municipalities have free libraries owned and controlled by the town; 24 towns have free libraries unconnected with the town; 7 towns have free libraries for which the town appropriates money but is not represented in the management; and 95 towns have no free public library. Of these 95, however, 45 have subscription libraries of some sort, leaving 50 towns without libraries. Since the passage of the library law in 1893, 38 libraries have been established, the state has paid $5628.90 for books, and about 6000 books have been sent to these libraries. The entire experience of the state committee shows with yearly increasing emphasis the importance of the work, the need and appreciation of libraries that is found in almost all communities, and the influence that NEW YORK: PUBLIC LIBRARIES DIVISION, State Titcomb, secretary, Free Library, Rutland. WISCONSIN F. L. COMMISSION: F. A. Hutchins, secretary, Madison, Wis. THE Wisconsin Free Library Commission held a meeting at Madison during the week ending June 12, at which it was decided to hold several meetings during the fall and winter in different parts of the state. At these meetings the relation of the library to schools and plans for library work will be discussed. the libraries can exert as centres of intellectual Library Schools and Training Classes. life for the people. The usual tabulated statistical "report of libraries" for 1895-'96 covers pages 16-43 of the report, and is followed by hints for the conduct of school libraries and capital practical "Suggestions for the smallest libraries," by Miss Hewins, who appends excellent classed lists of the books of 1895 and 1896 that the committee recommend for town and village libraries, and of about 300 books suggested "for the beginnings of libraries." The department of "Histories of libraries" follows, arranged alphabetically by towns and illustrated by many excellent views of exteriors and interiors. Immediately after this department is a series of five suggestive designs for library buildings furnished by Hartwell, Richardson & Driver, of Boston, and varying in cost from $3600 in wood to $26,000 in stone, which should be of general interest and usefulness. Detailed tabulated statistics of college libraries, district libraries, high school libraries, and Y. M. C. A. libraries, a list of library directors, and a good index complete a report that deserves high praise for its thoroughness, practicality, and usefulness. MASSACHUSETTS STATE L. COMMISSION: Miss DREXEL INSTITUTE LIBRARY SCHOOL. THE graduating exercises of the institute were held on June 14 in the auditorium. 13 students of the library school received certificates: May Bailey, Mary E. Bechtel, Julia W. Blandy, Florence M. Eilbeck, Aida T. Evans, Laura E. Hanson, Lucia T. Henderson, Lucy W. Mitchell, Harriet A. Mumford, Susan W. Randall, Anna T. Thurston, Mary Askell Upton, Lydia Weston. Miss Lydia Weston, of the class of '97, has accepted a position as librarian of the Free Libra NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE L. COMMISSION: J. H. ry in Burlington, N. J. BULLETIN no. 2 of the New Hampshire Library Commission, dated Dec. 31, 1896, has recently been published. It is chiefly devoted to a classed list of books suggested for the consideration of library trustees, giving date, publisher, and list price, and designating books that are written by New Hampshire authors, books of special interest to young people, and children's books The notes appended to the list give suggestions as to special purchases, and point out desirable methods of library administration. New Hampshire libraries possessing special features are also listed under illustrative headings, such as "agencies maintained," "have a card catalog," "systematic school-work," "no age limit to children," "magazines circulated," etc. There is no name listed under the head ing "access to shelves." The rest of the report is given up to Miss Stearn's paper on "Advertising a library," reprinted from the conference number of the LIBRARY JOURNAL. Miss Lucy W. Mitchell, of the class of '97, has gone to the Osterhout Library, Wilkesbarre, as assistant. Miss May Z. Cruice, of the class of '96, has been engaged to re-arrange the library of the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia. Miss Alice S. Griswold, of the class of '96, has been appointed on the cataloging staff of the Free Library of Philadelphia. the coming year have been more numerous Applications for admission to the school for than ever before. PRATI INSTITUTE LIBRARY SCHOOL. First year class: Mary C. Brooks, Frederick Flora R. Petrie, Helen L. Plummer, Alma M. The class of 1897 has the distinction of being the first class to graduate every member who entered. much to find out what we have failed to discover as to show what we have gathered." That the committee has "failed to discover" important works is true, though space will permit the naming of only a few. No doubt some of these omissions are due to the phrase "higher education," which is relative, indefinite, and unsatisfactory. The "higher education" of women a century ago was radically different from what we know it to-day, and works which one person might include in such a less with elementary or secondary education. From the very beginning of the general education of women (then always female education), when girls were taught only to read, every advance has been resisted, and every advance was "higher education." Several of the class have already obtained positions. Among them, Miss Child goes to the Hartford Public Library for the summer, Miss Dennis succeeds Miss Minna L. Still-list another would rule out, as dealing more or man at the Y. W. C. A. Library, New York; Miss Dill returns to the Decatur Public Library as cataloger; Miss Hackett is classifying and cataloging the Reform Club Library; Mrs. Humphrey, Miss Melcher, Miss Titus and Miss Walton are engaged for the summer as catalogers at the Society Library, New York; Miss Helen Plummer is engaged as summer substitute at the Astral Branch of the Pratt Institute Free Library; Miss Tobitt has been added to the staff of Pratt Institute Library. Miss Pomeroy has charge of the order work of that library, and Miss Collar is to be first cataloger for the ensuing year. Reviews. CONTRIBUTIONS towards a bibliography of the higher education of women; compiled by a committee of the Association of Collegiate Alumnæ. Boston, The Trustees of the (Bibliog Public Library, 1897. 7+ 42 p. raphies of special subjects, no.) O. This pioneer bibliography of a subject of much importance in the evolution of modern society was compiled under the editorial supervision of Miss Mary Harris Rollins, of the Boston Public Library, and is divided into eight general classes (1) General and historical; (2) Higher education in relation to health (including physical education and the question of the mental inferiority of women); (3) Coeducation; (4) Professional and scientific education(a) Law, (b) Medicine, (c) The ministry, (d) Science; (5) Post-graduate study; (6) Occupations and opportunities for college-bred women; (7) Colleges and universities wholly or partly open to women; (8) Societies for the education or advancement of women. Most of the works in this bibliography, which is annotated in part, are found in the Boston Public Library and the shelf numbers are attached, or the initials P. R., indicating that the bound volumes of the magazine cited are in the periodical room of that library. An index of authors is added. A bibliography of the higher education of women has been a "long-felt want," and the sense of relief, and of gratitude, in the possession of such a useful compilation, makes one hesitate to criticise it. The word "contributions" in the title is, no doubt, due to the editor, who says, in a personal note, that she believes the function of this list is quite as But to our consideration of the bibliography. On page 2, Thomas Broadhurst is credited with an article on "Female education" (Edinburgh Review, 15: 299) and on page 10, Sydney Smith is credited with an article on the same subject (Edinburgh Review, 15:273), with the remark that it is a review of Thomas Broadhead's "Advice to young ladies on the improvement of the mind." Here is confusion, because both entries refer to the same article, and both contain errors. There is no article on any subject on page 273, and Broadhead should bibliography is, therefore, not only misleading, be Broadhurst. The entry on page 2 of the but out of place. The article referred to is the famous one of Sydney Smith, which is the most splendid argument for the education of review only in name. women that has yet been written, and it is a The single reference to Broadhurst's work in the essay is contained in the nine lines of the first paragraph, where Smith refers to him as "a very good sort of a man, who has not written a very bad book on a very important subject." John Amos Comenius, Mary Astell, the Marquise de Maintenon, Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, Frances Mary Buss, and others, who as writers and educators contributed much to the cause of the advancement of the education of women, find no place in this bibliography. Comenius and Miss Buss are mentioned in titles, it is true, but it seems unfortunate that the arrangement of the bibliography does not show something of the character of their work; that is to say, it would be an advantage to have subject entries, in addition to author, in cases like Comenius, Willard, Buss, etc. Almira Phelps (p. 8) uses on the title pages of several of her works the name Mrs. Lincoln Phelps. She was a Miss Hart, sister of Emma Willard. Mrs. Phelps in "The educator; or, hours with my pupils," N. Y., 1876 (omitted in the bibliography), gives a sketch of her connection with the "higher education" of women - at Troy Female Seminary; Westchester, Pa.; Rahway, N. J.; and the Patapsco Institute, Maryland. The work of Hannah More, that had most influence in advancing the cause of woman's education, is strangely omitted in this bibliography. "Cœlebs in search of a wife" is in form a novel, but in fact an argument for the "higher education" of women. It was immensely popular in its day, passing through many editions both in England and America. It contains all the arguments advanced in her "Strictures on the modern system of female education" and in "Hints for forming the character of a princess" (which latter is not mentioned in the bibliography), and often whole paragraphs have been transferred bodily from these works into the mouths of the characters in the novel. The list of "Colleges and universities wholly or partly open to women" is hard to understand. It may be that Boston is too far removed to have received any of the great mass of literature relating to the many institutions of this kind. It is to be hoped that a revised edition of this important and valuable bibliographical contribution will be published at no distant day. S: H. R. Library Economy and History. LOCAL. Bourne, Mass. Jonathan Bourne Memorial L. The Jonathan Bourne Memorial Library was dedicated on June 17 with largely-attended exercises, when its presentation to the town was made by Miss Emily Bourne, daughter of the man to whom it is a memorial. The building, which is beautifully located on the land bordering the Monument river, cost $17,000, and it will be used as a public library and for the offices of the selectmen of the town. It is constructed of buff brick, with foundation of granite and a slate roof. The interior finish is chiefly of antique oak, with floors of the same wood. The ceilings are decorated with heavy oak panels, and the walls are of unfinished buff brick. The memorial window, placed in the west end of the reading-room, was made in London, and cost $1200. The bookcases are of antique oak, as are the tables and chairs in the book and reading rooms and selectmen's offices. In the basement of the building is located the vault in which will be kept the town records and all other documents of value. The building will be heated by furnace. The floors in the entrance and in the hall are tiled. Bowdoin Coll. L., Brunswick, Me. (Rpt., 1896-7.) Added 2090; total 60,259. Issued 8447, "a marked increase over that of last year. Only one student failed to use the library in this way, while rarely a week passes without books being sent to borrowers in different parts of the state. Many serviceable volumes are thus placed in the hands of those who could not otherwise obtain them, while the cost of transportation, which is met by the borrower, prevents alike trivial and excessive use of this privilege." Brooklyn (N. Y.) L. (39th rpt., 1896.) Added 4168, of which 2860 were bought at a cost of $4165.20; total 128,376. Issued, home use 95,751. Membership 2688. Receipts $21,443.65; expenses $21,244.74. The increasing use of the library by clubs existing in suburban parts of Brooklyn is de | scribed, and has been already noted in the L. J. (Jan., p. 95). Three cases of selected clippings have been added to the collection of newspaper clippings, one relating to biography, one to local (New York City) history, and one to genealogy and family history. Brooklyn, N. Y. Pratt Institute F. L. (In catalog of the institute, 1897-98, p. 110-118.) "There are at present (May 1, 1897) about 63,532 v. upon the shelves (including two of a collection of French and German books, branch libraries). These include the nucleus now numbering about 2500 of each, which are meeting an appreciative demand." There were about 58,000 visits to the readingroom during the year; the reference-rooms were visited by 35,128 persons, and 11,798 v. were consulted in addition to the bound periodicals and 13,600 v. accessible for reference use, as to which no record of use is kept. Brooklyn (N. Y.) P. L. A. A meeting of the directors of the association was held on June 23 in the mayor's office. By a recent act of the legislature the number of directors was increased from 13 to 21, and the first business transacted was the appointment of nine new directors and the designation of their terms. The original directors were: David A. Boody, president; R. Ross Appleton, secretary; Herbert F. Gunnison, treasurer; Charles A. Schieren, Charles M. Pratt, Daniel W. McWilliams, Colonel Willis L. Ogden, John D. Keiley, Charles N. Chadwick. These were added to by the appointment of Alfred T. White, Joseph E. Hinds, Judge W. W. Goodrich, George H. Southard, to serve for one year; Mrs. O. H. Craigie, Mrs. I. H. Carey, Mrs. Alvah G. Brown, Walter B. Atterbury, two years; and Mrs. B. F. Stephens, Mrs. James A. Sperry, Mrs. Frederick B. Pratt, and Judge E. C. Brennan, three years. In addition to those named, the mayor, the president of the board of aldermen, the director of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences, and the president of the board of education are members of the directory. President Boody, Treasurer Gunnison, and John D. Keiley were chosen a committee to appear before the board of estimate to obtain the $10,000 appropriated for this year's use by the legislature, and also to see that the $40,000 provided for by the act of incorporation is included in the budget for 1898. A further resolution was adopted authorizing this committee to urge upon the mayor, controller and city clerk the necessity of issuing the $600,000 in bonds provided for by the law of 1892 to carry out the intention of the act before the consolidation with New York is perfected. At a meeting of the association held June 29 a resolution was passed recommending that the library board erect in one of the parks of the city a building to be used as a reading-room and circulating library, and that the association aid in the undertaking. Brunswick (Me.) P. L. A. (Rpt.) Added 597; total "about 6800." Issued 23,961 (fict. 14,833), a gain of 1798 over the previous year. New registration 216; total registration 1491. "We believe that our library is more used, relatively, than any other in the state." A department for teachers has just been planned, and a special "teachers' shelf" established. Buffalo (N. Y.) P. L. The announcement is made that the library will be opened to the public under its new conditions as a free library on Sept. 1. A competitive examination for assistants in the library was held on June 19, in which 141 applicants participated. Chicago (Ill.) P. L. The last book purchase of the library board included 100 v. of Hungarian books, the first to be bought by the library. They were added on receipt of a petition from Hungarian citizens, who asked that their literature might be represented in the li brary. Cincinnati (O.) Hospital L. (36th rpt.) Added 964; total 10,964. There were 3742 v. and 2642 periodicals consulted, and 1360 visitors were registered. Columbia Univ. L., New York City. The library was closed to all readers on June 14. until fall, when it will re-open at the new site of the university on Morningside Heights. In view of the removal of the library to the new building, a complete inventory of all books is being made. Danville (Ill.) P. L. (Rpt.-year ending May 1, '97.) Added 189; total 8646. Issued 30,706 (fict. 13,936.) Total registration 6002. Dixon (Ill.) P. L. (Rpt. -year ending June I, '97.) Added 1300; total 2951. Issued 24,855; (fict. 14,267). Total registration 1736. Erie (Pa.) P. L. The cornerstone of the new library building was laid on June 7. There were no formal ceremonies. Gloversville (N. Y.) F. L. (17th rpt.-year ending Jan. 31, '97.) Added 1367; total 15,122. Issued, home use 64,470; reading-room use 5560. Visitors to reading-room 26,705. New registration 508. Appended to the report is a list of books added since January, 1896. Iowa State L., Des Moines. Mr. A. J. Small, of the state library, has prepared an interesting map of Iowa, designed to illustrate the operations of the state travelling libraries, so as to indicate at a glance the extent of their use. There are three differently colored indications - first, to show where the various libraries are; second, where they have been; and third, where applications have been made for them. 50 libraries have recently been located, and the indicators are very evenly distributed over the state. As the work progresses this map will be of utility in indicating the success of the missionary work which these libraries are designed to accomplish for public libraries in Iowa, and which has been so successful in other states. Iowa State Univ. L., Iowa City. The library building of the Iowa State University was struck by lightning on June 18 and burned. It was a two-story brick structure with the library on the second floor, and the physical laboratory on the first floor. The loss is $100,000. Of this, $50,000 was in books, $17,000 in apparatus belonging to the physical laboratory, and $33,000 on the building. The library was the best in the state. Many of the books are out of print and cannot be replaced. The Talbot collection of 4500 volumes was about two-thirds destroyed. This collection was exceedingly valuable, many books dating from the beginning of the sixteenth century. In all about 25,000 v. were destroyed. A special session of the executive commitsider plans for the future, and a circular letter tee of the regents was held on June 22 to conwas sent to all assemblymen calling their attention to the loss and urging the necessity of prompt provision of a new building. The legislature is asked to levy a special university tax of one-tenth of a mill for this purpose. The work of listing ard collecting all books Librarian Rich and his assistants. that were not destroyed was at once begun by Lawrence (Mass.) P. L. (25th rpt.-year ending Dec. 31, '96.) Added 1388; total 45,312. Issued, home use 119,417 (fict. 43.8%; juv. 32.6%); lib. use 13,673. New registration 923 ; total registration 1040. Receipts and expenses $11,691.10. The librarian repeats his former suggestions that a branch library and delivery station be established and that the two-book system be adopted. Lead, S. D. Work has begun on the new library building erected by Mrs. Phoebe Hearst, who will establish in it the Hearst Free Library and Reading-room. The building will be 100 x 33, built of brick and stone, with two stories and a basement. The first floor has been rented by the government for use as a post-office, the library will occupy the second floor, and the basement is to be devoted to business purposes. Leland Stanford Jr. Univ., Cal. A course in bibliography has been introduced into the university curriculum, beginning with the fall assistant librarian of the university library, term. It will be conducted by F. J. Teggart, and its aim will be "to give practical aid to students in the preparation of bibliographies. Bibliographical methods, the bibliographies of special subjects, and the principal books of reference will be discussed, and individual work carried out under direction in the university library." Mankato (Minn.) P. L. (3d rpt. year ending March 1, '97.) Added 1115; total 3903 (in circulating dept. 2870.) Issued, home use 33,141. Receipts $2513.84. The circulation shows an increase of 15 per cent. over the last year, and, according to the trustees," a larger number of issues, compared with the number of books, than can be shown by any public library in the United States, to whose records we have access." Mendota, Ill. Graves P. L. Added 579; total 4395. Issued 17,313 (fict. 10,905; juv. 4365.) New Britain (Ct.) Institute L. (43d rpt., 1896.) Added 1874. Issued, home use 35,931. Receipts $9348.79; expenses $9222.02. The circulation shows a decrease of three per cent. in fiction. "The plan of 'open shelves' has been adopted for the reference library, the periodicals, and a portion of the circulating library, and has worked satisfactorily." New Jersey State L. (Rpt. — year ending Oct. 31, 96.) Added 1849; total 47,114. Visitors registered, 2580. The registration fig ures, however, do not at all record the real use of the library, which is in general and constant use by workers in different fields. The attendance of pupils of the state and public schools has so much increased during the year that we have been compelled to double the number of tables and chairs for their accom modation." The experiment of opening the library to school children has proved on the whole satisfactory. "It is a curious fact that the female pupils give us no trouble, but work zealously and industriously, as if gratified with advantages presented by the free use of library books and stationery." New York, Charity Organization Society. The society is now in possession of a small but well-chosen library on sociologic subjects, selected with the assistance of the professors of sociology in two of the leading universities. This it is hoped may be the foundation of a firstclass working library on sociology; and a statement of what is desired, with a request for funds to purchase needed books, has been recently issued by the chairman of the committee on library, Rev. S. M. Jackson, who has been active in the work of organizing the present collection. accessible; second, to the free access system adopted throughout; and third, to the use of the two-book method. New York. Washington Heights F. L. (29th rpt. - year ending May 1, '97.) Added 1356; total 11,151. Issued, home use 41,737; ref. Receipts $3157.80; expenses $3061.49. use 1076. Visitors to reading-room 17,044. Northwestern Univ. L., Evanston, Ill. (Rpt., 1896-97. In President's annual rpt., p. 51.) Added 1829; total 33,144. Issued, home use 4389; lib. use 4811 (general ref. use is unrecorded). Comparison with statistics of the previous year shows an appreciable increase in the rebooks loaned to students to be read at home, corded reading-room use of books. Of the 30 per cent. were in the department of literature and II per cent. in that of history; 10 per cent. only of the circulation was fiction. The thus shown to be in sharp contrast with that in character of the circulation in this library is the majority of public libraries." conferred a special favor on this library in the "The John Crerar Library, of Chicago, has gift of a copy of its printed author card catalog. stallments. As the Crerar Library is a referThe additions will be furnished in monthly inadvantage to our students and professors of ence library devoted to scientific subjects, the being able to determine, without a trip to Chicago, whether certain books can be found there, is very great. The catalog is also a valuable bibliographical aid. It will be arranged where it can be freely consulted." Paterson (N. J.) F. P. L. (12th rpt. — year ending Jan. 31, '97.) Added 2006; total 26,875. Issued, home use 111,236 (fict. 76.1 %); issued on teachers' cards 917; lib. use 1401; no record of general ref. use is kept. New registration 3271; total registration 7622. Receipts $16,788.54; expenses $14,413.58. during the last year than in any other in the 'Not only have more books been loaned history of the library, but also the proportion of fiction is the smallest -76.1 per cent. This is a decrease of three per cent. from 1895. "One of the most important things accomplished this year is the beginning of the publication of a monthly bulletin, issued in the form of an attractive and handy little pamphlet. It has proved its usefulness and popularity beyond question, and is worth much more than it costs, a large part of the expense of printing New York, East Side House, Webster F. L. It has been decided to add to the library a considerable collection of books in the Bohemian language, on account of the large numbers of Bohemian children who visit the institution; this, it is said, will be the only free circulating Bohemian library in New York City. A new rule recently established is that from 2 until 3:30 p.m. the library may be used by adults only, no chil-being paid by advertisements." The need of a dren being admitted. This, it is thought, will make the work of the attendants less difficult and reduce crowding. New York F. C. L. The new Yorkville branch of the library has broken the record in its development of a large circulation. After two weeks operation, with 2000 books on its shelves, its circulation equalled that of some of the long-established branches that have from 15,000 to 25,000 v. The causes are attributed, first, to the location of the library on a crowded thoroughfare, seen by all passers and easily new building is suggested and the establishment of at least two delivery stations is specifically recommended. |