Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-30

Angeles RuDuC library yesterday Eedu
his annual report to the directors, go
ing into the library's progress for the
past twelve months at great length.
The reading of the document con-
sumed more than an hour and much OF
it was devoted to recounting the six
teen months reforms that had been ao-
complished during the present admin
istration.
A number of points were specially
dwelt on by Mr.. Lummis because of
misapprehensions that exist regard
ing them.
I'VE have established department
Of study and research, a natural and
logical complement to the reference de-
partment," said he. "It has been the
cause of some levity to reporters be-
cause it's standards were set so high
as to seem funny to grammar school
graduates. 1t has, however, JUSTIFIED
It's existence and is being used more
and more by discriminating scholars"
Gather History Data
Another innovation is the depart
ment of history material. Formerly
nothing of the enormous local i'm
print was collated except scraps about
Libraries 600 per cent of this library s
squabbles) and these were not acces-
sible).
within the year this department has
classified and put into available shape
all the important history-material of
this region for eighteen months, and
has built up to an important status
the biographical collection recon-
mended by a far-seeing librarian of
this library sixteen years ago.
1.-The installation of the large, valu-
able and greatly consulted collection
of pictures in an up-to-date cabinet,
the mechanism of which Is original
in Los Angeles, is being copied by other
libraries. Formerly these pictures
were filed in old-fashioned drawers, to
open which it was necessary to call
the strongest member of the staff.
"The founding of statistics upon in
ventory instead of upon occasion Is
also in vogue here. Before, the reports
of access, circulation, total number OF
volumes in library, registration, ETC.,
frequently added the gross increase OF
the year without subtracting the years
loss, and were in general not relied on"
Autographs an Asset
In some quarters fun has been poked
at Mr.. Lummis for his collection of
autographs, which, as he views 1T, IS a
valuable adjunct. On this point he
says:
I'm 1906 a special autograph collec-
ton was instituted. The library pro-
vides uniform stationery, identified as
Los Angeles Public Library Auto
graph and arranged for binding. This
special sheet is forwarded with spe-
| cial signed letter, to which the re-
| sponse has been most generous.
"a large number of artists have sent
| signed sketches in pen and ink, water
colors, gouache, etc. Nearly all the
local artists are represented, and so
already are many of more remote resi-
dence, like Frederic Remington,
Thompson-Seton Burbank, etc.
From authors the collection includes
already a considerable number of the
foremost American men of letters. In
almost every case the autograph fol-
lows a special written contribution.
1.-THE stationery for this autograph
collection includes specially-made mail
ing tubes, in which the letter of re-
quest and blank page are sent, with a
printed gummed label, postage pre-
paid for return and full explanation.
The average cost thus far is IL cents;
the average value thus far is $6."
Special exhibits will be made of the
collection, which will be bound alpha
betically by class-authors, statesmen,
etc.
Following is a synopsis of the re-
port:
Mr.. Lummis' Report
"The following brief summary of
some changes made operative in this
library since August 1, 1905, is set
down without particular reference to
chronology or order of Importance:
Removal of the library from a total
top floor space of TITS square feet in
an unventilated f1retrap (whose unhy-
gienic and inadequare character has
been complained of in every annual
report this library ever printed, and
is complained of still by the city Off
cials who now occupy the same quar-
ters) to $4,000 square feet of inside
floor space in a modern fire-proof
building, besides outdoor reading room
space of over 10000 square feet more.
No library rooms in America are bet
ter lighted or better ventilated. Few
are in the comparison at all.
Appointment of permanent assis-
| tants in nine departments, multiple
cation by ten. BeforeN only one de-
partment had a permanent assistant
Perhaps no internal change has ever
done more for the improvement of this
| service.
Roof Garden for Smokers
1.-THE first real all-the-year roof gar
den reading room in any library in
America. Garden No. 1, now in opera
tion, has over $500 square feet; garden
No 2, available when needed, has
| about 10000 square feet. A section of
the roof garden is open to smokers
another innovation in American IL
braries.
"The dating and signing of all re-
ports and other documents. The Ii
brarian's report is now put into writ
ing, recorded and indexed. All reports
are also made in triplicate.
boy pages and messengers IA to 16
years old) to do porterage and ladder
climbing; both labors now being for
hidden to the women of the staff The
saving in salary by this work is over
so per cent.
"A great extension of the card cata-
logue. This has not only progressed in
its ordinary function of listing books,
but has been extended to other utilities
almost equally necessary from a busi-
ness point of view.
1.-The cataloging by an expert of
what several reports have termed The
most important accessions to the Ii
brary,' namely, the department of
California and Spanish h-American his
| - 90 10.