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, Springfield City Library, Springfield, Mass. U. S. Dep't of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. Bristol County Court House, Taunton, 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). 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 PUBLISHERS' WEEKLY. Established in 1872, with which was incorporated the American Literary Gazette and Publishers' Circular (established in 1852), by purchase from Mr. George W. Childs. Recognized as the representative of the publishing and bookselling interests in the United States. Contains full weekly record of American publications, with monthly indexes, etc. Subscription, $3.00 per annum, postpaid; single nos., to cts., postpaid. THE LITERARY NEWS. An Eclectic Review of Current Literature. Published monthly, and containing the freshest news concerning books and authors; lists of new publications; reviews and critical comments; characteristic extracts; sketches and anecdotes of authors; courses of reading; bibliographical references; prominent topics of the magazines; portraits of authors, and illustrations from the newest books, etc., etc. Subscription, $1.00 per annum, postpaid; single nos., 10 cts. THE LIBRARY JOURNAL. Monthly. Official Organ of the American Library Association. Established in 1876. Subscription, $5.00 per annum, postpaid; single nos., 50 cents. (THE LITERARY NEWS is sent free to subscribers of THE LIBRARY JOURNAL.) THE AMERICAN CATALOGUE of books in print and for sale (including reprints and importations) July 1, 1876. Compiled (under the direction of F. LEYPOLDT) by LYNDS E. JONES. Subject-volume, 4to, half morocco, $15.00.. Author-and-title volume is out of print.] THE AMERICAN CATALOGUE, 18761884. Books recorded (including reprints and importations) July 1, 1876-June 30, 1884. Compiled, under the editorial direction of R. R. BowKER, by Miss A. I. APPLETON, 4to, half morocco, $25.00 (only 5 copies left, and these are subject to raise in price). AMERICAN CATALOGUE, 1884-90. Compiled, under the editorial direction of R. R. BowKER, by Miss A. I. APPLETON and others. 4to, half leather, $15.00. AMERICAN CATALOGUE, 1890-1895. In preparation. THE ANNUAL AMERICAN CATALOGUE. Being the full titles, with descriptive notes, of all books recorded in THE PUBLISHERS' WEEKLY during the calendar year, with author, title and subject index, publishers' annual lists and directory of publishers. Published annually since 1886. 8vo, net, sheets, $3.00; half morocco, $3.50. THE ANNUAL LITERARY INDEX, including Periodicals, American and English Essays, BookChapters, etc., Special Bibliographies and Necrology of Authors. Edited by W. I. FLETCHER and R. R. BowKER, with the co-operation of members of the American Library Association and of the Library Journal staff. 8°, cloth, $3.50. THE PUBLISHERS' TRADE LIST AN- I. THE LATEST CATALOGUES OF AMERICAN PUBLISHERS arranged alphabetically by firm-names. 2. THE EDUCATIONAL CATALOGUE.—(For description see 3. A complete short-title list of all books recorded in THE ENGLISH CATALOGUE [Annual] con- A CATALOGUE OF U. S. GOVERNMENT By 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, P. O. Box 943. 54 Duane Street, New York. Books for Teachers. COLUMBIAN KNOWLEDGE SERIES. TOTAL ECLIPSES OF THE SUN. PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN AMERICA. Edited by Professor TODD, of Amherst College. Timely and readable monographs of permanent interest. Scientific but untechnical, and illustrated. Each, 16m0, cloth, $1.00. Modern German Literature. By BENJAMIN W. WELLS, Ph.D. (of Sewanee University). 16mo, cloth, $1.50. It is an excellent popular account of the rise and progress of German Literature, comprehensive, and welladapted to its purpose. The Aim of Life. Plain Talks to Young Men and Women. By Rev. PHILLIP STAFFORD MOXOM. 16mo, cloth, $1.00. The Right Honorable William E. Gladstone. A Study from Life. By HENRY W. LUCY. With portrait. 12mo, cloth, $1.25. Life of Prince Bismarck. By CHARLES LOWE, M.A., author of "Alexander III. of Russia." Portrait. 12mo, cloth, $1.25. The Man Without a Country. By EDWARD E. HALE. School Edition. Illustrated. Square 12mo, paper covers, 30 cents. Talks With My Boys. By WILLIAM A. MOWRY. Revised Edition. 16m0, $1.00. "Of vital importance to every boy, and at once attractive and instructive."-New England Journal of Education. By E. A. ABBOTT and J. R. SEELEY. An Attempt to Apply the Principles of Scholarship to English Grammar. 16mo, cloth, $1.00. English Lessons. For English People. Vocabulary. Diction. Meter. Hints on Selections and Arrangement, Appendix. 16mo, cloth, $1.50. How to Write Clearly. Rules on English Composition. 16mo, cloth, 60 cents. How to Tell the Parts of Speech. An Introduction to English Grammar. American Edition. Revised and enlarged by JNO. G. R. MCELROY, Professor of the English Language in the University of Pennsylvania. 16mo. cloth, 75 cents. Our Educational Catalogue sent free. Any book, postpaid, on receipt of price. ROBERTS BROTHERS, Publishers, Boston. EDW. G. ALLEN'S London Agency for American Libraries, 28 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN, LONDON. (FORMERLY RICH & SONS.) EDW. G. ALLEN devotes himself entirely to library business. His long experience enables him to execute the orders of correspondents promptly, cheaply, and with thorough efficiency. His connection with all the Book Dealers in the United Kingdom gives him the command of the British Book Market, and qualifies him to serve his customers with special advantage, and to bring promptly under their notice all the stores of Literature, old and new, on sale in Great Britain. Books Supplied at a Small Commission on the Cost Price, with the usual Trade deductions, and forwarded by the quickest and cheapest routes. Second-hand Catalogues by early Mails, and no Commission charged on Orders from them. Periodicals and Newspapers Posted Promptly. No expensive sub-agencies at home or abroad. Foreign books on easy terms. Agency for the following Libraries and many others: Colorado University. Minneapolis Public Library. Library of Congress, Washington. Libraries of Parliament, Ottawa, Toronto, and Quebec. Amherst College. Boston Public Library. Brooklyn Library. BINDING. Cheap and Durable for Circulating Libraries. Specially Strong for Books of Reference. Superior dated Binding_Neatly Repaired. Deficiencies of Rare Books Supplied In We have been, for the last twenty years, personally cognizant of Mr. Allen's faitnfulness to the interests of his American customers. When a resident in Washington, ten years ago, we found that the immense Congressional Library largely supplied its shelves through Mr. Allen's London Agency. Many of the extensive libraries belonging to the Universities and Colleges in the East have also secured their Foreign Books from the same source, and we have heard from the officers of these Institutions frequent testimony to the scrupulous exactness with which their orders were always filled. "We cannot, therefore, do a greater service to the Colleges and Universities of the West, to which these presents shall come, than to advise that they employ this inexpensive agency for replenishing their Libraries with English Books."-President WELCH, Iowa State Agricultural College. "No better indorsement of Mr. Allen's Agency is possible than the list of leading libraries that continue to use it. For 30 years, strict integrity and unexcelled facilities have held the oid and made new patrons. The very large business built up demands only a small commission instead of the customary 10 per cent. A library can safely entrust all its London orders to Mr. Allen without getting other estimates and feel sure that it is not making à mistake."-MELVIL DEWEY, State Library, New York. Edw. G. Allen's American Library Agency, COVENT GARDEN, LONDON. MEMBER AMERICAN LIBRARY A8800IATION. SPECIAL Terms for large orDERS. |