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Library Notes and News. 255 sympathy to Lady Coleridge and other members of the family in the sad bereavement they have suffered." Miss Salusbury, daughter of the late Mr. E. R. G. Salusbury, M.P. for Chester, was unanimously appointed librarian and secretary in succession to Mr. Caddie, who has secured another appointment. LONDON : ST, GILES'S DISTRICT. The Duke of Bedford, on July loth, laid the foundation stone of the new public library in High Holborn for the St. Giles's district. There is at present a temporary free library in Southampton Row. The site of the new building to be erected in High Holborn is between the District Board's Offices and Messrs. Kent's premises. A tender for the erection of the building for the sum of ,6,440 has recently been accepted. The work of building will be immediately commenced, and the commissioners hope that it will be completed within twelve months. LONDON : ST. PANCRAS.-The result of the poll in this large parish on the question of adopting the Public Libraries Act, was declared on July 3 ist, as follows : Against adoption, 6,248 ; for adoption, 4,574 ; majority against, 1,674. 26,000 voting papers were issued, but a very large number were returned blank. MAIDENHEAD. On June 3rd, the Town Council, by a majority of five, decided that " the present is an inopportune time for the adoption of the Public Libraries Acts within the borough. It was suggested that the guarantors, who had promised ,1,000, be thanked, when one of the councillors replied, " I don't thank them for wasting my time ! " MANCHESTER. A new branch library was opened on July 7th, at Openshaw, by Mr. R. C. Christie. This is the eleventh branch library in addition to four public reading-rooms which has been established by the Corporation, and is one of the largest and best appointed. The buildings, which have been erected from the designs of Messrs. J. W. and R. F. Beaumont, embrace a free public library and read- ing-room, boys' reading-room, public hall, and technical class-rooms. A new feature is added in the form of a coffee tavern, with billiard- room and smoking-room. The Public Libraries Committee have been enabled to provide for the wants of the district of Openshaw largely through the generosity of the legatees of the late Sir Joseph Whitworth. MERSEY DISTRICT LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. The usual quarterly meeting of this Association took place at Manchester on June 1 5th, and comprised visits to a large number of the public and other libraries of that city, the Openshaw new library building (described above) being the chief point of interest. The business meeting, preceded by tea, took place at the Public Reference Library, King Street, the principal feature being the reading of a paper by Mr. A. Lancaster, librarian, St. Helens, on " Book Exhibitions and the Purchase of Expensive Books for Free Libraries." There was a large attendance, numbering nearly forty, including several lady chief librarians and assistants, and librarians of fifteen libraries in the district, with large contingents from Liverpool and Manchester, including Mr. P. Cowell, chief of the Liverpool libraries, and Mr. C. W. Sutton, chief of the Manchester libraries, the latter gentleman presiding in his usual courteous and able manner. The very interesting meeting concluded with visits to three of the fine series of branch libraries and reading-rooms of which Manchester citizens have reason to