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METHUDS OF SOCIAL REFORM.
the aorreqonding shelf, know3 at once that the hook ie out.
It is ale0 possible to indicate, by approprieto marks placed on
the shelves, that books are at the binder’s, withdrawn from
circulation, or miming. An immense deal of trouble in searching
and inquiring is saved by this simplo means. Tho Indicator,
aa thus oonetructed, has been in uae at the Public Libraries
of paisley, Exeter, Coventry, Hereford, Bilston, Stockton-on-
Tom, Le&, South Shields, Wolverhampton, Cardiff, Leicester,
Derby, Sheffield, Darloston, end Southport, besides some
private snbsaription libraries.
Efficient as Elliot’s Indicator may seem, Mr. Cotgreave,
formerly Librarian at Wednesbury, but now in charge of the
beautiful little Library approaching completion at Richmond
(Snrroy), has succeeded in making improvements upon it. In
this new Indicator the frames and shelves aro much the same
88 in Elliot’s, but each shelf bears a very small book or ledger,
about three inches long and one inch wide. This is attached
to a tin slide bearing the number of the library book on each
end, but in different colours. When a borrower applies for
any book, say 117D, the librarian, while delivering the book,
takes out of the Indicator the corresponding slide and small
lodger, records in spaces therein the number of the borrower’s
card and the date of issue, and then replaces the slide with the
reverse end foremost-is., towards the public. Any subsequent
applicant will then see by tho altered colour of the book number
that the book is out. Mr. Cotgreave has also devised B simple
system of date marks, which will show in which week, and, if
required, on what day in eaoh week, a book was borrowed.
The chief advantage of this Indicator is the fact that it pre-
Rema in the small ledger e permanent record of the use of each
book, There are varioaa incidental advantages not wily to be
appreciated, except by those frequently using these devices. It
is almost impossible, for instance, to make mistakes with
Cotgreave’e Indicator by misplacing cards, because all the
shelves me fdl except that which is being dealt with. The
numbers of the books, win, can be rearranged, if required,
without taking the framework of the Indicator to pi-8.
The eoonomy effeoted in the working of a large pnblio