Belgium. The committee entrusted with the investigation reported that they found most widely used and most practicable for their proposed international work the Decimal classification, and a formal request was made for the privilege of translating it into various European languages for more convenient use. The author was glad to grant the request, and has accepted the invitation of the bureau to serve for the present as president, or chairman, of the American division. Fuller information regarding the proposed international work will be published, as received, in the Library Journal and reported to the A. L. A.

At the organization of our Association the watchword about which we rallied, was co-operation. This is the 20th year of our work, and when we review it we find that most of the good that has been accomplished has come through the cordial co-operation of the few, or many, in attaining results for which no individual, however earnest or able, would be sufficient. I am profoundly convinced after these 20 years of close connection with the modern library movement that co-operation is still our watchword, and that the fields just before us and already white for the harvest are to be won only in this way. Excellent work can be done in a limited way by a single librarian who declines to co-operate with his fellows in the profession, but none of the great movements that carry education forward and dignify librarianship are possible except by working together. A long pull is good, and a strong pull is good, but a pull all together is more important than all the rest. For the Co-operation Committee, MELVIL DEWEY, Chairman.

Miss AGNES VAN VALKENBURGH, in the absence of chairman Montgomery, read the

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY SCHOOL AND TRAINING CLASSES.

The Library School at Albany has had a most successful year and is steadily growing in usefulness. The demand for its students is so constant that a large number of the senior class have this year been detailed for field work. It would seem that this success might menace the life of the institution, for a school without a graduating class might cause remark.

The standard of scholarship required for ad

mission continues to rise steadily, and it is interesting to note that there have been more applications from college graduates this year than there are seats in the school, so that the time is not far distant when admission to the school must be limited to those who hold college diplomas.

The work of the classes has been well described. A feature in this year's work is the formation of a class in indexing, under Miss Martha T. Wheeler, who has charge of the indexing of the University publications. For practice the class indexed Nichols' pamphlet on Indexing. The calls for indexers have been numerous, showing the need for more thorough training in that work.

The work in bibliography done by the students is worthy of mention, for it is evidently done with great care. The shelves of the lectureroom and the drawers of the catalog case show a number of valuable bibliographies and reading lists. They are made, as far as possible, from personal examination of the books. These lists are used by the readers who frequent the State Library, and have been loaned in some cases to the students at a distance, but this is too small a circulation, and the school now proposes to have them printed for distribution. A guide to the study of Whistler, compiled by W. G. Forsyth and J. L. Harrison, has been selected for Bulletin No. 1, and others will follow quickly.

A course in comparative cataloging, embracing the study of ten representative English and American codes of rules was given by Miss Ada A. Jones.

Special lectures were given by the following librarians: E. H. Anderson, C. W. Andrews, W. H. Brett, C. A. Cutter, W. I. Fletcher, W. E. Foster, G. M. Jones, Alice B. Kroeger, J. N. Larned, T. L. Montgomery, A. L. Peck.

In conclusion we are told that there has been a marked increase in the salaries paid to Library School students during their first year of work after leaving the school, and this statement has made a profound impression upon your committee.

The Pratt Institute Training Class. The Pratt Institute graduated its fifth library training class in June and the year was a most successful one. A class of 22 was admitted after competitive examination of more than 60

applicants. Miss Plummer reports the work of the class as very satisfactory. A Current Topics class and a course in library book-keeping were added to the curriculum, and the Library Economy broadened somewhat by lectures dealing with methods used in other libraries. A representive of your committee attended a meeting of the Current Topics class and wishes to express warm appreciation of the way in which Miss Avery conducted the work. The course in literature is also in charge of Miss Avery, and the type-written reading lists of the course are most useful guides for students. A Home Library was started in one of the poorer districts, and it is hoped that each succeeding class will establish one of these libraries.

The total number of students has been 120, of which number 75 have entered on library work. It can be said that all students who have completed the course satisfactorily, and who wished to make practical use of their training, have had an opportunity to do so. A number of librarians will be asked to meet the class this winter and talk over the practical side of their work with the results attained; it is hoped that the librarians will be truthful.

The Drexel Institute Library Class. The work of this class has steadily advanced under the direction of Miss Alice B. Kroeger. Nineteen students received certificates this spring. The graduates of the school are now found in nearly every Philadelphia library, and the greater part of this year's class is now actively engaged in library work.

The class has the opportunity of hearing many lectures on special topics, and a course on the History of Printing by Dr. MacAlister deserves especial mention. The library of the Institute is a most attractive place, and the students start their work with a most impressive objectlesson in neatness and order.

The Armour Institute Training Class. The one room, 50x60 ft., which contains the desks for the faculty and class, book-shelves, reading-tables, chairs, etc., serves as an admirable example of what may be accomplished in a small space. The work goes on smoothly and promptly, and in a way which must impress those who are trained with the worth and beauty of order.

The students cannot leave without consciously or unconsciously reflecting its influence.

Notwithstanding its cramped quarters, the training class works under conditions most favorable to the attainment of ideals. The Institute is in close proximity to great examples of the four types of public libraries: the Chicago Public, the Newberry, the Chicago University, and Hyde Park School Library. Studies are also made of a half-dozen or more libraries within a radius of a hundred miles from Chicago.

The course of study is now designed to occupy two years; the first year including work in ordering, accessioning, classifying, cataloging, loaning, methods of binding, etc. The second year, as now outlined, will include a course on the history of printing, and the history of libraries, with a knowledge of the modern libraries, gleaned from a study of annual reports. There will also be courses in continental literature, bibliography (by specialists from the University of Chicago), and library architecture, together with apprentice work in the Institute Library.

To accomplish all this the standard of scholarship is, and should be, kept high. Neither breadth of view nor comprehensive grasp can come from two years' study in library science unless grounded upon work in college or university of repute or its equivalent in study. Among the many things which impress the visitor is the spirit of helpfulness, a desire not only to give the training class all the benefits possible, but to make the library a distinctive feature in the life and thought of the community. The reading room is free to all, and students from outside who wish books may borrow them for home use. Besides benefiting the community by this method the members of the training class have an example of the working of a small circulating library, and thus come to learn in a measure the wants of the public and the best methods of dealing with readers.

There is another and more delightful way in which the faculty and class are helping in the struggle for the life of others. They recognize the fact that it is always through the children that the best work may be done for the uplifting of any community, and so they have placed some valuable little traveling libraries in the homes of the poor families in the vicinity. The members of the faculty and class visit the houses, talk about the books and help the

FINAL REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON AN INDEX TO SUBJECT HEADINGS.

After three years of service the committee to-day presents its final report in the form of a bound volume of 193 pages entitled: "List of Subject Headings for use in Dictionary Catalogs. Prepared by a committee of the American Library Association. Published for the A. L. A. Publishing Section by the Library Bureau, 146 Franklin Street, Boston, Mass., 1895."

You now have an opportunity to judge if our work be good or bad. We hope it may be useful to catalogers notwithstanding its imperfections. Having completed the work for which we have been appointed, we beg to be excused from further service.

for co-operation in cataloging scientific literature. That matter has been put in the hands of a committee, and the correspondence between the Society and the committee will be published in the same connection. Prof. Bowditch, who was a member of the committee, and interested in that matter, urged upon me to have the subject presented to this Association, as he thought there were some details of the scheme that required the consideration of librarians.

I requested Mr. Andrews, formerly librarian of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and now of the John Crerar Library, to discuss this subject, and he promised to do so. His paper has not been received, but may be forwarded later.

(See p. 25.)

I also asked Mr. Rowell, librarian of the State University of California, to write upon the same topic. He was detained at home by the summer school at that University, but has sent on a paper that will now be read by Mr. Wing.

(See p. 27.)

Mr. Fassig, librarian of the U. S. Weather Bureau, at Washington, would like to speak in reference to the same matter.

O. L. FASSIG.-A few days ago I had the pleasure of discussing the subject of indexing scientific literature with Mr. Herbert Haviland

Field, who has spent the past three years in the work of indexing the literature of zoology. From Mr. Field's experience we may be able to get some valuable suggestions. In connection with his work at the Naples Zoological Station, he felt great necessity for keeping in hand the literature on the subject, and at the suggestion of the director of the station Mr. Field has personally undertaken the work of elaborating an international scheme for this work in zoology. He called upon me a few days ago, and stated his plans as they are to be carried out during the coming year, 1896. I requested him to write out what he had to say so that I might present his ideas to the A. L. A. at the Denver meeting. This he has done, and perhaps the best way to bring his plan before you will be simply to read his paper.

I might say that it is a plan which in my mind is a practical one, and which can be extended to the general field of science, such as

proposed by the catalogue of the Royal Society, referred to by our president. This Royal Society Catalogue is the basis for all of the discussion that is now going on in the scientific world regarding a general index to periodical literature, mainly of science. Mr. Field tells me that the zoologists are ready at any time to co-operate with the Royal Society whenever the Society is ready to take the work from the zoologists.

(See p. 29.)

Sec'y NELSON.-Mr. President, while perhaps it is not likely that any members of this Association will be engaged in doing this kind of indexing, I think there is hardly any one of us, at least of those who have charge of libraries, who is not especially interested in having this work done; because anything that brings out what there is on any subject under investigation is sure to be of use sooner or later, particularly in the larger libraries. In such a library as the one with which I am connected, we want everything that we can get in the shape of a subject index, and an index to scientific periodicals is especially valuable. I think that feature in the letter is an interesting one which shows that individuals, specialists in certain directions, can receive cards on their special subjects. What is to be done abroad, I suppose, does not shut out the fact that American scientific periodicals ought to be included in this index. I am very glad to express my interest and pleasure in knowing that such work is to be done because I know the practical use it will to be us in our library.

F: M. CRUNDEN.-Work of that character will have to be done by institutions abroad that are endowed, and that have special resources at their command. I do not know that we can do anything as an Association, except to give these gentlemen who are contemplating this work the assurance that in meeting the expense connected with it they will be aided by the purchase of copies of the work. I think that every library of any size would pay a liberal price for a copy of such an index. If such an expression as that would give them any encouragement I think we can fairly give it to them.

Pres. UTLEY.-The main point mentioned by Dr. Bowditch, in his desire to have the matter brought before the Association, was the actual question of the form of index which the librarians thought would be of the most practical use

to them; whether upon a card, size or shape of the card, amount of matter, and points of that kind, which they might think desirable to have incorporated in an index. As to the desirability of the work, or the manner in which the work should be done, or by whom it should be done, I suppose they have views of their own that they propose to carry out. But as to the form in which this index should be presented so as to be most practically useful to libraries, they desire to have the views of librarians. It was upon that point, I think, that he desired the discussion more than on anything else.

O. L. FASSIG. One of the main points which Mr. Field desired to have brought out in this discussion was the matter referred to by Mr. Crunden, the method of defraying the expense; whether in the opinion of librarians it is better to charge a high subscription price for the lists or cards, which would restrict their distribution to libraries, or whether it would be better to depend mostly upon grants from institutions, and in this way be enabled to put the subscription price within reach of individuals? One of the main objects, of course, is to get these special indexes into the hands of the investigator; in order to do this, the price must necessarily be kept down to a minimum. With reference to the form of the publication: The plans proposed here meet most of the difficulties, by issuing in two forms, a printed bulletin, and at the same time printed cards for those who prefer them. Mr. Field estimates the cost of printed cards to be at the rate of five cards for one cent; the price of the bulletin he hopes may be kept below five dollars per year.

F: M. CRUNDEN.-It seems to me that the best plan in that regard would be that on which the Boston Public Library prepares its catalog. They could set this up in linotype, and keep the plates, which form practically a catalog, after printing their monthly bulletins; and then at the end of the year publish a yearly bulletin with the same type. It seems to me the linotype opens up a marked field of possibility in that line. There is no question in my mind but that a printed index is what we want rather than a card index.

O. L. FASSIG.-I think an arrangement has been made with one of the German zoological monthlies to publish the titles annually. The international scheme which is now practically effected, and which is to go into operation in

January of 1896, provides, I think, only for the monthly issue of bulletins and cards. I might add that I had a conversation with Mr. Andrews some time ago, during which he suggested that the titles be printed on sheets and distributed immediately. He does not seem to be in favor of the card system, which he considers too bulky; he is rather in favor of printing the titles on sheets as soon as received, with plenty of space between the titles so that they may be cut into slips and pasted on cards.

F: M. CRUNDEN.-That would be a good plan, undoubtedly.

Dr. G: E. WIRE.—I have seen considerable of this business in connection with medical periodicals, especially with the Index Medicus. You perhaps know that the publication of that work has been suspended. It was begun by Mr. Leypoldt about the same time that he started the Library Journal. He spent a considerable amount of money on it, nobody knows how much; then it passed through various vicissitudes, and finally came into the hands of George R. Davis, of Detroit, Michigan, one of the members of the firm of Parke, Davis & Co., large manufacturing druggists. This man was endowed with considerable library spirit and courage, for he has kept up the Index Medicus at a loss to himself of anywhere from four hundred to two thousand dollars a year.

The work has been done at the Surgeon General's office, in Washington, under the supervision of Dr. Billings and Dr. Spencer. They receive about one thousand periodicals on medicine and the allied sciences, and the articles which they wish to index are marked and then are indexed. They do not aim to index reprints and abstracts, as has been spoken of to-day, but index the original article; and I think they must have some limitation as to the pages; that is, as to the amount of matter which they will index. As I said, it has been kept up for a number of years, but now Mr. Davis has discontinued it, as he could not afford to lose money on it any longer, It used to come out every month, very regularly, and then had a complete index to each volume at the end of the year. We also take, at the Newberry Library, all the other indexes of medical periodicals that are published, and in contradistinction to that are the two large German periodicals, one of them known as Schmidt's Jahrbücher, and the other as Hirsch Jahres

bericht. These are very thorough, not only as indexes but as resumés. But they are issued with the characteristic continental deliberativeness which makes the index come out about two or three years after the issuance of the periodical. It may do very well for them, but is not quite swift enough for us; and the Index Medicus was the only one that was just suited to us. It took a good deal of money, however, and could not be done by voluntary help, but had to be done by men who made it a business. The only thing approaching it is an annual published by the F. A. Davis Co., which is good in its way, but not so complete as the Index Medicus. It is not so much of an index as that was.

I have read with considerable interest nearly everything that has been published within a year, or so, on this subject of scientific indexing. I remember of reading some about it in The Library. One Englishman had an idea of a universal index. Then I have read the correspondence that has been carried on in Science, and in Nature, and if you look over those pages for the last six months you will see they look at it from the scientist's side and not the librarian's side. They are not so practical as we would wish. They want a large sum of money, or want it subsidized by the Government; then they want the article sent to the author to review to make sure that they do not misinterpret his words. You know what that means, half of the articles would never get back. Their schemes are all very wild and very visionary, but I think that this scheme that has been proposed to-day is a very good scheme; it is a "lovely" scheme, and may be it would last a year or so! I do not think it would last longer than that. It calls for a good deal of money, a large central station, and a large number of periodicals, or else to have to have co-operation in getting out an index. I think myself, that the latter is really the best way of doing it; the only difficulty in the case being that, as regards scientific periodicals, there are not many of us who have access to them, and it would be difficult for our best indexers to obtain access to them.

We have a large number of law and medical libraries in this county, but each one of them will make a card catalog for their own library. You could not persuade them into co-operation, yet the A. L. A. people co-operate all