Page:The library a magazine of bibliography and library literature, Volume 6.djvu/304

 292 The Library. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE L.A.U.K. SIR, There are one or two matters which I think might be advan- tageously taken up again at the meeting, though they don't require to be introduced by papers, e.g., the supply of Stationery Office Publications free of charge to such libraries as apply for them, also those of the Science and Art Department, and public documents in general. Of course I re- member the deputation who waited on the Chancellor of the Exchequer some years ago, and the valuable concession (!) made of allowing 25 per cent, off the published price to libraries. There is also the arrangement (very little known, I fear) that papers presented to Parliament may be had for the asking. Then there are the occasional distributions to the larger libraries of duplicates from the British Museum. Again, as to details of administration and distribution in Public Libraries. Of course our hand-books are admirable guides in this respect, but still I think much good would be done by collecting and distributing details as to the various plans adopted in every library, which could then be compared and amended from each other, and hints given how certain difficulties were got over. The information collected for the Chicago Exhibition must contain a great deal of valuable information, could a digest of it, or copies of it be got. I always feel that our meetings are too much devoted to papers which are better adapted for study at home, and which appeal more to the antiquarian or bibliographer, and, while I do not wish to undervalue these I think it is a pity that the joint experience of so many able and enthusiastic library administrators yields so little for the information and assistance of the tyro in such work. It is all very well for those gentlemen who have smoothly working and well arranged libraries to discuss the higher phases of the profession, but for learners and inex- perienced folk, who are plodding on under difficulties, let us have "more light." Yours truly, D. WATSON. Hillside Cottage, Hawick, yhjuly, 1894. BERMONDSEY PUBLIC LIBRARY. SIR, I observe that in connection with the Library Association Pre- liminary Examination Mr. J. D. Brown acted as examiner in the subject of " Library Management." I have all due respect for Mr. Brown, but would like space in your magazine to advance reasons why I consider him unfitted to examine in at least two of the questions submitted to the candidates for certificates. The first of these questions runs as follows : " What are the differences between the Elliot and the Cotgreave indicators ?" Now it is well known that Mr. Brown has used the Cotgreave indicator in the Clerkenwell Library for some years past and until a very recent date, and in the paper London of a few weeks past Mr. Brown writes of the " freely expressed detestation of the mechanical indicator formerly in use." This criticism,