Judging the Conference by the joke snatching press reports I concluded that of all the futile meetings this was the most futile. Why do the papers so unanimously omit all that is essential, interesting, and vital in the affairs of this world? Even the best of them paid far more attention to jokes than to libraries. However, I have since returned to civilization and learned that our Conference was misrepresented-that, in reality, its sessions were even overcrowded with important papers and excellent discussions. Nevertheless it is interesting to see ourselves as we are presented to others, for once in a while.

Besides, these jokes are all part of the sauce served up with quite good meat. Each of them leads us to interesting topics open to discussion. First of all we have

GRAMOPHONES.

Professor Walford Davies is reported, throughout the world it seems, to have said that "A book about music was as barren, unless they had a chance of listening to it, as a cookery book was barren if they had no chance of tasting a dish." Let that be my text. There can be few librarians, not even excepting yourself, Callimachus, who are more fond of music than Aristonymus is; nor more keen that all and sundry should share his enjoyment, nor more desirous that the public library should do all in its power to spread and maintain the love of this most civilizing art, the art which can give the most lasting, perennial happiness in the cheapest possible way.

But the writer jibs at gramophones in libraries, for several reasons. In the first place it is not part of our function. Let Prof. Davies perceive the logical outcome of his statement. If a book about music is barren unless (in this particular proposition) a public library provides gramophones, a cookery book is barren unless-what? Unless we give away

FREE TARTS.

Which is absurd. The real point has been missed. We have been sidetracked into an absurdity. A cookery book is to teach people how to make tarts and a book about music is to help people to make music and by " making music " I mean performing it when possible, and, when not, understanding it as performed by others. What we have to do is not to provide the performance but the means for performance and of understanding and appreciating that performance. I am not saying that a communal gramophone service would not be quite a good idea-though a communal orchestra and opera house would be better. What I am saying is that the best thing is

MUSIC IN THE HOME.

And it is there that we can help so much that it would be foolish to dream of diverting our income into any other channel. Our work is to provide scores, scores and scores of scores, piano-scores, vocal scores, and-to a much less extent-full scores, and such books as will help our readers to interpret and appreciate them and the works which are on too big a scale to admit of home performance. Printed music is very expensive, and we cannot hear

and play too much; therefore the library cannot possibly, under present or probable future conditions, have enough money for any but the legitimate provision of printed matter.

When the happy days arrive when music is played in every home there will no doubt be a demand for opportunities for all to hear both the works that are beyond the amateur's technique and those that need a wider co-operation than is found in the home. But the real musical life of a country is made up of amateur endeavour, the chamber performances of friends, the performances of choral and orchestral societies, and, above all, the playing and singing in the family circle. The real music lover will play days and weeks for every hour he listens. It is those people whom the library is bound to assist.

Well, Callimachus, after all this I really must go and do as I have been preaching. I brought some new music from the library last night. I simply must go and play.

Yours,-ARISTONYMOUS.

[The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions of the writers of "LETTERS ON OUR AFFAIRS."]

[Readers are invited to send us items of news for this column. Brief Notes on innovations, interesting happenings, appointments and changes and other local items of general interest are particularly welcome.]

We have received the pamphlet issued by the SHEFFIELD Adult Education Joint Committee on the facilities for non-vocational education which exists for adults in the city. It is a most valuable co-ordinating of lectures arranged by the Committee, by the public libraries, and by the various public and social associations of the town. From our point of view its feature is the interesting list, which occupies eight pages, of books on the subjects of the lectures which are to be found in the public libraries. The public library itself plays a very prominent part in the pamphlet, and shows itself to be one of the main, if not the main, instruments of adult education in Sheffield. We congratulate all concerned in having placed Sheffield definitely again upon the library map.

The GRIMSBY Council has decided to reduce the library estimates for the next six months by about £400-an action which was rightfully described by Councillors Eason and Wilkinson as "the meanest thing they could do." We beg to congratulate these gentlemen upon their plain speaking and sound sense.

A Technical and Scientific Library has been opened in the old Y.M.C.A. buildings adjoining the MANCHESTER Reference Library. There is every reason to believe that this department will prove as valuable as the Commercial Library, which is now used by an average of 400 readers per day.

The CROYDON Junior Libraries have received a gift of three stereoscopes, and it is expected that they will serve an interesting purpose with the children.

LIBRARY REPORTS

BROMLEY (BOROUGH). Twenty-Sixth Annual Report of the Public Library Committee, 1921-22. Librarian, Herbert Alderton. Income, £1,892; from rate £1,655. Expenditure: Books, binding and periodicals, £412; General, including Salaries, £1,577. Stock (not differentiated) 28,853. Issues: 176,375, an increase of 19,845.

The Junior Library is being re-organized in order to include reading and reference room, and the School Libraries are being revised. Library lessons are to be tried. 11 popular lectures to adults were given and 5 to children; and a thorough use of the lecture rooms by local societies is recorded. A little more definiteness in the expenditure account would improve a very satisfactory report.

CHELMSFORD (BOROUGH). Annual Statement of the Librarian and Curator for the two years ending March 31st, 1922. Librarian and Curator, John W. Howarth. Income and Expenditure, No Statement. Stock: Lending, 9,088; Reference, 2,694. Issues: Lending (1921-22), 67,996.

There is little comment to be made upon this brief statement beyond drawing attention to the remarkable use made of a very small stock-on an average every book was issued seven and a half times. This should be a clear indication to the Council that a much increased rate is urgently required -a point emphasised by the librarian's statement that There has been an increasing demand from young people to use the library. They are taught to read, and the teachers try to give them some idea of what kind of books to read after leaving. They are told to use the Public Library, but the space and stock are quite inadequate to their requirements." Although it is a great pity that such a state of affairs should come about (both here and in several other libraries) through the former inadequacy of the library rate, it is a very healthy sign, and one for which the remedy is obvious. WILTS COUNTY EDUCATION COMMITTEE. Third Annual Report of the Libraries Sub-Committee, for the year ending 31st July, 1922.

This report clearly indicates the problem of the rural library. 250 villages have been supplied with library centres, yet there remains, in addition to 16 towns, another 41 parishes which are so small that it is proposed to supply them with books from adjacent villages. Here is an instance where a library on wheels would be useful.

We feel that this scheme is worked on right lines. There is active co-operation between the library and the schools. By a school reading scheme, controlled from the library, each child has the opportunity of reading 8 books a year during school hours. This reading of graded and well-selected books under the control of the teachers must foster a proper appreciation of books.

This scheme does not make the mistake of only providing for the children. Over 60 per cent. of the books are for adults, the issues of which represent 50 per cent. of the grand total. This is excellent, for the report says, “the task of coaxing these people to read anything above the level of the newspaper is a difficult one." The issues have doubled during the past year, although only nine new centres have been opened, and we feel that the average reading of each book 5.36 times during a loan of six months is an indication that the books have been well-selected, and that the local librarians-especially the teachers have been showing great enthusiasm for their work. Yet we hear all round that the teacher has no interest in the children after school hours. In the expenditure of £653, two items are worthy of notice, viz., Carriage £125, and Postages £21. Transport is the most acute problem of rural libraries. This is a well-written report, with no elaborations, and no mention of the librarian and his staff-the report speaks for them.

"

SHOREDITCH (METROPOLITAN BOROUGH). Public Libraries: ThirtyFirst Annual Report, 1921-22. Librarian, William C. Plant. Population, 104,308. Income: £7,995 (from 2.27d. rates, £7,778). Expenditure: Books, binding and periodicals, £1,594; Fabric charges, £1,609 (loans £546); Salaries (16 persons), £4,104. Stock Lending, 45,693; reference, 12,118; Children's, 1,272. Issues lending, 217,392; reference, 25,714; children's reading room, 9,448.

If there is any district in London that appeals to the sympathetic interest of the public it is Shoreditch. As the Mayor remarked in opening the Junior Lending Library (we appeal to Mr. Plant to drop the objectionable word Juvenile ")" there was not much sunshine that penetrated into the lives of youngsters who thronged our streets," or adults either; and the public libraries, with their liberal and useful activities, mean much to the Borough. The Junior Library, opened on 1st October, was the feature of the year. The issues are a 40,303 increase on last year. Seven lectures, of great importance, were given. A good report.

COVENTRY PUBLIC LIBRARIES. The Reader's Bulletin, Vol I., No. 1, Nov. Dec., 1922. One Penny.

This is the latest comer, and a worthy one, to the ranks of library bulletins. It is modelled in general on the Croydon Reader's Index and the Norwich Reader's Guide, but is much simpler in its typography than the first of these. Notes, a plan of the Gulson (Central) Library, and a synopsis of the classification, precede book entries which are arranged in strict classification order under the main Class headings, and not alphabetically under those headings as in the Croydon bulletin. The notes are on the most approved plan. It would improve the entries if the names of publishers were added after the date.

GENERAL.

Dark, Sidney, THE NEW READING PUBLIC. A lecture delivered under the auspices of " The Society of Bookmen." 8vo, wrappers, 24 pp. George Allen and Unwin, Ltd., 1922. 1s. net.

A reference to this pamphlet was made by Mr. Stanley Unwin in his paper read at the Library Association Conference at Cardiff, and librarians will no doubt read it with as much interest as the members of the book trade to whom it was originally addressed. Alcock (G. W.) FIFTY YEARS OF RAILWAY TRADE UNIONISM. Cloth, imperial 8vo, xvi., 632 pp., illus., folding plate. Published for The National Union of Railwaymen, 1922. 10s 6d net.

A history of one of the largest Trade Unions in the country formed by the amalgamation of many sectional unions beginning in the early seventies. Hertzberg (Max J.) THE WORLD OF BOOKS. A Guide to Reading for Young People, in which may be found Volumes of Many Kinds, Both Grave and Gay. Third edition, paper, 8vo, 64 pp. Boston, Mass., The Palmer Company. 30 cents.

This guide to reading for senior school pupils has been compiled by the head of the English Department of the Central High School, Newark, N.J., and the earlier editions have had a wide circulation among teachers and others.

JUVENILES.

Richards (John N.) DRAMATISED RHYTHM PLAYS, MOTHER GOOSE AND TRADITIONAL. Illustrated with Photographs and Music. Quarto, cloth, pp. 58. London: Grafton & Co., New York: Barnes, 1922. 12s 6d net.

One of the charming series of Children's Dance Books, intended not only for the classroom teacher but for all specialists in Physical Education. The compiler has planned his work satisfactorily to meet the transition of Physical Education activities between the kindergarten stage and the first years of, the primary school. Many favourite airs are to be found in this volume.

Colby (Gertrude K.) NATURAL RHYTHMS AND DANCES. Illustrated with Music. Quarto, cloth, pp. 106. London: Grafton & Co.; New York, Barnes, 1922. 12s 6d net.

This dance book is divided into three main sections, Child Rhythms, Studies, and Natural Dances. The music of the dances is taken from classical composers, Chopin, Schubert, Beethoven, Grieg, Schumann, Tschaikowsky, and others. The steps are described in terms of natural, instinctive rhythms such as walking, skipping, hopping, running, and leaping. The aim of the series is to carry on the rhythms of childhood to a higher form of the art of dancing.

Dawson (R. Macgregor) THE PRINCIPLE OF OFFICIAL INDEPENDENCE; with particular reference to the political history of Canada. With an introduction by Graham Wallas. 8vo, xvi., 268 pp. P. S. King & Son, Ltd., 1922. 10s 6d Lea (John W.) BRITAIN'S DECLINE: Her Economic Disorder and its only remedy. With a foreword by Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland. 8vo, xiv., 79 pp., boards. Birmingham: Cornish Bros., Ltd., 1922.

Cotterill (H. B.) A HISTORY OF ART. Vol I, Down to the Age of Raphael. 8vo, xxviii., 442 pp., cloth, fully illustrated. G. C. Harrap & Co., Ltd., 1922. 42s net.

Gummere (Richard Mott) SENECA THE PHILOSOPHER AND HIS MODERN MESSAGE in the "Our Debt to Greece and Rome series. Cr. 8vo, pp. 150, cloth. G. C. Harrap & Co., Ltd., 1922. 5s net.

CHILDREN'S Book of KnowlEDGE, Part IV. Cassell & Co., Ltd., 1922. 1s 3d. per part.

HET BOEK, October, 1922. The Hague; Nijhoff.

CORRESPONDENCE

TO THE EDITOR OF The Library World.

SIR,

EASTER, 1923, EXCURSION TO PARIS.

So far as I am able to estimate at present, the probable cost of this Excursion will be £8 10s. Of course, I am quite unable to say that this will be the final cost, as the exchange is in a state of considerable flux and the railways will probably have introduced reduced fares before Easter. I think, however, I can safely say that any change in the figure will be in the direction of reducing it. Yours faithfully,

W. C. BERWICK SAYERS.

The Central Library, Town Hall, CROYDON.