Page:The library a magazine of bibliography and library literature, Volume 6.djvu/91

A Danish Charging System. 79 the same date is stamped are arranged according to the book numbers, and then are noted in the register the books which are returned. For the use of Horsens Public Library I have varied the method as follows : Every borrower has a numbered ticket. In the register the borrower receives his place according to his ticket number. The first left hand page of the register contains the numbers o 4. the corresponding right-hand page the numbers 5 9 ; these two pages together are numbered page i, &c. In the borrowers' place in the register are immediately entered the number of the book and the date of the loan. On the pasteboard card are noted, at the top, the number of the book ; below, the number of the borrower. The cards are arranged according to the order of the book-number, and the cards of every day's issues are kept separately (the library is but open twice a week). The borrower retains his ticket. These cards give an excellent means of obtaining a statistical account of the loans. When the cards are arranged according to the book-numbers, we can see how often every book has been given out ; when arranged according to the number of the bor- rowers, how many books every borrower has taken out. Es- pecially the first knowledge is of great interest for the purchase of new books. ANDR. Sen. STEENBERG. Horsens, Denmark. [Mr. Steenberg, in a letter accompanying this interesting note, ex- presses the fear that his description may be so lacking in novelty as to suggest the Danish proverb, which, in such cases, has it that " The egg will teach the hen," but we can assure him the method will be new to many English librarians. Its general resemblance to the card systems of England and the United States is well marked, though the preparation of a fresh card for every book issued is more like some of the American plans than any which have yet obtained favour in England. ED.]