Page:Library Construction, Architecture, Fittings, and Furniture.djvu/102

78 books in the library. The white figures are on a blue ground at one end of the case and on a red ground at the other, one colour (say, blue) representing the books that are in, and the other (red) those that are out. Attached to each of the metal cases is a little ledger of ruled paper, the author and title of the book it represents being written generally on the first page.

Upon joining the library the reader is given a pasteboard ticket bearing his number, name, and address. This is narrow enough to pass into the metal indicator case, but it is a little longer, so that one end may project somewhat. The ticket is given to the borrower, and remains in his possession only when he has not got a book out. It is kept by the librarian when a book is issued to him, and retained until its return. The method of issue is for the borrower to examine the indicator and see if the book he requires is in. If the colour is blue, he hands in his ticket at the issue desk and asks for the book by its number. The attendant goes first to the indicator and takes out the metal slide; he then obtains the book, stamps the date of issue in it, and gives it to the borrower. The number of the reader's ticket and date of issue is then written in the little book in the metal slide, and it is replaced in the indicator's frame, this time with the red end to the public, the reader's ticket being placed in it, with its end projecting slightly from the case on the librarian's side of the indicator. When the book is returned the operations are reversed. The attendant then receives the book and goes to the