New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-20


come a formidable rival Of the British Museum,
whose collections number 100000, but whose
rate Of increase last year only 26.92o.
PAMPHLETS and volumes combined.
These figures are given to indicate the libra
rvs present activity and its progress despite the
fact that It must wait for its new building ana
regardless of the no less pressing fact that, at
the Astor especially, the limit Of actual space
for the placing of books has now very nearly
been reached ReGretfully, but no less posi-
lively the Aston librarians have had TO curtain
the "alcove privileges" materially, and few men
and women can now get inside the ralHhss'
This is a great deprivation to many studehts'
hut il is cheerfuIy shouldered because all these
"alcove readers" know Of the library's present
limitations and its planned development.
NO ALCOVE READING IN NEW BUILDING.
In the new building "alcove reading as it is
understood in the Aston Library to-day, VIII not
exist. Special rooms Will be set aside FOR spe-
tialists and each room will have reference
books on certain topics on open shelves, where
they can be handled at Will. But such other
volumes as the special worker may require he
must send for in the ordinary way. II IS not
designed to give any one from outside access
to the Stacks" These. at all events are the
plans that have been made, and 1t is quite
likely that they will be adhered to.
one arrangement that is proving OF very
Great popularity is the new open shelf reference
department, entirely new in the annals Of the
Astor and the LcnOx In inc former more than
five thousand general reference works are set
apart on convenient shelves and placed at the
disposal of the public. Any one may take them
from the shelves and make use Of them at his
own pleasure. These need no signed ticket or
request, and are available at any moment. That
this new feature Of the library may be or It's
greatest value an attendant Is in charge to get
such volumes down as newcomers may not
readily find. to answer oil inquiries and TO ex-
plain the scope Of the special collection. Ihe
books here include many hundred encyclopedias
volumes Of record etc The Lonox open refer
ence shelves have over three thousand Volumes
only a portion of which are general reference
books however, many Of them being geneaiogl-
cal works and special histories of American To-
catics. The most used books of this latter
class are out on these open shelves. This spe-
cial collection is supplemented by many hundred
additional volumes.
The open reference department has already
proved its value and convenience, and as it
stands is one Of the best proofs possible Of the
new library's desire to make Itself Of the most
substantial value to the public.
IMPROVED SERVICE
Arain-and this is most important in connec-
ton with this-there is to be noticed marked
improvement in the interest taken BY the minor
employees. An esprit de- corps seems to have
arisen which goes far toward explaining these
two libraries increased popularity. The time
is not long past when many Of the attendants,
though courteous enough did not seem to care
do lob
for visitors. 1t seems to be a matter Of per-
sonal pride with them, from the lowest book boy
Up. to do more for the utter stranger than he
expects to call his attention to what he has not
yet thought Of or asked for, but might possibly
want.
Moreover with electric lights, there are no
lark corners in the Asto- Library The book
!fts that have been put in have done much to
make quick service possible The old theory
that the man who studied in a library had
plenty Of time TO spare has been sensibly reer
gated to the limbo OF mistaken ideas
The now card catalogue is the consolidated
library's masterwork. Nearly fifty cataloguers
are employed on il, the most Of them women
and, besides these. there is an "open class" in
catalogue work that has continually from
twelve TO twenty-five students The task OF
making this new catalogue is fairly colossal
All In all, more than $4,000 pieces are to be
catalogued. These figures are deceptive, how
ever and by no means tell the story for they
take no account Of the constantly arriving ac-
cessons the leading articles Of the magazines
and reviews that must be indexed here and
the number Of cards that must be written or
printed for each piece"
There are really two catalogues-the public
catalogue in the reference department and the