408 The Library. 8,652 books, but the reference library is not yet well supplied. The Library Commissioners have paid ,1,500 for the site, .500 for fitting up the building, ^920 for books, and ,5,042 for the buildings. The librarian is Mr. H. D. Roberts, formerly of Newcastle-on-Tyne. LONDON : CENTRAL TELEG-RAPH OFFICE LIBRARY. At the Holborn Town Hall, on November 2nd, a promenade concert and dance took place with the double object of celebrating the opening of the extended premises for the Central Telegraph Office Library, now capable of containing 10,000 volumes, and of aiding the funds for further increasing the number of works of a scientific and philosophical character. MANCHESTER : OWENS COLLEGE. Mr. J.H.Clarke, of Christ's College, Cambridge, has been appointed librarian of the Owens College library. Mr. Clarke distinguished himself at Cambridge last year by winning a First Class in the Modern and Mediaeval Languages Tripos. Four sectional catalogues of the Owens College Library have been issued recently, relating to (i) the historical library of the late Professor Freeman, which was purchased en bloc for the college (2) the law library ; (3) the theological collection ; (4) the classical collection. NENAGH, IRELAND. The Nenagh Town Commissioners have decided to adopt the Public Libraries Act. The penny rate will only yield 25 a year. OLDHAM. An extensive and important addition to the Free Library building was opened, with appropriate ceremony, on October 22nd, by Alderman Emmott. On December loth, Mr. J. P. Briscoe, librarian of the Nottingham Free Libraries, delivered a lecture on " The Channel Islands " at the Old- ham Central Free Library. OXFORD : INDIAN INSTITUTE.-. Sir Monier Williams appeals in the Times (December 5th) for financial help towards providing a printed catalogue of the remarkable oriental library given to the Oxford Indian Institute by the late Dr. S. C. Malan, who is characterised as " an orientalist absolutely unequalled, and never likely to be equalled in respect of the marvellous diversity of his linguistic attainments and the profundity of his scholarship." The collection is said to contain "price- less treasures, the possession of which has elevated the library of the Indian Institute to a unique position among the oriental libraries of Europe." A new branch library for Summertown was opened on January ist. PETERBOROUGH. The "Half-hour Talk" scheme has proved very successful at the Public Library this winter. This is the third series. RUNCORN. Canon Maitland Wood gave a useful "Half-hour Talk," entitled "A few Hints to Readers," at the Runcorn Free Library on December 6th. STRATFORD-ON-AVON. The trustees of the Shakespeare Me- morial Library have decided to prepare and print a catalogue of that valuable library. TAUNTON. It seems probable that the Libraries Act will be adopted at Taunton. Mr. W. H. Fowler, Mr. T. Penny and Mr. C. Tite have offered liberal donations in money and books towards a library.
