Page:The library a magazine of bibliography and library literature, Volume 6.djvu/21

 Rh Of the Anderson Library at Woodside, it is not necessary that I should say much. Founded in 1881 by Sir John Anderson, a native of Woodside, who, largely by dint of his own energies and intelligence, rose from the humblest circumstances to the position of Superintendent of Machinery of the War Department, it was a proof at once of his sense of the value and pleasure of books, and of his laudable desire to impregnate the inhabitants of his birth-place with similar ideas. Sir John lived to see his library, consisting of some 10,000 volumes, organized and installed in an elegant building, erected at his own cost; and at his death, which took place in 1886, he left a small fund for behoof of the library. For some time after its opening it was attended with marked success; but unfortunately, this success has not been maintained; and of late instead, a spirit of something like apathy and neglect would seem to have prevailed. During last year, while the lending department has had a roll of 1,300, the number of actual borrowers has hardly exceeded 500; while that of those who have made use of the reference department has been so small as to be scarcely worth estimating. For this want of appreciation of what was intended to be a great public boon, some may be disposed to find an explanation in an intellectual inferiority, or, at least, in a lack of taste for reading in the inhabitants of Woodside. But it would be as unwise as weak thus to cast a slur on a whole community, and ride off on the easy assumption that it suffered from a double dose of original unregenerateness. We may safely say, I think, that the district has yet to be discovered which will not gladly avail itself of a library, provided it is conducted on sound principles, and with a due regard to the tastes and requirements of its readers. I suspect, therefore, that for the explanation of failure in the Anderson Library we must look elsewhere; and that we are likely to find it in defects arising from smallness of funds, lack of knowledge and sympathy, and a general want of go and touch. If this diagnosis be correct, then the remedy is not far to seek. Now that Woodside is an integral part of the city of Aberdeen, the Anderson Library should be affiliated to its Public Library, from the larger life and greater wealth of which it could not fail to draw the vigour which would restore it to its pristine condition, and enable it to realise the hopes of its founder.

But now I must have done. My narrative, with all its defects, has, I trust, not been without its interest; nor yet, if you agree with me, has it been wanting in signs of hopefulness and