MUSEUM COOPERATION IN INDUSTRIAL TRAINING.

The rapid increase of vocational training and industrial work in public schools is already creating a demand for further assistance from museums, which they are meeting by lectures on the relation of natural resources to commerce and industry and by exhibits illustrating processes of manufacture. It is altogether probable that this is but the beginning of a phase of museum work which will ultimately occupy a large place in the activities of general museums and lead to the establishment of special industrial museums. The need of industrial museums was urged before the American Association of Museums in June, 1913, by Prof. Franklin W. Hooper, director of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences.1

CONCLUSION.

The history of American museums during 140 years shows that four sources of support have been generally used: (1) Learned societies; (2) schools, colleges, and universities; (3) private endowment; and (4) municipal, State, or National funds. The first of these leads to museums of high technical value, but requires supplementary endowment for the best results. These museums are seldom able to compete with municipal museums in public instruction or in cooperation with public schools. The second source of support is responsible for the largest number of existing museums. They are valued less in college instruction to-day than they were in the first half of the last century, and rarely receive adequate support unless aided by endowment. Their condition is seldom satisfactory, and often pitiable. The third source of support is the foundation of some of the largest and most influential modern museums. It also supplements in a very valuable way the income of museums primarily dependent upon other funds. The fourth method produces the most active and progressive museums of the present time, because the continuance of appropriations is contingent upon work of such broad scope and practical nature as to maintain the interest and approval of the general public. The most successful element of this work, and the one which has been most effective in obtaining both public and private funds, is the educational feature. This is the fundamental idea in modern exhibition, and it is supplemented, first, by organized public instruction through lectures, publications, and field excursions; and, second, by cooperation with schools. The latter includes the provision of special facilities in the museum for teachers and students, and the circulation of a great variety of portable exhibits among the schools in direct relation to their courses of study.

1 Proc. Am. Assoc. Mus., VII, 1913.

CHAPTER XIV.

LIBRARY ACTIVITIES DURING 1912-13.

By Miss M. E. AHERN.

Secretary of the American Library Institute, Chicago, Ill.

CONTENTS. -National aid-State aid-Traveling libraries-Package libraries-Library legislationCooperation-Efficiency records and pensions-Institutional libraries-Library schools-American library association-American library institute-The public library in the commission form of government-Publications-Special collections opened to the public in 1912-13-School librariesWidener Memorial Library-Necrology-Expansion in large cities.

Within the past year there has been a steady growth in all directions of library endeavor and a perceptible widening of the knowledge of the library as an important factor in solving the problems of education of every variety, as well as a definite aid in the various forms of business and Government activity. The year covered by the months July, 1912, to June, 1913, shows a continuance of interest in the extension of library service on the part of private donors and public officials, unceasing effort on the part of library administrators, and a truer recognition of the value of books on the part of those who come in contact with good library service.

On the whole the year has seen satisfactory progress. There still remain some parts of the country, happily growing fewer and less extended, where library service has not received the intelligent support that makes it productive, but every day sees the deadly hold of political favoritism growing slighter and an increase in appreciation of the opportunity of enlightenment offered by an efficient library. Buildings planned for service as well as beauty, trustees chosen for fitness and ability, administrators chosen for professional standing and equipment of all these there are inspiring examples in the activities of the past year.

NATIONAL AID.

Deep disappointment over the failure to include books in the parcel post privileges (act of Aug. 24, 1912) has caused library organization of every kind to express formal resolutions asking for remedial legislation from Congress. The American Library Association, the League of Library Commissions, and the various State and local associations

have asked that books in transit between libraries be admitted to the privilege of parcel post rate.1

The Library of Congress has continued to be of great assistance in general library service in issuing from time to time bibliographies on timely subjects of public interest, references on immigration, tariff, initiative, referendum, and recall.

The Library of Congress has quietly built up the valuable collections on its shelves until it has approached in value and extent many of the famous collections in Europe. Its greatest handicap continues to be lack of funds. While no large groups of printed books were presented this year, the aggregate of books and pamphlets received by private gift from many individuals and unofficial bodies was 11,256.

The following collections were acquired during the fiscal year, though not by gift: The Hoe's collection of books on the SpanishAmerican War; the library of the Tariff Board; the library of the National Monetary Commission; the records and books of the American Colonization Society.

Lists of references on the following subjects have been compiled under the direction of the chief bibliographer: Capital punishment; commission government for cities; conservation of natural resources in the United States; the cost of living and prices; Federal control of commerce and corporations; impeachment; the monetary question.

Other important publications of the library issued during the past fiscal year have been as follows:

The bibliography of international law and continental law. By E. M. Borchard, law librarian. 1913. 93 p. 26 cm.

Calendar of the papers of John Jordan Crittenden. Prepared from the original manu

scripts in the Library of Congress by C. N. Feamster. 1913. 335 p. 26 cm. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. Edited from the original records in the Library of Congress. v. 19-21. 1781. 1912. 27 cm.

Catalogue of early books on music (1800), by Julia Gregory of the catalogue division. Prepared under the direction of O. G. Sonneck, chief of division of music, 1913. 312 p. 25 cm.

The Navy Department spends $30,000 every year in libraries for its ships. Each "ship's library" includes 300 books, usually technical and more or less expensive. A "crew's library" is usually made up of about 500 books of fiction, suitable for entertainment. About one-third of the books are replaced each year. The books are recommended by those in charge of the ships. An effort will be made to standardize the libraries.

The Federal prison libraries have been subject to investigation in the past year by a committee from the league of library commissions. Recommendations for better organization of these libraries have been

1 This will be done by order of the Postmaster General of the United States on and after March 16, 1914.

presented to those in authority and were courteously received. A lack of funds prevents action at present.

STATE AID.

State aid to library service continues to be applied in 37 States, either through the State libraries or through the library commissions of the several States. The extent and value of the State's aid varies according to the effectiveness of these agencies. West Virginia, South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Nevada, Montana, and Wyoming are still without official State aid. The State library associations in Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Montana are supplying the lack somewhat and are building up a sentiment in favor of State library service.

An honorary library commission was appointed by the governor of Arkansas as an initial step toward securing library legislation for the State.

The legislature changed the name of the Oregon library commission to State library and transferred to it 45,000 books belonging to the then existing State library, whose title was changed to Supreme Court law library.

A free library commission for the State was authorized by the legislature of South Dakota, with an appropriation of $3,000 for traveling libraries.

The Vermont commission secured legislation changing its name to Free public library commission. The legislature increased the appropriation for the commission's work $1,000. For general expenses the commission now has $3,000 and the traveling libraries $1,500. Office expenses of the commission are hereafter to be paid outside of the appropriation.

State aid through these agencies is conveyed by means of traveling libraries, library organizers, direct appropriation of money, and library schools.

TRAVELING LIBRARIES.

The traveling libraries movement of the past year has shown increased vitality and justified the expenditure made in its behalf. Traveling library work is shaped very materially by the countylibrary idea. California has led in this perhaps. On account of the accidental curtailment of the funds for the State library activities in 1911, few traveling libraries were sent from the State library, and as the county library developed it was found more economical and successful as a means of book distribution. Now the books that formerly made up the traveling libraries are loaned in groups up to 1,000 volumes to counties starting free libraries. Laws permitting