these old documents as the citizens' library. Here they will be seen and appreciated, and some care taken of them, instead of

being allowed to rot away in old cupboards and drawers, where they can only be gazed at now and again by the owner and his

BOOTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND MUSEUM.

immediate friends. No Public Library should go without gifts of this nature. There is no doubt about a solidly good work being done at the Bolton Libraries. It was decided in July, 1891, to build a new central library.

BOOTLE.

For a population of some 50,000 Bootle is exceedingly well off in its Public Library and Museum Building, but the supply of books can scarcely be said to touch a significant figure. This stands at only 7,564, and many libraries with a fifth of the revenue from the rate have as many books, or even more. It may be said,

GROUND FLOOR PLAN OF THE BOOTLE LIBRARY.

however, that Bootle has had its twin institutions of library and museum for which to provide, and this is not at most places an easy thing to accomplish satisfactorily out of a penny rate for the two institutions. The building is admirably planned, as will be seen from the engraving. The Museums and Gymnasiums Act of July 3, 1891, will come to the relief of Bootle as to other places. There is one excellent feature of the Bootle work, and that is the publicity given to it by the local press. Even the committee meetings are reported, or at least some of them. It would be all the better for library work generally if committees would have their chief meetings reported.

The circular of information issued by the librarian is full of interest, and must have aided materially to popularize the library and museum. Within the compass of eight pages there is an epitome of what is going on in each department. There is a splendid lecture-hall in the building, and of this good use is made throughout each winter. In order to encourage systematic home reading the committee have arranged with the Cambridge University to keep the home study syllabuses in stock; and not only this, but the books recommended have been obtained in the library. The attendance at the students' room has doubled in one year. The report of the librarian and curator is of a very interesting nature. Judging from the local papers a political bias has on one or two occasions been given to the committee. This is unfortunate, not only so far as Bootle is concerned, but whenever it can be applied to any committee. Fiction has fallen five per cent. in the year's issues, whereas the increase in the total issue of books was 6,000 over last year, and the increase in the number of borrowers for the year is 300. The committee place it on record that the works of the noblest writers of the day are among the books in most constant demand.

BRADFORD.

The work at Bradford has rapidly developed, and a comparison between the first and the twentieth report should be enough to convert the most rigid opponent. With a limited income they have constantly enlarged the scope of their operations, until now they have, in addition to the central library, eight branches. The chief library has also in connection with it an art museum. There is a general consensus of opinion that as an educational agency it is entitled to rank among the grandest local institutions, appealing, as it does, to the intellectual senses throughout each of its departments. Supplied with the best literature of the day, the library and reading-room departments offer inducements to improvement, which, it is satisfactory to add, are in the highest degree appreciated by those for whose benefit they are intended, while the addition of the art gallery and museum has furnished a means of recreation equally instructive, besides supplying a want which was long felt in Bradford. The general public in other parts of England have little conception how large a number of Lancashire and Yorkshire working men are naturalists. The Bradford library, in common with a number of other northern libraries, carefully studies this class, and some important volumes bearing on natural history have been quite recently added, which have been welcomed by local naturalists. Few natural history books in the library have been more consulted than the twelve volumes of Sowerby's English Botany, but for a long time a want has been felt for modern works on plant physiology. This want has now been supplied, and the botanical student can consult such high-class works as the latest edition of Sach's "Physiology of Plants"; also that of Vines on the same subject; "Practical

Botany," by Bower and Vines, and Hopkirk's "British Mosses"; then there is the "Text-book of Zoology" by Dr. Claus; Miss Ormerod's" Manual of Injurious Insects"; "Birds of the Humber District," by J. Cordeaux; and others on geology, bacteriology, microscopy, etc.

As an example of the close link between education and libraries, it is worthy of note that there is a close connection between the Teachers' Guild, of which there is a strong branch in Bradford, and the work of the Public Library. Twelve months ago an arrangement was made whereby the books of the society were to be housed at the Public Library on terms advantageous to both parties. The books, including about 235 standard volumes, have been placed on the shelves in the reference-room.

They naturally are strictly of a scholastic nature, and in the catalogue (which is issued at 3d.) the price of each book is stated. This will be a boon to teachers. The library is divided into sections, and includes (1) Greek, annotated texts, (2) Greek grammars, &c., (3) Latin annotated texts, (4) Latin grammars, &c., (5) mathematics, (6) science, (7) English literature, (8) history, (9) geography, (10) French authors, (11) French grammars and exercises, (12) German authors, (13) German grammars and exercises, (14) education. These books are mainly presentation copies from Macmillan, Deighton Bell & Co., Cassell & Co., and others. Some of the groups are well supplied with the latest and best texts. For example, in Latin some of the latest and most approved editions appear of Cæsar, Cicero, Horace, Livy, Ovid, Sallust, Terence, Virgil, and minor authors. In the literature group are to be found class-books on Bacon, Milton, Scott, Shakespeare, Tennyson, and others; in French there are good representatives of Corneille, La Fontane, Molière, Racine, Sandeau, Voltaire; and in German are Goethe, Hauff, Heine, Schiller, and Uhland. The terms of the arrangement with the library committee are that the books are accessible to the general public as reference books, but may be taken home for perusal by members of the Guild only.

The Bradford Public Library has been compelled to starve its supply of literature, particularly to the branch libraries. The income is £3,700 per annum, and of that sum £1,000 goes back to the Corporation for rent and rates. When other unavoidable expenses are met the committee has only some £600 or £700 per annum left for books, as compared with twice that sum devoted to the same object in towns which are not more literary nor better able to afford liberality in this direction. In some places the intention of the Legislature in restricting expenditure to a penny rate is circumvented by the corporate gift of rent-free premises; and in no place is the charge for rent so high as in Bradford. When there is a total record of 2,327,000 issues from the libraries and visits to museum and reading-room within twelve months, it is impossible to contend that the benefits conferred are felt by only a small section of the community. A clear majority of the population must be directly interested; and it is needless, at this time of

day, to argue that the interest is healthy and beneficial. The pinching of the library committee is not creditable to the town and its rulers; and the Town Council, by an overwhelming majority, decided some months ago that it should have at least temporary assistance to the extent of £500 out of the gas profits. It is to be hoped that the Council will in due course approve of the further concession required to place the finances of the library on a more liberal footing, and charge less rent for some of the Corporation premises occupied by the library. Sunday opening is greatly appreciated, and some 3,000 people use the reading-rooms and museum every Sunday during the winter months. In June, 1891, the committee had offered to them as a gift the collection of Bradford manuscripts left by the late Edward Hailstone, F.S.A., of Walton Hall. Both Mr. Hailstone and his father were resident in and connected with Bradford, where they practised as solicitors. Their united professional experience covered a period of about a century. During this time they were connected professionally with many of the public institutions of Bradford, and both of them had a taste for collecting documents bearing on the history and antiquities of the town. In this way a large collection of interesting papers and documents came into their possession, many of them being originals, and others copies and abstracts from the originals. In addition to MSS. there was also accumulated a miscellaneous assortment of printed matter bearing upon local history and social life, forming in the whole an extensive and probably unique collection.

CARLISLE.

Carlisle is on the way to possess a triple institute which will not only be a credit to the city but to the whole of the northern counties. In May, 1890, the Town Council had formal offer made to them of the library and other property of the Mechanics' Institution, as a gift in behalf of the citizens, on condition that it be made the basis of a Public Library under the Acts. The Council could not do otherwise than accept so noble a gift, representing a value of about £2,000, having regard to the circumstances in which it found itself. In a city like Carlisle, with its numerous institutions, each possessing a fair stock of books, a Public Library became essential. A quarter of a century ago the Mechanics' Institution and four other associations with reading-rooms each possessed a body of students. But the change which the growth of elementary education has brought about made an institute more on the lines of this progress an absolute necessity. In the month following the receipt of the letter from the committee of the Mechanics', the Acts were enthusiastically adopted. Liberal gifts have flowed in, some of money, and some of specimens for the museum, and instruments for the science and art section. Tullie House, dating back to 1689, and the site upon which this old structure stood and also spacious grounds became available. Upon this site a Public Library, Museum,