Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-02-09
American Library Association.

A MEETING IN THIS CITY TODAY.
The fourth general meeting OF the American
Library association was opened In this city
this morning, at 10 o'clock, at the Army Medi-
cal Museum building, on 10th street-prof. JUS
tin Winsor in the chair and Prot. Melyil Dewey
secretary. There We're present besides: Prof.
justin %insor, librarian OF Harvard University:
Wm. I. Pool. librarian OF Public library Ia
Chicago; Lloyd z. Smith. Library company or
Ph1laCeIphta; Cnas. A. Cutter, Boston Athe-
mum; Judge Milton Chamberlain, librarian or
Boston Public library; 3. 3. NoyeS, Brooklyn
Mercantile library; Samuel :. Green. librarian
OF the Free Public library Worcester, Mass;
Prof. Otis II. Robinson. Rochester University;
", L. Foster, Public library, Providence II. T.:
Rev. DR.. b. K. Pierce, Newton, Mass; Reuben
cotton, American antiquarian society. Worce6-
ter, Mass; DR.. j. 5. Billings; John Edwards,
Mercantile library, Philadelphia; Mr.. Bassett,
Bronson library; Waterbury, Conn; Melvl Din,
ton, VI; MIR. Griswold, Portland, Me-, O.. F.
Index; Miss Hervins, Hartford. Conn; Miss
Stevens, Toledo A. r. Spofford, Congress
library, and many others. the seats OF the
library hall being well tllled.
President WinSor, In his opening address,
congratulated the librarians on meeting 10
Washington, and in meeting here the Chief OF
the Bureau or Education, tie librarian OF the
Army Medical Museum. and the librarian OF
Congress.
WORDS OF WELCOME.
AT the close or his address, Mr.. Spofford, from
the local committee OF arrangements, thanked
them for their presence here He stated That
the various libraries and galleries In the city
would De open this afternoon and had extended
invitations VIZ. TO the visitors They had intended
a visit TO Mount Vernon, but the elements had
prevented that contemplated trip. They could
visit the State department library. the Patent
Olhce library, smithsonian and Congressional
libraries, ana the Navy department library
Tonight they would be received by the Prest-
dent OF the nited States, and he hoped all
would avail themselves OF the occasOn--lady
librarians and Others The reception would be
rather an Informal one. and no extraordinary
| preparation would be necessary. The custo-
| dams OF the various government department
libraries would be In attendance this afternoon
| and IL would be desirable TO attend them first.
as the public Offices close early in the evenings
| Inc arrangement Tor visit to the Corcoran
| Art Gallery would be announced later in the
! day.
| THE ANNUAL REPORT
! Mr.. MelviI Dewey, the secretary, presented
| his report, prefacing it with remarks on the
| progress made In library work since the last
meeting, inauguratlng the publication OF The
| Library Journal. He recommended the estab.
| fishing or graded membership win an inl-
! tiation fee running down rs low as s., which
1 would tend TO the accumulation OF a fund large
| enough TO carry on their projects. He also
| suggested new registration or members and
/ their addresses.
The recommendations made by the secretary
| were referred to the executive committee.
COMMITTEE REPORTS.
! Prof. G. a. Cutter, librarian OF the Boston
| AiHelstuIn and chairman or the cooperation
| committee, made report OF the results OF his
/ eHortS III securing the CO. operation or Anerl-
! can libraries, ana stated that he had a list OF
! twenty-five librarians, who mad promised no
| secure obituary notices and biograpbIrlI
| notices OF literary and scientific persons. VINO
! have died 10 our Own times, ana make a recori
| Of them.
From the committee on an Index to Subject
Headings Prof. cutter also chairman re.
| ported the progress made IL the preparations
| Of code, or system or rules and regulations
| governing the subject OF index and Catalogue
| Much had oeen done In this work, but mich
| more Is 10 De done. Uniformity OF practice by
| librarians Is the object 10 be attained but thf
| large amount OF labor and cost and the limited
sales OF such work are almost insupefable i'm
| p6diInents III the way or completing such q
work, as the lndexing OF subjects OF literature
ana science.
Discussion followed on this subject In which
the chair stated that there waS In progress ir
Boston perfectly alphabetical list, which ,yil
soon be published ana disseminated.
Dr. Holmes, OF Albany, spoke Oh the subject
OF the index the next publication OF which
must be greatly enlarged. In consequence OF the
WONDERFUL advancement MADE In science anC
| literature.
| Prof. Cutter then read an interesting paper
On shelf classi fication, and his experience IL
the classification OF authors alphabetically
| he had adopted the movable system by sub
1ects. Instead OF the fixed location by shelves
and the librarian OF Harvard University haC
| adopted the same method. He was glad 4
| Know that the projected national library abou
70 oe constructed would adopt the system o
| OF the various systems of classification of book:
ID inherent libraries Of this country, and Thu
experiences OF librarians, and concluded by say
| ing that there is no perfect system OF arrane e
ment or DOCKS nor OF library catalogues. 4
Tue close OF us reading discussion fOllow