Public Library Systems. 421 



noteworthy that Manchester, which has only a ihird ut the popula- 

 tion of Chicago, has three limes as main readers in its Reference 

 Library. 



The popular tendency to he impressed by big ligures such as 

 this does not always tend to the reahsation of tlie highest ideals in 

 Hbrary work, and if Englands highest record is in her Reference 

 w(jrk, America achieves a wonderful record by her home circulation 

 of books. And we must never forget in comparing British libraries 

 and American libraries with those of South Africa that both the 

 former reckon their Reftrence is.sues with their Lending in working 

 out the average of fiction read, and that library statistics, unless 

 subjected to the most careful test, are ver\' often misleading. In one 

 State of America, where the amount of the Government grant is 

 based on the issue, the result has been to excite a feverish desire to 

 increase the issue alike by Library Boards and staffs, and while the 

 Librar)- Board would only buy such books as were good " circulators,'' 

 without consideration whether such books were of real value to the 

 community, the library staff insisted on every unfortunate user of 

 that library taking out each time he or she visited it two books — one 

 of which might not be fiction — despite reluctance or protest, and all 

 becau.se " of the statistics.' 



Where the American Librar)' system does score, and score well, 

 is by the admirable system of deliver)- stations that exists in nearly 

 every town of any size, which literally serve to bring books to the 

 doors of the people. By the provision of books for schools, fire- 

 stations, lighthouses, factories, etc.. and by her prompt recall of 

 books. America leads the wav in librar)- work. She gives special 

 facilities to her .school teachers to l)orrf>w books in big batches to 

 illustrate lectures aiid courses of study, and she turns her every 

 teacher into a librarv evangel, and her every schoolroom into a pre- 

 paration ground of future librarv readers. 



School libraries in Cf)nnection with the larger Public Libraries 

 are not uncommon in Great Britain. Nottingham early led the way. 

 Cardiff followed, and few or no libraries have not a juvenile section 

 or a childrens room. Out here they are hardlv known. l)ut the 

 magnificent provision which the Cape Education Department makes 

 for the encouragement of libraries in its schools is such as to relieve 

 the Libran Board of much responsibility, though school libraries 

 would be helped and not hindered bv closer relationship with the 

 Public Libraries. 



Public reading-rooms which provide current newspapers are the 

 exception rather than the rule in the States, Chicago, however, being 

 a splendid exception. In Great Britain they prove one of the most 

 [jopular departments of the library's work, though one hears an 

 occasional grumble at the expense or at the betting-man. who rushes 

 in for the latest telegrams. Li South Africa the public reading- 

 room frequently contains only the day or week old paper that has 

 alreadv done duty in the subscribers' rooms, but a more liberal spirit 

 now actuates manv of the lander libraries. 



