school. Only one private school has been on our list this year. The library hopes to have more another year.

Few teachers ever drop the plan after once trying it, and many of them are very earnest in their commendation of the good effects on the children. The library traces a very good result upon the teachers themselves. The mere knowledge of, and contact with so many charming books is a pleasure and a benefit to them. The children too, come to the teachers in an unofficial way, which is good for both. The teachers get many affecting and softening glimpses of the children's home life. Altogether it seems another verification of the blessing of the old Froebel motto: "Come, let us live with our children."

Pictures. Another very charming possibility has developed in the school work. The library, for reading-room needs, takes several copies of Harper's Weekly, the London Illustrated News, and other good picture papers. Only one copy of these papers is bound, the others not being in fit condition. The best of the pictures have been cut out, pasted on sheets of heavy manilla paper, and constitute a collection of wood-engravings which is interesting in the extreme. The teachers select such pictures as they wish for their classes, and they are sent to the schools in much the same way that the books are, except that they are not taken home by the children. The intent is not to add another task, but to give the children pleasure, and in giving it, to add that unconscious culture which beautiful pictures so easily carry.

GROWTH OF THE TRAVELLING LIBRARIES SYSTEM.

THE last bill passed by the Legislature of Michigan, at its recent session, was that providing for the loaning of books from the state library to local libraries on methods similar to those used in New York state. An annual appropriation of $5000 is placed, for this purpose, at the disposal of Mrs. Mary C. Spencer, state librarian, and a further sum of $2500 is voted for the purchase of "travelling libraries," to be sent to communities where no local libraries exist. Montana, too, is now entitled to enrollment among the "library" states. On March 19, a bill "to provide circulating libraries for Montana, and to provide for their management," was signed by the governor and became a law. The act appropriates a sum of $1000 for 1895, $500 for 1896, and $300 annually thereafter, for the creation of, and purchase of books for "the circulating libraries of the state of Montana." These libraries shall consist of 100 books each, and they shall be controlled and managed by a state board composed of the superintendent of public instruction, the attorney-general, and the state auditor. Another state to accept the travelling library idea is Minnesota, where a bill has been introduced into the legislature providing for the establishment of the system. The purchase of the books, their arrangement in libraries, and, in fact, the entire management

Blackmore, R: D. Perlycross.
Doyle, A. C.
Abbott, C. C.
Burroughs, John.
Brooks, Noah.
Weyman, S. J.

Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. 49
Birds about us.

Murray, David.
Crawford, F. M.
Warner, C. D.
Crockett, S. B.
Curtis, G: W:

Riverby. Abraham Lincoln. Under the red robe.. Story of Japan.

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Katharine Lauderdale. Golden house.

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The stickit minister.

Literary and social essays. 39

AN A. L. A. BIBLIOGRAPHY. MISS HELEN C. SILLIMAN, of the class of 1895 in the New York State Library School, has undertaken the compilation of a list of all publications of members of the A. L. A. She has included, of course, all the articles that have appeared in the 20 volumes of the LIBRARY JOURNAL, and all the literary work reported by prominent members for the World's Fair exhibit at Chicago, with such additional items as she has been able to find. So much of the work of the A. L. A. members has been in pamphlets, contributions to magazines, or local publications, that it will be impossible to make this list at all satisfactory without the co-operation of all the members, and Miss Silliman requests each one with whom she has not already communicated to send to her at the State Library, Albany, N. Y., a list of any books, pamphlets or articles outside the LIBRARY JOURNAL, not only on library topics but including everything which he has published to date. Obviously such a list will be very interesting and useful, and it is to be hoped that every member will heed the request and make the report promptly.

THE PROPOSED NEW YORK PUBLIC

LIBRARY.

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: *

Section 1. Section one of the act entitled "An act to permit the consolidation of library companies in the city of New York," approved May 13, 1892, being chapter 541 of the laws of 1892, is hereby amended so as to read as follows:

§ 1. Any corporation or corporations heretofore or hereafter organized under any general or special law of this state as a library company, or for the purpose of carrying on any library in the city and county of New York [is hereby authorized to consolidate such company or companies], may be consolidated with any other corporation or corporations, organized for the same or similar purposes, under any general or special law of this state, into a single corporation in the manner following: The respective boards of directors or trustees of the said corporations may enter into and make an agreement for the consolidation of the said corporations, prescribing the terms and conditions thereof, the mode of carrying the same into effect, the name of the new corporation, the number of trustees thereof (not less than five nor more than [twelve] twenty-one), and the names of the trustees who shall manage the concerns of the new corporation for the first year, and until others shall be elected in their places. If either of the [companies so incorporated] corporations so consolidating shall be a stock company, then the said agreement [shall further] may either provide that the new corporation shall have no stock, or may prescribe the amount of capital of the new corporation, the number of shares of [the] stock into which the same is to be divided (which capital shall not be larger in amount than the fair aggregate value of the property, franchises and rights of the several [companies] corporations thus to be consolidated), and the manner of distributing such capital among such consolidated corporations, or the holders of the stock of the same with such other particulars as they may deem necessary. § 2. Section two of said act is hereby amended so as to read as follows:

* Matter in italics is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted.

82. If any such corporation so consolidating shall have no members or stockholders, other than its directors or trustees, said agreement of its directors or trustees shall be deemed to be the agreement of such corporation. [Such agreement of the directors or trustees of such corporation shall not be deemed to be the agreement of the said corporations so proposing to consolidate until after it has been submitted to the members or stockholders of the corporations intending to consolidate at a meeting thereof, to be called upon a notice of at least thirty days, specifying the time and place of such meeting and the obmembers or stockholders, when their place of residence is known by the secretary, and deposited in the post-office, and published at least once in each week for four successive weeks in one of the newspapers published in the city and county of New York, where the said corporations shall have their respective places of business, and has been sanctioned and approved, in the event of either or any of the corporations consolidating being a stock company, by the stockholders of such company by a vote of at least two-thirds in amount of the stockholders present at such meeting, voting by ballot in regard to such agreement either in person or by proxy, each share of the capital stock being entitled to one vote; and when such agreement of the directors or trustees of such corporations has been sanctioned and approved by each of the meetings of the respective members or stockholders of the said corporations separately, after being submitted to such meetings in the manner above mentioned, then such agreement of the directors or trustees shall be deemed to be the agreement of the said several corporations; and a sworn copy of the proceedings at such meetings made by the secretaries thereof, respectively, and attached to the said agreement, shall be evidence of the holding and of the action of such meetings in the premises.] If any such corporation so consolidating shall have members or stockholders other than its directors or trustees, said agreement of its directors or trustees shall not be deemed to be the agreement of such corporation until the same shall have been ratified by a vote of at least two-thirds of the members or two-thirds in interest of the stockholders present and voting in person or by proxy at a meeting of the members or stockolders of such corporation to be called upon a notice of at least thirty days, specifying the time, place and object of such meeting, mailed postpaid to each member or stockholder whose place of residence is known to the secretary and published at least once in each week for four successive weeks in a newspaper published in the city of New York. A sworn copy of the proceedings of any such meeting made by the secretary of the corporation holding the same and attached to said agreement shall be evidence of the holding and of the action of such meeting in the premises. If any stockholder or member shall, at said meeting of the stockholders or members, or within twenty days thereafter, object to the said consolidation and demand payment for his stock or interest in such corporation, such stockholder or member or said new corporation if

State Library Associations.

MASSACHUsetts libRARY CLUB.

A MEETING of the Massachusetts Library Club was held on March 1, 1895, at Wesleyan Hall, Boston. The morning session opened with an interesting and valuable paper by Mr. Robert T. Swan, Mass. Commissioner of Public Records, upon Paper and ink." The best paper is made of linen and new cotton rags in about equal proportions. Wood papers are of two kinds, the ground wood, which is brittle and quickly discolors, and the chemically prepared, where the wood is disintegrated, without, at least by the soda process, immediately destroying the fibre. Until time has tested these products it is safe to use rag paper for all purposes of record. A free-flowing, yet black, non-thickening and permanent ink has not yet been discovered. Nutgall and iron inks are the safest; the writing is at first pale, but blackens by oxidization; it should not be blotted, but the ink should sink into the paper. Even if the color finally disappears, it can be restored. If permanency is not essential, a pleasanter ink can be used.

Mr. Lane said that different inks should be used for different purposes. When a new ink is tried in the accessions book, the name of the ink and the date should be recorded on the margin. He thought for use on cards an ink should erase well. Mr. Swan said that the nutgall inks were the hardest to erase, being dyes. Aniline inks were stains; carbon inks coated the surface and were most easily erased.

In reply to a question, Mr. Swan said that he had tested some typewriter inks and could not remove them except by removing the surface of the paper. He thought a permanent ink for typewriter ribbon could be got, but would urge care in selection, and time alone could make a conclusive test. Some courts now permit the use of the typewriter in records. Blue and red typewriter inks are probably not permanent.

In reply to Mr. Jones, Mr. Swan said that a test of inks by weather was preferable to any chemical test, and was the next best test to time.

Mr. Swan showed a number of samples of paper and ink, and the results of weather tests on various inks, also faded writings restored by application of acid, and some interesting samples of paper entirely disintegrated by age or damp, and preserved by mounting between sheets of thin paper or silk treated with paraffine.

Mr. Foster then spoke of the deterioration of paper used in books and periodicals, and asked Mr. Lane to speak to this point.

Mr. Lane said that all books worth preserving were likely to be reprinted from time to time, and the durability of the paper was of less importance in their case than in periodicals and newspapers. Process-work requires the use of a paper coated with a finish of clay and glue; this will last fairly well because a good paper is needed to carry the coating. Newspapers are printed on a paper containing 90% of woodpulp. They are nothing but thin boards, and certain to go to pieces in a short time. The practical difficulties in the way of printing spe

cial editions of newspapers for libraries are probably insuperable. It must be done by putting on a roll of special paper at the end of an edition. But for use in modern presses paper must be freshly unwrapped and not allowed to dry. It cannot stand about from one day to the next, as the roll gets out of shape and will not print well.

Wood-pulp papers came in about 1865. In a file of the Boston Journal at the Athenæum, 1866 was in good condition; 1872 pretty bad; 1880, was still good. The only thing to do with newspapers is to bind fresh copies, keep in a place not too dry, lying, not standing, and label them "Handle with care."

In some wood papers a little cotton waste is introduced for strength.

The report of the committee on the publication of lists of books suitable for public libraries, as presented at the last meeting, was then taken up, and, after a discussion of some length, in which it appeared to be the common opinion that the smaller libraries would derive considerable benefit from these lists, a ballot was taken and it was voted that the club undertake the publication of such lists on the plan suggested in the report of the committee in 1892. This is, in brief, the publication of monthly lists by a committee of 17-chairman, secretary, and 15 readers in five groups of three. The books are to be supplied by the courtesy of the Library Bureau, each submitted to three readers, and only books approved by all admitted. Titles will be annotated when necessary. The lists, which will include only adult fiction, will be distributed without charge to members of the club, and sold to others who wish them.

The afternoon session was devoted to a consideration of matters of detail connected with the supplying of books to public schools, such as: Are cards issued? Is the charge made to teachers, or to the school? Who is responsible for the books? How many books are issued? For what time? etc. The discussion was conversational in character, and included the twobook system and the ethics of fines, besides the relation of the schools and libraries in general.

Mr. Jones described his methods, but said that he, personally, did not believe that loaning books to teachers for use in school was properly a part of the work of a public library. The school board should provide these books for teachers' use. A library can do more good with its books by loaning them directly to the children, or placing them at their disposal in the building.

Mr. Houghton said that he asked teachers to give him a list of subjects in advance, and then had the useful books got together on a table and delegated his best assistant to help the children. Every book in his library was a reference book, and when the children want them no one else can have them.

Miss Lamprey said that the same plan was in use at the Ames Free Library in North Easton. Children could not use the catalog.

Mrs. Sanders said the younger children formed a large part of her constituency. She had 50 at work on China and Japan. She was

with the children from 4 to 6 and after tea. To get little children to come to the library and want to look up a subject that is the great thing.

Mr. Piper said that the children's readingroom at Cambridge had been opened in October, 1894, and was at once filled. About 170 books were put out for free consultation. He had found that many children merely turned over the leaves of book after book without reading.

for school use.

Mr. Whitney, of Watertown, thought a library was doing good work in loaning to clubs. He allowed each member of a young men's club to take out two books, and the selection was made by a committee and the books kept at the club-rooms.

Mr. Bolton said that the trustees of the Brookline library had just authorized the loan of a number of books to a working-people's club, and had assumed the responsibility for loss.

W. H. TILLINGHAST, Secretary.

NEW YORK LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

THE executive board of the New York Library Association has issued a circular letter to librarians of the state, urging enrollment in the association and briefly stating the various means by which it is planned to extend the influence and usefulness of the organization. The large attendance at and the interest awakened by the joint meeting of the state association with the New York Library Club, in January, "indicated most clearly the possibilities of the association as a power, not only in shaping library legislation, but in awakening in the minds of the people a keener perception and clearer understanding of the value of the library to the home, the school, and the workshop.

"Thus far the only cost of membership has been the payment of one dollar on joining, without annual dues. Since the organization in 1890 no assessment has been made. But it is evident that a wider field of work is open. The association has voted to hold two additional meetings each year. The plans of the executive board include the publication of a select list of the books of 1894 to be submitted to the votes of librarians. An occasional library canvass of a section of the state may also be made. In carrying out these plans, and many more that might be suggested, money will be needed for printing and postage, and it is clear that without a larger membership the association will exist in name only."

The board has therefore decided to call for a new enrollment, and has fixed the assessment for the current year at $1. It has also been thought advisable, to avoid confusion between city and

After the reading and approval of the minutes of the Enoch Pratt Free Library of Baltimore, of the previous meeting, Dr. Bernard C. Steiner, Thomas Bray and early public libraries in read the paper of the evening, entitled "Rev. America." A vote of thanks was tendered to Dr. Steiner and his paper was ordered to be printed. A discussion ensued on "Newspapers in libraries."

mittee and the committees on legislation and Reports were heard from the executive comoccasional papers.

Mr. W. F. Wickersham exhibited the architect's plans of the memorial library to be erected at Kennett Square, and described the proposed interior arrangements. Seven new members were elected. A special meeting was announced to be held at Wilmington, Delaware, some time in April. ALFRED RIGLING, Secretary.

LIBRARY ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL CALI

FORNIA.

THERE was an informal meeting of the librarians of San Francisco and vicinity on February 22 at the Free Public Library, to take the preliminary steps towards forming an association of librarians and those in sympathy with library work, for occasional meetings for the interchange of ideas on the means of increasing the usefulness of the library, and bringing it into closer relations with the public. Eight libraries were represented, and it was decided to form a permanent organization under the name of the Library Association of Central California, and to include in its membership all interested in library and educational work.

At a meeting on March 8 a constitution was adopted and the following officers were elected for the first year: President, J. C. Rowell, University of California; vice-president, G: T. Clark, Free Public Library, San Francisco; secretary, A. M. Jellison, Mechanics' Institute, San Francisco; treasurer, Andrew Cleary, Odd Fellows' Library, San Francisco. There is also an executive committee of five to be appointed by the president to act in an advisory capacity. The trustees of the Free Public Library have generously offered a room for meeting purposes.

There will be meetings on the second Friday of each month, except June, July and August. The topic for discussion at the April meeting is, "Should the public have free access to the shelves of a library?"

A. M. JELLISON, Secretary.