an historical society, an art gallery, organ recitals in its Convention Hall, band concerts in its parks, a botanical garden and a zoological garden. It is probably true in this group of educational schemes, as it is probably true of a like group in any city, that each individual institution is active and progressive, finding that its work is growing and its field extending year after year and in constant need of larger appropriations.

Such an institution left by itself becomes a working center, and when it finds new work, which needs to be done that is more or less akin to its own, it opens a new department without knowing or inquiring as to whether that field is not already cared for.

The board of control of each of these activities is a law unto itself so far as its field of work is concerned, and for the most part each does its work with little definite knowledge of what other boards are doing or planning.

To continue to use Buffalo as an illustration, three of its institutions have lecture courses without any affiliation or coöperation; the circulating library is called upon to collect material for doing a large share of reference work, with the reference library but a short distance away; the natural science museum collects, among other things, the implements and pottery of the Indian tribes which occupied the Niagara frontier, while another collection of the same material is being made by the historical society, and there are probably many more such duplications of work.

We, of course, do not mean to say that any two of the institutions duplicate any great amount of effort, but the lines of their work do often cross, and each probably at times ignores the work of the other.

In these days of organization and cooperation for the purpose of increasing efficiency, it would seem that this lack of the spirit of getting together among educational institutions was behind the times, and that we who are interested in them were culpable in allowing this condition to exist. I think that we all know that it

does exist to a greater or less extent in most cities. So far as our own work is concerned, we could all cite public libraries, even if it be not true of our own, which devote a part of their appropriation for most worthy educational effort that is rather far from their designated work of collecting books and placing them in the hands of readers. It is probably true that much of this work that lies outside of the definite purposes of the public library would be put upon other existing institutions in the city if such institutions happened to exist as departments of the library, or if all were definite parts of a single institution.

It is difficult to bring about a closer coöperation with the present lack of any central authority to exercise control. We believe that the time has come to ask at least if some means to this end cannot be found, so far as it concerns the various institutions which receive support from the municipalities. It might, perhaps, be brought about through the forming of an educational commission, which should at least advise the scope and direction of the efforts of such institutions. Such a commission might be made up of representatives from the governing boards of the different institutions, or the executive officers, or of both, and in addition to formulating the lines of work, it might be a clearing house of suggestions for cooperation and extension.

We believe that such a body might, perhaps, formulate plans for some systematic work by correlating the advantages offered by the different institutions in such a way that the whole might be very effective. You can readily see, for example, that definitely educational courses might be devised by using them in this way; the libraries might supply the books, the science and art museums their lectures and collections for study; the music, botanical gardens and other institutions might also be utilized in this way, making the whole something like a people's university in a broader sense than we think this phrase has been used.

Some systematic work of this kind need not interfere in any way with the general work now carried on by the different institutions, and such possible definite courses would appeal to a large number of our readers who need guidance and help, the want of which it is now difficult to make known, and, perhaps, quite as difficult adequately to provide for.

We believe that work of this kind would appeal to many of us who often question how much of the seed now sown broadcast and at random ever falls upon fruitful ground.

In introducing this topic for discussion by the Council of the American Library Association, unity in effort by only those educational institutions supported-or in part supported-by the municipality has been considered as a means of economy, as well as of greater efficiency by the municipal corporation.

There is no question that the idea could be enlarged and made much more valuable by obtaining the coöperation of other educational institutions of the city with those of the municipality in much the same way as the small Buffalo pamphlet, "Means of education and culture offered to day workers by the City of Buffalo" (1909) was vastly bettered by the Council for Library and Museum Extension by Chicago in its hand-book, "Educational opportunities of Chicago" (1911).

EXECUTIVE BOARD
Chicago, January 3, 1912.

Meeting called to order by the president, Mrs. H. L. Elmendorf. Other members present: Henry E. Legler, Mary W. Plummer, Alice S. Tyler, Herbert Putnam, Purd B. Wright, C. W. Andrews and Linda A. Eastman. Carl B. Roden; treasurer, and George B. Utley, secretary, were also present.

The Executive Board having learned of the death, since its last session, of Frederick Morgan Crunden, senior ex-president of the American Library Asociation, it was Voted, that Dr. Andrews prepare and trans

mit to the trustees of the St. Louis

public library a suitable minute, in behalf of the Executive Board, of regret at the death of Frederick M. Crunden, the senior ex-president of the American Library Association. Dr. Andrews accordingly prepared and presented the following minute:

At their meeting of January third, 1912, the Executive Board of the American Library Association voted to express to the Board of Directors of the Public library of St. Louis, their deep sympathy in the sorrow which all must feel because of the recent death of the first librarian, Frederick M. Crunden. Its occurrence So shortly before the opening of the new central building makes it impossible for them to wait for the more formal action which the Association will take at its meeting next summer. Moreover, while the members in general honor his memory as that of their senior ex-president and hold in the highest esteem his services to the Association and to his community, the members of the Executive Board and the older members of the Association mourn his loss as a friend and companion, and know well that this feeling is shared by all who knew him.

Voted, that Dr. Andrews be appointed special delegate of the Board to the opening exercises of the St. Louis public library, and that he be authorized to draft and present to the St. Louis public library board a suitable resolution of congratulations. Dr. Andrews prepared and presented the following minute:

The Executive Board of the American Library Asociation at their meeting on January third, 1912, voted to extend to the Board of Directors of the Public library of St. Louis the cordial congratulations of the Association on the opening of the central bulding. They offer their best wishes for the future welfare of the institution with confidence in the continuance of the wise direction and adminstration which have secured for it the confidence of the community, and with gratitude for the many valued services which its librarians have rendered to the Association and to the library interests in general.

An invitation was read from the Library Association of the United Kingdom, extending to American librarians a hearty invitation to attend its next annual meet

The committee are prepared to approve appropriations to the amount of $19,450, and also the appropriation to the use of the Publishing Board of any excess of sales over the amount estimated.

The chairman has been designated by the committee to audit the accounts of the secretary and treasurer and has performed this duty. He finds that the receipts as stated by the treasurer agree with the transfer checks from the secretary. and with the cash accounts of the latter. The expenditures as stated are all accounted for by properly approved and receipted vouchers and the bank balances as stated agree with the bank statements.

The accounts of the secretary have been examined and found correct as cash accounts.

The committee have designated Mr. E. H. Anderson to audit the accounts of the Trustees of the endowment funds and expect that the Trustees will be ready to submit these accounts later in the current month. The results of this audit and the final approval of the budget, as adopted, will be made a part of the formal report of the Finance committee to the Association at its annual meeting.

Dr. Andrews moved and it was Voted, that there be appropriated for the use of the Publishing Board the income of the Carnegie fund and the proceeds of the sales of publications estimated at $13,450 for 1912 and any excess in these sales excepting the amount of $2,000 agreed upon by the Publishing Board as its appropriation towards the support of the Executive office of the Association. J. I. Wyer, Jr., presented by letter the following report in behalf of the committee on the A. L. A. Manual to which was referred the resolution of the Executive Board at Pasadena, relating to a code of practice for the use of library classifiers:

The proposition, with the statement from Mr. William Stetson Merrill as to just what he meant by it, has been submitted to every member of the committee who are unanimous in the belief that it does not properly claim a place in our proposed chapter on classification for the Manual. The members of the committee were in some doubt as to just what Mr. Merrill had in mind, and we had not only some correspondence with him, but our Mr. Windsor has had a conference with him in Chicago. It is now perfectly clear to the committee what he means, and it is after this correspondence and interview that we have reached our decision. This should not be taken to prejudice Mr. Merrill's project. It may be possible to formulate and codify rules for classifying in the same way that cataloging rules have been done. The Manual committee thinks it will be more difficult, but is not ready to say that it is impossible. Mr. Windsor indeed writes, 'I am inclined to believe that there is something in it and encouraged him to continue his work. However, both Mr. Merril and I agreed that it was not the sort of material that should form a chapter of the Manual.'”

On motion of Mr. Legler it was

Voted, that the report be adopted and the

subject referred to the Publishing Board. Voted, that in accordance with the provisions of Sec. 2 of the By-laws, the Com. mittee on nominations for 1912 be constituted as follows: Chalmers Hadley, chairman, C. H. Gould, Edith Tobitt, G. T. Little, Jessie Welles.

C. H. Gould conferred with the Board at the request of the president regarding plans for the 1912 conference. From the most reliable and authoritative information available it appeared most probable that the Chateau Laurier at Ottawa would be completed in time to accommodate the 1912 conference in that city. It was taken by consent after discussion that according to present plans the conference begin either June 26 or 27.

Voted, that the bonds of the treasurer and secretary be held in the custody of the chairman of the Finance committee.

The secretary having reported that the Association had received as a gift from A. Hastings Grant, the papers and letters of his father, S. Hastings Grant, who was an honorary member of the Association, which relate to the library conference in New York in 1853, it was

Voted, that the hearty thanks of the Executive Board be given to A. Hastings

Grant, for this appreciated donation, which it is believed will prove of great historic value, and that proper steps be taken to place the papers in condition to assure their safety and make them easy of reference.

On motion of Mr. Wright it was Voted, that the appropriation for the expenses of the 1912 conference be increased from $400 to $500, $100 assigned to contingencies being transferred for this purpose.

Voted, that the president appoint a committee to draft a by-law stating definitely what person or persons are entitled to cast vote for institutional members. The president appointed Henry E. Legler, Purd B. Wright and Linda A. Eastman. A petition having been received from the chairman of the committee on library training, for an appropriation of $500 for year 1912 for the purpose of inspecting library schools, it was

Voted, that $200 for this stated purpose be appropriated to the use of the committee on library training, from the amount set apart for the use of committees, and that appropriations of other committees be apportionately reduced. Adjourned.