coin wrappers, currency straps, etc.; but the new venture, necessitating, as it did, a good deal of experimental work, and a larger range of stock, was not immediately successful from the financial point of view. At that time business looked black indeed, and a well-meaning friend advised the two enterprising young men to go back to banking as a career. Undaunted, however, they decided to struggle through, and their persistence was rewarded

by a decided turn for the better in the eighth year of business, so that in 1908 the elder brother was able to resign his position in the bank, and his partner followed him in 1909. Once able to devote their whole time and energies to the business, the brothers advanced with rapid strides. The great test of every new article put on the market was that it should be asked for by two librarians, after which they found it would be a "sure-fire winner." From extraordinarily small beginnings the business has increased to such an extent in ten years that at the present time as much business is done per day as was done per year at the beginning of the venture.

The work is under the personal supervision of an experienced and trained librarian, and the co-operation of other librarians is frequently obtained. Suggestions for new supplies needed, or constructive criticism leading to the improvement of articles already manufactured, is welcomed by the firm.

At Gaylord's the librarian's every need is catered for, and on a generous scale. Pamphlet binders galore, publicity material, complete repairing outfits, reading-room supplies, folding boxes, case and shelf labels with the Dewey Decimal numbers, most useful to the British librarian who employs the Dewey Decimal Classification, are among the many articles manufactured by this progressive firm. The illustrations that accompany this article need little additional description, for the utility of the supplies is self-evident. The firm of Gaylord Bros. has, of necessity, been somewhat restricted in its dealings with British libraries owing to the fact that their supplies were not known on this side, but this difficulty has now been overcome by the recent establishment of an agency in London, where librarians can inspect samples and where enquiries and orders can receive attention without trouble or delay. It is expected that this new arrangement will lead to the introduction of Gaylord Library Supplies into a large and increasing number of British libraries.

COVENTRY PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

During the past few years the growth in the stock of books at the Gulson Library at Coventry has compelled the Committee to make considerable alterations to relieve the congestion. These alterations have now been completed. The departments of the library now comprise the following:

(1) The General Reference Hall, comprising the P or Public Collection (on open shelves) of ready-reference and "key" books; the History and Topography bays; the Education bays; the Literature gallery; and the Philosophy and Religion gallery.

(2) The Commercial and Technical Reference Room (illustrated). A development of the original commercial section, much augmented by co-operative work with the Coventry Chamber of Commerce. (3) The Home Reading Hall (illustrated).

(4) The Fiction Room.

(5) The Newsroom.

(6) The Fretton Room of Coventry and Warwickshire Literature, The Commercial Section, established as a part of the Reference Library in June, 1915, is one of the most important departments of the Gulson Library. It now contains nearly 2,500 volumes and about 5,000 pamphlets; the periodicals regularly received number 185, and these include commercial periodicals from all parts of the world. The Gulson Library is within a few steps of Broadgate, which is the business centre of Coventry; and the Commercial Library is conveniently situated on the ground floor, just inside the main entrance. The whole department is conducted on the open shelf system. A considerable amount of business is transacted by letter and telephone. Since 1917 one firm alone has sent over seventy letters to the library, and the telephone calls from the same firm have been probably twice as numerous.

For a long time the Home Reading Department has been unsatisfactory. A small extension of it was built about ten years ago; but at length the Committee were compelled to remove it to the large hall, where it has been possible to display all the stock of this valuable department, and to provide more room for the public. Additional shelf room can be provided in this hall by the erection of two side galleries.

LETTERS ON OUR AFFAIRS.

DEAR ARISTONYMOUS,

YOUR HIGH DRAMA.

I have received a letter from a distinguished and gentle friend, who, writing more in grief than in anger, expresses his regret at the tone, and particularly the "langwidge," of your Headache Hall. I have replied in all humility-though why I should be your apologist I don't know--that the youth of this unregenerate day do use such speech and think such thoughts; and that in all probability you thought you were not writing for babes and sucklings. There is a dignity in things, however, and you must respect it, even if, as you may well retort, the swear-words of to-day become the polite conversation of the morrow. Personally, I think your dramatic skit on Bernard Shaw's article in The Librarian was really clever ; and I hear that certain histrionically-inclined members of the L.A. propose to produce it at an Annual Meeting to lend muchneeded light relief to what is usually a solemn business.

CRITICISM.

Which reminds me,-A certain young librarian in the Midlands has expressed his view that the Manchester Conference was indifferent both in papers and in general organization; and he even went to the length of saying that it was wrong to expect committees to send delegates to such useless meetings. As a criticism I have rarely read anything more fantastically foolish. It shows. that the speaker failed entirely to comprehend the purport of the Conference; but what I am more concerned about is the unwisdom that expresses such injurious opinions in an open meeting in the presence of members of library committees. And, as it is a foolish opinion, so it is an unfair and ungenerous one to our Manchester hosts, who did everything possible for our pleasure and profit. Someday the speaker may grow up, I hope.

INTERNATIONAL WORK.

It was my hope that much would have been heard of an International Easter School this year. Last year there was a small one, as you will remember, in Brussels, and thereafter the Record's own particular scribe, the unknown F.B., waxed enthusiastic about a possible library visit to Italy. I also seem to have heard of an anticipated visit to Holland. This has all come to nothing, I suppose, which is a pity, as the time is auspicious for re-knitting the friendships made before the war with foreign librarians. In the old days