toward the establishment of a parcels post be supported by our Association, and that no attempt be made to secure a library post. The third choice, the establishment of a special book post, seems impracticable at this time. We have corresponded with representatives of the publishers, and feel that nothing can be done on that line. We therefore recommend the support of the proposed parcels post."

Voted, that the president appoint a committee of three to draft a resolution relative to the establishment of a parcels post and report to the Council at its next session (on the following day), which resolution should then be referred to the committee on federal and state relations. The president appointed on this committee C. W. Andrews, W. C. Lane and Cornelia Marvin.

Voted, that a committee from the Council

be appointed by the president to consider the government of American libraries and their relation to the municipal authorities, and to report its action to the Council at the earliest possible date. The president appointed on this committee Arthur E. Bostwick, with power to complete the committee.

Miss Marvin spoke of plans for library buildings, expressing a hearty desire for cooperation between the new Carnegie Corporation and the A. L. A.

Voted, that a committee be appointed by the president to consider the question of library architecture and of co-operation between the A. L. A. and the Carnegie Corporation, and to report to the Coun cil at its next meeting. The president appointed on this committee, Cornelia Marvin, W. H. Brett and H. C. Wellman. Council adjourned.

January 5th

At the second meeting of the Council, held Friday morning, January 5th, the first subject for discussion was educational unity in cities. Mr. W. L. Brown had prepared a paper* on this subject, which, in his absence, was read by the secretary. It

was

*See p. 1.

Voted, that the library periodicals be requested to print Mr. Brown's paper and other statements supplementing it, and that the secretary bring it to the attention of the press and give it as much other desirable publicity as possible.

Dr. Andrews felt it important to learn what other cities were doing along this line, and explained briefly the work of the Council for library and museum extension in Chicago, illustrating with several of their publications. The president called attention to similar work done in Buffalo. Mr. Lane spoke of the work done in Boston. Miss Ahern reminded the Council that the initial step in this work in Chicago was taken by the Chicago library club. Mr. Ranck felt that there was a tendency to create new boards and institutions to undertake new activities, when these could be handled equally well by existing organizations.

The following report was presented by the

Committee on Relation of the A. L. A. and State Library Associations

The committee on the relation of the A. L. A. and state library associations is able to report gratifying progress, and that the communication sent to meetings of the various state associations this fall and winten have been most favorably considered. The specific questions were:

How may a state library association be formally or officially connected with the A. L. A. on a basis which will be advantageous to both organizations?

1. By the payment of a per capita assessment into the treasury of the A. L. A. on a basis of probably 10 cents per capita?

2. Should this entitle the state association to name a representative from the state as a member of the A. L. A. Council?

3. Should there not be a minimum requirement as to the number of members in a state association before it would be eligible for connection with the A. L. A. upon the basis suggested? (i. e. a state association should have at least 25 members before it would be eligible for state representation in the Council).

4. In the larger state associations might it not be advisable to allow more than one representative on the Council, e. g. one representative for every 100 state members, or fraction thereof?

5. Should the individual members of the

state association be considered associate members of the A. L. A. under this arrangement? (without receiving the publications of the A. L. A., the cost of which is considerable).

6. Should those already members of state associations who desire to join the A. L. A. individually be given some concession, such as the waiving of the initiation fee in the A. L. A.?

7. Is there a probability of strengthening your state library association by this official recognition and by the reports that would come back to the state meetings from the state representatives to the Council?

The committee feels that the preliminary investigations have been sufficiently thorough to assure them of a general desire that there shall be such changes made in the Constitution of the A. L. A. as will make possible a formal federation of the state associations with the A. L. A.

The committee requests that the secretary of the A. L. A. obtain from each state, district and provincial association a list of its members, or in some way, ascertain how many A. L. A. members are now members of each of these associations. Until this data is available no conclusions can be safely drawn as to the effect such affiliation might have on the A. L. A. membership.

The following recommendations are made to the Council for consideration regarding certain amendments to the Constitution:

1. That provision be made for state, district and provincial membership in the Council by amending Section 14 of the Constitution, substituting for the clause "twenty-five elected by the Council itself" the following: "one member from each state and provincial library association which complies with the conditions for state and provincial representation set forth by the Bylaws."

2. That Section 3 of the Bylaws be amended by striking out the entire section and substituting the following therefor:

"Each state and provincial library association having a membership of not less than members may be represented in the Council by the president of such association, or by an alternate elected at the annual meeting of the association. The annual dues shall be $5.00 for each association having a membership of 50 or less and 10 cents per capita additional where membership is above that number."

All members of the associations so affiliating shall be considered associate members of the A. L. A. without receiving publications, and should such members desire

to become individual members of the A. L. A. the payment of an initiation fee will be waived. Alice S. Tyler, Chairman. Samuel H. Ranck.

The third member of the committee, Mr. Frank P. Hill, dissented from the recommendations, but agreed with the report which precedes the recommendations.

The report and the general subject of affiliation were discussed by the three members of the committee and by several other members of the Council, the following points being raised:

Would a fee of 10 cents per capita paid to the American library association by state associations having more than 50 members be interpreted as a penalty for increasing the state membership, or would it be wiser to have a uniform fee of $5.00 for all state associations which affiliate, regardless of size of membership?

Are the American library association members who join one year and lapse the next influenced solely by the proximity of the conference for that year, or are there other elements, which affiliation might assist in overcoming?

Would the lack of continuity of service by Council members who were elected by affiliating associations tend to disarrange continued policies of the Council, or would a larger number of new members coming and old members leaving help to spread more rapidly the work of the American li brary association?

If there were more than one state library organization in a state would each organization be entitled to elect a member to the Council, or should the state as a whole only be entitled to one representative? The latter plan seemed to be the more favorably received.

Should twenty-five members of Council continue to be elected by the Council itself, or should state representation be substituted therefor, as recommended by a majority of the committee?

Should a greater or less concession be given to members of state associations when joining the American library association than a waiving of initiation fee?

Would accepting members of state associations as associate members of the American library association and giving associate members travel and hotel privileges at the conference tend to discourage active membership in the American library association?

After discussion it was

Voted, that the report be received and be referred back to the committee; that it be printed in the American library association Bulletin, together with an abstract of the attendant discussion; and that that portion of the report be adopted which requests the secretary of the American library association to obtain from each state and provincial association a list of its members so as to ascertain how many are members of the American library association.

A report of progress was made for the committee on international printed cards by the chairman, W. C. Lane. The plan for printing cards at the Royal Library at Berlin was briefly outlined and librarians were recommended to avail themselves of these cards as far as possible. It was suggested that American libraries might place orders for these Berlin cards with the headquarters office of the A. L. A., and that the cards when received be distributed from headquarters. In many cases libraries can probably arrange for ordering of cards through their foreign book agents. The chairman read a letter from Dr. Aksel Andersson, librarian of the University of Upsala, giving a report of progress in Sweden.

A letter from George S. Godard, chairman of the committee on public documents, was read by Mr. Ranck, member of the committee, in which Miss Hasse suggested the publication of a bibliography or checklist of Canadian documents, made on the same plan as the Wisconsin check-list published in 1903 by the Wisconsin free library commission.

On motion of Dr. Andrews it was Voted, that this recommendation be refered to the Publishing Board.

The committee to secure information rel

ative to a scientific and satisfactory standard for lighting and ventilation of library buildings made the following report through the chairman, Samuel H. Ranck. To the Council of the American library association:

Your special committee on the ventilation and lighting of library buildings can report at this time nothing more than progress in its work. The subjects it is dealing with are large ones and in many respects most difficult. It would seem, however, that there is urgent need for the bringing together in convenient form for the use of all interested in libraries the best scientific thought, the most exact data, and the accumulated experience of librarians and others on these two subjects that mean so much to library workers and library users. As an evidence of this need it may be mentioned that the committee has already received requests for information and opinions on these subjects from librarians, from library trustees, and from architects.

Your committee has held one meeting, has had a very large correspondence, and is getting, or expects to get, more or less cooperation from about a dozen other organizations or institutions that are interested in or are studying one or both of these subjects.

The work of the committee thus far has been chiefly devoted to making a schedule of the questions our report should answer and the subjects it should discuss. A reading of this schedule will convince anyone that the work of the committee is exceedingly complicated and that much time will be required to complete it.

It is the purpose of the committee to answer these problems, so far as possible, first, by the use of abstracts from books and writers of recognized authority and standing; second, to check up these answers by the experience of librarians from a series of libraries; and thirdly, and finally, on all doubtful points or on points not previously considered in discussions of this subject, to have made a number of experiments and scientific tests especially for this report.

Respectfully submitted, Samuel H. Ranck, Chairman. The committee appointed at the preceding session to draft a resolution regarding the attitude of the association to a parcels post presented the following, which was unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That the Council of the American library association respectfully

express to Congress their belief that the library interests of the country demand greater and less expensive facilities for the transportation of books, so that libraries may be able to extend their benefits to persons living away from the centers of population, and so that the smalled libraries may more freely borrow from the larger.

While a special library post would appear to them a most desirable measure, they believe that the proposed parcels post would materially improve the present conditons, and therefore they respectfully urge its establishment.

Mr. Wright desired the Council to appoint a committee to define the term "circulation of books" as used by libraries. On motion it was voted that this matter be referred to the committee on library administration.

On motion by Miss Robbins the following resolution was unanimously adopted: Resolved, That the Council of the A L. A. express to the directors of the Chicago public library, to the directors of the Art Institute, and to the members of the Chicago library club its appreciation and thanks for the hospitality and thoughtful courtesy extended to it during this meeting.

Council adjourned.

COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIANS OF THE MIDDLE WEST The third annual meeting of the college and university librarians of the middle west was held in the Chicago public library, Friday afternoon and Saturday forenoon, January 5 and 6, 1912. The attendance, sixty at the first session and forty at the second, was larger than heretofore, partly because more institutions were represented and partly because of the presence of a larger number of other librarians who were in Chicago to attend the meetings of the week. Nineteen college and university libraries of this section of the country were represented by from one to six members of their respective staffs; and representatives from eastern Hibraries, Harvard, Columbia, Simmons, and Syracuse, from one southern library, the University of Georgia, from one

Canadian library, McGill University, and from the John Crerar library and the Library of Congress were all welcome visitors and participants in the discussions. Dr. Walter Lichtenstein, who has recently returned from a six months expedition to European book centers in the interest of several American libraries, told his plan of work and some of his experiences in filling book orders entrusted to him. Mr. Lane, Dr. Andrews, and Mr. Hanson gave very favorable reports concerning his work for Harvard, Chicago University, and the John Crerar libraries. Mr. Newman Miller, of the University of Chicago Press, presented a statement concerning the work of the coöperative forwarding agent from European book centers. Weekly shipment of books has proven a very satisfactory, though a somewhat expensive, arrangement, and the suggestion was made that perhaps a biweekly shipment would reduce the cost and provide sufficiently frequent shipments to satisfy most needs. Mr. G. W. Sheldon, whose firm has acted as the shipping agent, was present and took part in the general discussion. Professor A. S. Root presented a statement of "some perplexities in the use of printed catalog cards," in which he called attention to some shortcomings of this service which everyone recognizes and which can hardly be remedied, and to other shortcomings or inconsistencies which might, perhaps, be eliminated. Dr. Andrews of the A. L. A. publishing board, Dr. Putnam of the Library of Congress, Mr. Hanson, of the University of Chicago, and others participated in the very active discussion which followed. Mr. H. O. Severance gave a description of a charging system which has recently been inaugurated at the University of Missouri library.

At the second session Mr. P. L. Windsor presented statistics tending to show the extent of the dependence of western libraries on the large eastern libraries in the matter of inter-library loans. The bulk of loans to institutions of the middle west appeared to come from Harvard, Library

of Congress, John Crerar library, and the University of Chicago library. Greater publicity in regard to the contents of our own libraries would probably decrease the number of requests sent to eastern libraries. Mr. Lane presented the proposition to make a charge for such loans, not for the use of the book but to pay for a part of the service involved in making the loan. Mr. Jacob Hodnefield presented a full account of his work with "exchange and gifts," in the Universtiy of Illinois library.

Mr. J. T. Gerould opened the discussion of "pensions for college librarians," and emphasized the desirability of an academic rank being accorded the principal members of our staffs. At the close of the general discussion of this question, a motion was passed that the committee in charge of the meeting be directed to take what action seemed possible, in order to lead to a more general granting of this academic rank.

The committee to make arrangements for next year's meeting consists of Mr. J. C. M. Hanson, Dr. A. S. Root, and Mr. J. T. Gerould.

A brief

read on the use of lantern slides by library schools. This report was based on information obtained by Miss Whittlesey from letters sent out by her to library schools, libraries, and library commissions. discussion followed in which the opinions expressed showed the value and use of such slides, and that it was a matter which should be developed further.

The subject of uniformity in the teaching of simplified catalog rules was next presented by Miss Rathbone, who said that uniformity in teaching forms of cards in simplified cataloging would aid in produc

ing general uniformity in cataloging. Miss Rathbone suggested that if a set of rules should be formulated and printed they would no doubt be followed sufficiently by schools to result in fewer variations in forms taught than are now found. Each school has practices which it does not consider of vital importance. Others could be substituted to gain the advantage of sending out from all schools catalogers with uniformity in details of simplified cataloging who would tend to produce like methods in libraries. It is not intended to alter the A. L. A. rules, but to show how cards are to be made when brevity and simplicity are desired. The points are those of detail and of lesser importance, but those concerning which uniformity in a catalog is desired. The usages of the various library schools in the teaching of cataloging were then brought out. Wisconsin does not use the A. L. A. rules, but has its rules printed on galley, and distributed to each student; Illinois uses full A. L. A. rules and directs attention to desirable simplifications; New York has not yet found any definite simplified rules which it feels are infallible. A motion was passed that a committee be appointed to confer with Miss Hitchler regarding her forth. coming book on cataloging. The Chair appointed Miss Turvill, chairman of such committee, and Misses Gooch and Van Valkenburgh as members. Mr. Walter suggested that such rules be sent to the National Education Association as an exhibit.

Miss Hazeltine presented for discussion the subject of "Efficiency of administration in library schools," bringing out in detail the conditions in the schools regarding registration, number of instructors and lecturers, amount of revising of student work by instructors, amount of time allowed instructors for study and preparation of lectures, number of class appointments per instructor, per week, length of instructors' vacation, etc.

The next subject of discussion was the "Cost of library schools" presented by Mr. Windsor, who had obtained data on this