New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-24
BOOKS AT THE EXPOSITION
THE EXHIBIT OF THE AMERICAN IL
BRARY ASSOCIATION IN PARIS.
THE PROGRESS OF THE LIBRARY MOVE
MENT SHOWN IN A SMALL But
ELABORATE DISPLAY.

MENT SHOWN IN SMALL But
ELABORATE DISPLAY.
Paris June 10.
In a secluded corner Of the Social Economy
Building, surrounded by a certain atmosphere
of scholarly quiet. is an exhibit which stands
unique among the contributions OF the nations
10 the Paris Exposition. 1t is that Of the Amer
lean Library Association, showing the progress
and condition of American libraries The
hfbit was prepared at the New-York State Ii
brary, Albany, by Miss Florence Woodwork.
under the general supervision of Melvil Dewey,
director Of the library. The collection as a
whole represents the best thought OF the Amer
lean library profession, and aims 70 illustrate
all types OF libraries every phase OF library work
and all sections Of the country. Through the
interest and generosity Of Andrew Carnegie.
representative of the association will be in
charge of the exhibit throughout the Exposition
It was installed by ]. L. Harrison. of the Prov
idence Atheneum, Providence. R. l., who will
be succeeded on July l by Miss Mary W. Plum
mer of the Pratt Institute Library. Brooklyn.
The exhibit occupies a space OF six by nine
feet, which is nearly one-thirteenth Of that as
signed to the United States in this building. and
| So comparatively speaking, covers large area.
! This includes seven units of installation, each
!
/ to a tier Of ordinary library shelving. The tiers
/ are divided three feet from the floor by broad
! ledge. with shelves below and wing frame cases
! above each case holding thrty-three wing
| frames Over the cases is a wall space, finished
! in rich green. hung with large platinum prints
! Of some of the larger and newest types Of Amer
! lean libraries
The material exhibited is divided ihto five
| groups: One, monographs; two pictures; three
charts: four books, and five, appliances.
The collection of nearly 600 photographs and
| more than fifty plans is exhibited on sheets =
by % inches. mainly in the seven wing frame
cases Each case contains a distinct group Of
libraries. which may be briefly summarized as
! follows: Case /. Photographs OF the American
| Library Association, library schools travelling
libraries, home education work. historical and
athenaeum libraries and National and State IL
braries Case > Libraries Of more than 2OOUOO
volumes, including COpley prints Of the Boston
! Public Library, plans of the New-fork PUBIC
Library now building, ana the Chicago PUBIC Ii
brary Case 8. Libraries ranging from 10000
to 100000 volumes, and including wide geo
graphical range Case 4, Some OF the smaller
/ libraries Of the country, including many me-
| mortal libraries and most interesting colec-
ton illustrating children's departments in pub
! lie Libraries. Case g. The Carnegie libraries ct
Pittsburg Allegheny, Homestead, Braddock.
Washington, Atlanta, etc. giving striking ex-
ample of what has been done by one man for
American libraries. Case 4, Various libraries
| from different parts of the country
Eleven statistical charts and maps show the
wonderful growth of American Libraries and
their increasing influence as educational centres,
A man prepared by the Massachusetts Library
! Commission, the oldest Of the State commissions
and the mother Of succession of most active
ones shows that of the 353 towns in the State
only seven are without free public library
A collection Of more than four hundred care
fully selected volumes makes UP the fourth d.
vision of the exhibit. 1t is confined very largely
to works on photography and library science
economy and history, and along these lines II
represents the best work and thought and most
advanced ideas of American Librarians II is
Tict nd valuable in specially bound collections
Of printed matter issued by the American LII
brary Association. State and local library cluos
and library schools; in statistical collections IN
manuscript; in the collection of portraits OF Of
fcers and members OF the National association
in books and pamphlets dealing with the new
! est problems and latest developments OF library
work, that is, with home education, nome IL
! braries, travelling libraries State library com
| missions library legislation, state aid 10 IL
| braries intimate relations with the public
schools and childrens departments in public
. libraries; in examples Of great library catalogues
and the ingenious American periodical lndeNes
| the latest OF which, THE Cumulative Index,
/ keeps this great mass of literature continuously
| indexed down to the month preceding that or the
/ last issue Of the publication. In word, this
library is simply invaluable TO the student OF
/ American library history, methods and progress
| The limited space allows little room Tor library
| appliances There are several volumes Of blanks
| showing forms used by the Chicago, Boston ant
St Louis public libraries, the New-YOrk STATE
| Library. etc: examples Of various methods Of
| classification. Cataloguing, charging of books
! etc; an interesting collection of printed cards
Illustrating one of the most useful methods OF
| library cooperation. and an attractive conec
ton of picture bulletins a device for at
tracing attention and enticing people TO read
One of the latest features Of American library
work and the one which is perhaps, making the
greatest progress to-day, that OF the travelling
York State Library in 1892. is shown by the
travel stained case and well worn books Of the
Stout Travelling Library. No. 26'' sent by thu
Wisconsin Library Commission and which ha'
been in actual use in the hamlets and remote
, farming districts of that State. Another branch
of this same work of sending books TO the peo
pie is shown by the Carnegie Home Library
which has done for the poor districts OF Pitts
burg what the Stout Library has done for thu
small villages Of Wisconsin The question o
how to get the people TO read good books, or, II
other words get books TO the people, is one o
! the most vital and interesting problems witt
which American Hbrarianshp is now dealing
. The American Library Association exhibit no
only concerns itself with the history of tn
past but 1t is careful, we'll thought out anC
we'll arranged study Of the modern library move
ment in America, a movement which keeps
, America ahead to-day in library methods anc
, administration it has stood at the head from
= the first since Benjamin Franklin founded II
Philadelphia, in 1871, the first public library
T. #. FRENCH NOW SUES T. ". SANGER