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possessed in the community.

operation between libraries and university ex-fully use the power and influence which they tension work. In his department-biology he rarely found in libraries even the simplest works upon his subject. The study which should accompany and follow an extension course depends largely upon the resources of the local public library.

At the Round Table Conference, on the morning of February 14, papers were read on the following topics, succeeded by interesting discussions: "Selection of books," Miss A. Van Valkenburgh, Milwaukee Public Library; "Purposes of a card catalog," Mrs. S. H. Miner, Madison; "Bound periodicals - how to get and how to use them," Miss M. J. Doolittle, Beaver Dam; "Children's rights in a small library," Miss A. H. McDonnell, Green Bay; "The best books for teachers and pupils in the grades," L. E. Gettle, Library Clerk State Superintendent's Office; Question-box," under direction of Miss M. M. Oakley, Madison, Wis.

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The afternoon session was devoted to the Trustees' Section and proved to be most helpful and suggestive. Miss Katherine L. Sharp, director of the Training Class, Armour Institute, in a carefully prepared paper on" The library school and training classes," showed their differences and points of resemblance, the aims and scope of each. The paper was followed by the closest attention and much interest in the work subsequently evinced.

Prof. E. A. Birge, trustee of the Madison Library, followed with a keen yet genial talk on "The choice of a librarian," and "The librarian from the trustee's point of view."

Dr. Birge said that the librarian must possess all the cardinal virtues as a matter of course. Besides this foundation he should have, first, executive ability, which, Dr. Birge held, included a capacity for initiative with his trustees; second, a power which for lack of a better term he called "book-sense "; and third the knack of getting his books into the hands of his people. Dr. Birge considers that the trustee, as compared with the librarian, is a very unimportant factor in the library.

Miss Theresa West, Milwaukee Public Library followed Dr. Birge in the complementary paper on "The trustees from the librarian's point of view."

Miss West drew attention to the difference in the purpose of the city or town library of to-day from that of the library of the past. The first is primarily for the education of the people. The second was primarily for the preservation of books. This difference in purpose demands a more liberal policy and more varied capacities on the part of the trustees. Trustees are rarely appointed except they have attained a certain eminence for some quality, either knowledge of books, business sagacity, known integrity or political power. Each of these qualities may be almost equally valuable to the library. Trustees were urged to appoint librarians whom they trusted and then to grant freedom to execute, to give power and exact results. The question was suggested whether trustees did not accept limitations for their libraries from lack of funds which need not be accepted if the trustees would

Dr. Geo. W. Peckham, superintendent of schools and ex-officio member of the board of trustees, Milwaukee Public Library, presented a paper on "State library commissions," giving the history of those of Massachusetts and New Hampshire and showing what may be gained by similar laws in Wisconsin. A bill creating a state library commission, which had been previously introduced into the legislature by Senator J. H. Stout, trustee of the Menomonie Library, received the unanimous support of the Association, and a committee of five was appointed to aid in furthering its passage.

The president announced that Senator J. H. Stout had volunteered to pay the necessary expenses of a Summer School in Library Economy, in connection with the Summer School of the State University.

Miss Katherine L. Sharp was unanimously elected the first honorary member of the Association.

Officers for 1895-96: President, F. A. Hutchins, Madison; vice-president, Miss Anna McDonnell, Green Bay; secretary and treasurer, Miss L. E. Stearns. LUTIE E. STEARNS, Secretary.

IOWA LIBRARY SOCIETY.

THE Iowa Library Society held its fifth annual meeting in Des Moines, Dec. 26-27, 1894. For the first time the society met as a section of the State Teachers' Association. On account of illness, President T. S. Parvin and Vice-President Mrs. Ada North were unable to attend, and Hon. H. W. Lathrop was chosen president pro

tem.

The privileges and duties of library trustees, the diffusion of information concerning our libraries throughout the state, and plans for library instruction in the state were the principal topics discussed.

The following addresses were presented: Opening address - President Parvin, ibrarian Iowa Masonic Library, Cedar Rapids.

Report of the acts of the General Assembly in relation to public libraries- Judge G: W. Wakefield, president board of trustees, Sioux City Public Library.

Reference work: its demands and the best methods of improving them - Miss Ella M. McLoney, librarian Des Moines Public Library. A public library a necessity in every town and city of the state-Hon. C. H. Gatch, president board of trustees, Des Moines Public Library.

How and by whom should library assistants be employed?- Mrs. Stella B. Morse, Des Moines. The relation of trustees to their librariesJudge Wakefield, trustee Sioux City Public Library.

The relation of our public libraries to each other and to the people of the state-Hon. H. W. Lathrop, librarian State Historical Society, Iowa City.

A practical course of study suited to the needs of Iowa libraries - Miss Esther Crawford, librarian Sioux City Public Library.

Duties of trustees of public libraries and how

they may be best discharged - Hon. D. W. Bloomer, president board of trustees, Council Bluffs Public Library.

What are a librarian's qualifications?- Mrs. Mary W. Loomis, Cherokee.

Public libraries in connection with our public schools, their teachers and pupils - Hon. Alonzo Abernethy, principal Cedar Valley Seminary, Osage.

Officers were elected for the ensuing year as follows: President, J. W. Rich, librarian State University, Iowa City; vice-president, Mrs. Stella B. Morse, Des Moines; secretary, Miss Ella M. McLoney, Des Moines Public Library; treasurer, Miss Babb, librarian Indianola Public Library. MARY W. LOOMIS, Secretary.

Library Clubs.

NEW YORK LIBRARY CLUB.

THE February meeting of the New York Library Club was held at the Methodist Library on Thursday, Feb. 14, the subject being, "Help of libraries in training for citizenship." President Poole said that the idea of bringing up this subject for discussion came to him through correspondence with a gentleman in the West, who has been engaged for some time in laying out plans to interest boys in government. He has talks by prominent men to which all the boys are invited, excursions to places of historic interest, and mock voting contests to teach them the Australian system. Some of his ideas might well be introduced into our public schools, for we are living in peculiar times, with corruption and misgovernment everywhere, and it is of the highest importance that the boys have right ideas instilled in them. It is the librarian's place to help forward in this great work. He should put on the shelves books which will interest the boys in our government, inspire them with ideas of honesty and teach them that our rulers are our servants. Among the books recommended for this purpose are: Prof. Seeley's "Citizenship," "The Century book for young Americans," "What a boy saw in the army," Parkhurst's "Our fight with Tammany," Hoffman's "Sphere of state," and Conkling's "City government in the U.S." Every library should also have the February Bulletin of the Providence Public Library, which contains a bibliographical list on municipal government.

C. A. nothing has been done on the special line of good government, but a course of select reading has been made up, different distinguished men having been asked to select the 10 best books in their line of study. Thus, Drs. Vincent and Cuyler selected books on religion, George Gunton on economics, Hamilton Mabie on fiction, Theodore Roosevelt on travel, and Justin Winsor on English and American history. These books have been put together in the form of the travelling libraries and little pamphlets have been printed with the list of books and rules of the course.

Mr. Pasko thought that the fires of patriotism were dying out in the United States, and that it was the duty of the librarian to stir them up. All dull books, like the majority of lives and speeches, should be kept out of sight, while such books as Parkman's should be brought prominently before the reader.

Rev. Dr. Thomas gave a very interesting account of how he secured books and magazines for the soldiers, in the time of the war, at half price, realizing the necessity for this after seecould get hold of, even the cheapest and trashiing with what eagerness they read anything they est of books. Mr. Nelson then called on him to

explain his method of preserving newspapers and periodicals. As the Methodist Library receives a great number of these, it was necessary to find the cheapest and most convenient way of disposing of them, a problem which he has solved to his satisfaction by using manilla rope paper. This must be folded the way of the grain and with the convex side out, and when so treated adapts itself readily to the shape of the volume within, thus taking up no more space than is necessary, and forming a very durable cover. It is a method which must be seen and explained in order to be appreciated, and all librarians who have problems of that nature to deal with should not fail to call on Dr. Thomas for the explanation.

The club then spent a delightful hour looking over the immense building of the Methodist Book Concern.

The following persons were elected members of the club: E. B. Woodruff, Jane Austen RusG. J. McAndrew, John C. Sickley, Mary E. Mersell, Helen E. Haines, Judge W: Ware Peck, rington, Louis Evans Shipman, and Mrs. Dora E. Miller. HARRIET B. PRESCOTT, Secretary.

CHICAGO LIBRARY CLUB.

A VERY interesting meeting of the Chicago At the Brooklyn Y. M. C. A. a series of Library Club was held on the appointed date, sociological talks have been given by such men Friday evening, Feb. 8. By invitation of Mrs. as R. R. Bowker, Jacob Riis, and Judge White, Zella Allen Dixson, the meeting was held at and great enthusiasm has been aroused which the University of Chicago in the chapel of Cobb has resulted in forming classes in Christian | Hall. Despite a cold and stormy evening, a sociology and civil government. By this goodly number were present and the rooms of means the use of the library is stimulated and the University made a delightful meeting-place. people, being brought to think along lines of The meeting was presided over by Miss government soon learn to think along right Lydia A. Dexter, of the Newberry Library. The lines, and, being made to realize their position program, combining excellent musical and towards society, are ready to do their part to-literary features, was opened by a piano solo by wards making it right.

At the Railroad Men's Branch of the Y. M.

Mr. James F. Baldwin. The regular club business, reading of minutes, etc., was then

room, modelled in a measure upon that of the Brookline Public Library. This was largely Miss Hayward's own plan and she was most active in its preparation. Speaking of the library in its improved form Miss Russell says:

carried through, followed by a violin solo by Miss Charlotte Capen. Mrs. Dixson then gave an address on "Departmental libraries," treating especially of the methods used in the University of Chicago. The program was interesting throughout, and the only disappointment to those present was that all of the club members could not have been present to enjoy it. The meeting was closed by a "personally conducted tour" among the depart mental libraries in the University buildings, under charge of Mr. Clarence A. Torrey, who is Mrs. Dixson's able lieutenant in the super-her unvarying kindness and sympathy, her rare vision of these libraries, and who explained in detail their workings and gave practical objectlessons that well illustrated Mrs. Dixson's previous description.

E: L. BURCHARD, Secretary.

Library Economy and History.

LOCAL.

Brookline (Mass.) P. L. An interesting exhibit of pictorial posters was opened in the Brookline Public Library on Feb. 12, and continued for two weeks. The exhibit, which was the first of its kind given by a library, attracted much attention and was excellently representative of the best work in modern " poster art." It comprised about 105 examples, principally advertisements of prominent magazines and new books, by Beardsley, Penfield, Cheret, Grasset, Bradley, Rhead and others; most of the examples were contributed by leading publishers.

Brooklyn, N. Y. Pratt Institute F. L. The original intention of devoting the handsome new building, now in construction, to the uses of a museum, fine arts building and library combined has been abandoned, and the building will be entirely given up to the library, which will thus be largely extended and much improved in administration. As already noted (L. J., 19: 389), work on the building was begun in October, 1894. It is now rapidly nearing completion, and by June I it is expected that it will be ready for public use. It is intimated that the erection of a third building, to be devoted to art uses is planned by the trustees.

Cambridge (Mass.) P. L. (Rpt.) Added 2724; total 46,770. Issued, home use 119.631 (fict. 45%); ref. use, 5768 (this covers only books issued from the circulating department). Issued on teachers' cards 693; school delivery 5325. No. cardholders 7073.

The trustees devote most of their report to an earnest tribute to Miss A. L. Hayward, the late librarian. Since her death in October, 1894, the charge of the library has devolved upon Miss

Etta L. Russell, who has carried on most successfully the work of administration. The new librarian, Mr. W. L. R. Gifford, had not assumed his duties at the time the report was concluded. During the year past the library has been remodelled and improved, allowing opportunity for future extension. One of the most important changes was the establishment of a children's

"No more precious legacy could have been left by our beloved librarian than this library, equipped as it is for broad and useful work. To those daily associated with her, the memory of her faithful, conscientious spirit, and her readiness in serving others, will ever be an incentive and inspiration. By her thoughtful consideration, justice, she endeared herself to all, and won the deepest love and respect."

The trustees say: "It is to be regretted that the structure of the building does not permit us to go very much farther in the direction of freer access to the shelves- which is the modern tendency in libraries — the space for readers in the stack-room itself being so very limited. It has been suggested that the main works on American history-the department most consulted—should be brought together in the room not yet appropriated, over the children's room, and that all students of that department should have free access there. This will be virtually an enlargement of the reference library, implying few, if any, additional restrictions."

Among the problems confronting the library staff are the reshelving and renumbering the books under an improved classification, the need of a new complete card catalog, and the desirability of a classification and arrangement of pamphlets and public documents.

Cleveland, O. Case L. The remodelled Case Library was opened with an informal reception on the afternoon and evening of Feb. 2. As altered, the library occupies three floors of the Case business block. The first floor is devoted to the circulating department, the second is given up to the reference department, and the third is reserved for periodicals; all the floors are finished in highly polished quartered oak. There are about 20 bookcases on each floor, containing the library's 35,000 v. The rooms are lighted by gas and electricity, and the fittings and furniture are of the newest and most approved description. The Case Library is an of Cleveland, established in 1846; it received the outgrowth of the Young Men's Literary Society building in which the library is located as a bequest from Leonard Case, which also gave it its Present name. In June, 1894, the library was closed for the alterations which have just been completed. The cost of the improvements exceeded $40,000, but the remodelling of the building means a new era to the library, for not only are its own possibilities extended, but the changes in the building will lead to increased rentals, thus swelling the library's income, and permitting a more liberal policy in the purchase of books. A start has been made towards the formation of a music library, which it is expected will develop into an important depart

ment.

Colorado State L., Denver. Added 1513; total

11,240; issued 105. Of the 11,240 books reported, but 8880 are on the shelves, the remainder being stored with the secretary of state.

Denver (Col.) City L. (Rpt.) Added 1251; total 26,063. Issued, home use 151,403; lib. use 19.309.

Detroit (Mich.) P. L. The library of the Detroit Medical Library Association has been presented to the Public Library by the members of the association. The only condition to the gift was the proviso that the collection be kept as a separate department of the library.

Glen Cove, L. I. The organization of a public library for Glen Cove is progressing rapidly. A room has been furnished with adequate shelving and a number of books have been given as a nucleus. The library has also been designated as a depository for the publications of the Smithsonian Institution; it will also probably become a borrower of the New York State travelling libraries."

Hartford, Ct. Watkinson L. An interesting "Napoleon exhibition" was opened at the library early in January. It comprised books, prints, and pictures illustrating the life and times of the emperor, and was surprisingly full and varied. Over 400 pictures were shown, arranged to illustrate I, the Bonaparte family; 2, the French Revolution and Egyptian expedition; 3, the Consulate and empire, the Hundred Days and St. Helena; 4, the architecture, manners, and customs of the times. There were 80 portraits of Napoleon, reproductions of many well-known historical pictures in which Napoleon figures, and many interesting prints, books, and relics illustrating the subject. The exhibition was most successful; the attendance was large and appreciative; and the display has been the means of introducing the library to many persons who would otherwise have remained unacquainted

with it.

Harvard Univ. L., Cambridge, Mass. (17th rpt.) Added 15,788 v.; total 437.747 v., 350,368 pm. Besides this total the books shelved in dept. libraries, and not included in the foregoing figures, amount to 11,631 v. Issued from Gore Hall 105,060.

"It is the observation of those in charge of the reference service, of which no statistics are kept, that it is constantly increasing year by year, and that the increase for last year was very great." During the year 1162 books were borrowed by students of Radcliffe College, and 249 "admission cards" to the shelves were issued for purposes of special research. "Eighteen years ago only 57% of the college students used the library. In the last year, of the 1656 undergraduates, only 359 failed to borrow books, and of this last number 301 drew out reserve books. This reduces the number of students who made no recorded use of the library to 58 out of a total of 1656."

"The number of volumes which failed to be accounted for was 165, a large increase over last year, and equal to the loss in 1891, when a professional thief made depredations. Of

those reported missing in previous years 26 were found in their places, having been silently returned during the year. Of books reported missing since 1883 there are still 598 unaccounted for; 396 having disappeared from the reserved books, and 202 from the stack. Of these 165 unaccounted-for volumes of the year just closed 121 have disappeared from the books of reference, reserved books, and other collections exposed to the handling of all frequenters of the library, the other 44 having disappeared from the shelves to which only the staff of the library, officers of the college, and a limited number of other persons have access. In the stack, fewer cases than usual of disarrangement were discovered, owing to a supervision of the shelves during the winter, only 124 books being found on wrong shelves. This unsatisfactory condition has grown out of various causes: First, as regards the stack, it is open to the entire staff of instruction; to students who hold cards of admission; to the library staff; and to an occasional special investigator. Such an aggregate of careless people, to use no harsher term. Secof frequenters will have an inevitable percentage ondly, as regards the reserved and reference books, they are practically open to the handling of any one who chooses to touch them, and offer a field for depredation to any irresponsible person, who places the selfish enjoyment of a book or the pecuniary gain of its possession higher than honesty, or who finds no convenient opportunity for rectifying acts of aberration or action is the despicable disregard of the rights thoughtlessness. The worst feature of the transof fellow-students, who are thus deprived of the

use of such books."

During the year 9969 titles were cataloged reduced by resignations from its staff. Among by the catalog department, which was somewhat the additions to the library were a large part of angling and fish culture given by Mr. John Bartthe library of Francis Parkman, a collection on lett, and other important accessions; most of these still await cataloging. The 89 maps belonging to the Parkman collection have been arranged in the map department, and a list of their subjects is given in the report. Financially the library is hampered and restricted by lack of funds, which not only reduces the accessions, but materially affects the convenience and use of the collection. Prof. Winsor says: "What I have repeatedly said about the insufficiency of Gore Hall, for the uses of the library, I can only repeat with renewed emphasis: 'I have exhausted the language of warning and anxiety, in representing the totally inadequate accommodations for books and readers which Gore Hall affords. Each 12 months brings us nearer to a chaotic condition. The library goes on with its natural accessions, and friends of learning give us the means to add more and more to our growth. We have as yet no assurance to give them that their gifts can be properly cared for, and the use of their books properly regulated for the general good.' During the year (in March and April) we found it necessary to box up 15,000 volumes and store them beyond reach, in order to make room for new accessions, believed to be

of larger present interest. In selecting these books to be put aside, the records of circulation were examined to lead us to the choice of those in least demand. The removal, however, was no sooner made than complaints began to come in of the deprivations which by this act were imposed on the frequenters of the library. This is a sufficient answer, if one be needed, to the unreasoning demand, sometimes made of large libraries, that their shelves shall be thinned out by discarding useless books. Every librarian of large experience knows that there are no such books. A university library, which is the leading one in the country, needs, above all others, to answer every bibliographical inquiry by producing the book. Merit is but one test of the value of a book to a large library."

Helena (Mont.) P. L. Financial difficulties have seriously hampered the work of the library for the past six months. Lack of funds and of sufficient force has compelled the interruption of the cataloging and the resources of the library are not equal to the demands made upon it. In the Bulletin for January, 1895-the first issued since June of the previous year-the authorities say: "The overcrowded condition at the library is apparent to all. The bookshelves are entirely full. Some books have already been taken away to the store-room and more will have to be removed. Even the tops of the cases have to be utilized. The readingrooms become uncomfortably filled with readers and some have to go away for lack of accommodations. New chairs have been bought, but the reading-room space is not half large enough. The facilities for heating are not sufficient to keep the rooms comfortably warm in cold weather. The whole support of the library comes from a tax on the property of the city of one-half-mill on the dollar, yielding this year about $6500. This is less than former years on account of a reduction of the assessment from over $20,000,000 in 1891 to about $13,500,000 in 1894. The library is confronted each year with a reduction in revenue, while patronage and the work that patronage brings is continually increasing."

Indianapolis (Ind.) P. L. A bill taking the Public Library out of the hands of the school board and placing it under the control of a board of directors was passed by the legislature on Feb. 13. The bill provides for six directors, to be appointed by the circuit judge and the county clerk, who shall have control of all library property, heretofore vested in the board of school commissioners. All employees of the library are placed under a system of civil service rules, and except in the case of the librarian, assistant librarian and secretary, places will be given only on competitive examinations.

Kansas City (Mo.) P. L. At a meeting of the board of education early in February W. F. Hackney, the architect of the board, was appointed as architect of the new public library building and directed to draw up plans for the building. A site for the building has already been secured; it is in a central location, opposite

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the Y. M. C. A. building, and cost $30,000. The library building is to cost $200,000.

Kansas State Agricultural College L., Manhattan. (9th biennial rpt.) Added 2459; total 18.488. During the past two years, the growth of the library has depended almost entirely upon the college itself. An insignificant ending June 30, 1893. The same amount was appropriation of $250 was made for the year This sum available for the preceding year. was barely enough to pay for the periodicals for the reading-room. For the year ending June 30, 1894, no state appropriation was made, nor books during the coming year. Early in 1893, will any fund be available for the purchase of the board of regents authorized the expenditure of $3000 from the current funds of the college for the purchase of books. With this fund, a considerable number of valuable books was bought; but the financial condition of the college did not warrant us in making the total expenditure. In all, purchases amounting to $2665.50 were made from the income fund during the two years. This was far from being sufficient to provide for the immediate wants of the various departments. amount allowed any department was $350." The librarian urges the necessity of an annual library appropriation of at least $5000.

The maximum

He alludes also to the satisfactory results of the system of free access to the books, which has been practised in the college library from the beginning, and says: "Our losses during the past eight years from the abuse of the privilege of free access to the books, have been less than $15, all told. The policy of excluding the students from the books would have required the constant employment of an additional attendant upon the library, while the advantages of the free system are beyond comparison great."

A new and handsome library building has been erected with a book capacity of 70,000 v.; it contains, as yet, shelving for 20,000 v.

Lenox (Mass.) L. The library management, has, since December, given a series of lectures and entertainments that have proved very popular. There are six evenings devoted to the course, which began December 1, and concludes on March 23, and the program comprises illustrated lectures on travel and science, readings by Prof. Locke Richardson, and a concert.

Mankato (Minn.) P. L. The Mankato Public Library was opened on Feb. 6. It contains about 2000 v., and is established and supported by a tax levy, under the provisions of the state law. The books were cataloged and classified by Mrs. M..W. Loomis, secretary of the Iowa Library Society; the librarian is Miss Minnie

M'Graw.

Memphis, Tenn. Cossitt L. On Feb. 2, the Cossitt Library was made a circulating library, and books were for the first time issued to applicants for home use. The rules and form of application adopted differ little from those generally in use, save that a fine of five cents a day is imposed for holding a book beyond the

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