tion has power to adopt lists of books for district libraries. By an amendment to the law this power is qualified by a provision which, as a negative statement of the basis for the judgment of books, is worthy of record. Books on these lists "shall not contain or include stories in prose or poetry whose tendency would be to influence the minds of the children in the formation of ideals not in harmony with truth and morality."

In Delaware, money allotted by the state to public libraries must be spent for books approved by the state library commission.

THE STATE LIBRARY

In California, for the first time, an item for the maintenance of the state library was included in the general appropriation

act.

Previously this had been dependent on fees collected by the secretary of state. The sum named for 1914 and 1915 was $204,400, a material increase over that for any preceding two years.

A state civil service law was enacted, covering the staff of the state library, but with the following exceptions: "the state librarian, the chief deputy or assistant state librarian, and also one person having a confidential relation to the state librarian and appointees under provisions for court, law, teachers, school and county libraries."

The state librarian was formerly obliged to appoint deputies whose salaries were fixed by law. The section fixing these salaries was repealed, and provision was made that the librarian may now appoint his own assistant and pay him a suitable salary.

The following were added to the duties of the state librarian. To index statutes and journals of the legislature. To revise and bring to date an index to the laws of California whenever provision for the same is made. To compile laws or other matter when required by any state department.

An act was adopted enabling a city to give land to the state for state buildings. Sacramento may, under this act, give two blocks for an office building and for a state library and courts building. A proposition for the issue of bonds to the amount of $3,000,000 to construct these buildings will

be submitted to the people at the election in November, 1914.

In Indiana, the state library was reorganized by departments, and a "Department of Indiana History and Archives" has been added, to have charge of historical material and to coöperate with any educational institution in the state under approval of the state librarian with the consent of the library board.

A bill providing for the erection of a state educational building, as proposed two years ago, did not pass as originally drawn, but, by an amendment to the specific appropriation bill, the voters of the state are to decide at the general election in 1914 whether $2,000,000 shall be spent for a permanent centennial memorial building.

The state library's appropriations were increased by $4280 for each year.

In Oregon, as already noted, the state library was completely reorganized and its books divided between two libraries, the Supreme Court Library and the library in charge of the library commission, henceforth to be known as the Oregon State Library. Additional appropriations were made to both, the state library enjoying an increase of $7500 a year.

The Illinois state library will receive $10,700 a year in place of $8400, and the State Historical Society in Illinois will receive $26,100 a year instead of $16,600.

In Texas, the salary of the state librarian was advanced from $1500 to $2000.

LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE

Four states have taken steps this year to place the work of legislative reference on a systematic and permanent basis.

In Illinois, an independent bureau is created, to consist of the governor and the chairmen in both the Senate and the House of the two committees on appropriations and of those on the judiciary. The bureau has a secretary at a salary of $5000, who will give his entire time to the work with other officers and employes appointed by the bureau. The state library is required to cooperate. Among other duties this bureau shall prepare, print and distribute to members of the General Assembly a de

tailed budget of appropriations required by the several state departments for the coming two years, each item being compared with the corresponding item as appropriated at the session next preceding. The bureau has an appropriation of $25,000 a

year.

In Indiana, also, a "Bureau of Legislative and Administrative Information" was created to take the place of the former legislative reference department of the state library. It is to be under the supervision of a board including the governor, the presidents of Indiana and Purdue Universities, the state librarian, and one other person appointed by the governor. new bureau will receive $13,500 annually in place of the former provision for the same purpose of $4500 the first year and $5500 the second year.

In Ohio, a legislative reference department is created, independent of the state library as such, but under the direction and supervision of the same board. The new department has its own director, who is appointed and his compensation fixed by the state board of commissioners, subject to approval by the governor. He appoints all necessary assistants with the approval of the board. He will arrange with the Ohio State University, the Ohio State Archæological and Historical Society, the Supreme Court Law Library and the State Library for the use of books and references in their custody, and these institutions are authorized to lend the same. An initial appropriation of $10,000 is made for the depart

ment.

In New Hampshire, a legislative reference bureau is established in the state library at an expense not to exceed $500 a year.

STATE DOCUMENTS

In California, by an amendment to the code, the number of reports given to the state library for distribution is increased from 50 to 250.

In Texas, 150 copies of each state report are given to the Library and Historical Commission for free distribution to libraries. Copies of Texas archives in the hands

of the commission which are not needed for supplying one copy each to the governor, the members of the legislature and the public libraries may be sold at not more than 25 per cent. above cost, and any such excess be paid into the state treasury.

In Michigan, each library is to receive a copy of the annual publication of the newly created Historical Commission.

In New Jersey, it was provided that one copy of every bill, report, pamphlet or other publication of the state shall be sent to each public library, including historical. societies. But inasmuch as no public officer is charged with the duty of sending out the above documents, the law is probably ineffective.

In Massachusetts, whenever any library shall vote not to receive any of the books and reports offered by the state, the sending of them will be discontinued, and any such material already in hand may be returned or otherwise disposed of with the sanction of the library commission.

MISCELLANEOUS

In Texas, wilful detention of books or other material from a public library for thirty days after written notice to return the same may be punished by a fine of from one to twenty-five dollars.

In Missouri, boards of education in cities may establish and maintain separate libraries, public parks and playgrounds for the use of white and colored people.

In Nebraska, a retirement fund for librarians was authorized. It applies to public libraries in cities of the metropolitan class. It calls for the assessment of 12 per cent. of every salary and the setting aside of 12 times as much from other funds, gifts, bequests, etc. It is to be under control of the city council, and the salary assessment may be suspended if other funds are sufficient. After thirty-five years of service an employe may be retired; after forty years, must be retired and thereafter receive $420 a year. After twenty years one may be retired for disability and receive not $420, but such a percentage of $420 as the term of service shall bear to thirty-five.

at Harrisburg, Pa., Bangor, Me., and elsewhere, while the number of branch libraries has notably increased, especially at Denver. Harvard's new library building is progressing toward completion. At Brooklyn the work on the central library building is unfortunately stopped pending further appropriations by the city, and Philadelphia is still held up from beginning its fine new building on the excellent site it has obtained, because of conditions in the original appropriation which have to be modified by the municipal authorities before work can proceed. Foundations are ready for the great library at St. Paul, the gift of J. J. Hill, and plans for the new Detroit building, for the Johns Hopkins University Library at Baltimore, and for the John Crerar Library at Chicago, all promise notable buildings; three of these emphasize private benevolence in respect to libraries outside the Carnegie foundation. The transfer of Mr. Carnegie's benevolence to a corporation has not interfered with wide giving for libraries, but the record for Carnegie gifts for the year 1913 is not yet at hand.

A PROPOSITION has been put forward in Congress to capture the Library of Congress for the spoils system by taking the appointment of the staff out of the hands of the librarian, by whom it is practically exercised, and placing it directly in the control of the joint committee on the Library. It is scarcely possible that this can be more than a last attack from the dwindling opponents of the merit system, hungry for offices, upon an institution which above all others should be free from such an attack. It must be admitted by foes as well as friends of the Democratic party and the new administration that they have done exceptionally, well in resisting the enormous pressure for a return to the spoils system, and after this successful resistance it is unlikely that a surrender will be made where that would be at once most flagrant and most unjustifiable, since Dr. Putnam's ad

ministration of the national library has made it a world-wide model of effectiveness and usefulness, absolutely non-partisan in character and nation-wide in value.

WITH this initial number of the LIBRARY JOURNAL in its thirty-ninth year, a number of changes in typography and arrangement have been made which we trust will commend it more thoroughly to the profession. Particularly, also, there will be endeavor to make it more comprehensive in plan and scope, to give it a broader character internationally, and to use illustrations more freely, especially with reference to architectural development. At the same time the review of library activity in its many present ramifications under the general caption "Library Work" will serve not only as an index to library periodical literature of international scope, but will bring out, from the subject side, items of interest which, in the rapidly increasing flood of library material, might otherwise be lost. This division will, in fact, occupy most of the field of the library periodical of that title, formerly published by the H. W. Wilson Co. Under the caption "The Library World" will be brought together material of geographic rather than of subject relationship, inclusive of library reports, gifts and bequests, and the miscellaneous material of notes and news. Segregation of the LIBRARY JOURNAL'S miscellaneous material along these two lines-geographical and subject-will, we hope, serve toward more efficient usefulness. During the past year there has been too much reason for apology to our contributors and to our readers, resulting from frequent changes at the office desk, arising from quite independent causes, as far removed as illness and matrimony; but it is hoped that new arrangements now in process will remedy defects for which we have had reason to apologize, and will make permanent provision for the continuance and growth of the LIBRARY JOURNAL as the leading exponent of the library profession.

DURING the year 1913 the legislatures of forty-four states have been in session. The statements which follow are based upon an examination of the published laws of most of the states aided by direct correspond ence with the state library commissions, wherever such exist, and with some leading librarian in each of the thirteen states where there was no such commission a year ago. The action of the national Congress, affecting directly the District of Columbia and indirectly the whole country, has also been considered. Returns from thirty-one states, in which the legislatures acted on library matters, and from the District of Columbia have been noted.

Items of special interest this year are the following:

Library commissions were created in two states.

The functions and titles of some existing commissions were changed, marking a clear tendency toward giving them a larger share of responsibility for the state library and its work.

brary commission of five. It includes the governor, the superintendent of public instruction, the state librarian, and two others appointed by the governor for terms of three years, one of them chosen from a list of three named by the library association of the state and the other from a list of three proposed by the state federation of women's clubs. The state library is placed in custody of the commission, and is made the headquarters for library work. In Arkansas, at the request of the library association of the state, but in the absence of any direct legislation, the governor has appointed an honorary commission of three to encourage the establishment of public libraries and to promote their interests.

In Idaho the continued existence of the library commission was seriously threatened by legislative movements for economy, but better counsels prevailed and the usual appropriation of $8000 was secured.

In Tennessee the state board of education was made to supersede the free library commission, assuming all of their powers

In several states the library laws are being adjusted and improved by careful revision.

The limit for library taxation, where any such limit exists, is being questioned and restated.

Rural library extension is receiving more nearly the attention it deserves. County systems are being brought into operation and the power to contract for library facilities is extended.

In three states the state library is being reorganized for more active service to the public, and the subject of legislative reference is being pushed to the front in four states.

A new retirement pension scheme for librarians appears in one state.

LIBRARY COMMISSIONS

South Dakota has created a free li

libraries, which was placed under direction of the state library. Public as well as school libraries are now under the general supervision of the state board of education through their division of library extension. The state free library commission still exists in the law, but has no appropriation for active work.

In Washington, where the present library commission consists of the governor, the attorney general and eight judges of the supreme court, a bill was introduced, but failed to pass, to create a new commission upon a different basis in order to emphasize the popular, rather than the legal, side of the state library and to promote public, normal and traveling library work throughout the state. The friends of the movement expect that more will be heard of this at a future session.

In Oregon, the library commission has taken a new name, and has received a large

addition to its store of books. The law books in the state library have been placed in a separate collection to be henceforth known as the "Supreme Court Library." The remaining books, some 45,000 in number, have been added to the books already in the hands of the state commission, and together they will constitute in future the "Oregon State Library," under control of the library commission, who will be henceforth known as "Trustees of the State Library," the librarian to be secretary to the commission. Some added duties in the line of collecting and indexing public documents and of legislative reference have been laid on the commission. In view of added work an increased appropriation of $7500 a year is given to the commission.

In Vermont, the name of the "Board of Library Commissioners" was, at their own request, changed to "Free Public Library Commission."

In ten states the annual appropriations for commission work were increased:

In Connecticut, from $3250 to $4000 a year.

In Delaware, doubled, to provide book wagons.

In Illinois, from $1800 to $5270, to provide an organizer, other assistants and traveling expenses, and $1700 for books.

In Indiana, from $10,000 to $12,500.

In Iowa, the usual appropriation of $11,000 is continued unchanged, but the amount to be used for salaries is raised from $6000 to $7600.

In Massachusetts, $2000 was voted for a secretary to direct educational work through the libraries for the benefit of foreign-speaking people, with an increase from $2000 to $4000 for state aid to libraries in the smaller towns.

In Michigan, from $4000 to $5500. In North Carolina, from $1500 to $3000. In North Dakota, from $7800 to $8000. In Vermont, from $1000 to $1500 for traveling libraries, and from $2500 to $3000 for the general work, besides $100 for office expenses.

On the other hand, Kansas shows a decrease from $2000 to $1000 for books for traveling libraries and $50 less for expenses.

New York shows a decrease from $35,000 to $25,000 for state allotments to free libraries, and from $6000 to $1000 for books for traveling libraries, besides the cutting out of two salaries from the Extension Division which were intended for the library organizers. It is claimed that the lastnamed action was due to a misunderstanding. The liberal policy of the state for the past twenty-one years in aid of its growing and thriving free libraries, accompanied, as it has been, by careful and friendly official supervision, has been abundantly justified by results, and the present decrease can only be regarded as due to lack of full information attended by an indiscriminate zeal for appearing to cut down some expenses.

There are now 38 library commissions in 37 states, Colorado having two commissions, one for traveling libraries and the other for the general work. In Kansas the commission is for traveling libraries only. These bodies, while doing the same kind of work in their several states, vary both in name and organization. In the names of 28 the word "Commission" or "Commissioners" appears. In California and in Virginia the State Library does the work. In Oregon, the legal name now is "Trustees of the State Library." In New Hampshire the State Library trustees act as a commission. In Connecticut, the name "Committee" is used. In Alabama, the work is committed to the "Department of Archives and History"; in Texas, to the "Library and Historical Commission"; in Rhode Island and in Utah, to the "State Department," or "Board," "of Education," acting by a "Library Committee" or a "Library Secretary"; and in New York to the "Education Department" by its "Division of Educational Extension." In Tennessee, by this year's legislation, the library work is given, as noted above, partly to the "State Department of Education" and partly to the "State Library," while the "Free Library Commission" remains on the statute book, without the means or opportunity to serve. In Arkansas, the library commission of three appointed by the governor is an honorary commission.

The eleven states in which there is, as