New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-20
PTBLTC LIBRARY PLANS.
THE CLASSIFICATION OF BOOKS WILL DE-
PEND LARGELY on THE ARRANGE

THE CLASSIFICATION OF BOOKS WILL DE-
PEND LARGELY on THE ARRANGE
MENT OF TIE NEW BUILDING.
The plans for the Public Library Building In
Bryant Park suggested by the committee which
nrepared the conditions for the architects compe-
ttion Will be subject OF discussion at the meeting
OF the American Library Association. IN Phiiadel-
phia on Thursday OF this week The Ideas winch
the committee had in view will be explained by Dr
j. S Billings, the director Of the library and com
ments ard criticisms may be expected from the
most eminent librarians in the country. or course
what IL said will he from the librarians point OF
view which Is essentially different from that OF the
architect.
The officers Of the Public Library will be glad OF
any suggestions which may be made In the drec-
ton OF improving the general scheme which they
have laid down for the guidance OF the hrcnltects
who will compete for the honor OF making the de-
sign for the lbrary building Although number
of prominent architects have declined to take part
in a competition Of this nature. the terms Imposed
are generally recognized az fair and there Is every
prospect that a large number Of competent men
will submit sketches to the trustees. OF those who
decline to take part in the preliminary competition
not more than six will be invited by the trustees to
share In the second competition, on which the Sc
lection OF the architect for the building will largely
depend.
The provisional classification Of the books belong
direction Of Director Billings but final action IS
reserved until the arrangement Of rooms and stacks
in the new building Is definitely known. The gen
eral principle on which the work is being done Is
that OF getting rid OF the fixed location OF books
which Is regarded a bad thing except In the case
OF collections of books which are complete In them
selves and cannot be added 10. An Illustration in
point is the Stuart COLLECTION: In the 1enox Library
While DR. Billings has outlined n general plan OF
ella he regards IL tentative as yet. AMI
is not ready to submit II the scrutiny of Other
EXPERTS In library work until II Is fully worked ou
Tho library has recently received about hfteen
thoiIsand pamphlets from the Columbia University
library which is preparing to move TO It's new
building This large collection will be carefully
gone over and those pamphlets which are not Al
ready In the Public Library picked out. while the
rest will be passed to other libraries for fur-
Their process of cullirR -
Dr. Billings says that he would be glad to receive
copies OF reports OF societies OF all kinds and All
other reports and documents which may be pub
lished from time to time but which In the ordinary
course OF things never bound. and only pre-
served by few of those specially Interested IN
them When people are overhauling their libraries
and closets and come on such publications whether
relating 10 railroads churches or any other sub-
ec instead Of destroying them or selling them Tor
Junk a wiser disposition would be TO send them 70
prove OF great value. Those which were found TO
be duplicates Of pamphlets already In the library
would be handed on and find place III other SIM
ilar institutions.