The Libraries, Museums, and Art Galleries Year-Book, 1910-11. Edited by

Alex. J. Philip. (Scott, Greenwood, and Son. 5s, net.) —A. book full of interesting and useful information. Libraries of all kinds, whether belonging to societies, or attached to founda- tions, or rate-supported, are here described. They occupy two hundred and eighteen pages, and may be reckoned at twelve hundred. We give some figures of expenditure referring to rate- supported libraries :—

Books. Periodicals. Binding. Salaries.

Birmingham £2,456 ... £1,076 ... £928 ... £7,173 Blackburn 250 .., 100 ... 100 ... 770 Bradford 1,900 ... 500 ,..(in books)... 2,500 Bristol 1,288 ... 484 ... ... 3,980 Cardiff 990 ... 405

2,737 Croydon 850 ... 147

1,401 Edinburgh 2,410 ... 4.55

4,528 Hull 719 ... 373

2,057 Battersea 692 ... 224

1,800 Hampstead 550 ... 275

1,700

Tho management expenses, it will be seen, exceed the literary in every case. This can hardly be avoided. Bradford, with X2,400 spent on books, &c., as against £2,500 on salaries, seems to come off best (of the towns given). Of course circumstances differ greatly. The difficulties, too, vary much ; probably the one thing wanted is a strong librarian, for not a little local ignorance and incompetence has to be overcome. Here is a true story. In the Library Committee of a well-known suburb some one proposed for purchase the "Bibliography of Shakespeare." Another member protested. "It was against the regulations to introduce any theological book." Fiction is a difficulty. It is certainly a hard- ship on the owner of a circulating library to make him pay rates for what is practically a damaging opposition. The British Museum rule, forbidding the issue of fiction within four years of publication, would be a good one to adopt.