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local delivery of books by parcel post, the borrower paying the postage by a deposit made in advance.

Allowing the public to charge and discharge their own books has been successfully tried in some of the small stations of the St. Louis Public Library.

The publicity committee of the Kansas Library Association has been recently sending out to a select list of Kansas newspapers news letters containing items about the various libraries of the State. These news notes have been used by many of the papers and it is believed they have helped library progress in the State. Seattle, Grand Rapids, Jacksonville (Fla.), and other cities send lists of books on the care and feeding of babies to all mothers whose names appear in the official register of births.

NEW BUILDINGS.

New library buildings have been erected at Bangor, Me.; Charleston, S. C.; Harrisburg, Pa.; Harvard University; Johns Hopkins University; Manchester, N. H.; Muskogee, Okla.; New Rochelle, N. Y.; Portland, Oreg.; Somerville, Mass.; Trinity College; Wichita, Kans.; and other places.

EXPANSION IN LARGE CITIES.1

Albany, N. Y. New York State Library.—In restocking the library, after the fire of 1911, $632,000 have been spent for books in the past three years, perhaps the largest sum ever spent by a single library in so short a time solely for books. At the request of the State prison reform commission the libraries in the prisons and reformatories of the State were inspected and a report presented. Among the recommendations were: Appointment of a State supervisor of prison and reformatory libraries, thorough reorganization of the libraries along lines outlined, closer censorship of novels and more careful book selection. The extension of the parcel post to books has appreciably increased opportunities for State-wide service.

Birmingham, Ala.-The public library was reorganized, several outlying libraries taken on as branches, and a director appointed over the entire system. A campaign for a book fund was conducted, and over $21,000 pledged; the income from the city was $12,000 and from other sources $11,340.57; and the circulation of books was 179,434.

Boston, Mass.-Two new branch buildings have been completed, one in the Charlestown district and one in East Boston, costing, respectively, $72,200 and $100,000, including land and fittings. Provision for two minor branches has been made in new municipal buildings, and two others (supplementing 15 already existing) have been established. The story hour for children has been strengthened and extended as an important part of the library work. It is not carried on for the amusement of the children merely, but is educational in its effect and leads to acquaintance with books and to their profitable use. Classes and study clubs, including nearly 1,500 students, have held regular meetings at the central library, and the university extension conferences, with special reserves of books, have included about 1,100 students. About 70 free lectures were given at the central building, with continuous exhibitions of library and art material, at the central building and branches.

1 Reference is in each instance to the public library of the city unless otherwise stated.

Brooklyn, N. Y.-During 1913, 4,583,897 books were loaned; 301,100 people patronized the library out of a total population of 1,634,351; expenses for books, periodicals, and binding were $126,560. Several new branches have been opened. Following the practice of the New York Public Library the weekly hours of labor were reduced from 42 to 40, and the result has been eminently satisfactory. The library is carrying on an investigation of conditions producing physical efficiency. A branch has been built and opened exclusively for children's use.

Buffalo, N. Y.-The public library's appropriation was increased by $10,000, making a total of $115,000; the circulation was over a million and a half of volumes; a new branch was opened in rented quarters, and special emphasis was laid on work with foreigners.

Chicago. John Crerar Library.—The library now contains 322,049 volumes and some 105,000 pamphlets, besides maps and plates. It receives currently 3,466 periodicals and 11,656 other serial publications. The total use during the year was about 522,000 books and pamphlets, and the recorded attendence was 157,893. The expenses were $173,612.68.

Chicago. Newberry Library.-The fourth publication of the library, issued in 1913, is entitled: "Descriptive account of the collection of Chinese, Tibetan, Mongol, and Japanese books in the Newberry Library. By Berthold Laufer."

Three exhibits of printed or manuscript material have been held: (a) English literature and development of English printing; (b) Edward E. Ayer manuscripts relating to Indian wars and warfare, 1675–1869; (c) Autograph letters of over 100 English and American authors, lent by Mr. Hamlin Garland.

The following classes and grades have been established in the library service: Heads of departments, senior assistants, junior assistants, pages. A club for recreation has been formed among members of the staff, and a tennis court, laid out on ground in rear of the library, is in frequent use by them outside of official hours.

Chicago. Public Library.-During the year 7 new branches have been established, making 32 now maintained. A system of traveling libraries, supplanting the former delivery stations, has been organized for the remoter sections of the city, and 20 of these stations are now in operation, with collections of books varying from 500 to 1,500 in each, and supplemented with a daily parcel-post service for books not included in the local collection but obtainable from the central library. The school deposits have nearly doubled during the year, there being over 600 classroom libraries in constant use. The total number of books loaned for home use from the entire system for the past year was 3,428,638, a gain of 391,603 over the previous year.

Cincinnati, Ohio.-One new branch was opened during the year. A course of 25 lectures was given for teachers, the lectures covering the technical use of the library, library methods, and children's literature. The Cincinnati women's club gave Christmas entertainments at 13 of the branches. More business men used the library than in any previous year. At the annual budget exhibit a room was assigned to the library, where reading lists and cards were distributed to many people not acquainted with the library and its work.

Cleveland, Ohio.—In 1913 the public library's total expenditures were $480,924.92; 2,668,430 volumes were issued for home reading, an average of 4.1 per capita, and 152,762 borrowers' cards were in force. The main library was removed to the fifth and sixth floors of an office building where it will probably remain until the erection of a new central building, for which a $2,000,000 bond issue has been approved by popular vote. The removal was accomplished without interrupting public service, 40,000 volumes being transferred during one night. Two new branch buildings were opened. Denver, Colo.-An exhibition to call attention to Denver products and manufactures was shown in the library during the summer months. Six new deposits stations were opened, and the home circulation increased nearly 23 per cent.

Detroit, Mich.-Three new Carnegie branch libraries have been opened, making 11 branches now in operation. Mr. Clarence M. Burton has presented to the public library a most valuable private library pertaining largely to the history of Michigan, together with the property in which it is housed. Although difficult to compute, its value commercially is probably a half million dollars. Plans are progressing for the new central library.

Grand Rapids, Mich.-The renewal of books has been abolished, books (except new fiction) now being loaned for four weeks, instead of for two weeks. This has resulted in fewer people being compelled to pay fines and in more satisfactory relations between the library and the public. Employees are paid for Sunday and holiday time, instead of being granted time off on a week day.

Harrisburg, Pa.-New library building was opened January 1, 1914, the gift by will of Mrs. Sarah J. Haldeman-Haly. The building is colonial in architecture and is located near the business center. The entire main floor has been thrown into one large room.

Hartford, Conn.-The new building of the Connecticut State Library was turned over to the State officials on February 10, although it has been in use for the past three years. It cost $1,655,693, leaving a balance unexpended of $10,006.

Los Angeles, Cal.-The main library was removed on June 1 to new quarters having 50 per cent more floor space than in the former location. Art and industrial departments have been organized. A new branch building, erected with funds given by the Carnegie Corporation, was opened February 27. Two other branch buildings are being planned. The total circulation of books was 1,559,359, a gain of 32 per cent over the preceding year..

Louisville, Ky.-The public library opened two new branch buildings (one for the use of colored people), loaned 945,966 volumes for home use, an increase of 169,312 volumes, through 276 centers for the circulation of books, and answered 36,621 questions in the reference departments. The library decided to loan books on all legal holidays except Christmas.

Milwaukee, Wis.-Plans for the construction of a three-story addition to the public library, costing about $50,000, were approved July 8. The proposed addition will mean an increase in the capacity of the library of 200,000 volumes and provide two more public reading rooms.

Morristown, N. J.-The public library, located in a block of business buildings, was destroyed by fire February 23. The library was rich in New Jersey history.

New Haven, Conn.-The Carnegie Corporation has offered $60,000 for the erection of three branch library buildings. Two branches are already in operation.

New York, N. Y.-Five new Carnegie buildings were opened during the year, two of them replacing old branches in antiquated buildings. A municipal reference branch was opened in April in the new municipal building. A manuscripts division was established in September, 1914. In the circulation department, 8,824,289 books were borrowed for home use, an increase of nearly three-quarters of a million over the preceding year, and the largest annual circulation the library has ever had. In the reference department the number of readers and number of volumes consulted were fully 20 per cent greater than in the previous year. Cooperation with local educational, literary, and welfare societies has been strengthened through the growing use of the assembly and club rooms in branch buildings.

Newark, N. J.-The business branch has been moved to a new building especially constructed for the purposes of the library.

Oakland, Cal.-Four branch libraries are to be built from a $140,000 Carnegie donation recently received.

Philadelphia, Pa.-The total circulation for home use during the past year was 2,296,368 volumes. Two new branches were erected and three more are nearing completion. The apprentice class system installed last year has been successful.

Pittsburgh, Pa.-The Carnegie Library has over 400,000 volumes, from which nearly a million and a half loans were made for home use, an increase of 101,691 over the preceding year. The lecture rooms had a wider use than in previous years. Regular series of lectures were planned for some of the branches on economic subjects, such as: Some phases of the labor problem; The rise of society; Philosophy of Henry George; Modern social movements, etc. Prominent speakers donated their services.

Portland, Oreg.-The new central library, costing $485,000, on a site valued at $375,000, was opened September 8, 1913. Two new branches were also opened, and a technical department was organized. The library provides frequent lectures and has rooms for meetings of societies, committees, etc. In the past eight months these lectures have been attended by about 75,000 persons. The tax levy was increased in November from four-tenths to forty-five one-hundredths of 1 mill. During the year 1,158,900 volumes were loaned for home use.

St. Louis, Mo.-The public library circulated during the year 1,535,170 volumes, an increase of 121,353; its registered users number 95,351, an increase of 2,044; the staff numbers 94 men and 148 women; total of 242. The expenses for maintenance amounted to $224,094.57. One thousand letters were sent out to ascertain why card holders fail to reregister. Only 108 replied; 25 had removed from the city, 14 said the location was inconvenient, 10 reported failure to get desired books, 39 pleaded lack of time, etc. None found fault with the attitude of the staff. A number of "Visitors' nights" were held, when the library was thrown open to sightseers, and guides were furnished for their assistance.

San Francisco, Cal.-A chain of branch libraries to aggregate in value $375,000 has been commenced, as well as the main library building, which will, with the land, be valued at $2,000,000, and will occupy a site in the new civic center. There are now 15 deposit stations and 6 branch libraries; 934,000 books were loaned for home use, an increase of 84,000 over last year. There are 44,376 card holders. Much attention has been given to the development of the music section.

Seattle, Wash.-A new branch, costing $35,000, the fifth building given by Mr. Carnegie, was opened New Year's Day. The appropriation was increased from $158,807.43 to $168,185.40; 1,041,002 volumes were loaned from 496 distributing agencies; 55,203 residents are enrolled as borrowers; an intermediate collection of books has been installed in the central building for children in the eighth grade and above; and more was done on library publicity than in any previous year.

Spokane, Wash.-The Carnegie Corporation has given $70,000 for four new branches. Springfield, Mass.-Special efforts were made to reach the foreign population, resulting in an increase of 27 per cent in the circulation of foreign books. The total number of distributing agencies increased from 334 to 363. A new branch library building was completed and opened. The appropriation was increased from $55,000 to $60,000.

Washington, D. C.-The public library utilized 136 agencies last year for the distribution of books. The home circulation was 713,634 volumes. Much work is done with the schools. A bill is pending in Congress, the passage of which will greatly increase the use of the free public library to the people. This provides that school buildings may be used as social centers, centers of recreation, and for free publiclibrary branches during vacation as well as during the school year. Worcester, Mass.-Three Carnegie branches were opened in February.

NECROLOGY.

Among those prominent in library circles who have died during the year are the following:

Eliphalet Wickes Blatchford, trustee of both the Newberry and John Crerar Libraries of Chicago from their foundation, January 25, 1914.

John L: Cadwalader, president of the board of trustees of the New York Public Library, March 11, 1914.

Frederick H. Hild, librarian of the Chicago Public Library from 1887 to 1909, August 10, 1914.

Frank Avery Hutchins, former secretary of the Wisconsin free library commission, January 26, 1914.

Josephus Nelson Larned, former chief librarian of the Buffalo Public Library, and president of the American Library Association 1893-94, August 15, 1913.

Richard A. Lavell, assistant librarian of the Minneapolis Public Library, November 28, 1913.

George W. Peckham, former librarian of the Milwaukee Public Library, January 10,

1914.

Katharine Lucinda Sharp, former librarian of the University of Illinois and director of the library school, June 1, 1914.

Reuben Gold Thwaites, superintendent of the Wisconsin Historical Society and its library and president of the American Library Association, 1899-1900, October 22, 1913.

William H. Tillinghast, assistant librarian of Havard College, August 22, 1913. Philip R. Uhler, former librarian of the Peabody Institute, Baltimore, October 21, 1913.

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