S. WEIR MITCHELL.

The Nation,

New York City,
May 5th, 1913.

I fear you must be charging me with discourtesy for delaying so long my reply to your letter of April 19th. I have in fact had the intention of writing to you rather fully on the subject of public libraries and best sellers, for use in your conference in Kaaterskill. One obligation after another, however, has kept me from doing this and now I can only express to you briefly my conviction that the public library ought by no means to undertake "to supply all the best sellers hot from the press." It has always seemed to me that the office of any institution such as the library is as much to direct and restrain public taste as it is to supply what is demanded.

With regret that I cannot reply at greater length to your flattering request for my opinion, I am

Very truly yours,

PAUL E. MORE, Editor.

Washington, D. C.,
May 17, 1913.

When your letter came I was, I believe, away from home. At least I never had an opportunity to answer it until just now, having been absent a good deal since its date. Although you do not set the time of the coming conference, I assume that it is not too late to answer your question and I am writing now simply to acknowledge receipt of your letter. I will, however, say that I believe that the circulation of fiction by our public libraries does help to enlighten the people on all problems whatsoever, for, in the first place, fiction contains many of the standard novels which certainly have a tendency for good; and secondly, however trashy novels are, in the main they have an educating effect.

Yours very truly,

THOMAS NELSON PAGE.

4 Newbury Street, Boston, Mass.,
April 29, 1913.

I cannot better comply with your request (made on behalf of the American Library Association) than by giving you a leaf from my own experience of twenty-five years, as President or managing director of a rural library, which serves the public in a mountain town where I chiefly reside, and yet is a private institution, receiving no aid whatever from town or state. And my message is to libraries of small means and resources, so situated that trained librarians or assistants are not to be had.

We have by this time about 5,000 volumes, all obtained through gift or purchase, of which less than half are works of fiction; and the list, on the whole, includes most standard works. From one benefactor we have a good stone building, erected last year upon a lot of our own; and by the time the testamentary provision of another benefactor takes effect hereafter we shall have an endowment fund ample enough to place our institution upon a permanent footing of liberal expenditure. Hitherto our annual income has been small and met by life memberships, special entertainments and personal gifts, in which summer visitors and the townspeople combine.

In order that our books should be classified but without too much effort I introduced, some years ago, the following scheme: A, denotes works of fiction; B, biography, history, travels, etc.; C, poetry, essays and miscellaneous; P, periodicals and pamphlets (by bound volumes or in cases); R, books of reference. Juvenile books under these respective heads are marked by an added J.

We have no card catalog and find our patrons served more to their liking, and perhaps more economically, by issuing printed lists, frequently, which give the author and the title simply; the number, and letter, as printed, indicating the subject. About 1905 a pamphlet catalog was brought out which gave our list complete to that date. Since that time, supplement lists have been printed at convenience; while the latest books are always posted in the library on written sheets. When the supplements become sufficiently numerous we expect to issue a second full pamphlet catalog; and so on. We cannot pay for expert assistance to keep up a card catalog properly, with our present means; and what our patrons most want is to have individual printed lists that they can readily consult.

About 90 per cent of our circulation consists of A or AJ books, but we try to increase the demand for the B and C books. So, too, the books most eagerly sought are those last added, but we encourage the reading of standard authors wherever we may.

Yours very truly,

JAMES SCHOULER.

Indianapolis, Ind.,
April 24, 1913.

"Is the fiction circulated by our public libraries helping to enlighten the people on social and economic problems?"

George Meredith, in a letter written in 1884, said:

"I think that all right use of life, and the one secret of life, is to pave ways for the firmer footing of those who succeed us.... Close knowledge of our fellows, discernment of the laws of existence, these lead to great civilization. I have supposed that the novel, exposing and illustrating the natural history of man, may help us to such sustaining roadside gifts."

Merely "entertaining" fiction is comparable to vaudeville or to tight-rope walking; its use may be to amuse the tired laborer of all sorts; its overuse, however, tends to become a habit and produce flaccid minds. Save for this, all fiction which depends on "plot"—always a hash of used meats—or on farcical or melodramatic "situation," is almost negligible. But on the whole, and because of this flaccidity, I believe, it would be a good thing if all merely "entertaining" fiction could be destroyed.

A very small portion of that fiction which is produced by artists seeking to know and reveal life, deals with economic problems. Except for the work of a few writers (Mr. H. G. Wells, for instance,—he includes economic discussions) it concerns itself with social relations and "the natural history of man." Its circulation must certainly help to enlighten people upon social problems. Here I must fail you, for I do not know what type of fiction has the circulation you mean; the most general circulation, I take it. A novel is helpful as it is a revelation of truth; it is always harmful when it is written from a false or assumed point-of-view; it is very likely to be harmful when it is founded upon shallow observation or a cocksure philosophy. Most of the fiction produced in our country today is founded upon nothing except the desire to circulate; therefore it shouldn't!

Very sincerely yours,

BOOTH TARKINGTON.

Elizabeth, N. J.,
May 16, 1913.

The question you ask is not debatable. The public library is among the foremost aids the American boy has today. As great a help as the library is the librarian. Much depends upon his personal interest, enthusiasm, judgment, appreciation of the book and the boy. "The man behind the book," provides the power.

Librarians undoubtedly are a help not only to the boy, but to the writer of boy's books. But like all other classes there are librarians and librarians. Some are efficient, some too theoretical, some visionary, some without the capacity to understand the normal boy, and a few are deficient. As far as I have observed, the limitations of the librarians are not so much in their knowledge of books as in their understanding of boys. Every profession has its special peril. The minister may become dogmatic, the judge autocratic. The peril of the purely bookish man is that of becoming a prig. The pre-conceived opinion of what a boy ought to be sometimes prevents the discovery of what he really is. Among some there is a tendency to magnify the unusual boy at the expense of the normal boy. Such librarians would confer a benefit if they would discover what has become of the prodigies of our boyhood.

It is sometimes forgotten that boys must be led into better reading, not forcibly transplanted. There are steps and stages in this journey as in every other. A taste for good reading is something to be cultivated, not forced. A healthy boy has about the same appetite for observing the ready-made opinions of his superiors that he has for donning the made-over garments of his ancestors. Many librarians understand the boy as well as the book. The combination is fruitful, and divorce here has its own penalty as well as elsewhere. If the American boy (as in many places he is) can be made to feel that the librarian as well as the library are for his benefit, a double good will result.

Cordially,

EVERETT T. TOMLINSON.

Arlington, Mass.,
May 29, 1913.

In reply to the question proposed to me by your Association, "Is the public library helping the boy to become a useful man?" I reply emphatically in the affirmative. Of course, the degree of helpfulness must depend largely upon the library, and still more upon the character of the boy. To one of low tastes, with no ambition beyond the hour's indulgence, the finest library will have little meaning; but to one having a thirst for knowledge, and aspirations for self-improvement, access to any fairly well chosen collection of books cannot but prove of inestimable service in stimulating and developing his nobler qualities. My own early experience convinces me of this. In my recollections of a backwoods boyhood ("My Own Story," pages 44-46) I have told something of my indebtedness of a small subscription library, in which were found the works of a few great writers, among those Byron, Shakespeare, Plutarch, Cooper, and Scott, and a History of England, which was the first book I turned to after reading "Ivanhoe." The world was transformed for me by the poets and romancers that smiled on me from those obscure shelves. I repeat here what I once wrote of that golden opportunity of my boyhood. The town has a vastly more attractive and comprehensive library today; but the value of such an institution depends, after all, upon what we ourselves bring to it. The few books that nourish vitally the eager mind are better than richly furnished alcoves amid which we browse languidly and loiter with indifference. This is true alike of the boy and the man.

JOHN TOWNSEND TROWBRIDGE.

Toledo, Ohio,
May 14, 1913.

You ask, "Is the public library a factor in the recent development of a public conscience?"

I suppose that by the term public conscience you mean that undoubted quickening of the public sense, shall we say public decency?—which America has felt in the last ten years, though as yet it has undertaken no fundamental reforms, and is too apt to degenerate into a mere hue and cry after some individual whom it would make a scape-goat for the sins of the people.

Now, in the development of this feeling, or of this public conscience, it is doubtful whether the public library has been much of a factor. It depends altogether upon the librarian. There are a few instances, no doubt, in which the public library has had this effect, and there are many librarians in the country who, as wise and intelligent men like yourself, are interested in vital subjects, and therefore able to interest others in them. By a judicious exposure of books these subjects are made so inviting and so attractive that the patrons of the library are led on and on in an ever widening exploration of the subject. The library does offer to any one who wishes to make inquiry the opportunity of gratifying his desires, and in this way it no doubt exercises a considerable influence. There is a profound and tremendous influence, silent and indirect, from its mere existence, its mere presence, which must do good in a city, just as in a home in which there are many books, even though they were never read, there is the atmosphere of culture. The librarian, however, should be a sort of teacher, helping the public mind, assisting in the development of the public conscience, for I fear that the public, if left to themselves, would rather read the six best sellers, and in the realm of general ideas engage, to recall a phrase of Henry James "in the exercise of skipping."

Yours sincerely,

BRAND WHITLOCK.

SECOND GENERAL SESSION
(Tuesday morning, June 24, 1913)

The PRESIDENT: We are to start this morning with the committee reports. Unless, however, undue objections are made we shall read these by title and, like the members of Congress, ask leave to print. A number of them indeed are in printed form and have been distributed and you have doubtless found them on the chairs as you entered the hall. I may say that some of these reports are unusually strong in that they represent the work of a year of very careful thought and investigation by their members. If you will take the time, either at this conference or after you get home, to read these reports, you will greatly profit from the labors of these respective committees. The printed reports comprise those of the secretary, the treasurer, the trustees of the endowment fund, the publishing board, the committee on bookbinding, the committee on bookbuying, the committee on federal and state relations; and reports have also been received in manuscript, by the secretary, from the committees on co-operation with the National Education Association, library administration, library training and work with the blind. Unless it is requested that any particular one of these reports be read at this time we shall pass them over and commit them to the secretary for inclusion in the printed conference proceedings.

The above mentioned reports are here printed in full.

SECRETARY'S REPORT

The third report of the present secretary and the fourth since the establishment of a headquarters office is here submitted to the association. The material conditions of headquarters are practically identical with those reported a year ago; we are still the recipients of the generosity of the board of directors of the Chicago public library, the large room furnished free by them being more and more appreciated as we compare our commodious quarters with those greatly inferior where a rent is charged which would be prohibitive to the funds of the A. L. A. For the continued courtesy and unfailing kindness of the librarian of the Chicago public library and his able staff I cannot find adequate words. It is unquestionably a decided advantage for the executive office of the A. L. A. to be in close proximity to a large reference collection and to a competent corps of library experts. In these respects we are fortunate not only in the Chicago public library, but also in the John Crerar and Newberry libraries which so admirably supplement each other in forming reference facilities of a high order.

The routine work of the year has much of it so closely resembled in kind that of last year that the secretary feels it unnecessary to rehearse it again in detail, but respectfully refers inquiry on this point to his report at the Ottawa conference. In quantity it is rapidly increasing; there are more letters to write; there is more proof to read; more personal calls from librarians and others as the establishment of the office becomes known; there are more arrangements to be made for the many-sided interests of the Association. The Publishing Board's work is likewise increasing, and with the removal of the Booklist office from Madison to Chicago headquarters, which will be made in the near future, additional duties will devolve on the general office, even though that periodical has its own special staff. These things, however, are as we desire they should be and we are pleased to see indications that the funds of the Association are going to permit the enlargement of the work as this is found advisable.

The Office as an Information Bureau—In no way is this growth quite so noticeable as in the increased correspondence through which the executive office is used as an information bureau on library economy. For a time after the establishment of the office this correspondence was naturally almost entirely with librarians. The letters of the past year, however, have shown that our existence is becoming known to others. We are being told the problems of the library committees of women's clubs; of manufacturers who wish to get their workmen interested in a business library; of business men who are thinking of establishing such a library; of young men and women who are considering librarianship as a vocation and do not know the proper steps to take to get the necessary training and experience; and of publishers and of booksellers who are referring various matters to our office. These things in addition to the steady daily stream of correspondence with librarians in every state of the union. Last year we recorded that our actual correspondence averaged 67 letters a day for a period covering several months. It has been considerably greater the past year. This includes, of course, all correspondence relative to publications, membership matters, and business routine. Several months ago the secretary printed 10,000 little leaflets mentioning some of the ways in which the A. L. A. can assist in library informational lines. About half of these have been distributed, mainly in channels outside of regular library work and among those who perhaps had not previously learned of headquarters and of our publications.

Membership—Last year it was the privilege of the secretary to report that the membership was larger than ever before in the history of the Association. We are now glad to be able to say that there is a substantial increase in membership over last year. In January, the secretary mailed with the annual membership bills an appeal to members to help again this year as they did last in securing new members. This appeal has been very effectual; many have been instrumental in securing one or more new members and the secretary desires here to thank all those who have so kindly assisted in this campaign. During the late winter and early spring many personal letters were written to librarians and library boards asking them to have their libraries become institutional members of the A. L. A., and many have responded favorably. Several hundred personal letters were also addressed to those who had recently, according to the news columns in the library periodicals, changed their positions, presumably for the better financially.

When the last handbook was printed, in October, 1912, there were 2,365 members of the A. L. A. Since then to June 1st, 1913, 192 new individual members and 40 new institutional members have joined, a total of 232. On the other hand, the association has lost 11 members by death, 35 have resigned, and judging by the experience of previous years about 160 members will probably fail this year to renew their membership and will consequently be dropped from the rolls. It is likely that enough new members will join at the Kaaterskill Conference to offset in numbers those whose membership lapses and that the net membership in the 1913 handbook will probably be about 2,550 or a gain of about 185 over 1912.

The income from membership dues is in consequence steadily increasing. For the calendar year 1911 the total amount from this source was $5,325.46 (including exchange on checks); in 1912, $6,236.18; and for 1913 we hope the total amount will not be far short of $7,000.

Publicity—The usual methods to secure as much publicity as possible have been followed. The library periodicals have, of course, been kept informed of what the office was doing that would interest the library public. We have sent news notes from time to time to the Dial, Nation, New York Times Review of Books, Bookman, Education Review, American City, and other magazines, and to about 180 of the prominent newspapers of the country. Several articles regarding the conference were given to the Associated Press, and to news syndicates. Before the Ottawa Conference, the Associated Press sent to all their subscribers a multi-graphed portion of the president's address. The Association needs more money for this publicity work and more time should be spent on it than the secretary has been able to spend. Its results at present are far from satisfactory and we hope that with growth of income a more systematic publicity department can be organized, perhaps modelled somewhat after the excellent methods employed by Prof. J. W. Searson, who conducts the publicity work of the National Education Association.

Registration for library position—The executive office has from its inception been something of a free employment bureau for librarians and library assistants, who for proper and sufficient reasons desire to change their positions. This year the work has been somewhat more systematized by the use of a printed registration blank, which is sent on request to any member of the association. The questions asked on this blank are as follows:

Forty-two librarians have thus far registered on these blanks and five or six of these have been helped to new positions. The secretary has helped in the filling of some fifteen library positions aside from those using the registration blank.

If, however, the service to those seeking positions, and to those seeking capable librarians and assistants is to be as important and far-reaching as we wish to make it, the office must have knowledge of vacancies as well as of persons wanting positions. Library boards and librarians are cordially invited to correspond with the secretary when in need of library workers.

Library Plans—During the year a number of valuable additions have been made to our collection of architects' plans of library buildings. We want more, particularly good plans of buildings costing from $25,000 to $75,000, as these are most in demand. Will librarians and boards who have recently acquired new buildings bear our needs in mind? These plans have from the beginning proved useful, and if a fair number of the latest type of plans could be added the collection would be increasingly useful and used.

Library Pension Systems—During the year the secretary has been making efforts to collect information about pension systems in operation in libraries or plans being made for pensions. No great progress has been made, due perhaps to the fact that not many libraries are as yet contemplating a pension system. The secretary will be glad to receive information from any librarian or board who has not yet written him on this subject.

A. L. A. Representatives at State Meetings—President Legler was the official representative at the Ohio meeting, Newark, October 21-24; at the Illinois-Missouri joint meeting, St. Louis, October 24-26; and South Dakota conference, Mitchell, November 25-27. He also addressed the Long Island Library Club on the work of the A. L. A. on October 17th.

Mr. T. W. Koch, member of the Executive Board, was the official representative to the Indiana state meeting, Terre Haute, October 17-19.

Dr. Arthur E. Bostwick, ex-president of the A. L. A., represented the Association at the North Dakota conference, Mayville, October 1-2; Minnesota meeting, Faribault, October 2-4; and Iowa meeting at Nevada, October 8-10.

Secretary Utley represented the A. L. A. at the Illinois-Missouri meeting, St. Louis, October 24-26; Oklahoma meeting, Muskogee, May 14-15; and was present unofficially at Niagara Falls, "New York library week," September 23-28. The secretary has also lectured before the New York state library school, the Training school for children's librarians of the Pittsburgh Carnegie library, and the University of Illinois library school.

Necrology. The Association has lost by death eleven members since the conference of a year ago. The list includes an ex-president of the A. L. A., and one of the most prominent librarians of the country; a business man who had for years taken a deep interest in library progress; an eminent churchman who has for many years maintained his connection with the national association; the librarian of a large university; the librarian of a well known public library; and several others who at their several posts have faithfully performed their duties and rendered their contributions to the work in which they were engaged.

The list follows:

Clarence W. Ayer, librarian of the Cambridge (Mass.) public library, died April 12, 1913. He was previously connected with Western Reserve University, but had been engaged in library work in Massachusetts for a number of years. He had been a member of the A. L. A. since 1900 (No. 1984) and had attended four conferences.

Dr. John Shaw Billings, director of the New York public library, died March 11, 1913. Successful as an army surgeon during the war between the states, he later assumed charge of the Surgeon-General's library and brought it to recognition as one of the most celebrated medical libraries in the world, and compiled an index catalog that has taken a place among the permanent monuments of bibliography. Coming to New York in 1895, he began the stupendous work of bringing the various libraries of that city under one great system, releasing funds tied by legal complications, and superintending the erection of a central building costing nearly ten millions of dollars. These tasks he lived to accomplish and they remain as his lasting monument. He was president of the A. L. A. for the year 1901-02, and presided at its Magnolia conference. He joined the association in 1881 (No. 404) and attended six of its conferences. See Public Libraries, 18: 148-9; Library Journal, 38, 212-14.

Bertha Coit, assistant in the New York public library, died July 22, 1912. She joined the Association in 1904 (No. 3167), and attended the conferences of 1904 and 1907.

Right Rev. William Croswell Doane, Bishop of Albany, and for many years vice-chancellor of the University of the State of New York, died May 16, 1913. He joined the A. L. A. in 1893 (No. 1125) and although he attended none of the conferences had steadily maintained his interest in library work and retained his membership in the Association.

Jennie S. Irwin, first assistant in the Mt. Vernon (N. Y.) public library, died Nov. 8, 1912. She joined the Association in 1902 (No. 2437) and attended the conferences of 1906 and 1908.

Walter Kendall Jewett, librarian of the University of Nebraska, since 1906, died March 3, 1913. He was previously librarian of the medical department of the John Crerar library, and had been notably successful in his library work. He joined the Association in 1904 (No. 3109) and attended four conferences.

Charles A. Larson, editor of publications of the Chicago public library, died August 19, 1912. He had been connected with the Chicago library for many years and was highly valued. His able work in the reference department will be long remembered. He joined the Association in 1901 (No. 2373) and after lapsing membership rejoined in 1910. He attended the Mackinac conference.

Rev. William Ladd Ropes, librarian-emeritus of the Andover Theological Seminary, at Andover, Massachusetts, died December 24, 1912. He was well known to the librarians of an earlier generation. He joined the A. L. A. in 1877 (No. 106) and attended three A. L. A. conferences, and the London international conference of 1877.

Charles Carroll Soule, of Boston, long identified with the book publishing business and interested in library work, died Jan. 7, 1913. He was trustee of the Brookline (Mass.) public library from 1889-1899, member of the A. L. A. Publishing Board from 1890-1908, second vice-president of the A. L. A. in 1890; and a member of the Council 1893-96 and 1900-05. Mr. Soule was an expert on library planning, having written a book, and numerous articles on this subject. A pamphlet on "Library rooms and buildings" was issued by the A. L. A. Publishing Board as one of its tracts. He joined the A. L. A. in 1879 (No. 216) and had attended 18 conferences. No librarian was better known to librarians than this interested layman. See Library Journal, 38:89; Public Libraries, 18:57.

Nelson Taylor, bookseller of New York, of the firm of Baker & Taylor, died June 26, 1912. He had been a member of the A. L. A. since 1906 (No. 3531).

Bertha S. Wildman, secretary to the librarian of the Carnegie library of Pittsburgh and a member of the faculty of the Training school for children's librarians, died February 19, 1913. She was a graduate of Pratt Institute library school and previous to her connection with the Pittsburgh library had been the organizer and first librarian of the Madison (N. J.) public library. She joined the A. L. A. in 1900 (No. 1945) and attended four conferences.

GEORGE B. UTLEY,
Secretary.

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

REPORT OF THE TREASURER, January 1—May 31, 1913

Respectfully submitted,

C. B. RODEN, Treasurer.

Chicago, June 1, 1913.

REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE

To the American Library Association: Ladies and Gentlemen:—

In accordance with the provisions of the constitution, the Finance Committee submit the following report:—

They have duly considered the probable income of the Association for the current year and have estimated it at $21,915.00, and have approved appropriations made by the Executive Board to that amount. The details of the estimated income and of the appropriations are given in the January number of the Bulletin. The committee have also approved the appropriation to the use of the Publishing Board of any excess of sales over the amount estimated.

On behalf of the committee, the chairman has audited the accounts of the treasurer and of the secretary as assistant treasurer. He has found that the receipts as stated by the treasurer agree with the transfer checks from the assistant treasurer, and with the cash accounts of the latter. The expenditures as stated are accounted for by properly approved vouchers. The bank balance and petty cash, as stated, agree with the bank books and petty cash balances. The accounts of the assistant treasurer have been found correct as cash accounts.

On behalf of the committee, Mr. E. H. Anderson has checked the securities now in the custody of the trustees, and certifies that their figures in regard to the securities on hand are correct. He finds that at par value the bonds and other securities amount to $102,500.00 for the Carnegie fund, and $7,000.00 for the principal account. He certifies that to the best of his knowledge and belief the accounts submitted are correct.

All of which is respectively submitted for the committee.

CLEMENT W. ANDREWS,
Chairman.

With the completion of the ninth volume of the A. L. A. Booklist Miss Elva L. Bascom severs her connection as editor and as head of the editorial department of the Publishing Board. For five years Miss Bascom has carried on this work with signal ability and with devoted industry, and it is with sincere regret that the members of the Board have accepted her resignation. During this period of editorial activity Miss Bascom has maintained the excellent standards established by her predecessors, Miss Caroline Garland and Mrs. Katharine MacDonald Jones, and has given to the publication a standard of judgment in selection and critical appreciation that has made the A. L. A. Booklist invaluable to thousands of librarians and as many library trustees in the selection of current books for their respective institutions. The A. L. A. Booklist is everywhere recognized as a publication wholly untrammeled by commercial consideration in the listing of books and the recommendation which these are given.

Miss May Massee has been elected as Miss Bascom's successor and will enter upon the work early in August. Her experience as a member of the staff of the Buffalo public library and her training prior thereto commends her for the position.

Concerning the A. L. A. Booklist there are no new facts to report, comments noted in previous reports being applicable as well at this time. While renewed representations have come to the members of the Board, suggesting a change of size, form, and character, and the arguments in behalf thereof have been given due weight, it has not seemed wise to alter the policy which has been continued for a period of nine years.

With the beginning of the new volume the place of publication and therewith the editorial headquarters will be transferred from Madison, Wis., to Chicago. By consolidating the editorial headquarters of the Publishing Board with the headquarters of the American Library Association both will be materially strengthened and some financial economies can be affected.

Periodical Cards—The Board received word last fall from the Library Bureau that they would have to advance prices for the printing of the analytical periodical cards. The matter was placed in the hands of a committee, and after some negotiation, unexpectedly prolonged by the illness of the representative of the Library Bureau, a rearrangement of the work was made which will enable the Board to continue the service to the present subscribers without change in prices. This has been accomplished by giving an order for sixty-five copies of all titles and thirty-five additional titles of the periodicals most in demand. Hereafter, subscriptions must be made either to the full set of approximately 2500 titles, or to the limited set of 200. A revision of the list is now in progress.

Concerning the periodicals issued during the past year Mr. William Stetson Merrill has submitted the following report as editor:

The sixteen shipments of A. L. A. periodical cards prepared and sent out during the year ending May 31, 1913 have comprised those numbered 284 to 299, which were received by subscribers June 18, 1912 to May 14, 1913. These shipments have included 3459 new titles and 136 reprints, making a total of 3595 titles. The time of preparation has been reduced from thirteen to ten and a half weeks.[2]

In February of the present year the editor took occasion to check up the work currently done, with the titles of periodicals given in the printed list as indexed by the Publishing Board. It was then discovered that in the case of thirty-five periodicals no titles had been indexed during intervals ranging from two to five years to date. These facts were brought to the attention of the collaborating libraries, which later reported upon these arrears as follows: Periodicals for which no issues later than those indexed had been received by the library, 12; discontinued, 3; now indexed by the Library of Congress, 2; overlooked or indexing postponed by the library, 10; dropped, 2; record card wrong, 1; no indexer, 5. The collaborating libraries at once took up the work of bringing their indexing up to date and at the time of writing only three current periodicals are not indexed to date, with the exception of those for which there is at present no indexer.

The preparation of the distribution and charges sheets has been in the hands of Mrs. S. L. Hitz and Miss Jane Burt under the supervision of the editor, who has also attended to all the correspondence connected with the card work.

New Publications—New publications since the last report was submitted include the following:

Forthcoming Publications—How to start a public library, by G. E. Wire, M. D. Second and revised edition. (Tract 2).

Graded list of stories for reading aloud, by Harriot E. Hassler; revised by Carrie E. Scott.

Reprints—During the past year the following publications have been reprinted:

A. L. A. Catalog—The success of the A. L. A. Catalog, 1904-11, has been greater in point of sales than the most sanguine of us had expected, 3471 copies having been sold since its publication a year ago. There is still a reasonably steady demand, 321 copies having been sold during the first five months of 1913. The book has been more extensively advertised than any of the Board's other recent publications, special efforts having been made to make it known to high schools, college professors and book lovers generally, but the sales have, nevertheless, been largely confined to libraries, library commissions and library schools.

Manual of Library Economy—Fourteen chapters of the Manual have thus far been printed, each as a separate pamphlet, and one is now in press. The list is as follows:

1. American library history, by C. K. Bolton.

2. The Library of Congress, by W. W. Bishop.

4. The college and university library, by J. I. Wyer, Jr.

5. Proprietary and subscription libraries, by C. K. Bolton.

9. Library legislation, by W. F. Yust.

10. The library building, by W. R. Eastman.

12. Administration of a public library, by A. E. Bostwick.

13. Training for librarianship, by Mary W. Plummer.

15. Branch libraries and other distributing agencies, by Linda A. Eastman.

17. Order and accession department, by F. F. Hopper.

20. Shelf department, by Josephine A. Rathbone.

22. Reference department, by E. C. Richardson.

26. Bookbinding, by A. L. Bailey.

27. Commissions, state aid and state agencies, by Asa Wynkoop. In press.

32. Library printing, by F. K. Walter.

The chairman of the Committee the manual, J. I. Wyer, Jr., reports that seven other chapters are known to be in an advanced state and may be expected soon.

Advertising—The Board's publications have as usual been advertised in Library Journal and Public Libraries and in one or two special numbers of the Dial. Review copies of publications are sent to library periodicals and a number of other papers and magazines, such as the Bookman, American City, Nation, Dial, New York Times Review, Chicago Post (Friday review), Springfield Republican, Boston Transcript, etc. Our best returns, however, continue to come from direct circularization of libraries, library commissions and library schools, about 11,000 pieces of mail advertising our publications having been sent out since the last conference.

No new large publication has appeared since the A. L. A. Catalog, 1904-11, was published a year ago. Although thirteen new publications have been printed and two more are forthcoming they are all, with one exception, small in size and with price ranging from ten to twenty-five cents a copy. Consequently the amounts from sales are but small in the aggregate. Would it not be well for the Board to endeavor to put forth at least one publication each year which shall be of sufficient size, usefulness and importance to make it rank as the "opus major" of the year? There are surely subjects enough within our scope that can be handled to the advantage of the libraries and the profit of the Board.

Foreign lists—The Board has not felt greatly encouraged to undertake the publication of lists of foreign books because of the unfortunate financial experience with those already issued, only one of the five having paid for itself. This spring, however, when the manuscript of the long-expected Polish list was received a new policy was adopted. The secretary circularized those libraries whom he thought would be interested in this list, stating that the publication of the list depended upon the receipt of a sufficient number of subscriptions, requesting those libraries who were able and disposed to do so, to subscribe for at least four copies at 25 cents each. By this means enough subscriptions were readily secured and the Polish list has been printed. If libraries are willing to subsidize the publication of these lists, or putting it another way, to pay for several copies more than they perhaps need, other lists can be undertaken, and the Board will welcome suggestions as to what languages should be taken up. It has been suggested that a Yiddish list would be useful, also Italian, Lithuanian, Finnish and Spanish lists.

HENRY E. LEGLER, Chairman.

FINANCIAL REPORT