Chapter XXVII: Section 45: provides that all publications of which there is a (2)

The institution organizer will soon find that each hospital differs from every other in construction, management, and especially in the character of illness. The asylums for the chronic insane present the most hopeless feature, yet even here there are enough who read to make it worth while to furnish libraries. Moreover, in the asylums, the nurses have to be taken into account. Their work is so hopeless and uninteresting compared with that in hospitals for acute and recoverable cases that more must be done for them in order to get and keep even ordinarily good attendants. And where, as in many cases, the chronic insane are being transferred to farm colonies way out in the country, far from any city or even large town, the library can, if it will, help very decidedly by offering means of study and education to the nurses and staff as well as diversion to the patients. Therefore, one can venture to buy for an asylum a much better selection of books from the point of view of general culture than for the ordinary hospital.

I have said so often that a hospital library must be formed for entertainment, not for education, that it must be simple in organization and carried along on unconventional lines, that I speak of these points again only to emphasize them. If one looks upon institutional work from the point of view of educative influence it is discouraging work; but if one thinks of it as an adjunct to the therapeutic service of the hospital, as a means of bringing some pleasure or at least forgetfulness of self for a time to an afflicted class and employment for hours which otherwise would be passed in complete idleness and utter dejection, it is inspiring work. But in the selection of books this point of view must be kept always in mind.

Yet this is just what those unaccustomed to hospital conditions fail to grasp. Not three months ago a hospital in a far-off western city sent a representative to see our library and get all the information he could in regard to the sort of books they should put into their beautiful and expensive new buildings. I showed him a list of some 1,200 of our most popular books selected as a basis for the little catalog Miss Carey, Miss Robinson, Miss Waugh and I have made out and annotated, and which is now being printed by the A. L. A. Publishing Board. The first thing he noticed was the omissions. "Why," said he, looking at Science, "you have nothing by Spencer, or Darwin or Huxley on this list. Aren't they the standard thing? Oughtn't I to get them for our library?" "Not if you want a library which will be read," was my prompt reply, and I showed him the records of our sets of these scientists, taken out at the most three or four times in the history of the library.

A year or so ago I attempted to find out from our cards just what was the most popular sort of fiction in our library. Of course the book of the moment is the one read at the moment, so it would be manifestly unfair to include these and I took only those books published prior to 1901. It may interest you to know in their order the 25 most read books, that is, of the old favorites. The date unfortunately excludes Mr. Pratt, the Virginian, Kim, Rex Beach and Oppenheim. They are, The Choir Invisible, Janice Meredith, Saracinesca, Sant' Ilario, Don Orsino, Vanity Fair, The Lilac Sunbonnet, Old Chester Tales, Dr. Lavender's People, When Knighthood was in Flower, The Sowers--taken out 20 times in the last three years; The Seats of the Mighty, The Battle of the Strong, Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, Treasure Island, Cape Cod Folks and The Right of Way, 22 times; A Little Moorland Princess, Dorothy Vernon, Kidnapped and The Cardinal's Snuff Box 25 times; Richard Carvel 29 times; The Old Ma'amselle's Secret 40 times and The Second Wife by Miss Marlitt 43 times. This shows pretty conclusively that even our people, all of whom belong to the cultivated and educated class, want light, interesting stories of romance and adventure, and the average state hospital reader wants something even lighter than these.

I have been asked again and again if the right reading really cures. One dare not affirm this; its influence is negative rather than positive. But I =can= say this: I have known of many cases outside as well as in the hospital where persons have been positively harmed by morbid or hysterically sentimental books. Our people are inclined to be pretty emotional anyway, and whatever appeals to that side is to be deplored.

To sum up the qualities which determine the suitability of books for a hospital library, I can do no better than quote from the "Foreword" of the catalog mentioned above:

In making this list the editors have endeavored to keep in mind the following points:

1. Books in a hospital are for recreation, not for instruction, and therefore should consist principally of fiction, picture books, travel, biography, light and popular science and outdoor books.

2. They must be wholesome--not morbid, or gruesome, or depressing. Good detective stories and tales of adventure, however thrilling, if not horrible, and if they do not make vice attractive, are to be recommended, as they, more than almost anything else, hold the attention.

3. Illustrated books and books of pictures are invaluable, as a patient often will look at pictures when he is too ill to read.

4. The newest fiction is called for and read, yet the old favorites remain much in demand. With so much ephemeral stuff among the "best sellers," it is a delicate task to select the really good novels which will last, and there is a great temptation to fall back on the old and tried books to the exclusion of the more modern. The editors have tried to combine the two in just proportion, and also to give a few titles of the better class of the "second rate" which have proved popular.

5. It is not enough to provide books for those who wish to read. There are always many patients who are unable to take any initiative towards selecting any form of entertainment or employment for themselves, and for these should be provided light and simple stories which will not tax the brain or require any concentration of attention, but which will serve to stimulate their interest in things outside themselves. These are not necessarily children's books, but often the simple language and quiet wholesomeness of certain books for young people will bridge a patient over this period of mental inadequacy and pave the way towards a real enjoyment of maturer reading.

In addition to these five simple rules for selecting the reading for a hospital library, the editors would emphasize another very important point: Many of the readers will be elderly persons with failing eyesight, who demand large, clear type. This is hard to procure in cheap editions of standard authors and old favorites, but it is suggested that it is well worth while to take a little pains in selection and even to pay a higher price, in order to get an edition of convenient size, shape and weight, in serviceable binding, with large, clear type. Such an edition will last longer and will invite, not repel the reader.

Complete sets of the works of standard authors, with the exception of Shakespeare, Scott, Dickens, and possibly George Eliot, are not recommended for hospitals. Only a few of the more popular stories of each will be read.

I want to say just a word in regard to the housing of hospital libraries. Of course the ideal arrangement is a separate building which is open all the time, but I know of only three or four such in the country. In most state hospitals the library was an afterthought and the books are crowded into one or two more or less inaccessible rooms to which the patients can come only once or twice a week and which can not possibly be made attractive. Often there is absolutely no other room to be had in the hospital and the librarian must make the most of it and do her utmost to beautify it with rugs and baskets made by the patients and flowers from the hospital greenhouses. But sometimes a little ingenuity will solve the problem in some such unique way as in the State Infirmary at Tewksbury, Mass., where the superintendent conceived the idea of moving their very good little library (classified and cataloged too) from its one small dark, inaccessible room in the administration house to the large, light chapel which hitherto stood idle six days in the week. Here low shelves have been built in between the windows on the wide side aisles and stacks fitted into the alcove rooms each side the chancel. Long narrow tables with plenty of books and magazines have been placed in these aisles and the library is now open practically all the time.

The Hospital for Epileptics at Monson, Mass., has met its problem somewhat differently. The superintendent here is having two large sunny rooms fitted up with bookshelves, one for the men where they can smoke and one for the women where they can sew. These shelves will be kept filled with books from the central library (in an office in the administration house which it shares with the medical library) administered by the stenographer-librarian, but under the direct supervision of a patient for each room. The patients themselves are very enthusiastic over the proposed change and have made out lists of books they want.

In Massachusetts, the ideal so far as use of the library goes, is found at the Foxborough Hospital for Inebriates, where only men patients are admitted. Here they have a separate building containing one large room with low bookcases all around it and two tables covered with periodicals and newspapers in the center. Here the men can come when their day's work is over or at the noon hour and read and smoke.

I wish I had time to speak of the importance of interesting the nurses in the library and getting their co-operation, and of the possibility of holding classes on books and reading for them. I know of no hospital where they have time for such classes at present, but there is a movement on foot towards requiring better education as a condition for entering the training schools for the general hospitals, and some day some hospital will inaugurate classes in literature.

Miss Jones agreed with Miss Robinson's statement that the libraries in state institutions should be administered by an official appointed by the Board of Control.

Miss Flexner, of the Louisville free public library, then spoke of an experience in placing books in a county jail. Within the last six months, the public library offered to place a deposit in the county jail, and found that the jailer was willing. Permission was also obtained from the Fiscal Court. In November, about 100 volumes, all fiction, were sent, to be retained four months. On their return, it was found that over 1,800 issues had been made--a heavy circulation. In the next lot, was placed about 15 per cent of non-fiction, carefully selected. On their return, it was found that books by Marden and Grenfell had been popular. Mrs. Sangster's "Sweetest story ever told," a life of Christ, had been well used, while Mrs. Wharton's "House of mirth" had been read but twice. "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm," "Kim," and Mrs. Whitney's "Ascutney street" were each read 26 times in 6 weeks. Books on useful arts were so much in demand that they were renewed. The books are charged by the chaplain. When a suspicious looking gathering of the men was investigated by the jailor, it was found that one who could read was reading aloud to those who could not.

In the discussion, it was stated that a list of books for use in insane hospitals is to be published soon and that copies are to be on sale by the A. L. A. Publishing Board. Several speakers mentioned a union catalog for prison libraries, with annotations to guide the prisoners in the selection of books.

The committee on libraries in federal prisons made a report, in which they stated that an earnest attempt had been made to secure an appropriation of at least $2,500 for the establishment of a library in the penitentiary at Atlanta and a like amount for Leavenworth, and $500 for books for McNeil Island, but that the effort had been unsuccessful. The attempt will be renewed this coming year. The committee was continued.

THIRD SESSION

(Friday, June 27, 1913; 8:30 p. m.)

A third adjourned session of the League was held for the transaction of remaining business. The meeting was called to order by the President.

Miss Martha Wilson, supervisor of school libraries in Minnesota, spoke on co-operation between library commissions and state boards of education. Miss Mendenhall then gave a summary of the work done by the library committee of the N. E. A. on library instruction in normal schools. She stated that a questionnaire was sent to 200 normal schools, and the results show that most of the normal school libraries need reorganization. In the 200, about 50 have trained librarians. These are mainly in the far West. The Committee makes the following recommendations: 1, that library organizations try to have the subject of library training in normal schools presented at educational meetings; 2, that trained librarians be appointed in all normal schools, with the faculty and salary rank of heads of departments; 3, the publication of a manual for normal school librarians by the U. S. Bureau of Education; 4, the publication in educational periodicals of articles on the greater use of libraries by schools, and on related topics. It was suggested that the library commissions might help in carrying out the last recommendation. Miss Mendenhall was asked whether she favored putting the school libraries under the state library commissions, or under the state boards of education. She said that she believed the function of the school library to be distinct from that of the public library; that the two should co-operate but not combine. Miss Stearns of Wisconsin said that the question of the relation of the state library commission to the state board of education should be discussed and more clearly defined; that there is a decided tendency to place the library commission under the state board of education, or to merge it with it, as has already been done in one state. There was not time for adequate discussion of this subject, and the suggestion was made that it be taken up at a future League meeting.

Mrs. Minnie Clarke Budlong, director of the North Dakota public library commission, read the following report of the committee on the establishment of new commissions:

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW COMMISSIONS

This committee has been requested to report on two topics--"a plan for the League to follow in giving aid in the organization of commissions in states now without them," and also a draft of "tentative provisions for a model library law to be used with the model commission law."

An A. L. A. committee of which Dr. Arthur E. Bostwick is chairman, has made a valuable report on points to be covered by a model law relating library to municipality, printed in the 1912 proceedings. The same committee has under consideration the drafting of the points covered into a model charter, and the League committee decided that action on its own part was unnecessary at present.

The other topic assigned this committee cannot be disposed of in so brief a manner. It is a question of theory and of insight, of sympathetic understanding and action.

There are eleven states without library commissions: West Virginia, South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Montana and Wyoming. These states contain one-eighth of the population of the country, and have only one-twentieth of the libraries.

The first step toward aid is to learn how library commissions have been established in other states. Letters sent to 36 states elicited 22 replies. Perhaps a distinction should be made between library commissions and state libraries, or boards of education, such as New York, California and Oregon. But there have been included in this report all states doing extension work, regardless of name or title of organization.

The questions asked were:

1. How did the demand for a commission arise?

The answers received are practically unanimous. There was a need felt and provided for by a few far-sighted library workers. Eight give the credit of the initiative to library workers or associations. Seven give it to women's clubs or the state federation. Five say librarians and women's clubs were co-partners in the work, and three, Maryland, Wisconsin and Nebraska, include teachers in this partnership.

2. Who drew the law?

The law has usually been drawn by or under the supervision of a few interested workers, such as president of state library association, superintendent of public instruction, president of university, or legislative committee of state federation. In Kentucky use was made of the model commission law.

3. What was done to secure its passage?

One would expect a wider range in replies than this question elicited. "A friendly legislator took it in charge" sums up the story in most states. Personal letters and interviews of library workers and club women with members of the legislature, and particularly with members of committees, seem the usual methods. In some states the measure was defeated one or more times before influence enough was brought to bear to secure its passage. In Nebraska, the measure failed twice until pushed by the federation and teachers. Even if no general demand is formulated, there must be a desire expressed by organizations strong enough to impress legislators.

4. What literature was used?

At first, there was no literature available and the majority report "none used" or "nothing special." Idaho, Minnesota and Kentucky mention the Wisconsin publications particularly, also some from Iowa. Five speak of special leaflets prepared or statistics used from traveling library reports or from the League Handbook.

5. How long did it take?

The time required varies from "a few weeks" to fourteen years. Nine secured the desired legislation in one session. Six used two to four years. Nebraska required five years; Minnesota, six years; Tennessee, eight years, and Illinois, fourteen.

6. When was your law passed?

Massachusetts passed the first library commission law in 1890. Since then similar laws have been enacted in 36 states, concluding with South Dakota and Arkansas in 1913.

7. Has it been amended--if so, when and how?

It is interesting to note how few amendments except increase in appropriation have been made in library laws. This emphasizes the importance of careful framing of the law in the beginning. A study of the chief points of the law in other states with such changes as will adapt them to the conditions in the new state should always be made.

Five states report no amendment. Two report increase in membership of commission. Ten report increase in appropriation, or minor changes. Missouri and North Dakota have had their annual appropriation repealed on the theory that it is not constitutional to bind succeeding legislatures. Oregon has made the most radical amendment, changing this year from library commission to state library.

The conclusion of the matter seems to be that the initiative is with a few interested people, working through library associations, women's clubs and teachers, on the legislators, and that it may often be accomplished in one session after public opinion is sufficiently formed to bring the necessary pressure to bear.

These summaries lead to the following suggestions for aid:

1. A collection of material should be made which would include all pamphlets and articles on the practical establishment of library commissions. Effort should be made to include the special leaflets prepared in each state during its campaign. Some states, notably Kentucky, have prepared maps for circulation to arouse interest. A collection of all such special material kept for loan would be found suggestive and helpful in other states.

2. If possible some one should be sent by the League as an organizer to assist for a short time in the establishment of new commissions. This organizer should understand conditions in that section of the country, and should be able to advise wisely, talk with legislators persuasively, and address library meetings and state federations enthusiastically. Something may be accomplished by correspondence and by leaflets, but much more is possible to the trained observer on the field. Conditions even in neighboring states differ widely, and require study on the field for helpful understanding.

3. Special training for library commission workers. There is need of electives in the lines in which commission work differs from public library work.

4. Discussion of practical questions at League meetings. This is already being done and should be continued so long as there is need of a place where workers may discuss their individual problems.

5. It is suggested a committee be appointed to look after the needs of new commissions after their organization, as well as before the law is passed. There are many problems arising at home and abroad in which new workers would be glad of assistance, were there some particular committee to which they could apply.

Respectfully submitted,

MINNIE C. BUDLONG, Chairman,
ELIZABETH B. WALES,
ASA WYNKOOP,
WILLIAM FREDERICK YUST.

June 23, 1913.

The report was accepted and the committee continued.

Miss Elizabeth B. Wales, secretary of the Missouri library commission, read the following report of the committee on charter provisions:

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON CHARTER PROVISIONS

Since the meeting at Ottawa your committee has somewhat awaited the action of the council committee, which had been working on the library law of the state from the standpoint of its relation to the free will and initiative of the municipality. It was thought that the work of these committees might duplicate each other. As the report of this committee covering statute law does not seem to meet the point at issue, namely, safeguarding the interests of the library under the adoption of a new form of municipal government, your committee would make two suggestions concerning such safeguard:

1st. That it may be done by interesting the legislation of the charter bill in a definite provision establishing the public library as a city department.

2nd. That it may be done by inserting phrases in such bill, practically accepting the existing state law.

In the first case the essential points to be covered are: the provision of a proper fund, the appointment of a competent board. If all the duties of said board are settled and all its powers defined, the section will be a long and involved one. Your committee therefore recommends safeguarding the state library law as the better plan.

To do this, care must be taken to insert the proper phrases under sections which (a) define the general duties of commissioners wherever inclusive terms are used. For instance, "and have power to administer and control all other departments or activities of said city," the clause "except such as are already provided for in the statutes" would guard the library law existing; (b) under the rulings on civil service, the same clause would be effective in protecting library service, "except officers whose appointment is already otherwise provided for in the statutes"; (c) under the section concerning establishment and care of public institutions and buildings the exception must be more definite, e. g., "except that nothing in this law shall be construed to affect the existing state library law."

The chairman of your committee was not successful in securing these amendments to the commission government bill in Missouri, but found the fathers of the bill willing to consider them, and entirely ignorant of any possible disturbance of the existing library law under the new charter provisions. Moreover, good lawyers claim that a partially excepting phrase under the general definition of powers in this case makes it probable that no such disturbance need result. This opinion can not be confirmed, however, until a test case gives us a Supreme Court decision.

Briefly, then, your committee recommends protection on the charter law of existing statutory provisions for libraries, rather than a special charter provision.

Respectfully submitted,

ELIZABETH B. WALES, Chairman,
A. L. BAILEY,
A. E. BOSTWICK,
Committee on charter provisions.

June 27, 1913.

In the absence of the Chairman, the Secretary read the following

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY POST

The committee appointed by the League to assist in obtaining favorable postal rates for library books reports as follows:

As the members of the League are aware, the provisions of the general parcel post law were so changed immediately before its enactment that printed matter was excluded from the privileges of the parcel post rates. Consequently the long-distance lobbying which the committee and the profession indulged in, favoring the parcel post law, went for naught.

Since that time the committee has been in correspondence with a number of members of Congress favorable to the admission of library books to parcel post rates. During the winter the committee communicated with all of the library commissions and with many state and city libraries asking their co-operation in interesting their representatives in so changing the law as to admit books. While reports indicate that this co-operation was furnished, and several Congressmen stand ready to favor a change, the results have been nil. This failure to get any results whatsoever is partly due to the fact that special legislation had entirely engaged the attention of Congress.

The committee desires to call the attention of the League to the fact that it is not at all certain that to be included in this original parcel post law would be a great assistance to the libraries in circulating books. For practical library use the changed rates would be of little or no advantage, except for points within the fifty mile zone. Take, for example, a book weighing a trifle over one pound (and this is a very ordinary-sized book). It can be sent anywhere within the postal union for nine cents under the present third class rates. By parcel post rate it would cost six cents to send this book to a point in the city or along any rural route centering in the city. It will cost eight cents to send this book anywhere within the fifty mile zone. Above the fifty mile zone the parcel post rate will exceed the third class rate as indicated below.

150 mile zone--ten cents--1 cent excess over existing 3rd class.
300 mile zone--twelve cents--3 cents excess over existing 3rd class.
600 mile zone--fourteen cents--5 cents excess over existing 3rd class.
1,000 mile zone--sixteen cents--7 cents excess over existing 3rd class.

and so on, until it will cost twenty-four cents to send the book more than 1,800 miles by parcel post as against the nine cents under existing third class rates--an excess of 15 cents.

These facts are the occasion for, and justify the opposition which some publishing houses and other commercial houses sending out books or catalogs exhibited to including printed matter within the parcel post law. In some ways it would be unfortunate at this time to admit books to the parcel post rates, since accepting these unsatisfactory rates might prevent further re-adjustments for some time to come. It might be wiser to make an effort to get better rates.

It is the committee's judgment that there is much in common between the library authorities and some of the commercial forces which opposed admitting printed matter to the parcel post, that we have all much in common.

It is therefore recommended that the committee be directed to use every effort to get into communication with the forces which have opposed the admission of printed matter to the parcel post rates in order that these forces may be united with library authorities in an effort so to adjust rates as to be more advantageous to all than the present parcel post rates would be.

In conclusion, the committee reports that it seems unlikely that any further legislation will be immediately enacted.

Respectfully submitted,

M. S. DUDGEON, Chairman,
ZAIDEE BROWN,
MARY E. DOWNEY.

June 25, 1913.

The report was accepted, and the committee continued and directed to carry out the recommendation contained in the report.

The following reports of the publication committee and the committee on study outlines were read:

REPORT OF PUBLICATION COMMITTEE

The publication committee of the League respectfully reports:

That they have had under consideration during the past year two publications, neither of which the committee has found necessary to publish, but both of which are to be published elsewhere.

Application was made to the committee for a new edition of Mrs. McDonald-Jones' "Magazines for the small library." At about the time this request was received it was learned that Mr. F. K. Walter had prepared a manuscript for publication which was substantially such a revision. The committee held a meeting at the mid-winter meeting of the Western Section of the League and recommended to the A. L. A. Publishing Board that this be published. We are informed that the Publishing Board has issued this and that it is now obtainable.

The committee has also had under consideration during the year the publication of a "Reading list for the insane" prepared with great care by Miss Miriam E. Carey of the Minnesota public library commission. The committee hesitated to recommend the publication of this since it seemed that the demand for it would be so limited that it would be difficult to obtain returns for the money expended. The committee is informed, however, that the list will be printed by the A. L. A. Publishing Board and that suitable arrangements for its distribution to libraries will be made.

The committee reports that the committee on study outlines, which was originally a subcommittee of the publication committee, has, as shown by their report submitted herewith, arrived at a satisfactory form of study-club outline.

It is therefore recommended that immediate steps be taken to secure the preparation of study outlines to be printed at once. If no other procedure can be found the committee suggests that after a list of the most desirable subjects to be covered is made up, a limited number of subjects be assigned to each active commission, with agreement on their part to prepare at as early a date as possible suitable outlines on these subjects, conforming each as nearly as may be to the form adopted by the League; that all these outlines be submitted to some one person to be edited in order to secure substantial uniformity of form and to insure that the outline will be useful in other states and that the committee be authorized to secure the immediate printing of these if this can be done on a basis which is financially sound.

Informal discussion of this plan with several of the commissions indicates that the work can be done in this way. It is strongly urged that this work should be inaugurated at once.

Respectfully submitted,

MATTHEW S. DUDGEON, Chairman,
FANNIE RAWSON,
CAROLINE WEBSTER,
CARL H. MILAM.

June 25, 1913.

REPORT OF THE STUDY OUTLINE COMMITTEE

Those who were in attendance at the meeting of the League of Library Commissions in Chicago in January, 1911, will recall the general discussion of the need of study outlines to be used in traveling library work in connection with study clubs, and that the publication committee was asked to investigate and report as to the feasibility of the League's undertaking the preparation of such outlines, to be utilized by the various traveling libraries. Mr. M. S. Dudgeon, as Chairman, reported progress at the Pasadena meeting in May, 1911, and submitted suggestions toward a uniform plan. Later Miss Margaret W. Brown of Iowa, who had been active in club work in her own state, as Chairman of the Literature and Library Extension Committee of the State Federation of Women's Clubs, was made Chairman of the special committee on study outlines.

In view of the possibility of the various library commissions contributing one or more study outlines for League use, it seemed important that a general scheme for preparing these should be agreed upon, and Miss Brown presented such a scheme for discussion at the Chicago mid-winter League meeting in January, 1912, relating to the basis and form for preparing these outlines, based on a single text with a small group of collateral references. This was worked out very carefully, and tested by preparing a few outlines according to the proposed scheme, which had proved very acceptable; and it was suggested that the various commissions use the plan in preparing outlines, with the thought of securing uniformity in preparation and printing. The Chairman conferred with such thorough students of literature as Mrs. Francis Squire Potter and Mrs. H. A. Davidson, both having practical experience in study club work, the former being Chairman of the Literature and Library Extension Committee of the General Federation of Woman's Clubs, and the latter well known as the editor of the Study Guide series.

At the annual meeting of the League at Ottawa in June, 1912, definite recommendations were made to the League conforming to the plan presented at the Chicago meeting the January preceding, and the League voted to authorize an expenditure not exceeding $100 for the preparation and printing of a few outlines. The scheme commended itself to certain publishers to such an extent that the League was assured that there would be no financial risk in having these printed, as it seemed reasonably sure there would be a demand for them not only on the part of traveling library systems, but public libraries generally, and the General Federation of Women's Clubs and the various state federations.

These plans would doubtless have been consummated before this, had not the Chairman, Miss Brown, found it necessary to give up her work on account of the condition of her health, thus making it impossible to pursue the matter further, involving as it did many details and careful editorial supervision of the material to be put in print. Your present Acting Chairman consented to carry on the work until the time of this annual meeting, hoping to carry out Miss Brown's plans as to printing a few outlines, as a visible result of the long period of investigation by the committee; she regrets that many things have conspired to make this impossible. Hence, this report is made chiefly with the desire of "keeping history straight" up to this point, and transmitting to your next committee a statement of progress up to this time.

This report is made with the firm belief that no more important project is under consideration by the League than this, and that if it is kept clearly in mind that these outlines are to meet a real need of a large class of intelligent, ambitious women of this country who have not college preparation, but are eager students, the outlines will be utilized in a very resultful way.

Before the Chicago meeting in January, 1913, a request was made by this committee for a list of subjects for which study outlines were most in demand by the various state traveling libraries, and a summary of the answers received showed an increasing demand for aids in the study of public questions rather than literary or cultural subjects. Definite statements were made by several library commissions as to the need of outlines on civic improvement for small towns, civics, conservation, household economics, municipal housekeeping, etc.

The plan submitted by Miss Brown as Chairman of this committee as a part of her report at the Ottawa meeting is attached hereto.

Respectfully submitted,

ALICE S. TYLER, Acting Chairman,
M. S. DUDGEON,
CARL H. MILAM.

Plan for Preparation of Study Outlines

_Basis_

A. One book selected as foundation for Outline.

If a single book suitable for text can not be found, outline to
be based on fewest number of books necessary for the purpose.

Text selected to be authoritative, reasonable in price,
readable and stimulating.

B. Five to ten books as collateral reference.

Selected to cover subject matter in study outline and amplify
the text.

Publisher and price given for all books included, for use in
purchase.

=Note=: A more extended list of books can easily be prepared by
any library where additional material is available.

Lessons Should Be Outlined By:

C. Question method.

Five to ten definite questions on each lesson.

D. Or, Topical method.

Topics assigned under each lesson should be those which present
special phases of the general subject.

The two methods may sometimes be satisfactorily combined.

Written papers, if included under either question or topical form of study outline, should be assigned only for subjects which require some degree of original thought; all information to be derived from textbooks and encyclopedias should be covered by the regular lesson for oral discussion.

=Note=:--Number of meetings of study clubs vary. Probably not
less than sixteen or more than twenty-six lessons. Many average
two meetings per month, October to May.

Explanatory Notes on the Plan of Preparation of Study Outlines

A. The use of a few designated books (or a single book) as a basis for common study of the same subject, or closely related topics, provides the means by which the unity and co-ordination is secured, which is essential for effective and satisfactory results.

Each member may, if she so desires, provide herself at nominal cost, with the source references necessary to cover the essential points contained in the outline.

B. The books for collateral reading should be carefully evaluated and selection based upon their real value in supplementing text, from the standpoint of reliability, readableness and stimulative quality, also that the price shall not be prohibitive of purchase by clubs, local public libraries and duplication by traveling libraries of large number of copies for use in supplying many different clubs.

Any local or traveling library may easily provide additional books for collateral reading whenever the collection permits. It is not, however, deemed advisable to have such extended lists incorporated in the outlines; as a demand would thus be created which could not be supplied by the small library, and therefore would become a handicap and embarrassment.

C. In outlining lessons by the Question method the questions should be so formulated as to stimulate discussion, not simply to be answered in the affirmative or negative.

The Question method permits a free expression of individual opinions based on personal reading. Such "discussion awakens the keenest interest through the activity of different minds upon the same fact or idea," as each member is expected to prepare herself to answer all questions.

The Question method is indorsed by many educational experts as a desirable method for the conduct of study classes, and has been found to be practical and satisfactory by many study clubs.

D. In outlining lessons by Topical method, care should be taken to include no more topics than can be thoroughly discussed, and such phases of the subject assigned as topics as will amplify the general subject which has been studied in common by all members from text upon which the outline is based.

The reports were accepted, and it was voted that the publication committee be instructed to secure the preparation of study outlines, as suggested in their report.

The Secretary then read her report on the year's work, noting the publication of the 1912 Yearbook of the League, and the preparation by the President of an exhibit for the meeting of the N. E. A.

Following is the financial statement for the year.

Balance on hand, Aug. 1, 1912 $180.08
Received from dues 115.00
Received from sale of Handbook and Yearbook 28.50
-------
Total $323.58
Expenditures.
Printing Yearbook and programs $175.25
Stationery and postage 36.43
Clerical help and multigraphs 26.55

N. E. A. exhibit, supplies and clerical help 31.00
Miscellaneous 5.26
-------
Total $274.49
Balance on hand, June 30, 1913 $49.09

Miss Baldwin of Minnesota, suggested that the League send to Miss Tyler, of Iowa, a telegram expressing regret for her withdrawal from active commission work, and appreciation of her services to the League. It was voted that Miss Baldwin be directed to send such a telegram. The following telegram was sent:

"Congratulations and best wishes from the League of library
commissions, with sincere regret that you were absent from this
meeting, and the hope that you will consider yourself a life
member of the League, to which you have rendered such valuable
service."

The meeting then adjourned.

SPECIAL LIBRARIES ASSOCIATION

FIRST SESSION

The first session of the Fifth annual conference of the Special Libraries Association was opened in the parlor of the Hotel Kaaterskill, on Tuesday afternoon, June 25, 1913, with the president in the chair.

Mrs. A. W. Von Hohoff of New York, opened the meeting with a paper entitled, "Municipal reference work in New York City." She spoke of the necessity out of which this collection had grown and the lack of ease with which information of this character had been previously obtained. In the short space of time during which this new library has been established over 1,000 people have consulted it, mostly employees of the city. It is serving especially those employees who are studying for civil service examination leading to advancement in the city's work; newspaper men, lawyers and real estate dealers have also found it of value. A short resume of the kind of literature on its shelves was given. This library aims to keep New York City in close touch with the activities and movements of other cities.[13]

[13] For full paper see "Special Libraries," 1913.

The second paper on the program was by Mr. N. C. Kingsbury, Vice-President of the American Tel. & Tel. Company, upon "The library--A necessity of modern business."[14]

[14] For full paper see Library Journal, Aug., 1913.

Few people realize, who have had any connection with the library movement, that specialization has come to mean what it has. Almost no one would have supposed that even a large public service corporation was maintaining five distinct library collections, two at least of which are in charge of trained librarians. This paper, suggestive as it was of the increased activity along library lines in the business world, led to interesting questions.

It was followed by a paper by Mr. Andrew L. Bostwick, municipal reference librarian of St. Louis, entitled "Relations between the municipal library and legislators." He emphasized the necessity for bridging the gap between the average librarian and the average city assemblyman, also the potency of personality which should bring about a close and cordial relationship between the library and its readers. He spoke of the light manner in which municipal libraries were often created and the subsequent selection of the librarian. The different kind of legislators as existing in the average city were aptly held before the audience in no unmistakable terms; and finally, the choice of a proper librarian with his necessary qualifications was presented, together with the manner in which the data accumulated

within the library should be put into the hands of the legislator.

Dr. W. Dawson Johnston, librarian of Columbia University, presented the next paper entitled, "The relation between special and general libraries."[15] "The rise of the special library is undoubtedly due to the limitations of the general library. These have been limitations of location as well as limitations of service. A general library can not in the nature of things be everywhere and even when it is located so as to serve excellently the needs of a special institution, it can not render the service of a collection selected for a specific purpose. There must then be special libraries for special institutions, societies, clubs, and offices.

[15] For full report see "Special Libraries," 1913.

"The special library, however, has its limitations also. It is in danger of having the disadvantages of a private library without the advantages of a public library. This is so true as to remind one of Charles Lamb's description of pamphlets as books which are no books. In similar manner we are sometimes compelled to look upon special libraries as libraries which are no libraries at all, especially where they are so small and so little used as not to require the services of a librarian.

"There are too many special libraries which are not to be distinguished from general libraries except by their location, too many that are simply inferior general libraries, too many that may simply be described as general libraries gone wrong."

He discussed the policy in the elimination of books in each type of library, the matter of the conditions of transfer from a special library to a general one, the relations between the two in respect to bibliographic service, and in conclusion said: "The special library forms an important auxiliary to the general library and especially to the university library, and more important as subjects of research become more practical in character. The general library, because of its comprehensiveness and size must in the nature of things be more useful and must in the aggregate be more used. But if a special library is well selected, that is, if only the best and latest books are admitted to its shelves, it must be proportionately more used than the general library and with better results. Some time may be wasted in finding a special library and in gaining admission to it, but little is wasted in it, while in the general library the time wasted in getting books and in reading books which were better left unread is simply appalling."

Following this very interesting discourse, a paper entitled, "The library of the School of Architecture at Harvard University--The treatment of collections relating to landscape architecture, including city planning," by Miss Theodora Kimball, librarian of this library, was read by title in the absence of the author.[16]

[16] A reprint can be obtained from the Secretary of the "Spec. Lib. Assn."

(1) See forthcoming issue of "Special Libraries."

Miss Helen R. Hosmer, of the General Electric Company, Schenectady, N. Y., presented the last paper of the afternoon, entitled "The library of the research laboratory, General Electric Company."

"Research expects rebuffs, expects to accept a small advance instead of a revolution, expects to make mistakes, and frequently to fail, but intends to let no lesson go unheeded, and to learn from every stumble.

"Inasmuch as every special library comes into very close contact with those it serves, it is not strange the research library partakes of the same nature that pervades the research laboratory. It too is, in this case particularly, a field for experiment.

"The object in view is of course to render as readily available as possible all the information contained in the library on subjects of present or possible future interest to the laboratory staff.

"The main sources of this information are two: first, the scientific and technical literature, consisting of books, periodicals, pamphlets and special publications, clippings, and abstracts from the technical literature, compiled by the publication department of the company, and second the reports from the various laboratories of the company."

The handling of the different classes of material in this library is minutely described and covers several unique features, both in the kinds of material handled and in the methods used. In concluding, she said: "We are attempting to build up a system requiring the minimum amount of work for maintenance, sufficiently simple to appeal to the most hurried research mind, flexible enough to admit of continued improvement without demolishment, and yet adequate to the varied needs of practical scientific investigation."

Mr. R. R. Bowker, of the Library Journal, added some very interesting thoughts along the general trend of the meeting drawn from his many years of experience in library and commercial fields, which were much appreciated by all those present.

SECOND SESSION

The second session of the Association was called to order in the Ladies' Parlor at 3 p. m., June 26th, by the president.

A few general introductory remarks were made by the president regarding the purpose of this session which hinged chiefly about the question of handling clippings.

Honorable Robert Luce in a very carefully prepared address then discussed, under the title, "The clipping bureau and the library," the internal working of the clipping bureau which bears his name. Probably few librarians have realized the enormous volume of detail handled by the large clipping bureau in the course of a day's work. Mr. Luce in his paper has carefully brought home that fact and urged that many users of material from clipping bureaus, and among them librarians, had never learned how to correctly judge results of clipping-bureau service. This judgment should be used upon the mass result rather than upon detail. An interesting description of the method of caring for a collection of 20,000 or more articles of his own proved an important part of the paper. A discussion of the "scrap book" and its function in the library was also handled. An earnest plea was made for co-operation on the part of the librarians ordering material from the clipping bureau. The employment of the clipping bureau is a step in the line of efficiency. "No man accustomed to business methods can fail to be struck with the waste therein due to the employment of high-grade minds on low-grade work. When some part of the working time of a public servant possessing intellectual acumen is put into manual labor that can be as well performed by a youth without special training, there is economic loss. When your subordinates handle the scissors and the paste-brush, you are paying them for work that can more quickly and much more cheaply be done in our cutting rooms."

A significant question by Mr. Bowker brought out the following facts: "After the reader marks the newspaper it goes to the cutter. There is very seldom any loss there. Occasionally an item is slashed or overlooked, and when the clippings have been cut and pasted they go to the sorter, whose duty it is to sort them by groups. We have the clippings divided into 128 classifications. We allow each customer one of those classifications." Mr. Luce answered many other questions raised by different speakers.[17]

[17] See full discussion in "Special Libraries."

Following Mr. Luce's paper, Mr. Jesse Cunningham, librarian of the School of Mines and Metallurgy, Rolla, Missouri, reported as the Chairman of the clipping committee his investigation of the use and methods of handling and filing newspaper clippings. A very careful digest of a questionnaire sent to over thirty selected libraries, discussed the matters of obtaining clippings by these various libraries, the arrangement of the material for clipping, the service rendered by the clipping bureaus, classification and methods of filing, as well as the indexing and eliminating of dead material, closing the report with a discussion of the use and value of clippings, their disadvantages, the purchasing of clippings on special subjects and the several conclusions arrived at by the committee. A most excellent report was rendered. The committee was continued and requested to extend its inquiries along the lines indicated.

In the absence of Dr. J. Franklin Crowell of the Wall Street Journal, his paper upon the "Clipping methods of the Wall Street Journal library" was read by title.

Mr. H. W. Wilson of Minneapolis, followed with a paper entitled, "Problems of printed indexes in special fields."

"The need for printed indexes in special fields has been
made manifest by the thousands of fugitive scraps of indexes
that libraries here and there spend their time and energy in
producing for temporary use.

"First steps toward printed indexes are both fragmentary
and inadequate. It seems to be time to take the next step
in the development of index-making, a step which involves
concentration of scattered ideas--a step which should be
successful because it means comprehensiveness, thoroughness,
uniformity, economy and efficiency.

"The special fields of literature in which printed indexes are
most likely to succeed are thought to be as follows, in about
the order mentioned: Industrial arts, agriculture, education,
social problems.

"It will scarcely be necessary to defend here the alphabetical
index as opposed to the classified arrangement. While a
classified list of articles has its value in informing
specialists what has been published in their respective fields
in one particular month, or year, it is almost useless as a
book of ready reference in a library--useless even to the
technically trained, exasperating to the layman.

"In a classed list the responsibility for finding an article
rests with the searcher."

The great difficulty caused by unsatisfactory nomenclature especially in rapid-growing new technical fields, was dwelt upon at some length. In conclusion, he said, "At least one new field should be opened up each year."

In the general discussion which followed, the questions of paper for clipping mounts, adhesives, and preservatives, were touched upon.

THIRD SESSION

The third session of the Association was held on Thursday evening, June 27, 1913, opening with the president in the chair and about thirty persons present.

Mr. Samuel H. Ranck of Grand Rapids, reported as Chairman of the municipal yearbook committee.[18]

[18] Report on file with Sec'y of S. L. A.

In the absence of Mr. H. H. B. Meyer, his paper entitled, "The division of bibliography of the Library of Congress as a clearing house for bibliographical information," was read by Mr. Bruncken of the same library.