Blind copyists are employed to duplicate the books at an average cost of 25s. per volume, whence it is obvious that literary provision for the blind is very expensive, and is possible on any adequate scale only if liberal public support is forthcoming. Recently, alas, there has been a vast increase in the numbers of blind persons. The idea of the old charitable institutions that such readers would be satisfied with books of moral edification was abandoned long ago; nowadays it would be absurd. Books on every subject, serious reading and light reading, educational literature and literature recording recent scientific advances and expressing the latest phases of thought, are in demand among blind readers representing every grade of culture. In short, there is no more limit, except the cost of producing copies in this special form, to the contents of a modern library for the blind than to those of any other general library. At present, the National Library has nearly 65,000 books on its shelves, besides some 12,000 volumes of music. The public library in any subscribing locality is thus relieved of the serious burden, not merely of purchasing, but also of housing these bulky volumes. A reader sends in his list of books required, which is transmitted to the National Library, and the books are then sent direct to the reader’s home. It is a work of public benefit, yea, of national obligation, that surely cries loudly for State aid. In the United States consignments of books for the blind are carried free to the nearest post office or station. “Of 12,819 books for the blind circulated by the New York Public Library in 1908, 8,558 were sent free by mail.”[14] Our Post Office has made concessions not quite so generous, allowing a book weighing 6¹⁄₂ lbs. to travel for 2d., and one weighing 5 lbs. to be sent anywhere abroad for 2¹⁄₂d. The cheaper transmission of books by post will become an urgent question whenever a national system of interchange between all manner of libraries becomes an accomplished fact; but, even then, the case of the blind will be one calling for exceptional liberality. FOOTNOTES: [4] A. E. Bostwick. “The American Public Library,” p. 56-7. [5] R. A. Rye. “The Libraries of London: a guide for students” (University of London, 1910). [6] Adult Education Committee: Final Report, par. 5. [7] _A Question of the Day: Public Libraries_ (Library Association, 1918). [8] _Third Interim Report_:--C.--Technical and Commercial Libraries. [9] The following shows the number of readers monthly:-- Oct. 1919 1,316 Nov. 4,361 Dec. 4,405 Jan. 1920 5,608 Feb. 5,259 March 6,166 April 5,585 May 4,416 June 1920 6,029 July 5,772 Aug. 5,936 Sept. 6,365 Oct. 6,871 Nov. 7,428 Dec. 6,617 Jan. 1921 7,043