Scientific Books in Public Libraries, T N the new series of " Science Gossip," No. i recently issued,
- Mr. John T. Carrington, the editor, makes the following
remarks on the representation of scientific literature in British Public Libraries, which we reproduce the more readily, as they contain just that grain of truth which makes them peculiarly applicable to one or two cases known to most librarians who have studied some catalogues from the point of view of the con- tained representation of subjects : " Presumably the first intention in establishing free libraries is to provide material for educational purposes, and we are told that recreative reading is thrown in, as it were, for a bait to induce readers to take up more serious subjects as the process of education proceeds. We should, therefore, expect that such money as remains, after the supply of light literature is effected, would be expended upon the acquisition of the most modern literature which could be obtained. A recent tour through the metropolitan libraries, and those in some of the larger midland counties' towns, has been surprising in its results. Science is certainly fairly represented by regular stock books in most of them. These largely consist of such illustrated, or shall we say ' picture ' books, as Lowe's
- Beautiful Leaved Plants ' ; the Rev. F. O. Morris's works ; Sir William
Jardine's numerous volumes in his 'Naturalists' Library'; Buffon's works, and a long series of books chiefly out of date. From an educational point of view the majority of such books tend to delay rather than advancement in the onward march. In too many cases the income of the library goes in the purchase of fiction or general expenses, and the librarian depends upon donations for the science section of his catalogue, and must accept whatever comes to hand. We can readily understand the result by remembering a cynical definition of Charity as ' the giving that which is no longer a necessity.' It is only reasonable that having pointed out these defects, I should be expected to suggest some list of, say the best hundred books on scientific subjects, or to invite opinions. I have no list to produce, neither am I going to ask for one from our readers. There is, however, a way of obtaining such a list, which would be of the utmost value to the libraries, and the public consequently. No librarian, nor even his masters, the Library Committee, can be expected to know every best book, especially in science, where such voluminously new and original works are being so rapidly produced. If some authoritative body, such as the Education Department of the Imperial Government, or failing that, the Library Association, were to invite the councils of various learned societies, like the Royal, Linnean, Zoological, Geological, Geographical, Botanical, Chemical, Anthropological, and Meteorological, to draw up a list of works dealing with their special subjects, we should then get at such a list of text-books and authorities
