Page:The Library, volume 5, series 3.djvu/159

LEIBNITZ AS A LIBRARIAN. 147 After Leibnitz's death Hertel took his place, and presided over the library for some twenty years till his death in 1737. In order to increase the funds of the library, Leibnitz introduced the use of ' stamped-paper ' ; and another plan of his a strange one according to our modern ideas is worth recording. He advocated the planting and growing of mulberry- trees in the domain adjoining the library buildings for the rearing of silkworms. To this end he commenced operations at his own cost, but as his ducal master gave him no encouragement, the scheme had to be dropped, and he fell back on the less picturesque course of selling duplicates. During Leibnitz's administration the library was rebuilt by Duke Anton Ulrich from between 1706 and 1710. Leibnitz said that a special need of the library was a separate room which could be heated and lit without endangering the building and its contents. But the duke could not be induced to give his consent to this scheme, and it consequently lapsed. Much more than a century later, however, in 1835, a room in the south-west corner of the building was reserved for registration and cata- loguing purposes, and here the heating arrange- ments were carried out. 1 The contents of a private library reflect the tastes of its owner and creator. To some extent the same holds good of a public collection, though less so now than formerly. The librarian who builds it up is in a degree bound to observe a 1 Guhrauer, loc. cit., p. 23.