It seems quite probable that the near future will see a removal of the main financial difficulties. VII. This manual is based upon the syllabus of the Library Association, but excludes sections 1 and, in part, 2 (Literary History and Bibliography), and includes the subject-matter of the resolutions of 1917. Primarily it is a manual of municipal library practice, but is by no means exclusively so. Special libraries have their individual methods, and a general conspectus of librarianship cannot include them; and state, university, institutional, club and private libraries are equally matters for specific treatment such as would be impossible here. But all libraries are faced with very similar problems of selection, accession, classification, cataloguing, etc., or at any rate they differ in these matters in degree rather than in kind; and it is hoped that for them much that follows will be at least interesting and suggestive. To this end the method aimed at is expository rather than argumentative; and when two or more methods are in vogue they have been placed side by side in order that the student may review them and form his own judgment of their relative merits. Where we are dogmatic we are so unconsciously, and we hope that aberrations of this kind will be passed over with forbearance. DIVISION II FOUNDATION, COMMITTEES AND FINANCE CHAPTER I LEGISLATION =1. Municipal Libraries: Acts of Parliament.=--The principal Acts of Parliament under which British public municipal libraries are now constituted consist of the following:-- IRELAND 1855. “18 & 19 Vict., c. 40. An Act for further promoting the establishment of Free Public Libraries and Museums in Ireland.” (The principal Act.) 1877. “40 & 41 Vict., c. 15. An Act to amend the Public Libraries Act (Ireland), 1855.” 1894. “57 & 58 Vict., c. 38. An Act to amend the Public Libraries (Ireland) Acts.” 1902. “The Public Libraries (Ireland) Amendment Act.” Gives power to District Councils to adopt the Acts, and empowers County Councils to make grants in aid of libraries. SCOTLAND 1887. “50 & 51 Vict., c. 42. An Act to amend and consolidate the Public Libraries (Scotland) Acts.” (The principal Act.) 1894. “57 & 58 Vict., c. 20. An Act to amend the Public Libraries Consolidation (Scotland) Act, 1887.” 1899. “62 & 63 Vict., c. 5. An Act to amend the Public Libraries (Scotland) Acts.” ENGLAND AND WALES 1892. “55 & 66 Vict., c. 53. An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to Public Libraries.” (The principal Act.) 1893. “56 Vict., c. 11. An Act to amend the Public Libraries Act, 1892.” 1898. “61 & 62 Vict., c. 53. An Act to provide for the Punishment of Offences in Libraries.” 1901. “1 Edw. 7. An Act to amend the Acts relating to Public Libraries, Museums and Gymnasiums, and to regulate the liability of managers of libraries to proceedings for libel.”