214 CAMBRIDGE 



contributed. When it has been shown by their con 

 tributions how keenly the residents feel on the subject 

 of the library, it is hoped that some generous measure 

 of help may be forthcoming from hands more able to 

 give it. The library is the mainspring of University 

 activity ; and its well-being and good organization 

 are important to all departments alike. Every member 

 of the Senate, and every other person entitled to use 

 the library, have access to the shelves ; and no serious 

 student, whether a member of the University or not, 

 is refused. 



But, in its restricted area, the library cannot expand 

 further; and the result is congestion and inevitable 

 disorder. The furniture and fitting up of the rooms 

 recently rendered available for the library will cost 

 some £i 5,000. Towards this expenditure the Financial 

 Board has been able to grant only ;£'5,ooo, spread over 

 three years. The cost of furnishing a reading and 

 reference-room is estimated at from ;^8oo to ;^i,ooo. 

 Further, an increase of the staff is urgently needed. 

 The library grows at the rate of about 1 1,000 books 

 per annum ; and there are considerable arrears of 

 cataloguing to be overtaken. The magnificent gift of 

 Lord Acton's library, for which the University is in- 

 debted to Mr. Carnegie and Mr. John Morley, has 

 involved considerable outlay. The number of volumes 

 presented is about 59,000; the binding, cataloguing, 

 printing of titles, and the provision of bookcases will 

 cost about ;^8,ooo, to which the University has con- 

 tributed ;^6,9oo. Gifts such as these are of priceless 

 value to Cambridge ; but they entail heavy expen- 

 diture. Additional assistants, moreover, are needed 

 to look after them ; and every new room added to the 

 library increases the cost of maintenance. Altogether, 

 it is estimated that a sum of ;^2 1,200 is required for 

 present use; and that ;£'3,8oo a year is required for 

 additions to the staff, the purchase and binding of 



