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43 METHODS OF SOCIAL REFORM.
Library there is a distinct Leicesterahire DepartmenLJ’ Birmiughnm
has unfortunately lost its Shakespeare and Cervantes
Libraries, and what is almost worse, its irreplaceable Stsunton
collection of Warwickshire litornture has fallen a victim to tho
flames. But Mr. Mullins is doing all that can bo don0 to recreate
a vduablo loa1 library. At I’lymouth Mr. Wright is
himself forming the nucleus of a futuro Devon and Cornwall
library.
Free Libraries will also become eventually the depositories
-of many special collections of books formed in the first place
by enthusiastic collectors. At the London Conference of
Librarians Mr. Cornelius WaIford showed (Report, pp. 45-49)
what important services may bo done in this way; and in the
Second Annual Iieport of tho Library Associ:lt,ion (pp. 54-60,
Appendix, pp. 130-148) there is a redly wonderful account by
Mr. John H. Nodal of tho special collections of books existing
in tho neighbourhood of Manchester. The best possible
example of what may be dons by a Free Library is furnished
by tho Wignn Free Publio Library. The librarian at Wigan,
Mr. Henry Tennyson Folkard, has formed B remarkable collection
of works relating to mining, metallurgy, and manufactures,
and bas lately issued a Grst index catalogue. This
forms a complote guide, or at least a first attempt at a
complete guide, to the Iiterature of the subject. It is to
be hopod that in time other librarians will take up other
special branches of literature, and prepare like bibliographical
guides.
It is not well to ignore the fact that there may be a dark,
or at least sombre and doubtful, side to the somewhat couleur
de vom view which we have taken of Free Libraries. There
are a, few persons who assert that reading is capable of being
carried to a vicious and enervating excess. At the Manchester
meeting of the Library Aasooiation, Mr. J. Taylor Kay, the
librarian of Owen’s College, read a paper, much criticised at
the time, on 6r The Provision oE NoveIa in Rate-supporu
Libraries.” In previous years Mr. Kay was one of the stssff
at the Manchester Free Library, -and the following is the
mult of his observation of readers : “For many years a