New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-09-06
LIBRARIANS CONFERENCES.
SECOND DAYS DISCUSSIONS.

PUBLIC DOCUMENTS, THE USE OF CAPITALS. LIBRARY
BUILDINGS. AND BOOK-BINDISGs CONSIDERED
Good attendance favored the second days
meeting OF the American Library Association. The
prominent librarians who attended the sessions on Tues
day all present and took active part IN the dis
cussions. Lively interest manifested throughout.
The desire OF many to speak the topics before The
conference caused the posponement Of several subjects
from the morning to the afternoon session, and then u-
Ill to-day.
Tie morning session was opened by brief report by
William Poole OF the Chicago Public Library, as chalr-
of the committee to confer with publishers rs to
discount The committee, he said. had held no meeting,
because the publ sers had held no convention. But the
20 per cent mon had disappeared In Chicago puo-
Usher in competition, one year, gave him 50 per cent
discount in purchasing books for the Chicago Library
and at the present time, he buying books at 81 per
cent discount Publishers could not fluid much pront IN
this but they probably found some advantage IN having
their publications in public library. The first topic as
signed for discussion was "The Distribution Of Public
Documents" and A. r. Spoford Librarian OF Congress-
in opening the debate criticised severely the present
law the subject. characterzing 1t "disgracefu
lie sad
There no continuity OF supplies for the libraries The
library that gets books from Congress may get none
from the next. The system OF distribution delnahds
amendment There Is an enormous waste OF the public
money, and an ineffective distribution Of documents.
which do not to literary or professional men, Duf IN
the majority of instances % mere politicians or TO the
men WAC happen % be best known 10 Congressman
Books costing the Government 500 are often SOLD 10y
for SO To secondhand dealers. al over the
country, but especially in Washington and New YORK
About 100000 voumes, such as agricultural reports,
for instance, annually Manufactured, ana the
taxpayers are taxed maximum amount IOI
minimum Of benefit. This INDUSTRIOUS robbery
should speedily be abolished. Only few are impressed
with the magnitude Of the abuse and every attempt 10
break up the system has failed for lack OF organized
good purpose. Probably the best system OF cir
culatng documents tnat of Great Britain certain
number l. furnished to members or the legl,Ye pody
for their official uses, In Parliament published doca-
cost OF printing, with slight percentage.
In regard TO the adoption OF better system than we
possess, 1t should be considered that the question
involves of costly reports, issued by different de-
paltmenis aud bureaus of tie Government. From the
Interior Department are reports OF two geoosca sur
yeys, with accompanying scientific books, IN quafto SUI
progress There are also, cOstl maps OF the United
ment costly works the Wheeler surveying Expe-
dOu. in the latter department Is large number OF
uted system should be devised by which the lead
ing libraries can obtain bureau and office reports,
well as Government reports. The former, AT present
cannot be Obtained oy any library An eneIgeJc mana
ger a small library sometimes obtains them by acc-
dent
Mr. spoford suggested that the association should
take action whereby certain public Libraries should
have continuous supply Of one copy Of every volume
issued The subject Of Uniform Rules for Titles, next
occupied the attention OF the association The Secreta
~ Me,v Dewey of Boston read the report Of the Com
niitee Oh Uniform Cataogung The sections were de
bated. by one, and yarousy revised and amended
The use Of capitals discussed at length "A cult
waited editor" said one, expressed To the opinion
that the omission Of capitals sometimes due to az
But say that tdey should not be omitted for the
the very reason that they trouble" Mr. spoiort
SAID that in the sixteenth century the Of German
capitals was unknown In rejecting capital letters In
the Library Of Congress he had attempted restoration
not Innovation. Uniformity was desirable In order
to render the page easy TO read. motion
that the association should adopt the stem OF spelling
proper adcctyes without initial capitals here LOST
r. r. Bowker then offered resolution that the subject
uniform title entries including Authorizations, he re-
erred a special committee Of five, with power TO pre-
pare a code which should finally be reported, through
The Library Jou50l and. stand the recommendation
OF the association unu otherwise ordered The commit
tee was composed OF Messrs. Cutter, spoford Green
Dyer and /. E. Jones. discussion when followed led
60 the adoption OF references" In caaloguing
,gnere AN author is known by more than name.
youtrfu member suggested that no lady who published
a book should afterward marry.
At the beginning OF the afternoon session, motion
was carried that committee Of three should he appoint
ed 10 devise after correspondence plan for eectng
exchanges Of duplicate books ana pamphe1s between
libraries. Mr.. Poole spoke on Library FINDINGS anu
used drawings illustrate his remarks lie Thought tbat
the conventional library, win a room MY Ieet fgu,
should be avoided AID height OF fifteen or sixteen ieet
wings as were needed could be added No gallery should
be built, and books should not be placed OUT OF easy
ruary tie thermometer showed that the temperature on
the ground floor mid but In the gallery II was l42
Mr. Poole Several members criticised the iauly con
,frlction OF many libraries. and showed that
architectural defects often caused tho runners To
traverse the necessary distance IN getting DOCKS
IL was then resolved that the Executive Board consist
w of yrssr Sp0tOrd, Poole and Dewey ana those they
might add 90 their number should attend the conference
~ EncIish librarians nc London in October and be emf
powered act FOR this association committee, con
sistug Of MeSsIs Homes, Green ana SpOHJrd was APP
pointed to dr law which would cover proper methods
Tor the distribution OF public documents ana petition
viii be presented to Congress to pass sich law, W.,
After some on BOOK blhdng ny PRESIDENT WIN
arr the oDmttce Binding replied mat, a. some OF
tue leading publishers bai eXpreShod Willingness 10 lur
nsh their books the style ~ binding agreed upon by
fhe Association the best for library use the following
was Therefore recommended Each signature" to b.
sewed and larger than duOdecln0, on al least
three strong cords, vita backs aud corners OF genuine
coat Celum put under the paper as IN French blnd
mos is still desirable for the corners OF DOarus)
laced ON solid backs, paper Sides tops FURNISHED edges
trimmed no more than absolutely necessary 10 make
Them even TINS binding sad the committee, WAS III
tended to secure the greatest ddDly iOr gwen e&-
prnditure. 49,, ..,. l.. .,. .
ing m inc parlurs OF Association Hall Among those
presut were Mr.. DOdd, OF DOdd Mead Dr Henry II.
Field, Mr. Putnam, Mr.. Buuton Joseph sabin the Rev
Dr. Charles L. Deems W. T. Peoples New 1ork Mercan-
Tihrarv: j. Carson BrcyOOrt, Charles a. Durfce and
r saunders Astor Library Prof Zlchos, Cooper In
stItue; Charles IL. Botsfori, Harlem Library
q / Nolan Academy of Natural Sciences; john
n E1rbOur Trinity College; Arthur W. Tyler, J0hn
uopknss Library aud George Hannah, Long Island
UIstoricai society Tue evening spent III converse
tne Reys Dr. Deems Dr. Henry NJ Field, Justin Nlnsor,
" r. Poole Melyi Dewey, Chas. A. CuHer, Il. W. Chris
tern andJ SabIn made remarks Ihe Association VIII
hold its nmal this morning during the DAY the
Librarians will visit the metropolitan MUSEUM Oi AIt at
the invitation OF john Taylor JOHNSTON
SUMNER LEISURE.