12 A Guide to the Use of the Beading Boom. 



2. The present catalogue having developed by a process of 

 evolution from those compiled in the earlier days of the Museum, 

 the old-fashioned arrangement by which I and J were treated as 

 one letter, and XJ and V the same, is still in force. In looking 

 for titles it should be remembered that this affects the arrange- 

 ment of names and words in which these letters occur — i.e., not 

 only does Yentnor precede United States, but Averell 

 precedes Austin. The difficulties presented by this anomaly will 

 in time disappear; the two groups of letters will be restored to 

 their proper position in the alphabet as opportunity occurs. 



3. Most of the longer headings in the Catalogue are provided 

 with an Index or a Table of Contents, showing the arrangement 

 of the sub-headings and indicating the pages on which they will 

 be found. When looking for books under the headings Academies, 

 Bible, Liturgies, Periodical Fuhlications, or under such headings as 

 the names of countries or large towns, or of famous or voluminous 

 authors, it is essential to turn first to the Table of Contents. One 

 of the most complicated headings in the Catalogue, England, 

 possesses, in addition to the usual Table, an index of the first words 

 of each title. This will be found most helpful to those who know 

 the wording of the title of the book they require. 



4. It is in accordance with the nature of things ithat the larger 

 a heading is, the more difficult it is to consult. Much time and 



* trouble may often be saved if the reader knows the name of the 

 editor or translator of a book, the main entry for which perhaps 

 occurs in a long or complicated heading. In such a case sufficient 

 information may be obtained from a cross-reference without 

 searching for the main title. For instance, if the book required 

 should be " The New Testament. Text revised by B. F. Westcott 

 and F. J. A. Hort," it mil be found much simpler to turn to the 

 cross-reference from Westcott or Hort than to search the main 

 heading, Bible, New Testament. The manner in which a 

 form of application should be written from a cross-reference is 

 explained below, pp. 19, 20. 



5. In looking for a book by an author whose surname is not 

 a very usual one, it matters little whether the Christian or 

 pre-name is known. But this is by no means the case when the 

 author's name is a common one, such as Brown, Dubois, Jones, 

 Mueller or Smith. In such cases it is highly desirable to ascertain 

 the Christian or pre-name, or, at least, the initials, before consulting 

 the General Catalogue, or, if possible, to obtain the book by means 

 of the Subject Index. For instance, if a reader requires a book 

 known to him only as " Brown's Madeira," he will probably waste 

 at least half an hour by looking through the two volumes of the 

 Catalogue containing the heading Brown, whereas (since the book 

 has been republished since 1880) he will find it at once by looking 

 under the heading Madeira in the " Subject Index," and will not 

 require to consult the General Catalogue at all. 



