Usually, when one has written a book, one has to acknowledge much help from other librarians, but, owing to the extraordinary circumstances in which this revision has been made, I felt that I ought not to call for help from others already overburdened. My own task has been completed under great pressure, most of the work being done between 6.30 and 8.30 a.m. My wife has saved me from many blunders, and her experience as a former member of Mr Brown’s staff has been most valuable to me. W. C. BERWICK SAYERS POSTSCRIPT.--As the final proofs are leaving my hands I learn that the long-expected Government Bill to remove the penny rate limitation was introduced into the House of Commons by Mr Herbert Lewis and read a first time on the 28th of November. The second reading occurred on the 2nd of December, and the Bill became law on the 23rd of December 1919. It is now practically certain that the powers in regard to Public Libraries which were held by the Local Government Board now accrue to the Ministry of Education, and, consequently, wherever the Local Government Board is mentioned in the _Manual_, the Ministry of Education should be understood.--W. C. B. S. CROYDON, 1919 The Publishers desire to thank those who have kindly allowed them the use of illustrations and have lent blocks, or have offered other facilities for reproduction; especially the following: The Librarians of Bristol, Bromley, Cardiff, Chelsea, Coventry, Croydon, Fulham, Glasgow, Lambeth, Liverpool, Montrose, St Pancras, and Southend; The Library Association; Messrs Cedric Chivers Ltd., Messrs Fordham & Co., Messrs Kenrick & Jefferson, Mr Arthur W. Lambert of Croydon, Messrs Libraco Ltd., and Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons. CONTENTS PAGE PREFACE v LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS, FORMS, ETC. xii DIVISION I.--INTRODUCTORY MEMOIR 1 INTRODUCTION 11 DIVISION II.--FOUNDATION, COMMITTEES AND FINANCE CHAP. I. LEGISLATION 19 II. ADOPTION OF ACTS, FOUNDATION AND COMMITTEES 34 III. FINANCE, LOANS AND ACCOUNTS 43 IV. STATISTICS AND REPORTS 60 DIVISION III.--STAFF V. THE LIBRARIAN 71 VI. ASSISTANTS 83 VII. LIBRARY ASSOCIATIONS 99 DIVISION IV.--BUILDINGS VIII. THEORY AND GENERAL REMARKS 106 IX. SITES AND PLANS 110