LIBRARY NOTES AND NEWS.

BARMOUTH: Appeal to House Miss Cobbe's Library.-Miss Frances Power Cobbe having offered to bequeath her library of about 3000 volumes to Barmouth, provided that suitable accommodation can be secured for the books, a movement has been set on foot by the people of Barmouth with the object of raising £2000 for that purpose. The Cambrian Railway Company has already offered a site, and it is proposed to erect a building, which besides suitably housing Miss Cobbe's library, shall contain a reading or newsroom and a men's recreationroom. More than £500 has already been promised locally. Subscriptions may be sent to Miss Blanche Atkinson, one of the trustees of Miss Cobbe's library, whose address is Tynyffynon, Barmouth.

BIRMINGHAM: SHAKESPEARE MEMORIAL LIBRARY: Shakespeare's Arms.-Sir James Sawyer has presented to the Free Libraries Committee of the City Council a framed and glazed copy, emblazoned by himself, of the arms granted to John Shakespeare in 1596, and inherited by his son William. In the impressions of the arms frequently printed on volumes of Shakespeare's works, numerous errors have occurred, and by frequent copying have been perpetuated. Sir James Sawyer, noticing the variations, made research into the subject, and has now provided Shakesperean students, and publishers with what he claims is an accurate version. Sir James Sawyer's drawing has been placed in a conspicuous place in the Shakespeare Memorial Library, Ratcliff Place. The drawing shows the falcon forming the crest, with its wings displayed argent, holding a golden spear. The shield is of gold, and bears a bend sable charged with a golden spear. Over the crest is the motto Non Sanz Droict, according to the spelling in the days of the immortal bard. Sir James Sawyer has received the thanks of the committee for his present.

BIRMINGHAM: THE OLD LIBRARY: Transferred to New Premises. In a few days' time the Birmingham Library will have attained the respectable age of 120 years.

For upwards of a hundred years it occupied the well-known premises in Union Street, in close proximity to the Cherry Gardens, on the site of which now stands Cherry Street. The library was built on what was called the Tontine plan, and for many years it enjoyed uninterrupted prosperity. Early in the year 1794 the "New Library" was founded, chiefly by dissenters who were dissatisfied with the management of the present institution, and it was on this account that the Birmingham Library became known as the "Old Library," a title which it has since retained, but which it is likely will soon fall into disuse, as the library has been removed to a new and handsome building close to the Council House. The "Old Library" and the "New Library" were amalgamated in 1860.

On Saturday afternoon, 3rd June, 1899, the Old Library finally closed its doors, and on the morning of the following Saturday the new building situated at the corner of Margaret Street and Cornwall Street was opened. The Birmingham Daily Post in its issue of 3rd June says: "That so short a closure should be made is due to the orderly faculty

of the librarian 'Mr. Scarse, who has already had carried out the removal of the bulk of the volumes least in demand. The library contains about 80,000 volumes, and it can easily be realised that the dusting and removal of these and the systematic location in the new rooms is an undertaking of considerable magnitude.”

We do not propose to furnish particulars of the method adopted in the removal of the library, but to give briefly a description of the new building, the architects of which are Messrs. Cossins, Peacock, & Bewlay.

Its external appearance, while presenting the necessary aspect of importance, is in a quiet and unobtrusive style appropriate to the uses to which it is dedicated, and contrasting somewhat strongly with a good deal of the architecture of many recently-erected structures in the city. The elevations are in the English Renaissance style, carried out in Ruabon brick and white Hollington stone, with Westmoreland green slates for the roof. The building consists of two blocks at right angles the one to the other. On the Margaret Street side the façade of two storeys is divided into three sections-a gabled portion at each endand between them a slightly recessed division, further subdivided by piers between the windows. The porch is of stone, and the large circular-headed windows have stone mullions and borders, the arches being broken by key blocks. Over the entrance appears in incised lettering the Latin motto which appeared upon the front of the old building: "Ad mercaturam bonarum artium profectus et tibi et omnibus ditesces". To the right of the doorway, which is closed by a wroughtiron sliding gate, is a tablet recording the dates relating to the new and to the old building; while on the left is a window giving light to a small apartment which is to be used as a telephone call office. Upon entering the visitor finds himself in a spacious hall upon the farther side of which is the segmental counter of the book-issuing department. To the left, and having windows opening on one side to Margaret Street and on the other to the area at the back, is the main lending library apartment, devoted to the shelves for "live books "-that is to say, the modern books which are most in request by the users of the library. The shelves are not against the walls, as was largely the case in the old building, but stand out right and left of a central avenue. They are wooden adjustable shelves, on steel frames, on the latest system, supplied by the Library Bureau of London. The room is beautifully light, and the light reaches the whole of the shelves. In the block which has its windows to Cornwall Street are a series of rooms devoted respectively to the clerks, the librarian, and the committee. These, while en suite, have their separate doors to a corridor, upon the opposite side of which is the lady subscribers' room and lavatories. On the upper floor is the general reading-room, fifty-four feet by thirty-five feet, and a conversation-room thirty-eight feet by twenty-three feet. These two rooms are divided from one another by sliding doors, which enable the two to be thrown together for purposes of assembly if occasion should require. The reading-room has a portion of the ceiling coved, with exposed timbers ornamentally carved, adding greatly to the handsome appearance of the apartment. It is thought to be the finest general reading-room to be found in any proprietary library in the kingdom. It is proposed that it shall be used both by gentlemen and ladies-the ladies' separate rooms not being supplied with papers. Upon the Cornwall Street side of the upper floor has been arranged a room for rare books, the smoke-room, and the ladies' retiring-room, reserved for the special use of proprietors. To each of these there is additional lavatory accommodation. Above these on the attic storey are storage rooms for books. A very roomy basement contains upwards

of 25,000 volumes of works less in request, binding-room, clerks' messroom, caretaker's residence, and the heating apparatus. In the yard, approached by an inclined plane from Cornwall Street, is a large shed for the storage of cycles, a convenience which will, doubtless, be highly appreciated by many who use the library. The arrangements altogether show that they have been the subject of much well-directed thought on the part of the architects, librarian and committee. The internal woodwork is of pitch-pine, adamant plaster is used for the principal walls, and wood blocks are used for flooring. Electricity is used for lighting the whole establishment, and there is not a gas pipe in the building. The cost of the New Library is about £10,000, and the builders (Messrs. J. Barnsley & Sons) were engaged upon the work just over a year.

CANTERBURY: Formal Opening of the Beaney Institute and Royal Museum. The formal opening of the Beaney Institute and Royal Museum at Canterbury took place on the 11th of September, the ceremony being performed by the Mayor (Mr. Alderman George Collard), in the presence of a large gathering of the citizens. The institute was erected through the munificence of the late Dr. James George Beaney of Melbourne, Australia, a native of Canterbury, who, by his will, bequeathed the sum of £10,000 to the mayor and corporation for the purpose of providing an institute and free library for the working classes. The local museum has been incorporated in the scheme, and recently her Majesty, on being applied to, graciously gave her consent to its being designated the Royal Museum. At the ceremony the mayor was supported by Mr. Henniker Heaton, M.P., the Archdeacon of Maidstone, Colonel Copeland, the deputy-mayor (Mr. Alderman Mason), who has acted throughout as chairman of the Beaney Bequest Committee, and many others. The institute having been declared open to the public, the deputy-mayor, on taking the chair at a meeting held in the museum, delivered an address tracing the history and development of the undertaking, and acknowledging the great services of Mr. F. Bennett Goldney, who has presented many priceless treasures both to the museum and the institute, and has also undertaken the duties of hon. curator. Speeches were also delivered by Mr. Henniker Heaton and others.

DUMFRIES: Recognition of Mr. Carnegie's Generosity.—Mr. Andrew Carnegie of Skibo Castle was on the 13th of October presented with the freedom of Dumfries in recognition of his generosity in giving £10,000 to the burgh for a free library. The presentation was made by Provost Glover. In replying, Mr. Carnegie said it had done him good to visit this Mecca of the land of Burns. The message of our national poet was the coming brotherhood of man. It required strong faith to stand as a firm believer in the realisation of that ideal to-day, when Europe was an armed camp, and the two branches of the human race which we considered most highly civilised were engaged, or threatening to be, in the brutal murder of their fellow-men and fellow-Christians in lands far distant from their own. He believed, however, that the human race was before long to rise to a stage of civilisation in which it would be as impossible for civilised human beings to kill each other as it had already become that they should eat each other. Our age was to be distinguished for this, among other advances, that in it national patriotism began to be supplemented and extended to embrace the larger and nobler conception of race patriotism, and it was in this important movement which he believed our English-speaking race was to be the pioneer and teacher of all other races, and win another victory of peace for civilisation nobler far than any possible to be won upon the field of battle. In referring to the practical impossibility now-a-days of war between England and America, he mentioned the use of arbitration in

the Venezuela case, and considered the awards as no doubt very wise since neither contestant got all that it claimed. He was sure that every Briton and American rejoiced at this, as it was best that both sections should learn that in a dispute neither side was likely to be entirely right. It was his belief that no Government could ever exist either in Britain or in America strong enough to reject an offer of peaceful arbitration made by the other in case of dispute. Therefore it followed that peace reigned within the wide boundaries of our racea great step gained. Examples such as that made him look forward to the time when Burns's "man to man the warld o'er shall brithers be and a' that" shall be realised.

Mr. Carnegie was then presented with an illuminated address from the Maxwelltown Town Council, who also presented a similar address to Mr. Thomas M'Kie and Miss M'Kie, Moat House, who provided a free site for the library. The foundation-stone of the new Carnegie Library was afterwards laid by Miss M‘Kie, a lady burgess of Dumfries, at the special request of Mr. Carnegie, and she was presented with a handsome silver trowel, and received a vote of thanks on the motion of Mr. Carnegie. Sir R. T. Reid, Sir Herbert Maxwell and Sir Mark Stewart also took part in the proceedings. Mr. and Mrs. Carnegie were entertained at a public banquet in the evening.

DUNDEE: Handsome Presentation to the Librarian (Mr. John Maclauchlan). The movement inaugurated in Dundee some time ago for the purpose of presenting Mr. John Maclauchlan, librarian, with some testimonial in recognition of his public services in connection with the library and museum was brought to a successful issue on the 26th of September, when Mr. Maclauchlan was made the recipient of a cheque for £650 and a silver tea service, and Mrs. Maclauchlan of a handsome diamond ring. Lord Provost McGrady, who made the presentation, said he was delighted to see such a crowded meeting assembled to show the respect of the citizens of Dundee to one of the most deserving, the most hard-working, and the most conscientious of public servants. When Mr. Maclauchlan came to Dundee in 1873 the whole lending and reference libraries occupied only the space now used by the lending library. The Albert Hall, now used for the reference library, was the finest hall of the kind, as well as the largest, in Great Britain, and mainly owing to Mr. Maclauchlan's services and to the zeal that he had thrown into his work they found that it was now none too large for its requirements. They now had a collection which was worthy of the careful inspection of any scientist in the country. Then came the permanent picture gallery, and it is saying a good deal for the liberality of the citizens of Dundee that the whole of the splendid collection of pictures was the gift of private individuals. Proceeding, the Lord Provost said that in 1874 the number of books and magazines issued was 175,000, and last year the number exceeded half a million. It spoke well for Mr. Maclauchlan, to whom that success was largely due, but it also spoke well for the thirst for knowledge the public of Dundee had, and it was exceedingly gratifying that that thirst was spread through all classes of the community. They found at the library the most varied assemblage of patrons that could be found anywhere. In 1874 there were only 24,000 volumes in the library, and to-day there were over 80,000, whilst amongst the more recent developments in connection with the museum was the opening up of Dudhope Castle as a sort of branch museum. For the promotion of the fine arts the Albert Institute in Dundee had taken a foremost place, and it had done a vast service in elevating the taste for art in the city. The Lord Provost then referred to the alliance that existed between the South Kensington Museum and

the Dundee Museum-a scheme brought about by Mr. Maclauchlan. There was no one in Dundee who did not feel under obligation to Mr. Maclauchlan. He was sure, however, that they would not be giving effect to the wishes of the subscribers if they forgot Mrs. Maclauchlan, and he had accordingly to ask Mr. Maclauchlan to accept a handsome silver tea service and a deposit receipt for £656 for himself, and a diamond ring for Mrs. Maclauchlan. The following inscription was on the tea service:

"Presented by the city of Dundee to John Maclauchlan, Esq., public librarian, along with a diamond ring for Mrs. Maclauchlan, and a deposit bank receipt for £656 7s. 5d., in recognition of his eminent public services".

Mr. Maclauchlan, in reply, said he was grateful from the bottom of his heart, and intensely proud of the very high honour they had just done him-prouder still, perhaps, for the kindly feelings they had towards him, which had found expression in so tangible and costly a manner. He was just afraid they overestimated his services, but he could assure them during the quarter of a century he had been librarian at Dundee his severest critic had been himself. He had always made his work not merely his first, but his only, consideration. An organisation like the Albert Institute was a great boon to a community, and he felt that the reports of the committee amply justified, if justification were needed, the position of the Albert Institute. He only hoped that those who doubted its usefulness would remain a full day in the Institute, and they would see during the long day's work a constant stream of citizens-many days considerably over 5000. They would see all classes of citizens, from the ex-Provost, the great manufacturer, the merchant, the clergyman, the physician, the lawyer, down to the labouring man. The question, "What did these persons read?" was a question which had been asked him by old-fashioned critics. Last year only 34 per cent. of the total number of books issued were novels, and of these not many were sensational. During his long experience he had never found any committee willing to select or readers anxious to obtain bad literature. The Lochee Branch Library, built by the money bequeathed by the late Mr. Thomas Cox, had been attended with extraordinary success, while the four recently opened delivery stations promised well. No other intellectual or physical pleasure he knew of was so lasting. In conclusion, he begged to thank them also for his wife, who, he considered, was well worthy of sharing in any gift he might receive. He felt proud of the service, and felt sure that to-day's presentation would inspire him to go forward with increased zeal.

Sir John Leng said he had listened with peculiar pleasure to the Lord Provost's testimony to the great efficiency of the Institution-an Institution which, under its excellent librarian, might be justly described as the centre of light and leading in Dundee. He had never seen a subscription list so large and so representative as that which had been raised on that occasion.

We are confident that every member of the Association would wish to join us in offering to Mr. Maclauchlan our heartiest congratulations on this well-merited recognition of his services, of which we too are justly and intensely proud, and in expressing the hope that our honoured confrère may long be spared to continue the excellent work which he has carried to such a high pitch of perfection in Dundee.

EALING: New Home for the Public Library.-The Local Government Board has consented to the purchase by the Ealing District Council of the Manor House and park for the sum of £40,000. The vendors are Sir Spencer Walpole and Sir Horace Walpole, as trustees under the