y), of the _Report on Public Libraries in the U.S._ (1876).

The volume of _Transactions and Proceedings of the Conference of
Librarians_, London, 1877, contains two papers on the Selection of Books,
one by Mr. Robert Harrison, Librarian of the London Library, and the
other by the late Mr. James M. Anderson, Assistant Librarian of the
University of St. Andrews. Mr. Harrison gives the following as the three
guiding principles of selection in forming a library: 1. Policy; 2.
Utility; 3. Special or Local Appropriateness; and he deals with each
successively. Mr. Anderson writes that "the selection of books should
invariably be made (1) in relation to the library itself, and (2) in
relation to those using it."

We have chiefly to do with the formation of libraries, and therefore the
use made of them when they are formed cannot well be enlarged upon here,
but a passing note may be made on the proposal which has been much
discussed of late years, viz. that for Professorships of Books and
Reading. The United States Report on Public Libraries contains a chapter
on this subject by F.B. Perkins and William Matthews (pp. 230-251), and
Mr. Axon also contributed a paper at the First Annual Meeting of the
Library Association. The value of such chairs, if well filled, is
self-evident, for it takes a man a long time (without teaching) to learn
how best to use books, but very special men would be required as
Professors. America has done much to show what the duties of such a
Professor should be, and Harvard College is specially fortunate in
possessing an officer in Mr. Justin Winsor who is both a model librarian
and a practical teacher of the art of how best to use the books under his
charge.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] "_The Library Companion, or the Young Man's Guide and the Old Man's
Comfort in the Choice of a Library._ By the Rev. T.F. Dibdin, F.R.S.,
A.S., London, 1824."

[2] _The Best Reading_: Hints on the Selection of Books; on the Formation
of Libraries, Public and Private; on Courses of Reading, etc., with a
Classified Bibliography for every reference. Fourth revised and enlarged
edition, continued to August, 1876, with the addition of Select Lists of
the best French, German, Spanish, and Italian Literature. Edited by
Frederic Beecher Perkins; New York, G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1881. Second
Series, 1876 to 1882, by Lynds E. Jones.

[3] Dr. Richard Garnett read an interesting paper on this book under the
title of _Librarianship in the Se