MR. ANDREW CARNEGIE, Founder of the Carnegie Library. CARNEGIE LIBRARY, MUSIC HALL, ART GALLERY, AND MUSEUM OF PITTSBURGH. RIVER PITTSBURGH MONONGANE EAST LIBRARY TEMPERANCEVILLE HE LA RIVER KNOXVILLE MT.WASHINGTON HOMESTEAD 6 CARNEGIE LIBRARY OF PITTSBURGH X BRANCH LIBRARIES. CARNEGIE FREE LIBRARY OF ALLECHENY • BRADDOCK THE GREATER PITTSBURGH." KEE SPORT MR. E. H. ANDERSON, Librarian of the Carnegie Library. ELIZABETH A CORRIDOR OF THE PITTSBURGH BUILDING. included are given, representing the "general consensus of opinion of the most trustworthy scientific reviews" - brief digests as it were, of the verdicts of the leading critical journals, which in some cases have been amplified by personal investigation. Books considered of exceptional value or importance are starred; a few "bad" books are included, especially where the authors are not unknown, with a word of warning appended; American as well as British publishers and prices are noted, in the case of books published on both sides of the Atlantic; and series of special connection or importance are entered collectively as well as distributively-all of these details being innovations on the former volume. A list of abbreviations, a list of British publishers and publishing societies, a full author and subject index, and a synopsis of the classification, preface the main work. The classification is similar to that of the previous volume-books being grouped in large classes, in sections, subsections, and paragraphs- and while possessing the advantage of fulness, is carried to a confusing degree of subdivision. There are abundant cross-references, and the thorough index makes consultation easy. Nevertheless, to the tyro, or even to the "average" intelligent reader or student, the "Reader's guide" is likely to make confusion worse confounded-to overwhelm him in a maelstrom of varying typography, of references, cross-references, divisions, subdivisions, abbreviations, signs, and portents. Its usefulness to librarians and bibliographical workers is undoubted; but in the attempt to compress the material within the minimum of space, it has been compressed within the minimum of intelligibility. The entries include, besides author's name and short title, information as to illustrations, date, size, various editions, publishers, and prices; mention of editors or collaborators; dates of birth and death of classic or well-known authors; notes as to nationality of writers other than British, and whether living or dead in which connection it may be noted that George William Curtis and Robert Louis Stevenson are counted as still among the living; and a condensed critical note, of one or two lines tainly a comprehensive assortment of information. cer In a work of such magnitude it is perhaps unfair to preach consistency; but protest must be entered against the general lack of anything like system shown in the biographical annotations. Why some writers are favored with notes, and why others, more notable, are passed by, is as difficult to discover as it is to settle why "Marcella" is granted a star of merit and "David Grieve" is not, or why F. Marion Crawford is ranked among British novelists. Indeed, the department of Fiction seems to have been arranged on individual methods. It is divided into two classes, "Novels " and "Minor topical novels." In the first class we find F. C. Burnand, Justin McCarthy, "Maxwell Gray," and Miss Braddon, while among the lesser lights are Du Maurier, Kipling, Beckford, Emily Lawless, and "John Oliver Hobbes." In American Fiction H. C. Bunner, Amélie Rives, and E. E. Hale have first place; Cable, Charles Dudley Warner, and Miss Woolson are not entered at all, while Miss Jewett and Miss French rank among the minors. Such defects are perhaps unavoidable in a work which must be done largely by proxy, and the compiler's consciousness of the limitations of his work makes carping criticism unnecessary as well as ungenerous. As a working guide to the literature of the time, and as a bibliographical tool, the volume will undoubtedly prove widely useful, while the detail, industry, and patience evinced in its compilation command the highest admiration. Mr. Sonnenschein has prefaced his work with the apt paragraph from Scaliger: "If the sentence of a judge ever await any one, to condemn him to hardships and punishments, let neither the penitentiary weary him with the manufacture of the raw material, nor let the ores dug from the mines hurt his hard hands; let him compile a Lexicon. For why should I mention anything else? Surely, this single labour hath all the forms of torture." Only bibliographers can recognize how true this is, and appreciate how much both the bibliographical profession and the public should feel indebted to Mr. Sonnenschein for what, despite all its defects, is a wonderful work of great and varied practical value. Library Economy and History. LOCAL. Amsterdam (N. Y.) L. On September I the Amsterdam Library was made free to the public. The library rooms have been improved and altered to provide for the increased use attendant on this change. Boone (Ia.) F. P. L. Added 261; total 3187; issued 10,849; no. cardholders 2097. Receipts $1135.79; expenses $838.12 (spent for books, binding, and periodicals $248.82). founding of the library in 1889 there have been 345 books lost or unaccounted for. Since the Brooklyn (N. Y.) L. (37th rpt.) Added 4130; total 120,064; issued, home use 90,525. Membership 2639; decrease in membership from previous year 147 (" due to alterations"). Receipts $35,467.15; expenses $35,014.83. There has been a decrease of about 5000 v. in the circulation during the year, which is directly attributable to the alterations. A new edition of the catalog of English fiction, including juvenile books and prose translations, was printed in August, 1894. This catalog contains in one alphabet, by author and title, all works of fiction in the library to July, 1894, with shelf numbers according to the new plan of numbering adopted a few years since. This catalog now takes place of the card catalog of fiction, excepting those titles added since July, 1894. The card catalog of other classes is kept complete to date by author, title, and subject. "One case has been added to the collection of closer relations with the young people of the city; and this is brought about, to a great extent, by the distribution of readers' tickets among the pupils of the public schools. The number of tickets so distributed has recently been raised to 1000, and generally speaking there is excellent use made of them. More and more of the teachers in the schools are interesting themselves in the guidance of the reading of their pupils, and the "The alterations to the building, commenced effect is unquestionably stimulating in several in March, 1894, were not entirely completed ways. So long as Buffalo has no free public liuntil the last of December. The foundations brary from which books can be drawn for home were strengthened and increased, the wooden reading-or none beyond the meagre school licolumns and girders from the first floor to the braries which the state has given to it, and on roof taken out and replaced by those of steel. which it expends nothing from its own funds — The large room on the first floor, formerly used these school tickets are a most important conas the reading-room, has been fitted up with tribution to the educational system of the city. bookcases, delivery-desk, card catalogs, etc., They go a little way towards redeeming us from and is now the book delivery room. The read- the discredit in which we stand, as being very ing-room has been removed to the west side of nearly the only city in America which does not the second story, the newspaper-room occupy-support a collection of books for free public use." ing the space formerly used for the book de- The chairman of the library committee also livery department in the front of the building. takes up the subject of a free library and says: The lights have been readjusted on this floor as "It is an interesting question as to whether the well as on the first story, and as the floors of citizens of Buffalo should remain satisfied with the reading-rooms and of the reference hall have their library advantages since there is no public been covered with linoleum laid over carpet library in the city for the free withdrawal of lining, the rooms are much more quiet than was books. Cleveland, Detroit, Toronto, Milformerly possible. The special collection of waukee, Cincinnati, San Francisco, Newark, books forming the reading-room library has been and many other American cities, have such lishelved in the alcoves and on the west side of braries which are supported by large municipal the present reading-room. The classes of books appropriations. In Buffalo the only free public most in request have been placed on the first libraries from which books may be drawn are floor near the delivery-desk. Fiction, trav- the public school libraries which are used exels, biography, and music are here, aggre- tensively by the pupils, the number of withgating 54,000 vs., while the remainder of the drawals from them being over 95,000. The library has been readjusted to the best advantage circulation of the Buffalo Library in the past in the additional space thus gained in the shell- year was 128,222, making, therefore, a total for room of the second and third floors. The stow- the city of over 223,000. It is evident from age capacity of the library has been increased these figures that there is scope in Buffalo for a by the alteration from 150,000 to 200,000 vs." library permitting the free withdrawal of books. It is very questionable whether it would be wise for the Buffalo Library to surrender its management to municipal control, but it may be well that some arrangement might be made by which the institution should have a semipublic character, and furnish the city with the practical benefits of a free public library for withdrawal of books under restrictions as to class of books to be so drawn, and granting additional privileges to paying members. Buffalo should no longer remain behind her sister cities in a matter so important as this, and we offer these suggestions hoping that the subject will receive consideration in the near future." newspaper clippings on the subject of emblems and devices, making the total number of volumes or cases 74. Large additions have, as usual, been made to the pamphlet collection; they will be rearranged under subjects as rapidly as time permits. The collection of maps has been increased by donations from the United States Geological Survey and the War Depart ment and from other sources. Brooklyn, N. Y. Pratt Institute F. L. The library and library training class of the institute are briefly described in an article on "The Pratt Institute," by J. F: Hopkins, in the New England Magazine for September; it contains illustrations of the main building, of the reference-room and reading-room, and a portrait of Miss Healy, the director of libraries. Buffalo (N. Y.) L. (59th rpt.) Added 3978; total 77.046. Issued, home use 128,222 (fict. .6055%; juv. .1052%); ref. use 39.582. New members 588; total membership 1619. Receipts $18,159.66; expenses $17,140.27. (3282 v. were bought at a cost of $5066.24.) The increase in home and reference use has decided to raise funds for a new library building Des Moines (Ia.) P. L. The city council has been very large, the former being nearly 10,000 over the previous year. "In fact, the use of by making a levy of three mills on the $16,500,the library for purposes of reference and study 000 of taxable property in the city. This will is growing far beyond all that could have been produce about $45,000 with which to purchase a expected a few years ago, and it is not im- site and procure plans; a further levy is planned probable that the dimensions of the reading-needed new quarters for several years past, to raise money for building. The library has rooms, which seemed ample when the building was planned, will be found inadequate at some day not distant." its work being seriously hampered by lack of space. Mr. Larned says: "I am pleased to say that every year brings the library into larger and Evanston (III.) F. P. L. (Rpt.) Added 1390; total 13,968; issued 52,435 (fict. 25,845); new Hoboken (N. J.) P. L. Plans for the new library building were selected on August 6. Out of nine drawings submitted, three received final consideration. The plans chosen were drawn by Albert Beyer, a local architect, and call for an ornate four-story and basement structure of stone and brick, with pinnacles, clock-tower, and much ornamental work. The loan and stack rooms are on the first floor, space and light being somewhat sacrificed to a large and imposing entrance. On the second floor are the librarians' and trustees' rooms, catalogers' room, and reference-room; the third floor is devoted to the general reading-room, and the basement contains storage and receiving rooms. An L is devoted to the manual training school, which, according to the wishes of the Stevens family, who have given $26,000 to the building, is to be housed under the same roof as the library. The new building is estimated to cost about $50,000. The two architects whose plans were disregarded have entered a protest as to the action of the trustees, who in advertising for plans stated that the final competition would be decided by an expert architect, and then did not submit the drawings to any outside authority, but chose Mr. Beyer's plans at a meeting attended only by the members of the board. Indianola (Ia.) P. L. The board met and organized under the new library law on August 3, 1894, at which time the library contained 2679 v. In August, 1895, it contains 2929 v., including 585 v. of public documents. The total number of visitors for the year is 25,875. No record of home circulation is given, but it is probably insignificant, as a charge of 10 cents is made for each book taken from the library. Iowa libraries. An " Iowa library column" is an interesting feature of the Daily Iowa Capital, of Fort Dodge, Ia. It is conducted by W. H. Johnson, of Fort Dodge, and is published monthly in the Capital. The column is devoted Lawrence (Mass.) F. P. L. (23d 1pt.) Added 1251; total 37,999. Issued, home use 124,254 (fict. 42.4%; juv. 33.7%); visitors to ref. room 8957. New cardholders 989; total registration 7184. Receipts $11,009.12; expenses $11,009.12; the appropriation for 1894 was overdrawn $1547.43, owing to the introduction of electric lighting. Work with the schools has been continued, and on 121 teachers' cards 2038 books have been issued. The librarian has found that many of these books are subjected to unnecessarily severe usage, and he thinks that teachers should be held strictly accountable "for all unnecessary wear and tear of books committed to their charge"; he also deprecates the use of fiction on teachers' cards. A duplicate card catalog is now in preparation. The library possesses no printed catalog. bulletins, containing works in the library re"There have been 11 special lists printed in the such lists will complete the subject, ard then it lating to the useful arts. Two or three more would be a good plan to publish a special catalog, consolidating these lists, in order that all who are interested may know at a glance what works on the industrial arts the library contains. We have a manuscript catalog of fiction and invenile literature, brought up to date, which it would pay to print, and sell at a small sum per copy. Other special finding-lists might in time follow, until we should virtually have a classified catalog of the whole library.” Macon (Ga.) P. L. According to the last report presented by the librarian, the library is ta last self-supporting. Within the past few months the membership has increased from 188 to 276, and the circulation for July was 1136, as against 605 in March. The interest on the building debt is now the only obligation to be met by the library, and this it is proposed to raise by subscription. Minneapolis (Minn.) P. L. The South Side branch of the library was reopened on August 7, in new and attractive quarters. The branch occupies the first floor of a corner building on Franklin avenue, and consists of reading-room, newspaper-room, library-room, the latter divi ded into book-room and delivery-room, and toilet-rooms. Reading tables and chairs for children are arranged in the delivery-room. The branch contains about 4000 v., exclusive of reference books; of these, 1700 are printed in some of the three Scandinavian languages, and 100 are in Welsh. $500 was recently appropriated to the collection at this branch. for the purchase of English fiction, to be added New Orleans (La.) City L. Plans have been submitted for the new city library, which it is pro |