I7 8 The Library. DOVER. On April 3rd, the Dover Town Council decided almost unanimously to postpone the question of adopting the Public Libraries Acts. The feeling seemed to be that there was no immediate hurry. A long letter on the subject of this proposal from Mr. J. H. Allchin, assistant librarian, Maidstone, and a report of the Town Council proceedings appeared in the Dover Express of April 6th. KIDDERMINSTER. The new Public Library was opened by the Countess of Dudley on April 25th in the presence of a large and distinguished company, including Lord Dudley, Mr. A. F. Godson, M.P., Mr. R. Biddulph Martin, M.P., Mr. Richard Eve, the Corporation of Kidderminster, and members of the Public Library Committee. This town was one of the first in the country to adopt the Public Libraries Acts, the poll being taken and a majority 0/199 was secured in Feb., 1855, five years after the Act was passed. For many years, however, only a Reading Room and a small Reference Library were maintained, the Lending Department being only opened in 1880. The room at the disposal of the Library Committee has been inadequate for some years, and it is mainly due to the energy and perseverance of the present Mayor (Mr. Tomkin- son) that a Reading Room, Lending and Reference Libraries of suitable dimensions, as well as a Museum, are now forthcoming. The new Library, has been erected by the side of the block of buildings now devoted to literature, science, and art. Mr. Archibald Sparke, formerly first assistant at Cardiff, has been appointed Librarian. LINCOLN. The Town Council has appointed the first Free Public Library Committee for Lincoln. It consists of members of the Town Council and several " outsiders." The building, which was until recently used for a Mechanics' Institution is now being adapted for free library pur- poses. It is to be regretted that the Mechanics' Institution was not merged into the Free Library. Mr. Potter Briscoe, public librarian, of Nottingham, has rendered assistance in the planning of the library, and in other ways. LEEDS. At the Leeds Police Court, on May 5th, J. Whiteley Brook, of Sun Dial House, Hunslet, an artist, was summoned at the instance of the Corporation, for wilfully damaging a book in the Reference Library at the Municipal Buildings. The Town Clerk said the defendant applied at the Library for Volume I. of The Sketch, which was issued to him. Whilst in possession of the book he extracted a plate containing a report of an interview with Mr. Phil May. The defendant had previously offered a shilling to Charles Thomas, an assistant at the Library, if he would extract the portion referred to. This, of course, Thomas declined to do, and when the book was returned by defendant, Thomas, being suspicious, examined it. Defendant afterwards told the sub-Librarian that he had been endeavouring to obtain that particular number of The Sketch for nearly twelve months. The Bench imposed a penalty of one shilling and costs and ordered the defendant to pay forty shillings for the damage, forty-five shillings in all. LIVERPOOL. Mr. Henry Tate has recently presented books to the value of ,5,500 to the University College. These consist of works of reference in each department of literature and science.
