The Library of the Royal Colonial Institute.[1]
THE title which I have selected for my paper is comprehensive enough to embrace a treatment of each section of the Library of the Royal Colonial Institute in all its aspects, but to deal with all of them even in the briefest way would require a much longer time than is at my disposal, so I shall, therefore, confine myself chiefly to the main points with respect to past and present conditions. So rapid has been the growth of Colonial literature, more especially of recent years, that a separate paper might well be written upon each of the divisions of the library, treating in detail the works regarding each of the British Colonies. Coming however, to the subject before us, I will first refer to two instances prior to the establishment of the Royal Colonial Institute, of the existence of similar institutions. As long ago as 1837 a society was formed with the title of the Colonial Society, for the purpose of affording a place of rendezvous to persons interested in the various dependencies of the Empire in every quarter of the globe, and by means of which information upon all Colonial subjects might be collected and circulated through the intercourse of many individuals having the same object in view. One of its chief purposes was stated to be the establishment in a convenient situation in the west end of the metropolis of an extensive library, consisting of all important works relating to the Colonies, together with a selection of the most approved maps, charts, and the latest surveys—in addition to a regular supply of one or more newspapers from each Colony. The Society occupied rooms firstly in Parliament Street, and afterwards in St. James's Square, but owing to insufficient support from those for whose benefit it was established, ceased to exist about five years after its inauguration, the contents of its library being sold, and many of the books have since found a home in this library. The second attempt was more limited in scope, and bore the title of the General Association for the Australian
- ↑ Read at a Special Meeting of the Library Association, May 29, 1894.
