Papers and Proceedings of the Thirty-Fourth Annual Meeting of the American Library Association
by unknown · English · Gutenberg #45756 · 1,262,187 chars · public domain (US)
The Project Gutenberg eBook of Papers and Proceedings of the Thirty-Fourth Annual Meeting of the American Library Association
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms
of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online
at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States,
you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located
before using this eBook.
Title: Papers and Proceedings of the Thirty-Fourth Annual Meeting of the American Library Association
Editor: American Library Association. General Meeting
Release date: May 25, 2014 [eBook #45756]
Most recently updated: October 24, 2024
Language: English
Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/45756
Credits: Produced by Richard Tonsing, Adrian Mastronardi and the
Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
(This file was produced from images generously made
available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PAPERS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRTY-FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION ***
PAPERS AND PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
THIRTY-FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING
OF THE
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
HELD AT
OTTAWA, CANADA
JUNE 26-JULY 2, 1912
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION 78 E. WASHINGTON STREET CHICAGO, ILL. 1912
CONTENTS
General sessions: PAGE
Addresses of welcome and response 57
Address Herbert Putnam 59
President's address: The public library: a
leaven'd and prepared choice Mrs. H. L. Elmendorf 67
Publicity for the sake of information: The
public's point of view W. H. Hatton 72
Secretary's report George B. Utley 75
Treasurer's report Carl B. Roden 81
Reports of boards and committees:
Finance committee C. W. Andrews 81
A. L. A. Publishing Board Henry E. Legler 83
Trustees of endowment funds W. C. Kimball 91
Bookbinding A. L. Bailey 93
Bookbuying W. L. Brown 95
Co-ordination C. H. Gould 96
Co-operation with the N. E. A M. E. Ahern 101
Federal and state relations B. C. Steiner 102
Library administration A. E. Bostwick 102
Library training A. S. Root 113
Library work with the blind Emma N. Delfino 114
Public documents George S. Godard 115
Preservation of newspapers Frank P. Hill 116
Publicity for the sake of support Carl H. Milam 120
Breadth and limitations of bookbuying W. L. Brown 124
Open door through the book and the library C. E. McLenegan 127
What do the people want? Jessie Welles 132
Assistant and the book Mary E. Hazeltine 134
Type of assistants Edith Tobitt 138
Efficiency of the library staff and
scientific management Adam Strohm 143
What library schools can do for the
profession Chalmers Hadley 147
Address Sir Wilfrid Laurier 159
Conservation of character J. W. Robertson 161
Address George E. Vincent 170
Book advertising: information as to subject
and scope of books Carl B. Roden 181
Book advertising: illumination as to the
attractions of real books Grace Miller 187
Report of Executive Board 192
Report of Council 195
Report of resolutions committee 201
Memorial to Frederick Morgan Crunden 203
Report of tellers of election 204
Social side of the conference R. G. Thwaites 205
Day in Toronto M. E. Ahern 208
Day in Montreal Carl B. Roden 209
Post-conference trip Julia Ideson 211
Sections:
Agricultural libraries 213
Catalog 227
Children's librarians' 247
College and reference 268
Professional training 295
Trustees' 302
Public documents round table 307
Affiliated organizations:
American association of law libraries 312
League of library commissions 316
Special libraries association 329
Attendance summaries 354
Attendance register 355
Index 367
Note: The minutes of the National association of state libraries have
not been received in time to be included in this volume. They will be
separately printed by that association.
OTTAWA CONFERENCE
JUNE 26-JULY 2, 1912
PRELIMINARY SESSION
(Wednesday evening, June 26, 1912, Russell Theatre)
The association convened in a preliminary session on Wednesday
evening, June 26, with Dr. James W. Robertson, C. M. G., chairman of
the Canadian royal commission on industrial training and technical
education, presiding as acting chairman of the Ottawa local committee.
Hon. George H. Perley, acting prime minister of Canada, was introduced
and welcomed the association to Canada on behalf of the Dominion
government. The speaker called attention to the hundred years of
peace between the two countries and the plans being formulated for
celebrating it, and said that international conferences such as this
were the best guarantees of peace; that the more we know of each other
the less liable we were to get into trouble.
In Canada schools and libraries are growing apace, particularly in
the new regions of the far west, very much the same as in the United
States. Exchange of ideas as in this convention is the very best kind
of reciprocity and will help both nations in their aims and aspirations
for the good of civilization.
Comptroller E. H. Hinchey, the acting mayor of Ottawa, spoke the city's
welcome, calling attention to Ottawa as a convention city and its
growing claims for being considered the Washington of the North.
The association was graciously welcomed in behalf of the Women's
Canadian Club of Ottawa by the president, Mrs. Adam Shortt, who also
voiced the welcome from the Women's National Council of Canada. She
said the preachers, the teachers, the writers and the librarians are
four great standing armies, standing to protect us and to dispel the
hydra-headed enemy Ignorance, but that she thought of librarians as
captains of individual garrisons scattered here and there through
towns and cities, who are sending out emissaries among the people and
moulding and forming the mental and moral fibre of each community.
The CHAIRMAN: The Women's Canadian historical society was most kind
in pressing forward its desire to have this convention held here. The
president, however, desires not to speak to-night.
I have now the pleasure of asking Hon. John G. Foster, United States
Consul-General, to speak, as one of ourselves. He is a good citizen,
and though of you, with us--we count him almost one of ourselves.
Mr. Foster said he could have assured that portion of the delegates who
were his fellow countrymen and countrywomen that they would feel very
much at home in this country, whose people, institutions and traditions
are so similar to those of the United States.
The CHAIRMAN: Many other representative bodies joined in the effort
to secure this meeting for Ottawa and are represented on the platform
to-night, but the only other speaker who I shall ask to voice for
them or for himself welcoming sentiments is the Hon. Martin Burrell,
Minister of agriculture, and, if I may say in parenthesis, also
Minister of copyrights, since that comes within his department.
Minister Burrell spoke enthusiastically of the value of books and the
habit of good reading and the greater ease with which books could now
be secured than formerly. Continuing he said:
"I have heard it said by some skeptical gentlemen that it is true
that a librarian never reads a book; in fact, that he cannot be a
perfect librarian and read, because he is immediately lost. I do not
like to hold that view. I rather hold to the view that the ordinary
librarian, perhaps I should say the model librarian, should be a guide,
philosopher and friend, and I do not doubt that many of you are very
real guides, philosophers and friends to those who are seeking for
perhaps they know not what and whom you can direct in right channels
with incalculable good to their after life. It is absolutely true that
in our modern life we need that guidance. I do not know that I could
put it better than in the words of another great book lover, and good
library lover too, our friend Robert Louis Stevenson of imperishable
memory, who said once there was a sort of dead-alive, hackneyed people
in the world who if they were not engaged in a conventional occupation
were in a state of coma; that the few hours they did not dedicate to
a furious toiling in the gold mill were an absolute blank. It is your
high privilege to supply that blank; it is your priceless privilege to
fill the hours of life which have to be a blank because we cannot train
ourselves for them in this more material age,--to fill them up with a
companionship and with an influence of the great thoughts of the great
writers of all ages."
Concluding, he expressed his pleasure at the prospect of entertaining
the delegates at the Experimental Farm on the following Saturday.
The CHAIRMAN: The real president of the Canadian Club found it
impossible to be in Ottawa to-night, and I am the poor substitute for
Dr. Otto J. Klotz, who has been a great pillar of strength in Ottawa to
those who love books and use books. He deputed me to say that he was
exceedingly sorry he could not meet so many old friends of his as would
surely be in attendance, and still more sorry because he was deprived
of the joy of thus paying a little more back to those who love books
and use books for all that books and learning have done for him. He is
one of our good men. I am sorry he is not here.
We are delighted to have a woman as your president; and in calling on
Mrs. Elmendorf to respond may I say--this comes to me after meeting
her yesterday and today--that she is altogether a woman of whom it may
be said in relation to her office as president of the American Library
Association, "thy gentleness has helped to make it great."
The PRESIDENT: Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, Members of the
American Library Association,--I am sure that I but express what you
are all feeling in saying that this royal welcome to the Dominion of
Canada makes us not only happy but very much honored. Some members of
the association are already at home in their own capital, being keepers
of "kings' treasuries" of Canada itself. Others of us are librarians
from hither and yon in the country beyond the border, but we have all
come with "joy and goodly gree" to sit in council in the very capital
of the lovely land which is so loyally and affectionately
"Daughter in her Mother's house."
A small party of us came across the border, as William Morris's heroes
are wont to move, "by night and cloud," and when we reached the
boundary line a sudden inspiration took us and we stooped down and
silently, gently gathered that boundary line in our hands and brought
its firm lengths with us. I hold what might represent its shining links
here in my hands. Therefore, while we visit here with you, in the very
capital of the Dominion, while we hold that boundary line thus in our
possession, from Boston Harbor down the coast through New York and
Charleston to Key West, along the Gulf to New Orleans, across the great
West to Pasadena, up the Pacific coast line to Seattle, from East to
West, from North to South, there is no let or hindrance to the lines
of influence which go forth. Those lines of influence run free without
chance for knot or tangle or any such thing.
I hope you will not need to try whether "the King's writ runs" but I
am sure that you will find that Shakespeare reigns in our realm, that
Tennyson and Bobby Burns touch our hearts in song, and he who writes
the songs of a people need not care who writes their laws.
Just one small story and then I shall have finished, for thanks must
needs be brief if they come from the heart, and there is one to come
after who will say to you with grace and directness and clear precision
much that I might envy but never approach.
My tall brother happened by good fortune to be in London Town the night
that the great city went nearly wild in her glad rejoicing at the
relief of Ladysmith. It was a sight to see and join in, and he and his
wife went on such progress through the streets as a cab could make for
them. In his hand, at the full length of his long arm, he waved from
the front of the cab a Union Jack and a Stars and Stripes to indicate
his sympathy and good feeling. All went well until in one of the many
enforced pauses a rough chap jumped for his hand crying, "Aw, sir! One
flag'll do!"
We are very happy to be here and are just a little happier to see by
these beautiful draped banners that you have not felt that One flag
need to do!
The CHAIRMAN: Those of us who have gone to Washington have sometimes
thought we should revise our boyhood's interpretation of the New
Jerusalem of the Book of Revelation. Nothing I had ever imagined from
St. John's description was quite a match for the glory and magnificence
of the beautiful Library of Congress. I have found it delightful to
think of a nation of great wealth providing such a fitting home for its
literary treasures. Books are the friends and ministers of the mind and
the soul of the people. The Washington building is the expression in
materials of their aspirations for what is best and most beautiful. It
is a wonderful building, leaving impressions of wonder on the casual
visitor, and still more on those who linger in its chaste corridors
and see something of the working of the library itself. I think of the
sweet and stately beauty of the place, I think of the institution and
its services, and I think also of the man who is more than a match for
the magnificence of the home of those books. We will now hear from the
man, Dr. HERBERT PUTNAM.
ADDRESS BY DR. PUTNAM
Our acknowledgments as visitors having now been made by the highest
authority among us, it is not for the purpose of merely enlarging
them that I am assigned a place upon the program. It is rather, I
understand, with the view to an expression in behalf of the community
of interest represented by this gathering as a whole; and some
definition as to what we are, what we aim at, and wherein, if at all,
we differ from our predecessors.
Our aim is in terms a simple one. It is to bring a book to a reader, to
lead a reader to a book. The task may indeed vary in proportion as the
book is obvious or obscure, the reader expert or a novice, so that our
service may be as the shortest distance between two simple points; or
as the readiest point between two distances. But its main and ultimate
end is the same.
And it remains so in spite of organization grown elaborate, apparatus
and mechanism grown complex. For the organization is merely to respond
to a larger and more varied demand, and with a view to a more ample and
diversified response.
What then is the difference between the library of today and the
library of a few centuries--a single century--ago?--Is it merely
in the development of this organization, the introduction of this
apparatus and mechanism?--Is it to such matters that our efforts are
directed?--Is it they which require incessant gatherings such as this
for explanation, exploitation and discussion, and the innumerable
reams of written contribution in our professional journals? They are
indeed accountable for a large percentage of it: but back of them,
beneath them, is a change which is fundamental, a change in attitude
which is essential as no mere form or method can be. It consists in the
birth and development--not indeed of a new characteristic in either
book or reader, or the discovery of new potencies in the one or new
sensibilities in the other--but of a new sense of responsibility on the
part of the library in the utilization of the one for the benefit of
the other. It is an incident of democracy.
Now, so far as democracy means the participation of the community as a
whole in the conduct of its affairs the _form_ of it has existed with
us in the United States for generations; and the substance of it has
existed throughout the Anglo-Saxon world. But democracy ought to mean
something more: it ought to mean the participation of every individual
in its opportunities. And a constitution of society which still left
the resources for power and intellectual direction in the hands of the
few was in effect an aristocracy, and no complete democracy. Among
these resources a chief is education. And the practical monopoly of
education--and of books as an element in it--meant a monopoly of
influence also,--a monopoly which survived after limitations of caste
were removed and the opportunities for wealth became widely diffused.
Against it the free public school, the easily available college, the
cheaply procurable newspaper and magazine, and the free public library
fought and are fighting their fight in the interest of the prerogative
of the individual, in the endeavor to equip him as an independent and
co-equal unit, so that the actual constitution of society shall accord
with its political form, and indeed assure the efficiency and the
permanence of the form.
So, having provided for the mass the interest has of late centred upon
the individual.
Meantime, with the evolution from homogeneity to heterogeneity the
individual himself has become more and more diversified in trait,
aptitude and need; so that the treatment of him by the agencies acting
for the community as a whole has also had to become varied. Not merely
that, but pursuing its responsibilities, to become affirmative, where
before, so far as it existed, it was merely responsive.
Now the service of school and college furnishing definite instruction
and perhaps training, to an organized body of youth, within a
limited age, and under control, can be reasonably systematized and
standardized. But the library is to furnish not merely education but
enlightenment, and even culture, to the community at large--without
respect to age, and without subordination to control. It cannot impose,
it does not control. It may recommend, but it cannot direct. It must
still respond to a need voluntarily expressed; but its duty is held to
go further: it must remind that the need exists,--it must even inspire
the need,--that is to say, the consciousness of it. In this way it is
engaged in creating the very demand which later it seeks to satisfy.
Now this duty upon it accounts for the prodigious energy in the
effort itself, and the activity and range of the discussion, which
are the characteristics of the modern library movement, particularly
in English speaking America. It accounts for the incessant repetition
of explanation, of exhortation, of recited experience, which give to
a present-day library conference something of the aspect of a revival
meeting.
To librarians of the older school these are somewhat distasteful;
to librarians of the more modern school already convinced and
experienced, they may be tedious; but they seem necessary still for
the enlightenment and encouragement of others newly entering upon the
problem, of a public not yet fully familiar with the relations of it to
their own welfare, and to the helpful solution of local problems where
the idea meets conditions still impeding: for the field is vast and
conditions are still very unequal.
The efforts, still inchoate, include also many devices which are crude
and of doubtful expediency: especially many designed chiefly to
attract--in which the library seems to compete with other enterprises
courting popularity in a way scarcely dignified for a public
institution maintained by government. They shock the conservative in
somewhat the same way as an advertisement by a lawyer or physician
shocks the traditions of those reticent professions: and they include
not merely schemes of advertising--which might seem to impair the
dignity of the book, but auxiliaries for attracting attention such as
savor of the devices of a business house in exploiting its goods. The
ultimate aim is, of course, the commendation of the book itself,--and
the justification lies--or is sought--in this. But the means,--well,
the means often afflict the conservatives in the profession, and even
cause uneasiness to certain of us among the progressives.
The compensating assurance is that they are the promptings of an
enthusiasm in itself meritorious; that they are experiments; that they
may prove to be expedients merely temporary, and that later they may
be dispensed with after they have served their purpose. They are to
rouse the dormant, stir the stagnant: but there are also other agencies
at work to rouse and to stir; and the time may well come when the
operation of these in combination will have achieved the creation of a
spirit in the community safe to act upon its own initiative.
Apart from the portions of our programs devoted to the discussion
of such methods and devices--which concern the direct action of a
particular library upon its own constituents, is the portion--a
large one--devoted to schemes of co-operation among our institutions
as such in the interest of economy and therefore of efficiency--in
their administration. These are necessarily technical, and their
immediate interest is to the librarian rather than to the reader.
But their ultimate benefit is to reach the reader,--particularly in
freeing to his use a larger measure of the direct personal service of
the administration, in interpreting the collections to his need. In
proportion as they succeed in this they will achieve a reversion to
that service held precious in the library of the older type,--which,
lacking the modern apparatus, and with an imperfect collection, at
least put the reader into direct contact with what it had, and gave him
also the inspiring personal touch with an enthusiast already saturated
with its contents: and which accordingly sent him forth with a grateful
glow, too little, alas! evident in one relegated to the mere mechanism
of modern library practice.
The mechanism became inevitable: the increase of the collections,
the increase of the constituency, the greater diversity of the need,
and the demand that this should be met promptly, have required it.
This isn't so apparent to the public, who think of the problem--of
getting the right book to the individual reader--in only its simplest
terms. But to us librarians it is not merely apparent but urgent. And
accordingly we expend upon it a length and a zest of discussion that
quite mystify the portions of our audiences outside of the craft.
What impels us is that the mechanism is not merely elaborate: it
is expensive. It is the more so in proportion as it is variant in
form and involves a multiplication of expense by each library acting
independently in its own behalf. Our effort, and the purpose of our
discussions, is therefore to promote a standardization of the form
and a co-operative centralization of the work itself, in which our
libraries as a whole may secure a participating benefit.
Now the mechanism consists of certain apparatus necessarily independent
with each library--administrative records, charging systems, etc.; but
also of classification, catalog and bibliography. All of these may be
standardized,--but the opportunity for a co-operation which may save
expense occurs chiefly in the three last named. The extravagance, the
needless extravagance, of an absence of it represented by the old
conditions was little apparent to the general public or to boards
of control. It becomes obvious when one considers that thousands of
libraries receiving hundreds of identical books,--and hundreds of
libraries receiving thousands of identical books--were each undertaking
independently the expense of cataloging and classifying these: thus
multiplying by exactly their number the total cost of the community.
As against this, the economy of a system under which a particular
book shall be cataloged--and perhaps classified--at some central
point once for all, and the result made available in multiple form
to all libraries receiving copies of it--needs only to be stated to
be convincing. A condition of it is, in the case of classification,
identity in the basic scheme and notation, in the case of catalog
identity in the form, and uniformity in the practice. The general
availability of bibliographic lists does not depend upon either, though
convenienced by both.
Identity in classification seems still remote, nor does the undoubted
vogue of the Decimal scheme assure it: for this is chiefly among the
smaller libraries. In the larger, the Decimal scheme, where adopted,
is apt to be accompanied by variations of detail, which mean a
variation in the place and symbol assigned to a particular book, and
thus bar the general adoption of a decision in the classification of
it made at any central bureau. So far as this variance affects the
direct administration of a particular library it may be unimportant:
for the arrangement of its own books upon its own shelves--provided
this is based on a subject scheme, consistently carried out--may
be sufficiently effective for its own purposes, even though purely
individual with itself. What it implies, however, in multiplication
of an expense that might be avoided by the adoption of an identical
scheme, is of an import very serious. The construction of a scheme
which should suit equally all libraries and all librarians is not to
be expected. The best that can be hoped for is a scheme sound in its
fundaments and upon which the concessions of individual preference
necessary will be only as to detail. The reluctance--of librarians--to
make such concessions is due, I think, to an exaggerated estimate
of the importance of classification as such--that is to say, of
the precise location of a particular book in a given collection; a
failure to realize--what experience should have taught--that in many
groups no location can be absolutely permanent, owing to changes in
the literary output and in the subject relation of that group to the
rest. This reluctance is, I fear, one of the conservatisms least
creditable to the profession. It induces tenacity in adhesion to
systems adopted, and it leads to the adoption of new systems devised
to accord with supposed idiosyncrasies of a particular collection--or
pursuant to the ingenious inventiveness of a particular librarian. I
can express myself the more frankly because in this latter respect the
Library of Congress has itself been a sinner;--and one not yet come
to repentance. For at the outset of its problem it found the Decimal
classification in considerable vogue, the Expansive in considerable
favor. And it adopted neither, but proceeded to devise a scheme of
its own. It did this out of declared necessity, with regard to its
supposed interests; and considering those interests alone the results
have seemed a justification. They are even being utilized in certain
other institutions, and though not proffered as a model for general
adoption, they render even now a general service in proving the economy
of centralizing the process of classification, as well as that of
cataloging, at some central point or points from which the decisions
may radiate.
The general availability of a catalog entry depends of course upon
uniformity in cataloging practice as well as identity in size and form
of the card itself,--if the result takes the form of a card. Agreement
in this has fortunately been rapid, and we have now in English speaking
American a set of decisions, embodied in a code of rules--substantially
accepted among our own libraries and even substantially acceptable to
the libraries of Great Britain. Between continental practice and our
own variances still exist, and bar the complete interchange of results.
One cannot doubt, however, that time will eradicate, or adjust these
also.
Between bibliography as distinguished from classification and
cataloging, there exist, however, no such impediments; and the
centralization of bibliographic work--co-operation in it--is
progressing apace.
The prospect is, therefore, fairly cheerful that librarians will be
able in the near future to free themselves and their funds from undue
attention to the mere mechanism of their craft, and more completely to
devote their resources and personal service to the book as literature,
and the reader as a human being.
The spirit for this is ardent. It is manifest in our two countries
as nowhere else in like degree. As regards the reader it calls
itself proudly "the missionary spirit"; it seeks him, appraises him,
sympathizes with him, counsels him. It does not doubt its duty in
this to be an affirmative one. But as regards the book itself it is
not yet so decisive. For in the selection of what it is to offer it
still concedes much to what is called the "popular taste"--which
means the popular fancy of the moment, ignoring in doing so its
prerogative as an "educational" institution to assert standards, and
to abide by them. Its hope is to improve the taste itself; and the
need of this--its appropriateness as a function of the library, and
the means of effecting it--are to be a main feature of the program of
this conference. They are justly so,--even though they are matters
of concern chiefly for that type of library which is engaged in
serving the public at large. It is, however, precisely that type
of library with which also the duty should lie of representing the
standards established by time, and the taste represented by the more
refined rather than by the average instincts of the community. And as
the temptation--to make concessions is also peculiarly theirs--the
responsibility is particularly upon them, their librarians, their
trustees, and the conservative in public opinion--to assert this duty
and to conform to it. The assertion of it may cause resentment; but
this will prove merely individual; it is not likely to organize into
formidable resistance. And in time it will become merely sporadic. It
will tend to diminish in proportion as associations such as this, in
conferences such as this, declare solidly for the authority of the
library in such decisions--while clearly distinguishing it from any
censorship of literature as such.
The temptation to court "popularity"--natural in institutions
maintained at the public expense and therefore dependent upon the
favor of city councils--has another phase which I hope may prove but
transitory. It is in the exploitation of the service done by the books
which are the "tools of trade" as against those making for general
information, or general culture. The supposition is that the service of
the first named is one which will convince certain important opinion as
a "practical" service, and particularly that it will appeal to those
who are just now insistent upon vocational studies as the studies to
be given right of way in the education of youth. The temptation is the
greater because the service of a book of this sort is a service whose
results are readily demonstrable, it is concrete and objective;--while
that of general literature is but subjective.
Its importance cannot be questioned, nor the duty of the library to
perform it, nor the success of our public libraries in the actual
performance of it. The only criticism might be lest in the emphasis
upon it, our libraries may seem to underestimate, if not to disparage,
that other service which in its ulterior benefit to the community may
prove of even greater importance; that service which reminds the public
that livelihood is not the main purpose of life, nor the present,
the local and the particular, the only era, the only place, the only
thing worthy of consideration and regard. The books which achieve
this may have their greatest value in offsetting the tendencies of
mere industry. This is not to say, however, that they may not advance
industry itself; for though they may not improve the mere dexterity
of a particular individual in a profession, art or trade, they may aid
to that sense of proportion, that larger view of a worldwide relation
which will advance the art itself; and they cultivate the imagination
which is the essential of modern industry in its larger relations.
As, therefore, our colleges still stand for the utility of the general
studies even in a career looking to vocation, so our libraries may well
stand for the utility of the general literature. Particularly is this
duty upon them since the opportunity--in its relation to the community
at large--is uniquely theirs: for no other agency--not even the museum,
or the art gallery, or the theatre, the opera house, or the concert
hall--potent as may be the influence of these--matches the book in
power and availability in this service of quickening the sensibilities,
refining the taste, enlarging the understanding, diversifying the
experience, warming the heart and clarifying the soul.
And this service--understood everywhere--is nowhere--save perhaps
in England--quite so completely followed into its consequences as
in Canada and the United States. The conviction of it grounds our
libraries upon a public opinion assuring permanent support; and
inspires among individuals enthusiasm for gift and endowment. The
greater, therefore, the responsibility of librarians and trustees to
see to it that this conviction, this enthusiasm and the resources which
they provide shall be so utilized as to effect not merely the most
showy but the most substantial results.
And the responsibility should include not merely a zeal for the general
reader, but a regard for the scholar: since a benefit to the general
reader may end with himself, but a benefit to the scholar becomes
amplified and diffused through him. He is not, be it understood,
a class by himself. He includes the specialist whose vocation is
research in a particular field; but he includes also the reader for
whom research is but an avocation. He is the unusual man, but he is
also the usual man in his unusual moments. What is the conscious aim
of the one may be the incidental achievement of the other--to advance
knowledge. And the aid rendered by the library to either may be of a
consequence to the community more far reaching than the mere diffusion
of ascertained knowledge among a multitude of individuals.
If the effort of our libraries in this direction has not kept pace with
their efforts in the others, the explanation is obvious in the emphasis
necessary upon the others during the past fifty years. But the time has
come when the obligation to the scholar should resume its due place--in
our programs, as well as in our practice.
And with the resumption of that interest may we not hope for a
recognition--a recognition--in our organizations also of that type
which gave personality to the libraries of old?--I mean the type
represented by the Panizzis, the Garnetts, the Winsors, Pooles, Cutters
and Spoffords. For however indifferent such men may have been, or might
be today, to the mere mechanism which of late we have been exalting,
and which we must hold to be necessary under modern conditions, they
succeeded in producing an atmosphere which had a potency of its own,
which no mere mechanism can reproduce, and for which the zeal of
routine personal service, however "missionary" in spirit, cannot be
a substitute. For the mechanism gives the impression of intervening
between the reader and the book; and the routine personal service
fails from the very nature of its effort. The reader reached out to
may be pleased and aided: but he loses the lesson and the penetrating
suggestion afforded by the mere absorption of the old-time librarian
in the book itself. It was that which once took the visitor out of
himself, away from affairs, and gave him touch with a different world,
a sense of different values. Does he not miss it now? I think he does;
and that, however he may respect the mere efficiency of the modern
librarian, as administrator, his really affectionate admiration turns
back to the librarian of the old school whose soul was lifted above
mere administration, or the method of the moment, or the manner of
insistent service, and whose passionate regard was rather for the
inside of a book than for the outside of a reader,--even the librarian
to whom a reader seemed indeed but an interruption to an abstraction
that was privileged.
I for one, should be sorry to think that this type has passed finally.
There is need for it; there should be a place. I trust that it will be
restored to us; and I deplore the influence upon the younger generation
in our profession of referring to it with condescension if not with
contempt.
"Our profession." I use the term because it is current. We have
assumed it, and no one has challenged it. There are grounds on which
it might, I suppose, be challenged. "The word implies," according to
the Century Dictionary, "professed attainments in special knowledge,
as distinguished from mere skill; a practical dealing with affairs,
as distinguished from mere study or investigation; and an application
of such knowledge to uses for others as a vocation, as distinguished
from its pursuit for one's own purposes." The latter two requirements
are certainly met: we are engaged in practical affairs, and to the
use of others. But the "professed attainments in special knowledge,
as distinguished from mere skill," while certainly represented in
individuals among us, are not with us conditions of librarianship as
a vocation or as an office, nor have we in America, as they have in
Germany, the conventional preparation, the preliminary examination
as to qualifications, and the license which by law or usage are
requirements in the professions strictly so-called. A profession should
imply uniform standards in such qualifications: but the qualifications
of persons accepted among us for library posts of importance,--even
among persons who have made notable successes in such posts, vary
extraordinarily in both kind and degree. A profession should imply a
certain homogeneity in ideals, methods and relations; while among us
there is still a notable diversity. The modern library with its large
establishment and organization, and the responsibility of large funds,
has, like the modern university, created a demand in its administrators
for the traits necessary in business rather than characteristic of the
professions or expected of them. (This demand, and the vogue of woman
in our work--a vogue which finds its completest recognition at this
meeting--are indeed the most notable of recent phenomena affecting
our personnel.) As yet the conventional training has not attracted a
sufficiency of men and women with such traits to meet the need; nor
has it, on the other hand, attracted a sufficient number of men and
women grounded in special branches of the sciences and the arts to
fill the positions in our research libraries which administer, and
should interpret, the literature of these. The actual personnel of our
association includes therefore the utmost diversity in trait, education
and experience.
A considerable such diversity exists among teachers, and does not
disentitle them to the claim of constituting a profession; and we are
sometimes called educators. But we cannot claim to be, for we lack the
didactic authority, purpose and method.
The final characteristic of a profession is its influence upon the
community as such. Now, our lack of such an influence as a body is
in part due to the lack of that homogeneity in ideal method and
personnel--but in part also to the necessary limitations of our
office. We are necessarily non-partisan. We are to furnish impartially
the ammunition for both sides of every issue. The moment we become
identified with a single side merely, we lose our influence and our
authority. And it matters not whether the issue be political, or
theological or economic or social. If it be scientific, or merely
literary, we have more freedom, since the subject matter is more nearly
academic and less emotional. But even here we must avoid the charge of
faddism. In a contest of morality we may indeed take side against the
baser, because with this we have no influence and no need to court one.
But there are today few moral issues clearly distinguishable as such in
which there is need or temptation for us to engage.
The result of this neutrality is an attitude which to the world at
large must seem somewhat colourless; but also a habit of mind which
insensibly in itself becomes neutral. We are content to be observers.
We avoid becoming contestants. Such characteristics do not go to the
solidification of opinion in a profession, nor to the assertion of it
in an aggressive way.
The sum total of all of which (observations upon us) is that in
spite of our numbers, in spite of the momentous aggregate that our
"establishment" represents, in spite of the assured place which it
occupies in the community and the social system, we are at present,
and in many ways must continue to be, an aggregate of individuals
rather than a body politic. But even as the Devil's advocate I would
not so conclude in a deprecatory sense, for we may find and show many
reasons for complacency--and special opportunities for service--in the
relations which this situation implies.
* * * * *
My original invitation was a large one: no less than to estimate the
place of the library in English-speaking America. I have not attempted
to comply with it: for it seemed too large for my fraction of this
program. But as a theme it was enticing. And so would have been the
reverse of it,--that is, the place of English-speaking America in
the development of the library. That also will perhaps be worthy of
treatment at some large opportunity. One particular aspect of it is
suggested by a letter of Francis Lieber to General Halleck, fifty-seven
years ago. It runs--
"... Have you laid the foundation of a great public library in
California? Your state, above all others, ought largely to provide
public funds for a library,--say $20,000 a year for the first
five years, and then, permanently so much a year. We cannot do in
our days without large public libraries, and libraries are quite
as necessary as hospitals or armies. Libraries are the bridges
over which Civilization travels from generation to generation
and from country to country, bridges that span over the widest
oceans; and California will yet be the buttress of the bridge over
which encircling civilization will pass to Asia, whence it first
came...."[1]
[1] From "Life and letters of Francis Lieber." Edited by Thomas
Sergeant Perry. Boston. 1882.
If California may be such a buttress, what may we not propound
of English-speaking America as a whole--from which through its
universities and colleges occidental ideals and methods are already
being transmitted to the Orient through the effective medium of
students sent here for their education?
* * * * *
Such are some of the thoughts with which some of us at least approach
this conference. They are thoughts, even if, as yet, only in part
satisfactions. There is a satisfaction, however, which is dominant with
those of us who come from over the border. It is that this conference
is to be held on Canadian soil; and that here, with the broad welcome
extended to us, with a common subject matter, and with purposes in
connection with it that can awaken neither cavil nor suspicion, we are
free to indulge in reciprocities that will be complete, mutual, and
enduring.
Mr. Lawrence J. Burpee read the following telegram from the private
secretary of the Duke of Connaught, which was received with hearty
applause:
The Governor-General wishes meeting of American Library
Association every success and His Royal Highness regrets
exceedingly that it is impossible for him to be present at your
annual meeting tomorrow.
Mr. BURPEE: Similar letters of regret have been received from the Right
Honorable Prime Minister and several members of the cabinet and from
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, and we are yet in hopes that Sir Wilfrid will be
able to be with us on Dominion Day.
I have been asked by the Dominion Archivist and by the Director of the
Victoria museum and the Custodian of the National gallery to extend to
you a most hearty welcome to visit those institutions, and I have also
been asked by the president of the Ottawa Electric Railway to say that
the railway would like you to consider yourselves guests of the company
while here, and that the A. L. A. button will identify us sufficiently.
The CHAIRMAN: The work of the local committee has been done largely by
two men,--Dr. Otto Klotz and Mr. Lawrence J. Burpee,--and perhaps at a
later session we will have occasion to give thanks to Mr. Burpee, who
behind the scenes has made our official tasks come so lightly and so
easily.
The secretary read a cablegram bearing greetings from the New Zealand
Libraries Association, through the secretary, Mr. Herbert Baillie,
librarian of the Wellington (N. Z.) public library.
Adjourned.
FIRST GENERAL SESSION
(Russell Theatre, Thursday, June 27, 9:30 a. m.)
The PRESIDENT: I have the honor to announce that the Thirty-fourth
Annual Conference of the American Library Association is now open. It
seems to me, with the welcome given us this morning, in the beautiful
sunshiny weather, nearly as bright and genial as the welcome that we
were given last night, we open under very happy auspices indeed, and I
hope that when you hear the speakers as they shall take up the matters
on the program, you will feel that the auspices have been very well
carried out.
I shall have the pleasure to talk to you for a very few moments on the
subject as printed on the program.
PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS
The Public Library: "A Leaven'd and Preparéd Choice"
Last evening's jesting pretense that the party from the States had
stopped on the border and removed the boundary line to bring it with
them here, into the very Canadian capital, was not quite all a jest.
The American Library Association is itself a witness that though the
boundary line firmly and clearly defines the limits of rule of the two
countries in some great and essential things, some
"Glories of our blood and state,"
it need not, it does not, even divide, still less alienate, the two
peoples.
It is one of the worthiest, most auspicious foundations of the American
Library Association that it is, and has ever been, continental not
national in its sympathy and membership. Within its circle "all who
profess and call themselves" English-speaking may unite their best
thought and their best endeavor for this important public service.
There are many fundamental library principles that are common to both
countries and your Program Committee has intended to arrange the
program and discussions to take account of these, leaving to other and
minor meetings such things as are national or local in their bearing.
The committee has wished to transcend all division by boundary lines.
By so much the jest was fact.
The attempt has been made to stand away from detail of all sorts so far
that it may be possible to see the library world as "a world" indeed,
"a whole of parts," as a system of members, each member distinct yet,
by virtue of the very peculiarities which constitute its distinctness,
contributing to the unity of the whole.
We shall fail to see the library world thus, as a world, as a
whole unless, amid the mass of facts, of experiences, of needs, of
adaptations involved, we can finally discern and seize upon the true
center, the truly dominant thing.
If we could once see the true center as the center, and the mass of
detail taking ordered place about it; if we could once perceive the
dominant that should surely rule, and lesser matters in due subjection
to that rule, then from the obvious things ever before our eyes,
and only too familiar, by that very familiarity made difficult to
apprehend, the library might all at once appeal as an entity, as a
clear conception. So the forest becomes visible to the artist's eyes,
the forest, formed of trees, but never really seen until all at once in
the vision of the forest the trees are lost to sight.
Some modes of thought, some phrases of expression which have been used
are those which the philosopher has weighed and clarified for his own
carefully measured statements. Do not smile at my temerity, and on the
other hand do not be in the least alarmed. I ventured but a little way
and you will not be called to go far into the philosopher's country
under my lead. Even if one be no swimmer it is an experience to venture
out, with careful balance, feeling for secure foothold upon the solid
bed, even a little way into a mighty stream whose full mid-current
would sweep over one's head. One gets, out of even so limited an
adventure, a sense of the sweep of the river, feels the embrace and
pull of the current, stoops to drink a little of the clear, bright,
deep waters, ever thereafter to thirst for deeper draughts and to long
for strength and mastery to plunge into and breast the full stream.
In trying to find warrant for my own thoughts and ordered and lucid
statement for them, I have sought and consulted certain books and
some of them were too hard for my full reading. I shall not further
acknowledge my debt now but, once more departing from precedent, I
shall list them for print at the end of the address.
In the wish to find the center or dominant of the library world it
would be presumptuous for me to dogmatize and say "Lo here! this is
the point," or "Behold! this is the principle." In the very name of
the institution which we are talking about there are two elements
joined--Public, and Library--and it seems quite obviously proper to try
the first as the center.
Perhaps the application which follows might repel some as narrow,
as exclusive of any but a single type of libraries. The principle
itself may, however, be made to apply to the entire library world by
recognizing as "public" all libraries which are not private, and by
defining public anew as applied to each group or type of libraries,
always letting it include all those individuals for whose use and
pleasure the library is maintained.
What does "public" signify in Canada and the United States? What
but all the people of these two great experiments in democratic
society? Pray note that I say society not government. An excursion
into discussion of the latter might involve dabbling in the stream of
politics which would threaten dangers far more imminent, for me, than
philosophy promised. To consider democratic society for a few moments
very simply is a less hazardous matter.
What is any society but "a world" again, a whole, in which the great
thing that matters is the level and fullness of mind that is reached
through the diversities of complete development and perfection of the
individual members which compose it?
The level of value and happiness for the whole can only be raised by
raising the condition of the individuals and, on the other hand, that
individuality is the most complete, of most real, felt value to itself,
which contributes to the perfection of the whole, because it is only
thus that the individual is conscious of having done his utmost.
Why try to say it again when the philosopher has said it so exactly?
"What a man really cares about--so it seems to me--may be
described as making the most of the trust he has received. He does
not value himself as a detached and purely self-identical subject.
He values himself as the inheritor of the gifts and surroundings
which are focussed in him and which it is his business to raise
to their highest power. The attitude of the true noble, one
in whom noblesse oblige is a simple example of what, mutatis
mutandis, all men feel. The man is a representative, a trustee for
the world, of certain powers and circumstances. And this cannot
fail to be so. For suffering and privation are also opportunities.
The question for him is how much he can make of them. This is
the simple and primary point of view, and also, in the main,
the true and fundamental one. It is not the bare personality or
the separate destiny that occupies a healthy mind. It is the
thing to be done, known and felt; in a word, the completeness of
experience, his contribution to it, and his participation in it.
"At every point the web of experience is continuous; he cannot
distinguish his part from that of others, and the more he
realizes the continuity the less he cares about the separateness
of the contribution to it.... It is impossible to overrate the
co-operative element in experience."
Does it not appear then that the highest possible service to the public
is service to the individual, in giving to the individual stimulus and
opportunity for the fullest, most diverse, most perfect development,
creating thus a world the more enriched, the more unified, in that each
of its members has rich powers, functions and experience of his own?
But the crux is to come. A people, a society, is made up of individuals
of diverse tastes and powers, but it includes very many who are far
short of being fully alive to the powers which they may possess. If the
span of such lives passes thus, if no stimulus, no illumination reaches
them, life will be uninspired, unfruitful of much service, or much joy.
It will not be life at its full, nor "the soul at its highest stretch."
It is not always afar from our own doors that such things happen.
President Eliot says, "Do we not all know many people who seem to
live in a mental vacuum--to whom, indeed, we have great difficulty in
attributing immortality, because they have so little life except that
of the body?"
From such conditions not only individuals but all society suffers. As
a spot of unnourished, inactive tissue in a human body is a host ready
to receive any one of many forms of disease, so, in the body politic,
individuals not fulfilling their utmost best are soil made ready for
all manner of social and political ills.
The time may come when society will recognize that many social and
political ills are partly caused by its own neglect, and call not for
more restrictions, for more stringent laws and severer sentences, but
rather for more carefully and universally given opportunity.
Listen once more to the philosopher.
"The more highly differentiated the individuals composing a
society, the more complete becomes the social bond between them. A
man who feels that he is rendering to the community a service at
once indispensable and only to be performed by himself, will have
come near to fulfilling his part in the highest attainable scheme
of social harmony."
If this be true, then there seems clear warrant for saying that the
community, for its own sake, has a vital interest in trying to secure
for each individual the most effective opportunity not only for
discovering what his distinct contribution may be made, but also for
developing his power to render that contribution most completely.
Does the community anywhere concern itself to give such opportunities?
Democratic society has recognized its necessity to give a certain
amount of knowledge and training by means of its schools. It is
beginning to make the experiment of giving a certain amount of skill to
earn a livelihood. This teaching is done in classes and a class is made
up of individuals of similar knowledge and attainments, and to them is
given general and identical information which tends to produce like
results. The community has need for unlikeness, for individuals who can
render unique service.
The community can never decide what the special individual aptitude may
be. No living soul can discover for another. The "power to become" is
innate and must make its own response to the stimulus which is capable
of affecting it.
It is true that the universe is a great battery incessantly sending
an infinity of calls of infinitely varied messages. But the receiving
operator may be asleep, he may never come within range. The universe is
very wide. The range of experience of all is narrow, of some pitifully
narrow.
Because of lack of opportunity to see, to do, to know, to feel, it is
not exaggeration to say that multitudes live a half-alive existence,
never useful to their possible limit, never happy to their full, for
happiness is "felt perfection."
From the beginning of time, some men have received their messages,
found their work, given their service, lived life to the full and laid
it down with a will. The record of these men and their accomplishment,
of man's great adventure to find himself, has been written by many
hands, and that record is literature.
Arnold says, "To know ourselves and the world we have, as a means to
this end, to know the best that has been thought or said in the world,"
and "Literature may mean everything written or printed in a book."
The library is the reservoir of literature, a collection of books, but
it is something more, it comes to have identity, a self of its own
beyond the sum of all its books, when, by the fusing of the whole under
the vital power of the minds that gather and order it, it becomes, in
the Shakespearian phrase embodied in my title, "A leaven'd and preparéd
choice."
The library is the one place where time and space are set at naught. It
is the microcosm of the universe.
Here all the wonders of nature are flashed back from the mirrors of
eyes that have beheld them.
Here India, and the Arctic and the isles of the sea are as close at
hand as Niagara.
Here Archimedes' lever, Giotto's circle, Newton's apple, Palissy's
furnace, Jacquard's loom, Jamie Watt's tea-kettle, Franklin's kite are
cheek by jowl with the last Marconigram.
Here the fate of Aristides, of Columbus, of Gordon is as clear to read
as the doings of yesterday in Chicago.
The record of what happened at Thermopylæ, at Lucknow, at the Alamo
receives beside it the tale of the courage that rose as the Titanic
sank.
What Buddha and Socrates and Jesus taught answers the cry and
strengthens the heart of doubt and pain today.
The library is the great whispering gallery of noble deeds and,
catching a whisper,
"The youth replies, I can"
and goes forth.
The library is haunted with visions of beauty that Plato, that Michael
Angelo, that Shelley saw--the youth exclaims "I see!" and follows his
lure.
Here Clotho sits twirling her "thread-running spindle" and the youth,
catching the clue, fares forth whither the fateful thread leads.
The library is almost never the goal but to many it may be the starting
point whence they go forth "to strength and endeavor, love and
sacrifice, the making and achievement of souls."
The public for whom the library exists has little conception or
comprehension of its power. How shall such publicity as will give this
knowledge of it be given?
Such publicity should make clear the larger aspects of the library's
service, showing that the life of any society is "an indivisible
inheritance" and the welfare of all made or marred by the condition and
service of each one, therefore the library should be equipped to be
universal in its appeal and service, a public necessity for individual
use.
The public for whom the library exists gives it support insufficient
for the task it should perform. If the library commanded respect would
it not receive funds?
Books are the treasure to be gathered for its work. What shall be the
principles of buying? How create the "leaven'd and preparéd choice?"
Books are the medium of appeal, the stuff of human knowledge,
experience and wisdom stored by means of the printed leaf. The
extent to which each individual shares in the stored treasure of the
race-mind, is, in its sum, the measure of public safety and happiness
and the starting-point for service. How show, how make known the
attraction and stored power of books?
Every individual must choose his own path. How leave him free to choose
in a wide field?
Service, but not authority, must be at hand. What shall the tests of
fitness for such service be?
The staff fit for such service must be of rare material and quality.
The members of the staff are instruments of the highest elaboration and
most delicate adjustment. The requisite quality of service can only
be rendered under fit conditions. It is not a matter of knowledge,
conscience and will solely, it is a matter of these things plus
insight, sympathy and response. Exhaustion, or an approach to it,
discouragement from lack of appreciation, are like a ground wire for
loss of power. Body, mind and spirit are all involved in this service.
How conserve their strength, well-being and joy?
Unskilled people cannot render fit service. What are the things that
matter in training? How far can training be effective.
These are the subjects that your Program Committee has thought it might
interest all to consider. Certain leaders will discuss them, each
according to his own will and way. In their wisdom and in that of the
discussions with which you will follow them will lie all the value of
this conference.
=Books Consulted: A Short List=
=Bosanquet=, Bernard. The principle of individuality and value.
Macmillan. 1912.
=Bryce=, James. The American Commonwealth. Vol. 2, p. 828, and chapter
CII. Macmillan. 1910.
=Chesterton=, G. K. Manalive. Lane. 1912.
=Douglas=, Robert. The choice. Macmillan. 1911.
=Eliot=, C. W. The function of education in democratic society. In his
Educational reform. Century. 1908.
=Goldmark=, Josephine. Fatigue and efficiency. Charities Pub. Co. 1912.
=Hobhouse=, L. T. The individual and the state. In his Social evolution
and political theory. Columbia Univ. Press. 1911.
--Liberalism. Holt. 1911.
=Jones=, Henry. Idealism as a personal creed. Macmillan. 1909.
--Working faith of the social reformer. Macmillan. 1910.
=Macdonald=, Greville. The child's inheritance: its scientific and
imaginative meaning. Smith, Elder. 1910.
=Mark=, Thiselton. The unfolding of personality as the chief aim of
education. Univ. of Chicago Press. 1911.
=Sidis=, Boris. Philistine and genius. Moffatt. 1911.
=Woodberry=, G. E. The torch: eight lectures on race power in
literature. McClure. 1905.
* * * * *
The PRESIDENT: I have very great pleasure in presenting one who in
truth needs no introduction to you; one who has not for some time
appeared on our platform but whom I know you will all welcome with
pleasure, Miss TESSA L. KELSO.
Miss Kelso, of the Baker and Taylor Co., New York City, spoke
informally from notes only on the topic, "Publicity for the sake of
information: the librarian's point of view," and has been unable to
furnish a copy of her remarks for publication.
The PRESIDENT: I think you may have seen it mentioned once or twice
in the course of your reading, that there was such a thing as the
"Wisconsin idea." Now, I would not for a moment, having been born in
that lovely state, have you get any notion that that "Wisconsin idea"
is singular. We have therefore asked to come and talk to us this
morning a gentleman who, those closest to him say, is a repository of
"Wisconsin ideas," and I have great pleasure in introducing to you Mr.
WILLIAM H. HATTON,--"Mr." Hatton by request, though he is ordinarily
known in his own country as Senator Hatton.
PUBLICITY FOR THE SAKE OF INFORMATION: THE PUBLIC'S POINT OF VIEW
When man first discovered that his hands would respond to the command
of his brain and that he could use a club to defend himself from his
enemy, and that he could through combined mental and physical effort,
react upon his environment, the gateway on the road to continuous
progress was opened to mankind.
The potential power of man cannot be measured. The Creator, in so far
as we are able to judge, has fixed no limits to man's progress. The
only limitations are his lack of knowledge and his lack of power to
discern the true relations of the forces which surround him.
Mankind is a social organism, not a collection of separate and
independent parts. Where any part is neglected and fails to develop
so as to discharge efficiently its function, the whole organization
suffers. Therefore society is not only deeply interested in education
during childhood and adolescence, but it is concerned in the education
of man throughout his whole life. The public is as much concerned
in the education of the man of forty years of age as it is in the
education of the boy of five years. One of the chief functions of the
state is to secure justice, equity and equality of opportunity. Dr.
Lester F. Ward says, "There can be no equality, no justice, not to
speak of equity, so long as society is composed of members, equally
endowed by nature, a few of whom only possess the social heritage of
truth and ideas resulting from laborious investigation and profound
meditations of all past ages, while the mass are shut out from all the
light that human achievement has shed upon the world."
What shall be done that this "light of human achievement" shall
penetrate the cloud of ignorance and cause the lamp of wisdom to burn
in every home? Your reply doubtless will be, "The formal training of
the schools." Yes; that is a step in the right direction, but all
will agree that the training of the schools is only and can be only
a beginning, a learning how to acquire and assimilate knowledge and
develop power. There must be other institutions and agencies which
shall carry forward the work of education, if we are to have that
continuous and universal development which is possible and desirable.
The library is peculiarly suited for this work and its power and future
influence are not fully appreciated even by those engaged in library
work. It is not necessary to say to this audience that the public
library is an essential part of a complete educational system and that
there should be harmony within the system.
The training in the schools should be such as shall make a beginning
at least in the preparation for social life and social service, in
the broad sense. The students should be shown that the library is a
social mirror, a record of the social activities of mankind. If for
any cause students leave school, they should be in such close relation
to the library and be so familiar with library methods that they will
be encouraged to continue studying; thus we shall find the book in
the hand of the worker, the ideal condition, assisting him in solving
his problems and opening to him visions of life of which he had never
dreamed.
The school authorities should never overlook the fact that the average
time which the individual student attends school is short; but be it
short or long, pupils should be trained in the use of the library, and
taught how to find in books answers to their questions. Questions which
shall require students to go to the library should be regularly given
them. In the higher grades and in the high schools emphasis should be
placed on library work. Students should not only be required to read
certain specified books, as supplementary reading, but there should be
regular assignments of topics for investigation, which will require
them to use the library and other sources of information, thus training
them in research methods and developing their power of original
investigation. By this method their school work will become a living
motive-force in their lives.
The colleges and universities offer a great number of courses. So
many subjects are open for study that the most that can be done
during the college years is to select a few and concentrate effort
upon those selected and leave the great field of knowledge for future
exploration and conquest. Therefore, if a student leaves college
with high ideals and an ambition to explore still further the field
of knowledge and develop his individuality, his immediate need is
a good library. Therein is the crystallized wisdom of ages held in
"magic preservation." Here he may find freedom for the development of
his individuality and be able to increase his power to react on his
environment, enabling him to find profit, pleasure and culture in the
various activities of life.
But has he learned how to use the library? Let us take the testimony
of Dr. Harper, former president of the University of Chicago. "It is
pitiable," he said, "to find that many graduates of our very best
colleges are unable, after taking up the more advanced work of the
divinity school or other graduate courses, to make use of books.
They find nothing; they do not know how to proceed in order to find
anything. No more important, no more useful training can be given men
in college than that which relates to the use of books. Why do so many
men give up reading when they leave college? Because in college they
have never learned the use of books."
This is the testimony of a man of wide experience. A college librarian
should be a person of strong personality and broad culture, and
the example of some of the universities and colleges of making the
librarian a member of the faculty should be followed by all colleges.
The most important work for schools and colleges is to arouse in the
students the spirit of research, train them in research methods, and
develop their powers of independent investigation. Impress upon them
the fact that education cannot be received but must be acquired, and
that the acquisition of knowledge is a process co-extensive with life.
President Hibben of Princeton says, "It is the nature of education that
it does not result in a complete and finished product, but rather a
progressive process. There is nothing final about it. Its achievements
always mark new beginnings. Education must always be defined in terms
of life, of growth, of progress."
It will be readily seen that those who complete the regular courses
of the schools, colleges and universities need the library. It is
well known that the majority do not take advantage fully of the
opportunities offered by the schools, but for various reasons they
drop out all along the line. For these we need the library. We have
a large immigration of adults from foreign lands. These people come
here to make homes and to take part in our government. Self-government
requires knowledge and understanding. Great questions are constantly
arising which demand intelligent action. Ignorance, whether it be the
ignorance of the rich or of the poor, is a menace. One of our grave
social problems is the ignorance and indifference of the ostentatious
rich. Rich in material things, but poor in the things which make life
rich. They have not learned that every man owes a debt to society that
can be paid only in service. Complex our social organization is and
it is becoming more complex each year. Grave questions are before us
for solution. The people in general have no adequate conception of the
possibilities of the library, when properly organized, as an effective
force for dealing with these conditions; and it is doubtful if the most
optimistic librarians appreciate what may be, and will be done in the
future with this great instrument of education. A community without a
public library lacks an essential of a well organized community.
Let us have in the library men and women of broad culture who have
had special training in psychology and sociology, who are sincerely
and sympathetically devoted to humanity. Let this great educational
institution be directed by people of commanding power, trained for
public service, who have entered the profession as a life work,
salaries to correspond, with qualifications required and services
rendered. We say services rendered because all service must be rendered
before it can be measured. The library will thus become the center of
intellectual activities of the community, a continuation school, a
local university.
Society is under obligation to furnish every means possible for the
development of human capacity. There is in the world latent talent and
capacity beyond measure. For the development of this latent talent,
society is in a measure responsible. If opportunity is offered,
capacity will develop.
Great forces surround us pressing for admission to our lives,
telephones, electric light, printing, anæsthesia, antiseptics,
synthetic chemistry, wireless telegraphy, etc. These things have always
been possible but the cloud of ignorance obscured man's vision, and
kept him from realizing his power.
The degree to which a community discharges its obligation can be
measured by the opportunities it offers for the development of the
members of that community. To offer better opportunities for those who
wish to continue their studies and to bring together those of like
tastes and desires, let there be opened seminar rooms in the library
building, or in other buildings which shall be under the control of the
library authorities. To these seminar rooms bring students, from every
walk of life, to study under competent direction and to investigate
subjects in which they are interested either from a material or
cultural point of view. Only a small percentage of those who complete
the high school course go to college. There should be provided graduate
courses for the high school graduates, and other students of like
qualifications in these seminar rooms, directed by the library staff.
The school teachers and library staff can meet in these seminar rooms
and discuss questions of common interest; and also pursue advanced
studies. These rooms should be the centers for university extension
work.
People can be brought together here for study and discussion of
questions of citizenship, government, civic betterment, and all
questions pertaining to social adjustment. Study groups can be formed
for regular and systematic study under the direction of competent
teachers. People of all ages can be brought together for study, which
is impossible under our present system of education. In these groups
the mature man and woman of high ideals will exert a powerful influence
upon the young. Through this system regular and systematic reading
under competent direction can be encouraged. Teachers and parents can
meet in these seminar rooms and discuss school questions.
Continuation schools should be maintained. Bring the people from their
vocations to these continuation schools; out of these schools organize
classes for special work in the library seminar rooms; thus may be
secured the union of instruction and practical application which make
for increased efficiency, cultivates the whole man, and brightens his
life.
John Stuart Mill said, "The business of life is an essential part of
the practical education of a people without which book and school and
instruction, though most necessary and salutary, does not suffice
to qualify them for conduct and for adaptation of means to ends.
Instruction is only one of the desiderata of mental improvement.
Another indispensable, is vigorous exercise of active energies."
It matters not how highly we value the formal training of the colleges
we must never overlook the fact that a very large majority do not
have the full benefit of such training. We must therefore deal with
conditions as they exist. When we call to mind the names and careers
of such men as Shakespeare, Benjamin Franklin, Hugh Miller, Herbert
Spencer, Richard Baxter, Abraham Lincoln, Michael Faraday, Sir Humphrey
Davey, Horace Greeley, Sir William Herschel, we come to realize that
many of the brightest stars in the world's constellation have been cut
and polished by forces other than the formal training of the schools.
Wide is the field and great is the opportunity.
The question may be raised, "How shall we secure the money for this
great work?" We are expending in the United States more than two-thirds
of our national income for wars past and for military purposes,
educating men to destroy. Let this fact come to the knowledge of our
people and a demand will be made to cut down the appropriations for
educating men to destroy and increase the appropriations for educating
men to construct.
A hundred years of peaceful intercourse between two great nations,
Canada and the United States, with over three thousand miles of
boundary without a gunboat or a soldier, is the best answer to the
militarist who would spent the money for instruments of destruction
that should be used for instruments of construction.
How shall we bring to the knowledge of the people information relating
to this great work? There are more than twenty millions of students
in the schools of Canada and the United States. These students touch
directly or indirectly every home. With libraries at various local
centers correlated with the schools, we have what may be called the
nervous system of education of these great nations. Through this system
the people may be reached more uniformly and regularly than in any
other way. Here is a great body of people seeking information coming
into direct contact with the homes.
Therefore we put the schools in the first place as a means of publicity
for the sake of information. Let us bring the library and the schools
into closer relation. Render service to mankind wherever mankind is.
The best publicity is secured through services rendered. The patronage
of the lawyer and physician depends largely on the quality of service
rendered. The business man secures custom when he establishes a
reputation for fair dealing. May not the library expect good measure
of publicity from the reputation it has for real accomplishment? Study
the problem, do things that are worth while. Bring the whole power of
the organization to bear on the subject of social adjustment. This will
lead to various fields of activity. Produce results which shall compel
attention. Do things that will be considered news. Having done, having
produced, do not hesitate to make known. Give your reports what the
newspaper man calls the "news turn."
Every librarian should have training in psychology and sociology
and should continue to study. Study man individually, in groups, in
communities and mankind as a whole.
The PRESIDENT: The next in order will be the secretary's report.
SECRETARY'S REPORT
The close of another conference year finds the executive office
still enjoying the hospitality of the Chicago public library in the
commodious, convenient and well equipped rooms in the Chicago public
library building. Heat, light and janitor service have also been
supplied gratuitously as in previous years. The association has now
held headquarters offices in Chicago for nearly three years and it is a
pleasure for the secretary to report that the prospects for continuance
and permanence of headquarters were never brighter than they are now.
The income from membership fees is steadily increasing. In 1909 the
amount raised from this source was $4,557.50; in 1910, $4,888.48; in
1911, $5,325.46; and the receipts thus far for 1912 warrant us in
hoping that the total amount from membership fees will be at least
$6,200. While the finances of the association even yet do not permit us
to do many things that are very much worth doing and which are in the
legitimate field of activities, we seem gradually to be approaching the
time when excursions can be made into new avenues.
Although the work of the headquarters office varies from day to day so
that no two days are alike the year's work in the aggregate so closely
resemble that for last year that much repetition of last year's report
would be made if a detailed statement were presented. The routine work
has of course been performed, such as editing the bulletin, attending
to the correspondence, advertising for the publishing board and sale
of its publications which in the last year has been the heaviest
in its history, the payment of bills, the keeping of books, the
printing of publications for the publishing board, with the attendant
work of making contracts for printing and the reading of proof, the
arrangements for the midwinter meetings and the annual conference. The
volume of this routine work has been very great and is still increasing
so that often for days at a time there is little chance for doing
anything else.
Since November 1, 1911, a record has been kept of mail sent out
from the office. From November 1, to May 31, 1912, 11,818 pieces of
first-class mail have been dispatched, or an average of about 67
pieces a day. In addition to this 15,794 pieces of circular matter
were mailed either in the interest of the A. L. A. or its publishing
board during the same period. No record of mail received has been kept
but it runs from 50 to 70 letters a day, and frequently reaches 150 a
day at certain seasons and on certain days of the week. Of course not
all of this requires the personal attention of the secretary, a large
share being orders for publications, or remittances for the same,
payment of membership dues, and various inquiries, which are entirely
handled by the office assistants. The headquarters office, however,
continues to be, we are pleased to say, a clearing house for general
library information. The Chicago public and John Crerar libraries are
frequently consulted by the secretary, and occasionally the Newberry
and other libraries, and I desire to express at this time my hearty
appreciation of the cordial assistance given me by the reference
librarians of these various institutions. Thanks to their kind offices
we have been able in most instances either to give the desired
information or tell where it may be found. To those seeking advice
regarding establishment of libraries, selection or purchase of books or
policy of administration we have gladly helped so far as we were able
but always make it a point to try to put the inquirer in touch with the
library commission of his state or the state library. We have taken
particular pleasure in corresponding with certain towns in New Mexico,
Florida, Mississippi and Montana where a public library is either
being organized or where a campaign to secure one is being conducted.
Notwithstanding the systematic efforts of the various commissions to
cover thoroughly the library work of their respective states many small
libraries and library boards seem blissfully ignorant of the existence
of such an institution as a state library commission, and we consider
it no small service to be able to enlighten them on this point. The
commissions, on the other hand, are constantly putting the small
libraries in touch with the A. L. A. The state library commissions can
always be counted on to co-operate with the A. L. A. to publish our
news notes and notices regarding publications in their bulletins, to
recommend membership and A. L. A. publications and to respond quickly
and efficiently to any special call. This is thoroughly appreciated
by the secretary and the executive office. During the past year the
secretary has made several demands on the time of the secretaries of
the various state library associations and has found response in most
cases prompt, intelligent and willing.
The library interests of the country are making progress towards a
harmony of effort that is good to see and that will bring its sure
result in better and more intelligent service to the people.
We have endeavored to keep the value and importance of publicity
steadily before us and have accomplished as much in this direction
as time and funds permitted. Multigraphed articles have been sent
out to about 175 of the leading papers of the country several times
during the year and from marked copies sent to the office and from
reports from librarians who have seen the articles in their local
papers we know that these contributions have been pretty generally
used. Several special articles on either the work of the A. L. A.
or the Publishing Board have been written for particular papers. A
publicity committee has, at the request of the secretary, recently been
appointed in the hope of securing still greater publicity. The work of
the executive office, however, does not lend itself to the making of
"stories" interesting to those outside the profession. Nearly every
live and up-to-date library, on the other hand, is every week living
out experiences which, if written up in a breezy and popular style of
which many of our library folk are masters, would make capital articles
acceptable not only to the daily press but to the more exclusive
magazines as well. It appears, therefore, that the executive office
can perhaps best promote publicity for the profession, by urging the
preparation of these contributions from the reference librarians, the
children's librarians, the loan desk people, the municipal reference
workers, these people who, as Kipling puts it, have
"lived more stories
Than Zogbaum or I can invent."
The secretary has written four or five articles on the A. L. A. for
various encyclopedias and year books, and has endeavored to get the
association listed in all the leading reference almanacs and annuals.
Lectures before library schools by the secretary regarding the A. L. A.
and its work, and official representation at the state meetings have
also given publicity to the association.
During the past year twelve persons have received library appointments
through recommendations of the secretary. This is a somewhat smaller
number than the year before when about fifteen were helped to positions
through the executive office. With two or three exceptions the
secretary has made recommendations only when requested to do so.
The work of the publishing board occupies practically three-quarters
of the time of the assistant secretary, at least half of the time of
the stenographer and order assistant and probably a quarter of the
time of the secretary. In consideration of this the publishing board
appropriates $2,000 a year to the operating expenses of the office.
The work of the publishing board is heavier than ever before in its
history; the receipts from sales for the calendar year 1911 being
$8,502.88, and for the first five months of 1912 $6,090.16. Further
notice of this feature of the work of the office can be found in the
report of the A. L. A. publishing board presented in print at this
conference.
The secretary wishes here to commend most heartily the faithful
services of his fellow-workers at the executive office, Miss Clara
A. Simms and Miss Gwendolyn I. Brigham. Their capable and willing
service has been a large factor in the work of the association and
its publishing board and without such intelligence and loyal help
the results of the year could not have been attained. For the active
co-operation and good will of the officers and other members of the
executive board the secretary is deeply grateful. It has been a
pleasure to work under such congenial conditions.
=Membership=--There are more members in the A. L. A. at the present
time than ever before in the history of the association. The secretary
has conducted as vigorously as possible a steady campaign for new
members, this work not only being the duty of the office but directly
in line with the conviction of the secretary who has recommended
membership in the national association to all library workers in
the earnest belief that this action is fully as beneficial to the
individual as to the association.
When the January membership bills were mailed we enclosed in each
envelope an appeal for the member addressed to secure at least one new
member for the association. This resulted directly in the addition of
over one hundred new members and the secretary wishes to take this
opportunity to thank most sincerely and heartily those members who
aided in this work. Besides the pleasure of securing these new members
it was gratifying to feel that so many old members took such practical
interest in aiding the association. In April membership appeals were
sent to 1854 members of state library associations who were not members
of the A. L. A. This has resulted in a fair increase of membership.
In December the secretary sent letters requesting membership to 232
library people who had, according to the news columns of library
periodicals, recently changed their positions assumably for the better.
In addition to these more or less impersonal appeals the secretary
has written a large number of personal letters to those with whom he
is either personally acquainted or else with whom he has conducted an
office correspondence. As in all other lines of business it is this
personal appeal that has been the most effective and has brought the
largest percentage of returns.
When the 1911 Handbook went to press last August there were 2046
members in the A. L. A. Of this number 13 have since died and 26 have
resigned. Since last August 351 new members have been received making
the present total net membership 2,358. Assuming that the usual number,
or about 150 persons, will discontinue their membership this summer the
net membership in the 1912 Handbook will be approximately 2,208. Of the
present total membership 332 are library or institutional members, 24
of whom have joined since last August.
=A. L. A. Representatives at Other Conferences=--The practice of having
an officer or officially appointed delegate represent the association
at the state library association meetings has been followed the past
year with success fully equal to that in previous years. Since the
Pasadena conference there have been 39 state or provincial library
meetings, and a speaker representing the A. L. A. has been present at
16 of these. The A. L. A. at present has too small a budget to meet the
traveling expenses of these speakers, which have been met either by the
state association or by the delegates personally.
The joint conference of Michigan and Ohio at Cedar Point, Ohio, Sept.
2-8, was attended by Mrs. H. L. Elmendorf, president of the American
library association, who delivered an address on "Joy Reading," and by
the secretary, who spoke informally on the work of the A. L. A. The New
York state meeting in New York City, Sept. 25-30, was also attended by
both the president and secretary, Mrs. Elmendorf giving her address on
"Joy Reading," and the secretary speaking on "What the American Library
Association Stands For."
Mrs. Elmendorf was the official delegate to the Keystone State library
association meeting at Saegertown, Pa., Oct. 19-21, giving an address
on "Joy Reading;" at the District of Columbia library association
conference, at Washington, November 8, where she gave a talk on some
of the recent books; and at the New York state teachers' association
meeting at Albany, Nov. 27-29, speaking on the subject, "School and
library co-operation; a concrete example and a little theory."
Mr. J. I. Wyer, Jr., represented the A. L. A. at the state meetings of
Iowa, at Mason City, Oct. 10-12; of Illinois, at Joliet, Oct 11-13;
and of Missouri at Hannibal, Oct. 18-19; delivering at each meeting an
address on the subject, "What Americans Read."
Mr. Chalmers Hadley, librarian of the Denver public library, and
ex-secretary of the A. L. A., was the representative of the American
library association at the meeting of the Pacific northwest library
association, at Victoria, B. C., Sept. 4-6, giving an address on "The
Library and the Community."
The secretary attended the Minnesota meeting, at Lake Minnetonka, Sept.
20-22, the Nebraska meeting at Omaha, Oct. 18-19, and the North Dakota
state meeting at Jamestown, Oct. 20-21, giving at each conference an
address on "Reaching the People." He also gave an address at the joint
session of the Indiana library association and the Indiana library
trustees' association, at Indianapolis, Nov. 8th, on "The Legal and
Moral Requirements of a Library Trustee."
Dr. Arthur E. Bostwick, librarian of the St. Louis public library, and
ex-president of the A. L. A., was the principal out-of-state speaker
at the Alabama library association conference, at Tuscaloosa, and at
the State University, November 21, 22 and 23. Dr. Bostwick gave two
addresses; the first on "The Companionship of Books;" and the second on
"The Message of the Library."
Miss Clara F. Baldwin, secretary of the Minnesota public library
commission, attended, as A. L. A. delegate, the joint meeting of the
Montana state teachers' association and Montana library association, at
Great Falls, December 27-29, 1911, and spoke on "The work of a library
commission."
Dr. Reuben G. Thwaites, secretary of the Wisconsin State Historical
Society, and an ex-president of the A. L. A., officially represented
the association at the inauguration of Dr. George E. Vincent, as
president of the University of Minnesota, October 18.
Mr. Carl B. Roden, of the Chicago public library, and treasurer of
the A. L. A., represented the association and gave an address on "The
library as a paying investment," at the Wisconsin library association
meeting at Janesville, February 21-23.
The secretary has lectured during the year before the Iowa summer
library school, the New York public library school, and the University
of Illinois library school. He also addressed the summer library
conference at Madison, Wisconsin, on the work of the A. L. A.
=Changes in Officers and Committees=--Following his election as first
vice-president, Mr. Henry E. Legler resigned as non-official member of
the executive board and Miss Alice S. Tyler was elected by the board to
fill the unexpired term ending in 1912.
Mr. Harrison W. Craver was unable to accept re-appointment as chairman
of committee on library administration and Dr. Arthur E. Bostwick was
appointed in his place.
Miss Margaret W. Brown resigned from the committee on bookbinding and
Miss Rose G. Murray was appointed to succeed her.
=Necrology=--The association has lost heavily by death during the past
year. Our losses include the senior ex-president of the association,
who was a life member, two other life members, and several who were, by
their regular attendance through many years, familiar figures at our
annual conferences. In all 13 members and 4 former members have passed
away since we last met in conference. The roll is as follows:
Emma Helen Blair, for several years a member of the staff of the
Wisconsin State Historical Library, died September 26, 1911. Miss Blair
had performed valuable and important work as an editor and professional
indexer, assisting among other things in editing "Jesuit Relations"
and the long series of historical documents in Spanish entitled "The
Philippine Islands." She had been a member of the A. L. A. continuously
since 1896 (No. 1524), and attended the conferences of 1896, 1900 and
1904. See Library journal, 36:603.
Isaac S. Bradley, for many years librarian and assistant superintendent
of the Wisconsin State Historical Society, died April 22, 1912. He
joined the A. L. A. in 1890, (No. 790) and had taken great interest
in the work of the association. Few faces were more familiar at the
conferences than his, as he attended sixteen of the annual meetings,
those of 1890, '92, '93, '95, '96, '97, '98, '99, 1900, '01, '02, '03,
'04, '06, '07 and '08.
Frederick Morgan Crunden, senior ex-president of the A. L. A., life
member, and librarian of the St. Louis public library, from 1877
to 1909, died October 28, 1911. He was president of the A. L. A.
1889-90, presiding over the Fabyans conference of the latter year, and
vice-president of the International Library Conference at London in
1897. He joined the A. L. A. in 1878 (No. 129) and became a life member
about 1889. To record Mr. Crunden's services to the American library
world and to the A. L. A. would be practically to give a history of the
association for the past 30 years. He participated in many programs
and conference discussions and was one of the best known and beloved
of American librarians. Mr. Crunden attended the conferences of 1883
and 1886 to 1905 inclusive, twenty in all, without an absence, except
at the San Francisco conference of 1891. He also attended the London
international conference in 1897. See A. L. A. Bulletin 6:3; Library
journal, 33:569-70; Public libraries, 16:436-38.
Irene Gibson, chief assistant in the publication section of the Library
of Congress, died July 9, 1911. She joined the association in 1893 (No.
1114), and became a life member in 1910. She attended the conferences
of 1893, '97, 1903, '08, '10. See Library journal, 36:439.
Jessie Sherburne Gile, assistant in charge of the work with schools
in the public library of Haverhill, Mass., died October 22, 1911. She
joined the A. L. A. in 1902, (No. 2555), and attended the conferences
of 1902 and '06.
David L. Kingsbury, assistant librarian of the Minnesota Historical
Society of St. Paul, died January 24, 1912. He joined the A. L. A. in
1904 (No. 3079), and attended the conferences of 1904, '08 and '11.
Mrs. Evelyn N. Lane, head of the circulating department of the
Springfield (Mass.) City Library, died August 30, 1911. She had been a
member of the A. L. A. since 1902 (No. 2454), but so far as recorded
attended only the conference of that year.
Robbins Little, for twenty years superintendent of the Astor Library,
New York City, died April 13, 1912. He joined the A. L. A. in 1880 (No.
389), and later became a life member. So far as recorded he attended
none of the conferences.
Stella Lucas, librarian of the Tainter Memorial Library of Menominee,
Wis., died July 30, 1911. She joined the A. L. A. in 1901 (No. 2252),
and attended the conferences in 1901, '05 and '08.
Adolph L. Peck, librarian of the Gloversville (N. Y.) Free Library
since its foundation in 1880, died October 9, 1911. He joined the
A. L. A. in 1883 (No. 466), and was a familiar figure at the annual
conferences, having attended those of 1883, '85, '86, '87, '90, '92,
'93, '94, '96, '98, 1900 and 1906.
Mrs. Minerva A. Sanders, for many years librarian of the Deborah
Cook Sayles Memorial Library, Pawtucket, R. I., died March 20, 1912.
Although Mrs. Sanders was an enthusiastic attendant on A. L. A.
conferences she never personally joined the association, but was
officially entitled to a seat in the conferences by virtue of the
institutional membership of her library. She had attended fifteen
conferences and was well known to the veterans of the association, who
well remember her early advocacy of open shelves and work for children.
L. W. Sicotte, president of the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society, of
Montreal, died September 5, 1911. He joined the A. L. A. in 1900 (No.
1947). So far as recorded he attended only the conference of 1900 held
in his home city.
T. Guilford Smith, of Buffalo, regent of the University of the State
of New York, died Feb. 20, 1912. He had been a member of the A. L. A.
continuously since 1893 (No. 1193), and attended the conferences of
1897 and 1903.
The following persons at various times were members of the association
but were not at the time of their death:
Zu Adams, for many years connected with the Kansas State Historical
Society, died April, 1911. She was a member of the A. L. A. for the
year 1904 (No. 3203), and attended the St Louis conference.
Caroline A. Farley, formerly librarian of Radcliffe College, Cambridge,
Mass., died March 14, 1912. She joined the association in 1896 (No.
1394), and was a member continuously until 1909. So far as recorded she
attended none of the conferences.
Stephen B. Griswold, for many years law librarian of the New York state
library, died May 4, 1912. He joined the A. L. A. in 1892 (No. 943),
and remained a member until 1904. So far as recorded he attended no
conferences.
William E. Parker, treasurer of Library Bureau, Cambridge, Mass., died
November 2, 1911. He was a member of the A. L. A. continuously from
1889 (No. 757), to 1909, and was secretary of the association in 1890.
He attended the conferences of 1889, '90 and '96.
The secretary's report was accepted on motion of Mr. J. I. Wyer, Jr.,
seconded by Dr. C. W. Andrews.
The treasurer's report which had been previously printed, was read by
title, and accepted.
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
=Report of the Treasurer, Jan. 1st to May 31st, 1912.=
=Receipts=
Balance, Union Trust Company, Chicago, January 1, 1912 $2,005.66
Trustees Endowment Fund Interest 175.00
Trustees Carnegie Fund Interest 1,524.33
George B. Utley, Headquarters collections 4,815.50
A. L. A. Publishing Board, Installment on Hdqrs. expense 1,000.00
Interest on bank balance Jan. to May 17.34 $9,537.83
--------- ---------
=Expenditures=
Checks No. 28-32 (Vouchers No. 437-505)
Distributed as follows:
Bulletin $ 187.90
Conference 15.50
Committees 54.17
Headquarters:
Salaries 2,103.10
Miscellaneous 308.33
Trustees Endowment Fund (Life mem.) 150.00
A. L. A. Pub. Bd. Carnegie Fund interest 1,524.33
--------- ---------
Balance Union Trust Company, June 1, 1912 $5,194.50
George B. Utley, National Bank of Republic 250.00
---------
Total balance $5,444.50
Respectfully submitted,
C. B. RODEN, Treasurer.
Chicago, June 1, 1912.
The following report of the finance committee was read by Dr. C. W.
Andrews, chairman, and accepted.
REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE.
To the American Library Association:
In accordance with the provisions of the constitution the finance
committee submit the following report:
They have duly considered the probable income of the association for
the current year and have estimated it at $19,450, and have approved
appropriations made by the Executive Board to that amount. The details
of the estimated income and of the appropriations are given in the
January number of the Bulletin. The committee have also approved the
appropriation to the use of the Publishing Board to any excess of
sales over the amount estimated. The receipts and expenditures of the
Publishing Board have been included in the figures given, so that they
now exhibit the total financial resources and expenditures of the
association.
On behalf of the committee the chairman has audited the accounts of the
treasurer and of the secretary as assistant treasurer. He has found
that the receipts as stated by the treasurer agree with the transfer
checks from the assistant treasurer, and with the cash accounts of
the latter. The expenditures as stated are accounted for by properly
approved vouchers. The bank balance and petty cash, as stated, agree
with the bank books and petty cash balances. The accounts of the
assistant treasurer have been found correct as cash accounts.
On behalf of the committee Mr. E. H. Anderson has examined the accounts
of the trustees for 1911, has checked the securities now in their
custody, and certifies to the correctness of the figures, to the bonds
on hand, and the balance in bank. He finds that at par value the bonds
and securities amount to $102,500 for the Carnegie fund, and $7,000 for
the Principal account.
He has examined the vouchers for the amounts transmitted to the
treasurer and has compared the reports of the treasurer and trustees in
regard to the number of new life memberships. He certifies that to the
best of his knowledge and belief all of the accounts as submitted to
him are correct.
All of which is respectfully submitted for the committee.
CLEMENT W. ANDREWS, Chairman.
The following reports which had been previously printed, were read by
title and accepted.
A. L. A. PUBLISHING BOARD
With the issuance of the A. L. A. Catalog, 1904-11, which is now in
press, the Publishing Board practically completes an important group
of bibliographical aids which has been in process of compilation or
publication during the past five years. The chief publications embrace
the following:
A. L. A. Catalog, 1904-11, to be issued in 1912.
List of subject headings for use in dictionary catalogs, 3rd
edition revised by Mary Josephine Briggs. 1911.
Small library buildings; a collection of plans with introduction
and notes by Cornelia Marvin. 1908.
Guide to the study and use of reference books, by Alice B.
Kroeger. 1908.
Supplement to the above, compiled by Isadore G. Mudge. 1911.
Foreign book lists, embracing to date German, French, Hungarian,
Norwegian and Danish, and Swedish.
550 Children's books; a purchase list for public libraries, by
Harriet H. Stanley. 1910.
Selected list of music and books about music for public libraries,
by Louisa M. Hooper. 1909.
Hints to small libraries, by Mary W. Plummer, 4th edition. 1911.
This list does not include a number of new tracts and handbooks, nor
the tentative chapters of an A. L. A. Manual of library economy which
it is proposed upon completion to assemble in book form. An index
to annual library reports, which is well under way, will probably
be put into type before the expiration of the calendar year. In
addition, during the quintennial period now closing, the Board has been
instrumental in securing the publication of the following important
bibliographical aids bearing the imprints of other organizations: Index
of economic material in documents of the states of the United States,
prepared by Adelaide R. Hasse; A. L. A. Portrait index, edited by W. C.
Lane and Nina E. Browne.
New chapters of the Manual of library economy are noted in another
paragraph.
Directions for the librarian of a small library (3000 copies), by
Zaidee Brown was reprinted for the League of library commissions from
the type used by the Free public library commission of Massachusetts.
The library and social movements; a list of material obtainable free
or at small expense (1250 copies), compiled by Ono Mary Imhoff, of the
Wisconsin free library commission, was reprinted for the League from
the type used for the edition of the Wisconsin free library commission.
Subject index to vol. 7 of the A. L. A. Booklist (2500 copies) was
printed in June, 1911. Although proportionately valuable to vols. 1-6
the sale has been very unsatisfactory and is not an encouragement to
prepare future yearly indexes.
During the past year the following publications have been reprinted:
A. L. A. Index to general literature, edited by W. I. Fletcher, 1905
edition (500 copies); Cataloging for small libraries, by Theresa
Hitchler (Handbook No. 2) (1000 copies); Binding for small libraries,
compiled by the A. L. A. Committee on Bookbinding (Handbook No. 5)
(1500 copies); Guide to reference books, by Alice B. Kroeger (1000
copies); and Cutter's Notes from the art section of a library (Tract
No. 5) (1000 copies). A new edition of Miss Stearns' Essential in
library administration (2000 copies) is now in press. It has been
brought up to date by the author.
=Publications out of Print=--Several publications for which plates were
not made have recently become out of print. Magazines for the small
library, by Katharine MacDonald Jones, and Graded list of stories for
reading aloud, by Harriot E. Hassler were both League publications
which had been turned over to the Board. There is a steady demand for
them and they should be either brought up to date and reprinted or
something else issued on the same subject.
=Questions of Policy=--The work now nearing an end has engaged the
attention and absorbed the resources of the Publishing Board to
an extent that precluded entry into new fields calling for large
expenditures. The editorial work involved in the compilation of the
third edition of Subject headings, extending over a period of several
years, and the editorial expenses incident to the publication of the A.
L. A. Booklist have practically exhausted the current funds available
for such service. Beginning with the new fiscal year, the funds derived
from sales will doubtless care for all outstanding obligations, and the
income from the Carnegie endowment can be devoted to maintain and to
further strengthen the Booklist, and to undertake new enterprises.
Out of the great labor involved, and time required in the preparation
of Subject headings, and of the A. L. A. Catalog, has developed the
suggestion that work for new editions of the former compilation should
be continuous, and that the Booklist bears a logical relationship to
the A. L. A. Catalog. While the members of the Publishing Board are not
fully prepared at this time to urge a definite permanent policy in this
connection, an interesting suggestion comes from Mrs. Elmendorf, which
well merits consideration in having an important bearing on future
development. Her suggestion, in her own words, is this:
"Would it not be well to consider the publication of the A. L.
A. Catalog in loose-leaf form on something the same principle as
Nelson's Cyclopedia? Different parts of it might then be revised
from time to time and the parts or pages might be for sale
separately.
"It could be so printed that the pages might be mounted and
arranged in a vertical file, headings being suggested at the
bottom for arrangement as any library preferred, in regular
classed order or in alphabetico-classed. A card index to the
vertical file might be made to minimize the difficulties of the
classed arrangement. The notes should be attractive notes, letting
the presence of the book in this "Choice Catalog" vouch for its
worth and in a general way for the treatment, for the choice
should be guided by the best popular, readable treatment. I am
more and more thinking that effective helps to awakened personal
interest are needed and are lacking. The A. L. A. Catalog has
always been too bulky, too costly, too much directed to the buyer
for effective personal service. I have long been convinced that
the greatest popular service can be performed even in the large
libraries with quite a limited number of books, I think not more
than 20,000, perhaps not more than 10,000. I should like to
advertise that many adequately and attractively and watch the
results.
"I know that there are many objections and difficulties to be met,
and yet I believe that there is the germ of a workable scheme
present."
=List of Subject Headings=--The chief publication of the year has
been the new List of subject headings, revised and edited by Mary
Josephine Briggs, cataloger of the Buffalo public library. After
nearly five years of labor this third edition appeared October
1st, 1911 and has met with a most appreciative reception. 3000
copies were printed as a first edition. 1312 copies have already
been sold (to June 1), and a steady demand continues. The reviews
have been almost uniformly favorable.
=A. L. A. Catalog, 1904-11=--The new A. L. A. Catalog, 1904-11,
although not yet off the press as this report is written, will be
distributed we hope about the date of the Ottawa meeting. It contains
a selection of about 3000 of the best books published since the A.
L. A. Catalog of 1904, with a list of books now out of print which
appeared in that Catalog, and also of new editions. Children's books
are listed separately. Five thousand copies are being printed as a
first edition, of which nearly 3000 have been subscribed for in advance
of publication. From the preface written by the editor, Miss Elva L.
Bascom, the following extracts are selected:
"The general plan of the Catalog and the routine of co-operation in
the selection of titles practically coincide with those of the original
work except that the whole routine, from the preliminary selection to
the final preparation for printing, has remained in the hands of one
person.
"All titles have been submitted to the publishers for latest
information, so that the list should be dependable for prices.
"The sixth edition (1899) of the Decimal Classification has been
followed. This decision was made on the information that the smaller
libraries had not to any extent adopted the seventh edition. It is to
be hoped that when the time comes to revise the 1904 Catalog there may
be at hand a complete revised edition of the "D. C." simplified for the
requirements of the smaller libraries.
"The addition of subject headings (not given with the titles in the
1904 Catalog) was determined on before the decision to print only a
class list was made. It has been a frequent request from the librarians
of smaller libraries, who need help in this matter and who found it
difficult to find the headings chosen for the Dictionary list in the
1904 Catalog. The new edition of the List of subject headings has been
followed with some additions. Where the subjects of analytics are
easily ascertainable, they are only recommended.
"While in the beginning the attempt was made to adhere fairly closely
to the proportion of titles to each subject given in the 1904 Catalog,
it was found impossible to do so without impairing the usefulness of
the list. The output of books in the subjects grouped under Sociology
has been so great, and the demand for them so heavy, that it seemed
better to include a larger number than was originally planned rather
than risk weakening the usefulness of the section. The greatest
increase has been in Useful Arts, and this was intentional, since there
is no division where the average librarian is more in need of help, nor
where it is more difficult to find the "best book" on short notice.
"Two special lists are incorporated in the Catalog, both in answer to
definite requests. One is a selection of about 50 titles of religious
books specially chosen for Catholic readers. Two preliminary selections
were made, one by an assistant in the St. Louis public library at the
request of the librarian, Dr. A. E. Bostwick, and a second by the Rev.
W. J. McMullen of Pittsburgh, at the request of the librarian of the
Carnegie library of Pittsburgh, Mr. H. W. Craver. Both lists were then
incorporated into a much more extensive one, covering all subjects,
compiled by Mr. William Stetson Merrill, of the Newberry library.
The final selection, limited to religious books, was submitted to
Archbishop Ireland, and at his request was examined by the Rev. J. A.
Ryan, of the St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul, Minn."
The second list consists of 50 titles of modern drama and books about
it. It was impossible to get any unanimity of opinion on such a brief
selection and the editor is aware that it will satisfy a very small
proportion of libraries. It is allowed to stand, however, for the
suggestion it may give to the perplexed librarian of the smaller
library.
"It is hardly to be imagined that any one ever prepared a list of this
character and extent without wishing to ask the indulgence of possible
critics and to explain why it is so much farther from perfect than
it was expected to be. It seems a fairly simple task to select 3000
titles from the books published in eight years, but a list based on the
co-operation of about 75 librarians and 100 experts, all fully engaged
with their own work, and selected, edited and prepared for printing in
the intervals between work having a prior claim, is bound to progress
but slowly and to suffer many changes of fortune. One needs to be this
sort of clearing house of opinion but once to realize how far apart our
libraries are in the matter of book selection. In many cases what is
one library's meat seems to be another's poison, and one soon reaches
the conviction that there are no "best books" on any subject for a
library of any size--if librarians alone are to be consulted. Happily,
professors, special students and experts in general are less at
variance. It is only fair to say that the Fiction and Children's lists
represent librarians' votes only. It is to be doubted if the Fiction,
at least, would have retained the proper amount of "light reading"
if it had passed through the hands of literature professors. If it
does not prove a good "working" selection the editor will be greatly
disappointed, for it was on that ground alone that many titles escaped
the deleting pencil."
=A. L. A. Booklist=--With the current number of the A. L. A. Booklist,
volume 8 is completed. Since the initial number appeared in January,
1905, the Booklist has come to be regarded as an indispensable tool in
every library. There has been no deviation from the original policy
of furnishing to the libraries, and the numerous small libraries
particularly, an unbiased guide in selection of books currently
published. The number of titles listed from the 2500 annually examined,
has been expanded from time to time, but the general character of the
publication has been retained. Suggestions have come to the Board for
change of name, for change of form and size, and for other changes
that might lead to a larger use of the list by the general public.
While the members of the Board have given careful consideration to the
arguments presented, they have deferred reaching a final conclusion
until practical unanimity can be arrived at as to the wisdom of the
changes sought. A total of 7729 titles has been included in the 2456
pages which comprise the eight volumes of the Booklist:
A. L. A. BOOKLIST
Volume No. of Titles No. of Pages Nos. in Vol.
1 500 144 8
2 690 256 8
3 681 238 8
4 643 317 9
5 739 197 6
6 1,417 424 10
7 1,583 456 10
8 1,476 424 10
----- -----
Total 7,729 2,456
=Manual of Library Economy=--Six chapters of the Manual were printed
and ready for distribution previous to the Pasadena conference, namely:
1. American library history, by C. K. Bolton.
2. Library of Congress, by W. W. Bishop.
4. The college and university library, by J. I. Wyer, Jr.
17. Order and accession department, by F. F. Hopper.
22. Reference department, by E. C. Richardson.
26. Bookbinding, by A. L. Bailey.
During the latter half of 1911 the four following chapters were
printed, also each in a separate pamphlet, appearing in the order here
named:
20. Shelf department, by Josephine A. Rathbone.
15. Branch libraries and other distributing agencies, by Linda A.
Eastman.
9. Library legislation, by W. F. Yust.
12. Library administration, by A. E. Bostwick.
Since their publication the following number of copies of each chapter
have been sold (to March 31):
Chapter 1 528 copies
2 473
4 589
9 251
12 267
15 475
17 591
20 474
22 617
26 671
-----
Total 4,936
Manuscripts for two more chapters, The library building, by W. R.
Eastman, and Proprietary and subscription libraries, by C. K. Bolton,
are ready and in the secretary's possession, but funds for printing are
not in hand at present, owing to the heavy obligation incurred by the
printing of Subject headings and the A. L. A. Catalog, 1904-11, within
so short a time of each other. It is hoped, however, to print these
and perhaps some others before the end of the year.
=Periodical Cards=--The shipments of periodical cards sent out since
the close of the last report of the Board (May 1, 1911) have comprised
3,009 titles and 180,241 cards, not including reprints of cards in
which errors have been discovered after the cards have been distributed.
Copy is received regularly by the editor, Mr. William Stetson Merrill,
every two weeks, on the fifth and twentieth of the month from the
following libraries:--Columbia, Harvard, John Crerar, New York and
Yale. This copy is edited promptly and prepared for the printer.
=Advertising=--The Board's publications have been regularly advertised
in Library Journal and Public Libraries and in one special number of
The Dial. For the rest circularization and correspondence from the
headquarters office has been relied upon. During the year over 15,000
pieces of circular matter have been mailed from headquarters office in
the interest of our publications.
Particular effort has been made to advertise widely the new List of
subject headings and the A. L. A. Catalog. For the latter in addition
to circularizing the libraries descriptive postal cards were addressed
to 7,000 high school and normal school principals. From these circulars
only about 100 orders for the Catalog can be directly traced. It seems
plain that it does not pay to advertise our publications among the high
schools. Slips advertising the Catalog were sent to the librarians of
all the leading colleges, requesting that these slips be distributed
to members of the faculty interested in book selection. This resulted
in getting orders from many college libraries addressed, but very few
from the teaching staff. Experience would indicate that libraries and
librarians are the only classes to which advertising can profitably be
addressed. We have endeavored to keep the state library commissions
regularly informed on all our publications and all of them which issue
monthly or quarterly bulletins list our new publications therein,
generally with appreciative annotations and descriptions. Exhibits of
publications have been made at several state library meetings visited
by the secretary.
During the past year the principal libraries of England, Scotland and
Ireland have been circularized with lists of our publications, and a
very gratifying number of orders have been received as a result. When
the revised edition of Subject headings appeared copies were sent to
nearly all the library periodicals of the various countries of Europe
with the result that they reviewed the book and quite a number of
continental orders have been directly traceable to these reviews.
Copies of Subject headings and the new A. L. A. Catalog have been
ordered from almost every important country in the world.
This report would be incomplete without hearty acknowledgment of the
excellent work of the Secretary, Mr. George B. Utley. To his good
business judgment and careful and judicious management is due in great
measure the splendid financial showing recorded in the accompanying
fiscal statement. The affairs of the Board have never been in better
shape than now. The sales are increasing encouragingly, the inventory
shows a salable stock with less "dead" material than at any time for
years back, and the office organization is now well systematized and
effective.
HENRY E. LEGLER, Chairman.
FINANCIAL REPORT
=Cash Receipts June 1, 1911, to May 31, 1912.=
Balance, June 1, 1911 $2,337.70
Interest on Carnegie Fund 4,524.33
Receipts from publications:
Cash sales $3,781.47
Payments on account 7,690.89 11,472.36
Interest on bank deposits 4.53
Sundries 1.98 $18,340.90
--------- ----------
=Payments June 1, 1911, to May 31, 1912.=
Cost of publications:
A. L. A. Booklist $1,940.35
Library and social movements
(1250 copies) 25.50
Supplement to Guide to reference books,
1909-10 (3000 copies) 220.12
Subject headings, second edition reprint
(200 copies) 132.30
Subject index to Booklist Vol. 7
(2500 copies) 223.00
Copyright on Hints to small libraries 1.03
Copyright on Supplement to Guide 1.03
Directions to librarian of a small library
(3000 copies) 76.49
Government documents in small libraries,
reprint (1000 copies) 25.50
Manual of library economy, Chap. 1,
2, 4, 17, 22, 26 376.55
Manual of library economy, Chap. 20 48.80
Manual of library economy, Chap. 15 62.80
Manual of library economy, Chap. 9 43.40
Manual of library economy, Chap. 12 37.55
Binding for small libraries, reprint
(1500 copies) 29.00
Reprints from Bulletin 40.91
Cataloging for small libraries,
reprint (1000 copies) 64.00
Library statistics tables 2.25
A. L. A. Index to general literature
(part of reprint) 108.00
Notes on the art section of a library,
reprint (1000 copies) 20.00
Guide to the use of reference books,
reprint (1000 copies) 259.08
Subject headings, third edition
(3000 copies) 3,518.96
Periodical cards 1,516.38 $8,773.00
Addressograph machine supplies 21.84
Furniture and fixtures 103.00
Advertising 282.15
Postage and express 631.49
Rent at Madison office 300.00
Travel 281.35
Salaries 3,670.00
Expense at headquarters 2,000.00
Supplies and incidentals 1,066.36
Printing (stationery, etc.) 43.25
Balance on hand, May 31, 1912 1,168.46 $18,340.90
SALES OF A. L. A. PUBLISHING BOARD PUBLICATIONS
=April 1, 1911, to March 31, 1912.=
A. L. A. Booklist, regular subscriptions 1115 $1,115.00
Additional subs, at reduced rate of 50c 141 70.50
Bulk subscriptions paid 1,083.65
Extra copies 1659 242.78 $2,511.93
Handbook 1, Essentials in library administration 492 71.63
Handbook 2, Cataloging for small libraries 677 89.15
Handbook 3, Management of traveling libraries 88 12.73
Handbook 4, Aids in book selection 42 6.23
Handbook 5, Binding for small libraries 139 21.35
Handbook 6, Mending and repair of books 602 78.21
Handbook 7, U. S. Government documents 652 84.87 364.17
Tract 2, How to start a library 80 4.00
Tract 3, Traveling libraries 26 1.30
Tract 8, A village library 219 7.65
Tract 9, Library school training 196 9.55
Tract 10, Why do we need a public library? 390 13.50 36.00
Foreign Lists, German 100 42.25
Foreign Lists, French 150 26.09
Foreign Lists, French fiction 130 4.25
Foreign Lists, Hungarian 95 9.70
Foreign Lists, Norwegian and Danish 98 16.71
Foreign Lists, Swedish 105 18.56 117.56
Reprints, Arbor day list 30 1.50
Reprints, Bird books 33 3.30
Reprints, Christmas Bulletin 65 3.25
Reprints, Library buildings 139 13.78
Reprints, National library problem today 26 1.30
Reprints, Rational library work with children 64 3.20 26.33
Periodical cards, subscriptions 1,197.45
Periodical cards, Old South Leaflets 15.75
Periodical cards, Reed's Modern Eloquence sets 9 22.50
Periodical cards, Smithsonian reports set 1 15.00 1,250.70
A. L. A. Manual of library economy:
Chap. I. American library history 528 46.73
Chap. II. Library of Congress 473 34.60
Chap. IV. College and university library 589 52.67
Chap. IX. Library legislation 251 18.96
Chap. XII. Administration of a public library 267 20.44
Chap. XV. Branch libraries 475 32.71
Chap. XVII. Order and accession department 591 46.25
Chap. XX. Shelf department 474 34.65
Chap. XXII. Reference department 617 55.54
Chap. XXVI. Bookbinding 671 53.78 396.33
A. L. A. Index to general literature 31 177.00
Catalog rules 486 271.06
Children's reading (now out of print) 6 1.48
Girls and women and their clubs 57 13.55
Guide to reference books 686 888.25
Guide to reference books, Supplement 761 181.50
Hints to small libraries 203 136.69
Larned, Literature of American history 29 160.47
Larned, Literature of American history, Supplement 79 64.21
List of music and books about music 82 20.12
List of editions selected for economy in
bookbuying 126 30.99
List of 550 children's books 346 55.85
List of subject headings, 2nd edition 218 397.45
List of subject headings, 3rd edition 1125 2,717.00
Plans of small library buildings 98 120.52
Reading for the young 9 6.61
Reading for the young, Supplement 16 3.94
Subject index to A. L. A. Booklist, v. 1-6 260 66.23
Subject index to A. L. A. Booklist, v. 7 961 84.49 5,397.40
League publications:
Anniversaries and holidays 13 3.25
Directions for librarian of a small library 1186 54.53
Graded list of stories for reading aloud 335 32.71
Library and social movement 1000 31.63
Magazines for the small library 313 29.38 151.50
A. L. A. Bulletin and Proceedings 258 87.96
A. L. A. Bulletin, Hopper reprint 462 11.85 99.81
----- ------- ----------
Total sale of publications $10,351.73
REPORT OF THE CARNEGIE AND ENDOWMENT FUNDS
To the President and Members of the American Library Association:
The Trustees of the Endowment Funds in presenting their annual report
for the year ending January 15, 1912, desire to say that there has been
no change in the securities held by the Board. The market price of most
of them remaining about the same, changes could not be made to the
advantage and desired betterment of the fund.
The Trustees are pleased to state that all interest has been promptly
paid.
Mr. E. H. Anderson of the New York public library was again deputed
to audit the accounts of the Board and inspect the securities, and he
gives to the Trustees, as the result of that examination, the following
letter:
Dear Mr. Appleton:
Enclosed herewith are the vouchers from Mr. Roden, Treasurer of
the American Library Association, and the receipt for the rent of
the safety deposit box in the vaults of the Union Trust Company.
I have written the chairman of the Finance Committee that I have
examined these vouchers and found them in accordance with your
type written statement.
The four type written sheets which you gave me yesterday I have
checked as correct as to the bonds in your custody, as to the
vouchers referred to above, and as to the cash balance on hand. I
have certified to Mr. Andrews, the chairman of the Committee on
Finance, that to the best of my knowledge and belief the reports
contained on these sheets are correct.
Very sincerely,
(Signed) E. H. ANDERSON.
The General Endowment Fund has been increased during the year by the
taking of seven life memberships by the persons named, adding to the
Fund, $175.00.
Respectfully submitted,
W. C. KIMBALL,
WM. W. APPLETON,
W. T. PORTER.
Trustees of A. L. A. Endowment Fund.
CARNEGIE FUND, PRINCIPAL ACCOUNT
Cash donated by Mr. Andrew Carnegie $100,000.00
=Invested as follows:=
June 1, 1908 5,000 4% Am. Tel. & Tel. Bonds 96-1/2 $ 4,825.00
June 1, 1908 10,000 4% Am. Tel. & Tel. Bonds 94-3/8 9,437.50
June 1, 1908 15,000 4% Cleveland Terminal 100 15,000.00
June 1, 1908 10,000 4% Seaboard Air Line 95-1/2 9,550.00
June 1, 1908 15,000 5% Western Un. Tel. 108-1/2 15,000.00
June 1, 1908 15,000 3-1/2% N. Y. Cen. 90 13,500.00
(Lake Shore Col)
June 1, 1908 15,000 5% Mo. Pacific 104-7/8 15,000.00
May 3, 1909 15,000 5% U. S. Steel 104 15,000.00
Aug. 6, 1909 1,500 U. S. Steel 106-7/8 1,500.00
July 27, 1910 1,000 U. S. Steel 102-1/2 1,000.00
------ ---------
102,500 99,812.50
Jan. 15, 1912 Union Trust Co. on deposit 187.50
-----------
$100,000.00
In addition to the above we have on hand at the Union Trust Company
$150 profit on the sale of the Missouri Pacific Bonds, which we have
carried to a special surplus account.
CARNEGIE FUND, INCOME ACCOUNT
=1911=
January 15, Balance $2,487.76
February 15, Int. N. Y. Central 262.50
March 1, Int. Missouri Pacific 375.00
March 1, Int. Seaboard Line 200.00
May 2, Int. U. S. Steel 437.50
May 2, Int. Cleveland Terminal 300.00
July 5, Int. Amer. Tel. & Tel. Co. 300.00
July 5, Int. Western Union Tel. Co. 375.00
August 9, Int. N. Y. Central 262.50
September 1, Int. Seaboard Line 200.00
September 1, Int. Missouri Pacific 375.00
November 1, Int. U. S. Steel 437.50
November 1, Int. Cleveland Terminal 300.00
December 31, Int. Union Trust Co. 54.33
=1912=
January 2, Int. Western Union Tel. Co. 375.00
January 2, Int. Am. Tel. & Tel. Co. 300.00 $7,042.09
-------- ---------
=Disbursements:=
=1911=
March 2, Carl B. Roden, Treas. $2,487.76
August 15, Carl B. Roden, Treas. 2,000.00
October 6, Carl B. Roden, Treas. 1,000.00
December 27, Rent Safe Deposit Co. 30.00
January 15, 1912 Cash on hand 1,524.33 $7,042.09
--------- ---------
ENDOWMENT FUND, PRINCIPAL ACCOUNT
=1911=
January 15, On hand, Bonds and Cash $7,111.84
April 1, Life membership Mary E. Hawley 25.00
April 1, Life membership Mary F. Isom 25.00
May 1, Life membership H. W. Craver 25.00
August 9, Life membership M. S. Dudgeon 25.00
August 28, Life membership F. K. Walter 25.00
October 4, Life membership R. G. Thwaites 25.00
November 1, Life membership R. B. Stern 25.00 $7,286.84
--------- ---------
=Invested as follows:=
=1908=
June 1, 2 U. S. Steel Bonds 98-1/2 $1,970.00
October 19, 2 U. S. Steel Bonds 102-5/8 2,000.00
November 5, 1-1/2 U. S. Steel Bonds 101 1,500.00
=1910=
July 27, 1-1/2 U. S. Steel Bonds 102-1/2 1,500.00
January 15, 1912 Cash on hand, Union
Trust Co. 316.84 $7,286.84
--------- ---------
ENDOWMENT FUND, INCOME ACCOUNT
=1911=
January 15, Cash on hand $448.41
May 2, Int. U. S. Steel 175.00
November 1, Int. U. S. Steel 175.00 $798.41
------- -------
=Disbursements:=
=1911=
February 15, C. B. Roden, Treas. $448.41
July 5, C. B. Roden, Treas. 175.00
January 15, 1912 Cash on hand 175.00 $798.41
COMMITTEE ON BOOKBINDING
During the year the special library edition of the Encyclopaedia
Britannica, mentioned in last year's report, and at various times in
the library periodicals, was placed on the market under considerable
difficulty. As planned at first, three special library editions
were all to be bound in England and imported for libraries by the
publishers. Unfortunately, it was discovered after orders had been
taken that the publishers could not, under the copyright law, import
any copies, and notices to that effect were sent to libraries that had
ordered these editions. The publishers then found that the cloth bound
set, according to the A. L. A. specifications, could be manufactured
in this country and again librarians received communications from the
publishers. Owing to these various communications from the publishers,
together with notices from this committee, many librarians remained
without knowledge as to the real state of affairs.
At the present time the committee understands that the cloth bound
set, with special reinforcements, can be obtained directly from the
publishers in this country, and that sets bound by Mr. Chivers can be
obtained directly from him. Several complaints of the new bindings have
come to the committee, but upon investigation, it was found in every
case that the complaints were due to imperfect or torn pages and not
to defective binding. Undoubtedly many imperfect sheets were passed in
the first copies that were sold. We have reason to believe, however,
that later sets have been more carefully collated. Complaints about
the cloth binding have also been received from large libraries. As a
matter of fact this edition was not intended for large libraries. From
the beginning it has been stated that the cloth edition was for the use
of small libraries. Large libraries were expected to get one of the
leather editions.
It is quite evident that publishers are beginning to realize that good
binding, especially of reference books, is an asset of considerable
value when dealing with libraries. During the year the committee has
several times been called upon for specifications and suggestions for
the binding of large reference books. Perhaps the most noteworthy
instance was that of the Century Company, which submitted samples of
binding for the new edition of the Century Dictionary. The Century
Company and the J. F. Tapley Company, of New York, which did the
binding, adopted various methods of strengthening the volumes, and
the samples submitted included not only all of the committee's
specifications, but several others. The samples were so good and the
honesty of purpose of the Century Company and the J. F. Tapley Company
so evident that the committee felt no hesitation in stating that the
result was the best piece of commercial (machine bound) binding ever
brought to its attention. Visits of two members of the committee to
the bindery showed that the specifications in every case were being
lived up to. The committee, furthermore, obtained full description and
specifications of this binding, which, with certain modifications, can
be used as a standard for this kind of work.
Specifications for strong binding were also submitted to H. W. Wilson
Company for the binding of the new volume of U. S. Catalog; to Robert
Glasgow, of Toronto, for a set entitled "Makers of Canada"; and to the
Review of Reviews Company for the "Photographic history of the Civil
war." The specifications, as submitted, were adopted by the Robert
Glasgow Co., and the Review of Reviews Co. The H. W. Wilson Co. adopted
them with some slight modifications which met with the approval of the
committee.
So far as the reinforcing of fiction and juvenile books by publishers
is concerned, matters stand about the same as they have been for
the past two years. The plan has practically been dropped by all
publishers. In a few cases, books which the publishers have discovered
are in constant demand by libraries, are kept in stock in special
binding. Examples of these are the Little Cousin Series, published by
Page, and the Peter Rabbit Series, by Warne. The number of titles of
such books is very few.
It must not be supposed, however, that because the publishers have
stopped doing this, such books are unobtainable. On the contrary, it
is easier to get reinforced publishers' covers than ever before, and
with the surety that the work is well done, which was not always the
case when they were bound by the publishers. Those who wish to use the
attractive publishers' covers, and at the same time have a book which
will outlast the period of extreme popularity, can do so by ordering
from one of the several firms which do work of this kind. In most
cases the increased cost is greater than was the case when the books
were done by the publishers, but the work is far better done and in
the opinion of the committee the increased value more than compensates
for the increased cost. Furthermore, the books are not injured for
rebinding. In fact, in some cases the sewing of the book is designed to
last during its lifetime. When the first cover wears out, all that is
necessary is to re-case it.
While discussing the question of reinforced bindings it may not be
amiss again to call attention to the special binding of the Everyman's
Library. Experience in the use of these volumes only emphasizes their
serviceability, attractiveness and cheapness. Whenever possible all
replacements should be made from this collection.
During the year the publishers of two periodicals, Everybody's and
World's Work, adopted a scheme of binding which necessitated cutting
off the backs of signatures. It was apparent at once that this scheme
made it necessary for libraries which bound these periodicals to have
them overcast in sewing. Since few binders understand the proper
method of oversewing and moreover generally charge extra for it, many
libraries were put to much inconvenience and added expense. Protests
from this committee to the publishers were promptly heeded, and as a
result all libraries now receive the regular edition with folded sheets.
The correspondence of the committee has largely increased. Inquiries
are frequently received from publishers, from binders and from
librarians. Inquiries from librarians cover all phases of binding, and
not infrequently the committee is asked for opinions as to the work of
certain binders. In answering these questions about individual binding
the committee has been at a disadvantage, because, except in the case
of a very few binders, it has no definite knowledge of their work. To
remedy this difficulty the committee has, with some hesitation, planned
to establish a collection which shall include samples of the work of
all binders which make a specialty of library binding. These samples
are to be four in number and will show methods of binding fiction,
juvenile books and periodicals. In addition to these samples binders
are asked to answer 24 questions which cover methods, materials, and
prices. It is hoped that, with these samples and answers to these
questions, the committee will be in a position to form more definite
opinions about the work of any binder, and librarians who ask for
opinions will receive answers based on actual knowledge.
The scheme is yet in its infancy but already samples have been received
from several binders, and letters from some of them express approval.
The committee realizes that good binding may be done in several ways,
and while members of the committee may have individual preferences,
every effort will be made to give impartial opinions. Certainly no
binder who does good work need fear unjust criticism. Librarians can
help in this work by,
1. Sending names of library binders.
2. Urging binders to comply with the requests of the committee.
3. Asking for opinions when the collection is complete.
In view of the facts outlined above, it seems reasonable to suppose
that one of the committee's most valuable functions is to act in an
advisory capacity, not only to librarians, but to publishers and
binders. For this reason all librarians are urged to submit their
binding problems to the committee.
=Magazine Binders=
During the year a number of varieties of magazine binders have been
examined. Several firms failed to respond to a request for a sample
or did so too late. Others doubtless exist of which the committee has
not heard. The result of study of this subject during the past three
years, aided by the chapter dealing with it in Dana's "Book binding for
libraries," Edition 2, is here set forth.
Of course no one binder is best for all libraries or for all
requirements of one library. Each must decide for itself by noting the
condition of its magazines when they are ready for the bindery whether
any binder at all is needed. A library which has no money to spend on
the more durable covers or dislikes them for any reason may use one
of the methods described in the chapter in Dana referred to above. A
method, used to some extent by the Brooklyn public library, consists,
in brief, of putting on a brown paper cover and securing it by paste or
brass staples to a bunch of advertising pages at front and back.
The best inexpensive binder is that known as the "Springfield." It
can be made in any bindery, consisting simply of a cover with a stiff
strip at the back in which are three eyelet holes, one at each end and
one in the middle. The magazine is laced in with tape or shoe string.
This method damages the magazine much less than others similar, some of
which require drilling holes through from side to side. In principle
the binder made by Cedric Chivers, Brooklyn, N. Y., is a more durable
form of the Springfield and is heartily recommended.
Some libraries desire a binder from which a magazine cannot readily be
stolen. This is a matter of local opinion. The best for this purpose
appear to be the new "Bull dog" binder just put on the market by
Gaylord Brothers, Syracuse, N. Y., and the "Buchan" binder mentioned by
Mr. Dana. All such binders are heavy, clumsy, and slow in operation.
For those magazines deceitfully put together without sewing or staples
the "Bull dog" and the "Buchan" binder will both give satisfaction.
Among a multitude of other binders the best type is that whose
mechanism consists of a stout rod firmly fastened though playing free
at one end, and fastened at the other by a simple catch. Many built on
this principle are too clumsy. A few are needlessly flimsy. Of those
examined the best are the following:--
"Universal" made by J. J. Ralek, New York City.
"A. L. B." made by American Library Bindery, Philadelphia.
"Torsion" made by Barrett Bindery Co., Chicago.
For covering binders various materials have been used. For long service
and good appearance we recommend pig skin back and keratol sides. Cow
hide and buckram are cheaper and will not last as long. Canvas is ill
suited for this purpose.
Respectfully submitted,
A. L. BAILEY, Chairman.
ROSE G. MURRAY,
N. L. GOODRICH,
Committee.
COMMITTEE ON BOOK BUYING
During the past year the A. L. A. Committee on Book buying has been
negotiating with a Committee of the American Booksellers' Association
with a view to bringing about a better understanding between the
booksellers and the libraries.
Upon the request of the Committee of the Booksellers' Association, your
committee made a statement of the situation, which was delivered to
them in October, 1911. The booksellers' committee prepared a reply to
this statement, which was delivered to your committee in April, 1912.
A meeting of the two committees was held on Thursday, May 6th, 1912, in
Cleveland, but it was without any definite result. It was agreed that
the two committees report progress to their respective associations and
that they submit to their executive committee the statement and reply
referred to, with a report upon the present situation and to ask to be
allowed to continue the negotiations if the executive committee thought
it wise to do so.
WALTER L. BROWN, Chairman,
C. B. RODEN,
C. H. BROWN.
COMMITTEE ON CO-ORDINATION
The following report is the result, in part, of a question referred to
the Committee on Co-ordination by a meeting at the Pasadena conference.
The question was, Whether libraries are justified in making a moderate
charge in connection with every volume lent, sufficient in the long
run, to cover the administrative expense involved in looking up and
sending the volume asked for: not as payment for the use of the book,
but to relieve the lender of an undue burden of expense, unavoidably
attendant upon the system of lending with some freedom to other
libraries.
In the opinion of the committee this question could be most profitably
discussed only in connection with the whole subject of inter-library
loans. It is clear, both from past and present developments, and from
the direction these developments are taking that inter-library loans
are, as yet, merely in their infancy. It is clear, too, that such
loans increase the efficiency of libraries which participate in them.
Finally, it is evident that there is a marked tendency not simply
to multiply library loans, but to enlarge the field within which it
is considered appropriate to effect them--taking "field" both in a
geographical sense, and as relating to different classes of borrowers.
Accordingly, it is not surprising that additional machinery and new
methods should be required, and that some at least, should already have
been devised. Also, it is safe to predict that this growth in machinery
and in methods will continue.
Therefore, the Committee on Co-ordination has thought that it might
be helpful, at the present time, to attempt a discussion (which will
partake of the character of a symposium) in regard to the purpose and
scope of inter-library loans. It is hoped that, as a result of this
and subsequent discussion, it may become practicable to formulate some
general rules for the conduct of inter-library loans. If a code of such
rules could be framed, even granting that the provisions would, of
course, bind no library against its will, one more step would yet have
been taken in the direction of systematizing and extending a process
which has already produced excellent results, and bids fair in the near
future, to modify library practice in important particulars.
While the purpose of inter-library loans is uniform in the main, it
varies to some extent, with the nature and duties of the participating
libraries.
Neglecting minor differences, such libraries fall into two groups:
Reference libraries, including libraries of colleges and universities;
and libraries whose work is of a more popular character; or, to state
the matter in terms of readers: Libraries, most of whose readers are
"serious," and libraries, some, at least, of whose readers are not so
very serious.
This distinction is not a sharp one, yet it produces wide divergence
in the point of view, and in the practice of these two classes of
libraries. A comparison of the third contribution to this symposium
with the first and second will make this matter evident. Both points
of view are accurate, and varieties of practice, provided only that
they exist among the members of a comprehensive system, are the best
guarantees of the ultimate achievement of great results.
C. H. GOULD,
Chairman.
I.
The purpose of inter-library loans is to make available the unusual
material in one library to an enquirer who cannot visit it in person
and does not find available the identical material in some institution
nearer at hand or which has a nearer constitutional duty to serve
him. The service to him must be subject to the convenience of the
constituency of the lending library and can be expected only if the
risk and expense of it shall be met by the borrowing library in his
behalf.
1. It is not to be expected therefore that a library will lend either
(1) books which if not in the applicant library, are within the
ordinary duty of the latter to supply; or (2) books in constant use
among its own readers; or (3) books for the general reader as against
the investigator.
2. It is not to be expected that material will be sought the
transportation of which, even with the best precautions, involves a
necessary injury,--as for instance, by strain,--or a contingent injury
in its use outside of the walls of the institution owning it by persons
over whose use it has no supervision. A stipulation for its use within
the walls of the borrowing library, while entirely reasonable, may not
cover the case completely, as the responsibility for the care of the
material cannot, by a mere stipulation for care, be transferred from
the owning to the borrowing library.
3. Subject to 2, the important service in inter-library loans being to
make generally available the unusual book for the unusual need of the
serious investigator, the fact that the book needed is either rare, or
part of a set which may be marred by the loss of a single volume, or
that it is even unique, as for instance a manuscript, ought not to be
conclusive against the loan, for it is just through such material that
the inter-library loans may render their most important service.
4. The applicant library should refrain from applying (a) for ordinary
books which are within its constitutional duty to supply to its
immediate readers, or (b) for unusual books requested for a purpose
which it knows to be trivial, or by a person of whose discretion and
seriousness it is not assured, or (c) for books which, within the
legitimate provisions of a loan are to be had from some institution
nearer at hand, or having a nearer constitutional duty to it and to the
constituency which it serves, or (d) for books which upon their face
must be in constant use in any library possessing them.
5. The lending library may reasonably stipulate: (a) That the entire
cost of the service shall be met by the borrowing library, and may
look to this library alone as responsible both for the safety and
prompt return of the material and for the replacement of the material
if lost or damaged, and (b) it may reasonably include as part of the
expense: (1) packing; (2) carriage; (3) insurance; (4) the fraction,
if estimable, which the particular loan should bear of the expense of
administering the service. (c) As to the duration of the loan: that
it shall not exceed the period of its local loans, with an allowance
added for the transit both ways; and the lender may reasonably couple
with this a right of summary recall. It may also impose penalties for
delays in returning material, or for carelessness in its use or in
repacking. It may of course reserve the right to decline further loans
to a library which has shown indifference in these regards, or whose
applications have been incessantly frivolous. (d) It may of course
limit the number of volumes lent to any one library or for the use of
any one investigator at any one time. (e) It may, without prejudicing
applications from other institutions, deny the application of any
particular library, because of lack of assurance as to the safety or
intelligent use of the material if lent. Its decisions in this regard
resting often upon the impressions of a general experience, ought to be
unembarrassed. It should not therefore be called upon to explain them.
HERBERT PUTNAM.
II
=A statement of general policy in regard to inter-library loans=
The primary purpose of inter-library loans is the promotion of
scholarship by placing books not commonly accessible and not in use in
one library, temporarily at the service of a scholar who has access
to some other library. It should not be allowed to interfere with the
reasonable and customary use of books by home readers, and the extent
to which sending can be carried depends on the local conditions of
the lending library, the importance of the service to be rendered, the
character of the books desired, the distance to which they are to be
sent, and a number of other circumstances.
The larger university libraries, having large numbers of professors,
advanced students and other professional scholars immediately dependent
on them, may find it necessary to restrict the scope of their loans in
justice to their local constituency, while others may rightly extend
the system beyond the limits indicated, so as to meet the wants of
readers in public libraries, teachers in high schools, and others.
Libraries should not be expected to lend text-books for general class
use, popular manuals or books for the general reader, inexpensive books
and those which can easily be procured through the book-trade, books
to assist in school or college debates, or books for ordinary purposes
of school or undergraduate study. Neither should they lend books which
are likely to be in frequent demand by their own readers, or books
which they do not lend at home on the ground that they ought always to
be accessible on the shelves. In this respect practice will naturally
differ widely, one library being ready to lend books which another
would consider it necessary to keep always at hand.
Caution should be exercised in lending volumes of newspapers,
periodicals or society transactions and parts of expensive sets, since
such volumes, if lost, are disproportionately expensive and sometimes
practically impossible to replace. Moreover, periodicals and society
publications are often unexpectedly wanted for the purpose of verifying
references, etc., and students may justly expect that they will always
be accessible with a minimum of delay.
The borrowing library should bear the expense of transportation both
ways, and additional charges, if required, for the insurance of
specially valuable books. It should be financially responsible for the
replacement of books lost or injured in transit.
Borrowing libraries should take pains to borrow from sources nearest at
hand or most naturally under obligation to lend.
Titles of books wanted should be given with all practicable precision,
both to insure getting the very thing asked for and to make the labor
of finding the book as light as possible for the lending library.
Applications for loans should always be made through the librarian of
the borrowing library and not directly by the professor or student
for whose advantage the loan is desired. If books are lent on direct
request of the individual, not transmitted through the library with
which he is associated, this library cannot be held responsible for
the prompt and safe return of the books or for replacing them if lost
in transit. Librarians are therefore justified in declining to lend on
direct request and in insisting that application must be made through
the librarian.
A library is justified in placing a limit on the number of
volumes which it may be expected to lend at one time to a single
institution--say five or ten volumes.
Loans should be made for a definite period, but the length of this
period naturally varies with the occasion. The period begins with the
despatch of the book from the lending library and ends with the day on
or before which the book should be sent off by the borrowing library.
If an extension of time is desired, it should be asked for long enough
in advance of the book's being due to enable an answer to be received.
Books may always be recalled by the lending library in advance of the
date originally named if needed for the reasonable service of its home
readers.
In lending rare books, large volumes, portfolios of plates, etc., a
library may be expected to insist that they must be used only within
the building of the borrowing library. In some cases, it may be
advisable to put the same restriction on all books lent.
Fines may properly be charged and collected for books detained beyond
the allotted time without request for extension. Repeated failure
to return books promptly, or negligence in packing them safely is
sufficient ground for declining to make further loans. When books
are sent out or returned, separate notice of the fact should be
sent by mail, stating date of shipment, mode of conveyance, etc. It
is recommended that blank forms prepared for this purpose be used.
Applications for loans may also most conveniently be made on suitable
blanks.
Libraries that are called upon for frequent loans are justified
in making a moderate charge in connection with every volume lent,
sufficient in the long run to cover the administrative expense involved
in looking up and sending off volumes asked for. This charge is not to
be considered as a payment for the use of the book, but is intended
simply to relieve the lending library of an undue burden of expense
unavoidably attendant upon the system of lending with some freedom to
other libraries.
It is recommended that libraries arrange so that the services of some
competent person may be regularly available at a moderate charge for
looking up information, verifying references, etc., when the time and
labor involved in such inquiries seem to exceed what may reasonably
be demanded of the library staff. The employment of such a person to
obtain specific information will also occasionally serve in place of
making a loan.
It is also suggested that the possession of a cameragraph, for making
rotary bromide prints, or other similar device by which facsimile
copies can be made inexpensively, would often enable a library to send
a satisfactory copy of portions of a rare book or manuscript in place
of lending the original.
WILLIAM COOLIDGE LANE.
III
=Inter-library loans=
I. Purpose.
(1) Prompt service. (a) The book, if purchased, might have to come from
a greater distance and so cause delay. (b) The book, if out of print,
would take time to find or might not be possible for an agent to locate
for a very long time, if at all.
(2) Economical service. (a) The library that loans the book. Rather
than have a book, that has cost time and money, stand idle on the
shelves, the library owning it would be better repaid for the
expenditure if the book were used by more people. (b) The library that
borrows the book. Rather than purchase a book which would seldom be
requested, it would be better to borrow it, and use one's funds and
time and shelf room for books that would be in constant demand. For
example: take two special lines of library service here in California
at the present time.
(1) Books for the blind. Aside from a small collection in the San
Francisco reading room and library for the blind for the local blind,
and the small collection for the students in the Berkeley California
institute for the education of the blind and the deaf, the state
library has almost all the books and magazines used by the blind of the
state. It would not be economical for other libraries or individuals
to undertake to carry on this work, so the state library discourages
anyone else buying such books and undertakes to furnish them to
anyone needing them. If many want to read certain periodicals they
are duplicated several times and sent in order to the various blind
borrowers.
(2) Medical books and periodicals. The Lane medical library in San
Francisco and the Barlow medical library in Los Angeles have perhaps
the best medical collections in the state. The state library of course
has and is building up a collection in this line for the use of the
whole state, but it often borrows from the first two mentioned.
II. Scope.
There will be no limit, apparently, to the scope of inter-library loans
in California. Each library at present makes an effort to loan anything
asked of it by any other library. For example, the state library buys
no fiction, but from the union catalogs of the county free libraries
which is located at the state library, it is possible to tell where
a certain book is located and to direct one to the other for a rush
request of fiction.
Rare books are loaned by library to library and used by the borrower at
the library.
Newspapers it is not necessary now to loan as by cameragraphing the
needed extract from them, the expense, wear and tear, and risk of such
loans are avoided. The same applies to articles in unbound or bound
periodicals. Cameragraphing an article in a periodical also makes
unnecessary the duplicating of certain periodicals because of some
especially needed article. Cameragraphing is also economical in that it
keeps the files in the library and so more material is always available
for reference use.
Even reference books, however, are loaned or borrowed frequently to
meet certain needs. So the scope is of necessity a matter of judgment
of the particular case in question.
III. Extent of borrower's financial responsibility.
When a library borrows, it takes the financial responsibility, in case
of loss or injury, and if the borrower is an individual, he takes it.
The State library pays transportation on all loans to and from the
county free libraries, and the county free library on all loans within
the county. Loans to other libraries are usually paid--sending charge
by the library sending the book and returning charge by the library
returning the book.
The expense of administering the service of inter-library loans is not
being considered here in California, and we believe that question will
never arise here, no matter how great the demands on each other grow to
be.
The spirit of co-operation is growing so rapidly here that the rivalry
seems to be more who has and can give more rather than who can take
more.
IV. Order in which libraries should be applied to for a loan.
There is no order here in California except that almost all libraries
apply first to the State library and the State library being naturally
the best informed on the special lines of strength in the various
libraries in California, can request the library that is either known
to have it or is likely to have it, to forward it to the library
needing it. This is already possible for periodical files as there is
at the State library a union list of periodical files in California
libraries. Periodicals which are not in any California library, are
borrowed with least loss of time, from the Library of Congress or
Surgeon General's library.
V. Average duration of loans.
It would not be economical to plan a time limit on loans, as usually
the library requesting it states the time the book will be needed and
it is, if possible, loaned for that period. As soon as the library
borrowing it is through with it, even if sooner than the time it
expected to need it, the book is returned. Any book must of necessity
be subject to recall by the library loaning it. There cannot well be
a limit to the number of volumes loaned at any one time. That would
naturally depend upon the need. No fines or other penalties for
negligence in returning loans are necessary where there is a spirit of
perfect co-operation, as librarians all understand the necessity of
system, and in California at least, show great consideration for each
other.
VI. Forms of application for loans; notice of shipment, etc.
The forms used by the State library and county free libraries in
California have been found to be perfectly satisfactory. Requests are
sent in to the State library in duplicate. One is returned with the
disposition made of it written on it and the duplicate is kept on file
as a record at the State library. If not in the State library a similar
duplicated request is sent to some other library.
VII. Inter-library loans in California.
We in California find that a request is never refused and that
requesting such loans in itself makes a library proud of its strength
and of its place in the system and builds up in this way a strong
feeling for co-operation.
The rules to be adopted for inter-library loans in California will be
those that experience shows are necessary, and are likely to give the
best results for California conditions.
J. L. GILLIS.
COMMITTEE ON CO-OPERATION WITH THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
The Committee on Co-operation with the National Education Association
is in a position to report that an appointment has been made by
the executive board of the National Education Association of a
representative of the American Library Association to speak at the
third general session of its meeting in Chicago on the place of the
library in educational movements. The committee feels that this
recognition of the work of the library on the part of the National
Education Association is a decided victory, as for many years the
authorities of the National Education Association have courteously but
constantly turned away from the request made by the American Library
Association committee for a representative on their program.
A selection was made of Dr. Arthur E. Bostwick, librarian of the St.
Louis public library, to present the library cause before the National
Education Association. It is needless to add with full assurance, that
the matter is safe in his hands.
At the invitation of the president of the library department of the
National Education Association, Mr. E. W. Gaillard of New York, the
committee has endeavored as best it could in the short time allowed,
owing to the lateness of the invitation, to make an exhibit of American
Library Association material, booklists and material illustrative of
the relations between libraries and schools, to be in place at the
National Education Association meeting to be held in Chicago.
It seems, therefore, that the work of the past year is one that should
afford satisfaction in the recognition that the American Library
Association has received from the National Education Association.
President George E. Vincent, of the University of Minnesota, who will
deliver an address at the Ottawa conference, at the invitation of the
American Library Association program committee, has been invited to
present the official greetings of the National Education Association to
the American Library Association.
The committee through its chairman has advised with several groups of
school librarians, but it has been the policy to confine action to
affairs in which the national organizations as individual units were
concerned.
MARY EILEEN AHERN, Chairman,
GENEVIEVE M. WALTON,
IRENE WARREN,
GEORGE H. LOCKE,
J. C. DANA.
The PRESIDENT: The next report is that of the committee on catalog
rules for small libraries.
The SECRETARY: The chairman of this committee, Miss Theresa Hitchler,
wrote me that she hoped to make a report through some other member of
the committee, and that it was the hope of the committee to have that
work finished by fall.
The PRESIDENT: Then the chair will accept that as a report of
information.
Adjourned.
SECOND GENERAL SESSION
(Russell Theatre, Friday, June 28, 9:30 a. m.)
First Vice-President Henry E. Legler presided.
The FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT: It has always been a moot question as to
what vice-presidents were for. Mrs. Elmendorf has undertaken the
very doubtful experiment of endeavoring to find out, and so she has
designated the respective vice-presidents in their order to preside
over the meetings of the conference.
We shall reverse the order of the program and call for the committee
reports first.
The following reports were presented and received, all having been
previously printed, with the exception of the supplement to the report
of the committee on library administration and that on work with the
blind. The committee on international relations stated that they had no
report to make.
COMMITTEE ON FEDERAL AND STATE RELATIONS
Your committee's chief activity has been along the line of a parcels
post, as we have felt that was the most feasible measure for obtaining
lower postal rates. The chairman of the committee had personal
interviews with the chairmen of the House and Senate committees on Post
Office, and filed with the latter a formal endorsement of the parcels
post, as well as the resolution looking in that direction, passed by
the Council at its meeting in January last. The committee recommends
that the continuance of this advocacy be authorized by the association.
We also recommend that the association endorse a movement for the
better safeguarding of the national archives and rendering them
accessible to students, feeling that the preservation of these
governmental records is one of considerable importance, and one in
which librarians have an especial interest, inasmuch as they have under
their care manuscripts as well as printed books.
The attention of depository libraries is called to the report of
Senator Smoot, on the revision of printing laws (62nd Congress, second
session. Report 414, p. 33 and following) which discusses the proposed
amendments to the laws with reference to depository libraries.
BERNARD C. STEINER.
COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION
Your committee has not been active during the whole year, the present
chairman having been appointed to fill a vacancy. What it has done
has been in the way of a small beginning toward a general survey of
methods in public libraries, which it is hoped may be carried forward
to completion in future years.
The scientific position that the first thing to do, in making an
investigation, is to find out the facts, has only recently been taken
in work of this kind. It has generally been assumed by those who have
desired to better conditions of any sort that the existing conditions
were well known to all. The fact is that no one person or group of
persons is in a position to know all the conditions thoroughly and that
the elementary task of ascertaining them and stating them is usually
by no means easy. It is now generally recognized that we must have
a Survey--an ascertainment and plain statement of the facts as they
are--as a preliminary to action or even to discussion.
It has seemed to your committee that the general feeling, shared by
the educational and industrial worlds, that methods are not always
efficiently adjusted to aims should find some place also in the
library. We are spending large sums of public money, and investigations
by "economy committees," "efficiency bureaus" and the like are
taking place all around us. It will be well for us to take a step in
advance of these and get for ourselves some sort of a birds-eye view
of our work, from the standpoint of its possible lack of complete
efficiency--adaptation of end to aim. In order to do this we must first
have a survey, which we conceive to involve in this case a statement of
just what libraries are trying to do and just how, in some minuteness
of detail, they are trying to do it. Comparison and discussion of
methods will naturally follow later.
The method of taking up this matter was suggested by some very
preliminary work done in the St. Louis public library. The head of each
of the various branches and departments was asked to make a detailed
written list of the various operations performed by the assistants in
that particular department, dividing them into purely mechanical acts
and those involving some thought or judgment. This in itself proved to
be an interesting task and both information and stimulation resulted
from it. Certain operations, common to the largest number of kinds of
work, were then selected and tests were made, involving both speed of
performance and efficiency of result. From a large number of such tests
it is expected that some standardization of operations may result, or
at any rate the cutting out of useless details and the saving of time
for needed extensions of work. The object of an investigation of this
kind is of course not to discover ways of making assistants work harder
and faster but to find out whether the same amount of work, or more of
it, may not be done with less effort.
To extend this bit of experimental work, which has not progressed
beyond its first steps, to all the libraries of the United States is
of course impossible without modification. Your committee has not the
machinery to handle detailed lists of operations from thousands of
different libraries. Fortunately it is easy to select operations that
are common to very large numbers of libraries of divers sizes and kinds
and in all parts of the country. As examples of such operations, and
as a small beginning, we selected those of accessioning, charging and
discharging, and counting issue. Even with a narrowing of the field
to two operations, however, it was impossible to investigate these in
all our libraries, or even in a large number. After a discussion by
correspondence, revealing some difference of opinion, we decided to
select about twenty-five libraries, as representative as possible of
different sizes, different institutions and different localities. The
list as finally made up was as follows:--
Public Libraries
New York
St. Louis
Pratt Institute
East Orange, N. J.
Atlanta, Ga.
State Libraries
New York
Iowa
California
Connecticut
Virginia
University Libraries
Harvard
Syracuse
Oberlin
Kansas University
Shurtleff College
Alton, Ill.
Trinity College
Hartford, Conn.
Tulane University
New Orleans, La.
Reference Libraries
Grosvenor, Buffalo.
Newberry, Chicago.
Subscription Libraries
Mercantile, N. Y.
Athenaeum, Boston.
Mercantile, St. Louis.
Special Libraries
Bar Association, N. Y.
Academy of Medicine, N. Y.
Engineering societies, N. Y.
John Crerar, Chicago.
To the librarians of each of these libraries was then sent the
following letter:--
To the Librarian:--
The Committee on Library Administration of the A. L. A. is
beginning a survey of simple operations common to all sorts of
libraries, especially with a view to finding out whether there
is much diversity of detail in them, and ultimately of noting
particular methods that seem likely to result in time-saving or in
better results. For the moment, however, a mere survey, involving
a detailed description of the method of performing certain kinds
of work is all that is aimed at. The Committee has selected 26
libraries of very different sizes and types, and yours is one of
these. If you are willing to co-operate, will you kindly send
at once to the chairman a description, in as minute detail as
possible, of the following operations:
Accessioning
The counting of issue
The charging of books
The discharging of books
Please describe each step of these operations seriatim and in
detail, not omitting such as are purely mechanical, and noting
points where different assistants would be apt to act in different
ways. A description of the operation of accessioning in the New
York public library (Reference department) is enclosed as a sample.
If you can not do this, please notify us immediately, that another
library may be put on the list in your place.
Yours truly,
ARTHUR E. BOSTWICK, Chairman,
HARRY M. LYDENBERG,
ETHEL F. McCOLLOUGH,
A. L. A. Com. on Administration.
Sooner or later we obtained the desired data from 20 of the 26
libraries to which this letter was sent. Only one, the Grosvenor
Library of Buffalo, returned no answer. Five declined on various
grounds. The California State library wrote to us: "We do not feel
satisfied with our present arrangements and do not believe we are
in a position to offer any suggestions that would be of service in
connection with this investigation." The Mercantile library of New York
wrote: "We regret that we find ourselves unable to co-operate with
your committee in this undertaking." The librarian of Trinity college,
Hartford, writes that "with the exception of student assistants the
librarian is the entire staff." The senior regent of Shurtleff college,
Alton, Ill., writes: "Our building is not yet complete and in the
management of the old, we are so nearly without a system that I hardly
feel it worth while to try to reply to these questions." The librarian
of the New York Engineering Societies writes: "This library * * * has
no charging system. Its system of accessioning will be abandoned as
soon as possible. I suggest that you enter another library on your
list."
Replies such as these seem to imply a misconception of the nature and
purposes of a survey. Our object is to ascertain facts, not to gather a
selected number of ideal cases.
For these five libraries the following were substituted:
Westminster College, Fulton, Mo.
Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.
Washington State Library.
New York Society Library.
Forbes Library, Northampton, Mass.
These furnished that data for which we asked, with the exception of the
Washington State library, which declined. We have material, therefore,
from 24 libraries altogether.
The last of this body of data comes to hand just as this preliminary
report goes to press, but it is being digested and tabulated and
some of the results, at least, will be ready for the Ottawa meeting,
although there will not be time for any study of these results or for
recommendations based thereon.
The reports from the various libraries will be on file at headquarters
at Ottawa and will be accessible to all members of the association who
desire to consult them.
Regarding the question of the counting of circulation through traveling
libraries, deposits and the like, which has been referred to your
committee, we beg to report as follows:--
The sending of books from a library to a school, a club, or some other
place where they are to be used or circulated may be regarded in two
ways by librarians. It may be held that the sending of the books from
the library is itself an act of circulation or that the place to which
they are sent for use or distribution is a temporary station of the
library, and that sending books thereto is no more circulation than
if they were sent to a library branch or delivery station. Obviously,
if the former view is accepted, no use that is made of the book after
it reaches the station can be recorded by the library. When we have
lent a book to a reader we do not inquire how many persons in the
family use it or whether a neighbor borrows it. The library borrower
is responsible for it and it simply counts as one in the issue. But if
the place to which it goes is to be treated as a station, then the use
of the book at or from that station is part of the library record. If
it is used in the school, club, or other place where it is deposited,
such use is not circulation, however, but hall or library use, as if it
had been used in a branch library. If it is issued from the station for
home use, such issues, and every such issue, is properly counted with
the circulation.
It seems to your committee that the second of these alternatives is
the one that should be recognized, both from theoretical and practical
reasons. The sending of a collection of books to a place where it is
to be used resembles much more closely the temporary transfer of such
collection to a branch than it does ordinary circulation. Practically
also, it is desirable to take account of whatever use is made of the
books in such places and logically this can be done only on the second
theory.
On neither of the theories is it allowable to count the original
sending as one issue and then to count or estimate issues from the
station; or to count uses in the station as home issues.
Some libraries report that they are unable to secure proper statistics
of use at the station and that they must therefore either count the
original issue or guess at the use in some way, or fail to report it at
all. In cases of this kind, whatever is done should be made plain by a
note in connection with the published statistics.
To recapitulate, we recommend:
(1) That the act of sending books from the library to a station of
any kind, no matter how temporary, be not regarded as an issue to be
counted in the circulation, although separate account of books thus
sent should be kept and may be published if desired.
(2) That books used in the station be counted as hall or library use
and that books issued from the station be counted as home use.
(3) That where it is found necessary to depart from this method in any
way, such departure be plainly stated in a foot note to the published
report.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
ARTHUR E. BOSTWICK, Chairman.
ETHEL F. McCOLLOUGH,
HARRY M. LYDENBERG.
=(Supplementary Report)=
As a supplement to that portion of its report which has already been
presented, your committee now submits the following preliminary
tabulation and discussion of results. As is usual, in such
investigations, our questions have not been interpreted in the same way
by all to whom they have been addressed. Supplementary questions must
therefore be sent out in many cases and these must be framed separately
for each case. This will be the next work of this committee, should you
see fit to continue it as at present constituted.
Your committee trusts that it is clearly understood that it does not
desire to infer from the extremely small proportion of cases discussed
anything that should be properly inferred only from a large number of
cases. Facts are stated numerically, but no numerical conclusions are
or can be drawn. At this stage of the investigation no recommendations
at all can be made.
=Accessioning=
The material received varies so much in respect to the items reported
upon, and the fullness with which each step is treated, that a second
questionnaire must be sent out before there can be any uniformity of
tabulation. For example:--
One librarian writes us, "We keep no accession book for ordinary
circulating books, only for expensive art books" and fails to state
what items are entered.
Another reports that "the books are accessioned, each separate volume
being given a separate accession number" but does not say whether an
accession book is used or not.
Two librarians write that "the Standard A. L. A. Accession book is
used" and leave us to infer that every column is filled in.
And two assure us that the promised material will be sent in soon.
It is interesting to note, however, that only two libraries, the Boston
Athenaeum and the Forbes library, use the Bill Method of accessioning.
The other libraries all use an accession book, but differ widely in the
number of items entered; for example, one library enters only author,
title, source and price, and another has an accession book printed
for its own use, including columns for the following: Date of entry,
accession number, place of publication, publisher, date of book, size,
class, additions classified (including a column for each of the main
classes in the D. C. system, one for fiction, and one for juvenile
books), volumes bought, volumes received as gifts, periodicals bound,
pamphlets bound, the language of the book (4 separate columns marked
Eng. Ger. Fr. and Other), source, publisher's price, discount, net
price, binding, remarks.
The majority of libraries reporting, use the A. L. A. standard
accession book or the condensed form of the same.
=Libraries Using Book Method=
Atlanta.
Bar Association of N. Y.
East Orange.
Iowa State Library.
John Crerar Library.
Kansas State University.
Kings County Medical.
N. Y. City Circulating Department.
N. Y. City Reference Department.
N. Y. State Library.
N. Y. Society Library (accessions only expensive art books).
Newberry Library.
Oberlin College.
Pratt Institute Free Library.
St. Louis Mercantile Library.
St. Louis Public Library.
Syracuse University.
Tulane University.
Virginia State University.
Wesleyan University.
Westminster College.
=Libraries Using Bill Method=
Boston Athenaeum.
Forbes Library.
=Charging and Discharging=
The data contributed on this subject are so uneven and varying that any
accurate and minute comparison is impossible at present. The functions
that constitute a charge or discharge are variously regarded by
different libraries. The eighteen libraries forming the basis of this
study, with a note of their charging systems, may be roughly arranged
in the following groups:
=College or University Libraries=
Oberlin. Double file. Borrowers' file and book file under date.
Syracuse. Double file. Borrowers' file and book file under call-number.
University of Kansas. Double file. Borrowers' file and book file under
date.
Tulane. Single file. Book file under class.
Wesleyan. Double file. Borrowers' file under date and book file.
Westminster. Single file. Book file under date.
=Public or Circulating Libraries=
Boston Athenaeum (Subscription). Double record. Borrowers' file and
book record under date.
Carnegie Library of Atlanta. Newark System (no details).
East Orange Public Library. Newark System (many variations).
Forbes Library. Browne System.
New York Public Library. Newark System.
Pratt Institute Free Library. Newark System.
St. Louis Mercantile Library (subscription). Browne System.
St. Louis Public Library. Newark System.
=State Libraries=
Iowa State. Reference. (Uses temporary slip when a book is issued for
home use filed under date.)
Virginia State. Double file. Borrowers' file and book file by titles.
=Reference Libraries=
Newberry Library.
No attempt has been made to study the charge or discharge of books for
library use.
=Society Library=
Medical Society of King's County. Borrowers' record.
Reversing this arrangement and grouping under charging systems, we have:
=Newark System--6.=
Carnegie Library of Atlanta.
East Orange Public Library.
New York Public Library.
Pratt Institute Free Library.
St. Louis Public Library.
Syracuse University (modified).
=Browne System--2.=
Forbes Library.
St. Louis Mercantile Library.
=Double File--Borrower and Book--6.=
Boston Athenaeum.
Oberlin College.
Syracuse.
University of Kansas.
Virginia State Library.
Wesleyan University.
=Single File--Book File under Date or Class--3.=
Iowa State Library.
Tulane University.
Westminster College.
=Borrowers' Record--1.=
Medical Society of County of Kings.
It is evident from this tabulation that libraries of the same character
use the same systems--identical in their essentials but different in
detail. College libraries and those whose use corresponds to that
of a college library find with but two exceptions a double file
useful--one of borrower and one of books--the latter varying greatly in
arrangement, owing to the distinctions between students and faculty.
A résumé of the college and state systems studied follows:
=Iowa State.= When book is issued, assistant copies the call number
from the book plate upon a manila charge slip, then adds the name of
borrower and her date of loan. Charge slips are deposited temporarily
in a drawer, and next morning are arranged by call-number and filed
in the charging tray. There are no fines; books are issued subject to
call. The first of each month the tray is examined; all slips bearing a
date a month old are taken out, compared with the shelves to ascertain
if the books have been returned, and shelved without being discharged,
and with the shelf list, to verify the call number; at which time
the author and title are copied on the reverse side of slip. Notices
requesting the return of books are filled in with the author, title
and date of loan, and sent to borrowers. Date of notice is placed on
charge slips with colored pencil, and the slips refiled in tray. In
discharging books, the slips bearing corresponding call numbers are
taken from tray and destroyed.
=Oberlin College.= Charge. Book pocket contains two cards, one white,
one pink with author's name, title of book and call number and
accession number. Borrower signs name on both and leaves on desk.
Dating slip with date of issue is put in book pocket. Assistant stamps
both cards with date of issue--filing white cards by call number under
date and pink card alphabetically with borrower's card under borrower's
name. These are ultimately divided into two files, the "day file" and
the "long file," the latter including books drawn by professors and
others privileged to retain them more than two weeks. When book is
returned dating slip is taken out and saved for future use. Book is
checked off by finding book card in file and borrower's name is checked
from that. Pink card is then withdrawn from borrower's file.
=Syracuse University.= Borrower's cards are kept on file by serial
number. When a book is issued its call number is written on borrower's
card and date of issue stamped on it and on dating slip. Book card is
stamped with borrower's number and date of issue. Borrower's card is
filed under number and book card filed by call number. When book is
returned book is checked off, date on borrower's card stamped with date
of return and the card put in regular file of borrower's cards. (The
book card system itself seems to be the Newark).
=Tulane University.= Borrower makes out a temporary book card which is
filled out with the book data, his name and address and date and is
filed by class. When book is returned temporary book card is destroyed.
=University of Kansas.= Corresponds to Oberlin except that book card
filed with borrower's card is not signed or dated and that the single
file is by class. Has two files--one for students under date and one
for faculty under name. Books are discharged at students' leisure by
checking off.
=Virginia State.= Borrowers' file and book file of temporary book cards
alphabetically under title.
=Wesleyan.= When book is issued a manilla slip is written giving name
of borrower, call number, author and title. The date due is stamped on
dating slip in book. Slip is placed in box and next morning a second
slip is made from it giving call number first, then author, title
and name of borrower. Date due is then stamped on both cards. First
card (borrower's slips) are filed (by date if student, by name, if
professor). The other slips (book cards) are filed alphabetically under
author. Book is discharged by checking off--both slips being withdrawn
from issue and presumably destroyed.
=Westminster.= No students' cards. Permanent book card--stamped with
date and borrower's name. Date stamped on book pocket. Cards filed
under date. Assistant discharges at leisure by checking off.
Public or circulating libraries prefer the Newark or Browne system--the
majority the Newark:
=Boston Athenaeum.= Corresponds to Oberlin save that day of year
instead of day of month is used for dating. That one slip is filed in
borrowers' case with information relating to borrower's assessments,
etc., instead of with borrower's card, and that the single file is by
author. When book is returned date of return is stamped on book slips
when book is checked off.
=Carnegie Library of Atlanta.= Newark system, using slots in desk to
sort cards. No details of checking off.
=East Orange.= Newark system, using colored bookcards to distinguish
classes. Magazines and four weeks' books not stamped on reader's cards.
In children's room non-fiction not stamped on reader's card. Books
checked off near charging desk.
=Forbes Library.= Browne system. Borrower's pockets filed numerically
under each letter of alphabet in order of registration. Fiction and
non-fiction pockets kept in separate file. When book is issued borrower
gives his number by which his pocket is found. Book card is taken from
book pocket and put in borrower's pocket and date of return is stamped
on book pocket. Book record is kept by arranging under date, book
cards in pockets alphabetically under author and title. (Details of
information on book card not given). Book is discharged by withdrawing
book card from borrower's pocket and transferring to book pocket.
Recent books (last two years) are evidently discharged and shelved at
once. Others three times a day. Empty borrower's pockets are filed
throughout the day.
=New York Public.= Newark system. Book card has author's surname, title
of book, class number and accession number. Variously colored book
cards are used to indicate various classes. Assistant makes hu
Showing first 200,000 characters. Full text: gutenberg.org/ebooks/45756