Page:The library a magazine of bibliography and library literature, Volume 6.djvu/242

 230 The Library. the special ability of the gentlemen advertised as examiners. If it is thought satisfactory to have only one examiner for each subject the students should at least be fully assured that the gentlemen so appointed have distinguished themselves in the particular subjects of which they are examiners. This, unfortunately, is not the case. I do not wish to make invidious references to individual examiners, as my object is not to hurt the feelings of any gentleman, who may have had the honour of being an examiner thrust upon him. That examiners should be " From bias free of every kind" is most important to anyone sitting for examination, and on such subjects as library methods and management, on which so many opinions exist, I certainly think it would have been much more satisfactory if at least three examiners had been appointed. This induces me to ask by whom the examiners are appointed and what are the necessary qualifications to place them in that position ? At the annual meeting of the Association, held at Nottingham in 1891, it was proposed that before librarians were appointed as examiners, they should first undergo an examination themselves in order to qualify them for that position. Important as that proposal was, it was negatived, and as far as I know, some of the gentlemen appointed examiners have not yet even passed the examination for library assistants. Any information as to the modus operandi and results of examinations already held will, I am sure, be greatly appreciated by both librarians and their assistants. Z. MOON. NOTE. (r) Certificates are not awarded by the examiners, but by the Council. (2) Upwards of twenty candidates entered for the Preliminary Examination. ED. CATALOGUE CRITICISM. DEAR SIR, Your editorial remarks with above heading are dis- appointing. I trust you will re-consider the decision arrived at. The numerous reviews of library catalogues appearing in the magazine are necessarily of great use to all administrators, "librarians, and others engaged in library management. Constant hints are obtained as to what is worthy of adoption and what to avoid. If librarians and committees be so thin-skinned I can hardly believe the instances are many that they cannot put up with any criticism which is not favourable, then for the sake of honesty and freedom of opinion, let us do without such weak-kneed brethren, and refuse to permit THE LIBRARY to become a mere trade list, or what might be even worse, the organ of a sort of mutual admiration society. I hope other librarians will speak out on this matter. HENRY T. FOLKARD. Wigan. [We are grateful to Mr. Folkard for his letter, and shall be very glad to receive other communications on this important subject. ED.] LIBRARIANS AND THE PUBLIC PRESS. SIR, Is it necessary or desirable that criticisms by librarians, of methods of working public libraries should appear in papers like London while there is a recognised organ of librarianship? The pages of THE LIBRARY, one would think, would have been the proper place for the dis- cussion recently opened in London by "A London Librarian," or should I say " The London Librarian " ? regarding the progress of Clerkenwell. A BEGINNER.