Copyright, 1883. BODLE ///ઇ CHAS. M. GREEN PRINTING COMPANY, PRINTERS, ELECTROTYPERS, A D BINDERS, 13 and 15 Vandewater St., New York. PUBLISHER'S NOTE. It was at the request of the publisher that Mr. Green kindly consented to prepare a revised edition of his valuable paper on "Library Aids," read at the Baltimore Conference of Librarians, February, 1881. The paper was first printed in the Library Journal, April, 1881, and subsequently was published for distribution as a separate pamphlet by the Bureau of Education, for a purpose clearly indicated in the following note, printed on the title-page of the pamphlet: DEPARTMENT OF THE INTErior, 1881. The following article by Samuel S. Green, Esq., the accomplished and well-known Librarian of the Worcester (Mass.) Free Public Library, answers many inquiries addressed to this Office as to the sources of information respecting the establishment and conduct of libraries. It is impossible for the Office to publish at present fuller or more complete suggestions of this character. JOHN EATON, Commissioner. The publisher has every reason to believe that the re-issue of this paper, revised to date, will be appre ciated by all who are interested in library matters. He has added, with the kind permission of the authors, the library references from Poole's "Index to Periodicals," and the chapter on "Books and Articles on Reading," from "Libraries and Readers," by W. E. Foster; also the bibliography references from the "American Catalogue," and (without permission, a liberty which the publisher feels assured the authors will forgive for the good purpose sake) the library, authorities quoted in that admirable article on “Libraries," by H. R. Tedder and E. C. Thomas, in the "Encyclopædia Britannica." There is, perhaps, a raison d'être for the appendix of publishers' pages, since all contain works for the library." It is hoped that this little volume may form the foundation of a "Library Annual," having for chief features a topical record of the more prominent bibliographies, and of the articles and books relating to libraries, published during the year. Any suggestions, or bibliographical contributions, will be thankfully received. NEW YORK, June 1, 1883. F. LEYPOLDT. Library Aids. It is very desirable that a library manual should be prepared and published. None exists in the English language. There are materials, however, for a good one in the contents of the seven volumes of the Library Journal already published and of the Special Report issued at Washington in 1876, by the Bureau of Education, and entitled Public Libraries in the United States of America, their history, condition, and management. I have been requested to call attention to the more important articles and papers in these publications, and by grouping them under appropriate headings make their usefulness more apparent than it is at present to the great body of librarians and persons interested in establishing and maintaining libraries. I proceed, without further introduction, to do this work, premising only that large portions of both publications having interest as history only, or because they describe different kinds of libraries, or give library news, will not be alluded to. The work here undertaken ends with the last number of the Library Journal for the year 1882. The association referred to throughout this paper is the American Library Association. LIBRARY LEGISLATION. For instruction in regard to the history of this subject and the teachings of experience respecting the best forms for library laws, mention should first be made of the excellent Report on library legislation (L. J., v. 4, p. 300), made by Dr. H. A. Homes, and to a paper which he read before making it, Legislation for public libraries (L. J., v. 4, p. 262). The laws proposed as model legislation are printed in the Library Journal, v. 5, pp. 79, 109; read, also, in this connection, editorial notes on pp. 76 and 106, in the same volume. Other articles on this subject which it is desirable to read are State legislation in the matter of libraries, by W. F. Poole (L. J., v. 2, p. 7), Free town libraries in the Spec. Rep. (p. 445), and Public library government (L. J., v. 2, p. 292). There is a record of a discussion which followed Mr. Poole's paper in the L. J., v. 2, p. 20. For a law recently passed by the Rhode Island. Legislature providing for the punishment of persons who deface books or keep them out over time see L. J., v. 7, p. 228. For interesting rules provided for the government of the public library at Bridgeport, Conn., see ordinance of the Common Council of that city, etc. (L. J., v. 7, p. 233). |