ESTABLISHED 1872

PARIS:

30 WELLINGTON ST., STRAND. 76 RUE DE RENNES.

LONDON:

LEIPZIG:

HOSPITAL SIR. 10.

GUSTAV E. STECHERT Purchasing Agent for Colleges & Libraries

810 BROADWAY, NEW YORK,

(TWO DOORS ABOVE GRACE CHURCH)

begs to call attention to his facilities for obtaining FOREIGN BOOKS and PERIODICALS at more economical rates THAN ANY OTHER HOUSE IN AMERICA OR EUROPE can offer, because:

He employs no Commission Agents, but has his own offices and clerks at London, Paris and Leipzig. He has open accounts with all the leading publishing houses in the world.

His experience enables him to give information at once about rare and scarce books.

He receives weekly shipments from England, France and Germany, and can thereby fill orders in quicker time.

MORE THAN 200 LIBRARIES FAVOR HIM WITH THEIR ORDERS.

SPECIAL REFERENCES,

"Mr. Stechert has for years furnished this Library with most of its periodicals and European books, and has bought for us many thousand volumes. Mr. Stechert's success is due his constant personal attention to the business, and the reasonable terms he is able to offer. I consider a New York agent far preferable to reliance on foreign agents alone."

GEO. H. BAKER, Librarian of Columbia College, New York.

"Seven years ago, in reorganizing the Columbia College library, I spent much time in trying to discover how to get out foreign books and periodicals with the least delay, trouble and expense. The result of the comparison of three methods, viz: ordering direct from foreign dealers, ordering through one agent in London, or ordering through one agent in New York showed us that it was to our advantage to give Mr. Stechert all our foreign orders, as he delivered in the library in a single package and with a single bill at as low cost as we were able with vastly greater trouble, to get a half dozen different packages in different bills from different places. In reorganizing the New York State Library, I opened the whole question anew, and the result of the comparison was the same as before, and we find that the library gets most for the time and money expended by taking advantage of Mr. Stechert's long experience, and the careful personal attention which he gives to our orders."

MELVIL DEWEY, Director of N. Y. State Library, Albany, N. Y.

"Mr. G. E. Stechert of New York has served us with fidelity in procuring English, French and German books, both new and second hand and also periodicals. His terms are more reasonable than any others that have come to our notice, while he has always guarded our interests very carefully. We find it a great convenience to have one agency in New York, represented by branches in different European countries."

Prof. ARTHUR H. PALMER, Librarian of Adelbert College, Cleveland, O.

"Your methods and facilities for doing business, as I have examined them here as well as at the Leipzig and London ends, seem to me admirably progressive and thoroughly live. I deal with you because I judge it for the advantage of this library to do so. If I did not, I should not. Up to date I am unable to find a method which is, all things included, so economical of time and money as dealing through you.' ERNEST C. RICHARDSON, Librarian of College of New Jersey, Princeton, N. J.

"

"Our library committee speaks in the highest terms of your services. You have not only saved us many dollars, but have mown an intelligent appreciation of our wants for which we thank you.'

A. S. COLLINS, Act. Librarian of Reynolds Library, Rochester, N. Y.

GUSTAV E. STECHERT,

LONDON. PARIS. LEIPZIG. NEW YORK.

YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION, $5.00.

THE

OCTOBER, 1895

.

Contents

PAGE

337

338

OCT 21 1895

Y

CONGRESS OF LIBRARIANS AT ATLANTA.

LIBRARY ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.
Annual Conference, 1895.

STATE LIBRARY ASSOCIATIONS.
Massachusetts Library Club.
Connecticut Library Association.
Pennsylvania Library Club.
Michigan Library Association.
Library Association of Central California.

348 HUMORS AND BLUNders.

Price to Europe, or other countries in the Union, 20s. per annum ; single numbers, 28.
Entered at the Post-Office at New York, N. Y., as second-class matter.

PAGE

348

MONTHLY NUMBERS, 50 cts.

348

351

355

NEW YORK: PUBLICATION OFFICE, 59 Duane Street.

LONDON: SOLD BY KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRÜBNER & Co., PATERNOSTER HOUSE, CHARING CROSS ROAD.

356

361

363

364

364

ANOTHER SHORT TALK TO LIBRARIANS.

A

S an introduction to this talk, if you have not already done so, will you kindly read that given on same page of the September number of the JOURNAL? That referred chiefly to the "Indexer Books," this will be about the "Continuous Revolving Indexer." Next month we shall have something to say about the new "Pamphlet Binders," which we are convinced will solve the hitherto unsolved pamphlet problem in libraries.

We confess to belonging to that rather numerous class of Americans who are freer than they ought to be in the use of adjectives; hence, when called upon to describe something a good deal better than ordinary, we run short, so instead of following the usual beaten track, we shall try to give only cold facts.

When we took hold of the Rudolph Indexer some six or eight months ago, it was, even as then made, so marked an improvement on the old card system that we thought it about perfect. Experience soon demonstrated that very important improvements could be made, and we set about making them. In the meantime orders kept coming in which were pigeon-holed until the improvements could be perfected.

Formerly the card-holders were made of heavy cardboard with metal edges attached to the board and turned over to furnish the grooves. These were unsatisfactory for various reasons: they were unsightly; they swelled, warped, and shrank with the changes of the atmosphere; the fastenings to the metal would break loose; the hinges were imperfect, and the cards did not slide readily in the grooves. We now make them entirely of metal, weighing even less than the old style; the hinges are perfect and a slight pressure is sufficient to slide the whole column of cards, or any portion of them, up or down as desired.

One of the most serious objections for large libraries was that only one person at a time could consult the Indexer. We now propose to furnish them so that one, two, four, six, eight, ten, or twelve persons can use them at the same time. The case for twelve persons will be about 12 ft. long, 4 ft. wide, and will permit the indexing of from seventy-five to one hundred and twenty-five thousand volumes.

From the start we have had no fears as to the adoption of the Rudolph Indexer for all new libraries. The problem has been to adapt it to the use of the present cards, of which there are hundreds of millions in the libraries of the country. By the employment of metal card-holders and other changes in construction, we are able now to supply cases adapted to the utilization of the present cards in any library and their continued use if desired. This improvement applies also to the Indexer books and minimizes the expense of changing from the old to the new system.

Other changes and improvements have been made which we have not space here to enumerate. We shall commence filling orders for the improved cases about October 1st.

Write us fully for any information desired.

Respectfully yours,

THOMAS KANE & CO.

VOL. 20.

THE

LIBRARY

JOURNAL

OCTOBER, 1895.

LIBRARIANS are again reminded that an annex conference, so to speak, is to be held this year in the South by grace of the enterprising ladies who are connected with the Woman's Department of the Atlanta Exposition. The date fixed is November 29-a date somewhat unfortunate at the North, because it does not admit of the safe digestion of the Thanksgiving dinner at home, but it should be matter of thanksgiving that the library spirit is to have promising development at the South, the section of the country, as has already been pointed out, where there is most opportunity for progress. We trust that every librarian who can will certainly go to Atlanta. It is ladies' day, to be sure, but the gentlemen will be welcomed, and will probably be permitted to speak as well as to hear. We appeal, therefore, to both the loyalty and the gallantry of the profession for a representative delegation from the North for this occasion.

No. 10

with the large experience of to-day. Messrs. La Fontaine and Otlet, of the International Bibliographical Office, have certainly brought forward an interesting subject, and we trust it may be taken up internationally, and thoroughly worked out.

PHILADELPHIA is commonly reputed by its critics to be a slow city, and the New York comic editor is apt to consider the tortoise characteristics of the City of Brotherly Love as a never-failing resource when the larder of fresher jokes is exhausted. Nevertheless, Philadelphia has more than once come to the front in library matters, and it is most interesting to note what remarkable progress has been made in its free library system in the few years since its origin. Starting with the small libraries conducted by the Board of Education, it was later extended by the transfer to the city of the Free Library of Philadelphia, established It is sometimes true that distance lends en- independently by the bequest of Mr. George S. chantment to the view, and we are not fully Pepper, which, although under the direction of informed whether the international bibliographi- the city, and receiving from it a yearly approcal conference which met recently at Brussels priation, has been heretofore conducted indeis entitled to so large a name, or is, perhaps, pendently of the various city libraries. An ordithe development of a private scheme. We nance now pending, however, provides for the have before us, however, the two pamphlets consolidation of the two systems under the conon the decimal classification issued by the trol and direction of the Free Library, which is projectors of this plan, one giving a general to receive and administer all municipal approsummary of the proposed modification, for in-priations for library support. It is to be hoped ternational purposes, of Mr. Dewey's system, ❘ that this consolidation may be carried out, as it and the other giving details in the department would be not only beneficial as a means of seof sociology. The first is in French exclusively; curing economy and unity in administration, the second is in French, with an index in English, but would be a great stride toward the attainFrench, and German. The value of an interna- ment of a free library system worthy of the tional scheme is, of course, in its uniformity, and city in size and equipment. A further indicathe system as perfected by Mr. Dewey is so widely tion that the plan of consolidation is gradually in use in this country that it would be difficult gaining ground is found in the recent offer of to conform it to a new version at this late day. the president of the Mercantile Library, noted On the other hand, as this was devised before elsewhere. The trustees of that library express Mr. Dewey had library experience, it is doubt- their desire to make the library free to the publess true that decided improvements can be made lic on condition that it receive an appropriation on the original scheme under expert advice and from the city. This sounds very promising,

but it is more than doubtful if the offer, as it now stands, will be or should be accepted. No change in the real ownership or management of the library is contemplated by its trustees, and although three ex-officio trustees from the city government would be added to the board, the library would maintain an independent existence, simply throwing its doors open to the public. Under these circumstances it would by no means serve as a central city library, consolidating and administering the entire free library system of the city. There can be little doubt that a central library will eventually be obtained, be its nucleus the Free Library of Philadelphia or the Mercantile Llbrary, and in the meantime Philadelphia is certainly setting an example to many cities in its present library progress. New York must, perhaps, wait the more full development of the new library scheme under the consolidation of the great libraries, and Brooklyn has yet to make a start.

life in country places, is in itself evidence that centres of population are not necessarily the dreadful places that the theory of the bacillus might suggest, and the same is true in its degree of the public library.

Communications.

CHILDREN'S READING-LISTS WANTED. THE Plainfield Public Library would be very glad to receive copies of lists of books for young people. Any librarian who has published such a list will confer a favor by sending a copy to our address. All lists received will be promptly EMMA LOUISE ADAMS. acknowledged. PLAINFIELD, N. J.

PUBLIC LIBRARY,

}

THE TWO-BOOK METHOD AT PRATT INSTI-
TUTE FREE LIBRARY.

I REGRET that the Pratt Institute Free Lirary was not able to send an account of its twobook system for your recent symposium on that subject, as it did not adopt the system until September I. We have for a long time

given two books on a teacher's card, provided

one was not fiction, and we have now extended the privilege to all borrowers, even children. Our system of charging in these cases is as follows:

acter.

THE death of Miss Jessie Allan is doubly sad because of the excellent reputation which her work won for her and the pleasant affection which all librarians who knew her had come to feel for her, and because her death has given rise to a fresh discussion as to the possibility of infection from contagious diseases through library books. Miss Allan had been suffering from consumption for some years, and it has been suggested that its origin was of this charThose who knew Miss Allan and the delicate organization which did so much good work in a good cause, would scarcely need this explanation of her illness and death, which is perhaps scarcely in evidence as to the difficult question of the spread of disease through libraries. Possibly there is some danger from this source; since the bacillus was discovered danger is found to lurk in places hitherto unsuspected. But the greater danger, perhaps, comes in over-estimating this source of danger and frightening people into a nervous condition which in itself almost invites disease. Doubtless, when contagious diseases are rampant in one locality, the public library, like the schools, like all places where people come together, becomes a centre for the possible spread of an epidemic; but the danger in most cases is so small a percentage of the possible risk that, under the inThe system has been in operation since Sepfluence of a discussion like the present, libra- tember I and we think it is going to be satisrians are apt to overdo precaution and create | factory. Very truly yours, unnecessary alarm. The mere fact that life in the city is apt to be as long, if not longer, than

By the use of these two colors to distinguish between the two classes of books all confusion is avoided, as the attendant at the return-desk is able to tell at a glance which date to check off,

even if the books are returned at different times.

MARY W. PLummer.
PRATT INSTITUTE FREE LIBRARY,
BROOKLYN, N. Y.

Only one book of fiction is allowed the borrower at one time. Fiction may be kept one week and all other works two weeks. Only one card is used by the borrower and different colored stamping-ink is used to distinguish fic

tion from non-fiction. The borrower's card is divided into parallel columns marked "taken" and "returned."

When a work of fiction is drawn the following method is employed:

1. The dating-slip in the book is stamped with date of issue and date when due.

2. The borrower's registration number is entered on the book-card and also the date.

3. The borrower's card is stamped in blue in the column marked "taken."

When the book drawn is not fiction the same method is employed, except that the date on the borrower's card is stamped in green.

When a book is returned the date of return is

stamped in red in the column marked “returned," directly opposite the date taken. Thus if the book returned is fiction, the check is made opposite the blue date; if not fiction, opposite the green date.