New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-09-07
TIE LIRRARIANS.

STRUCTURES on THE INCOMPLETE CATALOGUES OF
EUROPEAN LIBRARIES.
At the final session Of the American Library
Association yesterday, the attendance good An in
teresting paper by the Rev. f. c. Mitchell d. d. (who
could be present. read by William F. Poole, of
the Chicago Public Library. Its subject was EUROPEAN
Libraries" Mr.. Poole said that Dr. Mitchell Pro
fessor Of Hebrew in the London University, had been
practical librarian twenty-five years The paper was, in
substance, as follows:
Though the accumulation Of ages and the wealth OF ma
ons have enriched the Libraries OF Europe collections
of books to extent which America cannot hope to see
in many generations and though much ingenuity has
been exercised, and great amount OF money avished
such intelligent concert OF action aud thorough systema-
zing work the details of library administration as
ing the last twenty years photographers and
Librarians of Europe have little bond OF inter
est or even OF mountaineering. Each works
i'm his own sphere, and deyeopes his methods and i'm
proyements ont OF his own experience; and though
much good work is done IN this IL Is not such work
as intelligent cooperation might produce. Ii was anus
ing to observe the utterly crude conceptions formed by
leading library 0icals on the subject OF cata0gung The
British Museum Library still dependent upon an old
fashioned manuscript catalogue, with no SuiyeendeX
which have been more thoroughly classified aud eata-
logncd. The pubic library at Birmingham Is one It's
librarian is gentleman of culture and enterprise, and
he has made himself familiar with American methods.
said that the Libraries OF Liverpool ana Manchester
are we inaged, and doubtless there are many others
But on the Continent, the internal management OF
libraries, great or small, VIII afford tte suggestion 10
an American. Enterprise and progress make their way
slowly In old countries, ana LIBRARIANS OF Ola IL
brarles about the last to feel their influence;
The National Library at Paris has made an elaborate and
costly attempt 10 get printed catalogue which VIII al
WAYS be valuable, but always incomplete. The Vatican
Library at Rome, has catalogue, and the visitor
no books only cases. and access To them dlcut The
yolnmes and manuscripts are literally buried, and
their number is unknown The Ambrosian Library,
aro a tribe more accessible but no means exists
for informing visitor TO their precious
contents. The Boyct Library, at Berlin is Wei cata-
nf he
tine best libraries In Europe regards quality OF books,
arrangement and classification Is that OF the University
of Athens. Though one OF tine smaller Libraries, num-
herring than 100000 volumes 10 - To large extent.
@ having been purchased during last forty or hfty
years and in this respect has the advantage over older
The antiquity and enormous size OF the Libraries re-
ferrcd TO- though constituting their great value, also
ln' eTf1I motive 10 induce any board To- take i'm
hand a new system of classification. ana face for
Indabe of venerable books. American visitors TO
Europe therefore. must not be surprised If they find no
libraries IN the Old World comparable for choice selec
ton of works perfect arrangement OF contents ana
ingenious facility Of use, with the Boston Public Library
on the other hand IL should not be- forgotten that there
e in those libraries abroad treasures O priceless value,
which cannot DE duplicated in tins country. / refer To
the manuscript collections. or these. the British Muse
um contains nearly 10000, and the BOdeian at oxford.
opon half As many The largest co ecton Is 10 De found
AT the National Library al Paris being estimated az from
10000 10 100000 manuscripts Nearly All the Older
Furopean libraries possess these manuscripts
III some coo peratiye plan, at Ill scripye and accu
rate could be devised Tor catalogning them which would
tell the world scholars where they could be found and
what they contained, II would do great service To lib
eral learning
How TO enlarge the scope Of the association then
discussed by Mr. Dewey Mr.. Poole, and others Com
mttees ON the OF books statistics ana abbreyia
tons reported IL then resolved that the associa
ton should recognize the permanent value Of the Re
port ON Public Libraries OF the United States prepared
and published during the past year by the United states
Bureau OF Education, and thanks rendered to John
Eaton, Commissioner OF Education, and his assistants
for the intelligence and zeal with which they accom-
pshed this work The association then adjourned, sub
ject TO the call OF the Executive Board
Tomorrow fifteen members OF the association includ-
ing five ladies' sail by the Deyonia to London TO attend
the conference OF librarians be held there October