Part 17

This brings us to the consideration of what the guiding principles of the new department are to be--a question which must be pondered and settled by the children's librarian before making the external preparations. If the senior members of the American Library Association, the librarians-in-chief, would consider the children's room of enough importance to give us their ideas of what it should stand for, what its scope should be, the result might be more uniformity of thought among members of the library profession in this regard, and a more sensible attitude toward the children's room in the library. Between those who, on the one hand, take themselves so very seriously, pondering with anxious care what probable effect on the child's future career as a reader the selection of a blue or a green mat for mounting the picture bulletin would have, and those who look upon the children's room merely as an interesting plaything, driving the big boys away in disgust by encouraging visitors who exclaim, "Oh, what cunning little chairs and tables! Why, you have a regular kindergarten here, haven't you?"--from either point of view, the discussions on children's rooms in libraries seem almost to lose sight of the very word library and all it carries with it.

The children's room is only one room in a great dignified library. As the newspaper room, the catalog room, and all the rest are fitted up with furnishings suited to their peculiar needs, so the children's room is furnished with tables and chairs and books suited to its constituents. Apart from this, all its management and spirit should correspond as closely as possible to that of the other departments. The same dignity, the same freedom, the same courteous attention to every want without fussy attentions which by grown people would be called intrusiveness should prevail. Make the selection of books what it should be, provide guides and catalogs, perfectly clear but not patronizingly written down, show the children that you are always willing to respond in every way to their questions, and then--let them alone!

Some one has asked me to speak on the question of discipline. After the first two or three weeks, if one begins properly, there will be no such question. Allowing something for the noise of small feet which have not learned to control themselves as they will later on, and expecting more "talking over" an interesting "find" than is common with adults, one should aim for library order. Teach the children what a library reading room means. If in the first days there is a disposition on the part of any boy to be rough or unruly, or if a group of girls make a visiting-and-gum-chewing rendezvous of your tables, don't waste any time in Sunday-school methods of discipline, trying to keep a hold on the child at any cost to the library. A sentence in a report of Pratt Institute children's room is worth adopting as a guiding principle. "The work of the children's room should be educative, not reformatory." Give one decided warning and then if a child does not behave, send him out at once. Do not be afraid of seeming stern at first. The fascinations of the room are such that a child who has been turned away for disobedience comes back a subdued and chastened young person and your best friend forever after; then with your aim and your firmness early settled, you will have no more thought of discipline than the reference librarian with his tables full of studious adults. After the first a little care about the way a child enters the room will be all that is necessary. Your courteous manner, low tones, a little reminder about caps and clean hands while discharging his book, will give him the cue as to what is expected, and he will have a pride in living up to what is expected of him as a gentleman, not demanded of him as a child under authority.

Many other points will engage the thought of the children's librarian, for example, what shall be the attitude of the children's room toward the other departments--whether it is to encourage the children to make use of the adults' reference room, to take out cards in the main delivery department, and get into the way of reading standard works from suggestions of the children's librarian; or whether the line of separation is to be rigid and she will be jealous of their "graduating" from her care. How to prepare the public, especially the school-teaching public, for the opening, so as to secure their hearty co-operation from the beginning is worth constant effort. The question of blanks and forms for the children's room is a minor matter which is after all not a small thing. To make as few changes as possible in the forms already in use, so that any assistant from the main delivery room can in emergencies quickly take up the clerical work of the children's room without needing to learn a new routine may save much confusion should the children's staff all happen to be stricken with grippe at the same time!

Beginning early to plan, profiting by other people's mistakes, getting the routine of each department at one's finger tips, foreseeing every probable obstacle and removing each in imagination, beforehand, proceeding with calmness and common sense, thus the new machinery will move as smoothly during opening weeks as if it had been running for years, and, as "well begun is half done," every thought given to preparation while the room exists only on paper will have a far-reaching effect on the permanent influences of the children's room.

REPORT ON GIFTS AND BEQUESTS TO AMERICAN LIBRARIES; 1900-1901.

BY GEORGE WATSON COLE.

The period covered by this report is from June 1, 1900, to July 1, 1901, and includes all gifts and bequests of $500 or more, as well as all gifts of 250 volumes and over, given by any single individual. A few gifts have been included which fall below these figures where the importance or value of the gift seemed to require mention. This report has been increased by the addition of over 50 gifts, information of which was received too late to be inserted before its presentation to the Waukesha conference. A few others, which have been announced since July 1, have also been inserted.

Much of the information here given has been obtained by a careful examination of the _Library Journal_ and _Public Libraries_. Communications were sent to all the state library commissions, several state library associations and clubs, and to the librarian of libraries known to have 50,000 volumes or more. The responses to these communications have been quite general, and the information contained in the replies has been embodied in this report. The thanks of the compiler are herewith extended to all who have assisted him in collecting the material for this list.

It was suggested by Miss Hewins in 1896 that it would be desirable to have the library commission of each state appoint some librarian, or library trustee, who should be responsible for the collection of information regarding the gifts and bequests made within his state. Judging from the replies received this year the suggestion has never been carried out.

Following the example of my predecessor, I wish to emphasize the importance of the suggestion, and would further recommend that the information so gathered be divided as nearly as possible into the following classes:

1. Buildings, giving value or cost;

2. Sites, giving value or cost;

3. Cash for buildings, with accompanying conditions, if any;

4. Cash for sites, with accompanying conditions, if any;

5. Books, pamphlets, periodicals, prints, maps, etc., giving number of each kind, with value or cost of the whole, if known;

6. Cash for books, etc., with accompanying conditions, if any;

7. Cash for endowment funds, giving purpose for which income is to be expended;

8. Cash to be expended, with specified purposes for which it is to be spent;

9. Cash given unconditionally;

10. Miscellaneous gifts, specifying their nature and value.

It will be observed that the first four of the above headings relate to gifts of real estate, which should also include gifts for fixtures of any kind, such as plants for lighting, heating, and ventilation; mural decorations, such as frescoes; furniture, so constructed as to be an essential part of the building; landscape gardening, etc. The remaining headings include books, endowment funds for various purposes (excepting building funds and the other objects just mentioned), and gifts of money for administration, current expenses, etc., etc.

Then, too, information should be given as to whether a gift has been offered, accepted, or received.

It seems desirable that information relating to such old and moribund libraries as have been absorbed or merged with newer and more vigorous institutions should somewhere find a record. As such transfers are usually made as gifts, there seems to be no more suitable place for such a record than in the annual report of Gifts and Bequests. It is to be hoped that, in the future, the tables of statistics issued from time to time by the state library commissions, the U. S. Bureau of Education, and others will contain a record of the final disposition of such libraries.

In the report of Gifts and Bequests made by Mr. Stockwell, a year ago, covering a period of two years, there were given 458 separate gifts, amounting to over $10,500,000, and distributed among 36 states and the District of Columbia. This report, covering 13 months, includes 482 separate gifts, amounting to $19,786,465.16, and is distributed as follows: 468 in 39 of the United States, 10 in the British provinces, and three in Scotland. To that princely philanthropist, Mr. Andrew Carnegie, we are indebted, during the past year, for gifts reaching the enormous aggregate of $13,704,700, over $12,500,000 of which was given for the erection of library buildings. In every case the gift, except where otherwise specified, was made upon the condition that the city or town receiving it should furnish a site for the building and appropriate yearly for the maintenance of the library a sum equivalent to 10 per cent. of the gift.

The most notable gifts of the year are due to the ever-increasingly generous hand of Mr. Carnegie. That to the city of New York of $5,200,000, for the erection of 65, or more, branch libraries, is probably the largest library gift ever made at one time to a single city. His gift of $1,000,000 to the city of St. Louis for library buildings and an equal sum, placed in trust as an endowment fund, for the Carnegie libraries at Braddock, Duquesne, and Homestead, Pa., occupy the second and third positions, by reason of their amounts. His recent gifts of $750,000 each to the cities of Detroit and San Francisco, though announced since July 1, have been included in this report. Mr. Carnegie's gifts during the year number 121; 112 in the United States, six in Canada, and three in Scotland. One hundred and seven of these gifts in the United States were for library buildings. Of the remaining five, amounting to $1,028,000, one of $25,000 will probably be used for a building.

The transfer of the John Carter Brown Library to Brown University by the trustees of the estate of the late John Nicholas Brown, recently announced, is one of the most important library events of the year. This library contains, if not the finest, at least one of the finest collections of early Americana in this country, and possesses many books not to be found in any other library on this side of the Atlantic. Its collector, after whom it is named, was a competitor with Lenox, Brinley, and other early collectors of Americana for many a choice nugget which Henry Stevens and other European dealers had secured for their American patrons. The library is estimated to be worth at least $1,000,000, and the gift carries with it two legacies, one of $150,000 for a library building, and another of $500,000 as an endowment fund for its increase and maintenance.

The gift of four public-spirited citizens of St. Louis, who have jointly contributed $400,000 to lift an incumbrance on the block to be used for the new Carnegie library in that city, is a noble example of public spirit, and one of which the friends of that city may justly feel proud.

The collection of Oriental literature of Yale University has been enriched by the gift of 842 Arabic manuscripts, many of which are extremely rare. The collection covers the whole range of Arabic history and literature, dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries.

This collection, formed by Count Landberg, was purchased by Mr. Morris K. Jesup, of New York, at a cost of $20,000, and was presented by him to the university library. This library has also received, as a bequest, the private library of the late Prof. Othniel C. Marsh, consisting of about 5000 volumes and 10,000 pamphlets, dealing mainly with palæontological subjects.

The New York Public Library--Astor, Lenox, and Tilden foundations--through the generosity of Mr. Charles Stewart Smith, has come into possession of a large and valuable collection of Japanese engravings and chromo-xylographs, formed by Captain Brinkley, of the _Japanese Mail_.

I regret that I do not have the pleasure to record any addition, during the year, to the Publication Fund of the American Library Association. The Publishing Board is much hampered by lack of funds from carrying on its important work. If some philanthropically inclined person would present a fund, say $100,000, upon condition that all publications issued from its income should bear the name of the fund, it would not only be of inestimable benefit to the cause of libraries, but would also be a most enduring monument to its donor.

An examination of the following list will disclose other gifts worthy of special mention if space permitted. The main list has been arranged alphabetically by states, as being the most convenient for reference. A tabulated summary, arranged by the geographical sections of the country, will show how widely scattered have been the benefactions of the year, extending from Alabama in the south to Montreal in the north, and from Bangor in the east to "where rolls the Oregon" in the far west.

ALABAMA.

_Montgomery._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie.

-- Gift of books forming its library, from the Montgomery Library Association.

_Tuskegee._ Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute. Gift of $20,000, for a library building, from Andrew Carnegie. The building will be erected entirely by student labor.

CALIFORNIA.

_Alameda._ Public Library. Gift of $35,000, for a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie.

_Berkeley._ University of California. Gift of $10,000, as a fund for the purchase of books for the law library, from Mrs. Jane Krom Sather, of Oakland, Cal.

-- Gift of $1000, from Col. E. A. Denicke.

-- Gift of about 2500 volumes, being the private library of the late Regent, A. S. Hallidie, from Mrs. M. E. Hallidie.

_Fresno._ Public Library. Gift of $30,000 for a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie.

_Napa._ Public Library. Gift of $20,000, for free public library building, from George E. Goodman.

_San Francisco._ Public Library. Gift of $750,000, for a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie.

-- Gift of building and fixtures for Branch Library, No. 5, estimated to cost $20,000, from Hon. James D. Phelan, Mayor of San Francisco.

_San Jose._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie.

_Stanford University._ Leland Stanford University. Gift of $2000, $1000 for books on sociology and $1000 for books on bibliography, special gift from Mrs. J. L. Stanford.

COLORADO.

_Grand Junction._ Public Library. Gift of $8000, increased from $5000, for a library building, from Andrew Carnegie.

_Leadville._ City Library Association. Gift of $100,000, for a public library, from Andrew Carnegie.

_Ouray._ Walsh Library. Gift of a library building, costing $20,000, from Thomas F. Walsh.

CONNECTICUT.

_Branford._ Blackstone Memorial Library. Bequest of $100,000, from Timothy B. Blackstone, of Chicago, founder of the library.

_Danielsonville._ Edwin H. Bugbee Memorial Building. Bequest of $15,000, for the erection of a building, also the donor's private library and cases, from Edwin H. Bugbee.

_Derby._ Public Library. Gift of a fully equipped public library building, by Col. and Mrs. H. Holton Wood, of Boston, the city to agree to maintain the library and raise a book fund of $5000, to which sum the donors will add an equal amount.

-- Gift of $12,000, raised by popular subscription, towards book fund, from interested citizens. Nearly $75 was given by public school children.

-- Gift of $5000, towards a book fund, from Col. and Mrs. H. Holton Wood.

-- Gift of 900 volumes, from Derby Reading Circle.

_Greenwich._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, as an endowment, from wealthy New Yorkers.

_Hartford._ Case Memorial Library, Hartford Theological Seminary. Gift of $2000 towards fund for purchase of periodicals, from Mrs. Charles B. Smith.

-- Gift of $500 for book purchases, from Miss Anna M. Hills.

-- Gift of 365 volumes, pertaining to missions, from Rev. A. C. Thompson, D.D.

-- Public Library. Gift of $5000, from F. B. Brown.

_Kensington._ Library Association. Gift of $10,000, for a new library building, from S. A. Galpin, of California. _Litchfield._ Wolcott Library. Bequest of $1000, from ex-Governor Roger Wolcott, of Boston, Mass.

_Middletown._ Wesleyan University. Gifts of $3604, to be added to Alumni Library Fund.

-- Gift of $483, to be added to the Hunt Library Endowment. This addition has been increased to $1000 by the reservation of the income of the fund.

_New Haven._ Yale University. Gift of $10,000, for a fund for the Seminary library in the department of Philosophy, from Mrs. John S. Camp, of Hartford, Conn.

-- Gift of $1500, a contribution towards an administration fund, from Charles J. Harris.

-- Gift of $1300, for purchases in the department of Folk-music, from an anonymous donor.

-- Gift of $1000, for purchases in department of English literature, from Edward Wells Southworth, of New York.

-- Gift of $500, a contribution towards an administration fund, from the Hon. William T. Harris, U. S. Commissioner of Education.

-- Bequest of about 5000 volumes and 10,000 pamphlets, forming the private library of the testator, from Prof. Othniel C. Marsh.

-- Gift of 842 Arabic manuscripts, collected by Count Landberg; bought for $20,000 by Morris K. Jesup and presented by him to the University. Many of these Mss. are very rare. The collection covers the whole range of Arabic history and literature, dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries.

-- Gift of a collection of musical manuscripts, number not stated, from Morris Steinert.

_Norwalk._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie.

_South Norwalk._ Public Library and Free Reading Room. Bequest of $1000, for permanent fund, from R. H. Rowan.

_Southington._ Public Library. Gift of $5000, towards a library building, from L. V. Walkley.

_Torrington._ Library Association. Bequest of $100,000, by Elisha Turner. From this amount is to be deducted the cost of the library building, about $70,000, which was being erected by the testator at the time of his death.

_Wallingford._ Public Library. Gift of library building, cost value not stated, from the late Samuel Simpson, as a memorial to his daughter.

_Windsor._ Library Association. Gift of $4000, towards a library building fund, from Miss Olivia Pierson.

GEORGIA.

_Atlanta._ Carnegie Library. Gift of $20,000, for furnishings and equipment of new building, from Andrew Carnegie.

_Travelling Libraries for Schools._ Gift of 960 volumes for 16 travelling libraries for country schools, for that number of counties in the state, from the Hon. Hoke Smith. It is planned to have each library remain in a school for about two months.

ILLINOIS.

_Aurora._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie, the city to furnish a site and guarantee $6000 a year maintenance.

_Centralia._ Public Library. Gift of $15,000, for public library building, from Andrew Carnegie, the city to provide a site and $2000 yearly for maintenance.

_Chicago._ John Crerar Library. Bequest of $1000, from the late President, Huntington W. Jackson.

-- Rush Medical College. Gift of 4000 volumes of medical and surgical books, from Dr. Christian Fenger. This gift contains a practically complete collection of German theses for the past fifty years.

-- University of Chicago. Gift of $30,000, to endow the history library, from Mrs. Delia Gallup.

_Decatur._ Public Library. Gift of $60,000, for a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie.

-- Young Men's Christian Association Library. Gift of $500, from Miss Helen Gould, of New York.

_Dixon._ Dodge Library. Gift of a valuable and extensive collection of art books, value and number not stated, from George C. Loveland.

_Evanston._ Northwestern University. Gift of $750, for the purchase of books in political economy, from Norman Waite Harris, of Chicago.

-- Gift of $543.50, to be known as the "Class of '95 Library Fund," the income of at least 4 per cent. to be used for the increase of the university library, from the class of 1895.

-- Public Library. Gift of $5000, toward library site fund, from William Deering.

_Freeport._ Public Library. Gift of $30,000, for a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie.

_Galesburg._ Knox College. Gift of $50,000, for a library building, from Andrew Carnegie.

-- Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for public library building, from Andrew Carnegie. The city already appropriates $6000 for library maintenance.

_Grossdale._ Public Library. Gift of $35,000, for public library building, from Andrew Carnegie.

_Havana._ Public Library. Gift of $5000, for a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie.

_Jacksonville._ Public Library. Gift of $40,000, for a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie.

_Kewanee._ Public Library. Gift of $50,000, for a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie.

_Lake Forest._ Lake Forest College. Gift of the Arthur Somerville Reid Memorial Library building; cost about $30,000, from Mrs. Simon Reid.

_Lincoln._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie.

_Maywood._ Public Library. Gift of $100, being surplus campaign funds remaining after the election, from Republican Committee of that town.

_Pekin._ Public Library. Gift of $10,000, for a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie. The city has appropriated $1500.

-- Gift of a site for the proposed Carnegie library building, value not stated, from George Herget.

_Rock Island._ Public Library. Gift of $10,000, for book stacks and furniture, from Frederick Weyerhauser, of St. Paul.

_Rockford._ Public Library. Gift of $60,000, for a new public library building, from Andrew Carnegie, the city to furnish site and "not less than $8000" yearly for maintenance.

_Springfield._ Public Library. Gift of $75,000, for a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie. The City Council appropriated $10,000 annually in hope that the gift might be increased to $100,000. The library will be known as the "Lincoln Library."

_Streator._ Public Library. Gift of $35,000, for a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie.

_Sycamore._ Public Library. Gift of a library building, to cost about $25,000, from Mrs. Everill F. Dutton, as a memorial to her late husband, Gen. Everill F. Dutton.

_Waukegan._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie. The city already appropriates $2000 for library maintenance.

INDIANA.

_Crawsfordsville._ Public Library. Gift of $25,000, for a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie.

-- Wabash College Library. Gift of the original manuscript of "The prince of India," from General and Mrs. Lew Wallace.

_Elkhart._ Public Library. Gift of $30,000, for a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie. The city, in advance, has pledged $3500 yearly for maintenance.

_Elwood._ Public Library. Gift of $1000, through the local Women's Club, from President Reid, of the American Tin Plate Co., of New York.

-- Gift of $200, the results of a benefit, from The Women's Club.

_Fort Wayne._ Public Library. Gift of $75,000, for a public library building, from Andrew Carnegie.