117.—The slips being sorted into alphabetical order if a dictionary catalogue, or into classes and divisions if a classified catalogue, are to be laid down on sheets of paper to send to the printer. These sheets of paper should be thin, tough, and uniform in size, but the colour and quality is of little importance and brown or cheap printing paper will do. The slips are first prepared by cutting away any part of the entry not to be printed, as the author’s name from the second and subsequent entries under his name, and in the same way cutting off the subject-heading from those slips where there are more entries than one under the subject. This is better than laying all down, and then afterwards marking out what is not to be printed. The sheets of paper should be first pasted all over, the slips laid upon them in order, usually in two columns, and then all pressed over. A little marginal space should be left for the insertion of additional entries.

If the entries are written upon cards, and it is wished to avoid the work of laying them down on sheets of paper, the names and headings not to be printed should be scored through, and the cards strung together in batches of a hundred or so by means of the hole usually perforated in them, numbering them through from beginning to end for order and safety. If the “copy” consists of the printed pages of a former catalogue with new additions to be inserted, the page should first be laid down on the sheet and the new entries below, these being numbered consecutively on each sheet separately with a corresponding number marked upon the page at the exact place where the new entry goes. Should there be a comparatively large number of such insertions, it is a much safer plan and fairer to the printer to cut up the printed page and place the additional entries in their correct order before laying them down on the sheet of paper.

118.—The sheets as they are got ready must be consecutively numbered throughout with a bold figure on the right hand top corner, and before sending them to the printer they should be finally looked through for revision. This is the most convenient time for marking the “copy,” for variations in type. The marking is usually as follows:

Before the catalogue can be sent to be printed, its form must be decided upon as to the size of pages, quality and colour of paper, the types to be used, and the style of binding, and these being settled, a specification must be prepared to guide the printer in his work, or to obtain tenders upon if the work of printing is open to competition, as is most usual with all work done for public bodies. Personal preferences govern many matters in connection with the “get up” of a catalogue, though in most instances there is a limit imposed by the necessity for economy in cost of printing, just as there so often is for economy of compilation. The styles ordinarily adopted in the catalogues of the lending departments of the rate-supported libraries may be referred to.

119.—The most economical and commonest form is royal octavo in size, printed with two columns on the page in brevier type, with the subject-headings in a heavier type, and notes and list of contents in nonpareil. Sometimes the authors’ names in the principal entry are printed in capitals and small capitals, and this serves very well for distinctive purposes. Occasionally a catalogue is seen in which the subject-headings are in capitals and the authors’ names printed in heavier type, with the result that the authors are too prominent and the subjects not prominent enough. If the authors’ names in all entries are printed in blacker type and the shelf or other finding numbers as well, the appearance is greatly marred, the page having a spotted look most unrestful to the eye, and the purpose for which the heavy type is adopted is defeated. Altogether it will be found that the heavier type to be effective must be used sparingly, and as subject-headings are much less numerous than authors’ names, the most dignified and satisfactory page is obtained by the use of heavier type for the headings rather than for the authors’ names. While this refers mainly to the dictionary catalogue, it is also the best style to adopt for the classified catalogue. All type used should be as plain as possible, either old or modern-faced, without fancy letters, and the heavier type should be similar in style and size to that used in the body of the catalogue. When two sizes of type are used for distinctive purposes, it is customary to pass over a size in order that the distinction may be clearer, thus if the body type were long primer, the contents and notes should be set in brevier and not bourgeois, and nonpareil should be used with brevier, and not minion. The following specimens of types will be found useful, especially as it shows the line space occupied by each size:

120.—Another style of catalogue often seen is demy octavo in size, printed across the page in long primer with “Clarendon” or “De Vinne” subject-headings and brevier notes and contents. This is a very effective form for a class-list or for the first catalogue of a new library, as it has the advantage of giving an imposing appearance to the catalogue, no matter how poor the collection of books is. Of course it is much easier to read and altogether gives a better page, but it adds considerably to the bulk and cost of the catalogue, besides giving the printer more “fat,” as the white or unprinted portions of the page are called. This style is preferable for the reference library, where the size of the catalogue is unimportant, as it has not to be carried about.

There are variations from these sizes and types ranging from a super royal octavo and crown quarto down to duodecimo, with type from small pica to nonpareil. The number of copies in the edition depends upon the number or probable number of purchasers of the catalogue during a given term of years, local circumstances alone deciding in this matter.

121.—Before sending out a specification for printing estimates, it is a safer, more satisfactory, and fairer plan to all concerned to have a specimen page set up, containing in it all the types to be used in something near their proportionate quantities. The cost of such a page is trifling, but the librarian then knows precisely what he is asking for and what to expect, and the printer better understands what he is tending for. All other points it is thought are included in the following illustrative specification, which is not taken from that of any particular library, but embodies concisely what are considered to be the best features of several specifications.

122.—The printer and price having been fixed a supply of “copy” is sent and in due time proofs in “galley,” i.e. in long columns before the matter is “broken up” into pages, are received. The first proofs will not comprise the title-page, preface, and other preliminary pages, which are invariably printed last though first in order when the work is completed, and therefore the copy for this part of the catalogue need not be sent to the printer until the work is nearing its completion. The manuscript or other “copy” will be returned with the proofs and should be carefully and clearly read aloud by some qualified person to the cataloguer, who will correct the proofs by marking the corrections on the margin. When the proofs in hand have been so read over, it is advisable for the cataloguer to again read them carefully through apart from the copy before returning to the printer, as it is a much simpler matter to correct in galley than in page. At this point any additions to be inserted must be given, as they cannot be added to proofs in page without very great trouble, entailing the upsetting of work done, and consequently delay. The proofs after being fully corrected, will be returned by the printer with a clean proof (or “revise” as a proof after correction is termed) in page when all the corrections marked on the galley must be compared with the entries or the revise, to see that they have been properly attended to. At this time the headings, catch words, and numbering of the pages must be checked, and when the entries under a subject-heading have been divided by the end of a page or column the repeated headings upon the next column or page must be carefully examined. When books under an author’s name are so divided, his name should be repeated in the same way at the top of the next column or page.

These being attended to, the whole sheet should again be read through before finally sending it to press, and even with the care already expended, it is remarkable how many mistakes will then be discovered for the first time. If the corrections in page are somewhat numerous, or if any doubt exists as to their receiving proper attention, or a particular correction is one of some moment, it is as well to have another “pull” of the sheet when corrected, and make quite certain before marking it to “go to press.”

123.—In correcting proofs there are other mistakes to look for besides the misspelling, misplacing, or omission of words. It is of the utmost importance that the numbers or other marks whereby the books are asked for or found should be as correct as possible, as mistakes of this kind lead to vexation both on the part of the readers and officials. Attention is also required to the proper dividing of words in turning over lines, the use of letters of the right fount of type as others get sorted in, and if not changed mar the look of the page when printed, the removal of broken letters, the correct guage for indents and parts “standing clear,” the removal of quadrats or space pieces, so that they do not stand up in evidence on the printed page, and other items of this nature. The column of catalogue matter given in Appendix D has most of the errors usually made upon it with the signs used in correcting it, and is accompanied by explanations of them. The corrections are to be marked in the margins as shown in the specimen, and not upon the printed matter, else they will be overlooked. The same page as corrected is given.

If after due attention to all these details the cataloguer is enabled to produce a work free from blemish of compilation or printing he may heartily congratulate himself, though the public who use the library having such a catalogue will even then not fully appreciate the care and anxiety expended on it, and will soon after prove this by asking when “a new one will be out.”