14 A Guide to the Use of the Beading Boom. 



discoveries, inventions, intellectual progress and controversies of 

 the last thirty years, the Index is practically complete. - Used in 

 conjunction with the Index Volume of the List of Books forming 

 the Eeference Library," the reader will be able to select both the 

 standard works of earlier periods, and the more recent literature of 

 each subject. 



It should be noted that in some cases a book's " press-mark " 

 {see p. 18) has been altered since the issue of the volume of the 

 Subject Index in which it occurs. To avoid error and consequent 

 delay it is always advisable to verify the " press-mark " by reference 

 to the General Catalogue under the name of the author of the work. 



List of Books forming the Eeference Library in the 

 Beading Boom of the British Museum. Fourth Edition. 

 1910. Vol. I. Authors. Vol. II. Subject Index. 



The earher editions of the Catalogue of the Eeference Library 

 contained only the titles of the books on the ground floor of the 

 Beading Boom. The present edition includes also those in the 

 two galleries of the room, in all about 60,000 volumes. Interleaved 

 copies of the work bound in four volumes (two of Authors and two 

 of Subjects) wiU be found at each end of the circular desks 

 nearest to the Centre of the room. (Circles 46-54 and 89-94.) 



These interleaved copies contain all the additions and alterations 

 which have been made since the Catalogue was published. Beaders 

 who require standard or well-known books may save much time 

 by looking in these volumes before searching the General Catalogue. 



The books on the ground floor of the Beading Boom, about 

 20,000 in number, comprise Works of Beference, Dictionaries, 

 Encyclopaedias, Gazetteers, Calendars, Directories, etc., and the 

 latest or best editions of standard works. They can be dis- 

 tinguished at once from the other books in this Catalogue by 

 their press-marks. Those which bear the press-marks 2000- 

 2121 are in the presses round the walls of the Beading Boom. 

 Those marked Circle 1-100 are in one of the circular rows of desks 

 surrounding the Centre. Those marked BB.A.-BB.T. are in the 

 stands (containing Bibliographies) placed at the inner end of each 

 alternate row of readers' desks. Those marked Bar A. or Bar T. 

 are in the stands on each side of the central passage leading from 

 the Centre of the room to the General Library. An abridged list of 

 the contents of these presses will be found on pp. 50-53. A Plan 

 of the ground floor of the room, showing the position of each press, 

 is prefixed to this Guide. Plans on a larger scale will be found 

 affixed to the ends of the circular desks and elsewhere throughout 

 the room. Guides to the Classification of Books on the Ground 

 Floor will also be found exhibited in the room. 



