Page:The library a magazine of bibliography and library literature, Volume 6.djvu/103

 Library Notes and News. gi they thought of what fiction really was, when they used the term in its higher meaning, he was sure few would deny to those who used public libraries the pleasure and the impetus which fiction often gave to all the better parts of a man's nature. He owed a good deal to fiction. In his (Mr. Biggie's) younger days, Scott's novels not only afforded him intellec- tual training, but also strengthened every desire that tended towards nobleness of purpose and purity of character. Then again, there was more philosophy in fiction, such as that of George Eliot, than many would find in philosophical works so-called. On the whole, contemporary fiction was pure, enlightened, and high-minded. He concluded by urging his hearers to spare no individual effort to bring into the parish the powers conferred by the Public Libraries Acts. LONDON: ST. GEORGE, HANOVER SQUARE. Mr. Theo. Moore, formerly assistant librarian at the Highfield branch, but latterly of the Central Reference Library, Sheffield, was appointed, on January 25th, sub-librarian of the St. George, Hanover Square, Public Libraries. LONDON: ST. GILES & ST. GEORGE, BLOOMSBURY. His Grace the Duke of Bedford has given ^500 towards the fund being raised by the St. Giles' Library Commissioners for completing and equipping the new library. MANCHESTER Mr. C. W. Sutton, chief librarian, on January 3 ist, gave the third lecture of a series on u Civic Life and Civic Duties." His subject was the Manchester Free Libraries. He stated that with the magnificent library which Mrs. Rylands is building in Deansgate, and which will open with about 80,000 volumes, with the Reference Library of 100,000, and the Lending Libraries containing about 130,000 more, with the Cheetham Library of 40,000 volumes, with the libraries now in the Owens College containing about 70,000 volumes, for the housing of which Mr. Chancellor Christie is about to erect a fine building, there will soon be in Manchester a group of libraries accessible to the public of such excellence and magnificence as to be unrivalled in any city outside London. PERTH. The agents of the late Professor Sandeman propose to hand over ,10,000 to the town at Whitsuntide for providing a Free Library. READING. On February 26th, the librarian (Mr. W. H. Greenhough) exhibited to the members of the various literary and scientific societies of the town and district, a selection of interesting books, maps, &c., belong- ing to the reference department of the Reading Free Library. Mr. Greenhough gav.5 an interesting account of the books exhibited. About 600 persons visited the collection, of which a notice appears in the Reading Mercury of March 3, 1894. RIPON The Bishop of Ripon has intimated that he wishes it to be known that the Holden Library at the Palace, Ripon, is intended for the benefit of the clergy of the diocese, and that any of them who desire to use it will be cordially welcomed at the palace. ROCHESTER. The town council, in February, took a post-card D!! of the ratepayers upon the subject of the Public Libraries Acts, he result is a majority of 364 for adopting the Acts. More than half the ratepayers failed to record their votes.