Page:The library a magazine of bibliography and library literature, Volume 6.djvu/192

 jgo The Library. what the scientific person had said to him. " My dear sir, it is the book on the subject." " Is the book in the catalogue ?" said the assistant. The newspaper man had some little difficulty with the catalogue. "Let's see it's about meteorology," said the assistant, coming to his rescue. " In this catalogue you find books on Meteorology under Physics. Is it a new book ? This catalogue was printed in '91. There's a catalogue of newer books over there." " I suppose," said the newspaper man, trying in his vulgar way to be sarcastic, " when your people had a catalogue like this printed and bound up they did not expect any more books would ever be published ? " Assistant did not know. "Oh ! in that supplementary catalogue, by- the-bye," said he, " we put books on Meteorology under Astronomy." But the South Kensington authorities, it would seem, had never heard of Ferrel. The assistant told some one else, who told an official sitting on a throne at the end of the room, and he conveyed a promise to the newspaper man that he would tell some one else, and very probably, if he would come again in a week or so, the book might be ready for him. The newspaper man then tried for another modern book on meteorology he had heard of by Dickens or Dickson, and failing that, and finding the rain continued unabated, he settled down to the studious consideration of the South Kensington catalogue. It is one of the most astonishing catalogues in existence, and took, he hears, a numerous staff of librarians many years to bring to its present climax of badness. Clearly the librarian has chosen a form of classification for his books not only quite unsuited to his readers' needs, but loose and defective as a classification. An alphabetical catalogue of authors, capable of interpola- tions, after the British Museum model, and supplemented by biblio- graphies, would be far more convenient. As he was leaving the South Kensington Library the newspaper man's eye caught the racks of new books recently received. It would be inter- esting if any one could tell the public who buys the books for this establishment. While Ferrel his grievance still rankles is absent, cheap and childish books of the "Tales about Trains" type, with sensational pictures of accidents and rescues, and books about the Wonders of Nature and that kind of thing are sufficiently represented. Altogether, there is scope here for some authority to explain." MANCHESTER. The Gorton Free Library was opened early last month, in the presence of a large gathering of spectators. Dr. Ward, of Owens College, had been asked to undertake the duty, and in doing so he delivered an address which will well repay perusal and consideration. He was supported by local representatives and other members of the City Council, and brief speeches were delivered by them, in which testimony was severally borne as to the admirable manner in which the architects have done their work. The site, as will readily be admitted by those who knew it before the erection of the library was commenced, was an awkward one ; but the difficulties have been admirably overcome, and the inhabitants of Gorton may be congratulated upon the possession of a building at once commodious, admirably adapted for the purpose to which it is devoted, and internally very attractive to the eye. NEWOASTLE-ON-TYNK-At a meeting of the Books and House Committee of the Newcastle Corporation, held recently, it was unani- mously resolved to recommend to the Library Committee the appoint-