Report of Society's Meetings. 191 



In reply to Mr. Hargreaves' questions, of which notice 

 had been given at the previous meeting, the Librarian 

 gave the following answers : — 



1. The books added to the Library during the year 1895 numbered 

 451 volumes. 



2. Of these, 241 volumes were placed in the class Fiction, and 210 in 

 other classes, 



3. In regard to this question, I find a difficulty, as it is hard to say 

 what should be considered as standard books of reference. If it is 

 meant only those books which are not lent out, such as files of news- 

 papers, local literature, dictionaries. Blue Books, &c., the number was 

 about 40, besides such works as the London Directory, Lloyd's List, 

 Army & Navy Lists, &c. 



4. How far the additions have been of a purely ephemeral character 

 it is hard to say. In the widest sense of such a term I consider that we 

 have no works that could be safely classed in such a sweeping manner. 

 Even the newspapers of the day have something more than a purely 

 ephemeral character, and the fashionable novel, which has a run for 

 a few months, is of interest to the student for the light it throws upon 

 the manners and customs of the time when it was published. In building 

 up a library for general use by future generations nothing is too paltry, 

 for even the simplest pamphlet on some burning question becomes of 

 very great importance ; all the more so because of its ephemeral character 

 and consequent rarity. During last year a number of local pamphlets 

 were bound, and about twenty old Parliamentary papers bought, 

 some of which are so scarce, that possibly but few copies are in existence, 

 mainly because they were looked upon, when issued, as of an emphem- 

 eral nature. Whether the literature of today will survive or not, is a 

 question that must be left to the future, but I do not think that any 

 library can afford to ignore it, however distasteful it may be to the 

 individual. For, we cannot even condemn it, unread. 



Mr. Hargreaves said he had asked these questions 

 with the object of mentioning that he had proposed that 

 Lord Brassey's Naval Annual should be added to the 

 library, which recommendation was rejected by the Book 

 Committee. He thought a work of that sort of more 

 importance than a lot of light literature. 



