(7L
DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
DECIMAL SYSTElt FOR LIBRARIES.








FOR THE
ARRANGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
OF
LIBRARIE S,.
NATHANIEL B. SHURITLEFF.
- Ut prosim.BOSTC)ON:
PRIVATELY PRINTED.
Al 1DCCC LVI.




PRESS OF GE. C. RAND AND AVERY,
Printcrs to the City.




PRE FACE.,
THE following remarks on the subject of libraries are not writ.
ten to present a new theory. They are intended only to be
descriptive of a system which the writer has introduced into the
Public Library of the City of Boston, with the approbation of his
co-laborers in the Board of Trustees, and which has been in
practical operation there since the summer of 1852.
The Trustees of the Library, from the establishment of the
Board until the present time, having intrusted him with making
(Call arrangements and regulations needful for circulating the
books and using the library"' he has had the opportunity of
originating from the very commencement the arrangement and
working machinery of a large library, which exhibits a fair
promise of extending its usefulness in the most liberal manner
for the benefit of a great community of readers. Having, in
consequence, informed himself of the various modes of arrangement and management of the principal libraries, and having
perceived in them what he considered many and great defects,
he was led to perfect a library system which he had elsewhere
(3)




4                        PREFACE.
introduced to a limited extent, and adapt it to the wants of a
large public library. The result of the attempt may be learned
from the following pages, and may be witnessed in successful
operation in the Public Library above named.
As chairman of various committees it fell to him to propose,
not only the system of arrangement hereinafter described, and
which he believes to be new; but the method of preparing the
library for use, which, although some of its details may have been
practised before, is original in its routine; and also the general
administration of the library, including the internal arrangements
of the edifice, and the various operations for conducting the several departments, which also is prominent among the peculiarities of the library in Boston.
And, as the remarks are chiefly written to elucidate the system and furnish the necessary directions in carrying it out where
it has already been adopted, and not in making it extensively
known, indulgence is asked for the concise manner, and perhaps
too abrupt style, in which they are submitted.
BOSTON, May,!.856.




T HIS
MEMOIR
OF
A DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES
IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED TO
JOSHUA BATES, ESQUIRE, OF LONDON,
THE FRIEND AND BENEFACTOR,
WHO
BY TIMELY AND MUNIFICENT ENDOWMENTS
HAS ESTABLISHED ON A SURE AND PERMANENT BASIS
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
OF THE
CITY OF BOSTON,
IN WHICH
THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN
DEVELOPED AND DEMONSTRATED.








CONTENTS.
DECIMAL  SYSTEM   FOR  LIBRARIES.
I.
ARiIANGEMENT OF THE LIBRARY  Roo:I AND BOOKS.
ALCOVES AND SIEL ES, 10 - PLAN OF LIBRARY HALL AND ALCOVES, 10 -
NUMBER OF ALCOVES TO BE MULTIPLES OF TEN, 10- TEN RANGES OF SHELVES
IN EACH ALCOVE, 11 —-TEN COMPARTMENTS, OR SHELVES, IN EACH RANGE, 11
- COUNTER, OR CONSULTING SHELF, 11 —PLAN. OF AN ALCOVE AND ITS TENRANGES, 11 —PLAN OF THE ONE HUNDRED SHELVES OF AN ALCOVE, 12SHELVES IN HORIZONTAL LINES AND IMMOVABLE, 12- SPACES FOR BOOKS
GRADUATED TO DIFFERENT CAPACITIES, 12 —SPACE BELOW THE COUNTER
CONSTRUCTED FOR THE ADMISSION OF EXTRA- ROWS OF BOOKS, 12 -MODE OF
CONSTRUCTING THE ADJUSTMENTS IN THE SPACE BELOW THE COUNTER, 13THE NINE SHELVES ABOVE THE COUNTER TO BE FIXED, 13 — APPORTIONMENT
OF SPACES FOR BOOKS, 14- MODE OF NUMBERING THE SHELVES, 14-NUMBERS TO BE ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SHELVES, 16 —A NUMBER INDICATES
THE ALCOVE, RANGE AND SHELF, 16 - THE SAME UNIT ALWAYS ON THE SAME
HORIZONTAL LINE, 17- MODE OF NUMBERING BO OKS, 17- SHELF NUMBER, 17
-BOOK NUMBER, 17 -EXTRA COPIES TO BE EXPRESSED BY EXPONENTS, 17 - ILLUSTRATION OF THE MODE OF NUMBERING BOOKS, 18 -WOODEN SUBSTITUTE, 18
- DISPOSITION OF WORKS WITH LARGE PLATES AND SMALL TEXT, 19- CABINETS FORZ LARGE VOLUMES OF PLATES, 19- ACCOMMODATION FOR THE PROSPECTIVE INCREASE OF PERIODICALS, 20 —ARRANGEMENT OF BOOKS, 20 -
ALCOVES TO BE ASSIGNED TO SUBJECTS, 20- RANGES TO BE FOR SUBDIVISIONS,
20 —BOOKS TO BE ARRANGED ON THE SHELVES ACCORDING TO SIZE, 20 —CERTAIN ALCOVES TO BE ARRANGED FOR SPECIAL PURPOSES, 21 -PLACE FOR
FOLIOS, 21 - ADVANTAGES OF THE DECIMAL SYSTEM, 22- ADVANTAGES OI'
FIXED SHELVES FOR THE DECIMAL SYSTEM, 23.




6                        CONTENTS.
II.
PREPARATION OF THE LIBRARY FOR USE.
STEPS IN TItE PROCESS OF PREPARATION, 28 — LIBRARIAN'S JOURNAL, 28
— SLIPS, 28 - BOOKS. TO BE ENTERED IN THE CATALOGUE OF ACCESSIONS, 28
- GIFTS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED, 28 -BOOKS TO BE COLLATED, 28- IMPERFECTION BOOK, 28- BOOKS TO BE STAMPED, 28 -BOOK PLATE TO BE ATTACHED
TO BOOKS, 28- BOOKS TO BE CATALOGUED ON CARDS, 28 - ABBREVIATED
RULES TO BE AFFIXED TO BOOKS, 28 - BOOKS TO BE NUMBERED, 29 -BOOKS
TO BE EENTERED IN ALCOVE CATALOGUES, 29 —BOOKS TO BE PLACED ON
SHELVES, 29- GIFTS TO BE ENTERED IN BOOK OF DONORS AND DONATIONS, 29
- SLIP CATALO GUE, 29- SLIP NUMBER, 29 - CATALOGUE OF ACCESSIONS,
30 —ACCESSION NUMBER, 31 —SIZE OF BOOKS, 31 -SIGNATURE MARKS, 36 -
LIBRARIAN'S SCALE, 38 - C.HECK BOOK FOR PERIODICALS, 39 — BOOK PLATE,
40 - CARD CATALOGUE, 41 - FULL TITLE CARD, 43 - CARDS OF CROSS REFERENCES, 441-ARRANGEMENT OF CARD CATALOGUES IN CASES, 45-FULL TITLES
TO BE PRINTED IN ORDER- OF ACCESSION, 45 - ILLUSTRATION OF THE MODE
OF ARRANGING TITLES ON CARDS, 46-AL COVE CATALOGUE, 47-SHORT
TITLE CATALOGUE, 48 — FINDING CATALOGUE, 48 - INDEX CATALOGUE, 48INDEX CATALOGUE TO BE PRINTED, 50-FULL TITLE CATALOGUE, ITS IMPORTANCE AND CONSTRUCTION, 50 —. INDEX OF DONORS AND DONATIONS,
53 - TREATMENT OF PA11MPHLETS, 54 - ARRANGEMENT IN CASES, AND BINDING OF PAMPHLETS, 57 -- BOOKBINDING, 59 — BINDER'S SCHEDULE, 60- LETTERING OF BOOK TITLES, 610- TREATMENT OF MAPS, CHARTS, PRINTS, NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS, 62,
III.
ADMINISTRATION OF THE LIBRARY.
SUCCESS DEPENDS UPON AN ADEQUATE AND UNIFORM SYSTEM, 63 - LIBRARY
BUILDING, 64 - PRECAUTIONS AGAINST DAMPNESS AND FIRE, 64- CELLAR
TO CONTAIN HEATING APPARATUS, WORK AND STORE ROOMS, APARTMENTS
FOR BOOKBINDER AND JANITOR, &c., 65-BASEMENT STORY TO CONTAIN
HALLS FOR DELIVERY OF BOOKS, FOR CONVERSATION, AND FOR BOOKS OF
CURRENT CIRCULATION, READING ROOMS AND LIBRARIAN'S ROOM, 65ROOMS FOR STUDENTS, UNBOUND PAMPHLETS, NEWSPAPERS, AND WORK




CONTENTS.                      7
ROOMS FOR LIBRARIAN, &c., 66-PRINCIPAL STORY, 66- LARGE. LIBRARY
HALL, 66- ALCOVES TO BE CONNECTED WITH EACH OTHER, AND NOT ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC, 67- SHELVES FIXED AND ARRANGED DECIMALLY, 67GALLERIES, 67- STAIRCASE, 67 —BUILDING LIGHTED BY IMMOVABLE BURNERS,
67- VENTILATION ESSENTIAL, 67 - OF THE LIBRARY IN GENERAL, 68- FREE
LIBRARY TO BE OPEN TO GREATEST NUMBER POSSIBLE, AND TO CONTAIN MANY
EXTRA COPIES OF BOOKS, 68 —DISTRICT LIBRARIES, 68 - SALE DUPLICATES, 69BOOKS ASKED FOR, 69 — BOOKS ORDERED, 69- SIGNATURE BOOK, 70- DIRECTORY OF THOSE USING THE LIBRARY, 70 —MINORS' CERTIFICATES, 71 —DEPOSIT
OF MONEY, 71 —STRANGERS' BOOK, 72- BOOKS TO BE CALLED FOR BY THEIR
NUMBER, 72- RED CARD FOR READING ROOM, 73- WHITE CARD FOR BORROWERS, 73 — BOOKS OBTAINED ONLY BY THE CARDS, 73 —BOOKS NOT TO BE REMOVED FROM SHELVES EXCEPT BY THE OFFICERS OF THE LIBRARY, 74- RULES
AND REGULATIONS TO BE ADOPTED AND PROMULGATED, 74- DIRECTORS TO
KEEP RECORDS, FILES OF PAPERS AND COPIES OF CORRESPONDENCE, 74LIBRARY TO BE CLOSED FOR EXAMINATION, &o., 75 - ANNUAL VISITATION BY
COMMITTEE, 75 - LIBRARIAN'S REPORT, 75 -FULL TITLE CATALOGUE OF BOOKS
ADDED TO BE APPENDED TO REPORT, 75 OF THE READING ROOM, 75ARRANGEMENT OF MAGAZINES, &c., 76 -READING ROOM NUMBER, 76 —MANNER
OF OBTAINING PRIVILEGES OF THE READING ROOM, 76 —USE OF THE READING ROOM CARD, 76-BOOKS NOT TO BE REMOVED FROM THE ROOM, 76ALPHABETICAL LIST TO BE ACCESSIBLE, 77- OF THE CIRCULATING DEPARTMIENT, 77 —TO WVHOM PRIVILEGES SHOULD BE GRANTED, 77- MANNER OF
OBTAINING BOOKS FOR HOME USE, 77-WHITE OR BORROWING CARD, 77HOW EXTRA COPIES ARE TO BE ASKED FOR, 78- NUMBER OF VOLUMES AND
DURATION OF LOAN TO BE LIMITED, 78 - INJURIES AND LOSSES TO BE MADE
GOOD, 78 —DESCRIPTION OF LOAN BOOK ON THE DECIMAL PLAN, 78CHARGES TO BE MADE IN PENCIL, 79 -LOAN BOOKS FOR DIFFERENT PARTS
OF THE ALPHABET, 79- LOAN BOOK TO BE EXAMINED FOR DEFICIENCIES, 79
-DEAD ACCOUNTS IN LOAN BOOKS, 80- OF THE LIBRARY OF REFERENCE,
80-WHERE BOOKS OF REFERENCE SHOULD BE KEPT AND HOW DISTINGUISHED, 80 -SPECIAL ROOMS AND PRIVILEGES FOR SCHOLARS, 80.








DECIMAL SYSTEM
FOR THE
ARRANGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF LIBRARIES.
N the administration of large public libraries nothing
is more important than a lucid arrangement of the
books and other appurtenances on some determinate
plan, which, while it is capable of preserving a judicious
classification of them according to their subjects, nevertheless admits of their being easily accessible to proper
persons, and of being found with the least possible consumption of time and labor, charged and delivered to
borrowers or readers with the greatest promptitude and
despatch, and at the same time presents them to the
eye in the most orderly, neat and agreeable manner.
In order to secure the attainment of the above objects the library system must be comprehensive, positive, intelligible and immutable.  For this purpose a
Decimal System has been devised, and a description
of it printed in the following brief memoir, for private
distribution among those persons who have an interest
in the subject.
2




10           DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
Perspicuity requires that the subject should be
treated of in three distinct parts — by describing, first,
the arrangement of the library room and books; second,
the preparation of the books and other appurtenances
of the library for use; and third, the manner of administering the circulating and reference departments of the
library when used.
I.
ARRANGEMENT OF THE LIBRARY ROOM AND BOOKS.
1. Alcoves and Shelves.
A very important part of the Decimal System of
managing libraries consists in the arrangement of the
books, by placing them upon shelves so constructed and
disposed that the number of alcoves shall be multiples
of ten; in other words, there should be 10, 20, 30, 40,
50, 60, &c., alcoves in the library hall, as represented
by the following diagram:
F]iGUrME 1.
1 12 1 3  4 A5  6 A    8 1 9 O 10
1  12 13  14 15 16  17 1 18  19 1 20,AIBRARY HALL AND ALCOVES.




ARRANGEMENTS.                 11
Each of the alcoves should be subdivided by means
of perpendicular partitions, so as to contain exactly ten
ranges of shelves; and each range should contain exactly ten compartments or shelves. One of these compartments, to carry out the system well, should be
situated below a wide shelf or counter, which, while it
supplies a proper and convenient place for the examination and consultation of books, also affords ample
accommodation for the larger folio volumes. The remaining nine shelves should occupy the space above
the counter.  Figure 2 gives an outline of an alcove
and its ten ranges of shelves; and figures 3 and 4 show
the division of the ten ranges into the appropriate number of shelves and their numbering.
FIGURE 2.
PLAN OF AN ALCOVE AND ITS
TEN RANGES.




12              DECIMAL SYSTEM  FOR LIBRARIES.
FIGURE 3.                          FIGURE 4.
(11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20)
119  129 139  149  159  169  179  189  199 209
118 128 138  148  158  168 178  188 198 208
117 127 137  147 157  167 177  187 197 207
116 126 136  146 156  166 176  186 196 206
115 125 136  145  155  165 175  185 195 205
114 124 134  144 154  164 174  184 194 204
113  123 133  143  153  163 173  183 193 203
112 122 132  142 152  162 172  182 192 202
111 121  131  141 151  161 171  181 191 201
110  120 130  140 150  160 170  18'0 190 200
PLAN OF THE 100 SHIELVES OF AN ALCOVE.
As the most important feature in this system —not
for appearance only, but for actual assistance in the
administration of the library -is that the shelves in
the alcoves should be in perfectly horizontal lines, for
reasons  which  will be  mentioned  hereafter, the nine
shelves above the counter (or consulting shelf) should
be  immovably fixed at different distances apart, with
the spaces for books graduated to different capacities.
For important reasons the space below the counter
should be so constructed as to admit, if required, of
one or two extra rows of books, of any size that may be
placed in it. The space last mentioned thus becomes
the principal flexible part of the system of shelving;
and, when well managed, will be found to possess great
capabilities and conveniences.




ARRANGEMENTS.                13
The least objectionable mode of constructing the
adjustments for the spaces below the counter, for the
accommodation of extra rows of books, and which is an
improvement for this particular purpose on the old
mode of ratchets, and which is capable of the very
nicest adjustment without waste of space, injury to the
sides of books, and also without deranging the appearance of the alcoves, consists in having two perpendicular
grooves, one inch in width, made in each standard.
These grooves do not interfere in the slightest degree
with the books, and can serve for the insertion of the
tongues at the ends of shelves, when extra rows of books
are needed in the spaces. The tongues at the ends of
the shelves are supported in place by means of upright
pieces of wood of sufficient strength to sustain the
necessary weight. The accompanying figures, representing a horizontal section of a standard and the tongues
of a shelf, will present the idea more clearly than any
written description.
FIGURE 5.        FIGURE 0.
GROOVED STANDARD.  TONGUES OF A SHELF.
The nine shelves above the counter should be fixed,
and should be placed at such distances from each other,
or, in other words, should be so graduated as to accom



14          DE'CIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
modate small folios or large quartos on the counter,
duodecimos on the uppermost shelf, and other books
of various sizes on the:seven intermediate shelves.
In apportioning the spaces between the shelves, the
following proportions will be found to be very nearly
what is necessary, when the whole height of the space
given between the floor and ceiling of the room or gallery is about twelve feet. In this case 13 inches in the
clear should be allowed for the first space above the
counter, 111 for the second, 11 for the third, 102 for
the fourth, 10 for the fifth,- 9 for the sixth and seventh
9 for the eighth, and 82 for the ninth or upper space.
The remaining part of the twelve feet, which is about
forty inches, is for the space below the counter. The
shelves are supposed to be from three quarters of an
inch to an inch in thickness.
The distances laid down above have been calculated
after examining and measuring many large collections
of books, both in public and private libraries; nevertheless in small libraries of specialities, the spaces
should undoubtedly vary from  the above mentioned,
and the shelving should be constructed to meet individual cases.
2. Hode of Numbering the Shelves.
The compartment below the counter, intended for
the very large volumes, should, as in figures 3 and 4,
whether containing one or more rows of books, be nunm



ARRANGEMENTS.               15
bered 110 in the first range, 120 in the second range,
130 in the third range, and so on to the last range in
the alcove, where it should be numbered 200. In the
other alcoves the similar portions should bear the same
numbers increased by 100 for the second alcove, 200 for
the third alcove, and 300 for the fourth alcove.
The first 109 numbers, it will be noticed, are not
used. These may be employed or not. But the numbering is much better, as will be perceived, when they
are omitted altogether, or are used only for shelves not
included in any alcove.
The shelf formed by the counter, being the first
upon which books are placed above the counter space,
should in the first alcove be numbered 111 in the first
range, 121 in the second range, 131 in the third, and so
on. The shelf next above should be 112 in the first
range, 122 in the second range, and 132 in the third,
and so on to the upper shelf, which should be 119 in the
first range, 129 in the second, and 139 in the third
range. In this manner the shelves of the first range
of the first alcove will be numbered 110, 111, 112, 113,
114, 115, 116, 117, 118 and 119; of the second range,
120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128 and 129, and
so on for the other ranges.
By examining figure 3 it will be noticed that there
is an apparent exception to the rule.  This is easily
provided for in the following manner: When 0 occupies
the place of tens, it denotes that the range is the tenth
of the alcove; and 1 must be deducted from the figure




16              DECIMAL SYSTEM  FOR LIBRARIES.
in the place of hundreds, in order to denote correctly the
number of the alcove. Thus, for instance, if a book is
on shelf No. 208, it will be found on the 8th shelf of the
10th range, and (deducting 1 from  the 2 in the place of
hundreds) of the 1st alcove.*
Each shelf should be numbered on its front edge,
and each range in the cornice immediately over it with
the number of tens of shelves. Thus in the first alcove
the first range should be numbered 11, the second range
12, the third 13, and so on.
If the alcoves are numbered  by prominent Arabic
figures, the numbering of the shelves will be complete.
By the mode of shelving and numbering just described, any shelf may be found with the greatest ease
and expedition, the unit figure always indicating the
position of the shelf from the counter, the number of
tens indicating the range, and the number of hundreds
the alcove. When 0 occupies the place of units, the
hundreds and tens denote the alcove and range, and the
0 that the space is below the counter: thus, shelf 365
is the fifth shelf above the counter, in the sixth range,
in the third alcove.
* Another expedient for avoiding   In small reference libraries, where
the occurrence of the figure 2 in the the book number is not so much needed,
place of hundreds in the first alcove, the 208th shelf of the first alcove might
would be, to write the number of the be numbered so as to give a distinct
tenth or last range of the alcove thus, number and a separate line each to the
108 instead of 208; but this would be hundreds, tens and units of the alcove,
carrying the matter to a greater nicety range and shelf numbers. The numthan is necessary.                bering will then appear thus:,1o.
8




ARRANGEMENTS.                17
It will be observed that the same unit is always on
the same horizontal line. This one feature of the decimal system more than any other facilitates the speedy
finding of the shelves, and for this reason is most desirable of preservation. Consequently, any thing that in
the least degree impairs the integrity of the horizontal
line is an impediment to the well working of the system
which should not be allowed.
3. Mode of Naumbering the Books.
Every volume of every book on each shelf should
bear the shelf number upon its back. In addition to
this number, each individual book (not volume) should
have another number, which should be placed on each
volume of the book, in order to designate its true position on its shelf. The book number should commence
with 1 at the left, and continue to the right, all of the
rows of books in the space under the counter, if more
than one row should be required, being considered in
one range as one shelf. Thus'1} signifies the first book
on the 111th shelf, "I the second, "Il the third, and so on
with all the books on the shelf.
Duplicates, triplicates, &c., should be expressed by
alphabetical exponents. Thus  I,  1"1,1, II, designate
four extra copies of book 1 on the 1llth shelf.
The mode of numbering is shown in the following
figure, which represents a shelf of books, numbered to
meet several emergencies - a, a, a, f the ordinary way
3




18          DECIMAL. SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
of numbering books by the decimal system; b, b, b, duplicates of a, a, a; c, a wooden substitute to show that
a large volume of plates belonging to the work may be
found in the space below the counter, where it occupies
the first place; d, another wooden substitute, showing
that a duplicate copy of 1ll may be found as the 3d
book on the 142d shelf; e, a volume that has been introduced among the books for some special reason; f, a
book which has been added to those already placed upon
the shelf.
FIGURE 7.
a   a        b  -c    d   e'     b 
1VOL VOL3:OL. VOLi
VOL. VOL. VOL. VOL.
1  2.1   2
1   1   la It  n.1   l b a2   2   2a  3
NUMBERING ON BACKS OF BOOKS.
There are certain cases that occur with every system
or mode of arrangement which require practical contrivances. Some of these cases have given much trouble
in the old systems, and are so easily provided for in the
decimal system, that it will not be irrelevant to mention
them in this connection. These give occasion for the use
of an imitation book, made of wood, which, for want of
a better name, may be called a substitute.




ARRANGEMENTS.               19
It is not an uncommon occurrence that an octavo set of
volumes may have accompanying them one or more folio
volumes of plates, which cannot be folded and bound to
correspond in size with the text. Such, for instance, is
the case of Audubon's large work on the birds of America. In such cases, the volumes of text should be placed
on the shelves where they individually belong among
the quartos or octavos, as the case may be; and the
folio volumes of plates should be placed in the appropriate compartment for folios, in the same range, or in a
particular cabinet constructed for the purpose, note to
that effect having been made in the first volume of the
set. But to carry this whole matter to a nicety, and
anticipate any trouble or doubt that might arise, in the
absence of the volume in which the place of the plates
is noted, one of the wooden book substitutes should be
put with the volumes of text, and be numbered as
though it was the actual volume or volumes of plates, at
the bottom of the back, and also should bear higher up
on its back another numbering, which will point out
the actual place where the plates may be found. For an
illustration, see c, figure 7.
It may happen that a new and unexpected volume
may be added to a set, and that the new book is too
large to occupy a place on the same shelf with its fellows, or that no place can be made for it with them.
The same contrivance will indicate at what near place
the new book, or books, if there be more than one, can
be found.




20          DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
A case which presents itself in very strong relief is
that wherein periodicals are concerned. Room must be
left for the accommodation of prospective increase.
This is easily done by the decimal system; and, if there
is an objection to empty shelves, the reserved spaces
can be filled with a portion of the least called for duplicates, reference being made to themI  by means of the
wooden substitute.  See d, figure 7.
Indeed, no case will probably occur, where this system, if properly carried out, will not provide relief,perfect, easy, and in every sense unobjectionable and
strictly orderly.
4. Arrangement of Books.
It is not intended, in these limited remarks, to lay
down any system for the classification of libraries. Indeed, the individual purposes of libraries are so various,
that an attempt to supply a system for all cases would
surely end in a failure. But whatever classification may
be adopted for a library, before arranging the books upon
their shelves, the alcoves should first be assigned, as far
as practicable, to subjects; a certain number, for instance, to history, some to theology, and others to the
different departments; and certain ranges of each should
be for the various subdivisions of these general subjects.
The shelves above the counter should be used first,
and the books, according to subjects, should be placed
on the shelves they fit the best, taking care, when the




ARRANGEMENTS.                 21
different volumes of a set vary in height, to take the
highest of the set as a standard. Place the books that
remain after filling the permanent shelves, whether they
are folios, quartos or octavos, below the counter, and,
when required, put in and adjust for them the movable
shelves, for which preparation has been made in the
compartment below the counter. If a tall volume of
plates or maps accompanies a set of volumes, and it
cannot be reduced to proper size without injury, put it
in the most convenient place in the same alcove, and in
the same range, even among the folios, if necessary, and
mark its reference in the first volume, and use the wooden
substitute, as suggested in the earlier portion of these
remarks.
When it is understood that a certain alcove or part
of the library is to be appropriated for the disposition
of documents, or periodicals, or encyclopaedias, or the
transactions of learned societies, and other volumes with
similar characteristics, which have a great evenness in
their size, the shelves of such part can be arranged
specially for their accommodation, care being taken to
preserve nine shelves above the counter, and commencing
to measure off the shelves from the top, so that the
lowermost of the nine shelves shall take all that is
left, which will generally give sufficient room for quartos
or small folios next to the counter shelf.
In no case, in the principal halls of the library, should
folios be placed in more than one row above the counter,
and that on the first shelf over the counter: 1. Because,




22          DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
in a library shelved as contemplated in these remarks,
there will be more room for them in their true places
than they need; 2. Because a disposition of more than
one row would seriously interfere with the system;
3. Because they are too bulky and heavy to be handled
in any other position by the attendants; 4. Because the
shelves cannot, without great loss of space to the alcove,
be made wide enough for them; 5. Because, if they are
so placed, the increase in the width of the shelves would
consume much more material in their construction, cost
more, and leave the compartment below the counter
with an undesirable waste of space and material; and
lastly, because of the very bad architectural effects that
would be produced. The want of shelving space under
counters has compelled many librarians to commit this
breach of order and good taste.
5. Advantages of the Decimal System.
The Decimal System in the arrangement of libraries
can meet any emergency, and, when judiciously carried
out, can overcome the usual difficulties which are constantly occurring in libraries conducted on other plans.
The only exceptions are, that it does not admit of the
many irregularities into which negligent librarians are
very apt to fall, and also prevents many of the common
inconveniences of libraries. So clear and comprehensive
is it, that a novice can learn the use of it with a few
minutes' instruction, and, when learned, can accomnplish




ARRANGEMENTS.               23
very much more work with it, and with greater ease and
in less time, than with any of the usual modes of managing large libraries. On this account, it is peculiarly
adapted to large public libraries, whose books have an
extensive circulation.
In many of the libraries of Europe, books are asked
for on one day, and obtained on the next. No such
delay as this is required where the decimal system is
employed.
When a library is shelved and otherwise arranged as
indicated by this system, so sure and positive will be the
position of the books, that any person who has had a
few minutes' instruction as to the arrangement can sit
in his own house, and, by simply referring to a catalogue,
know the exact place of any and every book in the
library. It would be preposterous to say that this could
be done with any other plan of arrangement now in use;
nor is there any that can do it, even in the very library
room with the books.
For small libraries, of very limited circulation, this
system is not urged, though even in such it would be
found of great utility.
6. Advantages of Fixed Slhelves for tbhe Decimal System.
A great end attained by the fixed shelves above the
counter is, the firm, regular and architectural appearance of the library. The large books are placed near at
hand, where they should be, and the smaller ones are




24         DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
in more elevated positions; and in cases where there
may be good reason for it, as in the alcoves of light
reading, the small books, which in this department are
very frequently asked for, can be placed below a counter,
and the otherwise waste room behind them occupied by
duplicates of the books on the same shelves- a great
help in the administration of the circulating department
of a library. All the books can be placed where they
should be, and where they would not be if movable
shelves were in use, unless the persons employed in their
arrangement should happen to possess an uncommon
degree of precision, patience, ingenuity, and good nature.
The best classified arrangement can thus be strictly
carried out, without violating good taste, convenience of
access, harmony of appearance, and architectural rules.
Every requisite that movable shelves have will be
found to exist with those above described, and several
of the objectionable features of movable shelves are
avoided, namely, the loss of room by the space taken
up by the ratchets, and which uses up the room of fifty
volumes in each alcove of one hundred shelves.
With fixed shelves, the sides of the end books in each
space are not subjected to the rough teeth of the ratchets
of the movable shelves, which cause considerable injury
to the volumes unless the work is performed in a very
nice and careful manner; nor do the books have ratchets
to get behind. These two defects, caused by the ratchets
of the movable shelves, are such great annoyances to
librarians, that very many modes have been devised for




ARRANGEMENTS.               25
their avoidance, the only successful one being the substitution of wooden blocks for the end books, which
occupy more room than the ratchets.
Some librarians, chiefly from a defect in their system,
after a while wish to disturb the arrangement of their
books by placing newly acquired volumes among the
old. This may or may not be judicious where books are
numbered only by their shelves, as is the case in very
many libraries, and not each book by itself, as in all
libraries where many books are delivered daily to borrowers. When this is done to any extent in large circulating libraries, it rarely compensates for the changes
necessary to be made to the alcove catalogues, card
catalogues, and interleaved catalogues, and the general
destruction, as to usefulness, of the printed catalogues
distributed among the people at large. Such, however,
is the elasticity of the decimal system of arrangement
of books on fixed shelves, that moderate changes can
be made more easily than by any other system. For
instance, when duplicates are disposed of, by sale,
exchange, or otherwise, and other books are put in their
places, they take the shelf number of the book removed,
and are placed at the right hand of the shelf, and have
the proper book number next in course after the last
numbered volume on the shelf. If, however, the book
must take any other position on a shelf, then it should
be placed where desired, and the number of the book it
precedes given to it, placing before its number a coefficient letter, which will distinguish it from a duplicate,
4




26          DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
and indicate its precise position upon the shelf. Thus,
a2 is the mark for the book added, hereas a duplicate
of'11 would be marked'TM. See e, figure 7.
If, in the course of years, a change of books seems to
become necessary, the change can be made on the permanent shelves much better than on the movable ones.
For the changing of one movable shelf in a range almost
always makes necessary the change of many, if not all,
of the shelves in the range; and all of the books have
to be taken from them when they are moved.
If - which is rarely the case - it becomes necessary
to place a large book with smaller ones, and consequently
change the shelf, it is much easier to do the work with
the permanent shelves than  twice as much with
movable; for to change the movable shelves, the books
must be moved from many shelves, and many shelves
must be moved. Now, a similar change can be made
when the fixed shelves are used, by simply transferring
the books of only one shelf to another, without the
necessity of disturbing other books, or other shelves; or,
what is much better, by putting the book where its size
would indicate that it should be put, and using the
wooden substitute in its place.
In private libraries of small extent, where the books
are collected with a view to some speciality, movable
shelves may be of some use; although it must be said,
that shelves are very seldom moved in small private
libraries, and perhaps less so in large ones, when they
are once well adjusted.




PREPARATIONS.                27
In an extensive library hall, where every alcove will
show its shelves, especially those above the counter,
great architectural beauty and symmetry will be preserved, if the nine shelves above the counter exhibit an
unbroken front of horizontal and parallel lines, which
they can and must do with the fixed shelves of the decimal system, and that without preventing the most judicious classified arrangement of the books according to
their subjects, and with a great saving of room, if not
of expense. The space below the counter can, and undoubtedly will, present the same rrderly appearance;
for the ability of having a movable shelf in this space
does not imply a necessity for it, it being only a prudent
expedient for an emergency. This beauty and symmetry
will accommodate more books, at a less expense of
shelving, than will the system of movable shelves.
II.
PREPARATION OF THE LIBRARY FOR USE.
However well a library may be arranged, the books
and other property appertaining to it must be properly
prepared for use before it can be administered in a satisfactory manner.




28          DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
No book, however important it may be for circulation or valuable for reference, should be placed upon a
shelf for use, until it has been through the regular
processes of preparation.
All books, whether added to the library by purchase
or received by donation, should be treated in the following manner:
1. As soon as received, each book, or package of
books or pamphlets, should be marked with the date of
purchase or gift, and also from whence received; and a
memorandum of these particulars should be made in a
journal kept by the librarian.
2. The title of each book, in as few words as possible,.
should be written on a small, square slip of paper; and
each individual accession should be alphabetically arranged, by authors if known, otherwise by subjects, and;
that of each day by itself.
3. All purchased books, and donations that have
been accepted, should be successively entered in the catalogue of accessions; have their receipt properly acknowledged, when gifts; be thoroughly collated, and all their
imperfections noted in a book kept for the purpose.
4. All books, whether purchases or gifts, when found
perfect, should be stamped with the title of the library;
have a suitable book-plate attached to each of them; be
catalogued with their full titles on cards, with all needful
cross references; be covered with suitable paper, if
necessary; have the abbreviated rules of the library
affixed to them, on the outside of covered books, and on




PREPARATIONS.               29
the inside of the cover, opposite to the last page of
uncovered books; be numbered on the back, and also on
the title page; be entered numerically in the alcove catalogues, and alphabetically in the short title catalogues,
with their numbering; and finally be placed upon their
respective shelves.;
All gifts should, at convenient times, be entered in a
book prepared as an index to donations, and which
should refer to the pages of the catalogue of accessions.
Some of the above-named processes of preparation
require particular notice, and will consequently be separately and concisely described under distinct heads.
Slip Catalogue.
The advantages of this catalogue are very numerous,
and will repay in many ways the value of the time
expended in making it. The most convenient form and
size for the slips is an exact square of about four inches
to a side. In using the slips, one of them should bear
the date and source of the receipt of the books, and an
arbitrary number. This number should be put on all
the slips appertaining to a particular date and individual receipt; and there should be as many numbers to a
date as there are receipts from different sources. This
number should be known as the slip number, and should
not be copied into any of the catalogues, or be put upon
the books or book labels, its only use being to keep the
several accessions by themselves, and thus prevent the




30          DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
confusion which might occur should the slips by any
accident be disturbed.
The slips of each particular accession should be kept
together, and the accessions of each day should, in as
many packages as there are sources of accession be also
preserved together until the titles are entered in the
accession catalogue, when the slip number may be entirely disregarded, and the slips arranged alphabetically
or otherwise for other purposes. A convenient mode is
to string together the slips of a day, with a piece of
colored paper between each source of accession, and- then
to tie them together between pieces of pasteboard.
The slip catalogue should contain the titles in the
briefest manner that will intelligibly describe the books,
omitting sizes, dates and places of publication, &c.
Catalogue of Accessions.
This catalogue is intended to preserve the history of
all additions to the library, and should therefore be kept
with great care, and should never be neglected in the
slightest degree. The book in which it is written should
be ruled and paged for the purpose, and should have
printed heads for the following particulars: 1. When
received; 2. Number; 3. Title; 4. Where printed;
5. Date; 6. Number of volumes; 7. Size; 8. Number
of pages; 9. Condition; 10. Whence received; 11. Cost;
12. Check-marks- acknowledged, stamped, catalogued
and indexed; 13. Class. 




PREPARATIONS.               31
Most of the heads are sufficiently indicative of the
particulars they are designed for, a few only requiring
explanation.
In the second column, lettered number, should be placed
figures from one up to the highest that the number of
lines in the book will contain, and these should be continued on numerically in succeeding volumes of the
accession catalogue.  This number, called the accession
number, is of the greatest importance, and is always
attached to everyv book, pamphlet, map and appurtenance
of the library. It should always be placed upon the
book-plate, the title page, and upon the alcove and card
catalogues, and will thus serve as the key to the history
to each individual book, &c., belonging to the library.
The importance of the accession number will be seen in
the following illustration of one of its uses: If a book
is missing from the shelves, the alcove catalogue will at
once show its title, and if this catalogue has the accession number, it will direct to the place in the catalogue
of accessions where the whole library history of the book
may be found; otherwise the same direction may be
obtained from the card catalogue.
As to size, the nearest approximate result should be
used in the seventh column.
In assigning intelligible distinctions to the different
sizes of books, librarians have experienced much difficulty, several causes conspiring to produce uncertainty.
A very general rule has been to designate books as
broadsides, folios, quartos, octavos, duodecimos, decimo



32            DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
sextos, octodecimos, &c., according to the number of
leaves in a printed sheet when folded for binding.
These divisions are modified by prefixing to each of them
the names of the various sizes of sheets of laid (or handmade) paper, such as imperial, super-royal, royal, medium, demy, crown, copy, post, foolscap and pot.
These sizes, which were positive when hand-made
paper only was used, were sufficiently intelligible and
distinctive for ordinary library use. The following table,
prepared with much care by an eminent English typographer in 1824, will exhibit in inches the various sizes
of books produced on several of the sheets most commonly employed in printing before the use of machinemade paper:
Broadside.  Folio.  Quarto.  8vo.  12mo.  16mo.    18mo.
Imperial,. 30 X217 217X15  15 Xll  11 X7~ 10 X5~  7 X5~  73X5
Royal,... 241X19  195X121 121X 97 97X61 8 X47 61X5  65X41
MIedium,.. 227X181 18$X11~  114X 91 9-X53 7-X45 5~X4~ 6OX37
Demy,... 22 X174  17>Xll  11 X 9  9 X5- 7-X4~  51X4x 6 X58
Crown,... 20X 16- 16 X 10  10 X 8-}  8 X5   61X4 5 X4  5"X33
Post,.... 18X15  15X 93 9.X 79  75X43 61X37 4-X33 5 X31
Foolscap,. 165X131 131X   83  8-X   6-    6A-X4a    57X31  4JX33 43X23
Pot,..... 15X125 125X 7l  77X 6-  63X37 54X3- 37X31 41X2~
It should be borne in mind that post, foolscap and
pot were chiefly used  for folios; medium, demy and
crown for quartos, octavos, duodecimos, and frequently
for octodecimos; whereas, for sixteens and eighteens,
generally, royal, and an unusual size called long royal,
were preferred by most printers.




PREPARATIONS.                33'At the present day, when paper made by machinery
is almost entirely used, which varies in size according to
the diversified sizes of printing presses, these beforenamed distinctions fail of their positive character, and
cannot be used with reference to modern printed books.
Considerable ingenuity has been displayed by certain
learned and much esteemed bibliographers, who have
recommended the use of inches and decimals of inches
for the purpose of measuring the printed matter of
pages: but this mode does not carry with it a sufficient
degree of comparison for the mind to form correct conceptions as to the size of bound volumes, owing to
the great diversity of marginal spaces used in printing,
which varies much with individual taste and caprice;
nor does it give any idea of the amount of printed
matter on a page, unless the size of type is also given,
and which, if given, would require too much knowledge
to be of general practical value,
It has generally been believed that by counting the
number of leaves in a signature or fold of a book that
the size of the book could be determined. Little or no
dependence can be placed in this procedure, not only for
reasons above expressed, but because the signatures do
not designate the number of leaves in a folded sheet.
The same sheet, owing to the diversified modes of folding sheets for binding, will answer for printing one fold
(or lift) for a folio; one or two folds for a quarto, octavo
or duodecimo; two or four folds for a decimo-sexto; and
three for an octodecimo. Printers who have a proper
5




34          DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
regard for strength and beauty of bookbinding, always
impose their pages for eighteens so as to fold into three
lifts containing twelve pages each, and consequently give
three signatures to each sheet. The same signature
marks were often used for books of different sizes: for
instance, octavos and decimlo-sextos sometimes have a
signature mark for every eight pages, and sometimes for
every sixteen; and twelves, eighteens and twenty-fours
for every twelve pages, there being two signature marks
on every sheet for twelves, three for eighteens, and four
for twenty-fours, because sheets are cut by bookbinders
into two, three or four folds (or lifts) for books of these
sizes.
All books are printed, in typographical language,
either sheetwise or half-sheetwise.  When they are
printed half-sheetwise, an impression is taken first on
one side of the paper, and then the sheets are turned,
and the other side is worked off from the same types.
In this case a sheet of paper gives two copies of the
same pages. When books are printed sheetwise, two
sets of pages are prepared, one for each side of the
sheets of paper; and after an impression is given to one
side of the sheet from one set of pages, the second side
is printed from the other set of pages. In consequence
of these different modes of performing the press work,
books may have one or two signature marks to a sheet.
In England it is more common than in the United States
to print sheetwise, and consequently a quarto sheet has
eight pages to a signature, and an octavo sheet sixteen




PREPARATIONS.               35
pages, unless a sheet has two signature marks. Twelves
and sixteens are most frequently printed half-sheetwise,
and eighteens almost always sheetwise; the first of these
because twenty-four and thirty-two pages would be too
many for a fold, and the latter because they could not
be well worked half-sheetwise unless four of the pages
were to be transposed for the second side of the paper.
Consequently, twelves and sixteens generally bear one
signature mark, while eighteens have three of twelve
pages each.
Many printers avoid imposing their pages in forms
of twelve and sixteen pages, because with most presses,
in working, the ink-roller would have to move from one
side of a page to to the other, and not from the top to the
bottom, by which means the types would not be so well
and so evenly inked, nor the work so well performed.
For this reason, twelves are generally worked as eighteens on larger paper, and consequently, as eighteens
and twelves have the same number of pages to a fold,
bibliographers never know the difference.
Oftentimes, also, octavos are worked as twelves, and
twelves as octavos, now that paper can be cut to any
determinate size, and since printers have studied more
closely to save press work. This is very often the case
with books printed from stereotype plates, which frequently have two sets of signature marks, one with
Arabic figures for one form of book, and another with
capital letters for another form.  The same remark
applies equally well to all sizes of books.




36            DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
The following table exhibits the signature marks of
the different forms of books from broadsides to eighteens
when worked sheetwise and half-sheet@wise  --
1st sheet.    2d sheet.   3d sheet.    4th sheet.    5th sheet.
Broadside sheet,.   1      3       5       7      9
Folio sheet,.. 1..    5           9      13      17
Quarto sheet,.   I      9      17      25     33
Octavo sheet,..   17           33      49     65
"   half sheet,   1      9      17     25      33
12mo sheet,...    1      25      49     73      97
"   half sheet,.       13      25     37      49
iGmo sheet,         1    3 33    65     97    129:
1, 17    49      81,   113    145
"'  half sheet,.  1     17      33     49      65
1     37      73    109    145
18mo sheet      |
1 13      49      85    121    157
and half sheet, 
25      61     97    133    169
As a guide to the person who folds the sheets, those
signatures which have insets have the signature markl
repeated, together with an asterisk.  Formerly the first,
third, fifth, and sometimes seventh pages, of each fold
had signature marks..
It is very common for antiquarians to, designate
certain small books, among those printed many years
ago, as "puritan  quartos,"  and'puritan  octavos."
These, as well as folios, were printed chiefly on paper of
the sizes denominated foolscap and pot, and during the
early days of printing in New England, were the distinguishing feature of American typography, principally




PREPARATIONS.                 37
because they required small fonts. of type, small sheets
of paper, and small printing presses.
Perhaps the safest rule for determining the size of
books: will be that  which takes a medium  sheet of
paper measuring 24 by 20 inches., such as is now used
by printers, for the height and breadth, and the following ten names for the sizes,. the measure of each of which
is given below in inches —
1. Broadside,..........24 by 20.
2. Folio,........  20 by 12.
3. Large Quarto, two sizes, imperial and royal.
4. Quarto,........; 12 by 10.
5. Large Octavo, two sizes, imperial and royal.
6.! Octavo,.......  10 by 6.;
7.I Duodecimo,...... 8 by 5.
8. Decimo-sexto,.... 6 by 5; on sq. royal 71 by 4-.
9. Octodecimo,....       6 by 4.
10. Small, any size less than eighteens.
It must be noticed that the above dimensions are for
the paper of uncut copies only.
The broadsides and folios, when not on medium
paper, may be distinguished from other books of the
same name, by being denominated  imperial, royal,
crown, cap, &c.
The large quartos and octavos printed on imperial
and royal sheets may also be distinguished in the same
manner if deemed necessary.




38          DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
Sixteens printed on square-royal, and puritan quartos
printed on foolscap and pot, having peculiar shapes,
should always be particularized.
All books smaller than eighteens may be included in
the tenth class, except in a few extraordinary cases.
All books having excessive margins, or belonging to
the class usually designated as "large paper copies,"
should have their peculiarities noted.
An instrument of the form of a common Gunter's
scale, two feet in -length, graduated on one edge to
inches and decimals, on the other to the capacity of the
spaces between the shelves, and in the middle portion
to the height of books, and numbered and lettered
accordingly, will be found very useful for determining
the size of books, and for other purposes, if its place is
always at hand on the librarian's table. The other side
of the instrument may have the French measure of
length and other scales that may be deemed useful in
connection with libraries.
The number of pages should be written in the eighth
column when it is less than one hundred pages; otherwise it may be omitted.
The ninth column should contain the exact condition
of the books when received; namely, whether they are
in paper, boards or cloth, or whether they are halfbound or full-bound; in the last case the kind of binding should be stated, as, whether in calf, sheep, morocco,
&c., and whether or not the edges of the books are gilded.
Unbound pamphlets, whether in bundles or otherwise,




PREPARATIONS.                39
require no note as to their condition, but those that are
bound should be treated as books.
The source wlhence received, of every book, whatever
it may be, should be noted in the tenth column, leaving
the eleventh column, in which the exact cost of each book
should be placed, to distinguish gifts from purchases.
When books have been severally acknowledged,
stamped, catalogued and indexed, a check mark should be
made under each of the heads in the twelfth column.
The thirteenth column should contain the class of
the book; whether it is for reference only, or whether its
use is restricted by the donor, &c. In the case of libraries of circulation, whenever this column is blank, it
should be understood that the book is for general, unrestricted use.
Check Book for Periodicals.
In every well-regulated library there should be a
proper book expressly'prepared for keeping a correct
account of the current periodicals, as they are received
from day to day.
The book should be distinctly ruled and cross ruled,
and should have printed heads for the following particulars, namely: one column for the title of the periodical,
one for its number on the reading room table, one for the
source whence it is obtained, and twelve for the months
of the year.
The titles of the periodicals should be alphabetically
arranged in the first column, with the reading room




40          DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
number in the second, and the name of the supplying
agent in the third.
As each quarterly and monthly is received, a short
check mark (/) should be placed in the appropriate column of months. When the periodical is a weekly, a
similar mark should be placed in one of the four corners
of the month space; and when five weekly numbers are
received during a month, another mnark should be placed
in the centre of the space. Daily publications should
be checked once a week, and their deficiencies, - which
should not if possible be allowed to exist longer than
the shortest reasonable time, —noted in the book for
imperfections.
The diagonal check mark, as above shown, should be
used, so that when the numbers are collected for the
purpose of being bound into volumes, a cross check
mark (x) may indicate the fact, and also whether or not
any are missing.
When each volume of a periodical is completed, it
should be entered in the catalogue of accessions, and
receive the number which happens to be next in order.
Book Plate.
Every library should have suitable book plates for
its volumes. These should bear the corporate seal of
the institution, or some other device whereby they may
be recognized at once, and readily distinguished from all
others. All the plates of a library should also bear a




PREPARATIONS.               41
strong resemblance to each other; indeed, there should
be no difference in them, excepting in the words which
designate whether the books to which the plates are
attached are gifts or purchases. Prominent upon each
plate should be the title of the library, and upon such
as are placed in gifts should be the name of the donor.
Each should also have a place for the date of reception,
and another for the accession number.
Books obtained by purchase are considered as
"added," while those by gift are "received."
The accession number should invariably be placed
between parentheses, in the right hand corner, on the
lower edge- of the plate.
card Catalogue.
A catalogue of books, carefully prepared on a uniform
system, with the titles in full, and having a sufficient
number of cross references to afford needful information
to persons seeking for works on all subjects, and by all
authors, is of primary importance to a library, whatever
may be its objects or magnitude; and no catalogue is
more universally adapted to provide for the internal
wants of a library than that which, being prepared in
manuscript on cards, is generally known by librarians
as a card catalogue. This differs very essentially from
the slip catalogue, by being of a more permanent character, and more extensive in its details, and by being
the key to the whole library.
6




42          DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
The following description of a catalogue, of acceptable form, together with a few brief rules for its
construction, is not intended to be sufficiently explicit
for all cases, but is given only in order to present a
very general idea of the prominent characteristics of a
proper card catalogue.
The cards which are most suitable for this purpose
are constructed of two thicknesses only of writing paper,
so that while they possess a sufficient degree of firmness for use, they may also be easily handled, and packed
away economically. To be of convenient size and shape,
the cards should measure about six and three quarter
inches by four and one quarter inches.
In writing the cards, the greatest precision, exactness and uniformity should be observed; and, after a
good system has been adopted, nothing must be allowed
to interfere with it that will in any degree disturb it, as
any disturbance in the system will be liable to produce
more or less confusion in the use of the catalogue.
The titles of all books, and every edition of them,
when there are more than one, should be entered in full
on separate cards, nothing that appears on the title pages
that is descriptive of the volumes being omitted. This,
however, should not prevent the rejection of unmeaning
quotations, mottos, scriptural texts, and authors' titles,
although even these, in a limited and judicious manner,
should be preserved on the cards.
Each book should have its title written in full on
one card, and as many concise entries of cross references




PREPARATIONS.                43
should be made on other cards as are needful for the
formation of a competent index catalogue. The cards
of cross reference should invariably refer to thetard with
the full title.
The upper line of every card should contain the
systematic classification of the book which the card is
intended to give the title of, a noun being used for the
class, and adjectives for its divisions, thus: General
History, American History, English History, indicate
that the book belongs to the class History, and to the
several departments indicated by the adjectives General,
American and English.  Secondary headings on the
same line, in brackets, distinguish more minute subdivisions. On the extremity of the same line, near the
right hand edge of the card, should be placed the figures
of the shelf and book numbers, which indicate the
position of the book in the library.
On the full title card, the name of the author, when
known, should occupy the second line, otherwise the first
important word that occurs in the title. The surname
should precede the praenomen, or given name, which last
should be in parentheses, thus: Grahlame, (James.)
Next in order should be entered the full title of the
book, repeating in its proper place the author's name,
and using dots  ~ ~ ~ when unimportant words are
omitted, and stars  *  *  *  when mottoes or quotations are discarded.
Immediately after the title should follow in succession the number of volumes, the place of publication or




44          DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
where printed, the date given in the imprint, the size,
and the number of pages, if less than one hundred.
The accession number should be placed between
parentheses, in the last written line on the card, near
the right hand margin.
All explanatory words, and whatever else is inserted
or supplied by the person who prepares the catalogue,
should be invariably included in brackets.
The cards of cross references should be as numerous
as needful, and however briefly worded, should contain
the classification, and also the shelf and bookl numbers,
on the upper line. They should always refer to the card
which has the full title. If the accession number
should be entered upon these cards, it would be of great
assistance in collecting together all the cards appertaining to any volume when such procedure is necessary.
In the case of books printed from plates, the copyright date should be given, as well as that on the title
page, and it should be placed between brackets for
reasons above stated.
Librarians, in preparing the card catalogue, will. find
it extremely convenient for reference, if they put two
marks (-) under the first letter of the word in the title
page under which the long title is catalogued, and one
mark (-) under the first word of each of the cross
references; and also, when all of the entries are made,
a line under the date of publication at the bottom of
the page.  When this has been done, a simple examination of the title pages will disclose how many and what




PREPARATIONS.                45
references to each and every book have been made in
the card catalogue.
The card catalogue should be kept in suitable cases,
either in the form of boxes or trays, and the cards
should be arranged strictly in alphabetical order. At
least once in each month all new cards should be put ill
their appropriate places. When there is danger that
the cards will be disarranged, they may be kept in place
by strings passed through punched holes near their
lower edge and securely tied.
Whenever an index catalogue is printed from the
cards, all of the cross references that have been used
should be displaced from the cases, and be laid away for
future use if needed, leaving the full titles arranged in
the cases as before.
Every library that can afford it should have the full
titles of its books stereotyped in the order of the accession number, with this number affixed; and a proper
number of copies of the same should be printed annually. The pages should be properly numbered, and at
suitable periods, when there is a sufficient quantity of
pages for a volume, a new one should be commenced;
but in no case should the numerical order be departed
from, except in the case of duplicates, when it would be
useless to repeat the title, and when the first accession
number should be placed in brackets in the short title
(or index) catalogue. A printed full title catalogue of
this description is intended for reference only, and to all
intents is a reproduction and multiplication of the card




46           DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
catalogue. Its use will more fully appear in the remarks
which are to follow.
The following example illustrates the mode of arranging the full title cards, and the simplest cases of
cross references:AMERICAN HISTORY. (UNITED STATES.)   12  7
GRAIAME, (JAMES.)
The History of the United States of North America, from
the Plantation of the British Colonies till their Assumption of National Independence. By James Grahame,
LL.D.  In two volumes, second edition, enlarged and
amended. [Edited, with a Memoir of the author, by
Hon. Josiah Quincy, LL.D., &c.] Philadelphia, 1850.
[Copyright, 1845.] 8~.                      (478)
AMERICAN HISTORY. (UNITED STATES.)   12  7
UNITED STATES OF NORTH AMERICA.
History of, by James Grahame. Two volumes. Philadelphia, 1850. 8~.                             (478)
INDIVIDUAL BIOGRAPHY.                     12  7
QUINCY, (JOSIAH.)
Memoir of James Grahame.  (Prefixed to Grahame's
History of the United States. Philadelphia, 1850. 80,
pp. v.-xxviii.)                              (478)
INDIVIDUAL BIOGRAPHY.                     12  7
GRAHAME, (JAMES.)
Memoir of, by Josiah Quincy.  (Prefixed to Grahame's
History of the United States.)              (478)




PREPARATIONS.               47
The same book may also have cards of cross reference under the words "History," "America," "British
Colonies," and "National Independence;" but these, if
not desirable for some special reason, should be omitted
on account of their making the catalogue unnecessarily
cumbersome.
Alcove Catalogue.
This catalogue derives importance on account of its
being an inventory of the books arranged in the order
of their position on the shelves, and for this reason is
most generally known in libraries where it is used as
the shelf catalogue.
It should be contained in exactly as many books as
there are alcoves in the library, a book belonging to and
being kept in each alcove; whence its name. These
books should be of foolscap size, should be ruled and
cross ruled for the purpose, and should be bound quirewise; and each of them should contain twice as many
pages for entries as there are shelves in an alcove,
namely, two hundred pages; and the entries should be
invariably made on the right hand page, leaving the left
hand page for memorandums, references, the entry of
duplicates, &c.
The entries in the alcove catalogue, commencing on
the left hand side of the page, should be made in the
following order: 1. Shelf Number; 2. Book Number;
3. Title, in as few words as possible; 4. Number of volumes; 5. Accession Number, in parentheses.




48          DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
For this catalogue the back titles of the books are
the best; and these may be contracted, provided enough
of each is retained to be sufficiently descriptive.  No
title should occupy more than one line.
The following line will sufficiently illustrate the mode
of making the entries: —
12 7 Grahame, (J.,) Hist. United States, 2 Vols.   (478)
The titles must be entered in the order in which the
books are numbered; consequently, in the first alcove all
of the books on the one hundred and tenth shelf will
appear first in numerical order, next those on the one
hundred and eleventh shelf, then those on the one hundred and twelfth, one, hundred and thirteenth, &c.,
shelves.
This catalogue is the telltale of the library, for by it
will be known whether the books are all in their place;
and if any are missing it tells their titles; and the
accession number refers to the catalogue of accessions
where their cost and history may be ascertained with
certainty. When the annual examinations of the library
are made, it is brought into especial requisition, and its
importance' realized.
Short Title Catalogue.
Under the above name, or that of finding catalogue,
or of index catalogue, should be constructed, and printed
as often as; convenient after important additions have




PREPARATIONS.                 49
been made to libraries, an alphabetical index of all the
books upon the shelves.
In all instances the titles should be as condensed as
possible, consonant with a sufficiently clear description
of the books.
Every book should be indexed under the name of the
author, editor, &c., and should have as many entries in
the index as there are important words in its title.
The entries should be accompanied with the accession number in parentheses, and also with the shelf and
book numbers.
In no instance, except where it is necessary to give
the contents of volumes, such as books of plays, romances, &c., should an entry occupy more than one line
in the printed index.
The index should be arranged in the following
manner: 1. The title, by author and subject; 2. Number of volumes; 3. Accession number in parentheses;
4. Shelf number; 5. Book number. For example:Grahame, (J.,) Hist. of United States. 2 Vols. (478) 12 7
United States, Hist. of, by J. Grahame. 2 Vols. (478) 12 7
Books not adapted for circulation, such as encyclopsedias, dictionaries, and those specially needed for
reference, and such as on account of their rarity, value
or terms of gift are withheld from general use, should
be indicated in the index by the prefix of a star before
the title. A star should always be affixed to the shelf
number on the back of the restricted book.
7




50          DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
By pursuing the above plan, only one alphabetical
index is required, embracing authors and subjects; the
accession number will refer at once to the accession catalogue for the history of the book, to the card catalogue
for the full title of the book, and such bibliographical
remarks as may have been deemed worthy of special
notice, and to the full title catalogue of the library if
any such ever be printed.
A proper number of copies of the index catalogue
should be interleaved for library use, in which there
should be alphabetically entered every day the titles of
the books placed upon the shelves that day. After
having reserved a suitable number for contingencies,
the remaining copies of the index should be sold at the
lowest price at which they can be afforded.
When once an index catalogue of this description
has been printed, and the interleaved copies have been
kept properly posted with the additi6ns, the labor of
publishing a new index will be found to be of very little
account; and the users of a library can be promptly
supplied with a convenient, satisfactory, condensed and
cheap means of knowing the contents of the library, and
the whereabouts of the books.
Full Title Catcalogue.
Of all the catalogues of this class that ingenuity
has devised, none seems more feasible than that alluded
to on page forty-five of the preceding remarks. By




PREPARATIONS.               51
rejecting the alphabetical and classified arrangements,
and following strictly a numerical one, it overcomes all
the usual hinderances and delays consequent to the
old systems, and which furnish all the excuses for the
absence of printed catalogues in libraries, if they do not
even prevent their existence.
No consumption of Atime and labor is required in the
preparation of a catalogue of this description. The full
title cards of the card catalogue furnish all the material
necessary for printing, and as often as they amount in
number to one hundred they should be sent to the
printer, who may electrotype, stereotype or lithotype
them for future use, or may print them from movable
types.
The titles of the printed catalogue differ only from
those of the card catalogue in the omission of the classes
to which the books belong, the first mention of the
author's name which precedes the title, and the shelf
and book numbers. The accession number should take
precedence in the title, it being the key number to
the catalogue, forming the connection between it and
the index and alcove catalogues.
The only drawback to this catalogue is the expense
of printing it; but this diminishes very much when the
fact is considered, that, unlike all other catalogues, it has
to be printed only once, when a proper number of copies
are struck off at first, as no part of what has been done
ever becomes useless or out of date, or requires reprinting
except when copies cannot be otherwise obtained.




52          DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
As an offset to the apparent expense of printing,
which often prevents the production and publishment of
full title catalogues, may be placed the saving which
will be made in the following particulars: 1. As the
catalogue is composed of the full title of each book,
without any contraction, omission or addition, an exact
copy only has to be made, and this can be done by any
person who is competent to read and write; 2. The
index to it is simply the common short title (or finding) catalogue, which cannot be said to enter into the
expense, because it should be had under all circumstances; 3. If promptly prepared and printed, it precludes
the necessity of a card catalogue, with its concomitant
cross references, and scientific and bibliographical labors;
4. Once a year, or oftener, it can and should appear as
an appendix to the librarian's report.
When the titles are in type, they can, with very little
labor and expense, be stereotyped, or otherwise preserved in separate plates, for the use of other libraries,
or for aiding in printing a universal library catalogue.
But whether or not the same types, or stereotype plates
taken from them, are used for these purposes, the general objects of bibliography are much assisted by the
accession to the stock of printed knowledge in this
department of learning.
As valuable as this catalogue may be for reference,
it is not absolutely required in a small library where
there is a good card catalogue. Its chief value lies in
the fact that it is a multiplication of the full titles of




PREPARATIONS.                53
the books, in a form that can be in all the public
libraries, and in the hands of such persons as desire it.
On account of its bulk it cannot be in the possession of
all who use the library, and for the purposes of most of
whom the short title catalogue will be sufficient.
Index of Donors and Donations.
Justice, as well as good policy, requires that a book
should be kept in every library for the record of the
benefactions which it has received. A repetition of the
extensive entries required for, and made in, the catalogue
of accessions would be too onerous for librarians, and
too bulky for use. A simple index, constructed so as to
contain the names of the donors, arranged in alphabetical order, with ample space for the insertion of figures
indicating the pages of the catalogue of accessions
where entries are made, will not only suffice for the
purpose, but will also be as convenient as any other
plan that can be devised.
The book in which the index of donors and donations is contained, should be of ample dimensions, and
should also have its pages properly apportioned, like
an "index rerum," for the different letters of the alphabet, and the portions for each letter should be still
farther subdivided, so that entries may be made from
time to time in strictly alphabetical order. Two letters
should be printed or written on the folio corner of the
pages, in the same manner as in dictionaries, for the




54          DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
purpose of expediting the work of' indexing and of reference. The book may be prepared with double columns,
and these columns may be subdivided by red lines for
the entry of about ten names to each, with three or more
light blue lines to every name.
The use of the index is exceedingly simple. Immediately below the red line on the proper page, should be
written the surname of the benefactor, with his proanomen in parentheses; and on the same line should be
noted his place of residence. On the next line should
be entered the number of the volume of the catalogue
of accessions, and the pages on which the donations are
recorded.
Treatment of Pampllets.
No department of the library is deserving of more
attention of librarians, and generally receives less, than
that which is devoted to pamphlets, and that kind
of literature, which, by its neglect rather than by its
character, has very improperly been designated as
ephemeral. Much of the reliable history of the day is
contained in publications of this sort, and a large portion of what is valuable in relation to past events is
preserved in the small memorials of other days, that
have been rescued by the humble pamphleteer; and
transmitted by his often ridiculed, yet patient and
untiring endeavors.
The following description of a plan for the preparation of pamphlets for use, which strictly conforms with




PREPARATIONS.               55
the system laid down in the preceding pages, is introduced here on account of the importance of this too
frequently neglected subject.
Pamphlets, as soon as received, should be securely
tied up in packages of convenient size, those of a
miscellaneous character in bundles of one hundred each,
and serial works as nearly by themselves as despatch
and circumstances will allow. To those from each particular source, whether received by donation or otherwise,
should be attached slips bearing the source and date of
reception, and a slip number in the manner described
on the twenty-ninth page; a memorandum of the receipt
of those from each source, which may be an exact transcript of the slip, should be entered in the librarian's
journal.
After the above preliminary steps have been taken,
and such others as the peculiar regulations of the library
may require, the packages of pamphlets should be
entered in the catalogue of accessions, all from one
source having one accession number. This, however,
should not prevent those that will allow it to have an
independent number.
Having advanced to this state of preparation, the
packages should be placed in the hands of a competent
person to be assorted and arranged.
The next step should be to arrange the packages, in
a room  especially appropriated for the purpose, on
shelves, in the order of the accession number. The
packages should then, one by one, be untied, and the




56          DECIMAL SYSTEM -FOR LIBRARIES.
accession number appertaining to each bundle should
be placed temporarily upon the first page of each
pamphlet.
As every library has a special object depending upon
very various circumstances, so also should the arrangement of its pamphlets, as well as of its books, be made,
as nearly as possible, to conform to the same object. In
a national library, pamphlets appertaining to the nation
should take precedence; in a city library those relating
to or emanating from the city; in historical, medical,
law, theological, and other libraries, the promineney of
the collection should be given to history, medicine, &c,
After the speciality of the library has been sufficiently
cared for, the pamphlets should be classified in a few
very general divisions; but in this state of the arrangement minute subdivisions should be carefully avoided,
as confusion rather than accessibility would be the sure
result of them.
When brought into the condition above directed, the
pamphlets, when there is only one copy of each, should
be arranged strictly in alphabetical order, the names of
authors taking precedence in all cases, except where a
chronological order is imperatively required. Duplicates
and triplicates may, and should, be arranged and distributed alphabetically according to subjects, in the same
manner as though they were the cross references of the
card catalogue. Thus it will be perceived that in a well
arranged collection of pamphlets, several copies of each
are indispensably necessary, and, when possible, that




PREPARATIONS.                57
three copies of every pamphlet connected with any series
should be preserved. In illustration, suppose several
popular writers or orators deliver orations in commemoration of any great event, these certainly should be
arranged under the names of the authors; and they
should likewise be arranged under their general titles,
and perhaps under some of the more important subjects
which they embrace. Orations, such as those on American Independence, election sermons, annual addresses
of the various societies, &c., should be arranged together,
as well as under the authors' names.
Next in course should be the placing of the pamphlets in suitable pamphlet cases, and the arranging of
them upon the shelves of the pamphlet room. This
should be done alphabetically by the classes, keeping
the speciality by itself. For instance, in a city library,
those appertaining to the city should be by themselves,
and should be placed alphabetically by classes, and each
class alphabetically by pamphlets; and then should
follow the divisions according to the general arrangement, the pamphlets of each division also in alphabetical
order.
After the foregoing arrangement has been made, the
pamphlets should be carefully examined for binding.
As a general rule, every pamphlet which is perfect in
itself, and of sufficient value, should be bound as a
separate book; those relating to any peculiar subject
may, for cheapness, be bound together; and for the same
reason, and for convenience in reference, those by the
8




58          DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
same author should be bound together. The binding of
several pamphlets in one volume requires, in many
instances, the binding of duplicates, and oftentimes of
triplicates; for many authors, especially those who have
printed their occasional sermons, orations, addresses,
scientific memoirs, &c., produce so many pamphlets, at
intervals of time, and on various subjects, that one copy
must be bound with their works, perhaps another copy
with a certain set of serials, and oftentimes a third copy
with a particular class of pamphlets which it may be
desirable to keep together.
The deficiencies in each serial work should be noted
in a memorandum book kept in the library, and no
volume of any broken series should be bound permanently, if it can be made perfect, until it is complete,
but should be preserved among the pamphlets arranged
in cases.
When pamphlets have been bound, before they are
placed upon the shelves, they should be treated in all
respects as books, whether they are bound as separate
works, or whether a volume contains several tracts;
namely, they must be entered in the accession catalogue
and otherwise properly catalogued. In the catalogue of
accessions each tract or pamphlet, unless two or more
belong to the same work, should have a second accession
number; the smallest of the numbers (following the
written title) invariably referring to the first entry in the
accession catalogue, and the largest (in the number
column) to the second entry, which will be the number




PREPARATIONS.               59
to be used in all of the catalogues. In such cases the
old number should be distinguished, wherever it occurs,
from the new one by being included between the characters called double daggers (f).  The new accession
number will be necessary if a full title catalogue should
be printed in the manner described on the forty-fifth and
fiftieth pages.
In each bound volume of pamphlets and tracts there
should be a manuscript table of contents, with brief
titles arranged in the order of binding.
Binding.
The next subject for consideration in the preparation
of a library is the binding of the books, pamphlets,
maps, &c.; and certainly no one of the librarian's duties
is more frequently neglected, or more commonly left to
the judgment of others, than this.
Strength, durability, comfort in use, uniformity and
appropriateness are of too great importance in bookbinding to be slighted, and therefore too much care
cannot be given by librarians to the details of this
humble part of their avocations.
Whether books should be full bound or half bound,
and of what the material for binding should consist,
should depend so much upon various circumstances,
that it will be needless to consider the subject minutely
in these remarks. Suffice it to say, however, that books
for public use should always be strongly bound; that




60          DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
the volumes of serial works, and those belonging to one
set, should always be uniform in appearance; that the
margins should always be left as large as possible,
with perhaps the fore edge and foot of books merely
trimmed; and that a proper system for back titles, when
they are used, should be carefully carried out. Undoubtedly, when cheapness and durability are the chief
considerations, the style of binding known as "half
binding," and the materials known as "sheep" and
"turkey morocco," will give the greatest satisfaction for
the majority of books; whereas very large volumes will
require a more substantial binding.
The back title, or the principal title, when more than
one is used, should, unless there is a positive reason
otherwise, contain the surname of the author, and the
fewest words that will give a sufficiently clear idea of the
full title of the work. Beneath these words, and separated from them by a dash line only, should be the
name of the editor, translator, &c., if practicable.
A second back title should contain the number of the
series, and the number of the volume, when these distinctions are needed.
At the bottom of the back may be another title,
showing the place of publication, and the date of printing; and immediately above it the name of the library
to which the book belongs.
In order to insure a strict compliance with the
system' of titles, a schedule should always be sent to
the bookbinder, particularizing how each book should be




PREPARATIONS.                61
lettered on its back, and in what style the binding
should be performed. Each schedule should be numbered and dated when sent to the bookbinder, and should
also have a blank for inserting the date of return to the
library. The directions given for each work should not
occupy more than one line, if practicable, and should be
preceded with a number, (commencing with 1 on each
schedule,) and should also have at the right hand a space
for the cost of binding.
In the following specimen of a title, &c., as entered
in a schedule, the single marks indicate the lines, and
the parallel marks the several back titles to be put upon
Grahame's History of the United States, edited by Mr.
Quincy, and printed in Philadelphia in 1850':1. Grahame's  i History  I of the I U. States. i   I Quincy. II 1. [ 2. ] II
Philad: j 1850. 11 Half-mor. Red. 75 cents.
In the instance above given, the book would be bound
in red morocco, at a cost of seventy-five cents for each
volume, and the titles, when put upon the back of the
first volume, would appear thus:
ei m ~ D
A duplicate of the schedule should be retained for
preservation in the library; and for this purpose some
of the blanks should be bound into a volume.




62:         DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
Duplicate books for the circulating department,
which with the decimal system of arrangement require
only the shelf and book numbers, may be half bound in
the cheapest durable form with unstained sheep, and
without back titles.
The best mode of treating maps and charts is to bind
all that can be conveniently put into folio volumes, and
to divide those of a larger size into suitable parts, so
that they can be backed with linen cloth, and placed
upon the shelves in properly constructed cases. There
may be, however, cases where it will be more convenient
that large maps should be mounted for mural use, and
also where an arrangement in portfolios may be preferable. These cases will suggest themselves to librarians,
but should not be allowed to occur oftener than is
absolutely necessary.
Usually prints are arranged in portfolios; but whenever it can be accomplished without a violation of order
and good taste, they should be bound in small lots.
Newspapers, periodicals and occasional broadsides
should not be allowed to accumulate without binding,
but should be suitably bound at the earliest convenience.
Whatever system of bookbinding may be adopted by
a library, and however well adapted it may be to general wants, there is very little chance that it can ever
be carried out satisfactorily, owing chiefly to the great
irregularity in the mode of binding and lettering which
every where prevails, and to which libraries must yield
except at the great expense of rebinding, as a very large




ADMINISTRATION.              A63
portion of the books that are received by libraries are
usually in binding which varies much in style, according
to fashion, and the custom and fancy of bookbinders.
III.
ADMINISTRATION OF THE LIBRARY.
To carry out any object successfully, there should be
a design adequate to the purpose, and this should be
uniform and systematic in all its parts, and so devised
as to be in itself a perfect unit. With the decimal
system of arrangement described in these pages, and a
careful observance of the foregoing directions for the
preparation of the library for use, the administrative
part of the system is extremely simple, and can be
accomplished without violating any of the rules of unity
so desirable in the management of large libraries.
As the remarks contained in this memoir are intended
chiefly to refer to large libraries which have both circulating and reference departments, and also public reading
rooms, it will be necessary for perspicuity and desirable
brevity that they should be divided into four sections:
1. Those that appertain to all of the departments;
2. Those that relate to the reading room; 3. Those that




64          DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
belong more appropriately to the circulating department
only; and, 4. Those that are confined to the library of
referehce. Before entering directly upon the consideration of these, it may not be improper to describe in a
few words a plan of a building well adapted to the
purposes of a public library.
Library Building.
In the erection of a library building, it is essential
that proper measures should be taken to guard against
dampness, and all other injurious influences that may
in any way be prejudicial to the preservation of books.
In order to attain this desirable end, the building must,
as far as practicable, be so constructed that its foundations and walls shall not transmit any dampness from
without, or from the soil upon which it isbuilt.
The building should be entirely fire proof, not only
as regards danger from without, but also from any cause
that may exist within, and should be so constructed that
the destruction of one part by fire shall not cause the
ruin of the remainder. For the attainment of this, the
basement floor should be laid of incombustible materials on groined arches; the heating apparatus should be
confined to apartments beneath this floor; the other floors
of the building should be laid of fire proof materials,
upon arches constructed of bricks between iron beams
and girders; the roof, and window frames and shutters,
should also be of materials which resist the attacks




ADMINISTRATION.              65
of fire. For greater security against fire, and for guarding against moisture from without, the walls should be
double, and all the fire flues should be surrounded with
air chambers, and all other means known to architects
should be employed in aid of this object.
The building should be erected for the sole purposes
of a library, namely, for storing books, and such other
property as naturally comes within the province of a
library, for suitably accommodating transient readers
and students, for the delivery of books to borrowers, and
for performing all the various details which are inseparably connected with a large and well-conducted library.
For answering these purposes, the building should have
a large and decently finished cellar, a basement story,
and a principal story.
The cellar should contain apparatus for heating every
part of the building, a convenient repository for fuel,
ample sized rooms for opening and storing boxes, &c.,
suitable apartments for a bookbinding establishment if
required, rooms that can be fitted for the use of a janitor
and custodian of the premises, water closets, and the
usual conveniences.
The basement story should contain a room for the
delivery of books, which will answer the purpose of a
conversation room, and connected with it a room for
containing duplicates and the volumes which may be
most frequently needed for current circulation; a general reading room, with tables and stands for periodicals 
a smaller reading room which may be used exclusively
9




66         DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
by females; and a small room for the librarian and
managers of the library. In an entresol connected with
this story there should be a number of small rooms
for students, small rooms for unbound pamphlets, newspapers, duplicates'not in use, and for the work which
must be performed by the librarian and his assistants in
preparing the books, &c., for use.
As many of the doors connected with the reading
rooms and other rooms in the basement should open into
the room for the delivery of books as can be made so to
do, and the minor rooms of the establishment should be
accessible only through the same room, so that no person
can pass in or out.without the knowledge of one of the
employees of the library.
The rooms in the basement should be properly
furnished with suitable accommodations and conveniences for readers and such persons as may be waiting
for books.
The principal story should consist of a spacious hall
for the arrangement of the library, with a capacity for
containing the desired number of volumes. It should
be so constructed as to allow of expedition in the
administration of the library, and every thing about or
in connection with it should be perfectly centralized.
This hall should be well lighted at the ends by
capacious windows, and also from the roof above, and
from  such small windows on the sides as shall not
interfere in the arrangement of the books. The alcoves
and shelves should be strictly in accordance with the




ADMINISTRATION.              67
directions laid down in the preceding pages, so that the
decimal system may be perfectly carried into effect.
The alcoves should be closed by suitable fences from
the public who may occupy the area of the hall; and
they should be so connected with each other by open
doors as to give the assistants of the librarian free scope
throughout the whole range of the hall.
The shelves throughout the whole library should be
such as before described, and should be made entirely
of wood, and for various reasons, no cast metal should
be used in their construction.
If needed for use, the hall should contain one or more
galleries, accessible at convenient places by means of
suitable stairs.
This grand hall should be approached from below by
a great staircase, which should proceed, if possible, from
the hall for the delivery of books; otherwise, from the
entrance hall of the building.
In this hall there should be ample accommodations
for the delivery of books to readers only, and also
proper tables and seats for the use of readers and other
visitors.
The building should be lighted at night, if practicable, by gas lights, and in no case should the brackets
attached to the walls or columns be allowed to swing
or move. Upright burners may be capable of being
raised or depressed.
The most thorough ventilation that can be attained,
and the best mode of heating, are essential not only to




68          DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
the health and comfort of those who use the library, but
also for the preservation of the books and other property.
Of the Library in general.
In order that a library may be public in the true
sense of the word, it should not only contain such books
and other appurtenances as are of a public character,
but should also be open at all proper times to all persons
who possess good character, and are so orderly in their
condition and demeanor as not to interfere with the
pursuits and comforts of others who resort to it.
Especially should the visits of the young be encouraged;
for in youth the disposition to read is most easily cultivated and directed, and oftentimes exists with so great
desire that unless free access can be had to good books,
those of an improper character will be obtained in lieu
of them.
However freely a library may be opened to a community, it can hardly be considered free and public in regard
to circulation, unless a sufficiently large number of copies
of the standard and popular works, and of those newly
issued from the.press, are procured for home use. When
the demand for any of the above works of which there
are many copies in the library becomes lessened to such
a degree that several copies are constantly on hand, a
portion of them may be distributed throughout the city
or town where the library is situated, in order to form
district libraries which shall be subservient to the gen



ADMINISTRATION.              69
eral library, and which may from  time to time be
established either for the accommodation of visiting
readers or for the circulation of books for home use.
In some cases it may, however, be advantageous to
sell or exchange a portion of the extra undemanded
copies of works. When this is done, the volumes parted
with should invariably be stamped with the words "sale
duplicate," and the alcove catalogues made to exhibit
the fact, and a proper memorandum of the transaction
noted in the librarian's journal.
As the chief object of a public library is to supply
those who use it with such books as they may desire,
the librarian should have constantly at hand blank
requests prepared for the purpose, on which any person
who has a right to use the library may enter the title of
any book known not to be in the library, and which is
wanted for use, or is considered a desirable acquisition;
and this should be accompanied with the name and
residence of the person making the request.  These
requests should, as soon as convenient, be entered in a
book containing the titles and particulars of books asked
for, and when ordered, the fact should be noted and the
proper entry made in the book specially kept for books
ordered. This last book should be prepared for alphabetical entries, and should contain the date of order,
title of book, and name of person or agent of whom
ordered, and a column to indicate if, and when, the book
is received, in order to give information necessary to
facilitate the purchase of books.




70          DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
All persons who wish to avail themselves of the
privileges of the library, should subscribe their names
to the signature book, kept in the hall for the delivery of
books, whereby they promise to observe all the existing
rules and regulations of the library, and all that may
be subsequently prescribed by due authority. The book
for the signatures of persons using the library should
have the words of the promise printed distinctly on the
upper part of each page, and the pages should be ruled
and crossruled with suitable columns for the following
particulars: 1. Number, which should be progressive;
2. Date; 3. Name; 4. Residence; and, 5. Number of
account, referring to the subscriber's account in the
loan book.
The names of the persons using the library should
be copied alphabetically into a book having similar
printed heads and columns, excepting those for the
words of the promise, and the date of signing. The
pages of this book should be specially arranged for
alphabetical entries, by having letters printed on the
folio corners, in the manner described on the fifty-third
page for the index of donors. It will be readily perceived that the principal object of this book is to serve
as an index to the loan book, and also as a directory of
those using the library; and therefore persons changing
their place of residence should invariably be required to
give notice of the same to the librarian, who also should
make note of the change in the book containing the
names in alphabetical order, and in the loan book.




ADMINISTRATION.               71
In the case of minors, certificates should always be
given by their parents or guardians, in a form to be
furnished by the librarian, setting forth that they are
persons who ought to enjoy the privileges of the library,
and for whose conduct while there, and for whose observance of the rules of the library, they become responsible,
and that they will make good any injury or loss the
library may sustain from the permission that may be
given in consequence of the certificates. On the receipt
of any such certificate, it should have the signature
number of the applicant written upon it, and then
placed upon file. If the applicant should desire all the
privileges of the library, a note must be made against
the account in the loan book, stating that the person is
a minor, and the signature number, which will indicate
that a certificate is on file.
It may sometimes happen that a minor, or apparently
irresponsible person, may apply for the privileges of the
library; in which case a deposit of a small amount of
money should be required, as a pledge for the safety of
any property used, for which a receipt should be given
by the librarian, and this deposit should be repaid on the
delivery of the receipt, after deducting any amount incurred for fines, unreasonable damage, or other dues; but
the receipt should not prevent an increase of the amount
of deposit whenever, on account of the value of the property, the librarian may deem further security necessary.
This mode of security by means of a temporary deposit
should not be resorted to more frequently than is abso



72         DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
lutely necessary for the safety of the property and an
observance of the rules.
In order to extend the civilities and courtesies of the
library to strangers of distinction, and to scholars who
have no special claim upon it, permission should be
granted for them to use the library for a limited period
on the recommendation of a responsible person; and
for this purpose a strangers' book should be kept, in
which the visitor and the person by whom the introduction is made should sign their names and places of
residence, together with the date of the granting of the
privilege. To; such persons the reading room and reference department should be freely opened, and every
facility which the library affords should be granted to all
persons engaged in literary and scientific investigations.
For the greater facility in the administration of the
library, and for the more speedy despatch in finding
books, and charging them in the loan book to borrowers,
all books must be called for by their numbers, which
may at any time be ascertained from the printed and
interleaved index (or short title) catalogues, which should
always be found in sufficient number on the tables in the
reading rooms, and in the hall for the delivery of books.
The card catalogue, which should always be under the
immediate charge of the librarian and his assistants,
should at any time be consulted for special purposes,
but never otherwise than through them.
Every person entitled to use in the reading room the
books of the library, and to borrow them for home use,




ADMINISTRATION.               73
and desirous so to do, should receive fiom the librarian
two printed cards similar to the following-in form,- that
for the reading room being of a reddish color, and that
for borrowing being white. These cards should contain
the name and place of residence of the person to whom
they are given, and the white one for borrowing books
should also have written upon it in distinct figures the
number of the person's account in the loan book.
SHELF.  NO. VOL.  SHELF.  NO. VOL.
l                               iI
On these the book asked for should be designated in
the blanks left for the purpose by the number of the
shelf on which it stands, the number of the book itself
on the shelf, and if it be a part of a set, then the particular volume; all which- numbers may be' easily
ascertained from the printed'copies of the short title
and interleaved catalogues, which should always be
accessible in the various rooms of the library; and this
card, which must.be presented'to the librarian as. the
only mode of obtaining any book that may be asked for,
10




74          DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
should be returned to its owner at once if the book cannot be found; or, if found, then as soon as it is duly
charged on the borrower's account in the loan book if for
home use, or returned if used only in the reading room.
No person not in the employ of the officers of the
library should be allowed to remove any of the books
from their places on the shelves without special permission; but a sufficient number of assistants should be
at all times in attendance, to prevent delay in answering
proper demands.
A proper code of by-laws, containing appropriate
and necessary rules and regulations for the administration of the different departments, should be adopted by
every library, and printed copies thereof should be freely
distributed for extensive promulgation.  The exaction
of a small fine will insure a watchful observance of, and
punctual compliance with, such rules as it may be expedient to establish for the administration of the library,
and will also in a considerable measure make up the loss
which the library may sustain from the wear and injury
occurring from the use of the books.
The directors of the library should keep records of
their meetings, in which should appear all transactions
connected with the history of the institution, or that
will in any way be useful for future reference. They
should also keep a file of all papers relating to the
library, and letter books for copies of correspondence.
At some convenient season of the year, the library,
with the exception of the reading room, should be closed




AIDMINISTRATIN.              75
a short time for the necessary preparation of the same
incidental to the annual examination.
A careful visitation of every department of the library
should be made, at least once a year, by a disinterested
committee appointed for the purpose, who should report
to the directors the general condition of the same. The
librarian should assist in the examination made at the
visitation, and in a report, which it should be his duty
to make to the directors, the details should be given,
together with such other information as may be of general interest. Appended to this report may be given
the titles of the books added to the library during the
year, which may be printed by their full titles in the
order of accession, as suggested on the forty-fifth and
fifty-second pages of the preceding remarks, in a form
convenient for preservation, and in a manner that they
may appear continuously from year to year, or oftener.
Of the Reading Room.
This department of the library should be conveniently
fitted up with suitable tables for books and periodicals,
and stands for the large magazines and newspapers.
The necessary implements for writing should be constantly at hand, ink, however, never being allowed where
it may do any injury to the books or other property
appertaining to the library.
In the reading rooms, all books belonging to the
library should, at the discretion of the librarian, be




76          DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
used; and the librarian should be required to exercise
in this respect discretionary power, especially in the
case of minors.
The various magazines should be arranged on the
tables in order, every one having a different number, and
this number should be put upon the book, and also upon
its place on the case or slanting shelf whereon it is
usually to be found; and the list of periodicals, which
should be printed at the end of the index catalogue,
should contain against each title this reading room number. The object of this number is, that the periodicals,
&c., may be returned to their place after use; and
therefore all persons who visit the reading rooms can, as
they should be required to do, return each of the pamphlets and periodicals to its proper place.
To obtain the privileges of the reading room, it
should be necessary for persons merely to enter their
names and places of residence in the book for signatures, on doing which they should be furnished with
red cards similar to the one described on the seventythird page.
It will not be necessary to charge in the loan book
the books that are delivered to be used in the reading
room, as the red card, known as the reading room card,
which must be presented to the librarian whenever a
book. is asked for for this purpose, will be retained by
him so long as its owner retains the book; but no book,
so received, should, for any reason whatever, be removed
from the reading room by the person receiving it.




ADMINISTRATION.              77
The alphabetical list of the names and residences of
persons who have permission to use the reading room
should be kept accessible to all persons by the librarian.
Of the Circulating Department.
The use of this department of the library should be
freely granted to persons who are known to the officers
of the library to be such as should enjoy its privileges,
and to those who by proper vouchers are duly certified
to be such by any responsible persons, who will thus be
made liable for any loss the library may sustain in consequence; -which vouchers should be cancelled at any
time, provided no liability is resting on them, at the
written request of the persons who gave them. The
books appertaining to this department which are most
frequently asked for should be arranged in a part of
the building by themselves, as mentioned on the sixtyfifth page, in the description of the library building.
Books for home use should be obtained in the same
manner as those for use in the reading room, except that
in this case a white card, known as the borrowing card,
should be employed instead of the red one. This card,
on which the book is designated by its number, should
be presented, together with the book to be returned, if
the borrower has one, to the librarian, who should cancel
the charge and procure the book asked for at once, and
charge it in the borrower's account in the loan book; or
if the book is not to be found on the shelves, it being




78         DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
already lent, the card should without delay be returned
to its owner for another attempt.
In all instances extra copies of any one work are to
be asked for by the same number, which should invariably be found in the short title catalogue.
No person should, as a general rule, be allowed more
than a limited number of volumes at a time, nor should
any book be kept by the person borrowing it many
days; provided, always, that any book may be renewed
once to the same person, but not more than once, until
it shall have been returned to the library, and shall have
remained there at least one full library day.
All injuries to books beyond a reasonable wear, and
all losses, should be made good by the persons liable;
every book detained above a certain time being regarded
as lost.
The loan book, for convenience and despatch, should
be strictly on a decimal plan. On each page of it there
should be five accounts, making ten on the two pages
which will present themselves at one opening of the
book. The pages should be numbered on the folio
corners, in the same manner as in legers, namely, one
number progressively for the two pages of each opening;
and the ten accounts of each opening should be numbered 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 on the left hand page, and 5, 6,
7, 8 and 9 on the right hand page. By this plan much
time is saved in finding the accounts, as will be readily
perceived by the following description of its use. If the
librarian desires to find the account bearing the number




ADMINISTRATION.              79
3653, he will at once turn to the 365th opening designated by the folio figures, and on the left hand page
he will find that the account numbered 3 is the one
desired.
Each account, besides the number, should have heads
for the name and residence, and also a blank space for
referring to the signature book in case of minors, &c.
The several accounts should be ruled and crossruled,
and have printed heads over columns for the following
particulars: 1. Date; 2. Shelf number; 3. Book number; 4. Volume number; 5. Check marks, when a book
is returned; and, 6. Amount of fine incurred. Three
series of columns of ten lines can be given to each
account in a book of convenient size for use.
The charges in the loan book should be made with a
lead pencil, and when the account is full in the three
sets of columns, those on the first should be removed so
that the columns may again be used.
For convenience in the administration of the library,
there should be several loan books in use at the same
time at different parts of the librarian's counter, or desk.
Each of these should be appropriated to a certain portion of the alphabet, and borrowers should be instructed
at which station or desk they should present their cards
for books.
At stated intervals the loan book should be examined
for delinquencies, and these, when ascertained, should
be entered on a sheet for reference, and from which they
should be cancelled as soon as the books are returned.




80         DECIMAL SYSTEM FOR LIBRARIES.
When all of the accounts in each of the loan books
are appropriated, supplementary books should be put in
use; and when from use it becomes necessary to renew
the loan books, all dead accounts should be closed and
their places given to others. If a person's number
should be changed, the fact must be noted in the alphabetical directory and also in the signature book.
Of the Library of Reference.
The books belonging to this department should be
kept in the general library room, and should be distinguished from those for general circulation merely by a
star (*) in the index catalogue and on the back of the
book in connection with the shelf number. Most of the
remarks upon the reading room apply equally well to
this department.
The only important feature of the department which
requires to be spoken of is, that small rooms in some
convenient part of the library should be assigned for the
use of scholars or persons making investigations which
require for a limited time the constant use of many volumes at the same time. Privileges of the above kind
should be granted to trustworthy persons, and lists of
the books in use should be kept with the red cards, so
that in pressing cases the books may be had for other
persons.