23. Comparative statistics of County libraries (Tables LXIV—LXVII.). —The sources from which these figures have been derived are stated in Note 5. The population covered by county councils' resolutions, Column 3, has been taken not from the returns made by counties, but from Table III, which gives in full detail the distribution of population within a county, under the three heads: (a) independent public library authorities, (b) areas for which the county council is library authority, (c) areas in respect of which the Public Libraries Acts have not been adopted. These figures have been derived from the Census Volumes, 1921, and have been checked with the utmost care. It is a matter of surprise that the returns made by several counties as to the population covered by their resolutions understated or overstated that population by very large figures. Changes in local government boundaries have made a certain difference in the period 1921 to 1925, but this cannot possibly account for the very large discrepancy. County councils will be well advised to look into this matter, as it is most desirable that they should have accurate information as to the boroughs, urban districts, and parishes for which they are responsible for public library purposes, and the population in those areas. It is not possible for a county to compare its administration with that of other counties if the figures in regard to the population for which they are responsible are inaccurate in a degree which, in the case of one county, was as much as 33 per cent. The discrepancy in question throws considerable doubt on the accuracy of the figures returned as to the population served in 1924 and 1925. For instance, where a county records that it is serving the whole population of its area, and gives a wrong figure for the whole population, the figure for "population served" must also be wrong, and this affects the standard figures calculated for volumes in stock per hundred of population served, borrowers per hundred of population served, and expenditure per caput. The figures for the Isle of Wight Library were not derived from the Carnegie Trust. This Library (known as the County Seely Library) was founded in 1904. The Public Libraries Acts, however, were not adopted until 1924, and the expenditure was not met out of the rates until 1925. The library has not received a grant from the Carnegie Trust. General summary. 24. Comparative statistics of County libraries. (Table LXVIII). This Table is designed to be the counterpart of Table XLVIII (Urban libraries), but group standard figures are recorded only as regards Groups P, Q, and R, and the national standard figures are based on these groups. The inclusion of Group S, Libraries in their first year, would have detracted greatly from the value of the figures. 25. Urban library practice. (Tables LXIX-LXXVIII). These statistics have been summarised, not in population groups, but under type of local government area, i.e., county boroughs, metropolitan boroughs, municipal boroughs and urban districts. These Tables were the first which the Committee prepared. At that time the Committee considered that inasmuch as county boroughs and metropolitan boroughs represent large units of population, and municipal boroughs and urban districts, in general, small units of population, the differences in practice of large and small libraries could be adequately compared in this manner. At a later date the Committee decided to introduce the more exact comparison denoted by population groups within narrow limits, but they did not consider it worth while to change these Tables over to a basis of population groups, since they are in the main concerned with matters in regard to which the size of the unit is not of major importance. There is a small margin of inaccuracy in these Tables due, in part, to the difficulty of interpreting some of the replies given to questions, and in part (28840) H 2 to the circumstance that they were compiled in advance of the other Tables and before the status of certain authorities had been determined. The number of public library authorities and the number taken into account for the purpose of these Tables are :— Table XI gives a list of the authorities not taken into account. The City of London does not appear in these Tables. Table LXIII.-Systems of classification and cataloguing. The Committee cannot claim a high degree of accuracy for this Table. Many of the replies were most difficult to interpret. Moreover, certain authorities use one system in their reference department, another in their lending department, and perhaps a third in their juvenile department. The same authority may, therefore, appear under two or three heads in the Table. Of 62 County Councils in England and Wales 57 are Public Library Authorities. Of the remaining 5, the London County Council must be disregarded as, owing to the adoption of the Public Libraries Acts by the City of London and all Metropolitan Boroughs, there is no area in respect of which the County Council can adopt the Public Libraries Acts. Westmorland is not a Public Library Authority, but has entered into arrangements with the Kendal Public Library for the supply of books to 92 centres in the County. Carmarthenshire, Lincolnshire (Holland), and Rutland have not adopted the Acts and have no Public Library service. The total number of Public Library Authorities is 539. 1911 36,070,492 22,559,427 62.5 22,559,427 62.5 1,685,958 5.5 25,673,861 68.8 34,270,262 90.4 96.3 • All figures are those recorded in the Census Volumes (1921). (28840) H 3 |