HE Transactions and Proceedings of the First Annual Meeting of the Library Association are now laid before the members, and the Editors trust that the contents may be found equally important, if not quite so extensive, as those of the report which followed the Conference of Librarians last year.

The unqualified success which attended the meeting was chiefly due to the representative librarians of Oxford, the Rev. H. O. Coxe and Prof. H. W. Acland, who, with the Rev. Mark Pattison, Professors B. Jowett, F. Max Müller, G. Rolleston, H. J. S. Smith, and other distinguished members of the University, exerted themselves heartily to make the visit to Oxford a pleasant one. We have also to thank the Oxford Union Society, which, with great courtesy and liberality, opened its rooms and debating-hall to the Association for the period of the meeting. The sittings were attended by those members whose names, in the list at the end of the volume, have an asterisk prefixed; by representatives of libraries in France and Italy; and by many residents of Oxford.

At the Conference in London almost every question in librarianship received more or less attention; but at the Oxford

meeting a more limited number of subjects was specially considered. A considerable portion of the time was occupied in the discussion of strictly technical matters, such as the use of indicators, new forms of accessions-catalogues, book-scales and size-notation, iron bookcases, covering books in American cloth, the filing of newspapers, the preservation of bindings, &c.; the modes of indexing and cataloguing; proposals for indexes to scientific periodicals and collectaneous literature; and the report of the Poole's Index Committee. The question of a general catalogue of English literature was treated in the report of the Committee appointed to consider that subject, as well as in papers on the preparation of such a catalogue and on the printing of the catalogue of the British Museum. The system of subscription departments in free public libraries was fully discussed, as well as the further spread of the free library movement in the metropolis. The delicate subject of the salaries of public librarians was also touched upon. The usefulness of the academical teaching of bibliography was pointed out by one writer, and the importance of such a study successfully illustrated by another member in an inquiry into the first introduction of printing in the provincial towns of England and Wales.

The facilities now offered for sending books safely and cheaply throughout the world by means of the Universal Postal Union, and the consequent advantages to librarians, was the subject of a special paper.

The principal feature of this volume is, however, its valuable contributions to the general history of libraries; which consist of papers treating upon the signification of libraries, past and present; the libraries of Oxford, and the uses of college libraries; the foundation and progress of the Radcliffe Library; the cathedral libraries of England and Wales; old parochial, grammar-school, and Bray libraries; special

collections, &c. In the Appendix there will be found a number of elaborate tables, illustrating the history of libraries; which contain information not elsewhere brought together.

The delay in bringing out this volume has been caused by circumstances entirely beyond their control, and is very much regretted by the Editors, who have a final and agreeable duty to fulfil in recording the liberal enterprise with which the Chiswick Press (in the person of its manager, Mr. B. F. Stevens) has aided the Association to issue the book in so complete a manner.

H. R. T.