Page:The library a magazine of bibliography and library literature, Volume 6.djvu/50

40 The Library. libraries in our large towns can reasonably doubt that they would be as successful if established in the villages. We may also rest assured that it is in the direction of the villages that we must look for the further development of the library movement, and the sooner, therefore, that we realize this fact the better it will be for all concerned. But, although the adoption of the Libraries Acts would practically solve the difficulty, there are other ways in which it is possible to help the existing libraries. For instance, if our publishers could be induced to present copies of some of their works to libraries of this charac- ter and to town libraries as well for that matter I feel sure they would benefit themselves more than the recipients, for my experience tends to prove that many books are purchased by persons who have first seen them in our public libraries, and who otherwise in all probability would have never become acquainted with them. Much more might also be done by our village minis- ters and schoolmasters. Good work has been done, and is now being done by these gentlemen, for the returns show clearly that a large proportion of the libraries is being worked voluntarily by them. Great credit is due to them therefore on that account, yet much more might be accomplished by this means, and it may be worth while to consider whether it is not possible to enlist more of them in extending library work in our villages. Leaving now this part of the subject and turning to another side of the question, I find it difficult to make many generalisa- tions upon the returns, as each locality has its peculiar set of conditions, which vary from every other in some essential particulars. The question of what constitutes a village, and what is the difference between a village or town, was settled by drawing the line at a population of 20,000, indeed the population of the largest place mentioned on the returns does not exceed 16,000 persons. The number of volumes varies quite as much as the population, the lowest number being 50, while the highest (Settle) reaches 11,000. The issues of course vary propor- tionately, and range from a modest 100 volumes a year to 60,000, which is the number reached at Hebden Bridge. 1 To conclude, my main object, as I said before, is to gather information, so that we may have facts to help us in considering this matter, and I sincerely hope that when these returns are 1 This seems a very extraordinary issue when the population and stock of books are taken into account.