sible, Mr. Hosmer intends to improve the system of charging books sent out to the branch libraries and delivery stations.

Suit has been begun by the library board against a local bookseller, to secure the return of $121. The money was advanced for subscriptions to periodicals which were procured through the bookseller; shortly after receiving it he became insolvent, and his assignee offered to settle for 25 cents on the dollar. The claim is made by the board that the money was only held in trust, and that if it is not made good, the bookseller is not only financially liable, but criminally as well.

total 3715.

Montclair (N. J.) F. P. L. Added 2014; Issued 18,245 (fict. 84.5%); no. cardholders 1301. The library was opened Jan. 1, 1893, with 1719 books, of which about 1200 were from the old Montclair Library Association. A fiction finding-list was issued in October, 1894, and sold at 15 c. per copy; a general classified catalog is now in preparation, and there is a complete card catalog.

New Bedford (Mass.) P. L. The public school teachers recently presented a petition to the library board, asking that they be given special cards allowing the issue of 10 books at a time to be kept a month for school-work. At a meeting of the board it was decided not to grant the petition, but instead to issue special teachers' cards for teachers in all schools, public and private, entitling the holder to three books which are needed in actual school-work; all books withdrawn on such cards to be presented for renewal once a fortnight. For teachers needing

more than three books, the trustees have decided to issue blanks of application for more extended use, to be used by teachers exclusively. These are to be filled out by the applicant, presented to the librarian, and forwarded to the library committee for action.

New Hampshire. LIBRARIES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE; open regularly to the public. [Reprinted from state librarian's report.] Concord, N. H., 1894. 16 p. O.

A tabulated list of all libraries in New Hampshire regularly open to the public or to some portions of the public. The libraries are divided into five classes: 1, libraries owned or partly owned by the town, excepting school libraries; 2, libraries owned or controlled by associations or individuals, excepting school libraries; 3, public school libraries; 4, libraries of schools and colleges owned and controlled by private corporations or individuals; 5, libraries owned by the state. The libraries are arranged alphabetically by location and the list gives date of foundation, terms of use, no. vols. in 1894, name of librarian and amount of annual public appropriation. It was compiled by A. R. Kimball, late state librarian of New Hampshire.

New York F. C. L. Sunday opening was recently adopted at the Harlem branch as an experiment, and the trustees have decided to continue the practice permanently. On the first three Sundays an average of 15 books were

drawn, but on the fourth Sunday, after a placard announcing the opening had been hung in the window, 40 books were issued. All the other branches of the F. C. L. are open on Sundays. The Sunday hours at the Harlem branch are from 4 to 9 p.m.

New York. Lenox L. The complete series of phototype illustrations to Edward Muybridge's

work on "Animal locomotion" have been se

cured by the Lenox Library. They are in 11 large folio volumes.

New Utrecht, L. I. An association has been organized for the establishment of a free public $600 by subscription, to start the library and library in New Utrecht. It is hoped to raise that may be obtained from the state. carry it on for one year, independent of any aid A considerable proportion of the sum desired has been subscribed.

Newark (N. J.) P. L. (6th rpt.) Added 5074; total 44,413. Issued, home use 321,533 (fict. 78.4%); ref. room attendance 19,146, no record of ref. use is kept. No. borrowers 44,528. Receipts $53,953.87; expenses $38,556.25. the circulation of fiction, "which may be attributThere is a decrease of about one per cent. in fact that ever since readers have been permitted ed to free access to shelves. It is a significant to go to the shelves and select their books the percentage of novels read has steadily decreased. When the Brookline system of issuing two books to the same individual is put into execution by this library the difference between the use of fiction and of other books will be reduced."

Free access to all shelves except for fiction was continued during the year with gratifying results. The total number of books lost is 51, of which 34 have been accounted for, leaving a net

loss of 17.

The University Extension work undertaken during the year was successful; three full courses of 12 lectures each were given, and there was a membership of 476.

"Early in the fall the board of education issued a Manual of instruction and course of study for the public schools,' which contained a list of books for parallel reading. It proved an excellent guide and aid to teachers, and was the direct means of greatly augmenting the circulation of books among teachers and pupils."

The most important improvement to the library was the installation of a new steel stack in the summer of 1894; it gives a shelving capacity of 60,000 v. Librarian Hill closes his report with recommendation for better reference accommodations, a repairing-room, and an independent electric plant. The president of the library board brings up the question of a new library building, and urges that it be definitely settled in the affirmative.

Newport, R. I. Redwood L. and Athenæum. (164th rpt.) Added 2530; total 40,759. Issued, home use 11,544 (fict. 64 %); ref. use has " considerably increased." Receipts $9671.56; expenses $9260.09.

The library has received a noteworthy gift from Fairman Rogers-the majority of the

books of his private Newport library, amounting to 1740 v., and 103 maps; Mr. Rogers also gave $100 to be used for binding.

"With the exception of the fortnight during which the library was closed, the cataloging has gone on without interruption, though the progress made during the latter half of the year has not been as great as during the earlier portion, due chiefly to the fact that the subjects treated latterly have been more troublesome-law, government, and administration having been particularly difficult." The number of books cataloged since the last annual report is 4000 v. and 1398 pm., making the whole number thus far cataloged 34,811 v., and 1398 pm.

The librarian recommends better lighting, more shelf-room, and the disposal of duplicates. Niagara Falls (N. Y.) P.L. The Niagara Falls Public Library was duly organized on Jan. 25, and a librarian and assistant librarian were appointed. The librarian will be unsalaried, and the assistant librarian, Mrs. Adele Burnham, will receive $25 per month. Beginning February 1, the library is open six hours on every working day, from nine to 12 a.m. and from two to five p.m. An application has been made to the State Board of Regents for the $200 which the library is entitled to under the law.

Norwich, Ct. Otis L. It has been decided to discontinue the library Bulletin, because it can no longer be published, as heretofore, free of expense to the library. To continue the publication, it would be necessary to take money from the fund for the purchase of books. With the increasing use of the library, the continual need of new books is so apparent that it has been thought unwise to encroach upon the limited book-fund in any way. It is hoped that the lack of the bulletin will be, to a great degree, compensated by the means already employed to bring new books before the public, viz.: the posted bulletins of new books on the library walls, the lists of new books on the catalogtable, and the card catalog proper.

Ohio State L., Columbus. According to the 49th report, recently presented by Librarian J. P. Smith, there have been 1760 additions made during the year, the total number of v. being 67,010. The total expenditure for books was $2269. Several of the books added are of historic value and interest. No volumes were lost or stolen during the year, although there were more readers than usual, and there were more visitors at the library than in any year of record. It is the aim of the commissioners to popularize the library by increasing the number of its readers, so far as the laws permit.

Pennsylvania State L., Harrisburg. The new state library and executive building, work on which was begun in October, 1893. was finished on the first of December last, and the library is now in the midst of removal to its new quarters. This cannot be carried on as promptly as was hoped, for the reason that the shelving which, according to contract, was to have been completed and in place by October 15, has as yet been only partly delivered.

The building is divided into two distinct departments-one for executive, the other for library purposes. The former contains the offices of the governor, lieutenant-governor, secretary, attorney-general, auditor-general, and state treasurer, and is admirably complete in all details. The library is 55 x 147 feet, with a handsome separate entrance. A gallery extends around the sides, one story above the first floor, and there are 52 alcoves, each enclosed with an iron railing, supplied with chairs and tables, and lighted by electricity. The state librarian and his assistants have separate offices, located on the first floor, and handsomely fitted up. In the basement are the newspaper and storage rooms. The stack-room, connecting with the main library, contains steel shelving for about 500,000 v. In addition, the building contains a museum and a flag-room, which will fittingly house the state's collection of relics. The entire building cost $487,000.

Philadelphia. Byberry L. "The sedate old Quaker suburb of Byberry," says the Philadelphia Record, "boasts of one of the oldest libraries in the United States. The stockholders of the Byberry Library held their 100th annual election in December last, in the quiet sedate way in which everything is managed in that Quaker settlement. The old stone building, the lower floor of which is occupied by the Friends' School, has undergone but slight alteration since the library was started just 100 years ago, and many of the original volumes still remain intact. From the original minutes it appears that, At a meeting of a number of respectable inhabitants of Philadelphia and Bucks Counties, held at Byberry school-house, pursuant to appointment, on the eighth of the 12th month, 1794,' it was 'resolved that the citizens now met use their influence to promote an institution under the title of Byberry Library, to be first opened at the dwelling-house of Ezra Townsend, in Bensalem.' Four years later the library was removed from the residence of Ezra Townsend to the school-house. An article of the original by-laws says that no books shall ever be admitted into this library that have a manifest tendency to corrupt the morals of mankind, such as atheistical or deistical publications, novels, plays, romances, or any other that in any wise contradicts or derogates the truths of the gospel, or is prejudicial to the Christian religion." The shelves contain but 3000 volumes."

Philadelphia F. L. The first exhibit of the library in its new rooms on Chestnut street will be held during the last week of February. It will consist of a representative collection of bindings, showing examples from the leading binders of Italy, France, England and America, in chronological sequence. Some of the books have been on exhibition at the Grolier Club, New York, and are shown by arrangement with Mr. Robert Hoe and Mrs. Avery. The exhibit will be conducted under the auspices of the Philobiblon Club.

Plainfield (N. J.) P. L. It has been ordered by Chancellor McGill, of the state court, that the Schoonmaker collection of Japanese pottery

and cloisonné shall go to the Public Library, as intended by Job Male. The collection is valued at $30,000. Mr. Male purchased it for the library, but omitted to make testamentary provision. When the estate was in litigation the collection was ordered sold. The heirs all signed a petition to the chancellor renouncing their claims, and asking that it be given to the library.

Providence (R. I.) P. L. Of the nine sets of plans for the new library building submitted by competing architects to Prof. Ware of Columbia College, none were accepted by the committee on building. Five of the architects whose designs were commended by Prof. Ware were, however, awarded $300 each.

Quincy (Ill.) P. L. The two-books-on-a-card system was put in operation by Librarian Moulton during January.

Rockland (Me.) P. L. On the afternoon of January 16, the new library was opened for regular service. It has been in process of cataloging and classification for the past four months, and starts with about 2000 v. The library is open from 2 to 5 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, and from 6.30 to 8.30 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. During the first week 480 cards were issued. Miss Nancy Burbank is librarian.

Rome, N. Y. Jervis L. A. The Jervis Library Association was organized on January 19, when a meeting was held, by-laws adopted, officers elected and a librarian appointed. The associa

tion was formed in accordance with the will of the late J: B. Jervis, from whose estate it receives a fund of $44,165.83, and the Jervis homestead, which is to be altered to serve as a library building. The librarian appointed, Miss M.. E. Beach, will take a course of training at the New York State Library School.

St. Louis (Mo.) P. L. The basket-carrier system, used in large stores for the transmission of bundles and change, has been adopted in the library for the quick carriage of books from the shelves to the distributing counters. The mechanism will cost $200, and there will be four stations, at which the boys can put books in the baskets. A delivery station has been established at the south end of the city, and it is intended to open another one at a suitable location in the north end.

Scranton (Pa.) P. L. (4th rpt.) Added 4353; total 22,928. Issued, home use 156,918 (fict. 79.28%); books issued for ref. use 2675; no record of general ref. use is kept. New borrowers 2942; total no. borrowers 8974. Receipts $10,957.42; expenses $10,186.48.

"The edition of the Finding-list of the circulating department, January, 1893,' was exhausted by the end of February, 1894. It was continued in August, by a First supplement.' Later there was issued, just at the close of the year, an Author-list of books in the library,' which indexes to a certain extent the entire contents of the library to August 31, 1894, so far as its individual volumes are concerned, This

Author-list,' containing 184 pages, makes a convenient pamphlet, which, stapled in manilla tag-board covers, together with the 48 pages of the First supplement,' is sold to the patrons of the library at the nominal price of 15 cents each."

Sea Cliff (L. 1.) P. L. The reading-room of the new Sea Cliff Library has been opened to the public, though the books are not yet ready for circulation. About 300 v. are now being cataloged; this includes 100 books from the New York State travelling library.

card

Seattle (Wash.) P. L. Added 764; total 11,812; issued, home use 144,199; no. holders 9838. Receipts $12,225.78; expenses $12,209.93. A catalog of the library was completed during the year. The library was removed to its new quarters in June, 1894.

Watertown (Mass.) F. P. L. The two-bookson-a-card system has been adopted in the library with satisfactory results. Librarian Whitney says: "This helps the introduction of other books into houses that usually care only for stories."

Wisconsin, State L. Commission for. Among the bills to be introduced at the 1895 session of the Wisconsin legislature is one providing for the creation of a state library commission, similar to those of Massachusetts and New the development and establishment of libraries Hampshire. It is hoped that this will aid in in the state, which are as yet comparatively few. the only money expended will be upon the The commissioners will serve without pay, and

libraries.

Wisconsin State Historical Society L. Madison. The 42d annual meeting of the society was held on Nov. 13, in the rooms of the society. According to the report of Secretary Thwaites there were added during the year 4597 books and 2676 pm. making a total of 167,295 v. and Of the accessions about 75% are from gifts pm. and exchanges of duplicates.

Much bibliographical work is constantly going on at the library, in the desire to increase its usefulness. The card catalog - author, title, and subject is well advanced in preparation, but will not be completed for some years to come. The elaborate catalog, with historical notes, of the immense newspaper collection (8000 bound v.) is nearing completion, and will be issued in 1895. The society's collection of newspapers is only surpassed in extent and importance by that in the Library of Congress. The catalog will be the first of its kind issued by a library. It will be followed by a catalog of maps.

The report contains a detailed list of the 450 bound volumes of Draper mss., covering the history of the West from 1742 to 1816.

As to the use of the library, 91% of the readers are professors and students in the state university. About 50,000 v. were issued for reference or alcove use.

An appeal is made for a larger appropriation, and the report closes with an urgent presentation of the need of a new library building. Finan

cially, the society has accomplished much work | with little means. The general fund consists of the $5000 annual appropriation from the state, and from this books, etc., are purchased, several minor salaries paid, and miscellaneous expenses met. This sum, however, while large enough 20 years ago, is now far too small for the proper administration of the society, in its present stage of development. The binding fund is the outgrowth of gifts, half of the membership dues, etc., and amounts to $25,000; the antiquarian fund only amounts thus far to $2000, but is slowly growing from sales of duplicates and half of the membership dues; an attempt will be made during the year to secure gifts to swell this fund to an income-producing stage.

Total attendance at libraries and reading-rooms 2,162,657.

The issue of fiction is 4.74% less than it was two years ago.

A sixth supplement to the catalog of the central library, a class list relating to "Archæology and antiquities," a new edition of the "Music and musicians' list," a supplement to the Lenton Lending Library catalog, and an authors' list of fiction, poetry and drama, have been published. Other lists are in compilation. The author card catalog in the reference library is almost complete, and a subject card catalog will soon be begun.

younger cities that can compare in value and age

with Woburn's. In old law works the collection is singularly complete, and there is a long list of old school-books and other treasures of the

printer's art, manufactured nearly two centuries ago. The art collection of the library will soon be increased by a large picture representing the ordination of Woburn's first pastor, for which

a local artist has received the commission.

Woodbury, N. J. Deptford Institute F. L. The library was opened under its new conditions early in November, 1894. It is free not only to the people of Woodbury but to the citizens of the neighboring townships of Deptford and West Deptford. Miss Whitall, the librarian, has been for the past two months busy classifying and listing the books. She was formerly assistant librarian in the Free Library of Philadelphia. The founding of this library was one of the provisions of the gift to the city by the trustees of the Deptford school property. The school building and lot upon which it stands was several months since trans

ferred to the city, and, in addition to this, the city council purchased an adjoining plot of ground for $5000. This sum is held in trust, and the interest is devoted to the purchase of books which will be added from time to time. Since the acceptance of the property by the city, contributions have been received amounting to over $600. The library is located in the city hall building, and is supported by the interest of the library fund, rooms, heat, and light being supplied free of charge.

FOREIGN.

Total, lending 1. home use 502,Receipts, $33,

Toronto (Ontario, Can.) P. L. 48,027; ref. l. 41,221. Issued, 156; ref. use 33,571 (fict. 46%). 630; expenses, $33,626.19. "The whole tendency of the circulation has been in the direction of a reduction in the issue of fiction." During the year it is expected that a catalog of pamphlets may be completed. "The reading-room for the unemployed opened last season has been reopened this year."

Nottingham (Eng.) F. P. Ls. (Rpt.) Added 3019; total 75,098. Issued 411,011 (fict. 61.77%).

courses have become an established feature of the library.

library curious collections of books illustrating the arts of printing and book illustration, and during the visit of the British Association there was a special exhibit of curious scientific works. On the staircase there is an ever-changing collection of portraits of authors, and pictures illustrating book and newspaper production.

There have been exhibited in the reference

Library School, sends the following suggestions as to the mounting of newspaper illustrations, knife are better than scissors, as the latter do etc. For cutting the picture, a rule and sharp not always give a true, clean edge. Lay the picture face up on a smooth surface preferably

binder's board

place the ruler so that the knife will cut just inside of the plate, and draw the knife firmly along the edge of the ruler. For mounting small pictures and portraits loose sheets from the letter size pads (heavy paper) of the Library Bureau may be used, as these can be arranged alphabetically. Hot starch gives the best results as a paste, as it is sufficiently adhesive, has little body, and whatever exudes from the edge of the picture can be quickly absorbed by a blotter, leaving almost no trace. sheet to ascertain just where it is to go, marking Before applying the paste, lay the picture on the lightly with pencil at top and sides. Apply the paste with a small brush around the edges of the picture; not all over the back, as that causes it to draw and wrinkle; then lay it on the sheet of paper prepared, and press between two smooth surfaces until the paste is set. To make an imitation mat around a picture: place the picture, face up, on a piece of blotting-paper, lay your ruler on the sheet on which the picture is and as far away as you wish your mat to extend; mounted parallel with an edge of the picture then draw some hard blunt instrument (the handle of an ink eraser will do) along the edge of the ruler. The result will be a deep crease in the paper. Continue this crease around the

picture in a similar manner, and you will have a very good substitute for a mat, which will add greatly to the appearance of the picture. The blotter underneath allows the blunt instrument making the crease to sink deeply enough and yet not break the paper. To get the mat on the different pictures at the same relative distance, a small pasteboard “locator" may be made by cutting a square piece of pasteboard with a spur projecting at a corner. Lay the locator on a corner of the picture, so that the edges on each side of the spur coincide with the edges of the picture; this will throw the point of the spur where the corner of the mat should come, mark this point and locate the other corners in similar manner,

Gifts and Bequests.

Champaign, Ill. A. C. Burnham, a banker of Champaign, has offered to give to the town his old homestead, to be used as a site for a library building, a sufficient sum for building purposes, and $10,000 for furnishing and stocking the library.

Iowa State Univ. L. The library has recently come into possession of a private library, by gift from Mr. D. H. Talbott, of Sioux City, Ia. It contains about 4500 v., besides a large number of unbound periodicals, pamphlets, etc. The literature of natural history is the predominant feature of the collection. Mr. Talbott has also made large and valuable gifts to the natural history museum of the university during the past five years.

Lead City, S. D. A fully equipped library and reading-room was formally presented to Lead City, on Dec. 25, by Mrs. Phoebe A. Hearst, widow of the late Senator Hearst, of California. The library occupies the third floor of the new Miner's Union Hall, and is well supplied with books, periodicals, and games. Once a fortnight a free musical recital is given in the main reading-room.

Leicester (Mass.) P. L. In December, 1894, Lory S. Watson, of Leicester, gave $20,000 to the town for the construction of a new library building. The trustees of the library were already in possession of the nucleus of a building fund, which was not available until it had in

creased to $15,000. Mr. Watson's gift made

this fund available for use and increased it to

proportions sufficient to erect and furnish a suitable building. A site was promptly selected by the trustees and a building committee appointed. Ottumwa, Ia. By decision of the supreme court in the Ballingall will case, the city receives the entire bequest of $200,000, left by the late Peter G. Ballingall, of that place. Mr. Ballingall, who was one of the richest citizens of Ottumwa, left an abstruse and intricate will, bequeathing nearly all of his fortune to the town. After considerable litigation on the part of the heirs, the will has now been declared valid. Besides various bequests for a park and hospital, the provisions for the Ottumwa Library Association

are as follows: $200 a year until a $6000 fund and a $20,000 fund have been accumulated from the administration of other bequests provided, for, and 232 feet of ground on Main Street, to be used as site for a library building. The library will receive $200 a year until the $6000 fund is accumulated. It will then receive that fund and one-fourth of the net income from all of the properties willed to the city, including the net income of the $20,000 fund.

Princeton (N. J.) College L. The library has received from a prominent alumnus, whose name is withheld, a fine mediæval ms. of Terence, consisting of 166 leaves, partly parchment, and partly paper. The text is written throughout in one hand in clear minuscule characters, and it is complete for the six plays. The ms. bears date 1402; it is the finest now in the college library, and is said to be one of the best classical manuscripts in the United States.

Univ. of Pennsylvania L. The Hon. W: Potter, ex-minister to Italy, has presented to the library a complete set of "Hansard's Parliamentary debates," 459 volumes, covering the proceedings and speeches in the English Parliament from 1066 to 1891. The volumes contain the of 825 years, going back to the time of its Saxon debates of the English Parliament for a period origin, before the days of William Rufus and the wars of the roses. It is believed that this is the last complete set of Hansard that will ever

be offered for sale.

Waltham, Mass. By the will of the late Francis Buttrick, a wealthy lumber merchant of Waltham, that town is bequeathed $60,000 for the establishment of a public library.

Winchester (Mass.) P. L. The library has been presented with a beautiful memorial window, given by the family of the late J. H. Tyler. The design is by Frederick Wilson and Joseph Lauber, and the window, which illustrates the history of book-making and the discovery of printing, was made by the Tiffany Glass Co. In the central light is the "First proof," representing Gutenberg taking the first impression from Schoeffer. In the two side-lights are represenmovable type, in the presence of Furst and branches hang escutcheons bearing the booktations of the tree of knowledge, from whose such as Plantin, Aldus, Caxton, and Vostre. marks of some of the most famous early printers, Accompanying them, and inscribed on ribbons or labels, are several extracts from great authors

relating to books-for example, My library des amis surs et fidèles," etc. was dukedom large enough," "Les livres sont Below the lights are representations of three kinds of primitive books-the wax tablets of the Romans, the scrolls of the Greeks, and a medieval parchment manuscript. The last-named bears the memorial inscription, "In memory of Joseph Howe Tyler, born February 11, 1825; died July 11, 1892," followed by this passage from the book of Proverbs: "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom and the man that getteth understanding." On the Roman tables there is a quotation from Cicero, in fourth century characters, and on the Greek scroll there is a passage from Plato.