New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-28

There Will he decided economy in one central IL
dissar,, ". ,i,, - ,bere economy in the
purchase Of books. but also In cataloguing them;
cor1 fr he caTJ catalngues as an example
When you get up to nine or ten II pays 10 print
them instead OF copying them and the cost Of
printing thirty or forty cards IS mere tribe more
than that o: dozen.'
THE REMOTER PARTS OF THE CITY.
do you think you will be able TO establish
branches in the outlying districts Of the cty-as'
for instance on Staten Island and in Flushing and
jamaica"
Well | don't know much about the outlying
districts, for have been in NewYork only little
more than year. but l should say tina, tie
answer to that question would depend on the
amount OF money at the disposal Of the Public
Library. I should hope 10 meet the needs OF tne
entire city in the matter Of branch , iendins IL
which I should expect all those engaged IN any
line Of research to come ought to be the best in
How about the subscription braries?'
II do not think they will be affected TO any great
extent by the Public Library. IL l. "A fact az any
rate. that the Athenaeum in Boston iourishes in
spite Of the Public Library. The Mercantile IL
brary mere will probably 20 on after our library Is
es."Dlsle,i a.' az, h.cribere ~ course for N
has building that must yield IL a good income.
What is the special work you are now DONG
Dr. Billings" 49,.
GOT in the way u books and pamphlets by cata-
loeuing and classifying them. There are books
Leuox Library there are 5000 manuscripts that are
only known about in a general way; IL VIII not De
books pamphlets. etc. together in one place. but
the work now going on Will not have to be done
be followed. but in the matter of classification
system has not been fuiy decided on, ara
after time hope to be able to print catalogues
Of books belonging to certain groups.
HOW THE BOOKS COME IN.
Pointing to some Of the books lying about in his
own office and heaped on tables in the adjoining
rooms DR. Billings said: That Is the way they
keep coming in, at the rate OF about 1000 month";
so that every year We get a pretty good library
Indicating one Of the piles Of books and going
over it in detaH. he remarked: Here IS history
OF Sullivan County but We have a copy Of that,
and don't want another This" taking up another
don't happen TO have and so We want it.
It was handsomely bound book. printed on
heavy paper with numerous steel ehsraVihes.
which no doubt brought considerable revenue
10 the compiler or publisher. for people VINO get
prominent citizens to pay handsomely for hav-
ing their portraits inserted 1T Is not OF great
value" added the librarian. but has certain
genealogical interest"
At the bottom OF the pile were two large but
not very thick books. They proved 70 be bound
volumes OF early issues Of The New-York Weekly
Tribune with the imprint OF Greeley * McElrath
These I shall take" said Or Billings foF they
are needed 20 complete a set
How much are they worth?
Il am going 10 pay s. apiece for them, and sup
pose that t. what they are worth. Anyhow. that
is all the dealer asks for them. There are num-
Der OF these existence. and there is no great de-
rnand for them. These books. by-the-way. were
ali sent in by a dealer In secondhand books.
good many OF the dealers send books 10 me before
Offering them elsewhere. and thus have chance
10 pick out what | need. Then. Of course, | keep
an eye on the auction sales and make bids for
anything I want"
In reference 20 the effect Of public library on
private pay libraries Or. Billings called attention
10 a notice he had recently received Of assgnees
sale OF the books OF a subscription library In Low
ell Mass which had been driven into debt and
OF a public library IN that city, but he said that
such Instances were rare far he could recall