said that he began to collect titles more than twenty years ago. At that time there was no inducement to publish; but lately, on speaking to Mr. Thomas on the subject, he had suggested that there should be a joint publication, and that the subject might be brought before the Association in a paper which he was ready to prepare. It was only by the help of librarians that such a work could be carried out. Many persons would take note of these books if they knew that something of this kind was in progress.-The CHAIRMAN said that of late it had become a common practice for authors to add a bibliographical list of writers on the subject.-Mr. FROST said that there was a very good one of the kind in Anderson's work on Lightning Conductors.-Mr. H. B. WHEATLEY said that in putting their bibliographies together the Museum authorities might well feel that they had done something towards filling the place of the much-asked-for general Index of Literature, but they had not room to include the bibliographies in journals and other volumes.-Mr. OVERALL thought that this was a work in which the Index Society and this Association might well co-operate. Such a work would be most useful to students, and even to librarians, in indicating the best and fullest sources of information. -The CHAIRMAN thought the proposal an important one, and that it would be very useful if it were carried out.-Mr. WELCH thought that this Association and the Index Society had many objects in common, and hoped that other points of co-operation might arise which would benefit both. A vote of thanks to the writers of the paper was then carried unanimously. CORRESPONDING SECRETARIES. The following new appointments have been made : CAMBRIDGE. The Rev. S. S. LEWIS, Librarian, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, in the place of the Rev. S. Sinker. OXFORD. The Rev. W. D. MACRAY, Ducklington Rectory, Witney, jointly with Mr. F. MADAN. LIBRARY NOTES. BATH.-The Bath Public Library is now closed. It had been maintained by subscription for three years on condition that the sense of the burgesses should be finally taken this year as to its maintenance by a rate. The decision being adverse the library was closed on the 30th October last. CAMBRIDGE. On the occasion of the municipal elections last year the reading-room of the Cambridge Free Library was occupied by order of the Mayor for the purpose of taking a poll. The Library Committee objected to any such action being taken, as in their opinion the Mayor had no authority over the library premises, and also because of the inconvenience it would occasion to the numerous persons who used the reading room upon that day. They therefore allowed the use of the rooms under protest, and reported the matter to the Council. From the Cambridge Chronicle, of 13th November, 1880, we learn that, at a recent meeting of the Town Council, the Town Clerk brought up and read the following Opinion of Counsel as to the use of the Free Library for a polling place at Parliamentary and municipal elections : : I gather that the two rooms form part of the Corporate property, and are structurally kept up at the cost of the borough rate. Assuming that this is so, or that the rooms are structurally maintained out of a Public Libraries and Museum Rate, levied under the Public Libraries Acts (and not out of subscriptions or endowments), I am of opinion that the case falls within the express words of sec. 6 of the Ballot Act, and that for Parliamentary elections the returning officer has the right to use the rooms. With respect to municipal elections the case is different. By section 20 of the Ballot Act s 6 of the same Act is not to apply to municipal elections. For these elections, therefore, the rooms cannot be used without the consent of the authority having the control of them. It appears to me that the rooms must be taken to be for the time being "appropriated" to Library purposes within the meaning of s. 18 of the Act of 1855. I think further that under s. 21 of the same Act the control of the rooms is for the time being exclusively vested in the Committee, subject only to any reservations made in appointing the Committee, and to any rules and regulations for the time being in force. No such reservations, rules, or regulations, as would reserve to the Council the right of using the rooms for elections, appear to be in force. For these reasons I am of opinion that at present the Library Committee have the right to refuse the use of the rooms for municipal elections, and if the Council desire so to use the rooms against the wish of the Committee, they must, in my opinion, remove the Committee. If these views are correct, then, a fortiori, the Mayor alone has not the power to use the rooms for municipal elections against the wish of the Committee, and without the concurrence of the Council. 20th August, 1880. R. S. WRIGHT. HIGH WYCOMBE.-At a town's meeting in November, 1874, it was resolved to found a Free Library on the voluntary system. Later on Mr. J. O. Griffits, Q.C., Recorder of Reading, purchased the old British schools, and altered and enlarged them, offering to maintain a Free Library on part of the premises for three years, if meantime the town would take steps to provide one. The whole building, after some alterations, was formally re-opened on the 29th November last. It is intended, when sufficient funds have been raised, to endow the building and hand it over to the Corporation in trust for the public. Considerable progress has been made towards raising an endowment fund, and the public opening of the library was followed by a large and influential public meeting in aid of this object. London: TRÜBNER & CO., Ludgate Hill. Single Numbers, Threepence each. Annual Subscription, post free, 38. 6d. MONTHLY NOTES OF THE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. VOL. 2. LONDON: TRÜBNER & CO., LUDGATE HILL. 1881. CONTENTS. PAPERS READ AT MONTHLY MEETINGS. Notes on the Gray's Inn Library. By Notes on Broadsides and Proclama- The Proposed Parcel Post. By J. W. F. A. Ebert's view of a Librarian's Notice of Meeting, 37. On the Rejection of the Library Acts, by On Workmen's or Factory Libraries. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING. Account of Proceedings, 45. ANNUAL MEETING. Cataloguing Rules as Amended, 81. |