is by this time in good order, though the new delivery system of carriers and mechanical devices has caused frequent delays and some difficulties in service. One department of the library that has been greatly improved since the removal is the Bates Hall reference collection. In the old building this comprised about 500 v.; in the new Bates Hall 7000 v. are already on the shelves, and 5000 more are to be added. These will be arranged in classed divisions, and the collection when completed will be 25 times as large as the old one. Edwin A. Abbey's great frieze for the deliveryroom of the library is already in place, so far as finished, covering exactly one-half of the space assigned for the completed work. "It already absolutely transforms the architectural character of the magnificent room, and offers another of the several convincing proofs offered in the progress of the library's construction as to how erroneous and misleading any judgment of the artistic nature of a work must be before it stands in completed guise." Brookline (Mass.) P. L. (38th rpt.) Added 1655; total 41,955. Home use 83.222 (fict. 45,713); lib. use 4203. New cards issued 788; total registration 6552. Receipts $13,597.57; expenses $11,686.45. The librarian's report is an interesting summary of the work done and the new methods inaugurated during the year. The children's reading-room has proved useful and attractive. It was used by 9993 boys and girls, to whom 16,671 v. were issued; "a record which proves how ready children are to find amusement in books and pictures, and to substitute for the questionable influence of the streets the helpful surroundings of our public library. The number of books allowed each child is limited to two on any one day, to insure more than a wholly careless examination of the books." The "two-book" system was adopted early in the year, and its results have been entirely gratifying. The increase in home circulation15,318 more than in 1893-is traced to this change ber of books upon a particular subject, for a stated time, provided the books are returned to the library if desired by others. Teachers may reserve, for school work, not more than 25 books a month; these books are placed on special shelves in the reading-room for the children's use. New books for children, excepting fiction, are kept on a special shelf for examination and selection. Brooklyn Board of Education on March 5. Brooklyn (N. Y.) L. At a meeting of the it was decided that the committee of studies the Brooklyn Library, to arrange means by of the board should confer with the officers of extended to the principals, teachers, and puwhich the privileges of the library might be pils of the local, high, and training schools. Such a conference was accordingly held, with the result that a favorable report was presented to the committee on studies, and unani It mously adopted by the board. It recommended that an appropriation of $3000 be made by the board of estimate to provide the privileges of the library to the teachers and advanced pupils. For this amount several hundred subscriptions could be secured, at, of course, a reduction from the regular subscription rates. is expected that only the upper classes in the two high schools and those in the training school will have the use of the library. The plan will not be put in practice this year, as there is no money available; but it is hoped that next year the board of estimate will allow the small appropriation asked for the purpose. Butte (Mont.) F. P. L. (Rpt.) Added 1849; total 17,312. Issued, home use 64,217 (fict. New cardholders 74.48 %); lib. use 36,069. 1934; total registration 3061. Receipts $19,031.60; expenses $10,344.73. the issuing of a complete catalog;" this was se"The greatest single work of the year has been cured at a remarkably small cost, by the insertion for 3000 cloth-bound copies. of advertisements, the catalog costing but $500 "Besides the catalog, reference lists on various subjects have been printed in the local papers, which have been highly appreciated and extensively used. These lists have covered subjects of popular interest, such as finance, Christmas stories, Washington and Stevenson the railroad question, Thanksgiving stories, bibliographies, etc., while the Anaconda Standard has printed all the additions to the library since the completion of the catalog. During the year the fiction department has been rearranged alphabetically by authors, and copy for a printed fiction-list has been prepared. "The shelf-numbers of over 30,000 cards have been changed and the cards put under the pseudonyms, where they are better known than the real names." A list of "100 good novels-A-M" was issued in October; a list of "100 good books for boys and girls" appeared in December. On the "picture board" a companion to the bul-received, the indications strongly show that the letin board-28 portraits with biographies, 107 other portraits, 22 criticisms, and 7 drawings, by Beardsley, Gibson, and others, were posted during the year. The collection of 15,000 pamphlets has also been classified and arranged, and will be cataloged by subject. Reference-books may be taken out over night, Sundays and holidays, by those whose work gives them little time for using the library, and a "special privilege slip" permits the use, for sufficient reasons, of more than the usual num "Despite the great patronage the library has continued growth in the future. Our last month success of the past year is only the promise of that, but the issue of March, 1895, was over 70 was our most successful month. And not only per cent. greater for home use, and nearly 20 per cent. greater for library use than the issue for March, 1894." it along these special lines. It contains also standard sets of reference works, encyclopædias, and bibliographic apparatus, as well as the reports, transactions, and proceedings of leading philosophical and scientific societies." The library at present contains about 8300 v. Besides the main library, working libraries have been formed in several of the departments. The reading-room contains the principal scientific and technical reviews, journals and magazines. Books are issued to the public for reading-room use, and students are given access to the shelves, though the books "are intended primarily for the use of curators of the museum." Chicago. Armour Institute L. The establishment of "home libraries" in different parts of the city, on the plans originated by Mr. Birtwell, of the Children's Aid Society, in Boston, and successfully developed in Albany, Philadelphia, | and other cities, was taken up by the library class of Armour Institute, at the opening of the term in October, 1894. The class had the hearty co-operation and assistance of the Children's Aid Society of Chicago, which had attempted to organize such libraries in the city, but had been unable to carry out its plans owing to a lack of earnest workers. The method of establishing these home libraries is generally familiar in its main details. The first library sent out by the Armour Institute library training class was made up from over 20 lists sent in by Jan. 7, 1895, a total of 1542 v. were reported in the library. About 50 medical periodicals are received. The Boston Medical Library has given to the association a collection of some 5000 v. of medical journals. The secretary of the association, after briefly reviewing its history from its incorporation in June, 1893, says: "An arrangement was made with Mr. J. C. Dana, of the Denver Public Library, whereby he not only provided shelf-room and the usual clerical care for the property of the association, but agreed to expend upon medical literature at least as much money as might be subscribed by the members of the association. It is to the wise and more than cordial support of Librarian Dana that the astonishing growth of the medical library is due." Concord (Mass.) F. P. L. (22d rpt.) Added 1229; total 26,824. Issued, home use 25,295. The two-book" plan is recommended by the librarian and formally authorized by the trustees; the issue of more than one book at a time is, however, restricted to adults, save “at the discretion of the librarian." total 19,554. Issued, home use 54,187 (fict. 52 %; Dover (N. H.) P. L. (12th rpt.) Added 1148; juv. 21%); lost 2. Reading-room attendance 18,330; Sunday attendance 853. New card holders 500; total registration 7505. Receipts $3764.16; expenses $3647.02. The circulation of 1894 is "not only the largest people especially interested in children's lit-circulation but the largest increase that the lierature. It included "Little men," "Little women," "Little Lord Fauntleroy," "Robinson brary has ever known in one year," being an Crusoe," "Fairy tales" of Grimm and Ander- average issue of five books to every inhabitant. sen, Brooks' The increase over the preceding year is 9440, "Historic boys," Eggleston's "Household history of the United States," The and it is traced to several causes-chief among water babies," Hawthorne's "Wonder book," them, probably, the growing use of the students' Andrew Lang's "Blue poetry book," the "Cent-card among the pupils of our public schools." ury World's Fair book," Miller's "Little folks in feathers and furs," and St. Nicholas. The aim was to give at least one book each of history, fiction, biography, nature study, and poetry, and plenty of mythology and fairy tales. Eight libraries have already been started by the class, and more are promised. Three of these were bought with money given by interested people, and the rest were formed from books gathered by members of the class and staff. Two are in the stock yards district, one on Harrison street. others on Milwaukee avenue, State street, and in Harlem. When the children of one club have finished the books sent them, the case is sent to another part of the city and one of the other libraries is brought to them. There is a great demand for the libraries, and the work is only limited by the supply of books which can be secured. Cleveland, O. Home Lending L. Assoc. This association has been established in connection with the local Associated Charities for the purpose of developing a system of "home libraries" similar to that conducted by the Children's Aid Society of Boston. Seven libraries are now started and the work is already producing most gratifying results. Colorado Medical L. Assoc., Denver. At the second annual meeting of the association, held 'Students' cards" have been issued by the library for the past two years, the system being essentially the same as the two-book plan, developed later in other libraries. These cards, on which books other than fiction could be drawn in addition to the books issued on the regular card, were at first confined to persons pursuing special courses of study; but were later issued to all desiring them. It is to the general use of students' cards among the school-children that the ble. The class showing most use by the chillarge increase in circulation is chiefly attributadren is that of U. S. history, in which 1743 v. were issued in 1894, as against 953 in 1893. "Indeed, one of the most gratifying facts in regard that it has occurred along the line of the best to this large total gain in circulation, is the fact reading in the library, and that the per cent. of fiction, which the year before was 56, declined last year to 52, and juvenile literature from 22 to 21 per cent." The issue of current magazines has also proved popular and has increased the general circulation. "One more plan which met with success was the Boys' Club, which was organized last summer for the purpose of interesting boys in the study of natural history. This club was composed of boys ranging from 10 to 16 years of age. They met at the library once a week during the summer, looked over books that had Evanston, Ill. Northwestern Univ. EXERCISES This handsome pamphlet contains the speeches and addresses made at the opening of the Orrington Lunt library building, of Northwestern University, prefaced by a description of the building. This description, together with Prof. Winsor's dedication address, have already appeared in the JOURNAL (L. J., 19: 338-340; 370-375). A view of the library and a portrait of Mr. Lunt are included. modated. The new room will be better lighted than the old, for the ground-glass will be replaced by plain glass, in larger lights. In this room it is expected to put 20,000 reference books. The plans for the alterations will be made by Shipley, Rutan & Coolidge, architects. One of the most important parts of the scheme, from the standpoint of the students, is the proposal to put electric lights in the reading-room, so be accessible from the delivery-room by a stairthat it will be open at night. The room will case. It is expected that these changes will be covered by the funds now in the hands of the corporation. The alterations will, however, be only temporary, for even with the added shelving another five years will probably see the library in as congested and overcrowded a state as at present. The alterations will be begun at the end of this term, and it is expected that they will be completed by the opening of the next term. Illinois State Hist L., Springfield. (Biennial Glen Cove (L. I.) P. L. The Glen Cove Pub-rpt.) Added 4136; total not given. Miss Clevelic Library was opened to the public on the afterland gives a careful review of what has been accomplished in the library during the year. She urges the need of organizing a state historical society for Illinois, and the advisability of a legislative provision authorizing the collection, printing and distribution of statistics and information relating to the state. The report includes a short history of the state and of the library. noon of April 15. It was established, with the local school library as a nucleus, some months since, when a board of trustees was elected, and a charter obtained. An appropriation of $200 was voted by the citizens for the support of the library and an equal sum was obtained from the state. Quarters have been furnished by the board of education in the west wing of its new building and shelving for 5000 v. has been provided. The library will be open for the issue of books during the summer from 2.30 to 3.30 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and for reading and reference on such other days as may be found desirable. Kansas City (Mo.) P. L. The board of education accepted, on March 24, one of the three sets of plans submitted by the architects of the board for the new library building. The designs chosen call for a stone building 114 x 139, in the Ionic style. There will be two stories and a basement, the latter to be used for bindery, storage, and heating purposes. The first floor will contain the women's reading-room, men's reading-room, school children's room, librarian's office, cataloging-room, and art-room. The stack-room will extend through both first and second floors, being three tiers high on each floor, and will have a book capacity of 210,000 v. The special study and reference rooms will shelve about 10,000 v. additional. On the second floor will be the reference-room, rooms of the board of education, lecture-rooms, superintendent of schools. Work on the building will be begun as soon as possible. Harvard Univ. L., Cambridge, Mass. Muchneeded alterations will shortly be begun in the present reading-rooms of Gore Hall, by which additional space will be provided for readers and accommodations for 130,000 books obtained. Early in the year the university corporation appointed Justin Winsor and E. W. Hooper, treasurer of the corporation, a committee, with power to act, in the matter of increased library accommodations. They have decided to make all the alterations in the reading-room, instead of touching the big book stack at the eastern end of Gore Hall. The alcove partitions in the read-club-rooms, newspaper-room, and offices of the ing-room will be torn out, and the great pillars which support the roof will probably be replaced by iron columns. A two-story iron stack, 14 feet high, and holding 130,000 v., will be erected on the main floor, taking up all the space now occupied by the main floor of the reading-room. Upon this stack the new readingroom will be placed. The height of the new room will be practically the same as the old, for above the ceiling of the present rooms is a clear space of 15 feet to the roof. This ceiling will be torn out. The new reading-room will be furnished with new tables and comfortable chairs, and will accommodate 250 readers, whereas in the old room only 150 can be accom Lancaster (Mass.) Town L. (32d rpt.) Added 1115; total 25,320. Issued, home use 13,641 (fict. .638%; juv. .031 %); ref. use, no account kept. New cardholders 137: total registration 1466. Receipts $1841.77; expenses $1841.77. Appended is a "Catalog of books added to the library since March 1, 1894," covering 72 p. In May, 1894, Miss Ella S. Wood was appointed librarian. The circulation for the year shows an increase of 1730 over that of 1894, a growth partly attributed to the two-book system, which has been adopted at the library. Littleton, Mass. Reuben Hoar L. Added 555; total "over 6000 v." (fict. 4155). Receipts $710.99; $644.97. (8th rpt.) | April. An extra non-fiction card is issued to Issued 6245 every borrower desiring it, this card being expenses colored yellow and about two-thirds the size of the regular card. On one side the following The two-book plan was adopted in the library notice is printed: during the year. Medford (Mass.) P. L. (Rpt.) Added 1174; total 16,347. Issued 51,439, an increase of nearly 18% over the previous year. Receipts $5033.50; expenses $5030.52. annex. The most urgent need of the library is for a new building, or at least the enlargement of the present structure by the addition of a suitable The charging system devised by Miss N. E. Browne, of the Library Bureau, in which a reader's pocket takes the place of the usual reader's card, has been adopted, and will, Miss Sargent believes, "be a great saving of time and annoyance.' The publication of a bi-monthly bulletin of new books is recommended. New Hampshire State L., Concord. An act passed by the legislature on March 27 provides that all books which by authorship or by their subject-matter have any particular relation to the state" may be purchased for the state library, "whether such works are technically classed as fiction or otherwise." New York. Lenox L. (25th rpt.) Added 4625; total (estimated) 86,000 v., 32,364 pm. The total number of visitors was 26,156, as against 20,225 in 1893, and 25,761 v. were issued for consultation, the latter figures showing an increase of 16,609 over the previous year. "Among the acquisitions of the year the most remarkable are the early American newspapers, of which over 45,000 numbers were received within 12 months. 19,000 of these bear dates from 1716 to 1800, including examples of nearly every important gazette of the Colonial and Revolutionary times. No other publications offer material so fresh and ample for illustrating the history, the social life, and the literature of the period." A detailed summary and review of the newspapers possessed by the library is included in the report, and appendix B is a "yearlist of American newspapers, 1704-1800." Considerable advance was made during the year in the cataloging work, and various repairs and alterations were completed in the library. "During the year a distinct cataloging staff was organized, and what has been done in the way of providing a reference card catalog for readers is, perhaps, the most notable of the year's results." New York. Maimonides F. L. (Rpt.) Added 1982; total 43,510. Issued, home use 41,852 (fict. .52%); ref. use 17.878. No. cardholders 902. The library was made free to the public in January, 1894, but it was some months before the necessary changes in administration were completed. The change in the character of the library from a private society library to a free public library is by far the most important event of the year. A printed subject catalog is in course of preparation. Newark (N. J.) P. L. The two-book system was put in operation in the library early in ❘ "No. is entitled to draw from the Newark fiction), or the second volume of a two-volume Public Library, Newark, N. J., one book (not work of fiction. For rules regulating cards and books, see regular card." It was decided that the plan of issuing a single card, ruled for entries of fiction and other works," as is used in the Brookline Public Library, would not be advisable in Newark, where three-fourths of the books drawn are novels, as the fiction division of the card would be exhausted long before the other column was filled. Newburgh (N. Y.) F. L. (Rpt.) Added 1122; total 19,665. Issued 70,910, an increase of 8105 over the previous year. Expenses $3150. The librarian says: "Many of the school children, by the advice of their parents and teachers, or because of an educated taste for better reading, are selecting books for home use which were formerly seldom sought for by the young, while cyclopædias, biographical and historical dictionaries, and other handy helps are in daily demand for consultation at the library building." North Granby, Ct. Cossitt L. Added 188; total 2217; issued 3276 (fict. 55 %); no. cardholders 384. During the year the library has been made more attractive by the addition of pictures given by Mrs. Juilliard and Mrs. Dodge, of New York, daughters of Mr. Cossitt. Palo Alto, Cal. Leland Stanford Jr. Univ. L. The university library has secured the_valuable philological collection of the late Prof. Hildebrand, of Leipzig, at a cost of $5000. Besides its philological division, the collection is rich in the older German literature, in French, English, and Spanish literature and in Goethe and Schiller. Pawtucket (R. I.) F. P. L. (18th rpt.) Added 470; total 13,889. Issued, home use 55,371 (fict. 38,949); ref. use (estimated) 36,000. New cards issued 1187; total registration 9686. Receipts $7200; expenses $7199.34. Mrs. Sanders urges that the existing method of buying books only at the beginning and end of the year be changed to weekly purchases, thus bringing new books before readers while their interest is still fresh. evidence of the growth of appreciation of the li"The increased circulation of 38 per cent, is brary; the circulation of 15,818 books on school child to take a card, irrespective of age." cards shows the wisdom of allowing each school There has been a steady attendance at the reading-room throughout the year, averaging 540 daily; this is largely attributed to the busiMrs. Sanders says: ness depression of the year. In this connection, "We learn that at the last conference of the A. L. A., the subject of newspapers in a readingroom was discussed, and by many librarians voted a nuisance on the ground that it brought to the library an undesirable class of readers. If the library and reading-room are for the people, more especially for those who cannot afford the luxury of a private library, or in many cases even a newspaper, is it not an important part of its mission to help just such patrons to keep in touch with the progress of the world at large? Our experience would incline us to increase rather than to decrease our list of newspapers. support, and the transfer of its government to a board of directors. The librarian records the work of the year, during which 3097 books were added to the collection, making a total of 91,132. The issue for home use for the year was 190,557 (fict. 46 %; juv. 14.7%); for library use 54,907. Mr. Crunden describes briefly the moving of the books and the opening of the library under its new auspices, concluding with a “Chronology of the Public (School) Library." Pittsburg, Pa. Carnegie L. The library sub- the first annual report of the St. Louis Public The report of the directors for 1894, being committee on branch libraries has decided on sites for seven branch libraries in various dis tricts of the city. The sites, with one exception, will all have to be purchased, and the total cost is estimated at $78,000. There is in all $300,000 to be devoted to the branches. Portland (Me.) P. L. (Rpt.) Added 1781; total 40,233. Issued, home use 87,767 (fict. and juv. 71.28%); lib. use 28,259. New borrowers 1166; total registration 12,099. "The vote granting special cards to teachers went into effect March 1, and 42 teachers have already applied for and received them." The librarian urges the need of a new catalog and of printed lists of accessions. Work on a card catalog, supplementing the last printed catalog — that of 1890 — will be soon begun. Rochester, N. Y. The work of altering and renovating the old Reynolds residence on Spring street for the housing of the Reynolds' Library, was begun on April 1, and will, it is thought, be completed by July. It is intended to adapt the building thoroughly to the purposes of the library, with provision for future growth. The work of removal will probably be carried on during July and August, and the library will reopen in its new quarters some time in the fall. Rutland (Vt.) F. L. A. (9th rpt.) Added 520; total 8420. Issued 53,379 (fict. 69.40%). Books issued for school use 2232. Receipts $4617.88; expenses $2839.48. The circulation shows an increase of 7114 over 1893. During the year the stacks and charging-desks have been so rearranged as to allow the public access to all shelves, except those devoted to fiction. "A club called the Art Seekers has been organized in connection with the library. This has for its main purpose the collection of fine photographs and other reproductions of notable work for the use of the schools. Nothing will be received that is not intrinsically good; but it must be remembered that a fine wood-engraving is better than a poor etching or an inferior engraving on steel." St. Louis (Mo.) P. F. L. (Rpts. 1892-1893, 1894.) The report for 1892–93, being the last report of the old "Public Library," was prepared in the midst of the confusion and rush of work consequent upon the opening of the library as the "Public Free Library," and its issue has therefore been delayed. In this report the president of the board of managers summarizes the events leading to the organization of the free library, the adoption of taxation for its Free Library, reviews the various steps of the and briefly describes its present condition. Mr. movement by which the library was established, the work of making the library ready for public Crunden in his report for the same year describes use and explains the various alterations in administration that have been adopted. The statistics of the report, covering the months of March and April only, show additions of 808, and a total of 91,940. There were 115 v. bound for the first time at a cost of $67.55, averaging 59 cents per v.; 95 v. were bound at a cost of $37.75, or 40 cents per v.; and 456 v. were repaired at the library at a cost of $35, or an average of eight cents each. There were issued for home use 11,428 v.; for lib. use 12,031, and the reading-room issue was 27.490. St. Paul (Minn.) P. L. (13th rpt.) Added 3434; total 38,389. Issued, home use 188,495 (fict. 45.57%; juv. 27.32%); ref. use 56,674. New cards issued 5484; total registration 10,279. Receipts $16,965.15; expenses $14,332.47. Early in the year two more rooms were granted to the library in its quarters in the city hall. These were arranged as a reading-room and a room for bound newspapers and little-used books, and the extra space obtained has added much to the comfort of the public and of the library force. Additional shelving gives room for about 15,000 more v., which, at the present rate of increase, will give shelf-rooom for five years. Salem (Mass.) P. L. (6th rpt.) Added 2159; total 29,434. Issued, home use 112,349 (fict. 80.85%); ref. use (issued on slips) 3780. Attendance at ref. room 6888. Receipts $16,453.50; expenses $11,926.68. The need of an enlargement of the library is classes has necessitated the removal of another more pressing than ever. "The growth in all block of books to the third floor, thereby increasing the difficulty in prompt and efficient service." Present conditions also prevent the proper development of the use of the referenceroom and keep the public from direct access to the card catalog, which "now contains at least 90,000 cards," and catalogs every book in the library by author, title and subject, with analytical entries of composite books. The trustees make an urgent plea for the extension of the building. Since the opening of the library, five years ago, only 15 books have been lost. During the year 558 v. have been withdrawn. Mr. Jones says: "The withdrawals consist mainly of fiction which has been worn out in service. The almost universal use of wood-pulp paper so shortens the |