Your committee respectfully reports the following:
1. A very definite demand has been presented to the committee from the
various commissions calling for the publication of a buying list of
about one thousand titles for use by small libraries. The committee
has investigated the matter and is glad to report that Miss Zaidee
Brown's list has been revised and brought up to date by Miss Webster
of New York, and that this will admirably meet the demand. After going
over the matter with Mr. Utley, it appeared that no advantage would
result should this committee handle this publication. The committee
recommends that the separate commissions deal directly with the New
York state library. The committee is informed that the commissions will
be circularized by the New York authorities for this purpose. The price
is exceedingly reasonable, probably not exceeding two cents each in
large quantities. It seems likely that arrangements can be made so that
each commission can stamp or print upon the title page such matter as
it sees fit.
We understand that copy of the list is now ready for the printer. When
printed this list will also contain a magazine list.
2. It was suggested by the president of the League that the committee
collect and print short paragraphs suitable for publication in
newspapers during local campaigns for a library. The committee
recommends that this be undertaken by one of the commissions as a
sub-committee, rather than by the publications committee.
3. Mr. Gillis of California, has suggested that each commission prepare
a list of the best material available treating of the history of its
state. This seems to the committee the function of the state library
rather than the commission and it recommends that this request be
referred to the National Association of State Libraries.
4. It was suggested that the committee reprint Moulton's "Aids to
Library Work with Foreigners." This matter was referred to the A. L. A.
Publishing Board, which has arranged for its publication.
5. The committee has been asked also to consider the publication of a
buying list for traveling libraries, to be followed by a periodical
supplement probably issued in mimeograph form. The questionnaire
submitted to the commissions indicates that there would be only a
limited use of such a list, many commissions maintaining that present
aids are sufficient. The commissions exhibited so little interest
in the matter that this question is submitted to the League without
recommendation.
6. The loss resulting from the susceptibility of the trustee or
librarian of many of the smaller libraries, to the subtle wiles of
the eloquent book-agent, calls for some authoritative pronouncement
upon the value, or lack of value, of subscription books. To make such
a pronouncement seems to be the function of the A. L. A. Publishing
Board. The committee therefore respectfully recommends that such board
be requested to make proper provision for such pronouncement.
Respectfully submitted,
M. S. DUDGEON, Chairman,
ZAIDEE BROWN,
MARY E. DOWNEY.
In the absence of the chairman of the committee on uniform financial
reports for library commissions, the following report was read by the
secretary: