104 The Library. almost absolutely necessary to the success of popular institutions of this sort. These are details, however, which do not affect the final result to any great extent, for here are good libraries pro- vided at less cost by co-operation than can be provided by indi- vidual effort, while every person in Dumfries would have a choice of 12,000 volumes, as no library would remain in any circuit longer than three months, but would change about, so that fresh books would always be available. There is yet a further im- provement on this scheme, which is that, by reason of the economical working of the travelling libraries, a sum is available which would help to gradually build up and maintain good read- ing rooms in every extensive village in the county. But grants from the technical education funds, and co-operation with the school boards would also be necessary. Whether grants in aid from the Education Department would be sanctioned by Parlia- ment is at present doubtful, but they will probably be forth- coming some day, when the educational machinery of the country is consolidated and extended. There are in every county existing libraries of various kinds, which might be included in a general scheme by arrangement, and so reduce the first cost of establishment. But if obstacles to amalgamation existed they could still serve to lessen first cost by reducing to some extent the expenditure on behalf of the parishes or villages in which they were situated. Two such cases occur to mind in connection with Dumfriesshire. The Telford Library, endowed by the great engineer of that name, in the parish of Westerkirk, contains over 7,000 volumes, all in good condition, and might be used to greater public advantage if allowed to circulate throughout six or seven of the adjoining border parishes. The Miners' Library at Wanlockhead, established in 1757, contains about 3,000 volumes, and would, if modernised and strengthened, become a good fixed library for the whole of north Sanquhar, and save the travelling libraries a climb of over 1,300 feet, no joke in the winter time, considering the desolate nature of this mountain district. Nearly every district has some kind of collection which might by this scheme be utilised for the public benefit. In any case, where possible, such collections could be absorbed in the general store of the county, which would have to be es- tablished in a good centre. This would accommodate surplus books, and form a kind of magazine and clearing house, at which the vans could replenish stock, and all the books could be over- hauled from time to time. We have not said anything about
