Library school. It is common fame and matter of public and generous recognition that our methods of library administration have been more widely adopted in other states and countries than those of any other library. There are today 48 men and women, trained in 24 of the best colleges and universities of this country, who are systematically studying these methods in our library, and whose services command higher salaries because of this training. The extent to which this instruction reaches through the country may be realized from the fact that 790 positions in 33 states and countries have been filled by those trained in the New York state library school since it started. Students have also come from several foreign countries. Besides this work, the library staff each year gives a summer course of six weeks entirely free to any library assistant or officer of any public library in the state and a large class annually benefits from the privilege.

STAFF AND EMPLOYEES

The usual lists of vacancies, and staff and employees by departments (tables Y-Z, p.127) are preceded by an alphabetic list of staff and employees 1889-1900 (table W, p.117) including a list of the more important positions held by former members of the staff after leaving the state library. This table shows that from Sep. 30, 1889 to Oct. 1, 1900 the library lost by death, transfer or resignation 77 persons; during the same period 173 were appointed, including all who entered the service either in the state library, home education department, building department or bindery. There are 9 members of the present staff who were on the staff Sep. 30, 1889.

Resignation of director from secretaryship of University. The following is from regents minutes of Dec. 22, 1899.

Regents office, Albany, N. Y. 22 Dec. 1899 To the regents of the University of the State of New York

For 11 years I have held two positions under your honorable board, secretary and financial officer, and director of the home. education and library departments. The work of either of these positions demands the entire time of a strong man in vigorous health. For more than two years I have been forced to recognize that it was impossible to give the strength which the work de

mands to both these positions. I am therefore constrained to ask the board to relieve me of my duties as secretary, as I believe I can accomplish more for the state and for the board by giving my entire time to the state library and home education departments because most of my life has been spent in special study and active service in those fields. I tender this resignation at this annual meeting to take effect as soon as the board can arrange for it conveniently, because I believe that the fact of a vacancy in the position of secretary may be a factor in the solution of the much discussed question of educational unification, as it will leave the way clear for any reorganization of the work of the regents that may seem wise. I must make plain, however, that this resignation is not offered for the sake of putting it on the records and of having it declined, but because I earnestly desire to give such service as I may hereafter render to the University in the field where I am sure I can be most useful.

MELVIL DEWEY

Secretary

The secretary of state, after a most complimentary review of the remarkable development of the University during the incumbency of the present secretary, moved to lay the resignation on the table. The motion was lost after Mr Dewey repeated that his written resignation in the hands of the chancellor had been made after long consideration and urged that it be accepted at this meeting in order that there should be no possibility of saying that it was made for effect and not from a settled purpose to retire. Mr Dewey then said substantially:

I agree with Sup't Skinner that vastly more harm is being done to education by the heated discussions, misunderstandings and misrepresentations now so rife than by all the friction between. the two departments. No personal sacrifice would be too great to secure harmony and peace among the educational workers of the state, and I am more than willing to withdraw my own personality from the discussion. This offer was made long ago with the assurance that the resignation would be made whenever it would help to secure better results, and I believe nothing short of my actual retirement from official connection with the schools will prove what my real attitude is.

As to the agitation about unification, I opposed promptly and strongly the inclusion of the University law in the revised education law when it was proposed in 1896, because the University was doing admirable work under its own law, which had had the sanction of the statutory revision commission only four years before; but the commission had decided that they must include all law bearing on education. It was the proposal to transfer the

523 high schools from the regents to the elementary school department which brought about the present differences. In addition to my exacting responsibilities as the head of three distinct departments, the nervous strain of these unfortunate discussions is more than I have present physical strength to bear in the office which is the natural target for misunderstanding or misinterpretation from every side. To escape this strain and at the same time make a substantial concession toward educational harmony, and to secure the concentration of work in my favorite field to which I have long looked forward, makes it imperative to insist on resigning my duties as secretary. I would like to terminate my work as secretary on the anniversary of the day on which I assumed it, January 1, 1889 (which, curiously, was the day on which Gov. Hill sent his fourth and last message recommending the complete abolition of the regents as a body no longer active or useful) leaving the present condition of the University and its various departments and the estimation in which it is held at home and abroad as compared with 11 years ago as a sufficient record of my service. The actual completion of my term of office justifies the following explicit statement.

It has been persistently suggested in various quarters where such a view might injure the University that I had fomented this discussion about unification to the end that my jurisdiction as secretary should cover the elementary schools of the state. fact I have never seen one minute in which I wished such power or in which I would not have promptly declined added duties, because impossible to carry them without neglecting other matters more important in my own life work. I have profound respect and admiration for the common school work without the slightest desire to engage in it. 27 years ago I chose as my career that part of education which centers in the public library and is known as home education in distinction from the school education obtained in the regular teaching institutions from kindergarten to university. Those regents present at the dinner to the special committee on choosing a state librarian given by Regent Whitelaw Reid a dozen years ago for the express purpose of discussing this question, recall how plainly I set forth the claims of this great work and my own devotion to it. They will remember that their first invitation to me was with no thought of the secretary's duties, but solely to give opportunity to work out what the chancellor and vice-chancellor at the dinner characterized as my "revolutionary ideas in education" to which they admitted they had already been converted. Chanc. Upson today reminds us that it was understood when I did accept your election that my chief work was to be in my own special field. I was told that assistant secretary Watkins was doing practically all

the work since the physical breakdown of the secretary and that combination of the two positions was necessary to secure an adequate salary. I was asked at the beginning of my duties to give extra time till the general work of the secretary's office was well organized and running smoothly. For 11 years I have worked intensely in the hope that a little later I could give the needed time to my own departments. The phenomenal growth in responsibilities and duties which has made the decade the most remarkable in the University's history of 115 years, makes it idle to hope longer that I shall ever have more time. The duties grow steadily more exacting so that even if my exceptional physical endurance were fully maintained I should have to give up one of my dual positions. I expect very soon to have strength for full service in one field, but should not dare again attempt both.

My resignation was first proposed to include both positions, but on urgent request was modified. I wish the board however to consider it as covering both; but if there is a unanimous wish that I continue to direct the library and home education and I can have the regents' cordial sympathy and support, I shall gladly give all my strength to what so many believe the most practically useful and most appreciated work under direction of this historic board. If for any reason I can not have such cooperation, I should prefer to do my chosen work elsewhere.

If you accept my resignation in full, in leaving you I shall carry with me the most delightful memories of our relations. I have often said to other librarians that I thought I had the ideal board. Even when regents have differed wholly from my views there have been so many evidences of both official and personal confidence and good will, that I regard the members of this board not alone as superior officers, but also as warm personal friends. I could never meet any regent without recalling some of the pleasantest associations of my life.

At the afternoon session Regent Whitelaw Reid, chairman of the special committee, submitted the following resolutions, which were adopted unanimously:

Resolved, That the regents have heard with much regret the resignation by Mr Melvil Dewey of the position of secretary and financial officer of the University, which he has held for 11 years in conjunction with the directorship of the library and of the home education departments.

Resolved, That we deplore the circumstances of impaired health and of overtaxed strength which have led him to ask release from part of his duties; and we trust that the relief which he seeks may soon result in his complete restoration to bodily vigor.

Resolved, That the board recognize in Mr Dewey an organizer of genius, an executive of great skill, an educational leader of marked originality and energy and an officer whose administration has coincided with the largely augmented usefulness and honor of the University.

Resolved, That we record with gratitude his zeal for the welfare. of the service of the state, his devotion to the interests and good fame of the board and his constant sympathy with the cause and institutions of higher education in the commonwealth and in the nation, and that we rejoice to believe that his rare gifts and abilities will still be at the service of the University in a field congenial to his wishes and commensurate with his extraordinary qualities.

Resolved, That the board accepts the resignation to take effect on next January 1, 1900, with renewed expression of its regret, and of its high regard and esteem for its secretary and its friend. Resolved, That the duties of secretary of the board of regents be temporarily assigned to James Russell Parsons jr; the duties of director of the state library, of the home education department and of the library school remaining in charge of Melvil Dewey.

FINANCES

Tables R-S, p. 112, show the annual appropriations, expenditures and balances for both state library and home education department with other receipts, etc. Table T, p. 113, is an analy sis of expenditures, 1) by departments for 1900, 2) by years from 1896 to date, 3) by purchases; i. e. books, serials, binding, pictures, lanterns and lantern slides.

Table T 3, p. 116, shows that $21,759.48 was spent for books, $3109.49 for serials, $5755.51 for binding, $10,764.16 for pictures and $1301.46 for lanterns and lantern slides, a total of $43,482.10 for increase and permanent improvement of collections. Of this the general library including law had $22,999.72, medical library $1060.18 and home education department $19,371.70.

Salaries. Table U, p. 116, shows the average annual salaries in the state library, home education department, bindery and building department from 1896 to date.

Appropriations. The increase asked for the state library for 1901 over 1900 general bill is $9500; an increase for fixed salaries, temporary services, necessary expenses and new shelving which