Page:The library a magazine of bibliography and library literature, Volume 6.djvu/47

Yorkshire Village Libraries. 1 OOME time ago our esteemed Secretary requested me to ^ obtain for the use of this Association a few particulars respecting the Village Libraries of Yorkshire, with a view of procuring some data upon which the general question of village libraries might be discussed. I at once promised to do what I could in the matter, and proceeded to draw up a circular intended to elicit some information as to the extent and character of the village libraries at present existing in our county. The follow- ing are the heads under which it was thought desirable to obtain particulars : 1. Name of place and postal district. 2. Population. 3. Extent of district covered. 4. Name of Library. 5. How established (by gift, bequest, contributions of villa- gers or otherwise). 6. How supported. 7. Number of volumes. 8. Number of issues per year. 9. During what days and hours open. 10. Are the books taken home to read? 11. Is there a reading room attached? 12. Are the services of the librarian voluntary or paid for? 13. Distance from nearest town. Copies of this circular, prefaced of course by a few paragraphs explaining the object for which it was issued, were sent first to the villages in the West Riding, addressed to the " Village Librarian," Village Library, and subsequently to those situa- ted in the North and East Ridings of the Shire. Returns were quickly received from 56 villages in the West, and from 50 in the North and East Ridings, all filled up as requested, and signed by the librarian, in charge, while the remainder of the circulars, some 25% of the number sent out, were returned as " not known " or " no library." With respect to the returned circulars, there 1 Communicated to the Sixteenth Annual Meeting of the Library Association,. Aberdeen, September, 1893. 4