New York State Library School.

LIBRARY SCHOOL HANDBOOK.

HANDBOOK No. 7 (April, 1895), issued by the University of the State of New York, may be called a manual of the Library School. It sets forth the relations of the school to the library system of New York State and to the A. L. A., | describes its origin, object, and development, and outlines with some detail the course and expenses, preliminary examinations required, methods of study, credentials, and degrees. Announcement is made of summer and correspondence courses, to be established, it is hoped, in 1896, and intended to bring the facilities of the school to librarians and assistants unable to take the regular course. The summer sessions of the school will probably begin about July 15 each year and last four weeks. Fees will be only enough to cover actual extra expenses caused by the class. The correspondence course will comprise a definite outline of study and reading, to be pursued at home under systematic guidance, advice and criticism. In both these departments nothing more than certificates of time spent and work undertaken will be issued to students.

State Library Associations.

PENNSYLVANIA LIBRARY CLUB.

A SPECIAL meeting of the Pennsylvania Library Club was held at Wilmington, Delaware, on the afternoon of Thursday, April 18, 1895. The president, Mr. Thomson, presided.

Mr. A. W. Tyler, of the Institute Free Library, Wilmington, addressed the club on the subject of scrap-books. Mr. Carr, of Scranton, Pa., then showed various methods for filing clippings and scraps. A discussion on "The relation of libraries to schools" followed. A pleasant feature of the meeting was the presence of a large number of teachers.

The club regrets that the pressure of other duties compelled Mr. Rigling to ask to be relieved of the office of secretary-treasurer. The resignation was reluctantly accepted, and "the thanks of the club were extended to Mr. Alfred Rigling for the very efficient manner in which he

has performed the duties of the office at a time when the faithful performance of such duties has materially advanced the influence of the club." Mrs. Mary A. Resag, of the Institute Free Library, was elected treasurer, and Clarence S. Kates, librarian of Branch 5, Philadelphia Public Library, secretary.

CLARENCE SEARS KATES, Secretary.

IOWA LIBRARY SOCIETY.

AT the last session of the Iowa Library Society, in December, 1894, a paper was presented by Miss Esther Crawford, librarian of the Sioux City Public Library, urging the need of a definite system of library work, and outlining “ "A course of study suited to the needs of Iowa librarians." It was voted, at the same meeting, that the course planned by Miss Crawford be adopted by the society, subject to a few changes, and that the system, as prepared, be put in operation for 1895, and, if successful, continued through succeeding years. The annual meeting of 1895 will then be chiefly devoted to the consideration of the year's course, and to the discussion of individual difficulties.

A printed circular has been issued by the society and distributed to all Iowa librarians interested, which sets forth, as follows, the need of the proposed course and what it is hoped may be accomplished: "The importance of the detail work of a library can be justly estimated only by those who are familiar with it; those who have tested its possibilities, and are prepared to appreciate its demands. This work is quite as important to a library as is the mass of details appertaining to the conduct of a commercial establishment to the business man, and the necessity of applying to it the same systematic principles which obtain in the business world is self-evident. The various schools of library economy which have been established within the past few years in different parts of the country give systematic training in details, the full courses covering a period of two years. These schools are, however, for the most part, located in the Eastern states, at a distance from Iowa librarians which practically precludes their attendance on account of the expense involved, even if the necessary time could be spared from their duties. The need, therefore, of some plan by which the librarians of Iowa may secure for themselves the necessary training within their own state seems unquestionable. The only question is as to the best method of reaching the desired result. "The library work of the state is growing in importance year by year. The standard of qualification is being raised, and the need of technical training for the work is constantly increasing. The demands of the profession, the world over, are growing more stringent, and the librarians of Iowa cannot afford to be found unprepared to respond to these demands. In the future, more than in the past, their tenure of office will depend upon the degree of their qualification. This is as it should be, and is something in which every true member of the profession will find cause for rejoicing. The point now to be considered is, How

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preparation of such a list, to include magazines, journals, newspapers and all serial publications of learned societies and institutions, and those of governments.

The first step towards the preparation of this list would be the transfer to cards of all entries which have already appeared in print in the various published catalogs of Washington libraries.

The committee recommended that the list be prepared on the postal size card of the Library Bureau, combined into one catalog, edited and prepared for printing. No definite system of title entry was recommended in this preliminary report. It was suggested, however, that each entry should comprise the title under the first significant word of the latest form, the place of publication, and the dates of publication of the first and latest volumes in the respective libraries. The association heard with pleasure from Prof. H. Carrington Bolton, who was present, that plans for a union list of periodicals were being discussed by the New York and the Philadelphia Library Clubs. Later it was announced that a similar plan is proposed for the periodicals and serials in the Boston libraries. As the preparation of such a list for any of the above-mentioned cities would involve considerable expense, and as much duplication of work would result in separate lists for each of the cities, some plan of co-operation naturally suggests itself. The scope recommended by the committee would include fully 8000 serial publications in Washington alone. To print such a list would involve an expense much too large to be undertaken by the association unaided.

Prof. Bolton gave an interesting account of his success in co-operative indexing of chemical literature.

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A circular letter from General A. W. Greely, chairman of the committee on the establishment of a free public library was read, in which all subscribers were invited to meet at the home of the general on April 26, to discuss further plans for the proposed library. The letter stated that $10,000 have thus far been subscribed, to be paid in annual instalments of $2000 a year for five years. As this amount has been secured almost entirely through the personal efforts of General Greely himself, the establishment of a library to continue at least during five years is assured; a general canvass of the city will soon be made by a special committee.

At the above-mentioned meeting it was unanimously decided that steps should be taken to effect a legal organization, and that every effort consistent with the speedy opening of a library should be made to harmonize all interests looking to the founding of a library in Washington, and to utilize such other literary collections as may subserve this interest. For these purposes a committee was appointed, to consist of Gen. Greely, Judge Hagner, Mr. Pellew, Dr. Reyburn, and Col. Colton, who are to report at a subsequent meeting, which all subscribers will be urged to attend.

Mr. W. A. De Caindry was designated as temporary trustee to take charge of all cash subscriptions. OLIVER L. FASSIG, Secretary.

Library Economy and History.

GENERAL.

THE Bookman (N. Y., Dodd, Mead & Co.) inaugurates in its April issue a department entitled "Among the libraries," conducted by Melvil Dewey. It is devoted to brief notes on library matters, the first instalment chronicling the several new libraries established within the past few months. The development of the Crerar Library, and the plan for library consolidation in New York City are also noted.

"PUBLIC LIBRARY Systems of lending out and recording books" is the title of a four-page pamphlet issued by the office of London, 125 Fleet street, London. It is a tabulated record of the methods in use in 140 English libraries, arranged by name of place, and giving the librarian's answers to the following questions: Do you approve of all the borrowers having free access to the shelves? What system of issue and record do you use? What system do you consider best? Space is also given for "remarks." The figures were compiled as the result of the library controversy on "free access," waged during the year in the columns of London, and in order to obtain a "general consensus of opinion," circulars were issued to librarians, directing their attention to the controversy, and asking their opinion on the subject. But 15 of those responding express themselves in favor of free access, and of these 10 modify or qualify their approval; 73 use an indicator, and find that method satisfactory. The objections to free access are many and varied, though some seem based on insufficient premises.

LOCAL.

Belfast (Me.) F. L. (Rpt.) Added 456; total 6560. Issued, home use 22,526 (fict. 56 %); reading-room use 1537. New registration 193. The circulation shows an increase of 1552 over the previous year. Work on the catalog has been completed, the copy is ready for the printer, and it is hoped that the catalog may be issued within a few months.

The librarian recommends that the public be given more time in which to use the library, and that cases for encyclopædias and reference books be placed in the reading-room.

Boston P. L. Among the new methods which have been adopted in the library is the extension of the hours of opening. Heretofore the library has closed at 9 p.m., but Mr. Putnam has decided to keep it open henceforth until 10 p.m., although no books will be issued after 9 o'clock. The library will also be open all day Sunday, and there will be no difference, as to circulation of books, evening hours, etc., between Sundays and week-days. The beginnings of a juvenile department have also been established in a collection of books and children's magazines gathered in a room at the further end of Bates Hall, where "without slips or like formality the children can amuse themselves as they please." The routine work of the library

is by this time in good order, though the new delivery system of carriers and mechanical devices has caused frequent delays and some difficulties in service.

One department of the library that has been greatly improved since the removal is the Bates Hall reference collection. In the old building this comprised about 500 v.; in the new Bates Hail 7000 v. are already on the shelves, and 5000 more are to be added. These will be arranged in classed divisions, and the collection when completed will be 25 times as large as the old

one.

Edwin A. Abbey's great frieze for the deliveryroom of the library is already in place, so far as finished, covering exactly one-half of the space assigned for the completed work. "It already absolutely transforms the architectural character of the magnificent room, and offers another of the several convincing proofs offered in the progress of the library's construction as to how erroneous and misleading any judgment of the

artistic nature of a work must be before it stands in completed guise."

Brookline (Mass.) P. L. (38th rpt.) Added 1655; total 41,955. Home use 83.222 (fict. 45,713); lib. use 4203. New cards issued 788; total registration 6552. Receipts $13,597.57; expenses $11,686.45.

The librarian's report is an interesting summary of the work done and the new methods inaugurated during the year. The children's reading-room has proved useful and attractive. It was used by 9993 boys and girls, to whom 16,671 v. were issued; "a record which proves how ready children are to find amusement in books and pictures, and to substitute for the questionable influence of the streets the helpful surroundings of our public library. The number of books allowed each child is limited to two

on any one day, to insure more than a wholly

careless examination of the books."

The "two-book" system was adopted early in the year, and its results have been entirely gratifying. The increase in home circulation15,318 more than in 1893-is traced to this change

During the year the fiction department has been rearranged alphabetically by authors, and copy for a printed fiction-list has been prepared. "The shelf-numbers of over 30,000 cards have been

changed and the cards put under the pseudonyms, where they are better known than the real names." A list of "100 good novels-A-M" was issued in October; a list of "100 good books for boys and girls" appeared in December. On the "picture board". -a companion to the bulletin board-28 portraits with biographies, 107 other portraits, 22 criticisms, and 7 drawings, by Beardsley, Gibson, and others, were posted during the year. The collection of 15,000 pamphlets has also been classified and arranged, and will be cataloged by subject.

Reference-books may be taken out over night, Sundays and holidays, by those whose work gives them little time for using the library, and a "special privilege slip" permits the use, for sufficient reasons, of more than the usual num

ber of books upon a particular subject, for a stated time, provided the books are returned to the library if desired by others. Teachers may reserve, for school work, not more than 25 books a month; these books are placed on special shelves in the reading-room for the children's use. New books for children, excepting fiction, are kept on a special shelf for examination and selection.

Brooklyn Board of Education on March 5. Brooklyn (N. Y.) L. At a meeting of the it was decided that the committee of studies of the board should confer with the officers of the Brooklyn Library, to arrange means by extended to the principals, teachers, and puwhich the privileges of the library might be pils of the local, high, and training schools. Such a conference was accordingly held, with the result that a favorable report was presented to the committee on studies, and unanimously adopted by the board. It recommended that an appropriation of $3000 be made by the board of estimate to provide the privileges of the library to the teachers and advanced pupils. For this amount several hundred subscriptions could be secured, at, of course, a reduction from the regular subscription rates. It is expected that only the upper classes in the two high schools and those in the training school will have the use of the library. The plan will not be put in practice this year, as there is no money available; but it is hoped that next year the board of estimate will allow the small appropriation asked for the purpose.

Butte (Mont.) F. P. L. (Rpt.) Added 1849; total 17,312. Issued, home use 64,217 (fict. New cardholders 74.48 %); lib. use 36,069. 1934; total registration 3061. Receipts $19,031.60; expenses $10,344.73.

the issuing of a complete catalog," this was se"The greatest single work of the year has been cured at a remarkably small cost, by the insertion of advertisements, the catalog costing but $500 for 3000 cloth-bound copies.

"Besides the catalog, reference lists on various subjects have been printed in the local papers, which have been highly appreciated and extensively used. These lists have covered subjects of popular interest, such as finance, the railroad question, Thanksgiving stories, Christmas stories, Washington and Stevenson bibliographies, etc., while the Anaconda Standard has printed all the additions to the library since the completion of the catalog.

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received, the indications strongly show that the Despite the great patronage the library has continued growth in the future. Our last month success of the past year is only the promise of was our most successful month. And not only that, but the issue of March, 1895, was over 70 per cent. greater for home use, and nearly 20 per cent. greater for library use than the issue for March, 1894."

Chicago. Field Columbian Museum L. "The library of the museum is confined to the literature of the various sciences and arts illustrated in the museum, The aim, therefore, is to equip