The Washington times., 1915-01-17
Phone Books of 12O Cities.

main ignorant or look elsewhere.
Phone Books of 120 Cities.
But few people know, for instance.
that in one institution here ere kept
the current telephone directories Of 10
of the largest cities In the United
States, that may be consulted by all.
And even a smaller number would know
whom to consult to obtain authoritative
information as to medicinal herbs. A
man with this information. however. is
right here in Washington, and would
be glad to have anyone profit by his
special knowledge.
But this condition is to be remedied.
A committee OF men. all experts In their
particular lines. are collecting data Tor
a book which will serve as u guide to
will be alphabetically listed wiGe
every line of human thought.
If you want to learn something about
the Rrasshoppers OF Indo China. the
ington who Is a grasshopper expert: II
You seek information as to tho approved
methods of raising guinea pigs, the
commission form Of government, the
number of spots on the moon. this book
will tell you where such information
may be had. There are men in Wash.
ington who know all these things. and
|
to give their knowledge to tho public
The mea who have undertaken this
task are II. II. B. Meyer, chief bibliog-
Louis Darlington. also Of the Library Of
Congress. and Carlos c. Houghton. SEQ
retary Of the District Of Columbia Ii
brary Association. Mr.. Meyer and Mr..
Darlington are also members 9th OF the
ton. the former being president.
The book is to be published Jointly
by the Library OF Congress ana tho
library association. and will be distrib-
libraries and kindred institutions Of the
city for the convenience Of tho public.
Individual copies may be procured by
addressing Mr.. Meyer. or Mr.. HouShton.
1e16 Sixteenth street northwest.
Aid From Library Necessary.
The need Of such a book was pointed
out a. a recent meeting of the associa-
ton. and after some discussion it was de-
cided to undertake its publication. Since
! the task is a big one and entails an i'm
mense amount Of work It was decided
| to seek the aid Of the Library of Con-
Gress.
Herbert S. Putnam. the librarian.
heartily indorsed the plan. and arranged
| to put Uncle Sans machinery at the
disposal of the committee. The volume
l Will Dc do iuldIS OoSo-
ment.
The compilation and publication Of the
book will be conducted In much the same
way as the case Of the Handbook d
Libraries in the District of Columbia,
which was issued by the Library Of Con
gress several months ago. except tina
this will be done on much larger scale
Mr.. Meyer directed the preparation O.
this work, which contained detailed in
formation on every library in Washing
ton-the number OF volumes, their char
acter, etc. and which has alread!
proved TO be most valuable.
| Work on the proposed volume is al
| ready we'll under way, but because o
the vast amount OF material that mus
be collected and the number OF people
to consult. the exact date OF its publica,
| ton has not yet been announced. IT Il
! estimated, however. that the volume viii
be available within three months.
| II the demand for the volume prove
as great as its usefulness would seen
to warrant. it will. it is believed. b.
revised and brought up to date from
time to times