Page:The library a magazine of bibliography and library literature, Volume 6.djvu/357

The Clerkenwell Open Lending Library. 345 sequence. It can only be claimed, therefore, that the Clerkenwell experiment is just a little novel as regards the application of the open access principle to a popular lending library. So far as we are aware, the plan has never been tried on exactly similar lines anywhere, but there are well-known examples of open lending libraries in the United States at Cleveland in Ohio, Pawtucket in Rhode Island, and Minneapolis in Minnesota. The Cleveland method is somewhat like the arrangement suggested by Mr. Mason at Aberdeen last year, save that borrowers, on demand, are permitted to examine any book they see in the locked presses. Minneapolis gives unre- stricted access to borrowers as at Clerkenwell, but we are unable to say on what system. It must be evident, therefore, from the foregoing particulars that novelty cannot be, and is not claimed, as a distinctive feature of the Clerkenwell Open Library. When the work of changing the system was seriously con- fronted, several troublesome problems presented themselves. Among them were these our space was very small ; our book- shelves too high and too deep ; the light was badly distributed ; and our stock was not fresh. Then, difficulties cropped up con- nected with the classification and arrangement of books on the shelves, and the invention of a suitable charging system, not to mention minor matters ; but a little study overcame them all, and the methods now about to be described are the result. Like every other pioneer movement, this one suffered from a lack of models to copy and improve ; consequently, if some of the devices are crude and childish, it must be urged in extenuation that the whole scheme is only in its babyhood, though certain to become stronger and better with every fresh essay on similar lines. It will be more interesting and, perhaps, instructive if the succes- sive steps necessitated by the alteration are described in brief detail. We had accumulated a number of heavy and bulky works of more or less value from the source of donation, and as space was very limited, it became necessary to remove these to the reference department, especially as it was found that many of them had never been asked for during the five years of the library's life. This was the first thing done, and is an act of policy likely to be repeated in Clerkenwell because of the small amount of space, and in order that the library may be main- tained in a thoroughly up-to-date condition. Probably the pruning process will take place every five years, or when the general catalogue is reprinted. The next step was to write