VILLAGE LIBRARIES.
(To rue Em-sos or rex " Spectaeos.")
Sta,—III the early " eighties " I was Honorary Secretary of a local Men's Institute here, this having a large number of working Mee as members with various pursuits and interests. There was a scanty library, and, on removal to
larger premises, kindly piovided by the late Duke of West- minster, it was desired to improve and increase it to meet the wishes of the members. I went round my friends and the well-wishers of the Inetitute with the suggestion that we should form a kind of circulating library on a small and perhaps novel scale. Each of those who agreed to join was asked to name a book which he himself wished or would care to read; also to agree to pay for it within a margin of price. The 'reggae. tion was most cordially supported, the desired books purchased, and the scheme went successfully on. There was no difficulty in passing on the books at stated intervals; each read a book he wished to, and was able to read all or any of the others. At the end of the time period the nucleus for a good library was in the possession of the Institute Committee, and the interest of the subscribers had been so much aroused that other gifts of books followed on. The usefulness of the library in such institutions depends greatly on the perhaps changing secre- taries—some working up the reading members, ethers those more interested in the sports. But, in any case, books live for many years when properly cared for.—I am, Sir, do.,
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