In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, bookplates became popular among members of the upper classes. Collecting and trading bookplates became fashionable during that time. Bookplates were produced to be affixed to the inside cover of books to establish the ownership of the book. Many of the bookplate designs include the Latin phrase ex libris (from the book of) and often bookplates are known as ex libris. The majority of the bookplates in the Syracuse Public Library Collection were produced between 1890-1925 and include many prominent Syracuse citizens of that time. Often artists were commissioned to design these bookplates and were works of art in their own right.