NOTEWORTHY BOOKS OF THE MONTH.

this we have arranged to publish,

month by month, a list of the works worthy of the librarian's attention, which may have made their appearance during the interval of our issues, in the hope that by so doing we shall be increasing the usefulness of our Record.

Mr. F. J. BURGOYNE, Chief Librarian of the Lambeth Public Libraries, has very kindly undertaken to compile the list, which will practically represent the books ordered each month by several of the leading Free Public Libraries of London.

It is not intended to include new editions, except in special cases where books may have been long out of print, or when the new edition is of such value as to make its purchase desirable.

THE FOLLOWING LIST INCLUDES WORKS PUBLISHED BETWEEN Nov. 25 AND DEC. 25, 1898.

ALLEN (Grant). Linnet: a romance. Crn. 8vo. 400 pp. Richards. 6s. ANSTEY (F.). Love among the lions. Crn. 8vo. 126 pp. Dent. 28. net. BERTIN (L. E.). Marine Boilers; translated by L. S. Robertson, with preface by Sir W. White. Dy. 8vo. 466 pp.: 250 illus. J. Murray.

18s.

BESANT (Sir W.). South London. Dy. 8vo. 344 Pp.: 119 illus. Chatto.

18s.

BRADLEY (A. G.). Highways and byways in North Wales. Illus. by Pennell and Thomson. Lge. crn. 8vo. 490 pp.: 97 illus. Macmillan. 6s.

BRIGHT (William). Some aspects of primitive Church life. Crn. 8vo. 276 pp. Longmans. 6s.

"BRITISH JOURNAL" photographic almanac, 1899, edited by Bedding. Crn. 8vo. 457 pp.: illus. Greenwood. Is. 6d. net.

BULLEN (Frank T.). Cruise of the "Cachalot" after sperm whales. Lge. crn. 8vo. 400 pp.: illus. Smith, Elder. 8s. 6d

"CARROLL (Lewis)," Life and letters of, by S. D. Collingwood. Lge. crn. 8vo. 468 pp.: illus. Unwin. 7s. 6d.

CAVOUR; by Countess Cesaresco. (Foreign Statesmen Series). Crn. 8vo. 230 pp. Macmillan. 2s. 6d.

CHAMBERS'S new reciter; edited by Morison. Crn. 8vo. Chambers.

2s. 6d.

CLOWES (W. Laird). The royal navy. Vol. III. Imp. 8vo. 698 pp.:

illus. Low. 25s.

CONYBEARE (Fred. C.) The Dreyfus case. Crn. 8vo. 128 pp.: 12

illus. Allen.

DAVIDSON (John).

3s. 6d.

The last ballad, and other poems. Crn. 8vo. 192 pp. Lane. 4s. 6d. net.

DAY (Lewis F.). Alphabets, old and new. Cheap edit. Crn. 8vo.: illus. Batsford. 3s. 6d. net.

DILKE (Sir C. W.). The British empire. Crn. 8vo. 166 pp. Chatto. 3s. 6d.

DIOSY (Arthur). The new Far East. Dy. 8vo. 390 pp.: illus. Cassell. 16s.

DRUMMOND (Prof. Henry). Life of; by G. A. Smith. Lge. crn. 8vo. 520 pp. Hodder. 7s. 6d.

DYMOND (T. S.). Experimental course of chemistry for agricultural students. Crn. 8vo. 192 pp. Arnold. 2s. 6d.

EDGAR (J. G.). Runnymede and Lincoln fair. New edition. Crn. 8vo. 334 PP. Ward, Lock. 3s. 6d.

FARADAY. His life and work; by Prof. Silvanus P. Thompson. (Century Science Series.) Crn. 8vo. 320 pp. Cassell.

5S.

FISON (Alfred H.). Recent advances in astronomy. (Victorian Era Series.) Crn. 8vo. 250 pp. Blackie. 2s. 6d.

FITCHETT (W. H., i.e., "Vedette"). Fights for the flag. Crn. 8vo. 342 pp. Smith, Elder. 6s.

GEIKIE (James). Earth sculpture, or the origin of land-forms. Lge. crn. 8vo. 336 pp.: illus. J. Murray. 6s.

Greene (W. T.), editor.

Lane.

Dream days. Crn. 8vo. 282 pp.

Second series. Crn.

Notes on cage-birds.
Gill. 6s.

8vo. 350 pp.: illus. HAGGARD (H. Rider). Dr. Therne. Crn. 8vo. 264 pp. Longmans. 3s. 6d.

HALL (Rev. Newman). Autobiography. Dy. 8vo. 400 pp. 2 illus. Cassell. I2s. 6d.

HARDY (Thomas). Wessex poems and other verses, with 30 illus. by the author. Crn. 8vo. 128 pp. Harper. 6s.

Henderson (T. F.). Scottish vernacular literature: a succinct history. Crn. 8vo. 472 pp. Nutt. 6s.

HOGG (Jabez). The microscope. New (15th) edition. Dy. 8vo. 728 pp. 900 illus. Routledge. 10s. 6d.

HOLBEIN (Hans); by H. Knackfuss ; translated by Dodgson. Roy. 8vo. 136 pp. 128 illus. Grevel. 4s.

JONES (R. J. Cornewall). The British merchant service. Dy. 8vo. 424 pp.: illus. Low. 14s.

KEARTON (Richard). Wild life at home: how to study and photograph it. Crn. 8vo. 204 pp.: 97 illus. Cassell. 6s.

KIPLING (Rudyard). A fleet in being. Crn. 8vo. 88 pp. Macmillan. IS. 6d.

LÜCKES (Eva C. E.). General nursing. Crn. 8vo. 366 pp. Kegan Paul. 6s.

MCCARTHY (Justin). Modern England before the reform bill. (Story of the Nations.) Crn. 8vo. 356 pp.: illus. Unwin. 5S.

MCCARTHY (Justin H.).

Short history of the United States. Lge. crn. 8vo. 334 PP. Hodder. 6s.

MACDONAGH (Michael). Irish life and character. Crn. 8vo. 390 pp. Hodder. 6s.

"MACLAREN (Ian)." Afterwards, and other stories. Crn. 8vo. 466 pp. Hodder. 6s.

MARR (J. E.). Principles of stratigraphical geology. Crn. 8vo. 312 pp. Camb. Univ. Press. 6s.

MAYCOCK (W. Perren). Electric lighting and power distribution. 4th ed. in 2 vols. Vol. I. Crn. 8vo. 454 PP. 231 illus. Whittaker.

6s.

MEYNELL (Alice). The spirit of place, and other essays. Crn. 8vo. Lane. 3s. 6d. net.

MORLAND, and the evolution from him of some later painters; by Nettleship. 4to. 96 pp.: illus. Seeley. 6s. net.

Lithography and lithographers. 738. 6d. net.

PENNELL (Joseph and Elizabeth R.).
Roy. 4to. 294 pp.: illus. Unwin.
POOLE (Stanley Lane). Saladin and the fall of the kingdom of Jerusalem.
(Heroes of the Nations.) Cr. 8vo. 440 pp. illus. Putnams. 5s.

RAPHAEL; by H. Knackfuss; translated by C. Dodgson. Roy. 8vo. 136 pp. 128 illus. Grevel. 4s. net.

SEARS (Prof. L.). Principles and methods of literary criticism. Crn. 8vo. Putnams.

6s.

SELBORNE (Earl of). Memorials. Part II. 2 vols. Dy. 8vo. 510 + 512 pp. Macmillan. 25s. net.

SHAKESPEARE (William).

Life of; by Sidney Lee. Lge. crn. 8vo.

506 pp.: illus. Smith, Elder. 7s. 6d.

SMITH (W. R.), editor. Text-book of first-aid work and home nursing. Crn. 8vo. 160 pp. Allman. 2s. net.

STABLES (Gordon). 'Twixt daydawn and light. Lge. crn. 8vo. 380 pp. Shaw. 5s.

STENZEL (Capt. A.). The British navy. Roy. 8vo. 340 pp.: illus.

Unwin. 12s. 6d.

STOCKTON (Frank R.).

The associate hermits. Crn. 8vo. 370 pp.: illus. Harper. 6s.

STOUGHTON (Dr. John). Short record of; by his Daughter. Lge. crn. 8vo. 252 pp. Hodder. 3s. 6d.

TAIT (Peter G.). Scientific papers. Vol. I. 4to. Camb. Univ. Press. 258. WARDEN (Florence). Bohemian girls. Crn. 8vo. 304 pp. White. 6s. WATSON (William). Collected Poems. Crn. 8vo. 322 PP. Lane. 7s. 6d. net.

WELLDON (Bishop J. E. C.). The hope of immortality. Crn. 8vo. 358 pp. Seeley. 6s.

WESTOBY (W. A. S.). Adhesive postage stamps of Europe.
Crn. 8vo. 408 pp.: illus. Gill. 7s. 6d.

Vol. I.

NOTES AND QUERIES ON PUBLIC LIBRARY

U

LAW.

NDER this heading we shall continue from time to time to publish questions on the operation of the Public Libraries Acts which have been submitted to the Honorary Solicitor of the Association, together with the answers he has given.

All questions should be addressed to the Hon. Solicitor, H. W. FOVARGUE, Esq., Town Hall, Eastbourne, who will send his replies direct to correspondents, on the distinct understanding that both question and answer are to be published in The Library Association Record.

The Powers of Library Authorities to Borrow Money for the Purchase of Books.

Question.-It is proposed to borrow money to be expended in the purchase of books for one of our District Libraries, it having been ascertained that the amount spent for this purpose cannot be defrayed out of the penny rate, but it is doubtful whether this purpose comes within section 19 of the Act of 1892. Perhaps you would be good enough to inform me whether in your opinion the provision of books constitutes the fitting up, furnishing and supplying the library with all requisite furniture, fittings and conveniences within the meaning of section II.

Answer. The borrowing by a library authority is subject to the provisions of sections 233, 234, and 236 to 239 of the Public Health Act, 1875. Section 234 (1) of that Act provides that money shall not be borrowed except for permanent works. I have never heard of any authority being allowed to borrow money for books, and I do not think the Local Government Board would sanction any loan for that purpose. Your best course would probably be to inquire of the Local Government Board whether they would be prepared to entertain such an application.

The Powers of a Library Committee.

Question.-An important point of difference having arisen with reference to the exercise of the powers of a Library Committee appointed under the Public Libraries Act, I venture to submit it to you, with the view of procuring your opinion thereupon :

On the 9th inst. the Corporation appointed a committee under the Public Libraries Act, but instead of delegating to it any or all of its powers, issued certain instructions for its conduct, namely:—

"To have the management, regulation and control of the Public Free Libraries and all buildings and property appertaining thereto, and the Officers and Servants in connection therewith.

"To execute the powers and carry into effect the provisions of the Public Libraries Act, 1892, the Museum and Gymnasium Act, 1891, and the Acts of Parliament amending the same so far as the same relate to the establishing and maintenance of Public Libraries and Museums, but subject, as regards their Acts and Proceedings, to the approval thereof by the Council.

"To examine all accounts relating to the Library and Museum, and submit the same to the Finance Committee."

At the first meeting of this Library Committee the Mayor presiding) I, after reading to the Committee the resolution and instructions passed by the Corporation, asked the town clerk whether the meaning of these instructions was, that the Library Committee could not spend a penny or carry out any proposal without first obtaining the approval and sanction of the Corporation. The town clerk replied emphatically that such was the meaning and intention of the instructions. Thereupon I submitted that such instructions were irregular and not in accordance with the terms of the Public Libraries Act. That the words of the Act were that the Corporation may appoint a Committee and may delegate to such Committee all or any of its powers, etc. That the word delegate had only one interpretation and that the meaning, intent and spirit of the Act was that such Committee having been duly appointed by the Corporation was entitled and empowered to spend money and do all other necessary acts, so long as it did not go beyond the powers delegated to it, and that therefore it was not necessary to apply for the approval of the Corporation before incurring any expenditure, etc., and that the instructions of the Corporation did not amount to a delegation. The town clerk advised against my contention, and therefore, I, as well as other members of the Committee will feel much obliged if you would favour us with your views on this question.

Answer. In reply to your letter of the 25th instant, I agree with you that strictly there has been no delegation by the Council to the Committee of its powers under the Public Libraries Act. In the ordinary sense "delegation" means the appointment of another with powers to act in the other's stead. But there has been an appointment of the Committee (not only under the Public Libraries Act but also under the general powers of the Corporation) to deal with the matters in question and bring up their recommendations. This is the course adopted in many boroughs. In fact, I think it is exceptional to permit the Library Committee to incur expenditure without the approval of the Council. The Library Committee here is subject to the same condition as yours, viz., that its acts and proceedings require the approval of the Council. I would call attention to the fact that section 15 (3) of the Public Libraries Act authorises the Council "if they think fit" to appoint the Committee and further that if appointed the delegation is only to be "to the extent" of such delegation, obviously meaning that the Council might attach conditions to the appointment of the Committee. I would refer you to section 22 (2) of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1882, though I think with regard to the Public Library Committee the Council might if they thought fit divest themselves of all their powers and duties under section 15 of the Public Libraries Act, 1892 (which, please observe, do not include the power to levy or make a rate), to the Committee. Under the circumstances I see no reason to differ from the opinion of your town clerk to whom I have, following the usual practice, sent a copy of this communication.