Explore an historic library catalog and the rules that governed a state collection.
This edition documents the California State Library as prepared by W. C. Stratton, with detailed administrative rules, lists of trustees, and the structure of the library itself. It offers insight into how a 19th‑century state library organized its holdings and guided access for lawmakers and officials.
This book blends practical information with a broad catalog of subjects. You’ll find rules for borrowing, fines, and the process of issuing and returning books, as well as a window into the range of topics the library organized, from geography and history to law and biography. The volume includes an alphabetical and descriptive catalog, a classified index, and a long table of contents that maps the library’s many subject areas.
- Official rules and procedures that shaped daily library use
- A catalog and subject index showing how works were organized across departments
- A snapshot of 1860s California’s intellectual and administrative priorities
- Names of trustees, staff, and legislative guidelines for library governance
Ideal for readers of archival history, library science, and California state history, this edition provides both a practical guide to managing a public collection and a historical record of a growing state library’s structure and resources.