vast reservoirs of fiction, and a class of fiction which is not at all times as wholesome as could be desired. Those who write against Public Libraries are sure to place this charge in the very forefront of their attack. It is conspicuous that in all the leading libraries the issues of fiction show a perceptible decrease, whilst the increase in the issues of books on science, history, travels, and general literature, is very marked. Take Newcastle-on-Tyne as an example. Here the issue for the last four years of works of fiction is as follows:-1883, 65-69; 1884, 64-28; 1885, 61.81; 1886, 55-22; and in the last library year ending March 25, 1890, the percentage is only 52. Those, again, who may be disposed to regret the large preponderance in the issues of light literature, should bear in mind that books of this description are read very rapidly, and that the same work may be issued to three or four different borrowers during the time that another book, which requires more careful reading, is kept by one reader. And the expenditure upon the works of fiction, as compared with other books, is by no means in proportion to the issues. Even if the statement were true that nothing but novels are read-and it is absolutely void of truth-it can be said that a people engaged in reading novels might be infinitely worse employed, for the choicest works of English fiction are provided by the Public Libraries— not the common and indecent trash which some people appear to think are the only novels to be had at a Public Library. Fiction is a generic phrase, like wealth, but careful supervision is exercised by most committees responsible for the working of Public Libraries, that questionable productions under this head are excluded. The testimony of very many librarians is that the tendency in the taste of readers is upwards rather than downwards, and that people who begin by being inveterate novelreaders usually drift into reading more profitable and instructive books. It should be remembered that under fiction are classed the works of many writers, the circulation of whose novels might still be wisely promoted at the cost of the town's common purse; for they are among the most skilful and the most persuasive of moral and intellectual educators, and they supply mental recreation of the highest value to any community. The issues of fiction vary from 35 to 85 per cent., and this shows the wide latitude which exists. But here again there must be caution. Some libraries buy no new three-volume novels. Others enter them in the returns as three volumes, and not as one work. So that the 85 percentage may be caused in this way, and being lent for only seven instead of fourteen days. It is admitted that the percentage of fiction is large in some cases, and that the amount spent in new books has been too lavishly spent on novels, but there is ample room for the conviction that the high-water mark of fiction circulation has been reached. It is an absolute fact that the proportion of solid literature is steadily on the increase. It is again worth remembering that all magazines and periodicals are sometimes classed as light reading, and these include papers like the “ Engineer," "Builder," "English Mechanic," and many others. If the fairest classification was made, Scott would be classed with history, and Dickens and Thackeray as moral philosophy. Young's "Night Thoughts" and "Paradise Lost" have been included as fiction in some libraries. "Under Canvas," a book setting forth evangelistic work in a tent, has gone in the same category, and numerous other instances could be quoted. Nearly everyone reads works of fiction at some time or other, and the time has passed when novel reading need be defended, seeing that bishops, as well as publicans and sinners generally, all plead guilty to the practice. The mistake lies in the individual reader doing too much of it, and so weakening his taste for the more solid works. The best of our English novelists may be reckoned amongst the chief benefactors of mankind, and nothing has contributed so much to lighten the tedium of daily life as romance. Novelists claim that theirs is the most important branch of literature, considered as a factor in the education and amusement of the masses, and they have some ground for the statement. It may be further urged that as all classes of the community contribute towards the maintenance of these institutions, the tastes and literary requirements of all classes of the community should be considered. Those who pay the piper have a right to call for the tune. There is little general sympathy with those who condemn novel-reading altogether. It serves a very healthful purpose in carrying us out of the absorbing and often troublesome affairs of daily life, and awakening our interests and sympathies in fresh scenes and characters. Many a hard-working thinker and jaded toiler derives grateful rest and mental refreshment from thus becoming interested in the imaginary doings of others. Many a barrister whose brain is weary-many a doctor whose round of cases during the day has dulled his spirit and made his heart heavy-makes a nightly practice of spending one hour before bedtime with some novelist who cheats the fancy or sets the pulses of tenderness, merriment, or excitement thrilling. And the recuperative effects of the practice are extraordinary. But those who surrender themselves too entirely to novel-reading, and particularly younger people, commit a grave mistake. Again, it may be emphasized that the tendency is distinctly upward in the issues of these libraries. The issues of fiction are shrinking, and the demand for history, science, poetry, and books of travel is proportionately becoming greater. T CHAPTER IV. The Uses of Public Libraries. HE uses of Public Libraries are becoming so manifest that it would appear almost a work of supererogation to enumerate some of them. Let any one not familiar with such institutions visit those in Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Nottingham, Newcastle, London, and other towns, and see for himself what they mean to the inhabitants in those towns. It is not simply that the citizens have the privilege of borrowing books, and largely avail themselves of it, but if they wish for information on any subject, the first step they adopt is to go to the reference department of the Public Library. Books on any subject can be obtained there, where there is absolute quiet, so that these departments become public studies, where the bookworm may revel to his heart's content, and here may come the Sabbath-school teacher to prepare the better for his or her class, and to consult books otherwise beyond reach. Here the mechanic, eager to improve himself in some technicalities of his trade, can read what masterminds have said upon the subject. Here, too, you may find the minister of the Gospel desirous of making the acquaintance of the latest critics and scholars, or to learn the most recent discoveries of travellers, and the opinions of the erudite students. Yet again you may see in these libraries the family doctor, bent on consulting the most recent authorities on the healing art, the literary man in search of data, the student and the essay-writer upon the same errand, the schoolboy or schoolgirl to see maps or gazetteers, and the business man to see some book in which he is interested or which will be of service to him-in fact, representatives of every class find their way hither in search of muchneeded information not otherwise so easily accessible. If it is evening the news-room will, in all probability, be full of adult visitors, diligently perusing the papers, magazines, or books of one kind or another. These libraries are centres of light, and not only feed, but create a taste for reading, and, unquestionably, whatever does this is a benefit to the whole community, and aids materially in the repressing and taming of the rougher and baser parts of human nature. The writer, who formerly held the position of librarian, is well aware how often wives and children come for books, and make the request, "Please pick me a nice one, sir, for if I take home an interesting book, my husband (or father, as the case may be) will stop in during the evening and read it aloud." The curse of officialism does not extend to by far the greater majority of librarians and assistants, for, taken as a body, it would be impossible to find a more courteous body of men and women among public officials. They are invariably willing to help the readers and borrowers, and in thousands of instances they are not merely the attendants who give out and take in the books, but they are the vocal key to the catalogues, aiding with their suggestions and knowledge in the search for books on a particular subject. Not a few of them, again, look upon their office as that of a public instructor. It is said of Wordsworth that a stranger having on one occasion asked to see his study, the maid said: "This is master's room, but he studies in the fields." The agricultural labourer learns a great deal in the fields. He knows much more than we give him credit for, only it is field-learning, not book-learning— and none the worse for that. But the man who works in a shop or a manufactory has a much more monotonous existence. He is confined, perhaps, to one process, or even one part of a process, from year's end to year's end. He acquires, no doubt, a dexterous skill, but has, from the very force of circumstances, to work in a limited groove. If he is not to become a mere animated machine, he must generally obtain, and in some cases he can only obtain, the necessary variety and interest from the use of books. There is happily now some tendency to shorten the hours of labour, and, what is less satisfactory, there are times when work is scarce. But the hours of leisure should not be hours of idleness; leisure is one of the greatest blessings, idleness one of the greatest curses -one is the source of happiness, the other of misery. Suppose a poor man has for a few days no work, what is he to do? How is he to employ his time? It need no longer be lost where there is a Public Library or news-room to which he can resort. It is not being advocated here that these libraries should be the common resort of those who wish to idle away their time, and receive a passing half-hour's amusement. It is said that this evil afflicts all Public Libraries to a less or greater degree; but the statement should be made with a very great degree of caution and qualification. Some have gone so far as to say that it is undoubted that the Public Library everywhere is largely patronized by the respectable loafer. He has no club, and cannot take his ease at an inn. So he drops into the Public Library, possesses himself of a couple of chairs, and makes himself comfortable. He asks for a book, and endeavours to make it interest him. If the effort ends in his complete physical and mental prostration, he looks upon the result as inevitable. Now, we have no desire to prevent the Public Library from ministering to the amusement of the public. On the contrary, there would be need for regret if it did not. There are too many institutions of the strictly "improving " class, which inculcate a sort of priggish propriety, and leave no room for the healthy development of the universal desire for entertainment. By all means let the Public Library provide the public with newspapers, novels and other light reading. But the light readers ought not to stand in the way of the solid ones. The attempt in Liverpool and in Birmingham to separate the two classes has been somewhat remarkable. The plan adopted was to set aside a "students' room," and it has not been very successful. A better plan would be to give legitimate working readers the first claim to the available accommodation. A man or a woman who is merely skipping through a novel should give way for the reader who wants to read some works of solid literature. Many books now in the lending department should be transferred to the reference department, and the sitting room in the library should be preferentially given to the reference readers. No mercy should be shown to the sleepers. When a “reader" goes to sleep, it is time for him to go home, and make room for less happy mortals to whom the felicity of early slumber is denied, and this is unquestionably done, and is being exercised with greater strict ness every succeeding year. In not a few reference reading-rooms even the writing of letters is strictly forbidden, and any attempt in this direction is immediately stopped by the caretaker or newsroom superintendent. This official, usually in a distinctive coat, has become an indispensable person in the news-rooms, where the attendance is very large, and his presence certainly tends to the general comfort. The direction which reform should take is indicated by the course of the growth of the evil to which reference has just been made. The modern library system is a development of the mechanics' institutes and reading-rooms of other days. Its scope and principles are only beginning to be clearly defined. Its central idea is that any man or woman should be able to have any book for the asking that his or her means of obtaining wholesome reading shall be as independent of the individual pocket as are the lighting of the streets and the drainage of the district. The term "Free Libraries" is, of course, a misnomer; one might as well talk of free drains. But the central idea has developed without the limitations which it is the function of discipline, organization, and discrimination to impose. That is the origin of the evil. The remedy is clearly to be found in imposing these limitations. The indiscriminate lending of books, and provision of seat and desk accommodation, must give place to a system under which workers are distinguished from idlers, and the former given the first consideration. But even granting that there is a modicum of truth in these undesirable uses of Public Libraries, it is maintained that the legitimate and reasonable use of Public Libraries, with their reading and news-rooms, is far in excess of whatever abuses can be pointed out. The tendency is distinctly upward, and a man or youth who idly saunters into one of these places may, and does, begin to feel that the place possesses privileges which bring pleasure and true relaxation in his life, and he gradually begins to value them accordingly. The spirit of factious criticism may be silent, for precisely similar evils could be pointed out as existing in other public institutions supported wholly or partially at the cost of the nation, and also as applying to churches and chapels. Even the very worst of the residuum who frequent public newsrooms cannot get harm from what they peruse, and the chances lie in the probability of their getting something of an opposite character. Public Libraries seek to realize Tennyson's words "To teach high thought and amiable airs, And love of truth, and all that makes a man." Very large numbers of the community are engaged from day to day in a simple struggle for existence, and their time is fully occupied with the cares and worries of daily life. When visiting the Public Libraries and reading-rooms in the evening, such do not want books which will continue the same train of thought in which they have been engaged during the day. They |