and attention is drawn to them simply for the purpose of showing how ridiculous such entries can be made, and that they are more hindrance than help to the users of a catalogue needs no further demonstration. Therefore it can be confidently recommended to the cataloguer to make a very limited use of these dashes, in all cases of doubt it being much better to repeat the word. The eleven dashes under “Workshop” above are unnecessary, and the proper form of entry is:
Workshop appliances. Shelley, C. P. B. 1885
Workshop receipts for the use of manufacturers, &c. Spon, E. 1885
⸻ (Second ser.) Haldane, R. 1885
CHAPTER XI.
INDEXING CONTENTS.
103.—The mode of setting-out the contents of books of a miscellaneous or collective character has been referred to in sections 61-62 and it has been pointed out that frequently an essay or article is more useful—even more valuable—than a whole book, as it may give the pith of the matter it deals with, and be sufficiently full for the needs of most people. Under these circumstances, it is most desirable that not only shall each subject-heading in a catalogue have all the books in the library set out under it, but also portions of books, within reasonable limits. How far these limits are to extend is a nice question, and it is certainly one that demands the consideration of English librarians, with a view to co-operation in the production of a work upon the lines of the “A. L. A.” Index: an index to general literature, by Wm. I. Fletcher, with the coöperation of many librarians (Boston, 1893), to fill the place for this class of literature that Poole’s and other indexes do for periodical literature. The “A.L.A. Index” is distinctly American, and does not fit in so well with the collections in English libraries, though its value cannot be gainsaid. Pending the settlement of this question librarians must do what they can to open up for the use of their readers the valuable material hidden away in volumes of essays and others of a miscellaneous character. All the rules previously laid down for cataloguing come into application in dealing with books of this kind, because they sometimes consist of sections by a number of authors upon one subject, or of many authors upon many subjects, or by a single author on many subjects. The method usually employed of completely carrying out this indexing is shown in the following series of examples:
Stevenson, Robert L. Familiar studies of men and books. 3rd ed. pp. xxi., 397. sm. 8o. 1888
Contents:—Preface, by way of criticism. Victor Hugo’s romances. Some aspects of Robert Burns. Walt Whitman. H. D. Thoreau: his character and opinions. Yoshida-Torajiro. François Villon, student, poet, and housebreaker. Charles of Orleans. Samuel Pepys. John Knox and women.