Page:The library a magazine of bibliography and library literature, Volume 6.djvu/361

The Clerkenwell Open Lending Library. 349 where we left them, and carefully sorted, the book-numbers being carried on to the readers' cards, and the readers' numbers and dates on to the book cards. This is not absolutely necessary, as the junction of the two is quite sufficient to make a full charge, but for the sake of permanency of record we prefer to show both sides of every transaction in this way. When the day is done the cards representing issues, now arranged in strict numerical order with projecting guides at every thousand, are carefully counted by classes and placed in a tray which bears the date of issue on a metal projection. There they remain till the books represented are returned. Brown took the "Indicator" book out on the ist of May, and returned it on the I2th. He, as before, goes to the entrance barrier, where the assistant takes the book from him, turns up the date, May ist, proceeds to that tray and removes the number, 5,010, which is in the pocket along with the reader's card. The book is then placed on the counter available for re- issue or replacement by the staff; the reader's card and pocket put back in the pigeon-hole, letter B, the book- card placed at the back of the 5,000 tray, to be properly filed at leisure, and Brown is again permitted to pass the wicket. The card-charging system which we have adopted enables us to say whether or not a book is out, or if any given reader has a book out. It also enables us to detect overdues automatically. There is no reason why a condensed and slightly modified indicator should not be used as the charging method by those who prefer it. These, then, are the main lines on which the Clerkenwell Open Library are worked, and it now only remains to summarize the drawbacks and advantages which a short experience has taught us are elements in the working of the system, which may be modified or intensified as time goes on. First, as to the drawbacks ; which must be distinctly under- stood to refer to the Clerkenwell Library alone, and not to the system in its ideal working. These nearly all arise from the conversion of unsuitable fittings and inadequate space to pur- poses for which they were never intended. Our book-shelves being too high, bring about the necessity for short, obstructive foot-stools, which, in their turn, combine with the narrow parts of the passages, to cause an occasional tendency to crowd at these points in the evenings. The fact that two of the passages form blind alleys, and all the others are too narrow, also helps to increase this tendency. Our shelves, being nine inches deep