New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-12-23
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES OF TIE z TT TTSov sT RAFE
OF EDucAToN Fart !. svo' pp lIs'' "asniiS'OH'
The present y0lumlnOus Report OF the United
states Bureau of Education, by the Commissioner, Mr.
John Elton is document Of uncommon public interest,
containing q rich fund Of information on points that
rarely within the purvew OF the general govern
ment, aud afordng complete and almost exhaustive
treatise the statistics and photography OF American
libraries In the preparation Of the work, the principal
charge has deyolved Mr. Samuel H. Warren, ana Its
value in great degree due to his literary experience,
accurate scholarship excellent Judgment and consc!en-
tious fidelity. His arduOus abOrs have found an efficient
aid in the services of Major N Clark who has brought
to the fulflmeut Of his duties wide acquaintance
with books in the different branches OF litera-
ture and science the habit of exact research,
ard devotion TO order and system in the
prosecution OF literary work. which the essential
conditions OF in undertaking Of such maSni-
tude and difficulty The plan of the volume Is conpre
hensive and udicOus touching upon the most important
points with the subject, but avoiding com
pcaon Of super'uous Details and presenting the re-
suits OF wide correspondence and extensive research,
with simplicity and cearness that cOuld only be
attained by rigid adherence 10 an exact and Fys-
tematic arrangement 1t includes the history of public
libraries the United States account OF their present
condition and extent, discussion OF the various qucs-
tons pertaining TO library economy and management,
Of public libraries carried to the greatest practicable
completeness In treating the several classes Of public
libraries ample details Of practical character arc given
concerning their economy and administration, COM
prislng the views OF eminent and experienced librarians
on the different questions suggested by the subject
glance at the division Of topics in this department
viii show the exhaustive character and good Judgment
Of the arrangement They include l. Library buld-
ings, including plans and descriptions. .. The or
ganZaton aud management Of public libraries 8 The
administration OF college lbrares f. Catalogues,
prsng essay the tuhee by C. a. Cutter Librarian
of the Boston AthenRum, and table chronologcally
arranged, of printed catalogues Of American public
/ libraries followed. in a succeeding chapter, by
descriptions by their authors Of two notable catalogues
now being publishcd plan Of indeXng and arranging
library which has received the approval Of several
distinguished librarians and is now in use III the library
OF Amherst College and description Of the classification
adopted for the Public School Library Of St. Louis 3.
IndcXng periodical and miscellaneous literature, giving
description Of the excellent plan in use by Professor
Robinson OF the University Of Rochester, n. Y.
| G. Binding and preservation Of books. 2. Period
zeal literature and society publications g. Refer
! enee books 0. Library memoranda. 10 Titles OF
books. IL. Book indexes. IL Library photography.
In addition TO the cOpOus information presented In the
etterpres the work IS illustrated with engravings OF
some Of the principal library buildings the United States,
selected with reference their historical representa-
tive character II is not often that public document Of
more value and interest than the present report
issued by Official authority. Not only the medium of
vast amount Of information concerning the and
appliances OF literature, but literary production
ITSELF II entitled to cordial welcome and grateful
sideratiou In its th0rOughness OF execution its
pactncss statement and It's copOusness of knowledge
1t model of literary workmanship. The scholar will
find in pages abundance of curious details
ing the instruments Of study, while it furnishes the
statesman with impressive and gratifying view Of the
4 to- oonffN,
| KNIGHTS AMERICAN MECHANICAL DICTIONARY.
| BY EDWARD II. KNIGHT Vol III. sto pD. 1881 Hurd
| With the publication of the present volume,
the great enterprise OF the Editor. designed TO furnish
complete manual Of reference IN tho various branches Of
mechanical invention and industry Is brought a sue
cessu close 1t is seldom indeed that the original plan
of large and complicated work is fully carried out In
accordance with the intentions of the author Mr. knight
undertaken to give brief but sufficient description of
the tools machines processes and appliances Of the ars
and sciences their application to practical mechanics
has aimed to furnish every person who coDsuts die
tionary account OF IN instrument machine with
all the information essential to an intelligent understand
ing the subject In all these respects his purpose a
| pears 20 be fully accomplished in the execution OF
| the work Instead OF falling short OF the promise
OF his original announcement, he has carried ii out
TO the letter. together with many additional details
which were named in the programme, concise hts
tory each important machine usually accompanies
description, showing the progress Of invention well
principles Of its construction and operation. The
work treats of 10000 subjects, and Is illustrated by
GO00 engravines, counting the distinct forms OF
machine tool that frequently combined single
they may be said to amount 20 not less than 600
Mr.. Knight has devoted twenty-five years. less
directly 10 the preparation Of the work. while the mme-
labor OF the past eight years has been employed in
its completion II cannot fail 10 take high place as
special book Of reference in departments of which
treats, and viii be found emneny creditable TO the
enterprise industry, and skill of its editor.
THE ARCTIC WORLD: ITS PLANTS. ANIMALS, AND
| NATURAL PHENOMENA 4to PIP. 276. T. Nelson
& Sous.
The fruits of Arctic discovery in the recent
voyages Of exploration afford abundant materials for
agreeable and instructive narrative 10 this volume the
researches of Dr. Kane, Dr. Hayes nd Capt Hall occupy
the post of honor while the lab0rs Of the earlier Polar
pavgators have not been neglected The work contains
copious and wel-digested account OF the Arctic
gons the natural phenomena in the vicinity OF the polar
circle the fauna and aora Of the country and the eharae
erstc features Of the native population, together with
succnc history OF the principal voyages In search OF the
Northwest passage 1t abouDds with curious and inter-
esting information especially in the different hsaDches Of
natural history and equally adapted the OF the
private student the entertainment Of the domestic
circle
The Second Part of Rotations and Readings,
-xry.. n Va.~0r oh a ffz-