420 
PROCEEDINGS OF THS SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION. 
dispensable for the guidance of a Public Library, it must 
be unrestrictedly open to every visitor, and be made alike 
useful to every class of the community. It must be go- 
verned by a truly liberal spirit, and freed from all depen- 
dence either on gifts or on current subscriptions for its 
permanent support. 
Having cleared the way so far, I think I may lay before 
you some further suggestions drawn from the work of Mr. 
Edwards before referred to. I should propose that the 
reforms already brought before the committee be carried 
out, and that the Library be divided into two departments 
—the reference division and the lending division. The 
germ of such an arrangement already exists — imported, 
like many other wholesome principles, by the wise founders 
of our Library. * 
The reference department should be largely increased, 
and it should include all expensive and bulky books. All 
accessions by bequest or donation should be included in 
this department, unless specially exempted. It would, of 
course, include the Criiger and Leotaud collections, and all 
scientific works to be purchased hereafter, excepting man- 
uals or similar works. 
To the reference department thus constituted, the ad- 
mittance should be by ticket granted by the committee, 
on the recommendation of one of its members, and avail- 
able for at least a year; such ticket should be renewable 
on simple application to the Librarian' and should be with- 
drawable only for breach of the regulations. The rules in 
force for the issue of tickets to the British Museum Library 
would be available here. Every provision should be made 
for the comfort and convenience of readers in this depart- 
ment, and the readers should be allowed to take down any 
book from its shelf without application to the Librarian, 
