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PUBLIC LIBRARIES
A HISTORY OF THE MOVEMENT AND
A MANUAL FOR THE
ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF
RATE-SUPPORTED LIBRARIES.
THOMAS GREENWOOD, F.R.G.S.,
AUTHOR OF
" Museums and Art Galleries," "Eminent Naturalists," etc.,
vivmi ■ or THE Lit* 111 • ■"-;' . . I IO!4 OF THF. VN'ITBP « X< .:;..".
THIRD EDITION, ENTIRELY RE-WRITTEN.
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1890.
6 U£*t*L<Z
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NOV 26 1890
CUsGd fW>-t
Extract from ft Letter by the Duchku of Rotlakr in " The Times";—
" Sir,— I find it difficult to reply to inquiries as to establishing Public
Libraries in towns, and would suggest that Mr. Thomas Greenwood'B
book on the subject should be consulted. If this work could be circu-
lated among ratepayers in towns where ii is desired to adopt the Public
Libraries Acts, the movement would be much encouraged. — Yours faith-
fully, Janbtta Rdtlakd."
The Right Hoh. W. E. Gladstone. M.P., as**.—
" I am sensible of the importance of the subject, and I cannot doubt
that your volume will win, as well aa draw, a great degree of public
attention."
The late Loan Iddesleioh.
"lam glad to hear that you are interesting yourself in the promotion
of Public Libraries, and heartily wish you success."
The Right Hon. A. J. Mu.vdblla, M.P.
'* Your work will do good service to a good cause. No town should be
without a Publlo Library, and your book will assist greatly in the pro-
motion of these valuable institutions."
Pbops&sob T. H. Hoxlbt.
1 1 have found your book on Publio Libraries full of useful information.'
Sfris Sbnril <&bition is macribcb
(without permission)
to the ever-extending army of voluntary workers in the
PUBLIC LIBRARY MOVEMENT,
WHOSE ENTHUSIASM AND EARNEST PURPOSE IN THE CAUSR
HAVE PLACED THE MOVEMENT IN THE POSITION
WHICH IT NOW OCCUPIES.
IF, BY INCREASED EFFORT AND AN ENHANCED PUBLIC INTEREST,
THE NUMBER OF ADOPTIONS OF THE ACTS
CAN BE RAISED FROM TWO HUNDRED TO FOUR HUNDRED
DURING THE NEXT TEN YEARS,
WHEN THB
JUBILEE OF THE EWUT ACT
WILL BE CELEBRATED,
A MOST DESIRABLE END WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED.
/
m J
i m
PREFACE.
|IIE Public Library movement bac boon piogn
splendid rate Fbnry«aw n#o, when ttie ton edition of
Ibifl work wits published, only 133 plurc* hud ndopied
the Public LiU'.mc.V AOt«. Now, as this third edition
cln&ft& for press, a total of 2f)ft WtOptlOnil of the Acts ha*
boon rflftCtlfld. SowntY-Iiw iidopln^ «>f Lin* Arts in foCTTOOn
i • IlKtV 1)0 ('i-TI-id.TpJ ,1 Vi'l> N.iti.s-
iv record. Bo mind havu been the advance and expansion of
ta whole questii n thit the present edition forms in entirety new
I : I, I] the BKll I'Tl.
The discontinuance ol the word " Free,* as applied to rata-
supports Public LibruriMH m wlviied, The use of the word
*;fr*«" attached to these libraries rather stamps them as I
la nature trf charitable msbitutlon*. In no itutM are thfij m,
nore ncourat* u wall on bho mow dignified doeJgnnUox i-
i Public Libraries.
Tha ir ii it i i m* r of Amoctatfofin tor the promotion of various oftjaoti
very l»rg<». Real ol these appeal to t »n« public for subscription*
itenaneG of d paid *uiff and t<» meet the expenses of u
Thorn w n nton R» the promotion of flu
i i^rary movement, and there is notn single paid somal
»r the advocacy of the movement The whole of the wort I
bci uf workers in ^e cause is ever extend*
I hi ! illy 0!IC I' )l* Tllf #Hh1 rif II;, entile
• the . Mi-nr-: in ■: u of Lt» many friends has placed
position which it now occupies. thanks are
tn flu' I'ivvs for the publicity which has been given
the operation* o! Ihvne institutions.
XII
I'tlKI'V K.
Thnt excellent hotly, the Library Association, i* doing much
to create a spirit oi' emulation among Ubraii;ius. Quite n new
life lias of lute been infused into it, and its work is destined to
pormcoto every section oi library operations. Many members of
ihis Association have rendered valuable aid to the movement*
The present volume has exceeded the limits which it was
at first intended it should reach. This has boon necessitated by
the abundance of material with whie.h 1 ban- had t<> deal.
Further, the movement has passed the Rubicon, and whatever
ooJJ there may bO t(ff future im*6 of tine work, they will be in
different form from this edition. Keeping this fact in view
I have thought that the historian of the movement, writing a
hundred peon hence, when the entire country will be uoney-
oorabed with Public Libraries, will see in what position these in-
Mitutions stood in the last decade of the present century.
There has been much generous benevolence- towards Public
Libraries. Mr. and .Mrs. Andrew Onrnrgie, and others, have ren-
dered especially useful aid to thla movement In their liberal gifts
towardx rate-supported libraries. The advocacy of the CiospeJ
«i Wealth, and the help which those possessing the means
and the will can bestow upon these institutions, have been
recognized by many. Still we ELK not satisfied, and I would plead
for increased hi anility towards Public Libraries. Other objects
whieli appeal to the generous rich are, no doubt, useful, but I
BU bold onOUgb to chum that the greutcst g I ><f tin* greatest
mimbcr in perpetuity cannot bo better secured thau by Public
Libraries. These institutions are the property of the people.
and will l»e administered by the people through all time to
conic.
The wannest encouragement lias beeu extended to me in my
wirk. Ubr&riftaJ in all parts of the country have shown me great
Kindness. Every facility has been nHurdcd mc, and my thank.*
Bte* lue, and are gratefully rendered, to all who have in person or by
letter given me information and suggestion*. Mr. J. Potter
Hrisooe, the popular borough librarian d! Nottingham, has been
BBOOgfl bo revise the proofs, and .Mi. l'oublcdnv, i
librarian of the Murylehone Library, has compiled the index, it
is notorious that librarians differ widely in their views respect-
ing library odxoiiiZBtffib&San j sad us my own experience us a
librarian wsfi gained many years ago* i have thought It best
to I'laee the two chapters dealing with "The Formation >\
Public Libraries" and " Library Administration " in the hands of
■a experienced librarian. I am. •.hcivioiv, indebted to Mr.
pbrpacb. xiii
James D. Brown, the chief librarian of the Clerkenwell Public
Library, for writing these chapters.
It is not creditable to us as a nation that we should be almost
alone among the leading Great Powers in not having a fully
responsible Department of Public Instruction. Ultimately, when
a Minister is accredited to such department, his office will
naturally be the headquarters of Public Libraries and kindred
institutions. When that time arrives it is to be hoped the
Government will see their way to giving small annual grants to
Public Libraries under the Acts in rural districts, where
the rate is insufficient for maintenance. One of the pressing
needs of the day is the establishment of Public Libraries in the
thousands of English villages, the majority of which are at
present but indifferently supplied with books.
The result of my labour— which has not been by any means
light, but one which has been a labour of love — is now in the
hands of the public. I have sought to construct a quarry to
which friends of the movement might go for their facts and
information ; and in anticipation of inquiries, I may in advance
say that my book is for the freest and fullest use of all who
seek to further the cause. The expansion of the work of Public
Libraries, and the promotion of the movement, are the ends I
have had and still have in view. For these ends my services
are always at the disposal of those who desire to have them.
SO, Loembif Park,
8TOKI NtWIHOTOM,
LOSDOK, N.
Ju'y, 1890.
CONTENTS.
C HA ITER L
iM'HOIH'CKnN
CHAPTKK IV,
i I "m::. OP PDHM<< LlDltAIltF.s
•V.
1
HUITEU II.
it Pi ici 01 Pi m.h LlBUtna is oiiii Xatiosai. Liyy. >'
CHAPTER III.
[B PlRA FGK PrBLlC LlBRAUIEA |7
n
CHAPTER V.
Eabi,t Ppomg LimiARim 40
CHAPTER VI.
Pavmno or the Ewakt Hilt, of 1H50 40
CHAPTER VH,
I'nt Pa • t'i in.' LlfiTtARV imDRR fRR *.<"!
fM
chapter vm.
BOW ro nicrMH AK"lfT the AlK>mON 0» TUB ACTS 70
XVI CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IX.
PAGE
Public Libraries in the Northern Counties 83
CHAPTER X.
Public Libraries in the Midland Counties 142
CHAPTER XL
Public Libraries in the Eastern Counties 194
CHAPTER XII.
Public Libraries in the Western Counties 208
CHAPTER XIII.
Public Libraries in Scotland 222
CHAPTER XIV.
Public Libraries in Ireland 2&3
CHAPTER XV.
Public Libraries in Wales 261
CHAPTER XVI.
Critical Examination of the Work of Public Libraries ... 270
CHAPTER XVII.
The Future of Public Libraries, and what remains to be
Accomplished 275
CHAPTER XVIII.
Public Libraries in London 287
CHAPTER XIX.
Public Libraries in Villages >■ 328
CHAPTER XX.
The Public Libraries Acts and the Legal Aspects of the
Question 336
CHAPTER XXI.
PPBLJC JjIBBARY FUKW, BUILDINGS, *C. ., 848
CONTENTS. XVII
CHAPTER XXII.
PAGE
The Formation ok Public Libraries 359
CHAPTER XXIII.
Public .Library Administration 373
CHAPTER XXIV.
Board Schools as Branch Public Libraries ... 380
CHAPTER XXV.
Public Libraries in America and Canada 390
CHAPTER XXVI.
The Public Libraries of Australasia 411
CHAPTER XXVII.
Public Libraries and Technical Education 420
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Public Library Lectures axd Science and Art Classes ... 426
CHAPTER XXIX.
The British Museum Library and its Work 435
CHAPTER XXX.
Object Lessons in Public Libraries 444
CHAPTER XXXI.
The Sunday Opening of Public Libraries 469
CHAPTER XXXII.
Mechanics' Institutes, Workmen's Clubs, and their Relation
to Public Libraries 471
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Public Library Committees and Commissioners 479
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Statistics of Puhlic Libraries 498
xriii CONTENTS.
APPENDICES.
PAGE
I. SUGGESTITE PARAGRAPHS FOR CIRCULARS, HANDBILLS, *C. 611
II. Public Libraries' Acts —
Public Libraries* Act, 1855 530
Public Libraries' Amendment Act (England and
Scotland), 1866 536
Public Libraries' Act (1855) Amendment Act, 1871... 587
Public Libraries' Amendment Act, 1877 538
Malicious Injuries to Property Act (1861) (Eng-
land and Ireland) 539
Public Libraries' Act, 1884 689
Public Libraries' Acts Amendment Act, 1887 .. 641
Public Libraries' Consolidation (Scotland) Act, 1887 643
Public Libraries' Acts Amendment Act, 1889 ... 655.
Technical Instruction Act, 1889 556
III. Forms for Calling Public Meetings, Notice of Poll,
Voting Papers, &c 559
IV. Rules and Regulations Suitable fur Public Libraries,
Form for Guarantor, ,4c. 567
INDEX 575
LIST OF ILJXSTKATIONS.
I'\i:i'
EUftftU Public Library, Muxsta, a.xd Ant (jallkky,
PEBBTOT VrontUpitM
! '" '-IMIUE OP THE FlftST PACE OF THE ORIGINAL PUBCBA'iK
Hook, CaeruAM Library . W
Oi [EL Window ik Readiko-room, Chetham Library 48
Thk LATl William Ewart, M.P 60
!ii.AiK»uii.\ Public Liuhai.y ... ho
BoOTLB PUBUC LlBRAJlY AND MUSEUM „, 98
IkioTLK Polio Library, Ground Pla>- 04
DM Public Library, Ground Plan 07
f.i.i.i.v MumuVal Ofmcek and PUBLIC Library I OS
Newcastle Public Library and Kbm-bboom 122
T«r. tATR J. Brother-ton, M.P 131
Wim> Kkmiom Library . 188
:M>UAM Rkvkbkm:jc LlBBABY . . ... lfil
Derby Public Library Attn tfUBBffM Ml
WwrcoTE* Public LmAftY, Lbicbbtkr 173
OlLUTlUP PUBLIC LIBRARY, NEWARK, GROUND FlOOR PLAN ... 174
GlLMTRAP PUBLIC LIBRARY, NEWARK 175
KoTTIMlflAK CENTRAL PUBLIC LlBRAlUBU 101
Wi5«roRD Public Libbabt ... 186
WiN-iroRD Public Library, Ground Plaj 187
Irawica Public Library, Mukevm, and Srimm of art
RfcAinv Pueuu Library, Ground Plan 205
y Public Library am» Scuoomop Apt and8cience B1 i
.:Li:i Memorial Humecm and Purmo Library ... 2li*
rTiwt*c i Library sis
Alloa I'lbll Library ... .. ... 227
1 hi.n Library, Mt-aia-m ami Abt Uallrry 230
XX
LIST OP ILLUSTRATIONS.
Mr. Andrew Carnegie
Edinburgh Public Library, Elbvation
Edinburgh Public Library, Reference Library Floor
Belfast Public Library ...
Swansea Public Library, Art Gallery, and School ok
Westminster New Public Library
St. Martin-in-the-Fields Public Library
Chelsea Public Library, Ground Floor
Library Ladder and Drawer ok Card Catalogue Case
Clapham Public Library
Clapham Public Library, Ground Floor
Clerkenwell Public Library, Ground Floor
Clerkrnwrll Public Library, First Floor
Village Library, Bebinoton
Plan of a Circular Reading-room
Standard Bookcase with Shelves on Both Sides
Wall Bookcase with Ledged Base
Library Indicators
Newspaper Stand
Periodical Rack
Metal Book-holders
Pamphlet-box
New Public Library, Boston, U.S.A.
Concord Public Library ...
Public Library, Northampton, Mass.
Toronto Public Library
Sydney Public Library
Plan of Reading-room, British Museum...
Reading-room, British Museum
The James Keckitt Public Library, Hull
Art
PAGE
232
236
237
256
266
... 294
... 300
... 303
... 806
... 808
... 309
... 813
... 314
... 335
... 856
... 360
... 861
863—365
... 866
... 367
... 367
... 868
... 401
... 403
... 404
... 410
... 416
... 488
... 487
... 451
NOTE.
While in the press, the number of adoptions of the Acts hma reached 90S. This
makes an increase of 76 adoptions of the Acts in fonr yearn instead of 70, as r fated on
pafel.
' Lawisham (London) adopted the Acta by a majority of 773, on June 26, 1890.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
una r
&
the 1
m u
at
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION.
m.-iy with safety bo Mid thai (here [s no modeni move-
ment which has matte Bach rapid pTOgTOU as has the
Puttie Library Movement. Only a very few years* ago
the leadcra of public instruction hnd to l.irncnt that
i few districts had availed Ihemserrea of ttu PttbHe
Act*, and voluntarily taxed themselves for the rapport
ol an institution, which should be th ■ anson p* party of the
people, and the home of the productions of fchagrcal mm* Is of pQflt
and present jtorindft. In 18.9 the number of Public Libraries wnd
only eighty-eevon, being the total far the forty years from the
tossed in 1839, or an average oi tvo dint net a per
no. After nn intervnl of thirty-six yems from tin |u --ii.J «.■!
tha Evrart Act of \>^o, only 183 districts hud enrolled themselves
Vao " th*' nimble penJDJ ." but now the total mnnbor stiunln
i at JO, making an addition of no fewer than seventy i:i
( -vi -. ii i- indicates that we have reached a rung of the
r in our national life when these institutions are fast bfl-
Knntng 1 1 he looked npon as on Inseparable corollary of Che
d Schools, i'ui that without, them no district pan be oon-
■ •'I us complete until it has <i mnldim/ imjcnbed as a Pu >.k-
Utann
PcMlmlBtie writer* are fond at times of a^urim? us flint th-
I ivlnjc study of books Ih a thing of ibe pusr., that the hustily-
wrltten mlnmns of the newspaper, with Its list of murders,
burgnirlc*, rntlwav undents, price-fights, and its police reports,
riK. n i!n* pmce of literature in the estimation ol the people.
The fuel* hard \ ••• -n (o wnir-int ihix assertion. Itorough ;.
mtm inloptiiiK tlie Public. IJn>rurie»' Acta, purchasing,
.ii;.' from l);r benevolent, sets of valuable books, and
■ in ;it lie disposal of the inhabitants of such local
which tiit- political economists ■ E t generation
B < persistently, that the unly business of a luunici*
1
Pt'OMC MHIIAItini5.
polity was to pave the street*, 1<n-i|< .tftorlho lighting and watering,
und maintain public order, never took ;\ firm hold <>f th« people (
;m«I today dial: idea is openly scouted bj tii" majority. The |
in-: <>i the Efflomentary Eanoation a si hi 1870 vu a pro • . motion
of the belief that the cultivation of the minds of the people was
a mott"i- ol public interest, n was soon felt thai the mi
cullivutiou with which the community was concerned couhl l >(
logically be confined to the training afforded by the elementary.
[■■.inner facilities were needed, and *n the Pubac
Lttwary "'time to be regarded as a legit i oat pfl 1 i I the raa-
ohiaery of the municipality. Thanks to the cnlighteimieu'. <>!
individuals, and the generous help ot public-spirited men and
WOinen, the movement for establishing theso centres of Unow-
ledge li n k wy rapidly developed dining recent years: end it will
Boon l»o looked upon as a disgrace to any district t<> he without
its Puttie Library.
But htill. unt\vUlisi;iii(linjr (1 Iinnge which lias come over
public opinion with regard to thene itisiiiutions, there \-
motuj :iin of work to be done, and our urnee! into ull in towns
.mil rural districts who care for the welfare of the community
among which they dwell* to agitate and discuss the iulvlsah
as to the formation of bhaae Institutions where the* an a i
il n. :ii l.v oatablie had <'.< ri_'\meii an-. miniHtors <>l all dcnomiui-
Mojis. nunutters of political clubs, debating and literary nuclei i
.on I friends uf the people of every shadoof opinioUj this is o ijuo-
tion fur you. Those with well-filled boolwhchea of their own
ran and ought the more readily to sympathize with those wh< are
. - I-, -iird, .ii-i Miould exert themselves to place within the
reach oi ail a Public Library which shall be as free to [ ten M
the highways upon which they walk,
Tlic tnek oi advocating and defending those institutions U
Miir.-,- lighter with each succeeding your, for there is now I
aoneeneua oi opinion that the Public Librae ban bastftutJ
ononcatlonable utility, and it may be affirmed that the triflii a
addition which it mokes to the rates fa infinitely more than repaid
by the advantages which the ratepayers reap from these in
none, The next generation will bole book with astonishment at
the prolonged opposition, coming sometimes from sources tat
least exported, with winch the proposal to found those librarian
dab been met a certain centres usually regarded as enlig itenad
Bngtiebittea. have long been accustomed to pride bhemselvotf
on the Itatfl of -iMli/atioii Which Hum "ti^bt little ixbiiH ! hi-
reached. But, if wo take us a criterion Sit number oi Public
Libraries existing in each country, the comparison la woefully
agamsl »is. The European country which possesses the largest
number of Public TJhrari) . strange to Ray, Gastrin a countn
up. i. which it has in some quarters bean the custom i b witn
:i sort of half-pltyhig eye, in iustria there are no fever t Iron ■». i
rubiic Libraries, containing 0^70,000 voliunea, wfchout reckoning
nape and nuuati£erlpts---a total vhlcli ooxoea oui ai h* volumes
per too nf the popuw lou, Prance powosaee 000 Public i ibra
ivrnnn ttton
;>.
»ontafnfaifl YJSBHflQO volume* und 135,000 munuBcript*, or IS
volumee pet 100 of the inhabitants; Italy ranking nasi with
108 Ubrnnes, 1,848,000 volumes and 380^000 manuscript, or L6
volume* per h«n '"> Germany the Public T.u>mrirn ininiiter.w,
10,000 volume* and 58,000 manuscripts, or li
rolnmee per 100 tftfia population, ftreul Britafn possnmoK only
200 Public Ubnir i itabli lied under the Acta, the volume*
numbering between 3/XXX000 and i .< > * KOOO, and a largo number
•Mjj.'iii-is ' it e " 145 libraries ts Russia, with 962,000
volume* and -I,«kk) manuscripts, or n fraction orei one volume
i»> 100 i' Bona. It it noteworthy thai in Bavaria alone the
Public Ubnui - number L60»-with 1,866,000 volnmea and 24,000
oscnpte
Reviewing i ic pi ncipal !: i trie* separately, the largest
in i i the irorldisth.it nl Paris, which contain'* upwards
000,000 minted books ami Ii^'mhw* miiniiwripK Hetween
rial 1 .!■ rar.i ii - Petersburg and the British Museum
bore u sol orcaoc. in the Britlnh Museum there
are about 1,400.000 volume*. The Uoynl Librury of Munich
has i otning ever 000,000, but this Included 5 >0,000
I iiri:,. ii;< Koyal Libraryat Berlin contain* 700,000 volun
bponhagon 510,000; the Library at I >i -
W; tin? Library at Vienna I00,000j the i Diversity Library
ny wofXX). The Vatican Library at Rem*
I30,U0U trtuted books, and commenced in 1378. Liu
Paris is one of the very oldest in ICurope,
tnded in ISfoU ;and the I Diversity Library at Pro
. beci founded the name year One el the earliest
,.tl ilnr. ti< work! ever l:i':irtl of w:ix that l'»»rnie*l
ie PtolemlM i: Egypt The tar-famed library of Lutx*
in.i.,1 ■ work "i several rnonurclis md no greoJ was the
veneration of Hie i ■■ ■ ir it that they looked on it almost
■ -.-(I j tin" no 'ar w U nscribe over its jmi'tala tin se word6 :
nnmiflhmeni nl the soul." Tit** em!* of the earth ware
raseai i rich Its shelves, und, at* was the custom of the
ttrnea, the would be pi siseasore were :i •{ Lou particular how they
mine by their Uterarj treasures) li is related thai one of the
ilmiilliU'ly refused In frupplj the l'n nim --., rit-ken
lain aith corn until tliej furnished Ikih with .■■■.
which he coveted. Fanca thi Queen de
:• |i rafacTilH' I" tin AI'.-insioTi llmi.-r Kr-lirl' 1 'nrn 1 u-ilenf*
it) I ,:!ln'i - , ■ i Mill up to Hi r M. ;■■ ■ v tin- [iriYjit* pypf re
i ml VVhittingtoii '. < H the large librw \t* En Mm-
Pub i i . brar.i i omes next to tin I tan
' volumes (including the duplicates in
;.-h.- ). The Harvard I . i ■ collection a i ics < • 1 1 with
■ ." m. rii.- National I i irary, however, i P the United
I to urpu nil, for it i« I o nl iiti, when oom
Kno, mo volume, i i i nice: »ll, Micni :.i'< in the ['nil I
v.<" hi.rariofl, of which luiK 150 are Public
«\? now andentand the term in thu eountry.
inarms*.
and Franoo again nre far ahead ores in pi i'i! of number.
although in the net mil use mini * «•) the ln>ilcs < iron! Urltoin will
bold n- "''II --I mi mj i ■ ha eonntriL \< i.
The nnnririiiitx distance ROBBSs hi behind the times in tin;
matter «'» providing for the EnteUeotaal wants ■ >! I it people is
rvMont from the fact tint i!ie ti r At public roadlng-TOOO) in tin-
M wooi te Empire v.!- »pened only lately in the ettj ol
Petersburg The room u oonneeted with a good horary.
V.li:rl: OOOlD3 ll;)y(> |lp(»n POntril UltOf I by AiUli** pilhl:.- -. ; .lilt I •. 1
efttsena. Admittance Is rroe.and permission is given Bo borrow
- r»»r reading at home. The new Institution 1* namod after
Pushkin, the novelist But thai the oundatiou of the Pushkin
Public Library ban no BigntflcaDce as Indicating b change
police on [Ik- pari of the Russian uithuritie* towards literature
and the prow, Is evident from the hei thai bho Government has
Issiicd an order forbidding the editors <>i newspapers In RuMfaa
Poland to receive foreign exchanges!
Aj one wanders about among the cast libraries En which some
English famlHea keep under lock and key many rare
editions 01 Famous books, worth their veiifhi iugi>M, Die iviirrtinn
is inevitable that valuable as are these collections, they are aol
put to the beet use within Che range of posalbtiSty. Bound Eaull
lensly, and shut up in elaborately curved oak bookcoaea thai i ••
seldom opened, inncfcssible saw I ■ . a lavonr .1 few, and 00
idiis n rn-at rarity, thoy bco mo little mor< than i xpa
:r iclcs of furniture. Books, tike coins, arc only performing th< Lr
right Eunction whoa they arc in circulation. Boarded up, the
i become onrj so much metal, and the books only •><> muoJl
paper nnd leather. In a Public Library, books bo#in t<> live
nii't'idT the people, arid tn cisort no influence forgood upon tl
OKI j< ffonileinon of Kngland, who arc said to "live at hoi u
case, is this not worth remembering? There are meant shelves
ol Public Libraries throughout the country waiting t<> be
ailed. Let theee gaping fihelves appeal r<> youl By pla
your treasures upon fcnom a now lease of life would be mm
cooks you have prized, and it is irapomhle to say where, along the
Una &t the generations to follow, 'hey would cease to gratify and
enlighten,
To the possessors of wealth an even more urgent appeal i»
made, For all thr large-hearted generosity which has *! i
the lafil flaw years Rowetl out inwards these Institutions nil the
Mends of this movement are grateful. Bui the high-water mark
-■ - to Public libraries has not yet, it is sincere^
1*» nopert, been reached. There am thousands r>f Bng
Scotch, Welsh, and Irish villages, and very many towns which
an absolutely devoid of any serious- eflbrt tu meet uku demand for
hooka to read Will the wealthy not make St possible Tim- one or
other ol these rtaccf b sherish the mcraorj ol the aid given I
tocH iblish ;i library In their raids! : En wliat manner nan the
opulent, bettei employ their richee than thisf A Public Lib
wii i it* books Uvea foi rer,end this way of jicrpol nunc
i\ntom rno.v
a
.it,
ilum
my lie eiiiiMieiltlnl [>0 ihe ih'-ll, :iinl HO bORtOwSlIfl UD yviiini-
unborn ,i prlcelesi ilcjad i--. There we 1. mdi lua ui su i
u iii,i-.! !i md merchants who have in their power Ihe
tnc;i v. 'i i |fte of books secure perpetual
blessing, and there will be seen to future years, ft ia hoped, much
ted giving tea Pubh't Library purposes, [therm the way
• ' nwnrV. l-i. ■ I I... I ililu "i< l|' I- ,-li.v. .] uiHin
it i ibrarioe benefit all clossoc wil i >ul
the taint o oharlcj attaching to thorn, Wealth can confer
aiitrthan bj being bestowed upoa those
utkme, M i ituble j?iftu pauperize, notwil
him ji.m hi ;.. ii of the donor, Nol flOthow-
. ■. Iu'h oxordi '■•! in Ms n y. Etm tendency oi tho gift ta bo
te,toopon out in the mtndaof on incalculable number ofpooplo
Bdfl avemi ■ pleasuri b. I lenora-
■ -v t? . MH>ni..]'\ of the man whogtve* libraries
iftor tho donor has go in- gift
uvomtilishw g !. and cannot full into abuse as some schools and
n«r Institutions oavedoi e, IT* system oi p >pubtf control keeps
em rtoalthj and i igoroos. Would I 'i ii there v, ere more bequests
nstitntionai What run confer more universal good
Public Library or Museum? Ob thai the phllnnthro
he i:.-li w mM flow OUt int. re ;ii ri,i« direction ! It :i
be pei i lit in! n those who ire Into iiiing to clistfn mtiu] them-
hw in 1 1 iraj it In to mi ke the gjfl enndftlonnl on the town
dj trie thePublti Uhrarletf Acts for la maintenance.
1 1- -.- •; ■ .ii ii ii <t lie laid upen tins, because this course oi
■M.iii i linn;- rln- lilvTMrv in IMM'pelllitj iiiiiirr I !ir ;hIiii ini.H-
ii M .ii (i the elected suthorUfcti oi tlie people. Tliis Is infinite^
: li da 04! to 1 1 ustecs and their succct
be flral luflaji which frightens the inbulritante, and ii' this
m be bridgedbj i noble gift being made to a town U
i , Vw place* would give n negative repl> to
urc to caatanv reflections upon othcg
iri constantly laying tneir appeals before the
■■!, i>ni ii ■- legitimate to point ou1 that iu connection
. i iiu(ion> liic -lit in it- ent ret) wuul I <o towi rd i
i.i ibjcct intended Uy the donor. There is no expensive
rictf, collectors, mid other* hi pay mil n|' it, ami the
i Ii: pjH'n I" i>< my, would then go tor tlie purpose
d. Down i" ;i •• last >onny tho public would roa| the
I hi', id i.D imp turc,wcll worth while
mind Th< extension of Public Librari©* cannot,
ii ii i II ih<- I'Vdloiil rnuki' up their i lind? tt.: .i. or
■ road, i ■! Rifts of thi« nature made k iowi
. i -I cuu '"' aid in i the '
■ ■. I < ■■ r\: ,: -:r.rl calmly BUd - 1 ■] ■: - fl 01141 8 |V I Ircidnig I he
i : -. n i't viiMn.i iii- tin--. ito j ction in the
this work.
fhe follow ng nob l« s| mz w from u now poem, written [vy l»r.
I. Inii.-H( I.i -h hi'iito t)\t* i.|»tii;i -. ot a VuUVV
6 PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
Library at Boston, U.S.A., will be welcomed by our own library
builders and supporters :—
" Can freedom breathe if ignorance reign?
Shall commerce thrive where anarchs rule ?
Will faith her half-fledged brood retain
If darkening counsels cloud the school !
Let in the light ! From every age
Some gleams of garnered wisdom pour,
And fixed on thought's electric page,
Wait all their radiance to restore.
Let in the light ! In diamond mine
Their gems invite the hand that delves ;
So learning's treasured jewels shine,
Ranged on the alcove's ordered shelves.
From history's scroll the splendour streams,
From science leaps the living ray ;
Flashed from the poet's glowing dreams
The opal fires of fancy play.
Let in the light 1 These windowed walls
Shall brook no shadowing colonnades ;
But day shall flood the silent halls
Till o'er yon hills the sunset fades.
Behind the ever-open gate
No pike shall fence a crumbling throne,
No lackeys cringo, no courtiers wait —
This palace is the people's owu ! "
CHAPTER II.
THE PLACE OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN OTJR
NATIONAL LIFE.
iHERK is no more marked characteristic; of our national
life than the growing self-dependence of the people, which
has been the outcome of municipal corporations. Where
these corporations are the strongest and most vigorous,
there must we look for the highest sense of the duties
of citizenship and the most self-reliant populations. It is again
in these municipalities, such as Birmingham, Manchester, Liver-
pool, Leeds, and Nottingham, that the most has been done for
the education of the people, in the way of Board Schools,
Public Libraries, and Museums. The same municipalities have
the best street lighting and street cleansing arrangements, and
the police force are under the most perfect control. Surely this
fact should dispel the fear that the energies of the poor in the way
of self-help may be relaxed, and the rich become apathetic to
their higher duties, by the spread of Public Libraries and kindred
institutions, supported out of the same funds as are the local
police and the street lighting and cleansing.
It may be asked, What is a corporation ? There are various
M.ACB f>7 PUBIJC UBBAJUB6 IN 01711 NATIONAL UPB,
kindc, >«ut we I K DOTO 00 LOCTBOd With tbfl OOTpOTDtiOB U it bodv
politic elected by Hie people, and re*| • - -i •!»> to them. The word
Eg used ts equivalent I i in< orpori ed joint-stock oontpasiWj where
ilwtti'iii'i.1 the citizen* are ahan jholoere and in banded together
irocornmoB pnrposoj that purpose i».'inv the o lurao i veal of the
• ntiiv too*] .'.i!ii!iiur.ity.
1 1" one Kal principle which surrounds corporation* la tihni
i od '.. [| ;,i p p i :i life Thej may well have been in
come laws designated immortal, :iith<n :m- ease* their
have run ..hi v i Mr n definite numbei o! ».■■<•■;. i nit during
. ■ ',,11 nl';"iniyil1, Hli'J r l 'Mini llil ': D I \\ 'I I 1 1 Bl 1 1 II |-
all ii ■ ■ -i:i:ii memlwrs are withdrawn, Foi they are
nurd T i_v -ili'iv-,:: i *. i-<n por.-il iott ha8, fU fart hccii
* to identity throughout
nil tfic i Ti-iiMiums i hanging d( .Ik pan-;. Men come and ;:■>. lets
ul r.uli . ■iH'iit are punned and bee >me often a dead letter, to swell
ii -ii iilaiiy eumbroufl Muff already on the
MaUlto ! k, I ii : Ifl C H ("'! il:< D Itvea OH, III many ol'imr
i ■ ions all the mo i i - ere elected reptv-
■ ii .i.;i i riii Mia first granted have gone over bo
i ity, i»ui ( i i • ■ : life ia ool i jved . p .<.
. Mm* I.. consolidated and added strength. This la the
■ ><>n why no nrirntc enterprise i i DosRiorj lofoi Public
tion what tlif . nrpnr.il ici - n • I * *. ;m«l ( i \
•ii Hits rent « the. plea oi : [Siblic Libraries, Muaeuina,
which hIihII 1»i the property <'i' the ciUzena,
. mi i r ■'. .- !-.-• i \>\ their wwn electa cprcaontatives, and torn
im intcfrml part ol then local life.
Iln tern "ratepayer " is o designation altogether i-rumpcd
name citicen would he jui
! Iiottor and more aoproprititi' -. 'Putc <suu scarcely he
:<'«Nlng mattor 1 1 importance at the present time than
I,-- i undK ol the ] pic a high sense of the
izeiifthiji
It )- t I healthy eh irae.teristic "I public life In thin
the rntd«t ol controversies which go down to
A our outiontd existence, our ttotesmen "i : .\\ j,
■> n - -:i r. I.*! hv their i? n ■ i i n n ran ol light and leading,
i rahjecta o general and non-political Lateral
tvrHIrd ;it i i im..-: !, respectful henringnnd attention irnaaoma
I'vi.liMii ii niiuij.' ]i:ii lifr>, anil men of cn;»pe
mntterH for the gjpne ba goofl. Around
tntlonn could loenl ttu- lienor gather than MuHoumft
There Im too much Hontimental pntrtotiam.
ititter nlaiiil lovo of country, and far Loo little of
ii^i'i; Vutioiinl patriotism in an excellent thing,
... alwi o i<tral patrlot.tMtii and no inatitutfoni are more H
!• CUltlTUtA the latter i|liaUt>} Ilia n rinse The ^tatc lt;i,s inn iIihic
Im :• ; i ■ jilr that it i- called uiton t •> do when it has
orklio i-''. ,i liiiiiiti'- asylum, a pidicenuu., .u«l
■ tliare In llw comwiou hangi i m
-
PCULIC I.IH6ARIIS.
Wli(y. D-a.i . mIuhiUI our pnupfr life bo •*<> heavy :i I;iv ml the
,.v and rich ■ \Yii> (a if. not made more ral Supporting
either 11 i"i ii labour 01 ithei ways? Not that its being broi
law competition with the labour out ol its doors Is advocated,
tnil rarely ii. the raising of food, ;uid in Uie waking of their uwi
oiottdnffi there \t ample scope for such i»r"ni'iuv hiiour, Ob ye
people, with &U youi wealth ;-u*i boasted •>i>miuoa
, tioa long U tolsaationffl mate of money and force i<» $ru
on, and the country idly look on, content with an occasional futue
protect I
'\'\-.r higher life "I '•"' fiii-Miji lui» received tciu liiiu- iith-ntiou,
&od the lower and baser life .Hem.-* to have absorbed til the
■ . apathy and sure ■ I the authorities, Hut we have i iuch<
i of b* btor days, and oon do municipttUty or I « >** = > I rovenung
bodj will be conetdored oompletc unless 11 has under to sdminietra-
I .< i ii library nnd it museum, us well us a workhouse, a pr
md the preservers ol' luw ami order. It iafor the provision for
this higher national life that ilii* plea Is made, and upon mouiei-
polftioa is earnestly urged the ram of riving toe fuUoai and bent
attention to this quoaaoo. The fact hhould beomphosiaod that
Che inuiiw'ipriiir.y can do for the people in the way ot libraries ;in.|
niii:-i'uin> v-n! t'junint ix^sihly In' doim hy private enterpriMi
it may bo unhesitatingly asserted that in fullest nnrf iim am
iv..ii..hi.'':ii moaagi moot and boal value for nnm-v riw^-.i, the
existing rate-enipported librariea arc Ear in advance of the private
hutituoons of this nature.
It U some forty yours since Carlyle ssUi'ii tin' question, " Why
la there not a BoaJesty*s Hbrary in everj countj townf there 1st
U i jesty** gaol and gsllowa in every one : " and it is as long
the Public i i 'i-ru's' \r( wea passed, and yet the lack of Uorariea
Ik HtlU one of die most startling deflolencies in tiuw inlaid* u e
have riven the people evergreatei and greater political power,
imt they have shown no Inclination to benefit themselves by
means of books or other means of culture. "Wo must now
educate, our masters," said Mr. Lowe when the Reform Bill
uf 1807 was passed, lie was quite right, for "our masters"
were hy no means quick to educate themselves, and the num-
ber i'i Public Librariea which thc\ consented to establish lor
three years after lf*C7 was about ten. Then came Mr. Foroter'a
Education Set.; that was not permissive, and yiv.it thing*
were expeoted of it. Hon that everybody was to he taught
bis letters, everybody would surely wani books to read use.
What, indeed, would be the good of loachin^ pe^pli t»
at all unless the* wciv also to have a supply ol good bool i
ion might as wcU teach a man the use of We icniiv and fork sod
then not give bim any meat, fublio Libraries would ho the
natural and legitimate outcome of compulsory education. So
it was <*oTiii«ie-i:iy expected) but the expectations h w* ouij to en
' iiltill.- I, ns ;i |m ruHiil of [ho pf06«ut \oli:nir IU0 ■
II, a affect ol education upon crnnohas been a subject much
diaCUBSOd by sociul reformers, It nuv lv awumed that there in a
r;i.r- umaAaiBS r.*; orn NATIONAL i.iri:.
0
J Nil
relation between th< t wo thiri^, although it i« not ptrawble to ascer-
tain the precise ratio in whion orimo diminishes with On >pread
at education. R may, howev r be maintained thai the bioi
power raises the mine ol the people above the tonipta-
whian lead to crime, mid that, 080 rule, menial and morul
atpengtb ire likely to advance together. Toe ease if - ;
rd education not merely as :• process by which
Icnowb .,.; ■ - imparted, but u s nystara of careful training iu
which the subject iB surrounded by guiding, ret . and
uplift og influence*, when the environment w the indiviaual im
:o bring out its best characteristics and to cheek
ihnan nod paasion. The effed oj raeh si
i ,■. !i i n the best ■■■■' a i ion Is n led edui itioi nus be
(^ |»i'.h'<! r.i 1 1 -ri' itest when ir is employed towards the ehQdren
ftf il.nf alamaf (►iii'ini- who iln no! nr r:imior |.» rl'ru-m fa
parental duties f is well lent wn tfutf there exists .1 degraded
umn from which the criminal olniti > ormatnnbly recruited.
e retail it) wen m the reci rde of Hie poHce-ouurts, ■
Qvictlon nfter conviction i* recorded against tin- taoio person.
11 i> therefore .1 problem of the greatest social Importance to
:.:in Iww ii.t the higher and better influences 01 education
can be brought to hear upon these children, and it U ia possible
•;i'.;iil of miser j, to bar the g&tea of crime, and,
, , "throw hut ajai the portals to ;i decent life.
Suci d Question aa this has long formed an interesting subject
1 mongsl moral nnd social philoso-
On the one aide* we are told that the influence of heredity
al U be overcoxae, that the criminal is bom, and not
l that, however well intended, each efforts nt m< ral
doomed to di.-tfppwntim-nt. ' »n the Dthcr Bide, the
atom that, whatever muy bo the tend 10
> 1 village, theiv Is miruVicut olastieitv and
adaptability in the moral nature of humanitv to enable us to
is ii 1 ffeetuollyif euro in taken that ull tin.1 surroundings
of tic 1 are properly and judiciously selected
1 1 mother Hfteerj or twenty years, when some raUliorift more
.»'ii have pened tUrougfi the Board Schools, and Public
1: « t other similar institutions have hoon established
mi, then we shall tecum* a cultivated people.
In irwt*- nr similar words, half hopeful, liulf regretful, the
jenmn-up generation summarize their estimate of popular culturo.
.1 School i< the star 1 * steer by; the Board School beg
olviltaation. There In humility in the oonffi
Rut whfln Young Knglanrl Is, doubtless, a line promising fellow,
1 he also miid for his senior.-. If the question
\n rinrtldfrwl slowly, II Is found that whal bheotiull generation
[1 l' thl ; word in It* ordinary aceepta-
iii|>ii-hi. 11 4clf-iiisti'uexloii bir themselves in .mm
of modern Micieiv as tin* pruKiebs which
are snaking, more or lew* under compulsion. Tlie
inctvn " ■' htori'H of literature, brought about
10 PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
by the establishment of Public Libraries, is, therefore, one of the
indications which help to show us the tendency of the educa-
tional movement of the present day. That tendency is strongly
towards the equality which means the placing of the same
opportunities of knowledge within the reach of all. The Univer-
sity Extension movement, with its gatherings of students at the
great shrines of knowledge, is a striking illustration of the
tendency. Rut that extension has rested upon voluntary work,
and the devotion of the students themselves to the branches of
knowledge taught by the " extra-university " professors. The
Public Library movement, however, represents the determination
of the community to offer special facilities for the cultivation of
the mind at the expense of the community itself. The readiness
of the people to second and support that determination shows
how great has been the growth of the feeling, not only among
individuals, but among the public at large. The educational
welfare of the multitude has at length become a matter of
importance to us all. There has been a revolution in public
opinion as to the true functions of Public Libraries. For a time
they may be said to have had only a slight relation to the
life of the community, hut the authorities are now ready to
acknowledge that success or failure is to be measured by the
extent to which they come in contact with and shape for good
Hie mental life of the nation,
The subject of local taxation is inseparably a part of this large
question. The present system under which, in England and
Wales, the first incidence of local taxation (with some slight
exceptions) falls on the occupier and not on the owner of lands
and tenements, is unjust: such owners ought in equity to
bear at least a moiety of those charges. The system under
which country mansions are rated is unfair. The owners of
ground rents in towns are liable to no part of those charges the
outlay of which is essential in order that the property may possess
any marketable value whatever. This is a matter which lies
closer to the roots of our national life than the public are
generally aware of. It is to some large readjustment of the present
inequalities of local taxation that we must look in the imme-
diate future for a much larger impetus to be given to the
movement for the formation of these libraries than has yet been
known.
A very interesting study is afforded by comparing the gross
rates levied in towns in various parts of the country. A glance
at the following list will probably produce a series of surprises
to many readers : —
Total Rates.
s. d. s. d.
Accrington . . . . 4 2
Ashton-under-Lyne . . 4 6
Barrow-in-Furness . . 3 10
Blackburn 4 8
Blackpool 4 2
Bolton 4 10
Bradford 5 5
Brighton 4 8
FLAcr or rriu.rc mukaiuks i\ oi k .v.vhi.in.\[. iii'i..
11
«. d,
•i«t«.l r, 1 1 j
Burton m Trent ■", ]
lev !J||
. . 1 -
lift
■ i i
4 5)
;; LO
6 0
Darlington "i
■ *bary . . . . 6 3
tesheiHl . .. .. B i
i 3
II ii. I
[pftwl 5
In
. oft
"i II
i 9
a
a
o
g m
ii i
5 B
.-. |l)
Makkoi .. ..
Manchester
Middlcsboi &uah
Xewcantlt.'-uii-l"^ ao
Northampton
Norwich
D ....
I'lviu.-uth .. ..
Preston
Rochdfllo .. ..
Shofflold .. ..
Southport . .
Sunderland
sr. Helens
Swa.iiSO:i
Wakefield
Wijrin
\\ r-liciuli
\\ ilverhamptmi
\>vu . .
ftrmouth , . ..
r. d.
: :;
5 3
6 4
■'. 3
8l"«
0
■
l B
•I l
7 0
. 0
., s
S (I
7 '>
4 -J\
.. |0"
;■■ i rates include the rote* for poor, countj
- «i j - 1 1 , watch, 8cl ool Hoard, l*ubHe Librwy, both,
r and an hi eH ujMiti the year* !>-.->-:', The
ortioi '• i i "r from the ^roew rental variea bo much
wintry llml il in impotiaible i*4 (five particulars
ire h ■!■.■ -r, in cifi proi icling the boi I oompanaon.
it ot these thi total Quznbor having rate-eupported Public
i/tt oven. Thotovn«no1 po&aestring th«ee useful
i' i|ii(»ti?il:iri U'rrin^tirii, I turn Icy, Uurtnn,
Urn ithu i . If mUli rsliold, Hull, Lancaster,
. Muldon, v\ akcflold, "'a i*heaeh md n urk.
ono great Deed ol the age, and ii is one which cannot be too
!. - the app< ''it i i-ii! without delay of n
■i Public tnftimction After many contradianoxw of
»nn nature the country has teen the appointment of ii
knrtcultum ind so thorn •* room for large hope
icm -icw ptjhiii' official, with or without ftwattnto*
r. Mil !>♦• :i Mtnlflter whose department shall have under
• ii nf our national education, Public
ttrnirfoi. MiiM'im. ichulnil schools. Tin- name official
tilble Tor our rial oi I I III
rum, .South Ki'iiMiiuiuii, unci their
Nh. i mill elsewhere. This in i Mibjccl
iutoi'CTl» iu " ii national life, d id ii
I :. forn i ii-; pub] i ipinioi v il! only take
roruualj u-c rua.v -<»<n l>c wilkin unv\;v,A>V-
[a
I'l IW.ir 1.I".HARIE&
distance d c ug appointed u Blmialcr uf Public Lnatrucl
Iu thie rospoot "iir Mvn Ooverntncnl ori <h-Lri:«<' rni i> behind
otliei I lovernnn i.i; -. Even the Liftlmn Oovnnimeni hu. In Imod
!!;.■ |in'|).'ir itu 1 ■ tn-nl irnpury into I 10 l*ubhr 1,11 n
• ■I liiily. Tin- vuliu <'i the governmental report* upon the
libraries of the 1 nitedStatee la ful \ rocoffnixod bj ul who take
an tutored Is tit.- worfc »\ libraries. V\li«n we ooropari ttu
little which haa boon d >ne to this country, with what has t»e ■ 1 Q
tin-- n-speet dou<> i-v tin«( format] md 1 uted States Governments,
Hi.;- 01 1 i[rtn-. ■ 1- -.i.i j QgaJnel UK There in before US :tt tlie
present moment the w hole of 1 iia Hluo B k>Icn and parlta 1 1 ut; rj
returns referring to Public 1 ilhrarlcx which li tve been prow
1»i thfl I'.i'lllsli 1 1 mi so i<l I.IHH..I-. li will \>o inliri's! in.-. h
d mi 1 "ii,< 1 in riic order in which they have been Issued
First :iiid foremost are the reports from the neli« ;i Mmni ■
on Public libraries Issued In IMfl and IHfltt Kach <>f these
in ;i rolumc iii between ;>'*> unci 4<x> pngtw of oliihnrnn
I i siirs. mid il vldenoe before the *eleel uumittei appointed
in 1848 00 the best means of extending the eHtabllKhmenl oj
libraries Creelji open bo the public. Judging from the coal • »f
other select committees and commissions, the net cos! to ilu-
oountrj of bbdti oomraittee could uol have been less than some.
thousands of pounds. These two IJlue Books constitute our noi
national owe lamb In publications of real value dealing wiUi
Public Libraries. Then follox Dhc othoi returns, which can be
dismissed in a sentence. In IH-VJ there was a return o1 Publii
Libraries, some of which had adopted the Kworl Act of 1850,
Tlli* return conslflta of nine pntro. Then, i:i 1866, there w 1
further return, and as matters were growing ;i little tins re
a total •■ hi in 11 pnffes. In 1857 the Ilouse of Commons added ;>
further inatalmonl ft mx pages, the extent of on utl :rh m
it turn. Our IcgieJatore kindly took a rest after no Juhoriousn
task, and for twelve years there wasno official document ie
respecting these institutions. Hkv then gave us a return oJ
libraries und muflcuma aetuully reaching twenty-nine pn#03.
There was then e further leap to 1875, when we navo u further
II 1 hiiKiit <>i thirty-one pngee. Those iu charge of this rctui*n
nmsi h:i\o I noi mipi'Uii;. t >r all thi'iiuffh il there 1e the tonn " free
l-il'n.n.". A--I- ;i <l ■ ■ i-_ ■■! . I. > 1 \\ hirh lia'I nut apprurod in lli<'
AeU thttnielvi - ind the ueo of such u phru»e ought never to hove
been allowed to creep into tin* parliamentary doeumenl In l**78
thi ra appeared the iniiiiii-st '»i' the«e reiuruM'. Tins is a Hluo Book
i i a tutica totalling up t«» ninety-one pages. So exhuuvtc*
Parhanient beeome after *<> extraordmary an effort that nothing
appeared between a abort return ol \R7~/ and n return of isho
purchased For :i penny, and it let bowi left t<> private indrvlduala,
ou1 of » pure dealre to Rsrva the conunonwenlth, to supply the
deficiency, and bo <l< wlul ihould have been done >y Oov<
inrii! long Bgo. it in perhaps too bad to expose the naied teas ol
ml i'l tnia extent, but 11 \» onlv a relterailoD ol :< lev simple
and pertinent rueU wnicli wake* up John Hull to the floods ol
HJlCK W miiii-- i.['ii{.\i:ii> r\ Ota IUTIOJM& i.ikk.
K.-ri\ nH'ir>.s i.-iik i ephen'a, and how small a portion <>(
wtial i. lone there touches the rttaliof im national I to.
not furtbej statistical returns for "which It ia neceeaary to plead.
Mliii Iidb now been lone. Bui m the making «»f a department
in the State where PubKc Libraiiea mid Mueeums will find a
cvutre and a head. I urther, the moot preeafajg educational need
Lvanccd tn that of State aid for (In- formation nod
mnintenan A FubHo libraries i vfllagi — b imortion which
i* man fully diet uttaed in a mcccodiiur chapter,
most r • «--<i> :.p\ which is riven to thcee request* tot
ii.| to national aatitution* la, Where ia the monej to com<
ii -in f< r the inirponc? That, auroly, with the raaoureoa vrM< b U<
ut lia- (1 i] i Uuturmountal le difficulty* If it were o
% iidditiooal poiisionSj the matter would t]«»ul>tl<*Hn
he olvcd In :i prompt way. Ae o commentary on the orj oi on
checmt -r. there maybe quoted tho following two or throe
olicnt 1'nctn i ■■: i "in clerk recently died at Ventnor.
in tii i'i i ■ i VI Igh , who waa :i contemporary in official
Chariot '..Miii' and John Stuart Mill. Thai in itself is
bio ovent to chronicle. II ■ ■ -j ■- . -i:»l point in his
com* i*i that he retired from tho public service under medical
certificate of unfitness in Ift35,and that during fifty-four years he
draw a pension tn the Chancery Court, a aide clerli was retired
loageol thl wnpeuKionol £1,381; and & sworn clerlL
olutm nto had aveni ced Etywu a year,wn« juMixmneii nil
>:.li »' 1. '».".:; :i ;:r: i : RJ II 1 1 ut -t< !■• rlrl'k H :,-;_• r I 'it fid E I £40 :i J 06 "'
vci ty-nino The Accotmtftnt-Oenaral took £4,900
rl :i hnmhle door-keeper grit t'iMWi year In the Office
we find tho wrveyor reuring in 1*75, ifter seven-end-
a-hnif years' service, with a pensioner £800- and the Clerk of
tin' i ■ went on* t< Iraw carifl i year rrom the revenues of
ir country The mosl uutragcou-i example, however. of "ra-
tion" is afforded hj tlie ease * the Rev. Tli"niasTliurlow,
nephew ol Lord Chancellor Thurlow, who waa " Patentee ol
and Keeper and Clerk of the Hanaper." These
u*ee were abolished when he wm forty-three, and he waa
[Tie ocnaions (aacompepsaf oi \ amounting in the nggtegate to
1.7 1"> .t \ > ir. which pensions hecontinu I to draw for |. »rt v pears,
i this nature are not scarce in the English service,
racn '.sill i Aerate with indifference this waeti
it in difficult to eay. It would be too much
tot the ■ "■ rnment, wliiohever party in in power, to
.. thi 'v\ir\ perpetually, with ilirir i<!r;i* .>r I'iuV
■' l ■ at the moneys already expend)
i nee, litcrutnrc, und art, and are ton dispi
;. |grant tn the HrlMsh BlUKtmm, tho South
■ii. :iTt- othci national institutions. We eon
■ to I'Ktnbliitli I ipportmentaJ Register of
itiuv, *ueh w the Keeper or the Pub le R >cordi ha
In ..-ir i yoi i!ic lii.am. t:u/cs 4»1 mch, or a Bimilar por>
i*ord Mid means of mtorrfimmimicfttion between wii
14 POTJIJO LIBBAKIB8.
scattered libraries and librarians need only be mentioned to be
appreciated. Nor is it wise in this connection to forget that
Public Libraries abroad frequently possess unique treasures which
are not in any of our collections — Wittemberg; Berne, Basle, and
Vienna containing, especially, rarities of considerable literary
importance.
England must take care not to be left behind the Chinese in
the matter of Public Libraries. A Public Library has been
established in Canton city. Speaking officially of the inaugura-
tion oE this institution, the Viceroy of the province declares " how
important it is to the good government of the country that
educational projects should be promoted, so that the people may
gain the benefits of good learning." With the Public Library is
connected a large printing establishment for the production of
" good and useful books, whereby the present and the past may
be compared, help obtained in the path of rectitude, and morals
and manners strengthened." The Viceroy himself, with certain
benevolent associations and trade guilds, have subscribed a sum
equivalent to £11,000 for the maintenance of this institution, and
the interest of this, and annual subscriptions promised, will yield
an annual income of £2,000.
The Japanese arc even going beyond this. The Government of
that progressive country has sent over Mr. J. Tanaka as a special
commissioner to spend two years in this country, the Lnited
States, and some parts of the Continent, to study the Public
Library system. This accomplished gentleman left England on
his return to Japan in December, 1881), and in several confer-
ences which the present writer had with him prior to his depar-
ture, lie gave an outline of the plan he will suggest to his Govern-
ment for establishing Public Libraries throughout Japan. As
chief librarian of the national library at Tokio, his library
experience is not by any means slight. The permissive feature,
which forms so essential a part of our library work in England, is
to be entirely absent in Japan, and municipalities and other
governing bodies are to have the power of establishing Public
Libraries, and the maintenance of them, without any restrictions
as to the amount, is to come out of the general local taxation. It
will thus be seen from this and other facts that as a nation we
must indeed be up and doing.
The place of Public Libraries in our national life is of so great
importance that it cannot be over-estimated. The growing popu-
larity of these institutions proves this unmistakably. One of
many examples which could be named is that at one of the London
Public libraries vary recently established under the Acts, a most
unusual and encouraging scene was witnessed. The buildings had
been closed for a week for the ordinary purpose of cleaning and
arranging, so that readers had been deprived of their privileges
for that short period. "When the day of reopening arrived the
doors were surrounded by an eager crowd. This happened in
Lambeth, and at West Norwood the road was blocked by an
expectant throng of three or four hundred people long before the
FP
15
y wn- ipttDOd I I dAJ long the people same puuring in
pooK£,andat nightfall no fewer tniu l,l48i >lumesnod
taken .»i,t :il»ni( (..iu--:"i rh ol the windy sl.n-k the lending
iv posBOBMB tl the othei Public Library, Almost :a the
i b end • !|i" pariah, similar ttcenet were witnessed, and
the number of books distributed there in the day was i.ciou.
The*? act* are aa good b testimonial in favour of Public Libraries
ili! well lie ooocetred. CHtb ft man the run of a I
Hbrnn a rl I ■«■«■ hire fa m the anxJoua reflection Mint the money
1 i . be i even ho little, might be more profitably spent
-ivv tare ind tie to open on all Bides to refining uiflnances, numv
them mui due to literature Iteelf Should In- want lt>he wul
:■!■ -I'll: i ■ I lence n d public reading-room, and be
0 emulate the courtesy which oils the wheels of <\<-i\ argon-
: p.-, is made of tin* Puritanical argument
.iif .. Literature keeps a maaawaj from the pot-haiiee.
Tin- bane of luxury lies not in moderate indulgence, hut in excess*
Ith. and mental energy mat be wroruzfblrj frittered
away in ream' rg u well i - in tippling. Tiut a temperate fratifloe
t|oi oi one pi "r strongest >1 all checks to axceeairc
lulgcoce In nether. The natural faculties ol the mind I I
in whnlcaomc ro rcution in the Public Library. They
ti in Die uotivi w.-ilv of life, i iatoroouwc with active mind*;
alii udo and Ea idle company they rofc And from a >•
, !, where ibey may £ain hcultl. and vigour fur those
ii:iii\ of the poorer eUiHKoe, who may in no disrespectful
oi ■ be called children a intellect, are debarred bv (oak of
can*. ' iewthe matter from a point whence only its nor-
■ : tort an ru. 'Mi i:-; t istbli , t moll nay i"; laid for
\iHic l.ibrai I a ghoul the entire country.
1 iplc who proteat very loudlj against what in not quite
aveanratcly oollea "free Kluoation" in elementary schools, seem
1 1 •! that, under the PubUc Libraries Acta, sorae-
thaatr ■• ''iv 1 neh Uka free education ia being provided not only
1 lid r en oi : li<- poorer elasse#, but for the aona and daugh-
ter* of the middle classes, and all cloaaea, bo far n* they choose t<.
read or borrow the thotiaanda of priueatinrnil wih-v* pi need at
The P iblio l Ibrary is the university of the work-
lluf 1 university is not'ror every man "its true value
ap| m .'<: \\\ rh.-.' whose pnninuN tniin'uuy fits them to
It* lulvaiiUurea Books are tml\ valuable to those who
•a N 1 rnad 1 1 : 1 in, :imi libraries are only valuable to those
« to use them. NevortlmlcMi, the growth of the
l>nwy ayattttn In al leant a proof of the gradual Invnlop-
cUeotual iutereate throughout the Indai-
ii \. This ia an advantage in every way. Il i*
iai the Industrial competition througnoul the
lafly becoming more and more; competition ol mtelll-
.-.-. U Ea certain that if w< caunothold oui uwuin this corn-
petiUOU, ■■■ 0 - 11 Mirri- It .'. (1 i ■> ■ I 1 1 • hc-ii.i illtftt of
" d<\ liue !-■: »w lccig< Ib powci , and in the loup r ■ , 1
WBLir fJIIRARIi:S.
the <>n1_v power thai prevails. Dm it la as wall no! <> Pori
tin- recogni ion ->i tin- power ihui dwells in knowledge oaJ
knowledge is n good in iUelf unci contains titti-fiction* w
Itself Intellectual pureuil »i evi d such aa raon burners
br) can oompaan, often carry within themselves their own
best fruits to the pursuer. In the present condition of
we can noneofnsafF< (elect the material profit thai reside*
in knowledge and In bhc cultivation of the intelligence; bid
Itaowiodgc.likc virtue, is (tfl iwn truo reward, and the plerisurw
of a cultivated inteiliffcncc aroeo pure and an unalloyed that eves
if no profit ensued from them they arc worthy "i pniwufl (of
their own sake alone, it :?■ clear that as a nation we areonihi
right road to educational oxoolle and have become, If wo
pal .n:\ trust in arithmetic and appearances, a nation of learned
and teaming people. From the swaddling clothes ol Crltk
Druldlsm, the yonBhfuJ habiliment* of Saxon Paganism, ami the
corduroys of raodueval barbarism and ignorance, we b.n
to the inJi woll-mftdo garments (mentally) ol noionc«, an
general ukpIuI knowledge. EplctetuB said that you win "4a
ti i< greatest service to Che State if you should raise uoi thi
rOOfS Ol till? ImUIXl'.S, lillt tllO BTMIh Ol lht> iMli/.'"!-. ; I »P
bettor that groat aonut should dwell In small houses rather
than fop nit"!i slaves ro burrow in great palaces." Sip John
Ilersehcl ottered a similar truth whpn he said thai "there
tag want too much lost sight- of in our estimation of the pi
ttons of Mi** humbler r.hsses, though It is one »»f the i
hUfifnantly craving ill* ill) our wants, and in arr-unlly the Impelling
power which, in tin- viist iimjority of eiiM-s, urges men into rle*
iiml crime — it i* the waul of amusement." Like the Indulgence
of Ul other appel Ites, It onlj requires to be kept within due bo
:iinl turned iipmi iniii.M'i'iit (»!• toneflcial objects, to become a spring
ofhappineflB; but gratified to a certain moderate extenl it must
be, in the case of every man. if wi« desire him to be either e
uhcful. active, or contented member ol society. II is llicrci
niiillfr i * I" M'iy uie.it consequence, that those who on- at their
case in this world should look about for means of harm
gratification to the industrious and weU-diapoeed classes, who an
Srepared to prise highly every accession of true cnjqvmcnt,
t' :ill tin- amusements which con possibly be imnfpm-ii far ;i
1kh.I-u -iking: man after hia daily toik or in H i intervale, thcro to
nothing like reading an entertaining book, it calls for no bodily
exertion, of which he has had enough or boo much. U roUevca hfs
home ol it:* dulncea and sunioness, which, in nine eases out of ten.
is wlmi drives him to the ale-house, ro his own ruin and to thai ol
hie family. Supposing him to have been fortunate En the choice
of his l)o*(.k, mi«l to have iilighti'<t ejmti one nal'v good, wl
Bouroe of domestic enjoyment it laid open! Jlemayren<i it aloud,
or get faze wife to read it,orhii sldest boy or girl, or pass it round
From hand to hand. A feeling of oommon Interest and i>i<*mcurc
[g excited. Nothing unites people like companionship [b Intel
lectuaj ©njoyroe it. t\ doe* more, it gives them tfeli-rcs]>oet( lhal
THR PI .FA FOB TTIiLIf I.TBKABiEfi.
II
eornei rirtuc. it we would generate ;i taete for
v< nust begin bypleerfng. Give a man thta taste, and
tiw means san I - rdlj fail ol roaklngnlm a
iiMppv i i. in You place .inn in jonfcact vitli the beet society
in DTp-n period of history, wuii the risoBt, the wittiest, with
|Hc tender veeUund the pureal dbaraotera who Imvt?
tied humanity. Il is Uardlyppes We bu the character ehould
l« a higher aau better tone. Then ta ;: gentle, bul perfectly
lc cocr< ioi »ii of reading, wel d c ed 01 ei the
hoick inter, which ib nut the leas cfTcnLual
•canec i leeaail ly,
ae truth winch tt appears i <.i- -. again
! is bo tihe im.i ol the people i- 'lir.Tiirtcof the ilui :(■.-.
bilifcice of citisenanip, and it maj be maintained
ii [SldHi Libraries and Huecu i -. whft their ooncamitanta of
ndixur-roo n , lecto ■<■■ , and all the other departmente which are
?* beta tk* Institutions, />ar e.rccflenc*t wMch ::v« 010*1
the i v ilego ol cil .;■■ □ tbip. Am! % i in
nncdi&b future the place of IVblio Libraries in out naUona]
ii- wiH ■ ■■ lore linniv established Thee* progrcs-
reiatftii ■■' noJ Ufa find 'u echo in tho language of
mv, ii ■
" N»w omtstona taioh new delta
Time luttkos anolonl good uncouth ;
Tlmy meat onward still, ami ontui .
Who vroiila kocjt ftltrctftt of Truth,"
CHAITKK ill.
THE PLEA FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
s ^ question purely wcial tad free from the influences
..I party politic* or religious prejudices, the Public
Library movement lias rap! ortance
m ii i <.. : m'm!-. however, hai h g for their ot>J< 1 1 I he
nod of rh« commonwealth, appear i ■ 1 1 < • ■ promoters
mi.] were i not thai the loading
... i il reforms onnics. ^ n rule, : i- 'i- i men ox
t'tei'iuinuUon and intduuntcd perseverance, many n
■ mi .1 ! ..■ allov "i M dii hi atural deal h lung bel i ■>- tl
■] the Rubicon. The proocwi of rdu eating the public on =«
ml. mi!.. I Lime run] patimii t; and opposition,
img .is it treiJuenUy doen from unexpected Koureee, milieus the
>rk at tin i ti'l very utluuua. Nm( q few preening1
■ ■ ij-e i1ik>iikhI I" Mil! in 1 1 1 1« -j- delaj l-v the Educa-
i ! ifii oi' t U'.'ni v \ i',u: too ate, and
i w'Iul'Ii liaa had. on Una account, bo
i Public Libraries. Considering that the
illy those in the large i nercial
provinces, have ao fully and conclutwclj justified
18 PUBIJC LTBBABIES.
their existence, the wonder is that we have not now from four to
five hundred, instead of the comparatively insignificant number
of two hundred. Truly this is a meagre number to meet
the book-hunger of a reading people, and is not by any means
creditable to the enlightened and practical character which we
Britishers claim to possess; and in the provision of books for
free-lending we have been left so far behind by the United States,
France, Germany, and our Australian colonies, that the nation
may well ask itself a few serious questions respecting the cost,
uses, and operations of these institutions, and seek especially to
solve the problem of their extension. The purpose of this chapter
is to endeavour to reply to some of the arguments usually advanced
against Public Libraries. The first and foremost reason is that
the British taxpayer objects on principle to any increase in his
rates. All that the Act permits is one penny in the pound per
year on the rateable value, and no possible manipulation on the
part of the authorities can make it more than this very small
sum. There is somehow a chronic objection to rates, and there
are not a few people who think we ought to be able to live any-
where without the troublesome quarterly visits of the ubiquitous
rate-collector. The author of " More Worlds than One " does not
enlighten us how the supposed inhabitants of those regions get
on about the rates, or, what would be still more interesting
to us, whether they have Public Libraries. What the comforts
and conditions of life would be if there were no rates, the good
people who object to them do not stop to inquire. It is this
penny in the pound per year which forms the gons asinorum of
their extension, and yet nothing could be simpler and more just
to all classes of citizens than this vital principle of the entire
question.
The language used against this additional penny on the rates
by the false economists on the one hand, and those who object
to all progress on the other hand, who, as a rule, are the chief
opponents to the movement, is invariably so strong that it tells
perceptibly upon the ratepayers, and effort after effort is fre-
quently defeated, until eventually the question is settled by sheer
force of moral suasion. We have rates for police, lighting, paving,
cleansing, improvements, and the support of the poor, and a
rate for the mental health of a town is just as necessary as
any of these. Public Libraries are no longer a luxury, for the
march of education has made them absolute necessities. They
are, in the truest sense, educational institutions, and as such are
as deserving of support out of the rates as are the Board schools.
They provide facilities for the continuing of study after school-
days are over, and, more than any other institution, they are the
best link between leaving school and adult citizenship.
The statement has gone forth that in Ixmdon alone, out of the
80,000 boys and girls who leave our elementary schools yearly,
a minority only continue their education at evening classes;
and this may to a large extent be attributed to the lack of
Public Libraries ; for there is clear evidence of a very important
the plsa rem pfbuc ioniart?.
tfl
■i .1 young people in the large towns: ooatinufng their edu-
ol riic Public LftrarJet. Even <•■ the icon of
• Nlitnmnl penny to the rates. ;i town OUUlOt nink. « -w
Invest n.i'iii fbr Its citizens than f>> bitihl. stock, arid mronmin i
irary and ii would Iw lmpossnile to name any outlay sq
hfn which |n*u(incfs so ranch far-reaching utility as this
CBoajr. I'Ik' benefll du1 of themton for the poor, police, Drainage,
Kbti< ■ . ul bfl EJiel 1 hi' tlir penny library
'* direct and personal. It is within the reach of all adult*
est* Public Libraries exist, to derive n lamefll so {{real
I that, ii the} bad to paj fbr it at the currenl rote ol subscription
es, would ■ oat 'hem ten or twenty Limes aa much. The
ion of the infinitely little could not be better exemplified
ui the penny library rate, for in some bownt tt means an
annua] incomeot ovc* !: 10,000. Cnfortunately, in lone *■ ,l1'"
of life and human nature are what fchej are, it will
notb ■ without rates. But rate economist* usually
af the aimiij.: end, for the} resent and oppose oducati mm
- and meekly pay the nollce, gaol, and workhouse rates with-
oy Enquiry u« to whetner there might not bo Home saving in
those <llreotione. England ie the only country with anelab i i
in,:. ml whether the labour oi those In ourwerk-
nooaoseouM doI be made mora remunerative, and so reduce Ois
r»ten for their maintenance, Es a question which must sooner or
.!•• to Hn i 'out. when rhie huppy time arriveSj there
will then be more tospend for libraries andmuseui is U present
:!■■ rata expenditure in chiefly for the In pr< rtdent, the criminal.
■ i -di. tr luluesomi citisten, and the peaceable and
respectaiile eitixcil i* left to take care of bimselff whereas the
tad as the public become educated
I (U 'i 'I Vast ntiliU i>i Public 1,iU*j !■:(.•* Mic\ uill dcniMlwl
•■ii . !!. v wed enemies everywhei i Public Ubrarfes nre
it i* acknowledged on all bands ; tint their
■■ ■.!.! »f the workhouse and gaol, with
for Management. How long will thrifty
nrl Irti'iii/rnr rff.lxci - continue tn he gorerned hy this powerfni
ingp themselves ugufnsl pxery movement
or it* obji-i't the tnic iutcroKts of Piti£f»nin1p '
In the previous chapter there are Home utatfrttlcs of t-heerosa
■liim.A H ■ \\ m - "Mm" plftiVH rnitl'l of CiUIN-C liaVQ ln'i'ii
■ e. suflhw I'm' isvseai purposes, mil there mi \ lie
i' .ii I .ij/li nixl oilier towns i"ip 1. 1' thin
1 or the lime I" discuss, Striking an average1,
ipeai Ilia) onj luwu with its groaa rates no!
■ i. in llic iiiiiiil, con .ilVm-1 Ii iiui ■ ii;it< I v »ct :l>
ii lopt the FubhV Libraries Acts, and it' all the
lii oui try pot ut present piw* - i ig ils/aries do bhis.
: mi [in reasc iu i •■^■, t as n i
■ ■ ■
adopted the Libraries' Acts which
ring ef a penny in it* rates and loawny
It i i i< [.i:;u.wm.^
will ii - Publfi i bran rherc le t >< >i an atom d urool
m.« re 'a ;i sinjclc one . hut i h • dcn< e thai »
ho would lilco to extend thoir opcmti< n and
■ • nil i« " illi a higher i
i, M r.nV (: ■ UOl I 3 my r»c: R (I H tl I I WtiOII 0 ■!. t*
in tin- i;i:i|"nl v m1 CMC Mi. tl.i COO ally pold it- in >u Mm
■ ■
A companion argument to Use one Domed toj thai they m
I ■ : . j- ■ . i [al In itioni ,and as bui I ■■' 31 not ;"' usei by i he u I ■
people, and the rich pay tor supplying hot ki to the working
cIohmb. Thin is an amusing argument to nil wht u'c 1 LmlUai
wild Hi.- working of Public Libraries, The designation •>(
"Free Ufcraiie* Is highly objectionable, and II to inoeroVj
to bo hoped that librarians and n mm Itecs will
drop the use ol the word, and simply coil their Institution!
Cm .( I.- Libraries i:i \ m< n.-:i no i'nt lie i bi ■< ) i • u lowed o
04 called "tree"* unless supported entirely i\ private munhV
rence. LUirnrtea, nducatlon, trade, und land nover can he ab-
-< ?i t i-i v free The nrgumeni just mimed Ik only heard when an
effort it iK'in;r made to adopt the Vet* W ! rarelj licni It in
towns where tnej exist, In Birmingham, the oceupatli
borrowers reach a Uital of 200, and II would tie dlfllcJ
mention uny occupation <•! prufewlon which i> nut Included.
Other Iuwun can show u like Reueral use of their Public
Libimieo, proving beyond a duubl thai all classes avail l/hein-
BBlreB i -I out raj oi other of their tnalitiee. Public Ubrarita an
00 mure p;:j<ichial thaillU'C the l't>H<l> ;iud LtlC Mli'i-l gag l.n.ii
the oltlEcn who refused to use n library because tl w as * m.(
" parochial " slmuld be the first to move in having the lamp
abolished from the street or road in which he dwells. l\y utni r',
again, Bhey arc classed with free soup kitchens and free v
tuba in public washhousoA. lint this is an unfair and Inaccu
analogy. Inhere is no doubt thai tin term '• freezes applied to
(hi e libraries ha* «lc cit< number of people from uring
i'i tin* libraries on. the RToundthat they objected lo participate
in any of tho bencfite of B oharitoblo institution.
" Twey are not m unmixed Rood." mya another. WoU, is there
anything in bhiB mortal lit'e which is ulieolutclyun uiimixed g
bat tiwrr - eo much srpod mixed up with thomi thai a
which refuses to adopt tho Acts U depriving itself A an lm
Uon, tho influence ot which could not fail to be for the best
interests of the district in which it i* situated. Workhouses
aot an unmixed good, because they induce hrittli
while they provide sheltei* for the unrortunate and uitbjyonJ
The twlice are not an unmixed good, for they are BometUQes
fonad treacherous, and lose their heads in a mob. Die high-
wjiys 'iro n-ir an m mix "l yon«i, i«»cause they are used by pc
ii:iv tng mJawfoJ purposes in view, All sanitary provlsioi
not an unmixed yood, hecinis*' iho drainage Hows iw: y to the
TJuunes ox othor place, where u mi k&s the aurrounding district
unhealtiby and eanjet uestiferouH smells, ^'lt nil these th
I'l -..■;•■ mi to i inn intra
L'l
ed lb food ind haneflefii . are mpportod «<i!t of the
■r«--.. "iii the rigid eeonoml h y ■ > I ought ba bo: bul the
a
i
State, OH ri'iiri--.. iil. <. by llii* |m\il : I 111 |i -n I v, li;is no rt;- '
Ih'Vii'h! Il • •!■ iirrt>.-»ilii'.-« nf <ti iii. mi I imi, :unl provide bonks ;nnl
■ 01 ta whir)i ahull !«■ us free m ill" highways Tin*
onmJ . argui letil ahould, if oirrJcd out, kmd (how who
advance h i« abeuiin fruiu merrfajR*, from inoat kind'-, a food,
M*l linn dlmort r-.riAl liin- vliu-li :h|i|s lu |l|r ci i| n:\irl Mid
liatijihics* of life.
rryiug this argument Further, thai these institution* arc
isl i ' ■- ci bc< au ■■ ■ be 81 ate lb tsxw i ted bo do
what i ■■ ■ i • should do fi i theniacNoe, in n little pamphlel
leeued i'.v the Lfl>erty and Propcrt) Defence J.coguc, there are
iven under the heu'd of " 8o< ml si i it St. Stephen'*, I0M rod
BS7>" wbal this body of rentleraen are pleased to •_ .HI the
Social wti* Veto and Bills, R70 to 1867 ' Inthia they include- all
i ho I'Mui- it .. :. ,vt find I'.iiu, Public Libraries and Musoumn Art. ,
the Technical Education Bills, and :i bout of others. This League
haafot Eteobjert State-help, and haa been, formed
for the purpose oi reflating ovor-l©#iHlution, for maintaining
roodom m •< ntract, and foi advocating Indiviaualisn asoppo ad
ill wo, irrespective o1 |>urty politics.
II ic inflnen <u u1 Mr. I lerbert Spencer on r 1 1 ■■ thoughi of the atfa
in ufiii:iH!:ii::ii>!', and bin poUtioal philosophy is permeatinjr tne
ffcrtc i fwardfl reforms which on nil $Xaw are looked upon ic
nocoaxary; the difference resting only in the degree with which
Able md necessary ihnruje, in order to adjust a
w-i i theivxjalrementaol the time. Mr.IIerberl
8ies<M t considers it htghh doalral le thai mnseozni and literature
rmld boprorfdetf for the public in a wnj acceselDta :•> them,
lit, hf tunes, when we l**gta to hw on the public Khouldera the
>i what Ihej say la not vital tait merely destrubla, where is
• > itop ■ And he- further rhargftfl ns with Itoing
: in State Socialism to bring about social amel oration
by force. Every thought hi I mind which ins rend Mr. ilei-hrr!
desire to do him jus lice eon m;ii<v1v fall la nave
m'i -,i inn -i. mental stimulus n al to feel oneaeli dl l< i d |
om ii ii . Htcr, raol wi much in the gi-nci'al pilnciplea hud down la
btiou of a particuuti principle to a particular depurt-
tK .1 the 3tttte, ie not an j-j.p eable [losiUon.
Ii i- ! t|ii nlhle n"i to feel the force of ):i^ statements in
nun« Slavery,' in "The Man rww« Tin- Stale," and
till mnch that be snyf* nlmut tin- si.:ic monopoly in letter
. id. and telephone s, many arc in lull bco rd,
such from diff< rina; Protu I im
" I he rii.uj, made, the chanejes in pro ■•■ ,
i»l the ehanfci'.i urged wi'A earn an noi - 1I3 towarda State m nei
nd an 1 dwellin>rs, uid rn i ' ol communication, till to
.;■ . i by Stafc affcnto, Imt townrda State
i| : ii Induj Iric , :li<- |>rlv»t.< forio.s <t winch, dl
.il mnr« id .. iti[H>titiuii with I be State, whi
:i"ii am)
i'Ul til
rVn ...
22 ii m. i. iiiui.m;
rerythlna, forii tvn . . >i \< in- 11. i-, svii more iad
«hr :iW:l\ ; ju.-t M i'i:iii\ \ ..luiitiiry -•{ hftVl ni p
Boar Vim ■ > will he >rought about the dcairod id
the Sorialurts, Bui 11103 it nol Ik» reiuwnably su*kod, v\
the action ol the State be tlmJtod to whai is noeeasory t'> the
■ niv <it :i li:l!|nh, :l!l'l MgttUy eSOlUded :'r>'in
minUtenitoitobufaorUfo! what Divine right hai pn
nodemainU th'tuiil i'V*T Ih« mule upon i tor the latter pur]
m.i v. n mej noi wetwe the organised forces o1 hocommunitj
[•> <Im :h:ii which ii Is desirable In the mtorests o1 Hie whoM
community fan it be done - Vo school of thought 00m
llebmeul nit! maintenance ol the British Museum Ub w
and Hi.- National Gallery out ol national taxation: why. then
slmilhl il In* c:i :!.•■ I - State Socialism " far ft local i-omn |U ui\\ '..
suppori Its tiwn museum or Public Ml rury om of us local \.
\ , to the uucHtlons of Suite ownership of l;ni<l mul riwclll
Hit- Inst f. ;, i.-hl- i1((l ijifiil ;i> I'M-iiiplilU'il in llio Sluts
Oildtff II' COUl I'll 'if 1 !|f KrilrsiaMiial a in I ( 'li.n :l \ ('1111111
hue with regard i<> Ihe second muni there ic not much danger ol
ih<- - ate beoomuig 1 1 1 •■ landlords ol huge industrial dwel
Stall1 usurpation, as-;* i ."i existing insane of communication
;ill in- rfeej i-. receiving considerable check a1 the preaenl
i. thai i Imu nn Impetus, m lodged by tbc dismissal of wot
from the dbokwdfl and Nothing factories, and tlic
tendency of public opinion to prerent the State from intei-fcring
with particular industries.
Does not the line of demarcation lie hero? That the State
cttnnni ■ winp< r<- with private enterprise when it comet to liie
building ol slxins, making rifles, guns, or clothing. The
advantages arising chiefly from costly ond inefficient roan
ntoni, wuhout an Individual pockot to euffor from depreciation n
stock and plant) U becoming neutoly recognised, When
Stale line nought to come into competition with Industrie ioI an*
UiikI it bus egregiously Cailcd in < very department, Thl
unwise and impolitic State Socialism which cannot be too
(•lie unllv Ki'otcllCil.
Bui iii all educational matters and affairs ralatingto tho pubUi
b and safety, il this be State Social ib m for the munici]
to taka thaee under tt» oontroli it haw been an inestimable boon
in the people, and ^ diminution of the first category ol ■
Socialism, and an i nlargaraent ol ttie second class may wall be
ndvoeuU-d. Mr. i I. il ,<>i't spencer has tj- »i a^ci'teil :»ny\v'ti"iv il::i(
tii*.- I'Miu'.iiinii \.'i oi |gyi has lot worked most beneficially tor
thi good of the oountry, although it may haw caused the
appearanoc "i a tew voluntary sahoola. The mr.-i deadnens ol
1 1 1 : 1 1 j \ of the viiiuninvy NohoolM so closed was universally Rpparenf
IliarecognlMoTi by the two leading political partlealn the Sti tethal
unwise and In poti Ic Stati Soulausin i^ a noBalbHIty i nil i ■
it wiiii-ii we should be on blw alert Is a ><nffleionl hnfegunrd
for out naUonal welfare I he mi* I lef lies, not in tlie tendimey
Of the Stab) bo do In the future what tin- iumplp Mi.miIi) <Im r. ii
TUB
tfamoNlTOft, tml t*».it op :.. 1889 thi i oplc ir*r< i ad ii ■ ■
tiling For them ■•• . bul bud t < . ■
r lawt wore pa* d contrary i < I
The i h logod cld*flcfl| up i" hnl tftnA, placed upci
■
ehanctcr that the ruii politieoJ history up tofbattbn
ooo of thesaddoti >■ thai we hare in
agt .-f UUantare Ths foe 9 ■■ bi
nation, ■<■> lit., too much St b 0 nn Fa 1
ag the unjnsl State 3od
1 i iphatl<'all> ■! mouncpfl thai tin
:.iiiniiii>tiT Justice, and i
he eitlzeu, 1 iul r ' il eoi teal
providing hlna vitl 1 oojic^maii, u worlchouft&, l kmatl c asylum,
;i ni'UMTi'rr. S r.-u .if I:iliip-|»iix1)». and :i h&ngm*D TTl* iiu.ii.ii
tli:il ):i ■ 1 1 *: Iftlftfl i'tii'|iiir:itu us, :iml nation* .n'r OTganlEftd fief
■ 1 ; 1 m |) NtsniiM '" an n retle of
■ . 1 ■ mei 1 1 ■• 1 I- rloda. The indlvldu ■ ire us
ttml urtvau? entwprlse w I «*ai nrntah I 1 commnxilti a tli
»li:U>-\ -■ • civ iii/nr; ■im! eillKibll 1 irnrr-. it nrn!>. I Imlil
■' l 1 II II I fllNl lIuIV Of llir SlUtO, J- r\r|ii|.!tli'-'l 1" I
■■■ In horltj . ■■ mold lx u m ik< ■ I - Etwens, i
ii -.I .]> do 13 <• ..« adina; every opportunity for eullgattin-
1 1 yeiirral advaucerueu
Library and recreation rwma for wurlcin
u-Cl e*tcr Hi Mir. -ii .;..!' October, I-- eatone
l.ri ;!n wars i..v. man l«- i I his guard against anothai
diiitfrr. We live ill | liinr wlit-ii there is a disposition tO ll.iiil.
t > 1 •-■ Government ough.1 U do this and that, and tlial ili«'
... 'Ml (Hiylit |o <!n rvrrvMilli.!:. Thru u'imIi llir
■ 1 «om ouj iii i" iiw, I have no doubt, [u former perlodathc
rernmcml have neglected much, and poaaibly oven
•riKtliititr. i'.ni I '1 n . ilunjc* ' mi tin: otln'i ftide.
Into il I nch the mail
for himself, It w !l nflicl upon him ^renter mischief
all the benefit* ho will have r oeivod or u'l the .uivm
uMi . Pin 01 »i the whole lliiny ikp tltnl
Otf-rolfODCO, tin :.|iiiit if in:r :iinl p"iimir manly
hi the mind* of the people, ii
11 roll moo, 1 1 • Icai ■
• 11 wealthier people raUioi than upon himself , be
; riado ' It U in
thai tho I'u! Ii< 1. bran movoincm will
Ico hondw ly. In 1 1 1 < ■ manyuAoa of tnese in
■ i. ti.i.-iM ■.■ :,■ ii i noil r« ■! er»i ■ nd al d*p< i
iVtio: i me vrai referring N" ''■<- who has
CCOO faal^ III" ]NIIV iii'rl|i'i-h;:.l U J !li-|[-
m ■ r n« ., , m il Pul 1 i i
VlliM" n|MMi \nii' . ' i! Id- Ul .-il.-i' fl II RUOl i |mmImI
in . r .1. *a-ti wiiii -..mil' really rood boi K and in a ta%
■
/
-.-»
;■• rteiJ out of m wi i k- wj i
into brigh i . i- hare m
End ( i holr]
n;f :tml .ln»i«s. I'.uf tin i Ivnii [li^'L1
r stop noroj is la a i mnuv an onjoymont, bul I pur uo3
llv it oonstituteij u riberul education. There
aeediiov mow pan lonlarly, to give to the peoph
further education. It i* n Iblv «ad to wo thufti
■ ■ lu.'itii'ii 'ii> imu'h h:i'. i'V', •■■■■• ii m 'ii' Board k&iooI* hu<1<
llftll education w il U tin- i-n liny «>l ih.n- -:. 1 1. ■ l
■ • . Hi.' DAA1 ii ) '1 OUT |>i'»"-rii! ftCl I D 'A G
pounds r mi i ' w i h ■ '-ii i ■ ' Ion ol wi wy mo il i neee
nhoo nhlli r< i . and thei wo dam them thn mcni ■
aoii i Inl in tfiolr life when
il.ly iln -,, TO TOOh i^ llii-sr i i'ul It l.iltr.'uv DTOV*
pli»:lMtlit luuilr 1. 1 :nl llli"' t«i tholr >r<icK ..'■ k i (Vi Irtln, :i:i<l .
it" It to ii farther point The unninwnr ill I'nnlit
being . ii in mired good referred to |iwl now lie* referrnce crh
,i be a ■ i tlleratun which In mipponcd i<* be Ii
ilrtii:iii(l, \i/„, Iiclii.ll ill thai I'm- n : 1 1 1| i"-r, .. I] |)fl | u . *\ i !. • -.1 n>| |<r
for loafer*, in aani [hi u ni he. bwuc.n of flcttou show a per
OOptlblti decrease, whilst 1 1 .«■ tocrouae In tin Imucs tif
On science, history, travels, and
1 1 : i j - 1 , . ■ c J . T; Ki- ~v-\m;:.v||1--.i|; Tvt.' 10 :il eXtUnple, H'-P' Mr
Issue foi the las1 Com years ol works of Action isaa follows:
|sh;.[, w-yCfy- i -i,< i : ,. 01 M ■ IfiBOWSS; mid In the
library year ending March :'•"-. *69, the percentage - ml; I
Th.jsr. .rj.u i. V.I .. ill \y I..' -iH]. »so.l I< ■ ■■ ;jT«- 1 th-- l.trj-- .;>•";. 'in
nice i. iii» issue* ol l W>t literature, anould boar ir mind that
liixik-s ol I ■hi: 1'-. riplinii ..i. •c;ul\ri\ rj| u«tl y, ;<ml tl'uil lit
w-ak may be issued to three or four different bormwi i • durin <
tin.- time that another book, which requires more oar* I i! n-.i.
i.- kept by one roadcr Uid tin expenditure upon the i or]
n, a* compared with other book*, fa iy n\ means to pn
: I" ill. lassos. Even if the ntatenui;( were :i'ii>-
my hut nuvels aro road— and it i^- :i1.:i'1ui«-In • • -I ■ i i/uth
.i i'. 06 Said that n people euRacod La reading i >v La miffht be
Cnfiaitolj woreo amplQyod, for the cholcoal works ol bh
■ ire pri ndod 03 tno PabKo Lil rnrie* nol the o mmon and
todeeent t bc people appear t" think aria the only
Boveli to be 1 1 -i »t 1 PubUa Librarj Fiction - a orenerii pli
like wealth, l>.it oareftil eupervteSoa is exercieod by mom
Boittoefl reapa able fee the work ag »l i'ublie Ubmrlea, that
qaeatlonoble proda Eons under this bead arc excluded. The b
many ol v&es naanv liiiriirianain thni thp tendency Sn the 1 ktte "i
readers In iip warilfl ralhnr tfinn downwards and thai paapli
bj boino inveterate noveJ-roadftw usnallj drift 1 '• reading
taore profll ibfe ind Instructive book*, it nhould be n 1 icrnb
index flotlon are daeaed Hie works "f many wrlten
circulation of whose novels 0 Ighl still be wfaeVj [ii^orantetl ;»i he
■• ' ■• !' ■.. 1 • non purse . tot bhej sre one 1 he mnsl
FU 09 ..■ i ■ i.tli i w;ll>-
26
am
skilful nud the no*! •.» it»ub live moral and intellect ■! ■!
idttoal >W| end th*y snpply n 1 1 ted recrea ii c ol the ttlghacl value
■ .in i ii nil j r n.- nutation ol the circulation <»i Hctton Ei
dealt with d little mow hilly in another chaptar
a question often Mked i«, •■ u ii v should the rich provide
rii-tc- fov iin pocrf " :ix ifl also Mi.' feliow^oueetlon, ■ Why
ihOnlli WO OdUOAtfl n! her people'* child ll'li .- '" The sii n j »|i>
r to IicpIIi Is, Mini ttlfl BflfHty nf tins rnmmonWflAltn
id thai if il. jk not done there will bo infinitely
to pay in repressive organizations The people of i
[and. ' '»lir Sl:;lrs,' .in l (n'lliriilV li:i\i -nii'i : .11 y i'fl t ■ ■- = ■ I cd lliiii-
en, .i I thej u • the rnosi intelligenl and thrift toft
it the world, lucre ia no choice about the educating of
other people's children. Nnfc only has it bo !*• done, bul It
to -I i il In educated com uonwealth menus law-abld ou
•ii. en. .ipI these in., iii .. j " ■ ' i • i' - strung", ju«t, and upright, mid
cranliries nourish the best and truest interests of the country.
Vo in- i ,\ and clieene-varine. economy in educational matters
>lu and li;ii a-.s. without effecting i uy (rood vrhihri large and
educational measures have always proved the
wirw*t course. In □ most interesting article En the "Lei
Mr, F M. 1 fob i ■-'. <>'i Public Librarieer based on the
i'h'-i ■■-; in.ii ol this hook, he calls attention r<> "the iv.-iiii ■■ of
mates many people againal the 'now ' system,
which, it is Boidj orcrrulofl and subordinate private ri#hti< to the
henoflt of the multitude, and heavily taxes the fow for tho advan-
•.vIm'I in»r i.i.'.v and thriftless o? not We shnll
in- i' deal "i thit tooling expressed in different ways
ia thu at are t no< . For the | i i mention it. In
i in inn- opinion ii very decided intluenee against the
nenl n\ I'uhlii LibrnrioK. I'o give an instanee, our (food
:i\k, ' Why should 1 pay a sovereign a year I >r
IJlelt, and and thou wivei and children, to read
iy-bcoksr simply leeanxe Tom, Dick, and Elm ry al tnenranii tpal
itemor rhe amount of their rate will be bul sixpence
perhap* nothing : v-r rhoy will g»r all ths benefit, for I
onka I enro for n home Why should I he ruled and
*i by hew for their advantage P It l?c poopertztng the
'iiiiirn i- ji -i and reasonable; but we wouM
n ii, thai I ifl increasing municipal and political
people i> Inevitable, and that, as an economical
■. ii pays a community to tax taalf pro raw tor the
r\ [":!>< elevating and ciluuating Influence in
Bducatl "i sl< i v will noi make pwple irood and i>eace-
. but ltd tendency nnd effect are hi this direction, A
famotiwi<aIt-h mii^t necessarily »c imposed of all clean
. ■ rory rich U> the terj poor ; and it is an EnerhV
are thai the Intercut* of all shall ^<- so intermixed
Is a mutual dependence one un the other forthecoia-
safetT, and Immeduite advantaged and wrl h th -v may
. ■ \. -A 'in- •_!■■ ■>' xi i hai " man lire th not tohinv
t«U?e
*J
i
self aloni .' i- Ihi onj ■ 1 1 iplc and
oaxnnionwcalth. 1 1 i * t ! i oal "i the principli
when ill i-itij ' ■'- "' i ic ■ ■ mmon
OoaoTi d ft ■ u panporumtioa a* r.m ■■
befeta roro nation, oamrmw ty.< c an individual to aim at
rid bfl v. -i. ol Public LthrarUui tint :■ i taU:i! :
Lnjfunol tho pooplo. It i* better for Midon to *
yofi^if hoiirotod aJ BSOO, than a larger ram on nil qi * far
■tail of extra policemen and Kaolora,
beooznng aow n ■•■ an axiom thai i ■• looati
ncroaaca crlni** <ii.i m; in-;, and politician) ol oil ahod
opinion make um ed In i nertion 10 repeatedly tlial it
•aem irj i ■ itippori il with figure* SI i
ag iii\ and uninterwttn£ thai to inlltet an avals i -ho ol I nom up
thagonaraJ road - aiy Ijotp nndnol perhaps convince. SMI
thert irao tow flguro in Lin* section which should bo studied wl
oara bj hD who dellghl In the uplUting ol the people and th
spread oJ Intelllj nee, In Itftts the numlier ol ■ < •• taraoi
ni;i.i, imi what ore • •.'■•< inrtietahle offences wan 14,000;
In ISCSC 11 had fallen to 10,000: In K76 i i 7,0(H); in IW81 totf;000;
and in LB86too\100. \nd this though the population hud
from 19,000,000 to 2r(000;000,» Hi il i i\cTii i *rlme was leas than
half what it waa, thnngh the number of children wna our i
larger. Ttn* orison iri ntla&l are ncaredy lew Natlafaetorj The
tffl n iiuImt d1 pcTW»M hi piiwtfi was, In 187*, 1,000; I
IwiU'ij'*); n 1882, 18,000; \u 1884,17,000: In 188(1, l.1«ACJf)
r i -■ ■- i^JOO Indeed, uup prison population in mululj rwn i
from those wlw cmim i read, < Mil id i <> i,tx « i jhtmimih cimiih
to prison, no leaa Hum ltK),000 worv uneducated, and »nl> ).<
wi'if able to road and wnU: well. The Mulr uf jumpe
depends, no doubt, frreully on the tftati" of trude uud u«ricu
Qui while, a* we know, tlit'y have laltrrly Imn aulifcci In
fluctuation*, pitiipri'iMii lu* nI.-.<> MeadiM de :n ad wnlrfli |« due,
to a ff rent extent, to our better education, leading 1 ' i thrll
and more power ol adaptation to ch*cuin»tonc« Elowwer tb|
naybi a l870thc paupers were KW5 In ovon l»00 'Bora
J'ears fcne number had rathci increased than diminished. I i
d Gallon to 83 per 1,000. and in 1880 LI « I, 00. il .
loweel ■" "oonl c Bineo tno introduction "1" il i pool I ..\.
\\ :th tii< -. fn n<l ■ . '..■■ beCoro iia, It mav well tie doi
whether Public Litn u i really cor.l the
It maj bo said that they actually save more thai thopei
Doae ool thie help to i • >-■ - ^ w
bast fit in iviiuj Lh ) of il* admiufaimtfoii hyma :ii
SroTiiaon for aducational purposes ? I-ooU<n l( hroadly and I
us fuel Khoald enn-i' [owns, where they do aot< on
aatAbUflb these arlma-radiiolug inatiUittoni
The dj tl "i il nead is !.h i we 1m? i •■: ilac^d nl any illaaihin I
in tin* neclMuooVneelt n >■>■ of competition with the Gcrmoiw and
Ajnerioana, wUeh has become Lncvltable, aa th
ffB HI II * FOll IM i i' l.inEiBIK-
:'7
iiiii'.n i<"- i.rucr: iiv i! the midfil el these nation* has ■-•iv-n E-be
people an adv ml iga which him been Inciting En Rnglian Ufi
will take* us years U) overtake the drawbacks, on tins account.
which have fnerlutblj Bcenied NatlonnJ sentiment alone should
Ura i and lnr*^ rnral district where a Pnblio Library
im no) .1 Iran j racist, to at race set about the adoption nf Ebe
Some friends kiv tlul books are bo aheap, a whole library run
mi he )>u elixsed fcu*B Irw JhT i £$. SoiUS Iniukf cvrlninly lire
clioap, especially ropvtnt* of vni-. when Hit- copvrighl has
expired, bullet u» nek, in all seriousness, whetlioc the nation'*
Erhongei has been mul when 6wo or three publishinsj houses
•,, ...ii pete* I with each othci in vomiting out cheap reprints by
rttoadf Publn Libraries may contain these, bill Lbey also
tin joraetlunK nfinitelj nori rahutble. flowl as minn o
ii. minded the nation an no more feed solelj
» thorn tiiini the appetite cau be BHtinflcd with spoofte caki -
■ . i : i have xiM against the ahonl ut' rhcn|i n nrml:i
not known. But ii is sale t" aver that when he atotea that
•Hit tm >i' these •Jays it i jolleetion of books," he
Id ool i' ••• threepera v andsixpoiRQ iditton
fha t:ti-i "i books being aheap doa loI
■r:i'.* bring those which anyone may desire to read within
■ reaaD Do the large subscription libraries lind a tin inution
dun* crambo? of borrowers because book* are cheap? Their
■ proves that they do not ; and the wune truth applies
borrowers from Public Libraries, foi he t:"-t rein an- thai the
nmbor osiug them where thoy arc established is rapidly mercus-
iini itul, notwithstanding some book* being cheap, tossy
<-:ir. Amidst the- cln:.peniim' process, which hits
ii- 1 1 t ii.- been goin jen in almost nil classoael commodil as,
lea have maintained until recently a ^mgiiliirly hij/h price.
ire has nnl adapted flnel! tu the democratic tendency of
■ irM; and [I the nen racy has anfTerad in consequence,
Itejatiin U i ha I ran injuriously affected by the narrowness nf
he i rorkcl Hie i hi . peuing- of good IxKiks is it vital point now
u:;i ir.-i'iiiini is the posaewriuu "f the masses, Fur the
i.iIim <;o»ntry n, read; anil the only
mi h u ; ■ fthai b presented to them for their anrascraeiil
iiient to its logical sequence cry,
people w no waul to tea* buy their own books * reading,
; excellent tiiini:. but lei the render p.iv f< i i:
:lf, nfttctul -I wkino lie atepavci's to bear the expense.1*
i .mi ..i vii w, it would ""i be ufficull
c. r. very Bhort-Hiichtcd policy.
■!hfl •■!• « : Ii"it. t.<". |i.< I.L1\ lo« i:_!ll m.:i i- : !:'-■• 1 1 iSlllUt iuMh
where uttomptn have \--vu amdc t" c^l,ibh,sh them, ia that they
wcul' ption libraries and the 1 trade,
UHtiUitii'li . iirli ;i:-. iiicel in i:r.,' 1 1 : 1 1 1 1 I e... It iillty
!■- illiuind. v- Hi i'.-.- m'I ti ■ ■ i ■ , thai tliia is
■-'"
prm.ip i.mp.AnrFR.
not the case, and tn support of this statist! could be quote
big tint the shares la sulwerlption Ibmi'le* lud gone up n
than down where public Libraries have l*en esmbliahedj ind
the teat) n_\ Hi* booknallcrs In most largii towns ih thai the sale
i.r IhhiWs \s "not •luii i isin'il hv the nroxlmll v nf thrac Itlu
I'll*- existence of the Public library hia iiertul nly nol i tletamtrri
effect upon tie Bale of booluv li enables many a man to read
books which he could nol afford to purchruto, and which would
ih. ■!•!■ fn ir not be bought even II the library were not En existence.
it enables him to rend u 1 1* before purcluutiiijr it* ho tluri ho
way judge whethei I will be worl u hi* while lu add it io his o*wn
private collection. The fact 1a that thore nerer wai i tSmi when
vi man) books -•! oil sort* were m demand n* iu'c i >" \><>
by tit-- public. It iv u- doubted whether the compul
cToeing ox .iii the ctrculatiujz ;it.<i other libraries En l\v kins
doto leoojd make on oppr • ■ i bio difference En the wile <>t Is* .
general public. In February, 1886, a public meeting of t\w
burgesses "I* Harrogate waa held to consider the ouostion of
adopting' the Libraries' \< is. The motion in its favour was carried
with only throe dissentients. Ad alderman Btated that be b 1 1
been oi communication with four of the booksel lei's of Harrogate,
ill of whom had circulating libraries. One was present :»t the
meeting bo support the adoption oi tin Acts, two were indi fferenl .
whilatne fonrtn said he should be delighted to pay his share u
the library rota, and if anything was required (or its initiation Hi
would \)c glad to rubscrlbe ftvs pounds.
There are n great many subscription libraries whose v,
■ n teas than 200 vols,, and tfiej do :t thriving; business on
per week per Tolnmo, or in nomc cases Id. per day. The elasn <ii
books is often the veriest r 'ash ever issued from the printing
Drafts, and must have been bought ar so much a ton. These
trade* are not Injured, and Ihe seller of lamps has just as much
reason tn complain when an enterprising company socks to light
bis town with gas, its ;i hooksdlor or propriet ir of i mirMci h
library hue against a town's library being pstablished, Pu
Lilnarif- iMiui-iiib.T li;d»il> "i" reading, and no trade benefits so
much from tnis as the booksellers, Some. lMHikxelWs hit mnong
the best friends of the Public Library movement .
In mrnnj phu » there i* a pardonable fear that a Publii lil i
would be bherulnof the mechanics' or kindred institutions. All
wUm knov* anything of these instltutiiniH would l>«- prepared i i
acknowledge that in time* peat they have done n most ruim treble
work, but it may very eerimisly be doubted whether bhey are
e< i.:l be the aoeds ol the day. ITieyare too exclusive in dnv
i:i< tor, being proprietary institutions. They i re, . _ in, too oostyj
to thi ave age working num. for there arc iV« d! them w
ih, subscription i* loss than 5s. per year, and ;i working tnnn
would need to be rated at 660 a year to paj thfc amount b
rot • ■ oi I oven in thsoa a i I a E at table valne, there Is batter
value in a Public Library than In the mechanics'. Hie libra ta
in many roechai ■■ i til are poverty itself. New literature
mv i>K uV priii.:*' i.ini*. .\ R.IK.S.
30
is run-.] 'i i-i 1 1 -\ lu absence, and to not ;> few towns they are
lungufsiilng :inii gradually dying foi want of fund* They luck
the one ribs principle which keeps Public Libroriea bcnltoynnd
■us. inasmuch ,i- they are not subject to the control of the
popular rote, md are, moreover, too much umlcr tin? adiuinis-
i ration of clique* tn some towns thc> exist side by aids with
Public i-iiniii n*v muI ihr twin institutions are in no sense an-
I'h other. In other plnoea bfo committee of
management hat* well and wisoh offered to band ovai their
institution at a *ublic Ul rary.if the town will adopt the Aeta,
Thla has bee i followed with uc most ntutoetcrj resvltB, mid
i worthy dI being Imitated in other towns. Certainly no
,,..!,■ ■. ■ i . ihi: i uon mittet son reasouably expect a town to
adopting tl».' A.ih si nijily because their Institution might
CHAPTER IV
THB USBB OP PUBLIC LIBRARIEB.
|I1K bbqb of Public Libraries are beccnilug so rnanifcel
on .ill bands that it would appear almost a work of
nipereroKSliun t\> enumerate pome nf theft many UWS.
Let any one not accustomed to these Institutions go i<>
Manchester, Liverpool, Dirnalnghanj, Bristol, Leeds,
tinguain, Newcastle, and other towns, and see for himself
what t!i. v i ■ . ii to the Enhabitante in those towns. It ia not
aainpi' that Lbc citizens have the privilege oJ borrowing books,
fely avail themselves of it, out if they wish for uoionna-
-ubject, the first step tliey ndopt is to go to the
reference department «>f the Public Library. Books on uny
\i -t can be ubtainod there, where there ia absolute quiet, so
Iboae de tartraonts become public studios, whore the book-
vena m v revel to bis heart's content, and hero may coma the
ftahhath-eehoni teacher to prepare the better For his orhoroluss,
aadt<> consul i boobs otherwise beyond reach, Here the mechanic,
* to improve himsell in the technique of his trade, can read
mindt have soldo! it. Here, too, you may find the
tetcrof the < ;ii«fw?I desirous of making the acquaintance of the
l»t**t erftfcs ancl scholars, or to learn the most pcnmit iIi'vow-ik-i
of travellers and the < pinions i f iiie erudite students. STet again
n these hiirarfi"* die hiinily doctor, bonl on con.
g the mo mthoritios on the netiling art, the literary
nan in search <tf data tihs student mid the rx«oy-writer upon the
Mini- i t: ik! the schoolboy or schoolgirl to sas maps or gnzet-
iKKM innn be w& direetorlefi — in fact, repn
« find their wot liitlicrinBeareh of much-needed
i i ni nrlirrwise so i :im!.v arcessflile,
If ilna ill-- newsroom " 111, in all probability, be full of
adult visitors, diligently perusing tin.' pupers, uiayaaiiii'M, nr honks
PUBLIC LIBSAJUBA
These Itbrsrii ire ''run of light, and *. d. t.ut
to for poadfng, find, un ni I t/,
this in <>t bonofll '■' the community, and nidi rooJ itfi \\y n i]u
roprottinj.' nrr In* rougher sad bi e pan ox human
■ p-«?, rhi* wru-'i*. v iim formerly held > he p
ix w.>n aware how flea wive* ana ehtidren cotw for books, and
i ike ' "• i'*>(|Uobc, " I'Icnac pii'lc ma ,1 nice I I take
homo m Interesting bonk, mv husband (o* father, m ti.<
i i (v bfl ICfl] NOp!l lnrni'- ll:r ri.-niii" :itnl read It to ui tin-
■ »i onVlnIl*rii does no! extend to by far J he greater rnnj
mi fbrarlan* and aasiKtimtK, for, taken a* n u«iy, u *wn
• i i -it'll' to rind n more murtiMiin body ol men m i
among public officials, They are Invariably willing i. help the
iv.ulrr* :ind rMHTOWPI'H ftftd til 1 1 li IllSftl it i> Of iiiKhOin-. l'i, :
not merely the. attendants who givn oul and toko In the booli
tint Uusy are the vocal key to tne . Liinli»<.r'n*^. .luliiur with rheir
nations ;n.'l knowledge in tin.' ^oiircli lor Imhjkm un a par-
ticular subject. Noi afevi ol them, Again, look upon thtirofnYo
I i, a nubile Instructor
It isaoid of Wordsworth thai a stranger having ou one
tfoa asked to see his study, (lie maid ttaid: "This is mnsteir's
room, but he studies ra n>< fields." The agricultural labour©]
Learns tgreai deal In the fields, i\> know* much more than we
give him erodii for, only it is Beld-learning, not book-learning—
nnd none the worst for liar. Hut th< m lo who works i i
or a manufactory haa a much more monotonous existences
is confined, perhnp*, '" h""' i't'oeos*. 01 even « mo part of u pic
from Tears end to year's end He acquires, no doubt, ,i %kiil
litMr .-li'ii .i the miraculous, but on the other hand vcrj
row. If he is not liimMolf to become a mere animated
ii -.t generally obtain, :ui< l in .-tun- im.s.-h he can only oi>
i i. u. ■■. :-.iry variety and interest fivi • tin- mi of books Th
hnppilv now some tendency to shorten the hours of labour, and,
what its less sutisfhotory, "there are time* when work is Mack.
Itut the hours of Leisure el ■ uld q >t be hours ol idleness; !< .
i>. one ..I toe greatest Massing*, idleness one ol
•i pees one is the source ol h ppiness. Che other i miaen.
Suppose :i ix-Hjr iiiiin bus tor a few days no workj whftft ifl
be fo do? Ilowis he to employ bin tnnof H need no loi
i wli.-r.' there i« !i Public .Libmry h" uewK-rooiu to which
he etui resort. It is not luting advocated here that tl
IbroriOE should be the common resort of those win wish o
idle away then- tmu\ nnd receive i puRsmg half-hour
meat, it Is said Mint ttiia ervil afflicts -* 1 1 Public Libra
to i less OT greater degree; but the statement fthonlfl «
with u. vr-i-y frsat degree of nantion and qualiAcatfon Some
havo gono so far as to aay tlml it i-; undoubted that the Public
Library everywhere Is Largely patronized by the reapoctablfl
loafer He bbb no dub, esu cannot take u>
he dr iw a o the Public Libraiy, poesesfles himself i f i ei i
nt rliuliv a iini-i-1 comfort uhlt •. lie a*k» fur n b(
inr r»K or pi nr.rr uniuwRS.
■ i
ail ! CDdesVOUTt I >iim. H 1 1 ii' effort '*ih1h in
implctc physical and mental prostration, he oamioi help It
Now, w< hare I" dcenrc U prevenl the Public Librarj from
ministering lo the amusement of the public, On the contrary,
.-. • iiould be sorn i it did no I, We luiu1 i aetRutioua
[j niiiM'nMiiy:" class, which inci cs o h sorl of
leave no room for the healthy develop*
of tl - in i .-!■.■ or entertainment By all means
the I'ui in- Library provide the public witti nowepadperaj
novels, end othej Hghi reading Hut the li^ht readers onghl not
stand in the way of the solid once, us thei do in ■ num-
r of pl.i-- i. Tl:. iiilnre of an attempt in Liverpool and
i i. i j nra i he wo clasoi I ■ - b en emewhat
i 'i'i.:il'lr. Tin* I'l.ii Li'IitJ'M.1'! V;i - In ;<<( .-i.~-.i-] ' - :i '• nl ii'lm I
00m."1 and it foiled. A hotter plan would be to give w« fUk
i tho first elaim to tin* available accommodation.
i who ie merely skipping through a QOVeJ
i > ■ • 1 1 - s (ptfl way for the reader wh< lc 'ead some wort
ii<] literature. Monj booke now ii tho lending department
! be transferred to the referonee deportment, and the
:• ronni it iln- thrirv -h <nU| In- [iren'mntuiUy given to
t^ ivi'i'MUT reader*. .\" mercy should be shown to the
leopei's. When :i "i eepsil ietiraa of him r<»
Dome, .mo mulct nwnn "i I--1- li:»i'i»> nmrtalfl t»i whom tlio
: early nhnnber is denied, ind tills is unquestionably
and In being exercised with greater strictness every »ue>
• ;c y»kuv. In not a few referent' rending rooma even tin*
writing of letters is strictly forbidden, and any attempt in
Is immediately stopped by tho caretaker or news-
i tupertntendenr. This official, usually in i distinotfve ooaC|
ii toome an mdiapenKoble jierson in the newwooraa, where
endaooe to rery large and his prcsenre certainly tends tn
i.il immfoi't.
Thodtr itah reform should taknia indicated bvthe tianraa
aili ol the evil Ui which reference hufljUBl been mode.
item ie a development of the mechanics'
:*'illitt'N mil i-f.ii !iit '-rouiii.^ n[ Ulirr ' I'l VH. Il * st*o|ir and pi'Ul-
ea have never been dearly defined. Its central ;deH is tliat
y man nh< uld be able to have any book for the asking — thai
"f obtaining whole-some reading shall be as indopon-
lu tucket as are the lighting of tl o street!
d tho d The t tii ' I i .-..■ Lihn i ;
eourw, n ii. i : i nci one n ighl a* w< II U Ik of tree drains.
i has developed without the limitations which
» ihc ine, organisation, and discrimination
in.'""-. Tlmt ;: ihr <ii:rin of the evil. Iln' remedy is clearly
■ [imitations, The indiscriminate
1 pro\-isnon of soat and desk accommodation,
nau^t prfre j>lu-: tyatem under which workers are dietin-
ind the foiTuer given the first consideration.
But oven granting thai there in a modicum of tmth In (bese
.
ondeeirabU usee ©i Publics Ubrarie that the
ioad reasonable use ol Itiblic ft iiictr midmg
Mini n*'\V*-rtHiMlH, |A ; I III .An--. .1 W 1 1 .lN'Vi'1 :ihil-
pointed out 'I'll'- tendon y i* iiKtinrtly upward, mid a no*
SOtttl WtlO l Mv s;mii t-T- ! I., .HI.' i,1 ihi'Si- |il-i,',.. n , . i.' .
t}gn l.> |i>ol lllftl llic [ii.-nr [MiWPfMM ■ Which
pIvSMlir* :.nd H'llr :'i' i: i s :.T !ou 11: hi- Ifffl .ri«l '
i«) raliM then accordingly. The KTilrlt of fnel
:«>iii. for precisely similar wu» could be ixrinted nut m
r\i'.'triir in r-liiirclii'- ;.n<( • - 1 1 : t ; » • v EVBL (In* vt-rv WOM '»! t ho
nil u in ' ■ : Win ■ ■ - u '-liini:i- iMiliul (pet li:i:ii
what iiirv peruse, .mil the chances lie in thu probability ol their
petting aomething of an opposite charm-tci'. I'm >lie l.il i
N>i*k to realise IvnnysoaB words
"To ti\»i'tt ni#h fhmijflil and UDttbfo ui'*,
Anil oonrtu'nsss, and a desire of fame,
Ami fori of troth, mnl all tlmL mako a mmi."
\ nry targe nninbera <>f the eoinjiiunlty are engaged from
in . i ; i v in a simple struggle for existence, am their tti
I'lllly Jirriipii-il With Mil' t-M-rs .'iim: w HITiO ul il;i.il\ lltr WlltTl
ViflltiuB Hi" I iMn' LI brill ii'i :nnl n,;i«liiij.'-l'imlilN ill tilt! •■ . m ni f,
sod do imi want books which "ill continue the same tra n o
thought in which they have been engaged daring the daj 11 -..
naturally went jomethiag which will lift them into s different
Mplivu- :i i":'- -Mii-i, ,;i<l excite L In- r iiu.i final inn ;iml in;
Ilium
When I'ni'lit Libraries were Aral catahlishcd, it waa gi e
feared, u bu *en already mentioned, that they would militate
.1 the in'ukBcllirur trade and Mutt Ibia worthy Lai
h nlr-iiin WOald BttfltSfi On Ulfl rnntiMi-y. tin- v. | y ippoOltC haa
I't 1 1. the ca* . At one ol tlie annual coaxerences <:' the Library
Association, tho uloning day ol the session was marked by tin-
reading <»i" tv paper <>i more than professional or technical n-
(ri'.-:«i, iii< jubjecl discussed in it being'' l'ui 1;> l.ibr.u-;. t-h. .<
bookseller'! poinl ol view." [t was argued, when Pul )-< Li
were first institute I, that thoj w oukl have the effect of injuring
aolo of books, People, it was urged, would £•> to the lib]
what they wanted, metoad <»f buying it as heretofore! And there
v.iih i cei'tuui uiddunt of plausibility iu tho suggestion. Moat
f'lT.M.uts, it might i>o s\mpoaed, would bo eatiRnod with pern
tin* volumes m Whioh tney were interebted, and would bo happy
to to relieved ol the necessity ol acquiring them for tin
An<l to ;> certain extent chat In the case. No doubt the i
iin.'.-ii ui Public Libraries has iieenof great advantage to many
who formerJ^ \v< ed to expend large sums in book- hi. a Ing.
NeverthvLesatthe bookseller who oddressc tie librarian
•t the result. Of hix experience that I'iIiIm; Lilrani
increased than decreased the tr;id>Mii wh h'li hi. i- tonoarued
U ttie reason dirnenlt to diseover. Granted thfit th <• ire I
who yre (dad bo rend without buying, there are probably Hffl
who are led to bus what they ren«i. or are led, by n
' i i I': OI (I hU< T Iltll.MClJ,-.
dcaare to buy. A .young moo who borrow ;i Pottle Ltbrerj
book, find* it| i>rr>ini», -■ attraetlvOj fehar In- brem hs anxious to
obtain :i '"I'.v of it. Hi-- ta not Battened with reading, he wishes to
bom. That, one can wen1 believCj rery frequently happens.
v:i«i • ben, of . Dureo, thoro can bo do nueenca boat the muqocv (<>
(bra .•' utile library r»i one's own is, i: ;i genera way, fostered l>y
tho reeding vrhJeii the libraries supply. A taste Cor book] n
■mlercd, ami then come* the feeling that it would be nfrnfltlTlt
to have soiue of cue's nvn. And il Public t4hropi« did no more
Hkwi luspift this feeling, they would Hat* a enffleie&t reusoo for
Ing.
in nemo districts the proportionate issue t<> each inhabitant
im over fan? bookN per year of tin* entire population ol the
. -rut in ivirii actual iMirrovOT over twenty volumea per year.
This feet not onh jnstifle* the existence of cbe libraries in Enow
town*, hut shonln N . »ery powerful argument to other districts
a • rtnldnd them.
Pttiftswor w . .Stanley Jevons said truly, that "The main rafaM
<Tttn> of Public T il>! .1: :r.'i. M imlrei], of pnblie. museum?-. ir:
gallrrlc*, parks, halls, public docks, and man) ol 10 kinds of
■ works, is the enormous increase ul utility which is thereby
lired Un the coram unity nt a trifling" coat. If a beautiful
picture be 1 ung in the iliniog-room ol a private house, a dust,
mrhaps, be gajsed at 03 a few guests a score ©1 two of times ld
ill-- ft utilii.s 1.-. 1 ft en that of niimstermu 10 the
do of it- owner. Ifil be bung in the National Gallery
it will be enjoyed by hundreds of thousands <«t' peraona, whose
jelano:*. if need hereby be said, do not tend to wear out the canvas-
■ principle applies to hooka m common ownership. 11 1
man pcnmui a library of -.1 few thousand volume*, by far the
. ri it* them must li'1 for years uatouahod upon the
: helvi - ; ho eaonot poaaibry use raoro than :i Frnct1< n of il .. whole
Hut a I ive or ten thonsand volumes iponcd
■ tin population "l * town may be used h thousand tJi icsoa
triking eas< of what 1 propose to call th« principle
firm t,f utility. :i |»i*it»-i|»lc which hen at the baxi ■ \
. 1 the mod important processes of political econ<
iding the division "I labour,"
■! whioli oare» for its citizens will estoblisl d Public
1 \ , and take care of it with just us much interest :is ii mil
utt.-ii iter, drain*, and gas of the town. If il isneee*
forth* hi dth <ii the inhabitants thai they have pure water, perfect
.. good gas, surely It In the more necemtary Ibat they
neejthj pmvlslnn for the mind, and no institution* which
iean provided In any pari of the country wi thorough!;
bile Lihwta
- the Mian lie endeavoui to carry oul the
j.l. Uml every town ought i< have a library cuntaluliig
1* tho town has inliahltnnta. Such .1 lili;n\
l*ft-«]i»'- .0 •■ Hk- cent it «>f the intellectual life oJ the town,
aod 1 1 moralfl and uiauuere of the entire community,
3
HI PUBLIC LIBBABIBS.
And more : its influence stretches out into the whole country,
wherever its readers may chance to go ; and its importance is not
for a moment to be compared with the entire sum of the mercan-
tile and manufacturing interests by which it is surrounded. A
town with a library can be distinguished easily from one which
lacks any such collection of books ; and those parts of the country
in which town libraries abound are the parts which are most
influential in every department of intellectual and even material
labour. " Let those," says a recent writer, " who pride themselves
upon their devotion to the so-called practical, reflect that the
advantages of a library are no longer of a purely literary
character, and are becoming less and less so ; that the ' arts and
mysteries' of manufacture are no longer taught by word of
mouth alone to indentured apprentices, but that the 'master
workmen ' of the nineteenth century speak through books to all ;
and that in proportion as our workmen become intelligent and
skilful does their labour increase in value to themselves and to the
State." These are weighty words.
It may be a cause for wonder that any private person should
make such a bad investment, pecuniary and literary, as to buy an
expensive encyclopedia. In the first place, unless the person be
a universal student, and life is too short for that, he pays for a far
greater proportion of what he never will or can read, than of
information that he cares for and can assimilate and utilize. He
must be rich or extravagant who can afford to pay for a pound's
worth of tablecloth to accompany a half-pennyworth of bread.
In the second place, such rapid advances arc nowadays made in
nearly every department of science, that most of the articles on
that subject will l>e superseded and out of date, even if not
incorrect, before the publication of any single edition is completed.
Public Libraries are the most suitable purchasers and owners of
encyclopaedias, for the sake of giving their readers the opportunity
of reference to such works. But to the private individual the
possession of such a great expensive work is as a white
elephant.
As one of the uses of Public Libraries, it may be noticed with
pleasure that juvenile reading is becoming elevated. The decrease
of illustrated books, for use in the reference library, is at some
libraries very marked. When this department was made
accessible to young readers, the books in greatest favour with
them were those containing illustrations, but in many cases they
did little more than turn over the leaves and glance at the pic-
tures, one reader l>eing thus able to take out several volumes during
a single visit. This custom, if not a very intellectual one, had at
least the negative merit of keeping these young people off the
streets, and out of possible mischief; but it has resulted, as it was
hoped it would, in the positive virtue of enabling them to acquire
the habit of reading. Large numbers of these young lads now
regularly ask for books in various branches of literature, and
fipend a whole evening reading one, instead of merely turning
oyer the leaves of several volumes. This shows that the libraries
Illl I
:\r,
ar
are bi a for Bduu ii-«i.i to di ttnguiahed
win
Sit 1 thoro -i <■ <•<> \ fcvo
i 'iii-li. Libraries in tt* i ounl pj nernl
' I j.l.i. | ■ ; .i : i in' Q| I.V.-
'Hi ■ pi; ■■ i VVi \ Hhd '..'■■'■■
m in' II 0, it pi- Hcutinjt RctioQi
n . [In itrated books - t travel, and other*
i I; s ur and it v .. ,,_■,. in twotro
. : tin . . !■• ok*. T!.v. -- 1 1 1 1 ; * 1 < -
irrty ■■■■■■ I the vary coram I though! asdatten
vh* aj that i ubUc I
m p , i deserving of the m ad
'Ih-H WO J'
\\ ii:i. -! m Idnoi bowvnon Hifftftl I nrinevrg-rooms
■! •. :im toill t , 1\
run • '■■ i '':i" Btil ■ v hile going
irii . >i . h* 'ii ml !•;■, the pi . -mi: n HU P hue i« - d
.pin. :. IhtpYnj ol iIk'm
; I i in:, ii .". u.r w, i qnfriaji ti<
I J'DUnK l"l:. i • I 'HU <i tin- nov
;. the liiMrM and i ike i hem ij> o read. 1 1 1 1
\U', ! llli Ii' l. in: Ur ll< :i | n 1 " ' V .'nr -;i V ■ M <■ th&l
cm | iiil ' 'lit never u be in. iii- ii.*- mean* of
i ■ I;. i mp : llll or
or vrlii liould tiHYe ttiu "i>i"'i-in , j these
• in- In* - I ; 'iinrl in' ll'ii |>i'i|u::,i ; Li, A'cul mm I lii.s ■ >1 >jee>
the other * ii' >v which \>, thai i In- -irkU mid mi it i-
U Iwl Hill .j,' 1 In- • III" I ' l.:lik "I ' ttlOM .' I.viinl 1 1_>
u i|uite iveenl v«'in-. hnve had I hefi
ll IS UOM !: D I ll I »l Ii Jiy •!' it I 'C Vrholl -"I I" OTCjOT
■ ' ■■ i . i lui'liriiii; I'" i'1 •IllIllUIlH V
- -ii Milil be proi Ided
1 :"'
I ■ ■ . . : • ■ . . .
■ ; ! iy i io4' -.I'll i lor •' a t ' ■
!'.nt ii ma ■ be ■ reh .i .1 thai voi y cortlj I I... i r I rft-rtl
.■ni« spirit would not Lie In place
to Bill* " Sol ii' I il "ii (hf tinOEOII
i ■ »ch Ci Uld I -mi. . V\ ill, I . I
, I . . ' <?ull yt foi : ppeari I en nruwuo thi I
ould thetw i ■ i i ■ uded : md then
ti Intel- nl (rnvcl. I."- thorn.)
Bad i- I natli p o l m <-h:n-i. ':■.-', pi . . rri
ippmnehod I'oa i iue.li il i Ito laid mi the
Dmt in the majority ol in nee* the Public Library ■ the
dioii [or ni ■ <'■-'■ cl * i-i '^ i hu large :i
i<r <>i tin- >i<i and nv&luaMo documents aro now rotting
■ - 1 ti v i i ii! u nitty holoe il it a i
| now who Ii'ivc In • r: ■; l f | i.- i- imr. !h
i i .' i i v frii imI i f iii»' prew
ri BUI umam.
writ i " tlm ustuf) ol .< county, and travelled over tli<- entin
ji .inn to ■ lie old rceoi a • U 03 0 tin -■
most Inaccessible ilocc . rat-eaten tnd mildewed, 'm arnosi
tppcal I;- in. i'! t. ! I.r.iii inn to 'lav. tllQ6C doCOIQCnta SCOTi
mi, II' thov need aloanha torinc coramuni tattoo should
i.. made v. ih dir uutbontfoe at the British Museum. Bvery
bclphas boon clvoo, 11 many raw* in fchi direction I .
<r 11 . 1 no ol ih<' attendant spent In the wi rlc.
Ko I'ui he Library can now fcn ooaaidercd impletc until i\
pcrfbol .-. collection ol local Wfitorfen and literature
; I I Pi ii-nlv .:!i'l 0001011 Will afford. TImM' :il I | L Q Jn g I I.I 1 M .
tfanonoster, Nottingham, Plymouth, and Kewcuetlo, ura ■■■.
eaUent, and it may lie confidently hoped thai nl theex institu-
tions Wfll witli!:i 'lie DOXl Ivchtv V*".tVH p0AS@68 SUCtl ;i r,.\\.< ■ ,,m
How i:it tin no libraries aw Justified in (ponding thoir mi
in ni.i hi. ! ram collections "i tx i tree works
in ih. r whii-ii iiiu-.i in- led to the Individual retjnireraenti
resources of *Terj I ba
i in r there U II iratuw which has become
Indispensable and Invaluable, and thai l» n collection >t boatus
i"' rfng iinon rho itaple Industries ol the (own or dlatrlel bi
which the library Is situated, This la a multei t tal to the future
welfare of libraries, and ii should noi lur nocpsHuo to restrict this
i ollccMo i lo woi u ■ in tin* English language. Some tew of those
Public '.i I'.iiit-. arc Dlrvudj Lhc mnttl complete Kturelumffc
i i tor these colleulroiu at technological books, and others
will Minn ln'^ni in iiiakc ;i *t|avial fculuru of Una department .
There arc other uses which could be enumerated. Files of
local and leading London pnpei • arc kept. Here buki are maps,
oh arts, and other special matters, and il Ih impossible bo deny
that these are ;i great public convenient'' Some libraries upon
the docre of their aowa-roome at B.Dt) a.m., in ordor to specially
accommodate thai : who wish to have the vei y earliest opportunity
-•I i insulting the advertuiementa of situations vacant in the tu
iy at tunes bee oppressing eight to e< many
eager to d<> this, i>nt it m1i<>u1<I he a cuusc for local ^ttlHfactiun
that tho uncmployod can at once x<> and mako aoquojnti ■
the wants of too labour market
ijeuboanl tovrnfi And ;> demand for the shipping papers) sad
wisely plaofi these in positions whoro they tu*o most accessible
Iimc will be of tan seen hard headed captaina and horny nandod
sailors Looking ever each ►thor'a shoulder otthelast sopy ol the
shipping paper. Eiere too oomes the oaptoin'e wi& whan tlmt
woriiiv ifi awaj on the mighty deep, to see if her Imsband's Ktup
has been spoken or rignaUod These are bul straws :<> ahovi the
univt'i'siii appreeintion in which thcue eitixens' reading-roomi are
bold.
Tin.' question i>i the supply of Government papers and other
offldal papers to Public 1 JbrarSas Isol the higheal Lmportane i
in August, i ■ - i, ' dc lutatlon watted upon tin* !:it<* i ord Cddoo-
lelglt mi i lis official rastdenoe in Downiag-etreet. The ultimate
THB I'gBS OF JTBI.IC I.IBU.UU1CS.
a;
result ol the interview isam ttdied in a letter ol fins lamented
statesman, ol v vembar 13, - -■•■ in which lie said i "I have cartv
fully considered the ouesticai brought before rae by thftdeputa-
- to the poaritrintyol freograi taol i ■> xemmont publications
I'ulilK' Libraries I st;iUM it Hie linn* the
oltfactlons which r saw to such b proposal, and on further oon-
si.iri-jiij "i r i-t>ni:i ;i. i i - !■■ opinion, r.i.t i am glad to gag
- been able tomato i i i ngfl nent which, hy apprftcinhly
reducing the coat to Public Libraries ol pan
UonSi mi). I trust, be oj considerable advantage. A oonfracl fa
about to lie made, undi r wl [eh one contractor » 111 undertake the
Bale ol all the tJovernmeni publications published try (he Sto-
i li-in-i \ Office; ind i i3 to oc a oondibJoE ol the contract thai
the w ■ ta uf Public Libraries are to be allowed n
leas) -' per cent, discount iroiu the price* t>l* the publications as
• Stattooei y ' ufive."
Tin.** Important matter has been fortha tdvaneed, for on
Februan .••. 1897, tl i I hanceHo o bhe Bxchequei said thai
his u r had promised to submit a vote to tin- House to
ll(»M..r Ui decide whether .i glfl *houId Ix*. made of
■ • t«i l*nhli< Libraries. ITe would mbmtt ■
vote* lo the House t or thie purpose, i h oto Parliamei
, only, ci aboul C16, he thought that the inoounl mfffhi
! m- i ii cctinomtcM In the Stationery Office and n rconc-
. the «■■--■ ol distributing Parliamentary rmpora. Ilithorto
■■ imy thorn, : u<l wjili few oxa ptiani their
m has i»'''i i ■■' Members of I'arliament, the
in the oud folding their way to the paper makers as wi i te
taper, it ti i '.-:r conab i to hope that their distribution to the
*UbUo Libraries ol the kin<fil«»m will sivuiv !<r them ;i wider
iMri i ■ < than hue hitherto been possible, and be fallow ■■!
thoughtful perusal and even study ot" their contents.
i . letter reserved from the Troasury on December 8, I88tt,
dc i" the ■ ebate in the Hi i"' "i I'ommniw on
Mav u ui Mm year, when the vote for the Stationery Office was
! ^mi.-mhii It w;ik ti.i, Khitcil thai i!:t amiiij^inenf made
n still holds good, ondei which applications oi this
r act within the prov rion <>i '-UK) 'i . ae by Parliament,
on mart contain .' list o1 the papers which the
tit nhtntii, iiii«1 k1ioii1<1 1 ■* - :i(!<!rc-M-i! fi Mii« Con-
El M.'n Hl.atliifici \ < fffli'i', SUtl'ry'js (Julo, l/uiilitii, S.\\ .
Lo«e win. frorn tune to tlmn finv fcnalen to non»ult
e offlultJ documents know their real value. Those who
ormation iU>-\ viulxxlj do wo under an entire
. i nm Miinr. ii ..-. meat dew rnble that
rei Khuiild lit* diNpelli' I. Tli - i-nii hest be
e ' i paper? in the Public Libraries, and thus
rjringiniE toem within tfie roach of all in search ol reliable i iforma-
..' i)n'*'ifil -ui jeetfl in •• w hii ii the reader o thi it ndcnl
m»/ be ln<ju/rii
Tlu' nii)»plyi"^ of r.iti-nt Office ip ^vkcsttoo Cfl
38 PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
burning interest to librarians and coraraittees. At present these
arc very costly, and fill up a vast amount of space, that it is in
many libraries becoming a very serious question, indeed, as to
whether they will he able to continue obtaining them as' they
have hitherto done. The condition of affairs in this respect at
Newcastle-nu-Tyne is so thoroughly indicative of what is being
felt at other places, and what lias been done there summarizes
the position of atTairs so thoroughly, that there can be no better
plan adopted than by stating what steps have been taken at
those places. A suit-committee of the Library committee was
formed to report on the supply of Patent Office publications.
This committee reported in September, 1889, that they had
received from the Patent Office a letter informing them that, as
the l>ound volumes of specifications of patents could not be got>
ready earlier than eighteen months after the publication of the?
separate specifications, the Board of Trade had decided, with a*
view to the distribution of the specifications at the time of publi-
cation, to discontinue the distribution of these volumes, and, in
lieu of them, to issue a packet of specifications every week, on the
understanding that the library receiving them would undertake
to biud them up at the end of every eighteen months. This letter
was referred to the chairman of the Hooks and House Committee
and the Chief Librarian/Alt*. Ilaggerston, who, after considering
the subject, presented the following report to the committee : —
"We have gone carefully into the points raised in the letter of Mr. J. Lowry
Whittlp, of the Patent Ottice, dated July 24th, 1889, and report as follows:—
The speciticstion* of patent* are now received in bound volumes from righteen
to nineteen month* after the date of publication.
t Tin- arrangemfiit which the Patent Office now propose will give us the specifica-
tions in parti M so<n ss published, which is some threo weeks after the acceptance
of the completed specification. A specification may be completed at the date of
application for provisional protection, or at any time within fifteen months after-*
wards.
The Patent Office authorities undertake to make good any copies of specif! a-
tions which may be abstracted, lost, or damaged prior to the binding of the
volumes.
The proposed change will involve our appointing a London agent to collect the
specifications wetkly, and to dispatch the same to Newcastle. If this be necessary.
Messrs. H. &»thcran A: Co. have offered to act for us at an annual charge of
£1 Is. Od.
_ We shall need 150 cardboard boxes for storing and administering the speciflca-
tiuna prior to their being bound. The boxes will cost 2s. 6d. each, altogether
£18 10s. Od.
It will be necessary to bind from 90 to 100 volumes of specif! cations annualjy.
The estimated cost of each, in half linen buckram guuded, will be about 3s. 6d,,
or an anuual cost of from £15 15s. Od. to £17 10s. Od.
The total estimate of preliminary cost will, therefore, be £20 5s. Od., and the
estimated annual cost £20 Is. Od.
The grant of patent specifications was made to the Corporation of Newcastle
We have not been able to ascertain the date, but we are informed that they were
deposited by the Corporation with the Literary and Philosophical Socieiy not less
than 40 years ago- The Corporation paid the Literary and Philosophical Society
the cost of binding and of carriage. In eight years -from 1850 to 1867 — the
amount thus paid tor binding was £232 lGs. 4d.
In 1882 the Literary and Philosophical Society required the room which the
Kit'..- Lit. specifications occupied, and tnev were transferred to the Public Library ;
at they did not become the property of the Public library, as they had not been
the property of the Newcastle Corporation. The Government maintained the
right of withdrawing the grant at any time, and recalling tho volumes.
Whilst it is right and fining that books such as theBe which the Corporation
receive from Government for the benefit of the entire community should And mom
thr raw <\v prm.rc mukaiiiks.
::<>
rili inl tl.i.uu . || i- i,. : liyht th.it the I'lihlu Ijl.r.ry choulil ln» rliainivl
with cxrxni—-* for tlitia which a j>ri*»t« library wae not cburgxd wjlu whi-u if tool
lhan,
■(>,. y n'. not i>oriU" wtii.-ti th<> FNiMI. I ilirniT-9 Ounmillo* would b» li(e«ly to
Sif I ?onttoo 'li'". not ji (Tide t)icm. V7« him- uobed fcbat (ho
<v m<*1] th. in 'iiii.y (.1.1 open rn n'fAn.iiwe hy any pi'rwtii whr>
Onto! »'l ainnea Tiicv in iii Um Palme I .ibrary *■» « .. at n 1 1
Ow • - 1 1 1 • i . not oaly of tfewfwUe and mlr'ibourbuuJ, hm ol lb.: fftMh of 0m
i Th* naanal pUmmi to NwwvuUo whore complato ««t« of
i1 ■■ ■ ■■ "ii- • •■' i ■■ ■ on* iii.- .: iu* Edinburgh oi Q1aw>» in i_1j •. ■ ■» " l ■ ,
'■ ^luichrKtrr in Lbe WfSt nnd l/»d* in the faatR.
'iliur* u Hit i ... i . wlij ;•....„,.., of lb* PllbUo Libitir; ilmiibl bo
EiurdcunJ wiUi uy ptyxauita fur Uum *pcrillni'.imi*: but. on Kba attur hand,
tboj' •hull "J Bot b*<M be*ft HtjUUvJ '-i n lb.- im\ i i' >'i ill- >luf fo(f llw* |i«
y«tr». Tbcy huvo »imply ait**! fur ihv Bonveuwoo of Ibfl QuipufMHB in tlio
K' ■ > :■ i" f'-f- ili ■ '■ l"«lj 'i nil mil I--.I . .■-!.■. i
.' body will •■ thi .,iuu*AJidproprlctr i»f rtcUnowlcag-inirtU re«p(iu»ihllity.
j iiujjorUul ufic. In 1801, DO vMluines of putent <\
tioni wwo jmbh ).• " . : tht^eoontaJiwd «b<mt fiOaepuvUnwoini
I . ^iT, '.-1 VuluiUfa »Bt publi>U'-(l. KiM't'lf It'Ulbkl ol 4,700
1 voltimr*. MKh containm; annul 100 vpoctflMtinni, nr a
total of &|000; and in I' 7.91 ">lum<e, c*eb conUtain^- about JftO rppdnVntion*,
or o tMt« ol i1 tout bv iccd Mini. tbi»i»* art n>or< - i...r, :nv uv\r- .\*
many -tK«illon!lon* puMi«li«l now Minn there wnr* thirty yean* niro.
■ ' ■■ •' I i" calico! ipon Iu defray
tin witou i( 'I - foi ?n«a» patent. RnooifioatiuiM ; l>i!t wo imwt ronenbor
ofUi }■<> i' i" cily no tlio raetnipoUe of
ti,. dktrlrt II in.ni'v.T. tin .-iiuiinweof tb* l*ub!lf Ul-riry. whlih nn? alrouly »o
t*t*rrv, ti" i" ii *-.«■-'. r . . i i,\ ii^ p.vin.nit- wo nam lowolionoJ, '\\< Qaowml
i' *JII I'.m . ■ ,■, i. to ■nuniiii-. nhotbet i1 ^ iMiilit<Huo«n»liiK
i,'i «i"'ii '■■ i'ii.'i' < 'i'i. ■ pi.i-.'i-.' 1 1 .■ i .., i. i>ii i- of Paloute
.1.. . ■• kitii- • ■■.■] .'',.,, iii,- •;...,- . ,i tlir- Tbaidof Iniili, aad Itwillprofiablj
' Ui* >i"it]''.'itinni» in mty otbvr lumi limn ^hnt waleb H turn
W ii -i.niit tiiuti tlin • ■ • a obuabl W opoootl wlih
d i Ui ■ i rlalubow farlt aw bu luduoud lo ntub i. .In. Uml, n
r ■-. .1 will iii'iiliMi.i- (In i 'nipitrnt dm hi- ulln'i- |«v-M'ii who DUU!
i-i > f"i md li'i.v fin ». i i". -..1 ii- Wj .i, In . it to undortafci
t'n UndlQi iii M mm I"1 thnl f ii 35* could n"t lw done wtfhiul '•••(<
■ ■I ■-• tho l.i'..- ! •■ ■ 'I'.Mu'.it.H..- I'Kjilta wttfob arr
ii I'hUiiI initJimi ' mi' in iniml, und Hi. rtmuiubuvd
that tin ui '!•• jmUmU tJic«o«lwi, rnrtU tbs'- the oblool M
:i. u to 'iiiouia^i1 tf ■•> taking out of p. it cut*, and mv txi
flii- t mi na*< fntinbrtl, Miiwl tliiiT it. wihiM only he
■ \pon«. of thn*. vbloa in praotiaalu th« bo<t advortiaomont of the
raUutt'UUv. v ' I.. I'uttint OUkt il*elf.'
lActi ! u nidi an enormous annual revenue that
:iit .in tinrti -:i iblo rcquofit to make on bolutll" <.■!' those
be ' i"' Lvgularty suppJiod vith Mil* "l'atunU*
»L(J - ,.. ottic ii lorn i'i-".'.' From all wtp
on and pamphlota oomo from jmblishcrfl, author*,
d pabUc bodiM, die ubi g received from the Lords Oom-
Uer Vi[.'j) * Troiwury — i ulondiu'B of State fapers,
,-.. i ;iji.:iii: volu i hroniolec and Memorials of wa&I
rcland during the Middle a j;--. sixty volumes; and
of the Uc« ord ' iommlssiona, ' Sec., m ■
.ii' v-.iiM- ui viiirh w.i- .:,::/ >^ od, The u.-.-nis-). pal
ml iiilv- an*] pamphlPts uid the Condon nnrl
• «lii the Niiiu*. The VmoricAii Rnronu of Education,
im»l other .-:in;.i- cm Llie other ride <»| the
i i works to Public Llbrarle&tD
■
.;.;
I KAPTER V.
EARLY PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
HE Idngi "i ..hi v...*. «1m La theft1 taj ration
I Iim-, wciN nnl tlott In n ■ i ■■
the popu i : ■■■■ n.i fi> m the idle political (hi
in book*. Hie plMKurca trt which nil
might enjoy throng] Hie channel of a On iry warn i
e - m, and I
nfdlit, mil. :ilft>" -! lit-:- i InvV nl lilir.ifnv t'n;i! m.h!i- Mir
i. oman Rropcror* reckon mwiu*crtpti uminigNt the moat valued
ol i ii.ii- Kpoflti of v., ii'. or to ivsijiniiii- them even mow highlj
In i yesaela ul gold. All the literary trcuaurce ( uu
i i< < ■ i were sure to Dud their wa> to i;» ■. Julius
■ •! in open in the I'.Hii:. the magnificent library
M i (.'ii villi Ii bad i m ■■■ii . li I • !'■■! iu< opulence ol Luoullu
which Plularoli spenla in the higheat term*. The daggei
; . .1 ij Iijm com ■ project In the bud. Hut
the i .:. ■ who followed were i
t I'uUi' Mbrarii . and even eallei th
Biter ttieir own tuun< •■ in o m >'!■ r of i
riaved no thirty Lliul would add to the
then? i i . - 1 - 1 1 - y hobbica. than, wc rend ol marble ftnarn,
cow red « nil j . and Rhclv m >f ebony «»r * i
JiiKt aa man of i I ilor period thought nothing too qoh U to bind
or uruuiaenl the baoke I <■> is the plutocrat . t to-4aj
will layluli in- sold ft* Eroolj on yardu ol well bound I
for which he muiv c iroa no mi interne
.■a,/ oft uvr< which hat soil him thousands Still, the
i m the earlleal tfrnefl the (treat men of I
imvmiM;. urnod thfir attention Jtwl to the collection of books
unauocrtpl . uid next to taking care that the people ufaouhfl
i :. n free aooeae r<> them
in tIk- ■ id okl days" When Kino John wan trying co Imp tse
lih nroowhai tnrbnlom aul [i ■ ■■ . and, indeed, fmr
two or three decadiw iftimrwdn, IfhmrtoM hardly existed. The
wing m b viiiumr ww k lerioua concern a thoficduya,
heavy « i^ i'mi- pini'T ur ihe bond required far the ksu One
: ami of the llbrai*} ol thi AUtoi nf OroylandL
Dujulphui i ■ :.-. i he " i idirnj o hooks, u
the entailer without picturce at tin larger with piotti ■ .
brbfidden ui ; iiy than that of ••■■
poesCblv he b >• »< ret p ininbiocnl I
■■■i. i re i arc and precloui thing • « .tii the
■ i i id rich, and Public LibrarieBwer< ote j anknowndni
rfod
The i >rpue< forieti, Oambridjrj ■■ w n tab sting
feature of thai i oh en, Uthoual moel ol the Ighl
■ i ■ idgo are fri ; ;>hc
ZAkLV prnuc rrnn.utirs.
41
allows U those who visit h&tt she, too. hat aav BMnd ptoses
whither not ill may penetrate, 9uoh, for the mo&t part, m
bar libraries. Perhaps thli ronservatism is an inheritance from
medium times, when books too often proved ;in irrcsUtiMe
temptation, and gave rive to much grave shine anil seandnl,
Hotfero ' iinl l.'i'c :nmi :i like r.'] ti'mich. Soil ilmv
have been either pn | 1i«-t i ■ irwighl into futurity, or conBoioiisneas
of tha | • 1 1 .'liiloc.* of bin cantamparaiiafly whlen led Archbishop
Parker U iwm (lie stringent rulea under which Ins Utiran Is held
by Corp uh Clu'lstl His tnl ma) connection with tlifa coilega, of
which in- i'-ii. Mftste in IM4, to suitably marked by tin*
beq ■!. ■■-: of lie ip'cfttcrt of all bis treasures, some little account
turns In* Imposed >»u their ilsc maybe of Lntereet
Two pernios mist ul\v;n\ in- present before any volume urn be
consulted one Mi sterol Fellow of the CoUegd the other Fellow
cholar. Should longei u» "t1 the \>vok* he necessary, they
red !-• one ol the Fellows1 room*, not more than
lime, and after due registration. Beyond the College
uual never av. A system of duplicate keya to
affords security that the* U>u* he olwi-j wil,
i-i'i will i- vi-i.^ that if six folio or an equivalent
tier volumes be lost, the entire collection, together
with tli«- plate he also bequeathed, shall pass to Coins, Should
ip ("en l !»c ;i- Me t -\ more, il travels to Trinity Rail; u
. lilso low. md \\liiit con aina returns to I i rpus. For smaller
in ihesoi Bust arc imposed, do doufrf heavier in the
A : \> !■. , thai they cent now. Once nyearthe Uaaten
tiui : -i (I Trfn ty Hall, t igothor with two Scholars of CorpaSi
■iviti'd to vorifj Hi'.- list, tho two former receiving 3s.4d and
tho two latter la each; and subsequently thoy are cntortunod at
the College. Uut no volume has yei disappeared alneo
nde nearly SW) years ajro. While looking
nt Die casof oni i- com ndod ot the old joke «>t Edmund Burke**,
■who remarket i, m seeing Borne Locked presiea "i books, that it
**rn bided him ol " i «ke on the Human CTadcrstunding.n
ii. i : T-:t ■ ■■ w:tfl original I j a room hnflt over the old chapel.
pulled down m I«24, the hooks wei^ temporarily
■ 1 in ,i private apartment until the completion of the new
'7. when they were transferred to their present
5u1>N<t|ueiitly( n few uf the most intereHtine were
■<\i\s cAMvtdown the centre of the room, The lllirary
is* s ane : ■ ■ . Itli bookcase* of carved oak, and n nandaorns
i m i lhe west end Ncjmmt<w Aivlihinhop Parker'*
IriHU the oilier hook*. Ileum made at Lhe time of lhe
4imjlnt -ii ill ill luumiM cries by Henry VIII, il contain?*. ii1*
atetil be expected, i large i rtlon of oecleslastical paper*.
report ol the Bodleian Library, 18*2-8", which the
• 'iied. -.hows that the Lumber of volumes on the
in f;ir k1h»i-( hi liiilf i million, Keforriug to the
"Me* \. it ..- 'Jin! th.it until his death, iu
never slackened hie munificence, a&d
lv
■ ki.i. LinlURrRS.
i! iiihi\ I ( i j * -in ]•. ■r:ir v donors, the Moans ami Chupte
Kxcter and Windsor wore W Ilium Herbert
ni Pembroke, 8lr Kenelm Dishy snd VrchhlHhoji l*aud roll
v. iiii moot extensive and splendid Iwnefn lorn n MS
i; i. :hhI Oliver Cromwell rami eollne.tlon* uf WSft., ■» ilcli sitll
i»c.i] heir an i i ■ The lUuKtriouN Seidell bequeathed
-^ ,1 x x > MSS. and printed rutaiutst. And in tin
Thorn aa b iatoplier Lord Halloa, :nul 'Juii
rrlchr [4fi| M* < i !lrrl io.i- Marshall &D fjp T. Harlow (on
nit! i; bnu an), collections >l MSS, and printed book?
fttnee (]>'• '« \< nteenth .oiitiii \ there haw been othe ■ bi oeinotSona
■ ■ ■ i . 11 tern inriHir-nt, wuj iii<- Library -.- also entitled i<> ;i
,■<,■>> of 'I'll booh Issued In the United I under the
i lopyi jghl A-!.
In the minster of Wimborne, Dorset, which i* A I QCrttbl
cture, believed h hav« i>««). Rret erected botwcoi the
"06 ind ! ,; . nd fco which wd |olned i monastery, there
I'lih. Llhrnn ittnched that wnn rounded by the donor,
Reverend VVuliorn Stone, a B8& Wiraborno who u (dace ot
ini|»>!i;iiue' in Siivh timrM, und most hutlorftuiB dots Ebb i «H-
dot ion to ili< Roman i, who nmdo it one "i Ihelr military -i Ltionj ,
for as finch we Bra find it mentioned. The old minster was
Innlly founded by Cuthlw Lighter nj Kcudrediin the
year "il a century and u hall latvr,St* Kthelred, fifth J*jqr of
nil Efingland, who was" mortally wounded i j « contticl with t
Dunes, wnv. hurled hero, The king must havo boon wo
acquainted with tho ehnroh and monostery, for it wo
iiWIi n- |U''-! In- was l'iiri<"l w II in il ■ portals. ThO l':i
destroyed bg Br* tho elioreh nnd mumi Hie tenth CO
ii.rv, and bo effort was ii i le t > restore them tfll IU43, wh
la! ward founded n college >i secular canons on tin* snore
rntna The present minster was founded altout the middle
tho eleven b oonturi snd was not oomplsted till that or tho
fifteenth, on thai it,.' rhnrch nonslsta of varlomi rlntee. l\
through -.1 'inal: door in the restrj of this Inter style uf
ii-i'iii e, which i-i ;i most Interesting ehiuuber. that ■ lui *1
obtained bj h turrel stair of the Periiemlimilar |M*rind, ii il"'
T'nMti' Library, [t Ih eerialnlv not uncommon i « > llni
■lor,' inn., attached to churches of impoi'tniice, but the peen
l;:iii\ ii. Wfmhorne is that i its one ol the very curlieel iji up
to popularize knowledge, and gave to the townspeople of Whn-
bomD the unspeakable sift in ai tuse wheu booss wer*
and expeiiaivti the riyht to I U knowledge I
far llii^ bona w,i- u]>|M'eeiiitcd \y the tfood Colkl 0
WlmUtrneol Hint dn> ia i."t known, hut we find tha
b, born in Wimborue in I6W, aeod u- risH the
.: i n i b |ili'ii.sni'r read i u'oo *i* of the 949 i
ii h i conti in> The room la mmll, I i I th< libri rj i
i ; d fed, ' id round the cota of uoeh shell rune un Er ■ i ro*L to
which Ifl ibtnchied oil the |(i1"' I ft cho n, so that it t-
eai i -.- 1 in lihc dnys ol Ui< donor thi re were Him c vUn h
IMfti.Y i'i r.ii ' i.iiumiik*
I.".
i
■id (V-jmtI In) III iitli rciiilii 'iii'linriil . I I II ■ \<»\s :;iv ..n 'i.icil
In loCKM, mi I lull, to rrinl t-oiiii 'i i.iM;. it u ;-. i i-i «■:■■, nt t(l ii
■toed beneath the I b « inted, M in) tri the chain* ore oroken,
i-u ti ti proeexved. "IT i ■ - boukaare of gteal rata ami
r in tuuscripl bean t<he date
C< III] ' i.-.tlllil fill tl.r 1 11*1 i iii'Iii'il > I | I) ;:■■ I j \\liu
■ i.l-.. Then I: 0 i 'i autifull j b< i ad 1 1 pj
I-. l.i ■ lii'.li-, in Miii'k It U< i . <I.il< « ". ■". in milt lio; n.ls,
',\ ili.r lUilcijjir* ' Mihtorj of he ^ -n-M",
Ixo ■ W:il m I'olyglol llfblc, wi i-lt'lr, dated 1657. The
• i fourvol moa. in uctoti lartjruagcfl, and the Not
■ □ i i Kii \ tiomi i i fivi lunguagc*, and n L cicon in
, ■ h* i ' ,. i , l! .. ii.-it, 1 <u;'j.
TbtbAnicn of rnbUe Ubi lie nppenrf te-d&ta tn EDgla&dal
i tec fourteenth century. Monks, from a< i 5oi ma,
■i io -' htw ii"" i ea1 I !i ill time I otwoo
• > : and wlml . ■ onnbic loiibt there DSU
I thOtr " I'i'L l<- tin : l-< ill winch llir\ livv-l,
i i , i . ■ , . i ■ • . . : • «rjj] rvo i ■ ■ them a bl gratitude
■ -I:-. 1 1" y • a wn - I the [fenerations
iihiii \ bingtilar iwh 'i-ii.ui hnt bee le r<» the
■ oin inure i Nil In- i.ii.nr!. h iv n or I
land than there nro at tbo pi ■■■■ il ttmo. Thie Is
an tn : oly to ill lit to all niutfontj t<»
too pi iu not- retrogression fhere in much to he laid 5n
i i lion Tins pinivm the irre:il n I for llu-
i n nf I ■ill Id 1,11 i::rn-\ 'ill ovor the I nlti-rl
i tin 11 i.- thnl rinrtag the Pi'otnAtoratr
i i romwell. 1'ublio I lbniricrc were nvtahlfahed, and ii in
-..!-. f>i Hifx piihllr-Kplrfted Bngllsl nun thai
In- ehmih), ni i-hai Hirlj dale rmvi i.v./.i ■ ■ •■! Llial Hie trueel
■ tin' [ifupli- vn ■ Mic ii-puUiic- ol k»Mcn
■ to a w.fj rnpurUiul period, no loss In i';n i. than
■ ii burnii km u& lu vrlucl vrw actually the flrsG Public
Cm i uit] T a- ■■ i iiu lira rhie(l.v bel* »e i Uriab I iuuI
Mi JmIih Tn; .i i, cliii-l lilti nriiiti <>f llir Hi \%UA
up I n1 i i i.-ii.v nf Brintol, uml hiw
illt-i • act* v ill irn t -*Kill. lit! s;iy-. I1 slioukl I'f
iiborotl i i mr prtvHMii invutul illuinina-tion wu« of no
ii ki I'll i |ji ii I'ioiii tin- aywi k 1 1) il
lointered thorlt ol old, It wae poasdblo thai
!■ ■ ■ i ■ *a1 the diBsolution o ■
na> liare pertahed whirli, had iIhv l>eea ^; - ■ r-**l, would haw
: monk or frla • v d . as eta -■,
mm i man of in1 evi n ol gci iun. N itwifch
i.-.l i-rcjudio il hi mcoiks und seeulnr elerff^
i i'V 111 '_;lil I'H'k luick v" It' ''Ii I hi-;.
■ ■•iiik i viih oi'lin^i of ihaoldulnoft or vrhai thOT
bad dani! bin tho (vinnnonwi-riltli ol letter^, il iu»l l»v ori
■radvctioii*. ol IoukI i \ Dm prewwul on irkn >l the
Hu r<' was »n : nt'lonl library Uiai oaee
i4
pirn lic !Jun.\iiiBN
tii.uriRhcd in Bristol, for which thcrj claimed the distinction of
being the flnri library aooettiMa Eo the puMic. His purpose
in ibov 1 1 * : ■ t Bristol mighl claim toe honour «>1 b*Tfug
dad n Pnblic Library tn her midst two eemni
than the liii- of L3iotbam*i Library, and alao thai n a
Public Liiirury wpK pwtuhiHhoii in umtol in ir.:::. or forty yeaa
ouatothai nl Manchester Cloaeti the Exel nge B
i^ ;i el urch, which, judging from The Italian campanile-, n
bays baoD built la an lual century, though the windov
Mr aartli attle against the streets wouk indicate > date sf
baok ai the fifteenth eentury. An examination of the Ente
luiwi'vrr, would diaCOVCI I hut 1084866 iim>l Ii.im- been RUnjr
within ita precincts as early :ls the twelfth century This
. pniiim-ni., nr upper room, which extended the length of die
iihvi', served up tin rotinjji.' md library of n Inileni.u >l .im-
monastics, to whom was committed the custody of the cMe
. rchlvoSi and whose office 11 was to- keep a register of local mid
{■ -vents nnd acta. This body were termed Ualendiii*, and
,v u re-eatabliahnienl oi the ordinances, in 1464. by John, Btohop
nl Worcester, it woe instructed that the prior should consto
n Idc "i the bona of the kalendars, and take custody -•! i
certain library, nowlj erected, at the Bishop's - n tin
saint house; so that every festival day by which, of course «
thej :". i ill daws which were not V-n. .w | w< hours fa
nine, and (oi twt hours after, froc access should he grunt* i
oil willing l>» ••nh-r. I'n the sake of instruction, the prior under*
taking to oxploin difficult pnaaagot oi Holy Scripture, to tin
hcht of hi« knowledge, and to give a public lecture in tl • Ubi i j
every week* Leal through nrefligenet' tin hooka should be lost
or oJionatod, it wai ordered that throe catalogues of thorn should
he ic - • i ■ t *. one to remain with the Dean of Antiquarian Canons,
another with the Mayor for the time being, and the third with
the prior himself. The Hiahnp also ordered thai mai ever?
Soar there should he » duo collating of all the books, with the
nvontoriea «'i' catalogues, by the dean, prior, mid nnotlni
appointed by tba Mayor, between the feast of St. Michael &nd
Au8aJnta; nrjdU it anould happen that some book, through the
sot ol the prior, ahould be carried out ol the horary, ud
stolen, the prior was to restore rho hook to the library , under (
penalty o1 40a. above its true value; nnd if he could not rai
it again, lli'-ii he was to pay the value of the book and IOr.,
besides 90s. to the Mayor, and the reet ror the benefit cd tha
library, lie ventured, therefoiv, to conclude tlmt :im curly a*
1464 B reference library WOM instituted in Bristol." Thi« Ik the
i. nil .ii-jrunH'iii nhi.'li Mr. Taylor brlrigw forward, fn farther
Kiippurl ho <i'-il :i ;'i'w -i.uiill -. i -it !•• (in* " \lhcn;euin." ill
i-ri]ii. of a document, hitherto unpublished, that waa oui forty
{i'.n> before the Due old library yet existing in Manrhrslrr w:e*
punded. A similar iuailtatlon book Its rise in Bristol, and
i tunded bj Robert Redwood iu 1C16", and Mr. Taylor cxplal is
tint ihii tin- iiuii.v, spoken "i £n the deed of 616— was rebuilt
kari.v pctoi.i" i.nmAnxra.
16
in 1740. The library has had cos fin odd existence) and in 1896
B under the opcr:iii«ni Of Hie Act. There is, however, now,
mother claimant in tl,e Held Mr Charles Welch, the librarian
a • h ildhal] Library, says I i l( f^ondon had n Public Lfibn rj
nearly two hundred yours before tin* Bristol Library of 1612 was
I landed There VU B Public t,ihr:iry founded l>y the htnimw
Richard Whtotingtou and William Bury, certainly as early as
This library nifferod from an illustrious book thief] ax,
rtftngto Stow, the Protector Somerset borrowed bhe hooka,
probabrj In I '■■'' . ad forgot to return them
it would require a second rolurae and an antiquary Co enter
mitiiiii'i % int. i the merit* of these three claimants as to which
WW (he Ant l'liMir Lib:', in "|>eii lice (.if charge to the public
The Chatham Library is unique in the history o£ Ubraries, tnd
when Due Steps into il on1 ill i!tr !'im \I;r rhoirr thoroughfare
la which i t situated, ii vrould only require ;i fewi pooplo dre&eed
la i j i. - ca* tunic of the period moving about, to imagine oneself
it leaal three centuries. Within Bight of the two largest
railwav m.iIimi>. in Manchester, and under iho shade of the
.•..(ii. •led church, there la, atVi p<i.»inn rlu-miLdi ih« gateway
quadrangle, almoAl as much quiet an it' one wen
■in the madding crowd und the busy haunts
of man. The buildim? datee bock to I 191, and was, no doubt,
. . ■ i"i* inoiia.she ■ uir: i i> «'H, JllC 00llc#C WU.S creeled UJ>OU rocky
d ivcrlcji king Lhc oonfluonca of the Irk mid the IrweMj
h\ Thomas NVost, Baron dc la Warr. in the tunc of Henry VI.
The hit*? had previously boon occupied by an old manor house
vn um the Barons Hall, whose antiquity even then was un
iwn quantity Anyhow, it had r*>r centuries boon the resi-
c ol tiio *' Lords of Manchester." The generous Baron handed
-l .Hi v..r to the warden mid w-llows of the collegiate body,
in whose can it remained until 1647 Not being a monastery
■ ■. tin- ttnrii, if si meliow escaped tin: predatory
i] Henry Vlll. it fortunately survived the dissolution
of tit-- in. ■' ■ was left to his successor, Edward VI., to
iWve the wor«hipfnl ?oininmiity, which he appears to huve
oVm* with roach riinriiii'dii i -- The hoy king "conveyed'* Che
■ than Karl of Derby. Then followed the troublous
battle nf the people agalnBt i harles I . and the
. . i i ..-I! • ! i i*i .di the RtunlevK. During the Common-
•\i the main part, of the pri-mixe* » .is a,sn] :is a prfMUi.
ri.. util ■■'.iiiehr-.i • worthy, Humphrey Chatham, bow cornea
niHiii the -rt IK-. Horn in 1680, he had, during the latter years
life, mniuluined .tnd educated twenty -two poor boys. In
IG63 I the wu of »eveuCy-two. and left £7£00for the
t|Mi-. . : an cMate, the profit* of which were to be devoted to
ico ol fort j boys. In 100/3 a charter wits grunted
■ Ainjr the twenty-four feofces an incorporate
luivc ir ■ on .lime then on IhcseH-olectivc process,
edmii . and at the present time there are 100
hool or hospital who ore fed, clothed, and educated
s;
14
>' iii.m Upii.ibif:*.
CJ -•!-•
Ui
c*»..raf>./v
.■>»»«»
. .,
f^ff/-
<7
or
*J
« M
ft
;MlM pi iilk LliiHAl
4:
1
in th'* EnititutiOD. A 1 ii'ihor bequeet of B 1,000 mu devoted to
b lm of n librarvi and a sum of X'l',100 vu* allotted frou
ii.il i-:;i;iir for tho Nciinironionl ■ 1 iituble buildiuj? in
whu-li i- 1 Miti Hi.' \>i<\- ;u...i [in' irntkb. Tho truatoos aalocted
d 1 illctf . "I B flil I ( ' f - > t< ■ I. ]" — ■-' i"ii in I''"'- I. Mi« ■
pin- 1 •• 1 made iii August, 1B55, but tha whole ad
>.-in«':ithc(i van not expended until Qear tha eloae of the
. wlion tho "ongiaiod ul 1,450 volumes. \'
nambw bad IncroAsod to -i.i-vi in 1713 ncluding bturteon onum-
«?npt*. At tha proMnl Lima the aumber of volumei in th ■■
linn 18 Ii;,IKMl,ol whirl ..■-,vr:il 1 1 1 1 1 n 1 !--_'. 1 -t _. n_- MSS 01 JXl ■■•■•*lni|^
IntorM and \:ii io Lbout ono-hal( oJ the tooks&re ol raodarci
iii.- library i- espei in iv strong in work* on ircnno-
logy, history, theology ■■ i county histories, urn the eJ irt» <»i
H.tlVH i;iv« in * i i.i ; II ■.■!:!• ' Ii.- !■'■•- i .1 ■'"•)■; ,!
: -in-pi. -ff- ol hTcrntnre Hare are to Be found
Limn* Iti I 'it i urn wl I • nri inl Chn r\ .i!tv for
mailer ;nnl Icj* linpca' iml wuola
Mr ■■nt iv one lniir paniphlet tn the •■, in i,-
■ ;. Winch IH fe l>Wl I it I : \r l.'loii <■• I [■• i I , n p | I 'In'. !i:i)ll.
■ he ! tin [hi n mlj .i rtiorl time ago from .1 1 1
A pcnCC ii i Ulg a iiiliiili-'i .] |..i i.i...
! 10 >k hop. in t tbi r !-■ U 1 signature • 1 II irn
Cliettauu, li" proof Llittl Hie library uae been >poued Ui i'i<-
■ niah ftlnre lifijfl lies clued) in tho <>.•'. original uur-
ilnujo ti Kik, .1 1 leaiuulc >■! t '■■ flosi ung ■ ol which 1.1 irivan. Eroi 1
n !■» iln- pi esent * iic tin n >rd« of the pun '
■ ■■.!-.. .tin 1 writlci 11 a clear 1 1 1 •> the various lib
\ r i-.i i i.-L.-ri j -i mI the lii-l frfl line* . n
"i 1 parci ll ol I'i'dIm-. fur yi mWii k< 1 ilb u iesol
■ U 1 . ts .irt ii Uowin.fi1 Pol, I . Eta i ivod
rona Mr. John LSI eburj thi 2< y ol ^uffi l6ofi, ^tun ttni < pi
- r. r, Vqufnath Simin oniu conical < 'nj.-i \ I
.. ArUtotclifi dpi.. V ii .',U . --. . iuttiii tl . 1 otcno In
. . m:.' "I Epi : 0]
m 11 C^uo 1 ii i>u1 ''f. lo • Xt., I"-. ; Uvor ■ ■ dia (dh i 1 1
n hroaii « ']>:i . Vol. 1', el lOfi." Onh
1 day consult the bool .1 tho ibr iry, but
:. g« imd tl ■■ m11'" '"" ' '
. i- or i*xeui'*uonwt« oonwlder thai thw 1"1
1 .:. morn 11 iritil iJi<*\ h:i\» s«'<-n tii.- ihothiutt Obrary.
1 : "i to our in the winter montha and
\ itannff 1 ie Hiiinnier Bui the library d< 1
hi'lfcr l.i't" lliitti In Uv lived :i-( :i llli'l't' -liou pl:nv. -.i-il
lilHt rho hurry :iml rmw for wcnlrh, 11 p»od pui'Mnn • 1
■■ |ni ilir will italr/r the i.n-t tlint rli-y have in tfcfl
hran "i iiti'ir '■ 'i;. old bnlldlnffti ol oowdderable irehoao
ad the homo of literatim* "f 'in- 1 i-i writer, in. I
eh iifi:«ui tnu hiM-ti M'rnpiiliiu.sl\ cxcliidod.
... a'Iiciv 1 he n itiuiure.i "I tlic lilmi rei h
alaoedai iludent, ii u very panirThwi fa tin-
4H
!.I*ft\RIK9.
KOokintf mi Hi till" HH1V* . i , -. . I; -ii "II. '.I,
..n i lii'in hang :i mini !«•■.■ . I | . ifl ri || • , l M i p w orl Ii,-.
iii- >l ttlOSfi portrait* i- :t verll i ilf (hilnnhnraugtl, S- m\ in
ohii room on mm iif the high-back ehatra ot Charles 11 ■
and with nil the other furniture of the -::nm- [wrio<i.
require ;■ great atreton of the Imagination to pepeoplti the oU
rliiMiilirr i\i:h tllOM who nnixr hOTO tro<! It* flftOT ri'TiTUrfe* apo.
In this vrry room there probably walkwlSIr \\ iilrn- Rntatgh, i m
vu entertained there by Dr. Dee. one Is tempted to
thU quaint old place mrrounded by Its lore ol Itteratun < u'
archaeology, but *"*• nitixl I'lirlH-ii'
OIUKI. WINDOW IN BBAWNO-ItOOM.
Without desiring to enter minutely into the i ueetton of which
raill.v wnA the Jirst, il dues appear that, so In us Bristol md
ttanchostcr arc concerned, the former place in the older found*
tion and Muncheftter the older building. Furthermore, the Latter
place presents the unique fact of a&WiiitciTiipred inon! of iw
since lU5o it: the aiiiim looui^ ;in<] tl:e «june building.
A matter of afanoet equal intercut to the foregoing in the
discovery u year or two ago by Mr. II. T. TulUurd, the librarian
THB *A*StXG CV TUT RWxftT SIM. OF iKVl.
HI
<»i iiu'1 Wjgai I i i tract saned in 1690 bearing
i tie. 'An 'Jvoi-I i.-y for Founding and .Main:
itlUKka in i'Vitv PfeTOCh throughout this Kingdom." Thf
author of this n hm been identified ns the Rev. J rimes
kwood, iiini-.it i o Mint'), mi that I'm- " kingdom i vi .- ■-■-•• .i i..
is tin.. Rcotland ■ 'i forcible language iin-
' pniir.-. nut the great tMefulnew of rmrochf&l libraries,
ideal before ** the curea o1 din fumilj
of tin- suaira >!" <■ i , - i : : doa nk uphio uind l-but lu
mn nor heart hi aludv," ThiH N itaplt-al ffe then urge*
nblish aenl of .i Ubran In
. ib. Mr. Kul ■* 1 proposed that after :i stiitubli place
had been provided and placed under the superintendence or the
mid send i > it .ill Ids private bo
jmd be |Mi'i fa them \ ,:i. annual tax on (he Enconae of the
parish. This.;] ttb sinffnlar in the liffht of to-dftr. The
jrcneral ox] tin vaa to :»<_• met by the Levyine of one month a
method wluVli would, in Mr.
Kirk v. ilon, have realized GT^OOOSc- ta oi L'o.owsterling
i i mrn he expected t ■ be mor than nutfieicnt for the
port) md lie therefore proposed thai Ihe surplus
I in r»undii -■ intionul printing office-, which
voald "oiled bj n Committee ol tin- ( .' vn.-m 1 a.-m-mIiU.
I'll-, Founding ind iromoting ■ Bibliothocke in oiorv paroefl
kingdom, < rnlfd, "ik u-.th ii.voK«iry uud
■ |< nnUu*>on ■ inn lumo ii'Ohlt', our intvM'nM md our duty."
So In I i» [in.- old pamphlet, copies of w hich ore not to be
q the Hntiflh Museum or the Bodleian, thai it M
reproduce Mid wiU be found amnm? the ippfiuh ■ ■■■
lln whole matter \> that, though nearby
i pawed nlnee the pamphlet was written,
■ -Kin.. -I ..1 the w rii lot i he . i nntry by which
i'k author WW i antnmted hue nol yet Infected moro
m.u small poreeiit.ng« of bin countrymen
CHA'ITKK VI,
THE PAS8INQ OF THE EWART BILL OP 1850
■ ■ been rmule to llir vnhmiinom
report of the Select r«iinmittee on Public Ubrartfw
i Lb, l&l< wa* ordered that ifielectOotn-
i iiih-i i "■ ijn- : :i <-<i .)-i 'in- beat mean* "i < litem
i <-.-.i.ii>lj.%liiin i:t of libraries freely uimwj li be public,
especially in Inrffc ta^m* in flreat Britain and hi-Lrn-.. The
crar "v due to the exertion ■ >!
Llmlbertun, who. u vnrimin intervale i .- ■ l&M),
had bren tjriUttin.; the qa o ol Common* On
the 23rd of the aan,-. month the Committee n-a.s appointed, and
eoncbtcd of -Mr. Ewi rt. Vim on, Mr. Disraeli, Sir
4
fiO
PUBLIC LIBJUBXBS*
ii i . .' Vorawr, M ;.«"; Lrti rle. \\t. Banbury. Mi .George Vlexa
Huiuhnji. Ait Brothorton, Mr. MUnw, Tne Lord Cdvocate, Mi.
burn, Mr. Thlokneaws Mr* Mackinnon, M.-. Kershaw, nod
Mr ( '.ii«I\vi'!I, ill of Vhoni Q&TI passed OV6T to the majority. The
1 1 1 -*: ini'i-tlnH il i it:-. Committee *m on March 30» 1S40. Three
mooting* vorr hold in April, eight in May, and tow in
making in all in thai year sixteen meeting*. Mr. Ewurl
J resent, aid took m i chair a1 all the meetings except one. Mr.
trothcrton wu absent from only one. Sir Qarry Vomejr and
Mi. Monckton Milncs wore regular attendants tt these com-
naitto Mr Mora i was present at two of the meetings. The
report o IftlO wa uod in July o! thai year, and consists of
■ i- pages. The evidence ol fcidward Edwards ws
and owupios thirty-six pages, Ho was also exnmnu ■■! at a UtOI
date, hie evidence aga n extending to about the sama length. lie
rnrniflbed o number ol maps ol hie own compilation, showing
the distribution ol libraries in the loading countries ol tne work!
The report presented to the House ol Commons bj tin.
Committee provides very g"orl reading even nt this ■ :>
date, They begin by referring to toe inquiries made in
Parliament during the years immediately preceding the
appolntman) ol i Committee, These Inquiries referred more
partn.'ubriy to the formation "i' unseams, art tmlleries, si
wi*h :ih kcIhhiIx of design, a* k meant* of enlightening the country.
Right, in the very foreground of th\* report there itandi the
•.shun that Then' were not nt that time wanting those who
held thai mioh Institutions, however NuceoKsfnlly pstnbl
in one Foreign nations, would not be appreciated, and might be
bused In OUT own. Old prejudices in Kngland die hard, said the
name objection Lh son ana again even yet made in Home quartern
The Committee then shoot thcii rig gun. Thev state trial >•>'•
withstanding '.he fact that the hVitiish Museum, tin- gallery at
Hamptoa Court, and the National Gallery had been thrown open
i< Hi-- peopli a wi - generally admitted that ao abuse bus marked
tho change, but that mucl: iM iiuii ;: I enjoj nent md uuch popular
eiirttenmeat have distinguished it. The heavy shot of the gun
liet lien', 'l'\u-y soy one improvement, however, yet remains to
be accomplished, hitherto (in 1849) slaiosl untried in thin oounl i \.
and tli;:t fa tho establishment of Pui LU I J »rai lea freely aoci BelbTe
to alt the people. It was a humiliating confession for tlicm bo
make thai each librar i s :i vd long exietcd on the Continent, and
iho.v wore further compelled to own that if could not be doi
i haithoir existence had been pregnant with advantage k> liters
and to the general character 01 the countries in which they I ftd
been founded, No one can deny that it was n just oompoi
Eoi tho Oommittoe to make when they said thai il might with
«(|ual fairneafl be inferred that our own literal ire .1 well a on
own people being denied the benefit M such institution must 1 w
fftionatolj Buffered. They <irove thi> In mo by-iiiymg that
they had learned that more than half a century t»ei f 1840 the tit*'-!
etep taken tn as English writer wastoconsu t a Foreign Pal ii'1
THH TAtSSX:; 08 I'M I, EVAM DILI 09 i960,
6]
n .1
oi i i. Mil..,! ,.i hia studies, and that *o such auxiliary
rioeol British intellect. They referred to Gibbon.
who complained that in his time the greatesl city in the work)
was d iol isefu) iiiRtirn Ion, i Public Library; nod
■• II . ». nl.-r \\ i i 1i:mI li in IitI : ;lcrn I- 1 I nvi! ;inv |:ityi» I i«l«>n.' 1 1
abject, whs pediired to theneeessity of purchas] ig foi hit) private
numerous and valuable collection »f hoolei which mnM form
the basin of his work." They quote* number of similar cases
tw lawfulness of tlio Foreign Libraries i** largelj brought out,
id :tll.<i;.'i-lliri' the I'SpOTl i)f Ihft minimi .1 *-■■ tfl 'oirW:il : ■ t n 3
> •■■ ; i ti vi u -! ■_■_■<• -u . nnaw. Hie j point out that the principal
■ ttagc* offered bj Foreign Libraries consist in their Dumber,
it. I- acuessil llity, and La il»' fact that the booka were
allowed on libera] ye-l - 1 Reionl ly protective conditions '«» circulate
! the walla "i the library.
ii fa Doneci isarj to go further into the details of the Com-
ittee*a report \ digest oi the evidence of Edward Edwards
uuld be iatcre9tiu£, i ut Che exigencies of the present book pre-
beinffdonc, Asked what had been thi result of opening
Motion I Gallery and Hampton Court Pulnee, he unhesitat-
mgly Buid thai largt aumbere oi peopla had been withdrawn
: mi .i .in cincntn oi :ui ui.iutrlli.vi ml mikI t-t'lru of :iti injurious
haractcr, bo such amusements as are rational and improving; and
calculi tH t« icaefit thorn in very many waja. lie was asked
•uffbl that Libraries woolc have the iosai effect, and
jlied thai oven in a greater dey tve ii iln-v wwv made^neraOjj
ible, 'lliin » where Edwards's warm-hearted onthUHKi-iii
tfiovcd itself. Th'- immense and almost daily extension of
ton bad even at that early date begun to show itself, and be
viu imked if tin* policy nl" creating PuMie hi brut ies vrntj not 'lily
coming o J more importance no replied tothla that he thought
ii Recounts, Vnd thai "not only from the growth
d making the uetnal existing provision of tfbrariee more
and more inadequate, but also from the fact that the increase In
r.iiim-i '.on <:i liookft makes It still more difficult for ppiwms,
■ who have considerable prfvnte resources, to keep puce
vitb what ts produced both here and abroad. Therefore, thai as
mare difficult for many persons adequately to purchase
, ii is .Mill iniiiv impiH taut that they should be proi Ided in
,l.r:,Hrs."
Questions about tin; provision of l£1>rarJes in manufacturing and
ncrclal towua were then put to him, and be said that this
vaw daily beoumiuu a question of Increasing importance. Asked
w\vaI attempt* had riccii made t»' supply libraries in largi towns,
led 1 i ii tli.it "ill', lomt attempts of an imperfect
i ide b> In in elnmics' institution*. lb produced
a liato some of thi libraries In Lancashire and Cheshire tovnui
but brota the fluctuation loturcol the resources oi those aotitu-
oi permanency in Uicm,suob librariea often
Ivtt but .i bhort timi . and wort tin n »*1 sold
r the report A 16 •',. i h< .«•( < n imMish.-d
IM»
N»»UC l.!TinJ.UlES-
• 1 extendi! to 01 er 100 pn
i . oc »ligh( ■ U for i ii In the constitution 3 t i •
i \.im littee i ' • firti i ■•> ■ ■ l M'uvh, i-.".M
Hi .if: Ith, i .1!'. ::!!■! 'I vi i ] thfl ■■ ' in- i .will',
and then ftdloarood In ardor to grretlmc t ir thepi
iuon "i ci tain orelgn papers 'elating U I mtinental
Libraries ') l u- \ ifterwaTdf motonJimn itn and
fag was on June nth, mafc seven meeting*. Mr FCwart
• | . . v ftjll ..I i'Vim\ IOC "i I h ' ! Ml I ■ <'<l .'■-
man. Mi r Ion attended five ol lh< sittings, and the i
. ; M;\ DIaraeU does noi appear a • hai o£ been present at one
of the seven The Awl witnos* again examined was Mr. Rdward
Edws . I >■ i osl Irnportan ol that
i ltd before the I "oi imittei . lie ol hi r gej tli u ■• i who ■ ivc
ace were Mr. Robert Leiuui chiel clerk >l the State Paper
Office, Sir llci i\ Kills, principal librarian of the British Museum,
Mi Nni'.iiio Pan j../... keeper of fche printed books si tin
m ii.-. e un,and Mr. * '. It NS eld, Librarian to the lto;ral Soi ii I v. Thi
« rr .,; . tnoet vaxied and comprehensive char-
iivrv i rancl ol the library world was dcnll with, and the
[ion* wen framed with n view of bringing out the moal t
worthy and useful In ormatioi N'aturaUyo very large number
, T the quoeti w ■ doi I with the Brit I h Mi houui, Mr, Pauiazi was
aake< whether he thought that the interests ni the public b an
Intellectual point of view would warrant the cxponso incurred bj
Hi. i extension of the reading-roomi >f the British Museum He
thought that d< ney w raid, but idded that o bottei
3 I . |u provide D6V liln'iincw IW yi'iioriil iv-k. -? i , . | i i fo all
corner ii>! to roerard the librar} ol the British Museum 6e a
library for the higher elass oi Btudents, rather l"i
. th i: «i erudite i udy, and 80 to meet both requirementa. Ac
:i librarj foi the euro of man of letters, the regulations w d b I
i . tout obtain at the British Museum are good in in ae
i probably it could be devised : but I tat.in addition to thai
.: needed another provision ol i different kirn
■-. t i i.il iv:i.(< PB • :i pTOTtfliOTI of nliti':if i lUftl I l.nu'ir ■ . Which WOUld
I'.-rr.imlv I'Miiic umli*r regulations fit' a different kind from those
oh arc found quite sufficient for the uses ol the British
Slu both i J irtw,
Tin1 whole of tne evidence In this direction was, thai in
London, libraries wore required in all directions, and
ili.it (In British Museum Library could posslhlj supply the I
uew Lunduu wasaiuplj erroneous. Questions were sent to
the Public Libraries on the I untlne it, Greece, Rusaia, and i
countries, and Hit repliei are printed in the languages of those
countries. The whale of thi two Blue Book? n. _* be su
as follows; The Committee Iwlieved I ml then ww muel
of otliei i'v whit ii h a
miglu profll and i\ wi would
i n pulse ■ i to
oatin the subject ^hich (in boonei '.'.; in to nionypcrti
.ii I I ■ ip TKB aV Mir DILI &B I 360.
.',::
the
oountr^ further, that Mi country Ee BlflJ greatly in
at of Ii) .-. '•■ ■-.'!■■ to trio p ilic, and would derlvo
at benefit txcxa bfieiz ovtablishtnent There Ei nreob En tho
•r :ni- ! ft their. WOfk, thai W* unv 'I'I'ly to our-
lapse ol tortj years, although we have made
oat '-• I programs, and the \aas ten Iocs not now by am means
in going throngb the ondonco ox air. S,
u*da n [a nr |h, n!b e not to fe tn pulsnt tn ol i tnaa ;i o
tin book needi of tho time, aad tho keen prophetic splrti
touting him In nil ha ■ : did far the enlarging -»i tin-
ork of Public Libraries, Sufficient honour t - \a\ ir rl I D
■I to Ms work on behalf of these Institutions, and the vn-v
t>i. Hint should now be done Is tithers monograph ol his Itfe
ura, v.i tten by ah d i » man as Mr. W. E A- \xon or a
or bust placed :n the M;n 1 1 ester P iblii Etafcrenec I brary.
■ fleeyon l "I ■ •_- 7th February j 1886- and van ■■
the must oaraoel and enthusiastic wurkvra whtaij this uiuvei
imii known. !!■ wai ■ ginallyan assistant in the printed
□ u-traent of tha British Museum, When the Mancceafcer
[braxies were in couro ot 'ormatiou, In worked Tory
ctioa wttl them, and there is noifoubl that
■. iili-i tii"M -■'.■ • ■:* t" hirt wiili; ku"^l''<|'jL of books
anil the ability displayed during his nix yeara' managementi
ii.- netircmeni From ihc Borvioo of tin Manchester Public
■ Commute ■, be published loveral b ■ >ks on libri rica and
etr roan tho m mi nuptu'tii i: Ih-il^- his " Free Town
i," arid ■ Mom •:!'- ■■; Libraries." He was alao the author
lew ol the British Museum," n " I. fa ol
and i i ; i\ ■: . •■• works, and wuh granted ;« ■ ' > ^"- 1 Li I
■ ■!'. and never v. u.- a pensft n bettor
rod, for tibrorie ind librarian*! owe liiiu :i debt of gratitude
. uei er hi |i ibl i« peoiollj when it - considered thai )ii«
I i ; ears While :it work :it tho J-;''
111 Lo i per BMW per am urn. lie was i
hi* des . n m., and
on I ,i i »:--i .-f i ■-. late iaeK to l$3 when he was twenty-
Mr was seventy-four at the tlrai ol his death.
n oi the i wan Rill -»f ISO trehua been
pntly *■■■■ e Da, and the question seemt qok
i- ih :i -,•■•■ i n j I i I it ho many mi ve-
i !■ do in i and w hioii hi vi yone i i he k*crj core
Ifc have had tlirtr hrurJnnlngR In the mf-etinff
trt^i'. ■■■■. ;.in". ir aore men In a hltle ujiper room. HuS
i with the luti-C'on I w L itfue. ;uid Jtuiay beiwudtohavfl
il la." M : ■ i ii'-. i :| ill" I,- I", v. I eh i fa \\ t<iiiiril
"A), ■ lie [Hrviuu> v ■! I 'mi ■ l i-|'i ,ll -1 i
' iho Ewurl Itill In one of the ela oi bhc then
. ihi lio.viil Vh m I" lor li I ituUon
were, on o wintt r'a morning In 1W4, warming bhem«
the ' -i >wing '^t «>f doora. Thcac two
ids were the htl- Mr.<ioua'. Jiu-K^.d. th- lii.in»r, m - ■- i- tary • f
.-,1
I'l lll.fi IhlUllll.v
the -.I'lnhii, ii-ni the other waa Mr ■ ■ <-• '> - ■. Wall to, then the
ter of that school, no* lliu keeper of i \c Vrl noUectl
South Keoirtngl m M woma. Wi . u Ic on uri ■ ■■ 1 v>. Wall to to
prepare .1 tapei m the rah* of museums in the province!
means of Improving public taste. Mr Wallis, however, hn
1 1 .'i be (Mi i;i "Jw uu) w i* 1 in- proper person i<> prepare h paper,
:nin-.!i jia vi i-.n K u IHJJ7 li<" had prepared for ami read
heater M- urn--.' Institution two papers i >eh of
Design," in which DC 1» id ld\ t* &t< d Bomotliuue very lik< in.
■ uie i lor h idi i tic a< I he frfcndlj contention end
Jackson andcrtakin a to prcpi re n paper, en condition t i ■ t hi
t\... .i,--.-i..t. .:;■ i oi Mi (VaUifl, m-I help in its discussion. 'Hie
r< -nit wi\ • ;i ;.'i|»(T mi "'Hi • ii ^i ioi ; i proving public
it was r«ii<i til .1 cnnTorAoatono held In th<
In^tituii.iti on u.ith November^ 1*11. II* paper, and il it
[on which followed, i art Mi V i ti . »* il id o m i
torest thai i*. woe proposed t<> bold -■> public meeting 'or tht
Further consideration ol the anbject. This mooting ww held b
tin- thcutiv uf the M.'iiieheitef Athenaeum, cm 80th November,
iHu.tli.' Into Mr. Rid tr<l Dobden, M P., taking tile ohair. Th*
papet was -jgnin read by special reuuest, and il i tiibjed di - ■
rii-! h. at recorded in tho Vtanoneater newspapers. Una
1 ' ■ rm*nl - Mr. Josi-pli Ill'otl 4-i-t* »n. M.I*. I'll' vil[. i'.
seemed deeply interest** l . u tva* Mr Cobden. in the tna tea and
ufter tin' meeting Mr. Brotherton pmpoaed '<> Mr Jackson and Mr
\\ ottiBthat thoy should furnish him with the materials for drafting
a bill to empower eorparatlons and tho governing i< dies i
ton us to csinbli&li mnsenins, and mpporl them, a* discwesed, by a
Sunny rata, Mr. Brotherton undertaking r<» lay the matter b
r v'\ in lam Ewart, M.P. for Liverpool, who had heencli
the < lommittea "i 1836, which recommended the establiahniem ol
schools of design. This suggestion wan carried out, and on the
';h of Karen, 1846*, Sir Ewart moved in the House of Con n
for Leave to bring in :i bill to enable corporations to establish and
maintain museums or arl. An interesting debate followed,
amongst the speakers were 3ii Robert Peel (then Premier), Mr.
Joseph flume, Mr. Drotherton, and Lord John Manners ; Mr.
i unciudiiig tin.1 delrnLe by ulvuealn y ->i ndio opei ing. whirl i
did not help the- proposal. The result wasbhe"Ac1 fw encourage
ing the cetabllflhrnent oi moeenrnfl in large towns," Owing to a>
variety of circnmafcancce— not the least difficult of which wi p
oondiaona on which rurporations could cofcabliah such muncuui.-s.
and support them by a halfpenny instead of a penny rot'.*— the
\ct was practieally u dcud lettrr but in the se^nion ol I860 Mr.
Kwart « iiirird m\ amended Aet, by repealing that of 18-15,
B\mz powers enabling town oounrile to establish Publt
Ebrariee md museums.
Mr. WaJUG i« o wry modoet man, but wo aro glu-.l thai ht luv*
onnbled us to clear up the point ob to how ratc-aupportod l*nlli.
Ubrariet came to I tablishod. In a Jotter re> I w weobi
affo, no says r.tun bifl ofloioJ wort hai I □ moro with the *•:■
TUJC PAtttlltA OF THE KWART BILT. OP 1850.
Wi
rtoB of museums than villi lihrnrirK. but he has ner** r losi his
Interest in the latter, and baa alvays begged book* or money !<•
lm\ Itirm ,\ 1 « nc vii lie ! L&g ;1 i;id :i cluiiri' of doing 00. lie \\:is
late enough some livr or ':x jmis ago to got n friend to
■■ ire CflO vrortl od I i- kn to one of the London libraries,
Bfl ■, l h utli efforts fare h concrete form to :ui idea which was
widely prevalent lathe public mind. The diTTu&ion of education
- n'l' the beginning of fcne century Imd been groat, and b rapfdly-
loexeaaintg class had begun to Seel the necessity of providing
i- i'mi carrying la a n. ter developinfinl the i dnoation which
bad boon oonfemra on the poor in the aatfcmal schools, By co>
opci iii*'-1 effort the necessary books could be readily placed at
;d of those who were too poor to big thorn top Wh n>
■erres. Hence the suggestion i rate-supported libraries. But
ii limitatlca which it was then thought useful to impo c i i
ably, to prevent the ratepayer from spcndinfi ii
Iclcsaiy tor lua own advantage; were strm^mt, .md not i
The expenditun whb to bo limited to n halfpenny
in the pound on th< 'ateable value <>i the property in ttio
borough <>r dlrtriot odopttnfl the Aot, .mil ivm of thib uoi ;i
;, was to lw spent on Looks. There might ho ;i library,
but it shoulo oontals no books bought :it the public cost. It was
philanthropists would come forward, and at their own
rges " till the empty shelves, lloub
n tamed philanthropist was as rampant in those- <i;iy- :is now,
but hi* mnpnthiei did nor run in this direction. The books
wcw not fortlicomirur, find l*urlianient had again to b£ appealed
id i in result that in 1666 the Let, whiehte uptothenreaent
:!,■ principal enabling Act, wag passed.
The wo] U "i th< late Mr. Willi im Ewarl in connection with this
Hill was i"i bj any meatus light, rind the struggle he bad to
passing i his Bill provides one ot the many examples
often i!n' House tif Commrmfl Imw opposed aisAMiras
to which, after they have ? *- •*• 'i passed, it. has given no
■tinted praise tor the beneficial results i<< the nation non-
terred tu the Acts. vTlien Mr Ewarl proposed thnl British
limn:. Iiuuld be empowered to build libraries, as well as
ri mmi ii||'i\ l';in .mil w ;ih-i, iii: i.l hi levy a local rate
fbrbringui] I ki Into the druwtng-rooni of the wealthiest, the
Clour of !li« tradesman, or the kitchen ol the working nan, he
n sll rcfornaerc have foundi thai hia onJ> proepeel "l*
. 1 1 .-ini'iii wi h iiir huhjfet. The record
Uj Hansard of thi debate on the question is very inter eating, If
not profitn I I ■. rending. The appearance of the "talking shop.''
as Carl vU- irreverently called it, on the second reading of the Bill
i.ii i( was iropoacd to create for the first timeia England
BaniMuniil Fnlilli Tuiiiiiinii mi hat etrildng. The House
was not bv any nioanrt a full one, but the benches were well
occupied by those who bad previously oxpraeaed themselvea
agait Had there bean ionic trumpery personal
In: m.'ulo, find i "'<(!■ expected, every seat
SH
■ .
would li «■ ■• boon occupied, but booaun this feeding ol toi
tolllgeuee i tion w • ' '
IlliMnliiTH liiitfi'iv.l irvor tlK'll' till I. I. |>l; ■ ■
VOLCaal roii.stltiK'iirii-y Mnv \v:it.'h wry «■!.«.. ]•. I in
of their men «n <\ di viriOM, and it Is well for tho ontlonthW
I IM WW i',-:it ^l;i:i ■ Tn lllI'M k'trU to HOll
road • ii ] tin' i ml roading tin- crucial tfagr ni nil
Uld I*- 1110*1 ' I tTKWC Will) tlKlfc pUl'l I '1 !ln- • ■
hnvr join iver i» iii" majority, :1m* pith of he ehl€ i-
nude ":i March 13, 1880, t* hare elveD.
M. Swart, In moving the second mutiny, nth] iii.r Ho* simple
: <»! u w.i- t< ■-.' ive [xiwer to town councils to
Kiii;ill rule Cur be eetalriiehiueul uf Public Libraries mil
BUU6UOU to ill ti!i;nii-j|.:i; ( < « \\ 1 1 > . An Aii Called tin; Miim'uiii
wm paaacxl f our vcoj y,eu tiling town council
li.'Un:-. i |MiuuUitii'ii vi lo.ooo inhabitants and npworda. ! i lovj .
o -t.iUish museum* of science i"l arl for tin beaefj
ol' llo; |"il)|ic. imii all Mini tllfl preeOUt Hill proposed waa lo
i-xtrin! tin- |»t'i:nipk- •}{ tin- Mu^.iiiu*' .\<t to the C*d»1
• ii PubUi Uoraxiee alao. In asking th-* II luso to adop
ore» he> woe booked I j the acting uf inoxg ■ E the towns of
ilh country $ and eirioo he tied introduced it, he hod re© ire*
coaununlcouone from .-■• >raJ large tow ad and Iro-
i ill. who wore deairouE of having tho Hill extended to both m
those countries. Afterwards
Colonel Bfbthorp Uld he would bo hsppy to contribato his mite toward*
providing libraries and tniuonnu aril jn'j - - t r * t i :-* :w the hnnabfor
rlsts in Ergo towns; hot he thought thst, howsvsr nxcellsnt food for the
mind uiit'lit bo. food lor the body huh what wo* now most wanted lu:
the paopfa 11' -lid not tik'-- [fading at all. and Vic hated it >% h
Oxford : 1ml !io cunM dot «co how one iialfp^Miny in the pound would be
•nou^h fcneiisilil" i ,mi ./.mm-ila t . carry into all'cct thw UnmaBM pOWMI
iiii<y ware '" have by 'hU Bill. Ho ftdt that tlii* F-iill would tanruss* tbl
taxation of the people in times when It was not si all necessary, and,
therefore, be moved that the Bill ho icad a second time that i i
mouths.
Mr, Hrolln-rtou wns nurpri*od tit r.h ■ up > ■ tion to tho Hi. I. In
the Brat place, the measure was entirely permissive : and ■ooondlyj
flic rate w u In iited to one halfpenny in the pound.
The moony could, he poiatod out, only bi: applied t*> the en-
of, or paying rent for a building for holding o Public Library or
Museum. No power was grvou to layout the fuu-Js iu the purohosa of
books, apficiuoenu, or pictures ; al ti .-. u.ir ii.n m dpru-nd on t
voluntary uimtrihnclone ot the inhabit anta. In the popufoiis boroil^
ol the country ibis vaa u vary propsj uiouun. In bmlford \im
dQi acting »■■* the rayceeeniativos uf all thu ratope ecm
forward with eloejri y to provUe i bnttduig for a Fuufio Library »nd
miw private ailu of tbe inhabitants had alr#«ily »took«d
"iirn to a ao&aldftrabfi tent, and there had boon voluntary cm
done made of batmen fi.ooo and u.ooo volumea to Uia library (wMftl
ran vjjxxxo cv tu kw.ut mm. or I860.
■v
:
wan attended by hundred? ttw.ty iii^iit) iti U«k than SU HUkntJUL B$
oootandwl that iIik Kill would provide th« rhnapwt noli™ that could
ixjuibl) be establish" d, tad what was the use of alucatiou for the
SB i!-v WON enabled to conault valuable works which they
nnwlvra t'oald not pWOhlMl It wua tho duty of the Ho ilk to
promoto all Ibat had a tendency to btitig the higliar and the humbler.
claw tngollif»r ; but this eould not. hi< dopo unlaw the jwonh* hail lln»
aaahitanco of those above tlicxii.
Mr Hi nml Cit-nwanU Me. I'.p-nial OAbOVM) SAld hi* OhJ&ftl i<m
the Bui Mated on a vary narrow and limn. -.i ground Than
poi tinned :
If it had proposed to flivo powor to towu couiiciIh on an npnlindi.m
7KM IB ' 91 I two thirds or thru« -fourth* of tho inhabitantx of
S
my
a t'two, to be allowed tin* principle «tf tho l'ill, to tax the general body
of ihr ratepayers for the establishment of libraries ami miueunw, ho
would not. havy bad *o uittch objection to thin lueaMim. Dul In; (omul
fault with it boeSBIM it would enable any town council desirous ol
rviryiii'< "»'ir tho v.l'Wj ol any Mull Section "I tb»» inli'i ■itont^, to l.ix
" opener*) body of ratopoyer* for an institution that might soon dogoim-
> political slab, for which onto n few nf* those who wert*
noiuptdled to contribute Hm Ita support hod auy sympathy. Had the
BUI ho a res ly permianrBi aa it was alhj'.od, ho would not have apposed
--'lotiio town councila with imperative power?, oinJ.
cwfori'. If VKKlU •nijtpart tho Amomlrnont,
Lord John Manners now tho Uuho <»f fotthiiiri)piiid, a* far ■..>
root print iplo of the BUI was concerned, no one was more
o support i rbau himself, for his expenonoeoi towns led
■ j wish that hi every town, not only museums but Public
Libraries were catabl - 1 • • . Qt the «um<? tunc the public did eionf
pu 01
Co it
witn great Buspiolon my measure that tended t<> increase tru
local taxation, Uo admitted thai tho Bill would not
upon the landed gentry, but it would impose an additioiiftl
•s upon the agricultural labourers,
Mr. urtiouohcre llsiliei nf the present member for Northampton) said
. to tide. the same view OS tic number for Moutroso, It
uhl hi: most useful if in ovary good-sisod town a woll-oompoKed library
btahliuh'-il to whir! .d! t »• inhabitant* Imd froo ivi^.sa. H«* W*J
nion that it was of much grent^r importance that thfrc *»lionl»l l»ea
■!', than a flood Enuaeum. Noth tig, h» believed, could \k mora
1 - ' . i -.r thaL thoN liluiiiira would he fillod with novrlx
ao.l th« worst •Le«criptioii of litornturo, or that they would be mow
r*-"*y-tA«'i'* of nemiiaparf WI« ihould rooh distrust besBtortaE&ed of th«*
4l«r?rcTion of thp town oounaus, who, he oouceiTed, oonld h* aa
erusud with the iiauu^etuent of this as of other matters placed un i
Tha <| ticxt.Li.rii w.-ia of u'oiisiileral'hi iinnurtsuco, and OOO Efl
ii all cla«ii« #0W iDtafOSted ; and be ■ onft^scd b« did not think i!:r i
Ubramv could h*ad to tho«o oonsoaucn<a-ca which sotno hou. goDtl
•too oppoaod tho inoavuro, sppasrsd '.<< apprehend.
Mr • id hia objootlon tii tha Kill was, that it gavo the town
il i he potfnu "t taxation without •con«ont. Moreover, then waa
liko a falsn pretence in the Bill, for nl though tlm duu
rato w« ssfid I • inly •> halfponny in tho pound, ho observed, b] hi
ihird v'UiiH-, It w.v onacUxl, thai loi tbj larohaso oi land.it ihaD i«
lawful far the town conned, from time to time, with the approval of the
'fni-tiiv, In In now BWMJ at bltM
Mi, John Ilriyllt «iid theft) Wit* mdflatly ETttt a*'* ■inl.ini < ■•! 1m |h
side* of tho House with regard to tho nhj. i. .if the Bill, and lie hoped,
therolbro. that tho Hout* wriukl Dot, on account of certain ofejaol
which might Iw removed, rofueo to rend it a moo i I tun*. The n
far th« Uctrtntftj rfOambri to ttfca an untMy ifronaouavisw
Of llir li.ili;.. mi- i i ■ , whiili Wft| only iiminiri] to apply m the DOJldtng
and fmriiihinjz of tl- the W>fc.i brinj; *nimlied by vuluulaiv
coutributiomt. Thore uixut W a ]ar^>> of oplaiou bofoi
nup could ho taken. The town coanaQi would not borrow £6,000 ti>
bofU aKbhirj nnlM thoy mi ^ii.-ih-i r ! » -. t 1 1 1 . - wealthbr inhabitant*
would tarnish booftSi H« would '«< wbamod of lilnu*lf snd t h«* Home ti
ho BUpiKjfu-d that it wouM ho uet'ownry to oar a word iu favour of tUc
■ ol tho Hill. II* (Mi. Bright) woa qtriu rare that notMni would
bond m >i' i.» th" proHrvfttioo of order than tho diffusion of the n
fttoount of liicolliy-'ii'.-«>, nid the prevalence -i tho m< I compute, and
OpCB iliiriisxion iinongMt all clsfflM, Ho WOllliI glM nfo support t> the
itecoud reading.
Mr. ItoandvLl Palmer, umv Lord Selborne, expressed b dauM
bhftt they were all ukiwI .i- i.. r.lio principle ol brtffl BQL He
admitted
That it would be desirable to liavu good Public Libraries 10 nil towns ;
it Unit was not trm principle of this Hill. T)ir principle of this Mil n u
ta.vntion without the consent of the persona tone nixed. Accord tn* In
LUr Oliootptfl of Lh" llOO, intruder for Mnii-ln sin. tills Idll win.
totally inetlicitnt for , til the purposes for which it wm to bointrcdi
for the hoo. gentleman eaid, that by pawing it they did no more than
enable town conned i to erect the buildings and to purchase furniture.
Why, unit's?- rhf'V wr-? ii'wfN.M ol libraries and museums, what n.hm
eOQQoU would be justified in Meeting building* iu anticipation fbir
cliniilablo [lereoiiM would afterward* prawn t them with books and
curiofiiticA ' It was ovident that the Dill was intended for ult
objects, by which power* would bo priven for the jiui'chat** of book*, ami,
perhaps, «>■> !m U- liifm^-up of loot are rooms. H« lioj
fTOnld coii&idur wnll befnr* they applied to institutions of this ml Qi .
jH-im'iploB of uuhliv manafivioauU wk] coinpuliiory riling iuoload o
voluntaiy rt"'* ivlf-oupportiug principle, which he coiiMdorod to U- Lho
life and ecae ii co nod tlio couso of the utility of race Lnotltutloal, Chi
thoeo groumln bo should uortahnly dMda againot it.
BIT, T'jiliiH'i' fXpi'rssi'd vvlmt. wuh I'Viili'iill) !n- fouling of :i IHMB«
Mik-iiiLuV jhuuIa'I' of membtra, that tho time hud not thru boon
reached when the principle! "i popular control could b€
latrotluoed i:ii" aiatwra ol Dhhj kixia How B»r this rniatnirt
WBB im^ruuinlf'O h&fl hem vhovo hy fteuItA
Sir It. JI. Iiifflis, and other mombore, opposed the oc<
rending.
Mi E« UTt, is reply, tftid that the lnttcrhon. pent lei too ■<■
to forget that this vraa merely u pcrminwivc Hill. Kovoald
now u( tlmi lnl« hour go liitt Ml tho objection*! which had !
QVged Sgfiinst it, liul would only soy that oxiwtinn- iii»i-:» -i. ^ hod
be#o fomuHi i>n tin* Musi-urns A.-t, on tho principle* of ffhidi ) i
Tiir tam ;■• '" ras KWiitr mi.ii ow 1850
69
lyca. 118 | noon. 101 ; majority, IT.
i >ji A[M'il 1 0th the Bill passed tnrougb I oi
earned tin.- present Dill. He would give in.1* careful con-
. ition i" .ill those objections, and endeavour, if pomible, to
moot tl. in, and render bftc Bui more popular.
I After .Mi- M'im v., -■! 0. Grey, and Sir Lav had addreeeed the
ilivi niton, the result being tor tho second
■■
Committee, with eortein
[I nasi be confessed thai the House looked bored with the
■<■:. Tin' nni nliiid- pvopoxd > .of. ire thorn was limited to
<■ tearing "i -H'- and the erecting or adapting of bail
ror Public 3, and The provision from time to timed the
ol maintenance in means of :t library rate; and it wa«
oly d permisclvo measure, leaving every town to decide for
itsielf. The provision "t books was Co te :» matter tot future
'itlnti I.i.nl.irv :i( llii' !lUl'*fitl0T n*. :t IVKt.'d lii'falv rli.»
House i .' ::!ni':i]l> Wonders That io .vho[ilo :i n.n-niv •'imlii
have i i ppositlon. in later stage* the -mull measure
..i practicability which the B0] cani lined was, by the persistent
►orients, lessened in Committee Wheni! was
•i ii ir ird (rem i ho i 'in ii mil irr ii had yei another 1 1 tal to pass, slid
. i it wenl 1 1 hi my i. :i dozen ili*oussionn and six formal *ii\ l-
beforc the opposition ncosed I IMmntely, when it reached
Hie Lords, i i ihe ireoJtol EtwtherecUtw'y clumber b« It said, it was
k] withuul Any uppoaltiou whatever, and, in fact, whal «;<*
KiiU i:i the u 1 1 Led irhauiber was rather on the aide of furtfi
i.in hi hindering the neosure. Ii ruusl be admitted, however,
i.i i i- landed proprlei ra they would not have to pay the t,ix.
When :t received Hie BeyulaBsent on August Utfi, 18G0.its chief
dtoti.-; ae follow;—
I. r« wn count ii- were pern itted, I they thought it well to do
oo, to put i«. iln-ii burgewen thi itiestion — " Will yon linvc n
. ..' for providing a l'i -lii Library/ and to i<"li
■ i thai in ition. Tin proi>o*i i was, I i w :\ \ iin '• d o i
in mi nf no) less than lO,(K)f) within the municipal Iin
i the event of the ratepayers leading thai >| testion in tin.
itiv._'. t i *- • :-ui. bo levied vas limit.1 1 u< n halfpemrj ;" Q i
|K»ii"i'i "t the rateabl* prop< rty,
[fa pro* n-'i ol any mte no IovumI whs :o he applied (I) t<
-.1 of ha MiiiL"-, together with contingent
expense*, if any, I >rthe • te; (2) to current charges of mm
nee,
i. i . ■ i a. re I i ' emp wi red to borro* i to toy on
of any citv or borough which «liall hnvo
ad-M
Other legislation followed, ns will be seen on referenee ;• Che
which the various -Vols will be Found.
ir ; tag t.i unto that tho late Lord Hatherley (Lord
or) then Nfr W P Wood tool* the Hveltesl tnteroHl In
ami «ir«* i nUtancc i<- Mr W Rwart, ni the possli
udii.i ■: i l.ilino'U*"' \v\ ol IWifi l.di-il Hatherley whs h
tbi
i Ion trinfc noi --; tlio W ■ - .. p i! »iio Lllirorin , flro a
ad ;-! \t I <>f the Act, m l&W, by tho»e pariah/-;, until h.
.
i in uni ■<->••
Xhfl tsto W ii! i.i i M Bwart, lived to ioc omc wry h
IV the eatcamo oi his work. Re died m ISUU
nan ii
ii ■ m\ . of rin: BWAftT uii i 01 IWW.
fil
r«n ImmortnlUi i i-i marble, who ill I fai • -■ foi iit»» public weaJ
than has been aeeoTDnWabed Ih tin- Public Libraries' Acts, which
■,: i r a? c. tic . . loctatad with bin Dome. lit.' mu the second
non d the la i- Mr EvarLmerehaab, rf Liverpool, near which dtj
he vu bora m 179& The Bwnrtc are as >ld Ki kcudbrlght
i; nil.; . daUl fl ImcK lln-n i.t [070
I Ii- r;u u • !i. . pd nt Kton, where he had .nuong
fellows l'r. Puaoy, Mr. Dcniean, i peat Speaker A the
..) Commons, Dr. TVowi r, Bishop of Gibraltar,
i lundunderry, and othei *. Prom Et< 1 be
•. , n i : I h, Oxford, and took his U..V degree In IfiJl,
:i!i.l hi 1827 lie waa culled to the l»tir. After leaving Oxford ho
irn in Italy, Germany, and France for the purpose
; ol ii i bo fiou i1 rioa He not only
I i very Lccompliehed linguist, bul hia fcron ! i
lira ii, librunofl I i op -\ \> I ho
I;.;, i ',■• : ■ )i, I lOttlM I 1 1 |l ! I ;. i: ;i i nl :i - !ir;J i|-ti \ ■ i>r|
tin .i ■ I ies and lov. ih .t- wo! endowed in
hiU !.'•■;. In ■'■ le entered Purhurnent for tho wnee
i-i ..i Bl«torringU>y and voted or the first
i . it toi Liverpool i nd lat< r Eor
iov pvp i in hum i toted with roe Dumfries
, which ■'.■:: xnx fn m I--I1 f«> lMttft. In the
M ! .'I I :- i ■ i r - -. * : Ml'. !''u:i'l\ ii:ri,r rijtjii'ni'i'il VCl'V ■■-
. in ihe report a r.f ihr Parlii men I ir_\ debate* na i xpenker,
ii -■ i >ii tlra n w iirii he was in onvanCM
in. i nn i' Hurh a*! the augar duties, J'oi Free
ir, i'l id I KM tor the Repeal u the Oorn l.;i\vs.
i ■'.-.- which have gone to (he very roots of
i] w i i"i-l .I -i n- • . lit ulvtay* exhibited .i laudable zeal *»n
lie iHipuluiiuu uJ i) ir lar^H and
tdvui'iitcd the opening' of public museums and
:. |h M'.H \?h of M-oi k- of ;ui, it-- free from
p" - < tie. lie also was among the nrsl to
me of tli"- v h i ■■■ Ktcadj perseverance
iii bills for the L'stuhlwhment of schools of
l m;iIioh i:- very apt t<> forg< t the west blessings
■ rue* I h -in »omc of the nmall and apparently
■ raed l>y the House of Commons, but the
■■■ Ilium 'i'.- ;M ever he kept green faj tho
"seollonl portrait or him appears
In tho middle of 1887, Mr Gladstone, h)
j ■ Pal i.' Lil i iry, paid n high tribute to hi:, me ■■
h;il Sir Jehu iJlndetono, t ic father of \Lr.
m:iti ■ ; i i>f ! i • hither o1 William Kwort,
■ rriend'8 »on &a Chriatian names
tiis ov.ti *on, wl ■■ isticgniflhed. WiUiani
Piter monument than that ol ins noma
: i.-i in ii.,' name ->t L*ngland'fl greateat living
11 nkmg nt Swansea, snie] i
the -niy it»y of my political life, mid the iiauto
id
es
i-i i
«n« «l>om I know w*ll from my l-oyhood apn-*Td-, MS
William Ewait, who putctl iho Pnt- I
lory and whoso »omo» I look back tv.it tha g
ML Thru- iv SO (lotlhl thai Mr. BWAtt, liy I
[led u[wn ii., h-i ui i
Ho *.'-■ fa r hi t.l.i-
I i «- t - ■ :...(!..: I'uMii lufiiv.pi'i- at a very oarly (1«t> , mi 1 hi
ffhOZ I'll' I holier cT>1i<irc
hifaettfi RuntlUf tow ill— -ha wu fa thai
I'.i:l 'ny .|» pre llit'ir lim-mif A|i;nr *
mul Nfl it* '■ '• ftliiili w/i- ii
v. !m'!i ■••' ■ ;■ !• '-ived by bin in tiki fa «!:■' .n. . Ioor twfarc otn n irni
f ft ■ wUld tin1 majority wot*-) rorh»pi n< ■! m >1 ' ■■ tr«t
it »v ii - r •'■ i i-t -<f a bonevoltnt mind, md ih< ■
-■..:]■.-■ Hum <»f lrw jiiil.viin-iiT. Notwithstanding ituJi i)!myhi i
Mr. Bwart laboured Ktwwiib ■" ,!" l'-" •' lll,i "■",!l1 • no* lw »m
db b. . i -I' i. ■ tbo aooeptn
f'Ui'poac ho-i
Mi. Bwiu i vu tor thi
twin* Hie 1828 and 1868, when lie resiffned In Una
DtirghSi li.'ivii :; rcpn-M nt<'«l llirni h-i &W
The prote&t wTtter fai ;" i d rom Miw Ewi pi
■ i ottoni 'i : u i uie bu vith I"
ion pi oti :: i ■ 1 1 : of their lati father to mi I i
ic in the conntry,
I TTATTKR VII.
THE FIRST PUBLIC LIBRAKY UNDER THE ACT.
[|HK influence ->i Mtnchaalei on con i »• -j- ■<-, politics, and
edOOfttlOD UU 01 ■■* "'''ii ' r ■.'.-r-t'i' fane, and .
cn-ivi-t in/ rrcdifi of MuiH-ltcsIcr be i' - :i n ) thai i
i tie Aral I twn bo will Itmil nl the i nUi.- Mbrunc
ol 1660, l '"ii mo] i i ■■ ni.i;. ran nnMy i»- nn
Pad iml the author of Lltfi work,! ni Uvm i i thnl iltstrtrt, looks
buck in.' i . ii u limr when, iw n Ins] i -
teens, in* iwed i to old CwtJii Geld Library i - i born ■
honour to Unnchcste oi what uric lin* iloni1 for the arii
im. iu of luxowledgi and noeia] progress in it-* •.
Harrington tiud Mi jcuto and tloferciici Libntrj from
i: : iportod Mufteum from 19 1 1, ande*
h an Actol .......
Lihriii v. and Mn-
it . Ewurl VI . bul ' m loiijri il • i n»dii «-i ■ ■
: to the Acl hi i ndinir and '■
■7-
TJi Mt kin : ill pep >'-i ■ i
Tiirv wttt then issued rw 1 1 .. veck( cli
and Satl ;,: ■; . fh> op nin ■ r-n n
run mm !■< mi' i.inrunv cm lr thh ah.
BS
t; place on the afternoon and even ngof Thursday, -■< |»i« i iber
i - , ', and to iiu- issui -1- of Sal arday the 1th the fullest pro nm-
»xj is given bo the report* of the two meeting*. Gach ■•[ the
LnebeeCor papers devoted about a column bo ;i Leader "'i the
| i-vciii uliirh had i.-ik.-n pUkCS in lln'.ii- miilrit. To the
ternoon im-ri ii:.</ snmeebrjil iTilurnns are devoted, ami bha report
i>i riir Bvenin z meeting extends to between fiva and six mtumn*.
Nothing could belter demonstrate ihe signifleaiiec of tlu* eveul
■ estimation of the Maoeheeter press than this fur, ami
in thai 'in" to the present the "Manchester Guardian/'
Examiner and Times " and * Courier " lmu- uever nv.s'il in vm-
bile libraries their earnest and consistent advoeaoy. Tin- to ia
tlit editorial* is hopeful and Uioyont throughout, and iu
ruaiug cwefollj iin- entire fifteen column* *>i newspaper matter
issible not to be struck with th< inspiring tone which
lixed the procee'liug-A. Tin- " M.iu. heat r Guardian " in ita
itorial, remarked that "Sir John IVtter tun I hits < u.hIjuIm-.,
i ih. foundation o* the Public Library, softreery need bobeoon-
ilntvd on the brilliant ceremony which bus crowned their
boon, it bhey Ecel towards the nnaoeni institution as towards
irnotur.ii "tT>rrin^ Mn-y i : i i s i have some satisfaction in rcflcet-
:i more successful christening never ushered into bhe
odd n favourite of fortuno. No good tuns was absent from
fcntal boardj nor, we firmly trust ana believo* did anv
t genius alip in uninvited to mar 1 1 * ** destiny whian
many powerc Elad contributed to reader perfeot. In our age
i:itiv few undertakings have been laimched under more
t or \:iri«.l :mspi.'4'K.' Then then- lirilovi later cum tho
i Qoce '.i rds, bo pregnant with hope and foresight : " To
hot ratal fields ol mental end moral elevation, Indrvubud and
avenue was opened for our teeming population <m that
v never, ars trust, to be shut to the poorest of our fellow-
bo long as BCaneheKUT ho» an existencv nrnl .1 name."
years &he doors have been open to t* i-* very
ml through nil time to come, as far as obi can be
ojmanly certain, fcliey will remain an open portal for the long
. i ^.-n.- ■ itlona in mllow.
La the time approached ror the opening ceremony the interest
Khe uiijcri increased, subscriptions were multiplied, and
morons were the ipphcations for tickets, \ more brlllianl and
l.i'lli- -iu.il ,i.-.M'!]ilil;ii',« was seldom seen tliuii thai Which filled
tv nook and cranny of the reference room of the Oampfteld
pliers the meetings were held. The lending library m
: id Hour was 'p«-iuM.i il> ;i ictvption room, At a quarter
■en .i.tn. the principal gncnts came upon the platfoi u,
; with loud applause, Op the chairman's
i; i ;u i Mayor of Manchester, the Bi&ac i i
Bufwci Lytton, Bart., M.P..R. Monckton
:i,r [afterwards Lord Houghton), w, Makepeace
lv, .John Hright. M.l'.. ''harlca fought, James I'lossley,
■ 1 M. Robs, To the left of the ehairmun were— the Earl of
<-.!
PUBLH JBttAJU 9
Shafted | ., , > I,,,. |. ;,-i ,i w ,1,.,. Dickon^ Sir I
Stepl Jo*eph Hrotherton, M.P .1 x Turner, tteavurex oJ tho
i'i.m.- 1 ibri ■■■ Kttnd Sir K \ mttago and Diomafl ftudty IV
whole* of thoBC hiiVe nOW pMWfMl "ViM- tO the n :ijonlv, 0U1 UM
movement whose birth the* were celebrating 1* dootUM
tti\ i-l. i|»i- Iltr rlililr PiMintPy liV llic ':i;i • il:.
mitnfl QtuDM round.
The entire ri iry oJ tin-so two meatlngn in »-» full of tnteres
bears retelling au well thai the Indulgence of (in- m ho
asked r the detail* seem wearisome "Hie chairman Aral
:: raporl of the hlstorj if tho Institution, Thto occop etl 1
"I miju .1 1 \ |»c i 1 ill- ■ 1 •: ivpuitv h. I h ■ Ml 1
a rata 1 ■ wat ■■' I on fool for Lite (BtabHshincnl of 1 Ub
r.ui ,1- ii wan Hie eepecfaJ objeel ol the pr tera u< proYfoc
inr.ui> for thO Hint,:! ciillinr .in<i Him i! CleVHtioil Of UlC lU'llSMi-
.llnl V, 'rk|n-M|il.-. \\!:.- ; . .] )li|)(H hllll .111 rli.-iiir
such a ooaununity .■- Manchester, it was hud dowi ,
in. 1 l;il bSBSfl Of th< ■- ■Ih-iim-11Ii:i( \i (llOOld include B FTC* l.mtliuj;
Library, &n Institution up to that time without example In
count! v. In rapport of thin ohject twenty-nix t< iw leuaen mjI-
Beribed. either for thcmecl tea or for thi tr respective Arms, the man
of C100 each.
Tho baUdinp :it Campfield hod oarly boon pointe 1 1 I .. well
ndnptod to the oonton plated purpose. It had originally been built
by thi w rking eloasoA with om outlay exceeding £ft,000, 1 mi 1
iln then existing elretunstoneoii tho 1 ntcroated worowilliD
dispose of it for £1,^00, SirOewol Motdoy owned n ehiel
itpnn it of tH Us. por annum, winch wax estimated bo be worth
twenty-four yoara purehaae, or about £$£00. That gentleman!
on being informed o1 the purpose to which it was intondi
devote the building, expressed his cordial approval, and m
that he should value toe eluef I'pnr at twenty yeare'
£1,826, and should fni'tli^r t«>'-iit'\ Mi'- goodwill to the |>r<>jei I by
reterning one-half *"ii ihn piivoi ■ ■"■■! -- ■ ••<! tniHituxn tottu
fond. In January, Iftfil, the first appeal was made to tho pub! ■
iii-h|ht iht i: itu I mppOrt, I':nlii'iil:tiv ;,\ to lln' timnuWnn *.! the
Mhrary t\u-n follow. Tho spcocli of the chairman, Sir John Potter,
Aral after the recital of the partleuUrR by tho ■•■
Thp mayor, Robert Barnes, who won* hi* ennui and badge ,i!
ffflcf. followed
Tiic Earl of Bhaftesburj - Rh€ good eart— eaidt—
In riirinp to propose tea Ant rwoltition, I mojl defend rnyaoir tg
Ilio iiPCiliftblf charge, that, an a stTBiiger. ui'l 1:1.- uTinci'ti'd will; y>ii ■
1 i \. I prctouna (.'> obirude myaelf upon Lie notloe of this niotHin^r. 1 \ 1
R-ftoiution whicli I ain called upon to ruovn, cxprcaars : " That tluo
in« witiifssoj with gre*t Natisfaotion thu oponing o«romonial of the '
dierter l'nhjio Liltrar)*, and durinti to axpTQSl '- mtire coolidoui^ tba
1 ■ 1 1 1 ■ ■ tttetion will eifcrt gcrnt ami lantin^ ^nod to tho coraoinnlty fbt
KOtH'iiilioiir. lui-uiiu'." Thoru will !»■ .1 • <ii lnjull v in ubuiniii^ jnnr cor-
curreiice to this resolution, aud tliere "ill lio iu IiitJ« cliOlculty in allowing
to the hy atandera and the world tho largo and local Vncl'ts that will
ri I, [. -:ih;auv rvi>KR THI'. ACT, &J
loin ihii iiiftiuiidOB Hut we muat go further than local benefits ;
and elluw me to observe that in thane day* of punmit of exiuteweut, in
th«M day* »f novel projects end restless inqu&y, En these day* of soonler-
atnl prdj'n\Hs, vrnsn time And space MSfil alrruwr. BCtlnOt }'"" ar* preparing
hereby an antidote to mischief* thai un^ld likowiae Arise, ami hetting en
\(, may be imitated ; audio laving down a principle of uni reran!
application, yon assert that the true cud of com moron ia to make the
sMMoitiiM or the oouutry mbaement *o it* civilization, and then ite
--.tinti subservient to the tofial and moral amelioration of tlip whole
family of mm. N«ik, *ir win, m ttlBSG days will presume to ntifetlnn the
! rowing mporUnoa -i uu man of commerce ami industry* Thsj lo
, ■> before, limine for a fcime, and then become absorbed in the grritt
maw of proprietors. Thoy now stand apart, upon a aoparato and lude-
tptident. r.naie, and claim lo be beard as e<iua1 to the boat in patriotism,
i principle, and In Intellectual power. Our institutions — Ood beprniaed I
— <nn we!! bear this demand. . . . You have founded this great And
florSoui institution, large, liberal, and cosmopolite ; and fiom my heart,
vvt. iiiiy fjod prosper it to the pnrjioao to which it woa intended ; and
In tho pursuit of wealth, and in the duties of rommoree, in tbo
virtue, and in tin- rjD«£nUDfBO0 of ©very sound and gi'oat
"iay you, I any, thereby sanctify the pr>sw*sion nnd enjoyment
m ridies, ;ind iiniv yon enjoy fur yourselves, and transmit to those
who ii hfttt you, lb', ciri/.i ii&iiiu of a crowning city. "w!m«
merchant* are princoa, ami whoso traffickers arc the honourable of the
rarrb,' Ih.-refot'-. urn hmrtlolt ntisfootioOi I propose, the rotolution
I have bad the honour to rend to you.
Brtvard Bulwer 1-yttoDj m.r, spoko u follows:—
In rieuruf to second the proposition WfilOb ha* been platwl before you in
•uoh eloquent ami touching tonus, 1 am reminded that there wu once a
i^int, who, having raised himself to a rank in tho eyes of
rfi) Iwyond thai i*f oixl i nary princes, desired ulso to luise the whole
<law which liu ennobled in the scale of intellectual nobility, and wan the
first to institute libraries for the people in the rural districts of Scotland
That peaeant wai Robert Hums tho poet, and when I Look around this
noble- hall and this Urge assembly ; whan I know that behind me Arc ( !•>•
aonl rffaattOM that come from the palaces of your kings : when 1 see that
q tnej i* one of our most reverend dignitaries uf the church ; wheu I
■c* be] he rflpros«rilativcs of aome of the loftiest houses of our
aristocracy ; and when 1 look upon cither aide and know that you bavo
present alto the representativec of the orders of literature aud art ; and
win n fan me nrul sen an array that I eon few* awes and dazzles
m men '.run k!1, composed of those woo Are never absent where $;ima1 ia
b> V done. I own I do wish thuL Burue could have foreseen what msnl-
loence you hare pven to bin idea, . . . But, ^uUomon, education does
net ceeeo when wo leave aohool ; education rightly considered is tho work
of a life, and libraries aro the aohool hnoka of grnwn up num. 1 wr«
touohed when the other day I wa* taken by Sir Elkanah
;nil niusaum at Tcel Park, which. 1 believe,
owe*** much to Mr. Brotbertou ue this library owes to Sir John Totter.
I km moved «nd affected when 1 saw *<» many inteUigflAt young facce
teeit OTtr bookl with each ear neat attention ; and when I felt, what
Mn> old RnglLth KOltemont <^f tho alc-
h«»* and il
*»
:■• ni.i MSB
ran nunc Chariot Dtckefil ;—
1 have kcu so uiui)' references made in newspaper*, in pajliamcnury
detains aod elsewhere to the "Menoheoter School, that ! have loaf had
a con«idcrahln anxiaty to know what that phra.uo tnight mean, ana whaL
the " MmOOhvtat BobOOl " Blight bn. My natm-el curiosity on this head
lia* not b*U diminished l»y Efac wry contradictory acr-mint* I have
ii" ivni rt*|wctiiiR that same " school ; " some great authorities a* i
rue tust it was a verj good uuc, »ouit thai iL was a reiy had one .
tint it was very broad and comprehensive, some that it w« very narrow
tail limited ; some that it was all .-ant, ami some that it wee all OOl
>•■..<-. ln<lio» and gentlemen, I have solved this ditrioulty br finding ben
today that The " UaofihMtST School " is ft great, free an lino 1, hunt on
, i mug iimLruuliciD to On- poorest healths. It is thU great frc* school
in v King the humblest workman to come in ami he Us student ; this great
five school, most munificently endowed by voluntary subscription in aii
incredibly short space of time — starting upon its glorious career with
20,000 volumes of books— knowing no sect, no party, no distinction—
knowing hilt the public Want Anu thfl ftflbllo good. Henceforth thi«
boUdlng shall represent to ui« the ' Manchester School/1 *nd I pray to
][r;i\L'ij, DOnOTor, thai imiuy great towns and cities, and many high
authorities may go to school a little in the Manchester seuiiiiarv, and profit
by * iw: Dobla lesson that it teaches. . . , I hove long boon, in my sphere,
a leal on 8 advocate for the diflimoii of knowledge among all elaseea and
conditions of men ; heesuse 1 do believe, with ill the strength and talA :
with which I am capable of bojicvirtg anything, Hint the more a man
known, the more humbly and with a more faithful spirit he cornet* back
to the Fountain uf all knowledge, and takes to his heart tlio great sacred
prtceDt, " On earth peace, goodwill towards men I"
Willuiin DtnkepeOG6 Thackeray stakl:—
Sun will see that in seconding this resolution, iny trouble need hut b*
hiuaII. Of oouree, amongat the many tanitary aud social reforms which
t.very men in tor sated in the public welfare ui now anxious to push forward,
the great ntfaSOTeof books will not he neglected ; and w^looV to thos«
rut much an wo look to air. <*r to lijjln. «r m witter. If hook.- do motho.
cheer, and console; if hooks do enlighten, enliven, and fortify ; n'
<\d make Rom w bearable to UB, or touch us to forgot or to endure it . if
they do nrente in us harm lea* tears or happy laughter, if thoy do I
t . pa in da that peace and that feeling of goodwill of which Mr. L)i
spoke, ,ind whirr anybody who hs<i read his tH>oks must have felt ha«
mtiu from them surely we will not grudge these estimable bl easing! to
the poorest uf our friends, but will try with all our might to dia
lit. k ..heap but precious benefits over all, Of educated niochoiii
course, it is not my bufiinetfi to speak, or ovoi my wish to protend to bo an
LnitrUOtOT. Those who know the educated mechanics of this vast I ■
this empire, srn aware that thoy am in the hahit of debating the greatest
literary and political tiueslioiis iimoiigst themselves; that they
leisure li> lluiiK, and talent to -pink, much yrentui than Ihat of man WnC
BOflnctlnua an obliged to Appeal for a moment before von. Thfj ha\«
thoir poets and thoir I'iiilo.n-pli.r-. The character of their education fa
vary much ehanged from that of oue hundred years ago, whon, if jrou
remember, HofSlth Npresented the evil mechanic as occupiml with
riundi- :. mid the good mechanic as luring arrived at the reading of the
stoarj ttf the good apprentice, who wi> iiuide Lord Mayor of London. The
trr rum prit:.. r.rmtAnv iamsr vhv act.
.17
inTiiVi nt our ilty liavt goi tl>n r ( arlyli bo raid, their TMolcensc* on
half, ami their Bttlweri by thofl aide. It i* only to tin I ri
(g -Iiot the resolution which wo luvn l*:ioi.- U
4ji|ilirM, I am nurc that JCO Wul UM all your endeavours to tm»ot the
purpoaee for which it woe- intended, and to carry the •■ontontn of your
noble volume* into tba eottftflet, garret*, and eellan I am awai'i',
Sim h men. that in so vast n collection, the sort of work* which I am In
e habit of writing can occupy but a very soinll space. I know that qui
uotvIs ar«: bat whal w.: may call tart* for the people. Ilicto/y ia bread,
aiiil science ii bread, and historical and epiritua) truth form that upon
eh li'v must 1"--<I. But, a* one knows, that whoa evory fresh book
i« written, * n«* deain springs op for better and better reading. I fee]
rhot your attempt to improve and iterate the condition of the
working eluaica of the ■••'iiiimimlY will bt cruwucd with sucee*.-..
1 I'" lessor of Modern History at Cambridge,
rnoredi "Thai In the It for< i ct Library this meeting hail* with
iboxc i. provision fur the vrante ol the scholar and
i i.k-ni »r vwry clam, and in most branches aJ liu-minn-,
i e, i ul art . and records its firm expectation thut, hy a con*
mace "I liberal aid, this department ot the institution will
ri ■ i ]■!"< ii ictual information and improvement."
In tin oourft '( hft speech, Sir Jamas sold;
K*VV« are liriug at a time wlim it in not permitted to any uisn tn with-
Id tbe littlf which it may br in his rawer lo contribute tomttdfl the
mih -iRiit ■«( such oigoetfl a** tliiM, l'hteo mighty discoveries them-
juigit inventions, these gigantic revolutions, tlieao uuhenrd-ot miffrt-
tbGM heaving* of tli*1 lower strata of human society-— the increasing
p-Af«r of the popular voice, —all tliunu tiling testify that we have reached
lonipliaumeiitofthe prophoov of the time when ' : man shall run to and
(Vc, ami Knowltdgo be increased." We are, therefore, approaching a gnat
I and catastrophe of human ahTaira. To approach Buob n orieU and
tropho in the right spirit, it behove* us all to do oar bttVL S*OT
. donti your best . you ' avo erected thm temple el knowledge in the
of a multitude whom now, ts we havo heard, we regard with con*.
i-i-i ■■ mi in. Kin. bul tfhoai altered circa instances might cause u« to
vita othorand difforant feelings. The future, however, bio thr
boLi» of Him who niloa us all ; on? businaaa is with the present hour,
in I - ■ ■ '.-at duty.
i: hi p< ^ >nokton Milnes, U.P., said he remembered, not with-
tamo, U iv* many "i the elans to whioh ho belonged poueSB
noii^rniri' vni i*<*|K>a1l friea ol ttookaof which hardly a vohrme avax
n< od ii'diii tin1 nholvea " lint let me," he wont on to say,
ilato yon on having n population which can rend the
, ,: s . . 1 1 hurt* gutlnM-«'d, let mo congrntuhite you Ilial llio
lrpoars ot t i ■ library uro noi Umltad i*> y^' own Ubdralil^,
i|n\ rc;irli ut oner with :» tnimpot-voico the inroll'i-
. ,-.,: ..1 III.' (MKtH'm «tf till* [H'U[ll«' ul MMIH'lu'sI'T "
i i ii Bright, M. ' . whs ii Ium heHi vein, as will In* Keen :-^
TIk labia* if V Aot wu a very iuaiiieiviit and inuomplnt. niouwirn. Ho
v»s in ViLi-Uament at the time, and wiw the dilKcnltlex which Mr. Kwart
o»d Ur. BfOt barton, the nAreuta of the mewnre, Imd to pass it through
rTeoav It way an extraordinary fact that the opnosit\oi\ cahw
OH PT»M. IIHRARIIS
almost ontrrely fr-un that «■!• "f ***** Hetet which was oompoard of
(-..uiiiiv jpmtumen.a groat portion of them, no doubt, having had *n
■'iliK-Aiion At on* of our tern* l imi\. Those jpmUeiunn oppeiiedthe
lateen l thai Uion ncr* certain tra mUftol
the corporation included corUin j+jrirultural districts, and thai ii would
BOt 1 1 d [■dVltom c» * proper thine to *dd to tho " burden* on land " by
I Lhl Hill. Ho wa* »uro that no class, whether connects
agrbaltOfl «r with inniiuf»<'tnrw, could iHtptUB with mioh an UMtru-
■ ■ ■ - ■ ■ ■ iin ritbiii r.ihreiy aflbrded w Uu people; end thai 11
would bo hot tar for tho country if eTery manufacturing *ui<l agricultural
iabuurc.*. every manufacturing ■ nT'itol'ot, and every farniar, «wm well read
and uuouetot) in til Uu branehoa which were accumibl* in this library
IK.ptiUiMu of Manchester.
Qharloi Knight, who «iid ao ranch In tho prorfc bag crl cheap
literature for tho people, moved, "That
Matjdl of thifl inr.1i!i:i. r i >i i ■ -■ * 1 v ■!<• .in- that the c\nruplc
now given nuiy bo fed lowed by tho establishment of tlmuftx
UbrtUTM in fin- populous cities ana towns of the United B
Then later IB he soid: —
HfiSt ■.imori'ly mi it (n be prayed lh*t this example might bo followed ;
but ho p.. i I - 1 nr.t refrain from -viirc«iting Mb conviction that tho timo was
not fai distant wbcu it wuuU no aaiversally (61 lowed, anil when the
populous cities and townn of thfa kingdom would rival (hi- siatefn!
BXample. . • - Out of thin library tlicro must, grow aO UteaUgeaoc
that would go forth throughout tlie country to exilian tea *nd to r«
lor it Was perfectly clear that, amongst tho groat body of won who worked
mi the factories, tit ore lunar, bo men who wore anxious t» enlttvato xomr
pertlpular punttlt, In which limy might uue day attain to — "^ntflfta,
A few other speakers followed, and a working re
I 'umimgham, hoped thai Mr. John Bright would see there through
tills "halfpenny luit4-.li" referring m the limit of n rralfr*
pate in the Ewarl Bill, ami which was afterwards removed by the
Bill of L60JI
Thette were? the leading speeches at the afternoon meeting. At
the more public meeting in the evening, the Earl of Sbaftaflhiin
a^rain SpQaO, ami SO »li<l Mr. Thackeray, and an Incident occurred
in connection with the speech of the able and pore-minded
author just named which should nol be allowed to be forgo
reflecting a* it does the greatest credit upon the seustl ivi
p itn. ii.mii of | is writer of * Vanity Fair " and " Esmond "
IhoK- whn lutM .iMtl his speech at the y.-Mii-nu^ earlier In the
tlnv cannot fail to have been struck with the tone vi dignity
and the- earnest hope! dnosfl which pervaded it. In the ?\-
the vista of popular libraries being c*taMishod all a fcli
D nantry and the educational and elevating influences n
weald necessarily flow from the extension of tin. movement, ■ nrei
oame Mr. ThaokeT y, and he olnuptly Bat down in the umldle of
,ui inc'impleiod ^onN'm-e, much U> tho eurpriae of the audience,
who cheered him when tlie words he was uttering came I
sudden atop. After learning of the incident, mv respect for the
memory of this genial and good mon was greatly enhanced. It
TH» riBST I'l KIIC i.JM«AHY I SI>ICR r II K l< 1.
,;i
doi Hie lack of words lootracb m M Hbci oo the Mglily-
:» -rasitivf man, on the opening out of this dc^
m.:.. in Kngland'a educational history, The Manchester papem
make no mention of this incident. And not only Ibaokeraj
all who lift ui» Lln'ir voice En publlo, nave al boi io period ol i lu-ir
■ ■■■ to be grateful U the kindly charity of the Freae,
Lt..i'..iuy hi : i*ili::. on Mi- inauguration uf Public Libraries
i red also in "The Times," ft Athena-urn," " Illustrated
.<>n News," and other papers; but at a distance of bhirty-
eijtht yean we have yet to ttei En] j real ted thcee tnetftatfonj
.- pari of om national tnstatutloiie. One of the pnpera
just named made use of the following language, and were it not
very ecrtuin that it was in 1863 when it waa flret pril tod, we
,i i ir disponed to rub our eyes and sci* if it was ■ - »l tfday
when jt actually appeared* Ihe writer aye : — " In an age when
Public Libraricfl hare become necessary, wboi the love uf hooka
is daily spreading wider and wider in Moiety, tlio li i
is 16 much i legitimate business as unv other* It,
Ic'it, il- '• 'Hie;; ;i • i < - ('oil, wlit-llur, ills! e;t<l <»1 l/iiijI" | Fl'00
brary to borrow, the wonrintf man and the cottager, u wall
'! j ivr |»>rlioiN "i the middle-classes, would not purchase
, if justice were in this respect done to their producers,
nth an international copyright, and untaxed paper asd advwtJee-
menu, the literary j/euiua of this age would Bad itt money
rewardfoom the public oi its- own md other States. I wouM
eeeeo. to a great extent, to bo indwrtreeaand in difficultly md
I t>e as well paid by the sale of its commodities as the ruanu-
c&n •>: Manchester in the production and sale <>i thelra
Rxpi •: molca d< not suit the multitude of readers. Books
must be made cheap ere they can be made accessible to the
• the wnrlcship. Ky n":l menus ler our towns and dtfeti
have riirii- Public Libraries \ but, at the same time, let eahave Rree
i ore Tin- two objects are an far from being I leompatttile,
tlint the eeoond In reality includes all cha advantages of the flint,
villi many others of Its own The ' million ' require cheap books
us well as cheap bread. If they cannot gut cheap good hooka
i'i'' >\ ill have cheap bad ones "
itioo of the Public Ubrary Movement, graced
a* it washy the presence and active aid of several of the
■ i liora of Llie day. whose reputatR'U* ^iiiii lustre
il dj i uioh so the years rece h . wae an event to "huh
i) well ook back Upon that occasion the readers and
Mukcr5 o! books »trii) l t.i -t- to face, Manchester, the city id
nameroua industries and well-dlstr touted wealth, declared witb
H.v appreciated the uses and I i igaof
■ U , and desired U extend thorn i>. nil classes of her
peopl- . edged literatu o to be ^ powei in Qn
' lovernmcnt then practically denied
■ .wl( 1^. .
Bifr. Vlexander Ireland, a Muuchcttcr worthy "! I »< Brsi water,
a tdciutilc literacy i"lc, ic-of the very few .nil living
7«!
i ' Rl i' 'T OB A RIP*
■ ofcan lotivo pan hi the prom crw movement, and
fratutatcd, aol only on the purl he than t K)k
-n ii loi II ■ ■ i i public usefulness. \nothi -man who
! i- h| :ll || Al "■! i l>'\ WOOtJ, .1.!'..
wild imii remwobwn the maeUrn? Ft (h inmoeslbl' for i M»n.
(■hearer man in !**- 1 i\iin tYnii ■_»■ >inir ImeU, In meatiny, n
premise* In wlneli II:. ii inci'llii).' w.i:. Iii'l.l i hnflill im.
toolbar mm, hut vbdeh deserves « tablet placedup aenrd
it* history n-> Hi" onuUe of i new nuoiu] mi cement wluch will yet
spread Kelt orer U e entire length and breadth of the land
ll'iw much wo owi 10 of theao appaj
tmportonl hoi ""■ "1 reform, which buve, through much
difficulty, been pieced 021 Hie Statute-book, will never, perhap*,
1* fully recognized, hue so Tar a* this movement la concerned, we
woaU scatter a handful of lowers over the graves of Ewarl,
Potter, DrothertoD, Edwards, Shaftesbury, 1S1 ighl . 1 liokena.
Thackeray, and Lyttou ; and ae the movement gains nev Life* euia
in fas: enveloping the entire country, we would thus call to miud
the 1 eraory of those who struck this uew vein in tV nation'i
;u id gave the Drat Impetus to a cause h Might with blesatnjE for bh«
1 ommon weal.
CHAPTER VIII.
HOW TO BRING ABOUT THE ADOPTION OP
THE AOTB.
JT is ;i healthy and liappy eharacteristi ■ "I public life in Ibis
country that, in the midst (if political controversies whli b
gu down to the very roots ui our national exjsten©
unity, our Btutesim-n (if nil partus .ire looked upon as 11 < -u
of light and leading whose views on subject* "I" general
ami aon-politlcal interest are entitled at all times to reevoclful
bearing and attention. Aa .1 people we light »toutXi and
vigorously when political issues are at stake . but even while the
battle ragefl mow fiercely we are always ready U lay down tie
weapons of political warfare and to listen paticnl j ai rt ped
1 ui It ■•> men who have earned the right to speak with authorH
tuples \>i common social interest. This is a trait in our natj
charactor which cannot be too highly valued, and we may well be
proud of it. Life, and especially public life, would son '< 1
worth having l tnorcwere no questions or movement** uffc
the oomxn m weal of the people in whfel those <>f nil b1
ol political and religious opinion could stand together, and wodi
shoulder to shoulder for the achieving erf agrvex purpose Ear the
g i al the whole local community Tin.- characteristic u\ \
will, fffoatost loive wlien it i- lu^u-iit in ;li<- teat tA movement*
tike tli- '!i<- now '...Mil*- it.lv.t.-at.'il. Th-iv is 111 l-.iot. 11- effort lor
ii- public g t which eonld be commenced in any distri
capable oi effectually welding the eyrapathie* and sotlvltl
• holding "ii ■ -; ui politics and religion ai the 1
HOW FQ IMilNr. ABOUT THK AI'Ol'TION Of 7)1 K ■. < i
»• .1
fl<M ami Fit Kviry town mid every rural district ought to
bi Public Library ud reading-room ; and Instead ofe paltry
D odd "i these msbTtutrona In forty pears time, the number
h ■ next ten Years should be more than doubled
i.i-i ii be said with Borrow however, thai In scans teae* Etui
.vriiifiii hmheon lefaated not i \ the indifference of the majority
tin1 people bur Ire the utrenuoua opposition of those possessing
elKftflod l>ookshelTOB ol Ihdr own, and to whom the pentrj rate
rilt) i 16 ii -i'i'\ Mi.- nu'i-i'sl trinV. In nn( a \<<* tW8tS fliM'gvlilcn
id other leaders tn i* *« ■= » 1 opinion have so damned tlia movement
.! i.l i i praise, if bhej have ant kepi altogethei eUooJ from I ,
i;ii failure has attended Hie efforts nude. Conridering those
- md the ye iri ol Igftatlon which have been ncawsary in
me towns, 16 is of vital naceasifcy that the subject should be
•-■n nj> onl\ by those prepared <<> meet with bitter opposition,
tit to vigorous^ maintain their riewa, The British ratepayer
rci s often a tough customer. The sent ol" sensitiTCJieSJi is the
brous p< i k< i. and in every district h<' ha.-, tin- impression that
. J, and tl <■ Ic.i-st hint of any iiu'i'.'a.se in that direc-
tion brings paterfamilias up In arms directly T« make haste
alowlj should, therefore, bo the motto of ill friends oi bbemcTo-
m\ The more the question i-* di.seiuwe-i, the more friendfl the
ement gains ; so that the Fullest publicity should l-« courted
irkod. In one year there haYe boon twelve refusals
t- i adopt the Acts, and this i.-« a fact patent enough to prove tliat
the adoption of the Acts i* oot easily brought aboub.
Bel re paosfcng to the more important section of this chapter
there i* a matter of vital interest to this movement to whii'h ii
will be here opportune to direct attention. The present writer
mo Orel i" launeh, severtu years ago, the suggestion that the
-o to (iceide thisqucstion should beabolishod, and many
<tr- have been von over to this view of the aubject. All are
agreed that the various Aets as they stand are a conglomeration
vl jihrawes, ^onrn&iun worse confounded. Bven lawyen them-
wivi>fc t\>> not understand them, or interpret them in dlffereni
. as has been the case in some noted instances. The ground
for the bringing forward ol n Consolidation
i ;ii.:i which librarians anil the frk'inl>- >i thiK inovi.'!ii*.Mit. -.hall
rived For the present, counsels arc somewhat divided and
ir:iifiiT\ f.»r ;: in r ml fi:ll tiis.nwmon
whole subjeel This quest Ion Is more fully discussed imder
i ipter -.n the l.i'yul \spectK,
The more, iiowevci-. that tin present writer nonsWera the
Hon ol the Pi pnlnr Vote the more is he convinced that the
■mem will never miike the; progress which it ought to do until
i el operation is altered, md the power ii» adopt the
[il.icxl wiih i in- " <\ "i r,;7 hndy. This is, of course, tile one
ptvoi :i|hui which iiu- whole movement, as Ii Is at present
i ■■ . !■ li til i i* imii! ]»rrlia|M whiclM'onfenis the novo-
UCUl mon hfl I il in llhninjin>. Jinluiuy roni the fnrty yt i
rienei! ul lie popular vote It eaunot be wild to have hem u*
.:' pt-SLic unaABUB.
ooaeful na the tout friends vt theflrrt BUI hoped would
auto. In many districts where tho adoption hi then
hiifr boon mi appnllinjr amount of apntny and indifference, and the
question haft been ultrmatelj carried by 5ie fow H ho have advocated
dm m im -ii ■'. Bnoeethey have l qoi bled to gather iromi I them.
Proqas il I3 not one m ton ot the ntannws naa voted v hoi
method hi* been bj votU ESQ oases when* it hU
been settled by statutory meeting there baa been, an even worso
effdeoeo of ton want of foteresi [n the movement b
town in England, within ttiol isr yenr <i
a!1 told fiifty souls, carried rh-* adoption of tho Public Lib]
Act*. And when this dead level of EheBtatflb >;, meeting hasbe*Ti
reached H ■ wrelj time to abolish either this raei thatcd
voting papers for eetr.Hng the question.
Those who are not friendly to this innrement will at on»
tliat this hick of local interest is a proof the people do not want
ii" ml- libraries. But Uiia is not so, arid repeatedly the vi
who have shown the mosl iiidi lave been he
their Public Library when i( boa been opened. The c&usi
deeper down than the absence, in some quarters, of a desire for
libraries. Our local imtiuiial life m ■ ! the sewnc uf citizenship . k
nidy fust beginning ro take root, and on many aides when
(pieetlon comae up for self lemon there i^ a much
versal interest in thesuccesa of the efforts than
been before^
lHit the time has arrived when tho accredited repreaental h
tbfl peoplei the local governing body, ought be safely left t>
charge of Ehia q lestioo. Through them their conebituenu) would
still have a voice in the decision. Surely if these rcj re
may he trusted in the expenditure of larger sumo and the j>
to impose Infinitely greater inor* aee© in the rates than the fo
penny, they mil; lit be 1 runted withlhi* imcetiou, which is
so close to the welfare of the ontire ilistriot. Tli*. pop
Can he resorted to on so tow questions that to make it
totter to Public Libraries eeeina unwise, unnecessary, and . n
pohtie. This argument ie strengthened by the fact ot the I
meal Instruction Act of J88U giving the power to tho rover
authority to levy a rate not exceeding a penny in the pou
DOt first obtaining the consent of the people.
A* already stated, the constituents would still bavs S I
through their representatives. And there is no fear
Councils, Local Boards, an< >ther governing bodies would rtu
rjge body throughout the jountry to ea
Mo- lets within themselves, Representatives are too aim]
jii-ousinj^ tin? Miitagnnlam of their constituent.* by the imi 1
an extra penny on the rules to do any such thing. They know full
well that out <>r doors every vote they give ror the Increase of
looal taxation brings upon them OMoojuy and misrepresent!
r.ai the Doin Is thai the elected representatives ol 1) 1 [wopl
in educational mat iu« especially be trusted, mji< boiuentaJ
ii'lvjucciiMiii of tic people narelMonj md iiiggardly cconnm]
HOW 7.. RUtXU *nnl I II. r I . II uoY OP TUF. ACTS.
::;
ii.ns n v. i - h ihrv can beexerdsed. Kxtra-
axpeodrture ire Dot suggested, and ir should
ill ays be seen that the people get Lr»>"<l value for the public □ i
neai latin ■ i u In > ther direction*. 8tlll our economical
irisncias have began al the « n ■ ind when tUv ire inpllAd
education*] mutters. Tin- em ig u .1 turned ujh n the Mgbtfo]
E
coBt vrhi< . drink, and self-made poTertj Infltal upon ur»
mould have long before thin Lppreoiable savina in those
'i ^' there Would now bu mure to upend nu educational
One vi thr elitof objectiona again pnhu I itoll the ooat
of tsAouu the poll. This mean* k KM LB (UBtrlcCB an outlay of
rvernl Qnudreo pounds, In tact, where vomit pupi-ra .u<
reared and collected bi band alniu&t the whule • t the machinery
at a i nun f-.il election has to lie Pet iu operation. It
eafc to say that iu many <Iistricta the local public money which
ii'.,.vi'C<l \zi taking tlic wfte would so ■« totj Long waj tow
atocUi",* b ii'i n'v. It i- possible that returning officer:* will
Oppoj roy with the popular vote because the question of
few in not by any mesne u anmll oik. Hut tlic ratflpayen whose
i pay those foes should consider whsthi I
Hcpandlturs in taking a ] >pular rotoi rei llj aom i wry
Another cbiection is that in the taking of the popular vote the
ibh'oana ind >ther raise Eriends of the people have it in bholr
defeat th< movement ir*w >ftei this attempt at populax
ittafha* bean Strang! I oe & Co it U lamentable to
. ■ oonsidai This proline rJaeaoi society seonm to mi-- and
utmost every department of our national and local life
directly or indirectly. There in u cnu-,tui t drum upon public
o pay the depredaf ions upon society created by the ravages
trade- And when an attempt it* made to promote
i ratio*, museum*, education generally \>-.iyV -. mid other advnn-
for the people, up Bl irt the publicans and block the way
bam i o! i r Thai there i re ionae respectable rnernbi hi
trade ifl acfcnow lodged . but :t Is sufficiently clear how often
this I'll I c Library movement ha« been defeated solely by the
eflt. r-ullem to cause nil thoughtful people to seriously
notneder the fuel or tlmt this trndc is in our nut ion Ml life.
ii" i'|r,'(iiMiM;r. road making, pOOT bu>. :in<l
po4ii< . there l* no popular voting The local \t< lerntng bo*h has
.il with Lhcse and other affairs Whj should the
line ue any lonvi'i1 di-avMi ttt Public Libraries mid museums? The
William Ewartcuuldgel his BUI through the (louse
erf the pennisaivy clause. 81111 from the
■m, tu the present there has been a
sufficient test of tlje popular vote, and we should, as a nation,
hare now groim beyond that ftlage.
■in . hi im::! are | ■ th< '-""'i of il" wholt district, and
tion •■ it, the powor cai with safety be entrusted to
lecti .1 i-> popular m t*-. Thcac i usted
k a: the question from every standpi int. The mere i.i- 1 of
it her
:»
JVfcUC I.UI1UKCIS.
Its being i i uii i teal qneBtSonal the polls would be ;i dial
i.. i! i moromei t, for then the constftocueles would hear kj i
..m. m one 14c &ad or he other tli uld be m\ ell<
b about the rubject. rh< popular vote would thtw ren
it i* only changing ii* field "I a> tion Thia ia n ii.ii ;< r which may
irged apoo the attention of all who &k ui interval u
mea i. Tito aaiu would be y \ t. There would be :■
m i •■> -.. I c .-.. '■■>■«*, and ii better way ol i cnrto4nin# tbo tool
wish of the people; and t)io mftuenccj t present brought t>
bear in opposing tho adoption of the Act* would b< minimised
i- hi aoaoontratcd in one partirular direction, l"h*rc w< uld u
In- :iii top itUi in thl RUSDbor Of ftdOpMo&A Ol tli«' Art- . Ofl it
■ down tho ground t" coror.
Hut tin* i pro i'<-rtivo, and wo bsvc bo deal with the Act* as
tho? stand oJ Qua oat [April, 1800), and these otearly defino that
until they are repealed, the popular vote, either m
meeting ■»■ by means o! voting papers, shall boadi-p'i i
loquontly similar methods which nave produced -■■■■■—- m the
past arc ealoulated to ignin linvc tbo Bame effect lnr-t md
raremosl n th< very front rank <>i influence* Likely t<i aid
in i iy district desirous of starting the movement m that <•* the
Press' The Fourth E»tatrlr:is ln-i'iiinc ^nirivat a I ir i J iglish
life, tlmt my public effort which leaves oul La the cold, or pre-
fcendfl to '!•» -". the local newspapers, in almost sure, from the
very first, to be doomed to failure. And if propi iatnr* mil wl
i it newsaupertt can l«* made friends of the cause, an«1 U* prevailed
upon r > treat the matter vigorously in their columns, the efforts
toward* the adoption of the Acts cnnnol fall t»> be nltlm
Knccenfnl.
i Tho hall might, in the first Instance, he set rolling by sonic
promlneni resident In a letter to the local press, showing the
wide usefulness i»i Puhllc Libraries to all classes, and the de-
sirability of ndcmttng the Art in Hint town nr district. The
\s ritaraf such ;i letter »hould give some particulars of w!i;it these
IliatitutionG have 'lone and are doing in oilier district*. He
should go into figures, uiving the rateable value of the bownj
v.iiii i li«- penny in the puuud would produce, and
conld be done in the way of estuhllshiuir, stocking,
taining a lihrurj with th< grow oxuounl It would be idi
ii such a Letter to combat the idea iliat the rich nrovidi
booka forthi poor -that the town i* doing for in what
thC3 should '!" for themselves, \i/... provide I « tfc
booka. U'lH.iMiit opponents everywhere dub these institute
< ^i'1-ufiive luxuries in n town. Tlicv an* nothing ot bhe kind.
The argument to the effect that if n. -own provides water, jrns,
,i! .1 lowers for its catopayors, why ahould it not provide I
..! (1 ii sding-rooTua, ahonld be riduolly handled.
One IcttOl would thus lead to others, and th ■ Bubji i I ■'., i lil ) a
pi-f'minontl> \entUntod ox i>"il* sides, Promoters masl
In In." !"W ihwl there it an iinnit'uso union il ol non ense
about Public Ubraries, and tlmt it lecms to be thouxfhl that
tv. 0111X0 AEVX-T TUB AfKtPTrn^ OV TUT
75
Imt:iUm' UmUti ;ilv u gOOd tliilljj, LilLl.-l <»!**_■ tlnvy HliollM It
provided !..r n.T!ii:ij\ Su.-h will, as ;i parallel inference, any that
■ brc id id 'i -.-■ i i. ■ iorefoTi it should bo given without work.
Other -* i' ■■ -i ■ hi are sure t. i»> made— such ts, u in jual si
reasonable to provide fret boots a* Public Libraries, free every-
thing, m fact, as books (or loud og to all adult eituena, withoui
! ■: or hindrance Ifco conclusion will be drawn that if these
tutionu are provided for the citizens it tends to destroy the
moral fibre of a raan,and dulls the sense of BelMndepenoenee.
Elaborate irgnroenra will he advanced that Lh intone, Stephen-
b nodi "i other noble Englishmen achieved success
withmit the aid oi Public l.iiirtri- -. !*.)p«>'s ..it-quoted words,
bat which are neither wisp nor renaonable —
"A little teaming ie a da&nroUfl thiu^;
Drink Jct'ji or tast* i»>t dm Pterin) spring!
Tlir-ro inatlow draught* intoxicate tbs beaut,
And drinking largely solars us Again" —
will ho served up and do duty in a variety of ways. Other*
WiU (aythol till such measure i- lli« I'i l.|i.> LiLrnri'V \<l~ .or.'
•inii>i; i in*- q! i TOtection— devices for compelling inori to
maintain :i channel of supply which \x supposed to be beneficial
|0 the enmmmrirv, but which confessedly cannot stand alone.
• tonus "faddists," "fanatics," and tin real are sure to bo
d, especially by anonymous letter writers, lor it is n dgnifloant
:■ iim. more than one in twenty*ftve letters in the
public press ■ <'•■ inst Public Libraries which gives trie name of the
writer In discussing mis question, as with Si others, it should he
well borne In mind that bpore u no reason to bo ashamed of an
ast opinion, no mntter whether it is for or against ;i particular
movement Every question admit* "i reuaombly different views
■■• taker of it, and rJie one immediately under consideration i*
no exception tu the rule. Lctier* such at those Indicated, and
replies tannot fail to bring our the editor in his column* with
loader**, mid i Hie Kubjccl kooii yrowa Into :i burning cniestioa
the district. Every letter against the movcincnl should be
answered fcq one in favour.
Tin- morn JxtraoriiInai\> a*wriiuji* will lie made respecting
heir cost, management, etc. A lung chapter
• I be tillc-. with a selection culled from various sources. One
• r travel* -.:;(<'. . .i i< -i i— sume "facts" against Public
.: .ii :>i > would have a ucw excuse when they
i i p:t nut in the- evening. Instead of the excuse being a
■ ,. ii irould be ■* To ' hange my buok at the library ."
■• Please t want ,i l k for my balp '<• piujf kiYA/" was B request,
aav- ctuallv made to s librarian ai b Public Library.
v lliix Yi-rv ehiidish argument thai I)k books borrowed
■ source would be badly used, is one "I many Mich
d i£uinnl them. In uthcr ooaeB onponente wQlbe stronff
*, prorinp (to I i that the libraries wil
living nnkn an<l outlay, which may bring the
..[ parten i i ie vevg* »J ul olutc banki*uptcy in other
76
I ill AMI
cumiu'aik w.n be quoted whore, bi h n|wcb bou&l Lwji
Vet. they have obtained pel i
it should bo remembered Unit in these nan
bri iu b D partea hua been the moan -.mum.
Second iu influence fur iIk uiwetueul tire i.-Iervjmeii
imii-H'i ■» 1.1 r Hi bers, and di
n bo havi mill. thin fcllow-Uiwi
|j these could easily introduce the subject In ■ sen
speech, or address. Some capital lecture* on the subject have
been tfiien by c-leiyynvn am uini8tere, and b
i ii Instance* the .successful iS4U« ■ <'■■■■<■ :u< rn n-m l».i - i i.
owing to the spirited championing of it
tofmentU] classes of the community Notices from the pnlpi
the Sunday prior to (he vote being* token, referring bo PuMic
i ■- 1 1 >mv ! po< i 1 1 1 v helpful,
I ■Mm;.- ii K-n:, literary and debating societies, oil-
can and do render very good aid.
It is astouisliing how mum' friends of education there arc when
such a movement as tliit it OOt gOf&gi And the v«»h:iiinrjr help of
nil these should he at once enlisted. When the subject ho
forward for a time, a provisional committee should he Pol
a man of definite qualities for light and leading elected as chair-
man. Mi trim In«'!i.!-: <>i tin- cause will have no jealousy against
BOZOd gentleman talcing a very prominent lead in the matter i
hut it i» only one of strong individuality who can do this., end
others ihoulJ rally round. Such work is. of course, all
and a pood leader wiJl take care that these voluntary worker*
are well organised into sections fur various district*.* School-
rnnmt, a* a rule, will In? willingly lout for the purpose of
meeting*. Speakers at these meetings would do w^ll not to
burden their audience with too many statistic.*; but
speeches, to the point, would do much more good.
Street moat be laid sil through the agftAtiot thai more than
on* penny in the pound per year for maintenance cannot be
levied. This is the one vital point or the entire cjUARMrm u d
this argument cannot be driven home too firmly. An olahorat*
preliminary scheme nhould be avoided. A library committee
appointed oo the carrying of I are never bound bg
m-Iiimmi' put. forward liy the provisinuid nn un:i a,
If friend* *-■ f the movement have visited Pnl lie I
country nil the letter, as they will from thes< derive Insp ration
Much lielp must not, at first, be expected from alderm m md
town council lore, or members of load boards under the oil
Thc-^e gentlemen kuuw only tuu well the seuaitl
inn consUtucnta respecting the rates, and a prominence on U B
part of man? of them in a movement for an extra rate, however
slight, might moan the loss of a seat in the council or board.
Tin local members o* Parliament again sometimes IkuM
from the movement, for reasons best known to thcmAorree.
Bo careful that every step token is legal. Enemies to
wfll be 'v.i on the watch for Wpfcoles a
i H«\«. \liui | in, ilirtfrfUJ. I] 1HK ACTS.
( mill where I biuer opponent refused to pay the
rate when levied, his plea being [hat & rucetinp had decided
mist rhr idoption <'\ thr A<(.> A- It Yaft ft tOSt 0000 hs W80
•cmrnoned in the County Court, and of course lost, a* he had
mistaken a mectine of the opponents as the statutory meeting
defined by the Acta. Sometimes town clerks, when perhaps
tin ir ie peXBOOaJ fechne; in tV matter, ;\tc rolDCtftfiC to gtvo
»u winch would keep promoters within the .shirt
line* of the Aet*; hut in other cases they srive tho freest utul
follcet odvico, and so render ndruiroblc help, Wherever possible
■ local solicitor should bo asked to «crv • on the provisional
■
As it i& impossible to carry on any propaganda without some
For and snot, a small preliminary fund is indispensable, and
nendsof the moremenl in i ly with subscriptions for
A distribution of literature is the chief expense,
and the outlay for this depends, of course, upon the site of tli<-
»wn. Local printers nre the best from whom to get leaflets,
is odj prefereno* being given to the publishers of the
■i m ipett which support the movement. Kepnnt« pi
Ct#rs and other matter are given at the end of this book, and
from &M typo standing, after nppenring in the local press,
for n number to he strui k off will he found B practical plan.
in ■ npansea for taking the poll come out of the rates, hut. for
clings for the purpose of advocating the adoption of
vets, and literature, a subscription fund among the promoters
will ho neoeflBoiy.
It ix I:rnrx8*ihlt* tu (like too gre;it i'itc l>> ko*p (tic ipiexifrin
■teolately froo froni political Was, and wborewr practicable Dip
leader* of the two chief political parties should be induced to
i prominent part in the movement. Life would not be
worth Irving if there were no platform where all could meet
her and work for Ihe cojumon (food, and no other public
welding lotf ether :^11 thoroughly those of :ill Guides of
kniM Ami political opinion as this. It does not, a* a rule,
ftUffnr well fur the movement when it is brought forward and
advocated chiefly by those who are open to tho charge of being
attitude of shopkeepers i>* always a vital factor in the
movement, and they are. of course, a class largely interested when
on ic* reuse in the local rates is contemplated. Every effort should
:. o conciliate them and to win them over to the schc e
• 4 Public Library buildings always improves the
property, and in some towns tradesmen advertise their
business ns being within so mciny door.- of the Public
The«< inslitutiunsin<*uloati hylhcii in flu one* EempOr&te
IttMts end thrift, and as the massi s upend less in drink they will
have more to spend with the boa I odesmen. Many -tliopkeepere
render moot valuable service by advocating the claims of these
uutita
Drawing-room meetings for the purpose of explaining the usee
i iiihAtirs*.
to-do tire
bio PI &< . ■!'].■ who \m ! :.
take tho trouble Co inform tl
irho " light bfl :
o thu type
■ i, ifl I-, ite 'j are tw ■' u pNpeclalh
n i ip people wo difficult t i reach bj other m
Opni 0 I HIS ClftMOd : —
i. ri I©, who do not too v
■ d ben 1 1 o other 1 1
ii !(.-.■ who <tv bonks are so cheap nowadays CbeJ no a
nr<-il lie v. Ittim I
ill. Tho nncra Ion— Mid fchwa
these.
FV. The burdened (?) ratepayer, who object* in prl
:ill r:tli;- :mi! I:im'v
v. Tin- publicans md their nunwoui votarfo*.
\ i. ill.- working oloase*, who ver) often arc noi |tn
.iu,.> X; in i ■: oi Publii Llbmi
VII. Tlie foil;* who doul ("ii' for books, and I'm, to
oilier |ti n ill* should poor creatures, what a Life i o lead '
vm Tin- nbsulutclv indiJTcrcnt, who care icivenwn
ii. i iii.illri h0X (fOOd [tfl ■•l-j'.-i I-- — 1' M '!;:« DinpS," QUI
ii b .tl them,
FX Those who say thai Public Libraries, oft ri
:• pi Irate benevolence in this • Bred ton,
^. Shareholder* i xuhscrlption libraries, who feai thai tl
■ ■■'in ut «ill L |" ■ As a rnutUT
nf fiut. Public CJbrariee do nothing of tho kind. Tal
town In ii a rth ol England, for Enetauce Short b w» r« "tier*
in tho circulating library of that town, in 1870, al -•>. n&d
command over £"20. In some movements thin I mi
mistaken ooneideration Cor existing circulating IJ and
,i- be made too wid< ly known ihnt wl i n Libraries
uMr established, & far from injuring »th
they bad alvaj ■ ■■ i ad iabrj benefited them.
I nnd other institutes are very frcquonti
errtxl o It max ■■ tod that the oc vital dinoren
1 1 r i ifto lames d< iIodI LAo instil • I
hi.! 1'iiMic Ubrarto that the latter iro aubjaot t.> p»]
ii pol, and tho former ure not Thia onanrofl I'or them a it-
mi.i i ■ ■ idll Ion, i »r thel
it. Librarian i' responsible tolds committee, who ire In IB
tanstble to h* to* ri muni II or lor il honrd md i ■
have in i'iuii.' periodical I'liviimi \i. . \
Instil nit-, being pr< pi I Ions, n e aoi unhjed b9
lor control and idmlnfotnUon, and If the saw uf (ail
.!., i dUCati iDfll OS 'I ivnl: I 0l 'hi- «l;.v is i
urn
HOW TO BRING ABOl'T THK ADOPTION OF THK ACTS. 79
into, it will be found that the absence of this popular control
largely accounts for it. Mechanics' institutes have done in the
past a magnificent work, but they are scarcely in touch with the
edaoational needs of the day. These institutions, in some instances,
wo**ld form a good nucleus for a Public Library, by the taking
over 0f the building and books at a fair valuation price j or, what
i8 better still, for the committee of management of the mechanics'
institute to offer to hand over the institution if the town will
^o i>t the Public Libraries Acts, and turn the mechanics' institute
uito^ a Public Library. National and local pride should save these
institutes from becoming mere clubs and lounges, and there
is £*. reasonable fear that many of them already possess this
character.
T>ie provisional committee may be urged not to prematurely
P*s*i forward the taking of the vote. The cause has been lost
10 xnany towns through doing this. The ground must be well
cleajed before this is done, and test votes can be taken at the
Kvious public meetings on such a question as — Those hold up
ds who wish to see a Public Library established in this
to/Mrn?
. Then following vigorous discussion, and the period appearing
nI>e for the test, a requisition signed by ten ratepayers to the
ma^or. or local authority, requesting him to issue voting papers
°** call a public meeting to decide whether the Act shall l>e
^lopted in that town. (See Appendix for this form.)
-A poster announcing this town's meeting will then be issued,
ai*<i so the town will experience an event fraught with important
consequences upon its present and future generations.
The mayor or chairman of governing authority will, of course,
preside, and the town clerk will commence by reading the notice
convening the meeting. Speeches in favour of the step, and
perhaps one or two against, will be made, and then will come
the formal proposition by some prominent ratepayer, and this
**11 be seconded, and then a show of hands decides the book fate
°* the town for weal or woe.
Ifa simple majority of those present at this town's meeting
Qeeide in favour the vote is sufficient.
Some years ago a meeting was held at Stockport to consider
j**e advisability of establishing a Public Library. It was
P^Ufestly hostile to the proposal until a young man rose, and,
JJ an impassioned speech, exhorted the citizens present to go to
HleU' children's bedsides and say, "Oh, my little children, I have
?Ursed you with the blight of ignorance, with all the power that
jj at my disposal." Although hyperbolical in tone, it is not
Grange that such a taunt should have struck home. The Act was
^pted.
. A show of hands is not final, although, to ordinary persons, that
* the distinct meaning of the Act. But there is another Act of
*«liament which steps in and enables a citizen, by a right of
common law, to demand a poll. This may be done in such an
■tte^ular way that it can be ruled out of order, or the request
I.IKMJLHIKX
a perwm ma rumpctnit to (Sum 5BCt a «t«p
of the . sea, be
< on
ou the port
unwise ami uiiwfe. Mid would mih leail to Icgnl :.-iiif;
raised which a feud It is im.
. demand • »i>
■ btlc< I i.\ ;i « *■• 1 1 card la - '•' Bog r, 9l U I I bw, BeUmal
Greu when it was ruled thit the light to detufl
poll is a uecewary ■ if ol electa
Thn :.'.•■..■■ i action Re
Wimbledon Local Hoard wiu tried. Tl wiu» ibat'&uj
quali6ed person present nt a meeting conv
niav, after a show of baud*, demand a poll.
Iliv pei ling :i poll should be asked up to the
platform, and must there *ign « do name and
nddroM. Ho mnel also bring with him a witness to bis aurri i
Thii action may bring an cony and cheap notorioty where tlie
•bow ol i ad i . fi ' i ■ f the o;.pnnoni demands
tbo purpOAO OJ lr|>:itum tlu- iimviMhvut. The docui
placed In tho : :md no will go down Bo I le local
[WKtiTity 1 h"->n .-1 ■ -ill : ■ rne.
\i ■ Mill. ' h.'iv ism he mi amendment to the
motion The answer Lrn nr"!i;iy." The power
of demanding a poll la the utihatitute for an amOBdlQCnl Eo the
mbatandre mottoi In the chapter on legal aspects reference
It made to the ton whoso shoulder* should lull the
of iiif poll where ii ii demanded.
If in :iiv, .iy-. w -f :iiul Aftf* In I n«:i.r f 1 It" iijipniiciiK tO bit
rnimly, Tact, skill, and nomteav in handling tl
hare often won over tlioac* vhonnvc gone to the u «■
v uii the ffxsd Intenftfon of opposing the wheims
Tfie iik*' nf VOtlBg papers Is the Imit i«.r miic] more xntisfnctnry
method These can be dollverod by pollcexneo Send on
papers by poet is permitted by the Root«h Act, hut ci
resorted Yit in Enfflatwl ut this date [April, 1890). '• Herr
are— move taxes I" Bald by the posliueu as they handed la
pipers, lost Olaeffow tho adoption of the Act, and the oitl
hail It.: pa] bo wic tunc of several hundred pound* for the
gratuitous remarks ol those industrious members ol the Civil
Service. The cost of taking the vote by papers La defrayed out »-f
the fatrfi, \ Town Council or a Local Board bave the power,
nf course; of deciding within themselves which of fcbc Ln ■
methods shall be adopted for ascertaining the views of the i
payers.
Sometimes the number of spoiled papers in very oonatden
:ui<i \u- tsauc of a httic alii jii ng plain instructions e> day or ts i
before the polling takes place is advisable. "' STee" or " X'V name
and address i 'f v spayer. and, if 1- >r eho ro deetree, a tote that
the rate shall m I exceed owe hing mdor a penny, i» all tho
writing permitted Anything beyond this nullities the
Some exceedingly goocf friends want to aa/t on their
papers thnt they are m favour uf Khose Lihmriefi, but
t vote,
coting
l they
I THK AD01-TIi»>- ■!• Ill I. ACTS.
S|
2
are not in providing novel? It tlic public IVpentt, Of
novel Wftdlng, ai)«l they cannot resist making the fact known on
'heir papers. Booh n vote would, of course, be toefc others
agam wish to oukke ivmurlcR of Homo other nature; and too
much slrC88, in mam- pta£Q8j CMmOt he hud upon the nooewsil v of
^iviTit: l: tfiapU answer, " Yes/' and their name and add]
Th<. qnoeuan oj who are quuliiied to vote has for years been a
very vexed one, but wus settled y the Croydon cose, to which
^eference itt made :u another ohaptCl That deautioo hn* now
isde it clour thai ecoupleri .1^ well ;i^ crvnen have votes.
In not o few eases, the most determined opposition was offered
to the adoption ol the Act. nnt l dort&g the formation of the library
the nv ^.t gloomy (orohfHlinys uml proguoatiiNttious of I'm Inn.' won'
indulged fa. After, however, the library had been in WtftV three
or tour month*, there was not one in u hundred of the opponents
but what had been won over, many of them having the honesty
to confess their ■ -cnvi-ision. and W aetalOwledge flafct they bad
not lh* slightest idea that a Public Library was such a splendid
and enjoyable institution.
The following gives the main features of the various Acts: —
1. Any town, parish, district, Of union GfpartiheBj is empowered
the Public libraries' Acte, 18W— 1689, to levy •< rate ocri
tceediug one penny in the pound for the establishment and
lafatennnec "i bulldlngb, with the requisite appliances, suitable
ir "Publii! Libraries, Public Museums aaid Schools for Science,
,rt (islleriea, and Schools for Art, or for any out* or more of those
jjecL*" 1 17 St 48 Vict. i". 37)i provided that a majority of more
.1 -!t;iir ,A tin- i^topayera vote iu favour id' mloptimg the
dm of the Acta.
2. The preliminary steps to be taken with a view to the adoption
tin Lot an these 1 —
(a.) In Mrsn \jeAh 13 1 lie Act iei puree that the mayor
abaTJ onvone j public meeting on the request of tlie town
council, or on the request in writing of any ten resident
ratepayers ,
(6.) In ThSTBicxs within the limits of any Improvement Act,
the district board ia to convene u meeting upon the
requisition in writing of at least ten resident ratepayers ,
(a) In pARteiLKH, the overseers of tho poor, on the written
requisition of ten resident ratepayers, are to convene a
meeting to determine whether the Act shall be adopted.
(A) The proeoribi'd local authority is empowered, under the -10 &
-11 Vict. c. 51, to ascertain the opinions ol the majority ol
the ratepayers, either by public meeting or by the issue of
a voting paper to each ratepayer.
3. Ten clear days" notice of the time, place, and object of the
meeting must be given by affixing the same on or near the
door *»f every church and chapel, and at least seven days' notta*
I by advertisement in a newspaper published or e\FOtita&nB> to V\\<\
borough, dirtrh't. arpmisti
L.
89
pubmo t.rutinrvA.
i. i with the meeting i
tar the A< iro chargeabU
■pon the borough fun bedefrayi ,,^*«7,
by ii Mipnrato rate ipcclally leried for lb
to exceed ana i>eiuiy in the jwuiid.
f>. Where b i>"i li demanded lhe .Would be open—
lc,tho i-;to vote rneygo and rooui ^ _n . i. itfcheplaoei
duly announced.
6\ If the Ac.tr* be adapted the organization for carTyin^
provi-Hiunn into operation is as follows :-
(/?.) in Beaocon "1^ management, regulation, and oe
ofl librarian and n unctinw, *chool* 1..:' telencti i ad art, shali
be retted "I and exercnted by the council, 0* by such
(•MinrniniH' :tn Ml** n unnl 1:1:1 v appoint, and th<
of the ivmimlttoe are no; required ■" !»• 'n.?nit>or* 0
eouneil.
(6.) In DtsTBtcTe, The board op trustees noti
of the Improvement Act. ov a committee app
them; also local boards under the Local ^ ivornment
(c.) In 1'AmsHEs. Not less than three nor more than
commissioners, to be appointed by the vestry, are
stituled a body o irporatr I'orMw purpose* <>f tin- '
the name nf "The Commissioners for Public Llbri
and Muscume for the Parish of i:i the Count-
of-
7. The council, txninl, mugiMmttvt, »r rmnmiKeMnan are
empowered to borrow raonej at interest, m tin
mortgage <>r bond of the liorough fund?*, or genera! ill
rate, or of the rate levied under the Act; and the proi
1 1 bne Companies Clauses, and the Lauds Clause* Con
Aate. ]84o> an Incorporated with the Public Libraries" Act,
Thr imendmcot Act of 1864 (47 & 48 Vict. c. 37) empower*
wiy anil lorltj .icting under the- Public Libraries' Acta to accept a
grant from the Committee of. Council on Education towards UN
purchase of sites or the provision of premises or furniture fi
schools of Balance ox art.
y. VVlmn two or more neighbouring parishes nombin.1 fof 1KB
purpose" of th*- \et, eacl) pariah to to appoint not more thaa three
COinniiHHioinir^ ami t!ii_' rtimmissionefh lYn l-lie .M'\rtal parishes ar#
to form one body corporate, and to act together in the exeoutfoB
of the Act. The expenses of carrying the Act into operation ars
to lie borne by the parishes in such proportions aa they may
mutually upprove.
A simple majority of those polling, whether by statutory meet-
tng or poll, is sulllcieut to decide the question.
Where the movement is eueceastul, official announcement
■hould be made in the usual BOOTCes. The following will give
an idea-.—
LI giVC
CM m. BOABD OF HEALTH.— DISTRICT Of
PUBLIC LIBBARIE8 ACTS, Lflfifl TO 1889
: toe is hereby given, that a I'oll of the Kntepayere of tho
District of tim Local Board of Health has been duly
taken, as by law required] 00 (hi- following Resolution, proposed
xi a Public Meeting of ratepayers ot the said district, held m
Ith* Town Hall, , on the day
of , viz.-
■ That tbll meeting hereby resolved and determines that
the provisions or the Pablfo Libraries' Act*, 1866 to 1889,
ehalt h<- :n!n[ ■!.■(! ."<>i 'ttad W it i -it I hi;. District.
And wfaioh Re* lutioi .on being put to the meeting, was duly
passed, whereupon B POLL was demanded; and that the rttOU
t.( bo •' iV.ll ■ m I'i'll' ■«> ■
It - 'i the Resolution
\ ote* Lgalitfl the Rasolntton
Majority of Votes in Favour .
And I hereby doolaM fchfl anid Resolution to be duly puaacd
and adoptedj sad hereby, u required b$ aw, pubttali a oopy
'I .i reef.
Hated this day ot
Qhalnnanaf tbaaald Looal Board of Health,
will In: seen (hat this applies to ri ease where a poll was
but only thia form, as being one of the mod
I. need be given.
aiuountof ratiniidatioa which goes on when the rote on this
09 I being taken is at limes perfectly amazing, In the
autumn of 1868, when the vote wna being taken in Hull, it was
stated before the 9trpcndinrv thnt bhere were whole streets where
oppori' i dneed w w absent Behennei) to rote against
the Acts, and themselves aided to fill up the votiug papers. A
charge of forgery was instituted, and the case was brought homo
to tho party. It Ee o pity that the Corrupt Practices Act does
ily hi tho taking ol this vote.
"
CHAPTKR IX.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN THE NORTHERN
COUNTIES,
>97 in m the iioithiTii and midland counties that wo hnvo to
look tor the best development of tho Public Library move
mont up to the present time. The spirit of emulation is,
hovevar, abroad, and in another ten years the metropolis
aadaomeo the western counties wiU, there ia reaeoc I •
thin*, liavi- mada so much progress that tbfij ^til b& w. uM to
wnrywsV with thorn ot bo north ant] midland*. Ba!t\,t'*a* »
-I
1 1 III. I- I II. ■
in. in it i ol Bagaind tint tii remenl first enti
it ih lioro l l hftVt m- ■ ! .-- 1- 1. !_. [ v- . ■ i . . 1 1. : 'i ". ..rkhaa
twcn oarriod on "'Hi i he loot the n
jr.'.i^ra|ilin-i :uv l..'i."tM'iiiiH to K[>ll1 it]- tin loi'tV COUAtiOB of
England differently t » the arrangement in the old r b i It
!,,, pvoBonl purposes and In order to adjust tho length -
GUapUr* l!ii> (Ul ikiti of m . counties Is not oil a Ifcb the
I"".!:-. l!i. t.-ouuties here dealt wifj
NcTtoumborland, iJuriuun, Yorkshire, Cumberland. Westmore-
land, and lytnoashlre, ">.l iu wns ere named alphabetically
when it li iiiou^hi i eoessero n c;iii attention to the work, u
hiiM in't-ii iih'i'fuiv -t i .•.! Mint Mii' time does not appear tn ha\ ._ ;...•:
amvnil wlii'ii liihlic Libraries ought to he made the sulv.
aniparing orltioiam. The real national Interest in these institu-
tion* Is an yei onlj a few years old, and whilst the largest and
nf the libraries are doing a work which will bear the ■
examination, there we others which have to struggle with
difficulties kbd surroundings wlildi hamper and harass I
work These hindrances may arise From rarious causes Bui H
beooiuos Increasingly evident that the touo of the work ci
uhicnj from the librarian unless hi* hand* an tied bj a ca] I
committees It i*> not a pleasant statement to make, but nererthe-
les» a Iruo one, thai eoiuu Librarians are so very unbusinesslike to
their iin'tlmii.-. iii.it the wonder would be if the tfbraric* onde
tlii-ir charge vrcrt* particularly eucceasfttl. These cases
ever.not numerous, and are becoming less so. It not unfrcqm
happens that, even in libraries where bhe mamureiuent is not quite
«h;tt il should '>'■, Mi" use made of the WiiMing and the I
grows by leap* and hounds, so that even in spite ol adverse
i iivmuotnnoea the work is successful. It in u truth which cannot
!■■ too often reiterated, thai the same qualities which fro to n
a mat: sneoeesful In ether walks of life Invariably prodv
lihrarinn whose work possesses spirit and energy. The rank*
of librarians Who are deeply in touch with the purposes and
C legibilities of their work are being constantly enlargM) ;md so
m n* thia it bo there need bo no fear as to tne future o/l these
institutions.
It wo*! of course, impossible to mention more than a limited
bumber. Some wfiL perhaps, argue that the work of many
Publie Libraries differs so little that it was unneeess:<i
mention more than a hunted number of representative libraries.
But the main Objeet in view is the promotion of the movement.,
:md to bring as many side lights to bear upon it as post
in districts where it ia sought to adopt the Aers the work of
libraries in similar steed towns and districts to the pi ire
the movement is in progress is quoted, and li is with :i li
to aid these that 80 ninny places have been named in these
chapters, There is the farther desire to prevent »» m
librarians from being disappointed at their own place
unnientioned. Nearly all th** places where the A< te have of late
rears beta adopted ire named in tbt present txud ubavta i Imme-
rrm yonrjrEnN- corxriw,
following fcut all arc, in any case, in the tables of aUtiMiea
end.
AeirroN-vxDBn-L\Nr.
I be library hero has for some time been struggling to carry on
an increasing work in rooms which are not at all adequate to it.%
requirements, The committer, howOYOr. flow sec an end to their
trouble* cu tliis account, for on April 10, 1890, a letter whm read
/. liie Town Council meeting from the trustees of the late Mi.
rge H".r: nhottom, offering the gift of £10,000 for the erection
1 ublio Library and T. el :.;r.il School for the town. A«hton
1000 bo able to rejoice in n Urge and specialty deigned
Iding.
Rurnslcvhastbe durtinffuishod honour of being the fii'M English
town to aclopt the Ante in 1800. Some years ago the QUOftftoa was
flrtt mooteu by .Mr, Alexander Pot arson, the editor of the
•'Barn*] >■'. Chronicle/ and there was then a very arrong feeling
againd ii Public LU-rnry in certain (juartorn. In January law,
When the question came forward, it was entirely the other way,
nod at th* town's meeting there was absolute unanimity. A
publie bsl vn - erected in die town some yearn ago, and this was
*to unsuccessful that Che company came ro imrikruptey, and the
hall, offices, and some other effect! became a white elephant to
the creditors. After various <oigge*itions hnd been udvnneed as
.<■ the use* to which Che ball might be put, the whole titotik of
-..iii. Ingfl ram* no i he hammer, and vaa purchased by Mr nmrlea
Harvnv. J.P., who with most commendable public spirit Offered
the httll to the town fbr the purpose of a Public Library, making the
\xwt> pr.'Vivi rhnt rhp Acisaliould lie adopted. Tills gift represents
omal money value of nol lose than from £10,000 to fel&OOD.
i the local paper to which reference Iihm been
rnadr appropriately remarked, at the time the question was in
progress, that a Public Library "in of necessity an educational
i much more comprehensive sense of the term than any
•■ library can 1 • , r.i tuhil c-if by either tttCtarlsO
son the one band, or political influences tin the other;
:hc hambleet visitor to its reading-room will, while there,
• IT on a footing of equality with its most aristocratic
- The clubs will continue to go on doing their own work
in their own way, but the Public Library will do something which
thcr, however fully equipped, cannot do — place the best literature
of the present and bygone times within trie reach of all sections
v, md that free of charge .so far as the readers
:\re individually concerned. In not a few the taste for
dfafl vill hnve to be created; in others it will simply need to
■ •[ ; while many Mill for the first time in their fives hove
iviletfo of familiarizing thcmsolvee with the writings of our
i — those works whiotl take rank as our British
e for rending, coupled with the means for \U
.cannot ssfef without cxercisma o W'r»efte\<\\ vrA\\e\\oi>
Nfl
pmrio htuijuu**.
mi. I I i!.':il riN-nl-.ul Hii'. x i-'.'i:. . - L».|r {VWbMHOnt
UTO :■: plVsi-iil .-Mior::ii!. u II i <■ t|.\ i-I- : . i if null .
mc not m ■ studeni
the result will I* thr ruisi ...
of flic community jreueiully. Th< n hope il :■
ffau dej will >!' lleeM peal ■ Ma Public Library work.
mil in which thR •■. I.nlr H QOfttlQD W6B | .1 "». | 1 up and I'.i
this. Very hi . '. tonntioni toward* tJ
an. and, immediatelj the
wcrt 1 [oh tad
been -ii by the owner in trurt until the Act* wen adopted, were
handed over to the town, The committee of management i
mechanic*' Institute dectdod hat the books in the circulating and
n : >-■■« -i:r. ■ iii.r.n-M- m! nil i:ii| ■ ■:_;.. uucoudit ionally to
.•rporationforthc purpose of tho Public Library. Here is an
eamupl- which may well Ik- followed by the committee
chatties' institute*.
IUiui 'W-i.v-I'i rsbss, A.Nr rwcarwtiui'.
I'll*- now Town Mull in Whiah the library a* BltMte 1* a Ivand-
sorae Woe* "t 1. millings. It wflfl opened In .ini\, 1887, bj the
Etfarqni'- "V linrtiii'/t.in riic I'uiilio Library Is the youngeei el
n unjoins! IneUtnttoofl * > < BafTDW
Ttii> subject \\ i- firm mentioned Reveral yeere ago, but, public
(ipmiitii pot being iraffldantly ripe, the rjneetion died out, tt
wm not until I8SI (tint [he Public I llimrlw' Acts wer«
pj resolution of n public meeting. A temporary building wm
mi truce erected, to be ueed until the library found u permai
home In the ae* Town Hall. fclr. John Frowrte, of the Live
I'ublk' l_.it .<.-, appointed, _md still iijntiniie*. librarian,
i.:- .- oi suitable books, numbering 5,000 rolumes, were aele
The opening ceremony took place in the autumn t.-i' I88£ Foods
wen subscribed I'm- inuring a natural history and scientific
niti-.i'uni. It. \wr. S'jiju t'uiui'! Mutt Hit building which had
been erected waa too email for the number of personi deefrouB
.-f waiting bhenuielvca of ite privileges, and the room intended
for iniiMciiin pii'-p'wr» wim fitted up noun additional newsroom,
while i farthei sum waa expended on bho purchase of l»colcs.
I i- in that time t'tr ward success was assured, and :t te .
to otnto tliii Mi<' publie demands on the institution have
f-i-iw by year \ »w there arc M.iMO volumes in the Ubmry; the
avcDile Motion la Bfcrong, and the average issue is about tajrhty .*ux
Ear- day. Tlio arorago daily issue haa grown fron -ISM.
vcr £4& waa received in tinea for detention during the |
Soma members of town councils Badly need to use the booli
their Publto Ubrary more than appears to be the ease, and this
: especially \>> Barrow. A ateouaston took place ba
loimoll in July. 1889, on a recommendation Irom tb
eon rtee ai t»» n proponed Lnoreece In the Librariana kiUtv
trom £'b".(i u> l'i;."., The statement was made rliat Line out A
■»-ii "ii the library ooiuuiiblee who voted against the jM^powd
rt BI.IC I.HlKAlCi. '< n r. ■ ■ ■!, Mil,.-.
^7
increase □ I lo the librarv. The moral here is that only
irith Public Library worktiiould be
electa! on Ornamental n -n r,t
members arc not wanted on these committer*. One memWi
. riim ;-. rti " ,i rented for the peatuioui eta ■ "
"i"ii-- ircrh si B lonblod Itself since the library
opened, and inthotnblccd fcho occupations of the-.!-'
borru1'. accountants, chcnriet6, clergymen and
■ ','in i !■!,:. -r,T- : i-« ax i . ■ :.-// veil
. hinelc trod** in The towi. ..- aurvprefroutod
amone the borrow on . pray, nre the " penurioun
elan
I 'ii-ui wood owes its library to the generosii y of the late Si Q
m whodiod n November, 1&S9. In August, 18*7, the Acts
were itutory meeting, and in December of the same
lie I-. -i-iv c-room was »penedL Hie library followed hi the
p .(i iftfltf. During some montiis r.he attendanee sJ the
bn high n» 4,441 Papers and magazines
to tin- number o1 sixty-fire nre taken, the librarian^ report IB
pithy \t Ihi end o 1888 the question d4 Sunday opening came
1 1 1> The donor was distinct!) In favour of that step, for ha aald—
red i an iraeni agsJBoi opening sindlar placafl <"i
mdajH toj t :. tnnj prevent people from attending oburoh or
I* t '!»!-. , I would oay that Lhe peoi^le will go where they
■ i i traded and EjdI rested Let the clergy then make their
■■ and please the people. With good
. short sermons, and good elocution, they would fill u i i
of worship— at any rate, better than they now do." The
by Sir. Fielden was erected by the late
inin VVhitM ..ill t>i educational purposes On it* coming
ffket it was purchased by Mr. Ffclden and handed o*rei
l her eoac of donors malting; their rffu to UTCepaoalblc
i continuous The late Mr. Wbitvarth
■i «■ cd LCfttlon whirii stands out among ill the
ronispieuous work which hue bean done in this direction, But the
Of the building in question for the purpose intended
be satisfactorily guaranteed bv anv clauses in local
; ■ "ii.*- building belnff the nroporly oil use
people that this can be assuriM. Guts ot this nature should
oKuv --I "it condition bhal thepeople will take upon
the muhitenunee of tho institution, and this can only
■ adoption it the Acts. Mr. Samuel Kielden has
*o recently joined the majority that tin- folio winp, neuu-n<'o rron
Fie) den. who declared the huilding opan,
h* phici'ii <n record She urnd— "When Mr Fiefdi
thts Institute to th*> town neither he imv 1 ltful Die
: would he consuli'ivi! worth) of so pi. Mir :i
lis Fie guve rt with pleasure, ind thought than
ad ' i the matter, My husband, however, amongst
■Me,' 'iwii ridtleH, and (me ot
,.<■ i mm a hi'iu- o.> be thanked lor :m\j n\ V\* QjQCA
rrnu<" umuai
MtlonSt ii'- .•ay* thai it i. either] [reorbladutj l
:li'in. and iliit in the one case no thanks arc ilr-< rvtd, InttH
other none arc required. ITii* in why I repreM
Hi- ie afraid thai I to morn tl offered to MiB,tm
he oannol wand butter. Ira I In moderation; i I
nerer \ ■- dovolopod a iftotc for dry broad. .... I thank
i . ri" period oi Ufa marc exposed to torn pcetf one to 01 1
or mom 1 pen <■ nJruenoefl fortfooa than th n thstHO
up 1 twenta out, The restraints of lohool 0 ■■ ■■ exist, Ibi
i, .hi ; .. m-li'i 1 1 <l.-nee is atronff, and parental OOQ
extent relaxed, whilst on aU rioae, to say the loast, qoafttkffi
amnaements and companions present themselves to our yoxme
people, and the deatre rat improvement, the lessons of the teacher,
mid tlii.< counaels of tlio parent, nre, alnw, too of!. 11 forgo tK
oagloetad. Chen how truly valuable— nay, how IndJS]
in sueli an Institution M youre, where your lom and davtfkts •
may nwemble imderktndlyooTirTOl(1n well-lighted 1
rooms, to listen to lectures, and to Join in any branch ol :•.-: 1
for which they may have developed 1 taste in their school davt.
The rite pmi u.'i - roughly £IS& but BO Eat the worU U begbnml
m-.-ii Several Liberal gifts tor the pnrrhnse or honk-; have flowed
in.
Bl Ni.l l.\ (1 QBJCR),
The question has been forward at .Dingle}- for some time, and
the example of Bamsloy wa» found to be eontagione, fox on
February 14, 1890, th< Acta were unanimously adopied. Heic
ii. committee and members of the mechanics' institute acted
w ittbily Ai offer of Mr. Alfred Sharp's of £1,000 for books
a 1 Ik- Arts were adopted lubricated the matter very materially.
It required rh»- consent of uiue-tcnthe of the members of the
meohanloa' Institute before they could hand over the build
It is satisfactory to note that 1M0 voted in l'avuur of 1 m
OTOt the institute and only ten against. The mooting dec
very unanimously in favour of the adoption, and no poll was
demanded.
DblCKPOOL am> SODTHKOtti
These two Lancashire seaside watering-places are veil served
by their libraries. Ttlnrkpool shows a steady inoreaec in its
lending department, The number feoned during; the year va*
\'<,\~~ ogainsl 1^,074 for the previous year. Borrowers to tin-
D 1 iii' r ft l,tsJ now avail themselves of the library. II w
a proportion of one in every fourteen of the population. The
attention of readers is being directed to works or travel, if
■cieuce, and art. Only £66 was spent in new hook*, w
LS n small amount considering that the rate produces t>
November to DCereh arc the busy months, as ai other pinec*
'Vhe library in m charge of Bliss Eteson and two lady assistants.
■\t Bauthport there are 18,235 volumes, and tns turn
Of these la shown ai 9QJB3Q fop home reading and 24JJG
use in the reading-room. This shows u deereeae tn twth
pmr.ir i.mnATrncR in tjttc vnnrHnav .tii
Bfl
departments OVM thfi previous year. hut. it is largely nccounted
far i'.v !)■ rule n:i<ir ii February, I88B, that no book be
exchanged within three days, iu unlet to check rnrebwi rci
Among the non-members of the conucil on the committer ihr
name of Mr. Alexander Ircium • i » j - ■ j ; t r*. Tic haa ever been
an earnest friend of populftj education. In January, 1N*9, (lie
nan reference department « u thrown open, Among the rules
is one to the effect that a penny shall he pai<l for each
turned down. 'Hie iudcx-cataloguee quo: supplement are l»»tli
wel] uronffodand w.-il printed, and reflect credit upon th..- Librarian)
M: Newman. BirfcdaJe bi .< neighbour mg district o1 Bouthpotti
and ;t is snid that a oonfiiderablc number of the residents hate
been accustomed bo •-*<> into Southport almost daily to two the
readiog-room, and 80HM ot the Birkdulc people thought thru the
Umc Sod come when they should ha/ro u hbrurv ox their ova
EKeOUBsiODS U to amalgamating the two district*) have tftkenplflCC,
but not hint.' hoe y C< heeo donOi In .Murch, 1S90, the township was
it|;ienr«N'.| wiih | Oopy ol ft requteilioa signed byeome thirty or
otty i -■-■iis, :iU ol whom, except three or four, belonged to one
Dftl party, Others not bein^ i ; I oh-tii. Thi- m it-.- ; ". .. ...
court;. ious i '•! ■■ I rwnBmeotmgWBBsummonedbythec] lr
man of the i.ni . I Board in the usual QUBdsepf snd was held in the
l Hall. Thriv were five persons present at Kp.ro., which num-
ber afterwards rose to twelve, and. when the mooting WUfl fullest,
The promoters did not jmt nt m nppenrnnoe
In fn- it Iml to adjourn. Thia was ilonc for 'i
ri night am! on the night, fixed, the adjourned meeting was held.
The township hud, meinwhile, Iteen largely placarded with a new
lam i't bi i- to elghl the ttmefor commencing the meeting,
irere twenty bo thirty persons present, and at no tfnie more
'linn forty Tin' ohairmai took the Chair punctually
i iked rou id, and remarked that the meeting could
<>NslUly be regarded u n representative one ; upon which :i
uyer proposed thai it he adjourned tine rfir. This was
dad and earned unanimously, and the business was over at
w pant eight it It Immaterial who were responsible
: DOfli ' . but it would be for better to leave the movement
•lone tlian to play with it iu this way.
Bucnuw.
Th© stre< t En which the building illustrated on p, ooi* Mtuatcd
■ :ih \y .-jill.-d Lihr..t-N Htrcet. In 18fi3 the Libraries' Act
wa* adopted, althouach the Act waa not carried into effect until
1963, Since 1S71 the library and mueeuni hare been in a
*ueted building. It is a handsome mtone-built and
i with Rcutptured panel« in the medireval Gothic
it a cost, including the internal fittings, of about
«>. On the ground floor are the reference ;unl tending
Ki iding-roora, &e. The libraries oonUJa
u|'' . '-' vi.'hune**: of these 17,4-15 are 'm ttve teAewiefc
department, anrf 16,077 in rlw lending department. 'Wo, trostfbw
90
niU<" lXBBA»f«*.
tft\ am purchased !art year was 79-1, at mi uremic co« of
5s. 7;d. per volume S]
tlir i-otlon maim - rurlng. In II
;in ii. i bo In ■ i '•■ eon inlti d, sad ' n tin
ifi,7Ua during thft last year. Tin-
depot iter l7,<mo rolnmw The mui o ih*
HNMH- 1'H mprlHM tflPfC rnnli>. nrr:
wlinli- nl |hs*nr*S Boor fhe Souti Ftnora contains a itiiflcelb-
i- collection of etlinog raphic i iuJpci • n collection of pel ■ ■■
Foreign annuals, shells, &c., utypoi
nf notes; tin' Western Room, exa nples • I" mar-Me :
i »i :i -.1 « -i- < •: (i fair collection or British birds; srtil
pi tii.n ijni -> it .
"■>"- rth Room, which forms ttie picture gallery, zoatalnA |
fiaiueil •■■ ivm^b. jtul |iluik*ri'Hphs, and the Kensington
Collection. There is also a collection of local and i
logical specimens, iunn'v;ii-. fitCi Mr D. Geddee, who bad i
librarian and curator for some years, »Led verv raddenj
i.'i-t.tlier hurt. He wos .m em -■-.lU-otor for the mil
and had served the town well. Mr. R. Ash ton now occupies tin
position.
130E,T0N.
BoHon was one of the first of tu« twelve places to adopt tin
koto, and hut recently i^uu>«i it* thirty ixth report. In
central library and tinw iruuches it boast* of (M.ik.h vols
•:».■ half the nunii-'i' i»'ipji i!i iiw parent Instil ition I
tin- reference Horary fa strong^t, and there ere tl locaal
figures snowing the issue for the year in the reference at
lepart-
p mi r.n»n.\niKs is rar. y^nntatx cor.\Tir.*.
!>i
rolumoe, tod hi tlir Icii'Jiuw section of 40,89?
reltUDCO. This however, must be somewhat discounted, p
magazines, given En the reference returns, tell up ;<■ SI I I
.- :ni-i;ii;*-<i :it the FMtou Vuli]).' Ijhrary about the
ubecriptioo library of any in connection iriBo the*
rato-euppnrtod institutions. The number of subscribers i* 886,
/ml th-1 ..*. • in !hi depnt'tni":)! is ubout £0ft The
[■iibli'' Li "•■• -: lV«d IflAl TWff l«S0 v ■■[n:i .hi-. Hi'-
v, the value of which i- ui\-.Mi a* tliOO. Tin*
ittee in the report are content to express themselves in
-nve wonN— ;iiw hit Hi br Gleet report v bien baacomeunder
itfeort notice. The other part* ol the report ax* lull and
interests «t. There li mention o1 the generous offor of Mr. J.
P. Thomassoii. nf Mora Hall for » library and museum, and the
■ .■ rW*:ihv<- im . Thr-Kc pi-.- i ]-.,'- -ti'o biMiijc uttered for
tat puroosee named, cil/mu having been borrowed tor the
the central lending library is badly housed, but die
branch bulli -i anally tlie oik* i:i fflgji Street, ire well
for the work This was erected ai a cost of about £3000
■I 000 K|uare yards of land presented by Mr John
m a., J F, \ separate entrance it provided froni ; in-
level fur the bow1 readine-room ; both entrances being
thoroughly controlled from the librarian's private office, which
also aupvrvise* the lending library HodUAWapapn rB&ding-rOOIDi
■i ftooi Ei i large reading-room, aud nl^o a ljiiies" rc.id-
■[Pin ited by 0 globed *.-i'reii, louelher \\>l i j xn.ill
:"i itudi i1- basement contains a
capocioas roadin TO caretaker's apartmuii-, heating
ckuu!" . d addition to the main staircase there ia ppvtded
a U&ht iron staircase in connection with the librarian's office, tins
-rial staircase giving convenient access to nil the depart-
ment* of the building. Tin*. style is Gothic, plainly treated, and
the mater ... ornamental barter
' hi in thoroughly well lighted, windows being
placed on all the four sides.
The gift* t" the library have been most encouraging. One, at
tbo Mm eel and other valuable literature should lead
i.'iMturo iu other town t » p. mid do
cwise. The presentation consisted of the books, pamphlets,
per*, prints, and engravings of the late Blr. Holuen, who did
■ i ..:i u - adoption of the Aet6 in \<>:'<, -m<l vh,»
for some yean on the committee. These oontribtttions
lnchulo on llhimiuated manuscript found in an old Piediuontese
BBooaw*-;1;. i" "i. i re ury, and the first copy of the work
print" ... si nncient town In Gennany.at o period
:ini\s(it-i work The manuscript,
tci llent «i.iteor preservation is pntttled" Fllstorlfl
Sotoolaatlcn." and consist* of ,i commentary on the various hook*
of the Bible from Qeneaiato the \etsof the kpoatlea. M we*
v PetruM, ijean nf Tp.v. who anmH'eri V\\e
CociiMti'i id iti'vtMinr) from liix having read or <\evo\vr »■".'. ^*<<
*-'
rcnur i. ma a ant*.
tii iit> i la Hi I \> "-ir 1188 The coinpcattuin of
the work m in wctraordhiBrj one, for h la tmth dogmatic and
blatorlc&l, mixed ■ « i • ■■• Ith ot«*rratfona on al
t! which ol Plato, Joaephua
Dthon ore virtiti w* uutborituM, Fron no doubt,
tii oxtendlre popularity wua derived, and for three ««
uj* io.iV.rd ij«.!i .ix .in -. .,-, , ( k of positive theology It
•.».:-> piinir-.; n* U73, wd a French translation
from thi I-.--- .it-- u; I !'>.'». 'I'-, t h i i wine author has been
attributed mother fiiii-n-. !*>nk, cn(u!cd " Mcr • '-- Hisluirev"
R illl rt IIIMlVi.il I- \S I'll .:i'p||iill ri.-M-J [S tVl.'d ll'i
wa.« ftuiini i^ i scribe, whose 11.11 in- is given, in the year l.TOiJ,
Mr. Holdcn had the manuhoript bound in boards almost
ainiile with the original. N" place- is so suitable for the
m ■ i ■ ■ v. i for public UM of ttv BO Old
opCDsncntu on the dtlacn H >rc they will be seen mm!
■ aUttcdfOnd uomc caretaka ol thorn, Instead of beimral.<
I awuy in «ld cnplxxird^ and drowere, where thov can only bo
gnxod mi now and agon '■;. the owner andhi* »urni liat< friend*
>.. PubHc l ii'ciry should :;'" without m ft a of this nature. Mr
Jaracu K. Write is the librarian, and there is no doubt aV»
loUdly good work iieing done. Reference El made fag anotj h
far to the storm which raged around tfc« propoee- Bsndag
opard i". hut, notwithstanding the influential rneGTrnj?, ana :-.
nentfition respecting the advisability of throwing the newu-rooni
open -II Sundays, trie doors of the building ore still kept closed
hat day.
BOOTES.
Foil t population i ffiorae 60,000 Boot < ■ axoaadt&a^ vrfSl off in
Ua Public. Library and Muaeuin building:, but the supply of inmk*
rnii Bcarccl
■•'\ i"- ■ ::.l ,t< h-i.ch ,i M'jiii.i.'i: .i.^Uii-. Th:* Mlillil>
.it imiI.v 6,710, and many Ubrnriea with a fifth "f the revenue
from i r ereu more. 11 mad '• teifcL
howarer, 1 hat Booth? haa md ite twin inatiluMone o!" llbrej > wd
tQM tin I'm « huh : . .mil thN \> nut -it most pl.i- -
eaay thins: to aacompliah aatiafaotorilr out of n penny rc.tr for the
two laatitattojiai llie building i* adiuli ncd,aa will be
Baas Crona nba enjim%ini! ihown -n the opiMiaite page
Tlnrrc i.n -tiu- rXi-i'Ili-u! frnlurr i»l itic DooUe W01 k, and bhtt l-«
The cnlli.it v -:.■.< i toll by the local proat. Etoh the comiuittco
i CjM.M ■ i, .ii- al 1. .,-1 '<>mc of them, for hen- at hand
ui ,\ column and ■ i f mattoi rol Trinfl; to t to mcatin^f of
thai bodj tn Octobc . i--1'. it would be all tbo bettor for library
work fonoraHj if coromtttea would have their ohlef m-'etingB
roportod There i n the report jual referred !<> v well m
word "f praJat for the llorarton and i urai ■>-. Mr, John .). ( I
i'i conjunction with tin- deputy town dork of Uootle, gained
Iho ten irainoii i rod by Hr. )im \ i
i rn >h.' Li n Rill,
A ground flow plia 1 1 iii- I olid ng ■ ^.u ...i p*o>
ni i i inn \.n. ■ i . iii son nans 1 1
it:;
Tbc cirfultti' • f InJ issued by th« librarian Es full of
i id in I tarn akled tuftterially to popularix* 1
iiiM-uiii. Within the compass or oight jmgCN llioro is nn
pjxtorac of vhat is going on in each department. There ta a
uplendid lectuxe-hal] in the building and or tiiia goodie \h xnata
tmtMtgfjoui MtoA winter. In order to encourage ayi&emaitltaVantt
M
PI l:l l ' I.IJllltMK*.
reading the committee have arranged ■■ ■
I'niverMty to k*i«p iii<> tt< ■ : ByTlabueeB in stock , and rot
nnly this, tut thn books reoommendAfj liave been < bta!
library. The liixl development of Bootlfl I in* own to OMII
itndeoMT room. Dr. Btrlt aai been for wmeyeaii ohniraian of
umroittee, and for Che ?-:«K* ■ >r Public i Ibra •; rortt generally
it i my l>e wished that ovary eoinrniiteo bad na PGthnsleal
chairman a^ he hai proved.
BllAM'OIlP,
Tin- wink at Bradford baa rapidly daveloped, and ^ compariaon
between the flint and toe nineteenth report Khonld be enough bo
ronviTL the most rigid opponent. Willi a limited Income,
have constantly enlarged the scope Of lln'i. operation*, until now
Mi-'v hate, in adoa pi u. the oentraj library, eight
The Ohi«J library has alao in connection with fl in m u useuin.
There is a general consensus of opinion that na
agency it is entitled to rank among the grandest local ini
appealing a > the intellcctaal aenaea throughout one
its deportments. Supplied with the best literature of i he day, the
library and rcadlofi-cooro department* offer inducements to im-
IC LlBRARCtia IX TUB ■•'"! ' " UN CorrfTIEP,
M
id
prorcment, whi« :i. u - mfciafactory t-> uM. arc in the highest
rio^roc appreciated by IhOSO for win.:-:*' I>< tulii li- . drl,
Lhoadditi »o oi the art gallarj an<l muscun anvefuroj tedfl
n . an Uy matructnv, U'-M*" -. "fi'lving a want
.; was Long iolt is Bradford.
The last report suites that m ooneequeii* '»i the a using of the
.■i>nrr;tl jir< n ■ ■ i I _: .In- Cyl'ly pfllXOl tin: \i;lii- 1« <r j^wl nitf :ind
otaJ Dumber ol issues and visit* io the control
depot* t me ir i what reduced, but, with the exception Ol thfl
,- Elbe dail, . ■ ■ i- nig ifi- ii 1 1 :n vnv j cevfom
year Thi d : !• •-■ call attention to the taadequaci ol the
hinds ii thoiX disposal for enrrvini/ <>n the work innirr tliolr
charge. The demand for brunch [ftirarlea continues, bur it is only
1 ,v ;ri increase *<i unite thai these can be eetabl shed I hi we i ■
and tear of tlie volumes in tfie landing librari* - is niao rery fjfreat,
owing to thi targe increase in lite circulation, ami iim* the money
Intenaod fur Uio purchi m books i« mainly absorbed In
replaoiuu houi-ouI stock. This i» a eerious drawbui-K. Nit lens
than t 'U i i I* alieorbcd from the rate which yteldfl
: rent, rates, and insurance, The markets committee
of the i orj a« landlords of tlie pn i - ■. a id charge
an ex- n[. Tliie is not only unfair, but crinplflB seriously
the committee to fchelr work, flu library again bac to pay
.ii! rate*, there is room for readjustment in these two depart1'
men; oS Totto Council should remove part, at leaat.
( burdens, Tin ten figures here given will show the
cxpM work during mm last five yeare. Of total Waits
mid :: .in-.-, tofc^thci1 there have been 1686, 1,676,480; 1886,
i ,061,706; 188d( 3,115,874 ; 1886, 9,«X>^02. Mr.
Butler WOC ind < hiof librarian, and in on
compiiHiii'ii public servant
OutHSBOfl *xu Uvea Dahwbk.
i Utheroe library has had ton years' existence. It i& a case
<•( living on * 12U nnd doing an increasiiiK work on that income.
It i* open for tWO riijrht.** a week, and lh.'jivi'r:tp-i<i«*ne is a 1 1.1
indfl waa left then twelve months ago, sad tMfl
i wlndzaU for aew books. The magazines ara in large
demand foi homo reading. What is being done at nilheroe with
hi done At other places. TheprcsRinp-nccfl
;it Darweo '"i i nai premises d which to Btore tno Fnoreastng
.t if book* belonging i »the Public Library has long been
wU-dtfotl. 1 nv " ■ ;i coiiiiiiilici- appointed
U< i iatlt'iji;-jioH"d "ii tlieiiKi'l'-'iruiiiv of UiepreMMit
dali >u, They ulnted that e^ery squai'e yard of space w«s
vt'utilation the place wa« so deficient thai
great ting done to the books, and that " the whole of
irmngemenU a! at building are, in fact, of a mnke-
; character,'1 and thej concluded with the
word* We ■<'■■■ in abort satUAed from our inapcel oa I the
ahiary that the tjueetion of procui'iup another building for it*
Bfl
PI ill. If 4JIRAB1M
A
*■«-<- i-
v nxuno tic i i> .in unrein ■
■ tfl !■< I-"'. ■ ■:• liOJf With :! ' S:ikt tli.l. repOTl fl .1 , d
up the oil* 1 1 « i *ni n>nipliiiii>-< 'been int
book* an- conatAa 1\ accumulating and the number of borrowers
i.tinually incrcasim:. LT nothing has been -I'-iie. A
BOhcnr I'.v v. liich I ;i<-;i<imii hcl brarj will I
in tii-- I v. i Council he been nrra igod, and it is hoped that
the JOngcstt D referred fa I I PC '•'•ill eoon moot with a eolution,
^specially a* u row suitable Bite is nvniluWc The local pnpere
help the work con aVmbly b) publishing lists of tho new
as they are added to the tmrary, Readers are advised to rut our
these ae they appear, and place them at tho end of their eata!
This plan is dwarfing ■ i being oopiod by ether libraries Itit
this publicity perhaps more than anything etee which enables
.mssioners to announce that tho Library .-<■ :ipj.in..i.
by the local public than lit any other peri ■■! ol Its OXiBtai
The Darwen people claim thai for fcbe size of the library and the
Ol thC town ll:itu i )■-. ttie 'bftSt Public L:1m: iv nitlx \ COW
Lancashire. This m:n in.- a little open to question batttierai
point greatty In favour ol the managers, and that ta tho aroonni
spent in new booksoaofa yea?.
lURLINGTOy.
The old adage ol its l>eiug unwise to look into the inoulh of a
jrirt-liwiso, <!(! ^ nil apply !«' Public L:bnH-ir.s which hirve bwii
>}•■• -jitt ui ,i generous ■ ititou, Every one of tin uions
which t. wt^ its ui iKixi to aueh u i»ource may be looked »1 m
a.*- desired, and without exception there is reason to think thi
will bear the most minute examination. The Edward Vci
Library at Darlington ha* been opon four years, and nU
every book in the lending department has been, on fchcavei
dosens of times in circulation, not a single one m now am i
for ; and this epeaks well For the readers Hie Inhabitant* make
the greatest possible use of the institution, :ta will I i
the loot that 84,6*31 books have been taken out for honn
This out ol a total of 10,66-1 in the londing deportment, in ehi
of the present Librarian, Mr, Everett, shows a capital record, the
daily average being 333 volumes. Tho jnvcnilo section c4 ih<
library has been particularly -successful. The actual number of
readers' tickets now in use is l',4U3, Tho gross number of volume*
now in the library Is 1 1.390 No fewer than 960 people as a dm ! v
average visit the reading-rooms. From the time of its estab-
lishment down to now the library has boon managed with an
ability that has brought the institution to a state of high efficiency.
»m1 ml enabled it to perform a work of magnitude in the town.
C-tradiiftlly the people beeoni" io used to privileges <»f this
that they take them as a matter ol coiu'se, and perhaps seldom
pause to consider how enormous are the advantages said how
valuable from a monetary point of view
The subject of a Public Library had been for a rnnsiderable
! mooted hi Partington. In 1870 * vote of the rat*g>av*i
ous
nOIIC LIBRA MBS I.T THE VORTIIKKX C0l^7IKK,
K
showed ft prcj»onderftDce against it of those who chose to r<
i i rote*. The late Edward Tease took great interest m the
question, and in ever \\ I RtionfJ Bitten in his
nuthv toWSj And ldr bj BBS WlU tl<),t)00 I'm- n PnMic l.ihrurv, orn
BtnfcAfcf Objeofc, M BOB trustees might think fit. Sir Joseph Pease,
one of the fanutCA offered, through the Darlington Town Council,
to build and furnish n Public Library, and also to giro a site
for the MAH Is i •tnftntf poetics) in the town, if the in-
l;'«i»ii:i!iu adujiied trie PubMo LibMZJa' Aats, a coaBWer:ii>i.>
majority declared for the Acts. The style of architecture is
ice, and is very Btrilung. The west elevation line a
r;norvr» PLAN 07 oAJlLINGTOtt PLTtLin tJBKABV.
frontage of about JOB foot, and the north elevation of about 92
feet* the Wain entrance is at the junction of these two cJcV&tfons.
mid is made conspicuous by a handsome gable, which cuts olT uml
thus dertroys too Berority of a right angle, tins object being
further attained by !l well-proportioned porch. On the Uoystono
©1 the areli is displayed the head of Minerva, and above it the
iili tta right olaw upon on open volume. Entering by tl.is
iiorch, we pass through swing doors, glazed with stained glasfi,
into a handnon: .'ul-pluuned veytiDOje, and from Iha&oQ icAo
whdt Bony be termed the public lobby, which gvveA Sirae*, &&««*
Co the mUnta jvanis comprising the building, The ge&e\n\ vvVaeA,
>
I1*»UC IjmL&KtBS.
hero is Tory u<»*\- The inrge urea of marble mowic parenient.iu
the centre of which stand/m white marble bust oil lltb late douor
00 ft Mack marble pedestal, over which is cast a soft, mellow, Ami
. Ugfal from the- Uuyo octagon;* ' filing h^rht, hl.r«i in
painted gloss, on which aro skilfully repi cred subject*.
in ra arc. J-uiUling, engincej'tog, navig..
tad music. The lending library measures about." :
I -it Thift in udmirably lighted from the roof, which is partly
open timbered, and from the 6ie-be;uuK of which are suspended
fi.iu v designed double gas pondonts. T
t|e*tk in immediately in front of tho centre, and by u a ful
■•■' • i-rcmont of guiss-panellcd doors the librarian or his nssl
U oTin >■ < <' to see I'vcry person who outers Dol only tho lobby, but
those going Into the )*r;i'liiiL'-p)..:nH ;md tho reference library.
KinminpT BOUth from one side of the librarian's desk to a lengfh
Cd l". Set, 11 'i liom the oth^r m«1 > >■•] his desk running east tor
about \'Z feet, »r»' the luUOOtOra for 84,000 volumes. The
r.«iii:imdi«r nt The fundi ire in thin i'mniii immkixN nf specially
designed hookcaiuw, &c, cnpable of holding 83,000 volume*.
Thow are arranged so as to utilize the floor space to tho greatest
advantage. The general rendin^-nwn.n llnojipiirtm^nt. mea
fit feet by 28 feet . OOd Is Otherwise well proportioned nnd admirably
treated ::.- ivgard* iis Nlructural ami artistic detail*. It h*J l ii-r'y
line oored ceding springing from a moulded cornice and fmiohed
frioxn; from the cornice spring moulded wad enriched ribs, which
divide the nore Into panel* and extend along the horizontal p
of the Dotting, dlrldui^ It also into large luiih-Ik or lights, which
arc filled in with stained and painted glass subjects, illustrating
hicraturo, munle, painting, (sculpture, astronomy, and ehern
The upper parts of the windows in thin room are aleo filled in
with painted glass illustrating different foliage ; thisiainta
lu ubviai*' tin- necessity of Minds, The whole of the fn_ii.it uj
the reading rooms hoi been apeoially designed. The url
h [hting i" accomplished by two six-b^ia pendants from the
ceiling, doable bracket* to each newspaper stand, ami a separate
brocket fcc each table. The reference library measures •;■.
by l'!> (cot. it lu* a good front north light, aleo a top
Ja treated structurally and artificially in tho same manner ai the
\il reading room, kit the style "of furnishing is different. It
consists of I « i glazed bitokcoeoR, eueh It! feet long and capable of
holding 3,000 vorames i two reading tables, U feet lone by 3
■I acttoi wide; and n number of ebon's >f Ihi
those in the geneml rcuding-room. The ladies' roadii
on tho right on entering the public lobby, and is well lighted 1 v
two large windows, Tho furnituro consists chiefly of two I
tally designed boolfcanqe. to hold the various magazines, and
bio >'i containing 130 volumes; a tablo H foot long
a Eaa . and • J tal ■■ with movable back padi*. Th > room la artifi
llghtcl l>y a double pcndantintheoi.iitrt.uf the room, ui i .x-.iding
■Icots from tho chimney breast, In the same position on the
ii'trih at iIiIk i-iiimi occupies on the we*t,tfeav« ar a commit ree
rvnuc :j*nAnn» jv ntr. vcumiins' coi-nties.
!•!»
room. Liberal rifl turn Bowed In i be UbflBH Hw rrnvit
recent of ti ■ •- 'u.vn tlio SurteOB b<M|uofl1 ol 376 rolun
some of them of -irclueologieal and historical value. In the
reference department there is a unique collection c4 hooks
dealing with the eartj history 01 the Society ol Friends. Darling-
ton form- itabh home lor these works, for the Friends
throughout the district are numerous and most influential. The
ha building was about C&fJQO Intending donors of
i!;. Darlinston building with safety Mr
<;. i; BoSkins, Kil.J B,A . was the iU'ehHoet. A jjruimd phm of
the building is shown.
Dkktos.
The adoption was qulekh and quietly settled in this celebrated
ttrtei m Way, Iter, by public meeting The
r mannfnd irew took up the question m ;i wry spirited manner.
il praise i>> due to them tor taking the lead. The BABeaaiaent of
jtit of the works Stands al £100 or £150. and this OBlj means 8b.
13*. lor the year, Mi. Lees Broadbent, the chairman of the
• !. ii moving the resolution foi the adoption, said truly
ttli- erection ol a Public Library, vrhilsb beneflUng the few.
uM certainly U > ereat beoofit to the many, tod he beni 1 1 d that
i providing suitable classes the manufacturers of that district
del ive equal advantage. Twelve months— noi by say mci 3|
unreason m bin - —were absorbed in obtaining subamptions
d in ■ successful bazaar for (I » r using ol
and no [i ■ i i a than £686 waa realised. Plans wore
cited, and now a large and handsome build-
ing tal &< E i/.ibcthan style line been erected in the middle of
Denton. The structure ie of brick with Mono facing, nnd it*
pictui' bice mark :t <>ut from tho buildingQarotuid The
Liit..Tu.r con with tiic ornate exterior. Thfl rooms are
large, lottyr well lighted, and furniahed solidly and Ofltofully.
Entortng from » lorgi hall, d reading-room 39 feet by -21 feet is on
the left. V'xti*. ii. lent big u i . with a reading roots I ■■■ i.-oye.
On the Brat floor are lecture-rooma which can be converted i ito
as, a laboratory fur twelve students, and a balance-room.
, ■ classes for which 1 1 lis provision has been made are an
reature. J1 tteniieal elaaaea are certain to be of
sehnicfll ralus t<> the workers in the staple trade ol the
Inr! I Sclll MlclllK (UVOlVOd ;ill CXpOntUtUM Of IH nil y
10. AVTn iii nif m in. in I tlcti tin- ti'iwiKliip hai I popula*
.: . 1,000, i:. will he neon thai >e than ordinary
i ■ .-I itiown by the people within the district, The
rei itnivwualn -vj<i"inii.T, I (Wtt, nnd In giving a history
i ineulsn Denton, Mr. Thomas Woolfenden, who Bated
i |i ihl ii i Unite Ui the time and att< ntion
"■i'ii ;• ren to the mutter by the prm siornl committee.
il number of \oluiiieft is ulioul 1/rtXi, nnd the lit nary baa
<red "i i '><m <i usefulness. There arc M5VCW\ -uvwuuwV
■/;///■'■ ".it--hi;ir tie MteeeH* i .V U\C \\Umvy \tt
HOI
II.O
prauc unmaina.
Denton, anil It Is sure to exercise a wholesome effect qua
place*.
Thin Im thf iitii* i'«c litmli which VrtrknhlM luw provided to U»
adoption "f the Act* bel ween January, 1887, and Qm end nf law.
A public mooting derided the question la May of 1897. The
triwtww of the Mechonira' Institute acted lu u very v.
maimer. A promise of from 4,000 to 5.000 volumes was mad
them, nil) several gentlemen who had Iwon leatu
In Iraepliuj: the Mechanics' Institute from suing to pieco* took an
part m tho movement for the adoption ol tho Act*, ( toe iri
thcftpcakcni at. the statutory meeting said that when the
* tin.' iota was list proposed, some years ago, he opposed fl
tio thought I id) « mid ho ahio to make the Meelui
i nt i- ;i i i . hut he now found out that it could not be done. Tbo
i; v r WbitD3r.M.A.. dear, put the issue very clearly before the
meet Ug a*h< I lio said that in Dowsbury they ought to hare s
I' iMm; Library «o as to *nvc to those who Uvea is the town 0 i
Opportunity to consult works that were beyond their private
B to purchnae, und to advance the education and inteuagexu I
• >i their Important town. About £1,000 was raised it :
iini« in Doocrabor last a temporary room was opened b
Old v\ boobrrighl 9ohool, Wellington Street, by the Mayor, Ifai
premlsefl bare at tfiuall oo*l been rendered puitable for temporary
use by 111'-' library conimiitoo. The newsroom is commodious
ami well lighted, hid Mm xpacc fur the injury m insufficient, and
ii will ho tM'*'4-K4;»-v for tho committee to provide new • luartors as
early a* ponaiblc. The Library contains about 7,300 volume'-.
do Up Ol the libraries of the Mechanics' and Parish Church
|n..(Uu!. j.p :t 1 11 1 Dip hiirary wlneli )\:\..\ I tei-«n c<I:i hllHhcd ■>' ;l local
Inn tor iiinr mplaytt. The Mechanics' Institute and the
trios were presented to tho town, and the library ol thoCl
Institute wai purchased by the members ol tho Corporation tor
' m.iitai b E £40. * Suitable premises will be erected 01
rim trite of tin- uhi Meehanlos' [ftstttnte,
DONCABTBB-
I h DCOatcr rejoices In a new building opened on Ji
The new quartern are the outcome of n Jubilee movement, and tin
niniu'.v i"i' i' ' *■■»»>» I wu* subscribed bv the publfi II- former
history of (In- library may bo told in a row worde. The nuclei
the iiin i , wasth< books which formerly belonged to th<
Kjriptton Library and the Mechanics' Institute, bat when Mi.
Ivoraotorn of tho movement proposed on June 15, 1868, •• That tip
tanHe Libraries' Acts be adopted," thev could not hare i * ■ ■
*.vh:ii e handsome and commodious building w>ui<l bo tho utcorai
ol tin- propoi . i Ion, or what an i-\iei ■ ih.u of u
twenty years After be placed at the service of the people
DoBOSStor The promoters took up their alwrlo !n the huildh
flttW* t)uf church which was built tot the Grammar S<
Flfll.lL LlBltAKLfc* IS SHU N»KTtfKRN i.Ol MIF.S,
101
■nd it would probably hare had to serve thai ptupott for many
jrenrs to come, but for the fact that the citizens of this town,
b "iiitnou with those of other town*, desired to mark in a
IMTHMtitnt (n.tuuei the Jubilee w.u -\ >\ :ndeed :!i-it bctte-i
nr< ' I -li was not needed ; the 7,000 Ixtoks which formed the
nucleus of the library had doubled themselves, and the number of
Tota ;>K-<I inane year had nearly trebled itself The most
Important part of a man's education is thai which be (rives h£a>
.1. and it i» in that reepect that on institution like the Public
Library it* of priceless value. The works of oerv age ami <
greatest intellect* ..f all time ttro freely ;>! • '■ »1 the
lode il In ''K'O library ore e«>>tl_v it:- yeU»p:edtaa, State
papers, works of art, gazetteers, <iictionariee, and all that in
QOCds for thai higher education which is no
essential to his i •,'"■, ii" information is needed as epeolaJ or
.<' ■ ■ rasa subjects, there <>t reference :n abundi nee, wallet
in the lending department will be found most of the best literature
of the day. Altogether the Library contains Jo,47U volumes.
Ill . - nii.iw that the library is thoroughly appreciated, and
^ter may claim the credit or being a reading town In
1670, the ftrat year <>( the library's existence, 10,688 works vera
leaned; m 1878, 10,262; and to 1889 the tesuaa reached 84,1
fhe committee have been constantly adding to theft" store of
book*, mil', during the last tan yean hare a in average exp udad
£80 1 in* i .i ye.tr upon the purchase of new works of a
dard diameter.
The school nf art. on theflntl lloor, in approoclied by a stone alair-
',:imii ■, . : ■ -i mii* elementary itrawiugJi,aai and modelling rooms,
ize, tlie Itrst-nainod being specially noticeable Cor Iti
general suitability; likewise o master's room and ladlea'
etiriag renins, All the halls, corridor*, &e\, have
Orei aud l>p" filing-, ehiiMiicypiee.-., &e , 'i;i\r Uvn >nade
s]»Ti.i! ir— .: — M ; and the building generally is niuet appropriate
i i both in plan and appearance, externally and
internally, and reflect* the greatest credit on the building
lie. The architect ie Mi*. Henry A. Cheers, whoee
i ii s\. - .m. i .• '.-I ii niit.in. competition "»it of some -sixty
design* submitted. The ceremony of opening was worthy of
Kiwn. There it* annually reeeired from outside borrowers
17 or X'lb in BUbecnpUona. Tlio laet report nhuw* a
I "!:r in Favour of the hhrary committee. Mr. \\ .
Dinm* 1» the: librarian. It was proposed to spend £3,300
the bnildingj and after allowing for a donation from the
Department toward* the school of art, the
rtooK to make themselves responsible for the
»ncc and Art Department promised a eubscrip-
I ' to bo exclusively expended upon that particular
■ t.l 'iu- l.udd:ng. :tnd \h>'' hhvarv eon unit toe-, HlXfOQJ Bhftl t'"
: ; im 1*1 My nhonUl fall upon the Corporation, ottered to tafea.^
mg and fnrmshing the library, w\\\c.Vi fcwj\£\\v A
oabor/r GWO The i wilding is in the Tudor wtj\o ot vwcVaVectoce,
•dhenawc to It* perKi,
<* thai *-hr*»hr
aad ample fcfelt
fl ■!—■ a> u<-Tmt
ItttEfenrjai
3 a t*tt wstabCe and oxnpict tcifcfinr.
otto* wetter** visit thrrr •>•
* ** l?*** "* ***• «Ww«^ the rt*lbg
crowded, there was a verj
■hot the whole iciaiiiui. TSi -.uoftawd
•, IS*S. From that ttm« down to th.- middle ol
»S.I»I ndmmw* rave* been km*, uhI oat of (bit L ;
oedjr h*r* t»#a lost. The t armorer if
Toku>« th* mcb# in :h* on* yvwr in the t*o departments h*»
beet «*V« vomanes. fat the jureade taction *V*tt i
a*d th^ i* a departmewi to m-h»efa *pee*al at:«?ntkm fegi'*-"- ^»*
b*aWaia;i»-4m«WTj4an^e.i»»hlKK«^h:h.n.
more «pwr*. On th- gT**t*d Icht tbereorv imrj,
the roajiaxia* ami reference nadmg-focm, and the
roeat and ladW roam. In tho mi.*tt*> . e IwOdter. t*4
aloaed for three week* f.;*dc«uf»ta)aB^ret*tYarion. Tho opeeaf-
aac* now i* decaae>l
is decidedly hapfij <*» w mate four
and the ffeBtlesneti** re*dinjr-r«w»m have been eel
jproen and ervaro, whlfcr In :! .no rrrain* an.
tho prevailing tones fhe wall* of the fct*hva&* I
a ttalmon tint, and whea hronght ii
decoration^ pon t the ,■:( .
whoir i* highH |ilcatfiruj l« Ihr eyi' Ol
the st-i-Tirc and ail rlasw* the uia ha* received a colour*
4 :i very pale ahartecrf green, varied with dark tutu on. nwl
te lecture-mom oppudte tlip decoration in n haniMtij wtth
tin' general {Ann, although of not unite mi elaborate a rhn
Iimiip-.'. trl.v on to reopening (lie institution was patron ;
QfOVlb '»f viKilnrs, rvidmlU uanJOUB to IU&k« "j> for 1* — < t
It ni;iy be taken 'or granted that the bright and chee
-,i t ii* whole 1 nted for the quid bnsincxt-IOos njy
; boul the place. There is no doubt that visitors to ihcao ]
:,i, ■!•'■< iv fniluci ced bv their surroundin;;*. a U-'vA.x ;md( I
appearance cannot fail to produce a dewcanoui tn keeping xtHt
it. ' kuaahead Tuny well be taken us a model foTaamall
.: v Interna] Bjraugunionts are concerned. Mr. !
Mi.- librarian. The Sanaa) opening of the r< --m i%
,-!, 1 1 mnitv ae l"" penona using it durtofij tht honxj it
rot Ive o dock una aix till nine o'clock, Tin can
o Uvtion the ppemisca, ia able toexexdae all the supervision
which requisite
Uauuooatb.
J),: i] inland wuU'innvi-v' ■
PITH If! UBSt4U*S XS THR N-OBTHEHX COVSTIK. IU3
Tory few years ago. With a stock of 3,998 volumes they succeeded
in last year having a turnover of 80,19fi volumes. Not only tins,
but flu- library premises have been crowded every day, and n
want w:i.s tor wmiii- lin i' 1'i'li. for increased nminimndntion,
which haa now bean met. in the course of a tewYears wosiia.il no
douhi -• . i Harrogate i suitable building specially erected for the
rapidly extending "work of this institution. Mr. C. F. Harrison is
the librarian.
• rTrNDLBY.
Ii wm i gaffe prediction iii ili.» last issue of this work that
1 1 imilcY would bring its useful Library under the Acts, This they
did on May t>, 1887, by public mooting. The building, specially
» erected, is a very suitable one Tor the work.
Tin- donor of me building, the late Mr. Levtaod, J.r., passed
awn in IS88, but he has commemorated his mime by means
of the Public Library and a park in a way which will never be
• effaced. The aphorism that Knglund's greatness is due to the
nobility of her eone has been repeatedly proved. And, to apply
the. simile in :i restrictive seueo, it is as true that tl < mooiUnonu
of a town's greatness are duo to the liberality and largc-hcuricdn i:
of her citizens. There la iuany a town in England at the present
■ nn.' wIiobo inhabitants remember gratefully the beneficent -gifts
me of the citizens who, gifted with remarkable foresight,
left donations Cor the building and the working of institu-
whieh have been the turning-point in the career "of the town.
Tins park and reeve rift □ groundi i re situate about two miles from
tlie centre ol rlmdleyfan2 cover nn area of about twelve statute
ol land. They are fitted up with a gymnasium, bowling
green, cricket and football grounds, walks, &c. The library ana
museum meftuated in Market Street Fhc building oontains,on
the ground floor, the lending library and newsroom, ol feet by
iM Mil, w i'li cloak-rooms and lavatories adjolnunr, and a stone
i siaa which leads to the committee-room on the first. floor,
^v Ifl teat, with oriel window nt the end; and the rcfer-
llbrttryand museum, of similar dimensions to the library
below. The work has been executed from the plans and under
be direction of Mr. Thomas vVorthington, and Mr. John 0
Elgood, architects, of Manchester.
The legatee, Mr. X. Eckeroley, expressed the wish that the Acts
M be a ! opted, as the local board could not maintain the library
without ihi* bciny done. The building is in every way suited for
its work, and haa before it a useful career. The rule produces £90.
I
Lbsdb,
The people of LccdH arc naturally very proud of their Public
ry work. With n record of nearly twenty yearn behind
them tney may proudly turn to the vast extension of the Public
Library system in Loads, and to the imqunetlonablc progress
which the work baa made, as proof of the, fe&VroAta *^aM&
cm thaw meutntiom by the citizens. Leecle uot Voa aX to
104
iTiiTURrra.
quarters a op-lend id collection of works, H ir-rcnco deport-
ment llwre is of auch i *■!■. d 01 Be ■ ■"■npri'hpnmve nature,
lhar ir i- not oalj l loura of pride to Leeds bal to the
if Yorkshire. Tin.- niiiii; tin iln- List Off litirnrka
throughout the country for the extent (if iix reference *. .
The mimlier of volume is 10,801, iumI ilnrinj? tfu Invt library
vear the number ur issues iu tliis dopaiiitu i i were . „_:. h I The
'.»■ xr as Kilo,' I'm (h open. Sunn- 14,108 works m
tin orb ■odiolenaeKweri' aiiiAultcti. i i miscellaneous li »i
and magazince the number was 38,090, and the next Lt
ii for directories, dl heraldry, &c . the number I
;_'. Ai'tis.iM* i'i-|»i ivm Tit tlio Iai '
milted the works in this department, and profcMioDjol men rank
about the next lancet. Yorkshire ladies are uoually uU>
their own among uk ■ pari of the country, bad
II,.;, do -l >t rcpiv.senl ;i Ur^r p-vpm-li .u <<l lh«.:.e who made Use
<l the reference departmeofc. Tha proportion fox than was only
1-39 of each 100 volumes ; and nliopkccpere show nn a
EorccotoffOi IVrhnj-B the main reason why Lgo of
i.i\ neitort 1 1 talc Beotion ■ the numb r 'frttep*
v, liich I hey hove l" 'lniih hefure rcn< I
nlng the handsome pilo of municipal buildings when: the
housed, it is most uafortunnto that both the l<
. rtmente arc ikied and it la an even praatw caloi ■■■■
the goner:ii nevKr(H>m U ao far away from the library, havti
< iiti'iiw'i-, i:nl in a different part ot the bulldlift 8 ime
bOQJ MUst surety have been .it fault in the mapping out ol toe
original plans, and the views of the commit i
appear i" h-ivo bean overridden in the Town <.'"unril,or to great a
ko could Dot have been made.
Tho estimated cost ot1 these municipal hulldmgN va* to have
lieen £75,000, but through some breach of contraband extra
reached tiftmately £!:'jm**'. in xo hirjje an exneru
la greatly to he deplored that the Horary port ion nhonld ha . e
aacriflcen to the otner parts of The banning, aa ha* unmiesrionahl y
l*«n the owe. The work in the parent institution at Leeds, pjew
and developed in an old, adapted building, most inconvw
In every way, and badly lighted and ventiliited : and
n;itiir:iiiy have been expected that some marked advance would
have been made m the miivenient arrangement of the new
ijuurter.-*. That the new premises arc of course better in cverj
way than Ilie old In admit Led on all hands, but thepresaiiiy ffal
the library have certainly not met with the careful coll
fmrn the Town Council which should have been the case. I
JKirs to come, when the Beit move becomes necessnrv, it li to be
apod that the library, with its twin institution of artfcalltry. will
have a building: ^neoinJiy const rudetl for their ever -
rc«.(iiiivnienta. Psram by thai tone the Nitrate Kin*, who hae
done mi much in providing parks for Loc<U( will sechw way to do
for T-ervfa whatOameyic nafl done for Rtlnharffh, AUoghairy
and I*itt*burgh.
PI-RMr lii'i; iPtRK rx THE MOHTHEHV COCTfTIBB,
]r,r,
The lending litirnry of tlie parent building represents a fttrong
ahin*. Hie total t*sue reached 884,647 volumes for the year, or
i imragre of 1/2A7 per flay. Fiction, pi etry, am ilram.i i-- 'j >-■*-_
if lun/cxt jui.i1, us is Ihe vase, at all libraries; but history,
ngraphy, travels, science, and art represent a vory reapo ct&lne
laL
B»tV«
vcuacniade of the Board Sobook in Leeds is the
i lias brought their work moat under the public
■ town of Leeds covers a wide area, probably the largest
country. It was early seen, in connection with the Public
', that if that institution was to be ot advantage to the
of the ratepayer*, and not fliropl v to a section, it should
over the town. This has been done to tho tsalwstA cA
r - brunches, each with a toirly vel\-aclc*AeA ewwk
1 1
fCBUC rTBJtlBTBS.
of book*, and alJ oi them in populous n*ighhourhr»->d<.
rcvnlt of thm arnmaromwit is that n is only <->n r*ro occasion
reader* in the districts so provided need to visit the main
a: • wisdom ol opening no i
broncho* fus boon seriously que«tioned, ami It nifty
■ ■, as i« said Id the chapter dcaliny With tlv use of I
80000I1 aa T'lii.H.- libraries, thai M la to (>o hoped ol tar
towns win not emulate the ••sample of Leeds, wnh rcgar
the number cM fftools in a town used In thia way The
aim c»f having a library within only n very tew roin
iIk* i!iH<r til i-viT.v iMnisohnldor in Li*d»iK no :"i DJUnixei
It pro on of work In large given oenl ■
no extent as ii.i- been achieved is other towns, with
bruotcd branch huililinjr-.. N^enl ol Luebnu
in Leetfii have bad to be closed through lack <>i rcaders.a&4h
e«1 iiil.v appears a case or tiaving t*><> much of a good thing,
These various brand Lending libraries issued in the year Sfi
volumes, and the total numbej of bosTowera' cards issued waj
0,827, Some of these branches are dolnfi an excellent work. 'IV
one at Sheepacar had 190,490 viaitfl tu it in the last year, and a
daily avri.iL'i of 187 books issued inthelondina; departmeat The
branch os :.t Not Wortiey and TlnuMei ran* next with a very
large turnover and a use of the rcading-roome which mm
tfina to the librarian and committee^ The Town Oo
i'-i"'ir-!i..r I'nr rhc ifn'trc nuiuhci* of those branches, but u
don I ■•(lin.ir oi them Mr. James l'atee, tho librarian, hai had
t" (Id. With the numerous branches nndor his oontrol ho has,
cour Foundhifl] andi foil, but %\ :tl. i J i ■ - ii i 1 « ■ t hH< istiint
thotriivadsol'tho. work liavo been kcy>t well in hund.ando thoroujfl
oversight has 1'tvn kept over these numerous branches Bu
Vatee baa twice visited America to boo some oi the librari'
that CM i i.iiy.n.i with almost a lifetime behind linn oj lil
work ho has acquired u very varied experience. The ostu)
o the travelling ibrariee 'n Leeds Sa largely lue to him.
These contain about ioo volumes each ot* pood and instructive
literature, and they pass around among the children cd the
School*. Thlfl t net hod which should be largely copied
fit her districts. Books of travel are the lavoiutfieey and all fietioi
Ui exclnd *<i.
The Leeds report is packed with statistics, and ns g oul
touched Me lllghvwatcr mark in this direction. The whole worl
aceoinplishi'il every year w. very risinu'liw, >i:<l It would be
im|Mtwihie for n.ii this educations] machinery w be In a
operation without yielding more or less of beneficial reanros
LtVXBMOL
1 Ine "i the kings oi Pablio Library work has gone over i
majority ioc ma Issue ol the previous edition or thia w
-mi' ramei A.Uanaon Pioton was for the bed part of fori\
earnest an : it friend of the movement, Foi tl
FCTOUC UB&AHIBS EN THE KORTHBR.n COUNTIES.
107
i>i i:n; period he had presided over toe deliberations of the
library committee with very gTent credit to himself, find certainly
with advantage to the whole of the Liverpool community. He
M" inn of his death i which took place in Jul.y, 1880,
!•: -In \ - win- yean old, but, despite lit; udviilH-cd ii^-r, av.i. »fl
as ever both in public and private matters to the Lest. II 0
bcfc'on life ae n poor boy with litt K- or no 0 IttcaUoXL und by dint
■in'»nl'-< i-: wnrlt r;iiHorl him noil to I'" ;"; llfcMteei of the
i:_kI o dtoti igi La hod scholar. Ho was masft p of two
langun^rrj-,and partly nogoointed With three thou-, besides being
m minority on antiquarian, pbiloa* phi( al, and social queal ■■
So v u) the author of wie ** Moi i >rial«of I iverpooV'a wot* displays
inn "■<■:" i |'-i .i. -.UK research, which is now a standard book. The
well-known Picton Reading-room, adjoining the Public Library,
[led after Sir lai - Picton, m acknowledgment of hi* long
i j.'iii i lUnir-i .in behalf "i 1 1" spread of Public i Fbrariea and
rton among the people, He waa one <»t the most easily
understood of men. lie had live pli tily and simply among his
follow ■ II Kens His industry was tremendous ; it run Into every
di p:ii 1 1 i ■ ii o] hia life Ilia reading was vast and voracious ; hn
u'lw iii the an pi fait loii and attacking of languages <raa
1. Tlie Aral occasion on which he presided over
i tnmittee was on Juno 39th, 1862, and tin* hub
. .ii wan "ii July Ulh. only aome four days before hietdeathi
iTim i> u i \[\n- ami uin-v.iupli-d in (In- 1 1 1 .-^ I ■ - 1 _v of tllO
•iii- 1.- Library movement, Tim whole library community felt the
ogi i Poi hoi lag i b one of its leading lights the late .Sir Jam ■
* Ilia life was long, happy, and useful, beyond the ordinary
(xmr*c, itnd it wa* hi* «<«*! fortune to he able to .show to Che
/i how a young roan, by cultivating the talents with
h he ha* been endowed, andby perseverance and upright
ict, may rise to u position of great eminence, aud also how
im us itmn tuny ki-i-i> i innric in touch with younger gonenuMose,
andtbv .'i just appreciation <>i tin.- progress wnfah Ik oi ex g< lag on
nrounii ns. bring the fruits of hut life's labours to the highest
ri] p. rleetioDi l le was a mber of the Corporation from
ad took an active interest in nil the affaire of the Town
Council; but it was as chairman of the library and museums
with in* ripe experience and warm and sympathetic
with the reading needs of the people, that bia public
uf\s w:r- ino-c :iji|i;nvtit. In the l'ublie Library roll of
ceupy a first plnee. With nil who knew Iiiin
v ui 1, for long years I me, be green, and the record
of a lot career in the service of his feDowmen to
Imjrn muted In the >rpool jieople, and in the
large and special reading-room bearing his nam*1. " The Pleton"
cut it i livl, is r Tucli frequented ronni in toe
i Hi" buildings forming the central library. The en
Irihuie to Ii m and tn Mm work. TTr never
: i' hair's-hrouttl) In hta devotion tn \uh YAw.wy A.w'w-.
i i was ever Awn and buoyant, arid Vie wsMSdaA xrtSfc
1(*
PTBI.IC UnaAEIES.
keen interest the bc^inniriK*. formatfcffij und powth of
Library work in Liverpool
Tin' lato 8tr W llluun Brown, the muzdAc ml donor to Liverpool
oi'thr l Ml I -■ Library and Museum Mnlding> in W ilham Jtrowu
Street, eouM not Iiutc perpetuated liie name in n IB"1"
priato wnv. These, with the an Gallery, mo, wtthou
lin- i pile ol liulldlnoi it>r tins p the whole I
km.< nd if wo except the Btate-eidcd Lnctltn
Bunding in the ];u- ■ ro in the elty ol Liverpool and
elevated from the rtreel below, they h«ve contributed
- n for i Iverpool a moat Important place for The mnjnity nnri
architaetnraJ beauty of lr* public hmMrmra in 1N0, when
the question dI totmdinjgn Public Library was first fn<
propose] ini't with cordial support, but Mime oppoai'
afterwards the Council obtained the Art -i Parliament
authorizing thorn to levy a library and museum rate of not
exceeding Id. in the |miuih1, mid in the panic year, 18.V
library was opened i:> bnike Sired. Tlie following year kiw the
eh!ilM:>l Mli-nl Ol the m:I1l mil ROUttl |CD( ■ :- : the
[Irown Liii.iM ran opened In 1860; the Walker Ait Qattea
1877. end the Pioton Reading-Boom in 1679. Whilst, howi
these buildim.™, thus gradually erected, form a -splendid irr>
Institution! toetihiua to n-gard Un- education ami b>r :i I, ll.e
pn i io rate oul "i wnich they have to be maintained ha*
1652 remained the same. There haa been no corresponding
i .uni cd re* in- est and in tbia respect Liverpool differ* from
I of fch< other large towns, wine the rateable ralne
i M'd jm> much.
The une made of these handsome buildingn is unmiatolie
The thirty-seventh repi rt was mode public on J!.
1K!M), The cot ii ii iM. lee note 111; it Hie )>:i rli:< ltu t; btl'V pOWeTUObfc
n* ur nig the last soaaton now enabled them to admmistorthG Library
and Muttoum Act of IMS to the ftilloet extent, and frees it Prom
ninny moot points wm*oh heretofore presented themselves^ noto-
i»iy mo, that » doubt h:i- heei dispelled ss t«> the lending libr
terming a part of the corpus of the main library in William
% '*n street. The exigencies Of Liverpool trnde and eommeroc
i srlng necessitated the migration of n urn sad Industrial sec-
tion ot tiie eomi&nnlty to a residential neighbourhood
from the eentre of the city, it was deemed desirable in thei
terest to extend the area or the district libraries, resulting' in the
eraetton >f one In the township and war d ot west Derby Tim
extern to which district lihrarfea may ultimately lie established
will trreatly depend upon the financial resources of the committee,
and upon that question the dictum of the ratepayers most MViner
in- later be pronounced. ThN question of branches has for
time been b sore one En Liverpool, and many columns <>t* I is
I-", i press have been devoted to If either o the form of leti
report* of discussions of the committee, or leading articles, .Mr.
Oowell, the well-known chief librarian, has advanced the
vk-\y thnt it nnuhl U« better Lobui\dupagveu\.e«aVva\\\N«n.rswU*i
PmilC ITBSUftJKS tS TBR H-'"«rJIRRX rY»rvTXR*-
1W
ttH
live books for nteen C by Eho working men whleh
Dot Obtain for themselves, rather than fritter away
librarfo* Tlii* hie*
le:
s
the fc#rjnote "i tin* work Ed Liverpool, inn t in not. r.lmr
Uiai it ha* been ritogsthei nwc wtf rl. Ttw rtntlatfes ol the rater-
eucv librarv >liuw iluii Ifcerehs* sued during the paal paw
■ Compared with the i«*ut» of the previous ti
:i-;t.srol 17.019 rolUIDCS 'iMM- .lrc|t.-:i.Sf 'i:i- ■■
proportionate in the several lAascsof literature \nU which
books are divided, except I-otin ami Greek classic*, winch ethJMl
crass* of i The volumes added during the year
cr 2,404, The effect ol good arid bad trade upon employ-
ment is always Apparent in the work of the library by the deci
or increase of tnc books issued to those frequenting the re.*l-
: :hc prrscut improve tnont in tn ■!<* i- ; <> doubt the
direct cause of the diminution <t books issued both this year i ltd
last ; and the books borrowed from the lending libraries also show
a decrease to the extent of ii',106 volumes, due no doubt to the
Airae cause. Tfae&nmborof books referred i<>. which have been
classified, by no moans represent the whole or the wotft ol One
hbrnrj. The issues of «Minrti»Hy, month!y,and weekly periodical,
which are placed in the 1'icton reading-room, are estimated at
■ periodicals are nil of a scientific or literary olinr-
Jn the Brown reading-room, whore the literature lamed
la of a more reeroative and popular kind, the various periodical!*
lent, in addition to the volumes of prose fiction, volumes of the
•ated papers included in the table, numlter 1 1 .'.U'W To this
046 directories lad 17,18* volomsa of
its. A. section ol this room forms the newspaper deparrmont,
in-! various countings of the readers hero present at ons time
gtvaat average of not less than 7<X> i*»rday,or lM».7ln iliirui^
ling figures combined make a total of i0O|dN
liook* and periodicals issued during the past year, and this apart
norraous number ol persona who coma tooonsultor rend
(H the 444,649 volumes issued from the refer-
ibntry prose fletlon appears to have been the class of lilrr.i-
aosl :;i i smand, 171 ,097 volumes having been applied for.
i aud Greek rhixsirN v.uuiv ;it the other end oC the list with
'i.i;; -,i l-mic3. The totnl number >i works , ..i.t.ioi- \ m ilie lil-Mn
wmts to 94,749.
iiic total Dumber iA \ tames lent from the north and south
dtnfi .■.-''.' I' whirh !'»•"-, le'o w.-i.- iwued li (-in
i ranch and Ift&,841 from the south branch. At neither
W0H >■■ lost. The Volume,-- ;nl<ird or lent to hull
counted to 300 The total attendance" at the branch
< during the evening only, tuid held in
rooms, were 116,915, being made up as follows i Ohnta-
(lev Utnul, :u>,r,:\*>; Wellington Koad,
■ ad. 17,833; LowraU 14.S80. A 0%
was opened onJanunrr 30th, 1800. This « rtuifasfc^eTTw^
room ami library combined tfc&tuaft ^jet Veen
no
prune rntKAsite.
cotaUlishedinthocity, As to the need for the now Is here
con bo no question, In the thirty-aix years which ha\
og i] thd north ana ttouth londin« i
ii 1 1 i>v,ii up n the outlyln i ixuti) of Kveri
an artisan poimliitii'n "t ii-.'iii ,0,000 to hnt,(HKi pa i [o, t i wh< m,
t-v reason of duttanee, those libraries arc of prooacally u<» I „■•
Ac :'.'"'! Ikik king ,v,'« " i'"1 " .."ti-i-l l.v the lun-nn • •«. ■nn ittee, mid
doubtless hid luees resourced k.<»i>t pace with tl
mandi an 1 1 thorn the present provision might have been ■
sooner. As it is the new library come* just when Q
most needed rhe • >at has been aboui £3,000. It occupies on
■ :' 100 wuaw yards, and >mpriseat reading-room w
by -"-' (set. It ts of one storey only, and flu feet square. Fh€
greater portion >i Che ntorior is ocenpied by the library and
reading-mum, a work root xnp-
ported itv pillars Around the walls on two sides are place
bookcases. On the other sides and in the bays of tin- window
are the newspaper stand*, whilst tho floor space is oceupli
tables for readers o1 hooks. Triere is u'comraodiition altogether
for about a hundred people, The library is also provided v
room for the assfe an s. a librarian's room, and 1 1 ominlttee-rc
and has been fitted throughout willi tin: latest Iruprovemi
About 7,000 volumes have been provided, and within three month*
after the opening' 2,307 borrowers' cards had teen Issued Tin-
question of decentralizing the chief library is occupying c Hb
sidcrable attention, not only from the committee, but ;n the
jgeaeraHyi and the development of tills step will be watohei .
interest. Probably as one means of carrying this work oul the
fivn evening reading-rooms, open from 0 Lo 9.00, will tilth:
a- ume a more permanent form.
afanoHWTMa,
Taking an all-round survey it inns I c said til it Mauri:, •!■ - lm*
never taken a back seat to any town or cdfcy in I he wor d
Public Librarv work, and probably never will This, pet
appears s rather bold assertion, hut it is one base I upon what
Manchester has done, 2a still doing, and Is prepared to do
vitality and energizing force throughout the entire v.
conspicuous that the statement jnst nude is more than justified
So eagoHy desirous have the Ineinlx of thix mo\<iiH'!it DO*
having a roller aeeounl «>f tho rise and progress • <! the Pi bh'4
i irarle i this ity that the need toi a littla nandho ■:
a descriptive and hiKtoriiMi Kiccrvh . . e iii( ? . ■ it.wn apparent
\n«l to mrrt this demand for information a panvohle! ol aixtj
pages wns written by tl hid lihrarian, Mr unai'Ics VV Sum m,
and the deputy chief librarian, Mr. VV. R. Credlund, and \m
in in*.*. The aide work of Mr W K. A. Axon on "Tho \
(theater Libraries," published some years agi bj Messrs i
He/wood vV Bona, lad prepared the way for this atioitor
which brought the subject down to date. Tho rcadej
knows thai the Manchester Public Library was the firvt
JTHLIC LIBRASIBfi t* THE NOHTEEKM COUNTIER.
Ill
iblished under the Ewart-Brotherton Act of 1H50, and,
ITiOOBW *hown, DBAbldiatety thftdf the pasting Oi Hie Act
Stops were taken Top the adoption of the Arte and the u n m mn
of a library. The steady progress of the work from the beginning
down to the present date is n record which Manchester men look
npon et™nfl of the many to which Manchester
\y and justly lays atafra
in tiit? looonnt given Id another chapter of fctw opening of the
flr«t. Public Library under the Act of 1830, a nnrahor of names
an* mentioned; but there kk others In tlie Manchester roll
of honour who have done much bo help on Hie popularizing of
■ Institutions In tliai city. Firel and 'orexnost among tneea
i> Ml'. C'liilMi-illiir Tl.ii'i v Kiwwm, J.P. This "rMli'Uiail i\:ix [JQPQ
at BCinohostei near the close ul 1820. After l; brief svlwol
life, and before be had attained lu'et eleventh year, he found
".vmeut in the shop of a well-known liookwller and
printer in Market Street At the termination of lua apprentice-
10 remained for five years as managcx, ood then, in cou-
junction with a fellow-workman, beyan business. In 1853 ilirv
quired tlie praniseswheTe their apprenticeship had beenpnesea.
Be, the real education of the subject of tola
bogs n with the jeara of active work. The desire for km w-
odgc found further encouragement and outlet fit the evening
■ of the Mechanics' Institution. Here he took an active part
thi >M8 of the Mutual Improvement Bociety, ana on
in i '.nt (4 his majority ho woe elected a member of the
rd of directors. Amongst nis many services to the instit n~ t« n
•! the least was the prominent part he took in the establishment
v classes for girls and women. Mr. itawson hue been eon-
eerneii :ii n- government of the McehnnicK' Institution aincc the
i:-ii. i-'ivr yearc ago it wan transformed into, a toahnloaJ
"I. and he was elected chairman of the council, lie is also
s mi'jnbtr of the Whitworth Committee, appointed by the
laaYatfVY o3 the Sir Joseph Whitworth to mkkwi in their greut
Knemo for the establishment of the Whitworth Institute <>t' Ait
&n<l Industry in Manchester. ]n 1860 Mr. Uawson was eleete<l
' i> < 'iifjtive of Cheethum Ward in the Manchester City
»nd, with the exception of a, slight interval, retained
■unnveiloD until 18W>, when ill-health compelled bis realgna-
I - tub ' • ; ■■■ in 1S57, of Sunday bnnri.< in the public parka
itarlan bigotry, and an Ineffectual
him at the poll. As chairman, in IKCX, of the
Libraries' Committee, he was mainly responsible for
'" Uullcy i>t c*tabllAhmg branch lending libraries In the
I'ipuloiis district* nf the city. In 1884 he waa solicited
o of Kxehatige Wind to become again a
■ante fur municipal honours, and waa returned i\y a
Hi- resumed Ida position on the libraries
which In- \> the deputy chuirmun, and in this
red iiiu.-.i valuable service lo the worV. ol
r Ut-niricM, A* ciudrmtux of tin committer, AWe.nn.ui s\ '' -
112
prBLXO UBiARrn.
Smith ha* done n work for theae i»*ii atSonfl worthy of high
praise. There >TJ»er riamw which could b< mention
were ! 000688811 tOdOBOSl till |'ivsp-nl i mm: unit, <rf lino.- WQ0
by their enthoRiasm and lut>our helped to
[ Institutions. Butttlaonlj rendering a weD-menl i
ti» viy thiil in uo pldi'f 1m* iv- work been more ttbl) and uurcos-
ilUly t I !>• l-» ■;.: [»i i-v:, lli:i!L ;m M.turlir.-,|cr, FnnTillii'
■<r\ biitnol Uk* Idea to the inesmi ti nc the entire local •
ham riven the wtigtit of their vast influence and adv->
il the Fublie Libraries and the rnnvoment ttcuera-lry. Daren
lies, as much 00 in anything else, the proud position
Mancht^tn Kbrariea now hold in the library wo: .
The roll of chief librarians is not by any means witln.ui mi- if ■■•
Edward Edward* was the Bat. sad held the position for six Tean.
followed ]u>lv<-t't Wilson SitiiliH, lu-othcr to tin; genial di
: _■ saroc name. In 1884 Dr. Crcntodoro woe appointed to ihis
tilHoe, which ho held until his dcutli in 1379, after fiftoen jcars of
mithlul service. Hi* R-uecrxwor iv,i- Mr L'. W -Sutton, who hod
been for some yeni-v in the service »t tho committee, and
wtfll holds tho some office, lie is deservedly esteemed V;
committee, the public, whose servant he is, and hie brother pro-
fessionals. In hi* hand*, nd vih Mr, t.Vedland as lus able
deputy, the work to receiving all the force which can eomo from
practical experience and sustained enthusiasm. The present
writer remember* well old Ur. Orestadoro when, on a lad,
li<- -.-,:■«. :i ivii.i*T sit t ii> old L-amptieid Library. The reputation
ot the old doctor will ever he associated with the prepar
ot a memorable eataka.'"'-' Issued in 18ftJ. It consisted ot two
parts, the Brst being « list of authors* names in alpha!*
order, anonymous works being placed under thou- subject!
the second an index of subjects. His lihrury work is
known in the dtefirtet, lie wmh rather b recluse so fiat asothi
HbrarfasB were concerned; but one gentleman who holds
hijrh post as chief libnrlun In n large northern town, nnd wh<
catalogue It* one whldi lus received unlversnl admiration, t<
how as a young man he sent some MS. copy of hia first imtaJogna
tn Dr. CJreatadoro and sought a personal interview with l um
the DQoal k i i 1 1 i i v u;iv the old doctor looked through hie abeel
made a low suggestions, .md chatted pleasantly with the chh
librarian in embryo.
Tlie first yearn working of the Manchester FubUe Lil
,.' 3, showed liiat 01,080 volumes were used by readers Ei
iritTi.-iu-.- department, while 77.2.1:.1 «eu- i»ui:owed Prom the
[ng department, making a total of 1JW,812. Tin* i i
li rrary jonfcoined at the end of the first yaw 18,104 rolumee, nnd
the lending department 7,195, Thus it may be said hai
L'o.tXK) volumes proi Ided were issued Ave timer* over,
of 1851 #ave the total number of the inhabitants of tho
as 808,3*2. Making every allowance for women, children, and
adults m\:iMo l..> iv number, prohahly between 50,000
and fiO.OUU persona, WOW I Mill remain, who Toight i n dirndl v have
pmuv LnraAanes in ran yowntvav couimw.
113
beta expected tu have availed themselves of the privileges pro-
vided for them. Leas than one-half of the rising generation of
1851 WM therefore recetvtDg the instruction necessary to fit. it for
it tie of life, and of coarse the proportion for the previous
■ii 1 1 would be less still. TbB nee ol the libraries has in
TateT years increased out of sill proportion to the men growth
of the population, and this Increase is largely accounted for by
the strenuous educational work which has been earned on since
the passing of the Elementary \rt n( 1870. Since that time the
proportion ei children not apparently receiving education has
steadily decreased. Id making a comparison between the past
and pit* sent work of the library, Mi'. Crcdlaud iwinted out, in a
e delivered name time ago, that the results of these enhanced
educational eflorte might naturally be expected to show tliein-
aelvee iu the increased OM of institutions having for their object
ilorgenient and extension of adult education, and it is
EstuV ul that the figures showing the working of the
rarles undoubtedly point to this conclusion. Between 1852 and
1370 the libraries received their fullest development. The patent
ioc i - amptield gradually increased in popularity, and
demands began to be roado for the establishment of branches
in other parte of the city. Accordingly, in 1357, two brunch
Ubrari* b were opened. These were followed by the. establishment
Uvoscy Street branch in I860, and of the branch In
Raeholmc Road in I8B8 ; thus, before tho end of 1870, the whole
of tho present library aystom had boon brought into existence,
with the exception ol the Chootham branch, which was opened
in lf?7:?, and the reading-rooms at Bradford unci Ilurpmb. v,
I in 1*37, and t ho roading-room in Hyde ltoad opened
m 1988. J- pom i -70 to the present time trie efforts of tho
LibraricfiComniitteehave been confined principally to the improve-
ment and extension of tho bnildmgs and privileges already
provided. By the opening of the Cheethara branch in 18712 tho
ohoin ot libraries encircling the city was completed, and it
was not until 188(5, when the out-townships ol Bradford and
Harpttrhey were added, thai any necessity was felt for more
Et In impowiblo within the compass of a few pages to follow
op the steady progress of the Manchester work. Thiring the
but twelve months the number of readers and borrowers »t the
various libraries and roadJng^roomfl (i.e., the nuniber of visits
have made) reached an aggregate of nearly franr millions
8), being over 70,000 in excess of the previous
ye.ir. The numlter of homes used for home rending and tor
iieniKil in the reading-rooms hue been 1,649,711. The increase
aj Uiist the previous twelve months, la 12,867.
Hm ii - volumes used in all the libraries won l,7no,
Of the volumes issued to re;ulers at tho libraries, 330,068 wore
b the reference library, o07,96-l iu the reixdm^-T <y
attached to the ' trTT0 in the Bradford, Rar^jweVvwj,
mad Bjda flaed lvadlug-rvwub. For home reading, l\\e uacatiaBC
ft
114
PraiJC tJBR.VHTBS,
for the year was 740,949. Out of these only 10 are missing. Oi
Sunday*, 5,843 volumes have been used by i,!^i adult readers h
tin: general rcadinjr*roorafl .:i tin- branch Libraries ; 18*619 volumes
hare boon used by 13,428 reader i in il r • •■ 'imeh reading-room*.
In the boys' room 115,245 have been issued. At the rofon
Library ii.ojm rolumoa have been issued, the average being -'•-
eu*:l Siui<ti>, .iL'iiiii-; -Jlti in the prcv ions year. Tin- | i
vendors of magazines and newspapers al ndsvfl
haa been over 160,000 The total number of vi»its pai-i ■
libroaiv mid roading-rooraa on Sundays baa boen
■ ..■.._<■ ol *».•■' " eocl Sunday. In the boys' h arc
i pan ererr evening, 136,408 volumes have been used, being on
increase oi Lir668. Ihe number of volumes in the fi
oov l >7i947. The number in the re i ranoe Library is 00
the eli branch, libraries 104,842, and in the three reading i
•:. - 12 volumes. 1'he addition to the stock is 5,WS0 vol ID
number oi' persons holding hmTiwrs' tickets is ll.Si;.':, muI .in
the yew they have made 703,79ft applications for books, show big
that each borrower has boon supplied with books, on an average,
seventeen times in the twelve months. The chi •: additions to Hie
i.-t irenoe library have been two valuj ble collections, ■ m
comprising l.olo work* on shorthand writing, and the other S
volumes i 1 various editions of the writings nr Dr. Thomas lniLiei\
mirl u! inioks relating to him, and tn ntl er anthon ol the same
i me Amongst the additions to the lending libraries, special
attention maybe called to a selection of ttfty volumes oi
the Braille type for the useof the blind. There are besides ft
br amah about 180 embossed books iu the Hoot type. The
In the direction of providing books for the blind were takes
1868, when the committee were asked to buy a number ol b<
printed with the types invented by Mj'. Moon. About I
it was estimated thai their were about 300 blind people in
around Manchester, most ol' whom were ol the poor* r i
unable bo purchase the books, which were ueceasarilj
price Since that year addition-, han '"■■•n made to the liltr
;;iul there is now a goodly list of book* .i hipte-1 for the usi
those who cannot sec. The books deal with all kinds of nub
from the '''Sinner'-* Friend," liturgy ol the Church of Emgland,
to " Anecdotes oi Two Dogs."
Tlio committee express a regret that the limited rose
their disposal prevent the extension of branch
public reading-rooms, which arc now b< nig demanded in nil
suburban districts. They trust, however, that the council will
enable them to take the nooosBary measures for gtvi
i!i> resolution of the council passed unanimously oil December
31st) 1887j with regard bo obtaining Par i imontary powers for
removal of the restriction of the rate to bo expended foi
purposes. The total number ol borrowers whose mimes w<
then enrolled at the six lending Libraries was 12.604,
29,035 lived within the eitv of M I L3,56U ol
lonvrmTG resided beyond the city bousu
ithi.ii! Miiiiuii&f; ix mi: nojithkiin ciumik
1I.>
wh
i; isquaition od allowing non-residents within the borough to
v.- boo).* h:r- ill-en rat her ;i hum inn; >ne la Mafloheater, m U
other places. The ratepayers oi flajiehesterw*re astounded
(hat one-third Of the numbi-mr ni<mbei'*ot their hbiaiiOl
resident raembamanG1 thai sue] persona havo the use o]
lea five oi onsf. There ha* been a natural Icpling that
■ i not under any obligation to grant ilia use <>i the librae
to persona noi renmanl within the City boundary Thohye-
palate that non-elertora can have tin use » the libraries
their i I mining I he applimlion-l'unii sufiied by 0 person on the
t nuxiiotpa i -i. I'll Uittl surely qui only mean ooDpStaatoru living
v u in the I'i'.v boundary The matter In a rery Important oni
ool enjy lor ahncliefftei but (or other places. In several targe
■ ■■ where forrnerh nuu-reMileuLs were allowed to borrow, the
gnivikfj : a teen butcn away, and reasonably so in the present
writers opinion. It is ecwueb tab* to axpeol thai residents aad
i iyi s should I'l-nviiii* books free "I expense to iIium- wluj do
Dot contribute to the support ol the libraries. Furthermore, us
lonjf as these large centres give unlimited facilities for non-
resident© to borrow, the inducement to adopt tbc Acts in the
rarios ctein which they reside id miuiniaed. In one or
two "i [the district* around Manchester, governed by L«>»-ol
Doar«K the question of adopting the Acts bus liocu under
deration, but owing; to the liberality of Manchester in
reading free the Act Jtifl remain unadopted.
ac districts may soon hocomo incorporated in
Q«ter, and bo the difficulty will, bo far as those placet, arc
concerned, quickly disappear.
Mnnehoetcr boa thus owvy reason to be proud <>f its Public
Library n one proof of thosatlsffiotion thai is felt ie the
continued demand for its oxtonsion. The lending cituens of this
-....• citvlong ago recognised t hut the elementary education
given in Board Schools :* not the end for which thai education la
The Hiii of clemeutary education is to provide every
mom bar ol the community with the capacity for :i<-»|umng know-
and cultivating the mind, it La clear thai this capacity
cannot Ne exercised unless the melius of nhtainin;! ;nnw lodge out
•ctnal enjoyment Is accessible in the letan hum* of those
raona who nave -<> empkvj tholr days in aiming' n living.
upported ml o1 the rates are ii nly means by
tab thiaean he provided Their eostisatrlfle compared with
sty may save by I io comtuquenl ■ mpruvernent; In the
members, and from wlaxi ii will gain as the result
'in re universal intellectual effort
UnmLainoxovaB.
The Public Library and readiinj-rouni form part of the hand-
inir pih- ii mi:nii'ipal buildings situated in the main street, The
nni J* on the ground flooi a" tin Udldiug, and the lending
n are on the second AWr. Che pteSesn
r, 186"; mit.althougU thb\u30tatf \a
II*
unn*a:E5.
now bctfc i houn d, the drain mi the
change hnn been cxccmivc. The income bas been crip|
heavy rent charged by the Co moil f"r the new Public Library in
tho municipal biiilcltiura (£150 a year} And other •' i a rjrett incidental
thereto, having repaid to the Council quite one-third of il -
(mint made to than. In confluence of this the oomn
i inly been able to Spend 2k, IOJci. jwr pound of their income upon
i,,!- , -i ■ in***. 7«. l'»»«i ni icirold labrtstion Added to thir. there
liuve been diffl&Utiea in other directions, and th*,- iv
report is not inspiring. Tho result of a specie
miD-Gomniitteeshowstiiutn I urge dcnciein \ ol 9&5 volume* lion been
loun<Ifof winch twenty-seven wore bwks belonging to the refer
department, whilst there area rnnsideruhlc nam hero! pUDpl
Itluu Flocks etc, iii the cellar "in a condition that rol
utmos* dtftgntee on those who have hud eh urge Of thfflU " I
OS W6M pnotiOAlly useless for the work of audit until
I ■ -i i; -.tIi "1. :i-,il Iliri',- in tin pnnMbllity ft
*.rantial proportion of the 908 volumes missing from the < •
library being recovered. \ considerable number ol tho boo
the unary are quite beyond repair and unfit for circulation, and
the' committee cannot replace tfiem for want of fUnda. The
committee appointed to Enquire into the matter dealt to del
tit how this defldency might be partly accounted for. such as lite
substitution of one-volume copies when replacing three-volume
novels, and said it was also probable that tfir mnnbtir worn oul
and withdrawn wan largely in e.ve*s of die reported nam
The committee had only to look at the enormous olrculttttan,
exceeding 1,100,000 issues in seventeen years, to be assure
the wear and u the lending library would account I
much larger deduction than the librarian had made, The >u!»-
committec regretted to mey that the number of ins tain n the* h.ul
met with of groat carelessness m working the h . and
of negligence in allowing book* Co remain in the h<uu>-
borrowers f«»r hcvci.i1 mmitlw, i>r<o -«i vi r\ -lradythatsonir pi rtloB
of the deficiency was due to thost muses. Ana they were entirely
ut i low to understand how it was tlmt O* erimpk course of <:ount-
intr all the books on the shelves at tho sir. h taking in I
1888, when the library was closed for the purpose, nnd t
DO Longer any wont of space, qh mi^rht have been alleged in the
old pfemiB68j wae n '>t resorted to, and tho deficiency ii
not. have ui-iaco oltogethcj - he hit I yew's -f >ck ti b
thereby discovered, and reported to tho committee. It :
of the duty of one who seeks to record the work being done by
these institutions to simply piofa >ul the parte suitable to support
th«» main nr^nmont tor the extension ot thuxo libraries, \ I
li;l hlstorli n must take facts as they present themselves, and
confusion worse confounded nt Middlesboroutfli will serve a pood
purpose if it makes other librarians end committees exercise greater
oote Bie rooke upon which both may be stranded rm new
indicated, and wine men will take a lesson fi'om it. i fpponentl
Ol Mi--- in ■-( it utiens should hesitate Oefote xAiev \wut then* finger.
pvulic iJ»n-iWRe is rein NnirniiuiN counties.
117
To say that cho work at Middlcshorough had l toon a failure would
bo untrue and a libel on the library and town. A new lease of life.
has commenced. In October, l«^tf. out of 111 applications (in it
-i. Wv. Baker Hiidsoi m accountant rmm Ke<iear, wai
ti'iitu. There Is a Urge collection of natural h.
specimens which would form an excellent nucleus of a museum, bat
these are :tt present housed uutof sight in rooms of the municipal
building. A largo piece of vacant ground is nnlv divided from
ilcipal buildings by a street, and It would be gratifying
..ok from the present roomu ot the library on to a museum
building erected upon this spare piece of ground ; or, lietter still,
perhaps the twin institutions under one roof. The matter hits
M?an3 Ufata bees under dfaouaston, Tlw temporary museum bat
hopn fitted np, and wns opened to the public in March, 18W0,
Bit* library nil good friends In Messrs. Hell Brothers, and the
il ore baa la u ^Ic'ims of promise.
MlDIUlTON.
A statutory meeting was held iu 1887, at which a poll ma
'llic ir.sult was a majority of nearly thrc»* to one in
i the adoption. Iu March, 1989, the new building woa
i'rofeseor Boyd Dawklns. The committer, in their in-
I toting architects, trave the key-note as to stylo
by eyVKWting o sixteenth century style oi' architecture, n rusl i<"
i : n.i i i . and the vestibule is oarriodupto a con-
w<1ctj height as a town- ,n- turret, which forms the principal
external feature. On tho ground iloor there two largo rooms —
the one to the front being used as a reading-room, and that at the
back as u lending library, Tin; upper floor is of similar h\z*\
andlaeo arranged that it can bo used as one room, or that hall
o\<r tho reading-room may bo divided into three olass-roorne by
moans of sliding partitions'. A spacious staircase with stone step's
to floors, and this ib lighted by a large mullioned
■ v. tilled with tinted glass of geometrical pattern*,. Tho
floors are all ftroprooi, and the upper are carried on iron
joists resting on rolled iron girders. 'Die principal rooms have
-'law in the lower parts ot the window*, una tinted gliiss in
ppei The subdivision of the total area into rooms of van
- quite discreuoii-.n'.-. uud on iu< varied Iroro time to Unions
ces may suggest ; and this elasticity in plan had great
vetglit with the committee when considering the competitive
design*, Tin' hi n n-y began with 3,223 volumes. SwfflcJeni Mih-
SCTiptVms were given to erect the building, and asMinVlletoii had
anljr just, before the adoption of the Acts been incorporated, It
was looked umn as a very happy omen that the library should
be established so early In IU corporate life,
MlLLOM AND I'KNRtTtt
The oouuti'y is watclung with considerable interest what cao.be
done in this movement in small di&tricta ;ux<\ w\Ui a nv\\ \y\i
Iff/fain Ims u population of about r n*\. -w<\ /■
118
KTBUO iiwiiiw
li.WJ Both plioes are :n Cumberland* una ut present these witli
:• -haven and *\ orkfn^onaretheonbi whew
ihe \ . ■ t ■ .n idop* -i Hi*' •( leeti n
I id in On Etl« library w»
apefttd rif i u ahnosl i^od in mining,
and for the l**nefit »»i tTic** more partfeularly a newsroom hail
beea opened al i el !»"■ sbowl two miles ftam Mfllom ftw
E.ilnccK CSSOj which Is much better than Penrith I
-in with t,ooo volume*. It i* particularly tost
Milium should show i good example erf what ran be don.-
district where the chief population u ity rnnnosl
toft Some S39 Iwrrower* urn the library, arid the -"-v.
pupilliil. Thry -iiv ulli'Will|f till? privileges Ol the |
persons nrH residing hi the Board's district by a psvmmu
v;i|i-nl tc wlial the penny rate wmiM be.
IVuritli library lui- Iktu "pen •miu: ■ 1^--' The ijuainl "1*1 boQd<
in^in which ii & situated wai from I853tc 1883 a working .
ruidhiL'-i ""in, ,:iiit i lie library of the Mechanics' Enatil ateeamaalw
ultimately U> thli library. A jrood proportion of the books are
represented in the 6,500 volumes of the library, and are nut of a
class writable for generil circulation, There we seme, hoi
hIu h might be useful in large town libraries if n system of ex-
ohsngOCCUld be adopted an with museum spednu dot-
I \i- bhe library, and the averi m sixty-five pet
The rate produce** Llflo,nn<l P. ' ■ ■-! ~ l = is M-mri-i*; mi actual ratac of
it which it scarcely measured by double that sum, The foUowing
irnatfee expenditure in i ■ — ahtishmcii chi
855 10a. 4d.; newspapero and pcriodi< ills, E36 10s. 7d , •
books and rebindinjr, £42 Ik. ad.; interest on loan and C5rci
M total £134 6 3d. 635 new rohnnea were added
the year. Thorc ia a Mnull museum. The museum 8] < cimoa
wore the uift ot Admiral Wnnhope, and are of n ve
Character. These are nt one aide of the lnr£c room - I which I he
building chiefly consists, with one or two smaller to* i ti md :
attached for the librarian. Ot daily papers taken Hum
thirteen, twenty-two weolclic«, and twenty-one monthlies in
1894 there was a bazaar Tn aid of the funds of the library, and
itv.-r £400 were rawed, the interest of which is spent upon
books Sorely u partol the principal would not be ware
it Kpcnt f of library piu'poses. There arc several hundred en]
In the librnry which came from Profeswor P. W. Newman, li
a friend of Dr. Nicholson in the district. The workisgro'v
and the museum i* capable nf being' made more Rttrai fclve i m fi
salary of £36\ sad house, coal, and gaa, the town is being ran
served by Kr, Stuart, who wan connected with the building
ftjr mow year* before the \ets wt»re adopted. "Hie present writer
has a vary tender regard for the welfare of these libraries
"'ii'.Mi'iiii i small run'. Mnt iiynn enhanced Interest on the
pari 5l the Penrith m pie, and another bazaar for the pur]
nf raising funds to place another store} on the bunding, Pel
woititl 1'vsfin agntn soresh,
rror.rc libraries in thk southern corNnss. 119
DB MD >• ** TOPi lli.vni.
There is oo •;< ui the Pul lie Library movement in-iug u
real infection, I ■treotly libraries become eatabtiahed in one centre,
- . 1 1 : t- 1 ■ .Liv! i-it-t - BftOil g I 'n-ir utility :ind 9UQC6M, UK DOt lODg before
they wish to possess tljc •:iiiki facilities. 4mong the uumarcnui
districts ground u meheater goremei bj loci I boards which tiara
adojU'wi tin- \ck aw the two named ftbOYe. Bfoss Side did so In
1887 The population in 1^000, una tin- rateable value cro.mn.
uiilch will produce £42."> a year, so IliHt the prosper:-.. whfOl once
the library does gel Enl m ip< ration, Bliould be hopeful A techi [col
» difficulty ins arisen, Permiseion to borrow for the purpose o
l.mldiiiiV whs .IfSH'i-i!, Mid !ln- LOCal f Imrnmiriil tDSpeCtOT ■'*''
down to nreattgate wnsol opinion that the poll whichdeclded
(di the adoption of the Ads was not takcm in accordance with the
decUlon in the Croydon case of lust autumn. As this decision
» given many months alter the adoption of .in- Acts in Mom
uting of tJie inspector to difficult lo understand. There
has consequently not pel been mi) progress made towards Ihe
ii -.i ins ol ;t Public Library* ana toe inhabitant* must con-
to use t! i Manchester libraries as they have hitherto
ae,
Newton Heath decided in 1887 that a pafce-eupported library
Mioukl be looked upon ils an essential part of the civic machinery
The -' i - ■ ie woe part ol a larger one including baths. These we
La course <>* crectton, and it ie expected that the Hoard will be
; with the erection of the library and reading-
Thc i iluntnry subeoript^ou towards the Library have
been generous.
U F| H WoOT,TOS (VKAIt IJVRRPOOI,).
'flic Acts were adopted here on February 17th, 1890. The
mooting was held in the Mcchanica* Institution, There was a
and tlic chair was occupied by the chairman
>i the Local Board. The Ttcv. Q, Beaumont stated that in 1882 a
Puttie Library was fori icd )■ fthc township, and rested ii the trus-
tees of the Mcehonice' institution, on the trndcMtandin g that it'
at any rutin, time the Public Libraries* Aete were adopted the
I library should bo transferred to tin- Public
l. ihrary. Th\* amount ot' money npent on the hooks orifdnnlK was
£238. \ tetter was received from ill'. W. L). Jamee, tho do
WoOltOU Village I tub, i ffering to provide ii room in the club for
Tin- use tA the library Tree of cost to the ratepayers, an offer
which was very warmly ren-ivi-d, It w;ik then ivsolvod, on the
ion ol i ie fctev, 0. A. spoonor, seconded by Mr, Holbrook
'i adopt the Public Libraries* Acts. The memorial was
>i\ ]\y ins rate-paycm, which was not an insignificant pvo-
E-n of n populate -ii oi 1,641.
Nelson.
Mi- in another of the smaller places in Lancashire whero
rramenl guJck^ took root, and resulted in \Vv«i aAo\\Vsb
ISO HEHJO r-rnjiARiES
tin- Aotl. Tn March or lsM» the vote- w.i- taken A tot a
4,<W papers were sent our, and there was a majority of 490 tn
i:iv ■ of ill.- bbI hbUshment of h library under the condltt i
the Public Libraries' Acta, iii December tomporanr ro«
)' rj n.illy opened by Mr. Ecnvd, wlm expri'HHrd tin- mpr lis
youth oi the town would put to .i noble dm that library and
erery other opportunity offered lit them, and show in llm coming
generation toafcrTelaOE contained an iusUucted, orderly. inU'lleetual,
aadmorA) population. Alluding to the ■ which stood
in the way of realizing: the ideal he had pointed <>ut, the Wp*
said he was disposed to regard u the moot serious the prom*
oj tin- country it-self, the rery munificence with which in this age
tl.rv had liccii endowed with ll io means of living comfbrl
lives and enjoying themselves. History shewed them hlut
wherever there had been a groat nation which had fallen tVuin
it* hit'!; position, the cause had been its internal decay. A roan
could not look around tho country at the present time and c
tho great changes for good that lie might have witnessed without
rejoicing, but he would also hive apprehensions thnt those th
(luniselvcs might seduao thorn, might weaken their fibre and
moral strength and character, and that they might be drawn
tho easiness of life and a continual desire tor amusements, which
would prevent them using their advantages with success,
greatest difficulty they would have to contend with in that institu-
tion was the subordination of so-cullod pleasure which would be
placed boXort* their young ix.Miple, and which would lead them
astray, and root out and destroy all intellectual seat and cap i
It is very satisfactory to note that there has been some very
generous giving in connection with this library. One anonymous
donor gave £600.
N r. V C AST1,B-PF0N-T?WB.
This large northern metropolis was twenty yearn considering the
adoption «T the Public Libraries' Acts, This was hrought about
D 1874, but it was not until 1880 that the lending library was
opened In 1882 the newsroom was ready for the public, and
in 1884 the reference library was first throwu open to readers.
It is unriwt'Ksyry to outer now into the ran urn of delay either in
ihr adoption ol the Aci.s or the opening of the libraries, for du
i. in1 eight years' work that the library con now record, wrutava
liikewuuuuess ou the part of the citizens had been present m the
pnst, has been wiped out by the spirited work which is beinfl i
and by the ever-exlciidinjj use which the pcnple
Ubran The last report-, ratified by the Town Coun
October, 1W89, is n partioulaily encouraging document. This
report states that not one single volume or pamphlet is mi
every individual item in the stock book.- being accoui u
either as (1) upon the shelves, (2) in the hands of borrower*. Dot
baYrag been returned according to rule, (0) in the handset tho
hinder* ad patterns, or to bind, or laid aside preparatory to their
being despatched to the binders, and {-i) withdrawn from
FTOUC LtB3LASXX8 IS THE SOBJlLtRS COUNTIES.
121
tion by order of the committee, imperfect, or so -worn and dilapi-
dated as to require replacement by new copies. The total stock
of volumes in nil depurtmrnts im June 20, 188U, was as follows;—
■i doo library Ordinary stock, 24,407 ; patent office publica-
tions, 3,751); Thomlii iry, 4,803— total, 32,648. Lending
section, 29,323f juvenile section, 2^75— total,
81,007: grand total. 6I,&I5 volumes. The issued during the year
ended Juno .'.', i *-', w. ro as follows: — Koforenco library. 33,484 ;
leading library, 256,54(1 total, 29-1,983 volumes. The total issues
i . Li _r : r . - 1 rafaronoe libraries from the dates <»t tlivir ii?h|hu*-
tivo openi:i-,'* vw... September 13, 1880, and August 20,18*1
havo amoiii . l7oy K :>:! : flumes, and during the same period
only twenty-two volumes have been ln-t. (he cash vuluo of the
p-two polamec being £2 16s. 7J., wiule (taring the *&me
01,870 7s. 8d. has been received from readers tor Raft
incurred by the undue detention of books, op sums received as
damage* tnroTJfiJi the loss, or injury done by borrowers to, books
lent tothsm Oaring the year 1,030 volumes have been bound
or rebound tor the reference department (including 70S for The
riintnlmsori Library), and during the same period l.lril have ] n
*o dealt with for the lending library, making a total of 'J.Im
... inn) \ ::t kOOfltof £174 I0s*» being an average of Ik. 74d. per
■C-fH wiIuino have been replaced in rim lending lib
during flic year, the old copSca havh g 1 eon round fji be so worn
nr imperfect a* to necessitate thalr replacement by new or sound
.nond-hand copies, aud of this number forty-aix have been paid
fur by borrowers or their guarantors, at a cost of £0 12s. 8d. As
lo tlie oompleteneflfl and comprehensiveness of the reference
ui.au interesting fact may be mentioned. When the
British Asset Eati n iraa in Newcastle last year, the chairman of
ograpliical Section, Sir Francis de VViaton, sent for ninety*
i booka for reference out of the library, and he got ninety-
oi tl em. lie stated himself to the librarian that be Cud
li.it oul of London, if in London, he could have got
fiiii'-iv-thret- out of ninety-seven boohs which ho might want.
ays that the n< waroom wa> up i, a total
of fit* *itcd it, giving a daily average of J ,963, Tho
[g inr.juvcniently Nnalt conmdcrinK the crowds who use it,
• it Is Imperfectly ventilated, some who would use it were
the ai^ more inviting are prevented from doing so horn
the «uuw> stated. < ta Sundays this room is open from two to nine
.. .1 36,08*3 per as visited it on that duy. This lor tho
ae BnndajB on which it wan open gives on avoragoof 707. H
ia not unlikely thai the defect in the newsroom will be remedied
before very long.
Ill* juvi-nilo library ma very strong feature in the Xeweastle
VOlle. liming the year 38.584 volumes have been issued. This
i^ on mcrww'of 18,182 on the previous year ind, let this fact be
marked, the returns show that the entire stoek of books available
for the reading of the juvenile borrowers under fourteen. \jeac& eft
. ia boon turned over sixteen times during the 5 ear. «<HoAt«
I
rmi.ir iiroumw.
motion to the ptweut time t he ieeue
ha* b«M :.i"»m 500,000 ^^: i «"v, &] ■
lent, tfararooci di
i:unoJ of r
oaetle paj>e ■ ■• 1 1 ■■■ v l'.tni Society " wiiii i Uo
■nrliVt • ■- -::i •■■ |)
ir 'I history, Iruvi Is, and b -i »ry I
luvvmie iip.u'v The books are w»ll cared I
rule wo not k«p1 boyond the I me all< wed I lav*)
■iinnd
ff»r wi . ■« |nw d biography, Momentary
' . : -11.1 ii M'lt'i'rl Tlh* '.'IlK-l \M
prRLIP UB1URIR* IV TUB N07lTHEn\ mrSTTBfi.
193
=
0
1:1
u
the gratifying Increase in -he issue of books in the general lending
department fnr N>mp resiling, and it. must lie acknowlcdg' ■• :
: JTI oiinpi. vni l:i..h , lli:il, :w minpHivd will) the gross
.1 -liiiMMUIidii rtf Hi H'V rent, hns lnUen phre in the issue
nf works >i pure Action. Hie presnmptlon is, irom what has
occurred in Neweaatle nml other efties* that Lho reading of mem
fiction often impels peX8OH0 of capacity to liigher kiuds of
i Lb -i' i etl \ng, therefore! i<> V»e able to boast bliat,afl
I- th i-Mii- ol works of flotion.Ncwcnatle-upon-Tyne baa the
lowest percentage ol [Hants u compared with its aggregate Irauo,
and (i tpared witto other Public Libraries Uo* average in
thrnt Eb 39£7, i "»■•'> h in that «-ity, whilst during the
tarn* period flu lowest ol -lie other libraries is 69*94) and thr
highest --O-01.
.■>«> innh f<r the work of the library', which has gone forjrii>£
aloes; at a trejnend >ue ratoi Hie success of fcho library is due,
to no small extent, to bhc librarian, Mr. W. J. Hnjjrffereton, and an
efficient staff of oAMsifmts. After seventeen yoara1 Ifbrarj work.
ho lion become one of the moot efficient men in the profession.
i :c aware thi ( m^v have a good publie servant, an<\
i J i ; iii i -'i.i'.iiiiL'lv. A few months ago his salary was raised
ir -in eSRG to fiJKXi per annum. Will other committei i
aTcnraofitlv, Nottingham, Birmingham, Muncheater, and
•"I- .i'-(. l mi 1 1 _c :in- (mining Boh e for librarians, ana tin.'
ha' one from t ho' two fiFSt-named nureerfi
theii mark in library work in many parte or London and
'ill'V-
Newcastle, in preparing a report for the
;i, (iiv.-i ■ nxloetion of the electric light into the
It is prop sed to two Incandescent lamps,
Newcastle catalogue i* known as a splendid example of
ibllography. and open 1 t'n- reputa^«n of the librarian stands
, that at the Uitfpodes the system
i |i. I It is on i i ■ iini, 'x aynieni, hnt very fnil entries
author, tltla subject, and numerous cross references. There
nn- al*o In i: mtnenoTiH from contents of serial publications.
H -. that It shows at it glnnce and
i moment everything In the library on any uriven Hiibjeer,
,l! ihsl to in the library bj any particular author, editor, or
liltc the crow references ire so full and simple
tltnt tlic work heroines ;i readable and iiiitruetive literary
Where there baa been a joint authorship this is not
only csj nul y noted, but each given in alphabetical eei.|ueuer, ho
:■ oslng the men <n\ retains only one of the writer*, both
▼ill in a moment be discovered by this excellent index. Not
bu1 while the nom tic plume of an author is given, the
petaoi the writer in revealed. This latter runy ilinost be
oomfdereda work of ■"Hi" vex '^afcioii.for if an author prefers to
hide his Identity under Borne meaningless uom <fr p/ume, librarians
should, na a rule, take him or her at their Word, an«\ ndt troche
tmc.
1-JI
pcnuc MBIIAPX1CS.
Tho first bequest lias jutt come tu tii. .ami
Bf there is sonic little interest attaching to this, i few ;
will not bo out of plow. This oM Public, tt Towns, Library
was i» ■■'|-i. Lthsd to the people ol Newc -h.- by the Rei &
Thomliiiflonj Ki>., to Kit, and was open tree to tb undei
Q6Xt* n ijuaiut and curious n unlit ions. After the i
however, it soon foil Into" disuse, chiefly caused by the eari
oj the Authorities; and after many vicissitude*, U
trans! erred, by order ol the Charity Oommi ■ < ■
o the i-ustoriy of the Public Librurioi I anmittee, Tn«
i Icn m. their transfer were round to be m n very dilapidated
condition, sad the City Council voted, out of their su
hum of B8O0 i" prcn ids dots shelving for and to rcblnd the bo
in IA29 it wan estimated thai there were etween 9,000
10,000 volumes. The actual tmmber received il tin- r. ojtfnr
only -1,300. mid llu* number has since readied . i L\ :i few book*
having cilice been traced, Tl is to be regretted thai a ceutury
mid i half "1 ecclesiastical and official blundering and ne
has eventuated In losing one-hull of Uu.- ui.ijue library, wtd tu
lc» or more permanently damaging the remainder;
eaa be done to repair the past is now rapidly being dune. am
hoped, in tin- murse ol, -; y. tw • year*, tlmt the collection will bfl
OUOQ mure available fur public reicrence. Tlic Thondiu»on library
■ specially rich in seventeenth century folio o itt I
Fothera in the theological controversies of the period, including
the disputatious ou baptism, papists, the Solemn L<
i WfiKir.t, -i*il kindred BuhjeetH. It also contains ;> fcw rare
ill early-printed books, such as a first edition of flak
■ \ pjngea? a Tyndnlee Biblo, Poynaon'a bookc called th
"Royal,1' "Mirrour for Magistrates for Cilice" &a
There lias also been recently another iMNpu^t, which take
form of a library of between 800 and 1,000 vuhmira "I ni" and
valuable books uealing chiefly with the antiquities, nrehwoloiry, M
iy of India and our other Asiatic dominions. 1 ' ■
aealolLy rich in complete sets of the journals and :<>ns of
the Koyal Asiatic Societies of Bengal and Bombay, an cxJiuiiHtivo
!i>s of departmental reports, together with memoirs o! the IDOfil
eminent Anglo-Indians, military and political. The citv
Newcastle is Indebted Cor this valuable bequest to the hit
Mr. n. r A. Buehannan Ridded, who was foraeonsfderahU'Titu^
t!ic lkmgnl .Service, am ■ )a memlierof tho Legislative Counc
oJ India, The local publishers present copies ol all the hooka
they puhlifth Tt may al- » f»e nienrmnod that. ;lic i-ol
I rcrifupr published In the four urn-Miem emnitiea roadie*
books and 1,000 pamphlets. The date of the earliest of th
h L630,
Kven Chose who were the most active opponent* ol the
i>i iIk Arts now aee the folly of their action, and arc among the be
i! ends u! tin -si- iiiMilut.ione. Tin- work in Newcastle has 03
warm supportcrawrnong the leading local men, hut there
oono more §0 than Alderman Henry w. Newum. the ehmViuan o
o
runi-ic unriATiirs i* ran tronTOunv corsriEp.
125
the PubHo Libraries' Committer, who, through the long v.-
. n d nciv through the eight years' work, has takvn '!»■■
DBOft lively interest in the institution. It was his father. Dr.
N< « ton, who, in 1851, fir*t brought the question of a Public
Library forward, and although defeated on Berera] oeeflfiiolis, the
•:.-.•!, i i-hued with tit'1 ^mim; .-pint, saw it hmught hi u siuvessful
As fa
t .1... .
>0RTH SHJTH.PS,
The library was opened in 1870 with about 12,000 volumes.
* (:it back, cowever, a* IcVSft* there was some talk uf a. Publlo
Library, when even thus e;irl> in thehistury uf tin: movement the
town clerk proposed Ui.it the site of the new Mechanics' Iiistituh:
should be conveyed to the Corporation as trustees for the
i!*er». One of the committee eutfKestcd thai such an
arran would facilitate the formation of a Public Library
,it some future period. The town cleric replied, " That were a
consummation moBt devoutly to be desired." That idea was never
lost Bight ill by the committee of the Mechanics' Institute, and in
-r.-i - w.-ir tc.l-<-n in thi* direction. Let it he recorded
with satisfaction that the then committee cheerfully invited
their membera to unrrendor n building which had cost nearly
£3,000, and about 6,000 volumes of books, to the free enjoyment
..f tii*- whole community, Without a dissentient foSce the top-
r wa«» made, and the members of the Mechanics* Institution
deserve no little credit for their prompt and cordial response to
the mayors invitation. Will committees of other Mechanics'
ntions please note? It wus no effete institution which thoy
• r, for the Tynemouth Institution was known as ft very
sful one. but the managers had long recognized the
i and greater possibilities of bucccj-b if it was under the
P&blic Libraries' Acts, and in July, 18*38, the Acts were adopted
nt i statutory meeting) The stej> has boon more thun justified
irk since accomplished. The number of volumes is now
..and there is an average daily issue of 6fi9. This is certainly
creditable, in the income and expenditure account £219 16s. 4d.
U set down as heiiu? the balance in troasuret1* liands. This is
providing the library receives the entire amount.
Thnrv is a Book club managed at the library, to which there are
121 subscribers at hnlf-a-guinea a year. The revenue from
it. - to biry new books, and these come ultimately to the
public Library, a» also d'l the monthly and imarterly msgaxtnes
[ -n by the i>ook club. The reading-room and
lad ng department ore in a spacious room, with n gallery
running round three sides. The whole building greatly needs
redecorating.
OLDHAM.
"Hil* thriving manufacturing town rejoices In a special Act,
: which the Library, Museum, and Schools of Science and
Art .ii (i-'l. Allh nub the rate is m limited, <m\^*2*\. \u tt»
pound is levied ttad this affords another lnstuu«e ttwfc wwmV-
iac
HUBUC UllUAHIKS
r.-.<\ be ii dated with regsn) to the expenditure tea
lu*titiKii'ii>. Tin- olttweg "i tins special Act re
Iibrnry an- iiHercatiiig, &ndurtM|ii..u..l. It wo* pate • l on .!■"..
1865. Thu throe Kctlona referring to theet iastitutii u- are ".
If II and a.'., ;mi| ll «■ !■■■ in.- > ' i in -ui ;nr is fcikrWB :
The furpomlloa Iruia CUD? to time ma? ftpproprtAte inj- Ijuwi« v*rte<t tn
tl .i 1 ■, v [wocoattl pnnruuw or tuku ut n Kent any Land
IViiMiniTB, mid utjori iiny IauiI* r>u opyiuprinU'd, purchased, or Utk*a, *rool wij
i/» aurtnhle foT Piihlir Uhninc* or UwwmmH, or both, m I
/or Brimc* and Art, or cither of Iham, tnd upiily, lake down, alter, and exbn6
•07 BnlMinfi for mcJi inirpoww, unci rebuild, ropnlr, und irtipruTc thu lAifl'
rewpeclirelr, and At up, furoi«h, find mipply thu umo rapeatrrcly with *1
mmlAlL- rilUug*. Furtuturv, *u0 Omfyolcueea
The OnnorBl Munaowitmt, Itetjiilntion »nd Control of moh Iihrari**. »n4
Miwuiiii, and Bchool* lot Bcicuco trad Art, oliaU be reeled iu and axerr-Iied It;
inn Cuur.ril, nr such ('ummlltee as the Council tlilolr fit froi Una '"
appoint (the Maobcrn or norue of tin- Mcintcra whereof acol not, if tie Go
k» think tit, be Merobci* of the rouncfi), who may from time to Orne parch**
ud provide the nocfMiiy Fuel, Lighting, nod other xitnilur Matter*, B00I&,
Nowqu.pciw, Map* ia4 t?pw'i <• "' F* i' ■"'•■ •!•' Art i'i tiu U« of the TJbrsi!
cr M.iim*um or N"hnol, ind cum' ilir num to te hound or repAiivd when
■MaNCT. M. -l 1 nj-.j..i?ii -tftlnri^'l iHll.-^m «md Servant*, aod dimuH the mcu,
uid muke Rules and P-tinilHtJoun for Die itafety and tuevl the T.ihmncs AOl
Muwuibh mid 8eliool«, «od for thv ubiiiaaSoB 01 tni Pobli-:.
Tit? Lmdj and BuildUiKB »u apinijiii.a'.d, puchaetd, or t-»Vcn. «ud oaf other
Real or PerwmJil Property waiiteo^vr prwntod to or purohmwa for »ny «url.
Library *nd Museum or fcohool, «hftll ho v<«t*d in the Corporation.
The entire institution is doing u solidly useful work. "With a
total of 30,yi:»s volumes, there is an average dnilv issue cK
volumes. A bfttWT Heloctorl library it would b€ niffifult to tind.
Fiction .viancis at 50 per cent of the issue Hie antire building
h&lfl lirlghT. and prcpoKseaRin^ aspect, and will benv nnnp:i
wi;h any institution of strniim' Rise not only in rne Pnlted
Kingdom, but In any part of the world. The work is tinder the
able control of Mr. Tliomu W Hand. liming the winter,
leotnrea are delivered In Hw building, and the«e have lar
i-unti iintiiMi bo direct the attention ol the public to the wt
PnnMv>.
Honpy Preston ! With it* handnorae new buiKiiui;,ih
coniplytic-n, the fultu'o library and rauoeuiu work of the town are
well a.MMiuv.l Two liri>thfv.s i»r Mir Iciral profewion had ajnawed
ft IViiiiitic oi BOme ^85,O0Ci. Tlua tins um-ste<l in the natuea of
four truntcca witli discretionary power. These trustee*
the lost of the twoeurviTiogbrol htsri), Mr. Edmund Robert Hi
to eootfider the odvi&abilityi»r lihing n ^r»od portion el tin amoi I i
i : the purposes ol :i Public i-ii rary. M tseum, and Art (<u11ctt.
T'm:-. in l-riof, to the early history of the munificent beonc
C105,000 tor orootJng and funitenlng this building, fli«
brotherB had shown no marked iatoreet in tl"1 welfare of r 1 1- ■
1 own, and the pa Mi.- spirit ol thu trusteee in directing the aUen-
tlo 1 if the surviving testator to this channel should not be
looked. TheBito,valuedat£:*J1(.K.«.i, was jranted by the
Since i> loinineaoeaiant oJ the binlding, another wi..iiiiiv r
toolaZL itr Richard NewihaiBj has baqneathed to U« towi
tmo collection ol t»U i-uintjiij-. wi t-?r-eolour di'awin.:- ui,. ,
pi 'Bi.tr MniiAUtK'- rv ntF \<>UTiiRn\ roi
t:>7
I
v»Inri] : i opwardAOl £30,000, Thi» i-oili-ciioM will form part ol R
:i!!< tv At (in- museum, The next large bequest is one ol
2100,000 to the Harris Orphanage, which to to provide tor the
maintenance ami education of upwards ol eightvjyiildron ol both
Tii- building in also nearly flnishea The trustee.-, ori-
Kinally granted £40,000 b* an endowment for the Harris Institutes
* School 'I H'T it :u"t?, art, hrit'urt\ ;iml technical education, mul
h.n s . i'-l, made a I'li1Imt tT;iiil i»l' f;lO,000 fur tin.' hiiildimi aui
furnishing of a tcoluiioal school, to be called the Victoria Jubfleo
i ■;.! 3ohooL i' i s Corporation have obtained power:-, lu £runt
troxth £10,000! and a sum of money not to exceed £10|00Q for
ame PWpoeOi T i ■ roaidu i <-i the bequest was disposed ol' as
follow.-- . — CBjOOO foi church huiidmtf una improvement* .l'3,000
or ochi>laiflhi|>.-* .j1 the grammas1 school} and £2,000 for charibabli
and religious pur|)oees,
S-ene ■■:< .-.]■:■» -v.-n ;-c:ir- nvlmi, al -.h.-.i-h('t-l in the erection of the
building, bi cud i.v ■ I rte o ognltndc that is not too Long!
ulth'ti invc been many impatjent erica nd to vhen it is bo be
■1. But there must be wisdom in having the work card nil)
d well .;<)>!', with ample time for il- building to thoroughly
'j'lnH i- q oonsidering too nature of the cod
Eioh are by and bj to be housed in it. The building strikes
toaturo lor library und museum purposes
farad this country is concerned, as will be seen on reference to
ongraving forming the bYonliBpieoe. The designs were pre-
ared by a townsman, AmI->:-h ;\i; J;t.mes Iiibb.it. wi > was eoin-
featianed by tho Harris trustees to visit several buildings of a
Uar ■■• in this country and on the Continent, the result
Is visit and report bein^ that lie was appointed the aroWtect
to prepare tl i Lies i#ns. Too building is of tfio Greek Ionic order,
and has tour dial act I 'outages, being completely Isolated rrnm
the building* an mtvl it. The principal elevation Is on the nrcal
fie, overlooking the market-place, and almost At rtghi angles
ih the ""I'll ;r., ago oi the To wn HaH The height ol" Hie
in riii- parapet and (lie apexed the portico is 80 feet.
d the extreme hoi/'hi in the tup Hi" ihe central lantern, 112
& The i i consists of six massive fluted oolunins, with
U it Is surmounted by an overhanging cornice, and
npanuuu Is filled in with a group or figures representing
HUrroimiled Ji v liirral arc, si ictice, -tad the art*. Tile fit.i.l-
130 fact The liases of roe columns t>\ the portico and Its
level are about lo feet above the Blreet level, and the ea-
* to tin lit Idiug is tinder the portico by flights of itope on
tbono thsidea. Liwnedlately under the I rmpanumof
the portico Is tin* c&rred ascription ta large charactcrgj — "To
Litcr.i' are,fi i co, aj -1 Ai i. ' foe i asters eh ration •<■ I \B b I
aces Li-uiwwU-r Koad, n line lliui'oityl.t'are ilnxit tif* led En
out of Cljiuvh Street, the principal street in the
town. Jt is uniform in length witl the SCarket riaco (itmtupc.
The not th and i.-rjr.- are each 170 feet Is len.jrttwKnA
will face twx> now streets, each SO reel In width, vAi:a\v ate
m
pt-nne i.inn.uur?.
h.-lHJ I ■. I -M i •'■'«: -im i.CMIOOuSly Willi thQ IMMw 1;
building*
T\w ooUecttOfl "l models connected with the industrial arts will
ho placed on the grmmri-llnnr portion L with
the object of brining them under theds niton
passing to and from the lending department and rhi» arti
reading-room and newsroom. The nuwrntxiiii on thn south *■!.!.■,
:md thercadimr-rnom on the north side, are each 2fl ft ■•"
one of the Irnding libraries IsfiO feet square, and the ottusr -"
by 29 feet. The central hall i*<'i r*>»>t .si|ii:jir,:unl hrontlmu
the staircase, on all the floors, being lighted bj the lai ti rti
ilinh'lv uvi'i* s central well. The principal flooi contain]
onet Bbrajrlea on each wide of trie central hall. They an
30 feet in width, and 120 feet in length. Tlie centra] hall portion d
the principal floor will be set apart as a mitte in i I casta acid re
tiroauctlona from n e antique. Tlie whole ol the upper Boor «ill
ii- ileviilcd to mibi mi and fine art purpose*. The museum
jralleries ore arranged round three sides of thi ■■ Qtrnl hall and
staircase, one side being devoted to the fine arte, the '-orrea pond-
ing side to natural hStoryand physics, and the remaining
bei ween theec to the depnrtment of general archeology, cor .*.
and the finer kinds of industrial art, and illustrations ot ethnology.
Tlie building appears well adapted for the purposes for wl
it is intended, and tl la opinion may be adhi red to notwifahataaut-
hUE the fact llmt sMinc -Vracrican visitors have been disposed t<>
criticise, sunu'vlni severely, both the proportions of the bui
and th( general orrangementa of the various departments. I onl
the internal fitting arc in place, it \* premature to spenlc so
Sositivcly on this poiat, as one or two Unerfoan librarians hare
one. A deooVSpnon of the decorative sculptures alone
WOT pages, and this would he out of place here. Tlie
librarian, Mr. \\ . S. HramweU, and his staff, have been quietly
pursuing their wort for some time with ;i view bo ti'" tnuisforcnoe
of the work, at -'» date which must now be getting nearer, to the
new home. Mr. ISramwcll is a master ol details, and this faculty
will booi Immense use to him when the work of removal and
reorgnnlntloz] begins. The present home "i the Library i* in u
large room of the iitwn Hall — a building designed i»y Sir ( ; :
Bootl During 18SB, the library and news-room was closed tot
seventy-two days, owing to the prevalence of small-pox In the
town, ao flint year must not he taken ;i* :i criterion of their work
Mr. Bramweira tograralto displayed itself ai this ttro< Ii
I'niistrni'Hnn of a book disinfector, mentioned on anol
Tlie reopening of the library had a great flea] h do fn n -storing
the confidence of the town that tha epidemic had spent its strength.
Ont of a total number of lfi,R87 volumes, the turnover Aandi it
I08XS& That is, tin- stock circulated six-and-a-half times
flaring the year. A mong the l i,ooo borrowers, there bi
.i.ii j oj telegraph toyaasd policemen; but Urn hbi i
nut only popular with these, but all classes.
wm.ir uwtAniK* r\ nm warn iw cot ■■ 129
RO HI u.r..
■("■ration BVOT DlghtOOl \r:ir.. : r 1 1 1 1 I m H
now 11,317 vow no*. Fhe hwtitnl as I p] n dated to a I Iff]
dtgri is - I ■ "it the incidence ol 'tho
■ ■. -111(1 there in-..' ii;ci\ ^ lie none whUe tin library] used
■o 4-jct*nwv*ly u It ID now. Tho crush onS:i:m.l:i;. m>..|
notwithat ■ P oneon Co-oper: ■ ■ !.:i rarj
in tbftiown Hi'1 11 amber* wers counted for the wecli Bn<
mil , r—'i, and 1 1 was a%oertained thai S,SW i at- 1 1
!■.■!. ■!'■■ ofl I !■• ladles' room, and 686 1 h< boj ■•'
i-y, mnldna I ■ >■ one week ol I.47B Tlilfl unrober,
. \ i- ar i • w oul •■ i '■ ■■ • visit . i, Mi.- i.
I ■nmixf ill t i ■ ; en l'lii- ivil. vi'.-IiIk £957, I 'if ol bhil •
haornod !n Intprrvit mi mn'iri"!- lour .-. rtsilrfiw inml,
: income tmx. &e. Thlw In :i hmj bimfon, and nal orally
In* expenditure for new hunk.-.' The mm building for
i. thta expenditure wuh made, wns mmipleted In ISM I ram
Tin- Ihm-" llbrar) i.i.'.'i i ii'iiiiin'f* were i*suetl during the year, Tbi*
depart m en 1 .ii Rochdale. The percentage ol
(V tion M h.'-'li, ,1.1 I tlip. i'. r;ill:i i ■ nrju i--iti,\ e. niMdi-riuK tl»u
rclnle< perutin i e usually looked upon .11 .1 sort of hard-
J |h-..j. .1 . in v% ! .'in he* liij-pv- -\ .•; -;,n «-r " lala would uot
.-niii.-iriiUv solid. rBtill wenxusl nope foi better days all along
tment, and there 1* everj prospect thnt tho
I decline rtlwrtlv. li.ip-« iiupi I'cejitihly, and
isaeeof orien<v, hUtoryi and the more solid intellectual t i
idily up, The cross n ; ad subcttrfai ma En Hie
! umcroua Mr. George Hanson is the librarian,
Roman
The Aotc ww idoptod al a meeting of the burgooBcfl bold as
tho 18th day ol fcbruor) . IW*#. and "n the mIj "I i >ctob< r,
n Hl;nl IVAJ made v Hi .1 .-I ick of ftDOUl WOO TOlB A.| lit 1- air.
0 rr< m yci 1 te year, until in May, I8K>I, all tlionludf h nm
been ng point of the Kbw
.lit quartern was reached during tin- next autumn
ul uniii. :ii m which period to the end of 1887, 0 oontinuoui
plaeo, until they had dwindled to an
p day Meanwhile the dtlBenlHoi besetting
■11... ni ielr efforts to obtain more suitable premises
L'ir.'.l. ami, in eonju union v, th till baths committee,
i in! I ding harl u-ru ernetnd, the upper storey * »r which was
nad tn the library The refrwrnrivrooni is ronvonfsnt 1 1 > the
n while the Interior of the general iTadmgyroam— a
, in in. -in 1- mil in the view >>(' Mr. John RIdal, the
n The flour 1- minimised of wood blor.ks, and )inM the
. ul Two kinds of reudfag-
i provided, namely, flat and uluplny ; and to Uv.\v
lai m, Lin room oei pari foi ncwqiapc^ataftaaottt&X&VraXta
luuuoV 'jecn pl&axl . There ' vw.vWwj-
w
\tt
1 1 iti.i. i.iun.taii:$.
roam A tataro of tho *b omsisthe neoUem
played in tho election "t the ittmi and maatelnto ii ar*
artiitio, :t ti. I i.-Kt-.i v r.) tho good work KotlM
hi whoa the oooojIoii roqntraa rha general tunning armnge-
monts'areoa tho hoi water system. an i
,i ,,t the whole ■ ind thi parch i
jmyj books has been defrayed without making a apfleiair:di
the raiei. Iln IUB0 net* led, 1:800, has aceuinulntert through the
. nir riiri" n»i having nought volumes in years gone by Thort
n ,... -;.,(.!•. ■!■ i-:»p:uMiv "i oo,in«> hnnkv Work began in The DOS
b lildtngm Karen, Ifiw, Mid the average laity issue has re&olted
\ short while ago there was sonu* frietiun hutwrm tin'
oomroJttee and tho lovra Council, and this latter bod* retaliated
. il Alerting any "( the nM nit'li.bers i;vmi ill'- nt'wYuimiilMre.
S\t kbioi
Then' in ;i uioee link between the Museum which
s ni.ii-ti print tu the Act o1 l *io and the pawriog of th< Kv m i Act,
Peel Park, so called In honour of Sir Robert Pool, 4 ike
nights -I Manchester, and formerly, before pa 'Ik
museums wore *«> plentiful s* Ihej uom are, excursi
miles round tfanchcstci uid Balford did not coroddcr thai bin
[eked-ofl the main "tent of all unless Ihcy had vnd ed
Park .nM tin* Mu- iin Tin- hiiiidtHinic pile <•' WiiMin^ )\>n
Che Public Museum and Library arc moat beautffull.i ituatod on
.t i,u ■■■• ■ •.'phuh! ^landing much higher than the root of the
park. Tli m if thus \<r\ picturco<(UC It li Eo facl donl i-
in! whether) Public Lit irary and Museum in any port of the eon
ini.r*' |»lfi»-cuii surrounding* than the pro up ..t build
:,,i mi i-' the p iron! Institution hi Balford, Thr p; rl«
to tin' people of Manchofltor and jalford :-i h.i your - I •
tin fourth i 1 it in used as a playground and erickot ground,
and there are large lopnrntc gymnas For men, hoyi, wo
and girls. Tho museum and library were originated in leMOby the
i. i . ft L&ngworthy, who was then mayor, and the lob
Hrothnrtoii, M.I'. The first purl of Un- l|i»r:irv. tlio ■
department, was opened with 7,000 vol*., on January Bth, ttfftO.ond
no room of the museum in the following June. Then
•. ..i.iii i^.\ i v wing, containing a reading-room, ■■■
i, and :< picture gallery. In IKf>i n lending Ibrarj
■i Thj*M years afterwards mouth wing wan added, and n
I8&1 :i new portiVd v it built, and ut u tut ■ •-- dote, the! tngv
Wlna; won aaded N itwlthntai *o various extei
whole forma s ron attractive group - ►■ butldfr.
in i-;1.'. Major John Plant, F.O.S, was appointed llorarfffl
onratorj and hold* the sarnr appointment nt the present d
OTiU long service of forty years at the emu library givca Major
iiii the seniority among public librarians Re in m oinar
reapectflvery fortunate, for, amidst his professional brothreo, he
• uiiiv one who can afTunJ to keep a yachl tfajor Flaw has
written Ute ?e£ter-prwM fur ;i beanUfu^ i»«iW o" lUlvty-rtve p
I
!l if,., i I iHHJIltl&S IS IBK KUHIHJtRN COl \ II 1- -
131
Im-li
abtiahed i>v the li'1
,IIH1 IMUMMIII. r '1 III i CI',
he library and muttetan
In this li .. En ■ in book there are .< eeriee oi photO-
1 r :!.i i •_■ ■ . ad ■'. I uc ■ In the pai It iraos •. I hi
beaut]
fu] < nc o\ the late Jo* i»li
Dn>th< i Eoi ,3d 'V »i
the Publft i ib ■■• • iovi
,-i:l Owe M i IUCJ] .
I othci man lie died
1 ■ M
ported iwiq 1 1 !",-■<■ the
Old boiioll
i to be
on. Tin- statue id 'I
mzc, and Eg ■'!■ ft blgh.
it ik :ipjir.>|>i'i:ilrl-
aced new the entrance
the park, il I
■ it',1 r i Mi,'
(hi on i -i.ic ill tho
.1 urn ionic v ii i
Icon I'V Mr. Broil ertou,
. , h i:i tin- Il,i!i-f
Caramons "Mj pichw
timihI DOl :n Mil ftXTtftttOf
my |h»v,i >-iuus hut in the fewness nl my w mis." The Lord ftishop
• >i Manchester, :ii the taanguratiun of the ittatue, alluded to Mr.
Brotherton** devotion to the causa of education espeeiaUy in the
lir.ivnliinr of piibliV imiisciiiii*, li .H';iriiv% i;ul paTKG 08 pt&GBfl Ol
re people, iliat the hours gained /rem lalwur migbl
■ nelf-instruotion, Belf-intproTement, and wholeaonus
I ihy, and aiuelEoral iiig pursuits. The Manchester Vcgntiirion
:. _■. hat kiuillj leul the portrait
U is with ii" desire i i diamuut tin' excel Irnl wmU duufl for Uie
tnovexoen liam Ewnrt that the a totem en < Is made of aii
.!. .t eoi greater, place which Joseph Brotherton occ
Uc Erased moel fully aJ lie advantages which in course of tfa&o
Mir i" the public fn in an extension of thcae institutions,
alfai l Museum and Library may largely clain to bo Hi'-*
n from which ail the root him grown, .lorn-ph 1 >i < >ttif-r1 <•;!
ornmtiou which ia ciulxxii'cd in tin n ports of tho
i. and altogether rendered a eerrioe to
hould never be forgotten. Moiichj tor
intftitutioiif l>j i linjf, the Aral lo i \-.u-
)r*r>- and availing iteolJ ul tho Act ol two bui thepJoo ol
: i| final objecl i son In reference libran
:\ important. The borough Is laturoUv
ol what it has -lone for the movement, and wqU \V
IS*
prm-ic in»*Ant*«.
1UT
Thoro ore fow preJiminnriM about tit" Bhofflold report. .V
a few brief paragraph by the ■ ■Iminnan it daahes ut once in ' '
record of the work. This at ohleflj devoted bo Bgurei ■>•*' [J
ibr. operations fo I year, tun
1 in- work : i -I - --•'.'. i»neit\ -
in-! it- to i! branches stands thui ■
93,124, o: HIH-. dail; Lorpo .
itafdc i '. BO, vrarj); HighfleM, 1 1 .- i • 'i '' '■
itterc acq daily, it if* cheering to ■
from the report tnat n sutMsammittee nave nnder coneidera£io0 ;'
scheme tor provldi j iceornmodation for the nnmeri » r/s
■eiders who frequent the central library Tin* need dm nf*1
d Itself for a least twenti years and the question t»as
■oiunierod urn! been shafted sgara and sgah during that Mme.
There In Bcnronty another Uuw* town which nan tocondnoi Its worl
In its central library under such ndtvr*** conditions u n
Sheffield. Year after )rear the banding becomes more congested
1 1 1 mere ract of only an average ol 149 volumes lx tilted
per day iu the reference department in •> town of close upon
800,000, ahow* tli ii there is something "rotten intto i Tien
mark," and there i* clear proof Unit :t li»-'r> in Ui<- <livu<il' \ \\
moon niodatiou provided for Hie work in Lire parei t in
Is it safe to hupc thai he deliberations of llii» sub-cojiuuittee \\\\\
Lead to a ae* building being erected* H is checrhuj U
plana have been drawn fur an additional ttuttding to md
lentreJ En its work, Out of ite nimble penny Sheffield
B <niir.li l.t'inry, four strong and licnllhy l-i-ynrlies, and i
rnftgnincont innaenm. There is use an art gallery vi
would do credit t--> any town to support, bul bbu ia not unp-
forted out ft' IV I'iilr. *\>uM ■■ -< n.'ulc unvwhrrc '■
urthorP Tin- museum and art gallery oughl unquestionably! ■
ii.iw q . i paratc rate for them. They are an ornament t<< i ho town
and arc of large and hhmv:i.7iiiu: uruluhu- rin frmirr:- <1 the
to hlcoly did not contemplate that u would aver be
i tod Ic do as moot in many Uivmas it I in 'wi<-< <>n pli - 1 1 - - ■ I . Hut
the time is now within moasuronhlo distance when Shi field will,
i ;, an I i proveroonl \ftt, idjusi this matter for Itself, and p I
extra i'.«ii:i> )>i thr museum and art galloTj, the town b
SejBS rates l* ranch bcl'^v rlio r;(t>> i » n numl« i "i
B ^ote have been idopted With its Firth C illeoeund
Boaril Ufa Of which any town In the kingdom mlgl t I Q proi 4.
mrolv in this liU'ary department of its educational work She
Willi-' ake i back seal. The very mention of an cxito p
tends to prodnoi i breeae in job artors, but is i ruh It it
found to "-■ in limited circles, composed of peojile who would
BT oeorv.nn?.1 tla- i*.Mitiy ainl -| " n. muto <m poUeemfin
Thepenn lerl wns enough when there
w-.is only the centi'sl and one or two brunch I
die tbi '!"m u D ai thi t town ^>> \a
i
PI :u.H MKftLItfRft I* T1IR VOR Ti
l.-W
hungry for additional food in the shiipe of new I < • ! ■ "i-
the ubrarta and addition* i irthe museum that, at the parent's
■i- \h oo&y if fche same ra&e as ii was shirty-four vaa
ai»i>. wtua tots were adopted, some of those cLtildren
sritfl tic. i sfasff mart nwccesarily go short In cur depftrtmeol m
another, [lien ii;is. i/i' course, boon an luorease In the mloable
vnltu , ''in ttiisisnol pominenaurate with the additional outlay.
Tli* i Ill* ii mi branch litw u •■■ in 3heJQald ud the
buildings u, which that work is carried on (sol tie most excellent
description. The town, in the operations of Its branches, fully
niakco up Cor the defects of the central library aa a building.
The fow branches together i^&uiii^ an average of 1, lot* volumes
pei d v respectable totnl, which pore than retrieves the
I i o ^licfneld. The branch buildi igs are models of cou-
Tcnicnci tad genera] arrangement. Well situated, as each li In
Its thriving suburb, there is no wonder that they should be well
popular, with the people. Mr. Thomas Efarjrt is the ohieJ
idxnJxuatrater,
Soith Shiklus,
3Tiq most uotowortbj event ol recent date line boon tho issue
" a new catalogue, the first sine.' !<::. i he oumbor of volumes
1 1 1 * * lending departracB was then beiow S.000, .,m< - now
'itii "»,!>/<» in the reference department. make8 a
i til ■ ■ t;.r < "'. rolumea (Jpecitii ii-r> .1 1 k- -uituhie tor the.
:.is in the science ana art classes bio displayed, and it la
t<> note that 1,000 volumes, out of the l\iMM volun ei
Well were consulted, were Issued during last year '•> these
nudi i in These - lasseM are particularly *trong al South Shields
nut the wiirK "ci'iiii-. :iii ] n|i«iri;ii.i port of rh:ir <>t Hi-- hlir.iry.
i- lending deportment has an fnorease ol 663 readers otot
'•ns year. The total issue in this section was Hrt(W2
ifumes tin proportion of pure Action being 51*47 per cent
j Tour yoni'R not a atnglo book has been lost The number
>f vlwi ru to he newsroom is yearlv ineiv.i- 1.". and, notwlth-
arntions.the room In often Inconveniently crowded,
11 d tlu sitting uucununodttUuti for all Llmae who attend.
ii U provided with twenty-three daily, sixty-live wocklj
and periodicals:, forty-seven monthly magazines, journaJs,
rveiii\-iive uf the foicgi i ig m • presented- Tho
moftcuiu, in the same building, attracts .1 large aim bi r of 1 bttora,
more especially strangers who have been staying in the owl
:. the Bumtuer suusuUi
• 1. 1 "> K 1 ■ . the present hecietan and librarian, wan
tiry for the district union of Mechanics' Institutee, and il<
li ig of which he lias now charge waa the old Mechi
ii. L.ecl iri a ■ it ven during l.lic winter months, tod
I ion 1 onsideiable 1 ■•■> eaut I rom lie rent oi the
more the 1 pays for the interest and redemption of
The report conniat<i of four pages, und yet covers the
1 tin: work, lln loeul prcee is tavjvmvVaM to
■ :i
Ull-IPIK
noties th. operation a formnrij
grther thf wnrk ll hefl 'h;. ud pTOgNI
SrAunvxi
I h. o I M vrn* I!..
tUlOr, 111 October IHMrt In Mr \!.,rk hVlll^m, l
■ t i- 1 ii pp<ivWAT»al i
viu formed Tin- work .i th£ coiamtttexi wan performed *
.in uJralrablc maimer, ami In the earl) iu»t*
meeting dec! ired n favour ol ilto rn ijori £"
A i.-ili !■ i i wan rlemamlccl, whlrh riMiiltcd in hid ■
■m i I i. :1 • iiiavt s i inn; 11.. upmed i I'nlill
eatabllahod in some of the rooine - 1 the Town flail.
. ii ii conl tlned tome 7, <■■. > * .-.-h :..-■
works »i (lotion. 340 ellglous book*, TWO historical works.
On <• M p •"■• In i u< In- "I k „ ii. ,-, fi'O Oil lit* Kit ill/, i. . _ -
. n i Mil- Lftei kl Mr. . ::;mi on biography, an<
newspaper i' w tag-room la provided, the opinion '■< ing held tfast
ilu various piilltf cat ana other clubs net'vi.lo I.u ^<-l\ for the : >ubli<
ll;. rc i ■. bowcvoi , i i ooi i Cog 1 1 ■•-
iri.lr.' ooku o reference and other worka Tho nu;
the course • I R h " ■ i '■''. Iwell lip n t hi idvnotac
UoA&l mii. I nil 'wlflOj 01 Public l.il'i'.ifi .* ', ami OXplV wed lh< hcpC
ih.M i he Qi w Inul Itutton would prov< i g i <i<- to the youn .. t hel]
to thi in'1 fears, uiul n LMinfort to the old nnn fcebl<
ll. moved i i ■• i of thanki* to the gentlemen who had render o*!
i ti : ii< i.il aid U ii" lormatioi ol the library Among
. | iv i ■ ■ > r ■ ■ ■ » i won Mr. T, n SMolxithum, MVP,
i i .-;ii:mi, and m. ■■ .i Summer*, each el whom gave E500
i. Knot! win auvc (.'l(>». ilboul 1,750 I lu per week n
ttelDoi Lai iod, and the library in Blinking flown lab olid work
Mr, Thomas Aldrod is the Ubr&rfan,
•'I I f nature sugge Uwl I ■ tin work h<»ro is th.
iiici.i o i rending c b, andertho conduetorahip of i
man, The olnaies ore free unci open to oil, rhc gcwrarno&l >1
ii. i ioi la mi similar lines to mnr.us improvement stocletieii
i in cow* oonaUtnol an openmg lecture hy aomo omuaenl tn
..ii thQ \' • I ii»- ol books; followed on other night!
M ■ ii.!' :i rrin. i.i ol' ilii* work nr works of o pertain utrthor,
iKowln | iii" itvle, merits language, &e., and u pubu'i d
InllnWM,
St. i
B1 Helena, u a towu, would uot be deecribod ae a benu
plane. Tlw chemical and Erun-wurk,-* in Ihr
■■liMii- in Mimm'I uri'liHiTlun- lit. in holdl) ii.wrrUn
[nil in ii ■ Ifbinu-j « irk there hna been an extrnord
frowth. The Mbrnn wan 1 I ander the St. fleletih
tnnroTi mi ol \- 1 ii I "-("; bnl wne bo t until 1 -"" ]
utock of books and ■ n the attendances al thv ttwUa
KDUC U3ftAVtK£ IX TUG X"HT1II
:....
tlUT* iliiulili-d fli.'iiihi'H'i's !n WVl'tl years Munii.
rfeaWtothe tvn-liog-room marc t71iM8, Thastomcol books
th* central Icndmg department is I S.176 volumes: reference
H s/>a-,. ;m.i tl s Button branch i.u:; »tots 17,014 Tno
number of hook* lmrrovred from the eent-ra] Leading department
during the 307 days on -v% l ■ i « -t books were lent oui wa* i
Sainst ftl..'^ showing an mere/we of 3,001, and :i daily m R
SIM. The week-dAj attendance during the year van 227,8m,
» again. st £4f\<30&, ind u daily HUeiiduuce of 742.3. The ilirrcuw
io doubt uvfngto the unproved stale of Lrade, irhleli \gn " 3
aJTecte the etleauhuice al all da' IibrarSee In the inanufoclariitji
districts. Tin- Sunday attendance ha-dincrcased from 10,147 l is;
to 18, <'>."K iui inoreuae uf 3,482, the arerage per Sunday
beta
From a persona] kaowledi oi disti ind h >m Drew
repo 'mi that thi members o( the Tovn Council ana tiic
■ l-hii miitci' ) :im- :>i time.-, it it ;i litUe oat <-i jolnl wftfi
each other. I '"":- some yoara tho council baa crop are 1 to think
that the a rnmiUec v.-.-n jpendf&gniare mono) tJuui vaadeeLrablei
It « o ui. i iImm.ni ftcorn advfeaJble that Instead ol batfcna these
diflbrem ea amittee and the council, tl« latter
Iihould do« Edc what tlic library ought reasonably to coat the
town so mneh in tho pound per annum. Whili undei tb<
i.llly :i I'CMlV run In' ]i.-VJi'<J, St. Jlclrtl.--, Willi Ufi apOOia] \rt, WIIM
not sgx iiiything like that sum on It? library. SUlOO thru
the expenditure ii-i* hecu decidedly increased, hut it in Mill under
:i •■« iiny There is no Bpeoiol rest riet ion ;ti the borough as t<> the
i ui to be spent on (lie library. It would be will that the
eounofl should deefda what the maximum amount spent on the
library should i>ef and, having come t<> this dotielonj the Librflrj
< '"tnmittee might reasonably he allowed an almost absolute veto-
es to BOW the money should be spent Mr. Alfred Lancaster Es
the librarian
S'tfH'hl'KKl
!>..-\ :ir<! progressive town Is rather unfortunately placed
Ir has .in excellent museum in a large public [Kirk; Sal FM
Public Library la .not try any means ;is wall placed mm could ha
desired Its quartera arc tn an old market hall, and on Fridays
and Saturdays the ground Boor underneath the library and
ih used for tin- nale of rliceae, gecae, and oilier commo-
The building thus .em:- a tltiuhli'-hairrllcd piumosc li
ding food for the brain and the stomach. This duplicate
. in wever, bad for both Die library and its viaitorsj for
j !.. defective ventilation the smells ureal times [nauffcralile.
of the able librarian (Mr, .1. D. Ruckland) and
hi» o^.r.t.uitT can scarcely fail to be Rcrionrf) Impaired. Che
Acta were ndopted in 1MG0, but for the maintenance >l tin*
inuaetuii, md i wasnol until 1875 that the Public Library rru
d. I'ndcr the ynvit djiiicui! i<^ >\ im-ii die work encounters
<■> fbcb'uJdinjr.tliclw !■ -.\< w .u.;
i-i di.Ii LiritAiUIM.
and roforcni osectii i i. ruble,
mode tor ncdy those dvfeolsli) mprovotlventihi ion. he i
:ii'i ';il'('lil JfcJO ]»•■!■ i!:i_S. :.ml :i!l tj .;el : in' :-< !;i, ._'
Dl dopfl 1 tiM-iiI i u: ll .v. I I
has now hoon oponod, and which i* another p
il ommittoe novo made judieiooi purohaaetf of acientin.
technical books, The committee entertain the bom
ookport may meet win :i p,cu ■ .-u- i «. i.. tactoi' audi bj
in townaol fur Lea* importnnce presented loble
pablti literature Shall such wappes remain unheeded? A* a
hi -in ifeeturtng (own, Stockport oeouplea a poaiti< d oJ
it* imiiisii'.r- art .1- ii imen i - iflinxnoal planes and ahaU U be
»ald that Stockpeii laekii ivhal Northwichj Newark, i
• \\ in.-.' i gei . roi - di i or, who. i. i
tin* iimik anil rcrnii'i '-rinmi Lei:- of Ihk town, will perpetuate
hi* name by building a new home for the Puh]l< I I
Stockport iii- nol .< tea puhltc-apirttecl ritizma, and th< ■
may Ve Iwpnl. -uine pmtspret of 1 1 1 ; . hclnj iioram^lahad
filoO in paid mil nf Uiu rate for \lm pen! uf the pres* > t lib
and I'iii- l : 1 1 - • - :n:«l l;iM'> L J I. Tilt? fir*! ih'in i- i< ■- crshur, . .
liiii il i> [mid l«i the Oorporatiou ; luu) Hh* areoiM Mem i
thai ua mi. ii ) libraries we exempt from ill local rate
surely he remitted. The Uilm tn»l ipcnt ia t
rnlUoe should we that they have Lhla l*Uauce,and ho ii does
not go bach Into he general horougti fund, These ha]
connection with Public Libraries require watching,
pennj should bo In all cases received and expended i i the
library and ita twin institution when tin 'c is one. E i. It ii to
be hoped, there will be another pennj allowed Cor museum pnr«
pose The >um of t'lt'i was spent "i new book* Ti.
capitid, and in ii ■ _'l ,: '■< i v .'Uiu i..- :->i i |" : ij ■".' »,.";":;, Stock-
port compere* in this respect very favourably with other!
The sincere tope may be expressed that an inep i real
will be shown In this institution. Public Libraries art boa
as needful aa fresh air and good water. The town has r*pl
new bathe, n magnificent technical school, a museum, to vhieb
the visitorf raaahed Laal year the total of !J©f3K> durint: the week
daje, and 14,672 on Sundays. Shall it go crying aloud tor a\ mw
library for an Indefinite period?
WansHavBR
The Am; report haa just been Issued Tha h irarj La ill
Mechanics' Institute, which was gencrouif y offered to the ]■■
if they would adopt the Public I Ibraries lets I he - Bom of the
local pren tn helping to bring; about rho daalred change
lamwledged, aa indeed theyonghi tube im Fohmarj
the vote wns taken, and allowed 1,382 for the adopt
Ants and r^t against, No time was losl hi In ipni n \\a c«f a
liiir: i Ian, and the work of organization 'oinuiciicei Oi aa
!-;-• irn" iiiii\ wasonened bj the Archblsliop oJ Vork wb<
tin- .- I cm i on a ■! <■■ ening uf the u[)enh ■ ivered iutoi
[•I I JO MlUlAMfiA IN Tttli NoIi'JH JiJtV C(ti:rriB8.
137
ddrettn -. which did much Ui cmphaaiac in the public mind
!ii<' s-sini ii tin- institution as un edaoaiiona] Eorots and no u
i: • ].: 'I rational toi < ill ion. \l ,.- advised lli. 1:1 1- mw their Pnl lir
Library for amusement. Him wanted amusement, and ha hi
t h i ■ v would get tt uttbat building rather than by keeping a iimnlL
book m'li roui 'i "'I i orners in which they calcuiuted the odds on a
v •■ j _ -_■ 1 1 thi'V OaVBt -a>.v ari<; pW lobly ihy< r wouM B8f In
their Public library they hail u place 01 wholesome recreation,
Kid ;' place which would visit them with neither remorse nor
lica.hiclic-, uttorwanK
l.i-:iir Wai j.\.:. by in i h-.m, > - nr i ,J lh<< l.-i.-al « I'm-i-nimen:
d in Febr larj 1882 to borrow EiSrotostnicturalattarfttdoDi
matees wished to malca i: £500, but tha injector suggested
tlia i.i -".I"- -.inn in order thai the Hbrarj mighl have h better start
*' Tln'xr lil.t-ini's." he ftald, " :n'i' Vi«ry useful YOU WSJll \ 'fry | i I |
r.-'rii'iicr hooka ■un! yon want honks for the people to rata iwaj
vail i ii nn." and no tha Eflfirtwas banxiwed. repayable wltri rnteresi
m iIm. Thnnapulurltj ■imih.i bythclfbrarj inafully
equalled Mi.- :iMiic.i|>:tii iqh "i i - if n-nds Since the opening 1.-170
borrowers [cket* have Iteei Issued. The total Dumber of tl ■
now in farce m |v078. The auinbei ol nc^ borrowers steadily
With the twofold objeci of extending the ueefulneasol
the library and augmenting it* revenue^ tin committee, whet
1 1 linn:', the kvmiI ii mr.N, provided dial uon-ratcpeyerfi rcetdenl
A* bul within twenty miles of the Whitehaven improvcmcnl
district, mighl borrcru l»ookfl ":t payment ol an annual robaoiin-
lion od 6e Tlii-; privilege baa been used to a limited extent The
DsaucBamci !'•'• opening amounl to 11,440 rolwnea. The ie
:t i<:.n from fiction liavi reached the large and satisfactory total <>i
10,471). 1 !n reading-room baa from the tiisi been larueiv U'S,M'
byallck 1 *.ily strengthening it* hold upon the class
lowhom the faeilitice \i oflere, no teas than thoea of tho library,
_■: ■ .1: . Immhi. ]'!:■ I .ill-hourly conntinira madefrora time
, tahei bo baata for <-4i.iination, would give at lea I
i- id. average weekly attendance. Th< order and quid
•■■•• prevailed in the room ire worthy of aotOi it
insj»«,«'t i'"' ol the catalogue shows that the selection od books has
Imtmi 111:11!'' v .Hi cum The works in tha historical .section are
j oomprehenaive, and mob as art suitable Cor general
na; a< well as for Hie Btudent. Some 343 volume* ware
..ri rroro tin Kvoord Office, and are worth alioul C130, Ur
A'lUon, who has talcon a worm interest in the movement
all through, u the honorary secretary, and Mr. Simpson, the
Ubtnr
a 1 teelteni remrd '«■ ^ive ol every departinenl ot
■I- w.i'i. 1..1 11. |iu|iui:iunii ni fi^OOO ii has the respectable
nl t,4,illi» viiliinii'M exiMiiMve ol uaiupiili'is. Tlie additions
ii-.( nn m M.n rrariinl 1,019 volumes. Tli«' boba\
wl £}4.4W,nnil in addition to t\iia aura ^nefcaic*
tJttKAKnm.
atA boM« to U* ralw of £675 have-
the laic Jowiph Ta*V»r
the bulk ol lii« c»r
Nit unfortunately, owing to *oaic n the wfll
whole of what the dVoKn
• l**n r*i ol iL'.f
Tin* M7\« !in nnou rany proof* why intend
shonM make then - Pnhlfe TJhn
and not giv* :\ pj- >rtunltj for port hnmou
and c ii wrif-mc ■ ry. \i othei
'.-.! thu latter plni Mr Thomni Taylor, who rtfll tnkfiflB
warm Interest in Hie work of the IHirury purchaarOtlii
i i! i . r:i itifn ir School In flu* emit ronl tho town, ami tnjfll Dpfjiil
the [iii'sj-ni l:hr»u So rapidly linn tt* work r
■i iii i -;- th.ii nlrcndy thi! newsroom and th<
y need m ■ - ii -.i« •■!. urid n spare piece ul ground In Uii
(if the building will In* probabh hood uwd for thin |iui
llir official iijN»f|lllg ii October, 1-77 .. ■
I ..ii i -nahlrr people never do .1 m thing l>) halve*,
an odd re* crteuted to Mr. I'uylor. Tliih add re
with the following sentence; " We accept your gifl with m
reelings "f pleasure find reaixmaibilityi >Vc
powerful i:ir.m- i»i aiding the groat forward i
(An ; pi i :o iii our midnt, and wr hope that li
i ■• and lanting pleasure t<> yourself. The Public Libra id ol
rln- round y are dent m d to till i lri;rh place in national edu
indwi toK< thb Public I jbraryuan precious tru*t confided b a
promoting the mural .mti material progress of an pt
Mir lopftfulni i I h wordd ha.-, been mon tl ■ ■ , and
in the immediate future the library is destined to fill n mtill raor
i iportftlioe puv i
\r thing* token into conaidc.rati >n, the reference library i
i: MTanaeroonl md the selection of i Ice, the finest In the
eounlry of any town of its siase : ami -
kOpuLation of Wigon might well be proud ol that depart-
ment. Wo arc rapidly reaching tho day whon In no n
Ub 'arj will tho rotfi rooco section tnk< i second place, bnl wi
oonnidcrod of primary importance. The the book* in
i md it« organization we very largely tho wor!
o iiir librarian; Mr, n Tonnyaon I'olkord, who baa brought I to
culture and practical library experience to boor upon hni work in
v OOmmcndable to aim. ami which has done much to giro
fit Mv the place it now occupies among these
Inntltutionj \ sketch nf the reference room on the Brw
hi ihowr in iii. fuvon pi nyii p plotnro, and w the m« hand
room in tJio bn I ding Pnc room nccupie.i the *nmc area ru flw
lending Ubran and rending-room helaw, and ine Is struck on
«m i i . i.. ii u b b !' i resenablanwi 1 1 Home »f I ho oli
■ i.'>
iv pi to the pt rahcufl ot thn hooka from the \Mniuir«l
in
i'in: NoitniKJts o.oi «n« .
130
piallsft in ttv mrloiM dAportniPhtx tii '. invrledgo w«ro uked to
paw up lists of riif boel hooka in each of them. In &tbtt divifton
I <*aiv wa« tnknn to fndoda only hooka of high mcrfi it
would hare been n source of rogrel 11 Uin cnfailofftic <<f -;., j ■■ , ,
collection had not been bo Formed ostoentitteSttoB oil Uog up
I »'i ii the librarian and his cui uuittoe wci c cans] i<»
i'i ! rtif <■; tnlojRie cif tlic iU/XX) hooka n the refci
! t\ v, hen fini I . <|, tiiio "I I'm mm. -( ounpl t< a -1
■ I itn kind which has y i been published ii will
cr nlxmt 80,000 entries, and ta being pu%NWnft&
no
pi -»uc ueiuvni.
£1. Mr <; l ' v\ iinn eorau:
ha* written and rroMwhed i verj <
the method i ipo i •-'iio ha* tm
•f. prtncrpal heading, the authara name, or, it
ici.ii ig word in Hi'1 Mil'*, e ich work h i^ ' i
\\ tun praot < ahlc i ho Mithor'a i
i|c:tlli '::..!■ l-'i'h HiVPH I". i.-!i Wcil'k ;1JiI»mi-
II. ill lic:nllMt/« ol UtlC I'l-l il.iv.. IM'l 11. :
i. in ,\ Ith whtd
i.i i i i one, ii - 'ii'M'H1-
i i I. eon . In i nurtri i i j biographic*,
iHniil. Nl|||l4'Mt(l.S lilt I.Mi'M.H lltU'.I.I"> IpplMI
177 cloneh printed pages.
The .• LI :i B uccuntee .1 book
I ■ | | ■;. o| [KM'lRiHJ
.; i;- I . i i . .• imuH ('Mil I
■len and, i M ■ • ipparcntlj ii ■ onl i R igl &1 w rl
n i k i ■■ i - ii,.. lupoi iii in dust ] y. lull.' atnl ■ .. . . -... i >n •
to l-'i ad bound in cloth, » \i i\ book or paper mention '
hli I it i ■■iit'Tcd l»'lti "in-1 iln- D&DJC of \'i<: aiUlh »l' and nmf
the norm oi be eubiccl ■ 1 fu i nva , havi been m
divided In order to |»fin ; the work catalogued, when . anoV^j
iln-'- trv, h ., i, or ithcr locality of which it titntrt. vV<
. i rebtina to -■•-.. I, although uol -in.-iu ... ;
have I w< ullynoted, Article** relating i- th< folk-Ion m .
tin i , m rk tn atlna el the IoamIa, & ol tin i
rxteaeuri ..:>!■ or cur/iona i k.' cc i
•■villi the subject, aw Included, Collateral branch - ,:
. lenee Important t" the. mining inn rest hare beej iasei led, mh'^
.... r i ri laJ i ■■ to r< ll< f t in -^""~(:
r. ■ :i ciSHti i •■ ; !■■- w Iffan tin i !■ :it ?atuc rl i i iod i ol
mining booh . tvhfoh con nt aUtimcaba consul i I, can >t bo over
oititnatc . Ttu? other ■ | ml ratal ■ nu Lhii departim i I
the eatnlogue of w i>! on bonkn, the Mi
■ u.< Ol laV LlOOKft. I'll'' 111'.- 1 li::iil 1 iv . :
04 what should hi lone in other i> ems. M . i ■'■ I . ir i hi
played oonedderabk industry ui collecting the publication* of Ui
[i en] proaeei and ull boolc pamphlet* and manuKeripti h
tonnectloB, no matter how remote wll i tin own Ph - catalogue
... twi t»s must have come an .i aurp
the town •;■ * inl n i nl « i om proliahlj i
ii n! b iui h ■ oollti i '"-' i
in Other tOW im Vhnulil ,'-U" lit - pl:ri llli ir
. ;i:u.]ih- Pis kiiik rhc n\,]\ mi.ii.- l.iSrary
i it r*-t ■ whirh i;:> :t Lord upon It is thnt ;ii V
ItH honorary or hurgc tentative* hnn Hip Ftlghi
Eari il i r iv ford, LI I ■ in thin miw rnc ij>
[nvoribed Some nl the en ■*■« i in :i nn1 vrn '••■■ ■--. and
.livj.i.iv niih-ii reaoarch riu lattei atatenient tan ilao be
aboul the *:ii.iii.Mu- ui' law UkiU.s Tii.- whole ol theae wjn
i ataloglUB should ti*nd :.» fivatc .1 1 u*e »>f thl> Inoj
Eepsrtment of Hm Pnblie Library, if the town I
ury surroundings— for \hc pri'scmvi.t ••••:t\ uiiu
«'i>i mngnatUM piny rox its Isnmty — Wignn has in ftn
library Bii oasis which cannot I i too highly appreciated
ii. in no al repori eon atafl 11 1 welcome feature of the librarian^
r&POrtj "'t'V'cr l" live p:i»r> The TOpOPtH of lulliliiiU.ri'x jut ill way*
=i .-» .-_»! 1 1 >ii- inn i. ,i rule no our can speak so mihoritaiivi'iy
npan tins working <>i the library us Uu ruau In charge, and the
■rreator prominence ol librarians reports in these annual pulilini-
Bcnui if u'i.-» desirable. In ihr leading di-partim-m the jrrona
JMHiir* were tH,4.'l0. Til* nCWSrOom JS TCrj popular, Sfl ii deserve*)
l<> !».*. Tlir .-inula;, .n iii." bin i\* for the year reached H.9G&
"!'Im- ten faaa Sunday opening of the raadinrooaui on been
cm uu^ualhn.i [a tin* general reaaiDff-room there
or*- ibonl i"( volumes for reading and reference The public
are : » 1 1 * wed to help themselves to the bcoka, which arc i^pon
)|.:-;i ihehree. lii'i'1 i- .i notice hung up thn! no hookn nro
be takei oul ol the room. No BupervieSca la required beyond
.jin- i!..- booke early every rooming. In. twelve yean sb
-K been taken :iway. For sonic yoaM 0 voluntary
I a halfpenny in addition to the penny has been paid In D
itin bcr "f ratepayers, as the le^^ penny waft onaafticlencior
y extending work. Last year a Koeeiiil lorn]
£ivoe the power to levy a rate ol twoponeo ntho
uuhI. Lectures uivo been given during the lent &V9 yean b
mm ■ ti-»n with the library, and these lire beaomingmoxe and more
ihir with each vi.. ■< eecnng winter, rhe local ores give oapttal
ip. A* new and inpoi-t-jiii l io<>ks u re added in the reference
pftrtnient, short noted written by the librarian, epitomizing the
mtcntA, ore publiehed. It is impossible to pass on from this
lort ■ketch without heinu; more Ihan ever r<aivineod that the-
. u vVigan ix a live institution, pregnant withuaefulnaSBto
bi entire town, The necessity -.1 r museum for the borough ia
1 w 1 eiwwd, and under the now local Act this will no
>niit 10 m 1 me n reality
VVOWCIVO'ION.
in MnvMiin Ift39, the sanction of the burgesses wiw obtained
the adoption of the \>- - The example of Whitehaven wan
in. ' ii be Infectious. The Towu Council ae a body tools ;t
Lead In the matter, and this, aided by the stop taken by
it •■ <\ ih" M 1 inics' Institute, greutly facilitated
:: ['In i ommiUo; had pa.wnl 1 n sol itlOE to ih< offc ll thai
!■• 1 witli approval the proposal loeaeruise the powers
nu 1 1 H- Town Cou 1 ! hj rarloua statutes for the estttb-
i;i in the "it", 1*1] of .1 Public Library, and thai U the
> now "■ • Lipicd by the canunittee be required for such
v, 1! - v. ou -i 1 '..■ ili 1 uch .1* wiw in then
. ■ .iiiv.-n ■, i.t nf the Mcehanln Institute premises by
■ Town Council u other committee* ol me&uafifio1
d, 9 id ..i similar re*oto,\\au. Kx
PCD UC UBBAUIK-S IS TUT v« iftrnrT? \ CCM 'in
111
tho -tntutory meeting < I preaent, with only w
lot tiin adoption, ind no poll von demanded, rbi
produce abonl C'J/iO fier annum h KehM
Wl'l'l' ill ill'. i 'iv:-v tin- tilt" .iri|tlll« lill'llt <l( till" XT
the pnrpoRN i i > puhlli library <»n the Sundii
prior !<■ thi' |" 'II ; ii t'jut'llrnl <M»riih<ri w:w preached by the U
. i-r ".in i i nl he borouich uu Ihe usee uf Public 1
the purt tlieee in* to i"': lei m<
CHAPTER X.
PUBTjTC IjIBRABIBB in the midland count™
•ubuq LatfUBiw ■■'-■ eparaelj scattered U ■■ th^
Mi*il:i*i*i i'"iii«ti.--. Italy throi intiw ■ t< without at
no "i thou! inatitutioE i. these boll ntJ ukd,
i ,. Bin 1 1 mil inn<lon > counties i
to tboae in the North, \Vo*1 infl s.n didhmd* am
Leicester, Nottingham Iierhy, Chaster, Stafford, i
Worcester Shr-op* lire Hereford, Hertford, » h
Bedford, uid ( mbrlugc Five ol liese counties t <hh
i' le~*upporte<] Library -«» thai (he work yel to lie doi •
fHdely Vnsrrihtili'il.
Vi.VMsVliAM, NaNTWIOJI, ATTD MlDDl.ltWtiTIT.
Theac Uiree Cheshire town« folhwAd each oilier very ci
in the adoption of ii"- Arts. Nantwlch wn i.
:iini then followed \ trincharn. Thin wiw tiroiiarii nboul by it
•liMit and sharp sjritulioii In September. I**N the \
showed i aajorfty of 73n\u favour of he adoption, The w
of i in- arrangement* for Ihu taking ui ho poll w irecarrli ■ n by
Mr ,1. fttnkoc, clerk of the Uieul Uonrd, v i ■ nfllelo n man
mcnl nl' ii work no full of technical and lejral difficulties
bhI uatiaTaetiuu. Acting under the advice of the -> ■( i
in in- Board* occupiers of property aawewed to the general district
rate were looked upon as being entitled to rote on (ho library
tton wLi-iliti tin- rates *ere unid by the landlord ui tcnani
fivwyhooael i « bus enabled U exercise thi pi
vi 1 1 mil- In the, Tiiinr.i 1 1 ol this very impoi'i anl question.
i ii.. u . ■ . ■ too tin Croydon dec ofon, w hfch ' uall) dijj ■
ui' 1 1 1 :■ point. Foi w >poi the library s ill rely
opoo •■ ram "i 6900 per annum fn tu the trustees of •"!.■ M i
Liml < li.irit v, whit Ii 0 « rah ]•■>., i ■■• ' mi!
unanimously dccid«] should bo applied to the maintenance of a
I'uhi i Library. Hy the order ol the f:harlty CtoruiuieHionera
i'p'n ft tin s the I aid i ol the C luril ) . th< mono ■ ■ be. ■ m i
it ie ub3oliil« ly Erm , so thi
Publii Llbr - ■ atenayort tan at lu
b«aontofth< Incomo. Uoaide thio, tin l.lbrurv C'onan
bu i Iron "/ ■< d fcho Local Board to lu© cxtcutoS ftttf v«f am
n uu<- rJMfcalBPJH I D >UUm OOOVTCMi u::
Another important fact which must DOl bo lost ftfghl of la Ilmt
iliv- directors ol the Literary Institute, who i • D library of
3,000 volutin , ■■! -.* j.tm «!: ui- li.-sv!- mm. m, at id ;\ luru'» hall, en pal I
«-f accommodating "00 persons, bosidos convouioiH cli
ox pre will mgnaiH ;<» band wop t.» tin; bowa the whole
of their undertaking, providn a irrangomonba are m ■ i« ■ tor eon
tinning th< eduoatioj i i s w lot connected therewith, Tho halt
n1 | »i-> -- ■■ i - yields an locome of KI50 peryear, which m.^'hl also
Tie made available \»r the supp -rt <«f tho library. As :i sample of
the gross misstatements frequently made about existing libraries
a local public man said that, although ostensibly tho Manchester
• i i u'arv had an Enoome oi only :; penny Is the pound,
thoy really cost tivepence in the pound. A snider and ta ve
inaccurate assertion ebOttf those EnstltUtlO&fl Wl - never muilc.
it required only a post or two to show the ubsuniitv of the
■.i-x.'iii.'i:!. f of tirrpi'iii-i- In 'hr ]niiitii! in M:nu 1 |i >st .•!• would pro-
ilui-< :in : n I ■■ f EflOJ O i .i year— n sum which COUld 001 pOSJiWy
be upesii on Uio existing libraries In Manchester IWfl ■ men
ti.incd n* an tlluniraLlon uf the stuteincnLs for which frionrta of
the raavemenl must be prepared. Ail through the disouaatana
■ .- n •■■ in" iin- adoption uf td" Acts, the sdYlanbMtv of an
i.ljoiiiiur ji.iti<li (Bowdon) WJtll idcii Uc j| J II I I'H'.il 8 also :idnj>l "."
' |i* \.i i,i I ,iin.t.;..iin.illii^ with /Vltriiich.iiu, WAS Ui pi in view
.tin] reference?* were fr**i|uciitl> made towards thin desirable and.
i takeu witli a view of handing over the Literary
itution for tin purpurea of a Public Library.
II e advptSoD nl N'uiitwich w;» in AiiKitM, 1**7, by public
meeting. Not ' single hand woe held up againsl the propusi-
tptions flowed in Tory freely, and 61.000 WM
quickly promised. Thin enabled them to erect a building, The
lilinin fi well and mbetentially built, but ia not, from cnttcrai]
mince*, citenrave nor very ornamental, If it is, however,
Ailed with all the hoolcn it is capable of holding, not many ten
than WOO cun bo shelved therein, its utility and real rahie will
l» an tfir.it t-ii, foundera ould reaeonsbf> hop< loi undei ..n
M, i .i ■>. ■■■>. Vnd. i • i< tho reading i'oom, If bhert ia any fear
*i all, II iii" r v II bo Pound even boo largo for all the papers
that they can afford I i lupply regularly in December, [6
won op n i bj Mr. Brumicr, » \\, who contributed lai
toWurOH Uix firat coal Mr llnma-r mid Uhti had nlm Im-.-h
■ .Ii-mii • oi Public Librarios. Ho hoped tho County Qoi
r&cnt Hill would i" imendod to provide for the araatiozi
. villajjo, lie was convinced alargonnmbor
i. ..-I (in uooountol 'ii- ■!> "'H'ool' any dulyconirtitutrtl
|j ir.-riVO llH'lll.
ii, a district with a population juht over 5^)00,
: quietly adopted as in the other two places
named. Thai nothing euccoedn like nueeesii ik true, and in the
Pulbbc i.ihratv movement as n other departraenu ol life A
ntewtinn < Id in the oarlj pari 1 1 i-^». M waa OQ\nAAd 'v\xv
tbat Mi'M.v-'iv;; wnain a naueft better rj aacnA.^M arfaX
:
144
ur.R^Mr.v
Hi. ,M nu:iy olhci ton n . ii.- i had no land to
tmlldln erect. In addition to having: o capital Imil
thej had ;i balance left from the Jubilee fund o! toraoi
1388, besides which lliov bnd the promise of some very
im ! ..-■-! < i i ' - r i ; Im Ing EIOO front Mr, Brurun r,
and '.■.' .1 year for l m Mr. Mono, x*io
tad m my ethej "i Hon ■ . i o thnt presently
thej vronld bo as riehp ownparutivoiy, as tin- Soli Cm
I to i"i ':'' Am lota wn m n • I and seconded.
llrnim. r, M.I'., lUppOTtod the motion. Ill the OOllfeS
peoen no ioJo Choi through tho land-heuru-l public ..pint <.,f
mI'i.i-. tins lud :t very fitting homo for their
library, and ho did bo1 think thoy could pcoaioly ninka . better
aeornerof ^ * i .- ■ t hall than l< aft in it a LfbrarrfoT
the lihabltantn, To hlsmmd there wna nothing so cheap aa ■
Public Library, lor In Mich a place a working-man could foj 6d,
i 1 1 ■■.?■. >r i penny In tin- pound, procure for his household- and
.n.n-, particularly for it* children a *orfeja oi weekly ■■■
troni oiii- end ox the yo u? ••• another.
WroN M ■• ■■ r
Iho vast borough of Birmingham has l>een making municipal
|or> Ul Ita Utile nultflilMtnr Asli»n. :'iicl Iris uicd to Induce
[ da io become merged in greater Birmingham, IJut Kstarj
tlurulnea with thunk*, fur Ulev havu long seen Hint all the outlying
words i if Ririulughuiu have had t<> five wav tc the huge »c
for ha Improvement of the centre of the town, and so tha
suburban warda mnal wait. Aston Is wise in ita day and
i.i'ioii. and iiit'uiiill.v feels thnt it is strung enough to
tlnuc running alone Ami certainly, *> far oa the library la
:. \*|oi ha* hiTii ln-itri nerved l'.\ itself b> bel
*opar i I tti 'i would probahlj i had
iom< * i t njro been annexed to ttirminghara. The i
of -\\ il hinl'.'il iTi th< Load Hoard offices, md i
in-.- • i-' ■•!' -if.nlj und useful work ' bono, The
■ i - 1 Tin; additions
to tTM) books last year, especially in the tending dcjMiti
ent in tmalUY.and nearly every taste Iml-een kept in *
ii ;i' Vmon iks in all other
manu! injr good the
- ul wriftriight).) hcfcr* thai of th(* previous year. The news
room and refer sre eomfortablc and attractive roumx.
Ttierv Ii a go :-fnl Mirnwaniinff*, with a \ \
visqve art potter) hen- **-\ there. The furniture wa*
to MBit the Moms, :»■ ntly pfa>-
n. II:.' »**t pcasabto enapofad ia
jno-Je c4 tl»e sPttoo, sihl on aduutaoool nxim fee reference ban
■••ly Imxhi »VJ, >l \ *trip of oar4 i» dMi 'sorrowers
... a».l .« th* I he valient
f.^turva of tlir Hm penary efas.-
an- "*eW eucn|Mied the boorA Scfcrate e5oM b^ the
PUBLIC UBTUttfgS IX THE VIMJ.VD COtNTIBS.
U6
library ik Died for Lectures during the winter, ami the library
lecture* hsiVf :i].i !c \>r«n i|tiito a local reputation The hvttiri'K
( :i Ugh-olees character. Mr. Robert K Dent, author <>i
■■ < Ad and New Hiniiimriviin." the genial l in-anim. i m dona much
to develop this seodos ot si i*- Aston work.
Bumbo.
The comity of Bedford has begun to establish its Public
Librarfe*. It was appropriate that the county town should lead
:ln- aav, and lhi.s il. did <u August, t8£l.», by public lueetj tg.
T)u' Mayor, In explaining Lne object of the said that
El had been advertised in the legal way. flor some time net a
uood number of people had been anxiou* that a imi*cuin should
be established in Bedford, and he himself though! it absolutely
ju order to compete Trith the educational institutions Lq
iwn. In addition to that it was known that the ArohlBO-
! Society had a greal many tiling which it was desirable
to have in .1 mU&CtUQ, und the Society wished theSQ thiugs to bo
I'll -im.K of some responsible body ; and, seeing thai
the i t i [-« rnt ion vm a l»dy whose continued existence WM <n-
Luii, it appeared to him that the Corporation should become
■•linn* "i the artieleh imw in p^sai'Mumi of the Archaeological
..■.'i:n,\ ni'iieloB which weronowplacodinprivato lihi'iii-i>' .
b> pei'AunK who were anxious to hand over tbo treasures thoy
C"\v.od tu some rcMpuiifiiblo body, who won Id hold them fan t | •
!ii of the donors and of the public generally. Fooling ho V
important the matter was, h* made LnqofiSee, and found thai Itr i
ioitablo r is for i SMiseui i could i>e had at tlio BcdJord Kooni*
n of something! like fit) a year, 'thinking that the timo
bad arrived tor* thern to take some initial step in the matter, he
brought it before the Council, but was 1**1*1 thai it would be imprac-
ticable i' r any pu >lic n oney to be .spent in thin waj unless they
availed : " ■ ■■••■'■ w as of tno Pnblic Libraries' Aeta. Feolingtben the
Imtwtttpoq oi having a Museum and n Public Library In the town.
which should be * ocnti E education and have b beneficial
influence, ",,1 ;i,-r feeling it was n matter that should ;»c brought
before the ratepayers, he had taken the liberty of oalMna i i
PLnfffftJid he trusted they would ahow their apm*eaffttion oi
>• endeavours that were being made to benefit the town by
ailing themselves of rite Public Libraries' iota. Thi* was dom-
ariv, and Bedford Is getting Its museum Into shape and
ii tlien esiabltsh its library.
BxurroN, BmantKY Hiu, amt> Dudmby.
It la becoming a fortunate tlii_ny m the history of (he Public
Library movement thai m town or populous dist^ct governed by a
ii h< i traaidered tobt con pleb without a Public Library.
Iston date* ii- adopl on from L872i Ita number oi volumes
| \rg . and it should to loi &er be poftsihla to lay to the
the large employers of labour in the district Hint the
rv ia l>> them -> Bomcwnot neglected institution Ww ^otV
1«
F'IMMjr I.TFIltlUlM
1 1 w troon i
the plgI that o& o 1 1 1 ici'hoiu visit tlie variout fcpartracnl ■
day, The number of borrower* 5.78(1 to extraordinary
KNirini". thai I ""«' -tie uiiU 0,-J)0 books, ami \.'i;ii :iiv .
Among 23,000 people \ \ fow twenty guinea gfftn for nea to
fruni the liir«t» Arms in the dtataicl would tand to plftM 'in
Itfarar/ on a macdi better footing. Tl urd i cIUm
;:ill i i lu'iiviU U) ». I'"'- OQl Of a rata "I" Z\ l&l "
i'7 1 i* < !•• v ■ »! ril in i:n- i i-|i.t i men I if iIk- loan. ('nti>M'i|iii i tl |
HIiimi'.mi iliss I'nx !m* to In iWnl with i *ftli m ol t&pM
week. Bflaton wnuto a refresher in the shape ol
_r 1 1 1 -s . and il la to be hoped thul ii will not sol nig » itboul Lneoi
\i i io doea Brfei lei II II f< r during if- I waive
ihr i'imiiim. u oi £10 iii- becsn contributed by a aaptnc
publii toward* Ite librai \. This iHadiBgracc which rarolj the
; i >. i 1 bhi district will ti<« longer allow to exiat * Dm
dation of 19,000 Ea n Btraffgliner ooci > ■ i t ti< r reading
proclivities oannol certainly be mot by I.eWJ volume* :'
two n) -ii1 ■ .i weal* w ion the lending [ilirai , w ipi u un ■
r< Lent. Our tendercat sympathy .■■ ou I >r thi
Ubroriea ibrugglinff with .» very irnitou inc i
• «'l:t | DOOpIl ;in«l liltinl' Iritlll ll, ,t» ;i]i|)r;ir:: i
.i! Briorloj HIU, iho difficulties of the work aro incrci & Two
ro ■ < i aJ ttod □ the Town Hall buildingn for tho wurk, :md
year lb paid I" the Local Board for rent, hooting, ad
■•I.- Mn. i-.. vvn the ■-•■',• I.' < i " ■ lill allow u ■ thai
;,. I, f H snhaa i ed Latere I in lie Pubtie i.h-. ■
ii-y hIiowh a bettor state ot tiling, hut aero they luvro
io tlii i ■ "i io thing; on .i larger i nolo on |
roi on ably expected Chero «raa an inter <■• i wi<ei
Hie adoption ol the VotaamlUn ipening of thi liui i ■ LTiorc
are two small branches, and the groati use ■ >! the chiol and tw
ofl ioo ■ pery considerable, liaro again the paucity of jrifta
edit iblc to n ti v :i like Uudlcy. it i ■ pai
t tow *et the presenl Karl of Dudley to take too load BJftd
»pnre ftorne trifle rroin his abtindnni means, which are la
}-y \]a- people of the district
I iim i:n IK.\K
There b v tal u ii the work hi Bl 'keuhead, • - [1 1 to
be after an existence of i ilrty-threo yearn. Birkenhead used
he a botJ ii' Iti'i; hton for 1 4v«rpoo1, hut the opening ol n ■ U
Tiiiiiui and other drawlaiokw are said to have lofi tho
t| i ir what n waa. Bui al all eveutw the library is holdlnj
0Wnvf0Ttb< •■■ <■■■■ i--ur IV I .■ n- u;|.- Uh,7ll.'t '<i! ii'unr iiMfHriR,
and IO6\410 f"i pefBronce. TJie work lias grown .>ii'-i.Hl> micd
j : ii m ii iIm- Dpi ,.,-. in :>*rii7 the liooka uwucd ii: thi two
i !•■ mrtmcmtM were -;.''i ;. and from tha tliej utve grown to i
aqu.r Ulioni oli ansa a year. Thi» i» Itto real argumenl
d I <\ >ui "i Public Libranea The nv: >>\' i\ <
,/'ri ■ ••/. /: i J BO ■ii!iK|)i'ou:u ^u^u\n\ i\ \ \\U>. -w\,
,
I*(.~BUC LIBRAMBS IS THE NIDLASH rut STIKO.
117
no looming ; but for *olid frrowth they j.m> I"' wry i-nlie.illy
examined. 'Hie report ol the librarian, .Mr. \\ "illi&in May, is
altogether a wry hopeful one, and porhrij" '<• (ho committee the
• aheeri&g fcta Is that they nave been enabled to pay off
another £800 Of thi debt on the hmldmjr, and yet they lmvo
a balance of nearly £300 in favour ol the 1 1 i lmltteo. It a to be
hoped that they will set- they got it. for the^e balances to the
ol the working of PflMtc Libraries were never intended to
go hack into general borough fluids. Mr. May Ifl *i UbrsrU D
with ideas. His renewal .sliii, vhicli is given among the apjiir.-
seeras t-» hare set the ball rolling in this direction on this
•le QlC AUantli Tin1 ii:un!-;iMh nf new additions to the shelves
cap : ^ii For three-halfpettce there is one of twenty-four pages,
i |g :i little naodel ol its land, Birkenhead is a frreat
eering district, and - ic pages in this hand-list are devoted
t> the wunCHOO engineering and mechanical arts. This ha* led
to an increased demand for boofcs on these MihjerLs. The
Birkenhead committee and then librarian believe bi the virtue ol
printer** ink. Thus haveieauod a four-page circular ol informs
n.-ii . oni ei aine lh® librarv. With one or nro trifling alterations
kr * u« a-. ;i1ni ^ivni aiming the ivppendioeSj and other libraries will
iio well t" ndopl e atratfii plan. the idea fa Mr. Magfe
B&tMXfVQSAH
To ahv one unactraaintcd with the L^bhoLibrarieaoftheoonntrr,
a vifiit t-» the Bnrmuigbarn ftiblio Libraries Es s libera] education (
■ . thou- l:i-h!li:ir :t visit t«.i tin >e m>tilid] >iis m tin- rapftaJ OX
i w aidumote ie a source of inspiration. The Ihrming-hain Publie
Libraries and the name «f Mr J. i>. Mullinsare inseparable, :m<l
it is only B matter of sample justice that the man who has dono
a* much for this movement as any other individual niun,
idd have that work fully and universally reengnized. Mr.
Mniim- i* one of the most modest ■ >! men, and ha* a drend
Against the chtal talrin notes; but his professional brethren are
hsposed to let him off so easily. It Is not a settled Question
it to whether the large Bonstituwicy which he serves, o otn-
hose servant he is, or his brother librarians esteem him
the highest, i ertafn it is that, during some thirty yens, few
fare* have been more f;iniiii;ir to literarj Birmingham, and to
rhrwe who take an Interest En Publlo Library work, than that of
rhlef librarian to the Birmingham Corporation. He embodies
within himself the very essence ol tpriet force aialuarnot artb iiy
1 1 v at wurk, with spectacles on nose and skull -i:itp on head,
he Is the centre and controller or a vast orjRiiiixatioii. the oon>
[ileiit;. and details of which are known unly i<> i hose behind the
Vlr. Muffins is not s Bh-mmghom man hj birth, this
I.- taken place in London. Ilia first beginning in
lilcsry work ww - . when he wan chosen librarian from one
led and twenty-aix candidates for the old Birmingham
ry -i subscription institution whicl has a very mleTcft'lVns,
hiircrV. but Into which tins ,.. not the place to euwr. ttere\w
14*
PCBUC UBBAtIB?.
remained »ereu yw*, ami in inuft lw no* clioem chief libra
()f !li»- iy l.l i.- I I i 11 ir . Ii. In - new IitV Mr. M i. Miuljr
i i :i ii 1:1 the i'uht place. Ilia knowledge of I
experience In oai meat,
were of jrreat value. Il<- bad little to learn, and hod on!
.-an- v out in* rien on d i ■■ ir scale. His greatest merit l" blM
..i.i cnloroaoopiti power. Xo detail it too cotnpl
too minute to be dealt with in eome practical way. Be-
lie U remarkable for life rx.1 rem* sadunil inn oonrtoey and pi!
coolness.
The ninvly business management of eo lar^c a library und
rou;. branches IB most extensive, us nil fibl
; the hours of dut\ >i the parioue officers are put in a tabular
term, and their attendance* are similarly recorded, rhe
men', of salaries, vanes, and account* are all roe
Llent order, duly checked and certified in business
years in a large subscription library, and his
two years io Public Libraries, haw afforded ham i larger «i
enoe than Ealta U) the Lot ot ra •-: men in hi* own profeecaoo.
KUUttlti book, now out of print, and published some ycaroaflo>
entitled H»es Libraries and newsrooms," has been ft capital
pioncv»r Farther than tills, Mr Mulllns has, by li
and ;i.|vieo t.a niiii'i' towns when 'in i ilng their HbrartasL often
hr.ii i»r moot valuable service. For a long time he h:i^ i*<ii
i -ii'iiily shattered In health, and while still maintaining hU »M
ehi-orfnlneas and vigour. It Im> been [intent that advaneing years
have meant the low of some of his old ehislielty and buoys
But there- are still Ml fur hint, il i* erea.iy tu he hoped, many
years of work tor Birmingham sod the library movement He
is B bom librarian, and his whole heart and soul have BV0T
in Iub work. In the growing popularity and extending useful'
new of the Institutions under his care lie has always taken
the most lively interest The wish may be expressed thai . In
course of a few yean, when that restored health tor whiuh all bin
friend* hupc for Mm iunv come, he will have time and OppOT-
tunj ■ *, tot writing b book on library administration. Few bus
better qualified to undertake such a work. Mr. ITuHm-
vf whom llii min^li.ini i* pnnid, ami his professional brethren
have an equal pride in him. Acting as the mouthpiece of the
Kafrtsj ii>i the rone beino\it may be said that they wovld grre
Mm three times three and musical honours, and t - ease
it would be a very genuine display of the unirereul e
which ho fa held Among them*
Tli'* ai r-cxtondlnfi work at Uimiingham is tin bcel of aU
Col the utility of the libraries. This could i ■•(
n bettor evidence than >■ ulT"rde«l I y the decision of the
Town Council in August, 1689, with a unanimity worthy oi thcrn,
to i ■"! iIiivmii'M' branches, On nnly question woe as to -w
the hranehen should be placed, foi nil the out]
are claiming to novo them established m their midst,
who has visited either of the * I U'mingham til
ii iii.;i UlUIAUlKfe iv |8K >III>I..*M> COU STIRS.
149
: Oonetltution BilLGoeta Green, or Deritend, who lma
■JGfln the crowds of quiet and orderly renders in the rooma, and
::.- .i Ixtrrowera at the counters, could nol come amur
without feeling thai thcao taatitutloni arc douuru valuable and
trnportai I - ■ I work. The use of such libraries and ruocftnff-
;-. i .in . ... p. ti.i. largely upofl the l.i'-ility of access. The w<-rkm;m
;illcr hi- «l;iv'- l< i riuiiMT travel (wo or three inih'.s to a lv.wUnflf-
room, nor tend hte child the ionic distance to fetch a tool l" be
it ii a. All ratepayers bare i< contribute to il«' ooel
ofttica i'l^'il .ri«»ns. and ull nhoiihl na far OB pOBBlble have emud
opportaoitioa ol enjoying their adrantugea. li ia nropoaeq to
epend between C15/)00 and £10,000, and the branencfl will be
doted withoul delay. One of thceo will be ereetod a1 the
oornor >t Spring; Hill und Eokniold street, from the deatesns oi
•a, m iii-mii and Uharnberlam The prindp ii Feature wfl] he a
I«ilt\ :i.u<l 'VL'11-liL'l.t-.'il hnll, servLUg; Ih>(1i l'nr :h'\vhmoiii ;ind landing
library. The tome department will be aeoomrnodated in ;> ffaUerj
on tha Brat-floor level, and approached by a atouweaa either from
the reacBng^rooiD ot the veettbule. There will alao bo a librarian's
room and a lavatory, Ttie entrance will i>e at the oorner of the two
ncpaata, and the bulldinga will have exterior elevations designed
I In inooorn Gothic, nnd constructed ol red bt'tckwith torra-ootta
nga A small circular ventilation turret alao forma pari ol
the iIl'-.'mi. The plniisi for tho Unjrard Street library alao Bhowa
am rhmuon i brick nnd terra-cotta, daafgncH In tine Renais-
sance style, it if. treated very roeeaaafnJIy, axtd baa a good deal
of i-nrietiiiient of an etl'eefhv character. The moat sinking
feature la m semi-detached tower :it the angle, which is to ba
fitted with ;i clock; and bhe mala room wffl be Halted by b
. Endows Tin.- architect* have dealt eery skilfully
v.tl. .t [ueee ol Uitd of Somewhat diftleull lorni, innl (he building
improve the appearance oJ the locality.
As bo many misconceptions have, from time to lime, orlaeo and
been placed before the public it will bona well to state what lathe
hut with regard bo Llio rate. Ia one town where the
movement was in progn i. Yemeni went i'mili that the
I rate waa threepence in the pound. 1'iitii rerj recently
from Bh« prawn I date, the rale haa been but one penny, but by
of the ratepayer* power was obtained by meani of a
. |/rovcment Act to rajae it if accessary. Tbii wae
!r ted by the demand for new hraueheB. The limit of
. of the Ewart pennj will not provide for an unlimited
numbered brancboe, = > ^« * l it [a to meet the needs of these new
broncho i tJon of another i>< nny hi - bi ba found occca-
In ikrmintrharn. There is no town where the Horary rate*
i more shoenully poid than in thin large midland centre of
li. « uiui. here ia a remarkable record of rapid growth
and • - I" 1861 the library epraug into life with B
• ee lection of rather more than fljfioo booka. in four
yaara the number of books had eonBldcral>l> move tl\w\ cm\\\V\<-A,
and they were H-rrov '>d by over MiO.OOO moVv*. V^k"
fT**.
1
Ml >mcr was made. f«r the refrxrnt-e hl*rarv wa* _
W » cn»»rth<n4 |fl,IKtwlM»J thcrotuxm^ la :!.. l.-r»drar
library were aaereaaed fratn m*drr thirteen to irre? t * nity-iT*
thosrawl Year by rear the tree which had been, in it.-v t-ct*io, a
eoanparath.- cram «4 aaaataid iLtd, waxed ..
Uat end of 1*T7 the rrfrrracr library contained 4 ; » mkI
the lea-hxg library «|ffiflR. a total of86/»7 Tomn* h do
leas than «W,0» reader* made uae, f. *■ recreation ■-: inM
TVs: eaano the cttaastrosB fire, in wbuh Uir reoan
rear 1*7K vara Uat <»■ that January morning ia
Birmingham ariad to be atandiag in o kind ol
while it* goodly r*)amo* were 1«W to .uric*.
great a* wa* the dimeter, it acrrcd a lavful
energy and prnroptitaoV with wh;.
to ratriava it* lea* are a memory which mar be lauuk- ■ i
prvfe to auceoodlag reneration*. sad, at * . . . Itotfri
from the sacred aOic* ha*, •tarll ■ i
■ueccfMor. \ ear t>y year trw 111 ran
r the aoowMstlori of valuable and tutoreatloef
fcatnry appr^-cued by an i
oa the reference hhrarv eontaaih Uj
the !rt»dmg llhrary 5i»,K*»— a total ol* IK
number of the irtcek ahen the Are mrageil th
The average lumber of rfelc* eaeh
Kbrarie* uw ft uttng-roi am may h
than llf.OCm — a very revpectaU
rn fart thai thousands of in. the rear
:ir thnmgh reading the mtvoi IwimMiu i
i iiinlM>ni of papers lo be (ootid in (he newsroom h;<i
ntoc otefatfc any morning It is moat DM
men *r»i Hfruficlit — rn lews bill lo Hie jiliertl
p ■ Mil. -II,
Tin- rofervnee department ia « tery
Birmingham work, the catalogue ■ •! which will
I'fiiiuileteit, ;i vui of top-stone to Mr. Mullins'a reputation. Th
■ ia has many details of special interest, uml affords furth
BJJUnpK' "i Hi" >i nniliin> of tlir plan in) whicli it is compiled,
i,i tin- ! im! i i ■ -. .1 «il usefulness of tin? work n> .i " finding index
In tin- in hundred thousand volumes which the Ultra
son i "ii.ii.r-, and whicli are couatantly uteres, i th
munlfiocat donation fund, viuVli h
the purchase of high-cls^s bonks, Id.- form - f tin- catalogue ia
practically alphabetical w ;i list of author*' name*. But out)
iniportanl beading* the principal l>ouk.< an
licit ii duriflea catalogue for I general x
Tin- - ipcrlosoo of yean hi shown tint not onjj rot the refen
ni the Htudcnt. iiut for fch« prompt delivery to i 'wok
or ijojiijtlili-i, ti'< ' - pniwd ' • I »« - i i . mark J
m|ilo< f Hi" del iil of the work :t may be mentione ! il ..
I- rcii ' ii.hI'-i.im Mi-irll.i'iv,'" in ten nunrio vuIuiucb, ia fal
1 "ii cloven pofcai tne oou i nU of oaeh voltuni b i
r ia
pr i IS TUB MIPLAXT' 00 n 161
tibedi thus enabling roadere uid students to look up
IiiaiiV l-:ir<\ ,:;■!, !-.:■■ .i BOglOCt&d pQSBphlll , whOSC M StGftOQ U
little known, bv wbow content* ■ n historically valuable, and
ofton hiphiv interesting. Ei m unall a subjeol of 'Hate" Id
reproeontcdbj mm pamphlets i while "Heraldry" has more than
two and ooetljworkft, Under" History," the pri iolpftl
hirmi vim \m FiKFJcnxKOR t ma un.
mi general history ire classified, each country hoinff
■ nwn pi'i.i] . • idiujr, to which
i • wnolri naturally ln%l
i linu'3 al Uii nitiigham i& noted tar and wide.
-■ k---l with ■■ b in English, aart VQ -.A\
. ivIui«7j thfphtya have I D :i; 0&\&t&&, TtoS tafttt
l.VJ
PTT5IJC LtB2AAlK9.
Dumber of Kngllari e liti inBOT selections ie l'.okj, and of separate
.■■■us 811 j Bhe*1 Ina." naakflup SjDOfi rolumee. i )-t .-
urc r iniplrtr edtl inn ; in I'olish, Russian, Hungarian, and Spanish :
. Portuguese, Finnish, Qroatfan. Frisian . Roumanian,
ii • -i.. i enuah i kraJne, ;nui WaUachtan i t" i' are omXy sop
1 1; i tarraan editions and selections there are no f.-vwr than
B31 volumes, and the other fihaJccxpeariun literature in «.
numbers feD rahtmes. France has uuly one-fourth nf the number
ni editions sad iB|amtopublip»tionfi Tin test news with n
t<> tiiis sivti.n i was the offer last year of the collection ol Sh
MH-arlrtii raril lea b> the exec u lots el (lie laic Hidliw ell-Phillfpp* foi
£7,000, Opinion « tat vary much divided on tlit wJadom or Other-
wise i t ill |.r'<i'"- ■■.••I step. The "Daily Pust" dimmed up .n .
iwwerfullj : ' ■ ■ tenants agsSnsI the purchase in bhe fulluwimr
sentence; 'W« enapbsticaJJyconteud boat the matter [a a u ki
■ i i'l not ■> -n'.v mean* of a local character. The ratepayers
m( tin would haw do adequate return for tluii outlay.
Thr-v -would pimply be Pftyuuz for a treasure in which a fen
scholars anc1 students woulcTdolight, Hie 3h ikoapoarlaai collection
In "in Pwl 111 limii'v at present lies useless. The early <-• lit inn*
.i ad i thcr highly-rained treasures ulike unasked for and nopta
The artisans of Birmingham have no time to pore orer old fcrpc
and manuscripts thoy eannol understand. Thoj derive tittle
pleasure fron i icroVj Razing at book-bocks i pon which a fancj
price lire* boon net by bibliographers." Aldcrimm Johnson, the
ih i 11111:1 oJ the Library Comrartteo, ind who ia one of the
friends which Public Library work ever had, ohampioncd the
osuee <>» the other Hide
Tha catalogue, of the Shakespeare Library will ever be
opiu 1 Sir. M illins. It not only catalogued what ha
hud on the ahelvee, but what he wanted to possess — 111 foot, m*u«
■1 (;ii ilogueol all Chan known ;o exist it gave the titles
n.' works tlaeainad under English and foreign, and under
the handbag of each play the title and date and siae of 1
editions, thus forming a literary as well is a library
ol Shakespeare Rim catalogue was a labour of \<
as a Ubrannn lu no way required ao elaborate and learned u
work, it waa the outcome ol ins own knowledge that no
work had been done, and of hi* own i«Tiortr> : n«i I'dusti-;.
It should be done.
The iv;"rivnrr lilir.iry n\:(.s lii'^L iiju-iinl 1, ! -miiii]:i.\ in
order to -how the work being done on this day by thin depart
the tnbln which follows Is very Instructive. ' Altogether the use
nnule of the librarv on the Sunday is moat encouraging. Bet ween
Are and si\ honored orderly readers visit the reference library
mi (ha d:iv oi' the week which, as much as any due, should i*e
devou d I 1 Intellectual pursuiK rhcir demand i>. in the ma
ol cases, for hooka ol an instructive ctinruotcr, and wh<
»:t_\ thai m the quiel reading of .1 N»ok within ton four nraJh
ol 1 Public Libran on thai dayiss violate t Ihc banctih ui
•t :: ' I.MH-4U1K* IN rHK MnH.ANI
m
VOM'MKS IflSUBD 08 Si \iiAY8 IU'RING 1**3-
Junuitv
F*>hr iiaVv
Marsh '
A |'»i I
Mag
July
3cj»U'iiil'fi
IJacviriber
> ■
42
a".
r,
n
88
23
'■ 30
v'.u
7 HI
■
in
20 9
IM
20tt
:i-
MS
190
4S1
Totals ...03.394 5.H21 21!)
It? a
501
aso
437
3d
18fi
180
275
197
338
BBS
132
1SS
135
134
74
B7
43
5a
in
70
203 131
296 130
3,677,1,207
142
81
100
262
133
01
L6S
131
164
SO
231
187
1,8)0
1,839
1,411
1,640
1,502
825
734
l,0ift
5flN
1,180
l.MU
1,272
1,268
I4,f>12
140
111
113
133
SS
68
61
41
8(1
w
77
I2y
1,284
3,678 73E>
2,824""
3,004
1,660
1,428
2,110
1.310
a,«7a
2.S80
2, Ml
2 ESS
29,024
700
20
001
IK'
3G7
42*
329
474
571
63G
506
548
The number ol -rises of misconduct ou the part at assistants
is rery small, a year or two ago the authorities of the Birming-
ham central libraries discovered that aboat three hundred boo&
io, been stolen fipora the reference department. 'Hie thefts
vm'it carried on in a systematic maimer rjp twelve nnimiis, imr.
rhi'v urn- iitii discovered until a junior assistant disappeared.
VnM iil tin* hooks missing were duplicates of expensive editions
of Slr.ik>*H|iH;ii'e( and ralnttble tomes Oil history an<1 travel. The
duplicates were not stamped, as were those fliNt in the library,
sum there ww ooUiing to render ttoem unsaleable. Ore* two
hundred id tin- bonk"* were discovered at second-hand b<>.>k-
ops in the town. The assistant was in leceipt of sixteen
sJuIliL^t. u week as wages. lie produced.it appears, when selling
books, a letter purporting to be written by his mother, who
she wim selling her husband'* stuck Tho stamping of
hook and regular and (systematic stock-takings should be
the rule at every library.
It is frnpossfble not to feel that Iiirmiugham is certainly a model
i [In matter <>f Ux>k*. The annual report of it* Libraries
aet proves this in every way Bfr. John Morlcy. in his
on the atttdy of lOn^linli Htcrafcnrc, said thai u,- &Rtjt*0b
*-nt ..I -i ., ! ui KiigHfih libraries is td'oul "V> yw «v\\«o\ >X>«
I
i:a
PI BUI MI;r.i.*irK
whole Rot at IMrmli i • porcrml ige vela la abort hall
.Mr. Morley'* eathnate. I :i! fv real and ra Com I
which one naturally irrlvi . mil I llw h'mmwI ra <• \ ■ ■
in:iim;iini'ti nii; i he proper is will bo Ed another haJ
« ii . oan predfd r
Boron urn Cm ■ >■ atiw d
'lln-.M- ore tho onl) two placca In Dcrbyahirc, In addition to
Derbj . whii h have » far enfranchised thi The beaut Ifu]
watering-place of Buxton haa done ;redlt bo iteelf in ita library
raorement. n ■ w 10V * J i-«t 1 1 ■
oloa and bracing u could poasiulybe dceired tfo
mental air boa bocomonnprcffnotoa witho people's collection <>i
l.lrnitiirc. and the 1 ckor* and pleusui ra who go
EromaJ parted tho country willhavo b chccrfi I -.room
bo which thej con resort The pil in which the
Public Lfbrnrj Ic housed ia wall situated, una fo m -, In
a landmark for tho whole dwtrict. In plai i inn accommodation
for tho niuiiii'ijtui offices iiiv loaders 61 tin tbrary movement
■ i that they .-..uiil not do bettor than adopt the AoJ
providoflooomn ooftti © in tho Town Hall. Ami tin- ].-■<..(>.< showed
their aeose by not requiring much persuasion. For an out!
some t'l 1,000 the people nave n handsome Town Hull. [fee
reading rooB d tin library ic I i feet by -' feet, and Uwre it
a Hfiuiili'i- pocini. At tin- cm.: -.>r (it* u i- iho i<
library. The building waa opened in Juno. Y$8U by the tfarqui o
ogton. Well might he say, in declaring the ib
thai an admirable policy hod been pursued in Buxton in rrulbng
pTOViwca for the wantu of all ola - - : ie prosperity ol
(own depended very much on the support ol the rich and a ill to
• ic, inn that had nor led the uithortties a neglect tho othei
classes, who naecsiarfly increased in numbera irt E the increasing
osperity «-i the place. He was very glad Indeed they bad
heir way r<> (he adoption of those wr\ uaatal Acta the Public
tries' \i-i.s. ;i id i: waa a happy idea when the town nooried
additional publi< hall logs, to include a place for the llbmrv lis
hoped] would Iks n source of improvement mid recreation for
the people of all classes, File lending library began with over
2,000 m.i arnes, and was opened In NovemlKir last. The wori ol
leading went on briskly, and lias gone on increngiug since. '■■
kttractlan con a watering-place provide for its rialtorn tlum
a reading-room well supplied with papers mid periodicals ? Tin-
Vabariug-placc* arc rapidly ret'o^r'/iny il i- Carl, mid wo are
: rueasun ble distance of Uie time when no bland oi
board watering-place will be considered complete withou
rate-supported reference library, reading-rooms for tin visitors,
and ilie lending library for tin n -id'1 i i, I uoh places
!;;i\< within a ;ompArotrrelj ahoii time of eacl otlici doptcd the
Ar1.. Dustoi i:.- caaon to be proud oi having done no. 81
aeinl '■; -t ill. i,. . ni r..':ir,i ..ppf-ar t i Gave been a '
iiiuil.lyniftled about the I'litaloifao. ('ntal^yoeodo not
grow
■ • i Tfl»Amv* i% riu vrrKS
m&liM*tnn\jr m<\ mature like fungi. Somo Hbn i thej
■ li.! \n.»:ber proof is nffonl^l at Buxton of whnt has boi
Kn ■ ■ '. theec Ibi *r. - gel tni oper
they orK'niiraye gifts, Than i* &1 once :' t^esponalble bodbi t" take
charge -. Buxton has aaver hitherto had :■ public local
museum. Antiquaries and arcIiaMo^riM^ haw pflnged m:m%
interesting relint, and added their Anils t..» dbtant DoBecttoaa
ficologiafc* have punned Iheli iutcrextui;; researches, but with*
out giving any 1 *'--!■ interest to sermon* Ej si oes H has often
arked tl s;it the natural science* have row devote
Buxton, niui the (net is eoaroelp ont for wonderment whan we
i irian collection open foi the
i and old. and wtwrebg ecthunaani iu ihe
pursuit oi science mfghl be ruuhed iu receptive minds Gross
ish hankering Em utility alone, hovi
destroyed many interesting relics, and there b, therefore, the
>^r<n' wfaj juefc as inftj yet be cacued should be
ill :; |>kfv .1 RnfCtJ far publir :iiMpci'tit>:» Willim
■ iir. It in |»i-i'IiV.h|iiio Ii;i.- rot -en, ,. .
ijrcut impetus, and tin town evident!) pose* ica one nntiqu
in tin: person of Mr. William llfllett, who has intelligently and
thoroughly oxamined the old DeopDalo Cnvo.ou(] now offers to
ihstOWB the ValuoUo 'Cnultd uf lln<r urns' Inbiair, :iii.i flu-:.
are to !><■ pla rod in cone* in the ncwBroora. The librarian receive?]
I' 10 .i ;• RV B I -Hilary.
Chi Arnold la rathci reeling the ptneh of having to mulct
bricks without -dims- Ont pi n rate wbaoh >niv brings in £100
:iro making the von beat use which can poesfbh be
oi this sum. Toe iibrorlnu has to he content with &$&, which
i . Looked upon as a princely income, but lie to devoted to
rhe shoe pinches in the repayment cd :« loan, th<
ii sinking fond of which « unu to £64, The expenditure
for newspupcrtf an*l periodicals renohofl £30, and rho bookshelves
»e content with their present furnishinga. Now, Je
;i Brampton ind colliery proprietors "t \\ In
ton l *th all this useful little Inattention starve In your raids* ? The
tntnl bontc of vohimea during the past year was .V2,7ffi for tin-
6 for the subscription library, and 75<) for the
roferenoe library The rinwrified summary oi rho year's
from the lending Library la Interesting, aa showing the kind of
ii] food cliuAeii by tins Ihktuwcis. l*Vlion lumil* tin- Mm
21^815 roluraea having burn lamed. Of works of a theolQgtaal
8 hflosupfliica], and educational uliaraoter 304 vulumeH were lent,
nl/ fourteen voluinea in law, politics, oomnjeroe, &Cj were
aaaueil Vi ratelsj hletoryi &r., proved Boxnewhal more
. .«* ^012 books lu those departracotn were borrewodi
iencc, llteruturc, 558 volumes were l»ued, natural hiflt< I \
-"fcJ6,i ■ •" ' ' 371 -. juvenile 768sand rniaoellaaeouB(l|S81.
tbow for au institution whiob duea uol claim
. irrong. Wwj haTi recently btrodueed the ayatoni <>f
allowing onteidoro i itow hy paying a maD suXac^ i
].W
I'l'ULir unit AJUtS.
These bOTrowm must, of course, be guaranteed bj .1 rntepi
Prior to adopting tills plan in December last, ihej hod dvci
applicant! for booka from outside the borough limits. The
income from these nilncriptfonfl will be a useful contribution
towards the In sreel on the building. 11 c legality •'" alii
outsiders to borrow >u j*i nt >! .1 Mibsoription wh? :m.-m 1
In Chcsterfiold, M it has been elsewhere. As stated in another
chapter tli- rendering of Lho Acta is :u-nn..i this inno-
vation, but each Individual place musl ronU,i stottlo the question for
It .< If Uy the adoption of the plan it is no loss to themfc pa
bmt in the contrary, a benefit, and it cdionld be permitted bg thi
I AMblEIUGK.
In jjieseuting' thi'ir tliii'iv-ftmrth annual report to the Council
or the borough, the committee ol the Cambridge Public Ubrarj
aav tliev have lathrfaction m recording the continued moo.
the institution. Thej bJjh it making the library as cfttelcnl as
po8KiM«'. 10 as to meet the educational want of all olaeaea ol
oon nranity, In furtherance 01 this object, tho librarian, Mr
John l*inlc, addressed it rtroiiRir to nil head masterannd nitsi i
of pnbllc and private school* In the borongh, calling their atien-
ti..n to the man* valuable works »f reference in tlie library, ad
lorlcttfno, :niv suggestions, or lists of hooka, that wnald he oi i
vice to themselves or senior scholars In their achools. Is .<
result, a number of educational works have been purchased bj
the committee. Two further courses of lecture* and cuwkcs wwru
f'ivon in connection with the Cambridge ITnlveralta Extension
(Oetares, and the library committee provided duplicate copies
of all tho t^tt-booka required These proved of much service i"
iho siiulents, js was grocefullv acknowledged by the wcretarj
TIk additions made to the libraries during the year comprised
l,£'fl volumes; of these 1,001 were added to the central Ulnar;.
and 904 volumes to the Barnwell branch. The 1 brariesuuK com-
prise 35,966 rolumee, The issue ol booka won again In exeat* ol
that an any previous year, being 104,908 iig.-iins! I' >: .'
The reading-room continues to afctrw t a large number of rem
A* mcntioni'd un another pape there isan open reference lib
at Cambridge, Visitors to the library ore much struck wtl
largo number of books in tli<* irnding-rootn, which a« :.
; iblc to all persons entering it. Constant demanda for
reference books as dictionaries and encyclopaedias, led firel I
and then to others being shelved it the reading-room, no thai the
readers could help themsclvca, and so satisfactory did thlsrao
prove that other works wore added from time to time. Tho 0OXD-
moncement war made in the yeor 1858, when n copy ol '<V. ' t • •
"Dictionary "was placed in thr roadintf-rmm, ami nt tho end
the number of volumo had increased to 822. Sow
number 1853, and thoy are largely and carefully used Pour
volnruex were itolen during the past year. bu1 they were i
rain,', in 1991 trMjj estajbnabed b ne* role to the affect thai the
PI BU<* I.IHIUUIK* 19 TUK MII'I^Mi C01 MIH<
Ifi?
srifc "i i.l:il«l dI any burgon who rcelden witti him beyond the
Iirccinets ol the borough nhiU be etititlod to bono* From the
ihr.'i . . .- •! in BUohcttS SUCA bUTgWA (SgllS the following di-.-I.r.: ■
I : <-■! hi : !■ h: ion to the > turner ; —
i declare thfir my resides with rae at
Bnrgaftrt name In full occupation
Rued the day of Ifl fly order of
the Library Cuuuull i» i .
' AIU.TON AND UlttKZUM. TonKAHD.
Ibeee two Nottinghamshire districts, both under the control of
LooeJ Boards, are snuking down to their work. Carlton, with its
h,(vk) inlmhitonts and n rate producing only about IC50, was rather
proud of having done, in the adoption oC the Aote, what Hull had
•d to do. The l.ooo volumes with which they began were
classified and catalogued by Mr. J Potter Briscoe, of the Notting-
ham Libraries, aa were also the nooks ui lluckniill Tork.ird .Mr
Briscoe has 1:1 (hi* way. like Home other lihrm-iunx, been an active
missionary lor the movement. The opening ceremony took place
IB October L88R Thfi building which was handed over ou the
adoption of tin* \<-tswn« formerly used ns tha Local Board offices
■nana a temperance twll The >nij itruaturaJ alteration aeoec-
wefi the throwing of two rooms Into one, and the work was
carried out, together with the furnishing of the room and the
purchasing of some hooks, at a cost of £40. Alderman (j ripper,
of Nottingham, jierformed the ojiening ceremony, lie observed
that rhev were taking ;ui inrporuint step In the history of the
viluHrc, which he hoped would have good results in the future
Theysoughi to place before the people books of an entertaining,
ting, .mi, instructive character. That library was part of the
gnat educational wave that was sweeping over (lie country. lie
believed thai education was opening the minds of the people. The
rj was in their Tillage an illustration of the way iu which
one step led io aooUiei He looked upon it as i aeceaaary uouse-
iiuciice of the good schools they had in the village. What ffafl
i^eof teaching children to read unless they provided Hunt
villi the means of turning their knowledge to account P If they
wished their children bo retain their knowledge, it was absolutely
that they should find some way of gratifying thou
tft«te for reading- He hoped they would supply, U I
pomihlc, books of a healthy description, which were likely to
Improve bhc foractcr, lie had no objection whatever to fiction,
led i wa* of a healthy kind, but many novchj now published
aticmld not be road.
Huoknoll Torkurd, where the tomb of Byron is, there in a
capital in w building, presented to the town by Messrs. J. E. Kllis,
ALP., and II. B. Paget) two of the proprietors of th': Kuoknau
]')>■■ hi.ilding is well situated, and is built in the
Renaissance style of architecture, from the designs of Mx. K.^5.
Bromley, ul Nottingham, UoonmBte of a library naving^toNvsvot*
1.7*
PCB14C IJBIUatftS.
lor I.'.""' SkIiiiiic-.. n ii| cii| \ U i- .m , ,» 1 u' ■ - -
room, u reference i kin#-i mm, _« : i « 1 .;
The Ubrarj ti placed in the cent] -I the buJldln
thai Uu Ubnuian Iim Nii|iorW«c|u!i over ' wry rotun. Die ■
r I ■ (0 !»vt bj 52 :■'.(, anil tli< :
feet. Thcoponingccremony ofthc !. ri»i(OL- library wan ■
■■■''. i y<: i ■ ;■!(■"• ilc < « 1 1 1 o r jmrtrt < 1 the library had heen < ■>< nco\
Mr. -i. c. EUIa, M.i>., nan =• 1 1 Ihrotyrh Ifarovrn a pood deal
.Hid [fttarofti nit.) iin work of the library, lie might well my nt
"i i the oponlng mcoHrura that thaj hud aaweanlried . >
» i ■< i all mrui and eond now i I men, differing in rcl
political HKltf el'", :i:i.l llilHtiminiU'lil V,Ti' lint . V, nil in i| ;i! .il! !■
inn <>f Tin- community The rate will produce aboul tljft.
He p II) lllllllL.' tin* ^IX'lV- tl.r l.i-i-n .liTM'C'l ll'.ui .1
■ouroefl 1 he e immil '<■•■ ol the old mechanic*1 institute* h i
Dented fine library with 888 rotumea of their beei hooka. T
ro-oper.itlve >orici\ foi v.nv yrtn'i'tiii*, m tn] :i lni'/:uir lir*M \ c
months ago Kam aim aided In the nm IfrcoMon. i nrlto
rTuaknall are typical cave* where p Rovermiicnt granl ol <:■'><
I k :i year would prove of material help, and would in* mon
«rii and legitimately spent.
* 'OVTCNTIIY.
During the m'ilI y years' working here .■ total ol 81,163 lw i.
has heen acquired, which Poi 12,111 people is ctedltublo. The
1 1 N ir> 1 m: liiin-' was erected and pi evented by Udcrmnn ' hilaan.
This gentlemen w now having a new refer < ^
the original building*, and in addition I" thin uboul L:.'.inx> ..,.
been given, The estimated coat of the extension i* i'C.rxw, The
i w buttding occupies the racant land at the back of tin- librai •.,
and the style of architecture is in harmony with tru
structure It ia Intended tliut the present entrance ahall be
i erred tor 0"- twerp of (he readinfr-room only, which to i
i tcnte and purponoa will be separate from the Hbw
and a oovt antraneo, of noble pi'oportiona, Is provided for Ehi
library on tho north ride, in the centre of the block. The i
bole openainte t lar&o waiting-hall 30 feel by 98 reetiuad tin .
leads Into ■■■ new r-eferenee library 64 fool by 58 Foot Tht books
- | laced >< and tho room, and some <•:' them in palleriea ol he
rddofl, the galleries and roof being supp
Vraplo lighl li admitted by top li^hd* and thirteen windows.
it ta propoaed U tarnish the room •« ith tweh ■ ml I x and all the
Sttingswill l*'.' of the moat modern and approved doelina. Other
parU Of Ihfl additions include a conreniently situated lihr:-
n i in, :i book itoro, .^''. The present reference library will be
nbaoTbed in the lendlnff department, va well aa Hie Public
Librorv thero i-; managed rrj r.he same ataff a subscription library
(rpon thi lasi report It appoar* that this nook club azpoi
ooarrj EOO In iw»ks and magaxines during the year!
circnrntinn for I time among the rnemberN, the bookaare nil added
to the Pab "v i>y purcbfii* n i ne-e&tf^ rf the jutiliahec]
I
It l ■ i.iO I.IQRAILIB6 IN TUB Mr Or. AX p COCXriKS.
159
EC. The Iftsue in the lurt library year Wttfl B 1,401, which glVQi
books ["I head of the population On Buster Monday tin*
1 1 1 •!•:« i- \, '\:i"|n-i to tin pubilo, but this la oot put forward una
plan to copy, out rather &o oppoeito, Coventry nil] have reason
to be proud oi ifp lihrary buildings now that" this exton
* emplSted,
I' UlUfilUN A.M» Ol.IHU l!V
The Town flail, Pnbttn i library, and publlo offices o1 Darlaaton
foam ona block oi hutidtru'x. win.-h «.-v <>:>-• i<«ii in October,
The building* are \rarj handaoroe nod ion pact, and
Mand out prominently ta the town. The [town Ifnll is nn-
mbtedly ftie largest In the district, it being "n1 feet long,
i Side, ind SB feel fl Inches hlah to Che wall plate, bne
ii :i,r middle of Hie roof being 84 feet, ll was
i i.i-lii l < v some Unit n too iMWtly anil elaOOTate rtmotUTA hud
i recta I. but i bi wrtl Co prepare for future growth an wall
i present needs. The entire coat waa £6,000, of which nearly
i i i- > liinii.ai; v enbecrlbedi A little temporary difllcuUy
ha i*\|'i i !<■ li-rd. I'm this lui« liwn met by the generous act on
1 Mr. James Slater, the chairman <i the Local Board. He
ti muted ihal he was prepared to furnish and provide the
(n;ii i;ii-, ilir tl.'iil> .ni'i weekly :* »iN|,*t« the monthly periodicals,
areU aa other conl hutloiv. .>- !>»_■ a.** the present d<?M «;i«
Ining "a this pari 1 1 the pub] ( buildings. Tin- reading i
InrjQ readrng-deaRti, ■ .* y ».ii >1< -<i • S i .-^j - 1 . « >- 1 -■ i«,i •
. M -ported "ii single ttandarda with foot rails, At bn top
t bare [» a moulded rpao which la to tear the name of each i
Txiprr, and an ornamental can lag oi brcn d oak, with Itahl scroll
Ul hoT thoy arc pretty and substantial desks,
re made from pitcVpinc and brown oak.
• is held i December laat in the Town Hall, und this
*«i taken it], i . .;■:>! v by the ladies nl fchi town und
* fl.al the Incubus of the < ■ hi A tIJiOOcould
Ik* v. py j, combined effort, and at the elo i I to haai
, jOO waa in all received, so that the library hua ni
■ i m M career w It] every proer* 1 1 ol ■ Be* \
rii.' KetB vera adopted tn Uldoun in July, ins**. Tha move-
■ i, infoetio i-. and ■ In' i nl the .Veto or
m library in a near town at once causes the
t.mt-. nl" lowna not similarly favoured t-> lock around
win they should not havo one ol tlw v
itituttons oi their own. The question was deeSdod
■ting, nnd tin* requisition was signed liy 174
u< Kuhjeei -I n Itiblio Library had h i
ted in Oldbury several times previously, and the j>reat
to operation l ief i e I been
Paelin \ thai tlw» rateable value of the town wna so small that
lormt raJsoi i penny rate would not be Buffldenl
oorer the cxpeaaeB, Sovt thai dlf&eultj hufl been CNexustDA,
nap ■ ' 'A1'1-
]m;i
WWAG LIURABIRS.
township huii boomed very considerably, the obs In&an ot
the opening meeting said be felt satisfied that the penny rut*
would bring In na Inoomc aufficienl to meel the expenaee of
n library ani reading-room The (JUOetiOD wu* brought f<>v-
ward iimro particularly in connection with another
for QTOOtmg pubUc buildings and public oflcos for the town.
It was felt that the most economical way of putting the Act .
into operation would be to join it with the scheme for public
building*! as >' could be done at a ie«& ooat. Iba resolution vu
carried unanimously. Mr. A. M. Chance, n member o4 a In m m
Oldhury who are very large employer* of Inborn, n. moving ;i
Vote «i thankft to the chairman, remarked th.it ho eoul<
reooUeot $&$ meeting i" I Kdbnry where there was men abc
iii.ttmiiity a* there was upon that occasion. The things vluHi
caused Uldbury to be a bye word among their neighbours had now
SiuaeeH :iway. und thoee people who spoke disparngimrly >i < H-tbury
nrgof to rean to the fact ttiaJ they had no educational "ate In the
low II
1'hMlY.
it. Is alwaya i ptaasnre to turn Into the handnorae blocfe r»f
buildings forming the Derby Public Library and Museum There
in no public institution in Derby that can compare inonj waj with
the Public Library and Museum, which, ut the cost ul a fortune,
was presented to the town by its lulu representative, Mr. Mh h.i.-l
Thomas floss. H was essentially a gift to the working; ohutaea.
and i* a more genuine mechanics' (neUtute Hum the sota
I'ht.Tblislaneut *nich arises In immediate Juxtaposition thereto,
which jb ti mechanics1 institute replete with everything but the
mechanic* themselves. Hue has only to watch the stream of
working-men visitors to the lending, the reading, and therefor-
nice departments of the libnn y, autl l"> the nuiseuin, to ObeeTTC
the extent to which the majmificent generosity of the milHonai] e
brewer i* taken advantage of by bis whilom ■"iiMUucmv There
is one matter of regret about the reading-rooms, and that is, that
among *dl the costly fittings, the ornamental 1TOD screens, the
(uned glass, the oriel windows, and the polished granite, the
light is defective. Half the rooms are in a state of perpetual
Kloom, and, unless the reader have the nocturnal light of the owl
or the bat, it is almost impossible to decipher print, The name
fault should be avoided in the many now buildings HO* being
erected. At Derby it does, unfortunately, detract from thai
cheerful aspect which the rooms otherwise have. Thin onl^?
applies to the duytimo, for in the evening when the gas is
might there is brightness everywhere. ' toe of the most notable
features in the Derby work is the enormous number of boy
..ml who B Sqaontthe library. The place literally swarms with
_- pooplc, and on each visit which the present writer hnsmndo
to the library there has been among these perfect order and
silence, Mr William Crowther, the librarian end curator with
Mr, C, Courtney u ehlef assistant, are regular boys' men, and are
i't Mil M:i:tADlUa IS TUIl M;i-i TIF-6. 161
i.-nlv in i..n..h with theirvi»itow,Kivinu'ov<'i v :'n<-il.ry for rending
» the future men and women at Derby,
TIm: eighteenth rCpOTt departs, mm.' wisely, Imm t)io usually
fliATViityprd ran of nidi publications. It lends »tT nlni<>bt:ii hum to
.**.'iV that ■■ tfaoro IB nothing -[;- riling to chronicle respecting the last
year's history of the lit cmry and museum. The institution stands
as high 08 over in public estimation, and its efflalepoy in all its
1 ii.'v hag been tiuJy maintained. A larger sum «.i tnODeytban
i has been spent by the Iwok committee, no fever than I ,*i 17
nnving been purchased. Of these 798 are replace*
&W are entirely new. To the vigilant care and
of the hook I'MiiiMiiti'- ilu; general hitch
charterer ut the library." The lihr.-iriuu's report give* the stock,
whh-h Hands nt 14,&3<3 in the lending; section, and 6,625 in the
department. In the two sections the issues for thoyear
•rere 1 -i 7 .7 r -> This sbovs u alight decrease, but it is Accounted
l'm.IluiI elimination oi' the three-volume novels, ami, &fl
iud additional cause, the librarian is of opinion thut the boolw ire
Vej* longer tlion formerly a*d changes are lea* frwvwnfc, TY*v»,
162
IJUIIAIIIE'S.
hs ihiiik:-, point* to more thorough and [on desultory reading.
Dnrhiguut year there hare been 1,00 J non borron
than l.ooo books wore beepoken at the coil d one potmj par
I i , i post-eerd being sent to the borrower when th< book 1a (a.
Tin.* poet-aard simply Informs the borrower thai "the boo!
(giving title) it QOW in, and will be retained in you until t<>
morrow evening. 1 'lease produce this cord when you make
appheutiou for the book." This plan la In operation at other
libraries and i* well worth extending atul further, The
iiin-iiiLiri places on record in the report his sense of the high
servies which In rendered by the entire newspaper press of Derby,
and thankfully acknowledges Its hearty co-operntion in all that
tend! to the Welfare Of Hn' institution. Will other librarians
EVmsi* c.opy thin jiiiiM^rMpli - Newspaper men are liuimin enough
< iv for a worn of thanks tor the aid they vender in popularising
these book-homes of the people.
HaNT>8WOJ. i H
A> little reference has been uiude to the im,nir, of the LOCS]
GoternnienS official where a loan i* deeired, it will be oppor-
n. i. to here mention the case ol Bandewortl] Hub will serve
in show fehe method of procedure, and the opposition which
har» hi bboea to be mot, On February 25, i^jo, en inquiry
was held by Colonel Henry board, ft.E., on behalf of the LoCM
Government Hoard, into the application of tin Local Board foi
powers to borrow t2,000fortn< purpose ol extending the Publii
Library There was s large attendance of ratepayers, md b
strong party opposed the granting of the application. Th<
olerk to the "Local Hoard opened the case for the Library Com-
mittee, TT*" soid the Public Libraries' Art- wore adopted in I ■ ro,
and Troiu that date ap to the proeant the movement had been
most popular in the district. Evidence of the public Inter
taken in the Battel agisted m the met that upwards OJ £800
labsoTihed towards the Libran when it was lr I opened. The
lending library was opened in May, \SHO, with 6,1U0 hooka.
there were D.ias in this department, while they had :< refai
library of 1,888, making a total d 10,468 volumes. In I £82 thev
Lntroduoed n musical aepartmenJ into the library. Sandaworta
being the ftWt to adopt the plan Of a. I'ublii Library of music.
At the present time they have all the standard works in the
musical library, md they add b> them yearly. In the
year there were 41 ,672 issues of books made, xrhife lost year there
were rti,??A r.i:.! :is m;iny :>^ »»<m> issues have been made in one
day, Iti 188fi the committee organized a series of lei -t
during the winter months, all of which were well-attended,
and have been continued up bo tin- preaent. In 1886 the
dance averaged 800 per day, ;>t»*i the Insufflolencrv of the
iii-citintiiiHliitinn i-i tin n':nli iil'-i * N it) I VOUld he Understood WllCB ll
ia stated thai the room was only thirty-one feel by twenty Eeei
Since then the average attendance bad Increased considerably
Witli regard to the shelves fox the books, tliej had i • more room,
m ill l i.iUKAAlBS IK THE MNiUVI" COUtrttBQ.
m
,uid iii"i" were 3^900 boote unsoerved* Che newsTooni was also
too SltiaU t.*r the in.1 wnptporx, It would be submit lo<l that tho
large a&tiemhlyroom in the buildings should i.h? uaedaa a reading-
room, hi the original plans it was Included U B reading-room.
An objection to tbii was that it van npeti [fee, nd consequently
not on the same level as the present library Someol theoppo-
oentAol Che scheme ohjoeted to the extension upon thegi nds
of alevAtiOQ. The architect, from whoso plans the buildings
were erected said (hut the Hev.iiimi would not suffer, nnd i>
-; !hc Idim. it £2,000 were borrowed at sj per rent., both
fijpfl] and inteivsl. mnM In- ivpnid in fiTty yearn at the rate of
1 ftn. 2d per annum, it was proposed to make a new room
*. -four feet by thirty feet aaa general reading-room, and in
.n!i in i iin new plana also provided foi ;i ladiofr room, and a
i -i ii ii in which students could use book» out of the reference
library. The rector of nandswm-ih pre^rim-d a petition signed
h\ 85a mtepa yera (n opposition to the scheme, ri i * ■ prim t*
vr\i ra'iirlv OPpOSed to the whoinr.aiid t I 1 1 V ! .-| 'finl fr)£ OfSOlflTgU
;i sum for ilint purpose. They oonssderod thai the arge room
urs could l>e altered at a small coat, and used for the purposed
of a reading-room. Dr. Randallj tin- rector, who led tins oppo-
sition, said he considered Ihc proposed expenditure altogether
i ii 1 1 « - csaary. At the same time he believed that the member* ol
i i 1 1 . i Board were desirous of promoting the wolfon •! the
parish • He believed that thoy wore ill-advised in intending thin
KTcat outlay. This fityXW would faafo t* I ,ii "*( > bo repay it m Mt^
a, it was "K'l the extension of the library thai ho nnd those
who were with him .<jtiH.-4.xL Thcv protested against the Loon]
making the extension while they had pl<' i' y . .!>.». m at their
■il which oould be utilised for toe purpose at a cost oi about
Dae large i m •<:> used foi all sort* of purposes outside
'.iirac;, h: ttors, d I i be denied the right of the Local Board to use
purpose than as o library. The Local Board had
gouty - :' work to di by attending to the state of the road* uid «o
rtb. The Inspector But, Dr, Randali. you oould i ol spend the
Lte on the roads. Dr. Kandall : Hut 1 want to know
where the extru ea pendrture wi I >ome from. The chairman of
Highways Committee said the >xten&ion was i public
There were over 80,000 people in the parish] and the
>ec was rapidly Increasing. Permission to borrow the amount
wa* grnntr" I.
Hereford ani> Ijromxnstcr.
Herefordshire contributes two towns to the gross number of
mas. The Hertford Library is now iu ita eighteenth year.
i »tfce are given in the report, but in place of Liu usual
then . i" given some intereating particulars about the
museum and the lecture work in connection «ii;i the library.
Over £00 volumes were added last year to the lending library,
making the number 9,447. These, with 3,511 in the reference
o, bring the number to I2}Q58 lor a pov^UUoiv o\ Va^i*
151
— til .1 r- UHHiRir*
\e \<mi tho lumen writ- .::*. ni The Income fan \tv
i I 1 .1 i'i i ■ i- •. continued I i ■ time \ -a. ... ut U< ■
pub k incatxngt in the rmiaeui i liaa be« □ di ■ ■
tumbled Hi" committee bo proi de icme new -■.•■■ _ .« no
altogether I-rll-'i- ..p]ir;il;tH<T In llir lilll:-'inii OctlUU Phi
ii'. department hoi up to the dote of the Iwl ceporl been ujjen
unly mi t a ■■•■■ dnys in th ■ mvi k, but the growtn A the
* it necessary to open ;i on each weekday. Do
iigilation for thv adoption of the tctSlO llOUCOdtei 8 D30 ' BXtrn-
. nil i i; v -t:it-'.iH'iit WOl in, Mr 'V U 0 »li I J 01 '1 il '' • H\ EC
i Beoi ili.it "lie know that in n neigl bonrins • itv, Rcrefi i< I, wherea
gentlemjui of extremi i >i CG,00
iih -l" Hi retard :il.i<> Htiliwnliin>r a Urge umount, ii
oUninod whal might be termed n Public Library. Bat wnal
tho result! That, after taxing the eitueni one pomw in
pound, fchea mm nol in u position to carry on their Pi
i, bn i ) i '"' > i ■ ' ''"ii t -. ■ o al vi rian ■ • w th
wonders how anyoi uld make such a gev [01 Du
peed in ■-- ioa coming from tench p source, and I
lock of or^ranizuti'm, coal (Jlouoturter Mse? failure • ■!
tinn oi Bhe AoU The incident served to show thai
\iu'in.us tppnsitlon in-v from those who Rhoulri b<
pnolic opinion instead ol olng draggedtai the toll «>i the move
iin -lit. aethfi ex-mayor ol i H ster will sure 5 i.^ i1 ha iiv»«<i a
tow yean longer
Leon mater afford i useful example of n recent ndopl
considerable lUflletiHiea, Mr. Ilankln, Mi', offered «:i.'»»i 01
condition of the let* ■ ■. ■■■ i ipfcod ThU uhrfcated hew
. uid tiotwkliKtnndfng the beer trtule opposition l»d ■
brewer, the fiirreN or protrresH Mere ton i
nfjr puwi'i'H rwrywhiM'o a* well as In Leominster Mr j. it
[Xiwdhig rtkllfully organized f.hc provisional committee He
aided In this work b\ the ex-mayor, \l Irnn.-ni lifted (,•■. ,...
and probe Is due l<» tniBhody far the dogged nrrcriKtaTirj which
;.c<i Thevute waelnkcu uttheeudofSepteml er, i--v,
and proved Miccesnful in wearing a nine) Iriumpfiaul mujo
od a total of 1.2(H) voters 1.07H returned llu-ii p. |m::-, :i> .1 (In*
■hows the wid< tntereal which had been created. Then
only 198 ?otee against the adoption, A leafli 1 givii g the e 1
for 1 E*ubU< Library fei hhe b wn byw me leading Local men did
cxcolloitl crvii-f. A [jronisncni LceuMcman from Hereford n
that the Public Library in that tovn had bee 1 1 .: 1
The rate «ill produce about £S00, lA-omin&ter, in its adopt ii
the v ttt i;i bo plucky a way, will have ite « ffeci up< 1 tin .1:
iv.urii ; t< w 1 '■- .ulfi.-iriil 'un. I :„■ ' i>(;n .-uUceteil U
tiittco iu dooidimr upon u site. It Is vcrj
■ ■ thai iiir bifcternosH of the tpposition - dying iwai
there ie n ^o iopo I dot tre 1 ■ w< irk tog 1 1 - ■• : ■
oxporfoncpd nl h 1 a<
with rujyard to the" rating of an out-ptu-iah. which forme part
Leominitfr, but ttue ta IflMly ic be latisfaetorily setUod
Public libraries in the midland counties. 166
Hertford and Watford.
r^-^rtford occupies a rather singular position. The Acts were
S?T*ted in 1866, the town being
^^T>ted in 1866, "the town being about .the first small borough to
™^^ advantage of the then new legislation. But for twenty-nine
CSJ*"" the Act, although " adopted, as the Hertfordians pleasantry
^**X5ed it, was a dead letter. In 1884 the intrinsic value of the
♦2?" was triflin&' Dut in 188? some 9,000 volumes were got to-
R**a6Tf including some of the very best books in the language.
~* these 5,000 were contributed by a local institution that had
j*^:n forming a library since 1832, and during the three years
^"fc-^een the periods named above an altogether new life was
P^I^rienced, mainly owing to the enthusiasm of the librarian, Mr.
*^"*ie8t LawTence, who, it appears from the returns, is rewarded
^ifcli the princely stipend of £30 a year ! In the Jubilee year it
J3^ thought that the best way to celebrate the event would be to
oaild a library and school of art. This was done, and there is now
for use a new building, but which might have been better
designed. For a population of 8,000 there are now 11,000 books,
MKi so the point has been reached of having more than a book per
tw ?^ °^ ^e popu^fcion. Many of the committee, notwithstanding
this, naturally feel that their book-buying is a long way from being
^raplete. The gross return from the rate is £124. The ltt.
**on, a. J. Balfour, M.P., opened the new building, and made an
ex.g€Uent speech.
-_*or public utility the Watford Library has a capital record.
j«G institution was built by public subscription nearly twenty
Jf*** ag0- There are fewer books than at Hertford, but the turn-
ftjer is good, and fiction is kept down to the respectable figure of
.. Per cent, of the issues. The Watford Public Library is a
l *nctly educational institution, and to so important an extent
J~* its work grown that it has been found necessary to enlarge
Co ■ °* *ne room8» am* a student's room is now contemplated.
»-Q**iderable attention is being given by the librarian, Mr. John
^}*°lrnan, and his committee to the organizing and developing of
~-e r<sference section, in which there are now some 2,440 books.
jj e committee wisely recognize that though the circulating sec-
dem ie now mo8t P°Pular' tne credit of the library and of the town
"^aiids that the other section just referred to should be properly
(P^ged and accommodated. For years a charge was made in
.. r lending library to the borrowers, but about two years ago
JJJ8. charge, which an impartial critic must be compelled to
S1&nate as illegal, was wisely discontinued, and the forward
°oyement of issuing the books free of charge resulted in almost
. P**ce quadrupling the number of borrowers and the number
' books issued. For the 6,797 books in the lending section there
r~_ly717 borrowers. In appealing for gifts of books in the
JS°UB departments of literature the committee need not
P^logize for asking for copies of the ever popular novel, and all
2J lovers of the best English fiction will agree with them in
wyifcg that the novelist is the accepted teacher of the nineteenth.
It*
II i;n- LlBBJUilE'.
century. A private 6ulit.cnption room has been m operation for
dome ti 11 !■_ . tor winch there s b charge - f I0& per yeur, Mit v.
.)■( in-: that owing to the advantages offered i'.v the poli
efabf >! (In? tOWO tblfl i» now hcing conducted at r I06&
in the educational sections the bcJ ool oi an ifl strong, and the
day and night alBaes arc well attended, in > school ol music if
perhaps uiiKuvpnased for Itesltfl md vigour byanypuW
m the ootmtw. Tbs Income in tin* department for 01 1 tear
E888, bill the expense* ware of course heavy The school of
literature 1- popular, nod in tins department the Vm\
Kx tension l/M'inres ami classes continue to be wall supported.
Not content wllii ill Chess various avenues of work, tire com-
mittee have considered whether it. wan practical to launch con
GtaUStfon or nii/lti scIumIn .'mil reereatlvi rl:i»..rs. In I »< n nU-r
iii.- [/km] Board discussed whether the town should not
avail liienwelvefl of the opportunity afforded by the Technical
Instruction Act. They unanimously uaini bo tin. conclusion thai
Bomettung should be done at tin close of the financial year wltft
regard bo this Act, To Qlustiratc how the town das grown It ruav
be mentioned that in 1^71 the penny rate produced 680, and
.-•.•-■ '-.:i'.. The last report breathes altogether 1
spirit of work, With a local press which supports them, ;i rem
nun rr who have peal interest in the « ork( and ;> Local Board ever
r:i«iv in support them, the wonder would !«■ it it were uther-
wtse llieec t«" hudicfi aet largely uu the principle in
educiiiliiiiMl matter* the supply often has in these thin.L.-. in , m
the demand in v.. ad of waiting for it.
Him cjjbv 4Nd Loroufioaoirafl
These hro places with Leicester ar< the total nun bar dJ 1 &o]
iu Leicestershire np to dale. Hinckley drew into line as a
.>.-i ol Jubilee movement On May 8, 1888, Use building was
opened by thai warm friend of this movement, the Duehei
Rutland. A special building 1tqs been erected by Messrs. Atirin
. .;( < . ■ ( 'i CljGOO, En memory ol their brother, Mr. Arthur
Atkins, who for many years had taken n warm interest in nil that
concerned ttinck oy. The Ecclesiastical Commissi* n< ra. who
bobetho most aWquitoUB of all ground landlords, .solaapioc** 1 1
and dv fciVSU, and the furniture and HttingH were bougie 6
general Bubscrintion hud. \ local patriot bequeathed &S0Q for
books, &-• altogether Hinokley holds up its head and feels proud of
its Tui lb' 1 iin.i ■,, ; nd 1- i-.iig tt well. The architect u v
idnh«, nt J.( 1 -. 1 . ■ ud it i.- B pretty BtrUCttl 0 i I TO
,i flemish : re] itectmr. Tlmm^hout there is ncutnesi and tat
it. library provides another of the ik»« rapid ^ neiva*inu
or of building erected at a cost of rrom klfibo to £8,000,
haes are the sort of placaa which ail fnnuiH ni" tin- n
wish i in\ srow -i plentiful that n may be dtfRcnll to
r.mnt rhrni Mil. rhe Ductless ol Rutland always I
write* alxmt tho^c institution*, in a was <*ftv\<?a Naaa to
pi urn uun.UUE6 is rue uiiu^vno cnvwrsn&.
167
Rood of sunshine
d»\. H
jllM htvr
*> 4 noon or sunsoine on ;i spring aav. j< * is yw iit><-
liBtiBgnifihod lady t»< bi 3 ho she fi 1 1 the pea or boa should
like to hare 11 readuig-mnii in every village with which the is in
anv way connected, bo it lurgp or -email. \\ «>uld that the mime
mrtl animated enow < >i rim repragaatatives of our btgftM
inn lUies! Umekley is in a rather singular position. The Acta btWe
been adopted, hut for live years a "committee hare guaranteed
I that it shrill Etbl be I burden to the town, and have ninde them-
salves rceponalble for IBs maintenance daring that dine There
ware toOCU TflBflOM wtn this wa.v pmcti. -able and easily adjusted,
but it is not a plan widen should be copied. The catalogue hu
in i: n page <fe voted to fine ■ I I • *or Uuskm's many pithy
■sayings about book* and reading.
i.un.'i borough I1.1-. for Its population of 90.000, hooka t.o the
number of rt,000. The rate produces £2fl0, and the library knaps
1 to notion down t- U per cent, of the Issues. Books and binding
Bfltnorh 650. Only recently the Major hid offered » collection
• j]' geological speeirueu& for the library, and thaB is an example of
I 1 >w l )n- 1 Ul'loUHOf ;: ■iiMM-i.iiii-iHiirs In )»e «'NtH.hlbthi*d in miinivl ion
with ;: Public Library, The ratio of borrowers nnw about one in
'<ii..nid the ratio ol atsueoi huuta tuthu populutiou is J'61. An
ocotiiprfouig member of the committee calculated that had Hie
lurchaeed thu book* they have bad out during ihe year
would nave cosl about £#,0U0> whereae, after deducting the
the rending-room, the. eoM lu ihe. rairpuuT* bar. been
Qnclor ti*>. This foot Illustrates the gain which accrues to the
'<• %\- 11 !>v co-uporation. The local pre>.> *uppprM the library well.
tfoin Hiai Loughborough is Incorporated the irork wilt occupy an
''Vf"»Mii"p' Liuportanl position than it beta done in the past. A
■t'tlccrei twelve months ago an intelligent working man wrote
1,1 t he author from Loughborough. He commenced by stating
,!'= it they were then governed by a Local Board, and the library
toarj 1 ndttoe (composed in September, 1888, of members of the Board
:' ' i ratepayers) hod dceide-d bhat none bub direct ratepayer* vote
11 Qpible 1 > ftign giuuuutec forms for borrowers. This new regula-
tion » wne rather a hardship on the working men, whohnd been good
W *-» * id.-- ol the library and hod contributed £60 towurds ite first
MSt. The men felt, and hit nnturulry, that an they were on the
and mtitled to rote for toe members of the Local
Brjaww and Board ol tiuardians, they wore ratepayers although
1 pounded. Many ot these direct ratepayers wero
i t- (he establishment nf the library, and bo ihe men relt
Indignity of going about asking for guarantors The line i& a
fas one, and it is onlj mentioned now ss a. guide to other
no) to run aground on this little sandbank. To ■•>■ on the
liurgess roll should he quite sufficient for any guar anXofj and is
eitl :M Loughborough, it is always besl to take the
public int^i confidence iu library work, and to have confidence is
I'll.- If nl; Hie losses of the Public Libraries throughout tho
I Ki L'dnm and Irelaml were added together W wow\A muVe
Itovttrtwj trf&e \'ot only should the signatatte o\ •*• VAxtsyw
18* pruLrc LXWM
be good enough tor I jimi-ini »P, Ml the production Of bb
) itr ">•< '<M|'l )"■ - i'l;< i.-nt t<i rntitlf the owner to l*ecnnn« u
borrower, the catalogue compiled by Mr. Maori, the 11
very neatly printed ; and it contains a number nf local adv.
raenr*.
KlIiTHmMINSTEIl.
Kidderminster am! Worcester are the only two towns in Wor-
ii sbii ■»■ which have up to dale adopted the icta Roih pine**
lia\e i ■ - . f _ ■ tliebcuiimiug of their libraries had 1 nun jm: (heii wnrl
under considers fig dnuvdraatage. KidderminBterhue now entered
OD it-, ninth year, and the unhealthy condition of Hi (-room,
and Lhegreai rn*Bcomfort caused to frequenter- of the horary by tl
inadequate KpaoOfl naturally hiudov the development of the world
Buttln- pTOtSlM i'l bottci tiling ir-ah M'ly- ;i->t .m; it.- -.li.uhiv, n tin
foreground, and an offer was mode in October. [889, 1 1 m
nious donor, to contribute a large aura towards buildiug a nc"
library tor the borough. The need of euch o building has l-i
been felt, and ft site has been preserved adjoining the schools
art nnd science, which, when the new library ia erected, will form
lOmplete block of buildings for Boienoo, liten;tmv.a-nl art. There
baBivOOj been another drawback Tho amount roooivod Sr
POTTO OOQPOll M £340] and the actual amount to which th< \ are
entitled ia £300. Surely this is strange, nnd in thin respect
Kidderminster hue furcc Kirailar to tsomo othor plaeoBi The
committers of Public LAbrariee Bvcxywhore ibnuM ecc to II
Hint where (he penny in levied, they have thtj ml. UllOUnJ
credited to thorn, and thai tin \ use it. it is nianuToaUt ml nr i>
the Itbriii'v work chat u penny should I"' rawed for Hie hhrarj
and th:it institution get only part of tlio amount realized. A
penny, the whole penny and nettung but the penny, should *«t«fi
committee**, and there should be no balance permitted to go bael
into the borough general fund. Tlie gross sum raided n.i .; .
course, have to bear itM Hhure of the eost of collection ol the rate.
Oil question "t : ^enarate bunking no eon lit (or Iltblie
has been dealt with In the chapter addressed to coram
OOaamiflMionerSj nnd this is a matter wliieh may be urged h >dqs
upon thene governing hod i.--.
For ■ population of 36/100 Kidderminster has 4,68} roh
Tlie members of the Town Council can at once see what the
difference of £fi0, which has gone into the general borough
fund, has meant to the library. The shelves have been »r .:■
■ad further than this, the spirit, of the Art of Parliament
has been violated The entire Issue of books Cor the .year ha*
been 40,140. The 1,790 volumes of fiction have Ix^eu turned cnrei
86>811 tames Some of bhem must certainly lie well thombed
Kfadermlnster lia*JU>t e.uiiinleted itsuppi,eiiti..,e*h.p in it* library
work, sad it ir. huped that the Town Council will now rally
i tlie oommlttee and Mr. Fenny, the librarian, so that within
another, two years there anaybeanew home and a vastly enhmond
i
public ubbabibs in thb midland counties. 169
Leamington.
^jnaington present* another case where the summary of the
m°?h y ant^ 'ne annua^ meeting of the committee are reported
in SJ*1 press. It is satisfactory to note that the daily attendance
at the libraries and reading-rooms is becoming larger year by
V&2 ^^id last year reached the astonishing daily average of over
UKN persons. This gives the enormous total of 280,000 persons
frequenting the libraries during the year on the 280 days which it
was ope„( Thjg immense attendance ought to show how neces-
^^ *t is to provide adequate accommodation. The public at
present suffer great inconvenience for want of light, air, and
space it, an departments of the library. The reading-rooms are
Jw 8r*»all, and are for such numbers quite inadequately ventilated.
ine premises upon which the business of the lending library is
J^^tl on are too small, and occasion great inconvenience to the
Py^^ing public. The room in which the reference library is
situated is scarcely large enough at present, and there is insuf-
ficient shelving accommodation, and no room to erect more. It
?n^°*1 be long before better provision for all these departments
rauat y^g seriously considered by the Town Council, and when it is,
™e hope may be expressed that they will see fit to provide a
P****&Bjient home in which very ample space shall be allotted,
^S^ther with abundance of light and air. £100 was spent last
J™JJ for books. The average cost of the books for the lending
™?*on was 2s. 7£d. per volume ; but for the reference library
jlJSf expensive books of reference were bought, and the cost per
rj°« reached 12s. Mr. D. B. Grant is the librarian, and in
' u8ust last he had to report a singular but most unusual
thCtlrrence* history of Stratford-on-Avon was abstracted from
^ reference room on the Saturday, and was returned, in just as
„ysterious a way as the purloining had taken place, on the
ofJ55S' T°e8e case8 are M rare that tnis is about tne °nly case
. *ts land throughout the country which has recently occurred.
£■■ *own councillor eulogized the last year's work by saying that
, 8Peak upon the advantages of the Public Library, would be an
ca *?* P8™*; the lily white or to gild refined gold. Town
^uculors in other districts might be frequently a little less
^Paring in their adjectives when the work of the local library is
^aer discussion.
Lbbk.
.Leek has acted wisely, and given the fullest scope of usefulness
•j* j* Nicholson Institute by adopting the Acts. This they did
J November, 1887, at an enthusiastic statutory meeting, without
. voice of dissent. The requisition was signed by the Vicar of
*?*K a Congregational minister, the Wesleyan superintendent, a
2P*fl Catholic priest, several other Nonconformist ministers,
■J** those representing the various sections of politics. This is
2*?8y as it should be. A difficulty had arisen as to what should
"* done with the Mechanics' Institute, and well might one of
the local paper* t*j thn
thoec uoD**nfrancM»ed institution- political ^
[i - v. a in bring lias und ?r the i.
Sic loleui [aslil uie * * .1
lid i riff, I'm id*tockingil \\ itn I ksnnd Frarla "Cr* « ,t
art. The donor >ublic» aYfa
b nil . 11. 1 I i:-n:ihn! f:: il mxl ittit l«Mi H ^-_ ,
i the founder n. ..-:•■ ctl the openraj ^ \v
onj. He '.-.I.! •* i li.r, • lea fwn what ic io to Btruggie hoc m
life: I hare knovn what pr:\ ..,,_- ....
: ::,'i ■ i * ; n. f 1 ..n ::>i no -
Otll'.M-Il. 9 Bui t
>>iit od tl i ta i ponoMod J oonld not aflord Boxm -
ofa L'lf.o." Prior to the adoption of the Act* sorr-
difficult ic ©n as bo Lhfi obtaining ■ f loan* Eton Suuhbm '.
Isi'iiMiiirturi. The*1 will ■■» Iii iiml Io
■ml 1.' the Act*, and w 111 nil Ira
affect hnd rotxha
tho .'■ ' - ■■
for ii ■■ foui 1 • t v. ere !>,•■ ,.i h.. 1 1 for
irm ol poai ■ \ ope b the Town 1 Jou . i«l
1 1. 1 other loads!* od public opinion foi .1 1 *T1-
r,iiiy in a leu reflected the highest credit upon tl.#*i"i
Tho spiril which porviuSed the whole ><t the ricgutitttioxM w
1 I lent iwd RI8.3 well be mplflri Fn otln 1 1
1 ■■■ .■■-, ini a Ic jiT«m by private 1 dun
■ 11 1 dor the \otn. \r 1 1 ■ •- Ntatnt< j n •• d ■ ■-. '' ■**.
sri the 'v-;nh rion — •• rijnt nurHiinm u I n 'nl 1
n«.|ui\ii him, and iii'1 public notice which ban been irfvcn fw
nurpo&p; ii la tin- opinion of Lhta iiuwtlnjE thai l)i< Pnbl _1*^
I il 1 .1: K: l I '■'>'}, ullv'lil hi lie. kill) till' Srtllic l> lir i'l
tor the dtatrk'l governed tiy Die l>ck Imp rove mi "■**"
M 'v -.1 He! vet onded by large employers ol nbour. and auuu
i\\ sevural working 1 ieui iu wi uder that il alu
been cari'ied n ii b 11 ifioj 1 hew*. Mr, Joelius
close of the meeting, Hummed up the whale >> ttattna
1 ih- tav« 1 had done thai onon . elre^
■ « \. 1 ill-- Institute Sol enlj h& ratcpajreie
. aifi - .1 ■ •■. .11 Im n.-iir mi then ■ I
ho hail noi ■> ■■■' 2?
ih.ii !!• i.i inly are *titl lur^o impporter« "I the in t
l'}[r 1 ■i.ii.l as 18 of b lingl.Y approprial
,.,..1,1 ,A d< l?nl I; 1 - 1 < ■! 1 ,i:. ii ' v ". nd
\\ il i nn . ■ii.tr.-t., • t I . ■
islated m producing in artutlc building, with exoeJI
it*. ^
'I'll.- work 1.1 mpllslied bj i"< rapid*^
.;. \\ id. a total n al 1. • *
PrS&I'-' l.IBftJOUBS IN THE MIDLAND COUSTiaS.
171
UDail turnover Qf nearly 08/XX3 VOlUttW, A series of lectures
were gfiven last winter, some by townsmen j ami m tin- winter
Of 1x88-89 a series of six Oxford" Extension Lectures on " Repri -
Mutative Englishmen/* mid ft furihrr series ln^t winter on
"English Novelists." llv- late Wi likm Hftl was librarian for
[ret four years 01 ttu I to of the Institute, and had won
friends in the profession and in the town He received the.
Appointment <■! chief librarian :ii Croydon about the middle of
1MK9, but ho was scarcely able to enter folly upon his duties, as
ri«* died 'ii D a □ bar laal Be was raooeeded at Leek hy Mr.
"M oLeod.
Lnicaerun.
Alter a trying experience extending over some .years, the
tb ;»* Library Sere seems to be again in the full enjoyment
>f renewed public popularity. Tin- central ttbrarv has Lte
purten In i building irliich is well situated, but which from
Uttw points of view ia not well suited for a Public Library
■ fcWg and mportanl town like Leicester, li is an adapted
ug, and, tik'.- muM altered hufldiuga, II can never meet
h requirements of an evcr-widenine; sphere of work.
is such a progressive town that in oair^e of a few
. reasonable hope it will have aa a chit f library
t« building worthy of the town :in<l of the work beSUg dOUK
■ ! my m « bi udlngx hi r< been erected of late year* in the
Immediate neighbourhood <>t the library tot business purposes
<t the modest structure tiaodne a library and reading-room falls
>":«eii.r flat in comparison with them. A public building which
*-'»« »ni>i bfl indi aJ rvc »f the intollectuaJ life of tbe town, ou^ht not
bo • ■.' placed in tin ihade bypreiufeee devoted bo ooramoroJal por-
Si taaeaa. The newsroom andlondiug dopartmenl are on the ground
■■« »r,:mo the reference room it on the Brat floor, For the lending
<l»*l»:i,-tniont the books arc oil Blocked on wall shelving, and this
to :t height <»f tw.'iity to twenty -four foot! This absorbs u
i ount of labour and time in finding the books, aa well -jh
ively dangerous to the assistants who have to raee up
■<\\>l down the ladders tor the books. There can be no wonder
in! a leriouj accident should have occurred u few month* ago.
•tiei 'ii» i tdder fel while an assistant was upon is, and who
rired that he had to be taken to the hospital The ladder in
.in iek mother assistant on the baad,caraamg * raw serious
it U almost erirninat to place the shelving so high as this
JQ any Public Library Thn hook* r«r«> iVslroyed BOOSO by thr
'^at inn! \iii:i!.i; :il moil phoi'i , :iml Only thnsr WhO h:tvc hfid tO
the work know what it means to go up ov*n fifteen or sixteen
h ii room where the gnN jets are all lighted, and which 1b full
)]»!«•. Some h thr I >t.-r i.nvmwors have rushed into print
( jOniplaiued of the delay in l>eing wi-viM. Ls(l f:(r ;)S tin- writer
J^ud aee at the time of hi-* visit there w«* m> imnM-Hoiniiiir delay,
ich had been I locasattiere could benowcmAec wotf&ss&Mi
'■"' noigtjt (him which tame of the books towl to b« cft(Wa«£.
la
I7i!
PT-RM"- I.TKBABnW.
Mr ( \ Klrkby, WhO wax rlnrf assistant \) Bedfl I'lihli-
i Jbrary, was igmolnted *" = i *• f librarian at Ejefceeior aboul rwi
pear* ago. I Is has do 10 i -it to restore \t tb
position ii should ocoapy, and i<> bring its work Into
touch with the people, fiie committco. in their last report, my
thai ;i bhurough tu uniusUon <<l the l>ooka li
<'<n> i ii ban been observable □ the apirll In
which the stall hate n rfoi i ed thi du A . uu i lauj
expenditure has, In conacqucncc, been incurred in hi
renewing books* but the result is teen in larger hubs am
ised pi W The creation of .1 i ivi
i .i.- - ; 1 1. ii.- 1 v, .-ii 71 j lo-.i-pitii' Mir .-ninl:> tret.' '-"in interference
bj tin yonngtT readere, nnoT in living tin young n more*
and ai !-..•: i . « selection from boow exclusively provided foi Uirm.
for which a Special catalogue hoe been issued at i
. :..- ■ .„ m ntai . ou chi age ■ ' •■'<< led bo gi i r r order
m iiu administration of the library.
In Hi* central loading department the is-
vi I tines, 1^8,801, againsl 110,688, shoving an increase ni
vallum »• 11" nun I., i .)' works Kssuod ifl 14*880! against (U.Ttti
work* last year Thi Bhow tmincreas in bo number >f wori
! iv, i-1 . AJ1 olnasos, with tho oxcoption o! tnl oellaaeouB
literature, nnrked impivvcmont, 'I In- !:ulm .1 nrrOfiSC
in in the juYon |c class, the issues bcin^ !>,>'IH rulumc
lost year. The number uf borrowers, wl ither rone
voucher i or ■ •" I- out now i i efi 'luring tin
1,0] i I;ihI year fth iwinp an inoroiu-o "I */tf Thin w the lm
numhoi nl I irowora since lHr& Tho total tumbor oi
entitled fr tako out booka m 4,701 Tho improvement In populoi
i i u tuu enabled tho committee U reji 1 i nomc book-. ^
lost theft attractiveness The teem I > «hoe 1 1 ■ t -
an laoroaaad demaud for booka ol a serious and Ins
hut llctiuii '-till fonnn ihotit uni'-tturdof the total. Tho «
do m ' '(.".ire to o with this demvii.
i elves |u»tl led In i -'•■■■'King a r
popular taste, bnl thej eud< ■ to exclude wh nornl
t(l et.< i -n i :•■ *- ; ■: :.!: UlSl - h..ulUlY
and Instructive. In the reieronco section the tasuaern mluirjee
mn been year, showing a decrees
l^SSi v.Onnic*. decn i inlj ippamii as the mmiix-r of
year— aa
his two hranchoa. nrol i » "twn«il is
Muni Public library ^nxiW
i'T Of lh#
I'laii t«» jctven, wai
iilale liar
.iii<i
t!*P ncixWHKirli.
h aa can hunlU (ail loanwl tho all
the mtmiratkm ut *\>zU>r> to ihv \.v*Vt'.>.
PI-TU.rc l.ntBARTKS in tick \um.A\ri ror^TTFS
L73
with white itene dresataga, md oter die main mn-nnep is a low
p m.i spire tn planning the various rooms, oars haa bean
i-.t M i<i tnak(j .'in-ill i--i^i% acoeasllnY, economically managed, and
bundantl) lighted The principal entrance is through a saal Ibn a,
which given naoufci U i inMnfnua hall, oul & wnfoh opona, I
the doorway, the landing depart mem, with the nawarooni nu i he
fi. ;i tadlea* room to the right, and die librarians room or refer*
oa ■ i»ii i nn:'_ the lauding library. Those rooinaata
\iilnJ from .h<- n(! Iij j!:i » partitions, and -• twanged thai
WWTCOTttS mkaM'ii )*i lO.n: UBRABV, WttCHarMR,
i n have supervision over them all, v hi Isl
■'■an tmpoc >nyunc to i mi. r or leave the building
•ttfiftUt pjuutfflg lii:* liti. i 1 Sight, Tin- newsroom it V) Icr-I long
foot wide. It hon a lofty open ceiling. i» splendidly lighted,
ed in ii manner which gives it a moet ehecrlu] and airy
|.;i ■ --r .;>h ;ii-t in-.i»p?-I round the wulle, nna
v Hi rackx in thu middle for Periodicals uj»
nQeci the room. Hie circulating librniy is En thfl wrote*.
^"ltcwtftj we provided for upwards of 6,000 ta>oke,auA*.Vw>v\V>
174
PI H1.P I.lbKARSU,
j,i>»i hare already L>een either puuliiiMrd ►-; the committee
ids, TIk- other rooms are amiably furuhdn-i
Qg Ea 'v. noons of bat Wftler, the ventilation ha*
il.irlv attended to, Mid Ihoft \$ oven onvenicucc and
oocoromod i, 01 rlsitor* 'i be c ml "i the building vras about
68,000, and for fittings C400. Doth the Westcoteo branch II
and boo oatsJofnu may bo token so excellent models foi
libraries. The Ubruriau ;ia- placed a few pots ibout
il . rooms, snd Chose gfoc a proposeeeaing finish. The work being
dose iU Leicester >i >i its tvo branches is thoroogM n i-'-'H
Mav-i'! srj>,
Tho question las been soosidered here for three ycj
statutory meeting on March fll, I- "•. -■! led the ijueKtloii wit)
acclamation, and no pull was demanded. The probable injur*
which might rcsull Ui <!>•_- Mechanics' IiinI UiU* *
di.-M'iis.-*ed, 1ml it i,-. deserving of note thai II"' incmbci
Institution, .ii .i li'«ly. would not oppose the |
do what tliey could lo carry il throuttli Bucxcasfullj A
mendablc local ipirii displayed itwlf. :-•> ak
■ I. i -!■■ M had Htoml still long enou h. and il nt Lhi* « i
those questions, the tarrying through oi whirl would \>
il r\ verc in tl,« Parefronl t» prog •
Nrwakk.
The (iil-.tr:ip Library is very beautifully KiMialcd n 11
gardens, with the ruins of Ihc old castle Vorminp; :i ,„u ,i tM,<
ground t* • rlu» lili
Hid "touii I- 1 In . |
■i ; .•- ! :n-1. til
i| .
nUcd «iti j ti
liii- nuclei
ihileO by ■ ardin
Wulhey in .
Jaiue» (. i i UJOi
?ay to
ii Lake i ■
the English
Sir (then Mr.) Wfl
Inm GUafcrap bui
handsome, library, nnd
■ idoired U ran an
■ nioin which pi-
£00 8 3 -ii'.
The
proridcil ii on
thmr, and • ui iiat8 of
■ oe, and ladies1 roftdinff-roora UbrartssVa
roi ii, &o. Tin.' public entrance is in tho centre ol the
tnwivda Castle Uatc, and gives access to a well-lighted hail.
GHQUMB
PL AM
rrnur unRAiur.* :n ivr mii-i.am- C or* TIM.
J 75
■ >-n . h . i and iii«- Ijbrarj are placed lie ibrary indicator
.in i the borrowers* counter, with the rcadSna btheriifhi
xa<\ left, in arranging the ■overa! rootofl care Um been i
ihtit each ib wall Ugh ted, and no placed .1- 1< be «.: il> upi rvined
bythi librarian i Mr. Kill: i_rN_v, formerly one of the ruuristaj
the \«>iriiiL,'l;r,ni Library Tin- BUmbei of VOJumafl i- *, H30. The
.■ii.-iflAp public LiiiitAU), nhwahk.
0ft o i tin- building in every way reflects the highest credit upon
donor it would, no doubt, ho gratifying to tin- 2,000
borrower*— m which, "i eourae, additionB will be made to sea
.1 books grow siomlily to at leusl [0,000. So
besot ;i :i 1 building should be the home ot u good ttook at
tM l|U
r
11 I 1. 1« IIDRARIIIS.
Etamta move ilowfr In tlic Newcastle d1 the Midlands
September I tWU, the lota were adopted, and* the Pablio
l.ihriry tltB IK>t Vi't lie. mi riiiiijtli'li'il, :il!lnni;rii the building* 1T0
nnw pPOgPftfl '-iii'.' .MjiiiMy, Mid protmbh will be nprn t,i (lie
public during I860. (Trio Rename which nad to in* <? .-:i i aril
11 large nil'', ruid this, ocj doubt, accounts for ii e neomlng delay.
It BoxuprltMS Bouaoll 'liamber, assembly rooms, school of Art,
Pabhe Library, am readuTtt-rooms An offer o( £1,000 towardi
Chess public buildings gave Hie movement a start -«< <■ yoanago,
mil oiin-i suras have been promised nt latci dutes, When com-
pleted, the town will have ;i very hundsoine pile cif build
The Ubr.ii.v depart meat will comprise library proper, or I
stores, -4 ft. by to ft., divided into $ ft. Icugihs by open Iron
raUeriei round Ibc walla, connected h ron stall
thus dispensing entirely tritfa [adders. The reference, reading)
and general newsrooms are each 88 ft, by 80 ft., tippivoched by
.in .(ii pie corridor, and with 1 1 1 « - 1 1 ,-,<■>.-.: m HwSB
gkmd - i o divided I'.v loft) glared screens, which denote at all
- the extent ot the apartments in this connection, nl
affording facility- for ov< raiffhl . Ther< is ;i rapacious ba*
for iiio storage ol useful bat seldom studied literature, an
other rr(|iuiviiii:u!.-i are fully provided for, The architecto arc
Messrs, I igden & Son, Look, and othom
NOIITJIXMCTON.
rbte progressiva manufacturing town, which adopted I
in ih7»., u»ny :i,iiu uiitffm hi available for library as
museum purposes On the building cri I ia uutdaaroe noa
hull, the olu headquarters of this ancient municipality wot)
i i ned Into :i Public Library and Museum in 1888 ii wu rWidi
tO liinl.l :in Midilldii, :r:nl in Septi i.ituT ul lh:il yc:ir Mr I 1 1,
Codllngton, of the TSwiionnl (natftnte of Civil RnginaerA, held an
inquiry, an behalf of tin* Local Government Board, Into the
appUcatiou of the Northampton Town Council far powers to
borrow, oo behalf of Qie i iuboooj Dommibtee, £600 for currying
uut the extension necessary to make additional acmmmod;
tor the lending and reference libraries. After the town clert
bad read the notice announcing the inquiry, it wan stilted thai
the tender for the work was £580, and it was estimated thai
furnishing of the building and the architect's coiumissian ooold
not be less than £'100, which gave a total of £686. Toward* thai
they had £130 available, which left a balance of £80G roqn
They applied for power to borrow £500, to be repaid, principal
and interest, daring a period oJ twantj roarsi It waa oanlaf&od
fiiii..r- 1 matter ox form, the application irasfoi i nret Co bowow
for a term extending over sixty years, but it was undoraUtod that
the application should be for twenty years, bo as to make the
repayment no burden upon the current expenses of the institu-
tion, /ce amount of the annual repayment for twenty
r.TSAIUE& IN Till? MIDLAND COUNTIES.
177
would be £88 I ■ . Bd li i Oommu^ner suggested that thirty
year* would bo a reasonable Utdi. In answer to hie inguiriett, it
was suggested thai the ratable value of tiie borough on the
its <>i ti !<■ borough Pi*! »■, upon wbi i the loon was to be ohar&edj
li:.",,->. 'i'li'.' borough debt, oxolnaiva oi the water under
which wus rovrocented by feBI/Xlu} was £QQfl&7. .Mr.
igtau inepectod 1 1 ■ . - pit i, and nta visited thoeput Ear the
ill permission to borrow was granted,
.M-. i.ii unouni wj »bta aed p >m the Looal Cloverwoeni Board.
IIh' oonMalttoe tewed, i i Jtmo, 14*88, ft statement through the
hi wbieh ire il important feature* at interest in the
Kdition -" E 'in- qoMtfon. i 'i''> • tel c I thai the r ■-
: . penny *ate >« about £720 a year* Then follows the
Information thai ii-> havenodonbi thm it was the intention ol
the framers ot tho Pnhlic libraries \<-t thai thia penzn rate
ice rate, and that the Bite, building*,
rthi I'liiii! Library should be provided by the municipal
itrtliorltfea In aupnori or this cm) ilon, the PbUcnrfa g towns b ive
Ivwi attei for the Public Library - Liverpool, Nottingham, Swan-
'.i Cnrdfrl ' Wolvarham >ton Derby, mul S'liiihuorf The
Corporation of Here ord made ntribuUon "f £1,600 towards
!<• coal ir their buDdlnga \ i • lardlfl, in addition to the site, t ho
Corporation lun e awumed tin cost if i reel i g Hie building with*
miry rate. At Swansea also, in addition
to giving the sitr. the Corporation hare granted from Was ordtnary
yearly kuih bowanb paying the Interest on flu*
:il Ira-rowed fur the erectinu uf the bunding. The Corpora-
tion ol ~\\ lu in all* 'i tve granted £000 for printing the reference
library oatalutfui Tlieeu are only a few instances of who! hae
done In othei towon, Tna library committee, then ford, i'i'Ii
:rMi:.il\i\- |lll r |lJ [lifted ID .i:-ki<t _! I'm|' flU'tlll'l' ftflp llulil ll|f
ci committee of the Town Council. The membere ol 1 1 it*
ci in i ivei very favours! ly dispoa d - do I tiio, but,
■ tf o'uik. had i" I"* guided by their legal advisor, il • town cleric.
uini,;iii'i i ' «■< l lii- ruling by some very eminent
.iinimi iiic .. tha ii N iruiampton, at oni i tte, whatever mi > be
. other town*, they could not have anything from the
borough fund* over and above tho penny library rate, fox fcbc
Eon bhal they have no rents of Dvopertj . or pronto, or any in*
il what in honna to be need for the reduction
.. still, feeling that although the ruling of thr town
k in. iv' n strictly according to tho letter ol the ta.wfycl U la
according to the spirit of th< Acl th< committee relied
upon the ueaietuiice ol i w-townemen to help them out
of bbfl Lifficultv, rem nhoriug that thia difficult-/ Ea uaneed
<-, ii h fa ■( thai In Northampton they had not onVj to provide
.ibi m ii'l ivh ding-mom I ■ -\>\- in:. line ^rontfl
•nil] art Bohooltt, but alao have had h ps*j
for the building "> Guildhall Komi, ill" convcreion of which,
fromaF''' '"■' ' auaaum, e*w.- coei £3.500. Thia entail
■ mi i ittor- :i henry annual chavae ot acsn^ V:"*^-
]:■
PUBLIC LlBItA&I£&
ih.i- taking »waj more than ono-thlrd ■ »!' tlw U to!
[>urpOftu of i '.iv ir: foi and lTiuintAiuiti^r in i«r« ■ j ir, hail
which irr i : n ulutely !'■ ■ ■ i ■ ! I ■ LVrpuration aa the
awn u i II, 'in police station, or lay othei public bitflduijc, Thi*
■ .iii\ i ftv, , thcw th -mi; ol E I7U I nil of il Is i • tin i
fratd .''.-■■ I ■■ o mniut.-iin the libr irj . . mi
help the adeno nod art echoola for a town of 60,000 inhabitant*,
thej haw the mroon*c«nraoi B4S0. If it had n* or thi
' «• 1 1. -i. q trw gentlemen who interest thcmaeJvci in the work,
thi: comraitl c ffoi Id hi I fiavi l«eu uble to struggle 01 .1 ;ll
1 -I to 1 yean, from >'•''• 0 ! ,;. thi total u ml meal hi
buying books "wua C00,bBl thanks to the foratfcoughl ol 01 1 01
two members ol tho committee, the giti ol tho late Mr. Cho 1
Markhana ha* boon now rrnnt.toiTed Ut the honetSl ■ <£ tho library,
litis grroB £50por annum to purchase boolca, Injt tin
•UMltlit'h'Ilt Mil I.
[tv difficulties in Northampton AreUluatratJvi ofthediffloi
w hio!) are heiniE BxporioB.oed elaov in- 1 < , and hone* 1 fv
going rather fturj Into thorn. [tiflnotunrcaaonnblo h oxped
town 00 tncila and other governing In >■»>- should, without taxing
fchepenny rato.do more inthopro\i(li igol ril •■ ind >uildin#i than
\i w |.r, »oni iii.< . ■ >o. Tinx is ;i matter ol serious importance 1 ■
the iniiiiv ■ 1 I'ii Mi.- I.i »r;irv work, and one to whielnnui
will i.:i\c to iiwi.ti in tho future considerable attenti
-iiiii o1 adapting building**, except in vori ■ t ci m
ih shown in what has resulted ul Northampton. I'h •
.in: bow better suited than ml ire for the ibrarj and museun .
inii it i* safe to pro 1 ,; that the town will require within ton
year»« entirely new building Kpeciallj erected for the pur]
\r th- |n'..-.'iii rate ol proflpeM m (he work ol these invtlti ti mi
..-. placing the novitabu? nl a later date than a II | r.i »bij -■
austaftied by events There is life and exrxu
use made 01 the 1 brory and museum, una i hold ichema and
public Bpirlt, encouraged iy ■ few generous ll'ta, would bai ■
anftblad the eonnoil and committee in arect premtM&a which would
have met all the requirement* for thanoxj twenty years
ielei fcfon oi l>ooka Is adn irnble. I »
a ed many old book* wen* weeded nut "y Mi T J '■
cultured Ijrtrurlun, and 11 larjfe ruimlKT "i hook* >( mo<
literature took Mwlr place.
LltH'arlana often make Intereatltm < [aco^erle* when on b 1
in 1 iin^ cxpediiiinis, and manylmllvidiiHl liltrai * lave M*neftted
!i_v the acute Right and practtcii ncpcrl(*nnc nl the Hbrarln
knowing tlw value ofiildrKioka and immphlcb*. \\ .1 i«.i.
1 \ ir i- i» 1 tgu Sir. QuarlU'li purchatted a tra
by ilif committee of the Northampton Public library. Tha
(Ir-LiTipiiui wfw fflvcn :i- follows:- "Ilamor (Raphe) \
It. turso nl Ihc J*i'c»en( Itatuta ul Virginia, and the Sim
of thi ■ then till the 18th of Jiun Ifll 1 . 1 ■-
1 Lation J be lerera] Enjlleh 1 >v. n< ■ tnd fori
Clu-istenlug oJ Powh ughtei aud Uer tiarriavc wli
[I MBItABJES IN 'UK MIl>I,AM' rot'X TIK*.
irs
-
:
!
Snylishfnan. Ilf.-bd fine and pcrfecl copy, rexj ran -in. 4 to
l,Miii. John Ifoata tor William Welby 1616/ This tract was
found l>y Mr. (leowpe between iIm pages "t another boolc. AM
will I* :n the description above, it was ol little lota
irthamr'ton. and the committee are to be congratulated on
receiving ao bandaomc :i dihii ns L'ft.'*. KK (V>rit, wlm-h was n pent
v, books.
library Lots ten fb existence bohind it, and the
• ind museum grow in favour each luoceedtng year with
old and young Here the issue of Rotten bi dafiSoaig and has
touched sixty pw •••■lit \i the same time the higher classes of
Iterators nlmt* a i increase The number a( borrowers, ;:, i:»:i, nut
t :i populi tfon of 14,50ft, is good. \n Interomting tinlf-psgs
f.i the report fa devoted to n BlnterneJil ol ihc number of Omen
thai (-ri;i: works l iu v > - been Issued tdnce tlie ojpening ol the
bran to the middle uf iwwi'. ^s a sliailar itejn of Uitormatloa
no] 'ivfu in many reports, the issue of these cine-volume
tuk.s i'i well known literature foi three yean to qootedr—
Unold "Misti Esmya,"*: Waited "Hated HutorrofSal
Demo,' - | K. Bsokott, "Bnildw'i Priw Book," B| Kpurgeonfl "flop.
m >!ivp J- Hsadol'o " Ueaafah/' 18; B. Srnniiaoad, " NoiumJ Law tn
Ithfi Sniritml World, ' 22 i Fronde^ » Oceana," "<. ; Shakeonpare'a Work*,
B7 : rrocior* "Other Worldj thnu Oum." 26: Smiles' "Dutv." 31;
>'. Word, • PsoiphleU ou Salt," S3; Rev. J. 0. Wood, "Natural
," 36; *'•■ R. BCina, 'Poems and Ballotl*," Stf ; Maun lay 'a
Hi .-".iv of England," 36 j Darwin's " Deeoctil of Man," M i MeCarthya
'• Hutoiy of Oui 0 ■ a i- 1 Seatou'i lltar£n< Bogutoorina" ir> j
* ic I .!«■ i-iui Farrar, " Life of Christ, " 19 : C. Pannal. '■ Modern Pftetieni
l.'.iiti.i - 'History of Krod&liaui, ' 55; " LoD}_'f?lIow's
Poetical Works, " .'>7 Lord TViinyfion, " Fauna,'' &*> ; Violet Hugo,
" Ni'ti« Damo," 67 *, Beethoven's "Sonatas," 7s ; Gilbert and Sullivan's
; <_• . \V. M. Thackeray, "Vanity Fair. lOf. : C. K n^il.y.
N' WutwardHo, '124; Lord Ifltton, •' La«t of tho Batons," 127 ;0. Ktiot,
Tho Soil Uuseuin i- unique, and there arc in it numerous
ol salt from Vraerica, India , and other places. Tha
of £30 i yeai is derived from the rent of shops adjoining
ibrary, am th whole of thin with an additional sum goes for
. . The libran md museum have boon founded find are
klr J T Uruimer, iLP,, who defrayed tho entire ooat
tic building
NctTIINOHAM.
rheri u in oft i I •:?.*■ iliai he vater is not mfaaed until the woll
in . .Ii'\ \inl tin* [wnpli* i if Nnttdijthani UHVsr sestowl i»» iiiIhh
h'ir renlral llnur^ -<> mueli ■■•■- during the time I *asclo
ccteand usettlejijenl in the building, H WW
I i dour the lil 1. 1 1 j to the publi during ejgbtasii
i.«:r,lr.. and turn il ovei to th< mildei 1 1 ;- ■ re rtm, iti i I
SUtaiil vrumvur. In linvniu'v. \>-vv>'aa\A \\xn\
160
I'l : i.i' i H-.IIAILIRK
prior to a meeting of tin B( Leonard t*own Ooun U, i
tentative of one <>f the warda utartod Lite report that the
Sot! ogham end l 3erkenwel] Libraries had boon oloeed by the
ffilhOl ttW "■'|'!i-- Hi' ^.tt I I»_tii:i 11 whe Wafl t< bring the
■ [on forward n [rod to the pros- r to know it this wei
OT not TUl h only one uunplc of the ninny mothoda ad
by thoBo who oppose the Acts. No statement about the** Enal -
rations sould nave been further Erona the truth, n hi no imueunl
tinny to bear 1:1 >"iii]ig!uuii thai the people would rather be
without tho port office tli;ii diapenao witn their Public Lii <
for m bo town Ei Uw work healthier :m<l tih.iv vigorous.
There van grout- rejoicing when *«ii New Year a clay, 1800) the
building was ignis thrown open to the puhUC| and the re openiiij
ceremony was c4 :i very pioi ■ cter. 80 many 111
ad muses i! bullcUngi arc being erected in different ports o1 the
country thai .■ few perticelaTB of "Jk* mUhap nt Nottingham i
.■.i-. -i ^niim r.l ul;;il i» Mm<l m othetVpllCCi VbOUt fiP
years since Uw Itown Council received an offer from an bogbj^
moil- donor ei -i »,000 if they would put up bnildtnas for
educational nurpoNON, It was astern lined by the Town Council
to •jpcnrt t"4(),(KX) tit putting up the buUdlDgU. KIcvcn firms
«pTit in tenders for the erection of the Imildmge. Nine were
Local oontrsctors Two tenders were from firms not associated
\M-h Nottingham, and one wan from Swansea. The ii>«f.Ht
tender amounted to £41,500, and the highest was £51 920, \
- m mi of £10,000 would, of cowae, make all the difference
between good materia] and bad material, and property paid
Inhour :in«l poorly paid labour In 1*77 the plane were sent in,
and the appointed builder, whose estimate was the lowest,
proceeded intil June. IH81, when the UuJldings were supposed
to be completed, and were opened by Uw Duke of Albany i"
June 11 fchnl (rear. Thej hod good ground fur believing that t\\c\
were in poBseseSon of n substantial imWIiu:,'. i»m u inriic: cut.
after two years had expired* thai there were very grave signs of
decay and defect (u the buildings, and before L6S5 the committee
ii thi ( orpoi it 11 d appointed 1 special committee to tnqaire into
th " def< ' its "i the buildings. Thai committee aaked 1 1 ««_- ran ayor
to look Into the rna&fc r and n porl upon wliatdefei tahe oheerved.
lie g 1 ie very startling stafcen eutetseeing that the bufldinffi
had been completed only two yearei En one of hia paragrapni
in-. :mmiI, "Oorftcls in liltrjin .ind museum, Signs of fra
were rodble En the plaster and brickwork under the corbi
the north and oouth and* o( thi recess in the pnblii Kbraryand
muiieun . . ad tb< >orto 8 showed thai they were by some means
being tilted orwavd,and the whole *upormcunibcn( weigh
trough) on bo Liu toei of the corbels, thnH caoafna nracturnto
the wnlW' '" another place he raid,'* A departure 1 0
[flcabion waa mad' i'i tit nenrl} nil the mm
on the bcl, us oing three leet .sis inches, a* wpci .
range* from two feel tbur behes to two foot ten inohee.11 Thr
committee vrlm had charge vl that huilchng found that, m-h
1
i
llir
rrnur i.nuuniKN r- in.: \if>i.:\\< rovsvzw*
[81
i on ng i us people wilh literature they liad i<> servo bricks
and mortar, ana for ;» long time thoj osrpcndod fchoif resource,
M for 00 tVy pofttfblj "tare, in remedying tlu^e 'tclWts until .it
; .i thoy went to the lown Counml and suited that thofcuHdicg
\vii-. in sucb d dangerous condition that they could no Longer
■m apple Willi ir, At thfl time (h;tl (ho building Wtt olOSWl it wn*
Stiwly unsafe. Tin* trains acratm Hit- iviling, whicli was kuji-
i hold up the floor :ii>mr, wore rotton, and it they had
at lo inj wry uu luurh lunger tue pnof would l*ave fallen Id
and iiir walls gone out, oud they would have Jiad uu enormous
ir iii< v iiuil put a few thousands dmfcc too *Owfc
i-iui.l i t/we it wnattvitUu] fchny would n,Wi ! toWOT
fl~-'
ri iii. i* in: \h\ i ■
Lhediagraoe thcj had incurred bj patting n]» a lnnMuii
kri'l. ,u.«: .1)-" cloning tni p . •■ lor eighteen montha. and n
flu |n-m|i|< ■ U rrOI 1 till ion III ^ m| :h«- i;.-
1 on 1 ) - moral la thai I \\t lowc* u 1 dci I - uol bj •
Id be token ;•> ace that 1 1 pari of the v 1
Alderman Barber, who all fctar twenty-two rear*'
histor.v "f tip.* library work inNottintfluKOjhaa bcCl
..i thew iuHtitatioiie, look port in tin n ■■'■•:.■■• ceremony, and
called attention to the old \rtinana Ubrarj o1 the town
icd tin- auclouj of the flrat Public Library. Thi
6,000 volumoa belonging to this otd library wore transferred c
Ante being adopted
The educational work being 'inn ed on hj tin- Nottingham
Librarta 11 of no Aid and real n nature that itmnychall
(■■II wild the work ol any other town ol a corr mpond .
K.tli in 1 1 1 i - - country mid in America Vol n i ■ v -id regard t i
the library, bn I in other domirtmontK, XottSnghuiii is rapidly
becoming oaoot the mosl attractive odueattona] tentn
ontiro country, i Diversity Coltego, the name ^iven to tin
group <>t buildings 1-. (or "it- various '.rimni/.atkms, the hri
gam in nil the public building! whioli tfottinffiuun antaina.
Here under one fool are the ibjrarlee, natural Malory museum,
literary mid scientific doae-room*. and the technical
■.-iiii laboratories and Lecture theatre*, whin- m > ■ 1 ■ 1 - 1
adjoining ore the trado schools, whi re engineering:, earpcntoi
and oilier : 'I-- can bo learned. In do town fa the country
the esse at the duties md privileged I cl Ixeaibip 1
ate v felt than a the capita ol the lace trade, and tb
;> owing to the Important place whtcri I'nlveralty Coll
wuh ita rael ramifications of work occupies n the municipal
in- ol the people, Nottingham may well Ik* proud of these
InitJtattoni and ol the unrraran] Entcrcal whJcl the eltlxen* ahov
m them, 11 Is impossible to vUdt the central librarx or nnvol
the branches and not reel convinced that M nrfr* wi r
pregnanl with far-reaching utility if Nottingham originally
mlSROd W w:iv in the itlons run! erection ol the (ml a I Irifj 11 has
not m ns wonc, The town In fortunate In having on 1- tai
IfbrarUn 11 man whohultlm distinctly prominent place m the
Irrofesrfon Uthough atUl a comparatively young man. M" 1
■otter Brfaooe has had some twenty-three yearn' exi»ei
library wortc, and haa thrown licarl ami wool Into dr\ .-
and popularulna the llbrerlei and reading-room*. In Mm the
N'ottfnghnrn public oh well aa the committer have .1 1.
Korru 1 .
So many application* tor a record ■ 1 Hie work I e art
reaching 1 ( * vi here the Vet* hai e n<
adopted ha there lion been foi - . ■ ..
for placing In envelope*, a brief epitome of the world 1 ■ il the
central library and Ita branches \ copj of Lhii card u ■■
tho^nexl page.
ES i> thb 3UI>lamj ronrnr.*.
183
i Leading Til.i-i.i. ft ml. Btonreod Bb ■!■ ModtrHjDM . ■:■. i»..i.
','.-., . Bto*l !."■!■ '>■ nail] S »•£• (aVMH, *** vol*
i il . ■ i » ■ . tttoudanc, ?.5SI.
i in |j< uvamgu M'.tcndi niv, ! T
Mbinry, -ili'tlx ipftui BO i i n>l . l>tlly
... i- ii... loi
ifaag Aoom, S< nil Ettntt fhiabitoti. Stool MB vqw. I»«.ily *w»g<"
:■ WUUW, •!.'.'.
.... ilulm I L'liily u-.i-ir"' '"it.«ii....n *, 189.
U«1*. .'i""1 • -•!«. L'.iilv »%ei'*go ieaue- | I
kwWj). ias row
liriiuui^c noon, M.iy'i.-M Oi it*. Btuclt :..*.". w... Duly avtug* lmi(3>t DA <
■ -. i.'t.
1! ii'.inir llwm, tium* Agun (Mjfl I •■•<!•. Dally ftVOMlgt • U
iviuur all QilnEK . ■'<»
la Ufamiy, C3iahr>a Btnet, N<m- BaafoH Btock, MM fob tHflj
. ,. . ■
- ! ... (h ■ .' I , [> ' \VlMg1> Jltl*ll(|tl1IH', .111*.
iDe Uoom.Uoutl M">ii, HHIV..U, Ijuily uvcrofc
- :;._ .l*'i ii'l il)«t' In.
lUcJinff Bow l" — Slotik. SOD vob Dully »vorjg» In u
i ■ ■•■ ill '" m •"'■■"-
ItAuUnj; If'ttm-. Willitiitrbbji Ktreet, 1 .niton. Daily innrivgi' Janet, M mil
ll*Uy »Ttr»JT n't. i.ilnri.-i . I
r^niHnc IJhmry, WfUonfhlry street, Luilon.— Stock, I,7ftflvola, tinilynviviw
UHK«. 12.'l KM
it-nllm.' Bwiu. Onifl Stn-'t, Kywiu Qi*cn, --.., ..<, rob, Dully uvcmiro
l«ll<*. ™ *<»!* I ■tily HWrMjH i.C mlmr.' KM.
Bcfcroj Library, Mriogtoa Stock* 870 rob*
. \AX\
Auric §1 hnota i m • -■ a SB, LAN) . . ... .A.'i,»n vole
Annual iaruc* about 160,000 vol*.
i.'nllvavcmsclMuca ........ ...... ibcnt UNO ••■-.
Annual » natulan..' at [.ihiuria* »l»<] Roadino Itooms 9,000,000
I til. u I'-inltiicen Bbuul •..' .- (
Rf«g h i ii(i < - ... . ... . "I i
Tin- i'inMi(M> I i.i.i;v h excellent ii. cverj watf. Hers there
about :i.'i(H) book*., all corefulfy selected to null the ratidiv-
<>\ the juvenile*, located in very eomi uleiri quarters in the
Tiiniiv r, lehiul rooiiirt.elo.sr-' rr> (lie rcnlr.il mulitulioii.
Tb.lt Cbi'arj wan foiimlcil ii 1882 Cliruii^h the IU>eralIlj ol llic
IpV, M.V. Itfl pOnltlOB A Lfl "i ijiini ly Oil OUC,
I'm th<- i xi ni| Le has tiince been fouoved In more or lc*8 detw Ui
:-«u-. pBjtfl "i the kingdom, since th< reodina of a fapci !>.\
Brie a " Lil raries for the ^'<u^nL^";^l bho Library Aia
ion tn. .tin.: ul I'lvinoiith. Thl8 Ilu.iry fa OMU IV«<n: four 1 ■•
■ ivhen the prcsei I writer arrived there shortly
fop mih ■•■ !.«■ !"immI i Ik' liSi ;u i.tn ui lady) l>efliegc<] bj
a nam I- • of i or< r boj ind pirla, who, with clean faces and clam
quwificaiTons upon), werebenl on seoorlng
■ ii' i" I'M-! al pleasure, Ooh two books in
i.i . re allowed to I i di'cnfwj thai they maj ao| -■
1 1 neglect Ii < h« h »mc ■ torn . - even i- the 'niiiii.nitn
njcc, and the children proudly designate it as "our libr
■ Iren raafee ubc of this library, Bone interesting
ire hutif; ui Hie walls, The pooir) catalogu ol the
cbil'Ir- i lni.li.pj library mni a*oII bo CaUoo at n ffuidi For
uilier : in^ajuvonili aeetion. 'rin- reteraooQ til ■
Ssta pnbUshod .it a penny up to &YcpcilC& ere? >%.■■•■
184
Pt'TtUr I.TB&ABIXS
^ iii i lists iihould ie Section 1>, which y veu tine nti-r**
Bare cm toetology i the reference library •■■ particularly eorni
Tin1 subjects are elasaed i uler r itnmem*, education ei
mil <« il< mi i:i 1 ftffftlrS, jurihpruili'iuv ::>i'l l:i\v, ;> ■', i|.ir:il irniin.n
:iint lit ..iiu-t , politics, nubile henllh, hoitI I mo vera CM iOd
(general), and HtBtfMtUi. in Hi'* isutrloi oi tbi book* erring
IM ;i complete Hynopls of Llic HUbjeats (if ill*' a
irirea. Music and the special literature to Liu Mini, nasi Lue
S'o U*4 Collection »r« lf|Wrl * i. till.- in which Lite \< 1 1 in- IlitUI I .;hr:if,
ii ■• ku -■ -i tin :i v strong, in the Ponnei wrllon the Kottfngham
Collection comprises JfiO volumes, of which more thn i
tffl iHiMimtly in llie hands of borruwers. These
booke •' music consist of anthems, ballads, rajnifis, glees, luaetfm,
operas, songs, ind symphonies, uwl an noi nf m
rhui i ■■.!■] Tin' Xi'i ii.l.1i;i in CflllCCtlOn, Which AW < ..irl'iilU
Penned, n - chieflj mane up "i Booscys and Novello'i • ■■
editions, and Home nf tin* v-nhlo-ation^ . I ..i.-n. r. i '1 .
I'l.n li *Msder. Tin--'* booke of music were obi i ced En
' is civ ipset form, Before circulation, ber carefnJ con-
aide-ration, i Im-v were newly liound in ii style peon ■ Ita • <
to mu.'i' . ..ml iicinp half-hound in hog-akin, arc mad* M
liiMiny ,i- .iinl ii-j. I'jtu mnki' them. The Nottingham Collccticn
of LOO Tolumoe cost, including aubtrtantia binding, about £90, 01
ii. average of la.6d per volume- This collection may i»<- taken
as a basis to other collections. In trdcr to Facilitate the forma-
tion at such, (in- names of publishers iwr indicated In the I
mustc In the aocond aupplorocnti n catalogue of tho Nottingham
lc Central Lending Library. Tim Inrge town is well supplied
n tl. public roadinflT-rooTOft
ih'* potterj towns hare auitc t cluster of libraries. Longtoi
I., hi last, the only oue of tho pottery towns whloh hat
J el reached the educational level of :i Public Library. I5w«lsm,
[onlay, Stoke, and CunAtal Ulliavo their Institution*, the Brat
oanaod pi I ■ i ling the way by its adoption of the \jsU in liWS.
Tii- working potters are politicians and renders, and n sight pi
ttu BursleS i bx m ra tl raniag la instructive:.
vi Hanley n I8w there was an attempt to carry th* lets, bul
ih. people gave :> rery emphatic •"No," and the (russtton lay
dormant until ISR2. In the following year a manor I tanrtnj
:. ) »i lignnturen vb i presented to the m ay i requi ate
t public meeting to aiseusti the question of the tulopi o
1 1 . was nni the atatutory meet ng. or this did doi i »lli *
ii ti : ii Hi.- middle '>r 188J "Sr-.n^y eenoci n Ruhacrimtom
nromfaed In advanco, and by an nvarwiielrning majority n I iwm
ti . qn cation wa« nattlod. Ancfforl was soon nftarwnrdx
to urrnngo with the triniUvK rmtl committee nl the mei mini
tnstiti tlon :iii'l govern or h ol the w irking mea readlng-roi
lbs two <• the U irary and readtn s-r«om fu Pact, r<»r tl ■
mycfi <i tile same to the library eom\n\VK/>e V\w
n mi
.mi fen
■■I
an wo*
I'l RUI I4WURI«H 1\ V! V. -MIlH.AMi COINTIKS.
w
MinVtoiii for the I Ime I" pivvriii rim :io uppmndi >n ;it mTiinp*-
innii. and N noon becann necwmry to incur :i considerable
expenditure in adapting the old borough offices 1.0 tho purpose*
of a !ii ran . which wut* found ah < \i tvin.-h ^'^ i ~ one;
kcoonimoualion has been provided tore leiufiu^r department, a
H'ltTi'Mtv rci.|iii^-n>i>i]i( ;iii] ;; -- 1 1: 1 1 1 T:nliruj-nH.illl IttW Ih-i-ii *i-I
.'p:ii| faf l.olirn, while I'Iiimmuji - i!m ruftdc 01 : I limtiii, In
April, 1687, the building was opena b) Bar] Granville, There
»r«- iiu ■ h ." visitors tie .i 'li.!> average to the nevwoom. In
connection Mid he ecieace claMea the ten ohemioa laboratory
ii.i- been eompletolj fitted without encroaching on Hie penny
rut«, ao< i. ia now the u.-t appointed room of the land In
the . chemical ■ i.i--..-. ;;t the Institution hi
i i ■ k ;i- Mind, '..i jitii-. niii'j- m-i'ii' tion in chemistry,
it Eb Btteduu - 1 (hi I thirty itudente on vrorb in it at the sanu
time ami M n lent* on awoimnodati d in all togi s, from elementary
fce honours. in u i llhrar) an decidedly going, op. Mr.
W« A. 1.i;.!.m' H tl i. lii i.irijin.
,608 i >V , A which 1,686 niv for rcfe*
'"- For leel year in the lending section "tob835, With
cnnll stock and only •■• moderate rate the turnover is com-
U i:;i i ■.-. Mr. a. .1. Coddle Ih the librarian.
The foundation-stone of tho TungtaJl porraoncnt building
laid m May, I860. Oil library and rondiug-room two upon llio
firroirad Hoop oJ tin boa tawnoffieea in the principal from. The
Bol^ col "i arl rooms are on the next floor, and the seionco class
r i -m- .ii the top llarisj) the prettenl year the buildings ore
lomploted and open to 1 1 ■ • - public.
i.i . ions Atro IVxarBvoxo (Ornwnnui).
Ftuncarn vonthi Brut ol tho group of Hmall townsm Cheshire
» i ■ > «). adopted the Act*. IWa they did seven years ago, and
co maple had proved contagious, leoingthat mix places very
'i ICuncorn hove within the Inst tvo yenrs followed suit.
1'' u '..ini-.- : ii. i i :i ii. -i,ii i it i.:i\< t»acii had six adoptions of the lets
diartng the last tnrw y< <■■., «o both counties have contributed
. i .r.- t<i tho pronroMi ol Mir i inwmenr. II e subscrtptloilfl
from inin-iT'.i.i.' ! ■ only reach 12*., so tiiis is; not an important
II people nuteidi the nron of the rate really wish Co
wnii iiu'inHchrs hi the library they would d*i bo te B larger
ol thai thfa PIoMon In i*opreflent«d by :i third ol the Moejc.
\oo ftp n:-c the pi lpp well.
r< i i.- adnpttcm ol the Vrtx through n* :i lahtlcu
ol i or (ti'K[il.* lo iheiuRriYi'K. N " i'i"' |i.i|ti-s wwu adopted,
i i-i'.i.;Mi\. T'u.' local bpiril ever the
■, I'lit.liiiMfjiHtJr, mill tho IntorrHl cvolted wan con-
WliiKfonl m:ik«* iim li\iup oui of Hilt, and i ha*
• little i.Miinr. In it> local lii'o. Tho mamifaoturerj"
whom the rate i.ill-- hcavical .mum up well. Mr. T. T.
iI.P., I ■ 1 1 i/ifl (hen ■ i iUut 'jSUv, am'
"i i/V m. mlti edo B/iori "J1 .i thouAoad oovitiAi uuli ■
166
uraimim
irew enal <!*•<! t.> otieii • ■» DoeemUr 1 i.
free of
' ■ ■
•liiiractor Willi :
1- j: tl ! ■•■ :lli -!«!■ ) or
■
f.»|:< i <I:tl lr, April. I -*V . ' li-- I VTCTi «\>>\'r-\. find b
»one<l Uu-ir nev
.,■ |.iMi.-. I'Ijc |"<pvlii'ii; l- 10,011, and ilie rato h
■ -.■..!.- ..i phu'fH - H h Hi unit t."i i iDii
|>. | |, If, :n,.; | :iN whirl) WOUlCl pTOdUO 1 1 r - 1 1 ne :r. ir Win-
I'lii'v. .h-tii.i- oould not do i ■* r t « - :■ lhan take tiio VViuaford ptai
Mid build i :.■ si I n'> i
w INHKOlLti ri BMC L1BJC mv.
The rool at tin1 irorti htu been divided into Ihn
two ou Bide ouqh being drawn toe i i to turrei Caehion with ;>
!i n:tl tMiiip, wllilh! Ill*- iiiiiiT OB-fl lfl thrOWJI Im.-kw iunv.
tO :i-.V: ! 1 1 : i . - 1 he IVi! idgO I llW, \HttU I doOf
i- :. \ tfltlhulo some mi. w ido w ill iiinor *u ing door, i
■ i i ,-.i . . ,,i ■ ■■ hedrtd and I tasted ■ - -■ - Phi
t .».■.. n. i vestibule u* it were, mm which are i strum
room and to the aide rooms for the librarian iu
njM »f>m L'Iimm Rid* ri i-. are .ilium ifift l v
dy tv ...'■■ v ndom hi
(foor mi room >■ < inilarl
main hufldhijf \* •> nmiw 3 vrhibn
f/|£l /. , .. .. :lw i ■,.
.■I 111,11 i i ,i. i. i i -. ■ , i. mil i.aM' ui .i r.9
187
i). Thti i.i'i.ii i i:i> counter [a along the Iefl hand aide, and
tiding iic.irK I In lull length . i ilir luiilihiii . ilf I ■ "U pji •
! i 'I'll ti u i'm-, .in, i I i,r, it g accominodj lion for »oun thousnndH
oi bootai On the opposite side ol the ctHiru ie the new6p»i>
the papers — tho reading tables hew
ttie bndi ■ i i|i< 1 ; i1. I !.- h-lit ii tlic l.iyliiin i- iloi w d from 0
mi. wbi< Ii run- alone tho full extenl cl fcru poof of lh< main
•;,:■, ii> lij-iif- having ornanx a I irchi . i i d i>< tap ■
■■ h ■ lift ii -i>. The tannic n hj iv. h :, | ■ pa hi. tl icreci
rt cd bj maroon, « inl.-i th< iri ■«• \ an ;i i fed rooJ boohm
arc Mn). is k-M, rtninoa and I The tic rod* Acroi the
building add '<< Eh< appearand of tho roof rather than defend
■ni of ii i 1 1 1 i i I < ■ ■ ■ i'" 81ft. by
1 7 i with i -■■• i wv vt\tr\\ncp Tliii room ton* boon built apeciallv
IBll MIV
>\ the art cIom i adcatn, there being fom mii light gn&tightfl in
it. llic (loo 1 1 i (■■Ihiui are composed of wooden brick* w w
duo the 1 1 i - to i i ini nuni, and torn whole baildfn
pitch-piac lojr»j :-" thai if BuLeddei ihooJd
unfort d iti way to this port ion ol the il ial ■■• i. h cm
bo a ill uli yi iili.
\n . ..ii\ itatonicnt vn msi Ic diivina tho mtcat, t-
;li> m- win. .1 ■'-■■I Ii- |mi|1 ni the Btcktutorj
vourublc to tin udovtion. Then the mow r sue]
it,' powor ■ ■...:;■ dono i w .v wil h in can
Thill ;VT I > mo . I:< i III ) ( : \<\r h> t',i\
Lllll. in 111"' i"v-A tf L\lW\\V
■ laj i n tl mi ■ ■ onn where.
IW
pi our tinn-mir*.
ontafda tiio district are allowed to borrow- for a subecrtpi Ion
per year for each pea-son.
>A1.I1;1 .NT.AR MaXCHJBSTBB.
Tin-, little Kiilmrt-iKj i '|i.<kIihv inwo-itiip uifh l> &O0U i>ooplO
. . 1 llii- ijii.'sT.ioii of i'vi:ili!iKliini; i ml fr4lTpp i .-. r.i I r ff iry OJ
public' meeting on February ih( [890, The Rev W Edward
i di ick, the \ tear of Sale, vigorously ub oatad he adoption
of the \'(i- He pointed oul thai the population d tho<
is rijiiill#y in •■■cnMiitr ■ rhnl the proportion nf tin1 ]MH)iiI:iMon who
read Eb also Rowing; ""' thai as long as men ana women ire
content i«> raoiaiJi Ed :i condition of ignorance It i* well
fiopotosi i' Lttempl to rai»te their moral and social eondlrJon
Tlie taste for knowledge. Information, Inquiry, thought— in
one word, fur light — In a UiKtc which those having the
of 1 in- common! t> :d heart muni do all iu their power i"
I'toh-i .i-iil iMilli\ ilr. .-\ jiniilii- riHulill^-roott) in :m Ultold b009
iu tlic rtoiKioy ri;iss— ;i place, that u, where iiu'\ can read
the daily papers, tbcbettl magazines, and whore, free of i-uM, in
ta evening when the day's worlc b over they etui inform them-
wlves of the current rnoreoiento of thought and life, and where,
free from the temptations tm tdeot to some other places of public
resort, then can pan many a pleasant hour in the hnproveiueni ol
their misas. There is no more encouraging feature >\
than the evidently widespread desire to continue the
educution after leaving echool. The hearty welcome given to the
"Natioiud rXome Bending Union," and Hie rapid success with
which It h 1- me! .lull;, attests the truth of what If ■ i<v
Public Library provides the meani and opportunity for thii satf-
culture. It rnnnahea a wide choice of il»'- beat titcran
1 ntifie woi'lcn, hnth of ihe prewiit and of the past Promises I I
tin* extent of 6864 were made, on condition thai the Acta were
adopted. Dl this .-in n 1 3ir William Ounliffc Brooks, M.r,
firomiHoci k'JfAK and a jdot of load for o site was offered bj W r
5. W. Jovnaon and his brother. This adjoins the Local
office «, and bo will be rery central. Every facility waaglvi 1
the demanding ol n i»'ll, but no one availed I I tl
offer.
SiacEwanuRY,
v.'sbury hofi not made much noise with Its library. T
references 1 1 It in the local press are not numerous, The i
were adopted to 188a, and the library was opened in |m*5, The
huildtoffj which comprises library and mum-um, H admirably
adaptea lor the purpose. The sum of £2,000 was ibtamod on
l»:in lroin tho i i-^t';, . ind this i% rather a burden upon the rata
whiel produces £476. Kor & population ol UB,4?8 the number ol
bcoVsfi noal , reaching ordj 0,796. rheaversgedi i
I borrcra »r 10 1 s 300 volumes. A glanee at tlie rein rua anu
partiadarMffiyon in chli volume will show that there are towns
uTer neon 1 vhle.riha.ve ^\arger ^octecA w^,v.g,anda
I
n DUi i iuu.wmi 1 J mi. Mil: a-.i . 01 JSTtU . '-"
v. i v n.tuii forger turnover. The difficulty of maintaining two
i library one1 d museum, on ■•> penny rata i-1 penecfcly
i'li':ir, mid ft permj for «Wlh ahoaU bo permitted vi.-i-f there am
u n ioetltutiona Cfaemnwuxn is in the mind-* <'t honoraryonrntor i,
In take ii VGBy active interest in it8 work. It is visited daily \ \
large number <>l" people. Thi> i* the only instance in the county
■ M,>. ; rloptiori of 1 1 n.i Arte tlin.- far, and it would he •■' i.'orJn^LT :m«!
loourajrmg tosee it in ©very way u ancceai. Shrewsbury has such
a good record behind it oi earnest municipal life, that tho lack of
public interest En He library and museum in thcKoeduoutional days
mould ""i be eontinned in mob :» wealthy town Qicre bUou d be
Mini 1 1 \- about clearing ofl the remaining <i«-i»i , and so hit tin
fncubu* from iif rate, n annum won" for nan vigour being
infused into the work, when it i* seen thai within three months
ind up to id i ■■ February, 1890, <>i Che debt <>i £2,000
ii much a* £1,600 had been promised in donations, and the
Iroiulae* <-i annua] mihscrfptions reached fist). Many methods
:i i- iirrii adopted for augmenting this fund, bui few of them
,i ■ boon more pleoatng than thai employed by Mrs. '•. B.
l.iov.i I'm-. 1h\ eoncelved the Idea "i giving n eoneerl In
Buppori ol the iHirury, and so oblj wan the Idea oarrled oul
*l :ii i Eanh1 inable aufffeuee Ailed the Eflirowabury Music HaU, and
wcTf rnini i ned with vocal and instrumental music of the mod
cnarml on disaoiiptlon. The proceeds of tliia eoueeri produced
ibonl toO. Willi more hooka and the use of the whole inuume,
i!r present turnover shown very clearly what could he done.
Viie 4.571 volumes in the lending department were lent out ten
he 'ii m Eseaefi in Ui&t section being 17,044. Tin*
can wis i iiteritiUy aid the work in Shrewsbury, mid
; i: I - i mid .ii once be secured. An enhanced public i.ii CTWl
auld be aire to Inflow .
SMBERWXCCi
!j.i. ■ ■: ewhere there ia i - vy tor more space for tbo branah
adiif ■ i"1 present nuartere are an many occasions
-i Dnrlnj theyei '•- volumes have been bought, at
.mi averagi Goetoffla 3d. pel boot II. vpori reem-dH that four
i i . were lost. One went amissing under exceptional eireum-
" l i" man to wh<un il w:\< lent havtag accidentally fallen
t.i the .'Mind daring n dense fog. The oomnal I iriderately
detcrrn nod not toenforee replaeeinent in IhiNease." ii Ib t>> t»c
omed that 1 1 1 ■ - pom man managed in get out olive, If the boolc
i : recovered. The utlin ihr-i- !k mica were poid 1'or by
i- borrowers. Tin's serves to llluntmte the erxnd hook^lcaafilng
. oat in al i mat* ratabHaliinenta. Tlie rujxirt given a Iwl m
bookti added during the year. Ttiia i-. m improvement on
■ i imi-I'm: in he numlier of HtatiM i<-> usually give i to annual
Mtiiiw iik w .iii ;N riiirriiin.uv ;inti two branch rem in ■
t> [ionny rate, The sixpenny
inn:. Lc dvci -'(".' nugee, and ih bound in *till
u ■ in IIiiAlcrn'A in"1 R. \. \^r«\Wa\wuY* AV-
tec
I'i"Hl I' r.IDftAKlBS-
cateloKtu i>i ■■) - i I- 1 1 til ■ i.i i« . :>ini Mr. B&ilujr, Ihi lil>m n, into
ujErutulati d upon 11 . aot onlv tor the ijw 111 j >l thi
bat E n ii" "in ibex oi c w ni i
W AI.HAI.I..
WhImiI! h fortunate The profit* on the local (pwwrrrki!
property "I bfaa Corporation, paj Mu'ir Sc1i<k»1 BobiO rate. Ifn
town k comparative^ IWtfly taxed, and the people are wilUn
pin more than the penny rate ft»j their Public Library, hul ill
1H-H i\ iImv muat remain until they girt thcii Local [mpr ivpmenl
nil passed. There in >ue branch (ibran bul more hinnclio
d, and under tin pruwsnl income tlicj < Lnnol U- provided
One of the local newspapers ecentlj put tin in tt« plthfl)
ami there la reason u LblnV that ti expressed the riewa
ii-i\ large numbci »i the people. The paragraph in uiw
rtntcd .— 1:> express rcatrictiozu of tfti statute the Pabll I al
■ ..iniiutt. i can tuki no more out of the borough rate foi Public
Librart purposes than iL d the C per annum, Thiaha
0eemen li im mi arbitrary, an Enjurfoue, and on an
i: mi ■ i.i aa prelaws then is no restriction put upon
tin- council in i! • matter of il ordinary > xpenditure for purposes
Minotioncd by law, excepting the expcnditnn incurred for the
rpeoift oh i d - • E lb< hioh'r i.ii raric ■ lei Ltmaylx I ial 1 1. .
Hid nnvf;i|.nr WCTC t'rii\ fOftt QffO, looked UpOU UkIuxui ••
|>e hiUri: iii moderation. But booki nod new paper i ■ i
i i ;, ui cm <.:.i!;. life, and i librar an holes n mu u h
position hi public estimation than i taitehor or n cook, boj
• cm ling i. Ii Erjtimuti and honourable Rnl an m aj ha
rolntcft to looa] luxation the peopli un
nxc I n Iw ii" Impoj m M- »im « irfiont, then i m ■ i u on wlv
imitation to the ponding tower of a Public Library committee,
■ o Ctovn Council for Public Library pnri , houK note
There ' consensus of opinion in Walitalfthat ii" inotltuti
the town ib o J greater benefit to the public than the li
room, and thai benefit is inoal mi^ii) unci unobtrui
!■■ i:i I •■)■!( <i und sua quietly enjoyed, r ■ - is proved t\v the fact thai
;.(»n borrowcra, on< ibout J.OtKi poopli vi I tb>
Hbrariei uxd bo* It will i ■
rii -I friends <i this movement ' • digest thai tot no ■
-.mumIci- Hiniir iin.'i' or four mi: io ild I * u
:i branch to be c tablwhcd in their midst. Tho librarian, Mr
Alfred 3Iorgantsendan copy of the i '. roll printed
an<l in clou type
\\ i i TSABUBV.
W i ■■!!.■ :i'iuv v, hated . mi ti d
With i i ■ - ,:<i on ol orj . ! i,000 I he i ■ i irnitti c irr d ■ il i
bi ' •■• h'i o ''.it.' which brfnu i i" : ' '. ^'J".
l!uv. 0] : hOW li-' l>00n .1: i I ' i I.- i.u:-<- .ill : i|tli(iiH ■ .,
'i'T dui'iTin th< In \ hofw I t
PTTlI.Tr r.TTmtniB* IX rilW Mlhuvn < v,i NTTFA
101
.tni; | ;») h b [he very success of these libraries
uii; tnslcvs It dlfllcull >• keep pace «iiii the InoreaalnK
i|i-|ii:M;i|.s lll.lllr lijmti , \,r '. . I is . In- Ii'i:i i.il :u:il t III' Hhfih i'.s
which Iibvc i" Iwh* tho brunt hi the poverty ilia ■ in his
and il her in tho loss of new bookM which would
otherwise Lvxnu i<> theur Ai SVednesbury, ihe librarian, Mr,
Thomas Stanley, has tab ly begun a subscription library. Forty
ii icra ham joined a( a guii i i year, md the
1 «■ '• « U - wtD, aftei twelve months' use, come to the rublfi Library.
The tlbran forms u pari of .1 prottj block of buildi igs 1 oraprising
una library. Those wore opene to B78 With 9,007
rolwnee tho turnover readied "COTS volumes. Thv committee
1 for gifts 1 1 books, especially those that bear upon the
u 11i.1l pursuit* "i (Ik: neighbourhood, and topographical
works reJatans. to the town of Wcdneeburyacd tht isi.h k Country
generally. The repeal • bin ■<<■•:<■• md art 1 nam shows thai
■ 1 of 103 ttudent* eighty-seven irere examined, who took, four
juo n ■ [tIkcs, 11 1 1 council prist e, fourteoa tirat-claea ecrtifi«atc«,
b id 1 1 ■ itj -three Mseondn 1 iah cortdrlcatcfl,
WOLl UUtASKROXi
in 01 <■<••■ .-' da] movement, WoWerhampton exhibit* s detox
■ i; t . Lcoop abreast > 1 iii" times. \ rooaonablo hope may
pre sod thai !.■■"■. i. many yean have passed the townwlD
handsome1 new building adapted i" the growing requiro-
' the library ITiocaB upon the newsrooms Is especially
1.' and frequently there iv. not » vacant chair. The reading
il»|i-' woi'O : •■'•i;il.\ dOflig LOd I \ Mr. John l\llii<t, llir CQUrtOOUfl
1 ■ 1 on« ibrar on. Those or 1 abi u1 -■ fee long, with
tnd "ii those is the periodical in a fixed poei-
>n i.v moam oJ 0 brass rod running down tne middle of the
bUcntlon, and nrev* uting the reader from removing ii \ *:i!jje
he cop of the tnl Le hai painted 01 H the name of
\c tenodica This fepa be whole room orderly, and the
J g tables n led by readers from end to
id '■ ■ ■ ■ trig This part eular form ol 1 ible d< eano doubt
[he reader from hitting from paper to paper, but i«
perhaps: little Trying where the sipjhi is nol particular^ g iod
■ -1 iii.tn.:ii] nev borrowere the ages were distributed
u follow* i r< 1 1 fourteen to twenty, W6; Prom twenty-
one to fifty, -Ji.">: over fifty, 37 1 age* nol given, R*. Three
1 iod red '.1 : !•'•.«' new hnmiwers were mMianfos ind ari ■
Two special features of the work .it Wolvcvharnpton are the
irt.in-> and ilii'i". .-ii ; i' rlssscs. Thrllhrary has w>- ! <■■ iMhllshed
b« position w n nantn il e fnlnircthioatlonal work. Its olansos
1 contlnuutiou srlmol. and Die eomjnvfienMlve aliaraotiar of
nentlonal pitarnunme ol ^ach winter tuts well earned rotr i(.
ie liner till l'i ( : |'I> ■'• '.'lil'i >-'<■. A iIku; .li( I' t'MUt fl'dlll
\ c Plowden, M.I'.. and one ol ei-V) rom thcli Mayor,
in Jnarpli .1mim->. aiileil (<> e.sUblitsIi l ehon ■ *' « >.■■.'.' il ■. .
wtitoh in- been iv*«/J i/-.c'/. A metnllurglra\ V-i\hivMhyn Vhtvtsw \o
193
ii iii.n: i idiiaici i'.!
rds whiuh tin -iiiii .i <; ..mi in ... [j , , i,,.,.,,
? remised i'v :> local jentleuia i I ' ■ i i I thai iin-
lyunotl will nndur too i""-. ■ ■■■ i>l too Technical Instruction \<t,
I --!'. m:iL< a I ii'h'.h.! | |fl a pftHl I' 9 B 'd tl Q > IV d lOO tUld fl
kOOl ■!■■.;. . which WOUld 061
practical and beneficial bcsrSag upon the trade* d
district rheee evening ■ * J :t- - « - grow in populaxifcj «uii each
j u inter, and En ■ *■■ npli hi a i of i verj
faction diameter. More than ordmarv Interest :)- shown in the
operation* of thin Peoploi College, oniefly owlnn, to fth
interest ovin I by the ibrori d mil bin committee In their
extension
h \ti.;:i-.. last ho rubers el the Public Lie all
and archaeological departr: dean ixaursloi to Laploy, 1
pi waul ido In brakes through sylvon Manary.rlou In i''»iiugo,
.mil rnddj wil i the I -;i I •;•< >l uitumn, brought the part} to I
destination. 1 he Ural \< he el urel .
til the hmrl.Tii:!i ri'iiltir.v The party WiiS r*OUduot«d th; ■■
it bj tin 1 CI t B i I I '■" '■< talli DJ H..
■ tnd history, : ' -1 also mcI II died tho ■ | or ol
t! i ctn pel . written upon parchment. and "liifinjr from » d 1688
Other places u Interest were visited, and the taken on
iin lawn of the vlea-ra^e Vfler ti*a a i>h|»w upon tho M flora ol
the Mldlanria" wan rend to th# part) rhe paper was I
with Home fifty s]KTinitM)'; id plant*, nml gsvvr Bl lOCOUnl Ol the
principal Howertow plant* or crypto rl An* ir da; plan
phsnerogain*, mel within tlie matrlcl <>i theMWlanoa \ ten
weeks aftcrwardt the members ol the clasMsi In mi
ppUed mechanics, and steam, ar np&nied bj their
teacher, visited the piirapl i i an fines of the Mines Drain
inera al Bradley lboul Rfty students avalta lalree
( f he privilege gr.uit<--l
The Siiiunhiy < wrum- i^ikvi^ in connection v.th hhfl I b
are becoming ijuite an Institution, \ uotniunl < li: i ir :m
admission, and Infill tho vocal tuiil instrumental music I
of i 1 1 1 t-r l ■ order Sia hundred in i u uvenuie attendance a-i I
The series of Qilchrfal Bciencc lecture* have been verj NucceMrful
during tti** past winter. Lord vVrwth»lcy, In prerfdlDfl M
te iturebj Profeaso M . ll.-<m the Life :i ■
hi hope* he would !"■ permitted, as an outaider.te n
moment in (in- Public Library oi
wa died « tl at ich interesl bhegrcal nroKrcec and development
which that Institution I A mode, awl he ventured l<
tn
think Che
audience present would, ii appealed to, by
m tji i .: I pTi In h* '■ stimon) as to U - mln. w.n. li ihc
. .^.1 ftrona it, n ■ hon flit the < the Lihrar i
ased their claim tipon Uiclr in'atiludc fur idwi \Syiujt tiinn-
>i-lv.-.\ witl i in important educational trcate - . tad afforded
through the course of lectures now in profireaa.
X-' wonder that the work i Wolrerhampton ihould liarc
caught hold of the people, percolating us it does into their
nmi.TO MHUAKEKS IV THK MIM^Mt rOlWHRS
19?
cnt
and rdiic.-iiiinin! life to so large an evt-iit. 'I'lu* Improvement
Bfll about which there was so much discussion in Wolver-
haiiipiuii. ami of which such a handle wan made hi aoma towns
■gidxwt the adoption of tiie Public Libraries" Acts, referred chiefly
bo tin Municipal School of Art, oiul Art nailery. Pictui'i'N t.> tiie
raluiQ of 620,000 were bequeathed bo Lhe town, and it was to
provide * suitable buUdiogfor these that an additional rate \*:i*
iiMiinl necessary. A pcnu> is ntill levied f»»r library purposed, and
an extra halfpenny, under the Improvement Act, for the art
gallery. Unfortunately there are many who object to uU rates ou
prtncipJ ■. and who. when a library rate is proposed, pour out the
rials oi their wratn upon the proposal, and frequently tlie most
untruthful statements on made by these Opponent*.
YVoactssnsit.
Tlic work horo has long; boon erlbbod, cabined, and coufiw sd
lhe present rooms are much too small, and great difficulty in
experienced in ttorlngUie books. But after much discussion'nnd
rery sarefuj consideration of plans the oonamittoc are about bo
sreet a building to accommodate the library, museum, nrt gallery,
and achools of art and Science. The whole of these institutions
will Im» under the control and management of the l'uhlio Library
ooxnmittee, and antroorted under the Libraries and technical
I Qstrnetfon Ants. There can bo no doubt that such a combination
dueational institutions win be of the greatest poaaible benefit
tha «'Uy. and the Town Council of Worcester have acted wisely
[] deciding to curry out such a scheme. The librarian, Mr. Samuel
siiiMli, has been, with hi* cintiiiniioi', engaged in forming n
collection of Worcestershire hooks and pamphlets Mr. W, A.
Cotton has greatly assisted them In this work to presenting to
e Library 71 volumes nnd L4/J pamphlets, either written by
Worcestershire authors, printed In the county, or relating to
w nreeatershfre. Some of riiese date back to 1882. Collector* of
literature En oilier districts might well follow the e sample
Mr Cotton. The number of local pamphlets ami hooks in
' wis all over the country must be considerable, and the
fid of these to the nearest Public Lftrarj during the lifetime of
in- owner, could soareelj dispose of them in a more useful or
ppropriatc *wi\. lit Worcester there are 23,000 books for a popu-
lation it la.om. Tliis is good, and still better that fiction stands at
■ i cent, oftheissuec For the year the total issue was 79,000,
. gives about lj books to every inhabitant. On one day
.( September, 1,373 people visited the newsroom, library, and
muM-nni. These institutions have many pood and earnest friends
in the L count il, and among; those there stand out promin-
. nth Mr, It. W. Btans, F.S.A., of the Worcester Poreeliiin
. . and M:'. I. Corbott. The latter gentleman, speaking
laid that twenty-five years ago, when scarcely more than
i v, Ik made up hie mind that sonm day or other. If blUnaB
effort could achievs :t, there should bo a Public Library in
Worcester. There wore several defeats, and it wra^ol>a&VC£vgft
ii hi.i- nisnAaiB*.
Lett were adopted Wetoeeier in iu^ev home, whicl
wOl »i)on Im-c <• .1 n.ih(\ in ln'icks ami in-i\ Ear, has a brigh
ul future before it, and it* present Sy600 borrowei j vil] then
soon swell into u very muoli larger numl« r«
CHAPTEK XI.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN THE EASTERN COUNTIES.
IIK work is <I<'v«.'l(»|ii r\ slowly in the Eastern
< Viuiiik'H. Lincoln hoe Dot :i ein<i one in the entire
county. Norfolk has two i » n.v. Suffolk ono, Ease* Irwo,
The other counties, Included in these briel notices under
this chapter i»' the sake ef simplification! ore E
K< til, SUftSeX, ll:ini|)-li:rr, find IJvrkuhiiv. In k.-i I .i;n! Sun .
■ liar, the movement make* but very slow progress, and
ih a mountain ol work to be done before then counties are v eg
over Co the movemem
TUiekim. Bssjjt),
Barlring, with it« population of 12,000, boa the distinguished
honour "t being the are! place u Esses to adopl the A. I ■.. At
tlio end ol 1888, by o majority ol four to one and by means of
voting papers, the question won settled. There w* ro manj tuvnoet
workers) and coo gre i\ success in securing the nd< ption wo - ow ine
to the excellent organisation, Messrs. W. Beavcra. PP. \V.
ci.Miny, .1.1*., i j.- . •■■■■■ JaokBon, and Mr. Mi boh i torso tiled theh
forces w I . and thfl town was divided into district* and acti
<-:imv;i-. ad. Hence the reaeon why more than tho arorege nn
ut i':ite]vvy.?rs v.ti'il. In .March, LtWO, I :■ mporoi'V rei OCI ■_
com! >ri:ihi\ fitted up :mri furnished, wa« opened. and baa boon
Open M nil Week «l:ivs Iimiu ten a.m. to elevi'u :r nL-M. i
iii\ • now Homo 887 in the lending section, which was opened En
Muv last, \\iih an ii me "i C275 there is every proapool of :»
useful work. < oleheeto? and Chelmsford wfl] now novo to set
Ihiur Imim' i i nrder.iir rlii-v u ill !«• left hi'hlnd in this riwiveiiient.
in both places the question has been cHsaossed.
Bubstvouk
a iplendtf owprniiniton brought about the adoption ol the Let*
herein therolddlOQl laal year Mr 1 1 W. Williams, with asti
aonnnlttoe, had no Intention of permitting r.he question to r«
.,i meeting* and arousing public Interest. A little legal
dlUiciitiy W iftfl pri »r Ii llir rvrm Ig of I 1111 NtUl I'nh
iiir i totofthe public notice ualu'ug the meeting wiw an Inttma
Hon thai compound householders were not entitled to i
thta woa the question npon which the last movornenl In Bren ford
f vi I mm:', came a ffrlef, on eminent Queen's Counsel was consulted,
who said dial the Loon] Boards advisor was wrong in bis & o
; "i ol the law. Tlie learned gcutlemai: \ a .
pruur irnnsniK* tv thr ttarterv ronsTTFS.
1P6
engaged m a e*ise of g BlffliuU nature two years ago, in which the
authorities of n resti-y «»f the City of Loudon refused to receive the
rot* of b tenant te the. cfty i ecauee ie compounded with his land-
lord for lite rates. Despite the (act thai bne opinions of eminent
him supported (he action of the authorities, the Court of
Queen1* Bench held Ghat a man waa entitled i<> a voir if he mM
rates, whether directly Ot through his landlord. Ah reported in
another chapter, eminent legal authority laid it down that com-
pounders could not rote, and in many places the question lias been
on tliia one point. The I Iri ydon case solved the difficulty in
Brentford, and the town rink -•! (hat place eeut the following
letter;- "Town Tlnll, Croydon, June 11, 1889 — hi reply Io your
letter of this date, the case of the AttoPney-QeoexaJ v the
i and Corporation of Croydon is to be found in the Law
Reports. The decision <-f Mr. Justice Stirling does not ner.es-
aarilv : pp \ '•-> :» place which i- mil :i mm iripnl borough, but I
should think it quite likely that when the attention of "<
!<• -.-:.! adviser of Tour Board is called to tho case, he might modify
opinion winch, in the abaance of the case, he might hnvo
formed. ITooifl faithfully, 0 M KuSOBOOOH, Town Clerk."
When QueenAa Counsel and the lesser lights of the legal peo-
li'.ion give diametrically opposite opinions ordinary mortals
may be expected to lincf Boxna difficulty in interpreting these
l>:i'lly VOfdfld Acts.
lne Arts ware oantfod with enthusiasm, and in January, JW*),
ii pening ivreiuony took place. Tho conversazione tor I his
pleating Object was in every wny successful. Mr. James Jligkind,
M.r., performed tho ceremony. M:<ny Liberal gilts of money and
books flowed in, and the library il now Id fall operation
UniQHTON.
Brighton hafla local id dating back to I860, enabMnff them to
h \ \ :i rate for I brary and other purposes. This was amended by
another Act In 1876. The Pavilion rate, in which the library and
museum nre situated, is id., and this produces about tJ ,.".!().
Pot sewn! .\i;u>. ;i I n-;il xturro has waged about the Public
i ,ibrary The reference dopai l ment wan opened i'i 187S, and some
of iln more active spirit* of the Town Council and among the
residents have ever since that time been agitating for a [ending
section. Thin, however, did not become an established foot until
but October. * '< i unns upon columns of matter have m eared in
tin- ticii! pre v. respecting the library, and the reports »f several of
the dl Kmsaana in tho Town Council as to whether there should be
►lending library oc npy as much as four columns of cIomIt printed
I type It li dountful whether another town, except perhaps
a id comply such an example of two opposite con-
tending foi'oca vigorously fighting the mutter out to the bittO]
i ii. celebrated watering-place, which boars the name
M ii'o. But the principle was worth fighting for,
e Is due to those members of the Town Council v^aa
championed in so ablo a manner the cause oi the YCO&nfe aftcjAwk.
196
PCBI.IC LIDRARIE9.
of tfao Brighton people. An argument very frequently M
forward at watering piaoee, whore it ifl sougl ■■ the A. te,
is that u Public Library weal the private Bubecriptloo
lihmricK UliS Statement was ndnuKvd in r.righrnn, and in n |-i\
bo it Mr. W. J. .Smith, the ha keeJlot >i North Street, sna a
memhor of tho library cummin. •■■, nn\,\ : "I hnvc --nt down a
contribution d! L,900 votanec bo the library! Bnd if it i« once
started tod placed under propei ■• ■ _ -in. i.t i shall do what I
en for tho library in ttM future. But the primi i\ i bjeot musl
not bo lost sight of: that is, tho provision of literature, ir we
cannot dispense honks in e huildmg which wo should like, wo
must do wwb what aoeonunodatSon we can get. Tin- nun ol £3,000
would purchase lfl,UX) volume*, reckoning thorn at !&. 6
volume, Thia, with the books we have, would form n wr\
serviceable library."
"Mi- D B Friend, the well-known librarian and txM.ikRellor.ot
\\'i ntern Road, is another member «»i tho trade whose duly
avocations do not narrow his opinions on a subject where tin-
benefit of others besides himself is concerned. " ' h course there
fire BJie BQbacribers in private tftuarles." he unid, "who would
take advantage of the opportunity to gel their books for nothing",
when i i ■■> i'i afford to pay for them not of their own parse,
Rut, I don1! :iuiiri|>.i.u' thai the establishment nfu Public Trending
Library would have any disastrous eituuls on private enterprise
I am decidedly in favour of (be movement myself. \\ hat traders
Lost hi one way they gain in another, The tierustd of hooks leads
to adealra lot Lhe& aeo^alaitioa, and this desire once implanted
in oat often eliminated, It Brows by what it feeds on." On
September L2, 1*73, the building waa opened to the public by
tbe Major as ;i library, picture gallery, and museum. The back-
boni of ii"" coHectioo was 3/XIO volumes of tho ISbran of tin Roy.
II, V. Elliott, presented by hih Hiirvivmg sun, and ",000 rolun t< B
of the library of the lloyal I-it -m;t r* and SrientihV Institution,
presented by tin- pvopri^rary. In the sixteen years wrrtco
elapsed stoee the opening many donations have bea mode,
both large and small, and of very different value. From the
dny ol nvenintr till October ln*t, mm nlro;u.lv Muted, tl in libmry
was cxehiHiv.'l\ a reference library, not as containing only booVfl
rtf reference properly so-called, but from the fool thai the public
Wore privileged to read the books only in tho library room* and
not to take them away to read at home. Within mere r.-.-i nt
vol db it was widely felt that this indiscriminate restriction of
books to the library rooms mu prejudicial to the ii
bott library and readers. It was not only inconvenient to
numerous habitual readers, but it deterred n largo nimbi i i
wo ild-be readers, who would have h«on pud in take books a* in
to rea) si i oiq*i from malting use ol! the library *1 all; nnd ft
lao fell bj those who wi re Loquainted with tho oonteati Dd
toe library and the wants ol modern readers, thai i the i
eaec library wore to be transformed Inl ■ n tending library with
/'/i nroBpeot of succetw, it would U* uecmtarj |.« i i 'hose
PIULK; UIIRADII-h IN TUU EASTBUN' COTWIES,
197
oontonts, i i uabh udeod &i hoy wore, a lar^c supply of modern
literature, and itpeeinUy w 1 1 1 ■ tctSan, m which the library
of the past was sadly deficient . for a library which trusts entirely
I i | . -i ■ I dOH ■»! iODfl :m<l 18 not . ri'i"i*n:torl la i Kyteinafie pUTOhftU
di bookfl Dp to flute, necessarily stagnatus. During the last
three years more than one lending library scheme, involving
either import ml standard alteration* in the profienl tunes or
:in entirely new bonding, baa been suggested, discussed, and
Hie I silent ami iii.jmI ntaWtloua of these scheme* roe
tha Jubilee Schrane of 1887. Tha Mayor of that year asked
tin* Brighton public for £10,000 or the erection <»! :
m. -I .»riil building, and tlie nirnHhing it with hooka; hut
in answer to the appeal onlyaboul £3,400 was subscribed, It
whs none the IfiSH I'dr. by the Jubilee committee that it would be
(i pity Co law the opportunity of pn riding the nucleus of i Public
Lending Library In the town, and the Mayor sent to each sub-
scriber a letter asking whether the MibHcriber was willing that
his sabscrfpLion should, under the circumstancea, be applied bo
tin- purchase of suitable Liuuk.s and bo providing littiuga for their
reception in son I the present premised. The remit of the
ofayoife letter and »»( serine subsequent negotiaftkoie of a Jubilee
sulM-oininittCf1 wa,i This, 1 h?it I ho cummiHcc w; ..*• ennhlrrl to hand
to the Town Council about £1400 to defray the cost of
.■- ,. i l the i i i- hiiEM oi i ooks. This sum did not include Mr.
II li,n k*B subscription of Ci.000, iuasmuch as he had indepen-
dently and previously, at the end of October, 1688) oenununioated
to tfle liht-iu-y ■■ -mtii itt.--- hi- intention (if applying bjs -iiiKseription
to the purchase ol books, n id his desire that the committee should
at once make out bata OS books to purchase. The library com-
mittee upfioiuted a sub-committee of selection, composed of Mr.
VV". J. South. Mr, F W Madden. librarian, and II. J. Mathews,
and the work ol the fonnation ol the lending Ilbrais wn.* started.
The total number of books hi the Brighton I'libhe Librutv U
< tit these, \7fiU ore in the Victoria lending library. The
whole o the old library, comprising; forty cases, woe examined
book by hook. Books which belong properly to the referenoe
ere removod to that department : a load ol useless books
was eliminated and transferred to the rooms upstairs: and the
• and review*, numbering 1,500 volumes, which WBW
chiefly In the "ooms, were brought together and placed in the lend-
ing binary The ntimboroi book* In the refers i ■<• library is 13,244,
The few month* which have pawed KJnee the lending library
waBOpuUed have iimro Minn justified the prophecies ul tfiOse who
havetaki n iij theijnoHtinn. About 420 nook* ar^ distributed each
day, .irxi he i for borne reading. The number of actual
■ 4-(>rs iimik' the lending section in 2.87J Brighton baa now
.; Itself hi line, and hue commenced its true Public Ubran
: i-iv he vfuh'.i wiri confidence thai a few years v. fi
wUflrr to UluNtrste to tliM gentlemen whoopposed thoscnenie that
• > 1 1 m ■ » weiv noting prejudicially to the real weNiaafcdl
■
!"-
Kl'UUC L.IBHA1L1KV
f-ASTBIlDiritY, I'oLKBSTOSK, AXD .SnTtN&nOtTlNK.
iii library nl Cantab uv dates back to 1835, but II ma not
until I&> thnt it was taken over by the '. irporatiOD. I:
museum ami library combined] and hence the reason why the
coiuiiii: i' » have not boonnbloto provide the ieto< w Hi more
Hi hi ."v'tU) volume*, I'll*- -iii In issue aliout ]oo, and I
advancing. In the early part of lost year an offer ■ m ret
from an old Canterbury resident, l>r. Ik-uncy, of M< 3
for thy I'oblio Ubrary.and t» i&clttdi
a working-men's institute. In March, 1S8U, when the quo
discussed in tho Town Council, it was determined tlmt a
[otter should bo sent to it, Beaney tniggesUna; that, oj |
no need f<>r iin.iriicr institute n» C&nter bury, the oily would be
ii ii benefited, and hie namo brought into permanent conn
v iii tho place ol nil birth, it ho would awe thorn .< turn !
ii i i. The entire loiter Best to Melbourne Is a piece of the coolcal
presumption that ffe think i>:*h been ever known In o
w th Kucii a proposal, a distinct offer wn« mado for one thing
itl be done. and this offer Is treated Indifferently, nnd sonn-thi
quite another character is pat before the gentleman mnktai
, and the offer b now withdrawn, i - I deserved to '«• mere
D old mi :» -ii ii m i» charge thai tho cathedral cltle* are, in
municipal And educational luntitntionii, far behind other towna,
ami thnc ia much truth in the statement. Canterbury, in it*
action oTor 1 1 ■. i ^ offer •<> build u Public Library a* s new l
Cor tlie BXlattng our. iiluMrutcn this point very clearly. TV nd-
dent will serve ;im u mwI'iiI lnwM>n to other places, when then
offer to build them j new Public Library, to accent ii. ux
spoil the in tt_*m jul: donor'i mind by foolishly suggesting soine-
trting different The Corporation evidently thought tfiat b
ling for their nobli nerves was of inJlmi'-u mo simj
than a suitable dwelling tor books and museum objecta, There
should bea little library education infused into the mm
' .' ; ■ • 11-1117 ' '"i i"'i >ition, and if tin • < > N-m t>ri< -- .it the cathedra
-will Idndlytake this matter in hand they will accomplish b
necessary and us* ml work.
Folkestone rejoices in .i new building, which was opened bj
6li Edward SVotkin, M.P.. In Ipril, 1688, Lie remnrkod, In the
course of his nddn -. thai when Lord Jolm Hussell introduced
what was called tin Mnincipul Corporations' A.-r ii was ould that
ii would Ixi inefficient, and thai tho managcroonl ofevcrybod
everybody ■ rdinal »i<<! radical mistake, He (Sir Edward )
thought, however, that they eould look Ml round the municipal
boroughs of England without Basing, except in on>- »u- iw< mhy.
they, as human bsiogn, « '- i ■ i sonu ti i <•■- rnako mistake* i i
noent monuments of Bueh popular institutions as th»- i : o the'
wore oponiag thai day. win would have thought ii po
fifty yeai o that an effort ol u :•■ kind would have been
uised by a body oJ '.own councillors sleeted by the pee
G the Vablic lAbmj uud \luseum tlie sum
PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN THE EASTERN COUNTIES. 199
£6>SO0 was borrowed by the Town Council in 1888 at £3 16s. per
cex*t. This loan has to be repaid in thirty years by means of
****xual instalments. The penny rate produces £641 13s. id. The
'^oixnt required annually to meet the interest on, and the repay-
™*eot of, the £6,600 borrowed is £364 lis. 4d. There therefore
.e?**a.in8 annually only about £117 to defray the cost of main-
^*,r**i»g the building, providing newspapers and periodicals, and
Pv*5"c™8m8; books for the library. The committee, however,
utVesaw ^n'8 ^fl^'ty* an<* from the first recognized the almost
SSr?** topoaeiWlity of maintaining the town institutions of library
*■»?*■* museum on the one rate; and, under these circumstances,
r*»*? "Town Council have sanctioned the collection of a voluntary
a*h*^ °* an0'ner penny i11 the pound. The building is a great
aZfcl*action to Folkestone, and will be well used by visitors as well
2P Residents. Every watering place might do many worse things
-j?**** imitate Folkestone, which is ahead of Margate, Ramsgate,
0"Ver, Deal, and Hastings. The gross issue last year was 26,197
Plumes, and a large number of new tickets have been issued
*J*J* the new library was opened.
-, q'-^16 Acta were adopted in Sittingbourne in the latter part of
^^V, and in October last year the library was opened. The yield
'^rn the rate is £103, and they begin well with 5,000 volumes for
J^.OOO people. A neighbouring township of Milton was invited,
^'ier the Act of 1887, to join with them, but resolved to wait
jj**"til they could have a similar institution of their own. It will
P® remembered that, by this Amendment Act of 1887, the public
^?«a.rd8 have the power to establish and maintain lending libraries
. ^tiliout providing a separate building. One of the local papers,
J* referring to the opening of the library at Sittingbourne, has
a*^"<i| us a somewhat new argument. The writer prophesies
j ^t the Public Library will be a great power for good in the
£k ^n. It will provide a fund of pleasure for all who use
£_" It is to be commended, says the paragraph, on "physical
J£* "well as intellectual grounds. Medical experts tell us that the
r J^^in requires light and exercise, and that the state of the mind
l^~^cts on the state of the body ; hence it follows that that which
(^^nefits the mind must also improve the bodily health. To the
t J-lier reasons in favour of the institution of the library, wo may
^*Jerefore add the argument that it is a sanitary measure of the
*"*ghest order." A library on sanitary grounds is capital.
Great Yarmouth.
A three years' experience of their Public Library has made
the Yarmouth people regret that they did not avail them-
selves of the advantages of such an institution at an earlier date,
uie new part of the premises, opened in January, 1889, pro-
vides additional accommodation and was erected at a total cost,
including fittings and furniture, of about £2,400. These new
quarters are very conveniently arranged and are well lighted,
warmed and ventilated. A new reading-room 60 feet by 25 feet,
has been provided, affording extra accommodation for 100 adult
000
PUBLIC I.IBRAIUKS
renders and shelf-room for 4 ,< x K J more hunks. The lending
department is also utilised as a readtag-rooin fop boyaand Rtru
between the ages of twelve and sixteen. The people Aetna
U v ihm. no oilier library iu the kingdom enjoys the use of *o
picturesque and delightful ■ building— to those of an artistic ami
aiit-ujuariantuate — as that of Great Yarmouth. TheoldTolhouse.in-
telligeiiily restored, is nmoM Inspiring place in which tc read, Bail
early in tin- thirteenth century, it liar- served as uoUDCiWohflDlbei
m ip since, save in Later yean when it did duty aa a law court
The ancient hold, ox gaol, of great strength, lie** beneath, ■
daily visited as one of the moat interesting Sights in the town.
The del "'toiV prison lies just beyond, and both are now dlftWflA
The principal entrance to the hull, when? the library]* established,
ies hy an open external staircase, which with its covering of quaint
old timbering leadefroin the street rot he first floor. This oXTfl
mentis all but unique in En^landj although ii Is apparent by bb
»tttdy of other ancient buildings that it was of corn men -« ■ ■ n-
in X trnian and somewhat later times. The fine 1ml! wit i [1
wainscoting and Steal timbered* pointed roof, and its rath&fl
wiadowSj ii huttfsnedas ;i reading-roorni butthoal&nosl grotesque
old civic chair el ill stands in its place, together with man} a i
i'iirji'(-ity of I hyjrnne a.u'(\
The official opening "'" ,,,1R extension at oneo orootcd nu
immediate increase in tihe number of borrowers and In Um
atUii'I:iiH'" :it the reading-rooms. In fact, so heavy was the droll
upon the resources «»f the library thai the permanent stall
glad ol the help of five townsmen, who, in the evening gave their
a^sistanee. In one year there have been added 7,084 volinr.i-.-,
more than haU the number being giits. The total ozboofca la now
10,017, and the issue last year wax 110,438 volumes ia the len
departments. This 1s almost phenomenal considering that the
pjipnl.it ion is only 60,000, giving over two hooks to every inhabit-
ant in thai year Klghty per cent, of the rending was fiction, but
the v i n outti people have not taken fright at tow, tor they seen
to be believers in Tennyson's saying that
1 . . . . truth in elosc«t void* Oiall
Wlien Truth embodied in a tale
Shall entur iu at lowly dootS.M
fail.
The librarian, Mr. Garter, who tame from the Manchester
Library, and the committee have devoted special attention tu
securing of books relating to the town anil county. H all
miller:- vmmiM do ( In,--, y.> -.u^yeslcd n aiiotber place, UlQ would
rendei a national ai well ae a local service. England Ii .i i -o
country, and there is scarcely a towu or a village in it— witli hue
exception, perhaps* of some of the recently founded centres of
of industry—which cannot boost of being the birfcbplw
Individual or the seem- of some event which entitles it to share d
the heritage oi the ages, The volumes issued bj tii* Historical
Manuscript* 0ommioaion( and the annual rep rtsol the Depatj
keeper ottlto Public Itecords ahooAdbc caxcttuiy scanned bj
1'tttLiC MbBAIliK rfl . -V^ikio i'» MIW,
201
lo<
bo
Ibmrloas, who would frequently find En than compilation* rofer-
enceajto matters of antiquarian interest which have escaped the
attention '.-von of the most painstaking local historians, ,v gmid
[ocal library, in addition bo works of archftolorfcalj historic, and
rapiii interest., should atao contain u colln'tani of the bast
lUoatrative m the local flora, fauna, geology, agriculture.
an<l meteorology.
^The .juvenile deportment bids fair i<> "kvoiiic very popular BO
r na the reading-room and lending department arc concerned.
-T w i lis, w.n'4.it ■-, unci the watering-places on
le South Coast should observe what is boing done ut Yurraouth .
1
IPSWICH.
The adoption of the Acts hoiv took pktoe early in the history of
tin- movement, for it dales i- far baeJc as insy ; but tin- library was
BOtOpOOad QB til \pril, 1 -■->-. Tluve separ 1 1 •■ reports are aubmittod
■».> the .'oiumittoe, dealing severally with the museum, lending
library, and schools of BcSflc* and art. With the first ol those
ij i^ it naaaaavrj bo deal ai preseut, iieyond s:t\m,o thai th.>
onfng attendance ;.t tho mnsouna, which Is n particularly good
«»ne has greatly increased during tho past winter. During the last
library your 1.000 volumes wow added, by purchase 761, and by
none, B59. These pnrohssefl had bean chiefly made from a
fund «|n'ciali\ rained for the purpose. As rhe demand for books
far Axeaedea Mie Mippiv, and .»- \<> funds wore iiniilable from
ordinary sources, the committee had ondeaToured to raise £200 i
Seatf for three years tor Hie purpose i xelusfrely of purchasing new
aoks, Their uroeaJ was generously reepondei i<>, fnany gentle-
iiu-ii promising £B per annum for three years. The number of
volumei noa iu the library is 4,071, and thenumbei of readers
f), so thai there arc nol two kioIc* for each reader, Some
of t he hooka have bean issued Bfty times during the year. Oil m
ige twenty-five require rubimliug or repairing everj month.
in Jinn.-, i-\-n, the annibei i>n^nk> issued «iw(«ii) yo.'i. in June,
ie 1 i'.'.wj. The l.iw>t number issued ia Hig
oonth wjis En M.mii. 1689, when the books borrowed were
v C.000. The total number of iswea for tin year va« 4-J,oJ4.
inunittec express their regret that the demand For novels
•i largely in r\n->- of other and more useful literature, hut
ilK deluded all worki* of fiction, which, in their
neat, woul< nave u teudency to demoralise the minds of
n order to Increase the attractions and usefulness ol
M irary, the committee purchase all the new books they doom
C "tillable oi. rtoon tun they arc published. A catalogue of the vulu-
ii i. ol books in the reference library has recently been
mated.
WO then was n parochial library in Ipswn-h, of
es. chioily theolntfieal in thou- character. Many
low valuable as being; first edition* ol oX)\orvreM
'•• books, Topcgruphicul and ontiquniian books &ko.Uww&
ice:. I |i:ijh<) - : \\-\\ \,., | Mil *gt\ * -mi. rl from
'. hop " 11
ring :r:
' ■
prsuc uBiuftxu ix tiik easiksx corsmna.
joy
i: I? easy, hi remarked, to conceive esses where It
ould be hard to «aot a peoalty . bnl sue! sxtrean ion tagencics
bile Libraries ihoutd riak, which after all would bo b very
t srHing oost without abasing their power and Becking bo mnka
l**;iIliT.< mil'iiii* And UncqUIU llGtwixt nm :i atid man, Til*' taltfk ot
' "1 >t!iini]iL' gUi Html. ■!■:. i- ■■■;illv not i hurdi-n.iuiiio one, in. <l il would
i bromo ease wliero uuyone desiring to doc* Bio ;i !■■ i-
r-* »wv oouid not n i 1 1 i ha requisite requirementa m this dire
! — 1 1 ill fir time ih fart approaching when the production ot a rain
onazon to oil the privilege* of a Public
I -Ibrary, sad guarantor! will be the exception una ool the rule.
'1*1 il- three departments are atrong: and healthy, nnd the work
»*,!. together Hi tpawleh \a » -nnd biittrowH ot the Public Library
i »■» <.vr>iii 'ii( in 'ho Kctfltern Count ios
Nonwi -ii.
\ rovnamar! wrum^r from Nurwirh *a\s ihui he ran ivmh ial>or
til,- cfanewhea the Norwich Library seemed the At haunt of ghoala
• ■ ■ "! -hi m i. Hut now, lie Bays, the place to seething with tlfi, and
^vcry i ■!.■ ,.'.'ii:n;r \. ■: .! ; ie people of Norwich, are learning more
* ojh te appreciate their valtw ifc iMioknrio Till** in a well-earned
I, for on the evening or the present writer'}* visit the
fill .i peopi In every department. A little wh b
**f<<i the eoTiunrUee net Khemaelves Urn t;isk of obtaining wnne
"SOo i for the juvenile department. This the) accom-
(U ii September, 1880, the work of distributing the
■I I fa among the eJernontarj ncltools of the citycom-
i! Tin* riuinlw of books purehaaed amounted tu jliout
JO . II i j ! ted »ilh a snevial regard to their
tircnoHB and intcrcii for isehool children iu the udvan I
"*irnla;'i-. The ■ loicest work* «>f [in- world's authors are re-
ed ii the rut itiifrne of the library— the modern mil Un-
bare alike been laid under contribution. The
"'"' i. v books aupposed to enforce some sickly attenuated
'Tens hare boon rijrorouely banished, Works of action at* Ifl
k| *"<»»! | ice, history, and travels are not by n iv
ireacnti d. 11 • selection U an admirable one,
?**<! itn power of meeting the must likely demanda upon it may
ed by the fad that il include* no fewer than twent)
' 4 m * if « i .I'M.- Lord r'auntlorov.' The work whioh tho uompara-
II outlft} * l! i • mill tic Public Library to perform will
:'i the fact thai the hooka which are Iteinur put
list ion are sufficient to mamtum l"»r oaeh »iehool n in'-'i
' *l ■ five year*, and I hat during that period uviiry
jilmve thr l'niirlh atandurd will hnv< an ipjurtumty of
pi-i'iudienlry o frenh volume for peruanl. liy tlw exptro-
*-»0 ol i '-in drei ■ I any eehnol in and above the
mi i ! ^'-iii have pansed out <>i the Bchool, and a new
;v n In \. iii'.rii. rhereforc, the library nas sVik\
wcJi adththmn u* oeeuaion muj rcopfttt- TO*
204
wi*lh; i.im?AR.n;,s.
axraogements made Cor the dradatloi] of the boofcsj and Par tin
safe return, liave baan carefoUj thought out and am of the mo
complete character, The head teacher of andi school hi <<' i
tli
■ i tl
miiiiin
the contents of eoufa box an enolow tl with each consignment, and
issue books ;ht provided. Per flu- purpose of forwarding Crum
iltr library to the different schools foui boxes have I (ecu pi 01 i<I<M,
two foi tbe use •■ the. Board Schools, I 03 the Itoai
ami fri 1 Em Ihenoe of the Voluntary Bclioola,pruvidod bj 1)
library committee The books are apportioned to each <i
ruent -»i' u srin-i./i a<-ti«ii:i- to the average attendance 01 |"
scholars in the fourth standard and upwards. About Km vol urn
or 10 an retained in hand to moetany unexpected demand which
may arise for aroatar aappUee, It in pleaeuu; t» h. or from M
QOOfgfl Kn^t.r, (in- liln'iirian, tlmt )t in found these jmcuilc books
arc lurffi:l> used to nromofo regular attendance, bj issuing thctn
on days wln-n formerly the children least attended." Kurrln-r tlnm
thia, t-hoy allow childron to take booke, or to ohoost boos when
taken, hy the number el attendance* made. Thin u- ;» work wlu< I'
should extend to other libraries. Norwich i& about the
library known to tha writer where they are bold enough to co
b spade n spade. The room I v the gentler sea 1- deesatnotod tli
" .-. , oxen'c rooffli*1 ■•not why xlmnid it not bo* Only we are
fright iniiv punctilious oyer those frequently meaningfeai phti
Kth-ii as " Ladies " and " gentlemen. Tin.- plain Saxon ' man '
"women" is rnflnitoly better. New departures, especially II tli
Bra gocdand deferring of imitation, an* helpful. \ x*.m«-««u i ■ .1 m
minister, the Rev II li. Snell, has beea on ng 9 - ice <\ pfa
talk* a Tew months ago ii was on "What people read.0 Lit
called attention to the fact that " it was n coincidei w thai on Om
very week df this plain talk about reading, the annual report <»i
the Norwich Public Library should have iwen published. It
Tint n large library, tin* lending department only conslttlxig
Il'.ihhi roromaa; butaomehow or othoi the rtghi uptrl
into the library, and 11 real effort Is made to put u taUy a) foe
service cnMta members, mid it cannot fail to effect great educa-
tional good In the community." Will other preachers plei -<
iiiis method of taking occasional opportui life* of referring to
tin- elevating power i>i Public Libraries? NorwlcJ) lnul
Corporation Ihil j:i 1 1 ■ *_- House of Commons during last
■ clause or two "I which affected the library. The Ishuhi a
books In Dxeditably large. Ten yearn age bighty-*is u da) uram
issued. Kow it has reached 349 in the leuduitf section alone.
Norwich baa .1 barge subscription library, well Managed az
efficient^ officered, it dates back u> 1784, and oontaim
30,000 Yolumea, The iacomc reaches £700 from nubecriptfi
alone. Other towns where the Acts have not yel lieini ado
owing, perhapSi to the fears ut the existing sulwt rlpti< 11 librnrk
should note the fact that the Norfolk and N n'wirii 1
he.'/ltliier th.irj :( ovi.-r wtio,
-I.
■ f 1
IM BLIO LIIlK-Um:* t-V THR RASTMiN i'OI M'IKS.
■J06
I\i:aihnu.
Tin- nuiv idoptioi in Berkshire up to the present la Hie one
;ii the counts town, and so good an oxarapfo i* being sel \<y
(touting that tin- wonder is the lnrjrrr towns of tlio county
iiwly LnlciMi up tin* i|UfFtLion. Tin- adoption wits In
unl tiie library wavupcuiud in 1882, Tin- ritdbof the AjbocJ&>
■ i i'-:.v loWll uC Inisc-iiiL ;iimI m -■<•< : tAlU6 En 1880 will iihUiwI).)'
.;:ll !'■•! Ill .1 i . I -i li-l.lMr .till" i : 1 1 "I .it! eill H.TI tO 1 1 if 1 i I'l ,.i ) .UmI
miiM-um, and tin' members wlw nttend the mcetingM vil: hftV*
ty of visiting n compaol Had tety useful twin
I atlon, Mr. W I Palmer hoe long boon .n •■ann-xt friend of
moTi ■ Tho librorj md masonm arc honeed In i fwa
bandaomc block of muniiipal huilcHugn, towards the erection of
uin.ii Mr. Palmer contributed about £25,000. Aground plan b
phown in the nkefah Mow of the library wbicli la well mid
i;iMU NI. I'UX, UK\l'IS'(.i IH lll.H IIMIMItY.
i onn in- : ily planned. One i f the main features of the work i*
tho juvcniK - - ■ t i ■ - 1 . and it i« one t<> whaaa tli<' able librarian,
"l . W Q. Qroonhough, the librarian and snyorintendent of the
orl Mm. * in j, Ium riven his special attention. Tin* won opened in
.■■. , I "'.i, mid was set in motion by u timojj rtfl of CI 00
from the M rvor, Mr, <; W i'nh>i< r. There are aow 8,137 \ alan
un«l it i held En a room of the vfoarego, llio library is open from
f* .ii t i phi in [!.<■ evening, and on tho data of the lasi returns
rnodo there were . i';i borrowers, ol whu*h WUfaro boys and
i _-iri: The daily average in I no, In five month* 20,000
vst . lormwcd n this department, and aU were aoeounted
.1 i ! <<• Btockl iking, The Reading School Board have granted
A rooma ut two of their Bohoote as evening readin*-
The rooms are open on weekdays from six UVV teu o'&WlV,
206
r.rntiARivs.
And about *ixty -laity, weekly, and monthly porlodii
l>uvci* ;■»'-' proviih-i.l. 1'i.r a pnymcnt of S&. Si I v."
nts nro ponnittc I to borrow, and of these there ore a!
ISO, Two thousund visitors u. day is a very -i ttonduncc
at the library ood novHToom, Tin. - rMfaizu
the museum, Thore is no d<>ubt uh.nn Ucadini.' trettiiu;
sjiluc- of its library, : 1 1.- 1 it is to ho hoped that Xrwbui-v. where
the question has boon forward for diBOUBliODf and ofhox tuwna,
will quickly B66 their wfty i'lc:tr 1 1 adopt th6 late The c
naittofl hairs adopted ftlootrlolty for lighting, and the are an
incandescent lamps art used for the library and roading-r-oi
South am nox
Southampton i> proud to be able to isaue its first report.
i- -• ^atisfaotorv that it servos to prove the libraries hflTfl root
great want, and would have ' t*-*1 n established years ago bui tor i
Bigoted opposition. The Acts wars adopted on Jane 13. i
:• in 1 the library was open Ad in January, 1*89, nt a town'*.
Ti Bgantastnon was well planned, ind many voluntary woi
placed their shoulder to the wheel. The fcfayorgave the to
the meeting in an earnest speech, In wl toh hs referred t»» t
question before them being an educational o&oj and Is any mov
mrnt for I he :ul\ Jilirtrnieiit nf knowledge, and the i rpruwrm
the -.(Tnh'tiori of fellow-creatures every one should be fnteram
The Bpe«oh of the proposer, ao army ^urgeun-jreiieral.wuheuriir
::iifl to I he point, He said that the nineteenth renhiry hud NO (•
advanced tiwu it was rather an awkward thing for hi;a or aqyo
*>1*h to speak on such a subject ns the adi f kii< wleu
pi which Bacon said, " It alone doth clear the mind of all pertu
nation." There were some people <>f whom it might he said th.i
they could find sermons in stones, books in running brooks,
I i in everything, but probably such persona were only ii ll
proportion of about one to every 20,000 of the population, and ti
1 i ■.-.[ in search of knowledge had to po to books for it. lie hi
found in the limit of their own language nmi Literature that ther
waa a ma^ninVcully rieh Hold of knowledge whirh in suoh
library as they proposed would bo accessible at all b i
at fchctr bidding to sSng bo them on every subject within toe coi
past if human experience, in thought* that breathed and wor
that burned, and suitable for over} varying mood • f thi
They had also in their literature historians to toll them
hiHt-iry, and biographers to tell of the great mo* who h ■'
their mark on hwruturo, science, and commerce The/ had nlno
IrnwIliT-i h> ii'll ol their adventures mdbtntit Ian. Ik, :ind men of
Bcfonce addressing them as to how thoy had extortad nature
Beerets for tha benefits of mankind. The seconder, among oth
advantages paid that i'nblio Libraries created a feeling S
fellowship among all classes, and in times oi distress ■•■
n BJWommon thing to see men out of work wait-tng oi
puhlfe newsroom for fcho doors to be opened, so that 1
get an early look a: the advertisement* in the morning "papers.
MD] 1:1 Hi TUB KASTRUN OOl'STTOS.
m
(t WW Mt bl any moans a far-fetched argtUbQDt to say that when
iiu ipolity hud dono right to those Suffering from w:mt of
work, ti ■ p was a fooling of brother! I botwoon nan and man,
mi boao oul >t' employment felt that they wore not left out In
bat that there was a plu<T wioro th<-\* could go for
information . Thin i-; do small matter, The proposition wan
carried wii an, only about aaosea bands
d up against it. I'he astonishment of local amateur
laments a few years ago was quite universal, but the ardour
: reg rd to there keeins b bavi cooled down, The one thou
existing at Southampton rendered good service when the agtta-
tSofl w*8 in progress, The proposal was moved, seconded, and
dieonaMd, with the ultimata remit that In i rail house there
■ ■ ds^entfents wheu the question was put to the
vote, towns do) treated ass party question, and why should U
vi the opening of this Public Library, Sir. W. R. Darwtn,
:i ion (>:' t in- famous naturalist, recalled b snytng of his father's
thai u wa* wondarful wrmt reading a man could du if ha only
■ cd i dl i u i r a day to It, Eat It all deluded upon his
i dol f. ::iiii that he believed any man who had
read hall ai lioui a cum regularly, at tie end ol b year or two
have read extensively on :uiy eulijeet. There aienow Homo
md the demand for these reaches an average in" flflO
a«la,v. Mr. O, T. Hopwood* tin- librarian and secretary, naturally
:<i - * iii ihelTcs tt the ttbran better idled. An appeal
i.nlr for gifts oi money and book?*, aw! in iln> (JiMir was a
good response. Mr. J. Pussm «•.■■■■ Kdw.m.l-. -,^o a thousand volumes,
naked the librarian to indicate win kind oi -^ dts were
most vmntedj or most in demand. This is a kind of gift whicli
• . . ,—. i !i.- hr.ii i ■ uliltri ;»ii ,mk! ciimiuithv. "Will nthn plca.S)
councillor offered to lend ££00 free of interest for
i t mthfl in order that bo< In naighfc be purchased. Mias
Gordon, th< end Cfcrdon. has presented the
whole o4 hii library. The British Museum would like to have
A ■ 'o wo an Lppropriatonetis n the hooks reman
i,t Boutharn >toa, un*l the host homi for thorn vim the PofaUfl
rh< huv i <'•:■: i '■ i in looking out for a
for ;i narmananl library, which it is hoped irfl] soon be
oroctod.aj tno temporary promi Iroady congested with the
anon al tho work. there ire <• iiio out) visitom daily.
\i ikly organized and in operation, and tho
Irendy iisaliaed what a useful institution they have
. . ttdat.
ruu had, since 18112, the noble Hartley Institution.
'.i'Ii Hie Hire mi which ir «tnnds,C08t UpWOTdi OJ
ml iMimprUi'H tin1 lulluwiiitf drparlinautt ■' 'n-fidvti [Qg
library, reference lilmirj ividing-room, museum, the art gaUerTj
tacrtu hull, icionce m<l engineering (including the
• ltd physics laboraturipa, &c.), atihool of art. depnrt-
i literaturv, evenl \.- classes, and the reading-room
of tt»*f Snuthnmrjtou Chamber uf Comuiereo Uk votVVw \>«»itv
9QH
I'lTiur iiimAnn:*.
real and useful. Hut it was for main Llml tin- Hartley
Institution could not supply oil the wants ol n Publio Library under
the rates. The educational departments are very strong, and in
i'vitv w;iy possible tbe Public Library is doing all it can t.> help
and appwmeni the work at the Hartley. Tin* landing depart-
ment provided books for the use of the students at the institution
ut the science and other •'Iiihbw. The subscription to the library
and reading-room ik half-a-gninea a yvu-, but OB I declaration
i - ,■■ i un!i' : ii : r i. the income of the Intending subscriber la u&der
£200 per annum, fas in let off by paying the reduced rate of 6ft, 8d.
annually. The council have latterly adopted the plan of allowing
the tahabftanti <>f the borough to become free borrowers from
tin' library anon presenting a guarantee form, duly signed,
according to the peg ilations. it is noteworthy mat tneoounefl
of the Hartley Inst itution aided the adoption of the Acts moat
miili rially. mid it la a pleasure to record the (net. The Hartley
Institution in well known to the present writer, ami there In tha
oamesl wish thai it may have before it years of anch useful work
aa it baa aceoroplishaa in the past. In these progreeBlve days
there need be none hut the must irieudly rivalrj and emulation
among these institutions of simitar aims and works. Onh there
- ii: Ihe conviction, which becomes deeper tuid deeper, thai foi
far-reaching utility, and value for money, there IS none whi(
compare srfth the rate*supported institutions.
CHA1TEK XII.
PUBLIC LIBBARIES IN THE WESTERN COUNTIEl
| HE old adage, that " Westward the course oi i mpire I
its way," is not. yet fully exemplified, ^ o far aa this
movement te concerned. Dorsetshire ia still without b
U^jJai" single adoption oi the Acts. Cornwall and Somerset have
only one each, and Iievon is content with two. Gloucester- Im.
\u,:,<:-< imly ui run.
Bbistol.
The present writer nww en tern the Bristol Public l.ihrarn
without being slunk wilh iln- cosmopolitan eharnctor of tl
frequenters of tlu xiewaroonaa and libraries, An active hnsinaaj
nriii. drsii'ou.s of Mfiinfl Some of ihe lining ucwspujierii, « ill \mS a
dose nroxlmity to tlie boys who frequent the room, and who
diirt themselves in a very orderly manner. Near to them ngnln
will he some ladies quietly perusing the papers, and mo Lliro
hiii ihe ii nans there is au ail' *»t public utilii v, which is commend
Bide to the city of Brintul. The history oi the Public i II
movement hi this lurge centre of the west is deeply intern
In a local pamphlet, dated NovcinlxT, 1871, cntilled "The i
the Etor" Doing :i Letter from sixteen working men ol Uriitol
the fii.\ir<:n aldermen "1 the city, there in named A* 0&e o£ six
PUBLIC UnitARlBS IN- TUB WBBTMIN OOUKTnW.
'209
prrMUB.tf rcjuircnu'riU the acenmnnxlutin
and newsroom. " We Efeoold bOglad.ufl
I Public Library
any the petitioners, " to
i„ Jala to sit in onr own room and road b bx1 out ol anintereeting
boolt lo fur wive* nnd families, or t" gel one ol the children to
rood to ii-.. 9ucfc u I < woaW keep our boys Eroxa idling at
v learn b > end ol in i -•*« i n* » and wfcjKed-
hc«b,ju"mI would, maybe, prevent many "i them from going to the
j.uliii M-. .md to the had. We wish our
*lii].Irrii \. °s you do yours, ;> mi hlimild ho glad for them
ii deal more> and to make t better use ol what they
u vi' haw dene, ku thai if thev have got the :• I »jlif v they"
i my qo1 all of thorn always iv>in;iin poor. Ignorant working:
man. Nov hy the nowspiipiM- . •vmiiitR, we find that Bristol is.
Car behind buob towns as Cardiff, \« m > irt, and Hereford in t] is
matter, to aty nothingof Liverpool Manchester-and BftYnrngbaitt,
which were little villages, we are told, when Rrtfitol merchants
■ lirorj ni»l Us tor the una of their poor fellow-
me fit; ''i in. mi. though we work for our bread, we do Dot
believe In fgnor&DOt am mn ■.Inn «r (In in bad air in* in dirty
MklnH, sit wo ask that Brfctul may in- placed under the Ptbnc
Libraries Act." This request oi Bristol working men pxoctfcaltj
i poll offe • i-\ he adoption in l*7*iof the Libraries' Aets in Bristol,
tin1 present ehi Lrman. Sir Joeej i; n Westuu, bains preaMenl of
the public meeting which sanctioned the local application of the
sm,-r thai time the iM'iK h.is mur ii'i-nm .iii'iiji, nail .t>
Bristol dates its earliest Public Library t" ltd.'!, the city, eof.u 14
tbe ad ifll work acconspualied by the centra] Library and its fire
1 truncl 1 h .r< concer&e !■ ie determined to mors than hold its own.
Tin- building* coTupriainp the central library are quite historic,
1 ii< I t .r 1 I ii. I .in runt 1. 1 this old struct mv il i> a pleasure t<i turn
to a burton of th< Briat* 1 Library by the lutv Charles Tovey,
published in 1855 Inlt worthy Brleloliao died En I6881 after
icctnjl the fifth ■»' the branches tpencd. Ria Interest In the
movement never llaggod, and [••rig' before the adoption of the
Acts, and down to tho timed hie 31 1 th. he never «*euaed to take
mi Entereel Id the work Ot the libraries. Mr. Tovey was us a
propliei 1 1 ii.- wildor&OM, foi tils little book 01 1666 woe
red v. Hi :in .ijntiliv nut l>y :in\ meant) creditable to such a
city oa Briatol. Ue say** " the citizens could aol be LrouBodfrom
100 I" the advantage* ivxulting hrom PubHc
.;:.'-. : 1 i-l mj hook remained unsold." He wms; before bia
. and tlie n-orld will never »\-ertake its indebfc di M6 to the
men who an in idvunoe .i their ncc and generation. Chiotty
:irion the Town Cotitn-il n s;.;: iipponilo* :' wi I-
;■ in innnire into hho Hiihfecf and negotiale with the
1-uis ann oecnpanth of tin* Htizen*" building, culled the City
y, and now n*ed ;i« iln» I'cninil lihrnry. Thirty-five i"o
: go Ml' Tun v v\:im told thai, hr floufd do oothtng with
inn. Their habits and uiannere, he was eon-
aMeratcly i«ld, wore formed, tmd they would not Uft» WWAe.
irteM and muaetzms it* they were established. The ovVlA^w
•21 < I
PITRLK LIBRARIES.
Baffle tuna those n high authority, ami when a rornpamon [|
mods wltli tin* objections raised la Hmtoi to Ifittflio the yum ass
iii" j pis ara no* making of liicir UbrarfsSj t.ia> gain i'i the
lilgtory of the movement is at once apparent, a inure powerful
B|)peBJ lOT H city or town In adopt tfu> Act;; ual lake under it-.
municipal wUg 11 library building wue never penned. The v.l.oi.-
pamphlet I n*i*;i'.h'*s :t sph it of curliest pUTpOOO, and when Hrlstol
#eb» it'* dot contra! library) .1 conenjnooation devoutly to ha
wished, the committee will aeo that there ie placed i:i ii :t btisl <>i
Charles Tovoy, and. if possible, some room or section »r the
library bearing (he name of tlii* warm frieud of Public i.ibi
and their work. Ii i.i needles* l" remind the reader that in IfiOfl
i" i-.v, rin- movement was a mere bantling; but even then some
eleven i< was had adopted the Acts, and most of the libraries
were then in operation,
The old building of which Mr. Tovcy writes so eloquently, and
known as Gas eto Ubra*y,naa, as alreadj st btod, a quaint luotory,
There is no dount that HriMol dates its earliest Public Library
from 1€18, Mid the present central library is in promises] part
of which came down tcotD thnt date, Additions have. 0] 0OQVSO1
ijoon made at rations timoB] and it ha* now somowhoJ toe
character of n rabbit warren. Hut, with its old oak stain
boO&COSea. and a marvolloiiBly lino old carved mantel, it It 1 build-
ing m winch the orchj&ologuit would linger; and when the time
somes Eor a new boms Cor the central Library, it in 1.. he hoped
that something will bo done to preserve this old huildingasa
library. Perhaps as a separate juvenUe library and reading-
POOm, and. say, a patents lihrory, it would Inn • it.- I . ;-t mid tne.-t
appropriate use.
But we oars Bean that Mr. Covey bad to agitata for nearly a
quarter ol a oenlury before be saw the Acts i dopted, snd now
. '..>ih in Bristol who knows anything of the working of the
llbrarlei is asking why were the citizen- bo toohab as "to shut
thomseive* off from so real a boon for so many years-' Other
towns, especially tfis majn towns 01 the West of England, may
well look closrl y mid seriously at The long fttrngftle in 1:
and put the <i1"" ' "■ ! ' ■ '" wii.-thrr ii is worth while their
mittinjr the sains mistake. Taunton and Gloucester may take
heart and gather strength trow the experience ol the carats] of
pest
ii* operations >i the Libraries i* of 1 very solid nature
of the branches is well situated In 11 thickly-populated suburb,
and 11 Is noteworthy thai each of these onshoota from ths
parent hIchi has Mirpa-xM <l in iIn operations the work Ol the
centra! library. Very full statements ol their working
sent periodically to the local press by the *hle c\ly librarian,
Mr. Ji I.11 T.uior. who haa done u\\i<]. U develop those Institu-
tions in Bristol. The last annual report shows the wi
up to December dl, iw, and Is worth Mooting: —
PUBLIC LIBBAftlKS IN THE WESTERN COUNTIES.
Ubntrlci.
^antral
§*. Philip's ...
gorth District
gedUnd ...
**«twells ...
ToUIb
21,235
83,587
48,187
32,826
14.578
17,832
218,185
41,633
59,123
74,085
57,770
129,369
54,438
416,418
210,300
306,000
202,700'
256,225
416,400
160,650
1,552,275
fj
670
881
1,049
539
1,760
524
5,423
£63 19
65 9
76 15
40 1
145 10
59 10 11J
£451 6 4&
The following are the classes of books issued for home
heading:—
Libraries
Central
St. Philip's
1J. District..
Bed minster. .
Kedland ..
Hotwells ..
769
629
1,039
433
1,760
506
ToUls ...'5,126
3,020
3,570
6,376
8,314
7,038
3,321
31,639
*5
7,947
15,642
13,102
9,518
20,278
13,728
80,215
24,709
32,641
47,550
36,659
84,161
30,961
256,681
2,115
2,316
1,889
850
4,915
1,853
13,938
II
1 2
1,135
1,753
1,008
358
2,406
1,161
7,821
1,938
2,572
3,121
1,638
8,821
2,908 54,438
41,633
59,123
74,085
57,770
129,369
20,998
416,418
The average number of visitors to all departments is about
7,727 a day, and the average daily issue of books in the six
libraries is 2,151 volumes. Nearly 19,000 of the population are
actual borrowers at the present time. Fiction stands at a very
respectable level, being, in fact, much below the average. The
aggregate issue for the year was 634,603 volumes, which is over
three books per head of the population for the twelve months.
The first of the branches which was opened, the one in St.
Phillips, has long ago outgrown in its work the accommodation
provided, and the people in that district would like to see a new
and commodious building ; but the claims of St. Phillips are not
so great as is better provision for a central library, convenient for
city men and others who pay a large proportion of the expenses
incurred in relation to the Act, but have neither reading-room nor
library suitable for the centre of the city. At the central libiary
J] J
WBI.IC I. H i:\r..:.<.
there arc a oonsxderaM number ••( fuveoile books wined) are lent
QUf lo boy* !o read ill :i lo.nit by thrn»rl\»_:- Vnjom - -pi :rji| nf
whether ooyi really care for mm* an advantage u thta m i :
mode i convert by looking in at the room on nlmoat any week-
day f\t nnig. Tin- boys are orderly, and require i tl le
Mii|ici'visiiiii. They quietly go on wirli their iva.ilin;* ami iln.*
from n class of bookfl which nave bean idectod wftli greal osra
and discrimination.
The Redlands bnmoli i* the best of the branch buildings.
The cos) ol tin* ground and structure wait £8,000. The dral
in.- 1 west in the lending section at Redlandaoi boj ol the branched
Some fcwenfcy-five young ludicB find employment at the various
Public Libraries, and give the utmost satisfaction. Mr. Tfiylor h
a great believer in (he humanUlnjj power ol the gunUer -» 1 to
ii'i.iv work, and he Is no doubt right. Tin- salaries paid rarj
from \'2». to 31& per week, according to the position,
One very important feature of the work at Qriatol 1 1 thai at the
centra] library e wi of each wecMy, monthly, and ojaarterly h
tl bound up and kept for reference. The more popular 1
arc retained also at the branch libraries. But in caoh ■•■ the ill
duplicate numbers are utilised by being dissected and
olasstfied tow distinct volumes under names of authors or eubj
0 that the special contents ol Home torty or fifty numbcrt Of
v« hmcK of periodicals can lie consulted in eueh single V"
thus treated. Anout a thousand volunieshavc beei wruadc ut>,
the content* of eaah of which i* entered in the catuloan
library. Mr. Taylor is the first to have adopted this man, and it
is one which has been of much service to his readers. fhc 1 riumoi
rover a lar^e vnririy ol' RiihjceU, and are in much request. QOO
inay !"' taki 1 as a sample of the* re&t. iii the cat:dn<j-n<» it appear*
1 raw " Evolution," and the article* on the subject I'min review*
and magazines bound up in tibJlSvo vol. arc as folio ws^—
liiuwin's 'riie"iie.i — " Wr.stmiuster Keviiiw." Dtmwuigiii — " Unitarian
Review." Deweotof Man— "(Quarterly Review." ^iiatrefagwuh tin- Ha-
maa Species— "Catholic World." Human Rewmddaneca to Lower Life —
" L'jiigiuau'a." Our Origin as a Spociea — " Ibid." Danvini*au ami Kvolu
n.--n of Man (Dr. M*Teh), Philosophy of Kvolntion— "Quarter);
Straggle of &hmcu--''IuUI.M Pl>sicnlandR«Iig[uU8Kiiowloilg-« —"Ibid."
Kolitiiuli and Science — " Ibid." Deeoueration— AdiUhw Wilaoii. Fis'i to
Reptile — "CoTiihill." Animal Development— A. Wileon. My Coa»in the
QoiiUs— "Tinaloy," Oerm Theory — "Nineteenth Century. ' Origin of
Speeina and l~?nera — "Ibid," BvoltltiOB V. SOOislism— " National Re
view." Nature ami Thought— G. J. Romanes. Man's Piatt u N
— " Nineteenth Century." Animals and Haute-— " Contemporary Ru-
view." Furra and Colours of Living Creature*— *' Ibid." Relation 1
Darwinism to other Branches of Soienoo — " Longman'i." Roforo llioli
11 Ninotconth Canturv." Evolution and Ethioa "National Bo view,11
Theory of Huri'dity— " iVnitttiaporary R«view." lli-rwhtury Oon ;
" I'li.l. " Bvolatfon and Ri.'Dgion — "IhiJ." Xatural SolecttM
Natural Theology — " Coiitciiiiwrary Review." Evolution of :
T. H. IIuxlcv. Darwinism and Religion — "Maomillau"-- ' Bvolutiofti
Ethics, mnd Religion— " Church ^uartorly Review."
PI i. n i ICKADlca i\ iui '.Mill:-. eo ■ u
1'Ki
Tin' inTtT.'si :hhI v:ilu».' attaclltOg to iln-vi- VOlQAlOC '"llu* essay
uriNT. iiri.nvp, preacher, author, and general reader isincalou-
lablo, and iitf plan Rheum be extended to every Pnblie "Library
in this i;nw centres* n the publishers nnd printers ol mngaKmea
nod rei awn would make the articles separate one from another,
in their publications, mutilation r»f context would be avoided
(_'hri.ti:nham.
TWb in i;i;'iii inland waterintr-place [a u town iii i nvied En
us pui lie Library. The nov ba Idlng, opened in April, L889, Es
the result ol .1 1- »*-;« I effort to commemorate the Mij yean
ttatkn bas. The library is one of the finest building* tin:
lows of DheUenhain possesses, and being' spacious and commo-
- \> exactly the place for t Qourishiug Public Library, and
schools of science nnd art. The Architecture Sa In the Italian
Mvle, iiito which has been imported by the architects a consider-
mi.i. ■ general detail Ed the Blizabtthan style. The
building is I M feci in :< ogth, and the height from the basement
t*» the parapet is iti feet. In the centre rises ffh*t may be
described as 0 pubic, unci below is un arch terminating in plain
pilasters. Beneath too arch Efl th« portico with thrccfine entrances
■operated by Ionic coin ana, and surmounted by a balustrade of
1. which in the future it is hoped to place some statues.
* >ti the extreme right of the front ol tho building is i\ handsome
!■ WhiOh y-r\tjs to L,nvi-;i fi: m.kIi ti it 00 the OJM Bide, while on
t lio left hum: ifl a pinnacle which nerves a eimilnr purpose on tho
othw ~Kle. inside tho promises, the whole of the ground floor,
^ ifh the exception of the entrances to the schools of science and
-; devoted to the library. There is a fine vestibule with »'ou-
\-.<rni<i:-'<:h Of )m:i n y kind;-, :im.t furnished witli OlOOk, barometer,
- » i id 'uist:. of Shakespeare and Milton. Passing through awing
« loora, conn imrieiitfon is obtained with the ret'ei-enee library, the
landing library, md the newspaper and periodical room, the
! ...r whfeh is :i most spacious room, and admirably adapted
i o the purpose, for which It Is Intended, The library departments
• nv also well nutted to the requirements of such rooms, nnd axe
wreJl Lighted and ventilated. Xear the reference library la the
. room, ;imi] pner oftlie basement !h intended lo be set
■aside foi the use of the caretaker, and for the reception anil
;.■. ,ii i <;ii>i tin- iew books. With regard to the science and
;iit Boboola then ai e entrances in the tower, and (tie
nAairenaei lead to i Boor on which are cloak rooms and other
,.i( schools contain roui claan rooms which are
■ iii('i .i bed by a corridor, while the school ot science contains n
pnyaicnJ aboratory, a lecture room, a chemical preparation room,
I'H'l a chcmicaJ laboratory, all of which arc tilled with tin latest
: this class of .study and for the convenience of
fireeeptora and students. The entire cost of tho new buildings,
about £16,300, and to meet this there in a
total lie loan, of £10,000 and Hunisfrom various .-:..m-e. ts
I to. Sd.j or a deficit of £1,712 odd. \\\ W ^v>tY ^^s
•Ill
l'l m i. r.rnrttnrRs-E.
tattled out locally, the architect being Mr \v it Knfght. n itaj
BQoat BpproprlotA to uk Str Bftchaa] Hicks-Beach. Uort., H.P., to
perform the ceremony of opening. In declaring me tihrary open
Sir Nfichncl «jn.v** ;m it*M 'orh rin the ivlvnntofies of PuW1( ' Jorarae.
Th086 blSfiltllHOMj he lAld. Wi»I*C In Kml'I:i!hI <Mnn>:ir:i! i\ . Is i
recent outgrowth of our moclprn ftfvffiz&tion. .mi tins bmi was ..i,.
with regard to which, ho thought, wv might take some little
shame to ourselves. It was an axiom amongst us that orcr] chlW
ought to bo taught to read* But what were the children to i
Were they never, oe they we* upj to road anything except
Which ww iiupruvinf to too mina ! Hedldnol «■<■ rhj [n thi*
op any other matter they should expect the poorer > hate
different tastes to themselves. On tlw contrary, he should
t
PUBLIC LXBBABIB8 IN THB VBBTBBN COUNTIBS. 215
*H an undoubted fact that the hardest-worked men and women,
W their labour physical or mental, were those who stood most in
"wd of mental recreation. And what mental recreation could the
Poorer classes have ? What were they tempted to have ? Look
a*the floods of vicious and socialistic literature, unhappily now
to cheap in our country, which they might be tempted to poison
weir minds with if something better and purer were not offered1
"teni in its place,. Working men had now more leisure than
WQerly, and that was another reason why an effort should be
raa<3e to elevate and refine their tastes, so that that leisure might
J devoted to something better than the gross sensual indulgences
■ the working classes of former generations. If they wished
PCot>le to become good men and good citizens, they must think
n°t only of their serious pursuits but of their pleasures as well ;
an^*» to his mind, great as the good might l>c which was to be
S^ixied from the solid and improving literature found in Public
Lioi-aries, there was also a good quite as great to be gained in the
m°i*al and intellectual recreation found in the writings of the best
**V el -writers of all the ages of English literature.
. The paying off of the debt is at present rather a tax on the
tocome, but the ratable value being large it is not as great a
hl*rden as it would be in some towns. In providing themselves
**th a handsome structure for their rapidly extending work, the
^neltenham people have acted wisely, They have the finest
J **olic Library of any inland or seaboard watering place, and this
18 a. fact of which they may be reasonably very proud. The total
fruiter of books is now about 1 6,600 for their f),119 borrower*.
^>s is a large percentage of the population, and the class of
**>oks read will compare favourably with any library in the
?°uthern or Midland counties. Fiction stands low. ( >ther watcr-
inS"-places like Malvern, Tunbridge Wells and Scarborough should
2|* the fact that some 1,200 residents and visitors use the institu-
JJon daily. With an existence still short of six years the library
j*^a.y veil be satisfied with the position it occupies, and its popu-
SP^y is not a little owing to the librarian, Mr. William Jones,
*>o received his training at Leeds. Gifts have flowed in, and
n°Dg the official bodies from whom they have received books
of *»k^e '^^fcees °f the British Museum, the Lords Commissioners
. the Treasury, and the Delegates of the Clarendon Press. There
gj also been a gift of 1,300 volumes, on Fish and Fish Culture,
OIQ jyr jYancie Day, who spent some years in India as a Govcrn-
„ pQt official. Outsiders are permitted to borrow on payment of
th billing subscription. The report in Cheltenham is that
-^y would rather be without the post-office than without their
*T>blic Library.
Exeter.
Exeter has a beautiful building, as will be seen from the
**ompanying sketch. But the library has to take a back place
10 the museum and schools of science and art.
The charge on the rate for this building is £225, which greatly
impoverishes the work, and in few places is an extra penny for
VTOMC 14BHAKIK* IN THE WK«Tttl:\ i-ors'TIE*.
217
museum purposes more needed than in Exeter There are I 4,800
i.tiiiiiH-M, i)ni ;in- 1 bin v Issue of LAfl books out of this number, snd
population 1« nn exceedingly poor show. There arc 1.C30
' roweri Exeter boaataof n rather pi»werrnl literary «aocicty.
wiiii : 11 in.- true "i ova r £ 400 a year The number of member* la
-«i?, and they ii:t> ■ a library containing » maaa of old-faahioned
and obsolete books which miiy ourabei the ahefasa. ir the mem-
bers nf this society would throw their Intereat and euthusii-.ui
tutu the w<nk of (he Public Library, they would jM ;■ belter
return tor toe money iii'-y now spend lutuei] declining society
1 1_> RO-opemtinA; v* it K Hie library committee they would i-
themeclvea nod what should be u strong publu: institution.
Vl WPORT (MON.).
Nt irpor i.i m»w hud seven ycars'lifo in ite now buildings. These
\wi. taooetol about ■ Cv', ">»>•>. It El doe ':;n.--l IBS t'vr
rtj to of English i: malfleonoo, and has a frontage, on one side, of M
foot, and on another of LQ8 foot. On the ground fla r, a reading
ki i di w pupej room, 58 feel by 86 feci and 30 feet high, is
(centre of the block, Ughted entirely trow the roof,
'in- room hiu> placed on the loft, 90 feet wide and Attending
nearly itn whole length, the lending Horary, designed with shelves
to aoeonuin dale 5.000 volumes, nnd with the side next the reading
room Qtted wilh xiii Iltiu- sashes, malting it accessible on this aide
to borrovers. The aouthsldi ol thin room extendi to the lone,
from wWch light is obtained The curator's rooms are placed on
. right "i the main entrance, ind eompriae Hvirig-
cu wbili 'ii tnc left of rbe entrance comes first a committee*
hi i feet, occupying th* eorner. Between thfaand
1 he end of tho lending Iflwary la the reference library, 2C feat by
ilettng, with former butldinga retained, tne whole of
tin1 ground Moor accommodation, The first floor coven the whole
am of tiie rooms below, except the newsroom, Tin* Boor te
devoted entirely to the accora nodation of the science and art
in-, ni which Mru so unwigt*], communicating with
other, i-; to l)i! throw ii open as ii gallery of art on special
ii ii'ijii red There & on the second floor a large uaet
->'"i modelling ru and a suite of ro s tor the curator, The
ontranoeifl Ranked with red puli.-.hvd ^nin^ti.- eoliuuiiN, tinted and
Ided. On the left-hand corner if placed a circular turret,
'""ir.|im tin top, sad covered with lead, which aesEstfl externally
• sharactor of the building
l tic total number of books Is not vet large for a population of
" M h 10, being only 16,18a Borrowers t«. the number of 8,600 oho
'/!•*>;,. 'Die run upim fk'ti' down, and other class* ol
****iu<ire an going Up, and the use of the v i'« -r--:»vi- Ubrnry ir.
iv on the There is a strong j ivonllc section i t
J js « Literature to the extent of 1,100 volumes. Newjport, En
'"l > torn • i h Miunv other towne, jp extending its bounds] toe, and
i in tlio IWoiigli There will in I'nturo
it- JJ850 at present jftftdfiA tefl \\\^
■
318
I'lHJJ I.IUHAUIRS
rate. Other luwus bag liNjiiiug iii tin* extension of I ovotwii
ln»uiif]arivf> lli likely to Bid them lin.uii'iiillv. At the turn uf the
nev branch library and reading room for the FUlfwenlh
dietricl wbi opened For many yearn it. ha* been om of i do leaa-
bng aspirations of the district to posses* a branch library vorthj
the iii QC; and the resident? . ie now place-J in pi m ■ I of a
building which i< in every way creditable to all oonoornod
lhrrc-nt<»rryrd Imil.iiu^ nOS 0 fri »nt:i».-- <»1 ;; I lVci, imd ;ihul* Oil
fomple Strootf the thoroughfare In which the Sailors Homo and
tfBWrOAT POTJLIO UliIl.WIY.
TiiMtitutr i.nvf lUrn local h.ii station. The roof line ie broken bya
central pedi nont,the tympanum <>f which ia enriched by earring,
and the panel below is charged by the appropriate motto. ■• Kno*
l- dp In power." The front ierod briekj with Bath Btcmoaroeelnea.
On antenna; the building the raoffaxino aadeheee room, -.n 03
l ir ,, i. soon and on the opposite ride of the entrance is
■ n itaker'woom, no placed thai he maj command the entire
building. The main stairway nexl adjoins, Leading to
rooms which will probably bo ultimately used for science and art
purposes. Then, in the rear of the building, ii utoated tbfl
general rcfldine-i-ooin. it m ample in every respect, being 16ft.
rt*Bii M ■ \i ir» in me wbtc&bn <A>esr«!a.
219
bv 83ft , .i:i'l lighted by windows at the side, and fay a large l*;iy
,n tin- end. The Mayer htus expressed bio intention to provide a
iUrin'ed-gluat wind* w, and other gentlemen are inclined bo follow
. ■ | i roue example. The tutnleoal, inrhnlinn nitirjus, wm- about
1,800, Mr. Janice Matthews hue boon librarian tor ovcrfourtcon
The museum and school ol art and Boienoc are dcpnrt-
■ii. -lit-, the work of win.'h, like Unit <>t the library, i* rapidly
extending.
Plymouth.
l! i;j always a pleasure to taken peep into the work at Plymouth.
With a live librarian, en earnest committee) and a constituency
who bsurv how tc ttflfl their Public Library, it could indeed scarcely
be otherwise In Inguat, 1878, the Horary waa li rat opened.
and autee that time Ltnaa grows rteadlhr iii public favour and
neefvineaB. The work la boused tatheoldCruildbfill, and thirteen
this t'U I ling .ii- tvererl Thu purpose fairly well; hut
ra rementa of The library have long since outgrown the
tj nf the hailding. \t thepreaenl it "emu ;iius nearly 30,000
9 i an cs, in ill hranehee of literature, and not only so, hut the
ding-mom « arc rreu.ueui.ly rrowded to innuivenienee, ami the
rk ii.-i- inin parried on iniW considerable difficulties. Another
jectloo to the building la Unit it .ibuts on one of the noisiest
ui i-i % of the town, and the squalid appear* toeol the -*n "round-
added to the dmgiues* of the building itself, render it
getber en undesirable place foi a PuuUc Library iu a town
Plymouth, Pot tlic ered.il of the town itself, and for the
1:- sake of those who ierve,aad arc Bcrvedatthe library,
state ot thu--. «;ili- i<i* - ;m iv nin,.-,iv. Mr. "\V. U.K. AY right,
borougt librarian — a good, deaignatiou, by the way, whirb
jat fall into general we ho* long kepi before hie coruniittee
Med toi ji new library building, and some of his townsmen
C kind enough to any that, like the boy in the soap advertisement,
<i'Y<\ (ill he gets it. A e there is some corporation
y m the i larkct, some leaaiblc plan for securing the
cling a building may be within measurable distance. The
report covers a period of fifteen months, nn alteration in the
t« of publication of the report necessitated by the recent .change
ti m <ji Plymouth, ae acounty borough under the Loot]
"'•n.iLu.'ot Act, Tho femes in the lending department and
nation of books in the reference room comprise, during the
naraod, an aggregate of 251,739. or a daily avenge of 7 ltt.
lgorea en themselves ax^ sufficient -to enow that there in plenty
vork toi hfl library atauT, and that tho desire of the public for
Dg of ail Icinda keeps up steadily. The report of the librarian
[G8 oul "' thirty-two, and Mr. W right has mmh
'. i*yi -i ■!!" and instructive character. Perhaps the
**t- Interesting par ul rlie re|aa't U where he gives, [particulars
*o«s conditions nnder which about 1,000 volumes hnri Icon Benl
^^* OB perpetual loan to deven of the Board Sehoola of the town ■
in continuation of that report he stated thai the new
°PtU7ture bad given thorough n.ilisl'aelion He \v&\\ sAh'y\va\a\yv
-****»
■ *ll
\ run Mm-.
whole od the • i la hi which these branch libraries warn p
and Found tin* boola b anffbrmly good condition— -verj few taunt
injr. and the privilege highly appreciated bj ildrra tn
::.n j i".ri\ case the teachers I ■ >iv :■ warminterem In iho matter,
and ware doing tiii'ir oUnosl to preserve the hooka in good ortici
;niil to encourage the children i<> in- punctual Eii Elielr mum. as
well He careful la their nee. Vft© careto! observation aud oou<
saltation with all the head teachers tie was "f opinion thai the
experiment had proved n.- -i -u rejrful, and that its extension
would prove a boon t" the town. Mr. Wright ia one of the
pionoora in tii:> nee of Board Schools foi library PunioeoBi end
Hi-.- | iii if Icatincd to he univorsalh developed da
m Mediate future. The Plymouth School Board ma
l>orto<1 tin Hii^-soRtionp, and the mcu&crn ;irc to I"' concTBti
(tn the waulta, so far, ol their effort* Both it! the I oyui ad girls'
schooln substantial ttookcancehavc been provided, nod the librarian
Iiiih prepared n tial t I i - i Bp dn [y suited to children "i aohool
IgC, lii < vlii. h t!i(Ti« in no n-itsoii to d<ml>l will |>q • rfi*ely road
by the y»n:i'j 1'Mj.!- .n whoso intciv-siM tl i- new dopartun
boon made. 0a certain days of the week the children, both
and girls, hare the privflogo of hiking homo d l»ok each tram
the library, and when (these have boon rend :m nxehaTiiro of hook*
talcaa place between the different Softools, mo thai the children
nve always having some new and fresh, with which to interest
t nornaelvea Mid odd to their stores ol knowledge. Con
observed in the ohotec ol books, the object being to comWafl
iiettrnelmn with aninxemi'nt, unil the System la DOl to I"1 Confined
to ii e Board Schools alone, but will be 9 malrj it rhs service ol
I'lininntury BohoolH in the town. II is" anticipated thai
graal advantages will accrue to the cause o1 education, .is a
perusal of the books provided for the children pan *< nrcely I
prove ' valuable adjunct to the instruction elven In the schools
during the day. It Is auggcaW that In further extension i I
movement ovunlng readjn^ruoiiis should be started it tome of
Hie Board Schools, ■where working men might have the opportu
uiiv ol' K|H'iiiiiim ;i profitable hour or two in read asj Ll e daiU
oowsnapers and magazines thai could easflj be provided tor eucn
it purpooe,
Mr. Wright i* an enthusiast over luml literature, imd is IlimseM
un antiquary of no mean quality. He lias lately written
published -i work on "The Blue Friars," which gives .-t vwi
latefeating aketoh ol the saying's and doinge of i little
fraternity who gave themselves this designation, He baa tbua
added ^ new chapter in the hi tory ol old Plymouth Ed bifl
resort ho atatos that the extent ol Devonshin and Co
lihTiUUre 1H MO great, and its ramifies! I'. 'Ii:- *t e\te»tM\r Il.it .i
muoh more liberal BUpply is needed. The ml • yields about
Cl^OOQi and the library nnd all its ramifleations »f worl
threepence per head par year forth* sntirc population, Lnwhal
other >v; iy could '.he Plymouth people or any peojde ■.< \
[hiiiiy wovth -I Niieh escollenl valuer
l-llilli l.lflllARIRfl IV I'llt- U K<1'KIiN miIVTIKv
•_':?!
&1AUUU ir..
< m May A, I8d0,a meeting o( the etttaens of Salisbury, oonrenad
1 iv ri ■< p n-til in r» , \\:i> In 11 :il I in* i loimcll 1 fuitsr, for 0)6 purpose of
i'r.t!"ii|ci;l,;: tl< . .■ ! I i:. 1 1 illity of EUlOptJUg Mir FUDlJC 1 &\ " LI l6 ■
Ant* iii the - 1; v. He Mayor oreaided, and there was n large
attendance. Tin* Major explained the object of Khe meeting at
soma leujrth,uud also tha steps that would be taken if a poll wans
duinauded< He said he J ■ -i* 1 beard something alioui nolil iceia this
er, bill it seemed to him that politics had nothing whatever
tu do u iih it. If it was an advantage In hn\r a Public Library,
ih.it idvnutuge would I* shared by al aarUesi Lb wan entirely
a question foi the atepayore to dot idc weather they would go bo
i hi expense or not of establishing .1 library. A poll wasdemaj
irUI betaken on June :'.•■ date subsequent to fchbportioa
. 1 the present work going bopreee. It la to be Hoped that Salis-
bury a .11 do [teoU credit.
Tnuno.
nw whole county oi Cornwall hu# only one ratc-aupported
: ) ind tin- cathadral Oity of Truro may hoist ita lihmry
1 indard an 1 call upon tho towns in the couuty to sat their houao
in order, Hie library was established in tho beginning of 188ft
coato! fitting up the room-; was C36. Fhe nucleus of tha
l i \ book« was presented bj Mr. Norton, who took 0 leading
.Mi in the foundation ol the institution. About 000 volumes
sure purchased, nt a cost of C$), out of the fundi it: the committee's
osaJj uad upwards •( 1,-hmi volumes ware presented. The
1 ite I eost of magazines and newspapers to tho readinjr-room
: 1- y«w la £23 (Oa,, and many are presented. The rent ol
tha present room* is £2fi per annum, and the accommodation baa
idy become utterly inadequate to the requirements. The
iv in £30 per annum, for which the service* of a
11" iiMiriT my srr.iuvil. The i-ohI • *l" roitl, gns, and cleun-
- per annum ; printing, stationery, and pontage, £6; and
"finding, repairs of iviulvs, furniture, «c., another Eft mi*,
r'*vi^hiv. is now the Truro Library exists on £-|ifi a year. Tha
'' Oh dime with their l>000 books is not by any means alight.
■ *-. Pi w more Edwards, the proprietor of th« Umdcn * Echo,"
: ig the last year or two Ixxm showing bis Interest in
*a 1 lie Lib ary work, \moi.- some thousands ol books which ha
Baaa |(f -, -,i, ,; r 1 v.n i ms Public Libraries were 960 rolumea to tho
*~» ire Lil in y. These included seta oi good stan bird Literature.
J ■ '«- lilit.u \ in t!,i-. l 'ornish city Ima lia-l a struggle during ita first
;'* •"« 1 ' Oornishmen arctoo ejcatlorera oi progress
•jot ii Laaguii h for lack ol support.
the curly part ol 1887, an effort made to get the
tti-d in Peiuonce. 'Hie difficulty winch lc*l to the
'j on tlic pari of the ratepayers to accede to the proposal,
iprobnbilil} uf boing able to rnaintuiu alibmryonan
iictirueof t'f.jO. ft't-iizancc hoa a. PubUo Library, but not under
Here there are Hf'XXl volume*. Some time, perba^,
*<• »ban have this n raoJ Public Library, It wou\d\in\e a^tv^
222 ratii i i"n \i. 1 1 -
^li'»i.->uiin: iritcc! upon the movement in Cornwall i i 1m i ■
town VDIlld I 'la.-., itself in tts
WmwoR :i r i i y ■■ uii
Tlio PdbVo Libraries' Aetc wotq unanimously adopted 00014 time
ul'<< 1 ■■. M 1 etimr. An ample central »lto he* been pur-
ahasea nt a cost of U500, partly by subscription and partly by rote.
It wiw intended Mint Iho rato kIiouM be allt wed to aoournnlntCj
an li> form n Ixmd for (he oreetiou of aHiiratriebiMUnn;, bill it \\
afterwards dift»'^< i"'«l that the amount ot rote ovied da ring
year must l«> <»x ponded within thai period, and the sobexrieioi
accumulation had to (^abandoned This h w caused considerabJ
Tin- Tows ComraiMionerfl have recently covenanted with th*
lord of the manor to rent on perpetual lease his lute ri*mden«.'<
" rtteOxove' estate! ompristna; it mansion beautifully -
In about eight acres of finely wooded grounds -the whole boi
Intended as a parti for tree public use— and .*i portion ot thi
mansion \» to tie devoted to the purposes of a Public Library
it is hoped thai the neeeaaary structural alterations will '»■
plefied, and 1 newsroorn ami library commenced early in tht
eozntug year.
CHAPTER XT II.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN SCOTLAND.
|HK operation or the Public Libraries' Act <>i I860 wa»
extended to Scotland and Ireland a lew years afterwards,
but the power of assessment by it ana the subsequent
Lata was so limited as to Karaer its provisions uracil1
r:ii]y -imperative for small towna inles 1 arom
benefactor came forward and prcaented to the community .1 sui
hntldmjr. equipped hi whole or In part with n mffleiei ey «t
BUbaeqoeni lPgf*):>Mnn has modthVil ll 1 ■ mdir.ions iimler whit *
the Arts may be adopted, and also the procedure. The ruoai
important amending let* art! thai »f [BOA, applicable to Ifoffland
and Bootlttiul, and tfiut of 1877, applicable to England, Scotland,
and Ireland. The law, as it applies to Scotland, b««a na wll
\rt of lw.r, ill*- previous statutes of I8o4an<J Iflflfl having bei
by ii repealed. Bj the Consolidation Act of 1887 the Act
1897 La f884j bo faraa thev relate !<■ Scotland, are repealed.
this Act, anon the requisition in writing: ot ten or more to
holders in m\ burgh or pariah, the chief magistrate ol
burgh, or "i the case of ;i pariah, the sheriff .4 In- com
which such parish or the greater part of the area
situated, shall ascertain tin opi none ol the householders d
burgh or parish as bo th< 1 loption of this Act in the manner >ct
6 ri 1 in Schedule* A. or D., which will lie found in the i\
provided that where in any burgh the nui ibci 1] hou
exceeds three thousan< trie obi E mo 1 ■ hall adopt
,.-■... . .lur. , by way ol vi tin ■ paper 101 forth In gi
w any »ilirr . - 1 >r ii :-l'all Im iptlonal to the ch - 1 n
PCHMC LIBRABIES IN SCOTLAND.
928
hoxifj, as tho Cftfio may bo. to adopt such procedure faf w;ty
ol
the procedure bvy
»f puhla
tone,
roting papoi
forth in Seneautc B. When the Acts have once boon rejected in
any place, two whole yean most elapse before the proposal to
adopt them i?aq be renewed.
In U burgh the initiative rests either with the magistrate* and
OOUncfl or with any ten uousehouldars, either oi which I todies
iniy present to theehiet or the uanlof mafrtstTeW e rex uiaitton
in wiciiiL', asking Mm to ascertain the opinion of the ratepayers
on the question whether the Public Libraries' tots shall ba
adopted in the burgh, n rests with the acting tibial magistrate
ately to determine whether the opinion of the ratepayers
"hall In- ;iwvr;:i 1 1 led lit Jl public, meeting called dip ill*-- purpose,
ir bi n 0 Issue ii a voting paper to each ratepayer.
of the eighl largest towns In 8ooUaad— Edinburgh , Qtasgaw,
Dundee, Aberdeen, Greenock, Paisley, Leilli. and Perth — only
four fa n e! adopted the Public libraries' Acts. Twenty towns
have now adopted these Acts, and it isinatrootive bo observe when
the chief Impetus came. Between 1*<>1 and 18<K>, ouly one Utwu;
i ii! to 1870, three: 1671 to 1880, five; 1881 to 1686, four; 1885 to
1690, seven. Thk ia a rei \ creditablo record, and bonsle Bootlaad
u\a\ well hold up her head ami he proud of the part hIic has taken
in ilii.- morement. True, there is the Bad case of Glasgow; hut
. thin the recent failures to curry the moremc i < n con-
fined to two, Elgin and Falkirk, But far a long* time Scotland has
been better off for small libraries than any other part of the
Doited Kingdom. Ia travelling from time to time north *d tin
Tweed, the author has been omaxod at the number of llbrarieft,
»p1cTS duba, literary and scientific institutes, bo that there is
f gramdfor Baying that Scotland has held has own A cynu
•, that there ia a great deal of banian nature in the rate-
payers of tho Scottish towns. 1'oH a northern town on the
ir Library inicstion on the simple merits of tho case, ;md 11
i;i |y KiicroKsl'iiI, lint ltd gome generous citizen present
a library l<> the town, or offer to do ho on condition that the
Acts he adopted, and it it* surprising how
upecdilyondunnnimouKiv the mov enl becomes an aooompliahed
fact. D&I this is only :i prool th.*it Scotchmen know how t<»
appreciate a practical gut for the benefit oi the yew mi com-
ity Li stated elsewhere the history of the Public Library
ament in Scotland Is u history of Mr \ndrew Curuegies
graemu< jrifts t<» Hickc institution*.
Moat oi the Saotch Public Libraries otoss their hmMfnjr* for
Ing, and to give ft holiday to the utarf, from two o'clock on
i v in the week. This is done at i'n-.l y, Dundee, and other
pianos.
l: would be a good I ilng tbi the Scotch Public Librarians to
form -i -uiotll association among themselves, as the Mersey and
Midland districts have done. There arc raanj points oi
I library son iiny which could be discussed in <\\vu-u\\\\
way :.■ ■'■'<' gittht'iini-H.
2-J4
rum if: u»icari»>.
The rojecU E bae Lota in Aberdeen vu ;t matter <•[ ooaaldei
■ii'i« surprise, considering thai the refusal came In fee face of the
-ill but certain prospect that a suitable building to\ a Public
Library would bo provided rent free, that prelimin u
tioiiR to the amounl ol W,000 would be forthcoming, and that l£n
steel ci'tiu- Mechanics' Institute Library, numbering a mttt
12,000 volumes, would become public property. In spitr m
advantages, the citizens of Aberdeen, in public mooting a
rejected the Acts in 1873. The meeting was attended by more
than i BOO persons j bat of these litth m ire than one tl
purl m the vote, whi.-h wn*- taken I ■_> ineuufc >t' -igncd paper*.
ii u irunben worn tor adopting tbo Acta, 184 5 aguinnt, .
nmji Hty ugainst, 8M1 Tin? result wee generally attributed to the
opposition <>' Hk- proprietors of small house*, and of the iho]
k*v|KTh. who objected to the burden of an additional rate. But
among the leading hard-headed Bjririta ol the Granite ''it
matter was not BEefy to reak here-, and at the end of 1*83, ©n it*
|?6M>pa1infl generally known that the members of the 3d ■■
fnstitul urn wore disposed to hand over their build. ibrary
to the town, provided the dtteens adopted the Public Lil 1
Icta. a 'I'-ii'nT bnpetiu was given to bhepublla feeling in favour
ol em Btcp Thus strengthened, thfn feeling found articulate
sxpreflglos at a meeting convened at the Instance or a rororn
rejit'euciiiMtiv.' of the Mechanics Institute and the Traded
Connoll, and the practical raaull whs the presentation I
s in! lime of a requisition tn the chief magistrate of the nity.
in cocnplianee with this requisition the Provost convened and
presided al a meeting of householders, held mi March 85, 1884
On ihis oocBfilon, the adoption of the Arte was moved
seconded in preacnoe of a large assembly. A poll being again
demanded unl lakcn, 1 v. j:- ;ni loinn-ctj thai ol' 1,1'/) (juallflci
householders present a1 the meeting, 891 rotod for 1 in- proposal,
.1 in I -'04 against it. The Tublie Libraries Act* were a*vurtfj
declared to be duly adopted. The first duty. 1 the . mimntt'T « .'-
to enter into coaimimication with the directors 01 (he M< oh 1
Institute on the subject of theh proposed gift Mi
. >n, it wo* aiTangcd that the Mechanics' Institute
building in Market Street, together with the library ther. ..M.i
its furnishingB, should be transferred to the town for behoof ol
the Public Gofafft subject to certain reserved dene, amount-
ing to about U'^oOO. Viiothei thina h 1 t 1!' no \v»s 1 ■ make an
[nation of the whole of the volumes belonging to the
Mechanic*' Institute with the view of Gauging able
requirements ->t the Public Library, flu- ami boing to raise the
... i: In Hi"-' meantime to about 15,000 volumes. Of the I'/hi
examined, as many as 3.107 were found to be so aorl
imperfect from various causes that they had to be c-ntirei
a»de. With regard to the remainder it was evident that time
:<utt money would require to be uwge-Vj expended before they
rirnMf.' LnniAaiEfi in- scoti.avi>.
225
could bo mode available for public use. In view of these facte, as
well as of (hi- desirability of enabling tho citizens to onjoy the
privilege of tho lending library as early as possible, it was
concluded that the best course to pursue would be to concentrate
ivory effort on thr w.-rlt of organizing and onta-t »l ishla^ tlM latter.
The number ol volumes thus obtained VM 8,237, ol which 5,370
passed through the bookbinders' hands, and were repaired or re-
bound at an average cost of t*d. per volume. A* soon as access
could be got to the large hall, on its being vacated by the school
of art. niic-huU" of it wttfl adapted as a reading-room, the other
baB being reserved for thfl OM of the b*inling department. The
former was opened in August, and the jmpularity of this part
of the library in well shown by the ever-increasing number of
en tl tat wrong the room from day to day. The KMFtUMSDt b
ufii-lighted and comfortably furnished, and, as indicated, w
largnly frequented, particularly in the evenings.
Starting with Koine I.VXJ0 volumes, it wan calculated that Urn
raiders would number iimut fi/100. As a matter of fool they are
more than double that figure, which cJeaxty demanstmtei thai the
i'L'cs of the library are fully recognized and tiikeu advantage
li_\ i he community. Every endeavour has been made to
-t.se the slock as expeditiously as possible, in order to meet
tin's increasing demand. It may lie of interest to mention that
the standard of reading li WDMrkflWy high, tho amount (,f fiction
read being, relatively, compered with other libraries throughout
the coaatry. rery low; and this is all the more observable from
the fact that under tho heading of fiction is included all juvenile
books and all puetieul works. These rooms, with a reading-room
nil the opposite side of tho etreet, have, from the time the Acts
were placed in operation down to the present, been in use. There
ore no wall cases i all the books are arranged in double-faced
caws which stand in the middle of the floor, and are mounted on
heavy castors, Each cuse hold** on au average about 800 volumes.
The work of arranging and cataloguing the books by Mr. A. W.
Itoberfoon, M,V, the librarian, gave the utmost satisfaction, and
Uw catalogue ha* been greatly in demand. It may here ho noted
I fiat the fines for detention of books amount daily to ub much as
[Ofti but probably thifl mi v ill be reduced when the people arc
l"*'i< r acq minted with tho working of tho library. Jn future :i
id to bo affixed to each book, so as to give the readers an
MX'rt'Uiity oi marking tor themselves the date when the book is
uo -i tho ibrorv, But the committee were early satisfied that
•■ul«hnir in Markel Street, however it might be. made hi rueel
' Dook pressing oeeds of the Library, was not, and could not
my -atlsfaction lie, adapted as a place of permanent oeeupa-
5J*j * ti«i bad under their oonsiileratioo the propriety of selling
ling and of obtaining a suitable site elsewhere on whit fi
I' r«et >nt ipoeialbj designed for the purposes of the library.
nil Inquiry, and having regard especially to considera-
'"»>» of oast arid convenience of position, the committee arrV\p.&v3i
1 i rjdDfoa thnt <*/ nU the w'tes proposed one on t\\a eaattiiAe til
4 ' .
\ft
2iM
PUBLIC tlBF-lMB*.
Union Terrace combined the most advantages, and won vol!
muled f<»r *uch ■* building A great point has been gained by the
miiwcription of fnnda nearly sufficient to provide new Library
buildings without trenching on the ordinary revenue of the
Institution; and the tost report issued at the end of :i i \. n
«hows that the revenue ha* hoeu found sufficient not only to meet
the OOM "f neintenaooe, but to provide BDf a considerable expan-
nl on of the library. The re<meat for fnnda for the new building
tins met with an exceedingly good response, Mr. OUDtgfi
tributes I' I, Odd, r* ml the Town Council n siiinilar mini. The
committee are able to state that the stoeV td ihe library Inw boon
ed from \9fi94 roLumes to 28,389"- un Increased Dotaatiuui
2,tt02 volumes. The demoud on the part of renders fur
again shows a substantial increase, the number nf rob im i
Ixurowed during the year having risen from L'M.ttfo to i* li
Out of thi* tarn trwrtttra only lour books are for the present
beyond ilie reach of the committee, riiu borrower- having left
town and given no clue to their present abode* A\ howfirer,
they may fbt take heart of grace and supplv Hell CODJMlGXl, H li,
[X-'rhaps, too early to abandon all hope of recovery, EHpcdaUy
when it li oonmered that during eighteen axontbi, when tin:
total issue reached 340,431, no single volume hOfl hern lost.
Whet do the Inverness people say to thai (octf
'Hie Aberdeen report always affords interesting rending, ami k
convenientlv divided nndcr bonding* epitomizing in a pltrn
the work of the library
ArutmiR,
To Airdrie belongs the credit ot having been th m Es
Scotland to adopt the Public Lihror os1 Ad
by the nil i)ttt liiiaiiimous voice of the rotepay
u. started, in temporary and inadequate proiniftt . within
months of the resolution being adopted. The growth of the
library has been Blow, owing to its limited income from the nit.-,
which is «ml.v CU5 B year. Vet it is doing C»od work.
!i_>w a lending library of 8,000 volumes. The total mini-
books taken out during Ihmii win L8.7«2, of which 10 190 WOW
Action.
A- LOJ
A very interesting ceremony took place in December, 1868, Then
bbe building, which comprises n public hull and tfhrary. vm
formally lianded ->ver l« tin* burgh con nussioncra bj the •
Mr. John Thompson l'nton. The preparation ol pi; ■
t ione f »i- l he new hall ho vine been entruAted to Mr ^V
It. A., London. Gothic in style, tlio bull, which hn boei
sandstone from Polraniae Quarry, pri uicly
appearance. Th* extreme length ot the building is 8
extreme length of the front portion in s: It , while Qui
breadth of the main portion, which oonriatB entirety of
tiu- }mllf in .vi it. The lieighl ol the rronl portion
the ground line to the rl^g* la w iv, vWto the cv
I'tBLlC UBJIAKIE* IS BCOTLAKD.
227
height of the hall from tbo ground line i<> the ridge in
40 it. The central block of the front portion projwit l'ulh s t\
beyond the general Una of frontage. The upper pari <>f the
frontage, being broken tiff with piawtaret projects from the wnll
Lad terminates in moulded corbels; white that »>( the centra
<< rmraatcs in bu ornamental gable top. Tin* main entrant ■>• In
b»y a moflnifioent doorway, placed in the centre of \hr block,
.■_■ Morehill, which te 12 ft. wide, and hut* a vean handsome
noiiii-eiivuUir to\). Being three IV.-! uliove tin It-vi-l"! rhr ro.t>lw;i\ ,
the • ■ trance door is reached by means »f a High* of rtcpei I ul
the Hi n i- ".' I:.- hall being alrnoat on a level with the roadway,
the area Eb peached by a aWontof aeveral steps, mtornollv the
haUpreac in nepect of great i»r;i(it/an4ohaateneae,nnd pcrhnpe
.it haafew, if an) efvalfl in the count r v. EVoni
to ceiling the builainfl rnoasuroe 36 it., the hull |>n»|**er being
95 it. i-i length and 19 ft brond. starting from tho main entranoo
door tin*)-'' la, irai ol all, a richlyHOiuunentaJ vestibule, and .i
handsome stuiroaxe U'u<litijj to tl h < irallutK^ ;iml i'»<niis iiitovi;*, (>m
Hither aidnol thomnin entrance Mumv luv 1ml jun.i clunk-mimiM,
rotlrln ■-!'. era », an tin itortes. The hull t* also fitted with rtde
rice, with laj*ge and commodious platform. On the
Aral ioor, In the ftwit block, are situated rendtng-room, library,
nil! reference library. Thr hookfftWN are affixed to the waifs,
and nrn rani tied fron (salleries. (m tin- second floor aceommoda-
ti«.n I-, provided for an nrt school, which includes masters room,
elementary roomP model room, in: Indeed, the whole of the
i j loor Mill be (1 1' votwl mure or low to the purposes of an
iehool, Tin' hull in lighted hy fourteen windows an each
the only roof light* being those for Ktnvcce«c&. \\ \w
nnUiXo uddahie^
extreme north end bar* is an ornamental rentOatctt
rising: bo I height of 86ft ton bbe ground, which will
iv.W mm iiilaii- the hall and carry the smoke from the heating
apparatus. The internal dccorution of the building is of a
riiiiMtrate chm'iK't-T, Tiu anteaiicc tall and staircase .'■'• ela-
borately finished in faience work, the arched tow befog paint i
in colours which harmooisc. A maea.ro organ (ulso the gift it
tin.* ildiiov of the hull) ban boon constructed u the organ chamber.
Tlie library, towards tho equipment of which Mr. Patau con-
tributed t; l ,<hh>, contains over 7 ,000 volumes. The reading public
Ol Alloa will find tho library one of the uveatest boons imaguuble,
\\sfi\ kind oi book is lonrid upon itx shelves, from those contain-
in- Sght and cnt<rt;it»iiiiLr literature i" books winch require :i
deal <>f etudy and deep thinking before their full content
mastered, Hooks for boys :md girls have also a prominent place,
and will do much to eradicate In anal district tak "penny dread-
ful0 style of Tciuiinir, whtoh i* bo much sough! after ta
fOtfflg people of the present day. The library committee a iv to
« congratulated on their choice of books, and the librarian also
for the compilation of the o&talQgue
The library w;ih opened oo February LI, I6B9 with 7JSOQ
volumes. The catalogue compiled on the dictionary plan <>1
authors, subjects, titles, and crowt-rrfemiees, is, as s cats
in I. iwin,'/ this method. ;i model of what a catalogue should he.
Where & small library of 7.000 to 8,000 volumes is being formed
the selcel loo of books made for Alloa may with every couflduncfi
1m? followed. Mr. Simpson is Ihr hlnm-ian,
Bbbohdt,
The little town of Brechin received, some months ago. an offer
ol 65,000 for Public Library purposes. A iivin of Gdinburghi
.solicitors, who are acting for the unknown donor, offered on behalf
of their client that £3,000 of the £5, 000 be applied to the pur-
chase of n site and tin- erection uf the necessary huildingn, the
money to be paid when the site and plans ore agreed on, the
balance ol t'i'.ooOtobe paid only after the building fa tartu1
with at least 6,000 volwnex paid for by the inhuVitr.r.
Panda to be raised by them by subscription or otherwise, the
liabiuee of £tf,000 to he invested ns arrange .1, and the in«
thai t applied m purchasing now books, &c., from ton. to tfme,
In meeting the oosi "i the upkeep oi the house, insure
leaving only the management ana the other necessary exp
h» be raised bj taxation under the Public Libraries' Ad
The assessment rate produce* tboot i" 105 a year. At a pobKi
moating for the consideration of the question n hunker trot i . i i
enough to assert that a public gymnasium and ■ v, i
where the young men might go and smoke their p . | plo$
at dominoes, and the young women go and kntl stockings, weri
i lore required In Rrcenln tiuui n Public Library
'/'/(.- iwv (cere adopted in tUeeartypart of leWX lu Han ol the
Pl-DMC LIDBATltES IS SCOTl.KXP.
22H
:;ini<' you 8 spado] meeting of the Town Council WftB hold. Lord
(Ml Mitchell, who presided, said the object for which the
meeting had been called wan to afford an opportunity for the
PllbUa Library Committee to moot with the Town Council lad
r »: i v - ■ :t ciifcronoe on fin- siil-jivl Ot carrying out the Aelx Whifih
had now been adopted. The oonmittee having accordingly met
conference wiih the OouncU, discuaied the KtepM which ft wan
pedient to take Barly itepfl will be taken respecting a site
<1 ItuiMinj.'
DLUll_MiTO.\'.
The Acts were adopted in 1881, The usefulness of Public.
l.iiuvuir* in .vniiiU places such ;\* tV.- imu*t necessarily remain
hampered so long as there is no aid from o\ her source*, The oon>
arittee are looking1 forward to better time* for this library. Lx
alx>ut twelve months the library will be much better housed in
tin- now institute in eourec of erection to the memory of the late
till am Doony, shipbuilder. The hmldinir. (s expected to coel
ut £6,000, and will be two storeys high. The library, vcading-
omittce room, &c», will occupy the whole of the ground
r, while in the upper portion of the building there wfl] boa
creation room, billiard room, cord room, Sec., with caretaker's
>• in '.'Innvh street hns hocn purchased
al a cost of £'1,700. The library expect* to enjoy un immunity
i""io rent i fl ■!■ rem >val, and this will place ii in a good position.
or tlie erection oi the building have been raised by
bl <■ lubecription,
Dl'MiKK.
From whichever point of view the work in bonnie Dundee Ii
red it comes out well. Tlie group of institutions shown in the
r»i nfi represent* la fact the present liijrhwuter mark of Public
..i (I Mum'-uii] progress in Scotland, unci Dundee may be
,-< i. 'ed Willi tin- bcM iimI in wnt pruui>eMi\e iu England. I'Voiii
■ [oat the* buildings have cost over l'oO.UOO, and DOi i
ou ol tliM respectable Mini has i-orne oui • f the porketa of
yevn. The first origin ol these institutions dates back
13, when Dundee, in common with other parts of the United
ooii was looking around und considering what woe the
meet suitable monument to perpetuate the memory of Prince
MberL The citizens ol Dundee, with that practical character
Vhloh hai always distinguished them, decided that their moim-
iuld not be merely monumental brass or sculptured
marble, but an institute specially devoted to the furtherance of
the objects which for many yearn had inleruHtad IVineo Albert,
md which ho had done not a little to promote. Tim Wftfl the
bftthof the Albert Institute, und the pile of buildings will ever
wnain, not only as a monument to mm whose name it bear*,
foresight and wisdom of the Dundee people other
munis had beon active, at a time contemporaneous with this but
lto independent ol it, to see if it were not possible Xo C£«X Xto
230
II Iil.U UUHAtllBS
J'ulil;. I.ilirn :<,' \,i> .i-luplrtl. 'IV loolutnm •<• iulnpt tli •
n:i.-i i;iKi-n in Ink), ami it li I" the credit of Dundee t Hut it va*
taken unnnimoiwly, and that n preliminary cxponao* fund of
Cl.000 wa* at ■•" ■ Ih'<1, Tin mji\ ; ive been iln--. I
iv, 1 . I lie l.i.l I'ttal Hi ' UU'i'l In -III i(>- w.i - then In fi
of orooaoo, and thai provision bod boen made in itr. titlc-deodn
for accommodating a PublicLibrnry within it* walls \ sple
site wo* given by the magistrals I at * nominal prtoa, on condition
that room should as proridod in it tar the Pan-lie i.ii>r:men,
nut ...-I. in and art giilleries.
The late Sir u. Gilbert Beottj K.A., waa entrusted witJi the
work of datigvJng * suitable xiuniniv, mi! :n 1807 the wholo of
the buildings won completed, and the first use no which they
iirwnwB pitoi.ic: i.rniiAnv, MVSBVM AJTO \\i\
wi'iv placed was for the meeting** of the Brilisl ki allon,
which visited Dundee thai yeur. Tin- reft
libraries were opened In l*Hi, and in l-C.'t a lai
for iimuK'UMi and art galleries, was era led. So rapidlj has tie
Work deVCl<>pr*l m'iii'i' lli.it ( li in- tlt.it li.
dalioi wlutely essential, and it wne thought HttniK tin
new galleries projected ia thi Jubilee year, thnuld be called the
Victoria Gallorles, VcrTffenerous hare been the gifts o4 the
loncHng citizen* ol Dnndee. b 1803 Mr. Kcillrr ciimc forward
n i.u an ofier of tea thousand guineas, and during Unit yc*r,aud
since, a no lees sum than £35,000 lit* teen awed to tree Use
Institute from dahc. and •<> build the hoy « '■ - <■ 1 he i
PtmUO LHOUMRS 3N SCOTLAND.
231
form a magnificent pile, with enhanced beauty and Utility.
Efficiency in every department appears to be the order of the day.
Mr. John Muelanehfan fills the triple capacity of librarian,
cunitor, and searetfLrv ol the Dundee An I. uioii
UlC entire work of the Albert Institute, and Victoria Gallons.
now comprises reference library, lending library, subscription
lihrury (one guinea per annum). mUBGXXa of natural history,
oitiottj art, bi d fine art gaUeriee, annua] One art exhibition
of works by llTtng .irt.faui,and the Dundee Art Union. During tin*
iir-i qui rtef Ol [890,64,143 volumes were issued in the lending de-
i ent, and |ii,sn»J volumes in the ivferanob 'J*he Increase 0V6P
1 Ik« rorrpHponding ipvirr.i'i- <>\' tlir prennus \imi' U -l,4*-'0 volume*
Pi .\pkkmm.nk. i
To die rich, to "cui up veil," to devote u large fortune made
rji a r i lib i : lion ol oilier people's work and business ability to
nuudlng a family of healthy rooU—t I »*>»'.' arc the pet ambitious
: nicM men who hate " made their, pile." Om.* bvllliani excep-
on, howorer, ia the Scottish-American millionaire, Mr. Andrew
Ogle. At a Glasgow meeting, he and his wife were col-
lated on the great good they had done in assisting to
Public Libraries. Then said Mr, Carnegie, with the
resolution glowing in hie cyea, "Ms wife and 1 are
nined that we will not die nchl" And it i& a very
thing, not only for Scotland hut other places, that
rnefl i w Pc have come to -< worthy a d< i talon,
rnegic Public Library at Dunfermline was the Brat rift of
n. h Mi. Carnegie made. In December, 1870, shortly
tor hi" magzunconl gifl oi bathe to the town, Mr. Oarnegu
r> L-'w-r £.i.Q00 (afterwards increased
,000 to i >und o library, provided the town adopted the
Pu ■!). ubrariec Act*. These Acts having heon adopted at n
ting held for the purpose on February Jlf 1880. Mr.
several gautlemon with the preliminary
arrangement}), and afterwards a committee of numagottieol
Lppointod m accordance with the Acts. Un July '17, Ihki,
the memorial Stone Via laid bj Mr, Carnegie's mother, and u
i bra to iii • event ( in August ."'. iKs:i, Hk-
Iruetfrni formally opened by the Earl of Roeebery, toe
number nf volume* m the library licfng then 11,925.
The building w Domestic Tudor in style, ami presents a front to
hvuHin'ct... Tiic Mihm Street pari is devoted to a general hip I
ladle*' reeling-rooms on the ground floor, and a lending library on
tin' upper Aoor. Tl lis front measures $'J ft. in length and 1s twn
Igh, with range* of Hquare-hcnded windows. The
tipol entrance is near to the corner of thin front, which at lhi«
pofol la treated ho :i* t ■ > uive the appearance of a square tower,
: itorey higher than tJie rest of the building, The
slightly projects, the head d' thcentraucclieiugn Nome*
what 1 oted arch, deeply received, and supported at the sides
"k-r columns with moulded baaea ana nvnan aaao, csxvea.
232
PUBLIC UBOABIPH,
capitals. The FOOflftMd portion of the troll i< tilled m with CATV4
foliage, &0 . and DD the outer member* arc tin* words "Cnrnegi
Fruft Library." Tim door-WM IB finished stove asapahlw.
i : i ri I'll stone flnial. In I he third Mmvy of iln> part of Hip hiiXIdDXg
la the imoVing-rooin, having oriel windows in the two angles,
looking to l>oth Rtreots. 'Hie St. M»r^;irrt Street front is of uracil
the same style as the oilier, and extends to 70 ft. This jMirt of
the ill-sign i imtuiiiH, on the ground floor, a dwelling house for tliu
TC1
ftgM
MR. AXDRKW CABNKOIR.
librarian, and a large recreation-room above. The front ia divided
by string-courses, which form hood* tu the windows n* in part of
too north front, and in the centre in an octagonal tower rising to
a height of 68 ft., and covered by a slated spire with an ehtl
iron fixmd carrying the cardinal point*. The upper windows in
the (southern port of thie front air Imihhcd with iruhlcto and
/fear-d*-te ornaments. The whole of t«*tl 1 i i nits of
'
rrnuc Linn amiss :n 8Cotlasp.
233
the structure is built of stone conrsere. The interior arriinirenu 1 it -
ha¥G hccn voU planned, Btld OO&Sist of a library-room measuring
67 it. 3 jus. l>v fle ft, G ma ; nrrLMtion-rooro, 26 ft. *J inn. by 26 ft.
rt in*.: gentlemen*, reading room, m :t. :: ins. t.y 85 t't.'c inn. ;
indies' reading'-room, SS ft. 0 ins. by I* it, 10 Ina ; emoking-r«<»in.
88 ii bj 16 ft ; :wni ;i beeper** lu>u*o, containing throe room* ;md
kitchen with other necessary conveniences. The oeiUngfl Of the
reading-rooms are 15 ft. :i :ns. in height, and the library ha* an
ojien timber rod with laminated i»eam under the principal*, and
Og on atone brackets. The centre of this OttUtDfl i« S« ft. 6 tan
from the floor. The entrance hnll and corridors are laid with
nqnnre!! of marble concrete, and aspatfouj atons stair ascends from
the halL On the landtag of the first flight of this stair is li.-
entrance to the recreation-room, and :i flight higher i* rbat to the
library. The number of volumes in charge of Mr IVclili^, r.he
i it r-iri.t ii. la now 13,fi0ft. Mr. Cftmegfe lias several times since fine
buildup wan opened shown his Interest in It by gift* of money.
A i;uod sig"ii was (he large number of orderly youths and iMtys fa
i ha newsroom at tha Mme ■>!' the writer'a v mi
A portrait i* given uf Mr. Carnegie, who is netting so worthy
no example to other successful men of business. May he hare
many imitators!
EltlNBTTtOH.
■* Auld Reekie'1 has now its Public library, after the third time
of asking, and the entire library world will attentively watch the
bejtfnninp and progress of the work in modern Athens. There is
timi Hi rr was in iMinburgh n small Horary open
to tin atUenflfta m.Is as l&K), and the fact isoi bibliographical
interest It is unnecessary now to do more than glance at the
.hi. inn history of the two previous attempts to adopt the Acta
The movement of IflBH touh practical shape at o mooting of
'- held do Piovombcr ID. IBW7. The attendance was small,
but it was ■•'-■rtainly inflncntiaj, and the spooking waa admirable.
i: . Lord Justice-General was in the chair. She resolution*, the
.■I in- 1 al which approved of the proposal "as a means <>i promoting
'-iiliffhtenment, recreation, and general benefit of the com-
munity,' w are ■ pported by *orae of the leading cituem*. It is
worth imtinw that, one of the most ertnu»*t promoter* of the
si-hi-iue was Mr. 1. .1 Jloyd. who, aa Lord Provost of the city
thtrtecDi years afterwards, did his utmost to induce the citizens bo
adopt the proposal which wan then rejected. The meeting re-
ceived unanimously tO present a requisition to tl"1 Lord Provost.
in terms of the Act, asking nlm to convene 8 public meeting of
householders to deride the question. Opposition to the movement
wss at once organized, and was carried on with greai vigour,
I'lii.'iiv by ii e Bni plceepers of Princes1 Street and other lead Dfl
i res.
Tin- statutory meeting was held on May IK iw, and the
vasa crowded and excited one. The Lord Provost was
chair, but it i an scarcely be said that henreiaAet^tcn &a
2W
r-rnu: r,raiiA.riiD-
I
I
meeting defied nil restraint, and gave itself up to most a dm red
disorder. It wat i vfd< nt from the Bxet that tl e oppoi enl of tlw
[iin\.-ii)L- 1: had tikni possession ot the hall in force. A
discreditable mooting' hon rarely been hold in Kdinburqh. U hen
the names ol the Ice ing rotmiKitii'niKlR worn rend mil by .Mr
Warwick, iiw Town (.'lerfc, they were received, tbe report
"with Wsatogj hooting, and groans.' Thai was the I
which the mooting conducted itseU throughout. The ohjoctore
made littio use of argument i their strength lay in qaeiwlung al]
argument Willi lidwiuig :md groaning, In1'-' or fair difteussiOU
th. re was none; and probably it would hove been thrown away
Oflfluch an niulicnco The resolution in favour of adopting the
A.cts was moved by Mr William T.wld In an earn - i, and
seconded by Mr, w. u Ehtulr. When ; in- vote was taken, toe
1 1 -ill; Showed I .lOti against the proposal nnd only 71 in favour.
An interval of thirteen yearn passed before another attenanl
wan made, and to the interval ilio law had been altered, to the
I'll feel Hint the vole might be taken by a poll of the whole
Of ralepa vers, : ml i.il tui't.- \ Of thOHC ftho WOTO able l<> attend :r
public noeting, The electorate hud .dsu ben -mlcd,
none boSnoludea rery laree proportion* of those whom the Acta
were designed bo benefit Moreover, mai j . rgi towns in England
had in tlic meantime taken advantage of the Act*, i.m bheee
grounds the promoters «>i the movcroeol were hopeful of suoces*,
S public iincot.iij; «'l -ili/ ,-. nabl. [■• ilie proji'i-t wiw held
on January 16, Lo81. Hie reouiaitiou having 1>een presented to
;h. Lord Provi -i on 3 unary L6| 1881, ii was reserved bo inkc a
plebiscite of the ratepayers. Voting papers, in the shape o |
cards. Mere issued to the ratepayers, taking the "Vee" ami
"No papers which wore duly signed us the test of the opinion
o ii i mi payers, thia vote showed o clear majority of e\Oe*fl
;i-t the proposal to adopt the Art , and tho re a LI wae,o
eouiv.e, it«I>i|itfd aai-H.tih-lnr.ivc. There tliomattei' vented in I
The Miird ;imi final attempt wnn >r"i_;lu ibout :n the autumn
i--'i bj tin' i.iiniii. -i-nt offer ol bEi Andrew Carnegie o
£80,000 on condition that tho city adopted the Public Libraries
I i I paw i- < ' tho adrtitioiiiil moimy required fur maintaining
the library Tiu» enthusiasm with whleh the la*t attempt war
oondaoted i"i unaa to wipe of! rim stigma <<) apotln vhlcd
ittended the two previous efforts. All classes Joined togethe
in pi'iimottng the movement, nnrl bo Koeiirfng for thn or
- ilendid i gift. The main \o\ ••, however, eame from Dhe
" SriitMiii:in " rin.l teVBt -.in.c I h,- K,W:ili. \r\ nf I860 WIS JHldSed
hfla Mil' re been many newi™per articles so Tuingoet end so ii
w ribten, arglng upon the rlttxemi the advisal lllty of adoptu
Acts, ;i^ wero printed n thto welUknown -nyrtcli paper. Colucn
nf ntrtfiri wen 'ivrM ili'-.n -|| nr<- tin- work in varinliK ]t;ir!* Of IN
country, and Miese were aceon hanled with rorceful leaders, wide
masl have aided mosl matoriaif) In ed lea <■•>•_ pun] i upon
i(ir>.ti'ia. II was also a noticeable t.i i tl.l r-iune who Ii.mI
/•ecu figorom appoomtB In the two previous Ltlempta, txn
pimr.ir una Antra tv scott-ast.
LhaSr aid, and worked heartily with the promoters if was stated
thai i ii- 008I ol a plebiscite of Edinburgh would be £600, and
fn>i (here mill' doubt* u> hi ;li.' wif-dum u|' deciding
the question by ;i town's meeting^ it irai ulthnatei) settled to
adopt this method, W( tin- nppoM'iiui » Ml of BO trffluig tmd in-
>iir:iiii. trader, Tin* meeting wae called fur Octoboi 20,
' 0, and will remain us hisl n*ie in the annals of Edinburgh. S»
Thomas Ohurki r.,iii.. the Lord Provost, presided, and it wan
estimated that some ifiQQ people must hove been present. The
Erie, of wnicli the meeting waa the outcome,
brief and to the point, tic Raid; "I should Uke i" d j
pari m .K.<. ntj to the numerous attractions of the superb metro-
polis < f my unlive hind. If its citizens were1 now <f opinion that
:i PttbtiC I,il»i'i»rv WouM hr r.f '»rc:d good to the * it.V, as I ln'lir\ ■•
men tactitutiona arc wherever established, and wore they t»>
cdopt the proviaioiii <>i the Library Act which provide Ear
(iroper mail Eonuuco, it would give mo ureal pleasure toproBext
in magistrates and town council with (550,000 ror such a
into spoooho vara made. One gentleman, referring
i" ihc large percentage «>t' novels taken out ot Public Libraries,
n marked that no did uot see why e poor aaafB hi" should be one
srhlt duller than Ma by depriving hire o! that he fihouJd not Like
U bo deprived ol himself —a volume of Walter Seottj or Woltens,
b? ..i rtu •!': Moreover, he bod noticed thai people who
learn perhaps the iabli oi rending onlj through :"' Interest In
romances ii\- mi! i.\ iiv:n team unfit they rnusi have lomethlnn
deeper and mnrp solid to sntfrif) them. It. is the wnv in which
if though) are opened to the reader.
The Lord Provoai put the qnestlon t" the irole, colling upon
those 'ii favour <>i the amraclrnent to stand up next. This call wan
• Iimi i< h\ alioui twenty I u all, moat of whom quickly re
mimed ill- i sonic contusion, caused by the outburst ol
ler with which Lhej wore greeted. The unnl Provost then
(■ailed Hjxni i in.- i»uuuorler& of the motion, am! immediately tin
iiac n a body, wavjiurkabs and utieita, and cheeriuy mottl
i nthuaiaal icnlly. A cablegram woe forthwith Rent to the gencrouc
■ i noun* ii.:; i!i»- .i i tost unaniiu m-. ..ilopiion »\ Hie Act.
la briefly the history of the three occasion* when the rot<
on this oucstion was taken i Edin nu'cli, The purpose wfll be
Buncd i:' it ihoutd stimulate the rrfesdn in other districts where
bos l"'i n unsuocceafn] to bjo oa until they
uitiun.iri ;,■ carry tht adoption of tin.' \
The denign for o mitahle building was thrown open topubUc
uompf I the one Bent in l>y Mr. Washinfpton Browne was
■ i I in- plans oi thifl were tuihjocted to some modificotfone
■ tor a • : ■ , euel i furtl i v • tnsiderntion on the pt ii- ot the
nrehitoel and eemmittoa joemed '<' render dostrable.
On July 10, 1887, the foundntion-etone was laid unid great
"I popular approval. The day selected for the
■■..ii. I.:. ;. . and this enabled the ■ uioa itrni i - 0 i
inizo and i u tnu^nfficout proectrtnon. !SskQt9i
L\T.
PI I H MDRAniF.?.
Ian! the Wone, and in doing -," said thai thai wu the fifth Public
Library which he hod been permitted to found, find he could
wi«h for himself no happier lot than thnt he might be permitted
to add in6nitel%v to ihr number ere his race was run, and In- In'
down to reel open the bosom of bis mother-earth.
The total height of the Structure to the top of the laiiu-in,
moaHurin^ from George IV, Bridge* is 118 ft Entering
Cowgrile, the lirwt floor it* occupied by the bMfcmg and electric
lighting apparatus and genera stores, engineer's workshop, house*
.-. ml
■ i i \ vriitv 09 I'l.ivm itnw PI inn linnviiv.
Sec. On tin' second floor are workehoue for bho e tail, bookbinding,
repairing ri»»in.\ ami Muter* tui N<l.- previous to their I
catalogued. On the next floor, which is the faafi below the lew
ol George IV. Bridge, fa the newsroom, 90 ft. by 79 ft., with ,i
ceiling -'"» fcluch It !a of cruciform shape, with shortened anna*
iiTi.l ili< ■■:! •!- "I ciii'li nf the anna Wing filled with large windows,
abundance oi ligbl from four sides is thereby obtained. Iht
BOO] above io carried on u aeries oi pillnja, which form IC HSplefa
.•"/wire in the rci; tic of the room, oi '12 Ct. These pillars huvc aa
prni.ir cmmniKsi »x mott.sxt*.
•SW
ooro. and are encased in tarra-ootta, and a dado 1°. ft. high, of
ootonred t j : !■-. i. carried rotnad the walls d i terlej oJ ornam< ntal
panels rate aiumn - tiio walls of tiii- room, wolon Bathe meal
Frequented of any, nlwuy* haying a cleanly aapeet the i-«>ihngor
the newsroom u deeply panelled sad (hushed with ornamental
Ideate? work The landing Library <i the Qeorge n Bridge
sveljlsTS I teaSnlnrauti totheroom bohrs Hand
tiii* reference Library above it being smaller in eoiit.ei|uenee of :v
leave deduction being necesaary to provide Fox bhe onireiiec hull,
which i* -i* fi. by 17 ft., with a 23 it. ceiling. The appearanee of
the lending library, ao far an tha is affected liy fine columns
carrying the Oooi above, i* much the same na thai of the new*»
ruiJin. In thi.t iMM*. however, Mil* ruiMsing material [a oJ wuod.
Tin' pubUotsouiitartakBsthcMhnpeol threcsldeeofu panillrioyin
— tlw area between the
unes Doug-M ft, by 30ft.
It gives about 110 ft of
length for the display of
indicator* and the rrrms-
j;< tioii of the public busi-
nc»». Tlie shelving is
arranged on the wall, ua
also ;'f> right 3itglca to
it, in oaeaa 7 ft apart
a p&wage botog loft be-
tween tlie counter and
the end ut the hook caeca
for the aooonunodati >n
.'i the attendant*, In
the lending library there
will be accommodation
I ■ .i n *i | , imi:. ■ ■ me
book t'i <:\-'l'v live nf the
population being consi-
dered a proper average:
; n.i provision la m tde
forthe addition el a hook
BtorO :it tlir Bortll-WeaC corner capable Of holding nn nddllional
>.'»**» volumes. Tlie raftarance lihrnry on the top flnt is a very
haadaonii- ap: I'lnii'iu. llu« MO ft. hy 72 ft. dimensions being hOfe
resumed latere are three deep alcoves on each skid, to the ends
ei which an- the windows on which tha hull depend*, to i con-
siderable extent, for it* light. The hook.-* mv arranged En three
■i ipaUerlea, which are approached b v elreohir slaire al the
four :« ii ^N"- 1 if the hull. Over tlie uraidiug there la a moulded and
iiaiirlif i lrr.e with fluml nmunicntetloii Eu i In* panels, and dee
relopGtl from ;ln> Is tin- ilruiu ol Ihe doine-thapcd roof. Tm*B
drum riaea rcrtlcallj bo u height of 7 ft. 0 In., and Is broken Dpljy
pflaatcra a to i v riea ol • ircular and wctanffular panolei m which
■ioUoea»dci Icoe, or artistic symbol* will be introduced ltacVn>yiav&
icu >pc rcoftht tU nut are thcrttjbOf U\i;\Wn\\v» ta Wv
PUN HF REFERENCE LBR&S*
FLOOR
Ki'iNBtTtioit i-i at.ic :.:nn\RY.
28*
in nM' Mtuunus.
« troamfereoc , tod tbea ega a iroi uiaeof
U LfbD am « biota rises from theoantroof thadoxne, Tin * paces
between the riba are panelled, but it is yet a moot point whether
they will bo used for lighting purposes or whether a r « l Light v J]
onlj hi? gives by tin* lantern ©1 *'"- dome. The heigbl from the
Boot t<> tlie apei of tho dome is ir ft. 6 iu., anil the bail altogether
im one which present* greut possibilities for decora; m-
Shelving Will be provided for 75.0U0 volumes, and that mar be ln-
■ i. ■ t- .« I. when the rerjuiremenuot the library demand it. by 8 9*000
mini- I h'- entrance. Imli ih hncd thivHur.huiit with poinding :ivhl:ir,
imd lighted with leaded glass window* n tinted coloora I
inlonnadJng of double pilasters gives variety to tho wnftla, win ■
nt either end n set of doable aohnEnu Bonn flu opening en the one
in 1 1 hi tiir grand BtaJHWttj and on the other (ai 1 1 u< bouUi
to i he public smir lending down to the newsroom. The heating
is affected by muni af miied .si cum pipes plumed in ra.i
whle.h also piny aii important pact in c-oimeeLun: with the vcntil.i-
I ion of the liui'-Iin,'.'. Frrsli .iir Ls Uikrn llinni; li I'mm
n.i outside, but before ii i? admitted to the different rooms ii w 01
be oondojued through the r;idialoi> ami vanned l\ contact With
Hi. hoi i'i|"'. For oarrring v* >y the vitiated an n powcrfa
exhaust shaft will w constructed, into which tho spent sic from the
rari >us departments of tiie IjidKhuir will [iti.ss II .is si Kill i* curried
from basement to roof, over the latter of which it riace In the
shbpc of .in ornamental tower-like structure. By thia -
estimated that the entire air in the building; will be changed {our
of five times an hour, Larjpc firoplaooa have also bean introduced
into the chief apartments, the Hues of which will be utilized foi
vi-utilaiim; puipoM^. An umtallation of the electric light hat
been fatrodnccainto the building The plant is in duplicate, there
being two euginoe, two honors, and tour dynamos t>l ial b the
t'\-i Tit of any ovaakdc wn I bore may bo 1 1 oatinotion of the right.
Complete provision hn/* meanwhile been made for carrying
pipes through every )>oi'timi of the hnilding, hut ii i« not into
that tioy fitting* shall be xuppluxl m tliu uu.'iuitiiiio. On the soul Ii
east angle, with an enj ranee to the Cowgate, is a stair raaa tor the
dm ol the utofE, having in the centre ii hoisl for ■■■ -i ig ls I
tag i let to the various Boors. lioouis for the members of the
open ofl i "■ staircase Sir. H, Morrison baa boon
appointed the chief librartrm, and the building will ba opened
about the middle of 1600,
Ant only Kdm burgh, bnl the whole of S
time been discussing thofutnrA of rtn Idvneataa' Uhrarj
library has long haon the Scottish counterpart ol tin- Hiiri*h
Wuiienrri, l.ilce thai valuable iusliiuimn. it Ik til
hi. i.iry lore, aid, like II nlnu, nijoyn the priillege ol |s*
copy of averv book [aihlWied In the I lilted Kiogdom Ii i»ne
nii|Mr;;itil p;tr: icnl.i: , :1 gh, till* AflVOTl .■• Ihr
British Museum It tanoiu publu institution. There Ik
farther difference; ihat bhe r.tv aud eipi im ol hoi
mnfatmmng the mtletlion have uoi been \»\d uu Uio publii \>un>v.
PpBLTO IJBRAMBS IV SrftTt.AXn.
030
hut have fallen open the l'Vn.ry of IdvnoatM. Pahtoble to Sent-
I ■ni.i f ondoubtedh ba8bean,DQt fur thai advantage bhenatSoD
baa simply lo bhank the Faculty, whOi if it ehoaeea angeneroua b
courfie iw right to close the libran to the lay oonsultaxit is
n matter of fact, it is n fear t b:it, tho closing of the Inal itntlon may
ultimately become nroeenrY, that baa ocoatilaned, In the first,
place, the action ol the. I-Miuhnru'h Town Council, ami in the
second pUev, of bbt 3ootcli newspaper press generaUy* Tin*
i<'Mie beyond the Tweed is to see it become tli< aofciunal
. of Scotland. Ami in tin-, vji w many on thifi ride liio
bonier heartily loin. Such a collection of books should not bo
OpQB EO the pOJbhl ■'-: niiiitii <>. i.tvM Imt of riirht. IT Scotland
ron »ei'iir«- uti omiiial ui'.uit I'm- tin. maintenance "I Lhifi tibr rj,
id .n-tli.it it i* thrnwn open to the public, there wili be room
lor congratulation.
VoIIPAB A Oil TTxWIi I.
I'' r a snaull library Forfar is doin>r fairly well, in throe uqdJ b i
iiu Increase of over WOtoIuDIW teenown in its issue, It in also
worthy o1 ait* that whenem owvdoor labour is -topped i'i-
issues nt once go up. The library at Hawick recta mh eta i I
lii^h :n Use world, for U i< at tho top Of the municipal i : :
It is rather a Ktilt climb lo get np to the lending department, inii
i.).- Hawich Btooldng weavers do not seem to mmd that, for they
■ :i- Library.
(iALARiriRIi.
i bi Jubilee w 18 & small windfall for this town, tin- reputation
of which rcsta on Scotch tweeds, and its close proximity to
sford. Some £1,800 was rained as a Jubilee fund, and what
better war could there bo of spending this than on an extension
Of in.? Public Library, proviamg a bow readmp-room and an
WrtynrfflB Of the tenamfl library? Tho new reading-room has a
' i ■ ! ft., equal to 1,582 square feet. Its main
Nature is n very large arched wimtr.w 'ii the end of the wall,
which, rlong with tight* on each aide of the roof, Roods the room
tight. The wall*, up to :i height of ■*> ft above the floor,
are meed with glaxed tties, disposed in :i good and ohaate pattern,
and topped by a heavy cornice. The celling is of n great height,
and dependent from ii are four Wenhaiu gas-tights I?ie public
h to i tin room in \iy h lobby oil, wide, which has been
i off two rides of the original Horary room. Title lobby, both
D .v.ihs nail cutting, is lined with wood painted ;md varuishitl.
iiu- library room haa been greatly altered. Forraei'h it wa*
I u Hi|ii;nv. of which two Hides were occupied m \> book-
shelves, and tin- floor-ajiHce w;m used ai .; reading room. Bui to
8ft wide lohtrj from the staircase !<» tin new reading-
room it ww neoeaaary to put up new walls for tho library proper
tai diatanM inward from the original walla, This bee
tmctetl tin sice of J io room on two aides. fa the intodioi awn
■ the back tvnll, or the one bo^mA.\^\\\«Tta£tofr
*m
pmr.tr i.ibbaiuks
room, 30 ft. But tins dinunuiioii of wulJ BpftOfl (Off books
(MS been m«. iv t in) compensated by flic new arrangement, and
by the erection on the floor of the 1 thru ry room of ri v-* si;uid:mls
tat books. These are tine gift, of nn anonymous contributor.
Booh of toe standards is 10ft In height and ; j to in width,
:nnl :m eoctl onirics eighteen shelve;, this is equal to ISO lineal
feet of vail RHce loft, in height far books. Tlw lineal wall
spaee, when tne library was closed, was rt<5 ft. Now, along
wiiii til-* standards, 11 is 200 ft., so that, while the orbffual room
was somewhat overcrowded with 0,000 volumes, the library I
hnprm '<[ condition will give LCcoiumodBtion for about 11,000
rolumes, The assessment yields about £226, ol which £00 goes
for rcudiiux-ruom literature ami from £30 to £40 Cor hooka. The
work Lb decidedly growing. An Interesting ceremony took ptsoc
at Hie icupcuuu; in i M.-. ember last. The building .'[.nub well un
an eminence, and the view from its windows over the tfelrotc
valley and hills is TOO picturesque. Within the shade of those
hilts Adam Smith lived and wrote his " Wealth of Nations,"
frRANURMIM'TH.
Another of Mr. Carnegie's lifts helped to living about iho
adoption of the Acts here. An oilor ...I tfOOO quickly awdatcd
to decide the mutter, and on October ], iVUS, the memorial
atone was laid. A temporary building was opened until tho now
structure was ready for the public. Grangemouth is somewhat
£roud of the tact that a raodost seaport town of lead than 6.00C
ihabltants should, with practical unanimity, have adopted tin
Public Libraries' Acts, when other towns und cities of greater
pretensions have hesitated to do so. It in a matter to be placed
to Ufl credit. The mauner in which the promoters of the Bobotne
curried it oat Supplies a worthy and inst.ru. -rive example to other
communities Whose reading facilities are as yet undeveloped.
The i posaJ tor the adoption of the Act originated among the
■commissioners of the town, who chose the mods of public
meeting for obtaining the necessary approval of the ratepayers
The meeting Look place in the Town lhll. and was presided
ovw l>,y Sheriff Wilson, the proposal for the adoption of the Acts
being warmly supported by th« chief magistrate, Mr. Efugb
Mac. ph arson, and otluai leading townsmen, Coming hefon
public for too first time, little surprise need have been Cell had
tir.mtfcmoulh.iike oilier places which need not be named, n | i
the proposal U was, lnnvi^n-, nl'i.-r voine discussion approved
by a substantia] majoril ?, und held ;** the manner in wtuuh the
townspeople elected to celebrate the Jubilee. The building now
eomplett land occupied ie of two storeys, designed bv Mi black,
architect, Falkirk, in ;> pleasing style which resembles most the
Italian order of architecture. The luwei part of the rn»utoge
ts plain, and contain.4* the two doors, uuc at *ch ride of the
niildinai which rive entrance U» it.whiU be! sveen them ore three
mndowe, iwo giving light to the reading-room, and one
■'/.'. ■'.'/, 000. '\":u: upper pftTt t>\ iVw. \ -"'V ...■■• L% hi'/hl>
MTBUC LIBRARIES Itf SCOTLAND.
241
ihiii.i1, chief features iu the dftfaQfl being four lur^e tlueiMmartcr
columns, two at each cud of the storey, while stone baluBtrading
W introduced at tho baee of rhr rohunuN, and the top is
lini^Iir-" aviI. .'.i i-nluhlatinv having the wurds " Virtoria Public
blbraty," above which is a stone balustrade in front of roof, and
finning the summit of the frontage to the building. There la
dear spaa all round the Bitot and this ground wffl be laid ouf
ornament illy. On Hie -'piiuii! HOOT if i-' libmry, y3 ft. by S9 ft.
ft, and librarian's apartment* al book of building. The stair
10 spacious and very handsome. On the second Boor there
ia an art roc ii, •_•■„' II. by Itfl't.; rcading-rooBBitt ft. I»y 99 ft, \ lodice'
n :i'luiL--vi>oiii( 17 ft. liy 18 ft. ; and •■oniruittoo room,
At tilt* opening ceremony of the temporary promisee, air,
Carno| i ring to a little episode in bus history while a boy
in ilie any oi AJiagbony, said he would not take a fortune or
give ■ fortune to a Boy any mow than he would leave thai boy u
There \vys nothing in the world so grand a legacy ai
hono*t poverty, lie next told of n Colonel Anderson who had
lent Mini and other boys, from wool to week, Volumes from ins
private library That man, continued Mr- Carnegie, would have
ai monumeni & the Pnblio Library, that he was building in Alle-
ghany, because be hod opened up to him the mteUecftaui wealth
■ • world, lie learned from the book* what he could not
Imc learned elxewhcri*: niwl mi del they wonder (hat, when lie li;ul
wealth, the noblest use to which he could put that wealth was in
lmit.-u.ing Colonel Anderson and establishing Public. UbrorieeP
Tlie first lessons he learned, the sentiment* that were graven on
ills hoartj were tboaa dial came from the bmui Into the heart.
mii that '" put an enemy into his mourn was to
v his brains, and he had never entered a bar-roorn.
ion learned the grand sentiment, "To ihine ovDBell
lie," ;md .t uiu/st billow aa night did day. *' Thou can'st DOl
Ne to any man." Another leBson he learned waa that
lu> man can be cheated out of a reasonable success in life uulem
bimeeif.
Already about one-sixth of the entire pomilaiim are enrolled
** ttcrrowers at the library. The coat of the building with fur-
ug reached £3*189, and on going OTer it, the present writer
**ae» surprised that so handsome and substantial a structure could
built :<>i so reasonable an outlay. This was the total cost —
j being for the building, arid JJ107 for furnishing and
;. A* a library for villages ami small U wns the building
Ofongcinouth would form on ox client Model,
I.NVKUMf&a.
\ Las J when « i toueh Inverness, we touch a perj sore place in
Public Library movement, is there an Bnjtieli
* I *>'\' which di 1 not announce in the autumn "I l->v that Iho
.-. i'n .. io laiirarrand Museum wore to be closed.* News-
hank the gods of the Court) estate toon em
' ^*" and insignificant -tool: up tho matter, au<l powtcd ftvc I
1%
243
rrBLICJ LIBRARIES
of ecorn at thj» " glaring " failure of the Public Library -y-tcm.
Softly Meads, Dot bo tan ' In August of the year jusl named the
library committee appointed to inquire into the position and
finances of the library, reported thai 811 volumes were iniadng,
and tli.it the overdraft on the batik, which in I #83 only amounted
to £98ti amounted to £7:2$, In addition to this sum, there «/h
the authorized debt secured by mortgage upon tlie library. It
VfM obvious, the committee stated, that the eyaten, • i manage-
ment which necessitated the incurring of nn increasing load cd
debt every year dui'I cmntj Go nn end. The Srst charge upon ite*
revenue* Should be reduction uf its debt, and It seemed DO tt
impossible to reduce the present debt and at the wiroe time carry
on the library as it fia now carried on unless Borne hddition was
made to its resources. In view of the state of tlie library fluids, the
snh-cninioiNoe saw im course open but the closing Ol lb- km*! iriy-
room department and maintaining the library for a time as n
lending library, to be open for a few hours every week, until (ho
debt wan paid off. Tms is now being done. Rut better II
Knight have been expected Of Inverness, with iis Ji'»,lKK> inhabit
and Its tided chief magistrate, it i* noi credltahle to the
Highlands that everything uf an intellectual churact.iT ha
go .i-begging tor patronage, while amateur concerte and the like
nourish perennially In every countryside. The library coram
runst surely have been Dttpping when they have permitted HI
and more roiUDM to 00 BJenlBg.
Kirkwall.
In this far northern district the Acts were adopted ho March,
1890, by means of voting papers. The voting was U folio*
Qui of the h)3 napei** which were issued, there were *J{>| tnr
1 1 to adoption, and only -i> against Five papers were roti
n* spoiled. \t this rate of rapid i>rogress Scotland «iii soon
he honeycombed with Public libraries.
1 '.IIS LEY.
Uthongfa Paisley cannot claim the distinction of being ttsl to
adopt the Free Libfafioa' Act, having to give precedence to
Lirarii and Dundee, the enterprising spitii - I its inhabitants und
the naimifioence of Its merchant princes did not allow tiiera to
>o let! vovy far bchfnd Simulated by .in offer by Sir L'eter
Out*, then plain Mr. ■'oats, and who died in the spring of
isuo, to provide :« suitable building, the rati p ■
Che Actv by an overwhelming majority on March 38, I*tf7?
with the result that a substantial edifice deAigneil to
aceomtnodatlon Tor both u miiKoum anil n library n
ni High Streetj and opened in June, 1871. Rifts ol antimaitae*
t'ni curiosltiefi poured into the museum In abundance, and its
possessions soon hreurne suniricnllji cvii'ii-sive and valuable to
make a va\'y lutetcslJiig displ.iy. The nucleus of the b'tulfiiuc
/fbr.in wm formed oj ribaui 7 .TV* volumes, presented '-•. the
PfBMC UBBAHIE3 f.t HCOTbASP.
243
on of th< Paisley Library, which vu founded to 1603,
and to this L48] volumes were added nt the opening, making
o total of '.M'lM volumes, which number liu* hecn augmented fr nn
time to ti 1 1 .m d theloncUngdcpartmanl new contains about S0.000
rojuxnea. Tl: ■ formation of the reference libra \s \\a* luidertukrn
by the local phUooophlcol society, the members of which obtained
•nbscriptione to the amount ol £1,61:?, which, after furnishing,
wl them, with the aid of tho library they already poest — i.
to place in u 6,087 volumes, Although a sum is annually rotao
i.\ th< society for the purchase of books, the reference library has
riot increased very rapidly, and does not yet ex> I :<.<m volumes,
rhii department was originally on the same floor u £he lending
11 mm ■<- ;-.i reading-room, but tome years ago the space all i
to H was found to be rasufficientj and Blr Peter Conty again OS I e
rd,and nod in iddition built on the higher ground behind.
exehudvely de-voted to the reference department In all
I w.-r | :n n ...I hftre v \i! Icsfc than CiO.OOO tOWfll'tlfi ttic hhrrny
and museum, This is one of the cosiest reference reading-rouui'*
In rho whole of tlie north ol England or in Scotland, and nIiouM
be the paradise oj the Rtudent There is one peculiarity of the
work :ii Pawlrv. and thai in.-nt QeWSpapeTfl :nv taken. The line \B
drawn al weeklies, of which seven are taken ; <>r monthlies there
are thirty-nine ; andoi quarterlies three. The library reading-room
i studious appearance, Ituf thin does mi deter ths working
dittos from lining it, for, on the morning of the writer's visit, a
Barry In corduroys sat at the same table as a young miss who had
apparently ooraa to consult some booi before going to school.
Tueentire huJldlngaare convenient^ designed, The rooms ami
i pen out of each other in a way providing convenience and
effect. There is a splendid lecture hall, and all through the
mater lectures -ire Liven, which frequently cause reference to
be nia-!' to rhi-. books by thow who attend the various courses.
\ curious nml Interesting lind was made some time ago. A
tm ■■ of bundles of manuscript were found in a barrel,
and presented to the I*ublic Library on condition that they should
Mm Inspection the bundles turned out to be the
crl >:.■• of the "llihhothmi Britanniesi, ' by Hubert Watts.
resided in Paisley at the tiau the work was being
ben. The l«u Thomas Coats had them hound in sixty-
eight volumes and placed in the reference Hbrajy. A wry
ml i jo M* woi . presented by -iv Potor (.'oats is Audub
la al Vmcrlon." consisting ol four volumoo of llfe-fllzc
coloured illustrations, nnd five volumes of ornithological litem -
. the whole raluod at ±'I60, These books, being very
■ ■ . are kept in kpoeially made eases i it. I>y '2\ ft,, with sliding
• i.ki'- on which tho books are placed. An interesting ivhe
i i':. men! >k of the P ■ le y for the Reformation oi
. - i. i i a- hiinidatiiui in 1757 tn rlie final meeting ol l>7i .
Tin* was the year of opening the Coats U >rary, bo evidently
■Id Society for the Reformation ot (Paisley) Manner!
tho work and objects ol their socievy mv^tJvX N
244
LIBTUniK*.
In-.l t-. tlir Public l,ibi'-nv Other towns where
these old societlei tor the Reformation of Hansen Sadat,
where there is not u tibrani under Qu Acta, pleaee act
scooanl ol (ho rapid BjrowtB of Paisley'.- p..j»ui:ii on mro the
Pubho Libran wi rounded tin uaou v p ahaod by riirasnesimcnt
inercoacxffroirj aboal £600 in 1871 toeJmoel u.ihm. it, 1886,
sad i' ia ntill goin^np. Mr. Morris fonng i *!.. bnufen IM
curator.
Pi KBHB * Pi
Tin- matter wns raised hew bj sever*] reportew ol the
Dawapapera writing to Sir. Carncgli to ask hta aid He eaibled
back to aag that he a ri believer in helping (hose who help
themselves, and ttun] if Peterhead adopted the Vcta he would far
i in-iii monetary ;i ii. Tiii.'- eel the ball rolling, although prior to
i te action 'I mo reporters othei • tad I n some inonrtia beenol
opinion that the tune bad arrived when the kcie should '*.■
adopted. In January of 1890 the plcM taken. There
were 1,673 ©lector* an the roH of iheoe l ,350 answered " ice/ and
"(1 ■ Ni»." tfunir :Ki-| wnv al/.M-nl nr ilr;i«l, aii.l ■!_' w < rv neuuil,
Si:i.Kinic.
thia town haa the diatlnctJorj of bcinjr. fcb plane ol
Mango Bark and Sir w alter Seoti it haa the further <ini motion
of having I louoty prison Into a Public I n raf) . am In thin
. r the spir i of era t nation eannoi be carrli d to far i
:i:h i mi ol ih.h«. Mr T Craig-Brown offered the buildings I
bad undergone alterationi with the vlow of making the pi
available av i public Library and reading-room, caro having
-. . preserve as far a* possible the
features of tie architecture* In aKerinj tin prison \> a Public
Library and reading-room care lias been taken to leave untouched
It* original architectural features, the only alteration an the out-
hkIc wall being die at Mil ion of an oriel windoit with corbelled Iwro
and root Thai window commands line views of the raBey of
Ettrick. Hie interior wae orlginallv filled »\i Ii Dhroe storeya d
arched ci ■u> c 'Ml rut ted <>; stone and brick. The upper Boo
Imvii roiouvetl with the exception ol a portion at the wcAteni
inible, which haa been retained to form a jnillery overlooking the
reading-roora, Tbi | bllery will havi an artistic appeal
[testing on three ground arches, it wflj be idornod tn Eronl with
moulding**, cornices, and panela, and will ban n hand tome baloe-
trade, the reading-room, which la on thi leeond Boor, wfl] be
lofty, symmetrical, and Ex every wa$ w table for the pui
Nhicb.i1 was designed. Tbt normd Boor, which ■■- meaoJ ■
need as the library proper, line boon treated In i raiou
original mo i icr By removing the* dirirdonoJ vails ■ ■!' the cclla
id effecting other alterations, this lower part <>i th< haa
corn a U d i"i" ;i ■■ ■ i s ol crypt, will
a're pilfan, ii will afford firoprool nocoi n
ihoBMwh ot volumes, for which rcaaon \t\\B* hce-n choaen Jt i«
u auras iv t.-oTLAxri.
245
anticipated that, until th.- BpftCt It entirety occupied by the baok»t
forming the lending i. a in .■ |>»ri ■. i t.\-\ \->' imed >* :< ivbr-
i.miiv library and ;vriting>rooro. The rooma previously asad
■■ by the prison omctala hnve been converted Into house-
aceommo- delibr iian Wieej ice *twocatbe 1 i i m- . .
snd EttrioH [VrrHca in ocmpiod by n narrow lawn or shruhbary.
IB I li.r!. ..r,-i -■ ':i[:- ni:iy U- phim! . mi ti : n:i ml ! tig !i I M'.'Ult I t'l tl
..I ha hill* and river. Mr Crntg-llrown stipulated In his
offer that the "nblli Libra vt£ Acts should be adopted, or, if they
wren m»i sueoesaft] In carrying the Vim, tin- Provost Bhonld».on
Iu'IimIC of Mir I(i\\:i, tiiidti t :iKc l<i iii:i i nl:ii: i Mn- il>r;t;'y for IWO
In Octubcj ol the ycai nam I u statutory meeting was
in-ill. raid a i unanimous w lsIi that the Provost, who presided, auid
that tilers watt no occasion 10 ininil tl r vi-lei. To Mr. Andrew
Laatfi hi i ■■ ,; R -■ - 1 1 . j j ■ i - worthy, was entrusted Mo- duty oi de-
claring theii Public Library upen to tho public, The honour was
» r'.l deserved, and the dot | was jrracefulfy dlaeha-rgcd at the end
<<f Maj bat year, hi the aftoni'"iii of the same day the freedom
of the burgh was conferred upon Mr. Lang, and hi acoordafloc
will the nn. nut old Scotch ciihtum, he was asked to "lick the
." and so was initiated into a "aoutcr11 of Selkirk. The rate
prepuces about X'OO a year.
TaKVRS (AjBBItWBKNMilltl- ;.
Taive* is a purely rural pariMi. The only village i* the Kirk-
town, with about 160 Inhabitants, it. h the onlj rural pariah thai
bw a Mbrary under the Acts. Au old pariah ncliuohiuuiter K-ft u
fern I; ■ "unds and his book* (-• the pariah. A hall wan
built with Dhe money, and the boos* formed bhe nucIoaBofn
v. An attempt was made to keep up the library by lectures
und by kvyin£ n small luhscrrptioin. Tins was done for about
seven spars, but the income fin m bbeei sourcea became gradually
leat. Soapo of those interested then bethought them ol the
Public Libraries' Acts, but doubts were expressed us to their
applicability t. rural district.*. The opponents insisted on thin
point thai too Acts were merely intended for town*, a- they had
no procedci I of a rural parish adopting them. In replr,the Acta
VSN quoted, and the promoters bravely said that Mkv would
Gedent. In this way acrersl meetings were held to
ditfCUKK the roai left m<l t was agreed to take the vote by votwg-
Siapsrs :n tbo legal way Some time before this, tho" existing
v committee issued tu every ratepayer :i printed oironlar
oxptaining the state ol mattera, u well as showing tin.- incJdonee
■ $ the rats I flfl population of the parish is about 2,400, and they
i :i little over i;jn i year, For this purpose, and to make
■ i :r\inff, they limited the rue to two-fifths o( a peicn
lint when f ha Tots was taken tho adoption of the Acta wan carried
ore iIkiii nix to one. Tho actual number* were 176 for,
i sat— the whole number of ratepayer be&an tiocnO Wtt
m m I'i'rembev, ItfKi, 11 the aruownt \t',ut\\^\ \o.TCO.ftw
•J !•:
PtmUC T.mttA&ISS.
(who are atmoei the sots ratepayers in won ^ di-in..
pared), H will lw? found that they pay quite OB WUCh SB Olastei
wiih the name Income do in towns. Km* example i pay.
nn/ t-'v m i iif pent, lias iiis Income reckoned si £ioo per nn
Sm.-Ii i farmer pay< five shilling .if library r;ir*\ A person
wiih ilw s:i:tic incoivu' in .Vbenleen, wlii'ii tlif full ifil.rt U taken,
does not pay nearly BO uuieh of ji library rata Some have
donbted the practicability of Public Libraries in rural districts,
mid the ground ol objection it. that they could not be
managed economically to aoob plaee& This b quite a mistake
They can be managed more economically than to larj i
Por instance, in the to* :i of Aberdeen there ie just one-fourth ol
the income available fbr pure library purposes, viz., for hooks ad
binding, the remaining three-fourths being required Ear working
expenses; in sonje large towns the working expenses ai u
in jeven-eightlis of the Income, in the tase of Torres, the working
expenses never exceed one-fourth of our income. So the argu-
ment outs the other way. The Acts were adopted in Tarvea about
the same time as in the city of Aberdeen. Tarred having the
priority of a few months, If efficiency may be estimated by the
rotative supply of books, they can compare favourably on tins
bond. In Aberdeen they hare about one volume to ever)
dI* the population. In Turves they hove four vohnuoe to every ti\ e
df their population. Two adjoining parlsl cs have bi an th alt i
following their example. In the parish of Meldrum the vote
taken two or throe yean ago, but the adoption was 1< :
votes. Another parish elope to Turves is contemplating taldng
the vote. Here they have u ibrury, but like tli*' one whien existed
ui Tarvee, they And if very dilltenli to keep i- ap on Eta pr»
rooting. Me. George Argo, M.A., farmer, b:i- taken n warm
Interna :n tho welfare of the Torres library. As othor dial
in Scotland possessing small libraries may be anxious to
these a new loose of life bv bringing them under tho i
in.v address i- given should further ion l>e desired,
It is, Braeside of Tolquhon, Oldmoldrnm, Aberdeen,
TsUBBOi
The Thurso Library, after a considerable number of ;
work, seams as fresh and vigorous as ever. This no doubt arises
from the periodic additions of fresh literature, which from
time to time the committee have been enabled t'1 add to the
literary bQl o Cure <> course, In each a small eei i aa tho
Thurso Library , with imeircuroaeribedlncomej the© mmitteeare
handf rapped by the want of funds : but in this case it i*
to report that many Mends from time to time have given of tnotr
abundance, and the*, in n great degree, helped those who, b
case, have been endeavouring Co help themselves To outsiders it
Is a continual marvel how aPubtto Library in any form or with
•"'I mooegfi can be & rrled on with an Income of £40; but *
ri/'tt rim Thxmo one manages to »t tf \\\v\\M\\\\v'\ve-\\:\e^ a
PrBUO LIBTtABIBS IX RCOTLA.VH.
317
OOflj years on this Blender income, the wonder is increased. It
in conducted perhaps on as rigid lines as any that affect the most
ruekrented crofter in the county, iluaigh Micro is no elaim for a
n-y commission to adjust economic, arrangements. The £40
ik utilized to the best advantage, and toeauso it is not n squeez-
able quantity matters must remain til) a wider area be found in
which to tax, or better itiii a Government grant, tor the support
t if* this much-valued institution
Wick.
The extreme north of Scotland is not going to be left out in the
<-ul«I. Thurso adopted the Acts fa 1678 Wick followed a, long
win behind, foi thai event t-jiue about in 1886, w lien it was
cd unanimouely, This i> an instance of the Aets being
adopted in the midst of a nc«t of conflicting authorities. There
they had the Wick Town Council, the Pultcueytown ComtuiH-
aioaars, the local tnthoritics, and the parochial board !<> wto over.
Ooxxtribnfcione in ensh and books quickly flowed in, and within a
ihort time three local librariea were handed over. It wna
opened in November, HW, by Sheriff Thorns, the largest con-
tor 1 1 the library. Ho pory neatly ex] reesed tho end und
purpose Of the building when he said "Completeness in a library
. he perfection of humanity are two things that will never be
attained while the world remains as it is. So long as Micro 06
to think and a press to print their thought*, books will
multiply; M*d there i* :i blank in the shelves of the largest Ubrary
under toe sun until the latest best book is placed upon them.
Dm Wick Library i^ u yet like the small stoue of tlie prophets
vision, und as there will be no miraculous attaimpejit to magm-
' -. Kii.'h human efforts as are possible will have to be need to
tiro its gradually iiu'iviumg growth, ao that it shall l>o slowly
Bg towards that completeness and perfection which will
DerertaetaH « always ;m indefinite distance bevoiul Itt reaoh."
Fo refer ■ »> the Wick Public Library and not. no refer to Mr
William Todd would lie an unpardonable omission. Wick owes
it- Public Library, not to Its own wishes and enterprise, but ro the
rhless zeal, the unswerving faith, nm! 'lie untiring and
almost unauleii efforts of Mr. Todd. The Public Library in to a
■ extern Ins sob- creation, and for what it is and further
promises to be he is entitled to the cliief credit. No movement
r\er had it sturdier champion than Scotland law had ia William
Todd for (he extension of its libraries. The parish of Wick runs
sixteen miles by six, and they purpose serving the extreme limit*
\-\ fortnightly boxes which an* eiinii-d t,- and fru by the mail
coachoft They have a library for the blind, and a fine museum.
The total number of books issued during a representative month
was 2»66S, or' wliu-.h l,H»i> were works of fiction, thus ghriQg a pcr-
• n'l'i'i.: ">t •"■ lor thi* cla.-ta <>1 Ltei/alurr. Tin ilaih u\eiut'i' of
I over 103, and there can be no doubt that th-c V&fror?
£4g
£11 LIC LIBRARIES,
I Hlier places whore the question of the adoption of the Acti in
now iu pruyress m1' i! <■ t'oiluwini* . —
Arbboai -ii
Arbroath disputes with Kdinburgh and Glasgow the dUtin
"i having twice rejected t li -• proposui u» nd»pi the :
The Brsl rejection took place in 1878. It was preceded Mid led
up to by effort^ to gel ft robecriptSon library, which bad existed
in the town for raany years, popularized by n roduetion - t Its
rates. These efforts tailed, km NMO it waa proposed to obtain
m. consent ''i the ratepayers to too town's being placed under
the Libraries? Aota The proposal wae supported by the lea>
manufacturers, hut the opposition wis strong and well organised,
ssd at the puolia meeting catted for the consideration el flu
nneetlon the opponents of a library rate were triumphant a in mi
ftj too waf trabgeribed by the lending citizens (or Cne purpose el
Increasing the itocfa or the .subscription library, ana toe snn
serfpfcion wan lowered froan naif a guinea lo half u crown. 1 1 i
iuce.eee.oi which the sohezne at firsi gave promise w>w of short
duration, aa has frequently boon the oaae to ofliei towns. Die
number of subscribers fell rapidly, and in 1879, alter the experf-
uicnl hod lasted four years, the memberr n ■ ■ ■ \ •■•'. i ■• ippe.d once
an it hi I tie r:uep;iyn>. The promoters o£ Uie movement fell
warranted En repeating Efts appeal* because In he oieanti oe the
Act i'i l*rr had allowed retina by signed papers, it was nooom-
paniedf moreover, by 1 1 ic offer of udraniairc.t which "nr m>i
forthcoming iii 187a. The whole collection of book,* hi lb*
SnbsoriptSon library, reaching 14,000 volumes, wa* to b< I
(erred to the rate-supported inetitotion, along with thi remainder,
d1 i lie sum of £l,KX> referred to above. But the citizen.-* of Arbroath
wore indifferent to thcec advantages, und hardened the
against the appeals made to them by men on wh.au tin
burden of the rate would have fallen They : to be
guided by agitators who told them that, in spite of the won I "
the A.'f, the rate could not Btop at one penny on the pa md, and
WOuId certainly be much more than that in \rl roatii. The i
woe that, when the vote wa>* taken there wi ■-.- ,i;:;i' ruicp yi I
against the Acts, and only iwis in their favour- -majority again it,
806. I t;it was in 1H7U ; and we are not aware tl t.
time, the people oi Arbroath have Khowu any signs rt repentance
Eluin and Faljukk.
trnong the failmrK to adopt the Acts are KU?m and Falkirk.
Early laat year a public meeting was held, an* the matter was
iliMiisse i m.s to whether another attempt should not \tf ms ■
adopt the A em in IvIl-ii \ local bookseller who tool*
pad in the raovemem referred to the pr< m ma Lflure, bin
thai there was nothing o i 'Ighum I hern from trying agan .
try ai?uiu they pluckily didittFehruai-y, Im:i,:iikI w
/ui Tlir* rotmg atooa, ooea 419 ; aye* ;Vt2 : majority agxlriht. *7
Out of a constituency of 1,318 over »EO voted. Through no I
■ nr.ii' ■ rua ii n-:-; rv srori.vvn.
249
of Mr. Carnegie's, an offer of £600 for books from liiin. i»n condi-
tion of 11. *■ Acta being adopted, came juai after i-iic poll hud i n
Another vi*ui tiiusL elapTC before the vote can be again
taken, but Elgin will no doubt Ems Hum added to the li»t.
The attempt :n K'lllurU would appear I" bare been u liLtK'
premature, a* it came at a tfine when increased local taxation for
other purposes am contemplated, By die munificence "i1 Mr.
Etobcrt Dollar, of Maruurtte, Michigan, U.8.A., a native of the
town of Falkirk, the burirh has been placed in possession of a
library of considerable isnienfiioaB for the free use of the in-
habitaute. Two pears have elapsed since Mr. Dollar intimated
hia desire to present hii native town with such on institution.
i a the Young Men's Christian .Association, he handed over
■ bo be administered by them En thai direction,
Tin- foung \]m'' Christian Association reserved, on the failure to
Garry the Acts, to assume the responsibility <f cunying on the
libl i\ ■. :iii'l. with thic object in view, n (subscription was set on
tool \< fund.- r<> exiiugiuah i debt Of £600 whi»'h
ro tod on tinir Institute En Newmarket Street, o ml bo enabla ihora
to dispense with the annual income derivod from letting the
jfrouna tloor as business promises, the intention being to devote
the space to the library. indue course tibia object wea secured)
mi<| :i -mall committee were entrusted will, the Uiruishing ol the
i _v. Under their direction a collection of over o.UOU volumes
has lieen brought together, lie i - ■ I -• :uv pko'e.-l m :in up
BMBBt on the street ftoot of the institute. In rionour of the donor,
Che library has been named the Do-Bar Free I Ibrary The tfbnunr
to open every evening (Sunday excepted), from six till ten o'clock
:ui.l hunk* loaned mif for :i f<"-rt m »*"*ifc at u. time. The OOimnltta
to be able to carry nn the work with an annual income of
vm). bat as the <i^<- of the library will be free tins sum will require
in be made ap I \ roluntary subscription, The committee of
gan cut mnststs of ten members of Che association, and ten
lemon representing the public, mid in future It is proposed to
till up viieiiii'-ii's a (a Lb committee i>y the rote of ra iaenben of
■ UUni - annually.
ft i.\ s.ne to predict that Falkirk will on the next occasion adopl
the Acta, whei the period stipulated by bins Acta '.lull have
expired.
i liaeooYi
"Fallen is Carthage - Tin- »bm-i oi deviation hnujca over the
defeated, and the unquiet spectre of Public Libraries has been laid
for a time. Tnrei j <^,\eo we stood alone amid the proas
In cm n, o the proposal to adopt bhe Aotjandthe pro-
i defeated b> i mi Utantial majority At this trtrao it was
ii to oppose, in the interests of heavy-burdened
,thc Public Lib rhua wrote tbe editor of a
kvery Influential Qlnaei ■ . ei tag paper, ou April J", 1888, the- day
theroeulr. ol il.. pi tneoJtewa made known. In no town or
ia the entire i nited Kingdon and Ireland ban the orgonmtitan
ttrongor nnd mmv cfJiuprehcasivc, and \\\c ^«x\\«l V»iftX«c
ago
I' 11 1.IC LfBBABJXS.
marshalled than in Glasgow, and yet in no place has the result
been more crushing and disheartening. Every point of detail had
l>een rao»t earel ill) studied, the ground ao<l plan of operations
exceedingly well mapped our, a vast rcpiment of friend* and
Workers putting a band to the wheel, with all the rigour Which
characterize* a Scot with :m eye tn the main chance — which
i,! opened to thla eaee to be for the good o Mm eomxDunSty. But
(. aegow again refused by a large majority, to adopt the PubUc
Libraries* \<t- The rejection was more emphatic than It was
throe yean prior to tlmt time. The number that took pnrt In the.
voting wee mod smaller, and the majority against Hit propoanJ
oonafderabty more heavy Those who took the trouble to vote
ngaloAt adopttna ilia Acts were 7,(xio fewer than in 1888, and yet
oxoeeoed tin* number ot those who deatred to lee GHaegow
enjoying, like other large cities, the advantages uf a Public
Library, in l lie proportion of about five lo tlu*ee. The Hgurus
appcarol In make il i dear that, the movement i* waking the
reverae of headway, ami that the interest taken by the ratepayers
in tin- subject ib dwindling:.
The actual inuuKi.M'o were —
EOT the adoption of the Art . . I ::.".< >
tgadnei .. 83M?
M.-V-ritv against the Act .. .. fi,437
The total number "'I pout cards sent out was S8.8S6, but oi these
(j,C'2"j papers were returned, on account of the parties not being
found One of the moat .striking features about these figures i<
the aniiMinl of wKtilTercnco manifested upon the question. Nut
half the people who received papers took the trouble to till them
up. The neutral people outnumbered the voters lor and ugninat
pui together!
The Rffll attempt towards the adoption of the Acta was
i it ■>! n 87 i, the prime mover on that occasion being Mr,
J, ClOland Knnis win I. with many others, hus remuinod a firm and
oonaiatent friend of the movement down to tliu present time.
I'imih 1874 to April, 1 H80, the supporters were quietly at work
aduoatitag the people. 'Hie decision was to be by statutory moot-
in jr. the voting power being at lhat time limited to those residing
within the l*arltamcnt:it y iMiiistitueney Notwithstanding thfi
the meeting was swamped with non-voters, and there VU
altogether a lively time._ \t tin* close B rote was taken, giving
the resul( of— agu&Btj l .779: for, 993: majority against, 78o.
For sigh I yean little was heard <>t' the Public Library move-
ii i t t.but early in 1884 some ninety gentlemen convened a me
of citizens favourable to tin adoption of the Public Libraries' act*.
to consider the propriety of forming •> society for promoting the
object in vew The signature* m the document oonveoing tfata
meeting included the whole of the city members of Parliament
and tbe member fur the L'nivLM'Mty, ten members of the Glasgow
'/"a/i (.'uiincil, and many utlier iniliiiniiial citizens. The moe
was ftfl/d and a constitution s\umu\\.eA\,\\ut,out of deferenc
ptmuc r.rnnAiup.9 iy $c<m.\Xi>,
25!
the opinion of some present who were sanguine enough to suppose
eu duous campaign wan doI required! the idea of a formal
iation was abandoned, and the mooting thereupon resolved
; into n genera! committee (or the purpose of promoting the
adoption of the Acta An executive vu thereafter appointed,
who mot fortnightly and devoted themselves to the education of
, bj the publication and free distribution, of Btal
'ii ants, tracts, and leaflet*), explanatory of the objects and operation
A •!'. ilc>\. Iiowever, found (he work to bo nuioh more
■.iti'-.iim firm was at tiis! tMiiLi'inpIaUnl. They hod to contend
again*! ignorance and annthy, and soon recognized the* fact, that
without extended ward and district organization it was hopeless
to make an Impression upon bo vast a community. Funds wore
given freely to tile fullest extent asked, am!, in addition t<> the
Inned pnhlieatfon and distribution of literature, they org**
n];trl central and district meetings, which were addressed by
Iriidim/ citizens and local gentlemen. They aim set on foot a
I o\ ward organization which wa* mosi micocwful in o&Utag
forth iini ufiiaatlc ind earnest work on the port ot the various
w:\u\ committees, Following: an enthusiastic public meeting a
requisition was presented to the Lord Provost, which, instead of
the statutory ten najuw appended to it. contained no fewer than
i . 300 names. In the meantime Ihe Association laid, with the aid
::. one of ili'- repreeeotetivoeof (•la.sK,,w, promoted
and placed ipoo the statute book the Scotch Aroendmenl Act of
lull, while tin* Ai: permitted a plebiscite in Lien ot'a public
meeting it did nut provide any machinery for the taking of a
plebiscite, The Lord IVovost decided, after taking loyal advice,
- • each householder a circular enclosing a poei
I to tin. Lord lYuvur.!, which, after heme; filled up in tin-
;il!ir»urttive or negative, should be aigncd and pofltod by the voter
1" el curd is given below j
PUBLIC LIBRARIES (SCOTLAND) ACTS.
VOTI NG PAPER.
As to whether the Public Libraries
Acts should be adopted by the Burgh of
Glasgow I vote ^.^
Ratepayer's Name.
On (he Official Oard Sign here.
A* there ww uol much sign of opposition the yvotnotet* Wfc
'.?.*>•? I't'Ki.ir' UUUAlMi
confldenJ o success, but when Hie poet card votes were counted
the result stood, was 8^,766, and noes 29,
Nothing daunted tbc old committee re themselves, and
i: Ma vh. i -'i... .inn- before the local publii • the Glasgow Public
Libraries' Association, OC this bv&f Mr Kii-ii ml I'.mwii has long
acted as the houcrao lecwtary. The unoertaintlei and omissions
of Bbfl Scotch Acta were felt to be a grave hindrance to the
progress of the movement, and Mr. Ilrown was asked to frame an
\nu'iHlmenl Bill. The bill thus dr&YQ up was in May. 1680,
dated amon« the Scotch members, and iu t!i*r Session ol
ii was introduced into Parliament by Mr. J i ..,-!!, DO*,,
one of the vice-president iotion. 'Hie bill pa
i 'iw on cVwatnber l,;. 1887, and ie now the ruling statute
for Boofiuuid J' wiB bo found amouj? the Appendices '•■
worlc. The main ehongo effected by thiw Act was to ffivc to all
householders, xunlo or femule, and alnu to all citizens paying rates
£10 <<i rental, and residing; within seven miles ot any pari
of tho city, a voico in tho Question of the adoption of the -Vote.
lbs result ot the plebiscite has been alrondy 8tau-<i, and -u faos
ul tho fact that there wo* a powerful incentive I Ola wow to
adopt tin- AotS by liequests to thy value of over £130,000, «
would come under the administration of the Town I onnojJ Com-
mitteo immediately the Acta were adopted, there wa* utter
lailure. The large amount named la made up a£ follows:—
Mitchell He.-jut*t £66,006 L0 S
Bal ie Bequest 36, 00 16 8
Stirling Bequest (maludfng Glasgow \ 1TfVl, n ,,
iblic Library) .. J 1-,UJ ° u
Moir Bequest 11/160 B 9
Logon Bequest 600 9 a
£131,806 B II
The value of these handsome gift* is serious); impaired by many
drawbacks, wllluh would lw removed when once Uiey come under
bos Public Libraries' Acta, uh will he seen vu reference to the
chapter on ( fojeut Lessons,
The cost of a plebiscite in Glasgow is about £600, mo thai on
em i occasion it is not by any means an uexn pej ding;.
On February "i. 1690, ;i meeting of the Genera] Council of
the Oisegow Public Libraries* Association was held. Dr
the cJiiiu uuw, -:ii I tlul duriuy llie hvo vmh since I'll- \i
cite was taken the association had done little except ko
uu eye on public opinion, and trying to dire< f t as wt
o told They had also had the Biuibition, and tho disposal oi bfau
Burplns had created ■• considerable nmounl of inquiry
endowments in the city available for certain parposcn. I
been tliut a grout art ir.dlory should be bull iu the Wert
l.iul. where the nrt troueures should bo brought Mr. 11, En
tho secretary, ask) that the prop<»sal of the Lord l*rovo«1 eon-
tfinpiatoil a mnJdmp: in the Vvest End, and the |U
deration MM whether fchftl >vv» a ^awca\ta aito foi sucfa ■
PUBLIC LIBRARIES IK IBF.11M'.
1'W
linildmy; and whether, J an ;irl ijallei"\ were to be erected ttl all.
there snould mil .. - » 1 1 ► . i . • • 1 wilh ii i Public Library— at all
events the oentraj premises ol ;i Public Library and Museum — bo
Mint, us in other hrer HticN they would have the three combined,
a.s n.iiiirmi i i-.t'd in the Public Libraries* Acta. Another scheme
was that of having the c entrul building in George Square or 01 1 I6T
central situation. There might also be district libraries, and
Rentlemen mi/nl begot wlio would found these, conditional on
txaDg adopted to revenue purposes. An csacutial to the
DC out of such .i scheme was that the Public Librai icV A< t*
should be a-i. pi. -.1. The)' had been twice defeated on this matter,
but he frosted that thfl rit&BODS would 8»on repair the error, mid
£i:n- fehetueeWee on a level with the other large otttfefi of the
iojn Ue bad been informed that the cost of the land ft&d
Dg for n district Library was about £6,000 or i'7,000.
Stovkhayrm.
No practical rtep bas ae yet been taken to regard to the Public
Libr&nes1 Acts. It hoe oniv been spoken ol bj bbe Debatma;
! v, or Good Templars, who have put themselves in oohudqzlI
cation" with Mr. L'artiogie, and they have bis reply. YVath whaJ
local matters there an* now on hmd tin- PTOVOet lluuks it will
sometime before the - inject can ha taken up,
There are in Scotland a very large number oi iustltationi called
" I'uKio Libraries'1 Which are really subscript ion libraries. To
give anythi'iif h ■nvin-Muflve hat ol these would OOOupy too
much Space, "6ut particulars Of n few maybe given. .Ayr has a
].n .Ik ld>:irv wirli m income f< r hist year Ol i"_'H">, with :m
expenditure of £170. 01 this £90 were paid For lecturers' fees
Rntherglen, a suburb i i CHesgow ; Knock) ndo, nearEtgin; Smeil-
i Etelsoj ibid*.! i".i«ni, VVJHliaw, i mi nl ii Mill ; tfewAberdour,
in.-; Bridge uf Ulan, ami Inverurie, ;<ll posseaa their
He" Libraries. Keith has one with over 9K) members
ncomc i.s about £120 u year. Kilmarnock baa a library, which
l.iiniN to lie the largest of its kind in Scotland] but it, has tn
erdse the greatest economy Lo make It Belf-supportinff, and It
reaches thai point. Many of these institunona and others
tcil tliioughout Scotland would form an excellent, nuc
ng themsulTes iuto Public Libraries in iho full beune ol
t: icnu, uud securine; the inb>pt ifu "I the Acts.
CI I AFTER XIV.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN IRELAND.
\1E general awakening with regard m l'i I n\arli
has ipreod to Ireland, and the Bnxe U rapid j approach-
ing when t. * ► * ■ t tarest in thene institutions in the
eoun n wfll >o i Iteen and universal sail Is In
part of the United Kingdom. TWs is as it should
-i education and social progress ^S\\ t*?$ta&
:,-]
PLTTLIC LIBSAHIBE-
ili i -tich ffl the ease, no matter to what party they belong
It bus been the present writer** privilege to travel rrpentedly
ironi ivnl in I'tnl i)f Ireland, and the raSnt and desire lo ham
every Bdacatlosn] advantage in their midst which t* to he found
dii the Opposite sideoi the Uriah Sbb to their own, is permeating nil
classes of the community. The grmt drawback is that, so many
towns and district in Ireland hare a rotable value Insufficient,
with n penny rate, to stock and maintain a Public Library. Tlii**
will prevent foi h I me nay wide extension nf these intuitu Hi ion; but
Mirciy some moaetarj nd from Mends of the country among all
.shinies uf opinion will be obtained. A lilt in starting a libra
the Act* arc uduptcd, would bo to many mi Iriali town it windfall.
If those wh«> hare the Enu ia * rest* of the country si heart]
are able to render ii^iMiunT, will remember llu.v, and do wh&l
they can, thej will rendei a useful service t*j a part of the r>
where it ia greatly needed.
Irish newspapers have from time to time expressed a desire
to have some authentic information En regard to the working
of Public Libraries in Ireland. Unfortunately, do formal rc|
i r i»abii«hed except at Belfast) and the tact is the m ff ■ bo
l">c regretted, since, if they were anti , the operation of the
Aote under which they are oonstatuted would bo likely
salutary extension. TOcre i.- no reason whv weekly or monthly
returns should not he pnt before tlio public, snowing, ns In fchs
uf other public institutions of the kind, the number of readers in
oomparofivo tables, mid mieh extenisionH a*- may be provided
in the way of literary opportunity. TiuB is n matter worthy
of careful attention, for unfortunately the particulars at dii |
ore aoi to any moans ns full ns could be wished. In ovary v ty
one would like to see the Irish Public Libraries drawn into
touch with those on tola side Hie I tunnel, mid whatever tends
ill thifl direction w:II j>err«»na a enry im^mi-ml md
service,
UKLFABT.
Hn> people of the city of Mel fast, twgan to get the Impression
that they never would see their Public Library in oc • rap
lacl In June. IK^'i, the council wre memorial) /.<-d in I
i>i the establishment of a PuhlJe Library, -md they deternitoed
to take steps to ascertain the views of the uteitayaro i
whether they desired tlie adoption of the Public Lifirarie.s'
Voting papers were accordingly issued, and remitted In
rotes for the adoption of the Ads. mid 1,425 ugulnst. No i
was, however, taken until 1884, and it was then resolved Lo make
the contract for the building lenninable in lH8h\ The builder
are nol to blame IW the delay; the waul uf isympnt-h(> i
Ihe member* o] the Corporation was the eh a I rlein -n
about the unreasonable delay. Loading articli b uud
encc in nbuadaace appeared b t ie local pavers about
but i; woo nol until October 13, I&8S, th it tut unci
took j'Imv, which was pertormeA toj| ttw Ura-Mctmui I
prune lhirameb rs ranr-iNn.
'255
Marguls of Londonderry It was a Tar tTy from tins to 1861
when a deputation, headed by Mr. William Gray and others,
brought the matter Orst before the Corporation Thin body wry
ably look up the mailer, ami have not allowed their interest to
dt d i <\ notwithstanding the long delay, and the manydfaappnint-
miMiU which they have experienced.
Bw appointing of » librarian landed the committee in a perfect
sea oi ontioiara and strong language. In the early part >>f jflcw
they had this task in hand, and they hud no reason to com plain
uf any luck of candidates. The Ii'hI of applicants contained 10U
- ol ixn'^ims, ranging in age from 34 to 48 years. They er.na-
from all parts -A the funrkiniidum*. The nceupatiousof the appli-
cants were varied, and the qualifications relied upon to secure
tin: appointment wore of a still more miscellaneous character.
There were graduate* of Oxford, niu^ow, Aberdeen, London,
and the University of Ireland, There was 3 modioaJ doctor, a
dispenser at a hmaiie asylum, a confectioner, the son of a news-
paper correspondent, several schoolmasters, a retired head con-
etable, a eontraetor, a nueaionary, a factory managorj a draper's
assistant, an auctioneer, several authors ana translator*, a oQptain,
n colour-sergeant, a eornoral, and n canteen steward. One can-
didate bad travelled in Europe and America, and Wflfl accustomed
tit the ru.uiageroent of men, and as those nre more difficult to
manage than book*, he apparently bad DO doubt of Jus 81100888 ID
any position where either the writers Of readers of I>ooks arc
concerned. Another was a railway and steamboat clerk, whose
command of facilities of locomotion may have helped him, lor he
stated that he had visited the principal librnriex in the United
Kingdom, and was acquainted with their management In theory
and practice Another gentleman rejoiced in the varied expert-
aneei appertaining to a graduate, sin tidjutant, a parnuutar,
b chief constable, and an utRumnea secretary. A solicitor laid
stress upon the fact that he had been nveyearaln Africa, one of
the must juvenile of the applicant* was the younger son of an
M.U. An ml venturous spirit who wrote from Ycadon evidently
had but fague ideas of the philological nod social aspects of the
North ill' Ireland. He slated that he *' could not apeak the real
language; hut if correct! v Informed, the people to gonara]
m Im-iui>i spejk * i Lit wr it-ji : i jii-ii- ' broken English,1 that he can
understand." As there 1m one thing at home that he could under-
stand; it would have been a pity bo transplant him. Amoujc Boob
l choice (election of would-be librarian* the committee wlseh
and well determined to appoinl a man of experience (u Public
Ubrvj work, and the choice fell on Mr, G. II. Elliott, of the
fJnteshead Public Library. Then there hurst on the heads ,.f it <
committee a most terrific storm for having gone to England for
;i public librarian A public indignation mcc-tim; was held, at
i two reverend doctors, and many others, made speeches
that it iei hoped lon£ before this they have i vrnncn. A
deputation wuited on the Town Council to inctnsma&ztt Vkw
mi', uil.v ol their proceeding, The Tvi>vv\ ^'.wwieft vo.VN.toV
PTTI1LTC LIBDaMB*.
[he appointment, and any other course would havo been
unconstitutional.
Now ilio worli ia in full operation, ami everything huibfair to go
Qlou^fiiuuuthiv and hut iHi'nct.n'iiv.
The huiUHiitf, which cost about A':?0,000, in u 1017 handsome
structure, u« will bo gathered Erosi tha now 1 u ma d entrance
opens into a wide corridor, tin: opposite end oi which terxninatee
.■; tho rear of the building. To tho right of Uua Lob lorn
n .-.it 11 used as the lending department To the left of fee mom
corridor is tho reading-room, which ''an be entered from t
afreet hy a eepttttta door o4j0w£ofl the main entrance. The first
iiooi' is reached >>y a broad sumo and ■caw . and here tin* refei
un
sairAsr pmi
1 brearv le located. There fa one grand central apartment, ligl tod
rrora che top by :r beautirally cnrVod dome, through the k\hb» of
which n flood Jt 1 1.-' 1 it penotratoe to every nook and corner oJ th<
roonii To the loft of the doorway leading into this portion
odSfl •■■ ■' ■ nail been Fitted np forth avi ■; ih<
who wish to »■ uoro secluded while heir hoot
after knowledge than thej possibly could >cm bbi apart
in 1 ll'"-. ■ «g gentlemui eiui retire with tho books whl
hoe selected 1 1 unable him tu complete liis
exception oi a tew others similarly li
1 itonte ind purposes n his own private library, Another flight
of steps brin 0 the other floor, which is divided
• i.TDrtAiuEf-. is im:i.AVi.,
2«7
. .n.-l.iia-; :i am riini and the other .111 ;ut {OttOy It Efl
;i(li!,tho roost perfect hunting, ventilating, and: anitary
amui- arc boon made thrtnurliMiit the entire lai.l.itng.
inane the ladies been Forgotten, for a special r a hubeon
provided for them in eonnection with Hie reference library
■.. Dartmei t.
the reporl of the ftret years work has been published, and
bowi :i very oacoursmng state ol things. Some 8,50(1 readen1
wore iasaed daring the year, und the «iie of 5,7tfl
•i].'- 1 lllKli-;itrv hftW \\-]-k'-s|.JVlli! is the )-|'i'l'.>l III tl.e
There ore ld.000 volumes in the lending library, and the
~ i • w jiv.Mi .v* fifW. which appears nn evtra-
■■ v large nu i er Trie rate yields £?.foo m present
AfltmtBeim Lb dq course "i formal ion. The Beirixr press have
given i ren p ibUdtj to the work
Oounuxna.
Ihi tots w ire rioptcd her ' In L861 ,bul bliey have not yel been
.open Won The pemxy rate would yield only an Income
»i I'M), :nnl ('iilri-.iiiic IV.-N Ui:U il. nuiiinl StATt « ill BO limited B
aim. a email urant would lubricate and make the carrying Into
rftl b w i4iee of the c Itlaccna, expressed nine years ugu imw,
■* !'"'"'"iii.\. i. i- v '■ ; i. i...[ vi'i "i Mi'.- ere ol these grants
i reality, is there nut some friend uf Ireland who will
■ epaiasd Ml the breach P
Ooox
Tin- '"'ii.iir Libraries' Acta wore adopted In Cork many years ago,
I in aid of the local School ol An. In 18*3 the Ael
■ aended in INij, s< ec to include music, was further adopted,
and the Corporation has since then l n allocating the proceeds
jimn\ rite Ui the purposes of science, art, and music, for
school* have been provided, partly bv the adaptation to
purposes of the old Royal Cork Institution, now (he nro-
>J tin Corporation, but mainly by substantial additions
>v the late Mr. AV. II. Crawford, of ( oric, to the
providing ,i Public Library little or nothing has ye)
The rate yields only about £<iOG a year.
Ddbcbk
1 '"' i nnstanccs of Dublin arc a little peculiar. On December
*83, the Municipal council nanW a libraries committee to
Car0' ' the recommendations of a special committee on
JJj- nbjeet of establishing and maintaining general llbraridft
"'ervDrtrt upon which this ailggp^tion was ivisod wln nne wl.ich
'l out that while the City ol i in Mm pesaesaed some valuable
i ctiona, the fadlitlea for reading for the general public
n>i ineient, being limited to the libraries in the eastern Aide
' J -H' -ry li wan recommended that in the west of the eitv, in
Facilities existed, two general libraries should he
IMird and maintained at nn annual cunt, of 1: 1 ,000, which
i d be allocated from the borough fund, So ttafe ^\V\W
draft if* peanyifi not levied, which would produco t&croX
U
m
n nil. MUnABIES.
£2,600, the two Public Libraries are rate Bunpcrted In I tet< tx i .
1S84, these two Itbfatiea, situated in Cape! Street and Thomas
Street, were opened, at which the members oi t in- Library Aaso*
cialion of tin' I'niUxl Kin^dmii were present, The acquisition
of those j.vi mUo* wu-h approved by the Treasury I should
be noted in pawing thai flic Pnbllt Librm-ie* a<t irclnul)
of 1855 WW; on Was iiti".i:iiivc of Sir. R Dwycr Gray, adopted
by the people- of Dublin in March, 1877, una1 was also, owin^
to his exertions, shortly afterwards so amended a* to giro
powers to local authoritu-s En InAs&d ibnil&r k< rhoao enjoyed
in Enjrluud, sueli as the power of horrowinff the 0044600X7
capital for buildings, fittings and books, ana the power of
forming committees which might m port consist of persons not
members of the council, No BtepB W6f6 taken under ""' Actio
Dublin until last year. This delay may be attributed I
piiKsui^ m IH77 of the Dublin Science and Art Museum \»-i.
Which transferred to Ml- inipemi i wn-erninent the I.U:u\ - 1 the
Royaj Dublin society at T>jn«ter Souse] with power to -
in Dublin a National Library sud Musoiun.
A very interesting1 ceremony took place in October 1881 v
the Lorn Mayor declared the building open. Hi- remarked tn ins
Mp«wh that the Itbrarfea were Intended for every [Haas. Tho
bumble workman and tlw .son ot \)\>- wealthy merchs
chose, oonld irtt Hide by rids while Improving their ratndu hj I 10
study of the best authors of all i ps Slnne then, Bin wort
gone steadily along. Primed reports have not been Issued
1887, bnt u large number of staUBtlca in monnactipi hat*
supplied by the courteous and able librarian, Mi Patriek Gn
Jtoew were, dnring 1889, no fewei than 238,7ft risltsto lii
iug and newsroom In Oapel Street library, or an aver ige of about
1,000 a day. The retunip i' <v the lending and reference depart-
ments for 18BH and 18S9 came out exceedingly well. The Aral
three and the last three months of the year are u i Hading
raontha in Dublin, In January, lyfl©, the number of books lent
Cot home readme wiu* 9,968, and for the whole year the total
was 58,046. In the reference library, 10^80 volumes were
during the year. The largest issue woeof illustrated works, and
next to this class fiction is the mosl largely repress nUxL & ience
and art were consulted to the extent of 815 volumes. Tin* Was
.i r cry fair turnover for 3,067 volumes. The cirrulation al the
ThuniD« Street liin-ary ie not so large as at Oapel Btrect n aha
city fathers could sec their way to levy the Cull rate, bhey would
ihcii have an income which would enable them to build mon
ooDTOsient and eonunodioue njrc i ieca, and bo pjive Dublin n better
opportunity of doing greater justice to itself in its Public Library
wdffki
The now liinldingy of the rrci-n.-e and url dens Hi ad of
the Crieb national library in Kildare Stro . are now all bul ready
for opening, and probably before this edition is u»uod the
wojij' -•> 'detrfftrtnfl' the bn [d£n{B9onea will hove taken piaoe I at
JjvJau'J the event will bo one ot Ww \nyV:A an^QRaaoe, and,
prar.rc i.tphajcifjc ix ibei.avh
L'.rjy
n» ulJ cla««e* of Hi-' euiiimtiuity will agree, ir is one that moxt
fitly should bo associated with s BpedaJ ceremony, worthy ol no
occasion no signal nn.l remarkibfA. Tha stSTicturea grace the
noble nreo upon whlcl i) • v stand In the heart of the <-'ny. md
w Qwl i fresh b i a uty to Its rapidly growiiur architectural munii-
ments They will hs the property and the pride of every
iiMzwi. The National Library has long since exceeded tiu>
limit* o1 accommodation thai Lelnatar House affords, and now
ranla ui collection equal, H' not superior* to that poB*eHAcd by
rii, great* r centres o1 population In England. The museum
niii ii.so be a boon. Ii> objects have a national stump, and ii
srfl] be admitted that in no part of the world will there lie bund
.in institution to -ompare with it, an illustrative of Irish art,
history, and archaeology.
i»i mux,
This town has the *Us iortiuu oi bc'mu the that iu Ireland to
adopt the Aot«. This was done in lft»y, irnrucdiut J aftei the
extension of these A. is to Ireland. The stock at present is 9,000
volumes, and although (ho income from the rate is verj wnall,
more or leas arc added to the >t*«-li annually, a penny per week
subscription u charged for 1" uc reading to help out the rate. A
amnli grant would Dl once remove this necessity, which is at the
name time an innovation.
Lnomiox.
In May, 1880, a motion was ujotjted to she Eosra Council
■.«■ effect in the <-ity ti bha I'nMie Libraries1 Act*, unit
to provide B rate tuwuras the working of Same, villi o
tion of it to be subsidised for the benefit of the school of
art, und a strong oommlttee wai appointed to oawy out the
ary airangeraonte. En September of the same yeas the
i referred a1 a council meeting; to the tcrnw of the tide
uiulcr which (he Athemoum had been held, pointing out thai the
lcoec under whJoh the committee had taken the place from the
i lorporai Ion, ftt a noniinril rent, hud been non-oxiah i t for o nuni
. and that no representation was given to the Council,
wordanoe with the original deed. He further pointed out
that ths objects i'n' which the eomnnttee bad been formed i<>
u hieiuivM and promote* schoola of an and soienee— had bean
i- Aenettllj Abandoned Die \ orporntlon were now endeavos
to avnll i ftemselvc* nf the Libraries1 Acla.and had set aside n son
OOUl Of tllM rail's I'm* 1.1 in purpose: ImT. it u i ...■■-
Ihey should clenrly umleratanrl what wa« thftlr positloi
inU ths present oecupirrs of the Athemcmn, to mi-
ad they were quite willing to enter InUi my ami i ternent
i h i in- place could be utilised for the benefit of bho< itfoens
lj :i ".:r;il Opening !■ 'I1 KUttll UI) itisl itntimi III l.il I -'■■
nd :u the commercial an<1 artisan eliuv*o« En particular I
•Ai'l he an hnmenne advantage. The rate produces £340 a
year. A nucleus to a library is found in She eu\W\W\ cfl
nearly ^(XX) vuluuii-sat thv Athenaeum, winch i& thfj memttft] *A
•»*Hi
iTni.ir i.ihrakif-.
the city. Th« .Mayor ftOtteipftted that "'.■ project WOUld l«' U
frreat R 10006*9 m'Liiuenek as it has been in other CatSe*, and
there to not n»' ilighteat doubt that Bach win he the case. 8ei
Influential citltens and gentlemen cnnnaetad with Umerlcli rum
warmly t&JfOO up the Idea, 801*1 hy-nml-hye We Bhftll BOOT ■
UmoncJf i'i the lull .Mijimiu'iit Ol :t .-:t i-/.i«iimv Institution In May,
1890, :> deputation waited upon the Corporation to urge the ftdvt*-
nhillry of nt onec pi tefng (hi \i tH ii Operation.
liAnrarsas and Ratboaa.
This [< ;i township ad]oftl!ng Dublin, ami r 1 1 ** Libraries' lets
1 ecu d operation since lew. Tin registered attendance for
[flSfl was n.ifw, and the number of borrower* tor home reading
wns (MX). There are _MKK) volumes in the library. Only :i half-
penny rale is levied for its maintenance, And litis yields L.'WK) h
year. The supply ol' newspapers and books is not large, but there
is a useful work in store for the Rathmlnes library. If it seta
other township* neat Dublin todctciiuine Unit they also will have
uiie ut' these mslituliujiN :i good end will be served.
Si.n 10,
There was great difficulty in iroltfna the people I" adopt the
a.-i* in Sligo Had it not been for the deep totereel whid tJ e
iii< Alderman MeDonough displayed in the subject the Acts
would oarer hare bees adopted \ww. tie waa at considerable
cxpe&ae and loss ol time in Mc-cnriiu; the mean* of having tin-
library opened niah-r the Libraries' Vctfl It is m>w tDttoh appre-
ciated by the public, ami as Boon n* the Corporation are aoU to
a>siM it a little better the library will flourish, jml be 0
touch usefulness to BUgO* Here is u can© where heavy taXOf alt
already imposed, and where, if tho Government could by any
mesne be indueed toae9iat,n would very much help in forward
tl . movement. Those who know tho town well wy thai II i* b
laei thai the Slip> library has done more to comitcrael crime,
particularly drum; inaesa, tban any other influence The number
of voiumesia i.too. a pooztj la the Town Hall Is allowed foi
(mi up to the present books are sol Lent for home reading. The
reading-room is open on Sundays from •! to 7 p.m. .Mr. David
Sauitry is the librarian.
Dovolab (Isms of Man).
Tho Douglas Library la the only ratemupported library ander i be
Aets up to ditto in this tight little island. The let* were adopted
and tho library opened in I860, II occupies the first flooi
shops in it central pari ol thia thriving watoruig-ptace. The isio
i.i Han las favourite resort for Lancashire and Yorkshire i plo,
nail as the denisena of these counties know how to use a puullc
library the reading-room is greatly appreciated l«v the vfclttira
With .t total of 6,000 volumes there is » turnover of about Ml' per
, mhI there are some 2.4U0 aetunl borrowers, The 9<
book* la probably as good as would be found am
I'L'BLIC tJBRABlES IN WALES.
y«i
tty where, fill tastes having boon consulted. AS new toolo Mtt
added Mr •' de Maine Browne, the ooarteous librarian, intimates
tlii'iu in the public press, with some notes of his own as to the
vulne ot the IkioIcn lor reading1 purposes. Kamiey, Castletown,
:in»! Peel should not be long holt re they adopt the Arts. Fof
iiicii- nu ii pleasure and advancement tbi« should be done, hut. as
!h-c reason there ti no doubt t&nt rtsltow to wateritig-piaers
• In largely use public reading-rooms, ami in not a lew cases .select
pleasure resorts where this advantage Is afforded. St thai U an
investment the adoption of the Act* should he attempted imme-
diatelj ;n f\->-\y inland and seaboard wateJing-place not at
pir.st'lil possesMiiy Ihexe iiihttUil ions
CHAPTKR XV.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN WALES.
W.L.VNT little Wales, considering that there an mi
many large towns in the Principality, does not come
out :u:h"s8 in its Public J library work. The total
i;iiii ii-r Of a40pti071§ Of I he Vets :- eight- Wide* and
Scotland had a national system »>i i-iim-nt dm u.ny in lore
in England we had reached the same stage, and the people of
both ••iiuntrles have lor generation! been known :is earliest and
Pti [er friends oi educal ional and soeiFil progress \s will be seen
:ii Mie eml of this chapter, the movement la spreading in quite
a number of places i-i \\ ales, and in course ui a 1 an few years
tfac Dumber ol adoptions will bo more like eighteen than night
In no j mi t ol the united Kingdom would :i Mnall novenmirni.
grant be more acceptable and useful than in Wales. The penny
p-it" in ilie small districts is not auffldeut to stock and maitilain a
Public Library. Wales should agitate this question ot s state sub-
, and urge the point upon its parliamentary rcpresentatiYaa
,\ r.KWVHrwvTir and BAN60B.
in the ormer place they eon only boast of 3,640 volnroeSj bu\
as the population is only double &e number it is, in comparison
vith some libraries, a fair proportion. Hie rate yields A'loo a
year.
Bangor adopted (in* Acta in 1871. The library U open on
Wednesday* and Saturdays only, From 10 to 19 cm. and from "
tn B pjn The number >1 eoluraes is less than Abarjstwyth, for
there ore only 1,ftO() lor 10,000 people. No wonder with so poor
I Dumber the average issue snoutd only be Sfi iM-mkn. Surely
some Loudon or Colonial WelKhiona will remedy this defect, noi
ii Rancor but at oilier places in Wales. The rMnclpall^j
acfted gift* foi it* Public Libraries \ 'nnV -.\tm\eA grftasj
ri be mom cnvmirnging.
268
T'UTUl^ MHHARTR&
1 1 If ln.'ii- i.intiiiir tin- Webb tow n* thai «i' .'i ■■■ I lie lx",l r\ .i!ii|> V
ol \v!l i(. i* being dooe. The wui k :i; tlie present lnuliirlil in ill ft
ital 'i u.ih.-iiiirii. lor .ii ''Mi-iisinii ol tneouildings has long bean
ueeeaeary and hua now been decided upon. The quauuon of
altering tlie present building, op erection a new bolldinn; and
banding over the present one entlrelj for auueuna and science
rt purpose*, bus IW tome i oneuiernble thine been -i burning
ani in w& l-.wr* depeitaient of tlie Public Library worfi
bu outerows the BpaooilhaeatdiapoeaLiwidUiereiB no i
foe wonder thai the ami eal tendency of ooiuioa, to te the
library committee and town com • i., MmuM lm\e K-<*u lor ;i
: og. An adnnrable and moet convenient ti i waa available
adjoining the existing building. This forma part of one side of a
.»iii.ir. -, tJl6 filiation and diape of wnich an Well -niiiili
i handsome building being erected. In July, 1880. th* Local
< ha voroment Board gave permission to borrow £10,000. v
this cxtoneion is corapl ited Cardiff will hare its Public Library
housed in t|uarter& well qualified to moot ita growing n<
The town woe* the Bret to adopt Qui Ante, wnon fron 1669 dew D
to the tort report tha progress hoe been stoady and i
factory. T i ■ two itj -seventh report shows how avery noetic
the institution has been largely need during u*, '"if. the
crowded itnte ol every department prevents urn
development, although muoh iB roquirea to snpplv th« i <i* of
to largo emd cr< w an ci town. At the bogitimno ol tho \ mr tlie
ooo au tee olXered nuns of fso to tho district!* of Koath.l nthnya.
Canton, tho Docks, and Grongetown, for I mt ol
ich rooding-ra >ms,on corn 1 1 ion that a comroittee wai fined
in each district 1 work them,and, it necessary, sin-mli
ffani bj i ivste snbaoriptwna Tho districts >i Raath and
Cothnya have availed themaolvea «>t ti \a offer, and iu< utful
i wHrooma hove been established In these districts Theci
ending library wae open 302 days, and the reference Ibrary on
aw «i t\ -c during the year. Tne number of i ks Issued from the
Lend n1-'' library waa ISA nurabar tor the previous
being 126,618, or an Increase foi the year of S,1P4, The anmber
C TCRiKter :-".;fii. Tlu* nililir Ioiih to the
library amount to S,704 volumes, oi which i,;tfi volumes have
been placed In the reference library, and 2,31a volumes in
landtag 1 brary. The donations were 308 volumes and pampbleta;
theremainder of thenddJtiona, viz., 2,396 volumes^ were pun I
In order to make the public better acquainted with recent
added to the lending department un< ■■■■ toi leeue, an
Migeumiis ; i r.nii.'Liiiriii ha* \xw adopted. A boai I i- hmuj En
the library, on which i re placed ticket* tntaining bias nut In n-. title.
:imi uitiiiiirr <•! uuch books lb 1 lav) l)eenadded durhag th* preTkme
three trtha Ii i borrower winhce t" obtain vmt ol theaeplM
the card and bande it to an jwm'-hh , who, when b
found t!ir book, putfl the ticket in a box. The entry la thne
■<i ihmi the notice bouidi lo \>e wj\» s" ■** it1, boofc i>
rVBLlC LIllBAaiEa IN WAUs
sea
n itornod, end BO on until the book has taaun circulation thro*
vin i; it ie altogether removed to moke way for more
recent additions to the stock.
The question of branches has boon a burning one in Cardiff.
The borough coven :* large area, w\ mhiim .>i the suburban
districts are very thickly populated. One el the local newspapers
printed a eerie* of art'ieie* going minutely and taBy into the
subject "i thoeei tral institution mmatsbn acta libraries-, and much
-mil for both side*. It was pointed out r.h:it ii • brand)
;. library as well as reading-room was opened In one
district i is other suburbs would naturally cry oat to toe similarly
erved. The matter of means entered, or course, fully to the dis-
Gumion. The muds available are something under fiis.ooo a year.
'i\u> penny rat* produces more than tin*, iwt. a ants has w be
deducted from it towards the repayment of the loan. Of fins
sum the ordinary current charges of the institution, includinjz
museum ami art gallery, take up liy Tar I he greater pari
Imleed, when we place :i rery moderate sum ttnide for tin1 jnir-
ehaae in nea hooke for the library, and a still mora moderate
one for the purchase oj Decerwarj articles for the museum* the la*
come la whollj swallowed up. For boom yean past, Indeed,
a i .jriiii.\ ti-oin the first start until rerj recently, Uiey were con-
tinuwlly la'lir w.il'-r. hut tiling .w- l''j n^ (>- look more
promising for the future. It wan ivii timi, t«» em-t hruuehes
trould cripple the central institntion, and \mm-Iv the decision has
Iitii .ii i nvil at t<> uvuid so undesirable a result, in another part
.-1 tin- w>rk tli. question of branch libra tea has been dwelt npoa,
i . aatural that outlying districts which see the utility oJ Chess
Institutions should wiali to sec ''in1 of them placed in their midst,
i i:t the ability to maintain one good central library and it number
Ol I -ranches, inn perfect state of efficiency, out oi the nimble penny
ahouldbe looked tally in the face, At present Cardiff does not quite
hoo its way through these difficulties as to branches, Itoath, a
1 1, contributes some i'-KK» towaadt the penny rate,
and olnimfl mora than a small grant towards its mtdiug-rooro.
The | . :-'ipj , i tin- l '"uveal lnatructiim Act of laaj, yea* gave
<'.»MKi.lr. ::!»!<■ ,;i(i-;;h'(ion in ( ardifl", and Cpnokly after l"h •
place i on the statue ImmiI; a committee was formed. TheeiCeet of
thu Act will be to relieve the library committee from the ni
i maintain i l H- ^oionce ami ait seho-uV livm the Public
Llcrorj rate Cos committee eeta illshed these Bcboole in the
: -i- -. and they have steadil) risen in public estimation up to
iresent tunc. .Many of the students now occupy important
Ions, in consequcm : the instruction m<i encouragement
ed The coma Ittee fools that its effort i • supply tech
Instruction, which haa been siicv^esafully carried on for a « pun I
a centnr; is now justified by the passing of this let, and hopea
tlint under the aew o..iidinnn« tlio sclu-oN will enter upOl ffl
ided rjereer uf usefulness It is hoped thai < 1 1 ■ - Sooth
i'! MnTitnuitth^hire College Will pvoiide aee«\\H\\\nCi
hnieal hcIhhi]&
2M
prm.i"; unmnn;.-v
Tl 10 work in tho reference library hi of a very solid and uaeful
tiaiure. During- 1888-39 1 1 n ■ total issue WO* 13,217, mil of ■
total or 13,824 volumes and pamphlet*, Thta is -i section co
which the able librarian and HCorctJU'j of the other Institutions,
Mr. JoIim Balllnger, glvtfH bis careful attention. Mr. BaliingerVi
administration of the library l>a^ contributed luryely to
develop it* w<>rk. flistorv, biography, and travel represent
tin- Largest issue In tho reference library. There, i <• In the
reference room four of the prettiest and mtwt appropriate
stained windows which can be found En any Public Library. They
Were presented byMr. Jamte Ware. Theyrepresenl respectively
poetry, fiction, travel, and history. For the first-named bhesul j •
a Milton dictating "Forachflc Loei ■ to hie daughter. TTw
portrait* are nl S<-ott, Uulei^h, and GibbOBi A set of nimilar
windows in every Pttbfio Library In the country would l>e a
decided ptiin.
The Public Library committee have u separate banking no'ixiiit
— a step which should bo taken by most conuattteea. The
catalo^uoMiirc very carefully pi' [i.ii.vl For n penny tho borrowers
In the juvenile HocUon— which in largely need have b twenty-four
page catalogue of hooks selected with grout discretion, and a
sixteen-page supplementary catalogue IS sold tor :» halfpenny. A
ug/m catalogue of the reference department ho men recently
going through the press. A local printrafl firm underfoot the
enttra responsibility of nrodueiDfl it, having the pm liege cd taking
advertisements Cor i*. 11m catnioquc molls for 6d.. ana copies are
paid for pttri tdieally to th<> printers us sold. Pie cost of prll
catalogue? ia so grew thai flic plan is deserving of being eoptait
There are separate catalogues ol the book* en music, bj d books
for the Wind. A glance at ihe lrtttor shows that rifty-hv*«
volume*, in the Braille character, are at the dispone! of those to
whom Kitriii i« denied. Printed In Moons tyj»e there ore nbonl
IfiO volumes, whilst, seven are printed hi ordinary Reman embossed
type. The different hooks of the Bible can 1m* had In oiiher
Moon's type or in the Braille character, mid In the KeJectton ol
other work* on the list care seems to have been taken to secure
only rhuse nl' an elevating and enri-i-.'aii in;: character Altogether
the work at Cardiff to in a healthy state andu Itha growing r&tetiie
developments ol the future will no douht be more marked then
during the post, in seven years the yield ol the n to h is nearly
doubled iteuf. Whatacnpifcal thing it would have been for th«
Public Library movement if tins could be said of till towns of
equal sisss to Cardiff,
(XuutAimnr.
Tin Act- v, i iv adopted here in 1*87. Only a Irndinjt library
up tn tlw prudent btcjj established, and in .this there u ■
volumes. Through the exertions of Aldcrmun Lewis, who inil
the movement during hid mayoralty, n eomrni ' its and linnd
buUdiag was erected by public subsorjptioa nud batidi
the adoption of th< Art-. Tin. rati COO. ai one of the
PimMC LI1UHK1KS l\ H Mi B.
96A
meetings for the promotion of Hie Acta Rome good apeectii g were
made. A clergyman who mode a strong appeal for the adoption
suid . " I do not cure for a penny rate, but I do cure very much for
a Public Library for Carnarvon ; and let mo u*ll yon \vIiv--wIkh
a young fad in Liverpool, a Public Library kepi too from Ifce
theatre, ii».- public-houae, bhn singinfl saloon, the gairibUng hell.
A Public Library supplied me with food for the mind — made me
* reader, a thinker, a public man— a. preacher of flod'a Gospel.
I ""_o n debt I can never repay to that Public Library, and rli.it i*
why J Lin: her6 tonight.1' thou- are many others who could
render a similar testimony.
OSVBSEBT.
The ouestion has l>cen several tiraes mentioned in Oswowtry,
and on May 19, 1890, the adoption of the Aets WBfl unaniraously
eanled ll ;i lown'e mooting. It is very cheering to be able to
record tWs in the present ealtioo. Th& friends ot education in
Oswestry have for several yearn had their i*y*s on the establishing
ni i Public Library The loco) proas rendered excellent aid. Hie
Bei ,1. ,i. Poynter iTirl others look part in the proceedings \
I:mm town libr:iry. which 1 1 : i .- been under the control Of trustees,
vmii novt u* handed over to the Town Council, ami provision for
honsing it will 1* made Uy the OounoH i» the now municipal
buildings about to be creeled.
Swan: HA.
The Act* were adopted here in I870i Some boll spirit* i few
years ago urged upon ti>« Towa Council the need or new and
more commodious buildings for the Public Library and Art
iv The scheme wns a large one. The building, of which a
rlew ft erven, is an exoeodingly handeomc onO|Ond was erected
wt ill" e-_'<MKK) iii a control par! of the town, rVmii the designs
■ >t \h. Ilnltom, <A Dcwsbury. This was opened by Mr . Olodstonc
in 1087, Owing to the henry drain upon the rate r<> pay the
interest on the Toon of 4'l^ooT, too small u balance was left to
keep the twin inetitutione in s state 4 efficiency! A temporary
Rnani ial difficulty presented itself, and *ome papers took up the
null- r i- ii" rt spelt ruin for the Public Library and disgrace i"
the town. More gloomy prognoaticntions were never in
theae institutions, but allnav* l>een doomed not t-> be realized-
The enemies of the movement made great capital out of the
Bujrooeed Failure at Swaajen.
the history ol the library movement in Swansea is inti-
imh.'Iv connected with the name of Mr. G. B. Brook, the late onair-
in:ri , f the lihr.irv 1-oa;iniU0C, who laboured :OWk"Illoll>!y for
ii i ■ i - 1 > years for the adoption of rho Public Libraries' Acta by the
borough, and, ,w«UMiod by Sir John Jones Jenkins and others who
.nice Ailed the office of mayor of the borough, was aoeeeofl
ol only In this preliminary step, but In rabaequentty advanc-
ing tbe movemenl to Its latter and oomplete Btage— that at \w«-
:t huliitalion for /he iristffutEuii which *\\unluY Vje ^NivriSn^
:V iSSMA H III.K UllUAUk, AJLI (J A.LMUU . AM' I H-<. '.!>' AM.
long n - (1^- old institution, contained 0
■-..-., .u.c hundred* of rare [ximphlcts. The oollcotii
La [in- department* oi poetry, the lite rnturo of the drain,
and biography, ami Wolsh netary and topography. Thou there
ia in connoowon wilb th« Inntiuitiun the llowfand Willimii*'
Reference Library, Full el rare works in Welah literature tad
theoloffTi lK^idw a general reference library <>t ;< mis o ploo
cbarac
With pi ■_■.■! I tbc building taaitf, tne ardiitoet'i own
PCBLIC UBBAIIIKS IK WALE*.
*>7
Bcrtption, as being most 8iioviii*'t, in given. Tin- extreme leugth ol
the front of tho building shown fn the sketch is lflu ft., :m<i the
extreme depth, to the Duck of the circular reading-mom, 9] ft.
The front portion is four storeys in height, and the iwk portion
throe storeys, with rite exception of the olrcular peading-room,
which is one storey only Tho style of architecture adopted ih
ii. iii. in classic, tin- Front being divided by projecting bayi .-it
either end. and finished with pavilion roofs. Ylw roam entrance
is in the centre of the Dioade, and the interior in reaohad through
. vestibule 17 fl wide, witfo an Inner hall of tho suns width.
Both these are laid witb ;i mosaic flooring 1 1 a beautiful Bora]
u. Tiie groiuid floor is devutcd solely to the purposes ol d
Pubuc Library. Right and left of the Inner boll is a oorxldor 8 ft.
wide running the extreme length of the building', and comtnuni-
i .ilhiir with the «1 <de ■ ■!' i i ■ iomius ou the BTOUSd floor, On the
right of the inner hall it- the newsroom, 01 ft. long and %l ft. vide,
and to the left of the inner hall la the nia^azine-rooui, -<) ft. !>v
39 ft. Adjoining this room are the' librarians prirabe rooms and
COMraitteo-roome At the rear of the inner hull is tin- rcadhig-
.■'II and reference library, which ).*• circular in shape, and 56 ft.
Id diameter. It Iihs a domed top, with outer and Lnncj lights,
whit h i ■ 26" ft. high in the centre. The presses and Bhclving for
book* arc arranged round trV walls, and divided into alcoves
* centre. Tho room in capable •»!' Mormg S'>,000
volumes, arranged in two height*, with light cast-iron
•■n.: un i iv are i id for nccesfl. The gallery is opprouchod
hv geometrical stairs, Some <»f the prossei are fated up with
loov I'll rollers for the Larger and more valuable works,
rllindi are u ud in all ciihos to protect the hooks, rhe rending
re a Tanged in tho centre ol tho room, nnd si t he entrom e
ik u cutulogue <lebk. All tho wood fittings urt "I American
ie<t The mgiiia» recesses ol the room are
i and used am apartment* for tin* attendants. Un elthei
aids ol the circular room is n room measuring 10 tt. long tty !R it
One :■ wed as the lending library, and is fitted up In t
sfeailsr iniifawr to the reference library, with the addition of ;i
aook-< ttter or wrrower* with Indicators and the usual
.'-•ements for borrowing nnd returning ' Icn This room
r oas book spaces for nl ii nil l'o.ih*) vnl rne* The second ilnor
appropr Sted to the Use of the science and :n-r department, Ii
►reached hyaseparate Ataircase nr the QOrto-wesI and of
the hnildlng, and com prises elementary roomSj painttSMoaniB,
modelling-rooms, a large antique room, and u rassters room.
[base form the art department The remaining rooms are
for the M'iruce department, and ooxunat of ;< tool I a-
rootOj ''i:i>oi-i-oom, and laboratory, and balance-room. The art
kcUod Is fitted up throughout with desks and diagram boards.
aud the antique room is furuialicd wiili drawing tables nnd
curtains, with pedestals ior casts. The third floor is arranged aa
AH art and picture gallery, and is lighted by top \\fcW- V\ \W.
rawmLUlcliidn^ (In <-,/r;(ioi\-., are rn suite.. '\\\m v*v!\ t»\toK& \wt
96A
(I lil ]i I MIllAUiKv,
pictures Is about \2fl0& it & sepoiiMtt staircase is provided fox
Hits floor ai the south-went up of fcfie building. There is
uTt,unl\ nothing to equal this puler) Ed Hie Wed oi ESngiandor
Bon h \Vate.
The reference departmeal lathe strongest part of tin workal
Swiuiw-'-u. line there an- ^1,801 volumes, with an avenge dally
Jotac of 34;i volumes. Eo the lending section 53,794 rolames were
ioeucd during the year. Swanaea rejoice* (?) in <\ committee of
twenty-four members of the Town Council nod fourteen members
from outside the council. The attendance of these thirty-eight
ffO&tlemen i~ i^iven in the report in tabulated form — apian which
is adopted in so exceptionally lev reports. The figuren nrc
inwtnu-tive, and illustrate very forcibly mo absurdity °f having
l m gc coiDJoJttces. Of the thirteen monthlv mid special mcctnign,
Pour "ii,\ ft»oBD out rids the council attended twelve, and one from
the council attended ten of the meetings. Eight members of
the council did not appear ut any of them, Pour shoved up
oner, ami Others two, throe, i>r timr Li raw. From outride (hr
council the btorIIobI number of attendances vraj tbroa. This was
In one case only, and tb< atheft vers presenl ai from seven t«>
eleven of tins meetings! There is evidently something wrong
about these oounoil members of the committee] some three-fourths
<'i them might be very reasonably relieved of serving;. So large
■ eoramittoo is, in 003 ease, uttorfy unnecessary, and theexperiance
at Swansea 1^ proving this to be so, The prospect in swn
ror tin- Public Library work at brlghte] than if has been for
timr, Mini Ms Future will he watched with considpr.'ihls Interest.
Mr S K II ipvmi \x the iilii'Mi'ian funl -ceivhiry. Under a Local
[mprovemeni /Let n slightly Increaoed rate Is levied, aid this
removes the congestion which has been experienced.
Whi.« mi..
Welshpool bos, and i*. doing itself credit. In September, I w,
;i public meeting oC the inhabitante was held in consider n pro-
posal to adopt the Public Libraries' Arts. Theft wystodClub,
of which Lord Powys was the president, hod offered bo transfer
their library and museum, the mosi valuable in the Priuoipi
lo the town as a free gift upon condition (hat the Public Libra
Acts were adopted. The Town Council undertook to limit the
to id. in bhe pound. Lord Powis warmly supported the
proposal, which was, however, --! -i -i ■- 1 by the residents in
outlying agricultural parts of the borough, and was defeated. A
l«)ll wri.s demanded. On rhi" bring taken 11 few w< < l. ! 1 < r, and
1 t< 1 there bad been time to bring the question prominently I ..
the public, the majority in favour was 201. lit the foUowine;
N'ovember the annual meeting was held. Mr. MorriBC Jcnee.
to whode service- the institution was BO greatly indebted, and
who for 1 weal v one pears bad not boon absent onoe st the minimi
meeting of the institution) hod moat actively supported the pro
■'/' banding eve* the Institution te the town. Mr. J. 1;
Juorrltfj the Mayor 01 thai year, u*o tttws in ttw *«atgM cd bis
I'IHM<' I lim.uni'..- iv VAT.RS
20»
inlVi'-i ■■•■ At the cudol lrtus.aud after one year's working uuder
(the enlarged scope, the increasing amount of BUOcetni which has
attended rlie .>)>< -i msr r>l* the institution to (lie publk can be I>ohL
juil^fi.1 by the mini l>er of bookfl Issued and readers' ttoketa sold
(luring th-' period of nearly live months— from Jum: 1 to October 22,
and this was greatly in excess of any preTloua Tear. The rem ling*-
room fa wen attended, and is supplied with newspaper* and
naijfafffrftpi The nroseuni has bfl m netted by a large number of
S'i':.uii.'.. A eoiiMilerable sum viw ubtuined from ;i fund raised
aring the year for defraying the- cost of fitting: up the library.
Tlie towns and villages in the? Principality will receive, it may he
v I ihedf quite an aeoaeslon bo the Qomber of adoptions el the oota
from institutes, eueh as the one at Welshpool, being handed OYW
for the free use of the people for ever.
WaexHAjr.
Wrexham adopted the Acts in 18711, but after twelve year*'
existence the number el volumes reaches only &361 for 11,000
people, ir was nor mnl lajst year that a lending department was
established, the hunks being bought out of £-100, the nun received
out ut the rational Eisteddfod. The £180 which the rate yields
In heavily (axed by b rent of £40 a year repaid to the Corporation
for the use of the mums in the (xuildhall. This ought not to be
An odd £5 or £10 at the luoat.ua an acknowledgment) would be
ample, Two ladies oJ title are on the committee^ \t would he
: viii^lu nci' Hit- work al Wrexham making more rapid pro-
gress. So many town* in Wales are inquiring: about the Public
Libraries' Acts that they want all the encouragement they can
get from existing successful libraries,
Bareitectwefft and Llandudno have made .itu-nipi- to carry
the Acta, but without success. The vote was taken in tbe former
place in 1868. in Llandudno the vote was taken in 1889, bub the
whole attempt was htill-born. The steps taken to bring; the matter
before 1 ie people do nul appear to have been uumerouB,
The ftttei dance at the statutory meeting w m very small, and ihe
taking of the rote wa> ;mMp<med. At a later date twelve voted
for the Act* and twenty against. A poll was demanded, and the
of this showed "1 against ami iSi.v. in fnvnur. An institution
wirh ;i library worth altogethei about £:.',0<X> would have been
banded over on the adoption of the Acta. With some organization,
Llandudno should easily now adopt the Acts, but it is unwise to
bring the cmi"»tion forward anywhere in a ball-hearted way.
Tli. following arc the places in Wales where the question has
less w more to the front of late, [neoreral of these districts
the veto will probably he taken before long-
In 1KK7 the question wee mooted in Aberdare and 1 "iir. 1 1 _. :« 1 1,
hut fell through in each town from hwk uf support. In Mitreli
if the ;Ih ^ii'ijci-t was also introduced in ('arnairthen.
towni should bave their Public Library. V.Yja\\:'*\v-v.
lias a library bul not under the Acta. It in&y naeAft cbSswd*
m
pnu.ic l.IBRARII^.
i hiring, and tin* (»«t should Bet an cxumple to Llandudno.
Merthyr Tvdvii hoi; heard something aboul b proposed odop ]• D
of the Acts, but nothing has vot como of i' In Mountain
u vote was taken some four years ntco, hut the reAUll wa* OH
bSTOaroblo. Binodthes thi [rfeetion tnui been rnontdonod 4
EUDMBj but nothing Itiithci- has been clone. Other place » are
BhOBada \ lUejr, isfcr&dj I'onartb, and IVt«irky.
Wales requires a little spirited eneonrsgenient, «*iNiit by
or b>wnfl like Carmarthen, Llandudno, and other places ad*
themselves t^ thi» list..
CHAPTER XVI.
CRITICAL EXAMINATION OP THE
PUBTjIC XjIBRABLBB.
WORK OP
|ROM scmio point* of view it would nppcar that Public
* Librarian tiflbd suddenly emerged out of the long clothe*
PJM of [\h< nursery int. tin- full li_<ln if public BJ&BOi
j^g) t&inly thil would bo gathered from the Aoodrgal
criticism which have been within a yoar or two b
upon them. And tiu-v have some out of the ordeal remarkably
well, and there run f»e no doubt thai in nearly nil the p
Where they have been established the ratepayer have very
inexpensive tnatttutfona. Pnblio Libraries will challemre oom*
inn-oil with Board Schools, and all other puhlie ''Mjn-mliiuri- i.ut
of whieh the people get Twenty shillings worth of real ralW
for every pound Sterling invested, it nil other public money
were equally woManem* woahould haw lose rates to pay, and it
would ht; better far the penplp nil round Tim amusing |ort i*
that an attack on the expenditure for ttrcct clcansm
police, :ni<l DffSem '« a iiinlliT of r:i renee, und the
o) ■ , f w • inn ii.i. .vii res round this nimble penny or the School
Board rate. We bta b nation of small eoonomfHOi, and meekly
swallow the huge camel of extravagance
I'uiilic Libraries do aol shirt erltlnlam, snd, like all other
experimental national efforts thoj inuei l>ear with a good deal ol
tin* r'niiiiinxiiiy n will do the InsUtu [uni ■ » i: nt bul on the
contrary will bring the more publicity to iholi ipers
clusi' Hands sod rasa lo take aides.
One thing the crilfcs should bear in mind in making cono-
I orisons In the working of Public Llbrj oarueu^ any tu"
iave axaotty the precise method ol tabulatlo . and mora
unifonnit.y in this rCflpeot would be .-crept. tUe, tail lo dial we
shall come all in (rood time. A ayetem i-. not built up In a da>,
whether it be a Bolai : ■ library system. There are fea
bofwnaexaeth >n all-turns with regard tothi people and u-
needs 0* ireraal trnitd <■ i ;uv to be
everywhere, but there are some local idiosyncratic-- which
for something. The present viiieY.uVAvouKU accuatomed u» move
i RTTIfAI. HXAMIXATIOV OF THEIR TVfiliK.
871
ihi.ir rhe country from evrremp north to extreme south, haw
not-few 1 Miih piirlirnhirly vvhwi .-»■"" about the libraries ol tin-
wnmiryduiing the taet fo« ro< otxw Home libraries class Nt^'Thpr
Bctloa, poetry, and the drama. Some are open longer hours than
mIIicis. -r linvtt mOfC branches. Some Ic-liei Hinv-Yoliiiiir ri.ivi'ls
;il a iinii' and count each Volume in the returns, while again ih.v
may lend for seven or fourteen <l;trh. The condition of the
lowd jjn.ltisi rir*. nearly nlnay* materially affoote the returuB of (he
ttbrarrfor that period. These fnstitutiuiip an- in IVI MTvin^**
useful barometers of the state of trade in uianydisirici*. Etei ■ al
towns have finer, more centrally situated prenrisea than the rest ;
whilst in some cases then* i> rimyr*tio]i, attributable t" an
mi workable committee and chairman who have been placed in
their present position for political purposes, ami who abominate
the ribUo Library and all ita works, Thi* a no pun, bat sooei
fact, and were it not for the force of public opinion against
them bnoy wo j hi throw every possible obstacle tn bhe way of
the library's work. As it is, they starve the shelve* and bully
the librarian. These arc u!l factors which produce their effect
■ad while the spirit of emulation among Ubrarloa ihonld be
eBoouraMdj the plan of roaldng comparisons In favour of on© ot
muiv ana against others is n method whirl) should be PWeivt I
MSSj t/rtuto Hnti/*.
Th«' following towns tuv taken u* illustrative of the rest, and w
being van i' iniv scattered through the (wnjxtrv. The figures
glvon are for twelve mouths, but no4 always for the same Uwelve
months, They are placed in the order ol population, adull and
iwniic;—
■1 ...
rnyliixui
Htnfhflatar
Loetta
i
Mitel
KiiUiiiplitin ,.,
Utto-on-Tyae
tafc««r*r , .
Rfrkflnhcnd ,.
frftftou
Xonrkli
Wolverhampton ..
tenth
Ule
igtoa
p
linn, IftSl
662,426
400,757
841,5 tfl
£00,124
2(H ,503
181 ■ ■■■
. ■
I
10U000
104,000
87,813
. .
lis. BOO
80. : 04
No. of
i ■. idem Vol*. Iti
Tickoio iu, Sto«:h.
in-
S.Sf.f.
ao,ooo
11,803
•
10,608
13,664
11,06ft
! . 51
5,310.
7.-100
1,660
2,000
g,48S
.
3,000
140,426
L62,S01
r 97,943
161,749
91.490
74,181
u-i.OUB
;;•■ itt
42.ru>
iu,oi;>
30.390
26,883
■i'J.Oil
35,011
Total
Vi-ur''.
[■mi
Turn, fwrlirwl
ovor. of Pop v
lilt int.
820,076
i 849 ; i!
s<v: om
803.171
,.■.1 60B
1&0.000
1
203,116
B 1,082
96,102
■
r ,<w
5-9
r.-;
S'll
5-0
-1-6
:-•.,
7'0
!'|
t;-4
80
I-:
2-Q
'-■■
• ■
-. Q
!■'■
2-3
4 -a
2 fl
1 IS
■7
.' 1
■■ (i
f!
0 D
i-o
.:■!
S'fi
• Library ffioafd for a year and a half, 1S&&-^ .
S72
•rm 1 1' MBKARIBS,
There \h :\ marked disparity among some of these BgUXBS us
will be seen. Wolverhampton haa a little higher population than
1,'uelnlale. mil w\ I In.' latter plaee Ii.ih three limex a* man> more
bOTTO Vent' Ottldfl in 1186 j while Plymouth, which i> .vlmut tin; EMWD0
in population, standi between the two: nn-l Darlington, with hull'
the population, lu- half as many again m Wolverhampton, and
not ipiite *»> many as Plymouth. The foregoing applies to the
number of horrmveiv cards in ueopfind in this the disparity may
be accounted for by the method of renewing the tickets,
\ -linilai' dis|>anty attixoheci to the numher of volumes for the
slxo of imputation. Leeds has, roughly, one hook for every tiro
people, while Bristol fc not quite so well off. Manchester 2s even
i o£| ;hn.n Leeds, white PrestOD fttS only 0Q0 DOOlt ftjr 6V0TJ
four t«> live of the population.
The aume marked irregularity En the figure* may he noticed in
the other columns.
The total cost ef the libraries iii thcho sixteen towns last
WAS £69,5 18, for a gross population ot '!,(»'"/.- 1- on tho basis oi the
last census. This works out to a fraction less than IJd. per head,
adult and juvenile, of tlie oOXabi&Ad lmpulation of these si'
towns for the maintenance of they-' obrarfes and their bran
last year. And what had the people in return P
I. In considering t he erwt of Puhlie Lihruries.it «hmiM in fairness
tw» reineuiltercd that rho I'xpeiuliniro meinred is not exclusively
spent in providing honk* r.> rend at home. Tin' cost referred I
include* the provision of an mvitino :md itgreenMe place to read
in. Instead of the more expensive and less military places whtoh
have atjaortoed so rnnch ot the time and money of the working
and other nlniHTin
3. Than, besides books for baking away, there it associated
with the Public Library i reference Uhrary, :i Newsroom, rtr,
containing the hest newspapers and periodical* to he found hi
this Important branch oi literature, much of which must hccrm*
aldered an very solid reading.
.3. There are. in addition, al many of these places Uvlurea,
science and aft clasaow, museuma, and art galleries.
This simple fact alone is worth volumes of statistics as bo the
i lasses of literature read by the [leople, and a host of other details
iu figures. Friends of this movement may fasten opponent* to
this simple Fact, a.ud challenge them to produce another deiW ;
ment of onr national expenditure where there is for eonniuli pel
head of the population bo much far-reaching utility nnd
actual value for puhlie money .-[iciit,
Beforepasstngon.it is worth whUe calling attention to the
wide difference in the ratable vnluc of these varlou*
according to the population. The penny tor Birkenhead produces
£600 per year more than in Preston, and yet the popuintii
larger in Preston l»y 30,01 X). Norwich with o population of S\
producer only n little more than Rochdale W it!i I0|00Q iGBS An I
ether example.*- might bo multiplied.
' nun ai. j-;.\.\M:mnoy »>" thrih work
878
Taking1 a few towna smallm- tShftD
following table is instructive :—
those already pivwi the
TWRT.vk
9X01 B Of
\in\THX
ZOW9C.
I'ill'l J.VUON.
BOOKS*
I88CB8,
4rton
' o.(KX>
11, rW
'Hi.XH
Ashtou-undcr-Lyne
, . ■57.027
11,980
70..W
BariOW-in-Fui 1
.. r.0,01 x)
14$40
i'3,y^
Cambridge
.. 40.4 1 A-
36,9ee
82,463
Cheltcuhnro
4ft07S
I-Vjoo
L:m,oi6
i;;.J7;J
52,418
Dudley ...
.. 4&S53
8,300
62,400
ttacaleafleld
.. 37. -.14
16*49?
4fl,7L**2
.\rwport (Mini.)
NortnampUiu . .
. . 86,882
1&186
77,668
. . 62,000
wm
:>'.' ,'•'.':■
Kotherhmu
.. 86,000
0.HS7
58^09
Shrewsbury
.. Bfctffi
6,799
47,044
SOOUl Shield*
.. 63,876
17,703
0K881
Southport
10,000
HI.K85
03,804
Stookport
. . 50,653
10,89!
«.::.-:■_■ ;
worth . .
83,000
10,833
88,640
WaiTinytnn
4K.1M'
sagoo
1*>.71<>.
W est Broniwieh
M ■
l^l'til
65,416
Uorv again there are aaoinalfea. While oootown reqpjrefl three
books per head of ii& population, other lawns are satisfied with
lew lludi one. Take the average of the towns Miroiurjh whan
tie «' are Public Librariea, it h about WW book and a-lmlf tu each
Ih'isiim in Om area they cover. Moreover, ti it* reading fa done —
7 per cent, bj the independent and professional duwon ; 44 per
cent. 1>,>' tmdeame&i students, *huj,t assistants, and clerics i ami
89 pec cent, by mechanic* ami labourers. It vouUl be eaay to
examine Ubrarj statistics to ottaitc length i buti after dning
deeply among them for some considerable Mme, the present
writer has come to the ponoluaton, thai for tin purposes of com"
paring town with town, or groups of towns together, there are
»o many differencce i tabulating and in other dlrectiona, net
already Indicated, that the plan requires adopting with caution,
loyond the broad linen ol work no two libraries are alike, and
hence the difficult v of comparison. These arc bobs which ihonld
■ n- K, j i very distinctly in mind, and comparative tables should not
li;i\<- ;n;(v .special wiUh1 utrnelied U» 1 1 il-ijj. Had liiide in D&S year
mi m certain trades will ut once affect the returns, and good trad*
leaven lc*« time tor reading. A soriea of loot urea on special
subjects will even afifeot fehe retnraSj and aa the weatherf like
rhemtoaffij isal the bottom ol a good main LhingBjthe stub* of the
elements uhouki not i»e loft out <.-f consideration. A wol season
^ ill keep people indcorBto read, oraesdbhain to the reference
library, and a dry season nunds the people to tin- Ereah air.
Returns may go op or g<*dowu, and all the explanation! which
OOiild be great one way or flic other might not abaolxxVviYv) tttncft
rrotaiu. n t& well to have statistics to ne w\vav ^a«\\ \o^a^ "^
L'7l
prBLIC LrBItAllIES.
dOSUg indi\'!iht:tlly. our COjEsir emnparianng must be guarded
against, and Mils fad especially should be kept in mind b,*
newspaper writes. In course or time there will he uniformity
In statistic*; but at present that i« a much more riinVuit matter
ihnn it would tppear, as bsfow into can he done severaJ radios]
OOflOgflfl in library administration will have to be made.
it m around the head of the Luuee t »r Action thai the storm
nigra wiili the greatest funr. When this varies Cram M) to 60 per
oent, as it does, it shows the wide latitude which exists, oul
here again there most be caution, Some libraries bnj no nan
three-volume novels. Others enter them in the returns as mree*
volumes, and nut aw uue work, fiv that the *0 percentage ram
i i i ;uised in thin wuy, and being lent for only seven, instead of
fourteen days. It in admitted tlmt the percentage ol Beaten is
i i -■_■ ■ in .vnnr i-.wr.s, ;«.ud th.Li the amount spout in new books baa
been too lavishly spent on novels, but there is ample room fa the
conviction that we have reached the high-water mark ■ lin-n
circulation) It le on absolute (not that the proportion of job" I
Literature is steadily on the increase. It is again worth, rcniem-
l» ! ingthet all magazines and periodicals are invariably clawed as
light reading, and these include papers liko the "EngincM*."
*; Buildor," n Eiigli»H M<.-oh;>nii\" nuJ many other*. If the fairest
1 1 1 taificotlon was made, Scott would be cussed with history i i
I '-Lone and Thaekeroy as moral philosophy. "Ye
Night Thoughts" and " I': i»<;i^.' Lost' have hon melud ■• I .;
fiction in soiiie libraries. "Under (Janves/1 a book setting
evoagonstu work in i tent, has gone in 'lie same category^ ad
tinni roue other instances OOttld DC quoted. Kvorybody 0X00 pt the
ft i lest prig reads some works of Hot ion at some tini< - >r . thor,
the time has passed when novel reading need be defended, seeing
that bl*hnpv,:ix wi-11 Bt pUbllC8BJI mid BtnneVS lti-iii r;i I ly. all plead
guilty to the practice The mistake lie* in the individual p
doing too much of it, and so weakening his taste tor the BJOM
lolid WOtki, Che beet ot OOC English novelist* may be reel.
amongst the chief henafactora of mankind, and nothing basooa-
rrihtiteil ho much to lighten the tedium of daily lite a* romance
Novelist* claim that theirs k the most important, branch "i
literature, considered as a factor in the education sad in
incut of toe masses, and tbej have some ground for the statement
Public Libraries will pass through the stage ofcil Ichun which
they have now entered □ the eyea ul many of the public, sad
they will come oat of the ordeal none the worse for (he pi<
The essential fact remains that these institutions, if pro]
managed, may bring advantage* ' ' ",r bigueel order wlttim the
reach of wen tin- | rest classes ol the community, Nowa
wr :t!I proieffl to be anxious about the education o the n.i
the people. Bub real education can only be begun in i Icmentarj
schoola If the children of the working classes arc I
educated tiny must do something more than pass the four
rftr dxth standard; 'hey must learn, o* they stow to manhood
Bad vromanhood, to take an unafiectc d interest in things of the
TOE PtTCTlB OP PCBLIC UBD-AJtrBS, BTO.
L'76
mind, and to carry on their studios not merely tov iho sake of
material profit, hut because they find fointeHeonm] lift the soaree
dt one of their deepest and purest pleasures. If this ideal Ei to 1 <
attained, there must be libraries where even one will be able to
find tho kind of books he or she may want. It is HometimoR said
that there is too great a " ran " upon novels, but the reading of good
(novels should be encouraged rather thun discouraged, and there i*
not the slightest tear that people who delight m me host writings
of this natiu'c will confine their attention to fiction,
CHAPTER XVII.
THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES, AND
WHAT REMAINS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED.
HE future historian writing upon the present decade will
In- ,■ i»injn-lli.'d to take. inU> account the part which Public
Libraries are taking in the education of Che people*
And It is safe bo prophet that .n the rate or progreee
which is being made, the historian dealing with the
Bret part of the twentieth century will acknowledge these citijscius*
institutions ;i:» iH'cii]iytfig a very Brat place in the nations life.
Although much good was accomplished during the first twenty
years after EwarYs Act, the real impetus caruo with the passing
of the Element;in' Education \<-t of 1870, and (li< next hound
forward will be when Free Education, aou withta measurable dis-
i.u:. 0| bocomofl the main pivot upon which our national hyuteni of
education raste. When that desirable lime is reached, the
position of Public Libraries and Museums will he as olenrly
defined in the notion's shaft ae the pn^ms nud policemen are
in day. Fi'on. present indications the land Booms to be in the
foflity that both political parties will struggle with each
other which ib to place upon tho statute l>x»k the abolishing of
DtBOe En the 90h00l6 Of the people. It is now u plank in the pro-
i. iiiiTjOi-1 the two great sections,and when tho decks are elenffl I
for :t"tion, and the means by which the comparatively small sum
now contributed in the form of Behoolrjpenoe &) tn be raised, then
will come the tizac fox tbaqwsttonof State aid tc Public libraries
to bo alao discussed. It leneeomlng a well-known fact that the
COOR wir.ch are no* paid represent only a amnll proporttofl of
the amount which the teaching costs. Atu\ not only so, bat the
(atanee tit these fees is a oontfnual hindrance to the working of
e \n ol 1870. The effect of the fee In to keep out of the Board
hoolafihoiLRfljids of children who ought to bain them; and the
ttampl to i nforce ltn payment lucreaaea the odium which almost
nlv :il(i'nds upon compulsion The iviiitLtiiiL' i if fee* in
u o» proved inability to pay thera is demoralizing in ils
"act, and a waste < I Unaonthaport of the officials and teachers.
ip annua granl ol £20,000 for elementary education, wUw\\ -%■&>»
menecd in !•■ i. awn ' \ L vpe nnAtaunfta. \n sv\\s\V
iii^H
I i in twca i half i, nil !i u
I a thil I ■ d '■;• eioeo
■:mt qU*rt
I;.1.-.- niilli- : I I !i n BUm, 1 I •'
rat grunted froo
itea.
II ,w fM . nli:.'nc.>.! in. v. ,:il !:■>.: H..-I n : I! till lOOBl
not vol I m - r »
i.u: fo 'i ( parpen • tmpenoJ u an d tc local
• I- belter plan lb* pr i ml >\ five
■■
till- rrsl ll llll I I Hl'd K. : • It <j-i Hill ll'HAMl, Tlli'll will ll
iiu- !■<■. i reign of power trl Public Mhrnrlea. 1 1 . \ nrtll I
|il U3C,U 111- | li LVfl iiivrr yet ileni . i i I In rllll
bhe Gounlrj. And for thai wurk lliej art i".
« tiicli in li tabic (»> the iudii rdunl in&lii a
liltl to 111'" »■•: k r- UOW f«j 11 t i:- onr h l£V u I. olr, 1 1 j:- ui
1TC !tl rUgfl i:i:. I I m.'l • ■ nil' v !urli
to keep I he w If from tin door: tb
for ri in i \>\t\\ nf '
Thoi ■ (Bent
in for thoic inntitutions of the runic and flic. It i .
one perpetual attempt *>• (pet ;i quart into ■> pi
I'.ui oven i tolr future ta nol by urv a i
have rrii-ii to make out, and anyone looking a! tnab record
< inch* cannot fail to conclude that the Uc I
mad? of ovcryti
it ik otoar thai second onlj In u»i><>i't;i!ir.-
rnonteJ food in the catobli those Public Llbinu
thonood for wrac means .1 utilizing the books whi
Bveri Mio h:i" probably he irJ oi
Log ladies wno undertake to qamd a certain
each day In the perusal of :i literary classic Hi
gronpii of people are i very general wymptom ■ I i waul all]
nt some direction, wrnn* ■"'*> ice rad *u|
(.' tiic ri o?ta which on many are w ■ i . n i : ■
Won. According to llaeon, " aome hoolo
t(. he swallowed, and moiw few to hn chewed
Then? is no section of the work i I
more careful attention will have o be directed than tixlK.
need of I brai j luaer-poat* ■ h n ■
nf the liiiiiUH-- llir i'-.i ll iiik for one seeking some
aa to what to rt;.'l Ib to attend the eluaaei <\
or i< enter ae u studi i i foi
,nt i ode to " ''"in i;< n her i ItC] natii i ie pot
rin tiiMin- Reading Circles i ' don, .i ■ i nca Pu n
ecJaUy designed to supply the want. II if
; ,n of 'in- studiee "i any -i i ill jjro i;- o
i . :;■.•!( :i [a intended l<
the members ol the the |>ci*unal mfl
men, who havo etudiod the special -uhjcot, t«» trsl tlu- v. .
THE FITTI'RR OP PUBLIC J.IBRABIR8, ETC. 277
and issue certificates of proficiency, and finally to arrange for
summer gatherings of members of various circles similar to the
recent meeting of university extension students at Oxford. At
present there is no doubt that many busy men go to the Public
Library as a distraction from the cares of life, and as a pleasant
set-off to the toils and troubles of the day. The choice is not be-
tween this and nothing, but between this and something worse ;
between harmless amusement to the mind or fancy and the more
gross pleasures which will come in and take up the time tor which
no other occupation has been found. A Public Library may be
started with higher aims and may serve higher ends, but it will
be of most use to its neighbourhood by being so furnished as to
meet all tastes. Works of fiction, and travellers' tales — not
always to be distinguished from fiction, and so much the more
attractive on that account — will always form a great part of a
well-stocked Public Library. The purpose of its founders may
be to instruct and not only to amuse ; but if they are to do either
effectively they must be satisfied to do both, and must not look
too curiously into the proportions between the two results, for
they will probably be disappointed if they do.
At a Public Library the great body of readers are not particular
on the score of what is called originality, provided they find the
style pleasant and the interest sustained. It is to be feared that
most of us read less in order to improve our minds than to occupy
our leisure hours. " Happy is it," said Goethe on one occasion,
" that we do not know who those are for whom we write." There
is certainly one class of writers who seem to know very well the
class for whom they write, and those are the producers of the
gutter literature of which there is always such a prolific stock.
With very many thousands of school children, all that has yet
been placed within their reach is the "penny dreadful," the
character of which does not improve one iota as time advances.
To follow Dr. Johnson's plan of taking a walk down Fleet Street
would reveal to any observant person, if he would take in his
perambulations the courts and alleys surrounding that street,
what an enormous trade is done in this class of literature. This
would be driven home in his mind by seeing this filthy stuff
being devoured by scores of printers' boys during the dinner hour,
usually spent in the streets. It is in combating the influence of this
class of literature that the future of our Public Libraries will be
very largely occupied. The mountains of gutter rubbish issued
from the press is so great that its influences for evil have scarcely
yet been universally realized. Useful as Public Libraries are,
they have as yet only touched the fringe of the working popula-
tion. It is the poor student who has chiefly gained by the publi-
cation, now fortunately increasing at a rapid rate, of cheap
editions of standard authors. This most deserving class of per-
sons has too long been forced to regard the books urgently needed
for further study much as the ragged urchin regards the tempt-
ing dainties in the confectioner's window — as treasures beyond
his reach. Who knows what the loss to science or literatoft x&t~
UTS
•■ ■"HI T< l.IBTI VHIR' ■
ncd hflVfl I oea owing to the practical scarcity of booksr What
with Public Libraries inn] 'heap cIukmics, hotter times are coining
forth* poor i-.ln.lcni. bat the retormtitiou needs lo go nm.'!i lui
i tier Itw U ■ »or i nd the tens of thou i
chlMri n require catering tor, and that has as yot only I wen very
indifferently dona in the future od Public Libraries the juvenile
section bene that will receive u maon attention us any part of
the work, This has been ftlreacry done at soma ol our feeding
libraries, tut the real work in this direction has only juKt t*
If the *■ m»nny dreadful ' li ever to be supplanted, it "must i
hooks 01 iv Minii" mk! ftwrffcfug character, Wirt1 Ol Which tli'i'
Interest la bo simple thai an untutored Intellecl oau grasp It with-
nut rlfml. W'r li:i\f (11 iilni';ili inn' mush-ex, :n:il wl)il*> DOt
fearing detnoi THry, our beat, truest, and wisest policy is lo con-
tent, e«iiicaie.;ind guide the people. Misery, viae, and crinw them
must always be, but education and Public Libraries bare already
done much to flimfrrfA them, and wfll do wiill more la tlie future.
Bcarceh secondary to the planting of one uf theee libraries Ed
every dbuiet where una dooa not already exist, and sustaining it
w.th efficiency, the most perplexing problem with regard to
future ol these institution- baa reference botfaeeupplyof fiction.
Many Ibrary cenznjttees and others, who take ;»'> interest in the
» m k uf these place*, have been miuh i ten iae i »u mind of late
with regard to this ijueetion— Should novel* be provided . i ell,
and if so to what extent P Some years ago a report of the B
Public Library laid it down, as a rale, that "it i* 00 part of the
duly of a municipality t»> raise: laxi-a tW flu- i. nm.se on-m -I th<:
c< ople aniens the amusement Is tolerably sure to be conduct <- | i
the higher ends of good citizenship. The sole relation of a Public
Library to the general interest is as a supplement to the school
Hyst'-iv seen Instrumentality of higher instruction bo all classes of
the people." There [a iuiK,titruthinthi3)hutitmaviinl|'r!l-lll,1i'1>
be *aid thut a Public Library, supported out of the general Kmtt
to which all contribute, 000 not fulfilled its functions until it ha-*
sought to the fullest, extent Of its meant fco moot the reasonable
ahunui of all clauses. The phrase "reasonable claim*" la
advisedly, for certainly there does not come under this head : b I
supplying of the bonny novels or books of a vicious character.
Some of the greatest geniuses which the world ha* ever known
i v. devoted then? talents to the production of works ol nnaginu-
tltiu, and there nro lessons to be learnt from these which cmum
fall to have their influence upon life and character. Then
again below these a real store of excellent world ol i - Hon which
iif wholeeomdari(i pure, but. winch iu'ver claimed to rank aroonffthe
ehissie works of the imagination But below these two
classes there is a sea of trash and rubbish which ought never to
be fonnd on the shelves of Public Libraries, and (• me
librarians and committee* comparatively little ol ll Is found The
preseni writer claims do position as i censor, bul titer war
i in m cii i I ii p number of catalogues found not » rdngl<
ffhrsuy Pinrtog in ;is catalogue the wotnx ol iwo ci tfit<
I
run rrTniB of prone* i-ituiarikr, etc.
279
Continental writers whose productions arc notoriously vicious in
taste and demoralizing in tendency. Further than bhia, there never
v.ir. :i him- iii the history of Public Librar-ieM when 00- much 06X0
van exercised in the eoloction ot boobs fid at the present time, This
uugurs well f or tho future o J Public Libraries, and it ia the writer^
lirni conviction that the question i« one which trill very I I
take ctnv of itsoii ii due discretion in the seleotSeti Of book* u
exercised. PubUo Libraries have a cosmopolitan constituency for
which to outer, and their supplies must bfl Of n cosmopolitan
character. h< greatest good of the greatest Eumbot should be
in this, :ik in other departments of h>, an elm Kept distinctly in
view. The inveterate and insatiable hunter and reader of the
latest three-volume novci.no matter ol which sex the borrower
m ty Ih>. [s beginning (<■ be more sad mori cBw - oraged. Tho di«-
oontrnn&noe ol Public Libraries pnroha&iiig these has been almost
universal, and will soon become entirely go. As pointed nut hi
Mother section of this work, Miesc three-volume .sets are nearly
the most expensive Da keen going of i ny hooks in n library. The
binding to which (he work i* Issued is of ttoe flimKieat, and *
ii ix necessary to have them re-bound the cost Is treble whai has
to be paid for a single-vuhuue novel, Ami, moreover, the best
writers la the world oJ fiction now publish their taluks in mi g]e
volume*. Library space Is too valuable, or should he at Least, to
And shelf room forthreevoloinesste,&ud the Library which occupies
oi ■ and inflate! it* rel urns with tihera i* rather to be pitied
tfotwUlvstendioa oil these admissions, a may be Mill held that
there w a class of fiction which is elevating and educating iu its
character, and there iano reason why the reading of this should
bcouraged Sir John ticrsc-heil, in an address which as
delivered In the Windsor and Eton Public Library (winch i.- n< i
under the Acts), said: "The novel in its best form I regard us
one of the moat powerful engines of civilization ever invented."
The writers of ' i 10m BirJohn Sarsoheil mentioned were
rentes, Goldsmith, iM^worthj sad Scott \ and since their bhne
have hod Dickens, Thackeray . Ge< rgc Eliot, and Charlotte
And if that were true" of novel* of which Sir John
Uerschell epoke, it must) A/brrwrt.be truer now, it the splendid
character -<\ tho Botion of the last lmli'-c< mturj be considered. It
i« this fiction, so healthy in its character. with which we havo
t i fonn snd train our youth Into a teste foi rei (Una But It is
essential to go i step nuttier Fiction is not ;'",»'' ty an an
meat. 11 is, for the lives of a. great many of our |
nacoasary OOUnterpOiaa ha the monotony ol mere mechanical
employment. They want their imagination nuleke&ed, and the
ilornnd monotony ol their daily fives glorified we may even
dm thai word by fiction, such as thai of Scott sad the
writers who have been named. Ouec create the passion for rend-
ing, and :t will not) it cannot, oanfrao ItscM to reading for amuse-
men) only. Many opinions could be given >i\h>n novel reading,
tun Hie;, have been bo well and universally reported i^i the i
. ■ ■ i < i«tsary 1(j iln more th-.m juv-\, rvVr Vu\\w.tows*i
■»-, ,
i-i d . 0 i.iniiAiirRs.
Hi. general consensus of opinion shown that, like fill other f
in life, there is a tisc and an abase ofitj BBC too frequently fane
tatter rather than the tomtit is the Jtate of flii tge,
in the Pnblio Library of tho future the reference department
will Im lu.ilit.'d upon as tho chief -ic-tian of tho work ol I
places. By this it is not mount that they will become solely the
repositories of soazee books, but where works ol a valuable nature,
too ©xpenaive tn be uuivliosod hyordmury mortals, witt1 find :t plaoe,
This is tho most expensive part of Public Library wt ik to main-
tain, as the books are among the moat expensive published, Jtut
Chat Is all the more reason v/hy every Iowa and every extensive
piiiags i lentra should have one place in us midst where books on
every conceivable subject can be consulted with equal facility by
young people and adults of both sexes
Uo are now just beginning tho last Mi year* which will
oomplete the Jubilee ol Bib Swart Ad of 1850 The total nun
Of adoptions up to the date of the i.s.siie nl ihis edition is ovi»r
200. The large number of adoptions within Tour years is a
Vl.j.y rri*iitify(nK rate of progress. Bat Instead "( mi avenue ol
toy urteen -I year, w'iy should we nol have, during the next ten
yr.irs.Mi leasl twenty, with a sound opinion thai twenty-five or
thirl j should be the number ': This will give u?> oe n goal, whan
the [ubflee > reached En UKXi, a grand total ol 400 odopdons
oi' the Ante; and really, considering the rate ;tt which the whole
UUffltum is advancing, and Hit* Impetus which is being yiv&u to
educational movement ^cnrrally, it \> not too much t* » Ml this
number before ns and work steadily with that object In view.
So, t lends of the moremenl everywhere, please buckle on your
armour, and let there be a long pull and a strong pull mid n pull
altogether, and this desirable end will he accomplished. Ills
ground is, in many irii mtry, cleared and ready tie be
Occupied; but m other counties there arc difficulties still in Mo-
way which will make the tusk a very laborious ond arduous one.
Again, however, there OOmee bhc OOnsolaMon that the movement
depends, in ovary detail of ita work, upon roluntarv effort
I [orein lies its chief success, for only those, as i rulo, banc up the
question who have the nccescury grit to carry the natter to a
naeesaful isaue. Friends and comrades everywhere, who are
Interested in this raoveuMB^it is a grand euo.se tor which w< in
working, The object is no less than the common good of the
whole people. The charity which begins at home us here true la
the fullest and most comprehensive sense. Every man and woman
who places a shoulder to the wheel to establish a Public Library,
and to pur it In BUOOeesfnl operation, help- to start tho i Ipp i i
B work which will never cease as long ay time la§t«: but which
will ever become wider and wider as the generation* to come
develop and extend the work- Here ;* a magnificent rlsl I
I lor thoxe «eeking a mission. It is not, o work for eivtt-
izing the desert planes ot the earth, bin one for the filling I
the desert, places at home with that whteh can alone In this life
give tho most solid and Lasting enjoyment. The plenaur -
THF. FPTVWS Or PUBLIC MPHAHIK5, HIT.
S81
live we fchoae of the mind, ami the em Ironing ol the lieart ami
mind with the wisdom of the grani intellect* of bite earth should
be the aim of all, It is the supply of libraries in nil directions
wiii.-h I'lvnif die demand. This is om il the mast convincing
proote of the utility of those Institutions, aid ii Efl i vita] factor
in the movement.
Wi i! remains to bo nocompHshod is vast, and as widely wat-
loivd ,i-i ;nv |ln> OOUntl'e« and -iliii ok of tllO whole United Kingdom
and iivUukI. To do Justice to this part ol the hwfe would require
each county being ufoeusHed woparately iii full, but linn would
r.Hjuiiv ii -ji'.'.-.ihI or third vliruo. tti fcnglund tho county towns
oi dii> following I'lHiniii's are still without J*ubhc Libraries, and
m immy comos without any attempt ever having been made to
adopt tne Acts: — Durham, York, Cumberland, Westmoreland,
Lancaster, lcutkuui, Gloucester, Buoka. Huntingdon, Lincoln,
Surrey, Sussex, Wflts, Doreeti Somerset, and Cornwall,
This t« a lut whirh teifa up to a larger number than the oounty
towns whii'h have adopted the .Vers.
Taking the great trunk railway Usee ol the ootm try as one
of She orttoria which oould be named; seeing that tnoy pans
through tin' iiiomi populous towns, the nakedness of the land
becomes terrtbh apparent After u oarefnl xmdy of tin- maps of
each Kepantte large trunk line, it is dear that ftfty, sixty, n
hundred, and in some obbba a hundred and ill'tv miles of dig
country are traversed by 1 lie railways, and there is nul ihc
hliybli-Ht vi'^tiyi "it ( Publie Library. This i* U.-plunible,
Lmong the places where attempts have been made to adopt
:! i Vj >, bui without ^uccew, the following may in- given. H
is to be hoped that Home of these are again ready for S trial.
Some places named have not previously aUi-inptrd. but the
movement is ripening for bringing to the vote,
Rath dm several times considered the Question. A small
reading-room and library wore kept open by a former parlia-
mentary representative, but closed on his ceasing: to represent
tin; (■"'it.-tiuiouov. itriti-r a *tnall library than tone •< alLtml
are \ Bew boota and newspapers among ao many f Bath
should not longer log liehind.
IJmirpAMi at present is dependent on Southport for its books.
In Maivb, 1880, a meeting; wee sailed bo consider the advisability
or otherwise of adopts g the Acts, When the chairman of the
II. i tl Hoard took the choir there wore only thirty present, and he
: l od whether it wart wise to ao on. Tho meeting wn« adjourned
Mtu 4ic Try again) Birkdafe-j and educate your loeej pnhlk
■ >n,
i: atOH Latimrh, noar Kettering, w a village with a population
..t toflOO, and a ratable value of B8,000,and would like bo have
u Public Library. \v hat a boon i small Government ^mut would
be 1 1 ra I w iifi mi Income of EflO, the dUBonlties are tmrreeB) knv
abh -treat.
CoLCHwrrRn.— Then* was a distinct leaning for a V\\\A\o \ Sen
a* a movcmeni m \B8?t hut then were tor. rnauy RtibMOAl vU w*
:•!'.. M I MIUAK1KS.
Held, ud tola, with other plan?., went bo the wall. A town of so
great importance in the Eestern Counties should not be behind
two entail places in the country where the A^ta have been ud< pb d,
Many leading men in the district arc in He favour, Cold
i> ,suon likely to try again.
i ...i.xn took a vote upon the matter in April of last .year, and
failed to carry the Acta upon B demand fox o poll. Tin* vol
a Utile too hurriedly taken, and with a better attempt t< >docnJ •
the constituency a bettor result would probably come about.
Now the statutory twelve months have intervened, try ugain,
Culnc, and follow Nelson.
I rvnn,ru.\H had a MuggeHtiuii boforo it twelve months ago
that the market building should be nequuvd, and turned into
l'ublu- Lihrnn in 1 Mumuui. Some obstacles are in the vtt J
therein Likelihood that the visitor* who winter tl this delfgbt-
fill place will lU'go lh< adoption of the AcCk Ktnmgly upon Ix
town. Cheltenham tindv tho library a decided boon lut it-.
visitors, end those -who frequent Eastbourne would find a Pontic
Library b einailai ttdvantafle.
Evm'.i rii, init at b i> little Devon waterln#-]»>acej wans n
library and reading-rooms. Many persons appear anxious that
the attempt should be rnadefwhlul othnrapomf at the absolute
uiiinv win. i baa speedily OTBcteJceo every rentuw [n that
direction which naaneea hitherto made. But one Important
t:ii-t litis ben forgotten Tliere has been no Institution nf the
kind which lias been absolutely free. The admission foes lmi
been low, but current coin of the realm has had bo be parted with
before n glance at a paper could he obtained.
i uamra&tH near Boston, Introduced the subjecl aoiue twi
three yeara ago,bul nothing was done, There ire several i
of oon«deral3e huh in the district, and a large 9 irking cum
qIj m.-nt
Buablbs has several luneahad the matter before .t. but Share
la nf.*.! di' a provisfonaJ con mittoe tu take the uuosl ion id
.iin.i ur-jni/.i-. Hit- presence ol the Mechanics1 Institution La the
principal argument against the establishment of a Publh Library,
ami had this institution not met the want of a cheap resoj I Cor
connuitiTig' hook and newspaper literature, a Public Liorarj
likelihood have been established \< ngago, Vhe Mechanics'
Institution of Burnley is a strcngthencr of all that is good m tin-
town. It la the popular resort of the reading _ public, and oa a
democratic institution it has no enoniio*, Any Public
EJurolcy ought to be a some way associated with the Mech \
Institution. Mny such a desirable com animation soon be brought
about.
Qxovonsx&l tools the vote in March, L887 Pin I the
promoters of ;< Public Library wore outvoted, notwithstand m
that 1,<WK) parsons ha<l aiprncd the requisition to the \l >\<<i
the preliminary meeting. l'or adopting the Acts, VJ6:
Hje nwij v 'v igalnsl the ad »pt oi oi the lew was i,:
27)0it» oan bo uo doubt that the d« '"aus&d l^
Jr .». — *-
iiC*"" -ATI— .t_* . ...
BUS '"" " "Is- "■_.•■::. I "a "*? -r • rf*-r ~i- . • "* : — -
i?XCT T^rr*- :>*"" ". - '. • '. ■- """.-12 -"• ~ lz "•* *"■:
jj$>jir*Vjt -.-riT'T^.-r : -. . - ■— * _ 2i :-r_. .:* -*:. ;■ ::■•.
ttojEvr^nr*?: "/flj"c5? . — .:.- ;..:.-_ , i_..— -.:_:- -„*-
L£*n£? n ^I-tf:-*-.- -v.. .,t~': 2.*- -_ -. .- "--. -: tz -■-; r.r.'!
excit:.** -• : ::-"v >■•— -•'•'-■"- -t:--:-.-:' ^i- > >.%i*rv
Ek*> v '■? i.i. v-- : -•;*.:.- ■ ::,- v.- - <;■ ■; . -j*-^, ■£»..
l^&e&t-fct ii.--:-.::-. ■: " '•.•* v. ... *■_.**-..-
I -'J '•* ''•:-.■'•" ":a* :. ■" *-f' "■•' - :.*:ir iiVCC.*-I * zitt »..•:%
demsi' -" i y • ''■■ ' ::~* &<}""* v *-'* "■^vru-i -^xn_i.*.x.i".. .--.
28-1
v\ Tit.rr unnAiuic-.
Una, K.vdc, BhaokUn. and VentorhaYoalso discussed the subject]
but th« liti U' island fill! stands where it did is this movement, and
lias not one i.-;tc->in»p, uitc<l liU\iry. lly-and-byc, no doubt, the
good people of the island will come to see that Public Libraries
OH BO useful us fashionable yacht clubft
Ut«BwoaTs< In -Mmvii, 1690, tho Heston and bloworth Local
Board affirmed tho principle of a rfttc-eupportcd Library;
ratable value is set forth as £ m.thi in Hestcro and t: >._i:: in
Ulcworth. making h total of B120#SS» On this basis b penny rate
would produce about fi'wt. Una is, Df course, a vcrj modest aura
to distribute ovei three townships, if ut there nro some ap
advantage* Islowortb has the Public Hull Library, respectably
stocked with beds, but needing ;i n oca fuller supply than the
existing funds can give. Honnslou till recently possessed :t
nanption library at the Town Hell, but laclc of enterprise on
the part ofl bhe owners caused il tone discontinued, There are,
however, two church libraries which circulate pretty freely through
the town, and Boston has nleo u pnbft mstSttuaon. it will M
seen, therefore, that Che encouragement of reading In the district,
if cramped in vnviniiK ways, ins n .1 Iv-mi wholly Irist tight o!
TliN siren weight to the argument for the Public Library 8ol>
scriptfon and church libraries were very well In their da) The}
met a nee^l which emild be supplied then in no other way, Hut
wiili the creation d! the larger, more popular, ami more t'omiirc-
licnNi'vr in.sl.inlioiiii, their work attained u r.unvr :uid individual
perfection which has gratified nobody more than their promoter*
these districts will, no donbt, be noon added to the list,
Kksuai., with ItsSl/KX) people, is still out il the hunt, hi ISS7
the question was well to the front. The " Kendal Mereur) " tiai
ably advocated the adoption of the Acts. Surely Kendal will not
lake, a bock seat to AVorkingtou and Whitehaven. The bOH D has
always displayed a oomoienuabie public spirit, Why should this
nut he the ease in this movement r
Lwgh is another Ijancuslrire town which has touched the
question, but has not yet seriously taken up the matter. With i
very large poptilutinu, and numerous eottOD mills, collieries, and
machine works in the district, and a large ratable value, Leigh
should be one of the fiwt towns to now place itnelf in line.
Lonoto.v. — A Public Library i« greatly wanted here, and tho
pi. .-I.(ii linn hi'cii Mcvuml linn's niunti'd, Thi.s is ilir noli' whirh
hu» been recently Hummed in the borough. To an OUtsidd
a matter of renf eurpriso that a town which posses**** so much
public spirit, nod which ha* in several important matters \tt pped
m adToaes of its neighbours to the Lotteries, should In thJ one
rasped b* - i ,»rreatly behind tho time*. (Jf the larger to*
the Potteries tad :t might also he said in this part of North
'-'tLttbirdehire), Longton is the only town which has not adopted
the Acts.
Lowasrora, — The lute Sir Morton Pel i was een oloaslj
soci*t&i \\i\h Chic thnving watering-place. S<i much so, in fact,
that the Haver has deaersi ed \\\\w .■> ■■ ' - cmxetf
IBB i-'i-rrm: OS itau" i.nii.utn;s, HTO.
986*
s
lector, and the founder of ite prosperity." A few months ago a
frefi-ottendod mooting wok hold to consider the deairabDity of
porpotuating his memory by the erection of a mutable memorial
id the U Wn. A Pablifl l.ihr:iry l<> In* known by In* niimi» h;^ mot
with very warm aapport, end the scheme is being well and favour-
ably considered, 'itie sympathies ot Sir Morton wore ever with
the people, and ii" better n - matin] than thw could be established.
\i(\v:-.; P', i I ;rps :<}.— The <|Ui'Ktw>n wns bfOOght forward BftTlj
during 1889, bui bafl been allowed to slide. This town, of oral
Mn thonsjind people, Lrvently needs provision tar its hook-needs,
and the anbject wili.it is to be hoped, soon again come before
the people It should hi* the first town in Berkshire to adopt the
Vctn after Reading,
pBTBRBonoi an has ones or twice had the subject introduced in
The town. The Young MorfB I -hristinri Association hns expired,
and 11 wbg ttuggeftted (hat ii Public Library won Use beal bhfngto
lake its place. And so it is. Try it, Peterborough* and see if such
ift UOt the r:\yr, Tin: old rathcdrul Iuwjls do iml so far sllUlO par-
lii'ularly well in tlu's mi ventonl . A Rood frlendh lead is wanted,
Uawuarsh wa,« again, thus lu#t January, thinking about the
question* Many of the jicoplc here use the Uotlierham Public
Library. Out why (should QOt Rawmareb he independent, and
h.iv1 its ..ah institution r
roHHBoran (Tlyuocth).— A movement in the direction was
adc a abort time ago, and a committee of the board called
gethcr, but the preaanl iim«- is ">nadorcd inopportune, in con-
. oce of certain financial bni'dona which have bean incurred
l»v Hi'- bownahip. The matter is therefore poHtponed.
Tai trroir. — The county of Somerset docs not yet possess a single
lop tie
work in hand on the occasion of a further attempt \o carry tb<
adoption of the Acts. A ^fronjj committee totiti the preliminary
K<A m the beginning of I8B8. Aided by the " County Ctantte,
mil other l<»nl papers, they did their beet to educate the local
public. But the fa tow with sadly n^mi'i rhem. Probably the
Baoat nprearioUH statutory meeting which ho* been held for a tOfitf
ii took place at tnunton in Jamiary, two years ago. On a poll
being taken there was a majority against the adoption of fM7.
Tin* number of abstentions was large, but it was satisfactory to
UOt" that B?« years previously, when the vole was taken, the
ninnher against was marly treble whal it was on the last occasion.
tfnscranmous opponents had frightened the poorer people Into
the belief thai their rants would Be raised by toe adoption of the
Libraries' Vets to hucJi a fabuloua amount that they would be
unable to pay them, and tin* warkhaiuaa would be the only place,
at refuge irnm the library rate. Thai such uigumeuta were used
ivns evident from the unseemly demonstration thai took place a'
the public meeting, and one can hsrdty be surprised thai these
deluded ratepayers did vote against the movement. Tile cfppoei-
Hon had been vrell organized and well convatssed, ami on polling
ire *as taken that very few of them neglected to record
sir voir (in the other liana, the promoters tfeoweA conaVoftra^ft
SN
PUBUO LlDBAltlEfi.
indifference in the mutter. ••)■ trusted too RlUOft m the BOB
sense of the rotOTS. Tiiinitnn \m|| he BOOH ready (or atoll. ■
t.i ti--n]»i . whei m o. hoped ft bitter result will be aeon.
ToK<ii-Av.— Lu the anrtrtcl at St. Maw Church there has I i
carried on for more than a year. by the aid of voluntary
BCriptioOfi, B Public Lending Library Though nn a small *e:de.
ir. has bees rn 10b appreciated, and the committee have beffi
Agitation with a view of adopting1 the Public Libraries' tcts
There is opposition, hut. they hope to succeed, smd there hi <r\
probability of their doing so.
Toro*SHAMfMiDDiJ8Kt)refti6ed che lutein December last, b
Iheie whs :i lil.lle limine hash- in lniit^itig tho mailer ;n a v >le.
The apathy both for uud against the Acta was great Now tin-
question has made nnch a distinct advance tie \ is v Y no d<nil>
he adopted at the end of the current year.
avkvmoci-k. — In Apcfli 1*90, the vote was bakes bete and lost
There was, itn orfcunatelj, no lerious attempt made to educate tin
people upon the natter.
Wrinirreroa feoueoJ the suburbs of Manchester, and some
flu: leadci> •>)' local pubtic opinion donot we why they should be
dependent on Hsranester lot theli supply of books. And quite
right too. Ai'i'i i>, >nd so inany other suburbs of Gobtonopotis,
purely the time for \Viilihi</ton to enfranchise itself has now been
reached.
York.— in no town or city has the movement had more sai
friends thnii in York, and yet it has been terribly unsuoees rful,
At'rer a prelim mmy e.niiiuiitoe had earned on an notive en □
the statutory meeting wan called for August, 1887. Subflcriptions
to the extent of WjOTOwew promised, and o largo and suitable
building e.inid have been acquired on most advantageous tonus.
Kxcollont BpoeahOfl were made in favour of the motion, and
throughout there was a high-class tone. Tho opposition was well
aued,flld carte imni YeTY intlnnntial [UftTteTft The resolu
tiun ws$ lost by a large majority, a poll was detnanded, an
this being taken the mSjj Hlty against stood at 817, r<
years previously, when the poll was taken, trie number against
«tood muoh higher \\tin a population of nearly 7Q,000, and n
city noted for it* mleliii/enro, the result *vu- - ■ . - i \ ■. i . lj. if ■<! ....
the friends of I he i : : hut the defenl was liken with %
good graco, and the time Is now wlthn mOSfiuroHfl di<iance, when
the deotston will be reverft d If the clergy nnd others wl i
iu forming 1oon3 opinion! while ready to raeord their rote Fn
ur, will contribute their active support, and work instead of
Ig a merely nominal allegiance, sui mm will be as
Sooner or later York \< sun- in he added lo the list, and thei
are evidence* that it. will be su»iicr rather Ihan later 'Hie e >unl
town of the hn'.'iMi oounQ In the country should A be
die rear In this question
Theque.'-iiori tuabeen broariitfurwardlnthe following, among
1 i overs! of I In tnwi - named -*ti nn.
Xkpi bu been made to carry the Ai
1
i
pi'titc rmRAniBS xv lopji-os.
■>:
msforri ffranthoni, Ituddersfleld, Hull, JloTwicb (Lane),
ni. Ilkeston, Kettering: Ltneohh Luton Honk
Brelton, Newton Abbot, Penzance, Pocxhlngton, Rugby, ftugelev,
Sutton Coldfleld, Stonebridge, Tunbrtdge "Wells, Tylaeetey (Line.),
Windermere, York, &e.
CHAPTER XVIII.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN LONDON.
(HE barometer of the Public Library moTpmo t Li
evidently located in London. In no part of the t'nited
Kingdom has the progress been so rapid, and fche
developmcnl bo universal a* in the Metropolis, For
thirty-nix years the I;n'-v provincial towns bad br.cn
pointing the fll _' t ;it London, and consoling fchemeolvee t!mt in
this movement, at least, they were not ue the sluggish folks in the
Metropolis, London might, they said, bo the hub of tho uni\ •
80 far us wealth, size, and tDftpOTtttna Wftfl concerned, bat in the
Public library movement, tho capital was apparently content to
i very hack seat. Londoners who had drifted up from BOnX
of the lar#? provincial centres, and who hud been accustomed to
u -.. Hie li>>rane« hi -|>*> tnwnK tliry had loll, wen1 often >>tiing lo
the quick when reminded in their old haunts of the dearth of
Public U warieain London. Place a iter place in the Metropolis
had, up to 1886, tried to carry the AlStftj ami had met with failure
to utterly disheartening that the movement seemed to have lost
ll] ttfl n-H'ueU. tTp r.n the end Crf 1WM3 only tWC partShSfl within
ilir noMinpolitan area had adopted the Acts. The number at the
tfms of writing; (June. IHflO), is nineteen out of the sixty-seven
paxiaheain which the metropolis b divided In addition to this,
m;my London parishes lfmbh have '"it. .yet adopted thi> A.ete
given some thought and attention to tho ciuestion.
It lias been to the present writer a source of inspiration to
compare the tatters bearing upon this question received by him,
prior to 1880, and those to hand since that time. The tone of
iIiom ul b few year* agn wa> in B0DM caSCS Unit ot ullcr hopeleSB-
Tiic MM-ea of ignorance, apathy, and the utter imliil'erence
oi the average Londoner to anything outside bla wry limited
circle constituted obstacles BO great, lhat lo attack these seemed
b i tost like a forlorn hope. But the vorJi ol the Board Schools
itl in the iiKniilinir Irt/en gcing steadily I'orw.ird. Aii rsli'iisum
uf tin- n;i ;■!.> i\ locomotion which had enabled many Londoners
to see provincial libraries, and especially the increasing power of
the newspaper prete, had been SO thoroughly preparing the eofl,
tliiit when t ! i c movement did once take root itu growth wot* rapid,
don, so far as these institutions are conc-ernea. is
like a giant Oliver iv 1st unking for more. On all sides then
mcy and hopefulness, and those who have stood bj !'•
movement all through feel that tho battle has been worth
1 us helped to place thene UU.Vv- o& w\£ev
•JHH
PUBLIC I.rBRAniF.S
B footing thai nothing i-an now retard their extension und
ikwlnpmont The number of tho*o came*! trienda who, through
evil nnd good report, have for b long period heon like prophet*
rrying in thewfloerna6g,la large; and now that success Is assured,
ibi' mgheet praise wh..-li OftD S (JonneotfoD wim the movement be
bestcroredj Ji due nnre»orvedly to those who have in the various
parishes held aloft the torch of educational advancement. They
ric witnessing the remit of ihrir hihours. mid 0 is something w
which bo be proud i" have borne ;i part Iq e uanae winch
has brought flevattog :niMK-rnr- r and solid Instruction Into
thousand! of live* find homes.
The pariah • *r Bt, Margaret and St. John, Westminster, to lie
i w i l.iMinu iTedii. wah the first to adopt the Act*. This it did m
. and no further adoption took place until 1883, when
YY;uidsworlh followed A lapN1 ol" tnrnt v-w* i;n vcar> iTpr»'scnt*
.-. i,n cry. and during that period there "ww ranch quiet sowing oi
seed, tt hieh was of unquestionable benefit when the break did
come in 1RW. At iho end of that yean Lambeth and PuJham
followed mcli other (prickly with unmistakable VOrCiicle, and gate
OS the turning of the tide which will ultimately lead on to thi*
fortune of nearly cvovy parish in London adopting the A. is. Tlic
(ffOffreaa baa been ™ rapid and solid that it now requires but
into f ores bo help it onwardH, and a few mow yean will .^ce the*
circle (airly complete. In the two former editions .'-r' tin* hook, a
chapter on the hondon Public Librara '-va inly practicable
by K"oinff outside the metropolitan area for examples. The
extreme suburban dietrictB, fuoh as Richmond. Kingston, Twiek-
enham, VSTmbledon, and Baling had takes bno Lead, and had
adopted the Arts, These places, in order to lu-lp oat the
arithnietie and so prevent the barrenness of the land bona being
too apparent, were included arnong the London Public Libraries.
jfo* H Is no longer Deeesaary to do this. Credit is due to the
pis i -en named for having been in the very front rank to more in
tbo matter, and their example had a most useful influence.
wiiji". nowever, there w mueh Bo ■ ■ ind satisfaction
to the friend* oi this mOTonsentL there is stCU much to bo d
:ui<l it u destraole that all who have the iniestion at heart Should
do wind they can to ronse the districts where the A« la h LVU BOt
yet been adopted vVc stiii nompare badly in point of ninnber
with Paris end Berlin. The statement Is made, on the authority
of Professor Paloczy , thai there are in Berlin twenty-flve Publfc
Libraries, with more than 100,000 volumes i\mh. I'hi.s Live? .1
proportion of over two volumes per head of aeeeaal de in- future
for every man, woman, and child in the Prussian capital There
Is not! ilng corrjwpoiniini! bo this n London or Parisi Ttx Library
oi tin- liritisii fffuseom oontalni shout 2,000,000 volume*, trhe
■mimi National Library in Paris over thai number; hut 1 in-
Forracr. though Coirly accessible, i^ not so in the sen* thai n
Public Library b; while at the latter the facilities Cor ooncmltation
snd reference, even when the neceasor) credentials are obtained
bjr the uppUcaat, are \ • ■ in rtteta lory, The German* bare
rriiuc MBnaarx* is i.onijov.
g«P
loUf «':i.i"V • ! ■ li ■■ n -]-i (ill mil nl U-in_: '!.!■ mo*| " Mtrkidl " people
in i. .! it \> )lca*aal to know thai even amid their
present devotion ti - miiit.iii m they ore not disposed to lost this
reputation.
Paris is equally well ofl m Public Libraries. There are bo the
French capita] some oigbtj popular librar uted area
various parts of the city. Many of these are
nnd arc located in the town hulls or in schools, and are Mpl
by rnunieipal funds. Xbe more [QtelUcenf of former scholars of
primary Bohoelfi oouatitnte their due! readers, <>f tbo
i named there are nbout fifty-eight municipal libraries.
Seven di-trictsor arrondis^niu*at* possess twooi I :>-n, <i!:i I have
three, and five four. Thi« mo«r populous districts hare the largest
iber. The cttyapenda yearly c 1,1-0 ri 13,000 francs] in pur-
-.iks and in binding. Tneaaiarieaaw£8>8o0a jear,
ITat }$47 the number of books consulted ..n the preo 1- ■■.-■ > 1 ken
home to read is given as 1,094,000; in 1686 it w.-f- ;d»«tv..
Millions; but I 1889 there seem* to have been n decline in the
number The establishment of these libraries hoi been rerj
rapt odei the Empire they da not lean bo have ntietea
Between 1871 paid i>r* ^i number <rf libraries vera established,
hut it was not until the later date ;unl rhe years imniedl
pring, that the municipal aalfaarjttes itatermined to plant
libraries in rhe rnriinia district.**.
Parts nml Berlin have tiiua taleeu the lead, bat neither En the
tot.ll numlter of these Institutions, nor in point ol the 11 ■ rn;
of them by the public, .shall we, after n short ti.trrval, be
behind thes* ritie*, We need ask I'm nni\ very limited g]
id ere shall be 1 <U' t 0 dn>w :i better md more extended use of
th* Public Libraries than is the ease in Paris, II .< . bfsrlea in
London are diieflyson Eo course of ereotion.bul wc rftall not
require to add di«" r turns of elghtr libraries together t«» reach a
total hi' two million Issues in the yeai foi referenoi and tend ns
\Y<; 1 • -■! 1 :■ ■.'»«■ of great tiring 111 Public l,!ir;u;\ work In
LoodoDi ->nd all arreoTB will be quickly orcrtalccn; and, if we
ttrt not sreatrj mistaken, both Pans and Berlin will he W1 very
nnifli in thi real Qi n« h :» ip ol U ■ as ta*l lot do< 1 b<
ra appear to dcYclop, nnd it mny he eraveli doubted
in- tl.t-ie i> the Mnie universal interest in those inMiiin
ov been awakened in London.
The vnst lift which wai given U the ra inlelpnl 'iiv of London
in the passing of the LcwftTGoTftrMnejit .Vet, and Ihi tra
1 1 a a 1 -\ Council, cannot bo orer-catimated< Thi
Dttar absence <>( intoresl i" looa] affairs Ifl London up bo iin-
1^ of that iiiciiHiiro was tha despair ol all reformers, Now,
while there is >-'>ii 1 mountain o1 apathy and Indifference to
nae, there ii a spirit ol incjuiryand mtenr.r m ih.f work id'
the Oovntg Ooonefl En the weeurinjr of open vpaeoSfand ths
administration of th<? public parks, the Ponntv C 1 inefl hava dun.-
rtofi Those who eapttoualy critic a aevotk
• . 1 1 . ■ 1 1 have reaily not gone mimiUrt v :
Ve
i"*:
pcwr.ic i.inttAiar-s
they would reeogawe that out of the pen or talk there hue been
a solid residuum »I niefuJ work which is quietly revblutioxiixlng
London municipal life. The most pressing need which im now
i'.»it ai ror tiif formation of districl noondle, ami thou will begin
the real municipal Wo qE the Motropoua. Such :i bill m now
within i. UM- 1 ":('■:.■ <ii ■dunce, unci whon it is placed upon the
statute book it will mean tin extinction ■>; the veatriM
m,i Loud I" vestries have b**en the butt of i\<i} revtler, So
many metaphorical brickbats have been thrown fit there that it
i- Lraposslblfi for noree of them not to bare had a vaHd (mdreasoc^
able cause for such castigatlon. But the Intelligence of the
i is&rymen, and the quality ol the work accomplished, has taken
i step forward n maybe said with truth mat, as governing
bodies, they have caught the spirit of the - lay, and are determined
to lift their administration into a position winch will prevent
them dying the ignominious death of the Metropolitan Board of
Worta when their end eomea they Been to have determined
i: i the branaforenco <>( powei shall he done with d:v
iind a 1'ottwinuMue.sti thai Local public spirit in these hitter daj
baa not Buffered Ln their hands. The Formation of the dis ri ■■:
council* la perhupfi yet several yearn di*Uuit. li nhtmld be
urged upon the menabote of the reoGriea in parishes where (he
Aute have not vet been adopted (m yi\ e thin ijitentiuii of Public
Libraries their serious and earnest conAideration. The restrict
impiify the whole process of adoption by then* action, and in
ao movement for the well-being of then* nejghbourh 1 could
bhey bore usefully devote bhoir remaining daw bhan to thin of
Public U variet it would bcwell If we could see one-half ■
the remaining forty-eight nietropoli an parishes adopting tin-
Acta before the diafrii t councils are launched. This ouqht to }>c
pOBBJblei nnd it ccrtuinly L8 most desirable. The district i ouncilfl
wfl havetotata H)i" liorarioeos Uie.v find thonaland indlvidua]
parishes arc likely, in many instances, to be bettor served ■
inirtoioncrs elected bj their own vestry deciding the pre
liimiiarie^ of where tin1 library or librorioa i << to be en
[This if i matter el serious Impcrtaaoei and if the attention
the members on tiio vestries can bo secured, and action t< a
the putting in iipiMMlion of the \cts bo decided upon. :in r\<Tll.-:ir
purpooowill mvf heoii tinned. A very earnest appeal El made
to thorn to move i" this matter al once, and io Bee thai the library
needn ol their Immediate <i strict are net.
I i | limited few of the London vestries there ha* bean the
ie ii" iofll i o-operation In thia question: but in othe
ol obataele hoa been placed in the wnyoi gaining the adoption;
or, where this has t n vermeil, everv niist-nde
I ii raised to thwart th<* wishes of the majority, This Rpirit of
Itfon is clearly declining, nnd thnt it may speedily disappear
. levoutly to I"1 wished.
Hriw much Mill remains to be done is shown by the fit'lowing
A;/./,-.—
■ rC l.IBHAfllE* [V IONIAN.
Summary of a Return maitr \\)ih Ajuit, 1889, to the I£tni*c of
Cbmmows fly t/ir Lrtcal Go94mmati J>'-<i,tf, showing the ratu m
the pound, the f/upulafioH, (tu'i the ratable value of the m i ■■■'
G-it- /,'- of the Metropolis, Tim qoioqueiHiial valuation <>\ I860
EUI Bomwh&t altered tint* Uil K\ hut il ih<- Lime ■ >!' gQJDfij to
Tunc, 1800) the Parliamentary return pfivim? the amount
'i i-6 of caeh parish Vflfl not published. The
amount given as the yield from tho rate is approximate, and
may vary from tho aottt&J amount
{!'•■ ■ .«■'•/«■ >' ■' Milk a*
k»vr f/.r'./ Uu .Ufr.)
st Mary, Strand . .
St. Junes. W i'-nnniKri't
•si. Mai'tm-iii-lIn'-FirliK
>t Saviour, Southwark.
St. Georgfe, Hanover 8q.
in
si rimmiii, Southwark.
Si Olavo, .Nailliwiirk . .
St. Clement Danea
■si Margaret and St. /
John, wentrainater \
I(<i>'M*lydowu
" igton . . .. . .
'enoinffton
31 John, tapping ..
Etofac
St. Paul, Coven t Garden
St, reiievo-M .. . .
•Stoke Kevington
Morylchi-ne
Ratcliffe
•chmi Ch.P Southwark
"( '; niii w well
Sboroditch
ILuupBtcud
"Stivuf ham
st, <; ge-Jn-tmvEast,
*( ll'Is.'lL
•BftttoTBen
llnekney ...
EiolDon i ■ .VM.h'fw ,v i
■v.'-i le-Mrtyr > \
K ul brook ..
'Waadsworlh .. ..
|BH7
i see
1687
I6«)
183G
1KS0
1887
l>-*7
1883
lis
sal
in1
as
1,989
29,94]
17, '.us
I L99fl
89,573
mi
l\247
10,260
59,983
L02B
07,218
163,151
2,225
16,008
2,919
-.';;<;-.-
83,761
154,910
16,107
16,663
186,5 ''
126,591
45,452
21,611
17,167
88,128
l07,2tf*J
I '■■■-' =- 1
stsjsri
E
: ■: I . .< >
222,168
1,743,30*
1.618,866
I 1,962
102,407
I7H.O.M
74Q096
TBytOl
1,276,024
1,846,64?
B&979
117,387
91,794
1,007,663
184,062
1,431,719
65,06:2
103,17ft
1,018,461
042,640
076,699
.
isl.i-s.
HIJJ.72S
.:!,;.,-
937,526
St|
a ins
§13
Mb!
- •
:. IC
a in
a ii
a m
• 4
4 V
4 2
l
4 n
3
1 i
4 8
i e
! Id
I Hi
i 104
I II
I 11
h 0
0
1
s
-. ..
^ ^
e
106
■
I ^53
926
..■v.;:
B.74B
m
m
70s
3,060
814
5ilS
7,(Hi
237
!-<;»
382
70(i
271
129
;._t.:
i.-'M
2,567
.' ' PTBt.tO T.TBRAAXX3.
Pimi. 5
( 7*» P«n>Aei wM «i* a* •
■3
«1
- - j j»2
;?;
£
i e
MInmnicnmith .. .. 188?
(::^»
-|:M,-.":-!
5 i I'.nl.,
Deptfbrd [S fcwil) ..
76,753
B i
1 ,888
■:•;■ .<;'.*!'
i.i-:i,*'flfi
8,151
Bio .
an -v ' kmi) i
46,382
. »7« 6 o
•Wliit*ehapi.'l .. .. 1SP9 i 90,709 176,325 5 6
l .i::l
•i;.'nn"!fi:-.'V .. .. lK-7 Wi,tV>2 ' Jim,:"*; -"' tt
l,ft*4
'Kothorhitiio .. .. lm? 35,02* n*-..:: ■> i fl
KU
I»c[iH. r<l (N. Si 'iiclri-")
./m| 62,620 o 6
Foplu
, ,
55,077
806,145 S • -
•ClaphRm ISS
\\ oolvlcn
:;..;>.'
2fiO,20G 6 6|
. i* !
;«,!,.-.
I43J0OO e J
-,.1
Christ Cn . V. Inr s t|il. |
(otherwutt Spilfliw >
00
5 7
•Pntnej left
0 7i
■
•ciri'kniu'.'ii lph;
59/17(3
.', B
i 456
Mil. Knri (Old Town)
. ,
lofi/na
5 8
,-,;;!
N.'\vin:'t.t!i (Surra |
. .
107^400 I-' ,.'..-
5 a
sniiv.Mi inn .. ..
:j,hnu 77,159
6 h
Plumstead
.:.;.,(( 113,172
e e
HIT
Mlnorlu
-I 111
.-. e
.1
S,7ft4
131,980
57,063
fi 9
5 9
SI <iro,i:«'-lh,-M;u!K, |
Sottthworic . i (
067655
WjAOfl
o 10
i.< wttiaam . .
468,767
5 10
l£8S
.-,.01,-
.."J H3
f> 11
li-7
..■;'> a 0
i KW 1
400,985 6 3
1,070
st. Sepulchre (Ilolbarn)
;
70 8 -
i;s
Lee
l 1,1.".--.
10,675
:t0.s:w i; ■_>
Mil.- Bnd (New CoVB)
■:■
1^580
-.•.vj.-jir. 8 ■
1,050
M-TGO a 1
208
.
224,465 8 1
<»::\
1 t fee, 1 ':u ' ■': '■'-■
«6,840
203,7 i"
I. — :
:V'i"
a i .'. •■
AnaJjnb; LBOO, one; 1883, one; 1885,two; 1887, tea
one ; Lo69i three; L9B0 (up to June), one ; total, nineteen.
h? /; 7*.'t.' iverage of ihe rate* li\t\i* VtaCcoojftUA, exolusffe of
Uie iXty, in fa 2$d m the pound.
prill IP MHInniRS IB LOYDOS.
293
Thf pnriKhcvi tire mentioned in (lit- order in which they have
adopted the Acte. As most of thttll are only just beginning
iin'jr wnvk, feif BtaUsttoa have beet quoted. Within b year or
two : separate volume will In- mv.p.sKary to ivcord the Work Of
the London Libraries.
Wkktminktkh. 1856.
Tin.- parishes of 9t tfargarel and 8t John, Westminster, moved
in the matter immediately after the passing of the 1865 Act, Mr.
W. ptoo Wood, after wards Lord Knthexlfly, took no active part
pi the formation of the library, and acted as a commissioner until
Ms death, E£o gave considerable i:d k gel the bin through
the two Bouses oi Parliament. Then •■ * i n Sniggle to
secure the adoption of the Acts, and the public meeting called to
decide the question was a case of confusion worse confounded.
Thlfl oaiJ C * isfly understood, for ev< n in.. 1. Inter than May 11',
ltv3ti, the date on which WofitBuaster aettlcd the matter, statutory
meetings railed to decide the question were scenes of rowdyium
and rascality let loose. Westminster hua been vara modest over
being the feat metropolitan parish to carry the Acta, but now
that the turn of the ado bos oorno, oo stinted praSes should be
given to the place which, first in this largo city, lined aloft the
Public Library banner, Thin is no light honour, and is one which
redounds great)} to the iredit of the parish lying under the ■
ibadow "i bis two Houses of Parliament ana tSgtaiKTfl prido —
the mcomj»erulile Ahboy,
Tin* library had its origin in the local one rounded In 1840,
'•idled the Westminster Literary, S< wk hiKti-
luiion. The history oi the Westminster institution Is not unlike
that of the ftirkbeck Inxtitntiuii. It began with a view Chiefly to
the improremonl oi the working classes, with whlcl Westminster
waa densely populated before the middle of the prewnt century.
B srtlng with the co-operation of AH classes, who gave Bubscrip*
rtolift ii :::i'i.'V :• rid t\ uti :i 1 1 1 MA I it 1 mi iVfl , IiM tl I H \VB?$ pre; llftSS v •< t<
n i n lr Smith Street and an assembly room in Vincent.
Square. Tl stablfahmeitt of reKdlng-roomB, class-room*, and
lecture-room followed. These wens 'maintained partly by volnn*
i-!i_\ teachers and lecturers, and groat Barrios wai rendered to the
working classes, Co* whom it wuHi-hirfly eNiuhtished. Pruwieiiu
was liefure it, imd further efforts were made, resulting in mi
abandonment of the forma premises and securing a double house
at the south-east corner of the then Sreat Smith Street, adjoining
i was ;» piece of ruraul ground curable "f Hie erection
thereon it ii liuyc kvlui e-rwuln with i-Uw-iueiii.s under it.
There is some appropriateness m the fact that now, when so
many new libraries are in course of construction or contemplated]
vVeetmtnstcf should just be beginning <<• build a new home
for Its bead-qua so .-.ill by-arnvbys hare something to
show instead of the inconvenient and overcrowded preraJ
whore they have lieen for no i On Au^wv 3&A3B&.
Mr. John ThornhiJI HarriBon, O.B., Lttal ttc/T«rW0S»fc WuNtc*
294
revue LiPBAKrra.
inBueotofi loldan nouiry ^ to a proposed scheme to erect new
public baths and wnan-bouees, md n Public Library attached, on
.u steaded site in Groat Smith Street. A good lool of local
interest was taken in tin* inqinv, ceprciolly n* the Rutopuyon*'
1'wi. . tion A s.«.riatioii \\<r the united puristic* decided T" oppose
ii;< scheme, ii n- 1 sued notices throughout the parish to that
efleot. I : mrge attendance of ratcpuycre. The removal
of the library, it wins alleged, had become imperative, on account
of tli* Church House Committee berSoA expressed :i deefre to
terminate the present oaee and occupy the premises thcrasolvoa.
..:. r.'.j urod lor the purposes ol the library Is 6,000 square
toot, rod is sddition 800 square feet, which ii i^ proposed to
throw hltO the roadway, thus utfectm^ :i public improvement, the
thoroughfare at present being narrow and dangerous The baths
:iri'l wash-houses were the first erected under the Act.s -im- tv.rty-
BATHS
WBSTMINSTEn SEW PITL1C l,tUUAUY.
Ore years ago, and had bee me, i ^cording to a rej>ort submitted to
the Vestry,* dilapidated :>< to be unfit for the preeent require-
ment.-, ol the inhabitants. The Ecclesiastical Commies
expressed their willingness to dispose of certain land un< I pr<
to the Vestry at a lower price than they would to B pri
Individual, as it was for public institutions. It in impos ill lo her*
to refrain from expressing u. wish thai the Kceiosiafltical U'ora-
Uisalonerfl OOUld see rlicr v;iy to give eitest Cor merely nonuiuil
ronu for tin' purpose of building libraries upon them, She
Commissioners are tho ffreal ground landlords <>f London \
large proportion "i the I i ids tdrn i [stored by them are puhllo
funds, ana there ire no Institutions so thoroughly public mthntr
i-h.ir.i.-n r i ■- Public Libraries, and tin* rift td d site, or
events - i i edui! Ion of llf$y oi seven y-llTfi pet cent from the
market mfuoj wuujd bring h great uuouni of preMfyre to th
he
PI-BLtO LIHttAIUE* IN LONHOW.
295
ComtnissionerSj :ui«i tnej would be adopting n commendable act
in uppiymg public moneys to public uses siii.-h u iimi Indicated.
\ii Sevan i tii.' new baft fag is lihown. The Frontage la
savarely plain, ill that is Deeeesltaied by the street not being
adapted Pops large and showy building. Utility has been oare-
fnlly kepi i" rtew by the architect, Mr* K, .T Smith, and nil thn
rooms for library pnrpoBBS will be on the ground floor. The first
Boor will be occonled by the Living rooms of the librarian, Mr.
Henry E. Poole, who ham been al vs wlmiuaU r for some ten y an*.
A DGLSfcani stream <>f people goes d and oni <>i the library and
r.M liuui-ii't ru, and i. to iwj satisfactory to note thai the bettcjp-
alau \VfhiininsLcr people are beginning largely to use the library.
ii:" expenditure for the library portion of the new building will
be about 212,000. During 188&-90 the number ol books issued
to borrowers was 108*868 There are nvw 22,3£7 books in ibc
u'lirurie*. unl Lin- tUiil\ jttemJjni-f averages 1,850.
Wanmvobvb. L88&
The library wan opened two years after the adoption of the
Art-, and has axbiblted o rapid development En ita work. Its
Bucuess is owing largely to a fooul grand old muni Dr« Longsl n.
who worked vigorously for the adoption of tin Act*, and has all
through boon a good supporter vt cbo inatitntion, both UnanoJaUy
and m other ways, with ailvorod boil mad the weight of »vor
j yours, lie still possoeece imnicnsv energy . ind When en 1 is
irite topic if education for working man, in* voice rings out
ue loud and oloar ;ih it did fifty years iigOi Baa uni orttouue aide
hi the Waodflv »rti srorfc is that to the Bret instance a building
should have been token for the purpoea d adapting it :i*:i Public
Library. This is not very centrally situated, and affords another
of the many example- thai idaptod laulduigM are rarely ever
itsful when viewed from the standpoint <>i convenience and
utility. VVitrau & comparatively limited tons liter opening it
v :iv booo that an addition was necessary, and Dr. Losgstaff, i I U
own expense, bulll a now wing for i rcading-roorn, bearing the
ol rh ,. ranerabli donor A.1 thi end ol lew the same
■ -. : tleini n promised i.' give £2,000 towards the debt *'i doul Le
thai mm on the building, on c Utlonthai the balai vos raised
by a given ii:ito Wandsworth b likely to see this burden Ii to
'ill then have the full use of the rate, which produces about
<;:. Mr Cecil T Davis, the librarian, has charge ol 10,822
volumes, the prfiwait stock of the library . and til these titers Is an
annua] turnover of some alne w ten times. There are frmmentty
»* ninny ;i.n I.NX) reader* vit*'n the lil-rarv i'i .i .sirij/lo day. The
local press give good publicity to the ^ rid
Kvluah Dncnnn u, 1866.
1'ulhuiti led the way .timni^ i he London parishee, preceding
Lambeth bya ten days. Cntcrost centred in tnolargci ludbettor
known peiish. but II is arcatlj Co th< credit -,'t FuJham thai it
honld aavct ikon w fforthj dload. Tbcuvv»\vY05r&\.ve»*Aa^\rafc3ya
■2Ut
[TOM'' LIBPARrRS.
generalled, and the votes in favour were nearly three to one Oti
October ■-'<», 1888, n»- dot building, erected -^ •■» oei of 68,000,
was opened by the Bienop <»f London.
The new iiuiidi u i> on iIh- lu.iui i-uinl to Putney and Richmond,
in the r.iilK' <>! Full mm. Mr. J. <i. Hull was the architect, mid
*» Mr. Charles Wall, of Chelsea, the buisleT. The reading-ruuin is
70 u. Iong,3(rTt wide, and in height 22 ft. The celling was
beautifully decorated by a firm of [tauan artiets. Ju the front of
the building are the lending and reference libraries, the ladies'
reading-room, and the commi&sjoiiera'rtiran, an bhe first Boor . the
remainder beinjj nn-iipi.-d i-.y Mi ii r- in-, tin- mi.- liu-.-in. n.
The number of volume* Is not yet large for a population of r~,<XH),
being under 6,000, bat this in defect with which the commissioners
are uedvlv coping) seeing tin 3 Spent nearly C'UOO in one year on
booke, Thr ieeuce reach tbout KXj per day, bo thatftbe itodb fa
turned over every fourteen days. The Fulbnroitce arc ovtdcnJ i.v i
reading people, and moan to get then* full pennyworth out ul i he
libmrVi lad for thftt decision they are not to bo bluined. No
fewer than q thousand people visit the varum* depnvtineni: daii.v
Xhifl m by no meane mi mdifforon' record for *o short n ttnad
Somo importanl Bitorationa owe become necessary, and the
iibrarj wul be doted tor b tune in the middle of law.
l>AMuimi. Deckmoeh, lt*b(i.
Tiic success of the Lambeth Public Libraries has exceeded the
nosi sanguine expectations. The struggle to saenre the adoption
nl i he Art* was rviTcilili^lv arduous, and i.olhing bill the
Indomitable energy and determination of tin- promoter* carried
Kh© question through. Lambeth covers so vast an ami thai fchla
presented a serious obstacle, and made IB difficult i<> place before
iii** ratepayers » scheme which would win Hie- sympathy and
approval of the majority ol die people. The promoter*, however!
wen* brave men. and after the queHtiof j having beau low on twn
previous occasions, El wax, on tho third lime of asking, carried
through bo a satisfactory ieetie Within reasonable time, il ei
ii c adoptioa oi the Acts, commlsslonere were appui.i:ed, with the
Hon. and Rev. Canon Pelham, the rector of the pariah, as chairman ,
and who all through has taken the warmest awl meet earned i.
tCWSt in the development of tin wort The i.-i»mmi*aiont:rs early
called to their aid emoetesperi need librarian In Mr. i . J Bur-
K»vue, i»f the Newcartlc-on-Tync tnd Darlington Public Libraries^
who has done himself great credit in hi-, administration.
Lambeth has been exceptionally fort mm tc in gifts, ami the
record of thorn will pc rbaj'.' -.-nxtv n. little licart-burm*n£ to
!iATJahce> A.1 the prceent time over £50,000 hae been fflvcn for
ihrary buildings nnd sites, and about 6,000 v.. Hi mee, Tin: nwe
than justifies the stub meat repeatedly made in U i i , that
the generous riving for Horary purposes if wisely reserved by the
don era tor raTe-aupportod Ubrari* . where the •• in the bosl and
:n ■.; *eeuro prosper t oi thoti gift having thewideataad fulled I
4ad rrharo the continuity in d '"d.
I'l I Ml' I.I11KA1UIW IS I/iNUO.N.
297
1 1 July, 1808, the tli'M of tin? libraries was opened <n West
Norwood, by the ICurl of Xorllihrook. The elevation presents B
very attractive appearance, and it has been erected ••n a afte
given by Mr. K. SettteJold Tin- front i* fr»«*rd with red brick*
relieved with etose ami terra-cotta, tin* avohca and other porta
Lrinff of gauged work. The root's are tiled. The pilastcrft over
the iKiin entrance have busts of men eminent in literature —
all the other earring being ambtomatric of the 00a for which the
building u' erected. 10 the basement are lavatories, a Uu'i-m; Iviok-
atore, Virfltii.T chamber, jcc.f and over the front portion is a
librarians houc. The fitting have all been specially donigacd
by tin architect, ;>nd the book-flholYOfi aw adjustabn itoanj sise
book. Every book in the library ih yhowu on the (.'otirivave
indicator, which id on the counter. The floors are of wood tnookflj
unci the ventilation, wftnmng, and Ughttng. have been carefully
ooneldered. Thearchiteel is Mr. s. 1:. j. Mmth. a i: LB a. There
i- :i i'i rferenae room JO ft. by S3 ft,, ami a periodical and nev snap a?
and reading-room of a similar 9310, both top lighted ; in addition
r 0 winch there is a Iodic*' reading-room and u boos dcparl
for Leading1 library Capable "i holding Kt,000 books. The general
<}■]• <A llh- work :> I'leiiiNii, :tit<: -uiim what Miiiilar tu building
which one tees in Bruges, Ghent, and Other Belgian towns. The
architect selected this style on account of Uh plcttnTO^ueness and
adaptability In the MtO — Oil Si hill.
A most i-iimuraglng phenomenon waa wirnewed at this library
in AngUSS, 1889. The huildiiigH had been dosed for a week for the
ordinary purpose of (.'leaning and arranging, so that renders bad
been depr ved of their privileges for thai ahort period When the
day of re-opeaing arrived the doors wen1 snmumdi'd by "> eager
crowd. \r West Norwood the road was Mocked hyan expectant
throng hi three or four hundred people, loug before tin- library
m ipenod. All *\uy tons the people came in to burrow books,
and at nightfall no (ewer Euan 1.148 volumes bad been laken out,
about Oue-ftfth of the whole stock the lending' library possesses.
in Do wmbei of the same yean there was opened the Tate Public
Library} erected In South Lambeth Koad, the site for winch was
purchased for £1,160 by Mr. Henry Tate, who also defray- d the
)t the building, which amounted to £4,800. It ie very appru-
1 that one iH on Lai beth libraries should be placed En the
.. Lambeth Rood 1 'lu.se to the spot where the late Library
. ..4,1 Jolm Tradcacant, fiunlciier to L'lmrle.i i.( established
I the first museums ever formed in England. The collection
«r enriw^itie:- [nnm-d by the Lambeth gardener paeeed Into the
1 ■>; Bliae Ashm tie, and ultimately thJa collection developed
into the Aaihrnoleaa Mascara, the pride of Oxford. At the opt 0
1 this Tate Library a letter was «^ *t *- 1 from the donor, who
■\:i- oaftblc I" he >v .n! i( the eeivnumy, in which ho iviVm-d
I ii. greet ised which existed lor a library at Brixton, and that
the land and the building* would cost some £1(^000. IK offered
to provide h 11 thai tan LI the remaining bulf was prorltted
within three >r four montlip. trom t\\uV tmw.
386
piihi.k: i.jniUEtJM.
in November, i*H!>, the third of i in- Public Libraries a/as opened
l)_v Lord Roeebery, Thih bolldhifi ta situated la Lower Kenning*
tou Lane, ami lias been erected man bho designs ol Mr. S. K. J.
Smith. Tin? whole cost of the building sad u&e (about £10,000)
li> I>cen defrayed by Miw J. Darning Smith, who i» related t * >
Mi Edwin Laurence* one of the Lamta fch Library coxnro f swloacre,
The front of the building is faced with red Fereham brioka
and Portland stone, with granite columns to the porch and lead
glazing* hi windows, several of the architectural features being
in terra-cot ta« with izrec:i slides to roof, ami tiraberwork in upper
EoiIkmi ut tower. Tin- Inwmeut oontajnc a large book -
eating chamber and coal 001101*6. On the ground ^oor are ^nc
reading and other rooms. There uro magazine und reference
rooms of similar size, each having: hatches for inspection in direct
communication with the central library, bo that the librarian baa
full control over these rooms. There it- .ileo the lending depart-
ment, 31 ft, by 55 ft., with a borrower's lobby cosnmnnioatrng
with the main corridor, whltA ia aread* d and with glazed bit.
and fa 8 it. wide throughout, Therein olaoa women** reading
room, i -J it. by 28 ft., f»minuriioatingdiroctly with loading Library .
The public rooms have brick &unage in the interior. In the front
part oi the building are the librarian* apartments and oonun
n-mii Tin' liook . ;e-e littjlnge ;,,.,. ;n WKjttois woodland WUl
eoooramodate yj^OOO volume*
A further gift followed of a library BOW vorv noon to 04
opened, the pin oi Mr. Minet, which if referred to under
Camberwell. This will he under the joint control of Luruboth
and * lexnberwaH
The use of ;dl the*e lilnimeb, ever shiee they were OpSnod, tUtt
grown roo.1 rapidly, and it ih doubtful whether another pariah
in London receives ho many tangible benefits oat "i i hnltnennj
rats \t< Lambeth. This Is all that the promoters of the neheme
in IBSQ mked for and all tin \ vers permitted to upend Tin*
very success of the Lambeth movement brought Rucn ;»n InAnv
of gifts thai ll « u patent feci ;iil win. hake an interest in Mm move*
ment ibat the halfpenny rate would he Insufltelent to maintain
Uie libraries being erected :<i ;< rate ho rapid uidyel graJ ifylng to
the autumn of 1889 there was an offer ul £15,000 frum Mr. John
Noble, of Heoley-on-Thainesj foi a greatly needed central library,
und there was attached le ii i a lac condition, that the ratepayer*
won W sanction the full penny rate for themainienaii iof thia
LLsuuinsroua branches. The issue was placed very clearly before
Hie people, and "< DecexoDOij L889, the poll wa> taken, but w>
ijonto '. i"- It waa rejected. Tin.- dcdsloii vae tt» be
deplored on many grounds. In the Oral place, the Ubrarica
unlike Mflne other [nH><<*U, i- •ne h-r whieh vi visible mid tangible
equivalent is secured, and the urcreasa En the Lamboth
would have been - asti bad the proposal been carried Too many
ratepayers, rendered bus ifo-ousby tin. extravnganco of the public
bods r >.■■>• u to forgot the Euet that the
ia t/<r pound £0 tht uhuoat allowed bv the \<i.- .1 Ltolianienl
1'1'BLIC LrUflAiURS IN LON OO*.
299
regulating the establishment una* support of Public Libraries. In
ihiK way, t may be. the Lambeth majority regarded the prop sal
fur tlio* hnilpt'uuy LidiUtiuu to tlit* ran OS only u forerunner <>]
future attempts at further tocreaaei. It should, however, be
borne in mind that libraries cannot be kept up efficiently, even
when built by private- munificence, Without sufficient funds. It
i* :i grading spirit thai accepts lands and buildings, and then
hesitates to maintain thexe institutions in a fitting manner. It
was to ensure that the proposed central library should not be
starved for want of funds. th;it the gifts wens made conditional
on the ratepayers" approval of the penny rate, lb is noteworthy
iivit. in the districts where 'in* libraries nave been already placed
there was a solid vote iu favour of iiu.- penny XWa is decided 1 3
instructive, and when the question comes forward again at the
end of the present year it is to I >e hoped that a different result
will Ije seen. Lambeth has done .ho well up to ihe present that
llift-r jh too much wood sense in the parish to spoil the ship for
the proverhiiii hii'iK'i"1'1 "1 teP< Hothzugeen everrob the parish
of having, with Fulham, been the first^ to give Kilt new impulse
whkh came to tile movement in London. Every one of the fifteen
other parishes which has since that time adopted the Act* owes
something ol its iinc.ceHsfuJ movement to the noble example set
by Lambeth, it may be again said thai tin- best educator in
Favour of Public Ubraries is ■ successful rate-eupported tartifcu-
lion in the near neighbourhood, where the pcop|< ran for them-
selves see the use mode of al) the department I whieh il pTd Idee,
T.;.i:ii>eth bid* fair t«> be a Public. Library school tor London, and
it is essential that the school shall be well equipped, in order to
set an example worth following. It can only do this by taxing
itwlf to tho full penny in order to avail iteeli of this very liana-
Home olt'er of hi to anil building, and in addition to this to have
two as three other branches ereered in varioia purl:- of tho parish,
it ii incumbent upon those who know the pleasures of books tuul
reading to perform their enure of educating the people upon the
pressing needs of this additional halfpenny I thousand people
viMt daily the three libraries and nevaroonw which here been
opened at the date of writing. When there in a central library
and two or three more brunches opened it. fa not Improbable that,
when iiiev gel ni thorough working order, no Sewer than 10,000
C»ple will visit the libraries avevy day. Already the number of
rowers using rhe three institutions is over 10,600, and there
is no reason why, under the bright prospects in store for the
perish, this number should not roach 30,000 actual current
rwers a> tiling themselves <»t the advantages of the library.
'I'Iii- following scene took place at the Norwood Public Library:
—Enter wonder! ig ratepayer: " Anything to paj ! " Attend. i i i
"No, this Ian Public Library, to which entrance la free." Rater
payer (>n amazement): Good gracious 1 tad can you read these
hooks tor Nothing f ' Attendant: " \Ufornothtng.*' Ratepayer:
■ \m; to think l was fool enough to vote against the libraries'.
Why, I don't believe hall the people wuocrp^owA ftw Y&stexHa*
eoo
' AIUW.
had nn;r idea what t iiocurt/ T
parishes wh< lai
■
!i..ii v.!i ; i pPOfing rii< m ivcni
■ ii . sad Q -ioada * .
idi i -«•, who
r.rnl !! oUjfhl :nnl |ft])0 IT ■ ■■ the Dl ■ < I
old frfrndfl "it tin- in |r .'
1 . Kiii'm:!, ono Dg parish,
iind mniiy other*. hiw through ill tho ) m the time the
lOd 81 radfu t to il
motto --I all v> b
I..tinl>cth ! " Tin* ;>invh n <:\ ■ • . 4Bw
mcodubU tx\i
rJUl ■ ' "ho » i
vnh run'vi arable fi i.'i-pwt.
M- M-MtTINIX TlU'.-riUl-I- I
I ■ i |iH A Ufl PTJ i|*W^
i ! W7. Til ' pcill v
w*aa .in evident on the purl oltl
! queattou, thai & pariah - aaj historical Dwuci&iuua
rtionld nol •;<' le*a than Fulhuiu *ml I .1 thrtii, wliicJi had
CaI ri. the I'l.-I 1 teTi 5 lc
Wi .; mid ■ he BID I Ql 1 .
MM)) nnd I acj i:i ratable raft*} is Atvil
. rdfi. A !< 1 ooni «.i 1 >\*'m I a i iOJ g \
PTTU.TC i.mn,\Rir.s IN wsimx.
301
January, lNW\ rwn yaus after the adoption of the Acts, The
attendance luie boon conBidcrnl.il'* at tins temporary room. On
March 18, 18(H), the Prince of Wales laid the foundution-
Ktntu- lit tin- ru;w municipal bufidttngSj Sod (fas memorial "i"i)0 of
the di w horary and reading rooms.
The library portion of tau handsome pile of buildings ie shown
in the sketch on p. 300. The building will consist of four storeys.
\ ii ill i >n-..- ii i-n i , which will contain too lending library : :i. ground
il ■.••»!' room, 60 ft. long by 10 ft. wide, which will he the reading-
room ; the next tioor will be devoted to a large library of works of
reference, rooms for the private peril' udy of Biioh books,
offices, ud s booM-rooTDi And the top floor it w be fitted asi
residence for the librarian Twelve months will be occupied in
completing the building. The cost oi the library building will bo
about £'/,ooa Mr. rbomae klasoo la the librarian, and is un
earnest worker in tin- morenienfc,
1 1 vrmnsEA. March, 188".
Within three years after the adoption of the Acts, rhe Battersea
people 886 then.1 new centra] Library completed, and duly opened
in too public, in 1893 a committee eras formed, with Mr, George
Harris as honorary secretary, for the purpose ut promoting the
adoplion of lie AiIn, and in a quiet way (his committee rendered
I service, by bringing the iwealioii before the constituency.
\\\w\r imi leading to the Immediate adoption <>f Che .\ii.\
there is ao doubt iimi ii contributed towards twri desirable
result in iyd7, when, out of a large poll, <t very BBt&aractory
i majority declared in favour of the adoption of the Acts. The
commissioners lost no time in apitointuig a good practical
man u i ttbrartan, and in July they selected, out of a large
number of candidate*, Mr. Lawrence lukatcr, who had been for
BUbi years librarian of the South Shields Pabli* Lihrary, The
■ of the OommUMixmers was for a central library and two
branches, £n October, 1888, toe first of those branches was
1. Prior to thi&, a temiwrary reading-room had been
opened, and was much appreciated. At the Lainnuu* Hall five
rooms were rented by the oommitfaionorBj and about 1,600 books,
wiiii ffhiohthe branaJi woe opened, collected fi i rarions sources*
Xhs • i-in-iiiMii, on thai occasion. 8 roll Imown. local man, said that
:iy oomd not understand how ;t was that London was so
much behind tin* provinces in the matter of Pttbtic Libraries and
other forward movements! while nhe provinces were in turn far
more backward than America, Cannon, and Australia, where
almost every \ ittngo or hamlet hod, if not a library, a reading-
room. He regarded the l'ublie Libraries law tkelngestabUshadj
aj not only us< ful ae ihv i - Instruction, but as affording mean i
ut recreation, ac people who have been working hard all day,
might be more benefited by reading something light and enter*
ng, than hy perusing more Hoholarlj ihSB branch b
being axceadftign well uaed< The number of rohRosA Li a&wasfc
I ir Khurl ,n l.,im mrl ■>:>• .!■ .- 'v 'i..M\.- >■- .'\..v^^w\'^
:-VL'
PDBUC |,[01lAi:»f.S,
the .;.r;i actual borrowerb using the brauofa library. In January,
1869, permission wiih given to borrow for the purpose of building
and stocking. This was followed in May of the same year, by flw
Laying nf the foundation-stone. On sfa?< b 1!*, 1890, this building
was opened by Mr. .V. J. Mumlelhi, M.I1. The centra] library bat
been erected from the designs of Mr. E. W. Mountford. There
are on the ground floor a newsroom, magazine room, and lending
library, and i>n the floor.-* above ji large handftome reference library
tad book stoves. The two reading rooms will aoeomraodato SOO
persons, and the reference library 100, making n total of :«K>
readers for whom provision is made, and the lending library i.->
equal to the wonts of 5,000 borrow era Tim total coat of the
building and bite ib about 1*10,000, which sola \v.\x burn
other with £2,000 for the Lurline Hardens rnifldtag, noffl In
course of erection, and £3,000 for books, making a total debt of
BlijOOO, The total number of volume* with wfiioh (in. tlbranr
Opened WW lfl/iCO, Of wbieh 10,1 IS arc io the leuding and 6,435 in
the referenoe library. The newsroom has 1,031 tt. super., Q .«■
_;izine-room «90 ft. super., and the reference library 1,900 ft.
mi jut. "t iinor Kpuee, iiie Meoominodatiorj ifl equal to 150,000 to
1*00,1 tfX) hooks, and 60 there is room in the library for growth. The
style is Renaissance, hut so designed that the building does not
contrast in too marked i degree witb the houses around the
library. BatterecR ha* thus now fairly begun its work, and means
to hold its own in the library world of London.
Pctnsy. Mahoh, 1887.
Putney early caught tin* Public Library fever, and declared in
favour Of the adoption of tin* Acts by 1,004 a-jHliist /i72. The
temporary nHHiiH were opened iu March of the following year
Since then the number of volumes baa been steadily advancing,
and i> now about 6,000. The f i rat twelve months* use of the
referenoe and nagaxuM room was very encouraging, Between
forty and iifty uiayaziue* and periodical.-* are taken, nnd in the
ncwM'ouin there are about sixty newspapers and periodicals.
Tin- vferege daily number of visitors to nil departments roaches
about 750. Mr. ('. F. Tw coney, the librarian, issued hi.*
cobalogoe in August, 1889, The gift* hare been ove* 9,000
volumes and about j£l!00 in cash.
Coklsra. May, 1867.
The provisional committee who conducted the contest meant to
viTi. In no London parish was the issue placed better or more
dearly before the constituency than in Uneleea. Looking baek
upon the literature distributed md the abls advocacy itfrea by
bfioffWeel London Pwesu and other local papors, it would naVB
been strange had BUOQeaa not attended efforta so well planned
and so rigorous. Politicians of the fighting type Oram boi h sides
Mo i on the committee, and rendered excellent service rho
roquMtbm va'i .■.u.ri;eil l>\ 1 ail Cadogan, Lord Monkoj-vi-ll, the
Bjgbl Htm, JoSm MrTL\v/M.P.,ttieROT.G«r,aVV tAnn^lta <
T'CBUC JJHIlAltlR* IN 1.0KJ>*~iX.
:aw
i>l Ih" p-M'wii. .nhi ntliiTi. and the majority in favour WW 1,01*1,
• tar ill :i \nrx» poll The number Of DlanJc and unsigned papers
mu ratlu if targe, bul tftifi oould aoareaty have boon from a (lex o1
instructions, »fl the friends of the movvmmt is^uM a fapnrd
areolar, wwrinff the way plain. Mr. B. \\ Radon, Mr 0 J
Oorloraa and Hie Rev. F. Uelton, rendered excellent service.
There were some talttel dlffieultfee over the eoUeetlon of the rate,
which led bo the Amendment Hill oT 1889 being brought forward
oheuska pvauc uhuaxly, cjiiound floor.
id fcfterwftrfa pa-ssed. Thih Act clearly lays down thai I he
I» tin v library rate cannot be Charged WOT the poundage for
collection.
A temporary newsroom * a opened En November, 1S8L in fchc
Vi-Mir\ i hill, .in. I booln were allowed for reference . bat bo JcJictin?
rucnl i 'i th< central library will be opeuQOi >\\\U\ v\\c
butidina U completed. The foundation *Ume o! Wvc ^ttoaayaax
an
PTBtjr LXBBABIRK.
building was laid by th©C«»unu^ duJogan, in February. [800. The
ling is in Mhnrcan Hoad, King's lioad, C'licbea. The entrance
in through u handsome atone portico* supported by four coluiuna,
ieaJn h Ida corridor, out of wnien there will u . i inm. ,■-.
to tho prtctdpel dopaxtmenta on the ground floor via., a general
roadlng-room for 330 reader*, a boys' reading-room, n Iodic:/
ivipliii:<-r""in. und n lending library with shelving for 80,000
volume* Some modification with regard t > the indie** nnd
boye'rooQM will probably be mode. A wide staii : i.-n.i
up to the inference library on the 6rtt floor, where vh
accommodation for 60,000 volume*, and a reading- room, de^ipnod
for a oni.'f «riiily, fur eighty reader*. Tin- front i.|i'v:
red bncVi with white none drowtngs, in tho stvle of English
KanaiwKPiea known aa Queen Vime -. for which Chelsea enjoya i
reputation. The designer and arrhiteel is .Mr. J. M. Brydon, who
was iIbo toe deelguer of the now Town Sail, Chelae*, iho con-
tractors jbeing Moa»ts. Hoilowny Brother*. The total re
climated at about £10,000. The freehold Bite, valued at £2,C00,
nor wiih the adjoining piece of land upon which in to he
inn [I the Sooth-Went Polytechnic, was tin* jrift Of Earl Cndogan
to tin- people of (In1 district. Tlir Kiirl bus also Miown bin interest
in itit- libriu'N tn i.i further fiU't of £360 fur technical literature.
Sir Charles Dillce, one of the Com mhel oner*, has. given fifiOO
nid a numljer of valuable book*, while Ltidv Lindsay and kfl
Councillor Gh \v. Osborn have Bach given suras of money.
About four mile* from the boundary of the parleli in an out-
lying dlatelct known w KonwJ Town.and here a branch library
naa been erected and vaa opened in January, 1k(k>, it \* under
the charge of Mr. Preeoa> irao( nine from the Barrow-in-Furnoai
Library. Ou the ground floor are (he newarooine, and a reference
room, and the lending department fa on the Brat floor The
elevation is very utrikinff, and the future ■ f the library I
bright and promising aa can n I II be. Here there ore about 0.000
volumes which is a #oo<I beginning tor ci small library. As a
London brooch library. KennoJ Towi has aomo Foafcoroa worth
noting;. The flite coit £3/XX); ond the boat has been mode
that wub powdble. Where it is a choice of placing either the
lending department or the newsroom on the ground floor, and the
ofther mi (in- iir,-t Boor there can be no two iiuaetiona t hat toe
in v .mhimiii should be there as at kenwdTown.
The attendance of r^-me r,<v\ i day ut the tenipnmry roading-
room in the Veetrv i (.-ill, te an earnest of what will be i
tho now building fi completed. The chief librarian! Mr. J, Henry
(.lumii, who was for many years at the Liverpool Public Lti
has Ins time well occupied in buying and cataloguing b
Chelsea mentis to have a good round number ol volume* on the
ahalvea by the time the doors of the new building ore thx
opon t.o the public, and in thin decision the} are acting wiaeljr, The
i:«\ p Relten baa rendered oaeful aervlce to the moveme
I Qjidon i>v vhdtmo; various part* <>r the Nfetropolia^nnd expl i
point* gad giving lugoeetiona to other \.\w-.w\ Cotnmiat
PITBLtG UBRAUTKS Iff I.ONOOV.
305
KRN*iwrn\. Jink, 1**7
There should be indelibly inaurllied on Hie records of tin- Public
Library movement in London the nam* of Hr. James Hay wood,
FJLS. VVhon in l^n be opened hi* Public Library at Sotting
11:11, the GfaSldbflDi ttritish Muwuu, and Westminster Libraries
were the only Librarian open fin- to Uw public m London. In
I87H tin* ratepayers of Kensington refused tu adopt tbe Acts,
Mr. Ilcvwood and those who favoured the movement resolved to
wait till the ratepayers w i< better infrrnied. The Hotting Hill
Library was kept up by Mr. llevwood ;u hie own expense, and in
J'etM'tobcr, 18S6, a ucw movement fox the adoption of the Acts
was set on foot, and probably one of the most influential ud
representative committees that has ever been sot together in
K ending ton worked until, in June, Ou Acts were adopted by a
largo majority. Tho opposition at the loot woe very stroiur, but
having been practically without loaders could not do the harm
that was Intended JVlfiv llerbert Jones, who for fourteen years
bad been the Lfbr&rianat Mr, Haywood's iiin-;iry,:iri-.-«ri a* honorary
secretory of the provisional committer, and Dad boon ai wnrlc
■ lov nvnlti*. II" h:i'I *'.-ured the idhesion of ovory
leading man, oi by showing tho itrengtfa "i the ■■■• i mirteo,
dot srred waverew from joining the otbwauta He collected £1,300
towards the librai1oa;octeluaivc of ttr. Hay wood's gift. What vu
moat to be feared was the apathy of the ratepayers ind thocxampla
of i'addintfton, the next parish, Mr. JoceS was an admirable
organizer, utd the success of the movemflDi was largely owing
to hih cratfrfng efforts. The appointment of this gentleman is
rfbrarlan o1 ths new Public Library was r> most arwropriftts one,
and there is ovary reason t-> think- thai ha wffl do nunself and the
locaJ public, whose Bervant he to, great credit by Ms administra-
tion, In January. t88e\Mr Hi-ywond'n library, \idned nr fiflOO,
was rormalVp handed over. A committee was formed bo consider
tha deairahJlity oi acknowledging in some suitable wa$ 1 lis gift,
nnduhuM. of liiniKcir w;i.s decided upon. This is ;m 'admirable
Ukeneas ol Mr. llevwood, and ha* been placet! in the Vestry Hail,
which now forms one of the libraries. The VeHlry null win
declared open la December ]--». by H.IMI. tin- Uarobioness ••[
I ,ii j no, ;il a very interest! uy eerciuoiiy.
The first rejpurL presents .m cneninM^iii^ statement of what has
been done up b-tdstcuml Kensington bidarair bo get out of its half"
penny rate dot year! which produce* £9,^0,ari excellent example of
the multiplication ol the infinitely little, the selection of books is
admirable. Every taste has been carefully considered, and ultimately
the reference department of the central library will be a strong
feature of their work. The commissioners reel fchej Kensington
has a n-pi.tiitnm '<■ maintain. With South Kensington Kfaaoum
and (bo Rational History Museum situated in tin pariah, it is felt
that in library work Kensington must in course of time occupy a
prominent place The two branches end Ihc central library arc
DOW getting fairly under way «irh their work. The number of
visitors daily to the various libraries and aowarooma is swg \axvyt.
MTHITfi IIHKVIJH'- I . , ;u
;m7
it pravente the borrower from taking out the drawer entirety.
\ 1 1< 1 1 1 Hi- contrivance u ;i litiie im*s imme ' ntain nl oda
and the movable types (or dating the indicator book*, find
at llir other him! i lead [tendl. Ml. .Junes im c\ idrntly :i in in « \\ b
many ttbraij Ideas.
CLAMIAM. .Irt,v, 1JW7.
i I ipliani wisely decided nob to open temporary rot no, !»m oa
there iraaa prospect of being- able toniuneduftolyiacnxaaitCa
for building purposes tin good folks of daphain had to Doaaaaa
on b M i aticnce, and wail until Miey bad a novr building to
ouU then own. This was not until October 31, 1889, oa -which
data II WBfl Opened bO H ■ public The whole matter was
BoTtngin the jpring ol 1897 by the munificent offer ol £2,000
towards I budding it the A.N wnr adopted This aflat oamc
from iui anonymou/i individual, nnd to-day the name obecuritv
am-round* the gift thai Ivw prevailed from the first. Only OD0 ol
tin- commie ■::< ] < ra la i « ar ■ w lotbifl anotij mouc friend tOi Bo whom
Chvphain i> in' I j»it"i. \\ uiii'i iimr I'vci^ pariabin London hadaueh
i Iriend. The adoption of the A< ts at * Japliaia VU Carried vrftl
IB very largo majority, and In dm- eoiirxi the .'run i n v er<-
ippi'in:*'.!, wliu went .pik'Hy mid elhViently i-> wmk. I lie mte
con £1,100, and vrhon this * d decided upon the commissioners
did not iwuo advertisement1* for designs bat Invited as arch!
- in.L' -mil in nuder n niotto. The
m • tmianionan arrlveiiat wat that the plans of
Mi E B P in* i ware most suited to f.heir pum te, and
w.vr aocordtnglv Choaan. Adv<»rtiwiiuMir« In' renders lot tin'
erection ol Dai inUdfng were subsequently issued, and n local
tirm v.tis aucoaaslnl. The tender vrai £o^6fi Tin- . .
externally composed of red brick, with box-ground Bath at
draaalngB, the ground ima occupied being tOfifl bv flOfl The
elevation* are vary nluealnr, althouffh til m particular >tyie, and
thehberal introduction of hay-window* adds oonaidenil ly to the
ire ue m I effect The Eront Eaclna tin- common has an aaienalvo
lon-rimil lnjumlcd !>y uniami'utjil imn i . 1 1 1 1 u ; ; - .snniiouiiliny a
aopllUI ami intei>pii>L'd with i'imii!ii*iit.il red hncl [>lrrs. A
moaazc pavc<l pathway lead* to ;< pair of maasrra polished
mahogany and plate-glaM doorai throujrb which <* spa*
roetlbule of an oolong ihepe-ii cached Thia b alao paved hi
moaofe and lighted by a hnndcionic lamp. Anotl i r pair i I
in;; diM.rv l^ad to tin* « utraoofl hall, frnin irhlch I iSl b
the targe room above. This entrance ball baas irood block ii ">r,
■<u.i is v.-, taatefullv decorated. From the entrance haU the
int. » what la called the borrower*' lobby. on the
back and right-hand nidea of winch i* ranged a Bubntuntinl
counter in polidlicd mahogany, m ith asec(nola toak,ftnii deal Dm
over which booke *ill bo issued: and this counter i* aunooustod
by aa badHoator. Cnii bonovan lobtobalae aatad with wood
bio '■ i r iticinUy b'ghted With A \\«x^\~-
;in.| thia l. ) ii. nod -a, Sa ^n^
308
prix i ■ libraries.
■ feature <») the institution, the issuing room or lending
library, wtth aecoaunodatloa for some 27,000 volumes. Thu
receives Etd light from above by throe oblong lanterns, while all
around the walla are s3 • Jlvee, Bod u the centre ire Bpadoua book*
ceaea, ni:ii!\ ni which are awaiting die bnrdana with which, do
doubt, many genen in Sodom will lade them, under the dire*
.i! i in- Orel librarian, Mr. .1. Beed Welch, who brought bo the poal
all ihe various qnallflcatiarui gained fe) :i l >u% uoe in the
DOfCll of England* From the linrruwt'i^' lu!)liy 1 wti Ijii-jr HWlDg
doors open into the newsroom, devoted to tfie reading <>f the
newspapers and perlcx [i i . Thi,-. la the largesi room La the
!• i Ming, being 67ifc. by 87 i'i.. and oooapJes the jreateei space in
the building on thegrovnt Boor, and will comfortably hold ovei
150 persona i he light, in the dry ti , te derived from a
window to the front, nnd tw< bays, and one othci atom
I'Ih dOOul*:itjunb id rills i in arc tvpknl of DlOUt ol tliij oM.m...
The ceilings and walls are coloured crcam-whitc, with n ej
coloured dado surmounts i by MoncU ornamenta The Boor ii
covered wltl linoleum to leaden tho sound ol footsteps, and1 the
tables, chairs, and news-etandc are ol polished oak. Artificial
9 riven by twelve Wenhnni IfyihK und u •■ in mgoi
i rentuutkm sru both ample in qanniH\ ; ndra idem in churn ■!• r
This portion, and alao the resl of the i eateri by i .
■ <" ftppU Ml l!
I'l lii.li- I IKR.VB1K? l\ i.'iM'ii',.
fXJfl
At tlic ivar < -f the newsroom, and lighted to two bay
twe from Orlando Road, md one window frora the back, le
I.. reference library. This is approached through the newan i
bj i: i! mm- <>i - > [ag . i ..--:■-.:>; i < i ,i]h,i commuoii ateedireetty with the
i^Miin^-wom by means of ft c&dina Bash, through which books
will be suppled for ret'ormce. Tlie decoration* arc similar t"
Mm* iiewMfunTi, nnd artificial light la supplied bjfonr Wenhaw
tempo. Behind the .. rain#-room in a commodious office for fchc
lihrarinn.a binding room, a file-room, lavafc trios* &C- The staircase
in 11 ic ciiti-iin.'.' liiill air- il \ m.-nti nu'd. i- nui>.>ive — ut Portland
i MXOj v -ith ornamental iron rnilingsnnd polished mahojzntry wood-
work. From a spacious landing: an entrance is obtained through
irgo swing doors to a noble room 46 ft. by S I ft whioh extends
MM the onaro front of the premises, suitable for ;i lootoro-room
CI..U-UAM PVBT.IC LTUSUaV. OROL'Vli )<■■ i
i other purpose*, Th< decorations ore .similar to those in the rest
the rooms. ' ml paten) mtflau>r* .nv med in thia ease, while
in powerful lumjifi afford a beautiful light Ample acoommoda-
on w provided for the librarian* and -y suite of rooms extends over
binder p"- Eon of the premises, with a sepu te entrance.
ff a bUudin£ «»!' tlic dimensions i tin i i i.'lnphaffl it
• i wa/cely"bc possible to put up a better planned or move
able building. There aro a number of metropolitan pariahos
where the mi brings En about £1,000 * yew, isal C lauhom, and
the vi«ry h'.'Kt pi:ifi which . an be adopted will i «' to follow i lose!)
the plans for the ground and upper floors »( thiaMbran Tfce
total e di u B4,000» and another £l/)O0 wars
■pent upon » Curaiture, It te a building whlcl refloats
t he higni ii erudti upon all r.onoerned, and ninpham la reaaonahV
■ I1: i p ad of Its library, and > mafclnpj a usq q1 lflt.'N*\Ajfe N»e»»
310
I'l I'l I' I.I 1H \HII>
maidftWe, The total number of roluriii'K ;.h Hixmi 1,000, :in«i
taking b .;. i>'<-. ■] v- pek since [to opening the issues -t ind as follow
[crone ireet ■ Thealogy.phllosophy, anrteei leeiuutical history, 40;
history and biography. In.". . ir.iv-in .md topography, 73: arte and
1 Bti, 93 : poetic and the drama, 49| prceo fiction, L017; mis-
cellaneous Literature, •■*-■• tarenfle * >rks, 310. Total, 1,808
l):i:U ;iseiagy uunie of volume*. 373. The total numbtl td
borrowers i8 rapidly going up to -i ,000. There is every appear-
ance that Claphazu will more than hold its own in this move-
ment.
The aim roissioners have all through acted with zeal. During
the progress of the build r.il public meetings wore held,
tor ;he purpose of placing before the people a rioumi of what
m being (few by&e oommisaloneraj and of raising additional
funds Cot the purchaaa of books, The Rev. '.'. r. Greene, tlio
Rov. >'y. FtorCBter, the [lev. J. Chuimoeo Rogers, and Mr. 11< im
Bolcroigjdid excellent work in awakening public interest in the
library.
Beuwonikhbv. OiToiiBB, 1687.
The majority in luvour <>!' tin. Lett wan more than two to one.
The chieJ era it of I fte movement and its muweas wai dna \» Dr.
George Cooper, ol Bouthwark Parle Rood, who, with Mr C3i
1 1 hrer ud other triends was untiring in lu« efforts. Skilful tuetie*
throughout were shown, especially tn the distribution ol ■ weii-
compiled i -uvular giving in ji tornc form a few landing tact - :i oopji
ol d .li.li wflfl Ii-i'i at '-very house in fhe partnh on the day befon
thi poll was taken. This circular bore the name of many !<
residents of all shades of political and religious opinion fn
parish there are two loeaJ governing bodies En addition to the
vestry there is a body » :iUo*l the govern")*' mid ilirecO.ii>' u >anl
which is [lit.1 rating authority of the parish. The vestiv icsuhcd
to liik - ,i |" I "i ill- parish, acting mi tin- mlvh'r of their clerk,
who maintained thai Lhe vestry, and not the governors' ami dl
reel ire1 board, wag ii*- proper authority. But while arrangements
were being made the governors' and directors Issued the usual
notice to the effect that they would take the toll, and according))
thi* was done. The vestry were duly informed ol ftria by the
clerk to the Eovernora and directors, with a view to the n
proceedins with the appointment <>f bhe lib] irj eon missi
But that body, acting upon the advice of bheh la* clerk, tOOS
objection to the governors and directors h
under the Vctvand further raised tin- 'ideation as to whether the
Aci i lid ii< t tv- 1 -lire :\ n ; jnritj of bhc whole of the ratepayers ol
the pnrinh, and not merely a majority of thoee who ucl
the trouble to fill up and return the voting papers. The
thoreupoi d< > ided to submit these two points to < ounscl, and the
opinion if Mr. Lumlev Smith) Qt_.. wai obtained On the first
point ho said he considered the governors and directors were
the authority within the meaning i if the V<t. On i
be mcbxad to the view that a majority oi those ictuaUy
PUBLIC IJlOlAJirKS TN LON'W'V
Sll
voting*, and nor an ahsotatfl majority ol the raterjayera, was nil
thni the Act required
Ti was somewhat unfortunate tor (he movement that (here
should have boon this Saeeo in Its earl y stages a mass of Matter
Hfw :it hand referring to the difficnltieSj bnl aa these muv be now
retagnted to the archives of unolanl history, nothing more need be
wlu. The election of a new realty In June, 1889, fadllmted
matters n-nhiderablv, and ihcy Forthwith proceeded In elect
iwnmlMinnftM.
At the Town Hall, Spa Road, Bcnnondaey, in May, 1890, 1 ialoool
Hasted held an Inquiry on behalf of Hie Loral I tovcrnment Board,
consequent upon it proposal of the library commissioners t"
borrow .1 sum ol t'H.iHHi for the purpose of building and furnish-
a library. Mr. Harrison, the clerk to the commissioners,
>rmed Colonel Darted that a site, which had been partly given
by the vestry, hud been chosen contiguous to the Town Hall.
'li»c coat ol thai portion which would have to be bouitbt up would
amount, for the purchase of all intercuts, to £3,006. The buildiofl
would cost some £'4,000, nnd the balance of the loan of £8,000
would be spent in furniture and hooka. The population of
Bermondsej wan 68,000, and the rwtftble value of the parish
£l01,o3fl. A penny rub- Would produce £1,460, Colonel Hosted
pointed out that the eommissionori bad left themselves a roij
email margin Eor furnishing the library , and, after BomcdiseuKKi-ui.
it was resolved toayptv for £10,000 toeteud of 68,000, There wa
no opposition from the rotejmi t-
HOTHXIIHITHE. NOVEMBER, 1887.
Rotherhitiie has been rather long m putting rh<* Acts in op
tiou. The majority in favour of the Acts woe 7**0, and the cot oi
the poll wu B96 LOs. toJuly, L880{&1 Che mooting oi tho London
County Council, the Ananec committee reported thai they had
i torsd the application of th< i inaniisaioners I »r Public
ties and museums for ftothernithe for in advance o ' £3,000
Tin* iMunmisnioners hn<l agreed t > purchase a freehold aU<
nawi, and to expend £':.VJ0O in the ere.ti.ii <.| .i hl.rarv. a a. I f '■!'■
tor i Kings '"'l furniture which they proposed sht ol I bo repaid in
fifty, thirty, and twelve years respectively The corns ittes there-
foro recommended that, auhjeoi to all necessary consents l>e£np,
furnished to the satisfaction n n • solicitor, the appllcatioi
the Commissioners for Public Librarian and M isenmc for the
|i»rfMii of Rotherhitiie for fl !<>:"i of £3/100, to defray (tie cost of
pnrrl::i i i*f ;m<l civ.'iintj and lilting ups bTlfldrcg tohsUSfld
as i Public Library, be grant* l .
This building la now m xrarae of erection. A Ubrarlun haw
been appointed, and so there In a prospect that the parish will
aoon be In line s Ith Its work
on May 20, 1890, at the meeting rf the \ eetrj ■ statement was
•iii i \ <■ to the appointment I /. the Lfbrnn Co an .-.-.:« nemo J
a librarian, which was to H Bool thai after the candidates' list
had bei □ i tin inuted bo that *ii oah ti m-.eu<«'- onSb *>\ »\araa\^
:J12
pi-Bur mbrahie-;.
iimip nn1 l\mu mission or kcciuviI the insertion "ii the list of one wbc
had not been finally seleetedj and who was aubMquently sleeted
to rill the pott This led to th<* formal resignation of M<
Smith, tin ■ Srunrt, who now naked the Veatty to accept
ihcir resignations. A vestryraau moved tout the resignations be
aooepted Hi* did so wiiii great regret, but raw no cftfter couxse
open. This vu seconded, Mid a long discussion ensued.
ttWKUVWBl.I.. I>JSrKtfKttna I *K".
wiiat one pariah refused another parish gs nedj and bo the
ClerkfiBweJ] people wen* disposed to use the oM proverb about
ii^ being an ill wind tl»;it Mows noimdy - i ' Mr i: \i
Qolborn offered Islington .1 uil'L ol some 6000 if the Acta WSXS
adopted, and on ite refusal to do so he transferred his offc
Clcrkenwell, which ultimately took the form of £'-!l(X) in cash and
fver i.i.nHi volume*. This excellent offer, with aa additions
- 1 C600 from Captain Ponton, M.P-, practically brought about the
adoption Of thd Aflta, aided by the efforts of u :tlnm,'j mil earnest
Ci nmiittee, who act themselves the task of educating the con-
BtHuonoy, The majority in favour Wflfl 321 , timl it was worthy of
note that thin wiu- in n parish where the rates were twoshflhnge in
l he pound higher than in Islington. Tin* movement tor the
adoption of tho Acts in this parish was inaugurated by Mr.
\\ in. Kobeon, who secured tho co-operation of u majority oi the
v oh try on u proposal to celebrate the Jnbilvo by the establishment
ol a J'uhlio Library. Only two public meetings were held m
ClorkenweLJ, for the opposition hud determined that these should
bo made so noisy, that tho frionda of the movement would per-
haps become tired of their work. After this, active canvassing
WAS adopted on a larger seule than previously, directed princi-
pally ta Mf -'• Johnson and Mr. w. Rofcson, oofl among Die
commissioners. They enlisted the aid of the clergy, ministers,
representative working men, club representatives, teachers, &o.
iy the whole of the parish was canvassed by volunteer*,
ministers were asked- to aonotmoe to their congregations on the
Sunday prior, the fner that the ]«>11 would be taken next day,
leaving ft to theh Judgment as to whether they enlarged on the
theme or not.
Some litigation followed th*» taking of the poll, and On June i 1.
188*, Mr. Justice Field and Mr. Justtae Wills wore engaged In the
Queen's Bench Dh Isfon with the case of the Queen v, Morris and
others, which earns before their lardahipfl in the form of s mol km
by way of ouo warranto, culling upon the corniuissloners appointed
under the rublic Libraries' Act for the parish of St. James and
John, ClerkenweU, to show cause why they should cod
lu uet.lt Willi; .i.-M-ittvl Hint ihc jjull v, Inch v, ;i,> liken to decide
whether the Act should he adopted in Clerkeuwvll was invalid,
by reason of voting papers not being delivered t< some ratepayers,
and of their not being collected, and of betas improperly oeall
with. Qn the other haud,il was *aid the poll suhstiuitiaU) 1
pfeacnted tin; icvlmn of tlic parish. \w\yvw«^^^*.™ ■
w -m.il* ubtmuihs ix i.ovnow
313
papers vera taBued* of which i.riH wen- ninnini n r:iv>nir i»f the
library, and 1,030 against It There vers l/KBSfl|icilled papers, oi
which 880 were blank. Mr. .it'll', Q-G, and Mi stokes appeared
tor Hit; opponents of the Rbrary, whue Mr. Chinnell, Q.C., and
Mi- Spokes represented Die* cotiniiinMioiicrK, In support of Hie
cute for a y«a warranto, II was contended that tho faces sot oul [a
the affidavits were sufficient to show thai bhc opinion of the ratc-
payera luul not been properly ascertained, and tli.it before this
new rate was imposed tot ever upon the parish, the parish should
another opportunity oi expressing Its sense upon theeub-
ject. Mr. Justice Field, to giving |udguieut, .vuM the fiti't ques-
tion raised, whether the commissioncre vera the proscribed local
authorities for carrying out the provisions uf the Public Libraries'
Acta, hut tlmt being a very complicated and dilllcnlt qUOetiOBj M T>
CLSKKBXWJBLl. Pl'BLlC LIBRAiO . SJCOVKS i umik.
.leii had very properly consented, in the interesl d Bhe pail las, t<>
alien it bo pass la the present ease lad therefore the osjg
SiestianB remaining were auto i.i i Le in vSticfa the sonaeox
I parish hud been taken. In tin- ca.se n tluvt
voting pa pern were not Bent to each ratepayer, that Ihev \ ■
Sropswy eoUecled.and thai e scrutiny wae n fused; ana chat even
uom coiiditiotis bad bees properly complied with, the result
had not boon properly aeeortasnec. llis lordehki then reviewed
the facts of theoase,aad said thut uxioiu i be w$t always t<>
si • i :■ p u iv of election, he could act some to the oenelosloo thai
than vas 003 improper ox unfair dealing on the pari of tha
promoton of tih< Public Library in tin 11 I iec 1'liore v
substantial majority of ratepayers in favour Qt tita yv \<*c&,VC<A
there VBS ftOtnUJgtG show that the election \\tv\ fcWft WBWS^Ka
314
PUBLIC LIBRAE IK*.
than fairly arul ln-.iiminthh conducted Mi'. Justice Wills con-
curred, Linil the rule was accordingly discharged.
Thi* settled 'lie litigation fn* tin time hcing, and on Noi
Iit :' >, !>>>.!> |trcmitictt were opened in Tyo*
Those hare been well n»c<l, ami will, jiu doubt, continue to bo
weO patronised until the completion of the new building nuw En
course of erection. The foundation-stone of tfcit permanent
building WBS laid on March 8. 1990, on a site given by the
Skinners1 Gompany< The boiKnOfl ifl being erected from the
designs of Messrs Karalako&MortinoorbyMoBBre. J. McCorn
& .Sony, mid is estimated to cost about Utf.oou. It is situated
within the most thickly-populated part of the pariah At Che
laying oi the stone, the Rev i fit Rose, m.a., the chairman
of tin? roiimiixsioni'rM, Bflid that somebody hatl complained that
OI.RBKSNWBLL PTBLIO LIUItAHA*, FIBfiT I'l.ooir.
the number of \olumea oi' poetry taken out I'rom the Library was
v iv Miuill, and raised a laugh by saying tliul, whoever hud made
thai statement, if they would gu dial lire in Clerkcnwel) it is
Kububle they would have aome ol the poetrj cruahed out of
em. The work is in charge of the energetic libra
James D. Crown, and the organizing of the library lui>
exceedingly well carried out,
TIaxmbs8nith. December, 1887.
It ia cheering to look back upon the attempt to get the
:niopi-."i in tins parnsh ol 100,000, The" West London Observer "■
and other papers threw open their columns for b full discussion of
the subject A.pjrovSstonal committee, with an axco)lenl h 1 1
fiivrvTaiy in Mi*. H P. l\dw-ir.U, was l..nm«il,:iml The whols jmrlRri
war mage a wars tl what iram going torwaid Man? iimuwunU
\
PI UI.IC UBHAH1KS \y I.'iN!»>\.
315
til leaflets were distributed, nud when the vote was taken the
in.ijr ■ritiy in favour o! I lie m 'lu'iiio u .:> inm v I 1.1,1 I «itr ah lar^c a*
the minority a opposition. During the time the question was [a
wrogrew refeirncrs were m;i.i. |-.i the hcuw iu Et&TQnseoiirl Park.
Flammersniith, being suitable tor a library, ami, after an Interval
of a little over two yours, this has become an accomplished fcu :t.
Th. time between wu* absorbed in tbe acquinibion of tlie park by
the London County ('<iai.il jis u park for the jx'oph: for ever.
They then (jfovc the commissioners the use of the house as alibrary
aud rendin#-room at a nominal rent, and on March If', 1800, tbe
Library n n ideolan dopei by BfrJohn Lubbock, Ml'., who has bud
o im.iY tiinr n ii i i m direction of late. The lino uUi mansion where
the ili:);. ifl housed has (juite an interesting local history. Tho
original munmon in the park seems to have dated book to about
the fourteenth century. This is not I lie place to enter into
il- riOiiattudee Sbioe then, bttt it lias fallen to a happy uud satis-
factory use at last. In August, 1889, several rooms were opened
a« reading-rooms, and have from the first been used by the public
in a way to gratify the hearts of all who have taken an interest in
iir n..viaina:t. Bar San I Martinis the Ubrarian. The chairman
of the cornnriflsfoners is the Rev, J. it. Snowden, and among the
♦ rare Mr. R. P, Ld wards and Dr. (rood. Tho prospect* ol thi
Unary are decidedly bright
SouTnwAiiii (Cumsr Umritcu). Fjumwaay, 1888k
Tills Is one of the smallest parishes, mid the majority III favour
of thr adoption was 234, In April of 1888 the commissioners
were appointed, and on October i. 1889, the Bbrary and reading-
room were opened al the Albert Institute, Charles Street, Black-
Wart Road. The library rate, however, only produce*, about IMOOu
.year, and this was ml her a Miiall amount to commence operations
willi, seeing that premises had to be found and n slock of books
Secured. Tlie eoimui**i(>ner* fouud some difficulty in getting
suitable premises, the i-iuesiioLi of cost presenting a ureal obstacle.
Ultimately the trustees of the Albert Institute, which is an
institution intended for working men, offered a portion of the
i>iiii<ViiL' and (he lower portion of the premises bos been obtained
for the purposes of the library at a rental of £oO i year. There
is a well-lighted reading-room, which is furnielied "with current
literature, including the doily itnpers and principal magazines.
kbotrt -.-">'> volumes >f varied literature conetHulfl the Dhrary.
Tho issue is at present small.
('AMBBUWEI.L. .lAVHARV. 1889.
Tlie question was introduced here by tho offer oi Mr. Gcorjrc
Lively, made in Marcl . 1888, ofo site and a new building in the
Old Kent Road Thirteen years previously a vote was taken in
9 well, .1 i 1 the question was answered ir; the negative by a
considerable majority. In January. 1S8S>, when the matter OMBe
again forward! the j>"ii resulted So I L407 rato^avete YQtfa&tfft Q&fl
proposal, and 4,357 against. In artditKi Km -\ v- v:\tov\yi w we
sie
rrnr.K unn mmi-.
question, the retcpoj ■ 101 oted for the ad tj.tion of the Actt
vert naked t<> state whether they favoured a mto [cried a? W. *
-si., or Id., "i- <i in the v, with the result that 909 voted for the
M. rate, 1,7*3 rortbs fcd, rate L4Sfov the ,m rate, and 9,g«7 tor
too Id rata ho latter <;"ne outturn luring the opponents of the
proposal i»; ".-l." I'll-1 "South London rivv^ ' ,]],( it | siTvitrn
En bringing about the adoption <»i the Acts In i amherwell > It
has done in other districts. Tn Novembpr, i -:*!■«, the advertlRprnwil
appeared in the usual ■iomv.vs lor i librarian. There wcro over
.**»() applications, and among th>'m one from a member of die
Camlierwell Vestrjr. Some of the t»'*t known ami moat
experienced librarians in tin* count?} responded to the adverttao-
merit, and out uf then the commissionere sent for fourteen.
After the intervlewe had token place the company were
regaled with ten while the cominJsBioncra were.it wut thought,
uioking their riinii-r, in due course the company were
politely informed thai a gentleman had l»een appointed.
The choice bad fallen on one of their own number, a veetry-
num. whose name appears as a member of the vestry in toe
report of the prooeeain&a of that body at their meeting on
January 22, 1890, several weeks after bo had received the
appointment. The library movement is young in London, and it
is most essential that every library should begin its work well.
In the organizing of n new Public Library anywhere, practical
training and axperSenoe ore necessary, and due Ifl particularly
true of the London libraries'
Lambeth and Camberwcll have combined in the working of the
Miiiet Library, the gift of Mr. W. Minor, wliuh st.cidn on the
coufincs of the two parishes. An agreement has been entered
into between the coiuniieerionerfi of 'ho two parlehee, the chief
features of which agreement ore that the library ia to be used by
the ratepayers of both the parishes of CamberweU and Lambeth,
and that it is to be under the control of a joint committee, hall' to
be sleeted I j the oommUsionera of Lambeth} and the other half
by the commissioners of Camberwell. A separate hanking
account is to |>e kept in the name ot the eommittee. Mr.
Courtney is the librarian.
At the time al writing1, this library, the Camborwell aen
i:lnji\ n old Ken. Itoad aud the library at Myall's Field*, :nv
in course of erection Tempi miry rooms have been take
High Street, Peelchara atr. Foskctt is the chlel librarian,
STftEATHAM. PECBMDKtt, 1689.
London parishes are very much like the scotch burgh*. K a
id ntfi'v is made toward* liui'din^' ;uid ln»r.);s, Iheiv u un
Iculty about adopting Uie Acts, Mr. Henry late, of Liver] I
Streatham, who has bees one of the princerj givers to Public
Library aud other purposes, offered to erect, al aoonl ol £6,000 i
butidwgfora Public Library, and on tl i era being;
yy/ifthrr (Jiry won- willing to incur l\\e w*\ o\ UWduWUttUtM
PI B1 1 I.IBH MiUBS I < U 0TH0H
317
windy asid "ye*" wii'i alacritj— thai i*, !\v two ti> one, Mr. Tote
Kresat tin- [«i|. .a sin- a i no < ^mmon, and Ms handsomo residence
Command* :. line riew ol the Surrey hills, even as far no Epeora
Downs. He ie rich andbenevoka^anddititribateBhisbanefaG^ianB
with wi-i'l-'in. tnd in the m***t wnistciitntion* muuncr. The inM
that a rii h Londoner thinks «>f is to make a toncfoction in
In', ufoti i o to tin.- public. Mr. 'I'll-- In surrounded at Strv&thmii
by merchant princes who have n good deal to loam from the eea 6 1
od - ' ''- Me p lUanttu1 >py of then' popular QSJgBtbOUg. VOKJ
Mr. Toto raado It a condition ->i hje gift that the Acts
.In i,I 1 bo adopted for mm n ten one e.
The now hhniry 1ms been commenced. The style of the
building rt t'ioek, and the whole ot the facing u to he Portland
hi mil', the most prominent feature being a large cupola (covered
v.fl. soppor and supported on an arcade) over the main entrance.
The Soon of till the public rooms are to be of wood '■locks.
and the walls planter 6fl sod deeorated. end the coved ceilings In
fibrous plaster. The lYmtmctnrs tor the building and nttlngfl are
Ueurs, Hiirgt. & Hill, and th >st (excluslv site) will in*
abort tiflSS,
U'lnifi ii u-ix. DBOUCBHHj I 9SB
Well done, Wbitccrtapell A short, earnest ud splendid agita-
tion, followed bj ■ success as distinol as ii was eneoitablo to all
concerned. 'Pie totes h Pai »ur were 8,558, and the votes againsl
wtrii.- 't-'i'. Tin l!»-v. s. A. Beraetfc, B. A,, ono of the wannest sad
raait deroted friends the people ever bad anywhere) ticked the
public for £<5,000 toward* the formation of the library. pr< \iding
1 1 u- Acta were adopted There viwa jyooxl response, and tin-.
doubt, helped the movement most materially. The main strength,
however, came from n system ifcic onDvass ol the greater portion
of the parish. Thte was dona before the Noting papers had been
distributed, and ngain during the dny on which they wore
iictiiilly in the houses of the voters. Nearly u hundred men and
i on were working hard on that day to eeoure n Bntisfnetory
|p«ll,:iiid :l ua> greatly ovsiny to il ■ i !i ■■ - .■ vohml try
workers that the jn.il was*., biry. Hi*.- elfeeN i.f -\>tematW and
vigorous eauvass were never better illustrated in the entire
I history of the movement than in Whiteehapslj and to offfuninlnff
this work Toynbee Elall rendered :i valuable servf ce roe little
parnphle! specialty addressed t - . working men hy Mr. s. Hales,
thoubmrios "i the Toynbes Students' Library, pc4nt£na out the
apodal arihty of those Institutions t<> working men contributed, no
doubt, to the encouraging result of the poll. There ire bo many
misconception* about Public Libraries thai a hnufte-to-honM
canvass, where these Institutions are uuknown, and in u large
parish j isvnv advisable i ►Wool lone can I* answered as advanced,
and altojteUn i I lie plan tends 1 1 1 loar the six and to excite nubile
Interest in a way which leads grcatfy to the mot ess of the bora j
i he i once established. The commissioners were Immediately
appomte I, and hare bei u uble to report ptogcea«. \\ a a \\> ■
31*
rt'BUO LIUBAniK--
to commend the notion oi the Whitochapcd Veatay, some time
fTior to the poll a sjii'i-.tiiiin It tee of tlif vestry li:ul Iwmmi formed
cr the purpose of inqoMng and reporting upon the adoption <»i
the Acts in the parish. \eting :is :t l*>dy the vest ry h:nl rendered
every facility, and if the vestries oi n<> forty-seven purishes Bti i
to enrol will follow the DhUl Of the WWtechapel Vestry W8 $haU
sfion see London with ft network of Pnhlfc Libraries. Plans are
being decided upon tor* building In the High Street Tin- Rer.
Dun ftrentorex, B.D. rloar of St. Paul's, Dock Street, ;i memb r
of the Wrdteehapel District Board of Works, has offer ed to the
Library Commissioners hiaci>Uection of relics, fossils, curios, works
uf art, &c.j if it £■ intended i«» have in connection with the lihrarj
a luusemn or art class. He hue been collecting Ms mnaeuro rot
lifty years, und his exhibits would make a good beginning.
Storu XiiwiMJToy. Fburoajiy, 1*!X>,
This was die first parish to London wnich adopted the Ann in
and b.v fcbc Marnier in which tin: [Jiupusul v.a* taken up and
carried through did itself infinite credit. The statutory mei
was largely attended, ami in every way was representative m
.ill classes sod sections oi the local coxninunibyi Only a few
hands were held m> against the proposal thai fcbe Acts be
adopted, Uld DO pell vn« demanded. The Rev. ,1. f'art:rirl
lLubinAon ami others rendered excellent ncmce in preparing the
way r«.»r the movement, r.mj'.ii; to j head, The commissioners
! wer< Mr. Joseph Beck, L.CCL Mr. J. 0. Collins. BIr.
William Eve, .Mr. rhomos Greenwood, Mr. J. J. ftttnte, Sir E,
A. EgagG. Mr. John Bamson, Mr. Matthew Shaw, and the Rot.
Prebendary Shelford, rector, who was olectcd chairmen. Theac
are all keen]} in boucn with the purpose and usee of b Public
Library. The eonamisdoneri are in the early stages of
ouatng plana, bn1 win be able to render on account of
. ii'\- raTdsl i[> when the Ume- comes.
The GtmaoXUaL Pcblic Library.
The handsome and well-furnished reading,-iiN>in of the Guildhall
Librarj Ifl »i hive of readers and students Erom the time ii is
opened in Hie nipnniiLr iinl-il ft p.m., the hour Of rlnslnjr. The
total Dumber >■ relumes in now about 70,000, am I as <i reference
library 1ft stands in London second to the British Museum, All
libraries hare a history from the (act tint they are the %n » h "i
('ears, and never ceiwe to grow ; bat the history of sonae Libraries
s esceptionalry interesting', and that is the case « Ub
library, Xh< first mention of << 11 trary al the Chaildhall « is con-
tained in the records of the Corporation ►! Ihi year 1436, w ten
ihc ni:r.i.i_-i.' in <>t Kieiiard v7hitttagton*s library and the
bo tding erected for it waa placed in the hands of the executors
oi William Bury. Whittington's executor, John Carpenter,
moc clerk, '■»il foondei oi the ■ >1 London School,
st/ppnrffti tin- *ii -r ii i ■, and i<. mi lihrari t i it, the
books to tx: cfaainod u ttic library, ^ nna^Vj wA ft '•
PUBLIC MBRAIIIBR IS E^KBOtf.
310
collection ri.'mLLtiift, iuv, according to SUiw, iii tho reign of
Edward VLt the iVotector Somerset took away the book* with a
?romise to restore them shortly, but they wore never returned.
his act Of rnparjty pn-ihnhly happened m 1669. VI ;i volume or
i v. ta s catalogue it Known t« be preserved, but there is yet room
for hope that sonic may i>»* discovered in the MS. stores of some
other library. from [660 i" 183J do steps were taken to re-
i.hsh She Ubiety. Bui to tne latter year Uie Court of CcHiimon
i louHOil unanimously referred it t«* a npoeial committee to consider
a* to providing a library, and tho rooms oi Hip Irish Society were
adapted with : tin ■ object, 6500 wns voted for the outfit, and £200
annually for the maintenance. En L6S8 il 8 library was opened*
with Loo^ works in 1,700 volumes In 1840 ii became necessary
to make extensive addition* to Ihc premises In 1855 a meeting
wns convened at. the Mansion House, the Lord Mayor presiding,
but the proposition to establish a Public Library wan rejected by
the citizens. In !--■"' ', Imwi-vi-r, l-nj tiln'jrv was thrown Open to
readers by ticket, and members of the Corporation wen-, permitted
to borrow books tur home reading. In the year 1*0}) the Common
Council carried a. motion for the erection or a new library .-mil
museum, at a- COSt of t'2'»,OfK), and iu 1872 the new building wae
publicly opened. In the old library not morn than twenty
renders could be accommodated at a time. The new building
will accommodate L 60 readers. The number of readers *1 once
rose from l-MJlfl iu 1888 to 173,660 in 1874, the first complete year
nf (lie new library. At the present time the number of Yti I op
to the roxloui doparta bee some 100/300 a year. All
th.it is required lor the privilege of using the library i« the
signing of a book on entering atr. Charles Welch is Ens obiei
li'M'ii'um, and hut-. Iwon on the staff of the library mil- 1- ;i,
graduating through the various stages until he ha* reached thfl
highest post of all. The one pressing need in tho city is tor a
lending library, a more commodious general Fea4inff*ronm. nnd
better qnarteni for the museum. There is an especial want of a
1 boys' reading-room, and Mr. Welch and nil «tatt" would be glad
to see such a room established, Ths anniber of clarion, office and
warahouse boys who would make use of a lending library, wore
one established, is legion. Is there no city man of wealth who
will tat £36,000 to £60,000 BeoUM fame nnd immortality by
ottering to hnild pre mines for these Sections Of the (liiilithiiii
work? ii the street* ol the sacred square mile are not paved
with gold, there arc ur least a large number of men WTifl to
bnmneas premise* along those streets have deeply lined their
pockct.H with gold, to whom such a sum as Ilia! nai icd would
be but trivial. A special Act could aaefly be obtained Ear the Clter,
and a farthing rale for the year wotdd provide Income enough
foi maintenance,
The Paibkt Office Ljbbajiy.
;
ting of about 100,000 \olame*,\t\\.Ve"V#««M«CTk>.
Office buildings, Southampton Building, * A.av\*, ^ *■- -i
00
HTBLXC IJBKABIT^.
n<i 'i- ii fn to h'- I- i'-i:«-. •••■<:,•, (. , th< bettei ipprocMed Ibe
: i infined exctaftivoly Ii
BnglM) ainHiM ••■:■■! en! !■■ ..'.i". r Lntcdwrfch patent*, hut there
WOtOnc ili"» ■■tui'J" "i vwIuiiki deahn# with crcry departni' I
■ \> n< i I Hi'-1 HIiimtv i* strong i
cmii'I vulniiii'i <■! ill'" l'-:irn<-<l i'H-lctie TOigTU
n': l!v :i !llil*.ri'Vi I tool uw:i\ iiIh! SpCCiltl litcrOt'.
ii h ii grant boon to the public. A further eoetuju ol thfl
work "i thii useful library la the providing of a large selection of
trade ond gIb&i Journal ol English, Unorican, and Continental
Soother! brarj in England, except the Britwh Museum,
tin* »o ffood i collection oi tli"^- uvlinical publications, and <
■ ■in-.. Si i ■ .i«' | o 'i "in i»y :i very large number of person
i ii. :n;i i. imii or too library \b divided Into eight alcoves, as
ogemcnl "i the books in claases In these alcoves \h cx«vll«*nt.
m the mMdlfi of tha al sen <• 18 n table far the use .. r m [or . with
pem* and Ink. There areaJeon i-onsfdei'aUe number ol smaller
roama. Tin* readoi help* hhnaclfto ili>- book*, tnkiny rin>m down
.i' \iiii,.iii<l retaining them lo their place* when he htm done with
them. Tbl&ifl the kUftralfan plan loi reference libraries, and bo
Earna be Patent Office Lfbraxy fo concerned Ifeanpeara to work
well. 1 1 ■« Iflfl (|'v i ■ rotkintaincd north From the onormoue revenne
ol the i' ■ • n ' ifteei and for the purohaflt • i i u Teal publications
there ht a email annual grant from Parliament, But in add it ion to
debited to the Stationery Office which
\ belong to bnii librtw. The Patentfl Department ii one
i which Hit UntMi |uiMif know little W far aa BppUei to H»
ITio annual statement of [taocoouatt fe not seen few
wunj outidde those Lnamodtatohf interested. The hii.u-, and
mi ire nothing more than »'"'i reasonably be expected ol
« iih in.- targe Muds at their disposal The mum-,
ipen n 'in 10 it to to p.nx The attendant en moat
ear cw ee,000 people need the I braxi
about •'» haj '-"' ilaltlng it in the evening.
M"\ BBCKNT8 i\ PEOGRE8S.
Daprvonn.
Deptfunl refused to wlopt tht Lota la 1880; but the poll was by
Ih'ii w,*i> new. Al'uiit rwi-i
i to the
Kell w ' i1 pi mm.., in a i.-v
I
■ '■■ • pariah, for the ■
art not nc« Ii
large town* and, by antvenu
.
ug>wi i u •« ,:-v ,;■(!,, a iKi^ribouriotf parish, wew
«r\-.| then , four
n.aiKl thcreeu
HiiMrmpr '"i^^wit.liiilr. iv^ncl
r-rniiU i.iuitAiinv> in r.ONonrv.
that the people of Wandsworth know In v, toappreci ate a library P
And are Mi«- pCOple of Oeptfnrd mo vci> tiillt-ivul >' We rln-ni'uiv
appeal to you to record your vote in favour, so that we ma y
realize the name advantage." The poll was against the adoption ;
but, as the question now stands on a much higher level than was
the case in 1886, Dcptford, it ffl hoped, will try n^niu, The move-
ment ha6 many earnest friends in the neighbourhood.
Hamiweai>,
The question is earning forward in this largo parish, and the
vote wfll be t:iki?n r.'i'y shortly. There are over fjOOO ratepayers,
Many earnest Ertenda of the movement reside In the riiatviot, end
it la to be hoped that these will Bet about educating the lOCOJ
public upon The subject before the vore is taken.
Hoi.no hn.
The political club* QD both isides have introduced the *ubject,
and are tftking steps for bringing it to the front. It is to be
hoped that in every way the political element will be kept out.
The fact cannot bo too prominently kept in view that in this
question neither polities HOT 0M6ds are known. Holbom means
to havo ita Public Library.
Ipi.ingtok.
Islington, with DTOr a million and B half population, has mndo
Jfvcrnl attempts to earrj the Act*, luil ha* not yet Nuccfloded.
The last movement was in April. 1667. Outol 88,006 r.depjyei-s
who were called upon to exprex* :m i»pn ion, -".:,.'l- only voted.
Of the*r, 10,152 voted fur the adoptiou of the Acts, and (5,776
against it. Those agamat did not Conn uite-half of the total
uumlter of ptraotis with a vote, being really i\O50 less thun a
moiety of the ratepayers Thus, while the advocates of the
Hbrary had the satisuwtion oi knowing that their opponenlB did
nut number a majority of the ratepayers, they had to Lament that
only 10,162 of those who aro certainly not against them, and arc
presumably their friends, took the trouble to record a vote. It
cannot be denied that much of fcbSe apathy was due to the fact
that very little effort was made to enlighten the ratepayers 00
the subject at iaane. To carry n measure such Bfl 0 Public Library
requires Bomething mure than the more pr08< ntatlon of Q rOqtUai-
i r ■ >:i to the ororeeew. Xhete should have bean an active oaavana,
I'in.'i there was not, and those who had taken an interest in fin*
matter saw at'torwurds tho mistake which had booamada. The
aueatioa in again cnung forward Ofld there 18 OVnty probability
i:.t when iii. bason are again published there will baa happy
Mir::igu I'ltwoen tin* vast pariah and the Public J.ibrary movo-
i-lmgiMii i^ maJdngap its mind thai it will not bfl left
hind in toll book race.
Lbu.
In February, 18Q0>tfae ijtweticn woe introduced ia the vestry 1 1
la pariah. Tlio ratable value i.i not large, but would he enough.
3*J
ITllUC LIIiBAftlBS.
forpresont purports, Some earnest friemlu arc gathering together,
and noon there will bfl nn efTort to carry the Ari
Lkwisham.
The iimi!<T \e again ooniing ite&dfh forward In Lcwisham.
i ri h li:i.. u ^cmkI ratable value, whi.-h will enable them t.
plant isq ■ utrnl library and do something for the outlying
pari* he*. A committee Iiuk been formed at the time of writing,
■nd Lcwiftham will soon bo added to the lint.
Nbwingioit.
a poU wan taken in February, 1888, with the result that a
majority of 713 were againxt the adoption. Over one-third
abstained from voting— flu result, it (k to bo feared, of it little
undue haste in bringing thn matter tn an Easuej and an serious
afeep h^lng taken t.o ediica.tr the people upon the subject, it;
agnin, Xewingtnn, and next lime with :i fatter result. The one
i feature about the movement was that the majority en" the
member* were in favour of the movement.
St. Gkouoes, fUxovnn SQUABS.
On acveral occasions during the latter part of 1888 and I
the question lias been discussed in the vestry, but it was then
thought th.it the- time VM not opportune. In the early part of
1890 the subject waa again mentioned, and soon there is even
prospect that one of the wealthiest partaker* i:i all Luiidon will
settie t):o question in i.isinii of the adoption. An influential
meeting was held in May. 1890, for rite promotion of the
menfri
E I . PaN( JtAfl.
Xenr tin- large tiM-miiii of Buaton and Bti Paocras a huge notice
board oaed to announce Ihe fact that a larye piece <•( /mund
in rin Enaton Road was the site for a PaWic Library. >.< h .
however, the oolite luw been withdrawn, aud the lite uaed
forothei purposes. There waa Founded in 1X77 a small library
in tfae Camden Hull within the pariah, and this has been Mip-
Crtcd from that time by voluntary contributions. The pariah
3 a population of close upon A quarto? of ft million, When the
movement waa in progress in 1887-t- a strong committee worked
1 igOTCUfily to educate the people hy mcanB of ward meet inn* nnd
a distribution of litem ture. The eohemo wae for two central
libraries bo he established, with n number of smaller branches.
Libera! BObSOriptiOM were promised, and pood work waa done,
bttl St. runeraa naa not yet adopted the Acta. The old committee
orroa an excellent nuctaru for again renewing the campaign, and
it is to be hoped that ttdawtl] beat an early date si Paaorae
cannot afford r« be left i>etiin<l in this movement. The oheme
for large Potytoohnice to be established in varioui i
London has retarded the Public Library movement in St ('Micros,
(tut the one vital difference betwuiMi tin* prno'K.wj l-'oly'oehnies
ij aw ii.. ■;. ire rounded and Public libraries is, that :in« :
are DSdai popular control, and the former nre not. A halfpenny
I'l ii. ir i. ii IU1MJW l> I.ONHON.
323
rait- in St. l'amius will solu- tin- ilifBcultv in a manner that the
echniCH will iiput l« able toaceompbsh.
TOPLAB.
The proposal is corning forward here, and there is ev.ry
froMjH'.-i oJ .success. Meetings '"v '< '*' held in tlio middle W
Ma
Woolwich and Pi.tnusTnAn.
The*e two adjoining parishes have several times discussed the
question, and in April, 1**7, took the vote. In Woolwich 4*779
papers were delivered, and of these 2,310 voted against the Acts,
:onl K:V. in r;ivniir of lln adoption. ['himsfead wa.s almost as
emphatic In Its "No/* and tins is largely to be Attributed Do the
landlords threatening if the poll was carried fib raise the rente of
their tenanta This is another of theevils of landlords paying the
rates instead of the tenant, in May, J £90, a further attempt
was made to cany the adoption ul' the Acta, The majority
against the proposal was 5flfl. More requiros bo be dune tu
educate the local public upuii the question.
The following are outside the metropolitan area; —
ObBHWICS, M Alien, IKttO.
The heft r educator Of public opinion on Thisi'jneAtTon Is to hove
one or more Public Libraries in the near neighnonrhood an objeet-
lemoru. This was the rase at Ohtawick, end on March to, 1*90, a
public meethag of the ratepayers win lieW at the Vestry Hnll,
Turnhain Qreen, in order tc determine whether the Act* should
be adopted for the urban sanitary district of Chiewick, Tlie
chairman of the Loral Board mended over jl large attendance,
I >i . I <urdun Hogg proposed, and Alderman 13. Hardy seconded, a
motion in favour of the adoption of the Ad*, which, on being put
the meeting wa* carried, only live voting against it. One of
atientv demanded a poll, which ft is estimated will coat
The poll took place one week afterwards, with a result of
six to one in favour. The poll waa not a large one.
Oaoxoozf.
At the end of 188fi a poll wafl token, and tho majority against
was seventy-three. This was sufficient reason why a further
:;tt.-mpt should have been made in fiforeml or, 11^8. The litiga-
tion whieh ensued, respecting compound houn-lndilyra baring
permitted Bo vote, has been retorred to in another chapter.
\M necessarily caused some delay, and it was unfortunate that
following this, there should have been a farther delay, owing to
the Qlnen and anbeequent deatk oi Mr. Sail, che librarian Now,
heweWi matters aw ussnnring something like form, and the
building was opened without ceremony on March 31,1660. The
movement t» v Hw adaption of tin* Arts was well and spiritedly
eondnetad. The leaden wore well aided bj the chut VwaX
p.'IK
papa
394
.i\niKs
Eauto
The library here is now housed in now quartore, On December
Ifi, 188h tho Prince ni \\ oloi openod the now public bufldingi
nln.'li tne library forms part. The library, in ttit- east wing, in
approuched by a single doorway similar to the double doofw i
ii;. ma i> entrance. On the around door are the reference library,
»K rc. by 291 ft, ; the lending: deportment, 39 ft. by 28 ft. ; and at
thfl north end the reading-room. 31' ft. by i'<5 It. Tho whole of the
area covered by these departments is ]ialf-h:i*emnnt*ij With two
large class-room* Mr tin.* science and art department, the eeutre
. devoted to the library, with a. lilt to the lending; aepartmenl
Tor some five or siv yeirw the work had been miried en in
premises boob 'omul in be inadequate to its requirement* 1 1 u
number nf volumes Is 6,939 in the lending department, and UK)
for reference. The turnover tor (lie year was 113,387 volumes,
giving n daily average of MS volume* for the 247 days on «
Ejie l.brary was open. The attendance .i the reading-room in Ehc
old pran&ee averaged 100 per day Now, in the better roome,
it is (joo. which to a stffnlncanl increase. Mi. TTioinas Bonner
ia the librarian, und hu& just received it well-merited increase Jn
his salary.
ItlClIHOM*.
This library trae founded to 1*81, and baa done and hi doing a
capital wui\i. At tlic il.itr of the last report there were 10,030
volumes, and these had bees Uwued in the twelve montha 106,966
times, and yet out of this large turnover not a volume waa lost.
An excellent feature ol thfl work i* »>,*1IH volume* in the reference
section, welch, for s small library, ia rcry creditable- the amount
derived from fines is over 1*70 n pear. The rate only produ
moderate income, and about seventy persons pay u shilling
monthly 3ub9oripiion,aplan which Mr. frank Pacy, the librarian,
has organised
bTHATPoan.
Stratford, nr West Ham, thought that it had settled he
mieatton i»y Hbatutory meeting lit I«ft7 ; hut there was, it In stated
some Raw in the railing- of the meeting, and »u an rurntwl effort
Is now being made < * « place bheiinestloD on a firmer Footing than
wae the case three yooraago, Trie Ratepayers' Association hera\
.!> in manj i ther London ourlshee, is doing n most useful woHi ta
educating the public mind upon the cruetstum. Kltcrc
appearance that Mm ■■■■.-. in assured,
TvflCh K.N 11A.M.
Twickenham being; the place - E Alexander Pope the committee
of the Public library, und the librarian, Mr. Afaynard, havi t
tanda ■ taolleh a Pope Library, In I8& iiin.-woaa
Pope Commemoration Festival, and thin tod to providing
funds for thifl purpose, 'the hwiml-- number »f vol-une* lent to
borrower from the lending deportment was tw.-ntv-Movoi
Vtuloh ffiw* a book u fortnight to each ticket holder.
hLUUi; UIHLA1UKS IN LONDON.
W IMBLRDON.
I'n m (lie iwrnurl nniii.il repniT ir U evident thai when Mr John
Lubbock prophesied jit the opening eeremony, about two yeftffi
ago, that he was certain the Wirablcdoniflns were thirsting for
such ;ui Institution, ii" wns not far wrong. The total number of
visits of readers has been l44/)99, a daily average of 4(U. The
number of magazinee, periodicals, ami newspaper* hijppiied in Uie
reiiiliiix'-iouni is 184, and Hit- total number ■ >T TOnUnea in the
cdci library [a 1,502. The number ui" burrow eis' ticket-*
issued in connection wtth the Lending library was '2.U7, an
i or the rear of 304, and the total issue oi books or
W_asM/)!Kl, .nUU.v ■an.-u-e pf $M SI] X, EL R&bUvt fc
DHSCOOESBFUL ATTEMPTS,
Actov.
In March and April, 1887, an attti i|»t wan mode, to CftTTJ fchfl
The poll was harried forward, and onwlstuj so. The i»<ll
'in April of the year named showed a decided majority
against the Acts. One of the opponents i ftde much of 0 ---'■--
■ i "f his own, that Acton would find a good soup kitchen a
/r ■.! .. r attraction than a Public Library Another speaker n>1 ;»
public meeting for the discussion of the question made much of
thofaot that between lB59*ad L881 is Manchester the oxpendi-
ture of the libraries bad grown from i"l,3GfJ to 1*10,000. Tin-
ning was manifestly unfair. In the Bret instance it was ctnlj
)i pi iiny rate in 1852 and 1881, and instead of having at tin Bml
date one library there wore in 1881 a verjmucfa larger cuffiher,
Evidently more light on tho question i» required at Acton, and
the three years which have intervened »inee the last attempt
xiKc.iid ;ni ka Eha nuestloa again ripe.
TOTI'BWHAM.
Iln* ijucAtiou beguu to be seriously diseuwed here In October,
1699. Early in Decemijer of Lbs soma yew a statutory nice
wa* called. The show of hands was nT favour, but on "a poll the
Question was lost, Tottenham greatly needs a Public Lib
' !'! reading-rooms, and will* before very long, be &U10D£ the
places possessing these institutiuus.
:
Tns Chajh i v OoMamWro'OTBa ahi> Piblio IjHbakijss.
A Her some yeare of careful consideration the Chnrity Com-
nUseJonera published tho draft of their scheme for tho appueal 1 1
and management of the tnn<U and property of the City it London
Parochial Charities. This scheme first o&tne before tho public ba
September, 18*1', and must have t-een invatly li ing to aU
whi have taken vt\ active mteresl m the VuAO.v V&sceargxfi
t i:;/,:vj. not a single rate<eunpar\Qd utorcr^ w ^rnsftawatoj^
o be bonded or hWpod out of iV ml fcon&a «& ©a* WW* -'■
326
PL3LIC IJHKAiill-,s,
til l!:. ' ' ■t:!ihii>;.h:i:t-i>. Mt . i ■ - ■ i '_•. 1 iU> an' .1 (wvermuent *1«-
l»artmeuL engaged in suh:ii»i»leriog public money, they have
aid only En charitable institution*, and prefer to pauperise,
SO Ear Be book* are e.xieei'ued. rather than to stimulate self-
ln [Jp. The whole scheme of the Commissioners displays pro-
I. and diotrttit of the principle of popular control, and in thin
there seeius to lie the whole key of the situation. It is
intpoeeible bo so minutely into the wbotc details of their plan,
cmbi-ucluir Bj it does (inancial aid to City churches where tl 10
congregation usually reaches four and a small boy. A sum of
£80,000 ia to go in founding "Free" Libraries in connection with
the c-h.-iriti--^ (."'longing to St. Botolph, Bi.shopbL.-o.to, and St Q U
Cripplogato. Tho central body appointed by the Beolosiastioai
Commissioners and other nominee: are to pay out of the income
of tho central or general fund an annual payment bo tho Bishopsgate
"l-'rce" Library of CSjOOO; to specified rolytechnioa, £19,eWj to
other specified institutions and evening dosses, £700; and to other
Polytechnics or institutions, £5.000. A bidder scheme, or more
Impracticable way of helping Public Libraries, was never launched.
Ihe OommiBsionew waan their hands of oven thing which cannot
be controlled from Whitehall. Surely the day has passed wliun
the people need to have their honks and ncwstiapeiN placed before
them by means of charity. Fifty yean ago each n plan would
have done g»od; hut now, when people havu luaraed nowwlselj
riir aggregate of the penny in the ]>nun(l can he .spent In well-
planned and weH-flfled buildings, of which Micy and their farnilfM
ran make the fullest uae, .mil m which they contribute their quota
towards maintenance, they have ceased to cure rorthetnstftm i ■
which ;» kindly chnrity provide** Hie misappropriation Of Old
educational endowmente u a crying Hluunotoue asa nation. The
evils and abuser- which mm surround these old endowments arc
traceable to the absence of popular control by the elected repre-
sentatives of the people. The perpetuation of such a rotten system
by ^l Government, depart&uuu oughl aereg to nave been contem-
plated. When these proposed libraries reach the brick-aud-
mortar stage, and get in actual working order, it will serve as n
most useful lesson of contrast with tho rate-supported libraries
under popular conrro 1 . The charity ^tatnp will, unlc«> we ireatl^
misread the spirit and tendency of the age, paralyze the
Or pplcgntc ana Biehopagatc Libraries.
Notes fok Commissioned^.
When tho commissioners are appointed one of tholr Brat di
will bfl that of selecting a soul. Designs cun readily ' btuined
from tome of the leading stationers. Si preeepl f »r the rate will
he panted by the veetry oahsae it bean the official seal of 1 1 ■ * -
ooraimaaloDon. H is cnatozaarj to mop tfo wtal m o bos
fastened hv two locks. The cliairman and one of tho
miadonars baTa each one of the two keys of one lo Ic, and i
///'• reiuafofng connuiBiionere nave* v»v ot the other I iok Tw
''"'' oonBoquoatiy to 1 1 praojofc^rtMSa \m otan w avewse-
ITBLIC LIBRARIES IN LOM'ON.
327
One of the first steps of the commissioners should lie to divide
themselves into nui>-eommittec-s, comprising ;> bcoi committee,
a finance committee, and a building committee. Tin- trans-
actions of these ^ulwommitteea have of course to l>o reported ml
ratified by the whole body,
There has Ik'Oij a tendency in the rertmoiiie.s *>r luyinj: inunda-
tion stones of Borne of the London Public hihi-aries, t< pred-de
the well and truly laying ot the *t >r>.- hy a religion* aarvit p. Thia
is very good, but when that service is exclusively ec'lesinstienl and
that Of ft Efigfc Ohnreh character, including a choir to gfw the
MSpanflOB, t would flOOTO that this is carrying the matter a little too
tar. By all moans let there be a religious service, but m that case
a Nonconformist minister should be asked to take ]>art in it. Tine
Pttblie Library is not u branch of the Church, even Although thu
rector of the palish may occupy the posit i'<n <t <'hairmau oi the
i.-omrni«uoners. The library is supported by all classes, and for
use ot nil classes, and" every attempt to give a creed or a
cast to it* proceedings or work is a wrong committed
against The movement.
The question of opejitag temporary premises during the erection
ii permanent building is one which uperhapH more auutefy Celt
lAindon than in tin* provinces. Where there U ;i prosped of
rftig a building erected and open wtthin twelve or eighteen
months From the time the Arts arc- adopted, it certainly does not
serin necessary to open temporary premises, so long of course as
there is some place where the books enn be iimuiinlntod. ami Hie
work uf cataloguing and general preparation be in prugeeMi
Temporary premises are rarefy ever satisfactory, and they
frequently prevent that invnttge and §clat which attach to it
mw andvpcciaUy erected tiuQaing. The furnituro, moreovtar, of
temporary rooms it not often suited to the permanent structure)
and lacks freshness when the time comes for removal. The
expense again absorbed In the maintenance of temporary
premlsefl ii considerable, and the advantages to the public are
not luiiiiiiensurate with the expense. If the local public see that
thi commissioners ar< actrre m securing a site, and the building
■ ti-;n!i j in ii 1:1 si- of erection, there in every inducement to po*
thctr souls m patience and await the opening of a new building
with B growing int. rent. Temporary building have very often
a contrary effect bo whetting the rcudiinf apj* 1 tos »»f the people.
in some pariflhec the poetries bore 1 b wi 1 onsid&tablc obetoch -
In tho way i>t the commissioners performing thedr work. With
i'i to loans, the inquiry of the Local Government Board should
beeuffieionl without it* being ncooasary to Am obtain the sanction
i.i the vestrj for permission to borrow, The Brat granting
0] the precept for n < pate should make it unneow »rj to 1 pply
t-yeiirly ur annualrv for the sanctiontaff of the rate, in theae
two matters the vcatrlos, a* the Act- at present exist, nave too
uucb powai These Mid tnanj other section* oi '■'•■ a*** *«^\
require readjusting when the District Cou&fitt -v \*ma»v
:•■:'-
PL-ULIO LlBllAltlBb
CUAi'TKR XIX.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN VILLAGES.
Hi: i i<~.«.'k needs of our ICnglish villages were never greater
than at the present time Much has ^^-^ told of Late
AbOUt the making of village life brighter and more
totereatrng, En order that the people may lie induced to
remain In the rural diBtriats,and so stem to some i
the tide nf renniii;'/:iiinri which lias during pi«'ii»ii yean flowed h«i
riqiiiiiy Into the towns. The whole snl • j * * « * i lies closer to the roots
of nur national well-being than is generally thought The parson
and the nqalrc have, between them, done much to choke village
life, and ttow existence til many rural districts i9, for the rank
and file of humanity. ?SPy dull and uniuli'm*Ling. Human
nature rebels against remaining in the vtcinitj oi boredom
!ci!i.'ii ili.ii! i i I'u helped, and hence one of the reason* wh>
no many of our country folk take the first chance of remov-
ing into lowns, 11 it were not for the ever-extending nun bei
of organizations, mi tuutociittion fin* the encouragement of
vdlage life might bo started, and would accomplish good.
Imt a few earnest men with a given object in Tiew and
nothing to gain could in course of time «!<"> itv-c as u u< li good.
The multiplication <>f U-oks and reading-roomii will, on all hands,
be looked upon as among the focilifcicti which would help to moke
village life brighter. This is a reading age, and yet out of all the
hundreds and thouwindn ot English vTllagcB 1 ic number of those
who have adopted the Public Libraries Arte could nrnmM i.
QOttntcd < in the tiuyoi'H of niiu tiand. M:tnv :uv til.rugglirig with
village clubs and rcoding-roomB, but the saddest reeding oi
reports whieh the prcsonl writer has had for years has boon the
annu h .1 dto oooounteoi some of those village reading
rooms, A laXM percentage • >! tliesi- institutions s< -n\ tu
mature to lull and useful Ii to. Of village museums supported
out oi the ratoi there is woroely one. And yet .t cannot be
suidthat many villages would not welcome in their midst librarit u
:itift museums as tree to them as their highways, an' supported
in the same "'ay, if the step were practicable. The small
<>t the penny rate for maintenance present- 1 <■■ in ur-
mountable barrier ut present, and (!)■' politician who will lalve
tlio problem of how r.n at<i >y fiovemment giant villages to
maintain totudoJpal hbrinlee and museums will rank wtob the
ftwarts, Cobdena. nnd RiightM as a public benefactor.
while towns all over the country, and numerous inetropoU
districts, have adopted the Libraries' Acts during the last few
yei re, the villages are being left stranded high and drj on Um
beaeh En this movement Cromuo rault of their own. Thcgroun-
iag of two ot more villages togevAw. in], and
potmtbte hv hro small recent tafia ot y-.u'Wawuv^-avvvn^ ragets
tttit tfiiih'uhv Noarly every rMVii';mutt.\\\\v»**-mv\A\u>fc\tw<ntari
01 Mi.ll* I I MtAHIKM l\ V): ..\ .1
1
h crippled fur want ol CJoranunexil aid. lluudieds of ullages
arc absolute 1 j without any facilities for book borrowing, except
from the libraries ol Sinnity whind*. ai-vi Mir buoki in th.-i- ai'c
usually of 10 unsuitable a ohaXBCter for general reading that it
would lie well it many of them were placed in ;i dark cupboard
and charitably forgotten. Could not some of the thriving villages
.1 tin- Nori horn and Midland Counties tako the lend in prov-diiur
municipal libraries and reading-rooms, and show what can be
done in villages by these rate-supported matitatfOBBf More
than this i*<i00 to £3,000 would erect a building" for a library
end BtOCk :l With books. A gift aui-h ftS thlB E0 BOOK ViUsgV
on condition thaj the PaWia libraries' Acts arc adopted, would
give a new leaeo of brighter life to that district, and perliajps in
do better way could tho donor secure the greatest good oi tho
I number.
Much hfll >'.■') done in rural districts in the supplying of books
by workmen* clubs, but the extension ol tho franchise to counties:
cannot fad to vastly extend tho rending of books in the count ry.
■Ad this lrn'l'ivi-M'd Ct i.l;iii.: SOU 00 '\ "■ !'li-l : .l.'tj n:r.'l\ ! .;.' :i I '.I Mir
Ubrarj. Much inrcresiing information is given in the Uncheasol
Kut lands ■• Reading and Recreatioii I loom* ami 1'uhlu Uhraries,"
ami " Kncourngtn/x Exf> •<■ ■ nrt - n I'ublic JahvariOK K< admg iml
Recreation Rooms," :|s '" wiuu has been, and la still teing done
in tin- providing of village libraries and re^llng»rooma How to
make irv pleasant In the oonntpy i* a problem of tar greater
Importance than ta apparent on the race of u. This drifting
;iw;iv Into tho neareal large It w i, or. worse still, the metropolis,
to swell tit'* millions here of thecoma "i both sexes, to fr night
with much 'h:ii is qo1 conducive to the best welfare of the aatfon
it will be :' wrrj day for dear old England when bhc bonjelv
rirtoea <»t iis people, the simplicity in methods of lmng and In
personal uablte, beeonie weeieneu and made lean prominent by
tin 'ii;ii iuuting influences of life in the large towns
'l'li<- need for the establishment of Publli Librarlea Ei rural
districts is a vital one, and the memb • - of Local Boards, 01 i fcher
aatlK>riUea will confer a permanent beoefll on the district in
which iin-i reside, if thai will discuss and bring to ;< snece rful
issue this question. Lifo In the country baa Ins compensations as
well as its drawbacks. Rents and i b are low, but while thin la
an advantage to the residents, it present* BO ol^tacle, for the
i rains of most tillages is ool by any mc«w large, so
that a penny :n the pound would not produce sufficient t< ->l • ---K
and maintain n library.
wini-.t brieke cannot be made without itsuw. libraries oaonoi
i. i ■-.<■( and supported without the wherewithal which every
Tho ratable value of an average-vized Kngtisn
village ox ■ . the ndnsuuKtraooa <>: i LooaJ
'. • .nun *_: :.fHMi to £5,000 The itnaltersum would W
from :' iioiiny »;i" iu.< . and the larger anacAuM SWft \ffle. 8a ,v.w^\v
:ii be el once seen qpin this how Lmeoec&Ae tt wcjc&& V« Wi «»
tush >'i tin- v-.m o. tarnishing and mum' i \3tat»X3«
330
irnue Linnxnncs.
In the majority of English villages the gross rates do not reach
Sa.6d.ia the pound— another evWcnl advantage over town life,
considering thai 9 me towns hnve gross rateR reaching double (his
KI1MI
The rum I Voter earnestly desireA to know how things ON
moving in the world. He is not the passive sheep, blindly
following u pot-house demagogue, Home think Mm. Let him
have books, newspapers, and magazines to Inform himself, and
depend upon ir I'n'y will lie used, and used well Ca.pt. Verney
MP., whose father sai on &he Public Libraries' Committee of
Inquiry ill 184SWJ0, wrote a (short tune yyu to one of the London
daily papers to point out that the Public Libraries' Acta were
available to the smallest country villa fro. He added to his letter
1 1 ii.s significant sentence : "To nave £ s village o Public Library
belonging to the people Lheruselw-n, and managed by do section,
but by duly elected representative's ir. in itself .111 education
usually frowned on by the squire, bu'. utterly abhorred by the
1 Arson" The truth is? a sad one, but it fa nevertheless ;« fact Jn
nil parte of ;hr country regret has been expressed that there
seems so little prospect of mrel districts having fchcec peoples
librnrlea placed in their midst, unci those who are most ritrcnu-
ously opposed to it are the twi classes Jnat named. It ik im-
i itblc not bo feel a fcmj^ <rf boitow that this fthonld have sab*
rented, but it i.s d matter so serious thai it demands attention.
Ah lonpf ah these two most influent ml men as 11 rule in the parisll
not themselves resolutely against those rate-supported llbi
what can the people do bu) quietly submit* lost :t should
Hornr diiTrrourr in llio iimioUjiI of OUStom given (0 :i local trades
man, 01 some other species ■ »:' refined persecution with which
village in (,:'M ti ■•- --■• 11 jo pecul iarly famQiar!'
Bat we have no hope for any wide extension in the number ol
ininptiojiH of tho Pubua Libraries' Acts i:i the eiilagea, until then
is some prospect ot a small grant from the State say from £10 to
£36 n year, according to the needs and work done by the indi-
vidual library. When our administrators have done was
money m aaeiesfl Steves and reckless extravagance nil round, ane
can give a few mere thousands for educational purposes, u 1 a wi
may look forward to such d subsidiary grant to village lib
established under the \'i. properly administered by the local
mittioritii"j, and doing n useful work. A few pensions, rarerj
ever earned the less; 8 tea elerbs working from nine to ftvi
o'clock iiistcnd nf ten to four— and who knows how many holi-
days: less national waste, and these few thousands would he
randy Is the Exchequer Cor auoh a purpose an this. Oh! miphty
John Bull, how long will you quietly suffer your substance to In1
traatedj and youi resources frittered away bj the vastarraj 1
offlcemongeTs, who thrive and fatten 1 1< the lalxmr of 1 in- po<
The national patience irith extravagance in high plocos In slmplj
aiuudag, Here is a sample of such expenditure, and it I
oocceaui^ £0 preface it by statuig tiroi wViviwxcv Ctoveninii ■
m poww-j the same rate nl ex\asmUtxsx^ a^** -v>
FFMJC I-mnATtlES TN VTLTjAGBe.
881
There may be promises of economy but it is more show th an
airythina else, oe instanced hy the House ol Lords {rotting down Ha
expenditure last year by the dismissal ol one or two inm-Kei'vunts.
The report of Sir >\ illiam Dunbar, tho Comptroller and Auditor-
Uencral, upon the Navy Appropriation Accounts for 1886*86 eon-
teina some surprixini: briorjuation els to the way in wiuch the Vote
'1 Credit was spent. Tho Vote was granted on April *27, IS8& to
pay tor the withdrawal of the British Imves !rom tin* Soudan,
and to prepare for a war with Kussia, winch then Beamed immi-
nent. The Vote whs [or eleven millions, three of them for the navy,
and eight for the army. It is with the navy appropriation alone
that Sir William Dunbar now deals. He remarks mm. contrary
to rule, no estimate was framed when the Vote was granted ; and
he expcexHOK tho opinion thai had there been any real, even
imperfect, attempt to frame a scheme nf proposed expenditure,
en Bn might not have been avoided, but the causes oi it would
have been apparent, and the investigations oi a select committee
rendered unnecessary The tendency. Mr W'rlliam Dim bar says,
w:ik " in Consider the Voir nl" Credit ion much in rheliybt Ofa sum
placed at their disposal by Parttameni to meet anj expenditure
unprovided for in the ordinary VotCB. The expenditure out nf
the Vote of Credit to aconfliderable extent represents, jn*rliaph un-
avoidably, a dead loss to the public. Ships have I wen taken up at
a groat coat and never Qaed.anc' lbs cable tor the Baltic, manu-
factured ^i acoel of £118,000, never lof I the contractor*1 premleee,
and waft resold i«.» libera fen 690,000.° This i* oojy quoted a« our
of many examples which might lie given for the purpose of doing
a little, if possible, to set thoughtful men mquiruig into these
i:i iltei.s.
But surely if thcOovenuueui can afford to spend such gigantic
sums oa thia, there ia some hope that hv-and-bye the turn will
COmc round for Public Libraries, and the tew thousands of pounds
u year will not be wanting. We are spending, not without a
certain grudging, five and half millions of money on the better
education and culture of our people. IIow OflMCfl ( thai the
great natioaal endowments for this purpose still remain bo largely
in private or sectarian control ? Altogether the expenditure for
i-'iiM utional purposea is about eleven ntilluona, and no villugc
J.hrmy under the Aetfl gets a single penny of this sum, which [a
BOt hy any means large lor the purpuHi"* hr which it is expend- -1.
Kequeel ih<j;ivi]«-'.-ilv Diad6 Gorsifn for village libraries, Tradc*-
men in towns, business men in cities, do something for tine v.llages
where you were born and reared! Arrange to supply certain
daily or weekly papers or magazines, or to give an annua! ni I ecrip-
rion. In n'spnrme to a letter in one of the rehgi one periodieaJs,
the author received nimierou* parcel* "I* blinks :ind ii ij:izines for
■■• hi varies, and these it has been his pleasure to distribute
ICCfl when they will be used and appreciated. More pnivels
mi nr purpose will he .irtvpt.tMe Sntno of the tivmt
sucoMMfnl men nf bnelnesa ol the oreasnft tag ^nsce Vwittt a»ft.
received their edacatfon in country school*. tS\« <Wff^ ^n**
882
pi I i.i. I Mil' \ l: 1 t S,
the&e do ^<>:i:(<thmg in providing literature for the districts with
which they were once associated ?
Reference has been made to what is being done by the various
unions of ruechauicR' niKtitatOR 11 rli<> wr.y of y-illngp lending
libraries; but It i* hoped that something may he done Id the
large number of villages in the Southern, Midland and Eastern
Counties, which have nol yet been touched by these unions.
Whore U the generous man who will give 6,000 or 10,UU) volumes
of Hit* wmivalent in value for the purpose?
AVin k fin-ri'x clubs have done much to bring pleasure Id to the
somewhat didl and niouulunuus life in many an English village,
li.l it is to lie fearad that some of these uIuLk* degena ate EnUl
facl ions, and have not in any large number of instances
accomplished the good reasonably expected of them. The
■jeoretol il ii> lit-.v in their irnspanslbilit v except toftcommi toe;
whereas, if they were administered by the elected authorities
of that district, .1 healthier existence could not fail to be
ftuanantood Hn-m, They cannot) however, as workmen's clubs,
& under tie rates, but as Public Librarie* bhcj could cons into
this category. M.my of these clubs, again, wuiild form an ex-
cellent nucleus En fcM coining "enfranchised " a* Public Libraries,
ttBed SB thflJT BOW STO l>>' their present nu'inhcr*, and
by euch n §Mp draw .1 longer eonetifcnoncy. Even >viui._ this
chapter in being written a letter arrives from one of such vi.l tggj
greatly needing its Iocs 1 Institute turned into a Public Library. It
is illustrative of many similar Oasee, and ie cones ineotlv qt
'ii ..' writer says," PPe two not progressing, 'n 1 aotle w days only
3,000 inhabitants j nod wo ore protty much In the power, ol one
man, Lord . who appears to take but little interest as to
' how hi« brethren Lire.' Jn Hie present state ol the district WO
oannot see bow PobUe Libraries sen be applied to places oJ the
BLh of ours, and it is the opinion ol the lord, the clergy, mn . Uu
richer inhabitants that the poor are host ignorant. It may be
piiwihK* Ni milliner :i I'nhl • I ,ibr:n*y with & WOrlcmOU's Olttb, but
say the rate produces about Cflo, this will ant pnj nil etpeuses f < »r
:i liiiililitiL'. ilr\(i-.! to that purpose, hut, it' the [U'oepod Ol I
workmen'1; club be Mlded bo 11 enough might be got log
tor rent, Bra light*, and Dttendm Only two waya scran to
m «•. first, as you tuggM in your booh thai the Go vernrcanl (or
CounQ C(uni;-ib should hulisidi/.c >mnI1 towns, or thai a large
rate be allowed iti towns with under fi,(KX> inhiiintaiits."
Here is another letter from a village in the North o1 England s—
"Citizens in large towns may well feel proud ol their privileges at
this winter season of the your, One of theuioM ehnnning places Iu
the country district .u summer is our village. Its lieauties taonol
be tuld for iiiuitimdr, but the reverse is the order of things i"
winter. We ore ultnosl buried oUre in darkness und wHtai
flaanieafci Here v< have no li^lii ol any kind, uu art gallery, ne
I'u ■iu Library, no lecture rooms, tw duvjYw tv&U,no entertain a
unfiling wherewith to upend t\w lung c«c i ■* ttw
monotony of the situation. Our eox» kbA •v.xnvW-v*- vra v-'w .
ri'BUr UZRAXfEB vt ruu,st».
so
sjjcnd their time as test they nay. N >rimhs*auriiaaj wr arr «4y
thirteen mile* from a hinnJy exalted city, aid vlut»c tin- great
■iicnaon cirihwr eut* a» in twain, still »f an? vet whhuu: the
other derel ree*. HoadVeds nf tripper* Iwicr arvand ua
in mimraer, hut turn aide in the bleak day* of winter, and Umo
wo begin to feel as tboojgh we had no link ia the social ehain,
and no share ia the great Inman heart of cintization. Oar sires
tjOTfl endured this state *f t bias?* for aearly half a century, vhUst
the world has been naornas; on ; bat surely we, their woo*, caonot
Kpeotod in these days of adranccd thonjrht and life to lire <ra
Uidi i the same rifime. Where in oar lord of the manor, so
odvoi idlavrefornaacMtotlstraocUlsvl^aetof Sarerybe
will corn*? to the resene, and make aooac pronsioa foe the rs*rnlra-
ments of the diBtriet whieh he owna for miles round! Eren w«
jk.hh' -.-an: to reap in worn* ra<-a«r* the mtoUectoaJ and
[ advantage* which fediow tn the crate of this ninetaenih
century.' The desire to share tn the "octal and intaUavtoal
t'lvantages of the century is perfectly natural. If a nUegc should
possess "ansae snub*, Lngtormi Mfhv*."»*ttlthur u so kkelyto
make him speak and open the road to glory a* a rtitage horary.
The grouping of village* together for labile 1 J henry | aetata
should be practleanle. Two or more sacn district* acting tcsrethrr,
And pacing lac nmc hste,oould each have fcn thetrmfftaa bleary
:iiirl peadfng-roaro, -lit- Ifhrarj nran certain nigrstanf the w nek, and
the news-room :ng— the wh<i!e under the rhnrge of one
librarian « utter plan, which has not >*i nana
rirrird Into effect ;in> w 'mtv. .« (<<r 1 affiliate tlnriiiselvea
io the nenrenl hires ' Library, by levytna;
: lie penny rate ana drawing Ihrlr auppfir* >< its the parent lihi
.mil these distributed from some centra] depot. It would m
?'le bj thii rrjcuns to hare a constant change of books ia
In* Dutij Lag dfatriata.
Beiereacfl baa been made dec ucsstLlnna
Mclboui ■in.- send* out tta Health ol knowledge and psananre I
{hbourhood; and mere seeme no reason
why t hi Publii Ubrnries iAtfaeprandr^tnwiiBnf Kn*rlaiKlsh";M
ool tend out their monthly i heeta --i I h mall towns and
rulajro* thcrn, to be issued and looked after by the sehoolmnater
orMifiesueh responsible person — the -ehoolhoiiBc bcin# twed at
. ton, oft n rcadinjr-roorn, and the wholi carnml on nl i vory
small coet, snob as might ho mot by ■ small rots Prom the rates.
In Hi Northern Countioi where tbo co-operative morement hai
akon men deep root, n large number od thoaa socMiM hart
lending liLiraricB, and a mofft excellenl work h being <U>ne by
Chean. A certain portion <' their profits tesel aside far odaca*
lout] pnrpodw, and this ia spent for book*, or in papera farttu
riowaroom. ttesidontetn the Southern and Western I ooncfeB haw
little conception of the pood whi-di i-; bein^ :KVi>nipl|dMd DJ I
■ n with oo-operative Roctetsan.
in no I*;"-' of the ■ ountrj the barrier* between tlu rarioni
■. ol ftoetot] more marked than in u»- Tliere u
*M
I'l 10 I ' IJBIIAJ1IM.M.
.still ihc curUe/lnfl andscrupiug u> the vilhiL- ■ clergyman or the
.squire, or the blankets and aoup are curtailed or dropped
altogether. These taalituttons, win rover ulreudy rMjiUixlir.i m
villd^i'.s. ;m- iloiuu iukh- (<> ln^nk down these class barriers than
in visible on tli'.- surface- The village newsroom Ik commnn
jjround, where squire, unraon, and vill.rjei can i]| meet* and the
more they meet together the better will they understand
other. Class prejudices exist because there has been no oppor*
tmiily "I getting ni tin- opinion* of often "(her, and so .11 1 1\ i : i ■• ai
.i mutual onderatondiafr,
Thi* number of villages ornmull towns with fl population uxtdei
6>000 which have already adopted the Act* la rery small,
Tarvee, ^berdeeashire (the work of which is described la the
chapter dealing with the Scotch libraries), Kuckaall Torkard,
Caul ton, iiikI Milium, mny be named.
Uriel' inonlion -n;.v D6 nui.lc of B few OU1 of many CAl Cfl wh) ).■
viihip' Ubtaiiee in la operation, but vrhieti arc no1 under the
A.etB. At Petworth in Sussex they have an institute with a con-
siderable membership 1 ho librarian, Mr. Thomas Seward,
publishes a little print which lie has eetahlighcd to advocate
adult education by the meant Ol libraries, reading-rooms,
rauseura8, classes, picture galleries, and tu circulate extracts from
tii.j works of the best authors.
Two years ago a little vill ige library was formed at l.ongforgun,
1 1 u I ii. i dec [be library baa m It aboui sou volumes, t >:
od '•.■; vohunM ol Romance, Mythology, History, Biography, itn I
Travel) 84 POluraes of Literature (flWy*, Poetry, History ol
Literature); 19 vmIhiik's of \rt. Morals, ami Mlseellaneoui
volumes ol Physical Seienee (Astronomy, ('heimstry, Phy
00 volumes <>i Zoology, Botany, Oology, and tgrlculturo,
library If designed prmoijwHy for the uw of the older school <-!ui-
dran and of the younger ad ilte. and care was taken to have only
tin- host of IhkiUk, ami these hooks, ho far as possible, represent)
i»f ihe best writers. Examination of the detsiil* of the class of
books read discloses one or two striking fuels. In thn first depart-
rneni surh books OB 8tOTiea from Homer, Roman autiqultfe.s, mid
history generally are not much read. In these day* of plough"
.uices uiid land reform there lias been but one issue of one or
nra little books on political economy ; in the midst ol the
agricultural depression and competition., though the book--
elementary, there baa aol been one reference \<> a text-book of
■In Miistry, and there baa been hut one to the principles of
agriculture. It is, however, gratifying to obaerve that no many
of the lighter, racy book* "I srienco have been taken out, tn<
doubt the taste for closer study will grow. The Bchoolmaau
the village undertook the management of the library, and th-
of a microscope u iv a fl ruse both in the school and by um cj
of name; r. Tl at 1 1" the i ke, bookcase, "tump, mi. n ;.*-. -f «-,
ftxuwaeabottt £60, The: uec fo one year were 1,012 volomca,
axfflaeiv »of thoes Lamed for nse duringscbool hours. It i
(hut thU U ran ho* been a sucecea. lAxe success point;- to the
PUBLIC LIBn ABIE.*: IN VILLAGES.
33fi
mortO tlmt the wealthy in anydistricthnve aflaviredly an easy VSgi
ot giving: great pleasure and conferring a great boon, or that a
small community itself might with moderate effort and little
outlay open a lasting spring of joy and good.
The free village library at Bottingtou, near Birkenhead, ia doing
a very useful little work. Etoww its origin bo tho fate Joseph
Mayor, who gave to tho Liverpool Public Museum and Art Gallery
hie famed eolleotion of art and antiquities valued at £30,000. Jn
18H6 he opened a library for the free use of his neighbours in
Bobinpton, where ho resided. In 1870 Mr. Mayor bought an old
farm-house with five and a-half aeres of ground. By additions
\ I ■ \QR LIBRARY, BKBINGTON.
and alterations he made thin building iuto a bandsomo nnd
commodious library. Iho character of tho building will bo seen
the ikafeofa aooro.
re ore in it 10,410 volumes, and the iaane reaohea 360 par
Jt It open an Uondj yaw Friday evenings I -o n 0 to B
ock, and on Wcd-i .sd;iv iv >m [to I pan. The Iwue for elevati
months during 1880, January to November nelusire, was IH,93G
volumoH Hm to ware B23 borr war* daring W88 vi preaenl t i m-
library i-.- In a tn nt lti< i state i wing to the deatn of tne founder,
Mr. M:i>er, the donor ot the library, kept It entirely ftL^ftCWft
J.WtiES.
earpei - up i» the date of his leath to I880»and i.y hta will it
was then rested En bfae handsel four trustee**, who, on behall of
(he lihrnry, Ac, ware also made residuary Icgati - Owing to
difficulty in the disposal of Mr Mayer's estate there has do1 v.-i
ix-rn ;in\ ^uiterucnt of account* presented by tin- executors* aad
luentlj the trustees are nnable to do more than [net keep the
librury .afloat Since his death no new lxwks have been purchased
"id uly '!' <t < i i "i binding. The isaue is rather fulling off
ownaff to the lack of modern books, A large new worka for bhe
manufacture of son; joj been opened, and employs 1,000
h poopl I; is hoped that i is enterprising proprietors of
i porta wflleec fchcii w.iy to aid this excellent village iastt
a to be made into n rab supported library.
There ia no better example w the duncurtiee which lis In tbs
.; adopting ths Acts En rlUsges than the cone ol m<.hU
Bretton, near BanuUey. n tn 1 1 population at the last census of
Under 3,000, lOOSth rn prs, and tln'si' working mnn rook up :h.>
tfon itthoeudaf 687. the rote was taken In Janunr}
iii rating papers were issued to direct mtepoyem oulj. The
i i were n ■ ■ to see the Vcl * adopts , and b building-
Id the centre of tin- village origlnallj ei*ected ta subscription tor
odacaAional purpose u<<:>\ is a. library and reading-room. U ■ \
■'.. It. aoverer, before the vote was taken that there would be lilll'c
prospeel ol winning the adoption. The " persons assessed to and
paying the improvement rate* only an.-, however, specified to lbs
\ri, as being entitled to rote, and it was hold in this cose, though
a different interpretation or the hni has been given elsewhere
and was upheld on appeal, that the restriction excluded ail irho
pay their rates in their rent.
lids rendering of this clause In the Act w is ^ peculiar hardship
a; Monk Bretton, and the cote wcnl dend rgnin*t the proniu
Here, BA at many other places, two e£thc Iiicf oppuiicnt? ni the
aovenseni were pvbliaazu who r* * ■- 1 mid fatten on the minora1
eamingSj and wl o are too prejudiced to sec a ad Peel the importance
nnd necessity of education rraong working men. Monk Bretton,
it is to be hoped, will yet have its Public Library,
When tnol ran ji ousoilsarc wpplomcnted by the formation
<>' District Councils it mar be reasonably expected that thej wffl
turn their attention fc this very important matter.
CHAPTER XX.
THE PTTBLIC LIBRARIES ACTS AND THE LEGAL
ASPECTS OF THE QUESTION.
II KKE ia a general consensus ol opinion, both unonji iu
legal profession und outside its sacred circle, that the
I'ii- re I ibranci' V-N ai'" vvy b; illy Iruwi To a non-
Legs] mind, the phraseology of all Acts o Parlian
little more than a bewildering maze ol wmtis li:<
discussions and alterations when the Bill is in Committee
THE ACTS iKH THE LEGAL -kSPECTM OF THIS QCBSTION.
337
ords and sentences is (bfl anvse W* fcbJll uncertainly, nnd as
as we have such a preponderance of gentlemen of the
ogai persuasion in the House the same stats ol tilings will
cue to exist, .short nfi the Public Libraries' Acts caropaHu
lively are. ami simple :ik on* would naturally expect statute
law* referring to Public ribrarien tobe,i1 has required on fewer
i h in sixteen Aetsol Parliament for our legislators to express (heir
meaning. Iftc need for one Consolidation and Amendment \d
to ram .■in1 tliern from this slovenly state wan never more felt than
.h tin1 present time. The amonm of patchwork legislation which
foes mi :it si. Stephen"** is very puszllng to an ordinary mind.
i is Impoefflble not to beamazetlal some of these Public Libraries1
\ iiiriHlini'iit Acta. If the representatives at Westminster had
been pla^in^ at legislation aoma of Diese Acta could not possibly
he more vague tluu ib the case. In one or two cases the TUll has
I nrr rend ,i third time ,il o 0.U1., nnd SO thiTi' LB just exartly V hnl
linahl he oxpeet'*«l, n ni.ts.s ..| Mi|«shod ,t ji 1 un Ulin il>- wording,
anon which scarcely two people reading them through would
place the Bafus interpretation. TiM Scotch Consolidation Act is
dearer, and perhaps the best worded,
Iu February *>\ Ismi a conference of i:ommiseionew from
several of tho metropolitan parishes which hove adopted the Acts
wis held at I 'hi ■■irti-.u. Tin.', opjoot of tht conference was to discuss
I I u- bearing of certain portions of the Late, and to see how hir
some difficulties which hud orison In the working of the Acts
could bfi wot. Tho collection of the rate, about which there had
boon son: trouble in Chelsea, was one ol the main imesticms
set down for consideration. The resolutions arrived ur on thJfi
point ffeTO te theellVet that the library rate i should he collected
Bit of the poor rate j that it should be levied, if practicable,
in twt moit&esj that it should be collected by the usiml rating
authority, and that the pastry should have no power to regulate
ii . i mount after the decision of the ratepayers- ; and That thfl oOfit
o1 collecting the library rate should be barns bg the poor rate.
Other matters were also considered, U will be seen that one or
two oi the resolutions have been met by the Amendment Hill
nf 1889, which was brought forward ami passed for the purtu Be
oi relieving Chelsea o( the difficulty in which they found then -
selves hv the action of the vestry
in ApVii, tssfl, a third edition of " A Digest of the Law relating
to Public Libraries and Museum*., and Litsrary and Scientific
I Institutions/1 by M r. Oeorse F. Chambers, Barrister-at-Lnw, was
published It was natural to think thai I fl the issue Di this work
at least the tough places would be made plain, but even the
k'iml author would seem to have given ii up as •> tsul j"h. for
iici.- [a scarcely a single disputed point widen he dears on, and
matters iuc very much as they v»>-ie. A small sea-of li t i^.i; i< >n
has been passed thxou£b*a&d counsel never before wen bo much
consulted upon the rendering o! these Acts, as they have hero
g the last two years Further than this, diametrically
oppos'M iplaiona have been given on disputable "wcuVe. ^v^a.
'*** PFBLIO LIBRARIES.
"nm.i.l ..'illwrity ,,„ Pnhji,- I.ihi'niV liuttri*, Sfr, W, F A. 4
K'H»i <»» lui us to Nj.y that (I).- niuht useful lliMikT Would be Hh-
:il ■>( Tin- I'nhlic Libraries' Acta from 1S50 up to the pn-s.-nt
time He holds that these Act: do not give any power
not pre-exist in the case of the Municipality of London
thirteenth a Dtnjry. nud Manchester and Bristol ill the seventeenth
hlished without any ivtereii.'O
whatever bo ivirhament. Ann m fat bb ho know?, there we
Kfcitut*.' which took away that power ftOVC thr oorporotioi
mnnldpft] rathoritioi of this eonjatay. 'Hun would seem a sweep-
ing- n.-ri-.i >i~ dealing with the matter, but it has mad
recommend it. Tin* protest writer quite concurs in the si m
gentleman's view when he says thai "there is not the BlijfJ
fear that, any Town Conn- <l <»"' I,ocbJ Board would ruin the
pay ers bj .» i pendituro upon booke and libraries ir.
[he tnterenta i I Ihc real una higher education oi the people ii win
;i dale which those who wdohed well to thla country might wifely
mil.'' Certainly the time has arrived when the permissive and
local option dement may safely be abolished. It wao oomewhal
rear tted that tin- clauses referring to Public LibrarieB
kindied institutions ahouldhave been expunged from the Local
Government Bill, for it in to those munuging bodies thet t! ■•:
power must ultimately come.
Whatever ii contemplated, however, it m _-
1 : I Public Library legislation will now be left nlooe until all
i ol Lom of the friends- of this movement have had on opportunity
of expressing their opinions, and of dincu£«ing any proposed
solidation Hill which mny be hroujrlu fonvovd, Tiiih i> vitul Tlic
iraate source through which t ho Bill should filter is fti
Library Association ; but in any case th© clauses should be most
thoroughly sifted, and only united action on the matter be
counter! am1": Ti- MaoAUster Prize Bill ol Mr. J. .1 Ogle,
and Mr. hwargue in n beginning, and in some clauses will form
an excellent ground-w. >tu-
This 1-- i'V"-| t-r-livi', nml thr most that rim be dune with regard
to the Act* sis they Stand ism Rummsrize the lending litlgu
which has takenplaes and to note the nouneer* opinion where
available.
In September, W7, Mr. Bradlaugh,M 7., asked in Che Moum*
of Coromons, whether, under tin- Public Llorarles* Vet, 18M
Warrington Library and Museum Committee wen- {ustlOed In
requiring and receiving subscriptions from persons borrowing
oooVb from Che Warrington Public Library, which library w*
nip torted from the rales; and whether the library committee
were [egnUj juetUled in according privilege! to eubecrioen
in reh|HTi i.r Hi.- loan of book* from that Library, which
privilegfts were not accorded to ratepayers who did not pay
npectal ■ iptiona. To this the Attorney-General replied:
" There in no authority under the Public Libroncs' Act of 1H&G for
□CtlOB between person* who siirw^nlw and
■/> whi.j ih. not. in \wy ovMon the Act docs not contem-
IHfc ACTS AMD I'll', i.koai, AHPS013 "K rKB <;' RSTIOH
H3D
plate the loan of books out of the library, and I Lliiuk it doubtful
whether such loan is legal. Asauiuiug, however, tiial under
Section 21, rule* could be made permitting the loan of Ihx&s, it
would, in ray opinion, be competent I'm the committee to reojujrs
a reasonable deposit to ensure their aafa return."
»In January, 1668, the Berroondaey Vestry had under discussion
the opinion of counsel u bo tin- Legality of the poll of the porisn
with reference to the adoption of the Public Libraries' Acts. The
poll wiip taken upon a requisition served upon the overseers con-
nected with a l»"|y known nn the governors and directors, and
resulted in a lm'gc majority of those voting declaring in favour of
adopting; the Arts. Tno vestry were duly informed by the clerk
to the governors nnd directors with a view to the vestry pro-
oeeding with the appointment of the* library eommiBeionefet but.
■/upon the ii'lvico of their low <'lepk, tTiey took objection to
the governors and director* l'Cing the authority under the Act,
and further raised the question Ofl to whether the Acta did not
ivi|im'c ft majority of the whole «>t the ratepayers ol the pariah,
hi 1 not merely a majority of those who actually rook the croubU
to fill up and return the voting papers. The veatry decided Co
submit thrso two point* to counsel, nnd the opinion ■ >!' Mr.
Limilcy Smith, Q.C-, waft obtained, QD Mm firat poult In* Bald he
considered the governors and director* were the authority within
the meaning of tha Act, On the second point, ha boHaea to the
view that a majority of those actually voting, and mil an absolute
majority of the ratepigrem, vu all that the Ad required; but in
roiM'hitlmg his olmciMilionK, lie ihv.w attention tn llir 704 voting
I»iper* yivt-n in the clcikV ivl mm ua undelivered, aud to 1,099
voting pupers returned as not collected, aud poiuted out that if.
the gowmua and directors hud failed to do their duly aw
indicated by these figures, that might very well vitiate the pro-
ccedings, Mis advice was thai as tuorc wm a doubt a« to what
majority thePuhlic Libraries Vmendmeut Act, 1877, required, and
as the lion-delivery and non-coll<ction of papers required explan-
ation, it would be better and safer for the vcetry not to act, but to
have all the points decided <">n aa application hy any person
interested for a mandamus to them to appoint coramiwtionorB
for carrying the Libraries' Acts in'.n c^rmtioii. Thin hn>
r.-tn.K'd considerable delay in putting the Arts in operation in
Btn&ondft ; .
In February, 1888, the ijuestion unto who BOB rote for the adl
tiOn of tile lei s was raised at Tun bridge Well*, and ti.e following
tht Opinion given by Mr. Glen, in roferonoL' to compound ho
ho!.l< i . si ing on the library question : —
'•Inasmuch a« the Public' Library Assessment wnuM be levied.
M Public Libraries1 Acts were adoptee , by means of a tJenoral
•i Rite within the Ttmbridge Wells Improvement lei
: let : and voting papers are only to be issued under tha Poblii
I ihrarie* Amendment Act, 1S77, sect. l,to each ttiue^aqw — \*.t
Mi-h inhnhifin- would have tnpny the Free \ ■■ - MWfc*
n. t .% T am ot opinion that the occnpleta ot naB&&t«uWB*Ba*vft
310
i riti.v i imi.wnr.A.
respect of which the owner* are rated under Motion I'll oj tin
Public Health Act, 1875, would not be entitled to vote.
" i cdei BeetionsU ol (toe Public Health v.--. lB7ortheowneraof
small tenements are rated 'instead of* the occupiers, and u.m-i ■■■ •.
although the occupiers may indirectly pay the rate-, there in im
liability ft* between them and the Oommisalonera i< pay the rate* .-
:md r am. therefore, o£ oplnloc that they cannot be said to be
prlHnti- win would llflTC tO pay the FtOO Library 8*Sck-.imciiI in
tin- event of the Act being adopted within the meaning <>t Bacttcm
B of the Public Libraries' Amendment Art, 18T7 — w, Cuwnxno-
u\M Guw,— Mareh 1, i*«*.H
\- Mr Olan vafl ii can time tin- standing counsel for the
Local Government Board the opinion is of weight. This opinion
ha*, however, been upset by the Croydon deuieura,
A question arose iii Augunt, 1666, in Liverpool, an to Hie legal
Kwom of the library committee. Uthough custom appear* I i
vc Miuctioned it, and up to .t recent period noeerioofl (rueetiou
mi* been raised ou the subject, ii baa been open to doubt whether
the city lending libraries and reading-rooms wt re aetttatioaa, as
each, 'li-'t came within tin- meaning of the words eetablislwnent
nnd maintenance of a Public Library " ba contained in the pro-
visions of the Liver|xx>l Library and Museum Aet, 1832. The
Town Clerk, on being appealed to ate meeting of the (.'it v 0ounc51
for his opinion ae to the construction of the law, cautiouel?
intimated that the matter was open to grave doubt. The hi i. ry,
museum, and arts committee have, therefore, thought it prudent
to take steps to luivo their position more clearly defined, and at u
mooting it waa resolved "That in tin- opinion cl this committee it
i desirable to obtain an amendment to the Livorpool Library and
Museum Act 1862, to the following effect, namely: Unit the
eetabUemneni and maintenance of lending lihrurie*and reading-
rooms witlmi The eitv of Liverpool ahull he deemed in be within
the meaning of the establishment and maintenance of a Public
Library under the Liverpool Library tad Museum Act, 1862, and
all the provisions oi that lot shall apply accordingly. Step-- ba
this direction have been taken, In the curly part o! May, 1880,
when the Livernool Corporation Bill was under dfSCDSSiotl, .Mr
pope uJd in reference to section S, which referred to ftihlia
Librarian, the objections of the LftenHrovermm ni IV> ird iipp
to lie directed t<> the power of borrowing The effect of this
elmiHf would he in enable tlie Corporation to borrow, Enaecurd inns
with the provisions of the Act of 1862, for the purpose ■■! lending
libraries and reading-rooms. The Iwianl thought, it right to draw
the attention of bhe ooujiuittce i" the unsatisfactory provisions
contained In that Act with reaped to borrowing and reuaj
ol lonna, and euggeated that the proviftioiw of the A bul (eo&wlth
regard to the borrowing and rcp:i;. ncntol aildbcrcpi
■ :;.i fresh powers aori In «■ ■ •' ■ ■ i.< ti ■ ---. 1 1 m-eut leuiMatiu
*nh*tittit)-<\ What the promoters pr< p< scd » order & naeel
v, .(■- Hut, without vc-Ruactrou txwi powers, there
a /o-'i tec that if any moneys wcxe HxJworo^A— Vb£2 '•w ',v''
TltR AC1T3 ASP THE I.ROA!. ISTBOTfi OF TUT. QfHSTins.
that they would require- t-» borrow at. the present moment such
money* abotdd be repaid within forty years from llic date of
bow v. mm. it wai not clear in the Act of 18G9 whether the
power to borrow money for l*ubho Libraries included lending
Libraries OlK rendimr-momK, and tin* Hill proponed Hint thin
doubtful point should lx* cleared up. The committee fixed the
period of repayment at thirty years, ami agreed that the ClAUSa
si amended stand port "i 1 1 10 Bffl.
The * l.-rlci-iiw.-ll Oafle In, witb the Croydon e:o<o, the most im-
portant u liicli has occurred Hie noil was taken in December, 1S87.
rii are were S, 324 ratepayers, nini 7JS8 was the total runnier of
voting papers issued. i*ait of those 4,64ft were collected, arid when
[In \ were I'uimtt'd there were 1,&"1 in favour nf the raloption of
ii t \.i, |,$fio against, while the spoiled papers amounted do i,"-'".
hi)nn'il:;iTf)y after the- poll was taken Neverul members of the
ve.siry questioned Its legality ;md look action in the marls.
Oil February 13, 1888, the question came forward in He Queen's
:h Divisiou, before Baron Iluddlestoij and Mr Justice
Marristy, Tin- application wm on the part of ratepayers of St.
James V and St. jonxrik Olerkenwell, to jo-i rid of a vote 1>,\ moans
of voting paper* • »!' r;ii» j>;iycre to adopt the Public Libraries' Acl,
on the ground of alleged irregularities in the mode in which the
voting papers win i-.Mii-d and collected, and the votes of rate-
payers taken.
Th<i j»iiri?!i itself, eonsisting of the two districts or words of St.
.i. ues'e :ml St. JonrVe, with an outlying district of afnsweU llHi,
several miles off- contains a populotion of about 70,<x>o, nud th< re
wore al iln lad asacaBment (April, 1886) h,.'1im nnftesfnncntH or
laed ratepayers. Jt appeared from the affidavits on the part
of the upplicantH, certain ratopevors, that the vestry clerk issu ■■!
Onh r"|9sS voting paper©] of. wfafoh only 4,848 were collooted. on
which tin.- vestry clerk declared the refill :<> iv i,un tor the adop-
U mol the v -. 1.660 igainsl it, end 1,036 voting papers "spoilt :
inn tii is was oontroTertod, and on scrutiny being demanded and
refused, thin application was made, and tho effect of like arfidavitw
troM to ahow mat there were suon irregularities in the way in
which the voting P*P*M were sent out and collected that it teas
wholly uneertt n v« hai was realty the result of tho voting* it was
Stated, for instan 0 e thai no voting papers were oont to the rate-
payemol the outlying district oi Hnawnu Hfl^who.ttwaasnggeated,
would lw* likolv to vote njrtiinsr. the adoption of the Acts, us they
won* too Ear oft to benefit by it- Moreover it was suggested thai
the miTKiviN were tho " prsserthed local authorities" to conduct
the voting. Tt w i-. stated in the affidavits tlul the voting papers
had not been properly collected . thai Home which were marked
"No" were nol reckoned* V'poa these grounds Mr. Jelf, Q.C,
(willi Mr. P S, Stokes), luovod OD the purl of MYCTSJ PStCW
RN :t ii.ii/ foi ;i 'j/ii: intiHinf', to question the election, and in the
result ho obtained o rule calling on the commissioners appoint
show cause wh> .i writ <»f pm warranto should not issue command-
hem to uov bj **hal authority the^ eaterciw iV;-: cAki
•M'2
■Mil re-
oooniafMlcfDOM uthIpv trie Public Lftnwlei ketsfortht pariah mi
St. Junius riiui St. John, ClarltcaweU, upon the grounds (I) that
the vestry and gaanHaiif or sovernoni <>i the poor were doI the
prescribed local authority for foe said parish for aacertalnlE
opinion of the majority of tlio ratepayers of the parish under i) e
Public UbmrieW Arts; (-J) thai ;i rating paper was not Issued to
each ratepayer as required by the Acta; (3) that the wtingpanen
hvtued were not property oouaoM : ( h thai a Berating of the votes
had been refuse! though lawfully demand* d . (5) thai even ii" Che
propei authority acted, and tins voting papers were properh issued
Bad OOllected tins result was not properly ;wivi-i;niifil within tin.'
ii ■ .mine of the Acts, Their lordships granted a rule rtitt.
On Say L5. L888, t,he matter came again forward* and was
i .inotl. Than in Jane the (vacation w. - trguod out at
lenffthyaad the report occupies some six cclunina >\ newapapei
" r. The case wee heard before Mr. Justice Field and Mi.
Justice Willi ftfl to whether lie torim i ruling of nUe nbi should
not ho ravened. Mr. Justice Field, in giving judy-menl, laid
it was objected that voting papers were not Bent to each
ratepayer; that they wan not property collected; and that
n Bcrutlcj was refused; anil that even ii those tonditfoaa
hud been property complied with, the result had not been
properly ascertained in the inclining of the Acts. Anxious D
wus always to secure purity ut election, tie could not eO&M to
toe omeluaion that there waa any improper or unfair dealing on
the pait ot the promoter* ol the I'ublie Library in tbiS InBtanoOi
There was a substantial majority of ratepayers in favour ot the
project, and there was nothing to show that the election hod
otherwise than I'airly nud honourably conducted. Mr. Ji
"Wills concurred. The rule was accordingly discharged.
It vrfU be seen that one or two doubtful points are cleared up
by this oaae,
rt waa held by the Judge that raters who declared for u library
subject to the limitation of the rate to one half-penny ure com
ed to the penny rate If flu majority have agreed to the hi
fl#ure. The efleot of this decision nm\ l)e to diminish the number
of favourable votes in Ihe first category, but it is imly rurht tint
i'ir italci conditions of the appeal Sliould be understood, it ha-*
also hem clearly Laid down rliat Uie actual voters hind Hie whole
parish ur iliMrii-t, whatever pro purthm they inaj l»eai to the whole
number of ratepayers.
The costs of this litigation were very heavy, and fell upon the
parish. It was largely Hie result of oik- representative w ho had
i H majority against him.
In one Lancashire district, in December, 1888, counsel*! opinion
waa obtained on the levying of the rate, and Dr. PankhuraC
K»ve it ae his opinion that the Local Botu'd had full power bo
levi huch rut*", and i.el nil |«mrr t ,i:iV limr afl.-r tin adoption
of the Acts.
On April 0, lftSD, the oelebrat.d Croydon cane came before
Mr. Justice Stirling. Thin wan the attorney -General v.Mn
THE ACTS ANTi THB 1.10 A L. ASPECTS OF THR l|IKNTlr>\. &S
&c, of Croydon, and the quid luioud au important! guertkm as to
the application of the l'ublic libraries' Act* in the borough of
CmytliMi, H w.t.s a motion b.Y the Attoriu-y-deneral at tin* 1'rlntion
of tVO inhabitants oud ratepayers of the borough for an injuuetion
to restrain the defendant* from carry iny into effect the Public
Libraries' Acts on the ground that a poll taken by the defendant*
for the purpose of ascertaining tin- opinion of the majority of the.
ratctmye.r* of the borough ns to the adoption of the A -tb vun
invalid. In October, 1888, upon service upon the defendant* of a
requestinwritinKbytoiirar^iuiycrN.pni-suanltnlhc. i Ni 1 >1 ir Lil ntuToe*
Amendment Aoi, I896| calling upon thorn to ascertain the opinion
Hi the majority oi tin- ratepayers of the borough as to the adop-
of the Public Libraries' Aete, the defendant** i&uied voting
s to the oooupiors of premises in the borough, and the
r of the poll BO taken, as declared l>y the innyor, Wftfl that
the Acta had been adopted, and resolutions were according u
paayed by the Town t'ouneil to curry the Acta into effect lno
plaintiffs contended that the voting papers were taproperij
inxui'c, iDBunuoli as, iuvordiny to theroolio Libraries' Amend-
ment Act, 1877. in eases where the owners of premises were
rated Instead of the oeeupierH, the voting" papers KhouM have been
iMsiied t« the owners ok the persons actually paying the rates, and
ni»i fn the mrupiiTx. For 1 1 1 •- defendants it w:tHn>iiti'niled, iu the
first place, that the ileclnratfon of the mayor ns to the result of
The poll was conclusive, and, secondly, that according to tllfl true
construction of the Acts the persons entitled to rota were those
who in reality tore the burden of tlie rates — that was to nay.
the occupiers — inasmuch an whore the rale wa* actually pan! by
the owner ii «;ih charged again* L the occupier in the unapt oi
additionaJ rent Tiie. queatSon involved the consideration o4 u
gri-ut number o! cornplie;ited Acla of Parliament, and at tin
OOnduatoa Ol the argument a hi* LordMrip reserved his judgiucnl
Jttdfiment was given on April 10, lft$9, and as it is important,
.i considerable portion 3a qnoced, condensed from "Tin- Times
report.
Mr. Ju»tJt» StUUnf mod it itppttLm] tliut lh« ljnmwli wjuMii«nrpomn><l in Mawh,
JSW. The burotug)) <ind p»n-li HW 1 1'iiimniuMM, A rwaisihon wan a short timv
*gu matte by certain ratepayers Of ttie borouifli, nddiewea ta the mayor, r&iulrintf
Itlni to «wji>rttio Cbo opinion of the wtepuyo** m to wliethw ><r nut Um Lihr»ri«'«
Ait» tlioaM l* adopted. Accoidiiitfly. the inny<»r i'mumI totiim paper* bo the rnto-
■ nd wh«-n Uimo ipnTPOtllfti'trd Un- iviili ftppflftNd Co !«• tlint the™ wr* «,iHS
>ot*H in favdui' of I be aduptiou of tl.» Aotn, .»nd -1,796 ag&iiut it, givine a majority of
1.74(1 Id ffivoiir tjf «n<h adoption, Upoji that the major and corporation had acted,
and Unit nation wn* brought tu restrain them (mm prooi>c^irtg further in tlto mattor.
Jt appon/i'd tliut tin; MjUiitf pupem liii'l bwi luxtictl to tbv occupiere upuu iht* rutc-
twtk, flltlnuyi fsn ihlni1 lii«1 i- d»' Itj '-In? I'roydOB V*Htry, datnd thi> JWth of
Wovoinber, IH0I», directing thnt the owners of all mtable hereditamonta to which »cctiou
.'> ad 1 <>l :)>•' Poor HkVi AuMMnont uid Cxillecuon a * -■ itionawl wiUitn the
SiirMh «hould ho i«to«j U) flio poor m'j.' initeni of tlio oocnplon, and it *i« edited
I'll ' iJji* nwneit Iir4 bwru fumlnhcd wtlb voliriK paper* innl«o<l ol Ihv
th»n would hnvn }>>oii a diir<'inrtci<i In tht» coiiititiioncy of about M.O'Hl. mid tint ilm
••in ii "( tin- trrvuua whoso oplJiluno uo^li1 • tlw \ '- '■■ Kivc hwu wcri«i awl hoj
not he*n oMoi'rt.Liiwil ri.aT qiHWtjoo dfp'-'udpd upon t-bc omiHtruoUoTi of tht'VuTloun
l'ublio Libiwno*' Act*. »i»d in pnrtioular two Ant o( 1^T7. Thv Aot of lrtW> provided for
ttM B ul')i-l»'. i ..I riiMk> I.e....... - in '! ilirforvm jIomm il (IfatrtoU r:i.. A.-t ot
lVir. wiii »moin!<-<l by «tn Art <»f IW'if!. wlin'li i!i«! rn ■! Uter U\* MwiAut tes\t\tA-v«v^\i--*V
adoi't Oit' Aol, but uuulv vsiinliuiio iu Llic mudu ot uixiYuitt V. ovi\,— V»< v^xwoc^^^-
:M4
PI I.I W I.ir.KAlilK,-,
tb* mod" of providing- for fcV prpenaoof esMOfdnfftb* Ai-to. Th^n at«cfOQ
vi< led thai uanHliet adjniiitog a bonmgb, dMrut, <ir i»n>h niiyht unite m adopttaif.
tho Art- Thvi*? wus aootlivr Apt In 1 •*"-" I , wbn'h enuhlvd Im-t' hoard- t . put ' '
principal Aot iiit<< cxecutiuu. Thai was iJiv 1**1. Act pusm! prim- to the Act. of 1917
wtii.li tt would b# oaoowary to cooaMar In detail. It Appeared. fru?n. tit ■
fut.i alaMOa *«f public Authorities which woro entitled I J >i«i the Lfbnvioi' A*r*
|ii iminiripul boroughs in 1 ho cnM Of which th« ronstttiicnry to iletermti'
■ iin'tiiiiu "i u.luptiini ooarfoteo1 -if tho b\u,go*eo« . ;-j) dutriot.* a&dor Lo ii la\
nii-iiL Act*. Ok countHut-ucy bt-iut; Uin i«wn* aswwcd to unci tuyliur thi' (JDpRmsma&t
ratna; |Jt) hwnl hoard*. fh£ M&al iln.'in-j- bofog tbn peraona paying the general dl*TTli-I
rate; and £4] parish^, 1 hr determining constituency being the pernnu rated to *bc
EOT. I'mlPi t)ie«t- circumitaQM* tbo Act of IH77 wu pawed. It war* obvioui That
? preamble w*a not framed with very gnat aarc It omitted to mention the ■■
lM6fl f«ir England, That, huwevrr, win nuL now iiuiitrlul, fur by another AM pitnfcd
Inll*!7ftwiu doolarod that the Ac:. Of 1M77 ibmiM ham •fleet U if the Art or 1SU
Lad been therein recited. But beyond that the langiiHg*1 wn* uot very preebe ax
rate. For UiffUiDce. it Mpoke of the "opinion of tin; ratepayers," a» It la erury
cnac tbo ratepayer* wuro tho pereons entitled to attend the mooting, whurtua that wan
..: i.i. .■..,--■ in mm i. ...... i !..-f. >ig\ » -: . i-ini .1 . t-hfbuiseawa.il
aula* not eo-^xteariva with the ratepayer*. Then by the Act iteolf it wna provided
(tCvUou 1) <>bnt a lornl authority h»vin« pom-r I" nd'ipt !)»• A' t- mijtlil «-.'i «u. i).._
nj nw:v,\* of thi1 tnajority nf Kbfl ratTHyira «tbpr Uy Oie prntrrihwl pnXAU tfifrtiny or
l.y :];. i-i.. ol . v.Hnp ]i'i[.. t (., <.,.i, iiin-j.»;.'. nl\A '.in - i'. ■■ |in- I'l • ...I.'. I- km '.ti.I
nirutlLy Uicreof; mid wcti'iu -i mil ha fomnvi*:— *' "Katcnuyor "bull miaji ■
uih!il>i;»iir whn u-nnH ltMV<> topny tha Publfa Library aoMaMnenl in Vi,ni ofth< k '
l-i-Uiff adopted." Ii wua ouotmded Umt thi- object irf tbe AH «"« n"^ I
ODMUta^nr)'. bat .implj to pn •\ii|.-' n hn'ti-r mo<l»> of RsoprUtninff the onintnti a| Cfce
'. ' '• i -, •mi hi? L>ird»hip waa aalicd to n-ud ih>.- A- 1 u i( *nliuu C U<1 noi DM
iimerwd or did wit apply to thia particular raw, 'Hie arunrnpiit hRd
wi'i^ht, hut after giving iviry ooOAlOcratiuD to the matter it inWHtn to bis Ii-.uMiip
thai lo adopt it would bo to Btnihi Uio liuiguug" of tl«- Aot too muoh , he, tun
•«me ryt rha iwneluKinn Him- h lofkt DO* t» ba a» fad. hut thut ttfi-tiiwi 1 ought to b*
read at fottowl I " By thf iasor of a voting pnpoi to e-nwy inhabitant who woiUd
1 ■ piiy the I'uMio Idhnin* ns UMnMal m vvutil ol tho Act being sdoptcd." fn
other wdrdo, hia Lorlihip wae m I i to • •;■ l-"T. (I. LwUutun DM tn*'i\ly
provided a new niudt? OT liseerUlulu;r tin: oiJtuluu of thf (MiiMlliuwy, ami had not
Cnjvidi'il > ni-** imulo nf udoptin^ lb.. \-t us a "vliulu Tin. .|iit)«|.itiri Hull aiVnu>, wlirt
i a borough would have to pay the Public Library aoaeaair.cuL in tbo (v. al -»i
ti. mi; ii<1i.ph-i| ' Tli'--t-itnN' wlnrh r^-gnlufrfl th» li>\ynng (it tho bnroUgb r*h« •
Kunicipof Corpnratioua Ait, iwi. Mis LortUhip then load acotiotts Hfi, 140, an-i I ■'.'
tlie liui ul wblcb. In- paid, was very mnttriid. It provided tlnit vii..r-
a pamli mak«g, under aootiuu 1 of the Poor Rate Ajeevment and Collecti.in Aot, 1MU,
an urdfi to the effect that tbc .jwutn Uute<ad of Die uoeupier* of »uch rulahb*
... >iiiitrof*nta an thni-i'iii ii»'iiMn)ti4l nlnlH<(k roW*d to flit* poot^ H ■ MOl
ovtvy euoh urdor rdiull bo dovmvd to npply to and inelvde rating1 to the borough rata
with tho ^oroe indd'-ot'-. t-ondltloiis. poweri. ldibilltie^. iind i
rnto «ere x poor-rate. In ordur to ap^ir^inatc that. it. wuu n<*iui«ary to tarn to tho A«t
.»( i^iw, n l.i. 1. provide.] in wUou i^ thai ywutut iiiurbi airreti lo pay llit' rule »ud be
allowid n iwmTmwirm. anil wwtlon 4 provide<l that veatrh* might onler ihn owner to
br rated inntead of tbc occupier ; and action 7 wnans follows :--*' K\cry paynn-iit of
a rate by the oocuplor, niitwit.bstaudirii; the amount thereof, may he deducted Iron
hie rent m boroio provided, and evfry pojment of a rate by the owot, wbotbar bfl
la MiiiMilf rated lu-tetol of (In- .<■ <iM>|.r, oi baa &ktv<. v*li)i rlnw. luae) <>• wiUi Uxr
overaeera to pay nurli rnta. and notwilh<<(nndlTig any allowance or deduction wfattfl
tbc o'rraeCTo are vuipowercd bo main.' from the rale, ohall be deemed h parni
the full rate by the ooooptor for tho purpose nf any niiAlifluiUon or franchise which.
M rngnni* raUsgi tlaptadi upon (ho ptiymeot of too poor-rato*' Tit*'" uvi
dliiMted tbo ocvr*t^]^ In niatdog out tfie rule U) in-crttho anmea of all oocaij
tbe rato-l>oolf, and pn^adttd Omt the onitwaiou of an oocupiw'a nara» »di "■
■1 : |>i i v t- liiiu nf nuy t|uaUlb*«tlou*o.l fianelii"'- ilcpnaliup opon ratfafc Tlici. I.
provisions hi tlw »siih QflVot WCT1 I »iiUliw"l in nn Art .if Ifflff [4% Vlflt., C 10). wlilth
WSI tu bo t^ootrtrncd n« odu with tLe ,\.ot of Irti)I» Now thoao ] i < < ' mfcnJod
<iaxvful t-'onahltratiou. '11 im Act of 1MB provided in the dret plat* that Iruprovm -nt
rati-. w*iv t.. lw iiiil^..iHii vith thi> pror-rati, nn»l th«l .jocNplcni nora nor t.i h#
deprived of any (jualilWstiiuu oi fraitold«<; depending upmi mtJiig. Tin' I^ncudatutt
I.I ni>' "ivp , nl" ii ii fn|ju< qualifloalVin It oould QOl hav* m^aot
thdt thi»iO who Wfio iinqualiBcd in Muh^tanC'C eitoull he •|imlttk-d i
1 1 .s.t^iutd clear Chnl Ibuev Bi'cUotiB were Inuadvd on iho rcriiRliltiun by U
fhiif rati- wu. .i.w. |... id by tbo oecopJi* . and tbe provbtlODa of tho Act nmoiint»d
to th/a, thmi w]i«ire nitm wt^e In subiiU.iLc* paid by Um o< .upici Iha4 abould olau bt
rtwmm ta tortn payru«iit by hira wltbouBh \t w»a iaaA» 'Vi "tYa. V^aWl nf thn oari.'r
L. Ik
TBI! ACTft ANTi THE r.RC.AL A&PKCTS "I1 rill-: (Jl I.: n:i\.
34.'i
Boforn putinp with tlmt one other poiut ought- to be iti'Miht'Dwl vi*., nft<> whether
tin n'tfhi |d vole vu 11 'lunliflratioii depvrnlmi* on thj ituvuicul of UlB |MK>r-r.iti;. Th**
•)uolitlr*tii^n ir. IheLibioriw" Aj-'tTwloowd M 'Vu-iy inln.b*UaI who w««iM bftVI U
p*y Llic oAKCuriiuut Ui crcnt of Ihu Act Ix-iiitf ndupteiL" It \»n* ouly hyiHttbetiml
OOt n/i ai'hml ptiym»HU, ftfirl >n "J-rmth w < IvwtWJW al hiwhill " {'* 1, K." 1".
Q.H., 4221 Mr. Justice Mellor said thea© section* oiifiht to bo utiiistiucd in a libeml
spirit. The question then wan. what whs the rneuninir tf wriitm K i Two ulb-iniUivr
Intorpr-tatioim wep? ftubmitted 6> th«- Poort, For tho plaintiff* it. wait cantonlcd thiit
il BWinl " UlDM vlin would be Wall} liable tu pay " ; wliOv the ih,l'"ii(liiiil.:< argued
that It Tn*ant,.|"t,hiw*« who In renlit.y would have to b*ar th>> btUwH ri UU MM-"
The scctiou fairly admitted of thut coa-truction. In tho Unit place It urn* expre&iod
in popular lunyuatre— " who wnulrt ten bo p'i>." CD Che dttft pi 1- I ■ ■I'l-thip
coiud not eon tout tho Lctrixluhiro bud any other objoct than that tho determination
of th» ijjetttlt'D -hniili] n-.si w It.1i tin.- whtiju 'in. rutv would IHU m fubttaaw.
That wnt tbo omutnioUafi whfdi waned MBian.Ua 11* (riving full effect to tho Anta.
I- abg MYfl effect to 1 1 . -_ word ' InliabtteiM " Id wetion 3. The owner of lucid was not
necessarily *n inhabitant of tho (Ustrlct m which it ma sluuite, while it wiw onlv in
oxKtpti'ionl gaavs that ua owupint was not un inhubiUol. J'or those rawoue hie
Loruatiip Uitiinrht thut the toUd£ pant-re wi'ie pioperlj Issued, and (III motion roust
h l Btfawd. 'v-'li c.if,
It will be seen tl mt This iy it vtduahk* decision on the Acts. Ah
the judge pointed out that tile right to vote belonged to "every
inhabitant, who would have to pay the assessment m the erenl ol
tlie Act being adopted," and hew that those wovdfl . li * l &ol mean
merely "those who would be legally liable to pay " so as to
restrict the right to vote to the owners where they were rated
pursuant to the Croydon Vestry order of 1660, hut must be- eon*
strued as referring to " iho&e who in h -nl.i \ wmild imve 1 1 ► beat1
the burden of the rate*/ viz., the occupier, on whom the
burden would full presumably in the shape uf loeroBAed rent.
fn the Amendment BUI of 1887 one object Is to encourage bhfl
formation of leading libraries in villages, where the ratable
value if- so small that the highest rata authorized by the PubUc
ldlHBrle&' ArU— namely, uuc ptuny in 11 if pound— WODld bo
iu3uflli:ieut to meet the expense vi ereeting t, building, or even of
renting n room for a regular " Public Library." The st'iieme, how-
ever, ia also applicable to towns and other districts as well ;in to
*. lagee, Thus a town is enabled i" try the expeiiruenl of a
! -:i img library hoforc incfu'riog greuu-i niMt. Th<- arrarigemenl
i-. thatalendinff library may be" established by a library iiiuhmity
without a aepurntf bnilding befog pXDrlded for containing it, and
nay >e placed under (he care and superintendence of buc£ person
as the authority think (it, and iu u building or room aeithci
appropriated for the purposes of the Libraries' Acts nor pnrchnfi I
I ■ n ;<:d by tho authority.
in the inotrcpoliH the extenatoa of Public Ubrari ee has b
much shocked by reason of the area prescribed heinir the |«rifh.
Wfulonotneof tfi< iBirganetropolfianparishc const h tcasuiteblo
. i':i. .i feeling hnsprevniled in roiiio of the huh I Hrenofi ■'>;»* it'
b I'uhiK" Library were established there the inhabftanta <>f netol
bounng parishes would praotioally share m the tmjoyment ofioe
benofttb, though the whole expense wouUl fail "ii the I'titep! vers
of th" mil',- idual parishi For tartooa Bdmhustratlve purposes
•I ii parfshes are alreadt jroupedin district ln»ar<ls,and it nas been
ktl that the uifoptioa of Public LtbrftV\9A^taQWl",a6T«s^
encouruged by i^nuitting the area ad<»\>t.eflL lo "toej eV0t\w •&»
•Mi
FIBI-K MIUIAUIKS.
I'iiriMi or the district an umy L>p preferred. Ao.onlingh. the
principal Act of 1855 is jiiuditiedso ;i« to enable the district luurd
ot works as well ai the pariah bo establish a Public Library.
Tin* ftxpeaoo is to be defrayed oul of the fund at the dispo*
the district board Special provision Is made for exempting
a HV.uy rite m^tr-'politiii: [or -!:< - '.vlncli have ;ilv< ;i«lv esul'lUh-M
:i Public Library OX may hrn Jaffa? <1<> SO, the power* of parishes
io establish a library being kept alive.
New regulations ore node with regard to tin erowtag t>f
money by a library authority, and the powers and duties of the
Treasury with rcpird b> Kimcti-nimg loans, &«-., tuv transf
ttvuu tin- IVeosuy to the Board of Trade
in the Amendment Act *»i lS80o useful amendment has
effeotedi Hitherto the expoiiNcp ■ ■! ■■;itliii£ iml !i.Mn<: t1! ■
Lug of the ratepayers to decide whether the Public Libraries'
\ - Mlifill he adopted or nut, and the expenses ol carrying those
Aotfl OltO axocution In onv parish, have been pnal "out ul :i rate
to ho nmdc and recovered in like manner as a poor rate." Mow,
those expenses arc to be ]>ai«i out **i :i rate to tx« raised with and
as part of tlu» poor rate. Hitherto ©vary person occupying lands
noed u arable, meadow, or posture jroiuw only, or on woodlan* -.
or market a^raens, or nuwerj grounds, das been rated In reaped
of the aatne in the proportion *it' one-third nan nnly at the full
net annual value ilvivnf i< -p< >< -\i\ <\\ ■ nos such a person will be
entitled to an allowance of two-third* of the sum >isacsm-<1 upon
him in respect, of such lands for such expense*. More servlceftMfl
still is the provision now made for securing u Joint library for
seronO [wirishes. It is now to be lawful for the commissioners
appointed under (tie icte for :mv two or more adjoining parishes,
wiiii tnsconseni of the vestries ol such parishes from time to
time bo agree to share, in such proportions and foi suoli period as
may he determined by fch< agreement, the cost of the purchase,
erection* repair, and maintenance of any library building situate
in one of BQob parleb.ee, and also the cost of the purchase of 1 1
periodicals, and newspaper-* foi such library, and all i tbei
penses connected with the same; and the inhabitants ol both or
all the parishes, 00 the case may be, will be entitled to use the
library 80 long a* the agreement shall continue in force. Km
sued agreement ma> provide that upon ;t> t< n cuniion ,i
meat shall he made of the Interests of the several ■ omi ii inei
in the library, building, books, and other property to whii b th< ]
have contributed, and as to the mode hi which such ad
shall be reached Further than this, poundagi fur ■■■
the library rate is now quite illegal.
among i tlicr :ioiui- to bo discussed :n the framing of a Con-
solidation Bill will be the following:—
fite necessity ol making H absolute law, and not a matter o
local bvooTj to have Public Libraries exempt from Iocs
IlllfU'Vnil t;lV.lt:ul
T/iat tliv l;nv of Mortmain siha\V uol a^V^ \n PubUe 1 brnj
THE ACTS AXI. THR T.RGAJ. ASPECTS OF THE QrKBTTON. 347
Hint the rite bo allowed on bh(? grMB, SU)d not tin the ratable,
vii I no.
Thai nil public documents shall be presented free of nil cost.
Tiiut British Museum duplloatee juni South Kensington leans
u- only to rate-eupportied Lrorariefl and Museums.
r.iki'n.LT the power out of the hands of the ratepayers for the
u<l(>i»t ion of the Acts, und transferring it bo the governing body.
Hie citizens would still have a voice through their repros
Xhia would often save the expense of n poll, and there would be
oilier gains,
That loans be for b period of sixty Instead of thirty years,
That loans be permitted fur luokB, work* of art, ana objects for
tnuseums, bb weD as for nites, buildings nod fittings,
Wi© power to enforce tfce rata imniediateiv after tin- adoption
of the Act*.
That osurutteea Miall be permitted to make mu h ■ ■ 1 1 ■- ■•■., foi
renewals of borrowers' owdsi w .. as th< y deem necessary. There
ia S doubt whether, SB bhe euOtfl ftN corded, such chai'Kc* arc
legal.
Olau&e* trivin^f facilities to rural districts to affiliate with the
nearest town for the supply of ixx>ks and general library work.
Til.- ]HL.nit:i:mn^ of tin i':itv Lit ft jn*iuiy for Public Librorie* an
at present, and a further penny for tnusourob ami art ^allcne
Tfie present writer cherished the hope that the your 1*00
would pass without fcnj legislation affecting Public Libraries
being brought lute Parliament vVSfcb 3 deefreihowever, to assist
in cleariugup one Off two doubtful points, Sir John Lubbock, M .['..
has brought in a short Hill which proposes to substitute the
county anil borough electorate, as established by former v ts,
lor the electorate of ratepayers ia whom the power uf adopt-
ing the Libraries* Aote i*' now vested. The BUI aloe pro-
vides that, where the district Tor which the adoption <>! tin
Acts is proposed contains u population of 6.0UU or more, the
opinion of the voters Eb to be taken to voting papers alone. The
option that was given by the Aei of 1871 of proceeding either bj
viiti Iff paper.- or by public meeting would thus be confined t<>
districts having u population of less than J>,000. Another pro-
vision of the Bill is that the spools] conulUun which may be
adopted may be etcher thai the maadmun rate Is ol I to exceed :t
1i>i1I'1h-iiu;, or three f;n t!iiip-r^ — i Im-m OX&Ct Minis being the only
onei that may be specified. And iubaequentlj either of these
limitations might be removed, or the lower one raised to the
higher. It ia also proposed that the opinion of the majority of
those who vote ahull prevail, and not that a majority of the
constituency shall be aecceserj . M'mnw.T, whcsD queetloM arc
put by rating paper* both as to Lhc adoption -if t!u Acta und also
us to limitation or Etna rate, the voter ia ambled to give a valid
vote upon either or upou both of these questions. Thus he may
rote "No" is to aha adoption of the An... sod "Yea" aavi
limiting the rate i*> one-halfpenu3 ELeflwreti Vsu-
34f
PITILIC LrnitAIillS
until. n-ity are forbidden to put any question m to the limitation
Of the rate In tlio voting paper or to the public mating, unless
arjinitf (pi»»sTionon that point ta raised bythereouiainaolrti
1 1: iii ■ i r.'tjuinuL' Kt.'j.- to in- taken for ascertaining the opinion
of the electors, A final proposal is to extend section 3 of last
year i Let, bo as to enable library oral aorrtiei not only t<» oomhino
for 'I'*' pnr*lKHt'* <>t :)w A'Ts, lmt :iUi» t" mvhiI tlnMnwlv.-:, i;.on
barms to be agreed npan,of the benefits ol libraries mi Intniuce1
of funds under the control of the Charity OommiMlonew
CHAPTER XXI.
PUBLIC LIBRARY FUNDS. BUIIiDINGe, 6co.
^F the vote is in nvronr of adopting the Arts the work of tbc
provisional committee is at on end, no fat' as then? Iminc
<li;itr work i- .■■ i .. < mod, iinil the Town Council, or othej
governing body, will forthwith elect a library i omniitt
£o who.se i.miv the movement will i.)c entrusted) 11 in van
essential that the members of this eonu littes should be men ot
close sympathy with the movement, and who are willing to lake
upon themselves the labour, whieh is not by any means light, "i
the formation of a library. One 01* two of these gentlemen Should
he deputed to vit.it ibe Public Libraries in some of the large
centres, and so gain a practical insight into their working and
management. Every librarian worth the name will only be loo
glad to answer truest ions and to show mu I. visitors ovrr tbc
premises under his control Fi is very essential that there should
be on iii' committee -i van fair percentage of burgen*ea, Vol
many reasons this is wise, la most, towns there are .1 numb ■ cA
shrewd, fn rawing men of tan retiring ;i disposition t" 100k
municipal honours, who would on a library committee be 1
decided acquisition. They ar* not responsible to mnstf taenia, a*
in bhe representatives on the Council, and no look 1
matters from a different standpoint Moat i» w in ire no*
adopting the plan ol having burgesses on thin committee, a;n.i
some towns have even gone to the extent of having five-^dxlufl ol
the number elected (roni outside,
The queaUqn of funds is, of course, the nll-hnportnnl 010, and
if the provisional committee have succeeded in securing ;; hand-
some Set of promises of donations, on condition thai 1 1 1« - \» t-* be
ado ied nil th<' better, and this will be fonnd an immenae level
In ranging bhe ratepayers to a satisfactory dei [slon. Proi
for such a fund a* this become infectious, nnd, either in the
of so much cash or so many books, they aid moat oi
lubricating the movement, The names "I" those wlw [rive books
aud money go down to posterity in the history of the '
tin- nunu-:. -ii Mil. I U* published in the first report. Th-
scarcely another object which could be named win. b m pow«
fitttv appeals to the bon< v ri< in 1 of all bo< tions 1 1
A 'hinrh or .1 <'hapcl appeal to a. wctte/a. rho Chrlstianiaftfig
l-i ..l. Iv ..MlKAtlY PClfDS, MI'ILl.iING.S, ETC.
iU9
Coloured races appeal* to a section. But a Public Library
provides tin* chatitj which begins at home, und which, when
Mtnblifihcdj u for «ll classes, and continues for all time. The
Sirit of emulation thuu helps and popularizes the movement, and
ose appeals are rarely made in vain.
The question of loans has boon a somewhat troublesome one,
bat no MrioUfl difficulty in this direction hn> boon experienced,
with the exception Of OHO or two in«Uince*, where there were
I special GM186B 1" aCOOUOt tot it A g-Umrr nt tlie BtaPJgfcJOC ftl the
einl will Show ttl« todebt'-'hiesfi existing .Duong Un.wi> institutions,
uidfrora whence the loans have boon obtained, and the t»-rma 01
repayment. Two or three years ago a correspondence took place
Ix'tui'iMi the liiiance committee ol Hie liivniinKham Town Council
and tlie Treasury, on the subject of the repayment of a loan for
I Public Library purposes, and as the principle involved and laid
down is u very important one, the jrist of these communications is
here given in accordance with the authority conferred by the
< irin.-ti, the committee caused to bo presented co (be Lords of
ITer Majeaty'B Treasury, n memorial, In the name oi the Dorpora-
lirin, pmyi*i# U<v iln'ir i(ii'dslii(»s' sanction to the borrowing Dy the
Council at a loan of CG»160, for the following purpoMB, viz., lor
iin' purchase faun the ( touncil of the Midland Institute of certain
portions of the institute building, for the purposes of the tvntrjii
Public Libraries, £1,300; for dexnodng E& uoutte the institute
of the alteraliona rendered uecesserj l '_> bhu surrender ol the Bald
portions of the institute building, also of tha odbC bo the Public
Libraries uC uiakiug the necessary alterations to divide ihc
Hbr»riri from the in.stitute building1, together v\it!i the oosl of
rnuiiiM-iiiiu ami adapting the new hhhus tu the purpose* of tin;
library, £M,">uo.- for furnishing the wing- of the reference
• library, temporarily need as as art rallerY, witt ohaixa taM«;s
and desks, for the accommodation it ronoera £350; together,
I'.IOOO. for the purposes of the Constitution Hill Library' C-iOO;
for providing Rttinxe, furniture, and easts for the School of Art,
t£i\"00. In reply totntooppHcAtlonac^rninuniootion wae received
iioui the Treoann taquinsg whether, if the proposed loan of
lift, 150, under the Public Libraries' Act of 1H8-5, vnw consented to,
the Corporation would undertake by forma] resolution to pay it as
»loUoW9j vi/. : As to £.'1,300, £1,600, and £' loo, in thirty years from
datQ Of bonowing; ana ae to three sums, making up £3fiGO, in
ten vqmm Erens that date, '"i behalf of Ihe committee the town
ClorL replied, "Your tetter of the BTtn August. I8&6, has i n
luid before toe finance committee of the Corporation, and lam
<hm-led to iiKf-uro uin.ler what statute the I oniv r., nin>s ,
of [far MajostyB [reasury consider it to be tbelrdi tv to Impose
conditions upon the Corporation witb reference to tin- period for
U . repayment ol t 1 1«_- LoanM under the Public Lfbrarietf -\<-i, I8AU,
I i'ii i it in connect i<- 1 witli tlie Birmingham Corporation Consolida-
tion Act, 1883, Hitherto the Corporation have been under the
impression that the application u r the loan ba\u\vt Wvu ^uwtAb
hv thf fonnril. :iml j.iihlfr DOtlCfl j'lvm qS 6&C rtwwv . MB& w»
x*>
PUBLIC I.TBIMlIirx
objection taken, the loan would in* Minotloncn by tlie i ><r«K
I'mnmiKHioners, leaving tin* Coum-il lv determine Hie portod tap
repayment, having dot regard t<> the purposes for which the
money is to ba applied. An bh« period of ben year* appears to
the Corporation dm short a lime for the repayment ol the mm of
£3,500 lor providing fittings am! furniture tor the School of An,
iiiiii £900 for fanurfriag the aei wing; of the Reference Library,
ii i* perhaps desirable that this question should now be raised
In anawer i" this Dommunioatfap, n tetter was received from one
df the secretaries to the Treasury, in which he said, "I am to Mate
that in ttu opinion of this Board their general power under section
10 of tl»t? Act 18 and 19 Vic, cap. 70, to require repayment within
a certain period if they choose to attach Mich condition to tlun
sanction, remains unaffected to the provisions of the Birmingham
i oca) Net. The effect Of section 87 of the latter \ct ia to enable
the Corporation to raise any sum they choose for Public Library
in I'urii.s, but tlmt foot docs not compel the Treasury to assent to
whatever period of repayment ilto Corporation muy dceire to fix
in the case of partfoulor loans. The Town CSorlt Is correal in
Stating that it hoa hitherto been left t<> the IWn Council to
determine the period lor repayment of i'ublie Library loon
oiroumel inoes bave brought v?ry forcibly before mv Lords the
great and Inaroaatog pressure or" local taxation, and they consider
ii t.» In.1 i..l much importance to assert in th«» iasr nt Public Librae*
loam the sama principle ns that suggested by 1'arliament iu iv
MmudpUCoi^omtlone1 let ol 1882, sec J 12. vi?., that the genera-
tion which incurs the debt should also pay it wheuover praeti-
* -able The Municipal Corporations' Act. prescribes thirty year* as
tin' proper period nrrernyment or loans raised under that Act, and
my Lonls consider that Public I.ibmi-y loans generally should
have no longer currency With regard to furniture and lx(
the rule my Lords have noted on not Infrequently, in 001 aectton
with loans under various Acts, h;is been to require rep.
ion yeara, as :t la manifest that n loan for the acquisition of
articles liable to deterioration, breakage, &e., should not luivcxn
(•([iijil ourrexic^ a .ili Loans for the acquisition. <>f bind or Hit* ereo*
lion of substantial buildings. If, however, the fixture* in (he
present case are of a solid and durable characlei, my Lords ffould
not refuse an extension to twenty years of the currency i| thai
part of the loan which represents tJaeir value.11
'I'he Town Clerk rejoined with a communication respect ir;w the
interpretation of the law, enclosing a memorandum by I
man of the finance committee, and or tin committee's behalf,
stfttinft bhat. «>n the whole, looking to Hie permanent character of
the Midland Institute and Public Libraries buildings, lie was
instructed to ask tlmt the aums to be borrowed for the e
purchase of 1 mi Mings nnd structural alterations might be exb
fee sixty yeara, while the commit to ^.
td of "twenty years ns a reaeonnble period foi . «ub-
Ktswrin! furniture fbnt wift bo ^\aecc\ \w Vw V\t>teri<
following to tilt mium Trtcpwrvd. \>\ \V- '
PUBLIC LIBRARY FTNDS, nCn.DIKOS, ETC,
351
ttnanee eoniiuittee, referred to in the foregoing letter: — u Public
Libraries Loan, 1 have read the Treasury fetter, and 1 Hani; thai
the Corporation ought to press, as a matter of principle, lor :< boron
of at least sixty years, for such portions of the loan required Mara
to be expended upon works of a permanent character. Ttaft sum
involved is not large, but the principle la inip irt&ai Thi'Tiv:tMtirv
Htnic rh:il (drimmstariCVfl have brought forcibly before them the
great and increasing pressure of local taxation. Capital expendi-
ture, for the purposes »>i Public Libraries, Is a necessity wnlch it
Ib impossible toavoM; and the very was to oaaiethal expendi-
ture burdensome is to place the charges In respect of i- up* i e
genera tfi m only, by refusing u> extend the loan over a term of
years commensurate with the life of the works which it repre-
sents. Since posterity will get the benefit of the improvement*,
il appear* that those who nave broughl then about) should he
C 'i.trti'.'d with DO mop- than the ON ui hire, vf the menu.* which
effected the desirable result. Under the present system the men
of to-day will make u free gift to the men of to-morrow. Why
should they do this? f*et hoth parties «hare rhr burden fairly,
A pplyhui tola principle to the items in the proposed loan, « Inch
represent permuncnt structure, it would clearly bo unfair to Accept
the suggestion of the Treasury that the term of thirty your*, told
down in the Municipal Corporations' Act Bnould be applied i"
pOTtSCBfl of the present loon. Under all the circumstances, Earn
clear that the Treasury should bo pOBPod to extend tho term for
portions of tho proposed loan to sixty years; and it would seem
probable that they would ootbe indisposed to yield To accept
their prewar ruling would ho to admit their ri'-jht to determine
the period of tho loan ; while to contest it, would bo to assert the
right of the Corporation to, at any rate, a voice in the matter."
The reply from the Treasury further contested the view of the
finance committee, and said : "It is of course open to l-'arinmcnt
to lii any term of years that may seem good for the repayment of
loan* raised by Municipal Corporations, and to extend or alter
exiNting limits; hot my Lords hold that where, Bfl in the l*ubllc
LibmrU'H* Act, Parliament, has not seen fit to specify the duration
of loans raised under it, but has expressly subjected them to
Treasury approval, they have been invested with a discretionary
power to limit the currency of such Irian*. The power to give or
withhold approval implies tin- power to attach to the approval any
mniliMnns that are nut inconsistent with other prOTHonfl in the
Act. The enormoiiN growth of local Indebtedness during recent
years, lias led my Tjorda to consider it their duty, wherever prac-
ticable, to apply to Public Library loans the >ame limit of thirty
years that Parliament has indicated in (he Municipal CorpofaUooa1
Act tfl the maximum currency of ordinary loans raised by men
corporations under Treasury sun lion, even though thffi Ofl bi
for tlic purchase of land, or erection of permanent buildings. As
pointed out in the statement of your financial committer, TOffe*
umitation increases the immediate burthen ol c-.vpvY.'Oi v^^M^iNNwe ,
but for that very reason its inevitable \v>\\U S to tOttr&> ^^
:-~yJ
ULtaAIUES.
:iin t >t that expenditure .... Expctnu'n:-!' on tlic
librarie* can easily oe irruduuted according to the capac
feneration . they do nut » ■ involve a lnrges<?l
i»t i xpendttufs which must be carried oat at once as \ whole.
te ouj-e with suoli works as wur. ■_ Kipplj or irain-
TMy Lords, therefore, can only tanction the r.a-
Ctf.160 tw the i Ihrmtngham, under section I1
: r i IcLtb "'M,., \.-r oi -.».,, 18 -mil 19 Vic, cup id[ ivpnraNc
jt« follows, viz. • v.; _'<e> for purchase of land Ami for buil<
:i ■:.■ ui th rty yearn from the date of lorrowiDg; l%fl .'
furniture and fitting* of a durable kind, repayable iti
i nwn i in- date ol borrowing"
ii [s somewhat unfortunate that thw correspondence should
have uisen with the Birmingham libraries. The Public. Lib
Indebto readied 178,000, reiwyuble in .i hundred
yean II may be claimed with everj reason Hint thirty jr. i
tooahwrl ;i period for Loan* for Mte* uud building
Lcael Mty, yean ahoold be the limit, ami roi iWw latter period the
BcclceiaaUcn) Commissioners, as well an some of the insist
cxanponieSi an prepared to .uhvuire :• .n.- mm- ! jI-i.h *. turpenoa, on
the security "t Eb< :ii..-, at ■"». pel cent and equal puym nt*,
extending ovei that period. The inaiKt'imra nf the I^m
mem Board ore «lii| «■■*«< 1 1. look kindly upon i-mh. i >r (id
ol thirl v yean for \h< s izmtirulione. lo mai
repayments between thirty sad fifty yeara m
■ .! ■ [£b rence.
The question oi adapted (wildings hoa petverj ngooddei
lnjui I'liriuiiL. In the majority of caeca the idcaol purchasing
n building, and adapting it, should not he entertained. I
mitte - it: .vi' naturally to bo hound bv tl»' means at their dinpxtal.
p.'iueiifc of the p,irtjeiUar dihtrii-t whore *!
i to exist Che ■ ire i< cal circumstances attaching to own- tern,
which make it impossible tc lay down a general rule. tiic co*4
i i i [apttng bmJdirur* in usually mi nreat thai by the
promiBOB are reodj ot nccupation they have perhapt 1 1
price of b new and bi tatty constructed building' It U not
now a rare occurrence that m< ■ hi nice and literary institute), and
other imi|«linas uv ntfeii.-ti on wry ^Ivantngeous torn
Public Library purposes, but it ronld scarcely he ft id cd rainy
ot" these onildfnga that they li.nl been "adapted ' for the n*w
purposes.
Economy In public Hspwirifture na|iiin*H In be carefully
1 hi t there :s no branch ot our social system in which wise and
courageous eTpernlitmr will more repay itself to the town oron*
t hi man In that for educational purposes, uml n I'uhiii' i.fi
in. i the trueai w use ot the term, an educational institHtluri
deter ulned hen a the first instance, to hnvoanminiiNlii
loignt'd ei.pres.ilj li.u the pin puNt'-. ul u i'uhhe. Library
p i i townsmen w ill. a tliej oppose suelj ,i ■■ heme al m ■
sooner nr Ititer, to nee that tin's lias been the « i^er ^tep. ! - •
fWuVc fjhntry ben pub! i bw\dvx\geVow\v T*'*lit l< the iut.-lli
rrorrc mmkaiiy rrsns, buildings, etc.
368
:
of the town, and upon which the ritizcns can look with pride
The requirements of a large library building' aro so numerous
that no apology is required for derating some space I i a few
matter? of detail. The large library buildings ol Derby. .\ .■,
<;i-Im, I! it iiii^liLiin. hundue and i>lhi/r [thro* ;u\' OOOBJUeUGUfl US
monuments of the taste, cui run.-, and BEoBitfiCtUVAl skill oi the age,
The paramount requirements id a large library building aro:
abundance of solar light, ;< generous provision of artificial li^ht at
night, plenty ol pure air of a *iuiai»le temperature, well- Icwgned
protection :iij:ii.i-: ilu- niviiyv. <t niv :md against ihr deleterious
fnfloenoea of danrJcecB, proper ventilation conrenienl Interior
atrfeiigeznents, durabQU^r ol building m&teriajQ, and Btanilfty of
const rUCtJODL Other nirmidoTa.lioiiH pl:iy a must imjnirl:i:v. paTL
namely ■ —
The proper selection of U site, which kIiouIO l»r hiyh ami ilry,
for :i book magazine require) the dryrsl Htiil mid surroundings, an
tlnrs ;i powder insgaxine.
There should be sucbdistAace between the library building and
Oic niMivbt tiijfli structure a* to render possible everj oeccasarj
use ol the direct rays of the aim.
The methods of ingress and egress should be limited in numb \.
bol neij libera] fa proportion.
Tin- Huppry v] rater should be copious, well distributed through
the building, and easy of access.
Ample provision lor the expansion of the Ivook-holdhig capacity
of the building, in order that the deittaudfl for Hit- enlargonienl
of the building, owing to the growth of the library, may 52 peet-
poned to the farthest possible time.
Easy approaches.
in the reading-rooms fifteen square Beet oi apace should '<
all iwed to each reader.
The production of a suitable design und style of architect. IT .
which shall be in keeping with bhesc FeeuireiDcnts, nnd yet t! ; i
the building have seme points of arol iteeVom] beeu^, iea matter
for :hf architects' iMinpetitioiis. Several oi the leading architect*
in the country are niakinv :i speciality <u Public Libraries nnd
museums, and we are now rapid ;p reaching o condition of a
distinctive siyi" 1 1 m1 ih teetuw for heae inautntiona. i: in sig-
ii.iicu i that I !■■ an mt important library 1hmH:iiwn «.t' Euro] Wed
their origin to tin dry «>i pri-ici-j i<i'rveii**tiasl teal tU n Iti rtea,
who gave palaces und other large structures eo subserve the En sr-
ol lenrning. \» these btitidtno? wi re nnr. originally InreiH I
for I i r . i : 1 1- v [wrposes, they had to be adjusted fo ■ new use, nnd
from tjms to time enlarged. Tills hflR not tended U3 make them
strikingly artistic buildings.
Tho nfnn of asking etx or more arehlteeta to send tn tafgns in
preferable t<> advertising for design*
Son.' ii there was ii ruiitrovei'sy among librarian* In the
i uited States. Tin- subject was whether the "alcove" or "stack"
tern of placing the booka was the taller, uikI wrssv&\ *A ^&*&
-a
SSI
PI-RT.IC IJBRAEIPfl.
loading librarians oi the country took part. ^ 1 1 ether the indj-
vidunl racks upon which the books pest Should lie placed singly
and flatly against the wall, which constitutes the rack ayateni, or
doubly, and at right angles to the wall, and project a small apaco
into the room, say 5 ft, and placed, *av sit. apart, which constitutes
the alcove system: Off whether the racks xlwmUl be placed QlOM to-
gether, BaySj ft apart, dividing the former alcoves Into balves,
which constitutes Boa Bcrat-alcove system, between the alcove and
the Ktaek system ; or, finally, whetherthe.se rucks should be pi u
say 2$ ft. npnrt- nnd extend across the room in parallel rows, which
QcntBiftntes the stack system, Is :< matter of do concern to the
arehilerr, Ih'i-jmim* whichever system I'd placing books is :iiIci|>IimI
iniisi be acceptable to him, uud he only wants time to make his
amngements to meet the prcferenoe demanded.
In solving the problem juat named an American architect. Mr.
J. L. Smilhme.ver, makes tho Following euggeeMona. He takes
i he eji.se of a .-i.i ill j i i.i i > structure, to be pul up to accommodate
from 6)000 to 10,000 hook*, the interior arrangement to be no
pliable thai it will ultimately hold :_***..( a k i honk* without
or changing the building As rhi.s matter has not been fulh i
within any other chaptcr.it will be opportune to mtroaucc I
here, tie takes a building one storey high for hin purpoa.
i0 ft. in the clear, and 10ft. or 12ft. hiffh.havinp aekylight and Bide
lights above the !x>okcaae9i which arc only 7 ft, high. Ten books
per cubic foot will be a Rood average for such a library, T> foot
ing 4 ft. for the door at one end of the room, we hare ;—
18.ZMU-4U
12f>by7ft»t ...
BtO i fet by 10 txn»K»
= iw fe*t by i feet, nofgbt of r*ek,
= Sttfeet
= S.4W) Uukn.
It lis number of hooka will be accommodated in smyle nicks, pm
against the wall. The centre of thin room may bo used for read-
ing purposes, Should a greater capacity for l>ooks become
Qeceaasry, twelve racka, say each fi ft. long" and 7 ft. high, might
be placed in the room ;it right angles to the side walla, my § ft
apart (forming alcove).
13 rfnglo «»**« by 5 IHt lonp
tt>fectbY7*oeibitfh..
4aifoptbriuN>iV»
Doduft 1SI squire foot ot wall epwa eovcrod by neks 7 fc*t liigh
nl 10 )>wk« , , ... ••*
fio r.-t
IWIWl.
= 4,900 b.Mjlc-
Mobuok*.
i,*0 l>t)olt..
Hw centre of thle room may still be used a&a reading-room.
The next extension will, if needed, consist in the introdneUi
16 more ineks placed between the alcoves, and dividing them into
liidves. By this addition is gained—
nj mek» by o foei Ion* = huiol
P*fe*tbv7fO0t - «*»*«»
WW (wl by 10 lwuk* = MKiboukc
I>«*lnot in aqiiaro f*et of wall spft-oo «»v«ro«1 by rtck 7 fo>t bigb
atlObwka .» - 1,120 bouki.
MQftbaeka
Tlie centre of this room may s\\\\ be uaed naa readlng-n
prni.10 library rcftns, prii.MNCS, arc.
:iJ5
extension poealble will be is Che direction or abandoning
eoiupartuien; typo, and i]i*vnting tin.' spuoi' now used for read-
ing purposes to book raoks. S\y this change will tie gained
fourteen more racks, or 0,800 books. These rucks are placed In
purnllel lines the width of the room, say '6 it. apart, with passages
between them
11 ruck; by 10 feet long
1 10 (wt by r foot
WOfcotbylObodta...
Tl.iL. will Mtlco ft tOlal u( (1) : .iO'i.
»*,Wtt villained.
= 140 foot.
= bud reel,
- O.BOOboota.
*) :.i,M0i M] i,4M»i (4 n.rtOO. T.,ul,
HOT
read
The plan suggested by Mr. Smithrncyer i* rather ingenious, Init
U at the Manic time, practicable.
In .Inuimvr of the present JCBI B paper ITU roml before the
Aivlnteetural Association, contributed by Mr. MuitnU'ord, " Oil I ho
planning of Public Libraries.1' Severn London librarians wcw
present, and took part in the discussion that followed. The fact
of Che paper being read shows the enhanced interest which, on nil
Mdos, is being* taken iu thi> question, Mr. Mountford considered
the various apartments separately, and naturally began with the
entrance-hall. ,\« lliis is only u place of passage, he said that in
UTttBgJDg an economical plan, the tendency v;ix '" reduce the
hall to a minimum. He nrgtxl that the hull should be Bfl roomy
oh possible, on the plea that people coining and going to and from
all the rooms opening out ot it, probably often stopping to ohnt, u
«mall hull must at times become Inconveniently crowded. "It
simnid," he said, "have an outer porch, wherein, before the library
itself was opened in the morning, copies of the daily paper* might
he ported for the benefit of men who, being out of employment,
want to see the advertisements in good time The fending
library must always In* on the ground-floor . AS near as might be
tn I In- priiu'.lp:il or it ranee. Abundance ot light wax essenlial; and
should top-limiting be out of the (petition, there must l>e plenty
or windows, wiih reference bo the position of which the book-cases
would have to he arranged. The room should not he lew than
13 ft. high. the windows being: kept upas high a* possible iu order
in throw light over the lop* of fclie bookcases, ami to penult dwai i
bookoaswi being placed against the wall beneath theni." Mr.
\[< nntford devoted ;i considerable portion of his paper to Hie
•-lit" lvinerof books; Wit, as this is dealt with in another chapter, it la
B&DBOSSSaiy to attain refer to it here. The need of the reference
ii h i being :m the quietest part of the building in recognized by
all. He leans to the view t ii.it tin* elevation should '-< rather of
a municipal than domestic in character, it should in* aotod thai
in Mi,- rcicTCnce department the volumes would be nine, '.md not
tC33 1" tin- lineal foot.
Wherever possible, in the plans for new building*, n. leOtUM
hall should bo included, Thin, I KrWSTO, should not bo higher than
a first floor, on account of ingress and egress, and if over a lending
library, a special floor to prevent the noise Itqtcv &&<iaataKu& ^&»
em below should be constructed. Where ttva >&\\*a \%r«v\\fc*A
M6
prm.if i.WRAitiaa.
it a locliiiv-liiill over the basement, ami sulo by aide wuh
land) rig-Hbrary might i«» Arranged. This with gttllrtrica
would then be the same height dh a ground-floor lending mm irjr,
with rafaranoe departs enl as b Oral floor.
Whltat referring to this mutter, a Miirgratfon of ;i CamlvHdp;<
tutor, of it Mi.nv ilcsii/ti tor libraries, which certainly pom
merit of being n -v ■ , Lh _■ . \ r n below.
The nucleus of Lhe buudinu consist** of a circular reuding-raora
lighted by taeaua of tall windows under the dome, and coinrnuitf*
eating with the rest of the library by eight radiating pan
Round this room the library proper winds by the prcuongatioi] "i
one wull: the whole is but one spiral pfl irried on to any
e'wveiiienl Imii'th, Mi which Uuht ii admitted frOTn fetticaJ
light* under the roof. The height of the walk? in supposed to be
'JO ft., and the width of the passage about 24 f t. , this, howon
left nn orK'n i|iifwiion. IJookea^CK urc fitted to the wall at
millet uboiu ID ft. in height, excelling ;i little in depth Hie
dividing tliera Both sides bcingr used for suu'iure of Ix^uks, 1 1 it* \
afford a* much accommodation a* the adjacent drvfoionaf thr v..iii.
Thais, for book accommodation. a wall to botli gidee <»i which Iheac
euecsureRttaeho<t r-'i'r.-nrniM v.'iih i: ■ le-nn
noting '" four times that of one side of it. Along the •> hok)
pasaagc lijflit gallcri<#an intended to run, supported for tin
Srt by the bookcase*., by which means mi ea*y aeccas i
the upper part of the walls. The practicability of this doela
Public Library purposes may be doubted, but it is c
baild future libraries on bucko plan ua w n allow ol
ward tnlargomoat which nm\ bo noeeAeitatod bygrowtli If bj
any plan this can be effected economically, at the .
sffoansg minteiTUptod order and regularity in the in
mitii4tn\tion. t»uoh x now ctopattAUte m'v\v»ww j ■ - tiou
M7SLIC UBBABY PCVPS, BVILBISGS, BTO.
357
will hnve served a good purpose. TIM sOel 04 <■>'• « ling si circular
building fur exceeds the cost of ordinary buildings, so thw is a
mutter whidi would hove to be considered.
The reading- rooms should be made Cheerful by the presence on
tin srsllfl of mapM, engravings, &c.; and pieces of smtuapy to the
room. It is remarkable, when gtfr* of this nature sre onee set
owing, how canon esn fee done in securing donations for such pur-
|i"M's :ia ili.'Me from The better-class townsmen.
The present writer islets In fit you r of separate rending*rooma
fttr Indus and hogs than would appear in rhe two former editions
of this work. Where there is one gond-*i/,ed room, say of oblong
shape, tin' i : 1 1 *:-->- fat boy* should be at the end nearest the
den of the assistant ur caretaker. Thin would ensure the boys
keeping quiet— fl difficult tiling to achieve sometimes when a
Kt«|nir.iLe iniini is {dotted to their use. Our desire to see I wye — the
ml •■-I'll viiiLf '-ill 7.VUS nft lie lu tun-- a red I'm* m PuHir Library work
to stronger than < w i li.n they leuru inriet end orderly liehnv-
lour hy being in the presence o3 their elder*. The table* for the
ladies m:j.'ht he I'luced at the extreme end of the room, and their
presence m a nuge room aide ths ftraetal deeonSttt ado gives kb
eppoaraEoe of cheerfulness and brightness to .t news and rending-
i ii. To any that frivoHtiea are MU-iy to go on by bhc sexes
bedng in the same room in this way, would lx? an assertion only
liimii* by those who haw never boon in ■ loijgs reading-room
whore this plan is in operation, This would reouce the number
of small rooms for the librarian, und his oasletoota to watch, und
so their time would be ooonomnod for other work A eeparats
ladles' room means very often e good den] of gossip, end eoitto-
inii«- ii i- Brora these rooms that fashioii-eheot* end plates from
the monthlies !ire moat missed, Ladies ]>i'«i not taint at this
statement ; but t happens to be unfortunately true,
Ihi' pabliC I:iv:iToiv OOSOfn | undn Imn for both BSjXeS should be
el t wry limited eharaeter.U prnjini at alt, and it ts greatly
open t- question it v. is. advisable, n it U extensive and the
pieces are easily accessible they will be quickly turned into
public* ponvenieneee, end there fs no reason why this Ofovisloo
should be made out oJ the ix«nny library rate.
Uh.-Ii difference nl opinion and controversy )nm« eeurred between
even practical authorities upon ths subject of ventilation. Om
the beet methods of ventilation ts to have gratings hi the outside
wniu below ii a* floors, and other gratings In the floors' placed so-as
not to be near any Of the renders, nnd then some outlets or veu-
ttiattnjr chimneys placed iis near Hie . ciliin/ as possible i by this
arrangexnent not only are the rooms well ventilated, but the
floors nrs also kepi dry nod free bom rot. Where there tss
chimney, a l-.is m-i.Ij!. Ihi i :s lreijiif:ill\ 0100*01186 of: but this Is
expensive, and not in out opinion so good as the other method.
ii iwever, U La the lighting n sunlight be usecLn funnel may b«
to the outeide, mid will materieilj aid in the veninuv
Uob .it niftht without Dxtrs expense, wliei it Is nuMfc i*v^«*An
owinK to the uiere.i.sctl .tt[ri.i';.;.ier. ,\ UQunaClJ nfM&Oi tpM* «*
:vw
(Mill I l.tBRAItlKS
iiiurh vi-ntilation as a bedroom. Tlu- por-us U)oks i\\
impurities of the atmosphere h> Bponge absorbs water. Piles of
books, moreover, afford s multitude of orevioee and crannies
vii.-iv iinji rv nil' ■ an -IsLL-'uate.
The dootrlfl light now coming into nee in the large libraries i>
being found u decided boon. Where this is contemplated a
basement ton the engines iSj as a rale, essential As in some
libraries it is necessary to keep i.uiits burning all day between
the book-iiu'ks and dark corners, act umulators can be provided
for these The supply fur these lamps eon be drawn from
storage batteries during the day until the engine is bj i a. d I
riiL> app . ■ Li :- i >l electric lighting is crrowmg wo w
in raportanee, that in course at .> few years it ia probnu i. « ol
tin larger libraries will (><' lighted by mw. The effect* of fra*
npnii books Is an Important question chat lias for p loan tune
regneh vexed the minds of ^ns engineers and others Gas has
often been accused of rotting' the bindings of books exposed tfttta
heal ,unl fumes on Hie upper shelve* of I hrurles; bui the Impeadh-
ropni • b:iH ax often been repelled Some experiment** show thai
brown calf leatlier, when exposed for l,(x)0 hours In ;i dose
ohajabei tilled v\ith thi fn ne* of burning g«s, anil kepi bj these
ji .1 temperature varying From 130° to 162 Full., Is scrtoush
deteriorated: it* power of stretching being reduced by onolialT,
ami its breaking strength in uboul tin.' same preitortiuu. it Es
also shown that heal alone fa not the eauftc. of thoc eflecte ; fni
ill.* sa i.r kind ol leather, when heated uvei steam pipes t<< an
average temperature »>!' I9fl Fab., for 1 ,000 hour*, • i.h »u F<
diminution of strut* hing power from l.'J to J) per ««iit.. while it*
i"< fclns strength was reduced in the ratio of 36 i«> U3, Btei
when kepi al ai avcrag* temperature « »l" 143°Fah.,oi aboul the
spine heataathe atmosphere ol tin? close im> chamber, tea
does not sustain any appreciable injury no Long na the air i-
tolorably pure. .Vli tlii« is von* Mh'tin^ against the us* ol opei
f;:if tliuii'- 111 .■.-.■ :ij;ul:i .ills I'ontiii ump books bound m
outlier The cause ji the deterioration of the leather under the
influence of the product** of combustion of coal gas ie aot far to
peek, it iu nothing more or lose than sulphuric wid, round tii"
aypothefcJoal presence ut which in tho atmosphere of gne-111 I
wo much controversy has raged.
The improvement* made in lights for public building* have
daring recent years beei very numerous. Many xo><
which greatly improve the liglit from gas, and render it t:i
Injurious than the old burners, are in the market. Su
\\ cnhaiii, mid Bray's light* and burners, timonu ot 101
named Then is one thing could be strongly advised, and that
in tiii' placing of d main gas tap In each flepartmi nt, bo that ttu
ghu can !"• easily regulated or tnrned on, withonl inconveni 1 -m _>
UU read. 'is.
The heating of the build tig - an Importani matter, bul I <•
are so ouu y systems In vogue that it i* iniposslble topurrlenlHrfase
ifu.n Ovatnuv} nre-rAaeesareuw\eMhVn .■ lUKUtutiona
THK FOItMATlOIN OK IM' 151,10 MllilAllUJfi.
3ofl
fitly or sluy person a are present at one time, as the Bret who
8 1 1 1 1 o WW certain to monopolize the fire, to the exclusion of the
Sreat majority. By the hot air or hot water system the whole of
le roona is e<juaUy heated, and there ie ir, smoke or dirt, and
labour and fuel are greatly econoumed,
CHAPTER XXII.
THE FORMATION OP PUBLIC LEBBAIUES.
IS two following chapters BTQ devoted to a brief dewrip-
1 turn of some of the principal methods of work adopted
in British Public Libraries. It is not intended, nor
would it be potable in the space, to present more than
a series ot snort notes on those point* which are eon-
mvted With HBtahliKhment and organ i?.*i mm, and which should
Srove most fiprvfeeahle in new libraries There ITS 10 ninny
iffcrcnt systems of management and such B vmiety of methods
in vogue of dealing with minor points ol detail, that to describe
lln'in nil would be Impossible in OUT limits, while to attempt to
reconcile their divergences wnnld lie hk lionelcx* it* it would bfl
unpiulUable. Il may DC said, ^en.-rally, thai any RyStCm which
fuliUH the main objects ol library admhiisirti ion, namely to record
and supply, is uuite elfeclne for all purposes. ;md it matters
little whether it tin* been hnilt up from the results uf experiment
Mi evolved from Hit* mind by a logical jh'occhh.
I Ik librarian, on being appointed, will iialuiullv make a c aielul
Mirvrv of the quartets iu which hi* librury i* to be housed, ami
order hi- arrangements iu accordance witfo the architect ural con-
dltfotu of the building. Before proceeding to describe the
rifli US kiinl> of furnishing* it may 1h« well to mention a few
general prnodplcfl which *hould govern the whole scheme of
arrangement. We shall embody these m the form of rule*, with
bho reeerratton that the spaces^given arc the minimum for their
■I'iil purposes.
1. Ko truffle should exist in any reading room save what in
necessary for the serrico of books ana seating of readers,
and no public room should be made u thoroughfare.
2. Ko passage For public traffic should be les* than 1 it wide.
3. The BpMfl between reading tables: should be at least Oft.
1. The Hpuee bet ween UbU- end* should be t ft., iuid between
table ends and walls the same, if there is a gang-way.
">. If possible, complete oversight of the news and reading
roomj Should be obtained by the stall while employed on
their ordluurj duties,
o\ All exits from the public rooms should be within sight of
Him stall.
. Each reader Should have ut least ir ft, of elbow-room when
geated at i table*
8. Vll arrangements should us uuele wvUv r3*SA toSuKMSUeK >»
i Ughting as well as eoiiveawuee
:;r
IM-ni.IC l.l'Ui.MlIKB,
It should be noted Hut the ren above lj i.<>
reading rooms and sot for public pnfwijfc* or staircase*,
v. iU ih the architect will dou 'i i - provide .rnple and ipucioua
BOOommodfttloQ.
Shelving. — As the proriauiti oi aboraffc for I*k>1<s U the i i ly
earliest duty which -.\ ;ll <;;1! for performance it may lie ve<
be ii' ii furnishings fii*it. (Joud bookcases mid fit-
should Invariably be
provided Hot partoi
ncnt buildings, as there
ik :ib»jilut.«ly no ceo-
n< i i\ i procuring
cheap niakcshill
trig which will onlj Uul
i year op two before
railing tfl [»nvr* \ .it
serviceable Iw.i.ki-Ws
ii be made from
■
volh u p. ii'. fli
. and \:n tiiHlii'd
or polished. Por tin-
economical ahelving cd
moke nbu durd
or presses elmuM lr
adopted in prefi
■ i i m1 Hie
walls, v.-li an ft I
iHllV WaMfftl i ■
.|>;li'«-. Inr .-.' A | '„
i mm.-
•.•:.;.: \y lotlOUt '■
Muff. Sl;iti(!::n|:
cho advantflffi
ording shell a vee
both Hidevj i 'I
lofty room can mi I .
be ' provided with i
jrluss an<l irern meaxa-
nine Door, carrying1 a
duplicate ttftWew of
oases to hold additions Standard bookcase; should i><* m i d*
CD the dimensions -iimvn in the nnuexo*! illustration, vitl
nbtfl shelve*, which might nor tn exceed three I'-fi or three
feet six inches in length, landing or refer? 10* Iwikcnaes
or ritnndard, should not exceei Plyhl feet in heigh 1
orcioe and plinth. Lower eases ran l»e used IftFirniehl n<
H.-r.rv. but tf apace t ;i roniddei'&tlon lilie height Is nol rxcensira
when it la remembered thai ;< middle nIswI nerso.
top sfirll R ,fli .i BtOfJ hi ip' Lnche« ki nnr I'mi! l;i"li Mil'! <*r no^
://./'/ /•, fin feel should nol be w»A vf\\\uw\\\V mtaruattXcm
HTAVnARI) Tl'VnCCASR WITH SHTCT.VKS ON
both srnres.
Of a
THE FOHWATION Of PUBLIC Linit.VJtlMS,
SOI
floor iy tfullory Within Ihr hi'iy li I , ,1" . i^'lil loct, Ond Bllowhlgfor
thlokueee of shelves, vbieh now no! exceed en* inch each, ten
flholvee can bo plaee.il, DO an .ivora*re. in u lcm linu library where
8yo and lAno book* are chiefly kept. In B reference library nine
ahelvcennvy be allowed for the same height in Ordinary standard
caMA, hut id wull eases
where t'oh'os and qnar- < -'
tos are stored, probnbly
not more than eight
shelves will !■«' ;jii;.
Wall cases should have
a lodged base as in the
illustration m-en be-
low and tfce enlarged
shelf space thiiK ob-
\\i:i be found
«i| ;.'iv:ii service in
itoong large boolca.
In wi_\ larye libraries
nisi ■1.1I means must be
dei inied Pot She storage
«<i olio volumes.
The I"\mt port of
n.iii cases em easflj
be enlarged fa two
IV.-I nn'ic in il«'pth
in order to admit very
wide folios, bat it - <
u i.-.ri ]f|;in iii i,.,vc fmch
boolca placed in b{n -
■ iilly-l'iiilt cuoce not
more than three tool
hitfh, the t ■>]»•, • t' whioh
ran In.- use" l ■
lease 1 1 i i ■ ■ rraog
new b* oka.
ielf fttdbga are
nnule "I VBROIU kinds
iMth in wood and
rni'i i , bat the most oonveoieiu and effective support ih that
made by Messrs. E. Touk* & Son With tin* the Shelves ■> i
loed ut iiny interval from one inch upward*, without the
letsi trouble, Ihlaformol support oonaieta of perforated metal
stripe into wMoh mu I met* catenas are fixed at Intervale <t
fi\\(K ineh, on which the ahelven n**r. I' tin* k1u«1\i?n :ire icnle all
one initvu'Mi length, as they should be when possihie, any altera*
Hans or re-apaeing .'ill hpjpvatly facilitated Hie fore-edgea of
nil shelves ano-ala be rownded and polished, lunr protectors erf
scalloped clofli let In i<i the front nnd^r-eidfts *»f shelves on
.-.iHiMMiti.-. used. Leather for this purpose [a not vrnuu\uvu\^\-
an it Minn dries, booomsa brittle, and cjrtwcto\e* \*» $*«*»<
WALL B00K0A8B WITH LBDOBD
TUSK.
sea
I'll I l'." I.IHRAHTBB.
A mm i 'i : feel 9 im he^nhould be left between each book)
;ui'l 4 ff.! between cikIh uf oawB where there is a gangw.i).
Tln-i-i- I ■.■-. uf apace rt-:ll Mifficr between ends of cases and blank
walls. In calculating the number of volumes which a case will
hold, allow ton volume!? pin- hueal tout ot shelf hi a lending
library, and ten shelve* in a height of 8 feet as above. Thus, I
division of a case with shelves G feet long1 will accommodate
300 volumo. Tlri'. U* should bo estimated at nine
volumes per llncul foot. This is u simple and fairly aces
manner of calculating the capacity of phelvn*,
Counters. -Tl id » ••- . i
high, »nd IS in olios *;■!., an adieutor is used. If not,
8 1 ■■: I Igh by -' feet wide. The Length t > be loeordinx to Uk
»ize of indicator, and the service apace required. A <.'otgrosvc
indicator occupies fi lineal feet for every 1,000 volumo*. A refer-
ence-library counter should be 3 feet high by 2 feet wide. Both
should be provided Kith wlokei- and I!: j»k giving
public side, and should be fitted i n_*i_ ■ i ? » - i wuhauosral supply el
shelves, and drawers of various hizos.
Indicators.— Tlwro IN leverul methods of showing to the
public, by means "i ino ticvice called (he indicator, what nooks in
:i Leading department are En use or on the shelves. There can be
noaneeoon as to the utility -<f tin- indicator, aol only aa earing
the time and labour ol the staff, but as i convenient interna •
between the library officials and the public. Hy its use the need
for elaborate systems ol book-keeping i< obviated, nnd ore
rapidity and accuracy * * i service are ittained, The pruicipuJ
ODject ol everj mdlcator is to display by moan* ol umn
dJJraroutly ceionrod, or numbered ajHtccs left blank or other i
shown In a glazed frame facing r.ln* public, *h.- honk* winch are
to he had for reading
m-\ ;t.i! r;icrli;ri c::1 devio-h li:|VC I»'C1| n-ril :il vi< {< c- tri •'■ E0
effect the object* above described, bui It was not till 1870 when
Mr. John Elliot, public librarian of Wolverhampton, brmighi
forward his indicator, that anything of practical value vu
achieved The contrivances used previous to 1*70 were mere
makefthil'tb fur the use uf tlie staff, and designed simply with the
special object of saving ihe labour of looking for books which
were in use. With this the renders had no concern, nor did it in
any WBtf assist (heir quest, The Elliot indicator in therefore the
fn"*t invention which had any real value in the wrkri^ol libraries)
:in«i was the pioneer of every subsequent device for the siiuplinV
cuiiuii uf service ; aud.it may lie said, the buprovcitici
relations between reader and librarian. It in preferred hy
librarians to any of the more recent systems, and ha
successfully iu a number of large libraries for monj yi
A* ta Illustrated on p. 303, it ha* the book numbers arrai
Inconsecutive order on a series of uprights, and against each
number is a small vacant shelf or pigeon-hole. When a bu
issued its number with the date is written in the born wort curd,
whidh ;'- pta ed on the sheM oppotfoe tas iww1^ itf tVa work on
Til* JfHRMATKW OF PIBI.IC MlWAaittS.
:•.<:'.
[In mrticator, and remains there till the hook i-, returned. Tho
presence of a rard attainst a number of course indicates that tho
hook so distinguished is out. The whole issues in a day are noted
nn a -peeially ruled sheet or hook kept for the purpose.
HILlOTy. MUKAin iMtlCATOIt.
The indicator designed by Mr. Alfred Co tgreave, public librarian
of Guernsey, in 1879, consists of alarjre frame divided by tin slides
ito Mil. dl rjompartments, in the rammer shown below, Each
compartment contains aaraaU rever»ihl<' nn-uil i-hm- which Imlda
i !•■* I'm i representing a rolumo to the library, and foi recording
ii> ImuM Th§ emls of eneli caw arc turned up and enrrv the
number of the hook in two colours, one to face the public when
the hook is in, and the other vhen it is out. The QlUBtratfoDfl
on j>|i 801! B©5, show clc urlj the form "( I Ma c i ••- and ledger.
t\:. ,i im;n;.- of < U'tivtlli^ Imok.S which have IhtIi lit pt ! »> louder.1*
rand the period allowed, Mr. Cotgreave dob invented on tuHnnti
his indicator in tho form o!' -muill Mide* m- <l*n-, ©1 diSstfe^nK
lour« for covering the msnbera erf bocJkB to aw wi eje*jHftftj,&
;;.;<
i'i m.ji i.mii w:n>.
yaSofl dido* are need to cover the nuintiera bomed In one period)
red the following:, blue the next, ami black the tat penod, it
follow* iiiai iin v vfiiuw slides remaining in the indicator when
blue and Mark an causrenti denote books whichafa overdue. But
there we other methods "i showing the eaiitf thing in ;i ie«*
expensive Mid cumbersome ttntuuer »K'mm1hM m the t'*il liming
rS& "^
i ■nTf;nH\vi.: I ivim ATOB.
i --,i..i.--. I ic record of doily Jemms, in most libraries osSaa?
IT, 11 kept in a special back or on sheet*.
The "Duplex*' i* the same Qjvei] to mi indu-i .»■ r >.k<«iKned bj
Mr. A. W. Roberteon, nubile librarian, Aberdeen. U i$ i rariot
cd Mm Billot Indies lifio tl i inn to an .1 ih<
nomeat <>i" Jaauing books, and an automatic inuthod of ahi
DTordoe volumea apart Irotn the indicator luelf. 1 moi
* than the Cotgrett e ButtOft\uv,u\<. iw» u .
TCIK FORMATION OP PITBLXC IJBBAIMI IS. W8
ok a rongft oftttlogfcc Thin advantage i*enpnbl<» oi Itenig
ied to both the Elliot s.n<l Bonner Indicators.
notihev Form of tndfcator Hi that rleatgned by Mr. ritomaa
Bonner, public librarian, Ealing it is claimed for it thai over
itne* ''an :ii mirr- W di-stingniNhcd without ;h.' n-o of the dtifo of
flip of the Cotgrflave ayatPin, and thai IW 06t»t k SboTH otlfl
fourth less. It has numbered octagonal Node* to represent work*
in the library, tnni ahotdd prow i«efnl, If nay cfwefnlly worked,
in ettBtfngulaning delinquent) borrowers. Each aide <»f the block
is differently ci iiourcd, and the variations nf colour show overdoes
hh in Cotgreave'A nlide ayste n.
Further particulara relating bo the workfnj ot the indicator,
i»n*l Its application to the books in :1k1 library, n ill i e found in the
following chapter.
Reference xhnulo: '•■■ inmle tothc " M;ium/.:m " indimtor, recently
introdaced byMr. John Elliot, oi Wolvcrnan pfc d. it Eg described
OB toll on - in the " \\ '• Ivcrharapton Express and Btat9i " . . . .
The new b&eator is in the Bam* principle u the ..i<i onatj
coiisislinp ot* twelve nnriMw cuhuuiir-, in an enclosed wood DSOIO)
•ohmn containing flfty innnll tinned reoeptaelea foi the
ion of the pass-books. At the head Of Vftui column are
neatly printed tho dilYevoid i out l> 4 tin? yea* from January to
Daoember, irW at down fcha outside wood margin at each en<! are
the titles ot the respective magazines taken in. it will thus be
Mod that as in the ease of the ordinary library Indicator, ;i would*
ba i i novel CU aee al fl ftfa&OS whai magazines haVfl hoon lout
hii! iii. i chose Btm available far faane; whilst, rax the other hand,
the library assistants ea i readily ascertain In each ease, by refer-
ent t*. tile ' ■-. t" whom" any pw:l\e>x\M Xtt^wx»w\va»\»»£<A
•m
rvwjtc MunAMRS.
l«nt, nad it detained beyond the (line allowed tor rciidiutf, rnn M
once oommunioatc with the boaoirer ret-iucsting its return."
Tables, Chairs, Newspaper Stands, eto. Tables for the
reading-rooms Hhould not bo too long or too narrow. Throe foot
broad oy 10 feet Imu? will bolound very oonvcnioiU aJfDQnt*iaii£|
bui the length must be decided by the size of the rooms. It ia
important to have them broad enough to admit of reader** being
ed on both ddafif as a jjreot uTnount of unobtrusive bat
effective oversight i« gained by I ho renders overlooking each oi In r,
Hafijaidne or news-room tables should be about - root 0 inches
high, but in a reference library where much writing is done the
tables can be made two or three inches lower, Bad s few should bo
made la His ihape of deaka. The framing nl the taMes should
not he mi deep ;e- 1<< nitrrli-iv with the comforl <»l pcr»
at them. Unain should not be too heavy or clumsy, tleavj
chain ate very noisy, re piin* great expenditure oi energy to
move, and, Iw
-3. »w O^ — y>:- . , ^ hemgexpenstve are
a source nl an
l rouble to keep
clean, A bin
light chaii u Ithoul
:inn\ Imvlug ;i sent
18 or 20 ineheM
from Hie floor, with
a hut-rail attached,
and the legs shod
with stout rubber to
deaden the noise oi
movfogj will be
found admirably
suited for all pur-
poses.
No wepaper stands
should be mudc t"
hold papers opened out, on both sides, The illustration shown
alwve will diKf »1 ay better than can bfl described the tlimcnsions
and form of the ordinary type of stand.
They should be very strongly made, with a base targe enough
to prevent overturning. Yellow pine jk r suitable material TV-
-Mould be secured by brain rods passing over tho
middle of rfte puner and fastened* to the lower part of the desk.
The slope of The oWc ought not to be very great, 6ec:ttiM- the
acute the pitch ia, the easier are the papers read. A pitoh o1
B Inane* to l fool is ample.
Backs are sometimea used for keeping the current numbers ol
periodicals and magazines to£vth»M\ in«te:i I oi huvi ig iluon liltei
in? alioiii mid Miii-uriilH-rine; the tables, Ttierc are various kinds la
use, including one patentee i\ Mr Cotgreave, the designer o
indicator previomdy described, bur none seems so -tv :is
// r rack of overlapping staying tAxetvesYu use at the FC< nsSn
imv i-'iinM.vrrov of pitu.K' iibhahiks
367
Public l.ilinii-i.'s. This can hp made ta hold »m.y number of
peiiodloflli in their ciivers, an<l is not eXDBQSKYOj DOT <loe* it
K'roj.y inncli sjKiiv. by iii'Djccihiu r.n- jnii, the room.
periodical nArr.
It IB lianlly needful to do more llum mention 6ttch article* of
furniture ;is fleftkfland Btew fof llic OEM "I tin* .st;ilY, but then* mv
hro fxiivmL-iy useful aftiolefl winch may bo desoribed. The rtr«t
is theboolc -holder, for kev|>m.i£r<'.wsof bool^ erect ,.»irhi.T on «hi'hc .
or elsewhere, which is made in wovorol varicticn. Ww following
illustrations iuv MilHcicnt to indicate thoir tftyk*.
Km. I,
I'fr; 'J.
The metal book-holder* ol M«oa(Fig. I), and BratyiFiji B).trt
far the mosi - itiafoctory, neat, and twrviotebk
" '"
PUBLIC LIBD^IUEJ
The *econd article is the ciota»ocvered box top holding pamphtel
or filing periodical*. Them* boxes can be miule any ni .-. n<l
:tlninMl :niy Imx-nnicei- MB SUppty them. V t'KKt convenient and
dust-proof box with index on Bap is made by Messrs 1 inohani &
'". i'i f!i<> -■; 'i- .jf Uie annexed Ulautnition. The ghapi of I lie J id
admits d Che whole contents >; Iho bos being turned over into
it. TtlMa hn\e« i!Tiii,()wi in i.| ki'pr on ■Ik-Ii^, will
preserve pamphlet* in an onli Hv and posfly aoee nner
:ii ;i rust 1 1 1 1 1 1 ■ 1 1 below binding.
ci.OTH-rovr.RRn i*avphi.kt-box\ nox-T.in ant> ft.4.p.
Business Books. Besides the various forms of hooks roculrod
for keeping accounts, as ledger, cash bo< U . pel ';. C LBn boos, fine
book, &e., Sure we a number ■•! other special 3 ruled books for
rejristerme' the volume* in the Ubrfijy, the use made of tbem, &c.
CM these the most important in the stock b »ok, winch re
history of every book in the collection, showing when, when , &1
what cost or otherwise nil books wore procured. 'Hie ruling
Assigned by Mr. P. l\ Barrett, Mitchell Library Qli bow^
suitable for -any library, Columns are provided for date oi
receipt, author and title, language number. clans letter, number of
volumes, now work >>r .'"iilinii ■ninti (t.i distinguish bookl from
rohnnfi9}fbook or psfnrMe%stze,lmprinr.,dat* of ptiMlrAtlon,oondl-
tfon when received (hfhding), rtonor or vendor, price if purchased,
discount. collation, special collections, remarks. There ore other
foruMof ruling, but they are nil smncwhai siiuflar Somen
books classify the books iiage by pa je in apeolally rated columns
or by rneani ul a cumulative syHiem of nmalKTtng ft other
case* 1 he classes are alwtracted annually on separate sheets, and
copied into '"■ lasl few pages of the stock book, or iuu>
ruled chuslnuatfrin hook, other necewarj books are the Issue
book (for recording issues uf l.moks tuiO attendance u
shelf mrislci 10 iinnn-rir.il 1:>I o. h.iK:- uithc
stand on ilr shel\ eaj, location 1 U the numericnl llnding 1 1
DM with the noTftbic system of location), registci »w*rs
(alphabetical, but often kept on card*), propositi bonk, order book,
donation book, and others, whose names aiffii ienl i\ ludicati
use.
Book-buying — Th- ire are several points in connection with
the selection and purchaae 0! books which may be worth noting
THE rnnMATTns ill-' rnu.ir mhimkiigs.
w
(he Information of the general reader, u wft] usually be
mihil, :il'lcr llic cattUOgUSH of existing llbraTIC», publishers' Ii.sls,
and personal stock of Knowledge have been ransacked, dial .1 list
oi perhaps IS/JOO iw fWXJO volumes has been brought together, and
llir (JiieMlon US to bow these Ottfl beat be gut Will next arise, In
ii« Drat jihirc, [here will likely be included a largo number <>i
book* not in print, and other* very high in price. These should
be taken out -« n« 1 placed on n separate list, (01 circulation among
tteeoud-lwuid boolwcllcxe throughout the country, with ,1 request
lor reports on tin: edition, price, condition, £e., 0! the books
rrnniect A comparison of these li*t-> wiim returned usually
suite in most of the books being got m good rein hi inn *{ \< 1 \
moderate prices, Sen books can b« purchased si discounts rang*
log from 2$ pox ccnt-to&Sj per cent, ofl the published prices,
according to the '-it net made with the k> al boolmeUer.bd when
nossiblei all books should bo bought second-hand.
Tli'.- quc*(:< 1 "I <'<b(i-'-i > rather an important one, especially
si regards lending IJorapj booksi An edition of s book auttc
good enough for circulation may he purchased for a shilling or
two, if the librarian buyii udi u osly,whilc if he purchases without
int|uicy or knowledge, lie may pay u» many pounds for nn
SXponsrVi edition di ttf.v< i|Uib unnnih-il tor lending purposes.
The works of such w titers as Scot! , 1 iickooa, RJnglaki , Tennyson,
Thackeray, I Icaoonflfleld. and a host of other good writers arc pub-
lished in a variety of editions, some rosy o^rponaivc, and some \< i v
cheap and excellent. 11 gooa without wyinarthotahondj volume
dition ol' Tennyson, piuctiouliy complou for a fow shilling
H a one 1 1 purchase for a lending library, and not an edition in
half ••' dozen i>r iiuhv v.-ihu ir« enMitm perhaps fc*8. For lending-
library purposes ail dosses of books, but espeoiallj flotion, *-lnm l> i
bo purchased in one-volume editions whenever possible. Indeed]
u should be mads an untranogressablD rule never to purohasc
throe volume novels. They ore expensive t>« beyond bina, dear fit
almosi any money for the space they oecwyiand ;> source of
endless trouble as regards recording, and Ens difficulty they
Ion in the matter of statistics, v novel which has any
itriking literary character or element "I popularity vii: almost
And its way mto one-volume Conn, it may be three
month* after ts original publication in three volume* costing
31a, iM. (— m\ v iH-t )t ;»ih! the probability i« that it can then be
bought for any sum between 1*. tid. and -is. in the form most
mih iit!<- in- ■•u'euJation. For this cheapening any public library
I can well afford to wait. The rule against I Its In more than one
volume applies with almost equal fores to ■» certain daw oi book*
; :.- " ibrary Miuinns." RspociaUy is this the ease with the
0
B
e
1
1
numerous Inflated biographies o1 modern oelebritiet which are
laUy named in a form our of all proportion to the importance
tbfeel For th»»%<\ a puhl'r lihrnvv should wan ill) it i*
ml their merit or popularity wamants their retsoau
cheap one-volume form, ft Onanavei haomua,aa\a awxws
is case wphiH copied from Bubacrtption. vtewrtSjftloto'ttwSQB*'
:*70
PI7HI.ro T.TItlMIHRR.
Smith's/oi i>oiigi;iOiud FoUjHafycan behoughi bq licate oopta
oj boon should bopurchaBed very sparingly heforc :i library li
opened, mid beyond •liif>1i«-:« i iny such authors as Scott, ImVIomi:.
iii.H-keryv, George Eliot, ami h few others, no mora than
Hinglc copies' ill' any work should lie bought rill ti 1* found i\
experience what readers most constantly seek. Duplicate copies
of novels l>y moat writers of the day should be bought wtto
especial care. In some *»f the older librarian il is a common thing
to see shell upon Shall of books by once popular authors, whleb were
Injudiciously over-multiplied to serve h temporary demand, stand -
i t t jjt like daswiovered ghosts in sfleni reproach lor then* permanent
iirylm-i, uiid Hit- misappropriation of public money! a public
i brary should be ;t selector rather than a purveyor of fiction
The purchase of books for a reference library is quite a
different matter, as the best and must complete editions. In h
scholarly view, are by nil means most deniable, Technical and
acfcnttflc books should be gol in the most L'ecenl editions, aa there
is a vast difference bel ween «hut i« out oi date and up t<< date In
the aria and sciences.
There is nothing else to 1>e said regarding h»ok-buyuig savs
that it should in the first instance be left to a librarian <»i
experience and knowledge, and that a special collection should
be lurtde uf every book, man vt jninl relating In the district in
which the library is situated.
Classification aud Cataloguing. — Hie two subject* forming
the heading of this section are probably the most debatable in ihr
whole range of bibliothcenl science, Certainly there arc none so
Goliflc in the production of discussion and disputation, It m.iv
poeeible bo and 6wo librarians who agree Be to .» few pointa n
general adniiiiistiiitmn. but on the question "1* classification every-
one maintains u right to an ex catkedm judgment. 'Hie subject
very much complicated by the confusion which has
between the classification of human knowledge, and that beet
adapted to a collection of honk*, not to speak of the difficulty
vtrich exists through cataloguing and classification being oca-
foundod. In general, the rlussifications of knowlcd;
suitable for a collection, which alntiy m cam* but n selecUo&iOJ
hooks, boeauae of their elaboration and wont of practical aoauaia<
tnnce with the literature represented in n general library. For n
fublio library any classification is satisfactory which adapt
,i pnrpoaee of arrangement and statistics, because the cats
and not the shelves Is the index to the contents of the
The elosfrifii ntion of books no the shelves of un ordinary public
library need not be either very minute »■ exact It will be I
of greater practical benefit to arrange the books more witt
refcrcnoe to future got-ot-ability than scientific rotation Wp Fl t
(hie purpose a clnKsiticntion with as fow main division
J i0 nblo ps recommended. The following scheme ol eJnamflcatloB
suggested m Edward's " Memoirs of libraries " ha* ^-.ti
adopted in a number of librw\&&;
m ,-u
mm: mriM ATIOK «T iciii.i- LtmAttTM.
371
1. ft«oio£y<Kce|f>HM*ticul TIik-
»«*y,I»fciU>8ui»hy.
d. History, Travels, Biography.
c. Lav, Economies, .Sociology,
j-.. Poetry and the Drama,
r. UngDristiQS,
o. General works (Including
Fiction) or
h. Fiction.
Politico.
i>. Arts and Sciences.
Thi» exceedingly handy scheme lias l>ecn objected to on
grounds cliietly connected with what we might term the cf a. tfi-iffm •
tfon of subjects. For thi* reason many librarians have i*ub-
divided the classes b and n in order to Miow mure minutely the
actual kinds of books read. Perhaps they have been aUo
haunted bj ii BOQOQ of tin* ineoiigruity arising from the juxta-
position ol tv -i Mu-h works as (.'lmton'a "Fasti Hellenics and
the " Life of Allan tlie Ilothhury Piper," in class a; and the queci
BBaOOfttttw of billiards and botany, sculpture and soap-boiling ill
i lass n, An an alternative we therefore give an approximate t<>
the QlfiSBtftoalion which bar* been adopted in u large number ol
libraries ,—
v. Fine and Recreative Arts,
u. Useful Arts.
u. Language and Literature.
r. Poetry and the Drama.
k. Prose Fiction.
t.. Miscellaneous ami collected
work*.
a. Theology .Philosophy .Chiiirh
Emory.
ii, Topography and Travel*.
v.. History and Tlingmphy.
n. Law, Commerce, Fconoinirs,
v.. Mathematical and Natural
Sciences.
Further than this it is dangerous to proceed on such a de-
batable subject. It should be mentioned, however, that it
is exceedingly hazardous to fix the elan Of any book by Itfl
binding. Grant's " Cavaliers of Fortune" and "Constable of
l ■ivTi.-i-.' wiili others which shall be nameless, are reckoned as
fiction by nearly every librarian in the tinted Kingdom f Ate
Messrs. koutieoge to blamo?
Catalogues.— The one point about which most librarians
are agreed on this wibject., ffi Che dictionary of single alphabet
: <>f arrangement. On every other detail connected with n,
opinion! arc as various an books. A dictionary catalogue em-
bodies in one alphabet the authors, wihjects, ;m<: titles .it hooka
to ths library, and no «np need be at ;i ions to Had at once what
It does or does nor contain under anj of thr.se beads, if be knows
his alphabet. For many reasons, but cliietly having raganl to
public convanienw and knowledge, the dictionary form of
catalogue in strongly recommended Far all new Public Mbrnrfm
\ handy serviceable catalogue, printed in clear type, acroHM the
iiago, oa good paper, can be produced very cheaply. T'iiIchk tlie
Ihrary is varj large, possessing say 20,000 volumes or more, small
typp and double ooranins should be avoided) There is no advan-
tage gained by crushing the information given in a catalogue
itiln Hip smallest [losMhle compass. Readers are often. V*-*^V-
tg the double colmnnn and eonfuKftdYfj \\\e muvOWjvv -. Vr-v-v - .
873
prune i.tBitMii^.
the catalogue acquires a starvud yet unbitiooi attpearttncOj
which suggests ;> fragment Erom some huge library oatalogue n
100000 eomraw
rii'- i K- s1;mii1,| bo eiitalogned under then* authors, subjetotoi
and titles it *uffioienthy distinctive, <>n ^iipNu! puper, iihout k> hv
bOB) and these must ho loft in the volume* till checked. H
[fl i , -m'v good plan to make the author slip serve tor the stock
linfik iTttry, 1\y including OB :i separate lltte above ill" r i r i . .
particular* required by the Conn of stock book adopted This
ufton laves time whoa hooks an required for immediate ufr-
■ nl trmn, it* they enn he entered in the rttoek )»«<]; from the slips
;tr :iny time.
In cataloguing use the rules tor author entiles Issued by the
Library Association of the T'nlted Kingdom, and forsuo]ec1 or
title entries, and nil question* relating to arrangement, u&e the
"Rule* tor u Dictionary Cataiogno(u prepared hi Mr. c. \
Cutter, uf Huntou. This in published under the. authority oi Mm
t" s Government, and urnnescaii generally lie had on upplieuii'Mi
to the Bureau of Education, Waahington, 1). C^ TJ.B.A. n need
hardly be raid that for small lfbrarlue onjj such roles as are
required should he adopted. IVt <l<\- . Liny the Mies of hunk*.
if it is thought adviaahle, the excellent "Demy hook acalc,'
designed by Mr. Charles Mudcley. public lilmirimi. Warrington,
Will he tuniiil ul -ji'vti BO] \ k
One or two important rule* worthy of being kept in miuil,
though 1 1 '■■ ni« -ul l v overlooked, are those —
Uake the dntc of publication purt of every author and
subject entry This S often omitted under the erroneous
impression that II is useless and occupies space it is of the
niitioM i iipovtanoe that ;i reader should he able to lei] by
the catalogue, the earliest ami latest books In the library
on snoh subjects as MVicu, Vstronoray, Blhlo, ttlecti
i i ;Iaod, Piijsidinyy &o., se
IMii.ee hooks under their netiuil subjects ui'lnmi reference
to words on the title, which merely describe '.he torn
which rhey are written.
For i -vi tuple— -pm History of Oxford, Element* ol Botany
Principles oi Elocution, at Oxford, Botany and Eloei
hut never at History, KloimMit* or Prlnclplee So with
hooks whose subjecte are ool indicated bj my word on the
title. ft lea vi > .--lipvlnid method of cataloguing to
such books as .Tacksoift " F;iir laisftmiiu," Rakert "1*.
in. n in." or Ruskin's "Muucru uulveris" only under rheet
lille wurdn, and not at Portugal, Africa, and Political
Economy, It Is (lie adoption of this very perfuneton
iiractlce which moke* *o iimim of our Public Library oata-
nguos mere author and title lists, however notch thejmery
I'K'i.vnl to he subject-indexed
Bepcaj ilo- p unee vt different ml lio
Sfirtuvno. ''iily disthiguwVi \ej » dwell uuthora oi un j<
which arc idiMitienl, *-.'/..
\'i:n\i:\ Al»Mr\'lMTR VTTnN
378
Johnson (PetorY Efiftory of Greece. WtQt
History of Borne. IddO.
Johnson (Samuel), Rftfflflffffr l-^i).
Avoid tli< ce lnii.iniit headings, u Works by f &o» so ofteao
Miii in tin- author cntrlca o* Roane cotnlofpicAi &s thoro Is it
danger of unreflecting readorfl being bidnood to think thai
tin' tirltv. ivj'ivsont ]>ii'turi's .«• stiduary!
Arrange subject headings when *mall by uuthoro alpha
helically; by alphabet of Babrhoado or groups of! rotated
su!>-«livi«iuri.s wlu-u loi^d
Use capitals only for proper names ov words which d to
desirable to distinguish.
There are many other points of importance connected with
cataloguing, but it i«* impossible Co nonce them m our preeenl
space. Let the catalogue be made from the books themselves,
and not from the work of some other Hbrarfafl
Jnst<*ud of n printed catalogue tor reference libraries there
Iin been adopted to many librarian* a »yatun M col H> • i
books on oards written by Hie staff. This baa i»oon found revy
advantageous [n main reepecte, bnl especially where the hubs*
tlona oi oxpenoe ami fulness nf entry are concerned, These
oat&lognea nonuM of \ series ol cnrdaon which are written the
n in hofs, subjects ami lilies of the books, arranged nlnhnbtattcully
in drawer* which arc accessible lo the public. Hooks can be
eataJugued to any extent and inserted in the alphabet at any
time * iiiiout cost or trouble There are various kinds of eatrfiieta
for holding these card catalogues. mid voiou* way* oi* Hcnirinjf
the cards and drawers so that they cannot be removed. There
are good specimens of i\a -i- caLalno.m\s Lo in- sren iu actual use
at the Guildhall ami Royal College of SurgeoiiA, London, Nrw-
eaatle-upon-Tyne, zind elsewhere : but as they have not as yet
been generally adopted it is not thought advisable to enter into
;i detailed description of any particular style.
CHAPTER XXT1I.
PUBLIC LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION
0 Da? as the public are concerned, n great deal of the
success oV a (library will be tOUXld tO depend OS the
eye^oiei nt' iintiuiL'riiiciii idopted. As few impedimenta
ae pewibk' should bo placed in tlu way ol tho b- Towen
cu? leader, and alt reslrfetionc abould be ai flexible u«
may be consistent with due safety an<! order, Tin* pomti I >
h aba i:ir -,:i both lending and reference ttbrariea are rapidity
and aeenraoy ofaarvioe ai d record To affect thoec mmii every-
connected with the unmooring, recording, locating, and
identification ■ I the books should be a* simple as poai ible. Sotao
of the more oonaroon method* in use are deaqcSbfeQ w\«<-* , vw *av-
(iodc1 thai they "\:<\ j rose auggeattv^i
374
pn ill T.rnitAnrR^.
Preparation and Placing of Books, -All books on receipt
should he examined or collated with a view t«> their oomph U n<
«»r otherwise, and compared with the invoice and order If they
b i purohaeedi Bach volume should next receive it number
COUOCUtfvO leTies. A hook called an Accession n op I
i ion Hook, with fifty tinea to n folio, numbered 1 to 10,001)
ii Bomotmiej used for this purpose in addition to th6 stock
book or shelf HegiBter, and in thin tlio volume being deeU
wirh tpoeiTed the Brat vacant number. This in called the
acn-ssion number, and is used In some libraries simply BJ
:i reference to the place of the book m the *toek l>ook,
where, oh lief ore stated, its history iw preserved. In oilier
libraries this number is used, in addition, Eor every prooeaa
connected with the book, whether cataloguing or locating;.
The books should !»■ stamped in certain nxed places with
the official stamp oi the library. Every plate, the title page,
and the lost page of letr»'rpr<*s should be stamped, to addition
to twt. or mors Axed pages throughout the hook. Stamp1* may
either be smboastno;, perforating, or iak, and may he squi re
oval, round, or any Hha|M>. Km bossing ami perforating stamps, u
at present made, ;"ti lurasy, und occupy much time m nse. ink
ruDDAr stamps posaaas the advantages of cheapness, legibility,
and rapidity of application The leaves of ever} book ihoufa
be carefully out, srefi Into the itackj before being put hi eJw 1 la*
latioiL in lending libraries it w usual m paste on the inside tl
the front Iwiard a label bearing nn abstract or the rnles n I
to the borrowing of books, and a label to show the dati
winch thp volume was issued, together with, in .some ■
other particulars. In reference libraries a Mimple name label Is
1111 >Mt frequently uned. When ;i honk has undertime these
several proeafjaas and Iws been catalogued, it only awaits
lix-.iliiijf in- shelving to tie lendy for issue.
There are very mnny methods of planing buoka on shelve
that they can be found without delay. The various plans arc
roughly divisible into two olasaes, which we may term fixed
and movable locationa, In the former, which is a -survival of
the pre-imlicMhir period, when aaalstants were forced to run
about with lout* liMs of numbers in .search ot uue which might
chance to be En its place, the books receive m addition to Hum
accession number, u press or shelf number which appears in the
catalogue sad directs to the position of the book on the shelve*.
it taction ioao h.v lms system to set aside a certain number dI
bookcases for each olaea into which the library is dividedj and
to apply to each a certain scries of numbers. Thus,
may have reserved for it numbers 1 to 1000, class 11 1001 t<
«'*000, class C 3001 lo 4000, and so on; or each claas may IwTC
;iti Independent series of numbers from 1 to 1000 or over, in
.in) rite the assistant knows the presses allotted to each 1
and a demand for, ssrj Q 300 ia met by the assistant pi- < <
'*' the (i press and" picking out the nxunber wanted. Tin.
o> eametimee with sligW DDuo4k&8atitfma,\» \n cwmtim-a xa*
PriMC LIBRARY AIDnxfSTIlATIOX,
m
in British nid American librarie«. Another method <if Irxed
locution ifi to number or letter the cases 1, 9, 3, S&0« 0* A. B. (',
&o, uud number the ahdrefl hi each prew, and the books on
MU) shelf. ThiiB, Gh 8 -1 points to press <1, -lull' sixth I uii
toj>, and book -I from left cud of «helf; or as i-* done in the
British Muslim 30&.' 11, points to ores* :ttt:k.\ wrond top shelf,
or B, in alphabetical order. Vet another method of fixed
location is to nmnltci* tho books in one BCqaenco, set aside
pTOSOCfl for ouch cluas, pick out the bookn of each rlu&t in
numerical order us far as they go, urid pluce them on the
shelves in flint order. Class A may therefore he airangcd
35, 79, hoi, 309, 311-15, 649j &c, but alwuvs preserving a
numerical sequence. Reference need only DO made to tho
very elaborate system adopted in some lurge libraries of
shelving the book* uecordimr lo a lifted scheme of ehtssitiea-
tion, There are several Mich schemes in existence, but ibni
designed by Mi'. Melvil Ucwey, now of New ¥ork, is
probably Ivettor known than any other. It Should be
mentioned, however, that the library authorities ni SioD
College London, have developed a scheme from the actual
arrangement of the hunks on the shelves and not from mere
theory. These systems of eluaeffieatSon are not at all adapted
for use in public lending libraries. In all the methods oi
arrangement hy numlters alxwe mentioned, it will be Been
that in every one oi them. Bating the last, the number is a
reference simply to the place of the book, and has no direct
connection with the accession number wimii points bo its
history; hence ;« reference between these two numbers If
necessary. Such references are usually made in a column of
the numerical list called the shelf register, and direct to the
page of the stock book.
The principal objection-; to the fixed system of location are
these:—
Books cannot be accurately classified On the shelves after the
nrigiiwl iimugemenr, and authors and subjects get
widely separated
It is Impossible to make any alterations In the relfl Ive
positions of any series of volumes or to re-immU-r B By
-i letfon without reprinting the catalogue bod procuring
ntrff number* for the indicator, if Cotgreare's ii need.
The preliminary work is always greater, as the whole of
the books must be arivmueil in :i lixed order and numbered
inside and out before a single slep can be made, while
the duplication and confusion of numbers us between
Accession number ;U>, (lass A 80k B 8Q.C 80, D SO, &c.
In one BVHtem, is :t frequent eausr o| \eiy annoying and
serious blunder*.
When the movable system of location Is used, one number
Ik applied to each book, which direct* to the hi.-torv • I
tsiitn, lie plane on the shelve**, nod i* regreaen.tatt't*. est ^fa>
nok whether Uif t'ftpaloga\n^ HgisU;v\y^ UY vawVuw* \»WvW*.v>,
■'.71'.
i'l Bl.tr i EQBAJ I I.
Til,- method IX «!lil[)ly DO m in! i t (tlO -hHv.<:~. Instead n\ PO*
numbering the hooks. The books are classed on the shelve
m mimitelj p may be wished, and the lumber ol th-
is; curried on to the libel trf each book and agnlnttl itannn
m (.in* loe&tlon book previously described The peomrioi
iniinbiT. wiiii'ii le tin* number oenttoned above, i« used In (lie
c:il:il uiif ;iml indicittor ul" '.(M«'ri\ In :, !,. inline library WfieW
the Cntgreave indicator is used, the lx>rrrawnr asks far, bj
\(1 •.>")■-'. The atttriKtuiit proctM*!* to tin* Indicator Imok So,
and whflfi making tin* entry, note* the shell number whl
marked In iin* small ledtfer He then proceeds bo the shelf,
sets, -* t : 1 1 1 1 1 »j- . and Issues the book itv Hits system bnokn are
tmt tied Ed bu shelf In the library, mi Ehoi anj nunthof
in- mibjeoJ can be kepi togetiwr ot moved nboui lo mill a&£
requirement whether ol space or eouveuieiiee withoul la ui |
iifl'iM-tiiiy aurht save ili'1 ihflM number inside tliu book Itsel]
the location book.
Hie main objection to this plan i.< iin- difficulty caused ol ant
i\ in- mtorventkm of the locution bunk lieforc the exact place
ol the book can be discovered Ttiia objection is one, however,
which never has the least weight aftei i rnou h a i rue, u
ige assistant becomes so familiar with ail thi hi s\
Imoks as to be <|uiu- able i<> dispense with the iutvriu*
re renoe. If ea<l; shelf i> an'mint-d dlplwhetieully, as to SOHie-
i iin Jone, hooks can lie found without the MightcM dels
Service, Oversight, &i:.-\ii.v of the ftvstcms above d
will lie fuund workable, but the first mentioned ol the fixed md
the movable locations will l>e found to work most satisfactorily.
Whichever system is adopted, it may safely bo recommend* i
be worked u conjunction with an indicator, Of the n
indicators which hove been mventod, Cotarcave "s ta probab]
aa any for oso as a basis, especially an its ment> have
more generally tested and approved tlian any other. With thj
villi other indicator*, (the use of ledgers io obviated, booke nre
shows in or out iastantoncouely, ondleea troubk Es
borrowers and staff alike, and overdue bonks eon be detected
with little trouble. The methods of service are as foil
Tbe borrower having ascertained from the oataloffne
number of the book wanted, and by tbe indicator that It
asks the assistant librarian tor the number, say 6,692 an I I
in bit! oardj without which he \*.ui not K* served. Tbe aasistaal
io 5,80:3 on the indicator, removes the miniature ledger, and
enters in it tbe number of the borrower's card ami the correal
dnl.-. lie next reverses the ledger to show the colour ■
ivpr.--.-Mii ;i,.l;.-: .,-' |t>:iv.'-; tin' .;n-l in il. and procures the
book, [n most caeec the date i* next carried on to the <J
of tbo book to indicate to the borrower whon ho ha I 11
after an entry is mode of the book's number in o Lis1 boob
ot iheet, it is isfraed to the reader. Another method
the borrower till up an application form with the nura
and tr be book wauled, unA \w* ww *M ticket nmu
i'l if. :r I.miUBV AI"MIVI9THAT10N.
377
bar.
This he handi to the aaaiBtuit nlnnjr villi his
k served in tin' milliner described above, save
."ird,
Hi i
DO i];iy hook nv sheet is l Ifnl. r.he application forms hHlIU*
m:n!i' the I>h*Ik Of tin- issue Statistics This method h:ts the
adv&ntajfn of enabling the asuistwit. to serve more tlmn one
reader a) ■ I Ime, provide* n check nn what is being issued nnd to
whom it is Issued, :m<l gtVUtf the vnrv fcmsl possible dnlu DH which
to base Hie record of issue*. The further greal itilviinluye which
it Inut of giving s sun' means of detecting tinl tracing errors i*
not to bo overlooked! n i* always an objection i<> the nfad caai
nniiioii ( r caiiintr f»r inw»k.t. thai errors aw of continual occur-
rence through the transpos bon • •! number*, and thai no check in
possible till oil the entries have been completed, md the book
delivered. This objection i» com pk* 1 el, y met h.\ the uhe of the
application form,
the detection ol book* widen an kept tonta bovond tba period
allowed for leadiug !.■- rittln'i Important where bha iasQG Ifl targe.
This u effected on the Elliot indicator generally to meana of the
borrowers' aarda which have I lie ends coloured differently— sav
red and green. The red ends are turned toward* the htoff on
flu- uidiiMioi ilurine tin* lirst periodj green th< n<\t, BO 1 1 1 :■ 1 When
tin- aeeond pei iod i.-i .li;iwii!\. bo a CloaCj QQOSt ■ >! the tickets (ihOW-
ing red remaining: in the hidii-.ilur :iic overdue. This method of
diatinguiflhtne oTtrduen by bom were1 aarda la adao adapted to
the Cottfreavc indicator, sometimes with four COLoUTB to uive a
,.■!•■ i.-.i i, ember ot changes. There ;ire two CQloUTB printed 01
soon and of the ticket, half <>f til** and bo each colour, and Mm
period in which any numliei' has been issued :- slwvn by the
r « - 1 > i ■esentotive COlOUr, which i> turned right OC left BJ "ii:iy be
decided. These colours are father opt to rub off with t lie
handling; which the tickets get, nnd a shaped ticket has been
introduced instead with success. Ordinary hard millboard out
into cards the size of, but about half an inch longer than the
indicator books, ami faced with while paper OD one Bid* *»nlv.
U very serviceable fox borrowers' tickets. If the cards bava M&o
corners of one end clipped oft", four changes nv got by & iph
turning the curds ne with the colours, hut the advantage Ilea of
course in (he iion-effaeenient of the farm. First period, clipped
endfl and white side op t<> face staff; Booond period, wiiite and
square' third period, dipped ends and dark side up, fourth
(M'l'iud, :md dark. These vani.ti.m are quft* ftftflily
' it- 1 in:.!!' i suable on the Cotgrcavc indicator, The slides and o rpa
in ide for the < 'ote;rcuve indicator arc Deed f« t the Bane purpose,
but require mere work in handling. The leodirin feature "i the
Bonner indicator is the meaiu ror cheeking overdoes, and the
Duplex niflo has a special meana of exacting a similar and which
:ij j< ■ui'H to bo very ofneicnt. The detection >•': orarduce li onh :i
aceondury matter, however, aid should not bo regarded an tho
prtneipal tt iture \l u India itor(
mere are varioiM I »rm« "i ledger need «h«
have not been adopted] though \\\- wm\v.>x^\ v* %«BwtfCea>a»
!
prUJ JO UTIRAJIIKS.
9 irked iii conjunction with n series "» lodger*, a rob
i n n tA ledger , or rather day-book, consintcd of a volume ruled
fifty linen to ti pace holding n hundred entries, with aolu
■boVingthc following particulars: conaocativc number, clam,
book number number of rolumoB, borrover'g tickel number,
data of return. Eoeh page is headed with the current lil
Whea a book in issued, its number &c, is entered in the led
»nd the date, and consecutive number earned on to tli- lnl-n-1
of the volume. Thi»*« direct to the h»d«or entry when the
hook h»H to It marked off on its return All statistic!
compiled from flue* volume, and it in tho only record npin-t
iroin the entry nude on the labels of the books issued. H\
this method it is impossible to tell who 1ms u book which u
out without vovy greet trouble
tactile* i« h*iii of lodgeff has also aftj lines per page, and >
ruled into Ifteen perpendicular columns of ■ • |ii:il breadth, \
page • re ifc given to each book in the library, which It
entered n numerical order, and the columns are headed across
the page -fciokot-nuiuber, date ol issue, date ol return. When
li hook in inxtied it :h only nore-tsary to turn up its nuinhor in
the ledger, :md enter the number of the borrower'^ card Lad
the date. The hooks on return are simply marked or atamjM-d
off With the date. A single page holds the record of SfiQ
Issues ol u book. Tins form ox ledger shows who has any
book, end how long It has been out, wnlle the borrowers curd*;
if arranged m a aeries of dated compartments, can be nude to
Know tin- overdoes, if worked with application lists i tingle
entry will -mmce at tho moment of issue.
There are many other forms of ledgers, but the principle io
nil is much the same. Some keep an account of the book*
read by each render, while others combine this with the
systems above described, The ledger system is gradually gobuj
out of use in Britain, aa it is found a seriou* Inconvenience die
liindranee to the staff, especially as regards the Inborn- of
searching through long lists of numbers for the first one In
This eiiii with vt'vy little exl.ni trouble he undertaken by each
reader where there is un Indicator. With ledgers onry the
staff are ojien to continual ernnpla tits of ravoiirltlKin, ami ex-
posed i" the nnlaanee of sceptical murmurs on the question oi
booke being out ; while the eternal trouble of "marking off"
is u serious matter to he avuideil if possible. Of course when
the expense of an Indicator cannot be borne there is no alter*
native but to adopt a ledger, and the second form described
in recommended.
in the Appendix a variety »if form* hit l^ivh if applications,
vouchers, rules, &e., and ii is needles* to say anything
rcgaribng them. There are points In the inanagement of a
ill .'i".iry connected with work-hours, borrowers' voucher fa
i srdSj fines, service, See. which can only be discussed with
due reference io the rales and regulations adopted,
The reference is very aimflat to vVie \c&&a% Uhrerj i" ij*
l'l'Wl.l»' I.TBItAnV AI'MIMSTRATIOV.
:l7y
genera] working, but as ir is open t>> nil rooden without tntrodno*
Bon "i' guarantc •, :t follows tnal great em must be exercised in
the issue of hooks which can only be read on thfl premises.
Appln :itiiui t.n'ins in*' always used, OB which flic reader Ifl
required to ^ive hi* ,,r her name anil full address, :is well ;i^-
porticulaiN of the hook wanted. It is usual to put the slip, far
i took which bis been issued, In the place vacated by the vofnine*
where it remains till it is returned. The slip* or forms are nsed
after the books we replaced as the basis of toe issue statistics,
Binding. — For public library purposes all bmdtag* should )»•
strong; and durable ; finish being a secondary eomtidcrsitlnn.
Various material* have been tried, and at »no rime il WAR
thought that in hnekram a clump and lasting binding Stuff h;id
been discovered which would supersede everything, but there
has itaoe been good reason found fe doubt Its suitability. Among
leathers *ldeh have Ktood the tests of wear nnd tear aa well as
any, are good Persian morocco nnd pigskin. Some recent fm-
provexnanta tn the methods of dressing the hitter have ted to
0 very extensive adoption of this material \ l*mk hound in
half pigskin according to the following ipecfnCBtlotJ will stand
almost anything short of use as a flre-brirk
■' Hooks to be well beaten or roiled. Sew one sliest <>ii, on
stroii"): tftjien, tlie first and last sheets or sections to be enclosed
at buck fal Knen strips. Tapes DO be firmly secured between split-
hoards. Banks mace alow nnd flexible, without, bunds, imi with
blind fillets in Imitation of bunds. Half-bound In pigskin, smooth
sloth sldeB[and if thought necessary — vellum corners]. Top edge
to he eui, sprinkled and hurniKhed, fore and bottom edgen left
with proof. End papers of stout coloured paper secured to linen
strip which should be sewed willi first ;md Inst Sections, with at
least one white leaf before aud after printed matter. Cloth joints
in all boukis, and plates to be mounted mi linen guards. LenSEna
on back iu gold with title, author, and number, four tapes Nj W
allowed tb ;< ~i iurh 8vo. otlier atxes in proportion."
Calf am! Rums leathers should never be used on any account.
It is well always to put books in circulation in ttw publishers'
cloth bindings, and let popularity and use distinguish those which
should be strongly botuul hi leather. There Is absolutely no
economy in buying; 2s. novels in sheets for Is. -Id., and having
them bound in leather for »ay Is. Id. extra, makiny the first coat
of the book h. *d. Il is much ehe/iper n (he end ami more
judicious to take the wear out of lln- Original binding OTen
though it be only paper boards, u there is always > risk ol books
never being in demand, and the eoet of binding them is thrown
away, to sny nothing of the disproportionate charge for binding
thrown On tin* early yearn of the library. An ordinary railway
novel eostbtg ssjj is, Gd,, will taef six months aud more wftn
ordinary usage, and it fa time enough to think of putting it into.
i strong binamg when it has proved that it U necessary,
\ i raaooxa Plows und reading rooms ire © ucrclWfo farctta&it
torn**! persona Ihut little need be Bald u—.i^Ym^ VUvwa. \*«^
380
I'MlH-' UHI!Al:ll -:.
simple newsroom :n\vin.-h on i \ periodicals aro kept in Addition
to Eh* nowflpapor* th* n I for i number «>i boole* la almost
nnnoeowuvry whan a rack In axed, Light arm-chairs will he r«m n< I
cheaper and <|ult« u eonvenlenl n* tabic* ru fur oh arm oupporl
for rcadlng»oa*ee if concerned, Cover* Rliould o>- provide*! for
each |M<riitiiii'.-ii or mngnxfne mad* ol stout millboard, bound in
half puHririn, and lettered with the title nn tintk shirs. Periortiealfl
allowed Co Be About loosely mkih noquhT i dirty and nigged
uppenranee, and alwaya make u room untidy. Tin- news
Woe! ought to oansJin »ii almost every variety of Journal i id
periodical 7»4 1>^- i i ii !■ i i be acquired 03 purchase cm donation. The
principal London, provincial, and, it poaaiblc, foreign news-
paper*; neekl) trade, eonimcidul, technical, literary, and *
iiiu periodical*: monthly nndqunrtcrtj magazine** and iniaoellunlea
should be applied ;is abuiulanuv ua posHibl^Bo licit (lit new..
Uay Em representative <»i' every pliaoe of thuugbt and opudvSi
past and current political tod Kricutific movement, and i><-. iu
genera), a centra tor tin- spread oi Information oi 1 ■• conceiv-
able topic.
There lire manj other minor pointa In connection with Public
Library adrainifitrotiou. about w\ iob information could be given,
iini i^ iIk'y depend altogether upon the main syrtem adopted,
ii wiii perhaps bo beel to leave too question d their Bettlcroeol
aloud Iliere i* sobbing more salutary and Bugueetivt than 1
\imi {'} some neighbouring librarie*. no fax ae the adoptii
matters of detail la concerned, Indeed, there jh probab]
better advice to be riven with regard to all matters connected
villi Library vrurlt, than t" urge a frequent Intercourse with
every librarian within reaeb
CHAPTKK XXIV,
BOARD SCHOOLS AS BRANCH PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
hii i-ii.'K i« nn w:iste in nature, tt in only roan who wastes
' :tinl misapplies; und the waarte or power unci m
dand is a crying shame upon i« which coll
Immediate attention. Those wh< control church)
chapels content themselvefe with, a* a rale, keeping
■ ■ Minns open about six bonis u week, while gni pnhuv
public-houses arc open something like :i hundred went)
ru)ur» during thi* -;> dm nine iv^ioUy in no department of our
national life la the wiwte (t*> which reference how beet 11
greater than m the allowing of Hoard School*, whic
property ol the people, to he unused from, wiy, Ave 1 eta
the evening to school-time next morning Ii \a notewi
that many of tlie old voluntary «4ehools had a lending til
attached i" them for the benefit of the school chlldroD
too often the boolw In iliem were of an nnwitisfactor^ eliar-
uri.ri. Tin-v fri'i|iiriiiiy relied tor Ihelr collection* on the
rvaftinfttrj contrfbutlcma *»t the local ecfr\<Wvft -\v.-\k i,
B0.UIT> 8006014 AS U11ANCII ll'EUC I.IBILAMJ&. 3H 1_
Uenally that bus Bchool library became h receptacle tor odd
volume, obsolete books, and the general rubbish oi drawere
ItfUl hmtiCsli.'lvi'K. All f«M Vclllllli.' Qf " Jihu-khtiHli/s l.'-H It11H?ll-
l:ini's " wax cmi'c hOMl It :i lUn'itrv ilesiyueil for t-hihh'eli under
sfXti nod in another cose :i quantity erf Ration works were
given in)' the one object \ oluiuea of Bermoaa were a favourite
mutton, an iiwv we t* .-. i:« v it hi t»ks Dt'i' Hoin'itxl. These can be
hud nt any time by the cart-load, at the price ol waste paper, and
ItaVould require one ol Sain Welters ■• douhie million magnifying
EIjikmom" ro discover what good a very linage percentage of thai]
live necomphKlin).
The mere fnet ol there being school aeeojnnipdatton in England
and Wales for 5,380,643 children for the year ending A.ngust 31,
W-w, anil an average attendance of M,i',i;V*'J. ahowavtn I very
brief form, the educational machinery which is in operation.
Thetnt.nl number of wlmnls receiving annual grants is I9,s?8,
made upas follows. —
National, or Ohuroh oi Enpinmi l i,aou
vVeeloyan , . . . , , . . . . , t 65S
Human Catholic , 017
Itriti^h I'ndenoniinational 1,378
sehool Board ifim
^ceordibg to the last report (1888) of the Education Depsrfc-
ini'iit, there were on the registers the opines of4,rii,02G chiWra .
di' whom —
l,460^0i wei't! under i years of age |
3,027 ,$44 Iwtween '. and 13 ;
154,848 between 13 and 14; and
43,9*1 nl.ove 14.
these. .'1,(514,867 wore, on mi average, m daily attendance
throughout the year
Here are the ponders E01 School Libraries, bul whore an the
books :■ One sixth pi the entire population of JSoglandaad IVelea
are .it .school, mid il ir> (•■ these thai political 1 e-Minmrrciul, and
social power will by-nnd bye soma Let ratepayers fa particular
think of the uuloanoe EOT good which n wcJLsicJected library
win have 00 the wtadm of mm eobolarsi To Bchnoiaaaat *. . ad
mistresses it to anneceasary to orgs apon tii.-t ti the udvisnbj
-■mjM -l:ing school libraries, for tiaoy aa*o abveadj ilive to the
need ox them n w hoola
ail this goee to show what an absolute Bocoouirj agond library
i- in our schools as well as o the universities. Pbrtunatcly.
whether we look to Knglandj Scotland, or [reload, we ilnd
:ni,"r strides have beoQ made within tin; tost decauc or two
towards the improvement ol university libraries. ITnfortunafc fyt
thiK wune BMuren ol wgreas hai ' - < ^ * »» by no uaam no regular
and masked within the walls ol our school*, both epeax wwi,
sinaii, Lad fet# wherever youth i-y.i.v\»'vi»\\nww;.' io&v
889
pdbuc r.rBRAjiirc-.
there BlwrtM be (bund a ooUoettoii ■ >! books, lb< voluntary univer-
sity trf Iln'M IsXtSl (fays, whnv the tttUCUoUS mnv r.M in' t. .
vuii ■ read, mark, loam, and inwardly digest" the lofty thou
and useful knowledge poured forth hy the Illustrious cleful on
ttieirbehaU Forthore is in* nwra for doubt thai ithoronj
good ind popular school library Is in taealeulable boon to the
leholare, sod o great help to trie teachers— for they ire
counsellors who "fly not from the suppliant crowd," neitfiei
do they wax wrath nor laugh at the ignorant •
This <i!i»'stion of Bohool libraries ought to ho gono into i
seriously by the rant array who have eiiarge of our boys and
girls. Tii a certain extent, the future of the youth of our country
is in their hands, and the spending of Idle hoars when the
x wtratntH of school discipline arc not upon thorn may infl n
the whole ol their after life. Ithlatfcs and outdoor exeroia* im
by no means to he despised nor (iihi'oiHML'otl ; I Mi Mien three
many boys who are not fitted for very mueh athletics, and, In our
ri:in:iii\ we may always safely reckon on :i certain percent* ;
wet d;iy.\ >uul then the library will he recognised, bolh by boy
and master, as a haven ol rest where half hour* rnaj he passed
thai are fur more enjoyable than aoiuc other modes ol spending
time. Hie librury should, therefore, afford material for roerra-
lion us well as duwnrjghl hard work.
There Is in the Education Blue Hunk for 1888, uutuuating ol
nearly 7<M imnes, ;i Mi; < ■.■* > • -■■ k,(' i»f I'l'ierniw < n the mrl
of Hue various Inspectors i<» the need of establishing 3cbouJ
Librarii-s. In former reports, one ol' two no-j't i lr n > n-fn i
brtef paragraphs to this important matter. But whether ofhVtui-
ism hie dficournged Una or not it is impossible to say. TTie boas
\>f those piu'sgraphx was certainly to the effect thai in schools
when' libraries are provided, the Intelligence of the scholar-
n higher and more practical character than in schools «
library does not exist. In one of the Welsh divlslone lbs
Inspector says that " m hool libraries, I am jrlnd to say, are be» .
common, and if the habit of reading at. home omM be established
by their means. Hie work of the teacher in securing thoughtful
reading would be greatly assisted." Why do not more inspection
direct their attention to thin question of school libraries
;i vain neaivli through this voluminous report the only rofei
to libraries In elementary achooui found by the author is the
brief paragraph above, printed in small lypt *, and -mml .
among n m sea of other inattor. Will the scholastic phiktu take
up thin point? If this is done there will, no At nbt, soon be ;i
. I . age, for toepectors are, an a body, too mueh in touch nM
thri- work to overl'M.h the uucstion when it is brought home to
them.
In some diatriete hoard Behool managers and teachers ha
taken up the question in a praotieal way, hut the fringi oi
ha» yet only been touched ho far aa the greater pa
country b concerned. .Vt L .oxacid, m SniY. «IL. tboro
endowed school with a Ubtwv. TAua . ■ •->. &-«*& t\A, uad
BOA&D SCHOOLS AS MUSCH PI'BUf t.lBRAT.il>.
883
■
tains -•W volumes. The money wtw obtained by conceits, sub-
BCdptioQS, and 1 grant from the school managers. The Religious
Troct Society, the Pure Literature Society, and the Society for
Promoting: Christian Knowledge granted book* at halt-price, arid
the boohecUer gave a disooonfcot 25 pee cent. The volume* an
changed every other Friday afternoon, only those lx»ys who have
attended regularly during "the previous fortnight being allowed
to take a fresh book. To meet the expense of repairs, &a,
residents in the vilhige arc aUowod to join OB payment or one
penny per fortnight per volume. The average attendance for the
winter quarter is wl per cent, and the master attribute* this
greatly to the library, lie also nays that the attendance at the
night schools has beta better since the librury was formed. At
Ashton-undcr-Lvne, the question of libraries in Hoard Schools has
been raised, hut nothing special ha* vet resulted. The .School
Board loan library bystern has been worked in Bh'nunghuni frith
the most BatlftfttCCOry results. At .Norwich, a similar system jk
being worked, and at Lynn there were 1,000 volumes in oncli
school .
Mr. W. li. K. Wright, the Borough Librarian of Plymouth,
has this subject very much at heart. Tlis plan is to* obtain
from the Public Librae Committee a certain number of care-
fully-selected hooks to be lent to the pupil* of the school for
the time being, instead of leaving to run riot undirected in the
Qenftra) Public Library. It is JOBarj 1 2al '1 for the system
that it spreads the benefits nf the Public Library own- a larger
area, with many < ■! inveiilene.es to pupils who may live far from
the main institution. Useful supervision and advice can be
given to the pupils in the selection of boolci suitable to then*
age* and attainments, without unduly reMiictmg Individual
preferences. Mr. Wright's main siiggiwtinti i* that "In con-
nection with each dJs&FSet library, such as that propose'!,
there should he a small collection of books approved by botfl
library and school authorities for the use. of the children
attending that school; and that (hose children should not be
allowed the run of the central or general library, except at the
special request of parents or tfi&OlKPa Thta arrangement might
be supplemented i't TadOU! v.'»ys I" SUtt the particular Hrcmn-
itanoes of each case." According to the last report of the l'k-
i 1 1 It Public library 1,711) volumes are on loan union •» fwehe
Hoard Schools. In nearly every cose the teiiehei- take .l wartn
f liferent in the matter, uud do their utmost to preserve the hook*
in (food order and Lo encourage the children to be punctual in
their return, an well as careful in 'hen use. 11 fa found that
l In- bookfl earned home by the children are in DSfllQ Oaw
read by other members of the fouiily. mid the advantage* of
tin- library are thus far more widely diffused than would
otherwise 'be possible.
The Leeds system of US&Dfl r'>cir Board Schools is very
frequently referred to nod quoted u an exMvtvA^. \.v.^v. v**.
: v '-*• hiji/ic/ic.s, bill in btfttdllg thia u ftttlW V«i v:vav,ve\*x*&-
:-i
PC SMC MB ILA Rl fcS.
iii.ii bod4 «»i Bfra hriih'ii.v ,-■» liouewd m BpeoiaUv-oroofc^d
bujjdinga, ;iv ar« many ol the Sheffield, Manchester, Btrui
ham. Nottmgha n, nod other branch lihrarfea. Leet - ■
area roughly of thirty-three square ml'-, and i membi
Town i Souncu mnde it u boott not tony ago, there weronol 10
I the 370,000 inhabitant* beyond six minute*1 walk trom
a I'iiMiV Ubrary or news-room. Tnia may appear ••> good thing
•it* wttftih to la* proud, bui It haa its rlrawDaekR; and it must
u.- .irknowlodgea thnt while the Iflirarles and newerooma in
i la ire doing ;i mod eceellenl work, il I1- i leriotu qaMtUm
whether a smaller number would nol have i ■ • i&d quite
a* mueti useful work, Twlg-intr from an outaldeVa point of
BlOW il is rr illy :< GUM Of tOO UlUOl of :i good tiling. D
would appear that, ii owea itn origin bo the preponderance on
the library oommitteo for n number of year* of metnharn nf
the Council representing suburban nountf tunncicw, htk! to pic
those, atul bring votea on the polling day. Letter* from
realdents in the town and i>m*orml obaervation reveal tlua
and Hir evil, for ii really haa Ixmuiip mi avll, lias not staled,
neeuj^' that eyerj year brings a nuinbc ol nc\i noa In tin
TVrwn Council, some <>i whom are placed on the Library
Cbmraittae, * i j i*l other district* throug i their representative*
areoryiog out for u branch to \v opened lii theft eonatitui i ey.
Tin boast of a ;tuv "i be population being Hthuieix minutee
walk i" a Public Library ta really nut u creditable una Ii
ii nisiihiiimi is worth ;i iyi ling al all it i? ul - i-i worth I
little trouble to get to it, due good, utrong and vigoi hi
centra] library, and a t ■ ■ \% good branched would do .i work
iimI iji cifWl. and n.s uhi-liil in ivmiII- in the majority of
Tliii la said in order bbat towns adopting the Acta ma.
j" En for (<"' much discursiveness, and ire orjred not to
one town oi district exclusively as an example for thcii pUn
of operntiona. It iuny be. again slated that Leedr* is d
with it- branches at Board Rehoola an exceedingly g 1 work.
i v, , v( mv held n Board Schools. and of theue five ari open from
6to0i>.in., on (In evenings of rneadaye Thursdays, and Saturday
Of cirh week One ia open four nights -> week three arc
open two night* a week, and three are open enc night a vtei
h'uin t; tti P,oi foi an hour only in the middle ■: the d
They contain Imp];. varying in numbers from 3078 to l
volume* OGeording ti> the aire of the diatrieti »ul o)
i i kwelra ire supplied with comes of the local paper
popular magazines, Four I hunch Libraries^ containing al i
1,000 voluraei each, and eoneinting wholly oi juvenile lrtero4erO|
have, vitb the eio-operation ol the Hoard, Ix bbahed, the
Library CoiusDittet purchasing Uie Ihm.-Io*, und th< Board undfl
taking the supplying »f the Ijookcjtaea, &c, and tho mane
tiH'nt. Theec oTunebea are n»en one hour on ;< oortoJ
!hr weak to the scholars nttondinu th< ohoo
rhihirt'n oi the netghbou-vhood fev tin- issuing
oi boob, iii' «or\j ■ ■■"•: dorn Vvjj ttvc ■ ■•. -\.-v- ^^^ aUfiu
-, >\[1T sri-i.i.i.- t- pla\.;h r-rr.li. IlliTiARlES.
tilt
h...
to the four juvenile branches, three branches that had been
established some yean have been handed war to the Bond.
m.ihI these ;ire ulsn ripen one hour each week. and are wo
by cta« stall of the schools, "fills makes Hie totaJ number ol
Branch Libraries in Board School* sixteen, aa well us iime
held iti church or other school*. No rent is charged by tho
School Board for the use of the various schools, nor )n any
charge mad< for cleaning, heating, or ga-v K Ifl entirely
through th_i& public apirit uf the Hoard thai the COD ttlittoe
have been able to establish branch libraries in ill parti ot the
borough, and the Board has ckm< ererytliiug it could to help,
rights rodgiog tho eetablishinent ot libmncs tin- i« -.>>tone .k«i
completion of their work.
Tho oeBiatonta at these branches receive Is. 8d. tor each
night open; nod le, per night in nleo paid to the porter of
the school, who reiuuvcH the shatters oi tin- bookoaaaai
arranges the room, ami preserved order during the time the
library is open. At any branch where the work is too heavy
for one assistant^ a boy to engaged to help him, and he receives
payment ot tho rate of lb. per uight. The Board have QOl
provided bookcases for any of the branches, except in (ho
rii.se i-.f the three special juvenile branches.
in Bradford the School Board ofcarga the Ubrarj Committee
a rent of £10 or £20 per annum tor each echnol used. V\ b>
this should l>e datema BOme explanation ou the part of the
Board
in 1878 the School Board ft* London decided tostartaaei ol
llOTariea, bo change in rotation from school to school, fur the U66
ol teacher* and scholars. TIip schools were arrnngod In gronjm,
SO ihnt each group WOOld represent a eonsrihicney of 10,000
children For each group £120, afterwards raised to £'144, Was
spent in the purchase of books, which wen- subdivided bnto ns
iiuiny libraries Bfl there were Schools, When » library Itud l>ei«n
In use for six months at one school it wax hi; u-d ou to the next
in Llie group, to ensure a certain amount of cliaiigc and variety in
the literature available Thii plan did not work ran RBOOully,
and has been considerably modified. The dmsmu iniu groupe
ha-s been abolished* and now the books, after s years use to the
■ are sent back into store, where they arc revised and re-
lickote<l, lost one* replaced and perhaps OCH »:i - added
K.ich |iermanent schoi \ is provided with a lending iihrary ha
the unc of boyB and girls of Standard ITI. and upwards, which is
i under the care of ttw head Bwnbsfi For the purchase of
sen dooIdBi a further oxpondftorot reckoned at the rata oi '■!. per
bead poroxmmo >n tcholarsin average attendance i i both
and girls" departments is allowed up w i ifr1m,rm oJ
depurtmentj except Do the oases of Uirgo mixed departn
where tho full amount ot jd. per head is allowed. Thfl head
n, both of boys* and girls' departments, must forward wlih
the annunl requisition I* i book! sad • pparsri B,the requisition fi r
. :,i be added to the school library [such b
sa
MBHAftrr*,
from tli..' catalogue <rf booka tor sahool libraries), U i the duty
of the head master to bog that tho library is rendere I equally
mailable both to boys ami to girls. Managcra
in hi?,1 that, tho books are. regularly given out, and mode available
both b bow and to girls; and they are also requested to
aionally look into the working of the libraries, bo Bfl to cnaurc that
ihe library registers bm property kept, and thai full hm i* rnade
r>] li ■ libraries. Tho main regulation* are :—
1. That the books be Icopt at the school in a closed bookcase, sspietaUj
•Queued for tin! purpose, which mImII h* placed, whenever po*wiblf, m tb'e
n' room.
2. That the library bo placed in charge of the heart matter, hut that
llu books he available to the girls equally with tho boys, and also to
pupil teachers of al! departments!.
3. That it lie thu duty of tho master to wc that the hooks ar»: not im#.-
n*«l, damaged, or lost by the children.
C That any child injuring or lotuutf a book the parent of the etc
called npon tO defray the eont uf mm I. humy in kns ; that the mulri
make every effort to recover paynioiit, and, failing thin, thn chil<l he
deprived of tho ana of the library for OS months.
5. That the library he open for the oxehange of books during one bour
In **eh week, the hour being fixed by tho managers.
fl. That iiu book ho retained by ilm same child for mare than two
weeka, hut if not mi aired by any other child renewal may be made. A
i'liiM not returning hia or her book within the required time *h*ll b<
deprived of tho vise of the library at the discretion of tho toachor,
Ae to tho quality of tho reading thus brought within react
of the scholars, the Libraries consist of works by Tennywm,
Longfellow, BbakaspoArC] Spenser, Dlaoaulay, SraUee and otnerai
boofei of fiction by Dicltena, rhackeray, and other great novo]
boys' books from the popular pens of Kingston, Ballnntyn. .
Murivn t ; :md bound volumes '»t: nuifcrn zincs.
U in interesting to see what is being done in France lo th* way
of School Libraries. The " Blbliotheqnes Populaires den i .
Pubtiquei are a special claw of libraries, established In schools,
;itiil 1'iviinc Ted with the elementary education dopari
iin\ are tor the free ose ol the Bcnolars, and now number
over Ba^SOO Ihfl law which regulates them provides that lo
over v elementary school there shall be a library, under thi
ot the teacher, which library must emitnin ii depot .it
hook*; for the free use of the free scholars Rook* ire t i
given by the Minister nf Public Inxtrncn'on and the general
council for the department, and are received at)
from any one. The libraries are intended for the parent
;is the soholara, and are not absolutely free. In some cwmh the
parents |>:iy a voluntary subscript ion, and in all uuaes ;hcy are
responsible for the care of tho luaiks. These libraries hi
new inMitutiuUS, although they liavr m w i liccn |»r<iperlj |
j.ii.i/.cd until the Republic took them in bund. J
number of bucks "were distributed by ihe Minister of
Instruction among the schools. Between 1833 and l 1 1
BOAltD SCHOOLS A3 BOASCH PfBLIC LIBIIA1UBS.
387
than h million volumes were sent t<< ihe BOhoola. But the
libraries were then managed, or rather j ilai imaged, in mefa a
i way that by IMO the whole of the hooks hud disappeared, am!
00 trace of theui has ever been found. Ten years later it Ttu
agreed to found the school libraries again, and in every new
school built proper accommodation has been made for a library.
In 1*hi a decree was pronounced for the creation of ;i library
in every boys' school. M. Dura? gWO a great impulse to this
branch of education. Ho considered thai ■ library was abso-
lutely necessary for a school. In 1861 the Minister eent ont
fij,(KXi volume* ai n cost i about the miu1 number of francs.
Ju 1863 60/XXXnnd in the following year &00/JOO volumes were
distributed. In [860 there were t,8$3oi these school Ifbroriec in
■ France, and In 1868 11,395, containing l^3y,l«5 volumes. The
loss of Usaoe mid Lorraine reduced the number, not in L873
there were over I -I/.X.IO. Three years Inter the number rose tO
16,46», and in IhTfl steed at -JO.ooi' libraries, with '2fiG\£tS7 books.
Mow the ilbraries number over 86\300l and contain more than
•I^x.x^kki volumes. The number Off books in each library i* not
great, but then the render** are not numerous. Tho efrole i*
restricted. The average number of books taken out during a
year to about nix per person. 1 Miring 18*5 £'#v_'00 was spent on
the libraries, which would represent ;i considerable number of
volumes, for the Minister of I*ublte Instruction does not pay
high for his hooks.
In thin direction America is takings foremost place, and dot
latns ■crow the terry are setting a worthy example to iim in
direction. Not only by teucTierH, but by prominent men
i. -Hilly, much attention is given to Kbs use of libraries in
D&BSCtlOD With the public schools, Once it was the eomphdnl
that, thougli the school and the library .stood side by Hide, no
bridge stretched from the one ba the oilier. Now librarians and
le trustee* of libraries generally, are trying lo co-operate with
iei"w and parent* to dliwdjig into profitable ch&nnele the
ig of children and youth. The younger ctuMivu are helped
to select interesting and "instructing stories, and books of history
and travel , older ones are guided to the sources of history, the
. Qthoritiefi ii snlencej and ™ finest examples in uterature. Ihe
choice of the books is aided by the acquaintance of tho t cache]
with the tastes and capacities of hi* pupils, the discernment on
the part of the librarian of their wants, a&d (u6 knowledge of the
books that will supply tbcia, and by the increasing nbiUto-: oJ
■ i*. tt choose for themselves. Many circumstances and
influences must unite in order to produce the highest degree of
mutual holpfubieKi between the sehool and tile i" raryi 11 will
lw Mcen from the chapter referring to the Public libraries m
IAniei'ict, that Uio st:it.' of Inassachnsetta stands at the bet
. j work. In connection with the Pnblic Library at Qui
in thut State, the trustees adopted a lew yean ago =i rale by
Which aaeh ■' 'he BOhOOftl might become practically a branch
i i i: i> the master selecting a number of volumes tvow\ Vw.
31
PCDLIO LrSIlARIBS.
bri rj ad oircelating bhenn among his Boholaitti In the
Welle Schooli Beet m, a plan has beou devised for promoting the
Study oj g 1 literature. It involves tbo loan from tin: ftblio
Library to the public school of copies at some one book, sufficient
in number to enable the pupils tf tl 6 school to rend the eainc
boob At the -> I - time. Once a week they aire S3 lioi
free conversational way ns to the structure "i the work, tbfl
relation <>i Its puts, the spirit tn which it was written, the
ttcellence of Mi Kyle and diction, and similar guaUtiea, The
iiMi- hi lik-.inr. li: ■ entry increased in Ctoeinnai
interesting public school scholars in anthon or unquestioned
mart! The School District Libraries of California are meeting
with mailced BacoesB. H < iper ntendent or the Boston schools
a&ya that the Public Library stands m tin- hc:ul of the educational
system of the city, ft!" which it forms n trne part And, on the
other Iwnd, he urges thai the sohoolH should give bistro*
in the best methods nf n-i.linir y«"«1 Imokt: "Reading is ;i;i
art which, nifchs little of almost every till i&bae ifeen taught iu
publii school* iiunii'ii.i'i i.iily : but how to read a boos — on
entire book — is au acquisition mode by row, and never system-
atically (ought in the public schools,"
On* of the neatest helps '< bbe popularity ol a school lib irj
i:. Mint it *hi»uld W IhVntily admini t should n<-
filled with •* goody-goody '' books, to the exclusion of n u ra sub
stantiol fare — and I Lanaged by a librarian who really know.* and
[ores booi ■ ■ , it is upon I i I iai th< irhols rains; hinge*.
£ trui- lover of boolca will be liberal iu the choice of his fi
he will search far and wide, bring tho treasures together, cla
and put cocli iu its proper place i and then, too, what an In-
valuable help -i thorough to iwledgo of books enables the
guardian t-> render the inquiring student! Rut it : absolutely
necessary the librarian should Laki real interest in h
too great a atr.-.-.- r:m > , be laid upon this, for it maal
remembered thai n librarian uithoot ;» true love of books becomes
merely an official, who will perform his duties aa Speedily us ho
can and with the least possible personal trouble,
BCOre general use might be node of Board Schools as branch
libraries than has at present been the case* in many tuwns
where there in a demand *< r branches and the penny rate will
tmt itford ihi* co.-.i i"ii tniUdinjj. stocking, and mnintaining a
branch, the Board School might with iMwitngc he used, i
buildings ire pnblio nr< nerty, and there in no valid re
whatever wliv ih.-y should not be used In the way suggy ■
cost, of Dpenmj and rualnuilnlng them as newsrooms
bkj iiitliiit'viiiii;ill> small, that our wonder is candidates for School
Boarde hare uol made this m special feature iu their addresses.
Our of Ml- obetacJes raised not onlj in London bn In
country, h the cleaning of the sohools aftei the i
have Men used as ibrai ■• s: i>i;i s , ■ uvn leu
I oud nine thonoxl morning, there would ha nmpl
..ti ouj Cot < toawhu: ■ i a*l ** hand
BOAItP SCHOOLS AS KHAN'OH PUBLIC LTERaKIEk
888
:
wew it ni isary ox the whole nigl I to b supied, (here could
i><> no serious obstacle to the way Plenty of ventilation by open
doors and wmdovra between the \\*-- of the building tor teaching
and Pablto Library purposes, would ensure the rooms being kejrt
any v .-inhvniry rery frequently alleged, is thai the seals nnd
desk* being constructed for phllnren u*e not suitable tor ndults.
This is :ii: itlwtiu'li- which 1i:w r«i hi- in 'I.
There might be n drawing closer together m their worfc or
School Boards nod the librarian* end committees of Public
Libraries, The tatter continue In reality the work of the former.
As 3Tr. Melvil Dewey says " We must struggle to teach oni
masse? in read En our Bofiools. Thou bheynjusi become bread-
winners; and if we oarrj on their education we must do ii by
providing Public Libraries, which shall serve as niidi schools ana
colleges fox the people. Ow schools W best wfl] onQ furnish the
tools (how rudimentary those tools for nmM peujile uo*fl '); hut
in the ideal libraries towards which we are looking to-day will
be found rhc materials which witii these tools may be worked up
into good oittzenabrp and I tabes Living. The schools give the
chisel, tho libraries the marble; there can be no statue without
both,1* School Boards have u larger rate to deal with than
Public Libraries, and t )u-y might ro)i,M<t :ihh hi rxpoelcd to do
more in the way of providing school ITbrarioa than they at
present do. This in a matter which cornea more legitimately
within their scope of operations, and if tho hduention Actor tbo
Amendment Ac:.- .],. | t\ give thorn power to Spend the small
suras which would be necessary, there would be no difficulty in
getting a Bill passed by which permission would be conferred.
Librarians and committees would, there ifl even reason to
belie v i>, cn-opomu* with them In every way po$eib]e»aad would
inmost eases under! a lee the management «.'! the libraries. The
link between Hoard S-! K iind Public Lihrimc; Is becoming
Huhm' every year. I lln-arn^ v<< rn .1 ■ pi n 1<> Ihe rwople are the
real continuation schools, and ■"'>• the onjy means by widen (he
taitfl for reading which elementary education creates can be :it nil
adequately mel
The Society tor the Promotion of Recreative Evening Classes
luis done, and ix doing, a most useful work in assmiftattng
Instruction and recreation by a practical and agreeable method,
Ita aim is to got hold of children who have left school, and to
Erovide evening occupation tor Khena of a useful and attractive
[ndj which shal coul uuc 11 sir education and prepare lh*m tor
be actual Of < befon diem. In London nlon< no rowci than 80,000
children leave school even year. •»!" wl.mi unly i per cent, are
known to confcmat their education En am systematic way The
rest aodii forgei ii i -i' liter iwxrt of what they have been taught,
and arc exposed In the evening i<> tin hideous evils of London
street life. What this means m d] ten m Die work :
educational, but the education is made interesting ■■-■■ icUro
by Doeani of musical thill, singing; and the axtonatve osa eJt^fosi
it* in foi illustrating lemons '"in historj, ftcou^a^Vj^^^ eJCBesJn
mi
Vlii],h MlilLA&IJjb.
tiiils .in.* litlfil in lnvuim' j_'»oil aw'v:i«t* or Mi he >■(
vrtoa useful by instruction in household sewinff. the maklnj
mending of garments, and cottage cookery. Boyn are prepared
tor technical training in claeaea for drawing, designing, mudc
wood tarrfrut. &c. Hie teaching in Ml subjects in voluul
Duriutf the winter of 1868, thirty schools were opened Eu I <
Tin-. ..-isji-ii!)) winter the recreative and practical c.Ij
started In M,t out oi the \.'- evonim» schools under the l.
School Uoard, and In several national and other wheels, wWli
in the country at large altout 50 towns of more or lew ii a
ftneo have adopted the system. It ie estimated that tin i I
of the Msoolation have probably abided 20,000 witliin <
montbJ to tho attendance, at the evening schoolfl I ir *ughou1
the country. Nothing can bo of more vital moment to Um
well-being of tho nation thon to provide some eafo and hca
ohaonfl] for the aotMtiea »>t this olasi of the population, it I
:i pooi eooaonry, which having educated them ut u co
London, counting none but rate-aided schools, ol considerably
over ;i million a yenr, w> nil. ay (hem to drift oil mearo I
just when they most need a helping hand, A taste for reading.
end the means for gratifying it, are perhaps the \»'\ bed
aervatives a lad can have against the degrading attracttoi
the London streets.
CHAPTER XXV.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES HC AMERICA AND CANADA,
MEIUCA has taken the lead in developing Hit usd iln -
of Public Libraries. In tho United t: teethes* institu-
tions form so much a part of the nati
their abseuoe, particnlorly in the older districts , i-
starnpa a district as being in tho rear in public opu i
enterprise. Whore the striking of oil or silver creates u town, in
u single round ol tho moon, mouey-raaking take the load, m I
libraries have to wait until the lining of poebr- in. u«M
accomplished, and a demand from tho citizen* prei cn< it « .
sometnmg more intellectual than local newspaper* in which the
staple news is personul gossip. In the actual use mad- of the
book* in Public Libraries, England enmpares very fuvoui
with America Bur. in library economy uuil administration we
can learn many leusonn from our progro;-: )-. .m the
other sideoi toe Atlantic. In this a* well as in other d
meats of lift, the old country and her strong offspring may plod
Alongside by Hide in friendly emulation, efleli learning
Other, an 1 determined that, come what may In the .| the
partition >ii Europe and other parts of the world, bolt)
steadily pursue hose artKof peace and civilization which
made Ihenu countries wlm.1 they now :ire We may In one
ilffinihnrnt hike a lexsou fr>nu uur TraitHatlantli Maltve*, the
adoption of which wonWhe fcfi\sttxw\. vm.\ix\u \\w aattao. Tb*>
ITTIl.H lIIllMRiKh I\ AMWHUU AM) e.vWll/A.
an
;;
■
Bureau dI Education fulfils :i service »t great utility Bo the
United States. In designing and maturing Uielt1 cooatitutton,
George yVaehingtou ami his co-workers, gave to education a
xrvy prominent place. Xfae dictum of the that President thnt
the virtue and intelligence* of the people are the buro imh.-pciia-
able securities of republican instllutioua, liaa found lie Bono all
borough the L'nion ui the form of free education, common ocIiiioIm
and Public Libraries.
In the department of the Interior there is a section Called the
ureau of Education, the purpose and duties of which at* to
COllcd -itatlMic:- .ont ln« -Is BOO* Dig lli«' condition .tnd pTOgTCfll I ■!
education in the several states ind territorio* A further object
is to ilTimillllilin((i euch information respecting the organization
and management of schools and school systcmaead methods of
teaching oe shall aid the people of the United States in the
establishment and maintenance of efficient school systems, and
otherwise promote the cause of education throughout the country
In thfl Wow of this office >hi' i'ul he Library system OCCUpu :|
prominent place. Tin- mMiugemcnt of ilia- Jtui'cau of Induration,
subject to the direction .»!' tho Secretary of the Interior, it
BnBrUI ted tfl k Commissioner >A Kdueation who n; appointed hy
iin' I'l-cs^iL-nt, by and with tin- advice and oonsent oj the Senate,
This Dornadsaionev preeents axmnajlj bo Congress a report era-
tHxlying the results of his investigations and labours, together
rttfri itatementof such bets unci recommendationa u will in
his judgment subserve the purpose for which the office is
eetaoUsneol The pabUeftttonB ol tide office are numeroue and
excellent. Through the kindness of the Secretary of the Deport-
ment, copies of the liooks and pamphlet* relating to Public
Libraries and education generally are received by the present
writer. The Latest to hand hear the titles ns here given. " Hlfl-
11117 of Higher Eduoatlon rn Smith Caro1inajHS47 pages ; " Higher
Education in Wisconsin," i.> page*; " Ifi story of TCdiiontion in
Florida." oj page*; "Education in Oeorgta," U4 pages; " indus-
trial Education in the .South,' Hi pages; "Study of History in
American Colleges and Universities" 800 pages; " Education In
Hie Industrial and Flae Areata the United State*," .-J-' page*.
The annual report of the Oonuniasloncra nf Education usually
make* a volume of 800 pages. Tlio special report of tin- Public
Libraries in thfl United Suites, giving thrir history, condition and
management, waa published In two volumes in 1870-7 and the
two together fill \\$b pages. Following these in 1886 wis ■
supplementary publication consisting »»f d hundred pages giving
BtatMfciCB of 1'ublie Librarfai iu America, The last !'<•<•. h ,.-..! is an
i:i'.-T<.'-tii!'j j.i hiiratiMii iii.-iidrd " litil'-v-. torn 1 lictfonnt^ Oatali true."
The uniform size of these puHn .it i. - i- i- dcm\ -I'-iav... I-Yom
these particulars it will Ih? guthorcd what U being dOOO in the
Waj ol publications by this department. Tbefr nv.-j h I fraction
of what could be Domed.
Of the content* of the volume*, and of tHe-v- Dnp*&&,\cte*tM*t> unA
nine li' -iH lWirM'oncXTll then ■<*lv,- , .i\ • \\\ \\vAV-v- '- ftA30fca)&SSO.s
ii .,..;- l.Ii;fcAXIF.v
it would !>o <liilin.lt to speak too highly. It was as far l.
: lh< i -: i i . < . St. U- ijuvcrni icot i-cjiolvcd to i
Dopartn ml of Education, Eyctj re&j tecordinglj elm
there hue, iu addition to other literature, been i
ttYoratriiv »l».ni( 1000 pairee, in which liavc been i
letiu-ili the i m rnl atteraple mad< bo urapplo with then
ioi difficult problem! for the consideration of which tin: b
WW specially created. As tlicv appeared, thes
bees welcomed with gratitude by specialists in *-'
matters nil the world over ; and thin, not only because bhi i
marked the successive stages reached by tho .Slates in
solution of a. great - ion, t i the importance < i
iiiv- long hem keenly alive, but also because they foun<i tn
i m -I fund of inlormatton, drawn from Uie b
which shed nn interesting and valuable light upon the •'«iuoationaI
GonditiotLB and expedients of most civilized c< antrioi
note, if- would in* impossible hero to give an adequate Idea i
the number and partetyol the questions raised, and m
successfully answered, in these volumes ; but merely to mei
u few taken at random will suffice to show the e ire '-■'iftnetra
and suggestive character ol the topics discussed, Suol qui
concern the relations of Mluoauon to pauperism, .
Insanity; the principles and methods of the Kindergarten; dtt
iiuluflirinl training ni boys and girls; the higher aaaoBttov al
woman, and their admission in Universities; the nervier
qualifications of School Boards: the shortcomings and cupnhil tfsi
"1 Sunday and Mission Schools; the training vi the blind, the
■ le;i!. and the dumb ; the dilleieuL form* i 1 manual ind arl I
iiig . and the establishment of schools of agriculture.
As already indicated, however, the pubUcati<>n& ul the (
States Bureau of Education have not been limited to annual
reports, hi addition tti the»e, it lui.i iremed at ii"f-j!:ir intervals
;i Kara number of bulletins, circulars, and special re Kfl
oj winch riorne specific subject i?s discussed at length
01 nu&eadablc thoroiigbneaB, generally byaotno recognized an
ity working with the best meora of information at oil command.
The value of such special treatises in defining the
establishing ascertained knowledge, and stimulatina; fui
EnveetigfttionB, le ovident on the face of them Here aga
wiO be sufficient to name a fow of the topics handled to show the
interesting and varied nature of the " light and leading'
L,r«t|. tV'»m tho volumes ruder n<*tiri\ Su.'h :uv :
ture ; Qm training of teachers in Germany ; the hiatal
medical education m the United States; training MhoolS for
nurses; industrial art in schools: natural scion.
schools; English rural schools; the legal right* -i a lib
construction of Public Library buildings; college Libraries as aids
i i . Detraction.
The American Library Association is older by n
tin' Library *B*oe(uti<»n on this side of Hie Atlantic. Ii
prHl.l'- J.II1KA11IKS IN V.VKltlCA A.\!i ( ANAfM.
;m
Tin' Libunv SiliLmls aiv l>oginiiiuy to lmltl j flisturi. j.l.irc in the
tiMiniuy of Ubwg nfatazits. Tfie Columbia Library school at.
Albany, u, pretty tuwu in N>'« Y u \ -»i, t. . is &e chief oi bhese
schools. A visit to the school is an impressive experience. It
would lie ilifiVuli, to fiml uny place, where h MobOTex Hfffl i> baleen
of library methods and responsibilities. The man.ini.* ol it
claim tliat they li are been fortunate in their material ii-ui its
beginning. The excellent .nm-shm** :-mt oat prove that it haa
been of great advantage to have a course Ol technical instruction,
The fact cannot be too acutely grouped in this country that the
beat librarians are those who have passed through an apprentice-
ship of training at mio ol' the Public 1,'hniries in th»: country.
Committees and Commissioners eennot over-estimate tlio iin port-
once of this matter. Tho Library Hurcttu tor Public mid Private
Libraries is of recent torn ; rinn This iKtiiuatod* nt HG,I''ranldm-
ntrt'iit, Boston. Its duparlmcuts are those fOT employment, eon-
sultation, publications, and supplies, and this will serve to lllust i ii e
tbe character and Kcope ofite work. The Hureauauns t< make
itself indispensable to the libraries and it has evidently Ijolore it
B ItSefuJ future.
Nothing struck the late Matthew Arnold so much in one ot his
Lecturing visits to the States as the sight of a ragged and almas
Hlincli-Ks tittle boy Killing in the n nnni of one of The
Public Libraries, studying his book or newspaper wtth all
the ftittio ftrntt of a member < I i West-end club. 71ie sight was
decidedly one which n democratic, nation might he proud it, and
one. moreover, which Englishmen should be anxious to see in
their ciwh country. The miirvHlmifc grOVth of the fflOTOIDGDl in
America in extr; dimiiy. Seventy yam agosucb tilings ftfl Public
Libraries wore almost unknown in America, (or prior to 18:20
there were but ten of them in existence ; to-day they are a*
BODUaoB as public schools, Tliere is no town or village of auy
consequence tli.il C&XUlot boftel Of ltfl Public l.tbrui v, BUG BOOM
comparatively new communities have two • i three.
In the most recent rev rl puUMu-d. IflBfl Public Libraries
arc named, containing 13,654,610 volumes. 01 thin number
424 are free lending libraries, supported wholly or partly by
public moneys, and containing 3,, 51,101 volumes. Moaaacliu-
sotte haa much the larger number, via., 176 libraries with
9,000 rolnmeei
hire 89, and
State hue more
than 13. Of free public reference- Libraries the AtUttbOT [a
[53. containing .'J.OWnV*^ rolnmec, There are 241 Ivoo corporate
lending libraries containing 1,737,770 volumes, tbe largest being
the Astor Library in tho city ol E¥w forlL whiob however,
is free but not lending, und'enntrn'mn^ ^'J0,B0a volume*. Of
k libraries belonging tu societies, associations and clubfl there
are rui. containing ■i.Hio,;^! volume the Inrjmtt heirijr the
New York IfereBHtQe. Of corporate <y#j] \\Vera\V-. «\w\\ Va
mhMribflrS .»nly. there are VS2, wiVh "liyUjAY Hdga&Mr^m
801
i'i m i1, r.niT»AniR*.
largo.1-! Hting the JioRtoii Athenamm. Rhode Ealand bos nin
dafiB. "i -v] lab iho Providence Athensam is the larj
hiving iti.::n; volumes, and the Red wood Library and Athena
lit* Newport, second, wtith 33.22H volurueft. Cin i lat ng librarim,
oJ which there am seventy-four, with 214,187 volumes, com]
the U<\. Klmde Island Ihk flfl y-iiui* libraries of tiieso various
elnsses, I'ontan iiu/ an aggregate "f 878,W7 hni.l.*— h u-m^ n^uiu
'vim inhered that those statistics arc a year nhl, mn>.e.jioNi np.ni
Che long delay in the preparation of fcne t'ommiBsionor'a report
Providence aontami fourteen Libraries, w Ith 11)0,650 rolnmas
Further study of bhe report reveals some very atgnUkannl
, i n ■■■■r-iiinv ihr geographical distribution of libraries More iVm
38 per cent oi the libraries uf all clasaes are in he EubUtd
States, while twelve Southern Btutes, Including Delaware, contain
only 136 public libraries of more than 1000 volume-* < :n I of (he
whole iiuiiiin-i uf fiec loud&ng libraries, supported wholly or
puiiiv \>\ public moneys, more than til pa cent, arc n the New
Gotland State*. Pennsylvania and twelve Southern States have
none, and 3ti per cent, are in the Western Slates. The tcndi
to appropriate public money for the purpose of maintaining
libraries i.Wroiitferd in the I^iM niid \\ est, iinil ili )*•-■> mil \.i
exist in the South. In the former localities alao tfl foi ad
greatest williug-uess to set apart private funds for the mc
purpose.
It has also boon estimated that there are now in the ■
23,000 school libraries, containing forty-live million In iota, betas;
itifi computed, twelve million more than are to be found LB SI
the public libraries of Kuropc put tojrether. Other educai
o^rabliehmonte increase this number l>v two and a half mi
volumes, sad thirty-eight State libraries contain another aailb'an,
Altogether, it may be taken in round numbers there org I
Public Libraries of America fifty million volumes, wliich «
atone time give about a book each for every living soul there
Of course we all know that the Americans are a great reading
people; but what an example they get ; iif in their magna"
efforts to place literature so universally within the reach <>t :il..
Mr i kiin> tliii- us u people's victory, "the paper bullet
of the bruin." he says, "is the moral dynamite ol iriu up
Democracy. He is not far wrong. These (nets speak for them-
selves, nnd are a sufficient index of the comparative
habits of the people in the various parts of this country. I
are a sipn also of the vnlne which is placed upon education,
and of the 6**gree. In which it Iihm been received. A Punll •
Library is an extension of the public school system, and
through its means one may pursue an elective course uf study
at will and through life. Cai'lvle thought bhat the ehiefl
purpose of u university is to give an acces* U books, aid
if this in true the greutc&t advantage of the public school
tfl '-uiialost where uo facilities for wise and extended reading
&ro offered in connection with it.
la Ywting many of the ?u\Aw Xftrata <A \\vt
Hi'rtur Milium.:-- i LMKHtCA l» l \\AH\,
:;:».",
present writer has tiotlood in more than out of fchom the noble
words delivered by Sidney Smith ai the Royal Institution
Inscribed in. large letters upon the wall. "TOerefore"* inch ire
■ >'is m question — "when I say, in conducting your under-
HiamiiiiL', love knowledge with a great love, with ;< vehement
lovr, »vil,|iii kiM-ruevul «Jtli lite, ft hat Jul Mty but love ii:ia'»ruir,
love purity— love that which, it" you are rich, will sanctify the
blind fortune which made you so, and teach men to cull it
Justice lore that which, if von art- poor, will make poverty
respectable, and forbid the proudest to muck tin- im-annc.-* <>i
yom fortune— love thut which will comfort mid adorn you, and
Sen to JOB the kingdom Of thought and all the boundless regions
OonoeptfOQ. Therefore, if auy young imm hafl embarked h'u
life in the puruuit of Knowledge, lot him ',g0 on without doubting
the result. Let him not be daunted by her cheerless beginnings,
or by the difficulties hoveling round her, Let him rather follow
hex *fl the angel that guards him, and the genius of bis life.
She will bring him out at last into the light of day, and exhibit
him to the world comprehensive in argument, strong in reason-
ing, paramount uhnvi* Ins I'd low- in ill In- :-M:iiii.n>. :n • . .th.-i^ nl
m ■
The first Public Library established in America dates back
to 17UO, and this was established by a clergyman Who hid I
CbaplatO U) lh'-' Knglish governor ol fll* tfid) jn-nvinn' nt \r\v
York, ft is Bomewn&J Pamarkflble that the Brat addition to this
library was a gift, about thirty yearn afterward*, by ilie British
Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in foreign part*. ' tthcr
libraries followed, ami about the year J760, the public took Op
spiritedly the need of libraries, and fl large BUDSOflptloii fund
was commenced. It may be eakj thai about the year [8ix>, there
were within the UuitiM -t.t it_-^ 149 collegiate libraries mutuioJag
an aggregate of IflB&fiM volumes. Eleven years later, returns
which eiteuded to 117 only out of the 14», assigned to that
portion of the coflegfete Libraries an aggregate of 1,323,148
vuluun.vs. Many of these libraries had been urietuaJly gathered
by combined efforts of a very varied nature. Not a few of the
bouk« were contribLUed by Englishmen, axal it ia pleasant for us
to contemplate that such waalhe case. It will be a sorry day
for both countries when the community of feeling between us
censes to exist
It is one of the proudest distinctions of this great Bepttblic
1 1 is 1 1 l In- rafiltiia >:' jriviii« away money by rich cilfceens during
thctr lifetime and nothing is harder for most men to part with,
except prejudice— is more common among the Americana than
among any other peoplo. aad thai the bvourite direction of
their mnjomeance is towards he foundiogol colleges and libraries.
What a list of American benefactors of this kind might we make
out: the Astor and Lenox Libraries and Cooper Institute in
Now Vork City; the Comal] Univeraitj to New kforts State:
the M'Cormiek University in Vir^imu, thA lAvV.*i\- ra&
Stemfond University in California, the eo^xv^^c Vv\V.\v \.\Vvaw-
06 PI i I H 1 IP.!1 \r;IF.S
or Now England, tin- Vonderbltl University a Tcmnwimg thaw
are mil i Mthaol tha matitutioni which owe their origin wholly
tn iin« bonntycn9 n single individual arpartlally t< contributions
ifc.in what, fa tl hapels of Oxford .,mi Cambridge, are railed
tiutis henefactom, The meal princely of all givers for !
Ibrary purposes, whether on Hun skfc or the Vmerlcnn *idc of
the Atlantic, i- Mr. Andrew Carnegie. Fortunately (<<r Grant
Britain, Mr. Cunn^ir is ;i SrciMnnun, stml Iiin library E&vourti ;in
divided between the two countries. Tabulating what be in
done for tlio.se in-.iit.iitn -us, il may be -l.it<"l is follows:
yjeghany City Lforarv £00,000
i larnegit Library, Braddocka, run. . . l*0,000
Johnstown Library, destroyed by the
Conemautfli flood* in lHHQ.aud being rebuilt
by Mr. Gafliegifl
Pittsburgh Library, to cost 15X>,000
Edinburgh PubHo Ubrary
i.'iu'iK'jjio Library, Dunfermline .. .. 8,000
S'-vivhI MiiulUi" contributions to other
libraries, about ., i i.uhj
eaeo^oo
Mr. Caniegie'd offer to Pittsburgh was originally £100,000. but
be OSS told the committee that ho is prepared to spend :i million
dollars upon tho institution. r'rom thin it will bo seen that I
most handsome building will very shortly be completed. The most
beautiful buildiiuj he bus had anything" to do with is the A lie
City Library and Ball. TbU la built of ;i light grey granite nod
stands upon one quarter of a small public park. The City Mall
occupies another quarter. The two buildings occupy some S00
lc<-r sqmirc. in.l the two principal *trf.us cross :it right angle**
The City 1 tbrary [8.1 Iwunlifnl building', and was opened to tin-
Snblie on February 20, 1890, by President. Harrison, Kn wonder
i;it. lettera should frequently reach the author saying "would
Unit we had a local Mr. Carnegie lo help un ! "
Kuril Slate maJtes il* own laws for the establishment of I'ui
Libraries, But in 1851 tin? special provision which had been
made on behalf of the city of Boston was niadc general through-
out Hie Commonwealth, and took the form of "An At
Authorize Cities and Towns to Establish and Maintain Tul I <
Libraxiee." The. main pow*-^ nf this \<i ran as followa;—
city or town of thin Commonwealth is hereby authorised to
establish and maintain a Public Library within the aazm
with or without branch oe, for the use oi the inhabitants ti ■
and to provide mitable roomi therefor, under inch r
for the government of said Library as maj froi un .
be prescribed by tho city council of such city, or the inhabitant*
of such town." The Act further provided u i^n any riiy or town
l appropriate for tho foundation and (iai | such
hhnry ;!• il uvsaiil t * u m not exceeding one dollar (roughlj
ebfUinge) i< r eaofa ol Its raAabto \MA\ava\fcw ^«w ■
public i.nmAitu-.j- is .iMKarc.v ANn canapa.
M
*
Unit 01 i\liirli -,i:rti .i|i|ivi>ijn:iliiin xhall be made | and Dft] ftltO
appropriate annually, for the maintenance and increase 01 such
library, a sum nor exceeding one shilling for each of its ratepayers
in the .vein* next, preceding that in which such appropriation
shall be QUbde- Any town OT city may fMtfTO, in it* enrpor:ile
capacity, and hold OT D&nflga any devise beqnost, or donation
for the esfcahlteliraont, Incrfiaee, or maintenance of h Public
Library within tliu same." Now Bedford, in Wusswshuaelts, waft
the Bret 'own to establish, in 1651, a Public Library under fihifl
Act; and the Itbrary coinmeoced vith lejsfl than ti.ooo volumes.
It lias now 00,000.
As indicative of State library legislation, a few recent Acts
may be <i noted.
In Dliaoib an Act wa» approved .lime 17, 1887, amending au
Act authorizing titles and towns to establiah and maintain Public
Libraries and reading-roome, passed in 1872, by increasing the
amount levied for library purposes, in the anuual tax lory of
cities of less than 100,000 inhabitant*, to two mills vu mie dollar.
It wai formerly 000 and a-hnlf mills, which still remains the rate
in cities of over 100,000 population, with the proviso that the
v taxes ehull not be included in the. aggregate- amount of
taxes limited in the Vet relative to the incorporation of oities.
In Now Jersey on March (■!, JhMi, an act was approved, amend-
ing the law of 1879, to provide that when a Public Library hue
been established in any incorporated city, pursuant to that Act,
and shall have existed three years or more, ami possess property
of the value of $30,000 or more, the directors shall annually certify
to the common council of such city the amount required for the
maintenance of such library for the ensuing year, not exceeding
half-mill on the dollar ; and the council shall 00003 to be assessed
and raised, by tax, the amount mo certified.
In New York State an Act was approved on .lime 10, 1886, and
provides that any incorporated library association in any city, own-
ing real estate of the value of £4,0nu, and at least l0tfni volumes,
ami maintaining the same for free circulation of books, among the
inhabitants of said city, and shall have actually circulated TiipCO
in ihe preceding twelve months, may apply la the common
council for bjd appropriation "''•', roni do1 exceeding £1/300. Any
like 11 bra i v whii^ti ha* circulated, in addition to the 78,000 specified,
mora than 100,000 volumes, is authorized to apply for a further
appropriation of £1,000 for each 100,000 volumes so circulated,
in addition to the 76,000 find specified The common i-ouneil i^
nn|Hiwi'ir<l to make proper provision for the payment of this
appropriation. In the city of Now York thia applic- I
v meeting the foregoing requirements, with the ivatnViion
Ihut not note than £'8,000 shall be pain" to any our hbn.rv m any
rjir. On Ma> 10, 1887, au Act was approved to encourage
Pul it- Libraries in the villages and smaller oities of the State,
which applies to cities not exceeding 30,000 population. IHl iM
contains prov Ion Bin liar to those of the fnregoia^ V^vWiw^v
n a reduced scuir. ih. &83$SV,<tt
■
30c
i'i ni.n; umiAniKi.
an annual rental of £60. Tlio somber ol volumes most be oot
its- ■)>.• > , 'i. and the anniuil circulation 15,00 rh> I'l-'opria-
tioni»£300,with80 additional fcJOOforovory I ,000oi •
Ol Mas u», 1888. the Act of 187d, providing foi the torn
of Public Libraries, was amended by inoroosmg the limit oj
annual appropriations from fifty to seventy cents per capita of
Legal voters.
In Pennsylvania an Act was proved on May 23, 1887, which
» I >1 ropmtes the dog tax to Public Librnn.-. wlueli a tree
roHiag-rooma. This Lot aU< empowers eitie* m- take and hold
donations «\ money, books, and other property t >r establishing
Public Libraries, and to make annual appropriations for the
maintenance of auch ttbntrlos.
It will ho noticed in the foregoing paragraph Unit there is a
pence to the approprlatioTi ril the dog tax. In nc
there to an annual Rax of two dollars on eaoli dog kept, and the
bulk i-i1 rins iav goea for library purposes To is I seems a
little Hlmrular to make tho keeper* of nogs the chlel maintainor*!
or the Public Library.
Tin- iii>i:n\ world of America ha* produced some exce
men, Miiniliu^ out foremost are Mr. C. A. Gutter, tin- pi'eeenl
Presides! of the i i ni an Library Association, and it*
Mr. Mflvil Dewey. TIw hud-numed librarian recently expi
a confident opinion that ' ' In- Public Ui hairy is an institution
whoNt* JiuporLiiift* ia i Mil r i.ii ;.'iii/;c' I 1 » v tlic niiioh ul 1 1 it* people It
i> uui purpow In show il lo Ik1 of equal >alue with tin |
Rchool Olid the church, these three farming ;i grand tainit
means of public education and nerval com tt. Host people n< a
look upon the library as a good bhinpto have is a community!
i »nt by uo means an essential. This Idea iafeobc done away with,
la the email town of the future the library wi'.l be iw
one of the prime necessities. There is no way of reaching the
public so effectively ashy the printed pages. It far exceeds the
Eul pit or tt'*- rostrum in force and power ot extension. Ben I
the trinity. The public school makes tho base, ajii
foundation for education; tho church forms ono of tho sid.
its moral teachings and its cure for the spiritual man , and the
Public Library makee the other side by its broad and rcncxaJ
i raining; of all classes end sects. It will not be man) year '
the Public Library will be recognized at it- full value, and rlie
little libraries w ill be found wherever churches and scl 1 Imuoos
are. Every small town will have ifc library. Thai tbu cl
-mvlv OOming is proved by the eonuiiuuications ■ n
Litnai la constantly receiving from cities and towns all <>, t
:iu- country, where Public Libraries are contemplated. In
of the eases somebody has left an endowrnan
;v i*ui lie Library fund, or the nucleus for one, and tho people
v\:u!i information how to begin (me aim of our orgm
to give just this Information, for we have lennipd that rx]
/•nee and wisdom directed towards the proper -turnup ■ >( :i Pnhhc
ttbrur) cici't splendid returtu nui\ we a h»wiw r»r
rrauc mmluubb in mi 1(! v ami umai-a.
satisfaction in the later career of tlie library." Mr. Iirwcv is
well-known in the library world on tin.-, -i 1 ■ '..i the Atlantic.
Boston van among the first American cities to adopt Tublic
Libraries, and it would have boon somewhat strange had it been
otherwise, for this *uy bofl no small ground for claiming to
represent the intelligence of the American nation. Boston refine-
ment and culture rank equal to that of the West End of London,
und it ie from this oily and the other New Knglund States that
most of the assorts haw ootne for the benefit of the American
community. The proximity of Cambridge, a suburb of Hoeton,
where the Harvard University i^ Mtuatod, no doubt largely aids
to make tin* BostOnionJ proud n| the!) uiMlcctuul attainments,
lhix college is the Alraa Mater ol raeh prominent Americans as
BJr. Jamef ttuasell Lowell, who has presented the IJorvftrd Library
with some hundreds of volumes.
l'lie stamp of the Puritans is still unmistakably left, on these
»w Knghttid 6tatS& There is :» solidity about them lacking in
other parte. Kducrttioiially politically, and CoOlXni nially, they
take the lead ol any Mtate in the I'nion. It wiw from here ci i.'.
I he Impetus for the Civil War for the Abolition of slavery, and it
is in (nose States that most of \ morlftft DOS! men were born and
lived, (Old th8Be BgftJO BW iiul BlCTW t<> acknowledge iheuiaelvcH as
dcM-cmliuit« of sterling English Wood, driven out or uiir country
by kingly intolerance und cruelly. Mo.st of the American writers
ill note had or have their homes in these Stales, and the majority
ol" these again in Boston or within easy distance of that city.
Willi such a literary reputation, Boston would have lacked some
• if it* j/mtt glury had it not t alien the lead in establishing Public
Libraries, as distinct from the school and the State libraries. In
18-17 Josiali Quiucy, the then mayor of the city, intimated to the
city council that " a oil tzejD ( iflsred I •> trivc to the city a thousand
pounds for the purpose of founding .i Public Library on condition
that a furtlicr sum of £2,500 should be raised by I public aum-
scription, and that the library when formed should be opened to
the public in as full a manner as may be consistent with the
safety <i the pri perty." 34s council replied u thai the Qtyy of
Bo '"'i wffl accept any donation (nun citizens or others for
the purpose of commencing a Public Library, and farther.
that whenever the library jfcal] be ol the value of £9.000
it will be wpsdient for the dty to provide a anicibls mi i «■
and KrmigatBflnta to enable it to lie nsed by the citizens witl
frost n freedom as the security ol the property will permit. '
lu»: was quickly followed by an Act passed by the Legislature
ol BftsiiaflntWwitS empowering the council to "eslnbuah and
maintain a Public Library for "the use of ity inhabitants," but it
was not until a tew year* afterwards that it was put into effect.
Nations influence nation*, and individuals Influence individual-.,
COriresJ or* w uidto offer ffbtobeamein Wteiromu iViHioman
Mr. Joshua Bates, who offered bo contribute hooks t« the rains
el vhMiM', wnc cure to he emulated. The Public Llhrirv hud ttww
Josl been Opened In MatH'he^ler.thcftvMtuivVv \\w StSt wiV.w^'*\A,
MO
PUBLIC muRABTT*.
;:j!.l Ull lliPMiiit ul pill- i ' . I I ;■:,!;( n \> i* tl Hi.- rn\\rx} Uf fir i i;il.r< |
which ff&Yo an impetus to the attention nt that time hen . ■_■
to the Hiihjc-Tt in Boston.
(livers of bootoj and other philanthropists who bestow pifts
lurlln; 1.1-.C «>] the public. arc the imnica which live in local
And Mr. Joanna Batoe1 name will go down to p<>
mid revered by the countless numbers whom his netion aidi -I to
coi lor »rj\ih'ij(« 'Hi (he c<imtn mi | Tin?
Bofttonlanfl take up the matter, that he gave h6/kki volumes ol
books in addition to the BKl.OOO previously offered, and whiWi
was funded lor the maintenanae of the library. Between the
{i re L8B6 and into Boston spent in founding nor groat Ptabtic
•ihrary mure thau eight shillings for each man, woman, fc&d
child within her Umite, and she has sustained it to thin day
with great spirit and liberality Many various bequests have
hern Hunk' tn il tl itx VMI'inils 1 n':* full i-h T.nn: Mir I » time. It
has been the pleasure, of the author to spend many happy hoUrt
in the old Bales' I .ihrary ami the readtng-rooms. Long ego this
building baoatue Inadequate to the requirements oi roe public,
:iri(l the :nh i;-:ili!lil V ;>n<l r leegBSlty of cmU'Iimm-i Were llfeOUS*
aunty years, but it wax Dot until November 28, )*hh, kfaal the
comer>itoae of the new library buildings ou I'upley-sqiiare. wo*
laid. By the tenuis of the eon tract lti»* basement and story wore
to I* llnished by the autumn of 1W9, and at the present linn1
active progress is bring madi* willi Mil- siiucluiv. i In; characlei
of the building "ill li- wen from lli^ «c< unpauylag engraving,
which LJM'.s ;t view from the square.
Mr. Mcllen Chamberlain, the accomplished librarian, ho* seut
copies of the annual reports lr 1877 to 1889 inclusive, arid
n purs r.lso nl nomr other publu-uttons of the liin'.ii'y. 1
most instructive and interesting rending. The quarterly bull
issued by many of the American libraries are now familiar to the
i .1 iintf English librarian*. Boston was the first to adopt the
issue of tiaosc bulletins, and the idea originated vitfa Sir. of.
Chamberlain. The - m sent consists of over 100 page* si
foolscap, and is packed with information about the library. It
also gives the accession books during rhe quarter. JThcec
quarterly bulletins are made tbo vohiolo of bfoUographioa]
commnni cations of special interest to studious claw
nre sent to euch for the purpose of enlarging tl..- circle oi patrons.
'>n December 31, 1838, the library Ilea contained
60B|872 volume* and 354,256 pamphlets; the an
Ontral Library hciiu-' *v«-7,99."i volumes. In the first J
i-r.i^l.'iii'c ol Hie Kates 1 1 ■> i : . '.-.".-'. ..".. I he QUI ll «T "I booloi WW
m.i'.s.s in 1888 the library was open 304 days, and tho total insuc
r i 1,013,847 vohmifts frorn the Central Library and nim bran
I'hjN gives an average issue of 3,."..'lo daily. Vtthel ontj >i Lll
the issue whs, for home use 226.240 vol for refer*
901,090 books, Fiction find | uvea lie literaJ are are clasat
imi h || v. .'ii to remember tbai i" luvenJIi 1 Herat i ■<■ a very iarm?
ntimhei ol nnot be designated <■■ llei nn taking
m
■ i.iiiit.usrBs.
two sections together the percentage i- TO'i 7 • I the entire issues.
Etiaaigoiilcant thai Engb m his ery, topography, biography, i
; i rn I politO Uordniv etOOd m l8Sfl at K'T. North and
American history was 12'Sii, showing an equioJ interest bat wood Uu
histories ol th< two lidoi <<i the Atlantic. Natural history
iMsienee wore -■*<; ;md metaphysics and social science 6*18 >t tin-
issaofii
A little book of L!l pages (fives the Acts and ordiaances relating
to Che Boston Publia Library. In 1883 there was :i elatu In M
Ant imposing upon the board of trustees the duty of annually
appointing an examining oomnrittee ol not less than i ve poraens,
not laewSew of the said board, wtiOi together with one of the
eoi Lcttng as chairman, should oxarolns the library and make
a report <>t Its condition.
I'll** hauaVbook tot' readers gives ;n 16£ pageatiK regulaiiG
Hip lihv:ir\ Wltt\ :ni :icctniiir *it tin- PataiOgU« nnli'v*-. t,i note*
about booKSj and other tntormatlon, Mention is made ol die
special prlvltagn curds hy which residents may make application
entitling the holder to draw more books mid to keep thera innger
thai (he rules allow, Sucli cards, however, ait* granted only in the
Interests of clttaen* at large, and not for the advancement run
o( private studies, Authors, teachers, lecturers, and editors are
considered among the privileged classes. There is lima s -
difference between Uie term ns applied in this v. umtry and
America. Pour hooks and four weeks are Hie limits ol a tpecfal
privilege. Amniiif tin* " caul ions* there is one Hint ;enilomci
must remain uimtivered while In tin* build i ■■
Ttir total number of borrowers at the Central t.tbvarj is
and ;it the branches *MH8. making ii total ol 03,10a (>|
applications l,9rW were sent to the police Ebi ■■
addresses another new feature in library administration.
It will also he of interest to English librarian* to leant thai tin
librarian and 1 is assistants En Boston and the oil . .■
,i. usual y »wom as special constables, so that in case i
i. :uln dnmuging ii hook or purloining ,\ |>,-ri« h1i.-;x.| . h« may beT
cough I in the aet.al on •■• arrested . i -l charged. U c have m
i. m lird tlii ■ Ii -Ii ;[nte • I lihrnr> ndini liMrotioi on tin
Will it be libelling the American libraries by statins that n
to the elTei-t rhar., " Tin- one of tolmcc i is forbidden in thi > roon .
hroomc Homcwlmt monotonous utter a d zen >r so in mii re
it., in '.i i\ a boon counted ?
A special volume would be necessoryto do anything like [u
I., the A ueriean libraries, and .*■• n i» is nol practicable,
, . h only be made to :i tew others, Maswhusj »di .
ror I'liMic Libraries, and this one state has moro than "! I
addad together. In this State one ol lie inoM eompacl
arranged libraries visited hy the present writer in that i
Situated about D teen miles rmm [toston, ;t hoar* lie
w<'i. Buetainfl the character of the literary village, n
thai Hawthorne and Emerson lived neighbours, and h
are neighbours in the ba&utttul eevc\oA^\^ ^ ^a«^sj U .u- n
PI BUG LIIUIAKIR9 IN AMKltlfA AJTD CA>'AI>A,
dm
Par book as 1672 there are recorda of literary characteristice
of this pretty little town of sonic :\<hhi inhabitant,-.; .■ ml u: Lflfi]
« Social Library which existed was morsel into Lin* Town
Library. Two other collection*— i he Parian Library ami the
Agricultural Library— were afterward* added to the Town
Library, and in 1678 all were transferred to the- present Concord
Public Library The i)iiildinfr»hown in the sketch wan given by
u worthy citizen, William Monroe, at a cost or' some Cl-,000, and it
was opened in 1873, Itnlph Waldo Emerson delivering, on that
oconnion, the address of dedication, and in which b Idrcsn he
eomruoneed by snyiiitf tli«t literature is the record of the beat
CON COUP PUBhlC LlDttARY.
thoughts. EvervAttcinmanl oaddi«cipBi«wWehiuoraaafiBa^man'fl
OtH|iiairitanoe\vith the hi\w;Ltc world hits Ins befog. Everything
that gives him o oov peroeptton ot beauty, multijvHfts ins para
enjnjiiientr-.. A river oi' thoiiu'hr is :ihv;M- niAHfing OUt ot the
Invisible world into the mind aJ man, Shall not they who
receive | lie l:uy>'-( sii'i'Mti'- 'I'Ivmi nhrctil rhe healing Waters P
s\w Hinrrson was ft» nvmy years, and Up to the lime ot* ln>
daath, a mombor of the Pnbue Library eomialttee, and roc
lihrarian, who fa the w:iv i- I Lsm j gavettlC oinhur BOIM \-i\
n tareatina remmiaeencaB ol tin's owtJiijruMied author. He wae
.-.sidn.MN in hie attendance ai the PommUtee ui^v\\\^>M
took the wannest iotereal In the welfare ot t'rtftYtotww. n« v&&
m
pi BI4< MOJU&tm
books ore ulphabctiouJfy arranged) find clemMed under the a
of authors, titles and subjects, with many cvohh .
tho shelves the bookH ore all cLf*Mlii'd, each -ulijccr hm i
division *if a aubjeot in ing by itself. One :*!<'•« v.> m the library*
devoted oxolurfvelj '<• ffie books, pamphlets. &c., rolntin
i 'oncord, and tht> entire library bun n i<up:ioil y U r &>,<>
How one is tempt)'!] to winfi that ©very Knglwh village
more inhabitants posseted such n comfortable and p
Public Library as that in Concord !
The State ll M:i«s:t rh us. ; : - v n ■ , in, over 300 l'u Mi*1 libraries.
Many of these are •uvhitecinrally very etTiktajr, and in a intent
PUBLIC MPHARV, NORTH AM PTOM V | |f
I every Just unco the building has been -p* t;il)v orivr.'-i for the
purpose vt ji Public Library, *u lliat every u< i
ha* I'i'teixed attention. Tin* buildup! '■ Norttuunpton h
Stateihowi] in the engraving u mir which raHecta una
the town, and of which they arc justly prt ud. I
in I860 and bat over 1 ~* j k m > volumes, n-itli an annua) twin
ȣ00 volumes.
New York <'ii\ is not larking .-nln i in the nua
quality ot her hooks. Hut. at the; name time it would
Btf«?iiijf( In dcii> .i - a\.v\. Wi to*
IT
'
PITll.ir MUR-ARIHs IS AVRarCA ANT) rAK.OU.
•WW
that she Borefy needs t<> waiBoltriaftfl her treasures ami establish a
great Ilihlic Library which will supply the needs of her citizens
and reflect, credit QpOD the city.
Samuel J, Tflden'abarrel of monej ased to be .1 Joke Is American
polities — sometimes Illustrated raeeiiuu^ty, and commonly gibed
at in colloquial journalism. He was a millionaire and vei7
ambitious, ami his money vn.s very generally considered at the
service of any of the Democratic parly that would "hoe his row"
In win thfl "Presidency. Mr. Tildrn intended In make ;i ROOd use
Of liih money in hi* .solemn will ami testament, He lefl one
iiiilliuii Btorliuu to torm .md njHiulalit ;t Public Library. Such
uiMiMial yeiu P'sil.x \<\ ;iu old mini In t lit' public could iinl . 'I
course, pa*s unchalleuged. The nephew, who went to law bent
upon eetanUahing ttaal \h>- old man moat have bean Insane to
uaa&liuu by for the*ake of deluging; posterity with free literature,
ha* so far been successful, for the Supreme Court of New York
decided that although a great lawyer he did not know how to
hi tk« ;> till leaving ma estate in trust for the founding o1 Public
Libraries La Ken zort What .1 striking lesson thfi teaches that
Hit- beat time to use money for the public pood is during the
hf.'time 1 if the owner.
When nil the Public Libraries id New York Oily are counted,
mid including those in connection with Young Men's 1 'l : cititiau
Issociationi and othei institutions, there arc do fewer than Ofi
will on aggregate of 1 , ttK),(lf K) books. Of those, however, only
about ii tenth are free t<> the people. All but ahout u dozen belong
to clubs, societies or educational institutions, and are, therefore,
ol no value to fchfl gcnernl public. Of the ten or twelve CMS tC
nil there. :.i-e two cUimmw one dovnted to consultation and re.fer-
•■iire only, tho other to general cireuintinn, while this latter cIukk
can be divided into five and subnTiptinn Ul-nr e-.
01 the firal elasa rnentlaned, the kator Katha largest and moat
bnportan , and yet. dthouffh il in the third largest library to
\i id • ' :■. and contains nearft $50,000 volumes, it Is of oornpara-
iivrl\ \.t\ itile value. No books eon be taken from the library,
and they cannol even i*1 consulted except between the hour* or
y a.m. and is o'clock and from I tn&p.m. For five weelu Lo the
-Miini.'i' it i* eloaed altogether. The average of daily readers
hout two hundred and fifty. Rather n small showing for
a :mo I of £300,000.
The next library of hn portance, or raUiercd value ik the Lenox,
on Fifth Avrtnic, ooeupytng nearly all the Kpa.ee between Seventy
and Seventy-Aral Streets. Hem u a building and a most extraor-
dinary Colleen" >n of booing pamphlet* and manuscripts, valued ut
over £200,000, and yet how Ynhicle.s* It Is to thufKOpln! It is
•ii only ' 'mi i ii a.m. in 4 inn, and admlasfou can ofify be hud
lir-.; writing In :he Siipi-'iilriiilinl |OT B can!
Tin- nasi two tnosl important libraries from the standpoint oi
miniber of volume* arc iho.se of the New Tork Sfoaety, with
80|0G0( and of tins New Yurk Historical Society with ¥&$&< 'Em
hours ej these Ubrarfea are from ft a.m. to ft \w
»
kh;
iiTii.n. i.iM.
.■..in-, i.pcn <n\\ to immK-rs, who pu.> ni''i-i»iirr<liif :••<•■• .m-
annual due». AAOther library of the eume kind in that i d t\><
American Institute, oontaining 12,700 volumes.
Though containing the mimllej-t uumW-r of book8.yo( - i
doss described it is the library of the Cooper Union t hat i « ■
greatest value It is opvn to all. dag and evening, and
only i'5,000 books there over S/30,000 year]} roaders. malcix
daily average ol between CXXJ and 7XK) books ueed Tni
t hau all Uh-Ho'cv libraries combined, .simply because ir ix aoesesn1 \>
at all hours. The claw* of renders in the evening arc eupertoi '■
those oi the daytime, showing ignis the value of giving the
people an opportunity to read at other boon that when engaged
in iimiv duties.
Of tin- M-ciul class ui' libraries mentioned the Meroftfi
ranks first, it is the largest (but one) I'imihuing
America and contained loot tfaj 1,2 LS36 w Bat :t i-
free, and only members s h » oanVfi'firri ?uh. t year can hiive the use
of this collection ofhooka. The.ro mv» now 5,563 members, bur the
average numiwi oi books taken daily is 1cm than live hundred
Rut oi tor more value than any of the libraries mentioned are tJx
Apprentices' Library and the Bond Street Free Clrculn
Library and tte Ottandorfer branch of Second tvetrae.
Sni'iiiv of Mechanics and TiMde»uirii marie bho Apprentice*'
Library free to .ill two or three years ago, ami the result has lwei
most aatWaetory. The number of books now in the? library
over 70,000, and the daily average number of hooka taken oirj
6*90, ami Ib uonalantly on the Increase-
The I'Vrr Circulating Library or Boml Street has now been
operation nine 3 earn, and haa far exceeded the expectation ol h
founders, The l tttendorfer branch wua opened December 8. 181
and ite circulation has already exceeded that ol the Bond Stn
Library. The number of hookts contained in both libraries
about BtWOOi wluUe the dally average circulation lb 6M.
libraries are open eveninge ai well ai Sundays, ITie whole ni
her oi books ffTven in one year waa _- ii. 1 1ft
Ibna it will bo seen thai of the 1,400,000 hooka in the Ubraril
of thai city <aih nboni lijn.ooo arc ooceaaible to any and its
one. and the Now York leading citisena arc tak na tiii,-. seriourtj
to heart, What ii* the reason for this great lack «>1 li
facilities in the largest dty of America? TIiuj question *
naked of librcrions, and the replies wore much the Annie.
thought it doe to toe close attention t<> business and conocqui
lurk oi' intercut in such matter*. Others rlmutfhl the re-
lators were too buBy looking out for their awn interest* and n
#ested lack of faith in them by the luxpayors to entrust an »m
undertaking to men *.uno of whom eun hardly rend or write
city doee( howover, do flornothing' towards maintaining t!i.
i T-cu^itinif libraries in operation. A.-.-or-lniL.- in m liiii ...
the Legialaturo already referred :<>, uneli libraries enn draw (roni
the >-ity VI.ikhi foi the first circulation ol 75,OUU volume
fl/.OW additional tor each \»*),uw ^\cwv.vu^ d3c«M« 0
ind
l'l lll,l< MIUUItlKJi IN AMKIMOA AMI IAN-APA.
40?
Private bciicvnlriav is (faring much to supply Ihr drfirirory.
Mr. (feorge Vauderbilt., a young unci bachelor scion of the
wealthy America u family of ihut name, im a hard student, with
i fondness for rare pictures and old books. He* is able to gratify
hi* tanles tti mix extent. lie is generous to u fault. Not long
rj<i ;i Mend pointed mil bo bin Hud a certain poor district in
Nov Vin'k wanted a Public Libr;ii\ ami readmiT-noiii. and
(rented it badly. Mr. Vnnderbilt supplied tbc need without
wasting for ■ o-operution at a cost to himself of £fiG.uOO. No
inducement could persuade him to be present an bhe opening
<l:i\. As in- explained to (he ooxoxDJttoo who waited upon him,
in- " would i.il!ir. lu- tliruAhcd then listen to the speaker so* iim
kind Khinn abort Mm." A Miss Brace has given d library In
memory of her father, A Children* Library Asm ■• Lit i< -i lias
been Formed in New York for the purpose of supplying children
with a; i healthy books; a room in which to read, una means of
showing them how to road, hundle. and select hooks. The
trustees of the Now York riot* Librury have voted tu give the
awociutton Qui uee of the (bird floor of their new building
It is UiHtriK-tive that many of the Public Libraries dependent
entirely upon subscriptions tor support are languishing. This
is tin- eaee with the one at Hrooklyn, just ueross the Kust Uiver
From New York. The cfreolntion ol books in 1888 was UM|6B7|
or i,iu less than staring the preceding year, The diminution
doon iioi srein in )..(■ regarded as d i.^rouraging, but certainly in
tin- iM'r:il and growing oily the liynron should bo larger and
constantly increasing. Tin? "Sunday attendance at the renriinn;-
reem Shown a slight gain, the average being B6\ It El not
riit«:ix:iiit to know that the directors have rented a part "i the
■UtUliily !"ol' CMiniiirrciril purposes. EVOTI if its tol'luer occupation
wns a matter ol convenience mther than of necessity, nnd
although the managers were warranted in availing thernaeivca of
the rental tu eke out their alender resources, r Le a pity thai
any parr ol tlio structure should iw inverted from its Intended
uses, and the fact that an Pklng-oiit prooeil hafl to be resorted to
In not creditable to Brooklyn. H seems uncomfortably clear
lion . after all Hiese years, flie library i* still a straggling Inst!*
tutlon. Tha president says ii needs « large endowment to put ii
"on a purely benevoleni basis.* The Income from Its fund i*
about t'1,200. This i> scarcely enough for Bho service of it;'
8;000 patron*, says the president. In a city of -TO.oOO fnhal i
Wilts the collection of 100.072 volumes should be brought within
the reed of mure than one person in 200.
The first attempt a! a founding of a libr&o "' ;< public
character in Philadelphia was made b> ;i small ssmcutioD,
••iiinpoAed of Benjamin Franklin and his fi Lends, who railed it the
J it ni". Thi* society, out of which areir.ln aftevveaxs, the Library
Coittp uaj i.i Philadelphia and Wis American Philosophical Bodetyi
was established about 1727, when the tutu* philoeophor was
twnil y-uln- or twcu'.v-tvo \cnr.*i*ld, It was a dehvvUwv. -v.vKftSq
to a certain degree, mii.Mimch as ft« tt>&toa vasnstaaft
■ton
n Bl U i run M»HM
faoludod tint in i»- ' i commanic4tiona npoa curroni object*
of interest unoug the people, witli oonvereation, remark* And
expression <>r opinta teroon In the Douree of it* proceeding*
the an mi el-, ol the fnnto found that it was necoseary to have &
mmill lit imi'v. I v r>i*» use of which they might add to the force
of their arjntmentB, umi open up more completely wh :!<■■■■■
points "i iinwert, connected with the subject under dieeufieion,
WeTC Impe lOl Mv l:no\\-i, tO 1 n - ■ : i » .
r.'.nks wore brought to 'In- Hurting room. Fbfl en
followed by agreement to aatahliah a library at their pi*
meeting For their owe sonvenience The library remained there
far ftboui ;i year, when, in oonseciuenee of *ome of I
having been injured, the individual owners becan > diss > rushed
und took then away. Una action destroyed the value of lbs
eol action, but the oircumntoaee induced Krunklin and sou
his iMin]»;itiii)iix to enter into s much larger experiment, the
establishment of a genera] library for use by all who might be
losed m trail themsclw*. ut tin- nh:tiit:iL;r- of pariicip
in such ;i Reheme. Before that time, most of the large littrai iei
in Europe \yy< only used fop .•onsiiltntion, the books to be
examined only bi the library halls and not bo be taken away.
The Franklin plan wiw to diffuse knowledge and t<
tin* members of the company tagnfchpr, not. only for th* seen*
muUtuwi of hooka but to rntttct; tlictu practically twefn
allowing HulMertbera to lake them to their own homes, the
be read1 ui their lefaure. There arc now a number of Public
I.il'iMviPh in Philadelphia, ind including libraries of i
description Pennsylvania iiaui 4*¥3 libraries with a gross total
ol i. :""-." .098 relumes.
Tin- Oonareaaionnl Library at Washington, now in course of
. w ;n in i he ' i ntiouai lii i vwt"> in ;m\ c >untry when
completed. The founduUou* alone have cosi t'100,000,
las 'i Liscuaslan about I accost of the entire building being like!}
to reach over two-and-o-quartor million* sterling. The plaua were
adopted in 1886, and the completed structure will affix
< ;ij . .rity for eight to ten million volume*, The principal feature
of the Dufldlug the heart, so to *peak, around which ererything
centres — is the reading-room, fn shape it is octagoneX and the
atei is LOO hot, which is tour feet larger than the rol
ol lb' ("'npitnl, From Uo»n- i-. dome the tneaourcment in 90
It is Egftfcod froo eight large se-mi-circular windowo.
8c* !-■'-■; 'm diameter, located above the reofa ol the book re»
Sositorie*. adjacent to the reading-room, some ISO feet fron
oor. In addition to the Hood of daylight thus admit
will be a lantern light, 30 feet in diameter, eet in th<
the roof < I" the roRAling-room ol t<h< National Library ia Eferis
there \b mo aware i >©i ol llghi to i-- cubic reel at apace,
and In the British Museum one foot »i Ughl has to do duty fat
101 cubic I oi c "'. Thus the reading-room ol
rkmal Library will be bclVet \\-0\\"A vYwxi i^thee u.
oemtva oi fcbe i i an (loot *w v>« .>.-uV— ■■
I
vithi.ic Linn-iRffiA in amkrica ajti> CAN40A.
-10ft
enclosure ol catalogue countetB, m the central portion of which
will he the deak "l' the librarian in eharge. Radiating from the
centre there will l>c sixteen reading tables, each H'2 feet long,
and faehioucd after those in use in the British Museum. The
btftblfta have a partition on them, running lengthwise, so that
roadmen one Bidfl do not distort) those who art taring thorn at
the Aamc table. The sixteen tables will accommodate JV50
readers. In the eight screened recesses uroimd the room there
ttM located sixteen book alcoves, two storcye high, in whieh
will be kept such books 09 are iii Ti*' |in it linn,
The Chicago Public Library hae n u i i-rcmont tor the con-
venience of citiaenN living at remote distances from the main
fil.ertiiin, i-v whirb «tatioM have I d aatabliahed Book ante
can be left :ii these stations, and ore collected by the Library
"ugor«. who afterwards leave the bocks kob4 called tor by
those who have ordered them. Thi* plans Lppeajl to work well.
The !vv»k rooms are on the fmrth -tor.>y of tin- C il y Hull, but
jr ik hoped that a permanent home tor the collection will
i. II miMt -\ he found r I ii mi'Ihii'm I'.uk
Tins movement has not vet taken deep root bi Canada. There
trea 'onaidcrubta number of smull libraries attached to meGhnnleV
:.-.-; r i tr --k , wen! tered throiigliow | Mo dominion, Met :il im' pivteni
time there are onli some sTa flFVae) Puhllo Libraries in ell < lanads
The province of (jntarfn displays r.he mosi v deapread hiii-n-at. in
educational matters, and the province ol Quebec is decidedly In
the pear. In the whole of tin's latter province there ia no so-csutad
Public Library, although in Montnul there are one or I wo
libraries open tree to Tlie public. Whether the French arid
Etonian Cauiolfc Influence has kept back the progress of education
■ i the province of Quebec nmy gas tnattei of opinion: but cm>
the proi a itc both in educational and commercial affair*, is
ntr Ewliind Ontario There are some seventy-eight mechanic*'
institutes in Ontario, aach with an average 1 1 2*67)0 volumes,
Hw oac Public Libra*? in tfce whole ol Canada] widen nfsr-
nhadows all libraries open to the public, la the Public Library o1
Toronto. with its fire branches. The work is in charge of Mr.
Jame-' Bain, inn., and it is in every way in good bands. It is
cl oering to Know iM.it after *ix year*' work ng the part year iu>>
bean one of marked progress. (.\jinmrnciiu* with the month ol
January, a steady and continuous increase 1ms token place in the
number of books circulate*.!, and of readers at the different
readfoje-roome. The number ■ >l book* i.**ncd in ]frt- wu>
:'7n,MIO; ii. 1880, 810,045, showing on increaae of 81,785, or about
1J per cent notion utands at 56*8 of tie issues. During the
paat session of the Provincial Parliament, an amendment
i uuli to the "Public Libraries1 Vet," empowering the boards of
m oi:i". i.ient Ol I'lihlj- L;l»i':.ii ■■ to ore.:uiiac and manair.' < v. i mil'
bib, mechanics and working men, in inch sul j
u miffhl promote a knowledge d the mechanical an&iooi2B
taring arte, btyreaoftitiou t\ the City Qeane^ Mtj ft,vsefv0we
I wans femeni was naked to u\W the aeejOBUK^ -VvV ™
no
I ■ I i.m.i; v ti -.
THB Pl'BIilC LIBRARIES OK Al'OTRALASIA. 411
catnMiMiing such eronillg clar^e*. and the Mini oi 1 KM »u.- jm.-m i!
as a special grunt for tin* purpoae. During the pafll year, 5,040
volumes have been added to the library, which now contains
67332 volumes.
The rate produces about £6,840, and to this there ia a grant
from the legislature of £40. The building is admirably adapted
lor ite WorE) and there is every prospect that it will soon experi-
i-ntT more extended and useful labours. The library of the
Umunion legislature in Ottawa in an exceedingly pnepOMHiog
building, octagonal in shape, with alcoves, and lighted from the
dome, toe effect ia very Htnking.
■
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES OF AUSTRALASIA.
£>Ull Colonies are decidedly forging ahead in the way of
Public Libraries, I»rs.s than three year.** afio the Chiei
Justice oi Victoria, in opening a Public Library at
Brighton, near Melbourne, mudc the statement that
in the colony of Victoria there was a Public Library
for one la every -I.KO0 of their population as against one for CVOTJ
277,000 in the United Kingdom. Whether the comparison iw a
fair mill oocnmtQ one need not he questioned, but certain it is
that in the mutter of fchoflo public iimtitutione our colonic* have
frrar-pi ■<! then vast importance, and arc determined that they will
raru ;i lesson from the old coimlryB Mhtirgy, 9o ftu? they have
HUOOOOdod iiduiir.iMc. and their PiaMu' Libraries are, without
almost :m exception, doing a worh of which the colonies thorn-
Holvo" may not alone Ik? proud, hut the old parent may look on
with admiration al tbe rapid .-hades which her strong and
vigorous offshoots are making in thta direction, Op to within ;»
comparatively recent date little was heard or known in this
country about the Public Libraries at the Antipodes. One
but that Ion atone had been heard much of, and that Che Melbourne
I'nhiji* Library Now, however, our information te more oon>
plate, and wr m Mux country aiv indebted for thai almost entirely
i" Mr. Clifford \\ Uoljiate, M \.. TiaiTist.-r, of Lincoln's Inn,
who, [n tin1 year 1884, vnnted VustraHa and took i special Interent
in M'l'ing for himself what the Public Libraries there were doing.
rhi' remits of hi* observations were pnWiahoii -n 1886, In two
pamphlets, one headed "An account of the Chief Libraries of
Australia and Tasmania," mid the other " An account of the Chief
Libraries of N«v Zealand." The library world ih t-luiH indebted
for the diBsemlnatfon of Information In ti la cue, as It Is In other
departmenta, i<> the enthutrfaein and wano tntareel in the subject
of .i private individual :md not to any government or association.
The present vrrttox hopes tofloon ■* ir-i r. the .\uatralaaian tibcartaa-
The Melbourne Public Library va* fc\im\eo. Va \wavwwV.-. a
nuin.-ii'r/i/c/if of ti\>' trustees, .and aided \»\ :\ rr\\\\\\ 0& KwJR^ *w
412
PI in.K LTDB LATR3.
building purponcK, ind LS,000 lor the purehsM of liooke. From
the date of opening in 1866 dowi to 1866 the work at I ilopod
i r.-niy, md to the latter year 11 became apparent that
tbc ibnUT, museum, and art gallery could no longer bo "5
mlniatnrcd by the original 6ve trustees, and an Aft of xheOT]
lion mi passed by which tho governrnenl of this inntitution vw
■ in . board of not lees than fifi<v>n "ni-.u-os In the ?urae
yew the Copyright Act of Victoria was passed, grant ino; to ttM
Libftry ^uiiifiir pm .i'.-Li'.-s to those hold by the British Mm rum
Library. The cn|. my ^hous it- democ ratic spint in library work
a* in other sections of it* life. No books ire allowed (a
removed from tin- rooxce. and as ;• suppiernentexj rule to this, all
books roust be returned to the shall from whence they were
taken by the reader. Tlui plan itrai considerable labour to
ihe atte&dflDtBj but it is not clear that from a librarian's point of
view II works well. Tin- public hftW 90068* tO every work in Hie
iiii:n\ with the exception of certain valuable ynaniiAmpt* and
work-sot art kept In rim librarian's room, and a certs n portion
of the gallery oevoted to medical vorka. Die library contained
in 1888 114,868 volumes and 115,871 pamphlets and parte. It was
\iMlr<! during thai. yc:ir by -IOo,;ttm piT-.utiM. nearly double the
number of chose who n«cil the Ifhran in IBffif, From the
vr.ir lust named the electric Hghl bus been in operation with
mttiwiuctkni to all concerned. The system of landing hook* to
ttuimLrv libraries has In arrled mil with imuli rocoem hi
1888 the number of Country libraries nroivinir loam- wax llilrry-
seven i ad the aim bw of volumes lenl wan 0,150, Hie library
hns for ihiM department 126 cases of books, and from one to sis
nt a time arc lest to Lhc provincial libraries in the colonj
of all charge t'> them except the cartage to and from it:
stations; Ow loan can be renewed at the end of th< twelvemonth*,
iir nlhei cj.sc> ] i.iy he -i -nt M Ihe option nt' I lie I mi rn\vri>, Karh
■ ii.ii- 8ft} rolutnea, and. the case Itself Is fitted up with
shfllveft, ku that the local institutions are M-ni al tin same time
the books and the necessary shelves for them. The truetei
boo library insure at their own expense the whole oi thi lending
i.i.i;li\ books, and the borrowers enter Into & bond to replace
any books damaged or to pay for any lass. A
catalogue luw been completed and is now in use as the
lurge printed alphabetical catalogue of authors. This hat
compiled by Mr. T. V Bride, LL.I)., the librarian. A now wing
bo <i\ recently been added to the building.
No fewer thon'Sl I Public Libraries, athcnavimib, ami in celts
institutes furnished -itfttistics to the (lovernment etnt:
your Iss7, iliowing thai their total receipts wi
which the Yieiorinn Government contributed £1 1J80S, The
number of volume* n the libraries ■■! ihe mstitntli
n».f..> -.':ii >l,7i'0, and the estimated number ol rtaltatO
them $j/B7QfiOO. It aeems, however, se ami pram*
mfointhiit as well os other ttn\ur>. *ovw*
ntr. rrnuc i.rmidniES nr acstk m.ahu
119
were made in baa party port of 1868* when theChiel Bocratais
hud liis attention direoteo to the laxity prevailing amomrst com-
mittOOB uT rujiuageracnt of Public Libraries thrniu/houl thfi eolony
in the expenditure of tho annual grant ol £7,000 PObed by
Parliament for the parchnBO of now books. According to Mir.
facte (hsclosed cloee inquiry is needed into tho management of
the PabUO Libraries established in many of the principal towns
throughout the colony. Five oases are quoted a> samples ol (he
real . md certainly there is need for inquiry. In ono easo a euin
<<t t^Ofi was available for the purchase of new hooks, and yet tin-
number of books was left* by ninety-three m lss7 tluui in
the previous year In the next instance there i* neither Increase
nor decrease in the number ot books, but tho secretary slate* that
only £'12 of the amount contributed hy the Government had been
available Cbf the purchase of hooks aiv periodieiiis, tho rot
Imvinif hrr-ri absorbed in working 8XM&86S, la another ease the
increase in the hooks, after presumably spending the Gaverntoenl
grant, was nine. Later on we have a decrease of IK; after
spending itovcniment money. \nd so it la clear that some
system ik required wherohy the authorities shall satisfy them*
selves that the grant la expended tor the purpose for wlaeb ir i-.
UltOOCted A little iirt-rssiirv lUpOTVislon would h:i ir *;iwd all
these disclosures
The Palme Libraries of South Australia are developing. The
nuniber of Public Libraries, athcna-Huis. and mechanics' i a chutes,
which made return* for the yeiir )r*w*. wan 1 :i-J . These showed
a total number of hooka of tlftv4W with a grogs circulation ot
300,990". On June 3t>, 1889, the Adelaide Public Library contafna I
20,flC3 volumes and parts, and had had 63,899 rinttora for tho
half year then ended.
In the offloial reporl for I688aregrel is expressed that an Acl
hu> not yi't hfti! juis-.'.t (.. .uiIIpmmzc and i'i»ulatc the t nui.M'cr Of
institutes ti '.'iii i mi it i* ji> or district councils, f>vcr .i pa I
foolacai>--!/e papered tins Government report ia occupied!)) i
detailed Hal of the cost for the year >>| every riewapoper and
pcrJodleaJ taken for the BowBroom of the library, Tl
very comprehensive, and embraces many periodieaM which would
not usually be found on the tablets of the newsrooms of English
Public Libraries, All the letters of the alphabet are absorbed En
the cataloguhijr, as will bo soon from the table below, hut the
advantages of such a discursive method are not by any meunfl
patent. Tho divisions are: —
i, AJtriculturOj Botany, &&
k. Hutory, ' llironology, \<-.
i. Basra] \it - technology, &c.
m. Fine Arts, im hiding Rioto-
■Ti:.b\
n. Uoral and Mental PMloso-
]ihv, Bibles, &C.
u, rutii ovudjKWiftfc«KWMa^ft tsfi
v. Poetry nvS Ocw Crrasofc.
A
BncTolopeedias, Directories,
Cataloguae, be,
k. Uaihemacics, Physics, &e.
a ESdaaation and Pnilology.
D. Medical Societies' Reports,
h. Topography. Trawls, &e
f, Physiology, 7.0 •\<-<j\ , &i
i HiOgT :j>b\
h i odogy, i feomutrj .
■m
1*1 liMi 1 ini; \l If
« , State. Papers, English and
Colonial.
v Societies, ProcoedicgB rind
Ueport*) of
y. Newspapers, Bound,
z. Patent BpodfloAl i
in«H-i*s thereto.
Q> Anri.rt Clnrwir*, including
translations
n, Goners] Literature.
h. I-'. h'cilth Lftornturo, Modem.
. Bxhlbitn \.- .
v. Rolls Publications.
v. Magna no Literature.
'I'll-- A.]-i:iT.i.' PabUc Library, the main Institution of its kind
m Smith Australia, is ft handsome structure. It is, in «•.*•*] n ■
with tho Mu.-oum and Art Gallery, modelled on the linen of the
British Museum. fhe referenee reading-room Is i". ■••••x
loot, and d magnaine room about tin > sums size, The room in
which the library fe placed te ISOfeel hy 40 feet The room si
well proportioned, ventilated, and Lighted, it has two aaUeviee^
The presses and ihelvev are of <U*itl and cediir. The public* nswo
uccckk to worv pari «\ the hhr:ir\ i-\i'io»t d the i- .p L'allcry,
where valuable Illustrated and other works sre kept
At the end of i**7 a Public Libraries' um was passed. This
BUI Instituted anew departure so far ns Sonth Hutralte is con-
cerned. From the Mill it seerns thni Public LilirnrfeR nun I b
established in n municipality or district council, eveept in
Adelaide, "and ror thai purpose tlw existing Institute within
siu'li municipality or district council and the real and pel
aatatenfsnen foatftute may be taken ovei by the corporatlaii 01
district council within which il in situate in the manner
subject ii» the conditions and rontrU:lioiiK hereinafter prtwcrlbcd "
Tin- proeesB i-. ;i uoniparalivelj simple out?, Ten ratepayers <.i
the municipality are to sign a requisition asking the mayor to
convene ;j meeting i<> decide whether a Public Library snail be
established in the muirietpality. Tin* mayor is tlicrcupun to i
meeting of ratepayers, stating; in his notice the object of tho
meeting, and whethei it is proposed to take orer any ex
Institute Tin* meeting may be adjourned, sad if •-» voti
i arrlod at the first or the adj turned meeting bj .1 majority o\
thirds of the rateiNi.vor> invent, the Governor may at any : in n-
thereafter by proclamation declare that a Public Library A ill •
established in tho municipality. No poll i* to be taken , but the
decision of the meeting; is to be final. When the Public Ltbi u y
U thuH instituted the locnl counoil ni*e to declare h MLlbi in
rntO* without appeal to the rutejsiyers, of not Ick« than one
penny and not more than one penny 01; tho ratable prop*
M ": 1 rii.- meeting, or any adjournment of it, it i» decided not to
( i:i!.Ih!i n Public Library, the question in not again to be
discussed i.<i a year :it b^t, unices a majority of thoee pn
decide " that tho mutt'*]' may ho a^ain brought forward and
sidered within that period. The foregoing provimonfl an
to apply to ili'.irirt eonneils. As we read the measure, anon
diatnot •-•-■men will hove power I tubtish only one Public
Library',
When tho Library In eatabYufofcd in accordance wit!
oodtirc a/reach described, 11 5 to\w caKaasjeA fcg teanafttoa* ot
THK I'nil.IC IJItRAKI)^ HF Al'6TTl,M-ABL\.
Jl;1
...
!fn, hull of whom are to be appointed by the corporation op
district council, and tlio other liulf to be" elected by the rtite-
poyers it i meeting assembled Eor I be ourposei At Least throe of
tii*' i-i'ifiiuitt.'" ure to he members of tin- council or oofporotion,
and all are to hold office fore yew, but will be eligible for re-
appointment or re-election, lhe committee will have tho power
Bo i mke rules and regulation* which, however, will have no force
until approved by the Minister of Kducatinn. 'I'll'* Library I§ to be
free i u every ratepiyoi in the municipalit) n it i- to be daoldad
to take over mi existing Institute notice of litis resolution is to bo
sent to the Minister of Kducation for his approval. He is then to
rtnd our if the members or the institute are willing to hand owt
i he property to the municipality, if he Is sal leflea that ihoy are
willie/, and believes the transfer will Tie generally liencficial, he in
■nily Ills Approval, and is to publish an order 'in the "Gazette "
to tbttt effect, Jind thereupon lhe uisidnle is to heroine the pro-
per l.v of lhe municipalit v.
Tin1 Sdmi'i Australian institute circulates amozui the provitteiul
Institutes certain books belonging to a separate and special
department of the Library. These ace sent out In boxes* ww>
taining about ihirt.v volumes each. There arc at present about
IQB i i L'h-sh book boxes, and twenty-three German book boxen
in circulation. The uihimtaurs offered to instiluUs which
become affiliated to the South Australian Institute ace; A
share of the annual Qovoramenl jrant, the loan of boxes of
books; power of subscribing as an institute to the South
trillion Institute ciroulatimc library ; aid in procuring and
ng for lectures; and a eopj ul the Uovcrnmcnl "Oaxotte,"
Vets "i" Parliament, and othitl official popena En order i<>
participate in toe grant bo the amount ol &W per annum, they
are compelled to keep their reading-room open free to the
publlo on Saturday* iVom | to 10 pjn.
\ very large quantity oj matter respecting the Public
Libraries of Now South Wojci has reached the author from
the \e;eni i ;.n.'i\il in London. In 1887 there were said to be
loo Pubiio Libraries, athanceume or mechanics' institutes in
the eoloin ol Nan South Wales, in the Government returns
to hand there is ao record of what tiw»e provincial ubrarisi are
doing. Tins is unfortunate, as the real criterion of library work
[tea quite as much in what jk being done by country town* and
villages »a in wimi provision is made in the large centres of
population, ii w satisfactory to know that nearly nil the pro.
riaeial towns iu the colony "i any importance have either ■
mechanics [rial tute or a sehool ol art with a library Of the
worR ol the Sydney Public Library there i* ample data.
The new buildings of the Public library in Bant Street have
11 opened since 18&I. They cost £16,000, and will nrcom-
modate 60,000 volnmes, and 900 extra readers \ new vending.
room Is i courae of construction, Hie new building Is Bhoura
in ihe accompanying sketch, L'nder date of DecewvViw v.,/.
i\ LV i ' U ill.er. the principal librarian, vrUSA toVStq \\v&\ ^ossi
I.innAKTBlL
v, ;•.• ;ti I llSl tiniC ii. U inui-i i-r ':((■■ l.'i.i,\in^ ill.' ^'rfflter
portion of their collection from the wing in Boat Street in
new library in Macjunrie Street, ri c rora >val and n \
over 80,000 voliiiiH'K required much i are a i I attention
The Public Library wiw established uu October I,
wii.Mi thfl building md books <>i the Austrs i ■ crip
tion Library wore purchased by the Uovernment The h
thus acquired formed the nucleus of the prcienl library, Tbs
number ol volumes originally purchased wns ahoul
and on December 31, I88H, they hud increased l
(noludisg those in the tending branch, or lenl to countrj
libraries, the Lending branch was established ha 1879 o
meet n growing public want, and. under the, present
:*ti v iMSTBOfi may, on the recommendation *»r u i Lergyman,
M i'\i.\ pi bi ii i nra m .
magistrate, or other responsible person, obt un under
simple regulations, the loan of nnjrof the works on th
froe of charge. The scope of this institution was rarthi
tended by the introduction of a systei i by wh '
libraries and mechanics institutes may obtain on loan work
of ii select kind, which in many instances would U« too c
live for 1 1 i*_*i ii t'» purchase on account •>{' the (deaden tai
their disposal. Under tins system, boxes aro mad ■ up coni
from 60 to 100 book-, and forwarded t" the country
on application, to be returned or exchanged within I tor moatiw,
This system* although only initiated within the hut few
has already tnet with a large measure of success, h
of 1888. Hi boxes of l k- were forwarded to htl institutions,
soni'- oi r hi'iii at considerate ita&uwet Irotn the me
'
THK I'l I'.I.I L|Tll{AKn> HI-" AIMil'I.AM.V
417
the colony. The distance which these books were oaxried in
1888 amounted to IM.^t'w miles, Wuig on an average 416 miles
for each box, an enormous distance* partly accounted for by the
fact that some places to which Ixxiks are sent are most readily
iicoessibta through the other colonies. AH the charges in con-
nection with the despatch and return of hooks, insurance, &0.,
are defrayed by the State, and the system in vog"uo in New South
Wales fa the most Liberal of its kind in nxistenco.
The conditions upon which books in bcotffl, each containing lots uf
about (30 volumes, aie lent by the trustees of the Public Library, Sydney,
to librarioB in cmiutry districts of N«w South Wales, wo as follow ; —
1, Books will \k lout only to truste«a or cotutuRtuea of TuMic Libraries,
schools of arte, mechanics' institutes, or libraries of municipalities, that
may bo beyond the boundary of tho City of Sydnoy.
9. All books authorised to bo Lout under these conditions shall be
houud in good strong binding, plajwd hi boxos constructed of nearly
uniform mis, and uumberod from 1 upwards. Each box shall contain
about 60 vuhunea, according to its, catalogue, in which no alteration Din
be made
3. Printed caUloguo wliiw of tllo contents of each box, stating tho value
of each book, together with forms of application for loinn are supplied
4. Trustees or committee* of country librarua, fcc,, wishing to obtain
book* "ii loan, must make application in w filing, stating which particular
box of books they desira to borrow ; and thotr application must he ac.uoni-
tuniod by au undertaking in tho form approved by the trustees of tho
nblio Library, Sydney, in indemnify thorn against loss,
5. Borrowers in their applications mutt give • full description of the
library, room, or building in or from which it is nromwd to deposit or
lend the hooka, and uiust specify the time for whicu they desire lo fttsAn
the use of the books. They must also submit, for the approval of the
Trustee*, tho conditions or regulations under which it is proposed to lend
any hooka so obtained from the trustcee, who ronjrvo to thmiiuolvca the
right of refusing any application without assigning any reason therefor,
All works of notion uro excluded from t h«?«e boxes.
The popularity of the Public Library K Unity proved by tin
number or persons availing themsolvWof itH privileges. In 3870
there w.'iv o't.VHH visits, arid in I>-M>, i:t|,46i' visits. "In lshh H,L.
number stood at 110, J 25. The institution forms u separate
rispartmeiii and in under the control oi the Minister of i*nidi.
Instruction, its cost to tho Stnto was, during Ihhk, snlanrK
n.ififc'i, m.untenanre £&72, and books £3,683, making a total oi
£3,190. During 1888, both the reference and tending depart-
ments were open on Stim-byi The dally :m'i: ■;;.■ m vmn^
during Mu' fifty-two Sundays the refereooa deportment was Open
w:i- h| who lined :i rnt:il of 8,111 hooks. iViiudicnl and aerial
literature stood highest* the Issue being 1897. Natural philoso-
phy ranks next, the issue of which whs I .flirt. Tlv ivcim^c
number ol borrowers in the lending department on Sundays
Iv. i- .m iii tlse reference department all persons uver eighteen
years erf iga an allowed access to the snelres, -and may, iaVa
ant anynnmneroC works, but) when dons Vvrtv ftrej n*w Vow
tie
I'l'BUC LIBBAAIBf.
tli--ii) mii the library tiilil«*-. '■ l< put nwiw l-y 1 ho .itt.-n I
and bookc we not allowed (*■ be removed from the I u-l-i
i i : •-■: i i ■ nn:i bar ' i Public Libraries) &Ci in New Zealand
WhJd n::.ur iVti.m- \v:iT 'J03, Lllnl til- : i ! ._' number »f
volu lion among those wo* 292,108, riu'v baa a gross rmnal
l'V;" i subscribers, En the roturntrabliahed.cn tho 31 rd
188ft, the number of tibrariec whioh received grants woe
i i -■ amount granted was about € i,<xvj. and the amount
was based on the income ot the individual institution, rli<<
Income being derived from rates, aabaeriptioiui, donation*, nol
proceeds ot lecture?, entertainments, &c Some new rogulu
with regard to these grants were made in 1888 It a ns ih.ii
(.t Mie fust £8,000 rote, granted In aid 'if country librarfe
;i goodly proportion of it was expended "i the purchase of oi
Instead oi reference world on atrrictdtura] subject*. Comp
was made that the bookfl cost the country libraries more
would have been the oast*, had thev been purchased :tt In -ml-
quarter*, and made grants of boots Instead of money. For
these reuons, tbe Parliament refused to vote the grant, but it
1m hoped thai when some new plan baa been devised, I
amaH subsidies wil] be again established.
It ib noteworbbv that in the eoionv of New Zealand] there
are I'ublir Libraries Cor the schoolchildren In connection "itti
the System of education administered by the Education Depart
meal ■
Tin- jrrcat library event in Niw inland during recent w
was the- opening of the Public Library at Auckland, is March
. and tbe deposit in it of the valuable collection of Sir
George Grey, K.C.B. In 1678, the committee of the Aucl
Ni aanlea* Institute petitioned the i <rnri.il Assembly, urging the
absolute neceeeiiy for the <'M.iUi.tiiiun.t nf a Pull t- i ii»rnw -
B i oi ad of sdocation and of preserving the statu* of fchep<-"i>l
The petitioners were referred to the Public Libraries' Aj
a means by which the desired object might be obtained, The*c
Acts are permissive as with un in Knarlond. and In 1881
were i I >t *C^ *uid Jd. in the pound was levied to support the library.
I leu i Lorablo additions hove been made to tho books Rince then.
The fs'itt of Sir George Grey of art and literary i wp»
n very valuable one. particularly in oarl,> South Son
The number of volumos presented by thif- veteran colonial
.,!< i mi was between y,(XXJ, and 9,000, but the mere nnn
iiiMilhi iontly deacribes what has been given. One who
■■■" i I hem says that no description could make intcIUgibl
nice beauty and value to bookmen of some of the '
i Ik. One of thorn date* from the ninth century, and m
oHi.M's are of great antiquity. In addition t" hooka and n
scrip ta there is a collection oi native carving* ni wood from
tin; South Sea Islands, and otherw by the iativo* "t
Zealand The gift which is known un the "Sir (ienrgo
4 ''•Jinn," was given during* the lifetime of tin
CoiaaSst, Hfl thus set an e*OT\veA»* -«i\v\eVi wttl y be
THB PrBI.TC 1.TRRA1HK* OF Al -miAIAHTA
410
hoped, lie followed by other COlOHlSta. Auckland is thus
determined not to be behind Melbourne and Sydney in its
Public Library, and it linn already established a position of
sound educational value, and created a real taste for reading
and study which no schools could pver have done, li h vis tea
dully hy from ttoo tu 700 people, and on Sunday afternoon* bj
about half this nun i
The cost of Die building including the approaches was fc^'4,375,
and fox fitting** *md fcrttnura abotti £3,000 was spent.
Some of tlit canditiana of the lending branch uf the Public
Library are a little singular. The Hum of 6s. per annum nufi
to be paid for use of books, and 0*. deposit for safety of boob
<n n^aicst damage, except in case of valuable hook*, when
the price uf the !<<k has to be deposited. Anions the further
conditions are that books kept over ten days, exdwnng the
day of issue, render the borrower liable to a tine of 6d. pet
day; n<> pOEBOO under lourtccii ycora of ugc will be eligible
to borrow books, except by the librarian's permission ; borrowers
leaving the district are to got their t i. kd i i aneelled. or they will
be held responsible for nny book* taken out in their names $
book? cannot be axohangad <>n the day of issue, neither can
honkb be re-entered on tin- day of return.
In Queensland it docn not appeal that a* yet there ore any
Public Libraries, but there is u school of art in uliuoBt every
town ;iud vlla^e, ■■ mulcting of a library and readier-room, and
the nucleus of a muNOiim, which are nil much frequented by the
inhnhitnuib of the respective towub. Nearly all of these institu-
tions are aided by grants from the Government. The grots
number of these u uxrat fifty-seven, showing an aggregate <t
si.i-':: books and '<,'-'\~ BUDSanberai Dm capital city of Hnsbane
has not S Public Library, but :t ha* at laM l.tcou determined to
build one.
In Tasmania, in lw-7. thirty-three I'uhlie Libraries made
ret unit showing an aggregate of tEo/XNJ volumes. The trustees
oi Hi*. Faamanian PuoUo (Jbrary, m frobart, have long bad under
consideration the want of h elasaitlec! index or catalogue Of the
10,000 volumes contained in the Rational Libniry of Tasmania.
BcQSfl month* SgO H DOfnniitlce wa< appointed to roiiKidcr tn.*
question, (o decide on the heat form for a catalogue which Should
be a complete guide to the general reader, and to the special
student, and to saperinteix] Ue compilation. The committee, in
conjunct-Mill with the librarian, have carefully considered and
compared sonic of the beat modem library catalogues, and have
deohled an the compilation of an entirely new catalogue on what
is known as the " dK'.tionni v " piiiieipic. The nen catalogue will
couiprJee hi one alphabet; (I) author's name, with tub title "i
work; (2) short title of work under one or mow le&diuc words;
(Jt) bats of bookfl on special subjects under subject beadii :: ■. i o ..
TaMuanian mineralogj Bna tan history. The I setees and mt
librarian are to be jongratu>.ted m laLvmg undertake Va^s^^vs
■icli w dnt, and on the chon » n\ a . frivm \sn \.\\evc cifctNfiflS^
m
rrni.10 ijd&^jubs.
which i* well up to thr must tppivivcd modern m-»l-
I'liMi.- 1.iIm-;U'V Ol T:i.slli,illi;i w;i : ,,i:ii'h-<l "» 109 prCSCIlt f(M
1870. " U for referenco only. lnlwrj aponnyrotewa* ini|
in behalf of the Library, but subsequently this was alter
has since been maintained by the Municipal Conncil out r.f the
rate*.
CHAPTER XXVn.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES ANDTKCHNICAL KDUCATION
rfjl^K appear, aa a nation, to be taking giant atrfdaa to
vf[\ overtelw 'in- arrears to our national edocatfcm
j/y in no respect* in thin more patent than m the
|Wa* universal jpirll uf Inquiry Into tlie relation b*w
Public Libraries and technical Instruction. The
I Missing uf II"' Ministerial Bill al the fag end of the session of
[flfl9 flfurtratefl thlfl rerj) forcibly.
Tliis Bill for i In: promotion of technical Instruction is a BUgtittf
aider measure than that of the prerioua year, providing
doe** fur intuiiuil <■< in< .Ut*Mi as well as merely theoretical instruction,
I'Ik powers given by the Bill will be exercised chieflj
Board* and such local autlmntn - <- , ie empowered to carry nut
the Publii libraries' Art*. Library and miiRemn n.iiiiuiiiiv
ore long J»yo to take ttp the quc«ti"-n of technical •■
And as these bodies already have the management of educa
institutions Chore i* little <!<>nbt rhni the carrying out of a vheme
or technical inatruotion falls most suitably in the hands • •[ tl
eo -iiiiiitteee. The Bill lays it down that the rate for the pin i
of technical instruction, whether it be levied by the Schol -I 1 1
or by any other local authority, must not exceed a specified
No one will oomptoin thai this jmmiuit i* unreaaooabtoi in vie*
ol the recoffniaoa necessity for this kind of legislation Th&
comment have by no mount acted in advance of i>oj ■
fooling.
It is to be hoped that the permianive character of tha raoc
will not mihtftto against its effoetivones--. The land ty
baa by Ha ruinous effects upon the prosperity of the country
districts, Donatantly driven into the already congested labonr
market a quantity of unskilled la hour This ha* had the do
affect ol reducing wage* and depreciating the - f ;<r:. >:, ni of work
done. The foreign workman has thus seen his opportunity, and
the oxwnpatltion ol foreign goods IxworaeH keener and kV<
Technical instruction will do much In the way of gaining I
for Ul the ground we have lost much mure than would Utf
cirryingout of the suggestions of Protectionists and tai
The children will not be taught the practice ol an]
trade They will he instructed fn the principles ■
art anpUcurjle to Industries, and in the application "i special'
bnmenea of science and an u> specific indiiHtrfes, They will
approach the lictual UanflVvng ox too\s «\v\\ wv XtAaX^jroee *
PITtl.U TinnAJtm AKI> TRrrRNIC*!. RT.irfATloV
421
■
without tho preliminary training, they could not be expected bo
NbtwiThstanrluu/ the endless variety of snjierior apparatus for
BQhool purposes now i'> tha market, our National school* have
very lifct.le to attract attention, excite interest, or train the
otw-ervuticm of the pupils. Maps and diagrams da duty until
they full off the walls from Eke effects of mime* and damp. How
seldom do we see » good map on the walls, The Ordnance and
( li'uluy ii';il Survevs have published valuable ftaj)8 a! Ihc public
expense. Jt surely would JKit be boo much to supply every national
school with the maps of its own locality, thai the children may
learn (he physical geography around their own homes, and bhfl
geography of their own country, and (hereby the practical value
of mope in general. The totw aoeence of suggentive object*,
natural or manufactured, is a must radical defect in our elementary
schools, for without them oar youths are brought up incapable
of appreciating Lho phenomena of the natural world, and fin
complete ignorance of the industrial world or ite requircmente,
mid consequently knnw nothing of the various channel* into
which their own labour might In realtor be practically directed.
BonoOi when i( i- tflOC for ladfl to leave school, both they and
(heir parents uro ton often utterly at a loss to know what the
lad lr- to lie put to, of for what he ie tit. He has been taught to
work hard to get result foofl Ear] is toucher, and he is glad to be
relieved from tliie labour.
When we consider that thi* little country of outb— these small
inlands annually export -'30 million pounds* worth of manOXAQ-
tnred goods chioily, wo must feel, looking back upon the last
half century, that we have a glorious past, and when we conndor
the marvellous rapidity of our trade and commerce, it must make
us feel K<'uo.'\vh:iT jealoOBj and nervous, perhaps, lest, by any
means, or by negligence on our part, we should allow Uiis grand
result to tall away from ou reives. We hear a great deal about
f 'ontinental competition, and that the tiermans in particular ore
running us quite out of the market, and it raukes us somewhat
alarmed lew we are allowing our trade and commerce to suffer
through any fault on our part. The Commissions appointed to
inquire Into tins matter, have almost invariably recorded that
our education is very much lacking, especially technical education,
Which [fl almost in (ta infancy IS this country U'li-r the child has
attended theelementary senoola&nd h Jusi beginning to total and
to use his brains, and to reason, he should be Introduced to some
.sort of application whereby he can bring the thoughts In his mind
into substance, and especially in the form of producing some
article. There is another consideration, and that is, thai Hie
child should be able to follow his pruelivit ie.s for certain handi-
crafts.
There is now a universal recognition of the fact that we alt
far behind the century iu this matter of technical instruction. To
"!. ace at one district only, one of the director* of South K*?wwsiy&ot*,
w at a technical school in Milan *500 invu fcuA ^twICwb A ^»
423
lU'BU"' LIHRARrRS.
ii-;ui,.ii_ masons, painterst, sno1 joiners— ail of them vrorlrifig
drawing and modaUing things which wereoi practical nse in Ebt
tradM which they might follow. Ana what wu * stni mor<
utonfahtng faot in thai particular school— there wans bondroda
waiting for Admission whenever there was a raeanoy. Ibis >
only one of many wiri \ ideuces which <■ mid in- eired.
As imli .alive of the icntft interest whirh librarian* are taking
ta this subject, Mr. Alfred Lancaster, the librarian of the St. !M,-u\
Public Library, read a paper on tliiaeubjeei before tlae Ij
Is&uoiatlun last year. Tn the course of hfa paper, lie said Unit
"the Public l. it'i i , can be cade subservient to and help
yrr.it liiciMiiv, Indirectly, the cause of technical matructfon, \\.
;ill know HOW desirable i' is U< bine mi mm hbr.in -lu \\ I--. copies
of all the most impm-tum on I n»cfiil books ou (In* staple industries
of ilic district ::i which the Hlirary to placed, and a [inference to
the uuiniiri of times such works are Issnedwfll prorc ho* greatly
they iii' used. In St. Helen a the principal industries ni
ohemicole. ami metals; mining i* also carried on largely, it -
oar itim. therefore, to procure .ill the best books we can get which
treat oo those branches of industry. Librarian.'* might co-operate
with tonrhev.s of science unci art classes, and with mac
managers unci foremen of works with a view to obtaining for the
Library the beet and moat serviceable books <>n ^rinififie subjects,
of which in many eases they have o personal knowledge, Too
much importance cannot bo attached to the desirability of having
In our Public Libraries a good supply of book* in all the 1
branches of literature: but we ought not to overlook the
that in St. Helen* nn<l similar mm iifa«-|-uriu<r oentWJBi where a
large proportion of the persons who use the library belongs
working class, and where some of the occupations folio*
a routine kind, not necessarily requiring much skill, it may be
expected that the demand tor light reading will be rather I
It is wy gratifying t > > dee decorators, designer**, an
visiting our reference departments, :iiel looking over li
work* in order to get new ideas to help them n then? work
1 am always pleased to Me such making use ot the library, and tt
I new work on decoration or ornamental an Is ad< i
library they are delighted to lie informed, and lose do Un
looking over it.'*
The part which trade journals are taking in this moatimpo:"
i . on ' onnof be over-estimated, Thp author is ;i member
firm who own the largest number of monthly nvi i leal journal*
and Is well aware how largely trade journals generally have n
to disseminate Technical knowledge among the workmen.
than this fane truth has been forced home again and mm In upon
employers that if we are, as a manufacturing nal italam
our ground, beehnicj I Instruction and skill win require to
verv Braj place b our attention.
The bill widen has now become law (see Appendices) le far I
being all that could be detarcd,aud<Uu!erH materially from tliat
previously brought forwarA "by Si* \\eiur* 'ftofc«ws,>\.V.1W,. H U
IMM!.;r UBKAIUUS ANH I M H.NICA I. K1H I'.Vt I' IN.
423
a good Iieginniug. This may l>e said even when its ohUfKp
phrases ami frightful phniwology arc tnkcu int-u consider*
Eton,
Aiming the communities where tecluuc-al Instruction i* now re-
ceiving pi at'liral attention are Livri pOolj M:oiclieMi-i', Xol f tiinOiiilii ,
Leeds, Birmingham, Southampton, Dundee, Watnfngton, Bootle,
and Wolverhampton. These are not all under the new Act. It
would seem that the Act has boon already adopted by t&v
M;i1(].hIimi<' Town Council, which haw voted a small BUM W 1 1 : * -
School of Aim ; I y the Wrexham Town Council, which ha* decided
to levy $d. tote in support of the art classes; and Ivy the Bolton
Town Council in aid of the new Technical .School. The Coventry
City Council has api>ointod o eommiti< < mi. in- Che Art (,» manfl^t
the Tcehnicnl Institute, and, if successful, a rate will be levied in
aid of annual expenses. .Many other food authorities are also
taking notion. Tflfl BfttD lb BStor School Board has appointed u
committer on tin- BUftlJeOt, and ft iio'i'tin^, mnugurnt«"*d by the
Technical School, has been held of influents*) persons interested
in the movement, who have resolved to present u memorial to the
City Council embodying a scheme for the distribution of any id"
that may he rained, Tin.' Brmlfi nl Technical College ha* ippl» «1
for a grant of Cl,ftOO from the Bradford Town Council 19m
Liverpool School Hoard has recommended that the City Council
should bo requested to use their powers. The Association for
Technical Education In Liverpool has held a conference with the
School Bunrri, ami various lueai hodies him* nl>;n been moving in
thfl matter. The Salford School Board has B BCflMVtf ftw carrying
out the Act. The Birmingham City Council has reserved b
memorial from the Midland Institute asking for aid, and h k
appointed i oommtttee to consider the subjeeb the Oswestry
School Board baa requested the Town Gonad] to oonffer as to the
hexl menus of adopting the Art, and the Town Council DBfl agreed
to the conference. At New, Mills a joint meeting of the Solum!
Board and Local Board expressed Itself tn favour of adopting the
Ac; ami enlarging the Board Schools for that purpose, The Look
<'oii!ii)i,s>i"'i •: - Rra takfiu proliminarvatopfl towards adopting the
Art. Tlie NcwcasiU'-im-Tvii-' School Board called a conference,
which decided u> approach ihe Cltj Coimcil with the vleil d
adopting tlie Act. Tlie Oxford School Board has appoint
committer to confer with the science and art hdinols on the
I subject. Application in being made to the Hastings Town
Ootxnml by the School of Science and Art. The Leeds Association
has held a conference, and has appointed a committee to consider
the beat means of adopting- the Act, >ura« bai also been
followed by Several County CoiincilH, mich n>" the Wr:«l itul Voftfa
o Council* and others. The lubjacl oi the Act has also been
conalaered by the School Boards nt Stafford, Ipswich, Warwick,
SwoOGCOi Feutiniog, and elsewhere, ami has been brought before
the Dublin Corporation, The Town Councils of Asmc^nftdw
l,\in'. Stiil'-vbrol-j.'. and dbflfioM are ->lsv \i\w\n^m\\w w*v\v*.
Tills list shows conclusively that the \e\. \s t\cfc %,<&&fe ** >Y"
i-Jl
(•inn. UBRjUtiHs.
snowed to !»' B dead letter MW Qttfcl rliim; t" BMOFe i* titat it
Shall !■!■ ,\. rkod in [''•' niokt afleatfve iinnner pn$*i!>;.
Tho .M:iiu'iir.'rr lahnrae, u p); I before the wn
(forking >ii ('"■ Technical uurtructton, hold in thai efty "».
N.H-..-I ibor 6, f*W>, may be outlined ;i* follows — * i n
the rtfiiMi'llt hoard schools f'oi H'icti.v itnl :iiT iimtrin Ii.
•stating tan rwiommsndfld tor mippart nni nf the local rat* under
Hit' Vet, unci with ,i view to their further development aeeo
ii< the requIrcmwitB < • f the ioaalil lea In which they are idtn ita, J
Thai till ui6 efficient schools "i science an I ar instnu Hon
rilv nOW in mvipl ill iihl 1'nnii llir Srinn-i' :nnl \v\ 1 ifpsirl inrnl
in- recommended for support out of the local rate in proportion i<
thr nature and amount of efficient tccfrnii a] d id manual Inntrue-
tlon supplied by these schools or institutions respectively, nod
willi ;i view in i heir further development luuler Hit- Act urn!
taring regard to On- requirement* »l the city. 3. Thai each of
such schools Kc piMiuoftted r-> *ultruit tu tin-, conference its own
■ui<.'t,rc-,ti'»m ii -, t.i tli, iiiiinuiit .oel n i>\ the ml d
Iroiii the local rate. I. Thai in framing the scheme t>< i<
submitted it shall bo shown that no undnc competition of *
i i;iny locality fa permitted, and that the instruction En the lowei
sdcn< o and ni't Knooli shall be contributory tu the hiehci iurl sod
tdcal ichoole. & Thai the amount of the rate to h<- levlod Id
thr Iret instance shall nor ozCOOd one halfpenny in the p<nmd.ond
hIuiII not be more than adequate to provide for efficient inetr i
i:i thOSOhoots now exiting Hiu-h aiumiut tn lie determined after
tin- school managers hare furninhcd the conference
requirements." At that conference Sir H. B. Rceooc, M.i
Mr, W* Mather, M.P., emphasised the fact that it woe felt trj those
win. took port in tin.' oonfbrenee thut It would enable the Local
Authority to arrive at a quick conclusion as to its duty it i . h. n..
were presented to them containing the practically unann
opinion of all those intereeted in the carrying out of "the Ai I
would prevent a great deal oJ discission in the Towi I 'ounedlyaad
probably a scheme so submitted would receive their aseent at
Mi.' whole question was the possibility oi School ■Board* taking
advantage of the a o( to constitute theniKelves secondary >■
tional authorities. Since he had something to do with tho
|iiiHiiigiii tlm*e uiueudmenU which brought the School Hoard in,
he i ij.-iii say that there was no don bfc on me part of theautl 1
to whom any question would nnnlly he submitted :is to the
pretation of the lot bo far as the position of the School Hoard waa
eoaodmed RHhertu sehnni FinnniH 'md iieen able to eajprvattl
aeience and art inKtniction only Ivy a norr of underhand
hut in the \rt n* \\ now stood the School Hoards were no Imwr
regarded simply aBBelf-constituted committees t.oean\\ ■
;uui art. instruction, but they were hontt Jide authoril
bostneu '' would be to carry on woondary education under the
in' a\ Moofl contained in the Act Kaeh looalitji inuat determtne
for itself the best way of bringing ttoe ^.ct into force, ror 1
r:-i fi ••/iiizpfl |ooa] Option as it* ftrnl vr\iu£\y\e . \\ ^vtVvsA *a»vv
TIBLIC |.nmAWK> ASW IKiHM( Ai. RDPOATIOW.
11*".
was not inclined to move, the ratepayer.*- could move 'or ' homseh (»k,
and if they prepared a definite scheme tho local :niihonty ffCUld
submit to* the will of their constituents and curry out the Aoi in
all its integrity tor tho benefit of the general community.
As one of the most recent evidences ol the spirit of emulation
in tins department which U making ittett felti fll« oaan ol
StOOkpOTt m&J be «iin!. Here a large, number of Industries arc
(Miiirtl on ranging from the making of jam to tho building of
boilers and engines.
The Stockport people have agreed among themselves that the
building, which was opener! by Mr John Lubbock, M.P., in
November, lft8tt, in llir most handsome building in their lm\n,
This admirable institution owes Us origin t-hh-iiy ,u a thrice
Haycr of Stockport, Joseph Leigh. Alderman. *.LI\. who, in
lHHfi, KUggefited that :i number of local gentlemen should nmsidor
the best lueuns of providing the industrial population of Stock-
port tun! tho oolghbourbooa with efficient luesne for obtaining
technical and art instruction. A joint committee was forraec,
a deputation from which visited the prindpo] technics] schools
in the kingdom iu order to ascertain how to best provide Tor the
Kpcri;il needs of Stockport. The Major further said that if the
Question were taken up heurtily, and jL'7,(HM» or i'8,000 raised its
an endowment fund, he and an unknown friend would contribute
n sum of money sufficient to erect the building. IajcoI patriotism
lies deeply embedded in the heart of Alderman Joseph Leigh,
and he ha* in many ways done what one would like bo see
other meOMSfoJ manufacturers doing, He has allowed bis
native town to participate in hie success in life. This handsome
building hoe a Frontage of 07 feet, and from front to back in I \r,
feet. It is the design of Mr, 0. Sedgcr, and is a simple treatment
of English Renaimanco. Internally the building is noticeable for
one thing in particular— adaptation to rexiuirements. The latcet
improvement are introduced, even to the door knobs.
The work oi the school is divided into two distinct departments
designed to meet the requirements of different eia«w. -4 students.
For those students who dan- a sufficient amount of time at their
disposal during the day the curriculum provided in tho department
of day classes will probably he found most advantageous, inasmuch
as the time devoted to each subject U generi ly greater thun
can be allowed in the evening alaMSa, Da the other hand the
department of evening classes will be found to provide efficient
training in the higher branches of knowledge for the numerous
class of student* whose daily occupations prevent their at rending
the day clauses. In The department of day clauses provision has
been made for instruction in the following branches '. — Art and
design, chemistry, dyeing, and mathematical and physical science.
In the department of evening dOBM* the following branches of
I science, technology, and art, and of literary and commercial know-
ledge, and domestic economy will be fully provided for: - Sbfinej —
Mathematical and physical science, chemistry end uwwCvwwv^,
aad natural M-fr/iee. 7«-//ho%i/- BvQ&taff tTHlAwa, w^v-ww A
f
:
4*i
IU'BM" LIURAftlK?.
anxrmocring, dyeing, blenching, and calico printings tort
huhutriM, and' hut nianufaeture. Art browing, pntatfi
ni'iii'-iltn^, and tleMjru;n>f. <''>inm*re$ «">' Literature CM
Ili.Ti l;il SOOffTtlph^ ttnd :i"Hlimcn.,l gram TU Hi' :in< ! rnni|M
shorthand and bookkeeping, md Kronen and Meronan.
Khjmhww — I iressmaking and millinery, art- neodlowork, and <
ing. Ale illustrates the thoroughly ooniprehenidvi icop nrfaicn
him lu'i'ii mappi-il nut, and It :- very V\tM:u\\ "i; i
ROQstudentN have joined thoditfToreni elaasesaou"1 of theniei
i distance. Thin k^iooI bids fair to take n first place m ion
tin- technical Dial button* of the country Stockport linn <-rer
been unong the most progresHlYe tovnn of die country, mid Lhi
eatabllBliraeat of this school prove* that in (lie inarch of teolmJi
buttroetton tin- town means to necupy n promii on1 |
lei has i> adopted for It* maintenance.
The schools ;i( KtUKlde^ uud Hudderaneld arc d< ing i xi i Ileal
work, ami ;ii 1 1 >■_•« 1 1 u -i ;i Universal Bptril uf Inquiry IS abroad
(lie bringing ;lil<i uin-i itlitm ul tin: flCM Vet 1'v fi:l tin* 1 icmI plsi
however, u to set Uie Publi Libraries Acta in force Bret, sod Hi
latter tube the outcome and curollan of tfw oldcj inert] u
tyjt
or
he
ileal
CHAPTER XWJli.
PUBLIC LIBRARY LECTURES AND SCIENCE AK
ART CLASSES.
O better index to the rapidly developing work of Public
Libraries could he l'<mn 1 than hi the cvei oarti nduig
number of these institution**, which arc ixiclod
part of their njjorations loctures and science >
elasseu. Future historians will have to rec ird thatei
ol the most notable evidences of tiatu rial progress in the el
yi ■■!- if the nineteenth century, ih the pruotlcj
the education of the |>eople,and fore-moid among theft
stand forth the instruction derived through and by rnto-sppporfc
Public Libraries. Far and wide w the love ol i- ■ I
but up in ;i 1'ixiinaratively recent date the uteres uf k1,
laid Up m l*uMie Lihrarii.'w, havu lo n eertuiu esJent 1'ieMl m. h-o
upon because readers with only the library catalogue to gm
them, have not had before them indications of any speeaBediti
of study, and ao have groped nlwmt hopelessly. To iln-
of Anger poets r<» direct readers ■<>■ to the heat and mom :,■
lines of reading, may be attributed to a very larg
preponderance of fiction over other clauses ol Itternturs ft
aa« much of the time lout in former yearn in being rapidly ov
elcen. and ws ipuear to be within measurable wsttuv
period whan no Public Library will be ■"! ridered lo hav<
plate record unless it has within it* ramifications ol work arta]
leeimv.s am!, in imm- w.\\ <<r 'mother, sc.fcnon and art ell
associated » ii i Iti el orta.
HlOAfl v\ o Imagine tnal the aVtenAvu^ ■■■ tnrj
J.HCTVBTW ASP BCIRNCK A^P AW OLAWU33.
1ST
lectures already in v»z\w have bMII dMG*n entirely Prom (he
working ttlaeaea should, il possible, doom nes frenoeelves to the
contrary by attending; one of them. AH classes hive been more
or less represented, and the attention given and evident interest
in thorn is sufficient pmof haw thoroughly they are appreoiati id,
From i li*t «ii' some of the rabjeeti given, it will l»e seen that
these are not of a class organized simply for the amusement of :i
scratch audience, but that solid information has been conveyed,
giving* Ed a largo number oi ntftanooB, i «iiroct incentive to fcae
perusal of special hook*.
This is one reason why it has hoen urged that in the planning
ol new Tm tidings for Public Library purposes, lecture halls
should ho looked upon ns a mvessary adjunct where space t&d
means will permit As a souroe <>f laeorae bj the letting of she
hall it is :i matter of considerable importance,
Townsman have very frequently been the lecturers, and in other
OBflBH paid professional lecturers. \* suggestive tO other
committees the lecture work at b few Public Libraries is
Indicated, bufl i<> direct attention bo everything which Is now
being done in tibia vrag would require much more space Hum
there is at disposal.
Among other lecture* il Liverpool, as part of their Tuhlic'
Libraiy work during the prat autumn, there may be mentioned
the following; -Rev. r>r. W, H. Dalllnger. T.L.n.. v U.S.. two
lecture*, ''The World of the Hiimtesl Ufe;"flar Robert Ball,
M A., LL.O., A*:ivnuii)cr liuyul of lielaud, t'oai' lectures, ' Stor*
ot the Heavens," " The Elements of Astronomy ■ (i), and
•' Experimental Mechanics;" Mr. YVni. Hewitt. BCienoC toften IE of
the Liverpool School ttonnl.t'our lectures on " The Principle* of
(jfoograp) \ ;" and Dr. W, Boyd Dawkins, Owens College! ilan-
chaster, two lectures, "Cave Hunting" sad "Eorij Man in
Britain."
The afafloneatov work In this department i* well to the front.
ii mm other subjects there may be named those try Mr. George
Rarwood on " Booka as Friends," who looked on I bs is friends
in six lights i tw thoy gave uk recreation, correction, instruction,
-t mi illation, oonaolaAoUj ami elevation. A loan got more recrea-
tion from books than anything1 cl*e, Ijocuuko thoy changed bffl
D in. I. Mr George Mllaer disoour&cd on " Ballad Literature." The
Rot. P. T. Forsyth had for hia subject "Popular Religious
Liter;!! lire.' nmi Mr Miarlow Howler lectured on "General
Heading for Busy .\ien." Professor W UktnS gave DJS Views otl
"Madera Fiction," and Mr. Sowertautta told a large audience
what went towards " I'lie Making of Heography." -Air. ('. VV*.
Sutton, thi'ehu'f librarian, has taken his place at ttte IsetuMr'B
ilexk. and moong many Muiirhexter friend* of Public Lihr:irlSf
and popular education there stands out proxninantly, Mr u E
a. Axon, who has for nmny years naen one of the ataunobaet and
moRt active workers for those institutions \s :i literary man
Kr. \\or ,has byhle pea done yeoman serrlce taz t\« wn\w\\-\«-.
i ii \<a. jwrh.'jps, aj :i li'durcr in eoiuwctvwi it\Oa VxM&K
*•?*
prnuc mhjubje*.
Ubrarlei uul kindred insiitmionsthat ho h exerting a n
and bfineflcto] Influence. Throughout I.nncnxhii'e, Chrshuv.
ifmit I pari .if \ ork'shirc, ;md Ihe other neighbouring con
ii- roice'haa been rained to direct public attention to r 1 1 .
reaching utility of Public Libraries, and to the stores <».
mi Mined on the shelves of these Institution*. Through a Ion*
scries of years he lias advocated the extenMrui of those :,i
lions. There iv it ifl tola; hoped, a long period of active life Mill
before him, hut when the roll of Public Library vortlijca cornea
bo he. written the name of Mr. W. K. A. Axon inu.sl 1>
first place One of lis Publii l.ihrury lectures in Manch
recently waa on " The Story of Manchester," in which la- tr
the history of Manchester from the earliest period d il I
present tune* condadtna by expressing the nope tint each
citizen might always endeavour to enable others to live hcj
and happy Urea, all united together in the bonds of brol
■ mi rejoicing ■" 'he general rimt-viin i ( mid prospei \-
It wib little use boasting about our wealth, population
great ncs* mikwi all the people won: provided with In
and comfortable homcN.
Another of hie lectures on " Books Ancient and Modem " ox<
-•"ii .idcruble in tercet. He njmko ol" tin' great libraries of
World Those, at Alexandria must have contained id mic time
leHft than 700,000 hooka, although a book in those remote til
would be the equivalent of only a small portion of a mod. <
volume. The number of books in existence to-day had b
■ "donated at 10,000,000, and this was being very ntpeily mcrco/vd
Tho number of new hooks published Last yew in Bngland wa»
over ",000 ; and in America fully as many ; while in France it tu
much higher; and in Italy it reached tile total of I l/WO, U wa»
impossible to become aec|iiainted with more than a small fract i •■
ol trdfl great mass of literature, To rend well all the boob
their own library in King Street he calculated would occupy tl
student 900 year*. Hence the necessity for a wist? s< I
was a pity that the subject of the choice oi bock- could ;k»i
taught in our school*. Tho advice ho would give t<- tho bop
would hi* that, lit' .should follow In- own beat m the hookH he
and xince no subject was complete in itself, the mind eoul
working from any particular state in the map of hum
ledge gradually come into contact with all other departmi
human knowledge. In literature bk in religion, they must
mii their own salvation.
In a lecture delivered only a short rime ago at. the Public
Library, Denton, one of the "numerous places near Manch
which have within the hutt two or three years adopted the
he took tor his xubjeet "The Educational Use* (»f Puhli
Libraries." Ra urged that the rate-*npported library tfiou I
a centre of educational influence, a place which should
university for the people. Tlie old •• rule of thumb" wouli
to jiu- \vn\ . il lutd ffiven way in wane of Lli
Mul if England was bo uv.uuUun \\ev \ueov*\rv.v\ Bovrowttiv
ad.
u
wiws
site
a
iw
i .m tea
.and if
I.EfTPRKH ANP MTIRNCE AND ART CLASSES.
429
she was to maintain her hold on the markets of the world, ti Bhe
w:is In rem nil i >i* Mil- had In '.cm iii the past, a great workshop for
Hit- niiciii- or the vorld, her people must learn sciences boo do!
depend as they had done largely in the pant, upon the mere rale
of Ihuiiih. It in Ul he wished that every county hod such it
vigorous champion for its library work as Mr. Axon.
It is woiih while inn • iilKrinir that Manchester led the way in
this matter o( Public Library lectures, and bind In the flnl jeax
of its existence there were lectures delivered in the Public
Library at CampfleM shortly after its opening One was given by
Professor \ J. Scott on " The Literature of Poeti^* and Fiction ;*"
a second by the Bar. Dr. Vaogbtt on "The Use and Study of
History;0 and the third by Dr. Grace Calvert. A letter wae
written as early oa September 7, 18G2, and was addressed by
Professor Scott to Sir- Johu Potter, the then chairman of the
Public Libraries, In this the Profeeaor, after referring to the
opening of the library iu Caropfield, suggested a series of biblio-
S-aphieal lectures, dealing with the different departments ol
•erahiro.
Numerous other Public Libraries have had lecturer* during the
past winter. The series at Wideefl hare, for a tonal] library, been
remarkably successful. Those at Win a equally popular. Those ut
Birmingham and Watiord are growing more and more successful
I'.-ich year At Oldham they arc regretting the bod accommodation
wlticn they have for lectures— another proof that building com-
mittees should keep this feature clearly in view. The series of
leeturen delivered there during the past winter have been as varied
as could be desired, as some of the subjects selected will show, —
Professor A. W. Mare. M.K., "GermB (illustrated by the oxy-
hydrogen lantern)- .Mr. Alan S. Cole, ■ Recent Discoveries in
Egypt of Ornamental Weaving* " (illustrated by the oxy-hyilro-
jjen lantern); Mr. J. X, Phythinn, ,( TTistory of Architecture "
(illustrated by the oxy-bydrogen lantern); Mr. W Wnllis, "The
Treasures of TTereiilaiienni " (illustrated by the oxy-hydi*ogen
lantern); Mr. A. M. Symonris, u Comic OnfJttotarB off Shake-
speare ; " the Ttev. H. E. Dowson, B.A., ■ Charlotte Bronte."
\t Liverpool, Boot le (Lancashire), Ilundswiirth, Bud Aston
(ne;ir Birmingham), the lecture* are growing in popularity with
each hiic( veiling season. Ah the ialter plaro their expenses under
this head are limited to £b» per annum, and, as they pay no fees
to ledums, this amply covers all expenwM incurred, if then is
a public hall, of which the Library Committee can make tree use,
the expenses might come even ladow that amount. The travelling
expenses of lecturers, cost of printing bills, and- hire of lantern
slides for illustrating lectures, have of course to lie defrayed.
This chapter would be very incomplete without special reference
being made to the Oxford University Extension Lectures. Mauy
of these lectures are most suitable for Public Libraries. \ chief
aim of I'uivereity Extension Teaching is to form and encourage
Km -ni hahil ul ; mil mms and systematic. re;olu\(t awV
idy. It ll believed th.it thCBC Icciuves v\\\ uvwewA W\t ^.vaAn\-
4."*>
prniir ubrabhw.
new 'Tnl popularity of Public 1 Un-:irii*H by pnn iding ;ui addi
■ ol rmdlng readers to the nesl book* Is poch subjeo
ciiiirsi' in dellVHli'l ds :i:t r\pe ririu'i'il lecturer. Tli<_.-- In
are appointed bya university Board, and form in fact the
of nn itinerant university ml!ege. maintained by the co-op*:
of more Khun sixty towns. The course consist* of twin &ii :■
twelve lectures and cl:i**c>, Tvn-li cm lu.^Li i:.-.l by a
printed syllabus, interleaTcd for u^tes and giving an ai
in- lectures and lists of books recommended for private study.
The following arc u few subjects of courses adapted to Public
Libraries: —
I.— LmuuTtrws.
1. Chaucer.
2. SmuiBer.
3. Elizabethan Literature,
1. Mi Won and Ma Con torn
jtwories.
5. Literature of Xhv .Will.
Qnitutyi
t>. The Kupliali Essayist*.
7. Modaro V-> '■■
8. Corlyle and Kuskin.
IL— UlMuaY.
rt. Tin Hiatory of EreUul.
7. Tie Kretirli Revolution!
8, Enron si Waterloo.
'.), Tic Rise And Progrca* >l i<
Kngliah Coloniet.
10. Social Ruloriiins
1. (.rent Engluh King*.
2. Th" RngUU Parliament.
3. The Ajjeof Eliaabeth.
1. The P»ritnn Revolution.
5. England in the .Will.
' Vntiiry.
Ill -A»T.
I. Kugliali Painters (illustrated). 2. The. Croat School, of An
hlhutratri]),
IV.- BawoB,
1. The Life Work of Great Baalish 4. Physical and Political Geo-
Sciciuilk Jlon. fitaphy.
2. Th« Datwiuian advancement of j. PLyuogfuj Iil\
Knowledge. »>. Germfl ami their Halation* to
8i Lifp on the Sui face of the Earth. r»ij>«w*.
V.— pui>riit.!AL Economy ami Imujmi.iai. Hl«n>iiY
1. Weal tl) anil 1ml natry. S. Rnouhs of English Imlnitry
2, The firsat Kcmion jhIkaihI Mieir 4- Tie Inrtnatnal Revolution.
Tinifs.
At Wolverhampton Public Library they have had H
economical history by Mr. Hewing l:niversity I'M ■
l.ertiu'er. At tfiin library they have uImi bad i series uf (til
Lectures on "The Life-History of the Kurlli." Ai Herel ■
itariea on "The English Colonies" h;w been given by one - 1 lih&
in \eraily lecturers, The Library Conwutte-e at rXunooru
rendered valuable aid t" the cause ul I'uiversftj [ixtcnalon
l,n turea, by purchasing: duplicates oi -ill the alnud&rd i I
down in the travelling library, and placed (hem on one side for
the special use of University Extension students attending
cijursr.
There la sent out tn connection with the oouxeee i travelling
library containing about bu\v ^A-nAsa^ ^oVwcn* \fccowuncnde4
LI-C1XHI> AMD 9C1BN01 LSD .■ Iir BLASSKS.
431
by the Icclurer for Mudy <l"ing bin coliruc. Eighty of the*o
libraries arc in circulation, aud wo uvo constantly hearing irom
the studouts of the groat value they >li m <■ ir<_»ni thia system.
During n course ol lectures on "The Social History of England,"
at I'nmbridgo the bookfe recommended to be rend by students
attending the course were presented t<> the Public library for
the use of the students, and by the permission! of the library
committee were allowed to Jie upon the counter in the reading-
room for their use at anytime The hooks were not removed
from the library, but i*ead at the tables, md returned to the
counter when done with. This facility proved of great aasiHtaaoe
to many of the students, and the reading-room was seldom
entered daring the weeks in which the cour.se WBG being held
without nmliug the books fw use.
Committees and othern whu orgiun/eihesK" lecture* at Public
Libraries, should at once place themaelvea in communication with
ftfr. J. f\ Sadler, B.A., 1 niversity Extension Office, High Street,
Oxford, from whom every InfonoHtlon can be obtained.
tVmuniiieeH may greatly aaslrt I'riiverKirv Krteoalon nmdentH
by pinvMing (Hiring lilt' deliU'iy of 11 roiirxe nf lectures in i
\i<\\ 11 !i T'jiivciMty EitruMoll Table rnntamiiur lie- books reroin-
im-uded in the lecturer* syllabus.
What, it may be naked, are the [nirpowa (rf Public Library
lecturea ? The answer is twofold — to stimulate intellectual
curiosity, and to abon how it can htiflUfa'flflftd in the tOOSb profit-
able manner. It may BGG1 i supiTltuous thai the j>i«iisi- ni' t « rnkts
xhould lienaid or sung in an age when the printing: pros tanw
them out in myriad copies daily, and yet it i* certain that there
are many men, women, and children who would be the better for
the friendship oJ literature* Nor is the rending that in done
ajvraya Of the ol&ec thai might be desired, Heme the advantage
when a specialist eorne* forward and explains the charms and
importance of hi* own line of study, and advises as to the beat
to be Wftd by those who wish also to become familiar with
ii \ little judicitiUH coun.se! lrom ;i veteran nmywvc the recruit
<>t learning mueh useless toil and unprofitable endeavour* Looturei
which have n direct bearing upon the books contained in the
libraries arc obviously the m< -l appropriate and pre likely to be
the moat useful who oan gaug« the [Dtolllgeace which tea
been ijuickened, the solid information which lei- been ^ainetl. and
the evenings which have been well and profitably tpexit by these
lootaret?
With our friend* ucroH* the Atlantic the Leetaring BVatelH hW
br.-oiuc auite u institution, but we have - n .>.-.- < ■ i them Is
coupling them with Public Libraries. There in in this country B
growing appreciation of blgh-olaBB Leeturee, md there b dg
: why tiic> should not reach the Kane standard ol popularlQ
winch they have attained in the stales.
Since the isMie of the last edition the number "t Pill [tc
Uhrarie* having- lefeDoe Mid art ''Ihsscs m par' r.f their wcwV
ha* been enlarged The nm : ml n\\\fcl t\\ 'Mew i\w**v -
4*»
"i ni.i'' i.imrtiiiKt.
at ;i iitnsi Important nature, and these am had an
mil i nibltc taste and the catering for artistic t.
tie- part of mwmfacturcrs which aum-: ■••• --'i mated, lu
all jmrts of tin* country thev have proved in a hundred «nn
iln-i USefulmw. \If I Kttijfli an tt-f tit*- dc-6)gn»tu>II of Schools of
Ait Ci"v in- i»: modern growth. pel there an M the i»re«ut
time attending these classes throughout the oom
li'iiands of students. In the Science Division there arc
II&806 pvpUa under metractioiL las number of art sehoo'
.nr! rlasM-?, ha* itriwii to '«»7 and 35*406 hare niic-njed the
Of Schools of Art there are 213 schools with 4I.lt. ; if „
There Is scarcely an industry of prominence which I
Home way benefited by Schools of Art, and in some -
i»;n*iiiMiiiiriv in pottery! gin**, textiles (woe. &c ). "lvrr. Iron,
10, and olectrc -pbiod ware, the effect of these ochoi
hern -t market! that they- have HOW become most necessary, s&i
have in numerous ways exercised n vitalizing influence. To
what extent Hicmo kHhxiIh have been the means of supplanting
foreign dcsignH by English designers, is known only i
iinnit'.liitely :t«*ooiated with them ; and had no other good DOOM
out of them than this, their existence would have l>een inorv than
Justified, for there i« a distinctly British taste which ha* on]
catered tor rocceaafellj by British designers.
The majority of those various art classes, seattcred throng
the country, provide vigorous centre* of art, and are aided by
OCCBSioniJ loan objects of art from the national collection at
Snath Kensington Our contention is, that If art occupied some
f^BCe, tlOVever small, in the eai'lier education of boys and
in number on? student* would be trebled and miaarupled in a
fov years. Instead of, as at present, these being the nlttmati
HGhoel of the few, they would be the resort of the many. Tin-.
the desired end, and any means whieh lead up to thin cannot fail
to have a henenri&l effeet generally, and give a still gt
IrnpetiiM to the demand for art manufactures, and a spirited
competition to produce work of a satisfactory character tn meet
that demand.
The aim nC all education should he to remove from the mind
all feelhig that tin* pnnvH\ nf nlucatinii is mere routine
ho much has Id he committed to memory, and noachoota have
i so mueh inspiration and so much new life to all •
studies as the Immediate studies connected with schools of art.
Their expansion will he a national boon, and, pcrliup* more thaa
anything else, they will enable n* to retain that coin me
supremacy which wehavesolong enjoyed, but which in the nature
every effort wfll have to ho str. tincd to maintain. They hare
encouraged higher standards of excellence, and have pn»du<
wholesome emulation which has made its results cvtdeo
manufactures. Those Oovcrnroent m shools were originally designed
far the i iivi i Lasses, and such among then h
to rfae to the higher grade in their own particular trade, ana
fit .in rh.n t "advance, if ttaej sYanrfA \W vV\U (uvUv r ..i I ■
I.ar trans ash 80TJWCB ash art 0LA8SKH
43H
viae, to the practice Of ornamental and inventive art. It enn villi
every truth I** saul that they hffVG had, however, an even greater
utility than this, for fchoy hnv*' been Breatfre of dr-nigo* a id
nnmini'HtJifioliH which liavr given heiinly tu the ey(- ;iml work In
the operative.
When we turn to nrt tu the leading industries, we find that the
tiest of this has been the immediate product in one form or
another of the schools of art. In no art industry is this probably
nunc evident than in laer, pottery, ami glass. In tun- case wheit*
an immense industry baa arisen, it is stated, stud stated with
pood reason, that it owes it-, very existence to the influence of
a neighbouring school of art, aim distinctly new classes of lioth
! lottery end BUM have been the OOtoome. In i'li-sc wares (here
s ;m originality of conception and treatment rhicn has led bo
an irumenae sale. A siimlar result has taken place in other
industries. In luce curtains and wall papers, insteud of sprawling
palm trees and flowers to which it would be impossible to give
it name, huddled together in ugly confusion, then* nr« now rtu'taloi
and papers cheaper in price tlnm these horrible abortions, and
possessing considerable artistic merit, li Is said that one firm
alone in Nottingham pay as much m (#,000 a year to Beventy
designers u/id upi'iciilii'.b, tn metal work again those nehooly
have exercised a must beneficial influence.
A sum o£ money is annually granted by Parliament for instruc-
tion in art in iho United Kingdom, and Is administered by the
Science on<l Art Deportment* The objeot ol the grant i* to
5 remote instraotion in drawing, paintuigj sod modelling, and
©signing lot architecture, manufactures, and decoration, especially
among the industrial ebflses. The amount is liable to be decreased
and eventually withdrawn. Payments to teachers therefore must
not be looked upon as perpetual, or 111 nny way conferring on the
teacher a claim to any payment* beyond those offered from time
to time. To effect thin objeot, the Department give* aid towards
the teaching of elementary drawing- in elementary day schools
and training- college*; towards the teaching of drawing in art
classes ; towards instruction in an in schools of art; and tOWftVdfl
the training of art teachers. The art Library and < <>1!. etions of
decorative art at South Kensington pre also made available tor
the purposes of instruction in schools of art.
So undertaking should be comrnenced In general reliance
upon aid from the Parliamentary grant. An sppacatfon for sue]
ufd should, in the first instance, be addressed to the Secretary
Science and Art Department, London, S.W.
Witii regard to erante towards new building* erected for (he
purpose of • Public Library and tor a school of an, the plan \a
for the secretary to Inform the Department ol the project, and
{Jam moat be submitted showing the rooms to be devoted t<
he purposes of a school of art. The Department may hI.m
our or two suggestions a* to the arrangement of I he rooms, and
upon this will depend the grant lmvi-j l-'onr room*. wwvsV W
devoted to art, in addition to am uppaxalua XOOTw\ «wt tc*$w*.
4 A
nni.ie umt.iiiiii-.
(>:i i-t ly iii'v<>N'<! In ml. md M&Ol herrOODQ partly devoted to aoirnn-
'lie lour ]m-i'ii i:mt i; I rOflTQfl fihOUld IM.-mmihv rn <t
t Mow : Rlemontary md Life Olaas Room, W I I
Antique IS- vi ii. j ■: It" by \J It ; Painting Room, 1^- ft. | ,' . n
i li: n l.\ 10ft
Tin' A:iH'lnl:iii'(it \«'t of I S^ I , jivi'ti it: idlX, 'lll|'
any null ion i; noting under tho PuhH< Ubrarlo lotd to ve*
ram I loOo nmittce of Council on Education tow ipd
purchoM -I i'.>- if the provision of preraiect or luinm.
schools Tor science or ipi ll..-r trrunts vor;j from IKK) to I
The official book, giving full instructions > the " Art 0
iihlKli vhetire. ami n.** this book goo* *<> fully inl.
ormation of these classes, H i* unnecesf«iry to iji ote n
iMone. So thoroughly l*» the eTteniioi u! Public
imii'.' the public mi ml that the compiler* . t thlt i
btc taclaaorl hi their la*t bumon syno|>sis ol riu> law of Public
Libraries H law-ell t«< keep In mind that where » Public I n
;i public mow inn. -t gchool in- schools far selciu r i
an gallery lias Imwii already eetahllHhed under an<
to Public Libraries oi museums, :i similar Institution nuu
established m connection there wl h *l lion furl iwr pn
being Uilcen under the A- to,
Ai Hi* South Shieltb Public Library there are sdeneeantf irl
claMM-M which ;nt- hriiu» it trtnlcd hv mci loO student* In mm-
imh:.")i h it 1 1 othsi rimuM cli *ce In the town the Public Library
clawtoa have not only maintained but have "trciurtlwmed I
position. At Norwio.lt Public Library they bavc theee nkirsrii
and Borne beautiful work has been done l\v the ra ire lulvs
stadeats. The Elaaley Public Library science clauses are mora
Mum jiiNt l'vi;i- tlu-ir exigence Vol llit.-r rhiMftr* tin r hlld 111
February last toot a gift of C220 from Mr, Huntbaol
damn nt the >'«-wriistli:-ii]ion-Tyiic Public Library arc gaining
? round) but though they arc technical ly connected witl I ■■
library they arc practically ji survival of Mu- »ld mechanii
in itituuon. Th»t institution hod suffered deca;
l.il r.iry tor-li |n i >*ti A it- premificfi. At \\ ■ \ ■ ■
and Gateshead there ure some excellent which me*
the library buildtaea Thoro are science and ir clauses .ii its
Hum Icy Institute in Southampton, which I indirect!
corporation control, and tho Public Library is l ting i II
help Mint institution on hy providing books in their Ion
department for the use of the students,
ObJj a limited section of Public Lxbrariea whon fkis
ciiri'ic'l on liuv.- hofn nnnied. Others . ••■ :i«1«!:mu; liu i i i
the li<t, -nut it will ^""ii ho looked upon aa an indLspenaabtl
feature t»i rii- work ol ttie^e n^titnriorH.
THK llJIiriMI Ml-KIM I.HWtAin AND ITS WORK. 435
CHAPTKK XXJX
THE BRITISH MUSEUM LIBRARY AND ITS WORK.
|HK Jlritish Museum Library will challenge compuriHon
with any other national library in tbc world, So much
may be unhesitatingly claimed tor it, nol onto with
regard to tin- institution as a library, but in tho use
made ol It* and in overy other deportment ol IU work.
Of all the public, inwtitutuais which go to make London wbnt it
ih, there in none which plays a more important part than Mi
British .Museum. No library in lireat Britain, not even in an\
of the universities, nor the Advocates' Library in Edinburgh, ox
the Bndlmnn ID Oxford nan ha an instant oompare with that at
Bloomshury. Learned Berlin has nothing worthy of pittlnfl
against it. The Vutirmi Lilimry is, no doubt, rich in ecclesiastical
history, but is poorer in rvory other department 'of literature.
Paris alone is superior to the British Museum Library ad far da
the number of books to concerned, though in tin* eatne mans*©*
ment the Bihliothei|ue Rationale is infinitely behind that in the.
metropolis of this notion of shopkeepers. Further than tlmt the
reader at the British Museum borrows twice U iiiiui) books ilh
the French reader. But notwithstanding the two million bookll
and nearly two hundred thousand pamphlets in the national library
in Paris, um Brtfcleb Muaeum ieby far the riches! iu English books,
as, of course, should be the ease. But in French, Italian, Slavonic,
and German literature.it is only second, if secondi to the Public
Libraries of France, Italy, BanSflj .\untria, and PruWda. Scholars
from ail parte of the world cmoe to consult, it.- Oriental riT;i>iu<\
Neither Cairo, nor Stnmboul, nor Bagdad, or Bokhara has nuch
a store of Korannic commentaries, and in his recently-published
"Bibliography of the Eakhno Language," Mr. Filling notes with
ho in r aciazcnicnl Ihnt l:r Intuj^i t&C fiuOBt COllOOtiOl ol tOXtl fr
that hyperborean bongOO in a private library in Washington,
while the next finest was not in Copenhagen— aa one might have
expected from the relation of the I>onoa to Greenland, and the
fact that Rink, the greatest of Arctic authorities, worked thej'O
-but in tho capital of tiroat Britain.
Yet of all the great libraries that wlm-h is pre-eminently national
is perh apt; the youngest It began long after th6 BCMemietJ
collection* had* IMSBkOd Shape, :""' it W46 houseless, and
practically unincorporated when many of the semi-private and
professional ones had grown to respectable proportion*. Die
truth U thnt it was only until a '•entiiry ago or ttiefBftbOUtft " ft1
any great need was felt for a Public Library Books were printed
in comparatively small numbers, urnl i einmony to rend any
"n or Latin wtw vouchsafed to only a limited
number ol ndividunls. Scholar*! had rhoir collie ^vVxwS^v^rwvVj
collections, or they purchased what tihttj TOq\tttfcfcA<$t **«?« w^
LM
I ki.IC LTBBABIBS.
ii:ri'y,rmm
■ra*
«0*TM IIBNANV
I'l.AN '•>' RKAIUM.-miliM HK1T1SH VIM'l',1
a BaMrintradenl
B GJiwIogae TUMc«.
c ttoaaet* TMblos.
D Ai«0»*« (or A I
E Entrain, fiom lUi)ttl
r BttnfUM fritrri North
I .ibnuy.
G For KivHtrutluu ul
Opyiwhu.
H L»dW (.'limit ILouiu.
K O^nlletn-n'- (lank
i t'-ir >*«nlieni»o.
■
M A*
pi'bli- uitnAnne
stadias. But on the pari o( Lho people gonorollj educatioj
floont. and Hi'- dosire to rou<! tor trim Being anii
It is only thirty-five yoare ago thai thfl nintrnilicent rcaoUng-
rnnin w;i* I'lunmcTn'r-il \ -i:--. I dure that tin.' jin-wing net
Increased accommodation had boon brought ropcatodlv *-d >re »t e
I Louse of Commons; but a fow stickleback adTucatca for ecu D.OQ3J
opposed any additional outlay, and the iiideciKinii or mtfiiTai
of i t.- Government helped to delay the matter from year t<»
Wnai i world cd ' irnpered national progress Um m I h
of these false economists who h.ive from time Immomoria I
down fcheir thumbs when ;i raw extra thousands •
have been roriaired for our national Institutes, and
expenditure ol hundreds ol Uioasanda ol pounds has beta
--Jim thai iiavw lawn found fai too frcipiwulj
rKvWon hell rang, recuperating IheJr |»re*mro»N)
Omniums, tn IflW ;i Vote wan got Quougli fi
new buildings and liuiuyh. and within throe jean be vast
structure vn completed] li la o well-known fact-
reading1* u ia circular. !l containe some ,550,000 cubic
of apace, and its surrounding libraries ?ft),000 cubic
I'ul lie I. Iitoih'* arc lusgi lining t<» follow the «t>*lc and chtti
o Lhc Nfaseum reading-room a around plan of it Lb shown.
'I'll.- cylinder which sustains the dome pre* i ontti
i in alar wall of books, which arc accessible from the flow
from low galleries running round the apartment; :t i
Mi the part open to the readers about 20.000 volnmos of booki
of reference ami ptandnrd work*, utiJ in rhr part n und the
gaUerioc more than 50,<XX) volumca ol the principal
periodica] publications, old nnd new, ami in vuri >un to i -.m ■
The 11 ■ i I the room ie occupy «i witn nineteen Larj [teen
smaller tablee^fittedupwifchample-accoramodation I
two of these arc reecrvod for the exolu
ladies can toko acatw at any of the other tables. I-*. I
■ Ucnt of raising the partition down the middle ol ei
larger ta ■ ■- lomgnl iat n reader cannot sec his oi>]
boar, privacy 18 secured, and on entering the nwm w hen I
full, a stranger might at firel t il was near
abloi an all arranged bo as to converge towards the ccati
:)u room>ai trfl] be seen from thepageen^nmii.r.tmir which aw
tw ><-i!-ri(i:trrangeaof Htandsfor thegignntic ninnnki-: '
BJvery attention ia pcidto ti j renders, l«i new
civility and courteay on the part ol the official* could noi
in any public building in the world. Thlafathe case auh those
in the most Bubi i< inat* prtathWi the Tory hfghem i
II would aim oar. appear that the entire *l ifl Ii.nl nnt<
. - .'. tun Dompael unong themselves that thin national tnvtimtloa
should be noted for this conspicuous fc; -nanr.
Whether th U be so or not, the fart *i Id In- rhnmicled
wide, aspeclally among other librarians, n « ■ .n d tin
Viivoii / .tln-nry ba\e J-'uVeW gi'«i*\»f*\ &» V«* Uvxt they are
TMK nilUItll MVSBrM LI KB An Y AXt* ITh wr»nn.
m
pubbc sonants ndiui.nM.-i lUg D put He institution nii|»|»i-i u<l out
of public money. It cannot be other than satisfactory that the
hi^ncBl institution of its kind should bo 80 conspicuously noted
in this respect, nu<l the leCBOfl will have it« effect through .-ill ilw
roniifieations ot this now ever-extending profession. In no cepltft]
in Europe is admission granted to the nntioiml library witn no
free n band as at the British Museum. A nominal guarantee of
respectability is oil that is required to give* any one above the u^c
oi twenty-ouo iv:nJv access U> incomparably the best library in
tin wurld. A_n\ book naked tor is unmodiutcly handed iv tin
render, and practically no limit i* put to the number oi books he
may a*k for at the same time. An official, elioscu out ol a staff
oi men ol unusual attainmenta for bis intimate knowledge ol
books and hifl wide acquaintance with tin- literature ot the world,
i- Mated in the room to emrwer questions end to help itudentc
Ed thtdr Literary research**, it la, therefore, ■> paxadiBu lor
Ni'iu.iiai'N and students. There is a O0f>yboo& heading somewhere
tli saysaomething about the unwisdom of making ivtmpaiianns,
while the Bibllothacua National* is the target library in the
id in present .t Ih Eos woral managed. There is not only n
long time lo welt tor Ibe books as an invariable nile. and the time
lii.'iv I'm hrvcrnl days in xoiiir imac*, but. BVBTy reader SBOQUI t c » In*
regarded is a queatjonalita character whose pilfering pronenall tea
Ii.im- to be closely watched. When a wtwld-be^etium1 enter* the
students room, which i* about half tin* hum of the British
MiiHcum readmp<rooni, a CaniiUonary bands him a ticket, on
nfhtcb name and addrena must be written* Imt not the title ot
tin* book wanted* This ticket No. I it* hooded to an assistant
hhmrian, who gives another tiolpaL on which again is written
tho name anal nadm** .tml the title of the l»o..k required. If
bh i'*Hjk is not in the catalogue of historical works, or us a
i ii;i!< gut >.f boohs published fltaco iHni_the only catalogue
ible to readers-— ip. Is requisite u> w: tint tin- phier ,im. 1U1 ■
of publication are un the ticket, otherwise tin- reader may hare
to wait weeks for it. When the work is found, it does not ODtoe
'., i 1m- reader direct. CI to takes bs the attendant who iVmDd
it to another, who transcribes the title, preae murk, &c, ■ »r » bo
tti kit No. l. The worh ii carried to yon by another uniformed
official. When you wish to go out, you muet tret ticket Ko. I
itamped to indicate that the book \m» bean return I Th Ban
nt tin- door will not uiiuw yon topaaeool unless you rotorn the
paper ho gnvr \<.u with the mark ol the official bcu! Opposite the
• if each book. Not only so, but he will not allow you to poo*
with anything in the shape ol i book, though your owi prop< i tyi
without :i pennSj ooti stoned by a librarian. Added to ail tin*
la a HVHtem Of espionage in tin- form ol un individual tiros ■ ■■!
a gold-braided uniform ami cocked hut. This gorgeous juuitor
trumping: about the reading-room awing tin.' readers ea he
looks from one to another with qtdok trjanoea from inn mUftary
eye ThS restrictions with regard to ink are decidedly FrGtieH.,
und there ve otter restrlettoDasod tanraAttSeattaaX eaawfc-woutea
Ill
pcti.ic M-RRAnrpii
itt once to bum that the British Museum reading-room shouui En
Infinitely more used than that tri the national library in Paris
Tin- «i:if latlc* ni' Hie British Museum reading-room for last yew
show the remarkable extent to whfOH bh© piililir i.i n vailing ilselt
nl' the bwwflUof iu.it Institution. Themimherof renders using
the room won 189,413, befog JyWImore than the previous year,
showing ;i dally average of oXM. The following figures show the
progressive increase during suceivo-ive vrai-suvei lho.se preced-
ing: 1882, 12,018; 1883, o'.Oitf ; 1884,1,748; 1885, 4,611; 1860,
''"■'■-. I--T, .'.."■". ; u'lviny ,iii ineiv.ise "I vi'i-v ue.irly .""AOGO
readers in the six years, The daily average of reader* ha* inert
>ii.-in"lily I'riiiii 4'V> in ihhi to t'»_'J in the past year* Coincident
with t Li- :.- tin* increase in the ticket* for I *oi »kr* placed in the
baskets in the centre of the room. The daily average of
these biokete in 1684 was 064; in 1885, 1,065; in 1888.
1,087 1 to 1887| IjKW; f*lmwin;r mi im-r^e i:k-<:i-.. (>i' lint
Anil;-, otan day wince 18m. As the Btafl of the reading-
room has not boon increased since tin- latter year, it v.
n;iMii'iiil;r' be expected that the average time taken to proeurc \hi
iumks would inoraaeo likewise, and this is found 1 1 !><■ the v.uw.
In 1884 tho average time taken by the ultetidautb to supply it
work was fourteen minutes, it was sixteen minutes last year.
Prior to lS7/i the vevt rage time was between holf-an hoar and
Lliree-quaHerfi, although the Dumber of render* never exceeded
BOO, or the nun r at tickets ">, ■*>'•"; bat In that year I Ir, (iarnett,
then superintendent of the resdnig-room . organwed the attendant*
Into sections, the tickets being sorted sad distributed to the
attendants at the respective Beenons of the library.
It in Worthy 01 note that although tho number of peailiT- lias
increased, tin- number of hooks supplied has decreased. Daring
the posl voir the total number of volumes supplied wax l,ifH,7Utt
.i ■.•■!! nst 1,221,298 in l**7.
The printing of the e&talogne begun In 18H1, and aoeerdtng
lo llr. t > : ;irlv one-third of it lias been eompletad.
This third comprises about 9fi(X00G titles. As -lo,om volume.*, on
an ivarage, are added to the library every year, the natalogue i*
subject to i'oristani alterations unci oddftiouK, Formerly I
An!- inserted In the shape of written slips, hul the yolumea of
the catalogue became so bulky end numerous that it was found
Impossible bo provide room for them. The sunce uvuiluble Ear
the printed catalogue will, it in estimated, suffice for the wants
of three centuries Ui come. The compilation of thin catalogue
■ costing 1,0004 i vear, Dr, Qaruett says that one thing *i i ikei
hlni in looking oral the names of those who attended I
in the post, and thu is tint there were a great many <
distinguished mcu than there are among those who go to the
library now-a-days, Almost literary meu of distinction employ
assistants t" work for them ai the Museum, this \» intelligible
enough. Among tho earlier readers wore Johnson, Hume, Groyi
md Bishop Houdly.
Tlwvc ia space in the shelving in th • i n\t< • 4 ttu readlnjr-
TKE BfiTTlKH MtTftKCM I.IfUlARV »NP ITS WORK.
44)
for 2/xui vohunea. in which it will be possible to record eighteen
milium titles, or, in other words, the Rcenraulaftlon f>r thrw can*
turlea bo come There is no tear, therefore, ol the catalogue being
oramped. u la more dinVuit (a andexBtand where all Die books
to which the Hf<n*esiild titles will apply ftM be disposal. It is
rioted 1 1 1 ;it ftha authorities are negotiating for the purchase of
some property done at hand, wirh a view to carrying out a
considerable extension of the library.
In the> middle of 1688 the resignanou of Dr. Edward A. Bond
« ,i- announced. Fur ill'ly-two years he had been a member of the
Staff) and for ten years had occupied the [hwsl of principal librarian.
It is to D&Bond thai reader* owed the introduction 01 tlie electric
light into the reudinn-nioni. This improvement, so grateful
during the dark winter days, was followed hy a considerable
extension of the hours when the room was available, and l>y the
removal of certain regulations respecting the renewal of tickets
*>l admission. Tlie appointment of a successor vrie watched with
keen interest on the part of the public Tin- ehoice toll 00 Me.
Edward Mattnde Thompson) nephew to .Sir Jamen I'oolo, the
ox-mayor of Liverpool) Mr. ThompHon has n world-wide reputa-
tion lor erudition, and hie career, in u scholarly sense, hos
been ;i di&tiuiruishcd one. He wee at Unstop School from
Ld68 to L869, the bead masters in his time being Dr.
Qolboura, 'i"" I'ean of Norwich, and Dr. Temple, v*>w Bisnopof
i tofidODi Mr. Thompson entered the Museum in I8cl.and,with tfae
exception of the first few months when be was in the secretary
office, lie has been all the time in the department ol manuscripts.
lie ia Hon. L1..U. Of St. Andrew's, and lion. D.C.L. of Durham.
Oomuig into this distinguished position in all the vigour ol
manhood* and with every sympathy with the book needs of the
public, great things may oe reasoaabta exported of him.
Tin- two yarn's which have elapsed since hi> appointment M
ipal librarian have proved him to be ft man Oi distinct ability,
|£ UbTary administration he is making his mark in a manner
reflecting credit upon him self nnil that part of the work of the
British Museum of which he has charge. Now thai the new
regulations with regard to Action have had a fair margin to MM
how they work, and the -dorm raided hy their promulgation has
quieted down, it Ih feasible to w what liil lo rhear new ami
somewhat stringent regulations. The secret of the decree was
found in the fact that a number ol the. men ami women who
were scoustomed to gather daily beneath the dome did so merely
Lo pass away the time. Some of them did not possess hoiiieH,
bill merely place* in which to pans the night, and in the strictest
sense bhoy could be numbered bjugcsj fcbe unemployed. Thought
and the acquisition of knowledge were utterly beyond these
Fashionable lounfiexBi but notion ile-v loved, and of thin tliey could
thave enough and to spare in the ltlcomsburv buildings. Thin
was becoming an intolerable nuisance. An«l the abuse ol it*
privileges on the part of many of these publie-buildiiiK oorua&£&
was notorious. Literary men engaged in gemmae "towdx&v "«wt
443
ensue UBBAHrpiS.
|»re-v<l utt, ni'l those <li'sii-inu- to m:do rulei'ine e («. «itiii' Wni'k
or works could not hmi a vacant chair op deak. As ninny ;i> imki
of inch renders might ho excluded in n single day by even twenty
of the fiction vampires, who would t.ikc ti]> their position iinnv-
dinMy the doors were ripened in the morning, nnd monopolixe
!>i:u*t'sfVii' the eiiiirc i\-.\\. Sane ol these gentry would #> our to
imch at twelve and return at. three, leaving their places occupii d
by the books and papers upmi the. desk. The offender)
w:iii'in'<i. their wwtn miN far i time supplied. Then awne the
fleeree whieh sent, disomy through their number, thill rut I
should in* RQDpMed which wflfl not live year* old, and more than
tMe the reader ivoald be required to state hia reaaonfl In writing
should he require a modern work oi fiction. I)r. rhoznpnoo vrai
severely liandled by Home pari of the pretw at the time. lie win
reminded of bue proverb ul>oul new brooms erwcepuiu; dean, t>W
be -I b ■ • mke ■ ■■ I b< --■ < w d legi ixnule Ai i
whom the nuiuher i.* legion. More than that, an example ha* I < ai
act to Public [ibrariana througrhuut. the country bo wetoh Hie
loafers and toaagen who are bo be found almoot everywhere.
a new rescript toned at the time *>' writing will be welco
by all who caw tor Hit- true welfare of tin* noble Institution! it ti
I- ihc effect that henceforward unoccupied sent*, even should then
he books on the table, will nut be n si n d 01 anyone under, am
oircomBtancefl whatever At llrel siicbt it certainly eeena ban
that a reader who maj be temporarily called away, ahoold be
cable in iiiivc hlaeost oonflaeatod by anyone on the look-out fat
a comfortable rcetrng-pUec. Rut it muat be remembered that
under the old system it was a moat common practice for aelflah
people who live in the neighbourhood, to huMen to the library in
ii i Qornlnj , and, after reserving h place, to no awa^ and perhai 8
tu \«i return for hours, This woa :i distinct hardship upon legfti-
in;itt» w -rkers nuii)' ot whom are dcpciuictii fur their living
the National Library, ai d who perhape are an I1*'
the day Is well advanced, By all suati the ride in t|u»'»-ii«-pi vvi I
be welcomed, us not only deeirabli hut a nceosa
tion upon it practice which hud long ceased to be merely
CftfeOtlOXHlbW
I'hen ire other eUisaen who fretmenl the British M t •■nn read
lug-room, who will have to be dealt with. The veadm^-roorn h
11. t tree from a very unsavoury number, who make It
disagreeable for those who hi vc U work in then- immci
nefMibouvhood. There (a still another ola*« official M
us that Insanity is on the Increase. It acorns, that a regn':
baa grown up among; middle-class families in London, who hfl
to haven lunatic member, of procuring a ticket for the rra<
room lor dint member n sufficiently liurmtesti [In p
thus cheaply provided for during many h mrs of the da$
It to difficult lo !'n;J a rail mode of limiting the number o)
I'e.ider.s withuul eiieriKiehiiig1 upon the fev right* of tlkWO Di I
Agrett deal was dune, when the :u<v- >i i.< w-
'.i another room ^ stmWar rc.mov\v\vuV\w\>w\^^ti U
TBH 0IUTI6U Ul'SErM UIlftAnY. AM* ITH WORK,
143
would eliminate many persOBB who come 10 BddrOSB envelope .
Stricter conditions aa to a|fO 01 purpose ED the USB* of tickets,
even a little delay in their issue oxcopt in special circumstances.
and a return to tlie old system, by which they had to bo ronewea
every six months, would improve mutters. A sentence or two
about the prot-ent o in the room of employes of " next of kin " in I
Similar commercial undertakings. Is it not Strobing the prm
leges accorded to tho community in making uso of the reading-
room, to have the time of public servants taken up in continually
attending tu the demand*- -I persons who are Hot there tor the
purpose of literary mearoh or study, hut solely in the interests
oi employers outside, who are conducting businesses of dubious
ndvjmtw 1" the hulk of the popnbti .-m - \, . i- wuiild «rnihblo
:il airy r.'irln- ooeasioiialty applying for a book of which Qfl bad
Tic pri-.-iu \\:tiit liiu wh» n En*' tn-v-pupor rOOTO is lW*ll dpi •:
pUn I ,..._,.■. .,,,.... __.;. | J
far Df tureseei) when thai addition r,o the render*' aivnimmidatiun
a •-. [uatttute i, we submit, ta the public rntore^thal some net inn
should be taken in thp matter,
Tin1 on*) gresi need is i\M Public Libraries aiili their reference
departments shall Iw established all over London. It is utterly
impossible tor the British Museum rewUngMroom to meet the grow*
iQU demands made upon the space available for readers, ami the
only possible way of meeting the difficulty will be l y opening
oilier BOUTCGB "t BUpply. Thai, Imwcvor, Jfl COStiUg* lO) London
has experienced a ware of Public Library enthusiasm.
Some considerable misconception has prevailed among tho
Public Llbrarieeof the country its to the Dumber of duplicate
\ of books which are available for distribution* Witt ' -■ < d
tu foreign works this has o:i.\ occurred when proeeutatfoD copies
havi been seat by foreign author*] and th* same works have
been purchased out nf tin u n .set u*ide annually for the purchase
of Foreign books. Of Enjrlisb work- n mi i tfahors send copies
to the British Museum, and tho publishers do the samei so that
duplicates and at times triplicates find their way to that institutu m.
I li ■ i an distributed to the various Pub! ie Libraries in the country.
Bui it must not be imagined thai the supply is unlimited, and ir
i. rerj certain that the demand far exceeds the BGppJy. ft ia
iiuitc unneeebaary I" hnpretw upon the principal librarian thewi*
dom of bonding these duplicates onlv to rate -supported libraries.
That Is u necessity Of winch he is already fully aware. This j-i
wi'cn from u circular which in sent to Public Libraries making
application, in veturaiug which librarian* have testate the amount
Of the rate, and what the rate produce*, and how it is spent.
444
pr 111,11" i.iiiiuniF*.
CHAPTER XXX.
OBJECT LESSONS EPT rUBLIC LIBRARIES.
16 title is used in order to distinguish Libraries, m
whXoh are being conducted with an express object in \ fow.
In some of these places unsuccessful uttempts huvc been
mad' to adopt the Acts, and friends of the movement
huvo In 'ii iui willing Unit tin: districts should pu without
Public Libraries, und have started thorn supported by voluntary
contributions or subscriptions, in the truest sense oftlietorm,the
majority of then are object lessons established to Rive the Inhabit
ants a taste for Public Libraries, and to illustrate what are tbfl
ma iiold use* of these institutions. They are only intended to fin
op £hegap during the Interval, and Kooner or later the whole
t.hom win come under the Vets The process oJ educating these
individual df strict** should not be hlow, and the Inhabitant*
nonsuit Eheir tame Interests by accepting the gift* and no making
them in the tallest sense people's libraries.
AuiinOATJI.
In i*7m Kr.«[K wen* taken with ihe view .>i ^urlnn; to Arbroath
thf U'lietitx i.I the Public Libraries' \clh. \ leading pari w
taken in the promotfnn of the scheme by :i number nf the pn
inincnt gentlemen of the town, including the large ratepayers
A public me if ting was held, and the Rubjocl aw diaensaed, but
the opponents succeeded In defeating the proposs -\ i
iiiiijoriiy The defeat of ihe Acts caused considerable fflsapp ilnl
raent to ;i largo number, and in order, us far as possible, to meet
their views, the managers of the Arbroath library entered Into
negotiations with the shareholders of the Arbroath sulatcj
library with the view ■»! securing the books ladonging to them,
ami tin- premises occupied by tkcui, as the nucleus of a PubU
Library. The consent of the shareholders was obtained
under certain conditions, the whole books and property *<
handed over t<> the new managers along with the sum ol £1.1 0u>
which was subscribed by a number of gentlemen For thi pun
of books. In order to give the community an opportuxu*
becoming potwwtcd of so valuable an institution, the pi :t:<
made it a condition that if the Public Libraries' Acta wen
before Jan oar v I, 1880, oil tin- books, fittings, and money a
be transferred to the managers under these Ai fL|.
In 1879 the movement tvasugain revived to secure the
of the Acts, and a requisition was #ot up and present* d
magistrates in terms of the Act, and accordingly in Dot
thai ycur volum papers- were nwin.il, which ivwiiltod hi n
ol 96o njniinst the adoption of the Acts, the numbei
Utiti, against 1,632. There has been no further movement made
since that date lis number of itooksfs la/vo, and thi
e/onfsSw.6d.ayear. The Issue wwj
M
n.
Ic
•UUKCT LKHSONS IX K'BMC 1.10HAK1HS.
445
these eighty per rant, arefletlon, Arbroath should hrtng forward
tlic question ouee. again, and no place itself in line with nil tin*
progressive towns of Scotland.
15aIJ.UK, MlTCTIKI.l., ixd Stiuliwg I. IBB ARIES.
The Glasgow people nro truly a penny-wise and pound-looUsh
community. Had the citizens of this large capital of the North
Ikjcii vise nil the last occasion, they might have seen to-day a
large central library erected, or u portion of the new ninmei|»al
buildings set apart for a central library, instead of being taken
over by the Water Commissioners. With the magnificent
libraries, which would have lnvn bunded mer to the city on the
adoption of the Public Libraries' Acts, it i* difficult to hop why
the unusually hard-headed dwellers in (Glasgow anid " No " t<> BO
well-sugared u plum. The Glasgow libraries have been bo well
dwelt upon by a former librarian ol «nic Of these institutions
that it would be superfluous to do anything but give the brio!
facta.
On September ^W, 1887, there was opened what ih called
liaillie'K Institution, and which U in effect an addition to
-Stirling'H Library. There are now in Glasgow three public
collection of books besides the library of the University, which,
of course, is not public, and if these three were gathered together
Mid suitably honsi'il, BqG lihrnry eOOOlDlIlOOlatlon wmili] be mochv
rarely fair. Whai is now ranted Is some £30,000 ot 640,000 bo
erect a. building, and some Glasgow merchant might very irteell
follow Mr Carnegie's example and stipulate for the adoption of
the Libraries' Acts. There are plenty of very wealthy men in
filRKgnw who might fittingly complete flu* WOrS that ^tfrlingnnd
Mitehdi and Bafflta have begun ami carried on. There larks only
the will, Tin- Mitchell Library, founded in 1874, is valuable and
useful. But, being only ;i riHisiitiini! library, it docs not meei
the rendhij? wants of more than u fraction of the community.
This great collection of about 81,(XK) hooka and pamphlets is
practically locked away from the inujorilv- In one of their
recent reports the library cumiuitLee make a remark which
is to the iwint at the prevent time. They-refer to libraries
in other cities which have benefited by the operation of tin-
Libraries' Acts, in failing* to take advantage of which Glasgow
now stands alone among our great communities. This is the
simple fact, and it is a landing reproach to the city. Half the
education of the children of the masses, which has been pro.
vided at such a heavy coat, is being absolutely wasted, because
they cannot get books to raetain groat-end their knowlodgo, and
to enable them to put education to its most delightful ueou. In
the desire to do something in the way of putting the Mitchell
library on a much more satisfactory footing, »* regards aooonuao
elation, than that on which it haa hitherto been impelled fee
remain fn-in sheer wantfl of funds, the Town Council appointed]
daring 1880. a special committee roconaider tha irtata ■c^wsfesro
of vrajw and mcajts, so that the institution tna.'jj \tfs \\^\\vV^vnRA.va
4W
ri'ULte l-'nn
a partition somewhat worthy of the city. It has, for the present,
been dosed pending the removal to wow nimble buildings.
Uiifl ih one good result from tlio work of the eorjunltteOi
now homo will he in the old Corporation Water 'I'm rl Oftce ■
it 28. Ml OX BtVOeti Acting under some not altogether oca
inendftitle indiioncoK, the ratepayers bave hitherto declined t->
i i too Ibe adoption ol the Acta, and consequent!? U i
tlon b) question must he starved, and not healthily supported,
aething be not done in the shape ol Parliamentary net... n,
stimulated by the Town Council, i ! q special eonunittae ra
ad h is :i liu'iiiv repragentattre body.
Stirling's Pobfle Library mm rounded by Walter Stirling,
morcimnr and magistrate in the City of Glasgow In 1781, and
i* ojitm ihniy iivf rn tli« public for consultation from LOn.rn.tiQ
lu p.m. There 1* a lending department attached, which ti kepi
up hy a yearly subscription. In 1H71 the Glasgow Public Library
(founded" in 1804), got up hy private subscriptions, was am
mated with rHirliiig^B and the two now ronu tlie Stirling
fUjwgow Public Library.
Mr. F. T. Barrett ia the librarian of the Mitchell Library
Mi William Hatton of the Stirling s and Ulasgi>\\ Liliran
The report for the year ending March 81, 1890, showed thai
the total number of books leewd in the leading ami reference
department* had been 207,043, giving on iucrcaev orei buM jrwu
ol b\072, The daily average for 30fi daya was omo. During Hie
year,9&> books had been added bypurclum- and donation. There
arc now £85 eubseribcrs to the library. At the beginning of
the year the overdraft on the library 'a bunk aecouul
CI ,1X17 I!**. Od , but on an appeal being made to the Lord iv
a&d other cituscus n mud »\ W'~, lis. w;.i> reeeivwd, reducing
the debt to about C1,000. Tin- iv|x>rt conel ill bj aving
directors are aware that they will have muoh more difficult} in
procuring the balance of the overdraft i tan they have fa
procuring the large sum already collected.
Ka?:n-kt, II UtTS.
By the will of Mrs. Julia Hyde, lady ol the manor of bit'
Htirnet, the sum of £10,000 was bequeathed for the purr*
r/rOvMinA a library for the parishes of Hadieyand Barnet. The
VUStees have leased premises in Unmet, For :i a >a 'ding-
rooms, an.! library ennrninma upwnrds of 4,000 volumes,
BfiTHNAL OflBE>.
Tlie Betftnal Green Library secures a nwl amouul cd chenr>
advertising. If a member of the Roval fnmllj sonde a
parcel of books or another takes the chair -it the annual It
rue! il" entire country is soon made acquainted arltl
fact try means of paragmnhs which g< the coinoleli row*
press. Theiv never was in the entire hiatori of Put 1 i
3l much bogging as there has been, and still is, foi the ik'thnal
Orecn Library. It has the diatingu lied, but nomcv iaJ
tioiwbk, honour of being ftw way vw.-.vs, Wowa ta u*
OPjr.fT LE.SSON8 IN PTOLIC LIRRAIIIES
Wi
I:.
i
:
least, whore begtcinff boxes have followed a nbosQAneous pJfO-
cession through the leading thoroughfarca of the* East-cnd. It.
ia the proud boast of ite long liet of pntKmNBOa, rloc-preaidente,
trustees, ooramitt*,«s &<-., that tlu* institution U supported entirely
63 \ Niiniarv eoutributiona, anJ these tell out to between. L'l/>ob
and £1,000 a your. The whole of the report ih one long hut of
donations of money, bookBj and pKnphlote. culminating in the
Bret resolution at the thirteenth annua] mooting, held in Unrob,
\hh\), duiv moved :*u«i Beoondod; "Thai bhle toeotinff, on re
eeivinp t!>" report of the Bethnal Green Pontic Library, reeom-
ends that It be printed and circulated under the direction of
the committee, ana records it* gratification on account o£ the
useese which it has received during the past ycur; aJao recognizes
fl Divine favour which it continues to enjoy." Hie latter port
, no do'iiit. 1 pious acknowledgment for the "siller," which hits
«en bo liberally placed on the plate. When figures showing 1 be
ici m and real working of the library aw concerned, these :
;" i-:)Vr;)sli)Kk!ir]T!rS Jl: ;l I l-'Vr.Msl ll'l'C l:llic l! NoVeUlliei'. The
statistics are decidedly lumped, and there has to he contentment
with the bald feci thai tiJboul 80,000 people visited Che Institution
last year, and thai Mifa was an Increase upon she previous year
r 8,(XX). There ;n*e brief paragraphs devoted to inrttenlara of
" Free Popular Concerts and Lectures," " Evening Classes." and
: ■ Chats with Boys." There never was, in the entire
history of libraries, no mucb en iod bo litllr wool. Taking the
uuznbcr of days open as 300, these 50,000 visits melt down tu
ubout 170m h dailj average. Tin- oosl of maintenance for the
year was £837 14a. «d. of this sum eiQ i-v>. 84 ens wtuailj
a wot in the purchaae of books, magaadncsj ami newspapers.
uuld absurdity jro further £ IVinting and stationery absorbed
AM01 11a. 86Y; carriage of parcels, aavertiainfi, postage, petty
h, coat of special appeal, sundries, &r.. reached B357 19a 1M. ;
and salaries £357 2s. These 50,000 visits duri 1 cosl the
re and subscribers over id. for each visitor on every occasion
when ;i visit was made to the institution
The nwrii handsome offer of Mr. Pnsemore Edwards 0/ 690,000
towards a new building wan made known in Muv, 1890.
Tears ago, whan the Public Library movement in London
seemed ai dead asa door-nail, there wan some need • . 1 n library
Ipportsd by voluntary c« 1 trib 11 ions but that need i.- now Ions;
fiiiK-r ]>:t^t. "To bring this lihrary under the raiee,and teyy an
iiirtnitcBiuuil part of e penny for its maintenance! would bring it
under popular, oootol, which it now i* not, and would rescue if
from being what it unquestionably is— a charitable Institution.
Bethnal Oi'ecn has paraded its work so profusely and ao con-
stantly that T.hi> 1 1 tm? has now arrived when the public have a
rig u i" know more about it The question i* loft bare fot the
rSSSftt, but It la too important to be allowed to rest.
Cmpi'BNnAM,
A small reading-room and library was openfiiY \i«t*t vCvusmV Wa
44ti
prnuc r.inuARiFs.
years ago, Reports ol iiu' speeches made at one of the normal
meetings are before ttn» writer. To judge from tho tone od
these speeches tltA library must surely be :tn adjunct I-i 01
Hie rjonttcal partial En Hie town, for they were of n »tro
ptltUUl i'liiinu'tcv If the library won- hrmurhr Under thtf \<*t-.
ibis would be Bftxt to iropowlbfe Any Attnmpt to jrjve rate*
hupj> irifd librarian party or creed character should ha Bl race
nipped in the bu.l. no mutter where it is. There must bfl mrinv
people in Chippenham who would value h real Public Library
open Co those or nil political parties, for then there would be no
annua) i ting*, whien ;ii present arc turned into elertloni
propaganda.
Hawakumk.
a neat structure of corrugated iron* wood-llnod, with a
ba« been erected near the ftrarrunor school, Hawardcn, a» a 11
and reading-room. It is one of the h'nent private librni
country, and consists of more than ^0,000 volumes. Contrary
to the ttflua] practice obtaining in private libraries, Mr. (iladatonc
allows his books to be »ont out to almost anyone in the n
honrhood who wishes to read them. Atone time this liberty was
unlimited : anyone could take out a book, and keep it an indefinite
period, provided that he simply left an aoknowledgmenl ol havinc
l>orrowod tin: ImxiU. This privilege, however, was ao much abused
by some persons that a few years a^o a rule was laid down limll
ing the time for which a book rntfflit be kept to one month. The
author's conviction become- deepened that the only way to ■
imv :iii iriic privati' j/iftn of this nature for the fufieai use «>t the
public, is by the reasonable tYHjuext Mud the people Will mail
them by r self-imposed rate.
lirau WvcoMnn.
ThB library in Mom town wax founded by Mr J O. GrlffltS, Q.C.,
"Recorder of Read in;/ .md J .TV tor this Imrough. The building was
purchased and altered by this gentleman, who also Nubaerlhed
largely to the endowment fund. The fund was ralrted by sub-
scriptions and the proceeds of a fancy fair, and amounted to
£8,030. On the completion of the endowment fund, M. <«'r ilii-
presented the building and its contents to the Town Council for
the use of the inhabitants, the only restriction In the conveyance
being that no rate should be levied for it* maintenance ; if so. the
S averts reverte back to Mr Griffite, The wisdom of the rtipu-
rton that no rate should be levied may be doubted. \ I
plan would have lieen to bring it under the Act and levj
or any fraction of the penny for the mutter of tb.it. The
institution would then, in tin: trues! sense, I"1 thi peopleV
property,
HoawicH (Law .)
For a number of years n ground rent belonging to the
had been accumulating, and Hi- trustees wen vi Unj
the sane ton public purpose. \Wo\s»\Un
riBJJICT LESSONS IN rrHLIC !.1PR-M|]I>.
449
WBfl spoken of uk being n suitable object. After mature deliber-
ation it w«h decided to establish a trio lending M>rnry. For this
pnrpoeo a room vu fitted up in tiio Public Hull, and 1,500
volumes wore purchased. The library is open on Tuesdays and
Saturdays from 5 p,m, to 0 p.m. The income f 1*0111 cards, cata-
logues, fines, and bank Interest, moots the expenses for librarian's
Kil;ir> , &0, Horwieh nhould bring its little institution under the
Acts. It would then have a healthier existence.
Ilt'LL.
Hull is one of the few remaining very large towns which have
iiot yet adopted the Kxsvb. R>r more turn thirty years 1 certain
determined :nnl undaunted class ul the eoinimiinl y in Hull have
been contending villi their rellow-nitepuyers for Hie establish-
ment in their midst of ;i Public Library. They will take no denial,
BJld in their fight for Ihr cause in which lliey are associated they
acknowledge im defeat. Four times has tin- movement sprung
iuio vigorous life, and four times have the townspeople decreed
its extinction. Hull was first agitated by the consideration of
this question as long ago as 18.">7, and at that time the proponal
seems to have been so decisively vetoed that not until 1h7'J did
the advocates of the system once more muster sufficient coui.uc
to place their Forlorn hope in the forefront of municipal politics.
Again the CAnBC WW lost, and an interval of ten years was
allowed to elapse before another attack was contemplated OH the.
prejudices, or principles, or purses of the ratepayer.--. This
ploiHSOJta took place in 18&J-, but the third time of* trying was
attended with no better huoccsh thun its pfedeeaBBOn, Out of
twelve wards only four showed majorities in favour of the pro-
posal, and in these cases the proportion of "Area" was altogether
inferior to the excess of "Noes" in the eight remaining con-
stituencies. InftTOtes recorded reaehed a total of 10.nu.oi which
/>,8W were given against and 4,212 for the proposal, the majority
being J ,677. In the face fi Tfln of this reverse the leader* nf the
movement cnntimnsl to cherish their project with U&COnquortthlO
zeni.and now tor the fourth time within the p resent generation Hull
found itself called upon to say yea or nay ton ijuentioii that will
UTObftWy never be finally answered until the ratepayers, either from
slow conviction or wennness of uplrit, respond in the affirmative.
On this occasion the. fight was short and sharp, and meet ablj
generalled. The whule town was well and carefully mapped out
and actively canvassed by an army of voluntary workers. But
the result in September, 1888, when the poll was taken, was dis-
heartening. For the adoption of the Acts, the number stood at
5,370 and against 13,(X)4. The number of papers v»id was 7,920,
and the doubtful votes reached 117 There are a couple of
comforting facts contained in these figures. The first is the
magnitude of the ."ill "7,077 papers n tinned out of a constituency
ur 30,tXiO, is remarkably good. The second is that the promoter*
have not lost ground, Or the previous necusion Hull polled l#\2,
in favour. thi* time 3,370, or 1 ,1 48 increase. 'Y\v: tte>AX «A •»> w«-
lia
I*i*tl| in l.TTlfcARIRS
whelming a majority was a blow, not ices to those who defeated it
than to those who promoted it. The peopled Hull doolii
profit byoaeol the greatest opportunities fox -<'ii-in provement
which toe PWBwuentoi tin* country hats ever provided I
elected to remain nndor a disability whioh ovory other ton
ttii- saint* tfiae in England h * ^ <n eded in removing. liu*
figures were unhappily ao plain In their significance that (here
waa no room bo attribute r.h*» result foacadent or eToepl
ctrcuinatfljtces. It '* written large In the result of the poll Quia
groat majority of Hull ratepayers are unwilling to make the trifling
lacrifloe whlcli the establishment of ;> Public Library Involve*.
Their opinion tnu been oaken twice in siiyeara.and Uu last result
La leoB favourable bhan die first. There i» no denying thai
It* a sore discouragement to many who laboured wi-ll and bravely
in the cause of popular education iu Hull But if the defeat
produced disappointment it also created a linn detonninatiou
that sooner or later those Acts should be adopted in Hull.
Among the numerouH gentlemen in Hull who keenly felt tin
defeat waa Mi. Tames Reckitt, .u\, .-v.ml.m-i Manor, near Hull.
who has forec many jrc ira hcen intimately associated witl I
in East Hull. About the end "I September, Mr. Reokttt called •
few gentlemen together, and, after expressing In- regret at the
vote on tin- Public JJbrary -lucslion, * IdVh iu- reganl ; publi*
calamity, said he had determined to remedy thai del ■ i no tar as
possible*
With thin nhjtvt 111 i ji v . iju ii a Lertook hi providi I bo necessary
buildings and books, and ri* entire east of maintaining i id \
ing a l'ublie Library for tlo> uir ol ihuuc por» iru* in
Kaatern Hull, wr/ere hi* works are situated. Mi. Kecktl
Wishful to move that :i Pnblie Library could I"- mm I
of a rate of M. m the £', and therefore offered to Bubeoriba an
amount equal to a penny rate on the whole of the propi
borough on the eu<-t side ol the river. This munificent >iterwa*
received with acclamation by all classes, and :< eoramittoe was
:ii onoe formed to cany out the details. Thw committee w»*
appointed on a purely non-political basis, and consisted ol
representatives of nil "hisses and all shades of opinion in tin-
district, That gentleman haa erected a beautiful and suitable
building tor thfl purpose, vtocked M with *,<>*> eoluroaa of tli
boulcx, and provided the wlierewitluil for curry. tik on tin- ^■lii-inr
lTiebeneflta of the institution are to be confined to Baal ti .ill. *<i
i; tcltt believing that in Unie itb advantages lo that pint of the
borough will beau apparent and *o ranch appreciated thai il»e
ratepayers will, Snathci unrtsof the town, establish foi Lheu
Uke institutions It was a condition of the scheme thi I v
should be spent in establishing and maintaining iln. library than
will do represented bya pennyratoon bh« ratable
district Tin.- library is entered through n wide arched doo
in the centre of the' front, opening into a vestibule with moMic
and tcsaelated floor and dado. A nair of swing glaee doors on
tin? right lead into the anvC-vooYu,ta \tou\-ot v\\e Uhroriaij'acouuUT.
4*2
PCBMC UQRAJUEA.
Aide are four pairs or nquaro-headcd windows, ind at the end three
large Gothic-headed windows extending well up into the gable,
11 -I ensuring a plentiful supply of the uewi pupor student's d<
I'Mtmn li^'iit. A marble water fountain ta built into the wnU
injMic-tiaiolY opposite the glnsadoore. The wolle are divided into
bays. Dad are lined with selected match-hoarding up to Uk
window-sills, whore a neat capping eomplotee the dado. Tin-
Style of architecture i* Oothie, with pointed archon nnd simple
moulding*,. The front elevation ia evenly balanced, himntr u
deeply reee«ned arch in the centra forming the entrance, with
three we hod window on each side The same arrangement or
window* Is continued on the first floor, and in the cootie over the
doorway is a hold oriel window, above which i» a three-light
mullionod window, and the four corners oi' the tower, •■- H
high, have, octagonal Mono hmvN. uud :i stone parapet above
the main cornice. The interna! arrangement Ifl moal • >'nmodious
;iml siiilnlile.
The ratable value nf the property on theejud side oi the river
f Ixill is about 6128,700, and -'i pennyr&te produces' CSSfl pes ywar
n will tuna be seen thai Mr. Reaklttfeffifl to the t »wn .-on. unit-- to
inn £10,000, u thii amount capitalized would not yield hla
intended innualcontrihuU'»N <>f t'.^'s. |; iu.iv be mentioned thai
the population in East Hull in about 40,000. In the event, al :m_\
lime, of the Public Libraries' Acta coming into force in I lull, Mr
Tji-rkiu will handover to the town, free of charge, the building
and books, Tlio town, of course, would then provide for the
mauitcnanoe ont oi the library rate. To provide fox the initial
expenses Mr. Reekitt ha* mod« other payments, augmenting
gfift to about £12,000.
Tin* Morqula oi E&pon was Invited to perform tv opening
ecrem »ny, and this he did in December, 1*W9, in a vcrj
mnnner. lie remarked, in the course of his apecoh, thai i
was i" Mm a Boure* oi no little regret when ho found that the
effort! made to obtain the sanction of the ratcnayero (■» the
eetnUid meat of n Public Library out of the public rotce ww
not crowned with BttOOaBB,
Then :ii u later period of hia speech, he said that
Public. Libraries were calculated to beoofit two cI&hmm of pepionn. Tin-
first was those who might be Josignated as student*, and teen tlii>: ■
might be looked upon a« general readers Of the itudent oIum and <!>•
«■! ventages they would derive from mi institution of that kind it wa* need
lew he should spunk, bwjiu.w to dwell on Hi* Advantages ofagral library,
aud a libmiy containing volumes which took upwards of 400 jtaffci In il.i
catalogue, was quite unperHuoue. He would rather turn to Uioy»;ii»iil
rcadero, and aok them to look for a few ni omenta upon the benefit* which
il library was calculated to confer upon those who had not lh« •ioerire or
perhaps even the Inclination, to be designated by the hononixbk'
of Btud»'nts, hi it. who, nevertheless, would derive from thai institution mauy
agreeable hour*' intercouree. But it would be a groat mistake in <■■■
that a Public Library of that kind, where book> might bo and
obtain «1 fur home reading, was to be conliued to thorn only who could
giro torn* hour* in the <1av to Uwvt ttadu* o^ «.<
OBJECT LESSOKS IN IT/DUC LZBHAA1ES. 453
who could givo a much more limited time than that might derive the
greatest advantage, from n library of that kind. Ha had oltpn heard it
said by those wlm w«iu unfavourable, or wished to critkiae iu a hostile
Spirit Public LibrariiM, llmi the only book* that weto read thnre worn
works of fiction. He mentioned thi« argument because ho thought it waa
ono which hod a oortain Bubstanco in it, and to which it was deeirnhlo to
reply. They would remember he had not confinoi the uae of a Public
Library iimrnly to purpose* of study. He looked upon it a* most appli-
uablu fur purpose* uf rccmatiou, aud for thoau purposes there could be no
doubt that the reading of fiction was more efficient than any other study,
an! that it did afford one of the beet incan» of elevating a man out of
that daily routine which prcstsad on all and tended to doproae their
higher aspiration*.
Mr William Linney acta as honorary secretary, and the library
lias began it career of long aud indisputable usefulness. Hull will
ii have before it* eyes an object lesson of the best, character,
and when the time eiiine* tW u fifth attempt to adopt the Arts a
ireiy different result is sure to be seen.
LtTioy.
\n place in tin.' county of Bedfordshire lunro needs a rate-
inpported library than Lnton. Vox nomc yean there has been a
»moll library supported by voluntary robecripUoae, but it has for
:i If m^ tinw ln'i-n ft'H tli;(t until it w.is lii'niu-^.t nriih'!* Hie .Wis It
would only luYiujtiiHti, and Ms best efforts 3o little to rm*er the
reading nJqutrernenta of the people, in ihsi bo Dnauccenafnl
attempt vu made to adopt rin- AeU, and It was fell thai n farther
Mini m| strongth might he* made in May, 1688. prior tD which the
mi ii js of i in* movement had worked energetically u> educate tin1
people, and Home capital meetings had been hew. A mortgage
of AM.-HX) mi the prcscul building .ippciiivd lu frighten a grt I
nuUU people from sidiuy with llie movement, but it ima pointed
«»in ul the tneetillgB t-lii.it- the to mi would yet. value i>l ;it least
tifiOQ, u .in- Mir i.s iti the rerj centre of the town, The library
in well arranged, and only requires a settled income, with tin-
other advantagee which would naturally accrue if the Acta wore
adopted. The present trustees worked ardently foi the adoption
of the Act*, and the people of Luton will, when this desirable
end is accomplished, have a building and library Ftadf made,
Th,- rate would yield about £340. For the poli in May, 18WJ, 8402
paper* wew iflfiuodand about BjOOOoI them were1 collected. The
voting wiio- -for the adoption ot the Acts 1)92, and against 2.866 j
nearly 1,000 papers were blunk or informal i 88 stipulated thai the
rate Should not exceed \>l hi thi- pound ; 1 1 we»? as far aa jd>, and
046 appfored tli*1 id. rate, Bought? apealting, the opponents -i
the measure wo aa 8to i ; in ism, when i polTwaa token, the pro-
|>ortion against was J to J. The paper* f mm the principal streets
were shnoet uniformly in Favour -i toy Acts, and those voting
" So" came from the small cottage occupiers
Willi .) largo Industrial population, aueh na there v* \v \.\\w,t\.,
ila WW to be trreutly regretted. In tUe AvftnuX* m \"\\waV».n
1 "* i
ii. inn i.TiiBAnms.
whore Mi.- -;mw pun industry li carried >'->, the* bav<
PuUIr UbrftTiM. sod why should Luton take a hack seat I
Cd these i>l;ii-i's - Sti.i -■ the pell wiis thnn taken many tri»*nd"<
turn been won over, and on Ifae next attempt there is good reason
In -ii.pi' -h:it I i ! Minv*'l:ii'nr. U'lll b§ I'i'nw tirtl v.:t!' BUGC68A,
M.AI4Vl.EbO.V15 \Lovdon),
Li no place have Che results of au object lesson iu Public
Libran work been so encouraging as in Marylebone. The rofee
tuken in 1888 irant against the idoptionof the Acts. notwithstand-
ing the tact that a large sum was promised towards the erection
of buildings. Since then, however, many things hare happened in
Mir Public Library world, especially in the Xetropoli*. and
who formerly opposed the adoption of the Acta in London have all
corao round to see that after all there is something in these institu-
tions. With a moet influential urbanization and wrll-innrshalled
forces the promoter** of the movemeut worked in a \m.-i-.
like manner, and, although beaten, tiny were not discouraged.
The leaders wisely determined thi 'I Marylebone had
deolared against a Pablw Library It should have one of ;
institutions on a moderate scale, and so provide friend* and
with ocular demonstration of the Large and ever-extending
made of thorcuduig-roooj and the books in the Mv ling library, A
Ixitter decision eouid n« »t Iimv* I n armed »t,und theentin method
ot procedure emiM not have been improved upon m
'L'o Alderman Fran! Dcbenham b due the credit of initiating the
scheme, and bo him much is dn« for fjeneront BUppoi
ways, immediately the plan wan launched flubscripl
promised, and a suitable habitation was found in B block Of
modem buildings which Tibs lately beei oanstrneted :n l.iason
Grove. These were opened on August 12, 1889, by a i
ceremony! and there Is nu ipiesthjii ahum U10 library and i
room being genuinely useful. Some fi.10 people visit if dalli
In the evening the place presents an air u id ippeuranco of solid
business. The reading-stands and I lie tublesare well occupti d
notunftequently there ore over 100 renders ixitht rooms al us
\ good selection of newspapers and magazines is provided in
the lending department there arc 8,800 volumes of i tioroogblygood
and readable Literature. Every class of literature ii rep
and greater ••mv* and disrretimi could not have been SXarmsed in the
selection of materials for the reading tastes of Morytobone 31u
nucleus of a reference department has been formed, and Already
there ore 600 books in thin section, The issue is over 1 ■
and the appreciatioti of the library is extending with cuch succeed-
ing day. So much so that a branch foranothc i port "i
has been Started In Mortimer Street, the Duke of Trfe p<
the ceremony on May 1st l;i I llio organization and m<
in both libraries are excellent, and refloat credit upon Mr
Doubleday, the ehlol librarian, and Mr. W. li
honwuiy Nrcrctary,
HVlCii l/ic movement W»r 'A.'- -.*V«\A.Vi\\ i)U\w5u^,«,*^\!o.
• JIURC1 ih.-shns t>; prm.IC LEBOABXEB.
-155
:
{Trees two years ago, those who were not favourable send that a
Public Library was not wanted, was not asked for, would not be
appreciated, and wouM bt Wtt to hut ii 8t*rt©ll ItoO experience
d Mnrylehone, as everywhere •tee, proves exactly the reverse.
There, as elsewhere, it is the supply which creates the demand,
Uid the Marylclnine object lesson has undmi •telly more thuri
realized the c vpi ct :i: icu:>- whirli were lu-hl nut with lvgurd i" it
Success is Stamped ujton the very face, of it, and when the Act*
I'ome t«i 1m' Milopted in MarylehnnV, as adopted they will he, it is
these little libraries which will have accomplished the conversion
nf the pariah Quietly ami uiios|.»niatioU8lj they are pUTSUCag tfoftfl
work of UBe Cullies. Headers erowd Ihrstandhund thy I si hie*, and
a]] ogee and e lapses use its books. II i»ea*iy ludec what will be the
immediate expansion iu its work when a large central library "id
several bxaUOOflfl arc opened, All iu the parish who care for hue
and lasting progress, and who yive a single thought to the reading
ro.|uirement8 of the day, will work for iliis object, end side with
those who have at heart the general good of the community in
which they live.
PaddinOton (London).
The failure of the attempt to carry the Acts in March, 18*7, in
Poddington, carnc aa a surprise to many. The majority uguinst wue
I. lit;'. < > ;' U ir M JyJ*', pftpgn delivered, 7, li»7 wnr returned With an
answer to the question, "Do you vote m favuur of the adoption of the
Public Libraries' Acta for the parish of Paddingtonr' " 5,£I5 replies
being in the negative and 1 ,6/i2 in the affirmative. A greater interest
woe taken than at the annual election of guardians, but it may be
Observed that l,l-'> poraons did imt vote a( all. .Vn analvais shows
that, comparing the Northern Ward, iiihnbitated b v a working-
class popidation, with those districts adjacent to Hyde Park, there
was the same degree of apathy among the rich a* there was
reluctance on the part of (lie pool to give ft decided vote. It
"i onlv proposed to levy a halfpenny rate, but this the
opponents represented would soon be insufficient, and a request
for Moil* would lie made The movement hud many wnrm and
i irin-t friends, and while they accepted the defeat, with a pood
grace they determined that notwithstanding the rcfusnl to
adopt the Acts Pnddington should have an object lesson in
library work. T iheral Hitlwcriptinns were promised, and a large
house WM l.'tlrn foi B U'l'm of five yearn at £70 a year. An
appeal was* made fur MuWriptions and books, to which there
wa» a Wr response. Tin- committee wisely culled to their aid
a practical librarian, Mr, Alfred Caddie, who for BOme leu
years had been ai the siriu-uixm-Trcob Public Library and
Museum. In June, 1888, the building was opened to the public by
the l-"id Chief Justice, who still remains president of the library.
About 3,900 books have boon giveDiand this is the oorabet of
volomei tn (he ubiftrj at Represent time, it Is ft very common
experience, when books arc ashed for for D library, thnt the
ordinary run of mortals do not send their best books. Those who
make giving a principle of life send uhtfvA s«w\T^ta&\<c>\«K?«»s
186
rruLii.' LniRAKit.s
but too many, tuifortunntoiy, looking u-oiind their shelve**, ooru idef
i hui o library urny boa mausoleum of dead literature, a* it ha boon
expressed, and get rid of what they can most spare from tbotl
Own QoUeetloO. It is nut being argued that books should not N
'inked Ini' or accepted when soot. By no mean*, for Ottl
number sent some BM wire to be worth placing upon the. hlo-hi*.
and cataloguing. If, however, the Iwoks in trie Paddington
library represent the high-wnter murk of Paddington book
giving, tin toonerthe Acta are adopted and a good selection o4
hooks ivmght the better. A gift of fiuo volumes from tf r. Pnesmore
Edvnidl to Pnddington is a gift worthy of thr man, and there
are some other nets of books wm>h reflect rht* practical ■ •)vv.-
of the donors.
The library has much more than Justified ins existence S use
200 people uaoit Bach day. The placing of the advertisement-
pages oi several of the London dailies at an early hour each
monitog ill u \rr_v Jirri_>hil>lr pho'e leading l<> tlir main eillruw.T
ia adecidrd boon for the unemployed, and a facility of which ti
and iiKTiM^mi: u*e is made, Paddington hasan opportunity of
it-, appetifc wring whetted, and tin-* time ia fact ripening for
again bringing tin- movement before the nttc]>ayers. The
(|m'rili(in in London stand.-* on ;i l.i'.ln plaifi nil than was the
in the early part of 188T. PI after place lute adopted
ilic Acte, and the |»cople who really think nboul th< matter
nt nil nee the ncod ol these libraries an<l their genu::
among the people. If only the apathy among the rich in 1'nddintr-
ton can be conquered uuccesa in assured. "VVitlt a rntnhlo mine
ranking the seventh highest among the sixty-seven pariahon of
i ii<- Biol ropolifli and with exceptionally low mtesj few iUi trfote are
in a more favoured condition For adding the inftniteeimnllv
burden which an additional halfpenny rate would entaif
.!.ii
the iluule by tho struggling parishes <>t the Kast? i
will not do justice to ite intelligence and culture il
. t i be taught a lesson in educational progret trieW
nniaUor and leaa Important. Che whole M l^ondon wlU watch
Paddington very closely in its next attempt, and with the
of London and the country upon it, there will lie in nil prolm'
:i very different result when the question comes again to the
On -''11 hands within the parish the mnvcinenr has gained U I
If SOUK' nf thus.- [>0>tSC*Hlng the i.r:m> would giv* :t pl'ili
illustration of the Gospel of wealth the whole miration would be
lubricated.
EtocHJurnm.
At Ruoheatei there i« ;i Jubilee Free Library which ia not yel
under the Acts. This institution had tla orijrfi! in i sulmti
raised during 1.S97 in connection with the Jubilee. In alia mum
of 6&TO wax raised, and with tin's sum and the handing evei of .»
small library which had belonged ton workmen's club, "i"'1 ■■
were commenced in tin* library room of the Com Exchange, thi
uac of which vraa given by irk AVvmCo^cU. The lii-r.m
n»ji;r-r i.r.vso.Nti IS 1'CBLIU UBR-UaES.
457
Opened iu June, [868, ami now uonsinU of 2,101) vols., with an
average weekly issue of 500. A book for every- twelve pcrsoiib of
the population cannot, of course, lx^ the extent of "In- ambition of
the influential library committee who.se n&mee appear un the
report. The average of fiction in the issm > i •> 7 i per cent., and the
tfia&agOTB console themselves by saying that the issues of fiction
range from 60 to 90 per cent. ThJeie nct<ruite correct, the nvcra^c
is from 40 to 80, which in tdightly different. Kent has not yet
taken its place in thin Public Library movement, und Rochester
might take a worthy step by shoving the way to some of the other
Kentish towns. To lie enrolled among enfranchised town* should
be the aim of the mayor and thoee who act with him on the
committee. The library, it dependent on subscriptions, will only
starve.
SALTNBY, NEAD. CliBSTEfi. '
There is a literary society and workman's library here. For
two years the committee and members irate endeavouring to
raise funds to enable ilu-in to build new library and remllng-
rooms, the old room being not only too small but quite ineon-
vonieni for the purpose. Mr. Gladstone Opened thau POOnSfl on
1 1. -r iber -''"•. I1"''. In I Bpeedl OH "The "Workman ami his nppor-
luiiiiii-N," in the course, of which ho referred to tfw ueefulneas
nf Public Libraries. Tto committee have since been ranting rendu
with which In furnish I he bttjldtng VtOd renovate the lecture hall,
;i:nl have appealed In Hie public for monetary aid, The district
is a jrrowinjr one, and Un* population Ee largely a workinv'hisH
our. The iirliabibnds number 2.300. If the institution vole to
come under the Acts, it would greatly enhance its'- utility to all
claeees.
Skbo a
An earnest attempt tree made in iff? to adopt the Acts, but
■ l was not able to add itself to tin- list. Mr. J, B. Btrnchan
bought the town grammar school for i'WH>, ami presented it
to |h« town, and gave an additional £*WK» for tin jo-.v.-sary
alteration*. There wetu botoo other Iwjge ^ifts, brining the
amount up to a total of £3,500. The opening ceremony took
[>!:.< r in .September. 18£8. The structural alterations and the
internal fittings of the library cost about £700. A handsome
portico wns added to the building, and rooms for the librarian
were built at the buck, liustn of Shakspere and Milton are
enned to bae-relleJ abov« the portico. The interior in divided
by pitch pine and glazed partitions into three compartments, one
'■ontuining the books, a librarian's counter and an indicator, the
Hi'cond the new- rending desks, and the third the table* for hook
and periodical rending. The Uorarj haBaceonimodailon for about
GflGQ volume.*, and Of these some SJ500 are now on the shelves, and
Hie lining well used. A nun of £1,000 WftB invested as an endow-
ment, and in addition to thiN something like Cl'/io i< Guaranteed
unnuaily for five years .sin mil has thus got Ha Public Library,
und Mr. .Toil n Mi by, whohai token bi active Interest Lb v\w watacx,
tee that the work Is rapidly extending bemg Vft&ttte S)e»
uiid
■!•*.»
1-1 i i.i.
fm: yoais liu\c expired, them i^ ewn aaaon to thiol that tftffoud
will have Bt'tMi the error of it* wu.vn imd will adopt tin- A. I
a canter wheu next aha question comefl bo H role.
(>i SBHBB7| Timnvici, Ulands.
The (.«uiLlc-AUcs Library hero hae a voty Lntercstiu
in L s*;i. Ur , Quille, a satire of Guernsey, then a boj at sixteen!
■was serving his apprenticeship with a well-known firm in New
York, and lie enjoyed the privilege of across to a very oxt I
library in that city, founded by a wealthy corporation known a*
thi' lienors I Society Hi' MdotafiiOG s i sioen. The pleasure
and profit he dertred from this source vmiv go (great sou mode
such a deep impression on his mind, that the resolution took
possession of turn ihni should hi» business career prove prosper-
ous, and his position enable him to do «<\ be would Found a
similar institution in fluemaey Ah 'he years rolled along thU
Intention was present with in'm, mni rummi'iimni .ii <>in
spite of bin then limited means, to purchase books which :-;
f.-nii iIk Qudeni of the anticipated collection, he began t «> lay the
iniilnlHtiiMi nl' tin- lUir:ii_\ IrnMiir- .sliieli imw fill tlir shell
the GaflLe-Alles Library. Nm wats he less mindful o1 the ad
Uvea of a museum, which lie wisely considered would ho a valu-
able idditioD hi illustrating themawer contained in the works on
natural BU&eoxerol which it wua Ins especial desire Lo old I
large and valuable collection II w-.mM take too lung a tii
relate bo* iiii.^ (^tleman progressed in his self-appointed tuak,
or the many difficulties and heart-burnings lie e£pcrienri
frequently seeing works he coveted for his laudable enter]
!»nt up at a price beyond his mrana, and purchased '■> we
ndividuals ur highly endowed Institutions. Altai mkwi.y years,
fortune smiled upon Mr. Guille, and ho returned to Guernsey full
i)!' i;hl'(iim see " put in work his Ions-cherished and lopjr-laboureoV
for design. He w:in joined \.y In- business purrn<
long friend, Sir. F. M- Allen, who also wished to be Identified with
the work, nnd who hup materially ftwu&ted the original
both with money and personal effort.
The east of earning outtMsundertakm&iiioludi] ■ ction
of buildings, purchase of books, ftttings, &e,. lias already amounted
'-. no to now, about £-10,01X1, and the outlay shows no *igiiH of
cassation [n addition to these expenses there is on <••
rund.aud for this the munificent donors intend to seJ apart ;i '-um t«
which the above amount boars but a am :i 11 proportion. Bo thai
altogether the Guernsey community will be indebted to
an educational foundation worth a magnificent figure in n
ralue alone. Then' are now in ii sW.ii »*i.hii v. .in
those hnve bean classified and catalogued by Mr. \. Uo
wins well known hi England, who has hud many m
practical experience in library administration. The* ntairigu*
COOtOiOB ilmni 1,300 ii;i;;i'h, :uni display** the En »■ ;m
hifxniv with which :X Ua> We\\ cuu^WrA. *\-«u ;>;\i l« i i.-m.
rHH SUNDAY 01'KXING OK PUHUT LTBRABIBfl.
159
.1. L, Pitta awl Mr. John Whitehead, have, as honorary curators,
rendered very valuable service 03 tin; arranging of the library.
A sunacription of ten francs a year is charged to adults for the
use of the library and reading-room, and for the lending library
only six francs. In this section 34,266 volume** were lent East
year. Tin- OhanncJ blonde do not yet poaaesi a rate-eupportod
libra v\.
CHAPTER XXXI.
THE SUNDAY OPENING OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
|HIS i.i rapidly becoming one of the pressing OMtttJOIW ol
the day. Many prominent men who have hitherto hesi-
tated about expressing an opinion on the subject no
longer liud theiusehers able to innuitain <i neutral
position. It is well that this slu-idd be the case, fur the
matte* is of too great importance for anyone who really takes an
interest in notional pi -ogre** r«i .stand aloof ,ind allow things to
take then OOUfSOi It ii undeniable lhat nwm earnest Christ iuii
men haver hecn compelled — reluctantly, perhaps, in some COM
bo boom (.» the conclusion that it is both irfee and politic bo gflVS
noa-cburch goere a choice between tin* street or publlc-honae
and libraries, museums, and nrt galleries "ii the Sunday. Th<
■ n-1 Hon will be diaouNsod impartially, and tho vie vs »ro end. eon
ui iii. matter of a few veil-known people will be civen.
Toe opeains; ol Public Libraries, nrt galleries, and mmenflM
on the Sunday 18 resisted in this country rather from tradition
than on principle. Nobody can point to any mural detevtonlion
Qkely bo win from anon ■ eonceBsiou, Most of (be experiment*
yel made In the direction of bringing the tveaanrea of literal ore
art, and until nitty within reach of the people on the day when
they have most time available have boon crowned with mi. --..
\i-ii \ who reflBt lUOfl I Btep in modern progress derive ih.-iv
impolite rather from tb< peat khan Hie present*. Their Ideas are
a survival of Puritanism, Of so niucli as is left « < *" it Ihiwover,
the bunds of thealooh cannot stand still; and it is Impossible la
Bootoh the march of progress, or yet She growtog BehT-rellance
ol 1 1 h' people
It may, no douht, he taken as an axiom that the altantfon ol
the sympathies of the w (.irking e hisses from places ol' worship is
one of the most deplorable signs of tlic linns, Wry niun\
nonconformist ministers and clergymen of ^'l sections recognize
il is i.n t is acutely iu> do any sections ut' society. Furthci . tin )
in i o strained -.very nerve and adopted every means to stem thai
tide of abstention from churcheH and chapels, but without any
appreciable success. Many "I those rt'hn ci me iu rluse C'Mitftct
with the working clones, and have thus hud opportunities of
learning some -t the imihci -d this state of things, have come to
the conolnsion that th< abstention from relhpo^BftwrtVjsAvs^'fiwto
paa*i of the Packing claesefl does, not ariae ttej&a «aq a\\\ay*^v*
460
;-; B|jr i.irr imp;*
againat \\\o church or yel any antI*reHgiou« reeling they may
hold. The two primary i'.'ihki* are, first, tin* i 1 ol pn;
KB! :il(rl ;lir VDil. :i! il \\(irr_\ of I in- \m-.-U :i :v nuT; :« (M 1 . Heemidl;.
Mir deeply-rooted feeling thai the ocenpanta of higti-baekad and
cushioned news look so iniH'h aakaneo at the presence of the
whim of toil worshipping side by side with them. !i ^ a
pleasant fiction to say that all stand equal in the Oiureh OB
worshippers of the Almighty, so far, at leaet> as the estimation of
men Is concerned. How much irreligion pews, pulpit*. -
and "man milliuery" en hive have caused it is iiuiKaywhlc to
conceive. It may reasonably be aaked, Why ia there iraoh an
<jHiin<ii- W&etQ of lorn.' iii the churches? Purely there is .1
. ii ir Anomaly in the tact that churches nnd chapels should be
open, aay, six hours in the week and public-houaeo open soroe-
thinjflike 1#4 hours. The waste, again, of force in not utilizing
an intelligent loitj to a far greater extent ia most lan>< ■
The r\ ii.- uriiiiiu; livm u onc-mun ministry, whether app
the Establishment or Nonconformity, are considerable. It it
eertoin that matters must continue w remain very much out of
joint until wo readjust those uml other nnoraalioti with n gard to
< hurch life. In the meantime tin- aj-iieiirwu-e <t <\
ehUTOhes mUKl continue {<> |ireaoii( itself \<< • <uv gaze, !
i ,■. re regret of all who have the true welfare of fcuc nation nl
heart,
The poRttionol the nominaJ Christians on tho subject ha
largely taken into account, We are, as ,\ nation, perpt
Or <m\g about our i 'liristianity, nnd theiv '-■ mn.-h in our nu
i:t i wnjoh 1* as Bar removed rpora the true spirit <>i the le ■
Of Nazareth an light from darkness. It may iv-.i«<>nably 1>«- ;imU..<!,
by what right do Christians tndnlge In their own ptauntrv iiel
deny those same luensures to others!' They have only r Ik* tight
i if might, awl siirrfy < ihMstians Rhmild !*« th* last f»> oxer
aright! The mimical have the melolioun sung* of ttw CI i reh,
the peals ><\ the organ and the harmony nf the si ring instruments
in which to Indulee themselves on the Sunday : the literary man
has the use of booKs belonging either to himself or to » tine
libraries to which he in able til Mib.scriiic, through win. n to
commune with the great of the ps*t and the present; thoa 1
love a good dinner on Sunday as well as on the other dl
week do not feel it necessary Lo give their domestic*! inatnu tioni
not to stay at home on that day to eonk it while iliev go to
I'lnii-rli, Tin. man who loves to commune with n'mr in
sen lielde and pleasant woods in which he can take Tcfugc and
Study on the Sunday. To sketch a flower or tree on Sunday j»
counted by many ;i crime , yel those same censors will
paafi hours in the criticism of theli neighbour's bonnet, w 1
the circulation of sillj nnd m *chioi >tis scandal, or in the verb*!
planning of n drew, or the arrangement nf bulls nnd partir
the ensuing week. Theresoems to be no clear or defii Eta idea
11 keto ;h<- ■.;m.'ii;v . -V Hu- Huudivj i--uls ii end* among muvj
IH'ojilv . but 011 one point lAv&y QU vA:tw\tov\\^ wgoe^sas^. t.h»t
srvPAV oputfivn or rrnn ■ unnAitiKs.
161
is that bhe opening of i Public Library, a picture gallery, or n
rnuMt.nmi U GO ofimoti against the law of the good old hnglish
Sunday. Such should remember the lined of Tom Hood—
Aceo
"A man may cry Church ! Church ! at cv'ry word,
With no wort) piety tliau other people — '
A daw's Dot reckon 'd * religious bird
Because it kteps a-ciwuig from a (tteepk*."
according to the views of many of these good people the
admirer oi paintings, and natural science, n not to east his aye
upon these beautiful Defeats beoaose, through no fault of his own,
he in not able i" g<> wnere they are on any das bin* ihc first day
Ol the werk. Public Libraries, museums, and picture galleries
belong to the people, sad not to only a portion of them. Ccm-
Bequaatly thai? convenience aa to when their institutions shall
be open should be taken into account. Sunday must ever bo
mainly a day of tepott) to thoae who uiidergu hard intellectual
or mamnd labour. It is obviously a ain against himself, and
ultimately again*) the community, if a iimu goef> 00 with his
work on a Sunday. lie utterly ruins hi- higher powers, and
bfiugfi bimaolf down as nearly aa possible to the lave] of the
brutes. It \* the duty of everyone to try and brine Inn fellow-
creatures into such a position that they could have the Advantage
of studying nature in sonic way or other, and ve have now
reached in education a point at which something more on the
Sunday than the teaching of churches, chapels, and Sunday-
schools hon heoorae absolutely nceessary. People must DO
brought under the influence of pictures and other beautiful
object*, and IkioUh, It is m it creditable to OUT boosted civilization
thai in this time of the life of the world wo should calmly
allow ao many of our fellow-creatures Co live so little above the
level of HuvagtfR, when there are so many things in our civilization
which, if <ody used aright, would tend "to raise them high above
then* present condition. How can all the instruments of
civilization be used if they are not to tte used on the Sunday as
well as on other days ,J To tin* muss of people -Sunday is the
only day of leisure, and every opportunity should he given for
Their getting on that day the best kind- of Mental and intellectual
recreation, If people tiro bo get the full benefit* from the study
of books. pictures, and the contents of Public Libraries and
lUUeuma, POCtl plaC98 ought In 1*4 opened for n>rlain hours on
the Sunday.
There are many good Christmas who do not consider themselves
called upon by any divine law, nor yet by any consideration of
what is best tor their (WTO microtia, to devote the whole of tin-
day to religious duties. Even among i.lmse whose nrthudoxji
if beyond question there is a great difference of opinion regarding
Christian obligations in reference to Ihc Sabbath. Some people
oonaktai it sinful even to »o for a walk on Sunday, though I
strict view of duty i.*> not in accord with what was the yttt&fc*
of the Founder of the Christian faith. Vs Wt \* uv. -«Wi v> *Q^
m
IM'TII.IO LinUAIUIH.
a
allowable in en orthodox Christian become* purelj ,>n •'
degree. It l£ porraiaalhlo to road in one's own house, on Su
and, except on an untenable Sal hn toman view, to read on;
thut may be profitably or Innocently read on a week-<iay." Does
tho place mak- any OifFerenea? Ik it unlawful h
joint oi view, or socially inexpedient to do in a public instit
on the first day ot the week what may be done on the
days, and what may atill be done on the first, day <i the week
16 t Few people, as a matter <>( (net, now
i'1'i. hiiiLT ■»!! .< ire 3 religions grounds; but that ratnei base * li.-rr
opposition on considerations connected with the >| i
Sunday labour, it i* not to lie denied that, if libra
and pxetnrfl galleries were opened on Sunday *ome amount "f
Sunday labour would be necessary. Bui we do nnl rortdd UN
work unit i* done in connection with churches, private In
hotels, clubs, railways, tramways, and numerous other nrgiuiii*-
tioub that arc "going" ou Sunday a; aud the question En wlieihrr
the gotsl out weighs tin? evil. It i& well known that, fur wanl <>f 'I
means of rational enjoyment, lar^e iiuuibcn oi people
get into erfl oouraea ; and the advocates of thepo tndsj
opening believe that much ruisohief and much positive *m
would be prevented If the masses could go to li
pfctqxe galleries, and museums to spend their noun of total
on the day of rest. Then- ;n< mime p-'ople who op]
Sunday opening of libraries, and kindred institutii
consideration* wholly irrcspct live of the rclitfiout
connected with the Sabbath.
The one main reason why many arc bo much opposed I
Sunday opening of Museums is that it maybe tin- getting la of ihe
thin end M the we Ige t" continontallao our Sunday. Thontatcmcnt
fe vorv tiMi|Luiiti\- madfi that if waopon libraries, miuaMUQfl nod
picture gailBTiee, on the Sunday, as i logical ■■■ |in i
iiii.t nl-.o be opened. But it doea Dot nt nil follow tliat we murt
tall into the groove which unfortunately characterises the Can
tinont in the method of spending the Sabbath. Th< rOT* rental
feeling is fnr more deeply rooted in the minds of tht
speaking peoples than of* any other nation on the lace • n
earth, This is sufficient safeguard for the proper and reasonable
extension of the opportunities for n rational spending of SundsY,
Again, what Public Libraries, museum* and picture ■
I ro ru'ccM^iricKol »nenlal and mnntl life. This CJSODOt
be Maid of the theatre, Hie first article of faith oi Which I
amuse. Libraries nml museums, with other kindred in-ntu!
arc national property, and there is no mnney-maku :.t hi
the question, hut with theatres the question la illfferenl 1
<|uently Ihe opening: of these twodeacrlpl Ions of UMtUnl lousKtssidv
on a totally dissimilar looting. Wi'h iv?-:.t'. i<> Mi.- i^hmi i
theatres on Sunday Mr. Irving has stated chat if this wave sjpo-
poseil, actors and actresses would be the very first to opposi
such suggestion.
In Paris all the puAAk hujwuui* wA w&o\M are uiieu
s
t>le
IT,
-
raB SIM.AV OPF.NINtl OF PrBLIO LIimAIMftt.
4tft
Sunday*, and eves is those instances iu which they aiv only upon
on two or throe days a week, Sunday U nlwuya one of 01066 (fere
In Berlin mail EnsfoRttfonfl are open on Sundays, but for sojaowhat
shorter horn's thai) on weekdays. In Amsterdam the famous
Jlyks Gallery, containing the pictures of the grout Dutch masters,
is open every day, Monday excepted. On Sundays its staff is
supplemented with twelve soldiers, in view of the tact ot the
number of visitors on that day being always greatly augmented.
In the Amsterdam Fodor museum, which is tfic property of the
municipality, the charge on weekdays H LO&jOfl bwidays fid. only.
Tin small cost of superintendence in France is remarkable. The
task of watching and keening order in the four great national
museums, the Louvre, the Luxembourg;, Versailles, and St.
Germain*, is confided to a stuff of 168 men. The FWO chiefs
receive only £80 a vear, while 132 of the nurnhor arc engaged
at salaries varyiug from £64 to t'fifi.
It will be opportune to cull attention to the general position
or the question, and to lite I'xpi-ewiofiN of opinions of mnue
uublic men. A [v\\ yeiuv ,r/n, when llie matter was before the
House of Lords, the Bishops were ounspicuoua either l\ thro
absence or efleoce. Out of t wenty-Mx. neven only were preoent,
mid tln»e do not seem to have made any exertion to OzprOOfl
their opinion upon I In* mailer
Following ill--, . i Royal OotuuinSau declared tiut the Sunday
opening ot mnaeuma and art raJleriea Iiaa exerted a salutary
Knfluani Q on the moral and intellectual condition of the people.
Immediately after the report ot tin* Duranueeioj] WftB puwisnod
Sir Henry Hoocoo asked* the Elonee ot CoraTnoni to recognise the
justioe and expediency of opening the Natural History Museum
at .South Kensington and the Bcthunl fJi-cen Museum in Rust
London on Sundays without further delay, thiiH extending to
London the advantages alroady providotl at Kow, Sainptoii
Court, Greenwich, Dublin, Birmingham, Manchester, and ten other
provincial towns. Sir Henry ltoscoo, M.l*., mentioned those
places wlieiv Sunday oponiiip lias been m practice for Rome time
with excellent results. Dublin holds a foremost place for liberality
in this respect. The collection in that city, of painting, sculpture,
archawlogv, and zoology, is free of access on the Sunday, and a
fine Sunday iiitruei.- i lurujor number of people than all the other
days of the week combined If it be objected tbat Dublin, ltcing
in another country, is not n convincing example Tor England bo
follow, we have She home illustrations oJ Blaneheati p, Bradford,
Birmingham, Neveustle-on-Tytie. London (partially), and neural
other places, and not a single evidence tlmt anything but
advantage lias resulted.
The long discussion wbieli took place during the baiter pari of
WH7 and the early part ot 1888 as to tin- opening ol the Batford
Museum and Public Libraries ou Sundays d&s given the question
;i grrat impetus. Mr. B. Armitutfe wan the prime mover through-
out, mid championed the question, notwithstanding much cfttaNBQ,
iu a maimer highly creditable to hhu. 'V\w: v:v>«\. vtt <tab SF»
out, a
iu a
m
FillMi1 LinRAlURs.
KAOnou* it very large Hum, whn li Mr. \nnitngc paid. DVCX tlu>
expenditure there wns ;i l-v. nt -deal »*l" *li.sen»wion. The following
iH ;i. summing v)l the |.;irii<-ul:us of the COSta incurred by tfac
returning officer in connection with the poll: For printing,
publishing and posting of bills, notices, forms, und ballot papers,
including stationery, So. j £38 i«.7d.; tor erecting and lirtiug up
Killing stations, taking down same, end removing fittings to Town
till ■gain, £07 Us. KM. ; tor use of thirty-nine schools and a
house U polling stations, including the erection of a booth X
Kivi.-.in Liiii«, Broughtou, csvi is. iM,; lor torty-t'onr presiding
offcVer*, including their attendance at counting, iTi": for til r v
poll clerks, Including the like attendance, £fi( | tor ttrvioa
?h1m fwtoblos, and allowance to thorn in lien ol rptrcshnient.
i.'iis i i.i. ■ for refreshment* u> Jolnera fining Tip polling
and to returning officer and start on the day • >! ti lectloo,
■ a :<. fld.; for cabs talcing ballot boxen to the vnrfmi* polling
stations and bringing same back to Town Hull. iis l'k. i
for sundry other BXpBiiMesi Uioluiiing clerke' overtime, iueaaeii|
cab fiiic*. fltc«. £$ fe.i to* pnifeMSKiual hcrvices and awtotauoe in
ihe conduct at the poll, £6S IDs.; total, £40d& OU
Bo ridloulouily insignificant was the number of elector* von
took bbfl trouble to record their votes, that the cxpenditu:
several hundred pounds in connection with I In- OpCrftUOU WBfl well
laleulited lo annoy thoAc who had to find the niom \ , r.*|irn;iil ,
as it is known that it would have been easy to obtain
number of signatures to a petition either for or against the 8undfl |
opening for tnc expenditure of about CIO. Out of n total nm
of voters of J!t,o47 there were in favour of Sunday opening :;.
against, 5,1(12; showing n majority in favour . I j
Lg we fact that 23,940 of the voters were utterly indit'h
about the matter, and did not take the trouble to record their i
Vn afuUvBifl of the east of the number of votes polled shove
these 6.60" votes cost Is. :>?d. each. This is so very inatri.
that other districts Bhould neeitate before talcing o poll on tlui
question.
The Public libraries m Salford were opened on 8u i taj for till
first time in September, 1888. The attendance was not v«rj large.
The hours were from two o'clock to nine, the mine bourn a» in
Manchester. At I'oel Park there were thirty-five visitor* during
the tir-i hour, forty-one the next hour, thirty-nine from
o'clock to five, tbirty-two between five and fitxftwenty-«ix between
aix and seven, and Bfty-fiine from seven to eight. Very lev
books were naked for, the visitors occupying them-Hvex rnainty
\\^\i niagayines and newspapers. At the branch llbrar
Hegenf Road the nuiiiIkt of visitors up to seven o'clock vm
about ninety A special room is set apart in thin libra1;
boys, and between five o'clock and seven fourteen boyH mod
of it. U the Greengate branch, which stand* in the lie
Hoiking Sal tWd, the utiendonce hud reached 128 ::i eight o'clocl
To the 128 eighteen IhkiUb were issued— such book* an " It ibinsoi
Cmaoe," "Uncle Tom's Caclu," "Xwte* "^oA-w Uu i
THE JOT NT) AY OPFNISQ OF Pl'RMr MRTHlii'N.
4(55
trated l^mdim News," " The Old Curiosity Shop," •• Household
Medicine," and :m "Encyclopaedia.
Tlie late John Bright, m.i\, writing to March, 1888, said:
1 lift VI
111.' FlV-;
diced the discussion on the question of opening
Libraries in your borough on Sunday afternoon* ind evenings. Jl I were
a rl well or in your town. and one of your Town Council, I iholild be on** of
your supporters on thetniestinu in which you have taken so muoh interest.
I hope you may succeed, and that the results of jour buccom may convert
inuiiy who aw now your opponents,"
Mr. Thomas Hurt, the miners' representative, wrote:
" I nntirely approve ofyooractten in ttying U> haw the Reading Room*
of the Public Libraries at Sal ford open on Sunday aftornoona ftndevcnhitfK,
and 1 wish yon every eueoesa."
The Into Dean Uukley \m<Ii> :
'• Pico access to useful arid haiiulos* hooka in a coiufm table hkjui un
the ono day of loleuro in the week plainly adds to the means of moral and
mental improvement, which is the business of a Christian Sunday, in
addition to teat and after the worship of AJ mighty Uod. Bcsirtoa this
IHihir.ivn ttin, we are lighting against an irr.it.inin!. indeed an irreligious
idea of Sunday. Whatever be the issue of the appeal to the rate*
Iiaycr-i to know what they wish to do with their own hooka arid their own
wildings on the only day when most of their owner* can mako use of
them, we may fairly demand recognition of otir own belief that we arc
lighting the battle (if reasonable religion and Christian liberty."
Sir John Harwood. bhen Mayor of M;uirh<\si«r, of high standing
as a Methodist, and of uniiupe&chalile orthodoxy, Bold; —
" Why khould the peoplo oq compelled to rood in dark, dingy dwelling,
when they paid for commodious lulls that stood t» mpty t To t-nUrpe the
idea of Sunday, toUDbnoe hoalt.hy relaxation and intellectual nxercine,
was to help to make a happier, more sober and contented people, and to
BtfQBgjAMII the librc and raise the tone of thb «<reat nation.
Dt Ki'sr'.T, the Into Bishop of Mnnehester, whilst ho never
holy un<l formally" (the phrase is his own; advocated Son. lay
opening, never opposed it : he did justice to the motives of those
wh<> 'I -suvd it, fin* t preserved all ah ma- mi attitude of " benevolent
neutrality." Tim* la bla addfett ai President of flu 3oda] Setaee
Conyrens, he gave the statistics of the first year of Sunday open-
ing at the Manchester Libraries. He did no without one word of
disapproval. "\V> must Ih> taught by experience,' said Bishop
Frawr: and, taught hy oxperionre, 'In- prrwuif Bishop of
A[:nirlirHt.M' :ubi- rlio weight of his ecclesiastical status, his
intellectual power, his high dharwrter and practical philanthropy
in favour of Sunday opening. This is what he wild ;
*' I heartily support your effort to secure the opening of the Public
Library at convenient hours ou Sunday. No on* DION prison than I do
the rest of the Sunday, and no one would oflpOM more strmmonely anv
aflbrt todepiive the working classes of that advantage. It is for this
reason that I have always opposed all attempts to organize amusements
-I to i .ill into action onylargc amount of labour on tho Lord's Day, Rut
when 1 im * layman I always found that <\u\at teA&vaa v\AsA. V» Cix*
PTOMC LIBBER rBS.
profit miiI pleasure of my Sundays. Now. I know that them arc hiindrtslt
&ii<l thousands of youug incu in Manchester who, bring in lodging?, ur ia
narrow iftd populous homos, have neither the books to rend nor oppor-
tunities for reading. To those the opening of tho Public Librariw won! !
Itn )i priceless hoon, and it would be easy to movent any too great in fringe-
Bi i,,' of tho Nit of the ordinary employes ot the library."
Mr. JIuworlh, M.P. fur Salford, has strong view* uu the subject,
M W& be Been from his words:
*' I hftvn always h«M thu «amt- viimv on this ipiestion, and took an
aotive part in opening the Manehmter Uhrarira "n Sunday, and have
iH'vn regretted tue »teii I took. There are o great many people who >b>
nut go to church oi chapel ; there arc many other* who xo onh
Muny >tt those are young men iu lodging*. It acems U BU that to compel
them to end their only Sunday occupation in the public-house or tho club
IB neither ( Christianity nor i* it even rational. On the othor hand, QUN
are ol&ases, like the railway nut* vaults and cabmen, who can only road, if
thtjy read at all, on Sunday, Thy uigiiiiieut about employing |wop1«- [|
librarios on Sunday in to uw a very hollow ouc. TIk very mm ivh'j
raise it. employ postmen and railway guards in largo nurabors, and read
their Monday's paper (thu result o( Sunday labour j i|iiite comfortably."
Tin- oxperlfinee ot the Rev, s. a. Burnett In his work En tkt
Kasl End in the Suud;i\ 'jpemiiK ul' his annual ph-luii* exhibition,
has more than confirmed him in the wisdom oi tho stop, fa i
letter received by the prt-M-nt wriu-.i 'nun him iu October 1;im, he
says. " [m (In- interest id religion, it swrus tout; that tho words
of the girut leurlier.MMight I" 'it- accessible oil SundayB, Town
life has «ii destroyed many nt the- rueaus I>\ wlurli (l<n\ spoke iu
old day* that it la incumbent on us to provide lihrarir* .mil in
inaho tlie books accessible by which He speaks iu these I
Our people cannot become Hludeiitu of nature, but they 11U might
become students of mind."
Another London clergyman, deeply in touch with the in'cdfl "1
the day, and one who has taken an active interest in the proms rtaOfl
of the Public Library movement in the metropolis, tho Kcv.Canoii
I,clli;un,l'..A.,Uector of Lambeth, ami mm of the Earl of Chichester,
writes to tho author, on follows: " As to Sunday opening, lam cer-
tainly in fuvour of it us long 06 it is limited to the reading-room*,
and that tho lfl>rali&08 m-v not employed on Sunday..
irceflpeotive of tho moral question of using books on 8undi
could not boar the idea of a library being shut ,\ hile Hi
bouu ih <>pan ! 1 urn of opinion that religious biograph n
us that "1 Cord Shaftesbury, ;inri iii:igasines^boundup)aiu>h.i
'Quivor,' shuuld bo put under the title 'Tneoiogyrr whine
ultiMjw a irla.su made up with sermons and dry-book^ .ml y irnrtitnd
of containing all kinds of popular religious- books."' I ;
certainly might be cross hi-nrfingu under Theology from these
magazines and other books.
The Rev Bernard J. Snell, a Nonconformist rninia si In - ilford,
hi preaching trora 'lie texts, "Thp Sabbath is made for mac," and
" It is lawful to ilu good on the Sabbath Day," b
" In* fame of Bund*} in pmj o^qWwySVj Vm <ta 4»n loooMfct of
■
TIIE M'XDAY OPENING OF PUBLIC LIURAJilBtt. 107
tho*. fvrultuw which lie dormant undai LiAr*s drudgery was tou koenly
appreciated for practical men to throw it away ; bat .Sunday was not kept
holy by being kept empty and dull. The dnmialnota of Sunday wus the
o;reat cause of Sunday intemperance ; men were fatigued with too mueh
nlleneHx, and in ahenr despair of anything lietter to band, soaked thon-
eelveaiu liquor. On the Continent public- nailer ice, for which the adini.s-
«on chargo on wock-daya wm a franc, were free as air on Sundays, and
thronged with working folk. Our niiMOMna and Public Libraries ir«re
among the hneet results of civilization, and it was remarkably thrift! mk
that in a free, nation ]]ka mm time* place* were not acceuuuldo At The moat
(•(iin-.MiicTit tltnoa,"
Tim Roman Catholic Bishop of 8alfor<] Baysi
" lu a quiet way I wont ronnd myself to several of the City Libraries
00 Sunday evening some two years ago, or thomibonU, lor tho purpose of
'-■ « - 1 « i ;; bow in tie h they were nasi, and wa* very favourably mtprcityed with
what 1 witnessed. I was tnoro struck by the number of boy a I fouml in
the iradiii^-nioms than vi ith anything clao, and with their t|iiitl tie*
-ur.nuour. I asked myself — I* it bettor that they should bo here than in
tho streets I Is it roaaonnblo to oapoct thum lo spoil d tlio whole evening
I" i Inn-en f la there any postttn nUignhon that they should iposd oven
one hour Of the evening in tho church ' How many of those rwrsoua
Mated quietly in lite leading -iijonis would go to tho ukuruh to say prayer*
were the reading- rooms closed f The answers to those uuextiona ura
ohrious, What do thev want who dcsiio to close the roading-rovim on
Sunday cvoniDgf Surely not to compel everyone togo to church willy-
nilly twice a day ; and, if not, why not noowaofl thn quiet and improving
occupation of reading'' Suggest to the young what limy should read on
much aa you please. Encourage: the reading of religious books if you
please. But au not say you may hang about the atresia, you may go to
tho imbuVhouK, you may invent your own way of wailing away the
Sunday evening, but you ahull not spend the time in loading your own
book* in your ova library, because both th» bonk* and the library aro
not private but puhlir property."
Lord HbbhouiK! salt] at Bolton v/hen the dibi-iiHsion— a Rome
what fierce one by tho way — wan goiug ou over Ihitt (juml
"The principle of the Lord's Uay was real. recreation, and worship.
Sunday wan nor. a day of dulneas but brtghtnfj*. Thoqiieation that ar-we
wax itic of xervlce conlraiy to the law of Ood. Service mighl. be .(luliiied
by workb of mercy aud necessity. Tho public ought to Ikj toon consistuut
than they wore. Thoy used tho railways ami the post offiee. Had thi |
op« thought of tho number of moi ] ! •/"■ la :|" | MWOfkl an! of tho
imniber of police on Sunday. Vhv did thflj DOl do 'nv«v wOh n
have n jiaratlln lamp : Did not their I'lii-nd* in the ■ lmrcfim and Sunday
achoola labour on Uie Sunday in lighting and cleaning ami io on. The
spirit found it* beat io»t in God, and he know of no DotfenT rMt fur the
n;iitl than to take up a book and road it, What be b< 1 1 was that to
DMA a library on Sunday was a work of morey. What did they want
ii>:*ncs open for I For the benefit of tin we who had no lihruriea of
llietrown. Wai it a sin (oread book a on a Sunday I Gould Chaffl (m
anything vrong to reading astronomy, history, or even a book by Charley
Dickens. Ho would a»k those who objected whether they tneusd
werebt't. 1 1 1 nj ■'. I m I!. Bnftdty than tliOno who would be OntdOT
retcKna In th4 abrvftft. Whan, h« would iuU, vfvi*. ^wni^Vw^,1'
46*
II ni.H MURAIUKS.
on iii'- Sunday srenina Boom people said they ought, to be at ahtn ft
U(] clniprl, bat why <IiJ they not get tlieiu tUore f Dot man) of Litem
H found in ptililii'-hon MS, anil liyoi'ii ii<-t ou it Sunday they
would i whilst not getting at t>.« fucMlors, lio abla to prevent many from
beginning to go lo tin- public-bouM."
Chnrh'h Kingslcysaid that libraries should be open on Bunt
and l.i, with nearly SOO ot&cr eminent clergymen, signed i
n i" the House of Commons stating that "the opening of
i u ruins, libraries, and art galleries on the afternoon of Sunday
would greatly promote the moral and intellectual improvement ax
1-. obesee "i He» BCajeety'e subjects, ami in toorouhlv in
iii'i'.orflaupo with the object mid meaning of the Christian Sun
Kir Win. Houldsworth, M.P.. i« in favour of opening Ifbn
and museums on Sinniiv~ on the ground " that reading and a
contemplation of iho wirk- at (Joil were esxvu-os in every way
in barmorvj \' ttii tin* true character and object of the Chrli
S:ii)b:itii ; ;uni to thousands m our towns these Sunday occ
tionfl were only possible m such institutioi - as Public Lib'
and mussums.
Hie mIv,., ,:,- .(f rim opening of Public Libraries, art gftUttta
and museums on Sundays have jusl received an ncqiiwdtirm M
strength from a quarter in wliicli they have hitherto been opposed
Tin-' Trade Onions Congress passed a resolution in favour ol
piiipfNal. Previous congresses of the rcprescntntivi « ol the I ii» UX
organlnitioni* of th« country have declined to sanction the Rui
opening of our national treasure* of art, science, mid lltcratm
the ground that to approve of such an Innovation would bo tfl
reoOgnlK the legitimacy of Sunday labour. The delegatus to the
Congress have abandoned this view, ami by the resolution tturj
ndopu-d at the final meeting on Saturday hate bhown ih.-ii ihcv
have no fear of the true Sabbatarian principle of rest hum labour
being violated by the adoption of the policy of the Sunday Let
Hw numbei of people whom it would be Beceseary to employ as
attendants and caretakers at museums ami art galleries an
Sunday, were these institutions thrown open on that dd y, would
be very small, and probably would be more than balanced 1>\ the
number of otnor workmen who would be relieved in this
Bo far from tho Sunday opening of public collection! ol science
.'H'l art treasurer involving any violation rf the principle of
Babbatcrian limitation of labour, we believe it would hn\<
Iv opposite effoet. VVoro workmen afforded opportun
for ■ •ritomplnting on Sundays the objective result a ol BOfaatifte
irch and the noblest effort* of human geniua, they would feci
their need of leisure all the more. The Trade rriowiCongrceo,
ui 'net, by passing a resolution in favour ol the Sunday <>] i
of l^ihlic* Libraries, museums, and art galleries, has takes n step
in tho direction of the realisation of that reduction of the bourn of
toil at which it aims The fact that the resolution was nd
by forty-five votes to twenty-four — that i* to nay . i o-
majority of twenty-one— indicates the great advance which n
opinion is making on this (piestfnn. The adoption ol th<
ttii: ii NIMY rtPKNixr. ol PTHLIC 1 l»DAJl));s.
I'M
by both Houbcb of I'nrliiimcntiHoiilvi' qu&ttanof time. Hitherto
the opponents of it hare* been able to make o strong point by
insisting that tho Trado Unions Congress was on their side. Tins
argument can no longer bo trotted out. The recognized repre-
sentatives of the working oIosbcb have pronounced da QOnflt rati \<> \y
in favour of the advocacy of the rational enjoyment "1 pari of the
• I iv Ol rest.
Some opinions against Sunday opening are here given.
Lord Harrowby says : " I l>eg to convey my best thanks to trie
directors of the Glasgow Working Men's and West of Scotland
Sabbath Protection Association for their friendly eon-mninicutkiu I"
me respecting my action in favour of maintaining the integrity of
the Lord's Day. It is it subject I have deeply at heart, as I believe
that its maintenance as a sacred day of rest in obedience to the
Divine Institution :* a matter ol paramount importance to tile
British Empire, and to each individual member of it- I indeed
rejoice with you and with your association that, after inanv years'
Rt niggle, the British Museum is opened at night on week days.
I ttu» that before lone all such institutions In our towns which
:m' maintained our of the public resourced w 01 be opened ;ii night
on « oei; days, eothat our labouring population may nave tie fullest
possible opportunity of enjoying them without, infringing upon out
preofnua birthright of the Lord's Day of Rest."
I >r. Kyle, Bishup of Liverpool, says; " 1 heartily wish success to
the moreineut for opposing ihe opening of museums, &c, on
Sunday. I mu lighting' the .same battle here in Liverpool to the
best- of my ability. The advocates of the unhappy movement
which we oppose mean well, I believe, and think they arc doing
I looVl service and l>euefiting the working classes. In my opinion
they are totally niMaken. (hir old English Sunday is one of the
greatest bleesings which Ood ha* given to thifl country, and if the
trorldnn classes of Great Britain allowed theniselvea tone deprived
ul it they would soon find to their cost that they had made an
enormous nn.-tnki;."
I toon Stowell, of Manchester, f*oye : "The advocates of Sunday
Oponing lay great stress on the imporluuee of providing a counter-
attraction to the public-house, and plead for it in the lateral
temperance. 1 would suggest that a more excellent way of
promoting those interests would be to clone the ^mblic-housee
on Sundays, if tho gentlemen who so oarnestly advoeoia the
adoption of thin remedy would take half an much pains to BOC ire
tho removal of the evil as they are doing to counteract Ha I ■>'■
it would BOOs GOaM to exist." Canon Slowell nude much of the
; i.imv. wi.ore Sunday opening had been tried and had not been
1 mud - lecessfnl.
In September, 1884. the Town Council ot Chester resolved to
open their PubJio Library on Sundays. After three montha'
expelienoa tftt Town Council resolved to close it again on
Sunday*, with only three dissentients out of twenfc$4A$0
members present.
After four rem":' experience In Bfe&fl o\\-Vvv>-\\Y, &fe \^vtfcv>:
i:u
LTOBAKIIW
wrote to the Uayco1, in November, 1885. n letter, in wMi
following statements were mode: "1. The persona Hi
was intended to benefit are conepiciuma l»v 1 1 »- i ■ .1! ■.-• ■<■.> • .
thin^ ha* degenerated into ». promenade and ©onver&njaone for
children on their dismissal from school. ThoHo children, * i
m : ling about and making n noise, do mopo damage to tin-- boohs,
periodicals, &e„ thun would be done iu a year by the ordin:i. -.
ridtOPt I. XheM Br© B*»vt«r:d i»miiiIh<i> nl the Council who arc
proparod to oonfixm those statements." In December, t880#the
Public Library was finally closed on Sundays.
In Mny, IXHI, the Town Council of Worcester resolved by oighl
votes ogtunsl tour to opes their omasum on Sundays. At the
meeting of the Counoil, ui June, after a months experience of
Sunday opening, it was resolved try sixteen votes against fourteen
tn '.'|i»'..- t he museum on Mtndayw. The! Jourt "I < Joramon ConooU,
1 ondon, is evidently not yet m Che way to m ike its Bund up on
(tie xii'i somewhat vexed question ol the opening ol libi
museums, andarl g&Uorles tniringBorae portion of Sunday. Some
nine or Ben year* -.ijxo a resolution was proposed, havinp Cor its
object such opening: nnd in a court uniRterlng bul ISO men
nr bo, out of 338, the proposal was defeated by 1 majority «t
seventy-two Very latoty flic subject was reopened, though
in i mora modified form, the proposer simply asking fin- : refer
anon toolTtaln the opinion of the Library Committee an ths subject
For mine two hours the battle raged font, mid furious, albeit :
in a seanty court, showing that plentiful lick of Interest on the
point at issue *till prevails. Eventually the "previoua question "
was w tried by eighty-three to forty-two, ant] the hotly-supported
and opposed argument of benefit and Sunday relaxation GO the
0O.0OO " sleepers in the City " is again uixm the shelf.
The Norwich Town Council, at a meeting held in January
»d»pted a report presented by the Public Library Committee,
which recommended the opening of the Institution from three- to
nine p.m. on Sundays. The Council was uoaitinUKM OB the
question. None of the week-day staff of the library are cuj.
for this Sunday duty, for which one man in employed at a small
payment. There is no circulation «>i books, buo some a
works are put on the tables for the day, ahm^ ssi'.li the co
periodicals. The committee wart Instructed to report in » ■ - • < leas
tliEin three months on the working of the experiment.
The trustees of the British Museum, il is anticipated, will
nlinw the rauacnm to be open during certain hours on Sunda
Museums, art galleries, and Public Libraries should be
whenever and wherever this w necessary to meet thi neodfl 0
tho badly housed, the homeleae, and the working classes in li
towns and cities. Whether observed ecclesiastically or
inday if too valuable n boon to be wasted in low sell rtdnlg-
once. When we consider the incessant toil and sacrifice the
ever necessary to counteract the tendencies and temp'
eareJcas Jiving, the SabbaUv ow«ht to be jealoush : and
1 day conRoe\'oA*Ml Vo soexsX, Twrcax, ttoo.
THKni RELATION TO MECHANICS INSTTTPTIKJ. ETC- 471
culture, when the great rarities of Hfe, truth, boauiy, love, jumwe.
goodness are mode present and Irapressivs to man.
It is difficult bo thi'ik thai one single person who ban hitherto
been accustomed bo attend b plane of worship would be drawn
away from ehurrh in \i*\t a rnnsouin 01' picture gallery Tht»
great success which has attended Sunday opening in bo on any other
pkutes, UN will be seen mi reference !o flic statistics, slioufil give
the greatest encouragement to other places to adopt a kuji In-
plan. Whenever poKsible a plebiscite of the citizens should be
taken, bo thai the matter nay oorae fairly mid fully before those
who oiro these inistituiiojis, and who namrally do not ull think
alike upon the question. Bui the cum of men ■ poll should be
carefully calculated beforehand, for it may mean several hundred
pounds outlay of the ratcpayeiV money.
During my journeys through the country for the purpit.se
of visiting the Public Libraries, the (mention has frequent^
boco asked about the success of the Sunday opening, if this
MM in operation. The reply ban invariably been that thr
Sandfly opening was attended with sal i*fu< t< a y result:-. The
caretaker living on the premises is in many eftMi the party in
clmrge, but no actuul labour is involved. The visitors Iiave helped
titcoisclvoM to iho papers nnd magazines cu the table. In
casea the work is divided among the aeeUtut.tM, whose turn
eomcB round perhaps in throe or four Sundays. In other cases
the .Sabbatarians have been relieved of thoir responsibilities by
the easy expedient of appointing* JWW to look after the institu-
tion on the Sabbath Day. ThiR arraugeiiK'iit would pro baby fail
to satisfy the conscientious scruples of some Sabbatarian*.
Although there would be no difficulty in obtaining the service trf
Jews, tliey object both to their appointment, and also to the use of
the library \<y other*, at a tfDM when thoy did DOt UB6 it, and
thought it ought not to be used, no matter what opinions to the
contrary might be entertained upon the subject,
The following are the place* where the 1'ublic Library reading
i mi are open mi Sunday! Birmingham, Bradford, Gfitesh
Miihi-hener, Mlddleahorongh, \i,wi,:i.siie-ftn-TjneJ Northampton,
Oxford, II n-hdali', Snlford, Sheffield (museum and an t^allery)
St. Helens, 'Walsall and Wigan. in London! Chelsea, ralbara.
Hammersmith. In Ireland: IhmdalV and Slign. Seor.lnnd nwl
Walafl keep the doora erf their libraries closed on Sundays.
CHAPTER XXX II.
MECHANICS' INSTITUTES, WORKMEN'S CLUBS.
AND THEIR RELATION TO PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
'HATfcVEH feeling of rivalry and antipathy there
was at one Hine mi the part «i the managers nf
mechanics' institutes, and other similar instituti
appears to he rapidly disappearing1! if Indeed it has
no! aJivady become i thing or the past. It Is
tmpowfl In to jtii'-ii<,ii the faoi thai wi^ffi^ \\\-.\\v-yv*--. v-v-.*-
47-
l'l BLXC I.IPRAIITF*.
occupied a most iinpoiiaiil place in tlic c«lm-;iiMn or ihc pt
TOO modi pffidM UOOOt I"1 fc'iv '''-'I work vine ;
accomplished by them. Previous to the cstabliehmeut uf i
institutions the means of education among the working claaac*
were of a scunty nature ; and about sixty yearn ago, when the neod
for muivaeod educational fae.iiitic.- boirantobc run acutol
ttany previous period, inechanice mfltitutcs wove eat
and it was felt that they would fioo.ii tolco their places as college* for
workiu^ men. The highest hopes wore entertained rexpoctiiu;
ftn Hi, and niaiiv of these expectations have boon realize*
Hi: u thiflj there are not a :< n m ebonies' institutes which
to-duy be reasonably pToud of the work they are doing,
even the most suuguine friends of mcch; i tutos and
workmen's clubs would out claim for them thai they h u
every promise and every hope which was held out
them. The causes of too apparent failure are not fur ta
The phrase " ipi»:u«-iit failure ' is u*ed for the reason thai own
:i ti»i :iiimi! whatever appearance of failure there may be, the
rooord which lies behind them liaa been so vital thai no «■■■
ttonul history of the lust ludf century would bo complete « hJcti did
not rally recognize the place they have lUled.
The origin of mechanics' Institutes in tztteraa&u g. Boinewfcare
aboal titty or sixty year* ago, Dr. Birkbeck was aetlnj
Profess* ir "of Natural Philosophy at the Amlersonian Inatitul
Glasgow. Some apparatus, required to elucidate one i»f In*
lectures, waa out of repair, and two or three artisans were
for by him to remedy the defects. After he had given litem the
iifirexsary directions, one of the men observed — ' FIuw iuurL
better we should be able tu do this work, if we understood the
object* of these instruments, and the principles upon v.
arc constructed." The Professor replied, "My friends, will you
listen to me if T try to explain them to you ' " "Oh ye
certainly, if wo stay till to-morrow morning, waa the ouev er, 1
was given in so sincere and thankful a tone, that, although
then late at night, tin - nt Doctor commenced an elaborate
i Kpli niation, and the rays of the next mondns/e ran wen ahmlnft
When that group separated —one going to his repose, the .
to their daily toil. The readiness and the real of these craftanten
to acquire intellectual information produced such an effect I
the I>octor, that ho Uivitod all the artisan* of Glasgow to ;r
his Ltcturea gratuitously. A mechanics' class was an' i
formed, and not long after mechanics' institutes sprnnjr u
various localities. Thus it will bo soon how small an mdocnl
may lead to I great public jjood.
fJBM &l the einoi ••:,u sei which have militated against ih.
that tliey have Dot been made sufficient ly practical in i
that the artisan classes understand that "term. It luu
enough for a working man with hi- auins to bi
ii \\i | ee one a member of one of these institutes, he won
Increase his knowledge as to render it. probable trial he might
thereby improve bis condition. That has not gone far ooougfi ;
TREIH ABLATION TO MECHANICS' ISSTITl'TRS, HTC, 47li
m
Tl
re
i
.■ml ^nall oa the quarterly subscription has been, before parting
with it he bus tried to 3ee pretty dearly that ho would dome
somo immediate advantage equal to the outlay. Others again
havoo&idthflt the subscription wm* too Uw, and that ftiatfhioauon
ns Imh can be procured for little money is but indifferently valued.
lie is not a particularly good argument, especially at the present
timet "''"'" OB ;l" binds education ruv-" progressed by leaps and
(winds, and the need tor far greater educational facilities is being
expressed on nil sides. A more important drawback associated
with them is that amusement nnd recreation have very largely
axnrped the educational work nf mechanics' institute* and
workmen's clubs. But this again is oMv parindU trad, and bad
■li.".i- jii-titutrv been heivtt d'i rational amusement's, nnd left to
possess the sombre character of the cloister, the probabilities are
that, there would hp moiWo lament with regard Tn them than i*
'uMi'il at the present time. Still, ho strong has the recreative
clement become that the draught and chess Ijounln, billiard Cables,
and dramatic performances have only too frequently elbowed
aside the educational ('Infractor of these institutions nnd now
ni:iiiy ol thrin :iii' little inure thiol i'e,spee| ;ible lOfXDflQfl tOT HMD
fairly well-off, who dislike the smoke room uf (In- public house or
hotel, and prefer the quieter and less objectionable place
The library and reading" facilities afforded by these institutions
have not been and are not particularly great. The librftriee have
:- etod too largely of fiction and other books gathered together
jii'lLM.TLiiii:m[i''o, ami (lit nonsruuiu Iiu* 1 »t;eu su indifferently
supplied with a comprehensive choice of periodical literature,
that what has been supplied has often made the poverty in the
Stock d ephemeral literature the more apparent. The One fatal
obstacle, however, is that there to 00 continuity <»f life in the
management of these institutes. The individualmechanics' institute
or workmen's ciub invariably owes its existence to the aetivit ynnd
energy of two or more individuals, who have irnlvauized the whole
idea into life and useful existence, and the place logins with oil
the enthusiasm and publicity possible. As long us those heads
and originators remain all has gone well. By-ond-bve, however,
i^ 1 1. -arli and removals have decimated the ranks of those who
brought the whole thing into completion, a change in the spirit
of management has come about, and decay has sot its talons
upon the institution. The roll of membership line in very many
matanoes declined, nnd debt and restricted resources are faftr
accomplishing otter congestion and coUapae of nil the original
fturposea ot the institution. Kur too large a number of them nave
iTJeu almost entirely in the hands of cliques, and it is to be
reared that in eotnec&aoJ personal ends dictate what shall be done.
The one vital difference between mechanics* institutes, work-
in. ns clubs and rate-supported Public Libraries, is that the
niiii/emi'iu oi the iwn tormer has no representative character
taching (o it, whereas in the other ease the continuity is
oanrod W the corporate nature or the institution. \ Vx&S&r.
Library forms part of the corporate *ttte tft \A\e xuniyi MaxW^-
471
PITlTJr f.TRTMRTl?*,
administered by die elected repreeentarfvee ol the people, who
h:ivc EAglVfiMI BOCOUDl Of lln'ir xirwnnNhip f" those who
i i 11 r«> itn* governing Uidy in which they sit This applla
to the sm&jlesl parish whifh may ndopl the Aets up i > tfw very
large*! city. And hence the mala reason why Public i. i
m> rajildlv extending and taking the place of mechanic*
;mh! vcvamexia clube. The subscrfptjui] character of fchelntter
has tended to restrict the membership, and the national mid
oniveraal character of Public Libraries lias been the keyMone ol
their Ufa and vigour.
The rnirpnsc of this chapter is to indicate how the educai \<
charactci ol mechanics' iiiatituic- i.ud workmen's clube -
t tin 1 Uu n.-'l, ami those institutions (HI the tnic place tot which
they were originally intended. To save them from misuse and
falling into the hands of oliquee i« the earnest desire • f many
who have at heart the welfare of the building* a which tbej
have been bo long Interested. A very considerable numbei ol
these institutiono have fonned the nucleus of Public \.\\-
and on exoeUeul beginning has thus been made by .1 happ
wedding ol ;!ic old love with ite oroditable past and Uw new I m
with its enlarged prospects and solid eh inc ■» cd suooee
lease of life has thus been secured. The mana
Institutions are Heriously contemplating what can boot onmirc
useful future for their institutions. II i« to those that 0 sincere
hope may he expressed as to the step which they will ultimately
take. Although in some respects mechanics* institUt*
workmen's clubs are proprietary institution* they are in an
sense public property, inasmuch as subscriptions from the general
SLiiilic were solicited and obtained when tne institution waB first
.unched. Consequently the private benefit which bbn
there i« accruing is a wrong to the original promoters, and aa
Injustice to the loenl public who have u general interest m tlM
Institution.
This is sufficient ground why present managers maj wi-ll
inlti consideration what are the best steps to adopt Ttli '
strietive character of their trost deeds la. nf comae, the lim
winch they have to act., but even in this respect there ire, 1* n
rule, mi serious Insurmountable ubstacles in no betters
these buildings be preserved for the educational benem
tiiblic aud also for rational auiusemeui thau by tut. •
[to Public libraries. In scores of towns and district • u
would at once lie adopted if such an offer as this were n ode. M
Cannot be too well borne in mind that rate-ftupported Public
Libraries are not antagonistic to mechanics* institute
workmen** clubs. Dut they certainly are endeavotu
on .1 larger and more practical wale the work which tboaE
institutions originally sol bhemaelvea ou to accomplish,
Difficulties with regard to the staff of mechanic*' insli
and workmen'* clube, should such a step as that indi
adopted, could ho met Vej a several undcratanding that the
mailer suonld be BerlouaVj borne \n ywkA \\ \Vt. k»a»-m« adopted
'V
V
I."
I
THKfU N1-1 ^I<i\ TO MFl'HANirs IXOTTrUTB*, ,l(
■ir.-)
and die uiMiiiiri-m becomes the property m the people, Borne
uiu'uriiuts ni' I'nMic Libraries are known to the present writer
who were in the same bunding librarian tor uie mechanics'
institutes, i:ni iIm'h is a proul' that thib ultsUir.li* is one which ean
if tneU All public appointments should lie thrown open, but En
Midi instance* it ctumot infrequently happen that the best men
fur librarian mid assistant* art* those who have luul charge of (lie
place up to the time of tin- change being made,
Thia ;;% .1 question ol Mich importance to the future of the
Public Library movement, that the subject is one which may be
earnestly presHC-d upon the attention of committees nod Irmdee*
of the institutions under difiOUBSiODi There is no control on the
part of the public on rhe character of the men who may Occupy
their place at a later date. Would it not be truly wise to ensure
the future of their building by placing it under the control of
their local public f If there in n debt npoo it, which is so fre-
i|tiviitly the ease, thin eonjd be taken OVCr villi the. building, and
bv the placing of ropraaontaMvee from the old committee of
munugement of the mechanics' institute on the library com-
mittee, mid rhe Irun.sfoi'eiiee <»f the officials where this rimy DO
advisable uud practicable, the mum difficulties would l>o bridged,
provided ol course, that tin: atop is in accordance with the spirit
and rendering of the trust deeds.
It is opportune to now call attention to the strength and work
ol exiting institutions under these designation*. Hrel and
foremost tin* re BtandB the Yorkshire Union Of Mechanics' Insti-
tutes, which celebrated its jubilee about two years ago. For
life and vigour this union Burpoaoei oil other unions of these
institute**. Its Beeretary and lecturer, Mr. Frank Curzon, it such
a host within himself that to know him is to know the secret ol
the success of tins Yorkshire Union. Its present strength mny
bo briefly summarized bv stating that there ore 271 institutes
affiliated to the union, witn an aggregate of 58, J 00 members. Its
village library consists of 30,000 volumes, and the books tod 6he4l
wiv toaorneol the moat remote villages of the huge county of
Ynrlc Two hundred villages in Yorkshire :uv now availing
thamaahres ■ •) Eta facilities. Tin* hooks have been largely given
from friends of the union, and bote* of books are nained after
generous donors. The milnrrfption is a guine:i n year for 900
volumes in nrty volumes exchanged each quarter, a weekly
n'l-in'i! of the circulation is kept by the local institute, and there
can i>e no doubc that these books have been the ineanaot brining
tn thntisionls of Yorkshire village homes pleasure ami [aatTUi lion.
Hut the reasonable contention is that the book need* of no village
can lie met by the ph^ngfao ni' BCta books once a Quarter. All
h m to the Yorkshire Village Library for the work Hurt it baa
dour and Is doing, it is Dcoopying the ground faatouslj until
the larger atop In aeon to be pracaoablOi and that.it is to be
feared fto far op villages are concerned, i.- not yet within mcosurc-
able distance, in Bubg the breach to rutovj u«'\»^^w^ <&
die village people, the Yorkshire Dnlon taeerr e» Vn*> tosbw «
176
■ J.rnitAMRv
:ii rrtoadl ol provincial Uf e» and if any reader I ted I
the lack of hooks in villages, and would like to do sometl ;
make It loss ao, he cannot do bettor than com muni eat* with
Mr. C'urzou, at Victoria Chumhers, Leeds, Bad 90 establish a few
Iimv.'k of I Kicks known by hi* name The U«e of On* hooks In
this village library work is shown bj fcha i«*ue for lasl > aar befog
&i,950 volumes. T^ie subscript ions to llw* individual InantutaaafBo*
dotfid with tin* union vary from 4*. to 21b. a year par meaihir.
A large number nf lie iiflil :'ini i!iHiilnt<*.H aw iloim? an exoaBea!
work, and it le Doteiworthj that fclw imohI succewful i I then
in town* where raii:-^ii(»i>i» t «" I lihrai les we already Id exlston
Tin.- is especially the awe. at Bradford, where thrr<
members. At Doucaster there is a Railway Institute with 3,00)
members. The mechanics" Institute at Halifax has 1.099 meii;-
bCT9i Slid the one at Leeds has l.&JH jueiuher*, and OwMR
also be named. Thi,* shows that Publi< Libraries nnd mecn
institutes in the lar^e centres yo hand in hand and work log
for the common pood, It is refreshing to peruse the last ■
oj tlir uiiiuu, l'ur it reveals a power at work in Yorkaliiri- in '!n ■•■
institute* which must produce good throughout the coo , i ,
the 274 affiliated institutes and olubs who gave particulars in thii
prctinn, l. ore exempt from Wnl r:\U~.- :ind Mi are not, whuVt
fi-w are partially exempt. The work done i:« to be COUUtti I
;t is patent that there are a considerable number
is diminishing, and the future of which is fur from I
encouraging*. May the hope not bo exproeesed thai for there
eorae development into Public Libraries under the rotco will
: it at biter eoruo about -
There nj'o Hve other associations of these im<titulos in
country, but the Yorkshire Union is so influential "ffhon
with these that it maketi the indications m declining povw
more evident, The next strongest association Is toe 1 iioa
Uinea&birc and Cheshire Institutes. I hi- w »-; . viable !
by the efforts ol the late Richard Cobden and other genii*
[$B ivi'oni of work for fifty yenrs is excellent in the organ tx
lectures, holding examinations-, diffusing informi fSoi
deserving artisans To obtain a collegiate education. I
Institutes are in union with this organization, with a
membership of over fiO,000. As an old secretary of unn of tb
■octetltt atnliHied with ibe onl( n, n e presenl write? know* lw«
large has been the lmpot.ua given to adult education ii I
shire anil Cheshire by the -work uf this union in
before the pusslng of the l\1cmenl:irj Education Vol
1 1^ work is still very useful, especially in welcUn
Bets of the smaller sec-lkm*, such ua mul isd impi
sodetieb and literary elubs. The next in order in the
is tlu- Northern Union oi MechuueV ii:.siitutio:is
institutes are afllU&Led with it, and it is gratifying Ui
one of tbe objects of this anion is to promote the welfare of
mechanics' institutions-, \SvU\v LtorsMfta, work!
and martlnnr rnnran tVwou^out \\ie o3ft\\\w»» ■•fl. ^«"vV«H*k*ciV*fc<i
It.!
Ion nt
htl
TUE1D nFI.-VIKlN M SIKllHAMlh INSTITUTES, WO.
477
and Durham, m **aa established to 1848 and oofta ;i number
of it* affiliated sueietie.i .uv strong and healthy. Another of
these assucjutions i?* the Worcestershire Union of Mechjuiius'
JllhllluU'h.
The Working Men's Club and Inabibute Vniou, with its head-
quartered! 1 50, l[(t!b<tru,E.f\, Iui.n, after twenty- SOS ve.uV existence
as B vuhuitary organization, become ft corporal t bodg under the
Industrial and Provident Societies' Act of 1676. The number of
clubs and institutes affiliated with the union is very large. Many
<>f thru: jii'e political clubs, and in its rigorous work and splendid
organisation the union is accomplishing" work of a most useful
character.
Public LibrnricR under the Acts will never do away with these
unioiu-J'ut on the contrary there will bo some strength in workup
together. Members of these various institutes and unions should
nil bo friends of tho Public Library movement, for in numerous
instances tfbreriee snob ae those fto* being advocated can only be
the outcome of clubs and institutes. In handing theiri together,
and so creating a community ot interests, a now infusion »t life has
come, and it is noteworthy that the most conspicuous failures
among Clubs and institute* have been anmnj* the ^oeiotios not
affiliated With any union. Public Libraries :uv - lip! v an extension
ot their work. They are in tho truest sense pro bono publico, whilst
elnba and institutes are for suimeriptioii members only. The
work Ot elevating and educating; the people tB 90 lurge that
neither lii.r:o-ieK nor any other organizations ran by themselves
r-itiv on the tn>k There is then room for all, and some of the
mi ib2 earnest supporters, of Pttblfc Libraries come from the ranks of
these oluba and other similar bodies of men.
it u will not be considered Intrusive, attention may be called to
: i'.v »( suuny mechanics' institutes vWch arouid tbnzi an
:Mlii!)i';ilile nucleus fur Public Librurk's where tlie\ du not already
A3 1st. Bat this is purely HUggestlve. and all Initiative must natu-
rally come from the committees of management of the several
mntitutioiis. Tin- town of -Tarri »w -ou-Tyue, with a population of
1*0,40!?, has a mechanics' institute with <VX) ruembens They are
anxious to make it 5,000. At the winter classes there has been it
lurge attendance, and 090 students presented themselves for
examination — a by UQ means bud record. They are appealing to
the tradesmen of Jnxrow to buy ticket* for their assistant*. The
vice-chairman of the Carlisle Mechanics' Institute is rather hopeful
about the future of that venerable association. The library is his
-In: >r anchor, The report, however, eontnuui too many signs of
-if.-: iy. The falling-nil in membership is something serious j the
decrease m the number of boolw issued ban naturally followed,
and the departments have sow been reduced to Bio library
and tho reoning-reem. One of tlie Hpoakors at a recent meet-
in-.* did venture to hint that it wouJd find its salvation in being
made the basis of a Public Library, and that baa bees m
legitimate end, for the A. (■: wren adnpfed «>n June {\, ]&yo. The
tution was made to pay it^ w:>\ Uim yw,M\dA\\<i-«HVfc&'
ir-
ITULIO UPII.m:!!.--.
will bo to oontmu-' iii'Mii the h uno lines until the osti bliflhmwt
mi i mt&inpporUd library.
Sleaford baa a literary institute "inch leeine to bo mo
Erugrcss. There is also here :i tuvvu library, the I I- . -:
ive been chiefly t^ott^rh t by funds subscribed by the local
SleaXord has ■ population ol over4,uuu It would be wil u all
towns poaseaalng Libraries riot under the Acta would der-.n
ihrin Town Libraries, as is done ar Sleaford, no that Mm re
It n»> i -i but it in to be hoped that Sleaford will cr
hfpra lis Public Library. -\> eringriin \< ;i busy I Miieushhv town
where the Qjaendon of a Public Library is not new. A year or two
ago the resolution passed by Ibe director* of the Mecnn
Instituiiuu iii response Lu (in- in«iuiry from the Town Couni
to whether the members would be willing to hand over theii
undertaking to the town, to be carried "M .is ;i Public Library
;unl Bchool of Science and Art, under the Public Librae i
was considered at a meeting "i the Council in coiumittee. Hw
dtrectora suggested in their resolution that the Council
rata H sufficient mini of money " bo covci the cost of the now
alterations and extensions, and furnifdt such an
with ;i penny nitr. will enable the Town CoUOClI U» iXt I
efficiency of the work at present carried ou by the In
The feelinff of the Town Council was that nothing con
jriumintced, and no nlcdjErc could be given in the shape of raisin c
a certain amount of money, but a resolution was ptu
..-riVrt llnit II the mi-nil'iTH ol' tin; institution Itl'C willing fcC h:.ut\
ovtT their undertaking the Council would do oil in its po»
iiirrv t»n the educational work of the institution more effii
than it is earned on now.
\t New Swindon, in Wiltehiro, there ia the Oreni Wi
Railway Mechanics Institution, which is doing (rood
Wiltshire does not yet possess a library under the Id
there would be some appropriateness in Swindon beoi
firel place t<» adopt the Acte. Barnard Ca
Cleclchcatoii, Uoole, Keigbley, Malt on, and Hipon
ineehnnica' institutes but no Publie libraries, and all tin placet
need these rate-eupported institutions. In Weymouth there is s
v«.ii;ii:;.' mens rluh, mid Moras of lb* niemhera would like
it turned Into a Publie Library. The club is very ?eni ral > I >-•■
the Guildhall, and was built at the cost of Sir 11
M.P., for its specific purpose. It contain* an excellent raj
room and billiard-room on the ground floor-and overt) i ■
capable of seating ant) or 400 parsons, There ccUenl
foundation in this plnb for n Public Library, and \v.\
should set a good example, uud lead the way in thnt pari
th( uiitiy. These are but a few eases, Very many other
be iMtro1.
In Todruorden they have been dUcn>slritf the
adopting the Acts, and it is much to be n \ retted thi
operative Socictj should hav< come t' an ■
rBepecl to a Public lAbraijj luv nfa&uuwten sviwu K wtw
MO
I'lULlC- LIBRAIty COJIHirTKKS \Sl> COMMUHlONHlISi
47P
question was txj the frout. Some of the members tltuti^liL they
should l>c very chary in giving away the library. Another, in
bUwftjl forgetful DMA "1 the adoption of the Art, made the
astounding assertion that by living the library to tbe town they
would lessen the advantage* of the persons who had the privilege
of using1 the library at present, a* it would certainly increase the
number ol readers! Adnptiny the Art i* the grand object <>!'
• routing readers at a Lea cost, adding to the number of enitable
books taad other conveniences in harmony with the ago in which
we live, and, in a word, to make life more desirable, About £8 a
year may be taken a.s a fair acorn ge <>i the rent of tin- boUMG in
TodraoraVn and neighbourhood, so that the contribution in the
penny rate would not bo extravagant.
Whilst reference i* being made to thin part of the subject tliere
it unulln.'i' l>i;iii«'li 90 OlOBely allied that relorence m:i.y be made to
it here. Young Men's Christian Associations posses* some
libraries, and in small towns where these organizations exist the
eXCUfle is sometimes made t<» those seeking to promote the
adoption of tbe Act* ihal there we already libraries existing in
such institutions as those just, mentioned. Bat without for a
moment seeking to question the usefulness of Young Men'fl
i 'hristian Assoeintlous, it pan seareely be said that their
libraries meet the book neeilK Of tbe riistrirlh where Miey are
situated. Young Men's Christian AModaflona oecupy a Diane of
importance, tat ft is straining the argument considerably when
opponents of tbe Public Libraries movement are told that then
are already plenty of books Tor the public stored in such institu-
t lone as those to which reference is mow being made
Whitehaven, North and South Shields, l.aiii.sli'v, ;md :i iiihhIht
ol* other place> have their Public Libraries liuused in buildings
which were formerly mechanics' institutes. Nottingham took
orer the Artisans' Library for its Public Library, and occupied the
same building until the library was removed to larger premises.
What lias been done In lhe.se town* may be boned to have its in-
fluence upon other place* to take a similar step. The progress
of the movement in very many towns depends in the immediate
future upon the public spirit of the committees of management
of mechanic*' institute.-* and workmen's clul*. The matter is
commended to their thoughtful and earnest consideration.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
PUBLIC LIBRARY COMMITTEES AND
COMMISSIONERS.
HE majority of the members of these bodies are acutely
sensible of the purposes and work of Public Libraries,
Too often, however. Uie constitution of the conunJtfat
i» such as lends rather to hinder the work uf these
institution* than i«» help it, and it is most essential that
:ouncil* and other governing bocliee should .see to \
at only men ui sympathy with the work &Q& "wVw •*%. i
town
tat
4*0
PUBLIC LIBBAXIK3.
necessary time to it are elected. It mtmt bo aokn.iwle
town councillor* aw seldom bookmen but always politicians j .
in noi ;i few cases tin* penny in the pound for the library is i^crarded
:tH unproductive and nwhw*, »n<! with (hem the time Spent ir. com-
mittee attending is looked upon ns time lost, and not nnfreqn
the business is hurried over and little thought bestowed upon ii
Wherever the political element prevails, do matter on which side
it may be, there is sure to be congestion, and it muy bn unhenf*
l.itingly slated that the Public ],ibr:u v / iverned by ;i Bomm
whose work and deliberations art always linked with * jinHtfca]
Has is as good as lost. There is no purl u| the operntloi
town council or other governing body which ought to hoi
removed from a political cast and character than in connc<
■rSfcfa these libraries. They are institutions supported bj
oUasQi, for the benefit of all, ;md sh<mld In-
intcreetfl of all. It is imposHihh- for ll i-. to be so, [j
prejudice and idiosyncrasies are perpetually influencing tin-
: >D8 oi those who oontrol them.
The library committee's minutes ought not to lie ncco- 1
submitted to the couneil for confirmation, as the bin
members having no vote (in council) their deliberation
liable i" b€ negatived, and choir time thrown awuj Tiw i i,
lorew on the committee, therefore, arc apt to stay away, tUld thus
the library goeH down. Anothor roaun of j propane*
Kmnoil members is that the chairman fa always inosen bei
)io is a member of the corporation, and it sometimes hn:
f hit r ho lias no other qualification for the position aj all,
Public Library committee should have a secretary who should1
be eyes, ears, hands, and brain, to the institution,
which the town cleric la tre [uently the secretary, and the ■
tie :ii :i ncrrly periimctopy maimer. The librarian \k speech-
less, and can only answer questions when asked
The plan <<\ Meeting i proportion of the committee '
outside the council w fast becoming general, ae will be
from the list below, which might he made more complete were
i in <v*sary to do so.
Until h
oil
Non-
HtoabcH
at
» ;::.
1 cur...)
of
CminnU.
tkmam
Airdrie
.. 12
B
fl
Ttorow-iu-Farncsa \'
6
Manchester
0
Itirkciihr.nd
.. 11
7
Newcafltlc-on-Tvne 2fi
n
Blackburn . .
9
13
Xortii Shields 13
L5
Blackpool . .
.. 6
a
Nottingham 13
2
1 V.I lol!
.. ft
aj
Reading .. .. ]A
Rochdale .... 6
-
Bradford ..
.. 8
0
•>
Clitheroe ..
.. 3
0
Rotberham . . SM
6
Derby
.. 11
7
Sheffield . . 0
6
D aoMtuv •
ft
8
Shrewsbury 1ft
A
Fol kofctono
.. 10
Ii
South Shields . \'i
1]
J/nnJoy
.. u
U
7
ro prnuc i.nin.vnY eoMMrrn:Fs .\m> <"«>MMia9tON"BJ»i, 48]
Sonic of these committor Rrc unduly large. It is a well-
■ igniaed fact, thai a small working committee, the members
of waftf) ftttead r<> their duties is infinitely preferable to .1 huge
body often very iu\% i*Ki\ . and who.se deliberations art I 1 1 likely
lo clcgenerato into a sen of talk. Much could DO said In fov iUT
Of electing members from outeldo the governing body. There
1 >€ in ,1 : 1 11 y towns moo thoroughly in touch with the educational
needs <>t to-day, and with J'ubhe Library work, who shirk tin 1 >i
citciuent and worry i»f contested municipal .•U-rtioiis.but wliDw.mld
be on <■• uMtion to any Public Library committee. Care should,
of course, be exercised thai suitable man arc selected, in one
lnrge Town the plan lias not boon very suecesxiul, because Etteo
of indifferent education have pushed themselves into the oon>
mlttee by the vigorous touting for vote* to which they have
resorted,
The fdmnii'winnois of the London Public Libraries aPS
nor ho extensive in number as are the provincial commit bin,
and the plan from the first has been adopted of going partly
outride the vestry for representatives. The more deflniti
wording of the ant in this partloular applying bo the Metro-
polis perhaps accounts for th& llie only object sought to be
gained, botn in oommttteefl and oomnvhwionera, by co-operation
or this character, is to render the uimingement an an adminis-
trative body more efficient, arid to ensure the more complete
confidence ur the public in itn work, The London c.oininiwii»nei>
pu.vsrss 1 In- iidvanlugr of ha\inu great n puver am! freedom IV*uii
control than is the ease m the provinces, and their number is
li 1 Ited to aine,
The duties of a librarian are becoming increasingly impor-
tant, and tU'- need thai the standard <>r the men should be main-
tained ta becomina more and more necessary. Librarinnship is
now justly reoogiuzed as a profession, and such being the ease,
oomxnitteea and commissioners may reasonably be expected to
tukc an enhanced flaw of his *ork lie 13 iu far toe muny
caeca the worst paid OJ OBJ public Official, and when it comes
to the question of soliciting an advance in salary, and the
question going through the mill of the ocmmitteej and worn
*till the pulverising machinery ef ratification by the town
ii, the whole process is *:> .-pint crushing thai many
Librarians prefer to go struggling on year after year with an
Income far too annul for the labour and the responsibility
of the office, than to pass through tins <>rdcui. it an .idvaner
is asked for l<\ a ga* mana;_'.i'. whe:'r 11:" irus\vv>rk»i lire t !io pro-
perty ol the corporation, a unitary InapeetOTj or 1 ehlef o1 ponce,
haw different is the process, In these cases the applfaatfon
Cor aD advance is usually i-arned through with a canter, been ue
forsooth, their work is looked upon as an absolute necessity,
nnd for those paste flood men have to be secured, and ■ 1
men should be paid ^-itisl'iietory salaries. All the parsimony
and carping orfaclara within a council centres '"" nreojw
around the Public I Ibrary and its ofi\c.\n\*, axvo, \v \-
PUBLIC UBJtABIE*.
jrrndually tlia" a change is comiug about in the views held ra»*
CrtiTu these insUtuMon*, And roi thii change the vigouj
terest which librarians hove thrown into tin- work Lai had
ns much to do as the increased educational fa<
<\wy, and tlie advancing regard for a higher civil Life. 3urelj
the work of n librarian is in>t of Was impn an that -:'
iuuiiiif,'i'r ur ;i sanitary inspector, ur CVCB tlir head con-
stable. Tlie time has pasted when ho should take a BOCOud plao
to these officials, for the work of a librarian tends infi]
moTG to tlie development of the real life of the town than the
labour ol 'n'\ line of the department* jont named. The Uon
[a hastening; when the librarian will be looted upon ai
niusl m.vessnry official in a tuwn next to the chief magis-
ii-i\.-. When thin desirable change in public opinion ai
ihr salary and position of these officlale will be greatly enhnj
A- u Uidji they are shoukingty paid] fti d sppherttiwt* tor a read-
i oatmeal In Una particular are delayed bo i<>n# that a good mnn
:eepN Ins eye* and cam open for the postt in his prol
which nri' in m < 'vnn open. Ir nuij-t he luani'eKtJy to tin-
interest of u library and :t town to retain the service* i
efficient man. Only those who are familiar with the inner
duties of :» Public Library are cognizant of the vast mot
fletiiiN in rho work. The v.mw MiiKinnt of "nerjry, perseverance,
:u .1 attention to duty devoted to other walks ol Luto would menn
an infinitely larger income to many librarians than they M
sent receive. Committees and commissioners would find the
best and truest Interest* of the library served by giving gr.
power to the librarluri. Committees may come md do b*J
the librarian remains, and many of these officials would work
wiiii greater sect and tatereei 11 more latitude were given, and
tin* true nature of their work were belter iui<1ci*I<hhI, hy tlie
average committees, One word more. If the funds v% ii
permll of a better salary, the librarian should be permitted tc I I
eeive tradesmen** advertisements Tor the catalogue. This 1s a
commercial m well as a reading age, and If this is permitted be
can increase hie own salary without lading the ratepscyai
spending the time he should give to the library Foi
purposes.
Perhaps the most frying aud yet the most important worit of u
committee or body of commissioners ie the appointment of n
librarian. The shoals of applications arc so nuroeroui
task often becomes bewildering and nerplcxim?. Thear o
cations have reached in num1>or n* IukVi n> r. >. ror i lv
or fourth- rate |x»t, and invariably include tuldloi dice*.
peoeJonors, clerks, teachers, booksellers, and from ■ verj cle
section "I society. Bui only too many of these applicants would
us a rule, bo dear ut half (he salary offered, Th<
in other departments of life which po u makes man succcaafv]
tend to produce nn equally meritorious u
The present writer unhesitatingly and emphatlcalli affirms that
the best lihrarinna are the uwivwhu tame been ti uned m public
■TO PUBLIC LTBUARY COMMIITRRS AND DIM M BHII IM S-RS. 483
Libraries, nnd who have grown np in Che work. It is just a*
necessary to receive a frafiuDg for these poets en it is t« ne able
tO fOllOW ethVi cully :uty nt iter businGSS i if life. Many of the SYel&|BB
applicants for those positions who have bad no previous expe-
rience in library work, imagine thai the post fa u easy way to ■
rcspcctuMe ptwiLhm in society, or that ii nfford.s an opportunity
for private study. Holh ideas are erroneous, (or with nian.v evenings
being absorbed u iibrao duties, librarians tiavew little chauoe
as anyone foi the cultivation of social acquaintances: tad with
rogara bo the second •■httts there are few bodies of men who
really have lc*.> tune for reading than librarians It is an ott-
ijuoted saying that "the librarian who reads it loot/ out it
may be onhcStatinglT affirmed that, in those days of annexes!
culture and the ever-extending wore of these institution.*, the
Librarian who does not road is lost, The desire to serve some
personal friend i>v voting for bin whan those vacancies are
being discussed sTiouhl he strictly kept in check, Politico or
self- interest of one kind or another fur toofroqaontlj enter Into the
appointmenti but with one or two marked exceptions, of late
committees and oemiaisaioiisre wo beginiiing to grasp what the
Ctsition really menus, and are using every eo.ro and oonaidorntion
gel hold d the best man available, But Btul there have been
I.*.* tmiT'\ ottoee where professional experience and ability seem
to be nowhere with ftommitteea and boards, and the interests of
:he ratrjmcrs :in«f credit « ■! the ti •" m arc Nneri&oed Wlthoul Invi-
tation to gratify any caprice ox Buaoeptlbility ot Choir own. or to
smuggle into n snug berth some local partisan or reduced friond,
who may bo totally unfit for the position, n these people were
regulating •' business of their own that the] knew rery Utile about,
bui wished in make profitable, their ftral action would i»' '<>
appoint the best and moat practical imitmgcr they could and,
\nd if they would aot IhUB In their mm interest, ihbuld they not
sol iii b similar spirit with the ratepayers' InteresM which are
confided to them :- ft* they chink not, then they are unworthy 01
the position tO Which they hlive heen elected. Of course lite good
of (fie rouininnity ih (he main question concerned \ but there is a
'■rc:ii injustice done togood practical men, wlm h;ive Spent their
\w $ almost in public librarv work, when thov see themselves
passed over for men w hose only claim Ik local Influence.
All agree that the poet should be thrown open to the public;
but frequently much headhunting and di»appoutttnient would
in* Bared among local candidates, and ii would also obviate a
plethora of oppueationa from aondew ript people, if the advertise
men! staled thai experience in n Fnbuo Library was absolute]^
essential
Taken as '« body, librarians am oacel keenly in touch with their
duties Thai desire to work with and help the public In ercrj
n a which lies in their power. The place in the education of tin
people which these inentutlons are aow occupying, and the *till
more important place which they are destined to (in. has for along
time been recognised hy the librarians. I'.w . v a. w\>< v.\\\v\
4*4
Pl'BMO MDBAlUES.
body of men, there* are exceptions: and the mystery i* how
int-Mi got into theft present posts Some ... these arc 1 1 n n
andor the idea that the Uornrtos over which thej
prtctary tnst it i:ti<nis, and that the public have no right to uQaaiK
into the worldi g of the libraries or anything about then i
H,' | rosary unhusroesflllko and e&reless, and perform their
in :i m ■ v nefthoi credit ihlo 1 ■» themselves nor the publl • ui
rlwy Fire Karvantt. Where there ire congestion and laxity
□ ..- "iiiniiN of the library, the faidl Ilea only too frequently with
i in< librarian The most successful ol these Institution* i
the charge of men who wo smart and energel ea an I
habit* ofbuNiiicss, ami ilitiM- institutions which areata
too often In the charge of men who neither do justice nor honour
to the profession.
lbs tjuiirs of librarians are ■■>< Itlfarioua that U lb doI n
indicate what are the qoolUlo&tlans of a librarian lie catere not
• mlv for juveniles hut for adults, Jl:* fluty is towards the whole
reading jfopulution of the locality to which he irs attached. He [a
lou larjfii extent their intellectual p:-o\-;<i.T The man of \<
i i&a not necessarily Blake the boat librarian, hut there
intr need for an acquaintance with the contents of books as s i
the hacks and titles, if he is to fulfil hie duties to the high r.-.t .1. heri-
tage. For one of the find of those duties obviously 18 t<< pi
i In- collection which is put in his charge. Ik is called upon to
make constant additions to his library, and in order I
efficiently he ought to possess a considerable knowledge of I
turo. Ife ought to he able, in. the first place, to lisan
mode In which th< blanks in tin* library nhonld he tilled up Such
blaokBOsist in ovory collection, and yo\ they ought not to b* tl
Tin: iilvnl lihrjiriuuV lii^i cniv ^h»-ul»l !■■» t'-givoenmi'leteii
the leading deportments ol his treasures — to boo that
trtmerit author Is thorougtuy well represented, and that every
i represented by all his works, and by the beet editions of
them. No good Library should ever have any serioi The
Student and the general reader should be ins position
ii every standard hook nn every ordinan subject. This
Is a matter which more particularly applies to the largi
than those ol the rank find file, Hrent dleerhnin uMcoi Is nee*
in the acquisition of new nooks— 1n selecting those which
eertata to be of pennaneul Interest, ami rejecting those whfch nrr
of purely temporal*) value. A good deal of judgment, too. «
shown in the choice of the nrtitlnns which are purdinMCfl, the fir>4
Issue being by no means always the tuoat desirable.
Ideal librarian mm do vwy much to guide the taste and direct
the studies of the readers who apply to him; hul ubvi
faimoi (In that unless hi.-* rea<ting has been and -
llo.\ often a lil>rarian is asked to recommend a bookorl>ooki
If. In addition to being a custodian of books, ic weri
of their contents, he could deliver occasiono lectur>
!';• reeolteol hi i tporlence aa a student nm
H rritiv.
TO PPRUC MRRAItY POMMITTFKf* A N n < -oMMI&SION'BnS. 486
T1iik is already being clone to no small extent, and there need be
rut tear about nbrarisna rising eqtml to whatever needs nwy ho
Hen le upon them, 'rill- tatellenboal life <>f a town la fast ecntering
around these inBtitutloOT.and librarians have been among the first
to recognize tins enhanced life and public utility, Those who
occupy tin* highest places In the profession are oyer glad to nndsl
students and scholars in their researches, and the literary man
I'lti-n tind.s in llii'in Obliging hoIpDiOtW. Kven duv we OUT or
read ofeorne writer oi etuto) acknowledging the good offices of
those librarians whose knowledge of books gi ea beyond the tides
and outaidoaof ilirni. J Jut beyond this the librarians of Public
i.ii.r::ii'-s and assistants, who come moat closely in contact with
the general j ordinary reader, and arc roost f nUy acquainted with
bJa or her wants, and hia or her manner of explaining them,
arc frequently giving help to the reader The genera] publft i an
hardly be :nv:U-L- "1 the extent [•• which :i mtdir.-r Uist< U 'lir<. U<\
by the humble library assistant. A girl or youth comes op to
tb untor primed with the names of worfia which he or she
desires to read. It may i"1 thai ;ill of rhem we "out," and then
the applicant Es dtsposia, of tor much thumoiagof the cAtalosrae,
(" 4ivr it|< t no task i I Mleet ion in de^air, and throw liinmell or
horse] upon the gentle mercy of the Ubranun. " I Sen you reeom-
iiu'ihi to me ;i nice book?" "Do you rftmember the name of any
other of !$o-and-eto's works > " Booh queries axe of tlio commonest
ocenrrenoe,
in the engaging ol assistants and boys, eonunittees and com-
missioners would do well to make atriet inquiries a* to whether
ii eae have made up then- minds to adopt it as a profession, Tbe
aagiatanhi examinations In connection wifli the Library Veaocta-
tion are doing excellent work, and rJuWlwrariansahould encourage
their luwfstants to) nter for them 'l'ho oertSflcate of Bffl •■■< ncy fccm
tin* body will soon rank as an ladlspensauleaccesaoryofa librarian's
qualifications; it may bnngnJn reiterated that the best training
.■M'hnni for n future librarian la In h library. The ordinary appren-
ticeship rule* should hv made to apply to the hoys and usfiuuita
in these instil us inn*.
TTiere i* uodonbi thai ladies make rerj efficient assistants and
lllo'iirinuN. aud their servicer are being sought more generally.
ii axg< '<iitre iVimii forty to fity female assistants aio
i mi l ryed. Of tfiesej some sixteen receive 18s< par week] and the
others vary, according to length of service, rrom 12s, to 32a, pei
week. LaOV Jit o.i. i.u.- .ire .i|i]iiri i.uvd on the other side >>i tin
ktlnntic, and have a wider hold of employment than they ha> in
flreat Britain, vrhere they are nol employed hi Shoe Howie*.
An taoeriesD librarian gives the highest testimony to the energy
and enthusiasm ol w an libroriana whom ho had known m
Vjaerica. One clever little woman, a student at the I.ihrorianK
Training College, to whom a fortnight^ leave of absence WSC
Eon ted in order that aha Bright htari u lil-mry, tound har services
such request that her fortnight's leave WBB extended to two
. during which time the helped to atari or Vcaptcm wi \wwre
4*?
■ . : :
titan 100 IJbrarle*, in one ««c raising o num n!' QO.oon i!ol
iiihlniil of 5<00f) original^ propCKed 1 \ l!i" town. Am
managed1 her libra/) ■%«• BUCcewfuDj i wan offend Litre
t in • i" undertake the post uf librariaj I 1 1 -
library in an adjacent town, noii« «»f the mule candidate* being
run.-niri-rtl %Q CODIPCI G tl ■
!i. pui taacol books has been dealt with in anotbea
luii b i i th< r refon a< i u re will not be out of ntaet Lw il book*
seller* are quite unable to {rfrc the terms which ean bcobti
in London and Manchcatrir. \\ here .1 large i mibcr • ■! no* t*ookn
ore to be pUTchi ed Ltoni time, it ia well to advertise fbi i mi tract
mi to write i" n few firms requesting them i i estimate,
ii. . should '"■ Itotupht til a discount "' 38A]»or
published price*. Public Lfbrariea aIkium unquestionably I*
do lidcrcd oi whole :■!■ buyer*. For ficcond-hund
count of nol Lea than 10 per * - l» » - thoulU I btoined, Jt
(V«i|itiMi!)\ li:ip|ioiH thftl liln-:in.-.. 1 1:.\ 4- offered I" 11. cm ftV« <"
Ilftocn hundred volunitu ol Aonond-hand lw«tki at an rd I -round
price ol Id. •» Hd. n rolume. Thc*c uro otton worth buying,
si though there maj be much rubhuth among the uumher, Ww
IsiIIhM fan lie Kitted :unl ri*-+ioM, 4ometiihr* for tin* nri
toat, Kor nc»w*j»np*»i and periodicals tt i* well to ailvi
locally for wtlnmto*. I-Vom 10 to I > par cent, di* ml »houkJ
be obtained Moralnu; imper** are required early, and i
i -ni umaii ':'ii ii i Mus need where one at a < tel m '.c v
mi riiM]i- i .<< una i»ii' i<> 'i" bo
I I it": v Of I Minks ii rr 1 1 >l r!l nil I'll I - « l'Nlc-HUi*|Hirl eel lil.i':ii'ii'w h
British Museum : the i:< rd Office, o1 I Iw ol ;
papentt; the Clarendon Press, Oxford : the India Offln- "i I
rcspff-riti^r the old creeds of the Oriental peopleM* the Bun
I'M lira I inn. Washington ; tllO MllllUlHiHilnil InMiliUi Pin 1: hi. Iplih
^n thorn iiul publisher* verj frequently send cupfe* ol buok»mnl
pubHtmtlons.
All Libraries atiould be enrolled an member* uf the i.
\*.mm-i;iI mi . iujiI chief librarian**, and in mime ease* 1 *--»-!
t;ntt>. should In- not mil; permitted, Inn i (ted to attend
annual meeting* of the Arwocintian. and their expensea paid la
order thai they may do «<■. Tin onporlunit) of iuteivhunfrira;
il'i- wiiii their fellow-profe«aion»lN is most uriuabl the
iiii-i li'i'l- 1 'I libron admin tat ration arc ln-inj? conntnntly trnprortil,
oml it Is imnoMible for libnninna to krep ulweaiil "i tin i
prion union* they are in neraonal touch with their coHea^uev
ports of the country. 'Hie Library \-.m... lion , ■,, ..v
In occupy ill tl'uc l»huc, nlnl t lien- in U-t n'r it u
future Afl mi addition t.» tlr- work -1 the parent \
District Annoeititiona uro hcinx formwl. That of the M
(lintrit'l wuh the tir-i, iml uln-u'ly ^ome lielpfid »ind t'ujn
iM.-p-i nit» Imvc takra plwei'. Tlu1 rnufi'irm ire u*td ijnai
when i I- ol tl . lihrurii'S within tin- dtnti i
i pi pew have been reuiA, and vainoun C|ueat -rary
fldniinwtratloi ■ ' TVwvtuisaA «\ \\\«^\>\*ww v..
TO PCBL1C LIBRARY CQMHXTTB&S 12ID commissioner. 4&,
eata
tions was formed on March 96, 1890, when the North Midland
Library Association held its first meeting at the Nottingham
Central Library, under the chairmanship of Mr, J. Potter Briscoe.
There are ivquhvl to Complete the mvlc, District Associations f (ft
Scotland, Ireland, Wales, nnd West of England, Yorkshire, and
the Cleveland district.
In moot libraries, notwithstanding nil the euro which may
he exercised, duplicate* and ujioalajogued hook* will aooumu-
late, and what to do with these $9 oft times a troublesome
amotion. There is no reason why a system of exchanging
uplioate* nnd surplusage should not be adopted. Nothing
SXlstfi in the Aott to prevent it, «o lung as the IiomIek are not
sold for any individual advantage, and Mil* is u*»t by any !iie;rm*
probable.
It is very questionable whether the aid uf the J "reus h:is been
sufficiently sought in giving publicity to the work of libraries.
Tin* is a matter uf w&J lmportsooe>, and there ore not b ten1
editors sad managers of the local oeivspapfirs who would fljadlj
SivcaK the aid which lies; in their DOVOr WCTO flioy solicited to
n so. Some libraries ;ire benefiting greatly from this press
publicity. Next tu the best Mep of placing the r 'nt additions
in B BpOCial ease which ran he cjixlly hi'imi by the readers, is ihe
plan of giving u list at the new books, with title and author's
u ime and the library number, in the local prow, Explanatory
notes mv sometimes alwi given which are helpful to borrowent
In one cane the list covers two columns of the newspaper, mid
the editor may well advise, a* lie doc*, readers to cut tliesu lists
mil as thev appear, and plan- thorn at (fie cad of the 1 catalogue^
as they will in tlus way be able to secure a complete tot ol the
books on the shelves of the Public Library, information ol Ihe
week's workings should be sent BYfitemabicaUy to the papers, and
Intimation Of all matters of interest affecting the library. The
Lch . 1 press are capable ol being the beet possible friends to these
institutions. In many DBMS this can already he said of tlam.
hul there ifl room fta expansion in this direction. Some
superior Individuals affleel to sneer at the local papers. They
mi^ht just as well turn op tlieiv ZLOSCS at the »un, for the
ttfluonoocf the loco 1 press is great, and ever becoming greater.
The suggestion may he carried a step further. By printing, say
fchfl reference catalogue, piecemeal in this way the necessity for
a oaMoffue ol 'bin department for a small library would he
obviated, for after printing it in the newspaper, a certain num-
ber of impressions could be struck off while the type Is Standing.
SiorC might be done in the wuy of supplying &mull printed slips
a) booki on special subjects, say when a lecture is to h* delivered,
or nt other time*. Gonoral rulop for reading and liiuta to renders
might DC printed, in the printing at catalogues, a plan not
generally adopted might bo more frcauenfctf tried. There would,
as a rule, 1h* no difficulty in finding ;i focal ni-ni Owning a&d print-
lug a newspaper who would take all the rinks of producing*,
catalogue providing they are permitted le. \v>>-vv m\\i-vv\>^tovx\\*
I -
PI QUI i mllA&IBS.
.1 'M'-li end, the library to l»c ; supplied \m!'i r<>pir> i. i
the usual discount. Tfhis would often save i he&Yj IteD
printing falling upon the income.
II r i|iifKtivn of reports is u serious one at some lihrarics
where tlir revenue fa UnjUd. Whv Should OOt ttW I * J -* -i I I -•
itod in manuscript, and then after being pat
> <■/ .'.-A In the local papers. The purchase •• p am i iei
■ Ltainiug it, ox some reprints tftru *fa >ri, w >uld often rave
-'[<M':. Me outlay. This does not apply to the very large contrcvi
lull might with advantage be adopted nt tin- average .■.. • .
tution. Hv the printing of the catalogues and report* I
given to the newspaper otliccs tihh'Ii pood for the libra
r.< *« cured, w 1m.iv this is dons no 1 nge of political fj ■■ a
should chftriictGrixo It, and in order to remove the leu
for this charge the work should be given alternately to
the other representing :iii political parties
While i'i'Iit:- H" In Ilu-ML' reports i: rn:V\ br mlviHnl thai I he
report of the working of the library written hy the librarian should
nlwny- and :i place. Many useful hint* could tie given by thsm
In Indicating where the work Is weak or strong md i luch ii-i
by tins means be done to develop the public Enteresi In their
own institution, In course <>f time these report* wfll cfiase to be
the mass of dry statistics which is now the main ehnroct*
of many of them.
it I(h omrhl. to be sought and enrotiriiyc'l. Should imiv :i:i I
valuable books bo offered, they should Ijc received with open
arms. No individual member of 11 library committee ca
ilize his interesl in the library thnnbyagffl id Nwur
and suitable books. Make it well known to your public
"i I ks will bo acceptable, and in the case of a m
i -f.iMishcd library iriv an idea of what kind o) books an
State in advance that paper-back and elaborately Imardi
sermons, and the ffooar-i ly kind are not wanted h i
that £f>od engravings, pointings, tapestry, statuary. woul
acceptable for the roadirnr-rooni, (.lifts such ae th< *c
not made because they ore never sohVitcd. It m >rc wen
i i this way wc shonld have brighter and more cheerful
rooms which invito occupants by their prepossessing appeal a
and elevate those habituating them. Committee* and oon
eionore eon with the fullest Force point out that thoy are public
custodians of an institution used by all classes in thoii comi ui
An I'iirt "I ! i • subject "1 making I'rM.uHK ohoerfn and inviting
interior di ration should he ir keeping with tin o »l Ihe
I uilding, XI i* i^ ■• ' <rr ago, and tho day of the pro
repugnant in decorat ie-i: i*- over. There i^ no oVmbl
which arc m themselves artistically beautiful, Mid where at!
keeping w;(b this charueter have ;< most perceptible influenci
tho users, They become instinctively eloan
in their use of books and papers, and the surround]
a ntudjousnass. rhorc is no reason ...
from the Science and Art Qe\w:tm*>w\ ■ ■ sVwxi.ii
TO PI'IM.I"' LIMtAftV QOUMtTTUW ANJi ( II « M I BIOS KB ■-. 1*9
the British UuseoiQi Should not Em u available for Public
Libraries as fur SChOOlfl <>f art mid RHlseUma.
Committees ami commissioners lind it difficult BOtnefctRUM to
keep a middle oourm in the selection of the newspapers and
periodicals. At some libraries there is the charge made (hat ihc
newspapers of caia particular shade and wkmnng, largely pre-
p inderatc over tbecn Fie ra of the opposite side. This ought n * *t to
he. All sections hare to contribute to the library and the
internet* of all wctione should be considered, In one - use thirteen
papers"! one side wore taken ;i:id four of the other Of tl
twelve, all representing on< tide, jwere displayed on stands, i uo
only two of the other section. This was manifestly unfair, ad
when ver this in the ease n scandal id euro sooner or Later t< irino.
Let tin: stomp of '■ no politics " and " no erred " be about every-
thing done by the committee or eemmisBioners, These would do
well to strictly avoid purchasing denominational papers; though
they eon, of course, be accepted us gifta should tuny he oflcmL
if oneu mtrodueed than will eooii Be st yew long list, lot ovary
"ism" will want to I>e ivpiVMenh-d.
There tire a few persona who frequent libraries who mom to
interpret the word *' free " to mean that they ure at liberty to cut
or maris the books provided at ri»e expeiixe hi the ratepayers. and
:o nli.-tiMi.-r p:is.-jnoH or advortmoiueutH iii the news].: [n-i's X lluii-
iv. There ifl something peculiarly mean in this abuse "I
rin' Ubrariea, and library committees are otten at a loss how to
put i slop to It. There is an obnoxious class of readers who take
the liberty of marking on Che margin >>f the volumes they read
passage* to which they attach some special interest) En other
passages arc underlined. There is a tfiti more obnoxious
Who Write on the margins their comments on the text.
These literary snobs talce advantage of a common privilege and
Inflict upon Intelligent readers their eratfetfc otaervaMons, it
wi.iii.i be a genuine satisfaction to all" who know how to use a
book which is public property to Bee H few of these persons in the
police COUrb or l*dVe the cminty-cuiiit jnd;re, as the educational
influence of Mich an experience would he likely to teach llieiu
mowi thing which they do not atpresent appear i i knew, Tlim- w
■ u Hither claws who nhould roeeiw attention, and that la the
niters or commercials copying out their orders, and Ghc
I j w\u- seem to infcM every pub LC bejkttngi
Tin- Question of as Insufficient revenue with * bach to do a 1 1
.1 i I 'apidly extending work is a serious one, but this la a matter
winch can scarcely be dealt with here. Die towns where this is
meat feu" arc settling the question for themselves. Whether tb
B ■<• iiHMii. outside the penny rate i-. not very clear. Thisdoc
apply to boeaara being held to produce ;i much-needed turn far
Alterations or oth- r w poses- At Penrith, Denton, Dorlnston and
other places, bazaars for thin purpose win' VOTJ SUOCeesful.
Btuoiara bring ho many workers nxo ros Sold and excite so much
et that- they might be resorted to move frequently than i«
the case. If they are feasible lor chanties U\e^ *ivy\V\ w&x&3 \*&
490
1'inur MP1LAHIW,
practicable Ua PubSc Ubratiee. Kie question htw over ami over
i arisen iw to permitting the use tA foe Uiohnar-library to
[►er-Hinn outeide the horoujrh, on juy in ul' a Milwnp
or hulf-ycurly in advance, Donaaster, Worcester,
cv-i. lfvu, Million, ntv\ other librariea already do tl fa
\ irw fa that libraries have no legal power t < > 1 on 1 1 books t<< t»erBona
residing outeidcthcmunicipulbnrough, nor under any ri>n<hriaxu»to
make a charge for borrowing. The Acts expressly state th
Libraries, on galleries of museums established under the
hluill bQ 0000 to the public fii-- Of nil il:;iri:.. Thin in i>rlit be
coxueruod t i moan Mint tho nowsroome shall bo i"t«-, bul th<
context and spirit of the Acta toad tonhow that tho libra ■
to bo Ere* ofall eharae to tho users other than tho rate, ii ii
moat desirable that fibrariea should have this powcrpbat local
circa nstnncee would always determine tho desirability of ear
it Miit. Th" question nf <ittKi-i'jj>tii»ii iv- mis :ui<l tiiliftcri|ititiii
Ubrariee conducted la connection with Public Library work, may
be left rortfiepreacntjbutthctiraewilleorut when thee© will dad no
I-:, ce in Public Library work. Tho desire for outlying town
amalgamating with the large centres fa spread! ig ao thj
tncnaaod ratable value wit come about, and the book wani
thoat it present outside the t»oun(lnrte«ofmtiatclpaliHeaj>oaooaidag
public i Sbr H lee win be mat.
There la Rood ground for thinking that tho original Eramei
the Public TitbrarteN* Acts meant the penny only for ma
and looked to the local governing body, r>r local lw?nevoh<D
provide the building. It i« reasonable to expect r.hal Ttnrn
Councils and Loral Boards shuuld do more out <>t tlied i
Phi'Ihim-s hinds rnr library laif Mings than ifi at PTveeni the
Libraries cannot afford to lose the Anes for detention, the
charge far the renewal uf tickets, or any of tho other usual rah-
sidiary sources of Ln conic. Postcards, advising borrua
particular book for which tlieybave inquired is In the library, and
charged a pennj each, arc a source ol small income but thai
chiefly for the convenience of the users.
\t part of lliia subject there is the larger one thai the fall oa
of the penny thull he used fur library purposes. In not B few
oases whanovot here is any balance luft, it Ea simply a savins;
to the Town Council, and does not un to the credit of tho
Public Library. The balance of £1600 at Preston, es ■■ n
the Huvinflps for aevcrul yi'nr- in readiness for the expenses \
will oomc od the removal intothvncwbuUdinKihaabccnatcrribli
bone of contention. A hnlanee of as much >• CcX)haa iron*
Into the borough funds nl Stockport, and al Bricrlcy-hUI the
unspent sum has gone to the credit of the Hoard. I
the lull extent of the rule should be upcnt in each individual
There *h«>uhl It n<> -::vp\y IV.nn year to yc;ir, 01
^cumulating ol the rate for any unreasonable i
the Aet« nre adopted hi«iun operations aro begun i hut
SID only be obviated by the Library Commits
own bonking account and *Autt\n*.\*rt'TO% VYwSs ww fund.
it> n ui.K i.miiAitY OoiOUttvU a.\i> OOlDQItfUlJVBWi '*91
i» nob unreasonable to make tins request) especially u* there
arc several precedents — Plymouth in particular — where tine
instalments arc placed quarterly to the credit of the honorary
treasurer, who is a meml>er of the sub-committee. Thin
is a matter which should he pressed home; but in any ense
committees should see that they have the fullest fraction of
the penny, and that DO balance in allowed (<» go r.> the credit of
the general borough fund. The foot of the CommisaionoTfl of fcho
London libraries having u Bcporatc banking account if d strong
roaeon why committeeB nhould be allowed to adopt the mime
plan. There tS also BACd Mint the rate should he levied on the
grow ratable value, and not on the not The poundage for
collodion i*- now an illegal clinrijo ncoordisg to tin- Amend-
ment A.el of 1889,
Thosubjeol closely allied to thia is that of the rating of Public
i,iiii':mos; ;uki no apology in iv«)iu-ii«.' for stating that Public
Libraries, museums and an galleries should bo exempt not only
bom local rates hut imperial taxation. Where Utarory lecture*
halls :irc rentedj OX B Charge ix made for admiw<i"n to the special
exhibition* in ;o't naileries, it is different. 80 far us the local
rating of these institutions goos it is simply a i|uestioii of taking
the money out of one pocket and placing it in mother, ffovr
VHvioil are? tin* :irr:ingemcnt** in opi*r:ition will he xoioi on nlci--
e net* to the -t:ilisti('K Thin exemption from (oral ratis in clearly
shown hy 5 and 7 Vint, n 3i\ which extends to England, Scotland,
and Ireland. The title to exemption must rest mi the Vollov.
grounds: — That the institution exisis exclusively for one or more
of tin- specified purposes; that the land, houses, or buildings, of
parts of houses or lMuldlng&,to be exempted are occupied hy it,
whether u tenant or owner, tor the transaction of Its work, and for
eaminy Into effect it> purpuses ; Dial Ihc instil lit ion la supported
wholly or in part from the rates or hy annual voluntary oonfcri-
bulionei and that it doe* not, ami by its laws may not. make any
dividend, gift, division, or bonus In money unto ov between any
of it* committee or those who use the iii.siilntioii. Hie official
return as to the Income-Tax in relation to charities, moved for
by Lord Addingtun and ordered to be printed recently by the
[loose of LordSj has now been published. The present Lord
VMmgton, in n powerful letter, called fresh attention to bhfl
subject in the oolunina of one of the London dailies. The return
discloses nothing novel, but gives some interesting official facte.
\m« eg the li^t of chanties hitherto exempt, but to which their
tOT DOMtroction of the word "charity'1 oaf alroady made the
I nland Kcvcnnc refuse the usual allowance, wa notcmony well-
known organizations. Side by side with the Itritixh and foreign
Bible Socii-ty, the Kdinburgh Committee for the l^pagation of
Hie Itos|k.'1 in Kmvign Pints, tlie Society for Promot QUI Christian
Knowledge, the National Society, and the Moravian Russian, va
see such edueationul trusts as Ihilwieh College, Monmouth
(irnmmar School, Kru* KdwnnT* .>. honl, lluini hu;Ii:*ih . St. vW<*
Grammar School, a tiff the Working M<stC* CoWfcUj* ^Qsr$8n&£fe-
403
WBur i.i iira man.
aw also oome upon raveral trusts tox Public Libraries, and fop
hospitals, besides such phflanttinroic institutions :i" the I
Hum t n --in. -iv. the (i«iu.'i'ii».-N*i's" Benevolent In^liii:
many others, Tin- case in its legal aspect is tlic subject if I
penutiiK appeal to the ticuse of Lott
Tin- iUi>-!'iM\ Dl otherwise "! Opening I ■iii»ir;i:*v p
hetweon the adoption of the Acta and tlie completion, of ;i |wp
■■mI l.'i Mm: qui -h"ii of irrcat hnpoi I i ■• c, Vfl i
:i in*! inquiry, the present writer has come to to*
ootid . where ft permanent building is likelj ■ ■
am ■• i \\ foi nso during a period n >t c x< ceding cigbt< i u i tonths,
tin' opening af tci tporary rooms i* quite unnecessary
r i . <>> i n tmbcr of instances, are Ear from nuccessfa] from the
point ofviow ofn ffood bcftinntafl <>t' the work.altho igh in point oi
attendance and use made of them thej have farcxvccdi I .
The purehuflinp, oliuiKifjin^, and CQtaiopninp
: 0,000 Toluraes should duvo at leual twelve months devotee to
it, sad iln1 BuporvlslOTi ot i<'in|^r:in rooms n<* toss&ri V I
[ to ittentfon of bho librarian from this more importenl
The oi < ..I providing ncwspupci* and pono ■■- for
rooms uj almost as much n* for u permanent building, One ■
ohjo iilon against temporary rooms la thai ihsy lieeonie in crowded
lew i"" rtonuontfy the resort »>i Nthe prroal unwaancdrntotha
isioi of the "grenl wi d cd." In i ' trg ?1 i Ltd i.v thl
►poarsp for there Is more mora for the mixing ol the
of society, t. result so desirable. T>mi>orary rooms Enttor
llu« raW Without AfTordlnp :ui\ Si1ei|ll:iT«' :)(h:nil:t;:(- fo r.
They are. as :i rule no badly lighted anil ventilated that the work
hcirlna . ■ l r . • --■ - her under depressing imsplccs, and then
Uiiiir oiil disappointment. The fclat, which comes from tbs
tavcilng mill opening of ;i sjieeially-deshcncd linllduiir, m alwenl
where temporary newsroom*, ami [Kwliapx a i i dins depart!
lire first opened. It Is, or com -so, mposKfbk1 to lay down inj
rule, hut the expenditure of several hundred pounds ii inn!
temporary rooms habitahle, merely to i»- used for two or i
years, should oulj be entered inUi with coneiderallou, can
Forethought. In small lUstriels the wine nrjfumeuts
naturally not apply*
An to tin .m!\ IsauQil \ orotherwiw of opening branch Ifbn
much maybe said 'vt and against The demand far branches
COm OS, >it COWSC, from the ratepayer* In the OUtlylnp '!-l^^l^
who my thai they arc (-■■ far iwny from the central depi
avuil bbonw lvos of it, wh 1 they have at the sara< time i" codI i-
bote to 't. Tin- is peasouablCj l>ut, i xci pi i*i the lurc*c
i hi.- cnicstion of branches should be looked at ii-
new. One well-equipped nnd efficiently ndminfstcrcd I
Hotter than a hultaturvod ccntrul building md I\\ - or
brttochee Every brand openo*! tends to drain lh< porcnt I
tiirion, and there to alroady «o much re rc-
quJred thai most libraries have reached the •>» rj mi i ol ^>
in vombfo I • do with n \>etitv^ tv*«. U docs seem that v.
TO PUBLIC LTBttABY COMMtrrRFS .\N1> eOMMISMONBIW- 108
the furthermost limits of n town do not exceed I from
the -'i ntrnl library, d branch is Dot d wolutcly necessary. In toad
of ftipenflitc branches with separata staff and stocks "i books*
one good central building would appear the best, end Board
Schools u 01 as nowooms, op for branch lending acpartnv
The foot i'- already recognised that to place libraries fa the midst
afpeopl* ' fi<! > ••■. ;it once a oec of those libraries it i« further
admitted iiiit :t centra) building, were it never so large, would
*bo unoblo to rood the deraanci made upon it were there no
inMiu'lirs. Tlu- wiii.it' nuttier is tentative, and no definite rule
can be laM down( it [s purely a question ol ws^inoanfij sad
the rallesl efficiency and oorapjetenefls. tt* in Uie meantime ii"
.Iim-s something to check the un venal demand For branches the
object for the present wfl] be astned.
tote opening of delivery stations in ;i plan deserving "f atten-
tion. I'lY'ijUi'Iitlv tills Would iili\i;i[f the liccrssilV 01 :i blTUirli.
In America these delivery stations ure quite rwnmrai Ob cer-
ium days the I ks u* Hooted and the new ones left &n b
iih'iuis i>r supplying outlying districts from tin' oentral library,
ii seems very praencabli . Coca] posl unices would frequently be
convenient Btaoonit,
library tafiuranoG is an Enroortaal nutter. There homos to be
;i movement in Europe for the insurance of the great Public
•Libradea. Ran boots and uiauuwrijrte. like ytctuxee, ii is true,
connol i»t- 'insured" in the afrrlol senec of Efoe ivorcl,«iflco no
amount of rnonen can be on etraivalent for the destruction <»r
unique historical docunaenia ox pointings; money, howei -■.. Lfl
better than nothing, 5t< Gallon has fust insured Its splendid
ItifUbibliothek for tho terra of five years for £30.000, and it"
'VadianV tor £4,800 ; Ziirich, its library in the Yvasacrkirehe
for i' 12.040, and itM imimwcritit oollection For 0&\flOOj Basi . El
oniv rsity library fW CH>,Joo; onrl Home, it* city library for
t>,*-M>. The Grand Ducal library u( Karlsruhe has also been
insured for I'L'O.'HXt. Ih. iimy;iiilicciit librum-* ol tin- British
Museum, 'it Berlin, Vienna. IMriB, and Munich are h\ ill unuiHiuvd.
tlighor insurance should I>e resorted to. and the premiums ought
not to be advanoing, soeinffhov largely the elootrfc light is co
into use in the reference an<l lending libraries.
The charge is frequently brought before committees and com-
missioners fcn*1 ths hooks of which thei have lbs general oversight
are the means of dluerntnatmg Inlectlou* dtscanrw rhe utatemeni
is monstrously untrue, and invariably em mates £r the %\ >wod
enemies ol these instil itfons. 11 Is doubtful whether there has ycl
been a single Instance proved beyond the shadow of doubt where
the bonta i »f :i t'liMii- Library hni o been tin- meansol transmll rtnj
Llaoi k either among the library iwnlsl intw or (tie public, ftul
we ore warned that books may earn those horrible ''germs/ or
" niirriiin >." or what nut which sow tnemselv^saxid yi&ld <* harvest
ol fever. Ere long there may be a demand that '»or pu i iHc libraries
be kept redolent of disinfeotantB.and that every lK»uk be* CiuuivyAwV
or otherwise clefluacd before fl is returoca tn \.>v* i?tw\i 'Vv^
»"1
1'tTIlJC MBRAKiaS.
"genua" ore becoming B terror of lire. Winn »-.; hare fCMgm
or dWnfoctcd OUT books, boiled our milk. analyse-. OUT water.
killed our out*, deoUMd I - 000 a Bab, iui.ijitod rc*U)iruto<r», ana
sternly refused' i<i -h:iiv- hand vtth our Monde, and adopted all
t h >ther precautions which are recommended oga
scopicul OUgbonrtf, will it bo worth while to go oh :
UuppiK for HIT i >»■: i --<• of milld thfl majority of U£ prefer to take
ottr rwfc. it i" not said thai necessary precaution* should art
li»- adopted, and a rule or two in tho byo-lawa doi ialh
w.th -h> Bttbieet ought to be embodied m the codo ol even
institution. Dlfl eiivulatnm af bOOlM m an;, iiualj
would ot ruurne lie prohibited, and in Hie eveut >i .
diaaaM apjiearing after it hook had been borrowed,
should at once bo disinfected, before being .^ ed m
circulation Compulsory notification to lihruriunK of Infec
disease among the families of their readers should be im
open. More arrmpent mcaaiuvs would necessarily be :ippi .
the coat of persons borrowSng from the librnry while trieras
in reeled or living in an atmosphere of infection. Permlanta
t.i niii any lunik xhmild be Withheld for B SUflldent time "I he
disinfection, or better still. If possible, the substitution ol a new
vi luuie I'm i»ne ahead;* taken nut, ihould U- tntisted 00 and mo
repetition of the lii>l offence be held to justify cxelu
l he benefits of the library for a considerable period.
The work of disinfecting bookfl [abetter done by Hie lib.
uuthoriLius than b> tbe borrower, and several methods an- A
present to operation. One su^t-sUon yoes in tin- extent of t i
that the !■ i nineiit ttuard should he advised In lake hueh
legislative aetioii as will enable il L« impose a penalty i>r
inmate "I an infected house who may make use ..if liook
Public libraries without notification. Trie compulsory notUcn-
liou id Uitrclimo -I ...-nihi1- h,w. now been dealt with b) in V t )
Parliament, wlii-h li.r- )»!oced the matter on am ■
1 i >' tag.
Ar Dundee they hove a simple uppuriitii* ID OSC whei
ThiM coiiMSte of a sort of dosed cupboard made of orui
tinplatc, with a lid at the top, a wire shell half wu\ up, and .!
little door at tho foot. Ity on arrangement with the sanitari
inspector, nil oaaofl of infootioue disease* are inunediatelj reported
to the library, and a notice in at oneo want forbiddu
podding in such houses to return book* until thos • hou MM are
certified free of disease, m Sheffield they tried a v>\ :.-m >i
hoatlnff the books In an oven to the temperature i 1 h.iilii
and that ot the same rune they Nhould bo exposed to th
Of carbolic acid. By usirn/ hmliiie; water or <
ioureoeJ heat a constant moderate temperature would bo insured.
and this with impregnation by tbe vapmir of carbolic, i
heeuiv iIh' hooks being thoroughly disinfected, ii i*
that this plan doe* nol Injure the binding or cnuae the I In fcs
amoll of the carbolic acid for very lone afterwards.
A curfouN experiment \u\h>h eu two v^ Uu« u.kwi
TO PrUUC UBUAHV COMM1TTBR8 AM' « i).V»IIN«li'> Kit?. 495
of Dresdeu. It liaviug lieou suy^-Metl that infectious dif*ea*en
were spread by mean* of books in libraries, a number of much-
used volume* wore taken from the town library, ami the dust
from the leaves and covers w&e torn) in nutrient media ami
cultures reared, the result being that no microbe*, helonging to
infectious diseases were found, the duat being in fart nothing but
ordinary dust of a harmless character.
The Him nice I and beat arrangement whioh luu* yet been hutro
duced ia tne one in use at the Prewton Public Library, and the
invention of the librarian, Mr. \V. S. Uramwefl, A UC&toh of it
in whovn, It in a mcrul famigutor made from l»»th wive guuge
shoot iron, with angle, iron door-siippm-tn and *ide-shclf jv.ii*.
Its w-oight is Jicwt. I i|i*., and the cost of it was AM 10s. Coitt-
Euiiiul MilphuroiiN acid ft burned in a anmll lamp, oral a raw
ttle buHU'o* to disinfect the books. The apimmtiiK > an be iruVU
anv size. I'Yom foUF I" Bvfl feel tiiffhi ami tln< width in propor-
tion, if- n useful size. Jt should be raised from the ground bv
means of n wood frame. 1'he shelves should I* perforated in
...It to allow of a free eiivululmu >>! the I'uiiich of the aeid.
n'H'h ihiMiniMi Ai'i'.nuri^.
Wbi-n not in use ii look* vcjy much like u book-*alfe, and
answer* all the purposes ■ >! DnOi Let it be again staled that
librarians with twentj-eeveo to forty yeara axperienceof Public
Library work luivrni'u-r known or heard of dineoM befog com*
iiiiiiik .ili-d by books to reader* or even to the awo>Umt>- who are
constmitly handling the boolu and breathing the air of the roonu
in which they ore pl,i<-<-d
A* a matte? of mumr importance, it may be suggested that
books in constant reference, such an directories, imcctteera,
q ■■ . i lopiedias, and other* might be placed for use ujj Rsr \w&>V\r,
49(5
'.'I UnBARIES,
would not he necessary to take op t'"- lime .if (he
king for them.
Wherererpof [bTe, javoniJo lfbmrieB shoiild be started. The
i i Ggteadinft everywhere) with specially hooldi and
cataloguce. ■•""! uro doing toed jorvico. fJo >fc i for the blind
. ii"H :-l iti'I itnlv i "t I venookod, but it' tl.tr arc alrca
I»- found, and are aecoeable at dome local institution for tin- blind,
i !,.-i, . !i,,i io a ai h need to obtain □ air it the
h ira ■;. . 9 id v 1 1. •■ or* Eocnrod aho ild be mow w son? I k
: th< "• i i i -tithtii/ns.
The question of hours to an important one, bu1 it -
i. i .V downs Sxed ml* for all districts Etorlendin irenea
libra ■:•■., 10 a,m to i> p.m. In, oxoept in special enaes,
AiURoiont For newsrooms in urge towns 10 p.m. Ii not a«
iiiio'iKionublo time. There should be for the el libi i .
oja assistants two to three hours off riu'ri day, and
half -day holiday poT week ihould ho pvi n. n . .in, i
should not bo expected to he at hi* post more than two 01
evenings a week after »\ p.m.
Xo matter how well a Public Library is managed, and
ii ■•:« i' in':illiJ>ilil y :< l'lir:oi:tti mtiy rnnii'^oiiirbmiy i- WTO to " ru-l
Into print" over aome petty imaginary grievance or other; aad
much Injury lms often hern done to it good librinMim hj gntnfl
anonymous Berihe or other, who aired himself in the local prcm
In nine cones out of Leu those letter* of complaint are
either crobchetmuugera or people who BuSer From ;i i
feultrftudlug uyioplaint. And io the majority of c ises the libi
to his assistants will be in the right uid tin- c impb lruu I In the
HUE. Theaeeoiiii)I:i:iit«coM ul opic* (VI DUO UfflC
it will be that the committee turn ( i- ran Donaon
miiijiI.) hecanite they will not add certain books vrhioh those
busybod as suggest. At other times it will be thai they 1H011
their political proclivities to influence their choice of boos
that political pamphlets of one Mhiu-lejiTc ri» be I'ournl on the i
o( tho roaoUn^-Toorn, and not pamphlota of the other side.
latter fa*'t would bo explained by the pnmphlotA hnvinJE been
given, only an anonymous lei tor in the press eases the fcell i
the complainants so much more than Baking i question from the
librarian rospeetinat the proeonoo of those political books on khf
tables, (t is significant that in nil parts ol the
anonymous letters reflecting on the management of 1 *■ ii -l ■*•
i Kvariw ; v, becoming fever as the year* paei bj
497
LATE8T ITEMa
A poll in to be* taken utmost immediately in rhe two metro-
politan pflfffg^fffl of Lowiahaau and Bft Geor,gc, Hanover Square.
Tin- opening erf the Edinburgh Public Library, on June J>, ihik),
by Lurd Iloaebcry, wm an event ol great importance to the
library movement in Scotland.
At liunliriilge, in Ouuty DoWU, Ireland, the OUeatfon hits juM
come forward. It is Mated that n Indj ami genUcmaii iu &
have offered u» provide the town with u Public Library on
condition that the Act* arc adopted.
The msc of Tipton. Staffordshire, Is peculiar. The Acts hnvo
been adopted, but the clerk of the Local Board Ik unable toglvt
the date of Mich adoption. The Act* have, however, not vet
been i»ut into operation, \ tew energetic people are required iu
Tipton to Bee that there la an cod t<» Bita lethargy,
The adoption of the tat* in Carlisle, «m June 9, I&90, reflect*
credit upon the public spirit manifested in Che town The
statutory iiieeting waaaa representatiYe as it could well be. The
Town Council had provimwly received .i formal offer of the library
>nnd other property of the Mechanics Institution on condition that
it was made the uaaffl of a Public Library under the Acta. The
gift, altogether. i« a noble one. Burn Quarter of a century the
institution has existed, and at mir ten- ii^ Membership wue »e*3
large. Il wffl form an excellent nucleus IW a Public Library , .on!
Carlisle is. fortunate ji having bo good a Ijcginning.
Eft mmaev ov ntK Adoptions of tub Acts up to Datk.
England Ui>
Isle of Man I
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Wal« .. 9
Ireland . u
l..nnl« ). , , , . 19
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PUBLIC MlimillKN
PuBLir LnuJUXfl ISrXBLlftHKn ITHitR Hpecui Act*, m;: \ ti. I
\M I-: Ti-'i 11Y ,\ T/K'U Imi-CiH ■ \CKST Al f
Birmingham, litighlon, Leed* (applying), Liverpool ,'cutitiniip
Manchester, Norwich, Oldham, Oxford, Preston, St. Hokum, Wal*all
(fippl ving), Wigaoi Wolverhampton, Swansea, Dul-lin,
Pi" HI. I.' 1. ![;[..-. fcXBB AND Lo«'AL R\rEX,
There i« much diversity in tbie matter. Some are totally e\.
iodic partially oxeinpt, and sonic hove to pay all loeal rates. All aliuula
!"■ t-xempt. Tlds 1« toe clew And emphatic meaning of 6 & 7 Vict,, ■
The, following arc totally exempt : Anton, P.irkrnherid, Uiiniin^ham,
I'.ii.kburn, Brierley Hill, Cambridge, Canterbury, CHtU<i-.> i u
Darlington, Derby, l>onfam>r, footer, Folkestone, Gsta»hoedf Han toy.
Harrogate, Kidderminster, Leuk, Leieesier, Loughborough, Mace In
MauobeBtWj Newport, Northampton, Norwich, Plymouth, Richmond
Ilo'-.hJalo, Sbefurld, Southampton, Sonthport, Truro, Warwick, VT.>
Wadaoaburr, Wfiitooeron, Wigan, Winefnnl, Yarmouth,
1 1 nwiok Thurao, Wick, Cordiir, Dnndalk, Kulham. Lambeth, Woatm
The following aro partially exempt: — HI acU pool. Bolton, i ■rintol,
Fleetwood, Kewnwtle-oii-Tyiie, South Shiolds, Watoast t
Thi Following i«iy ell local rates , — Ilarkuijr, Barrow, Rootlo, Bred! "id.
Hi [dfgwetor, Cheltenham, Denton, Ealing, Halifax, Hertford, Ipai
Loads, Muitilewoi'otiyli, Nelson, North wi eh, Oldham, Kotbernam, Bi
Btookton, I yaemonlh, Walsall, Wimbledon, Dumbarton, Dunfermline,
h'orlar, Paisley, KtUirk, Bangor, Swansea-
I'i'hi.k; Liiuury LOJUR.
The following are tlio loans in couuorliuu wiLh Public Librarian ml* of
interoot, teime of repayment, and source- from whem-c uh-.-iin.. I .
Birmingham. £7S,000, for 100 years, from various soorcoe, at SJ to 9
■ 1 1 i. : I'.i.i :'■ i-n. £3,000, PoliceSuporannuati i Fond, for forty yeei
■I percent, ; Bolton, £3,000, Preston Having' P.ank . !■■
thlrtj years, at 4 pr rent,, and two smaller loans for ten and tu
yeaie ; Bristol, £5,000, private loan for five, seven u.ci'1 t»n vm •. -it ."■;
pot cent. -. Brixton, £1,700, for thirty yeans, at3$ pel cool , Uholteuhao,
£10,000 Royal Liver KriondW Society, for thirty year*, at »? por . ■
Cheatorfield, £1,000, Hoyul Loudon Kriendly Society, at 1
I Why, £.V)Q, from pru-nJp ^oin/'n at 41 par rwit, • Ihidloy, j'".uihi> fbf
tiiiny yaan, at 4} par oent : fialfng, £2,000, Kriondii Provmonl
Iiiaiituiion. m .;■.' percent. . Exeter, £1,030, for thirty yenra; Folki
jCU.fiOO ; liateohe.td, £7,8.10, from private person*, a! 3
HandBWorth, 48,000 ; Manchester, £18,630; KewonaUi •• Tttio.
£24,000, private eoarcea, at 3J per cent; Northampton, ' B00, Hull
ago' Bank Cut thirty veara, and £2,500 for sixty year* ;
t 1 m Kochdali', £A,fiQ0 j Koihnh/uii. E1.900, fur ihlriy y^.i
!.' w i1''.!. from Suneraniiuaiiou Fund, at 2) pw cent,, roparniant £500
annoally j ShrewBDury, £2,000, 1, s of II. ^I.Trei
E ,82$, nl 4 per cent.; Stockton, £2,206, F>
IVovidoiii Institution l par con t., ropay I Wth
fbl flftj years, 44 ]>er cent. ; Walaafl, £1.000; V:mu.l . •
per i«ent. : West Uromwieh, vi.M'u, i ir r.h rty yean VTIiiteb
fur thirty yetw, at .if \w cent, t Widnoa, £700, at d
Wimbledon, £4,000, froui Prudontfa] Aasumnce Ooiupany; V..:,
50, prirate sontce, foTt\urt,5 iftata, mXl^yat oeut. ; A1
>'i MM'li"-.
509
S -irate source, at '6\ per ooul.. annual repayment -U6Q. ; Dumbarton,
300, Gdedoman Iijsnraaofl Company, for thirty years, at 1 percent. ;
iCdinburgh, £4,500 for books, i-epayahU- in tiva yearly instalments ;
Orangoninuth, £*oo, rcpwi'1 by annual instalniPntR of £50 : Cardiff,
£10,000, for eighty years, at 34 per cent, and -1 per cunt. ; Swansea.
£18,567, Corporation Loan Fund, &t H DOT cent; Uatleraea, £14,000
London County Council, at 3J per <:cnt., £3,000 repayable in fifty yars,
£8,650 in thirty years, £2,050 in ton years ; Chelsea, &17,500 ; Claphani,
£4,350, London County Cotvnoil, at S$ Mr cent, £9,300 tor thirty years
ami £1,000 for ten years ; Clprkenwill. £0,000. Orrterof Forest*™, 3J per
(•(int., £5,500 repayable in thirty fHXB, £500 hi Il-u year*: £o,000,
M> ttopoli(Hi) Board" of Wor^ Tin thirty yeare, at ;;.' pu 0*nt, ; IUiunni-
Mnith, £1,500, Loudon County Council for 6vo roars, at 8£ per cent, ;
Konalogtou, £1,150; Wandsworth, £3,700, for thirty years.
SaLAIUES Or ClIIISF LlUiUaiANH.
Borrow, £150: Belfast, £220; Birkeiiboad, £200; Birmingham.
£500; Buotle. .£175; Bradford, £200; Durslom, £70; Derby, £200
and bou.'o, coal and gas ; Dudley, £100 ; Folkestone, £100 and roonia ;
Harrogate, £70 ; Heywood, £78; Kidderminster, £105, but pays aeaUt-
ant and for cleaning library ; L»;ede, £300 ; Leicester, £1S0 ; Liverpool,
»: in Loughborough, £«5 ; Poole, £30 ; MaeelMficId, £100 ; Mum I Mb i
£350; Maiykboue, £120; NewcHsUt-uu-Tjne, £300; NuUinghaui
£225 ; Oldham, £200 ; 8t, Hcluus, £J50 ; Warrington, £155 and EoUM,
W'liii. Iiliv ;i, £00 and hoiwfl, otc,; AVolvrlminptoi), £176 •, Clapbam,
£200 ond house , Cbolsoa, £200 ; Falhara, £170, houap, cool, audgoe.
Income from Fixes, akd Vouched ok Tickets, and Amount 8rrnr
Ansuallv for Pemodicalb and Newsi/apeiw.
Abbreviations — K , Finos; V., Vouehera; I'., Periodicals and Nevsp)i|x*rx(
AahLuii. P. £95; Aston, F. £05. P. £50: Barrow, F. £15. V. £1*.
P. £83 ; Bilston, P. and V. £5(3, F. £10; Birkenhead, F. £64. V. £15,
P. £100 i Birmingham, F. V. and CaUbtrueh £652, P, £438 ; Blackburn,
I'. *M6 ; Blackpool, P. £53; Bolton, F. £6S ; Bootlo, P, XiO ; Bradford,
i r.v*. V. £38, F. £312 ; Brulgewater, F. £45 ; Brierley Hill, 1'. £3j ;
Tirutol, F., V. and Catalogm* £4iW, P. £36fl ; Cambrid^. F. £4B,
P. £118; Carllou, P. £10; Cheltenham. P. t78, V. £22. P. £66;
Clitheroe, P. £13; Coventry, P. £47; Darlington, K £5(1, V. £12,
P. £«4 ; Derby, F. £50, V. £0, P. £56 ; Doueaetor, F. £29, V. £40;
1'. W9| Dudley, P. £46 ; EiliUff. R £80, P. I'll: Pb*t*OOd,P.£80|
i.flt^li.ml, K. 240 1'. E66- Handawnrth. I'. £63 ; Hanlny, K. £4tt :
Harro^te, K. iml V. £80, p. £40 1 Hineklev. P. £4fijj Kingston,
F. £20, F. £45 ; Leamington, F. £0lt | Leeds, F. £840, V. £200, P. £-182;
Leicester, F. U>1. P. £03; F. £80 ; Loughborough, P. fflfl , Mnu-
ohoittir, P. £2,053; MUlom, P. X10 ; 9«WUk P. £86 ; NoWeaatle,
F. £15d, V. £10, p. £113; HorthaHffltoa, P. £50; .Mortbwieh, F. £2S ;
Norwich. \\ £68, P. £(J8 ; NottSngfiun, i' 61 M: rivn>oiitli, } -
Portsmouth. F. £50, P. £(15; Preston, F. £50. X. U0, l\ C68] K-idlnj;.
F. £84, P. £100; Rirhmond, P. £58; ShellUM. P. £2J7, Y. £C(>.
F. £250. South Shields, F. £47, P. £71; Southampton, P. £75 ;
8outhport, F. £22, V. £20, P. £«J0 ; Stafford, P. £32 ; Stockport, P.
£55 ; St. Heloiw. F. £34, P. £78 : Warwick, P. £96 ; WednoAhury, F.
£12. P. £40 ; Whitehaven. K. £54, P. £flO{ "Wigan, F. £28, P. £fifii
"'arnimiili, F Ji.'ir;. v. filB, P, £*fl : Ahardwn, F. £l4S,Y.£AV>¥.4StA
Yarmourli
510 PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
Alloa, P. £40; Hawick, P. £35; Cardiff, F. £112, V. £22, P. £102;
Wrexham, P. £47 ; Dundalk, P. £25.
Dimensions of Main Rooms.
The following are the dimensions of the main rooms in a few repre-
sentative libraries. Abbreviations — L. L. , lending library ; R. L.,
reference library ; N. R., newsroom : —
Barrow, L. L. 35ft. x 40ft., N. R. 60ft. x 40ft.
Birkenhead, L. L. 52ft. x 24ft.( N. R. 65ft. x 40ft.
Blackburn, L. L. 65ft. x 20ft., R. L. 68ft. x 34ft., students'
rooms 17ft. x 16ft., 16ft. x 15ft.
Brixton, L. L. 24ft. x 18ft., N. R. 45ft. x 30ft.
Coventry, L. L. 30ft. x 22ft., N. R. 62ft. x 32ft.
Denton, L. L. 39ft. x 24ft.
Folkestone, N. R. 60ft. x 30ft.
Ipswich, R. L and N. R. 75ft. x 36ft.
Loughborough, N. R. 45ft. x 26ft.
Macclesfield, N. R. 46ft. x 30ft
Nottingham, L. and N. R. 88ft. x 44ft., R. L. 88ft. x 44ft.
Oldham, L. L. 60ft. x 301t., R. L. and K. R. each 60ft x 25ft
Rochdale, N. R. 54ft. x 30ft
Sunderland, N. R. 65ft. x 35ft
Wednesbury, N. R. 40ft x 27ft.
Wigan, R. L. 81ft x 37ft, N. R. 45ft x 86ft.
Yarmouth, N. R. 50ft, x 25ft
.-,11
APrEKDIX I.
[ :^' Uh'jIc for ffanditHto.]
WHY SHOULD EVERY TOWN HAVE A PUBLIC IIBRABYt
I :■ i ii k a rate supported Public Library ia oa neoffMM? for the
mental and moral health of tho citizens a* good sanitary arrange
ment- Water ftnppty and fltreot lighting are for tho physical
health xtmI comfort; of the people.
II. Ik-i'AUBC the ralo foi Ha BOMXirt 18 very Muall : the utmost amount
|M'iiii'It'<i bj tli>.- l'nl'l;-; Libuuiv- Actsbei&i "nr /'■'im/ni On
/'.., mI mi r..'/ m ih- ttatahU Pirii • .
III. Iteoauso 4 I'uMii: Library in town property, into which any person
can outer during tho rBOOflD&ctd honra without let or hindrance.
IV. BlOBUM if El rim I'tiivorh-ily OTthfl wr.rking QUUDeS
V. Bomdm it ifi opou to ALL claseeo, rich and poor, ami where Pnblk
Libmites exist they are actually used by all ofoaMBj fn-m thu
profefflion*] man to tho hnmlluut working man.
VI. IViway it ix an education*! institution ; and education ileojww the
HUM of t.hn duties and [irivi leges Of(Dtfuii8Mp.
yti. BoctnM tba existence or absence of a Public Library in a town in
btflog MttOptaul iu :t standard of Lhu intelligence and public spirit
manifested in that town.
VIII. became tho newaroomo attach od to Public Libraries afford a pUu
of lOftt, recreation, aud Improvement, without any char^o I'm
admission.
\ lit'cause for young people of both sexes a Pnblir Library tflbrdl
boniij place to widen tbey can go. instead of loitering aindr.v.l.v
about the public street*.
X. liocauno a Public Library is ono of tlio boet invent™ onts a dintiict can
D iota for the welfare ot its citizens.
\I lli'iaimn there isnoriir for which there U uu tniT6rtif>tOSnd tftflgiblfl
benoflt a* out of (fat paaay nta fbi &u lujrpcri of n Public
Library.
XII. lSucuaso it bring.* the vunt stores of our nobli: English litci.il i<
within tho reach of all.
\M1. BogMUR It : cultivates habits of rca'ling, and reading I right.. n
and malcnt* the hnnir mnro r.hoorful and nttnu \.\ i .
JCIV. rieeauso ill ni'ojjruwivo towns have Adopted the Public Llbrarlm
Acts, and nu town Of village alive U' Lin: DCOdl "I" bO'tUy abuuli]
bo without ono of these admiroMc institution; .
XV, liecaiifio in no town where they hove OflOO established in tin rate Foi 1
ob a bullion, and it is, in fact, IS many aaju till DMlt QUOOflUlty
I'M in thiM-arr-napor.
\VI. lici'Aiixc Public Library building* always impiou lie: ilninn;1
property* Some UavIcmui.ii advertise Llicir^ Ousincaa as bein^
within ao many minutes' walk of tlic Public Library.
513
PCDLIC UDOAIIIES.
XVII. HrcanM wo do not wont Old Knglaud to be bttuad oth<r countriea,
and tho United StAts*. France, Germany, ami the Auatr&kjo
Colonies, have long Ago ocreptAd Public Librari*.*. *u abtolata
necittcltiub.
Will, Uocouec tint Kraal uacfalurju of Public Librwioo in town where
they are ostabliehed hae been proved beyond any possible doubt
M\. Bosom a I'ublic Library provide** a pliwc of roforonoo for Patent*,
Ham and Technical IlooVs, Qovornmen.1 Docuine&ta, I
which the aittaana in ev*wy town hIiohM iiavo *a*y miun* d
K booh
XX Ikcaiuo it in saiil that the workmen of ionic other oou
battel educated than oun, and Englishmen are Jotcrmiuod ihi
thin ahail not bote; and a* Ofio forward step ii,
evury tnwri ought to have a Public Library.
Thomas G%SKKWOOX>.
Author of " Piblic Libran.x
THE EARLIEST APPEAL FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
[Tlu- following iw I Iip earliest unitfnl for Public Libraries in Cng I
which r.h«re in any rerord. It was first published in 1699. The ontaint
character of thesjvUiaK Las been maintained.]
AN OVERTURE FOR ESTABLISHING OF BIBLIOTHECKS IN
EVERY PAROCH THROUGHOUT THIS KINGDOM.
IT is uw essential to the ituliuc of Lo In: dc-drou* of Km \
Ad it is for them to bo rational Creature*, for wo wo norther col
tine for our Reason, but to teok oat and search for th? Know].- .
all t&OM things of which wo are Ignorant. fcPo in 6W
to Hi'- «w» f\i ratn, to fte cxtreiwil therewith. Thatbemgborn h
Indigent and Igiim-ant, we should be forced to enquire by bhi I
KcaaiJll, lill" lii' Nat in «■ ,iild B BOH Odfi ■ "1 dJ bllOM III I.;.-. "I.i !i w
•boat DO, and to Invent and Perfect oil suoh AiU and Man ifl
are nocowoiy for thu *up|>ort of our Llec*. All which thlSM ai* w
numerous, and the way* of attaining to the ICnowledga of ih< i .
di'lienlt, longsonc and uncertain, that it would lm but a very until
Deoieo oven of the meanest Art or Science, which any man could ituiti
unco by hi* own particular Study and OuaeTvatiuu, il he were tloeli
all tlicW) Helps wo receive from others, by Word and Writing.
Thcroforn to facilitat tbie aoru Travol, God Iiath ondnod MattklD 1 will-.
h Faculty of Spoveh, whereby they way Teach and . on tnunieal to oa*
another, oil such Knowledges and Ohaervatione an Hhall l*1 found a
ony one of them \ thati i eve >ue studying a jiaru and eontrlboUn
i 11 Mile of bis ObsrrvatiuiiB into thy public)* Stock, tboy Might at
length advance Knowledge and Learning to that Degree, which Human'
Nature in thii lapsed Eotnto is capable or. And that there might bo torn*
eonstdetmbto Pro^reat. mode in this Work at tii*t ; Ood did '
the hrat Men long Live*, with vigowua Imagination* rihI mild
that thereby thai rnjglit both amiiire gnwl Stock* ul Knoi
ObM-i vatiijiib, and lukdit convoy them, or coiuutuuicat them to oianr
Device* of their Poftantn'.
nut Men abasing tine It loosing of loiifj LilV, and Ihrtr
ik1i(<s only upon Kvil and thai iMnMiniully : '■■■ ■•,«*»
nrovoked to «Ii«>rki their Lives, aud tn confouod their l.jniniaf^
ArrB-NMx t.
613
whereby thi« way of convoying Knowledge by Word of Mouth, aud
Tradition limui;. vnry Imperfect ami lyabl* to nmny Inronvi'ideneiioi :
ami therefor*; that these Means nf enm-easing Knowledge, and of aearching
uut all tin! Work* of God might be fit ill continued amongst Men ; God in
hid Infinite Mercy, wao graciously pleased to teach Men a new Way of
■ luieatiii^ tli"ii Though I* and Word", by Writing; which ho did
"It. ii tM did Write the Law with his own dinger, upon the two Table* of
Stone in Mftnut St'tuu, that thereby Men might more easily and universally
uomuuntwti lhd» Obeemtfou to nil Am net "f Mankind, and might
more certainly preserve tlieui to all Posterity.
Hy this Art of Writing, Knowledge and Learning were very much
advanced : till Book* bcuamo no niiiueroa&, and tho nay of writing with
i l-Vn being both dear ami alow, Students could aenjuro only a small
rnnnliKr of them, whereby many Book* were nt'gh'rteit and lost, and
Learning came to a Kttud. and theu at length foil into a great Decay, for
Uen tamed th'-ir Wits and Studies, rollm to collect and understand the
Writings and Opinions of the Ancient*, than to enquire into the Nature
of tho things themselves, in soiumdi that .ill PhiloMophy was turned into
tin- Opinions o\ A t iUolle and Pinto ; aud all Theology was lodged in tho
Opinion of tho Church, or Tn the Fopo'fl Infallibility. Yea, Ignorance
I >ie wtilcd to that Degree, that it was encouraged aud preached up aw the
Mother of Devotion. But at length Printing, which Li a more easy,
wpecdy and «heap way than Writing, wan Invented ; which remedied
all thoae lacouvenioneiee of Writiug, and so recovered Learning at itfl
last Gup, nut of its long continual and almost fatal Decay. 8iH08 which
time, learning hath taken on an it wore a now growth, and though it bo
uot. as v:i recovered iu several Carta, yet many Art* and Sciences are
advanced to a far greater Degree, tlian what they had attained unto
amongst tho Ancients, From all which Course of Providence, wo may
clearly perceive, that it in tho Wiil and Design of our Lord and Maker,
that by core Travel, wp *dionhl simroh out and know all hi* \vi>mi» trfQl
Works, that we may Admire and Adore his Infinite WmUmi. Goodaeaa,
aud other Perfections in them. An also, we may perceive that a full and
universal conxmunicatii>K of our Thought* aud Obaorvatione to one another,
iu the necceeary and ordinary Means appointed by God, whereby we may
At Urn unto this natural Knowledge ; ao tliat whatsoever luconvunienciva
do nliMinu't. thin free and nmveraal communicating *>nr Thoughts aud In-
strucliouft to om* another, or do hinder .iludeiito from Attaining the Know-
ledge of all that hall) becu Discovered before them, must of necessity much
retard the Advancement uf Learning, and hinder t&e oncMaae of Know-
ludgo aj&o&at up; an I thoroforo Jo deserve our uorious Thought*, and
ntmoel BttaonvoDte ti> remove Kbem, Bona of thtat taoDaveniaocieo
an*. I. Hook* ar« mi vasr.ly multiplied, and do *o encreaxc dayly, llmr
must |«nl of Studcuin either naut Money to buy any modern t Cbflooll i -
of [hem ; or ih), they want Convenience to keep them, fur Mocks aie very
troubl MOEBC to Traii.-poi-l from jtUcu to ptneo ; or 3/y, they hove thctii
not in due time, while they are young and free from Care* ; for after a
Man ik settled in the WoiU. then toe Cares of !.i. Kaiiiily, and tlm
Df bit- ("VI i 'j,', 'I" mi t i Wind, that be ran have no time
nor beart to study. 4. The Money that is bestowed apao Hooks nut
U: looked upon us lost; and this certainly in a great Dincouragemeiit.
ii. Many RookH which a .Student ahull happou to buy, will aftor permml
ho found little worth, ut least for his DUlpOMj whereby he t« lamentably
disappointed, and lo«eth both hla Money and umo. \\. ^t%\a% *X wwV
distance from theno famoiu Towns wbeiv n»wt \»rt. c»? WxftLA *.ve> "?t"\\^«Cv,
514
: ill: AKlr.N.
that there ate many uavful now B toka Printed whii li wt avra tail «f.
ami tbo*e wo hear of, cannot be brought home to us without gnat
Expensed ami Trouble. 7. Although a Student had nit the \
that can bo reowm ably expert wl m nun man. Vet he cannot A'.|:n.
the BftOkfl in :hc World, that, may nilat4< in the Subject he si :
«o he will ntill be nneaaio and BUGpicioua, (hat there may bo something
worth his Kaowlndfe in th \u rants. And It En not to U
expected, thiu any mai: an mlvuiav - i improve any Aft or fldefiN to a
fall Dogreo, till first ho have a full and eomprehaDnVfl knowledge of all
that bath DMO mttteO and discovered of that Subject before him ; and
therefore rompleat and free Libraries am abaohtelj UJ ;
Improving of Art-, and Si unices, and for Advancing of Luarui.i
no.
For e (foe tna ting of thi*, and for Rlmoding all tho fotti wam&l I
venionoios, it ia modestly oonoeired with mibmiuiou tr> better Judgment*,
ibat the Founding and Maintaining nf Bihliotheeki in cvnry J
wihin thijt Kingdom, will bo a moit oUectual moans, for there? v i Student
will have com pleat Libraries within u few Mihnof Hit* nlaoo win
happen to reside, out of which he may ruaily furuUh himself from I .
time, of oil sorts of Books Kit for hi* purpoao without Mouoy, Bad that in
Ins youth, while he hath health ami itrength to Study ami ia free from
the oarca of the World, lettnM can he lw» troubled with naelou Booki,
using he iimv [Meaeii ly eturn them to the Bibliolheck and i
ami Lastly, These Libra tie* In a few vcam will be full and ooagiuMt, bfVDf
furnished, not only with »11 the valunblc and u:m full Old Booka in any Art
or Science, but also with all the valuable Xow Books, so anon a>i over they
are heard of or seen in the World, as will eloarly bo demonstrat after-
mnta
The Method ami particulars which 1 think OWWHMO '' '" Ulh PottOalng
and Maintaining of IJibJiothcukniu ev ry Paroch through ml tlaia Km
aie these.
1st. A convenient place in ovory I'arooh muat b« eot a part, and filial
for keeping of ItookA.
£7j/. Kvr.ry prewnt. Miniater ninxt i^ivr in all lit* Rooks, to the B
theck of his own Farouh. at tin- sight of the Herotor* of tlie Parwh. nbo
shall eoueo rank them conform to their volumna, ami shall cause
exact Alphabetical Cataloguas of them, with the phu< .< 1 the
time when tlioy arc Printed, of whieh Catalogues, thure mint 1"
principal Coptdoa luhscrlbed by the Mfniutor ami Here-tors of aaoh
»\l or 60 1 one Copy xhall lid kept hj lb* Mi
the PaTOch till he he paid for bin Hooks, another ahull bo k<
Reretora iu a littl Clnal I the Bibliotheek, that it may bo an
upon tho Keeper of tho Hibliothuvk. to bu aiiHWerablo fur nil i li
the third must l>e kept iu tho Uihlintlierk npi-iily thai any Hei
Parooh, or Minister of thu Pfosriyterie may got u double o1 N whan Ihey
please: ami the fourth Copy shall he aeni to the principal library at
}&.tiitbi>i->tftt tu be k'.'pt thoic for ■arena] oaea.
. rat avoiding all dobatee ami riintcuHiea, thai n :«eea
Heroior^ uml Kiniatetn in valuing thoso Booka, it will oa fit thai
Uinletera uud Heretora l>e Hpjmiiited to draw out n gen< igna of
.ill -i... Books i the Kfunloin, out of throw particnlar Catali
shall be Hut in to B&irtburnk from over} Pan ■ h, ami to ict a certain
prico upon each llooli . » don general Catalogue with afljeo
it) moll Book, ahall br I'l'tutud and diitributcl tbrougli «very Paro
tho K/ogdom, conform to w\ueV Ca\*\a©w, *-\>a ¥^*\& ««rt; P
I
vir pntux r.
filfi
•hell bo valued ; or there raay be laid down some HoM-al rnl« for valuing
of Boolu at so much paY Shift, and so much for Binding,
■irV//. VYIi.mi any ftttaiatat slnill die, or he removed from one Ivirk to an
OthWi thun he or hia Heirs or Aasigneys, shall havo right to all the
BUpoodl of ihul Paroch Lw which |l« gam iu his Bonks, ay ami while he
bo payed of their full value conform Co the Catalogue ; and the Ministers
of the- Presbytery shall supply that Kirk during that time, but if tho
Paroch cannot conveniently want a Minister so long, thou tho succeeding
Minister shall want, such a proportional part of tho Stipend as shAll ho
thought tit, whirli shall I* payed yearly Co the first Minister, lilx
Heirs 01 o&aiguoya, tilt the full value of his Books be joyed.
Ifh'ii. Where the Kirka are vacant, the Ministers of the Presbyterio
with the Burutors of the Paroeli, shall have power to bestow all tho vacant
Brpaodd of that Kirk, upon sun Hooks as they shall think most lit ami
necessary for the Bibiiother.k of that Kirk.
Whig, EttuU Freabyterie shall endeavour to boa compleat Library within
ittaelf, that U, they shall endeavour to have one Copy at least, of BVon
valuable Book extant in sumo ooo I'tbHetheok or other within thnir
hoiiiolv . wherefore it will be utJCGsssr that all tlio M hunter* in ono
Pi' i -hytHiii', compare th*tir Catalogues, ami consider nf what Bonks they
havti more Qoppiea then ar« npfldful amongst I hem, and what Bonk* they
think useful ; of which they have no Gophiee at all, that they inny
exchange tho Hooka they havo for those they want, couform to the value
sot on o»eh Book by tho gonural Catalogue.
7//(///. The keeper of the Biblaothook, who may be the Render or
Sc.hunl-nia<ter of the Paroch, most find eantion to the Minister ami
Hurulurti. to be faithful in keeping tho ftwkx, and in preserving thorn
from all iiicunvoitiunctift ; and he atiull uol lend out miy Buuk hut to iiii
Hero tor of the Paroch, or to a Minister of the Prcsbyttrie, or to |0(£)
Bi reins residing within tho Paroch as shall tin J sulhruint caution for all the
ooks they get out of tho Library, and he shall take obligations fr-wu
ihi in all, that they nliftll raitON thfl Boofcl In good OOSdltta, ami wiri n,
muIi a sot time a* may be aufficitmt for reading the Book, but within 01 1
Moucth at farthest ; that so an He re tor may not defraud the rest of the
u»c of any Book. And for prcvnnlinp; the iiubagHug tho Books of l.hir
Libraries, it is tit there he a note written upon the rororse of the Titlo
pacje, and on tb<. I*.,: I., J ul cui*t. IV...I; Sulweriliiwl by tlm M inist .-r,
declaring thnt the Book telonpeth to tho Bibleotheek of such a Paroch, bo
that whoever any book shall bo found wanting thoTitlu patfe and tin- li>i
loaf, it may bo auapected to bu stollen from the Librarien, and so may hi:
con linear to thoir use.
^Ihlif. It will hn OOnVMIflllt thai there be a Book lunder in every
Preflbjftorte, » bind all the Books that hnlimjr tn that frafttyterlfV for
which end lit DUttt he prouiltnl with A House, und all the liistruim-nt^
fit fvr hi* Troth:, and with some f-ma'l SbJpOttd ft iriy to maintain !mii ;
and then whatsoever Bnnka hr shall hind lie shall bo payed only for tfifl
nmtoriala, hut nothing for Inn work ; or the keepers of tho BInwotbtttk
oi Uintrtan Servant* niAj h* taught to bind Badks, vdA may Nwiely bind
all tho now Books tl.nt Bull hejpveii in to that Library in sill] '
". h will i". bo .i. eolent iim nil the BiiM'-ihii'k-. i.i the Kingdom
obmrjvt the aamr iim thod of ranking and plaroini; thoir Uooka, which
iin in »d may be to rank tho Books according to their nauio and mm.
iii th* gnnorat Catalogiin, which naino and nnmbat DHUl bt written nnon
0 of naper, and battered to tho hark of the Book, or to ftOOM leaf
of it, iluit It may 00 ea**lrly Man and R-ad, >»y a\iy \hvcxa\ \Vax •iwwea.w'w
r>]«
ITBIjr UliKUUKV
tttc fHblioLufck, that aoMiiibtei;- <>■ .Student*, when they m1in.11 happ-n
to remove, from ouc Paroch or BiblEotbiol to mother 1 1 j t v may not br
nt ft low* where to find any Book, for by ll.ii nirthoi] ihoy will )<• tocnL'v
kBOW in what plueo every Hook should stand.
The** are all tho paftinilars whirl: 1 think1 mmMMy Tor the prw»st
for founding of Bibliothicks In every r'uroili, but for the
piDQlotlSg BOOH it will bi: uecewaflry fuilhei, that
lOthiff. One Moncths Cc*s to lie payed ytarly, to be sot tied a.t * I'wid
for buying and PrintSflfi all such Books Ifow or Old, u shall be jujpd
valuable tod n-.fi.! to be Attributed through the kingdom, and uvorr
l. bllothak in The Kingdom shall get ft Copy of ©very Book that ahall U
printed : ttu om intlf iiftliia Honatbj Caw* must bepeyftl by tlm Heretom
COO&nn to tht-ir Valuations, the other half by tin: MlDUltOTH
the prorations of their Stipends.
Whhj. Thin Money or Koud must bo entrusted to some JkOHOil Fcrwti
or Persona, who whall therewith ttreot • rrinniig-Houao, and
Manufactory, ami ahftll uttle ami maintain a Oorrfi«poiid«nm mt. ftll
the Printing presses abroad throughout Bwrovtt imiX shall bring I
ionie Ouppica of all the Books that shall be Printed, as noon aa pool
and shftll Re-print all inch Book* vhother New or Old, a* shall be ju
fitting, or worthy to bo distribute*! through the Kingdom, and tliuy ahfttl
be ohtiilged to give up Aecompte howthe llnm-y Eabeatowod, from b
timtt tu such Ministers am) others, as glial) be uppuiuttil to rrrpire, and
examine the sauie,
\$fhhj, A ComtnisMon of the General Assembly niuat be appointed, to
Roviso all the Now Boolw that arc brought homo i and
to give siomo abort seeonnt of thorn in Print, or to emplcro tnoh fmnione m
they shall judge* moat fit for that Work : and roRariu all tin
■ay t..» dBtermlna what Books shall be Printed erwy Monerh. and to
i" >-\\ i; mid ol Q illU he !'i ii-.i.'-:- .V' oinpU.
Tin? ib a Method which I think will be both caoie and rl factual for
eetablishing, and promoting of Btbliothcoki In •Ton Pftrooh Ihmnjaoif
tb&i luripiimii, uxifhor do I foresee any iimUirial ObjoetSoQi that eau b»
made. agaiiiRt any particular Article of it.
For it shall be Objected against the swoud Article, by somo of tbt
protcnt Mininteia, that if they shall happen horcftfter to be rein
tboir ptroob to another, tluv will bo at a great lew for want of Uiom
Booke, with whieb they havu been accustomed of ft Inn^ time.
This n* easily ana wared, (or when a Minister i- removed from
PODCh tu another, be will imnifdfatly have a right to all. or at l«ct
u part_uf tlie Btjpendfl uf that paroeh, till he b-) inyed for hi» I
tlieti with that Mon^v he may buy what Books he think* moat ueenjusin
for hiuifielf, an*] give in to tho Library of that ]>aroeli to which he ih
'I i..:i-.jMHubidl and be payed Tor them after Iiih nnnnvai.
It may he farther Objected bv the MfnUterx, that whan tin
Debitor.it is Bometimos dilHcuft to get uoyiueul ; but thb Object]
f(roUDdleaii hert? for in this cose the public k l> nol Doltltuf, bill
tiiv.it tu u it ia Dr.lntoi lor hifl proportion >d tho vooaat 8lipendft, U
liniflter hiiunelf, or bin lleirs and Aajngm>y«, ay and while lm be pay»J
for all the llxilc* bo gnvu in to the Biblintheok of that nan h
linr tlidt wbioh Bhould move tbi Min st^rn to comply willing with ihw
h'le is. that theieb> iln-v both ret iin lh>- uv id" tln-il Uookft, ami ftlM
aeeiito tho valun of tliotn, lo tluunclvr* ur tbeii Hi ra, wl
lUlht be Inwt or Sold for very little.
It tuny bo Objected hy tfOD&xn vg&vaX ^\^ *wvOa. ft-rO^U-. that w"
Moncth* Cess, which amount* to 72,000 pounds Scots by your, will be too
great a Fond for buying ami printing of Book* yearly,
To this I answer, that If it l>e too great it must be so, either in respect
uf the Boemt it will buy ami print, ur in respect of the PpratMt that way
pay it ; but it is uot too great tn respect of the Rouka it will buy auJ
print, but rather too littlr, for the priuting of an largo Book aa the five
voluraiis of PoqIu I'liiirk . man the titbit], will more thau exhaust all, ami
then wbtt ahull being bCflM New Book* and Ra-DOBt them. Rid what
shall maintain the CorriiApondenc.e with all the printing placed in f£uj'aj>c '
NuithMt is It too great in nance t of the Ptrsom that must i»y it, for the
half of it which ia to be payed by tlio Ueictois, ia only tbo 120 part of
their valued Rent, and thoir valued Runt is ordiuarly but tho third part of
their roal Kent, so that au He re tor of ouo thousand aid two hundred
pounds &60U of viiiu»ii I;.' nt which is commonly StfOO pound* of real Rent,
.shall [mv mily t«n pounds StaU yearly, for maintaining and promoting of
these LUhliothccks. And cnrlainly U would bo very unworthy of any
Ocutloman of aucIi a Kent, to grudge the paying often pound Serfs yearly,
whofl for it, ho, his Children and Toutntiti may have tho froo tiao of a
well luniisned Library and of all the new linnkn k Gazer* so soon ay ITOI
they are Printed. And I belie vn moat part of Geiithutieti |«'-i
limn thfa Proportion uf Unit BOBbl upon Book* yearly, k. vet am but
v« ry iiHiillicimtiy provided. Yea, many Nubbnu. u and ltoulle:ueu b«'*tow
more mion News; so that tlm half Mouth* Cess will 1m no DOW Hurdi-n
■ 1 1 th.-'n, bol « mora Bflbettwl ami prohtahio way of bestowing thot
Money upon Rook* and Nnw«, which now ^ ,.vp.-n.l.d to little or no
purpose.
Am for the other half Month* Cras whieh is to be payed by tint
Ministers certainly non< «<f them will grudge at it, seing any HilUfttota
■Share »l it fawn although it WON 4tvi h>d oiuaugot then* oy o«j>nl Porto)
will fttiHJiitit only to So" pounds Stots, whleb is not so much as tho yearly
Anniialrent of that Sum, ffhloll now a Minister intmt riefNumarly lie
snppmed to bestow upon Books, before. In: can la* any w.iy tolerably
furnished for bin Studies. For supposing there be 1000 Ministoi* in
Mot/ami that shall have Libraries for their own use ; tbon raoh Miniotora
shnte of this 36000 pouwiu Sotttft will be only 34 pound, which is only
tho Aunualreut of 600 pound* /»*«'«/* : and I believe there are lew present
MlnUtera, but bavo I ian wed more than Thin Sum upon Books, so thai: the
half Moulhs Cow ii |i<m ilk'in, is not to Iw looked upon ae a Burthen, but
aa a way to preserve the Money, seine; by this Method, tho yearly
Aunualrout of a email Sum of Money, will fumioh them with a corn pleat
Librnry, ami incomparably moro Books, than both the Stock and
A ninialrent of a far greater Sum can do otherways.
Hut further, there are several oiliCT Considerations which maymaki the
Ministers willing condescend to this Artiule ; for either they may prevail
with tho king k parliament to ordain this half Months Com to bo payed
out of tho BiahopB Rents, or to lay it on upon tho Tenuis uf the Kingdom,
•jrbioh do justly belong to the Maintenance of the Worship of God, or
some honest hearted patron Titular of the Teinds, may Gift or Mnrtifw m
much as may free Ins Minister of his Proportion uf it. But though none
uf those should succeed at present, yet tho Tacks of tbo Tciuds must run
out at length, and then tbo Ivirk will be miftieieiitlv provided, not only
to pay this half Months Cobs, but own to pay tho WHOLE, and free th'u
Heretom of their SHARK ol it.
Ir m.iy l» ohjci-ied by nthnrs, that the l,vmd will bstOO litMc, and the
Work will be but small and couteiuiitiblo. But it ia aiiswert*LTliaA
ais
prnuo r.rni:
though it may b6 mill At the Winning, y. t [t will m.f.Mw dejgj not*, for w»
know that JBOTim woe not oil built in one day. an J It U del - , thai
theao Lihrarica will by lhl» Vend in a few years become very gloat «n<]
coiwid arable, so that the voit meanest of them may compare wi*
moat Runoaa Libraries in the World i for thin Fond wOl P fn1
Shci<t< of Paper dayly, which in ciimigh for any man r.< irarl ;
Sheru dayly. trill bo 8000 Shoota yearly, which wf] innm>
Of 300 Sheets to uarh Wditinii ; BO tbuL in 100 yearn, ibis will t« 1000
Urjjo Ytdiurin-., I'ln'tiftiM^ nl tin v hundred thonxmd Sheet* <"'f I'
which willi the Boolta that will Im Rfvon in to the Libnarioe from
to time, l'\' Mio Minfateri and Hatetoia, may dn much to eonturtBeiLQ' all
the* vsliKiM. Itnnka extant.
iiin i . i>< ■-!■ " ■ ■" r, i !',.. i , d in thoae Libi a tm mi ■■
nuonor attained, if the Kinj* and P*i liainrnt shall tit i I ill
thiis Ccm upon the Hcrottira for amno yean, or for Printing; of potn--
Bookfl : or if a Biota oaaiu and speedy way of Printing can bo Invi
that) what in now in use, which I am Mnwaded may ho done, if BtM
Sense won* encouraged to apply themselves unto it.
Lastly, ii may ■».-. oMectoJ that the different bus Muotipt
Ministers may iiuli all this Work ; But it is answered, Thai ■■ .
dSflett&t PurswejdotiH among? t Miniature, may obatruot the U--< botftw
ing and lending <>! I'm. i hot need if- no huidei
if" -■- * ' i ■ ■ rod increasing of thi Bflioutookc a oyeq P I
paying n* thoii Bbaroa Foi maintaining of the Printing HottM, as
PnniiUA lucfa lk>uk*ua shall ho tlloUgnl lOOBl iitteawirr.
Whnt hath booa laid, I hope U ruSciodI to coannca any m»n. tint
Inure is uu dillb'iilty in this Work, iF we !>■■ willing to *ot abOV
Therefore 1 «liall in tho next place, lav baton jron Mxrao Couaidarttie&fl
taken. I. From the AdrantngioiiKneM of t.n- w i !;. 2. From Hn> Flo
ablenan uf it. Ant! 'j. From Uw Duty Lhat, lie* upon hm to 0
HinSsten in all things necessary for thutr Mini.-.i.iy. \\1 i ;li may ntft
Argun, invade all pfrgona willingly and cordially
Work.
1. Tlii* FMiihiw'iii.j.' i.f ''■ ■ - in every Faroes will BOl only
rotaodj tha foramantlonnil Ineonvtni*iid.w and Dilllintltliw ...
but it will Iim wvurul waya Advantageous to Mm- Comitruy, For 1. I
baaeoneUlerahle Maiinfactory, and wil Mai itain many People at ft
i. will keep oil tbot Motkv in the Kingdom, wbioh now go« oi
buying of boon and Papor. t It will oucouregc young Mun to I
thfir Studies in lh«it own Conn trey, and thm
1 1.' i: For tonus Abroad, and man) uthur nonxid«iulilii Inennvi i
young Men are expoeed unto in atrango Oountrvyn. i, II ■
pr..v..ki t.lenfl non to beetow thd iparo Hours in reading of new U^^»,
which may provo a good Means to roitrem them from Qamba and
if, iilin«, tiu« that «ii":i-i.: :in.| ■• . u some Idletiwa of 1
wl iiit. If til rAMDl of these, and many ot.ht't Kiminni.. -,. : I' h
a abort time, carry away the whole Trade of Printing fivm all the net of
Hut 2. A-i Una EflUill iehing of FlibUothoeka in ovory Poroch «ill b*
A'lvantngcoue, bo it will hu very Honourable to thU Co
hall not. only he tlie firal and the only Nation foi ji whih h
htrtj i)i- ■■- -. : 1 1- and iinofnl [ilenty • i Rooks, But Z, Hon bt all wrti nf
Learning will mightily oncreaK and flouiifili aiuon^at ub, and
( » Rrtot oi n !■.■ h l''-]'l' ■ ye! w< i ay I" ■» «»c and a learned People*
\':a further, the»( Ubnuioa '» wu « ^\otas WvLwl Tcan wttJ Ua aoioll
APPBNIHX I. 519
ipleat, that the Mwt Famous ami Magnificent Librarian in the
•hall not outdo the meanest Library in any Faroeh of Tin-.
igiluni, Ibi numben of valuable eod uaeflil Books, UDatfcbenD ilrta43
stnonstiiu.
S. If it lie our Duty to provide our M;> I tap u! li .it! thing? IMCONUy
for them oi a oompotoiit Stipend, Mai.- nd ci.dl., tbnt thoy boing free
frnm wnrlilly Cor.-A, miy lun-.- ii>rm 1. «tudy and Instruct thoir People.
I Then iiertainly it ntuat much more be our Duty, to provide th'-m artth
ciiiii|n'iciit Libraries of thv laott neAil Hooka, wiiug without theso they
ran n»t study, nor be fitted auCidyutly for Instructing their Pooplo in tho
Truth* of their Religion.
Mhhj. Being (Joa hath mad<» ull men l>y nature dosiroin of know-
ledge, undoubtedly tho satisfying of rhie aefi ■ , 1 1 Dl >" I eoneideflable
part of uiir natural foliuity J for Dot uttll delight ol our Souls, which, arc
our better juui, lu which tho Bcwly doth not i»i-t,tko, U th« dolight ebe
takf.th in Knowledge And Conteun.il.it i on. And -.lug Cod hath so ordered
it, that tho moat part of our knowledge should bo oomnuuiicat to ue
boa 1 lore fatboiw, and Contemporaries MpooteJ J by their liooluaml
Writings, It doth nnueeneily follow tftat the qttihltorn'ng ami promoting
of MU.-Biica iii I'vt'iy i*aruch, whereby tin* una of al Knurl k of BoOKM may he
n iu\< i .d moat fnw and niiiw; *jd, mid may I"' j" il.>. th -K-rinvd U> all oui
■ posterity, will bo a Tory otTeotuol in vans of increasing Knowledge and
Loam 11 1^' 'I'm. n -«t U'», and >.f \<> .[• 1,' u-<, mid "ue I'.'iU'rita :" leeroh out
all tho worki tf "Hi Qod,thet we mafaiftnJra end ouote hb inimh
wledom and QoofteeML in making l.htmi Hindi, ami hi *i wonderfully
dbpoejau of tbetn lm his own punwet* and Glory, which tweum to bv our
I principal end, for which our bJeceod Maker hath mad* ua rational
Creatures.
Tlnw tlringe tanng du«ly considered, I hope what liutli been mud will
beeuttdens, to parsmdaajl [oven, and eneouvegtne of Learning, that tin*
founding and promoting of Rlbiiotbeaki in every Paroch throughout thli
Kingdom, ie both nuccseary and coaic, advuutagious and Iiuumuable OOI
[ntOKBt and our Duty.
THE OPINIONS OK HOME LEADING MEN ON PUBLIC LIBRAKIE8.
[.Vtn\ff >if iMSM li<r< net j>> BttMri m yrint.]
[wim. fXfSM SIMTAJJiB I'AKAtiUAi'fl* run DlBGDUUBt, rrcj
Sir Charlei W. Dilke. -No odo who hiu> the smallest ac<iuaintanui
with tlioc tmtttLution> can doubt thoir value.
The late Lord Iddeeleigh.— All that I have seen of them- inatitntiuiia
io ouoouraging, eSBOpfe tin.- smallnes* ol thti: n\imli<t.
Kr, Byduoy Boxtoa, M.P.— Anything which help* to proinoti lln
PttUk Librarica movement will always have my wainicat syui|Hdliv.
Tho Soy C, H. Bpurgoon, — I am in favour of I'libliv Lihreriee n\
,'h. ii 1 oat ie amall and tho benefits great.
Kr. Samuel FlluxeoU. — The movemeut for eetebllahUx I'n'ilif Eabrariei
Kuu B3| beefty eynpethyi ua I consider it * yalublo meane of i"
UOVarai tho working rlowee,
Mr. J A. Froudo. — Public I.ihrarica, if the rfgkl boola aic in thrm,
•,vili beef tuosueue ralne. But wo real more and bon Dowdem for
: if lit, and *h» moot absurd books arc tho moat popular.
&K>
1'iuuc i.i uitAiui:-
Tho Hon. C. Bitohie, M ,P.— There is no mm abiding pli-a*un;, io ui
(-pinion, than that tu 1m dmivi-d IVoin reading and I would gladly rr+ tfa
facilities for tho pursuit of this ploaiuro, in tbo ?hnp« of Pi Mir I.ihrarica,
largely HtUB
Tho Hot. J. Clifford, B.D., e*-Preaid«iit of the Bnptiat AsaeoiotioiL.-l
rejoice in the progress of tho movement on behalf-- •, *tA
trust !li:it it ■ Uy i« not fir distant vlicii th< | Itfitfl Will b* r#iid*r#l
asoaflatMB to rvcry En^lUti man, woman, ;in I cttfM.
Mr. Justin McCarthy. M P —1 llii'tk a I'nhlii' Library in one of lU
v*t blewingi with which n community can be on i lowed. I
Hltncat with to tost the civQu&tion of every population by Making— ^R
\.ni number, ami h«m ninny Public t/lnaiiCA have you .'
Sir Frederick Leighton, ex-Pinsidoat of the Roval Academy.— 1 1 until*
fc nit- that the uses of Public Libraries: ucm obvious, aadaojHsaanaUy
roongnh*.nd, that no words can bo beaded to emphasiso thnni, Sucft
Libraries if properly usod, should b* powerful engines of a
The Duke of Argyll. — -No one can doubt ll.r value of PiiMi«. Libiaim
who odniiU tho vol no -if odUOfttiOQ nt all, Union "d.».*ation U to itOp •'.
thi- *' three KV the telf-education of adnlts by careful reading it an
•mfltUI. Tho difhYulty ia to make reading m . r«d7y
tartnoUvs.
Mr. Henry BroadhurBt, M P. — Without doubt, money cannot >•■
pniiiijibly spent than in ploclug knowledge of the highest kind
rcsdi of »U who cmia tu avail theiniudvt-s of it Kc«.; to good
there ere few sources of public exjicnditurR more justifiable than in p
log good librovi's f<>v tho people.
Mr. L. J. Jennings, M.P., for fitookport. Thoro arc fbw in
lilii-ly to bo of greater service to working men and thoir families thou
Public Libraries. The taste for reading in tK** only one w hi-1
in ynntho) *£!<'. And T do not know how it in to be gratified among Ike
poor except by tin: establishment of FiiMb. Libmi its.
Mr. Frederic Harrison —Tin- Public* Library movement Uj fr#f
from suspicion of belonging to party, class, oi sect Of nil Ibi
passed in tho last fifty year* there is none which ha* dona a
good with low burdon on tbo country, absolutely without hir
complaint) than tho Public Librarius Act.
Bir Charles Rnsiell, M.P. I have o high opinion of the great adran<
tagts to bo derived from Public Libraries, and 1 think it a matter of
regret that tho Public Libraries Acts have been availed of to so limited as
extent I think this fa to be attributed not to inrtiflerenne amongst the
public, but to unwillingness to add to the already cnoinious burden «f
taxation.
Tbo late Henry Ward Beooher. — A man that should establish la
Brooklyn a Public Library for the common people would be a regenerator
of tbo city ; and if ho plauod to have hie name inscribed, th»t Basil
OOnJd BtVOCao below the norixon. He might not see the result ; for th«
visible effect would he nothing as compared with the nnaoen,
pb x cll'ect would appear in generation after generation, and hit noma
would be ^loiioux
Mr, Thomas Sort, M.F. — I attach the utmost importance to tbfl PttbHfl
LibiarieH movement. It is certainly autazing, and not at all creditable,
thai thirty yeans after the cuuiuioucement of the Acteof.-vv Uivns hate
adopted ill In Nowcaatlo-on-Tyno we had a long and rather BtVarl fight
APruywx J-
&l
Wo won, and at present an excellent institution is established, and is
doing valuable wont.
Mr. Robert ftiffen. LL D. (Of the Board of Trade), in his address, as
rn-Kiitrnt nf the StaliKfical Society, on "The Progress or the Working
Clause* in theLaet Half-Century." taid : — To a great deal of this expendi-
ture we may at i v li the biblical value. It due* not give bie&d or clothing
to Oh: warhinj; man, but it all helps to make life snvecter ami :" 11 r,
and eo opeua out careers even to the poorest. The value of the Public
Library, lor instance, in a large city \a simply incalculable,
The Lato Right Eon. John Bright. Tin re is no blcsnut; that ran bo
giveu to an artisan's family more than a love nf book*, The hotnoiuHuoucn
• <\ nob a posspnaion Is one that wilt guard them from many ttmptfttiOBi and
from many evft*. Tu the yuuug especially I his in iif great uii|mhUiioc | I'm If
there he iiu acod time then: will certainly be no harvest. It is inipo&aiblo
for anybody to confer upon young men a greater h leasing thau to stimulate
thoin to oHiocialo thomsolvea constantly with a 1'ublio Library, aud draw
from it any book they like.
Lord Granville. -Aa a Londoner I must own that I aomotiraoa Pool
ashamed %t the contrast which f/Midon present? to provincial oitius in
availing tts»:lf to hrtle of the hihlio Libraries Act. I hope tint when
Lontlou baa something like a municipal government, accompanied by that
public spirit and by that ttpvU <lt eorpa which alwaya go uitli it. it
will not lug behind the provinces in thia important ami intellectual race.
The poaspasinii of a Public Library w a proof of the intelligence and thy
public spirit »<f the towns which pomes* thorn.
Ttao Bishop of London.— I look upon Public Libraries evorywhorc aa
being of the highest importance and value for the cultivation of the groat
Ividy r»f people at large. No doubt there will lie a perpetually KDCfetft-
i rig number of those who would be glad to have the opportunity of rend-
ing books which it Is impossible for them to buy ui tin, It Is
a very excellent arrangement that there should be, for common good,
Libraries of the kind to which all may roeort Libraries which aro open
to the highest aud th« lowest, the richest ami the poorest.
Mr. Henry George. There would be a great and increasing surplus
I v. mio from tho taxation of land valuoe, for matorial progress, which
would go on with greatly accelerated rapidity, would tend constantly to
InOKaM i» nr. This revenne arising from thu common prorMrfy con hi be
applied lu the cumuion be unfit, aa were the revenues of Sparta. Wc
(iiik'lU-tjot establish jxihlir. tables — they would I... unnecessary; hut we
could establish public baths, nuuieuiua, libraries) gardens, locturo-rooma,
riiuaio and dancing holly, theatree, universities, technical uchooU, play-
grounds, gymnasiums, Aie.
Tha Bight Hon. Joieph Chamberlain, H.P. -I am a great boliover in
thn advantages of a miscellaneous reading. 1 believe that by it we OMO
onr mind* lo imw ideas ; we widen OUT HYinpar.hien, and expand our
Intellectual and moral horizon : and I know. also, that for the student
who AotirM to puisne tborouUv any mtya 1 . I il uUulutoly iwiniwmj
that he nhould have access to bouke, many of which aro costly, many of
which ure very di flic-alt to obtain, even to the richuat vf single individual*,
but whM >•' i' ;""■ Ui* power of n tttntne/nthf U / rtnritU !••■' «'/ /'* iivmlmrx
And in thin poKaession there in no favour conferred ; it is a right
which II eujuyed by all.
The Arohbishop of Canterbury.— rublic Libraries aro a necessity of the
priii. ]• r.mruaiK.
timn, and! shall l^Rlad to we thn.
Libraries are, of tliu inuat important kiuJ, but that Ucwa Lot imply Swiai-
UtXOf any ntoi-e than the wonl Ottftrt implies Chaitiat. 1 wouid ab>:-
remind yoa that those Libraries would uot iiavu boon possible in Knglanl
thirty yeiire ago, uot merely uu account of the prejtul
against them, huf rtill more In ooneequenoe of the lack of thai
eiiK-ation which would have enabled people lo two them witii onjoj
or profit ; but our present Ky&tem ul elementary education lias ivu
thcAc Libraricao nm.-Mity.
Tho Bishop of Rochester. — Sooner or later you tnust auccwJ in
Li but tho proper completion of tho Elementary Education Ait of 1970,
and tho trao dafogtui-dingcf that mooiornbb: extension of tho franohl
from whirh a new ora of Knglwh ht«t<»ry will iumir<i«lly betfiti. Von
i>< but th« duty (if wise men, who I')*" their jonntry, who I > do
knuuledg* i>f any kind, ho long as it ii exact ud complete ; who feel thai
the education a man glTta himself is far move valuable than aus •
who eipcot, not wtthont mason, that lu eoarso of time tho b
expeaM from a halfpenny rato will he inoi-'j than uttvod by a dimh
of the public ch argon. The Cnitml .States huva long been ahnad nf m
in thin ijnflKtiim of I'nMic Uhraritw, an I w»ll knmv from poiMOJUl oliwrra-
tlOL.
Bight Hon. A. J. Balfour, HP.— I hall wiih satisfaction thy
menl in other town* of a Public library like that whh-h I miu around a>,
and I could triah no better fortune for my old friends and o one ti toot*
of Hertford, than that they may ono and all acquire that taotc for liwr*
tnro, and that habit ofroauinu which can bo latistiod in a Lit» ■
In which we an- neated, mil which will, lam convtnood— *nrt i
from no narrow iwrtfonal experience, but from a knowledge uf what
ha vo felt in all gcnciatione of mankind — prove a eource of »attn
v. in- Ii Hilt not tail tbem in time; of cam or trouble, which aieindcpendcat
uf seasons, which arc iiidopunduiit of tho favour or duttavoar of urn-
and which art* perhaps the moat preCKXM hwrltagn wind: '
mankind by tho invention of printing,
Lord Coleridge— The rinu Uu* gone 1 y whnn it wu nocawai
libraries and reading. I remember when It. was aald If yon imtrufttci
the people iu reading, all aorta of diiuxu.lt oonnopi ■ »«uW
iCAult. We liave got pant all thooo notion* now, and bare 00
foal tho onornioua advantogo of reading and of Pul I • Libraries, *od I
trust that We have got on bo far aa to realize that ii B I < manly
toextsod to oilier people the advantage* we otir»i-'lve« en
v/lm ioei DOt IQq.UiOl ninmnlf \vir.h wtuit ntlmn* have Hah] tftUBt tX laalW
wine a very common-place and dreary individual. Tho moat «;.
egra thota whose inmds areenriohel by culture and oduoatien
library enables men to appreciate these pointii ; Maltefc ■
capable of doing bit work, and appreciating the tiioughts and
the grwit men who hvod he font on rtirae. VTha; i ■ i ul*i
and liberalise tho mind has a practical bcarhig u|kih that iu Vflld
ore all rntewetod— nomoly, the Bupreaiocy of tin* Kieat couxitry.
Mr. John Morley, at. P.— It ii profoundly true, m Aurka «aid, cku
education ia not reading a parcel of book», i Dg reatraiiL
dtodplice, virtue, and juatluu. Tin: parcel of books, bow
chosen, reconcile* at) to the dtsciplinu, iuterprcta the virtue ami jwck*t
ami awaken* within tin tho dirinor mind aa to what ia boxt ia efkan
and ourwlrva. There in mwa to \nake vooyli . b«ti»#f Uv
IPFKKDIS I,
593
npread of literature, qb now understood, does awake the diviner mind,
'I 'in- ttttiftl at ' (Ik* bookl taken out of public libraries are not all that
iimlil be wished. In one great town of tho north, fiction form* 70 per
cent, of the boofca borrowed ; in other j;raat tuwin it is respectively 82
per c«nt., 64 per cent, and C7nev cent. The average in thw country is
about 70 per coot., whereas In t! • United States it is only 60. In
S-otUnd alwo thoru in a Iiii'kci- demand than in Ktigiund for books that
ar« called ssiioiis. 1 .tin mys»df a voracious reader of fiction, »»<'
nhth U> see the amount read reduced from 70 to about 40 jn?r cent, <>f
th< ri .tiling of Hie people, the difference being tuado up by other
litoruture,
Sir Edward Clarke, M,P.— There w no bettor way of combating Intern
W En thtf couuUy than by the En r&UQ of education. The nonMBMT
idleness of much of the day with those wlio ate engaged in manual
labour, and tlic limit of space in their home* caused by tho pressure of
population, tend to drive men intn habits of intcrni>©rarieo ; but those
&n Ihlnn winch can bo met in a very Ltlfifl decree by t»ip ernarinn nf
Pnbtla Libraries. Id the provincial towns t1ie.se libraries ftxlst to a. much
fttcater Mteut limn m Loudon, and wLeiever they have been nsl.abliidicd
are found to b" »o popular, and iucruaaiugly popular, that towns
(rill "h bavo them would be a-ttouUhinl and appalled at the idea that they
in future idiuidd be without the-m. In unity parti of London tho home*
Of the working men arc* so uncomfortable, ami so far from being pllOM
kBcTO they cuii have any SOIt of iiM-fnl rtCTtttlon, that tht-ii; i- bni.ll.v
any choSct mlb lln: men between their Utile uud uncomfortable home* and
llio jiiiblu i-hoSH, I aui couvinccd that Public Libraries will l>e a source
>f great and abiding and steadily increasing benefit to the community.
\ pemrp ntfe will not bo sufficient in itself to establish an<l OffOiD them.
Such vi addition ro the nv i. oxtromilly mnall, and if tho propound
mount a really studuus burden to tlio ratejiayora I would not advocate i :
bat it will be bo miftl] in gompariBoa with thy benefits to be nourvd
that I hope rrcry pariah will not heeitat© by a great majority to too
tb.» proposition. I further bulievc that those libraries will tend to rodoc I
tho burden of rate*, because they will help to reduce pauperism and
crime.
Tho at. Hon. W. E. Gladstone, MP.— Without tho Mossinc ofrttd2nA
irdcn of life for many of w would aliiiunt bo intolerable, and
i u rf* i ■ 'I lifa would be reduced to the merest penury. . . . 1 am
one of those who look with mmr, I think, than a common Intorwt
Upon nnuiijipo,] itialiutious, and who attach to them a value thai. I can
hardly oxprem. But I "ill put. in ■m- - vvlut I ban t» nay;
I am finn'.y eonviueod that without municipal institutions England would
not have been Holland — that is to t&y, it would have been a iuodameut-
1*1 ly different Kugland to the England that it now is. I admit that
centres of pojrUlaaon give facilities for the work nf a I'ublie Library
which it cannot enjoy where they nr» more dUBowd j but at the same
time iu this country it i& quite plain that we must have a very large
population outside of our mutuoipalitios, a population that ie not included
in the munioipalitu'ti, yet will, in many comb, bo considerably centred ;
and 1 look forward with pUiSDN ami ttnfisfaetioii to the day when
rufllbjus of persons who cannot enjoy the advantages will, through the
enactment of • notiud and solid ay stem of local govi.uiuue.iit, ombraciug the
vrBolo of tho rural, the whole of tho non-civic and non-municipal district*
of the cuuntty, bo plocod within tho roach of wultttuiltb <sl VjMiw-AJ* **a^.
SM
LUmAHZUi.
advantages from whioh tlmy aro now in u conaiucrable dogreo exduiwi i
mill wiubkiwiao havo that uieatimahl* profit w lich haa boon enjoj
our n>tini'':]>!il 'uwiin of a rogiilnr education in public, riutlea, machinf
ilawnwardn through all r*nk«, hikI ambncilMJ Msaoj* uf llin popuhtfjoa,
and giving to il»» EagUsli • lirti.v.-i 1 1- much of it* firmness *nd Imm
The Right Hon A J. MnnAflllft, M.P.— Tho public aro man
ippeilBi for knowledge, and union* pure literature is provided there It a
mat llADgfll that It* place will be taken hy impute lltaralui-. I U
!k»iiih1 t.o wiy t liMt I Bo tint think that htctatmu of the v
.i i nil d to any extent among the mawiui of tha pi pie, 0 naUy
havo pur<'hft«n.| pn h lip* t mil" at mimll khopa in thi I LHonrrMvJi,
• i.i I havo found wi-r» mil m from and bad an lntotenthl
Sttch publication oil- tltonuthci aithout litera/v merll. *n<] 1 mi
that a youth who lies had ai.CoM to OlWei UuMotiutli, Tlmrk
Diakeso, ami other luna ■ n<l to ton
| rr.l.l.i.h to WOWh 1 haVO allud-1'! I b*lilivr t li:* t I ',;■
antidote for iurnuri litoratare it pure lltamtnrn, and In my optnioa tfei
way to elevate, a man. to keep him in tha path* of virtue, purity, aot
nobility, in to jiiiiIu- him i i.ini. No M-euhn
hotter than a taota for reading, which taalc, of all othrr*. St the no*
tag and tho fdioitpoet. Tlio plouuira* tint! danaM a man an thoy
moot ooetly to tho «o4y, son I, ami poaknt, wlrfh Iha plea
elevate him wn happily beoomtiie cheaper every i i •> ratepayer
btigrudgo Ma education rate and his punny for the rub Ik Librarian. Tort*
an? hi* I«wt iiiviisfcnii-iiL*. Lot ilinn observe how, during meant Ywar*.
the criminal population havo iliminuthod how Ihc diminutv
eapCQlally nntieoablo among orinunnll an lor thirty year* of ago; obaerrt
tha decrease it) the unotml paid for oatdooi : and i^tly, ohaar*« ta*
nuhu'ml oonennptlon "f alcoholic driolca. Kdoi itlori ii >- done not* loan
any Iliiu^ clue t.o bring tfiMfj happy results* about. TIlOM mmt r* hlghw
and hotter education, ami a oonnnuity of it, iunl they uuat have idn
night echoola and more Public Librarian.
Teitimony of Mayors
In n ply lo letters reaper, ting tho we anil Influence) of Public Mhnrlai
ihoir towim. these leltorx of u few Mayon will bn road with lol
wuuld havo boon an oaay task to greatly oxtoml tin a amber, »-ut Uieaeaft
leprnsicntativo of othoffl roooivod.
The Mayor of Birmingham icays :— Tlw> ihmmg of tho Iihrarioi, If It TO
proposHl, would " oicito the most violent opposition."
Tho Lord Provott of Aberdeen wye:— To all afipcaraju.>i
in the ailranlAgow, illroct ami inrliroot, of tho HhTarios ei
city i* *' nniveraal and strong."
Tho Mayor of Beading writes:- 1 have pleasure In uaylnfr that thi fublic
Library in this town has Iweu an unpia'iliwl BUcoew, ami haa oonfertfd
■ignal advantage* upon tin* iiihahitanU.
Tbe Mayor of Horthampton suye ;— -During our late ibrikfl in the staple
trade tho librarica becamu o capital counterantivo to tho publh-bvusfo,
being literally thronged from morning till night.
The Mayor of Loeai ^jb;— The Publh. Library iu this horotlfjl haaboea
catabliahed for upwards of tifUcu yearn. It has bcun Tory tuccwaful ia
■■
APPBNI'IX I.
«fi
itd operations, and has proved iteolf to be one of the. most important
educational institutions in tho borough.
The Mayor of Newoaatle-ou-Tyne writob :— There can Iw u<> nucation
that the Public Library >n Newcastle has been a grcot benefit to the
inhabitants, and in moro used by tbc eitucna of all rhwbCB tlian 11k
i-'.'i | 01 'at i on ever contemplated &r pmlmbiu when it woa initiated, i : It ink
thprr is only nne opinion in r.he city a« to it* vain*.
Tho Mayor of Manchester says . — The operation of tho Acts in llii* city
city has unquestionably been advantageous to tho beat iutoreato of the
community, hii'I 1 think it improbable that the closing of tUe libraries
weald have any nup[>ort whatever, as tlioy are among the moat popular
and most imliKvxmaable institutions of l.lia city."
Tho Provost of Dundee eaya that tho Public Library, Museum, and
Art Gallery exert a powerful, refining, educational influence on the nun-
ninnity, anil that n proposal tn minuend the Act would meet not nniy
with strong but practically unanimous oppuaitiou,
Similar tootiuiomee to the oporatione of the Act havo beeu received from
the Mayors of Liverpool, Norwich, Coventry, Cheater, Cuinbri<lge, and
Reading, the Provost* of Galaahieh, Dunfermline, and Porftr, and (tan
forty-one other English aud Scutch tuwns.
PARAGRAPHS FOR HANDBILLS.
It ia good to eee ko many Public Libraries starting in vnrioui town a.
!r. indicate*) a growing taste for good reading, ond a wnll-ytockod library
Qwill cultivate that taste Then it is su :li au iuusliuiublu privilege to
l*eopl« who are too poor to buy all tho books they want, and to young
le etill attending school ; in fact, it ia a benefit to every ono but the
r at the corner.
There ii au analogy between the creation of a Public Libiai y aud tho
lighting of tho etreota. When it waa first proposed to light the public
KfMil, there were probably w>iuc ol our forefathers who met the proposal
with very specious objections. The facilities for walking the ot roots at
night hail been enough for them, and were really nriougn for all n.'.iiiul
purposes, To Hgbl tin? streets wuuld only be tu provide at the public rout
a temptation to people to KO about tic street* al night when they on^ht
to bo performing family dutiea at the liioside. The argument* now
advanced aguinet Public Libraries ar© jiint as grouadloaa on thoeo first
edVoaoed against street lighting.
Public Libraries uro *' continuation schools.'* If a boy or girl, after
attaining the requisite itettdftxd, was plunged into hard and loboriou* lifo
without tho opportunity of continuing tho education hogun in ony fern.
tin- rUllH too often wu--. n, ,: in n very fow year* thoro waa a lo*a of dm
knowled^fl and power already airalnnd, ami ebDMt IrWltftbh I IO»of thl
appicciatiuu of the advantages of that education. There is no contiuu-
ii (on nboe] which could be 00 good ea a Public Library, which would girc
to every citizen the opportunity of continuing his or her education t>j ihc
end of hie or her life.
A Public Library j* tiuw fairyland, says Sir John Lubbock, a vnv |
«»l ' ■!< light, a havru of rVpOM 1'ioiu the itorma ud troubles of the world.
Rich and poor rnn enjoy it. equally, for here, at, leant* NtftitWa <v-
ii r.i.i- Mm.
advaatage. You can transport younelf without delay an i with&ut
*ri»nae to any jmrt of the globe, or even into the regions of tho title*.
You ran call up tUo prosiest men of the pant or t > i ■ - | ire inl dT ttlfil or an/
other country. Surely to the works of E
havo flome right, The literature of England
ance of every Englishman, England baa prodaood, oud i* produdM,
wine of tbo greatest of poete, of philosopher*, ol ma of ideate. Si
aoaattfj sat) bojwt a brighter, purer, op nobler literature, rich*
coiuiuerco, more powerful than our anus, the true pride and
country. To this litaraUru the very poorest of our fellow-ton
ifiMA
There way bo persons in the trade who fappoae that a I i i,
Would Iwnn tho demand for books which tbey
A vn:y little inquiry will satisfy them that expencu.
shown that Chefs, b DO f> al of ttuoli a result. A PuUi.- I,
round to oratta ind fnstarataate for reading mm) i I'll,- of powoninx
Itoolca, and thim to benefit the bookselling trade. Of tho argument aits
the uufair iuciduno? uf t*X»tIou OH -sii ■pknjujrs, enoUfiJl lun ulrcao.
Midi But wo may odd here that even if tl.. a ttrwu
v foolish to fight it on the narrow and certainly loai ifl
Library-tax. Till prudent poKej would b© to accept the tax and thi
•nil' for public npirlr which its acceptance will bring, and tc raiaoths
whole question of the taxation of snopfl III tbo general form. If th*
griovautfe is real, it comprehends runeh iu.ui than tlie I,i!ir,ini.n ; ba-
the imposition of the Library-tax will make a small additiuu i
will ifamgflwn the position uf thonc who may agitato ugainst if
have already endeavoured to show that the grievance in imaginary ; but
n 11 in not, there BOUld be no groatHi* mistake titan to nibble at a mare
Man of ii like 1I11 Library-tax, instead of dealing with it tun Whole and
lighting it iu J'arliaineut.
Within a few years thn whole nf the ixvmlc of this com
educated, and when education is universal, thu educated claa* wi
lunger couaiitnte a kind uf intellectual aristocracy, churning v" thi '
positions of life ax a matter of right in virtue of tb
>.»:\ tbo humblext oee.npatioiix for th© illitvrato. Witiii a very few
years the very lowest occupations of life will be occupied by intallij^nl
men, educated up to & point as high as that of the middle .
Impend upon it tbi« will produoc startling result*, and, I i.
very likely change the whido aspect of aooioty, for wo arc on tit
great uphcavul of tbo maeaet; into ilii^h.-r i< vol of in tolled ;. dial
... i \ id ■•■ Iheir mental horizon widen far beyi
toil. For although they will be educated, with all thru nt. Hi
knowledge, theji will aid! bo ciituiNtratively poor, and lb ureas
n lifli dilllculty in rising bum iho lower oceupationa inl hor a*
the exiHting raco of laboarcra iiliw bna. AW have brougl.i
oiireolveB. For a moueat w« brnubu<t aaide all ipnriblo tculiiiga, and
rceolve<l to educate the people and |>a»fi the Kiluci io Tiat
moment wp planted the seeds of revolution, and we mm
faco a ucw urdci vf tlitugn. The Public library AcU are * tuiural
lOe of the Eduratioi) AcU. Aa time tolls on, 1I1U nil! becoa
evident, that I bclinvu tlio Public Libraries Acta nniM lx anittraalK
adopted.
Tao followlna; U9 a (»>>»> specially written i'.-i i i
coromoay oi a 1'ublie Labravy re ito livvud Jiut« :
naif/
APPKNMX I.
Good Sooki.
" Ad n sky that hun no cnnnudlntioiiR,
As a . "mi ii y uimatoicd by brooks,
Aa a honsc that ia empty of kindled,
U ml In mined by loving lookn,
So dull in the life of the people
Wlin (enow not the birring of books,
Good Looks arc the best of cum pardons,
They help ua to sec with the eyes
Of tho groat ones in ngos historic ;
Dead saint* at tluur bidding ante
Prom the moss-mounded graveyards to toaeii in
That the tiuLli wlml; U Hud nrvur dfa.
Good books arc thu kindest of unkjubourit ;
Thoy help ua to know oua another |
Thay show how tho words 'man* and 'woman'
Have Always meant 'sistfir' and 'hrnther.*
So they fan to lifi: reelings fYatuiual
That the dnat of the work-duy might BBTOihtT.
Kio hooka that we cherish are Iranian ;
Tliey bi'i* written from heart unto heart :
Now they muvu iik to sinking uud laughter;
Now I hey uw*» tho warm lou-diop to start ;
\V< feel— a* wo read— their fresh pages
By tho roao-breath of love blown apart.
Good books are an inspiration ;
A spirit within stir* thuir leaves
With the nigh of a burden prophetic,
That worms, and rejoices, and giiovcs;
An I the ear that is open to hear it
The word of tho vision receive*.
i;,n>.| liooko— who ■ all measure their 'deviing —
Tell how it begin*, wheru it ooils I
Sow thov totWWMTO I\wt, PlOMDt) Future,
Until Tlino with Ktcrnity blends!
TI117 an) man Ihwi sofDistoloUB anil u.iiyhUiurH s
Good 1h>i»Ux kiu th* truest of friend*.
Good bookn tliv) who build tlicui a shelter
A place among puoplo to aUy
A* hid pur* and guides and iimpmrK,
Onr bolt benflwltvra are they,
And therefore the heart of this village
To our friends ia grateful to-day."
527
HOW TO POPULARIZE AND EXTEND THE WORK OP PUBLIC
^LIBBARIES.
The Opinions of a few Librarians,
Banow-in-Purneae (Mr. Frowde). — Increase the mi ■■• h l.jd. or 2d. so
hut branches might be opened. Some stay rliii would isad to the
ejection of the Acts in certain places. My plan w ww-i l,v. \«j W\ S.V*. *v«.
■CN
prune i.rnitAmr.3,
remain at Id. until tbe Central Library la a prove-: thflra that Qm
w.-.-k nay be intended and paid for out of the increas** rate. |t
bfl optional for Cou mils or Library Committees to levy lb- fate at
will.
Birkenhead iMr. Hayi.—To advertise in the widest manner the
mlwuitagea of iiMug thnlduraiy. To advertise llit Library the mi in u
any other htminrw scouia to bavo been 1 oat sight of, A now Li '•■
thrown open and tho people aro ovpoctod to guess what i* cxk;
therein.
Blackburn (Mr. Aaoton),— The special feature* of Libraries etc.,
depend to a great oitent upon ita relation* to tho town, and i
out it* own ipecUl work, a/dt its mtotiag the people in their own branch
b| t dnBtry. If thin is done the work must Ik* appreciated.
Bootle (Mr. J. J. Ogle).-(l) The bettor payment of tho right men. <J)
T It >• tnioouragement of certificated Library Aflrifftfttrhv (3) The aprsad of
ii broader and higher ideal of the functions of a Public Library i
light uii'ii I mean men in full sympathy «iLli working poopu ml with
taVnsat young students, aa well oa good organizers and of wide muni
reading and thorough Knowledge of library history and general li.
To secure this typo of roau for tho niovement will r<
the oner of better salaries than are usually given. ["think, with *\
Irgal restrictions even, a very great deal can bo done by the right men.
Bradford ;Mr. Wood). — All burdens of rent, rates, lighting, *t«., oliould
I., i ■--■ moved, or At least not paid fur out of the penny rat«. A scan*
in the pound it nut aiiffloieut to uiouilaiu branched and the fantrsl
Library'.
CUtheroe (Mr, Kobinaou).— I should say that a librarian might tnli\
a useful service by directing the attcuttuu uf borrowers to the beat world.
With boys especially a great deal might be dona in tbo way of adiisiiur.
and directing tho choice of book*.
Denton (Mr. Snteliffo).— By impressing unon all local mthorltki the
avty of aut'li institutions and the great benefits derived fitona lUm.
(apueially to tbo rising generation. A lecture we had in tliiu diatri
" nihlid Libraries and tneir Uses " appear* to have armiwod tho inhabitant*,
for the attendance has been very much increased.
Great Yarmouth (Mr. Carter). — The distribution of reports of anCMeflfttl
Publie Libraries in places where the Acta have not bean udop-
Halifax (Mr. WhJteley).— A battel Btyk or education at the Board
Schools. The nnpila of theie schools seem to leave with a rdnge
imperfect knowledge, of their own language, malting them totally m«-..-
of understanding anything like high-clow litciatuir.
Harrogate (Mr Harrison), — Ky eo-opcratkm. That i*. tha eoflUBlttN
with the librnriflii, and the governing body with the public
Northampton (Mr. George).. -Too muoh at:- nil,. i! .mn.i . [-aid
rising gen (traitor. By getting hold of the lioys mid girls befora tha
left school, and so ouc.ourflgiug and guiding a tastt) lor rending.
Norwloh (Meflars.EftsWTandTennaot).— Uocnghiziiigtlio utility of trade
advertising Untune ihonld be regularly given \ to tho contents and
nacfuIawB "I lli^ books, and aimuuueeiucui,* made ol lliu uev i
The circulation of u two- page leallct yearly through mil id, .|
I ring i bo arrangements and facilities connected with :li
Wyjnoath (Mr. WrlghtV— \Sy TOVa\^\^fe\Aa.u^waA.va\t.roi,Uii in tli*
WTHNnr* II.
529
Boanl Schools for srcning uso, so that every district of a towuship be
<u i -plied. By circulating book* by the same, medium bo the chUaren
attending the public elementary schools. And by assisting diatnct*
where no such libraries exist to reoognue tho value of these institution*,
Prestoa (Kr. Bramwell).— For existing libraries mi active chairman Md
liberal cof&BlittM, 4ttpj)0f*UDg and BtWMtbcpiBg tho work, of an industrious
and faithful librarian, give solidity au<l increasing intcro.it to tho work*
St. Helena ,Hr. Lancaster).— Free lecture* on the different classes of
literature t«ud lo popularize and increase tiw usufnluuss of the library.
Attention could iltiih bo directed to thu best, books un various subjects.
This would increase the demand for these book*.
Watford (Mr. Woolman).— Hotter [ftgUlattOD. With a consolidation
of the Acts and a wider and broader seopc of the work laid down by the
Icfiirdativu assembly, a greater incentive wuiild be given to libraiy work.
Tli-: Public Library on^bt, in ix legislative nonac, to be established a* tho
recognized institution at which, tho youth, instead of stopping short with
bts VBTJ rudiiiiPiirary education at thirteen or fourteen, might so con
limio that education as to tit him lor any capacity. The Library Coiuuiitluo
would thou tike an tin- work where bba School Boanl left it oft it is au
anomalous thiug (bat tho School Hoard should be able to levy any amount
of rain lor tho education nf ynnl.li, but that r.hn Library Committer with
perhaps higher vork should be limit oil to a penny.
Whitohavon iMr, Simpson ,— Those cugaged in benevolent work aiming
the poorer o1a4bo>» may do much to recommend tho benefits of tho merit u
'i, m. An animal celebration in connection witli tho library is * good
method of lii'Hpi ning public intorost ami giving an impetus to the Wttft
of our library.
Wlgan (Mr Folttard), — Energy in administration. LmIWM Upon Bbf
books. Liheral use of thf facilities offered by the local prattf. &S lew
restrictions open the public as pOtt(blfc Constant attention to social
local wants. Latent text l-ioks upon she various local industries. A
liberal allowance of good Motion for recreative una.
Wimbledon (Mr. Babbitt),— The local press used to give the fullest
publicity to tb«* library. Tho proceedings of tho committor should be
open to tho roprooontativta of the press.
Wolverhampton (Mr. Elliot).— lly work inn in practical svmpathj prttll
tho people. By supplying tho books needed, ay hogimdti:; classes <y\'
i untrue tioii bearing on fchfl trade of the locality.
BHgo (Mr. Saultry). — If yrunU from i" >'< ..iiuim-nl could poeaibfy
bo procured for tho purpose it would bo to the xfcatcat possible advantage,
and ton 1 t>> ttu private pereons to give donations.
Aberdeen (Mr. Robertson).— The multiplying of the means of making
ihci public more I'ullv acquainted with tl anient i of tho books at thour
diapoaal. Titles in this respect give xo little information, or are so ofton mi*-
lending, that withm.it explanatory notes they fail entirely of then puipim:.
SoTOtHiDg can be done to remedy this through tho catalogue, Bltt
probably more might bo ullected l>v havloy K>meoae (the librarian bin
ot lonifl bfhoi meoabatof bbi staff)) part of nhoea duty it .-diould bo ^i
1 1 Li bit and i Npbiin Bomrtbingof the abaraetu ^ booka for which iu^ulvy
LloUBsidl ! bll tb«1 l itoidd \ip looturcs by spt-.mlw on
paoUl ■ -nii'sw* of raadtug i netitioii » III I v libi.iry Then w *
-I.W..1 Mil i pin i'u ibi etdUratlon «•! a clow ralkttamhin hatwawvtfc*
firm
• TJi.r-- rap • itim.
Public Library and UM 1\i1>1k Efc&oola Thw* *hould »ti|.iplcjxiciit
■npporl -.1 both* r, lepociallysoas that, for thogreat multituaV, whereat
education i« uiterrujited jnat when it is bacoming valuable, tha
Library may amy on I h I I Bgonin Uio aohnola, ui<) ' rue, in truth,
a University for the people.
APPENDIX II.
PUBLIC LIItRARIES' ACT. 1355.
IS ftjrft 10 VtOTOBUi Cap. LXX.
Aii A" I bl liiririh promoting the fetablhshmeiit •">*' PvbUc Lihrarw*
Mu-Liiiits in Municipal Towim, Hinl Cor extending it to Towim bow
iiuilt'i Local Improvement Acta ami bo Pariah**. [30i l | |J8.]
\\rHEHHA8 it ia expedient to amend and extend (he Pul.li. )
W Ant, IS50 : Be It therpfnre Piiftrtml h\ i ■ ■ : . . .. I
Majesty, by anil will; the Advira and Consent of I Of T,< i U spiritual end
i'- nipuitil, and Oominona, in ibh prauat Parliament mwmi ifed, ami
ih Amln iity of the aatnc, u& follows .
Acts repealed. — 1. The Public Libraries An, I860. U h., ,;.
but such retwal shall not invalidate or aflojt anything aire*
i m tnau.ee of thu same Act ; an<I all Libraries ami Mm-.
i that Avt oi the Act thereby repealed nrvill b. :onaidi rod i->
ii nndci iIjih Act, and tho Council ■■( any Borough
idopted the sani A»-t of One ihout^nJ eight huuilruj an
or f'stnbbshwl a M Often m nml'T tho Act thereby repealed -(hall h»r* an<(
may uv and exerciao all tho r5cuciltet I'rtvilegas, ami Powm. pi-
tfall Act; end ill Monica which have I
*»aiil repealed Acta or cithm* of them, end .-.till remaining unpai
i { fhnruof, shall bo iihnrgod on the Borough Rates, or a Rate to k»
ujmiimbou1 and recovered in tho like Manner u a thorough llato to b<
i.y -. Irf !- of thii Act.
11. In dthifl th» Act i'< i an% Pin !■'■.■•■■.. \, i ._ i - - •- ■<. h ■.., ill In .mii. ■.
u*e thu HUprcaaiuu, " Tlic Public Iaoratua Ad, LfiAfr."
Interpretation of Terma — 111. In tho Qonatrootton o!' thi* Aot 1h*
wing Word* anil Expressions fchrtll, uiiIpmk tlmru hr
Subject orOontext rapuguaut i" huuIi Couaituvtion, )t \
Meaninga usfthniud to them respective!} . thai is to aoy.
mean every Place maintaining ita uw« Poor; " Vcatry bj ia (h>
Inhabitant* of thu Pariah lawfully aaaeniblcnl in Vestry, "i for any
Purpose* for which Vi'sriie* *ro holdon, except in I ■ trhiok
iIhmv - i j*Hort. vrn*try dccUfd under the Art of thi t'liry alntt Year
King '".'!</■;/' ih'' Tlr.nl, Chapter Twelve, or under tho A< t «f :1
iad V'eam of Kijik IFitiiaw Lbo Fotii li, Ulia iUii llxtv, wi und<
Piovi.uoiij of ftiiy Local Act of Parliamont for flu Qovorunivul
Pariah by Vootrice, in which Piu-isln-B it nhnl! nntm mich SI. I '.
ands] ..-.. i,i-'.'in any Kod; ■ . . ^ \ >,, . .i ■ ^
.in. ..i an; A< i ol Parliament, I'n rl|>Tton
. in ruitcad of n Vostty or S«Ioi:i Vi- try ; li
rufaii n'l Peraona f»i thu Tiiui bi itig BBBemod !■• Bat
I' ' i ■ ■' 1 1 ■ '\ i 1. • i . : iii. ;in alf
autftOJ I'd1 hi l • ■ a\< i" w\A< .u.i. . ., I. ■( r ho Km i • f
■ of (bo Patiah, wad wltoftVaaJUad *a vi-jrt-«-»-».u\ *.•.■
ArPEXI'IX II.
.*JI
shall mean the Coiwiiiaeioncra, Trnateoa. 01 utlici ttodv of Peraoua, l>y
whatover Namo Pfctingnuhod, for the Time being in Ofttec and anting
in the Execution of any Improvement Act, being art Act for draining,
.•Icrtn^ing, paving, lighting, waddling, or olherwtae improving a Place, or
for any of those Purposes : " Improvement Rates " shall mean Ihfl Kin-,
Tolls, Runt.if Iiiiuiue, onfl other Monica wlmlsinnei which wider the
Provisions of luiy mich Improvement Ant ah.vll Iki applicable for the
gonoral Purposes o! amdj Act.
Town Council*.— IV, Thr_ Mayor of any Munuipal Horimgh tho
Peculation of which, according to the then laat Census thereof, shall
exceed Five Thousand Pemoni., *lialt, on the U«Mtu.'b(. of tho Town Council,
coavane a Public Mooting of tin- liiiryew, .11 'the itorougli, in ord« i fcg
.It'ti'imiiK- whether thix Act. ah all Ik? adopted for the Miinirip.il iSnrough,
and Ton Days' Notice at leftist of the Time, Hate, ami Object •>( Eflfl
Meeting anali l». givon by ifflidi g tin hum on « now On nam of *wj
Cliurcli and Chapel within tlic Borough, aud uUj by advertising the sain'e
in One or more of the Newspapers published or circulated within the
Igb, Seven Dayaaf leaat rWni-i? th« Day upjiointcd for *meh Meeting :
and if at such Hattutgl l»0>l I] rdflol BOoll Parsonr- aw aforesaid then present
shall determine that thb Act might tu lr adopted for Ihc Borough, Urn
same shall tlimitefurth take effect and come into ujitratbii iu such
Borough, and shall bii carried iu;o execution in nccordan • villi the Laws
for tho Timo being in force relating to the Municipal Corporation of Quell
Borough. ProvMM always that the Mayor, or, in llli Absence, tin
Chairman of the Meeting, shall cause a Minute to be made of the RmoIii<
of the Miieling, and nhnll sign the aaini! , and the RcnidutionB so
1 slml! bo conclusive Evidence that the Meeting waa duly convem.-d,
rhe Vote tlioroat duly takon, and that tho Minute contain* a true
t. of the Proceedings thereat.
. — V. Tho Expenses incurred in nulling and holding (,he
Meeting, whether this Act shall bn adopted or nut, and tho Kxponwa of
carrying thu> Act into execution in tqcb Korough, may be paid out of the
lloroiigb Fund, and the Council may levy by a separate Rate, tD I idled
a Library Rait, to 1*; made and recoverable in the Manna hereinafter
Kivlded, nil Monies from Time to Time ticct.-wiuy for defraying audi
pousct; and distinct Accounts eball he kept of the Ueccipta, PavflM
iiinl Liul'ilitio* of tho Council with rofen nr.» to (he Kv.-outioii nl i!n. Ac!,
Local Boardi.— VI, The board of any Dbtttot, bobjl l V\i >■ nitfcuj
tbo Limit.- -I' liny Improvement Act, and having men a Population a*
aforesaid, ahall, u|wn the Rcqiiiitiol) in Writing of it least Ton Peraone
aeeeucd to and piy:i,e the 1 row woluonl Kate, appoint ■ Tfasi not loaa
than Ten Hay* nor more tliati Twenty Day* from the Timo nf receiving
m\i\ iLrqni^.iiun for u Public Meeting of the Persons aanossed to ami
Wjblg »UCh Rate in oidvi to detvriiiine vliethci tins AeL nhall be adopts
lbi'MU'h CKatrict, And Ten Days' Notice at leant of tti • Time, Placn, mid
Object ofenoh Meeting h)iuH bn given by afltxing thu Mae on or near the
Door of every Chareo .nui Chanel within tfae Iiintriet, and alio by
adviii'lmin^ the Maine in One or mote of the Newspapers ptililiahnl < t
• ■iiriibii.'.: wuhiii Lin- Diltrfcti .Seven Dayn at lotfil bofbTfl the DoY
ippolutod for iln UeoUni u i If *t naoh afoatfox Two-thin '
an Aa aforceai'i tlt-.n praaont Rhal] loiarniiae e£jbI tbit Ait ongiit i"
be adopted for tho DUtrwtAe sumo <hall thonoeforth takocffoS, and
eomo into operation tn aueli EHltrift, aimI «hall '••• CArrtad Into
acconliiig tn the I.a\v> fm '.hr lime bvin^\n l«TCS ta\w^\v,U\ w\«-V\^w.\.
MS
II BUi LJIiHAHIKft.
VII. Tho Exponacu incurred in calling and holding tlio Meeting,
whether this A<it shall ha adopted or not, am! tli* Kxpr i.-. I ■>' »rrT:np
thin Art into UoOQttal In *ny moh District, -hall bn paid tint of the
Improvement lUtt, and tin- lJuard may levy as Part of tho liiiprovciat&l
Rate, ur bj a separate lUtc tu be AMusaed and lecovcred in Uko Maimer is
an UBproramiftt Koto. am-h 8nmn of Money oa 3h0.ll be from Time toTmic
noeeesary fur defraying such Expense*: and the Hoard ■hnli leoap cUrtfod
■'».■. .-nnta of their farmplR, I'aynients, Credits, and LttbUicSoi sntb
reference to the Execution of this Act, which Accounts shall bo audited to
the BHM Way a» Account* arc directed to be audited undei Lhi Em
niout Act,
FATtahoi.— VIII. Upon the KwpiiiflitK.n in Writing of nt l<-n>t TVn Hat*-
layers nf nay Parish having aoiJi a Population o» aforesaid, ihr Oveneer*
of tho Pool shall npiwint * Time, not 1pm than Ton Daye not more than
Tnonty Pays from tho Time of receiving suoh Requisition, for a I
UttOtiag Of th' K'''i'"\': ■ : "[■('it. ■ 1 ■ ■ T ■ -. » minfi Win th01 tin: At tiifiali U
ufoi the Pariah; and Ten Days' Notieo at loaut u!"t!..- Time,
and Object of die Meeting shall le j£ivim by BJ I nMr
the Door of every dm roll mid Chapel within the Parish, and iln fay
advertising tho same in Ono or more of thy Newspaper* puU.*hcd Q
liicuUtcd within the Parian, fieren Daye at leut before the Day apuoiatal
fcr tlie Mooting ; and if at euuh Meeting Twu- thirds of tlio Rai. ;
than present shall determine that this Act ought to Ije adopt
Parish, the same ahall come into operation in such Pariah, and rh* Y«ttry
■hall forthwith appoint not less than Throe nor more than Nlrn
the Act lata uooution, who >>l>»li Ik »
IT
tyers CuiumiKiiuuer* fur currying the
odv Corporate by the name of "The ComnuWionora for Public 1
and Hueounw for tho Parish of , in the Cotraty of ," and
bj that name may nue and be mod, and hold and dispose of Lain--
nso a Common Seal : Provided Always, that in any Vmi-li w i ■■•• •.!..-
shall not he a greater Population than Eight thousand Inhabitants by
Qm llitn last Census, it shall bo lawful for any Ten Ratepayers to dcli»r'
a Requisition by thorn digued, and describing their Place of K
tho OvorteoH ur ono of tho Overseers ol the wid Parish, requiring tho
Vote* of the Ratepayer* at auch Aluoting to he talt»n according !
I'n visions of the Act. passed in t.hn Fifty -eighth Year of the rVign ol Kinfl
(Jwr'ie tin' Third, Cimpter Suty-uiiie. and the Yotva at such Mediae;
ohall thoic'Upon be ultcii according to tho Provisions of the said last
Eoaed Act of Parliament, and not othotwiso.
Bo tiring from Office.— IX. At tho Termination uf 1
Yaai beiug reckoned from and exclusive of the Day of the Fimt A] |
ntent. of O'uniitiBeinuorB) a Meeting of the Vaetry ehall ba hcid, a* •
Meeting One-third or ai nearly aimay bo ttn** -third of the Coromianonava,
tu bo determined by Ballot, shall go oat of Office, and the Veat.-;
appoint othor OoinmuniAnani in their Place, bai thi emtgninjj
miwioiiuni may tw lv-clcctod ; and tho Vwatrj shall r) VaoaACJ
among the OoniaSaaioTiei^, ^b-ili.r .>-rurring by Death, Bcsignatt*
othorwiao, as noon as posaiblo after tho same oocun.
Meetings of ConunLaaionenj,— X. The CoiumiMiuiicr&fthal! tiimtatloaai
DliCB in rvcrv Cali:nJtti Month, and at ftuch other Timo m* the) ll i
tit the Public Libi-ary '>i Mi uufi or nomo othur convonienl rloM i uw
. in* I'oiiuiuKKioni-r may xnuirnon a Special Bjoetiog of th-- I
1 mot by gfvliiR Phi «i olnar Days' Notice in Writing ,|% •*«■
m
APPKtfUIX I!.
saa
culled : and no Sultans shall bo transacted at any Meeting of tb» Com-
missioners unless at least. Two Commissioners shall bo present,
Minutes of Proceeding*,— XI, All Orders ami Proceedings of the
Commissioners shall be entered in Books to be kept Lfl thtm for that
Purpose, and shall bo signed by the Commisniom-ia ov any Two of ihern ;
and all such Orders mid Proceedings no entered, and purporting to be bo
signed, shall he AwBMd t« he original Orders and IVoceedings, »"d «ueh
Books may lie produced and read as Evidence of all suuli Orders and
Proceedings U|k»ii nuy judicial l'u.'i.vcdiug whal!>uev»:r.
Account!.— XII. The Commissioners ahull keep distinct and regular
Accounts of their Receipts, Pa v incuts. Credits, and Liabilities with nifri-
•'it'" to th» Execution of this Aci, which Account-a shall he audi ltd yearly
the Poor Law Auditor, if tlio Accounts of Rota Rate Expenditure of
the polish be audited by a Hoor Law Auditor, but it Dot &o audited, than
by Two Auditors not boing Commissioner?, who shall he yearly appointed by
the Vftniry. and thn Auditor or Auditor* xliall report th-ii'i-on, and miicIi
Report shall be laid before the Vealty by the Commissioners,
Expenses — XIII Tim Expe-nae* of calling ami holding the Meeting
the Ratepayer^ whetber thh \a\ diail bo adopted or not., mid thn
penaoi 01 carrying this .v t Into execution in any Parish, to such
Ani'Miut (i- -thrtll be from t ttm to lime aattOtSoned hy the Vestry, anal]
he (inid one uf a Rato to bo niado and MOOTarad in like Manner as a
Poor Kate, axofpft that every Person occupying Lands iwed as Arable,
Meadow, tie Pasture Ground only, or am Woodlands or Market Ciitrdeiis,
or Kursery Grounds, shall be mud in ivspeci uf the sumo in the
Proportion OJ Oiie-Thiid purl only of the full net annual Value thutcof
RMpOOtivAly i tho Vestry to he called for the Purpose of aauctitduug
the Amount shall be convened in the Manner umial in tho Pariah < the
mount lor thP Time being proposed to be raued for such JCxpenaea
qhall bfi '-(pressed in the Notice convening thfl Vcntry. ami shall he
paid, according to the Order of the Voslry, to mob Parson as shall
bi tppgdnted by Ihi Ooninlanionan toitcttTv>tiioninoi Provided uJ way*,
that in tho Notion ionium" the Payment of tho Rate there ehall be
stated the l'i'"p..iti"ii which tie- Anumnt t«* bo thereby ruined for
I ho PmpOaM Of this ACt ihflll hear to the total Amount of the P.:ti
Veatries combining, ~XIV, Tho Veatrica of any Two or moro noigh
i, ,,i ini;: PariihM having aeoording to (he then Io«t Couaua an aggregate
PopunUfon eioftoiliiig Yw* thomauu] Pamona may adopt thta Act, in liko
Manner as if the Population t>f each of those Parishes according I" Ilia
[ant Oenaua oxoeedexl Five thounaud, and may concur in currying the
eorao into execution in such Parishes for »ueh Time a* thoy shall antaaUy
agree ; and such Vestries nioy decide that a Public Library or Mumhihi, q]
holh, shall be erected hi any Oiu- Oi lUOfc Rtrfahaa, Ud tlml the I'.MjwnBOfl
of earning thfc Act into execution wirh reference to the same alutll bi
horne hy raoh Pari-hes in audi Prupurtious ai such Vuairie** xhall
mutually approve; the Proportion for each of ouch Pariahefl "' '''
Experieca ehall bo paid out of the Monies to bo raised for tho fifiliof i t Ihi
Poor of the aame raajpaotive Purinh*is :iecordi»gly : bnt no mom than
Thrw ComialMloaani shall he appointed for aaoh Parish : and the
Oorankbadoneni *" aptiointad f«**r each of Booh Pnriahej s 1 . a I in i.ln<
MnitngBTHTint of the lanl Public Libiary and Miiheum form One liudy of
Cuiiiniisaiuuci*, uud shall aet accordingly in the BncoaUoa ol thfa At j
and tho Accounts of tho Commissioners ahall ho examined and nj
on hy the Auditor or Auditors of oaeh of su^h PariehQi i a.ndltw> wa^jVox
Ml
PI ii UOOAniKS.
to til- O'mm'h of itch I'.iii iij'-- ■onieatj ffoportfoi
■i, i, i u bt ■ ball b n*ah i o met I ■ | n
BAtoi loried.— XV. The Amount of the Rule ... \„ [vriad Ui mj
Horongh, Dfatrt i. of Pariah m any On« Vo*r for the Pttrpoaaj uf ilii
oh*U not ox*v>'"l ihi- Sun. <./ Ono Penny io in Poun
Exjpv nf thi Librtrt Rati •» i tin QUnaw VI tho loan-. ]inpr^.»><ni«rt
Ittifte* Aot, 1*47. with re.Hnect to tho Wannor of making Kaii« i
Appeal to In: msdfl ii»»iisl nnv Satft, aflll Uj tbB Keen i \ if Kate*. tiX\
1m iii>mj<<MU(l will. Ihi.- Act . a ml \»!iint.ver (lu VTovdfl ' :;
ooeur in th* Act • »rporat< tl they shall moan " The l*ul
A<t, IBB*."
Accounts of Board. —The AooountB ■ ■ id Board am
sianou ro*Doctivcly, wit i reference to kite EfttoeutlOD of this *ck m
all roMonAblo Times lw ipen, without Charge, to tlu inspection oj ■
Person rated to the liiipi<»v.>iiii'iit Rule ot to :!.• K;. u--. for '1, li .
thp 1'onr of thp Paruh, i< thfl Oaat may lie, who inny tnnko Conir--
Extracts from audi Ao uunl .. without paying foT the *am« ; an
Hu»rtl ui tlm CiiiiiiuiMiuiK'o, ui any ui Utotii re&HiCtivoly, ur any
roonuctivo Ollirvia ui Servants liaruig the Cn*tod> of such Ao.'ouuU. shall
not jwrmit tlio sarin Account-! to ho iiinpui tad, in- ' ■ i . ..I u
from theaatno to \h made, ovory Person so < Hon Ling ehall for
ve Poandf.
Power to Borrow-— X VI. Foi carrying tula Ac* nto i, the
C"iiii;:l lV-iipt, ■•[■ i.'"innii> < i • • ii » r I'-- J".-.-! .vis* may, with t!w A. i • j * : ■■■
UajestV s Trea&ai v -.in*. lommiwiouen, with tlx<
ftlioof tha Veatn rod the Poor Law Board), from Time to Tims bone*
at Internal, on the Security of a Mortgags or Item! of Tho Rnre
or of the Rates levin! in iitirviMiicii uf Uils Act, nucb Suu -noy *>
h :i\ \. l»v thorn |v>ji,vtivnl> rOHlirwl, mill tin
ui execution tho At ..f the Niot i aoH Tenth Yearn of Hoi Majoats,
i haptei Eighty ,iivv ll",,l Thn« t<> TIrn advance and land any ona\
SllIlIX M
Proriaioiis of BorrowinR. — XVII, Tlio (.'lauoob ami J'rovhtlun
' "in]ianio6 Clauaed Consolidation Act, 181.''," iN.tli roaucot i
. ■<■) ..]i Mortgage ot nond, oiiii the AccountabiHtr of OOoo*
an>l tho tUoovary of hiamnyoe uinl PecaltSas, M lar on oaoii I'
niuy nwjimtivi'ly he nrtplirnhlc to th« Pm'paans ni \\\\% X'!, Bhl
, . -j i tive j nn.li;, tratH #ltl thli V I
Lands, 4c, appropriated. SVH1 Thi CoiiDoil of any Eku
thlBoaidol my iJintriot respwtively may I'l'.ii] Turn to TLsu ..•lith*
| pprov i of Mai Waiaaty's Trejuuiy, Aii|>ni]>i>lata for ;he pcu*poa<a r.4 tli*
Act an) Nui.l- vvsilau, u Ihi Cftao may ho, in * Bomiigh, in ttio Mav«r,
''■'■■ ii i Mini KurKcmjua, aiida in a District iu tho Board; ah.
Ooonoili Board, and CommisHonora reapootii ilj mar il
Approval, nurcliaoo or ronl | L i i i op any aultubli Ririliltnui I ""^
tho Council wml Uoai'il and Commission urs rcupuo lively may, npoo any
I-iimU *<i a|i|iroi)riatec1, [nirohaso*l( or rontod raspeoti
Bufldlnm simabw for Pdblfn Ubrarto or in both. «>r fitr
Art, ami niuy ajipls, take ih rn, altor, ami
luoh i ui [KjacM, and rebuild, rapair, and iznpruTT ta«
roapacuvuly, and lit Up, furniuh, mul iu;»j>l;. irc^r
■ ■■ ■ b i/i requisite P\lTni ' ow D -now.
W-I'KVWC II.
585
UftTO
Ge
XIX. "The Linda Clauact Consolidation Act, 1816," shall be [uooi
pOltled "itli r.liia Act; hill rhe Coiinnl, BmMI. and t_(>iniiii*'-ii<>ii< ik
raapflotlve^y shall Dot ponhaN w take any [aqos oUierwlae than by
Agreement,
Lands Sold, Ac.— XX. Tin* Council, Board, ami CafumiafriniHirx
nfoiwaid reipoxtfvely may. with the like Approval as i* required for the
Purchase of Lauds, sell any Lauds vo&tod m the Mayor, Aldoimou, and
Burgesses, or Board, of Oaottlflilonori roswotlvriy, km 1 1 * -_- Pur ponce of
thtit Act, or exchange the aam» for any Lands bettor adapted for the
Purjtoses ; and tho M onion to *ri*tt from atich Sale, or to be TOMWed for
Equality oi l<;>vh«ign, nr aRUinoinnt Fart thorflof, shall 00 applied in or
towards Lbc Purchase of olhur Lamb? better adapted fur dueh rurpobes,
General Kauageinent.— XXL 'I'Lc gun oral Managunnmt, ReguUr.inn,
Control of such Libraries urn! Mum mm, Schools ratv Science an 1 A. I .
be, as to any Borough, vested in and exorcised by the Council, and
to any District in and by tho Board, and us to m <, Parian or
Parities in and by the Commissions or fllCb Comuritteu as
tKtfih Council or Hoard may from Time to Thnn* appoint, the
M-nibum whereof need not be (numbers of tho 0DttHQu Off Board
or he Comuiissiouure, who may fiom Time to Tinn purchase and
1 ■ . 'lo Hie necessary TucI, Lighting, and Othel Bflaflaf Button j Hooks,
HOWIMPOMj .Maps, mi 1 Bpoeimcnf ->f Art and Soionco, for tho Uao
Of tin* Library of Museum, or School, end oattefl the UVU to " betlni Off
repaired whf-n aewaBary, end aupnint Knlarfod Officer! and Ber*ente< tnd
disml» the same, and make Hub's and Regulations for tho Safety and L'se
oJ i;. ! hmrioBBod Museums, sod Sohoolj, ami fur * I ■*- A<innv
PnbUft
Property Vested.— XXII. The Lauds and Building* no ti bo Off
Sropriatcd, pnridinsod, or rented xt aforesaid, and all othor Ucnl and
LTBonal Property »rhetover preaealed bo or purchased for any Library or
Muxi'um eottbliibed under odt Aat, or Sohoolj shall i>« vested, u
Caw.» of a ftorongh in the Mayor, Aldermen, 10 I Burflpajco; in tk<>
Com of a District ID the Board, and in the mwof a Ewtn 01 Pariaha*
in the Commissioners.
XXIII. If any Meeting failed as aforesaid to determine as to tho
Ad- plion of tliii> Act for any Borough, District, oi i\niih m1io.1I
detORnfae against tho Adoption, no Meeting for a similar Piu-po-ir, "ball
\m imld for the Spoco of One Tear of. least from tho Time of holding
mvioui BCeefiiur.
City of London. XXIV. Tho Lord Mnyor of the City of Lc
fehftll, on th ft tteijucat of ll»t« Lord Mayor, Aldermen, ami Common* of
the Oity d lantton, fa Comnoo Council iwembla), convene i Pab
MeetluK in DUUSeZ liiMoiubofuio nientiontd of all PernoiiH rated and
aMOaaod to the Comolidated Rnta in the City of &OH&OH* in ordn to
Irtcrmino wlielbcr thin Act nhnll be adopted in llie said City; ami if
at lUOfa Mooting Two-thirds of «uoh PerHou* thou present thai) tletor*
-nine tliat thii act ought to be idoptod for 1 1 ( I i;.v irf LendiM, the
oame shall thennefortb talte etTeft and comp into ojieiution in the I I
i if LuiuUm, and shall bo carriod into exucntioii in HCeonloooa with tint
fjftWl for th> Tiuie Ixaing in foffM relatiui; to tlm City of /simian ;
ways, that the ReeolatioD of *Hoh Publii Mo. tin;.
t Lit Lord Mayor, *hal! be reported to tho told Lord Mayor, Alilenueo, ana
Commons, in Common Council aniemblod, and entered m thl ^hriiitos
rbon-of, and that such Entry almll U< RvldtnOO: the SxpflnflU iiiumed
-,.'!.
I'l Hl.lf UltRMtlKS
in culling am) boh Hug the Meeting; wbethe* ttik Act Bain ■
■ml (In: c.i |ir iihL'n uf carryiuj; tltfn Act into
the Oity of ton ton 'ill *«■ paid out of tho Consolidated Rat*, and tk*
Commissioner* of siowers of the City of London may levy 4 Port <1 thl
Consolidated Rate, or, by a separate Kite, to be assessed anil reeoev-
lik. Mii:iri 11 the ConaolM atari Rata, all Monta from Ttaoi to
i.t »lcli:ivin^ nicli Iv-. ■h/m-i.' .. MkI li.'-.l.iiii 1. SOOtfUatl -.1 1 :t1 ; :•
kept of the Receipts, Payments, ana LinbOittOfl >»f the Mid Lord
Xlftynr, AMermon, and Commons with reference to tho Execution »f
tine A,t.
V, The Ariitiiiutou wail LSbrarioa and Museums estnblvdn 1 in.l
this A"t ehall be open to the Public flroo of oil ChngC
XXVI. This Act ahsll not extend to Srelaiul or 8t#tl
PUBLIC LIBRARIES' AMENDMENT ACT (EK'LANl) AN'li
SCOTLAND), 1060. 2# a?tp 30 Victoria, Oai-. CXIV.
An Act to amoud the Public Libraries let.
(1 irli Aupiut, iMHi
TTfJHEBEAS it la expedient to amend the Public Libraries Act,
M mill to asalmilntc the Laws relating to Public Libraries in luayTu
and Scotland: Ik it thoreforc enacted by the Queen's mont ECxi
Majesty, by nud With thfl Advu-o ond Consent of tho Lords Rnirittj&I ml
TcmponI| and Commons, in thin present Parliament ugnmhli'd, ud bj
the Authority of the same, as follows : —
1. So mui'U of the Section fifteen of tho said Public Librarii
1So5, as incorporates with that Act certain Clattecv of the Towns In]
CIamm At-t, 1847, shall, so fitr m the same relates to or eonoonu
Mnnlcipal Uuroughs, It- repealed.
Clauses Repealed.— '2. Section Wirt of the said Act, accept to nmeb
thereol u relates 10 keeping distinct A<munts, shall beropesded ; ai
Expensed incurred In calling and holding thu Meeting, whothnr ill
\ !inil V adiipti:d <j: not, and the Kx [tenner of cai:v-:
into .\*-.';iti'Mi in iinv >1 1 re iiKil liorou^li, may ht paid onl of the DorOUftll
Kate of Mitels Korough, or by and out of a Kate to be inodo and rocowsi
hi such linrnngh, in like Manner as a linrnngh Kate may to 111 *- -
en I therein, but the Amount io paid in snei Boi i] Ou
V11: -l:;ill DOl BXOeei] the BUOI of Olio Penuy ill lllO PtfUttU UIK'ii 'lit
Annual Value of the Piojieity in Audi Borough rateable to a Boi
Bate: Provided always, that nothing in this Act diall interfere with tL
Operation of the Aet Twouty-cightb aud Twenty ninth aafH
One hundred and eight, so Tarns it relates to the Collection of a K*t» lore
I'uldii: Library In the City tiCOtfOfd.
In Boronghs.— 3. The Public Meeting mentioned in Section 1 ..1 •
said Public Libraries Aet, IS55, ahall bo ml led either on 1 1 .
i];< Town Cuuucil, or ou the RniueHl in Writing of Ton ftau>payen
Tfeiding in the Borough.
Parishes.- I Any 1'nrlnb, nl whatever Pnpulstlon, fclj-'i
liorouffb. District, or Parish which shall havn idontsd ur ihall n>i
61al«r the Adoption of the naid Public I.ibraiins Act, 1B65, may, Wj.
onsciit of more than One-half of the Katcpayera thereof pfCSBJDt at a
tfeeUna to lie oonvcneil in manner ilireu 1.. I by ' h rxs*«i
tp IfWttngH of Ratepayers ,an«\ w\\^ i\v''«^w u-u oftl
appf.npis n.
537
of luob DoiQugh; or the Board of .inch District, or the Cota&itastonefl of
such Parish, as the Caao tuuy be, determine that such adjoining Parish
shall forthe Purposes of the -mid Aet (bin Part ofaaeh Borough. I rittrii t,
or Pariah, and thereupon the Vestry of mioh adjoining Parish shall forth-
with appoint Threw Ratepayer* Cniiiinhbiimera for mieh Parish. Oim-tliird
of whom shall go out of Office and the Vacancies In- Idled up as provided
Lv tlio said Act with respect to tho Commissioners of a Parish, and audi
Commissioners for the Time being shall for tho Purposes of tho said Act
be considered oa Part of such Town Council, Board, or Commissioners as
til..- Case may he ; am! the Expenses of malting the Meeting, and the Pro-
!■.'■■ ir.n of the RxpenM* of such adjoining Pariah of carrying the said Act
into execution ahall be paid out ofthe Poor Rates tlwrwf to such Person
as the Commissioner* of the said adjoining Parish shall appoint to receive
the saine.
A Majority of One half.— .'.. Tim Majority necessary to bu obtained for
tho Adoption of tho said Act or the Public Libraries Act (Sattltuut), 1854,
shall ho mora than Ouehalf of tbt> Persons present at the Meeting, instead
of Two-thirds of such Parson* aa now* nqrauf L
Act may be adopted whatever Amount of Population. — 6\ The Public
Libraries Act (18G&) and the Public Libraries Act (Scotland) (1-951) ahall
be applicable to any Borough, District, or Pariah, or Hurgh, of whatsvar
Population
7. 8o much of Section G ofthe Public LibTariea Act (Scotland), 1864, as
authorizes the demanding of i Poll ami 8irl.imis Seven and Right <if the
said Act, are hereby repealed.
ft II any Meeting called aa provided by tlio Haul last-mentioned Act
ahall ^ determine ngalust the Adoption of tho Act in any Burgh, no
Mantiug for a similar Purposu shall Ik: held for the Space of Onu Year at
least from th*» Time of holding the previous Meeting.
Borrowing*. —8. The Clausus and Provisions of the Companies Clause
Consolidation (Scotland) Act (1845) vrith respect to the borrowing of
Money upon Mortgage or Bond, and the Accountability of Otfloors, and
il>' Keeovery of llaniago* and Penalties, so far as such Provisions may
riwly M npUoaou to the Purposes of the said Public Libraries Ant
fS.-otfaih/) 0854J, shall la> respectrvnly incorporated with thaf lot
Museums — 10, Wherever a Public Museum or Library has (wen estab-
lished under any Act relating to Public Libraries or Museums, or shall
hmuaiW he established uudrr cither of the said I *efo re-men lion t:d Acts,
a. Public Library or Museum, oa the Cose may bo, may at any time be
,blisb*«l in OO&MOtSoa therewith without any further Prorrcding.i
iug taken under the said Ads,
11. Tina Aut may bo citod ax The Public Libraries Amendment Act
iiitujlmui Mui Scoilttnd), 1H6W, and shall be taken to bo Part of the said
'ubiie Libraries Act, lX&fi, and shall he construed aci'onlinglv.
PDBLIO LIBRARIES' AOT (1S55) AMENDMENT ACT, IM71.
31 AKD 36 VlCTOliLA, Cak LXXl.
An Act to .intend the Public Libraries Act, 186B.
[14th August, 1871.J
"lI'HEltEAB it is expedient r.« uuiend and t.x tend tin Piddie Libraries
W Act, 1655, hereinafter referred to an the '* principal Act : "
Ho it thoreforo enacted by tho Queen's moat KkcoIU\x1 M.t^«chV) *Vs*i *»&.
533
pi n r r.ItlK Mill:*
wiMi the adri«:o and confront of thf Lords Spiritual and Temporal, ar.t
h-iiu, hi fchii MtflRlK Parliament assembled, aud by tho authon
tha naiiio, as follow* ■
I. Kvtiry local board, uu-U> tho l'ubhe HoalUi A •'.. 1S48, »nd tb*
1. K-ii Uor«nim«nt Aot, IB56 01 Bflthei ■->! ttiiia, i* amnowarad, in lit*
manner a« » Uianl nnilcr any It ipTtmrflant \rr, tfl adopt ami miry into
execution the principal Act.
Interpretation of Term*. — '*. For tlic norpoaw nt.,>,. ..ml, tho follmrtryr.
words in the principal Act shall have ttio following ettfim wl •
(font, \te., tin- won. " baud " shall tiiran any unci) local board m* ifort-
aaid ; the wonla " improrcincnt rat it " *hal[ moan the
rat* lfYJe4 bj WW •■» boarl; tho word " ratonayor*" shall OM
persona o«*i«*c-l bg and naying took general ciiitriot rat* : the word
** district " shall mean tne district in which anon local boanl ha*
mull irity to lovy a goner al district rat* | the mrni "In
hhail iniAii flic Local *iovriuiariit Act, 1858.
to much of aection fifteen of th<* principal Act as mfWrk to ihs
Towns Iiiiin'ivciiKMii. Clanaub Act, i S ■! 7 » afmll nut apply U> rat™ Bttdl In
!>.,! boaraf trader ttra principal A<jt ; bwt nothing herein contained shall
oufch Local ) b i' Ufyor urnond fa tho parpawi of tl... ■■i.m.ipsl
A'i i n v -i ''lito ma ii any y*« thai ■> i<> j >-nny in -ii" pooxuL
Borrowing Powexa.- 1. For currying into exocntioa the j rintip*i Act,
9W9PJ Wall ional board may borrow upon mortgage ol the EBraaral district
nttwaoyoararata rata t» ha leviea ond>r thi i» >
borrowlnR shall bo affected in conformity wick the \<
borrowing contained ill Lin- Loral Govern went Aci, loot), and i In? Acts
i i. .ii|.,.i.i tr ,; t.i , i ..Mi. i,, ii, u if thi pi >'■ ieioii ■ u " bo ron inf| i nnltfnn
in tho principal Act,
S. This Act iibaU not apply i«* my I i I the wb«l# m im ,.■
whiob \t within any auuuoipal borough, or within tho jariMich
eomini*wioner» under any [awOTonMOl A< !
(1. Thia Act niay bo tiitud Cor ail purpOHOa a* "Tb« PabUc Libraries
Act [1866) Amendment Aot, 1S71.
PUBLIC LiaBABUBB1 AMBNPMENT ACT, 1W7.
An Aeft to omond the ruhlio Librnrioe A
[Uth Autrn
\irHKKKAS by tho Pnblie fibrorlra Aftti, IS & 19 VTcl
' TT for Ireland; 29 & 30 Victoria, c 114, for Bnglrun] : iai
81 Victoria, o, 37, for Scotland, the mi».le by wliioh tha Aot la to W
idoptod i« preMribod to bo by public mooting, and it haa L«u
that in many conch u [iiild :-■ I aot osd muatu
factory uiodo, and Tails to indicate tho general opinion of the rata
payers, and it. U ilesirabU to jwcnrrain thene opininuti
Be it L*uaclcd by the Queen's iuuhL Excellent Majesty, by ana
the adrioo and consent of the L#jrda .Spiritual and Teiu[Miraj
Commons, in thia present rarliaincnt aanciultlcl, und by lii< autli
i I il,<. Rttiuo, ao follows: —
Voting Papon.— 1. It MiaJl be competent foi the prtaerrlbajd local
ftOthority in any i.lacu or comtuiuiity wbleh liu-. tho power tu ailr>|it no* U
tit* aboi'o reeitou Aoto, tnaaawluu ttw o^wtaiu ■ ' I ■ of th«
I ITU i ■
**>
ratepayers cither by the proocribed public mooting or hy tho issue of a
voting paper to each ratepayer, and tho subsequent collection ami scrutiny
i ii ."cuf. Ami any i*Vjk»tiw» hi connection with such voting papers fllmll h,-
bonu iu thn suine way as tho expiinse of a public: nice Ung would be bOIQl
mid the decision of (lie majority no awerUhwd ehedl bo onually binding.
Assessment— i!. In addition to the simple vote '* Vts" or *' No " In
the adoption of the Ant, such voting paper may stipulate that iU adoption
ah. til be -.ul'jtvl tu u limiUttiun to some lower rate ufaftie.'feiimiil than tho
maximum nl lowed by Act of Parliament in force nt tlio rime, and nasi)
lower Limit, if once adoptnd, ahnil not bt sulwo^uontly altered except by
public rota similarly tafcon,
3. "Ratoimycr" ahall mean every inhubitant wlin would ha\-<> to pay
the Kree Library assessment in event of the Act being adopted.
4. This Act may ho WtOo* iw tlio Public Libraries Amendment Act, 1877.
[IM61
W MALICIOUS INJURIES TO PROPERTY ACT ,
(ENGLAND AND IRELAND).
24 UIDtS Virior.iv, OAV, \'<VIL, tj3ft.
IOKVEU shall unlawfully ami MaJioioOfllj deetroj ofdifnif
Book, 31anu*eript, Pfotur*, Pnnl, Stuhu-, Bttot ot Vote, M uuy
other Artich' or Thing kepi for tin- purpose* of Art. Science, or Literature,
>r as in Onjont id Cnrwwlty. in any Musmiim, Gallery, Cabiuot, Library,
»r other Repository, which Museum, SoIIott, C-ibinct, Library, or other
"epCoUory is either at till Tillies 01 from Tiliiu to Timu open iur flu
d mission of tho Public or of any ennaidiTahlo Xiimbii' of Pomona to rlow
& *amo, oiLbpr by the ponniBBton il tl.n Proptfotor tWoof ov by tho
»"!•■ "I" M.tin>\- ...|..r.> ■■( i."iit(L! tli" '■»! r ;iny Pi. -tine, Statu*1,
louumont, or other Memorial of the Dead, Painted Olnas, or other
hi.nuu'iii oi Work of Art, iuauv (Jhmcb, Ohs.pt], Hooting Huusu, or other
'hi*;'» of Diviuc Worship. .»r in my Building belonging to tho Queen, or to
any County, Ridiug, Division, City, Borough, Poor Law Union, Parish,
or Place, or to auy University, or College, or Hall of any University, oi'
to any Inn oi Court, or to any Street, Square, Churchyard, Burial Qroufid ,
'iihll'r t-ianl'Mi nruround, or any Statue or Mommmt expose.! To Pnnlln
leff, or any Ornament, Railing or Fence Burruuudiuy »uou Statue ov
mi' lit. diall bo guilty *>i a MlMffllffMHHir, aud being convicted thoicof,
bo liable to be imprisoned lor any Term not excoodiug Six Montha,
Eth Of without Hard Labour, and, if a Mole under tho Ago of Stfttouir
'•fttm. with or without Whipping : WOT Wfld that nothing hONiB
mull nhail iw dwm&l to alfect tho Right of any Pertmn to itcov-t, l>y
Action of Low, Damages for tlir Injury io ohiiuh ttrd,
PUBLIC LIBRARIES' ACT, 1SSJ.
47 and 48 VicTOurA, Cap, W'.WM.
An Act to onipnd the Public T.ibiauca Acta,
[2filh.luly. 1534.1
iK it enacted by iIk- i/uuou'a moat Kxrulleiit Majesty, by »0<1 HW the
odWoo an»l cou&ent of tin Lords Spiritual and Tcnijionil, slid
lonimona, in this present Purliaineut aaxcmblod. and by the authority of
is Mine, as follows : —
540
I 'I Ml : 1.1 :n\r;lMs.
SeaooL of Art 1. WH adoubl have WWII «i to VTnetfa
tiek acting nnflrr the Pnblfe Libraries Acu lure power t<j talfi] the
QOndlUWM required fur a parllaoittntary ,'rrant in aid nf the fts(xl»lixlmicni
Ol A Si linnt t,l ,\|. |m O A IK I All •• "1 ■' 1 ■ < \ cl.i .|1 V • I'.'UiuVO KUCh d'HlIlN i
It i^ in 'lil-'c; he toby declared aini enaoted thot. —
Where any authority acting under tho Public Libraii. ■ \<ta »
K'ftiit out ol" nioiiitys j> V ■• i'lrluittciit from wy QOBQl Of Ebt
nvv Council on Eiluc-ilion lOVAfdn Cite puuhwe of the rite, Or ill'
ri-iiti. BnlaiRunant) or renal] of en.\ School for Sdanceand Art. or
Bdhoo] km Science, ot School for Art, or of i In rerideuoi I icna
in Mui-h school, or towaida the fhna'onlng of any inch Rehool,
authority shall havo power to accept auon grant ujkmi thg tonditioi
preecribed for the acceptance thereof by the i«d C< mmitt<
wnh butruments as may 1* required by the eald Committee I
Into " l'< i .H' I loudltious, dint upon [laytncnt of the. grunt shall. (•
with tboir OOCOOMOlli be bound by »m:h condition? and iitstiuuicut, uid
have power ami be bound to fulfil and obarxvu tho hum.
2. Where** lection eighteen of the Public Librario Act, L9&6. a^rtfianl*
England, end RoctioD nine ol the Pahlu Ltbierice Act (Ireland), 1-
regards Iruhind, provide for tho onotioii «>!' buildings "euifiablc fa
Public Ubrerioe, or Milium*, or both, or foi Schools for ■
Art".
And wIktwi-. m:i lion tun of the Public Libraries Art (Scotland),
8ruvUl«a for the election of building "suitable for, Public Libraries Ait
tileries, or Museums, or each rcHpectSrelv," end doubts fcre cnl -Utu-'l
ue tr» thfl moaning of those proviaione Now, therefore, il
declared tnd enacted that—
Bnfldlflga m:i\ nnder thfl mM xentiona be erected for Public Llbri
Public Miihviuiii. Schools for Science, Art. Galleries, aud Ekhoch fw
Art, or for any one or more of thoe* object*.
Power to establish Moieum.— 3. (1.) Where any of Liu i ill
inatitutioQH) namely, a Public Mnwum, a Public Library, a Sclto
Soioii-:« Hid Ar, a School for Science, o School for Art, or on
ha* l.'Owu established either before or after tho paeeiugoi tfali \-> Uiw
the Public liibrtrioA Acta, or any ol 'Km. thoro m*y at tl
HttbllHharl in oonnaction Cherevith a»y otbet nf thfl lahl InatltQIIoai
wiiinmt auy further |iroi«e<liiig8 being taVcn under the said Ao1
(S.) .Srciii.ii inn of thrt Public LihrarlfM Anirn Itnnir Act (Kn^Uud and
9ootlkud1. IStW, hi;i1 uwtioii *eveut^i'u "f ibu Public Libi
(Scotbuu.1), lf5i(7(. arc hereby rei)^!*?!!, without projuilict I
under thoat- KCaon i<
A. In toil Act, — The cxpnaoion "Public Libmiine AcU" niceu*
rwpMta England, Scotland, and Ireland respectively, the Acln men
in the rivet, eocond, and third ports roepeotively of tho scheduU totn
The csbieasioii " authority acting under the Public l,ihrane« Acta" m«ni
t.llH rouiicil. tumnl. mi.'/ixli :i.!.h or i niiniiiiuiioni'r .tlon
the said Public LibrariM Ad I
.*.. This A«-t uiuy be lited as the Public Libraries Act. I i
Tlie Acu iiiuutiuiieJ iu thi fint part of the >clieJ 'iy U
i tted togelliei with this Act »a tho Public Libreriee (England) A I
to U8i,
Tho Aotw mentioned in the second part of the schedule to ihw Aet ttmf
)>. nt-ui t..L-i't1u«i with this Act as the Public Li hraric>* (Scotland
APPRNMS I.\
-ill
The Acts mentioned iii the third part of tbo schedule to this Act miy
dttd together with this Act as tho Public LibrarinM Ireland) Acts, 1855
1884.
An
Ml
PUBLIC LIBRARIES' ACTS AMENDMENT ACT, WW.
60 and 51 ViaroifA, Car. XXII.
An Act to am ond the Public Libravioe Acta.
[8th August, 1887.]
BE it on m: toil by tbo Queen's incut Kxaellont Majesty, by ami with tbo
advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual ami Temporal, and
'ommnnn, in this present Parliament assembled, and by tbo authority
tlie samo, as follow* *—
Prc/i'nti'nari/.
Short Titles.— 1 Thin Act may bo cited as the Public Libraries Acts
Amendment Act, 1887, and may, together with rhn Acts mantle ha tba
schedule hereto, be cited aa the Public Libraries (Euirjaud) Act*. 1P55 to
187.
Comtructioo of Aet. -3. Tliia Act uhaLI bo construed with tho Public
Libraries (Rngland) Acta, 1865 to 1884, and expression- UW(1 in thin Act
shall, unless the context letjunvti a dilfurent eonstnicliwi, hav« tho same
nivaning as iu those Arts, and where any Motion in any of thnM Acts ha>
boon modified by a oubnenucut Act, the reference hciciii tcudt bo D
section shall bo construed to refer to tho section ao modified^ and tbl
reference shall have cHect accordingly.
Extent of Act,— 3. Tbih Act -hall nut apply to Scotland, Ireland, or
the city of Luuduu.
I Definitions. ). In this Act
•'Metropolis" shall mean tho uiolro polls as define*! by the efebropolfa
Maimgtiuoiit Act, 1855, excluding tlio city of Londou ;
" Libt.iry Authority" means the Council, Commissioners, Hoard, or
0th* ponsrms or authority carrying into execution the Public
Libraries Acta.
''District Board" means a district boaidumnLitulcd under the Metropolis
Management Act, 18CB, and "District" shall have a coiTeaj'Miid-
ing signification.
Lending Library — ft. The power to en>crr establish, and maintain a
lil rary, fj'iveu by the Public Libraries Act, 1855 (hereinafter Called Mi.
I ; ti'ipafAct], shall be sxteudod ROM 40 empower the library authority to
establish and maintain a lending library without providing any wpaiatc
building for conUiniug the same, and to enable them to place nioh lending
hlra-v under the care and superintendence of inch person u they shall
rhuili'fit, and in a building or room not appropriated for the purposes of
the said Act, or erected, purchased, or rented l» the librai y authority,
and all the powers of tho Mid Aotfl shall bo applicable fur tin [>.irnoeos uf
this section.
Amendment of Acts. —8. So nun b of nectiou fifteen of the principal Act
a** m 'orpomtea with that Acl aerUhi cUfiweeot the Tovni Lruprovenient
Claims Act, l & -i 7 . i-. berebg repealed.
The Public Libraries Amendment Ac*, 187£ dmll ha*.
iMi. UbrarieaArt, (856, wcrarocltod Lhoreus.
if Hie
m
i.rnuARinn.
Borrowing by Library Authorities— 7. ■■■• » wa httndi
tMrty-tixise, two tiu idred ami Uiirt>-faur, mid two hundred
Bis to twii luunlri'tl jih] lhir|.y-iiiii< , but!. ui< Iumyc. of tht I'til'lif Heallit
Aot| 1876. ohftll «i»i>ly, with tho necessary modification*, ■■ all
i . . . , t - . %s . . S i y any library authority after the paurinj-;iif 11 . . if tie
Notary rntao it] viii I ii rbmn -unitnry authority and u il fatfoo
the Vnbiic Liin'Ari«x (Engboid) Acta, i*5U to ia*;, iron rnibtdniMd to
tihoM V t iniiK and iii the fnrnw i.hiM'uin lututiouttd for i'.fi:n m-r-
SftiiHiirv Acte or the Public Health Act, 1875.
So iuu<li ol Motion sorcntoQii of tho principal Aotasincon
cliiuscb and provislona ■ f the Companies Clnuoeu Consolidation
with rssp»?i lo the borrowing of money on mortj
rr[M<j|lfyl except ba to nay money borrowed liofoii> tlio paamij; nf tht»
Transfer to Local Government Board. 6. Tho power- and d
ConTjniBrionOM of Eta Majoaty'e Treasury under the Pnblii Ul
MBngUnd) Acta, i- id in 1887. *hall from oik! after the pajufpg o]
Act hi; transferred to tin1 Local Goveruniuiil Hoard, ami nr.t:1
aud BtgbtOOB of thtl |>liln:I|i»l Act. shall bo construed *ud 1 ■.."•' M- I ju, if
a reference to tho approval of tlio Local flora n1 I knrd wan I
intstituted for a reference to the approval of Her Mojesty'f Treasury.
Provision ai to Parish. — 0. Where any pariah i* partly within air)
partly without any borough or district which il.all have adopted ■ .
•joiitamplarv tho adoption of thepnncijwd Act, the part of
without tbi< borough or district Khali, for the purpnsiiH nf tho i
Miction of the Public Librarian Amendment Act fKiigland am! Scot!
1800, be cou.Mtluiml a parish withiu tho moaning of tan said Motion
the ororaoors of tho poor for the aai<l parish shall, for the purpose* 0
noid wi'tioii, ho con-odored the overseers of the part of the pariah ittuatc
without the borough or district, and the expenses reforren U In thi niri
itentlori shall, so far as such part of the pariah Is cencorneri, In- d- I
out ul' a rati! to be levied by the overseers in such part Of the jutridi,
i it.h.r m an addition tt. the pour rate, or as a MparatC rat*: to bo mule
awl recovered in the earn© way as a poor rate, and to be subject to tot
mhiio rightr? of appoal.
Power for Diatriet —10. Ln the metro poll* any ditto el .hall in
Clfat to adopt the 'principal Art, and for midi pnrposc the tuid Act
altered and have effect as follows : —
(1. Section* eight, nine, twelve, fifteen, twenty-one, .in. I ■■.
Khali be read as if the word " district*1 was MirrttlCutsd
" ("rtiish"; aud the words "diatriet board" liiitoad of Lb
" urenttwrV' and Uu word ' featry,' as tho tana may b*\
(2.) .lection thlrtoan Blull not apply, and inBtoa-l theroof tlio foWowlnji
pIOVTiioiU rdiall have afiSbOt - —
The oziienrKA of calling and hoMiu» Uie nieetinjrof tho ratepayers,
whotnor the princii»l Act ohall bo uloptaJ oi
exponoca incurred by the Oonimiailon i
Ail. and tha Acta rainoiidiug tho (tame Ii ion in aoy-iirt*
( !■ t, to snch xiiumiit a« vIihII lnt from llmi to tinu um
hy ti . diatrii . hoard, kIihI I i paiil i ul "i the fin (I
trict Utard h\^i\\uVa« Vo IVm ^uvvveXiiX^rtW-JV'^;'
AITKSIUX II,
:,va
in the tijcooution of tho Metropolis Management Act. 15.16, ami
the sums required for the purpose of defraying the extwn&es
incurred by trie Oommiwrionfini a* aforesaid -diall he paid by the
district board to aueh pursuit ait ahull bo ut/puiuicd by thu Com-
mUa&MMto to receive the niuh, hut DOUUfig herein contained
shall enable district boards to levy Or expend lor the purposes of
the principal Act and the Acta amending tho aiujo any greater
swm in any year than one penny in the pmin I
(3.) Section fourteen shall bu road as if llw word* '* district boards"
woro Bubstituted for the word " VHHtriea"; the word "district" for
"parish": and " fund* applicable to the general ex pen km incurred
by the district board in Uio execution of tho Metropolis ttuagomoot
Act, lS&il," for "money to bo rowed for the relief of the poor,'' mid
section MXtiioti ah all h« road an if tho words " distrust hoard" woro
substituted for tho word ".vestry," and the word a "rates out. of
which the nrPfJPWH Of '-ho UotiiiniwiiouerB are payable" fer the words
■"rates levied in pursuance of this Aut."
(l | Where any jumhlia* .previously to the t Assiug of thut Act aili.|.h< I
the piineipol Art, 0T <han milHwjuHitly adopt tho samn : —
(a.) No person shall, by ivas.iii of Iwing a ratepayer of snch paxiafa,
lw arennntwl ss * ratepayer of the aUtrint of which it farm* a
part.
(6.) No representative on tho district hoard for ouch |>aii.di shall
talec any part in any proceedings under thiii section,
(e.) Such parish shall not bo called upon to contribute toward k any
cvpenseK incurred, and no part of the funds of such parish ahou
bn (upended in or towards calling or holding the meeting of tho
ratepayers of the district, or carrying, the Act into execution in
the district.
{H.) And, tn every respect, such parish shall, for tho purpose* of
tliis section, be treated as if it were ouUile tho district.
(#.) Any question of accounts arising between mch parish and tin-
other parishes in the district, ot between such parish and thu
district, in continence of tliis section, ahull bo decided finally
by the Local Government Board.
Power of Parish.— 11, This Aut ehull not deprive any pariah in tin
tOettOpoUa of the |>ow« of adopting the principal Aet, but niW any
dixtriet shall have adopted tho said Act, no pnrhdi within .such district
rdialJ nl bo ailopt it iu uiunnor provided by wction one of the PubUi
Libraries Amendment Act, 1877, or hold a meeting for considering iu
adoption, without the • nnHont of the Local Ooverriment Board.
IUBL1C LIBRARIES' CONSOLIDATION (SCOTLAND) ACT, 18*7.
LO AM) M Vicioria, OaI. XLII.
An Aet to amend and cuunuhdate the l'iihli< Libraucn (Scotland) Aut*.
[10th Btytamuer, Ufl!
TTUEIiEAS i( [a expedient feo amend aud consolidate the Public
'? Libiorico (.Scotland) Aoto, 1807 to 1884 :
Bo it theroforw ouaetoil by the (Jaecn'l rnott Excellent llajeety, !■; ami
with the advice and consent of the Lordu SptlitfUj anil Tnnp«inilt and
t <Mi:inins, in thin present I ailijj:i;rni. .i>:-it:ii . d, i - ■ * 1 j KioSuU ty ol
the oauie, u follows :—
til
i &RIB8.
Ihort Title, ]. Tin* Act may l>o eitod ai the l*y i <iui«
CbaanUtofon (Scotland) Ant, 1887, and dull apply to Scotland only
Definition!. 1. Tim following words And eapreasions in thl- Act i.'ul!
have tli" meaning* harsbv 4-m^tkmI t ■ thr-m, miW» th«h' he w<mn 'lime hi
tin nUaol .ir oontftKt ri<mignant to such construct ion ■ that i- '•. ■
"Bnrgh* *liall include royal burgh, [tarliauuntary bui
incorporated by Ad of Pnvlmni.ni, bTIrgfl of regality,
barony, and any populous ldaw* or police burgh odi i uJ
or partly under auy general or luial police Act, and the I
Biich buij^li shall, to i tin- pnrpotao of tku a- Lwutotafa
whieh neb 0*41*1 or local pidico Aot oxtcudfl :
•' I'arixh " snail meau a pariah for which a separate poor rat* ix or r«
!. r»r Cnr which i. -.^urMn parochial hoard ik or can be
nupoiuuit, uud shall bo oicloaivc of the urea of any bin
a burgh situated tlioreiu :
11 II iQSihuliicrn " .'hull moan, i it the omc of a burgh, alt pcrvon* who*
name* are on to rod on the iimnicijial regixtor, and in u
!inn«li, nil porsona < rttitlod to <i vote In It- a wtinn n1 ■
[i iuoh paruh, under the provisions nf the Education f . Soot land j
1872, and any Act aiuimdini; the MBW :
" Magistraci-a and council" shall bo applied .*«■]!'-< liv.lv, ml qo4
separately, and *h*ll include provost, rnagititratca, and town i
magistrates and coniimesioiters of police, and any or.1
i" i "lis for the time- being in office, oy authority of whom tli--
general aaSeoMoonl In lo vied , and wham in any nurgl) thn magi
and council form a corpomU Isaly, ami llictu in also in (ho auir
burgh a board of coiuuiiooiuneiu of police by whom tlie buqdi
AeBOEtiniL-iit ]• icviod, the voids ' * magistrates and OOUndl " dna.il. II
rd> thi* levying and recovering of the hl»iai\* tftto, apply to *aeli
•'OiuniiHsiniietM of police, but in Livery other respect it aliajl aj
such oorpontfl body of mngiKtratosaim couof]
"Chief iiuigist-i'uto" shall include provost, mid ahull a|ii*<
magistrate legally acting as chief magistrate fol the time wing:
"Bonrl " idiull mean tho parochial board aeting Under the
and uinth Victoria, chapter eighty-three, and auy Aot iimn tiding tie
•HUBS
" Committee " shall in ami the committee appointed under any Puollc
Libiariea Act affecting Scotland Tor the time being, oj il. ■ i
"Municipal neater" shall mean the rngiatcr, li>t, or rol
entitlftd to vnto in an oloc tion of town mincitio™ or cominuwi' i
C. in a burgh, made up according to the law in force
(ting :
"Burgh gmiersl assessment" shall meau an fuaoeaineut whScS)
auy gouoral or local policv Act, shall l* applicabh U
Iurpoeco of such A-. I ;
ibrary rate " ahall naoaa the rate or auticaainont authorizo
tor the puipoa« of carrying the Act into aXOOUtlOn ;
" Libraries and nniHRnms" and "libraries or muhflnnm' nhall i
whooln for BcUnee, art gallerie*, and sgIiouIh for art, au
cApreosioiiii. or either of them, when u^ed in the oi I
include a school lor notence, an ait gallery, and I • : ■
Wordfl importing tl»' lauctilitm gender shall, when applind to bouea-
bolilCK, in< IiuIl' li'inulo houxeholdora.
Kepefll Clauses ». 'X\\t Vu\)\wU\)Wvc*v^.aW»\\AvU, 1
AI'PKNWX !!.
313
tho
ho far as tho same relate to Scotland, ore hereby repealed ; but such nftn]
•hall BOl invMiiintc or affect njiy tliiuj: n trendy done in pursuance of these
Acta, or any af theDi. and all buTflna and pwwlw in Scotland which
hofore tho MftdnK or tlii* A'-t* have adopted the recited Acts ehall there-
af(er bo luttittl to tho provisions of this Act : Frovided alwiiy*. that
nntlilnffin tin* Act contained shall prejudice omlfest Hbopnmnona of
i Miibiirtfh 1'ublie Library Ansrasmeut Act, 1837.
Adoption of Act.— 4, l.'poii the requisition in writing of the magistrAtc*
and council ufauy burgh, or of ten or more householders in any burgh or
parish, the chief iuugi«Lrale uf «uch bur*r.b, or iu the case, of u parish, tin-
■herlff "f tho county in which *uoh parish or tho greater part of tho arc*
thereof in lituated, shall uncertain tho optuiona of tho uousoholdora iti
HOOfl bnr^h or parish as to the adoption of this Art in tho maimer sot
fotfh in Mrhi'dnles (A,) or(Ii.) hereto anuexed, which schedule* shall ho
KUUtmed and have offfcet as part of this Act, provided that whore in any
bOTWB tho number of householders exceeds three thousand, tlio chief
tratc intU itdopt tho procedure, by way of voting paper, sot forth in
jahvdale (A.), but in any other ease it shall ho optional to the thiol
nijif;iKl.rftt« or to tho alien IT, ax tho ease may In?, to adopt snch procedure
hy way nf voting paper, or the procedure hy Kay of pnblin westing, sot
forth hi Schedule (C. I.
If not adopted. — 5. In HhflOVSDt of the householders doLennuiing by a
majority of vote* that this Act shall lie adopted iu any burgh or parish,
tho name shall from thenceforth come into operation therein ; but if by a
majority of votes they shall determine against tho adoption, the like nro»
me shall not tileo place for the space of at least two years from the
re nf inch determination,
Exponiea of Determining.— 3. Tht expense of the procedure for deter-
mining as to the adoption of this Act. shall, if the Act ho not adopted, bo
Bald, in the ease of a burgh, out of the Ivirnneh general assessment, and
t the case of a parish, out of the assessment for the relief uf the poor in
null ptrfflbj or where there is no snch assessment, by a rate which tho
board arc hereby empowered to levy ami recover for thia purpose, in tho
same manner and subject to tho same conditions as aro applicable to tho
library rate; but if the Act iliall have been adopted the expenses of the
pi-oi iithirfl nmlor which it has been adopted shall he payable out of the
library rale, ainl it shall be iu the [tower of the chief magistrate or of the
shciill, as the case may be, immediately upon the adoption of the Act to
borrow eueh sum or same as may bo uoooasary to defray such expenses on
tho security ol the library rate to be afterward* levied.
Expenio* of Carrying:. 7. Tho SfpODMB of carrying this Aot into exa-
i mi an, when ft 1 -ptod, including all sums poyablo in rcapect of intercut
.,ni linking tana Un a ryanthorfMd to he borrowed, and all hum
DOConoi} for the mxintniitinm nod itiamu-'.fiuciit. nf tlie lihrariwt and
museums established under 1 1 » »** Art, or to which this An. applies, or for
ilir I'uicloiac of tho aiticlea and things authorised by tin- \« ■■ t- In- put •
0AOM)3| shall bo paid out of the library rate, which shall bo levied und
rod, in tlio *-*m« of a burgh, by the magistrates and council, from
tho no» di'Kcription of parsons ami property, and with and nmlor uu
il.,- powVfB) prorltdonj, and IXCODCloBa a» the bnr^h funeral a
mid :ii the case of a pariah by the board, from (.lie saint doHiiptmii of
, notu iad | r"!"«rty, ami with and under tli- like DOWttra, pfOvUooa,
and exooptiomi as tho aaaewnnont leviable under the Aet eighth and ninth
Victoria, clmptur figlity-throc.
51-.
■ i
ytMt tl the amount oi tha library ini.* t i be i»-» » *** ■ in any «eaj >hafl
In no owe etcnwl the sum of one jtenny it. the pound uf pearl]
minimi value a» appearing on the valuation roll, and where, under uV
C revisions of any general or local police Act, tho burgh general aaec
. or may be levied at a higher rate upon land* or promises above a eartatl
fixed rent than cpon lowsr rented lands or pr^misea, mob provi«oa*,*s
Tar ai they authorize iui h differential rate, *hall not he applicant.-
alhVi thn library rate.
Aeeonnti. — t). The magistrates and council or a burgh, or the bo
u [ai'wh, us the case may to, shall provide and keep boolcs in which snill
'" '-ritercrl true and regular accounts of their r<
liabilities with reference to ihe execution of this Ait, wWco ihsll
at all reasonable times, he open, without fee or reward, to the uwp
of ovtiiy I'oraou liablo to be u-tstxaod for the library rato : and the magie-
imtfts and council or board, tu Iho ease may bo, shall cause such la
in 1 1. annually audited by one or more roinitetcnt andJtBfS. not brine
members of the committee* after vrblifh audit the account* shall bewpiw
I'v iwu uf tlio magistrates and coum il, vx tuo member-
H i oaeemaybe, und an abstmcl th< roof similarly signed ihall
and hIuUI do ittecrtod in ono or inure newspapers pabliuhod or eSrel
in the bttr^li or pnrndi.
Lands, 4c, may bo Appropriated, — 10. The magistrate* and roi.-m-l! m
board, as the cose may ho, rnay from tune to time appropriate, hi
purposes of thin Act, any lands or buildings vested In umbo, ind msy, no:
of the library rata, or oat of money borrowed as heroin pravirtml, purchase,
futi, or rent snv land, or any suitable building ; ami may, nuou 1
■ : (nopriatcd, routed, feued, or purchased, erect any buildiuc auitaol
tot public libraries, public museums, aohoola for aoienoo, art geUerh
m-hools for art, or for any one or more of those objects, and may alter ot
attend any hnildings for sneh purposes, and repair an<I improve th
rapOOtlTUy, nnd ut Dp, fiirninn, and supply tV umc
all requisite furniture, fittings, and conveniences.
Part* of 849 Viet., c, 19, Incorporated. 11. Tho elanae* an I
virions of the Lands Clause* Consolidation (Seoiltui Aol ISi^vttt
respect to the purchase of lands by agreement, and Willi tv inert totts
jinnlia-c aioaey <ti •■(iMipMisiitnniroiiiingto parties having limit M hilcpssBt.
or prevented from treating or not making title, and with leaiwct to eon
veyaiico* of Iambi, so far as atieh clauses and provisions arc o|
hones, feus, or leasou authorised bv tins An, and are not buret
sorprawily varied, shall b« incorporated with thin Art . and the
"the special Ad " used in mirn iilaiiaea and provisions ihsll !
tonie&u this Act, and the exprauiou " the prutn i i (hetmdeii
oacd to sach olouaos and provisions shall 1 uai n«d to mean tAtnapi
tiutts and council, or the board, an the oaafl oiej
Lands, Ac, may be Sold.— 12. Tim magtsttitM tn<1 nntiefl W tW
board, as the case may be, may will any wudtfi buildings, *>r oilier [■••
jwrly vwted in thern for the purpo»ca ol thi >ri i\ bango thefassi
for any lands, building or other propel \ b ttOl ,■ a] I
ponos, an<l the money arinin/> from fiuch sale, and tho property r#eatr«a b
i ■.. sh ingB, ihall r»e applied and held for tii" pm . ■ .
Lands, *cM Vested, *c— 13. Tho lands and building /to tn Uj affs*-
priatoA'l, purehased, or runted, and all other rnal or |>or»ional pi
M /i .frier, prosente>\ to ot p\irp\iaseA fot ».v\^ IvVaoty «
• \>1X IT.
under i iii- Act or to which this Act applies, ihall in thu cun of & burgh
bo vested in the magistrate* and eonsoQj and Efl the oaoo «>f l pariah in
the hoard.
Powers of Borrowing.- -1 ■», Tlio magistrates ami council, or tho board,
u» tho com may bo, may from time to tirno borrow at interest on n > i-n-
>:■ bOMl <>n the aeeurity of tin rato to *x> lisviud in puriU*1W8 Of thia Act,
for i.hi" purposes theren', h sum or minis of num.u not BXdMdtllff the capital
•turn represented by out-fourth part of thu library rate, autliorued by this
Act, capitalized at the rate of twenty yoaia' purchase of such sum ; ami on
i- payment of such auni ui minis, 01 any purl tlioieul', I.m :imy fioin time
(■■ time re borrow in innnnor ami for tho purpoeca aforesaid, but ho that
the whole* sum borrowed at any one time shall not MOBed tin? amount of
(hi* uiil capital sum after deducting tbmfrofll any nuni Mt apart m a
linking fund ^ hadaaftn provldod.
Sinking rund,— 15. Tito magistrate and council, or the board, aa tho
case may bo, are hereby required to set apart annually, a« a sinking fund
i. i tin- extinction of capital sum* boRvWaa1 umtor the authority nf any
lil.i jii> VI in font for the time being, or of ihii Art, a iDjn MOal to at
I coat one-fiftieth part of tho money bo borrowed, and aiuh Btnlong luiid
rdiall he from time to time applied in repayment of the money ao borrowed,
mid to no other purine whatever, ana aboil bo lodged in a joint atooll
i.ank of iaqne in Scotland, or invested in Government securities, ur lout
out at iutermt in tho name and at the diwretiou of tho mag form tea ami
'oiiiirll, or the board, a* the case may be, until tin.1 name bo applied for
(he pin | ww before specified.
Parte of 10 * 11 Vict. a. 16, Incorporated.— Itf. The clauses and pro-
rlahma of the Commi«slonftr» CAjrhm Act, 1847, with nopeel to ih.»
liabilities of the couiuifegionura, and to legal priced bigs by or against
tho commissioners, and with respect to mortgages to bo executed by the
coinniiaaiooora, excepting section* eighty-four, eighty six, and eighty-
bcvou, uhall, unices herein expressly varied, ho incorporated with thi« Art,
and the several words and oiprevooiis, to which by the last moStod Lol
meaning* are awugiiHl, shall in thin Act have the Mam e respective mean-
ings, unloaa there be something in the subject or context repugnant CO
Mid. e.uuitruetiou ; and the cxproaaion "tho special Act" used in xmh
clauses and provisions herewith incorporated shall mmn this Act : ami
the txpronsioii "the commissioners" .shall mean the magistrate* ami
cnunnl nr hoard ami the comiiiitlet' in the ilmrharge of their respective
duties under thlfl Act.
Parliamentary Grant —When the magistrates and council, or board,
as the ca*e may he, accept a grant out of money* pro v MM by I'ntii nooni.
from any CoODDittDe of the Pi ivy Council on kdueaiinu, toward* the
purchiise of the aitc, or the cnv.lnm, ndaigoiinnt, or H'pair of any aohool
KM i '•>!•• and ar'., or school for jtciencu, or achool for art, or of the
i n.v .. I' Any t."a« I ci in meli -.'/li'M.i, oi i r.v.itl . rlu' furninhnig of any
wtich hidio«'l, thny .shall li ■..-.> power tn accept Molt gmnt Upon tnOG
li XIR pi'.'-cr'hed for the acceptance thereof ny the 'ii) I oomnfLTCO, and to
i Minli' naofa iiiKlnuui'iitft as may bfl nipiiiti by ihr ^oiiil cotmnitii'* ftfl
earTyiiijl n.' ■ li couditj nm, and upon pUDIOfll of tint grant "dull,
Eogtthi ••''! thnr saooaaaora, be boasd m »"« i- ooncUtioin and li b I
. und have power anil be bound to fulfil and observe the same.
Committee. — IS. The ina^intrutcA and council of any burgh, or ono
Wri uf any pariah whore thm Act haa been adopted nhall, within lb.
«4fl
• : :
luuulli alter its adoption, Hid ttaoatu-, It >iii ,"tti to m*ni, In tl»! c**
\ burgh, at tlio lir»t mentiriR after the animal dn dun of lowu ciHiunlh
or oomminionoTB of poliac, and in the i-aso of a parish, at 11m Hr.it i», »CU/t
after the annual mooting for tlio election of represent ative mombara of tifl
parochial board t oppmnt a com ml Hen, ootuUnOff of not loaa than I
mon than twenty mom tiers, half of whom .shall be ohOMiii fti
the inttphtratm ami amncil, DV board, ui (lie «:;ls« may \jm, and l,h«r rrinain-
iiiS half from amount tho householder* of tho burgh 01 | ■ >■■: 'm
the mogintiato* and council, or hoard, and throo raorabere of ami can
uiilloo ulinil form <i 'juorom.
Apuolnt Vacancies la Committee — 19. Any masher of COTomlttMd_
hsro power («» nvjpi office npon tf ring at leant fourteen din rssita
notice to tho olork of tho comm tl - if hi i int» i > ri - . r ■ io to
],. v .'lit «»l any vacancy oooarring in the oomtnlttee do rind their I
bAqS bj tho ro.i^nution or death of any meinour, the committa* iball
farthwttli OSrtM lint Baui6 IO hit intimated in tint niftyistrare- ■
or board, ami tins magistrates anil council, or board, as the OBO m
may at a meeting thereafter elect fiom among thomeelvco, ui Itam inwffl
the houooheldore other than tuomeolvoe, according to the elss> IB vU
iho vacancy liav ariaon, a member of commit
resigning at lying, provided that im proceeding* of the tjommittai
be invalidated or lie illw^al in conxeipiiiTicA of a vacancy or recast:
the number of the committee.
Meetings of Committee, So. 20. Tho committed appoint**! an iff*
nhull, in the caxe of a burgh, meet once in every three m on the, oroftourr
if BSQSBSScy, and in the caae of a pariah, u often na may bo nacaenrr,
ilftterminfi as to any businiMs falling to he transacted hy r.hnm, ami
appoint a chairman from among tlmir own lunula;, who th&ll hold O0o>
inii.il next election of committee ; and audi chairman shall, in com «f
. ijuaHty. have a casting Tote in addition to his rote as an
provided that, in the event of a vacancy occurring in tho ufllo* of
man, the committor* shall at their tint meeting thereafter appowl
chairman, and hi tho abaeua- of the ihoirmau of uomnntftc at any
iug, the mojiinj; shall appoint a rliairmau fur tbl U being, R/h
iit.ctinp tliall axercue tho privileges of the chairman of cum mi I ■
Power* of Committee,— 21, Tho committee ahull manage, rofpiUU, and
ml all libra rios and museums estsnlUhi*] under th i
tin* Act applies ; anil shall have power to do all thing* uccrstfary for iota
management, inoluduig Urn following power* ; that U to say.
To appoint »uo committee* of their own uuiuber :
To appoint a ailaru«i olerlc, and salai i Lbrarian i, i ffieero, and errranit
to act during the pleasure nf the committee, and to nay an.
tlnini |
To puirhatc book*, newspapers, review a, mej(aeln«
cale, etatuovy, pictures, . mapa, ip.
- i'-H'1' , and such othor artiuM and thiOttM *■' may be aeetaoirf
tlm i\s!:.U >limpitt, incr«-juio, and iikc nl tlu« lilirAncv and umae
under tlielr wutrul, and to do all Udfi}n necetmry ta\
asnu in a proper state -jf preeotrstiou ami rop
To provide h'.uii t me to time tho noccaaary fuel, li^blinp, and eAas
in ut torn:
nr- axehsngc any hooka, w.irlca of art, or other pr..j
fhero may Imj anytinktm, ^rcwVt\«\ t\v*v vnamnnpy arising frvtnaxi
u
.vi'i'Kxmx n.
oty
sale. Ami the property received in exchange shall bu nppliod&ud hchl
for thfl purpose* of this Act :
To provide fluitatlu looma in the libraries within which the buukn,
i-oriudieola, and newspapers may Ikj read :
To lend out, for tho purpose, of being rem] by tUo householders and
iuhabiUntu of the.' burgh or pariah in .iud lor which the commit t<»<
has been appointed, the book* nf any library under their control, or
nich of them as they may consider proper; and at their discretion
tu ^ranl tin: NUDE privilege to LIp; inmates of industrial schools,
training ships, reformatories, barracks, and othci aimiliu instituLinus,
estuhlisuod for or in tho burgh or pariah ; and also to any portion
carrying on business within the limit* of the burgh or parish, or to
any employee engaged in employment therein, although anch person
or i;iti|iliivi i' may Hot be a h-jiiachuldcr, and DBI^ HOC reside wiLhin
such limits :
To < compile and print catalogues of all or any book*, articles, and things
in the libraries or miuourae undur thoir coutrol, and reports of their
) '.T, lilies. :ll|,l I.I M'll t l|- -,(!tH\ III'" pl'.« ■<'...!•- |l» )»> Lj.|.I'.d I'm, tllU
purposes of this Act.
To make Bye-lawi. 22. It shall bo lawful lor tfcu committee to make
liv»'-la\vn for regulating all or *ny m alter* and things whatsoever connected
with Ebfl control, management, prof err inn, anil UU nf any property, oxti-
elos, or thiugo uudur their control for tho purposes of this Act, and M
Impose such penalties fur breaches of ouch bye-lava, not exceeding five
pound* for each offence, as may bo considered expedient ; and from tiuio
to time, as they shall think fit, to repeal, alter, vary, or re-enact any »u<h
i»v«-Uw«, provuod tJwayi that soch bye-Ions and utusttan thertoi "hull
not ba repugnant to th«^ Iaw of Scotland, anil teforo being acted on aImII
be siguttl by a quotum of the committee, and, except in so far ua limy
relate solely to tin olliccis or servauts of the coiiunitUc, audi bytj-Uwa
AlaII DO approved of by tho magistrates and council, or T.he Itoard, ao tho
oca© may he, and shall bo approved of and confirmed by the aherilf of tho
county in which the burgh or parish, or the greater part of the Area
thereof, is situated : PEOTHttl also, thai nothing hcrcui contained shall
pit i-ludi! the magiatratus ami council, or board, as the case may be, from
recovering the value of articles or tilings damaged, or tlio amount of the
damage austainod, against all partice liable for the
»Naw»paper Publication of Bye-lavs, *c,— 23. No bye-laws ur altera
II thereof requiring eronlirmntion tdiall ba conttrmal, an bofora men-
iiomid, uule&s notice of thu intention to apply for continuation of the
nlmH have been given in one or ntN uewspaperi piiblnhed ami
■ i rooloted ill thfl dlatnot nno month at leant before the hearing of (he
apphWiou for conlii uiatioit. and en> party aggrieved by any BUflfa
lawi or alterations thereof, on giving notice of the natmc of hi* objection
Ba tho clerk to tho committee ton days before the hearing of the applica-
ble eon Urination, may, by himeolf or bin counsel, attorney, or aj*out,
ba In * ... i. but not »o as to allow more tfcu one party to be hoard
npon the same matter of olgoction.
Exhibition of lya-lanra. -Hi. Tei one month at least bufore any audi
application for confirmation nf any liyudawa or aUi-mtions tliereof, a copy
o? neb propoced bye-Uvi m altaratloni shall bo kept at the office of tim
clerk to the committee, aud shall also be put up in mm comipicuous place
tn oaeh of the llbraiics and mtiaetium of the com mil tee, and all persons
may, at all reasonable Ihnca, inspect such copy v\t^e/a.t fe?. «it tcvivc^s
»
I'lULlt Ul'K.lRIK*.
(iml the, dark to the oommlttoo shall furnish ev«y mnon whoaliall i
fur th^ .-amc with a copy themif, part thereof, on
bExMDOO f°r ovory ornt hundred words so to ho copied.
Printed Copy of Bye-laws.— 25. The clerk to the committa »hall *ir<
it printed ropy nf tho confirrnrd byc-lawa, for tho time being I M
cvciy pornou applying for tho eamo, without charge ; Ar»i.l a copy thoreof
shall he palnna or placed on boarda, in< pal up d some ooi iptouon ■
: of the libraries and mimeums of the cominittfle, anil
with tho byo laws thereon alia!! bii i-uui'wutt from tunc to till in u* OW
shall P.'i|UirtS and ahull iw OpflO to lUBUactioil wUboil ■ N
Bye-lawa when Confirmed, He. — £6. All bye-lawn 01 alterations tin
mmii' ami cuiiiir in, -.1 tooordlng to the provisions nf ti is let, when ■
lulled ami put uu. shall bo binding upon and bo obeH rod IB all pa.'Sita,
and aliall be a iDlEctoQt uaiiunt Cor nil |ponoua *i*. Lin« under tin tins;
Evidence of Bye-laws -17 The production of « written 01 pi
of Die bye-laws respiring confirmation a* aforesaid, mthentl i
signature ofthenbflriif who *tuill liavti ixinfirmud the saura, ami awriti
K toted copy ofthobyo'laws not toqainng ra< b onfirmation, authenticated
' the common seal of th. rornmittoe, and eigne*! by tho chairman
committee at tho timo when the same were made mall ' o ovhionc
duttnoe and making of un-h hyrdawv in all cases Tor uvowieiilion
tho Mini1, WitllOOt proof of I. lie signature of »ueh sborilf, or I
Beelofthe eoiiiiniti'i . "i Hie *ig nature of then chairman ; and with
tw the )MO"f "f ;Ii- |- .i.i.i. -.iti in ■ r -ii' li byo-lawe it oliali '« sutlti ■-
pTOTfl that ti boil '■■'' [•;, ilmv.il v.v, put up m. I inl
in manner by thSfl a.-i directed.
HcooTcry of Ponaltioi. 2$. All pen nl tie* ami fmmiMi
i tie Ait, and tho Acta incorporated wholly or partially I
umv bye-low made in pursuance thereof, utay be recovered bj
smalUdebt action in thi- nan plcrh c< tho Lints
being befurv ollhoi thu sheriff or j not low of tin dffttric ; i
'Imll be payable t» the committee, and shall! rvbou rw
appUod '>' them Eta tin purposes of this Act ; and in any .
mult. i' tlii" Act oil excerpt from tho books of tin tomnutteo,
tlto clerk or other proper officer, -lull be held eouivalent to Li
tho c iilttM and all wntrin* in the Ixiokit nf the niinmittoH i i
any book or books mentioned m referred lo therein has or have been
borrowed by the person complained against aliall be taken and reeel
evidence of tin foot, and tin laudi thull I* thrown nn tin
:nj lainc.t nj;ainHt, and if dooroe pawoa iigniriMt «ueh party, 1m aball m
luii n.l liahle in costs,
Aetlona. -Jli. AH actioiM at the instance of the OOBUJlittei -bill W
br mght m name of the clerk to tl itta an< n^vinat
the committee, it shall bcHuihcieut to caII the clerk to tho cMmnutteofor
the tiinn being iw defender, and xeiTle.e fin I In tllall be imm itMtil
and nil wttuua brouuhl iy or agaiind I lie clerk lu tin coirmi
dffioiil ' i * ■ ■ ■' ■ ; ■ r obeli bo continued by or a-xaiitat ^'fl 8" " *fflw
without any action of tranaferonec.
Batixnatea. — 30. The committee shall in the month of Apri Idi ■
make up, 01 oaUae tu be made D|>, nn eatluintc of the
Ordoi to defray thu iuteroet of uny money borrowed, rln of tb<
lixtkittg FuJid, and tha eatponae of mawtainuig end rn .1 file
oi mueeuma iiudov thuVt coutvoWw W ^ew :,v..- ^v.>
APPHNIHX II.
..".I
BO ">tne, and for the puipowuf pmeha>Lig the books, art-ides, ami thing
authorized by ibis Ait to be purchased (brsuoHUbnindi or moaeuus, ant]
t*hall report tho same to the magistrates and council in the case of a
bunbj or to the board in the oaso of a pariah, and the magistrate*? and
conned or trie board, a* thy (Ut may bt, ahull provide I li *.- MftQflttt
required nut of the library rate to bo In vied by thi-ni, and aha.ll nay over
to tho committee tho sum DeUMNJJ for the animal expenditure by them
iu terms uf tlitii catiaiuto.
Power to Add, Ac— 81. Where any of the following institutions, namely,
a Public Library, a public museum. * school !'»i BOteo a mid ait, % school
lii vieuco, a school lor ait, or an art Kail' >v loi;- licou established uudcr
any Public Library Act i i * ferae Po» Qle EtOJi ■" -tag, or under tliiA Act,
there may ui any Eizni Mtablfehod i" oonaoctfon thorawft », toy other
of ilit' Mid institution* without fartbof pvOGCOiBngi being rnken for the
adoption of this Act.
Librtriei, Ae. to be Free. — Mi". Ail lifanuiw, uuihvuihh, »r art ^alloriuu
p. tut ilished unrtar this Acr, or to whirls thin Art applies, shall he OMflj
to tlie publiu freu of charge, and no charge shall bo made for the uio uf
books hi mugaAMea issued for bona rvmliu^.
BOHBDULBB.
S. iini.ri.B (A). I'll* i'oii Di.ikii.mi.mm: DV WllSti I'^il.i:
AH TO THK AhOI'I'loN t>Y 'TUV. A<.T.
(1.) Uiwn receipt of tho mq ilflttton specified in the Act, tin: chief
luapntrta or the sluirifi", a* the ease may be, shall, without un necessary
delay, cause to be printed, ah«I k be dotiwrod Of sent by poet to eac-h
hotitjoluddir on 'iiti'iintion and a voting paper, in the respective forms
appended hereto, and tho mtinuti'Oi may bo prefixed to the re
papor and on t lie MXttt paJMI tfetfOWifh, 01 may be priBOBd tt*pn.mtely,
provido 1 it be <ln)iveieil or posted! simnltniionusly vtth the firing paper,
(2,) In the ease of a burgh, tho voting papei ahull bear tho number of
the householder on the municipal register, arid when :1m burgh is divided
into wards, tho uumbur of tho ward : and in the earn of i parish the
voting paper eha.II bear a number relative to the entry of tbn hooaohoidwf
in a copy of tun valuation roll applicable tOMOb parish, or in a Iwl ol
tho householders in nub mrish, which copy or list, distinguishing tho
annum l of u-utal *L wlm.li uaili 001800 i* assessed, the assessor, undii
the A-;ts in force for the valuation of lands and heritage* in Scotland,
I- hm 1f required to umbo, certify, and furnish to the sherill', withiu
fbOTOMn days of an application by mm to that effect, on payment of a KM
of not mora than on«< shilling for Moh hundred nam en : ami such copy
•a liiL certified as aforesaid, shall be sullicient proof of lhe g,UaHflfi»tMB
• if thl hou^iholdcrs uautovl thoruiii.
(3.) Tho intimation ofon^aid shell '|ncify tin place at win. -h tha rotblg
I isj 101 ia to bo collected, and shall also f-poeify a day foi' col loot ion, herein
■ftoi ii-ii the day of the poll, heiiujj not Ie*« than three lawful day«,
not man ib«B cm days from the lajit date of tbt delivery or of the posting
of lint voting papers to the households.
i l . , Thi; cfiief magistrate 01 lhe nbniiT, aa the "'oueiuay be, shall, bffotl
the iwuo of duoh voting papers, appoint a competent person oe f»W V f
thereof, on iuoh terms and Ml nob K'unuieratton a-- nuy bo NOIOnibli |
and he shall also, by himntl' m 'lnoiigh the QOlUcI ■ UOV II i I, -t any
timi' Jwfore or during the rolleccion or wnitiny of i\\& vnrinp nai^rv ,
:>YJ
i'niuc UP'i
appoint euoh number of eaautant collectors es may bo nocoaaar
eftnylngont tin* pi'ocednni hvrein specified.
(o.) Tin' rluef niH^ixlritc or the ahcrilf, x* tlie owe may bft, -dull, ai
leant tlirw dnya previous to tho day of tJw poll, intimate such J».
fiiftro or plncofl ana hours fixed for oolleettng each vote* by ndvertiionicat
n ono or ttioro nowapepvi-j bubliuUml or circulatni^ in the burgh or pariah ;
end tho Haul advortuenient tihall also specify tho name of th>
i " mi d u aforesaid, anil an a.Mn<** where voting pip... mi
leroived from nuuli collector, iti tertua of the IcmnoQBatolj nuccccdlnr
article.
\C.\ The collector, or on assistant ooUottol , afcaJ] attend at tlie bMrcaj
■MfluUd in auuh nilvortitfcirrcnt lor at leaet thron specified hour* of each
oV [lie two ImwI'iiI days n if i B liaddy preceding the day of tin pot]
Voting paper to inch applicant; and the collector, 01 any awnUm
.... ...v- ».... ,-.. -_. - .-,..-, .-.j |..,v^^...k (..» «-j «. I™*" I
kIi&II, on the application "f any householder, ana nn !.••: n<
that such householder haa nuL aluuh n.*i-«*i v I . pply ■
colloctor, fthall at any (inn: after the imae of tbo toting paper*, and 1-.
HTW o'clock afternoon of tlio day of tlio poll, on being satisfied that a
voting |rtp*r b»* l»!.<n in ri.vi i mly In-!.. I. si nyc»). Of 'loaa,
hiva povrei to nipply a duplicate voting paper, which thai) bo merle*]
■■ ditmicatt]" before bung uuoed.
(7.) Voting papers duly filled up end labacribed by blu hooatboldM
bo v.Ik. in tho wauu arc roepociively applicable} may be transmitted by
to tin? collector, at the a>Vlrc«e ipooined in tho »'• ieai4 idv<
i i th.it 'i ■«-ii voting poperi reach the eolieotoi before etahl ■■■
of the afternoon of tlio day of the poll, and thai the ho*wenold
trsimu titling prepay thtf poatagt Lhereof, otherwise the mum *liall not
be received.
(S.J On tho day of tbo poll the chief magistrate, or the BfloriaTg ae tbo
oeM ina\ be, shall cause the platw or places epeotUed in tit*
aeoOnipan/ing the voting p»|n*r to be kept open from ■
monrint oil Bight dVIock afternoon, and wel plae . i
place*. :l tnOTfl than one. shall be under the charge of the onlta i •
au eeeiataut collector, who shell ^i v« it- pergonal attendant! lm i
hoars spreitkd for the inn-|'08o of ruoeiving all Voting papON ffttiab maybe
bonded to hint.
(9.) In theeaaeof n. bur^h divided Into ward*, than shall be at Isnal
ono place for tho collection of Toting papers in each vanl, and In mi
burgfl 8* parish where more than one place fur collection ahull han
appointed) Out eollectaon in all of such plaoei shall take place on thoMiuc
daj% and the intimation a^Tniiipanyitig tlio voting paper Klml ;
particular placfl where rack voting paper ia tn be to I .. tw\ i ho« il
or assistant collector, in charge of any suoh place for en m on ihall n«t
be hound !'.' '.ct.L'ivi a voting jiapur wliidi »boll buvo been dixivUd Ui he
lodged At 4Uiue utlier such place.
(10.) Whore any householder i* nuabU to wriu, lu may att»
mark to tho voting popvr, provj led thot suoh voting aapor m signed by
a wituoas, whoM aodtaai uall be app< Dded b his ifgnuura
(II.) Any paraoii rabrlcatlng a vnrlii^ paper, oi [iNMenting oi
a (aJ irifal.eO voting papur, or any voting papt-r, kiaiwiny that i!n-
dove not. L»;jt the true sifmnture of tho houscuolUor to wboui auuli t
Mpai b Lntendcd Co appn*, ihall be guilty of personation, and »haU
liable to tin panaWeaof ftat oiroiiee is iet fortb :" the Uailol A l,
( i'2~) Ho votinc papar shall bu receivesd afUl t ;l I 0 dock afternaeo a£
fflo day of the poll ; and. in tte e^wt h\ <ivcrc\*a^^TMn than mm plare
nod by
;nnilatf
iaUb
.\iii.:;\'ix II.
*u
;
fOT cullivtion, each aaiiatant collector shall immediately aI'Ui tli-j OfaeO of
die poll transmit tho voting palters received by him to the eollontor, nml
tin' whole voting pBSBRI slut II tbi-n-aftor hn" under the charge •">! r !■ ■-
collector auhjoct to tho directions of the chief niagietrAt*, or or the
shtiiir, u tin: coat! may 1*:.
fl3.) Tin eouootofi lunjact ^ aJbreeeid, shall, as w>on an may be oitoi
DDcltuion of tlir t»i>ll, proctcd to 4 amitiuy of tho voting peper
Khali, with *uch ixsi stance as may hv nocoaeftry, compare tho statue with
tin' nuletypl register or oritt the cony roll, or list of householder*, «c tho
case may be, And alinll ascertain how ur the vW fflg paper* litivr ben Mlm
up in tame of tin' illi'rctiuns i.ln:ii'on, and hsvit boon duly Mvimsl liy i.Im
bostofcoulen bo whom Bvob rottu ptrcn were respectively watted ; and
lialoly on tho conclusion of mion ■Muiiny In* »holl report to tho
ehiof initflintrrt(,«, of t.« the alioritt', oe tho oaio may bt, tho number of
hOUNboUtn Wio have voted for tho adoption Of Hi*1 Act, lud thti numbs*
who liAPfl voted againer. it.< adoption. H« obeli alio report r.h« DotR
iiiiiiiltur ol rotiotf ntpen reoeivtHl, uxl (he number* il any, which b»v«
j ctol by him, and the cause of such rejection.
(1 1 . I j receiving tho report of the collector, tho ohnf inrt^i^iriito, or
the •horitl, as tho case way bt), shall, if Hutialtod of tho accuracy of such
report, cniws the result or tho noil to he made public m mich manner a* hs
■dml 1 think most . i pe lit : t .
FOKM U» INI'IMAI'ION.
Mid !,:hntriat CoitsulMaium (Scul!«u<l) Jet, 1687.
Borfih [or pariah] of
No. jMert it a miter itffvtu.wJmhf.fr mi rriffotcr, mil, or Mat],
[f*«rf nfcoo Hfld pbsif </ fern I-
To [inMsrt mime of hom*hol<! i]
In toOlll of tho Public Liln i.ics Guisulidaliuu (Seoljnnl i j
have to intimate that a iciitiixhinu having '»e«ii pnwittoil to ;nc l»v f! <
uresarSbaU nuubor of houeboldi ra of the burgh [or parieh] of
to Ufa 'Ki' opini is ol thl householders oa to whether the Act ehouhi Im
adopted in said burgh [or parish J, I havo ohiumm! the auhjoiiiod [o»
accompanying] voting ruipor M bi uSMlftd bo you Is a hotWtthoIfl«r of x:iitl
borgh [w pwUiX wbioa voting nsiUi tltatj Dlifld up and wibwribed by
you, will U-; rtoi »vi 1 within [ivtiu vf place] on Ao
•lay of must, botwMH the houra of eight oWoost moruing and
fiRllt oVlfwk aftcnioon.
Tlio voting paper may be delivered ptttOJUdty or liy a mi-K-i'ii^'f,
ptuvidtil it beer your stgnttnre.
In lieu of delivery of tlu voting pepej in i uerebtrTB mentioaedi tt
oet nt to any householder U> jKint it ml»iiVMol to [*i«i«k andtuUirvto
•f eotietf'*'], provi'.i the poetiAi boprepftldi end that the fotLDA P*poi
i.- . -ii il..- ooflootoi befom uiyht ooJook afcornoos "f the iovJ Knim h $i
»rt/f]. Tin* riHk ««f diOivr.i y nefbn th* bonr HpeeWed teeu ffbih th« home-
older tdoptfafl tliia mothod of return.
(Sixned)
J JT.t OliiefMagiotrotc,
[or siundj.
Fokm or Vorivo V'A
la! ?k Libtttria QmtOJUtUA WQ yfc/, 3387.
llui'gh (or paruli] of ,
No. [in$erl r.uvibcr vf hi/u*f holder im rfjiHart reil» «r Jirt-V
f> 1 1 Pt'BLIC LIBRARIES.
Short Title.— 1. This Act may be cited is the Public Libraries
Consolidation (Scotland) Act, 1887, and shall apply to Scotland only.
Definition*, — 2. The following words and expressions in this Act shall
have the meanings hereby assigned to them, unless there be something in
the subject or context repugnant to such construction ; that is to say, —
"Burgh" shall include royal burgh, parliamentary burgh, bnrgh
incorporated by Act of Parliament, burgh of regality, burgh of
barony, and any populous place or police burgh administered wholly
or partly under any general or local police Act, and the boundaries of
such burgh shall, for the purposes of this Act, be the boundaries to
which such general or local police Act extends :
" Parish " shall mean a parish for which a separate poor rate is or can
be imposed, or for which a separate parochial board is or can be
appointed, and shall be exclusive of the area of any burgh or part of
a burgh situated therein :
" Householders " shall mean, in the case of a burgh, all persons whose
names are entered on the municipal register, and in the case of a
parish, all persons entitled to a vote in the election of a school board
in such parish, under the provisions of the Education (Scotland) Act,
1872, and any Act amending the same ;
"Magistrates and council" shall be applied collectively, and not
separately, and shall include provost, magistrates, and town council,
magistrates and commissioners of police, and any other body of
persons for the time being in office, by authority of whom the bnrgh
general assessment is levied ; and where in any burgh the magistrates
and council form a corporate body, and there is also in the same
burgh a board of commissioners of police by whom the burgh general
assessment is levied, the words " magistrates and council* shall, as
regards the levying and recovering of the library rate, apply to such
commissioners of police, but in every other respect it shall apply to
such corporate body of magistrates .and council '
"Chief magistrate" shall include provost, and shall apply to any
magistrate legally acting as chief magistrate for the time oeing :
" Board " shall mean the parochial board acting under the Act eighth
and ninth Victoria, chapter eighty-three, and any Act amending the
same:
" Committee " shall mean the committee appointed under any Public
Libraries Act affecting Scotland for the time being, or this Act :
"Municipal register" snail mean the register, list, or roll of persons
entitled to vote in an election of town councillors or commissioners of
police, in a burgh, made up according to the law in force for the time
being :
"Burgh general assessment" shall mean an assessment which, under
any general or local police Act, shall be applicable to the general
purposes of such Act :
" Library rate " shall mean the rate or assessment authorized by this Act
for the purpose of carrying the Act into execution :
•" Libraries and museums" and "libraries or museums " shall include
schools for science, art galleries, and schools for art, and these
expressions, or either of them, when used iu the singular, shall
include a school for science, an art gallery, and a school for art :
Words importing the masculine gender shall, when applied to house-
holders, include female householders.
Repeal Clause* — 3. The Public Libraries (Scotland) Acts, 1867 to 1884,
appendix ii. oi")
bo far u the same relate to Scotland, are hereby repealed ; bat euch repeal
shall not invalidate or affect anything already done in pursuance of these
Acts, or any of them, and all burghs and parishes in Scotland which
before the passing of this Act have adopted the recited Acts shall there-
after be subject to the provision* of this Act : Provided always, that
nothing in this Act contained shall prejudice or affect the provisions of
the Edinburgh Public Library Assessment Act, 1887.
Adoption of Act. — 4. Upon the requisition in writing of the magistrates
aud council of any burgh, or of ten or more householders in any hurgh or
parish, the chief magistrate of such burgh, or in the case of a parish, the
sheriff of the county in which such parish or the greater part of the area
thereof is situated, shall ascertain the opinions of the Householders in
such bnrgh or parish as to the adoption of this Act in the manner sot
forth in Schedules (A.) or (B.) hereto annexed, which schedules shall be
construed and have effect as part of this Act, provided that where in any
burgh the number of householders exceeds three thousand, the chief
magistrate shall adopt the procedure, by way of voting paper, set forth in
Schedule (A.), but in any other case it shall bo optional to the chief
magistrate or to the sheriff, as the case may be, to adopt such proceduro
by way of voting paper, or the procedure by way of public meeting, set
forth in Schedule (B.).
If mot adopted. — 5. In the event of the householders determining by a
majority of votes that this Act shall be adopted in any burgh or parish,
the same shall from thenceforth come into operation therein ; but if by a
majority of votes they shall determine against the adoption, the like pro-
cedure shall not take place for the space of at least two years from the
date of such determination.
Expenses of Determining. — 6. The expense of the procedure for deter-
mining as to the adoption of this Act shall, if the Act be not adopted, be
paid, in the case of a burgh, out of the borough general assessment, and
in the case of a parish, ont of the assessment for the relief of the poor in
such parish, or where there is no such assessment, by a rate which the
board are hereby empowered to levy and recover for this purpose, in the
same manner and subject to the same conditions as are applicable to the
library rate ; but if the Act shall have been adopted the expenses of the
procedure under which it has been adopted shall be payable out of the
library rate, and it shall be in the power of the chief magistrate or of the
sheriff, as the case may be, immediately upon the adoption of the Act to
borrow such sura or sums as may be necessary to defray such expenses on
the security of the library rate to be afterwards levied.
Expenses of Carrying.— 7. The expenses of carrying this Act into exe-
cution, when adopted, including all sums payable in respect of interest
and sinking fund for money authorized to be borrowed, and all sums
necessary for the maintenance and management of the libraries and
museums established under this Act, or to which this Act applies, or for
the purchase of the articles and things authorized by this Act to be pur-
chased, shall be paid out of the library rate, which shall be levied and
recovered, in the case of a burgh, by the magistrates aud council, from
the same description of persons and property, and with and under the
like powers, provisions, and exceptions as the burgh general assessment,
and in the case of a psrish by the board, from the same description of
persons and property, and with and under the like powers, provisions,
and exceptions as the assessment leviable under the Act eighth and ninth
Victoria, chapter eighty-three.
wtm.tr r.m
Rat*.—* ii..
EMM i>xi"tc<l the nin of one |K*nny lii the pound I | NBt
annua] vn-lm cu appeal ii.k 00 UlC riUlat&M] full, and irh<
uiori»loiU of *' Y fMir.ml «t ' .lie burgh gvuoraj a*-
la or may I"© UtioJ it a higliM rat* upon :oiuU or pi-omiMa alxrrm a OaTtal
lUod raut than apon lownr «mt«l laruK rj ■ ;■ provision*,
fn 11 thar authorize *>i rtile to
itc.
Aeoatinta.— 'J. Tlia iiutfihtralat and minimi ftl a burgh, or th© board »f
a |4ii«li, *» Blu DaM "»»>* lw\ »hkll JUDV vhloh *h*~*
1*3 entered line and ;*j»Milar account* laf t "I ■
ItaliiHl u of thia A
ivaauiublc times, be open, without foo ©i Mffwd, to the itiij>
try naTarm Kabul to hi »»-^«.«l Tor thy 111 <-iagb*
... ; . . ii nan ml an mi J * ■■■'■' ti nonl ■
to be niiuuuUy audited by out? or more cuuiMiteul auditors, nut Iviux
motQoara of too commit!*©, iftei fflilch aadll - 1 shall be
lie .ii.M .t ■ ■■ of tho bOAl
i ilia.ll Ui -.•riutoi
triad iii one DOrnoM B9WiMpOT> jtulili I. SUbatad
In tho ) i n£] m pi
Lands, *0 , may b* Appropriated — 10 Tli,> DttgaTbmtal and comical or
board, jw thn eaao rany m, may from Elm© t Q i -i 'p»x>prtftt«, !•
piraoaM of iiii. Act, bdj bvn l- oi bufldii la thmu. ami nuj
liluiuy raw, ur out "f oiuuw< a< litimin pru\iiU«i, jiui
hn, ■■ Laa 1, OC A«J raittbla btlUdiog ; and nn, nmn th© htnj
oo appropriated, routed, fouod I ill] builaiofl aiutaMi
UhTanat, public museum*, schools for ict
irhooln Cor ore, of for any oni i mot* of taOAi DRJnet*.aikl rruyaJtsri
■ my l)iiil(lilijf.i for muOi pwpOWS, ami . ... 41 n
rwiwutivoly, ami nam, and supply tin nUUI I A'ilL
nil iO|ulait© furnnuu, fittingo, an i<-©a,
Farti of I A 9 YJot, 0. 19, Incorporatod — 1 1 Tin- I'tarts©* ami
vision* of tlio Lands CUiikus ConjoUdaUoo (6eotland Act 13*5, irll
roapect i<! tin pnrcAaM of bunl* hyagrioi uliii rcajioct to tb
ptin baafl no
N pTwTaniad from tasting oraoi tic, md with rafpeoi to con
i ios* "i 1 aii. : : "and provisions *r« a
purchAsca, foti*, or leues anthorl/ci h\ IMr nOl and
I ..lv viiicil, :-hnll In- iiinu ;i.M,,ir<l uitii UlbAotl att4 till '(pltaaklO
Uic M' ' ii Art " used iii soon clauses nn<1 |
In nnuii -In .'..'; mi,l the C«pr©9hi"r. ' ' Ukl (■;■ I i >l>ii of thcuildcr!*'
Uttj utd prorbdoni loall bo i inoun tli* tuagU
- thl aal ni:iv bt
Landi, Ac-, may bo Sold,— ]•„■. TIm- nuvpatrefcv and bo
lumni, ti r | ■ uV . n.'iy sell .-.iiy land a, hmUlinp*, or "'
party reotau1 mi tbitji 100" Bio jmrjHiaes 01 I'
ftr any IiimU, luiiLlin^r-. or other proiiortT hortot Ad
|iobui, and the itujuey ajismp; from such wlV. tit! rha m'opaity •-<
hall bo applk-i int hekl foi ih wtubAtL
Land*, an, Vt.it.nd, *p —l:. 'Hie Uudu mid buildings n
IlBAfid, 01 I'Uiiil, ami hll ntlier real or perianal
sNlnt-Mi.pl, [brnnyUurary trnnst'tiin ■•
APPKNPIX IT, 547
under this Act or to which this Act applies, shall in the case of a burgh
be vested in the magistrates and council, and in the case of a parish in
the board.
Powers of Borrowing.- -H. The magistrates and council, or the board,
as the case maybe, may from time to time borrow at interest on mortgage
or bond on the security of the rate to be levied in pursuance of this Act,
for the purposes thereof, a sum or sums of money not exceeding the capital
sum represented by one-fourth part of the library rate, authorized by this
Act, capitalized at the rate of twenty years' purchase of such sum ; and on
repayment of such sum or sums, or any part thereof, they may from time
to time re-borrow in manner and for the purposes aforesaid, but so that
the whole sum borrowed at any one time snail not exceed the amount of
the said capital sum after deducting therefrom any sums set apart as a
sinking fund as hereinafter provided.
Sinking Fund. — 15. The magistrates and council, or the board, as the
case may be, are hereby required to set apart annually, as a sinking fund
for the extinction of capital suras borrowed under the authority of any
library Act in force for the time being, or of this Act, a sum equal to at
least one-fiftieth part of the money so borrowed, and such sinking fund
shall be from time to time applied in repayment of the money so borrowed,
aod to no other purpose whatever, and shall be lodged in a joint stock
bank of israe in Scotland, or invested in Government securities, or lent
out at interest in the name and at the discretion of the magistrates and
council, or the board, as the case may be, until the same bo applied for
the purpose before specified.
Parti of 10* 11 Viot o. 16, Incorporated.— 16. The clauses and pro-
visions of the Commissioners Clauses Act, 1847, with respect to the
liabilities of the commissioners, and to legal proceedings by or against
the commissioners, and with respect to mortgages to be executed by the
commissioners, excepting sections eighty-four, eighty-six, and eighty-
seven, shall, unless herein expressly varied, be incorporated with this Act,
and the several words and expressions, to which by the last recited Act
meanings are assigned, shall in this Act have the same respective mean-
ings, unless there be something in the subject or context repugnant to
such construction ; and the expression "the special Act" used in such
clauses and provisions herewith incorporated snail mean this Act ; and
the expression "the commissioners" shall mean the magistrates and
council or board and the committee in the discharge of their respective
duties under this Act.
Parliamentary Grant. — When the magistrates and council, or board,
as the case may be, accept a grant out of moneys provided by Parliament,
from any Committee of the Privy Council on Education, towards the
purchase of the site, or the erection, enlargement, or repair of any school
for science and art, or school for science, or school for art, or of tho
residence of any teacher in such school, or towards the furnishing of any
such school, they shall have power to accent such grant upon the condi-
tions prescribed lor the acceptance thereof by the said committee, and to
execute such instruments as may be required by the said committee for
carrying into effect such conditions, and upon payment of the graut shall,
together with their successors, bo bound by such conditions and instru-
ment, and have power and be bound to fulfil and observe the same.
Committee. — 18. The magistrates and council of any burgh, or oue
board of any parish where this Act has been adoptod shall, within the
548 PVBLIC LIBRARIES.
month after its adoption, and thereafter from year to year, in the case of
a burgh, at the first mooting after the annual election of town councillors
or commissioners of police, and in the case of a parish, at the first meeting
after the annual meeting for the election of representative members of the
parochial board, appoint a committee, consisting of not less than ten nor
more than twenty members, half of whom shall be chosen from amongst
the magistrates and council, or board, as the case may be, and the remain-
ing half from amongst the householders of the burgh or parish other than
the magistrates and council, or board, and three members of such com-
mittee shall form a quorum.
Appoint Vacancies in Committee. — 19. Any member of committee shall
have power to resign office upon giving at least fourteen days previous
notice to the clerk of the committee of his intention so to resign ; and in
the event of any vacancy occurring in the committee during their term of
office by the resignation or death of any member, the committee shall
forthwith cause the same to be intimated to the magistrates and council,
or board, and the magistrates and council, or board, as the case may be,
may at a meeting thereafter elect from among themselves, or from among
the householders other than themselves, according to the class in which
the vacancy has arisen, a member of committee in place of the member so
resigning or dying, provided that no proceedings of the committee shall
be invalidated or be illegal in consequence of a vacancy or vacancies in
the number of tho committee.
Meeting-* of Committee, *c. — 20. Thecommittee appointed as aforesaid
shall, in the case of a burgh, meet once in every three months, or oftener
if necessary, and in the case of a parish, as often as may be necessary, to
determine as to any business falling to be transacted by them, and shall
appoint a chairman from among their own number, who shall hold office
until next election of committee ; and such chairman shall, in case of
equality, have a casting vote in addition to his vote as an individual ;
provided that, in the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of chair-
man, the committee shall at their first meeting thereafter appoint a new
chairman, and in the absence of the chairman of committee at any meet-
ing, the meeting shall appoint a chairman for the time being, who at that
meeting shall exercise the privileges of the chairman of committee.
Powers of Committee, — 21. The committee shall manage, regulate, and
control all libraries and museums established under this Act, or to which
this Act applies ; and shall have power to do all things necessary for such
management, including the following powers ; that is to say,
To appoint sub-committees of their own number :
To appoint a salaried clerk, and salaried librarians, officers, and servants
to act during the pleasure of the committee, and to pay and dismiss
them :
To purchase books, newspapers, reviews, magazines, and other periodi-
cals, statuary, pictures, engravings, maps, specimens of art and
science, and such other articles and things as may be necessary for
the establishment, increase, and use of the libraries and museums
under their control, and to do all things necessary for keeping the
same in a proper state of preservation and repair :
To provide from time to time the necessary fuel, lighting, and other
matters :
To sell or exchange any books, works of art, or other property of which
there may be duplicates, provided that the monoy arising from such
Al'PENMX II. 549
sale, and the property received in exchange shall be applied and held
for the purposes of this Act :
To provide suitable rooms in the libraries within which the books,
periodicals, and newspapers may be read :
To lend out, for the purpose of being read by the householders and
inhabitants of the burgh or parish in and for which the committee
has been appointed, the books of any library under their control, or
such of them as they may consider proper ; and at their discretion
to grant the same privilege to the inmates of industrial schools,
training ships, reformatories, barracks, and other similar institutions,
established for or in the burgh or parish ; and also to any person
carrying on business within the limits of the burgh or parish, or to
any employee engaged in employment tberoin, although such person
or employee may not bo a householder, and may not reside within
such limits :
To compile and print catalogues of all or any books, articles, and things
in the libraries or museums under their control, and reports of their
proceedings, and to sell the same, the proceeds to be applied for tho
purposes of this Act.
To make Bye-laws. — 22. It shall be lawful for the committee to make
bye-law* for regulating all or any matters and things whatsoever connected
with the control, management, protection, and use of any proporty, arti-
cles, or things under their control for the purposes of this Act, and to
impose such penalties for breaches of such bye-laws, not exceeding five
pounds for each offence, as may be considered expedient ; and from time
to time, as they shall think fit, to repeal, alter, vary, or re-enact any such
bye-laws, provided always that such bye-laws and alterations thereof shall
not be repugnant to the law of Scotland, and before being acted on shall
be signed by a quorum of the committee, and, except in so far as they
relate solely to the officers or servants of the committee, such bye-laws
shall be approved of by the magistrates and council, or the board, as the
case may be, and shall be approved of and confirmed by the sheriff of the
county in which the burgh or parish, or the greater part of the area
thereof, is situated : Provided also, that nothing herein contained shall
preclude the magistrates and council, or board, as the case may be, from
recovering the value of articles or things damaged, or the amount of the
damage sustained, against all parties liable for the same.
jTawspapor Publication of Bye-laws, ftc, — 23. No bye-laws or altera-
tions thereof requiring confirmation shall be confirmed, as before men-
tioned, unless notice of the intention to apply for confirmation of the
same shall have been given in one or more newspapers published and
circulated in the district one month at least before the hearing of the
application for confirmation, and any party aggrieved by any such bye-
laws or alterations thereof, on giving notice of the nature of his objection
to the clerk to the committee ten days before the hearing of the applica-
tion for confirmation, may, by himself or his counsel, attorney, or agent,
be heard thereon, but not so as to allow more than one party to be heard
upon the same matter of objection.
Exhibition of Bye-lawn. — 24. For one month at least before any such
application for confirmation of any bye-laws or alterations thereof, a copy
of such proposed bye-laws or alterations shall be kept at the office of the
clerk to the committee, and shall also be put up in some conspicuous place
in each of the libraries and museums of the committee, and all persons
may, at all reasonable times, inspect such copy without fee or reward ;
550 PUBLIC LtBRABlES.
»nd the clerk to the committee shall furnish every person who shall apply
for the same with a copy thereof, or of any part thereof, on payment of
sixpence for every one hundred words so to be copied.
Printed Copy of Bye-lawn. — 25. The clerk to the committee shall give
a printed copy of the confirmed bye-laws, for the time being in force, to
every person applying for the same, without charge ; and a copy thereof
shall be painted or placed on boards, and put up in some conspicuous part
of each of the libraries and museums of the committee, and such boards
with the bye-laws thereon shall be renewed from time to time as occasion
shall require, and shall be open to inspection without fee or reward.
Bye-laws when Confirmed, Ac. — 26. All bye-laws or alterations thereof
made and confirmed according to the provisions of this Act, when so pub-
lished and put up, shall be binding upon and be observed by all parties,
and shall be a sufficient warrant for all persons acting under the same.
Evidence of Bye-laws. —27. The production of a written or printed copy
of the bye-laws requiring confirmation as aforesaid, authenticated by the
signature of the sheriff who shall have confirmed the same, and a written or
printed copy of the bye-laws not requiring such confirmation, authenticated
by the common seal of the committee, and signed by the chairman of the
committee at the time when the same were made, shall be evidence of the
existence and making of such bye-laws in all cases for prosecution under
the same, without proof of the signature of such sheriff, or the common
seal of the committee, or the signature of their chairman ; and with respect
to the proof of the publication of such bye-laws it shall be sufficient to
prove that a board containing a copy thereof was put up and continued
in manner by this Act directed.
Recovery of Penalties.— 28. All penalties and forfeitures exigible under
this Act, and the Acts incorporated wholly or partially herewith, or under
any bye-law made in pursuance thereof, may be recovered by an ordinary
small-debt action in the name of the clerk to the committee for the time
being before cither the sheriff or justices of the district ; and the
same shall be payable to the committee, and shall, when recovered, be
applied by them for the purposes of this Act ; and in any prosecution
under this Act an excerpt from the books of the committee, certified by
the clerk or other proper officer, shall be held equivalent to the books of
the committee, and all entries in the books of the committee bearing that
any book or books mentioned or referred to therein has or have been
borrowed by the person complained against shall be taken and received as
evidence of the fact, and the onus probandi shall be thrown on the party
complained against, and if decree passes against such party, he shall be
found liable in costs.
Actions. — 29. All actions at the instance of the committee shall be
brought in name of the clerk to the committee, and in all actions against
the committee, it shall be sufficient to call the clerk to the committee for
the time being as defender, and service on him shall be sufficient service ;
and all actions brought by or against the clerk to the committee in his
official character shall be continued by or against his successors in office
without any action of transference.
Estimates. — 30. The committee shall in the month of April in every year
make up, or cause to be made up, an estimate of the sums required in
order to defray the interest of any money borrowed, the payment of the
sinking fund, and the expense of maintaining and managing all libraries
or museums under their control for the year after Whitsunday then next
APPENDIX Hi 651
to come, and for the purpose of purchasing the books, articles, and things
authorized by this Act to be purchased for such libraries or museums, and
shall report the same to the magistrates and council in the case of a
burgh, or to the board in the case of a parish, and the magistrates and
council or the board, as the case may be, shall provide the amount
required out of the library rate to be levied by them, and shall pay ovor
to the committee tho sum necessary for the annual expenditure by them
ia terms of their estimate.
Power to Add, Ac, — 31. Where any of the following institutions, namely,
a Public Library, a public museum, a school for science and art, a school
for science, a school for art, or an art gallery has been established under
any Public Library Act in force for the time being, or under this Act,
there may at any time be established, in connection therewith, any other
of the said institutions without further proceedings being taken for the
adoption of this Act.
Libraries, 4c to be Free.— 32. AH libraries, museums, or art gallories
established under this Act, or to which this Act applies, shall be open
to the public free of charge, and no charge shall be made for the use of
books or magazines issued for home reading.
SCHEDULES.
Schedule (A). — Procedure for Determining by Voting Paper
as to the Adoption of the Act.
(1.) Upon receipt of the requisition specified in the Act, the chief
magistrate or the sheriff, as the case mav be, shall, without unnecessary
delay, cause to be printed, and to be delivered or sent by post to eacn
householder an intimation and a voting paper, in the respective forms
appended hereto, and the intimation may be prefixed to the voting
paper and on the same paper therewith, or may be printed separately,
provided it be delivered or posted simultaneously with the voting paper.
(2.) In the case of a burgh, the voting paper shall bear the number of
the householder on the municipal register, and where the burgh is divided
into wards, the number of the ward : and in the case of a parish the
voting paper shall bear a number relative to the entry of the householder
in a copy of the valuation roll applicable to such parish, or in a list of
the householders in such parish, which copy or list, distinguishing the
amount of rental at whicn each person is assessed, the assessor, under
the Acta in force for the valuation of lands and heritages in Scotland,
is hereby required to make, certify, and furnish to the sheriff, within
fourteen days of an application by him to that effect, on payment of a fee
of not more than one shilling for each hundred names ; and such copy
or list, certified as aforesaid, shall be sufficient proof of the qualification
of the householders named therein.
(3.) The intimation aforesaid shall specify the place at which tho voting
paper is to be collected, and shall also specify a day for collection, herein-
after called the day of the noil, being not less than three lawful days,
nor more than ten days from tne last date of the delivery or of the posting
of the voting papers to the householders.
(4. ) The chief magistrate or the sheriff, as the case may be, shall, before
the issue of such voting papers, appoint a competent person as collector
thereof, on such terms and for sucn remuneration as may be reasonable ;
and he shall also, by himself or through the collector aforesaid, at any
time before or during the collection or scrutiny of tj»e voting papers,
55g PLBUC LlBRAftlES.
appoint such number of assistant collectors as may be necessary for
carrying out the procedure herein specified.
(6. ) The ehief magistrate or the sheriff, as the case may be, shall, at
least three days previous to the day of the poll, intimate such day and
place or places ana honrs fixed for collecting such votes by advertisement
in one or more newspapers published or circulating in the burgh or parish ;
and the said advertisement shall also specify the name of the collector
appointed as aforesaid, and an address where voting papers may be
received from such collector, in terras of the immediately succeeding
article.
(6.) The collector, or an assistant collector, shall attend at the address
specified in such advertisement for at least three specified hours of each
oT the two lawful days immediately preceding the day of the poll, and
"hall, on the application of any householder, and on being satisfied
that such householder has not already received a voting paper, supply a
voting paper to such applicant ; and the collector, or any assistant
collector, shall at any time after the issue of the voting papers, and before
seven o'clock afternoon of the day of the poll, on being satisfied that a
voting paper has been inadvertently lost, destroyed, or rendered useless,
have power to supply a duplicate voting paper, which shall be marked
"duplicate" before being issued.
(7.) Voting papers duly filled up and subscribed by the householders
to whom the same are respectively applicable, may be transmitted by post
to the collector, at the address specified in the aforesaid advertisement,
provided that such voting papers reach the collector before eight o'clock
of the afternoon of the day of the poll, and that the householders bo
transmitting prepay the postage thereof, otherwise the same shall not
be received.
(8.) On the day of the poll the chief magistrate, or the sheriff, as the
case may be, shall cause the place or places specified in the iutimation
accompanying the voting paper to be kept open from eight o'clock
morning till eight o'clock afternoon, and such place, or each of such
places, if more than one, shall be under the charge of the collector, or of
an assistant collector, who shall give his personal attendance during the
hours specified for the purpose of receiving all voting papers which may be
handed to him.
(9.) In the case of a burgh divided into wards, there shall be at least
one place for the collection of voting papers in each ward, and in any
burgn or parish where more than one pface for collection shall have been
appointed, the collection in all of such places shall take place on the same
day, and the intimation accompanying the voting paper shall specify the
particular place where such voting paper is to be collected. The collector,
or assistant collector, in charge of anv such place for collection shall not
be bound to receive a voting paper which shall have been directed to bo
lodged at some other such place.
(10.) Where any householder is unable to write, he may attach his
mark to the voting paper, provided that such voting paper be signed by
a witness, whose address shall be appended to his signature.
(11.) Any person fabricating a voting paper, or presenting or returning
a fabricated voting paper, or any voting paper, knowing that the same
does not bear the true signature of the householder to whom such voting
paper is intended to apply, shall be guilty of personation, and shall be
liable to the penalties of that offence as set forth in the Ballot Act, 1872.
(12.) No voting paper shall be received after eight o'clock afternoon of
the day of the poll ; and in the event of there being more than one place
APPEXUtX II. AU
for collection, each assistant collector shall immediately after the close of
the poll transmit the voting papers received by him to tho collector, and
the whole voting papers shall thereafter he under the charge of tho
collector subject to the directions of the chief magistrate, or of the
sheriff, aa the case may be.
(18.) The collector, subject as aforesaid, shall, as soon as may be after
the conclusion of the poll, proceed to a scrutiny of the voting papers, and
shall, with such assistance as may be necessary, compare tho same with
the municipal register, or with the copy roll, or list of householders, as tho
case may be, and shall ascertain how far the voting papers have been fillet I
up in terms of the directions thereon, and have been duly signed by tho
householders to whom such voting papers were respectively issuod ; and
immediately on the conclusion of such scrutiny lie shall report to tho
chief magistrate, or to the sheriff, as the case may bo, the number of
householders who have voted for the adoption of the Act, and the number
who have voted against its adoption. He shall also report the total
number of voting papers received, and the number, if any, which have
been rejected by him, and the cause of such rejection.
(14). Upon receiving the report of the collector, the chief magistrate, or
the sheriff, as the case may be, shall, if satisfied of the accuracy of such
report, cause the result of the poll to be made public in such manner as ho
shall think most expedient.
Form of Intimation.
Public Libraries' Consolidation (Scotland) Act, 1887.
Burgh [or parish] of
No. [insert number of householder on register, roll, or list].
[Insert place and date of issue].
To [insert name of householder].
In terms of the Public Libraries Consolidation (Scotland) Act, 1887, I
have to intimate that a requisition having been presented to me by tho
prescribed number of householders of the burgh [or parish] of
to take the opinion of the householders as to whether tho Act should bo
adopted in said burgh [or parish], I have caused the subjoined [or
accompanying] voting paper to be issued to you as a householder of said
burgh [or parish], which voting paper, duly tilled np and subscribed by
you, will be received within [name of place] on the
day of next, between the hours of eight o'clock morning and
eight o'clock afternoon.
The voting paper may be delivered personally or by a messenger,
provided it bear your signature.
In lieu of delivery of the voting paper in manner above mentioned, it
is competent to any householder to post it addressed to [name and address
of collector], provided the postage be prepaid, and that the voting paper
reach the collector before eight o'clock aftornoon of the said [insert day of
Sill]. The risk of delivery before the hour specified rests with the house-
older adopting this method of return.
(Signed) A.B., Chief Magistrate,
[or Sheriff].
Form op Voting Paper.
Public Libraries' Consolidation (Scotland) Acty 1887.
Bnrgh [or parish] of
No. [insert number of householder on register , roll, or list.]
PUBLIC LIl:OJJ([KV.
VOTIKO PAPKIt.
To bo dtlivorrd on the day of 18 [itucrt dam ■•!
poll] IwtveM tlm hours of eight o'clock morning ami oight o'clock
aftornooo, at [tfMaftrf [litrrvf McZeelCml
In reply r«. r h>. nytfen WaeUMV tho 1'iihlir Libraries Consolidation
(Sotlatidt Aot, 1867, should be adopted by the burgh tor pAii:
1 rolfl [fiuicrt Yon yr No.]
[Signa/urt oj h->\lstJ*>Ucf ]
Xotb. — Any perxon fabricating a voting paper, or presenting or KfeaHB
inga ffthnoatod voting p*pi>r, or any voting jwrwr, knowing that tho aamo
doea not bear tho true sign At 11 r>- <>f the houwholder toarhOTn aoch rating
papuria intended lo upph . If ffallt) of |>< DiMiiUhni. and la liable to thi
pBoattSa of Uirti ofltoca as tot forth in tho Ballot Act, 1Q7S
i-nn.F (ij). — pitou-jtDtitR yon iwwmrwpw uv Public \in
am ro thk AnoiTinji of thb Act.
(1.) Upon receipt of tho requisition vpecitLod in the Act, tho < hi-i'
train, ni the RhertfT, as tnn case may ha, tdiall c'onvnna a n .
of Ul« hoartlKlHw in Boma iviiviuiiouL plaru within the burgh a
parish, w tho cwo may bo, for tho purpose of •Ivtormiii . 1 l; whethtl the
iidl! be adopted within such burgh or parish.
(2.) BtWD iruM'tnig uhall be hold on a day not lo*a than fotirt D
or num. linn thirty dayn :t f r - ■ r Hi- r-r.-ipl of Mi.- r-.iijimtimi, and notioaol
tl»p moetlng shall he gtVfln DOt low* than seven ihiv> pr« t^lin" it-* dati i.y
postlng will ; 1 tho bmgh or parish, as the cow tiiay 'w, handbill* In tin-
lurin nujexed hereto, ftud also by advcitlMmimt, in the Mid I'mi:..
inserted at loflflt DUC4) in overy dinh newspaper pnblmhi'd within Uw
burgh or parinh, as tho cose may he, uud in tho event of tbom Wing no
1ini\ Dowarnjwf >o puhlinhed, tiwii ai Uaat onoi in mm of mora &«*«•
pagan pabuuitd nri'ih'ulnting within the burgh or parith.
t3.) The chief magiatrate. in thaeaseofa burgh, shall ntotldi UousU
with a 1'opv of the municipal resistor, aud the sbnriff, in lite ■ a*) of ft
pariah, .-.hall provide bunaoll with <i copy of tho valuation roll applicable
t».» nii.'h pariah, or» list of th< bouaeholdora therein, *\i i 1 cow
whall ho made. oertiriM. and fiirnitdied to the sliurilt on his application b
tin- Minna? dinatad In aehadnle (A.).
(4.) At (he moating failed a* aforesaid all lioiHidioUle-rr on
mnui.i|>,il r«iator7 is th« cose of a burnh, or on the oopj 1
tuniiflhvl aii'l iTtiind u aforesaid, iti tho raao of a lari.iu, ul-'
uutitlod to vote, and no other person or pomoiin whfttovor uliall i-j
so flntitlwl, hi id the ehiid mngiatrate, or the ihaiifT, !ix Lha 01
*hall take such niDoaurea aa way be necenxarv fur (tie B) I BOH
qualified poraoiw from tho iii«eting, or for preveiitiuf saah paDaona
voting, and for securing that tho votes of such pordoiut, if given, aliall not
be uountod ; and, if uircataary for this purnooc, no may requlro thai
houfloliolder intonding to be praaant at tiiv meeting, 0* praaent th#rooi,
tdtal! enter his nanin and address on o card to he furdinheil In him
that all such cards shall bo delivered up before outorlng l«o
totes arc recorded; ftiul every person knotriugl) and t
Mprooenting himaolf to be a honaoholdcr in »a b buigh oi | Arinb, and ai
IQoh ou tilled to votii, whall be guiltv of poraonution, utui shall ho liable •»
tlw petinltion of that orlisnce aa aet Forth in the Hal lot Act. J -
[ft\ Tim chiol maffiatrste, or tho ^heriil, n« the casa may bo
attcutl and shall prwide althc uvwUuul, and shall appoint 0
xhtdl make rtigular miiivvVyH uv l\w ycwaaAattnk Ctu««A, «wl tho vlild
U nurvtx n. 866
roapittxato, or hhorilf, as the case may Imj, shall iu case of equality have a
coating vote
(5.) The TOHiilr, of the vote, whether for or against the adoption of the
Act, ahull bu announced by the chief magistral*!, or aheiiJT, a» tho case?
may ht, at the meeting itself, or in aay other way he may think must
. . xi'dlicut, provided such announcement he made without unnecessary
delay.
Fotim OP Kotiur op PiroLiu Mketisu.
Durgh !»'• parish] of
R »ticc ii hereby given, that under and in virtue of the nowemconUinal
in tho Publie Libraries Coiifcol illation (Scotland) Act, 1887, the house -
holdanl '»f the burgh [»/ pirishj of are required to meet upon
the day of next, at o'clock, witrrin
when a vote will be tukuu a* to wlidlur t&fl Ait ihall be
adopted by the sail burgh fa parish].
[/it thf MM yf i' harm •"!•(] By tho Act " houaoholtlora " are dotinotl to
muau " all pcrsoiiB entered on tho municipal register," and " municipal
rogucler" in dstined to numn " tha rngiir.T, lUt, nr roll of persona cntitlpil
i.i rots in a" " vleotlon of tows aoanaflloia or commissioner* of police in
a liurxh, wade up according tu the lav iu font fur the lime bulng."
[In the MM of c /•-" ith owl] Dy tho Act " householders " ore dflBxwtl to
HUM *' all person* entitled to voto in the election of a aehool board in a
pftrfall under th« provisions of tho Kdu<<ation (Scotland ) Act, 1872, and
any Ait amending the wiiir."
iThe chief magistrate, or sheriff, m tho caso may bt, may append any
n:nululiuii.i he may lliink expedient for scouring oriiei, ami for dlivlniv
tb pmrpoa* of tin. mnetiiig.]
Dated at tho day of 18 .
[Signed) A.H., ('hid Magistrate,
[or 8lierilTJ.
PUBLIC LIBJEURIBS1 ACTS AMENDMENT ACT, 1881'.
ul VICTORIA. CHVITKU 0.
An Act to auiouil the Public Libmii.a Act, 1S6G. [31 it May, 1880.]
BE it enacted by the Quccn'a most Excellent Majesty1 , by and with the
advice nii'l OOOBMtt of tbo Lordu Spiritual nini lwBJOWJ| and Com
litona, iu tlnw present Parliament aaauiubled, and by tho aullujrily of the
Mill*', RS follow ■
Repeal of 18 & 19 Viet. o. 70. a. 18 1. Section thirteen of tlio I' I
' all Act, ISfift, ahall be ivpualed, and in place thereof the following
provisions shall have olTect.
The espouse* of calling and holding the meeting of the ratepayers,
whether the Public Libraries Acta shall be adopted oi not, and tho
expeonca of carrying thooo Acta into execution in any pamh, I ■ luch
amount a* ahall bo from time to time (.auctioned by tfct vestry, tdiall be
paid out, of a rate to ho raised with and aa part of the MOT rate ■ pinvnli d
that < very person ivMeaaud to such rate lit respect of lands used as arabl'-,
meadow, or pasture ground uul.v, 01 as wuodhuida or tnaikut ^udcita, or
naraery grounds, ahall be entitled to an aQowWMI of tVO-toMa of tho
IVin aNfluHsod upon him in rNJMOt of ^nch lands for such MCPOBNl j il><
rMtn to be called for the WDpOM of sanctioning tho amount Hliall be oon-
venr<l in the manner unuaf in tho parish : and Chfl amount, fo? the time
being propceed to bo raised for auch exncsnaeia *VwX\ \k w\t\*3aWL \v\ "^ak
556
1I1UMIUKK
u-ttii'o convening thr vretry, and ihall bo jmid according to tho or i
the vattry, b» such i"i*m a* shall l« a^^omuxl by tin OommWftb
rvctsive tn« aamo ; Provided also, that id the nntici |iaj
moot of the rato there shall bo elated tbo j to portion wbicu tbo amount t>
bo theroliy raised for the pnrpoase of tho mM Acts nhall 1-oar to tho total
•mount of the rate.
Proviso aa to Rata. 2. tfolhing in this A'-t inall be deemed t<> tstaU
ilatf> uny ratfl ui:uii nrlnr fo tha passing thereof, slid any ••vponwv to
which MOtUm thirteen of ilio Public: Librarkv. A«*t. i -'■'». l| 1 1 • ■<; may bfl
paid 'Hi of uuy such rato a» if this Act h«ui not paBttd,
Joint library. — 3. It shall he lawful for tha Cominlaal <rata3y
(ipjioiutMi iniii-i i.l im I'nhlif Lihiariea (England) o\eU( 3866 Us 1^6?. fa
any two or moro adjoining paiioln a, w it 'i tho oooscnt of tho vcotrloa of
•ucb parifihoi, from time to timo to agree to share in aiieh proportions tad
for rniuh jwriotl at may bo ilotci Wined by the agreement, the cowt of tho
pfimhaie, amotion, repair, and ruainttmanee of any library Imi
situate in o»o of ouch pariahcB, and al«o tho owl of the purchaM of honk*.
I »oi vA icaln, and newspapers for su«:h Kbraiy, and All other oxpousci
I'uniin.'ted with tho same ; and thu inhahi Units of both or all tho tail
Mil baa. au tho 00K QUJ do, shall bo entitled to use tho said library m
long a» the agreement yIdlII continue in EbtOB.
Vml any wh agreement may prnvidn that opon f- tennlnttfon an
adjustment ahull W made of tho i merest* of the several OotnmUeloii'
llu- library hniMhrfc Iwoka, and othor property to which they bam
contributed, and oh to the mode in which such adjustment .-.hall \k ai i
at.
Short titlo. 1. This Act may be cited as the I'ublic Librari** Acta
Amendment Act, 1889, and thin Act and fhu Pnhlic Librariai
Art*, I <s.i in 1887, aw i '•' road and oonitrnarl together ** on.
,md may be dtod together as tho Public i.lhrarifs(Knglaml) •' I
to 16S&.
TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION ACT, 1889.
lot to foeilimt.- ih" Provision of tv< bnioal [m lion.
I8i)th Angus, lssaj
BE it OOactad by tin Qucon'> m "■» K\v,dl.ui* Mnj.-ly, bjj k«d 'vi'h th-.
ndvti'H iiini i-oiiM-iit ..t th" i,nnl« Siiintual and Ten
t~ nif»iw, m this prammt rarltamont aweml 1. and t.y the author!
the nan, as follows. —
Power for Local Authority.— 1.— (1.) \ local anthoritj a j Iron ii
to rime, nut of |.h« loxyil rato, Hii[»M)y or aid |.ln« HUpplj if twl
manual Inatructiou, tu such extent and on *m:h kruu as tin
think oxpodlcni lubjeot to the foltawing raatri --■ ■ .—
[n.) Tin) local authority auaU uol oi t of the local rata supply oi
the supply of tcclmicnl or manual inatruotion tooohoUra r-.
biatrnfitLOn at on domontary suhool in the obligatory o
ftiihjoo(a ttroacribod by ih« -.-.iwlvt of tho Education L»op-
for the time being in force :
{/'.i It thall not be required, as n. condition ol any BCtolai
admitted Into "i contiuuing in any «houl aidtd
rate, and n ■ ■ hub hi oi n uuual imti
that he nliull attend at ov n\w\*w TWm ^VavViuv.^1 V-^iday »cao«l
AiT'KM'IX It.
557
or any place of religious worship, or that In shall attend any
religions nWivance or any instruction iu religion* .t«h ' ■] ■_-< ti
in tho school or olsowboro : Provided that in any* school,
the erection of which bu hwu aided under thu Act, it shall not !«■
n* pared, ft<* a condition of any wholar heing ad miffed into w QQA-
tlnuiug in such school, that ho slmll attend at or abstain from
ttioiUUUg any Sunday school or any place of religious worship, or
that bo aboil attend any riditfious onsorratio1 or any iiiM.nii f nm U)
D IjflEoui etibjeoU 111 tho sebnofor el«n whore (
(r.) No religious catechism or religion* formulary, which iu dlstfnotfro
of any particular toftOlirillAtlOn, slmll he taught at iiny school Atd"d
out uf the local rale, to a scholar attending only for the punicae* of
technical or insirial instruction u it* l*^ r (li> Act, and tit" Iiiium for
prayer or religious worship, or for ony leaaon or series of tftfffflM
on a rotigiona subject, shall he conveniently arranged for the mupott
of allowing tho withdrawal of such scholar therefrom j
(d. ) A loud authority may. mi the reijucat of the school hoard for its
district or auy |mrt of its district, or of ;uiy other managers of a
arhool or institution within its district for thu time being iu reoolfri
of aid from the Department of Science and Ait, mukc, out of any
local nto ratsud in pursuance of this Act, to n«eh extent an BUT
ho reasonably Kurfieumt, having regard to the requirements of tot
!■ ;t.ri<-r . I. n : to tin oca "'i<"is ami rontdoaooi oontnlned in
thifi wclioii, provision iu aid of tlie technical and inununl in.'Uuctton
for thu time being supplied in sehools or institutions within iU
district, and shall distribute the provision no made In proportion to
tho nature and amount ol officiant technical or manual itmtri ti in
•mppliad by those schools or institutions respectively ;
((,) whom such ottlaf managers of a school or institution receive l!4
fioiu a loud authority in pursuance of this section, thu loot]
authority shall, for the pur|K>se* of this Act, oh represented on the
governing body of tho school or institution in such proportion as
will, as nearly as may bo, correspond to the proportion whi.h bhfl
aid given by the local authority boar* to the contribution ratdl Oram
all sou reus nth or titan the local rats And money provided hy Pnrhu
incut to (he cost of the technical or manual instruction given in tho
Hchool OV institution aided ,
( /,) If any QJIMtfon arises as to the sulfiiiicnoy of tho provudou made
under this section, or ax to the qualification of any school or
Institution to participate m auy ROOD provision, or as to the amount
to he allotted to wh wheel or in*f itnthm, or as tn the e«etit to
uln.ii.. »j i:i.n|r in uhitli, the 1 teal authority is U) be rOprOMDtod
"'i khOfOVemitUl body of any such nchuol or institution, tin- qncHlion
•hall bu dl b mined by tho Dopartmont ol BOUllOC and Art : Provided
llmt no such provision, out of auv rate raised in pnrauanae
Act, Khali bo made i" aid of tvhiiies»l or mamud iiintruehYiii in any
school conducted for private profit ; and
(«M The aiuuuut of the role to be raised iu any one year by a loctl
authority for the purposes of this A>'t shall not exceed the miiiii of
uuu penny in the |>ouud,
Vt.) A local authority may i'ur tbf DVpoMI at" this Act appoint a com-
m '!'!' ccrtsurtlng rith« wholly cm partly of in. mm)., of rli* local
authority uud tuny delegate to tin noon oommlttee any powers Bxanbe-
oblo by the authority under this Act, except the power of raising a i>l
"i borrowing money.
.ttfl
i-i ni.ic unii-tni*?*.
(3.) Nothing lu this A« l ihiU lm oouotrucd so as to tub I m>
rxUliu^ powers i>f school hoard* with inspect to the provision of lochunal
and manual inntrurl ion.
Proviiiun for Efttranca Examination.— 2. It shall Ik 00rnpft«Dt for
US school Imnmii or local authority, HhouM they think u ota «ii
••nil Alice examination foi persons donirous of attending technical
Hchuot* o? claano* under th»'ii n.riiifiguiiieiit or to which tiny confn
Parliamentary Onnti, — 3. The condition* on which ]inr*»inmoriUry
KtanU may he made in aid tit* technical ut luminal iaetUucLiui
IIiomo contained in the BllBUtW of tin- Department of Science
force Tor the time Iming.
Provisions s* to Local Authorities. — 1.— (I > Kor (ho piiTpeein* of thi*
Act Hi-- ujtfualoo " local authority " Bhall nan t lie- counoll ofaaj
BODDty 01 Ihihjiik'i, unit *n v urban sauiliiiy authority within the in'
of the Pahlk Health icte
{'£.) The local rule fur tli- pur|M)ittS of this Art ihall be —
(ft.) In tho no«a of a county counri^ the county fnuii ;
('/.) In tho com of a Iwiough eonuril, thn baroua;h fuiui ot boti
ril': ;
[c.) In the caee of an urban aan.uiv mthority not befog a be*
rouucil, Lho dlltriot fund and gtiiieral tlUtritrt rato, or othir fun 1 ->i
rate applicable to the general purposes ol the Pabuc Health A» t< <
J3.) A county council nay charge any nxpsOMfl incurred by i..
this Act on any tart of thoir county for tin i gut
IXBCRfljOfl have been incurred.
(4.) A local authority may borrow for the ptjrboeee aftfafl Act —
(<u ) la tho caee of a county council, in manner provided by the Local
Government Act, 1S88;
(0, ) In thfl imo of a borough council, oa if tho nurpoeae of tl |
wero piirpoaee for which they are authorised by nootion one tatuulnd
and six of the Monieipal Corpora tionn Act, 1882, to borrow :
(c.) Id the COM of an urlian sanitary authority not being a borough
council, as if tho purpose* of thin Act woro purpoaoe for which they
aro authorized to borrow under tha Public Iloalth Acta.
Audit of Accounta. — 5. Where the managers of a school ot niriili.ini
receive aid from a local authority in porauanoo of this Act, thoy
render to tho local authority audi account* relating to the apptiual u
tho i.ioncy granted in aid, iiml those account* -shall Ik vanrn«l and
[ted in Kurh manner as thfl local authority may require, and tKt
BMlugera aUalt bo peiaonally liable to refund to the let al authority
money granted under thin Act. and uol shown to he pro| er j I
the purposes for whhdi it wan grutiUt!.
Accounta of Urban.— tl, Tin- accounts of the reoaipu and upend
of an iirbmi suuftary authority under tills Act shall lie audited In Kkl
iiiiiiiin. ; uud with the like incidents andcoiisvtiui'iiuaa, aa the oucounta W
I heir roceipta ami OJrpoaditul'C ander the PuUl< Health Act, lSr&.
Appliaatton to Ireland.— 7. En the application of tht* At to IwlWrl—
p.] l*ho oxproarion ' 'local authority " ahall moan tin urban or
H-iiiiUrv imlliotrv, as tho cue may bo, villuu til* uirnuiii.
i'uWkOlcalth (IwlajnAI Act,\ftTA.
ArrKxt>r\ in,
W
(2.) Tho local t»tt for the purpose* of this Aot shall be-
ta) In the ewe of mi urban Military authority, she ntf -n (Y,i,.i
applicable to the expense* incurred or payable by auoh Authority
in tho execution of tho Public Hoiiltb (Ireland) Aot, 1878, utidor
tho provisions of the said Act :
{!>) In the eflfio of a rural sanitary authority, the rato or rate* out
or which special exrwufiea incurred in rospoct of any contribu-
tory place or places aro payable under the provisions of the aafd
Act.
(3,J A local authority may borrow for the [mrjwKW nt tliis Act a* if
Tin- purposea of thl*i Act wan parpoatt for which tho nanitary
mithuritv arewiihiirhied Lu borrow tunler the Public Health (Ireland)
A«t, 1878.
(>l.) Any ruferoncK to the Public. Health Act, 1*7.1, shall lie construed
iw« reference to the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878,
Moaning of Technical and Manual Instruction.— 9, In this Act —
Tho oxproaaioii "technical instruction" shall mean instruction in
tho principles of science aud art applicable to iiiduatrioa, and lu tho
application of ipecial branches of science and art to specific ImUwtrioN
or employments. It shall not include teaching tho practice of any
trade Of tDtlastry Or employment, but, save as aforesaid, ghftll include
instruction in the brandies of acfoliGfl and ait with respect to which
crante arc for tho time boing mode l>y tic* I >epart inont of Science and
Art, mid any other form of instruction (including modern lanKuaftcn
and commercial and agricultural anhjecta), which may for tho ttart
l*>iug he aaticllnned by that Department by a minnd* laid bafbrl
I'lrlianieiit and made on the representation of* a local authority
that audi a furm uf mslructiuti is ittjunwl \>\ till ciiruuihUiiecs uf
1U district
The expression H luanualinstrnctiou " nhall mean instruction in th<
use of tools, pfOBaWW "f agriculture, and modelling in clay, wood,
or other material.
Extant of Aot,— 9. This Act *hall uot extend to Scotland.
8hort Title. -10. This Act mav be cited as tho Technical tiwlmctSnn
Act, U8t».
VI'IKXltlX III.
cut", OP RBQUI3ITI03 TO CAMi POBU1 HBKTNO IN A
DlHTItKJT GOVERNED BY A UK3AL. BOARD.
To the Local Hoard for the district of , batUfl till I rb»Q Ift&tttn
Authority for the same Dutrlftt
Tim IVt.tion of Ebj undersigned, being poreone OMOaaed to and |->
the General District Kate levied by the aaid Board.
Wo the undersigned do hereby request yon, the wild Hoard, toapjHiint a
day for u public meeting: of thu iicisoiik awoaxed to and paying audi
gesoro] district rate, in order to determine whether tho I'ublic Libraries'
Aot, ISfifi, and Acts amending tho same shall l»c adopted for the District
of , and aUo to convene and hold mien mooting mi diri-< ted by I In
Hid Acta.
Dated this .lay of 1*9
(TAoi fvllmctk* xiyAatttm.)
560
PllH.H' MCRAUXM.
KOTICK CONVfiNIMJ VlKETINO UK Ki.TBPi.YBR8.
Tin*. I'l'M.i' ilr.wui A* i, 1-i*.', asp nil. Pihi.ic Lfiiual
Act, 1666, wro fa i- uixyDnN rms .-ame,
District of
\Vlioroaa ton aud muro pOMM ftoaetaoj to and paying the General
Dbtliat Kate, mittlu mi'l levied by the Ix>cul Koar.l of too ItittnVtof
in ihv (".utility of , twdng the llrhun gnnj
rity for tho said district, have brikiiUvI ti Kivpilsiiiou to the mltl Hoard in
• .i i I'uU ic Meeting of the jwrhous uschdJ to and paylnvsucb District
Itate, in onl m to dttciniiuc whether I he Public Librnii..- ■.., •n<i
all other Acts relating thereto for promoting tho OMtablwlimtnt of I
Libraries, *hall ho adopted lor tUv I .littnet oT ;
Ami wIihww trio Raid Local Hoard hi.1* derided that the • | i do]
majority af tho ratepayers shall be aseorUln&l by the prASCribftl PaUlo
.Mx tiuK ,
Notice in hereby given that the Miid Bonn] liu appointed that a D
[nj of ntfpfyaij of tho Hill district of J] bo bold at the
on tho
, at the hour of half-part- wen o'clock in the ov^ini^, Ear in
pUrpON of taking into consideration anil ilnjldituj upon till
matter of the lUipiiMtiun, and the adoption, at tho *»id Tnblio LLUmrlcB
Act, 1S&5, and tho Aot« amending tho sumo and relating thou t Q
under tliu sual of the Board, at a mooting of the Hoard, bold on tbu
<lny of , 1419—, in the presence of
, Chairman of the matting.
, Clerk.
COPY OK PUBMC ANNOUWKMi'M WHEN ft POM. HAS
BERN DKMANDKD AT A STATUTORY MBKTIN
This FOBLIO Hiui.rn Alt, 187;".
Tick PUBLIC LfBRABISv' ACT, 1856, asm AOTH LM1 SV1VQ nil: uavr.
At ft meeting of ratopayer« nf the Local Uovarnnumt Dbtrfvt of
, tn Hi,' mii'ity of , hriil in the
DO . tho duy ol , lflp,
ro&roiicil under tlio provision* of tbu Public Libraries Act, 18CC, and Urn
Act* amending the Mime, for the purport f raking into conaEdomtioi
deciding aa to tho adoption of tho said Act*.
I the uiid«'r*<ign«d being a person annexed to ami pAyingti.
DiltrtCt Rate, made and levied by tho Local Ffcmnl, for < ret of
In tho county of , being the Urban A.:;
Authority for thcaaid district, do hereby dotnand a [.oil or th« pi
aaQOted to and paying mii"1i tloncral DihIium Kfitr. in ui I
wh.-t her 6T not tho wild Act* shall bsftduptttl f«r the •aid dintu r.
A* witnoits my hand this day of , I sit.
litem
l(u» til erne
Ooofipati ffl
Wit now
CERTIFKIATK OF BILL N 9TCB.
La at Bqavd.
/ Ih-rchy cvrllfy that on Qu An* <& ,VA— , t .tilp jo*t
,
atthnm* in.
Ml
copioa of tho annexed notice (markod A) cm tho principal doom of the
following churches and chapels in the a tare-mentioned district,
namely :—
On the same day I also posted copie* of tho Raid notice in the othor
places in tin* Haid district where public notices arc usually posted.
Aa witnt».i my hand tkb day of 13—.
(Signed)
NOTICE OF POLK
Prnuc- Health Act, 1875, a:?d this Tcblic Libkabi]>' A i HC>:<,
AN1> ACT* A.MUSDINO THE SAMP.
Distri : >t
Whoroas a meeting was held iu the , on
Monday, the twonfy-wghth lay of , 13—, punuant to nutiw duly
given, for the purpose of talcing into consideration and deciding upon tln>
Hiihjm't niattor of a rcijuUitkm therein mentioned, and rim adoption fot
tho district of of the Public Lihrariw Act of 1855, and Acta
mn'jij'liiiff tho Mime ond relating thereto.
And whetou at cuoh meohng a resolution adopting this aiiid Act* waw
carried hy risln'\v ■ »1 liiHids, tut n poll was demanded.
This in to givo notice that the Mid Poll will rake place at the
. on Monday, the Ith day of . ]> — , and
tliat the houra for mob I'oll will be from ton o'clock in the morning until
eight o'clock at night, when and whero all puiuona entitled to vole at Ml fa
Poll muat attend to record their vote*.
Datod this day of 18—.
(Signed)
Cnuiinian of the meeting and ChllrUH
of the Local Doanl,
ANNOUNCEMENT OF TIIE ADOPTION OF THE ACT.
Tub Pvbi,i< Hf.at.th At, 1076, The Public Libkakieb' Aur, 1655,
* D Acts AttSAXUVa MB bamis,
I, the undersigned, being the chairman of tho local board for tho district
of | in the county of , ilo hereby corhfy that nt * meeting
i*i ratepayers within the mid llBtriol convened under too provlrioni or the
Act Ifl arid 19 Viet. Cap, 70, entitled *' The Public Libraries" Act, 1865, "
«m«! tin; Asia aioandina (ha HUM in tho
on , the fifith day of , 180 — , at half pout aovoii o'clock :n
tho evening, too following resolution HU HOpOMa by Mr.
nJ iv BIT , mid mipporird bj other* •—"'hud. (hi* BMfltUtt
nf |»:moitn assessed to, and paying the guuoral diatnot rate, made ana
hn-.i.i fa ii; i ■ I f- ' i uu aifltricl . i th« oaunty of
. Mm the Urban nniUry authority for the aoid diatrict, boi 1 1 -,
...ii.. | that thu Public Libraries Act, 1866, ond tho Aebt ann-mling
Uio name, nball Im* adopted for the said distrr?) '
And I tarthtl -'"itily ami declare that at the meeting the leHdiiti mi war,
pxwd by a lalgfl majority.
-'.* l prni .1- i i
A Poll was demanded by Mr. , and the medium
mijoiiuniti to Moiuiiiv, tiii' , to that th« poll might H
l*le*n at till!
Ami I do hereby fartatf certify ami deolm that such j»oll was taken
by in- .it the . aforwaid on
< A that thore were FOOonUd rotoi ni favuui frl
tin? rtnoltitiou, and agamat it, ami 1 eatttlfjp aud dwfilara thai
the resolution was rArilwl.
Datud lliia
Chairman,
OOPS OF BEQUXSmOW FOR I'AKISH OVKRSKKRS,
To mm 'J U 'i i if rm- PADUB W in ihl
Couxrv or
Nvtr.— Thc word "jxtrink" mffOM rwr I "/ tti oam poor.
[The l*»ibJlc Lil-mrii-- AotBj 18S0| ami all AeU amending the >nnc. j
Whereas by an Aoiol Patticunent passed in the 18th and 10th y<an
■ i Quean Victoria, chapter "0, intitaled "The Public Ubi
1866," il i« BWVided that " Tliat tfio ovttTNOn of any pariah -hall, ut»>h
tbts Ke»|iimtion in writing of at least ten rttauayen ot iudh poitth,
appoint ;i time uot tow than tun daya nor more tlian tweutj
um i ine oi raceJTiDff eucli Eteqaiution for a Vublic Meeting of tin: t»W-
Mffon of men pariah, in order to dotcrmino whether thcoo Act* *haU be
adopted For aueh parish.
Wo, the madawgaM, bafruj ratupayarx of the said pariah ..I
di hereby i.-jipcctnilly rcquwt you to laauc Voting Papara di ml]
Meeting of iatq*yen» of the nnid parish, f-ji the nurpoac of deli
«ln:thu or not the above-mentioned Acta ahalf DC idotttad
puriidi, in manner provided by tho said Acta.
FORM OF REQUISITION FOR SCOTLAND.
In ordinary Uurglia Hit ad J km would rim tlun
To A. Bm Ks<ptiro, l*rovoat i or Chief Magistrate of the 1 lurch vf
[Tho undernoted loini of a Roquisition to the -ShenlV U uoin Sheriff
Leo*' Handbook of Sherifl Court Btyloa] ! —
Unto tho Honourable tin; jdwrill'id tin , of ej
Auhfllittttc*; —
Mv Lord, — Wo, the undcraigiiod, loina ten household
-I , require you, in terniK of " Tim Publin tibr
Act, IS'(J7/' to oonTime a maotinj] nhnldon <>i ., .
(In ptupoac of considering whether Slid Act. as ainon loai -iiatd
in the yuaia 1871, 1877. and 16S7, ahull bu adopted by aaij luutth . and t*
i ii.> In: other atopa proridod by «aiil Act* to amnrtaiu tin npinloi
mtJority ol -1" ratepayers of laid iviriflh in regard to tin
toid A».'t, «o amended, and to givo otfoot to mch opinion! 11 lavi-uraUi <..
fVaaU.
AIM'KNIJIX HI.
«S
FORM OF PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT FOR BOROUGHS.
Bonorun of
roue LntRAniEH* Apt*. 18S5, axd all Acts iMPvmaa rur .\vk.
Whereas by a rw|uc»t. in writing duly nigum! liy tint requisite munotf
of ratepayers" of the borough of residing in the « id
boiougn, I have been requested to t*ke tho Opinions' of the majority of
the ratepayers of tho noid borough by the iaauo of a voting paper to each
ratepayer, and tho aubaociuont collection and werutiny thoroor, upon tin-
question whether tht* Public Libraries Art, 1855, ami all other A-ix
amending the iamo, ahall Iw adopted for the borough of
Now therefore 1 givu notice as follows :—
1. I shall cause a voting paper to be delivered, by person* appointed by
me for that purpose, to alt persons enrolled *■• burgesses of tho said
borough, at the place ftf abode stftttd In the Bulges* Roll iif each *w\i
perwu, on
2. Any peraon enrolled lis a bnrgeM of the Mid bOTOUflfa who shall not
liHvt received surli voting papnr on that day. will be entitled on personal
Application to the town clerk, at his olHcc in the Town Hull, on my of
the throe following daya, between the hours of 10 in 'thiT morning and A
in tho afternoon, to receive a voting paper and to liil up tho name in tho
■ tuwn flerk*! presence, and then and there to deliver the same to Iniu.
8* Tho voting papers will bo called for and collected by tho persons
appointed by me (or that purpose, Hi ,
between the hours of 8 in the forenoon and 7 iu the afternoon, and
if an v voting paper duly delivered shall not have, been collected through
tho default of the person appointed to collect the same, the voter in DOtVOS
may dolivor such voting i>apor to mo at the Town Half, before
on tho day of , 18 — ,
■I. Tho acrutiuy of anoU votiug jiapovs will oomuttaea at thu Tmvn Hall,
in tho said borough, on the day of , at 10
o'clock in the forenoon, and be continued until ontnplefrd.
Dated thia day of . 18—.
Major,
When- intimidation is being practised the fullowing bill ahould bo
circulated : —
Waicsim*,— Whereas the Muaotofl of Utt Public Library moveuimt
termed lliat certain voting papers ban: been tilled up, and what
purport! to bo the names or marks of thu voter;, written thereon, at
times when lucti voters were not present, iud witliout tbo aanetion of
.nrli voter*.
Now this is to giv.: uoUm to all whom it may concern thai ilm
[iruiuoteiu wilt object to all audi voting paper* ut Uu: linn: uf :liv -:<>uii L-
u«, and further, will institute PTOCOodlnflH agtfuit the pciwu or i « I
(wuuao names ore now or may hereafter M m :lm'r PPWPHioq) WUO have
l»n'ii guilty, cithci ■■■ U or aoeeworifi, oj lorgery m ftfoTMtidi
XjUcc. — Furgory in a felony, and punish od by jtonal wrvitudc for lift .
the knowingly uttoring a forged document lb punished as forgery.
A oamplo caw has been vubunHed for legal OjfoiOlL and di-clared tc \>c a
forgery. Legal proceeding* or" Mng inxritutod UaUial il lender,
The piomotera will be ooKgod 03 intimation of au.v papers tiiat have
been lilh'd up against the with in in the aOMOSB ot ttsa Nu\xt».
501
PUBLIC U.URAIL1E&
l'UBUO LIBRARIES' ACTS— VOTING PAI'KR
Dfetrfal
Ooowouttri No .
Name
Addrcia
• ..Mm M .#■« i
Dale when loft
II .r.i nt which Lift
ir not loft. aUtc why.
Dal., fffca ndlmtAd
Hum at which collected..
n Dotco)lpct*4#sutftvhy.
Name of plnc«.
The rvsLio Lxbiiamzo' Avm, 1€65, asu
all Act* AunrmxQ raa UA
DiatrJct Votiug Paper No
Name of Voter.
Addrcea of Votan
The Overseen o1 the Parian ol t'*lng
the local authority) having received I
'Kciiuisilioii from tho Ratepayer*, en
thereby rcuturoi to ascertain the opinions
of tho majority of the ratepayer* of tho
[NBUfl f.^r ietenDUliSA uli.'ih.-i
Public Ubrories Acts (BnglandJ ehall S*
adoyted fas tbi» ami yon
deamxl to autiwer the <iuc*lioii herewith lu
writing od this Voting Pa
_TowuCt.
Do you vote fox the adoption cd
Public" Libraries AcU for the
■■Y«i ■ or "No" -if'..: UM
word •Answer, and sign yonr nta
the line beneath.
* Answer Dated tin
day of . 18—.
Sumatuie of V
Or tho Mark of Voter
\V irnes* to tho -Mark
AddreM of the Wttncw . .
, If tho voter cannot write he or sthe
v make Lis or bcr m*ik, and *ui:U ma.il.
C must I- att.*l.rJ by a witneae, who
(5 must write the anewcr — "Ye*
"No"— ou the Voting papur
• Tho "Requisition" state* the arnouat
to be levied foi tho Pariah Kit.'.- o
tin: Public Librariia Act xiiaK
on tho Ratable Value.
Tliio paper will be called for by ■ Tel
UonaUWe on
ANOTHER FORM OF VOTOTO PAPBft
Horouoii or
Ward.
Name of Voter
J"aco of AV«d»- o< Unta
aa etatc-l in fcV BwTgw.K'AV
m-im;v nix III.
•7'.-
X)o you vote in favour of the adoption
uf t&fl Public Librarins Act, 188S,
and tlic various &ota amending
the oawo, for the borough of
In»?rt lieu* " Yiw " at " No.
Signalmv or Mark of Voter
Pine* of Abode of Vot«r
a* staled iu ilie Rui'ifiwi Roll
If Voter lotkca I Nrnno of \Vrituvu to Mark
his Mark ( Address of Witness to Mark
Dinurriova to the Votri:.
The voter mual write the word " Yes" or " No " opposite the wintry
whether ht votes for the adoption of tho Publio Libiariea Aids, according
as ho wiftln-5 to vote, and must Biibeeribe his uamc and his place of abodij
as etated in tho Burgees Roll.
In addition to tho airujde vote "Yos" or " No" to tho adoption of
the Act*, tliu voting paper iftaj ftttanlitt tnat Hdr adoption shall be
subject bo a limitation t» wan lower rate of oRBMirnwit tlifiti the
maximum allowed !»y the Acta of Pmluinent now in four, i.c.t Id. !ti
tho X on tho Annual ralnu of tho property in llic Borough ratable lo a
Borough rata.
1 1 tiif voter rxmiot writs I tike word " \ *■* " or M j\n," or IU< b itipali
turn a** Jilmvu mentioned, may be bBorton1 by any person at the request of
the voter, who must make his murk instead of subscribing his name, and
the pvison insetting the word '" Yes '' or " No,"'ur suirh. attpulatiou, ruuxt
WttttBOB fcOO voter making bis mark, and must subscribe his inme and
addrosB a.- a witnone thereto.
Thte paper will be collected on , bid ween the
honrj* 018 in the forenoon and 7 in the afternoon, and if any vot I
duly delivered shall not have heon oollfOtad through the default of HI*
person appointed to coUflOt tho same, tho voter iu person may deliver aueh
voting papor to the Mayor, at tin. Town IIoll, bofbw lioVluek at BOt i ,
on
PUBLIC LIBRARY MOVEMENT.
Imntii uom ro (tafYANanu ami Omsiu.
[Useful where them i» a lax go number of workers.]
ore virUuMed with the duties of aovw tabling how <-veiv vi»l.-i
district intonda to vote oo this question ; of sooing that every
who Id in favour of a Publio Library does vote ; of endeavouring to
the adhesion of every doubtful voter: and of trying to eouvtrt
rOtOT npi".-..il BO tin- lihiArv, or to, at leasr., obtain a prnmiat of
neutral iii .
2. Remember that the Committee regard* you as personally iv-]»-n'.(l.lc
U>v tlie viitei'H in your district. You must ubtaiu tbe&aaiaUni.eof li niaxiy
EBWni to help yi»u a* uecmwiry. Select thow beat ocipiainti 1 n Etfa row
itriot.
9, From time to time reiwrt tho result of your woik to the Ward Chair-
man, If you require further assistance do uot (oil to v^ ^.x -A.
rm
..
L Dnplodfl i doubtful voters, and the back ntrwto, court*, •ml
in
lion.
* Hi JTOUI aould receive very special ami cartful
f>. Koo[i yourself well unppliid with tlio viriona lcurluth mmi..
tlio oouimitt.B(t, ami luai*<* one vir more at every kou&o in youi district,
Thpy may !»' nhluiiicit at the Out nil f '■iinminw Rnnm.
6. Any instances ol Improper practice! on the part of our omms
i -pi^iiilly iniiMii'lAtion of voters, and threats to wai the rent, km I
■ lly noted in writing, mid at onoe wnt M , win. t 1m- ninWR and
addrvmch of my witiieuu.
r. I'lintfnlly .uri»rui:i vhothtt any VOtM in your district i* "
to peraunulls fill up his voting paper, Oiler to fill it up Jul bbn,
as tiii iiiiuk tli -let'i. lie aula that you closely follow rhr direction*
piintni on tin: voting pa|n-r.
\ The Central Committee Room ia at
ind i ipttn I *.m, to p.m. Any taibmAtfcai
or help you (my ro^juico may !><j ILi-il- oM-i.iii<'d.
G. Tho following argument..; ID (avow of a Pnblu Library may bt
useful to you. Put! Hy a* yon can to any doubtful vot>
jrotL diitncts—
(n.) The rate cannot exceed Id, in the t on tho ratallo value of
the vntor't premises.
{ti.} It in uo more under the Pabttt Libraries Act* iu miy town n<
England.
t) This limit of 3d. In the i' i* Kxad bj lei of ParUameat,
nolilce the Bohod lizard rate, u-hu'lt ik not Imnt.wl hy any Act
of Parliament.
[<(.) If thl runt i« 5a. a week, the rut- will be It*. * V«r, i
t mourn, If fh" rent i* -Ik. a wefik, the rn(* will Iih lew thf
n year. If the rant Li 2a. Oil. u week the rate will only be $d- ■
month.
Other QXampL B,
LreitAiiV Ratp-
Rmtel pe? Year.
IVr Yeiir,
IYr Quurl-i.
Fer M-.i.tli
s.l,
2d.
£10
10.1.
2*a\
Bit
Is. 0.1.
■ :l.
m
Is. *].
4*1.
>*L
m
Is, 8d.
W,
ltd.
£84
So, Od.
Sd,
.'.1.
£80
*2s. Od.
3s. Od.
r:,:l:
%
I ■'.} Tho voter and hin family will have. tli« inc "i tr
library, the u»t of the noweroom, and the use of hooks at ham*.
{/.) Who nee the Library i In Leeds, seven working-men to one
professional man, Tho tame ii tlio case die whore
{$.) Will the library be much ued ! In Bradford and KoHanghaBi
3,000 people visit the library daily in each town ; that ii ore?
i,ooo,ooo a yen.
It II amid iW tk\ft«arj ^\\ V^^VVAwVV^XiWvv unr.lt.'
APPRNI'TX XV.
567
This is Ultra*. R»nwnilif i- that worthless OOTels will not ha admit t< «l
fey the library conuatttpe.
(l) It is naid that books are so cheap that Ihi working man oab
afford to buy them. How many books nan a working man buy
lor the It., which ho will pay in * year to the lib run* rate il his rout
ttlllOUUtfl tO SB. A WOuk :
(/,) Existing libraries are uui injured. In mint cww the share*
go up, not down.
i'.) It in aoid that men, especially tho unemployed, will fiuipwiil
Ihu nvwsrc»iiiN iiiHtcwl of tHo ]Hiblii;-houMM. 80 much thi b b
NOT A SINGLE VOTE MUST BE LOST.
!'/■' W'.i'K. < i ln'm.M aoim. hi- your watchword.
Every hmiselinhler on the fturgi-as List will liuve one vol.11.
N. B, — The Voting Papers will bo delivered1 on ,
and will bo collected on , You must HM fWW
utmost endeavour to mdwe the voters to till th*m up in favour of the
library as soon as possible after the delivery.
APPKNDIX IV.
RULES AND REGULATIONS SUITABLE FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
WITH FORMS IN USE, *0.
PUBLIC LENDING LIBRARIES.
II i.C- AMI 1: K<:t:i. \TTONM.
1 . The chief librarian shall havo tho general charge or the lihrnrietf, and
shall bo reanonsiblo for the safe keeping of the books, and of all other
property belonging thereto.
2. The newsroom -lm!) be upcii to the public, every day {Chrutmas
Day and Good Friday excepted}, from ninn o'clock a. w, to ten o'clock
p.m., Ami the library from ten o'oiouk a.m. to nine o'clock p. in, On
Sundays from "Won a.m. to pfaMI p.m,
3. No person ahall bo admittod who is in a «tat« of intoxication : nor
thall auy audible convocation be permitted io tho rooms ; nor nhall any
person l>e allowed to partake of refreshment* therein. Any person who
:diiill offend against these regulations, or shall be guilty of uuy misconduct,
■ a. ill not I 'i allowed to icmain within the building,
4. No person shall lio allowed u> pass within thu otudoxtirr of flu
libraries, or to take any book from tha shelves, except by iieniiiwiou of
tho librarian,
.'1. I'ersons enrolled as burgesses of the borough of shall be
■nii'l-i bO bODVW Uovaa uu their OWD re»pmn:hi:it.v. t'cnoua nut M
cd shall be nqvbM to obtain the signature of one burgess. Any
1 having ai^ucl this ongogemunt, who shall afterwards do .
withdraw from the same, must give notico thereof in writing to tho
LbnifUi who will give a release as soon as ho thall have aaeertained that
no low hat boon Immrred,
.V:-
LtnOAJUVl.
This voucher diiihl be dali v oral to thu librarian throw daya bof. |
firtt i»uo of book* to the pentou ro'amtnenilal-
o*. All booke borrowed must bo returned to tha libraries, vriti.i:
timo appoirh'd on the respective covers, tinder a pcna ly sJ am penny for
th« whole or any portion of the first week, anil on» penny for each w<vk
or portion of i ffMk trXtrwtrrh.
7. The librarian shall aarelullj u) mta , or 'atuo to be examined, <»<■!•
hook returned, and if the *mn he foimil to have wiiHtainwl huy injury Of
damage, tie slinll roif.uru tin- person to whom the Mine wan deliver
his guarantor, to pay the amount of damage or injur* done, or otherwise
to nrocure a now copy of tht bo*lt ofc«|iinl value, and in the Inter com:
*ueh |>onion ,dmU he onlillcul to the damaged f.opv on depositing the now
noe,
8, All huokn borrow od from the Uhrarius roiwt b< rtforitod, irroapoetJTO
of the time allowed for reading, at the half-yearly date
printed labels at the beginning of each hook. Borrowon m
Romply with thfx regulation wfU risk tho forfeiture of their privilege of
borrowing boota
i BoiroWen laswing town, or fseaffnpj '<> bm Ehi Itbnffoa. en f<--piaee*l
to return ilici- rb ten m l.hn librarian, in ordur to have Ihrm ran;
v wo thev and their guarantors will bo held respoimible for any hook
taken out ii ll;«u u Hi
10. ISorruwurs, when they change* their rooidouce, are required to hand
hi theft ticket with theii pieeent address to the llbrnrlajj, ottterwii
will lose the i' right of liorrcwing hooks,
i 1 . llwnnvi m :i[-wanlioiirtl aguinal luaiug Lhru Uoketa, M tiny will hi
held responsible for any book or book* that may be taken out of the
libraries in their nawoo,
12. No burro wur will bo allowed to have more than ono work I
aanie time.
13. No book can be. relieved more than once, If required by ti
Ijorrowir.
14. No borrower will be allmvt.il to mala- usn of mow than nno > ■■
libraries at the wiue time,
The librarian shall have the power tn refaee Ivtnk-a to anv borrower
wiiti nliall oeglect to comply with the lulee and ragnlatlcns of I
■ ■, poison no refused shall ba\o libcilr to ap|>e»l In .
riiuiinitu-i'.
PUBLIC REFERENCE iMBRARIKH.
No person will bo allowed to obtain a hook without signing i" H.
Tloket," and such signature shall he taken and winstdcrod ro ha an ajwat
to tht rules and rvgulutioua of tho libra i v.
Render* oannot obtain wore than unu volume on theaamn ileket, oti
tho ostra labour can he our tailed by staling the additional »
required on blank tiekote.
Readers gfviaf a false name aud address will be held responsible tec
tho conaequcnooB,
/( 1% exnrourv (brUcHen to t*\i tto.\. o\ -Oft-a KajUug-room aay
APpRSnrx tv
.*,.;;.
itic, uv other article belonging to the library ; or to write or make
mark* upon the same,
RrttryxttyTT* Jcairoim of proposing hooka not already in the library
may no so by on taring the same iu tin) [imposition book (quoting
prieo, Ac), wnieh i* pprindinally qnbmittud to ilio committee lor con-
sideration.
No person will \w admitted to The library who in intovWtflil *r in a
dirty condition, nor will any audible eonvflrsstion l* permitted In thn
room.
No person 1h Allowed to pass within the oneloauro, except by special
I riji;i,:iion of the public librarian.
Pomona Qndff fourteen yearn of aye are not admitted to the liflmnda
om, except for spool*] purposes, to ho determined by tlio llbratlan, or
hi* assistant In charge.
Headers nr» [DuliiuUily reumwtod not to soil or injure illustration* by
Honoring or laying their hands on them.
Tin: use of ink for copying extracts, &c. , is not permitted, as serious
injury to platos and l>ooks n*s resulted therefrom.
Illustrated and other worka aie issued only on written application to
thn committee, the titles of which are distinguished in the catalogue by
an asterisk {*),
Open daily Attn 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The bono of Ijyok* diaovntinucd
at 0.16 p.m.
FoitM FOB Gl*AP.AMCI .
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
I i inN«i Library.
doairiug to borrow books innsL first
this Guarantee, mi
of the Municipal Roroug
this Guarantee, aicnod by an Elector
bof
, of Street,
Ward, engage to pay in
of any Book belonging to tho Con»o
of , which shall be issued in
nam* or of Sr ..■«■!,
unit which shall he IohI, injured, or not duly
returned, according to the rules and regula-
tion* of tho Public Library, such
mini of money as may bo imposed as a tine,
nr pHvinout Cor lout or damaged books.
TowefNaonCntfiibl IhtM fur two years only.
If the person who may have signed this
sment desires to withdraw from it, ho may
by giving uotico to the Librarian, who
oanoel it if no liability under tho same
agist*.
Chief Librarian.
N.JJ.— Ono penny will be charged for
The Borrower's Ticket
[This part to Lk: lillcl up
by Mi1 Librarian,}
No. of Ticket
Date of Usuo -
Admit tin- Applicant,
Signed,
Librarian.
Did
/>:n
prni.ir r.tniiAi(Cfe».
ELiwron'.« Cfahavtrr.
BOROUGH OF PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Lsmiwa Linus?
I, the MidrrsijflicJ, Using an elector of the
Muni»i[>a. Ilimmgh .-I' , u4 being
desirous of borrowing books for homo reading,
lu'i'i'hy mala- ■ppBoa.ttoo for a Borrower r
Ticket, entitling uio to Iwrrow book*.
Should any Wk iuntwl in my name bo lost,
dflmagetl, or detained beyond the time allowed
for reading, 1 engage to pay such oum of
lii-Hi-y to Si Corporation ns will
pay for the losx, ilainu.o', nr tmiiue (Intention
of the l*x>k ; *ud, further, I eogaKo to con-
form to the rnlea and regulation a of the
l'ublic Library.
Datwl this day of
Maine
Onijiarioii
A'l'l ■« >-> "I K' M-l'.'lP.'t-
Wmd
Sif^iictturo of Librarian
JV. //.— Thin application imiflt be aigned In
the preaonoe of one of the Librarian*), and loft
with him for examination.
Thi« guarantee i« in foroe fur two years only.
Chief Librarian.
Ono penny will be charged for the Borrowor'a
fin I.
[This part to be til In] tin
by the Librarian.]
No.ofTiokot
Dale of lano,
Admit the A i
Signed,
I.il ; V '-Mi.
Ditto
Rr.NP.WAt. or-. Posr Cxnn 8lii* whan Intjioatoh i.
PUBLIC LIBRARY, LEXDIMO PBFARTMEXT.
Rokwal Bur.
Tli im alip in designed lo aavc liorrowcrs the inconvenience of carrying a
book to and from the library when it ia roiuired to renew the to
which the book has boon iasned.
l'I**«e till in the particulars opposite
hom thfl 'liarging lalwl at the end
uf the book, giving Uio class-letter,
number, ami the hwt row of figures
entered on the label. When the
work ii in more than ono volumo
the figures requisite will bo found
at the rod of the first or earliest
volume.
When the figure* have been filled
in, aa required, the presentation of
the alio at Uio library will enaurc
r*a$w$L
Mat \
Utter I
pro,
■
Jtonrwxf
:i
APF'PVIHX TV,
-571
Should a farther rnuWal l»- required tliis slip must ho produced again.
When the book is returned after renewal tliif slip must be ivtm f l ii i);<
Niim time, :iml a fail urn to cuinply will) this latter condition will QOJUMJ
the removal date to be cancelled and the enforcing of a fine.
It is rcfiorvod to the librarian to doolino the renewal of any book In
demand by other readore.
Copies of this renewal slip to ho obtained at the Library.
[Sutadle ron EUmnOb W Di«-riiiurrrc UfOWG Boiirowhiib.]
HOW TO USE THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
V -SKItlKK (IK RU(lli»41'm>H Kill: INK ffgl Of :k\uKKH,
tllU
Teat-Books aa a Basis of Bonding. — In moob Of your hm.i of tin-
library yon will do well to ruako your toxt-books tho baaia, That io, you
will feci an interest in somo iubjeot which U touched upon in your leason,
and will wish for more information about it than in found there. Such
iiifnimarioii you ran find in Hoiue larger and Kofi complete work iti the
library, which, perhap*. may be quotwlj or in some way referred to in
your text-book, Do not under taku to read all of tho work* thus
referred to, but make yourselves masters of wliat you do read and
<:Oll!<llll.
tfse of Boforcnce Jlookrs. ' DeflOTnfl familim, al>o, with the nMofvorlu
roforenoe, particularly audi ids am arranged in dictionary or alphabetical
Theee arc not designod to he rood through, but to be consulted for
motion which nno part of tl»» volume m.iy ;n mi. i .. ■nendently of
fill other parts. In tho some way, yon should form the habit of uaing
maps and atlaws wlmn loading any work which in GOOOOIUxl with the
location of places.
Reading for an Essay,— I :i making mhh of tin* library for tbl preparation
of an essay, seek for that which wDl be suggestive. That Li, wlien you
tome to write, let it bo something which vou havo thought out for your-
.su1v<h from tho Mtatcnioiite you consulted", rather than something tranx-
ferrod bodily to your page*, with no rnontat effort. You will find your-
nlraijat so nuieh stronger mentally for every effort yon make to think
for yourselves.
Habits of Heading,— Strive to acquire wholesome habits of readina,
and to maintain them. Come to thn library with a definite book of
subject iu mind, rallier than with an aiiiilutH denim for " some hook— no
matter what," Concentrate your attention vu the subject you are reading
about, for it is worac than uoelew to dawdlo through It. Read carefully
and Uwroughly, so as tu bo able to dJgttrt 001 subject in youi mind
hffort! pawing to another. Do m I nrn th» habit of Tetiiridiiffynw l>o<.k«
CTtt? two or three days. 8och a practice, If ponfatod i", will mako your
reading a morbid habit, rather than a benefit.
Imaginative Ltteratare.— H i.-imt intend**! th'W ynn should be limited
in your rending to books which dimply contain information. It will be
well for yun tu bOfKKDDQ familial with the beat work* of pottUy, fiction.
and othor department* of literature in whirl, lim imagination u the chief
element. Ask your teacher for MiggcatioiiB about hooka of this rloas, Ho
will be glad to direct you to wmo work which you will find it a pa
benefit to read. Do not forgot, however, that, of all the rowers of tho
mind, the imagination it one that i& must easily abused, and do not allow
this class of reading to claim boo Uracil of WW time,
r*i nu ■ i.iMi:
Xxcmmto leading, — A pro|>er aubitiori [| <• <mmcndablo in reading,
w In othor thing*, but there u nothing meritonouo in the mere aet of read-
nip, ipefl it -mii my good rasnlta. Rpmomhor that one book, linn,
dtattfld, b N'I.Iit Mian twunly iiuickly hurried through, ami i!
Huickly forgotten • Nor should your reading interfere with your ordinary
v l.i.ml dutiutv, hut Vte made supplementary to thorn. So, alao. it ibonU
not interfere with your regular out-door oxeroi». Home pupil*, oertal
wi.l Ml Mfd '-hi* caution, hut it in of great important.-.' that it should f-
heeded hy thoae who Jo need it.
Aiimanca. -While you will gain inucdi in mating your.«dv>>* ■
pendent ofl neuirtUnco in the iirnpler matter* of study and reto*r>
---iitAto ro *s* fnr hidp when yon renl!y need it. The librarian ami
his IttUtOntJ will bfl vi-iv glad to give jroo help Ot suggestion :. ,„ 1M.
dUOtttl ahout which you urn seeking for information, and you will flu
them iiitorcstitd to help yon.
Reviewing. — It will he well for you occasionally to review y«ur n i
for ft wries of weeha or month*, noting down what new idea* yon
gained from tho hook* you hare road, and noticing wbatbof your advance
no* been, on r\i<< nbota, Is 'ho tight direction, if it has not Lump, begin
at one? to correct Qui trror It will be. iiHful practice
in a uotedmok, from time to lime, mum facta or memoranda la >■■ ...
■M<i nf epwial value to you, Tin very act of writing will tend to fi*
thorn in your nicm"tyr i van 'hough you aJiJoald aarflr look *t the nu mi
rftmlum again. Life ie too short to road many hooks through bat one*,
I nit yon will occasionally find a book which so iaiprooMfl jroo thai
ui«h bOgO tlirniiy.h It a KCCond tlnu I. Vint will hi
only how your in Lcrest ia almoal doubled on UlontH I reading hi.
iiu: two newi ytni hove uhlAini'd of the took, rapplouiontfiaj each oth r,
have served to fix an image oflta main iden m yuu* mind.
In brief, then—
1. Begin by baaing ymh- raiding on jnnr «chuol text-booko.
2. Learu toe propel use of rofeT^mcc-oooka,
3, I'm: books th&t yon may obtain and aRgKOOJ idea* <>( your own.
4, Acquire wholesome balnta of reading.
6. Uflo imaginative literature, but not immoderately.
o\ Do not try to cover too much ground.
7. Do not htttiUtfl to ask for asaisunee and suggestion*, ut On
library.
8. Bee that you make your reading a definite gain to you, in aotnr
direction.
(Would make vr ihtu a vbuy sbat am» HrrutiivK i-rjuox
8VO. OIIlCTLAIl.1
CIRCULAR OF INKOKMATION OONCERNIK'. THK
PI BLIG UHKAK'i .
Notk. — Thia cin oTnr bid) signed by tho library cornmlttw b
the iphobltiata uf the Borough to make greater uh of tho aJvorrucftn ih«
Public Library oilco. All person* intcreatwl in the work of the library
help the commit ice by handing thia circular to any acquaintance they
ty know to be unaware of the factlitiu* given for reading and atody.
Copies of thia oireulor, Eoi 4\att\to«A\ot\, ma?j W aV\a\^«\ ott.b
All B.NTtIS IV.
573
Public Lmianv,
SruEcr.
LENDING DEPARTMENT.
Opon daily 10 am. to 0 p.m.
of I
Tin"* department of t&f library :* fanned faff the issno of books fm tLOVQ
reading and ■ onUlna over vol u mm, every one Available for issue
to borrowers.
Tho worts comprise a liberal and wide selection of the beat literature of
all classes, and recent books of interest are constantly being addo<],
Kvory person wishing to borrow Looks has only to obtain & library ticket
entitling them to take I Minks home. The committee hoa placed as few
rtnti'iultuiuj aa possible in the way of obtaining chla, ami il i* ouly uouwaary
tliat a guarantee form, properly filled up, with the signature* ol two rate-
payer* of the borough should bo loft at the library.
Tho printed guarantee form* may bo had gratis" at tho library. Ct.ll, or
aeiul for one.
There is alto attached a Juvenile Lending Library with una
volumes of literature for the young, OOOtuning many of the bwt muduru
books for boy* and girls.
Re.\i>buV PuorosAT. Book. In this book, it is o]wn to roadora and
borrowers to enter tho particulars of any book thoy may doom deiirablc to
lie plActHl in tho library. These propositi an* submitted In the < < 1 1 1 1 n-
at each meeting.
The librarian and his ansistauU aie alwaye ready to give rnodeta any
reasonable help in searching for books on particular or special subject*.
KEKEKENCK LIBRARY, NEWS KOOM, &c.
Open daily, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
This department is open freely to everyone. The only requisite I"
ubUiii the moat valuable bouk? fui i^iuwil within the building, b tho
liliiot; up of an a.)>jdii^atioii form Tor oaeh book wanted, with title and
number .>i" I 00k required, aud uuine and uddresa of reucfor.
Tho BbTOBBVCK Library w uut i|iiiU » repository for dictionaries,
directories, almanacs, Jce,, which it is sometimes thought a reference
library is, but it is alio a collection of the most valuable works in all
bi mem - of lit'iaturo, which, on account of their rarity or value, cannot
be tarn in) for homo reading, or have m>uw >'1u i luunnx I'm' Wing consulted
williiri ■.in: building only. There arc more ibau volumes, many
i>! them wiy U.'Miliiid wurk**oul)n lim arts, tml tin Ifflot booka OB uiua-
mental design, architecture, engineering, Ac. The library is rich in
general Kugluiii topOttVphlGH works, county histories, &<■,, and has a
jmrtietihit'ly good collection of local hook* and work* on Sh&keB|«'\i<
New-' RoOMi — Displayed on stain I* in Urn imdiiig-room in 1 varied
Btdoetlon ol the leading newspaper*. I... 11. 1. .11, [ooal, nn.t prnvim-m.
Mai:.i£ini-:h *jn> PsiuoxxciaU. A wajpcahainjiti otlonol •■■■
and poriodiaaj litoralnm i* t*kf>n Ptgnlarl/i including thi loading trade and
tnl.hlral journals, tho popular monthly and quarterly ma^azlmu aud
rei t iwa.
la UDtatn' Boom.— Hun li ai«n a <er«ratJ>roniii (be tfadaaitj fct wWcl
I he lickul of admission, may be easily obtained.
(Then would i - Ion prl W tod partlCOlajl <>' < uUlngnej*, and tlie MUM
it Hi' librarian. — titanUi and library committee.]
574 PUBLIC LIBBARIKS.
FORM OF BEQUEST.
I bequeath out of such part of my personal Estate as may by Law
be bequeathed for such purposes, to the Mayor, Alderman, and
Burgesses, of the Borough of , in the County of
, the sum of , free from Legacy Duty,
tor the benefit of the Public Libraries of the said Borough, to be
expended in such xcay as they may deem expedient ; and I direct that
the Receipt, of the Town Clerk of the said Borough shall be an effectual
discharge for the same Legacy.
INDEX.
Awnli-Kii ViilihV Library. 221— «2«
Aberystwyth Public Library, 201
A1 (, Local Improvement, 149
Local Government, intlueuce
of tbo, 289
Public Library Amendment,
222, 346
» Public Libraries' Consolida-
tion (Scotland), 1887, 543—551
special, for OMhani, 120*
Technical Instruction, of 19BQ,
72, 193, 566—559
Ai-t--, Public Libraries', 530— 54. i,
WO, badly drawn, 336
confusion icgardiug the,
71, 81, 115, 195
governing bodies with
power to adopt the, 71, 72
— — litigation concerning the,
386— 845
not adopted, 281—28?
main features of tho, 81
rejection of tho , 71, 248,
206, 270, 281—287, 326, 44B,
463—457
— — — vagueness of the, 338
^— — of Australia, 414
of the United States, 396"
-808
Adapted buildingfe for libraries, 3.12
Addition*, recent, to stock, 262
Adelaide Public Library, 413
AiliuUiiatraliun uf lib t axles, 374
Advantages of reading, 24, 86
Advertisements in catalogue*, 264
AtlvnrtHMTinnu, m»w>*papi<r( In
libraries, 150
Advocate*' Library, Edinburgh,
238
Agitating for tho adoption of the
Acta, 7c
Atrdric Public Library, 226
Alba Public Library, 226—428
Altrincham adopts the Acts, 142
Amendment Rill nf 1887, 345
, Libraries', Act of 18.15, 50
American bcuefuctyra to libraries,
806
idea of 1'ublio Librnrioe, 33
libraries, 3
Public Libraries 890
public school libraries, 387
Ancient libraries, 340
Apathy nud tbo library iuovomout,
71, 72
Arbroath Voluntary Library, 444
Archbishop of York on Public
Libraries, 137
Architectural plans of litraiie*,
Ui, 00
Architecture, library, 127, 217, 231,
297
Arguments in favour of Public
Libraries, 511, 525
Arrangement of leading -rooms, JIM1
Art gollorie*, 108, 126, 103, 257,
Art schools and libraries, 101, 125
Art, schools of, 166, 167, 1A8,
867
Artisan* as readers, 07, 104
Aflhton-undor-LynoLibraiy, 85, 27\i
Association*, local, of librarians,
382!
Aston Public Library, 144, 145
273
Attendance, method of estimating
tho, 187
Auckland Public Ld.rary, 418
Australian hramdi libraritw, tfa*,
410
Public Libraries, iU-418
AuaUian libraries, 2
Average eoMt of boulcM, 180
Axon iMr. W. K. A.; and Public
Libraries, 110, 127
ii in. ii i.ibH.Aiii Bq
B
Kail lie Library, Glasgow, 445
Balfour (Rt, Han. A. J.) opeiw n
library, lflf.
Uaiirui Public Library, 201
K ink mi; aciounfa, 264
Harking ariopta the Acta, 194
Bamol Voluntary Library. 44b*
llarnftliy adopts the Acta, 86
Barruw-iii-KuracsH Library, 86, 275
Qatli mjecu tin Act*. 281
lUltcraco Publio Library, 301
Btbington Public Library, 336
BtdAK adopts the Acts. 1.4 >
BtqtMt, partial failure of a, 138
B«iu».»U to librariw. 124, L»
li. IIH"||i|n<y ftlt'l til' li'-'KHV 111"'*..-
nient, 330
Bonix>ko booka, 162
Betlmal 0Man asd :!■• TO < for tht-
Acta. 80
Voluntary Library, 440
BiUtoti Public Library, 145
Binding ior Public Ubrnriea, 370
Bingley ftdopU thu Acta, 88
liirk i.i.e, moremant •£, 2&1
Ulrl^nhcad Public, Library, 14o\
147
Birmingham Public Library, 0, 20,
3o\ 123, 147-164,340-352
Blackburn Public Library, 8W
Blackpool Public Library. AS
Blind, librariiM fur the," 114. 134,
247. 2<;i
Blue l>ook«, 32
Board School branch libraries, 106,
100, 21M, 380 — 3i»0
mis (if, 10ti
Board 8&0Ol library raltB, 380
DclioWn, lo, 24
Buaitl Schools, 0, 18, 116
Bodloion Library, 41
Bodley, Sir Thomas, 42
Bolton Fran Public Library, 00
Book dutiiifcutor. 126
Book buying, 008--370
Bookcaasa, 360
Book clubs at Ki-oi' UbMHoj, isIS
Books. uiTangetm'Ut of, 376
uracAgaooaf of, i«0
— oheapnoa <>f. 27
coat of, 180
oxponaivc, 60
influence of, 66, £61
Book*, (icrcoutagi'. of U ■
mi, 116
perocntago nf, t<i tho popula-
tion, 27S, 2*8
li>---kM4Hntf irado and Public Li-
bnuit'jt, 27. 32
Borrow, power to, 534, 537, 588
Unrrowora, liinU to, 571
occupations of. li'l
Olltafri*, 101. 115. 118, 137,
105, 185, 183, 324
outside, legality of, 336
Boston Library (U.S.A.) and Iktiou,
278
(U.S.A.) Public Libra:
—402
Boya at the Derby Library. ItJO
Boyd' rcadiug-iooiur., 01, 111. 13L»,
304
Bram well's book dialnh bar,
496
Branch libiurim, I0o» 10>.
113, 132. 146. 143, 183. H7
2ti2. S60
and tin p'liuy tut-
Brasdvv'* (Lord; j,nft to Ha^ltu^*,
283
Brechin ndojitt tho Acts, 22ft
Brentford adopts this A ■'■. I: I
Bright Kt. J Km. Juhn pfl 1 1 1 % .
Libraries' AoU, 6*7
Bnorley Hill Public library,
Brighton Public Library, 1»6— 198
Briscoe (Mr. J. Potter) ami " Li
hrarios foi the Youug," loo1
aa a librarr missi' ■■
Bristol Public Library. MP, 43, 271,
272
British Mummm Lihrti
— 14*
nuintaiN
Brothcrtou (Mr. J.) and fr
Cwart Bill, '
ami thi Sal ford U\
Bn tharton'i (Mr, .1.) axaUin
tii» moreiiiriit, 1 31
Brown (Sir W.) and tlu- Li»
Pol tic Library. 108
Hrovtxia (Mr, J, da Malm
ttruuniir (Mr. M.P.] mi :
bftu-ulaL i m
Build Juyo, uefa tiwn, ISO
Building! fa PuMlo Llbiailot,
3^3
.
.-)"
lurKMaes on library committees.
HI
ey, library BOTOflOQ&t at, 2*2
irna ns n fotindflr «f librarfas, Bfi
Inmlum Public Library, 184
Burton Ltthnei and i lie move-
ineot, 1281
I'.myf William), 45
r.usiiits^ books, 'Jits
Boston Public Library, im, iss
Lain bridge Public Library, 3f>, ]'•<',
University urn I PllfaUa Li-
»bmri«, 04
Camplicld 1'ublic Libmrv, Man
cheater, 64
Canadian PuWioLibrariciMOO— 11!
Canterbury Publio Library, 198
Canvuwin# for the. adoption of the
Act*. 566
'.v.; .1 . uuin^' i.--, :i7:i
Cardiff TuWic Libraiy, 202-244
Carlton adopts tie Acta, 157 ; vital,
334
Carlyl* *nd Public Libraries, X
Carmarthen, movenwit at, 2u9
Carnarvon Public Library, 204
Carurgias (Mr. A.) munificence to
libraries, B98, Sflf, 231, 234, 240.
$06
Oatalogua odportiaettumta, 234
Cataloging — Birmingham, 150 ;
Xuwi'wlli?. 1 23 ; Nottingham,
18U i Wigan, 140
Cataloguing, 371
Cen trftl libraries v. bramdi libraries,
Hi. I erVi " \l\gi-tt ..I lll» I AW
relating to Publk: Libiaiiin ami
Uti&iMiiuV 4c, 337
Cl.niit, CouBi&Maonffi ami Public
Libraries, tift
Cliarlcw, r*r<mU, ami ■ Incnment*
miiI Putlii i bi u las. >5
Ohi'apiicaa «jf buuks, 27
OhoaUn Publfa Libraries, 185
Cliuiitortiald Public Library, .
Chatham Library, M a n ■ -In- ■ -i. i '>-
48
* lii-;nji> PuWie Library, 409
CUippenhain Voluntary Library, 14 7
Chinese libraries, 14
Chwwiek adopts the Act*. 323
Cliuicii. Koo. uinl 1'uUlir Ltbrorias.
76
Circular* Of libmrv information,
93, UT, I'
nit> "Frtn" Libraries, 325
Cloaai lira t ion of book*. 3/0
0!etJ5)*nini uinl tlic library move-
ineut, 76, 149, 2*5, 302, 327
Glorkeuwoll, litigation at, 341
i iHtboroc Pnblla Library, M
Club* ami libraries, S5, 332, 471 —
479
Colclieater, aohomo faila at, 281
Uolcraine adopts tho Aoto, 3B7
Collection of the rate, 337
r3rtmmift*ionnr«, note.* for, 320
Committee* ami Coimiiiawiuiier*, 87|
2«8, 271, 846, 478, 689
Committee meetings reported, 109
Comparison of lil»mr:. •, £71. 273
of rfctoft, 19
Comparison a, unreliability of, 274
Concert* in aid of libraries, 1*9,
192
Concord (U.S.A.) Public Library
402—404
Confusion of tho I ihrarW \<-U
71,81, lift, 19fi
Consolidation Act of 1887. 222
noed for a, 337
(Scotland), 1871, 548-
551
Bill prica, 92
' anjfgestiona for n, 340
of the Libraries' Attn, 71
Continental lilxar i •
0 i I. u i rati a« iota, '267
Corporations and libraries, 7
Corpus Ourfttl Liltrarv, Cambridge,
40
Corrupt practices, 83
Coatof booka, 160._180
of lihrariiw, 97fl
per bu I,
of taktWB the poll, 73
Cotgroavc'i library indicator, 804
0 mueili nod libraries, (riotia
twet-n, 130, 13f>
Domtry PaoMa Library, 158
ComU (II r. P.) on BSDtral librarleii,
108
Credlaud (Mr. W. R.'i on tbe Man-
chester Libmnr:*, 110
on tibtoTY •wwiV, W7.
TO
""
II ffll.Ti I-JIHI i i s,
i..'i, tiodoro (DrJ ^-^ Ifca Mtam b*i
L'ublio Librario*, I
Criminal aUtistics, 26
Criticism on Public Libraries. 271
Croydon aduple the AotS, 323
decision aa to voters, 148,
848 315
i'iiu-i . rulM for a dictionary
PiitJilogiiP, xlv
])*ng*r of high *h*lving, 171
l»(irlfl*trtn PoSiDd Library, 1:»W
Darlington Public Library. Ml,
Datweii Public Library, 91
I>. oium of iwuce, Cttiwcfl of, 101
Defective building*, ISO
Del moo of fiction, 165 BTO
1 ».'i«iLirnling a poll, 80
IVul (Mr. K. K. > uml liliniM lec-
turee, 145
Don ton PublSfl Library, 00
l'«['utation to Lord Iado»loi^l., 84
l>«rby Public Library, 160—1
Iiivhv^Uire Public Libraries, lD4t
160—309
Dovey (Mi. Mvlvd) on public
Mood Hbrftiioe, 388
Dawal nry PodUo Library, 100
LHelc&ns (Charles) at the MaueiiestiM'
Public Library, 66
Dimension! of library iooni«, 010
T>taiitfci:tiu)i of hooks, 1-29, 493—
108
Dootnnnta nod majuweripta fa
PobUc Libmriei, 87
Donations, 220, 228, 230—284
Dmn-aater Public Library. 100
DoilOIB of bookh, 1 1
- tu libraries, B5, 68, 01, »(i,
i 18, 108,196,169,160. 164, 170,
171, 1T», l mi. LSfi, 221 S»,«8,
\tMi. >\l, W, VHft, 2»7. '/:»*, :«i-l .
■OT, IM'. 166
Duosjlan Public Librarj .
l>iiblni I nlli. Lil.it.nr
Ducbou of Kutl&od and Piiblia
librarian, irt<i
Dudley Public Library 1 1 1
Dumbarton Public Libiuiv, 229
DoDtUIk Public Ubrniy,
Don (M Public Library, W9
RanArmKno Public LAI
Pith Of the Stale with r«c
libraries £3
E
Ealiu£ Public Library. 324
Early ad voeatoof parochial li hraria*,
49
Ejwthournfl and the library mow-
uieut, 282
Matte*! C*.; m and
tbo movement, 204
Edinburgh iMblic Library, 238—
Education Art. 8
Education wrviif crime, i>. 26
Education a neceaait] ,
IMwMtiVa(E.) i videiiiv on Public
Ubrariao, DO, 51, 53
Bffbot of library lucturwi, 273
i Efleol of the state or trad, on
libnriea, 108
KHVet of wcothci on library
statistics. 273
Electlifl limt In librarioa, 123, 368,
U2
i;k:iii, library movement at, 249
Elliot 'a (Mr.) roadiuu;- rooni Ul.lt*,
191
Employment obtain™! i i
aavortuuiuouta iu tlio library.
150
Encyclopedias^ 34
Kuduweu Public Libiarii*. 174
Buamlcs to ihu library movement,
73, 75, 78
EoMZ Public Librarioa, 104
lut'iiin^ lil mi ifi, 1 ' n
Evils of Hoard School brueli
libtariro. 100
Ewart Hill, the, 40, .'.«— 3S
Swart, Mr. W.. life of. CO— 02
Kxoe*flivo route, 135, 13ti
atli ind the Ifhrarj i
IIUUll, Efl '
■ ill" poll i-i. ft|,
(86
ExpcbttM book ',
Kxt avion ol library work, 110
r
KalKirK, library movctnant at, 2*3
tVvusv'ivtli, liltrarv
■
i it lit
I m.i:v
0/
:■»
Fiction dofondod, 1<!5, 279
in Public Libraries, 24
iifflu.: uf, 123, 123, 129. 183,
15*. 1 00, 172, 179, 135, 198,217,
274, 278
Fi«oo at * statutory meeting, 80
Finance, 264
Kim' fttT turning leaVM down. 89
Fiiuwat Publiu Libraries, 121, 225,
509
1 I i it the Birmingham Library,
150
1m -st Frco Library, 43—48
Fitting* for Pnhlii* Libraries, 353—
308
PlKtWOod Public Library, 86
Folkc.&lono Public Library, 198
Forfar Publin Library, 239
Free education and Public* Librarian,
275
gnu te to Public Libraries, 37
11 Free " Librariw a miaiioiuer, 20,
31
l'i'oo Libraries' Acta, 12
"Fi'oo Librarian and Museum*."
146
Frouoli librarios, %
— — public school libraries, 380
Frundn to thu library movcinunt,
7S
Fulham Public Library, 288, 2l»5
Future of Public Librarim, 275
Cos, effect of, on books, 358
Gateshead Public Library.
(urmrnMiy lo libraries. 85, 88, 81,
90, 103. 125, 120, 130, 100, 104,
170, 174, 179,226,223, 230,234,
2D0-S0S, 30-1, 407, 419, 458
Gorman librarian, 3
GtfU nf pnblic'Hlinns, :iH
GIfU to IrrflmmalMo bodiw* 87
ftUatm'fl (Sir W. ) jrift U Newark,
174
i.l.la ■ (Kt. Hon. W. K. and
Public Libnru'n, 23, 206
Gloagow and the (foray moramaDt,
21&— 2f>3
autl tbo voU for the Acta,
80
Voluntary Lif<rario«, 445
GlonMHtei rojaati rfai lot*, 2*2
"U'KxlBook*," W
Government aid required, IBS, 967.
200
Gorsmmont grant* to Au*tr*H»ii
libraries, 412, 415
Oorornmont Publicationo and
Public Libraries. 36
(lovnrning hod fox ami Chi Iftinrfat'
question, 71 — 74
iJivai wanted to start a library,
257
Oraatfl of Parliamentary Paper* to
Public Libraries, 37
GranrtUe (Earl) oiwn* a Public
Library, 185
Guarantors, (juration uf. lu"
Cnillfi - Alli-a Library, OafTDMT.
458
Gutter literature, 277, 279
Haggoiv. ton's ( VI r. W. J.) worlt at
Newcastle, 188
Halfpenny rate, 260, 268
Hand's (Mr. G. V.) work at Old-
ham, 126
Ilandbitla, mi£"OstUmfl for, f>2&
Handbook to this library, 110
Ha»rf-]i«U of books, 147
Hanilnwnrth 1'nMfo Library, 102
Hauley Pablifl Library, 184
Hanin Iustittituat Preston, 127
Harrogato Public .Library, 28,
103
Hartington (Minima oQ on Public
Ijhrarhs, 86 1.14
Harvey'e (Mr. U.J gift lo Damnify,
85
Hantinge rejeota the Acts, 283
Ha«ty polling, effool •■'. 860
Hawardmi (Mf.4 I la/Ktone'j) library,
us
Hawirk Public Libmry, B39
lb .in, i ol i i aria*, n0, 174, 358
I ! m laxoo, 200
lluitdoii. movement at, BBS
rd Public I.ibi-nr)1, 184
Hertfonl Public Library, |tJ5
High Wy^otnbo Voluntary Library,
Hinaklay lull i Library, 100
HimUey" Puhlie. UttKwj^Vft
HobaO VuWw \.\\wwr^ *A*a
580 Pirnr.ic LDOUIUKR,
HoIium (0. W.) and Public
Ja|ift!lL^r.' Itlinuiu*, H
Libraries, 0
Jercma [Mr, w 3.] ou Public
Hone raauog, ©4
Libraries, 33
Rwidinff Union, 1«»,
ESoutidh Voluntary Library, 448
HODDI Of Public LibrarifM, 400
JubtiM of the '* Kwart Act," 280
Juvenile burrowars, 157
Pah k Librarian uhi, i im.
HotiaooT Comma tw Report on PubUu
i W, ISO
U&rarJMj L8tf, 50
How to nnc tin library, "71
libraiics, 30, 95, 102, 111. 121 ,
1*9. 109, !0B
llu-.Uali Torkard Public Library,
lltoraturu, 31
167, SSI
Hull and i.lwi library vote, 83
Voluntary Libraiy, 449— 1M
K
I
Kendal and tho library niovenwtk
Iddeclnlgh (l,Ofd) OD gTilit4 tO
Riddarmlastar Public Library, 108
libraries, 37
Kirkl.y's (Mr. C. V.) work
Idiusyiierusies, library, 271
LolcetteT) 172
luijiuiiol taxation fur libraries, Wfl
Kirkwall adopt* tbo Acta, 242
Iut|)ortaiico of Pnblic Libraries, 890
Kirkwooil'a early advocacy of p*to-
i BOUDttm to good reading, 270
IncoinA, variant) additional anurous
.dual lihrariea, IW
Knight (Charles) on Public Libra-
of, l§fi, 187, ir,8. 102, Inn. 188,
rian, 08
191. 192. 209.32-1,489, 309
increase of, 10'2
Indicators, 332 -566, 87*1
L
Iiicroaxo of the Library Rata, 76,
hi, i\m
lAhoiMhorc (Mr.)aml the "Kwart
IndiM'crenre, erToet nf, on the
Bill," 5?
library moramnL 71, 209
LiblitN' room, SW
i&fliunofl «f buokfl, 00
Lady librarians, 88, 4Wi
Instituted and libraries, 868, 209.
Lag^arda in the library niovoiuoat,
J!S1— 2S7
S»e '* Mechanic. "
I ambflth fnblic Libraritta, 14, 238,
luHomiiCfi oflibrariea, 493
290—800
Intimidation of voters, 83, ."»03
Laucaatar (Mr. A.) on t'< linieoj
liivcruMd Public Library, £41
oduoatioi
lndaad (Mr. Alexander) and the
Lavntuiiitj, yr«?
UanchtMturPuhliti Library move-
Lawe relating to PuUir Libraries*
ment, 70
U7
lalenf Man Public Lihnny. MO
LoallMs on library ivnrle. 164
Leamington Fuhli' Li >raiy, 1C0
[ale uf Wight, fuiluru of the move-
ment at, 28.1
U. im. . ill l.biaries, 120, 13ft. 141.
bdoworth, iDorooiflnt "t, 234
L6fl, 104, 171.191,420, 491
lasuo of books, 33, 179 373
extunaiou, 106, 171
ladgOM, • ■■
library, efl#
Issue*, eausoa of the decrease of, 101
Leeds Public Library, d, 29. ion—
— — [lorcoiiLajjti of, 271
100. 120, 271, .
Italian Hbr&iica, 3, 12
Uok Public Library, 169
I/?L-ik'.it_v of admitting auUi'lo bof-
J
rowore, ISO
er l'n Mi" Library, li i
\ A*toaA*i^i\v:VviUlcLibrartis, HW,
\ Ylfc
.Taction (Mr. G.)<m MTbaMNaa&&<4
imprortoa public taster" &*
IXIlBX. 8&1
Leigh awl iho library luuveiueut,
Local chartuij* and Public Libraries,
28*
35
Lending library bookn, 3M
literature, 36, HO, 147
Leominvter Public Library, lti4
ratai. 10
Liberty and Property Defence
taxation, 10
League, 21
Librarians and librarianship, 481 —
Louden P.o;nd School libraries, '-".'>
1 compared to Paris and
US
Borlin, 288
as public ullimla, 30
luUic library movement in.
fts " Special Constables," 402
2S0
Libraries, intlnoiicp of the, 84
libraries 435, 44ft, 454,
Olid .Si.m ii!i-.iii. 21
ift
and the Church, 70
-- progress of the library move-
as crime reducing institutions,
ment in, 287
26
vestries and the movement,
for flip hlin.I, 114. I.S4 847,
200, 84?
264. 405
LungLoi), movuntcut at, 281
of local litcrnluru, 30, 90
Lust books, 116
on prolutiou, 345
Public, argument* in favour
Loughborough Public Library, 167
1 .owes toft., library scheme at, 28 1
Lubbock'* (Sir J.) Anionilmoiit hill,
of, 611—525
Public, criticism on, 270
347
Public, how to popular be,
Luton, lilniuy movement at, 453
527—530
Lytton (Lord) on Public Libiniii>,
Public* opinions on, 519 — 525
M
v. crime, 200
Library ai-chitceturo, 127, 217,281,
Association, the, 355, 450
M
UtcAUfttft I'ri/i.i Bill, ■.;
niuB-Doukft, G2
Maecleafleld, turnover at, 273
committees, 87, 268
Manchester Public Libraries, fl, 20,
plana, 04, 08
30, 43, 02, 110 115, 121, 271,
work, comprehensive viow of,
272
497—507
acbemo of technical rdumtlnn,
Li-lil i-uiHrig. 274
424
I.i:;hii;i^ i«l" lilirfcrios, 128, J -li.
358
"HaOCUQSUH School, "6(1
Manchester Suburban Libraries,
Limerick, library inovoinont at, 250
119
Lincolnshire without &n* Public
Mnrmfiold adopts the Act\ 174
Library, 104
M.S. in hhrariOH, 243
Litigation concerning the Acts, 338
Maryluboue Voluntary Llbiarit*,
—345
454
LWcrpool Library and Mumim Act,
ISO, 310
May's (Mr,) renewal elrpis, 147
Mechanic* and libraries, SO, 32
Public Library, 6, 20, 106—
ai reader*, 07, 104
110, 177,271
Mechanic**' btfltitntas and Public
Llandudno. uiovcmeuL defeated at,
Lihrariiw, 27.78,85,88, 100, IIP.
209
HI', 125, 130, 141,158.18-1,225,
Llangollen. ]nvuu- library at, 200
:T1 -470
L/Mlbra in tho library, 30
institute, Origin of, 471
Loans lor Public Library purpose*,
Meeting. Statutory, 72, 70, IIH,
176, 648—8(12, 508
170. 174, 191 187 824
uUicial ini(iiliir: i mic utility.
557, 500
lo2
kfalboume Public Library, 333,
Local Boarda, 581
4U
ftUtbodfl of library work, 271
Mlddlesboroufch Public Librarv,
118
Middloton Public Library 117
Middlcwtoh adopta the Acta, lit
Milium Public Library, 117, 384
HUdm R m (I*n RougntorO
on Public Ubnritn, 8?
Uiumtvi of Public Instruction, 11
Mumtal entente atom tho Library
lUto, 148. 149, 168, 18% 881
Mi:. hell library, I Hftagow, Ufi
MmikK ami iiianuaniiits, I I
MmUvVMr, S.) gift to XoUiog-
hum, 181
Mouu Sulci* adoption •lUfUtjOLCll,
119
Mountain ANh Nftfittthfl AfltR, ^70
MuchWooltco uoptf thu Acts, 119
nV»(Mr. J. D.) liliiai'} wuilv.
147, 146
Mn-niinp ami Public Librarioe, C2,
86, v.. 92, II-, LIS, 128, 130,
188, 185, ins, 170, ift, M0.188,
•230. 257. 209, 837
Mum. in I.l.raiici,102, 180, 184, 2(14
N
N'.tnt.ivii'li adopts tlu* AcU, 142
National Gallery uiainimai,. .
Nclfton adopts uk Act-?, 1 It1
Ni i South Wales Public Librtriofl)
41 fi
New York Public Libraries, lAfl
New Zealand Public Libraries, lid
Newark Public Library, 171—170
Newbury and tho library more
tneitt, 28/i
Newraatlc catalog"*', 1^3
Newcrwtlc-on-Tjm 'i ni- Library,
24, 29, 38, 38, 120-12C. 271
Nowcoatlo-UJidoiLymc adopts tlm
ArUj I7ti
x l< aitj of braneh libraries, I I I
iVt-vpuit iMon.J, turnover at, 273
N"« iwnponw kUhiK. Mfl
Ni:w»|ui|trrH UmI the library move-
ment, 74
Kvwaroouio, 20. UG, 00
NewahanVa (Mr. K.) l«<jui>»t to
Protean, ISA
Vevum Uvath PnbUa Lforos, LW
NicboJaon initltut*, LaaV,lW
. df jt'Uhlf, I ■
North of England, Librae) 1:
im-nt iu thi!, 83
boapton Public Library-, 17rt
—179, 273
Northampton (U.8.A-) Public
Library. 404
Xnrlhwicli Public Library, 179
Konrii b | 1 iti d, 871
Nottingham Public Librarioe, €,
■ . IDS. 177. 170 184, 271
Nuiiiir.'!] .in-iiii.' Public Ltbrorios,
187, im, 178
Novtjlrs, value of, 278
Humbci A Public Libnrloa, I, 2,
6, 280
Objections lu l!i liltnii
78
to the popular vote, "3
to Public Libmritu, 7ft
Objeotonto flu* Library Rat.
7.'.. 78
Occupation* of borrower*, 20, 1:»;
of roodoi
Ooonricn havotho right ■
Old Jocuuioiita in Public Ltbi
92
O'lWn (Mr. J. .1.) CnimnlUftttin
Bill, n
OMbury adopta the Act .
Obi ham Pu
0|teuuifr lln« Rnl Public Ul
Manchester, tt3
Opinions on Public Libraries, Mi'—
W
Origin of the "avmrl Bill," 63
Oaborim (Mr. IWual) and Ibo
" Kwtu-t Bill," 66
OswUBtry adopt* the Acta, 265
OuUiUc boriowciy. 101, 310, 11?,
137,165, 18S, 188. 9
, legality of, U^ 388
Overdue, dookvi Sow to total
" Overture for Foundinc •'. I
Uinin j -I I.:' !:- thfl I
— M9
Oxford <xt< n*\ .11 Kocturoofoi Win
rico, 42»— 431
V.«>\*V\u>guM.'<«a\\uaUuT libi*'
m.i:\. 583
Paisley Public Lilniiv, - 1- — 211
[froMieiacUtl wrtei ) i, 164, 890,
Pamphlet bat, 3W
526," 6611, BOG
Faniz/.i'8 (Mi. 1 ovii!ena< nu Public
Public uilucittioii, uood of, 24
Libraiii'n, 5)
siuWiiptious, 2<M
Perkev'd (Archbiahop) library, 41
PublJOWfl and the library v •
Parliamentary (Library) Kernmo,
336
Ifl
Publishers' donations to libraries,
— — Papers, 37
Patent Otllce publications, 37
m
Putney Public Library. 302
Pauperism, •lecre.LH' i)f. 20
Pease (Sir J.J, 90
l'ct'olinr position of tin* Dublin
q
libraries. BS3
ivnnv run, 19, 76
,"i iicai literature, H
Penrith Public Unary, in
Peiisiuus, 13
Ponzuucc, movement at. SSI
B
IVn.'ouUgc of Usuob, 271
Periodicals, Ac. oott of in librorl^v,
Rati', i oUeotfon uf the, ^7, $55
50V
axtanston of thn, 1 14
Periodical rack, 307
halfpenny, 260
Peterhead adopt* the AcU, 2H
Increase of the, W( 12.1, m,
Peterborough and the library move-
■2w
ment, -'-
LrwguUrity of (he. 273
Pictures presoatod tollbttriOB, l!*s
Ittultalkm »l tin', iyo
Pictures (Sir A. .1.) and Out Liver-
_- mhn pwuwniBtfonH regarding
pool Public Library. 100
the, Ma, H9
Plans of librarii-a.. JW. 17s ,;'".
imrlly held bu. k. 108
fisc, 2«7, 303, yf>6, rsQ
— — reform*, 19
Plants (Minor) work at Peel 1'nrk,
— twopenny, 125, III
ogea tor Biieoum and Softool
130
Plymouth Public Librwy, Wt 819,
of Art, 267
271, 272, 383
— — vniiiii- far iiu' amount -.-i
board Scliool Libinrv M'stcm,
ii o, $42
:;s;
\vkh.Hit rotioffi 72
Poll i|i>iiiaml>->i by ili.< debated
liftU'h aomparotl, 16
parly, 80
— of Ungual] towns, 10
Poll, evpcnxcsot th<\ S2; .
Ratt-«up*inrtiNl without the i itl
Papular vote wauled, 71, 73
; -. m
Popularisation of libraries, S27—
IUth;-ui Publi Lib) kry, -'00
no
Kntlunine» Public Library, 890
Potter [Sir John) ana the Man-
Rating of Loii'loii pnriidiuK. 2iU
abetter Public Library, 65
ScFnUtc Uoiarfee,*W, I
Potteries, libraries in too, LM
Rnwmarsh and the library mott
Preparation and placing of books,
incut, 885
Rawsuii (.Mr. If.) ami tin: Man-
Press, Uie, an.! bluur- work, fl0..
chester library. 111
95, 112, 261, 2titt, 30"d( 487
Readers, hint* to,
Preston Public Ubi u 1 SM
occupations ■■(, -J, 'A
Ul. "272
Headers' tirk.-t,, number of, 871
iVioi (Mat)ut Wlmbol HI Lib.-i.iy. 42
Heading aa ednoafiloDi 94, Bfi
Prison, a, turned »!it«> a libra-
rjbiigw %\ tftmrwe, L3 :
Prise for suggested Consolidation
— improved ohmotn of, 1--
Bill, 93
.
fcUflAUvu, V \xV\v. \A\« ^x^ i 'ffifo
S4
prBMt: UBBAblKH.
Reading-room, arrangement of, 359
dispensed with, 134
Reeding, solid, increase of, 274
Record Office publications, 137
Recreative evening classes, 389
Redwood's Library, Bristol, 44
Reference libraries, 29
importance of, 188
Reforms of rates, 19
Reform of the method wanted, 71
Reg. v. St. Matthew's, Bethnal
Green, 80
Reg. v. Wimbledon Local Board,
80
Rejection of the Acts, 248, 269, 270,
281, 287, 325, 449, 453—457
Renewal slips, 147
Rents, excessive, 135, 136
Repeal of the Libraries' Acts wanted,
of the Acta advocated, 338
Reports, 488
Reprints, 27, 277
Requisition, forms of, 559, 562
Richmond Public Library, 324
RiddeU's(Mr. H. P. A. B.) bequest to
the Newcastle Library, 124
Right, the, to vote, 81
Riuou (Marquis of) on Public
Libraries, 452
Rochdale Public Library, 129
271, 272
Rochester Voluntary Library, 456
Rosebery (Earl of J ojwns a
library, 231
Rothorham Public Library, 129,
273
Rules of Archbishop Parker's
library, 41
for cataloguing, 372
for Public Libraries, 567
Runcorn Public Library, 185
Russian libraries, 4
Rutland (Duchess of) and Public
Libraries, 166
S
St Helen's Public Library, 134,
135
St. Martin-in- the- Fields Public
Library, 800
Salaries of librarians, 509
^question of, 128
Sale adopts the Acts, 188
Salford Public Library. 65, 130,
131, 464
Saltney Public Library, 28
Scene at the re-opening of a Lam-
beth library, 14
Schedules of procedure for polling,
561
Scholars, number of, 381
Schools and school accommoda-
tion, 381
Schools of Art and libraries, 101,
125
Science and Art classes, 101, 102,
125, 191, 431, 434
Science and Art schools freed from
the Library Rate, 263
Secretaries of libraries, 480
Sectarian literature in public news-
rooms, 85
Selborne (Lord) on the "Ewart
Bill" 58
Selkirk Public Library 244
Sermon in favour of a library, 142
Shaftesbury (Earl) and the Man-
chester Public library, 64
Shakespearian Library at Birming-
ham, 151, 152
Sheepscar Branch Library, 106
Sheffield Public Library, 132, 133,
271
Shelving in libraries, 171, 360
Shields, North, Public Library, 125
Shields, South, Public Library, 133.
273
Shrewsbury Public Library, 188,
273
Sibthorpe's (Col.) opposition to the
" Ewart Bill," 56
Sites given by corporations, 177
Size notation, 372
Slater's (M. J.) generosity to Dar-
laston, 159
Sleepers in the library, 31
Sligo Public Library, 260
Sniethwick Public Library, 189
Smiles, R. W., 112
Smith (Aid. W. )and theManchester
Library, 111
Socialism and Public Libraries, 21
Somerset without a Public Library,
285
Southport Public Library, 88
Spencer (Mr. Herbert) on State
socialism, 21
INDEX.
$$
Staleybridge adopts the Acts, 134
State aid, need of, 13, 22
socialism, 22
duty of the, with regard to
puh'ic enlightenment, 8
Statistics of crime, 26
of libraries, 271, 497—607
Statutory meetings, results of, 79,
80, 117, 134, 141, 142, 159, 170,
174, 184, 187, 224, 233, 236,
285, 637, 560
Stephens (Sir James) on Public
Libraries, 67
Stirling's (Mr, Justice) decision as
to voters, 343—345
Library, Glasgow, 445
Stock ill kept, 116
objections to Public Libraries,
75
of various libraries, 271, 273
turnover of, 121, 273, 497—
507
Stockport Public Library, 79, 135,
278
Stoke Public Library, 185
Stonehouse, library movement at,
285
Stratford, library movement at,
324
Stroud Voluntary Library, 457
Structural defects in libraries, 121
Struggle for the " Ewart Bill," 56
Students at the library, 263
Students' rooms at libraries, 31
Subscription libraries and Public
Libraries, 27, 28, 78, 100
interests of, 196
within Public Libraries,
158, 191
rooms, private, in libraries, 166
public, to libraries, 264
Subscriptions plus the rate, 259
Suburban libraries (London) adopt
the Acts, 288
Sutton (Mr. C. W.)on the Man-
chester libraries, 110
Sunday attendances at libraries,
114, 141, 190
issues, 114, 153
opening, a failure, 469
opening of libraries, 87, 92,
102, 121, 459—471
Swansea Public Library, 177, 265 —
268
Sydney Public Library, 415—418
T.
Table for the reading-room, Mr.
Elliott's, 191
Tables of comparison, 271, 273
Tarves Public Library, 245, 334,
Tasmanian Publie Libraries, 419
Taste for books fostered by Public
Libraries, 33
Taunton, 285
Taxation, Imperial, for libraries,
276
local, 10
Taylor (Mr. J.) on the first Free
Libraries, 43
Technical books, 136
education and Public Libraries,
420—426
Instruction Act of 1889, 72,
193, 268, 556—569
instruction at St. Helen's,
422 ; at Stockport, 425
schools, 127
treatises in libraries, 36, 90
Temporary premises for libraries,
827, 492
Testimony to the use of libraries,
265
Thackeray at the opening of the
Manchester Public Library, 66,
68
Thomlinson's (Rev. R.) bequest to
Newcastle, 124
Thurso Public Library, 246
Tickets and vouchers, sale of, 509
Toronto Public Library, 409—411
Torquay movement at, 286
Tottenham rejects the Acts, 286
Town clerks and the library move-
ment, 77
Towns without Public Libraries,
281, 287
Trade influence, 144
effect'of, on libraries, 109, 144
Tradesmen and the library move-
ment, 77
Trash v. Libraries, 277
Travel, books of, in Public Libraries,
35
Travelling libraries, 106
Truro Public Library, 221
Tunstall Public Library, 185
Turnover of stock, 121, 273, 497—
507
Twickenham Putyic Library, 324
flllLK LTBB.AXt».
Tvu. i:i jii:1, iintimii.m lian<l I 01
t> tii.. Pm Ufanrr, i2»
Two-penny rate, ill
rate at Oldham, Ufl
U
Unfair oomporiaoDt,
Unlti -I tftatet I'nhH* UfamrlM* Act*.
80fl, 308
I'niv.Milv I v:- onion bcturw,
ie«, i7i, a;e
Unreliability of ftetaffttat, '-'71
Unlimited rate, an, 126,
\ .Ui. ftfflatfftn. 105, »71, fi78
.lion of libraries, 136, 367
Vonwy (C*pt.) on villogo libraries,
330
roatrfcOj t:oiul'iuatiim of, for library
nuriiuHiiA, f»33, 666
Villogo library, a, Z%
Librarian ortnUiihtd, 334
Iiow to aid, 331
u^wnifH for, 24ft, 933
Public ril'...ri«A Ml
Voluntary rate, 141
\". lun'.niily KM Mrtod Public
Utarion. 240, ZS6, 141
Potej i'«i[.nhr, <ibjfcU<m* t" tin-,
73
YOtora, deciaiuu uf Mr. Justice
Ingw to tho, 343— 34C
,«iuo«tioii of the, 81, IW, 33H
Vnting hy post, MO
, cost of, 7.'*
— on tho library aOtttSoB, II
papora, 74 W>, 503, 00
system, 339,341
Warrington Muaoum *nd Ktfczcnu.
-■>, m
/Clonal Library,
■408
Watering places, uued of ! 'utile
HTM rtl, 201
Watford Pnblfc Librnriw, I0S
WmUh.'. . i ii'. ot -. f, on llbmiw, ti7S
Wadnmbury Pnblb Liltrary, i»n
WeVh (Mr. O.) on Whirring. <n
W. !.[, liliuuitw, number pf,
ill r,.l |I
WaUlipool adopt* tho Aetna
PabliC Libroi ■'.
2M, 298—295
Wantwa-Buper-Mnw adopt* titv
Act*, 221
DOtttfa royceta tbc Act*, 28$
Whitehaven adopt* lh<< Ad
Wirk Puhlii: Library. W,
Wignn Library. :»5, 4»
Public Library, 137—1 il
rcft-rcin'H catalogue, 139, M0
Wimbledon Public Library, 30, 3£S
Wirobonio, old library at
Windowt, crairied, in librari.-
Wlnrfbfd Pttbllc Library, isS— JftJ*
Winton'a (Sti Frnncto del !•* oC
t, 121
Wifblogton and tin? library
mtnt 28G
U'rilvi-rlunipron Pub! in Library.
U , 181—103, tfl 25T2
Wora I UbTafy, IBS
Worocntoniblra Public Librari?*,
1*3
Workington adopt* tlio AcMj 111
Workman u readers, 67, 101
Wrrxham Public Library, x<ix
WifchtCMft w.a K.i.
libraries, 219
W
Walker Art Gallery, LnveTiiuvl, 10B
Walnall Public Library, 100
Wandsworth 1'ublit.- Library, 273,
288, 296
I
Yalw (Mr. J.)aud branch Uhrartk-.
100
York ny'Ktu tbc AcU, 28<J
YorkHhiro Union of MecbaMUOO1
liutitutoa, 475
4rraVn .< »«»u. Prvt Wit C>fa* 0«lH. i?U* H««rf i i
Advert ixf'H!rtit.t>.
EVERY PUBLIC LIBRARY SHOULD POSSESS
The Royal Atlas of Modern Geography - -£660
The Howard Vinoent Map of the British
Empire, showing the possessions through-
out the World of the British people,
72 X 63 inches - - - - £1 1 0
For full details of W. & A. K. JOHNSTON'S Wall Maps, Wall
Illustrations, Aliases, Terrestrial and Celestial Globes.
Scientific Works, &c. &c
SEE THEIR CATALOGUE, WHICH IS POSTED GRATIS TO AM? ADDRESS.
w. & a. kTTohnston,
tivvgrnuluri to the Quean, Educational and General Pub'Uhen,
(ESTABLISHED lh'tt.)
Edlna Works, Easter Road, and 16, South 8t. Andrew 3treet, Edinburgh ;
5, White Hart Street, Warwiok Lane, London, E.C.
8HARP * KBHT.
(Engineers anb flrlrrtricians,
84, VICTORIA STREET, WESTMINSTER,
Aft I)
10, PONT STREET, BELGRAVE SQUARE,
LOIVDON, ».W.
Many or the largest and most successful Electric
Light Plants in London were supplied by us.
ESTIMATES GIVEN FOR ALL KINDS OF ELECTRIC
UGHTtNO, ELECTRIC PUMPS, TRAMCARS, 4c.
A I ■-?■• Mate
{(CYCLOPEDIC CATALOGUE
LENDING DEPAKTMENT OF THE
UILLE-ALLES LIBRARY,
GUERNSEY.
COM r ILK i
LFRED COTGREAVEt Principal Librarian.
OonUinl** 40,000 Votumt*. of which 30.000 «re tnrfWh and 10l00O
f ffflofc Engliih Btolhn 1,000 ( ^ttion 257 99.
With PorlmiUof tli« Fcuadvr*, and Hrml V*»nr« oftliv Xrfbwy
and Kukuil
I Ota Bonn&tn Ojm, Gram m-«» . tu.ih.pru^ ,-*. M.
CO.. 138, STKAND.
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