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right, and have done so on our general publications; but I do not hardly see how they are going to do it on the scientific periodicals.

O. L. FASSIG.-It was simply an indefinite and general movement initiated by the Royal Society. The last report, issued by the Royal Society committee, and practically adopted by the Society, suggests the calling of a conference to be held next summer in London. A conference of bibliographers, or of persons interested in the indexing of scientific literature, to discuss the various schemes, visionary and

otherwise, which have been suggested during the past year in our scientific journals. I do not take so gloomy a view of the prospects as my friend Dr. Wire. I believe that the next two or three years will see in operation a practical scheme for indexing scientific literature, and it will probably be undertaken by the Royal Society. Whatever may be undertaken by the Royal Society will be thoroughly done; the Society has abundantly demonstrated what it can do by the issue of that famous index, the Royal Society Catalogue of Scientific Papers. The Society simply proposes to enlarge upon this scheme, and make it international, beginning with the year 1900.

F: M. CRUNDEN.—I think it would be highly proper for a resolution of heartfelt appreciation to be passed by this Association, as a small measure of encouragement to the learned societies that are undertaking the work, and I suggest that Mr. Fassig prepare a resolution of that kind and submit it at the next session.

Sec'y NELSON.-In connection with this matter, it may be of interest to some of you to know that Prof. H. C. Bolton, at the request of the Smithsonian Institution, has now an expert engaged on a new edition of his Bibliography of Scientific Periodicals. We all know how valuable that has been to librarians of the large libraries in making up complete sets of scientific periodicals. Prof. Bolton is an enthusiastic bibliographer, and has done good work in indexing the different departments of chemistry. A new edition is now being prepared by this expert, who has been at work at Columbia College in New York, and is going to other parts of the country where he can get trace of periodicals not found by Prof. Bolton, who devoted many years of study and hard and steady work to preparing the edition we now have,

I move that Mr. Fassig be requested to prepare a resolution expressing the views of the Association in this matter, and hand the same to the committee on resolutions.-Voted. Adjourned at 4:20 P. M.

THIRD SESSION.

(WINDSOR HOTEL, TUESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 13, 8.30 P. M.)

ROLL CALL AND INTRODUCTION. Pres. UTLEY.-We have introduced for this

evening's session a novelty in our program, which I trust may prove a good one. The purpose is that every person here tonight shall be made known to every other person present. It has been the experience of some of us that we come to these librarians' meetings as strangers, and that it is not an easy matter, especially for those who are a little bashful, to get acquainted and to know who is who. To overcome this diffidence we have thought of this scheme of calling the roll. Everybody is to be called and when called is expected to rise so as to be seen and recognized, and then they are also permitted, if the spirit move, to make a few remarks on as suitable for such an occasion. Nobody will almost any subject that comes to their minds be called to order, whether their remarks be pertinent or impertinent. Now, inasmuch as I am already, perhaps, too conspicious, I have excused myself from being called upon. Mr. Carr has kindly volunteered to notify you when you are wanted.

(The Recorder then called, one by one, all names entered upon the attendance register of the present meeting; not entirely in the order of registration, but varying the sequence, at times, so as to obtain some geographical and other alternations.

The responses, both in promptness and extent were very general and effective, so that the occasion, as a whole, was entertaining and serviceable).

Adjourned at 10.30 P. M.

FOURTH SESSION.

(HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING, WEDNESDAY MORNING, August 14.)

The meeting was called to order by the President at 10 A. M.

The Secretary read a letter from Miss MARY

S. CUTLER, expressing regrets at her necessary absence from this Conference, and stating some particulars concerning the life and work of Miss Louisa S. Cutler, late librarian at Utica, N. Y., who died August 2, 1895, in her 31st year. A more extended notice regarding her, by C: A. Cutter, appears in the Library Journal for September, (20:310).

Owing to the absence of Miss Cutler the

REPORT ON SUPPLEMENT TO A. L. A. CATALOG was not presented.

Voted. That the committee thereon (See Lib. J. 20:176, May, 1895), be continued for another year.

T: T. WOODRUFF.-Not having the report of that committee, I would ask if there is any convenient source of information by which small libraries can learn of a limited number, say twenty-five, fifty, or one hundred volumes, of books of the last two or three years the most desirable for additions?

W: R. EASTMAN.-The New York Library Association evolved a scheme (which Miss Cutler really prompted although her name did not appear), of sending out the first month of the present a year list of two hundred and thirty-two books, from the publications of 1894, most likely to be in demand in a popular village library. The list was sent to some eight hundred librarians at that time, with a request that twenty-five of those books should be checked and the checked lists returned to the office of the New York Library Association, which is, at present, the same as the office of the Public Libraries Division of the State Library.

One hundred and fifty six librarians took pains to check off twenty-five books preferred and returned to us the lists thus checked. We took these and printed the results of the returns. There are a few copies in the library exhibit now here, to which you are welcome. They showed the most preferred books of 1894 to be, first, Mrs. Ward's Marcella, with 97 votes out of 156; second, Kidd's Social Evolution, with 89 votes. Out of the 232 books there were only 14 that did not receive at least one vote. The New York Library Association intends to do the same thing at the end of the present year, and if any of you desire to use this list for what it is worth, and will check off twenty-five titles and return it to our office, we

will take pleasure in sending you the result, which will probably be ready in March or April next year. Address the Public Libraries Division, Albany, New York. I think, on reflection, that I will take a list of the attendants at this meeting and send every one a copy of the first list of books of 1895.

C: ALEX. NELSON made verbal presentation of the matter of

A GENERAL CATALOG OF AMERICAN LITERARY PERIODICALS.

(See p. 30.)

Pres. UTLEY.-I am glad the Secretary has brought the subject before you, because it is one that interests me very much. Some seven or eight years ago, my assistant, the late Mr. Perkins, began the task of making a catalog of all the periodicals in the library. He devoted much time and hard labor to the matter of gathering notes and bibliographical memoranda respecting the various periodicals. He wrote a great many letters to persons likely to be acquainted with the history of certain American periodicals, and he gathered a great deal of interesting data.

Such an undertaking, even in a limited field, was of course, of immense magnitude. The information which he gathered was necessarily fragmentary and incomplete. But it has been preserved and is good, so far as it goes. With Mr. Perkins' failing health this feature of the cataloging was dropped. The full entries contemplated by the blanks have been since carried out, however, in the case of all periodicals in the library.

I find on looking over the list that we have cataloged in this way some 223 distinctively literary periodicals published in this country. Of course, we have not complete sets in every instance. This catalog is made in card form; that is to say, upon a sheet, some eight inches wide and ten inches long, and ruled for various headings.

Just here comes in the question of co-operation. If librarians are to make use in any way of the information gathered by others there must be system and uniformity with respect to it. I speak of this now, for the purpose of bringing it to your attention, and to the attention of the New York committee, so that they may formulate some scheme by which librarians may act together, if it is thought best,

upon consideration, to undertake to carry forward an enterprise of this character. Mr. Solberg, of the Boston Book Company, when in Detroit looked over the material which we have gathered, and expressed himself as very much interested in it. He suggested at that time, some two or three years ago, that the scheme should be exploited before the librarians of the country with a view to securing co-operation in the making of a thorough catalog of periodicals. But I felt, at that time, that the work done covered such a limited field that we were not ready to have much said about it. Now that others are engaged in the same work, I think the time has arrived when the subject should be taken up in earnest, and that there should be some form of co-operation as Mr. Nelson has suggested. I shall be glad to have a free discussion of these matters. If any one else has undertaken similar work let it be known, and state what has been done.

C: ALEX. NELSON.-Our idea is to make each entry complete, very much after the plan the President has suggested. So complete, that any librarian having a set of any of these periodicals, seeing them advertised for sale, or intending to procure them, and wishing to know what constitutes a complete set may, by consulting our list learn when the periodical began, the years it covered, and when it stopped. Then if he gets, or has, the volumes of the Galaxy ending squarely with the year he may know he has not a complete set, because there was published a final January number.

We have just had such experience in buying what was supposed to be a full set of the Galaxy. The lot sent to us was three volumes and that January number short, and as we paid for a complete set, we wrote for the rest, and got them. These points are of great importance, and the Boston Book Company gives exactly this information. Naturally, as a firm dealing in magazines they keep it to themselves; but, with his usual liberality, Mr. Soule has promised us to put that complete list at our disposal.

W: R. EASTMAN.-What is your plan as to the scientific weeklies, and the various newspapers, or papers like the Outlook?

C: A. NELSON.-I think we shall make the list as complete as it seems practicable to do. We may even include such prominent papers as the files of the New York Herald, and the

Tribune and the Times. I think we shall certainly include the weeklies. The more we include in that list, without making it a newspaper directory, the more valuable it will be to all who procure it. When we begin it we must begin it on the broadest basis, not the narrowest. We should aim to do the thing well the first time, and not have to do it over again.

H. L. ELMENDORF.-I desire to ask if the location where rare periodicals may be found will be noted in such a list?

C: A. NELSON.-That point has also been thought of, and will be included. You may remember how the references are made in Sabin's catalog, by giving the initials of the libraries containing the books; they take very little space, but may cause a little more labor. If one librarian in the country has a set of a periodical that nobody else has, that is the very thing we all want to know. If there is a useful set not in our library which is to be found in another place, that place ought to be known. As to the rare ones, there again is the chance for allowing some liberality; so that if there be a half dozen sets of a rare periodical scattered through the country we ought to know the place of each one.

F: W. FAXON.-The Boston Book company, in addition to the check-list spoken of, has a large amount of information regarding out-ofthe-way periodicals that will be very cheerfully contributed when this proposed undertaking is brought to a head. We have a list from all the prominent libraries, showing what sets they have, as far as Poole's Index is concerned, that would, perhaps, be of some advantage also.

O. L. FASSIG.-I would like to ask Mr. Nelson's opinion in reference to the indexing of literary periodicals only. I hope he will not stop there, unless he includes under literary the scientific periodicals also. I believe that when this work is undertaken it should be done thoroughly. The list, I imagine, would not be so very large. Four or five hundred octavo pages would doubtless include all, omitting newspapers. I hope that the scientific literature will be included in this list; and if that is done we can undoubtedly get a great deal of aid from Washington libraries.

Within the past few months the Washington Library Association has appointed a committee to investigate the subject of a union list of all periodicals in the Washington libraries, includ

We

ing the scientific and literary periodicals. find the work growing far beyond what we expected. At first we thought the list might, perhaps, include three or four thousand, whereas it is sure to go beyond eight thousand. There are already printed lists of over four thousand periodicals in Washington libraries. I have with me a copy of the list of all periodicals in the War Department Library, numbering about four hundred, just issued by General Greeley. The Surgeon General has a list comprising perhaps thirty-five hundred periodicals in his library. The Patent office has a printed list of about one thousand periodicals. These lists cover different fields of literature, so there is not a great deal of duplication. In addition to these lists there is one of the Smithsonian Institution, printed in 1866, with which you are doubtless familiar. The present condition of the Congressional Library in which the deposit is now placed, makes it impossible to get an accurate list of the periodicals since then. Within two years the new National library building will be completed, and the Smithsonian Institution will probably soon after undertake the printing of a complete catalog of what is known as the Smithsonian Deposit. This will be a very large list. The card catalog shows over three thousand periodicals currently received. Adding all these together and allowing for duplication, there will probably be a list of eight thousand separate entries, if not ten thonsand. Such a list as this will undoubtedly be of great assistance to all the libraries of this country.

C: A. NELSON.-In answer to the suggestion made by Mr. Fassig, I would say that the word literary will probably be dropped out. As I have considered the matter, and since receiving a very interesting letter from Mr. Fassig a couple of months ago on the subject, it has seemed to me that this list that we propose should be a list of American periodical literature, right down to everything, except the common newspaper. In that case scientific literature will be included.

Miss ANGIE V. MILNER.-Where do you draw the line? I come in contact with many educational monthlies and weeklies, and I think part of them are considered first class. Others are second rate and third rate; each locality publishes its own little educational zine. Do you bring in things of that character?

C: A. NELSON.-The lines are not yet drawn. It is simply to find out where they are to be drawn that this matter is put forward.

Pres. UTLEY.-In our own case we have included everything in the library. It is our policy to bind and catalog all local publications. Here is a point which this committee, or whoever has charge of the matter, should take into consideration. There are numerous local publications which ought to be preserved in the local library. They may not go into extended circulation, and quite likely never be heard of a hundred miles away from the place where published; yet these become of local historical interest in time, and it should be the rule, especially with libraries in the smaller towns, to secure and catalog complete files of all local periodical publications.

W: T. PEOPLES.-Do any libraries undertake to bind all the periodicals received?

C: A. NELSON.-We do not undertake to bind everything at Columbia College, but I think the reason is that we get so many things that are irregular. We receive a great many publications of which we do not get complete sets. Having charge, myself, of some of the binding, I am inclined to bind all that I can make into complete volumes. This matter of local publications is a very interesting one, and one which I agree with Mr. Utley should be considered and included.

F: M. CRUNDEN.-I wish to ask the librarians of the public libraries whether they bind all the local newspapers? That is, what libraries consider it incumbent upon them to bind all the local papers?

The President requesting a show of hands, about a dozen of those present so responded.

F: M. CRUNDEN.-Every paper in the city now sends us two copies, one for filing and one for binding. The book committee decided that it was not advisable to bind copies of all the papers. We have a great many papers in St. Louis; every large city has. Where so many are received it is a question whether there is any use in binding half a dozen papers that contain practically the same matter. We bind, therefore, the paper that contains the official advertisements, and those others that we consider the leading newspapers. It seems from the showing here that our practice is not the general one.

G: T. CLARK.-It might be interesting to

know the experience of the State Library of California in connection with the filing of newspapers. For a number of years past it has been their desire to have at least one paper from every county in the state to file in the state library, and considerable trouble has been taken to make that collection the most complete in the state. In San Francisco, in the public library there, we subscribe for from six to eight copies of each of the leading papers, and bind one copy of all the leading papers. We keep duplicate copies in the newspaper reading room, and also keep copies of the leading papers in the branch libraries. In reference to keeping up files of newspapers I have been crowded for space until lately. In the state library in Sacramento, where all the leading papers of San Francisco and other principal cities of the state are on file, as well as one paper from each county, the question of space is a difficult one to solve. It seems to me that librarians should consider well before they think of binding everything they receive, for paper that is now used for printing is not the kind that will last. It is only a question of a few years before much of it will disintegrate, and their keeping is a temporary expedient only.

I: S. BRADLEY.—I think that all city libraries should preserve and bind complete files of the leading newspapers of their locality. From inquiries I have made I find that comparatively few libraries attempt to preserve the local newspapers. The general impression is that they occupy too much space, or that it takes too much time to care for them. The space occupied is relatively small. For instance, a complete file of one of our Madison daily newspapers for the period 1850 to date occupies but about thirty square feet frontage of the case. The Wisconsin State Historical Library receives regularly as issued and binds, about thirty-five daily, and some three hundred weekly newspapers. We now have about seven to eight thousand bound volumes. As a rule we bind three years' issues of a weekly newspaper in one volume, and the dailies are bound in from two to six volumes per year, according to the size of the newspaper, making volumes that are about one and one-half to two inches in thickness. All of our Wisconsin newspapers are sent to us gratuitously, and I have no doubt publishers generally would be pleased

to send their newspapers to the local library gratis, as issued, if it was known they were for binding and preservation. I think all the city libraries of the country should make it a point to bind and preserve at least their local newspapers. They are exceedingly valuable for historical purposes, as they contain material for local history that cannot be found elsewhere, and if not thus preserved is lost forever. Being a contemporary record of current local events, they also best illustrate the character and customs of the people of the times.

Our library is now printing a complete catalog of all our bound newspapers, which we hope to have issued this fall. We will send a copy to all libraries on our mailing list, and be pleased to send to any others that may wish a

copy.

F: M. CRUNDEN.—I would like to hear a further discussion of this question. I think it is a peculiar function of a historical library to bind everything relating to local history, and they might very properly include a great many things that would not come within the province of a public library. I should like to hear some reasons why a public library should bind every paper that is published in its particular city. I should like to know what there is included in one of the local papers that cannot be just as well obtained from the leading papers, since they all publish about the same thing, even local items.

C: A. NELSON.-Perhaps Mr. Bradley does not mean that Mr. Crunden should bind up every paper that is issued in St. Louis. I think he means that it would be desirable for the smaller libraries scattered through the country, to each bind up the papers of their own locality.

I: S. BRADLEY.-I did not mean that the libraries in the large cities should attempt to preserve all the newspapers published in their respective cities. That would not be advisable. They should, however, preserve a file of several of the leading dailies, and as far as possible the other periodical publications of the city. I referred more particularly to the libraries in the smaller cities and villages. These should endeavor to collect, bind and preserve all local newspapers and periodicals as issued. If not dreserved by the local library, they are not, as a rule, preserved at all.

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