THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY. back of the proposed building, across the street, On May 24 the articles of agreement consoli-rises the imposing slope of the main campus, dating the Astor Library, the Lenox Library, throw away is the present university library, with the university buildings proper. A stone'snow greatly crowded, and at some future period the Historical Society. The reading-room of to be given a shelter under the same roof with the new building will then be used in common under the society's direction, but otherwise the autonomy of each institution will be preserved. and the Tilden Trust were filed in the office of the Secretary of State at Albany and with the County Clerk of New York-thus establishing the New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden foundations, as a corporate body. Under the terms of the agreement, there are 21 trustees, seven from each of the consolidated corporations, in the new board. As there were 15 trustees of the Astor Library, II of the Lenox, and only five of the Tilden, it became necessary to increase the number of Tilden representatives and cut down the others. In order to keep as many of the former trustees in as possible, the Tilden trustees selected as their additional representation Samuel P. Avery, of the Lenox Library, and Philip Schuyler, of the Astor board. The other trustees of the new board are Dr. T: M. Markoe, Henry Drisler, J: L. Cadwalader, Bishop Potter, S. Van Rensselaer Cruger, Stephen H. Olin, and Edward King, of the Astor Library; Daniel Huntington, Frederick Sturges, Alexander Maitland, J: S. Kennedy, H. Van Rensselaer Kennedy, William Allen Butler, and G: L. Rives, of the Lenox Library; and John Bigelow, Andrew H. Green, G: W. Smith, Alexander E. Orr, and Lewis Cass Ledyard, of the Tilden Trust Fund. A fully attended meeting of the consolidated board of trustees was held on May 27, for purposes of organization. An executive committee and committees on finance and library books were appointed, and the following officers were elected: President, John Bigelow; first vicepresident, Bishop Potter; second vice president, J: S. Kennedy; treasurer, Edward King, and secretary, G: L. Rives. It is unlikely that definite action as to site, administration, etc., will be taken before the autumn. state. The appropriation made by the legislature is each dollar of the assessed valuation of the a tax, for three years, of one-tenth of a mill on At the present valuation, this would amount to a total of $195,000; but as the specifed three years do not commence until 1897, it the total up to $225,000. While the appropriais hoped that an increased valuation will bring tion does not formally commence until 1897, the building commissioners are authorized to borfrom the state trust funds, so that operations can row in advance, at two per cent. per annum, be commenced early in 1896. A clause in the law allows the commissioners to secure plans for a much larger structure, estimated at $360,000, to house both the libraries; but with the present appropriation to complete only so much as is necessary for the proper housing of the Historical Society, which will probably be able to move into its new quarters three years hence. As for the university end of the building and the that at some subsequent session the legislature completion of the full plans, it is tacitly agreed will vote the rest of the money required. The space now occupied by the society in the capitol will, upon its moving out, be converted into committee and office rooms, which are sorely needed. The Wisconsin Historical Society's library now numbers about 180,000 books and pam phlets. In 1853 it began business under Secre tary Draper with 50 volumes, contained in a little glass-faced bookcase in the secretary of THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF state's office. Then it moved to the basement WISCONSIN. THE legislature of Wisconsin has recently provided for the erection on the "lower campus" of the State University of a library and museum building for the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. The site, a free gift from the university regents, in consideration of the removal to its immediate neighborhood of what has always been, though three-quarters of a mile distant, the chief literary laboratory of the faculty and students of that institution, is attractive in many ways. The land actually given is about 225 by 264 feet, bounded at sides and rear by three streets, and facing the rest of the "lower campus," a plot of ground owned by the university, and equal in area to two ordinary city blocks. This, with the library site, is now used for athletic purposes; but as a new athletic park, of some 50 acres, has been purchased for the students, the lower campus" will be planted to grass and shrubs as a proper setting for the new library building, and, of course, will never be built upon; thus giving the building a beautiful frontage towards the city. Immediately of a neighboring church. In 1866 it was given what were then supposed to be ample quarters in the state-house, but by 1882 these were so crowded that the legislature ordered built a large wing to the capitol, and gave the society three-fourths of the space therein. Into these quarters it moved in 1885, but it was soon found that the wing, like the rest of the capitol, was shabbily constructed, structurally unsafe, and a mere fire-trap. When Secretary Thwaites took charge of the rapidly growing institution, in 1886, he at once commenced a systematic agitation for a separate, fire-proof, and modernly appointed library and museum building. A "campaign of education" was never more successful. The pressing need for a new home has been made known all over the state. The newspaper editors and citizens generally were one by one enlisted in the cause, and the society's annual reports made earnest appeals for the safe housing of the treasures accumulated for the people by this institution. During the biennial sessions of 1889, 1891, and 1893, bills were presented and vigorously pushed to secure this end, but each failed of passage, although the measure of 1891 was approved by the senate. The measure of 1893 was the first to provide for a union under one roof with the state university library. Finally, the present generous bill was, after three months of warm discussion, passed in the closing hours of the recent session, and the new building of the Historical Society became an assured fact. A commission of nine persons is provided for in the law-three from the Historical Society, three from the state university regents, and three to be appointed by the governor from the state at large. Tentative plans are already in existence, the work of President C: K. Adams, of the state university, who was active in the construction of the Ann Arbor and Cornell college libraries, and Secretary R. G. Thwaites, of the State Historical Society. These plans were used in the legislative campaign as object-lessons, but may be considerably modified in the final deliberations of the commission after an architect has been selected. Apparently the disposition is to restrict architectural competition to a few well-known firms, the object being to secure a library building which shall be a credit not only to Wisconsin, but to the entire country. THE AUTOTYPE REPRODUCTION OF Dr. W. N. Du RIEU, of La Bibliothèque de l'Université, Leyden, has issued a circular stating the unsatisfactory results of his letter asking for the support and co-operation of the principal libraries of the world towards the proposed "Société Internationale pour la reproduction des mss. les plus précieux," which has already been summarized in these columns (L. J., 20: 8788, March, 1895). pages, issued in a manner worthy of the society. "We sincerely trust that this project may be taken up again in the future, and with more success. In the meantime something will have been won if the editors of heliographic or other reproductions - to whom we already owe many useful works- will endeavor to join their interests with those of libraries possessing but limited resources." ANOTHER LIBRARY GIFT FOR NEW On May 23, following close upon President Low's gift of $1,000,000 for the library of Columbia College, announcement was made that the University of New York had received from a friend, who desired to remain anonymous, the gift of a central building for its new site on University Heights, above the Harlem River. The building will comprise the museum, library, commencement hall, and administration offices, and its estimated cost will be about $250,000, though perhaps somewhat in excess of that sum. restrictions are attached to the benefaction, except that the giver's name shall be kept secret, and that the new edifice shall in beauty and cost fulfil its purpose and harmonize with its surroundings. No The building committee of the university has already a set of plans for the building, submitted by Stanford White, the advisory architect of the university, which will probably be adopted. Like the rest of the buildings, either already erected or the erection of which is contemplated, the new central building will be severely classical in its style of architecture, this being the rule adopted by Mr. White at the beginning to secure uniformity of design in the general plan. In view of the probable future before the New York University, it has been thought wise to provide that the new central building shall be so constructed that the parts devoted to the museum and the commencement hall shall be capable of In the present circular he says: "It is with natural regret that I am obliged to acquaint you with the failure of my efforts. For lack of sup-conversion to library uses, giving space altoport it appears impossible at the present time to establish an international association for the autotype reproduction of rare manuscripts. To 100 of my letters there has been no reply, and I have not thought it advisable to delay any longer before setting forth the state of affairs. Only 33 of the libraries addressed expressed their willingness to become subscribers for 10 years; among 25 others, hampered by their rules, by motives of economy, or by other reasons, several agreed to co-operate. We could have obtained 50 subscribers, but it would be impossible to secure 100, and I am therefore obliged to give up the task which, upon the invitation of several of my colleagues, I had imposed upon myself for love of science and in the interest of scholarship. "The small number of subscriptions made it impossible to invite the directors of ten or twelve of the most famous European libraries to come to Leyden to decide upon the necessary details of organization. I was aware at once that the necessary expenses would preclude the annual reproduction of a manuscript of several hundred gether for 1,000,000 volumes. The new library will stand on an elevated site between the hall of languages, already erected, and the hall of philosophy, which is to be a fac-simile reproduction of the hall of languages. The space between these halls will be ample for the erection of a large building, covering over an acre; and the site will command a fine view of the battlefield of Fort Washington, the Hudson River, the Palisades, and the Harlem River. Since the site was selected, in 1892, seven buildings have been provided, all of which are now in active use. The gift of the library is especially notable as the university has never received many important gifts and has always been more or less hampered in its work by lack of means. Its removal from Washington Square to University Heights was a formidable and costly undertaking, and it was feared that it would be long before adequate buildings could be secured. Now that the progress previously made in this direction is crowned by the gift of the central building a bright future amid the new surroundings seems assured. American Library Association. SEVENTEENth conference, denVER, PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT. THE American Library Association, at its session in 1894, voted that the next conference should be held in Denver, Col. Delay in issuing this announcement has arisen from the difficulty in getting any statement from the different railroad associations in reference to reduced rates of fare for the round trip. The executive committee were unwilling that the conference should be held in July, at the same time as the meeting of the National Education Association, when railroad trains and hotels would be crowded to their utmost capacity. The wisdom of this decision will, it is believed, be apparent from this announcement. The Western Trunk Line Passenger Committee have granted us a one-and-one-third rate fare over their railroads in the trans-Missouri terri tory, and the same rates will undoubtedly be granted by the Eastern and Trunk Line Associations. Tickets westward must be purchased on the certificate plan and certificates be secured at the time of purchase. Who may go. cars, with dining-car attached, the expense of which will not increase the price already named. In order to secure this special train service, it will be necessary for all the Eastern party to unite, and go together from New York, leaving New York on the morning of August 9, and reaching Denver in the afternoon of August 11. C: Alex. Nelson, of Columbia College Library, The Eastern party will be in the charge of to whom all communications concerning routes, rates, and other detailed information should be addressed. From Chicago. All who expect to join the party at Chicago should address their inquiries to Dr. Geo. E. Wire, of the Newberry Library of that city, who will be in charge of the travelling arrangements at that end. From Boston. All queries relating to fares and routes east of and from Boston may be addressed to F. R. Fletcher, Asst. Sec., care of Library Bureau, 146 Franklin st., Boston, Mass. Denver local arrangements. All local arrangements are in the hands of Messrs. J: C. Dana, of the Denver Public LiLibrarians and library trustees not now mem-brary, and C: R. Dudley, of the Denver City Libers of the A. L. A., and all persons "interest-brary, who will select the headquarters and ed in library administration," may join the association on application, and upon payment of the annual dues ($2.00), will be entitled to the | same reduced rates and privileges as regular members. Persons wishing to join should secure their membership cards for the year by forwarding two dollars ($2.00) to Geo. W. Cole, Treasurer, Public Library, Jersey City, N. J., at an early date. Route. The route selected will be announced later. A trip to Colorado Springs will be allowed without extra charge, and an effort is being made to secure for members of the Eastern party the privilege of returning via Kansas City and St. Louis without extra cost, Rates. furnish all information as to hotel accommodations and excursions. From the N. E. A. Bulletin it appears that hotel rates on the American plan may be secured at $2 per day and upwards. Scores of post-conference excursions may be selected at prices ranging from $5 to $50, according to route and distance. The Eastern librarians. All Eastern librarians are especially urged to join the party themselves and to induce friends to go with them, as a delightful excursion in good company to the Western mountains may be had at moderate cost. Sessions of Conference. The program, so far as now made up, proWith regard to rates, the committee has done vides for meetings on Monday, Aug. 12, mornthe best possible up to this date, having in minding, afternoon, and evening, with morning and the necessity for issuing this announcement at the earliest moment and as far in advance of the meeting as possible. afternoon sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, Aug. 13 to 15. The full program will be issued later. The price of tickets for the round trip (from In order that all necessary arrangements for New York to Denver and return), including the comfort of the party may be made, all intendsleeper and meals en route, will not exceeding to go should report at the earliest moment ninety dollars ($90). The rates from Boston, Providence, Worcester, and other Eastern cities, cannot be quoted at this time, but will be named in a later and final circular. Special train from New York. The committee is planning for a special through train to Denver, which will enable the party to travel from New York in their own Pullman to C: Alex. Nelson, Columbia College Library. The allotment of berths in the sleeping-cars can now be made, and it is requested that immediate reply be made to this announcement. Full particulars as to route, program, and other details will be given in the final circular, which will be sent out as soon as definite conclusions are reached. For the Executive Committee, PROGRAM. THE details of the program have not yet been fully arranged, but they will probably be announced in the July number of the LIBRARY JOURNAL. It is expected that the sessions will open on Monday morning, Aug. 12, and that there will be three sessions that day. The evening session will not be a social one, but is designed to make all the members known to each other. The roll will be called and each member present is expected to respond in person by rising in his or her place. Two minutes will be allowed each for making remarks upon any topic the member may wish to bring forward, or to make any suggestion, ask any question, or "tell a story." THE Denver committee having charge of the reception of the A. L. A. urgently request that all who are coming to Denver in August, or are even contemplating coming, and have not already sent word to that effect, will notify at once Charles R. Dudley, Secretary local executive committee of A. L. A., City Library, Denver. The report of the meeting of the Colorado Library Association, printed elsewhere, outlines the steps already taken towards entertaining the A. L. A., and gives a sketch of the program suggested. The post-conference trip, recommended by the local executive committee, is briefly as follows: Leave Denver on D. & R. G. R. R. late Thurs Gorge Friday morning, then Leadville, Grand Leave Glenwood Springs via Colorado Midland R. R. Saturday morning. Reach Manitou Springs Saturday evening. Sunday in Manitou. On Tuesday there will be sessions morning and afternoon; none in the evening. On Wednesday evening, Aug. 15; reach entrance to Royal day there will be only a morning session of the Association. The afternoon will be devoted to meetings of the Publishing, College, State, and Trustees sections. Thursday there will be sessions morning and afternoon, and in the evening will occur the annual A. L. A. banquet. The election of officers will take place at the Thursday morning session. The voting will be by the Australian ballot system, the names of all candidates being printed on one ballot. Candidates are to be nominated by petition of not less than five members, filed with the secretary at least 48 hours before the election. The Denver local committee propose that the members give the remainder of the week to an excursion, to afford a view of some of the wonderful mountain scenery of Colorado, bringing up at Colorado Springs, where the people greatly desire that a supplemental session of the Association shall be held on Monday following. Among the subjects to be brought forward are the report on the Supplemental A. L. A. Catalog, the scheme of International Co-operation in indexing scientific literature, Improper books and how to discover and exclude them, Cataloging in the future, a Handbook of library economy, Helping inquirers, Best method of changing a subscription library to a free public library, a General catalog of all American literary periodicals, etc., etc. Among those who have agreed to be present and to submit papers or reports are: Melvil Dewey, of the N. Y. State Library, Albany; Geo. T. Clark, San Francisco Free Public Library; J. N. Larned, Buffalo Library; Theresa West, Milwaukee Public Library; C. W. McClintock, Oil City; Emily I. Wade, San Francisco The suggestion is made that the closing sessions of the conference be held in Colorado Springs on Monday, Aug. 19. A warm welcome in Colorado Springs is assured. This would allow of another day being devoted to the postconference trip. This day could be spent in Glenwood or Manitou, or up Pike's Peak, or at the new gold camp of Cripple Creek, which is only about three hours' ride from Colorado Springs. The trip above outlined, including all expenses, will cost from $30 to $40, if it occupies from three to four days. For any information relative to the Denver end of the line all interested should communicate with Mr. Dudley. A. L. A. BADGE. MEMBERS of the A. L. A. who have not yet secured the badge, adopted at the 1894 conference, are urged to do so. Those, especially, who contemplate attending the Denver Conference should obtain badges before their departure. The badge is in the form of a pin, the design being a monogram, the letters A. L. A. gracefully entwined, in gold and blue enamel. The price is $2.50, and the badges may be obtained from the assistant recorder of the A. L. A., Nira E. Browne, Library Bureau, Boston. NEW YORK STATE LIBRARY SCHOOL. NEW YORK VISIT. Public Library: W. H. Brett, Cleveland Public Li-Library Schools and Training Classes. THE Library School class of 1895 paid its biennial visit to New York on April 11, returning on April 20. The trip was in charge of Miss Cutler, and included 33 students. During the stay the headquarters of the party were at Hotel St. Stephen, 46 E. 11th street. The party arrived on the afternoon of Thursday, April 11, the rest of the day being de voted to visits to the book-stores of Dodd, Mead & Co., Scribner, Putnam, and Dutton. Friday being Good Friday, no visits were made and the students were free to dispose of their time as they chose. On Saturday the class inspected the Railroad Men's Library, Columbia College Library, and the Lenox Library, and on Sunday opportunity was given for a visit to Cooper Union reading-rooms. Monday was given up to the N. Y. Society Library, the Mercantile Library, and the Newark Public Library. Tuesday was Brooklyn day, and the Library of Pratt Institute, the Y. M. Ć. A. Library, and the Brooklyn Library were visited. At Pratt Institute an attractive luncheon was served and the party was received by Miss Healy, the members of the library staff and of the training classes. A pleasant hour or two was spent in the inspection of the library and in social intercourse. On Wednesday the Y. W. C. A. Library and the library of the Y. M. C. A. of New York were visited, and the party then attended a studio reception at the home of Mrs. Edward Gay, at Mt. Vernon. Thursday was given up to the Astor Library, and the N. Y. Free Circulating Library in the morning and a visit was paid to the Jersey City Public Library in the afternoon, where Mr. Cole was a delightful host. On Friday the DeVinne Press and Bangs & Co.'s auction-rooms were visited, as was the Teachers' College Library, where the party were received with hospitality by Miss Denio. Saturday was given up in the morning to a visit to the Cathedral Library, where Father McMahon was a cordial host, and in the afternoon the party started homeward. During the stay, members of the class visited the Apprentices' Library in parties of six. SUMMER COURSES IN LIBRARY SCIENCE. MADISON, WIS. IN connection with the Summer School of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis., there will be a course in library economy under the direction of Miss Katherine L. Sharp, Director of the Department of Library Science, Armour Institute, Chicago. The course will extend through four weeks from July 8, '95. The instruction will be adapted to the needs of librarians of the smaller public and school libraries. For further information address Professor J. W. Stearns, Madison, Wis. LINCOLN, NEB. The circular of the various courses of instruction included in the "State Institute," to be held at Lincoln, June 13 to July 3, announces a course in Libraries and their management," to be conducted by Miss M.. L. Jones and Miss M.. E. Robbins, and covering "the rudiments of library work, special attention being given to the selection of books and to the various catalogs. The work will be adapted to the special needs of Nebraska school and public libraries. Lectures and laboratory work." State Library Associations. NEW YORK LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. THE New York Library Association held its western meeting for 1895 at Buffalo, on Friday and Saturday, May 17 and 18, assembling in the lecture-room of the Buffalo Library at 3 p.m. on the former day. There were 30 to 40 | persons in attendance at the different sessions. The recent death of Mr. Reuben B. Poole, of New York, having left the presidency of the association vacant, and the vice-president, Mr. Berry, of Brooklyn, not being in attendance, the secretary, Mr. W: R. Eastman, of the state library, was called to the chair, and Miss Florence H. Madden, of the Buffalo Library, was chosen secretary pro tem. Mr. Eastman read a paper on "The library work of the University of the State of New York," which called out questions and an interesting discussion. 44 Miss Hazeltine, of the James Prendergast Free Library, Jamestown, spoke admirably from notes on The library situation in western New York." Her clear presentation of facts, gathered with much labor and under many difficulties, was remarkably interesting and rather painfully instructive. A map starred in different colors to indicate the location and character of the libraries, whether free, subscription, or otherwise, gave a clear outlook over the library situation in the eight western counties, and an endeavor was made to find consolation for deficiencies in the thought that probably other sections of the state could make no better showing. A map locating the libraries of Massachusetts was shown as a striking contrast. Mr. Larned suggested as a reason for the backwardness of our state in the matter of free libraries, the early success of subscription libraries. Then again, in Massachusetts the Boston Public Library has been the inspirer and land, whereas New York City has been one of the has given the impetus throughout all New Enghowever, is the time for a great new departure, last to consider the needs of the public. Now, and much that has been accomplished is owed to the initiatory work of the regents. Mr. Eastand on the old idea that none were so suitable man made some remarks on the district system to take charge of books as those in charge of schools. But 40 years of experience have shown number. that books so placed have diminished one-half in In the absence of Miss Cutler, of Albany, Miss Louisa S. Cutler, of Utica, read her paper on Principles of selection of books." "Three things," she said, "are necessary for the success of a small library; good books, good methods, and a good librarian." To select books wisely requires an abundance of time, knowledge of books, and sympathy with the popular taste. Such reviews and criticisms as can be found in the Literary World, Critic, Nation, etc., will also prove helpful. Perhaps in ten years or so we shall look back upon the libraries of to-day as collections and not selections. The New York Library Association list of the |