The evening times., 1896-11-25
LIBRARY SYSTEM IN DETAIL
Continued from First Page.

netims-hypnotism is. perhaps, the modern
name"
..Houden there?'' said Mr.. Cummings.
Yes
''Who?'' asked Mr.. Qulgg.
''Houden, repeated the Democratic Con
gressInan, looking across the table with
his interest and curiosity little aroused
to see whether the French magician W as an
acquaintance of Mr.. Quigg.
''Oh,'' said the Tribune man, with an
intonation that seemed to indicate an un-
familiarity with the name.
BOOKS TO MAKE THE HEAD ACHE.
Chapter % is Social Science" cor
rinued Mr.. Spofford. IAN books on COIN
munity, experiments, cooperation. trades
unions, slavery. There's an alcove with
books on slavery enough to make YOUR
head ache There are the books on colon
ization efforts; then, too, all books on
efforts OF women for equal rights; ON
marriage and divorce
Exile TO Florida?" asked Mr.. Cum
mings.
NO; that goes in the special Florida
sec Ion. as / snail show TURNER along.
Mr.. Spofford then described chapter &c,
on metaphysics and mental philosophy,
containg all books on teaching, among
other things, and the discussion Of the
problem OF co-cducation.'
''Do yCu put Kant and Schopenhauer
there. asked Mr.. Cummings.
Yes. certainly; every writer who las
touched upon the operations of the human
mind
Chapter 20 was on political science, and
Mr.. Cummings wanted 10 know if book
on the John A dams day here was in This
group. 1t was not; the book deals in a
large measure with matters in this city,
and is kept with special section devoted
to Washington history This chapter con
fni M sthI lytS mol ha stlN-
iects of economics, finance, which covers
banking and the whole silver and geld
discussion; elections, parliamentary law,
etc.
DO you put Allen o. Myers on the Brice
contest and Sackett's New Jersey cases.
together here" asked Mr. Cummings. And
Mr.. Spofford explained the situation To his
satisfaction.
When chapter "a, on international law
was reached, Mr.. Quigg thought this was
too small a subject to make IA separate chap
ter.
at is not immense" said Mr.. Spofford,
pleasantly, but the great collection OF
treaty papers makes IL occupy consider
able space"
THROUGH IN A HURRY.
Then, by request of Mr.. Quigg, who led
the questi oning in TIL last hour, Mr..
Spofford ran over the last eighteen chap
teio Ntis tHiSlhS WIN ..
Oh American history and topography, in
cluding biography, except Washington. and
including genealogy: chapter 3, on British
history and topography; chapter >, Cont
mental or extra British and extra American
history; chapter l ancient history.
Now" said Mr.. Quigg, II want to
understand your system of cataIoguing
and | put my question in this way. You
have shown us in your forty-four divisions
of the IbTarV--"
"A mere bird's-cye VIEW intcrjected
Mr.. Spofford.
"A scheme Of arrangement that calls
for a very clear system OF cataloguing
else you are going to get into trouble.
How do you catalogue your boks?
when book comes into ti,c library"
said Mr.. Spofford, SAY a life of oliver
Wendell HolmcS-the cataloguer is re-
quired 10 make one or more cards as there.
may or may not be Joint authorship. The
card must have first upon IL the surnnmc
Of the author. This must be folio 'yed
with the full Christian name, if possible.
lf the title Of the book gives only the
Initials the cataloguer must get the
names some where else if he can Il
necessary he must write to the publisher
Next comes the exact title Of the
book, beginning in every case without
exception with the first word of the
title This must be followed with every
Important part of the title. The cata-
loguer must seize upon every word that is
distinctive, no matter how much there is
Of 1t and put it in whether it makes one
line or several on his card. Next he iaust
Collate the pa gcS to see If they are all there.
He runs over them very rapidly as printer
counts paper.
MAKING THE CATALOGUE.
IF he finds part missing lie must Write to
the sender OF the book and get a perfect
copy. Next CoIncs what is usually called The.
collation.. This consists in looking for the
distinctive marfs which show the number
of pages, plates etc, and these must be set
down. He finds ''iv'' at the bottom or the
page on which the preface ends and 3SS
pages; he sets down ''iv-3SS pp.," showing
the total number Of pages. The place OF
publication, the publishers name and the
date are then put down. and the card is
ready for the rcviser, who goes over il to
see that the catalogue has been completely
and accurately done, and classifies it, so
as To send it to its place in the library
You have not, then said Mr.. HarIncr,
"a catalogue for each OF the forty-fou
chapters?''
"Notat all. There some great alpha betical
list for the whole library"
Now, you take such a subject as IN
chapter T. and you have one two. three, five
thousand cards." said Mr.. Quigg
Yes: there must be several thousand Of
them
And there is not a catalogue of that
sub jcct?''
No"
Then you must have somewhere in the
library place where you have at least
T4O 900 cards?''
Yes; much more than that-for while
we have SOME duplicate books. there are a
great many books which have two authors
and must be twice catalogued."
Have you any written catalogue?''
mo ledger system has ever prevailed d"
Have you any printed catalogue?"
I'VE have eleven volumes, besides sew.
eral whic, have been discarded Our cat.
alogue of subjects extends, however only
as late as 1863. The work of printing
the catalogue was suspended from abso-
lutte necessity, occaSioned by the rush in
the copyright business, in which every clerk
was needed.
HAMPERED BY COPYRIGHT.
THE printed catalogue is at least twenty
years in arrears. and it will never be caught
up with unless Congress sees the necessity
for it. and makes the law provide properly
for it,"
Then you tell me-" said Mr.. Quigr.
that the key to your library is through
the first letter of the authors full name.
If l want book by John Smith on archi-
lecture there is nothing left but to search
all through your catalogue for this nance"
"Yes, there is" said Mr.. SpofforI:
you can go to the division OF architecture,
which is comparatively small and look over
the titles for the book you want"
mo; but 1 mean by catalogue?"
There is no other way, ii the book has
come in since 1863"
You depend solely upon your card cat
alogue?"
Yes"
what if one of the cards should be lost
strayed or stolen; you would be to lat cx-
tent crippled, wouldn't you?"
..XpS. biIf rnhndr iS t..