that will find rightful place in the Crerar Library of Science. But it is an excellent thing that the trustees have given so broad and wise a construction to the terms of a will that might have been interpreted in a far narrower spirit. They have shown a real appreciation of their respon a local circulating library, this policy is only possible under wise limitations, and it seems to be the general opinion, within and without the New York State Library, that the circulating feature of that library, under its present liberal administration, has cramped too much its value as a reference collection. Both the library profes-sibility and a desire to use the trust committed sion and the public have reason to know that to them in such a way as to afford "the greatest under Mr. Dewey's administration the most good to the greatest number." Their declared liberal arrangements possible are sure to be intention is to take the term science in its most made in everything tending towards the accom- catholic sense, including not only abstract and modation of all kinds of readers, so that if the technical science, but the science of sociology, of State Library determines to curtail the use of architecture, of astronomy, of art and governits books for circulation, it may be taken for ment, as well as the science of electricity, engranted that it is right in so doing, and that the gineering and mechanics. A library planned on books are refused for less valuable uses, not these lines, rightly developed, freely and broadthat they may stand idle on the shelves but that ly administered, would be a boon not only to they may do more important service elsewhere. the city possessing it, but to scholars, students, It is well known to librarians that there is a and investigators throughout the country - and great growth in the extent to which books are such a library it is within the power of the sent from the State Library to the over 500 insti- | Crerar trustees to establish. tutions in the university and to scholars in different parts of the state who have claims on the collection in prosecuting their studies. It was inevitable that the State Library, in doing this very important work, should find it necessary to curtail somewhat the merely local and incidental use of books. This curtailment, however, has been greatly exaggerated by the newspapers, as it really amounts to little beyond refusing to supply citizens of Albany with current novels for their recreation. THERE has been a most gratifying development along the lines of library progress since the new year. Vermont has now a state library commission and a state association, both of which are doing effective work, Wisconsin is about to join the ranks of states possessing library commissions, in Ohio a state library association has just been formed, with a large membership and larger supply of enthusiasm, and a bill is pending in the Pennsylvania legislature providing for the establishment of libraries in every school district of the state. Each of these movements has been the direct result of active and persevering effort on the part of A. L. A. workers, and two of them, at least, had their inception at the Lake Placid Conference. It is not to be expected that this rate of progress will be continued during the year-that were too millennial a prospect; but there is certainly a most hopeful promise for the future, and it does not seem unduly optimistic to look forward to the time when each state shall have its library laws, its library commission, its state association and its local library societies. Indeed, in this movement every state that joins the library THE announcement that the trustees of the John Crerar Library have determined to establish a scientific reference library is of very general interest. The decision has come as something of a surprise, for though it was understood that no attempt would be made to enter the "general" field, so fully occupied by the Chicago Public Library, it was believed that the directors were inclined towards Americana or religion as the specialty of the library. The choice of science is an admirable one, covering, as it does, a field that it is practically impossible for most libraries to occupy even partially, and that is of the utmost use and value to a very large portion of the public. Whether the develop-ranks may be counted twice, once for itself and ment of the library on these lines is entirely in accord with the intention of its founder is another matter; it is probable that Mr. Crerar, who in his will forbade the inclusion of " French novels and all skeptical trash" in his library, would have included in the latter category many books once for its example — for state pride is almost as vital a point as civic pride, and the argument that a state is behind its sister states in progressiveness, and especially in educational matters, is one of the most powerful levers of public sentiment. SOME LIBRARIES OF THE NORTHWEST. How large a country and how great a nation | we have in these United States of America is the subject of vast spread-eagle oratory. Perhaps it is more accurate to say was the subject of the large-voiced orator, since both he and his subject have given way in later years to the careful student who is, perhaps, inclined to emphasize the difficulties and dangers of national vastness, rather than to glory indiscriminately and promiscuously in that characteristic feature of our national being. The orator stayed at home and talked; the student travels and observes and reports. But when a hundred such students and observers and reporters crossed the continent in 1891 to visit their library brethren on the Western coast, their journey from the Atlantic to the Pacific opened their eyes and their minds to a serious sense of the largeness and greatness, in the true sense, of the national life, in the best features of which they were becoming so important a part. It was a comfortable surprise to Eastern librarians to find how important and how educational a part in national progress was taken by the librarians of the Pacific coast, whether in the great libraries of San Francisco, the original and pioneer work at Los Angeles, or the modest, but intelligent endeavors of the smaller libraries in the still younger communities scattered through the state of California. But this visit included only California itself, and except that the ubiquitous and industrious Mr. Fletcher found time to make a working missionary visit as far north as Seattle, little has been known by librarians in the East of the library development of the Northwest. The finest separate library building on the Pacific coast is the home of the Library Association of Portland, Oregon. The site is at the corner of Seventh and Stark streets, a third of a mile back from the Willamette River front, just beyond the high-water mark of the flood of June, 1894, on the river plain, above which rise the picturesque heights of this venerable city of the Pacific coast already a half century old! It is a noble building, in Romanesque design, of simple and effective lines, occupying a frontage of 144 feet on Stark street, its base of Nelson Island granite with upper walls of light-colored sandstone, surmounted at a height of 50 feet with a tile roof. In design, the façade has some resemblance to the new Boston Public Library building. The main entrance is through a three-door vestibule, which leads up by a few steps to the main corridor, through which one reaches the main bookroom, handsomely furnished, with stacks effectively arranged on either side, and having the librarian's quarters at one end and the ladies' room at the other. This floor also contains newspaper and magazine rooms and a chessroom. In the basement are accommodations for receiving and handling books. On the second floor is a large memorial hall, which is to be the home of the Portland Art Museum, with lecture-room, reference-room and directors' room. The memorial hall is dedicated to the memory of Miss Ella M. Smith, from whose bequest the edifice was built. She left for this purpose real estate appraised at the time the building was commenced, in 1890, at from $130,000 to $140,000, and it was decided to hold this property, borrowing upon its security such money as might be required as the building progressed. This plan proved a profitable one until the crisis of 1893, when values and rentals fell to such an extent as to cause some embarrassment to the Library Association; but the property is still valued as high as $127,000, and the library has surmounted its difficulties fairly well. The new building was finished in 1893, and the books were removed, to the extent of nearly 20,000, in June, 1893, in seven working days. The stack-room contains present accommodations for about 30,000 volumes, and provision can ultimately be made for 120,000 volumes. The Association was started as a subscription library in 1864, and it was not until 1894 that the dues were reduced from $9 to $5 a year. It had, at the last report, 101 perpetual memberships, 214 half-yearly, 310 monthly, and 36 honorary members. The library had not been opened Sundays, but the directors agreed to provide for Sunday opening if 100 persons would become annual members who had never been members of the Library Association and whose wish was that the library should be open Sunday. It is pleasant to note that this most important library of the Northwest is under the charge of an active member of the American Library Association and a graduate of the library school of Pratt Institute, and it is also gratifying to record that Mr. Daniel F. W. Bursch, who, in 1893, succeeded Mr. Henry A. Oxen as librarian of the Library Association, is heartily desirous of Library is to be found at Olympia, picturesquely making his library a centre of such work and | situated on rising ground at the head or south inspiration as the American Library Association end of Puget Sound. The old white barn, forand the severa! library schools promote. On re- merly the Capitol, was deserted some years ago, ceiving his appointment, Mr. Bursch wisely and work upon the fine new Capitol, which is to made a tour of the foremost libraries of the East, look down from its heights over the waters of and consulted librarians in the leading cities, | the sound, is but just commenced. Meanwhile with the purpose of adding to his own knowl- the state departments have taken refuge in edge and experience the best he could glean business blocks, in one of which the State Lifrom others; thus he reached Portland equipped brary, under the care of Mr. F. T. Gilbert, has with the best information from New York, fairly good quarters. Like its sister library in Boston, Philadelphia, Albany, Buffalo, Chicago, the adjoining state, this is largely a library of Denver, and other centres. In his first report law-books, but it has also a miscellaneous de(the 30th annual report of the Association) he partment, for which a considerable appropriamakes pleasant mention in especial of the cour- tion has been made, and some attention has tesies extended to him by Miss Cutler at Albany, already been given to the collection of the litand Mr. Carr at Scranton. With the beginning erature of and relating to the state. Mr. Gilbert, of 1894 Mr. Bursch started a four-page bulletin although like Mr. Putnam, sequestered from called Our Library, which has proved a valuable association with other librarians, is heartily record of the work of the library and of the Uni- desirous of making the State Library all that it versity Extension lectures carried on in connec- should be, and any Eastern librarians who find tion with it. their way to the Pacific coast will find here, as everywhere, cordial welcome and a hearty desire to take advantage of their presence to learn of any new points in library progress. | The State Library of Oregon is in the Capitol at Salem, also situated in the plain of the Willamette River, and named, like its sister city, from one of the old cities of the Atlantic The City Library of Tacoma is now housed coast. Salem, Oregon, unlike its ancient pro- in the newly completed City Hall, whose tall, totype of Massachusetts, is laid out on broad square tower is one of the picturesque landlines, the narrowest of its streets being 99 feet marks of this interesting city, crowning the wide. In its centre is a considerable park which precipitous bluff which overlooks the harbor. contains the State Capitol, of an order of archi- The library had been started in 1886 by Mrs. tecture which we have come to associate with Grace R. Moore, with the help of Mr. Walter Capitol buildings, with its two wings and crown- J. Thompson and others, and had occupied ing dome. The library occupies one wing on small rooms in a business block. In 1892, in the upper floor, and is under care of Mr. J. B. which year the present librarian was appointed, Putnam, who, though he has never come into the city granted a monthly appropriation of $250, relations with the library spirit, is desirous of and on the completion of the City Hall, in May, making his library something more than a mere 1893, assigned to it the free use of one-half the collection of law-books, as it is now. So far, upper story. In January, 1894, the city took there is, in fact, scarce anything but law-books over the property and control from the former in the library, three or four volumes referring Library Association. It is now under the charge to the history of the state being the exception of a library committee of the City Council, of to the rule. The library at Portland some time which Mr. John Hartman is chairman, with an since announced its intention of providing for as advisory committee consisting of representatives full a collection as could be made of publications of the Commercial Club, the Trades Council of and relating to Oregon, and this function of (labor organizations) and the Chamber of Comstate record which belongs properly to a state merce, and Mrs. Grace R. Moore, the originator library is not unappreciated by Mr. Putnam, of the library. Provision is made against powho hopes to become a friendly rival of Mr. | litical change by fixing the librarian's term Bursch in collecting the materials for the history at five years and by giving him the appointment of this young state before the lapse of time has of the assistants. The main library is a large made it too late to make such a collection ade- room with open shelves around it, giving free quately. access to all books, adjoining which on one In the new state of Washington the State | side is the librarian's and cataloging room and | |