Catalogue Criticism. i8r ment of Mr. Basil Anderton to the post of librarian in the Free Library^ in succession to the late Mr. W. J. Haggerston. As sub-librarian Mr. Anderton conducted the affairs of the library during Mr. Haggerston's illness, and we understand that there is every likelihood of him being unanimously chosen to fill Mr. Haggerston's place without application on the part of the committee for other candidates. OVINGHAM. Mrs. E. Bigge, of Knebworth, Hertfordshire, opened a new reading and recreation room at Ovingham yesterday afternoon. The building has been erected according to plans prepared by Mr. W. Bedlington, Newcastle, and has cost about ^400, exclusive of the site, which has been generously granted, free of cost, by Mr. Bigge, who is the chief landowner in the village. After the opening of the building, the Rev. Canon Lloyd opened a sale of work in aid of the build- ing fund. OXFORD. Bodleian Library. The annual report of the Curators for 1893, just issued, shows that 57,206 items were added to the Library, of which total 19,897 were periodicals, 4,530 music, and 9,010 bound and unbound. The work of cataloguing is proceeding, and the subject- catalogue of printed books is more used by readers than ever before. The income was ,8,528, and the expenditure ,8,346 ; of which ^4,635 were paid as salaries to 32 persons, excluding extra payments for special cataloguing assistance. No information is given in the report of the extent to which the public use the Library. RAWMARSH. The lending department of the Rawmarsh Free Library was opened on May 21, by the chairman of the Local Board, Mr. E. Bamforth. The catalogue of books comprises about 1,200 of various kinds of literature suited to the tastes and requirements of the district. Mr. F. Hall, C.C., also addressed the meeting. The books will be given out several nights a week. YORK. The late Mr. Edward Hailstone's collection of Yorkshire books fell into good hands when it was bequeathed by him to the Minster Library at York. Since finding a home, and doubtless a permanent home, there, the custodian, Canon Raine, has added over a thousand volumes to the collection. If, as was generally supposed, the former possessor had accumulated a unique assemblage of books relating to Yorkshire, the collection now must be without a parallel. Although some degree of dissatisfaction existed on account of the collection going to York, Mr. Hailstone had well considered the matter long before his decease, and had good reasons to know that, once in the custody of Canon Raine, the books would meet with loving care, for they had been his life-long friends. Catalogue Criticism. THE universal truth of ^Esop's fable about the old man and his donkey could not be better illustrated than by our experience in the matter of catalogue reviewing. For a long time we were entreated to deal with this important branch of practical library work, and it was often pointed out that good service could be done to public library bibliography if all new catalogues were subjected to a judicious and honest criticism. Accordingly great pains were taken to secure the best expert reviewing,
