ually become the basis of an Institute of American History, of which the nation would be, to all time, the grateful beneficiary. Such use would best memorate its founder's zeal for truth and his singleness of purpose.

CO

One of the old and famous libraries of San Francisco is the Mercantile, which has for many years been popular, though its membership is not so large as some others. So long ago as 1876 this library had 41,563 volumes. It was established in 1852, and has 80,000 volumes now. Three thousand were added during the year 1904.

For more than half a century the Mechanics' Institute Library, of San Francisco, has been popular and prosperous. Its funds come from income of property, from dues and rents. It has 116,000 volumes.

The San Francisco Public Library was incorporated in 1850 by an act of

1884

the Legislature and was opened to the public in June, 1879. By the library was so well patronized that 325,828 books were issued. In 1888 new quarters were provided in the city hall and branches were estabthroughout the city. So rapid has been the growth of the institution 1902-3 the total use of the books (library and home) exceeded one calls.

lishecl

that in

million

There are now six branches throughout the city, and all are prosperous. 20,000 volumes in 1880 the list has grown to a total of 152,881, of 122,579 are in the main library.

From

which

One of the greatest libraries in the country is the California State Library located at Sacramento. It was created by an act of the legislature in 1850. The necessary funds for the maintenance of the library were acquired by requiring every state officer, civil and military, to pay five dollars on receipt of his commission. In addition to the funds thus collected there was reserved five dollars from the pay of each member of the legislature for each session, and by a supplemental act approved May 11, 1853, all fees of whatsoever character collected in the office of the secretary of state were reserved for the use of the library.

The State Library occupies quarters on the east side of the Capitol building. This entire section of the building is occupied by the library, the department being on the first floor, and above it the general collection.

law

The rooms are all heated by steam and lighted by electricity, thus protecting the books from any injurious effects of gas. A system of telephonic communication between the departments adds to the efficiency of the service and saves much time and labor. Owing to the circular construction of the building, there is ample light at all times.

The library contains a' greater number of volumes than any other state library in this country excepting the New York state library. The collection now contains 125,000 volumes and many pamphlets, and the library is in need of more room for further extension. The map collection contains about 375 maps, special attention being paid to securing the latest official county maps of the state. The library also receives copies of all the maps. issued by the United States government.

The original design in creating the library was merely to meet the needs and requirements of the state government and of the legislature during its sessions; and while it is intended for reference purposes only, with the exception of certain works from the law department, its use is not restricted to members of the state government, but is extended to the general public, and every one has the opportunity and privilege of using it as a reference library. The entire collection is open to the public, both on the main floor and in the adjacent rooms and galleries. Many of the cases are kept locked, however, and are opened only upon application to an attendant. Small tables are placed under the windows in the alcoves for the use of readers, affording opportunity for quiet study.

The library is now supported by fees received by the secretary of state for filing articles of incorporation and other documents. The money so received is paid into the state treasury each month, and a certain fixed amount of that sum is credited to the State Library and constitutes the state library fund. Out of this fund all the running expenses of the library are paid except the salaries of the librarian and two deputies, who are paid by an appropriation made by the legislature.

The law department, which is one of the greatest in the country, contains 28,000 volumes and includes reports from the highest courts of every state in the Union, the session laws of every state from its organization to date, and the compiled laws and codes of all the states. The collection of text-books is very complete, and all new publications of this nature which

are

of real value are secured as soon as possible. All the important legal periodicals, both American and foreign, are received, and in many cases the library has a complete file. The California Supreme Court Records consist of 3,331 volumes, which contain the complete record of every case on appeal in the Supreme Court of California. These volumes are fully indexed, so that any case can be referred to without delay, and are accessible within six weeks after a decision is rendered. The department of foreign law contains the early statutes of England in folio volumes which were published in the sixteenth century. These volumes are quaint in appearance, and are valuon account of their antiquity, there being very few copies in existence. reports of all English courts from a very early period may be found, of them containing opinions rendered by the noted law-givers Coke, Blackstone, and others. The several dependencies of Great Britain, ScotIreland, India, Canada, and Australia, furnish almost complete sets of statutes and reports. The collection contains many works that are valuable on account of their age and rarity, one of the most curious of these being the Connecticut laws from 1615 to 1750, commonly known as the Connecticut Blue Laws, which are noted for their severity and stringency.

able The

many

land,

and of

may

The department is used a great deal by the legal profession of the city the state, for provision is made whereby judges of the superior courts grant requisitions on the law department for a period of two weeks to attorneys requiring books that can not be obtained elsewhere; the judge assuming the responsibility for their safe return, and the attorney paying transportation charges both ways. By this arrangement the books are made available to the legal profession throughout the state.

The California department contains all of the works in the library that refer to California and all books by Californian authors. In addition to innumerable works pertaining to the state there are nearly 3,000 bound volumes of California newspapers.

James L. Gillis, the librarian, has recently issued a historical sketch of the library, together with a description of the various departments. Referring to the newspaper index, one of the great features of the collection, he

says:

66

In making an index of a file of California newspapers from the earliest

date at which a paper was published in the state down to the present day, the

library is undertaking a task which is not carried on to so great an extent by any other institution in this country, so far as known. The earliest paper indexed was the Californian, first published in Monterey, August 15, 1846. This was the first newspaper published in the state. It was printed with Spanish type on paper that came wrapped around cigars. Following it in the order of indexing came the California Star, and then the Alta California. The latter is now indexed up to July 1, 1879, and at the same time the current files of the San Francisco Chronicle are being indexed. There are still about twenty-two years, from July 1, 1879, to August 31, 1902, to be done; but the most valuable part of the file, so far as early California history is concerned, has already been completed. There is very little record of conditions and events in California in the early days except what is contained in the newspapers, and to students of early history this index is invaluable. Its usefulness has already been proved on many occasions, and will increase as time goes on. Aside from being an index to a particular file of papers, it is in a way an index to all papers of the same period for the subjects indexed, for having found a reference in the indexed file, and so having ascertained the date, it is comparatively easy to consult other papers for additional information. Everything relating to California is indexed, whether it be historical, personal, political, or whatever relation it may bear to the state. The fund of information in regard to persons and events which could not be found elsewhere is prodigious, and is available to any one upon application. So far the index comprises about 65,000 typewritten cards of standard size (7.5 by 12.5 centimeters). These cards are grouped under appropriate headings and subheadings for convenient reference.

"Ninety-eight different newspapers are bound, there being at least one from each county in the state except Alpine county, where no paper is published. These bound volumes are all arranged in order in a room specially shelved for them, and they are consulted constantly."

Concerning the great reference rooms and their valuable storehouse of the world's great authorities, Mr. Gillis writes as follows:

"The main reference department occupies the central portion of the library on the second floor. The desk is placed in the center of the room, thus enabling the attendant to maintain supervision of the alcoves, which extend from the wall in radial form. The classes of biography, literature,

and the fine arts occupy the alcoves nearest the desk, while the current newsPapers and periodicals and the general reference works are placed in an adjoining room. Among the many valuable works of reference in the library may be mentioned Audubon's Birds, large folio edition, Challenger Expedition Publications, Jesuit Relations, Bartholomew's Physical Atlas, Sargent's Silva of North America, Harris's Fishes of North America, Sowerby's English Botany, Winsor's Narrative and Critical History of America, de luxe edition, Sabin's Dictionary of Books Relating to America, Kingsborough's Mexican Antiquities, Boydell's Shakespeare, Galéries Historiques de Versailles, Racinet's Le Costume Historique, Description de l'Egypte, Early English Text Society publications, Spanish Colonial Architecture in Mexico, many complete sets of periodicals of various kinds, sets of the transactions and proceedings of associations and learned societies, and a large number of valuable government publications, state and national. The best new books are constantly being added to the collection, so that the student may avail himself of the latest sources of information. It is desired to make the library as useful as possible to the people of California, and any informaassistance which can be furnished will cheerfully be given. During the hours that the library is open there is an attendant at the reference desk, whose uty it is to furnish all needed assistance and advice."

tion or