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8
to make his own selection direct from the shelves, in the
same manner in which a private person may go to his
own bookcase, has made our Library famous throughout
the world. Letters, inquiring as to the working of this
arrangement, arrive from all quarters. Gratifying tributes
of this kind have been received from Melbourne, Denmark,
Germany, South Africa, and the United States.
Similar enquiries have been received from many English
public libraries, while deputations and librarians from
Country and foreign libraries constantly call to study
the working ol the system. In view of the confusing
statements which have recently appeared in the press,
the Committee take this opportunity of explaining that
the open access system, as worked at Clerkenwell, is
thoroughly safe-guarded against misplacements or disorder,
that the losses are trilling, and that there is only a
resemblance in name between the Clerkenwell system and
that of some other libraries, which have been reported as
failures, or as having suffered heavy losses.
The third section of the catalogue, Class-guide to the
Books on Science, Fine, Recreative, and Useful Arts, was
published early in 1898, and the Quarterly Guide for
Readers has been issued regularly every quarter as before.
The best thanks ot the Committee are due for the various
gilts of books, periodicals, etc., enumerated 011 pp. 9-11 of
this report.
On behalf of the Library Committee,
JAMES JOHNSON,
Chairman.
April 24th, 1899.