American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-08-09
AMERICAN TELEGRAPH
wAsHINaTON,
Library CataIogues.

We have received from Professor CHARLES
C. JEwETr, assistant secretary md librarian Of
the Smithsonian Institution, pamphlet con-
tanning "a plan for stereotyping catalogues by
separate titles, and for forming general stere-
otyped catalogue Of public libraries in the
United States;" also, AN appendix to the re-
port Of the board of agents of the Smithsonian
Institution, containing a report of the public
libraries of the United States of America, jan
uary L. 1850"
This plan originated with Mr. JEwETT, though
one similar to it in some respects has, subse-
quently, been proposed in England, for the
library of the British Museum, by Mr.. Cooley.
1t has long been an insuperable difficulty
with the directors Of large public libraries
which are, Of course, constantly Increasing in
size-tAat printed with great labor
and expense, become, in the course of few
years, almost useless for reference, and only
serve to show the student what books the library
contained at the time of printing and not what
books it may contain at the time of his search !;
hence, supplements must constantly be issued,
making it necessary for the reader to search q
great number Of catalogues to find whether
what he wishes is in the library; or reprint
of the whole catalogue must be made, at tre-
mendous expense to keep pace with the rapid
increase in the number of books. This increase,
MS Professor JEwETT remarks though 80 graft
flying on every other account, is the cause of
great difficulties in this respect.
The reprint Of the catalogues Of the great
libraries of Europe has at length, from the
great number of books and their constant in
crease, become SO exceedingly onerous and ex-
pensive, that it has been given up in despair.
To one who has not examined this subject, and
studied its difficulties, it may seem strange that
work apparently so trifing as the printing Of
library catalogues should prove so serious; but
30 it is, and he who invents a plan by which
the difficulty can be overcome surely deserves
the warmest thanks of all who are interested
in whatever concerns the advancement of knowl-
edge. This we think Professor JEwETT has
done most effectually. The chief obstacle is,
that while catalogue is passing through the
press, new books are received, whose titles can
not, in the usual manner Of printing, be incor-
porated in the work. Mr. US method is to
stereotype the titles separately, and to preserve
the plates or blocks in the alphabetical order
of the titles; SO as to be able readily to insert
additional titles in their proper places, and then
to reprint the whole catalogue. Thus the cost
of composition, and the cost of revision and
correction Of the press, would, except for new
titles, be avoided
1t is proposed to print, by this method, cata-
logues of particular libraries, and central
catalogue, under the direction of the Smithso-
nian Institution, of all the libraries in the
country; the Institution to pay the whole extra
expense Of stereotyping, or such part thereof as
may be agreed on; the stereotyped titles to re-
main its property, and every library uniting in
the plan to have the right of using them when
desired The economy and convenience of this
plan, in every respect, are plainly shown in the
pamphlet by several examples, together with
the benefits to be derived by American students
from the possession of general printed cata-
logue of all the books in the public libraries of
the Union; from the great improvement in the
arrangement Of catalogues, and from o univer-
sal catalogue, which might eventually be formed
z In America, all libraries are now comparatively
small, and it would be easy to put into practi-
cal and useful operation this system, which, in
few years, the rapid increase in the number
Of books will render impossible.
Professor J.'s report on the condition of all
the public libraries in this country is very in
teresting and useful In consequence of the
many difficulties in the way, it is yet somewhat
incomplete; but it viii no doubt be improved
in future edition.