Chapter XXI: Section 3: of the By-laws to include representation of state, (9)

The first library organized in this province, then Upper Canada, was at Niagara-on-the-Lake in 1800. In 1835, the first legislation dealing in any way with the library movement was passed and the same year the first government aid was granted. In 1851 a new act was introduced creating what was known for many years as the Mechanics' Institute, the authorities believing that technical books for the working classes were not less important than those for the learned professions. At this time only $2,000 per year was appropriated and this was found utterly insufficient for the purpose. In 1869 general literature was recognized in Upper Canada in this connection, in addition to the acquisition of technical books. In 1882, the first free library was organized in Canada, at Toronto.

In 1900, following upon the good example set by your organization, the Ontario library association was instituted, but it was not until 1909 that the present Ontario public library act was passed by the legislature, under which all public libraries, free and association, are now organized and controlled. Today we have 140 free libraries and 244 association libraries in this province operating under the provisions of this act.

In Ontario, whether the library is free or association, the financial and domestic affairs of both are under the supervision of a board of trustees, the only difference in these two boards being that in the case of the free library, the governing body is called a library board and in the case of the association library, a board of management; the financial responsibilities are not altogether the same, for while the trustees of the free library are custodians and paymasters of an income derived from the special rate levied yearly for library purposes by the municipality, the board of the association libraries have no fixed income to disburse, being supported largely by the fluctuating fees of the members.

The rates levied to support a free library vary, and are based principally, as in many instances in your own country, on population, and range from a minimum rate of one-quarter of a mill on the dollar to a maximum of three-quarters of a mill. In the case of both of these classes of libraries, government aid, of course, is extended in the form of a yearly grant based upon the annual report of the expenditure of the library upon books and paid in conformity with the libraries act, subject to departmental regulations.

Once a library in Ontario accepts a government grant, it automatically becomes a public library. Thenceforward it is amenable to the provisions of the statute and failure to keep open or render an annual report to the department of education for two consecutive years, is the signal for dissolution. In other words, it commits suicide. The minister may then take possession of all its books, its magazines and periodicals and dispose of them as he may deem best. Further, if a library fails in any year to comply with the regulations, the minister has power to withhold the whole or a portion of the government grant for that year.

The Ontario act, as you have seen, provides for two classes of libraries, both of which are public libraries; the business of both classes being administered by a board of trustees, one of whom is elected chairman, and while the responsibilities of these boards is greater in the case of the free libraries, both have equal, if not similar obligations as custodians in law of the people's interests.

Before proceeding to submit my own ideas of what appears to be the most important, if perhaps the unwritten duties of a library trustee to the public, and which I present with extreme diffidence in the presence of so many experts, let me briefly enumerate what are the legal obligations of a trustee in this Province as set forth in the statute regulating the same at the present time.

These powers are vested in the mayor, or reeve, as the case may be, with three other members appointed by the local municipal council, three by the local public school board or board of education and two by the separate school board representing the Roman Catholic section of the community; nine trustees in all who elect their chairman and retire annually in rotation. These trustees forfeit their position if they absent themselves from three consecutive monthly meetings without leave.

The legal duties of these trustees consist in the general management, regulation and control of the library and reading room entailing the securing, erecting or renting of the necessary buildings for the purpose of the library and reading room, and the purchase of books, newspapers, magazines, maps, etc., illustrative of the arts and sciences for the library reading room and museum. These responsibilities are further increased by the necessity for keeping the building and its contents in a proper state of preservation and repair and to provide the necessary fuel, lighting and other necessaries and accommodations and also the appointment or dismissal at pleasure of the officers and servants of the board.

The board is also obliged to make rules for the use of the library reading room and museum and for the admission of the public thereto and for the general management of the library; its reading room, museum, evening classes and art school, and of all property under its control. For breaches of any of its rules, it may impose penalties not exceeding $10.

At least two out of these nine trustees, should be women; women who have won a record for activity and good common sense in their departments of business.

It is also the duty of the faithful trustee to encourage the public to realize that it is the librarian, not the trustee, who is the real pilot of the ship, and jealously uphold the hands of that important official. Unfortunately the library has sometimes been converted into an asylum for the village derelict whose unfitness for any ordinary business pursuits would seem to be the highest passport possible, his incapacity emphasizing in the minds of some trustees his apparent suitability for the position.

Summarizing the situation, we find the general importance of the position of a trustee viewed from the "library act" point of view, to be that

(1) He holds the property of the library in trust for the whole community.

(2) That the board has the same standing as any other corporate public body, town council, school board, board of education, etc.

(3) That the trustees alone can manage public library affairs and that they have the exclusive authority to pay rent, to build or to sell property, subject to the statutory provisions.

(4) That they have the power both to raise and expend money for library purposes.

(5) That they can demand certain moneys from the municipal council, ranging from a quarter of a mill up to three-quarters of a mill on the dollar of the total annual assessment at the will of the ratepayers.

(6) That the trustees alone are empowered to employ or dismiss the librarian and other members of the staff.

(7) And that they alone are responsible to the public.

Their importance, if further evidence was wanting, is established by the development of the library movement in the Province of Ontario, demonstrated by the fact that as individuals, they have been active in founding and maintaining the Ontario library association. Hence it is easy to understand that the hope for the real and lasting expansion of library work largely depends upon the educating of the trustee up to the sane realization of his responsibilities.

In order to have a fair understanding of the trustee's many obligations, we must consider the duties he is called upon to perform in connection with his own library. He should be present and assist at the Easter meetings of the Ontario library association, and attend the library institutes which are yearly held in each of the 14 library districts into which the province has been carved for this purpose. As an evidence of the material of which the ordinary trustee is made, it is well to note that out of nine presidents who up to the present time have filled that office in the Ontario library association, between the years 1900 and 1912, six at one time or another have been library trustees. Eighty trustees were active officers of these library institutes in 1911, and of these at least 75 gave papers or addresses during the year ending April, 1912.

Wonderful opportunities for extending the influence of clean literature is held by every trustee in the hollow of his hand, and the literature of the library, taken in all its bearings, forms the great line of demarkation between the human and the animal kingdom. Hence, the sound and intelligent coupling of morally well-balanced men and women should be sought, not merely the professional educationist, who, not infrequently is apt to be somewhat narrow in his vision; "not the mere literary triflers or amateur reformers" nor the league of superficial progressives who amuse themselves by lopping off the branches of an evil, but rather the strong and impatient workers, the real trail-makers who strike at the roots. Often in a rough and most unpromising exterior we find the very elements and characteristics we have long sought in vain.

In and out of season, first, last, and all the time in addition to his statutory obligations the trustee should make the welfare of the librarian his greatest concern. What the pilot is, what the sails are, what the wheel and the propelling power are, individually and collectively to the ship--so is the librarian to the library. It is quite conceivable that a library could exist without a trustee, but almost inconceivable that it could exist without a librarian.

In Ontario we are doing all we can to elevate the status of the librarian, as well as her status in the army of intellectual workers. We have summer schools and library institutes to encourage her in her ambitions and to improve her knowledge. I am persuaded that on the walls of every library might well be written in large characters, and without any suspicion of disrespect, "God bless our Librarian." I refer of course, to the faithful efficient librarian with a proper conception of her own duties who should be honoured in the community by virtue of her position entailing such profound responsibilities. Her smallest act of official consideration, to her juvenile readers especially, leaves a widening ripple of influence, the far-reaching effect of which can scarcely be over-estimated. The librarian, unless it is obviously inopportune, should also without doubt be invited to attend every meeting of the trustees and share their undivided confidence, and the importance of her position and her individuality should never be dominated or overshadowed by the personality of the trustee. Her suggestions wherever possible should be respected, deferred to and acted upon, and every point strained to give her a living wage as nearly commensurate as circumstances will permit, with a due and extreme regard for the importance of her task,--at best, a somewhat thankless one.

I am a strong advocate for Sunday opening wherever it can be accomplished without interfering with the conscience or freedom of the employee, and if exempt from hardship. I further believe that every trustee should permit the purchase of books relating to any religious belief providing that they are not of a controversial nature, and that he should actively co-operate with the librarian in the selection of the really best current literature, both books and periodicals, giving fiction, say a 50% maximum at the most.

Last, but not least I maintain that it should be a man trustee's greatest pleasure and manifest duty to secure the co-operation of at least two capable women workers to share his responsibilities as co-trustees.

Discussion brought out the interesting fact that the Ontario library association included in its membership almost as many trustees as librarians. Mr. Bowker suggested that those from the states interested in library development should seek to follow the Canadian example in this respect, and obtain more active participation from trustees in the library association. Dr. C. R. Charteris, president of the Ontario library association, gave further word on the relation of trustees to the library organization in Canada, and Mr. T. W. Banton, trustee of the Toronto public library, who had been present at the Magnolia conference, spoke of his disappointment at finding so little participation by trustees in that meeting. The officers of the section were re-elected for another year: Chairman, W. T. Porter, trustee Cincinnati public library; secretary, T. L. Montgomery, librarian Pennsylvania State library.

PUBLIC DOCUMENTS ROUND TABLE

A Public Documents Round Table was held on July 1, Mr. George S. Godard, State librarian of Connecticut, in the chair. Miss Elizabeth M. Smith of New York state library was appointed secretary.

The preliminary report of the Committee on public documents already printed was read, in order to bring briefly before the session the status of the bills now before Congress relating to the printing, binding and distribution of public documents.

The chairman reported his efforts to bring to the conference the Superintendent of Documents, Mr. August Donath, to present in person a paper on the new printing bill. A failure of Congress to provide in the appropriations for traveling expenses for this and similar purposes, made this impossible. The chairman, Mr. Godard, reported that he had laid before the Senate Committee on appropriations the advisability of appropriating funds to pay expenses of the Superintendent of Documents, or some other competent official, while trying to get into closer relations with the depository and other document libraries. The secretary read a letter from the clerk of the Committee on appropriations reporting that Mr. Godard's letter would be called to the attention of the committee at the proper time. The following letter from Mr. Donath on the subject of public documents, dealing especially with the new printing bill, was read by Mr. Geo. N. Cheney of the Court of Appeals library, Syracuse, N. Y.

Office of Superintendent of Documents,
Washington June 8, 1912.

My dear Mr. Godard:

Complying with your kind invitation to send to your committee a paper dealing with the subject of public documents from a standpoint of interest mutual to your association and to this office, I herewith submit a few words covering the subject as briefly as its intelligent discussion will permit. I deem it a privilege to be able to address those to whom this is a live subject, and regret all the more that Congress does not seem inclined to endorse recommendations, repeatedly made, that would bring the members of your association and the official in charge of this branch of the public service into more intimate intercourse. This would surely be in the interest of better service on the part of this office and a clearer interchange of expert opinion that could not be otherwise than beneficial to the cause which the law creating our connection was intended to serve.

The idea underlying the legislation that created "designated depository libraries" was undoubtedly the intent to create five or six hundred places throughout this broad land where the history of the country, as expressed in the printed page, should be accessible to the public. A very good intention, and one very largely impractical. When it is remembered that the yearly output of public documents is nearly a thousand, and that a steadily increasing amount of shelf room is required to make all these accessible, even those who only have a superficial acquaintance with the subject will see that to live up to the requirement which accompanies the designation is beyond the ability of perhaps the major number of the libraries now regularly supplied. Only in the larger cities and the most prosperous communities are there libraries able to cope with this "contract." Added to this cause for failure to carry out the intent of thus creating permanent places accessible to the student of the history of his country has been the right of a Senator or Representative to change the designation at the beginning of a Congress, thus leaving the discarded institution with a partial supply of public documents, and starting the new selection with a void that is never filled. Poor business, surely. And it is this condition that the official now in charge of the Public Documents Division has worked very hard to have amended.

I am glad to be able to state that light seems to have broken on this matter. After repeated searching inquiries on the part of the Printing Investigation Commission the true situation seems to be understood, and the measure popularly known as the New Printing Bill, which deals with the whole subject of the public printing, promises to establish a connection between the libraries of the land and this office that shall be of more benefit to the public and at much less expense than the operation of the law of January 12, 1895, permitted. At present writing this bill has passed the Senate, has been favorably reported, with amendments, to the House, and appears to be in shape for speedy final action. It contains many provisions that make for economy in the public printing, but I will only mention what is of more immediate interest to the libraries of the country.

To begin with, the law will permit selection, at stated intervals, of the class of publications that a designated library is able or desirous to handle. What a relief that will be can best be appreciated by the officials in charge of the smaller libraries. It will serve them, and it will likewise save money to the Government. The volume of literature sent out from here that later is returned can only be realized from personal observation. My personal acquaintance with it began on the day I took charge of this office. There were mountains of it, and in a few months, so the Public Printer informed me, he desired to lay before the Committee on Printing his report recommending how much of the accumulation seemed worth returning into stock, and how much should be sold as waste paper. However, the subject has become so familiar to the law-making body that remedial action is now apparently in sight.

The bill likewise assures that permanency to a designated library without which the original intent, above fully stated, is defeated. Once designated, no change in the political representation in Congress from that particular locality will affect the library's status. Thus the two causes that have operated to nullify the intent to create permanent depositories of the country's history will be removed. And while the question of selection may at first seem somewhat of a problem to many librarians, I feel confident that this matter will soon work smoothly and satisfactorily. I should not forget to mention that besides the privilege of thus curtailing their receipts from this office, libraries may also, in certain cases, receive duplicates that they find desirable.

Among other provisions of the new bill that will appeal to your committee I may mention that it goes a long distance in carrying out the slogan, "one edition for one book," by taking out of the numbered Congressional series all annual and serial publications and those of which a Departmental edition has been printed, the only exception being the Messages of the Presidents and the Annual Reports of the heads of the nine Executive Departments. This elimination of document numbers will materially reduce the size of what is commonly known as the "sheep set," and I also expect that it will enable a speedier delivery of this class of publications, besides permitting a return to the old custom of placing the serial number on each volume.

I believe the foregoing covers in as condensed a form as the subject admits the matters just now of greatest interest in the discussion of the subject of public documents. I need not assure you, and through you your associates, of the earnest desire on the part of this office to co-operate to the fullest possible extent with the good work that the libraries of the country are doing in advancing the intelligence of a people whose will is the foundation of our Government. The greatest menace to a government of the people is ignorance, and no agency is superior to the libraries of the land in combating this foe of free institutions.

In the hope that these remarks will be kindly received, and assuring you of my personal regard, I have the honor to be,

Very respectfully,
AUGUST DONATH,
Superintendent of Documents.

GEO. S. GODARD, Esq., Chairman,
Committee on Public Documents,
American Library Association.

Before discussion was opened, the secretary of the meeting read a courteous letter from Hon. Reed Smoot, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Printing, expressing regret at his inability to deliver at the Conference an address on the general topic of printing, binding and distribution of Government publications, and referring with appreciation to the intention of the A. L. A. Committee to deliver to him a concise report of the suggestions made by the librarians interested in Government publications. Discussions followed.

Mr. Henry J. Carr, a former president of the A. L. A. and a veteran document librarian, advocated concentrating the efforts of the association on getting the bill through in its present form, on the ground that it was now so nearly satisfactory, and had already been so long in preparation, that further delay would be unfortunate.

Mr. J. D. Thompson, formerly chief of the Department of Documents in the Library of Congress, now librarian of the Columbia University Law library, introduced the question of a limited distribution of bills. The following suggestions were made:

By Mr. Thompson (1) that public and private bills form separate numbered series, the former to be distributed to libraries requesting, or, if necessary, subscribing through the Superintendent of Documents, or (2) that the text of any bill under consideration should be included in the printed report on the same.

By Mr. Thorvald Solberg, United States Registrar of Copyrights, that every bill which has passed one house should be printed in a permanent form convenient for library use.

By Mr. Clement W. Andrews, librarian of the John Crerar library of Chicago, that bills not favorably acted upon should also be included in any scheme to be suggested; that better provision be at the same time recommended for supplying reports of hearings to interested libraries.

By Mr. William R. Reinick, chief of the Public Documents Department of the Philadelphia Free library, in favor of Mr. Thompson's suggestion of separate series for public and private bills, and of better distribution of reports of hearings.

By Mr. Herbert S. Hirshberg, reference librarian, Cleveland public library, that bills be printed in the Congressional Record.

By Miss Edith E. Clarke, now chief cataloger in the library of Syracuse university and formerly on the staff of the Superintendent of Documents, that the Superintendent of Documents be given a certain specified number of copies of bills to be distributed to libraries on request.

By Mr. R. R. Bowker, editor and publisher of the Publishers' weekly and the Library journal, that bills favorably reported be included in Committee reports; that reports of hearings be included in the document series; that the Superintendent of Documents be given the power to distribute, on request, copies of individual bills.

By Mr. Solberg, that texts of bills be included in committee reports whether reported favorably or not.

In conclusion the following resolution was introduced by Mr. Thompson:

RESOLVED, that the Committee on Public Documents recommend to the
proper Congressional authorities that there be appended to each
Committee report on a public bill, when printed (1) the text of
the bill and (2) the testimony taken if stenographically reported
and not confidential.

This resolution was adopted.

Further suggestions regarding other provisions of the printing bill were made as follows:

By Mr. Thompson: That unbound numbered documents be distributed in advance of the bound volumes, and that librarians be given option as to the form they prefer.

By Mr. Andrews: That some provision be introduced which should place in the hands of some one higher in authority than the blanket clerk, the power to place documents in the confidential non-distributable class and thus keep out of that class documents of general library interest which are not confidential.

The chairman then introduced the subject of daily lists of documents, with a suggestion that lists be prepared in the Senate and Assembly Document Room and printed daily in the Congressional Record, of all documents received the day previous in the document rooms. Such a list should meet with favor from Congress because prompt notice of publication would be valuable to Congressmen as well as to libraries.

Doubts of its practicability were raised by Mr. Solberg and Mr. Andrews. The latter referred to the difficulty rising from the fact that the Congressional Record was published only during the sessions, and suggested that the public printer furnish the lists. Miss Laura A. Thompson considered the difficulty raised by Mr. Andrews a small one because fewer documents and documents of less immediate interest were issued when Congress was not in session.

Miss Clarke stated her opinion that the Superintendent of Documents should issue the list as a daily bulletin. Mr. Ernest Bruncken of the office of the United States Register of Copyrights, by letter advocated this plan. Mr. Godard stated that the Superintendent of Documents was unwilling to undertake it. Mr. Thompson stated that the necessity of sending it out by mail daily made it impracticable. It was decided to take no action on this particular matter. The following resolution, however, was moved by Miss Clarke and carried:

WHEREAS: The reading public of the United States are looking
more and more to the libraries and especially to the depository
libraries, to supply to them and advise them about all the
publications of the United States Government, and

WHEREAS: The librarians must of necessity largely depend for
information as to these publications, upon the catalogs and
bibliographical aids issued by the office of the Superintendent of
Documents, and

WHEREAS: Promptness in the printing of these bibliographical
aids is most essential to the timely use of current government
material. Therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the librarians of the American Library Association
assembled at Ottawa, respectfully urge the Superintendent of
Documents to use all reasonable haste in the compilation, printing
and distribution to libraries, of the Monthly Catalog of United
States Public Documents and of the Document Catalog, so that
they may be available in libraries as soon as possible after the
periods covered by the same.

Mr. James I. Wyer, Jr., director of the New York state library, Albany, called attention to the withdrawal of free distribution of the specifications and drawings of United States patents, and moved the following resolution, which was carried:

RESOLVED: That the librarians of the for a limited free
distribution of the bound volumes (or less desirable, the unbound
volumes) of the Specifications and Drawings of the United States
Patents, the Superintendent of Documents, perhaps, to designate or
determine such libraries upon presentation of good reasons.

Mr. Charles H. Hastings, chief of the card section in the Library of Congress, expressed regret at the impossibility of printing on Library of Congress printed cards the volume numbers of the documents in the Congressional series, since the documents were not assigned to volumes until some time after publication.

The following resolution, proposed by Mr. Thompson, was adopted;

RESOLVED: That the Committee on Public Documents recommend that
arrangements be made at the Government Printing office for the
assignment of bulletin or document numbers at a later stage than
at present, in order that they may correspond more nearly with the
order of publication, and that wherever possible, documents be
assigned to their volumes in the Congressional series at the time
of publication in order that the volume numbers may be used in
cataloging.

Mr. Solberg called attention to the unsatisfactory method of numbering Treasury decisions and decisions of the Attorney General.

Attention was called to the House amendment making centralization of distributors in the office of the Superintendent of Documents obligatory to all departments. A similar provision was stricken out of the Senate appropriation bill.

Mr. Thompson and Mr. Solberg opposed obligatory centralization and suggested that the association register with the Senate Committee on Printing its disapproval on the grounds both of economy and of promptness of service.

Mr. Bowker expressed a hope that the association would strongly endorse the attempt now being made to establish a legislative reference department at the national capital.

Mr. Wyer moved that the Committee on Public Documents send a resolution of thanks to the Senate and House Committees on Printing and to the Superintendent of Documents, for their uniform courtesy and careful consideration of the several suggestions made.

This motion was carried. The meeting then adjourned.

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF LAW LIBRARIES

Seventh Annual Meeting, Ottawa, Canada, June 26-July 2, 1912

FIRST SESSION

(June 27, 1912, 2:30 p. m., at the Chateau Laurier.)

The meeting was called to order by President Godard, forty-four being present.

The president introduced Mr. H. H. Bligh, K.C., librarian of the Supreme Court of the Dominion, who welcomed the association to Canada and expressed the hope that the sessions would be profitable and that the stay in Ottawa would be enjoyed. He invited the members of the association to visit his library.

President Godard then addressed the association.

The report of the treasurer was read by the secretary, as follows:

To the American Association of Law Libraries:

Your treasurer respectfully reports the following receipts and expenditures: on August 24th I received a statement from Mr. F. O. Poole, former treasurer of the association, and a list of receipted bills which total $943.71. These receipts are expenditures made by Mr. Poole on behalf of the Association since the balancing of his books on May 5, 1911.

For the period from Aug. 26, 1911, to June 24, 1912, the following receipts and expenditures were made: It might be well to state here that your treasurer was elected at the annual meeting of the Association held at Pasadena in May, 1911, but the financial affairs were not turned over to him until the above date.

=Receipts=

F. O. Poole, to balance account $ 88.58
Subscriptions for Index 666.50
Dues 316.00
Advertising 263.75
Overpayment of dues .26
Overpayment of subscriptions 4.00
--------
$1,335.09

=Expenditures=

Treasurer, printing & supplies $ 37.87
G. G. Glasier, express 3.96
H. L. Butler, typewriting for 1911 11.35

The Index
Composition, printing & binding
No. 2 & No. 4 and storage on back
number as per bills 447.45
Salary of Karl Ed. Steinmetz as
Mgr. Editor as per agreement
with Executive Committee 400.00
Salary of Frederick W. Schenk as
per agreement with the Executive
Committee 80.00
Printing the report of the
Committee on Sessions 1.75
Wrapping and shipping No. 2
of the Index 10.41
Wrapping and shipping No. 4
of the Index 12.52
Supplies furnished the Editor
of the Index, and express 19.05
Return of overpayment of dues .25
Refund of subscriptions 4.00 1,028.61
----------------------
Balance in First Nat'l.
Bank, Montpelier, Vt. $306.48

Your treasurer wishes to express at this time his appreciation of the many favors of the different officers of the association.

Respectfully submitted,

E. LEE WHITNEY, Treasurer.

The secretary reported that aside from arranging the program of the annual meeting, taking up details with reference to the election of new members, and other routine matters, the Executive committee had been obliged to meet the situation arising from the much regretted resignation of Mr. Gilson G. Glasier, as editor of the Index, after the publication of the first number of volume 4. It was finally decided to engage Mr. Karl E. Steinmetz, as editor of the balance of volume 4 at slight increase in compensation over the amount he received for indexing. The negotiations consumed so much time that after the publication of No. 2 of volume 4. It was decided to omit the third number, and to proceed forthwith with the preparation of the annual number which was to contain all index material of the year, including that which would have appeared in the third number.

At the meeting of the Committee in Cleveland, December 29-30, there was received from Mr. Schenk a proposition for doing the indexing and editing of volume 5 of the Index which was so favorable to the association that the Committee decided to accept it. Arrangements were effected which the Committee believed would place the work on a firm basis.

Members were urged to do their best to secure new subscribers.

On motion by Mr. Small, the president was directed to appoint an auditing committee, a nominating committee, and a committee on resolutions, of three members each, which committees were directed to report at a later session during the convention. The president appointed the following committees:

Auditing Committee: Mrs. M. C. Klingelsmith, Miss Frances D. Lyon, Harold L. Butler.

Nominating Committee: A. J. Small, E. A. Feazel, C. J. Babbitt.

Committee on Resolutions: E. M. Borchard, F. B. Crossley, F. O. Poole.

Dr. G. E. Wire, chairman, reported progress on behalf of the committee on the Reprinting of Session Laws. This report, together with other reports and papers not set out in this number, will be found in the Law Library Journal published by this association in conjunction with the Index to Legal Periodicals.

Mr. George N. Cheney, chairman, on behalf of the committee on the list of law libraries and librarians, reported progress.

Mr. O. J. Field, chairman, on behalf of the committee on Latin American Laws, reported that that committee had received but one response to about thirty letters sent to various South American legal institutions. This reply came from Brazil, and called attention to the fact that the National Press of Rio de Janeiro had for sale the public laws of the country. The committee hoped to report additional information at the next annual meeting.

Mr. Poole, temporary chairman of the committee to confer with the Library of Congress on shelf classifications for the law department, reported that a series of questions had been propounded by the Library of Congress, a copy of which had been sent to each member of the committee, and that replies thereto had been received from Mr. Hewitt and Mr. Babbitt, which replies had been transmitted to the Library of Congress. No further action was taken by the committee pending further word from the Library of Congress, which library since that time has seemed to be fully occupied with other matters.

Mr. A. J. Small, chairman of the Committee on Bibliography of Bar Association Proceedings, reported that a complete list, prepared by Mr. Francis Rawle, of Philadelphia, had been received by the committee, but that, in accordance with Mr. Rawle's request, details given in this list--many of which were in very abbreviated form--would have to be put into bibliographical shape before publication. It was further reported that arrangements would be effected whereby this work might be done, and publication secured.

Mr. Small, chairman of the Committee on the Bibliography of American Statute law, reported progress.

On motion of Mr. H. L. Butler, it was voted to accept the reports of the special committees so far received, and to continue all the committees, subject to such change in personnel as might seem necessary to the incoming president, and further, that all committees be directed to report at the next annual meeting.

Mr. John B. Kaiser, librarian of the Department of economics and sociology of the University of Illinois, read a paper on library school training for employees of law libraries. This was followed by an animated discussion.

On motion, it was voted to adjourn, to meet again on June 28th, at 9:30 a. m.

SECOND SESSION

(June 28, 1912, at 9:30 a. m., at the Chateau Laurier.)

President Godard called the meeting to order and stated that the first matter to be taken up was the consideration of the "Tentative list of subject headings for a law library catalog" prepared by the Library of Congress.

Mr. Edwin M. Borchard introduced the matter. He stated that the list had been prepared primarily for the use of the Library of Congress in its own catalog and in the work of printing catalog cards for distribution. It was hoped that the list in its final form would be of help to law libraries throughout the country, and to this end criticisms of the tentative list and suggestions were asked for.

Mr. Borchard then took up the headings in regard to which there might be difference of opinion, and explained the decision reached by his library. He pointed out several cases where changes had already been made in the list.

Considerable discussion ensued on various points.

At the suggestion of Mr. Borchard, the president was, on motion, directed to appoint a committee of three to confer with the Library of Congress on the matter of these subject headings.

The president announced the committee as follows: George N. Cheney, Luther E. Hewitt, J. David Thompson.

On motion, the resolutions committee was directed to draw up and present at a later session of the convention, a resolution of thanks to the Library of Congress for undertaking this work.

The president announced that the nominating committee was ready to make its report.

The nominations presented by this committee were as follows: President, Franklin O. Poole; 1st Vice-President, Frederick W. Schenk; 2nd Vice-President, Mrs. M. C. Klingelsmith; Secretary, Miss G. E. Woodard; Treasurer, E. Lee Whitney; Executive Committee, E. O. S. Scholefield, O. J. Field, E. J. Lien.

On motion, the report was accepted and the president was directed to cast one vote for the candidates mentioned.

The president announced that he had cast the vote and that the above officers were elected to serve during the ensuing year.

On motion, the meeting adjourned until June 30, at 9 p. m.

THIRD SESSION

(June 30, 1912, 9 p. m., at the Chateau Laurier.)

Mr. Butler, of the auditing committee, presented a report on behalf of the committee, as follows:

The auditing committee begs to report that it has audited the
books of the treasurer for the year ending June 24, 1912, and
finds same to be correct.

Respectfully submitted,

MARGARET C. KLINGELSMITH,
FRANCES D. LYON,
HAROLD L. BUTLER.

On motion, the report was accepted and the treasurer's report was approved.

Mr. Poole, on behalf of the committee on resolutions, presented a number of resolutions acknowledging the services to the profession of the Massachusetts State library in publishing a list of American statute law, and the catalog of foreign statute laws; of Mr. Francis Rawle in presenting to the association for publication his list of Bar Association proceedings; of the Library of Congress in compiling a list of subject headings for law library catalogs, and the Guide to the legal literature of Germany; and to all those who contributed to the program of the meeting, and had been instrumental in making the stay of the members in Ottawa so pleasant and profitable. There was also presented a resolution in acknowledgment of the life work of William J. C. Berry, one of the charter members, and formerly librarian of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, and of Stephen B. Griswold, the only honorary member of the association, and formerly state law librarian of New York. All these resolutions were unanimously adopted.

Mr. A. J. Small stated that he had received many requests for information regarding shelf classifications of text books in his library and moved that the president appoint a committee of three to gather information regarding such classifications in the several libraries and prepare the same for publication. After discussion the motion, being seconded, was duly carried. On motion it was voted to appropriate $25.00 for the expenses of the committee. The president announced the committee as follows: Miss G. E. Woodard, G. N. Cheney, E. A. Feazel.

The business of the association having been completed it was on motion, voted that the meeting adjourn sine die.

In addition to the above sessions, the association met in conjunction with other bodies in two joint sessions, the first with the National Association of State Libraries and the Special Libraries Association, and the second, with the Bibliographical Society of America and other bodies.

LEAGUE OF LIBRARY COMMISSIONS

Ninth Annual Meeting at Ottawa, Canada, June 28-July 1, 1912

FIRST SESSION

(Friday, June 28, 2:30 p. m.)

The first session was called to order by the first vice-president, Mr. C. H. Milam, of Indiana, in the absence of the president, Miss Cornelia Marvin, of Oregon.

It was voted to waive the reading of the minutes of the last annual meeting. The financial report of the secretary-treasurer was read and accepted.

The chairman appointed as a nominating committee to report at the last session, Charlotte Templeton, A. L. Bailey, and Mrs. Percival Sneed.

Miss Elizabeth B. Wales then presented the following report on charter provisions for public libraries in cities having the commission form of government.

REPORT ON CHARTER PROVISIONS FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN HOME RULE OR COMMISSION GOVERNMENT CITIES

The present chairman took charge of the work about May 1st. The committee found the time remaining so short that it was deemed inadvisable to attempt to prepare material for the League at this meeting. Therefore your committee begs leave to report progress and submit an outline of its plans for criticism and suggestion.

The discussion of the subject seemed to indicate that the difficulties might fall into two classes. Cases involving a satisfactory library law in danger of change, and difficulties occasioned by attempt to better the original law under the Commission government; and a further division including cases where the commission law as passed was inapplicable to the library government, or conflicted with the law. The committee suggests dealing with the matter by statute law rather than by city charter provision, and would suggest as a method, that:

(a) Two provisional sections be drafted, one to insure the continuing in force of the state library law already on the books, to be used in states where such continuance is for the interest of the library; another to provide for the organization and control of the library under commission government by a definite statement in the commission law to override all former statutes, to be used in states where the present law is not satisfactory.

(b) These sections be submitted to the heads of library commissions for criticism, accompanied by a letter of explanation embodying the question, "Would such state law meet the problems of libraries in commission governed cities in your state?"

Another and perhaps better way of securing the result would be to write to library commissions and ask these questions:

(1) What difficulties have arisen in the library administration of commission governed cities in your state?

(2) What remedies would you suggest to meet these difficulties?

(3) Would you incorporate these suggestions in the laws of your state or in the charters of your cities?

The committee also suggests that a letter be written to Mr. Richard S. Childs, stating the main difficulties experienced and requesting an opinion regarding the best method of meeting them. Mr. Child's known interest would no doubt bring an enlightening answer to any communication of reasonable length.

Miss Tyler has generously permitted the committee to use the letters received by her in the preparation of her paper for the Pasadena conference, and to these cities one or two questions might be sent bearing upon the special conditions developed. This "second appeal" may be made extremely valuable by careful treatment; for instance, there are twelve cities which have experienced change in the number of trustees representing the effect of the law in California, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, and S. Dakota; three report a board elected by the Commission or council instead of appointed by the mayor; again the Michigan law, and also that of Massachusetts and North Carolina; two (Lewiston, Iowa, and Decatur, Ill.) report supervision of buildings and grounds by city committees; two (Des Moines and Tacoma) mention the value of increased publicity; one (Colorado Springs) reports civil service; there were in this first inquiry between twenty and thirty "no change" reports; some of these said no change "as yet." There were many special points noted in the letters which would repay investigation by the committee.

We shall hope for a generous coöperation from the members of the League, if it be your pleasure to continue this committee.

Respectfully submitted,

ELIZABETH B. WALES, Chairman,
CARL H. MILAM,
M. S. DUDGEON,
ARTHUR L. BAILEY.

The report was accepted and the committee continued.

In view of the work being done by a committee of the A. L. A. Council on library laws and charter provisions, the League committee on the motion of Miss Tyler, was instructed to coöperate with the A. L. A. Council committee.

Mr. M. S. Dudgeon reported the work of the Committee on Library post as follows:

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY POST

Your committee on library post reports as follows:

The present status of federal legislation is thus given in a letter received from the Hon. John J. Esch, member of Congress from Wisconsin.

"The post office appropriation bill, as it passed the House
recently, provided for a rural parcels post with rates of 5 cents
per pound, and 1 cent for each additional pound up to eleven
pounds. These rates, however, are confined to parcels emanating in
the town from which the route runs, or along such route, with the
right of interchange of packages from route to route. As few books
exceed a pound in weight this would mean a charge of 5 cents. The
post office appropriation bill is now before the Senate. What
action it will take remains to be seen. The House bill contained a
provision for the appointment of a commission to investigate the
whole subject of a general parcels post, the commission to make
its report to Congress by the opening of the next regular session
in December."

Parcels Post vs. Library Post

Our League president forwards the following letter from a Washington correspondent who is evidently perfectly familiar with the subject:

"I am in receipt of your letter of May 17th, asking me whether
there is any hope of getting a library post, and in reply will
say that if you mean a special act providing for a library post,
separate and distinct from other postal service, I do not think
that there is any hope of getting it in the near future.

"I do think, however, that the parcels post bill which Senator
Bourne has proposed, if passed at this Congress, will very rapidly
develop into a law which will be entirely satisfactory for library
purposes. The average library book weighs slightly over a pound,
but will come easily within two pounds. Under Senator Bourne's
bill the rate on rural routes would be 5 cents for the first
pound and 1 cent additional for each additional pound; within
the fifty mile zone, 6 cents for the first pound and 2 cents for
each additional pound; within the two hundred mile zone, 7 cents
for the first pound and 3 cents for each additional pound. These
rates were decided upon with a certain margin of profit to the
government so that there would be no possibility of the government
sustaining loss. It was believed that it would be disastrous to
the parcels post movement to have any loss at the beginning. Such
a loss would serve as an excuse for the abandoning of a parcels
post. I am very certain that if this bill should be passed one
year's experience would demonstrate that the rural rate could be
reduced to 4 and 1 cent, making 5 cents for a two pound package;
the 50 mile zone could be abolished and the rate for the 200 mile
zone fixed at 5 cents for the first pound and 1 cent for each
additional pound. The 200 mile zone, at that rate, ought to give
you as good a library post service as you can expect to have
within a number of years. I do not think that you can expect to
get a law enacted which will provide for the carrying of library
books at less than cost. It is no argument to say that the
government is now carrying newspapers at less than cost. It made a
mistake in establishing such a rate, but having made it, it cannot
easily increase the rate.

"You ask whether there is anything the library people can do to
forward this matter. My opinion is that the one thing you could
do would be to help get sentiment back of a general parcels post
so that a bill on a zone basis with rates varying according to
distance, will be passed by this Congress. When we once get a law
of that kind, its development will be very rapid. The trouble will
be to get the first law on the statute books."

=Senator Bourne's Bill=

The bill introduced by Senator Bourne seems to be all that we can hope for at present. A summary of it follows:

Postal rates on parcels vary with distance, thus protecting local merchants and competing with express companies.

Third and fourth classes of matter are combined.

A special rate of one cent an ounce up to four ounces is provided for circulars and small packages of goods.

Rates are as follows:

Local, city and rural delivery only, 5cts for the first pound and one cent for each additional pound.

Within 50 miles zone, 6cts for the first pound and 2cts for each additional pound.

Within 200 miles zone, 7cts for the first pound and 3cts for each additional pound.

Within 500 miles zone, 8cts for the first pound and 5cts for each additional pound.

Within 1,000 miles zone, 9cts for the first pound and 5cts for each additional pound.

Outside 2,000 miles zone, 12cts for the first pound and 10cts for each additional pound.

These rates are based on a careful computation of the actual cost of collecting, distributing and delivering packages, plus the actual cost of transportation.

Weight limit, 11 pounds and maximum charge 12cts, the international limit and rate.

=Committee Progress and Recommendations=

The committee has canvassed the situation carefully and corresponded at some length with many persons. It has also suggested that the various commissions take up and follow the matter with their respective congressmen. Many commissions have done this. South Dakota, at its annual library association meeting adopted a formal resolution to be forwarded to senators and congressmen for the state.

The committee recommends:

1. That the secretary of each commission which has not already done so immediately communicate in a personal letter as already suggested with each senator and congressman from his state.

2. That each state commission at its next annual meeting adopt a resolution endorsing a parcels post law similar to Senator Bourne's measure, urging low rates on rural routes, and a zone system and send such resolutions, signed if possible by all the members of the commission, to each senator and congressman in the state.

3. That each state library association do the same.

4. That this League adopt such a resolution, and that the secretary from each commission sees that such resolution reaches the senators and congressmen in his state.

5. That efforts to secure a separate library post law be abandoned for the present.

Respectfully submitted,

M. S. DUDGEON, Chairman.

The report was accepted and the committee continued and the secretary of the League was instructed to place its recommendations before the Council of the A. L. A., in order to secure the coöperation of that body. The members of the League were particularly urged to assist the committee in its efforts.

A report of the committee in state school library systems, in the absence of Miss Martha Wilson, the chairman, was read by the secretary. It consisted chiefly of a summary of the school library laws of the different states. The report was accepted.

The report of the committee on study clubs outlines, prepared by Miss Margaret Brown was read by Mr. Dudgeon. It was as follows:

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON STUDY OUTLINE

The committee finds that the difficulties encountered by traveling libraries in attempting to supply satisfactory and adequate reference material to the many study clubs largely dependent upon them for books, is chiefly because of the miscellaneous program, covering a wide variety of subjects.

In addition to this, many traveling libraries receive requests for study outlines or are asked to prepare them; hence it was decided by the committee that a plan should be submitted for the preparation of study outlines.

This plan once in use by traveling libraries preparing outlines, would bring about a certain standardization, thus making an outline prepared by one useful to all. Such a plan could not only be utilized by traveling libraries but by other organizations concerned in providing outlines for study clubs.

A plan was presented at the midwinter meeting of the middle-west section of the League, which after discussion has been revised and is herewith again presented with the following recommendations:

=First.= Plan for preparation of study outlines.

=Basis.=

=A. One book selected as foundation for outline.= If a single book
suitable for text cannot be found, outline to be based on fewest
number of books necessary for the purpose. Texts selected to be
authoritative, reasonable in price, readable and stimulating.