portioned that each attendant is on duty six hours and a half. It might well be called volunteerpaid labor, the attendant being perfectly willing to serve, and the Board of Management able and willing to pay. No one's conscience is hurt, and that oft-repeated objection from opponents of Sunday opening falls to the ground. Our attendants are very watchful and competent, and the duty while active, is very pleasant to them, and they have the confidence of the patrons of the library. Any opponent to Sunday library opening would probably experience a sudden change of heart, could he look into the Cincinnati Public Library's grand consultation-room, the newspaper-room, the periodical-room, and the art-room on that day, and take a glance at the earnest-looking men and women, boys and girls, deep in their books. He might wonder at the crowds that sometimes throng them, but he certainly would have new thoughts on this grand opportunity for reading in quiet on Sunday. and the quietness of the day lends an additional charm. I want to put myself on record as a believer in church going, in good sermons, in earnest Sunday-school work, in everything that can elevate and interest on that day. It should not be an idle day. Rest is often gained by mental and physical recreation. I do not believe that the opening of libraries on Sundays runs counter to Christian teaching.

In this connection I want to add to the list of things desirable and proper for Sunday thought, that great moral engine, the Sunday lecture; and from experience I have learned how much the Sunday lecture and Sunday library reading work together. Some ten years ago, seeking to do something to help clear up the low atmosphere which was dragging my city into an unenviable notoriety, in connection with two friends I looked deeply into the advisability of starting a course of lectures on Sunday afternoons, to attract the attention of a class who were apparently aimless on that day. In the face of a great deal of dissent from clerical friends and others who had fears of the effect of such an innovation, a course was started, at a very low price, which accomplished more than was dreamed of. The experiment proved the wisdom of this faith, and throughout these ten years in which the Unity Club Lectures have been in existence, never has there been a failure to attract large and appreciative audiences of men and women, boys and girls,-thinking boys and girls, too. The best talent on the platform is always provided. An incident worth quoting to you relates to the late Hon. William

Parsons's lecture on Troy. The day following, so great had been the fascination of his quotations from Homer, that every available copy in the bookstores were disposed of, and, I presume, the libraries, early in the day, furnished their quota. One lady friend, who came to the bookstore too late in the day for her purchase, remembered having a dilapidated copy at home, which she would need to utilize. Had she known she was so near out of Homer," her application would have been made earlier in the day. There was a recurrence of this when the same fascinating speaker lectured on George Stephenson. Now, on no other day could all these people be got together (for good and sufficient reasons), and on no other day could these lectures be afforded at so low a price 10 cents and 15 cents. This kind of lecturing is right in the line with library work, and many of the listeners go from the library to the lecture, and back again to the library. This course of lectures has been successful for ten years, each year netting a surplus of $600 or more, which is given to needy charitable, educational, and other institutions. I see how my effort in this work increases the reading in libraries on Sunday, and I can see its good effects in tracing to it books called for during the week, and feel justified in asserting that great mental and moral good is thus accomplished.

Wherever possible, have the public library open the whole or at least a part of Sunday. It will work for good. And I believe librarians in large cities, appreciating its great value, will give a portion of their Sunday hours to see the movement general and successful. All reading in libraries should receive a generous encouragement, as one of the greatest of public incentives to good citizenship; but to have a place to read in quiet on Sunday, while desirable from every point of view, is a great step forward in the march of culture and civilization.

Secretary DEWEY called attention to the elaborate and very valuable statistics on Sunday opening, annexed to Miss Cutler's paper, also to the new and greatly enlarged edition of the Library School catalog rules with their fac-similes of catalog cards illustrating hundreds of points.

On Sunday opening he said: In recent years there has been a great increase in libraries open on Sunday. I began my study of this question with strong prejudice against it, but have been forced to believe in Sunday opening. In some cases it may not be wise, but nearly every experi

ment has proved a marked success, and its best friends are those who have tried it. Are we not stopping too short in not opening the Circulating department also?

This Association has been singularly free from the stigma of being a trades union. I should greatly regret anything that implied a spirit on our part which says 'This is a good thing and ought to be done, but we wont do it without extra pay.' Such a spirit has nothing in common with the modern library movement, which is nothing if not missionary in its character. Let us first do what ought to be done, and then ask and get the help we need to do it, but do it even if it requires extra hours and added labor. Some ask, Why do you do what you are not paid for and what is not really demanded of you? A man who sets up such a standard seems to me a selfish shirk.

My criticism is general and not aimed at Prof. Smith. I would appeal to the public not to deprive us of our Sabbaths, but to give us help enough so we can keep open and yet have Sabbath

new

President CUTTER read a letter from Mr. J. C. Murray, Librarian of the Gammon Theological Seminary, Atlanta, Ga., cordially inviting the Association, on its post-conference excursion, to the seminary. He said: "We have a library building just completed, which is a pioneer in its way. It is the first library erected in the South for the benefit of all races alike. Although not very pretentious, I believe you will find it attractive and neat."

President CUTTER, being obliged to leave, called ex-President Winsor to the chair.

Mr. H. M. UTLEY read his report on

LIBRARY LEGISLATION.

(See p. 44.)

Dr. Steiner read W. A. BARDWELL'S report on

SCRAP BOOKS.

(See p. 49.)

Mr. H: J. CARR read his report on

CHARGING SYSTEMS.

(See p. 57.)

Miss Garland told me of a little device which she uses for preserving the call-numbers of books wanted, which the readers have filled out. A slip, 11 x 8.1 cm., ruled for two columns of numbers, is tipped on the reader's card, and so does not get lost. When none of the books on this list are in, the reader makes out another list, which is also tipped on. Sometimes three or four of these are tipped on over the other. When the card is used up, the slip is torn off, and the borrower copies the numbers on the slip attached to the new card.

Mr. R. B. POOLE gave orally his paper on

BOOK-BINDING MEMORANDA.

(See p. 115.)

MR. WINSOR.-I should like to know your custom-house experience in regard to binding books abroad.

Mr. R. B. POOLE.-The question was raised, but it was settled that, if books could be imported free for a public institution, they could be imported free again after being bound.

Mr. G. E. STECHERT.-The law says that books pay 25 per cent duty; but libraries, incorporated for special purposes, are allowed two copies free of duty. Bindings and cases for bindings pay 35 per cent duty, and are not allowed

free for libraries.

Mr. WINSOR.- We got a decision years ago that the law included books and not binding. Official ignorance alone let Mr. Poole get his binding through the Custom-House.

Mr. A. W. TYLER.-Can you distinguish genuine from imitation morocco ?

Mr. R. B. POOLE.- By experience.

Mr. G. E. STECHERT.-It is easy to find out before binding. There is a sort of cracking in the genuine leather when handled.

Mr. R. B. POOLE.- Morocco is the most durable, and is less affected by gas and heat. Russia very bad.

is

Dr. STEINER.- Is not American Russia better than the genuine?

Mr. G. E. STECHERT.- Yes.

Mr. H. J. CARR.- Has any one had any experience in sewing on tape and not on hemp?

Mr. R. B. POOLE.-Irish linen is the best. The band should be three-ply. Then, shall we use flexible or tight backs? The tight is the strong. est, but does n't open freely.

Dr. STEINER.-You haven't noticed the most execrable form, the wire-stitched.

Mr. R. B. POOLE.- It is better to go to a man you can trust, even if you pay a little more.

Mr. O. S. DAVIS.- Is there any difference between sheep and imitation morocco?

Mr. R. B. POOLE.- No.

Mr. H: P. SMITH.-Mr. Whelpley says that German-bound books decay rapidly.

Mr. C: A. NELSON.-What explains the strength of bindings on English Bibles?

Mr. R. B. POOLE.-I ascribe it to the flexible bands in the back.

Mr. C: H. BURBANK.-I protest against books being put together with glue only.

Mr. G. E. STECHERT exhibited specimens of German morocco bindings.

Mr. R. B. POOLE.- Mr. Schwartz is using a duck of one half the cost of buckram, and considers it preferable.

Mr. K: A. LINDERFELT.-I have had experience with imperfect sewing. My binder has taken an interest in this matter, and has substituted parchment strips for strings.

Mr. R. B. POOLE reported the comparative prices of American and foreign skins for bindings. Mr. K: A. LINDERFELT. Has any library sent its books to Europe for binding?

The University of Minnesota Library was reported to be doing so.

Mr. H. J. CARR.-I have lately rebound or bound first a great many new books. The one great difficulty has been with the bands, and I found that books sewed on tapes lasted longest. The Executive Committee reported the list of

OFFICERS OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIA-
TION FOR 1889-90.
President.

F: M. Crunden, St. Louis (Mo.) Public Library.
Vice-Presidents.

S: S. Green, Worcester (Mass.) Free Public Library.

Hon. Mellen Chamberlain, Boston (Mass.) Public Library.

J. N. Larned, Buffalo (N. Y.) Library.

Secretary.

Melvil Dewey, New York State Library, Albany, N. Y.

Assistant Secretaries.

A. General.

W: E. Parker, Treasurer Library Bureau, Boston.

Mary Salome Cutler, New York State Library, Albany, N. Y.

B. Travel.

H. E. Davidson, Secretary Library Bureau, Boston.

F: H. Hild, Librarian Chicago Public Library.

Recorder.

Prof. G: T. Little, Librarian Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Me.

Treasurer.

H: J. Carr, Grand Rapids (Mich.) Public Library.

Finance Committee.

W: E. Foster, Providence (R. I.) Public Library. C: C. Soule, Publisher, Boston, Mass. Herbert Putnam, Minneapolis (Minn.) Public Library.

Cooperation Committee.

W. S. Biscoe, New York State Library, Albany, N. Y.

R. B. Poole, Y. M. C. A., New York. Horace Kephart, Yale University, New Haven, Conn.

Library School Committee.

Prof. R. C. Davis, Librarian University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Prof. E. C. Richardson, Hartford (Conn.) Theological Seminary.

Miss C. M. Hewins, Hartford (Conn.) Library.

Public Documents Committee.

S: S. Green, Worcester (Mass.) Free Public Library.

R: R. Bowker, Library journal, New York. W: I. Fletcher, Librarian Amherst College, Amherst, Mass.

Standing Committee (with power to appoint subcommittees).

The President, ex officio.
The Secretary, ex officio.

R: R. Bowker, Library journal, New York.
Councillors.

Justin Winsor, 1876–1885, Harvard University, Ex-President.

W: F. Poole, 1885-1887, Newberry Library, Chicago, Ex-President.

C. A. Cutter, 1887-1889, Boston Athenæum, Ex-President.

James Bain, Toronto Public Library.

E. M. Barton, American Antiquarian Society, Worcester.

W: H. Brett, Cleveland Public Library.
C. R. Dudley, Denver Public Library.
J: N. Dyer, St. Louis Mercantile Library.
R. A. Guild, Brown University.

K: A. Linderfelt, Milwaukee Public Library.
C: A. Nelson, Howard Memorial Library, New
Orleans.

Mrs. M. A. Sanders, Pawtucket Public Library.
A. R. Spofford, Library of Congress.
H: M. Utley, Detroit Public Library.
A. W. Whelpley, Cincinnati Public Library.
A. Van Name, Yale University Library.

FOURTH SESSION.

(FRIDAY AFTERNOON, MAY 10.) President CUTTER called the meeting to order at 2.25 P. M.

NEXT MEETING.

The discussion of the place of next meeting was resumed.

Prof. H: P. SMITH.-I would add Cresson Springs, Pa., or Lake George.

Mr. C: C. SOULE.- In reviewing the six places where our meetings have been held, my interest was most excited at Lake George and Thousand Islands. I therefore infer that a conference at some summer resort, out of the summer season, is the best. A city has too much to distract one. Unless a missionary work is desirable in some city, a country-place is best.

Mr. H: J. CARR.-I would corroborate what Mr. Soule says.

Secretary DEWEY.-I suggest Mackinaw Island, in the straits between Lakes Michigan and Huron, as one of the most delightful retreats.

Mr. H: J. CARR.-That is an out-of-the-way place and in the west. I move that the Executive Committee be requested to arrange the meeting

at some sea-coast resort.

Mr. W: I. FLETCHER.-I move instead an informal ballot. Voted.

Burlington, Vt. and Virginia Beach were also suggested.

Prof. H: P. SMITH.-Is it required by precedent to go to the extreme East or the extreme West? President CUTTER suggested that each person write three names instead of one.

Mr. S: S. GREEN read his paper on

INDUSTRIAL LIBRARIES.

(See p. 69.)

Mr. F. N. CRUNDLN.-A gentleman is present who illustrates Mr. Green's paper in his own person, Mr. Feuerbach, of St. Louis.

Mr. FEUERBACH.-I am glad to be called upon. I expected more, but Mr. Greene has gone over the whole ground, as near as librarians get. Among the beginners of this work was Col. John O'Fallon, the originator of the public school library. The first incentive used to draw people to the library was the gift of a free ticket. To be sure, the fee was small, but it oftentimes prevented from coming the very ones most needing the privilege. This free ticket, given to the employés, creates an interest. The technical school does not fill every want, though Prof. Ashby's school is an excellent illustration of what ought to be. Training schools could be formed for girls. There is no evening school for technical education, except Col. Ashby's. So the library has to supply the lack.

Mr. Crunden has started a movement in St. Louis to enlarge the library in a technical direction. I have tried to encourage my workers by giving them free tickets. I think it might be a good plan to try in other places.

Mr. F: N. CRUNDEN.-A movement has been started, and is in progress of fulfillment. Several thousand dollars have been already promised, and doubtless $10,000 will be raised to be used as a special fund for establishing and maintaining a technical library. One gentleman has given $1,000, and several hundred dollar subscriptions have been made. I hope that this will serve as an example for starting funds for other departments.

NEXT MEETING.

The result of the ballot for place of next meeting was given, the White Mountains, Lake George, and Mount Desert having the most votes.

President CUTTER.-It is well to have an expression of opinion in regard to the time.

Mr. G: T. LITTLE.- In small libraries the librarian has other college duties so that the first week in September is best.

Mr. H: P. SMITH.-I move that the next meeting begin the first Tuesday in September.

Secretary DEWEY.-The early September meeting, at Lake George, was objected to, yet it proved one of the most delightful times and places. Will those who could not come on the second as well as the first week of September please rise? (Four rose.) These represent the position of a large number of college librarians.

Mr. F. N. CRUNDEN.- The first week is more convenient for me on account of the opening of the public schools.

President CUTTER.— It would be a good plan for the Arrangement Committee to decide between the three places highest on the list.

Secretary DEWEY.- Let us take a standing vote. Fifteen preferred Lake George; one preferred Mount Desert; fifteen preferred White Mountains.

Mr. R: R. BOWKER.- The White Mountains properly include Lake Winnipesaukee and all the mountain region, thus leaving large room for choice of meeting-place. I move that we meet the first week in September. Voted.

Mr. O. S. DAVIS.-I move that the Standing Committee be authorized to choose between Lake George and the White Mountains, according to the desirability of the arrangements found possible. Voted.

President Cutter read the report, by Miss M. E. SARGENT, on

READING FOR THE YOUNG.

Voted, That the words in our constitution "to reach conclusions" are not to be understood to mean the adoption by vote of the Association of any principles of action or usage, the endorsement by such vote of any schemes, views, or plans, either apposite or inapposite to the purposes of the Association.

Voted, That in the future the formal acceptance and subsequent publication in the records of the Association, of the report of any committee on matters of library usage be regarded as the sufficient and final action of the Association on such matters.

In support of these resolutions Mr. Winsor said:

This tendency on the part of the Association has been illustrated in several ways, e. g. spelling reform. I find spelling reform used in our printed matter, without the action of the society, thus bringing us into discredit. I saw yesterday a vote passed through in regard to the State Library Association and another about the Library School.

Mr. W: F: POOLE.-I second Mr. Winsor's remarks. This is no new question. It has been up time and time again. I have seen votes passed which the Association knew nothing about. I have felt that the Association has been frittering itself away by such votes. At Lake

George transliteration was brought up. It turned out that not a soul knew a thing about transliteration. Mr. Cutter owned that he did n't know, like an honest man. We were organized that each member might express his opinion on any subject. He puts his paper forth as his opinion, not as the opinion of the Association. I have my hobbies, but I don't want you to endorse them. They are strong enough to stand alone. The decimal system in designating the size of books was endorsed by individuals, not by the A. L. A. I am going to use twelve with a degree mark on it, an eight with a degree mark on it, a four with a degree mark on it. Every good man does it. Then we have colon names. You say that my name should be W colon, F colon. I almost faint when I see it printed. My name is William, not a W and a colon. My name is Frederick, not an F and a colon. N, with a colon turned down, means Nancy. I call any man who uses it a Miss Nancy.

We have had too much of this nonsense, and I heartily endorse the resolutions of Mr. Winsor. Let us go on as we have begun, and each give his opinion. We don't want a rule for spelling bookworm. Let each one choose for himself. But I do want my paper printed as I write it. I have been asked: "Are 'nt you fellows a set of cranks going into spelling reform?" Now let us reform. Mr. S: S. GREEN. Like the two gentlemen who have just spoken, I am an original member of the A. L. A., and have watched its proceedings from the beginning. I do not concur in all that they have said; discrimination should be exercised in this matter. A committee of which I was a member and of which Mr. Cutter was Chairman prepared a few years ago rules on cataloging which the Association voted to consider the rules of the Association until it should vote to change them. It seems to me that this action was unwise. It would have been better to have allowed the rules to stand simply on their merits, and to carry with them only such weight as they have in themselves and as belongs to them in consequence of the known special attainments of the members of the committee which prepared them.

To come, however, to the matter of the School of Library Economy, it seems to me eminently proper that this Association should declare its opinion in regard to the value of its methods and teaching. Here is a movement that has already resulted in marked advantages to libraries and communities. Why should we not say that this is so, and encourage its supporters and manager by