made at the opening ceremony. He said "I have known what it is to struggle in life: I have known what privation is; but I have always recognized one grand fact, viz., that we ought not only to think of ourselves but to regard others, and I never knew a time when out of the smallest income I possessed I could not afford something for somebody else." Prior to the adoption of the Acts some difficulties had arisen as to the obtaining of loans from South Kensington. These will go less and less to institutions which do not belong to the people under the Acts, and will ultimately be discontinued entirely. An intimation to this effect had reached the Nicholson Institute, and the Nicholson family, who as trustees for the founder were bearing the expenses of the institute for a stipulated term of years, co-operated with the Town Council and other leaders of public opinion for the bridging of this difficulty in a way which reflected the highest credit upon them. The spirit which pervaded the whole of the negotiations was excellent, and may well be copied in other districts which have at present libraries given by private individuals, but which are not yet under the Acts.

The building is of an exceedingly appropriate design. Every point of detail has been carefully attended to, and Messrs. William Sugden and Son, the architects, of Leek, are to be congratulated on producing an artistic building with excellent internal arrangements.

The work being accomplished by the institute is rapidly extending. For the convenience of those who wish to read the newest books soon after publication, a book club has been formed in connection with the library, for which a slight subscription is charged, and the committee have contributed a sum equal to the aggregate amount of members' subscriptions. Four-fifths of the whole amount will be expended in new books, and the remainder go to a subscription to Mudie's for the loan of new books that may be too expensive to buy, to be exchanged as often as required. The members of the club have the exclusive use of these books for twelve months, after which they will be added to the general library.

LEICESTER.

The work at Leicester is making distinct advances, and, after a trying experience extending over some years, the library seems to be again in the full enjoyment of a renewed and well-sustained public popularity. The central library has its quarters in a building which is well situated, but which from many points of view is not well suited for a Public Library in a large and important town like Leicester. It is an adapted building, and, like most altered buildings, it can never meet all the requirements of an ever-widening sphere of work. Leicester is one of the most progressive towns in the country, and in the course of a few years there is a reasonable hope that it will have as a chief library a building worthy of the town and of the work being done. So many new buildings have been erected of late years in the

immediate neighbourhood of the library for business purposes that the modest structure used as a library and reading-room looks somewhat insignificant in comparison with them. A public building which should be indicative of the intellectual life of the town, ought not to be placed in the shade by premises devoted to commercial purposes. The newsroom and lending department are on the ground floor, and the reference room is on the first floor. The ventilation of the latter is anything but good. For the lending department the books are all stocked on wall

WESTCOTES BRANCH PUBLIC LIBRARY, LEICESTER.

shelving, and this goes to a height of twenty to twenty-four feet! This absorbs a great amount of labour and time in finding the books, as well as being positively dangerous to the assistants who have to race up and down the ladders for the books. There can be no wonder that a serious accident should have occurred some time ago, when the ladder fell while an assistant was upon it, and who was so injured that he had to be taken to the hospital. The ladder in its fall struck another assistant on the head, causing a very serious wound. It is almost criminal to place

the shelving so high as this in any Public Library. The books are destroyed more quickly by the heat and vitiated atmosphere, and only those who have had to do the work know what it means to go up even fifteen or sixteen feet in a room where the gas jets are all lighted, and which is full of people. Some of the Leicester borrowers have rushed into print and complained of the delay in being served. So far as the writer could see at the time of his visit there was no unreasonable delay, but if such had been the case there could be no wonder, considering the height from which some of the books had to be obtained.

Leicester has two branches, and the latest of these, opened in March, 1889, is a model of what a small Public Library should be. The site was given by the Rev. Joseph Harris, owner of the estate. The building, of which the ground plan is given, is in the style of the Renaissance. It forms a prominent architectural feature of the neighbourhood, the front elevation being such as can hardly fail to arrest the attention and attract the admiration of visitors to the locality. It is built of brick, with white stone dressings, and over the main entrance is a low tower with spire. In planning the various rooms, care has been taken to make them easily accessible, economically managed, and abundantly lighted. The principal entrance is through a vestibule, which gives access to a spacious hall, out of which opens, facing the doorway, the lending department, with the newsroom on the left, a ladies' room to the right, and the librarian's room or reference department adjoining the lending library. These rooms are divided from the hall by glass partitions, and so arranged that the librarian at his desk can have supervision over them all, whilst it appears impossible for any one to enter or leave the building without passing his line of sight. The newsroom is 50 feet long by 24 feet wide. It has a lofty open ceiling, is splendidly lighted, and decorated in a manner which gives it a most cheerful and airy character. Newspaper stands are arranged round the walls, and there are large tables with racks in the middle for periodicals up the centre of the room. The lending library is in the centre. The other rooms are suitably furnished. The heating is by means of hot water, the ventilation has been particularly attended to, and there is every convenience and accommodation for visitors. The cost of the building was about £2,000, and for fittings £400. Both the Westcotes Branch Library and the catalogue may be taken as excellent models for small libraries. The librarian has placed a few pots of ferns about the rooms, and these give a prepossessing finish. The work being done at Leicester and its two branches is thoroughly useful, and the committee are justified in stating in their last report that it is the most satisfactory that has been issued during the twenty years which have elapsed since the library was opened.

MANSFIELD.

The question had been considered here for several years, and a statutory meeting on March 31, 1890, settled the question with

acclamation. The probable injury which might result to the Mechanics' Institute was very fully discussed, but it is deserving of note that the members of that institution, as a body, would not oppose the project, but rather do what they could to carry it through successfully. A commendable local spirit displayed itself. Speakers urged that Mansfield had stood still long enough, and that this was one of those questions, the carrying through of which would prove that they were in the forefront of progress. At the time of writing the building that is to be used as the library is being altered.

NEWARK.

The Gilstrap Library is very beautifully situated in the public gardens, with the ruins of the old castle forming a sort of back

ground to the library and grounds. The castle dates back to 1123, and its history is closely linked with that of this ancient town. It was visited by Cardinal Wolsey in 1530, and by James I. in 1603 when on his way to London to take possession of the English throne. Sir (then Mr.) William Gilstrap built this handsome library, and endowed it with an amount which produces £90 a year. The same donor has very recently given £1,000.

The accommodation

provided is on one floor, and consists of general, reference, and ladies' reading-rooms, library, librarian's room, &c. The public entrance is in the centre of the front towards Castle Gate, and gives access to a well-lighted hall, between which and the library are placed the library indicator and the borrowers' counter, with the reading-rooms to the right and left. In arranging the several rooms care has been taken that each is well lighted, and so placed as to be easily supervised. The gift of the building in every way reflects the highest credit upon the donor. The stock of books is not yet large, but it is steadily growing. So beautiful a building should be the home of a good stock of books.

NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME.

Events have moved slowly in the Newcastle of the Midlands. In 1884 the Acts were adopted, and the setting of them in opera

tion was left very much in the background. The scheme which had to be dealt with was a large one, and this, no doubt, accounts for the delay. In October, 1890, the building was opened with great ceremony. The new buildings occupy an historical site in the vicinity of the birthplace of Major-General Thomas Harrison, to whom was committed the custody of Charles I. during the period immediately preceding his trial. Adopting a

free treatment of the Renaissance, the architects have succeeded in obtaining a fine effect. On the ground floor are comprised a council chamber, a spacious library and reading-room, and a suite of rooms to be used as a school of science and art; while the upper floor is wholly set apart as a municipal hall, with the requisite appurtenances. The library department comprises