Reading for the young.—Sargent's "Reading for the young" is offered by Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. in three forms: the original edition, compiled by Mr. John F. Sargent; the "Supplement," compiled by Miss Mary E. and Miss Abby L. Sargent; and the original and supplement bound together. During the current year the original edition has become exhausted. It is probable that a limited number of copies will be printed at once to supply the immediate demand and that a reprint, with additional matter, will be undertaken in the near future.
Printed cards.
Current books.—It need simply be stated under the head of "Printed cards for current books" that the entire reorganization of this part of the board's work has been the subject of active discussion during the year, and that the proposed plans for carrying it on more effectively will be fully explained to the conference by Mr. Fletcher, chairman of the Publishing Board. It may be appropriately added that, as in past years, the thanks of the Association are due to the publishers for their courtesy in sending books, and to Miss Browne for her earnest work in getting the cards to subscribers with—under often adverse conditions—most commendable promptness.
English history.—The annotated cards on English history continue to be printed at a loss. Mr. W. D. Johnston has been re-engaged, however, to edit the cards for the current year, and it is hoped that in the end their usefulness will be found to justify the work, at least to the extent of making them self-supporting.
Periodical and society publications.—The Publishing Board is now printing cards for nearly 250 periodical and society publications. During 1900, 2843 titles, or more than 170,000 cards, were sent out. This represents the largest single item of the board's work and an expenditure of more than $1700, which is nearly met by receipts from the sales.
Miscellaneous sets.—The board has now printed 16 of the so-called "Miscellaneous sets," which are, together with the years or volumes covered, as follows: American Association for the Advancement of Science—Proceedings, 1875-1898; American Historical Association—Papers, 1885-91, v. 1-5; American Historical Association—Reports, 1889-98; New York State Museum—Bulletin, 1892-98, nos. 1-23; Massachusetts Historical Society—Collections, 1792-1899; Old South Leaflets—series 1-4; Smithsonian Institution—Annual reports, 1886-96; Smithsonian Institution—Contributions to knowledge, 1862-97; Smithsonian Institution—Miscellaneous collections, 1862-97; U. S. Bureau of Ethnology—Annual reports, 1879-95; U. S. National Museum—Annual reports, 1886-95; U. S. National Museum—Bulletin, 1875-98, and (books) Depew, "One hundred years of American commerce"; Authors Club, "Liber scriptorum"; Shaler, "United States of America."
These sets simply cover the back numbers of what are now grouped in the board's work as "periodicals and society publications"—completed works like "Liber scriptorum," of course, being excepted. Subscriptions to these periodicals and publications as current continuations begin with the date of the receipt of the subscription, so that unless one has been a subscriber from the beginning there will of necessity (because of the limited number of the cards printed) be a break between the last year covered by the "Miscellaneous set" and the beginning of the subscription.
The sets have met with a warm welcome from the libraries, and the board is prepared to print cards during 1901 for the following additional sets, providing a sufficient number of orders are received to justify the work: American Academy of Political and Social Science—Annals, 1900 to date; American Economic Association—Economic studies, 1896-97; American Economic Association—Publications, 1887-96; Bibliographica, 1895-97; Bureau of American Republics—Publications; Columbia University Studies in History, Economy and Public Law, 1891-96; Johns Hopkins University Studies in History and Political Science, 1883-98; U. S. Geological Survey—Bulletins, 1884-98; U. S. Geological Survey—Monographs, 1882-98; U. S. Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories—Reports, 1875-90; U. S. Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories—Miscellaneous publications, 12 nos.
These brief statements show concisely the bibliographical work which the Publishing Board has completed and is now carrying on, and for which it needs the continued moral and financial support of the libraries of the Association.
In preparation and under consideration.