American Library Association

Open shelves and book losses

Author(s): Isabel Ely Lord and E. S. Willcox
Source: Bulletin of the American Library Association, Vol. 2, No. 5, PAPERS AND
PROCEEDINGS OF THE Thirtieth Annual Meeting OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
(Sept., 1908), pp. 231-254
Published by: American Library Association
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25684771 .
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LORD
it on

place

to all.

ble

to maintain
clerical

think

of

ries.

course

use

this

but

out,

libra

try this scheme

so many
of us

to

number

librarians.

a good

compiled

is

library
himself.
a

through

for

copies
saved

interested

of

have

bureau

own

his
cost

the

so

and

could

list and

in which

subject

could

central

such

printed

list on a
If he

he

use,

he makes

that

have

ordered

had
have

might

composition,

Prances

Mary

Isom,

of Portland,

Ore

"The

the

be an

there might
sent out
questions
hours

tion,

of

labor,
That
kind

tabulated.

to get

difficult

he

and

questions

he wishes
of

board

of my

president

over

read

on

the

The

up

as

It will

is so
let

on

OPEN

SHELVES

AND THE
BOOKS

Movements

to

one

state

that

and

of

said

the

do

other

that are objectionable.

The
things
arises
at just what
these
point
actions
become
im
injurious
sufficiently

question

up

ly

might

at

they

important;

trees

the parks.
some
point
might

be

Undoubted

cut

become
down

so
by

Rhode

on

able

Twenty

Thousand
before

and

Islands,

the American

told

the

of

the books
The

shelves.

account
and

enthusiasm,

praised
to do

emi

at Pawtucket,
to see,
library

for themselves
the

with

greeted
was
Sanders
small

to shut

handle

stood

they

she was

portant

the

appeared

them.

libraries

public

conference.

this

a
to

be
it may
shelf" move

"open

free

Association

Library

her

and

the

at

ago,

Sanders

was

the grass

at

vague

to

birth

of

assembly

American

years

Mrs

dates

amicable

of age

are

doctrines

this
in

OF

LOSS

and many
beginnings,
in the attempt
arisen

accurate
in

But

touch

on open
is one
shelves
and
a subject
which
is of vital
losses,
interest
to every
of a free public
librarian
we
When
our parks
to the
open
library.
that a great many
public we notice
people
on

has

controversy

as

C. WELLMAN.

and walk

and
to their

as

the morning

flowers

of

successful
nently
experiment
all users
in allowing
of the

Chairman.

discussion

by a paper by Miss
Institute
free
the Pratt

be opended

Brooklyn,

things

such
this morn

us

before

is a

should

welcome

library,

book

pick

the one

of us

all

fact which

Lord

Ely

comes

ques

shelves.

therefore

for

necessary
If so it

practically

our

important
and we

Isabel

safe

reports

BACON,
WAGNER.

The

become

discussion

ment

or

PRESIDENT:

the question
of book-losses
so serious
has become

libraries

it has

know,

set

from

CORINNE
HILLER

that

shelf

to close

very

just

results

either

that

that

salary

should

At

think

us

has

the
etc., and
of information

be

that

undoubtedly

up.

who

says

ters."
SULA

shut

assign

intelligent

be

might
might

like

anything

proof-read

gon:

grass

park

the park
would
be
does
the in
just what
point
so
as
to warrant
become
jury
great
are some people,
There
the park?
closing
in a minority,
although
they are
probably
happen,

ing.

out

found

ing, etc.
In closing,
to
leave
your Committee
begs
the
from
transmit
following
suggestion
Miss

If

in open

looking?

is not the only way

in
at
Look
is being
duplicated.
of lists of books
compiled
by
A does
not know
that B has

work

one

wrecked.

questionnaire

which

A's

sufficiently

individual

of which

been

long

The

the

for us

realization

have

the

to

the

and

ruined?the

entirely

to make

it possible

toward

axes

with

people

expensive

is the millionaire,
for
looking
of his money,
who will

Where

make

be

headquarters
to carry
force

the gain

be accessi

it would

at

large

a good

it would

file where
Of

231

Mrs

and

envied

for what

in her

small

in
library
of course,

community,

although

"large

Island,

librarians,"
Pawtucket,
York
is one thing, and New

Cleveland
is another.
But
presently
City
started
bravely
forth, and then free access
was
so rapidly
in so many
kinds
granted
of libraries
that the tale would
be a hard
one

to

And

not

New
lows

tell

with

any

degree

of

accuracy.

York
City, but Greater
only New
in all five of her boroughs,
al
York,
of
free access
to all her collections

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MINNETONKA

282

in 1907
and
circulating
books,
a grand
her
total
inhabitants

CONFERENCE
to

out

gave
of

9,464,848

volumes.*
a wide

Such
speaks

behalf,
its wisdom

of

proof

necessarily
are

There

of a

adoption
on its

strongly

and

honored

still

librarians,
more
there

us, and even

not only doubt

policy
is not

library
but

are

justice.

the

among

encourage,

and

knowledge
of these

ends,

who
trustees,
and
of
justice

the wisdom

the policy, but hold it to be totally per

The

nicious.

press

fluence.
to formal
educa
Supplementary
are
its chief
aims
tion,
first, to en
two;
of its community
able
to get
any member
as readily
as possible
and
at any
easily
needed
information
in
that
is contained

occasionally

printed

page;

served

of books
we

other

generally

feel a bit uneasy

commonly

tions.

end

an

of

facts

of

in

these

in order that both opponents

of books,
advocates
of what we
in America
have
to

agreed

the

call

as

It deals

to future
with

only

de

may

shelf,"

"open

for themselves

cide

practice.
of

of the accusa

result

is the
paper
of the actual

This

vestigation
losses

some

and
policy
the question

where
the condi
libraries,
public
from those of
of use differ essentially

free

tions
the

society,

other

club,

Its further
library.
as
the different
appear

institutional
will

itations
are

jects
But

of

consideration
in

volved
the

The

public
has

institution,
that

system.
to that
sending
library

out
has

the

if we

but

the

universal.
lections
where

to the
in
to

objections
different

state
general
are at the end
an

for
and

home

a more

from

educational
nearest

approaches

by its
use
the

but

varied

either

in

books

are

accessible

of
so

im

the

I know,

as

far
a

are

or

have

many

is

any

reference

large
books

markets

book

col
nor

to everyone,
In

a great
use;
as
to tempt
value
are
a great many

reference

large

many

great

brary

rare,

as

li

to

a high

such

the professional
thief;
in size,
style of
shape,
un
or quality
of
illustrations,
binding,
to general
indiscriminate
suited
handling.
that

collection

The

together

of
the

the

reference

one.

It will

for current

is needed

use
is more
general
reference
attendants

watched

easily
than

proportionate
of

open
is a

not

except
given

the

circulating
and
al
size,

department
therefore

further
paper
are
erence
books

by

is a

problem

this

as
in

in

shelves
less

be

serious

the

in

treated

losses

of ref

statistical

statement.
This

it should be noted, does not include

*This,
the circulation of books through the schools?so
libraries?
public
large an element with many
on by the
this is carried
York
as in New
The issue here for 1906
Board
of education.
the 1907 total free
1907 was 6,232,096, making
circulation for Greater New York certainly over
fifteen and a half millions.

so

depart

their open
shelf col
is now
almost
practice
of course,
does not mean,

the

in

library

were
advantages
that
reference

practice,
advocated.

collection

educational

function

museum,

volumes
a wider

at

of our

part

public

and

the

This

all

that

open

in many

enlarged

and

lections,

this

one
of
ignoble
attendants

the

obvious
soon

ments

sub

conclusion.

function

This
of

been

as
library,
a different

other

of any

facts

minor

the

definite

any

trouble,
mediately

such

principle
general
the shelves
open

Such

is necessary

to draw

these

few moments

have

forth.

set

times

to

the

throwing
to
and

public,
that
this

ment

save

any

on

books

for

somewhat

the

to

it was
books,
the most
to have

reference

to

collection

turning
a
give

let us

was

access

free

library

reason

desiring

is
en

department
was
there

before

necessary

used

first

side,
by no means

of

held

the

The

reference

the

The

cases

books.

Long

of

part

shelves.

lim

treated.

before

figures

to

or

university,

college,

the

of

if, being
by theft, and
librarians,
or
refrain
from getting
into a panic
we yet do sometimes
becoming
hysterical,
about

of

information

although

largely,

through
tirely,
the
library.
consideration
any

public

gives wide publicity to the fearful losses

love
the

and

to

to stimulate,
to direct

second,
sometimes

also,

side

of

of the circulating
But
here
brary.
If the
ent one.
brief,

definite

large

is

information

imparting
a

naturally

part

of

the work

of the li
department
is a differ
the question
wanted
is a
information

answer

to any

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question,

the

LORD
are

chances
the

by

it will

that

reference

thing

more

thing

to be

be

best

furnished

some
and discursive,
or even
to be skimmed

general
studied

who

thing

nice

to read"

those

who

want

the

new

and

are
not

do

to pass

novels,
know
what

perhaps

pleasant

when

novels,
not
always
it, and

get

those
to

inspiration
of
masters

great
How

are

all

these

best?

As

to

their

no

is

had

they
seek
the

in words.

to be
people
own
preference,

they
down

To

them.

the

who

use

who

should

card

catalog

which

use

in the
as

nothing

of

catalog?
card
librarian?the

means

chiefly

conveys

those

to all
perhaps
are not, the
it and
be using
Even
is a stumbling-block.
and

library

trained

one

of

majority

great

the

to the condition,

print
and
of the book,
style
of its
inclusiveness
the

literary
ing, or
even
often
not

true of the printed

This
is equally
scope.
over
sole
the
whose
advantages
catalog,
ease
are
of use,
card
portability
catalog
But
how
of duplication.
readiness
and
would

librarian

any

like

here

his

to select

from
for a year
reading
personal
or
in a book
a catalog,
whether
printed
on cards?
written
or

her

the

second

Would

the

than
The

and

examining
educational

are

few

to a member

that

is not

looking

catalog

and

the

that

"real

right

book"

"public,"

for a definite

book,

compared

will

when

he

through
to

his

the

are

shelves

an
gave
in the

differences

from

the

20 times

If

Kate
rights"

shelves

open

and the life

to 7, "Silas

Mar

"Thoughts
not

people

And

served?
a

shows

every
re

similar

S.

panacea,

of English

librarians

but

we

need

facetious

known

"whether

Pseudonyms,

S. Green

is passed
when
that
curiously

with

discuss

body

be
Open

as Mr

ago,

years
time

the

surely

collection.

indeed,

not,

would

percentage
shelf

open

out

pointed

The

as

access

free

is

or a disease."
If we cease
library method
to be our official
can
selves
for a moment,
we
fail to echo Mr Putnam's
words
spoken
in 1891?

"I

brarian

not

cess.

The

To
is

quote

surely,

on

the

believe

himself

be

reader
for

urgent

side.

other

What

bring?

against

instances

is

ac

the

few

confusion

of

allowing
who

people
are

to

especially

tion,

served

book,
are best

opinions

serious

definite

by

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All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

books

re

Librarians

it a

hold

do

objections

misplacement.
much
in their

Those

books.

free

First,
frequently,
as a main
objec

from
very

li

and

is one of means."
problem
once more,
the burden
of proof
as Mr
Brett
said
at Atlanta,

there

but

is a

there

as

felt

has

objectors
in a few

tion,

this,

cannot

who

would

differ

itself

chances

the
1900

library.

fiction

the

in

lower

in

is
the

of the

messenger

tain

to

In

If figures
that were
fairly compara
cer
available
it seems
almost

were

sulting

and

this.

to 12, Hamerton's
to 4, were
times

10

tive

themselves?

choosing

process,

get

books

better

to

the

closed

"Children's

better
definitely
collection
shelf

sult.

and

end

art"

open

library.

of

handling

on

of

the

Burton

27 times

being

the

that

with

Plumrner

free

differ
in

December

Mary W.
list of such

Wiggins'
16 times

out

and

to 9 times from the stack;

stated

to

Miss

broad

the

books

for

Institute

went

same

the

Journal"

Douglas

knowl

serve

anything

very

of the

and

edifying
noted
has

open
as
hesitate

interesting

the
encourage
so I have

of books,
aim
general

love

and

an

and

stimulate

To
edge

and

The

pebbles.

with

library
can
shelves

ner"

there
use

of

same

of Lady

served

who

people
to see

of

heap

in use

Pratt

want,

from

to search

is allowed

is enlightening,
No
one who

ening.
ence

(25:741)

as
the books
library
prefer
them
on the shelves,
to take
stand
look at them, to feel free among
and

public

to

time;

come

who
be

books

"Library

only

they

expression

The

question.

"some
the

away

only

he

reading the titles on the backs

en

their

for
want

vaguely

the

ing

while

worth

something
those

joyment;

the

among

de
over
at home?here
the
circulating
to. And
then
must
be appealed
partment
who want
there are the people
"collateral
for their
those
who
studies;
reading"
want

when

chances

find for himself what is to him the pearl

some

but

department,

233

as

to

argument
look
at
the

a
for
looking
if other
than fic
asking

a member

MINNETONKA

234
the

of

staff

library

enough

to make

for

the

user

not

"in."

The
the

through
this can
as
not

be

users,

or

The

only

is caused
A

sufficiently

glance

difficulty

of
must,
by constant

against
of books

thus

book

on

for this
daily

paper,
or oftener.

danger

of missing

Four

of

ly"
takes

to revise

of
In

the

say

to

ambiguous
proved
question
on the subject
the statistics
and
show
But
full.
sufficiently
they
are

on

label

each

book,

have

color

being

not
li

that

difficulty
of
Some

shelves.

the

libraries

the English

in

some,

are

this

against

it

colored

tiny

an admirable
to a class
of books,
that
book
at once a blue history
detecting
The
into pink sociology.
has
plan
strayed
li
free
Institute
in the Pratt
was
tried
worked

tion,

and

been

applied

now

if it is used
I have
second

tear

on

by

idle

and

not

in any
not

been

able
is to

the books.
fruitless

but
is valid,
jection
an educational
process,

to
the

the wear

The

majority

of

the

staff

of

this
of

to

we

this
to

charge
can we

open

reckon?

is differently

spent.
over

the

people?and
of fiction

as

time

the getting
it is hard
to

brarians
under

report
the

open

but

readers,

that

The

presses

concisely

old

the

number

li

of

in assisting
system
a great
they consider
ex
from
Cleveland

this

"We

time

arrangement

spent

held

evidently

libraries,
of

is

time

the opinion

shelf

believe
under

spent

far

gives

bet

to readers."

ter service
A

shelf

amount

the

in

books

more

answer

gain.

open

of
tell.

that

same

wear

to

Increase

readers?find
whelming
majority
for themselves,
books
so that the librarians
are freer to give
individual
But
the
help.
revision
of shelves
takes
as much
perhaps

the

one.

in

its older

of administra

only

how

Otherwise

time

one.

to

ungrateful

that

yet

further

is

objection

to

the

larger

for the storage

required
access
are
to
to have
if readers

amount

of

of books

space

induced

them.

the

are un
collections
circulating
to grow
to unwieldy
dimensions,
likely
libraries
arise gradually
to re
since branch

result
and

ob
of
tear

Of course
is only part of running expenses.
to handle
books
should
be taught

people

shelves.

due

increase

The

In

life.
library
shelf
library

in cost

increase

but
tion,
be
should

in

of

found

as

extra

handling,
if it is the

means

it

get
expressed
is
impos

than
rapidly
are
exceptions

there
never

taught
couldn't

administration

open

creases

shelf

collec

is

an
first place
in use more

So

open

figures

and
be

states

open

trace

If this

the

different

If

is some
for

apples
could
of

in most

to learn

interesting
large American

cost

collec

collection

larger

be

objection

and

has

but

well,

shelf

open

to the much
It would

open.

tion.

small

its first

for

brary

either.

such

dajs;

assigned
of
means

of

two

use

Un

that

is
on

but

we

that

and

sum

I have

administration

argument

youth

reckon

to

brother.

used

"revision"

word

our

terms

rule

their

have

in

library
staff,
the readers

no
apparently
were
side.
We

oranges

very
asked

books

in

where
might

are

either

prove

early
add

an

as

up
There

rear

collection.

the whole

guarding
on
of misplacement

sent

means

This

hand

held

sible

li

the

18 of

questions
are
so
shelves

the

braries

the

guarded
the order

what

of

do
one

to

easy

up as an objection,
its decreased
cost

held

shelves.
to

cost

increased

resultant

"continuous
report
how
long a time

four

the

fortunately

casual
but

be

librarians

the

weekly,
but. do not

the

them

for.

shelves.

the

misplaced;

answered

revision

certainly
here

by

course,
revision

ranged
little

is

on
find

shelves.

the

who

braries

it

difficulty

possible

The

sometimes
times

on

impressed

but

both,

has

is
with

call
courtesy
by the
if signal
offenders
among
remonstrated
with.

the other

exactly

This

library.

by misplacement
can
often

librarian

are

shelf

open

that

treated

almost

defi

but

carefully,
are

books
and

served
quickest
a call-slip,
and
and

closed

been

are

impossible
is
the book

wants

who

always

in a

always

staff,
true.

that

catalog
in an
done

as

well

Decimal

dummies

nigh

sure

reader

is

it.

and

it well

to be

book

nite

find

to

numbers

Cutter

points,

CONFERENCE

to-day,

lieve

This

objection

is not

a serious

one

when

them.

Perhaps

the most

serious

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All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

of

the minor

LORD
is one

objections

that

not

has

any
we

every
that
forget
our

read

ways

Writing
Foskett
Edward

"From

arrangement:
it

is

cabalistic

somewhat

the

but

absurd,

of

point
'I-don't-know

the fact

cry out

against

remains

that

it

impression

think

are

they

and

themselves,
of

if they

found

every
best

preventive

But

attitude

this

minding

should

wants

he

book
are

here

hesitate

to

we

"what

things,

in definite

people

the

ting

learn

own
in

hour

the

in the

but

years
minish

the

open

one

no

that

i3

to

casual
collection,
are approachable.

There

acquaint

unique

objections

now,

that

one.

But

library,

and

20

and

sometimes

it seems

hardly

The

the money

and

to

here

we

The
lose

by

less

it is

it now

ap

seldom

it is coming

money

than

serious

is

side

than
are

losses

heavy

finan

this, the
financial

because

that

to be
loss

the moral

is

responsi

in a community.
crime
bility of fostering
If open
shelves
do foster
crime,
they are
not permissible,
for if an educational
in
stitution

for

in a com
anything
for moral
as
betterment

stands
it stands

munity,
much

as

Either

for

without

intellectual
the other

is whether

Does
If

it

certain
character

One
this
answers

are
do

to danger;
the path

question,
then,
the privilege

to be
of

de

open
in a

make
it, in other words,
no more
does
than give
in the community
those
thieves
In

the

deductions
of

situation

of

may

the

is

be made

books

who

caught,
from
but

stolen,

We
premises.
best with
them.

must,

the

presented

in

from

the

word

about

paper.

They

to a

those

thief

slim
our

is

this ques
answering
at once
arises
of our
rare

books.

the
ever,

along

difficulty
of the personality

and
these

us

help

influence
demoralizing
or encour
it suggests
because

thieves?

the

betterment.
leads

is

shelves

community
theft.
ages

ignorance
our
steal

to understand

to

matter.

do
to

sides

moral.

second,

tion,

large

con

of books

considered
formerly more
for two reasons.
First,

the

di
will
probably
to the vanishing
point.

but

was

two

the

difficulty,

community?the

formidable

minor

and

to
opportunity
are
who
already
a different
one.

shelves

this problem
are
other

are

There
cial

cided

in order

What

greater.

for

do

mutilation

to follow,
of the whole

or

come
gradually
of the
aims
and

of

get

reader

the

and

sure

only both together

of progress.
The

large

will

ends

re

constantly
that
words

community?not

becomes

problem
people

large

but

library,

the

difficulty.
should

personal
community
this particular
eliminates

ance

the

was

them?

great;

The
slight.
is that
of

turn

was

made

objection

loss
be

are

losses

chief

the crux

lies

recognized

and

can

circulating
those who

ly accosting
In the small

that would
daj

let us

So

of open
shelves
question
at the 1877
international

the
up

17 find prac

in his
exists
difficulty
is to take a wander

library

When

pears

either
in
help
in solving
any
The most
enlight

ask

this

whether

her

to

certainly

to

for,"

a definite
book
finding
other
library
problem.
thing a librarian
ening
or

like

for this particular

of helpfulness

other

among

mean,

is

without
overlooked
being
and
that encourage
readers,
for the staff to waste
time

with
the readers."
chatting
at last to our muttons.

the major
were
asked

which

staff,

library

good

for

Of

this a difficulty,
and to 12 it seems

tically none
attitude
of helpfulness,

things

not

do

they

ladies."
the young
the
libraries
who

"trouble
ity

to find

expected

work

the
ference,
the increased

readers.
of a great many
as they are, and
And we must
take people
we
not as they ought
to be?as
interpret
fail to get
idea
with
this
People
'ought."
need
because
the assistance
they
they
is the

staff doing

by inquisitive
ment
is given

brought

system."

help-yourself-and-don't-bother-me'
we
our intentions,
Knowing
this as

Mr
shelf

reader's

librarian's

who
open

signs

in the "Library
World,"
once said of the open

aright.

view

is to serve

that
community
not al
does
"public"

the

our English
to answer
while
brother,
that
under
the
solemnly
proclaims
shelf system
is felt in the
"difficulty

worth

sure

So

in our

one

and

much

been

generally.
regarded
by librarians
are we
in life
that our one aim

285

series

are
of

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All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

facts
taken

questions

how

sent

to

MINNETONKA

236
36

libraries
a

umes
these

one

smaller

without
loses

as

out

Of
typical.
larger and one of

of the

libraries

vol
200,000
in small

libraries

selected

but

all

to 12

and

communities,
the

over

circulating

year

CONFERENCE

with

answered,

that I wish
and courtesy
pub
promptness
The
here.
to acknowledge
figures
licly
in
to give,
and
not easy
for were
asked
but
were
answers
some
cases
impossible,

the attempt to do as much as possible to

was

help

were

libraries

reclassifying
and
is under
way,

ganization
the first
now

being

nati?does
not

does

believe

in

them.

Mr

take

says:
Hodges
an inventory

is based

use,

I have

what

upon

seen in one of the large libraries in the

that

In

East.

an

library

was

attendant

employed at a salary of $600, to go with

a year,

the

to

the
or
of

50%

they

had

not

that

the

to

owing

At
150

volumes,
for. Fully
and

one

from

shelflist

constantly.
was
report

be

many

overlooked,
but

carelessness,

inherent difficulties in

the

in

at

Fair

so

small

Haven,
that it

statements

given,
This

to

referred

separately.
some
for which

libraries

36

leaves

been

simply

included

will

so

his

unaccounted
200, were
turned up within
those

library,
has a loss

Massachusetts,
but

year

books."

Miilicent

is not

to another

the

that

effect

through

misplaced

tracing
The

department
of
close

figures

given.
all
As we

hard

in different

to make

comparisons.

just method
both
ages,
use,

and

library.

of

to the

issue

to

the number

If

library

ways,
But

and

keep
it is

the most

in percent
for home
of books
loss

stating

loses
a year
volumes
300,000

volumes
ing

know,

records

their

libraries

different

is

of volumes

in the

30,000
circulating
one circulat
3 books,
30 books
can
lose

The

loss per
in every
in

stated

losses

this

the problem
is no question

the

most

to

subject

the figures
re
general
in un
is heaviest

volumes

newspapers?cer
of

shelves.

open

of magazines
suffer
are
Art books
books.

reference

cially

reported

books

of

and

the

finer

are

sort

this

or

illustrated

usually
In

shelves.

guarded

also,
espe
on

kept
a

few

has
of mutilation
been
epidemic
and
in both Wil
to an
individual,
was
the individual
and Hartford,

an

cases
traced
mington

and

discovered
from

ports

serious

in this way

loss

where

Angeles,

by imprisonment.
none
re
libraries

punished
these
two

Aside

the

damage

Los
except
for a single
shelf library)

closed
(in a supposedly
Mutilation
is estimated
at $1000.
seems
of circulating
books
mass
year

shelf

marking
In several
verse

the

public

and

here

authorities

for

same

the

about

or

cal

The

Bound

closed

our

simplify

practice.
of mutilation

and
magazines
a
not
question

and

But

between

rivalry

to future

tainly

bound

some

gained.

of comparison
is to
factors
that can

unsatisfactory.
that mutilation

is

port

of

so

and

eliminated,
as

On

cases

those

be

be

individual

to find common

culations
are

of

conditions

may

use

the only
us

will

that
in

except
local

stating

on

closed

are

the
volumes,
is the same?one

given,
by

enable
be

of a large library in which the books are

in active

libraries
where

libraries;

and

and

volumes,

60,000

of stock

sent

3
losing
one
the

library

for reasons
library.
Nor,
to all, are
clear
the names

there
is

library

10,000

are
in such
given
per
therefore,
are given
and no figures
of the
centages,
in a given
of books
lost
actual
number

reor
because

if the

6,000

volumes.

or
one

every

paper,

light

inventories,

to attempting

objections

"My

30 has

send

for years
inventory
One
library?Cincin

complete
made.
not

the

has

losing
volume
2000

for

And

books

Each

increase.

volume

to users.

to

unable

because

figures,

li

Six of the

of this paper.

value

larger

and

courtesy

questionnaire-besieged
is due
answered
mine,

who

brarians

whole

to the

and

general,
of the

patience

real

any
one

is

libraries,
done
away

as

any
from

or

schools

note-books
has

led

cooperation

should

certainly

of the practice.
tinuance
the
of catching
difficulty
a further
comes
usually

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All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

the

to
as

be
for

or
cutting
the library.
of pictorial

the marking

places
scrap
the

shelf

open

in

in

required
to mutilation,
of

the

school

a con
prevent
the initial
After
delinquent

there

difficulty

in con

LORD
is seri
him or her that the matter
vincing
fine
ous.
of a money
The mere
payment
an insuffi
the cost of the book?is
?say
cient

be made

should

public
general
the seriousness

the

of

member

Every

punishment.

realize

to

237

librarian

are

are

boys,

who

difficulties.

leader

us

Let
as

consider

now

we

have

to which
36

these

the

are

factory,
losses
either

or

given,

the

dren's

room
a

runs

unsatis

so

in

chil

the

they are
in the chil

as

far
loss

of

percentage

report
and
a whole

loss

of

percentage
rooms.
But

dren's

as

circulation

the

to circulation
proportion
than that in the adult
higher
in

little

to the num
in proportion
runs yet
in the collection

and
department,
ber of volumes

are
thus taken
all the books
But
higher.
not stolen
in any but a strained
interpreta
who
has had
tion of that term,. Everyone
with

that

child

that

often

takes

off without
proudly
And
done wrong.

walks
having
is no

reason

he
have

should
and

way,
fear

of

he

"the

usually
cop"

mates

are

so

sneak

the

book

table,

and

he
it.

or destroy
library

and

probably
taken

feel

guilty.
that
discovers

becomes

whose

in

this

terrified

for

book

services

to promise.
ready
and
leave
back

often

does.

Occasionally
explains,

Or
he

his

play

He
it

he may
comes

sometimes

may
on

to the

Also

this
a

is

kind

of

particular
habit
to be
or

recommended,
it is a fact that

either

even

toler
do

may

boy

without

this variety

of

of daring-do

library

to his moral
character.
injury
he repents
later.
The Dayton

serious

of years
ago, had
library, a couple
public
a note
a package
of books
returned
with
several
that
from a young
saying
man,
other boys said,
before
he and some
years
"Let's

down

go

books."

were
was

note

his

to

the

into

for

figures
occur

to
a

in

way

little more
The

actual

Institute

free

library

what

show

of

city whose

all

little
What

the

life

develops
do we

any

are

There
come

any

the

go

out

given
and

at

the

used
taking

is very

elsewhere

2000

room.
for

like, and
so far as

their
are
the

this.

Dur

July

1907,

there

165,860

inventory

This content downloaded from 194.29.185.104 on Sun, 25 May 2014 04:54:56 AM

All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

chil
They

do

estimate,
room.
There

use
of

of

lots

there

over

they

the

for home

who

new

shelves

the
all

the five years

ending
at a very moderate
who

to

claim
impossible

responsibility.
room?
children's

for books
respect
can
of the room
librarians

children

of

always

children

the

taught

were,

is

child

time

use
to

most

of

in the

browse

books,

the

one

actually

freely,

own

do

at

who

dren

It

sense

losses

the
is

population
no real
has

of

of

section

communities?a

continually
to assimilate,
and

in

in

are

There

that

kind

room

and which
shifting
of community.
the name
to know
all
personally
come.

closely

occur.

children's

difficult
great

and

the very

steal

is significant.

the Pratt

serve

will

later,

returned,
worded

a
inquire
as they
losses

the

and

awoke
but

let us

But

Library

conscience

His

the books

ing
a

hide

accom

commended,
but
ated,

the

"doing"

is not

This

children

sense
of
any
there
of course

should

he

why

however,
not

Later,

seeing

who,

in
quite
taking books home,
and
or two himself
a book

children

other

nocently

in any
large
a child un

many
of the room

in the use

trained

room

comes

there

community

because
library"
the same
thing.

doing

children's

to every

But

he

are

and

suggestible,

"a

takes

he

knows

the mass"

all

is above

children

other

"in

children

to deal

and
to win

Occasionally

libraries

offense,

harmed.

almost
invariably
children,
The
for pure
steal
prestige.
is expected
to dis
set of boys

enough

laurels.

a deed

the

repeat

seriously

if

in the

the

of a

hard

that

harm

intended

not

is not

prowess,

play

any

question.

unfortunately

so many

because

"cultivating

important

very

the figures

given,

the

steal

of

view

of

point
is a

criminals"
Here

to

children
the
of
question
comes
to mind
this,
first, and

naturally
from

as

find

who

those

of

personality
The
books?

we

can

what

libraries

the

of theft,
the question
data.
From
fuller

many
and
in error,

way
not
do

the child

books

that

have
and

there

then

chil

Every

parent.

knows

this

taken

the children
beginning

offense.

the

troubled

by

dren's

as
Here,
with
later, a prose
theft, to be dealt with
of future
cution
is the best
preventive
of

panied

5000
were

volumes,
for

these

MINNETONKA

238
five

were

there

years

196

volumes

miss

that

the

37 volumes.

to be

average

is a

That

divided

small

2000

among

was

loss

yearly

little

number

every book was

deliberately
taken,
though
we are certain
which
is not the case.
Of
the

26

196,

ence
new

of such

copies

from

disappeared
These

shelves.

were

refer

the

nice

bright
as the

books

attractive

and they were

too great
fairy tales,
Lang
a temptation,
and also,
owing
apparently,
were
of
the
conditions
to
the
room,

the

corner

in a

shelved
under
that

the

in

books

are

do

a book

this with
card.

bership
doors

case

tractive

a place
and
needed,

about

on

placed
the time

the

These
completed.
a
little
but
says,
sign
of the
like to read
any
was

ventory
locked,
would

they
take
not

a mem

last

in
not

"If

you
in
books

take
Do
not
at the desk.
ask
case,
In the
asking."
any of the books without
doors were
since
those
put up
glass
year
so
we have not lost a book from this case,
this

we

that

from
Does

circulating

that

indicate
sure

feel quite
to

children

one

or two

such
loss
bag

cases

children.
29 were
or

pocket.

collection
a

is
per
was
number

large

prac

reference
year
32.
of

2000 children? And we

that

not

loss

average

the

thieves among

problem
children's

the

for

The

collection.

our

that

feel
solved

tically

some

books

have

Of
little

the

196

books,

gone

in
as
all,
or caught
total
volumes

Librarians

easy

to slip

generally
seems
there

with

into
re

rea
this difficulty, and
port
and
books
Rabbit"
the "Peter
son to keep
where
a
they
case,
in
like
special
their
But with a loss like this
can be guarded.

their

out

may

en

rule

per
rule

Boston
16

under
at

after

card

the
new

books

for overdue

Wadlin

elastic

of
the resumption
The
of non-use.
period
of children
in the case

report

points

fine"

mits

fines

Mr

library,
and

for

held

last

subject,

"permanent
a more
theft when

How
illegiti

are

the

the

how

this

cards
In

public
this

is
we

yet

to fines.
in

books

fines?

of

as

here

because

way

And

bad!

take

children

one.

usual

the

non-payment
of the Boston

cancels

the

end

of

six months.
Mr Wadlin

says:

in the
the
rule, many
change
of cards
had
lost
who
the use
re
of fines have
the non-payment
through
At one
115
them.
claimed
large Branch,
a single
were
within
thus re-issued
cards
on
these
fines
The
month.
unpaid
this
of
but much
to
amounted
$36.09,
never
have
been
would
paid.
probably
115 young
there were
In this one instance
use
of
home
of
the
deprived
persons
without
books
they yielded
limit, unless
them
to obtain
to the temptation
irregu
shelves."
larly from the open
"Since
children

On

at

registered
traced
we have

non-commu
community?or
that our case
fact means

the

it very
is a question

There

than
of volumes,
we attribute

This

libraries.

feel

cannot

all

books?

community

respect

to number

and

courage

glass
the at

are

free

difficult

deals

privilege

loss

in most

many

the
with

that the
understood
clearly
in the Pratt
is greater
to
in relation
both
library,

be
of

circulation

mate

to

thine,

percentage
Institute

clearly

where

seemed

Here

was
guarding
were
therefore

extra

on

obtainable

not

and because
part of the library,
cannot
take them out regularly,
they
when
"for keeps"
them
they would
real

and

nity?but
worse
than

idea

of the pleasure,
of contact

or training
chil
thieves,
of
have
little sense
naturally

property?
It should

it is

shelves,

training

who

dren,

in barring
de
and

justified

the

education

we

Are

from

them

the

to our

to keep
of

curious

corner

that

and

feel

would

children

priving

some

Moreover,
a
to have

seem

children

difficult

rather

observation.

the

mine

even

children,

who

stated,

are sure to reappear,

Of these many
ing.
as we
know
from the experience
of pre
as
vious
but let us take
the figures
years,
so
This
loss
is for five years,
they are.
over

CONFERENCE

when

the

pledge,
are

we

tion.
any
be

from

then
helping

If a
fine

clearly
the
"join

period

of

is to be held
that may
stated

be

a definite
to break

them

in their
an

incurred,

to the children

library."

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All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

it,

educa

moral

six months
as

that

said

be

children

the

allow

and
not

of a card

it must

side

other
exact

we

non-use

to
equivalent
this should
when

they

LORD
But

time

elder

not make

the

do.

children

I am

been

with

as many

way

they
in

books,

as

collection,
in the figures of

is
to give
the percentage
the older people,
since, as has
of libraries
been
said, a number

about

ready

not keep

here

figures
the

are

given

circulation,
in the
of volumes
lections

and

the figures
the

do

number

col
Reference
library.
are
but not
included,
use.
A separation
of reference
for

collection

is

of

and

books

adult

desirable,

highly

the statistics

is not, with

classes

three

the

children's

books,

circulating
but

total

the

at hand,

prac

of

danger
depends
but on

hinted,

as

I have
loss, as
on
not
the size

the

library,
American
The
from
ing
seems
to

of the

size

habit
one

of
in a
in

grows

already
the

of

community.

to

civic

to

This,

the
as

on

of

part

the

in

great
if anything,
to

Indeed,

is very

the

little,
The

the

city
foster

with
dealing
of one
of
thus
individuals
deprived
form of
of a
social
benefits
great

this

feeling.

the
the

library,

in the
community,
large
living, has
not,
of personal
the
acquaintance
advantage
one
reasons
For
these
all its users.
with
would
as
a

expect

the

the

result

would

for consideration
result

was

expected.
tirely

what
But

defeated.

in size,

grows

community
be

a very
of our
the

to

losses

library

increase
and

The

The

range

in percentages,
Let
way.
traordinary
to
loss
of
centage

of

varies

pressed

me

present
circulation

were

en

loss,
in an

ex

ex

the per
in

four

figures

the

for closed
for

books
or

shelf

the

otherwise

the

of the

adult

col

stated.

So

are

are

the

of

not
of

percentages
the library.

taken
U.

of

order

the

community,

of

of

Statistics

in

given

the

tion

are

population
report

access

free

collection.

in 1907. The

1905, published
loss

of

basis

Special
of census:

Bureau

but
"closed",
as carefully

made

circulating

for

figures

or

"open"
been

the

from

S.

cities,

figures of
of

the

size

the

loss

library, and
to the circula

1 Cities of over 300,000

.09%
.07%

shelf

Open
as

.09%
.3%

.09%

.16%

Open

.33%
b

.03%
a

.48%

Open

shelf

.08%
those

and

collec

accessible

Losses:

.53%

.01%

25,000 and under

100,000
shelf
libraries.
Losses:

.08% .15%

.39%

Library

.38%

libraries,

small

.002%

.17%
b

.42%

shelf

over

Cities

.06% (includes chil

1.34%

Closed
tions.

those
collec

and under
100,000
300,000
shelf
libraries.
Losses:

with

.09%

accessible

Losses:

.01%

books)
over
Cities

and

libraries,

small

tions.
dren's

are

.17%
.17%
.18%
(children's room only)

shelf

Closed
with

.03%

losses

libraries,

follows:

.15%
.39%
b

such
basis

comfortable

expectations

on

possible

to the bulk

a
Such
problem.
of this paper
compiler

such

library
has

decision

sense

the

diminish

responsibility,

individual.
there

to

tends

inhabitants,

call

to

ratio

geometrical

The

include

libraries

unless

only,

restricted

very

accessible.

the

gether with the impossibility of any share

in the civic life by the great mass of the
of

shelf

another?

numbers.

books

run a
shelf
little
open
figures
are
than
for adults.
higher
they actually
It is not always
to know whether
easy
that

"moving"?chang

habitation

increase

city

for open

of the

tical.
The

of

lections

al

losses

figures

reference

for

closed
number

with

those

and

open
shelves,
a
or with
shelves,

li

into

group

with

com

of the

size

each

too

of

and

total

the

dividing

loss

the
loss, and
the total
loss,

statistics

separate

and

for children,
but those
restricted
are
libraries

for

high

of

of the

stated,

to

according

munity,
braries

when

and

And

groups,

and mothers,

already

to circulation

proportion

children

the

fathers

behave
brothers,
with
the freedom

and

presented
As has

library?
do

their

do

sisters

they are

to consider

lacks

How

longer.

288

with
collection.

(includes

.07%
small

very

Losses:

children's

.06%
open
.05%

room)

4 Small communities (under 25,000)

All

.09%
tically

open

.09%

shelf

.002%

libraries.

Losses:

.04% and one prac

nothing.

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The
ranges,

loss, then,
in open

books

in every

for

every

cities

In

culated.
this

9 to 17 in every
closed

the
the

group
in

volumes

loss

every

of

from

to
The

circulated.

In cities between 100,000 to 300,000 the

in

Denver

10,000.
lost
shelves

every

open

is

000, and
there was
the

library.

any
of

same

the

in every
Fall

of

larger

that

from

ranges

of any
not

shelf

open

that

equaling

group

li
of

in a

have

regular

consequently
the heaviest

building

Angeles,
are

difficult,

Mr

Lummis,
by notices

"the

simple,
does

not

the

stacks

coats."

cord

about

seems

doubtful,

if Los

Angeles

under
can

below

head
into

the

cir

be

con

10,000,

in every

the

(39
low

we

find

There

10,000.

In

the

other
is a

building
being

guarding
has one

of

to have

population
to over

80,000

can

explanation
three

least

at

the

it, for
about

from

What

great

impossible.

be

libraries

the

of

proper
Haven

difficulty,
New

and
is soon
losses,
heavy
lessen
that
will
losses,
building
are
fulfilled.
if expectations
Wilmington
one

some

these

and

for

hopes

losses

The

day.

better

in

two

building
li

the

of

on an ususual
somewhat
depend
a local con
of irresponsible
users,
It would

to combat.

hard

dition

require

to

conditions
and
of losses
study
reasons
in full.
If the librarians

detailed
give
these

could

collections

be

it would

losses
all

of
of

an

analysis
value
great

give

of very

to

libraries.
in open
of the mean
loss,
in
valuable
is especially
libraries,
with
of the few libraries
exception
the
In the first group
losses.
high

statement

A
shelf
view
ally
mean

second
last

in the
libraries

33

range
and

ranges
as near

from

17

Denver)

the

the first, sec

Taking
in the six
the losses

groups

losses
the high
range
having
to 48 in every
circulated;
10,000

losses;

these

circulated;

10,000

(omitting

4.

group

third

and

central

group

is 33; in the third group it is 15;

mean
ond

in every

is 17

loss

in the

seven

their

good

it

within

barely

explain

300,000.

to
where,
was
very

out thieves, who

dodge
keep
under
tuck
books
and

out

keeps

18

range

given?

from

but

It

cumstances,

and

and

loss

not

ity does

of

conditions

closing

been

patrons,

This

high.

the

and

This

shelves.

closed

where

quote

raid,

now,

with

library

is at Los
the

suffered

which

of Denver,

case

for five years

closed
is

the

hut

group,

figure

figures

number

loss,

that

shelves

whose

six

the

In

of cities

group

ditions

braries

the

third

in the local con

surely be something
of
some
of this group
to explain
The
size of the commun
losses.
large

must

from

group

in the

the heavi

loss

Angeles'

occur

next

the

ranges

in this group.

aside
Setting
to have
seems

first

loss

two books
perhaps
to
but
are definitely
they expect
missing,
of
loss
Gloversville's
find
them,
through
circulated
up to nine
two to every
100,000
shelf
are no closed
There
in every 10,000.
libraries

the

25,000

thousand.

the

of

(48 and 39 in every 10,000) in the second

group (42, 38 and 33 in every 10,000) and in

from

library
is
that of the children's
room,
including
five in every 10,000.
communities
of small
In the last group
from Fair
the loss ranges
25,000)
(under
statement

losses

cities

this

of

shelf

haven's

est

has
of

the open-shelf
ten
in every

48

to

closed

loss

is the proud
record
a
in every
10,000,

53

to

third

to 100,000
six

the
group
which

100,000,

the

In

of

period

to every 10,
as
the loss
separately,
so far as I know,
and,

though
to-day,
as stated.

Denver

42

to

eight
its

loss sustained
by
proportionate
libraries
shelf
In the closed

River,
loss than

brary

in

134 volumes

stated

unusual

largest

from

lose

libraries

shelf

open

side

either

in every
Dropping
10,000).
est loss here of 38 in every

here.

steadier

on

argument

from Los

Aside

largest
10,000 cir

libraries

shelf

ranges
10,000

is much

average

The

an

sidered
question.

to 39 books

circulated

circulated.

10,000

300,000
from
7

libraries,

10,000

from

vary

of over

in cities
shelf

CONFERENCE

MINNETONKA

240

as we
varying
group,

in every

from
15

six

to

central

the

to 18.

can

nine

group
It would

in
of
seem

to a deduction

come

their
seven
that
from

be to take this
figures would
is
loss of which
the mean
10,000

It so happens?and

circulated.
I give

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All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

you

my

word

LORD
that

I had

that

this

of

no hand

in making
it happen?
in the last inventory
Institute
free library, and an

the

is

the Pratt
of

analysis
the

loss

classes

quite

list

of

some

be

are
at

this

reduced

so

vol

the

by

now

that

in
dis

be

now.
But
under
that noted
tinctly
that the books
is no reason
to suppose
discovered
will
be in one class more

there

free

has

the

library

of
inventory
taken at the same

*he

two

library
The
detail.

some

was

months

1907?but

31,
half.

covered

found
course

of persons

children's

missing
were
volumes

five

these

reference

erence

room,

science

reference

general

from
We

and

the periodicals
were
probably

taken

never
should
They
None
shelves.
of
much

seven

money

the

volumes
three

and

text-books.
loss
The
cheap
to about
1900 people
every

and

value.

left on

been

value,

Of

guarded.
were
rare

other

418

loss

volumes.

for

the
The

201,487.
period was
to the circulation

rest of

in

loss

is as

follows:
Vols.

of circulation
of

then
was

in
at

38

proved
by the
sufficiently
24 libraries
detailed
giving

were

heaviest

loss

the

largest

the

here.

Scientific

during

low,
the

the
rate

loss

that

loss

the 24 other

adult

collection

est

and

in pure

in applied

science
libraries

proportionate

loss

its

technical
science
10,000
(600)
also

have

in these

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All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

loss
cir

difficulty
fact that of
of

figures

the

number
has

of 60 for every

this

of

the
10,000

number?seven?had

proportionate
one library

using

was

the importance
class,
at once.
The highest
falls

where
philology
(400),
rate of 104 for every
That
this is no unusual

Yet

library

of percentage

in each

class.

the

order

the

culated.
is

in the

shifts

losses

volume
de

of be

(in closed stack)

if stated

the

percentage
the

course

in the

returned.

is one

circulation
The

But

open
were

partments.
The

taking,
are
books

shelf

418

went

for their money

have

room

volumes
now

inventory
closed

are

that

missing

the Applied
reason

on al
books
they were
a few
within
disappeared
the time they disappeared

properly
three volumes

these

have

last

this

Biography

Foreign

ref

as

person,

subjects

seven
room.

six of

the Art

from

at
Also,
days.
not
the room was

of

the

from

six

and

that

to believe
lied

of
Of

thirty.

from the periodical

library, eight
from the collection
of U. S. gov

sets, four
ernment
documents,

to one

de
room)

number

The
was

books

reference

July

reference

the

the
(excluding
was
of the Library
56,875.

partments

shelf

we

library

is probable

Fiction 119
000 6
100 14
200 12
300 20
400 10
500 30
600 60
700 22
800 63
900 19

of

year and a
total recorded

the

the

the
it

in the

detailed

The

time?

ending

of

and

issued

one

only

using

in the open

in

of
but

portion

and
ing

the

10,
358, or 18 to every
those
from
the
shelves;
shelves
60, or at the rate

portion

to guess,

of

the

loss

closed

unable

in

from

25,000
lost

of the circulation.
10,000
every
from
was
so much
heavier

the

Why
the

thus

given
the rest

half

time

this

During

number

and

closed

for

than

been

already

the

68

greater
will
be

so that the losses as now given

in another,
The
should
still be significant.
inventory
Insti
room
of the children's
of the Pratt
tute

circulation

from
of

inventory

the inventory
during
our final loss will

found

000

the

were

shelves

and

volumes

The

is a

volumes

35,000

roughly

shelves

open
stack.

thousand

collection

circulating

with

one,

ten

to every

twenty
Our

parallel
on
the
open

We

that

way,

about

is thus

circulated.

closed

libraries,

obtainable.

the

missing

in

compared

in other

by

materially

progress,

us

give
will

figures

sure,

books

be

umes

by

those

are
will

loss may
These

far as

so

this

facts.

teresting
with

loss

241

in

this

lightest

loss

science

fol

(500)

being

at

sent out, and

58.
Seven
of
their heavi
two

classes,

in

and

have

libraries

two

while

no

two

out

Fourteen

science.

lose, most
comes
next,

with

lightest here,
in pure
lost
libraries

Literature
of 38.

loss

loss

24

the

of

100-600.

in

its heaviest

has

their
were

books

CONFERENCE

MINNETONKA

242

library

two

their

lightest. The fine arts (700) follow close

no

36, and

with

while

est,
works

one

in

and

four

follows

In

to every

class.

lightest,
Philos

the

the

libra

in two

and

circulated,

10,000

the

of 28 volumes

at the rate

loss

loss,
loss.

largest

proportionate
in three no
and

lightest,

(300) loses 24, and proves the

Sociology

in one

loser

most

serious

est

in another,

no

and

the
library,
in two.
loser

light
His

in no

the most

shows

library

serious

and

15

loser,
in no
Fiction,

chief
and

Biography
is the heaviest

loses

11
only
shows
library
in seven
loss,
loses

none

the

loser,

two

in

in this

last

loses

lightest

and

lightest

(910)

library

to

every

the

is without
free

from

the

and

which
The
but

may

not many.

in text-books,
man,

three

in Hebrew.
such
stack,

books
as

in having

for the

one
in Ger
in English,
one in Greek,
and one
in Latin,
to guard
decided
have
We
two

by placing
is no

them

on

them
particular
the open

in the

closed
A

the

from

reported
where

have

always

The

the

Atlanta,

answer

precau

special

in the

theft

against

books

technical

of
library
is used
stamp

Carnegie

library

Insti

Drexel
the book.
throughout
freely
this method,
tute
is also
trying
cases

this

it is too
a

be

will

books

ly that most
than
rather
a man

possession
name
of
most

are

Institute

and

may

The

trigonometry.
like the
treated
be

rest

through
the

60

on

al

if this
lost

seven

library,
school

or

college

in algebra,
Such

language

geome
are

books

text-books,

asked
only by being
in science
loss
the

almost

every

went

number
science

In applied
to

those

This content downloaded from 194.29.185.104 on Sun, 25 May 2014 04:54:56 AM

All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

by

were

for.

had
of

lost

the

bearing

science

in pure
free
of high
books

in mathematics
and

to have

volume

method.

30 books

grade?standard
try
now

use
likely
in his

library
public
will
Time
tell

page.

advisable
the

clear

personal
it seems

and
sale,
hesitate
would

every

shows

for

for

character

The
stolen

taken

illegally
the Blank

in

but

learn whether

to

early

deterrent.

technical

the

sification.

advantage
shelves.

books

al
impressions,
in reporting
technical
text books"
and "school

general

a difficulty,
second.
close

the Pratt

children.

in propor
in philology
some
librarians,
surprise
all but one
loss was
This

there

is

Of

readers",

re

not

any

Librarians,

came

is an

disappeared

younger

loss

heavy
to use,

tion

for

well

speaks

12

only

library,

have

were

unanimous

that
in

lightest

loss.

"Books

ing
most

loss.

expect

from

of

Of all the books lost in the Pratt Insti

tute

must

nothing.

proportionate
and

shows

we

loses

other,
in no

we

method

supply
in any abundance
books
ing of technical
new
and
is a comparatively
development,
is educated,
until
that particular
"public"

loser,

10,000,

greatest
the

in

is

man"

other

shelves

open

but

would

shelves

any

and

the

large

books,

"technical

by

access,

from

the

at

which
except
"pocket
books",
on the closed
been
shelves.

both

if in no

record,

free

by

moved

had

the open
The

to

in a
kept
on request.

technical

served

inquirer.

are

be

many

attention

expected

and

ends.

so well

not

13, and
in two is

loss.

library

the

no

the

is

no

Travel

in

is

again
in one

has

three

loss.

is no

there

be

from

our

defeat

tion

loss, while in one it is the lightest and in

two

removal

books

tory (900 except 910) offers a loss of 21,

and

here

as

Religion
libraries

two

it is
in one
here,
is no loss at all.

shows
two

in

is

there

can

and
may

in scientific

loss

the

calls

text-books

place

surprise

to

the

by

in?never

shelves

that

quickly
book

"good

chosen

be

brought

the

fact

special

loss

there

shows

ries

this

in

all

the
libraries

can

as

quite
and a

volumes

the

be

at

notice

No

34,
the

show

also

four

in nine

33, and

lose

shelves)
libraries

24

and

with

in three

ophy

closed

the

is heaviest

loss
and

in

on

of

here,
lightest
at
is no
loss

General

it

loss.

heaviest

the heavi

finds

finds

and

(000,

this

lightest.

library

or

had

shelves

in Latin"

librarian,
?can
all
the

be

closed

to help

(800)

One

and

here,

the

from

can

book

definite

of

the

four

runs
clas

out

interested

of
in

LORD
health

and

some

by

to

eight

five to those attracted

hygiene,
of domestic
and
science,
drawn
and
those
by typewriting
branch

The

stenography.
a
school
in

helped

this

probably
now
we

and
item,
on special
shelves,
but not otherwise.

request,
loss is heavy?63.
were
12 were
poetry,

18 volumes
18 were
and

Latin

now

has

school

books
A

shelves.
were

those

in books
the

in

used

class

general

of

the

the

closed

other

books

schools.
the

games

and

sports,

volumes

which

In

loss

arts

is

the

only

responsible
heavy
loser,
for two, so
music
volumes,
are
to art, strictly
seven
kept
in religion
The
is a sad
loss

speaking.

in order

one?the

fifth

the

common

is

to

rians

loss

in

one,

clerical

and

clergy
school

some

of

Of

plain.

twelve
loss

volumes
of

the

lost

all

was

But

the
of

volume

The
Abbott's
worship".
Lyman
"Family
one might
to get, by cruel
be forced
Bible
or college,
and one might
conceiv
school
a more
save
at
20 cents
by stealing
ably
edition

tractive
that

sum.

ume

of

seems

that

largely

of

books

though

the

teller"
good

the

in religion
to
useful

in here
does

latter might

why

close,
the

century

and

is

student,
fortune

of the
by permission
of
the "Secret
and

classification,
memory"

And

question
the
philosophy

In

"Twentieth

creeps

Decimal
that

for
buy
steal a vol

could
one

could

unanswerable.
crowds

one

than
how

to use?
family prayers
Either
them if not to use?

steal
loss

But

the
cause

same.
its user

the

in travel

and

Would
to re

instructions,

volumes

of

fairy

separate

in

398.2

and

is

largely

in books

high

school

students,

loss
and

the

is from the Adiron

range
over

to the West,

dacks

Russia

to Siberia,

Syria.

In biography

Jacob

comes

Abbott

to the
Har

"David

with

again,

rison's

Crockett",
makes
Cromwell"

"Oliver

one

smile a bit at the short shrift its subject

to a
given
a library.

have

would
were

running

and

are

reason

special

losses
a

only

and

perhaps

Balzac's

few

the other

far

shelves.
and

wide,

one

that

finds

Two

Daudet's
skin",
and
Lamartine's

"Magic

Nivernaise"

Belle

"Auto

of Cha
copies
to a study of
"Atala"
points
of a
and
the need
"trot",
for.

French,

"Fior

range

if he

thief

loss, and
the closed

from

went

fiction
there

book

Maimon's

is a curious

biography"
two volumes

"La

were

five

in their

keep

to college

teaubriand's

Sunday

volumes of the Temple Bible!

strangest

high

legal,
do not

398.4.

The

responsible
probably
some
is hard
to ex

But

it.

libra

of

we

four

are

Two

are

two

of

eight

of those

to behave"?and

enough

which

and

books,

religious

students.

are

teachers

It

of

habit

a comparatively
is everywhere
absent-mindedness
to
the

which

for

the

lay

seriousness.

of

courteous

far

quite

claims
and

books.

kindergarten
are on "how

front

is

gone,

missing

evidently?and

here.
several

by

for four more

that

three

fact,

in
spiritualism",
and
is the most

education

sociology
20 volumes

useful

out

belonging

is reported

In

In history

large

nine

is
volumes,
book
lost.

tales,

other

the

two
costly

go

the

class

like

on

of fine

22 missing

Photography,
as
libraries

treated

put
of

number

last

This

been

and

of

is a hopeful

in ethics, which
missing
but Podmore's
"Modern

are

drama,

Not a title is

member to bring it back!

the

this

Of

translations

classics.

Greek

of books

or

texts

of

vicinity
has

literature

and

of

class

on

accessible
The

last

of this

books

keep

immediate

commerce

of

248

in the

went

d'Aliza"

same

direction.

of
of loss to the number
percentage
in the library
volumes
higher
is, of course,
as the latter
than that to the circulation,
The

the larger figure.

is not
of the figure

is always
nificance

that

natural

the

from

loss

in

The

size.
in

the

makes

reference
some

comparatively
the

figures

collections
small

for the

appear

of
as

circulation,
were

library

collection
the circulating
the case.
But
be

not

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All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

to

relation

of books

in the number

libraries

of

varies

circulation

proportionate

variation

sig
It is

library with a cir

what
it is for the

be for the
30,000 should
culation
of 200,000
twice
And
library of 100,000.
enormously

the

But

so great.
a collection

the

library
a

having

if

when
given

for

this would
alone,
as many
libraries

not

could

give
are

centages
to the

244

MINNETONKA

the separate

the per
figures,
as were
those

here

computed,
of total

circulation,
losses
then range

The
every

to

loss

stock.

271 volumes

from

CONFERENCE

record
of Los
exceptional
10,000?the
four volumes
of every
100,000,
In the group
River.
of Fall
record
of
of over

cities
in

loss

the

from

180 volumes

with

a mean

braries

of

38

in

In

the

mean

to 23 out
In
to

loss

the
to

271

from

ranges

100,000.

every

libra

shelf

open

15

10,000,
li
shelf

closed

in

15

group

from

the

is

libraries

of every

the

group

10,000

second

with

volumes

libra
in the closed
shelf
61, and
to 4 in every
from 31 in every
10,000
of

ries

100,000.
In the
and

to 16

third

last

already

a mean

124

of

25,

in

libraries

loss

these
as

to me

loss

compared
to use.

losses,

they

significant
of percentage
of
tear

and

considered

The

heavy.

every

10,000,

in

loss

books?

this
old
And

for

sale?

These

Only

an

one

discarding

in

the

two

years

of

43

libraries

many

as
be

in

would

long

first, were
is no reason

occasional
money

come

we
excursion,
Who

took

question:

they taken
to suppose

volume

value

of

those

to make

enough

be likely to keep the habit up, and his

would
probably
depredations
such
noticeable
way.
Also,
because
to get caught,
likely
if sold.

The

in some

show
a

thief
his

answers

is more

spoils

are

obtained

recovered
of

estate

the

through

on metallurgy
19 books
taken
by a
police
man
in the manufacture
of count
engaged
erfeit money;
Kansas
lost all books
City
on

and

York

several

one

or

heavy?was
York

public
to be

In
of

order

some

sell,

stealing
warn

all

more
vicinity,
return
books.
such

of books
is

the

libraries

to

dealers

the

the number

the

shows

this

is

loss
the New

in their

dealers

second-hand
expect

and

library,

in

time

fairly regular.
to guard
against
to

books

the
inven

daily
the

which
for

from
of one

generally
A

varied.

kept

brief

the work

But

group.

and
is steady
of Yiddish?in

the New

suffered

have
to be

believed

persons
tory

in
of

library

public

loss

history
branches

American

South

period;

insignificant
once
recovered

not

recovered

Utica

woman;

those

If counted
would

ceased

depredations

Buffalo
by one man;
the
from
of fiction

taken

ii5 volumes

But

there
and
to steal
it pay
it, so to speak,
are many
of good money
volumes
safe
value
to sell would
on the shelves.
One
stealing

traceable

umes

seem

more.

so.

has

with

for
library
this
direction

and

show

after
Now,
to our
back

not

free

Institute

shows

do

figures

the

and

could
the thief or thieves
before
suddenly
80 vol
New Haven
recovered
be detected.

small

from the zero

ranges
78 to every 100,000 of
through
I have
65.
As
to 13, 41 and

stated,

missing

of

group
the

Gloversville,

these

60,000

is from

lost only 106

library
or a little over 10 per

100,000,

communities,
of Fairhaven,

doubtless

few months,

loss

10,000.
In the

Pratt

loss

with

10,000,
shelf

closed

of every

between

group?cities
open shelf

in every
the

wear

have
and
usually
stealing,
Scranton
lost $150 of
culprit.
room within
a
from the reference
of

the

caught
books

epidemics,

100,000?the

while
out

this

the range

shelf

open

of 88.

every
lose

ries

inhabitants

300,000

from

loss of
show
little
questionnaire
A few libraries
have had notable

the
sort.

this

epidemics

to

Angeles?to
the

from

is

returned

thus
cases.

most

Somerville

stolen
by
hundred,
thus regained
City has
back
from 25 to 50 a
gets
100, Cleveland
25 a year,
and
York
Now
perhaps
year;
Cincinnati's
libraries
other
few or none.
one

thief.

several

Kansas

Mr Hodges
seems
says:
experience
typical.
to me especially
"Your
seems
per
question
second
in touch with
do keep
tinent. We
book

hand

dealers.

these

in

dealers,
not

it does
them, and
a year
that
once

our

close

touch

is no money

There

with

than
oftener
happen
are offered
to
books
in steal

is
there
ing
no temptation
for fairly
people
intelligent
are
taken
to steal
the books
by
them;
books

from

public

library,

When
and by children.
persons
ignorant
are taken by children,
the books
they soon
or they are
turn up at the public
schools,
thrown
such

away

stealings

in

the

come

streets.
to us

four or five months."

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All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

Reports

perhaps

once

of
in

LORD
If the

books

for use,

are

kinds

not

are

who

takes

for

taken

them?
the

undoubtedly

number

of all

chief

from

sinners.

uni
college
students,
students,
a
those
students,
music,
studying

versity

and?in
some
places
number?those
who
large
for civil service
examinations.

formidably

are

preparing

trade

it seems

hard

in
or a

"Cranford"

to

order
volume

another

question
took
individuals

many
That

is an

it not
one

one?

If not,

the

the

feel

all

stole

that
are

volumes?

Would

too

that

thieves?granting
and
consciously,

which

too much?is

thief

by the freedom granted

are the 12,917 others

And

from the shelves

because
kept away
moral
of the 83?
obliquity
word
One
about
the
accuracy
of
figures
the volumes
sure

to

1905

the

120

of

proportion

all
of

exception

of those

library
inventory,
been
time to clear

the

here
figures
given
of the
1905 inventory
a
free
taken
library was

at

before
the

volumes

of

reported
Fourteen

port

of

their

next

last

the

the

time

reappeared.
the number
to

of the

The

a half
and

last
not

and

Institute
and

to be

given
inventory
and all
the figures

are, with
for the
has

in the

in a

reappear,

up the scores,
are too large.

ventory,
of the

certain

missing

given

Pratt

loss.

for Denver,
so that there

year

that

of a loose moral
of people
in a community?
Is there
to suppose
any one of the 83 was

library?

volumes

last
the

(1907)

in

latter,

50

missing
libraries
missing
and

inventory,

questions

in

the

of

them

should

al

be

librarians

of

to put

and

an

who
seemed

al

that

it is

opinion

as Miss

the matter

Bur

are

there
rule, will
The
propor

the

shelf-reading."
to errors
due

perfect
of loss

tion

the question
regarding
comes
millenium

the

people

perfect
a

the

in

library
it is a

but
very
undoubtedly
small,
to subtract
mickle
from the muckle
loss.

whole

in
re
in
the

libraries

Some
in

missing
that

people

any

case,

also

in charging.

should
but

return

it

is

unless
fact

forget
people
of the
library
to them.
charged
The
with

now

that

fact

a book

returns

profound

certain

true
in
that

reminded
a

by
is

book
some

then
not

apologies
of books

number

true

that

and

that had

is

books

equally

the

as
lost

It

their

some

of the
report

books

the

inventory

mistakes

through

If 83 peo

to expect

reason

here

even

was

that.

of

most

is

proportion

large
sense

are

to

takes

shelf.

open

set

put it in answering
this:
"Not
until
be

great

who

number
at

altogether

this

two

but
tenth

dick of the Jersey City free public library

How

out of
people
the department

the

the

to keep,

is granting

made

of

let it stand

of 13,000

out

83

using

privilege

but

ple

some

were

confident

smaller,

once.

individual?

year be
or woman

then

13,000 who

abused

418

five a

of

the man

to

those

to an

went

average

allow

at

and

The

unanimous

most

all

one

amount

error.

reasonable

arises

but
is
question,
to suppose
that more
than

reasonable

certain

But

that a mistake
be made
should
impossible
seem
more
in discarding,
but
it would

seems

unanswerable

volume

of 225 miss

least

volumes,

for

swered

Craw

there

yet

at

vary

figures

out

of 83.

out

recovered

missing
more.
many

The

found

volumes

the

lowed

of

copy

of Marion

ford, is difficult to believe,

no doubt
that it is true.
But

read

libraries

Then

this
Beyond
an
individual

That

to go.

steal

should

since.

found
four

ing to 50 found

school

High

an

but

sale,

Students

245

been

one

charged
a

indicates

that

are

in this

lost

are
The
do
this
who
the
way.
people
who may
for
absent-minded
easily
people,
get all about the book or books
taken, leave
or
in a car, bury them in bookcases,
them
lend

to

them

friends.

have

We

of the perfectly
the experience
son who
sometimes
disavows,
in

sometimes

shamefaced

appears

remembering
A few of our
certainly
may

be

do

not

shelf

system,

lows

any
likely

ever
not

get

in

had
per

sorrow,

ever
a
had
having
library, and yet later
to return
it, still not

taking

books

claimed

could

are

anger,
the

from

book

given

all

honest

go

it or having

to such

corrupt
that

the books

their

people,
morals.

it.
and
It

these

individuals

under

the

closed

in any
that al
library
to go to the shelves,
these

but

body
to be

the very

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All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

people

who

ask

MINNETONKA

246
for,

the

truly appreciate
are
also
people

There
without

books
of

and

get,

lege!

at

the

intend

to

return

the

return

them;
do not.

do

they
some

times

usual

they

all

With

possible
shelf losses

the

open

bit

heavier

than

libraries.
That

Do

to

been

the
a

however,
are a good
closed
shelf

been

great

interest.

1894

given

to

also

losses

in successive
to

every

every

as

circulated,
From
1894

to

100,000,
been

have

Since

risen
in

every

100,000,

65

every

10,000,
Institute

16

Pratt

follows:

from

closed

shelves,

every

10,000,

in 1905,

the

every

and

Providence,

losses

The

able.
lic

51st
of

of

library

for the year

the

loss

This

closed

to year
every
eight,

as
six,

follows:

Island,

of

of

the Pub

different

are

given

in

three,
no
li
has

the

we

can

then,

adopt,

we

The

take?
as

to mind

we
conditions,
from ours.

on

and
the
there,
is by no means
shelf

to

this

them

find

certainly

still

is

battle

The

for the open

victory
as
as nearly
decided

there

of loss
is al
And
yet this problem
shelves
with
them.
Open
negligible
are barely
15 years
old, but that is

quite
loss.

long
What

here.
most

losing
lection

to

enough
we

do

the

test

find

nine

books

in a

of

38,306

and

Croydon
of a col

out

year,
with

would
library
And
the
record?

not

an

smallness

of

with

access.
I

but

Safeguarding

by

Is
fear

it?

means

the single

turnstile;

membership
room.
The

the

(c)
card

say

second

other

exit;

is

reasons,
charging

having
a

entrance
not

having

(b)

requiring

for

the

safeguarded
think
I might

are
(a)

this

to

I wish

there

closed
of

proud

due

of

issue

Englishmen
is

loss

be

of

question

there?

other
libraries
and
290,000
volumes,
like tales to relate.
What
American

desk

three,
eight,
In
five.
five,

can

preventives

li
brother
English
do not safeguard
that we
brarians
make,
we
our access.
turn to look at
And when

un

number

one.

precautions
that comes
first thing
our
is the accusation

so,

year

this

increase

alarming

what

in

(chronologically)

for which
figures
brary
been
advance
rapid.

What
and

31, 1908, gives

from 1898 to 1907.
from

accessions

it is an

til

open

Massachusetts,

loss

a circulation
100 gives
even
loss of 900, and

shelf

report
consider

still

eight,
five,

out

January

a variation

10,000,

but

10,000
of the cir

report

circulation

and

The

Massachusetts

Brookline,

ending

shows

in

every

although
annual

11

1904,
in
volumes

all

with

Springfield,
Rhode

decreasing,

library

lost

eight
3,000 volumes,
the main
and
in 1907, with
part
seventeen
collection
open,
culating
10,000.

every

10,000.
in

by
a

dividing by the five I have judged to be

British

shelves.
in

100,000,

library
three
out

every

12, 16, 15 to
1900 all the

1900

every

in

free

loss

shelf, and its losses

as
in
44
follows,

open

entirely

gradually

to

15

and

fresh

of

open

multiplying

use

are

follows:

26.

13,

13,

on

were

rises

free

1890
the

And
com

larger

for every
10,000
if
loss, but
appalling
to a certain
the
point,
one
in kind.
becomes

an

in degree

1,000,000,

losses.

the

volumes

is not

the circulation
For

in

true

us 180 persons
who
have
stolen
gives
a lit
from the public
And
library.
and a few years
of
tle more
multiplying

they
and

ranged

fiction
except
ran as
losses

books
The
has

100,000

100,000.

Nine

the

lessen

re

of doing

responsibility

books

has

from

closed,

years

this

serious
there

yet

the
we

fair

under

that

library

and
me,
In the years
were

shelves

the

to

is

difference
of

years?

public library figures are the fullest that

have

can

especially
munities.

certainly

us
Let
open.
The
Newark

and
have.

we

what

to

much
is no

this

shelves,

the

as

said

however

that

the

us

with

circulated

in the

of

we

facts

times

deductions,
as a rule

those

closed

both

what

who

Many

pretty

compare

figures
two methods

the

limit?but

books.

mains

been

and

loss,
convinced

to opening

bar

the

has

of

be

may

held

to avoid

increase
with
they
to say, as it is hard

is hard

get

time

card

all

when

smallness

because

charging?either

return

But

privi
take

who

forgotten
library
card,
some
or in order
reason,

for

CONFERENCE

library
to

the

universal

in

so
third are,
the first and
but
England,
to learn.
Mr Champneys
far as I am able
in

his

recent

volume

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"Public

libraries""

LORD
"He

says:
the

library

borrowed,
can only
been

can
(the
reader)
a book
by returning
or by showing
his
it when
another
leave

like

was

hardly

But

jesting
between

ence

last

The

pledge."
sounds

access?
desk

in the

vided.

In

the

here?
many

object

to

people,
an
such

regularly
The
desks

and

goes
the

than

have

have

also

ican

to the

dishonest.

and

ways,
foreign

to be

fact,

as

is natural

is

in

shown

as

And

if you

lose

you

do not

the

with

in a

library

as

it;

expect

to.

In either

different

public,

care
it

in

is

expecta
are
libraries
easier

due

after
them.

and

police
regular

of report

in New York,
and
a punishable
offense

states,

as

vided

the

has

library

to
not

books

The
to the police.
book
thirty
public
library
in writing
is in Massachu
notice

after

days

overdue

notice,

The

over

turns

small,
of

whose

library,

public

titles

the

returned

other

doubtless

pro

especially

for.

Here

seems

the place

to note
all

to get back
library
A
in the regular way.
ly and kept
as
the book

taken

that

the

library
the book.

has

he

that

on the

to insist

return

taken

taken

out

regular

is as much

informally,
that
the

of

the duty

books

book

indefinitely

disadvantage

stolen
the

with

delinquent
aware
well

is quite
If the library
fails
of the book, how can

to respect
its property?
or cheap
who
to trace people
or to hunt a peripatetic
board
ha\ e moved,
er or commercial
one
but
each
traveler,
it expect
It is not

others

easy

of a book

in possession

the weakness

for
its

danger

case

the

one

This

adopted

in question.

the

noticeably

police

collect

only
for

rights;
property
umbrella
in London,
if you lose it in New

be disappointed,
but
you may
tion
is significant.
English
dealing

to

to

your

to find

expect

that
as

heterogeneous
The

shelves.
been

has

libraries

River

are

losses
the

the

of
Fall

knows

in many

stage

to assimilate.

population

lessness

York,

know

in the pioneer
with an enormous

elsewhere.
well,

all

withdrawn

books

open

that

preventive

added

am

saying
to law and

of

classes

unrestricted

the

reporter
the Amer

for

still

country

The

But

certain
the

setts,

to multiply
instances,
as
the carelessness

necessary

law

from
while

themselves.

enterprising
that
saying

of
are

we

because

you

no

to

form
printed
detention
of

who
doubt,

for law as
respect
the Americans,
and
they
sense
of property
keener

me

property.
It is not

of

present,

to stand
willing
are careless
both as

they

presented.
properly
than charging
it is a dif
tickets;

people

trust

people

quite

to any

a higher

have

such

I
rights.
accuse
will

deeper

admission
in

ference
English

one

charging

difference

at

free
as

At

the

the dishonest

prevent
as

books

concealing

can we
do in preven
then, what
Institute
of the Pratt
the analysis
was made
losses
the statement
library

Again,
In
tion?

ence

of

some

out

keep

own

our

for

problem

and

annoy

expression

to

pro

the

distinct

not,

would

not

to safeguarding
must
We
indicators.

a good many
to
and
is of course
libraries,
to the actual
be applied
experi
according

in

presentation
entrance
prevent
It

own

is a

the

it would

as

our

charging

is

than

out

think,

would

ways

as

difficulties,

any more

from

so

our

Their

work

for most

are

to influence.

obviate

if, as we

to manage

ways

harder

people.

free

Americans

there

Surely
extent.

in no way

and

sentence

Not

libraries

for

appreciable
great

exit.

third

card

losses

in

American

many

good

Would

library

this

point,
the
have

do

English

difference.

left

first

single

for a
the

and

English

the

second,
not all

of

has

book

ticket

half

libraries
by

previously
and
ticket,

the circulation,
but
it
forcing
so
one
supposes.
intended,
lies
where
the differ
aside,

Not

American

his

and

charged

in many

enter

only

247

carelessness.
I^et

small?

is an

not

argument

the

of

library,
think
Do
you
a
me
you
give

but
the
few

com
In one
in a
large
figures.
library
15 books
that lost from the shelves
munity
to every 10,000 circulated,
the number
regu
re
and never
to borrowers
larly charged
turned
That
were
large

was

the

for

lost

from

community

same
near

is dangerously
the
the

circulation,
half as many

shelves.
loss

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per

In

6.
as

another

10,000

cireu

MINNETONKA

248
lation

from

was,

the

five.

linquents"

36, from "de

as
follows,

shelves

Others

range

the

shelf
losses
first:
given
being
38, 3;
is a question
10, 3; 9, 2; 9, 2; 6, 2. This
that has
not been much
but
considered,
should

certainly
any

given

eral

knowledge

having
of

haps

is

law?of

the

state?enforced.

the

of

punishment
of

of

And

discovered.
other
As

if they cost
of the books

"even
value
at

stake

the

concrete
of

stolen.

to

tunity

eight or
libraries.
eral

And

for Cincin

"We

says:
our

that
of

The

thief

branches

were

them

were

on

had

been

children's
of
used.
mail
These

the

return

the

to

left on

At

another

away

on

room

and

librarians,
book
One

of

any

clue

books

had

all,

door

the

to

be

case

also

by

of

custodian

to

the

evidently,

as
it her
the
duty
to protect
library
public
to punish
those who
seri

the
and

interests

ously

injure

willing

to

If more

it.

this

take
losses

prosecution,

would

and

responsibilities

of

unques
lessen,
a serious
re
institution,
to their

up

of any

the penalty

pay

hold

who

Those

the

doctrine?may

on
arguing
from it.

their
The

Far

question.
enforce

law

the

and

as

to me

1901

done
After

five

these

words

years

of

are

here

privilege

have

democracy

has

leading
lized

govermental
of to-day
world
is the

voter
and
only

that

axiom
on

the

to

and
only

teach

equally
people

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All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

library.

experience
fresh

with
nor

losses

other

shaken:

emerged
of
principle

ballot-box.

reflection

way

had

question
not then

public

repeated

in

made

practical

neither

which

that

matter

this
the

who

in

its
the

meth

is still

that was

one

work

day's

to

its best

to whom

by a librarian
one of theory,

of

such

of

up

the

should

exhortation

one

than

of

side
library

exhort

need

of giving
responsibility.
No
better
summing
occurs

to be

shelf

open

institution?or

pernicious
think me

an

been

task

wrong-doing.

one

by
sender.

were

librarians

unpleasant

The
has
tionably.
library
as an educational
sponsibility
use
it live
those who
to make

and

returned

prosecuted
both pub

opinion

considered

she

why

"Since

soiled

kind

expressed.
Clergymen,
licly and privately
men
of different
sorts,
prominent
editors,
came
her not to prosecute,
and besought
to see
and are, one
still unable
supposes,

back

there

be

choose?

Hume

public

example
breach
the well

you

Miss

just.

against

book

much

toward

attitude

natured?whatever

?good
than

one

the

theft,

contemplating

of
law, and an illustration
fact that we would
rather

came
in

of

prohibitive."
is an excellent

case

of

known

six

found

without

the

shelves

been

very

branch
the

who

have

the American

conviction,
of
abuses

or

very
was

This

were

those

of

was

borough
Some

had
list; others
Some were
returned

yet been missed.

one branch
by being
sill in the morning?five
tucked

persistent
The
im

stolen.

at

was

sev

our missing

not

in this way.

postponed

on

theft must

limit of its power?but

very
od of inculcating
responsibility

stolen
branch

was

this

intention

constituency

had

very

the

oppor

of our

throughout

which

books

who

a conviction.

finally obtained
effect
of
mediate
various

library.

had

was

we

experience

we

one

from

decrease.
public

1907

case

but

times,

illegally
If every

is a recent

of

ten books

up every

are

would

of this

spring
arrest

follow

books

outsiders."

losses

and

of

is more

There

with

away

fluence

its

of de

corps

few volumes."

proof

the

deter

this method.
a

said,

Borough
Queens
writes:
Hume

"In

thief

not

should

the

Miss

at

the

the money

possession
did this,

library

was

than

nati, Mr Hodges
bit of evidence
in

the

report

this matter

in

of a

value

not

in case of need,
engaged,
ten times
the
the library

be

should

is

taken

and I think there is no doubt that the in

this

best

very

detectives

adopting

once

Bostwick

tectives

this

yet

per

detection

the

libraries

from

libraries

Mr

and

detection

of professional
employment
certain
times, but in no case

on

insist

the

is

The

number

that

theft

all.

the gen

not

library

question

of

prestige
by

it does

the

preventive

the

impaired

that

is no

easy.

before

library

There
?nd

be

CONFERENCE

as
the

to-morrow,
school

for

the
civi
it is
the

It is equally
true,
that the
obvious,
how

to use

the

LORD
public library is to give them the public
to use."

library

249

PRESIDENT:

The
the

discussion

will

which

come
here

few

words.

made

of

owners

hands

which

speaker's

the
of

which

furnish

could

of understanding
difficulty
I do not think
there
is any
it whatever.

about
at

is alarmed

the

If any

term

or

"cataclysm"
them

of

anything
the
to

up

of
(I am speaking
will
be a revelation

our

race

ent

generation

dif

of a

use

the
the
to

of

I have
as

and

easily

that

learn
use

and
frequently,
as anybody.

the

made

objection

?they

just

made

it just

if Miss

Now

tion!"

Lord

exactly.
one
know, master,
over a thousand
fumble
son

know

that
she

where

point
of library

users
of

the

sins

that

is that
be

should
sins

of

In my
must

the

it will

that

should

not

and

helped

that

few

I am
some

about

opinion
of library

things

to

that

say

users

that

I have

I
ex

of
pres

generations

libraries

great
built

this

intelligence,
is

entertainment,
idea.
library
of library
should

objects

be

good?neither
at

on

up

general

the

funds

slighted

should

be

of

the

expense

culating

of

library

public

library

to-day,
attractive

and

home

with

institution
usefulness

ratio

from

I ask

year

is:

Shall

lic

and
owned
library,
supported
to the same
strict
city, be held
as

are

our

police

department,

house,

poor

ties

and

its

parks

boulevards,

in
by
cir
is a

possi

increasing
to year,
the

pub

by the
account

departments?
municipal
fire department,
work

farm, jail?
it be managed
for its usefulness

gard
as the city

its

having

supported
generously
is no longer
the cheap
of 36 years
it
ago;

prominent
public
of unlimited
bilities

Shall

from the
protected
are rambling
inside.
sorry

both

independent
every
city and
taxation
public

ing

for

be punished

My
mass

to

mass

great

The

of

suffer

geometrical
and the question

my

than

are

in

day, and you

other
is one

the

few.

the great

have

book,

any

There

says

the

remarks
repeat

too.

good

of these
to

The

that

change

"dissipation"
I would
rather

suit me

all

will

to

"education"

and

object?collecting
for a select
few?

were

world

own

about
speaking
going
a
at
the
and
through
library
looking
and
books,
rummaging
through
rambling
"this
a large
it says
is an educa
library,
word

the

other.

I object,
to the

in

And

catalog.

second

diffusion

neither

time
it

and
for

to gather

future

of wholesome
providing
the modern
free public
In the administration

card

and

time

can

often

to

therefore,

it

noticed
children

old

the

plan.
The

of their
is the key to the contents
a de
and
it is a revelation

Little
again.
as well,
and

of

safely
guarding
the main
thing.

was

catalog

catalog)
The
them.

pur*

experience
only of the

not

but
this

Formerly
and

sort,

card

property

principal

important,
use

con*

trust

the

also.

person

that

bet*

intelligence

accumulated

for the

then.
br

entertainment

preserve

the

two

general

wholesome

and

light.

by

is

and
catalog
or child?
woman

in half-a-minute?man,
them
show
you can

library

are

generation.
present
2 And, no less

because
"catalog"
or "catamount"

"catechism"

like

catalog

funds

viz:
poses,
1 To
diffuse

argu

variation
of
slight
that
outline
mention

In

it sounds

as

to my

newer

boards
library
of a city
for

library
to

fided

pro

of you

say

shelves

Open

of

much
a

the

the

catalog.
ficulty

than

S.

I
yesterday,
a
covers
large

outline

with

agree,

take

not

substance
with

ment,

E.

ter

some
me

heard

present
anything
I said before.

library,

at

looking

arrived

did
I

an
in

part

or

In

after

noticed

by Mr

Public

the

cannot

Public

111.
Peoria,
Mr WILLCOX:
gram,
until

taken

be
of

librarian

Willcox,

next part In

The

and which

years
ago,
pressed
are
who
Illinoisians

exercises

with

and

gardens,
its museums

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All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

same

re

preservation
its other proper

over

institutions,

the

and
its

public
its

and

schools,
streets
and

monuments?

MINNETONKA

250

The city does not permit its other fine

to be

properties
to be

on,

It

is

is not

no

ness
this

statistics

just

more

than

of

famous
and

overtures

rendered

worthless.

are
stolen
disappear,
Another
the armful.
library
reports
few
in a
of reference
works
stolen
of

Works
by
73

reference

lost

another

months,
American

19

another,

history,

metallurgy,
in a
stolen

single

and

month,

reports

we

library,

experimenting

on

books

books

from

public
and
years

for three
on

down

shut

that

and

The

library of the same

place
900 volumes
and was
year

school

in its last

over

turned

Boston

The
umes

that

Providence

vol
li

year,

to

begin

about

talk

thieves

relentlessly.

well,

but

I would

the

advice

of

first

catch

your

that

suggest
that

property

entrusted

carefully

guarded

hare.

first

Try

counting
a detailed

again,

you

single
224;

this

of books

blush,

way,

what

call

expend
election.
a

know

little

follow
book?
catch

but

never

I have

which
not

is due
this

library,

year?one
another,

246;

another,

110;
531;

you

Denver
Is

doing.

of

craze

that

struck

see

it

for a

feet

to terra

back
Los

and

of the

we

when
off our

It

ago.

it. We

come

did

of
has

it, I may
of it

15 years

did

soon

we

but

moment,
firma
as

that

this

property
the half

hundredths

cyclone
lift us

it may

coming;

attribute

tenths

12 or

wind

is

Angeles

if a great

it any wonder

library,
thrown
wide
to the handling
and
open
or of
of crowds
of books
ignorant
pawing
what
"thumbed
out of
is soon
they want,
existence,"

as

our

of Philadelphia,
latest

annual

istence."

paid

public
and

some

without

in the

we

of

say, ninety-nine
to the open
shelf

business

nor

guard

I assure

and

shall
spoken,
Nine

told?

been

borrowed
returned

both

waste

know

are

about

to what

Now,
scandalous

reports

of

keeping

merchants

it is not.

appeal
these
replace

kind
that

pub
be

dollar
and
they receive
of every
dollar
accounting
they
and
out they go next
if not done,
Is our accountability
less, is our

ous

And,

our

to
as

of

the

for every

west

to

them.
would

not

out of
goods,
letting
pass
nothing
our doors
or
that is not properly
charged
if stolen,
paid
pursued?
for, and,
We
hold our city officials
to a strict ac

for

those

to

library

their

was

sounds

you

cook

ancient

it

do

by some

knowledge

Should

lic

the

realize

prosecuting
That

and

in the

no

librarians

methods?

country
an east

name
for
is only another
It may
soothe
your ruffied

self-slaughter.
to

and

we

almost

public

same

the

end

shelf

feelings

then

library.
lost 1693
library

public

wits'

open

book

lost

4044 a year
library
public
in 1907, according
5062
and
They
just to hand.
report

latest
their

folly.

public

the
1905,
volumes
1795

years

the
at

the

in

brary
Los Angeles
two

to

re
and

thefts

goods,
worn

chiefs

as

nine months with the open shelf lost 3978

volumes,

smile

busi

could

bookkeeping more difficult? I happen to

annual

the Denver

that

learn

South

Yiddish

34

another,

on

book

every

what

such

losses,
of his

laurel-crowned

business

in one

periodicals,

acquaintance

self-satisfied

Have
of mu

worth

seriousness,

your

they

world?

enough.
$1,000

arias,

choruses,
books

are

few

in all

of

the

off easily,

get

port such amazing

wanton
destruction
of our

detain

all,

reproductions

year?portraits,
pictures,
numerous

man

Philadel

Cincinnati,

Minneapolis
records.

I ask

Now

police

I should

that
them

reports
library
of books
and

tilation

keep

with

recounting

and

One

wasted;

and

amazing

necessary

with

plenty

and

big sticks.
ourselves

2041?

another,

phia

us.

before

It

these

with

question

you

ordinances

and

1160;

trampled

and

with
policemen
to ask
time
high

courts

laid

and

robbed

ruthlessly
laws and

are

there

over

ridden

CONFERENCE

friend

books

regular
for in a
another,

an

another,

acquaintance

to
with

Thomson,

it in his

be

he makes

report and
for a
larger

I, myself,
curious
bright-eyed,
chickens.
among
my
education

John

wittily puts

appropriation
out of
"thumbed

am- really
gypsy
As
had
the

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All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

to

fond

a
of

ex

of the

folk, but
the value

from
backs

pite
to

not
ol

bowing
books,

WILCOX
cannot

from

speak

education

personal
I got

college

was

not won

that way.

And

here

permit me
the wisdom

I question

in school

less

say, that while

of one thing advo
none
the
librarians,

The

and

150,000

things
so well.
all

removing

all

throwing

or

50,000

other

doing

shelf means

open

riers

are

and

done

they have

and

to

of our
by some
a hundred
I do admire

cated

their

knowledge.

little

What

wide

doors

bar
to

open

selected

carefully

books

in to help himself.
everybody
to a dry goods
for illustration,
are
our
would
"Here
mean,

choicest

goods
the

shelves?all

these

latest

well
and

styles

their

made

Or,
The

trays

of

you

yourself,
for the

help
check

and

out

and make
your
quality
for
to your bank
and ask
teller
to the
points
paying

In

the

right

in and

please
taken

leave

your

in plain

will

as

you

pass

of business

out

go

libraries

country

view

of

with,

and

2,000,
a

everybody

the
well

"Are

now

of
with
libraries
city
and
great
200,000 volumes,
accumulated
long
collections,
priceless,
rooms
and trained
with
ampler
assistants,
it is no
to take
such
necessary
longer
But

50,000,

100,000,

loss.

of

chances

card

logs,
and,

We

lists

catalogs,
a

contents

familiar

is, until
Vandals.

of every
ransacked
for

portunities
connive

librarians

no

We

at

have

of

body

especially,

assistants

cata
printed
and
bulletins,

have

with
book

the
in the

that

and
by a horde of Goths
to offer op
longer need
less
still
thieving,
practi
it as some of our honored
come

very

near

dear

My

doing

not

assistant,
not

this

of our

voice

sound
Harold

friend,

sir,"

in

said

Summerson,"
half

he, shak
don't
know.

"I

pleasantly,

and

shillings

half

pence,

"It's

mentioned."

twenty

ha'
and
seven
sixteen
pence
pounds,
observed
"that's
wot
the
stranger,
penny,"
it is!"
"And it sounds,
somehow
it sounds"
four

said

Mr

shelf

impassioned
a prominent

by

"like

Skimpole,

an

In

sum."

small
for

appeal

the

open

the At

at

librarian

lanta
ex
nine
he
conference,
years
ago,
mere
"The
loss of $300 or $400
claimed,
a year
worth
should
not be al
of books
in the way

to stand

of the open

shelf

for a

single minute."
The
result of these teachings
men
fluential
of our Association

such

by

is

in

shown

in re
years'
experience,
not
by theft and mutilation,
in their own
but
in many
only
libraries,
or experi
that had not the courage
others
after

to-day

ence

to resist

Let
and

12

losses

It is so

easy

it once
so many

their

soft

to go with
be whispered
were
books

around
stolen

and
last year
library
stolen
every year, but
considers
it a matter
of little
worth

and

that
from

conclusion

that

the

are

expected

the

librarian

consequence,
the inevit

at Sunday
school.
taught
they were
not this look a little like encouraging
can your
at theft?
And
conniving
expert
how

so
the

at least,
will
be, by many
theft of public property
is not con
as
a
so culpable
after
all
thing

able

sidered

mentioning,

voices.

persuasive
the crowd.

public
to be

virus
In

Miss

pounds,
think were

for much,

Skimpole?

head

his

hardly

intelligent
and
location
library,

of one
Does

arrested

you
of Mr.

quire

doubled

was
of neces
this method
followed
known,
some
were
books
sity from the first, and
for alas,
it cannot
even
be
stolen
then,
thieves
with us
that we have
book
denied
always.

do
they

in plenty, watching
for
about
your merchants

already
Ask

the genial

like

system

perhaps,
all
librarian,

volumes,
to the

thieves,

to the salary
ly equal
worth
mentioning."

lowed

M.

small

assistant

asks

to walk

or more

single

and

as

P.

books

inside

only
amount
bank

your

3 o'clock

5,000

silver

Note.

shelf makes

experience.
dissapeared
"Only
300, 500, 900 volumes
last year, but this was a small matter
hard

Some

go

and
gold
to be so good

statements.

their

qualities

fine

extra

$100.

cally

are

ing

to suit
be
prices
everybody?step
the counter,
down what
hind
pull
please,
them open,
feel
strikes
your fancy, spread
choice."

the open

opportunities.

arranged

with

by

say

inviting

on

published

not

Skimpole?

Applied,
it
store

and

251

accountant
may
much

spread
harm

figure
through
it may

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All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

out

how

far

Does
and
most
this

the body politic,

in deadening
do

MINNETONKA

252
that

and

sense

keen

by

to

inculcate

To

generation?
theft is a

for
opportunities
invite
it, to condone
in
educational
great

hold

out

crime?to

by one

of our

I cannot

is monstrous.

stitutions,

dictionaries
and
of refer
large works
In our closed
room
children's
ence, many.
at the far end of our reading
room, enter

which
of honesty
society,
is striving
different means,
of the rising
in the minds

hundred

it, and

CONFERENCE

It

think

is for this that the free public library is

a

by

supported

and

generous

inventories

few

in an

mentioned

Are they afraid of the revela

reports.
it
make?
Is
an
would
tions
inventory

nual

harder

to

take

books

than

of

wholesale

an

of

inventory

$150,000

150,000
or

grocery,

drug

we

of

enough

Peoria

in

do

in Denver,

learned,

also,

brary

had

been

ripped

up

the back

and

best
lest

two

feel

hurt

have

after

that

open

lately

years
lunatic

shelf

no
(I mention
friends
best
of my

others
at not

counter

this

On

its proper

in

an

of

we

assistants

shelf

event.
room

idea
we

course
but

we

and
have

the

under
some

it satisfies
too

thieves

and
in

around
sets

of

the

volumes
classes

biography,
to the
yield
our people.
like

other

it before

acknowledge

our

stack

if any
his

have

behind

he

is at

room,

the whole

through

it.

this

to

we

of what

our

for

to gratify

desires

some
some

person

by
curiosity
those walls
once

shown

of books,

wilderness

is pursuing
to spend

the

reading

cyclopedias

and

books

in his

time

and
and

object

special

he

finds

as

I am,

chosen

box
the
posed

rather
school

only
and

to use

the

by
a

better

that

served,

just

to say

sound
catchy
for the voter
to

public

the

teach

is

library
to use,

library
a
schooling

people

how

give

them

I had

sup

to

but

and

language,
was
required

five

least

at

of,
laws

that
ballot

is the

customs

of foreign born
them to the ballot
admitting
21 years
born.
for native

before
and

our

for

So,
more

who
seldom
public,
or two books
at a

one

than

and

their

it

them, at such
a hundred
handle

That

volumes.

thousand

wants
time,

to teach

is hardly
necessary
to use
how
cost,
and

after

and

attendants.

the way
the

public
that

box,

much

One

himself.

by

curiosity

himself

It has
the

him

leave
his

satisfies

adults

delivery
of all

600

addition

whatever

know

later he will

ask

and

in the
years
of the country

eye

keep
in the different

cases
In ample
18 different

are

in

But

few years

makes
books,
with that bound

visit

you

our

adjoining

A
wants

he

yet

found

his

room

to

history,
philosophy,
we
This much
travel.

science,

folks,

works

latest

the

open

it

immediately

?theology,

Of

case

open

counter,
our

stack

hand

school

as

is to be

names

at
to tests made,
or, according
on an average.
three a minute

minute,
rate of
In

in the

of

who

child

should

counter.
long delivery
find a few, some
you will
that are
books
late novels,

will

The

of what

outside

less world.
what

in

of.
idea

we cheerfully
department
bring him of our
table by
best, or we give him a chair and

the

place

assistants

faintest

guardianship
librarian.

children's

his first acquaintance

wishes

40 or 50, of the
milk
to-mor
skimmed
to-day and skimmed
a really
novel
if you want
good
row, but
books
it is back
or any of the classified
our

books

and

a present
library of 100,000 volumes
room
for 200,000, we
and a stack
capacity
classified
in a carefully
our books
keep
room
im
in the stack
order on the shelves
behind

in

here

watchful

by the
in our

With

mediately

no

if he

included)

being

I approve

has

li

fine

riddled

well
pretty
for several

brightest
sisterhood.

entire

how

I tell you

this, may
as
and,

the

experienced

a sight

store?
But

under

shelves,
of an

in

stock

of

worth

hardware,

all

This

confiding

people.
I find

we have
leaving
by a single wicket,
of
of juvenile
literature
6,000 volumes
on
and
classes
all
accessible
open

ing and
some

assistants

librarians

is what
learn

only

after

years

of practice.
For,
fulness
only

after
of a
to

promptly,
to answer
upon
mation

hand
but,

all,

real

the

library
out

lies
the

far more

test

exacting

reasonable
every
it for the latest, most
on the ten thousand

This content downloaded from 194.29.185.104 on Sun, 25 May 2014 04:54:56 AM

All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

the

of

use

not
its ability
new
novel
latest
in

than

demand

that,
made

reliable

infor

different

sub

DISCUSSION
of human

jeets

means

This

labor,

inquiry
constantly
it means
study,

arising.
it means

in the

foresight
of books,

and

mean

and
experience
quick
on the part of the
knowledge
at the delivery
desk.

preparation
not one
and,

supplying
it
less, does

whit

intelligence,

responsive
assistant
The
we

It was

PRESIDENT:
be

able

discussion

of

this matter

but

time

would

tion
low

but

I will,
to

presses
ask

more

not

thinks
Mr

about

HILL:

be

culation
open

of a

if any
glad
let us hear what
Mr Willcox

Mr

almost

cir

his

having
in the

are

losses

his

loses

he

how

libraries

with

two

ask

books

year,

(2) what

altogether
to

like
and

did
in his

losses

room?

children's

As

WILLCOX:
we

room,

talks,

very

many

compares

shelves;

purpose.

15 minutes

the

to

never

have

the

at
better
we
know
shall
recently;
I couldn't
answer
and
the next
inventory,
back.
that
except
by
referring
question
a
account
in the
On
of repairs
library,
story
not

could

of

stacks

take

our

up, we
inven

put
being
usual
biennial

last year, when

last, but
tory year before
we
took
Our
for three years.
it, it was
losses were
300 volumes
just a little under
for
not

three

the

charged

nor

returned
on

lost

about

this

case

where

our

losses

2,041,
because

there

paid

an

I will
library

to

our

and

not

six

will

be

state

the

we

in

the

of

way

have
them

against

losses

110
a

some?there

that

In

year.
six

about

to

year
is no

thieves,
the

best

library
circulated

that compares
tion, how
of the
libraries
same
Mr

WILLCOX:

in proportion
size

to
open

having

LORD:

which

libraries
48,

under

shelves

utes

are

not

say

that

we

of

the

follows:

15,

7,

lost

5.

to

shelf

every
Peoria

and

6,

shelf

10,000,
with

are

arranged

ifmy

two min

These

system

benefit

comes

over

this:
open

I would
up
merely
cannot
measure
the

open
The

is

the

to population.
Mr President,

accordiug
Mr HILL:

value.

It

100,000

as
8,

39,

give

comes.

Lord?I

every time.
that class
you

Lord

I can

lost

17,

closed

Miss

Peoria

and

?5,000

let Miss

Yes,
hear

rather

to

like

benefit

by any money
from the greater
of books
among

use and
larger circulation
who
have
the opportunity
to come
people
to the library and see the books
that they
want
to choose
or that they want
to take
their

own

That

is

the

think

we

for

home
I

Mr

CUTTER:

ciation

to

of the
charge
were
separated
charging
desk,
In connection
charging
ly free

desk

Forbes
from

tion, part
fiction.
Mr

to

was

ous.

took

shelves
the

by

absolute

moved,
giving
The
circulation

the

ANDREWS:

tion

first

only a narrow
opening.
with
another
the
matter,

Part
10,000.
to the restricted

due

the
library
the public

the next
20,000
of
non-fiction

circulation

the Asso

interest
when

study

vantage

with

access.

decreased
about

that

for
of

point

It may

know

or

reading

only
have.

of

free

the

my

fiction

and
year,
increased
decrease
of new

purchase
access

To

of

to

mind

the

the
by
was
fic
non

the ques

of mutilations
I could
not

is really
fully as seri
Lord
with
Miss
agree

in considering
with
the

it insignificant
in com
losses.
in a
Especially
is that
true.
There
is

at all
parison

reference

library

one

other

the Peoria

point

public
others.

Are

we

the

three

shelves.

let me,

stated

volumes
the

during

Perhaps
then, Mr President,
answer
could
the other
ques

Lord

will

If Mr Willcox

LORD:

from

up

average

of

losses

collected,
I think we have

for,

average
I ran

fact
the
denying
and I had
to guard
I could.
Miss

As

years.

that were

books

Miss

that

separate

until

new

period.
HILL:

there.

children's

that

kept

year
Mr

lost five

public
10,000

Miss
al

can

this

Peoria

to every

would

this.

how

questions?(1)
in the course

we

or

will

they have
I would

shelves.

the Associa

10

Mr

where

library
closed

in

for two minute

President,
tell us anything
about

not

considerable

for

than

and shall
altogether,
one who
is interested
he

expected

that

few minutes

however,

last

so

The

that

to have

253

matter?

ourselves
When

I would
wholly
we
are

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like

to bring out.
in this

guiltless

borrowers

from

MINNETONKA

254
other

do we

libraries

return
Mr
Mr

take

also

have

into

account

the

of circula

value

volumes

the

per

In 1904 in the Washing

of fiction.
centage
the only
ton public
thing on open
library
of fic
was
The percentage
fiction.
shelves
that
tion was
84 for the reason
people
In
but fiction.
not get at anything
a long time to
after waiting
dispair,
of a book,
they would
get any other kind
it.
take a book of fiction and go away with
was
circulation
the fiction
Consequently
some

we

after

years

be
on

books

classed

the

to

increased

circulation

was

increase
of that
only
non-fiction.
of it was

55,000

155,000:

of

the

shelves

open

two

the first

The
100,000
not made
open
shelf;
entirely
library was
on
was
after another
but one class
placed
four years
of hav
and after
shelves
open

fiction;

on

fiction

besides

something

ing

of fiction
the percent
shelves,
has
from 84 to 65.
fallen
has

said

Los

Angeles
of the Denver

Can't
Mr

hear

we

LUMMIS:

Angeles

public

and

library

from Mr

ventory,
cox mentioned,
taken

and
that

wo
our

library

useful
was
were

close

its shelves.

as
to make
is going
it can, but it is go
as itmust.
as much
I found} that the in
Mr Wil
tool which
not

all

actual

Los

The

very

equally
losses

seriously

surprised
amounted

average
suffer
most
pleted

20 a year,
of perhaps
mutilation.

frightful
valuable

art

of their

plates;

books
books

but
Some

to

have

been

of five

or

be

ir.

they are
tendant.
let

shall
not

they
in

people
them.

reach

there

and
books

and

can't

tuck

attendant

get
will

that

their

them

out

to wait

shelf,

volumes,
beautiful
and

education

under

hand

have

won't

They
can

all

desk

the

at

but

be

16,000
the

look

at

room

the books

from

about

the books

an

of

will

inches

can

they

at

be

because

literature

There

30
running
along
will
which
contain

can

that

accessible,
the eye

look

the

still
an

coat;

promptly.
and
they

long,

the
seeing
by
are
on
but we
the general
going
titles,
on
of protecting
that property,
principle
is business
that
the library
the principle

and

no

minds

their

educate

can

business

suffer

20%
per
nearly
The
PRESIDENT:
very

brought
time

amounting

am

anything
we
because

in

else
have

this

the

brary,

Manila,

Now

P.

of
I.,

no more
es

line,

and

conference
the

Public

still
going
have with us

are

we

the Pacific;
librarian

be

must

not on
something
sure will
be inter

that I am
the program,
to you.
At the Portland
esting
a representative
we
from
had
in Honolulu.

that

sorry

discussion
interesting
have
to a close,
but we

for

pecially

loss

annum.

to

across

ten

off, or

and

right under
In the general

to-day

de

next

is

carried

place

to

there we
of our

where
the

year;

a
i hope,
I am going
to have
in August,
on
room
will
stack
and
book
be
every
the stack
that are either
books
too
except

to

were
a year.
Those
large
4,000 books
our refer
In
books.
valuable
less
the
ly
little?an
lose
we
ence
very
department

their
come

have

We

Hbrary
farther

over

1600

literature

general

this

Lummis?

Chairman.

Mr

that

find

at
library
the lead
to follow

about

as
compromise
shelves
its
to
close
ing
in there
I went
When
good

in what

the

that

intimated
was

circulated

Mr Willcox

The PRESIDENT:
he

open

room

literature

to

losses

that
is,
closed,
cord
strung along,
that "An
head
high, and nice signs stating
attendant
will
you wish."
bring you what
move
In new
I shall
to which
quarters,
the

trusted

In

as

destroyed
heaviest

The

in the fiction, where

the next
the juvenile,
about
1450 a year.
The
juve
they average
nile and fiction are now on closed
shelves;

heavy

to put

been

set.

the general
about

their

gan

average

could

high.

have
as

value

nominally.

a closed

between
comparisons
as to
shelf
library,

tion, making
and an open

Lord

I wish Miss

taken

of the qualitative

element

our

before

in this matter.

Mr BOWERMAN:
could

careful

to be

And

not.

fear

cleared

are

skirts

the

in
I

it is for us

think

with

Yes.

ANDREWS:

own

to
pains
lines?

prompt

in condition

exactly
HILL:

CONFERENCE

we
the
I

American

li

am

to

going

ask Miss SYRENA McKEE to speak to us

of
THE AMERICAN CIRCULATING LIBRA
RY OF MANILA
No

doubt

remember

attending
many
the urgent
plea

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these

meetings

for books

"for