Whatever you do in this direction, make it short and attractive. Organize your material, describe a sperally in teresting work by a reference to its style, or its ilustrations, or its reputation, etc. Distribute your library notes impartially; that is, if several papers are published, be careful not to slight any of them. Find out the proper days to suit their want of matter, and never send in your notes when the paper is overcrowded. Always read a proof-4) of each article; time spent in going to a newspaper of e to correct proof is well spent, for misprints always awa.t the unwary who trusts to the accuracy of types.

If the library acquires any extensive or notable bo k. whether old or new, do not fail to make it known through the press. If any citizen gives a number of volumes to the library, let his good deeds have an appreciative notice, that others may go and do likewise.

Another feature of library advertising is the publat. n in the press of the titles of new books added to the library As this is merely catalogue printing, however abbrev.atevi in form the titles may be, it will usually (and very pr erly) be charged for by the newspapers. But it will pav, in the direction of inducing a much larger use of the l:brary, and as the sole object of the institution is to entribute to public intelligence, it becomes library naragis not to spare any expense so conducive to that result.

CHAPTER 20.

THE FORMATION OF LIBRARIES.

In the widely extended and growing public interest in libraries for the people, and in the ever increasing gatherings of books by private collectors, I may be pardoned for

the suggestions pertaining specially to the formation of Libraries. I do not refer to the selection of books, which is treated in the first chapter, nor to the housing and care of libraries, but to some important points involved in organizing the foundation, so to speak, of a library.

The problem, of course, is a widely different one for the private collector of an individual or famaly library, and for the organizers of a public one. But in either case, it is important, first of all, to have a clearly defined and well considered plan. Without this, costly mistakes are apt to be nade, and time, energy and money wasted, all of whch might be saved by seeing the end from the beginn... and planning accordingly.

Let us suppose that a resident in a community which has never enjoyed the beneft of a circulating library concoves the idea of using every means to secure one. The first question that arises is, what are those means? If the State in which has residence hes has a Library law, emI wering any town or city to raise money by taxation for fing and maintaining a free library, the way is appar et is, at first ght. But here comes in the problem cat. the requisite author ty to lay the tax be secure? 1.- Pay involve d ́E dias unforeseen at first If there arter, does it en power the m.in. c pal authori tion testy council or aldernet ) to levy sach a tax?

If not.

then appeal must be made to a popular vote, at some election of municipal officers, at which the ballots for or agat a Library tax should determine the question. This will at once involve a campaign of education, in which should be enlisted (1) The editors of all the local papers. (2) Te local clergymen, lawyers and physicians. (3) All literary men and citizens of wealth or influence in the comm... ity. (4) All teachers in the public schools and other inst.tutions of learning. (5) The members of the city or town government. These last will be apt to feel any impulse of public sentiment more keenly than their own individual opinions on the subject. In any case, the public-spirit--i man who originates the movement should enlist as many able coadjutors as he can. If he is not himself gif with a ready tongue, he should persuade some others wi. are ready and eloquent talkers to take up the cause, a- ! should inspire them with his own zeal. A public meet.: should be called, after a goodly number of well-known a. influential people are enlisted (not before) and addre- a should be made, setting forth the great advantage of a fre library to every family. Its value to educate the pe« p'e, to furnish entertainment that will go far to supplant ilness and intemperance, to help on the work of the pa1 ́ schools, and to elevate the taste, improve the mas quicken the intellect and employ the leisure hours of a 1. should be set forth.

With all these means of persuasion constantly in exercise, and unren.itting diligence in pushing the good cause through tle press and by every private opportunity up to the very day of the election, the chances are heavyfavor of passing the library measure by a good majority It must be a truly Baotian community, far gone in pidety or something worse, which would so stand in t own light as to vote down a measure conducing in t'e h

estgree to the public intelligence. But even should it be efeated, its advocates should never be discouraged. Like all other reforms or improvements, its progress may be slow at first, but it is none the less sure to win in the end. One defeat has often led to a more complete victory when the conflict is renewed. The beaten party gathers wisdom by experience, finds out any weakness existing in its ranks or its management, and becomes sensible where its greatest strength ould be put forth in a renewal of the contest. The promoters of the measure should at once begin a fresh agitation. They should pledge every friend of the library scheme to stand by it himself, and to secure at least one new convert to the cause. And the chances are that it will be carried triumphantly through at the next trial, or, if not then, at least within no long time.

But we should consider also the case of those communites where no State Library law exists. These are unhapply not a few; and it is a remarkable fact that even so old, and rich, and well-developed a State as Pennsylvania bad no such provision for public enlightenment until within three years. In the absence of a law empowering local governments or voters to lay a tax for such a purpose, the most obvious way of founding a 1brary is by local subscription. This is of course a less desirable method than one by which all citizens should contribute to the object in proportion to their means. But it is better to avail of the means that exist in any place than to wat an indefinite period for a State Legislature to be educated up to the point of passing measures which would render the formation of libraries easy in all places.

Let the experiment be trad of founding a library by individual efort and concert With only two or three realous and a t ve promoters, even such a plan can be carried into successful operation in almost any community.

A canvass should be made from house to house, with a short prospectus or agreement drawn up, pledging the subscribers to give a certain sum toward the foundation of a library. If a few residents with large property can be induced to head the list with liberal subscriptions, it will aid much in securing confidence in the success of the movement, and inducing others to subscribe. No contributions, however small, should fail to be welcomed, since they stand for a wider interest in the object. After a thorough canvass of the residents of the place, a meeting of those subscribing should be called, and a statement put before them of the amount subscribed. Then an executive committee, say of three or five members, should be che to take charge of the enterprise. This committee should appoint a chairman, a secretary, and a treasurer, the latter to receive and disburse the funds subscribed. The chairman should call and preside at meetings of the committee, of which the secretary should record the proceedings in a book kept for the purpose.

The first business of the Library committee should be to confer and determine upon the ways and means of organizing the library. This involves a selection of books suitable for a beginning, a place of deposit for them, and a custodian or librarian to catalogue them and keep the record of the books drawn out and returned. Usually, a room can be had for library purposes in some public bu. ing or private house, centrally located, without other expense than that of warming and lighting. The services of a librarian, too, can often be secured by competent volus. teer aid, there being usually highly intelligent persons with sufficient leisure to give their time for the common beneft, or to share that duty with others, thus saving all the fun 's for books to enrich the library.

The chief trouble ikely to be encountered by a Library