The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-04-21

THE DAILY ind
classification at all as there is no particular
system about it and no minuteness what
ever. The books are grouped after FASH
ion which might BY some be styled method
Of classifying, but except in the cases of the
verylarge divisions Of literature it requires
great deal of guess work to put book in
it's proper place among the rest as they are
now shelved. This interferes with special
study and any particular research. It has
been impossible to even seriously consider
this enormous task in view Of the amount
of work now being done without adequate
help.
ACCESSION AND CARD CATALOGUES.
The books should all be entered in an
accession catalogue, which has never been
done and which has been de-
layed already too long. The accession cat
machinery as the governor of the steam en-
CINE is to it's motive power, and should no
more be omitted than the lock on the bank
vault. It is about the sole protection of
library, and where there is no such record
of the books as in the case of this library,
the fact that more books are not lost is due
to some luck and mainly to the memory of
the librarian, to whom it is a needless
strain but which SO far has not been avoid
ed: but the rapid growth of the library calls
for more certain protection and safeguard
and it is high time that this protection was
offered.
After these books are entered in this cat
alogue they will be classified as they are
entered and then the change on the shelves
can be made. The entire task is a long and
tedious one and will absorb much patience
and great deal of time.
A typewriter list can be struck off from
H. Al e.
pletion; it will be much better than the list
now used and will be less cumbersome,
although it will not be arranged alphabet
ically.
The card catalogue supplements and COM
pletes the record of the books and is the
necessary adjunct of the accession oata-
With them both the history of the books
is complete and every protection afforded
that has up to the present time been de-
vised.
The writing Of this catalogue is an ap-
palling job of work, as it requires not only
careful research and much knowledge Of
books, but demands that about twenty five
thousand cards be written to make it all
perfect.
This, when completed, will afford every
opportunity for finding the books, and
from this can be struck the type-written
lists which will afford for library use only
the books, and should new ones
be added these can be placed in this
list without much trouble and but little
expense.
APuBL1C CATALOGUE.
There is but little need of printed cat
alogue for sale and distribution to the pub
lie. The rapidity with which the books are
added to the shelves precludes the idea of
having catalogue at all complete for gen.
eral use. And in addition to this is the
great cost of such publication and the
the expense could be afforded it would be
very convenient to have one which could be
taken to the home and there take time to
select such books as were wanted, but un-
fortunately the number who want this and
perhaps might take one are not the ones
who would always buy them, and the dis
crepancy is SO great that it is safe to say
that the expense would never be retrieved.
The list issued some four years ago,
if it can by courtesy be entitled to the
name, let alone that of catalogue, never sold
for enough either in price or numbers topay
it was hardly worth the price when done,
inaccurate as it is in SO many particulars
and the numerous typographical errors.
The entire sales of the books since it was
published have been only 265, at the small
sum of ten cents each. While it was not q
very Srcdt CTeUlu u JIG llOFdIy, SC1ll was
all there was to be had, and it should have
received a better support than it did. The
typewriter lists now in use are similar in
many features to the printed list, and while
they are patience-trying arrangements, they
will have to serve until something better is
added since l have been here will be done
soon and placed on the tables, and this will
answer the purpose until a proper classical
tion of the books is made and catalogue
is provided. I trust that the merits of these
suggestions will be apparent. as they GER
this library for few days and hear the re-
marks made about the desirability of new
and complete catalogue.
With additional help, which should GER
tainly be provided, I can successfully meet
this trouble, properly classify the books
table catalogue and allay the irritation
caused by their omission and quiet and JUS
tifable indignation which has often been
expressed by the publice. A librarians lot
is not always pleasant one and this posi-
ton is certainly no sinecure, and it is only
just to all concerned that these very neces-
sary improvements be made, and as soon as
they can be arranged for and the material
collected.
The heavy demand on the library for ref
erence works of more scientific character
by those interested in mines and otherwise
will be met this season, as there is a large
class of our taxpayers who desire that they
should be remembered in the addition of
books, that they may have here to consult
works which, as individuals, they are una
BILE to possess, and which belong to an in
stitution like this.
1t is to be hoped that our citizens will
keep up the public spirit and the good
reputation the city possesses as the home
of wealth, and that before long the library
will have home of its own, or failing this,
then in partnership with some other public
concern. If city hall is erected there
would be fine place, but if this project
does not materialize soon enough, then
there may be the new Board Of Trade
building in which suitable home might be
found and this trouble of paying rent
avoided, eating, as it does, large part of
the fund which could be used for other pur-
poses.
have to return thanks to Mr.. Chas. P.
Warren, who has acted as night assistant
for some months, and Mr.. G. E. Butler,
who has served during the day, for
their skill in filling a position which has
often exercised to the utmost their polite
ness and patience.
Now that there is much better light in
the halls leading to these rooms it would
add to the convenience of the public if the
door which is used as the entrance to the
library had inserted in the upper part of
the frame a glass on which could be painted
the title of the liarary, the times Of open
ing and closing, and be SO arranged with
curtain that it would be known when the
library was closed without inquiry.
The ma ority of the people in this CITY no
n ~ L xrI,n %1,p D., .:A.