Other important work is in active progress. The "Literature of American history," being edited by Mr. Larned, and for which Mr. Iles has so generously donated $10,000, is well along, and may be announced as a fall book. Under Mr. Fletcher's direction work on the second edition of the "A. L. A. index" has advanced rapidly, and the book will be ready for distribution before the end of the year. Mr. Dewey has promised that the long-delayed "Supplement" to the "A. L. A. catalog," being edited, as was the original, by Mrs. Salome Cutler Fairchild, will be out this summer. It is expected that active work on the "Portrait index" will be continued, and that under the editorship of Mr. Lane and Miss Browne the index will be pushed to rapid completion.
Among the pieces of valuable work under consideration, on which the board hopes soon to be able to take final and definite action, may be mentioned Mr. Teggart's "Handbook of libraries of the United States," an "Index to library periodicals," a "Bibliography of reference books," cards to current books recommended by the Wisconsin Free Library Commission and the Massachusetts Library Club index to the Massachusetts public documents.
In conclusion it remains to express the deep and sincere regret with which the board accepted the resignation of Mr. William C. Lane as its secretary and treasurer, tendered in December of last year on account of ill health and after a long period of most earnest, faithful and valuable service, and to repeat here the suggestion with which he closed his report to the Montreal conference, a suggestion made, it must be remembered, after years of closest attention to the workings of the board:
"The desirability of taking some definite steps toward putting the work of the Publishing Board on a broader and stronger basis is as evident as ever. In addition to the efficient service rendered by the assistant secretary, the Publishing Board could with advantage employ a portion, say half, of the time of a capable man who should combine business judgment and alertness with bibliographical tastes and knowledge of library interests. The time has come when both for its own sake and in justice to those who serve it the Publishing Board should have salaried officers. To make the change successfully, however, requires a better financial condition than it yet has."
STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS, JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1900.
| PUBLICATIONS. | Copies sold in 1900. | Copies on hand Dec. 31, 1900. | Balances, Jan. 1, 1900, being excess of expenditures or receipts to date. | Operations, Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 1900. | Balances, Dec. 31, 1900, being excess of expenditures or receipts to date. | |||||||
| Spent. | Received. | Expenses. | Receipts. | Spent. | Received. | |||||||
| A. L. A. Proceedings | 2 | 1829 | $5.56 | $1.24 | $2.00 | $6.32 | ||||||
| Books for boys and girls | 188 | 643 | $13.47 | 8.60 | $4.87 | |||||||
| Bibliography of fine art | 84 | 209 | 415.87 | 47.50 | 368.37 | |||||||
| List of French fiction | 991 | 440 | 8.51 | 20.64 | 29.15 | |||||||
| Books for girls and women | { | 107 218 | pts. | 474 4064 | pts. |
} | 66.19 | 66.19 | ||||
| Reading for the young |
{ | 6 32 24 | orig. supp. compl. | 24 899 5 |
} | 418.58 | 48.39 | 370.19 | ||||
| List of subject-headings | 296 | 55 | 227.85 | 144.17 | 390.36 | 474.04 | ||||||
| A. L. A. index, 2d edition | 242.84 | 225.00 | 467.84 | |||||||||
| Portrait index | 728.94 | 561.08 | 1290.02 | |||||||||
| Current book cards | 467.37 | 719.16 | 860.39 | 608.60 | ||||||||
| English history cards | 16.41 | 134.00 | 55.76 | 61.83 | ||||||||
| Periodical cards | 170,344 | 438.37 | 1795.75 | 1688.26 | 330.88 | |||||||
| Miscellaneous sets | 41.85 | 235.48 | 644.67 | 367.34 | ||||||||
| Library tracts | 824 | 2174 | 125.15 | 41.20 | 83.95 | |||||||
| Totals | $1861.55 | $1164.07 | $4007.22 | $3873.26 | $2647.07 | $1816.33 | ||||||
| General balance | 697.48 | 133.26 | 930.74 | |||||||||
| $1861.55 | $1861.55 | $4007.22 | $4007.22 | $2647.07 | $2647.07 | |||||||
| OTHER ACCOUNTS | Bal.Jan. 1, 1900. | Operations of 1900. | Bal. Dec. 31, 1900. | |||
| Dr. | Cr. | Dr. | Cr. | Dr. | Cr. | |
| General expense and income account | $1960.48 | $345.55 | $2.15 | $1617.08 | ||
| Old members account | 49.25 | 2.84 | 46.41 | |||
| Library Bureau account | 455.00 | 1413.23 | 1327.75 | 369.52 | ||
| Houghton, Mifflin & Co. account | 159.12 | 175.62 | 16.50 | |||
| Other charges unpaid | 69.41 | 69.41 | 241.69 | 241.69 | ||
| Balance of cash | $1100.66 | 3019.67 | 3296.69 | $823.64 | ||
| Due to Publ. Board on bills and subscriptions | 736.00 | 2717.26 | 2816.44 | 636.82 | ||
| Totals | $1836.66 | $2534.14 | $1460.46 | $2291.20 | ||
| Balances | 697.48 | 830.74 | ||||
| $2534.14 | $2534.14 | $2291.20 | $2291.20 | |||