Page:Library Administration, 1898.djvu/219

 frequency. Amateur photographers are allowed to photograph "exhibited objects" only, no doubt in order that the bad effect of their semi-libellous efforts may be easily corrected by a visit to the public galleries. In other cases the applicant must "name the photographer whom he proposes to employ, as there is no official photographer attached to the British Museum." This is a deficiency which it has long been hoped to fill. The fees charged by competent professionals are high, necessarily no doubt, and it would be an enormous boon to the public if the Museum could have a salaried photographer attached, and make facsimiles at cost price. As a specimen of the low charges which the Clarendon Press finds not unprofitable, it may be mentioned that that institution can supply a negative and a silver print, ten inches by seven, for a little over three shillings.

Further conditions are, that if required two copies of each photograph taken in the Museum be deposited with the principal librarian, except in the case of those taken by processes not requiring the use of the photographic studio; that the photographer declare in writing to the principal librarian whether he requires to introduce any combustible chemicals into the Museum for the purposes of his work; that no photographer introduce into the Museum a larger quantity of chemical apparatus than will be necessary for the work of the day; and that at the close of each day all photographing materials be removed from the premises, or placed in the charge of the clerk