workmen with a sense of mastership or ownership over their machines and themselves. So, too, in our libraries (for they are not one whit less important than the greatest material industries) the machinery of administration is now bewildering enough to the ordinary person, however familiar and re- sponsive it may be to the unseen officers ; and the elimination of the hearty personal interest, however much divided, of sympathetic libra- rians, leaves nothing to nurse the ardor of will- ing readers, or to angle for the susceptibilities of unwilling ones. Readers should be led to assert a mastership over books, and to feel the harmony of books with books, and of books with men. Something should be done whereby a division of part of the functions of intricate catalogues and microscopic classifications may be made, and those divisions controlled and supplemented by constant oral information, based upon extensive knowledge, and inspired by abundant personal sympathy. A sick or vicious animal will be helped farther toward health by a little food, fed from a sympathetic hand, than by all the fat oats in the manger. Half the frequenters of a library \\ant the good word and the helpful tone that should go with every book, but which so often must come from outside of it. The duty of a library is not merely to put a book into the hands of the reader in the shortest possible time, something that any book-store will do for a consideration ; but its highest function should be to excite in him that intelligent love and reverence for books, and responsiveness to them, which have been ex- perienced and celebrated by the best of minds of all times, to kindle in him some of the joy that a confirmed book-lover realizes in the friendship of books. When such a one scans a shelf of books he feels a subtle and pleasur- able mental activity excited within him, and the volumes have faces and voices for him as soon as he reads their titles. When his eye catches an old friend in dingy cloth, how his forefinger leaps up, draws the book from its place, and fondles each familiar page ! when he spies an inimical pamphlet, his lip twitches with the hint of a sneer ; how he laughs aloud when he recalls the jolly companionship of the next fellow in motley ! and best of all is his greeting to the new-comer in two volumes, large 8, full gilt, whose advent has long been announced, and which is destined to " mark an epoch," if the critics are to be believed. He catches his breath in a half-suppressed excla- mation, and, impelled forward by irresistible curiosity, he takes down both volumes at once, with a gentle scraping as they rub their neigh- bors' sides. When he opens them the leaves stand stiffly up or bend but little, as if unduly conscious of the weight and beauty of their impressions ; but, oblivious of this vanity, he thrusts his beak into the shadowy and honeyed depths between the uncut leaves, whence he withdraws with a meditative look, only to seek again for nourishment farther on. Such an intelligent and active love of books as this it should be the aim of every library to quicken and foster in the community which it is meant to serve, and the immediate practical purpose of this paper is an attempt to show how this desideratum may, in some degree, be achieved by a university library. It must have been already inferred from the foregoing that the chief requisite is an oral supplement to cata- logues, classifications, and all mechanical econo- mies. Those who have in mind the confession of the president of Harvard in speaking of WOODRUFF. card catalogues, or any one who has rescued a keen young student or a sagacious old professor from the labyrinthian complexus of an im- proved dictionary catalogue with its signs, tokens, and elusive references, must have recognized that thereabouts somewhere there is a great loss in the efficiency of the library, that between library economy on one side, and pure bibliography on the other, there has been left a gap to be filled in by an energy whose manifestation must differ from that shown in those two kinds of library activity. At the end of a four years' course in college, the student usually takes away with him ac- quirements well worth his labor. But his atti- tude during those years of acquisition has been one of passive receptivity. With youthful ap- petite and eupepsia he has eaten all things put into his mouth, and pronounced them good. He has been led to look upon his professors and text-books as final authorities in their own departments. He has not learned how to dis- tinguish and question, in a deferential way, even those things about which the judgment of youth is apt to be quite as correct as the ex- perience of age. He remembers the trigonom- etry of his freshman year as something con- cerned with the measurement of triangles ; that it used sines and cotangents ; that he passed an honorable examination in it; that his teacher was Prof. A., and the text-book was by B. He thinks that, twenty years hence, he could, if necessary, brush up his knowledge sufficiently to solve an easy problem. But, unfortunately, the professor has neglected to impress upon him that other men besides B. have written trigonometries, and that, within twenty years, there will be many written which will be far more lucid and practical, and much less expensive than B.'s. The professor has not thought to show him the mutability of trigonometry by giving him a peep at the backs of the dozens in the library ; so that at the end of four years he carries away of his term's work in this branch of mathematics, aside from its disciplinary value, only two things of practical worth. the name of one particular text-book, and a vague idea of its use ; when he should have learned also that mathema- ticians will not quit cooking when he has been served, and that twenty years hence their food will be more nutritious and easier of digestion. What is here applied to trigonometry, for pur- poses of illustration, is more true of literary and historical subjects. The practical duty of a college library, in addition to the general one of creating such a love of books as has been already described, is to teach the student how he may, if necessary, at any time in his post-collegiate years, seek out and use the books that have displaced or carried along the knowledge of his college-days. It should re- veal to him the fact that no text-book or pro- fessor's word is final. And he should feel that the college has done all it can for him when it has led him into the library, taught him to love, reverence, and use its contents, and made him acquainted with those books which are letters accrediting a man to all good books published, or to be published, making him known, and served by the best minds and hearts all his life through. This leads us to the inquiry, how students and library may be brought closer together, and what is now being done in our universities to offer a hope in the enterprise. At Harvard the chief cataloguer delivers one lecture a year on the use of catalogue. At Cornell and the University of Michigan the librarians give an- nually a valuable course of lectures on bibliog- raphy, including the history of manuscripts and printed books, binding, and other biblio- graphical detail, with some attention also to catalogues and other aids in the use of the library. Such instruction very properly has a place in a scheme of general education ; but dealing so exclusively with bibliography, it must be dismissed from consideration here, as not securing the close contact with books, and skill in their use, which fill the objective of this plea. Something has been accomplished by reserving books for various classes, and giving their members free access to them ; but, inas- much as students will not consult these refer- ences unless especially required to do so, and give the professor the results as proof of con- sultation, this plan also fails of our purpose. There are, however, now being introduced into American universities, two methods of instruction, which promise, in time, to offer a MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. practicable solution of the difficulty. The first of these is the modern seminary method, which has been evolved out of the old ecclesiastical training in defence of original theses. Its present application has been mainly confined to the study of history and political economy, where it fills a place similar to that g'iven up to laboratory and experimental work in natural science. The seminary may or may not be attendant upon recitations or a course of lect- ures, and is open only to a limited number of advanced students, to each of whom, at the beginning of the work, is assigned a subject, which may or may not be related to those assigned to other members. The student's work on that subject is carried perhaps through a year, reports of progress being made to the professor at the periodical meetings of the seminary. Errors of logic or rhetoric are revealed by a bit of Socratic banter. Errors of fact may be rebuked by the professor's reference to an authority which has escaped the student's search, and which he is asked to consult then and there, for the room in which the seminary is conducted, is, or should be, in the library building. At the beginning the student is given a list of authorities which, once searched out, only lead him into his subject still farther by a thousand allusions and foot-notes until he is soon beyond the professor's support, though not beyond his oversight and counsel. May be, before his task is finished, he finds that he has explored a corner of " original sources," the historian's paradise. The monograph of one or two hundred pages, offered as the result of his labor, may not always be worthy of pub- lication as an important contribution to knowl- edge, but it does nevertheless witness that the student has learned the chief practical use of the university library ; that he has become skilled in private research ; and, more essential than either, that he has felt at least a prelim- inary glow of that friendship for books which made it natural for Charles Lamb to give a kiss to an old folio, as Leigh Hunt once saw him do to Chapman's Homer. This is what the student has acquired from the librarian's point of view, and it is not within the range of this paper to say from the professor's stand-point what special historical knowledge has been gained by this method of instruction. The other method of instruction which brings its students into close relations with the library is the topical method, which has, thus far, like the seminary, been somewhat limited in its ap- plication. Students are assigned topics directly connected with the subjects being treated by the professor in lectures or recitations, and are required to make a report to the class, at a given time, upon the results of their library-work on the topic. They are directed to a few author- ities by the professor, and, in consulting addi- tional ones, they are governed by their zeal and the time at their disposal. Here are some of the topics treated in five or ten minute talks by members of a class in American history : Good- rich's "Life of Columbus; " Alden's " Life of Columbus ; " The Portraits of Columbus ; The Burial-place of Columbus. A part of the colo- nial period was covered in this way by students to whom were assigned some of the colonial governors, who served as subjects for so many brief lectures to the class. What the advantages of this method are from the teacher's stand-point can best be told in the words of Professor Moses Coit Tyler, who has for some time successfully adapted it to his work : "I have found it impossible by the two former [recitations and lectures] to keep my students from settling into a merely passive attitude; it is only by the latter [topical method] that I can get them into an attitude that is inquisitive, eager, critical, originating. My notion is that lecturing must be reciprocal. As I lecture to them, so must they lecture to me. We are all students and all lecturers. The law of life with us is cooperation in the search after the truth of history." From the librarian's point of view any one who has seen the dexterity and earnestness with which students reach into the books of the university library in search of material for these reports, and compares it with the indifference to the library displayed by students who have been bred down to mere passivity by lectures and recitations, will understand how the topical method affords one other help towards the WOODRUFF. achievement of that close relation to be estab- lished between man and book. Unfortunately the seminary method can be applied with satisfactory results only to a limited number of advanced students who are well-grounded in the general subjects with which they will find the object of their special investigation connecting itself as their work progresses. They must also devote much more time to this work than can be given to it by the regular student who must also answer the demands of other studies. The topical method, however, can be applied successfully with a much larger number of students ; and, although it does not carry them so far into knowledge of their particular subjects as the seminary method would do, yet it gives them quite as much facility in the use of the library, and shows them more fully the variety of its re- sources. There is no reason why both of these methods may not be applied with success, not only in his- torical study, but also to instruction in natural science, technology, letters, or any knowledge preserved and nourished by a literature, and having a place in the university library. In schemes of instruction these methods should take their place along with lectures and recitations, which will be none the less neces- sary for being so supplemented ; and the limit of the efficiency of the university library will be marked, so far as the students are affected, only at that point where the topics assigned must be so far subdivided, in order to serve all, as to require no special inquiry on the part of the student. Probably that point would never be reached. Both of these methods, extended in applica- tion and fairly used, would effect the installa- tion of every professor as active librarian-of his department in the university library, as far as its use by students is concerned. The miss- ing aid, distinct personal assistance, 'would be found in the professor. This plan would strongly emphasize and undoubtedly realize Carlyle's statement that " the true university is a collection of books," and, in bringing stu- dents and library together in intimacy, it would fulfil that use of universities 'which he said, on another occasion, " is, that after you have done with all your classes, the next thing is a collec- tion of books, a great library of good books^ which you proceed to study and read. What the universities can mainly do for you, what I have found the universities did for me, is, that they taught me to read in various languages in various sciences, so that I could go into the books which treated of these things, and gradu- ally penetrate into any department I wanted to make myself master of, as I found it suit me." And now a suggestion as to what can be done to attain similar conditions in the public library. You are all familiar with what has been done towards making the public library and the public schools complement each other in a scheme of popular education. What is the best way in which those outside the public school, but within the ken of the public library, can find the holy inner kingdom of books, and be set upon the high road to an intellectual life? Catalogues, classifications, and economic devices can contribute ; but they must be manned by wise heads and sympathetic hearts, which should search out, satisfy, and excite further, not only those readers who may re- quest help, but also the far larger number who may be found wasting time and patience in a blind and indiscriminate pursuit of information. Let the public library be considered by its libra- rians as a hospital for crippled minds, quite as much as an aid to those persons who already understand and appreciate it. There need not be fewer catalogue-cards with their sparse and grudging notes, but near the catalogues, and among the readers, there ought to be active and helpful librarians, whose sole duty should be to furnish dral notes and advice in extenso. Two of the main uses of the policeman are, to direct the stranger, and help the feeble. The great retail stores have their floor-walkers, who point you to the elevator or lace-counter with insistent unction. Railroad corporations have discovered that index sign-boards and in- tricate time-tables are riddles to many persons even of more than ordinary intelligence, and have therefore supplemented those devices in large depots with an oral information man who succeeds in adjusting the passenger-service of the road to the particular wants of individuals, 26 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. and not merely to the presumptive wants of that abstraction, the " patron." But where, in our American public libraries, is there a like officer, whose chief duties are to set right a perverted reader ; to direct the lost reader through the crowd of 100,000 books to the friend he is seeking ; to tell all the connections to be made, and all the delays to be endured on the " Royal Road to Learning? " Let us rest a bit from the invention of me- chanical substitutes for personal contact with books and librarians, before we end up in at- tempting experiments for the determination of the mechanical equivalent of thought. Let us leave pure bibliography for a while entirely to emeritus professors and scholarly millionaires. Let librarians now look around more for an opportunity to do personal hospital and reformatory service. Poolers Index, the catalogues of Cutter and Noyes, the organization and administration of the great Boston Public Library, and the vol- umes of the Library jottrnal, are the best results of modern library-work. There are two more tasks here with us, which, successfully extended and accomplished, will take rank with those achievements ; and these are co- operative bibliographical work and the intro- duction of prominent and distinct personal assistance to readers in libraries. COOPERATION OF THE NEWTON FREE LIBRARY WITH THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 1885-6. BY MISS HANNAH P. JAMES, LIBRARIAN OF THE NEWTON FREE LIBRARY. OUR first year of work with the public schools of Newton, although partial, has been so successful in its results in awakening the intelligence and interest of the pupils that it seems worthy of record and imitation. The first step taken was the establishment of a friendly acquaintance between the librarian and the teachers ; and, to that end, a personal visit was made by the librarian to nearly every school in the city, the methods of the proposed work explained, and the offer of every assist- ance on the part of the librarian given. Ten cards were allowed each teacher on which to draw books for the use of the schools, the selection to be confined strictly to such as would aid in the mental and moral growth of the pupils. The selecting of books for the lower grades of the grammar and for the primary schools was practically left almost entirely in the hands of the librarian, the teachers giving a list of the studies being pur- sued as a basis for the selections. A careful record was kept of the shelf-number of each book loaned, and the school and grade to which it was sent, which was of great assist- ance. The teachers of the High School and upper grammar grades generally indicated the special books, desired, or the particular points they wished to elucidate. Of the most useful and popular books in history, biography, travel, and natural science, more or less duplicates were purchased, and about $450 were spent in that way. All these books were to be used in the schools, or were allowed to be taken home by the pupils, at the discretion of the teacher, he or she, of course, being responsible for their careful use and safe return. The books were issued for two weeks' time, but at the end of that period could be renewed upon a seasonable request being made to that effect. The number of times of such renewal was unlimited, but it was thought advisable to have a report of the books every two weeks. Owing to a press of other work the librarian was unable to visit all the schools until late in the spring, so that the work did not have a full trial. One school commenced in September, four in October, one. each in November, December, and January, one each in April and May, and two in June. But with this partial delivery HOOPER. 27 2,300 books were loaned to the schools, inclu- sive of renewals. The Superintendent of Schools and the teachers are enthusiastic in their opinion as to the amount of good accomplished, and of the interest in intelligent study and reading awakened. Though entailing some extra care and responsibility upon the teachers, the books were found to so quicken the minds of the children, and create a desire to read them, that, when used as a reward for good lessons or good conduct, they served as powerful aids in the discipline of the schools. Through their diffusion, too, among families living at a distance from the library, and so unacquainted with its treasures, the work is having a very marked influence ; and this fact is indicated in a measure by an increase of our delivery during the first six months of this year of nearly 4,000 over the first six months of last year. Without doubt a large share of this increase is owing to a better knowledge of and interest in the library, which has been the result of the work of the library with the schools. 1 1 [Miss James writes : " In iSSg, our per cent, of fiction was 67.4; the first six months of this year it was 64.7; and in March went down to 62.7; all of which shows that the increased circulation was owing to a demand for solid reading and study." ED.] THE EVOLUTION OF THE HOBBY. BY W. DE M. HOOPER, LIBRARIAN OF THE INDIANAPOLIS PUBLIC LIBRARY. I. OF HOBBIES IN GENERAL. IN classifying the natural history of the sub- ject my purpose will be answered by mak- ing three genera of the class " Imagination." 1. The Chimera. A fabulous animal; un- real, the creature of a disordered imagination ; type of superstition and ignorance. 2. The Hobby. Realistic; utilitarian; the offspring of sanity and reason ; objective ; type of naturalness and reality. 3. The Ideal. The standard of perfection. It goes beyond nature, yet is modelled upon it. It is broad as the intelligence, high as the in- spiration, vast and deep as the scope of the human mind. It recognizes the lowest of cre- ated things as a type perfect in itself; it em- braces all of nature and humanity, and soars above the universe to fold its wings at the foot- stool of that Deity which is above its compre- hension, and which it recognizes but through its faith. How plain the evolution ! Out of fable into faith ; out of conjecture into conviction ; out of unreality into reason ; through chimera to crotchet ; through crotchet to hobby ; through hobby to inspiration ; through inspiration to Truth, the essence of the Divine. The hobby, then, occupies an intermediate place ; neither too illusive to discuss, perhaps with some profit, nor too broad and deep for such a paper as this. The very evolution of the term and its appli- cations follows naturally in the order of geo- logical and biological development : bird mammal man. Its earliest use in English was derived from the O.K. " hobe" and meant a small, strong- O winged falcon, trained to fly at pigeons and partridges ; and as hawks, like dogs and horses, were general pets in the days of falconry, and hawking was the favorite pastime, it is quite evident how the word " hobby " got its present meaning, the pursuit of an object for amusement and pleasure. Bartlett adds, " Hobby-horse is a corruption of ' hobby- hause ' (hawk-tossing) , or throwing off the hawk from the wrist. Hobby-horse is applied to a little pet horse by the same natural trans- position as a ' mews ' for hawks is now a stable for horses." The later, and better known, use of the word is also from the O.F. " hobin" a little, ambling horse. What an innocent and pleas- ing idea it conveys ! Little, it should be harm- 28 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. less and under control ; ambling, it should not run away with us ; but a horse, and, if we ride it, sure to carry us somewhere. Again: little and not to be confounded with the heavy draft-horse of Perseverance ; ambling and does not vie with the thorough- bred racer of Energy, or the pawing war-horse of Enthusiasm ; and, still, a useful little fellow, mildly invigorating when gently urged, carry- ing us over a good deal of ground in a quiet way ; but, alas ! too susceptible of being ridden to death if exercised immoderately ; prone to pitch one off; and even capable of turning the tables and riding its master if indulged too far. James Whitcomb Riley, the Hoosier poet, in my presence, a short time ago, was bewail- ing his ill-luck with horses and his fear of them. " I verily believe," he said, " if I were to get a-straddle of a saw-horse the pesky thing would rear up and kick my brains out." Some people's hobbies are not unlike "Jim's" saw- horse. Hobbies,! apprehend, are self-imposed tasks taken up for pleasure, in contradistinction to those pursued only for profit; and a man's character is probably better revealed in his hobby than in anything else. He must possess both heart and imagination to have one ; and a very unpleasant and dangerous neighbor he would be without these : that is, without tastes, without inclinations, without likes. Hobbies are begun in childhood. How many boys and girls have started with a mania for collecting postage-stamps and crazy-quilt scraps, and have carried out their destiny in after-life by giving fabulous prices for cracked cups and saucers, peach-blow vases, bric-a-brac, and " articles of bigotry and virtue," as Mrs. Malaprop calls them ! How often people's hobbies endear them to us, in giving a touch of eccentricity to their character, and revealing many an amiable and lovable trait ! Who of us does not know some one with a hobby for making everybody happy, one of those angels of light whose sole aim seems to be to infuse comfort, and help, and purity into the lives of others ? God bless and multiply all such ! The world is sweeter and better and brighter for their presence in it, and heaven a gainer at their departure. There are some hobby-riders, of course, from whom the instinct of self-preservation prompts us to fly, the bores. It is not necessary to enumerate them all ; in fact- it would be im- possible. The musical prodigy, the amateur painter, the family genealogist, the croaker with a pet grievance or an illusionary disease, the critic who would lose his reputation if he praised anything ; the nil admirari of any kind ; that very American animal, you know, the mono- anglo-maniac ; the political economist who knows the country is going to the dogs, the gushing parent with a "smart" child, that despicable wretch the punster, the new convert to homoeopathy, the teetotal crusader, the anti- tobacconist, the doctrinal and dogmatic hob- byist, who has not suffered from some aggravated type of most of these afflictions, besides others " too numerous to mention ?" And then the hobbyists with but one idea, who delude themselves that they are leading in the grand race of life, and do not realize that their steeds are tethered to a single stake by a single rope, and are but trampling down the grass in a ring, and winding themselves up in an ever-narrowing range till they come to a sudden stop only to choke to death, or to un- wind themselves again. Of this type was the old professor in a German university. He had filled the chair of Greek for over sixty years ; and when he was dying he called to his bedside his son, himself a grandfather. With his last breath he whispered: " My son, you will suc- ceed me as professor of Greek. Be warned by my example, and do not attempt to do too much. I started in my work with the ambition to master the whole of the Infinitive mode of the Greek verb. Had I but confined myself to the Aorist tense what might I not have accomplished ! " And then he did what he should have done sixty years before he died. There is but one suggestion I would make regarding these hobby-riders. Shut them in a dark room, lock the door, and await with faith the natural evolution, the survival of the fittest (or fightesf) . But to return. Hobbies are born of desire, HOOPER. 29 cradled in affection, nurtured by impulse, and develop into achievement. They are born of desire, for their very exist- ence implies an aim, an end to be sought, an incentive to move to action. They are cradled in affection, for, of neces- sity, they appeal and endear themselves to the natural inclinations of the mind whose off- spring they are. They are nurtured in impulse, for they re- ceive their sustenance from the fount of the parent will. Lastly, they develop into result in the addi- tional knowledge, the mental discipline, and the breadth attained in their pursuit ; and, let us hope, in the incidental pleasure and help they may have been to others. Here we have aim, love, motive, achievement. What more? How often we hear it said, "As to that, consult Mr. X., it is his hobby ; " and if Mr. X. is a man of sense and judgment we are will- ing to accept his dictum. Since librarians are always people of sense and judgment it follows that they should be successful hobbyists ; and this leads me to treat II. BILIOTHECAL HOBBIES IN PARTICULAR. I hold it true that the librarian, if any man, is, in his fulness, the apostle of self-culture. No man, neither the preacher nor the teacher, and they should be synonymous, has broader opportunity for making his work far-reaching and diverse. The high and low, the rich and poor, senility, maturity, abdolescence and juve- nility, wisdom and folly, dignity and impudence, the scholar, the specialist, the dilletante, the tyro, the crank, all come ambling along to him in never-ending, ever-changing variety. All need help ; all must have it. With each we mount his hobby and ride apace, to set him on his way. A pleasant task it often is, and loath we are to dismount and watch our late fellow pursuing his way beyond our ken. But, with a sigh and a " God speed you," back we turn, to greet, perchance, some sorry wight with hobby- horse ungirthed and saddle all awry. Buck- ling and tightening this and arranging that, we give him a lift to his saddle, put bridle in his hand, and, with a word of help and encour- agement, away he goes, perhaps to fall again, perhaps to reach his goal. Verily, these are some of the compensations in the librarian's work ! Heigho ! what should we do if others had no hobbies ; and, above all, if we had none our- selves? We haven't. Who said so? Well, we just have, lots- of them, and proud we are of our pets. How about "reformed spelling" and deci- mal notation, classification, close and loose, duets rivalling in intensity and vigor those sung by our feline friends upon back walls in dead of night? And all the cooperatives, cooperative cataloguing, cooperative indexing, cooperative purchasing, and in time, perhaps (who knows?) cooperative reading, coopera- tive thinking, cooperative brains, and (why not?) the grand central bureau of cooperative management ; and so, with the aid of rubber stamps, stenographers, and electricity, do away with the necessity for librarians alto- gether? Then the subject of buildings, great and small ; shelf systems ; pneumatic and auto- matic indicators; subject colors for binding; buckram vs. leather ; and the school, fiction, and juvenile questions. Excellent hobbies, these ; many of them deserving a higher epithet than "hobby," and blossoming into the realm of divine enthusiasms. That's it, enthu- siasms, they are what the librarians need, enthusiasms for everything useful. To the librarian the cosmopolite in the world of letters and knowledge hobbies are as indispensable as steam to the engine, when the safety-valve is in good working order, and discretion and "gumption" must be his gov- ernor and valve. In the character of adviser-general to every- body and his wife you must be like the chame- leon, and take color from the immediate en- vironment. You whose work is never done must depend, to some extent, upon the knowl- edge of others ; but you must be independently dependent. Each must work out for himself his own scheme of salvation ; and another's hobby may, or may not, be of use in your own particular case. There is such a diversity of opinion among even experts in every line of MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. thought, the natural result of the different environment under which each one works, that you can but generalize the ideas of others, and modify them to your own surroundings. It is the old, old story of progress and the search after truth, the unanimity of the igno- rant, the diversity of the inquiring, the una- nimity of the wise. How many reach the last this side of the Jasper Gates? Let me reiterate. The librarian must have a hundred hobbies, but must hold them well in hand. Have you ever regretted the time spent upon one? If so, you rode it too far and too long. He should have a hobby for nosing into things in general, for character-reading, for finance and management, for statistics, for many special subjects. Pride in his own town and State may lead him into an historical society, or half-a-dozen local scientific and literary clubs, merely for the sake of studying the bibliography of his own city, county, or State, all to the general good of his constituents, let us hope, and to the strengthening of his personal influence upon them. He must have a hobby for a little detective business sometimes, for the protection of his library. A hobby for the evil influences of light reading and printed poison will inevi- tably lead him to exert more personal influence and direction over his readers, and a closer scrutiny of the class of fiction bought for his library. And so I might go on multiplying instances ; but you can work them out for yourselves better than I. Above all must he have a hobby for books. While he is not a bibliopole, a book-seller, he must be a book-buyer, and must study the art ; and to do that he must be a bibliophile in his love for books ; a bibliognoste in his knowl- edge of title-pages, colophons, editions, etc. ; a bibliopegist in his knowledge of their ex- terior and material forms, their bindings ; a bibliographer, learned in the lore of special subjects. All these are necessary to his edu- cation as a bibliologist ; while he must use his discretion and avoid the danger of becoming a bibliotaphe, a hoarder and concealer of his treasures under glass cases and in dark places, a bibliothecal miser, in fact ; or a bibliolatrist, and falling into too great worship of them ; or a bibliomaniac, and coveting their posses- sion too greatly. L'ENVOI. Cultivate hobbies ! Don't confine yourself to one. Dare to be broad, and to be narrow too, broad in a few subjects in which to verse yourself thoroughly ; narrow in many minor things of which you can but gain a superficial knowledge at the best ; and you will find that the aggregate of many narrow things will add wonderfully to the breadth of your general nature and knowledge. Cultivate hobbies, both in yourself and in others. They will bring you into sympathy with the many, making you useful to them, and them to you. Cultivate hobbies. Have plenty of them, but don't make others ride them, willy-nilly. Keep them to yourself, unless you can give others a lift with them. Cultivate hobbies ; they are the healthy im- pulses which refresh one's life ; they are the in- spirations, the " heavenly visions " sent to these latter-day generations, as were the divine com- mands to the prophets of old. Study them, attend to their voices, and be able to say with Paul, " Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision." Above all, have a hobby for hobbies. POOLE. THE LIBRARIAN AND HIS CONSTITUENTS. BY R. B. POOLE, LIBRARIAN OF THE YOUNG MEN*S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK. BY constituents is not meant political con- stituents. It is unfortunate for any libra- rian when he holds his office in a public library as a political favor, and library appointments should be as far removed as possible from all party influences. A public library, like any other public property, is susceptible of being used as a tool, and may easily degenerate into a political job, unless specially protected by its charter. New York city has one such library. The library exists for the librarians ; its con- stituents not readers are of the school of politics. The example, it is to be hoped, is a unique one in our country. A brief retrospect of the libraries and libra- rians of the past may help us to more fully comprehend the situation of the librarian and his constituents of to-day. The monk represented the librarian of the Middle Ages. He was not by profession a librarian, and yet the valuable service he ren- dered to literature entitles him to the name. He was at once chorister, master of ceremo- nies, transcriber, illuminator, and collector. Professedly the monk was a religious ascetic. He retired from the world to devote himself to religion, to a life of self-denial. His language was the Latin ; the books or MSS. that sur- rounded him were works of the Fathers, books of devotion, service-books, and the classics. These were just in keeping with his life and thoughts. A congenial occupation was thus opened to him. The hours of the cloister were made shorter as the monk duplicated and reduplicated some dainty missal, or some com- mentary of Augustine, or painted a miniature of the Virgin or of the apostles. However much we may differ in opinion as to the service rendered to religion by the mon- asteries of the Middle Ages, as librarians we have a fellow-feeling with these toiling monks, and are grateful to them for the service they have rendered the libraries of to-day by their preservation of works that otherwise would have been destroyed. There is nothing in the book-making arts of to-day to compare with the artistic skill displayed in the illuminations and miniature-painting which enrich and beau- tify the MSS. of those times. The monastic libraries were small, and the readers few. Books were loaned from mon- astery to monastery. They were distributed once a year, at the Lenten season. As each borrower returned his book he was catechised as to its contents ; if the examination was satis- factory he was allowed another book for the coming year ; if not, he must take his old book again. One not a member of the order of St. Bene- dict, or an attachi of Cluny or Canterbury, could procure the coveted treasure, sometimes, by pledging to return with the MS. borrowed a full transcription. Library economy in these ages was very simple. Catalogues were little more than inven- tories, and no discordant notes were chanted, in duets or solos, over systems of classification. The absolute or fixed system of shelving was in vogue, the books being held in their places by chains. The survival of this feature exists in the attachments of the modern city directory. But, not to linger longer in cloisters or ab- beys, we come to the age of printing and to the foundation of the modern libraries of Europe ; the treasures in the monastic libraries con- tributing to form their vast collections. The monk's occupation as a librarian was gone, and he was succeeded by the collector, the keeper, the scholar. In the centuries im- mediately succeeding the invention of printing there was a growing diffusion of knowledge by means of libraries. We smile at the restrictions imposed, and look upon them as so many fetters on the intellect. It is, however, to be MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. borne in mind that at this time books were costly a/id rare, and on this account were guarded with great jealousy. When the Bodleian library was founded it was stipulated by law that under no pretence should any book be lent to any one, no matter what his station. A Fellow of Corp'us Christi College could not enter the sacred alcoves alone, and he was under oath not to remove a book. The books were there for use, there can be no question ; and in the Bodleian, to which we have just referred, a person could have six books at a time to consult, and the library was open for six hours during the day. About 1650 Humphrey Chetham bequeathed ,1,000 for a public library in Manchester, England. He was a firm adherent of the fixed location. " My mind and will is," he says, " that care be taken that none of said books be taken out of the said library at any time, and that the said books be fixed or chained." After specifying certain religious books, and annota- tions on the Bible, he adds, " and other books proper for the common people." It was two hundred years after this, in this last half cen- tury, before the Public Libraries Act was intro- duced into the English Parliament ; and from this period we may date a new era, both in Eng- land and in this country, in the dissemination of books and improved library methods. The last decade, commencing with the formation of A.L.A. and the beginning of our second century as a nation, has witnessed results hitherto una- chieved in library economy. It is not neces- sary to enlarge here upon the work that has been accomplished. The important thing to note is that the librarian of to-day should be en rapport with all that pertains to his profes- sion. He should acquaint himself with schemes of classification, and elect from them that which is best adapted for the purposes of his own li- brary. He should adopt the best system for charging, acquaint himself with the most ap- proved library appliances. Whether he adopt the classed catalogue, the dictionary, the alpha- beto-classed, or any other form, let it be one that shall be abreast of the progress that has been made in this department of library science. The librarian can scarcely keep pace with his fellow-librarians unless he receives the right hand of fellowship of the American Library As- sociation, and is a reader of the Library jour- nal or the Library notes, just launched and de- signed to cruise along the coast into the smaller ports. The advantages which the librarian re- ceives from these sources will qualify him better for his profession, but the greater advantage will accrue to his readers : knowledge will be made more available, and a bright, cheerful atmosphere will pervade the alcoves of his store-house. The librarian of to-day is developing to the full the utilitarian principle. He is practical, practical in his library management, practical in his choice of books. His constituency is either a particular class or the great public. To supply the masses with reading, and to make books helpful in all the vocations of life, is the librarian's aim. It is just here that we need to emulate our predecessors, the monks and the collectors and bookworms of the six- teenth and succeeding centuries. He must have the spirit of the collector, the animus of the scholar. He must not forget that he is an antiquarian in his zeal for utility. His constituency is not confined to the present ; he is building for posterity as well. His library will live after him. He therefore needs to be a wise master-builder. If the choice of books is in the librarian's hands, or if he occupies an important position in connection with the selection, his best effort should be given to this department. The responsibility is not small. He will find it more difficult often to reject than to select. He must consult the wants of his readers ; but there is a limit to that. Everything that is in print may be called for, but that is no reason why it should be honored with a place in a library. The librarian's personal equation is not to be the standard, but the foundation prin- ciples of morality, truth, and sound sense must guide him. No quarter should be given to books of doubtful morality. Fiction now finds a place in most libraries open to any extent to the public, and this class of books forms so large a part of the circulation of many libraries that it is becoming a question of no small im- portance as to how far public funds should be POOLS. 33 expended for such bociks as afford little else than pastime. A public library is a public educator. It is not a sluice into which every publisher may dump his entire wares ; as educators, librarians and managing boards have the right to maintain the purity of their collections, and to protect them from inunda- tions of worthless books. The librarian should be alert to supply his readers with all they require that will be help- ful, as we have said ; but, more than this, he should lead them. He may do so by procuring works of standard worth, new and old, that represent the best thought in any department of literature or science. Unless he has something of the spirit of the collector very much will elude his grasp, and be, perhaps, utterly lost to his library. There are the limited editions, now so unlimited in number; the privately printed book; the first numbers of periodicals ; the first reports of societies ; local histories and genealogies ; me- morial volumes, and the like, works whose value is enhanced by time. A librarian, to be successful, must be a lover of books. The novice, in applying for a libra- rianship, often puts it down as one of his cardinal qualifications that he is fond of read- ing. To the active, toiling worker this is not suggestive of business. A love of books very naturally suggests a taste for reading, except when bibliomania is in the blood. A true friend of books is not such because his collec- tion embraces Elzevirs and Aldines, or because they are in Grolier or Bedford bindings, or printed on Whatman or Holland paper, these are matters of just pride, but because the army of silent authors, marshalled under his leadership, will diffuse light and knowledge wherever they go. The librarian imbued with this spirit, if he finds time to read, will reflect what he has read. It is to be feared that the librarian who reads in these times is the ex- ception ; and yet there can be no question that, if he could have each day an hour or two for reading, time enough to acquaint himself with the thought of the times, and occasionally commune with the authors of the past, his efficiency would be greatly enlarged, and his readers would have a supplemental catalogue in him, corresponding, to some extent, to the good work contemplated by our Cooperative Committee. There are in every library very many books that are what we might term, to use a mer- cantile phrase, dead stock. From the very necessities of the case there must be many books that will be called for only at great inter- vals, while others never have a friendly con- sultation. But, aside from these, libraries will often have works of great practical value that are standing idle, because it is not generally known that the library possesses them. There may be a choice lot of works on electricity, a rare collection on ceramics, a fine selection ot engravings, representative works in the various industrial arts ; the call for them not being popular and large, they might be brought to the notice of a larger constituency by calling the attention of certain readers to them, or by sending a polite invitation to some manufact- uring firms, to some professional electricians, or to art schools and scientific schools. Periodicals, before the days of Poolers Index, were sealed books. Libraries have been won- derfully expanded where this index is used. Further cooperation in this direction, as planned by the Cooperative Committee, should receive hearty encouragement. The books of a library may be further enlarged in their use by publishing, on the library bulletin, the works in the library that illustrate important events, after the admirable plan initiated by Mr. Fos- ter, of Providence. If the librarian has not the time at his com- mand to read he has rare opportunities for reading character; and to be on good terms with his varied constituency he will have to be like St. Paul, all things to all men. He must be polite, accommodating, possess his soul in patience, and be unselfish in his devotion to his readers. Generally, his contact with his constituency will be pleasant and agreeable, but he will have to deal with certain typical characters that will vex and fret him. There is the rummager, who snarls at all catalogues, and wants the freedom of the library, not for studious research, but to gratify his bookish propensity. " Five minutes with authors " is his watchword. 34 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. The crank, who has been defined as a person with an idea, without brains to carry it out, is a frequenter of libraries. His inquiries are for what the library does not possess. This affords him a text for lecturing the librarian and the managers. If the librarian's senti- ments are not in accord with that idea of his he threatens to expose him in the newspapers. The curiosity-hunter is another representa- tive reader. He is brother to the rummager, but he does not despise catalogues. They ex- hibit the oddities of the library, at least the odd titles, such as Luther's " Vagabonds and Beggars," The Foundling Hospital for Wit," or "The History of the Tread-mill." He passes quickly from one to the other, gleaning here and there till curiosity is satiated. Another reader helps the librarian materially in his statistics ; if he calls for one book he calls for an armful. The subject he is investi- gating may require all the light the library can focus upon it ; but he disposes of his armful so quickly that the query is, by what alchemy knowledge is appropriated so rapidly. It must be put to the credit of this age. The intelligent tramp is another habitid of libraries. He is sometimes a desultory reader, sometimes he is a specialist, and he investigates with a profound air the most difficult problems ; but that is as far as he goes. He is constitu- tionally lazy. He has some love for literature and science, but a far more appreciative love of leisure. He does nothing, produces noth- ing- Then there are walking encyclopaedias. You cannot name any author or work that they have not an acquaintance with. They can talk glibly on any subject ; they absorb like sponges, but they give out nothing. They have a passion for reading ; but they either do not, or will not, make their knowledge available to others. The colored man who not long since applied to me for something on the tooth- ache, as he was to deliver a lecture upon this interesting topic, was not of this non-productive class. If his monogram has been published it will be a good book for close classification. The librarian who feels the obligations of his position realizes that his influence as an educator is far-reaching, telling effectively upon the community in which he lives, and destined to extend far down the years to come. It be- comes him, therefore, to fully equip himself for his work, and to give to his constituents the results of his ripest experience and his most unselfish attention. KING AQUILA'S LIBRARY: A SEQUEL TO CLASSIFICATION." KING LEO'S BY J. SCHWARTZ, LIBRARIAN, NEW YORK APPRENTICES' LIBRARY. 1 TOUCH of my hearers as had the pleasure [_O of listening to an account of " King Leo's Classification " at our last annual meet- ing are aware that Dr. Owl, Professor of Natural History at the University of Science in Aquilia, had been sent by his royal master 'Mr. WM. F. POOLE, President of American Library Association : The manner in which the enclosed MS. came into my possession is so extraordinary that I feel that some ex- planation is due to the Association before offering it for perusal. You may have noticed that I was frequently absent from the interesting, but somewhat too numerous, discus- sions at the last Librarians' Conference. The explanation on an important scientific mission to the coun- try of King Leo. The historian who favored us with an account of the learned doctor's ex- pedition neglected to state the precise object of his investigation. We are fortunately in a position to supply this information. A little is simple: I was perfecting myself in the Language of Birds, for the study of which the charming island on which we were located offered unusual facilities. Thanks to my untiring efforts, I am now, I flatter myself, quite an adept. It was, therefore, easy for me to decipher and translate the curious and instructive history that I have been fortuuately able to secure in time for this conference. But to proceed with my story. At 3 o'clock, precisely, on Tuesday afternoon, on April SCHWARTZ. 35 bird, with whom we are intimately acquainted, states positively that Dr. Owl was only one of many scientists who had been sent to all parts of the earth to find out and definitely deter- mine, if possible, the natural order of things, with the view of applying the knowledge thus gained to the arrangement and classification of the books in the Aquila Free Public Library. From the same reliable source we have obtained a full stenographic report of the meeting at which this subject was discussed. The king was unfortunate in not being able to avail himself of Dr. Owl's investigations. It seems that the learned scientist was prepar- ing an essay " On the Cause of the Reflex Action of the Muscles of the Hoof, with Espe- cial Reference to the Mule," which he intended to read at the next meeting of the University 1st last, as I was taking my daily constitutional, I halted in front of the sombre pile formerly known as the New York Reservoir, on whose ruins the ex-aldermanic presi- dent, Mr. Sanger, proposed to erect the future great li- brary of the metropolis, which scheme was then being bit- terly and (unfortunately) successfully opposed by certain New York librarians. By a natural association of ideas the proximity of the water-works suggested the propriety of resting for a few moments under its protecting walls, to drop a silent tear for the ruined prospects of the great Might Have Been. My meditations were rudely interrupted by a sudden fall of some heavy substance, which narrowly missed grazing my nose. On looking up to ascertain the cause of the disturbance I perceived a small bird perched on the top of the reservoir, who was evidently the culprit. I had not yet examined the missile, and, not wishing to meet with the fate of Tobit (especially as angels are rather scarce nowadays), I concluded that it would be pru- dent to beat a hasty retreat. Besides, I never did like fish anyway; and 1 think the breed that cured the venerable patriarch has died out long ago. But you may bet I was furious, and, when at a safe distance, I immediately pro- ceded to upbraid the unmannerly little rascal. " Is it weakness of intellect, Birdie? " I cried, when I was interrupted in my philippic by a shrill peal of laughter from the supposed delinquent. On inspecting him more closely, I was surprised and delighted to rind that he was my old friend and instructor, A. Blackbird, Esq., in whose company I had spent so many happy hours at Lake George. "It's all right, old boy," he said. " No need of getting excited. I threw that little package on purpose. I know you are gone on classification, so I've brought you some interesting reading. It's a full account of the big meeting we had on the Aquila Free Public Library. All the classification fellows had a ch;mce to let themselves out for all they were worth. But you ought to have seen our King Aquila go for them ! I tell you it's the big head he's got. There are no flies on him, and you bet he under- of Science. He had elaborated an ingenious theory, and only needed to verify it by some practical experiments on the mule. These he attempted to make while in King Leo's domin- ions ; but an unfortunate accident which befell him during these experiments so disabled him as to require his absence from the discussion, of which we have now the pleasure of submit- ting a verbatim report.] KING AQUILA'S ADDRESS. At the University of Science, on the I3th day of the month of Incubation, in the I3th year of his gracious majesty King Aquila, the meeting on the Free Public Library was opened by his majesty, who spoke as follows : " Moved by the entreaties of many of our loving subjects, and by the advice of our coun- slands his biz. So long; I must go back to the library. They have got my system in use there, as you will see by the report." On examining my find I discovered that it consisted of a number of strips of bark, with innnumerable characters traced on them in the Aquilian language. This language has a pronounced resemblance to Alwato, but the char- acters are quite different. They look very much like " crow-tracks." Even the name of the language has a slight resemblance to that of the future universal speech. It is called " Alsamee-Aquihi." But I must reserve a more detailed explanation of this curious language for a paper I am preparing for the American Philological Society, and proceed to give some account of the subject discussed. The strips of bark seem to contain an ex- planation, by the inventors themselves, of nine widely different systems of classification, with the running com- ments of King Aquila, who appears to have been well versed in bibliography. What struck me as particularly remarkable was the close resemblance these schemes bore to some of our best known Anglo-American systems of classifications. But when I came to consider that, as Stephen Pearl Andrews says, each department of nature is an echo or repetition of every other, the mystery was explained at once. On looking over some other parts of the package, that. I have not thought it necessary to translate, I found that there had recently been considerable discussion on " close classification " in Aquilia. It seems that method of ar- ranging books had fallen into " innocuous desuetude " in consequence of the arguments of certain critics whom the advocates of " close classification " stigmatized as " offen- sive partisans." I may some day reproduce the whole discussion, but sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. This explanation is already so long that it is time to bring it to a close. Let us, therefore, hear what the Dicky birds say. Very truly yours, J. SCHWARTZ. MIL WA UKEE CONFERENCE. sellers, we have determined to establish a Free Public Library, and, as we desire the said library to reflect honor on us and on our realm, we have sent our ambassadors to all the kingdoms of the earth to inquire in what manner and after what order the books may be best arranged. We have also caused those of our loving subjects who have made a study of these matters to appear before us and explain their methods that we may, if possible, profit thereby. It is our pleasure that the Professor of Dreams give us his views." LIBRARIES MUST BE ARRANGED BY SPECIAL- ISTS. Prof. Bendix. May it please your majesty, I have carefully examined all the latest schemes for classifying books, and I reject them all. You will hardly believe it; but I assure you that not one of them arranges the science of dreams in the order that the learned Stickle- back says is correct. I have arranged my own library, which is mainly composed of books on dreams, on this system, and I find it works very nicely. I like this plan, because I have studied it, and understand it. My opinion, therefore, is, that the books in each grand de- partment be arranged according to the views of the latest recognized specialist therein. When this is done your system is complete. Nothing can be simpler. King Aquila. Is there not danger that some of these departments may overlap, and the same subject be in more than one? Prof. Bendix. It is true that a few other departments have some of the books we have. Thus, the Professor of Unreason has, I believe, works on the Philosophy of Dreams, and other similar topics. The Professor of Events has books on the History of False Dreams, and even, if I mistake not, on the History of True Dreams ; and there may be other similar cases of duplication ; but as we cannot possibly elucidate our science without these books it is evident that they belong to us alone. Here there was a loud clamor, the professors all speaking at once, and protesting that the claim was absurd, as the books in question plainly belonged in their departments, inas- much as they could not get along without them. When the king, by a wave of his hand, had imposed silence, Mr. Decimus arose and said : THE CRAZY-QUILT SYSTEM. Mr. Decimus. The principle of my friend Bendix is all right, he merely errs in its appli- cation. I have myself devised a plan, based on the idea he advocates, which has been much admired. People come miles to see it. I call it the Crazy-Quilt System, and the way I de- vised it was this : In our college there are pro- fessors of everything ; so I got each one to make a classification of his specialty. Now, I have discovered that no method of arranging books can be a success unless the main and sub-de- partments are uniformly divided by tens. By getting your raw material from the professors, arranging the departments and subdivisions in their natural order, and then by lengthening or shortening make them fit in the scheme of tens, you have the perfect system. If there are sub- jects that appear in more than one specialist's list you must put them where they will do the most good, that is, where they will best fit in your scheme of tens. King Aquila. I suppose your reason for making each division just 10 is to have a sort of proportion in your classes so that they will be equal in their growth. Mr. Decimus. The main thing is to have the classes just 10, neither more nor less. If any of the classes need subdivision you can make as many new ones as you please by a method I have discovered, which consists, of simply adding, at the end of the class to be di- vided, one of the 10 digits. By this system we have already made some 50,000 new heads, and our library is not half arranged as yet. Inasmuch as you can use as many figures as you please, the plan is practically limitless. One of the many valuable features of my system is its mnemonic or suggestive character. Each number is used for a distinct purpose. Thus, for example, the figure 5, when followed by a 9, means an eastern country. If the 9 precede it means a western country. If there be a 6 after 9 it means the theory or philosophy of the subject, whereas 5 following 6 shows that the section in question is devoted to the history SCHWARTZ. 37 of the said class. By the same simple method almost every figure is invested with a particular significance. Hence, by combining these figures, as we must do in forming subdivisions, we are able to use the scheme as an Organon of discovery. We not only make new classes out of old ones, but we discover subjects that are entirely absent from other systems. For ex- ample, 68,294 is our symbol for the Palaeozoic period, and 98,364 is the way we indicate lives of Italian organ-grinders. If we combine the two thus, 6,829,498,364, we have a scientifi- cally precise place for the biographies of all Italian organ-grinders of the Palaeozoic period. Another example of the astonishing power of our figures must suffice for this branch of the subject. 9,321,874 is our simple mnemonic symbol for the 99th Assyrian dynasty, and 956,789 represents Kalamazoo. By combining the two thus, 9,321,874,956,789, any facts that may be discovered relating to the history of Kalamazoo during that early period can be in- stantly classified. Of course some of the smaller public libraries will not need these minute divisions. They are more particularly intended for special and extensive collections, and are merely instanced to show how handy it is to have such classes if they should be needed. Another advantage of our method of number- ing is that the notation does not present that monotonous regularity which is so displeasing to a cultivated taste. On the contrary there is endless variety. Class 98 may be followed by 99,672, this by 9,968, and this again by 999. Hence I call my notation the zigzag method. King Aqitila. It seems to us that you lose all the symmetry of your arrangement by tens if you keep tacking on figures at the end of your classes. It also occurs to us that it must require a wonderful memory for your assistants or students to find their way about in the end- less maze of divisions and subdivisions. Mr. Decimus. We have provided for that difficulty by a device which is the most valuable feature of my system. We make a list of all our subjects with their numbers, and if any one wants a book, or a class of books, we look in our list for the name of the subject, and we know at once where we have shelved it. All new subjects that arise, or that we discover by our method, we put them on the list. If we didn't they surely would be missed. King Aquila. A difficulty occurs to us in connection with your method of subdividing classes that are too full. Suppose 1,000 books in Class 623 are numbered I to 1,000, and you make ten new classes by adding figures to 623, will it not be necessary to renumber all these thousand books? Mr. Decimus. Not at all. You merely add the class figure and leave the book numbers as they were, filling up the blanks created by the transfers whenever you can. King Aquila. But you thereby destroy the meaning Q{ the book numbers. 623.10 meant the loth book in Class 623. But if you change this to 6231.10 the latter number has no meaning at all, least of all does it mean the lothbook in the new class. But the principal difficulty -still remains. Whether you change the book num- ber, or the class number, or both at the same time, it is absolutely necessary to indicate this change in every list or catalogue, printed or written, where the original number was men- tioned. This implies thousands of alterations. Mr. Decimus. I must confess that this is a difficult problem to solve at present, but we are making experiments, with satisfactory results, which I will lay before your majesty when com- pleted. King Aquila. As we wish to start right at first we cannot wait for these results ; but will call upon Prof. Sector, who, we understand, has a scheme that overcomes all difficulties. THE PERFECT SYSTEM. Prof. Sector. Your majesty is right in say- ing that my system solves all difficulties. I begin by remarking that I agree with Mr. Decimus that there should be a certain fixed number to start with. His mistake is in sup- posing this number to be 10. I have discovered that it is 35, and I have an unanswerable argument to prove that this alone is the perfect number. It is well known that there are, tak- ing large and small together, just 70 countries in the world. Now, you cannot number 70 with 10 figures. But if we divide them and call the first 35 "A," and the second 35 " B," the thing is done. By a remarkable coincidence I have MIL WA UKEE CONFERENCE. also discovered that the primary natural classes are just 35, and not 10, as Mr. Decimus sup- poses, who is likewise mistaken as to their order. Now, if you invent a series of signs that amount to just 35, you have a method of marking a great many books with a few symbols. Mr. Decimus has been fortunate enough to invent such a numbering base, and I have adopted it. It is simplicity itself; you merely use the 9 figures and the 25 letters interchange- ably. Thus, 10 is expressed by "A," 35 by "Z," and 36 by " n." Consequently 19 does not mean nineteen, but 44. It is a little con- fusing at first, but one can be educated up to it. King Aquila. Would it not be possible to combine, in one class, some of the unimpor- tant countries about which few or no books have been written, rather than invent a new and difficult mode of notation? Prof. Sector. No, your majesty ; that would not answer at all. It is a fundamental maxim with me that every subject, big or little, must have its own number. If there are more than 35 subjects in a division it is easy to add a figure, or letter, or both ; so that it is always easy to provide for as many subdivisions as may be needed. I argue this way : the object of a classification is to find all the books of the same kind in one place. Now, how can you find them in one place if two or more subjects are put together? I have, therefore, provided, or intend to provide, for my system is not yet fully worked out, a place for every variety of animal, plant, and mineral ; for every king that ever reigned ; and for every person whose life has been, or may be, written. For exam- ple, your majesty no doubt remembers that the priests of Khemi read to a visiting historian the names of 330 kings who, they said, had reigned in that country. It is true we do not know what their names were, or what they did, but their names may be discovered. We may even unearth papyri covering their reigns. In so important a matter we cannot afford to leave anything to chance. The most serious conse- quences might result, if, say loo years hence, the histories of the reign of Ra Mentuhotep XIV. were mixed up with those of his prede- cessor Ra Sahotep XXII. King Aquila. How do you arrange the separate books remaining after your final di- visions ? Prof. Sector. That is the most beautiful part of my system, and I am sure your majesty will be pleased with it. I first divide the books into four sizes. Then in each size I arrange alphabetically by authors. Then their separate works alphabetically by themselves. Then the separate editions in strict chronological order. Then the translations in the alphabetical order of the languages. Then, finally, the individual translators alphabetically by their names. I have a set of signs to indicate all these dis- tinctions. It is very ingenious and very sim- ple when you once understand it. To know in which size to find a book I use a dot between the class number and the book number. By varying the thickness or position of this dot you know at once which size is meant. W T hen my library is finally arranged say in twenty or thirty years more I intend to separate the books into four parallel libraries: (i) Books bound in morocco ; (2) those in large type ; (3) those with less than 100 pages ; and (4) the other books. Special signs will show which library is meant. King Aquila. You seem to be a little in- consistent in making it a fundamental principle that each subject should be in one place only and then proposing to put it in 16. Do not your readers and attendants experience some difficulty in finding the books if all these fine distinctions are carried out? It also occurs to us that your numbers cannot be given verbally on account of the size dots, and that, even when written, there may be danger of mis- takes. Prof. Sector. This will all be provided for, your majesty. It is true that some of my read- ers complain that they cannot find the books without assistance ; but I tell them that a per- fect system can only be appreciated as a whole. When it is all worked out it will be perfectly clear and simple, that is, of course, after some preliminary study. Meanwhile, however, I have provided abundant helps. In the first place there is a map showing where each grand department is. Then in each department there are different-colored cards to show the location SCHWARTZ. 39 of each class, the beginning of each size, and so on. By consulting the map and following the cards there are not more than loo in each class you can get any book at once, provided you know its size, what particular edition it is; and whether it has less than 100 pages, is printed in large type, or is bound in morocco. It has been frequently objected that my nota- tion is complicated and hard to be understood. The charge is absurd. Why, the other day, a new boy was hired, and I wanted him to get a book for me. After merely consulting the map and less than a dozen guide cards I pointed out the shelf where the book was, and the boy got it without any serious difficulty. Surely a method must be simple that allows a raw, un- trained boy to get a book so easily ! King Aquila. Your system is certainly very ingenious, but we fear it is planned on too large a scale for our purpose. As we intend to start with only 50,000 volumes, we should not need so many classes as your system re- quires. Prof. Sector. That difficulty is easily over- come. You can begin by using as few classes as you want, and then adding the others as they are needed. King Aquila. But the difficulty remains of changing the numbers of the separate books when we have added these classes and put the books in new places. Prof. Sector. The difficulty does not exist in my system. It does, I know, in nearly all other plans, because the separate books are usually numbered arbitrarily. My method I call it so because I have improved on the original idea is to arrange and number alphabetically. All you need to do then is to add a sign for the new class ; the book numbers will remain as before. King Aquila. This seems plausible, but still a difficulty remains. The alteration of the class will require a corresponding correction in all the catalogues to show where the new places are. It seems to us this involves great labor, and we fear the time could hardly be spared in a busy public library. Prof. Sector. It might prove somewhat in- convenient in a public library, but where there is plenty of help and few readers, as is the case with us, the difficulty is not serious and can be overcome in time. King Aquila. We thank you for the lucid explanation of your system, and regret that we cannot use it, as it is not yet sufficiently worked out. Your object is certainly sublime, and we trust you may achieve it in time. We will now hear from Mr. Forgenus. THE REASONABLE SYSTEM. Mr. Forgenus. May it please your majesty, I am no believer in the necessity for having a particular number to begin with, whether 10 or 35, or any other number. I don't see the sense or need of it. I use as many numbers as I want, neither more nor less. Looked at in this common-sense way the problem of classi- fication is very easy of solution. All you need to do is to find out how many primary and sub- ordinate subjects there are, make a list of them in their order, and then number them from No. i to the end, and your system is made. For future subjects that may arise I leave blank numbers, here and there, sometimes 50, or 100, or 500, as the case may be. Here you have a system that a child can understand : a complete enumeration of all known subjects, arranged in their natural order, and a separate number for each. What more can be desired ? By the way, I would call attention to the fact, that my natural order is not the same as that of Mr. Decimus or Prof. Sector. I suspect they have allowed their " personal equation" to mislead them. It is a sad thing to have a " personal equation." King Aquila. If you uniformly give one number to every subject, and some subjects have large literatures and others small ones, in the former case you will get very high numbers for your books. Mr. Forgenus. Oh, that difficulty doesn't bother me at all ! Numbers are cheap, and I use as many as I want. King Aquila. The difficulty is still worth overcoming, if possible, as long numbers take longer to write, are more liable to error, and take up more of the time of the clerks and public. Mr. Forgenus. Well, I don't have to write the numbers, so the public and the clerks can fight it out among themselves. But, if your 4 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. idea is to have short numbers, you want to get the " Oyster System." I am most familiar with it, and therefore think it is the best. I don't at all like the "Nomad System " of Mr. Deci- mus, which is in use in my library. It was in- troduced before I got there, and I can't change it now. The constant shifting of the books about once every five years, that this plan re- quires, seems to me all wrong. A book should have one fixed place, never liable to be changed, and it has it on the " Oyster System." For a small library, such as yours will be to begin with, you don't need many divisions ; 40 will do very well. The main thing is to keep books of the same size together, number each volume. to a particular shelf, and then any one can find it when it is needed. The catalogue will give all needful information on any subject. King Aquila. Your idea of a permanent place for every book has much to commend it, but we hear that it is difficult to carry out for any length of time. What do you intend to do when the space you have allowed for a particu- lar subject is full, or what method of relief do you offer when a subject reaches a thousand volumes ? 40 divisions for 40,000 volumes seem hardly enough. Mr. Forgenus. Well, when that time comes you can rearrange the library. New cata- logues will have to be printed occasionally any- way, and you can renumber the books every time you print one say once in every ten years. King Aquila. We much dislike this con- stant renumbering. The worst form of " No- mad " arrangement seems to us far better. Besides, if you renumber and shift your books every ten years you not only commit the very error you condemn in Mr. Decimus's system, but you add to it, for his plan does not neces- sarily imply change of numbers. Another objection is this. All the readers who bought catalogues before the change will be compelled to buy new ones. The objection may seem trivial, but the public would not like it. As we have now heard from the East and the West we should be pleased if some representa- tive from the South would enlighten us on these knotty questions. If Prof. Faber is present we shall listen with pleasure to his views. THE PREHISTORIC SYSTEM. Prof. Faber. Some men become librarians ; others are forced to be such because they have failed in literature or art ; but I was born so. I therefore naturally admire old things. I think Mr. Forgenus has expressed the true principle of arranging books, viz., to use as many figures as you need. The mistake he makes is in re- quiring classification at all. Now, our library is the oldest in the country, and the arrange- ment begun 100 years ago is as good to-day as then, and will be as good 100 years hence as it is now. We simply arrange the books in three sizes, calling the first L (little size) ; the second, M (middle size) ; and the third, B (big size) ; and then number each book, in each size, in regular order, as it is received. We have a catalogue that tells us just what number every book has, so we can easily get any. one we want. King Aquila. Your plan is certainly sim- plicity itself; but itjseems to us there must be some advantage in having books of a kind to- gether, to a certain extent at least. If you have 100,000 volumes in your library, and a man wants 10 books on the same subject, your plan requires considerable running about from one end of the library to the other to get them. THE FROGLAND SCHEME, WITH VOWEL AT- TACHMENTS. Prof. Faber. The difficulty your majesty mentions has also occurred to me as a possible objection. I have therefore devised a plan of arranging by subjects, that seems to me, on the whole, better than the systems just explained by my friends. The principle I go on in my plan is this : anything that is old is better than what is new. As before stated, I naturally admire old things ; they are safer. Our library, for instance, is old, and I am myself an old librarian ; and even the scheme I am about to unfold is not mine, strictly speaking, but is an old one, in use for hundreds of years in Frog- land, which, as you all know, is a very old country. Its leading idea is to arrange all knowledge in 5 grand divisions, in the natu- ral order of the different sciences. By the way, none of the schemes just explained is quite correct in claiming to have this natural order. SCHWARTZ. 4 1 My improvement on the Frogland scheme con- sists mainly in an ingenious system of notation that I have devised to fit it for practical use. There are five departments, and five seems to me to be a perfect number. We have five senses, each foot has five toes, and each hand five fingers, and there are five vowels. We begin, therefore, by giving a vowel to each department. We then subdivide each depart- ment by lower-case letters. Further subdivi- sions are made by figures, using as many as I need. For certain occult reasons, that I am not at liberty to divulge at present, I omit the first three signs for figures and substitute in their place the cross, the square, and the pyramid, the elements, in fact, of all form. If this system should be considered as a founda- tion for the perfect system that is, doubtless, still to be established, I shall die happy. King Aquila. While we are greatly in- debted to you for your explanation we must confess that we do not precisely understand the raison d^tre of your system, nor what it proposes to accomplish. Perhaps our lack of comprehension is due to the fact that we are not old enough. Now, let us hear from Mr. Populus, who has, we hear, charge of one of the largest and best-selected libraries in our dominions. THE ABC SYSTEM. Mr. Populus. I do not pretend to know anything about systems of arranging books, as I have never studied them. The system in use in my library was not devised by me, but it works admirably, and I do not wish for any better. We improve on Prof. Faber's idea of discarding classification by dispensing even with numbers. Our books are arranged entirely in alphabetical order, by authors' names, and we have no trouble in finding any book we want. King Aquila. Your plan has certain ad- vantages as a secondary principle ; but to arrange the whole library in one unbroken alphabetical series involves the same objection found against Prof. Faber's first plan of one unbroken series of numbers. A number seems to us also desirable for charging books, and to readily find particular editions. Mr. Populus. I should have stated that we do not arrange our books in one unbroken series, but in three, viz., (i) The popular books, (2) The unpopular books, and (3) The epi- leptic, or those that appear by fits and starts. Our arrangement is, therefore, not open, in the same degree as that of Prof. Faber, to the objection that it causes useless running about. King Aquila. If you find it useful to subdivide your books at all, whether into 3 or 33 divisions, you admit the validity of classification, and prove that a purely alpha- betical arrangement is not practicable. It is merely a question of degree as to how many classes are to be admitted, and, as we have already had sufficient testimony on " close classification," we should like to hear a word or two from the advocates of moderate classifica- tion. Dr. Utilis, we understand, has arranged a very large library on this plan, and we should be glad to have him explain his method. THE UTILITARIAN SYSTEM. Dr. Utilis. There has been a good deal of truth and a good deal of error in the views expounded before your majesty. Some of the schemes explained seem to me to carry their subdivision of classes altogether beyond the point of utility. Utility, as I understand it, means 200 classes, and not 50,000. The perfect number is neither 5, 10, nor 35, but just 22, because I have ascertained that all knowledge can be reduced to that number of primary de- partments. If we, therefore, arrange them in their natural order, which, by the way, none of the preceding systems has succeeded in dis- covering, we can use nearly the whole alpha- bet to designate them. I exclude I, Q, V, and X on philological grounds. The sub-classes I form by means of the lower-case letters, using these, however, scatteringly, thus : a, c, e, g, etc. I do this to leave room for any possible future class not provided for in my scheme, and to subdivide existing classes. Should the blanks be filled we can call the new class M*, M D , or M A , and there are other methods. I agree with Mr. Populus as to the advantages of an alphabetical arrangement by authors, but I differ from him in two particulars: (i) I use it as a secondary principle, as your majesty suggested, under each class ; and (2) I combine MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. the subject and author arrangement by means of a table of 9,999 numbers, divided into 500 alphabetical combinations. This allows 20 numbers for each author combination. It is true an author may write more than 20 works, but that is not my lookout. My _ system re- quires that no author should exceed this number, and I trust that my wishes will be respected. King Aquila. Is this table of numbers you speak of original, or has it been used before? Dr. Utilis. Strictly speaking it is not original ; but I have adopted it, with some improvements of my own, and have found it a very useful device. There is one feature in this table that I do not exactly understand ; but, having found it in the original, I did not venture to change it. It seems that the numbers are not apportioned equally. Some letters have more and others less. I have, however, made a valuable discovery. It has become clear to me that instead of there being more writers beginning with S and M than with K or N, as appears to be the case when we confine our observations to works of fact, when we come to works of fiction there are invariably 1,000 au- thors in each letter who all agreed to write just 1,000 works each. Why this should be so I cannot exactly explain ; but my system requires it, so it must necessarily be true. By the simple expedient of omitting the class letter, on the well-known principle of " lucus a non lucendo" and using the initials of authors in its stead, I can mark 12,000,000 works of fiction with only 9 characters (including the volume and duplicate sign). The class symbol, of course, shines only through its absence. King Aquila. Your plan of leaving blanks for subdivided classes we have already com- mented on. As regards the two portions into which you divide your scheme, fact and fic- tion, we cannot understand why it should be necessary to change the proportion of numbers in each letter in the latter case. The same rule should hold good in both cases. Alto- gether, we like your plan greatly, and we will consider it more fully should no better one be offered. The East, the West, and the South have been well represented. Is there any one here who will tell us what the North is doing in the way of classification? THE SING-SONG SYSTEM. Dr. Eruditus. May it please your majesty, it is curious that no one should have seized upon the true method of nomenclature until the plan I am about to unfold happily occurred to me. It is clear that signs for books are not only written, but may be used vocally. The first principle is, therefore, that the symbols must be capable of being articulated. Words are possible only by combining consonants and vowels ; hence it follows that the nomenclature must be syllabic, that is, pronounceable. The preceding speaker was, therefore, quite right in confining the signs to designate classes to let- ters only. The mistake he made was in using such unpronounceable combinations as Rg, Rl, and Sr. The notation of my friend, Mr. Deci- mus, appears to me to be altogether too simple in its structure, whilst that of Prof. Sector is, to my thinking, far too complex. A happy medium is afforded by using letters alone in such a way that they form euphonious sounds. It is true these words, if I may so call them, convey no meaning whatever, but they can be pronounced ; and that is, after all, the main thing. I have also discovered that it is much easier to write ten letters that form words than three figures. Why this should be so I am unable to explain ; but the fact affords a powerful argument in favor of my system. The nomenclature is, however, merely inci- dental. My great discovery is this : Prof. Faber was altogether wrong in using the five vowels as the basis of his whole scheme. The fact is, they belong exclusively to the historical sciences, because there are, if I may so express myself, just five quarters of that department of knowledge. Thus, A can be used for Aquila land; E, for the Effete Despotisms; I, for the Islands ; O, for the Old Countries ; and U, for the Unclassified. The scheme is mnemonic, to a certain extent : vowels for history, and con- sonants for the other books, and each vowel ex- pressing the initial of the particular branch of history. Now, by adding these vowel classes, and their subdivisions, to the consonant classes SCHWARTZ. 43 we can show the particular geographical or his- torical development of a science. For example : FUNY signifies Humor, Satire, Wit, etc., and Ojiji means Senegambia ; hence, a Senegambia Joe Miller would be numbered FuNY-Ojljl. On the other hand, suppose we desire to keep together all the books relating to a country in any aspect, we simply reverse the method. Thus, Ojiji-FuNY would, as before, designate a store- house of Senegambian chestnuts ; OjlJi-MuNKY would be a work on Senegambian Simia; OJIJI-JAWY, a codification of its statutes; while Ojiji-CuKY would represent a treatise on its Domestic economy. The beauty of the system is that either method can be followed according to circumstances. This power of variation has induced the editor of the " Aquila- Bookist " to pronounce my system to be " the most remarkable ever invented." King Aqtiila. I suppose your consonant classes are arranged on the same principle as the vowel classes, that is, mnemonically accord- ing to the initials of their names? - Dr. Eruditus. No ; the idea had occurred to me, but I was led to abandon it when I found some one else had anticipated me. Be- sides, the best authorities are agreed that there is nothing in it. The consonant classes are arranged in the natural order of the subjects. This is the only true order that will satisfy a cultivated taste. Many systems claim to have discovered what this natural order is ; but I am confident none have attained it except mine. Furthermore, it won't do to make our methods too simple. I am quite willing to admit that it would be easier to find books if the mnemo- nic (or alphabetical) arrangement of classes were carried out consistently ; but is there not something higher required of a system than the mere convenience of readers and attend- ants? That seems to be reducing the whole problem to a purely practical question, and loses sight of the educational value of a scien- tific classification. What does the juxtaposi- tion of Medicine and Novels teach ? Absolutely nothing! On the other hand, if we place Medi- cine, as we logically should, immediately before Useful arts, or is it Mental science (I can't for the moment tell which) ? the educational value of the Association is apparent at once. King Aquila. As most of the readers in a public library are debarred from access to the shelves, the educational value of the mere juxtaposition of certain classes must be very small, even admitting that it exists. But your scheme appears to us inconsistent in that it is neither logical nor mnemonic. If your mne- monic arrangement is best for history there is no reason in the world why it should not work just as well in science. And, if the logical order be best for science, then it ought to apply equally well to history. As to your idea of making the signs for classes euphonious words, we deem it a principle of doubtful value. The main objection to it is that it unneces- sarily multiplies signs. We should greatly pre- fer a method that reduces the symbols required to a minimum. As your plan increases them we are afraid it will not work. Is there any one present who has made a study of the best method of economizing shelf-marks ? SYSTEMS OF BOOK CLASSIFICATION AND BOOK NUMBERING MUST BE BASED ON THE BOOKS THEMSELVES. A. Blackbird. May it please your majesty, my predecessor was afraid that the problem of classification might be reduced to a purely practical question. I am of the opinion that it admits of solution on no other basis. At least I propose to consider it from that stand- point alone, and see what will come of it. Be- fore stating the conclusions I have arrived at, by a purely practical examination and study of the subject, I will sum up the results arrived at by the preceding discussion : First. All the various systems explained to your majesty are reducible to three typical forms: (i) The Numerical, (2) the Alphabet- ical, and (3) the Classified. Second. Neither of the first two systems is adequate to meet the requirements of a library when used as a sole principle of arrangement. Third. But they are both necessary as sec- ondary principles of a classified arrangement ; the alphabetical arrangement being necessary to readily find individual books, and the nu- merical arrangement to preserve the combina- tion of the classified and the alphabetical sys- tems, and to quickly find particular editions. 44 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. Hence a perfect scheme must combine the three. Fourth. To change or. alter a book-number introduces confusion and waste of labor ; hence the numbers must be permanent, although the flace of the book may be changed. Fifth. Consequently the scheme must be complete at the beginning, and cannot depend on hap-hazard future tinkering or " adjust- ment to local requirements." It being conceded that classification is to be the leading principle, there are only three points that require to be settled, and these are : (A) The number of classes ; (B) The order of the classes, and (C) The system of notation. I shall briefly consider each of these heads in order : A. The Number of Classes. A good deal of the confusion of ideas sur- rounding this part of our subject is due to the fact that the Deductive, instead of the Inductive, method has been followed. As the things to be classified are books it would seem the most natural course to pursue to ex- amine their characteristics and peculiarities, and base our system on these actual facts rather than make the facts bend to an a priori theory. Now, one of the first facts, visible even to the naked eye of the most short- sighted librarian, is this : Books are of differ- ent sizes, from the Liliputian 64 up to the gigantic Elephant folio. Unless we adopt a heroic mode of treating this difficulty, and make all our shelves at least thirty inches high, we must graduate them to accommodate these physical inequalities. Consequently works on the same subject may be on different shelves according to the size of the book. Hence it fol- lows that a range is the limit of classification, and that any attempt at a " closer " classifica- tion is a contradiction of terms. To determine how many classes are needed in a library we, therefore, need to know only these two facts: (i) How many books will go in a range (or class), and (2) What is the total number of books to be classified ? A li- brary with ranges high enough, or long enough, to contain 1,000 volumes each, could have only one class for every thousand, or part of a thou- sand, volumes. If the ranges were smaller the number of possible classes would, of course, be correspondingly increased. A range small enough to hold only 100 volumes would permit 10 classes for every 1,000 volumes. It will thus be seen at once that the whole question is a purely practical one, and that we cannot stir a step in the matter until we settle the two pre- liminary questions : (i) The dimensions of the range and (2) the total number of books to be classified. As regards the first point it will, I think, be generally conceded that unless the library can secure professional gymnasts as assistants, it will be better to avoid a construction of its shelves that requires the use of steps or lad- ders. In other words, a range should not be higher than seven feet. The length should avoid two things : it should not fatigue the eye nor bend the shelf by the weight of the books. Let us say that four feet be the maximum length. A range of these dimensions would allow for about seven shelves, graded to fit the most pronounced differences of size, and each shelf would hold about 30 volumes ; hence a range would average, say 200 volumes. As regards the second point the number of volumes to be classified the difficulty con- sists in providing for future accessions. We must fix upon some limit. But, it may be asked, why determine upon some arbitrary number at all ? Why not devise a scheme that will permit the library to grow indefinitely? The answer to this is that knowledge is con- tinually changing. The classifications based on the knowledge of 100 years ago would be almost useless for the students of to-day. And it is more than probable that the classifications of to-day will be equally useless 100 years hence. At the same time we cannot reorganize our li- brary to square with every correction of knowl- edge. If we, therefore, select loo years as the extreme limit of the life of a system of classifi- cation, we are, I think, making a very liberal allowance. How many volumes is a library likely to reach at its centennial? If we put the average annual increase at 10,000 volumes and there are but few libraries that add more a library might reach a million volumes be- fore it would need entire reorganization and SCHWARTZ. 45 reclassification. To be perfectly safe let us suppose that we have made an error of 50 per cent, in our calculations, and put the average increase at 20,000 volumes, our maximum will then be 2,000,000 volumes. Consequently, if the minimum number of volumes to a range (or class) is 200, it follows that the highest number of classes possible in 2,000,000 vol- umes is 10,000. But even this number is much too high, for these reasons: (i) Because it assumes that no class will exceed 200 volumes. (2) Because it assumes that knowledge is susceptible of a di- vision into 10,000 equally proportioned classes. While this is true of one portion of knowledge, viz. : books arranged by subjects, it is not true of another portion, viz. : books arranged accord- ing to their literary or other form. In the for- mer case the number of possible subdivisions is practically limitless. In the latter case we can only subdivide the classes or departments into minor forms to a limited extent. (3) Be- cause a scheme to be of any practical value ought to be short enough to be memorized : a list of 10,000 classes would have to be supple- mented by an index, with its two possible sins of omission of necessary topics and inclusion of superfluous ones. (4) Because the scheme ought to fit the smaller as well as the larger libraries. If we, therefore, assume that, in place of one range, each class or section may grow to ten, we can at once reduce our scheme to manageable limits, and at the same time fulfil all the requirements demanded of a shelf classification, for on that supposition we shall need only 1,000 sections, which is not too many for a small library, and is large enough for the most extensive collection. I have used the term sections in place of classes advisedly, because, as just shown, it is not possible to arrange a library under any number of equally proportioned classes. Some classes are not capable of subject subdivision, and yet contain many books. Fiction is such a class. In most public libraries in Aquilia it em- braces one-tenth of the whole collection. If we, therefore, give it but one section, we necessa- rily increase the shelf marks of the separate books of fiction. On the other hand, if we ap- portion the sections to suit the number of books, we should require loo in a scheme of 1,000, and then only would the shelf marks be equal to those in other classes. The first principle of numbering is, therefore, that each class must have as many sections as the number of books in it demands. A neglect of this principle will inevitably result in an accumulation of figures in the most popular classes. For these di- visions all happen to be rich in books but poor in subject divisions. What we have to do, then, is, from a study of existing literature, to ar- range the library in i ,000 as nearly equal pro- portions as possible, giving each class as many sections as the extent of its literature demands. But this must not be done mechanically, but must be controlled and modified by another principle : evident distinctness of subject. The 1,000 divisions need not, and cannot be exactly equal, but they will approximate to that con- dition by observing these two rules. It would take too long to pursue this branch of the subject here, and as I have fully worked out a scheme of classes, based on these princi- ples, which is published in full in the last volume of the " Aquila-Bookist," any one in- terested in the details is respectfully referred to that journal. I will assume that the 1,000 sections have been found ; the next point to be determined is how shall they be arranged ? B. The Order of the Classes. There are three systems to choose from ; there is (A) the logical or natural order of classes, according to which each subject has its exact place in the scheme according to its rela- tion to the class preceding or succeeding. I reject this method without hesitation, for these reasons : (i) If such a scheme be possible it has not yet been discovered. There are some 3,000 or more logical classifications in existence, all claiming to have the Simon Pure article. They cannot all be right, and the chances are they are all wrong ; at least we have no cri- terion to determine for us which one is correct. (2) I. do not think it ever will be discovered, because, after 2,000 years of trying, it ought to have been discovered already. (3) It will be of no use in arranging a library even if it should be discovered, because books are not written to fit an ideal scheme, and even the 4 6 MIL WA UKEE CONFERENCE. most perfect system possible would have to bend from its ideal symmetry and order to suit the practical convenience of the library. " Logi- cally " fiction may belong on the sixth gallery, but practically it will be shelved on the first floor. There is, secondly (B), "The practical order," according to which the classes are arranged to suit the needs of each particular library, the least used books being shelved on the upper galleries, and the most popular ones nearest to the delivery counter. The difficulty with this method is that it can never be universal (and it is such an order that we want) , but must be modified to suit the exigencies of each library. There remains then only (C), " The alpha- betical order" of the classes, that is, first, of the departments by themselves ; then of the classes therein, and, finally, a sub-alphabetical arrangement of the sections or sub-classes. This seems to me the only rational method to adopt, for these reasons: (i) Provided there be agreement as to the names chosen for the classes there can be no dispute as to their order, which is based on the alphabet instead of on some metaphysical idea in the mind of the classifier. (2) It is universally understood, and is therefore universal in its application. (3) It is mnemonic. (4) It can be modified to suit the idiosyncrasies or practical needs of each library or librarian. It can, without dif- ficulty, be thrown into the " logical" or " prac- tical " order, and it thus combines the advantages of both systems without losing its own. C. The System of Notation. The maximum number of volumes contem- plated by our system is 2,000,000, or (allow- ing two volumes per work) of 1,000,000 works. It would be desirable, for many reasons, to number each volume separately, but there are thirteen objections to so doing, the principal one being that it can't be done. If we, there- fore, assign a separate number to each work only we shall be able to number a million works with six symbols. As the Arabic system of numerals is fully adequate to accomplish this task there is no necessity for adopting any of the unnatural and complicated schemes pro- posed in its stead. The Arabic system is under- stood by every one, and until it can be shown that it results in excessive numbers, when properly used, it is simply folly to propose, as a substitute, a system that violently disturbs the accepted traditions and usages of centuries. As all the new-fangled substitutes yet proposed result in numbers composed of from seven to ten symbols we are quite safe in sticking to a scheme that gets along very comfortably with six, and has, besides, the immense advantage that it does not require a special education to understand it. Without going into comparisons with other systems I think I may safely claim this much for mine : that it is entirely built up and de- veloped from facts and data furnished by the books themselves; and, as such, I respectfully submit it for your majesty's further considera- tion. King Aquila. Your plan seems to us more suited to a public library than any other we have yet heard, and we therefore command that the books in the Aquila Free Public Library be arranged in accordance with its principles. As a public library is for the benefit of all classes, both learned and unlearned, and as the latter will necessarily predominate, it is essential that simplicity and intelligibility be the leading characteristics of whatever system be adopted. The arrangement that is understood by the majority, and not merely by the learned minority of its patrons must be given the preference. For this reason we pronounce for the simple Arabic numbers as against the mixture of figures and letters in the plan of Prof. Sector ; for the natural and usual order of figures as against the zigzag method of Mr. Decimus ; for 1,000 divisions as against 50,000; and for the alphabetical order as against the logical or practical. While we cannot deny that all the systems that have been explained to us have merits of their own, we think most of them are more suited to libraries for scholars than for one intended for the people, and it is the latter alone that we wish to classify and arrange. Thanking you all for the profit and pleasure you have afforded us, we now declare this as- sembly dissolved. MANN. 47 SOME THOUGHTS ON BIBLIOGRAPHY IN GENERAL, AND ESPECIALLY ON THE BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE LITERATURE OF SCIENCE, AS EXEMPLIFIED IN THE BIBLIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF "PSYCHE." BY B: PICKMAN MANN, EDITOR OF " PSYCHE. 'T'HE application of bibliography to the work 1 of the student of science has increased at a rapid rate within the last few years. The custom of citing references for the purpose of giving credit, or of affording opportunities of verification of statements, is very old ; but the use of bibliographies as working-forces in aid of research is much more modern. In the department of entomology the attempt to pub- lish a current bibliography of publications of all kinds was not begun, so far as I know, until this attempt was made in " Psyche," which started with the numero for May, 1874, as a monthly publication. The limited number of pages which could be printed, and the lack of sufficient working force to keep the bibliography complete to date, has thus far prevented that full accomplishment of the work aimed at which was hoped for in the beginning. The work accomplished in the twelve years which have followed this beginning has served, however, to show the feasibility of the methods adopted and gradually improved, and has taught many useful lessons in regard to such work. The student of science is apt to set little value upon the refinements of the art of bibliog- raphy. If one may judge from the kind of work which is often put forth as bibliographical, by writers on science, there is hardly any kind of fault which may not be committed or over- looked by such workers. There can be no doubt, however, that accuracy is an indispensa- ble requisite to any good work in this field, as it is in general. Many details of the art, which are of interest to the collector of books, may be neglected in the making of bibliogra- phies as aids to investigation ; but this neglect should never involve errors in the work which is actually done. The width of margins, the weight or quality of paper, the style or elegance of binding, are not essential elements in such a bibliography ; but the date of publication, the name of the author, the number of pages, or the length of articles, and the nature of the con- tents are indispensable to usefulness. The first lesson to be learned in the making of a bibliography for use is the necessity of providing some method of indexing. If the titles are arranged by authors, alphabetically or chronologically, they cannot at the same time be arranged by subjects. If they are arranged by their principal subjects they yet need indexing to bring together the references to subordinate subjects. It is not necessary to say anything to convince literary workers of the value of indexes to individual works. All that has been said and might be said upon that subject applies with yet greater force to a bibli- ography which is intended to be used as a hand-book of literature. The index to a bibliography of scientific literature should be very detailed. To render practicable, within the necessary limits of bulk and cost, a detailed index, the method of reference should be very condensed. At the very outset it is evident that it will be imprac- ticable to refer to works by the citation of their titles in the index. Whole series of articles scattered through the volumes of one periodi- cal, or articles on related subjects, even by the same author, in different periodicals, some- times bear such similar titles that all, or nearly all, the words of the title must be cited to dis- tinguish one title from another. Frequently the titles are exactly alike, and the name of the periodical, or the date of the article, must be given in addition, for the sake of definiteness. Even in the most favorable cases the citation of a portion of a title occupies space which it is desirable to economize. MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. To secure the advantages of a condensed method of reference some symbolism should be employed. In the " Bibliotheca entomo- logica," published in 1863, by W: Engelmann, of Leipzig, from the manuscripts of Dr. H. A. Hagen, the titles of the works cited are ar- ranged under the names of the authors, chrono- logically, the names of the authors being arranged alphabetically. The several works of each author are designated by a current numeral. In the index reference is made to the name of the author and the current numeral of the work. The references are arranged in four columns, in fine type, on a page containing 204 square centimeters of type. A page nearly solid with references is found to contain 209 references. In the pages of "Psyche" the titles are arranged essentially without order, but each title is designated by a current nu- meral. In the index reference is made to the current numeral of the work. The references are arranged in two columns of larger type, on a page containing 201 square centimeters of type. The most open page of 16 so far printed of the index to volume 3 contains 200 references ; the most solid, 732 ; and the aver- age of the first 12 pages is 440 references to the page. The first 20 pages of the index con- tain 8,079 references to 3,362 topics, including 2,148 references to 754 authors. The number of titles to which these references are made is nominally 1,654, but some titles are dupli- cated. The usual method of making citations in scientific writings is to refer to individual or separate works by name of author, title, and page ; to articles in periodicals by title of peri- odical, date (sometimes), and page. A very useful device is to give in a preface or appen- dix a list of all the works cited, with some symbol attached, and to refer to this symbol wherever references are to be made. Some authors have undertaken to accept some bibli- ography as a standard, and to refer to the symbols employed in that. The catalogue of the Royal Society, for instance, has been used as a standard. One difficulty with this method is that the catalogue of the Royal Society covers only a limited period, and, in scientific writings especially, the most recent works are those which require citation the most often. Another difficulty, and a very serious one, is that the catalogue of the Royal Society is not generally accessible. The same difficulty must be experienced whatever work is accepted as a standard, unless a work can be produced which shall be so inexpensive, or otherwise accessible, that it may be within reach of scientific workers generally. In a current bibliography the arrangement of titles is a matter of very little consequence. The more frequent the issue of such a bibliog- raphy the less important does the matter of arrangement become. Indeed any attempt to substitute arrangement for an index is a " de- lusion and a snare." Too various subjects are treated in one article to admit of the possibility of indicating all by the arrangement of the titles. Whatever is attempted in this way should not be allowed to interfere with the practice of appending to each title a current numeral. This will enable any person who feels the need of an index to make one for himself with the greatest economy, and to make his index avail- able to other persons. Let us look at the "Cooperative index to periodicals" with this idea in view. We may say, in the first place, that an arrangement alphabetical by titles is no more a systematic index than one with no ar- rangement at all, because titles have no signifi- cance. Even when titles are broken up or made over, with the purpose of giving them significance, the alphabetic arrangement throws apart what should go together. For instance, I find the following entries in the " Cooperative index " for January to March, 1886 : " All sciences," instruction in, philosophical phase of. Culture and science. Education and a philosophy of life. Education, higher, organization of. Education in American development. Education, a liberal. Technical education, value of. These entries, as will be noticed, range all the way from "A" to " T," and the whole index must be read through to find what it contains on the relations of education to mental development. Twenty-seven numbers of the "Cooperative index" have been issued MANN. 49 already, and seven more may be expected before the first half decade is finished, and the work will be supplanted by the first volume of the supplement to Poole's index. Poole's index itself is open to the same objection. Another objection I would make to the whole system on which this and similar indexes are formed is that it violates the integrity of titles. Titles are the proper names by which books or articles are known and identified, and it is as mischievous to designate an article by the title "The frigate bird," because it treats of frigate birds among others, when the author named the article " Torture of the fish-hawk," as it would be to speak of a tow-headed man as " Blanco," when his parents had named him "Rufus." Scarcely any plea of economy can be raised against the practice of designating titles by a current numeral. The first 100 titles in the index above mentioned occupy 174 lines. The insertion of a current numeral after each title would necessitate the occupation of 16 more lines, or an addition of 9 per cent. ; but this would be at least in part offset by the saving resulting from the absence of any necessity for repeating titles under two or more catchwords. If each person who wishes to index the index must write in the current numbers in his own copy, there can be no assurance that another person will attach exactly the same numerals. Accidents or systematic errors may occur to cause a variation. Moreover, the necessity imposed upon each subscriber to the index to write in the numbers in his copy, when these numbers might all have been printed in the first place, is a great burden. As the monthly or quarterly " Cooperative index " is only intended for temporary use, there is not the same induce- ment to prepare a good index that there will be to prepare an index to the five-year volume, which may be looked upon as a work of per- manent character. It is to be hoped, therefore, that if the change is not made in the quarterly index it will be taken into consideration for the final work. If it is deemed advisable to insert current numerals in future issues of the quarterly index, the earlier titles could be counted, a statement could be made of the current numeral corresponding to the first title or the head of each column of the twenty-seven or twenty-eight parts earlier issued, and the current numerals in continuation of that count could be printed with the titles. I have mentioned already the desirability of making the method of reference as condensed as possible. Just as in a book the chapters are not paged separately, but the pages in a single series from beginning to end, so in a current bibliography the series of numerals should be continuous from volume to volume. A single symbol, then, the current numeral, will suffice for a complete and definite reference. The difficulties already pointed out in the use of any one bibliography as a standard, arising from the circumstance that this one standard cannot readily be made accessible to all students, will then be reduced to a minimum, for a simple numerical table of equivalents will suffice to establish the relation between any two standards that may be adopted, and such tables can be prepared in small compass and at small expense for printing. For instance, if, in a work which I may compose, I choose to make numerical references to the titles of works contained in the Bibliographical record of "Psyche," and it seems desirable to enable references to be made by my readers to some other bibliography, also considered as a standard, I can append a table in which the first column shall give the current numerals of the " Psyche" record, and the second column the corresponding numerals of the other standard. It is to be hoped that at some time in the future a publisher will be found to issue a bib- liography of entomological writings subsequent to 1862, to form a companion volume to Hagen's " Bibliotheca entomologica," which contains essentially all the titles of entomological works published prior to that date. If such a work were to be issued, and the titles were to be designated by a simple numerical symbol, as in " Psyche," or by a combination of an author's name and a numeral, as in Hagen's Bibliotheca, the immense amount of work ex- pended upon the systematic index to " Psyche " could be utilized by the simple expedient above described. I do not know of any index, except two or three concordances, to any work which is so detailed as the indexes to " Psyche." The MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. systematic index to the first volume, referring to 715 titles, has not been counted ; but I esti- mate the number of references at about 4,500. The alphabetic index to that volume is estimated to contain about 3600 references to names of genera and species on 218 pages. The sys- tematic index to the second volume contains 5,075 references to 1,830 categories, in 731 titles ; and the alphabetic index contains 4,208 refer- ences to 758 generic and 2,714 specific names belonging to 1,575 genera mentioned on 296 pages. The index to the third volume, which index is not yet all printed, has been mentioned above. For special purposes indexing cannot be carried too far. The principal objection to the detailed construction of indexes by literary workers is that the maker cannot expect to find himself remunerated for the labor involved. If, by some means, the making of an index once with proper care can be made to serve the needs of all subsequent workers, there is no doubt that indexes will be made oppor- tunely. If, for instance, the publishers of the " Cooperative index to periodicals " would designate the titles in their publication by a symbol such as I have mentioned, there is little doubt that some person would make an index, at least of the literature relating to some of the specialties treated in the periodicals indexed. This index could be printed either as a part of the "Cooperative index" itself, if it was esteemed worthy by the publisher, or it could be issued independently, as many indexes have been published within the past few years. Such an index would be of permanent value, be- cause by the mere construction of tables of equivalence it could be made to serve also as an index to the five-year volume hereafter to be issued. As an aid to scientific investigations the works enumerated in a bibliography must be analyzed. The analysis should indicate the special phase of the subject treated in the work. It would be impracticable within desir- able limits to make an abstract of each work enumerated, even if the bibliographer were such an expert in each special branch of scien- tific knowledge as to render him competent to make an abstract. The nature of the subject discussed can usually be determined, however, by bibliographers possessed of wide general knowledge and culture. In cases of difficulty the aid of specialists could be called in. In order to facilitate the making of analyses in definite and simple form each title in the bibli- ography should be confined as closely as pos- sible to one subject. For this purpose it is better to enter the several chapters of a work as separate titles, if they have separate titles, and treat of distinct subjects. The whole work can be integrated under its own title by giving in the analysis of it the list of its chapters, to which the reader is referred for details. For instance, I will take the annual report of a State entomologist, in which the several chap- ters have no further connection than the cir- cumstance that they all refer to insects, and that these insects are the ones to which atten- tion has been directed during a single year. First comes the title of the work as a whole. NEW YORK State entomologist, 1881 (Jo- seph Albert Lintner). First annual report. Albany, 1882. 22 + 381 + p., 24 X 16. Contains a detailed "Table of contents," p. 5-7 (of preface) ; a "General index," p. 345- 378; an "Index to food-plants," p. 379-381; and chapters with the following titles, all re- corded under the name of J. A. Lintner as author, to u'hick reference is to be made for further analysis : Importance of entomological study, p. 1-15 ; Progress made in economic en- tomology, p. 15-55; Remedies for insect depre- dations, p. 56-63. . . . B: P. M. (1204.) Then come the titles of the several chapters, with analytical reference to the work in which they are contained, and with similar analyses of their contents. LINTNER, Joseph Albert. Importance of entomological study. (ist ann. rept. State entom. N.Y., 1882, p. 1-15.) Mentions the acceptance of late years ac- corded to entomological investigations by gov- ernments and private individuals, and describes the "Extent of insect depredations," "Losses from inse'ct depredations," "Excessive insect depredations in the United States," "The im- mense number of insects," and the "Necessity of a knowledge of insect habits." B: P. M. (1205.) As I have said before, the arrangement of titles is a matter of little importance, as it can MANN. hardly follow any system in a current bibliog- raphy for many numbers before the system of arrangement must be broken off and the series started anew to embrace new matter upon old subjects. The utmost extent to which it has been found worth while to attempt any arrangement in the latter volumes of " Psyche " has been to include as far as pos- sible material upon one subject at one time, and to arrange the authors and titles in one issue of the magazine in alphabetical order. Thus reference to a single numero of the maga- zine is somewhat facilitated ; but when the alphabets rise in number into the hundreds they might almost as well be dispensed with. The publication of such a bibliography as I have described, whether a current bibliography or one containing all the works which have been published within a certain epoch, is a great and costly task. It is not to be expected that such works will often be republished, neither is it necessary. The number of references which will be made to any one special subject is not likely to be so large that, in case of emergency, it will not be practicable to secure a manuscript copy of them from some correspondent who may have access to a copy of the bibliography. For instance, of the 17,650 references in the systematic indexes so far printed to the first three volumes of "Psyche," only 16 relate to the use of insects as food for man. The republica- tion of the indexes is a much more practicable and desirable matter. The three volumes of " Psyche," at present indexed, make three in- dexes, and the fourth volume, now five-sixths issued, will require a fourth. The index to the first volume was made according to the system of Dr. Hagen's " Bibliotheca entomologica ; " that of the second volume, according to the first edition of Mr. Dewey's Decimal classifi- cation, with a large development of certain departments beyond those embraced in Mr. Dewey's work. The index to the third volume is made according to the new edition of Mr. Dewey's classification, which embraces some changes made by Mr. Dewey himself in his classification, and other changes resulting from the imperfect manner in which the old classi- fication was extended. The three indexes do not correspond, therefore, in some of their most important features; and, while the differ- ence between the second and third relates to certain details that are not likely to occasion serious inconvenience to the users of the index, the first differs in almost every particular of arrangement. The 3,100 titles embraced in that portion of the bibliography are mostly dis- tinct, and their serial arrangement unimportant, as reference is made to them by a single series of current numerals ; but the same is not the case with the arrangement of the indexes. The same subjects are referred to in each index, and all the indexes must be examined to find the complete set of references to any one sub- ject. In reprinting the several indexes as one the classification numbers and the classificatory catchwords will be given only once, so that the combined indexes will occupy much less space than was occupied by them separately. Should the bibliography be continued in future volumes the desirability of having a combined index will constantly grow greater. Such an index could be placed in the hands of many students who could not afford to subscribe to the whole series of volumes, and would enable these students to know of the existence of cer- tain literature upon subjects in which they were interested, and would guide them to procure the more specific references in some practical manner. The principal difficulty in the preparation of a bibliography is in getting any person or per- sons to undertake the labor and responsibility of writing or editing the work. The magnitude of the task is too apparent. I find that the labor of writing a part and editing the whole of the "Psyche" Bibliography of entomology, in addition to my regular employment, over- taxes my strength. What must, then, be the feeling of any person who looks, for instance, upon the task of editing the "Essay index," which is so dear to the hearts and to the wel- fare of the members of the American. Library Association! If, however, the " Essay index" can be issued as a current bibliography, with no regard to the order of titles or the connection of subjects, but making use of such material as can be availed of upon opportunity, attaching to each title a current numeral that will serve for reference from an index, no editor will need MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. to feel that he has a large task before him. He may feel that so much as is issued is a step in the right direction ; that if no more is issued a good work has been done. He can lay down the editorship at any time when his strength or will gives out, and the work can be continued by others. It is only necessary that the titles of chapters and articles be given accurately, the analytical references be made fully, and the rest left to others, who, for their own purposes, will make indexes that will take the place of any special analyses of contents. If, at any time in the future, the number of references gathered in this way is sufficient to induce any person to rearrange and republish the bibli- ograpny according to some alphabetic or philo- sophic system, all previous workers will feel that they have contributed to the good result, and will share in its benefits. The objections which may be made to this seemingly random way of securing the forma- tion of the "Essay index " may be obviated by enabling all persons who wish to have some systematic arrangement of titles to secure copies of the printed lists, which can be cut up and made into a card catalog. If the publishers of the Library journal were not disposed to devote a few pages each month to the publication of such a current Essay index as I have described, undoubtedly the publishers of some more general educational magazine, or the United States Bureau of Education itself, would undertake the publication. At the end of the first year an annual index could be pub- lished ; at the end of the second year an index to all that had gone before ; and so in each year an index complete, so far as the work had pro- gressed, would be available for use. INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT IN CONGRESS, J837-IS86. 1 BY THORVALD SOLBERG, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. HPHE earliest movement in the direction of 1 International Copyright in the Congress of the United States was the presentation to the Senate, by Henry Clay, of Kentucky, on Thursday, the 2d of Feburary, 1837, in the 2d session of the 24th Congress, of an "Address of certain Authors of Great Britain." This memorial bears fifty-six signatures, the name of Thomas Moore coming first, and including among the other signers, the poets, Thomas Campbell, Robert Southey, and Samuel Rogers ; the novelists, Bulwer, G. P. R. James, Maria Edgeworth, and Miss Mitford ; both the D'Israelis, Henry H. Milman, Henry Hallam, William and Mary Howitt, Mrs. and Mr. S. C. Hall, Mrs. Mary Somerville, Miss Martineau, and Thomas Carlyle. The complaint made in this ' ' Address " is that, for want of a law secur- 1 The writer is glad to use this opportunity to publicly acknowledge and return his thanks for friendly assistance received from Mr. Amzi Smith, Superintendent of the Senate Document Room ; Mr. Thomas H. McKey, of the same office; Mr. G. M. Weston, and Mr. A. W. Church, ing to the authors of Great Britain the exclusive right to their respective writings in the United States, injuries have been inflicted, not only upon their property but on their reputation, and on the interests of literature and science ; which, the memorialists think, " ought to con- stitute a bond of union and friendship between the United States and Great. Britain." The profits arising from sometimes extensive sales of their works are appropriated by American booksellers, and, besides, their works are liable to be mutilated and altered at the pleas- ure of the booksellers, or of any other persons who may have an interest in reducing the price of the works, or in conciliating the supposed principles or prejudices of purchasers, while, the authors' names being retained, they are made responsible for works which they no longer of the Senate Library; Mr. Ferris Finch, File Clerk of the House of Representatives; Mr. John G. Ames, Superintendent of Documents, Department of the Inte- rior; Mr. David Hutcheson of the Library of Congress; and Mr. R. R. Bowker. SOLE ERG. 53 recognize as their own. Such mutilation has been actually perpetrated, and the authors have no redress. It is pointed out that American authors are injured, because, the unjust, free appropriation of English works being open to the publishers, they are under no inducement to afford to American writers a fair remunera- tion for their labors. As a proof of the evil complained of the petitioners cite the case of Walter Scott, and claim that an equitable re- muneration from American publishers might have saved his life, and would, at least, have relieved its closing years from the burden of debts and destructive toil. The "Address" closes with the following petition: "That, deeply impressed with the conviction that the only firm ground of friendship between nations is a strict regard to simple justice, the under- signed earnestly request the Senate of the United States in Congress assembled, speedily to use, in behalf of the authors of Great Britain, their power of securing to the authors the ex- clusive right 1o their respective writings." Mr. Clay, upon presenting the document, said : " I am quite sure, Mr. President, that I need not say one word to commend this address to the attention and friendly consideration of the Senate, and every member of it. Of all classes of our fellow-beings, there is none that has a better right than that of authors and inventors to the kindness, the sympathy, and the protec- tion of government. And surely nothing can be more reasonable than that they should be allowed to enjoy, without interruption, for a limited time, the property created by their own genius. . . . When we reflect what important parts of the great republic of letters the United States and Great Britain are, and consider their common origin, common language, and simi- larity of institutions, and of habits of reading, there seems to me to be every motive for recip- rocating between the two countries the secur- ity of copyrights. Indeed, I do not see any ground of just objection, either in the Consti- tution or in sound policy, to the passage of a law tendering to all foreign nations reciprocal security for literary property." Mr. Clay, in conclusion, moved that the memorial be printed and referred to the Committee on the Library. Upon this Mr. William C. Preston, of South Carolina, while admitting the general propriety of the reference to that committee, said he thought the subject one of some difficulty, be- cause the American authors upon the one side would necessarily favor the measure, while the publishers had an opposite interest, and had arrayed themselves against the object of the memorial, and the subject, therefore, resolved itself into a complicated question of free-trade and protection of the mechanical arts. On this subject Mr. Preston was not then pre- pared to decide. "Great Britain," he con- tinued, " had two authors to our one, and was, therefore, more interested in the protection of mental labor; while the United States pub- lished three or four times as many books, and, therefore, more interested in protecting pub- lishers." He concluded that the subject ought to go to the Judiciary Committee. But Mr. Grundy, of that committee, said it had already as much before it as could be properly per- formed, and suggested a select committee of five. Mr. Calhoun, of South Carolina, made a few remarks to the effect that while aware the interests of booksellers in the United States were adverse to the object petitioned for, he did not suppose that it was of a character or nature such as required its rejection. The works for which copyrights would be secured constituted but a small portion of the entire literature of Great Britain ; and of the works of the distinguished names on the memorial, the copyright of a great portion had expired, which was, therefore, subject to free publica- tion. The proper committee, he thought, was that of the judiciary ; but he would not object to a select committee. Mr. Buchanan, of Penn- sylvania, felt called upon to say something in defence of the interests of the reading people of the United States. He thought that when the question came to be considered it would be a vexed and difficult question. The effect of granting copyrights would be that the authors who were anxious to have their works appear in a more expensive form would prevent the issuing of cheap editions, "which were now published and sent all over the country, within the reach of every individual," and the result would be the reduction of republication to one- half. " But to live in fame," the senator con- 54 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. eluded, " was as great a stimulus to authors as pecuniary gain ; and the question ought to be considered, whether they would not lose as much of fame by the measure asked for as they would gain in money." It was well to ascertain also, " what would be the effect on the acquisi- tion of knowledge in this vast country." Mr. Grundy's motion, however, was carried, and* Senators Clay, Preston, Buchanan, Webster, and Ewing, of Ohio, were appointed to com- pose the select committee. On February I3th Mr. Cambreleng, of New York, presented the address of the British authors to the House of Representatives, without remark. It was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, but no further action was taken in the House in regard to it, except to order it to be printed. Two days later than the proceedings in the Senate, Mr. Clay presented a list of additional names of British authors, which by mistake had been overlooked, but which was now re- ferred to the select committee, and at his request the "Address" was ordered to be printed. On behalf of the committee Mr. Clay, also, moved the appointment of an addi- tional member, upon which Mr. Ruggles, of Maine was appointed. On the same day Senator Clay presented the "Memorial of a number of citizens of the United States, pray- ing an alteration of the law regulating copy- rights," which was also referred to the select committee on this subject. This is really the petition of the American authors, and has thirty signatures, including Longfellow, Prof. Felton, the eccentric John Neal, Rufus Dawes (the now hardly remembered Boston poet), William A. Duer, Dr. McVicker, and George P. Morris. The number of Philadelphia names is noticeable : Robert Montgomery Bird, Willis Gaylord Clark, Robert Morris, George Mifflin Wharton, H. Biddle, T. K. Wharton, and others. The names of a number of the then prominent journalists are also found appended to this petition, which first represents that the signers believe, " Native writers to be as in- dispensable as a native militia ; that, although foreign writers and foreign writings may be had cheaper, owing to the present law of copy- right, our people must look, for the defence of their habits, their opinions, and their peculiar institutions, to those who belong to them, and have grown up with them, to their own authors, as to their own soldiers." Second, owing to the want of an international copyright law, American authors are not able to contend with foreigners ; therefore, the memorialists pray, "that such changes maybe had in the present law of copyright, as, while they ensure to authors a safer interest in their property, to our own writers encouragement, and to foreign- ers a reasonable protection, the public may be secured against a discouraging monopoly, the commonwealth of literature open to a fair and liberal competition, and the groundwork laid for a future international law of copyright be- tween the Old World and the New." On February i6th, Mr. Clay, from the select com- mittee, submitted to the Senate a report, ac- companied by a bill to amend the copyright act. It was ordered that the report (which it is safe to assume was drawn up by Mr. Clay) should be printed, and one thousand additional copies sent to the Senate. According to this report, it is incontestable, " that authors and inventors have, according to the practice among civilized nations, a property in the re- spective productions of their genius, and that this property should be protected as effectually as any other property is, by law, follows as a legitimate consequence." . . . Furthermore, " It being established that liter- ary property is entitled to legal protection, it results that this protection ought to be afforded wherever the property is situated." . . . "We should be all shocked," continues the report, " if the law tolerated the least invasion of the rights of property, in the case of merchandise, whilst those which justly belong to the works of authors are exposed to daily violation, with- out the possibility of their invoking the aid of the laws. The committee think that this dis- tinction in the condition of the two descrip- tions of property is not just ; and that it ought to be remedied by some safe and cautious amendment of the law." This being the first measure proposed to Congress upon this sub- ject, the constitutionality of any proposed law was naturally a matter of consideration. As the reasoning presented in the report is in SOLE ERG. 55 some respects noticeable, and, as it has subse- quently been repeated, the paragraph is quoted : "With respect to the constitutional power to pass the proposed bill, the committee en- tertain no doubt. The Constitution authorizes Congress to ' promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing, for limited times, to authors and inventors, the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries.' There is no limitation of the power to natives or residents of this country. Such a limita- tion would have been hostile to the object of the power granted. That object was to pro- mote the progress of science and useful arts. They belong to no particular country, but to mankind generally. And it cannot be doubted that the stimulus which it was intended to give to mind and genius in other words, the promotion of the progress of science and the arts will be increased by the motives which the billoff ers to the inhabitants of Great Brit- ain and France." The bill which the committee asked leave to introduce was the first international copyright bill presented to Congress, and was entitled : " A bill to amend the act entitled 'An act to amend the several acts respecting copyright.' " It enacted briefly stated the extension of the provisions and benefits of the domestic copyright law then in force (the act of Febru- ary 3 !83i) to works by the authors of Great Britain and Ireland, and France, published sub- sequently to the passage of the act ; provided, a printed copy of the title of the book was de- posited, and the other requirements of the domestic law complied with, and an edition of the work was printed and published in the United States simultaneously with its issue in the foreign country, or within one month after depositing the title. The bill was read twice without debate. February 2oth, Mr. Clay presented to the Senate the " Memorial of G. Furman and other public writers," and also the " petition " of the professors of the University of Virginia. It was ordered that they lie upon the table and be printed. The first document, which has 154 names attached, mainly residents of New York City, sets out that the petitioners "have long viewed with regret the existing law of copy- right in the United States, as inconsistent with the spirit of the age, the diffusion of sound knowledge, the interests of American writers, and the rights generally of literary property." The petition enlarges upon what is termed the " total indifference to the rights of literary property," and questions whether the shadow of a reason can be adduced in support of the exception of this kind of property from legal protection, and closes by praying the passage of an international copyright law with Great Britain. The nine professors of the University of Virginia say that they have " long felt and lamented the inadequacy of the law of copy- right in the United States, to give that encour- agement to the literature and science of the country which its patriotic framers intended, inasmuch as our publishers are neither willing nor able to pay the American author for his labors (except in a few special cases) , so long as the productions of British authors can be republished here free of charge," and they rep- resent " that an individual has as just a claim to remuneration from those who profit by his literary labors, as from those who profit by any other species of his industry." They there- fore ask for a change in the law, and suggest that if Congress "should think the greater cheapness of the current British literature is not to be disregarded," the privilege asked for might be extended to British authors for a shorter term than that which is given to Amer- ican citizens. This agitation, however, pro- duced no effect upon Congress which resulted in action. In the second session of the following Congress, December 13, 1837, Mr. Clay again introduced his bill, without alteration, and it was now referred to the Senate Committee on Patents and the Patent Office. But this move- ment brought down upon the Senate a flood of memorials and petitions against the passage of the bill, and they were also referred to the same committee. Noticing only such as were ordered to be printed, the first of these, in chronologi- cal order, presented by Mr. Buchanan, January 15, 1838, was the memorial of a number of " citizens " of Philadelphia, who oppose the bill upon the ground that its passage " would be productive of the most deleterious conse- quences to a very important branch of the national industry," meaning thereby, the book- MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. making establishments, of which a great por- tion, it is claimed, would be paralyzed upon the bill becoming law. A pathetic picture is drawn of the prospective misery of the work- people thus thrown out of employment, which would be poorly compensated for, as the peti- tioners put it, " by any display of ultra sym- pathy towards those who stand in no need of it." The possible effect of a copyright law upon the price of the honestly printed book is regarded with dismay, and Congressmen are entreated to consider how it would affect their constituents, " the honest farmers with their interesting families," who, instead of re- ceiving their literary supplies at a rate " almost too trifling to mention," would have to buy at a tenfold cost. On the same day this memo- rial was presented by Mr. Toland, of Penn- sylvania, to the House, and it was printed in the documents of both chambers. On February I3th Mr. Norvall, of Michigan, presented the "Memorial" of the Columbia Typographical Society, of the city of Washing- ton, which is signed by George C. Smoot, President. This document is short and to the effect that the passage of the bill will prove, in the opinion of the memorialists, " the immedi- ate destruction of the book-printing business of the United States ; and the consequent im- poverishment of the thousands dependent on this branch of industry . . . ; will greatly enhance the price, and limit the circulation of literature, confining it to the wealthy alone ; in fact, in every view, hostile to the interests of our country, without being calculated to promote a sale of American authors' works, expected from its passage." The New York Typographical Society also sent a document of considerable length, signed by its president and secretary, and presented to the Senate on March I3th, by Mr. Wright, of Massachusetts, and ordered to be printed. The main effort of the memorial is to show, as the petitioners put it, that "the most injurious tendency of this bill will be that of causing books to be manufactured in England that are now printed in this country ; " but, when it is remembered that one of the provisions of the bill necessi- tated the printing of all copyrighted books in this country, it is difficult to see how this could follow. Mr. Buchanan, on March igth, presented the " Memorial of Peter S. Du Ponceau and others, praying Congress to appoint committees of inquiry on the subject of copy- right, and to await their report before acting on the subject," which was laid on the table, and ordered to be printed ; but, subsequently, on March 2Qth, upon a motion to that effect, it also was referred to the Committee on Patents. This neutral peti- tion, it may be noted in passing, contains, among its signers, the names of some who subscribed to the first petition, of February 4, 1837, asking the passage of a copyright bill. On the loth of April, also, Mr. Buchanan presented to the Senate what purports to be the "Memorial of Richard Penn Smith and others, against the passage of the bill to es- tablish an international copyright law," but this is (word for word) the petition presented by him on January I5th, with another list of 114 signers attached. It consequently is twice printed in the documents of the same session of Congress. While in the House (where petitions for and against had been introduced in the early part of this year), a memorial from the booksellers of Boston was presented by Mr. Fletcher, of Massachusetts, April i6th. This was ordered to lie on the table, but was printed in the House documents for the 2d session of the 25th Congress. The memorialists con- sider the request contained in the "Address" of British authors as unseasonable, because, in the words of the memorial, "the law of copyright in Great Britain, as it stands at present, contains no express provision for trie protection of any but British authors ; its protection to foreigners, if any, is wholly con- structive. . . . When Great Britain shall have opened her doors to our authors, then, it would seem, a more fitting occasion would be presented for entertaining a proposition to extend to her authors a like courtesy in the United States." It might, perhaps, be taken as indicative of some growth in free-trade notions, that the strivers for a protection measure in the national Legislature nowadays are so averse to seeing it properly labelled, for in 1838 there was manifested no hesitation SOLBERG. 57 in publishing a desire for as much protection as could be secured. So the Boston book- sellers, in their memorial, say, that "in order to the protection of our own manufactures and industry, for which we are mainly solicitous, and on which depend our means of subsist- ence, we conceive that the following provisions should be clearly and explicity set forth in the proposed law : " I . The act shall not apply to books printed prior to its passage, nor to sub- sequent editions of such works ; 2. The American edition to appear simultaneously with foreign issue and within one month after deposit of title; 3. The work to be wholly manufactured in this country; 4. Copyright claim to be printed on back of title ; and 5. The privileges of copyright to be reciprocal. On the 2 ist of May, Mr. George W. Toland, of Pennsylvania, presented four petitions from Philadelphia against international copyright, and Mr. W. B. Calhoun, a member of the House from Massachusetts, presented, June 4th, a petition from inhabitants of that State remonstrating against international copyright. The latter was ordered to lie on the table, and to be printed ; but in printing the signatures were omitted. The Massachusetts memorial- ists think the passage of Mr. Clay's bill "would be unjust, impolitic, and hostile to that general diffusion of intelligence among the people which is the best safeguard of our republican institutions" unjust, they think, to the Ameri- can book-manufacturers, and impolitic in giving foreigners emoluments to which they are not fairly entitled. They claim also that an inter- national copyright law would have a retrospec- tive operation and impair the obligation of contracts, by giving copyright to new editions of English works already prepared at large expense by American publishers for the Ameri- can book market. The "Address" of British authors is criticised by the petitioners in several respects. Meanwhile the friends of the measure became active. On March igth Mr. Toland presented to the House of Repre- sentatives a petition from citizens of Philadel- phia praying the passage of an international copyright law, and April 24th, Senator Rives, of Virginia, and Mr. Clay, presented to the Senate petitions from Boston and New York of similar import, and Mr. Preston the memorial of W. Marshall & Co., and others, of Philadel- phia, also favorable. The Boston petition, which is headed by Edward Everett, and con- tains, among the remaining 78 signatures, the names of Samuel A. Appleton, George S. Hillard, C. C. Felton, Willard Phillips, John Brooks Fenno, Nathaniel Greene, William Beach Lawrence, and George T. Curtis, favors the proposed measure because it is held essen- tial to the encouragement and development of American literature, and because, in the words of the petitioners, "it is demanded, with much propriety, as an act of justice by the principal foreign authors interested. . . . The plea of the British authors appears to us to be founded in the plainest principles of justice. Our law already recognizes the right of native citizens to hold and transfer literary property as fully as it recognizes the right of transferring any other species of property. We cannot well conceive why a foreign author should not have the same liberty and right to consign or transfer literary property to his agents in this country that a foreign merchant has to transfer and consign his merchandise. ... Is not the distinction palpably unjust and impolitic ? . . . In conclusion, your petitioners would respect- fully urge that they consider the proposed measure as demanded by a due respect for the principles of justice founded in the use of a common language, by a sense of enlightened national reciprocity, and by the great literary interests of both countries." The New York petition bears 136 signa- tures, including such well-known names as Henry Ogden, John McVickers, Charles Anthon, Theodore Sedgwick, Jr., William A. Duer, and Cornelius Mathews. Also may be noted the name of Grenville A. Sackett, who is reputed to be the author of the first inde- pendent work published in this country upon the subject of international copyright, namely, the anonymous pamphlet, published in 1838, under the title "A Plea for Authors," etc. The copyright law of the United States, according to this memorial, " is an anomaly in civilized legislation," and "the effect of limiting the protection of copyright to citizens or residents is as impolitic as it is unjust. . . . This measure (virtually an international copyright law) is not only demanded by a just regard to the property of foreign writers but is imperatively required for the advancement of our own literature. 11 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. The memorial introduced by Senator Preston as from Philadelphia is word for word the Boston petition above, signed by publishers, booksellers, authors, and others. On this same day, also, upon the motion of Senator Rives, the petition of the professors of the University of Virginia, sent in to the Senate during the previous Congress, was also referred to the Committee on Patents. This petition, it will be remembered, was favorable to an international copyright law. A second Phila- delphia petition, "praying the extension of the advantage of copyright to all native or foreign residents or non-residents," was pre- sented by Mr. Toland to the House on May 2 ist, and was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and printed. Its text is the same as that of the memorial presented to the Senate by Mr. Preston on April the 24th, having doubtless a different list of signatures ; but in printing the names of the signers have been omitted. By this time the Senate Committee on Pat- ents, to whom these various memorials had been referred, evidently thought they had accumu- lated literature enough, both pro and con, and they hastened to make a report, which was submitted by Senator Ruggles June 25th, and was adverse to the passage of Mr. Clay's bill. The committee, in this report, decline to discuss the question of authors 1 natural rights of liter- ary property, thinking it sufficient that their works are protected by domestic law, and claiming further, that " international copyright, in strict sense, has no existence." They seem to have discovered also that the British authors, in making their petition, entertained the sinis- ter purpose of monopolizing the American market for their works, to the destruction of the book-manufacturing interests of the coun- try ; and as to the complaints (which had re- peatedly, and in strong language appeared in the memorials) of the ill effects of free repub- lication of foreign works upon the growth and development of American literature, the com- mittee treat them as though they were but the screen for the home authors' greedy desire for higher prices for their own works ; and con- cerning the competition with foreign books, they doubt its existence to any degree, and in any case consider it as " far from undesirable," and " they are, therefore, persuaded that the benefit of such a law would inure principally to foreign publishers and manufacturers, to the great discouragement of our own, and that authors on either side of the Atlantic would derive much less advantage from it than might at first view be apprehended." Senator Clay, however, was not disconcerted by this adverse report on his bill, and promptly, in the next session of the same Congress, on Dec. 17, 1838, he brought in his bill for the third time, and it was now referred to the Committee on the Judiciary ; and on December igth, upon his motion, it was ordered that the several memorials and petitions on the files of the last session should be referred to the same committee. But on March I, 1839, before any report had been made, Senator Wall re- quested that this committee be discharged from the further consideration of these petitions, etc., which was granted. Determined to keep the matter before the Senate, Mr. Clay, on the 6th of January, 1840, presented his bill for the fourth time, when it was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary of that Congress, from which committee it was promptly returned to the Senate two days later, with the report that they neither recom- mended nor approved of the passage of the bill. On the I5th of April, however, the Senate, as in Committee of the Whole, pro- ceeded to consider the subject ; but for some, doubtless, good reason, which is, however, not set out in the journals of Congress, Mr. Clay requested that further consideration of the bill be postponed to the 23d instant, and then be made the order of the day, which was agreed to ; but it failed to get a hearing on that day, not obtaining consideration again until Friday, July I7th, upon which unlucky day it was ordered to lie on the table. A second wave of copyright agitation was set in motion during this year, 1840. Dr. Francis Lieber published a letter, addressed to Senator Preston, on International Copyright, and Dickens's visit to this country in 1841 in- creased the agitation to a flood-tide ; where- upon Mr. Clay, in the following session of Congress, on the 6th of January, 1842, again SOLE ERG. 59 obtained leave to bring in his bill, which was a third time referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. No report was made ; but we learn, from the record of the Senate proceedings of May II (upon which day Senator Preston asked Mr. Berrien, chairman of the committee, what had become of the bill), that Mr. Clay had inquired some time previously as to the committee's views upon the bill, and learning that an adverse report was determined upon, he had requested that the latter should be delayed for the purpose of getting further testimony, evidently feeling that no report was preferable to an adverse report. Meanwhile the lukewarmness of the Senate had led the friends of the measure to look to the House of Representatives in hopes of producing some result there, and on March 14, 1842, a petition by Washington Irving and twenty-four others was presented by Mr. Edward Stanly, of North Carolina, and referred to a select com- mittee of five members, consisting of Mr. John P. Kennedy, of Maryland ; Mr. Robert C. Winthrop, of Massachusetts ; Mr. John H. Brockway, of Connecticut ; Mr. John McKeon, of New York, and Mr. Benjamin G. Shields, of Alabama. April 12, 1842, in answer to a request from the House, made (the 7th of April) upon motion of Mr. McKeon, the President trans- mitted to the House the correspondence be- tween Lord Palmerston, British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and the United States minister in London, of March 6 and 8, 1839, enquiring whether our Government was then disposed to enter upon a reciprocity copy- right treaty. This correspondence was referred to the select committee on International Copy- right, and was printed. June 13, 1842, Mr. Toland presented to the House, and Mr. Buchanan to the Senate, the memorials of C. Sherman, and of T. & J. W. Johnson (the well-known Philadelphia law- book publishers) urging the inexpediency of an international copyright law. They were referred to the respective judiciary committees. Senator Buchanan, in presenting the petitions, said that they contained a brief and conclusive argument against the passage of an interna- tional copyright law, and that he was happy to learn that the Committee on the Judiciary were also unanimously against the adoption of any such law. His motion to print the memorial of T. & J. W. Johnson was referred to the Committee on Printing, and was favorably re- ported on June I5th. This last memorial from Philadelphia does not differ in tenor from pre- vious ones from that quarter . ..." A man is entitled to the fruits of his labor, physical or mental ; but what these fruits shall be must be determined by a regard to the general good. .... The argument of justice to authors, in favor of an international copyright law, is valid only so far as it may coincide with the good of the whole The whole question is one of policy, and is simply this : will it benefit the nation, all things considered? . . . All the riches of English literature are ours. English authorship comes free as the vital air, untaxed, unhindered, even by the necessity of translation, into our country ; and the question is, Shall we tax it, and thus interpose a barrier to the circulation of intellectual and moral light? Shall we build up a dam, to obstruct the flow of the rivers of knowledge? . . . Shall we refuse to gather the share of this har- vest, which Providence, and our own position, makes our own ? " So runs this writ. It is assumed as beyond question, that the Ameri- can public, rather than pay the small percentage additional needed to acquire from the English author the honest right to the use and benefits of these riches, would suffer the " drying up of such fountains of light." The American au- thor is relegated to the great work of popular- izing knowledge, which is otherwise explained to be adapting English works to American wants and wishes, and it is suggested, as a point of vital import, that the passage of an international copyright law would prevent such free and uncontrolled use of the foreign au- thors' works. A strong sidelight is thrown upon this document by recollecting that the authors of it occupied the position of law-book publishers, having a long list of publications, nearly the whole of it being the titles of Eng- lish law books, and that they were at the time issuing a series entitled the " Law Library," containing 104 volumes, embracing 185 distinct English works, and including not a single book by an American author. The session of Congress came to an end be- fore the select committee of the House had taken any action, and in the next, the 3d ses- 6o MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE, sion of the 27th Congress, this committee was, on motion of Mr. Kennedy, revived, Mr. Caleb Gushing being substituted for Mr. Shields. Dec. 14, 1842, on request of Mr. Kennedy, the memorial of Washington Irving, presented to the House on March I4th, was transferred to the new committee ; and on motion of Mr. Cushing it was resolved that this committee be em- powered to consider of the propriety of amend- ments generally in the existing law of copyright, and to report by bill or otherwise. For some reason not set forth the committee made no report. January 18, 1843, it was resolved, upon re- quest of Mr. Charles J. Ingersoll, of Pennsyl- vania, that the Committee on the Judiciary of the House be instructed to inquire whether the copyright laws might be amended, and to report accordingly. No report came from that committee upon this subject. The next international copyright movement was again in the Senate, where Mr. Choate, in the ist session of the 28th Congress, Dec. 15, 1843, presented a memorial from American publishers, which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and the motion to print hav- ing been submitted to the Committee on Print- ing, was favorably reported on December i8th. But in the interim Mr. John Quincy Adams had presented the same petition to the House on the i6th inst., and as it thus reached the printer first from that branch of the Legislature it will not be found in the Senate documents, but in the Executive Documents of the House. The tenor of this important document is most readily ascertained by the following quotation : " Your memoralists, deeply interested, not only as booksellers in particular but also as Ameri- can citizens in general, in the greatest possible diffusion of knowledge and sound literature, are fully convinced, by their experience as traders in books, that the present law regulating lit- erary property is seriously injurious both to the advancement of American literature and to that very extensive branch of American in- dustry which comprehends the whole mechani- cal department of book-making. It is alike injurious to the business of publishing, and to the best and truest interests of the people at large. Your memorialists, after a careful and mature consideration of the important subject, are fully satisfied that the great interests of knowledge, of the industry of those who pro- vide the community with reading, and of the vast reading community itself, would be most essentially promoted by the passing of a law which would secure to the authors of all nations the sole right to dispose of their compositions for publication in the United States (whether they may be published in foreign countries or not) ; provided, always, the book be printed in the United States within a certain time (to be settled by law) after its publication in a foreign country ; and provided, also, that the copy- right for this country shall be transferable from the author to American resident pub- lishers only. Your memorialists are satisfied that this equitable protection would enable the publishers to furnish their fellow-citizens both with foreign and American literature in such forms and at such prices as would truly meet the wants as well as the means of the people ; while the writers of books would receive the just com- pensation for their labor and talent wherever their works may be read." Finally the memo- rialists petition Congress to enact a law secur- ing to foreign authors, of such countries as may reciprocate the privilege, the right to dis- pose of their works to American publishers to be printed in this country. This document is signed by twenty-three publishers and book- sellers, five printers, and seven binders, of New York, including among the first class the then important houses, D. Appleton & Co., Bartlett & Welford, Alexander V. Blake, Robert Carter, Francis & Co., and John S. Taylor & Co. ; twenty-two publishers of Boston, including T. H. Carter & Co., Crocker & Brewster, Samuel G. Drake, W. D. Ticknor & Co., and Lewis & Sampson ; eighteen booksellers and publishers of Philadelphia, including George S. Appleton, J. B. Lippincott & Co., and A. S. Barnes & Co., besides twenty-two booksellers from Hart- ford and other places, ninety-seven signatures in all. No action was taken by the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate upon this memo- rial ; while in the House a vote rejected its reference to the Committee on the Library, and referred it to a select committee of nine mem- bers, Messrs. Winthrop, Adams, C. J. In- gersoll, E. J. Black, Reuben Chapman, Her- rick, Leonard, Bowlin, and Potter, of Ohio. Mr. Winthrop, of Massachusetts, on Mon- day, Jan. 15, 1844, presented a memorial of Nahum Capen, of Boston, which was re- ferred to the select committee, and on Friday his motion was agreed to by the House to print SOLE ERG. 61 the document. Mr. Capen's memorial is a lengthy argument in favor of international copyright, divided into three chapters: i. Copyrights as property recognized by law; 2. The effect of an international copyright law on literature, science, and education; 3. The effect of an international copyright law upon authors and publishers. The select com- mittee made no report. Senator Johnson, of Maryland, in the first session of the 2gth Congress, attempted to revive the subject by making a motion, Jan. 22, 1846, that the several memorials upon inter- national copyright on the files of the Senate be referred to a select committee. This was agreed to, and Messrs. Cass, Berrien, Dix, Johnson of Maryland, and Pennybacker were selected to form the committee ; but they do not seem to have taken any action. Like a shuttlecock this subject of inter- national copyright appears now in the House, now in the Senate, and then, again, in the House, where, March 22, 1848, Mr. T. Butler King, of Georgia, presented a memorial of John Jay, and also the memorial of William C. Bryant and others, which was ordered to be referred to a select committee, and April I3th, Messrs. King, Marsh, Ingersoll, Horace Mann, Morse, Hilliard, Sims, Preston, and Murphy were appointed to serve upon the committee. On the 2Qth Mr. King moved that the memo- rials be printed, which was agreed to, and the document as printed, occupying 33 octavo pages, contains : ist, Mr. Jay's petition ; 2d, the memorial of the publishers, which had been presented to the House Dec. 16, 1843, and already printed in the documents of the ist session of the 28th Congress ; 3d, a cata- logue of American books published in England ; and, 4th, the petition signed by William C. Bryant and fifteen others. Mr. Jay's document is the most thorough yet presented to the at- tention of Congress in this class. The key- note is struck in the first paragraph, where he states that, from a careful examination of the law of copyright then in force, he " is well persuaded that many injuries, direct and re- mote, are inflicted by the exclusion of foreign- ers from the privileges of that act, upon the rights of American authors, upon the stability and respectability of the American book-trade, and upon the interests of the American reading public, and that the passage of an international copyright law, by which foreign authors shall be allowed their copyright here, and American authors assisted to their copyright abroad, would not only be an act of national justice, but of national policy ; that it would afford to our native authors what they have never yet enjoyed, ' a fair field', ' that it would supply a new stimulus to intellectual exertion, infuse a more elevated tone into our national literature, give a healthier character and a wider compe- tition to the American book trade, and secure a better class of books for general circulation." In support of these views he'appends various facts and arguments. It is interesting to note that he sustains Mr. Clay's argument that there is no constitutional objection to the extension of copyright to foreigners, because the object of the constitutional clause was to promote the progress of science and the useful arts, which belong to no party or country, but to mankind generally. The want of an International copy- right act, he argues, produces: I. Injury to American authors, William C. Bryant, George P. Putnam, Wash- ington Irving, Rev. Dr. Francis L. Hawks, Dr. Edward Robinson, Rufus W. Griswold, Bayard Taylor, and John Jay. Uniting with these pe- titioners in their prayer, and cordially desiring some action of Congress on this subject, if not this session, yet speedily, so soon as it prac- tically can be done, I move that these peti- tions be referred to the Committee on the Library." The petitions were so referred, but no action was taken upon them. The following year, 1853, copyright agitation was begun from another quarter, namely the Department of State. On the I5th of Febru- ary five publishing firms of New York City, viz., D. Appleton & Co., G. P. Putnam & Co., Robert Carter & Bros., Charles Scribner, and Stanford & Swords, addressed a letter to Edward Everett, then Secretary of State, set- ting out the points which they deemed of prac- tical necessity in passing an international copyright treaty. These "points" are in effect, that the title of a foreign work should be entered in the United States District Court or the Department of State before its publi- cation in England ; the type set up, and the book printed and bound in this country, and the American publisher, in order to secure protection, must show his right to the book from the author in writing. If within thirty days from its publication abroad there is no authorized edition published here, then any one shall have the right of reprinting the work. Mr. Everett began negotiations, through the American minister in London, to effect a copy- right treaty, and, as we learn from a letter written by Mr. Charles Sumner, this treaty was reported by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, considered in the Senate, and finally left on the table, without any definite vote. In the meantime opponents of international copyright viewed with alarm this new move- ment, which they thought more likely to suc- ceed, perhaps, than the attempted passage of a bill, and in December of that year, and dur- ing the first four months of 1854, a dozen peti- tions were presented to the Senate, from " citizens " of Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Michigan, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, remonstrating against the ratification of a treaty. They were variously referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations, or Committee on the Library, or were laid on the table. Mr. James Cooper (also a senator from Pennsyl- vania) requested information from Mr. Henry SOLE ERG. C. Carey, "calculated to enable him to act understandingly in reference to the interna- tional copyright treaty now awaiting the action of the Senate," which request resulted in the publication of Mr. Carey's well-known " Let- ters on International Copyright." In the first session of the 35th Congress in- ternational copyright was again revived in the House by Mr. Edward Joy Morris, of Penn- sylvania, who, Dec. 10, 1857, gave notice of his intention to introduce a bill, and Jan. 18, 1858, presented House bill No. 82, which was referred to the Joint Committee on the Library ; but no action was taken. In the first session of the next Congress he asked leave to reintroduce his bill, and Feb. 15, 1860, presented it un- changed, as House bill No. 32 of that ses- sion, "A bill to provide for an international copyright law," when it was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Neither com- mittee nor House seems to have given any further concern to this bill, the second interna- tional copyright bill presented to Congress. The bill was never printed ; but the manuscript original is preserved in the file room of the House of Representatives. Its purport was to so amend the copyright act of Feb. 3, 1831, as to extend its provisions to persons not citizens of the United States, and to their widows and children ; such persons being the subjects of foreign countries granting equal benefits to citizens of the United States. The stipulations necessary to be complied with be- fore a copyright could be secured were the deposit of a printed copy of the title, before publication, in the clerk's office of one of the district courts, and the stereotyping, printing, and publishing of the work copyrighted in the United States, within one month after its pub- lication abroad, by a citizen of the United States. The importation of the foreign edition by the American copyright proprietor rendered importation, or reprinting, free to all, which was also the case if the publisher allowed the supply of any work to become exhausted. The provisions of the bill were not to apply to newspapers or periodical publications. During the Civil War it was not to be ex- pected that any thought could be given to the subject of copyright, and it is no surprise, there- fore, to find no renewal of agitation concerning this question until 1866. On February igth of that year Mr. Edwin D. Morgan, of New York, presented to the Senate a petition from citizens of that State, praying the enactment of an international copyright law, which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Rela- tions ; and during the months of March and April following Mr. Sumner presented eleven different petitions and memorials for the same object, the first of these headed by William Cullen Bryant, and the second signed by Henry W. Longfellow and others. They were all re- ferred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Rela- tions, but were not printed ; and on February 28th of the following year (1867), Mr. Sumner, from that committee, asked that it be dis- charged from the further consideration of these petitions for international copyright, without any report having been made by the com- mittee. Dickens's second visit to this country, in 1867, may partially account for the renewal of the agitation beginning about that time, and which reached Congress early in the following year, when Mr. Samuel M. Arnell, of Tennessee, January i6th, submitted the following resolu- tion to the House of Representatives, which was read and agreed to: "Resolved, That the Committee on the Library is hereby instructed to enquire into the subject of international copyright, and the best means for the encourage- ment and advancement of cheap literature, and the better protection of authors, and to report to the House by bill or otherwise." The Com- mittee on the Library was a joint committee, consisting at that time of Senators Morgan, of New York ; Fessenden, of Maine ; and Howe, of Wisconsin, and Mr. Baldwin, of Massachu- setts ; Mr. Spalding, of Ohio, and Mr. Pruyn, of New York, members of the House of Rep- resentatives. Promptly, Feb. 21, 1868, Mr. Baldwin presented to the House a report ac- companied by a bill, both of which were ordered to be printed. Mr. Pruyn asked and obtained consent to submit the views of the minority of this committee, but probably be- cause no further action was taken upon the majority report no minority report was ever presented. 6 4 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. Mr. Baldwin's report, the third international copyright report, is a considerable document, presenting forcibly the need for and advantage of a law protecting the works of foreign authors in the United States. The initial paragraph is as follows : ' ' We are fully persuaded that it is not only expedient but in a high degree im- portant to the United States to establish such international copyright laws as will protect the rights of American authors in foreign countries and give similar protection to foreign authors in this country. It would be an act of national justice and honor in which we should find that justice is the wisest policy for nations, and brings the richest rewards." The report con- tinues : " In all civilized nations it is under- stood that the author of a book or a work of art has a natural right of property in his work as real as that of his neighbor to any other kind of personal property. No right can be more unquestionable." Pointing out how bene- ficial have been the results of the international copyright laws and treaties of European countries, the committee says: "We alone have neglected to change the antiquated and vicious policy that allows our authors to be plundered in foreign countries, represses literary development in our own country, makes the business of publishers, to a considerable extent, speculative and uncertain, and encour- ages the circulation here of the most worthless English books instead of the better books from other countries and from our own writers, which, under the operation of suitable copy- right laws, would exclude them from the mar- ket." For the policy advocated by Henry Clay, in his report, of granting protection to the works of foreign authors, the following four reasons are given, and each sustained by good arguments : I . A sense of justice to the author's right of property in his work ; 2. The development of our own literature, making it national; 3. The improvement of the business of manufacturing, publishing, and selling books in the United States ; 4. The promotion of the interests of American book-buyers. It is to be noted that this report lays much stress upon the need for laws which will secure the Ameri- can authors' property abroad, a consideration which was not touched upon in the two previous reports. The case of Mr. Motley and his "History of the Dutch Republic" is dwelt upon as an illustration of the need of such protection. Another novel argument in this report is to the effect that the establishment of international copyright laws would tend to en- courage the publication of translations of the best works of foreign countries, such as the best French, German, Swedish, and Danish works (according to the report), instead of the republication of the worthless English books. The committee have thought it worth while to devote more than a page of their report to answering the objections, real or imagined, which have been alleged against the bill, especially such as have been con- tained in the memorials presented to Congress. These objections are quoted, enumerated as follows, and answered seratim : I. " Such laws would increase the price of books to American readers ; " 2. " No American books are repub- lished in Great Britain;" 3. "This policy would give British manufacturers of books entire monopoly of the American market ; " 4. " It would prevent the adaption of English books to American prejudices" (which fact the committee thought an excellent reason for an international copyright law) ; 5. "It would derange and oppress the American book-trade, by suddenly giving the benefit of copyright to foreign books already published here." Re- troactive copyright was, of course, never con- templated. The bill accompanying Mr. Baldwin's report was the third international copyright bill presented to Congress. It is com- posed of five long sections, and enacts, in brief, that foreign authors of books, maps, dramas, or musical compositions, as well as designers of engravings, which are first published abroad after the act has gone into effect, and their ex- ecutors or legal assigns, shall have the same copyrights as are granted to citizens of the United States ; provided, the countries of first publication have secured to citizens of the United States equal rights of copy, and upon the stipulation that all editions are to be wholly manufactured in the United States, and sold by publishers, citizens of the United States, one copy of the best foreign edition to be deposited in the Library of Congress and the title-page registered in the clerk's office of some district court of the United States within three months after first publication, and within the same term arrangements must have been made, in good faith, with an American publisher for im- mediate publication in the United States, and SOLE ERG. all the requirements of the domestic copyright law registration of title, deposit of two copies in Library of Congress, etc. have been com- plied with, as for an original American work. Translations are to be protected provided the original work has been registered in the United States and a copy deposited in the Library of Congress within four months after first publi- cation, and it is announced upon the title-page that the author reserves the right to translate ; and, further, that within six months after date of such registration of original work the author- ized translation has been offered to an Ameri- can publisher. As with the original work, every edition of the translation must be wholly manufactured in the United States, and pub- lished by a citizen ; the provision as to trans- lations to extend only to books first published in countries where similar protection is secured to American authors. A proclamation by the President that arrangements have been con- cluded with any nation shall immediately entitle authors and artists of such country to the benefits of the act. The presentation of the "Baldwin" report resulted in a consider- able agitation among authors and an increment to the already considerable literature upon the subject of an international copyright with Eng- land. Just previous, in October, 1867, Mr. James Parton contributed a forcible article to the Atlantic Monthly; and in 1868, Mr. Henry Charles Carey issued a second edition of his " Letters on International Copyright," while the " Copyright Association for the Protection and Advancement of Literature and Art " pub- lished a pamphlet entitled: "International Copyright," being an account of the proceed- ings at a meeting of authors and publishers, at the rooms of the New York Historical Society, April 9, 1868, for the purpose of organizing the International Copyright Association. This was edited by Mr. Edmund Clarence Stedman, and contains, besides a number of letters from various authors, speeches by William Cullen Bryant, S. Irenaeus Prime, Francis Lieber, Samuel Osgood, and Philip Schaff, together with an appendix containing "The Right of Copyright," by S. I. Prime, and Richard Grant White's article "The Copyright Question as it Stands," and at the end a memorial to Congress praying the passage of a bill to secure the rights of authors, artists, and de- signers, which is signed by 153 authors, pub- lishers, artists, etc. But the outside agitation produced no effect upon Congress, and no action was taken upon either bill or report during that session. In 1870 Lord Clarendon proposed, on behalf of the British Government, a reciprocity treaty for a term of five years ; but this treaty pro- posal seems never to have gone so far as to have been considered by the Senate. In the 2d session of the 42d Congress Mr. Baldwin's bill was revived by Mr. S. S. Cox, of New York, who introduced it, without change, as House bill No. 470 of that ses- sion. He presented it to the House Dec. 6, 1871, when it was committed, without dis- cussion, to the Committee on the Library, and ordered to be printed. Not content with the prospect of a probable interment of his bill in the pigeon-holes of that committee, he moved, December nth, the consideration and passage of the following resolution: " Re- solved, That the Committee on the Library be directed to consider the question of an inter- national copyright, and to report to this House what, in their judgment, would be the wisest plan, by treaty or law, to secure the property of authors in their works without injury to others' rights and interests, and if, in their opinion, Congressional legislation is best, that they report a bill for that purpose." Mr. Kelley, of Pennsylvania, objected to the resolution; and Mr. Perce, of Mississippi, suggested that it be referred to the Committee on the Library, whereupon Mr. Cox pointed out that there was no propriety in doing that, as the resolution was a direction to that committee that they exercise their duty in a peculiar manner. As Mr. Kelley again objected to the resolution, Mr. Cox moved the suspension of the rules so as to enable him to introduce it, pending which the House adjourned ; but on the following Mon- day, December i8th, the resolution was taken up again, and decided in the affirmative by a vote of 105. On the 23d of January Mr. Cox moved that 500 additional copies of the bill be printed, which motion was referred to the Com- mittee on Printing, and the committee reported favorably February 7th, upon which Mr. Cox asked leave to make certain corrections in the bill 66 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. before the extra copies were printed, which was granted. Of this second print of the bill it has been impossible to secure a copy and ascertain the exact nature of the corrections or amendments; but as the "Baldwin" bill pro- vided that titles should be recorded in the clerks' offices of the district courts, and as Mr. Cox had reintroduced this bill without change, although the domestic copyright law when codified, July 8, 1870, had changed the place of record to the Library of Congress, it is safe to conjecture that the bill was amended in this respect, and very likely in this only. Mean- while the Pennsylvanians felt it necessary to take active steps to head off the new copyright movement. Mr. Kelley, following Mr. Cox's precedent, submitted to the House an opposi- tion resolution on Feb. 12, 1872, which was also referred to the Committee on the Library, and was ordered to be printed. It was to the following effect : " Whereas it is expedient to facilitate the reproduction here of foreign works of a higher character than that of those now generally reprinted in this country ; and whereas it is in like manner desirable to facili- tate the reproduction abroad of the works of our own authors ; and whereas the grant of monopoly privileges, in case of reproduction here or elsewhere, must tend greatly to increase the cost of books, to limit their circulation, and to increase the already existing obstacles to the dissemination of knowledge ; Therefore Resolved, That the Joint Committee on the Library be, and it hereby is, instructed to inquire into the practicability of arrangements by means of which such reproduction, both here and abroad, may be facilitated, freed from the great disadvantages that must inevitably result from the grant of monopoly privileges such as are now claimed in behalf of foreign authors and domestic publishers." In the Senate, also, the Pennsylvania senators were busy pouring in memorials from " citizens" of that great State, who are represented as being "engaged in making books," and more par- ticularly described as type-founders, printers, paper-makers, music-printers, binders, and gold-beaters ! (Pennsylvania statesmen do not recognize that class of her citizens called authors engaged in making books). These various petitions were referred to the Com- mittee on the Library, but were not printed. Mr. Henry C. Carey issued his second work upon this subject, entitled, " The international copyright question considered with special reference to the interests of American authors, American printers and publishers, and Ameri- can readers," in which the "Baldwin" bill is sharply criticized and copyright of any kind objected to ; and on January 27th there was a meeting of Philadelphia " publishers, paper- makers, and others interested in the manufact- ure of books," presided over by Mr. Henry C. Baird, at which a memorial was adopted opposing international copyright for eight rea- sons, and this document was ordered to be taken to Washington and laid before the Joint Committee by a suitable delegation. In New York the booksellers and publishers of that city, with a delegation from Boston, held meetings January 23d and February 6th declaring in favor of copyright, and drawing up a bill em- bodying their ideas, which, with an argument in support of it by Mr. William H. Appleton (who drew up the bill), together with other documents, it was resolved should be taken to Washington by a committee and laid before Congress. At the second of these meetings was presented a memorial of British authors, in which they conceded that " the Americans have strong reasons for refusing to permit the British publisher to share in the copyright which they are willing to grant to the British author," and, expressing themselves as duly appreciating the force of the reasoning which distinguished between the British author and the British publisher, suggested that negotia- tions be renewed on the condition of American re-manufacture. This document was signed by fifty authors, including Herbert Spencer, Sir John Lubbock, John Stuart Mill, George Henry Lewis, James A. Froude, John Morley, Prof. Huxley, Charles Darwin, Prof. Tyndall, and Mr. Ruskin. Especially to be noted as among the number are the two persons who were also signers of the first "Address" of British authors sent to America, thirty-five years earlier, namely, Thomas Carlyle and Harriet Martineau. The executive committee of the Copyright Association held a meeting in New York, on Friday, January 26, and adopted, for the purpose of presentation to the Library Committee, a bill drawn up by Charles Astor Bristed, which is comprehensive in proportion SOLE ERG. to its brevity, and is to the following effect : "All rights of property secured to citizens of the United States of America by existing copy- right laws of the United States, are hereby secured to the citizens and subjects of every country, the government of which secures reciprocal rights to citizens of the United States." The act to take effect two years after its passage. This agitation of the subject induced the Joint Committee on the Library, consisting, at that time, of Senators Howe, of Wisconsin ; Mor- rill, of Maine, and Sherman, of Ohio ; and Rep- resentatives Peters, of Maine ; Wheeler, of New York, and Campbell, of Ohio; to hold two public meetings for the purpose of hear- ing testimony upon copyright, and arguments were listened to from Mr. Appleton, of the New York publishing firm ; E. L. Andrews, Esq. ; Mr. Bristed ; Prof. Youmans ; Isaac Sheldon, and the late Mr. Van Nostrand, of New York, in favor of some bill protecting the works of foreign authors ; and, as opposed to the pas- sage of any measure, Mr. W. P. Hazard, one of a committee from Philadelphia, who also read a communication from Mr. Henry C. Lea ; and Mr. Hubbard, of Boston, who read a let- ter from Harper & Brothers objecting to inter- national copyright. This letter closes with the following words : " In view of the great re- sults which have grown out of the freedom of literary exchange which we now enjoy, . . . the liberalizing, broadening, elevating influ- ence upon the national mind of the choicest thoughts of another great and cultivated people now so freely opened to it, it is our belief that the adoption of any serious restriction upon this freedom would be a very hazardous experi- ment, and possibly an irrevocable calamity to the nation." On the igth of February the Committee held a final private meeting, at which were presented a printed statement by Henry Carey Baird, and a final draft of the bill drawn up by American publishers, slightly mod- ified from that presented at the earlier meet- ing of the committee. ' Directly following this 1 The text of this proposed bill is given in " The Law of Copyright," by W. A. Copinger, 2d ed.,8. London, 1881, pp. 496-497; and in the Publisher's Weekly, v. 15, 8. N. Y., 1879, p. 323. meeting of the committee, however, it was called upon to consider two new copyright bills, based upon the then novel "royalty" scheme of copyright, both presented to Con- gress upon the same day, Wednesday, Febru- ary 21, 1872, the one in the Senate by Mr. Sherman, and the other in the House by Mr. Beck. The two bills were ordered to be printed and referred to the Library Committee. The bill presented by Senator Sherman, com- monly called the "Elderkin" bill, from its being due to the suggestion of Mr. John El- derkin, grants to the foreign author of such country as extends similar privileges to Amer- ican citizens, what is called a " copyright " for ten years from first publication ; provided he delivers to the Librarian of Congress, within twelve months from such first publication, two copies of his work and complies with the other stipulations of the domestic copyright law; having done which he is at liberty to print and publish his work in this country himself, or he may contract with any publisher in the United States for publication at the rate of five per- centum of the gross cost of the publication as his royalty, it being especially enacted, how- ever, that any person or persons may republish the author's work, upon which, the bill pro- vides, he may sue them in any court of com- petent jurisdiction for his lawful royalty of five percentum of the gross cost of each publication. The bill introduced by Mr. Beck was suggested by Mr. John P. Morton, the well-known pub- lisher, of Louisville, Ky., and is similar in principle to the "Elderkin" bill, providing that a foreign author may obtain a copyright on his work on the following terms and condi- tions : " Before his work is first published for sale in this country, the title-page thereof must be recorded in the office of the Librarian of Congress, the work to be free to be printed and published by all responsible publishers ; the copyright not to exceed ten per centum on the selling price. The author shall have an agent prepared to make contracts, notice of which shall be given through the public press." Both bills stipulated that nothing in the act was to prevent the importation or sale of the foreign edition of the work. Mr. Morton, who suggested this bill, says, in a letter to the Hon 68 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. S. S. Cox, " Whether Congress ought to pass an International copyright law or not is another question. But, if they should do so, they should look to the interests of the millions of readers, and not to the protection (I believe that is the word) of the few publishers." In this chronological progress our narrative has now reached the first set speech in Con- gress upon the subject of international copy- right, which was delivered by Mr. Archer, of Maryland, on the floor of the House, Saturday, March 23, 1872. Mr. Archer's long speech, which occupies nearly five pages of the Con- gressional Globe, is mainly devoted to the consideration and refutation of the arguments advanced by Mr. Henry Charles Carey, in his " Letters on International Copyright." The speaker's own position upon this question is plainly indicated in the following expressive passages, which open his oration: "What a melancholy spectacle is presented to the Chris- tian and moralist, in this day of boasted en- lightenment, by the two greatest nations on the globe, in their dealings with each other in the matter of mental commodities ! Two bands of literary pirates, virtually armed with letters of marque from their governments (for their governments would most assuredly protect them if resistance were made to their piratical encroachments), launch themselves boldly forth on the great sea of literature, and openly flaunting the black flag in the mid-day sun, swoop mercilessly down upon property which they know to be another's, and selecting for capture the richest prizes there afloat, hurry them into port, where they find thousands of eager purchasers. These purchasers having, as one might think, no honest scruples, propound no awkward queries about right and title, but buy and read, and ponder and profit by their ill-gotten merchandise just as coolly and as calmly as if no crime had been committed against the laws of God and of justice It is, indeed, not too much to say that such plain infractions of the eighth commandment, tacitly sanctioned as they are by our govern- ment, and constantly going on in our midst, by habituating us to scenes of open robbery, perpetrated with entire impunity, are enough to demoralize the whole nation, already deeply tainted with political corruption. And per- haps the most startling feature of the matter is to be found in the utter indifference with which the whole thing has come to be regarded, even by persons of undoubted integrity." Mr. John B. Storm , of Pennsylvania, also made a speech in the House on Saturday, April I3th, on international copyright, in which, after some preliminary remarks upon property in mental productions, and an account of the recogni- tion of the right of literary property in Eng- land, he dwells more particularly upon the provisions of the "Baldwin" bill, introduced by Mr. Cox, which he defends. These two, by no means great efforts, are the only speeches as yet delivered in Congress upon this impor- tant subject. The Committee on the Library withheld their report until the next session of Congress, when, on Feb. 7th, 1873, Senator Morrill, of Maine, submitted it to the Senate, whereupon it was ordered to be printed, and the committee dis- charged from the further consideration of the subject. On the same day he reported the bill introduced by Mr. Sherman without amend- ment, and that it ought not to pass ; and, upon his motion, it was ordered to be postponed in- definitely. The "Morrill" report, as printed, is a document of eight pages, some of these being taken up by tables showing the English and American prices of the same books, from which exhibits the committee conclude that the law of copyright in England and this country " tends unmistakably to check the popular dif- fusion of Ikerary production by largely increas- ing the price." The committee, in the first paragraph of their report, say, " that, after attentive consideration of the subject-matter, they have found the question of international copyright attended with grave practical difficul- ties, and of doubtful expediency, not to say of questionable authority." It had been argued before the committee, by Mr. E. L. Andrews, that the provision of the Constitution granting Congress power to legislate concerning authors, had not been limited to American authors, and was, therefore, intended to grant protection to literary and scientific productions, irrespective of nationality, that this was a matter of jus- tice and right, and that the Constitution, in this respect, is mandatory in its character, and, therefore, not to legislate in this behalf is to refuse the performance of an obvious duty. This reasoning, it will be remembered, is in line with that adopted by Mr. Henry Clay, in the SOLE ERG. 69 first international copyright report. In reply to this, the committee say (with much reason) that, as regards the constitutional provision, "The language is sufficiently comprehensive, doubtless, to include all authorship. But, in construing the Constitution, reference should be had to the condition of affairs at the period of its adoption, the obvious intent of its framers, as gathered from contemporaneous history, and must receive such construction as will carry out the object in view. It was, it should be observed, to constitute, in a qualified sense, a government in the interests of the people of the United States. Its framers would not, therefore, be expected to be solicitous for the protection of individual rights of those alien to its jurisdiction, nor were the circumstances of their national position such as were calculated to invite to the consideration of topics so eminently international in their operations and relations." And the report concludes : "In view of the whole case, your committee are satisfied that no form of international copyright can fairly be urged upon Congress upon reasons of gen- eral equity or of constitutional law ; that the adoption of any plan for the purpose which has been laid before us would be of very doubtful advantage to American authors as a class, and would be not only an unquestionable and per- manent injury to the manufacturing interests concerned in producing books, but a hinder- ance to the diffusion of knowledge among the people, and to the cause of universal education ; that no plan for the protection of foreign authors has yet been devised which can unite the support of all, or nearly all, who profess to be favorable to the general object in view ; and that, in the opinion of your committee, any project for an international copyright will be found, upon mature deliberation, to be inex- pedient." Within a year after the date of the " Mor- rill" report the sixth international copyright bill was presented to the House of Representatives by Mr. Henry B. Banning, of Ohio, Feb. 9, 1874, and referred to the Committee on Pat- ents. The document is entitled, "A bill ex- tending to authors in certain cases the rights, privileges, and protection given inventors by the laws of the United States," and is a simple and comprehensive reciprocity copyright bill, granting that authors and artists of foreign countries publishing works after the act has been passed "shall have the same exclusive right and liberty to multiply and sell copies of such works in the United States that now are, or may hereafter be, granted by the laws of the United States to authors and artists who are citizens of the United States, subject to the same conditions, regulations, and limitations : Provided, however, That the provisions of this act shall not be extended to the books or other works of authors and artists that may be first published in any foreign country where the laws shall not, at the time of such first publica- tion, grant and secure to citizens of the United States, and to persons resident therein, privi- leges and benefits of copyright equal in extent to those herein specified." This bill unhap- pily, received no further attention either in the committee or in the House. In 1878 was set on foot, for the fourth time, a movement to secure international copyright by treaty. This agitation is noticeable as orig- inating with Messrs. Harper and Brothers, who had previously been so outspoken in opposition to any measure for this purpose. On Novem- ber 25th of that year they addressed Mr. Wm. M. Evarts, then Secretary of State, submitting a draft for an international copyright conven- tion, based upon the so-called " Clarendon treaty" of 1870, which has become known as the "Harper draft." 1 This new movement awakened considerable discussion. The draft was drawn up in the interests of publishers as well as authors, and while there were some differences expressed in matters of detail, nearly all the prominent publishers signified their ap- proval, while John Jay, James Grant Wilson, and Nathan Appleton, as American members of the International Copyright Committee of the Association for the Reform of the Law of Nations, sent a memorial approving the plan of treaty, to the Secretary of State, Feb. n, 1880, and, in August of the same year, it was approved by fifty-two American authors, in- cluding Longfellow, Holmes, Whittier, and Emerson. In September of that year it was submitted by Minister Lowell to Earl Gran- ville. But the basis of this treaty had been the stipulation that English books, to secure copyright in this country, must be wholly manu- factured here, by an American citizen, within i The texts of the "Clarendon" treaty and of the "Harper draft" are printed in parallel columns in the Publisher's Weekly, v. 15, 8. N.V., 1879, pp. 7 o MIL WA UKEE CONFERENCE. three months after original publication in Eng- land ; and Earl Granville, in his reply to Mr. Lowell, in March, 1881, stated that the British government favored such a treaty, but consid- ered it essential that the term of republication be extended to six or twelve months. With the change of administration, and the sad death of President Garfield, the matter ended without having been officially presented to Congress. In the 3d session of the 46th Congress the petition of Theodore D. Woolsey and others, for the passage of a bill extending copyright in the United States to foreign authors, compos- ers, and designers, was presented to the House four times between Dec. 6, 1880, and Jan. 10, 1 88 1, and referred to the Committee on the Library, and it was also twice presented to the Senate on Dec. 9th and I3th, 1880, and re- ferred to the same committee. This petition which was signed, among 'others, by Ed. Everett Hale and Dr. J. G. Holland, was never printed, and seems to have received no further consideration. In the first session of the next Congress, on Feb. 2, 1882, and again on Feb- ruary 28, Mr. A. C. Harmer, of Pennsylvania! presented petitions of " citizens representing the industries connected with the book and printing trades," in favor of international copyright. These were referred to the Com- mittee on Ways and Means. The next movement in order of time was the introduction, on March 27th, 1882, to the notice of the House, by William E. Robinson, of New York, of an extraordinary measure in- tended, if taken seriously, to codify the whole subject of literary property. The title of this elaborate bill, which consists of 22 sections and covers 73 quarto pages, is as follows: "A bill to declare and define two species of personal rights of property in literary articles ; to declare and define national rights and inter- national rights which the Government of the United States, for the people thereof, possesses in literary articles ; to provide for the protec- tion of such personal rights and of such national and international rights ; to declare any viola- tion of such personal rights and of such na- tional and international rights to be a species of crime ; to classify such species of crime into degrees ; to fix the punishment for each degree of such crime; and for other purposes." In order to carry out the purposes of the bill, as defined in its title, provision is made for the establishment of the " United States Office of Literature " within the Department of the In- terior, to be under the immediate direction of the " United States Commissioner of Litera- ture," whose duties are defined at great length ; he or she (the bill providing that all the offi- cers may be either male or female) is to hold office during good behavior at a salary of $5,000 per year. The amount appropriated in the bill, to carry out its various provisions, is the mod- est sum of $1,290,000 ! The bill may be called an international-copyright bill, its provisions being extended to foreigners by section 18 (K) which is to the following effect: "Any person of a foreign nation whose government grants, within its jurisdiction, to any and all citizens of the United States the same rights in literary articles which it grants to its own citi- zens, shall have in the United States the same rights in a literary article originally and law- fully conceived and made by such foreign per- son, as any citizen of the United States has in the United States." It was ordered to be printed and referred to the Committee on Pat- ents, but seems to have been regarded more as a literary curiosity than as a serious legisla- tive document. The eighth international copyright bill was introduced by Mr. Patrick A. Collins, of Mas- sachusetts, to the House of Representatives, December 10, 1883, when it was, without dis- cussion, referred to the Committee on Patents, and ordered to be printed . This bill, which is entitled, " A bill to extend the privileges of the copyright acts to persons not citizens of nor domiciled in the United States," contains some original and novel pro- visions. It grants copyright to foreigners to the extent of the provisions of our domestic copyright law, by striking out of the latter the words " citizens of the United States or resi- dents therein, "and substituting the word " per- son ; " but the rights thus simply granted are made dependent upon the fulfilment of certain stipulations set out in Section 5 of the bill, as follows : " That every copyright article first published, represented, or performed beyond the limits or jurisdiction of the United States shall be printed and published by the author or proprietor, or under his authority, either in the SOLE ERG. original form or in translation, within one year from the date of entry, and two copies of such American publication delivered or deposited within fourteen days after the expiration of a year from the date of entry, in addition to the copies now required by Section 4956 of the Revised Statutes." In connection with this stipulation as to the American edition, Section 1 1 specially provides that plates from which to print may be imported. And, according to Section 7, if such American publication is not made, any person may, after the expiration of one year from the date of entry of title, make a new entry of the title, authorship, or proprietor- ship, and thus obtain the exclusive right of republication upon giving bond, with surety, to the Librarian of Congress, to faithfully per- form the following conditions : i . Give notice of the original entry of copyright and of the subsequent entry. 2. Keep an accurate account of the numbers of copies printed, vouching the same monthly by sworn statements of printers, binders, and himself. 3. Make affidavit as to the highest retail price and of the discounts allowed to the trade ; and 4. Pay to the Libra- rian of Congress eight per centum of the high- est retail price for each book before it is put upon the market ; in default of all of which he shall be liable to an injunction, account, and treble damages. The Librarian of Congress is to pay to the proprietor, according to original entry, on demand and identification, the pro- ceeds, less five per centum as his commission. The bill is also designed to protect dramatic and musical compositions, it being enacted that the public representation of a drama shall be deemed to be a publication of it, and if no publication or representation of a foreign drama or musical composition occurs within a year after registration, any person may represent or perform the same upon paying the Librarian of Congress $20 for each performance. Mr. Col- lins's bill seems never to have been brought back to the House from its committee. The next move in Congress in relation to in- ternational copyright was the introduction of the much discussed "Dorsheimer" bill, pre- sented by the Hon. William Dorsheimer, of New York, to the House, January 8, 1884. Being put to a vote as to the committee refer- ence, it was agreed to refer it to the Committee on the Judiciary, 1 consisting at that time of fifteen members, including John Randolph Tucker, of Virginia ; William Dorsheimer, of New York ; Patrick A. Collins, of Massachu- setts, and Luke P. Poland, of Vermont. Mr. Dorsheimer's measure is entitled, " A bill granting copyrights to citizens of foreign coun- tries, 1 ' and contains seven sections providing, in the order of the sections, as follows: i. Foreign authors of books, maps, dramatic, or musical publications, shall have sole control of the publishing and selling of their works in this country, and, in case of dramas, of the public performance thereof, and they shall have the exclusive right to dramatize or to translate their own works ; 2. This right to continue for twenty-five years ; 3, but shall terminate upon the death of the author ; 4. No copyright, how- ever, to be renewed after the expiration of the term of twenty-five years; 5. Whenever any foreign country shall grant by law to citizens of the United States similar privileges, the Presi- dent shall issue a proclamation to that effect, from the date of which, the authors of such country shall be entitled to copyright in the United States ; 6. But the provisions of the act are not to apply to authors of any country until the President has made a proclamation as above ; 7. The provisions of the domestic copyright law, not inconsistent therewith, to be applied to foreign authors ; and foreign copyrights to be subject to the stipulations of the domestic law. Promptly on Tuesday, the 5th of February, Mr. Dorsheimer submitted a report from the Judiciary Committee, which was ordered to be printed ; and reported the bill with some amendments, upon which it was placed upon the Calendar of the House. The amendments made in committee are to the fol- lowing effect: In the first section the word " map" is stricken out, and the provision that " authors shall have the exclusive right to dramatize, or to translate their own works" is modified to "may reserve" such right. The 1 The newspaper discussions upon this bill are con- veniently reprinted in the Publisher's Weekly, v. 35, 8. N. Y., 1884, pp. 39, 58-61, 91-5, 169-174, 108-207, 230- 243, 360-374, 394-303, 3 2 3-29. 347-5', 488-9, S3-o, 572-3, S95-6- MIL WA UKEE CONFERENCE. third section is stricken out, and sections two and four are so amended as to make the terms of copyright twenty-eight and fourteen years, or the same as the terms granted by the do- mestic law. Sections five and six contain verbal alterations, and an amendment giving foreign countries the option to extend a similar grant to American citizens by convention of treaty as well as by law, and section seven is amended so as to more explicitly require foreign authors to comply with the stipulations of the domestic law in order to obtain a copyright. Three new sections are added enacting that whenever any foreign country shall cease to grant copyrights to Americans, the citizens of such country shall cease to enjoy literary rights here, and that works published or dramas pub- licly performed in this country before copy- right is obtained, or abroad one year before application has been made may not obtain protection. These amendments were doubt- less due to the efforts of the American copy- right league. The report which accompanied this amended bill is a very brief document, setting out, firstly, the provisions of the bill which it recommends, followed by information as to the copyright provisions of the most im- portant European countries, mainly as to the term of protection, etc., and a list of the copy- right treaties negotiated by the principal Euro- pean States from 1843 to 1881, and finally summarizes the arguments in favor of the measure as follows : ' ' There is no civilized country which does not in some form recognize the property which an author has in the crea- tions of his intellect. The committee think that the United States should grant this right of property to foreigners as well as to natives. There can be no just discrimination based upon the nationality of the person to whom the prop- erty rightfully belongs. The policy by which States refused rights of property to foreigners has long since been reversed. In most, if not in all the States of the Union, foreigners are entitled to hold property, both real and per- sonal, upon precisely the same terms as natives. It is manifest that the ancient discriminations grew out of ignorance and prejudice, and that the modern rule conduces to civilization and to the peace of nations. It is believed that, if the bill accompanying this report is passed, Amer- ican authors will receive great and valuable ad- vantages . . . The committee earnestly recommend this measure to the House, in the full belief that its passage will work a high and enduring benefit to the people of the United States, and contribute to the civilization and enlightenment of the world." On Monday, February 1 8th, Mr. Dorsheimer, under instructions from the Committee on the Judiciary, moved that the rules be suspended so as to enable him to report from the com- mittee, and the House to agree to, a resolution making the bill a special order for February 27th, and to continue from day to day thereafter until finally disposed of. But even a move to give the bill a chance for discussion was not to be successful. Mr. Deuster, of Wisconsin, re- quested the reading of an extract from the Chicago Tribune to the effect that the bill was "a scheme to make books dear," and followed it by some remarks based upon the assertion that this is not the "land of monopolies, but the land of liberty . . . the powerful pro- tector of free competition," etc. Mr. Chace, now a senator from Rhode Island, then a mem- ber of the House, while in favor of an inter- national copyright and therefore favorable to the discussion of this bill, was opposed to it in its present shape, on protection grounds. Mr. Kasson, of Iowa, considered the bill as present- ing a question which it was important to dis- cuss, and he would therefore vote affirmatively. Mr. Kelley, of Pennsylvania, desired to say that he was a believer in the doctrine of international copyright ; but the bill involved the interests of paper-makers, printers, bookbinders, etc., and he therefore thought a two weeks' interval should be given them to make themselves heard before the House was called upon to vote upon the bill. The question being put, 156 voted yea, and 99 nay ; but as 65 failed to vote, the resolution was lost for want of a two-thirds vote. Following this action in the House two protests were sent in, the one from citizens of Media, Pa., March 2oth, and the other from the Chicago Trade and Labor assembly, against the passage of an international copyright bill, and were presented by Mr. Everhart and Mr. G. R. Davis. April i6th, on motion of Mr. Dorsheimer, the House ordered the bill to be reprinted with an amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Judiciary Committee. This is the third print of the bill, SOLE ERG. 73 in which the bill as originally introduced on January 8th, is printed in crossed type, and is followed by a complete print of the bill in italics, as it was reported from the committee on February 5th, there being no change in the text. President Arthur's message to Congress at the beginning of the 2d session of the 48th Congress Dec. i, 1884, recommended legis- lation upon international copyright in the fol- lowing words : " The question of securing to authors, composers, and artists copyright privi- leges in this country in return for reciprocal rights abroad is one that may justly challenge your attention. It is true that conventions will be necessary for fully accomplishing this result, but until Congress shall by statute fix the extent to which foreign holders of copy- right shall be here privileged, it has. been deemed inadvisable to negotiate such conven- tions. For this reason the United States were not represented at the recent conference at Berne." December 8th, same year, Mr. Spooner pre- sented to the House, and, Dec. igth, Mr. Aldrich to the Senate, a memorial of the Music Teachers' National Association urging the pas- sage of the Dorsheimer or some similar bill. In the House this memorial was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, while upon the motion of Senator Aldrich it was printed in the Congressional Record, and referred to the Joint Committee on the Library. This petition sets out the belief of the petitioners that musi- cal-art creation has not developed in America proportionally with the other arts, owing to the want of an international copyright law, and the consequent free reprinting of foreign musical works, and it is therefore urged that the "Dorsheimer" bill be passed. The Boston Handel and Haydn Society, and K. H. Darby, of St. Louis, and others, presented, through Mr. Spooner, Feb. igth, 1885, similar peti- tions. But, although Mr. Dorsheimer's bill was now upon the House Calendar, it failed to come up for discussion and there was no sub- sequent action upon it. On the 5th of Jan., 1885, the tenth inter- national copyright bill was presented to Con- gress by Mr. English, in the House, where it was read twice, ordered to be printed and re- ferred to the Committee on the Judiciary. This bill deals wholly with dramatic composi- tions, and provides, stated as briefly as possi- ble, that citizens of such foreign countries as shall grant similar privileges to citizens of the United States, who shall comply with the pro- visions of chapter three, title sixty of the Re- vised Statutes relating to copyrights, within one year after first publication or performance, shall thereupon, have the sole right to reprint or perform their dramatic works in the United States for the double terms of twenty-eight and fourteen years, and may reserve the right to translate their own works. No action was taken upon this bill. The eleventh international copyright bill, which was drawn up by the American Copy- right League, was presented to the Senate on the 6th of January, 1885, by Mr. Hawley, of Conn., and was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. This bill contains five sections, of which the first enacts, " That the citizens of foreign states and countries of which the laws, treaties, or conventions confer, or shall here- after confer, upon citizens of the United States rights of copyright equal to those accorded to their own citizens, shall have in the United States rights of copyright equal to those en- joyed by citizens of the United States ; " the fifth section providing that the proclamation of the President to that effect shall be conclusive proof that such equality of rights exists in any country. Section 2 enacts that the law shall not apply to any work published before the date of the act ; and Section 3, that the domes- tic copyright laws shall be applicable to the copyright created by the act ; while Section 4, repeals the clause (Section 4971 of the Revised Statutes) in the domestic law which allows the importation of foreign books, this being neces- sary in order to prevent other importation than that authorized by the copyright proprietor, his right of importation being implied. This sec- tion also amends the paragraph of the copyright law (Section 4954), which provides for the fourteen years' extension of copyright, by strik- ing out the words which limit such second term to citizens or residents of the United States ; and further amends the clause (Section 4967) which forbids the printing or publishing of any manuscript without consent of the 74 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. author, by striking out the parenthetical condi- tion, "if such author or proprietor is a citizen of the United States or resident therein." But the wording of the first section of this bill, to the effect that foreign authors are to have such copyrights as are conferred by our law upon our own citizens, makes it necessary to leave Section 4952 of the Revised Statutes intact, which grants copyright to " any citizen of the United States, or resident therein" which is an awkward necessity, and is besides likely to lead to confusion of construction. The committee making no report during that Congress, Sena- tor Hawley in the first session of the following (the 49th) Congress, reintroduced his bill Dec. 8, 1885, when it was again referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. But, on the I4th of the same month, Senator Hoar from this committee asked that the committee be dis- charged from the further consideration of the bill, and that it be referred to the Committee on Patents, which was agreed to. On the 6th of Jan., 1886, the Hon. John Randolph Tucker, of Va., brought the bill before the House of Representatives, upon which it was referred to the Judiciary Committee of that branch of Congress. The annual message of President Cleveland, transmitted to Congress at the beginning of the present session, and dated December 8, 1885, contains a paragraph concerning inter- national copyright. After speaking of the Berne conference of September, 1885, and our listening delegate there, the President says : "The interesting and important subject of international copyright has been before you for several years. Action is certainly desirable to effect the object in view. And while there may be question as to the relative advantage of treating it by legislation or by specific treaty, the matured views of the Berne conference can- not fail to aid your consideration of the subject." On the 2ist of January last, Senator Chace, who, when a member of the House of Repre- sentatives, had shown considerable interest in the subject of international copyright during the agitation of the " Dorsheimer " bill, intro- duced to the Senate the twelfth bill presented to Congress for the purpose of accomplishing the desired object. This bill was read twice, and referred to the Committee on Patents. It is worthy of notice and comment that the method adopted by this last bill for securing to the foreign author protection for his literary property in this country is identical with that suggested more than fifty years ago by the earliest public advocate of international copyright yet discovered by the writer. The anonymous author of the article entitled " Community of copyright," published in The Knickerbocker for October, 1 835 , speaking of the phraseology of the copyright act of February, 3, 1831, which extends the privileges of copy- right to " any person or persons, being a citizen or citizens of the United States, or resident therein," says, after setting out at some length, and in strong language, the injustice worked by this clause, both to English and to American authors : " This should be reason and argument enough for the instant repeal of the oppressive clause. But, if another reason is required, let it be found in the meanness and injustice of the provision. Let the clause be, then, repealed, wherever it occurs in the instru- ment, so that all persons who choose foreigners and citizens alike may enjoy the benefit of what clearly is and manifestly should be considered property. . . . The act of 1831, thus purified, would be tantamount in effect to the passage of an international copy- right law betwixt America and Great Britain." And in this very way the bill introduced by Senator Chace grants copyright to the foreign author, by striking out from the text of the domestic copyright law every clause which con- fines the privileges of the right conferred to "citizens" or "residents" of the United States, leaving the reading of the section of the Revised Statutes which creates the right, " any author, inventor, designer, or proprietor of any book, map, chart, dramatic or musical compo- sition," etc., shall have the sole control of the sale of copies thereof. But while the first sec- tion of the present bill so exactly carries out the suggestion of the writer quoted, the further provisions of this bill would most certainly not find favor with the anonymous contributor to The Knickerbocker, who believes in the author's absolute and perpetual right of property in his literary productions. For while the " Hawley" bill was limited by the reciprocity provision, SOLE ERG. 75 the copyright privilege granted by this bill is restricted ; ist, by the requisition of American manufacture ; 2d, by the absolute prohibition of importation ; and, 3d, by the total loss of literary property in case of a publisher's breach of contract. The provisions of Mr. Chace's bill, as originally introduced, may be summa- rized as follows : I, Amending the various sec- tions of the Revised Statutes so as to exclude the limitation of its provisions to citizens of the United States, thus extending to foreign authors the copyright therein secured to citizens or residents ; 2, Granting authors the exclusive right to dramatize or translate their copyrighted works. To secure these rights the copyright must be recorded in the office of the Librarian of Congress not more than fifteen days subse- quent to its publication in the country of its origin, and two copies of the best American edition must be deposited in the same office within three months after the date of recording. And in case the American publisher, after pub- lishing, abandons the publication, the copyright becomes void ; and during the existence of the copyright the importation of other editions is absolutely prohibited, and custom-house offi- cers and postmasters are required to seize all copies entered at the custom-houses or trans- mitted by mail; but, in the case of copyrighted translations, the prohibition of importation shall apply only to other translations, and not to the original work, unless that is also copy- righted. The charge for recording is to be one dollar, to go to defray the expenses of lists of copyrighted articles to be printed by the Secretary of the Treasury, at intervals of not more than a week, for distribution to collectors of customs and postmasters and possible sub- scribers at $5 per annum; the material for these lists to be furnished by the Librarian of Congress, who is to have an addition of one thousand dollars to his salary therefor. Each volume of works of more than one volume must be entered separately, and new, revised editions of foreign books heretofore published may be copyrighted. These two opposite measures, the reciprocity bill of the Copyright League, and Mr. Chace's bill, which is strongly tinged with " protection," both before the same Senate, awakened con- siderable discussion. Authors and writers generally naturally advocating the former (Sen- ate bill No. 191), and the opponents of inter- national copyright, as well as those in favor of granting a restricted right, uniting in favor of the latter (Senate bill No. 1178). Petitions, memorials, and other documents pro and con, were sent to the Senate Committee on Patents, and the committee, evidently in earnest in the matter of hearing all sides regarding this sub- ject, held public hearings on January 28th and agth, February I2th, and March nth. These meetings were well attended by authors, pub- lishers, and representatives from various book- manufacturing establishments, and the views of all parties were expressed without restraint. The American Copyright League, in defence of their own bill, introduced by Senator Hawley, were directly represented by Dr. Howard Cros- by, A. G. Sedgwick, Esq., and Mr. George W. Green ; while their bill was advocated in speeches by Mr. Henry Holt, the well-known publisher, George Ticknor Curtis, and James Russell Lowell, as well as by a carefully pre- pared " Argument," drawn up by the Execu- tive Committee of the League, which was distributed to members of the Senate Commit- tee in a pamphlet, and was also included in the printed appendix to the report of the com- mittee. Mr. Dana Estes, of Estes & Lauriat, the Boston firm, and Mr. Horace E. Scudder, may be said to have represented the publishers' side of the question, both advocating interna- tional copyright, but inclined to favor a clause in any law passed requiring the American manufacture of foreign books copyrighted in this country. It should be noticed, however, in regard to statements from publishers, that Mr. Holt's oral argument, as well as letters sent to the committee by George Haven Put- man and Harper & Brothers, was unreservedly in favor of the "Hawley" bill. Mr. R. R. Bowker, editor of the Publishers' Weekly, whose earnest efforts in behalf of international copyright, extending over many years, are well known to the reading public, made a brief oral statement, and also submitted a concise paper (printed with the report), in which the subject is considered as affecting the interests of authors, the interests of publishers, the interests of the 7 6 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. public, and as affected by the principle of jus- tice. Mr. Gardiner G. Hubbard argued against copyright of any kind, and Mr. Henry C. Lea submitted a statement criticising the " Hawley " bill and advocating that of Mr. Chace, while Mr. Henry Carey Baird, in his statement, took the ground that no protection shouldbe granted to foreign authors until our own domestic copy- right laws are revised, in his words, " upon a rational and sound basis." Mr. Welsh repre- sented the Philadelphia Typographical Union, which union claims to have drawn up the bill presented by Senator Chace, and he submitted some two dozen " Resolutions," etc., from other Typographical Unions advocating the latter bill. Mr. Roger Sherman, of Phila- delphia, who boasted that he was the only de- fender of the rights of 55,000,000 of reading people against the "ring" of 200 authors, proved pretty conclusively that he was but the narrow advocate of his own interest in a single piratical publication ; while Joseph R. Sypher, Esq., gave valuable testimony as a copyright lawyer, setting out the legal status of the " Chace" bill in particular. The last hearing was devoted to the statement of Mr. A. R. Spof- ford, Librarian of Congress, a most valuable argument in favor of an international copyright law, in which he takes into consideration (i) the effect upon American authors and Amer- ican literature of the denial or the granting of copyright between nations ; (2) its effect upon foreign authors ; (3) its effect upon Amer- ican publishers and book-manufacturers ; (4) its effect upon American readers, or the great mass of the people, and he closes with the fol- lowing words : " Finally, Mr. Chairman, there can be no higher aim in statesmanship than the endeavor to establish justice ; for justice is the highest interest of all men. The authors appeal for what they deem a right long denied. Either we must hold that authorship is the only form of human labor that shall go unpaid, or we must grant a copyright that shall be paid pro rata by all who use the authors' works. . . . If, as has been said, the policy of nations is enlightened selfishness, and the aim of the legislator is not justice, but expediency, the question recurs, is it expedient to foster a brood of merely cheap and common literature, at the expense of the great masters of English and American thought and speech ? The book- manufacturing interests have enjoyed, for nearly a century, protection in every form ; the book- writing interests now ask you to consider their appeal for some measure of protection, an appeal seconded by the majority of the publish- ers and by the almost unanimous voice of the American press. By simple extension of the area of copyright, already granted by all the leading nations except our own, it is plain that the present worth of copyright to authors will be enhanced. If it is true that the chief glory of a nation is its literature, whatever Congress can do to promote and elevate that literature should be done. Beyond question, the just thing will be found in the long run to be the expedient thing, and the fact that we cannot do perfect justice should not deter us from doing as much justice as we may." The testimony upon the subject of inter- national copyright thus obtained at the hear- ings before the Senate committee was reported stenographically and printed, making a pam- phlet of 133 pages, of which several thousand copies were distributed by the committee and other persons interested in the subject. The same matter was also appended to the report of the committee submitted to the Senate by Mr. Chace, on May 21, 1886, accompanied by a new print of his bill, somewhat amended, which is given a new number as Senate bill 2496 of the 1st session of the 4gth Congress. The corrections in the new print of the "Chace" bill are largely verbal and unim- portant : instead of fifteen days being allowed for recording title the record must be made not later than the day of first publication ; "American edition " is emphasized to " edition printed in the United States ; " the clause to increase the salary of the Librarian of Con- gress is stricken out and provision made that he may employ an additional clerk at $1,200 per annum to prepare the weekly lists of copy- right entries ; and the date set for the taking effect of the act is changed to the ist day of July, 1887. The amendments of importance are the striking out of the clause which renders the copyright void in case the American pub- lisher for any cause abandons the publication ; and the rewording of section four relating to the copyrighting of separate volumes of works of more than one volume, and of revised edi- tions of foreign works, prohibiting the copy- righting of works of which one volume has SOLS ERG. 77 been published before the act takes effect, or of books forming part of a series in course of publication at the time the act shall take effect. The effect of this amendment will be to ex- clude from the benefits of the act such deserving works as the "Encyclopedia Britannica," the "International Scientific Series," the "English Men of Letters " series, and the series entitled the " English citizen," besides other valuable serial publications. The report accompanying this amended bill institutes, in the first place, a comparison be- tween patents and copyrights, and our patent laws as contrasting with our copyright laws. The following distinction is drawn between a patent and a copyright: "An invention for which a patent is granted is but an idea put in a mechanical form, but the subject of the patent is the idea or mechanical principle, and that the Government protects ; whereas copy- right does not secure any monopoly to the idea or thought, but only to the form of words or language with which the idea is clothed." And the report continues: "While it is true, as all thinking men will admit, that the influ- ence of literature upon the welfare of the nation is and has been far more beneficent than that of mere invention, it is remarkable that legis- lation upon property in patents has proceeded much farther and upon a much broader basis than has that upon the subject of copyright. Herein your committee believe the people at large have suffered a loss. All governmental protection to property is based upon the in- herent right of each individual to the fruit of his own labor. We recognize the rights of the foreigner to be protected here in e\ r ery kind of property except the productions of authorship. ... In so far as patents for the arts are con- cerned we put the citizens of all nations on an equal footing with our own. This was in the line with much of the legislation of the country, and in keeping with the general progress of in- ternational law, and that recognition of comity among nations upon which rests to a large degree that valuable and fructifying interna- tional intercourse the value of which is coming to be recognized by all the great civilized nations of the earth. The United States Gov- ernment has recognized this principle in its treatment of all international questions save and except this one of international copyright. . . . The United States alone, of all the great civilized nations which have made advances in literature, still refuses to recognize the principle of international comity as applied to the pro- duction of literary property. Your committee recognize the moral obligation of comity amongst nations, and believe that the best in- terests, material, moral, and intellectual, of our people will be promoted by adopting and acting upon that principle in the treatment of this question. . . . The theory accepted by some, that we may secure cheap literature which is beneficial to the people, by refusing to protect the right of the foreign author to his literary property, is, in the judgment of your com- mittee, a mistaken one." Having made this excellent argument in favor of granting copyrights to foreigners, the committee are thereupon necessitated to de- fend the restrictions upon such rights contained in the bill, which last, according to the report, 4< recognizes the paramount duty of protecting, first, the material interests of our own people, and proceeds so far only in securing the rights of citizens of other nations as that may be done without injury to vested rights in this country or without interfering with the income of our own labor, . . . and that, by its provisions, we carefully protect the American publisher and the American artisans who make the books in this country." But, in spite of this language, the assertion is reiterated in the report that the bill commended has nothing to do with the tariff", free-trade, or protection. The matter of prohibition of importation is twice referred to in the report, and stated to be " founded upon sound and strong reason ; " but no reasons are given in support of the statement, the only defence of the clause being the following paragraph : " With this provision the operation of this bill would be beneficent in its influence upon all these in- terests ; without this safeguard a great wrong would be done to them." " The foreign au- thor cannot complain," continues the report, " because we give him protection in our mar- kets conditioned only that he publish here. The American artisan will be insured only that which he now possesses, the labor put upon the publication of foreign books. The Ameri- can publisher and the foreign will both be pro- tected, while the American reader, if he will compare the cost of books published abroad with that of similar books published in this country, the committee believe, will readily perceive that his interests will suffer no detri- 7 8 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. ment. In order to secure all these interests no practical way could be found except the provi- sion prohibiting the importation of copyrighted books." It is curious to recall in this connec- tion, that on Saturday, January 27, 1872, at a meeting of publishers and others, at Philadel- phia, including Mr. Henry C. Baird and Mr. Henry C. Lee, who now find so many arguments in favor of the absolute prohibition of importa- tion, a protest was signed against an inter- national copyright bill which contained a simi- lar provision, because " it would enable the foreign author and his assignee in this country, by an absolute monopoly in the protection, to fix the price of his book without fear of com- petition." It would almost seem that the Philadelphians (who, it will be remembered, are the originators of this bill), convinced against their will that public sentiment in 1886 demands international copyright as simple justice to foreign authors, are determined in yielding to this sentiment to secure such absolute monopoly as they can, without regard to the cost to the American reader. To sum up, the efforts in Congress to secure an international copyright law have now ex- tended over a period of nearly fifty years, during which time twelve separate and distinct bills have been drawn up for the purpose of obtaining this measure, and they have been presented to the attention of Congress twenty- one times. Memorials and petitions, for and against, have been laid before Congress and its committees in great numbers, more than twenty of these having been deemed of sufficient importance to be given permanent record in the printed Public Documents. Six reports have been made upon the sub- ject by Congressional committees, four of these being favorable, and but two adverse. The twelfth bill, accompanied by a favorable report from a committee of the Senate, awaits the action of the present Congress. This bill will undoubtedly come up in the next session, and there is still room for hope that the forty-ninth Congress will not finally adjourn without doing itself the honor to pass some measure securing international copyright. BIBLIOGRAPHY. BILLS. 1837 (Feb. 16). A bill to amend the act en- titled " An act to amend the several acts respecting copyright." Presented by Henry Clay, of Ky., 2d sess. of 24th cong. Senate bill, no. 223. Printed, 2 pp. 4. Note. This bill is reprinted in " Remarks on literary property. By Philip H. Nicklin," 16. Philadelphia, 1838, p. 36. 1837 (Dec. 1 6). A bill [etc., same title]. Pre- sented by Mr. Clay, 2d sess. of 25th cong. Senate bill, no. 32. (Same as S. bill, 24: 2, no. 223.) Printed, 2 pp. 4. 1838 (Dec. 17). A bill [etc., same title]. Pre- sented by Mr. Clay, 3d sess. of 25th cong. Senate bill, no. 75. (Same as S. bill, 24: 2, no. 223.) Not printed. 1840 (Jan. 6). A bill [etc., same title]. Pre- sented by Mr. Clay, 1st sess. of 26th cong. Senate bill, no. 129. (Same as S. bill, 24: 2, no. 223.) Printed, 2 pp. 4. 1842 (Jan. 6). A bill [etc., same title]. Pre- sented by Mr. Clay, 2d sess. of 27th cong. Senate bill, no. 115. (Same as S. bill, 24:2, no. 223.) Not printed. 1858 (Jan. 1 8). A bill to provide for an inter- national copyright. Presented by Edward Joy Morris, of Pa., 1st sess. of 35th cong. H.R. bill, no. 82. MS. 1860 (Feb. 15). A bill [etc., same title]. Presented by Mr. Morris. 1st sess. of 36th cong. H.R. bill, no. 32. (Same as H.R. bill, 35: i, no. 82.) MS. 1868 (Feb. 21). A bill for securing to anthors, in certain cases, the benefit of international copy- right, advancing the development of American literature, and promoting the interests of publishers and book-buyers in the United States. Presented by John Denison Baldwin, of Mass., 2d sess. of 4Oth cong. H.R. bill, no. 779. Printed, 6 pp. 4- 1871 (Dec. 6). A bill [etc., same title]. Pre- sented by Samuel Sullivan Cox, of N.Y., 2d sess. of 42d cong. H.R. bill, no. 470. (Same as H. R. bill, 40: 2, no. 779.) Printed, 5 pp. 4. Note. A second (corrected) print of this bill (500 copies) was ordered Jan. 23, 1872. The text of this bill is printed in "The publishers' and stationers' weekly trade circular," v. i, S B . N.Y., F. Leypoldt, no. 2, Jan. 25, 1872, pp. 39- 40. SOLE ERG. 79 1872 (Feb. 21). A bill providing the terms on which copyrights may be granted to foreign authors. Presented by James B. Beck, of Ky., ad sess. of 42d cong. H.R. bill, no. 1667. Printed, 2 pp. 4. 1872 (Feb. 21). A bill for securing to authors, in certain cases, the benefit of international copy- right. Presented by John Sherman, of Ohio, 2d sess. of 42d cong. Senate bill, no. 688. Printed, 2 PP . 4". Note. The text of this bill is printed in " The publish- ers' and stationers' weekly trade circular," v. i., 8. N. Y., F. Leypoldt, 1872, p. 209; and letters commenting upon it, p. 199, and pp. 295-296. 1874 (Feb. 9). A bill extending to authors, in certain cases, the rights, privileges, and protection given inventors by the laws of the United States^ Presented by Henry B. Banning, of Ohio, 1st sess. of 43d cong. H.R. bill, no. 1825. Printed, 2 pp. 4- 1882 (March 27). A bill to declare and define two species of personal rights of property in literary articles ; to declare and define national rights and international rights which the Government of the United States, for the people thereof, possesses in literary articles; to provide for the protection of such personal rights and of such national and inter- national rights; to declare any violation of such personal rights and of such national and interna- tional rights to be a species of crime; to classify such species of crime into degrees ; to fix the punish- ment for each degree of such crime ; and for other purposes. Presented by William E. Robinson, of N.Y., 1st sess. of 47th cong. H.R. bill, no. 5463. Printed, 73 pp. 4. 1883 (Dec. 10). A bill to extend the privileges of the copyright acts to persons not citizens of nor domiciled in the United States. Presented by Patrick A. Collins, of Mass., 1st sess. of 48th cong. H.R. bill, no. 770. Printed, 5 pp. 4. 1884 (Jan. 8). A bill granting copyrights to citizens of foreign countries. Presented by William Dorsheimer, of N.Y., 1st sess. of 48th cong. H.R. bill, no. 2418. Printed, 3 pp. 4. Note. A second (amended) print was ordered Feb. 5, 1884, 4 pp., and a third print, with original and amended texts was ordered, April 16, 1884, 6 PP- The text of the original bill is printed in " The publishers' weekly," v. 25, 8., N.Y., 1884, p. 59, and the text of the amended bill, pp. 204, 205; while comments from all sources are printed, pp. 39, 59-61, 91-5, 169-175, 198-207, 230-242, 261- 2 74. 294-303, 323-9, 347-351, 380-390, 464-5, 488, 572-3, 595-6, 666. (J an - 5)- A bill granting copyrights to citizens of foreign countries. Presented by William E. English, of Ind., 2d sess. of 48th cong. H.R. bill, no. 7850. Printed, 3 pp. 4. 1885 (Jan. 6). A bill to establish an inter- national copyright. Presented by Joseph R. Haw- ley, of Conn., 2d sess. of 48th cong. Senate bill, no. 2498. Printed, 2 pp. 4. Note. The text of this bill is printed in " The pub- lishers' weekly," v. 27, 8. N.Y., 1885, p. 28; and editorial and quoted comments, pp. 49-52, and v. 29, 1886, pp. 20- 3> 74-5, iQS-7- 1885 (Dec. 8). A bill [etc., same title]. Pre- sented by Mr. Hawley, ist sess. of 49th cong. Senate bill, no. 191. (Same as S. bill, 48: 2, no. 2498.) Printed, 2 pp. 4. 1886 (Jan. 6). A bill [etc., same title]. Pre- sented by John Randolph Tucker, of Va., 1st. sess. of 49th cong. H.R. bill, no. 2493. (Same as S. bill, 48: 2, no. 2498.) Printed, 2 pp. 4. 1886 (Jan. 21). A bill to amend title sixty, chapter three, of the Revised Statutes of the United States. Presented by Jonathan Chace, of R.I., ist sess. of 49th cong. Senate bill, no. 1178. Printed, 4 pp. 4. Note. The text of this bill is printed in "The pub- lishers' weekly," v. 29, 8. N.Y., 1886, pp. 232-3; and comments, pp. 140, 233, 778-9. 1886 (May 21). A bill [etc., same title]. Pre- sented by Mr. Chace, 1st sess. of 49th cong. Senate bill, no 2496. (S. bill, 49: I, no. 1178, amended.) Printed, 5 pp. 4. 1837 (Feb. 16). Report, by Henry Clay, of Ky., from the Select Committee to whom was re- ferred the address of certain British and the peti- tion of certain American authors concerning Inter- national Copyright. Printed, 3 pp., 8, for uniform- ity in Pub. doc., Senate, 2d sess. of 24th Cong., v. 2, doc. no. 179. Note. Mr. Clay's report is reprinted, with comments upon each paragraph, in " Remarks on literary property. By Philip H. Nicklin," 16. Philadelphia, 1838, pp. 27-38, and noticed in "The American quarterly review," v. 21, 8. Philadelphia, no. 41, March, 1837, pp. 214-229. 1838 (June 25). Report, by John Ruggles, of Me., from the Committee on Patents and the Patent Office, to whom was referred a bill (S. bill, 25 : 2, no. 32) to amend the act entitled "An act to amend the several acts respecting copyright." Printed, 7 pp., 8, in Pub. doc., Senate, 2d sess. of 25th cong., v. 6, doc. no. 494. 8o MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 1868 (Feb. 21 ). International Copyright. Re- port, by Mr. Baldwin, from the Committee on the Library, who were instructed " to inquire into the subject of international copyright, &c., and to re- port by bill or otherwise." Printed, 6 pp., 8, in Reports of committees of H.R., 2d sess. of 4Oth cong., v. I, no. 16. 1873 (Feb. 7). Report by Mr. Morrill, of Me., from the Joint Committee on the Library, on the resolution directing them to inquire into the practi- cability of securing to authors the benefit of inter- national copyright. Printed, 8 pp., 8, in Reports of committees of the Senate, 3d sess. of 42d cong., v. I, no. 409. Note. Mr. Merrill's report is reprinted in full, with editorial note at end, in "The publishers' weekly," v. 3, 8., N. Y., no. 58, Feb. 22, 1873, pp. i9i->95- 1884 (Feb. 5). Copyright to citizens of foreign countries. Mr. Dorsheimer, from the Committee on the Judiciary, submitted the following report. Printed, 3 pp., 8, in Reports of committees of H. R., 1st sess. of 48th cong., v. I, no. 189. Note. Mr. Dorsheimer's report is reprinted in "The publishers' weekly," v. 25, 8., N.Y., 1884, pp. 261-2. 1886 (May 21 ). International Copyright. Mr. Chace, from the Committee on Patents, submitted the following report: to accompany bill, S. 2496. Printed, viii. + 133 pp., 8, in Reports of the com- mittees of the Senate, ist sess. of 49th cong , no. 1 1 88. CONTENTS : Report of the Committee, including- text of title 60, chap. 3, Revised Statutes; and S. bill (49: i), no. 2496: " A bill to amend title sixty, chapter three, of the Revised Statutes of the United States," pp. i-viii. State- ments made before the Committee on Patents of the United States Senate relating to the bill (S. no. 101) and the bill (S. 1178), pp. 1-133: The testimony is prefaced by the text of S. bill no. '191, p. i; and S. bill no. 1178, pp. 1-2; following- which are the statements of Howard Crosby, pp. 3-4; Senator Joseph R. Hawley, pp. 4-6; A. G. Sedgwkk, pp. 6-S; Henry Holt, pp. 8-14; George Walton Green, pp. 14-15; S. L. Clemens ("Mark Twain"), pp. 15-17; George Ticknor Curtis, pp. 17-20; William Henry Browne, pp. 20-21; Horace E. Scudder, pp. 21-27 ( a ^ f Jan. 2Sth) ; James Lowndes, pp. 27-28; Gardiner G. Hubbard, pp. 28-33; James Russell Lowell, pp. 34-44; James Welsh, pp. 44-53; Dana Estes, pp. 53- 58; R. R. Bowker, pp. 58-60 (of Jan. 29th). Brief pre- sented by the American Copyright League : " Interna- tional Copyright. Memorandum in behalf of Senate bill no. 191 and H.R. bill no. 2493," pp. 60-68. Statement of Henry C. Lea, pp. 68-73 ; statement of Roger Sherman (Feb. 1 2th), pp. 74-86; additional statement of Dana Estes (Feb. I2th), pp. 86-90; statement of Josiah R. Sypher (Feb. I2th), pp. 90-111; additional statement of R. R. Bowker, pp. 111-115; statement of Henry Carey Biiird, pp. 115-120; statement of Ainsworth R. Spofford (March nth), pp. 120-130; statements of George Haven Putnam, pp. 130-131; Harper & Brothers, pp. 131-132; John W. Lovell Co., p. 132; George Munro, pp. 132-133. MISCELLANEOUS (PETITIONS, MEMORIALS, ETC.). 1837 (Feb. 2). Petition of Thomas Moore and [55] other authors of Great Britain, praying Con- gress to grant to them the exclusive benefit of their writings within the United States. Printed, 4 pp., 8, in Pub. doc., Senate, 2d sess. of 24th cong., v. 2, doc. no. 134. The same : Address of certain authors of Great Britain (Feb. 13, 1837). Printed, 4 pp., 8, in Exec, doc., H.R., 2d sess. of 24th cong., v. 4, doc. no. 162. Note. The Address of British authors is reprinted, with remarks upon the different paragraphs, in " Remarks on literary property. By Philip H. Nicklin." 16. Phila- delphia, 1838, pp. 13-26. 1837 (Feb. 4). Memorial of a number of citi- zens of the United States, praying an alteration of the law regulating copyrights. Printed, 2 pp., 8, in Pub. doc., Senate, 2d sess. of 24th cong., v. 2, doc. no. 141. 1837 (Feb. 20). Memorial of G. Furman and other public writers, praying the passage of an In- ternational Law of Copyright. Printed, 3 pp., 8, in Pub. doc., Senate, 2d sess. of 24th cong., v. 2, doc. no. 192. 1837 (Feb. 20). Petition of the professors of the University of Virginia, praying an alteration of the laws respecting Copyrights. Printed, 3 pp., 8, in Pub. doc., Senate, 2d sess. of 24th cong. v. 2, doc. no. 193. 1838 (Jan. 15). Memorial of a number of citi- zens of Philadelphia against the passage of an In- ternational Copyright law. Printed, 4 pp., 8, in Pub. doc., Senate, 2d sess. of 25th cong., v. 2, doc. no. 102. The same : Pennsylvania. Memorial of inhabi- tants of Philadelphia against an International Copy- right law. Printed, 4 pp., 8, in Exec, doc., H. R., 2d sess. of 25th cong., doc. no. 117. 1838 (Feb. 13). Memorial of the Columbia Typographical society of the city of Washington, against the enactment of an International Copy- right law. Printed, I p., 8, in Pub. doc., Senate, 2d sess. of 25th cong., v. 3, doc. no. 190. 1838 (March 13). Memorial of the New York Typographical society against the passage of an International Copyright law. Printed, 5 pp., 8, in Pub. doc., Senate, 2d sess. of 25th cong., v. 4, doc. no. 296. SOLBERG. 81 1838 (March 19). Memorial of Peter S. Du Ponceau and others praying Congress to appoint committees of inquiry on the subject of copyright, and to await their report before acting on the sub- ject. Printed, 2 pp., 8, in Pub. doc., Senate, 2d sess. of 25th cong., v. 4, doc. no. 309. The same : Pennsylvania. Petition of Peter S. Du Ponceau and forty-eight others, citizens of Phil- adelphia, against the International Copy-right law. Printed, 2 pp., 8, in Exec, doc., H.R., 2d sess. of 25th cong., v. 8, doc. no. 260. (Same as Senate memorial, 25 : 2, v. 4, no. 309, except that the name of Jacob K. Switz is substituted for that of Jacob R. Amett.) 1838 (April 10). Memorial of Richard Penn Smith and others against the passage of the bill (S. bill, 25 : 2, no. 32), to establish an Interna- tional Copyright law. Printed, 4 pp., 8, in Pub. doc., Senate, 2d sess. of 25th cong., v. 4, doc. no. 369- 1838 (April 1 6). Memorial of the booksellers of Boston, Mass., against the passage of the Inter- national Copyright law. Printed, 2 pp., 8, in Exec, doc., H.R., 2d sess. of 25th cong., v. 10, doc. no. 340. 1838 (April 24). Memorial of a number of citizens of Boston praying the passage of an Inter- national Copyright law. Printed, 4 pp., 8, in Pub. doc., Senate, 2d sess. of 25th cong., v. 5, doc. no. 398. 1838 (April 24). Memorial of a number of citizens of New York praying the passage of an International Copyright law. Printed, 4 pp., 8, in Pub. doc., Senate, 2d sess. of 25th cong., v. 5, doc. no. 399. (Same as Senate doc. 25 : 2, no. 398, but with different list of signatures.) 1838 (April 24). Memorial of a number of citizens of Philadelphia praying the passage of an International Copyright law. Printed, 3 pp., 8, in Pub. doc., Senate, 2d sess. of 25th cong., v. 5, doc. no. 400. 1838 (May 21). Citizens of Philadelphia, &c. Memorial of citizens of the United States, princi- pally resident in Philadelphia, asking for the exten- sion of the advantage of Copyright to all native or foreign residents or non-residents. Printed, 3 pp., 8, in Exec, doc., H.R., 2d sess. of 25th cong., v. 10, doc. no. 383. (Same as Senate doc. 25 : 2, no. 398, without the signatures.) 1838 (June 4). Massachusetts, Inhabitants of. Remonstrance of inhabitants of Massachusetts against the passage of an International Copyright law. Printed, 3 pp., 8, in Exec, doc., H.R., 2d sess. of 25th cong , v. 10, doc. no. 416. 1842 (April 12). International Copyright. Message from the President of the United States transmitting the correspondence between the Governments of the United States and Great Britain in relation to the international law of copyright. Printed, 4 pp., 8, in Exec. doc. H. R., 2d sess. of 27th cong., v. 4, doc. no. 187. 1842 (June 13). Memorial of a number of persons concerned in printing and publishing, . praying an alteration in the mode of levying duties on certain books, and remonstrating against the enactment of an International Copyright law. Printed, 4 pp., 8, in Pub. doc., Senate, 2d sess. of 27th cong., v. 4, doc. no. 323. 1843 (Dec. 16). Copyrights: Memorial of citizens of the United States for an International Copyright law. Printed, 3 pp., 8, in Exec, doc., H.R., 1st sess. of 28th cong., v. I, doc. no. 10. The same, reprinted in Misc. doc., H.R., 1st sess. of 3g Epiphanius E GREEK FATHERS. Eusebius Pamphilus E8 Evagrius 9 Georgius Pisides Gregorius Naz. G Gregorius Nys. c8 Gregorius Thaum. eg Hegesippus H Hermas H2 Hermias H3 Ignatius I Isidorus Pelusinus 15 Justinus Martyr J Methodius Origenes Papias Petrus Chrysol. Polycarpus Procopius Gaz. Tatianus Theophilus Antioch Theodoretus Theodorus P P2 p6 P8 T T4 T5 T6 TEACHING BIBLIOGRAPHY IN COLLEGES. BY R. C. DAVIS, LIBRARIAN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN. I HAD not performed the duties of a librarian long before it became evident to me that many of my readers were working at a disad- vantage. Their knowledge of books of com- mon reference was very limited ; they did not know of the existence of special bibliographies, and of indexes to serial publications ; that they could help themselves in these matters by an intelligent exercise of their reasoning powers never occurred to them. They were, in short, running in a rut out of which it seemed impos- sible for them to get. In addition to this they made no effort, on coming into the library building for the first time, to learn what they might expect, or what was expected of them, or the whereabouts of anything. They were willing to leave all to chance. As one effort to remedy these evils I decided to give a few lectures on the library in general, and on library aids in particular, at the opening of each college year. This I did first in 1879, and have continued to do since. One lecture (the first) has reference to the use of the library. I endeavor to show the student what his obli- gations are as a user of the library, and also what his rights are. I also describe the card catalogue, showing how it is constructed, and how it should be handled, with a mention of the printed catalogues of other libraries in our possession, and how they may be helpful. I give a list of the books of reference, with ex- planations of their scope and value. Particular attention is called to the special bibliographies which are becoming so numerous. And, lastly, I endeavor to teach that mental process which is available everywhere, and under all circum- stances, in which the present knowledge of the inquirer is interrogated, and made to indicate the direction in which further knowledge is to be sought. This lecture is followed by a second, on " The Books of the Year," and a third, on "Reading Why we Do it, and How we Should Do it." These lectures, delivered, as I have said, at the opening of the college year, are sometimes well attended, and sometimes not. I shall continue them, because I have evidence every year that some individuals are helped by them both in their ability to use books and in their appreciation of books. In the year 1881 I submitted to the Faculty of the University an outline of a systematic course of instruction in Bibliography, which they were desired to consider, and, if it met with their approval, to recommend to the Board of Regents for incorporation in the curriculum. The scheme was approved by the Faculty, recommended by them as desired, and, at the next meeting of the Board of Regents, the course was established. It is an elective, lect- ure course, of one hour per week, extending through the second semester. Those who take it, and pass a satisfactory examination, receive a credit of one-fifth. Before proceeding to give an outline of this course of study I will make a few explanatory remarks. I hardly need to say in this presence that, although Bibliography is not a new subject, and although it has been the specialty of a number of eminent scholars, its boundaries are not quite settled yet. While generally agreeing that it is the " Science of Books," writers differ more or less as to the extent of the field it may cover. Some of the most distinguished of the French and English bibliographers have included in it the study of ancient MSS., as well as the study of printed books. The writer of the article on the subject in the gth edition of the " Encyclo- paedia Britannica" confines it to a consideration of printed books, and applies to a consider- ation of ancient MSS. the term Paleography. There is no need of controversy here. Bibli- ography properly covers ancient as well as modern books ; it includes Paleography. If it is sometimes desirable to consider modern books alone, so it is sometimes desirable to consider ancient and modern books in connec- tion, the modern as a development of the ancient ; and it is sometimes desirable to con- sider ancient books alone. In neither case should the use of the term Bibliography be pro- hibited as inapplicable. This is undoubtedly a bibliographical associ- tion, yet the line dividing between types and pens, between paper, and parchment and papy- rus, is never crossed in the papers that are read at its meetings, or in the discussions that fol- low the readings. If there is a bibliographical journal published in the country it is the Library journal; and yet I think only one article of an antiquarian character has ever ap- peared in it, and that was followed by a note stating that it was an exception to the rule of the Journal, which " confines it to topics that concern the librarian as an administrator rather than as a scholar." I think the language of the announcement of the School of Library Economy to be opened at Columbia College at the beginning of the coming year is that " the principles of library management " only will be taught. Of the wisdom of the founders of the Association, and of the Journal, and of the School of Library Economy, in thus confining study and discus- sion to the utilitarian side of Bibliography there can be no doubt. Time and use, which test the wisdom of all courses of action, attest the wisdom of this course as regards the Asso- ciation and the Journal. But the case is altered when the subject is to be taught to college students not for a specific purpose but rather as a part of liberal educa- tion. The antiquarian, or historical, side is important then. The student should become familiar with that portion of the subject in all of its aspects. If art contributes to it as it does he should know what it contributes. If history contributes to it as it does he should know what is gained from history. If literature contributes to it as it does, largely, of course he should know what literature gives. In the course given at the University, there- fore, all these contributions from art and his- tory and literature are collected and arranged in that order which seems the most natural, and to the two divisions of Bibliography which are generally recognized, viz. : Material, or Practical, and Intellectual, another is added, which I term Historical Bibliography, and place first as introductory. We have, then, three main divisions of the general subject : i. HISTORICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY. This com- prises a description of the writing materials of the different ages; of MSS. ; of the preserva- tion of ancient literature ; of the revival of DA VIS. 93 learning in the fourteenth century, and that almost simultaneous event, the beginning of modern literature ; of the invention of printing and the improvements in the art ; of the early printers and their works ; of libraries, and of the copyright. 2. MATERIAL BIBLIOGRAPHY. This has reference to the denominations and sizes of books, and their mechanical execution ; to bibliographical nomenclature, to editions, to catalogues, to buying and caring for books, etc. 3. INTELLECTUAL BIBLIOGRAPHY. This has to do with the classification of literature, and the contents of books. In order to convey as clear an idea as pos- sible of what is taught I will give a synopsis of the twenty lectures which at present consti- tute the course. On Historical Bibliography there are seven lectures : I. WRITING MATERIALS. The origin of writing growing out of the de- sire of man to give expression to his thoughts and perpetuity to his achievements ; Rock in- scriptions ; Tables of stone, ivory, metal, and wood ; The use of coloring matter, making available the barks and leaves of trees, and the skins and intestines of animals ; Clay tablets ; Papyrus ; Parchment ; Wax tablets ; Palm leaf of the Cingalese, and other Eastern nations ; Origin of modern paper, and when and how a knowledge of its manufacture was introduced into Europe ; Minor materials, as pens and inks. 2. CLASSICAL MSS. Forms assumed by MSS. ; The characters in which they were written ; How they were multiplied, and to what extent, in the times of greatest literary activity in Greece and Rome ; The subject illustrated by a view of books and reading in Rome in the first century ; The no- menclature of the subject ; Dangers to which classical MSS. were exposed ; Their preserva- tion through the Dark Ages ; Part of the Monks in the matter. 3. THE REVIVAL OF LEARNING. What this revival was ; "Through 700 years," said Lionardo Bruni, "no one in all Italy has been master of Greek letters ; Petrarch ; Boc- caccio ; John of Ravenna, the itinerant professor of Latin ; Emanuel Chrysoloras, the Greek ; Filelfo ; Poggio, and the MSS. found and tran- scribed by him ; Nicholas V., and the Vatican library ; Vespasiano, first of modern booksell- ers ; Vittorino da Feltre, the model educator ; Aldus Manutius, the first printer of critical texts ; Decadence of classical learning in Italy in the i6th century, and its rise in Northern Europe from the labors of Grocyn, Linacre, Reuchlin, Erasmus, and others. 4. MSS. OF THE MIDDLE AGES AND THE BE- GINNINGS OF MODERN LITERATURE. Ulphilas and the Gothic language in the 4th century ; Cyril and the Sclavonic language in the gth century; Celtic MSS., and Celtic learning in the 7th and 8th centuries ; Arabian MSS., and Arabian learning in the 9th and loth centuries; What the MSS. of the Middle Ages contained that still finds appreciation in its entirety, or has been worked over and finds appreciation in other forms of literature. 5. THE INVENTION OF PRINTING. The arts of the first part of the I5th cent- ury; Wood engraving; Playing cards; Block books ; Political and social condition of Europe in the I5th century; The invention typogra- phy, not printing ; The claimants to the honor of the invention ; Warmth of the controversy over these alleged inventors ; The older writers on the subject bibliographers rather than practical printers ; Their conclusions un- satisfactory on this account; Elimination of all from the list of claimants except Coster and Gutenburg ; A consideration of the claims of each ; The phenomenal books, the " Biblia Pau- perum," the " Ars Moriendi," the ' Speculum," the " Donatuses," and others ; How were they printed, and who printed them ? Why the ancient nations did not print ; The conditions that made the art possible in the I5th century. 6. THE EARLY PRINTERS. Fust and Schoeffer ; Their "Offices of Cicero," the first classic printed (1465) ; Sweynheim and Panwartz at Subiaco and at Rome ; Their " Lactantius ; " Roman type first used by them 94 MIL WA UKEE CONFERENCE. in their edition of Cicero's Letters (1467) ; Nicholas Jensen ; The Manutii ; Their editions of the Greek classics ; The Aldine, or Italic type ; Ulric Gering, the first printer of France ; Antoine Verard, and the new school of print- ing founded by him ; The Estiennes, or Ste- phenses ; John Amerbach and his editions of the Christian Fathers ; Jean Froben, Amer- bach's successor, and the friend and publisher of Erasmus ; The Elzeviers ; William Caxton ; Wynkin de Worde ; Richard Pynson. 7. LIBRARIES. Ancient libraries ; Libraries of the Middle Ages ; The classification of libraries ; The Li- brary of the British Museum ; The National Library of France ; The Library of the Vatican; The Imperial Library of St. Petersburg ; Harvard College Library. On Material Bibliography there are five lectures : I DENOMINATIONS AND SIZES OF BOOKS. Anonymous, pseudonymous, posthumous, and other names of books resulting from cir- cumstances of authorship ; Esoteric and exoteric books ; Classics ; Sizes of books, as folios, quartos, etc. ; How the sizes are produced ; This method of designating books unsatisfac- tory ; Efforts of librarians to change it ; Methods of the American Library Association and the United Kingdom Library Association. 2. THE MECHANICAL EXECUTION OF BOOKS. Paper ; Type ; Illustrations ; Bindings, etc. 3. EDITIONS. What editions are ; How they are multi- plied ; Wherein editions differ ; Books of which there are many editions ; The choice in editions 4. CATALOGUES. Catalogues of authors ; Catalogues of sub- jects ; Classified catalogues ; The dictionary system; General catalogues, as Brunei's and Lownde's ; Catalogues of libraries ; Catalogues of collections for sale ; Written and printed catalogues; The card system ; Special bibliog- raphies ; Poole's index of periodical litera- ture ; The cooperative index : Bulletins. 5- THE CARE OF BOOKS. The enemies of books enumerated by Mr. Blades, viz.: "fire, water, gas and heat, dust and neglect, ignorance, the bookworm, other vermin, bookbinders, and book collectors ; " How improvements in the construction of li- brary buildings preserves from some of these enemies ; In what ways ignorance is inimical to books ; What the bookbinder does that is disastrous ; The book collector, or bibliomanic : his idiosyncrasies ; How to pack books. On Intellectual Bibliography there are eight lectures : I. THE CLASSIFICATION OF KNOWLEDGE. Schemes of Bacon, Bentham, Coleridge, and others, relating particularly to philosophy ; Systems for the classification of books in li- braries, notably Bouillaud's, Ersch's, Home's, Brunei's, Edwards 1 , and later ones. In the seven remaining lectures the main classes into which literature is divided are subdivided to as great an extent as possible, and an endeavor is made to name the best books in each of the subdivisions. The reasons for the course that existed in my mind, and by which I justified the request for its establishment, may be formulated thus : The book is the student's chief tool, his sine qua 11011. Has he mastered the Literce hu- titaniores, if on the day of his graduation he knows little or nothing about this tool with which he has wrought, either its history or its workmanship? It has been necessary for him to become familiar with the theory of the evolution of man from a primordial cell. Should he not also become familiar with the fact of the evolu- tion of the modern book from a rock inscrip- tion, or, more remotely, from a grove of trees, or a pile of stones? Why should not the col- lege student be taught bibliography as well as philosophy, or art, or literature? It may be said that a knowledge of books, as books, is of less importance than a knowledge of philoso- phy, or of art, or of a particular literature. I can- DA VIS. 95 not admit it. I wish to be understood aright. I am not considering the relative importance of the subjects abstractly, weighing them, but their importance to the student in general. The exigences of life will make a demand on that student for bibliographical knowledge twice where they will make one demand for the other more special knowledge. I appeal con- fidently to the experience of college-bred men for confirmation of what I affirm. Again, it may be said that a knowledge of Bibliography is gained from a study of other subjects. Yes; something about the MSS. of certain ancient classical writers will be im- parted by the professors of the ancient lan- guages. Something about the various editions of the modern classical writers will be received from the professors of the modern languages. But all this is incidental ; the facts are few and disconnected, and the impressions made will not be permanent. For instance, if the student is reading the Correspondence of Cicero, he will probably be told that the sole authority for the letters " ad Familiares " is a MS. discovered by the poet Petrarch at Ver- celli. He will wonder, momentarily, how this happened to the sentimental Italian, with whose name he has always associated that of Laura, the woman who was the source of his inspi- ration, and then he will probably forget the fact altogether. Now give this fact to the student, with the associated facts, in a chain of interesting events. He beholds Petrarch in a new char- acter ; as a student of Cicero, and a lover of the old Roman literature, art, life, and philosophy. Laura does not appear upon the scene. Petrarch's utterances are those of a practical, earnest man. " I detested," he said, as he turned from what was about him back to the past, " I detested the frivolities and senseless chatter of the moderns. ... I was the first, in Italy at least, to bring back the style of our forefathers." The student will not forget the fact in this company, nor the associated facts. He will be taught not only that the poet was the apostle of the Renais- sance, but also what that great movement was, and what was accomplished by the actors in it. Again, the teacher of Italian literature will dwell upon the piquant style of Boccaccio, upon his wit and his eloquence, and will remark probably that it is a pity that his masterpiece, the " Decamerone," is too indecent to be read. His association with Petrarch, and his partici- pation in the revival of learning may be mentioned incidentally, but his earnest and successful labors in the interests of learning will not be given sufficient prominence to make him live in the mind as any other than the author of a fascinating, but licentious, book. But the page of Boccaccio's life that is open to the bibliographical student does not tell him about the " Decamerone," but describes his indefatigable pursuit of the relics of ancient literature. What lives in the memory is not a tale penned to delight an immoral court, but his noble and indignant protest against the mutilation of books as he looked tearfully over the neglected library at Monte Casino. While, therefore, bibliographical knowledge is obtained by the study of literature as commonly pursued, and by the study of other subjects, it is only at those points where the subjects dovetail into each other, and it is consequently inadequate. In the study of a literature, the end of the study is a knowledge of that literature pure and simple. The in- structor, at the moment that he says, " Here is an interesting fact, but not altogether relevant," calls attention away from it again. It can only be something " by the way." Now a practical consideration : A college education is supposed to, and generally does, make books a necessity. Should not a part of that education that makes books necessary include instruction in the arts of acquiring and caring for them? The existence of a School of Library Economy at Columbia may be taken as a justification of this instruction for librarians. I need only to call attention to the fact that any man who collects books in large numbers has to meet many of the responsi- bilities of a librarian. The results of the experiment may be given briefly. During the four years that the lectures have been delivered there has been an annual average attendance of twenty-four persons, regularly enrolled. Others are present, but are not members of the class. About ten per 9 6 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. cent, of those regularly enrolled take the work for some other reason than a desire to be benefited by it, and they are not benefited by it particularly. They fail at examination. About twenty-five per cent, both grasp the subject as a whole and enter into its details with intelligence and enthusiasm. They speak often, with gratification, of finding links that bind together fragments of knowledge already possessed by them, but of which they had not before perceived the connection. And they find much that is suggestive in the matter brought to their notice, much that provokes them to profitable research in this direction and in that. Also they find that, as an immediate result of their study, their grasp of all the accumulations they have made is rendered more comprehensive. Of the remain- ing sixty-five per cent, it may be said that they do their work fairly well, and are helped by it. I think these results justify the establishment of the course, and I consider that part of the matter as practically settled ; but that it may be so modified and so changed as to produce far better results is certain in the nature of things, and I shall not only welcome sugges- tions but I shall also endeavor to take criticism in that spirit which makes it profitable. SOME NEW DEVICES AND ARRANGEMENTS. BY J. N. LARNED, OF THE BUFFALO LIBRARY. I HAVE here a drawing of the book-stacks which are being constructed in the new building of the Buffalo Library. They are a modification of the book-stack idea as devel- oped heretofore at Harvard, Amherst, Ann Arbor, and elsewhere. Instead of being carried to a height of six or seven stages, or tiers, our stack stops at two (of seven feet each) ; each tier having capacity for the storage of nearly 100,000 volumes. The construction, designed by the architect of the building, Mr. C. L. W. Eidlitz, of New York, is entirely novel. Since the weight to be sustained is comparatively small, it has been possible to make the structure exceedingly light. The standards are of iron gas-pipe, an inch in diameter, one pair of them to form each pier, if I may call it so, in each stack. Bearings of cast-iron, sliding upon these standards, and fixed in place as desired, furnish the supports to the shelves, and also carry, riveted upon them, light partition-plates of sheet-iron, to brace the books upon the shelves, and separate the shelf-sections from one another. The same standards support, at the height of seven feet from the floor, a light platform of open iron- work and glass, which constitutes the floor of the second tier of the stacks. The whole structure is characterized by a remarkable economy of materials, of cost, and of space. It will enable the greatest possible number of books to be stored in a given room, with the least possible obstruction of light. I am con- fident, moreover, that the appearance of the book-room filled on this plan is going to be decidedly agreeable to the eye. I have also brought with me, to show you, a sample book-brace, which is the fruit of a good deal of contriving on my part during some months past. I have tried most of the inven- tions in use for bracing the end of a row of books in a half-filled shelf, and have been sat- isfied with none of them. I wished to devise something that would not twist on the shelf, nor easily be buried out of sight among the books. The primary idea in my mind was of a groove in the shelf which should hold the brace squarely at right angles to itself. Start- ing from that notion, I experimented with various forms of brace, first in wood, then in cast-iron, finally in wire ; but it was not until I enlisted the help of our library janitor that the satisfactory book-brace was evolved. He combined my idea with the old idea of a bit of sheet-iron bent to a right angle, and put the combination into wire. Here you see the re- LARNED. 97 suit. The projecting wire foot slips along a groove in the shelf under the books against which the brace is to be pressed, and books and brace give steadiness to one another. If Mr. Davidson, of the Library Bureau, thinks as well of this little device as I do, and cares to add it to his library supplies, he is welcome to do so. Inasmuch as all variations of charging sys- tems are interesting to many librarians, I feel justified in bringing to your notice a double- entry card scheme which I am bringing into use, for keeping accounts with books and bor- rowers equally. I wished to keep the book side of the account without going through the preparatory labor of making a card or slip for each book, to be carried in the pocket of the volume, as is done in several charging systems heretofore devised. I have accomplished this by the help of the printer, whose types and presses take almost all the preparatory work off my hands, quite simply, and with little cost. He rules and prints for me a set of stiff cards 10 inches long by 5^ inches wide. These cards are to stand on one of their long edges. At the top of each, on one face, is printed "CLASS ," and it is ruled vertically in 20 columns. These columns are numbered i to 20 in a certain number of cards ; then 21 to 40 on a second lot; 31 to 60 on a third, and so on to as high numbers as may be re- quired. Now I need only fill in the blank left at the top of the cards for the designation of a class of books, and do this on one each of the successively numbered cards as far as the number of volumes in the designated class may require, in order to be prepared to keep account of the loaning and other movements of every book in that class. Our books are shelf-marked for the relative location, i.e., by class-number and place-number. There is a column on the cards ready numbered, there- fore, for each book. If there are not more than 20 works in the class, one card of the first series of numbers is sufficient ; if there are more than 20 and less than 40, I add one of the second series ; and so according to the measure of the several classes. A set of pigeon-holes 8 feet long and 2^2 feet high will hold the necessary cards for fully 100,000 volumes, giving plenty of room for easy work- ing. If there is any more economical and easy method of providing an "indicator" for a library, to show at all times the presence, or absence, and whereabouts of every book, I shall be glad to hear of it. My card for keeping the account with bor- rowers explains itself. It is 5 inches long by 7 inches high. The following is a representa- tion of one face : 1728. Smith, John. Mon. Tues. Wed. Thurs. Fri. Sat. 1 fti 2 JAJfU CO 4 5 ft? 6 b ft? 7 N fS 8 9 10 hj 11 o K S 18 13 9 8 MIL WA UKEE CONFERENCE. This face of the card provides for one ac- count (with John Smith, for example) during the first quarter of the year. Then the card is turned over, and the account is similarly carried on through the second quarter. Another card is prepared for the remaining half of the year. The advantage of the arrangement is in the self- dating of every charge, which saves much time. ECLECTIC BOOK-NUMBERS. BY MELVIL DEWEY, COLUMBIA COLLEGE. I AGREED to talk a few minutes on this question of book-numbers, because I get almost every week inquiries from som one who is confused and in trouble about them. At the risk of repetition and commonplace to those who hav studied the matter, I shal speak of it without assuming any knowledge on the part of the listener, because in this way it can be made clearer. That this important topic may com within the limits of time, you must allow me to speak ex cathedra without stopping to submit proof of all my statements. I shal be gratful for any criticisms or suggestions, after my remarks appear in our Proceedings, which may help to mak the points clearer and more useful to any library. 1. The subject is important, for it has much to do with rapid, accurate and economical ad- ministration. Som prominent libraries hav been long without book-numbers. So hav others without either class or shelf numbers. There ar families too that as yet hav no sewing- machine. 2. The question of book-numbers is entirely distinct from that of class or shelf numbers, and from any special system. It applies no more to my "Decimal Classification" than to its various rivals. 3. We may safely say that all libraries classify at least broadly, and that a growing number ar classing closely. The very few exceptions that ignore all classing on the shelves ar barely enuf to prove the rule. Som separate the library into no more than 26 classes, lettered A, B, C, to Z. Others use almost as many thousand topics. The question of book-numbers does not arise til this of classification has been settled. Whether 20 or 20,000 heads ar used, after the books ar separated into these groups, their arrangement within each group must be decided. In many private libraries nothing further is attempted, but the books ar jumbled together as chance dictates. All the mathe- matical books ar together, and if one is wanted the shelves ar hunted thru til it is found. With time enuf it may always be found ; but to one who has ever used an exact call-number, such a jumble is as unbearable as it is extravagant. There is no exact designation of a book without writing its title, and in all the records and charges each entry is a standing protest against the folly of no book-numbers. It is without the province of this talk to discus whether the classes shall be few or many, lettered or numbered. We assume that the library has examined the question and chosen the plan that is best for its use ; that the books ar assigned to these classes, and bear numbers or letters showing clearly to which subject each volume belongs. This number is the class-number, and is best written as the numerator of a fraction whose denomi- nator is the book-number which shows in the same way the exact place of each volume within the class to which it is assigned by the class-number. The whole fraction, class and book numbers, together with volume- number if there be any, make up the "call- number" which is the complete identification of the book, used in calling for it by number, charging it, and in all records, and is even more exact than a full written title, as it 513 specifies the identical copy. Thus, 24 means 2 the 2d volume of the 24th book in subject- number 513. 513 is the class-number, 24 DEWEY. 99 the book-number, 2 the volume-number which is used only for works having more than one volume. It is the best form of the second number that I am to discus. 4. The above assumes that the relativ location is used. For the last year or two its advantages hav been so generally recognized that I do not now recall a case where any library, after lerning these advantages, has adopted the old fixt location. If, however, such a case should arise, the 513, insted of meaning subject-number 513, would mean shelf 513, i.e., in a well-numbered library, alcove or case 5, tier I, shelf 3, counting from the top. Then the question is how to arrange on the shelf insted of in the class. But so many of the advantages of any arrangement ar lost in not using the relativ location that with the fixt location the simple accession or r, 2, 3 order is almost universally followed. Then, in the number above, 24 means nothing more than that it is the 24th book that happened to be put on the shelf, regardles of all other considerations. Indeed the use of the shelf insted of a class number prohibits any other plan, for it could be followed only temporarily and by rude gues-work. We wil therefore go on the assumption that a relativ location of som kind is used. 5. General Principles. In comparing the merits of the over a dozen possible plans for book-numbers three tests must be applied, viz., as to simplicity, brevity and utility. Any book-number should be simple, brief and use- ful ; but to which quality the greatest weight should be given depends on special circum- stances. A library in which most of the work consists in charging books for a very large cir- culation must lay great stres on brevity. A university library, where scholars ar constantly working at the shelves and making require- ments unknown to a popular library, must lay greatest stres on what the book-number ac- complishes, i.e., its utility. A library where all the work is done by cheap help may be com- pelled to sacrifice both brevity and utility to simplicity. Before these three judges every system must be tried. Then each system may be applied either ex- actly or approximately: e.g., if alfabetical, by author's names, absolutely accurate arrange- ment wil require longer numbers and occasional alterations, as authors with very similar names arise, or else very long decimals must be used ; but if a nearly accurate order wil answer much shorter numbers ar practicabl. Here again the welthy reference-library wil be likely to use exact order, while the more popular wil content itself with the shorter and cheaper approximate accuracy. In choos- ing it must be noted that the class-numbers in one way affect the choice of book-num- bers. If the classing is close, and there ar few books under each number any inter- calation system wil waste numbering mate- rial much worse, and the simple I, 2, 3 sys- tem wil have an advantage. But if coarse classing is the rule and there ar many vols. under each number, the advantages of the author and time systems ar brot into promi- nence while their numbers ar also proportion- ately shorter: e.g., if there ar 1,000 books in a class, 900 of them wil require three figures in the i, 2, 3 system, i.e., all from 100 to 999, and the book-number would be just as long as the Cutter number of one letter followed by two figures, which keeps the books in alfa- betical order by author's name. But if, as is the case in my own library, a minute classing is made, many topics wil hav not over ten books and will require in the i, 2, 3 system only a single figure, while in the author system the Cut- ter number wil be just as long as if there were i ,000 books. Beside if there ar only ten books in a class it is much less important to have them in alfabetical order for the quick finding of any one wanted, as in so small a group the eye catches the title almost at sight. The rule, then, is " the more books in each class the less the waste and the greater the gain by author or time numbers." 6. Notation. An examination of the entire resources of the printing-office wil reveal only two systems of symbols having a fixt order wel enough known in themselves and to be usable for marking books. These ar the Arabic figures i, 2, 3, to 9 and the Roman letters a to z. While size may be indicated by special marks or punctuation, to introduce any other characters into regular notation wil cause 100 MIL WA UKEE CONFERENCE. more labor and confusion than any possibl gain. 7. The i, 2, 3 System. The most natural and simplest plan is to mark the books under each class number I, 2, 3, as they com in. Here, as in every book-number, the book, not the volume, is numbered. This plan is simplest to use and explain. There ar no skips on the shelves or in the shelf-list. The last number shows the total number of books in that class to date. It never " blocks up, 1 ' for books may be added in regular order without limit or alteration. It is as easy to put 1,000,000 books in any class as to put one. The shelf-list simply goes straight on, and never requires re-copying or re- arranging. The local memory is aided by find- ing always the same books side by side on the shelves, e.g., if a green book stands between two red ones, a page who has brot it a few times wil get it without looking at number or title. In the I, 2, 3 system this always re- mains between the two red books, but in all the other, i.e., intercalation systems, sooner or later, other books or sets may com in be- tween. In other words, the 1,2, 3 system has just the advantage, and about the only one that the fixt-shelf system can fairly claim, a help to local memory. In consulting the shelves, if a book is out the blank numbers show the fact at once as in no other system. The shelves and shelf-list show at the end of each subject the latest additions to the library, which, to be sure, ar not always the latest books. Against these great advantages there ar two serious objections. This i, 2, 3 plan disre- gards entirely author, date, publisher, language, style of treatment, and every quality except the accident of the order in which the library chanced to secure it. The other objection is that the shelves ar not their own catalog, as they ar when arranged by the Cutter numbers. There is no help whatever in finding a book beyond chance memory of its place, and the catalog must be consulted to get the number. 8. Alfabetically by authors. This plan is, of late years, growing in favor. It is quite as likely as the I, 2, 3 to be the first plan thot of. Its great advantage is that it requires neither memory nor a catalog to find the place of a book in its class. The call-number and charge shows not only the subject but the author, a great convenience at the loan-desk, where peo- ple constantly ask what books they hav out. This is the one plan that can be used with- out a separate book-number. A majority of the books hav the author's name lettered on the back. Many libraries arrange alfabetically by these names, and ar very wel satisfied. The saving of the book-number is obvious. The objections to such saving ar, that many books are not lettered to agree with the catalog, and, of course, the arrangement on the shelves must be under the form of entry chosen for the alfabetical catalog, or an absurd confusion results, and there is no certainty in looking for anything. This difficulty is removed by letter- ing the proper name on all these books at quite a little cost. The greater objection is that it takes much longer to arrange on the shelves, find again, and charge, than with a book-number. A librarian experienced in putting cards into the catalog, wil see at once that it is vastly slower to alfabet by words than to arrange by book-numbers. Another loss is in the irregular position on the back where the name chances to be lettered. The book-num- bers are gilded or pasted at a uniform hight from the shelf, so that the eye runs across the straight line, in a small fraction of the time it requires to hunt up and down the back til one is sure he has the right word, for many books hav several names on the back from which the page must choose each time he gets or replaces a book. Of course mistakes ar fre- quent, and then the book is lost til some one chances to discover its misplacement. These practical difficulties ar so great that som prefer to incur the large expense of gilding the author's name at a uniform hight on each book, regard- les of its being alredy lettered in another place. Then, in charging, the full name, e.g. Chateaubriand, must be written each time, and, unles the complete heding to the catalog card is given, there is always a chance that the same class may contain another book with a similar name. To avoid this indefinitness, some libraries, in charging, add in each case the accession number, which is, of course, exact. This makes a very long book-number to charge DEWEY. 101 by, and does not tel what the book is without reference to the accession-number. For fuller discussion of all these points those interested should read the articles by Mr. Cutter and others, in early vols. of the LIBRARY JOURNAL. In short, this going without a book- number, and using the author's name as in the book, while at first appearing to be a saving, really amounts to using the full name or the long accession-number, or both, as the book- number, insted of the much shorter Cutter num- ber. It is easy to say : "If you want alfabeti- cal arrangement, simply put the books so by the name on the back ; there is no need of these new-fangled schemes." But you may be sure that the wide-awake libraries who hav translated these names into Cutter numbers hav not done so til after they have proved that it is real economy. I shal, therefore, hereafter speak of the Cutter number as the best form for this alfabetical arrangement. This uses the author's initial, and translates the rest of the name into Arabic numerals on the decimal plan. Thus, Burns is 693 ; Burr is 694 ; Burt, 695. These numbers combine most of the simplicity of the I, 2, 3 system with the great advantages of the alfabetical order. The disadvantages of this plan ar mostly those that inhere in any system of intercalation. The shelf-list must either be kept on cards (a method not to be approved because of the facility it affords for covering thefts or losses) , or else now and then the shelf-list must be re- written. As it wears out in time this re-writ- ing is not nearly so serious an objection as it would at first seem. The call-numbers wil average a little longer than in the i, 2, 3 system. The local memory, as pointed out above, is interfered with by the constant inter- calation of books in the series. If the exact order is kept up, numbers must be altered now and then to correct wrong averages, or else the initial author number must be made so long as to be more objectionable than the occasional changes. These changes take time, and modify the accuracy of the old records, for the changed number has lost its old meaning. 9. Time system. This plan and the trans- lation scheme for applying it, devised for our catalog department, is fully described in last year's Proceedings, p. 246. It continues to giv excellent satisfaction in the classes Science and Useful Arts where we applied it. The books stand in the order in which they were written, the newest work on the right, the oldest on the left. The historical development of the subject is thus constantly kept before the librarian and all who. go to the shelves. A book first printed in 1874 is markt N 4. The N in the table means the decade from 1870-1879, and the figure specifies the exact year. This scheme has fully met our hopes. It has all the objec- tions urged against the author scheme above, and also the fact that the shelves ar not their own catalog unles one knows when each book was first publisht. Its gain is in giving infor- mation of value not likely to be mapt out else- where. Only libraries admitting readers largely to the shelves would adopt it, as otherwise the gain would not balance the loss. 10. Bad methods. The 1,2,3; author ; and time plans given above ar the only ones really used except in very exceptional cases. The eclectic system, to be described later, wil, I think, also com into wide favor. I wil merely mention the other systems that hav been suggested. While, for certain special purposes, som of them might merit partial adoption, I feel safe in putting them under the bed " Bad methods." a. By publishers. Used in book-stores for convenience in making up orders for new stock, tho a good classification which would help in selling would be vastly more useful. b. By colors of binding. Mere millinery. Affected by some private book owners who can't bear to hav colors side by side that " swear at each other." c. By cost. A whim, except as very costly books are separated for safer keeping. d. By style of treatment. Used wisely in some cases, separating out school-books, juve- nils, periodicals, outlines, dictionaries, etc. e. By merit. Used in making parallel li- braries, or in selecting the best reference-books for open shelves, etc. Som private book- owners risk arranging their small collections with the best book on each subject at the left, and the poorest at the right. Such grading is amusing, interesting, and, under some circuni- IO2 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. stances, profitable as an indication to the young readers of the family of the opinion of the classifier. Public libraries wil hardly risk such an experiment. f. By title. This has all the disadvantages of the author system without being much of a guide to the shelves, because titles ar so indef- init as compared with authors' names A Sunday-school library, where titles only ar used, might possibly work so crude a plan, but to determin the main word or remember ex- actly which was the first word of the title is so difficult as to neutralize any advantage in such an arrangement. g. By language. Many libraries make special libraries of each language, but I never yet herd of one that divided the books on each topic into language groups, tho it is an easy and not useles plan. In libraries where half the readers ar Germans it would be practi- cally convenient to hav all the German books standing at the right and the English at the left of each subject. Our Columbia plan of showing the language by color of binding ac- complishes the same useful end much more conveniently. h. By further subject division. This is very like the German who, being asked to name the three things he would choose if his wish could be fully gratified, chose, first, all the beer he could drink ; second, all the sauerkraut he could eat; third (after some reflection), som more beer ! As we started with the premise that the books had been clast as closely as was desirable, the introduction of " subject divis- ion " for a book-number seems like "more beer" in the old story. But, in fact, the plan is successfully in use, and is liked. How- ever close the classification may be made in som final sections, there wil be groups of books allied to each other that a critical mind wil wish to place side by side. If the smallest period is taken in English poetry, one wil wish to keep together the works of the same author in that period. If (as at Columbia) each leading poet has a subject number he wil wish to keep different editions of the same work together among the author's books. If he has two lives of the same man he will put them together. In short, if given a shelf full of books on any topic, large or small, and told to arrange them to suit himself, he will almost inevitably make groups really dependent on still closer class- ing. ii. The Eclectic Book-Numbers. I hav mentioned 1 1 systems abov, each of which may be best in som circumstances or for special works. The system that seems to me best, I call the eclectic, because it allows one to choose whatever seems best for each group. If a library has its subjects all numbered, as most of them hav, in Arabic figures, or with initial letters followed by figures, I use for book- numbers a, b, c, skipping freely if I foresee any possible use for the letters omitted. If there is no choice these letters simply take the place of i, 2, 3, to 26 in the first system described, and hav the advantage that twenty-six books may be marked with but a single letter to each. In close classing, few subjects hav over twenty- six books, and therefore nearly all book-num- bers ar of one character only. Another great advantage is gained in saving a dash or line of separation between class and book number, as is necessary if both ar figures, 513-24 unles separated might be read 5132-4, but 513 D cannot be confused however it may be written or read. This practical gain is very great. Now for the eclectic feature. If, as is usually the case, we prefer som arrangeiifent rather than the chance a, b, c, order in which the books came in, we make whatever seems the best arrangement in that case. We put it just where we want it on the shelves and letter it so it wil always be put back in that place. We can always mark a book to go just where we please by extending our decimal principle. If it belongs between c and d we mark it C5. When a book comes that should go between c and C5 it is C3- Another may com in as C4- Then, if a book finds its true place between C4 and C5, it is C45- It is possible to put 2,600 books (not vols.) under each minute head with three marks ; or 26,000 with four marks, i.e. C455, etc. A large library, closely clast, wil hav book-numbers averaging only two charac- ters each. We arrange oftenest by authors, using the first initial of the name, and adding figures where necessary. This gives, practically, the UTLEY. 103 the Cutter number, and, in skipping for addi- tions, we ar guided by Cutter's table. The time-numbers work in the same way. If a fair approximation wil answer, insted of running out the decimals one may often use the nearest vacant letter; e.g., if a book by Grant comes in, and G has already been used for a book by Green, the Grant book may go in on F or H, thus keeping the book-number down to a single letter, where the size and growth of the library, and the closenes of the classing, make it likely that not over 26 books wil com in for a generation. But probably the day wil com when the larger library, grown out of the small, wil be annoyed because of this economy in erly years. This brief book-num- ber, which saves labor for som time, now involves re-numbering ; the outside, as wel as all cards, plates, etc. In the only case which I recall of this " pretty-near-wil-answer " method, I found, som months later, that the cataloger was regularly adding a figure, so to keep the right initial in all cases. Under the right initial, it is not so serious if the exact order is not strictly observed, tho even this concession to short marks tries the librarian's accurate spirit. The most common form of the eclectic book- number is the I, 2, 3, with intercalations where wanted. This is simplest, and, for most libra- ries, best. If a book comes in by the same author, or in answer to another, or for some reason allied to a book alredy on the shelves, it is put next to it by adding a figure to its letter, e.g., H,Hi. If there is no such reason, the numbers go on to Z. Then 9 ar put in after each letter, Ai to Ag, Bi-Bg. Should there be more than 260 books in the class, we start off again with Aio-Alg, Bio-Big, and so on. Of course, if any principle other than the I, 2, 3 is adopted for any class, a note is made at the top of the shelf-sheet, showing, without examination, on what plan those books ar arranged. I hope I hav made the plan plain enuf so that any one may adopt it, and hav the satis- faction of doing in each case what seems best in that case, and yet in harmony with a well- digested system. 12. Size in Shelving. From the list of 12 systems, I hav purposely omitted that one which forces itself as a modifier on them all, and has been often used alone in private libra- ries, viz., by size or hight of books. I hav been for years satisfied that the old separation of books into R8, 8, 12, 16, 1 8, 24, 32, 48, etc., was utter nonsens. Also that the division of this series into even two groups was a mistake. We ar satisfied that the best plan is to set all regular shelves 2 jcm a p ar t t and to put on them every book and pamflet that wil go there. For Q and sm. F ( 2 5-35 cm in hight) we turn three of these standard shelves into two. For F 4 and F 5 (35~5 Cm ) we turn two standard shelves into one ; or, if depth of shelving does not allow of this, we use the shelves under the counter- ledge. Books over 5o cm high ar more safely shelved on their sides. Comparatively few books ar over 2S cra in hight, and these are largely in groups like geological reports, at- lases, etc. We dummy these. Our regular shelves ar thus made complete. To avoid the dummies the call number for Q and F book must giv a size mark. If I hav failed to make my points, I shal be glad to hear from any critic or inquirer. RELATION OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL. BY H. M. UTLEY, LIBRARIAN OF DETROIT PUBLIC LIBRARY. IN July, 1787, Congress passed an ordinance for the government ot the North-west Terri- tory, which embraced the whole vast region be- longing to the United States north-west of the Ohio river, in which it declared that "Re- ligion, morality, and knowledge being neces- sary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools, and the means of education 104 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE, shall forever be encouraged." A few days later, and at various subsequent periods, Congress supplemented this act by others setting apart liberal grants of the public domain, in the ter- ritory mentioned, for the support of common schools. In Michigan the appropriation amounted to one section of land in every township, or one- thirty-sixth of the entire area. The people of the State added to this liberal endowment the proceeds of special taxes upon railroad and mining corporations. So that now the schools are maintained not only free to every child but with very small expense to the people. Nor have the other " means of education " men- tioned in the ordinance been overlooked. The Legislative Council (I am speaking of Michi- gan), by act approved in 1831, provided that any seven or more persons capable of contract- ing in any township or district might organize themselves into a corporation for the purpose of maintaining a library to be known as "So- cial Library, No. , of the township of ." The Legislature of the State, in 1837, ree'n- acted substantially the territorial act with the further provision for township and county lyceums, with the same privileges as social libraries. The first constitution of the State, adopted in 1835, contains this provision: "As soon as the circumstances of the State will permit the Legislature shall provide for the establishment of libraries, one at least in each township, and the money which shall be paid by persons as an equivalent for exemption from military duty, and the clear proceeds of all fines assessed in the several counties for any breach of the penal laws shall be exclusively applied to the support of such libraries." The present constitution, adopted in 1850, contains the same provision, omitting the words, " as soon as the circumstances of the State will permit," and omitting reference to payments for exemp- tion from military duty, which had been abro- gated. This was, however, slightly amended in 1881, to allow greater latitude in the applica- tion of the money. The Legislature of 1840 enacted that each and every (school) district shall be entitled to its proportion of the clear proceeds of all fines collected within the several counties for any breach of the penal laws, and for penalties, or upon any recognziances in criminal proceedings, . . . which money, when received, shall be applied to the purchase of books for the district library, and to no other purpose. Whatever may be said as to the policy of school district libraries in sparsely settled dis- tricts as against township libraries, a subject over which there has been some controversy, the argument will not apply to cities and large villages. By a system of union districts a school district is made coextensive with the corporate limits of a city or village. In such districts the law has been of great practical benefit in the promotion of libraries. The moral effect of an established source of revenue has been excellent. In the principal centres of population the in- come from the constitutional source has gone far toward maintaining and improving the li- braries. This income varies from year to year, with the vigor of the administration of justice, and the persistence with which sureties on de- faulted bonds are followed. If it be true that ignorance is at all respon- sible for crime, and prison statistics seem to show that the criminal classes are mainly illit- erate, there is a degree of poetic justice in devoting penal fines to the advancement of facilities for knowledge. There is general consent to this disposition of the public moneys thus acquired. With the slight relaxation involved in the amendment to the constitution referred to, the policy entered upon at the beginning has been steadily fol- lowed. The people of any township or school district are authorized to levy a tax for library purposes. These libraries are by the law placed in the hands of the school-officers. We cannot fail to note how intimately the school and the library are linked throughout all this legisla- tion. The supreme court of the State has held that the library is part of the school apparatus. The facts in the case of Michigan, thus briefly outlined, show clearly the popular opinion that the library and the school are essentially on the same footing, and bear a mutual relation. Not only is this so in cities with large libraries and many schools, but it is equally so every- UTLEY. '05 where. Do not the facts obviate the necessity for any argument based upon theory or gener- alization? It is hardly necessary to multiply words to prove that which seems to be univer- sally conceded. Practically, then, how can the library and the school best serve each other? If there is a mutual relation there is a mutual responsibility, and should be a mutual benefit. I am aware that this subject has been ably discussed before this Association by Mr. Green, of Worcester, Mr. Foster, of Providence, and others, and that Mr. Green's invaluable book has brought it home to a vastly wider circle than these words can reach. But we have the very highest authority for reiteration. It is true elsewhere, as in morals, that there must be "precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little and there a little." So I venture to lay before you some account of work that has fallen under my ob- servation. The public library probably cannot under- take to do much for the children in the primary departments of the schools. Nursery literature is not commonly regarded as within its prov- ince ; nevertheless, in the cases to which these notes refer, the work began with the youngest children. . It happens that books for these are so abundant and so cheap that every household that contains young children is supplied with them to a greater or less extent. These were gathered from the homes of the children, and put into a common stock, and quite a showing they made. These united contributions, with such juvenile periodicals as Harper's Young People, Youth's Companion, St. Nicholas, etc., subscribed for by the school, furnished all the material that was desired. But in the grammar grades, where children are twelve to fourteen years of age, a more sys- tematic and extended course of reading was en- tered upon. Children fourteen years of age may have library-cards in their own name. Younger children may use the library-cards of older members of the family. The library-cards of teachers and pupils, backed by the full power of the librarian in the matter of special permits, furnished the books in sufficient quantity and variety. The books were selected from the large lists which the publishers, with the co- operation of judicious authors and compilers, are able to furnish. With the study of geog- raphy were taken up such works as the "Zigzag" books, the Arctic books of Hayes and Schwatka, " Land of the Midnight Sun," "Young America in Japan," the "Bodley" books, "Boy Travellers" books, Bayard Taylor's books, the " Vassar Girl " books, "Wonderful City of Tokio," "Beyond the Himalayas," " Egypt to Japan." With the study of history were taken up such books as Coffin's " Building a Nation," "Old times in the Colonies," " Boys of '76," Lossing's " Field Book of the Revolution" and " War of 1812," Abbott's series, Hawthorne's " Stories from New England History," " Young Folks' Heroes of History" series, Dickens' "Child's History," " Story of the Nations " series " Magna Charta Stories," " Youth's Plu- tarch," " Children's Crusade." With the study of natural history were taken up such books as " Fairy Land of Science," "Little Folks in Feathers and Fur," "The Naturalist on the Amazon," " Old Ocean," " History of our Planet," "A Mouthful of Bread," Appleton's " Science Primers," " Young Folks' Pliny," "Rambles in Woodland," "Homes without Hands," "What Mr. Darwin Saw," "Ad- ventures of a Young Naturalist," " Life and her Children." For general and miscellaneous reading there were taken up such books as "Tom Brown," Bullfinch's "Age of Fable," " Water Babies," " Sandhills of Jutland," "Alice in Wonderland," Lamb's "Tales from Shakespeare," Yonge's " Book of Golden Deeds," and " Daisy Chain," McDonald's " Back of the North Wind," Church's " Tales from Homer," Miss Alcott's, Mrs. Whitney's, Susan Coolidge's books, Eggleston's " Big Brother" and " Capt. Sam," Cooper's "Prai- rie," " Pioneer," " Deerslayer," " Pathfinder," Scott's " Ivanhoe." Of course these mentioned do not include a tithe of the list. They are only intended to indicate the character of the books and the classification of subjects. The plan is to read the books in school. Books used in connection with studies are read aloud and discussed in the classes during the hour of recitation. It is found that in this way io6 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. a keener interest is excited in the subject than is awakened by the mere school text-books. Children who show an inclination to pursue further investigations in the same direction are encouraged to do so, and are helped in the selection of books. Children who are quick to learn, and who master their lessons before the hour of recitation, are permitted to have a library book to read in their seat. In this way bright scholars get through a surprisingly ex- tended course of reading in the school and un- der the personal observation of the teacher. These library books are kept at the school and are not taken by the children to their homes, except by special permission, over Sunday. Another thing in connection with this plan of work is that the children are not only taught in the school what to read, how to read to the best advantage, but they are also taught the useful lesson how to properly treat and care for books. It is a noteworthy fact that the books thus used in the schools are invariably kept clean and tidy. They are not marred with turned leaves, pencil-marks or dirty thumbing. This habit of properly handling books needs to be impressed upon many grown people as well as upon children. It is wise to lay the foundation of these good habits in early life. In the high-school department the same general plan is followed. The list of books is extended considerably. It is broadened to meet the advanced age and attainments of the pupils. Additional subjects are covered, since in this department are studied, among other things, philosophy, chemistry, and various branches of science, political economy, com- merce and business, and ancient and modern languages. In this list may be included a very large part of the books of a public library, excluding mere technical works and those too abstruse to interest young persons. In addi- tion to the work done in the school with library books there is also work done in the library. A suitable room is provided for the purpose, to which classes come in a body, with their in- structors. Books selected by list previously furnished to the librarian have been already placed on the instructor's desk. The instruc- tion is by means of lectures, of which the class must take notes, and upon which they are after- ward catechised. The books are used for ref- erence and in illustration of the subject. For classes in Greek and Latin, and in ancient his- tory, are illustrated works too expensive to be allowed to be taken from the building, but which may here be used freely. For classes in natural history are atlases of zoology : " Audu- bon's Works," " Voyage of the Challenger," Arnold's " Living World," Baird's " Birds." Appropriate for other classes are botanical atlases: Michaux's " North American Sylva," Eaton's " Ferns," Meehan's " Native Flowers," and the " National Geographical Explorations and Surveys," "American Ethnology," etc. For classes in history are Bradford's " Views of the Peninsula," " Historic Costumes," " Arms and Acoutrements of War," and "Domestic Implements," and the elaborately illustrated " Castles and Cathedrals of Great Britain and Europe." The art treasures of the library may properly be brought before such classes and discussed as they are examined. For classes in literature the various editions of works of great authors are brought out, their characteristics explained and investigated. For college classes 1 the work has been some- what similar, though thus far none of it has been done by instructors in the library. The work has been mainly in the assignment of topics for independent investigation by stu- dents. Sometimes the professors furnish a list of books, which may be consulted in looking up the subject, and sometimes they leave that as part of the task of investigation for the student himself. In the latter case he is sure to make free use of the librarian to help him out. Such assistance is always rendered by way of hints and suggestions to start him on the right track, if not in a more direct way. It is one of the most interesting compensations of library-work to observe with what earnestness and enthusiasm these students engage in their tasks. The resources of the library are freely placed at their disposal, and they are permitted to take to their rooms for night-study books which otherwise do not circulate. The practical results of the work carried on The Detroit College is not part of the Public School System, but is under the control of the Jesuit Fathers. HE WINS. 107 under the system thus outlined have been admirable. Much, of course, depends on the earnestness of the teachers, in whose hands it mainly is. But the hearty cooperation of the library authorities is an incentive to them to make their opportunities tell upon the children. It is missionary work of excellent quality among the growing generation, and in the families of the humblest as well as the most favored. The children, thus trained to correct taste and habits of reading, are sure to make constant and intelligent use of the library when they pass beyond their school days, and to help to train their children in turn to the same taste and habits. In what way can a public library, which is the people's library, owned by the people for their use and benefit, make its influ- ence more widely felt in the community, or build up for itself more surely a stable and enduring popularity ? HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF A SMALL LIBRARY. BY MISS C. M. HEWINS, LIBRARIAN HARTFORD LIBRARY. THE question is not what to do with a library of five hundred thousand, or a hundred thousand, or fifty thousand volumes. It has nothing to do with libraries which can afford to buy manuscripts or incunabula, black-letter tracts, or early American sermons. It is not for libraries whose collections of original au- thorities took away, many years ago, the cause of John Adams' reproach that, in his time, the books from which Gibbon's statements might be proved true or false could not be found in the United States. A student may go to the libraries in the great cities and read at his will, order from abroad books relating to his specialty, or, if he can show just cause for his request, may even have books sent to his dis- tant home. The libraries which concern us are those of thirty, or ten, or five, or even of one thousand volumes, in towns and villages, oj>en, perhaps, all day six days in the week, or two or three hours on one day. I mean this for you, whose library spends a thousand dollars a year ; and you, who have but five hundred for books, periodicals, and binding ; and you, who struggle along with fifty dollars' worth of new books twice a year. It is for you, too, whose library has existed in a half-alive state with poor American reprints of English books, novels in wretched condition, antiquated volumes of science, biographies of the dreari- est, incomplete volumes of magazines. How can such libraries be made centres of sweetness and light in country towns? " Your house is not large enough to swing a cat in," said a man to his friend. " But I don't wish to swing a cat," answered the friend. And " The whole world was not half so wide To Alexander, when he cried Because he had no more worlds to subdue, As was a single paltry tub to Diogenes, who ne'er was said, In aught that ever I could read, To cry, put finger in th" eye, and sob, Because he'd ne'er another tub." These bits of homely wisdom, and another, " When you can't have what you like, you must like what you have," are as useful in libraries as anywhere else. But they do not mean that you are to be satisfied with the present use of many of the books which are now gathering dust upon your shelves. Some of them may easily be made to answer the questions of your readers. Spend the next money that you have in a few books of reference, a new edition of an ency- clopaedia, a good atlas, " Lippincott's Bio- graphical Dictionary," " Poole's Index " and its cooperative supplement, the Brooklyn cata- logue, and the Providence reference-lists. If you can get also, or if you have already, all the volumes of Harpers Magazine, Scribner's io8 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. Monthly, and the Century, the Popular Science Monthly, and LitteWs Living Age, with the separate indexes, including articles and poems too short to be indexed in Poole, you are ready to meet the wants of most of your readers. If you have time, index St. Nicholas, Wide Awake, and Harpers Young People'. A libra- rian of a small library can often satisfy a reader by showing him an article written ostensibly for children, but told in the clear, simple style which appeals to many older persons. The thinking powers of many boys and girls never develop after they leave school at fifteen, and knowledge, in order to be attractive to them in their later years, must be set forth as attrac- tively as in their school-days. If you can over- come the repugnance of many persons to books which they think childish and beneath them, you can often give them just what they are able to enjoy. I sometimes say, " The best article that I know is in the Wide Awake (or St. Nicholas, or Harper's Yoring People), and if you have no objection to reading a boys' and girls' magazine, I think that you will find in it just what you need." A magazine which has. a department of " Answers to Correspondents " asked, in a late number, for no questions which might be answered by referring to an encyclopaedia or biographical dictionary. In the next number a correspondent begged the editor to remem- ber that many persons had no access to such books, and their only way of learning what they wished to know was through the magazine. The library in every town or village should supply this want, and should also contain Brewer's ' ' Reader's Hand-book " and ' ' Dic- tionary of Phrase and Fable" (which, though often inaccurate, are much better than nothing) , and Wheeler's "Dictionary of Noted Names of Fiction," and " Familiar Allusions." As soon as you can afford it buy all the volumes of " Notes and Queries ;" but until then you can answer many questions from the books of reference already named. The stock questions with which every libra- rian is familiar, such as who wrote " I am dying, Egypt, dying," whether Shakespeare was of noble birth, or Eleazar Williams was Louis XVII., are easily disposed of. If you can make your readers understand that they must formulate their requests in intelligible shape you have gone a long way towards making your library useful. They expect a librarian to find "a book about cheerfulness ; " or " a book about whether education is better than wealth;" or "a book in marbled covers that wasn't exactly a history, but had something about history in it, that mother read about nine years ago." This is no place for discussing the merits of rival encyclopaedias. I find the Britannica, Chambers', Appleton's, and Johnson's all use- ful. If I could have only one, and no atlas, I should take Appleton's, on account of its maps, its full lives of living persons, and its yearly supplement. A person often goes to a library with a question which he fancies can be answered only by reference to many learned books, but really is a very simple one. A stranger from out of town once said to me with a pompous air, " I am pursuing an exten- sive course of historical reading, and wish to know what works the library contains on the history of Constantinople." I meekly replied that we had only a very few of the original authorities, and that they were in English translations. "What have you, then?" I named the more familiar histories, and a few recent books of travel, like De Amicis' and Gautier's. " I wish to see a minute map of the city." "We have nothing minute. The best that I can give you is in the ' Encyclopaedia Britannica.'" "Ah, indeed! That is a work I have never heard of. May I see it ? " This con- fession betrayed at once the depth of the stranger's learning. He read the encyclo- paedia for about ten minutes, then returned it with thanks, and went away saying that he had now finished his course of reading on Constanti- nople ! An encyclopaedia often satisfies the vague desire for knowledge of a person who has not learned how to use books, and asks in an indefinite way for something on a certain subject. The Brooklyn catalogue is especially useful in its biographical references to lives in books which, without it, might stand unopened on the shelves. For example, a librarian, when asked for a life of Queen Christina of HE WINS. 109 Sweden, might not remember without con- sulting it that, although there was no life of her in the library, chapters upon her might be found in Wilkie Collins 1 "Miscel- lanies," Hays' "Female Biography," Mrs. Jameson's "Lives of Female Sovereigns," and Russell's " Extraordinary Women." " Poole's Index " unlocks LitteWs Living Age, which is full of biographical and historical articles. Every volume of essays in a library should be indexed, and every title placed in the catalogue. The question of what kind of catalogue you should have is one that depends largely on the number of your readers and the kind of books which they take. A printed one soon grows obsolete. A card-catalogue, well arranged under authors and subjects, with zinc indicators to show the places of subjects, and brass rods so that the cards cannot be displaced, is as good as anything that has yet been used. "I made my catalogue," said a librarian to me a year or two ago, "so that the greatest fool in town could not possibly make a mistake in finding an author or title." This catalogue is certainly a model of clearness and simplicity. Long experience with fixed shelf-numbers has convinced me that they should not be used, but should give place to the Dewey plan or one of its modifications. The books which you buy should depend, like your catalogue, on your class of readers. A library in a village where there are farms and gardens should have the latest and best books upon farming, gardening, the care of cattle and poultry, and several agricultural and horticultural papers and magazines, that may be allowed to circulate after they are bound. I saw not long ago in a newly endowed library in such a town, several books with finely colored illustrations of beautiful-leaved plants and flowering shrubs, that must certainly have an influence in time in making the gardens of the neighborhood very different from the traditional farm-house door-yard. A town with telephones, electric-lights, machine-shops, and manufactories, where many young men of intelligence are electrical engineers, machinists and draughtsmen, needs all the newest books that it can afford to buy on electricity, applied mechanics, and mechanical drawing. We find in Hartford a steadily increasing demand for books of these classes. Scientific works, unless of recent date, are worse than useless, except to a student of the history of science. A person who asks for a book on physics or chemistry from a printed catalogue does not always notice the imprint, and chooses a work quite out of date. A librarian can and should tell him where to find a newer and better one. The use of books on special subjects grows every year. The Society for Study at Home, the Chautauqua Society, many smaller clubs, Queries and other periodicals, with their lists of prize questions, have all done their part in encouraging readers to use libraries. The prize questions are often just such as anybody might write by opening any volume of history or biography at random and framing a question about the first name or subject on the page. Such questions are a severe tax on a librarian's time and patience ; but if a reader conies in search of answers he must be kindly received, and all the resources of the library placed at his disposal. A librarian needs a certain tact and skill in guessing at the wants of readers. This comes by practice, after one has learned to estimate the mind-power of the frequenters of a library. " Can you give me something on the French Revolution?" asks a young girl. Instead of offering Thiers, or Carlyle, or even the " Epoch of History " volume, the librarian asks, " How long an account do you wish, one in several volumes?" " Oh, not very long, and not very deep, please." "An histori- cal novel, perhaps?" "Yes," with a visible brightening of the face, and the reader goes home happy with " Citoyenne Jacqueline," perhaps to come back and ask for another novel of the same period, or even a history. It is, however, too much to expect that every reader who desires a little historical knowledge will go through a course of many-volumed books. The various lists of historical novels published by the Boston Public Library and other li- braries, Professor Allen's "Catalogue of Novels and Poems on English History," and Adams' "Manual of Historical Literature," are every- day helps in even the smallest library. It is not hard for a librarian to make a list of the I IO MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. novels in his or her own library which illus- trate different periods. A small library has this advantage over a large one, that it cannot afford to buy poor novels. The following list of about seven hundred dollars 1 worth of books was. made for the beginning of a free library in a manufactur- ing and farming town, whose inhabitants are of average intelligence. It is, of course, only a beginning, and is entirely deficient in many departments, which are to be filled later when the taste for reading and demand for books increase. The biographies are all new, and many of them are expected to supplement the scanty list of histories. The lives of English men of letters are expected to excite an interest in and demand for their works. The depart- ment of United States History for boys and girls is made as full as possible. BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS. Stories by Miss Alcott, Aldrich, William Black, Noah Brooks, Mary Hartwell Catherwood, Mary Mapes Dodge, Edward Eggleston, Thomas Hughes, Helen Jackson, Elijah Kellogg, Harriet Martineau, Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, Horace Scudder, "P. Thome," Charles Dudley Warner, " Susan Cool- idge," Miss Yonge. Travel, by Dana, Darwin, Du Chaillu, Knox, Nordhoff, Butterworth, Hale, Scudder. Fairy Tales and Myths, by Hawthorne, Miss Mulock, Lewis Carroll. History and Biography, by Coffin, Towle, Eggles- ton, Abbott, Higginson, Richardson. Classics: " Robinson Crusoe," "Robin Hood," "The Boy's Froissart," and "King Arthur," "The Life of the Chevalier Bayard," Lamb's " Tales from Shakspeare." Miscellaneous : Miss Kirkland's " Speech and Manners," Lukin's " Amongst Machines," "Young Mechanic," and " Boy Engineers; " Blaikie's " How to get Strong and Sound Bodies for Boys and Girls." "The American Boy's Handy-book" and "American Girl's Home-book." Two or three cook-books. NOVELS AND STORIES by Aldrich, " Mrs. Alexander," Jane Austen, Black, Blackmore, Charlotte Bronte, Mrs. Burnett, Cable, Crawford, Rose Terry Cooke, Cooper, Dickens, Ebers, George Eliot, Jessie Fothergill, Mrs. Gas- kell, Gautier, Hale, Thomas Hardy, Nathaniel Hawthorne, O. W. Holmes, Blanche Howard, Howells, James, Sara Jewett, Charles and Henry Kingsley, George McDonald, Miss Mulock, Mrs. Oliphant, Miss Phelps, Mrs. Prentiss, Charles Reade, Clarke Russell, Scott, Stockton, Mrs. Stowe, Baroness Tautphceus, Bayard Taylor, Thack- eray, Sarah Tytler, Mrs. Walford, Lew Wallace, Mrs. Whitney, Theodore Winthrop. by Miss Bird, Miss Gumming, Lady Brassey, Stanley, Du Chaillu, Baker, Bishop, Edward King, Ober, De Long. BIOGRAPHY. "English Men of Letters," "American Men of Letters," " American Statesmen," " Famous Women," "New Plutarch." SCIENCE. International Scientific Series, Proctor's "Easy Star Lessons," John Burroughs' " Wake-Robin," and several other books on the birds of the region, Harris' " Insects Injurious to Vegetation," Saunders' " Insects Injurious to Fruit," Abbott's "Naturalist's Rambles." HISTORY AND REFERENCE. Bryant's " History of the United States," Green's " History of the English People," Masson's "Outlines of the History of France," Shakspeare, Bryant's "Library of Poetry and Song," Encyclo- paedia. CRUNDEN. in REPORT ON AIDS AND GUIDES, AUGUST, '83, TO JUNE, '85. BY F. M. CRUNDEN, LIBRARIAN OF ST. LOUIS PUBLIC LIBRARY. THE data for this report were gathered partly in May, 1884, in anticipation of the pro- posed Toronto Conference, and chiefly in May, 1885, for the meeting of that year. Illness prevented the preparation of the report for the Lake George Conference ; and, in reply to the request of the Program Committee, I could undertake nothing further than collating the material already on hand, which work I was unable to take up until within a few days of this meeting. The report, therefore, covers the period from the Buffalo Conference, Aug., 1883, to June, 1885. In May, 1884, I sent a letter of inquiry to members of the Association, and on May n, 1885, the following printed circular, which met with quite a general response. PUBLIC LIBRARY, ST. Louis, May n, 1885. Will you kindly send me, at your earliest convenience, any information which may be properly embodied in my report to the coming conference of the A.L.A. on "Aids and Guides ? " 1. In what form does your catalogue exist? In your card-catalogue do you give con- tents? 2. Do you publish a bulletin of additions? How often ? Does it give contents of books ? Descriptive notes. 3. What catalogues, class-lists, or bibliogra- phies have you published since June, 1883? 4. What other methods have you adopted to notify your readers of additions to your col- lection and to give them information regarding the character and value of the books ? 5. What new appliances have you introduced during the last two years ? 6. What methods have you found most ac- ceptable and most effective in assisting readers to the best books and sources of information? The many details covered by the term " Aids and Guides " may be found fully set forth in Mr. Foster's report, page 71 of Proceedings of Buffalo Conference. Any information on any of these topics will be thankfully received by Yours respectfully, FRED'K M. CRUNDEN. The returns from one hundred and eight libraries, being collated, show that twenty-five depend chiefly or entirely on printed catalogs ; thirty-six have card catalogs only ; and forty- seven have both printed and written. Every imaginable kind of catalog was returned from the MS. list in a book up to the most com- plete and elaborate combinations of author, title, and subject catalogs, printed and card, with contents, cross-references, annotated bul- letin of accessions, and so on, ad libitum, Among card catalogs about one in four gives contents ; some give contents in the author and not in classified part of the catalog ; some give them frequently ; some occasionally ; and many not at all, relying on the Brooklyn, Athenaeum and other printed catalogs. Thirty-seven libraries report as publishing a bulletin of addi- tion at various periods regular and irregular, ranging from a week to two years. Sixteen of these give contents and descriptive notes regu- larly ; a smaller number give them sometimes, frequently, or rarely. Thirty-two libraries report no publications of any description during the two years covered by this report (June, '83-'85) ; ten published catalogs, eight supplements, and the rest are represented by finding-lists, class-lists, refer- ence-lists, etc. The favorite method for notifying readers of new accessions is through the newspapers. This plan is pursued by twenty-three libraries. This, in my opinion, is the best possible method. It not only keeps users of the library informed as to recent additions, but also calls general atten- tion to the library, and increases the number of 112 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. its patrons. The lists are made much more valuable in every way if accompanied by brief notes on the book, descriptive and critical. In this way good reading-matter can be furnished. If, however, a paper cannot be found liberal enough to publish such lists, or wise enough to see that a column of such matter is as interest- ing as a column record of common crimes in remote localities, then it is better to advertise brief lists at the reduced rates which can always be secured. The various other methods adopted are sufficiently specified in the returns from libraries, which make up the body of this report, as are also new methods and appliances in other directions. Among the most acceptable and effective methods for assisting readers to the best books and sources of information, fifty-three librarians report " personal help." Many of them believe this to be the most important of all " aids ; " and on this point again your reporter is glad to record his vote with the majority. His own opinion is entirely in accord with the sentiment expressed in a number of the reports, that nothing can take the place of "an intelligent and obliging assistant at the desk," " intelli- gent officers in charge of the delivery," etc. Some twenty libraries rely on " a good cata- log," preferably their own, where they have one ; in lieu of that, the Brooklyn and other standard catalogs. Nine libraries find in their own cata- logs the most valuable of all aids ; twenty-four mention subject-indexes, class-lists, etc., pre- pared by other librarians, Poole's Index and Foster's Reference-Lists taking the lead. The other methods are set forth in the abstracts which follow. For particulars regarding guides to best books for the young, see the valuable report of Miss James, at the Lake George Conference. EXTRACTS FROM REPORTS. CALIFORNIA. SAN FRANCISCO. (Mer- cantile Library, A. E. Whitaker, Librarian.} Posts on bulletins lists of additions as soon as received, and prints abbreviated lists on postals monthly, and sends them to members. CONNECTICUT. BRIDGEPORT. (Miss Agnes Hills, Librarian .) Printed catalogue and four supplements. Card catalogue, not yet com- pleted, gives contents ; also a special written catalogue of the Historical Department, chiefly for the use of teachers. Postal cards containing lists are sent to students and to teachers, intelligent workingmen, etc., asking them to inform others. New books are placed in a show-case, where they can be examined under the care of an attendant. " Ours is a very young library (June, 1884), and many of our plans for aiding readers are still incomplete. We purchase many books, pamphlets, periodicals, etc., published as ' aids and guides ' to library work, and try to teach our readers to use them. We publish yearly supplements to the catalogue, and, through the courtesy of the Bridgeport Stand- ard, we are enabled to print in its columns monthly lists of additions to the library, with brief criticisms appended. The bulletin-board is used continually, both for references on current topics and brief courses of reading on special subjects. Students are carefully in- formed of additions relating to their particular studies, and are encouraged to make their wants known to us. We watch all educational efforts in the city, and aid them, as far as our limited means will allow, by supplying such works as would be too costly for the majority of those who attend evening classes in art, science, etc. " Teachers frequently consult the librarian about the work of their classes ; pupils are encouraged to come with their difficulties, while debating societies and all other argu- mentative persons invoke our aid as a matter of course. On the whole, we are inclined to think that the best ' library aid ' in a manu- facturing city like ours would be the constant presence of some thoroughly trained student, full of energy and tact, whose sole occupation should be to help readers in their search after knowledge. If it was once understood that such a person's stated business was to answer questions there would be no hesitation in asking them. It would only be necessary that the questions should be answered in a per- fectly business-like manner, and with a careful avoidance of anything resembling a ' mission- ary ' attitude. CRUNDEN. " I find my greatest help in intelligent work- ingmen. Such men are educational centres, and their opinions are usually respected by their less-educated comrades. In every factory here there are a few such men, and we make it our business to know them. A work rec- ommended to one of these, and approved of by him, will always have a large circulation among his friends. The best reading done in our library is done by factory employes. " Our constant experience is that some of the best ' aids ' too often become hindrances in unskilful hands. " I may add that we have adopted the envel- ope system of preserving newspaper cuttings, and find it very useful." HARTFORD. (Miss C. M. Hewitts, Libra- rian.) Printed dictionary catalogue to 1874, card catalogue from that time ; also manuscript lists to December, 1878, and quarterly bulle- tins since then. Card catalogue gives contents under authors ; under subjects catalogue is to be made fuller hereafter. Publishes a bulletin containing notes, etc. [to the practical value of which the reporter takes pleasure in testify- ing] . Has published second edition of " Books for the young " [which should be in every public library]. Librarian furnishes occasionally newspaper notes on topics of general interest. Written titles of new books are posted. Best method cf assisting readers : " Never being too busy to leave whatever I am doing and giving personal aid in suggesting or find- ing books. We depend to a great extent upon Poole's Index, the Brooklyn Catalogue, and the Providence Reference Lists. Your list of the best novels has already been useful to us. Our own aids are the bulletin, question and answer blanks, and movable titles of new books." HARTFORD. (Trinity College, J. H. Barbour, Librarian.) Has a card catalogue, (a) classi- fied without cross-references as yet', (b) alphabet of authors, titles of anon., and sub- jects of all biographies which very seldom as yet gives contents. New books are kept for a while by themselves, and all members have free access to the shelves. Believes in per- sonal help. MIDDLETOWN. (Wesleyan Univ. Library, W. K. Stetson, Librarian.) Has published Russell Library and Wes. Univ. Library Class List for Literature. Keeps reference lists on specific topics posted in sight. ILLINOIS. BLOOMINGTON. Has a partly published catalogue, and also a card cata- logue of authors, titles, and subjects. Uses Poole's Index, Foster's Reference Lists, the Brooklyn Catalogue, and the Quincy, Mass., Catalogue ; checking books in the last named. Notifies readers of additions through the daily papers. Believes the best method for assisting readers to be " Personal help, find- ing something, if possible, on every subject called for." CHICAGO. (W. F. Poole, Librarian.) Re- lies on card catalogue and printed finding-list, published April, 1884. Thinks finding-lists are, perhaps, the most practical method of meeting the wants of rapidly growing libraries. Its card catalogue analyzes the contents of collections of essays, miscellanies, plays, as if they were separate publications. Issues supplements to finding-list about once a year, and posts new books on bulletin- boards. Has successfully established six delivery- stations in different parts of the city. About 9,000 vols. are delivered, and the same number returned, through them monthly, with very lit- tle expense and trouble. The issues are in- creasing monthly, and they have become very popular. The issues through them do not diminish the issues at the main library, which go on increasing. IOWA. IOWA CITY. (Library of Iowa University, Mrs. Ada North, Librarian.) In its card catalogue does not give contents, but depends largely on Noyes' catalogue of the Brooklyn Library for contents. Publishes lists of additions in the college paper once a week. Has published for the use of students a pam- phlet of fifty pages, containing " Historical References for the igth Century." Has a special card catalogue on educational topics for the use of the chair of Didactics. An autograph collection, containing also many fine portraits, has been commenced, and is being MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. carried on. In a university the work is done more readily and effectively through the indi- vidual instructors. The librarian gives lect- ures to the freshmen, and frequent special aid in connection with debates, essay work, etc., with encouraging results. MAINE. BRUNSWICK. (Bowdoin Col- lege Library, Geo. T. Little, Librarian.) Has introduced card catalogue ; gives personal notification of the purchase of books in which each is supposed to be interested. Believes personal conversation to be the most effective method for assisting readers. " The Brooklyn and Boston Athenaeum cata- logues are placed among the reference books, and are frequently used to supplement our own partial." PORTLAND. (S. M. Watson, Librarian.) Uses black-board bulletins in delivery-room, and manuscript catalogues. Aids readers " by furnishing to the inquirer the books which best answer his questions. But, first, find out his question ; then get him the books which an- swer it best. Searchers for information are .generally diffident about asking for informa- tion directly, but call for books which they suppose will give information desired. If book No. I fails he asks for No. 2, etc., etc. By the books asked for his question can often be guessed ; if it cannot be, then ask him what he wants, and then help him with books which you know will give him the information he is in quest of. This I find to be at least a good way." WATERVILLE. (Library of Colby Univer- sity, Ediv. W. Hall, Librarian.) Has a card catalogue, not giving contents. As to assist- ing readers librarian says : " With us the professors usually direct the students to par- ticular volumes. New books are at once placed in their proper positions on the shelves, old books moved upstairs if necessary to make room. The alcoves, being open to all, afford the best means of acquainting the reader with what the library possesses on any given topic." MASSACHUSETTS. BOSTON. (Boston Athenanin, C. A. Cutter, Librarian.) Pub- lishes a bulletin every three weeks, giving contents of books and descriptive notes. Posts lists of new books in the intervals be- tween the bulletins, using the proof-slips to post; has introduced Crocker's book-supports, Borden's newspaper file, wooden pamphlet boxes, electric bells, electric heat-regulator, and electric light. All of the attendants are instructed to render all the assistance to readers that they can. In the art-room a large part, perhaps the larger part, of the attendant's time is taken up in aiding research. BOSTON. (Public Library, James L. Whit- ney, Assistant Librarian.) Posts bulletins of new books on the walls to notify readers of additions ; and, to give them information re- garding the books, clerks are detailed, who are consulted by many thousand readers yearly. Since the Buffalo meeting of the A.L.A., 1883, this Library has published: 1. Hand-book for readers. This contains the regulations of the library, an account of the catalogues, and of the interesting books and works of art in the library. An index is added to the notes about books and reading and other special book-lists found in the cata- logues of different libraries and periodicals. Also a list of indexes to periodicals, and other matter interesting to readers. 2. The Bulletins of the library have con- tained much bibliographical matter, with lists of books on various topics. 3. A new Fiction Catalogue was issued in August, 1884. In this historical fiction is especially noticed, and books which have appeared under two or more titles. The catalogue contains other new features. "Our card catalogue, after much experi- menting, has assumed the form that satisfies us. The titles are compact and legible. Being printed, the subject cards are as full as the author cards, a great desideratum in a large library." . (J. Francisco Car ret, Assistant Librarian.) The following is quoted entire, as giving a full roster of "aids and guides," with their several functions, in a well-officered library : "Your circular of the nth inst. [May, 1884], commanding me 'to stand and deliver' any information I had upon ' aids and guides,' arrived in due course of mail. CRUNDEN. "My experience in either capacity has been exceedingly limited, having never been either an ornamental ' colonel ' or a ' trail-hunter.' But, supposing you will readily lay down your fan for a few moments, I will try to give you an idea how we endeavor to assist readers here in the Bates Hall or reference department of this library. "i. We have a card catalogue covering the Bates Hall collection of 260,838 volumes, and filling 196 drawers, each containing (estimated) about 2,200 cards ; i.e., the whole catalogue contains upwards of 420,000 cards. The author and subject cards are all in one alpha- bet. Cross-references are made from one to another of allied subjects. Each drawer is plainly marked on the outside, and guide- boards are plentifully scattered through the catalogue. "2. A Bulletin, or list of books recently added, is published thrice a year. Each Bulletin, covering from 60 to no pp., 1. 8, contains also lists on special topics. " 3. Between the appearance of the Bulle- tins copies of the printed titles that go into the card catalogue are posted as fast as printed. " 4. A Hand-book for readers, containing 152 pp., 24, giving the regulations of the library, with an account of the catalogues, in- dexes to notes about books, indexes to peri- odicals, a catalogue of books about patents, and other information. "5. For the convenience of readers who are ignorant of the above helps, and especially for that ever-present class of readers who can't or won't read, there are five of us upon the Bates Hall floor ready to act at call as a ' steering committee.' "6. For the diffident inquirer Mr. Knapp has had for years a book, accessible to the public, where queries of all sorts are entered, and replies to them made. It has at the same time given the captious an opportunity to at- tain that state of complacency usually reached through the process of ' freeing one's mind.' " Hoping that at Toronto you will not be dazzled by the resplendent uniforms of the ' aids,' or appalled by the business-like readiness of the bowies and pistols of the ' guides.' BROOKLINE. (Miss M. A. Bean, Librarian) Has a full printed catalogue (1873), Supple- ment (1881), and card catalogue of all books added since December, 1871. Catalogue gives contents invariably and fully, and with the monthly bulletins furnishes majority of patrons all the information wanted. Has published monthly since January, 1877, a bulletin of addi- tions, frequently giving contents of books, but rarely giving descriptive notes, and as part of the town report, which goes into every house- hold in town, annual lists of additions. Also provides interleaved catalogues posted to date. Finds best aids " personal effort, advice, and assistance on the part of librarian and staff." Librarian thinks there is such a thing as wasting effort and money by being too far ahead of the wants of a community. I should like to give Miss Bean's letters entire; but space is limited, and perhaps the writer did not intend them for publication. CAMBRIDGE. {Harvard College Library, Justin Winsor, Librarian.) Continues to pub- lish bulletins and bibliographical contributions, and sends postal lists of new books. Methods in general same as heretofore. Believes the most effective aid to be answering questions. CAMBRIDGE. (Dana Library, Miss A. L. Hayward, Librarian.} Printed catalogue, 1875, and five supplements since; official catalogue without notes. Publishes a bulle- tin of additions, without notes, in a local news- paper and on slips for tables, and mounts them on cards about once in three months. Additions are written and posted in rooms till they mount up to 150-200 books ; then a bul- letin is printed. "We have two lists of books for children, mounted on a large card framed and under glass, and hung in the public room. They are very useful. Should do more if not over- worked. What we need is a librarian at leisure to advise and assist readers." CLINTON. (Bigelow Free Public Library, F. M. Green, Librarian.) Publishes a bulle- tin every month without notes. Found them too expensive. Has been at work for two years on new catalogue ; has published in the local papers, for several years, class-lists, bib- u6 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. liographies, etc., for the benefit of pupils and young people, on topics of the day. Published lists on every subject in course of ten lectures on the " England of to-day." These lists have been classified and indexed in a scrap- book, which is placed on library reading-table and constantly used. Has a separate author card catalogue of ad- ditions, with contents and notes ; also pub- lishes every month list of new books in local papers. Has introduced a new slip, thin card-board (Si x I J) : " As none of the numbers on your card are in, this book is selected for you." Finds medium of local papers the best method of guiding and assisting readers. CONCORD. {Miss E. F. Whitney, Libra- rian.*) Publishes bulletin of additions every January. List of additions posted ; also sepa- rate drawers of cards for new books. "The larger number of the readers seem to prefer having the librarian do the work of the catalogue ; others use the card catalogue very successfully." FALL RIVER. (W. R. Ballard, Librarian.} Has published two bulletins, and has distrib- uted among readers two useful lists : one con- taining the titles of the books which were selected by vote of the readers of the " Literary News," of N.Y., as the best published during 1884; and the other, one hundred of the best novels in English. LYNN. (J. C. Houghton, Librarian.') " About once in two years we have issued our bulletins. They are useful when first published, but a series of bulletins is not popular with readers. They complain of the large number of alphabetical lists, etc. " Have not published a bulletin since 1882 ; but have prepared a catalogue of the entire library, which is now [June, 1885] passing the press, and will comprise about 600 pages. " New accessions are posted on our bulletin- board in the library-room as soon as they are ready for circulation. " The best catalogues of other libraries have been placed among our reference books for the benefit of our readers ; also, the Q.P. Indexes, and the excellent " Index to Periodical Litera- ture," by W. F. Poole and his assistants. " We find personal assistance rendered to students and readers the most effective aid. " I know not precisely what limits the ' Association' has placed with regard to essayists ; but it seems to me that some useful suggestions may be made upon the hindrances as well as upon the aids to library work. Our modern librarians have certainly done good service by careful planning, and by thor- oughly testing their plans in the practical operations of the library. Have they fully measured the annoyances and losses resulting from the lack of active cooperation on the part of the cities and towns? A collection of books is not necessarily a library. Catalogues, in- dexes, Library journals, intelligent and accommodating librarians, and the wisdom of the A.L.A., are not at their best in rooms which were planned for dwellings, druggists' shops, benevolent societies, committee-rooms, armories ; in short, for all uses under the sun except those of a successful public library. The best aid to efficient work in any library is a building or rooms prepared with a wise reference to the special wants of that institu- tion." NEWTON. (Miss H. P. James, Librarian?) Publishes a weekly list of new books in two local papers. One of them is paid for, and contains notices of the books. Copies of this list are struck off and sent weekly to the dif- ferent agencies. " The most efficient method of aiding read- ers is ' personal contact.' I find the more I become acquainted with borrowers the more ready they are to apply to me for help. " At last, after many years' waiting, the teachers in the public schools are beginning to take books out for the use of the pupils in school. There has been such an amount of routine work demanded of them heretofore they have had neither the time nor the strength to do anything beyond. Now a beginning has been made, and when the experiment has become an established fact in this village I shall be able to work with the teachers of the other parts of the city. I can come into per- sonal contact with but few of our teachers, we are so situated in regard to the other schools geographically. Fully half our books circulate CRUNDEN. 117 by means of an express, which we employ all the time to carry baskets of books to the depositories or agencies in eight different vil- lages. The books are exchanged daily, and we do a great amount of helping through written requests. Often the subject alone of some desired information is given, and we send to the anxious inquirer the most desirable book on the question in point that we possess. The card catalogue is so very full that we seldom fail to find something ; but if that gives out we go to ' Poole,' and usually are helped. I have procured a dozen copies of an excellent juvenile catalogue, published by the School Committee of Cambridge, Mass., and inserted our numbers therein. I wish Miss Hewins's ' List ' was in a larger form, so that it could be handled more easily and num- bers could be inserted. If a blank space were left in place of the price of the book, and the list itself were larger, it would be far more useful." TAUNTON. (E. C. Arnold, Librarian.) Has published " a supplementary catalogue and four bulletins since June, 1883 ; has also monthly MS. lists of additions, classed under thirteen generic heads. " The printed bulletins were started in 1884. " In addition to the above we have a notice conspicuously posted, inviting persons desir- ing information on any subject to apply at the desk ; and in response to such applications we place at the disposal of readers whatever books the library contains relative thereto, in an alcove suitable for such investigations." WOBURN. (W. R. Cutter, Librarian.) Has a printed catalogue and a partially com- pleted card catalogue, which " shows contents generally given where naturally expected." Has a yearly bulletin. Notifies readers of accessions by newspaper lists, and MS. lists posted on bulletin-boards in the library. Consolidated MS. lists of additions have been placed on reading-room tables. Believes the best aids for readers to be " good finding- lists" printed and MS. WORCESTER. (Samuel S. Green, A.M., Librarian.) Publishes a bulletin of additions about once a month, giving contents of books and descriptive notes. Publications of 1883-85 : Catalogue of the circulating department and of a portion of the books belonging to the intermediate department ; and " Public libra- ries and schools ; results of recent efforts to make the former useful to the latter," a pa- per prepared, at the request of the Mass. Bd. of Education, for its 48th annual report, by the librarian. MISSOURI. ST. Louis. (Frederick M. Crunden, Librarian.) " Has a printed cata- log, 1870; supplement, 1872; a volume ot annotated bulletins with alphabetical index, including additions from 1879 to 1883 inclu- sive ; and two complete card catalogs up to date, one official, the other public, each containing a classified and an alphabetical arrangement of the entire collection. The official classified catalog is used for taking the inventory. "The bulletin above-mentioned was full and minute, giving cross-references, contents, and numerous descriptive and critical notes. The expense of its publication was lessened by advertisements ; but the library funds would not admit of its continuance. It seemed to be, as Miss Bean says, too much in advance of the wants of the great majority of our members. A spasmodic attempt was made last December to revive it in a simpler and cheaper form ; but that, too, after two issues, was discontinued for want of money, and also the lack of any active demand. "During nearly the whole period covered by this report a column of notes on recent ad- ditions to the library appeared in the Republi- can, which, with no cost to the library beyond the librarian's time, did more to keep members informed about new books added than any of the costly methods previously tried. "The number which closed our five-year experiment in publishing a bulletin was an exception to the rest of the series. It con- tained a list of ' Best novels,' and a list of ' Books for the young, 1 which created a genuine interest. All the copies were dis- posed of, as well as an extra edition of the novel and juvenile list ; and more could have been sold if we had had them, as there is still a demand for them. This experience leads me to think that special lists on subjects of n8 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. popular interest are more desired, and are especially of more permanent value than gen- eral lists of new books. Acting on this idea our library published this spring six reference lists on ' Buddhism,' 'Children, their training and management,' ' French history,' ' The Renaissance,' ' Travel,' ' Music.' Each was prepared by a person who had given special attention to the subject, and consisted of a few prefatory remarks as to methods of study, followed by a list of the best books on the topic treated. To these the librarian, as editor, added other good books suggested by the resources of the library ; in one case, music, publishing a complete class-list on that subject. These came out too late to make a present test ; but we anticipate a fair appreciation of them in the fall. " We have a rack with four shelves on one end of the issue-desk for the display of new novels, and a double case for other new books, which are arranged therein according to classes. Postal cards are occasionally sent to readers calling attention to new books in which they are supposed to be specially in- terested." NEBRASKA. LINCOLN. (State Library, Guy A. Brown, Librarian.} Has published one entire catalogue of law and miscellaneous de- partments, notifies readers of additions through local newspapers, and believes in personal answers to questions. NEW YORK. NEW YORK. (Apprentices' 1 Library, Jacob Schwartz, Librarian.) Gives contents in card catalogue, publishes annually a bulletin of additions with contents ; has also published " Classified lists of the most popular works," ten in number, commencing May, 1884, and finds these the most useful aid to readers. NEW YORK. (Columbia College Library, M civil Dewey, Chief Librarian.) Has a card catalogue: I. Author. 2. Subject. 3. Lead- ing titles. Gives contents only in special cases. Is about to begin the publication of a quarterly bulletin. Has published full classification and index, 250 pp. Notifies readers of additions by means of notes in college papers and bulletin boards. Refers to annual report for notes on some of the many new appliances introduced. Keeps two reference librarians specially to aid inquirers. NEW YORK. (Mercantile Library, IV. T. Peoples, Librarian.) Publishes a bulletin of additions semi-annually, and has also pub- lished a list of books contained in the library on political economy, and weekly lists in news- papers, which latter are distributed free among members. Has introduced the cyclostyle. Re- lies upon bulletins for assisting members. NEW YORK. (Y. M. C. A. Library, R. B. Poole, Librarian.) Is not a circulating library. New books are placed in a case by themselves and placards posted on them notifying readers. Classes of books are designated by slips at- tached to the shelves. This works well. Occasionally posts lists of books on special topics. Finds most effective aids in " Good cata- loging, assisting the uninitiated in its use, free access to Poole's index and Foster's, and personal attention to the wants of readers." ALBANY. (N. Y. State Library, H. A. Homes, Librarian.} Publishes additions in an- nual report. Gives personal aid to students ; but, being strictly a State library, has no need for many of the devices and methods which are necessary to librarians having a popular clientage. AUBURN. (Seymour Library, Miss M. A. Bullard, Librarian.) Gives contents in card catalogue, and publishes a bulletin of addi- tions bi-monthly, with contents and notes. Most acceptable means of assisting readers : " My own sweet gift of speech and the hand- books on different subjects, Foster's Refer- ence lists, Quincy and Boston Public Library catalogues, and anything and everything I can find." BROOKLYN. (W. A. Bar dwell, Acting Librarian.) Has published since June, 1883, four bulletins of additions and a class-list of English prose fiction, the latter being a reprint of the Fiction Catalogue of 1877, with a sup- plement of forty pages, giving the additions since 1877 and through 1884. "A weekly list of additions is made, and seven copies are taken by the hectograph. CRUNDEN. 119 One copy is put upon the bulletin-board, while others are upon the tables in the delivery- room. One copy is sent to the branch in the Eastern District. The new books are placed on the delivery-counter, and can be readily examined by members. Occasionally notices of new books are inserted in local papers. " The reference department of this library is very much enlarged. About 1,000 books have been placed upon new shelves, free of access to members. Old files of newspapers are placed in a room by themselves, arranged alphabetically on the shelves. A collection of newspaper cuttings is being made, from out-of- town papers, on subjects not generally or fully covered by books. These cuttings are mounted on brown paper sheets and kept in pamphlet boxes. "Reference to the Brooklyn Library Cata- logue, compiled by Mr. S. B. Noyes, seems, on the whole, to give the greatest satisfaction to readers. The free use of 1,000 reference volumes, embracing cyclopaedias, dictionaries, gazetteers, atlases, catalogues, directories, laws, etc., gives much information and guid- ance. " A special consulting reference librarian, in addition to our present force, would be very useful." BUFFALO. (Young Men's Library, J. IV, Lamed, Librarian.) Has a card subject-cata- logue (systematic) and card finding-list, or al- phabetical catalogue of authors and titles, in which contents are given to a great extent, but not of all works yet. (Working all the time at that feature of the catalogue.) Publishes a bulletin of additions about once a month (as often as we fill four pages), which, in most cases, gives contents of books and descriptive notes. About to print a finding-list of history, biog- raphy, travel, and politics. New books are kept in open cases near the delivery-desk for several months, for free in- spection. For aiding readers relies on personal as- sistance by the librarian, which is given as freely as practicable. GLOVERSVILLE. (Lem Parsons Library, A. L. Peck, Librarian.} Librarian compiles monthly a list of such new publications as, in the opinion of reliable critics, will have a more permanent value. In this list descrip- tive notices are given, and titles of books added to the library are underscored in colored ink. A copy of the list is sent to every literary society in the town, and one is posted in the delivery-room of the library. On his monthly visits to the various schools of the town and vicinity he informs teachers and scholars of additions likely to interest them. Considers the most effective " aid " to be : "i. Direct intercourse with the reader, manifestation of interest in each individual, readiness to help in cases where aid is de- manded, and proper care of not being too officious. " 2. Lectures. The pastors of our six Protestant churches deliver each, annually, one discourse on books and reading. In this manner we have six lectures annually ; of late I have ventured to do likewise." ITHACA. (Cornell University Library, G. Wm. Harris, Librarian.} Has a dictionary card catalogue, giving contents ; publishes a bulletin of additions three or four times a year, giving contents of books and descriptive notes, the latter very sparingly, and has published during 1883-85 classified lists of works on mathematics in the library, 1883. In the Library Bulletin the following : Anti- slavery periodicals in the C. U. Library ; record of ancient publications by officers of C. U. ; lists of current periodicals. Professors are in the habit of calling the attention of their students to books in the library for collateral reading. Lists of refer- ences for subjects allotted for essays and orations are prepared for the convenience of students. NEWBURGH. (C. Estabrook, Librarian.*) Publishes additions in daily local papers with catalogue number. These lists are cut out by readers and pasted in their catalogues. Finds most effective method of assisting readers in " encouraging them to tell me what subject they are seeking information on, and giving them to understand that rendering them assistance is a source of pleasure to me." I2O MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. POUGHKEEPSIE. (J: C. Sickley, Librarian.) Has a dictionary catalogue, which gives con- tents briefly ; publishes a bulletin of additions in daily newspapers when books are added. For other methods refers to article in Library journal, vol. 9, page 100. " A reference-room was opened, giving op- portunities for those who wished to have a place for quiet study. Copies of our catalogue, which is arranged on the plan of the Brooklyn Library Catalogue, were placed in every school in the city, public and private. Special privi- leges were given to teachers. They were al- lowed to draw three books at a time if desired. Books upon a subject which a class were study- ing or investigating were kept in the library for the time required for such study, upon a teacher's leaving a request and furnishing a list of books. A circular letter was sent to all teachers, requesting them to instruct pupils in the use of the catalogue, and to advise with them as to the best reading. " Lists of new books were published in the newspapers as received, and posted on the bul- letin in the library. Nearly every week a list of books in the library, and also articles in periodicals having reference to some local or general event or person of importance. An instance, Matthew Arnold's arrival in America. A list of his works in the library, and articles about him and his works in the periodicals, was published in the daily papers. The 4Ooth an- niversary of Luther a list of books and maga- zine articles on Luther and the Reformation were published. Lists of books relating to the subject of a lecture at the Lyceum or Literary Institute were also published in the daily pa- pers. ROCHESTER. (Library of the University, H. K. Phinney, Assistant Librarian.} Pro- vides readers with a MS. list of magazines, in order to save trouble to attendants and disap- pointment to applicants by calls for magazines to which Poole's Index refers, but which are not in the library's magazine collection. OHIO. CINCINNATI. (C. W. Merrill, Librarian.) Has published finding-list, 1882-4, bulletins of 1883-4, and furnished manuscript lists of new books, and sometimes special lists. " When my eyes get well, and I have a month's spare time, will try to answer this. (1884.) This library employs over fifty living aids and guides. (How many are blind guides I don't care to confess.) Then we have a new finding-list classified by subjects, which is in use within the library, although it awaits indexes before being finally issued. Then we have the important library catalogues and bibliogra- phies, etc., etc. As to young readers we have given them Mr. Larned's and Miss Hewins's catalogues, with our numbers added. I have given the Normal and High school pupils talks and explanations, and shown the books, etc., about as Mr. Poole described his efforts in Chicago. One of the city papers publishes every week an article for young people upon some author or some subject, in which all the appropriate books are given, with the public library numbers. The teachers in the public schools have helped somewhat, but not a great deal." CLEVELAND. (/. L. Beardsley, Librarian.) Under date of July 5, 1884, he writes : " We have a bulletin-board where all new books are posted as placed upon the shelves for the use of the public. All titles of books added are entered in the ' Burr index,' which has been found the most convenient aid we have ever had, for it can be referred to instantaneously, and thus save, in nine cases out of ten, refer- ring to the cards. Instead of multiplying cards to give references to fractions of books on vari- ous subjects I use a ' Burr index,' which I find of great service. . . I have in progress an exhaust- ive catalogue of all the books in the library up to 1882, about 39,000 volumes." Hasaclassi- fied catalogue, 1876-77, with 5 supplements, to 1882 ; a title and author card catalogue of one- sixth of circulating department, and is begin- ning one to include subject-references. Pub- lishes lists in daily papers (as news) , monthly lists of accessions, and posts them on a bulletin- board. PENNSYLVANIA. GERMANTOWN. (Friends'* Free Library, Wm. Kite, Libra- rian.) Has manuscript catalogue ; authors in one volume, subjects in another. Latter di- vided into 70 distinct heads. Publishes an annual bulletin of additions, CRUNDEN. 121 also lists in local papers occasionally. Believes in personal intercourse. "With children, teachers and librarian mutually advise." PHILADELPHIA. (Library Co. of Philadel- phia, Lloyd P. Smith, Librarian . ) Has printed catalogues, 1731 to 1855; card catalogue, 1855 to 1885. The latter very seldom gives con- tents. Publishes a bulletin of additions every six months, sometimes giving contents of books, and frequently descriptive notes. Has published, June, 1883-85 : List of regimental histories of the Rebellion. List of issues of the Pennsylvania press, from 1770 to 1776. Keeps accounts with members on cards in- stead of a ledger as formerly. Believes the most effective aids to be : 1. A good catalogue. 2. An intelligent and obliging assistant at the desk. PHILADELPHIA. (Mercantile Library, John Edmands, Librarian.} Has published in its bulletin for July, '83, " Bibliographia Websteri- ana " (4 pages) ; for October, '83, "Reading Notes on Luther" (5 pages); January, '85, "Reading Notes on Catacombs" (2 pages) ; April, '85, "Reading Notes on Wyckliffe" (3 pages) ; July, '85, " List of Indexes " (6 pages) ; October, '84, and January, '85, " Bibliography of Dies Irce" (12 pages) ; and April, '85, "Reading Notes on Education" (7 pages). RHODE ISLAND. PAWTUCKET. (Mrs. Minerva A. Sanders, Librarian.} As books are put into the library, lists are sent to the local papers, with favorable criticism when necessary. [For method of dealing with dime-novel readers, see Library journal, May, 1885.] " I have a table on which I place from one hundred to a hundred and fifty of the best books of all classes, except fiction. These may be examined at pleasure, and are renewed as often as two or three times a week. I fre- quently call attention of patrons to these books, and that which I commenced as an experiment eighteen months ago has become one of the best methods of improving the taste of our readers, and has reduced our circulation of fic- tion three per cent. " For assisting readers to the best sources of information I have no special method. I give it my personal attention whenever it is possible, especially among the children. " I find Poole's Index the most valuable aid, not even excepting the various encyclopaedias, though I could not, of course, do without them. " Teachers and pupils are encouraged to use the library with perfect freedom, and to seek the aid of the librarian and her assistants, with the assurance of a prompt and cheerful re- sponse. We not unfrequently have twenty or thirty girls and boys at the tables together, taking notes in connection with their studies. " A few weeks since a paper was read before our Business Men's Association on ' The Yellowstone Park.' During the next three days sixty children came to the library, ' armed and equipped as the law directs,' with pencil and paper, asking for information concerning ' The National Park,' a prize being offered for the most facts regarding it by one of our teachers. Though wholly ignorant of the use of reference books at first, with a little help they readily learn, and are quite ready to assist each other. "We have also adopted the plan of sending no fiction out by messengers, unless specially called for; the message, 'Send me a good book,' is literally construed. In making up my reports for July I shall ascertain the result of these experiments. I regret that I cannot give you the benefit of it. " Our reading-room is one of our best edu- cators. It is supplied with twelve tables, from twelve to fifteen feet long. On them are lying about two hundred papers, current magazines, and illustrated books, ranging from the Nursery to Houghton & Mifflin's illustrated edition of ' Longfellow's Poems.' " Three of these tables are reserved for the use of children, and their rights are in every way respected ; our only requirements for this room are order and cleanliness ; the patronage averages one hundred and fifty daily. During the eight years the losses have been scarcely worth reporting ; yet this is a free reading- room, in its broadest sense." PROVIDENCE. (Library Brown University, Reuben A. Guild, Librarian.) Has printed 122 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. and card catalogues, which give contents to a limited extent. The books are in twenty-four classifications or divisions. Each division has a card catalogue. The whole to be supple- mented by an alphabetical index of authors. Allows the professors and students free ac- cess to all the alcoves. They can thus see for themselves the additions to the collection. The professors leave lists of themes at the li- brary, and the librarian and assistants indicate on these lists the books and articles available. PROVIDENCE. ( Wm. E. Foster, Librarian.) Has (i) Card catalogue, in drawers. (2) Accession-book, and class-lists (MS. record- books). (3) Printed finding-list, 1880, and supplement, 1882, 1885. (4) Other bulletins, lists, etc. Does not give contents on white cards ; on brown cards the contents are analyzed, and subject entries given. Publications for period covered by this re- port: (i) Monthly reference-lists, vols. 3 and 4. (2) Library united with two others in affix- ing its initials to the references to political and economic topics, prepared by the librarian. Notifies readers of additions, etc., by means of weekly notes, and references in two of the daily papers. Makes use of the following methods for assisting readers: (i) Daily MS. notes on current events and topics. (2) Printed refer- ences or bibliographies. (3) Personal consul- tation, by readers. (4) Cooperation of teachers in the schools. Has cooperated with other institutions in publishing a list of periodicals currently taken in the libraries and reading-rooms of Provi- dence. Continues its efforts to unite the library and the schools by methods set forth in annual reports. WOONSOCKET. (Harris Institute Library, Anna Metcalf, Librarian.) Has a printed catalogue, subject, author, and title, and card catalogue for the use of the librarian. Ms. lists are posted on a bulletin-board, which is provided with a shelf for the convenience of those who wish to write the numbers. Personal interest and advice timidly adminis- tered have been found most effective in assist- ing readers. VERMONT. BRATTLEBORO'. Has a card catalogue ; authors and subjects in separate alphabets. Contents are largely indexed in subject catalogue. List of additions is printed monthly in the Amherst Student. Additions are also posted on bulletin-board frequently ; and numerous literary and biblio- graphical periodicals are accessible in the reading-room. Most effective aids in assisting readers : (i.) Personal direction by the librarian. (2.) Catalogues such as the Brooklyn, Fos- ter's Reference-lists, etc., placed within reach of all readers and their use explained. Keeps also a special card catalogue (in a separate drawer) of lists on special subjects, indexing Foster's R. L., Boston Bulletins, lists in Literary World, etc., etc. ; so that a reader can learn by a glance whether a list of works on the subject -he has in mind is available in any of these sources. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. WASHING- TON. (Department of Agrictilture, B: Pickman Mann.) Systematic index to "Psyche," giving 9,282 classified references to various branches of entomology. CANADA. TORONTO. (James Bain, Li- brarian.) He writes, under date of June, 1884, " I am more and more convinced that the great want in all our libraries is that of a good in- dicator, whether its use be confined to fiction alone, to the popular books of the day, or made comprehensive enough to include the whole circulating library. " I hope to bear my share in the solution of the problem." In reply to the sixth question, one librarian says he " should be glad to hear of some." If the extracts given above do not satisfy him I would suggest that he be appointed to prepare the next report, so that he may have the bene- fit of reading the full returns. Another librarian finds the most acceptable and effective method for assisting readers is to " let them go by their own judgment." He adds, in confidence (which I assume is not betrayed by anonymous quotation), this amusing and pathetic postscript : "The trustees of this library were born the CRUNDEN. 123 day the ark rested on Mt. Ararat ; and they think that that which was good enough for Shem, Ham, and Japhet will do well enough for [Slowtown]. Every suggestion the librarian has made has been ' sat upon ' by the whole board. They even jostle one another in their eagerness to assist at the ceremony ; and, consequently, the librarian has long since become disgusted and turned his attention to outside business which pays, which is more than can be said of his position." The following note from Mr. Green suggests an admirable field of usefulness for cultivated ladies of leisure : "FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY, "WORCESTER, MASS., May 25th, 1885. " I send you herewith a copy of the catalogue of the Sunday-School Library of the Second Par- ish, Worcester, issued recently. "It is an excellent model for a Sunday- School catalogue, and contains a very choice selection of books for children, having in it no poor books, I believe. " Notice that every book has a note attached showing the contents, etc., of the book. " This catalogue was made by a highly culti- vated young lady in our society, after consulta- tion with me. " This lady reads all children's books pub- lished that are likely to be good, and makes notes of their contents. She acts also as con- sulting librarian, to whom teachers and schol- ars can resort freely." Though in some cases a repetition, and in others an anticipation, of the next report, I ap- pend a brief list of library aids, which have come into my hands : A.L.A. Proceedings of Lake George Con- ference. Numerous juvenile lists mentioned in Miss James 1 report. CAMBRIDGE, MASS., Ann. Report of School Com., 1882. COLUMBIA COLLEGE Library. School of Library Economy. Circular of information, 1886-7. KING, Chas. F., Prin. Lewis School, Boston Highlands. Schedule of topics in geography for the study of the grand divisions . LIBRARY notes. Boston. Library Bureau. MALDEN, MASS. Pupil's library catalog. ST. Louis Public Library. Reference-lists : Buddhism ; Children, their faculties and man- agement ; History of France ; Music ; Renais- sance ; Travel. SAWIN, James M. Prin. Point-st. Grammar School, Providence. Fifth annual report of valuable and reliable books for young people. SYRACUSE, N.Y. Central Library. List of books for use of pupils in the public schools. THOMAS CRANE Public Library. Children's book-lists. List of books prepared for the use of pupi Is in the public schools : Art, Biography, Fiction, History, Physics, Travels. The last-named are large charts, having noth- ing on them to indicate by whom they were prepared; and I have forgotten when and whence I obtained them. Probably some read- er can identify them, and inform others through the Library journal. On one or two points I have interjected an opinion in the course of this report. I should have said more but for the fact that my own views are so fully and ably set forth by others whom I have quoted. Though the work was necessarily put off to the last, and therefore done in a hurry, I found great interest in reading the returns, some of them stamped so plainly with the individuality of the writer, and some of them embodying bits of humor, more of which I should have liked to repeat. I also sympa- thized heartily with those of our brotherhood (and sisterhood) who are called upon to make bricks without straw. We would all adopt the most improved method if we could. I hope that few of us are hampered by an antediluvian board like that alluded to above ; but all, or nearly all, of us have limitations in the way of funds. All these "aids and guides" cost money; and none more than that most acceptable and effec- tive of all, intelligent and obliging librarians and assistants, who have time to answer questions. It is doubtless of very great benefit to com- pare notes on this as on all other topics ; but, after all, the greatest desideratum is not so much to know what to do as to find time and money to do it. I can easier teach twenty good 1 2 4 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. things to be done than find time and money to do one of them. And success depends, I think, less on choice of methods than on vigor and thoroughness of execution. ' For forms of government let fools contest; What's best administered is best." As containing many useful aids and guides, I append the following list of PUBLICATIONS, JUNE, 1883-85 : ALSACE. Catalogue des Alsatica de la bibliotheque d'Oscar BERGER-LEVRAULT. ic ptie : [176 et i8e siec., Consulat et Em- pire.] 2e ptie : [196 siec.] Nancy, imp. Berger-Levrault, 1883, 2v., 7-}- 208; 203 p., 8. Noticed by C. Boyet in Revue critique, 1883, p. 398-9. Verzeichniss der 1870-82 ersch. Literatur liber den Elsass. Von E. Martin u. W. Wi- gard. (In Strassburger Studien, v. 2, p. 385- 4730 AMERICA and her commentators, with a critical sketch of travel in the U.S.; by H: T. Tuckerman. C: Scribner, 1864. Noticed in L. /., Apr., 1885, p. 92, referring- to W : J : Potts' notice in Critic. AMERICAN catalogue. Supplement, 1876- 84. ANDREA Maj. J:, Bibliography of; by C: A. Campbell. (In Mag. of Am. hist., Jan., 1882, p. 61-72.) ANGLO-SAXON. Grundriss zur Geschichte der angelsachsischen Literatur ; von R. Wiilc- ker. i. Halfte. Lpz., Veit & Co., 1885. S. ARGENTINE CONFEDERATION. Annuario bibliografico de la republica argentina, anno 4 (1882), por Alberto Navarro Viola. Buenos Aires, 1883. 598 p. 8<>. ARMENIA. Bibliographic armenienne, 1565- 1883. Venezia, tip. armena, 1883. 32 -{-737 P- ATHENS. ' yloyof. TyU^ua a', Geo/ioy/a. 'Ev 'Atfr/vaif, 1883. ( 4 ) + 177 P. F. " Classed [6 cl. 51 divisions]. Index of authors and subjects in one alphabet of over ao pages." AUSTRIA. Franz Krones' Grundriss der b'sterreichischen Geschichte. 1882. 4 1. -j- 926 p. O. AUTOGRAPHS IN BOOKS. (W. Carew Haz- litt in Bibliographer, p. 135-40, 153-8, Oct., Nov., 84.) BEAUMARCHAIS, Bibliog. de. Par H: Cor- dier. See L.j.,8: 150. Reviewed with a long list of addi- tions, by Em. Picot, in Rev. critique, Dec. 3, '83, p. 448-57. BIBLE. C. A. Briggs's Biblical study, Edin., Clark, 1884, 490 p., 8, contains a " Catalogue of books of reference." Old Testament. G. Duplessis. Essai bibliog. sur les differentes editions des Icones Veteris Testaments d'Holbein. (Extr. des Mem. de la Soc. des Antiq. de France, t. 44.) Nogent-le-Rotrou. 20 p. 8. BIBLIOGRAPHY. Giuseppe Ottino. Manuale di bibliografia, illustrate con 1 1 incis. Milano, Hoepli, 1885. 6 -f 158 p. 16. BIRMINGHAM FREE LIBRARIES. Ref. dept. Catalogue, letter A only. Birm., 1883. 98 p. 1. O. BOMBAY. Office of the Registrar of Native Publications. Catalogue of books printed in the Bombay Presidency during the quarter ending 30 June, 1884. Bombay, 1884. 65 p. F. 271 books and 96 periodicals. BOOK-LORE. Gustave Brunet. La biblio- manie en 1882 ; bibliog. des adjudications les plus remarquables et de la valeur primitive de ces ouvrages. Brux., J. J. Gay, 1883. 108 p. 12. J. Le Petit. L'art d'aimer les livres et de les connaitre ; lettres a un jeune bibliophile. Paris, J. Le Petit, 1884. 8. Jas. L. Whitney. A modern Proteus. Jas. Chapman Woods. Old and rare books : an elementary lecture. Lond., Stock, 1885. 35 P- 8- BOOKS, CENSORSHIP OF. Dr. F : H : Reusch. Der Index verbotener Biicher: ein Beitrag zur Kirchen- u. Literaturgeschichte. Bd. i. Bonn, Cohen & Sohn, 1883. 12 + 624 p. 8. " Eine Frucht musterhaft fleissiger u. umsichtiger Studien." Neuer Ameiger. C RUN DEN. BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY Bulletin has contained bibliographies of B: Franklin and Mathew Arnold, also indexes of articles on Am. local history in historical collections, to notes about books and reading, and to special book-lists found in the catalogues of the B. P. L., and various other libraries, and in periodicals, and to the British sessional papers of 1881. BOTANY. General index to the Latin names and synonymes of the plants depicted in the first 107 vols. of Curtis's Botanical mag., to which is added a short list of popular names ; ed. by Edmund Touks, B.C.L., London. B. Quaritch, 1883. Roy. 8. 7 + 263 p. BOURGOGNE. Ph. Milsand. Bibliographic bourguignonne ou catalogue methodique d'ou- vrages relatifs a la Bourgogne : Sciences, Arts, Histoire. Dijon, E. Lechevalier, 1885. 8. BRIGGS, C : A : Cat. of books of reference (Pages 429-488 of his Biblical study. N.Y., 1883. 315-1-566?. o.) BRITISH MUSEUM. Cat. Eng. books printed before 1640. 3 vols. Catalogue of a selection from the Stowe MSS., Lond., 1883. 83 p. -f-45 P^ m autotype fac-sim. BRITTANY. Kerviler. Essai d'une biblio- graphic des publications de la Bretagne. I. Dept. de Morbihan. Paris, Lechevalier, 1884. 56 p. 8. (40 copies.) BUDDHISM. Cambridge Univ. L. Catalogue of the Buddhist Sanskrit MSS. in the Univ. L. by Cecil Bendall. Camb. Univ. Press, 1883. CAEN, UNIVERSITY DE. La bibliotheque. 2. Inventaire [1515]. (Pages 263-71 of Poly- biblion, mars, 1885.) CANTU, Cesare. Antonio Manno. Bozza di una bibliografia degli scritti stampati da Cesare Cantu. Torino, 1884. 94p. 16. (100 copies.) CATALOGUES, General. Narducci. [A report in Italian on the utility of a general catalogue of printed books in all Italian libraries.] (Poly- biblion, Oct., '83, p. 380 -(- I.) CATHOLICISM. Alphabetical catalogue of Catholic books pub. in U.S. rev. to date by L. K. [Lawrence Kehoe], Jan. 20. 1884. N.Y., D. Cath. Pub. Soc. Co. n. d. 48 p. The Co. also issues a catalogue of London & Dublin Catholic books. Dr. Franz Hiitskamp. 1000 gute Biicher den Katholiken deutscher Zunge empfohlen, 3. Aufl. Munster, Theissing, 1883. 2 1. -|- 108 p. 8. H. Hurter, S.J. Nomenclator literarius recentioris theologiae catholicae : Tomus ill : seculum ill post celebr. Concilium Triden- tinum, fasc. I et n, 1764-1800. Oeniponte 1883. 2 1. + 49 2 p. + 15 p. 8. Carlos Sommervogel.^.y. Dictionnaire des ouvrages anonymes et pseudonymes pub- lies par desreligieuxdela Compagnie de Jesus. Paris, Soc. Bibliog., 1884. 3 p. + 1398 col. + [3] P. Reviewed by Tamizey de Larroque in Polybiblion, Dec. 1884, p. 350-2. CHAUCER, BIBLIOGRAPHY OF. Lit. W. (Bost.), Sept. 8, 1883. CLASSIC Books, Guide to the choice of; by Jos: Bickersteth Mayor. 2d ed. Lond., Bell, 1885. 8. CLEVELAND (O.) P.L. Bulletin No. 3. Books added, 1882-3. 1884. 60 p. 1. O. CUMATE. Alexander Ramsay. The sci- entific roll climate : a bibliography, guide and index to climate. London, Swan, Sonnen- schein & Co., 1884. "Reviewed in Sat. R., Ap.4 (1885), p. 452. Thebibliog. commences in 1682 and closes in 1883. The indices are very complete, and refer to subjects both in the bibliogra- phies and the notes, but not to the names of the writers." L.j., May, '85, p. 114. CORNELL UNIVERSITY, Publications of officers of. (In several nos. of Cornell Li- brary.) DANTE. Alberto Bacchi della Lega. Indice generale della bibliografia dantesca comp. dal vise. Colomb de Batines. Bologna, Ro- magnoli, 1883. 2!. -{-174 p. 8. G. A. Scartazzini. Dante in Germania. Pt. 2, bibliog dantesca alemanna, alfabetica e sistematica. Milano, Hoepli, 1883. 360 p. 8. DESAIVRE, Dr. Leo. Bibliographic. (In his Le mythe de la mere Lusine [Melusine].) St. Maixent, 1883. 221 p. DICKENS'S Speeches (1841-70), ed. by R: H. Shepherd, contains a new bibliography, rev. and enlarged. 126 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. DIES iRjE. Merc. Lib. Co. of Phila.'s bull, for Jan., 1885, concludes Mr. Edmands's bibli- ography of the Dies irae, begun in the Oct. no. There are recorded 534 titles in all. DORE, Gustave. Catalogue des dessins, aquarelles, et estampes de G. D. exposes dans les salons du Cercle de la Librairie (mars 1885), avec une notice biog. par G. Duplessis. Paris, Cercle de la Librairie, 1885. 225 p. -J- portrait grave p. Lalauze. 16. Pages 123-193 contain the list of all works illustrated by Dor<. DRESDEN, K. )O3 ON"-" b .-. a cS K u E- 5 S c a w^- JC W el . - V B {, 3 o 5: asssss = Ss isl- e's -sSxS bco J , In order now to form an approximate esti- mate of the capacity of this library for book ac- commodation, the subjoined calculation, which I have not thought necessary to carry further than to the sixth spiral, will furnish an accurate guide, when it is borne in mind to deduct from each separate total a certain small percentage for the waste caused by doors and the thick- ness of the shelves. From that table, by the aid of which the capacity of any library may be calculated, it will be seen that the proposed library will eventually hold, on an average, about 10,000,000 books, which, I presume, though we can never be certain what the future has in store, will practically suffice for all time. 1 For these foregoing calculations I am indebted to my friend, Mr. W. J. Ibbetson, of Clare College, Cambridge. 136 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. O co O O ON oo NO 10 O Q ON O O $ 28 O ON O O vo 10 r- Q o 8 28 vS 28 2 8 Cvi CO N N 00 10 ? Tj- -I CO t** O t*** t"* vO N - ON ro N IO *" nT CO 00 00 CO Tf 1 Q" vo" \O t^ Hi" 1 ON t^ O "~i HI HI 00 1 d ON ~ 2- OH, O oo 10 -3- o N O Tf vO N O N ON N U il 10 Ti- o Q 10 co N Q . co O O O Q S 8 ON oo TJ- r^ o O t-^ IO IO tN HI O 10 HI ON OO TJ- 2 8 *>. ON 2 ct 1 * O ^ co O i r^ N 8 S "^\ii ^*<4! -I N HI o o o o M OO O oo" oo' vO~ ON "i- o o oo o o CO IO N H! 00 O O 10 O T}- O . CO N VO 1 ON o" Q ^ O oo g- ON 06" t^ ^- 10 10 O O ^ ON tj- t^ 10 o IO O HI OO N 5 H? 1 vo~ ti O Q to 5 CJ 10 co cT oo HI HI CO ON 1 M 00 HI CO * ^\F ^S>l ~ ON Q Q VO OO vO Q HI IO VO t^ 10 1 -i O O co 5 N q co vO O vO co O O CO 10 ON O 10 r>. co O O CNI Tf M as VO_ ON VO" VO CO vo vO M pj vO O O HI co ff) N OO O 10 O HI OO t^ N 1 cf R O O ao 5 ON OO CO ON O . 1! 8 I 1 -* VO ON CO CO CO 1 N t^ ~ 8 "w TJ V g I! V < u 2 1 o U *r X : * o in o V ^ 2 s. J3 . . a . . . Gl . a .0 . co . . ..ctf.^.. Q B % II u vj; 1 13 a v o * Ja "S ^! O & u O V T3 a - o 3 u 2 ^ to ^ 8 Internal diameter of reading-room, in feet .... Length of reading-room wall, internal measurement, in feet Square measurement, in feet, of internal surface of reading-roo high Extent of reading-room library, allowing 10 vols. to a square foe Length of reading-room wall, external measurement, in feet . Height of the same for book storage 30 feet, square measure in Book accommodation on this surface, at 10 vols. per square foot PIRAL. Length of entire turn (central line; wall 2 feet thick) Square measurement of internal surface (30 feet high ; no bo this side) Number of books accommodated at 10 vols. per square foot . Number of bookcases attached to external side of this wall, case \% feet thick Leaving wall-space for book -storage after deducting i% feet for Square measure of external surface of this wall (30 feet high) Square surface measure of bookcases, 10 feet deep and 30 feet 600 square feet (both sides) A gg re g ate surface measure of external side of wall -\- that attached to it . . . . . . . . . Number of books accommodated, at 10 vols. per square foot . SPIRAL. I. Length of entire turn 2. Length of both sides of wall 3. Number of bookcases attached to both sides, six feet apart thick) 4. Leaving wall space for book accommodation, after deductir 5. Square measure of surface of both sides of wall (30 feet hig 6. Square measure of bookcases (as before) .... 7. Aggregate square surface-measure of H d spiral wall -}- attacl 8. Number of books accommodated, at 10 vols. per square foot M a MAGNtJSSON. 137 2 8 rrt O O\ vO f<) N r^ oo VO vo N o N CO N vS u-> ro O vo &. itt OO vO "> O *> ro OO i- O - M r^ rj- OO t~- rj- OO t-. 80 o o o N N >>. ~ ^ - * T 1-4""" - H H I-H HH I-H I-H HH I-H I-H I-H I-H I-H I-H I-H I-H >H I-H I-H I-H B 1 1 HH 1 ' ( ij rt rt cj rt rt rt ;rtcsrtrtcj rtrt rt rt rt d rt rt rt : rt oj cj rt ci ri rt ^ ' <;;; ; ^tnuStnuim M H IH M M "1 "I: Q. "^ M" wT cT rT cf vO ON N ir> 1-1 ro t^ Tj- N VO >i N CM 3 & a n bo r^ ^ .S 2 r ~~ -T-! 'Z 1 hn *" H " ' vt. v>"cS i l-s sjte-fff ^'5^J2-3^S^3 (So^osS^f-^ -" c5 rO'i' l o v O t^.3Q C?\ I It is evident that a library built on this plan must be the most economic of all conceivable libraries. Internal order is secured from the beginning; the enormous waste of time and treasure now involved in perpetual alterations and changes will all be saved. And when an addition is wanted only a certain prolongation of one wall roofed to its parallel and fitted with its bookcases is needed. Calculating the length of the whole wall at, say, 7,000 feet, and allowing the library a period of 1,000 years to cover its space, it would have to pay, a year, the building cost of 7 feet of wall. One very great item of saving, as compared with existing libraries, is effected in both sides of each wall, except the bounding wall, being utilized for book storage, with no waste caused by window- space. Of course the expense of the ground will always be heavy to begin with, but, spread over the long lease of existence thereby secured to the library, it will always really form but an evanescent item in its expenditure. I cannot but think that any library built on this plan must, under sensible management, inaugurate a new era of order, system, and sound economy in the constitution of libraries throughout the world. I subjoin Mr. Waterhouse's specifications, observing only that at the time they were made I had not decided on the close position to each other, of the bookcases, which I now think is essential. At that time they were merely in- dicated as shown in the original design en- closed. Want of leisure has unfortunately prevented my treating the subject as exhaustively as it deserves. APPENDIX. LONDON, 14 January, 1886. DEAR SIR : The accompanying drawings have been made with a view of working out your scheme for a spiral library, though Draw- ing No. 2 is a modification of your plan, and consists of a number of concentric circles or parts of circles round the central dome. Prac- tically, it seems very much to answer the same purposes as the spiral plan, and to be some- what less expensive. MAGN&SSON. 139 Fis.2 FIG. i. GROUND FLOOR. A, Porch. B, Vestibule. C, Lobby. D, Corridors. E, Water-closets. F, Ladies' cloak and retiring rooms. I, Gentlemen's retiring-rooms. J, Room for special re- search. L, Librarian's room. M, Spare room. N, Por- ter, and hats and coats. In the centre is an air-shaft. Fid.3. FIG. 2. CIRCULAR SCHEME. Showing how extension is provided for. The central dome sixty feet in diameter. A, Porch. B, Vestibule. C, Lobby. D, Corridors. E, Water-closets and lavatory. F, Porter, and hats and coats. G, Areas. H, Cloak and retiring rooms for ladies. I, Smoke and ventilation. L, Retiring-rooms for gentlemen. M, Rooms for special research. N, Librarian's room. FIG. 3. BOOK-ZONE. Twenty-four feet wide and thirty feet high, with a double gallery. V, Shaft for ventilation. FIG. 4. SECTION ON LINE KK. A, Warm air. 140 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. In the spiral plan, illustrated by Drawings |, 3, 4, 5, I have shown a dome 70 feet in di- ameter (whereas in the concentric plan there is a dome 60 feet in diameter). It will be seen that the commencement of the spiral is de- voted to three large areas for the supply of fresh air to the building, and then to retiring- rooms for ladies and gentlemen, which it is essential should be as near the reading-room as possible. If it were determined to have the heating apparatus below the building, the chimney or chimneys of the apparatus might pass up in the corners of these retiring-rooms, and so secure, by means of an outer casing around the smoke-flue, their perfect ventilation. Beyond the retiring-rooms, as the spiral widens, we get two rooms which might either be used as parts of the library proper, or as rooms for special research. On the plan I have shown them devoted to the latter purpose, and have not calculated that they hold any books. Again, beyond these rooms, between them and the main entrance, comes a room for the librarian, a spare room for his use or for the porter, whose room adjoins, where he can command the entrance and exit of every visitor. On the left-hand side of the entrance, oppo- site the porter's room, the library proper be- gins where the spiral commences its uniform width of 20 feet between the walls. Where each of the eight radial corridors starts from the central dome is situated a staircase leading to the gallery-floor, so that there should be no waste of time or energy in reaching any particular point in the gallery system. The basement plan [omitted] shows the sub- structure which would be desirable, in my opinion, to keep the library thoroughly dry and well aired, and to supply its ever increasing coil with the necessary amount of fresh air, which must be brought from the internal areas into the substructure, and there warmed and distributed. 1 In the very centre of the dome I should propose a large fresh-air inlet, sur- rounded by a table, as at the Radcliffe in Ox- ford, only in this case it could be much more efficiently done. With regard to the accommodation, it will be observed that Plan No. 2 has a dome 60 feet 1 The heating apparatus is put under the section out- side of F (in Fig. i), and the coal-cellar under the sec- tion outside of I. in diameter, which would contain 25,739 v l~ umes, in bookcases of two heights, against the walls, whereas the library proper, in the one ring shown upon the plan, and the portion of the ring on the side opposite the entrance, in- cluding the radial passages on the first floor, would contain 252,223 volumes, giving a total of 277,962 volumes, exclusive of any books in the rooms for special research. I suppose this building could be erected for 25,500, not in- cluding fittings. The spiral No. i, in its 7<>feet dome, would contain 31,199 volumes against the walls. The spiral library (and the radial passages on the first floor) surrounding it would contain 198,727 volumes, giving a total of 229,926 volumes ; the whole costing about 28,300. It may be worthy of remark that if we were to occupy the two rooms for special research, with books round the four sides and a gallery, we should add accommodation for 33,280 volumes, making a total of 263,206; while, if the spiral were continued two twists more, it would give room for 538,824 additional vol- umes, at an extra cost of about 28,000. This would give a library containing upwards of 800,000 volumes at a cost of about 56,000, on a plot of land measuring about 250 feet in one direction, and about 260 feet in another; that is, an acre and a half. In conclusion, I have thought your scheme over very carefully, and I believe it to be thoroughly practical as well as very ingenious ; and, for the accommodation it offers, very in- expensive. Believe me, Yours faithfully, ALFRED WATERHOUSE. LONDON, i5th Feb., 1886. MY DEAR SIR: With reference to your letter of the nth instant, I send you two diagrams, one showing a section through the book-spiral or zone of the present width (20 feet) raised the height of an additional gallery to 30 feet; and the other shown as widened 4 feet, of the same height. You will see that the latter gives us a much better propor- tion. 1 If the zones or spirals were raised the extra > This is the only one here given. MAGNUSSON. 141 height, and the additional gallery interposed, the cost of the spirals would be 25% less, in pro- portion to the number of books they contain, than in the first sketch, though it might involve the raising of the central dome to a certain ex- tent. The walls would be sufficiently stable if raised to 30 feet. Believe me, Yours very truly, ALFRED WATERHOUSE. Plnty 1 This design does not pretend to be more than a general indication of the general principle on which in future I maintain all large and rapidly increasing libraries must be built, the principle of easy self-expansion. Thus the arrangement of the bookcases in the design does only vaguely represent what is calculated in the paper. It will be observed that in the elevation of the design there is a radial cutting of the roof represented. By inadvertence I omitted in the paper to explain that Igmeant the roof to be cut through down to the wall at any convenient radial points, in order to allow accumulating snow to be easily carted over the wall. MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. THE PROCEEDINGS. GERMANIA HALL, PUBLIC LIBRARY BLOCK, MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, JULY 7~IO. FIRST SESSION. (JULY 7, WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.) WILLIAM F. POOLE, LL.D., President, called the meeting to order at 2.50 P.M., and intro- duced Hon. EMIL WALLBER, Mayor of Mil- waukee, who, in a few words, bade the libra- rians a cordial welcome to Milwaukee, assuring them of the hospitality and good-will of its citi- zens. The meeting, he said, could not com- pare in numbers with the coming musical festi- val, but its mission was fully as important. Gen. H. C. HOBART, President of the Board of Trustees of the Public Library, being intro- duced in behalf of the Board, extended a wel- come. He said that Milwaukeeans considered their city one of the most beautiful in the coun- try. The nature of the population is very com- plex, but is rapidly becoming American in its character. Yielding the palm of commercial enterprise to Chicago, Milwaukee is princi- pally a manufacturing town. Objecting to the name "Cream City," which it derives from its cream-colored brick, he suggested that " Crescent City," would be a more appro- priate name for this Constantinople of the West. "The charter of the Milwaukee Public Library," he said, " is one of the best in the country, as it removes the control of the institution beyond any political party. [Applause.] The common council cannot meddle with it. If there were no other libra- rians here I would say, too, that Mr. Linder- felt here is the best librarian in the country; and, if Mr. Linderfelt was not here, I would say that his assistant is superior to himself." President POOLE, responding to the addresses of welcome, said : In behalf of the members of the Association I beg to thank Your Honor the Mayor, and General Hobart, for your very cordial addresses of welcome. On your invitation we come to this city to hold our annual conference in be- half of the library interests of the country. We have among our number representatives of this important interest from every Northern State from Maine to Kansas, and also from the District of Columbia; but it is a strange fact, and one to be regretted, that no delegate appears from a State south of Mason and Dixon's line. Although, with most of us, this is our first visit to Milwaukee, we feel already assured that we are among friends who fully sympathize with us in the objects of our meet- ing. You will not find it necessary, Mr. Mayor, to increase your police force on account of our presence in your city. We are peaceable and inoffensive folk. We are neither communists nor anarchists ; although we are all knights of labor in the sense that we find it healthful to labor nights. Most of us regard sixteen hours as an honest day's work; but we never boycott a man, or quarrel with him, if he wants to work eighteen hours. In the matter of hospitalities, which you so kindly tender us, you will find the librarians very receptive. Their capacities are large in that direction. In behalf of a goodly number of our Eastern members, who come from prohibition States, and have never fallen under temptations they are likely to meet with in Milwaukee, I beg that you will dispense this class of hospitalities to them with caution. With the Western delegates such a caution is not necessary. We are glad to hear the com- pliments you bestow upon your accomplished librarian, Mr. Linderfelt, whose worth we fully appreciate. There is a risk, however, on your part, in making this fact too widely known, as the services of such men are needed in other parts of the country on a larger salary than you are paying him. We shall keep in memory your words of welcome as a pleasant reminiscence of our Milwaukee meeting. PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. President POOLE then delivered the opening address. (Seep, i.) At the mention of Mr. Lloyd P. Smith's death, Dr. Poole, overcome with emotion, handed his ms. to Mr. Whitney, who read to the end. PROCEEDINGS. Mr. WINSOR. I move that so much of the President's address as relates to the late Lloyd P. Smith be referred to a committee, appointed by the chair, to draw up such resolutions as are therein recommended. The motion was carried, and the President announced the committee later as Messrs. Winsor, Dewey, and Nolan. SECRETARY'S REPORT. Mr. DEWEY, Secretary, reported : As I profesied at our last meeting, the past year has been markt by a great increase in library interest; new libraries, new buildings, new endowments, and chiefly new and wider recognition of the importance of the library as the essential complement of the school and the church in promoting the welfare of the state. I hav received more letters and personal in- quiries than in any previous year, and on all sides ar the signs of the times. Our second decade has started most auspiciously. I wil note a few items of special interest among the many. Cooperativ Cataloging. In my last report I again urged that this matter was pressing for immediate attention. The Cooperation Com- mittee had a meeting at Columbia a few weeks ago. All the members were present, some coming as far as from Amherst, Mass., and Washington, D.C., for this expres purpose. An informal invitation to others to meet with the Committee on the first day gave an attend- ance of 20, all of whom recognized that the time had com for action. The second day's session resulted in a plan to be presented later at this meeting. At last, after ten years of preliminary talking, we ar on the eve of the greatest work the A.L.A. has yet undertaken. I bespeak for every member earnest cooperation in making the new Publishing Section the suc- ces it deserves to be, and that our selfish as wel as unselfish interests demand that we make it. New York Library Club. Another grati- fying record comes from the first effort in this country to hav a local organization. We ex- pected to get 12 or 15 to attend these meetings, but hav had 40 to 60, and the interest has been so great as to demand extra sessions. This practical succes ought to lead similar clubs to meet three or four times a year in other centers. New York Public Library. Closely con- nected with this has been the agitation for a suitable free library system in the metropolis. Much popular interest has been roused. The press has given a great deal of space to the dis- cussion. Two public meetings hav been held, and several welthy gentlemen hav becom deeply interested. At last a wise bill authorizing aid from the public funds to som of the privately- supported libraries that ar doing such excellent work has been past. National Sunday-School Library Associa- tion. Another significant step has been this recent organization, with hedquarters in New York. Mr. S: S. Green came down from Worcester and gave the opening addres in Dr. Howard Crosby's church. From force of habit I had a share in the meeting. This is now fairly started, officers and committees ar elected, and meetings for activ work hav been held. It is in its infancy, but profiting by our experience of ten years, it can go forward more rapidly than could the A.L.A. Sunday School Libraries ar so numerous that the field is sim- ply enormous; few hav as yet any adequate conception of their powers and duties. This new Association should be the means of a new awakening. In a recent addres before the Brooklyn Sunday School Union, the oldest and largest in the country, I exprest the belief that the Sunday School, or perhaps I should say Church, Library of the future was to take its place as a main agency for church work. Examination shows that there is no protection against bad habits and vicious com- panions like a taste for reading. It is cer- tainly, then, fitting work for the church to carefully develop that taste as part of its moral culture. The influence of reading, good or bad, on the lives of the readers is being more and more understood and recognized as a vital concern of those who would help their fellows to better lives. The church ought to, and by and by wil, act on this knowledge. The library wil be open, not for an hour each Sunday, but daily. There wil be a church reading room, with a carefully selected list of the best reli- gious magazines and papers, and perhaps with the best of those not classified as religious, but stil of high moral tone. The church librarian wil be the pastor's most valued and powerful aid, and appointed not because he is " goody goody" but cannot teach a class, but chosen as the ablest and most ernest worker in the parish. 144 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE, I should like to talk for an hour on this theme, but must content myself with the profesy. It is no day-dream, but there is a glorious field here alredy white for the harvest. Since com- ing to this beautiful city, I hav lerned that the new Congregational church which my old friend, Rev. A. J. Titsworth, is about building, wil be a " modern church," and that in this matter of the library it wil set an example. Its Church Library wil hav as its motto, "And the gates thereof shall in no wise 'be shut by day." Library Notes. Som of you hav alredy received the first hurridly prepared number of what I hope wil be one of the most powerful agencies in modern library work, the new quarterly LIBRARY NOTES. We of the A.L.A. ar very proud of what we hav done in ten years, and with good reason. But we must face the facts. Of the 5,000 public libraries in the U.S., how many ar under our influence? How many hav practical knowledge of the existence of the A.L.A. or its official organ, the LIBRARY JOURNAL? It is rather startling to realize that we hav never succeeded in reaching directly over one-tenth of our home field. For several years this has been to me the most serious question before us. Except indirectly, as our work affects the general public, we can do nothing for the remaining nine-tenths til we can get them under our influence. We cannot afford to send out a traveling agent. The most skilful, loyal, and unselfish of publishers hav exhausted their skil in inducing these libraries to take our JOURNAL at $5.00 a year. They hav tried reducing the price to $3.00, and found it impossible to pay the bills for what we de- mand in the JOURNAL at less than $5.00 per year; while even $3,00 proved a prohibitiv price to these little institutions that so much need its help. Without going further into de- tails, I may ad that som of us hav studied this question closely for som years, and find but one solution. That we hav undertaken. These 4,000 and more libraries must be reacht at least once each quarter by printed matter, chosen wisely, as most helpful to them. With such an entering wedge, we may be able to de- velop members of the A.L.A., and subscribers to the JOURNAL. If we fail in reaching them at $1.00 a year, we wil do it at 50 cts. ; if that is too much, we wil make it 25 cts. ; but we ar bound to reach and influence every library official who is enuf interested to read on the subject. I am thoroly convinced that this is at present the most important thing to be done, and we want the help of every member. The NOTES should go not only to the librarian, but to trustees and committees, and to ladies and gentlemen specially interested in the library. We want it to build up our publishing section, to open a wider field for the A.L.A. Catalog, and for our printed cards. In fact, almost everything we undertake is handicap!, because we hav no practical means of educat- ing the very people who most need such help up to the point of sharing in the enterprise. No one who has red the first number wil make the blunder of thinking the NOTES a cheaper substitute for the JOURNAL. It is rather a necessity of the present time to carry forward our work, and wil deserve the harty support, sympathy, and cooperation of every believer in the modern library idea. Libraries and Politics. I wish to repeat my suggestion of last year, that the A.L.A. should make a distinct campaign to divorce library management wholly from politics. A little wel-directed effort wil, in many cases, shape the new or modify the existing laws, so that we shal not be disgraced by appointments de- pendent on skil as a saloon-keeper, or on questionable political zeal, or mere favoritism. After the question arises over any individual it is too late for it to be wise for the A.L.A. to exert its influence. We ought to gard against such possibilities. Annual Meetings. Last year we voted to hold regular annual meetings insted of as heretofore, when we hav had seven meetings in ten years. It has been again suggested that the meetings be biennial. To this I am op- posed, tho no one could be more glad than the secretary to escape the onerous ante and post conference duties of an annual meeting. We voted last year to alternate between a city and a summer resort. We hav also to consider the claims of various parts of the country. Once in three or five years we may make a special effort for a great meeting, but regular meet- ings enable those in the vicinity who cannot go longer distances to attend. They wake a local interest in libraries. They provide for many a vacation much needed, but not taken without the occasion which our meeting affords. And I wish again to emfasize the fact that a PROCEEDINGS. conference means vastly more than the printed proceedings show. I hav been gratified in noting in the cars and hotels and excursions how often the conversation is on som library topic of practical value, but which would never take place without just such opportunities. If there were only 20 who cared to attend, we ought stil to hav the annual meeting. If we held no formal session, but simply stayed at the same hotel for a week, it would pay. And we must not lose sight of the influence on the public. Hundreds of papers print more or les about our meetings. Every item helps to edu- cate the public to a wider recognition and higher respect for our calling. We hav abun- dant evidence of this in the recognition alredy won. A few years ago the bare suggestion of a special train of four cars of librarians on a thousand miles' excursion thru the North-west would hav been thot a huge joke. What was more unlikely? But next week it wil be our privilege to share in just this improbable dream. I suppose we shal in som places ad to our previous amusing experiences. At Lake George the natives called us first Siberians, and then settled down on Liberians. But yet it all counts in our favor. At Niagara, the other day, I arranged with Mr. Gluck, the proprietor of both the Interna- tional Hotel and the Spencer House, for per- manent special rates to the A.L.A. members, so that in our annual going and coming we may make either house a stopping-place, at the lowest special rate, by showing our member- ship card for the year. At the International the rate is reduced from $4.00 to $3.00 per day, or $17.50 per week. At the Spencer House, open all the year, to $2.50 and $15. oo. We ar also invited to hold our meetings at Niagara, where the new Opera House, connected with the International, offers excellent rooms. A welcom waits us again at the beautiful Saga- more, which so delighted us all last September. Others suggest the Isle of Shoals, Mt. Desert, the Thousand Islands, White Mountains, and various sea-shore resorts. Railroads. We hav at last won our proper place with the railroads. Cornelius Vander- bilt, of the New York Central system, this year has personally interested himself in the A.L.A., and askt that we " be put on an equal- ity with the most favored nations." Henry Monett, the courteous and popular G.P.A. of the West Shore R.R., personally attended to this request, and showed unusual courtesies in many ways. Besides giving us very large reductions in fare, a private sleeping-car was supplied from New York to Niagara, where, at Mr. Monett's request, the agent of the Grand Trunk met us, and provided two private coaches thru to Chicago. Mr. Monett assures me that, now that they understand the claims of the A.L.A., we can depend on their roads giving us the best terms each year for our east and west travel. When recently I saw Mr. Van- derbilt's admirable plans for a library and read- ing-room for his railroad employees, only a stone's throw from my own library, and remem- bered the many other evidences of which I had herd, that proved that here, at least, was one railroad millionaire with a very large soul, I thot that now a ruler had arisen that did know Joseph, and that the librarians might hav a fair chance. I am sure that the other members wil share my feelings in giving the preference in our personal patronage to the roads that hav treated us so handsomely, specially as they ar, happily, the roads that hav the greatest attractions in themselves. As was stated on our circular, the Baltimore & Ohio R.R. also offered us the same liberal rates, and the option was given members of' going that way; but, being less direct, and lacking the attractions of Niagara, the entire party chose the West Shore. The Fitchburg road, the Hoosac Tunnel line from Boston to Albany, shares the credit given the West Shore for rates and courtesies. And what can we say of the splendid hospitality of the Wis- consin roads, which hav tendered us, entirely free, over a thousand miles of most delightful travel? I am sure that we shal not be so un- grateful as to neglect any fair opportunity of showing our appreciation of this unusual liber- ality, and of proving that we ar not unmindful of what we hav received. Proceedings. We propose at once to save the large expense of stenografers, and to secure such a report as only an experienced librarian can make. The assistant secretary, Mr. Rich- ardson, undertakes this record, and to him papers should be promptly handed; and all remarks too long to be taken down on delivery should be written out while fresh in mind. He wil notify each of you of what he needs. The credit of the much that wil be good in our 146 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. printed proceedings this year wil be his; the fault for any omissions wil be yours. The burden is not a light one. Let us each do his part. TREASURER'S REPORT. Mr. JAS. L.WHITNEY, Treasurer, reported : JAMES L. WHITNEY, Treasurer, in account with the AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIA- TION : 1885. Sept. 2. 1885-86. DR. To balance on hand, at last report $679 22 Membership fees . . . 353 50 Extra Proceedings of 1885 Convention sold ... 9 67 Interest to June i, 1886 . 18 40 R.R. Bowker, unexpended balance from Lake George Excursion . . 80 $1,061 59 1885-86. CR. By Postage on Proceed- ings and correspondence, $2875 Expressage i oo Telegraph 2 57 Envelopes i 05 Sept. n. Expenses of stenographer at Lake George Con- vention 57 55 " Excursion on Lake George, by direction of the Com- mittee of Arrangements, 3000 Nov. 7. Heliotype Printing Co., bill ii 85 Oct. i. Burr Printing House, printing circulars . . 27 75 Dec. 22. Publishers' Weekly, bill for paper for Proceed- ings, etc., 1885 . . . *44 52 Dec. 12. Rockwell and Churchill, bill printing list of members 3 oo Carried forward, $100 oo Brought forward, $100 oo Dec. 12. Rockwell and Churchill, bill printing Proceed- ings of Convention at Lake George .... 431 47 Balance 422 08 $1,061 59 July i, 1886. DR. To balance on hand to new account 422 08 * Should read $40.52. The difference will be credited jn next year's account. J. L. W, This sum is on deposit in the Middlesex Institution for Savings, Concord, Massachu- setts. JAMES L. WHITNEY, Treasurer. CONCORD, MASSACHUSETTS, July i, 1886. [The auditing committee subsequently re- ported on this account as follows: We have examined the statement of the Treasurer, and compared the same with his accounts and vouchers, and find it to be correct. J. N. LARNED, Of the Finance Committee. SAMUEL S. GREEN, WILLIAM E. FOSTER, Special Committee appointed by Chair. JULY 7, 1886.] Mr. GREEN. I move that the report be re- ferred to the Finance Committee, for auditing. Carried. Mr. GREEN. I understand that it is impos- sible for the Executive Committee to get to- gether to act on questions. This committee is now more scattered than ever, and this is my excuse for moving that the following be re- ferred to the Finance Committee, instead of the Executive Committee. I move that this committee consider the question of what shall be done with money paid into the treasury for life-memberships, and also that it consider whether it is possible for them, from such sums as may be in the Treasury, to lay aside certain sums to represent life-memberships already paid. Mr. LARNED. It would not be any easier for the committee, as now constituted, to meet than for the Executive Committee. I suppose the coining committee is meant. PROCEEDINGS. 147 Mr. CRUNDEN seconded Mr. Green's motion. Mr. GREEN. I move that a committee of three be appointed by the Chair to consider the question. The motion was accepted by Mr. Crunden, and carried. The Chair appointed Messrs,. Green, Merrill, and Crunden. The name of Mr. Whitney was substituted for that of Mr. Merrill at the request of the latter. Mr. LARNED requested that the report of the Finance Committee be postponed until later in the meeting, since, on account of the unexpected absence of chairman Soule, the committee was not ready to report. Mr. GREEN moved that a committee of two be appointed by the Chair to assist Mr. Larned on the Finance Committee, since Mr. Larned was the only member of the committee present. Carried. The CHAIR appointed Messrs. Green and Foster to assist Mr. Larned. Mr. DEWEY moved that, on account of the general fatigue of members from travelling, the evening (Wednesday) session be post- poned until the next (Thursday) evening. The motion was seconded by Mr. Van Name, and carried. Mr. FLETCHER asked to have the report of the Cooperation Committee postponed in order to give time to have a meeting of the commit- tee. Granted. A. L. A. CATALOG. Mr. DEWEY. I am sorry not to report greater progress, but glad that something has been done. I hoped that the past year might afford me a little time to devote to this work, but those of you who hav re-organ- ized a large library, made up the arrears of a century in catalogs, etc., wil under- stand how impossible I hav found it to make the time. Mrs. Dewey has come to our relief by working mornings a part of the year in get- ting material redy. She has transferred it to the standard postal size cards and made som real progress in the work. We hav excused ourselves somewhat because the resignation of Commissioner Eaton, without the appointment of his successor, left it an open question whether our plan of publication could be carried thru. Then the action of the Coopera- tion Committee gave great hope that at this meeting a Publishing Section would be organ- ized that would help on this work very materi- ally. Another year's study confirms the wisdom of the plans alredy made and submitted, and the only change adopted is simply going farther on the line of doing a part without waiting for the whole. We decided to prepare and print as fast as practicable certain divisions and sec- tions, thus getting the good of them without waiting for a complete catalog. This year's advance work has been on Geografy, Descrip- tion, and Travels. We now purpose to print individual notes on cards of the standard size, which can be heded or numbered in ms., according to the scheme used in any given library, and then dropt into place in the card catalog, thus get- ting directly so much of good without waiting for more. My plan for the ms. of these bib- liografical cards is to hav the cooperating libraries supplied with a blue tinted card with a printed line (after the space left for subject numbers or headings, or both) reading "The best popular work on this subject is," leaving space for one or two brief titles. Then "The best exhaustiv treatise is . ..." On these cards, as fast as we can get the titles and notes from specialists in various subjects, wil be copied the most useful guidance carefully worded. These written cards we propose to hav put in the regular catalogs for criticism and additions, and later to select the best for printing and distribution. The notes selected for individual books would be printed, with the title of the books, on regular white cards ; but the blue cards ar equally adapted to the most general and most specific topics. Such guidance may be wanted for the main class Sociology, or for the division Political Economy, or for the section Capital and Labor, or for the sub-section Laboring Classes, or for the topic Strikes. The principle applies equally wel at any point and in any system. The best note obtainable wil be printed clearly, and as such topics belong somewhere in every form of dictionary or clast catalog, the library can write the words or numbers that locate it, and drop it in place. Such notes on cards hav the double advan- tage of being prepared promptly during special interest in any topic, and of being subject al- ways to easy correction and addition. Each prominent library has certain subjects in which it is strong, or certain specialists whose 148 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. opinions would be highly valued by the rest of us. Our university libraries specially hav great advantages in their professors. By a cooperativ effort we shal each of us get, in print, redy to be dropt into our catalogs in five minutes after taking from the mail, notes more carefully made, by better authorities, printed in clear type insted of written, more carefully worded and revised, and all at much less cost than we could make alone for ourselves. I an- ticipate a great field of usefulness for these blue bibliografical cards, the printing of which I hope may go into operation before the end of the year. Cooperation is earnestly askt for this simple but most practical plan, and libra- ries and individuals willing to assist in prepar- ing and revising such notes ar urged to send to me for sample cards. Mr. GREEN. Are there two things pro- posed? Are you working on the old mate- rial? Mr. DEWEY. We are working on old mate- rial and on the old plans. The only changes are in minor matters, such as the distribution in card-catalog form of which I spoke. Mr. GREEN. This, then, covers only a small part of the proposed work. Mr. LINDERFELT, in behalf of the Committee on the Milwaukee Meeting, announced that, on the afternoon of the following day (Thursday), the members of the Association would be driven about the city, visiting places of interest, such as the Soldiers' Home, the Empire Brewery, and the Whitefish Bay Drive, and that on Fri- day evening a reception and summer-night festival would be held at Schlitz Park, both of these courtesies being extended by the citizens of Milwaukee. He sketched also the proposed post-Conference excursion to be given by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis, & Omaha, the Wis- consin Central, and the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railways, and promised printed details later. The detailed plan was as follows : ITINERARY OF THE PROPOSED POST-CONFER- ENCE EXCURSION. Monday , July 12. 7 : 45 A.M., leave Milwau- kee. Those who have spent Sunday at the summer resorts will leave there as follows : Waukesha,7 : 20 ; Lakeside, 8 : 37 ; Oconomowoc, 9:07; ii : 05 A.M., arrive Madison; dinner and supper at Park Hotel ; 6 : 55 P.M., leave Madi- son ; 9 : 30 P.M., arrive Kilbourn City. Tuesday, July 13. 9:00 A.M., the "Dell O^ueen " starts for trip through Upper Dells. Dinner at Witches' Gulch, trout fresh from the brook. Those who wish can take boats after dinner to Stand Rock and other places of inter- est across the river. By all means the pleas- antest way of returning to Kilbourn City is by row-boat from the head of the Dells. The cost of a boat, capable of holding five persons, with guide to row, is $3.00, but small parties of three or four persons, under the guidance of a gentleman who is skilled in rowing or knows how to float with the current, may hire a boat from the captain of the steamer for 50 cents. Those who are afraid to trust themselves to a small boat may choose, at 4:00 P.M., return trip by steamer; 8:00 P.M., steamboat excur- sion through the Lower Dells. Two nights, two breakfasts and supper at the Finch House. Wednesday, July 14. 8 :oo A.M., leave Kil- bourn City; 11:30 A.M., arrive La Crosse; dinner at the Cameron House; i : oo P.M., leave La Crosse; 5 : 30 P.M., arrive St. Paul. Thursday, July 15. 12:00 M., leave St. Paul for Minneapolis by way of Fort Snelling and Minnehaha Falls; stop will be made at the latter place for lunch; 2 :3O P.M., arrive Min- neapolis; supper at the West Hotel ; 8:00 P.M., leave Minneapolis for St. Paul by " Short Line ; " 8 : 50 P.M., arrive St. Paul ; 9 : 45 P.M., leave St. Paul by Chicago, St. Paul, Minne- apolis, and Omaha Railway; one night, supper and breakfast at the Windsor Hotel. Friday, July 16 6 : 15 A.M., arrive Ashland ; io:ooA.M., steamer "James Barker " leaves for Apostle Islands, and returns in the evening; dinner at the Island View, Bayfield ; 6 : 50 P.M., return to Ashland. Saturday, July 17. 10 : oo A.M., Excursion to Gogebic iron mines by Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railway; dinner at Besse- mer; 4:00 P.M., return to Ashland; three nights, four breakfasts, one dinner, and three suppers at Chequamegon Hotel. Monday, July 19. 10:30 A.M., return to Milwaukee by Wisconsin Central Railway; dinner at Fifield, supper at Stevens Point. Tuesday, July 20. 2 : 30 A.M., arrive Mil- waukee ; 7 : oo A.M., arrive Chicago. The Secretary read the letters of the Librarian PROCEEDINGS. 149 and President of the Board of Trade of Denver, inviting the Association to meet at Denver next year : "DENVER, COLORADO, June 12, 1886. u Tothe President and Members of the American Library Association : " GENTLEMEN, The Mercantile Library Committee hereby extends to you an invitation to hold your next annual meeting in Denver. If you come, everything that can be done will be done to make your stay in the city pleasant. " Yours very truly, " CHAS. R. DUDLEY, "Librarian." "DENVER, COLORADO, June n, 1886. " To the President and Members of the American Library Association : "The Denver Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade, composed of four hundred and fifty of the leading business and professional men of Denver, very cordially indorses the invitation of the Mercantile Library Committee for your organization to hold its next annual meeting in the city of Denver, and will be glad to employ its time and influence in making your visit pleasant and profitable, should the invitation be accepted. " Yours truly, "R. W. WOODBURY, "President." It was voted that the customary committees be appointed by the Chair. The CHAIR appointed Messrs. Van Name, Lane, and Davis, Committee on Nominations, and Messrs. Cutter, Merrill, and Foster, Com- mittee on Resolutions. POSTAGE ON LIBRARY BOOKS. R. B. POOLE read an extract from the IV. Y. Evening Post : "To the Editor of the Evening Post: " SIR, Ought not incorporated circulating libraries, such, for example, as the Mercantile of New York, to be allowed to send out their books and to receive them again through the mails as second-class matter for one cent a pound, the rate on newspapers sent directly from the office of publication? The argument for carrying periodicals at this low figure would be that it is for the interest of the nation to encourage the circulation of newspapers and magazines as increasing popular intelligence. The same argument could be used regarding the wider circulation of books from libra- ries. " Most of the books one wishes to read in- cluding even the standard works he does not care to read more than once. This being so, few feel able to buy many books out and out. But thousands upon thousands in villages and rural districts would become subscribers to the large city libraries if they could obtain books through the mail at a cost of but 2, 5 or 7 cents a volume, coming and going, instead of 15 or 20 cents, as at present postal rates. And a great increase in the number of readers would lead to a great increase in the number of books published. "Again, when, as at present in our country, one must buy out and out each book he reads, the book must be issued at a low price, which again means an inferior style. If there could be a greater number of readers for each vol- ume it could be issued on better paper and in better type. In Great Britain, where the popu- lation is so compact that the great circulating libraries can have depots in every hamlet, even ephemeral books, like works of fiction, can be issued in the best typography. The same would be the case in this country if the circulating libraries could reach all the people. " The directors of a single library could ap- point a committee to bring this matter before the postal committees of the two houses of Congress. Better still, perhaps, the American Library Association, which meets in Mil- waukee, July yth, could take up the subject. If the libraries, being less influential in " prac- tical " politics than the newspapers, cannot secure as low rates of postage as are granted the latter, let them get what they can. Possi- bly the express companies might be induced to carry library books to and from country sub- scribers at special rates which the latter could afford to pay. "If a library had a large number of out-of- town subscribers it might have to organize a special mail department, with perhaps some special style of wrappers. Experience might suggest several new methods. But all difficul- ties regarding details could be obviated by a little study. "N. F. " CORNING, N.Y., June 29." MIL WA UKEE CONFERENCE. Mr. R- B. POOLK offered resolutions suggest- ing that library books should be carried as second-class matter, and that a committee of five be appointed to secure such legislation. (See amendment, p. 158, and resolutions as passed, p. 158). Mr. DEWEY seconded the resolutions, and they were hastily carried. On motion of Mr. Green the vote was reconsidered, and he moved that the whole matter be referred to the Com- mittee on Resolutions. Mr. DEWEY. The Committee on Resolu- tions is appointed to draft complimentary reso- lutions. They have enough to do, and we ought to relieve them as much as possible by appointing special committees. Mr. GREEN. I move, as a substitute for my motion, that a special committee of three be ap- pointed to consider the resolutions. After several points of order were decided Mr. Green's motion was passed. The CHAIR appointed Mr. R. B. Poole, Dr. Pierce, and Mr. Crunden. Motion to adjourn was carried. SECOXD SESSION. (JULY 8, THURSDAY MORNING.) President POOLE in the chair. The meeting was called to order at 10: loA.M. The SECRETARY informed the Association that, on account of the various privileges to which members, as members, were admitted, a badge of identification was necessary, and moved that a committee of three ladies be ap- pointed to select such badge. The motion was carried, and the Misses Coe, Burnell, and Stevens were appointed. Mr. MERRILL. I move that a committee of five be appointed to consider the time and place of the next meeting. This was seconded by Mr. Dewey, and carried. The Chair appointed Messrs. Merrill, Utley, Peoples. Green, Durrie. Mr. GREEN. The Committee on Nomina- tions reports Saturdav morning. Thev should have the report of this committee in making their nominations. It would be better to have this committee report on Friday morning. I move that it report at the close of to-morrow morning's session. Carried. Mr. LARNED gave the REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, saving that the accounts of the treasurer had been audited and found to be correct. (See p. 146 ) The report was adopted. Mr. GREEN read the REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON LIFE-MEMBERSHIP. The committee appointed to consider what disposition should be made of the fees which have been and which shall be paid into the treasury of this Association by life-members, whether individuals or institutions, reports as follows, through its chairman : In regard to fees already paid into the treasury, that it is impracticable to fund them, as the annual income of the Association is only sufficient to pay the annual necessary expendi- tures. All the members of the committee hope that the time will come when it shall prove practi- cable to fund those fees. In respect to fees which shall be paid into the treasury in future, the committee proposes the following vote for action by the Conven- tion : Voted, That the Finance Committee, in con- sultation with the treasurer, invest safely the money received hereafter from the life-member- ship fees of individuals and institutions, and that the income only of that investment shall be used to pay the current expenses of the Association. Dr. PIERCE moved the adoption of the re- port. Mr. BARTON, seconding the motion, called at- tention to the importance of the life-member- ship fund. Mr. CRUNDEX. While we are on the topic, let me say that I notice mention made of a library which has taken a life-membership for its librarian. This, I find, is a perpetual membership. Shouldn't we distinguish be- tween life and perpetual memberships ? Mr. DEWEY. Life-membership lasts during the life of an individual or an institution. Mr. MERRILL. Mr. Crunden's suggestion is very practical. We can't afford perpetual memberships at this rate. Libraries don't often die. Mr. DEWEY. I am in favor of making it PROCEEDINGS. fifty or a hundred dollars for a perpetual mem- bership. I move that it be fifty dollars. Mr. R. B. POOLK. I suppose the chief li- brarian will have the membership. Mr. DEWEY. The delegate who represents it at the convention. Mr. CRUNDEN. I second the motion, be- cause the verj ones who take life or perpetual memberships are the very ones on whom we can depend for annual fees. M. DEWEY. The matter might be settled by adopting resolutions to the following effect : That the by-law establishing life-memberships at $25.00 each be suspended for one year. That the following be adopted as a by-law of the A. L. A. : By the payment of $25.00 at one time into the permanent invested fund, any member may become a life member entitled to all the rights and privileges of membership without further assessments. By the similar payment of $50.00, any person or institution elected to membership in this As- sociation may receive a certificate of perpetual membership which shall forever entitle the holder, or one accredited delegate of the institu- tion, to all the rights of membership without further assessment. The matter was dropped to giye Mr. Dewey time to write out the proposed resolutions on the subject. Mr. LINDERFELT gave various details of ar- rangement, and suggested pleasant ways of spending the next Sundaj. Mr. RICHARDSON read his paper, WHY LIBRARIANS KNOW. (S~ p. 6.) Mr. CUTTER read a portion of his article on CLOSE CLASSIFICATION, published in the Library journal for*July, /. 180. Mr. W. C. LANE gave a paper on THE HARVARD COLLEGE CATALOG. (SCC /. 10.) Mr. WHITNEY. We are all glad to hear that this work is going on. and that it is likely to bring nearer to perfection the catalogue begun by Dr. Ezra Abbot. Few can realize the ex- tent of our indebtedness to him. Those of us who were so fortunate as to come in contact with him, and receive his impulse and direc- tion, regret that, in the addresses and editorial notices at the time of his death, so little men- tion was made of his work as a librarian. This we regard as the crowning work of his life, and that when, in the critical, formative period of American libraries, he turned aside to the field of textual criticism of the New Testament, the loss to librarians and to those who use libraries was irreparable. Mr. DEWEY. I wish to call special attention to the fullness and value to other libraries of this great index. I believe that it repre- sents what e% r ery great dictionary catalog must sooner or later come to. It was a tradition about Cambridge that the big catalog was the cause of much of the local profanity. No one questioned its value or the great skil and pro- found scholarship which it represented, but they could not lern to use it redily. 1 hav more than once vainly tried to find my own way among its wheels within wheels. The other day, with a few advance pages of this index in my hand, I tried again, and it was a delight to be able to take a simple Arabic number, and, without thot of system or plan, turn directly to the right place. Americans certainly are too busy a people to be taught systems and methods. They never criticise because any plan is too easy or too quick, but ar almost sure to complain if thev must stop to reason out under what word or topic some one else has been likely to place the book they seek. I hav long urged that the dictionary catalog alone was not simple enuf, and that a brief, compact, numbered index similar to this, with the simplest numerical reference to the exact place among the cards, was the essential complement of every extensiv subject card catalog, whether clast or alfabetical. It is sig- nificant that leading advocates of various kinds of alfabetical catalogs now agree that som such index is a necessity for satisfactory work. The best and most costly catalogs we hav, made by our most famous and scholarly cata- logers, as they grow, ar found to require ex- tensiv revisions. No man ever lived who could carry the universe in his mind in such a way that without a guide his work thru a series of years would always be consistent with itself. I 152 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. therefore feel that this index, from the library that we may fairly look to as having the best opportunities to judge this question under the most favorable circumstances, means that this is the true solution. I need hardly add that as reference is just as quick and easy from the index to the clast catalog as to the dictionary, that the obvious great advantages of a clast catalog may as well be secured, leaving the obvious dictionary advantages to the simple index. In other words, while the dictionary plan is incomparably the best for author and title catalogs, and for subject indexes, I am convinced that it is not the proper form for a subject catalog, which experience proves must hav a subject index. As the dictionary system reason for abandoning the great advantages of logical arrangement is that it thus avoids the need of an index, it is clear that when not only the makers but the users require an index the chief support of that system is gone, and reason and experience again agree in favor of the rational or logical system for subject cata- logs, I hav noticed of recent years a growing reaction from the idea that the dictionary plan was as matter of course the proper form for a subject catalog. Mr. FLETCHER, after a brief criticism of the minuteness of the Harvard College list, read his paper on CLOSE CLASSIFICATION VS. BIBLIOGRAPHY. (See p. n.) Mr. DEWEY. With much of Mr. Fletcher's admirable paper I am in the fullest sympathy, and hope to do my full part in carrying out the schemes for codperativ bibliografy. But does he forget that this very scheme is only another modern labor-saver that is tearing down his old idols? With other parts of his paper I take direct issue, and as cordially and sincerely take my stand with the other side, which we must re- member is the new and rapidly growing side, as against the old; but there ar some good things that ar new, and it is not sufficient cause for rejecting any plan that our grandmothers did not use it. I noted, as he read, a few points on which I beg briefly to comment. Dummies. With all my familiarity with this special topic I never herd til now of any such application of the dummy system. 1 The only thing resembling this idea is our own plan of a reference card in our pamflet-case at the end of each subject. This may hold zoo references on the one letter-size card, insted of requiring 100 separate wood dummies as implied. The space is one thickness of card for 100 refer- ences; the labor of writing, less than to write the same on smaller catalog-cards ; the labor of preparation has been entirely done in the cataloging. You must reduce his estimate of the labor and expense involved here about one hundred fold to fit our facts. The " absurdity that needs only to be hinted at" is the suppo- position of the paper that any one would "dummy" topics. The thin wood dummy is used to represent an entire set, or a single book too large for the regular shelves, or, be- cause of cost or rarity, kept in a special room. This reference-card on the shelves I hav never herd of elsewhere, and we do not undertake to make it complete, but merely as a means of giving any help that seems to us worth giving in that way. Clearly we can as easily write any words of guidance or reference here as any- where, and if we can hav this guidance in satisfactory form, in catalog or bibliografy, we should not waste time in repeating. The fal- lacy of the paper is the assumption that, because we find the close classing very useful for certain important purposes that we must use it always and alone for that purpose, and shut ourselves out from as full use of catalogs and bibliografies as other libraries enjoy. The premise of the paper, so far as my knowl- edge goes, is wrong. Labor-saving. We confess to the grave charge against close classing that it is a device to save time and labor to serchers after knowl- edge. Exactly these same arguments were prest against cyclopedias and all reference- books. " Poole's Index " is a flagrant type of such a labor-saving device that denies to the present generation the time-honored culture that came from handling musty tomes for a week in a mechanical way, in hopes of stumbling on something bearing on the topic. It is by sav- 1 [At the Buffalo Conference I said (in answer to the question, how in my notation for the states, cities, etc., of the U.S., I should treat places that have changed their names), " If experience should show that it is necessary, I shall put on the shelf dummies referring from the aban- doned name to the one chosen." Somewhere else, though I cannot now recall where, I have suggested the use of dummies in other parts of a classification, but I have not yet used them. C: A. CUTTER.] PROCEEDINGS. '53 ing time and labor that there wil be left in our busy lives enuf time for " culture," insted of being forced to the use of ponies for lack of time to dig out the originals, and even here as wise a man as Emerson, and most of the world ar with him to-day, says he would as soon think of swimming the Charles river, insted of crossing the neighboring bridge, as to read the classics in the original when there ar available good translations. There ar two schools on this question, one for progress, the other for stagnation. The young librarian must choose whether he wil adopt the time- saving, labor-saving methods, or stick to the time-honored ways in which our grandparents made their reputations. We ar told that it is necessary to caution readers against the misleading tendencies of the only 1,000 beds used at Amherst. Is there any experienced librarian here who has not often to giv this caution against the same mis- leading tendency of the catalog? Must we not tell young readers that there are books in this world beside those in our catalogs or on our shelves ? I remember that ten years ago, when Mr. Cutter told me my Amherst skeme was not close enuf for his use, I felt that he was all wrong, and argued the matter without being convinced. I hav found that I was the one that was wrong. Long study of this question, with the desire to lern what was best, rather than simply to substantiate my own position, convinced me that the best library-work of the future must be bast on close classing; and I publicly acknowledge to Mr. Cutter to-day that in that discussion he was entirely right and I wrong. If I read the signs of the times there ar many others going thru just this ex- perience. A few years ago we had our annual squabble over fixt vs. relativ location. That ghost seems to be laid, and now it is the un- wisdom of this newest absurdity, close classing, that must be thwackt into robust strength. Cost. It is charged that close classing is extravagant, but no facts or figures ar given in support. Now I am prepared to show any fair-minded man facts and figures in my own library to prove that our close classing is in the end a great economy. This is one of the strong claims of our system, and we ar ready to meet definite comparisons and figures. Bear in mind that it is no comparison to say " this library of 50,000 volumes is run for $5,000 per year, total expenses; the other of 100,000 volumes costs $30,000 per year; one classes closely, the other not; hence close classing is three times as costly ! " Comparisons must take into account all circumstances, the work done, privileges offered, hours open, reference librarians to assist readers, etc., etc. Close classing must be judged by what it costs, which would be saved if it were not followed ; and, on the other hand, by what it does and saves that would be lost without it. On such a fair test we wil show that close classing is much more economical. Til some- thing more than a mere statement from those who hav not tried it is given, this statement from those who hav ought to be a full re- joinder. Changes. We ar told that doing this work once for all is a delusion, and that great changes ar sure to come. Is it not clear that these changes ar as necessary in the catalog system as in the close-classing system? An eraser works as quickly, and penmanship is as cheap on a blue shelf card as on a white catalog card. In our experience these changes ar by no means as necessary or frequent as is as- sumed, and it is easy to refer to a literature arranged on the old ideas. No one makes for close or any other classing the claim that it does everything. We find in use that it is what our critic labels it, a modern time and labor saving device. We accept the title, and the benefits. It does more than we ar able to do otherwise with the same money to make our library useful to our readers. Incompleteness. To add to the complete an- swer of others to the charge that " the absolute- ly fatal defect " of close classing is that it is not perfectly complete. Is that splendid aid, " Poole's Index," to the excellence of which Mr. Fletcher so largely contributed, complete ? Is it a quite fatal defect that it attempts so small a part of the field? that in that field it often indexes articles that no one dare claim to be as valuable as small fractions of other articles which ar entered only once? If the argument is good, then we may as well all go home and lock the doors of our libraries ; for which one of them is complete, in the very sense that we ar attacked, because our scheme is not complete? Or which of them is, in that sense, absolutely complete on any one topic of MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. importance? Ar all our libraries therefore worthless being under' the ban of this " abso- lutely fatal defect " ? Mr. SCHWARTZ was excused, on account of illness, from reading his paper, and the hope expressed that it might be given later in the meeting. Pres. POOLK. There are now just twenty minutes for the discussion of classification. Mr. LARNED. I can imagine Mr. Fletcher going into a well-stocked grocery-shop and looking about him at the display of tea, coffee, sugar, soap, candles, etc. Instead of being thankful, as most of us are, for what we can get in such a shop from the four quarters of the globe, he turns to the proprietor and says : "Now this illustrates to my mind the fatal defect of all attempts to organize a trade in such miscellaneous and varied commodities. There are more than forty thousand articles which minister to human wants in this depart- ment, and you cannot possibly get together a quarter of them. All attempts of the kind are foolish failures." Mr. BISCOE. I desire to point out a few places where the position of the advocates of classification is misrepresented. Mr. Fletcher appears to me to lay greater stress upon " all the resources " than is quite fair. I do not think any advocate of close classification has ever intended to claim that everything the li- brary contains on a subject is brought to- gether on the shelves by any system of arrangement. The absurdity of it is patent on the face, and would show at once that such a statement was not to be taken in its bald literal- ness, but with a common-sense interpretation, like almost all similar expressions. Every li- brarian knows that the encyclopaedias, maga- zines, and transactions of societies contain articles on nearly every subject, and that books frequently treat of more than one topic, and knows also that these can be in only one place. This is recognized in all articles on classifica- tion, and it is only by taking an isolated ex- pression and harping on this, to the exclusion of other equally strong statements upon the other side, that so erroneous a criticism can be maintained. The claim is made that classifica- tion brings together all the books (not parts of books) which the library possesses on the given topic, and facilitates their use by the reader, and often guides him to use them when he would not do so if he had to hunt them out from a catalog and traverse the library from one end to the other in order to obtain them. The second point in which the position of the classifier is misrepresented is in the antago- nism which it is assumed that he has for cata- logs. I do not know of a single person who advocates classification to the exclusion of catalogs. Every library which has adopted a classified system has taken with this, and as a part of it, a system of cataloging. But our critic goes on to say : " You cannot have both. It is impossible to have classification and bibli- ography supplement each other. The seeker cannot go first both to the shelves and the catalog," Very true ! He cannot go first to both, but that will not prevent his using both. No library now thinks of incorporating "Poole's Index" into its catalog; but that does not pre- vent the reader from using " Poole's Index " and the catalogs. He cannot go first to both ; but I fail to see that this is a "fatal defect" in "Poole's Index." Every investigator who is making a complete survey of his field goes not to one or two or half a dozen sources only, but frequently to many times that number, and gets profit from them all. But many of those who frequent our libraries are not making an exhaustive study of their subject, and the books which treat of it as their chief topic are all they want, and their convenience is greatly promoted by finding them grouped together on the shelves ; but if they desire all the matter which treats of this topic in other books they must go to the catalogs, to " Poole's Index" and its supplements, to the new " Essay Index," to the Q^ P. indexes, etc. ; and every librarian expects that this will be done. If I go to the Athenaeum or Peabody catalogs to find all the resources on a given topic, I must search not in one place alone but several, and then not be sure that I have all there is, but this does not prevent my using these dictionary catalogs and getting great help from them. And so classi- fication and catalogs are not antagonistic or mutually exclusive, but capable of harmonious and profitable combination. Mr. LANE. My list does not pretend to be complete ; no list can be ; it is expected to grow ; at present it represents all that has been needed so far in a library that carries close classification farther than any library I know PROCEEDINGS. 155 of, almost to its extremest limit. I may add that I believe in close classification thor- oughly. Mr. WHITNEY. At the Boston Public Li- brary, in the preparation of a Scheme of sub- jects, to which I have given my attention for several years, I have confined myself to subjects actually represented in books contained in the library. It is intended to be an index to our own card catalogue, and not a universal key to knowledge. This is as far as the librarian can safely go. Mr. BISCOE. Mr. Fletcher has made con- fusion by not distinguishing in his paper be- tween close classification on the shelves and the catalogue. Mr. RICHARDSON. I should like to bear a little testimony to the value of close classifi- cation as illustrated in the Athenaeum Library. I have occasion to pass through Boston fre- quently, with very little time at my disposal, and a great many facts to look up. Again and again Mr. Cutter has directed me to the class I wanted to use, and I have gathered more in half an hour than I could have gotten in half a day by searching catalogues. Miss COE. Mr. Fletcher says that to com- bine the two methods "is a simple impossi- bility; " that it is attempting to ride two horses at once. Has he not furnisht us the exact illustration we need, if we change a single word ? We drive two horses at once with the gain that all the world finds over the one-horse method. (Laughter.) Mr. DEWEY. It is significant that the people who advocate close classing ar the ones who have tried it, and its opponents ar those who have not had actual experience. Has any one heard of a case where an intelligent librarian has found his classing too close, and adopted a coarser skeme ? We can tell you of hundreds who hav found it wise after experience to make it much closer. We can hardly believe that Harvard, the Boston Public and Athenaeum, and the Buffalo libraries have not gone into all these objections thuroly, or hav blindly fallen into the same errors, and become victims to- gether of this " absolutely fatal defect." At Columbia we save cataloging our pam- flets thus, by keeping them classified on the shelves. Dr. POOLE. But if pamphlets are worth saving they are worth cataloguing. We put them on the shelves, and catalogue them too. Mr. DEWEY. You show precisely what I have said, that we close classifiers ar work- ing in the interests of economy. We can't afford to catalog our pamflets ; so with hardly appreciable cost we preserve them in our close classification. If we find any pamflet so im- portant that it is often called for, we catalog it like a book. I go so far in the interests of economy as to propose the same treatment of books worth keeping, but hardly worth cata- loging. I made this point at Lake George in discussing cost of cataloging. \_See pp. 129, 130 of 1885 Proceedings.] Mr. FLETCHER. I do not raise a question so much of close classifying on the shelves vs. cataloging, as of close classifying, or any other elaborate process applied either to the shelves, or the catalogs of a single library, as opposed to bibliographical work, which, once done, serves for all libraries. When a good bibli- ography comes out all libraries stop close classification of that subject as unnecessary. The cost of close classification is enormous. I am pleading in the interests of coopera- tion. Mr. DEWET. I am an enthusiast in reduc- ing the cost of cataloging; but close classifi- cation tends to this by doing away with elaborate catalogs. We maintain, i, that close classing will be almost equally important when we hav our ideal bibliografies. 2, that those, to be most useful, must be made on some skeme of close classing. 3, that when a good bibliografy comes out it leads to closer classing in that subject, insted of the reverse as stated. 4, that the good bibliografy does take the place of the similar cataloging, and that, therefore, it is economy to do the close class- ing which is of permanent value rather than the cataloging which is temporary. I am pleading, and hav been for years, in the interests of cooperation, which is our leading modern time-saving and labor- saving method, and in those interests I insist that close classing is the wisest, and, in the end, cheapest plan. And remember that close classing for a small library is very coarse class- ing for a large one. We ar talking of a prin- ciple, not of any given degree of closeness. Common-sense in choosing can never be elimi- nated from the problem. MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. Mr. SOLBERG gave a very brief abstract of, and received permission to print, his paper on INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT IN CONGRESS. (Seep. 52.) The meeting was adjourned. THIRD SESSION. (JULY 8, THURSDAY EVENING.) President POOLE in the chair. The meeting was called to order at 8 : 05 P.M. The Assistant Secretary read letters from A. R. Spofford, Librarian of Congress, Hon. E. W. Blatchford, Trustee of the Newberry Library Fundj " WASHINGTON, July i, 1886. "MY DEAR SIR: At length I am able to send to your public library the new general cata- logue of the library of Congress, volumes 12, which is all that I .have been able to print. The vast increasing copyright business of the coun- try absorbs continually more and more of my working library force, so that printing cata- logues is, perforce, suspended. " I have to regret that the prolonged session of Congress deprives me of the pleasure of joining in the labors and pleasant intercourse of the Milwaukee session of the American Library Association. "Yours very respectfully, "A. R. SPOFFORD. " W. F. POOLE, Esq., Librarian" " CHICAGO, July 7, 1886. " MY DEAR MR. POOLE : I had hoped to leave for Milwaukee this evening or by the morning train ; but find that an order of Court will keep me here during to-morrow, and I fear on Friday morning. I am quite disappointed at this fact; but the week has been filled with engagements beyond my own control. " Gen. McClurg informs me of his heroic ef- fort to save the day yesterday ; but when Froude, with historic eye, only takes in ' pig-killing,' what impression of our city may be conveyed to book-readers and book-beepers ! I know you will have a good meeting. I shall endeavor to get copies of the Milwaukee papers, giving full proceedings. " Truly and respectfully yours, "E. W. BLATCHFORD." Mr. CUTTER read his paper on GREEK AND LATIN NOTATION. (Seej>. 82.) Mr. LARNED gave his paper on SOME NEW DEVICES, ETC. (Seep. 96.) Mr. CRUNDEN. Does the borrower have a card ? Mr. LARNED. Only a card of identifica- tion. We don't pretend to help the borrow- er's memory. Mr. GREEN. How many borrowers have you? Mr. LARNED. We have 2,500 members. These represent about 10,000 people who bor- row. Miss COE. Is there any need of dating borrower's card if you have your pigeon-hole card dated? Mr. LARNED. But this card represents twenty borrowers. I want to ask one or two questions : i. As to use of papers in the reading-room. I have thought of introducing a sewing-machine, and, after running a stitch through, giving the paper out to the reader as you would a book. Mr. PECK. I find that the trouble with this is that the stitches pull out. Mr. MERRILL. You will find that the trou- ble about passing out papers is that the readers don't return them. They keep them out too long. Besides that, the public don't want them passed out, as we found when the Court-House was burned and we had to do it in that way. Mr. HOOPER. What is the objection to hand-files? Sewing would injure papers for binding. Mr. CRUNDEN. I have been trying an ex- periment. I have found, as Mr. Merrill, that the public object to the handing out of news- papers, and it requires besides the whole time of an attendant and the consequent expense. Recently, requiring space, I have had a double file with low benches so made that an attend- ant can overlook the whole room. PROCEEDINGS. 157 Mr. LARNED. The other suggestion was as to newspaper clippings. I have, during the last year, made a good many pamphlets. I have the scraps cut out and pasted on manilla sheets, and these gathered into pamphlets. Mr. DEWEY. This skeme for clippings we think admirable, and destined to wide use. We prefer to use manilla sheets of full shelf size 20 X 25 cm. These go on the shelf even better, leaving less space for dust, and hold twice as much for a book of any thickness. By making class numbers on the corner each sheet goes in its pamflet case, thus keeping up minutest classing. Mr. LITTLE read a paper on CHARGING SYSTEMS FOR SMALL LIBRARIES. (Seep. 14.) The Assistant Secretary read extracts from a letter from Dr. Homes, of the N.Y. State Li- brary, and from Mrs. Tenney, of the Michigan State Library, regretting their necessary ab- sence. Mrs. HARRIET A. TENNEY, State Librarian of Michigan, said that she had never been able to attend any of the meetings, although she had joined the Association the first year of its organization. Mr. RICHARDSON read Dr. Homes' paper on UNBOUND VOLUMES ON LIBRARY SHELVES. (Seep. 16.) Mr. DEWEY gave a paper on ECLECTIC SHELF-NUMBERS. (Seep. 98.) Mr. MERRILL. How do you mark dupli- cates ? Mr. DEWEY. We always mark " Cop. i," " Cop. 2." etc. Mr. R. B. POOLE. You might use the superior (e.g., 328 2 ). SHELVES FOR HEAVY BOOKS. Mr. CRUNDEN. I should like to ask libra- rians how thay manage with their large folios. I have been trying to put large books, not on shelves, but on rollers. I use gas-pipe rods covered with velveteen. I saw it first in Liver- pool, and thought it a good thing. Have any of the librarians tried it? Mr. LINDERFELT. I advise Mr. Crunden not to speak of this plan too loudly here in Milwaukee, if he has been trying it, as there is a man here who has a patent on it. Mr. HOOPER. We have a device for heavy folios. We have a lattice-work frame which slips backward and forward, and by care is kept so easily running that it can be moved by a finger-touch. Mr. R. B. POOLE. My device is to cover the shelf with carpeting. Mr. DEWEY. The favorite device has been the Taylor sliding-drawer. The patent is now off, but the device is yet expensive. The ad- vantage of it is that it affords also a rest. I hav seen the rollers of which Mr. Crunden speaks, but not in gas-pipe form, in pivot form. But they will wear the books still, I should think. Mr. WINSOR. Wasn't the Taylor patent renewed ? Mr. DEWEY. I think not. Mr. RICHARDSON read the paper of Mr. Vinton on . THE ASTOR LIBRARY CATALOGUE. (Seep. 17.) LLOYD P. SMITH. Mr. WINSOR read and moved the passage of resolutions on the death of Lloyd P. Smith : Whereas, in the death of Lloyd P. Smith, of the Philadelphia library, the American Library Association has lost one of its oldest members, who was endeared to us by many sympathies, and held in remembrance by traits singularly uniting repose of mind and response to per- sonal contact, with an eagerness for knowledge and a love for the venerable : Therefore Resolved, That we closely join with the family of our late associate in a sense of that bereavement which has deprived them of a husband and father, and left us only the remembrance of a kind and cordial spirit, and the associations of a friend constant in attach- ments and helpful in his beneficent prompt- ings. Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to his family. JUSTIN WINSOR, MELVIL DEWEY, EDW. J. NOLAN, Committee. i 5 8 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. Mr. BARTON, seconding the motion, sug- gested that they be passed by rising vote. The resolutions were so passed. Mr. DEWEY. I move that the action of the Association be telegraphed to the family of Mr. Smith to-night. Carried. POSTAGE AND LIBRARY BOOKS. R. B. POOLE read the report of the commit- tee on the resolutions introduced by him. (See p. 149.) They suggested as members of the commit- tee of "five: W. F. Poole, A. R. Spofford, Hon. Mellen Chamberlain. Mr. DEWEY took exception to the word " in- corporated " in the resolutions. Pres. POOLE. This is the term used in all public acts and laws. Mr. CRUNDEN. I think that the greatest use would be by small subscription libraries, and that it is very desirable for them. The Secretary read, in this connection, a question from the box, bearing directly on this point: "Would not the system of reduced postage on library-books work the destruction of the smaller libraries? Would it not destroy the local pride which is so great a stimulus in the maintenance of these?" Mr. LARNED. It would be of help to those in small towns who desire to use books which their libraries could by no possibility furnish. Mr. DEWEY. This matter of the limitation to incorporated libraries can be left to the committee to get what they can. Mr. PEOPLES. I would say that we send books to all parts of the United States. I heartily approve the movement. Mr. DEWEY moved, as an amendment, that the passage "all incorporated libraries to dis- tribute books within the prescribed limit of weight as second-class matter, to non-residents of the city or town in which the library is located," read simply, "libraries to distribute books as second-class matter." The amendment was adopted. The report and resolutions were accepted and adopted, as follows : RESOLUTIONS ON POSTAGE ON LIBRARY BOOKS. Whereas, the Congress of the United States provides by law for the carrying of newspapers and periodicals, from the office of publication, as second-class matter, at one cent per pound, for the purpose of more widely diffusing knowledge and increasing intelligence; and Whereas, the distribution of books through the mails at the same rate of postage would tend, in a still greater degree, to the cultivation of the people ; therefore Resolved, That this Association, represent- ing the libraries of the country, would earnestly recommend such legislation by Con- gress as shall enable libraries to distribute books as second-class matter. Resolved, That a committee of five be ap- pointed to secure such legislation. The Chair appointed Messrs. Wm. F. Poole, A. R. Spofford, M. Chamberlain, W. T. Peo- ples, F. M. Crunden, as such committee. Mr. LINDERFELT announced that copies of a new guide to Milwaukee had been sent by the publishers for the use of the Association. The meeting was adjourned at 10.05 P.M. FOURTH SESSION. (JULY 9, FRIDAY MORNING.) President POOLE in the chair. The meeting was called to order at 10 : 10. Voted, That, owing to the amount of un- finished business, an afternoon session be held from 2 : 30 to 5 o'clock. The SECRETARY introduced RESOLUTIONS ON LIFE -MEMBERSHIP. Resolved, That the by-law authorizing the issue of life-membership be repealed, and that, pending the ratification of this vote, its action be suspended till the next annual meeting. Resolved, That the following by-laws be adopted : By the payment of $25 at one time into the permanent invested fund of the A.L.A., any person duly elected a member may receive a certificate of life-membership, which shall entitle him for life to all the rights and privi- leges of membership without further assess- ment. By the similar payment of $56 any person or institution duly elected may receive a cer- tificate of perpetual membership, which shall forever entitle the holder or one accredited delegate of the institution to all the rights of membership without further assessment. PROCEEDINGS. '59 Resolved, That the Treasurer be authorized to issue certificates of life and perpetual mem- bership during the coming year pending final action. Mr. LARNED. Will Mr. Dewey guarantee that money will always yield 4%? Mr. WHITNEY. The Association money now draws 5%. Mr. FLETCHER read the REPORT OF THE COOPERATION COMMITTEE. The report of this committee for the past year must be mainly the history of the effort we have been making for cooperative library bibliography. Early in the year, and repeat- edly since, we have asked, more or less publicly, for suggestions as to matters which we might properly consider and refer to in this report; but we have received no such suggestions. The previous committee have reported that no unfinished business remained on their hands. The Library Bureau, which came into exist- ence in connection with the Cooperation Committee of the A.L.A., has gone forward with success, with a fine measure of suc- cess, judged by what it has accomplished for the general good; but, we are sorry to believe, with only a limited measure of suc- cess as to its financial returns. Still, there is every reason to hope that, with each succes- sive year, the libraries of the country will appreciate more and more highly the use- fulness of the Bureau, and the excellence and public spirit of its present management, and will more generally lend it their patronage and support. During the year the Bureau has added a large number of articles to its list, and has issued an excellent illustrated catalog. It has just commenced the issue of a quarterly publication, Library Notes, of which a suffi- cient account was given in the report of our Secretary. Recurring to the subject mentioned at first as constituting the main feature of this report, convenience will largely be served, while the proprieties of the case will perhaps not be se- riously violated, if I drop for a time the plural pronoun, and speak for myself alone, with re- gard to the inception of this project for coop- erative cataloging. Just as I was beginning to wonder, last fall, whether I was going to find any special work for the Cooperation Commit- tee to do during the year, the cataloging of our library reached a point where it became desir- able to make some new plans for further work. I had an interview with President Seelye, and it was as a result of my talk with him, and of the readiness, the heartiness, even, with which he approved of the suggestions I made, and made even more advanced suggestions of his own, that I came to feel that something had been offered me which the Cooperation Com- mittee might suitably and hopefully undertake to do. Our catalog had reached this point: We had practically completed our alphabetical catalog under authors, and also under sub- jects, to the extent of treating books as indi- viduals, but almost wholly without analytical subject-entries. The question raised was, should we proceed to run in analytical refer- ences, especially to essays and to scientific transactions and periodicals not included in " Poole's Index," or should we stop where we were without professing to have our catalog complete in any such sense? This question at once involved the other question of the probability of the publication, before very long, of works which should do for these fields what " Poole's Index" had done for that of general periodicals. We agreed with perfect readiness that the best policy to be pursued by any and by all libraries now coming to that point was to stop this sort of ms. work, and to combine in some practical effort to get the necessary work done, once for all, in print. As I have said, our new and special interest in this matter seemed to me to be a call on the Cooperation Committee to see what could be done. Addressing a letter to each of the other members of the committee, I found them heartily responsive to the sug- gestion, and the result was the meeting of the committee in New York in the spring, a report of which appeared in the Library journal. At that meeting a circular was drawn up, which you have all seen, and later this circular was sent to about 400 leading libraries. Postal cards were enclosed for replies, and of these seventy-eight have been returned. Sixty-seven of these are favorable without reservation, six are favorable with reservation, and five are, on the whole, unfavorable. Four specially favor the printing of cards, six express special interest in the essay index, and three in the scientific index. I should like to read a few of the more inter- i6o MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. esting of these replies, which are not merely the blank sent out signed and returned. [Here several letters were read.] The committee feel that the number and character of these replies to their circular justify the assured belief that an organized effort for cooperative cataloging or bibliographical or indexingwork, or all three combined, is entirely feasible, and that the interest in it is such that it will certainly be undertaken. The first question is this : Shall the A.L.A., as such, take steps for such an organization within itself, or shall it be left to those who are interested to organ- ize an entirely separate association or company ? The feeling of the committee is very strongly in favor of the first of these methods ; and this after quite a free discussion of the matter at our New York meeting, at which some ten or twelve librarians were present, and expressed by vote their concurrence with this view. The committee feel, however, that the im- portance ot the movement, and its novelty (as far as the proposed financial basis of coopera- tion is concerned), demand its deliberate and careful consideration. They would deprecate a random discussion of the matter in open con- ference at its present stage. It has already been discussed by correspondence much more effectively. The committee would, therefore, submit the following vote for action at this time : [For text of vote, amendment, and vote as passed, see p. 166.] For the Cooperative Committee, WM. I. FLETCHER, Chairman. Mr. DEWEY. Why is the action of the com- mittee not sufficient? It always has been con- sidered sufficient. I would like to hav a committee of five appointed to organize and carry out the plan. I am anxious that what we hav been waiting ten years for should not be put off for another year. Mr. FLETCHER. It is just here. I am afraid that my judgment may be influenced by my own interest in the matter. I don't want to take the responsibility of saying that I have rightly interpreted the spirit of the letters which I have received. Mr. LARNED. I understand that about eighty librarians are ready for work. I would like to have a committee inquire how much of a subscription will be required from each in order to carry it out. Mr. CRUNDEN. Also to inquire what parts or kinds of indexing the various libraries may prefer. Mr. FLETCHER. I submit that these sug- gestions show that the discussion will be long, and that the shortest way to the end is that proposed by the committee. Pres. POOLE. I suggest that a committee of five be appointed to consider the matter. Mr. GREEN. Isn't this matter the most im- portant of the meeting? We had better put off something else, if necessary, and give time to the discussion. I should like a committee of five to report definitely on cost, etc. Mr. DEWEY moved the acceptance of the report. Carried. The vote proposed by the committee was taken up later. Mr. CRUNDEN read his REPORT ON AIDS AND GUIDES. (See p. in.) Mr. Whitney read Mr. MAGNfJssoN's paper on LIBRARY BUILDINGS. (See p. 133.) Before the paper Mr. Whitney read some extracts from three letters of Mr. Magmisson : " MARCH 18, 1886. " My library plan is having a good reception in England, and is likely, I think, to work its way; its originality strikes, and its cheapness and the perpetual economy it insures speak persuasively in its favor. It provides for everything appertaining to the business of a library on the premises, such as readers' retiring-rooms, offices, bindery, etc. My archi- tects assure me that the plan provides amply for the supply of light. " " MAY 27, 1886. " I should like very much to come over to the land of the world's modern wonders, and have a peep at its wonderful men and beautiful and clever women ; but I fear the fates will be so effectively against it as to leave no room for hope at present. There are strong indications, in this country as well as on the continent, of my plan being viewed with increasing favor. PROCEEDINGS. 161 It only requires to be seriously examined in order to demonstrate by itself its own superi- ority to anything that has been in fashion hitherto. Of course, for old academicians whose life is of the past, and who imagine that the future must always be more or less a repro- duction of what they have known of the past, for such men my plan is something in the way of an historical blasphemy. But younger men see in it nothing but an effective guarantee of perpetual order and constant economy. I am quite willing to admit that the plan, when adopted, will revolutionize, to some extent, ex- isting library habits. It will do away with local classification by subjects of the contents of a library, and enforce the adoption of a double set of catalogues, alphabetical by authors, chronological by subjects. But how perfect would not the administration of such a library be? And when once brought into sys- tem, how easy would not this double system of cataloguing be?" "JUNE 19, 1886. "My paper is very imperfect, having been written in the midst of ill-health, consequent upon an overwhelming famil*' bereavement. However, I think it will represent the totality of my idea in a pretty complete form, which is the principal point. The calculations are of great value for any one who wants seriously to examine the question of relative economy. The table showing the capacity of the library can be used for any library by doubling or multiplying, ad libitum, the diameter and respective totals of each description of a library. " My plan meets here, in Cambridge, with much admiration; but men are old in the old world, and slow. I fancy America will be the country in the end to have a pattern library." After the paper was read Mr. MERRILL moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Magmisson. It was seconded by Mr. HOOPER, and passed. President POOLE. We are under obligation to our English friend for his contribution of the paper. which has just been read. The subject of library construction is, as he remarks, one of the highest importance, and I am always interested in its discussion, whether the views presented are in harmony with my own or not. Mr. Magnusson, in February last, contributed to the London Athcnccitm a brief outline of what he has now more fully developed in this paper. The scheme has attracted some at- tention in England, and the inventor seems to be confident that he has " established on a thoroughly sound basis " this important branch of library economics. It is natural that the inventor of a new and valuable scheme or de- vice should seek the views of his professional brethren on the merits or demerits of his in- vention ; and this was probably the motive of the writer in contributing his paper to this conference. He has doubtless observed, in the printed proceedings of our Association, the freedom and fairness with which papers on every class of topics are discussed by the American librarians. He seeks, and is entitled to, the judgment of our members on the merits of his invention. I will therefore remark, in opening the discus- sion, that the scheme, in its essential features, has not the merit of novelty. It is an old and discarded American device. In the spring of 1873 the Congress of the United States ap- pointed a commission for making plans and constructing a building for the Library of Con- gress, with an appropriation of $5,000 to be expended in premiums to architects. A circu- lar issued to the competing architects pre- scribed the conditions on which the plans were to be based, which were in substance as follows : Around a circular building surmounted by a dome were to be constructed a series of con- centric walls. The central building was to be used as a general reading-room, and its inner and outer walls, as well as the passages between the concentric walls, were to be furnished with alcoves and galleries for the storing of books. The central room was to be lighted from its dome ; and the passages between the concentric walls, from their roofs. Passage-ways radiat- ing from the centre were to be cut through the walls of the reading-room and the concentric walls, except the outer one, in order to give convenient access to every part of the library. An outline of this scheme was given in the annual report of the Librarian of Congress made in December, 1872. l In the autumn of 1873 twenty-eight sets of competitive plans embodying the above conditions had been sent in, and one of these was furnished by a London architect. A premium of $1,500 was awarded 1 Senate Misc. Doc. No. 13, ong., 3d Sess., p. 7. 1 62 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. to a plan thought to be the best, $1,000 to the next best, and smaller sums to others. 1 I was consulted at the time by several of the com- peting architects, and saw their drawings, as well as the circular issued by the commis- sion. It will be seen that every essential feature of Mr. Magmisson's invention was contained in the Congress plans of 1873, the plan of con- centric walls taking the place of his spiral arrangement. For the merit of his spiral, if it can be classed as an invention, he will doubt- less never have a contestant. No one, I think, except himself, will claim that the spiral ar- rangement has any advantage over the con- centric. His own architect, Mr. Waterhouse, prefers the latter. Besides claiming as his the spiral device, he enters a caveat on concentric and polygonic walls, and includes them both in his invention. The Congress plans of 1873, whatever might be their merits or demerits, were never used at Washington or elsewhere, and in the later designs which have been adopted for that building were wholly dis- carded. My second comment on the plans before us is that the spiral passages as here described are not adapted for library uses, on account of the insufficiency of light which they will afford. They are 24 feet wide and 30 feet high. The bookcases, 6 feet apart, extend at right angles 10 feet from the walls on both sides, leaving a central opening, or slit, 4 feet wide for the admission of light from the roof. Ten and 20 feet from the ground- floor are " light, horizontal galleries," which, as the alcoves are only 6 feet wide, must be a continuous flooring, without an opening for light, which is usual in wider alcoves. There should, by the way, have been three galleries instead of two, which would have given to each of the four tiers of alcoves a height of 7^ feet, and made the use of ladders un- necessary. His method of taking in light is by " vertical skylights introduced under [into?] the roof." With such an arrange- ment it needs no prophet's ken to foretell that the books shelved in the spiral passages will be in Egyptian darkness. If light had been taken in by horizontal skylights in the roof above the 4-feet slit, some light would 1 Senate Misc. Doc. No. 30, 436 Cong,, ist Sess., p. 3. have reached the floor; but the alcoves and books would have been in shadow made by the floors of the galleries. Taking light, however, from a clear-story above the roof, no light of any account would even reach the ground-floor. It is not possible to conceive a more ill-devised scheme for lighting than this. If there be a deficiency of light in the spiral passages, there will be a superfluity of heat during the sum- mer months. The temperature under the roof, either with a clear-story or horizontal sky- lights, will be fearful. A comparison of the drawings before us, with the description in the text, leaves us in doubt as to what specific form of construction was in- tended. It also indicates that the inventor is in conflict with his architect who has evidently better judgment in these matters than his client. The drawing showing the dome has only one gallery in the spiral passages, and walls 20 feet high. Another drawing, showing a section of a spiral passage, has two galleries, and walls 30 feet high. The latter drawing agrees, in these particulars, with the description ; but in the arrangement of the bookcases and the mode of lighting it varies essentially from the descrip- tion. The clear-story has disappeared, sky- lights at an angle of 45 are introduced, the 4-feet passage widened, and the upper gallery has lost its alcoves. These changes, which are improvements, have been made by the architect without the inventor's concurrence. The spiral form of construction has, up to this time, been monopolized by one of the lower orders of the animal kingdom, by the mollusk, the nautilus, the snail, and other invertebrates. Now that it is brought into architecture, it needs a name, and, for the want of a better, may be termed the " cephal- opodic" style. It is to be regretted that the in- ventor omitted from his series of drawings one showing us a perspective view of his library building after the spiral had taken several turns. It would have depicted a circular, blank wall 30 feet high and a corrugated roof surmounted by a dome. The walls would have no windows nor ornamented elevations ; for whatever was spent in decoration would be covered and lost when the spiral next came round. The nautilus, and even the common snail, manage this style more artistically. Every convolution of their spirals is symmetrical, striated, and streaked with deli- cate colors. A library building constructed in PROCEEDINGS. 163 the " cephalopodic" style would have the ap- pearance of a mammoth gas-holder. This scheme of construction is open to ob- jections more radical than any which I have mentioned. It leaves wholly out of considera- tion the new and higher wants which the library will necessarily develop in the progress of its growth. The single expansive feature in it is an ample capacity for storing its ac- cession of books by the extension of its spiral passages. Nothing else has been considered. The theory of the writer is that a library should " be once for all established on a plan by which it may with uninterrupted order receive its ac- cessions through a period amounting to an endless future." We have before us the scheme by which, " with uninterrupted order," a library may grow, as he says, for a thousand years, cover four acres of ground, and store ten million volumes. Receiving and storing accessions are not the only functions of a library. It must have facilities for using its accessions. Let us briefly trace the experience of a library housed in this manner. It starts out with its domed reading-room large enough for present use, and for some years to come, and with enough spiral passages to shelve its books. Time goes on, and the library is prosperous. Its size has doubled, tripled, quadrupled ; perhaps it has increased tenfold, and its readers have increased in the same proportion. The reading-room, however, has been left out of view in this proc- ess of expansion ; it is of the same dimensions as when the library started, and is hedged about with spiral passages. If the writer of this paper were present, I would like to ask him how he proposes, in the emergency I have stated, to enlarge his reading-room, or otherwise provide accommodations for his readers? He may, if the library can afford the expense, pull down the old reading-room, demolish several convo- lutions of the spiral passages, and erect a new and larger structure ; but how will this heroic treatment comport with his claim that he has for the first time " established library economics on a thoroughly sound basis," and that his scheme maintains " uninterrupted order through a period amounting to an endless future? " A small library has few wants, and very sim- ple arrangements will provide for them. A large library has many wants, and as it grows larger, they become more numerous, more ex- acting in their demands, and more difficult to fill. A large library attracts to itself special collections of books which must have separate rooms for their storage and consultation. This is often the condition on which such collections come to the library. The treasures of a large library, also, under judicious management, segregate in special collections, and require separate rooms where they may be placed in charge of persons who have special knowledge in these departments. Did a large library ever have enough of such rooms ? The fine-art books, collections of engravings, galleries, elegantly illustrated books, and all the works which re- late to the study of art, will make a library in themselves, and will eventually be brought to- gether in a separate room, shelved and fitted up for their especial accommodation, and furnished with all the conveniences by which students of art can there consult them. These fine books suffer more injury by the rough handling of runners, and by transportation on trucks through the narrow passages of a large library, to and from the general reading-room, than in their legiti- mate use by students. The patent publications of many nations become, in the aggregate, very numerous and bulky, and they must have a separate room in which they can be shelved and consulted. Many other specialties I might mention which will require similar accommoda- tions. The space needed for the administra- tive work of a growing library is constantly increasing. The older and larger the library becomes, the more will these unforeseen require- ments appear. Has Mr. Magmisson, in this scheme, made any provision for, or given any consideration to, these requirements? How and where does he propose to meet these new wants when they arise ? The only space in his control is the spiral passages, which may be increased ad libitum. We have seen how ill-adapted they are for the storing of books. Will he use these pits for the higher purposes I have indicated, where there is no ventilation, and no ray of sunlight enters except through a skylight in the roof? I have had occasion, at former meetings of our Association, to express my objections to the conventional style of library architecture which has came down to us from the middle ages : * a gothic church, the open nave of which is 1 Library journal, vol. vi, p. 69; vol. vii, p. 130; vol. viii, p. 270; vol. x, p. 250, 328. 164 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. used as a reading-room, and the aisles, with several tiers of galleries, for the storing of books. Every objectionable feature in that style, which I have previously commented on, is repeated in the scheme before us ; and it has other objectionable features of which the con- ventional style is free. Its galleries are not easier to climb than those of the old structures. The inequalities of temperature and the de- struction of bindings by heat in the upper gal- leries are here in all their hideous proportions. There is the same insecurity from fire, which, if once started, would range without a barrier through the whole building. The difficulty, if not the impossibility, of expansion and enlarge- ment where they are the most needed, we have already considered. It is a style of construc- tion which has no aesthetic qualities. There is a stately grandeur in the mediaeval style which is wholly wanting in this reproduction of an Esquimaux hut. Such a structure is not, in my opinion, the library building of the future. It is evident that Mr. Magmisson's reading on this class of topics has been very limited. In his opening sentence he says : " So far as I know, no special attention has as yet been drawn to what I consider the most important subject connected with library management, namely library economics, established on a thoroughly sound basis." The general subject, and even this special topic of library con- struction, are discussed in Mr. Tedder's able article on "Libraries" in the Encyclopedia Britannica. Not to speak further of English authorities, is it possible that the writer has not seen the United States " Report on Public Libraries," 1876, and the ten completed volumes of the Library journal, which are filled with papers and discussions on library economics? As I am constantly in receipt of letters from England and continental Europe on the subject of library construction, growing out of my several contributions on the matter, it is a little remarkable that the writer of this paper has never heard that the attention of Americans " had been drawn to library economics." Mr. Tedder's article would have given him this information. It would have given me pleasure to speak of this scheme in complimentary terms, if it had been possible ; and to speak of it as I have has been an unpleasant duty. I thought, however, as the paper was read, that it was a duty we owed to ourselves and to the profession that it should not go forth in our proceedings without a frank and fearless discussion of its merits. Perhaps I misinterpreted the spirit of the paper; but I thought I detected in it a claim that with- out the need of further discussion, the author had devised the library building of the future; that an important question was now settled once for all ; and that, if we did not accept his view of the matter, we were challenged to state the grounds of our dissent. I feel obliged, as I have already stated, to our English friend for the contribution of his paper ; and if these remarks should ever reach him through the columns of the Library journal, I indulge the hope that he will discuss my views with as much freedom as I have discussed his. Mr. WHITNEY. As Mr. Magmisson is not here to reply to any criticism made on his paper I will say that I questioned him especially in regard to the matter of the supply of light for his proposed building, thinking that this might be an objection to his plan. He replied, that this being a matter of detail, and capable of various methods of solution, it could never form any difficulty approaching to anything like a fatal obstacle to the whole scheme, and that from the sections of the design it may be seen that this objection is, presumably, satis- factorily disposed of. A portion of the roof is run up, on either side of each passage, before the skylights are introduced, which is done with a view to distancing the skylights of any two parallel passages so far from each other as never to impair each other's lights. In a design only one mode of arrangement can be adopted, but details have, of course, the privilege of a variety of application and arrangement. In general I may say that Mr. Magmisson has devoted much time and thought to the development of his plans, and has submitted them to English librarians, and to architects of established reputation, whose favorable views are worthy of due consideration. I do not understand that Mr. Magnusson in the opening of his paper intends to disparage what has been accomplished in the direction of library architecture, but mainly to question whether those who plan libraries have suffi- ciently in mind the needs of the far future. In the examination of the plans of many libraries recently it has seemed to me that but few have PROCEEDINGS. 165 been built with reference to the enlargements which will be needed after many years. Books accumulate with great rapidity, and fifty years from now our successors may wonder why libraries have been built with so little thought of future growth. Considered from this point of view, the plan here presented, when cleared of any imperfec- tions it may have, may offer valuable ideas to those who wish to build libraries adapted to successive future enlargements. I don't see but wings will carry books just as far from the centre as the spirals. Dr. POOLE. But I don't believe in a central reading-room anyway. I believe in a great many special libraries. He can get light enough, but it is all skylight. We believe in side- light. Mr. CUTTER. I should like to know how, under this scheme, they are to get any light after a three-foot snow-storm. Mr. WHITNEY. Mr. Magnusson thinks that snow would not encumber the building or ob- scure the light. He states that the vertical sky- lights would be at least one-half yard, probably a yard, in diameter, raised to some extent above the walls. The snow would therefore have to fall very heavily if it was to materially interfere with the light. As to the weight upon the roof it would, he says, be well to have it noted that, in the original plan, as shown in the elevation, radial divisions are made in the roof for the pur- pose of carting the snow over the outer wall. Mr. CUTTER. The snow will fall upon the skylights as well as in the valleys between them, and the cost of clearing skylights and valleys would be considerable. Mr. HOOPER. I suppose it is acknowledged that the circle is the most convenient form. The objections in respect of light and heat are serious ; but I think this is not true in respect to classification. You know that if the snail does live in the mud the nautilus builds cham- bers in his shell. The real objection to the scheme is the hundreds of feet of wall with continual breaks. It will be very hard to make such a wall strong enough. COMMITTEE ON REPORT OF COOPERATIVE COM- MITTEE. Mr. DEWEY read his amendment to the vote as proposed by the Cooperation Committee, striking out after the word conference, in the second resolution, the words" but that the whole matter remain in their hands until they can make a final report at some future time," and adding " as definite a plan, etc.," ad fin. The amendment was accepted by the com- mittee, and the vote, as amended, passed as follows : Voted, That a special committee of five be appointed by the Chair, to consider so much of the report of the Cooperation Committee as refers to a proposed organization for cooper- ation in cataloging, and that to this committee be referred the correspondence on this subject submitted by the Cooperation Committee. Voted, That this committee report before the close of the present conference as definite a plan as practicable for the organization of an A.L.A. publishing section, not involving the A.L.A. in any financial responsibility. The Chair announced as committee on the the report of the Cooperation Committee : Mr. W. I. Fletcher, Miss Coe, and Messrs. W. S. Biscoe, W. C. Lane, and J. N. Larned. Mr. DEWEY. It is understood that this com- mittee is to report to-morrow, at latest. Dr. POOLE. I like to go into Mr. Dewey's library and see the devices, and there is nothing that I admire more than his electric light ar- rangements. And now he will tell us about them. ELECTRIC LIGHT IN LIBRARIES. Mr. DEWEY. At Lake George I gave some account of our electric lights, which is printed on pages 139-141 of last year's proceedings, and so need not be repeated here. We like very much our student lamps, one on each table. The wire is taken to the table by bur- rowing, i.e., cutting a channel large enuf for the wire lengthwise of the floor-board, lay- ing the wire in the bottom of this and stopping it with a strip of wood to match the floor. As soon as soiled by wear it is hard to detect where the wire was laid. The place of the table is fixt, and an elbow of iron or brass screwed on the bottom of two diagonally oppo- site legs. This leaves a bit of metal with a screw-hole, projecting from the leg, and two screws anchor the table in this position. Of course it can be moved at any time by simply turning out these two screws and breaking the electric connection. One of the two unscrewed legs is bored with a long bit and the wire 1 66 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. carried from the floor, thru the leg to the under side of the table, where, with wire staples, it is carried to the receptacle. The main wire ends in a metal fixture, flush with the floor. In this the end of the wire coming down from the table-leg is inserted and the connection is made. Insted of boring the legs a narrow channel can be cut on the inside and the wire carried in this, covered with staples, without per- ceptibly injuring the appearance of the table. Our original plan was to bore a small hole, with rounded edges, that would not wear the silk- covered electric cord which runs from the re- ceptacle to the lamp. The lamp in the center of the table is as movable as any table lamp, the length of the cord allowing it to be placed anywhere on the top. We intended to put a small pulley and weight under the table to take up the slack when the lamp was standing near the center, but the loop of cord is so seldom in the way that it has not yet been done. In the same way, disliking to bore the center hole in our new oak tables, we carried the wire over the edge, and this has workt very well, tho not as neat a form as the center hole, for the reader now has a loose cord running over the edge of the table before him. Here, as everywhere, we found the paper shade, white inside and green outside, much better than the more costly and fragil porcelain, which, however, is much handsomer. This is not because of the economy, but to protect the eyes. I think Dr. Poole will, after trial, change his handsome glass shades for this light, cheap paper form which gives the eye absolute pro- tection. The best student lamp is adjustable in hight by a slide and thumb screw, like a German stu- dent lamp, but is patented and costly. If the simple lamp without this slide is used, care should be taken not to hav it too high from the table so that a short reader's eyes will not be protected. We prefer the large-size paper shade 3ocm. in diameter at the bottom, and 2ocm. oti the sloping side, and a lamp high enuf so the bottom of this shade shall be only 25011. from the table top. Insted of this form of student lamp on the table, it is easy, where the ceiling can be reacht without expensiv scaffolding in case repairs are needed, to hang a wire over the place wanted, and attach the lamp to the end. This we saw in Mr. Poole's elevated reading-room on Tues- day. This really requires the tables to be kept in one place as much as the other, and does not allow the light to be moved to different parts of the table. It also vibrates in a very slight current of air, to the annoyance of readers, but it is cheaper, and the tables can be removed without unscrewing, &c., in case the room has to be cleared for an audience. We were afraid to risk this swinging in our reading-room, tho we use just this form on our fourth floor, where the reading-room is only 3m. [10 ft.] in hight, and where we use these flexible lamps also to light the shelves, by turning them so that the shade with its white lining acts as a reflector, and throws the light where it is pointed. Our most ingenious device is the ball and pulley for these hanging lamps. To adjust the hight, a sliding chandelier was used, which was costly and dangerous to the lamp and the reader's head if when the light was drawn down he rose suddenly, leaning over his table. As those interested may see in several of the pictures in the volume of Columbia College views on the table with the other Literary Bureau publications, we met this difficulty by loading, with shot, a hollow brass ball with a pulley on top, so as to balance exactly the weight of lamp and shade. The cord runs thru this pulley and over another, screwed in the ceiling wherever wanted. From this pulley (which can be moved redily to any point under which the lamp is wanted without making any other changes), the lamp hangs on one cord and the ball on the other, thus getting the action of a balanced window-shade. The lamp hangs at any point where it is put. When in use for the table it is pulled down near the book. To light the room, or get it out of the way, it is pusht up to the highest point. The device is very effectiv and cheap, and as it is my own and not a patent, you are more than welcom to it. We light our shelves in the reading-room gal- lery by fixt lights on standards at the outer edge of the gallery and below by brass pend- ants under these. The quarter-egg-shape tin shade throws the light on the backs of the books and wholly shields the reader's eyes. Had we not wisht these to giv the general light to our main reading-room we should hav used the long cord like Mr. Poole's attacht near the center of the face of shelves which it is to PROCEEDINGS. 167 light. Maximum convenience will be served by putting the hook on which the lamp hangs about four feet from the floor, where the hand reaches it most redily, and it is most central to the books above and below. Here, as in so many other cases, attention to som old-maidish details will make a great difference in practical working. By using a small, round tin shade and reflector at the bottom of the lamp, like the gard to a sword, the eyes are protected, the shelves better lighted, and chiefly the lamp is protected from breaking. It may be caught on the hook hastily and allowed to fall from the hand, the edge of the tin shade keeping the lamp from striking. Then by hanging all the hooks, opening the same way, the left hand in grasping the lamp has the thumb and finger just on the key in such a way that the light can be turned on or off by simple pressure. Thus the right hand is entirely free to carry or replace books, and the left hand will mechanically take the lamp from the hook, turn on the light, and hold it before any shelf within reach of the long cord, all so quickly that it seems to do itself. Hang the same fixtures awkwardly, and watch the man who " does not believe in fussing with little wrinkles," and see him lay down his books, take down the lamp with one hand, turn on the light with the other, pick up his books and replace them, and then lay down again those he is carrying farther, to get his hand free to turn the key again. We spent some months examining this ques- tion by experts, and our longer experience simply confirms our belief that we hav the most perfect artificial light yet known to science. We prize its great convenience, but much more its eye-saving qualities ; and that it neither heats nor renders unfit to breathe the air of our crowded rooms. We hav readers who work freely in our library who cannot read at home, and if it cost us much more than it does we should still esteem it the wisest investment we have yet made. For these reasons I recommend it strongly to libraries even of limited means. A MEMBER. Do you take in the expense of the ruin of books by gas? Dr. POOLE. I don't believe it is gas that ruins books. It is heat. Mr. GREEN. Doesn't gas heat? Mr. CRUNDEN. We have introduced in- candescent light as a matter of economy. Whether gas damages books or not, it cer- tainly damages ceilings, and I think there is a good deal of damage from gas. Mr. DEWEY. There is a great advantage in our cut-off, in that we need burn only the lights we are actually using at any moment. Mr. CRUNDEN. Before we introduced the electric light we had to light an alcohol torch in going between the shelves. President POOLE introduced Mr. J. W. SPONABLE, of Paola, Kansas, who said : I didn't come here to talk, but to listen. I have learned many things for my people. In respect of heat or light we are better off than most. We use natural gas for both, and all we have to do is to dig a hole in the ground and get plenty of good light and heat without smoke, odor, or expense, except for the plant, i.e., the expense of digging a well of say 300 feet. Mr. DEWEY. Can you always find it as you can water, if you dig deep enough ? Mr. SPONABLE. Almost as certainly as water. Mr. FLETCHER. Over how large a section does this gas region extend? Mr. SPONABLE. About ten miles. Dr. POOLE. Is there much interest in public libraries in Kansas ? Mr. SPONABLE. I think more than any- where else. Dr. POOLE. Are they mostly public or proprietary libraries ? Mr. SPONABLE. Public. We have a very good law. First, we vote to have a free library ; then twelve trustees are appointed. Dr. POOLE. Is there ever any opposition ? Mr. SPONABLE. It is always unanimous when there is a chance for a library. There is no opposition. We would like to have you meet with us. We will entertain you as cor- dially as anywhere. Mr. LARNED. I would like to know if any one has tried the Weston system. Mr. CUTTER. We have been using it for a couple of months. We find it costs about twenty per cent, more than gas. Mr. BERRY. We have been scared out of it in our citv, on account of the danger from fire. HEAT REGULATION. Mr. CUTTER. We have had for some months the Johnson heat regulator, and like it. The action is this : A tongue made of two sub- 1 68 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. stances that have a different sensibility to heat is suspended so that as the room becomes warm it curves to one side, and, making a con- nection with the end of an electric wire, sends off a message; when the room cools it makes connection with the opposite point and sends off its message on the other wire. These wires run to a metal globe in which a magnet plays in a groove. When one message comes the magnet is attracted round till it covers a vent into the outer air, and at the same time un- covers the end of a pipe filled with compressed air; the air fills the globe, and, inflating an India-rubber ball attached to one side, moves a piston, which closes the window or ventilator, or hot-air register, or steam-pipe to which it is attached. The opposite contact attracts the magnet to shut the compressed air-pipe, and open the vent so that the air escapes, the ball collapses and lets the piston down, when a spring opens the window or register. The apparatus is so arranged that when the venti- lators in a room are opened the registers are closed, or vice versa. By this device we have kept our rooms within a degree of 70 all this spring. The cost was $523.60 for nine large rooms. Dr. LINDERFELT. We used the Johnson regulator all winter with most complete satis- faction. We have four of the regulators in the two rooms. One room we kept at a tempera- ture of 68, and the other at 70. We are very much exposed on the west, and before we in- troduced this system we had constant trouble ; but now it is perfectly satisfactory. The saving of coal is very remarkable. We never used less than eighty to eighty-four tons before. Last year we had a considerable additional space to heat, but used less than seventy tons, and were very much better heated than we had ever been before. The cost of the whole ap- paratus was about $300. I don't believe the cost can be more than $50 or $60 for each thermostat. It can be used in the same way for a ventilator. The larger part of the cost is for the automatic pump. Some one having said that the economy of fuel seemed inconsiderable, as last winter was mild, Mr. CUTTER said, I did not put the ap- paratus in to save fuel but to save or at least to lengthen life. Our reading-room was often very uncomfortable, and in the evening was unfit to stay in more than half an hour at a time. Since we have had the regulator the air there has been as good as it ever is in a city. The windows are not let down as ordinarily, but are allowed to fall in from the top, so that the cold air striking against an inclined plane is given a direction upward and then along the ceiling, and diffuses itself gradually through the room instead of falling in a cataract on somebody's head. Our readers, many of them old men, and sensitive to draughts, are much pleased with the change. Dr. POOLE. I have had this put into my house. It works perfectly. And a good point about it is, if you want to change the temper- ature all you have to do is to move a little switch. Prof. DAVIS read his paper on TEACHING BIBLIOGRAPHY IN COLLEGES. {.Seep. 91.) Mr. BARTON said, before reading his paper on THE FIRST LIBRARIANS' ASSOCIATION, 1853 (see p. 19), we have in our library specimens of the Mud catalog which Mr. Poole mentioned, with plates from which they were printed, and the correspondence between Messrs. Jewett and Haven upon the subject. I would heartily second the suggestion al- ready made, that biographical sketches of such early leaders in our profession as Jewett, Haven, and Cogswell may find a place in the published proceedings. Our President, in his admirable opening address, so fittingly, and, it is proper that I -should add, so unexpectedly trenched upon my preserves the subject-matter of the Con- vention of 1853 and its members that little remains but to thank him for his reminiscences, and to add for our printed record some of the resolutions there so wisely adopted. After the reading Mr. FLETCHER said, "It seems to fall to my lot to point out ' fatal defects.' I suggest that the fatal defect of the Association of 1853 was too much unanimity." Mr. VAN NAME read the REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS. Mr. DEWEY moved the election of the nomi- nees. Carried. PROCEEDINGS. 169 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. Mr. CUTTER. I had extra copies struck off of the Report of the Transliteration Commit- tee made at the Lake George Conference, and shall do the same with Notation of Greek and Latin authors. I will gladly send them to any one who will send me his address. Mr. MERRILL. And stamps for the postage. Mr. DEWEY read an invitation from Carl Doerflinger, Custodian and Secretary of the Milwaukee Museum, to visit the museum. "In case the regular hours should not be found convenient, any other time of day can be chosen upon previous notification. I shall deem it an honor and a pleasure to receive your colleagues at this younger sister-institu- tion of the Public Library." Mr. DEWEY read the letter accompanying the exhibit of the Leipzig binders, and called atten- tion to their work, which had provoked favor- able comment from the librarians present l : " LEIPZIG, June, 1886. "DEAR SIR, The unfavorable opinion about Leipzig bindings pronounced at the Lake George Conference by several members of the A.L.A., has induced the undersigned book- binders and booksellers of Leipzig to ask the permission for exhibiting at the next meeting, to be held July 7, at Milwaukee, a few spe- cimens of bindings ; this permission being gracefully granted by the President of the A.L.A., they have the honor to solicit your inspection and examination of the bindings exhibited. They beg to remark that it is their intention to exhibit nothing else but plain li- brary bindings, employing for them the best materials but avoiding all superfluous luxury, and that, of course, binding can be executed in every other style or color wanted. " Trusting that the present small exhibition which, of course, could not contain but a very limited number of volumes, will suffice to change advantageously the opinions regarding Leipzig bindings, the undersigned have the honor to be, dear sir, "Yours very respectfully, GUSTAV FRITZSCHE, JULIUS HAGER, C Bookbinders. OTTO HARRASSOWITZ, 1 K. F. KOEHLER, / Mr. DEWEY read various minor notices. Mr. FLETCHER called attention to the sheets of a catalog of the Nevins Library, of Me- thuen, Mass., and also to the admirable new catalog of the Milwaukee Library. Mr. DEWEY called attention to the catalogue of the Fitchburg Public Library, and to various book-rests and other devices exhibited. Mr. LINDERFELT. The type we have used in our catalogue was prepared with a good deal of care. If any one would like to use type from our matrices, I should be glad to furnish it for the mere cost of founding. The new catalog of the Milwaukee public library is printed in brevier and nonpareil type, manufactured by Barnhart Bros. & Spindler of Chicago. For the body type their " Koman, Series No. 7" is used, and for authors' names their ' ' Caledonian " . For both kinds of type in each size special matrices for producing the so-called accented letters were made, owned by the library, none of which can be procured from the type-founders of the country. These letters are as follows : Brevier. Nonpareil. Booksellers" 1 See Library journal, n : 75, 76. For the convenience of other libraries intending to print catalog's, the Milwaukee public library will give the use of its matrices free of charge and furnish on application the required accented letters in any quantity for the cost of the type merely. As the faces have purposely been selected among those in current use, there should be no difficulty in procuring type to match these special letters in any part of the country. Other matrices of accented letters to complete the series, including italics, will be made in the near future. (This paragrnf contains samples of all the type tmployed -except italics, and headings.) Mr. LARNED. If any one has not examined the Catalog of the Milwaukee Library, it will be to his advantage to do so. I don't know any catalog so complete and admirable. It is such fine work that it deserves a vote of thanks. Mr. CUTTER. I say ditto to Mr. Lamed, MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. and also to Mr. Linderfelt. I shall be glad to extend to librarians the same offer that he has made in respect of the use of matrices. Those made for the catalog of the Boston Athe- naeum are at their service. The catalog of the Boston Athenseum was printed in brevier and nonpareil type made by the Boston Type Foundry. The special letters cast for the Athenaeum were : Brevier. it a !l A ii 5 EEeEEeeee'g i i i' 6 o o 6 6 o u iiuiju n N n 1 6 s z catalog (heavy-faced} type : aaaeeei 66 ii 5 5 Nonpareil. a a U a a a ii a 6 fi 6 f <: ^, e fi e ii - ed > Rese-wed t etc. Folios (Newspaper size) .... 119 49 Quartos (Sat. Reviews, etc.) . . 128 63 Svos (magazine.fize) ..... 306 167 i2inos and less ......... 'o"S M^o 2.058 i,7S9 Numbered and lettered (gilt) .......... 3i3?6 Besides many odds and ends of work and repairs not specified. During same period attendants made minor repairs, 3,244, and covered (with paper) 2,722. Under old contract prices the binding- work would have cost ..................... $1,832 08 Attendant (i salary saved) .......... 500 oo $2,332 08 Cost of bindery ............... 1,322 44 Saving for the year ........... ... $1,00964 178 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. leather and materials at auction, finds a genius who does two days' work in one, and accepts a half day's pay for that, does part of the work by library assistants charged to another fund, makes no account of rent, heat, gas, etc , then I can understand how a large saving can be made on our lowest figures. But, under ordi- nary circumstances, I must maintain that with- out the invention of labor-saving machinery as yet unreported, binding cannot be done at these prices and pay its own bills. We shall all be under great obligations to Mr. Hooper if this bombshell thrown into our estimates re- sults in our finding a way to save even one- third as much as he reports. Mr. BARTON. My hobby is distribution. I wish to submit RESOLUTIONS ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. Resolved, That the effort to collect and re- distribute United States public documents, so successfully inaugurated by the Secretary of the Department of the Interior, through Mr. John G. Ames, superintendent of the document- room, meets our hearty approval, and that we recommend a trial of the same plan to State municipalities and institutions. Mr. CUTTER reported on behalf of the Committee on the . SCHOOL OF LIBRARY ECONOMY. Last spring, at the request of Mr. Dewey, a meeting of this committee was called at the Boston Athenaeum, to confer with him on the time when Jhe school should be opened, the character of the instruction that should be given, the fee to be charged, etc. The results of an afternoon's discussion are embodied in the "Circular of information" issued a few days ago. The committee has nothing to add to them. I will only say for myself that, on looking over the circular and seeing what op- portunities are offered to the student, and all the courses of study laid out, the lectures, the course of reading, the problems, the object- teaching, the visits to book-houses, the library- work, the seminar, I was reminded of a story that was told this year at our class-supper. I have no doubt it is an old, old story, most stories are ; but to me it was new, and it may be to some of you. At any rate, as my almost namesake says, "The bearing of this observa- tion lays in the application on it." A boy applied to one of the great dry-goods houses in Boston for employment. " What are your qualifications?" said the head of the house. " I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't chew tobacco." " What else ? " " I'm strictly honest, you could trust me with untold gold." " Well ? " " I never tell a lie. " " Well ? " "I go to church twice a Sunday; I never missed Sunday school." And soon with other virtues. " I should be very glad if you could give me something to do." "Mr. Blank," said the merchant, calling his chief clerk, " take this boy upstairs, and see if there isn't a vacancy for him among the angels. He's too good for us down here." So I feared for a moment that the young men who are exposed to all the influences of the School of Library Economy will be thought fitted for another world, and allowed to find employment there. But the young women who feel attracted by library-work, judging by those who are already in the profession, will not need the training of such a school, they are angels already. Mr. DEWEY. The committee is very anxious to shape the school so as to further the library interests of the country. I ask you to read the circular, and send me any sug- gestions. The plan there set forth is the result of much conference and correspondence with librarians, library officers, and those wishing to become librarians. It represents what seems the best plan for next year. Criticisms will be gratefully received and fairly considered. We wish the A.L.A. to feel that this school is its school, and that it is its right, privilege, and duty to help form it so as to promote the high- est good of American libraries. The meeting was adjourned. SIXTH SESSION. (JULY IO, SATURDAY MORNING.) President POOLE in the chair. The meeting was called to order at 10 : 20. Mr. R. B. POOLE read his paper on THE LIBRARIAN AND HIS CONSTITUENTS. (Seep. 31.) Mr. MERRILL called attention to photographs and description of the Billings library. Mr. MERRILL. I move that the Standing PROCEEDINGS. 179 Committee and the Secretary be the Committee of Arrangements for next year. Carried. Mr. GREEN reported for the Committee on DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. At one of the meetings of this Association, held at Lake George last autumn, the following votes were passed : Voted, That it is the opinion of the Ameri- can Library Association that a copy of every government publication, including all docu- ments printed by the departments and bureaus of the United States government, should be sent to every depository designated by law, and that, in the case of government publica- tions printed by departments and bureaus without order from Congress, a sufficient num- ber to supply one copy to every depository should be printed in addition, at the expense of Congress, and distributed to the deposi- tories. Voted, That a selection of government pub- lications of the greatest general interest should be sent to a large number of such of the smaller libraries of the country as in the opin- ion of the distributing officer would preserve them carefully and make them accessible to the public. A committee, consisting of Samuel S. Green, of Worcester, Mass., Chester W. Merrill, of Cincinnati, and R. R. Bowker, of New York, was appointed to carry out the wishes of the Association. The committee met at Lake George, and empowered its chairman to try to get Congress to pass a resolution covering the desires of the Association as expressed in the first vote, the committee being unanimous in the opinion that it was best to try to seek to obtain only one concession at a time. In accordance with the determination of the committee, the following bill was prepared after consultation with Mr. Ames, the Super- intendent of Public Documents : Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- resentatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled : That the Public Printer shall deliver to the Interior Department a sufficient number of copies of every government publication printed at the Government Printing Office (including the publications of all bureaus and offices of the government), to enable said department to supply a copy to every depository of public documents designated according to law. This bill was introduced into the United States Senate at the opening of the present session of Congress by Mr. Hoar, of Massa- chusetts, and was referred to the Committee on- Printing. The Library Assocfation has learned to ex- pect very little aid from that committee, and your representatives were, therefore, pleased to soon learn that another committee was about to give consideration to the wishes of the As- sociation. Some legislation having been requested by a member of the Senate in respect to the distri- bution of certain documents, the bill or resolu- tion introduced by him was referred to the Committee on the Library. This committee referred the]matter to Senator Hoar, as a sub-committee, and adopted a recom- mendation made by him, that our bill be reported to the Senate as a substitute for the legislation asked for. Mr. Hoar then introduced -our bill into the Senate. After he had reported it he called it up when an opportunity offered, fully convinced that it would pass the Senate at once. A brisk discussion sprang up, however, and, although it was bravely and strenuously defended and advocated by Mr. Hoar, the bill was not passed, but referred to the Committee on Printing for further consideration. There it now lies, ap- parently buried. The chairman of your committee read care- fully the discussion on our bill in the Senate, and then wrote to a friend of one of its princi- pal opponents to inquire of him the grounds of his opposition. A reply was received from the senator, and sent to the chairman of this com- mittee. A new resolution was prepared, in which scrupulous care was taken to meet all the ex- pressed objections of the opposing senator. It was worded as follows : Resolved by the Senate and House of Repre- sentatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Public Printer shall deliver to the Interior Department a suf- ficient number of copies of the Congressional Record (bound) " Statutes-at-^arge," and of every other government publication, not al- ready supplied for this purpose, printed at the i8o MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. Government Printing Office (including the publications of all bureaus and offices of the government), excepting bills, resolutions, documents printed for the special use of com- mittees of Congress, and circulars designed not for communicating information to the pub- lic, but for use within the several executive departments and offices jof the government, to enable said department to supply a copy to every depository of public documents desig- nated according to law. This joint resolution was at once sent to Mr. Hoar, who called the attention of the gentle- man whose views were embodied in it to the matter. This gentleman is an influential member of the Committee on Printing, and Mr. Hoar hoped that committee would give early attention to the resolution. It has not yet presented it to the Senate, however, and the bill slumbers in the committee as have other bills and resolutions introduced to fur- ther the interests of libraries in respect to the distribution of documents. The thanks of the Association are due to Senator Hoar for his earnest efforts to secure for us the concessions asked of Congress. Ex- Governor Long of Massachusetts had agreed to look after our bill if it reached the House, and is deserving of remembrance for his readi- ness to help us. The recommendations of the committee are that the thanks of this Association be pre- sented to Senator Hoar, and that we renew our efforts to secure the passage of the resolution now presumably under consideration by the Committee on Printing, or another resolution similar in purport. For the committee, SAMUEL S. GREEN, Chairman. Mr. MERRILL seconded the motion to adopt the resolutions, saying that he had received a cordial, even enthusiastic, letter from Senator Sherman, approving the idea. The report was accepted. Mr. GREEN moved a vote of thanks to Sen- ator Hoar: "Resolved, That the Secretary present the thanks of the Association to the Hon. Geo. F, Hoar, United States Senator from Massachu- setts, for his earnest efforts to secure from Congress legislation regarding the distribution of Public Documents, considered necessary by the members for supplying information to the committee regarding the doing of the legisla- tive and executive departments of the govern- ment." The motion was seconded by Dr. PEIRCE and carried. Dr. PEIRCE. I move that the committee be continued for the year to come. Mr- GREEN. I move that Mr. Fletcher be added to the Committee on Public Documents. Carried. Mr. SOLBERG. I went to the bottom of the laws on public documents. Many are abso- lutely contradictory. I believe that the resolu- tion calls for a law which cannot be passed ; e.g., the statutes are published under the State Department. They, as is the case with other documents in other departments, are paid for out of the department appropriations. You make no provision for expense. R. B. POOLE. There is great need of promptness in distribution. Mr. GREEN. We tried to remedy this. We put the matter in Dr. Billings' hands ; but Dr. Billings is a very busy man, and nothing really came of it. I have no doubt the whole matter needs revision ; but you cannot hope for that. You must find what von, as librarians, need most, and get it through a little at a time. Mr. SOLBERG. The question is, whether, by the " Smith" resolution, you don't get all Congress can give. Mr. GREEN. As to legality, if it has passed the lawyers in Congress it must be constitu- tional. Dr. POOLE. Mr. Sponable suggests that a printed statement be sent to various librarians, who will urge the matter with their various representatives. Mr. SPONABLE. Nearly every one has a friend in Congress, and if each will press the matter it will undoubtedly be passed. Mr. RICHARDSON read Mr. Schwartz's paper on KING AQJJILA'S LIBRARY. (Scef. 34.) Mr. DAVIS. I perceive that my paper was defective in one respect. It contained no allu- sion to any project of our Secretary's. I wish to remedy the defect now, if it can be done by a brief remark. What I have to say, however, PROCEEDINGS. 181 will be of a personal nature, and will be ad- dressed directly to the gentleman. Mr. Dewey, I admire greatly your equanimity; or, for it is more than that, your philosophical, your Chris- tian good-temper. LIBRARY OF THE U.S. AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT. Mr. RICHARDSON read part of a letter from Mr. B. P. Mann, dated July 5, and expressing regret at his inability to attend : " I wish the Association might be drawn to Washington at its next meeting. There is sad need of some library reform here, although the prospects of the erection of the building for the Library of Congress are now so bright. The whole appropriation for the purchase of peri- odicals, and for entomological, botanical, veter- inary, chemical, forestry, statistical, and other works for the library of the agricultural depart- ment this year is $1,500. The card catalog of that library is of very little use, and there is no other, old or new. The principal dependence for the finding of any works in that library is upon the memory of the librarian and such other persons as have been obliged to make a personal acquaintance with the shelves. The space allotted to books is so restricted that the ground- floor and gallery are encumbered with piles of them, and the shelves are packed." Mr. RICHARDSON read Mr. Mann's paper on SOME THOUGHTS OF BIBLIOGRAPHY IN GEN- ERAL, AND ESPECIALLY ON THE BIBLIOG- RAPHY OF THE LITERATURE OF SCIENCE, AS EXEMPLIFIED IN THE BIBLIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF "PSYCHE." Mr. FLETCHER read Miss Hewins' paper on HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF A SMALL LIBRARY. {Seep. 107.) Mr. WHITNEY. I didn't say yesterday, in the discussion on aids and guides, that in giving aid to readers a sharp distinction should be made between those who come for some worthy pur- pose and those who do not. I regard it as the duty and the highest privi- lege of a librarian to help readers; and no work brings such satisfactory returns. But the reader must come with a serious purpose, and not, as sometimes happens, ask silly questions, or such as he should look up for himself. I remember being called to meet a person who asked if I could tell him the Greek words for health and beauty. After giving them to him, with a special care as to the accents, he asked if there was any objection to "hitching them together." I said, " Certainly not; why?" He replied that he had just got up a hair-wash, and would like to use these words for its name. Another person asked me to tell him the meaning of the word chalphoratam. After running over several dictionaries of the lesser known languages, I asked him where he had seen the word. He replied, that he had never seen it, but that he woke up the night before and this word " popped into his head," and he thought it would be a good name for a tooth- powder he was about to put upon the market. He wished to make sure that the word didn't mean something disagreeable or destructive. I have grave doubts whether it pays the librarian to turn aside from his work to lookup jf quotations, as he is often asked to do. The quotation is not always correctly given, and, especially if poetry, is not always of the best. Sometimes, indeed, it is quite unworthy of any parentage. Happily the visitor can generally be quieted with the index volumes of " Notes and queries," and similar publications, or by an armful of books on quotations. Mr. GREEN. I was asked once if "Miss Sappho was a poet." MISCELLANEOUS. The Secretary called attention to various matters, asking the librarians to " spare Lin- derfelt," who, in his overflowing good-nature and kindness, was working day and night for our comfort. One more question each from the 130 in attendance might cost him his last chance for a meal or nap during our stay. It is folly to kill him off before the eight-day excursion. Mr. DEWEY read a letter of regret from Mrs. Maxwell, of the Iowa State Library; a letter from Mr. J. C. Stockbridge, of Providence, calling attention to an annotated catalogue of the Harris collection of American poetry; and the following from Mr. Wm. Cushing : " CAMBRIDGE, June 28, 1886. " At the last meeting of the Library Asso- ciation a letter was read from me in relation to l82 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. a book of ' Anonyms ' that I had been for some time preparing. It will be ready for publication in September. It will not be a work, of any general interest, but will be of great value to bibliographers, saving cata- loguers in libraries a vast amount of time. If it is. published it must be by myself, with the aid of the librarians. I think it will rise to nearly, if not quite, 12,000 titles, and make about 500 pages like my ' Initials and pseu- donyms.' I would make this proposition to those who are interested in such a work: to issue it in two parts, with paper cover, like ' Sabin,' at $5 a part. This, I know, is a high price; but the sale will be very small, and I think no publisher would undertake the work, even at that price. I should like, of course, to get something for my labor, but will bring it out if I can sell enough copies to pay the cost of publication. I wish your Association would take the subject into consideration, and make any other proposition that may be more ac- ceptable to them. I should be glad to have them commence a subscription. If they will insure me a sale of 100 copies, that number, with what I can obtain by sending out circu- lars will enable me to commence the publica- tion. Please be kind enough to bring this before your Association, and oblige "Yours truly, - "WM. GUSHING." Mr. MERRILL. I wonder if every one here couldn't take a volume of Mr. Cushing's " Anonyms." Mr. DEWEY. I suggest that Mr. Cushing's letter be referred to the publishing section of the A.L.A. Voted. Mr. WHITNEY. Our list of historical novels is out of print. I am now preparing another enlarged edition. Mr. Cushing's letter was referred to the publishing section. Mr. DEWEY read a letter from Mr. Barber, dated National Home, Wis., July 5 : "I have received your notice of the meeting of the American Library Association in Mil- waukee, on yth inst. I have always desired to attend these meetings, but lack of means has always kept me at home. But I have always said, if it ever came to the North-west, I would surely attend ; but now it is to meet in our own city, and I am unable to do so by reason of illness. "I cordially invite the Association to visit, during their session here, the Soldiers' Home, and the Soldiers' Home library, and inspect the catalogue of the books." Mr. DEWEY offered the following resolution, which was passed: That the Association has accepted with pleasure the invitation of Mr. Barber to visit the library of the National Soldiers' Home, and wishes to express its sympathy and regrets that his illness has denied us the pleasure of his company at our Milwaukee meetings. Mr. CUTTER, as Chairman, introduced the REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS. Resolved, That the thanks of the American Library Association are hereby tendered to the Hoosac Tunnel line, the West Shore line, and the Grand Trunk, for their care to make our journey to Milwaukee and home comfortable ; to the Baltimore & Ohio R.R. for proffered, though unused, favors ; to Mr. Bernard Calla- han, President of the Board of Trustees of the Chicago Public Library ; to Mayor Harrison, and to Mr. George F. Stone, Secretary of the Board of Trade, for our kind reception in that city; to our President, Dr. Poole, and to Mr. Z. S. Holbrook, for the most delightful entertain- ment at Evanston; to Mr. William Plankinton and his associates on the Milwaukee reception committee for their kind and successful efforts to render our visit pleasant; to Mr. Linderfelt for his constant and unwearied labor in our be- half; to the Germania Society for the use of its hall ; to the Public Museum of Milwaukee for the invitation to visit it; to the citizens of Mil- waukee for the variety of courtesies shown the Association, in the enjoyable drive about the city, in an agreeable reception and concert, and in many other ways ; to the Chicago, Mil- waukee, and St Paul ; the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Omaha R.R. ; the Wisconsin Central, and the Milwaukee, Lake Shore, and Western R.R. , for their exceedingly generous gift of free transportation with special cars on an eight days' excursion; and to these four railways and the Chicago & North-western R.R. for reducing their rates on the return of members to their homes; to the press of Mil- waukee for its very complete reports of the PROCEEDINGS. 183 proceedings of the Association, and to our friends at Madison and St. Paul for the kind invitations to their cities, by which we are about to profit. The report was adopted and the resolutions passed by a rising vote. SPELLING. Mr. MERRILL. I move that the Secretary be permitted to print the reports in the Eng- lish language. Dr. POOLE. Do you make this seriously? Mr. DEWEY. The rule used to be that a man might spell in his paper as he pleased ; but, for the sake of uniformity, we adopted in the re- ports the usual Library journal spelling. Dr. POOLE. The trouble is that I have never been able to get my papers printed as I wanted. I wanted the old-fashioned way, e.g., one / in traveler, and one p in worshiper, er in theater and center, s in defense, offense, and the like. Mr. DEWEY. Every one of the words quoted by President Poole are the forms that we spell- ing reformers advocate. It is the compositor who puts in the objectionable letters, following the style of his office. I will endeavor to keep them out hereafter. Some years ago there was a discussion of this matter of spelling, and we agreed that neither side had any right to dictate how the other should spell. An act of toleration was therefore tacitly passed. If any one wishes to spell program as program-my we let him ; but he must not try to make others adopt forms that all our leading scholars now agree are as repugnant to scholarship as to hard common- sense. Mr. SOLBERG. Mr. Poore's Catalogue of Government Publications can be obtained by sending $1.92 by money order payable to Mr. Codet Taylor, chief clerk Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. Dr. POOLE. All of you ought to have it. Mr. DEWEY mentioned various devices, and moved as a BY-LAW : The name of any member who has not paid the annual fee for three years shall be dropt from the list of members. Carried. Mr. DEWEY. It has been suggested that no officer be reflected more than once. I propose, also, the following AMENDMENT TO CONST., ART. 4, SECT. I. SECT. i. The Association shall annually elect, by written ballot, a President and an Ex- ecutive Board, four members beside the Presi- dent, who shall choose from the Association Vice-Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, Fi- nance and Cooperation Committees of three each, and any other needed officers or standing committees. BINDING MAGAZINES. Mr. CRUNDEN. I put a question into the question-box which I should like answered. Mr. DEWEY read the questions : How many copies of magazines are bound by libraries? (a) Popular magazines, Harper, Century, etc. (V) Other magazines. Where there is only one copy of magazine bound, is it allowed to circulate? Dr. POOLE. We bind all the copies we have. We put one of them into our regular set, and circulate the rest. Where we have only one copy it is not allowed to circulate. Mr. MERRILL. We allow the single copy to circulate on permission of the librarian. Mr. PEOPLES. I let every copy go out. Mr. CUTTER moved adjournment. The meeting was adjourned. 1 84 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. APPENDIX i. THE PUBLISHING SECTION. PROCEEDINGS. MILWAUKEE, July 10, 1886. A meeting of members of the American Li- brary Association was held this day to listen to a report, from the Committee on Cooperation in Cataloguing, on a plan for the organization of a section of the Association for the purpose of securing the preparation and printing of co- operative indices, catalogues, and bibliograph- ical guides. Justin Winsor was appointed Chairman, and James L. Whitney, Secretary. Mr. William I. Fletcher presented the draft prepared by the committee of a constitution for the proposed organization. After discussion this constitution was adopted. CONSTITUTION OF THE A.L.A. PUBLISHING SECTION. ARTICLE I. NAME. This organization shall be called the Ameri- can Library Association Publishing Section. ARTICLE 2. OBJECT. Its object shall be to secure the preparation and publication of such catalogs, indexes, and other bibliographical helps as may best be pro- duced by cooperation. ARTICLE 3. MEMBERS. Any library, institution, or individual elected by the Executive Board may become a member on payment of a fee of $10 for each calendar year. Membership shall continue till resigned by the holder, or withdrawn by the Board. ARTICLE 4. OFFICERS. SECTION i. The officers of this section shall consist of a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and an Executive Board of five members, of whom the Secretary shall be one. The Chair- man of the Executive Board shall be regarded as the manager of the section, subject to the ap- proval of the entire Board. SECT. 2. These officers shall be chosen at the regular meetings of the section in connec- tion with the annual meetings of the American Library Association, and shall hold office until their successors are appointed. SECT. 3. The Secretary shall keep a faithful record of all meetings of the section and of the Executive Board ; shall give due notice of such meetings, and of any election or other business requiring the personal attention of any member- and shall have charge of the books, papers, and correspondence. SECT. 4. The Treasurer shall keep a full and accurate record of all receipts and disburse- ments, and of the membership of the section ; and shall pay no money without the written order of a majority of the Executive Board, and shall make an annual report. SECT. 5. The Executive Board shall be charged with the direction and control of the work of the section, and shall endeavor, in every way in their power, to further its objects. They shall make a full report in writing at each regular meeting of the section, and this report, with the other proceedings of the section, shall be submitted to the American Library Associa- tion for publication with its proceedings. ARTICLE 5. AMENDMENTS. This constitution may be amended by a three-fourths vote of those present at any regu- lar meeting of the section, provided that the proposed amendments shall have been specifi- cally set forth in the call for such meeting. It was voted that the name of the section be The A.L.A. Publishing Section. It was voted that a provisional membership for the remainder of the current year be consti- tuted by the payment of one dollar. A nominating committee was appointed to present a list of officers. On their nomination the following were chosen : President : James L. Whitney. APPENDIX. 185 Treasurer: W. C. Lane. Executive Board : W. I. Fletcher, Melvil Dewey, R. R. Bowker, C. A. Cutter, S. S. Green, Secretary. The meeting then adjourned. Attest : JAMES L. WHITNEY, Secretary. APPENDIX 2. THE A.L.A. EXCURSION, JULY 12-20, 1886. BY THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY. The features of an A.L.A. meeting which do not find a place in the official proceedings are not, therefore, the least valuable. The exchange of experiences and views in private conversa- tion, for which the social excursions afford op- portunity, forms a sort of free dispensary for bibliothecal advice, of which the enterprising librarian is not slow to avail himself. 'A register of private conversations and ob- servations held and made during the A.L.A. excursion of 1886 would form as large, and in- teresting a volume as the Proceedings of the formal meetings. But, even excluding this unrecorded, and, of course, untold wealth of utilitarian comfort, the excursion of 1886 was as profitable as it was extended and varied. The gathering of librarians was at Chicago, Tuesday, July the 6th, the head-quarters being at the Clifton House. The Eastern librarians, who, coming in two parties, from Boston and New York, met at Rot- terdam Junction, and passed a pleasant Sunday together at Niagara Falls, after a hot and dusty day's journey, arrived at Chicago late Monday evening, to spend a warm night and awake to a hot day. There was an evident inflection of enjoyment as the Bostonian read aloud from the morning papers, "Temperature, Boston, 64; Chicago, 85 ; " and the Chicagoan, after futile hints of lake breezes and cool nights, must fain fall back on the statement that Chicago was a " big city, and everything she furnished was a big thing even heat." After breakfast President Poole took the party in hand, and proceeded to show that our six- foot President was not the only big thing in Chicago. Big buildings, big banks, the big Board of Trade, the big City Hall, and the big, but still too little, new quarters of the Public Library, were passed in review ; and all these, together with the politeness of Secretary Stone of the Board of Trade, and Mayor Harrison, contributed to raise Chicago in the estimation of all, especially of inexperienced Easterners unused to "big things." At noon the librarians were received at the rooms of the Board of Education. An address of welcome by the President of the Library Board was followed by a brief address from the Mayor, whose remarks, and especialjy his as- surance of interest in the Public Library, were thoroughly appreciated by the visitors, even if Bostonians did look a little incredulous over the prophecy that Chicago was to be the Athens of America, rivalling even Athens of old. After this a number of brief speeches were made by members of the Association and others. The afternoon was spent as cheerfully as the weather permitted and individual ingenuity was able to devise, and in the evening the party was taken by special car to Evanston, where its members were very delightfully entertained at the houses of President Poole and his son-in-law, Mr. Holbrooke, returning to Chicago at some unrecorded time before midnight. At 8 o'clock, Wednesday morning, the party left Chicago for Milwaukee, with confused no- tions of heat, bigness, and social entertain- ment, to be classified and labelled during the three hours' leisure of railroad riding. There was a change in weather at the same time with the change in place, and Milwaukee was found to be very comfortable. The head-quarters here were at the Plankinton House, which proved itself as good a hotel as it has been our good fortune to select. 1 86 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. The regular meetings of the Association were held at the Public Library building, and began at 3 o'clock, on Wednesday afternoon, with brief and felicitous addresses of welcome by Mayor Wallber and Gen. Hobart, and an appropriate response by President Poole. The hard work done during six sessions, from Wednesday to Saturday noon, is recorded in the "Proceedings." More than one hundred and thirty members were in attendance, first and last. Between the working sessions time was found for seeing the city, and a very home-like city it was seen to be. The hospitality shown was, in respect of quality and quantity, generous in the extreme. On Thursday afternoon the members of the As- sociation were taken in carriages about the city, out to the beautifully situated Soldiers' Home, and back to the city by the five-mile drive. At the end of the hot and dusty drive a visit was made to the Empire brewery, where, after seeing the establishment from bottom to top and top to bottom, viewing the city from the roof, seeing its fire-brigade put a stream of water on to the top of the building within a minute and a half after the alarm was sounded, and admiring with genuine enthusiasm the $250,000 ice-making apparatus the members sampled the product and entered the carriages again. The visit gave occasion to one of the members to remark that at Lake George we had been called " liberians," and here we might be called " zweibierians." During the drive the Mayor made three ex- ceedingly interesting and satisfactory exhibitions of the fire and police departments, bringing to his side by telephone signal the police patrol- wagons and the engines and hook-and-ladder companies in time which seemed almost in- credibly brief. At the general alarm, when en- gines came from all directions with a crowd sure of a big fire, a young man, seeing it was a " show" alarm, remarked to Prof. Davis, " Yer having lots of fun, aint yer? Be ye all alder- mans ? " The ride concluded with a glimpse of the east side of the city, along the Whitefish Bay drive, and back to the Plahkinton House. Friday evening the party attended a " Recep- tion and Summer-night Festival," held at Schlitz Park, and the admirable Bach-Luening concert. At the close of the Saturday-morning session the party broke up, some going to Waukesha and Oconomowoc, and other resorts, to spend the Sunday ; others remaining at Milwaukee for the rest, and a few returning to their homes, but all having a lively sense of satisfaction in the successful meeting, with its accessories, and in the city itself. Monday morning the party, to the number of nearly ninety, reunited for an eight-day trip over the Chicago, Milwaukee, & St. Paul ; the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis, & Omaha; the Wisconsin Central, and the Milwaukee, West Shore, and Western railways, most generously given by these railroads. Some familiar faces were missing and much missed, but it was a good company. The first place visited was Madison. The program of the reception by the State Historical Society of Wisconsin and by the public libraries was: II A.M., carriages to capitol grounds, Washburn Observatory, and the University Drive; 2 P.M., the guests will be received by the governor in the Executive chamber; 2 to 2.45, visit to the Historical Li- brary, State Library, City Library, and Capi- tol ; 3 to 5, excursion on steamer around Lake Mendota. Committee of Arrangements : Prof. J. C. Freeman, W. A. P. Morris, Esq., J. R. Berryman, Esq., Major W. F. Oakley, F. K. Conover, Esq. Special Committee of Recep- tion : His Excellency Governor Rusk, His Honor Mayor Keyes, Gen. Lucius Fairchild, Gen. David Atwood, Adjt. Gen. C. P. Chap- man, Judge J. B. Cassoday, Judge H. S. Orton, Dr. Jos. Hobbins, Prof. W. F. Allen, Prof. J. B. Parkinson. Prof. W. H. Rosenstengel, Prof. A. D. Conover, Hon. B. J. Stevens, Hon. Geo. Raymer, Mr. Geo. L. Storer, Mr. R. G. Thwaites. Here a committee of the citizens met the librarians with carriages, and the party was driven about the beautiful city, with its delight- ful lake views at every street and turn, to the University grounds, library, and observatory, and back to the hotel. After dinner the capi- tol, with its historical library and portrait gal- lery, was visited. The visitors were received by Governor Rusk, and by Mayor Keyes of Madison, and at three o'clock were enter- tained with a steamboat excursion on the lake. This was followed by a visit to the pub- lic library.. Some of the party will not forget that, in the thoroughness of hospitality, even the drug-stores would not accept payment for soda-water; as to the beer saloons deponent APPENDIX. 187 saith not. After supper the party took train for Kilbourn City, where the members spent the night at the Finch House, the " Institute," and the various " cottages." Eight o'clock next morning saw all on board the "Dell Queen "for the trip up the Dells, and all available row-boats let, some of them twice over by the too sharp western gamins, for the return trip. " A most enjoyable day " was the universal verdict. The high, rough walls of water-worn sandstone on either side, and gulches and dells, caves and rocks, fur- nished an unending delight of continually fresh and varying scenery. An admirable brook-trout dinner at Witches' Gulch, for which the party had to thank the prevision of its indefatigable leader, Dr. Lind- erfelt, afforded a good occasion for giving a hearty vote of appreciation and thanks to Dr. L. for "unremitting attention to our comfort during the excursion." After dinner an excel- lent group-picture of the party was taken by H. H. Bennett, the photographer of the Dells. 1 After dinner many visited Stand Rock. The party was about equally divided between those who wouldn't have missed it for anything, and those who were " so glad" they didn't go. One after another the row-boats floated down the river, visiting the various caves and gulches, and arriving at about the same time with the steamer. In the evening the lower Dells were visited by moonlight in the steamboat, or by those who wished to see the caves in row-boats. Even the most unimpressionable felt the at- mosphere of romance as, sailing by moonlight, through the beautiful scenery, past the "deserted village," and weird rocks and caves, the singers grouped themselves and added music to the charm. The next morning the party was off on its special train for St. Paul, stopping at La Crosse for dinner, which proved excellent, and a slight glimpse of the city. The mayor, the well- known "White Beaver," expressed regret that he had not known of the coming of the party, that he might have made arrangements to show the beauties of this growing city. La Crosse will be remembered by the librarians as the only city which offered as one of its chief attrac- tions its fine graveyard. 1 Copies may be obtained, at sixty cents each, by ad- dressing II. H. Heiiuutt, Kilbourn City, Wis. The afternoon ride up the bank of the Mis- sissippi was a constant panorama of beautiful scenes, such scenes as linger in the memory and recur. St. Paul was reached before supper. The party was too big a problem for the Windsor House, and a portion drifted over to the Ryan. The next morning (Thursday) a committee of citizens provided carriages for a drive about the city, and were rewarded by the admiration expressed for the surprising number of beauti- ful residences. At noon the party started for Minneapolis, stopping at Fort Snelling, where the garrison band (colored) entertained us with excellent music, and the librarian showed his well-kept library with genuine enthusiasm. Thence our train went on and stopped for an out-of-door dinner at Minnehaha Falls. At Minneapolis the party was again enter- tained with a drive, during which the numerous handsome residences were admired, and a visit was made to the Pillsbury Flour Mills, said to be the largest in the world. Ex-Governor Pills- bury, with a staff of assistants, escorted the party in small groups, explaining the various ma- chines and processes. The day closed with an A.L.A. supper at the famous West Hotel, of which the city is justly proud. Returning to St. Paul the party, classified according to a new natural method into three divisions, took its three private Pullman sleep- ers for Ashland, arriving early next morning at the Chequamegon Hotel. At St. Paul the party was reduced by the re- turn home of Dr. Peirce, Mr. and Mrs. Foster, Hagar, and Andrus, Messrs. Merrill and Peck. The day was spent in an excursion to the Apostle Islands. At La Pointe, or Madeleine, so full of interest for the history of the North- west, the old church with the painting which may have been brought over by Marquette, was visited; the graves of the man who was "ac- cidentally shot as a mark of affection by his brother," and the man who was killed by a "stroke of thunder," sought out, a slight gift deposited in the offertory, and the return to the boat made. Stopping at Bayfield for dinner, some of the party were tempted to go to the observatory, said to be three-quarters of a mile distant. It proved to be a " pinery mile." Dinner was followed by a most delightful 1 88 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. excursion in and out among the islands. The return passage was quite rough. Some enjoyed this more, some less. Ashland is a "booming" place. Two or three years ago it had only a couple of thousand people, now there are five times as many. At this point the impromptu and volunteer " palaeographic section" of the A.L.A. re- ported the following inscriptions : 1. Bessemer store: "IN GOD WE TRUST ALL OTHERS CASH." 2. Bessemer fruit store : " GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES, BUT GOD HELP THE MAN FOUND HELPING HIMSELF HERE." 3. Roadside : "SPALDING'S PREPAIRED GLUE." 4. Ashland Theatre poster: "MISS TILLY RUSSELL, WHO HAS APPEARED IN ALL THE COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD, AND HAS BEEN PRONOUNCED THE GREATEST OF THEM ALL." 5. Poster at.the other theatre : "INSPECTION INVITED AND COMPETION DEFIED." 6. Ashland Theatre poster : " ADMISSION 15, 25 CENTS, INCLUDING REFRESHMENTS AT THE BAR." 7. Poster at the other theatre: "NO FREE DRINKS." On Saturday a visit was made to the Colby iron mine, on the Gogebic range, and libra- rians saw miners shovelling out dirt, 65% of which was iron, and contractors doing nothing at a thousand dollars a day, and wouldn't have exchanged places for long with either. Every one was glad to have Sunday come. The day was variously spent in church-going, rowing, and walking or sleeping, and all the possible variations and combinations of these. Church-goers had the choice of Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, Protestant Episcopal, the tent of the State Y.M.C.A., and the Chippewa Indian service twelve miles away. Ten or a dozen chose the Chippewa, presumably to show what linguists librarians are. Most of the party spent the evening as they had the evening previous, singing in the par- lors of the Chequamegon, where it was shown that we had an available A.L.A. choir of nearly forty voices. Monday morning the few who had not seen the buzz-saw which sliced up five hundred big logs a day, or the ore dock, or the $500,000 ( ?) dock, performed these various duties, and all gathered at the train. Varying the classifica- tion, the members were distributed into two classes, those who were to stop at Milwaukee and those who were not. All were in admirable spirits, and the young man who at the Dells pronounced it " the most solemn picnic " he had ever attended must have revised his judgment, or else he is a very gay young man. The members gathered in one of the cars and spent the evening in sing- ing and merriment. At a late hour the party broke up, ten stopping at Oshkosh, on their way to Green Lake for a Post-Conference rest, and the remainder retiring, to wake, some at Milwaukee and some at Chicago. To the railroads we were laid under great obligations. Our private baggage-car was sent everywhere with us, always open for use. Two hammocks, swung by local enterprise, gave an unusually comfortable air. Special coaches everywhere, and a special train wherever more convenient, enabled us to stop and sample min- eral springs, pick berries, etc., whenever we so elected. The railroad officials vied with each other in making us comfortable and happy. The western meeting of 1886 was a decided s success, socially as well as officially, and the thanks of the members were heartily accorded to Mr. Wm. Plankinton, for planning, and to Dr. Linderfelt for managing, the most delight- ful excursion. PERSONS PRESENT. 189 PERSONS PRESENT AT MILWAUKEE MEETINGS. A considerable number of those present failed to register, and the Secretary has supplied a part of the omissions. ABBREVIATIONS. F., Free; L., Library; Ln., Librarian; P., Public. The x before the name indicates participation in the Post-Conference Excursion, July 12-20, 1886. x Allan, Miss Jessie, P.Ln., Omaha, Neb. xAllan, Mrs. J. T., Omaha, Neb. xAndruss, A. A., care of Apprentices' L., New York. xAndruss, Mrs. A. A., care of Apprentices' L,., New York, x Baker, G: Hall, Reference Ln., Columbia College, New York. Balis, Miss E. M., P.L., Milwaukee, x Barton, E. M., Ln. Am. Antiq. Soc., Worces- ter, Mass. Berry, S. H., Ln. Y.M.C.A., Brooklyn, N.Y. xBerryman, J: R., State Ln., Madison, Wis. Best, Miss Louise L., P.Ln., Janesville, Wis. xBiscoe, Walter S., Catalog. Ln., Columbia College, New York. Brett, W. H., P.Ln., Cleveland, O. Brice, L. R., P.L., Milwaukee, x Brooks, Mrs. M. S., Ln. Madison (Ind.) L. Assoc. Buck, J. S., Milwaukee. Burnell, Miss Kittie, Curator Official Card Catalog., P.L., Boston. xCarr, H: J., P.Ln., Grand Rapids, Mich. xCarr, Mrs. Edith Wallbridge, Grand Rapids, Mich. Clement, Prof. Ernest W., Wayland Acad., Beaver Dam, Wis. Coe, Miss Ellen M., Ln. F. Circulating L., New York. Cooke, H. H., McClurg & Co., Chicago, 111. Crafts, Miss Lettie M., ist Asst. Ln. Univ. of Minneapolis, Minn. xCrunden, F: M., P.Ln., St. Louis, Mo. x Cutler, Miss Mary S., Cataloger, Columbia College, New York. x Cutler, Miss Louisa S., Florence, Mass, x Cutter, C: A., Ln. Boston Athenaeum, x Daniels, Prof. Joseph L., Ln. Olivet College, Mich. x Daniels, Wm. B., Olivet, Mich. xDavidson, II. E., Library Bureau, 32 Hawley Street, Boston. Davis, Prof. R. C., Ln. Univ. of Mich., Ann Arbor. xDewey, Melvil, Chief Ln., Columbia College, New York. xDew-ey, Mrs. Annie 48 West 59th Street, New York, Ex-Ln. Wellesley College, Mass. xDonahoe, J. F., Trustee P. L., Paola, Kansas. Dullea, M. J., Trustee P.L., Milwaukee. Durrie, Daniel S., Ln. State Historical Soc., Madison, Wis. xEmig, G: C., Asst., P.L., Cincinnati, O. xFifield, Albert B., Principal P. School, New Haven, Conn. xFifield, Mrs. Annie C., New Haven, Conn. Fletcher, W: I., Ln. Amherst College, Mass. xFoster, W:E., P.Ln., Providence, R.I. x Foster, Mrs. W: E., Providence, R.I. Gale, Miss Ellen, P.Ln., Rock Island, 111. xGalliner, Mrs. H. R., Ln. Bloomington L. Assoc., 111. Gardner, J. Leslie, P.L., Milwaukee. Ginn, F:B., of Ginn & Co., Publishers, Chi- cago. x Green, S: S., Free P.Ln., Worcester, Mass. x Green, Mrs. James, Worcester, Mass. Greenbank, Miss Daisy, Asst. P.Ln., Madi- son, Wis. xHagar, Miss Sarah C., Ln. Fletcher F.L., Burlington, Vt. x Hagar, Miss Mary L., Burlington, Vt. x Hager, Albert D., Ln. Historical Soc., Chi- cago. x Hager, Mrs. Rose F., Asst. Ln., Historical Soc., Chicago. xHild, F: H., Asst. P.L., Chicago. x Hitchcock, Miss A. C., Springfield, Mass. Hobart, Gen. Harrison C., Pres. P.L. Trus- tees, Milwaukee. x Hooper, W. De M., P.Ln., Indianapolis, Ind. x Hooper, Mrs. W. De M., Indianapolis, Ind. Jackson, F:, St. Paul, Minn., Ex-Supt. New- ton (Mass.) F.L. 190 MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. Jermain, Mrs. Fanny D., P.Ln., Toledo, O. Johnson, E. M., Sec. P.L., Minneapolis, Wis. xjudd, E: P., Bookseller, New Haven, Conn. xjudd, Miss Sarah H., New Haven, Conn. Judd, Reginald E. , New Haven, Conn. xKelso, Miss Tessa L., Cor. Illus. JVeivs, Cin- cinnati. Klephart, Horace, Asst. Yale College Lib. Lagrand, J :, Trustee P.L., Milwaukee. xLane, W: C., Asst. in charge of catalog, Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass. Langland, James, The Sentinel, Milwaukee. Larned, J. N., Ln. Buffalo L., N.Y. xLinderfelt, K. A., P.Ln., Milwaukee. xLinderfelt, Mrs. M. E., Milwaukee. Linfield, G. F., Prin. Wayland Acad., Beaver Dam, Wis. x Little, G:T., Ln. Bowdoin College, Bruns- wick, Me. McRae, Hamilton S., Supt. Schools, Marion, Ind. Matson, Oliver, Asst. Ln., De Pauw Univ., Greencastle, Ind. xMerrill, Chester W., P.Ln., Cincinnati. Milbrath, C. W., Trustee P.L., Milwaukee. x Miller, Miss Dorcas C., P.Ln., Easthamp- ton, Mass. Miner, Mrs. A. B., P. School Ln., Muskegon, Mich. xMurchison, Miss A. M., Teacher, 451 Wash- ington Bd., Chicago. x Nolan, E:J., Ln. Acad. Nat. Sciences, Phil- adelphia. North, Mrs. Ada E., Ln. Iowa State Univ., Iowa City. x Oakley, Miss Minnie M. , P. Ln. , Madison, Wis. xPage, Miss Nellie F., Cataloger, Columbia College L., New York. Patten, F. C., Asst. Ln., Ripon College, Ripon, Wis. Patton, Normand S., Architect, Chicago. x Peck, A. L., Ln. Levi Parsons L., Glovers- ville, N.Y. xPeirce, Rev. Bradford K., D.D., Supt. Newton F.L., Mass. x Peoples, W: T., Ln. Mercantile L., New York. Poole, Reuben B., Ln. Y.M.C.A., New York. xPoole, W:F., LL.D., P.Ln., Chicago. x Poole, Miss Mary, Evanston, 111. Putnam, Herbert, Ln. Athenaeum, Minneapo- lis, Minn. x Richardson, Rv. Ernest C., Ln. Hartford Theol. Sem. Rodriguez, MissJ. A., P.L., Milwaukee. Ropes, Rev. W: L., Ln. Theol. Sem., Ando- ver, Mass. Ropes, James Hardy, Andover, Mass. Schmidt, Miss Willy, P.L., Milwaukee. Schwartz, Jacob, Ln. Apprentices' L., New York. Schwartz, Mrs. Jacob, New York. xSelby, Miss Emily H., Asst. State Ln., Springfield, 111. x Seward, Mrs. H. L., Omaha, Neb. xSeward, Horatio L., Jr., Omaha, Neb. x Sherwood, Miss K. W., Asst. P.L., Cincinnati. Smith, Mrs. Hubbard M., New Haven, Conn. Smith, Mrs. Sarah A., New Haven, Conn. Solberg, Thorvald, Asst., L. of Congress, Washington, D.C. xSponable, J. W., Paola, Kansas. Stechert, Gustav E., Foreign Bookseller, 766 Broadway, New York. x Stevens, Miss Lucy, Asst. State Ln., Des Moines, la. x Sweetser, Miss Abbie L., Greek dept., Mt. Holyoke Sem., So. Hadley, Mass. Titsworth, Rev. A. J., Plymouth Church, Mil- waukee. xTodd, Prof. D: P., College Observatory, Amherst, Mass. xTodd, Mrs. Mabel Loomis, Amherst, Mass. Tuttle, Miss Elizabeth, Asst. Ln. Long Island Hist. Soc. L., Brooklyn. xUtley, H. M., P.Ln., Detroit, Mich. xVan Name, Addison, Ln. Yale College, New Haven, Conn. xVan Name, Willard Gibbs, New Haven, Conn. xVan Zandt, Miss Margaret, Accession dept., Columbia College L., New York. Wallber, Hon. Emil, Mayor of Milwaukee. x West, Miss Theresa H., Deputy P.Ln., Mil- waukee. West, H. H., Bookseller, Milwaukee. White, Miss H. B., P.L., Milwaukee. Whiting, Mrs. Chas. G., Springfield, Mass. x Whitney, Albert W., Beloit, Wis. x Whitney, Prof. Henry M., Beloit College, Wis. x Whitney, James L., Asst. P. Ln., Boston. Wing, J. N., of C: Scribner's Sons, Publishers, New York. Wing, Mrs. J. N., New York. xWinsor, Justin, Ln. Harvard Univ., Cam- bridge. PERSONS PRESENT. 191 Woodruff, E. H., Cornell Univ. L., Ithaca, N.Y. Woodward, Robert C., P.Ln., Springfield, O. Of the above 131 in attendance, 47 were chief librarians, 32 assistant librarians and catalog- ers, 8 trustees or other officers, 5 publishers or booksellers, and 39 ex-librarians and wives or friends of librarians. The attendance by States was as follows : Wisconsin, New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Connecticut, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Nebraska, Minnesota, Total, 28 Iowa, 22 Kansas, 20 Rhode Island, 12 Vermont, 10 Maine, 7 Missouri, 7 New Jersey, 5 Pennsylvania, 4 Dist. of Columbia, i 3 On A.L.A. Post-Conference Excursion, July 12-20, '86, in addition to those marked x on preceding list. Bates, Walter G., Fellow of Columbia College, New York. Boutelle, L. H., Evanston, 111. Boutelle, Mrs. L. H., Evanston, 111. Frackelton, Mrs. S. S., Milwaukee. Henderson, Mrs. A. C., Pi 4 ttsburg, Pa. Hickey, Miss Julia, Pittsburg, Pa. Kendrick, C. M., St. Louis. Linderfelt, Anna Margaret, Milwaukee. McCullough, Miss Minnie, Supt. P. Kinder- gartens. Mason, E. G., Chicago. Mason, H. E., Chicago. Merrill, Bessie, Cincinnati. Merrill, Julia, Cincinnati. Peet, Rev. Stephen D., Ed. Am. Antiquarian, Clinton, Wis. Plankinton, W :, Trustee P.L., and Chairman Reception Com., Milwaukee, Wis. Plankinton, Mrs. W: , Milwaukee. Poole, Clarence C., Evanston, 111. Poole, Mrs. W: F :, Evanstonjll. Poole, W: F:, jr., Evanston, 111. Richardson, Rev. E. G., Rector St. James Church, Milwaukee. Stayner, Miss Cornelia T., Asst. Milwaukee School of Music. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. SUPPLEMENTARY LIST OF MEMBERS Who have joined or have changed their address since the issue of the last list (Library journal, 10:351-354; and Pro- ceedings, 1885). LIFE MEMBERS. Pawtucket Free Pub. Library, Pawtucket, R.I. (Minerva A. Sanders, Librarian.) Arthur Brown, Ln. U.S. Naval Academy, An- napolis. ANNUAL MEMBERS. (The Yearly Membership Fee is $2.) Miss Jesse Allan, Ln. Pub. Library, Omaha, Neb. Mrs. J. T. Allan, Omaha, Neb. E. C. Arnold, Ln. P.L., Taunton, Mass. A. A. Andruss, New York City. Mrs. A. A. Andruss, New York City. S. H. Berry, Ln. Brooklyn Y.M.C.A., Brook- lyn, N.Y. John R. Berryman, Ln. Wis. State Library, Madison, Wis. L. H. Boutelle, Trustee Evanston Pub. Lib., Evanston, 111. M. S. Brooks, Ln. Madison, Ind., L. Assoc. Miss Kittie Burnell, Boston Pub. Lib. Mrs. Edith W. Carr, Grand Rapids, Mich. H. H. Cook, of McClurg & Co., Chicago, 111. Miss Lettie M. Crafts, Asst. Ln. Minn. State Univ. Lib., Minneapolis, Minn. Paul D. Cravath, Columbia Coll. Law School, N.Y. Miss Louisa S. Cutler, Florence, Mass. Prof. Joseph Leonard Daniels, Ln. Olivet College, Olivet, Mich. Wm. B. Daniels, Olivet, Mich. J. F. Donahoe, Trustee Pub. Lib., Paola, Kansas. Charles R. Dudley, Ln. Mercantile Lib., Den-. ver, Col. Daniel Steele Durrie, Ln. State Hist. Soc., Madison, Wis. George C. Emig, Asst. Cincinnati Pub. Lib., Cincinnati, Ohio. Therese S. Faville, Asst. Ln. Wis. State Lib., Madison, Wis. Albert B. Fifield, Principal P. School, New Haven, Conn. Mrs. Annie C. Fifield, New Haven, Conn. Mrs. William E. Foster, Providence, R.I. Miss Ellen Gale, Ln. Pub. Lib., Rock Island, 111. Miss Mary Hagar, Burlington, Vt. Albert D. Hager, Ln. Chicago Hist. Soc., Chicago, 111. Mrs. Rose F. Hager, Chicago, Asst. Ln. Chi- cago Historical Soc. Frederick H. Hild, Asst. Chicago Pub. Lib., Chicago, 111. Miss A. C. Hitchcock, 149 Chestnut St., Springfield, Mass. L. S. Holbrook, 166 State St., Chicago, 111. Daniel Holman, Ln. Pub. Lib., Bangor, Me. W. DeM. Hooper, Ln. Indianapolis Pub. Lib., Indianapolis, Ind. E. M. Johnson, Sec. Pub. Lib., Minneapolis, Minn. Edward P. Judd, Bookseller, New Haven, Conn. Alice C. Judd, New Haven, Conn. Reginald E.Judd, New Haven, Conn. Sarah H. Judd, New Haven, Conn. Miss Tessa L. Kelso, Cincinnati, Ohio. C: M. Kendrick, St. Louis, Mo. Horace Klephart, Asst. Yale College Lib., New Haven, Conn. Leonard Scott Pub. Co., Philadelphia. Edward G. Mason, Chicago Hist. Soc., 40 Dearborn St., Chicago. Oliver Matson, Asst. Ln. De Pauw Univ., Greencastle, Ind. Mrs. A. B. Miner, Ln. Pub. School Lib., Mus- kegon, Mich. J. S. Morse, Columbia Coll. Lib., N.Y. Miss A. C. Moses, Ln. Mobile, Ala., Library. Mutual Library, 1104 Walnut St., Phila. SUPPLEMENTARY LIST OF MEMBERS. Miss Minnie M. Oakley, Ln. Pub. Library, Madison, Wis. Hon. Wm. J. Onahan, Ex-Pres. Pub. Library, Chicago, 111. Paterson, N.J., Free Pub. Library, Frank P. Hill, Librarian. F. C. Patten, Asst. Lib. Ripon, Wis., College. Normand S. Patton, Architect, Chicago, 111. Rev. Dr. S. D. Peet, Clinton, Wis. C. Clarence Poole, 95 Fifth ave., Chicago, 111. Charles A. Post, Columbia College, N.Y. Herbert Putnam, Ln. Athenaeum, Minneapo- lis, Minn. Miss A. M. Richardson, Chicago. James Hardy Ropes, Andover, Mass. Miss Emily H. Selby, Asst. Ln. Illinois State Lib., Springfield, 111. Mrs. H. L. Seward, Omaha, Neb. Horatio L. Seward, jr., Omaha, Neb. Mrs. Jacob Schwartz, New York City. Miss Kate W. Sherwood, Asst. Cincinnati Public Library. Daniel L. Shorey, Portland Block, Chicago, 111. Mrs. Sarah A. Smith, New Haven, Conn. Thorvald Solberg, Asst. Ln. Library of Con- gress, Anacostia, D.C. J. W. Sponable, Prest. Miami Co. Nat. Bank, Paola, Kan. Miss Abbie L. Sweetser, Worcester, Mass. S. F. Taylor, Columbia College Library, N.Y. Prof. David P. Todd, Amherst College, Am- herst, Mass. Mrs. Mabel Loomis Todd, Amherst, Mass. Miss Elizabeth Tuttle, Asst. Ln., L. I. Hist. Soc. John C. Van Dyke, Ln. Gardner A. Sage Library, Theol. Sem. Reformed Ch. in America, New Brunswick, N.J. Willard Gibbs Van Name, New Haven, Conn. Miss Hattie A. Walker, Ln. Olivet Library, 129 E. loth St., N.Y. Mrs. Chas. G. Whiting, Springfield, Mass. Albert W. Whitney, Beloit, Wis. Prof. Henry Mitchell Whitney, Beloit, Wis. J. N. Wing, N.Y City. Mrs. J. N. Wing, N.Y. City. E. H. Woodruff, Cornell Univ. Library, Ithaca, N.Y. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOI8-URBANA