Page:The library a magazine of bibliography and library literature, Volume 6.djvu/99

Library Notes and News. 87 " It appears that in Aberdeen previous to a charge of one penny being sanctioned by their bye-laws, they suffered from irresponsible persons making application for readers' tickets and putting the management to the trouble and expense of providing them, and registering names, while such persons never after- wards applied for their tickets. I have no hesitation in saying that to check a practice of this kind, if prevailing to any large extent, the Committee would be legally entitled to pass a bye-law such as the one in question. "In the case of Hawick, to which reference was made at the Library Com- mittee meeting, the charge of one penny was made without the sanction of any bye-law, and the Town Clerk ruled that in absence of such a bye-law the charge should not be made. I am not aware that in any place where such a bye-law exists its legality has been ever questioned." Mr. Dewar said he had recently visited the free library in Belfast, and he found that a penny was charged from every party who applied for a ticket. They had also to pay another penny at the end of each year for renewing the ticket. Mr. Bain asked if the Town Clerk stated that it was legal to make the charge. The Clerk said the whole point of legality was as to whether it was necessary for the protection of the property in the institution. They had pre-supposed that it was. The matter then dropped. BANGOR. This city was the first in North Wales to adopt the Public Libraries Acts. It does possess a library, but for a term approach- ing three months that library has been closed. The librarian, although extra assistance has been allowed him and paid for by the town council, sees no prospect of its early re-opening, or of the work of cataloguing the books coming to a completion. The library happens to be also a news- room, and for the period previously named the newspapers and period- icals have been placed in the museum below, where the accommodation for readers is of the scantiest and most inconvenient character. The place, even in the daytime, is badly lighted, and when dusk falls, the room has to be closed, there being no gas or artificial light. BARKING. Mr. Thomas Mason, of St. Martin-in-the Fields Public Library, gave the first of a series of free lectures, which have been arranged by the Public Library Committee, on February 8th at the Town Hall. The title of the lecture was " What should we read," and it was listened to by a good audience, who followed the lecturer's racy and instructive remarks with much appreciation. A brief summary of the lecture appears in the Essex Times of February loth. BIRMINGHAM. Another important branch library was opened at Small Heath by the Mayor of Birmingham (Alderman Johnson), on Dec. 30, 1893. The building has been erected at a total cost of ^5, 600 including fittings, and comprises a main news and reading-room over 70 feet long by 32 feet wide. A book store measures 30 feet by 1 5 feet, and a room 33 feet by 29 feet has been provided for the use of ladies. The stock at starting will be 5,000 volumes. The Mayor in his speech referred to the progress of the Birmingham libraries, and to the experience they had gained since the library system was inaugurated. He stated that they had found it necessary to enlarge the space set apart as a reading-room for the reading of newspapers and periodicals, owing to the great interest taken in that department. As an antidote to the cursory reading of newspapers, they proposed to put in every branch library a set of books of reference. Mr. Jesse Collings, M.P., Mr. S. Timmins, and others, took part in the proceedings. It may be mentioned that the Small Heath library will serve the Bordesley district of Birmingham.