Papers and Proceedings of the Twenty-Third General Meeting of the American Library Association Held at Waukesha, Wisconsin, July 4-10, 1901

Part 20

Chapter 202,675 wordsPublic domain

_Whitewater._ Public Library. Gift of $3000, for a memorial collection of books, from Mr. and Mrs. D. S. Cook.

NOTE.--Foreign gifts include: For British provinces, Vancouver Public Library, $50,000 from Andrew Carnegie--For Canada, McGill University of Montreal four gifts ($14,000, $1300, $1000, $500) for various purposes: Ottawa Public Library, $100,000 from Andrew Carnegie; Windsor Public Library, $20,000 from Andrew Carnegie; Sidney Public Library, $15,000 from Andrew Carnegie; Winnipeg Public Library, $100,000 from Andrew Carnegie; Halifax Art School and Public Library, $75,000 from Andrew Carnegie--For Trinidad, Cuba, bequest for public library from Mary B. Carret--For Scotland, Glasgow district libraries, £100,000 from Andrew Carnegie; Greenock, £5000 from Andrew Carnegie; Hawick, £10,000 from Andrew Carnegie.

WAUKESHA CONFERENCE --------------------------------------------------------------------| SUMMARY BY STATES OF GIFTS AND BEQUESTS. | ===================================================================== |No.|Gifts in |Money for |Books. | | |money. |buildings. | | --------------------+---+-------------+---------------+-------------| N. Atlantic Division| | | | | Maine | 9| $6,200 | $145,847.26| | New Hampshire | 4| 11,000 | 10,000+ | | Vermont | 2| 2,000 | 50,000 | | Massachusetts | 44| 280,550 | 500,000 | 6,508 v.+ | Rhode Island | 10| 532,000 | 175,000 | 566 v.++| Connecticut | 28| 199,887 | 154,000 | 6,265 v.+ | | | | | 10,000 pm. | New York | 74| 128,030.86| 6,025,655+ | 29,737 v. | | | | | 178 pm. | New Jersey | 15| 72,000 | 50,000+ | 7,623 v. | | | | | 2,366 pm. | Pennsylvania | 45| 1,635,906 | 285,000+ | 13,149 v. | | | | | 2,705 pm. | S. Atlantic Div. | | | | | Delaware | | | | | Maryland | 2| 26,250 | 50,000 | | District of Columbia| | | | | Virginia | 6| 251,000 | 150,000 | law library.| West Virginia | 1| | 75,000 | | North Carolina | 3| | 70,000 | 5,000 v. | South Carolina | | | | | Georgia | 2| | 20,000 | 960 v. | Florida | | | | | | | | | | Southern Cen. Div. | | | | | Kentucky | 1| 50,000 | | | Tennessee | 3| | 80,000 | 942 v. | | | | | 423 pm. | Alabama | 3| | 70,000 | yes. | Mississippi | 4| 26,000 | 38,000 | | Louisiana | 1| 10,000 | | yes. | Texas | 3| | 1,000 | 1,100 v.+ | Arkansas | | | | | Oklahoma Territory | | | | | Indian Territory | | | | | | | | | | N. Central Division | | | | | Ohio | 39| 69,402 | 1,002,000 | 49,553 v.+ | | | | | 1,817 pm. | Indiana | 22| 94,700 | 370,000+ | 5,275 v.+ | Illinois | 29| 32,893.50| 685,000 | 4,000 v.+ | Michigan | 14| 3,000 | 1,090,000 | 2,495 v. | | | | | 3,367 pm. | Wisconsin | 40| 90,993.54| 543,700 | 3,258 v. | Minnesota | 10| 500 | 162,500 | 430 v. | Iowa | 14| 24,000 | 307,000+ | | Missouri | 7| 21,000 | 1,475,000 | | North Dakota | 1| | 50,000 | | South Dakota | 2| | 40,000 | | Nebraska | 3| | 70,000 | 2,000 v. | Kansas | 4| 6,000 | 40,000+ | | | | | | | Western Division | | | | | Montana | | | | | Wyoming | | | | | Colorado | 3| | 128,000 | | New Mexico | 2| 2,000 | 25,000 | | Arizona | | | | | Utah | 2| | 125,000 | | Nevada | | | | | Idaho | | | | | Washington | 2| | 250,000 | | Oregon | 4| 28,650 | | 9,000 v. | California | 10| 13,000 | 905,000 | 2,500 v. | | | | | | Cuba | | | | | British Provinces | 10| 2,800 | 374,000 | | Scotland | 3| | 575,000 | | --------------------+---+-------------+---------------+-------------+ SUMMARY BY SECTIONS OF COUNTRY. ======================================================================== North Atlantic Division|231|$2,867,573.86|$7,395,502.26+ | 63,848 v.++ | | | | | 15,249 pm. | South Atlantic Division| 14| 277,250 | 365,000 | 960 v.++ | South Central Division | 15| 86,000 | 189,000 | 2,042 v.++ | | | | | 423 pm. | North Central Division |185| 342,489.04| 5,835,200+ | 67,011 v.++ | | | | | 5,184 pm. | Western Division | 23| 43,650 | 1,433,000 | 11,500 v. | +---+-------------+---------------+-------------+ |468|$3,616,962.90|$15,217,702.26+| 145,361 v.++| Cuba | 1| | | 20,856 pm. | British Provinces | 10| 2,800 | 374,000 | | Scotland | 3| | 575,000 | | +---+-------------+---------------+-------------+ |482|$3,619,762.90|$16,166,702.26+| | -----------------------+---+-------------+---------------+-------------+

Total Gifts and Bequests to American libraries from all sources, $19,786,465.16, 145,361 volumes, and 20,856 pamphlets. The above figures do not include several buildings and other gifts, the value of which was not stated. Statistics of this nature must ever remain mere approximations until some uniform system of gathering them is devised and carried out.

REPORT OF THE A. L. A. PUBLISHING BOARD.

BY JOSEPH L. HARRISON, _Treasurer, Librarian of The Providence (R. I.) Athenæum_.

In accordance with the requirement of the constitution I have the honor to present herewith the report of the Publishing Board for the year 1900. The table of the financial operations of the board is essentially a trial balance, but divided into two sections to bring out more clearly the condition of the board's undertakings. The first section shows in the last two columns the net balance of loss or profit on each of our publications, June, 1901. In general it is true that our book publications, except the "List of subject headings," have not brought in what was expended on them, while our card publications have more than offset these losses by their profits, for although the final balance of all these accounts shows an excess of expenditures over receipts of $830.74, yet it should be noticed that the two largest items in the expense column, $476.84 and $1290.02 are on account of publications which have not yet begun to bring many returns, viz., the second edition of the "A. L. A. index" and the "Portrait index." If these are left out of consideration our other publications show a net profit to date of $927.12. The second section of the table shows what means we have in hand or can count upon. The unpaid bills ($241.69 + $369.52 + $16.50), $627.71, are just about offset by the amount of bills and subscriptions due us, $636.82; leaving the cash balance, $823.64, plus the amount sunk in publications, $830.74, to represent the sum still remaining in our hands of money appropriated to our use by the trustees of the Endowment Fund or received from other sources, $1617.08, plus the sum of the balances still standing on the old membership accounts, $46.41. It should be remembered that the office expenses of the year having been heavier than usual, over $1800, have not been all charged to the account of our different publications, but a balance of $345.55 has been allowed to remain, reducing by so much the balance on this account of the previous year.

As a complement and supplement to the table the following statements concerning the board's publications and work may be of interest:

_Books._

_A. L. A. proceedings._--The board has in stock at its headquarters, 10-1/2 Beacon street, Boston, nearly 2000 copies of the conference proceedings, covering the years from 1882 to date. There are a very limited number of copies of the years 1882, 1886, 1892, and 1893, and it is suggested that libraries desiring to complete sets in order to bind the proceedings by themselves would do well to give the matter early consideration.

_Annotated bibliography of fine art._--The "Bibliography of fine art," prepared by Mr. Sturgis and Mr. Krehbiel and edited by Mr. Iles, which has become so favorably known because of the value of its descriptive, critical and comparative notes, was among the board's publications transferred to Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co., of Boston (now the regular publishers of the board), in January, 1900, and may be obtained directly from them. The sales of the book, last year amounting to 84 copies, are gradually reducing the deficit incurred in its publication, which at the end of the year amounted to less than $400.

_Books for boys and girls._--The little, inexpensive, paper-covered handbook which bears this title, with its carefully annotated lists, prepared by Miss Hewins, of the Hartford Public Library, for the home use of fathers, mothers and teachers, continues in such active demand that less than 700 copies are now left of an original edition of 3000. It remains in the hands of the Publishing Board.

_Library tracts._--Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. have published for the board during the year three library primers, an edition of 1000 of each tract being printed. The first, "Why do we need a public library?" was compiled by a committee of the A. L. A. This was followed by "How to start a public library," by Dr. G. E. Wire, of the Worcester County Law Library, and "Travelling libraries," by Mr. Frank A. Hutchins, secretary of the Wisconsin Free Library Commission. They have been well received, and others on practical library subjects will follow as soon as possible. A very low price has been fixed for the tracts, and it is hoped that they will be generously used by clubs, commissions and individuals interested in promoting the advancement of library interests.

_List of books for girls and women and their clubs._--This carefully selected list of some 2100 books "worthy to be read or studied by girls and women" should now be ordered directly of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. Nearly 300 copies, including parts, were sold during the year, showing a continued though not increased demand.

_List of French fiction._--Nearly 1000 copies of this convenient list, chosen and annotated by Madame Cornu, of Montreal, and Mr. Beer, of New Orleans, were sold during the year, reducing the stock on hand at the board's Beacon street office, where it can still be obtained, to less than 500 copies.

_List of subject headings for use in dictionary catalogs._--"Subject headings" continues to be one of the most lucrative publications of the board. Nearly 300 copies were sold in 1900, and the accounts of the year show a balance in its favor of nearly $500. Since the demand for the book comes almost exclusively from libraries, it still remains in the hands of the Library Bureau, where orders should be sent.

_Reading for the young._--Sargent's "Reading for the young" is offered by Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. in three forms: the original edition, compiled by Mr. John F. Sargent; the "Supplement," compiled by Miss Mary E. and Miss Abby L. Sargent; and the original and supplement bound together. During the current year the original edition has become exhausted. It is probable that a limited number of copies will be printed at once to supply the immediate demand and that a reprint, with additional matter, will be undertaken in the near future.

_Printed cards._

_Current books._--It need simply be stated under the head of "Printed cards for current books" that the entire reorganization of this part of the board's work has been the subject of active discussion during the year, and that the proposed plans for carrying it on more effectively will be fully explained to the conference by Mr. Fletcher, chairman of the Publishing Board. It may be appropriately added that, as in past years, the thanks of the Association are due to the publishers for their courtesy in sending books, and to Miss Browne for her earnest work in getting the cards to subscribers with--under often adverse conditions--most commendable promptness.

_English history._--The annotated cards on English history continue to be printed at a loss. Mr. W. D. Johnston has been re-engaged, however, to edit the cards for the current year, and it is hoped that in the end their usefulness will be found to justify the work, at least to the extent of making them self-supporting.

_Periodical and society publications._--The Publishing Board is now printing cards for nearly 250 periodical and society publications. During 1900, 2843 titles, or more than 170,000 cards, were sent out. This represents the largest single item of the board's work and an expenditure of more than $1700, which is nearly met by receipts from the sales.

_Miscellaneous sets._--The board has now printed 16 of the so-called "Miscellaneous sets," which are, together with the years or volumes covered, as follows: American Association for the Advancement of Science--Proceedings, 1875-1898; American Historical Association--Papers, 1885-91, v. 1-5; American Historical Association--Reports, 1889-98; New York State Museum--Bulletin, 1892-98, nos. 1-23; Massachusetts Historical Society--Collections, 1792-1899; Old South Leaflets--series 1-4; Smithsonian Institution--Annual reports, 1886-96; Smithsonian Institution--Contributions to knowledge, 1862-97; Smithsonian Institution--Miscellaneous collections, 1862-97; U. S. Bureau of Ethnology--Annual reports, 1879-95; U. S. National Museum--Annual reports, 1886-95; U. S. National Museum--Bulletin, 1875-98, and (books) Depew, "One hundred years of American commerce"; Authors Club, "Liber scriptorum"; Shaler, "United States of America."

These sets simply cover the back numbers of what are now grouped in the board's work as "periodicals and society publications"--completed works like "Liber scriptorum," of course, being excepted. Subscriptions to these periodicals and publications as current continuations begin with the date of the receipt of the subscription, so that unless one has been a subscriber from the beginning there will of necessity (because of the limited number of the cards printed) be a break between the last year covered by the "Miscellaneous set" and the beginning of the subscription.

The sets have met with a warm welcome from the libraries, and the board is prepared to print cards during 1901 for the following additional sets, providing a sufficient number of orders are received to justify the work: American Academy of Political and Social Science--Annals, 1900 to date; American Economic Association--Economic studies, 1896-97; American Economic Association--Publications, 1887-96; _Bibliographica_, 1895-97; Bureau of American Republics--Publications; Columbia University Studies in History, Economy and Public Law, 1891-96; Johns Hopkins University Studies in History and Political Science, 1883-98; U. S. Geological Survey--Bulletins, 1884-98; U. S. Geological Survey--Monographs, 1882-98; U. S. Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories--Reports, 1875-90; U. S. Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories--Miscellaneous publications, 12 nos.

These brief statements show concisely the bibliographical work which the Publishing Board has completed and is now carrying on, and for which it needs the continued moral and financial support of the libraries of the Association.

_In preparation and under consideration._

Other important work is in active progress. The "Literature of American history," being edited by Mr. Larned, and for which Mr. Iles has so generously donated $10,000, is well along, and may be announced as a fall book. Under Mr. Fletcher's direction work on the second edition of the "A. L. A. index" has advanced rapidly, and the book will be ready for distribution before the end of the year. Mr. Dewey has promised that the long-delayed "Supplement" to the "A. L. A. catalog," being edited, as was the original, by Mrs. Salome Cutler Fairchild, will be out this summer. It is expected that active work on the "Portrait index" will be continued, and that under the editorship of Mr. Lane and Miss Browne the index will be pushed to rapid completion.

Among the pieces of valuable work under consideration, on which the board hopes soon to be able to take final and definite action, may be mentioned Mr. Teggart's "Handbook of libraries of the United States," an "Index to library periodicals," a "Bibliography of reference books," cards to current books recommended by the Wisconsin Free Library Commission and the Massachusetts Library Club index to the Massachusetts public documents.