During the 13 months since the Association met at Montreal the number of
new members added has been 167.[C] Including with the new those who have
rejoined (for they are practically new members), we have over 225, the
largest year's increase in the history of the A. L. A. The system of
giving to each person who joins an accession number, and after a lapse
of membership for one or more years reverting to the old number when he
again joins, is not to my mind quite fair to the regular continued
membership. One of the charter members, to take an extreme case, may,
after paying dues for 1876 only, come in again this year by paying for
1901 and yet appear on a par with the 1876 members who have faithfully
kept up their membership for 25 years. Those rejoining members should be
included with the total of new names added. There is a chance here for
our statistician to devise a better system of accession. In March, 1901,
the active membership reached the 1000 mark, an achievement which may
well be recorded at the opening of a new century.
In January 4000 copies of preliminary announcements were mailed to
members, and others supposed to be interested. The secretary compiled
for this purpose a card catalog of names, including in it members of
all the state associations and local clubs.
In May a new handbook (68 pages and cover) 3-1/4 × 5-3/4 in.,
practically following the size of last issue, was sent out, giving list
of members, officers and committees, statistical tables, lists of state
and local library associations and state library commissions, necrology
for the year, and other information of value to members and of use in
extending the work of the A. L. A.
An edition of 4500 was printed at an expense of $160.60, and about half
were mailed, in connection with circular no. 2 regarding the Waukesha
meeting. The remainder should suffice for the coming year, with a small
supplement to include the new members, and the by-laws to be passed at
Waukesha, thus completing the new constitution.
Early in June the final announcement was sent out, with private post
card enclosed, requesting advance registration. This was entirely
successful, 476 persons registering for attendance, up to June 28. A
printed list of these, for distribution at the early sessions of the
meeting, will, it is confidently expected, more than justify the expense
of its compilation. (800 copies, 24 pages, same size as handbook,
$32.75.)
2000 copies of program (16 pages, handbook size) were printed and a copy
mailed to each person who registered for attendance at the meeting, and
to all members of the Association.
The secretary's expenses for the year, exclusive of handbook, will be
about $400, the chief items being postage and printing. This seems
justified, as it has been the means of increasing the income of the A.
L. A. by more than the amount expended.
Number of letters and postcards written during the year 956, number
received about 1000.
Gifts to the A. L. A. during the year have included:
Current issues of the New York Public Library _Bulletin_, and the
_Library Journal_, from the publishers.
Reports of the Bristol meeting of the L. A. U. K., from the Honorable
Secretary.
Report of the trustees of the Public Library of Victoria, Australia,
1900.
Catalogue of books on art, from the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Library.
Statistics of labor, Conn., Report, 1901.
_World_ Almanac, 1901.
Annual reports of several American libraries, including Philadelphia
Free, Haverhill Public, Somerville Public, and Bowdoin College
libraries.
In closing I wish to thank all upon whom I have called for information
or help, for the promptness and cordiality of their response.