and which, therefore, can legitimately look for support from the general public or are the objects of statutory provision." We believe this principle is founded on an assumption which is unproven, i.e., that the public, or the Legislature, support those things which have shown their worth. We think, too, that the Trustees are gradually withdrawing from their connection with libraries, although they never expressly indicate this; and, if this is so, we cannot believe it to have been the intention, or to reflect the spirit, of their Founder. REVIEWS. LIBRARY PUBLICATIONS. The January issue of the most ambitious of all staff journals. "THE MANCHESTER LIBRARIAN," includes a portrait of Mr. Ernest Axon, the new President of the Manchester Library Fellowship. Mr. Axon's Presidential Address, which is printed in this issue, deals with The Reference Library," particularly with regard to its value and functions in the library system, in a most interesting manner. To show the possible value to a community of a good reference library he gives a most striking instance from the story of that town. The promotion of the Manchester Ship Canal, to which the city owes so much, was largely the result of the research of Mr. J. W. Harvey, who studied the subject in the Manchester Reference Library. Had there been no library there would probably have been no canal! LIBRARY BULLETINS: Gateshead, Nottingham, Islington, and Warrington. These four bulletins to hand this month, with their varying features and arrangement, serve to illustrate the value and possibilities of the library periodical. All are excellent examples, and where one, for example the Nottingham bulletin, may devote more space to popular notes than those of Islington and Warrington, these are left free to supply larger lists of additions. The point raised is one of policy. Is it the function of the bulletin to provide first and foremost a supplementary catalogue of additions, or is there an advantage in sacrificing this list in order to provide matter of popular interest and publicity value? Confronted with the delightful ever-green (both literally-as regards the cover-and metaphorically) production of Mr. Walter A. Briscoe, a magazine full of well-presented matter, as one may expect of a bulletin edited by the Chairman of a Publicity Committee, one is lead to wonder whether the advertising worth of this periodical is not more to be desired than the well catalogued list issued by Islington. However, whatever the aim of the bulletin may be, its desirability and effectiveness cannot be gainsaid. The Gateshead Library Record includes an article of local interest, and the entries are very well annotated, while the Warrington Readers' Guide contains the continuation of the classified catalogue. From WEST HARTLEPOOL we have received a neat little " Classified list of books recently added," arranged in accordance with the Brown scheme, which should be most useful to the readers. Messrs. Cedric Chivers, Ltd., of Bath, seem to be experimenting in the direction of a library edition" somewhat on the lines suggested by Mr. L. S. Jast at the Southport conference; that is to say, an edition which is on good paper and is bound in the strongest manner. We have seen Dickens's David Copperfield from Messrs. CHIVERS, and it is a pleasing book in many ways a sort of variorum edition with critical appreciations from various authors. The binding is half or whole niger, as ordered, the former costing 8s. 6d., the latter 25s. The back is covered with names from the contents of the book. We welcome the experiment, but Messrs. Chivers must modify it if it is to please us. The back is so crowded that it leaves no room for library and class-marks. Moreover, an unillustrated American edition of Dickens will not do for British use-we want "Phiz" and Cruikshank (and Furniss) in company with our Dickens. LIBRARY ASSOCIATION AND LIBRARY The cordial invitation of the Dutch Library Association to visit Holland at Whitsun has been accepted by the respective Councils of our two British Associations, and I have been asked to undertake the necessary arrangements. It is hoped that the party will leave Fenchurch Street, London, on Saturday afternoon, the 3rd June, and travel to Rotterdam by the Batavier Steamship Line from Tilbury. They will be received in Holland at Rotterdam next day by the Dutch Committee. Visits will be made to the Library of the Commercial High School, Rotterdam, the Public Library of Delft, the Library and Buildings of the Palace of Peace at the Hague, the Libraries at Haarlem, the Leiden University, Scheveningen, Bussum, Hilversum, Utrecht, and Rotterdam; as well as the great Public Library at Amsterdam and the old Jewish Library and Museum. Various excursions will be made, including a steamer drawboat trip to Marken and Volendam. As will be seen, the excursion will cover the principal, most curious and most beautiful parts of Holland, and will more or less take the form of a circular itinerary round the country. The precise cost of the excursion cannot yet be fixed, but it is estimated that the combined returned fare will be: First Class, £5 10s.; and Second Class, £3 10s.; and that the cost in Holland will be from £1 to £1 5s. daily. It is proposed to return from Rotterdam by the night boat on Friday, 9th June. Fuller particulars of arrangements, as soon as they are available, will be sent to anyone who writes to me for them. All members of both Associations are invited to join the excursion, and we shall be happy if they care to bring friends with them. It will be necessary for me to know the names of intending travellers on or before 10th May. THE CENTRAL LIBRARY, TOWN HALL, CROYDON. W. C. BERWICK SAYERS. LIBRARY ASSOCIATION— ANNUAL MEETING AT BLACKBURN. On Thursday, February 9th, the Annual Meeting of the Branch was held at Blackburn. Those present, numbering about fifty, included Sir Lewis Beard (Town Clerk); Alderman Abbott, President of the Library Association; Mr. R. J. Howard, Chairman of the Library, Museum and Art Committee, Blackburn; Alderman Martin, M.A., J.P. (St. Helens), and representatives of the chief towns in the district. Mr. R. Ashton, Chief Librarian and Curator, Blackburn, occupied the chair in the earlier part of the proceedings. A letter was read from Alderman J. Fielding, J.P. (Mayor of Blackburn) regretting his inability to be present. Mr. J. W. Singleton (Hon. Secretary and Treasurer) submitted the Annual Report of the Council and Statement of Accounts as follows: The Council beg to submit the following Report for the year 1921. MEMBERSHIP. At the close of the year the membership stood at 136; the particulars being Fellows, 54 (50); Members, 7 (12); Associate Members, 8 (10); Student Member, 1 (0); Institution Members, 49 (46); "Local" Members, 17 (17); Total, 136. The figures in brackets indicate the year 1920. The membership for the past five years has been: 1917, 119; 1918, 123; 1919, 129; 1920, 135; 1921, 136. When it is known there are persons eligible for membership the Secretary communicates with them; but there may be some unknown to him, and it is only by the co-operation of all members that the strength of the Branch can be maintained or increased. Will members please assist ? MEETINGS. The following Meetings have been held : January 28th.--Annual Meeting at Liverpool. June 3rd and 4th.-Joint Conference of the Branch Library Associations at Ilkley. October 26th.-General Meeting at Wallasey. The thanks of the Council have been tendered to those who have assisted towards the success of the meetings, particularly in making the necessary arrangements, in providing hospitality, and by contributing papers. Three meetings of the Council have been held. PAPERS AND ADDRESSES. "The failure of the public library and the present opportunity." By " At the Ilkley Conference a paper was contributed by Mr. G. T. Shaw, Chief Librarian, Liverpool, on The value of Branch Associations and suggestions for their greater use by the Library Association." Visits of Inspection have been paid to two Liverpool Branch Libraries, where the main view point was that of Children's Departments, and to the new Town Hall at Wallasey. EDUCATION. The usual arrangements for the Library Association Examination Centres have been made. It was not found possible to arrange a Summer School. L. M. D. Through the good offices of Mr. McAdam (Warrington) the Balance standing in the name of this defunct association has been received the amount being £6 15s. JOINT CONFERENCE AT ILKLEY. Having regard to the meagre facilities for travelling due to the coal strike, reaching Ilkley was something of an adventure, but those who found it possible to meet representatives of neighbouring branches in conference at the little Yorkshire health resort were amply rewarded for their trouble. The meeting was a distinct success in every way. There was a ready and real discussion of the papers, and a feeling of fellowship obtained which seems impossible in the larger annual gatherings of the Library Association. Very many wishes were expressed for a repetition of the experiment in 1922, and Buxton has been suggested as the place of meeting. FINANCE. The year commenced with a balance in hand of £1 8s. 9d. The Receipts amounted to £29 2s. 9d. and the payments £22 18s. 1d, leaving £7 13s. 5d. to carry forward. This condition of affairs is almost entirely due to retrenchments. Members will be interested to know that the Library Association Council have agreed to our proposal to increase the Capitation Grant which for 1921 will be at the rate of 8s. instead of 4s. R. ASHTON, President. JOHN W. SINGLETON, Hon. Secretary. NORTH-WESTERN BRANCH. £ s. 1 8 9 ... " 0 10 Capitation Grant (1920) 21 16 commission) 0006 6 15 2 69 Audited and found correct. JOHN W. SINGLETON, Hon. Treasurer. Blackburn, 9th Feby., 1922. The Report and Financial Statement were approved. The President of the Library Association, having expressed his pleasure in being asked to move the election of Alderman Martin as President of the Branch for the ensuing two years, remarked that the new president played a prominent part in the municipal life of St. Helens. He had been elected mayor on five occasions, and his membership of the Library and Museum Committee at St. Helens extended over a period of 34 years; for 30 years past he had been Chairman of that Committee. His interest in matters educational was rewarded by the conferring upon him by the Liverpool University of the hon. degree of Master of Arts. Alderman Martin was unanimously elected, and in returning thanks urged the necessity for securing the best service for the public in libraries. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the retiring President (Mr. Ashton) for his services during the past two years. The following Vice-Presidents and Officers were elected :- Hon. Secretary and Treasurer: J. W. Singleton. Hon. Secretary Education Committee: J. Pomfret. The Scrutineers of the ballot for the election of four members to serve on the Council for a period of three years reported the success of Miss Fearnside (45 votes), G. Fletcher (44), J. McAdam (39), S. Lamb (31), W. Higson and J. Harding being the unsuccessful candidates. The subject of "Summer Schools was introduced for discussion by Mr. J. Pomfret, Chief Librarian, Darwen. After outlining the history of the movement, Mr. Pomfret suggested that the time taken by assistants in attending the School should not count at all as holiday time. The cost of the school was prohibitive if it was not held within easy reach of a large group of libraries. The value to an assistant (and incidentally to the library) was in associating with other assistants and receiving instruction from someone outside his own library. Several members took part in the discussion, the general view apparently being in favour of more continuous instruction than that which could be provided by a short course at a Summer School. Mr. G. T. Shaw, Chief Librarian, Liverpool, expressed the view that if the L.A. Record was to be of service to the profession more interest must be taken in it by the librarians, particularly in the correspondence columns and by contributing short articles. He outlined a proposal for collecting items of interest in various centres and taking measures for bringing it to the notice of library workers in the pages of the official journal. At the close of the meeting the members were entertained to tea at the invitation of the Chairman and members of the Library, Museum and Art Committee, Blackburn. The new president, Alderman Abbott, and Councillor Snell (Accrington) voiced the vote of thanks of the members therefor. CORRESPONDENCE. TO THE EDITOR of The Library World. THE AGE LIMIT AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM. SIR,--I had a talk recently with an eminent physician who is also a great scholar, and he told me that the best years for learning were between the ages of 16 and 21. Is it not astonishing then that the British Museum Library requires me to be 21 before I may enter its sacred Reading Room? This rule is a probable survival of the eighteenth century; it is, in any case, in violent conflict with modern needs and notions. As a library school student I need the British Museum, but this silly, insulting rule excludes me. A girl of 20 is not a child, and is as capable of using books intelligently and carefully as any greyheaded man who is allowed either to enter or to administer that Library. Can you help to remove this mediæval restriction? Yours truly, A STUDENT. BOOK-PLATES FOR LIBRARIES We have special facilities for executing fine steel engraved Book-Plates. GRAFTON & CO., COPTIC HOUSE, 7 & 8 COPTIC ST., LONDON, W.C.1. |