Part 28

W. I. FLETCHER: I have been so long on the Publishing Board with Mr. Dewey that I have got thoroughly in the habit, when he gets through, of saying something on the other side. It seems to me that a few words might be said to clarify this subject. It is undoubtedly true, as Mr. Dewey has said, that a book store that is worth anything could not be established in every place in the country. There ought to be something of the sort, even if it is a public library. The book stores exist only in places where it is commercially possible, and that number of places is very limited. Now I suppose that if we could ascertain the communities where it is not commercially possible for a book store to be carried on, we should none of us have any objection--it seems to me most of us would favor the idea--that the public library should, to some extent, take the place of the book store in supplying books to the would-be owners in such a community. That leaves the question confined to those places where a book store is commercially impossible, probably to those places where book stores have been, even with difficulty, maintained under past conditions. I should be willing, for my own part, to do all I could in securing the establishment of a good book store where there is not one, where it is commercially possible to maintain one. Where it is not, it would be a good thing to let the library sell the books. I am greatly impressed with the argument as to the advantages of a book store in a community where it can be maintained. So it seems to me that there is not very much difference of opinion among us, after all, as I dare say those who spoke this morning would not object seriously to the distribution of books for sale through the libraries, where there is no hope of having a local book store. As to the amount of discount under this new arrangement, I am entirely in accord with Mr. Dewey in wishing that the Association might present whatever are the views of the Association. On the subject of the amount of discount that we ought to have, I should hardly feel that the booksellers were treating us right in this country if they should follow the custom of the German publishing trade and refuse any discount at all; and it is a question whether the ten per cent. which they propose to allow under this new system is enough. I have advised our library committee to express a hearty readiness to accede to the proposed arrangement, to take the ten per cent. discount, and we have given our adhesion to it. Perhaps that was somewhat hasty, before the librarians in general had an opportunity to act; but I do not believe anything very different from that will be the attitude of the librarians at large. We might in time, for example, make it fifteen per cent., but I am sure that could not be done at present. I am heartily in sympathy with the movement that will make it possible to have a good book store, which I believe every librarian would like to have in his place.

W. M. PALMER: I wish to say just this: Of course in the lack of time that was accorded me, it is difficult to say all that can be said on the subject, and explain the by-paths, and so forth; but, as I intimated at the introduction of my paper, I simply stated what I said as facts, and while we wish a great many things to be different, we realize that they cannot be reached in a certain direction all at once. In order to bring the bookselling business to a basis which will enable the bookseller to live, some reform had to take place. The publishers have seen fit to institute the reform which has been outlined to-day. When I spoke this morning, for instance, of the fact that some librarians ordered books for friends and others at the discounts which the library and they themselves received from the booksellers, I did not wish to impute any wrong motive to the librarian in doing that. It is a matter within the knowledge of the booksellers, and the booksellers wink at it. I do not think there was any element of dishonesty in it, because the bookseller who sold the book to the librarian knew it was again to be sold to some friend of the librarian.

R. R. BOWKER: In offering a resolution, I wish to say just a word or two. I had not expected Mr. Dewey to make an argument in favor of the public library, for certainly there would be no disagreement on that point in this room. Where he went further and suggested that the salaried librarian should become the commercial bookseller, I think and I hope that there are few to follow him to that length of argument. As to the Booklovers' Library, of course that is not at all in analogy with the public library, and I want to take this opportunity to call attention to what seems to me an admirable use of the Booklovers' Library scheme, so long as it can hold out. Mr. Carr has told me that he has looked upon the Booklovers' Library as a very useful overflow or safety-valve for the public library. When thirty-five people come at once and want "Quincy Adams Sawyer," and a librarian sees that the two copies that could be put on the shelves would not meet the demand, he would say to himself "I cannot rightly spend the money for thirty-five copies," and therefore he would say to the thirty-three, "You can go to the Booklovers' Library and get these new books just when you want them." So this library may be a relief to the librarian who is conscientious in the spending of his money.

The resolution which I now ask to move is that the Council be requested to appoint a committee on relations with the book trade, to which this question shall be referred.

The resolution was carried.

The general session was then adjourned, and there followed a Round Table meeting on

THE WORK OF STATE LIBRARY COMMISSIONS.

(_See_ p. 171.)

_SEVENTH SESSION._

(FOUNTAIN SPRING HOUSE, WEDNESDAY MORNING, JULY 10.)

President CARR called the meeting to order at 10 a.m., and after local announcements by the secretary called upon the tellers to report upon

ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

The result of the balloting was announced by the secretary as follows: _President_: John S. Billings, 103. _1st Vice-president_: J. K. Hosmer, 103. _2d Vice-president_: Electra C. Doren, 104. _Secretary_: Frederick W. Faxon, 104. _Treasurer_: Gardner M. Jones, 105. _Recorder_: Helen E. Haines, 105. _Trustee of Endowment Fund_: Charles C. Soule, 81. _A. L. A. Council_: M. E. Ahern, 101; E. H. Anderson, 104; Johnson Brigham, 104; John Thomson, 104; H. M. Utley, 105.

The president then announced that the Association would be glad to hear from Mr. PUTNAM, as chairman of the

COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS.

Mr. PUTNAM: The Committee on Resolutions has suffered the usual embarrassments of committees on resolutions. It has been compelled to abstain from expressions which might seem hyperbole, and from designating by name many services that prefer to remain anonymous.

It is the custom of certain associations to make acknowledgment to those speakers on the program not members of the conference. That is not customary with the A. L. A. Had it been, I should have had a special pleasure in proposing an acknowledgment to Professor Ely for his presence and paper yesterday. It is no slight compliment to the Association when a thinker and writer so eminent as Dr. Ely is willing to lay his views before it. It is, in a sense, a greater compliment when his views prove unfavorable to some undertaking which the Association is inclined to approve. It implies that our action may be important, and therefore our judgment worth convincing. Could the Association convince Dr. Ely, great advantage indeed might result. For should a selected list of books in economics be undertaken with helpful notes--I will not say "evaluations," or "appraisals"--but helpful _notes_, Dr. Ely's aid would be one of those first sought.

The resolutions follow:

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS.

_Resolved_, That the American Library Association, in concluding a meeting that has been one of the most largely attended and most successful in its history, desires to express its hearty obligation to the various committees and individuals who have made considerate arrangements for its comfort, and in many an agreeable incident acted as its hosts. In particular:

To the Wisconsin Free Library Commission for its efficient general arrangements for the conference;

To the Citizens' Executive Committee and Women's Clubs of Waukesha, for the attractive drives about the city, for the pleasant evening reception at the Fountain Spring House, and for various attentive courtesies;

To the members of the Methodist Church of Waukesha, for the use of the church for the public meeting on July 4;

To Senator A. M. Jones, for the opportunity to visit Bethesda Park and enjoy there the concert given by him complimentary to the Association;

To the trustees, librarian and staff of the Milwaukee Public Library, for the opportunity to inspect the library under most favorable conditions, and to the junior members of the staff for the appetizing refreshments served in connection with the visit;

To the resident librarians of Madison, the Forty Thousand Club, and various citizens, for the drive through the city and delightful parkways of Madison; to the resident women librarians, the Madison Woman's Club, and the Emily Bishop League, for the luncheon which was provided so substantially for the great company of visitors; and in general to the chairmen and members of the several local committees representing the state, the city, and various institutions and organizations, who contrived so excellently for the accommodation and enjoyment of the Association in its visit to Madison.

The Association deems itself fortunate indeed in having held its meeting within reach of two achievements in library architecture so notable as the library buildings at Madison and at Milwaukee.

The Association would add its appreciation of the endeavor of the management of the Fountain Spring House to convenience in every way the business of the conference; and its obligation for the special provision made by the management for its entertainment on two evenings of the conference.

The Association is aware that in addition to the hospitalities which it has enjoyed, many have been proffered which could not be accepted without injustice to the affairs of business which were the proper purpose of the conference. It desires to record its acknowledgment of these also, and of the kindly consideration of the hosts who in deference to this purpose have been willing to forego inclinations which it would have been a generous pleasure to themselves to have carried into effect.

HERBERT PUTNAM, } _Committee_ J. C. DANA, } _on Resolutions._ MARY WRIGHT PLUMMER, }

The report of the committee was unanimously adopted by a rising vote.

President CARR: This report having brought to a conclusion the general business of the Association, I may perhaps be permitted just a word before we dissolve this general session, which is to be followed by a round table meeting in this room. The chair can only say to you that he appreciates more than he can express, even had he more vigorous and full command of language than he possesses, all that has been done by members, officers, chairmen of committees, one and all, to aid in the transaction of business and in the success of this conference. The chair also wishes to congratulate you upon what you yourselves have done to make this meeting a happy one, and trusts that it may long be remembered by us all, and that we may all long continue to work together in the A. L. A.

Adjourned at 10.30 a.m.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote B: Preceding this first general session of the Association, an informal social reception had been held at The Fountain Spring House, Wednesday evening, July 3; and during Thursday, July 4, there were meetings of the A. L. A. Council, special committees, etc.]

[Footnote C: From the close of the Montreal meeting to close of Waukesha meeting the total new members joined were 280.]

[Footnote D: This report will appear in a later issue of the _Library Journal_.]

[Footnote E: Abstract.]

[Footnote F: Abstract.]

COLLEGE AND REFERENCE SECTION.

The College and Reference Section of the American Library Association was called to order in the parlors of the Fountain Spring House at 2.40 p.m. on July 6, Mr. W. I. FLETCHER being in the chair.

The program was opened by an address by the chairman on

SOME 20TH CENTURY LIBRARY PROBLEMS.

The 20th century is undoubtedly something of a fad already with public speakers. I should hesitate to speak of 20th century problems in library work were there not a special justification for noting chronologic epochs in connection with the modern library movement. It was almost precisely at the middle of the century that this movement took its rise in the passage of the first public library laws in England and in New England. And again it was at the very middle of the last half century, in the year 1876, that this Association was formed and the _Library Journal_ started. (I may be excused for merely alluding to the fact, parenthetically, that Melvil Dewey graduated from Amherst College in 1874.) And now at the very beginning of the new century the library movement receives an enormous impetus from the benefactions of Andrew Carnegie, not only in themselves multiplying and increasing libraries, but serving as a great stimulus to towns and cities and states as well as to individuals, so that his indirect contribution to the cause of libraries will probably far outweigh his direct gifts, princely as they are.

The library problems of the 20th century sum themselves up in one, the problem of expansion, and we may perhaps best regard them from the point of view of the obstacles to expansion, these obstacles constituting the problems.

First, we must notice our library buildings, and admit that many of them, and most of the ideas heretofore cherished about the building of libraries, present such an obstacle. When we note that since the plans were drawn on which nearly all of our most recent large library buildings have been erected, three new ideas in library administration have come into general acceptance which must powerfully affect library construction, we can but feel that great foresight and wisdom are needed to erect libraries that shall not very soon be obstacles to proper and necessary expansion. These three new ideas are, first, access of readers to the bookshelves; second, children's rooms, and third, the distribution of books through schools, branches, delivery stations, home libraries, and inter-library loans, this third new idea involving provision for business offices, packing rooms, etc., unthought of formerly. To meet not simply these new ideas, but others with which the new century is pregnant, care must be taken that great sums of money, leaving the securing of more for a long time hopeless, are not expended on structures in which instead of provision for expansion we seem to have provision against it.

Another obstacle to expansion is found in elaborate systems of shelf-marks connected with systematic schemes of classification, representing carefully arranged subordination and co-ordination of the parts. For two things are certain: first, accepted classifications of books rapidly become obsolete, and second, no library will long be content with an out-of-date arrangement. Especially will my successor, or yours, be sure to feel the necessity of signalizing his accession to office by introducing what is in his day the latest classification. And in this he will be right. Now, if we have a fair sense of our duty to our successor, which is merely an extension forward of our duty to the library itself, we shall be unwilling to tie the library by an intricate notation to a present system of classification. I think we must take more pains than is done by either the Decimal or Expansive schemes to provide a somewhat elastic notation. I regard the classification of the University of California Library as the best (available in print) for libraries of our class, because it employs designations which indicate mere sequence of classes. A little thought will, I am sure, show you how this is true. At any rate, a little experience in attempting more or less reclassification with, for example, the Decimal classification, will prepare you to believe that a less highly involved and articulated method of designation would be in the interest of reasonable expansion, and save such expansion from the odium of upsetting the classification. Through the logic of events forcing those considerations to the front more and more, I anticipate that the larger and rapidly growing libraries will increasingly shun all such systems as the "D. C." and the "E. C.," of which the paradox is certainly true, that the better they are made the worse they become. The scheme of numbering classes recently adopted by Princeton University Library points in this direction, while the reclassification of Harvard University Library, which has been slowly carried forward during the last 20 years or more, represents a complete departure from the idea of any correlation between classes, as indicated in the notation, the order of minor divisions being a numerical sequence easily changed or modified, while each main class bears a mark suggesting no relation to another. For example, the military and naval sciences have lately been reclassified and brought under the designation War, which may be called (to represent a certain harmony with other designations) W-a-r. The location of any main class in the library is subject to change at any time, and is known to the attendants by a chart, which may be somewhat altered to-day, and replaced by a new one with large differences to-morrow or next year. Not that such changes would be made except for real occasion, but under this system, when they are necessary they are not deferred or regarded as hopeless as they must be under any highly organized system.

Another obstacle to expansion closely related to elaborate methods of notation is found in the common practice of inserting the call-numbers in catalogs of all kinds, written or printed. When the Boston Public Library was moved into the new building it was naturally supposed that it would be completely rearranged to suit its ampler and entirely different shelf-room, particularly as much fault had already been found with its existing classification, which seemed quite outgrown. But when it is observed how the library was tied to its old numbering by an endless variety of catalogs, printed as well as written, it ceases to seem strange that it was thought best to transfer the old arrangement to the new building, with all its infelicities heightened by its new location and surroundings. And in this respect that library should serve as a warning to others to avoid, by any available means, such an entanglement. If it be asked what means of avoiding it are available, I would say that I am inclined to think that if I were starting with a new library I would try the experiment of putting no shelf-numbers or call-marks in any catalog, but rather have a key by which they could be found by means of the accession numbers which alone would be given in the author-catalog.

I can only refer hastily to one feature of library expansion which is coming in with the new century, and which has to do with the catalog. I mean the introduction of printed cards, and would say that I look to see these work a revolution in library methods. If we can procure at low cost an indefinite number of these cards for each book we shall come to use them in many ways, as, for example, the accession record, the shelf list, bulletins and special lists, and charging cards. For the latter purpose they would have the advantage of absolutely identifying the book.

I am sure I have said enough to set you thinking, and I hope when time is given for discussion you will freely express your thoughts.

J. T. GEROULD read a paper on

DEPARTMENTAL LIBRARIES.

(_See_ p. 46.)

W. P. CUTTER read a letter from R. C. DAVIS on the

RECLASSIFICATION OF THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN.

I am conscious that this report of our adoption of the Decimal classification is, as far as I am concerned, premature. I look upon the work in its present state as just from the broad-axe or the saw-mill. There is planing to be done and sand-papering. Except to discuss now and then some fundamental principle in classification, I have had little to do with the work. Other duties, which I must necessarily perform, have occupied every hour of my time. I am hoping that now the rough part of this work is off our hands, I can make a readjustment of the work in general that will give me time next year to participate in the finishing process. The history of the matter is very brief. Our old fixed location had become impossible, and a point was reached where it was necessary to begin at once with whatever movable method we might adopt. I had been at work for some time on a substitution of relative markings for fixed ones, which would, without any change of classification, set our books free. This was interrupted by sickness at the critical time, and it was determined to adopt the Decimal classification as the most generally used and the most susceptible of modification. Also, my assistants, on whom the work would fall, were familiar with this method, and had experience in working it. The changes that had been made were made largely in deference to the desires of heads of departments. It was not always easy to act on these suggestions inasmuch as a general adoption of them would be fatal to uniformity. In consequence some of the changes are in the nature of a compromise, and are tentative. The change now so nearly accomplished has been made economically and, considering all things, expeditiously. The credit of this is due to my assistants. They have been untiring in their industry and their management of the differences of opinion that they have encountered has been wise and tactful. Mr. Jordan, my cataloger, has made a brief catalog of the changes, which I enclose. You can make such use of this matter as you may desire at your meeting, but I would prefer that nothing go upon record. By next year we shall have the matter better digested, and I hope some of us may be present at the meeting to discuss it. It is a subject which has a perennial interest.

In the absence of W. W. BISHOP, J. I. WYER read Mr. BISHOP'S paper on

SUGGESTIONS FOR AN ANNUAL LIST OF AMERICAN THESES FOR THE PH.D. DEGREE.

(_See_ p. 50.)

After the reading of Mr. Bishop's paper there was some discussion in regard to the great desirability of having published each year a list of the dissertations presented to American universities. On the motion of Dr. B. C. Steiner it was resolved that a committee of three be appointed by the chair to consider the question of the section taking steps to secure such an annual list. Mr. Fletcher appointed Dr. B. C. Steiner, W. M. Smith and C. W. Andrews to form the committee.

Mr. A. G. S. JOSEPHSON wished that a complete bibliography of university theses could be made.

The chairman announced that the election of officers for the next year would take place, and called for nominations.

Mr. Josephson nominated Mr. A. S. Root for chairman. Mr. Root was elected. Dr. Canfield nominated for secretary Mr. W. M. Smith, and Mr. Smith nominated Miss Emma A. Hawley. Mr. Smith was elected.

After the election there followed a general discussion of the topics presented during the afternoon, those receiving special notice being classification, notation, the use of call numbers, department libraries and university theses.

In the discussion Mr. FLETCHER said: