In accordance with the requirement of the constitution I have the honor to present herewith the report of the Publishing Board for the year 1900. The table of the financial operations of the board is essentially a trial balance, but divided into two sections to bring out more clearly the condition of the board's undertakings. The first section shows in the last two columns the net balance of loss or profit on each of our publications, June, 1901. In general it is true that our book publications, except the "List of subject headings," have not brought in what was expended on them, while our card publications have more than offset these losses by their profits, for although the final balance of all these accounts shows an excess of expenditures over receipts of $830.74, yet it should be noticed that the two largest items in the expense column, $476.84 and $1290.02 are on account of publications which have not yet begun to bring many returns, viz., the second edition of the "A. L. A. index" and the "Portrait index." If these are left out of consideration our other publications show a net profit to date of $927.12. The second section of the table shows what means we have in hand or can count upon. The unpaid bills ($241.69 + $369.52 + $16.50), $627.71, are just about offset by the amount of bills and subscriptions due us, $636.82; leaving the cash balance, $823.64, plus the amount sunk in publications, $830.74, to represent the sum still remaining in our hands of money appropriated to our use by the trustees of the Endowment Fund or received from other sources, $1617.08, plus the sum of the balances still standing on the old membership accounts, $46.41. It should be remembered that the office expenses of the year having been heavier than usual, over $1800, have not been all charged to the account of our different publications, but a balance of $345.55 has been allowed to remain, reducing by so much the balance on this account of the previous year.
As a complement and supplement to the table the following statements concerning the board's publications and work may be of interest:
Books.
A. L. A. proceedings.—The board has in stock at its headquarters, 10-1/2 Beacon street, Boston, nearly 2000 copies of the conference proceedings, covering the years from 1882 to date. There are a very limited number of copies of the years 1882, 1886, 1892, and 1893, and it is suggested that libraries desiring to complete sets in order to bind the proceedings by themselves would do well to give the matter early consideration.
Annotated bibliography of fine art.—The "Bibliography of fine art," prepared by Mr. Sturgis and Mr. Krehbiel and edited by Mr. Iles, which has become so favorably known because of the value of its descriptive, critical and comparative notes, was among the board's publications transferred to Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co., of Boston (now the regular publishers of the board), in January, 1900, and may be obtained directly from them. The sales of the book, last year amounting to 84 copies, are gradually reducing the deficit incurred in its publication, which at the end of the year amounted to less than $400.
Books for boys and girls.—The little, inexpensive, paper-covered handbook which bears this title, with its carefully annotated lists, prepared by Miss Hewins, of the Hartford Public Library, for the home use of fathers, mothers and teachers, continues in such active demand that less than 700 copies are now left of an original edition of 3000. It remains in the hands of the Publishing Board.
Library tracts.—Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. have published for the board during the year three library primers, an edition of 1000 of each tract being printed. The first, "Why do we need a public library?" was compiled by a committee of the A. L. A. This was followed by "How to start a public library," by Dr. G. E. Wire, of the Worcester County Law Library, and "Travelling libraries," by Mr. Frank A. Hutchins, secretary of the Wisconsin Free Library Commission. They have been well received, and others on practical library subjects will follow as soon as possible. A very low price has been fixed for the tracts, and it is hoped that they will be generously used by clubs, commissions and individuals interested in promoting the advancement of library interests.
List of books for girls and women and their clubs.—This carefully selected list of some 2100 books "worthy to be read or studied by girls and women" should now be ordered directly of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. Nearly 300 copies, including parts, were sold during the year, showing a continued though not increased demand.
List of French fiction.—Nearly 1000 copies of this convenient list, chosen and annotated by Madame Cornu, of Montreal, and Mr. Beer, of New Orleans, were sold during the year, reducing the stock on hand at the board's Beacon street office, where it can still be obtained, to less than 500 copies.
List of subject headings for use in dictionary catalogs.—"Subject headings" continues to be one of the most lucrative publications of the board. Nearly 300 copies were sold in 1900, and the accounts of the year show a balance in its favor of nearly $500. Since the demand for the book comes almost exclusively from libraries, it still remains in the hands of the Library Bureau, where orders should be sent.