The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-24
Colonel Lockwood's Plan Of
Forming q Library.
ADVANTAGES or HIS SYSTEM.
1o9eign Books Purchased Directly for
Public Libraries Admitted Duty
Tree-A FuIl List.

Gbo eecuIe ~ Saving 70 the nDrafy sunSASus
70 cover the commission on his purchases.
No formal action was taken.
The commission met last evening with Colonel
lockwood ct the home Of Mrs. J. c. Haines and
began work ON the book fist of the library. This
work win occupy the entire week. Colonel
lockwood will assist and counsel the commits
sion IN the selection Of titles, and give them the
ne Of his extensive book list. He will also as
eist IN the planning Of tho library and it, equip
ments.
Colonel Lockwood was met yesterday after
noon ct the Rainier hotel by reporter Of the
PosT-IurRIEIGKEcxR, who obtained from him
IN outline Of his methods of serving library
associations BY whom he 10 employed. sin the
drDt place." said he, "my life work has been
with books. For more than thirty years have
been dealer in books I was the senior mem
her Of the firm Of lockwood, Brooks & Co., OF
Boston, publishers and dealers in books, and for
about twenty years had charge Of the library
business, In addition 70 the publishing depart
Ment have learned how and upon what kind
Of paper book ought to b printed, and how It
ought to be bound. ! have not only made .
utudy Of the catalogues Of all
s &c leading book publishers Of
With the houses and know the books and the
various editions and their merits, of al the
utandssd works.
ssTake SCOTS works, for instance. The ordi-
nary editions Of Scott usually sold contain
about one-half Of what he wrote. The Life Of
Napoleon,' Tales Of the Border 'Pauls Let
tors' Letters on Dcmonology,' Lockhart's Life
q Scott etc. are not included in these cdi-
dons. Blacks edition Of SCOTS works in 100
volumes ia work altogether different, and by
the time Il IVES laid down here, with the Is per
cant duty added TO the cost, It would be q very
expensfve work. find the English editions
Of Thackery, Dickens and other English authors
bstssr than the American editions / can i'm
they are for public libraries. / have blank
with m oath, which sign, and another which
q signed BY the trustees Of the library, with
toms house free Of duty. Importers can not
avoid the payment Of this duty. Here is rs per
cent saved on imported works.
sor tie Jsnsstown. \. Y, library. said he, pro.
issvss. sHers is the list " Of : Historical Historical
groups and number them. There are in this
ucup Of histories. :. you see indicated by the
Est number, 6Sl titles, which means . great
so 3 inc 3, e ons ute may INCLUDE
into ancient, medieval and modern. The Lists
include ell the latest and best works on each of
re subdivisions OF Rome, Greece, Assyria,
works on Europe, and then under these subdivi-
9!ons including works on the states Of Europe,
lf.nce, England, Germany, ETC. Here is list
ore devoted 10 the different states.
sNow, this list of histories 10 selected from my
great list, which CONTAINS the results OF all my
The history group in this includes |, 23i titles
have been over twenty years making this list.
four years ago. when i was far inferior in COM
state librarian Of New York, told me that he
would not make such list for $1,000. It has
never been printed. keep It up with the times
g ~ soa,nf every new WORK o. merit and useful
preseea Whenever any work IL superseded
BY better or more complete work on the sub
tect eliminate the old and substitute the new.
The electric age, for instance, II . very rapid
ono. book that Is . standard authority ON
some subject Of electrical science may be rem
dered worthless BY six month. Of the worlds
With the time. 80 10 the leading electricians OF
the world for information a. to the latest and
best authorities in their science.
can BE- easily procured By taking the catalogue
Of some great library and selecting from it. This
= great mistake. Books entirely out of date
made il this way Library catalogues are not not
keptDp to date. All books in tho library are
entered In the catalogue, but many of them
have been purchased years ago aud are worth
II receive all the catalogues and bulletins OF
al domestic and foreign publishers, all book re-
ance Of many critics who are my friends; and in
addition TO all OF these means of keeping in
formed Of the progress of the making OF books, I
am constantly looking through the large book
and make visits to the publishers and dealers Of
Il have been working since January last in
e0ong 20 my nst the best books OF 1890 and am
s.Here is my list on the fine and useful arts
ana sciences Beginning with the fine arts the
painting, drawing, engraving. sculpture, gems,
jewels, hera!dry, music, the recreative arts,
hunting, angling, medicine, hygiene, etc.
II expect to work with the committee the re-
mainder of this week In making out the list.
When . book Is selected will check it on my
list Then shall have q complete, classified
writer. Now I do not sit in my ONCE aud cor
respond for proposals and discounts from diff
icrent book houses. buy each book separately.
know just what books are in Boston. New YORK
and Philadelphia.
"Tsking my list, / go to these houses and ask
on my list These volumes are numbered to
correspond to my list and laid out for my ex.
1.-THE dealer then discusses discounts, but I
merely want to know his lowest price for his
goods When / can do better than pay his
prices on any single work. throw that aside
all may buy 81 an Individual DEALER p asH a aoI
usually get from him a further special discount
for cash, all Of which goes to the library for
~ 60 through other houses in the same man.
ner until at last have got all the books obtain.
able.
81 also watch book auctions ana continually
look through second-h hand shops for bargains
II ind . good book, an early impression on
good paper in a damaged cover buy it and have
cheap hslflea.her binding put on, like this, .
half morocco with marbled paper.
"This IL q y. 80 work which / bought for Is
cents and for the binding paid IS cents
"Buying the foreign books Ia y different mat
Ter. Ny London agents are Crosby, lockwood &
Co, and they care for my interests there as do
for the interests of my clients here We have
land. They have q different method OF
doing business there. An American publisher
Will retain an edition of a work until the las,
copy IL sold. The English publisher sells n
work until he has but loo copies left. Then,
In order TO clear his shelves OF the edition, he
sells these copies as .remainders,' for ridicu-
lousy low price. From the shelves of these
dealers in remainders we often find many
volumes at a surprisingly low figure AS
said before, get my important books duty
free.
81 think the commissioners vii, have the
reference books purchased as soon as posi-.
BILE and placed in the reading room, so that 4
reference library may be at once available and
uaed with as little formality as possible while
the moro intricate work of the circulating de-
partmcnt Is being carefully arranged upon mod
ern methods of library administration.
81 am in no sense bookseller, but book
buyer, and those who employ me Get every adj.
vantage that ali my experience and business
connections can control in the purchase OF
hooks"
school Half Holiday.
The pupils of the city schools were given nm
IN