a greater use of leathers than already obtains. In this respect the recommendations of the Committee are as follows:

1. Always use leather on books which are to receive hard usage.

2. Never use leather on books which will be seldom used.

3. In case of doubt give preference to cloth.

It follows from these rules that fiction and juvenile books should be bound in leather, except in localities where experience has demonstrated that cloth is better. In view of the experience of many libraries during the last ten years there is no doubt in the minds of the Committee that leather is best for such books, and that a good grade of cowhide is good enough for this purpose.

Reference books, especially heavy volumes such as dictionaries, encyclopaedias, etc., should, of course, be bound in leather.

It follows furthermore from these rules that practically all periodicals should be bound in cloth. There are very few libraries in which the use of bound periodicals for reference purposes justifies binding them in leather. With the slight amount of use which periodicals are likely to receive it is reasonable to suppose that cloth made according to the specifications of the Bureau of Standards will last much longer than any other material now on the market.

During the year nothing has been done toward standardizing book papers. Such

an investigation requires a much larger fund than is at the disposal of the Committee. Therefore it must wait until the work is done either by the Bureau of Standards in Washington or by some paper chemist or manufacturer.

Respectfully submitted,

A. L. BAILEY,

ROSE G. MURRAY,

J. RITCHIE PATTERSON.

COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC DOCUMENTS (Preliminary Report)

Your Committee on public documents respectfully urges that each one interested in the publication and distribution of the official publications of our national government and of the several states and their subdivisions and in making easily and intelligently accessible the contents of these publications take advantage of the opportunities which will be offered along these lines at our Washington meeting. Special efforts in our behalf will be made by those in authority in the several departments at Washington. As never before this will be our opportunity to hear and be heard.

The compiler of the Monthly Catalogue of Public Documents has prepared for our special benefit a paper relating to that publication. This paper is expected to explain some things not now clearly understood and will furnish opportunity for those interested to ask questions and offer suggestions.

Acting Superintendent of Documents Brinker has assured our Committee that his "office doors will always be open to visiting librarians during the sessions of the conference and at other times." He assures us that both he and his force will be glad to meet us and do what they can to make our stay pleasant and instructive.

Mr. Carter, secretary of the Joint Committee on printing, will be with us to explain the new printing bill from which much is expected both for the government and for our libraries. It is expected that copies of this bill as now proposed will be accessible before the conference in order that its contents may be better understood when it is presented to us.

Dr. Putnam has invited us to make the

fullest use of the several departments of the Library of Congress.

GEO. S. GODARD,
Chairman.

COMMITTEE ON WORK WITH the BLIND

The extension this year of parcel post to books has been already utilized in several libraries to enlarge their circulation and increase their usefulness, but for ten years the readers of embossed books have been accorded a greater privilege in having their books transported from libraries and institutions by mail free of all charge. This favor, which was granted in 1904, has tremendously increased the circulation of books to the blind. Your Committee, and all those in charge of this work, are most anxious to so coöperate and systematize the loaning of books as to accomplish greater results more expeditiously and at the same time eliminate, as much as possible, the inevitable overlapping of territory throughout the United States, and confine regular readers to the particular library to which they belong, except in cases where it is impossible to obtain the book required. To this end it would seem advisable to urge that a comparatively small number of well-stocked distributing centers with power of more than a local circulation be developed in such localities as would leave no considerable territory uncovered. duplication of small collections of tangible literature, which are not likely to be increased, is to be discouraged, for these are quickly exhausted by the local reader and become dead material.

The

The library work for the blind is not confined to public libraries. Embossed books are loaned by different organizations in various parts of the United States. The circulation of the six larger libraries loaning books and music scores in the United States during the past year has been 59,167 volumes, the New York City public library being in the lead.

Your Committee has not been able to correspond with a large number of libraries, but a short report from some of the more important ones is given here:

California: The State library at Sacramento has books for the blind in five different types and these are sent to any blind resident of the state on application, also writing appliances and games are loaned on trial and the addresses of firms supplying these articles are given to any inquirer. Books have been loaned since 1905 and on April 1, 1914, there were 608 borrowers, the total number of embossed books being 3,393. The library also loans the Braille Review and the Outlook for the Blind in ink-print, and various other ink-print magazines containing current articles on subjects relating to the blind.

The circulation of embossed books for 1913 was 7,366; for the year April 1, 1913March 31, 1914, circulation 8,064, the circulation for the first quarter of 1914 being 2,382, as compared with 1,684 for the first quarter of 1913. This increase in circulation at this time is largely due to the issuing of a new circular and finding list late in March.

The San Francisco Association for the Blind circulates the embossed books to the blind of San Francisco. Books are also loaned to the library in Sacramento which in turn borrows from the Association. There are 422 volumes in this 11brary, the greater number being in New York point and American Braille, but there are also books in Moon and Line type, and English and Spanish books in old Braille. Last year the Association voted to spend $100 a year on embossed books. During 1913 there were about 200 volumes in circulation among 30 readers. The Superintendent has recently made a catalog of the books and a duplicate in Braille.

Delaware: Mr. Bailey, the librarian of the Wilmington Institute free library, writes that the books for the blind are

now in charge of the Delaware Commission for the Blind and one of the men, partially blind, delivers and collects the books for the blind throughout the city. They have now 665 volumes and during the past year added 43 books in the Braille type.

Illinois: The Chicago public library book bulletin for December 1914 announced that free readings for the blind would be instituted in all branch libraries in the city two Saturday mornings each month, through volunteers from the Jewish Women's clubs. The March number of the Bulletin says that the library has a collection of 1,370 volumes for the use of the blind in Chicago. Though a reading room for their accommodation is maintained in one of the branches, most of the books are circulated through the mail and last year 2,620 volumes were sent out for home use.

lowa: Miss Robinson of the Committee reports as follows: Inasmuch as the New York point system is the one taught in the Iowa College for the Blind at Vinton and is therefore the one generally understood in Iowa, the books in that type are circulated. During 1913, 246 books were loaned and 404 readers registered; 50 titles have been added to the collection. This work has been added to the work of the Traveling Libraries under the Iowa Library Commission and books are loaned to any blind person in the state upon the recommendation of a resident seeing tax

payer.

Library of Congress: The report for 1913 of the Room for the Blind, with Mrs. Rider in charge, shows that the embossed books now number 2,245 volumes, active readers are 92 and blind readers visiting the Room for the Blind, and blind persons attending entertainments during the year numbered 1,157. The total circulation this year of books, magazines and music has been 1,703. There have been 562 books, magazines and music scores

added to the library. The Room for the Blind receives copies of all books published by the American Printing House for the Blind in Louisville, so far as these are printed from the Government allotment. The books and music have been classified, cataloged and properly shelved, and files for detailed information have been started to facilitate reference work on all matters pertaining to the blind. In so far as the collection in the library permits books are circulated in states where the need of a reader is not met by a local, nearby or state library. Applicants in this case are first referred to these nearer libraries.

Massachusetts: Throughout Massachusetts and the other New England States the majority of the books loaned to the blind are sent from the Perkins Institution for the Blind at Watertown, Mass. All inquiries at public libraries and associations are referred to this library. The Institution has its own printing plant, the Howe Memorial Press, and the library, working in connection with this, has a larger supply of books in the Line and Braille types to draw from than some of the other libraries. It is primarily a school library but from the very first was designed to supply reading matter to the blind in any part of the United States and America. This year 4,694 embossed books and music scores were loaned outside the school. The fact that the library makes long-time loans to six libraries and to three schools for the blind, rather than to the individuals themselves, lowers the number of books actually loaned from the library. There is also a valuable reference library of books relating to the blind in ink-print. These books cannot be circulated, but are free to all for study and reference, and requests sent in for lists of books and articles on special subjects connected with the blind will be granted. A large quantity of Braille music is published here and sold or circulated to any one.

The public library at Lynn, Mass., has a good selection of embossed books and a number of constant, active readers under the supervision of a librarian who is blind, Miss Jennie Bubier. This collection is supplemented by a deposit of books from the Perkins Institution library.

Michigan: The Michigan Employment Institution for the Blind at Saginaw reports through Mr. Shotwell that for the year from July 1913 to July 1914 the legislature of Michigan granted $1,000 to the Institution for embossed books, and for the coming year of 1914-1915 the same amount has been granted. This is being expended for Braille and New York point books and a large quantity of Braille and New York point music has also been ordered. The books and music are loaned to any blind person in the state and will also be sent out of the state to any former resident or pupil, or to any one who has in any way aided the library either by money or influence. They hope soon to have a full stock of the newer books and to be able to keep it up to date and that this will greatly increase their circulation.

Minnesota Miss Carey of the Committee reports that the work of furnishing books to the blind of Minnesota in New York point, Braille and other systems is carried on by the State School for the Blind at Faribault, which is just now erecting a new library building. This library is open the year round and this year has a list of outside readers numbering 88. The average number of books taken out monthly by these readers is 33. The number of adult blind using the library is increased each year by members of the summer school, some of whom always become permanent members of the library circle.

New York: In the New York City public library the department for the blind, with Miss Goldthwaite, of this Committee, in charge, fills a large place among the libraries supplying embossed books to the

blind. It has 10,850 volumes of books and music scores in different types, and is most liberal in loaning these in the state and also outside, if the book required cannot be obtained from a nearer library. Last year 23,325 volumes were circulated, an increase of 1,387 over 1912, 20,000 volumes were sent by mail and 700 volumes added to the library. It is especially to be congratulated on having such excellent book lists; a complete catalog

of books and music, printed in ink-print; also an embossed catalog in New York point of all the New York point books and one in Braille of all the Braille books. These catalogs are for sale at a nominal price.

The New York state library at the time of its destruction by fire had in the department for the blind 3,299 volumes of embossed books and music. This department, under Miss Chamberlain, has now 3,185 volumes of books and 745 pieces of music, having increased its accessions by 629 volumes. It has published 113 New York point books on the standard sized plate so that they can be obtained by any li brary. This last year 13 new books were printed. The total circulation for the past year was 6,788 books and scores of music. The books printed by the New York state library are always most popular with all readers using that type, and fill an important place in every collection of New York point books.

Ohio: The library work for the blind in Cleveland is done through the Society for the Blind, but no recent report has been received. In Cincinnati the Clovernook Home for blind women was opened last May and since then a small building has been fitted up with a printing press and other equipment, and at this time they are just starting to print New York point books. The books in this collection are sent throughout the United States as well as into Canada. Miss Georgia Trader and her sister are in charge of this work.

Pennsylvania: The Free library of Philadelphia, in coöperation with the Pennsylvania Home Teaching Society, under the supervision of Mrs. Delfino, of this Committee, supplies the blind with reading matter in the eastern part of Pennsylvania. In 1913 the names of 127 new borrowers were added; 18,505 volumes of embossed books being circulated among 699 persons, this library having the second largest circulation among the blind. Of the 4,472 volumes in actual use, 1,591 belong to the Free library of Philadelphia and 2,881 to the Pennsylvania Home Teaching Society. Coöperation with the Society for the Promotion of Church Work among the Blind has placed the publications of that Society also at the service of readers. The Pennsylvania School for the Blind at Overbrook, though entirely a school library, helps in the circulation of books outside the school by supplying text books and loaning the German and French books at its disposal. Last year they circulated among outside readers about 800 books.

In the western part of the state embossed books are circulated from the Carnegie Library at Pittsburgh, and last year they sent out 4,145 volumes. We regret that we have no special report of that library this year.

Many of the libraries in other states, which have helped in the circulation of the embossed books, are adding but little to their stock. We would refer anyone wishing a more detailed report of the work done in the various states to an article by Mrs. Delfino in the Outlook for the Blind, January, 1911.

Embossed Lists: An embossed list of the books is always much desired by all blind readers. They wish to look up and choose their own books without asking any one to read an ink-print list to them. Such lists have been printed at the New York City public library, as mentioned

before. These they intend to keep up to date by supplements added from time to time. The Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh, the San Francisco Association, the State library at Indianapolis and the Cincinnati public library have also published embossed lists. The Free library of Philadelphia is shortly to bring up to date by supplements the embossed lists issued in 1907. These lists of all their Braille and New York point books are loaned free of charge to all readers. At the Perkins Institution they have issued a list, printed in Braille, of the Braille music which they circulate and have for sale. A few libraries have tried embossed card catalogs, but the process is tedious and the use made of them did not seem to justify the time involved. One has been used in the department for the blind in the Brooklyn public library and in the public library at Lynn, Mass. We would like to draw the attention of all those working for the blind to the valuable ink-print list of all the Braille books published in the United States, a new edition of which is just being brought out by Mr. Burritt at Overbrook, Penn. This gives a complete record of the Braille books, the place and date of publication and in many instances detailed contents.

Library Schools: For some time the library schools have been interested in this side of library work and devote one or two lecture hours a year to it, and also visit nearby schools and libraries for the blind, in order to interest the students in the work and familiarize them with the method of obtaining and sending out books for their blind readers. Work of this kind at this time is undertaken in the New York state library school, the New York public library school, the Pratt Institute, the Syracuse library school and at Simmons college in Boston.

No new embossed periodicals for the blind have been started this last year. The