Public Library committees which have a Lord upon it is that at Wigan, which among its burgess representatives has the Right Hon. the Earl of Crawford, LL.D.; to whom this masonic catalogue is inscribed. Some of the entries in it are very interesting, and display much research. The latter statement can also be made about the catalogue of law books. The whole of these special catalogues should tend to create an extended use of this important department of the Public Library. If the town has somewhat dreary surroundings-for the presence of coal mines does not conduce to giving nature play for its beauty-Wigan has in its library an oasis which cannot be too highly appreciated.

The annual report contains the welcome feature of the librarian's report, covering a number of pages. The reports of committees are always acceptable, but as a rule no one can speak so authoritatively upon the working of the library as the man in charge, and the greater prominence of librarians' reports in these annual publications is very desirable. The eleven years' Sunday opening of the reading-room has been an unqualified success. In the general reading-room there are about 400 volumes for reading and reference. The public are allowed to help themselves to the books, which are upon open shelves. There is a notice hung up that no books are to be taken out of the room. No supervision is required beyond rearranging the books early every morning. In thirteen years six books only have been taken away. For some years a voluntary rate of a halfpenny in addition to the penny was paid by a large number of ratepayers, as the legal penny was insufficient for the rapidly extending work. In 1889 a special local Act was obtained, which gives the power to levy a rate of twopence in the pound. Lectures have been given during the last few years in connection with the library, and these are becoming more and more popular with each succeeding winter. The local press give capital help. As new and important books are added in the reference department, short notes written by the librarian, epitomizing the contents, are published.

WORKINGTON.

In December, 1889, the sanction of the burgesses was obtained to the adoption of the Acts. The example of Whitehaven was found to be infectious. The Town Council as a body took a worthy lead in the matter, and this, aided by the step taken by the committee of the Mechanics' Institute, greatly facilitated affairs. The committee had passed a resolution to the effect that they regarded with approval the proposal to exercise the powers conferred on the Town Council by various statutes for the establishment in the borough of a Public Library, and that if the premises now occupied by the committee be required for such library, the committee would facilitate as much as was in their power the acquirement of the Mechanics' Institute premises by the Town Council. May many other committees of mechanics' institutes adopt the same method, and a similar resolution! At

the statutory meeting all present, with only one exception, voted for the adoption. In the autumn of 1890 the premises which are rented at the Bank for savings were opened. These premises are not well adapted for the purposes of a newsroom, the lengthy flight of stairs being objectionable. But the best has been made of what is but a temporary arrangement; and so large is the number of readers that further extensions have to be provided by the addition of the rooms erewhile used as a residence for the caretaker. At the opening of the temporary rooms Mr. C. J. Valentine, Canon Thornley, and others took part. The lastnamed referred to the starting of winter evening lectures and schools of art in connection with the library.

CHAPTER X.

Public Libraries in the Midland Counties.

UBLIC LIBRARIES are not by any means numerous throughout the Midland Counties. Three counties are without one of these institutions, these being Rutland, Buckingham, and Huntingdon. The counties, in addition to those in the North, West and South Midlands, are Leicester, Nottingham, Derby, Chester, Stafford, Warwick, Worcester, Shropshire, Hereford, Hertford, Oxford, Northampton, Bedford, and Cambridge. Five of these counties have only one rate-supported library each, so that the work yet to be done is very widely distributed. There are several adoptions of the Acts to record since the last edition of this work was issued twelve months ago.

ALTRINCHAM, NANTWICH, AND MIDDLEWICH.

These three Cheshire towns followed each other very closely in the adoption of the Acts. Nantwich was the first to do so, and then followed Altrincham. This was brought about by a short and sharp agitation in September, 1889. The voting showed a majority of 738 in favour of the adoption. As a sample of the gross misstatements frequently made about existing libraries a local public man said that, although ostensibly the Manchester Public Library had an income of only a penny in the pound, they really cost fivepence in the pound. A wilder and more inaccurate assertion about these institutions was never made. The following post brought a letter to show the absurdity of the statement, for fivepence in the pound in Manchester would produce an income of £60,000 a year-a sum which could not possibly be spent on the existing libraries in Manchester. This is mentioned as an illustration of the statements for which friends of the movement must be prepared. All through the discussions respecting the adoption of the Acts, the advisability of an adjoining parish (Bowdon) with identical interests also adopting the Acts, and amalgamating with Altrincham, was kept in view,

and references were frequently made towards this desirable end. Steps have been taken with a view of handing over the Literary Institution for the purposes of a Public Library. For its pecuniary support the library will be aided by a sum of £200 per annum from the trustees of the Mayor's Land Charity, which the ratepayers so long ago as April, 1888, unanimously decided should be applied to the maintenance of a Public Library. By the order of the Charity Commissioners regulating the funds of the Charity, the money can only be given to a library that is absolutely free, so that by the adoption of the Public Libraries' Act the ratepayers can at last avail themselves of the benefit of the income. Beside this, the library committee may draw upon the Local Board to the extent of £207 per annum.

The adoption at Nantwich was in August, 1887, by public meeting. Not a single hand was held up against the proposition. Subscriptions flowed in very freely, and over £1,250 was quickly promised. This enabled them to erect a building. The library is well and substantially built, but is not, from external appearances, extensive nor very ornamental. In December, 1888, it was opened by Mr. Brunner, M.P., who contributed largely towards the first cost. Mr. Brunner said there had almost been an epidemic of Public Libraries. He hoped the County Government Bill would be amended to provide for the creation of corporations in every village. He was convinced a large number of gifts were lost on account of the absence of any duly constituted authority to receive them.

The first report published shows a good beginning. Among the donors of books is Mr. Ruskin, who sent nine volumes.

In Middlewich, a district with a population just over 5,000, the Acts were just as quickly adopted as in the other two places named. That nothing succeeds like success is true, and in the Public Library movement as in other departments of life. A meeting was held in the early part of 1889. It was pointed out that Middlewich was in a much better position to adopt the Act than many other towns. They had no land to purchase, no buildings to erect. The books of an old subscription library having fallen into disuse suggested to the friends who took up the movement that no better use could be possibly made of these than to make them the nucleus of a Public Library. The room at present used is not a very suitable one, as it is badly lighted, and is used for other purposes. It is only open two nights per week from six to nine o'clock. In the second half of last year they issued a book for every minute the library was open. Mr. T. L. Drinkwater, a local schoolmaster, acts as librarian and receives no salary. The work is making steady progress.

ASTON MANOR.

The great borough of Birmingham has been making municipal love to its little neighbour Aston, and has tried to induce the people to become merged in greater Birmingham. But Aston

declines with thanks, for they have long seen that all the outlying wards of Birmingham have had to give way to the huge scheme for the improvement of the centre of the town, and so the suburban wards must wait. Aston is wise in its day and generation, and naturally feels that it is strong enough to continue running alone. And certainly, so far as the library is concerned, Aston has been better served by itself by being a separate parish than would probably have been the case had they some years ago been annexed to Birmingham. The rooms of the library are situated in the Local Board offices, and there are eleven years of steady and useful work behind them. The additions to the books last year, especially in the lending department, are excellent in quality, and nearly every taste has been kept in view. Good and bad trade affects the circulation at Aston as in all other manufacturing districts, and last year's trade being good the demand was slightly below that of the previous year. The newsroom and reference-room are comfortable and attractive rooms. There is a good light, cheerful surroundings, with a bit of inexpensive art pottery here and there. The furniture was designed to suit the rooms, and is very conveniently placed to allow of freedom of locomotion. The best possible disposal is made of the space, and an additional room for reference has recently been added. A strip of card is distributed to borrowers to serve as a book-mark, and on the back of this the salient features of the library are given. The penny class lists of books are well compiled. One of the Board Schools close by the library is used for lectures during the winter, and the library lectures have given Aston quite a local reputation. The lectures are of a high-class character.

Bedford.

It was appropriate that the county town should lead the way in the adoption of the Acts, and this it did in August, 1889, by public meeting.

The Mayor, in explaining the object of the meeting, said that for some time past a good number of people had been anxious that a museum should be established in Bedford, and he himself thought it absolutely necessary in order to compete with the educational institutions in the town. In addition to that it was known that the Archæological Society had a great many things which it was desirable to have in a museum, and the society wished these things to be placed in the custody of some respectable body; and, seeing that the Corporation was a body whose continued existence was certain, it appeared to him that the Corporation should become custodians of the articles now in possession of the Archæological Society, and any articles which were now placed in private libraries by persons who were anxious to hand over the treasures they possessed to some responsible body, who would hold them for the benefit of the donors and the public generally. Thinking that the time had arrived for them to take some initial step in the matter, he brought it before the Council

but was told that it would be impracticable for any public money to be spent in this way unless they availed themselves of the Public Libraries Acts. Although the Acts were adopted so long ago nothing has been done at the time of writing to place them in operation. There is a strong subscription library in the town with a large income. The subscriptions during the last financial year amounted to £890. It is to be hoped that immediate steps will be taken to carry out the wishes of the people. Two years is far too long to elapse before anything is done, and some publicspirited inhabitant should at once take up the question. No credit attaches to any district in allowing the subject to lie stagnant in this way.

BILSTON, BRIERLEY HILL, and Dudley.

It is becoming a fortunate thing in the history of the Public Library movement that no town or populous district governed by a local board is considered to be complete without a Public Library. Bilston dates its adoption from 1872. Its number of volumes is not yet large, and it should no longer be possible to lay to the discredit of the large employers of labour in the district that the library is by them a somewhat neglected institution. Their workpeople are large users of the newsroom and library. The number of borrowers-7,205—is extraordinary, considering that there are only 7,145 books, and what are these among so many people? A few twenty-guinea gifts for new books from the large firms in the district would tend to place the library on a much better footing. The burden of debt is telling rather heavily too, for out of a rate of £170 an annual amount of £74 is devoted to the repayment of the loan. Bilston wants a refresher in the shape of a few generous gifts, and it is to be hoped that it will not go long without them.

And so does Brierley Hill, for during its twelve years' existence the enormous sum of £10 has been contributed by a supine public towards its library. This is a disgrace which surely the manufacturers of the district will no longer allow to exist. The population is a straggling one, but their reading proclivities cannot certainly be met by less than 2,000 volumes. On the two nights a week when the lending library is open some 300 books are lent. Our sympathy goes out for these small libraries struggling with a very limited income; and where the betterclass people stand aloof from it, as appears to be the case at Brierley Hill, the difficulties of the work are increased. Two rooms are allotted in the Town Hall buildings for the work, and £40 a year is paid to the Local Board for rent, heating, and cleaning. Will the people of Brierley Hill allow us to urge them to show an enhanced interest in its Public Library? WHY SO high a rent should be charged is not clear. In May, 1891, the proposal was made to utilize the Market Hall as a library.

BIRKENHEAD.

This may certainly be included among the live libraries of the country. Birkenhead was one of the pioneer towns in the adop