FRIENDS OF THE BODLEIAN [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—The Bodleian Library needs a fund by means of which its collections may be enriched by the timely purchase of rare books, historical documents, illuminated manuscripts, and fine examples of binding. The income of the Library, though now increased by a share of the Government grant which has recently been given to the University, leaves little margin for the acquisition of scarce and beautiful works. In the past many chances have been missed through lack of a fund out of which at the right moment such acquisitions could advantageously have been made.
Under the Copyright Acts the Library has the right to obtain a copy of every new work published in Great Britain ; but in spite of this privilege and of the contributions made by colleges and from the Government grant, the resources of the Library are slender. Such funds as are available for the purchase of books are required mainly for the acquisition of new foreign books or periodicals, and for the filling of lacunae in those parts of the Library in which its collections are weak or defective. Sir Thomas 'Bodley, when he set himself in 1598 to the restoration of the Library, appealed to friends and well-wishers to help him by the gift of books ; it is hoped that, by the co-operation of many friends who care for the Bodleian, his Library may now be given the help for which in his lifetime Bodley did not ask in vain.
With the approval of the curators and of Bodley's Librarian it has been decided to form an association, under the name of " Friends of the Bodleian," with the object of providing, by means of annual subscriptions, an income for the purchase of desirable books and manuscripts, for the acquisition of which the ordinary funds of the Library are insufficient. To secure the wise application of the money thus provided, the selection of the books to be acquired in this way will rest with Bodley's Librarian.
The names of the Friends of the Bodleian will be inscribed in a special register which will be preserved in the Library. The members of the Society will be invited to meet annually in Oxford to receive a report of the year's work, an account of which will also be given in the Bodleian. Quarterly Record. On the occasion of this meeting the Friends of the Bodleian will have an opportunity of seeing parts of the Library not
usually shown to visitors, and of inspecting the purchases made from the funds to which they have subscribed. Each _member will receive a copy of the Bodleian Quarterly Record.
We venture to ask those who, whether members of the University or not, feel an interest in the Bodleian Library, to join the new association. The annual subscription payable by each Friend of the Bodleian will be ten shillings, but it is hoped that many will see their way to give a larger sum. Communications should be addressed to the Secretary of the Friends of the Bodleian, Bodleian Library, Oxford.—We are, Sir, &c., RANDALL CANTUAR, CAVE, COSMO EBOR, OXFORD, BIRKENHEAD, CRAWFORD AND BALCARRES, GREY OF FALLODON, J. A. SIMON, J. W. MACKAIL, C. H. ST. JOHN HORNBY, J. WELLS, MICHAEL E. SADLER, A. D. LINDSAY, FRANCIS PEMBER, HERBERT WARREN, P. S. ALLEN, H. J. WHITE, FALCONER MADAN, GII.BERT MURRAY, C. S. SHERRINGTON.
. (To commend this appeal to Oxford men would be an unnecessary impertinence, but we would remind others that ,the,two great University Libraries are national, even inter- national, glories that deserve help towards their maintenance from all who are grateful to their earlier benefactors such as Bodley, and to the Universities that maintain them.—ED. Spectator.]
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