BY JOSEPH L. HARRISON, _Treasurer, Librarian of The Providence (R. I.)
Athenæum_.
In accordance with the requirement of the constitution I have the honor
to present herewith the report of the Publishing Board for the year
1900. The table of the financial operations of the board is essentially
a trial balance, but divided into two sections to bring out more clearly
the condition of the board's undertakings. The first section shows in
the last two columns the net balance of loss or profit on each of our
publications, June, 1901. In general it is true that our book
publications, except the "List of subject headings," have not brought in
what was expended on them, while our card publications have more than
offset these losses by their profits, for although the final balance of
all these accounts shows an excess of expenditures over receipts of
$830.74, yet it should be noticed that the two largest items in the
expense column, $476.84 and $1290.02 are on account of publications
which have not yet begun to bring many returns, viz., the second edition
of the "A. L. A. index" and the "Portrait index." If these are left out
of consideration our other publications show a net profit to date of
$927.12. The second section of the table shows what means we have in
hand or can count upon. The unpaid bills ($241.69 + $369.52 + $16.50),
$627.71, are just about offset by the amount of bills and subscriptions
due us, $636.82; leaving the cash balance, $823.64, plus the amount sunk
in publications, $830.74, to represent the sum still remaining in our
hands of money appropriated to our use by the trustees of the Endowment
Fund or received from other sources, $1617.08, plus the sum of the
balances still standing on the old membership accounts, $46.41. It
should be remembered that the office expenses of the year having been
heavier than usual, over $1800, have not been all charged to the account
of our different publications, but a balance of $345.55 has been allowed
to remain, reducing by so much the balance on this account of the
previous year.
As a complement and supplement to the table the following statements
concerning the board's publications and work may be of interest:
_Books._
_A. L. A. proceedings._--The board has in stock at its headquarters,
10-1/2 Beacon street, Boston, nearly 2000 copies of the conference
proceedings, covering the years from 1882 to date. There are a very
limited number of copies of the years 1882, 1886, 1892, and 1893, and it
is suggested that libraries desiring to complete sets in order to bind
the proceedings by themselves would do well to give the matter early
consideration.
_Annotated bibliography of fine art._--The "Bibliography of fine art,"
prepared by Mr. Sturgis and Mr. Krehbiel and edited by Mr. Iles, which
has become so favorably known because of the value of its descriptive,
critical and comparative notes, was among the board's publications
transferred to Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co., of Boston (now the
regular publishers of the board), in January, 1900, and may be obtained
directly from them. The sales of the book, last year amounting to 84
copies, are gradually reducing the deficit incurred in its publication,
which at the end of the year amounted to less than $400.
_Books for boys and girls._--The little, inexpensive, paper-covered
handbook which bears this title, with its carefully annotated lists,
prepared by Miss Hewins, of the Hartford Public Library, for the home
use of fathers, mothers and teachers, continues in such active demand
that less than 700 copies are now left of an original edition of 3000.
It remains in the hands of the Publishing Board.
_Library tracts._--Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. have published for
the board during the year three library primers, an edition of 1000 of
each tract being printed. The first, "Why do we need a public library?"
was compiled by a committee of the A. L. A. This was followed by "How to
start a public library," by Dr. G. E. Wire, of the Worcester County Law
Library, and "Travelling libraries," by Mr. Frank A. Hutchins, secretary
of the Wisconsin Free Library Commission. They have been well received,
and others on practical library subjects will follow as soon as
possible. A very low price has been fixed for the tracts, and it is
hoped that they will be generously used by clubs, commissions and
individuals interested in promoting the advancement of library
interests.
_List of books for girls and women and their clubs._--This carefully
selected list of some 2100 books "worthy to be read or studied by girls
and women" should now be ordered directly of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin &
Co. Nearly 300 copies, including parts, were sold during the year,
showing a continued though not increased demand.
_List of French fiction._--Nearly 1000 copies of this convenient list,
chosen and annotated by Madame Cornu, of Montreal, and Mr. Beer, of New
Orleans, were sold during the year, reducing the stock on hand at the
board's Beacon street office, where it can still be obtained, to less
than 500 copies.
_List of subject headings for use in dictionary catalogs._--"Subject
headings" continues to be one of the most lucrative publications of the
board. Nearly 300 copies were sold in 1900, and the accounts of the year
show a balance in its favor of nearly $500. Since the demand for the
book comes almost exclusively from libraries, it still remains in the
hands of the Library Bureau, where orders should be sent.
_Reading for the young._--Sargent's "Reading for the young" is offered
by Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. in three forms: the original edition,
compiled by Mr. John F. Sargent; the "Supplement," compiled by Miss Mary
E. and Miss Abby L. Sargent; and the original and supplement bound
together. During the current year the original edition has become
exhausted. It is probable that a limited number of copies will be
printed at once to supply the immediate demand and that a reprint, with
additional matter, will be undertaken in the near future.
_Printed cards._
_Current books._--It need simply be stated under the head of "Printed
cards for current books" that the entire reorganization of this part of
the board's work has been the subject of active discussion during the
year, and that the proposed plans for carrying it on more effectively
will be fully explained to the conference by Mr. Fletcher, chairman of
the Publishing Board. It may be appropriately added that, as in past
years, the thanks of the Association are due to the publishers for their
courtesy in sending books, and to Miss Browne for her earnest work in
getting the cards to subscribers with--under often adverse
conditions--most commendable promptness.
_English history._--The annotated cards on English history continue to
be printed at a loss. Mr. W. D. Johnston has been re-engaged, however,
to edit the cards for the current year, and it is hoped that in the end
their usefulness will be found to justify the work, at least to the
extent of making them self-supporting.
_Periodical and society publications._--The Publishing Board is now
printing cards for nearly 250 periodical and society publications.
During 1900, 2843 titles, or more than 170,000 cards, were sent out.
This represents the largest single item of the board's work and an
expenditure of more than $1700, which is nearly met by receipts from the
sales.
_Miscellaneous sets._--The board has now printed 16 of the so-called
"Miscellaneous sets," which are, together with the years or volumes
covered, as follows: American Association for the Advancement of
Science--Proceedings, 1875-1898; American Historical
Association--Papers, 1885-91, v. 1-5; American Historical
Association--Reports, 1889-98; New York State Museum--Bulletin, 1892-98,
nos. 1-23; Massachusetts Historical Society--Collections, 1792-1899; Old
South Leaflets--series 1-4; Smithsonian Institution--Annual reports,
1886-96; Smithsonian Institution--Contributions to knowledge, 1862-97;
Smithsonian Institution--Miscellaneous collections, 1862-97; U. S.
Bureau of Ethnology--Annual reports, 1879-95; U. S. National
Museum--Annual reports, 1886-95; U. S. National Museum--Bulletin,
1875-98, and (books) Depew, "One hundred years of American commerce";
Authors Club, "Liber scriptorum"; Shaler, "United States of America."
These sets simply cover the back numbers of what are now grouped in the
board's work as "periodicals and society publications"--completed works
like "Liber scriptorum," of course, being excepted. Subscriptions to
these periodicals and publications as current continuations begin with
the date of the receipt of the subscription, so that unless one has been
a subscriber from the beginning there will of necessity (because of the
limited number of the cards printed) be a break between the last year
covered by the "Miscellaneous set" and the beginning of the
subscription.
The sets have met with a warm welcome from the libraries, and the board
is prepared to print cards during 1901 for the following additional
sets, providing a sufficient number of orders are received to justify
the work: American Academy of Political and Social Science--Annals, 1900
to date; American Economic Association--Economic studies, 1896-97;
American Economic Association--Publications, 1887-96; _Bibliographica_,
1895-97; Bureau of American Republics--Publications; Columbia University
Studies in History, Economy and Public Law, 1891-96; Johns Hopkins
University Studies in History and Political Science, 1883-98; U. S.
Geological Survey--Bulletins, 1884-98; U. S. Geological
Survey--Monographs, 1882-98; U. S. Geological and Geographical Survey of
the Territories--Reports, 1875-90; U. S. Geological and Geographical
Survey of the Territories--Miscellaneous publications, 12 nos.
These brief statements show concisely the bibliographical work which the
Publishing Board has completed and is now carrying on, and for which it
needs the continued moral and financial support of the libraries of the
Association.
_In preparation and under consideration._
Other important work is in active progress. The "Literature of American
history," being edited by Mr. Larned, and for which Mr. Iles has so
generously donated $10,000, is well along, and may be announced as a
fall book. Under Mr. Fletcher's direction work on the second edition of
the "A. L. A. index" has advanced rapidly, and the book will be ready
for distribution before the end of the year. Mr. Dewey has promised that
the long-delayed "Supplement" to the "A. L. A. catalog," being edited,
as was the original, by Mrs. Salome Cutler Fairchild, will be out this
summer. It is expected that active work on the "Portrait index" will be
continued, and that under the editorship of Mr. Lane and Miss Browne the
index will be pushed to rapid completion.
Among the pieces of valuable work under consideration, on which the
board hopes soon to be able to take final and definite action, may be
mentioned Mr. Teggart's "Handbook of libraries of the United States," an
"Index to library periodicals," a "Bibliography of reference books,"
cards to current books recommended by the Wisconsin Free Library
Commission and the Massachusetts Library Club index to the Massachusetts
public documents.
In conclusion it remains to express the deep and sincere regret with
which the board accepted the resignation of Mr. William C. Lane as its
secretary and treasurer, tendered in December of last year on account of
ill health and after a long period of most earnest, faithful and
valuable service, and to repeat here the suggestion with which he closed
his report to the Montreal conference, a suggestion made, it must be
remembered, after years of closest attention to the workings of the
board:
"The desirability of taking some definite steps toward putting the work
of the Publishing Board on a broader and stronger basis is as evident as
ever. In addition to the efficient service rendered by the assistant
secretary, the Publishing Board could with advantage employ a portion,
say half, of the time of a capable man who should combine business
judgment and alertness with bibliographical tastes and knowledge of
library interests. The time has come when both for its own sake and in
justice to those who serve it the Publishing Board should have salaried
officers. To make the change successfully, however, requires a better
financial condition than it yet has."
======================================================
STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS, JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1900.
------------------------------------------------------
| | |
| Copies | Copies |
PUBLICATIONS. | sold | on hand |
| in | Dec. 31, |
| 1900. | 1900. |
| | |
--------------------------+---------------+----------|
A. L. A. Proceedings | 2 | 1829 |
Books for boys and girls | 188 | 643 |
Bibliography of fine art | 84 | 209 |
List of French fiction | 991 | 440 |
| { 107 | 474 |
Books for girls and women | { 218 pts. | 4064 pts.|
| | |
| { 6 orig. | 24 |
Reading for the young | { 32 suppl.| 899 |
| { 24 compl.| 5 |
List of subject-headings | 296 | 55 |
A. L. A. index, 2d edition| | |
Portrait index | | |
Current book cards | | |
English history cards | | |
Periodical cards | 170,344 | |
Miscellaneous sets | | |
Library tracts | 824 | 2174 |
--------------------------+---------------+----------|
Totals | | |
General balance | | |
--------------------------+---------------+----------|
| | |
------------------------------------------------------
======================================================================
STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS, JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1900.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
| Balances, Jan. 1, | Operations, |
| 1900, being excess | Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, |
PUBLICATIONS. | of expenditures or | 1900. |
| receipts to date. | |
|---------+----------+----------+----------|
| Spent. | Received.| Expenses.| Receipts.|
--------------------------+---------+----------+----------+----------|
A. L. A. Proceedings | | $5.56 | $1.24 | $2.00 |
Books for boys and girls | $13.47 | | | 8.60 |
Bibliography of fine art | 415.87 | | | 47.50 |
List of French fiction | | 8.51 | | 20.64 |
| } | | 66.19 | 66.19 |
Books for girls and women | } | | | |
| | | | |
| } | | | |
Reading for the young | }418.58 | | | 48.39 |
| } | | | |
List of subject-headings | | 227.85 | 144.17 | 390.36 |
A. L. A. index, 2d edition| 242.84 | | 225.00 | |
Portrait index | 728.94 | | 561.08 | |
Current book cards | | 467.37 | 719.16 | 860.39 |
English history cards | | 16.41 | 134.00 | 55.76 |
Periodical cards | | 438.37 | 1795.75 | 1688.26 |
Miscellaneous sets | 41.85 | | 235.48 | 644.67 |
Library tracts | | | 125.15 | 41.20 |
--------------------------+---------+----------+----------+----------|
Totals |$1861.55 | $1164.07 | $4007.22 | $3873.96 |
General balance | | 697.48 | | 133.26 |
--------------------------+---------+----------+----------+----------|
|$1861.55 | $1861.55 | $4007.22 | $4007.22 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------
====================================================================
STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS, JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1900.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
| Balances, Dec. 31,
| 1900, being excess
PUBLICATIONS. | of expenditures or
| receipts to date.
|----------+---------
| Spent. |Received.
--------------------------+----------+---------
A. L. A. Proceedings | | $6.32
Books for boys and girls | $4.87 |
Bibliography of fine art | 368.37 |
List of French fiction | | 29.15
| |
Books for girls and women | |
| |
| |
Reading for the young | 370.19 |
| |
List of subject-headings | | 474.04
A. L. A. index, 2d edition| 467.84 |
Portrait index | 1290.02 |
Current book cards | | 608.60
English history cards | 61.83 |
Periodical cards | | 330.88
Miscellaneous sets | | 367.34
Library tracts | 83.95 |
--------------------------+----------+---------
Totals | $2647.07 |$1816.33
General balance | | 830.74
--------------------------+----------+---------
| $2647.07 |$2647.07
-----------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
| |
| Bal. Jan. 1, 1900. |
OTHER ACCOUNTS. |---------+----------|
| Dr. | Cr. |
-------------------------------------------------+---------+----------+
General expense and income account | | $1960.48 |
Old members account | | 49.25 |
Library Bureau account | | 455.00 |
Houghton, Mifflin & Co. account | | |
Other charges unpaid | | 69.41 |
Balance of cash |$1100.66 | |
Due to Publ. Board on bills and subscriptions | 736.00 | |
-------------------------------------------------+---------+----------+
Totals |$1836.66 | $2534.14 |
Balances | 697.48 | |
-------------------------------------------------+---------+----------+
|$2534.14 | $2534.14 |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
| |
|Operations of 1900.|
OTHER ACCOUNTS. |---------+---------|
| Dr. | Cr. |
----------------------------------+---------+---------+
General expense and income account| $345.55 | $2.15|
Old members account | 2.84 | |
Library Bureau account | 1413.23 | 1327.75|
Houghton, Mifflin & Co. account | 159.12 | 175.62|
Other charges unpaid | 69.41 | 241.69|
Balance of cash | 3019.67 | 3296.69|
Due to Publ. Board on bills and | 2717.26 | 2816.44|
subscriptions | | |
------------------------------------+----------+------+
Totals | | |
Balances | | |
----------------------------------+----------+--------+
| | |
-------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------
|
|Bal. Dec. 31, 1900.
OTHER ACCOUNTS. |---------+---------
| Dr. | Cr.
----------------------------------+---------+---------
General expense and income account| |$1617.08
Old members account | | 46.41
Library Bureau account | | 369.52
Houghton, Mifflin & Co. account | | 16.50
Other charges unpaid | | 241.69
Balance of cash | $823.64 |
Due to Publ. Board on bills and | 636.82 |
subscriptions | |
------------------------------------------------------
Totals |$1460.46 |$2291.20
Balances | 830.74 |
------------------------------------------------------
|$2291.20 |$2291.20
------------------------------------------------------