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414 The Library. illustrations of old Antwerp, as reproduced at this year's Antwerp Ex- hibition. It was resolved that the local committee formed to receive the Library Association on their visit to Cardiff next year should be consti- tuted as follows : The Mayor, Town Clerk, and six members of the Corporation (to be elected by the corporation), the chairman, vice-chair- man, librarian, and three members of the general committee of the Free Library, and two members each of the finance committee, Central Library, and branch libraries sub-committees ; the principal, with three repre- sentatives of the College Council and three of the College Senate ; while the following bodies are to be represented by one member each : museum committee and curator technical instruction committee, School Board, Welsh Intermediate Education Board, Cardiff Naturalists' Society, Cardiff Teachers' Association, Cymmrodorion Society, and Penarth, Barry, Pontypridd, Swansea, and Newport Free Library Committees. IRortfo fllMManfc SLtbrarg Hssociation* THE twenty-first meeting was held on Dec. 6th in the new building of the Midland Railway Institute, Derby. There was a large attendance. To avail themselves of the kind permission which was granted to inspect the Midland Railway Company's carriage works, a large proportion of members assembled at the institute at two o'clock. They were escorted through this department. The members returned to the beautiful and convenient premises of the Railway Institute, where business was pro- ceeded with. The chair was taken by Mr. Herne, President. The minutes of the October meeting at Nottingham were confirmed. The President welcomed Mr. Smith, public librarian of Sheffield, as a member. The past secretary (Mr. Radford) presented a report of last year's work, and also a financial statement. These were adopted. Ten ladies and gentlemen were elected to membership. The invitation of the Leicester members to hold the February meeting there was carried. The meeting then adjourned for the purpose of partaking of the hospi- tality of the Mayor. His Worship gave a cordial welcome to the Association, and spoke of the importance of the office of librarian. The business was resumed at the Railway Institute at half-past six. The President then gave his address. In the absence of Mr. Jast, public librarian of Peterborough, that gentleman's paper on " The Dewey System of Classification" was read by Mr. Briscoe. A discussion ensued, which was taken part in by Messrs. Crowther, Herne, Baker, Walton, and Briscoe. Mr. Samuel Smith thanked the members for electing him to membership ; expressed a wish that during the present year the Association should visit Sheffield ; and read a paper entitled, " Chuckles behind the Counter, and Counter-chuckles." This was a clever and humorous paper. Among other matters, the writer mentioned the distorted titles of books which were used by applicants at free library counters, and some of the chuckles on "the other side" of the counter. The subject was taken up by the President, and Messrs. Briscoe, Crow- ther, and Baker. The authors of the two papers were heartily thanked. Mr. Smith responded. The question as to " the proportion of fiction which should exist in a lending library " was introduced. Mr. Briscoe and other speakers stated that library committees are bound to supply fiction of the best class. The subject of the morality of certain books of fiction was discussed at length. " Ought works to be lent from a reference library ? " was the question put by Mr. Kirkby, public librarian of Leicester, and answered in the negative by several librarians. J. P. B.