Canterbury. Report of the Museum Committee for the year ending November, 1883 [dated 1 November, 1883] s. sh. folio. The Committee report that 16,753 persons visited the Museum during the year, and that there has been great increase in the number of visitors to the Reading Rooms. The number of volumes issued to borrowers from this Library was 2,454 as against 1,200 in the previous year. Considerable additions have been made to the Museum and Library, and the Committee have printed a new classified Catalogue "in place of the one complained of." The financial condition of the institution is satisfactory. Clitheroe Free Library. Fifth Annual Report, 1882-3. Presented to the Town Council, 9th November, 1883. 4to, pp. 3. The Committee report that the institution is steadily increasing in usefulness and popularity. The Library has been open 106 nights during the year, and the issues were 14,107. The volumes added to the Library numbered 188. The number of borrowers now on the books is 1,006. The total expenditure for the year was £79. 9s. 2d. Borough of Leamington Free Public Library Annual Report, 1882-3. Presented to the Town Council, November, 1883. 4to, pp. 4. The additions to the Library numbered 509, of which 198 vols. were presented, making the stock now in the Library 12,480 vols. The issues from the Lending Library were 43,421,-a decrease on the previous year of 2,069; the volumes used in the Reference Library numbering 4,704, a decrease of 902. The Committee estimate that the total number of persons visiting the Library "reaches the astounding total of 195,000 in the year." The income was £544. 11s. 6d. of which the rate for the year produced £529. 18s. 10d. The Committee regret that they can spend so little upon books. CORRESPONDENCE. In the St. James's Gazette of the 14th inst., there appears the following paragraph : The Library Association must be rather hard up for subjects when it calls upon Mr. Borrajo to read a Paper on "Porson as a Librarian." The communication bears some analogy to the famous chapter on snakes in Iceland. Porson was indeed librarian of the London Institution from 1806 to 1808, but his notion of a librarian's duties seems to have been limited to the inscribing of sarcastic comments on the fly-leaves of a few volumes. Wide as was his reading, he does not seem to have "left any lasting impression of his work" in the library; he neither added to its collection, catalogued its volumes, or even vouchsafed the favour of his personal presence very often. The managers told him that "they only knew him to be their librarian by seeing his name attached to the receipts for his salary"; and Porson concluded that the managers were "mercantile and mean beyond merchandise and meanness." Our standard of library work has changed since Porson's days. We used to seek a scholar and man of culture: now we look for a business-like clerk. The latter is necessary in his way; but critics like Porson are worth a wilderness of clerks on occasion. What is really wanted in a great library is both the scholar and the clerk; but this conjunction is at present "sadly to seek." Under the impression that even so very superior a journal as the St. James's Gazette might admit a correction on a point of fact, I directed the following letter to its Editor : To the Editor of the "St. James's Gazette." SIR. My attention has only just been called to a paragraph in your issue of Friday last, commenting upon a paper on " Porson as a librarian," which I have had the honour of reading before the Library Association. I desire to point 168 MONTHLY NOTES OF THE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. out that I alone am responsible for the subject and its treatment,—and it is obvious that the Library Association cannot judge of the merits of a paper offered to it before that paper has been read. Of the short-comings of my paper none is better aware than myself, but that the subject is so totally des titute of interest for practical librarians as the writer of the paragraph seems to imply is. I think, negatived by the short but interesting discussion which followed the reading of the paper. I must protest against the disingenuous manner in which I am, by implica tion, credited with the opinion that a business-like clerk makes a better librarian than a great scholar and critic like Porson. I doubt whether anyone could hold a theory so absurd and monstrous, and I most certainly propounded nothing of the kind. In conclusion I would add that the combination of scholarly tastes with business habits, is not so rare a gift as your contributor imagines. Trusting to your sense of fairness to find space for this letter in your next issue, Neither was this letter inserted, nor any notice taken of it. I regret that I should have so misjudged the St. James's Gazette, as to think there existed in its Editor's room a sense of either fairness, or ordinary courtesy. Under the peculiar circumstances of this case may I ask you to find room for this letter, in order that it may seen that the mistakes which I sought to correct were made, not accidentally but intentionally? 22, Haverstock Hill, N.W. EDWARD M. BORRAJO. DISFIGURING BOOKS. be With reference to the comments on "Disfiguring Books" in the last "Monthly Notes," I should like to call your attention to the numerous pamphlets, &c. sent out to libraries and private individuals, which reach their destination in an irrecoverably damaged state, owing entirely to the bad method adopted by the senders in preparing them for the post. Many of the valuable presentations made from time to time to this Library have reached here in a partly spoiled condition from this cause. Why should any book, or any pamphlet which is ultimately to form part of a bound volume, be folded up just as it comes wet from the press, and be so tumbled and creased that it can never come smooth in any ordinary process binding? Could not some plan be devised for delivering publica tions in a flat state? My copy of "Monthly Notes," just received, is by no means an exceptional instance. In this Library there are two bound volumes of "Monthly Notes "containing scarcely one leaf which is not disfigured and deteriorated by a deep crease from top to bottom, caused by sending them doubled up, when damp, through the post. Library, I remain, yours faithfully, THOMAS W. NEWTON. Museum of Practical Geology, S.W. of LONDON: Printed and Sold for the Association by J. Davy & Sons, Dryden Press, 137, Long Acre. The Library Association of the United Kingdom. LIST OF OFFICERS AND MEMBERS FOR 1883. President. SIR JAMES A. PICTON, Liverpool. Vice-Presidents. E. A. BOND, Principal Librarian, British Museum. PETER COWELL, Librarian, Free Public Library, Liverpool. The EARL OF CRAWFORD AND BALCARRES. Dr. J. K. INGRAM, Librarian, Trinity College, Dublin. J. D. MULLINS, Chief Librarian, Free Libraries, Birmingham. F. B. NICHOLSON, Bodley's Librarian, Oxford. J. SMALL, Librarian, University of Edinburgh. Rev. R. SINKER, Librarian, Trinity College, Cambridge. C. W. SUTTON, Librarian, Free Public Libraries, Manchester. S. TIMMINS, Birmingham. CORNELIUS WALFORD, London. B. R. WHEATLEY, Librarian Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society. Past Presidents HENRY BRADSHAW, Librarian, University of Cambridge. London Members of Council. G. L. CAMPBELL. A. COTGREAVE, Librarian, Free Library, Richmond, Surrey. W. P. COURTNEY. W. R. DOUTHWAITE, Librarian, Gray's Inn. A. J. FROST, Librarian, Society of Telegraph Engineers. R. GARNETT, Superintendent of the Reading Room, British Museum. J. W. KNAPMAN, Librarian, Pharmaceutical Society. W. H. OVERALL, Librarian, Corporation Library, Guildhall. HENRY STEVENS. H. R. TEDDER, Librarian, Athenæum Club. C. WELCH, Sub-Librarian, Corporation Library, Guildhall. ii THE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. Country Members of Council. F. T. BARRETT, Librarian, Mitchell Library, Glasgow. J. P. BRISCOE, Librarian, Free Libraries, Nottingham. W. J. HAGGERSTON, Librarian, Public Libraries, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. J. PINK, Librarian, Free Library, Cambridge. W. H. K. WRIGHT, Public Librarian, Plymouth. J. YATES, Librarian, Public Library, Leeds. Treasurer, ROBERT HARRISON, Librarian, London Library, 12, St. James's Square, London. Hon. Secretary. ERNEST C. THOMAS, (late Librarian, Oxford Union), 2, South Square, Gray's Inn, London, W.C. J. W. BONE Auditors. (One vacancy.) HONORARY MEMBERS. BALZANI (Conte UGO), 11, Via dei Mille, Rome. BOWKER (R. R.), late Editor of the Library Journal, New York. DZIATZKO (Prof. Carl), Librarian, Kö-u.-Universitäts-bibliothek, Breslau. EVANS (C.), late Librarian, Public Library, Indianopolis, U.S. ROGERS (T. P. W.), Librarian, Fletcher's Library, Burlington, Vt., U.S. SANDS (Alexander), Cincinnati, U.S. SELIGMANN (Dr. Leopold), 28, Gower Place, W.C. SMITH (Lloyd P.), Librarian, Library Company & Loganian Library, Phila delphia, U.S. THORSEN (P. G.), Librarian, Universitets-bibliothek, Copenhagen. TINGLEY (Prof. J.) Librarian, Alleghany College, Meadville, Pa., U.S. VICKERS (Rev. T.), University of Cincinnati, U.S. WATTEVILLE (Baron O. DE), late Director of Sciences and Letters, Ministère de l'Instruction Publique, Paris. WINSOR (Prof. Justin), Librarian, Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass., U.S. (Corrected to 5th January, 1883). ABRAM (W. A.), Vice Chairman, Free Library Committee, 42, Adelaide Terrace ACLAND (Prof. HENRY W.), Librarian, Radcliffe Library, Oxford, (Life.) ALLEN (E. G.), 13, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, S.W. ANDERSON (JAMES M.), Librarian, University Library, St. Andrew's. ANDREWS (W.), Hon. Sec., Literary Club, Hull. ARCHER (WM.), Librarian, National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin. ASHBEE (EDMUND W.), 17, Mornington Crescent, London, N.W. ASHBEE (H. S.), 46, Upper Bedford Place, W.C. ✓ AXON (WILLIAM E. A.), Fern Bank, Higher Broughton, Manchester. BADGER (EDWARD W.), Trafalgar Road, Moseley, near Birmingham. BAILEY (JAMES B.), Sub-librarian, Radcliffe Library, Oxford. BAILEY (Alderman W. H.), Summerfield, Eccles New Road, Salford. (Life.) BARRETT (FRAS. T.), Librarian, Mitchell Library, Ingram Street East, Glasgow. BAYLEY (C. H.), Hon. Sec., Free Library, West Bromwich. BEAMONT (W.), Chairman Museum Committee, Warrington. BECKWORTH (Councillor W.), Chairman Public Libraries Committee, Hotham House, Headingly, Leeds. BIGMORE (E. C.). care of B. F. Stevens, 4, Trafalgar Square, London, W.C. BIRCH (ALFRED J.), Librarian, G. W. R. Mechanics' Institution, New Swindon. BLACKBURN (F.), Librarian, Mechanics' Institution, Huddersfield. BLADES (WILLIAM), 11, Abchurch Lane, London, E. C. BOASE (Rev. CHARLES W.), Librarian, Exeter College, Oxford. BOASE (F.), Librarian, Incorporated Law Society, Chancery Lane, London. BOASE (G. C.), 15, Queen Anne's Gate, London, S.W. BOND (EDWARD A.), Principal Librarian, British Museum, London, W.C. BONE (JOHN W.), 26, Bedford Place, Bussell Square, London, W.C. (Life.) BONNER (T.), Librarian, Gosta Green Library. Boss (T. W.), Librarian, Mechanies' Institute, Banbury. BOWES (ROBERT), Trinity Street, Cambridge. BRADSHAW (H.), Librarian, University Library, King's College, Cambridge. (Life.) BRAGGE (WILLIAM), Clarendon House, Hall Road, Birmingham. BRAITHWAITE (W. H.), Castle Plantation, Trinidad. BRAMWELL (W. S.), Free Public Library, Preston. BRESLAU, KÔ.-UND-UNIVERSITATS BIBLIOTHEK. BRISCOE (J. POTTER), Librarian, Free Public Libraries, Nottingham. BROUGH (WILLIAM S.), Hon Sec., Literary and Mechanics' Institute, Leeds. BRUNT (E.), Librarian, Potteries Mechanics' Institute, Hanley. BUCHANAN (W.), 10, Carrington Street, Glasgow. BUCKLAND (J. D.), Librarian, Free Public Library, Stockport. BULLEN (GEORGE), Keeper of the Printed Books, British Museum, London,W.C. BUNCE (J. THACKRAY), Bristol Road, Birmingham. BURGOYNE (FRANK J.), Sub-Librarian, Public Libraries, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. BYROM (W. ASCROFT), Member of Free Public Library Committee, 31, King Street, Wigan. CAMBRIDGE UNION SOCIETY, Vice-President of the, Cambridge. CAMERON (RICH.), Bookseller, 18B, George Street, Edinburgh. CAMPBELL (GEORGE LAMB), Member of Free Public Library Committee, Wigan. CAMPKIN (H.), Librarian, Reform Club, London; 112, Torriano Avenue, N.W. CARLETTI (J. T.), Hon. Librarian, Working Men's College, Great Ormond Street, W.C. CARTER (H. W.), 25, Down Street, Piccadilly, London, W. CAULFIELD (Dr. RICH.), Librarian Queen's College, Cork. CHAMBERLAIN (A. B.), Whetstone, Somerset Road, Birmingham. CHAMBERLAIN (JOHN HENRY), Whetstone, Somerset Road, Birmingham. |
