The record-union., 1898-11-27
LIBRARIANS FINISH WORK.
THEIR LAST SESSION rs ALL
TECHNIQUE.
Catalogues, Indexes and Other
Matters Relative to Library
Work Are Discussed.

Ihe morning session of the Library
association yesterday was largely at
tended, and, though the work was al
most wholly technical, a great deal Oh
interest was evinced. 1t was the gen
eral feeling that the coming together
of the State Librarians for the dis
cussion of matters of general interest
was timely. and that it would prove
the beginning of much useful work IN
the future.
The first paper Of the morning was
by f. J. Teggart, entitled "B1pllo-
graphical Aids and the speaker dis
cussed the subject in such a way as
to show that he was fully familiar with
existing aids for those interested in re-
search. He said it was to be regretted
that all catalogues extant were incom :
plete. If it We're possible to prepare a
series of books with a list Of all the
works issued it would be of invaluable
assistance to Librarians; but in the
absence of all such assistance 1t was
necessary to put up with such make
shifts as exist. Poole's index of mag
azine articles, etc, was found of great
assistance. and Librarians were hope
full that they would get a great deal OF
A1N7N =
1901. 1t is said that this work Will
comprise a fine list up to 1876.
Joseph c. Rowell of the State Uni
versity Library read a useful paper on
"C1assification and Catalogues He
held that the best catalogue yet devised
is of the dictionary type. though all
methods of making. catalogues are SO
defective that in a hundred years from
Ion r11f q
over the method now in vogue The
chief evil to-day is that there is no
uniformity. Every cataloguer adopts
a new and peculiar system, some en-
tering books under their authors
names, others under the names of the
subject only, and others under the gen
eral subject of which it is sub
classification.
Miss N M. Russ of the Pasadena
Public Library had an interesting pa
per on "Children and the Library. "
She said it was often possible to inter-
est children under II years of age by
picture and catchy classifications, but
after that the chief thing to do was
to depend upon individual tastes of the
children.
c. L. Weller of the Alameda Public
Library spoke on Access to the
Shelves He said that it was the ex-
perience of the Alameda Library that
there was great satisfaction in giving
the public access to the shelves. 1t
had been found that the people We're
honest, few books being lost. Further
more, it was discovered that twice as
many books are read under this sys-
tenn as when the public were not al
lowed to go to the shelves. He SAID
that Alameda. with a population OF To-
600 had 1900 card-takers, and he
ventured the assertion that this would
be found a larger percentage than
that of any city in the State.
Miss Bertha Kumli read paper on
'"The Charging Systems of Public LII
braries'' - She analyzed all the promi-
nent systems and concluded that ac-
curacy. speed and simplicity were the
crowning glories of every system. She
advised Librarians to be slow to change
from system that they understood
to one new to them. however brilliant
it might appear as a scheme for IL
brary work
One of the most interesting talks OF
the morning was by L. w. Ripley OF
the Sacramento Library. He explained
that the system in vogue was very
convenient for the public as well as for
the Librarian and his assistants. The
lockng-card system was referred to as
saving at least one assistant in the
library. and as affording great salts
faction to the public. He went into
details regarding the invoice and rec
ord-taking of cards, and explained the
improved methods of indexing fctlon-
The concluding paper was by MISS
Emily I. Wade of the San Francisco
Public Library. AS she is the Chef
Cataloguer in that library she e1-
plained the system in detail. ana
analyzed the schemes used in other
cities. The paper was explained by
object lessons in the shape. of cata-
fogues from other libraries. and the
entire ADDRESS was listened to with
profit and satisfaction.
After the adjournment of the ses-
sion the Librarians went to Sutter's s
Fort and other points of interest. first
however. thanking the staff OF the
state Library and the people of sac
ramento for courtesies extended.
MOTrRNS HIS MONEY.