276 The Library. Leeds. Librarian, James Yates. Emigrants' Information Office not proved so successful as expected. No grant from Technical Instruction Committee for books. Central lending department now open from 10 a.m. to 8.30 p.m., instead of 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ; 33,237 fines yielded ^251. Slot cut underneath each indicator with this label : " borrowers wanting an additional copy of any book shown as out, will please put a memorandum, with the class letter and number in the slot below." Leeds Blind Institution granted 20 for the purchase of embossed books. Headingley Branch and Lower Wortley Branch re-opened. New branch at Pudsey Town End. Twelve more juvenile libraries established in Board Schools. Norwich. Librarian, George Easter. Review of history of library. IFtotes ant> (Queries. COMPOUND HOUSEHOLDERS. Answer. I think Bazalgette's Municipal Law was published before the passing of the Public Libraries Act, 1890. There is no definition in the new Act of "Ratepayers" (as in the repealed Statutes), the term being dropped in favour of " Voters." The definition mentioned in Public Library Legislation is correct : see section 27, Public Libraries Act, 1890. Compound householders are entitled to be registered as voters. They are also "ratepayers," and are entitled to have their names entered in the rate book, even though the owner pays the rate for them. They are certainly " inhabitants," and, therefore, entitled to the free use of the lending library, under section II. (3) of the Act of 1890. I think there is nothing to prevent your Commissioners making a regulation to the effect that all borrowers shall be guaranteed, but there should be no distinction between ratepayers. To save stamp duty the guarantee should be expressly limited to a sum under ^5. RATING OF LIBRARIES. COLLECTION OF LIBRARY RATE. Answer. Unless you can prove that your public library comes within the provisions of the Literary and Scientific Institutions Act, 1843, *he building is rateable (see Public Library Legislation, page 17). I gather that it is supported out of the rates, and not partly or wholly by annual voluntary contributions, and, therefore, I think in view of the case of "Andrew v. Mayor, &c, of Bristol" (referred to on the same page), you would not be entitled to the certificate of exemption. The question as to the principle upon which the rateable value should be arrived at is not one on Public Library Law ; but having recently had this subject before me as to the rating of the Town Hall, I may say that to arrive at the rateable value of the premises the statute and cases direct that you are to estimate the rent at which the premises may be reasonably expected to let from year to year. There is no case in which it has been held that the rateable value is to be arrived at by calculating the equiva- lent of four per cent, on the cost of the building.
