HAVING observed, with pleasure, that the Scots Magazine is al ways ready to insert intelligence respecting useful institutions which may be formed in our native land, I presume it will be agreeable to communicate to the public, through its medium, an account of the Glasgow Public Library.

In perusing the literary notices in several periodical publications, I have observed, that those who wished to 'form similar institutions have been frequently at a loss how to make a beginning, and how to frame their regulations. The following history of the rise and progress of this institution is curious, and will serve to shew how very easy it is for two or three active people to establish a library and as the regulations have at least the merit of being on public principles, and have been found to answer the purpose remarkably well in practice, I should like to see them inserted in our valuable national Miscellany · verbatim, and I have sent you a copy for that purpose.

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This library was established in 1804. In the summer of that year, two gentlemen, when conversing on subjects of this nature, were frequently led to regret the want, in this large commercial city, of a library on public, liberal principles, and which night be easy of access to all ranks of the community.

remedy the evil, they held several meetings with their acquaintances, but on discussing the subject of a new institution on broad principles, they found so many difficulties constantly started, that they almost despaired of

being able to accomplish their purpose. At this period, (2d July,) a lucky thought occurred, which was, that two members were quite sufficient draw up regulations, pay their entryto establish a library. They could money, and purchase books. If any others joined them it was well; if not,

the institution would be useful as far as it went. This was immediately

operated upon. Regulations were drawn up, and the entry was fixed at 12 s., which being paid, they purchased Paley's natural theology, and the Earl of Lauderdale's essay on public wealth; and ordered the Scots Magazine, monthly Magazine, and monthly Review. One of them became librarian, and the other held all the redifficulties had been started when the maining offices. Although so many subject was merely talked over, they

found

very little difficulty in obtaining subscribers to a plan already matured, and they were obtained the commodated with books as soon as more readily, that they could be acthey put down their names.

The en

*The only libraries then in the city were a few circulating libraries, the nature of which is well known; and Stirling's library, where the price of admission was L.5. 5s.

library was instituted in form. Another meeting was held on the third day of January 1805, when officebearers were appointed, and the library has since flourished in a very eminent degree. The following ab

stract

Abstract of the Regulations of the Glasgow Public Library, instituted Dec. 10. 1804. PREAMBLE.

To provide for the means of diffusing Literature and Knowledge, is an object of the greatest importance to society, and claims the attention of every friend to mankind,

To answer this end it is judged a mat. ter of great utility, to establish a Public Library in the City of Glasgow, open under proper regulations, to all who may be inclined to take the benefit of it, upon paying a small sum annually, towards its maintenance and increase.

For establishing such a Library, the Subscribers have agreed upon the following articles of institution.

1.- Unalterable. Each Subscriber shall pay of entry-money, Twelve Shil

lings, and the like sum shall be paid by all who join them at any future period.

2. Each member shall continue to pay an annual contribution of Ten Shillings and Sixpence. The first payment to commence on the first Wednesday of January next, 1805: After which, and in all time coming, those who enter betwixt the first of January and the first of April, shall pay a full year's contribution. Those who enter betwixtthe first of April and the first of October, shall pay a half year's contribution: -And those who enter betwixt the first of October and the first of January, shall be free till January. It being always understood that such payments. are over and above the entry-money.

3. All the money which may be raised in virtue of this Institution shall be laid out in Books of approven merit, only, and of which a judgement will be formed by a majority of the members at each general meeting.

4. There shall be Four General Meetings held every year, viz. On the first Wednesday of January-the first Wednesday of April-the first Wednesday of July-and the first Wednesday of October. Intimation of the place and hour of meeting, to be sent to each member by the Secretary or Librarian, three days before the meetings take place. Extraordinary general meetings, upon special affairs, may at any time, be called by the Curators; or, upon a request made to them, under the hand of any twelve Subscribers, which they, eight days after such request, and are obliged to comply with, withia,

cause the same to be intimated accordingly; and the meeting cannot be held sooner than three days after the intimation.

5. The Management of this Institution shall be vested in a Committee, consisting of nine Curators, Treasurer, Secretary, and Librarian; of whom four, shall at all times be a quorum. The mode of election of these office-bearers shall be thus: the presiding Subscriber shall put the question, Who of the persons in the list of Subscribers shall be first Curator? and shall, in presence of the meeting, take a solemn promise from the person on whom the choice has fallen, That he shall discharge the duties of his office with fidelity. The person so elected, being thence

forth

forth Preses of the meeting, shall proceed to take the votes for the second, third, and so on till the ninth is chosen. The election of Treasurer, Secretary, and Librarian, will be conducted in the same manner. The offices of Treasurer and Secretary may be vested in one or two persons, as the meeting may think proper; who, with the Librarian, may be continued at pleasure: Bat three of the Curators must go out, and three others be elected in their place annually. Such outgoings to be regulated by the order of election, of which a record will be kept, and at every succeeding election, the three who are at the head of the list will go out, and three who are newly elected will be added to the foot of the list. The first election will take place at the first general meeting;-the second, on the first Wednesday of January 1806; and every first Wednesday of January thereafter, shall be the anniversary for the general election of office-bearers.

3d January, 1806. The following addition was made to the above regulation.

When any vacancy takes place in the Curacy by death or resignation, those who are elected to fill up the vacancy shall be added to the foot of the List of Curators in the order of election.

6. The Treasurer shall have the management of the Society's funds, and the Secretary shall have the management of the minutes and correspondence. No salary shall be allowed to either, but both offices shall be purely honorary,

7. The Librarian, who will also be Under Secretary, shall have the management of the books of the Library, subject to the Rules for its government; and may, or may not have a salary, as circumstances shall direct.

8. A meeting of the Committee shall be held on the Wednesday previous to each general meeting, when the Treasurer shall lay a state of his transactions before them, for the purpose of being audited and settled, and the balance in his hands ascertained. They will then inform themselves as to the state of the Library, and make out a report thereon, to be laid before the general meeting. They will also prepare, to be laid before the general meeting, a list of such Books as they would recommend for the use of the Library. And the better to

enable them to prepare this list, every member is invited to lodge with the Librarian, before the Committee meetings take place, a memorandum of such Books, not exceeding five in number, as meet his approbation.

3d January, 1806. The first Curator and Secretary shall have power to call a meeting of the Committee as often as they think necessary, of which the Secretary shall give proper notice to all the members the day before such meetings take place; and it shall be incumbent on every member to attend, or to send a written excuse to the satisfaction of the meeting, under the penalty of Two Shillings and Sixpence. But if any member neglect to attend, or to send an excuse for two meetings running, such negligence shall not only subject him to two fines of Two Shillings and Sixpence each, but shall also be considered as a resignation of office; in consequence of which, the Subscribers shall, at the next general meeting, elect another in his place.

9. At each quarterly general meeting, a Report of the proceedings of the Committee shall be laid before the members for their approbation. The foregoing list of Books shall also be laid before them, from which they shall make a selection, with any additions they may judge proper, and give orders to the Treasurer which to purchase accordingly:-But it is declared, that no purchase can at any time be made, to a greater extent, than the funds in hand are sufficient to pay.

10.-Unalterable.-The said Library, with all its increase, being the property of the Subscribers, is by them consigned over to the Public, and conveyed in Trust, for the purposes of the Institution, to the persons holding the following offices: The Peers of Parliament, whose ordinary place of family residence is in the county of Lanaik-The Member of Parliament for the county of Lanark-The Member of Parliament for the district of boroughs of which Glasgow is one-The Lord Provost, Dean of Guild, and Deacon Convener of the Trades of the City of Glasgow-The Principal of the College of GlasgowThe Moderator for the time of the Presbytery of Glasgow-The SheriffDepute of the county of Lanark, and his Substitute The Sheriff Clerk of the county

County of Lanark The Dean of the Faculty of Procurators in the City of Glasgow-The Town Clerk of the City of Glasgow-and the Preses of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow.

In the Name of these Trustees, all actions, or suits at law, shall be insti. tuted, or defended; and when called upon by the Committee, or a third at least of the Subscribers, they may exanime and rectify any abuses which may at any time take place, contrary to these Articles.

11. Such as wish at any time to become members of this Institution, shall pay the entry-money, and annual contribution, in terms of these Articles, to the Treasurer, who will give receipt for it. Upon producing this receipt to the Librarian, he is empowered to add his name to the list of Subscribers, and admit him a member accordingly. 12. The right of a Subscriber to the use of the Library cannot be transferred to any other person or persons.

3d Jan. 1806. The preceding regulation was altered thus: The right of a Subscriber to the use of the Library may be transferred to any other person, on such Subscriber sending a letter to that effect to the Secretary; and the person to whom the transfer is made shall be admitted a member on subscribing the Regulations, and paying Two Shillings and Sixpence in name of entry-money. 13. Such as, by declining to pay the annual contribution, have forfeited their privilege to the use of the Library, may be again admitted, upon either paying up their arrears, or paying the entrymoney anew. Declaring, however, that such members as are under the necessity of leaving the place, shall not thereby lose their privilege, but shall, on their return, be free to the use of the Library, on paying the yearly contributions, in terms of these Articles.

14. Should any person, who has been a member for five years, become unable to pay the annual contributions, he will be entitled to the use of the Library gratis.-The Managers for the time will be judges of such claims.

15.-Unalterable. The whole Subscribers shall form one Society, to be called by the name of The Subscribers for the use of the Glasgow Public Library, instituted in the Year One Thousand Feb. 1809.

Eight Hundred and Four.-They shall also compose the general meetings, where each Subscriber shall have a voice: but where no attempt shall be made to change any thing in the constitution of the Library, which, by these Articles, is declared to be unalterable. Of these general meetings the first Curator shall always be Preses :-in his absence, the next Curator, and so on to the last :-in the absence of all the Curators, the Treasurer:-or in his absence, the first Subscriber on the list who is present. The Curators shall cause a list of the Subscribers to be made up eight days previous to each general meeting: this list shall be entered in a book kept for the purpose, and signed by the Secretary, which book shall be produced at every general meeting.

16.-Unalterable.-The sole property of the Library, consigned over to the Public, shall remain vested in the Trustees, under the settled Management, and for the declared purposes of the Insti tution.

17. Should any of the persons who are nominated Trustees become Subscribers for the privilege of the use of the Library, they shall be requested again to subscribe in the Testing Clause of this Instrument, in the special character of Trustees, by the name of the office, character, and capacity, under which they are so nominated; and their subscription is to be accounted valid also for such of the Trustees as do not actually subscribe, provided they have authority to that effect.

18. A majority of two-thirds of the Subscribers may, at any future period, apply to the Crown for a Charter of In corporation, or to the Provost, Magistrates, and Town Council of the City of Glasgow, for a Seal of Cause to the same effect; having these Articles inserted as the basis of incorporation, and vesting in the Subscribers so incorporated, in place of the Trustees, the proper. ty of the Library, reserving, however, to the Trustees, all the authority here. by given them as Guardians of the Lib.

rary.

RULES FOR THE LIBRARIAN.

The Librarian shall keep the key of the Library, and have the custody of the Books, for which he shall be accountable. When he enters on his

charge,