THE NEW LIBRARY. 
 
 WHY HAVE A LIBRARY? 
 
 It is the duty of the state to give each future citizen 
 an opportunity to learn to read, it is equally its duty 
 to give each citizen an opportunity to use that power 
 wisely for himself and the state. Wholesome litera- 
 ture can be furnished to all the readers in a community 
 at a fraction of the cost necessary to teach them "to 
 read and the power to read may then become a means 
 to a life-long education. A library is an essential part 
 of a broad system of education, and a community should 
 think it as disgraceful to be without a well-conducted 
 library as to be without a good school. 
 
 Each town needs a library to furnish more practice 
 in reading for the little folks in school; it needs it to 
 give the boys and girls who have learned to read 
 a taste for wholesome literature that informs and in- 
 spires; it needs it as a center for an intellectual and 
 spiritual activity that shall leaven the whole community 
 and make healthful and inspiring themes the burden of 
 the common thought — substituting, by natural me- 
 thods, clean conversation and literature for petty 
 gos.sip, scandal and oral and printed teachings in vice. 
 
 Libraries are needed to furnish the incentive and 
 the opportunity for wider study to the pupils of the 
 
2 
 
 schools; to teach them “the science and art of read- 
 ing for a purpose:” to give the boy or girl with hidden 
 talent the chance to discover and develop it; to give 
 to the mechanic and artisan a chance to know what 
 their ambitious fellows are doing; to give to men and 
 women, weary and worn frbm treading a narrow 
 round, excursions in fresh and delightful fields; to 
 give to clubs for study and amusement material for 
 better work and, last but not least, to give wholesome 
 employment to all classes for those idle hours that 
 wreck more lives than any other cause. 
 
 HOW TO AROUSE AND USE LOCAL INTEREST IN 
 LIBRARIES. 
 
 The* necessity of a library should be urged through 
 the local press, upon the platform and by private ap- 
 peals. Include in the canvass all citizens, irrespective 
 of creed, business or politics, whether educated or illit- 
 erate. To ignore any class is to imply its indifference 
 to education and frequently to make its leaders hostile 
 when they might be made enthusiastic friends. Enlist 
 the support of the teachers, and, through them, of the 
 children and parents. Literary societies, Chautauqua 
 circles, and debating clubs, should be earnest champ- 
 ions of the movement. The local newspapers will be 
 found to be a powerful agency in enlisting and sus- 
 taining interest in the measure. 
 
 When the interest of the public is aroused get a 
 small meeting of influential workers, make a careful 
 study of the law relating to libraries, and decide upon 
 some' definite plan of action. (See Appendix A.) A 
 free library, supported by taxation, can only be estab-' 
 lished by the common council. Usually the members of 
 such bodies are very willing to follow public sentiment 
 in founding public enterprises but, like all other hu- 
 man beings, they are governed somewhat by their 
 prejudices, and should be approached by people whom 
 they respect, who have tact and good judgment. An 
 
3 
 
 enthusiastic but tactless hobby-rider may undo months 
 of careful work. In most cities where libraries have 
 been started the citizens have raised a fund or brought 
 a collection of books and offered them to the public if 
 the council would agree to found a permanent library. 
 This is ordinarily the easiest way to secure one. 
 
 LIBRARY LAWS OF OHIO. 
 
 In appendix A will be found the text of such library 
 laws as affect the establishment and maintainance of 
 public and school libraries in most of the cities and 
 towns of the state. A careful study of these laws should 
 be made by those interested in the building up of a new 
 library. 
 
 BOARD OF DIRECTORS. 
 
 Usually the people who have been most influential 
 in founding the library will be given the responsibility 
 of managing its affairs. 
 
 There is a very general impression that directors 
 of a library board shoud necessarily belong to some one 
 of the learned professions whose members are presumed 
 to be book-lovers. The management of a public 
 library involves the exercise of many kinds of intelli- 
 gence and ability besides those used in the judgment 
 of books. Directors may quite as wisely be selected — 
 a part of the number at least — because of eminence 
 in executive ability, in business sagacity, in unblem- 
 ished integrity, in political power, as for mere literary 
 knowledge. The library, in fulfilling its highest func- 
 tions, will constantly be thrown into relations with the 
 community which will bring each one of these, and 
 other practical qualities, into active use. 
 
 In addition to qualifications along some of the lines 
 mentioned, the possession of that tolerant temper which 
 allows H man or woman to work harmoniously and 
 effectively as a member of the board, where individual 
 opinions and desires must always be balanced and mod- 
 
4 
 
 ified by- the will and wisdom of the majority, is also a 
 very necessary endowment for such a position. 
 
 . THE LIBRARIAN. 
 
 The usefulness of the library will depend upon its 
 librarian and the greatest care should be exercised 
 in selecting that officer. She should not be chosen be- 
 cause she is somebody's aunt, because she is poor and 
 deserving, because she is kindly, because she belongs 
 to a certain church or society, nor even because she 
 has a reputation as *a reader of books. She should be 
 engaged even before the general character of the library 
 and plan of administration have been determined. She 
 should have culture, executive ability, tact, sympathy 
 for children and some knowledge of library methods. 
 Save money in other ways but never by employing a 
 forceless man or woman as librarian. Trained libra- 
 rians are the best, but if you have but little money and 
 must be content to employ some local applicant without 
 experience, insist that the appointee shall immediately 
 make an intellignet study of library methods in some 
 small library, in a summer school of library science or 
 in a library school. She should become imbued with 
 the ‘‘library spirit" and be keenly alive to the tremen- 
 dous 'possibilities of her work. She should learn how 
 to get help from other librarians and from the vast 
 store of library experience found in books, when she is 
 puzzled by professional problems. 
 
 Few persons in a community have as great oppor- 
 tunities as the librarian. She may shape the reading, 
 and so the thoughts, of hundreds of impressionable 
 children. She should be a leader and a teacher, ear- 
 nest, enthusiastic and intelligent. She should be able 
 to win the confidence of children and wise to lead them 
 by easy stages from good books to the best. Chil- 
 dren and the best* children’s books should be her con- 
 stant associates and friends. When a board of directors 
 can secure such a librarian they may wisely afford to 
 
employ her even if her salary eats up a large propor- 
 tion of the income. A librarian should be, in fact as 
 well as in theory, the responsible head of the library 
 and should be consulted in all matters relating to 
 its management. Directors should impose responsi- 
 bility, grant freedom and exact results. 
 
 SELECTING BOOKS. 
 
 The first books purchased by a library should in- 
 clude a large proportion for children; because the 
 children are more easily trained to enjoy good books 
 than adults, because the hordes are most easily 
 reached through them, and because everybody loves the 
 great children’s classics. Even the older people who 
 have read few books generally begin with bright books 
 for children. A library should set itself, as its first task, 
 to cultivate the reading habit among the masses of the 
 people. The habit of coming to the library for study and 
 reference work will follow. The first books bought 
 should therefore be those which experience proves that 
 people enjoy. They should be wholesome and they 
 must be interesting. Fortunately there are a few 
 hundred such books, many of them widely known, 
 of whose merit and interest there is no doubt. Many 
 of these are standards and can be bought at low prices 
 in durable editions. The first purchase may include 
 books of far greater average merit than any subsequent 
 purchase. As far as the general reader is concerned 
 the best five hundred popular books are worth all the 
 rest. Be contented to get books of undoubted merit 
 at first and save some of the money which can be used 
 for books to freshen the library when you know better 
 the tastes of the readers and the lines of reference books 
 that will be most in demand. 
 
 There are a number of excellent lists of popular 
 books which have been made by people of wide ex- 
 perience in libraries; some of these can be had for the 
 asking and others are sold at cost. 
 
6 
 
 (For aids and guides in the selection of books, see 
 Appendix B.) 
 
 FITTINGS AND SUPPLIES. 
 
 It is a common experience for trustees to be 
 alarmed at the initial expense of starting even a small 
 public library properly. They forget that the first ex- 
 pense is like equipping a school with desks and ap- 
 paratus for succesful work; that the expense is incurred 
 only once in many years. However much good may 
 be done, a library will never do the*best work till its 
 management recognises the duty and true economy of 
 providing skilled assistance and the best labor-saving 
 equipment of fittings and supplies. 
 
 (For fittngs and supplies, see Appendix B.) 
 
 LIBRARY MANAGEMENT. 
 
 The best of all libraries is a choice collection of 
 books in the home, where the volumes are daily com- 
 panions and stand as constant incentives to reading. 
 The public library should be as much like a model 
 home library as possible. Its shelves should be acces- 
 sible to old and young. Children should browse among 
 the books and learn to select their reading directly 
 from the shelves. They should be trained to get facts 
 by independent research. They should be encouraged 
 in the study of subjects for which they have special 
 mental aptitudes. 
 
 Libraries started with an assured income, with 
 the right spirit, a good librarian, and entertaining 
 books, can hardly fail of success. Many problems 
 will arise, as the library grows; but great help may 
 always be obtained in solving them from the experi- 
 ence of other libraries. The final word of counsel to 
 those organizing libraries may well be to get into touch 
 with their co-workers in other libraries, so that a 
 great store of experience may be constantly^ at their 
 service. 
 
LIBRARIES AND SCHOOLS AND WOMEN’S CLUBS. 
 
 Libraries have won a place in the educational sys- 
 tem by proving their educational value. They are 
 broadening the work of the schools and of mature stu- 
 dents by giving opportunities for wider study. In 
 furnishing such opportunities the librarian should lead 
 — should not wait to be driven. She should krtow 
 when the sixth grade pupils of the local schools are 
 ready to study Africa and all the suitable books on 
 the dark continent should be ready for them and, if 
 necessary, pushed upon the attention of both teachers 
 and pupils. Before the children begin to prepare to 
 celebrate Washington’s birthday, all the available ma- 
 terial on Washington’s life and character should be 
 ready at hand to tempt them to further researches. 
 The little independent investigations of the boys and 
 girls should be encouraged, and students of all ages 
 should be sought out, helped and trained to use books 
 for reference and study. While the child is attending 
 school the work of the library is mainly supplemen- 
 tary, but, if the librarian has sought, merited and won 
 the confidence of the teacher and pupil by helping 
 them in their daily work she can assume a very differ- 
 ent attitude to the child who has left school. She may 
 be to him a leader and teacher, inspiring him to con- 
 tinue his reading and study along good lines. 
 
 The needs of women’s clubs, debating and literary 
 societies and all associations Tor study should be met 
 and anticipated as far as possible. This means that 
 the librarian should be in constant touch with the lead- 
 ers and should not wait for demands for assistance. 
 The library should lead — not follow. Every wave of 
 popular interest and enthusiasm should be used to 
 waft the library to merited popular favor, and so to 
 greater means and usefulness. 
 
8 
 
 TWO BOOK SYSTEM. 
 
 Many libraries are using a system by which each 
 borrower is allowed to draw two books, of which only 
 one may be a novel. This system has proved very suc- 
 cessful and has led many patrons of libraries to read 
 a much larger proportion of books of history, biogra- 
 phy, travel, science and literature. 
 
 In Public Libraries (May, 1897) may be found an 
 excellent description of the value, and something of 
 the methods, of this system. 
 
 LIBRARY SCHOOLS. 
 
 There are library schools, with courses of one and 
 two years, in connection with the State Library, 
 Albany, N. Y. ; the University of Illinois, Champaign, 
 111.; Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, N. Y.; and Drexel 
 Institute, Philadelphia, Pa. All of these schools are 
 doing invaluable work, and are sending out graduates 
 who are well trained and enthusiastic. Further in- 
 formation in regard to their courses of instruction may 
 be obtained by addressing the directors of the library 
 school departments of the institutions named above. 
 
 SUMMER SCHOOLS. 
 
 Short courses in library science are given each 
 summer at the library school, Albany, N. Y. , the Uni- 
 versity of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis., and Amherst . 
 College Library, Amherst, Mass. 
 
 LIBBARY ASSOCIATIONS. 
 
 The American Library Association is the national 
 organization of persons connected with libraries. It is 
 fostering library interests in many ways and its annual 
 meetings are noteworthy among educatioal gatherings. 
 The proceedings of these meetings are printed in full 
 
and distributed to all members. The association pub- 
 lishes a “hand-book” which gives full information of 
 its work. Copies may be obtained by writing to the 
 secretary, H. J. Carr, Scranton, Pa. 
 
 OHIO LIBBARY ASSOCIATION. 
 
 The Ohio Library Association was organized in 
 1895 and has held four annual conferences. It invites 
 to its membership not only librarians, library trustees 
 and teachers, but all friends of libraries. Its meetings 
 are enthusiastic and inspiring and they have done much 
 to develop the interest in public libraries throughout 
 the state. The programs of the association are inter- 
 esting and helpful, the social atmosphere is congenial 
 and new members are cordially welcomed and made to 
 feel at home. There is a college library section, organ- 
 ized in 1895, to deal specially with college library 
 
 problems and with the earnest desire to aid in 
 the solution of these problems by bringing the 
 
 college libraries of the State into closer touch. 
 
 One session of the association is given to the 
 
 trustees, whose ranks include many of our citi- 
 zens who are distinguished for scholarship, public 
 spirit, and business, political or executive ability. No 
 one who is interested in libraries can afford to miss these 
 annual conferences. The progressive libraries are find- 
 ing it profitable to require their librarians to attend 
 these meetings and also to pay their expenses. 
 
 Any one wishing to join the association may do 
 so by sending his name and the fee (fifty cents) to the 
 secretary, Mr. Charles Orr, Case Library, Cleve- 
 land, O., and they will receive copies of all printed 
 matter sent out by the association. Mr. Robinson 
 Locke, of Toledo, is president, and Miss K. W. Sher- 
 wood, of the Cincinnati Public Library, is treasurer. 
 
10 
 
 LIBBARY EXTENSION. 
 
 The Library Extension Committee of the O. L. A. 
 is a working committee empowered by the association 
 to act as an official Bureau of Information, to collect 
 library statistics, and to give all possible aid in the 
 shape of information needed by new libraries, and by 
 libraries which have outgrown their old methods. This 
 committee is as follows: 
 
 J. F. McGrew, Springfield, chairman, Miss Alice 
 Boardman, State Library, Columbus, ^secrectary, 
 Miss Esther Crawford, Public Library, Dayton, Miss 
 Linda A. Eastman, Public Library, Cleveland, Mr. 
 Charles Orr, secretary O. L. A., ex-officio. Any per- 
 son who is willing to act as correspondent for this 
 committee, in furthering the library interests of 
 any town or section of the state, is asked to notify 
 the secretary of the committee. 
 
 (See Appendix D.) 
 
 women's clubs. 
 
 The library progress of the state during the past few 
 years owes much to the efforts of the State Federation 
 of Women’s Clubs. The Library Extension Com- 
 mittee of the federation consists of Mrs. John Mack, 
 712 Wayne St., Sandusky, chairman, Mrs. Elroy M. 
 Avery, 657 Woodland Hills, Cleveland, Mrs. M. M. 
 Battels, 222 Main St., Ashtabula, Miss Alice Board- 
 man, Ohio State Library, Columbus, and Miss Caddie 
 Whaley, Court St., Pomeroy. 
 
 teachers’ associations. 
 
 At its annual meeting in 1897„ the Ohio .State 
 Teachers’ Association established a Library Section 
 with a view to closer co-operation between libraries 
 and schools. 
 
 The National Educational Association has also es- 
 tablished a library section and an account of the 
 
11 
 
 proceedings of this section will be given in the volume 
 annually published by the larger organization. Pres. 
 L. D. Harvey, of Milwaukee, is chairman of the sec- 
 tion, and Miss Myrtilla Avery, of Albany, N. Y., 
 is secretary. 
 
 TRAVELING LIBRARIES. 
 
 A system of traveling libraries has been put into 
 operation by the State Library. Since Oct. 9, 1896, 
 627 of these libraries have been sen^t out to various 
 parts of the state; of these, 123 were sent to the 
 granges, 113 to women’s clubs, 172 to schools, and 
 196 to other organizations. 575 have been sent out 
 since Nov. 15, 1897. 
 
 Any library, school, club or other organization may 
 borrow books in accordance with the provisions for 
 traveling libraries; communications should be sent to 
 C. B. Galbreath, librarian, State Library, Columbus, 
 Ohio. 
 
 STATE PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 Through a law which passed the legislature in 1898, 
 the State Library becomes a distributing centre for 
 state publications. These publications are increasing 
 in number and value each year, and every library 
 should endeavor to make its file of Ohio documents 
 as complete as possible. A very valuable check list 
 of Ohio publications was compiled by Mr. R. P. 
 Hayes, one of the original members of the Library 
 Commission, and published in 1897. Requisitions for 
 this and for all state documents should be made to 
 C. B. Galbreath, librarian, State Library, Coumbus, 
 Ohio. 
 
 U. S. DOCUMENTS. 
 
 A prominent librarian who has had a long and suc- 
 cessful experience in getting public documents for 
 libraries has kindly given, in a letter to this commis- 
 sion, a number of hints to help in the perplexing prob- 
 
12 
 
 lem of how to obtain copies of government publications. 
 He writes as follows: 
 
 “It is not easy to give the information you ask for 
 as to the classes' of public documents that can be ob- 
 tained by small free public libraries, because what can 
 be obtained depends so largely on the enterprise and 
 ‘gumption’ of the librarian. One who knows how may 
 obtain almost everything that is worth having, while 
 one who is dilatory and inaccurate about asking may 
 get almost nothing. 
 
 “Members of Congress have allotments of the cloth 
 editions of almost all the documents that libraries 
 want. These allotments are often small, and the ear- 
 liest applicants are the only ones who can be supplied. 
 The librarian who keeps herself informed of what is 
 being published and asks for it promptly will usually 
 get it. If such an enterprising librarian finds that her 
 Senator or Representative does not respond to her re- 
 quests, she has another recourse, namely, the Bureau, 
 •or Division, or Survey or Commission, or office by 
 which the desired .document is published. Every 
 Government office that prepares books for publication 
 has a supply of its own books for free distribution. Fre- 
 quently the number is small, and prompt application 
 is advisable in dealing with a bureau as well as with 
 a member of Congress. If sets are desired, it is often 
 practicable for a library, by judicious application, 
 made in a way to show that an intelligent use will be 
 made of the publications, to get on the permanent 
 mailing lists of the Bureau of Education, the Depart- 
 ment of Labor, the Fish Commission, the Office of 
 Experiment Stations in the Department of Agriculture, 
 or other publishing offices whose bulletins or reports 
 may be desired by the library. The time to apply 
 for the Congressional Record and the Congres- 
 sional Directory is at the opening, or shortly before 
 the opening, of each session of Congress. Then the 
 mailing lists are made up. There is no source of free 
 supply for these publications except the favor of Sena- 
 
13 
 
 tors and Representatives, and their allotments are com- 
 paratively limited, so that late applicants are likely to 
 be disappointed. Members of Congress can supply 
 either the numbers of the Record issued daily during 
 the session or the complete work in bound volumes 
 issued after the close of the session. The daily num- 
 bers may be preserved and bound, but they will not 
 agree in pagination with the Government’s bound 
 volumes.” 
 
APPENDIX A. 
 
 LIBRARY LAWS OF OHIO. 
 
 An act providing for the creation of library boards for certain 
 cities and villages and prescribing the duties of such boards. 
 
 Section 1. Public libraries 
 and reading rooms ; library 
 fund; How expended. 
 
 Section 2. Directors; appoint- 
 ment ; term ; Classes ; Vacan- 
 cies ; Compensation. 
 
 Section 3. Organization of 
 Directors ; by-laws, rules, and 
 regulations; Control of expen- 
 ditures; Custody of building ; 
 how money drawn from treas- 
 ury; Library building; Libra- 
 rian and assistants ; rules* 
 
 Section 4. To whom libraries 
 and reading rooms are free; 
 rules and regulations ; viola- 
 tion of rules. 
 
 Section 5. Annual report of 
 directors. 
 
 Section 6. Donations for bene- 
 fit of library. 
 
 Section 7. Levy for support 
 of free public library estab- 
 lished by associations ; Control 
 of proceeds. When property 
 subject to control of council. 
 
 Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly 
 of the State of Ohio, That the common council of 
 every city not exceeding in population thirty thousand 
 inhabitants, and of every incorporated village shall 
 have power to establish a public library and reading 
 room, and for such purpose may annually levy and 
 cause to be collected, as other general taxes are, a 
 tax not exceeding one mill on a dollar of the taxable 
 property of such city or village, to constitute a library 
 fund, which shall be kept by the treasurer separate 
 and apart from other money of the city or village and 
 be used exclusively for the purchase of books, perio- 
 dicals, necessary furniture and fixtures, and whatever 
 is required for the maintenance of such library and 
 reading room. 
 
 Section 2 . For the government of such library and 
 reading room there shall be a board of six directors 
 appointed by the council of such city or village from 
 
 *4 
 
15 
 
 among the citizen’s thereof at large, and not more 
 than one member of the council of such city or village 
 shall at any one time be member of said board. Such 
 directors shall hold their office for three years from the 
 date of appointment, and until their successors are 
 appointed, but upon their. first appointment they shall 
 divide themselves at their first meeting by lot, into 
 three classes, one-third for one year, one-third for 
 two years and one-third for three years, and their term 
 shall expire accordingly. All vacancies shall be imme- 
 diately reported by the directors to the proper council, 
 and be filled by appointment in like manner; and if 
 an unexpired term, for the residue of the term only. 
 No compensation whatever shall be paid or allowed 
 to any director. 
 
 Section 3. Said directors shall, immediately after 
 their appointment, meet and organize by the election 
 of one of their number president, and by the election of 
 such other officers as they may deem necessary. They 
 shall make and adopt such by-laws, rules and regula- 
 tions for their own guidance, and for the government 
 of the library^ and reading room, as may be expe- 
 dient. They shall have the exclusive control of the 
 expenditures of all the moneys collected for the library 
 fund, and the supervision, care and custody of the 
 room or buildings constructed, leased or set apart for 
 that purpose, and such money shall be drawn from 
 the treasury by the proper officers, upon the properly 
 authenticated voucher of the board of directors, with- 
 out otherwise being audited. They may, with the 
 approval. of the common council, lease and occupy, 
 or purchase, or erect on purchased ground, an ap- 
 propriate building, provided that no more than one 
 half the income in any one year can be set apart in 
 said year for such purchase or building. They may 
 appoint a librarian and assistants, and prescribe rules 
 for their conduct. 
 
 Section 4. Every library and reading room estab- 
 lished under this chapter shall be forever free for the 
 
16 
 
 use of the inhabitants of the city or village where 
 located, always subject to such reasonable rules and 
 regulations as the library board may find necessary 
 to adopt and publish in order to render the use of said 
 library and reading room of the greatest benefit to 
 the greatest number; ahd they may exclude and cut 
 off from the use of said library and reading room 
 any and all persons who shall willfully violate such 
 rules. 
 
 Section 5. The said board of directors shall make 
 an annual report to such council stating the condition 
 of their trust — the various sums of money received from 
 the library fund and from all other sources, and how 
 much has been expended; the number of books and 
 periodicals on hand; the number added by purchase, 
 gift or otherwise during the year; the number lost or 
 missing; the number of books loaned out and the 
 general kind and character of such books, with other 
 statistics, information and suggestions as they may 
 deem of general interest. 
 
 Section 6. All persons desirous of making dona- 
 tions of money, personal property or real estate for 
 the benefit of such library shall have right to vest the 
 title of the same in the board of directors created 
 under this law to be held and controlled by said board 
 when accepted according to the terms of the deed or 
 gift, devise or bequest of such property, and as to 
 such property, the said board shall be held and con- 
 sidered to be the special trustees. 
 
 Section 7. In case a free public library has been 
 established in any city or incorporated village and duly 
 incorporated and organized, the council may levy a 
 tax for its support as provided in this act without 
 change in the organization of such library associations, 
 and the sums so raised shall be paid to the officer 
 duly authorized to receive the same, and shall be under 
 the control of said library association; provided that 
 if at any time such library association ceases to exist 
 or ,from any reason fails to provide a free circulating 
 
17 
 
 library as required by the provisions of this act, the 
 books and other property accumulated from the pro- 
 ceeds of the levy herein authorized shall become the 
 property of the city or village and be subject to the 
 control of the council as herein provided. 
 
 Section 8. This act shall take effect and be in 
 force from and after its passage. 
 
 LEWIS C. LAYLIN, 
 Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
 
 ANDREW L. HARRIS, 
 
 President of the Senate. 
 
 Passed March 15,- 1892. 
 
 SCHOOL LIBRARIES. 
 
 Section 3995. Certain Boards 
 may appropriate money for li- 
 brary, etc. See Sup. 
 
 Section 3999. In certain cities 
 board of education may ap- 
 
 point board of managers of li- 
 brary ; board of trustees of li- 
 brary in certain cities (Cincin- 
 nati) . 
 
 Section 3995. In any district the board of education 
 may appropriate money from the contingent fund for 
 the purchase of such books, other than school books, 
 as it may deem suitable for the use and improvement 
 of the scholars and teachers of the district, and in the 
 purchase of philosophical or other apparatus for the 
 demonstration of such branches of education as may 
 be taught in the school of the district, dr for either of 
 such purposes; but not more than one half the amount 
 herein authorized to be appropriated shall be expended 
 in the purchase of such apparatus; such appropriations 
 shall not exceed, in any one year, twelve hundred dol- 
 lars imcity districts containing cities of the first grade of 
 the first class, one hundred and fifty dollars in city dis- 
 tricts of the second class, and seventy-five dollars in 
 other districts; and the books so purshased shall consti- 
 tute a school library, the control and management of 
 
18 
 
 which shall be vested in the board of education. The 
 board of education of any city of the second class, 
 fourth grade, having a free public library organized, 
 in pursuance of law, may allow such free public library 
 associations the use and control of the public school 
 library, subject however, to such rules, regulations 
 and restrictions as said board of education may pre- 
 scribe for the use and control thereof. (64 v. 62, Sec. 
 
 3.) 
 
 Section 3999. In cities not having less than 
 twenty-five thousand inhabitants,* the boards of edu- 
 cation having custody of any public library therein, 
 may, at any regular meeting, adopt a resolution pro- 
 viding for a board of managers of such library and 
 shall thereupon elect, by ballot, two persons to serve 
 as members of such board for a term of two years, 
 and two persons to serve a term of one year; and annu- 
 ally thereafter two persons shall be elected to serve for 
 a term of three years; all vacancies in such board shall 
 be filled by the board of education by ballot, and the 
 person so elected shall fill the unexpired term of his 
 predecessor; the president of the board of education 
 shall be a member of the board of managers ex-officio; 
 and the board of managers shall at all times be amen- 
 able to and under the control of the board of education, 
 as to tenure of office and authority, and shall serve 
 without compensation; provided, however, that in the 
 cities of the first grade of the first class, the board of 
 managers of the public library therein is hereby abol- 
 ished, and a board of trustees of such library shall be 
 appointed as follows, viz: the board of education of 
 the school district of such city, the union board of 
 high schools, and the board of directors of the Uni- 
 versity of such city shall each by ballot appoint two 
 persons to serve for three years each as members 
 of a board of trustees of sand public library, and at 
 the expiration of each term of three years, said board 
 shall each likewise make appointments for the suc- 
 ceeding three years. All vacancies in said board of 
 
trustees of said library shall be likewise filled, by the 
 board making the appointment vacated, to serve for 
 the remainder of the term thus unexpired. The presi- 
 dent of the board of education of such school district, 
 shall be ex-officio member of the said library board, 
 and otherwise, no member of any board exercising 
 the appointing powers herein conferred shall be ap- 
 pointed as a member of said library board. (88 v. 46.) 
 
 CITIES AND VILLAGES — ENUMERATION OF 
 POWERS. 
 
 Section 1692. In addition to the powers specifically 
 granted in this title, and subject to the exceptions and 
 limitations in other parts of it, cities and villages shall 
 have the general powers enumerated in this section, 
 and the council may provide by ordinance for the 
 exercise and enforcement of the same. 
 
 To establish and maintain free, public libraries 
 and reading rooms, and to purchase books, papers, 
 maps and manuscripts therefor, and to receive dona- 
 tions and bequests of money or property for the same 
 in trust jor otherwise; and the council may appoint 
 such trustees or officers-, and confer on tfiem such au- 
 thority as may be necessary to render any reading room 
 so established of public utility; and may, also, pass 
 necessary by-laws, and regulations for the protection 
 and government of the same. 
 
 OFFICERS OF CIVIL TOWNSHIPS — MISCELLA- 
 NEOUS POWERS. 
 
 Section 1476. Question of pub- 
 lic library shall be submitted 
 to electors. 
 
 Section 1477. Trustees of li- 
 brary appointment of. 
 
 Section 1478. Transfer of 
 books of school libraries to 
 township library. 
 
20 
 
 Section 1476. The trustees of a township in which 
 is situated a vilage, having a population of not more 
 than one thousand, on the petition of twenty electors 
 thereof, shall upon four weeks’ public notice published 
 in some newspaper of general circulation in the county, 
 submit to the electors of such township, at some gen- 
 eral election in April or October, the question whether 
 there shall be a public library established in such town- 
 ship for the use and benefit of the citizens thereof, 
 and those voting at such election in favor of such li- 
 brary, shall put upon their ballots the words, “Public 
 Library — Yes,” and those voting thereat against such 
 library, the words, “Public Library — No,” and if a 
 majority of electors voting at such election vote in 
 favor thereof, the trustees aforesaid have authority, 
 annually, to levy upon all the taxable property of 
 such township, a tax not exceeding one-tenth of one 
 mill on the dollar valuation thereof, to be applied to 
 the establishment and maintenance of a library, as 
 aforesaid, and the procuring of a suitable room or 
 rooms for the same. (70 v. 244, Sec. 1.) 
 
 Section 1477. The trustees shall appoint three trus- 
 tees of said library, and confer upon them such au- 
 thority as may be necessary to render any library 
 so established of public utility; and said library shall 
 be conducted and cared for under such rules and regu- 
 lations as such library trustees prescribe. (70 v. 244, 
 Sec. 1.) 
 
 Section 1478. The library trustees have authority 
 by and with the consent of the local boards of edu- 
 cation, or other school officers having the same in 
 charge, to receive and place in said library, the books 
 of the school library, subject at all times to the call 
 of the said boards of education or other school officers. 
 (70 v. 244 Sec. 1.) 
 
21 
 
 FARM LABORERS’ ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Section 3847. May maintain libraries, etc. 
 
 Sectin 3848. All such incorporated associations may 
 keep and maintain libraries, and a museum of art 
 consisting of models of such improved instruments 
 and machinery as are best calculated to promote the 
 interests of agriculture, for the benefit of such associa- 
 tions, under such rules and regulations as its members 
 from time to time adopt, and may make all needful 
 by-laws for the good government and regulation of 
 the same. (74 v. 2Q4, Sec. 11.) 
 
 SENATE BILL No. 15. 
 
 Law of February 16, 1898, under which Greenfield, Gallipolis 
 and Pomeroy are now proceeding to establish libraries. 
 
 An act to authorize cities of the fourth grade of the second class 
 to levy a tax for maintenance of a free public and school 
 library. v 
 
 Section 1. Library associa- 
 tion in cities of fourth grade, 
 second class ; levy of tax. 
 Section 2. Disposition of tax. 
 
 Section 3. Association to ren- 
 der account ; power to levy tax. 
 
 Section 4. Tax to be in lieu 
 of other taxes ; purchase of 
 school apparatus ; levy. 
 
 Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly 
 of the State of Ohio, That in any city of the fourth 
 grade of the second class, and in which city there is 
 established and maintained by a public library associa- 
 tion duly incorporated but not organized for profit, 
 a public library free to all the inhabitants of such city* 
 the board of education shall levy or cause to be levied 
 an annual tax, in addition if need be to the annual 
 amount of taxes limited by law for school purposes, 
 of not less than three-tenths and not to exceed five- 
 tenths of a mill on all the taxable property within such 
 city and school district to be called “a public library 
 
22 
 
 fund,” which shall be certified to the county auditor 
 of the county and placed on the tax duplicate of the 
 county, and collected as other taxes. 
 
 Section 2. Said tax when so levied and collected 
 shall be paid over by the treasurer of the board of edu- 
 cation to the treasurer of said library association, 
 to be used only in the purchase of books, pamphlets, 
 magazines or newspapers, and for the general library 
 expenses of said library association. 
 
 Section 3. Said board of education shall require 
 said library association to render an account as often 
 as it shall deem proper of all taxes so received by it, 
 and how the same have been expended, and power to 
 levy a tax under this act shall continue only so long 
 as said association shall keep up and maintain in a 
 public place in such city a public library free to all 
 the inhabitants thereof and to all persons residing 
 within said school district. 
 
 Section 4. The tax so levied shall be in lieu of all 
 other taxes levied for school library purposes, and 
 no other levy shall be made for such purpose; provided, 
 however, that nothing herein shall prohibit the board 
 of education from purchasing all necessary philoso- 
 phical or other apparatus for the schools and making 
 necessary levies therefor. 
 
 Section 5. This act shal take effect and be in force 
 from and after its passage. 
 
 HARRY C. MASON, 
 
 Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
 THADDEUS E. CROMLEY, 
 President pro. tern, of the Senate. 
 
 Passed February 15, 1898. 
 
APPENDIX B, 
 
 AIDS AND GUIDES IN LIBRARY ECONOMY. 
 
 HINTS TO SMALL LIBRARIES; revised and enlarged.— 
 M. W. Plummer. Truslove & Comba, N. Y. 1898. 
 5Q cents. 
 
 Contents. — Receiving and entering books; book 
 numbers and cataloging; shelf list and inventory; 
 mechanical preparation of books for the shelves; bind- 
 ing; relations with the public; charging system; read- 
 ing room and reference work; selecting and ordering 
 books; rooms and fixtures; library tools. 
 
 DENVER PUBLIC LIBRARY HAND-BOOK.— J. C. Dana, 
 Ed. Carson-Harper Co.. Denver, Col., 1895. 182 p., 
 
 cloth $1.00. 
 
 Contents. — Starting a library; advertising a library; 
 selecting books; books suggested for a school library; 
 buying books; periodicals; some periodicals suitable 
 for a small library; lending books; catalogs; charging 
 books; suggestions to assistants; accession work; 
 routine work; cataloging and classifying a small li- 
 brary; binding; inventory; books on library work; 
 index. 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN AMERICA.— W. I. Fletcher. 
 Roberts Bros. 1894. $1.00. 
 
 Contents. — The public library movement, its his- 
 tory and significance; library laws; public library and 
 the community; library buildings; classification and 
 ^ catalogs; minor details of library management; selec- 
 tion and purchase of books; reference work; public 
 library in relation to the schools; university exten- 
 sion, etc.; librarian, his work, and his training for it; 
 
 23 
 
24 
 
 American library association; a few representative li- 
 braries; special libraries; public libraries in Canada; 
 the future of the public library. Appendix: 1, Scheme 
 of classification; 2, Special collections; 3, Sunday 
 opening of libraries; 4, Gifts to libraries; 5, Statistics; 
 6, Library rules; 7, Biographic sketches. 
 
 Papers prepared for the American Library Associa- 
 tion in 1893. Melvil Dewey, Ed. Government Printing 
 Office, Washington. 
 
 This is a collection of the papers written for the 
 meeting of the A. L. A., which was held at the Colum- 
 bian Exposition. They were published in pamphlet 
 form by the U. S. Bureau of Education and may be had 
 without cost by application to that department in 
 Washington. 
 
 BOOKS ON CLASSIFICATION AND CATALOGING. 
 
 DEWEY. M.— DECIMAL CLASSIFICATION AND RELATIVE 
 INDEX. 5th ed. Morroco $5.00. Library Bureau, 125 
 Franklin street, Chicago, 111. 
 
 ABRIDGED DECIMAL CLASSIFICATION AND RELA- 
 TIVE INDEX. Library Notes, v. 4, Nos. 13, 14. Paper, 
 50 cents. Library Bureau, 125 Franklin street, Chi- 
 cago, 111. 
 
 Note. — This abridgement was made in answer to 
 a strong demand for a short form adapted to the needs 
 of small and slowly growing libraries. 
 
 CUTTER, C. A.— RULES FOR A DICTIONARY CATALOG. 
 
 3 ed. 1891. (In U. S. Bureau of Education Special 
 Report on Public Libraries, pt. 2.) Address U. S. 
 Bureau of Education, Washington, D. C. 
 
 EXPANSIVE CLASSIFICATION. Parts 1-6 now pub- 
 lished; (work unfinished). Write for particulars to 
 Mr. C. A. Cutter, Forbes Library, Northampton, 
 Mass. 
 
25 
 
 CARD CATALOGUE RULES.— Library School Rules for 
 author and classed catalogs, edited by Melvil Dewey. 
 Library Bureau, 125 Franklin street, Chicago. $1.00. 
 (Includes Accession and Shelf List Rules.) 
 
 LIST OF SUBJECT HEADINGS FOR USE IN DICTIONARY 
 CATALOGS. A. L. A. Library Bureau. 125 Franklin 
 street, Chicago. $2.00. 
 
 CUTTER S DECIMAL AUTHOR TABLE. A scheme for giv- 
 ing to each work its own exclusive book number, so 
 contrived that the books stand on the shelves alphabeted 
 by authors under each subject. Library Bureau. 125 
 Franklin street, Chicago. $1.25. 
 
 RULES FOR BORROWERS IN A SMALL LIBRARY. 
 
 Rules should be as simple as possible and not be 
 desingned to restrict liberty but to prevent encroach- 
 ment and secure the greatest good to all. 
 
 RULES. 
 
 Borrowers. — Adults are entitled to draw books by 
 filling out an application blank. Children must obtain 
 the signature of parent or other responsible guarantor. 
 
 Borrower’s Card. — If a borrower’s card is lost, a 
 new one will be given after seven days’ notice or upon 
 payment of five cents. 
 
 Number of Volumes. — (1) Two books not fiction, 
 or (2) one work of fiction and one not fiction may be 
 drawn at a time. Two volumes of the same work are 
 considered as one book. 
 
 Time Kept. — A book may be x kept two weeks, 
 except recent fiction marked “Iseven Day Book.” 
 
 Renewal. — AH books, other than “Seven Day 
 Books,” may be renewed for fourteen days. 
 
 Over Due Books. — A fine of one cent a day will 
 be imposed for books kept over time. 
 
26 
 
 Hours. — The library shall be open every week day, 
 holidays excepted, from to . 
 
 BY-LAWS SUGGESTED FOR BOARDS OF DIREC- 
 TORS OF SMALL PUBLIC LIBRARIES. 
 
 By-laws of the Board of Trustees of the Free 
 Library of , Ohio. 
 
 1. Officers. — The officers of the Board shall be a 
 President, Vice-President and Secretary, who shall 
 be elected annually from their own members. 
 
 The President shall perform the duties generally per- 
 taining to that office. 
 
 The Vic^-President shall, in the absence or dis- 
 ability of the President, perform all the duties of the 
 President. 
 
 The Secretary shall record all the official actions of 
 the Board and have custody of all its official books, 
 records and accounts except those in current use by 
 another officer. 
 
 2. Meetings. — The regular meetings of the Board 
 
 shall be on the (third Monday) of each month at 
 
 p. m., at the library. 
 
 The annual meeting shall be on the (third Monday) 
 of July in each year. 
 
 Special meetings shall be called by the President 
 or by request of any two trustees for the transaction 
 only of business stated in the call. v 
 
 Six members shall constitute a quorum. 
 
 3. Committees. — At the annual meeting the Presi- 
 dent shall appoint standing committees as follows: 
 a committee of three members on library, a committee 
 of three members on finance and a committee of four 
 members on rooms. 
 
 The committee on library shall supervise the selec- 
 tion, buying, exchange and binding of books and peri- 
 
27 
 
 odicals, and have general supervision of the adminis- 
 tration' of the library and reading room. 
 
 The finance committee shall have charge of all 
 library finances, examine and report upon all bills 
 against the Board, and make an annual investigation 
 of and report upon the library fund in the hands of the 
 City (or Village) Treasurer. 
 
 The committee on rooms shall have general charge 
 of the heating, lighting and arrangement of the rooms, 
 and the care of the fixtures and furniture. 
 
 4. Claims. — All claims against the Board must be 
 presented at a meeting of the board and referred to 
 the committee on finance for investigation and report. 
 The President and Secretary shall draw orders upon 
 the City (or Village) Treasurer for the payment of 
 bills which the board orders paid. 
 
 5. Librarian. — The librarian shall have charge of 
 the library and reading-room and be responsible for 
 the care of the books and other library property; 
 classify and arrange all books and publications and 
 keep the same cataloged according to such plans as 
 may be approved by the board; promptly report any 
 delinquencies to the committee on library; keep exact 
 account of all moneys received from fines and other 
 sources and report the amount to the board at its regu- 
 lar meetings in January, April, July and October and 
 pay all balances to the Secretary at the designated 
 meetings, and discharge such other duties as may 
 be prescribed by the board, provided that in the per- 
 formance of his duties he shall not incur debt or liability 
 of any kind without express authority from the board. 
 
 Notes. — Many small libraries will find it sufficient 
 to hold regular meetings once in three months. 
 
 When the librarian’s receipts from fines are light 
 he may be allowed to retain them for some time and 
 to pay very small bills, or postage, etc., from them. 
 When settling with the Secretary he may pay the full 
 
28 
 
 amounts and be given an order for the amount of 
 his expenditures. The Secretary should pay the bal- 
 ance to the City Treasurer before the time for the 
 annual meeting and report. 
 
 When a library board receives considerable sums of 
 money from subscription or other sources than public 
 taxation, it may be advisable for it to elect a Trea- 
 surer from its own members. In such, cases that officer 
 should give adequate bonds. 
 
 Many libraries call in all the books July 1 each 
 year for the annual examination which precedes the 
 making of the Annual Report to the common council. 
 
APPENDIX C 
 
 AIDS IN SELECTING BOOKS. 
 
 CATALOG OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION LI- 
 BRARY. 1893. Free. Address, Bureau of Education, 
 Washington, D. C. Catalog of 5,000 volumes shown 
 at the Columbian Exposition. Gives authors, titles, 
 publishers and prices. Shows how good books should 
 be cataloged and classified. Includes a model dic- 
 tionary catalog. 
 
 LIST OF BOOKS FOR TOWNSHIP LIBRARIES; with sup- 
 plementary list for graded and high school libraries. 
 Free. Address, State Superintendent, Madison, Wis. 
 
 SUGGESTIVE LIST OF POPULAR BOOKS FOR A SMALL LI- 
 BRARY. Wisconsin Free Library Commission, Madi- 
 son, Wis. 2d ed. 1898. Free. 
 
 LIST OF BOOKS FOR GIRLS AND WOMEN AND THEIR 
 CLUBS. Ed. by A. H. Leypoldt and George lies. Pa- 
 per 50 cents; cloth $1.00. 1895. Library Bureau, 
 
 Chicago. 
 
 This list is invaluable to every librarian or member 
 of a book committee of a public library. 
 
 CLASS LIST OF A LIBRARY RECOMMENDED FOR SCHOOLS. 
 
 Second edition, revised. 1896. Published by the Uni- 
 versity of New York, Albany ^ N. Y.- Price, five cents. 
 
 READING FOR THE YOUNG, AND SUPPLEMENT. A classi- 
 fied and annotated catalogue, by J. F. Sargent, com- 
 bined with supplement by Mary E. and Abby L. Sar- 
 gent. Cloth $1.50. Library Bureau, Chicago, 111. 
 
30 
 
 LIST OF BOOKS FOR READING AND REFERENCE IN THE 
 LOWER GRADES OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Report of* a Com- 
 mittee to the Library Section of the N. E. A. Free. 
 For copies address F. A. Hutchins; Madison, Wis. 
 
 ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY IN FINE ART. Painting, 
 Sculpture, Architecture, Arts of Decoration and illus- 
 tration by Russel Sturgis, and music by H. E. Kreh- 
 bel. Edited by George lies. Paper 50 cents; cloth 
 $1.00. Library Bureau, Chicago, 111. 
 
 PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY. The American Book trade 
 journal. $3.00 a year. 59 Duane St., New York City. 
 
 PUBLISHER’S TRADE LIST ANNUAL. The latest catalog 
 of American book publishers. $2.00 a year. Address, 
 Publishers’ Weekly Office, 59 Duane St., New Yo**k 
 City. 
 
 BOOK BUYER. Monthly. $1.00 a year. Charles 
 Scribner’s Sons, New York City. 
 
 BOOK NEWS. Monthly. 50 cents a year. John 
 Wanamaker, Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 CRITIC. Monthly. $2.00 a year. 289 Fourth Ave., 
 New York City. 
 
 DIAL. Semi-monthly. $2.00 a year. 24 Adams 
 St., Chicago, 111. 
 
 NATION. Weekly. $3.00 a year. Box 794 New 
 York City. 
 
 LITERARY WORLD. Fortnightly. $2.00 a year. 1 
 Somerset St., Boston, Mass. 
 
 Write to leading publishers for catalogs, which 
 will be sent free. 
 
 LIBRARY PERIODICALS. 
 
 LIBRARY JOURNAL. Official organ of the American 
 Library Association. Monthly. $5.00 a year; single 
 number 50 cents. 59 Duane St., New York City. 
 
31 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARIES. Edited by M. E. Ahern. Of- 
 ficial organ of the Ohio Library Association. Month- 
 ly. $1.00 a year. Single numbers 20 cents. Library 
 Bureau, 125 Franklin St., Chicago. 111. 
 
 FITTINGS AND SUPPLIES. 
 
 Catalogs may be obtained by writing to Library 
 Bureau, 125 Franklin St., Chicago, 111. 
 
 Fred Macy Co., Grand Rapids, Mich. 
 
 Globe Co., Cincinnati, O. 
 
 # 
 
APPENDIX D< 
 
 OHIO LIBRARY STATISTICS. 
 
 The 1896 report of the Commissioner of Education 
 on Public, Society, and School Libraries in the United 
 States, gives the fullest tabulated statistics of Ohio 
 libraries published. Many new libraries have been 
 started, however, since that report was printed, and 
 many of those already established -have been reorgan- 
 ized and enlarged. 
 
 It is exceedingly desirable to obtain complete sta- 
 tistics, which shall be up to date, of all the libraries 
 in the state. The Library Extension Committee of the . 
 O. L. A. is endeavoring to gather this information, 
 and the Commission adds its request to theirs, that 
 all persons interested in libraries in the state send 
 their addresses to Miss Alice Boardman, secretary 
 Extension Committee, State Library, Columbus, O., 
 together with any information they are able to give 
 concerning new libraries in the state.