in 1888, having previously been engaged part-time at the
Library, was promoted to the office of Librarian in 1901, following the
death of Mr. Easter. A few months later the Committee advertised the
vacant office of Sub-Librarian, candidates to have had training and
experience in a public library, and Mr. Llewellyn R. Haggerston, an
assistant in the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Public Libraries, was appointed.

The safeguarded open-access system, by which borrowers are allowed to
choose books from the shelves, was considered by the Committee and the
Council in 1905, but not adopted. The system was then in its infancy,
but has since been introduced into many public libraries.

The provision of catalogues of the Library was considered by the
Committee in 1905-6, and it was decided to provide type-written sheaf
catalogues of authors and subjects for the Lending Department, which were
completed in 1906-7.

Owing to the inadequate accommodation in the Reading Room on the first
floor, the question of extending the Library building received the
attention of the Committee for a considerable period, and eventually the
City Engineer prepared plans for the extension of the building, to
provide a reading room on the ground floor. The new room cost about
1,640 pounds and was provided with book-cases, furniture, etc., at a cost
of 267 pounds, and was opened to the public in April, 1907. Most of the
book-cases were provided for shelving several classes of the Lending
Library books, partly because more shelving accommodation was required,
but principally to permit the public to inspect the books, "the object
being to induce a more general use of these works in place of fiction."
A collection of directories, annuals, and reference books was placed on
open shelves in the room for ready reference.

In accordance with the Committee's decision to adopt the Dewey Decimal
System of Classification, some attempt was made to classify the books
according to this system.

An experiment which aimed at fostering the use of the Library by school
children was made during the winter of 1907-8. "By arrangement with the
Education Committee a selection of books likely to meet the tastes of
elementary school children was made by several of the teachers. These
books were placed on Saturday mornings in one of the rooms on the top
floor where tables and chairs were provided. One or more teachers
attended in rotation to superintend the young readers . . . It