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by the City librarian, the cost of which was defrayed by the Association. An attractive musical entertainment added to the interest of the meeting.

The nine lending libraries of the SHEFFIELD Public Library System were converted to card charging on December 1st, and a new system of registration of borrowers commenced, more than 18,000 enrolling during the first three weeks. The various types of indicators formerly in use have been abolished, and open shelves introduced.

The WARWICKSHIRE Rural Libraries Scheme is evidently one conducted on enterprising lines. We have received a small brochure entitled "Notes for the Guidance of Local Committees,' which lays down methods for receiving and distributing books and keeping. records, and two catalogues-one a catalogue of books in the Students' Library, which is a Dewey classified catalogue, with an author index and a subject index; the other a catalogue of books in the Carnegie Rural Libraries, which is in the dictionary form and is in two parts, the first being for adults and the second for children. In each case the cataloguing is of the brief variety, but it is well done, and should be much appreciated. The "Students' Library,' be it remarked, is a collection stationed at Warwick, which is lent to teachers, adult residents, and boys and girls in recognised schools over twelve years of age. These books are sent by post. It is quite distinct from the Rural Libraries, which are circulated in boxes on the approved Carnegie lines. The annual report of the Warwickshire Scheme for 1920-21, shows that there are 7,000 books in the Rural Libraries, which were purchased at an average cost of 3s. 5d. per volume, and that 16,460 books have been issued, of which 11,692 were fiction, adult and juvenile. The cost of the maintenance of the library was £752, while £3,584 was distributed as follows:-Building, £650; Alterations, etc., £1,328; Books, £1,235; Boxes, £77; Catalogue, £71; Furniture and Fittings, £223; Total, £3,584.

The latest addition to the Scheme is a small library of music, which seems to have been well selected.

The Scheme appears to be moving on very successful lines, upon which we congratulate the County Librarian, Mr. Duncan Gray.

OBITUARY.

The death of Mr. Robert Love Holmes, J.P., founder of the Glasgow and Rochdale firm of W. and R. Holmes, removes from the wholesale bookselling world a gentleman who in his day was one of the best-known figures in the northern trade. Mr. Holmes was a native of Kilbarchan, in Renfrewshire, where he was born on 12th December, 1843. He founded the business at Dunlop Street, Glasgow, in 1872, and rapidly made a connection with education and library authorities throughout Scotland. He had many friends among librarians, the number including the late James Duff Brown, Thomas Mason, the Barretts, father and son.

Mr. Holmes' wide bibliographical knowledge was ever at the service. of all comers, but he was very unassuming. Owing to failing health, he had to retire from active business some years ago. He passed away peacefully at Kilbarchan on 17th December.

REVIEWS

In a recently-published Committee Report entitled The Teaching of English in England* there is much valuable criticism and comment on the advisability of a closer understanding between the Education Authority and the Public Library Committee.

The Report strongly advocates the formation of school and class libraries, and goes on to say, "Many local authorities, though not all, supply books on a generous scale, and some of them have adopted schemes for the circulation of books to the schools, and issued lists of books for the guidance of teachers"; but, unfortunately, the Report does not state whether it is the Library Committee that has undertaken this work. In some towns the Library Committee makes the selection and attends to the mechanical side of the business, and the Education Authority either makes generous grants or bears the whole of the cost.

Visits to public libraries are, in the opinion of the Committee, very beneficial, and it is here again that only close co-operation can achieve this end.

Much good advice, and a little adverse criticism, is given on the question of the public library, and it is worth quoting :

The hopefulness of the generation which first established free libraries has been succeeded by some natural regrettable despondency because municipal libraries too often reflect the low literary standards of the communities in which they are established. "Books cannot teach the use of books," and even the provision of good books does not ensure that good use will be made of them. But a public library under enlightened management can be of immense assistance. (1) Every municipal library should seek to possess a complete collection of standard English authors, with copies of all the critical works, biographies, and books of reference needed by students of the English language and literature. (2) The Juvenile section should contain a number of sets of the best novels and tales of adventure, and the best books for boys' and girls' reading; useful lists have been issued by some of the local education authorities, and by other compilers. A children's readingroom, if managed by someone who really understands children's needs, is extremely useful at holiday times. 'Story-telling afternoons" during the Christmas holidays, organised by one public authority, offer an example worthy of imitation. (3) Though the principle of easy access to books is more generally understood than it used to be, there are still many public libraries where the use of books is restricted by vexatious formalities. (4) The purchase of sets of plays-to include Temple and "Mermaid" dramas and the best modern English plays and verse translations of ancient and foreign masterpieces --would render possible in many localities the formation of reading societies and dramatic clubs that would foster literary interest and taste. (5) Occasional lectures on books in the library, or on the literary associations of the district,

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*The Teaching of English in England: being the report of the Departmental Committee appointed by the President of the Board of Education to enquire into the position of English in the educational system of England. Lond.: Published by His Majesty's Stationery Office. 1921. Price, Is. 6d. 8vo. pp. xvi. +394.

are also helpful. (6) New books should be brought to the notice of the readers. not merely by the publication of lists but by placing the books where they can be inspected. (7) The official librarian's besetting temptation is to become a custodian rather than a distributor of books. His first duty should be to make his library widely useful and attractive. For this he requires wide knowledge of books, sympathies with many tastes and needs, a readiness to learn and a willingness to serve. (8) We attach great importance to cooperation between the public library committee and the local education committee. .. (9) The closer the connection between education and the public library the more likely we are to secure a larger number of enlightened librarians who understand not only complicated systems of cataloguing, but also the insides of the books which they handle.

There are, we know, many items in the foregoing excerpt that are actually in existence, and that the public library is in close co-operation with the Education authority, but the repetition will not be in vain, inasmuch as it demonstrates in what ways the public library can be of value to the education authorities. Quoting further from the Report :

In some towns, as, for example, in Halifax and Bradford, there is close co-operation between the schools and the municipal libraries, with most beneficial results. Pains are taken to prevent the reading habit formed in the elementary school from lapsing when the pupil leaves; the children are taken to the town libraries, or hear a lecture from the librarian, and they receive a ticket of membership of the public library on the day of leaving school. Libraries for general reading are furnished to the schools-in some cases on loan, in other cases as a permanent possession--the cost being generally borne by the education authority, while the labelling and cataloguing are done by the staff of the municipal library. We are advised that the management of the scheme is best put into the hands of a sub-committee consisting of members of the library and education committees, with the librarian as executive officer.

In conclusion, the Report's recommendations are, in reference to books and libraries :

1. That nothing is more vital for the spread of good literature than the supply of good editions of standard authors at a moderate cost.

2-That co-operation between the Public Library Committee and the Loca! Education Committee is of great importance.

3.That every Elementary School should possess its own library. 4. That in Secondary Schools the provision of a good library is at least as important as the provision of a good laboratory.

G. R. A.

NORTH MIDLAND LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

The Thirtieth Annual Meeting of the North Midland Library Association was held at Leicester on November 17th, 1921, by invitation of Mr. Alderman C. Squire, Chairman of the Leicester Public Libraries, Art Gallery, and Museum Committee.

The members to the number of 33 assembled at the School of Art in the Newarke, and were welcomed by Alderman Squire in the name of the Leicester Library Authorities. Alderman Foulds (President) replied, and then gave a report on the Manchester Conference, commenting on the various papers, and commending the admirable local arrangements and hospitality afforded to the members. Mr. Foulds quoted Lord Burnham's inspiring message, and also the speeches of the President and ex-President, all of whom were unanimous as to the value and importance of Public Libraries.

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1921-1922

With which is incorporated "The Clergy List."

THE new CROCKFORD is, and future editions will be, issued by Mr. Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press, and marks a considerable advance in compactness, together with a great saving in weight, as the following comparative figures will show:

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The 1921-1922 Crockford contains all the features of previous editions, and also includes for the first time a list of the rural deans of the Provinces of Canterbury and York. Welsh parishes shown under their own heading, a new diocesan map of England and Wales, and, where possible, telephone numbers.

ORDINARY PAPER

EDITION
£2 28. net.

OXFORD

PRICES:

OXFORD INDIA PAPER
EDITION
£3 3s. net.

UNIVERSITY PRESS

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Humphrey Milford

Amen Corner, E.C.4

The Coptic Series for Librarians.

In the Press

REVISED EDITION OF MR. W. C. BERWICK SAYERS' IMPORTANT STANDARD WORKS ON LIBRARY CLASSIFICATION.

""

INTRODUCTION TO LIBRARY CLASSIFICATION," embodying "THE SHORT COURSE IN PRACTICAL CLASSIFICATION" and CANONS OF CLASSIFICATION"; applied to "The Subject The Expansive," 'The Decimal," and "The Library of Congress Classifications."

Now Ready

" "

Cloth. 10s. 6d. net.

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THE FILM: Its Use in Popular Education. By M. Jackson Wrigley. With a Foreword by The Rt. Hon. Sir Gilbert Parker, Bart., and an Introduction by Walter A. Briscoe, F.L.A., City Librarian of Nottingham.

Cloth. 6s. net.

No one can read the book through without profit, or without being led into many a fresh and valuable new train of thought. It is by virtue of its strongly-marked attribute, of serving, time and again, as a suitable jumping-off ground for constructive fancy, that "The Film," by M. Jackson Wrigley, is likely to be of most value at the present time." Kinematograph Weekly.

GRAFTON & CO.,

COPTIC HOUSE, 7 & 8, COPTIC STREET, LONDON, W.C.1.

Mr. Brown (Northampton) opened the discussion with extracts from the paper given by Miss Reta Oldham on "The Library and the School," and concluded by advocating the preparation of a bibliography for young readers. He also adversely criticised the Conference as a whole, both as regards the worth of the papers and the general arrangements. Mr. Topping (Loughborough) endorsed Mr. Brown's remarks in some measure. On the other hand, Mr.

J. Potter Briscoe, Alderman Squire, Mr. Lowe, Alderman Foulds, Mr. Walton, etc., while agreeing that in some instances the papers were of less interest than usual, pointed out that others were of great value, especially when regarded from a wider point of view. They also spoke of the value of the visits paid to the libraries of Manchester, the interest to librarians of the various forms of library work that are being practised there, and also of the bibliographical treasures and the charm of the John Rylands and the Cheetham Libraries.

Mr. J. S. H. Bates, of the Leicester School of Art, gave a most interesting lecture and demonstration on "Bookbinding from the librarian's standpoint." The bookbinding department of the School of Art was afterwards visited.

Mr. E. E. Lowe (Leicester) had arranged a collection of prints and photographs illustrating "The Life and Work of Dante," and gave a fascinating account of the vicissitudes of Dante's life. Mr. Lowe also conducted the party round the Museum and Art Gallery, while others visited the Public Library under the guidance of Mr. T. H. Smith, the deputy librarian.

The Annual Business Meeting was held; the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. W. A. Briscoe gave a report of the Council meeting, and paid a tribute to the services rendered by Miss Pierce during the year; he also reported on the death of Mr. Cox, Ilkeston, a past president and valued friend of the Association. The members rose as a mark of respect and sympathy with the family.

The Hon. Treasurer, Mr. A. Vinen, reported upon the financial position. The year ends with a balance in hand of £1 6s. 31d., and 18 subscriptions still outstanding. The Annual Report having already appeared in print was taken as read. The Hon. Secretary reported on the joint meeting of the four Northern branches held at Ilkley on June 3rd and 4th, where valuable and successful work was done, and Miss Pierce was thanked for her resumé of the proceedings.

Mr. Alderman Squire proposed a vote of thanks to the retiring president, Mr. Alderman Foulds, which was carried with applause. The officers elected for the ensuing year were as follows:President, Mr. Alderman Charles Squire, Leicester. Hon. Sec., Miss K. E. Pierce, Kettering. Hon. Treas., Mr. A. Vinen, Leek. Hon. Auditor, Mr. F. Topping, Loughborough. Council: Mr. W. A. Briscoe, chairman; Messrs J. Potter Briscoe, R. W. Brown, A. Hooper, E. E. Lowe, W. Walton, W. P. Woolston, with the officers as ex-officio members.

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