The "Holden System for Preserving Books"

PROTECTS BOTH THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE.

Designed for Public Libraries, S. S. Libraries, and "Free Text Book" Cities and Towns.

These Book Covers are made of the toughest material known, a species of felt-imitation leather-will last 3 or 4 years on S. S. books, and one year of public school wear.

Sales Last Year 1,400,000 Book Covers!

Adopted by over 500 "Free Text Book" School Boards. Full Explanation and Samples sent on receipt of 2-cent stamp. Address

G. W. HOLDEN, Prest.

HOLDEN PATENT BOOK COVER CO.,

H. P. HOLDEN, Treas. P. O. Box 643C,

Springfield, Mass.

N. B. Mention what use designed for S. S. or Public Library or Public Schools.

EM. TERQUEM,

Paris Agency for American Libraries,

31 BIS BOULEVARD HAUSSMANN 31 BIS

PARIS.

ESTABLISHED 1877.

French and Continental Books purchased at the lowest terms.
Orders carefully executed for out-of-print and new books.

Binding for books in constant use a specialty of the firm.

Estimates given on application on all orders.

The "

Catalogue de la Librairie Française" mailed free monthly as well as catalogues of second-hand bookdealers of every locality.

Auction sales orders attended to, also orders for private libraries offered en bloc before auction. Mr. Em. Terquem, being the appointed agent in Paris of many libraries, colleges, and universities, can furnish references in almost every city in the United States.

Correspondence and trial orders solicited. Small or large shipments every week either direct or through his agent in New York.

TWO important handbooks for the Librarian now ready.

Annual Literary Index, 1894,

complements the "Annual American Catalogue" of books published in 1894, by indexing (1) articles in periodicals published in 1894; (2) essays and book-chapters in composite books of 1894; (3) authors of periodical articles and essays; (4) special bibliographies of 1894; (5) authors deceased in 1894, and, in its special features, supplements "Poole's Index to Periodical Literature, 1887-'92," and the "A. L. A. Index to General Literature."

One octavo volume, cloth, $3.50.

Office of THE PUBLISHERS' WEEKLY, 54 DUANE STREET,

Annual
Catalogues,
1894.

The Annual American Catalogue for 1894 contains:
(1) Directory of American Publishers issuing books
in 1894.

(2) Full-title Record, with descriptive notes, in au-
thor-alphabet, of all books recorded in THE
PUBLISHERS' WEEKLY, 1894.

(3) Author-, title-, and subject-index to same in one alphabet.

(4) Publishers' annual lists for 1894.

The edition is limited, and to secure copies orders should be sent at once. The price is $3.50 half leather; $3.00 in sheets.

We also supply the English Catalogue for 1894, price $1.50, paper; the Annual American and English Catalogues, 1894, can be had in one volume, half leather, $5.00.

Office of THE PUBLISHERS' WEEKLY, 54 DUANE STREET,

P. O. Box 943,

NEW YORK.

P. O. Box 943,

NEW YORK.

Library Bureau Steel Stack.

This is an entirely new invention based upon quite different principles from any other ever offered. Three distinct requisites for a perfect stack are: I, to make each shelf absolutely adjustable; 2, to obtain a construction which should furnish needed structural support for two, three, or even four, storied stacks, and at the same time present a compact and graceful appearance, for a single height, so often required in the reference or reading room; 3, to give the least possible obstruction of light and air. After years of study and experiment this has been accomplished.

The uprights are of cold rolled steel, one upright carrying the end of two tiers of shelves to the full height of stack, giving the strongest support and a great gain over any other form, e. g., the pipe stack requires three uprights instead of one.

The shelves are held in place by brackets sliding in the grooves of the uprights, which in their turn are held by set screws, instantly and easily adjustable. Absolute adjustability of each shelf is the chief feature of the stack. These are readily adjusted when loaded with books.

The slight advantage gained on each shelf by this exact adjustment frequently enables another shelf to be placed in the stack, increasing the capacity of the library from 10 to 15 per cent. Such saving should be considered in the cost of the stack.

The stack, unlike many others, presents no rough surfaces to the books, and is constructed so that it is impossible for the shelves to tip downward, however great the weight placed on the front. Every detail has been carefully studied to secure the best possible results, and represents not only our experience but that of many libraries.

Libraries sometimes make the mistake of having too wide as well as too long shelves; some stacks having been built with all shelving twelve inches wide. Eight inches is ample for all except large books, of which the number is comparatively small in any library. This extra width beyond the eight inches is worse than lost, for besides losing much from the aisle space between the stacks, which may mean the loss of several stacks in a large room, it furnishes a place at the back of the shelf for dust to collect and the books to become hidden.

We recommend that the shelves be of wood, though the rest of the stack is constructed of iron and steel; they are lighter and more easily handled, are pleasanter to the touch and less wearing on the books; they

occupy no more space, cost less, and are more ornamental. It is a fallacy that there is protection from fire in steel shelves, which is the only argument claimed for them. Steel shelves would in no case prevent fire, and a fire once started in a building, they are a menace, since steel is a conductor of heat and warps under its influence. A stronger argument could be made for printing and binding books in asbestos. Instances have come under our notice where books have been saved from fire by wooden shelves. Again steel shelves, whatever their finish, are liable through abrasion to rust, and thus present a rough surface to the edges of books. Still more important, they collect moisture in warm, damp weather, which wood does not.

While we consider wood shelves the best, we supply steel when desired. Although the L. B. stack is a recent invention, having been on the market scarcely a year (1894), it has been adopted by the following libraries:

Howard Whittemore Memorial Library,

Naugatuck, Conn.
Warder Free Library, Springfield, Ohio.
Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
University of the State of North Carolina,
Chapel Hill, N. C.
Cossitt Library, Memphis, Tenn.
McGill College Library, Montreal, Canada.

U. S. Dep't of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.
Gail Borden Library, Elgin, Ill.

Jackson Public Library, Jackson, Mich.
Imperial Building Co., St. Louis, Mo.
Bristol County Court House, Taunton, Mass.
Free Public Library, Newark, N. J.
Brockton Free Library, Brockton, Mass.
Fort Wayne Public Library, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Springfield City Library, Springfield, Mass.

Correspondence is solicited with any library considering new shelving. The L. B. stack has been constructed to give the most perfect details at reasonable prices. Comparison of cost with wooden cases will be found favorable when durability is considered.

Designs and estimates for any shelving that involves the use of the L. B. patents will be furnished upon application. No library should decide upon any form without considering this, recently pronounced by leading librarians. the best yet devised.

Manufactured and controlled solely by the

Library Bureau

Boston, 146 Franklin St.

New York, 273 Stewart Building (280 Broadway).

Chicago, 125 Franklin St.

Philadelphia, 603 Chestnut St.

London, 10 Bloomsbury St..

Bibliographical Publications.

For all American books as they appear, take THE PUBLISHERS' WEEKLY; for an hour's glance each month at the important books and magazine papers, take THE LITERARY NEWS; for library matters take THE LIBRARY JOURNAL; for magazine articles in general, consult THE ANNUAL LITERARY INDEX; for books in print or issued of late years, see the AMERICAN and ANNUAL CATALOGUES,

THE PROFESSION OF BOOKSELLING: a handbook of practical hints for the apprentice and bookseller. By A. GROWOLL, managing editor of THE PUBLISHERS' WEEKLY and author of "A Bookseller's Library." Pt. 1. 8°, bds., $2.00. (Two concluding parts in preparation.)

Address the OFFICE OF THE PUBLISHERS' WEEKLY,