during the past year, and although at the present time this is confined, with rare exceptions, to the cheaper class of book, the Committee is confident that in a short time it will be possible to obtain the better class books in a better style of binding. Legislation. The efforts made to obtain a more satisfactory position in Parliament for the Public Libraries Amendment Bill have not been as successful as the Committee anticipated, owing to some extent to the unusual disturbance of legislative proceedings throughout the Session. The difficulties attending the promotion of a Bill, designed to amend an Act, by which the greater number of Public Libraries in the country have been established, are considerably greater than an ordinary proposal made by private members of Parliament. The suggestion made by supporters of the Bill in the House of Commons that it should be introduced and dealt with in the House of Lords first--as previous amendments to the Act—and thereby ensure its consideration by the House of Commons in due course, was adopted. This method met with favour and encouragement, and valuable assistance would have been rendered by distinguished statesmen, when it was found that, by the Standing Orders of the House of Lords, it was inadmissible, as the Bill contemplated the alteration of the means of raising money by rates or taxes-although it was merely an enabling Bill. The present relations of the two Houses in regard to money bills naturally increased the difficulty of the situation. It is hoped that arrangements will be made for a deputation to interview the Government at an early date with a view to secure an opportunity for considering the Bill in Parliament. The assessment of the public library for rating purposes has been mentioned in connexion with the action of some authorities, but no definite course has been decided upon pending further information. The Committee will be prepared to advise with any Library Authority should the question become serious, and to take steps to obtain relief. Report on the Library Association's Library, 1909-10. On 1 March, 1910, Mr. B. M. Headicar succeeded Mr. H. Bond as Librarian of the British Library of Political Science, and he now has charge of the Library Association Library. The number of volumes borrowed during the period July, 1909June, 1910, shows a slight increase over the corresponding period, 19089; but the increase in the number of borrowers indicates a considerable expansion of the sphere of usefulness of the Library. The following statement of loans does not take into account the use made of the Library for reference purposes, which has increased very considerably during the past year :— 1906-7 1907-8 1908-9 1909-10 Vols. A grant of £5 made by the Council is being utilized for the binding of professional periodicals, which are in constant demand. A grave case of mutilation by an unknown student, that is the cutting out of the Technology section of Cutter's "Expansive Classification," has been reported to the Publications Committee. Mr. Headicar hopes that shortly he will be in a position to give some additional space to the Library Association Library. A space of about 80 feet of shelving in the Gallery of the Reading-room has been set free during recent re-arrangements; and it is proposed to place there the Library Association Collections of catalogues and periodicals. The subject bibliographies and treatises now stored on the second floor of the School will then, if space permit, be arranged on the ground floor of the Reading-room. When these re-arrangements are completed, the whole of the Library Association Library, with the exception of the seldom-used collection of Library Reports, will be immediately available to students during such time as the School is open. Lantern Slides. In response to the appeal of the Council, a large number of optical Lantern Slides illustrating library buildings and work has been received from various Library Authorities, and a list of them was printed in the LIBRARY Association Record for May, 1910. These slides are now at the disposal of members under the regulations that have been drawn up for their loan by the Council. The best thanks of the Council and the Association at large are due to those who have contributed so much valuable material for the use of members. Fifty of these slides have been duplicated in view of a projected exchange with Dr. Koch, of the Michigan University Library, for a similar number of lantern slides of American Libraries. Future Annual Meetings. The Council have received an invitation from the Public Libraries Committee of Liverpool to hold the Annual Meeting of 1912 in that city, and they have gratefully accepted the same. As before announced, the meeting of 1911 is to be held in Perth. Municipal and Health Exhibition. A Library Exhibit was arranged in connexion with the Second Municipal and Health Exhibition, held at the Agricultural Hall, Islington, from 7-14 May, and the Hon. Secretary delivered a lantern lecture on Library Work during the Exhibition. The time for organizing the exhibit was too short to enable a really representative display to be made, but a collection of plans of libraries, and an exhibit relating to Book Production, as shown at Sheffield, were arranged. If held again an effort should be made to take full advantage of this opportunity to advertise the work of the libraries among the general public. Attendances at Council and Committee Meetings. I July, 1909, to 30 June, 1910. Summoned to. Attended. NOTE. The undermentioned non-members of Council were summoned to meetings of the Committees named. Summoned to. Attended. Law and Parliamentary Committee. C. T. Jacobi I A. J. Philip A. W. Pollard W. Powell 2 Printing Sub-Committee. C. T. Jacobi A. W. Pollard I Summoned to. Attended. D. Cockerell G. A. Stephen L. G. Wharton. The Hon. Treasurer reports: "For many successive years it has been my agreeable duty to thank our late much respected Hon. Accountant, Mr. T. J. Agar, for the kind assistance whereby I have been able to place before the Association the Balance Sheet and Accounts at an early period of the year. This valuable help was this year again freely given by Mr. Agar in spite of failing health. Death unfortunately overtook him while occupied on his labours, and the task of finally preparing the Balance Sheet and Accounts was kindly undertaken by his partner, Mr. C. Ryland Beeby. The Accounts were published with the Auditor's Report in the LIBRARY ASSOCIATION RECORD for June. I cannot allow the sad incident to pass away without referring to the great services rendered to the Association for over twenty-five years by Mr. Agar in a honorary capacity as Accountant, as Auditor, and for one year as Hon. Treasurer. Mr. Agar was in no way connected with library work, but he always took the greatest interest in our proceedings and welfare, and gave us on many occasions without reserve the valuable assistance of his practical experience of affairs and his great professional skill. His sound judgment and high principles were allied to extreme courtesy and kindness of heart. I feel that his death is a great blow to the Association generally, and to me personally. "The Benevolent Fund has been increased by a donation of a guinea from Mr. A. Fincham, and half-a-guinea from Mr. Knapman. A grant of two guineas has been made in the current year." Society of Public Librarians. At the February Meeting of this Society, held at Bishopsgate Institute, Mr. Charles W. F. Goss (the Librarian) read a paper entitled "How to Make the Library Serve as a Continuation School". The paper evoked a good discussion. On Wednesday evening, 28 February, a Dinner was held, when a company of forty sat down. ROOMS OF THE ASSOCIATION. Members are notified that the Offices of the Library Association are now at 24 Bloomsbury Square, London, W.C., to which address all communications should be sent. There is a room for the use of members for reading, writing, etc., in which the current professional periodicals are displayed. The following letter is printed, by instruction of the Council, for the information of members : "AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, "MY DEAR MR. JAST, "CHICAGO, Ill., 15 January, 1912.” "At the meeting of the Executive Board of the American Library Association held in Chicago, 3 January, 1912, the invitation of the Library Association of the United Kingdom, signed by you and Mr. Shaw, for American librarians to attend your 1912 meeting in Liverpool was read by the Secretary and received with expressions of pleasure and regard. I was instructed by the Executive Board to return to you their hearty thanks for this invitation, and to express the hope that quite a number of American librarians may see their way to attend your meeting in Liverpool the first week in September. "The American Library Association expects to hold its next Annual Conference at Ottawa, Canada, the last week in June, 1912. I have been instructed by vote of the Executive Board to extend a cordial invitation to members of the Library Association of the United Kingdom to attend this meeting, assuring all who attend a most hearty welcome from librarians on this side of the water. Permit me to add that this invitation was on our docket of proposed business before your very kind invitation reached us. Inasmuch as our next conference is held in Canada it seems especially appropriate that the English librarians should be represented at this conference, and we very much hope to see some of you there. 66 Very truly yours, "MR. L. STANLEY JAST, HON. SECRETARY OF THE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, 24 BLOOMSBURY SQUARE, LONDON, W.C., ENGLAND." 64 Notice to Members of the Library Association. THE FIFTH MONTHLY MEETING of the Session will be held at 24 Bloomsbury Square, W., on THURSDAY, 11th April, 1912, at 8 P.M., when a Lecture (Illustrated by Lantern Slides, etc.) will be given by Mr. F. SANGORSKI, entitled "A HIGHER AIM IN LIBRARY BINDING, ETC." Refreshments from 7.30. Visitors will be welcomed at the Meeting. 1st April, 1912. L. STANLEY JAST, All Communications relating to THE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION RECORD should be addressed to the Editor, 24 Bloomsbury Square, London, W.C. |