New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-03
nineteenth ST. & SIXTH AVE.

Monies. etc are designated by single letters Of the
e ed by deuSs d SUBJ
divisions by three letters. and so on Thus far one
til Is the "o az
ton and trade which Is indicated by the letter H.
be gained from seeing how this topic is subdvided.
Thus the proceedings OF societies periodicals. re-
FBs: general and Systematic trsatises on political
economy. TIC; capital and labor. wages etc. I'd;
Tency bimetailism and the silver question, IF:
the money market and rs 50 9n TO- bang
tection Tx. and 50 forth As further illustra-
oh msntOn MAY be made 81 ine rae, that under
For the tinted States nearly all the books re-
logue. the distinguishing letter is I. The subdvis.
ions are numerous incgains states and groups Of
mated by the letters IR. while New-York city Is
gether is seen from the statement that Kentucky
Is IuN; Illinois, IVE Colorado. Twp; and Alaska.
AN ARBITRARY METHOD
The method OF classification adopted is purely
arbitrary. DR.. Billings says that he has made no
attempt TO adopt mnemonic system, has been
done by other librarians. since he thinks
arbitrary combination OF letters is readily borne
In the mind by library attendants. In ia king
the subject a day or two ago and describing the
system which he has decided. after careful con-
sderation he said to the writer:
Il am giving my attention to finance and banking
now and to butterflies. They will come along
In good time. and then shall have to decide
whether to make a special group for books relating
TO the butterflies OF Vermont There will first be
the division Of natural history. with subdivision
for entomology. another for lepidoptera. and so on
do not suppose II will be necessary to make
special group for Vermont. but probably the books
on this subject will be- included under butterflies Of
ew-England OF the Northeastern States.
cite this only illustration OF the questions
that will come up In the course OF this work"
Dr. Billings has a corps OF about twenty-five per-
sons engaged in the work OF cataloguing the books
In the Public Library. In rooms on the ground
case may be OF books recently purchased.
waiting to be fitted into their proper PAGES IN the
purpose OF getting them into the hands OF the pub
lie as quickly possible Half dozen young
women engaged in writing cards When the
books are ready and the cards written both books
there other employees see that the books are put
In the groups and the proper cards dropped into their
inches. .
branch OF the Library As tho same system Is
pursued in both. there will be hitch when the
two collections are ultimately brought together
public and the library stan. accession book Is
kept containing a complete record OF all additions
the Library. and when the new system OF classi-
ication is fully carried out II Is the librarians IN
tention 70 have a shelf list made. by which the
books In the Library may be checked or from time
to time. In making up the groups already practl.
caly complete some OF the books mentioned IN me
earlier catalogues have not been FOUND. Or bii.
lngs does not say that they have been stolen, Dut
thinks 1t possible that they may have been showed
back out OF sight or misaid In some other way
1t will be easy determine whether or not any
books have disappeared.