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accounts, book and borrower. This involves looking up two charges when the book is returned, and therefore seems not feasible where there is a large circulation.

The diversity of methods described in the replies and the variety of opinions expressed regarding their relative advantages indicate the difficulty in arriving at a best method for all libraries. Each library must decide for itself and adopt a system which conforms to the other details of its administration.

Bayonne (N. J.) Free Public Library. "The method followed is the same, with one or two exceptions, as that adopted by Mr. C. K. Bolton in the Brookline Public Library and described in L. J. 19 : 161 – 162.

"No restrictions have been placed on new books.

"A two-volume novel is counted as one book.

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'Only one card is used and is not divided for 'fiction' and 'other works,' but all charges are made in the order that the books are loaned. "To distinguish fiction from other works, fiction is charged in blue ink, and other works in red ink with the date transposed.

"The only difficulty experienced thus far is that occasionally a book is returned without the borrower's card, which has been left at home in the other book. Whenever such a case occurs, the book is put aside until the card is returned and properly discharged. This does not take more than two or three days, as the borrower is requested to return the card as soon as possible. Since putting the foregoing into practice, I have concluded that it would be better to place the book in circulation at once, and to file in its stead a memorandum slip giving the necessary information." ALFRED C. HERZOG. Boston Public Library. "From time immemorial" the library has allowed two books on a card, but until within a few years only one of them could be from the same "hall" or branch.

Three or four years ago the restrictions were removed, and at the present time two books, either fiction or non-fiction, can be taken on each card. The only entry on the borrower's card is a repetition of the date.

Miss Jenkins informs me that they find no difficulties in charging two books. Brookline Public Library. One card with two divisions. See L. J., May, 1894, 19: 161, for a full description of Mr. Bolton's system. The

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Milwaukee Public Library. "We use but one card, and do not divide the entries in any way. Miss Stearns says that the only difficulty is in an occasional carelessness at the receiving window in checking off the wrong card, but that this does not occur often enough to make it serious." THERESA WEST. New Haven Free Public Library. "We issue an extra card' to any holder of the ordinary card. The extra card bears the same number as the other card, with the addition of X. A record of the extra cards is made by marking an X opposite the borrower's name in the register of borrowers. This seems to require the minimum of labor in issuing and recording cards. The extra card is different in color, hence no mistakes are possible in identifying, even in the busiest times.

"I do not see any objection to our method." W. K. STETson.

New York Free Circulating Library. "For the two-book system we use a card similar to the one in use at the Brookline Library. We find this method very simple, and most satisfactory.

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When we began, three years ago, to give out current numbers of the popular magazines we issued to borrowers two cards-one for a book, and one for a magazine. This, we soon found, added much to the work. Borrowers very frequently left one of their cards at the library, generally only for a day or two. Consequently it took a great deal of time each day to file these cards, and, as might be expected, the majority of them were taken out again during our busiest hours at the delivery desk. This method we found decidedly cumbersome.

"Our borrowers also objected to the care of two cards." ELLA M. SAuer. Newton Free Library. "I think the whole ques

tion of one or two cards depends on the system of charging in practice in the given library.

"Since according to our method we depend on the borrower's card, when the book is returned, for knowing the date upon which the book was issued, and 2d, since more than half our circulation is through agency-delivery, we find it almost a necessity to use two cards instead of one.

"But where the date of issue is stamped on the book I should say the advantages of one card were decidedly greater than those of two.

"The chief objection to two cards, especially where you have a fiction restriction, is that the borrower comes with the card which has the restriction on it, and wishes for the book of fiction, perhaps assuring you that the book already out is not fiction. Then again, two cards are an annoyance to the borrower."

E. P. THURSTON.

Otis Library, Norwich, Ct. "In my opinion one card for two books is probably more liable to lead to confusion than two cards for one book each, one being a fiction card, and the other a card for other books. Borrowers sometimes return one of the two books without a card, necessitating a memorandum slip at the desk. Then, too, in changing from the old plan, the habit of stamping the vacant space at the left is so fixed with attendants that mistakes are often made, and 'other works' are charged on the fiction' side. Both these sources of confusion would be removed by issuing two cards, which would, I think, mini- | mize the chances of mistakes, though I have not tried it, but intend to."

JONATHAN TRUmbull. Philadelphia Free Library. "The two-book system is a successful development of the use of a free library, but I am convinced that much confusion arises from the use of two cards. I just adopted the practice of keeping the record separate [in two columns]. Amongst other evils this led to a great waste of cards, for many would fill up the fiction side whilst only one-third of the opposite column was used. I have therefore abandoned the practice, and now when a book from the classifications' is taken out we write after the date 'C.' This works admirably in itself and is also very helpful in reducing the percentage of fiction. All readers will have a story book but are very glad to have a 'C' book as well for more careful reading.

"If two cards are used, readers perpetually

leave one at home, and as often as not bring the wrong one with them. This leads to friction and bad feeling. I cordially approve the two-book system and believe the plan of marking all on one card identifying those not fiction by 'C' meets all requirements."

JOHN THOMSON. Philadelphia Public Library. "In issuing two books on one card we simply mark a 'C' after the date of issue. When the novel is returned the space that is blank is marked, and the space marked 'C' remains to show that the work still out is not a work of fiction. I chose 'C' because it can be made in shorter time than any other letter. We have had no trouble whatever in keeping the records correct.

"I would not advocate two cards because of the extra registration required. There would also be many cases in which the extra card would only be used once or twice and that much labor wasted." T: L. MONTGOMERY. "One card Quincy (Ill.) Free Public Library. only is used. No difficulty is found, for if the cards and books in a family get mixed, the book can be discharged from the date of loan stamped in the back. It was found best when two books outside fiction were given out to charge each in a separate column; then there would be no confusion from dating stamp stamping irregularly, and the fact that two books are out can be more readily seen than if both books had been charged in the same column." JOHN G. MOULTON. Reuben Hoar Library, Littleton, Mass. One card with date stamped twice if two books are taken, and call-number of fiction, or class-mark (Dewey) of others, written in return column. Tufts Library, Weymouth, Mass. "I have tried the two-book system only a few weeks, but as the method employed works well, I will explain it to you.

"So many of our books are sent in baskets to the different villages that of necessity two cards are needed.

"Our stock of cards is large, so we use the same cards for the extra card, stamping them at the top 'Special card. Not for fiction.' The extra card has the same number, thus doing away with the necessity of a second application. To avoid confusion, on the charging slip we add an 'S' (for special) to the card no., to be sure which book is charged on the 'special card,' for no one is obliged to borrow fiction on either."

CAROLINE A. BLANCHARD.

Watertown Free Public Library. One card. Date of issue stamped in blue and call-mark written in return column. Charge cancelled by date of return stamped in red.

Wilmington Institute Free Library. "We simply apply the same principle to ordinary cards that we have been using upon 'teachers' cards' (and in fact for any two-volume book); and we find that it works perfectly satisfactory. We could not be induced to use a second card, for people would be constantly getting them mixed, and so make us interminable troubles and disputes.

"We use our borrowers' cards thus: In the 'Loaned' space we stamp the date, and in the 'Returned' column we put the accession number of the volume, drawing a line lightly through the number representing the volume 'not fiction.' This is important. When the book is returned we stamp the date over the accession number, and this closes the account. The accession number is the surest perfect designation of the book, for in our system it can belong to but one single piece' (volume); no other can ever get that number.

"When we charge two volumes of fiction, each volume is charged on a separate line, and counts as but one book' in the two-book scheme." A. W. TYLer. Henry J. Carr, Scranton, Pa., Public Library. "According to your note in L. J. you are investigating the two-book' issue subject.

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"I have no experience of exactly that nature to report, but have had considerable in the matter of issuing six or more books at a time on teachers' cards. Also (at St. Joseph), in making extra issues on all cards, for a small fee. In none of those instances have I ever found the least difficulty in getting along with one card in each case.

"Just make the extra charges on as many additional lines of the borrower's card as are required for the purpose, and as many corresponding stamps in the 'loaned' column as there are books issued, and the deed is done.

"It sometimes proves a convenience and safeguard to pencil the particular book numbers in the returned' column and then stamp over them afterwards, as each respective book is brought in; it is not actually necessary to do so in the book-slip charging method like yours, however,

"As the cards are thus used up faster, you will find it desirable to have smaller spaces, and more of them, on each card, than has

been the case in the latest cards of the Salem P. L. that I have seen. Say like Stetson's, at New Haven, or ours here at Scranton.

"So much for the technics,' and now for the principle itself.

"Mr. Bolton last year, and Mr. Tyler this year, both urge the scheme very plausibly, but I am not a convert to it. I am not especially conservative, nor at all inclined to restrict the use of the library, but still, I fail to see the particular merit in holding out the idea that because people will read fiction they may, as a sort of premium, also take an additional volume of some other class.

"According to my knowledge of readers' ways, those seeking 'light reading' want that and that alone, as a rule; and have small occasion for taking more than one book at a time, save to escape coming to the library so often. Those who take more to ' solid reading,' on the contrary, frequently want more than one book at a time on the same subject, and justly so; and so they borrow cards of others in the family and of the neighbors.

"Therefore, I think that if I were to try

the two-book' system it would be preferably under a rule that all cardholders might take two books at a time of anything except fiction, but only one of fiction. By so doing, I believe that we should be giving real encouragement in the right direction, and not, as is possibly done under the other plan, merely tempting studious readers to take also a volume of fiction so as to enjoy full privileges, same as others.

"Access to the shelves is a far better system, according to my judgment, but that takes room and special provisions which so many of our buildings as now constructed cannot give." George Watson Cole, Jersey City Free Public Library. "We have not yet adopted the two-book system, as we have preferred to wait until experience shall have settled the best method. From my present view of the case I should be in favor of two cards, purely from an economical standpoint. We pay for our borrowers' cards, which are printed on extra fine stock, $55 for 10,000.

"The two-book system on a single card, I think, would be wasteful for us, and with two cards I am inclined to think the standard reading or classed card would often be left at home, and the borrower would use only the fiction card."

Frank P. Hill, Newark, N. J., Free Public

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B-Delivery desk. - Confusion on delivery side of desk, as only one book would have a card in, and as often happens, the books are returned by some one who would not know whether one or two books were wanted. One book having been charged, it would be necessary to hold it until the other had been charged before calling the applicant's name, otherwise many books would be lying on the desk without card or claimant.

"C-Registration desk. 1. As soon as one side of the card is filled out, both books must be returned before a new card can be issued. 2. In case of a lost card, the reader is deprived of both classes of books until the expiration of seven, or 10, or 20 days usually required by libraries before issuing a new card. Two cards-two books:

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"1. More danger of mixing the books and cards than when only one card is used, and, of course, as long as the difficulty continued, the reader would be the loser, inasmuch as he would be deprived of his card or cards.

"2. Should the reader report, accidentally or otherwise, the wrong card lost, he might be using two fiction cards, or two which would entitle him to books in both classes. Until both cards should be returned at the same time, the attendant at the delivery desk would not discover the error.

"Possibly it is practicable to have a separate desk for readers using the two books, because it would always happen that some would not care for more than a fiction card.

"In spite of difficulties, I am going to try the scheme, and am greatly in favor (for us) of the two-cards system. For a large library it seems the best. One can readily see that difficulties might appear in a large library which would not be taken into account in a smaller institution,"

CO-OPERATION IN THE CATALOGING

OF SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE. THE following communication from the committee on library of Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, has been transmitted by the committee to the Royal Society of London, in reply to the circular issued by the Society asking comment and suggestion on its proposed plan for the comprehensive indexing of scientific literature. The circular of the Royal Society was sent out in March, 1894, and the communication of the Institute committee was made in the autumn of 1894.

PHILADELPHIA, October 8, 1894.

To the President of the Royal Society.

SIR: Your valued communication addressed to the president of the Franklin Institute, suggesting the desirability of international co-operation in the compiling of a catalog of scientific literature, was duly laid before the Institute and referred to the committee on library with power to act. In framing a reply, the committee finds itself deeply impressed with the importance and magnitude of the problem submitted. Scarcely less evident than the value of a thoroughly satisfactory catalog or index of the kind suggested is, in our estimation, the necessity of international co-operation in the work of preparing it, and while, at this stage of the proceedings, we are not in the position to suggest a method for carrying this into effect, we can hardly doubt that such co-operation is feasible. We are, however, inclined to doubt whether even the co-operation of the learned societies of the world would be sufficient for the task in its entirety, and whether these societies would not find it necessary to call in the aid of their respective govern

ments.

We feel that such a work, in order to fill the demands which even our present conditions make upon it, to say nothing of those of the near future, must be vastly more comprehensive than any existing publications of which we are aware, not even excepting the admirable work now being conducted by your own Society.

To attain such degrees of utility, however, would require the expenditure of an enormous amount of labor; and it is, of course, of the utmost importance that the work should be thoroughly and wisely planned before any steps are taken in its actual prosecution.

Your suggestion that the work begin with January 1, 1900, seems therefore to be a very 1901, the beginning of the new century; for we fitting one, though we would prefer January 1, believe that the time intervening between the present and that date will be found none too long for the necessary deliberations and for the is earnestly to be desired that after the work has perfecting of the arrangements; but we think it been properly inaugurated, it should be made to embrace all the literature which shall have appeared prior to the date named.

such an undertaking is that of the frequency of One of the vexing questions in connection with the issue of the catalog. For use by active workers in any line, in these days of rapid prog

ress, the catalog should, of course, be issued at short intervals, not exceeding, we think, one year, and the catalog for such a period should appear, say, within a month or two of the close of such period; but this at once brings up the question as to how the various annual parts or issues shall be arranged from time to time, in order that the seeker for information may not be required to look through too great a number of issues.

This suggests the advisability of maintaining in, say, a dozen or more of the principal centres of learning of the world a complete catalog in the form of a great card index, which could be kept constantly up to date and always perfectly arranged, and from which information could at any time be promptly obtained by correspondence. From this an abstract might be annually made for publications.

Another serious problem is that of the best method of arranging the catalog. That a catalog of authors' names alone is thoroughly inadequate for the purpose in view is, we think, self-evident, and it is our opinion that, in framing the catalog, attention should be given not merely to the titles of papers, but to the material contained in them, and that this material should be thoroughly cataloged under the various headings which it embraces; for instance, a paper describing the construction of a bridge would almost necessarily deal separately with the foundations and with the substructure and superstructure, to say nothing of many matters of detail connected with each of these three divisions; and very valuable experimental data upon such matters of detail must be lost to the profession if such a paper is indexed by title only.

Another question, and one suggested by the desirability of publishing in such form that those portions of the catalog which pertain to any particular branch of science might be obtained separately, is that as to the relative advantages of an alphabetical and of a rational arrangement. We believe that it would be found difficult, if not impracticable, to adhere to a strictly alphabetical arrangement, and that the indexer always finds himself confronted with the question as to how far he shall follow either one of these two methods.

That the catalog should be so extended that it will cover not only periodical literature, but that appearing in book form, is, of course, most desirable, and it is to be hoped that the difficulty of doing so will not be found insurmountable.

In the proposed catalog the titles of works would no doubt be given in their respective languages, as in the catalog prepared by your society. This being the case, the question of languages is, perhaps, a subordinate one, and one referring rather to the arrangement of the catalog than to the titles included in it.

In a strictly alphabetical catalog this question would scarcely arise at all, unless, indeed, it should be proposed to translate all the titles into some one given language, which, we think, would scarcely be justified, as those who cannot read the title in the original would derive but little benefit from consulting the work itself.

Under the circumstances, this, our reply to your first communication upon the subject, must, at the best, be tentative in the extreme, but we may at least express the hope that your suggestion may receive the hearty support which it deserves, and that we may be granted the favor of taking part in the further discussion of the subject.

We are, with great respect, the Committee on Library of the Franklin Institute, of the State of Pennsylvania. [Signed.] W. P. TATHAM, Chairman.

LAVISH GIFTS TO COLUMBIA
COLLEGE.

Ar the regular monthly meeting of the trustees of Columbia College, held May 6, it was formally announced that President Seth Low had given $1,000,000 for the erection of the library building on the new site of Columbia on Morningside Heights. At the same time announcement was made that W: C. Schermerhorn, chairman of the board of trustees, had offered to be responsible for the erection of another college building- either the natural science building or any other building that the trustees might select—at a cost of $300,000; and that F. Augustus Schermerhorn had formally presented to the college the "Townsend library of national, state, and individual war records,' together with the sum of $4000 to defray the expenses of indexing the collection.

The library will be erected by Mr. Low as a memorial to his father, the late Abiel Abbott Low," a merchant who taught his son to value the things for which Columbia stands." In making his offer President Low stated that it was his desire that his gift should be made the means of extending college privileges to some of the boys and girls of his native city, Brooklyn, by the establishment of twelve Brooklyn scholarships for boys at Columbia and an equal number for girls at Barnard. He also desired that eight university scholarships, to be known as the President's university scholarships, be established. To these wishes the trustees willingly assented, and resolutions of appreciation and acceptance of the offer in its entirety were at once adopted.

The plans for the library building of Columbia were prepared in the autumn of 1894, and have already been described in the JOURNAL (L. J. 19: 379-380). The library is to be the chief and centre of the noble group of buildings with which Columbia proposes to crown its beautiful new site; it was designed by McKim, Mead & White, and its cost was estimated, at the time the plans were made public, as about $750,000. President Low's magnificent gift will permit of its establishment on the broadest and most permanent basis, and will give to Columbia probably the finest library structure possessed by any American university. Mr. Schermerhorn's gift of another college building leaves three more 'buildings to be provided for — a dining-hall, a university theatre, and a gymnasium-and these the trustees hope will also be erected by private generosity.

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