NEW YORK LIBRARY CLUB.

President: A. E. Bostwick, N. Y. Free Circulating Library.

Secretary: T: W. Idle, Columbia University Library.

Treasurer: Miss Theresa Hitchler, N. Y. Free Circulating Library.

LIBRARY ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON

CITY.

President: W. P. Cutter, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture.

Secretary and Treasurer: F. H. Parsons, U. S. Naval Observatory.

THE 24th regular meeting of the Library Association of Washington City was held at the Columbian University, Wednesday evening, May 26, 1897. This meeting is the last one for the season.

The resignation of Miss Adelaide R. Hasse from the executive committee was accepted with regret. Miss Hasse carries the best wishes of the association with her to her new post in the New York Public Library.

A committee of three members was appointed THWAITES, Reuben Gold, ed. The Jesuit relato consider the feasibility of having an exhibition of rare books.

Miss Margaret C. Dyer then read a very interesting account of The first library conference in Australia."

Mr. Oliver L. Fassig's paper was entitled "Contributions to an index to the literature of meteorology," and commanded the earnest attention of his hearers. The subject being one to which he has devoted the most of his time for a number of years, he was particularly well qualified to speak upon it. An abstract of Mr. Fassig's paper is given elsewhere.

F. H. PARSONS, Secretary.

tions and allied documents: travels and explorations of the Jesuit missionaries in New France, 1610-1791; the original French, Latin, and Italian texts, with English translations and notes. v. 1-6. Cleveland, The Burrows Bros Co., 1896 1897. 6 v. O.

The publication in collected form of "The Jesuit relations and allied documents," lately begun through the enterprise of the Burrows Brothers Company, of Cleveland, is one of the most important undertakings of the century in the field of American history. Mr. Reuben Gold Thwaites, secretary of the State Historical So

Library Schools and Training Classes. ciety of Wisconsin, is the editor, and his name

Renaissance art. (Reading list.) Ames and Elizabeth P. Andrews. Cycling. Louise Langworthy. Practical philanthropy through scientific study: outlines and references for a two-years' course. Isabel E. Lord.

Index to subject bibliographies in library bulletins. Alice Newman.

Minor American poets, from 1860-date. (Select.) Bessie S. Smith.

is ample guarantee that the work will be well performed. The plan of the new edition includes upwards of 200 letters and relations, which it is estimated will fill over 60 volumes, covering a period of nearly two centuries, from 1610 to 1791. The original French, Latin, and Italian texts are reproduced with fidelity, and they are accompanied in each case by an English translation on opposite pages. Historical and geographical notes are added, and full bibliographical details are supplied. There are also maps, portraits, and numerous fac-similes of title-pages.

The six volumes already issued contain 23 documents. Beginning with the introduction, a concise sketch is given of early explorations in Canada, and of the establishment of the different missions. Volume 1 (Acadia, 1610-13) contains the earliest documents on the Port Royal mission, including Lescarbot's "Conversion des sauvages en la Nouvelle France," Bertrand's "Lettre missive," on the same subject, and letters of Pierre Biard, Ennemond Massé, and Joseph Jouvency. Other letters of Biard and the valuable "Relation derniere" of Lescarbot follow in vol. 2 (Acadia, 1612-14). The first porRecent translators of literature, biography, tion of Biard's detailed Relation de la Nouand travel. Etheldred Abbot.

The Netherlands. (Reading list.) Elisabeth G. Thorne.

Tramps and vagrants. Lucy D. Waterman.

THESES.

velle France," Lyons, 1616, is printed in vol. 3

(Acadia, 1611-16), and the concluding portion in vol. 4 (Acadia and Quebec, 1616-29), which also contains five letters of Charles Lalemant on the new mission at Quebec. Vol. 5 (Quebec, 1632-33) opens with Paul Le Jeune's "Brieve relation" of 1632 the first of the regular series and closes with the first portion of his Relation of 1633, which is concluded in vol. 6 | (Quebec, 1633-34), where the Relation of 1634 begins.

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separate broadside. From the first list it appears that in 1847 Mr. John Carter Brown owned 37, Harvard College 35, Henry C. Murphy 29, Hon. Albert Gallatin 20, Rev. Mr. Plante 20, and others a scattering number. In the list of 1853 the Parliamentary Library at Quebec was accredited with a complete set of 41, Mr. Lenox with 33, Rev. Mr. Plante with 25, George Bancroft with 22, and the New York State Library with 22, contemporary reprints The succeeding volumes will continue the his- and duplicates not being counted. In 1851 the tory of the missions at Quebec, and at Montreal Parliamentary Library had acquired 30 volumes from its founding in 1642; the missions among of the Relations, for the sum of $100, from the the Hurons from 1634 to their ruin and disper- estate of the veteran John Neilson, publisher of sion in 1649-50; among the Tobacco Nation and the Quebec Gazette from 1796 to 1848; but in the Neutrals from 1639; among the Montagnais 1854 the library was destroyed by fire. Four and on the Kennebec from 1646; and in other years later the Canadian government repubplaces farther north and west. The first Iro-lished the complete series of Relations in three quois mission was in 1642; Jogues was martyred large octavo volumes. in 1646, and Brébeuf and Lalemant met the same Until recently no complete set of the original fate in 1649. In 1641 the Ottawa mission was editions was to be found in any one library. In started at Sault Ste. Marie, and it was continued 1893 the Lenox Library set contained 38 of the among the Illinois until the middle of the next volumes, when the purchase in that year of the century. The Louisiana mission lasted from library of the Hon. George Bancroft added 1698 to about 1770. The documents which are one to the series, and a few months later the to follow have been gathered from all available two remaining volumes were obtained at prisources. In addition to the entire series of vate sale. The set thus completed contains in original Cramoisy Relations, there will be in- addition 14 contemporary reprints and variacorporated the whole of the series published by tions, making a total of 55 volumes, excluding Dr. Shea, the O'Callaghan reprints, the "Jour-duplicates, and it is on this set that the present nal des Jésuits," the "Relations inédites de la reproduction is mainly based. Nouvelle-France, 1672-79," selections from the "Lettres édifiantes," many privately-printed letters and relations, and much material from unpublished manuscripts. Beginning with the sixth volume, the bibliographical data will be revised by Mr. Victor H. Paltsits, of the Lenox Library staff.

It is now just 50 years since Dr. O'Callaghan called attention to the Relations and to their

value as material for history. In his paper read before the New York Historical Society in 1847, and printed in the same year as a separate pamphlet, he says: "No historian can enter fully into an investigation of the circumstances attendant on the first settlement of this country without being conversant with them, and those who pretend to acquit themselves of such a task without previously studying these works afford only a proof of their unfitness for the duty." Parkman also speaks of the high place they hold as authentic and trustworthy historical documents. "With regard," he says, "to the condition and character of the primitive inhabitants of North America, it is impossible to exaggerate their value as an authority;" and he thinks it is wonderful that they have been left so long in obscurity."

The regular series of Relations, as originally printed by the Cramoisys at Paris, comprises 41 volumes, containing the annual reports sent by the superior of the missions in Canada to the provincial of the order in France, from 1632 to 1672, inclusive. Dr. O'Callaghan's essay was the earliest monograph on the subject, and in it he gives a catalogue raisonnée, with a table showing in what collections, public and private, copies could then be found. A revised edition of this table was printed in 1853, as a

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U. S. BUREAU OF EDUCATION. Public, society, and school libraries in the United States; with library statistics and legislation of the various states: chapters from the report of the Commissioner of Education for 1895-96 [p. 340-599]. Washington, Gov. Print. Office, 1897. O.

In this valuable advance issue of chapters eight and nine of the forthcoming report of the Commissioner of Education, the libraries of the United States have been made the subject of exhaustive statistical investigation, supplementing and bringing up to date the similar work done by the Bureau in 1891. The results are interesting in their evidence of the increase and development of libraries in recent years, and the publication is most welcome as a handbook of American libraries. Unfortunately, its fullest usefulness is limited by the facttoo often true of the most valuable publications of the government - that the edition issued is so small that no copies are available for general distribution. It will, of course, be included in the forthcoming report of the commissioner, and it is to be hoped that later a second separate edition may be issued to supply the certain demand.

The statistics collected are for the year 1896, and show a total of 4026 public and school libraries in the United States, containing over 1000 volumes each. In all about 8000 responses were received in reply to the 15,000 blank forms sent out by the Bureau between April 1 and August 1, 1896. Of these, 3167 libraries reported less than 1000 but over 300

volumes, and nearly 1000 had less than 300 volumes each. In the first notable library report issued by the government, that of 1872, 1080 libraries containing over 1000 volumes each were listed; in 1875 there were 2039, this list being included in the great special report of 1876; in the report of 1884-85, 2988 similar libraries were recorded; and in 1891 it is stated that data as to 3503 libraries of over 1000 volumes was collected for the circular of information on “Statistics of public libraries" issued in 1893. A comparison of the libraries listed in 1891 and those given in the 1896 record is made as follows: "The number of volumes in the 4026 public and school libraries in 1896 was 33,051,872. This was an increase of 7,074,229 over the number of volumes reported by the 3503 libraries of the same kind in 1891. Here is an increase of over 27 per cent. in the number of volumes, while the increase in the number of libraries was scarcely 15 per cent." It must be said, however, that an actual comparison of the figures for 1891 with those in the present report does not bear out this statement. In the statistics for 1891 we find a total of 3804 (not 3503) libraries of over 1000 volumes, containing 26,896,537 volumes (not 25,977,643 as given in the present report), which would show an increase during the past five years of 6,155,335 and not of 7,074,872 volumes. The discrepancy is not a serious one, and it is probable that the error may lie in the 1891 figures, but it would have been desirable to have pointed this out in making the comparison, for in a report based wholly upon statistics, a patent discrepancy in some statistics awakens doubt of all.

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and 1,587,891 volumes; but the most gratifying showing is in the less imposing figures revealing the large increase of libraries in states where in former reports library statistics were but meagre. These tables and their summaries are followed by the full list of libraries containing over 1000 volumes, modelled upon the similar list in previous reports, and giving information on some 25 items. This list covers about 150 pages.

One curious error should be noted in the tabulation showing the "general classification of libraries" on page 344. This records but 26 state libraries for the 50 states and territories. Those listed as possessing no state or territorial library are Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Oklahoma, Indian Territory, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Missouri, North and South Dakota, Kansas, Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Washington, and California. Of these all, except Indian Territory, possess state libraries, some of them among the best in the country. Four states - Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois — are listed as possessing two state libraries each. These are surprising errors in a list which should be authoritative on the subject treated, and it is difficult to understand how they could have escaped notice and correction.

Chapter nine of the report (p. 524-599) is devoted to a valuable summary of library legis lation in the United States, giving facts as to the establishment of district and school libraries, helpful suggestions as to what a library law should effect, a concise résumé of library legislation in the various states, with bibliographical references, and a collection of the library laws of the various states and territories, arranged alphabetically by states and given in chronological sequence under the state. The value of this comprehensive summary of library legislation can hardly be overestimated. WEEKS, Stephen B. Libraries and literature in North Carolina in the 18th century. (From the annual report of the American Historical Association for 1895, pp. 171-267.) Washington, Gov. Print. Office, 1896. 8°. Dr. Weeks divides his paper into two parts: (1) libraries, (2) literature; but we shall consider the former only. In the introduction he states his purpose, as being to reconstruct, as clearly and fully as possible, one phase of the intellectual history of early North Carolina; "and he intends this paper to be complementary and supplementary to his earlier one on "The press of North Carolina in the 18th cen

The 1896 statistics regarding libraries are given in many varied tabulations, which are concisely summarized. It is shown that the greatest increase in the number of volumes has taken place in the north Atlantic division, "which shows an increase of more than 28 per cent. in the five years." In the north central division there has been an increase of 28 per cent., while in the western division the increase was nearly 40 per cent. The 4026 libraries report a total of 5,444,788 unbound pamphlets. The preliminary statistical tables show, besides the number of libraries and number of volumes, the additions and circulation, sources of support; general classification of libraries, as general, school, college, law, medical, etc.; classification according to size; amount of income; and two comparative summaries as to distribution of libraries and of volumes in 1891 and 1896, in which the discrepancies referred to again occur; besides summaries relating to libraries of less than 1000 volumes. An interesting feature is a chart of the United States, showing by means of graduated shadings the number of volumes to each 100 popu-tury." After briefly outlining the early history lation in 1896. In the record by states, New York leads in number of libraries (572), and comes second in number of volumes, which are given as 5,251,347; Massachusetts has 494 libraries and 5,450,397 volumes; Pennsylvania is third, with 330 libraries and 2,964,761 volumes; Illinois fourth, with 214 libraries and 1,822,580 volumes; and Ohio fifth, with 202 libraries

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of the colony and “the first attempts at education"- which "the proprietors shamefully neglected," since "they cared neither for the spiritual nor the intellectual man" and "reconed the lives of the colonists only in quitrents and taxes" he discusses the first libraries in the state. "Books" are given a prominent place in wills as early as 1676, but the first

parish or public library dates from 1700, and was due to the energy of Rev. Thomas Bray, founder of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. The library was established in the town of Bath, and in 1715 the legislature of the state passed an act for its preservation - "the only act passed during the proprietary period encouraging literature, and the only one relating | to libraries passed in North Carolina before the Revolution." The 14 sections of the act relating to the library are given entire. At least two other parish libraries, somewhat similar to the one founded by Bray, were established, one in 1708 and the other about the same year. Edward Moseley gave the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel £10, in 1720, for the purchase of books, and three years later sent the society a catalog of the books he had purchased for a library "to be kept at Edenton." Nearly all the books, 76 in number, are in Latin, Greek, or Hebrew, and, as may be imagined, are theological or scholastic in character. In discussing the Moseley library Dr. Weeks has confused the library of the American Philosophical Society with the Library Company of Philadelphia. He speaks of the former, which was founded in 1743, when he means the latter, founded in 1731 – the mother of all the North American subscription libraries."

There were a number of other libraries in the state in the 18th century, public and private, but little, indeed, is known of them, and this is constantly evident in Dr. Weeks's paper by the lack of definiteness in his statements, due to the loss or destruction of the records of their history. No one feels this loss more keenly than Dr. Weeks. The so-called public libraries of the state certainly exerted little influence on the people of the last century. S: H. R.

Library Economy and History.

LOCAL.

Albany (N. Y.) Y. M. C. A. L. (Rpt.-year ending March 1.) Added 540; total 4713. Issued, home use 7776 (fict. 4008); lib. use 9229. There are 144 periodicals in the reading-room.

Atlanta, Ga. Y. M. L. A. (Rpt.-year ending May 1, '97.) Added 433; total 17,266. Issued 21,468, an increase of over 4000 above the previous year's record. Membership 770. "A new book-room, well lighted and equipped with modern appliances in the way of steel book-stacks, card catalogs, etc., is a muchneeded addition. It is almost needless to call attention to our inadequate classification and printed catalog. The library is so hampered in this direction that the good work being done is small when compared with what might be accomplished if the library were well equipped." Atlantic City, N. J. The matter of establishing a public library was brought up before the city council on May 10, when the city solicitor presented a full statement of the action necessary to secure its establishment, namely, the submission of the matter to popular vote, in accordance of the library law of the state.

Attleboro (Mass.) F. P. L. (Rpt., 1896.) Added (since May, '96) 225; total not given. Issued 24,901; registration 1075. "Owing to the changes in the library now in progress" it is impossible to report fully on the details of the work. Miss Allen, formerly assistant at the Pawtucket Library, was appointed librarian in May, 1896, and at once introduced new methods of administration. The open-shelf system has been adopted, as has the issue of special cards for teachers, and the classification of the library, according to the Dewey system, has been undertaken.

Augusta, Ga. Y. M. L. A. (Rpt.—year ending April 1, '97.) Added 63; total not given. Issued 3568 (fict. 2874); subscribers and members 225. Receipts $390.47; expenses $364.90.

Belfast (Me.) F. L. (Rpt., 1896.) Added 647; total 7747. Issued 25,092 (fict., not including juv. fict., 58%). New registration 195; total registration 1963. Receipts $1854.43; expenses $1809.51.

The librarian suggests "that this 10th year of our library's history be made a notable one by planning for future needs and by devoting a generous sum for interior improve

ments.

Berlin, Wis. The Berlin Library Benefit Co. has been formed to raise money for the public library. An advisory committee has been appointed, containing representatives of the school board, city officials, school alumni, schools and federated clubs.

Boston P. L. At a meeting of the trustees on May 28 it was finally decided that the bronze statue of a bacchante, by Frederick MacMonnies, presented to the library by C. F. McKim last autumn, was unsuitable for the library, and that Mr. McKim's offer to withdraw it should be accepted.

Brooklyn (N. Y.) Institute of Arts and Sciences. On June 2 the first section of the magnificent museum building of the Institute was formally opened to the public. It will be chiefly devoted to the exhibition of the collections in science and art.

Brooklyn (N. Y.) P. L. A. On May 18 Governor Black signed the bill introduced into the legislature by Assemblyman Murray, authorizing the city of Brooklyn to set aside property for a site for a public library.

Butte (Mont.) F. P. L. The third annual report of the library, for the year ending April I, was presented to the city council by Librarian Davies on April 21. The statistics are as follows: Added 2084; total 21,022. Issued, home use 74,296 (fict. 74.57%, magazines, etc. 2.75 %); lib. use 44.348. New registration 611; total cards in use 3782. Expenses, maintenance $10,387.43, book fund $1529.95.

"Since the opening of the library, Feb. 7, 1894, 209,713 v. have been issued for home use." The reference use of the library and its connection with the schools are constantly