Page:The Library, volume 5, series 3.djvu/438

424 THE NEEDS OF SCOTTISH LIBRARIES.' HEN the Scottish Library Association was founded in 1907 its purpose was declared to be ' to unite all persons engaged in, or interested in, Library work throughout Scotland, by holding Meetings for the discussion of matters affecting the well-being of Scottish libraries; to promote whatever may tend to the improvement of library administration, and of the qualifications and status of librarians in Scotland ; and to provide oppor- tunities for social intercourse among the members of the Association.' The Association was formed as a tentative project. There was in existence the Library Association, with a membership drawn from all parts of the three Kingdoms, and with central offices in London from which all the rami- fications of the British library world might be controlled. The Library Association has done, and is doing, excellent work ; but the very magni- tude of its scope makes it extremely difficult for adequate attention to be given to minor local details. Of the 302 libraries in existence at the time of the last Parliamentary Return (1912) there 1 Address delivered at the Annual Meeting of the Scottish Library Association, at Montrose, I3th June, 1914, by Dr. A. H. Millar, Chief-Librarian, Dundee. (Abridged report.)