Project Gutenberg's How to Form a Library, 2nd ed, by H. B. Wheatley

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net

Title: How to Form a Library, 2nd ed

Author: H. B. Wheatley

Release Date: November 7, 2009 [EBook #30419]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOW TO FORM A LIBRARY, 2ND ED ***

Produced by Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier, Christine D. and
the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
http://www.pgdp.net

[Illustration]

The Book-Lover's Library.

Edited by

Henry B. Wheatley, F.S.A.

HOW
TO FORM A LIBRARY

BY

H.B. WHEATLEY, F.S.A.

_SECOND EDITION._

NEW YORK
A.C. ARMSTRONG & SON, BROADWAY.
LONDON: ELLIOT STOCK.
1886

_PREFACE._

_It will be generally allowed that a handy guide to the formation of
libraries is required, but it may be that the difficulty of doing justice
to so large a subject has prevented those who felt the want from
attempting to fill it. I hope therefore that it will not be considered
that I have shown temerity by stepping into the vacant place. I cannot
hope to have done full justice to so important a theme in the small space
at my disposal, but I think I can say that this little volume contains
much information which the librarian and the book lover require and cannot
easily obtain elsewhere. They are probably acquainted with most of this
information, but the memory will fail us at times and it is then
convenient to have a record at hand._

_A book of this character is peculiarly open to criticism, but I hope the
critics will give me credit for knowing more than I have set down. In
making a list of books of reference, I have had to make a selection, and
works have been before me that I have decided to omit, although some would
think them as important as many of those I have included._

_I need not extend this preface with any lengthy explanation of the
objects of the book, as these are stated in the Introduction, but before
concluding I may perhaps be allowed to allude to one personal
circumstance. I had hoped to dedicate this first volume of the Book
Lover's Library to HENRY BRADSHAW, one of the most original and most
learned bibliograp