The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-28

ned form, which IS now being substituted Tor
the Dewey, is 10 reserve numbers for authors
according 10 initial letters, that additions
may be made III alphabetical Order. One or
more Initial letters are prefixed TO such
shell nunber. This, when added 10 the class
NUMBER. makes the book number complex
and cumbersome as lew examples copied
rom lists already prepared Will show:
9.3-ES 3l2 +; 97}-A ga j;
sii-sco 81 S. 4 further disadvantage
Is that books cannot be grouped in such O man
ner as to bling books relating to the same sub
Ject or divisions of subject together on the
shelves. as will De readily seen from an il.ustra
ton The class number of Omitted States His
tory" is 953 history OF Maine by Atkins
would be approximately 973-A 10 u; OF another
history on the same subject by Scott. 973-Sco
500 NJ i aced on the shelves accordingly the
TWO books would be widely separated. and 20
h9d all the books on the history OF Maine the
reader must look over the several hundred VOL
umns likely to be found in this class.
But the system ~ now being introduced into
the Seattle public library deserves especial
notice, as IL Is in some respects peculiar. 1t ID
not the Gutter system, nor yet the Dewey sys-
ten. out an admixture OF these two, to which
elaborate compound some unknown genius
has added another element OF complexity
and confusion by using the initial
or initials OF the titles of books
and In certain cases a number also have
learned OF but one library in the United States
which has continued to infiet on its patrons q
combination OF the Dewey class number and the
Gutter shelf number. As the Seattle public
library uses one and sometimes two additional
characters, il enjoys the distinction OF having
the most elaborate system of book numbering
In the United States. 1t may be comforting to
reject that as the library grows the book num-
oers will grow also. for the library is yet in its
infancy, anu the classification, therefore, ee-
mentary In the large Libraries, two, and some
times three additional figures required for
the class number, SO that in the progress of
time the following pondcroUs appendage will
be required to designate volume on some
phase of United States history: J 973.453-Sco
2,9;s " i. 4, and this must be still further ex-
tended when, rs may happen, the Cutter reserve
numbers are all appropriated.
Books can BE- obtained only by writing these
unpronounceable, incomprehensible book num-
Ders, after which the struggle Is extended 10 the
delivery clerks, who Will be required to de-
cipher, search for and compare with correspond
Ing number oa the book required. 1t is easy to
see that much additional time will be required,
and this means a largely increased library force.
The loss OF time constantly recurring aud null
tiplied by the millions OF deliveries TO be made
in the years to come will amount to a prodigious
aggregate, all of which will be chargeable to q
change which evidently entered upon
blindiy, without knowledge or consideration of
what such a change involved. several months
OF the time of large part of an increased library
force have already been given to this work, and
beginning has just been made. At this rate OF
progress many more months will be required to
complete the numbering of books alone, after
which there will still remain more than 30 900
cards in the card catalogue to be changed.
Meanwhile the development of the library
will be suspended and the urgent need of more
books in certain departments will remain un-
needed. The card catalogue will be useless until
the whole work is completed, and the printed
catalogue. SO long and SO urgently desired for
home use, must remain vision OF the sweet
by and BY"
All this might be overlooked, however. If some
good and lasting advantage should result when
the change is made.
As has been shown, however, and as will still
further appear on intelligent investigation, the
new system is open to weighty objections and at
every point of comparison will be found less de-
sirable than the system for which it is substi-
tuted. A. J. SMOKE.