But what is said of the relation of publishers and dealers to the Book-Lovers' Library is true in a measure of all circulating and other public libraries. They do not increase, but they positively contract the number of sales that are made in the interest of authors, publishers and dealers. Under the German system, of which I have spoken, public libraries were at first allowed ten per cent. discount; but recently this has been reduced to five per cent. Under the English system, profiting by the experience of German publishers, no discount is allowed to public libraries, schools or institutions. The American system, however, is modelled largely after the German, and it permits the dealers to allow a discount of ten per cent. to local libraries. In doing this local dealers are protected from competition by the publishers, in that the publishers have agreed to add to the net price the cost of transportation on all books sold at retail outside of the cities in which they are doing business. Thus public libraries can buy net books cheaper of the local booksellers than they can buy them of the publishers by just the cost of transportation. LIBRARY BUILDINGS. BY W. R. EASTMAN, _New York State Library, Albany, N. Y._ A building is not the first requisite of a public library. A good collection of books with a capable librarian will be of great service in a hired room or in one corner of a store. First the librarian, then the books and after that the building. But when the building is occupied the value of the library is doubled. The item of rent is dropped. The library is no longer dependent on the favor of some other institution and is not cramped by the effort to include two or three departments in a single room. It will not only give far better service to the community, but will command their respect, interest and support to a greater degree than before. The following hints are intended as a reply to many library boards who are asking for building plans. The vital point in successful building is to group all the parts of a modern library in their true relations. To understand a particular case it will be necessary to ask some preliminary questions. 1. _Books._ Number of volumes in library? Average yearly increase? Number of volumes in 20 years? Number of volumes to go in reference room? Number of volumes to go in children's room? Number of volumes to go in other departments? Number of volumes to go in main book room? If the library is large will there be an open shelf room separate from the main book room? Is a stack needed? Will public access to the shelves be allowed? By answers to such questions a fair idea of the character and size of the book room may be obtained.