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THE QUESTION OF INDEXES. IN the March number of the LIBRARY JOURNAL Mr. Tillinghast suggests that the co-operation committee of the A. L. A. undertake the indexing of books. The work that this committee has done in the preparation of the "Annual literary indexes" and the "A. L. A. Index to general literature," would make it seem unadvisable to criticise their action. But it seems to me that the question of indexing books had better be left to the publishers of those books.

An index, to be of any service — unless it be of a general nature, like the "A. L. A. Index". should be with the book or set of books to which it refers. It would be difficult for the committee to publish these indexes in such a manner that they could be conveniently placed with their respective books. This difficulty, however, might be overcome.

A more important consideration is that the responsibility of compiling a proper index should rightly rest entirely with the publisher. As it is, most publishers do not sufficiently realize their responsibility in this matter. If they find that the American Library Association | is willing to relieve them of the little they do feel, I fear they will stop publishing indexes altogether. It appears to me that our energies should take a different direction. The American Library Association should endeavor to bring sufficient pressure to bear upon publishers to cause them to realize that a book that is published without an index is as incomplete as a book that is published without a cover or a title-page. When they realize this they will begin to make the indexes themselves, and thus save the American Library Association the contemplated trouble and expense.

The only way to make business men appreciate matters of this kind is through their pocketbooks. As long as a publisher can demand as much for a book without an index as for a book with an index, and make as many sales of the former as of the latter, he will not go to the trouble and expense of publishing an index. But if it were generally understood among publishers that librarians often refused to buy books that were not properly indexed, they would give this question more attention. It may be impossible to refuse to keep Spencer or Huxley because they are not adequately indexed, but it is certainly possible to refuse to buy a great many books for a similar reason, and to acquaint publishers with this fact. know of one librarian, at least, who has refused to purchase any more copies of "Little Lord Fauntleroy" on account of the abominable paper which is used in it and the high price that is charged for it.

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THE NEW LIBRARY BUILDING OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

THAT Illinois should have at its state university a library building worthy of comparison with our best university libraries is matter for state pride and a good omen for the cause of education in the great central west. Elsewhere is shown a view of the new building, which was dedicated on June 8, with an address by Mr. Melvil Dewey.

To the school of architecture of the university was assigned the task of preparing designs suitable for a library for the university, and Mr. Grant C. Miller, a recent graduate and subsequently a fellow, was the author of the plans finally selected by the trustees. Pink Minnesota sandstone forms the building material, surmounted by a red tile roof. The style is Romanesque, with a pleasant suggestion of Richardson's manner in the massive square tower and broadly-arched entrance. The main floor is reached by a few broad steps and is devoted entirely to library uses, having two large and finely-lighted reading-rooms opening to the right and left of the entrance-hall or delivery-room. The latter is surmounted by a richly-ornamented rotunda. From the deliverydesk nearly all parts of the library are in view, while the librarian's room, cloak-room, reception-room, and periodical-room open off from this central entrance-hall. Exterior ornamentation and carving, interior frescoes, mosaic floors, ornamental ironwork, balustrades and railings are artistic and pleasing in the extreme. Forced draught and an automatically regulated temperature will insure perfect ventilation and

an unvarying temperature in winter. The book-chairman of the library committee of the state stack, forming a rear wing, and to be eventually seven stories in height, each story seven feet high, is the work of the Library Bureau. Its capacity is 150,000 v., while certain rooms in the third story, now used as offices of university administration, can, at some future time if needed, be used for the storage of books. The entire building is fireproof, and its dimensions are 167 by 113 feet, the height of the tower being 132 feet. The cost of the building, when fully completed and furnished, will be about $165,000.

Miss Katharine L. Sharp has been appointed librarian, and she will start a library school in the fall, having two assistants to aid her in her duties. Miss Sharp's work at the Armour Institute, Chicago, is too well known to call for mention here. The discontinuance of the library school at the Armour Institute has enabled the University of Illinois to secure her services. The library already has over 30,000 volumes, and will be rapidly added to, it is hoped, by biennial appropriations of $20,000.

That this new building may stand to its own and to neighboring universities in our still young and materialistic west as a promise and index of sound scholarship and high educational ideals, is the hope of all those who believe that a university or college should appeal to the world through its laboratories, its library, and the approved but unostentatious scholarship of its instructors, rather than through its ball-nine, its athletic field, or its boat-crew. Any tendency to cheap and flashy methods and any overinsistence upon quick results should be discouraged by the sight of this massive and dignified structure, built in the cause of higher education and designed to last for decades if not for centuries. PERCY F. BICKNELL.

THE ATLANTA LIBRARY MEETING. ON Monday, May 31, the Atlanta Woman's Club held a library meeting, at which the importance of library development in the state was forcibly presented. The meeting was preceded in the morning by the organization of a state library club, under the effective direction of Miss Wallace, of the Young Men's Library, a full report of which is given elsewhere in this issue (see p. 309), and the afternoon was devoted to a general library meeting under the auspices of the Woman's Club, attended by the library committee of the state federation of women's clubs, the visiting librarians, and a large number of club members.

The meeting was called to order by Mrs. J. K. Ottley, president of the club, who welcomed the visitors in the name of the club and the Georgia federation. Miss Anne Wallace then introduced the program of the meeting and spoke earnestly of the modern growth of the library idea. She described what had already been done toward the development of a library movement in Georgia, and urged the necessity of co-operation in this, as in all other work.

Travelling libraries were then described in a paper by Mrs. Eugene Heard, of Middleton,

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federation. "The American Library Association" was the subject of a paper by Mrs. Moses Wadley, of Atlanta, who urged the value of connection with the A. L. A. in all library work. Other papers presented were on "The Library of Congress," by Mrs. Burton Smith; "The need of a free public library," by Prof. C. M. Neal; and "The library and the bookseller," by F. J. Paxon. These were followed by descriptions of several libraries of the state: "The Young Men's Library, Atlanta," by James R. Nutting, president of that institution; "The state library," by Capt. Milledge, state librarian; "The Young Men's Library of Augusta," by Miss M. R. Campbell; "The Public Library of Rome," by Miss S. P. Hargrove, and "The Agnes Scott Library of Decatur," by Miss L. A. Field.

In the evening the visitors were tendered a reception by the directors of the Young Men's Library, and were welcomed to the library building by Miss Wallace, Mrs. Lowe, president of the state federation, Mrs. Ottley, and Mrs. Heard.

PUBLICATIONS OF THE OFFICE INTER

NATIONAL DE BIBLIOGRAPHIE.

The Office International de Bibliographie of Brussels has recently issued a catalog of the publications issued, in progress and contemplated under its auspices, which gives also a short account of its history and aims. It was formally established, as readers of the JOURNAL know, in September, 1895, by the Belgian government as the result of action taken at the first bibliographical conference held under its auspices a short time previously. The second conference will be held in Brussels, August 2 of this year, and a considerable foreign attendance is hoped for. The chief work planned, and begun, by the Office is the "Bibliographia universalis, ou repertoire bibliographique universel," a co-operative undertaking composed of a collection of special bibliographies edited by different persons under the general direction of the central office. The various parts are published separately but on uniform lines. They are without exception bibliographies of books, pamphlets, society publications or periodical articles. They are classed according to the decimal system, and are printed either directly upon cards for catalog use or in pamphlet form, so arranged that each entry may be cut out and pasted on a card of any size, thus completing or keeping up to date catalogs already established on other plans. This" Bibliographia universalis " comprised in March of the present year the following publications: "Bibliographica philosophica," issued by the Louvain Institut de Philosophie in 1895; "Bibliographica sociologica," by the Bureau Sociologique of Brussels, in 1895: 'Bibliographia astronomica," by the Société d'Astronomie of Brussels, in 1896; Bibliographica zoologica," edited by Messrs. H. H. Field and V. Carus, and published by the Concilium Bibliographicum of Zurich since

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1896; Bibliographia medica Italia," by T. Rossi Doria, 1896; " Bibliographia anatomica," by Messrs. Field and M. E. Roth, issued by the Concilium Bibliographicum of Zurich since 1897; "Bibliographica physiologica," by C. Richet and others, issued by the Concilium Bibliographicum, 1897; "Bibliografia ostetrica e ginecologica Italiana," by T. Rossi Doria, published by the Societa di Ostetricia of Rome, 1897; and "Bibliographia Americana," being the printed card catalog of current books issued by the Publishing Section of the A. L. A., which the Office includes as the American contribution to its scheme of world bibliography. There are in preparation a "Bibliographia bibliographica," or summary of bibliographical works and periodicals; a "Bibliographia geologica," and a Bibliographie de l'histoire de Belgique." The Office also publishes a Bulletin de l'Institut International de Bibliographie, of which six numbers are issued yearly, and a number of pamphlets and monographs explaining the decimal system, giving the decimal classification of various sciences,

etc.

REPORT OF THE CONGRESSIONAL

LIBRARY COMMITTEE.

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American Library Association. President: W: H. Brett, Public Library, Cleveland, O.

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Secretary: Rutherford P. Hayes, Columbus,

Treasurer: C: K. Bolton, Public Library, Brookline, Mass.

19th GENERAL CONFERENCE, PHILADELPHIA, JUNE 21 - JULY 1, 1897.

THE final circular of the Philadelphia conference, with complete program, has been issued, as follows:

The annual conference of the American Library Association for 1897 will be held at Philadelphia, commencing June 21.

The general and special advantages of these conferences, both to the librarians and the libraries, are now so well known that many boards of trustees pay all or a part of the expenses of the librarian while in attendance. The progress in library methods has been so great within the past few years that attendance on these meetings is necessary for any librarian who wishes to keep up with this advance.

Under the management of Mr. George A. Macbeth, trustee of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, the Trustees' Section will be reorganized and placed on a permanent basis, thus bringing into closer relationship the governing body and the working force of the library, giving an increased interest in the success of the work. The librarians are urged to bring this matter before the members of their boards of trustees, as increased interest on their part will inure to the benefit of the library.

THE report on the "Condition of the Library of Congress," made by the joint committee on library, and ordered printed March 3, 1897, appears as senate report no. 1573, in a substantial volume of 302 pages. It will be read with interest by all who are familiar with the present condition and future possibilites of the Congressional Library, and it contains a mass of important detail upon the subject. The plan It is expected that the Philadelphia conferof the new building is described in detail, and ence will be one of great interest and value, as the existing arrangements of books and shelv- questions of the future policy of the A. L. A. ing are explained, as is the system of classifi- will be considered, especially with regard to incation now in use. Attention is also given to crease of membership, representative memberthe force required for proper administration, to ship, reincorporation under the laws of the the methods of administration and arrange- United States, and the establishment of a perment usual in other libraries, and especially to manent headquarters for the display and presthe work that should be done by a great nation-ervation of the publications and property of the al library. The report is wholly devoted to the association. stenographic minutes of the testimony given by the different persons examined by the committee as to the library, and about a third of the space is given up to the examination of the members of the American Library Association who appeared before the committee in December last. This testimony, with that of Mr. Spofford and Mr. Green, is of special interest to librarians.

At this meeting the association will also hold some of its sessions in sections, thus giving opportunity for more specialized consideration of some subjects.

The local committee, with Mr. John Thomson, of the Free Library of Philadelphia, as chairman, have worked faithfully to make the meeting a success from the social standpoint and with due regard to comfort. The visitors will Appended to the report is an interesting be cordially welcomed, and every facility will be "comparative table of proposed force and ex-given for the inspection of places of interest, in penditure in the Library of Congress in its addition to libraries and historical points. new building as compared with similar service in the library of the British Museum, National Library of France, Royal Library of Prussia, and Boston Public Library." The comparison goes into many details of administration, and is especially valuable in its strong presentment of the inadequate sum allowed the Library of Congress for the purchase of books, as contrasted with the other libraries named.

PROGRAM.

Monday evening, June 21. Social gathering at the University of Pennsylvania with salutation from Dr. William Pepper. Tuesday morning, June 22. — president.

Report of the secretary.
Report of the recorder.

Address by the

Report of the treasurer, including necrology.

Report of the committee on finance, James L. Whitney, chairman.

Report of the trustees of the endowment fund, C. C. Soule, chairman.

Report of the publishing section, W. I. Fletcher, chairman.

Report of the committee on co-operation, W. H. Tillinghast, chairman.

Report of the committee on public documents, R. R. Bowker, chairman.

Report of the committee on foreign docu ments, C. H. Gould, chairman.

Report of the committee of "The Dr. William F. Poole Memorial Fund," G. E. Wire, secretary.

Tuesday afternoon. - Books of the year, Miss Mary S. Cutler.

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Children, Miss Caroline M. Hewins. Tuesday evening. - Public meeting. dresses by Mr. Melvil Dewey, Mr. F. M. Crunden, Prof. Albert H. Smyth, and others.

Wednesday morning, June 23. Two meetings will be held simultaneously in different halls, for which the following programs have been arranged.

College and reference library work conducted by Mr. W. I. Fletcher, librarian Amherst College and chairman of the College Section.

1. Opening remarks by Mr. Fletcher.

2. Government and control of college libraries. Opening remarks by G. W. Harris, librarian Cornell University.

with regard to reincorporation under the laws of the United States, and with regard to representative membership. Discussion opened by Melvil Dewey.

Proposed building for New York Public Library, with plans, Dr. John S. Billings, librarian. Thursday afternoon. - Report of the committee on state aid, J. H. Whittier, chairman.

Report of the committee on co-operation with Library Department of National Educational Association, J. C. Dana, chairman.

Report of the committee on library editions of popular books, C. R. Dudley, chairman. Report of the committee on library schools. Report of the committee on gifts and bequests, Caroline M. Hewins, chairman.

Report of the committee on American libraries clearing house, R. G. Thwaites, chairman. Publisher and importer, Ernst Lemcke.

Thursday evening. - Methods of children's library work as determined by the needs of children, Rev. Edwin M. Fairchild, Miss Emma L. Adams.

Discussion.

Development of the subscription into the free library, F. M. Crunden, J. N. Larned, and others.

The literature of libraries, F. J. Teggart.
Friday morning, June 25. Two programs,

as on Wednesday morning.
College and reference libraries, conducted by
Dr. Ernest C. Richardson, librarian, Princeton
University.

1. The survival of the fittest among books, Dr. Richardson.

2. Index prospects and possibilities, W. I. Fletcher, Amherst College Library.

3. Selection of books for the college library. Opening remarks by Alfred C. Potter, assistant in charge of the ordering department, Har-Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C. vard College Library.

3. The London International Conference on a catalog of scientific literature, Cyrus Adler,

4. A bit of classification: treatment of Harvardiana by the Harvard Club of New York City, contributed by C. Alex. Nelson, deputy librarian, Columbia University.

5. College instruction in bibliography. Elementary session, in charge of Dr. G. E. Wire, Evanston, Ill., and Miss Linda A. Eastman, assistant librarian, Cleveland Public Library.

1. Classification, Dr. Wire.

2. Cataloging, Miss L. E. Benedict, librarian, Lewis Institute, Chicago.

3. Charging systems, Miss Helen Sheldon, Drexel Institute, Philadelphia.

4. Book selection, Miss Elizabeth P. Andrews, Library School, Albany, N. Y.

Meeting of the Trustees' Section, G. A. Macbeth, chairman.

Wednesday afternoon. — Ride to the Wissa

hickon.

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4. Co-operative printing of analytical reference lists, Dr. J. S. Billings, New York Library; G. H. Baker, Columbia University Library; C. W. Andrews, John Crerar Library, Chicago.

5. The care of maps (newspapers or rare books), Wilberforce Eames, Lenox Library, New York.

6. The care of mss., Herbert Friedenwald, Philadelphia.

Elementary session, in charge of Miss Eastman and Dr. Wire.

brarian, Cedar Rapids (Ia.) Public Library.
I. Librarian's aids, Miss Virginia Dodge, li-

librarian, James Prendergast Free Library,
2. Advertising, Miss M. Emogene Hazeltine,
Jamestown, N. Y.

3. Reference work, Miss Eleanor B. Woodruff, reference librarian, Pratt Institute Free Library.

4. Aims and personal attitude toward the work, Miss Eastman.

On Friday afternoon the European delegation will take their departure, and those going upon the American post-conference trip will start on Saturday.

The first informal session will be a reception at the University of Pennsylvania, on Monday

evening, and all but two of the other sessions will be held at the Drexel Institute.

The Aldine Hotel, on Chestnut street, with accommodations for 600, has been selected as

CHANGE IN TIME OF SAILING.

Special attention is called to the fact that the time of sailing of the Cephalonia, with the Phila

headquarters. Rates $2.50 per day. Mr. John delphia delegation, has been changed from

Thomson, librarian of the Free Library of Philadelphia, 1217 Chestnut street, chairman of the local committee, Philadelphia, will reserve rooms at this hotel, or elsewhere, if noti

fied. Good hotel accommodations and boarding-houses can be had convenient to place of meeting.

TRANSPORTATION.

A rate of one and a third fare for the round trip on the certificate plan has been made by all roads. Persons attending the conference will pay full fare going, and take from the ticket agent a certificate, which, when signed by the secretary and joint agent of the railroad at the meeting, will entitle the holder to return over the same route for one-third regular fare. Certificates must be deposited with the secretary of the A. L. A. by nine o'clock Wednesday morning, June 23. The certificates will be accepted in Philadelphia for the return trip up to and including July 3.

If local agent is not provided with certificates, buy a ticket to the nearest town that has them. The local agent will give this information.

The certificate must be procured or there will be no reduction in fare.

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"The Library, Guildhall, E. C. "DEAR SIR: I have much pleasure in informing you that the reception committee have secured invitations for the American visitors for a reception here on July 12, and then at the Mansion House (by the Lord Mayor) on July 13, and for a special performance of The Merchant of Venice' at the Lyceum Theatre on July 15. These invitations will be awaiting your party on arrival, as I think that will be a more convenient arrangement than posting them on to you for distribution.

"I am very faithfully yours, ÉDWARD M. BORRAJO."

seven a.m. to five p.m. Saturday, June 26. This will allow those who wish, to leave Philadelphia at 1:30 Friday, arriving in New York at four, connecting with the Fall River line steamer leaving at 5:30 and due at Boston at seven o'clock Saturday morning.

Special rates have been obtained for the party for the trip from Philadelphia to Boston, as to which information will be given in ample time.

INVITATION FROM THE INSTITUT INTERNATIONAL

DE BIBLIOGRAPHIE.

The general secretary of the Institut International de Bibliographie has communicated to the president of the A. L. A., under date of May 19, a formal invitation to all members of the A. L. A. who will attend the London conference to be present also at the second bibliographical conference of the Institut, which will be held at Brussels, August 2, instead of June 27, as originally announced. The date finally chosen will permit those attending the London meeting to go from England to Brussels without inconvenience. All details of arrangement will be made by the officers of the Institut with those in charge of the London congress, and it is hoped that a considerable representation may be secured for the Brussels meeting.

CORRECTION TO PROCEEDINGS.

THE following statement should have appeared in the proceedings of the Cleveland conference, p. 78, second column, just before the words, A meeting of the council was called, to be held at the close of this session": "The president announced that the A. L. A. council had organized, by the election of Mr. S. S. Green, president, and Mr. W. E. Foster, secretary, and that it was now ready for any business to be referred to it."

SPECIAL INDEX TO PROCEEDINGS.

A FEW copies of the special index to the Cleveland proceedings remain on hand, and will be sent to librarians for insertion in bound volumes of the LIBRARY JOURNAL, on receipt of a two-cent stamp to cover postage.

C: ALEX. NELSON, Recorder, 1896.

State Library Commissions.

CONNECTICUT F. P. L. COMMITTEE: Caroline M. Hewins, secretary, Public Library, Hartford.

MASSACHUSETTS STATE L. COMMISSION: Miss
E. P. Sohier, secretary, Beverly.
NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE L. COMMISSION: J. H.
Whittier, secretary, East Rochester.
OHIO STATE L. COMMISSION: C. B. Galbreath,
secretary, State Library, Columbus.
VERMONT STATE L. COMMISSION: Miss M. L.
Titcomb, secretary, Free Library, Rutland.

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